text:
Am too tired and too sad to share the rest of the story tonight. So many things happened today. I'll compose myself first. :(
Brus left us today.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 23:24 0 comments
Blogging from home.
Posted by Kaje at 01:11 0 comments
Labels: blog tales
Restless nights.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 01:04 0 comments
Labels: health concerns
Diet, diet, diet!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 21:40 2 comments
Labels: diet notes, health concerns
It's the thought that counts.
Posted by Kaje at 19:36 0 comments
Am I loving?
|What's Your Best Quality?
Your Result: Loving
Your best quality is loving! People like you because of your loving nature. You are a nice person that cares about others. Your loving nature makes you a good friend.
|Sense of Humor
|What's Your Best Quality?
Take More Quizzes
Hhhhhmmmmm. I know personality quiz results depend on a person's current mood. I'd say am just extra nice today, mwehehheheheeh. And! It's good to know that I have a bit more intelligence than sense of humor ;)
Posted by Kaje at 17:01 0 comments
Labels: quiz
Miami Real Estate
Posted by Kaje at 16:36 0 comments
I hate myself for feeling this way.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 21:52 0 comments
Bloody! (An update)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 01:18 1 comments
Labels: health concerns, rants, raves
Posted by Kaje at 00:30 0 comments
Labels: rants
His laptop is slowing down.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 00:54 0 comments
Labels: techie stuff
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 20:57 2 comments
Labels: health concerns, rants
The storm has passed.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 22:15 0 comments
Labels: life musings
Feast One Hundred Fifty-Six (2)
Friday, August 17, 2007
Featured Flickr Feast by dennis
I'd say 80 :)
To become a mother (really!), it's both short and long-term :)
Main Course
Name something unbelievable you've seen or read lately.
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today?
Grab the feast here.
Posted by Kaje at 14:28 8 comments
Labels: friday's feast, meme
They're here!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Remember this?
Posted by Kaje at 22:32 1 comments
Labels: Avenue Q
Posted by Kaje at 20:57 0 comments
Invitations and Announcements
Posted by Kaje at 17:41 2 comments
Because of two words...
Posted by Kaje at 16:25 0 comments
The place that made me wanna go corporate again.
Posted by Kaje at 13:55 2 comments
Labels: everyday, life musings
Someday I will publish this entry #1
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 21:49 2 comments
Labels: keeping for now
Beach house
Posted by Kaje at 19:22 0 comments
Labels: dreams
Feast One Hundred Fifty-Five
Friday, August 10, 2007
Featured Flickr Feast by kumquatgirl
AppetizerWhat is your favorite kind of pie?
Apple pie...I soooo love the smell of cinnamon in apple pie, apples and cinnamon are perfect together :)
Name something that made you smile this week.
Us going out of the house after being stranded at home for about 36hours :)
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?
Turn the airconditioning on :)
Main Course
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?
About P46,000?!? We need a new queen-sized ortho mattress in the QC apartment (we don't need new ones at home). That should do it plus a new set of beddings and fluffy pillows too :)
Fill in the blank: My _________ says __________, but I __________.
My husband says we should sleep early every night, but I find it hard to fall asleep nowadays.
Grab some buffet for your brain here.
Posted by Kaje at 09:04 0 comments
Labels: friday's feast, meme
We deserved a Mcdo Float each :)
Thursday, August 09, 2007
That is, after being stranded at home for about 36hours :)
Posted by Kaje at 19:56 0 comments
Labels: everyday, experiences, life musings
JDV made me feel so poor!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Currently watching Reporter's Notebook over at GMA.
Joe de Venecia: "I belong to a middle class family."
Ane and I: So what does that make us? Pobre. Kawawa naman kami.
Posted by Kaje at 00:36 2 comments
Labels: rants
Checking out my Pensieve from HS :)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Message: THINK BACK TO 4th year HS...Let's see how much you remember and how much you regret..
What section were you?
Who was your adviser?
*Ms. Angie Paculan
How many were you in one class?
*less than 40
Who was/were your seat mates?
*Lisette and Kathy
Still remember your english teacher?
*Ms. Angie also
What was your first class?
*Can't remember but we have Homeroom as first class on Tuesdays
Who was your best friend?
Who did you like?
*No boys in school...but I did crush on a teacher or two hihihi
Made friends to the lower years?
* yup yup
Had a boyfriend/girlfriend?
*yes hehehe from another school but we parted right after graduation
How was your class schedule?
*we change schedules every quarter so I won't remember anymore...
Made any enemies?
*Not so sure...hmmmm
Who was your favorite teacher?
What sports did you play?
Did you buy your lunch?
Were you a party animal?
Were you well known in your school?
*In a way yes, because I was tasked to confiscate ID's of those who litter during lunch hihihi
SKIP SCHOOl?
Did you get suspended/expelled?
*no reason to be
Can you sing the alma mater?
*very well, until now :)
What was your favorite subject?
What was your school's full name?
*St. Scholastica's College Manila
Did you go to the dances?
If you could go back in time and do it all over, would you?
*Yup but change a thing or two
What do you remember most about 4th year?
*Graduation rehearsals :)
Favorite memory in 4th year?
*our batch had a lot of firsts (gala came back!) and lasts (Ms. Salazar)
Worst memory in 4th year?
*being bullied? oh well, during those times, i really felt bullied huh
Where did you go most often for break?
*on the floor under one of the mango trees
What did you do on the last day of school?
How was your graduation?
*happy and sad...dinner with family afterwards
Got any honors or special awards?
*service award for leading Project EARTH...I wasn't academically excellent heheh
Did you like 4th year?
*best year, I guess
What year did you graduate?
Who posted this before you did?
Posted by Kaje at 21:19 0 comments
Golf Apparel for Ladies
Monday, August 06, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 18:01 0 comments
Funny find!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Found this in JZ's blog, mwehehehehehe:
"From the Department of Linguistics, Bahay Kubo in gayspeak.
Valer kuberch, kahit jutay
Ang julamantrax donchi ay anek-anek.
Nyongkamas at nutring, nyogarilyas at kipay
Nyitaw, nyotaw, jutani.
Kundol, jutola, jupot jolabastrax
At mega join-join pa, jobanox nyustasa.
Nyubuyax, nyomatis, nyowang at luyax
And around the keme ay fulnes ng linga."
Posted by Kaje at 21:00 4 comments
Labels: funny
Joaquin moment
Friday, August 03, 2007
This is so funny I just had to share it.
So my sister was getting ready for bed, when Joaquin suddenly grabbed her neckline saying:
Him: I wanna see your dede (b**bies)!
His Mom: (while clasping her top) Why do you wanna see my dede?
Him: I'm not gonna touch it, I just wanna see your dede!
His Mom: I wanna see yours first...
Him: (sheepishly) But I have little dede...
Mwehehehehe. ROTFL!
Posted by Kaje at 01:36 2 comments
Labels: conversations
Snailmails and Handwritten journals.
Posted by Kaje at 00:25 3 comments
Labels: life musings, on writing
OMG!!!!!! (edited 09 aug)
Posted by Kaje at 00:21 0 comments
Star sighting to the next level :)
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Posted by Kaje at 16:07 0 comments
Labels: hollywood news
No wonder I am getting bigger...
Posted by Kaje at 15:33 0 comments


text:
I have officially lost my Urban Fantasy Virginity. I feel so dirty. But in a very good way.
The Druid Stone
- Title: The Druid Stone
- Author(s): Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane
- Series: Layers of the Otherworld, Book 1
- Genre(s): Contemporary, GLBTQ, Urban Fantasy
- Publisher: Carina Press, August 2012
- Source: NetGalley
- Length: 278 pages
- Trope(s): Time Travel, Other Paranormal Stuff About Which I Have No Clue
- Quick blurb: Tortured by murderous recurring dreams, "Sean from America" needs help from paranormal investigator Cormac to rid himself of a cursed Druid artifact.
- Quick review: Stayed up until 3 a.m. finishing this, and I don't even LIKE paranormals.
- Grade: B
…Sean realized if he wanted to now he could push back, any time, because there was nothing holding him to the wall anymore. Nothing but Cormac's unspoken expectation and Sean's unspeakable desire to meet it.
I really hate it when I have to stop reading in the middle of a sex scene because I have to go back and highlight everything because the writing is so fucking good.
For the urban fantasy elements, I must admit that I am in no way qualified to judge the world-building, and I was pretty intimidated when the heavy-duty paranormal stuff kicked in. But after a few chapters, I figured out that reading the Irish mythology as a history lesson with some Harry Potter analogies helped keep me in the story.
I still hate time travel, though. All the "what if?" and "but what about…??? GAH!" moments put my brain in overdrive trying to make everything line up properly.
Galway Bound
- Title: Galway Bound
- Author(s): Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane
- Series: Layers of the Otherworld, Book 1.1
- Genre(s): Contemporary, GLBTQ, Erotica
- Publisher: Self-Published, October 2012
- Source: All Romance eBooks, 99c (part of the Cyber Monday Binge)
- Length: 32 pages
- Quick blurb: Sean and Cormac indulge in a weekend away to reconnect and celebrate their first year together.
- Quick review: If you think BDSM can't be romantic, THINK AGAIN.
- Grade: A
Cormac knew he should pull back, delay this, let himself savor Sean's submission just a little longer, but the truth was — the truth was — even though Sean gave him the drive to be strong, he also gave him the permission to be weak. And Cormac was weak. He was torturously, deliciously weak.
I read it, and then I read it again. Because OH. MY. GOD. *~*swoon*~* <thud>

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Our STACK Velocity Center offers state-of-the-art training facilities designed to meet the needs of professional and elite athletes. The training programs are developed with the help of world-renowned sports performance coaches who have coached numerous elite and professional athletes, as well as collegiate national champions and All-Americans. They assist in the ongoing development of programs that are scientifically designed to improve speed, power and agility.
Visit velocitysp.com/marshall for your free trial sport performance training.
Our Youth curriculum places a high priority on running technique, athletic coordination, balance and relative strength and the introduction of essential muscular movement patterns. These are vital in establishing a child's athletic foundation for improved performance, injury prevention, and long-term enjoyment of sports participation.
In this second stage, athletes have discovered the importance of developing neuromuscular patterns. Athletic fundamentals begin to be developed and directed towards athletic skill application in our Developmental I program. This program focuses on progressing and maintaining athletic movement while refining and ingraining fundamental skills of speed, agility, and power. This repeated rehearsal leads to permanent and positive athletic change.
Most athletes in this age group have developed neuromuscular patterns and the fundamental skills of speed, agility, and power. For Developmental II athletes, technique is fine-tuned, and the final pieces to build the total athlete are provided. In essence, each athlete is optimized according to their biggest areas of improvement.
Our Adult Program sessions are designed for active adults looking for a challenging training program. The Adult program is designed to actively challenge effort and coordination with 60 minute movement-based sessions. No two sessions are alike, and all are fun, fast-paced, and educational, which is unique compared to a traditional gym- based workout. The result is an increase in fitness as well as improved metabolism, body composition, and exercise technique.
The STACK Velocity Sports Performance programs for professional and elite athletes are designed to provide peak physical stimulus that pushes the absolute limitations of elite athletic performance. Due to the customized and maximal intensity nature, recovery and regeneration methods are implemented. Our programs place the highest emphasis on applied and measurable performance, secondarily fine-tuning movement. Timelines to reach goals and exceed expectations are accelerated for this athletic population due to the elite competitive schedules and real-time demands.
Our Team Training programs are designed to deliver a challenging workout that is organized, educational, progressive, and customized for entire sport teams. Training sessions are typically conducted at the team's training facility and focus primarily on linear speed and multi-directional skill development. Team Training programs are built to be sport relevant with medicine ball strengthening, bodyweight resisted power development, energy system development, and speed ratios that apply directly to specific sports demands.


text:
- This event has passed.
Anything Goes Open Mic & Moments of Gratitude – Rob & Terri
May 7, 2018 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm EDT
Hosted by Ashley Hamel, the Rob and Terri Duo, Bill Katz, or Kyla. Sign up starts at 6:30pm, the open mic at 7:00pm and goes to about 10:00pm. $5 for entry.
At 8:00pm, during the open mic, we host Moments of Gratitude from 8:00pm – 8:15pm. Sharing our gratitude to build positive energy and encouragement!
Bios for hosts
Ashley Hamel
A popular staple of the Middletown Arts scene, Ashley Hamel is a multi-talented singer-songwriter, improv comedian, and wizard rockstar (Harry Potter fan music). With a background in theatre and improv comedy, Ashley delivers audience-centric performances that entertain and aim to connect with the deepest parts of ourselves.
Rob and Terri Duo
The Terri and Rob Duo is made up of Terri Lachance and Rob Desorbo. Terri is a singer songwriter who has been writing songs all her life and plays guitar. Rob plays bass guitar and provides vocals. He has played with many area bands including Eran Troy Danner, The Redliners, and Snakebite.
Bill Katz
Bill Katz is an art dealer by trade and owns a picture framing business. Bill has given up on being a human and his feline metamorphosis is complete. He now answers to Catman Bill
Kyla Pitruzzello


text:
"Wonder" has always been the word with Terrence Malick.
He might be the most sought-after, high-budget art-house filmmaker on the planet, a director whose talent for cinematic poetry and freeform improvisation gives him virtually the pick of Hollywood's A-list litter. But for all his voice-over philosophizing, his movies are completely guileless. He makes simple films beautifully, with a childlike sense of wonder. Even if his films fail to leave you elated, you can't help but feel cleansed by their innocent purity.
A new Malick masterwork is always an event, but as the releases have grown more commonplace, so, too has the feeling that his movie world -- so separate from others -- has developed its own systematic clichés. There may be, it turns out, only so much inner-monologue questioning about love and nature from a barefoot, long-haired lass in the sun-lit grass that we can take.
Such has been the reception to Malick's latest, "To the Wonder," a film that more than any other of the director's, distills his distinctive approach. There's hardly any dialogue at all, just the story of a French-speaking Ukrainian single mother, Marina (Olga Kurylenko), and her up-and-down romance with Neil (Ben Affleck). He's a kind of sample-taking environmental scientist of polluted blue-collar areas who brings Marina and her 10-year-old daughter, Tatiana (Tatiana Chiline), from vibrant, sundrenched Paris to his home in an austere suburban development in Oklahoma.
Dichotomy has always been the real narrative propellant for Malick (war and peace in "The Thin Red Line"; the disciplinarian father and graceful mother of "The Tree of Life") and that's true here. The particular events and ruptures in Neil and Marina's relationship aren't closely followed, only the familiar tidal swells of love and loneliness. During a separation, a local former flame (Rachel McAdams) also drifts in, forming an evanescent triangle.
What this is, then, is a straightforward, abstractly rendered rumination on love, mostly from Marina's perspective. "What is this love that loves us?" she wonders. The state of bliss she finds with Neil -- on a train to Paris, on the shores of Mont Saint-Michel, on the plains of Oklahoma -- is inevitably, mysteriously fleeting. She ponders, in French: "Where are we when we're there?" "Why doesn't it last?"
The film creates other questions, too, none more than: Ben Affleck can speak French?? But the actor's character hardly talks at all, and he moves hulkingly through the film, mostly leaving the meditations to Marina.
Malick gives his actors wide berth to explore their characters, shaping his films largely in editing. (Performances by Rachel Weisz, Michael Sheen and others didn't make it into the final cut, a not unusual fate for members of a Malick cast.) But the performances in "To the Wonder" aren't quite up to the task. Affleck is sensitive but zombie-like. Kurylenko, a gorgeous former model who played a Bond girl in "Quantum of Solace," is a captivating, lithe presence but her playful improvising veers too close to precious (a danger for any Malick player). Perhaps their characters were too thinly scripted by Malick, if "scripted" is even a relevant word.
Whereas "The Tree of Life" put its characters in a cosmic, mythical context (oh, yes, there were dinosaurs), "To the Wonder" places its characters' deliberations on love in the spiritual realm. Javier Bardem plays a Catholic priest undergoing a crisis of faith. He meanders morosely among the town's poor and imprisoned in what feels like -- compared to the lengthy, dreamy intimacy with the likes of Kurylenko, McAdams and Affleck -- token slumming with less physically blessed humanity.
When the papal concave gets a look at the regal Bardem robed in vestments, they may wonder if perhaps they missed the boat. His priest is a tangential character with little connecting him to the couple, but his role is to, by association, bond their earthly affection with God's love. One wide-eyed bit character exclaims to him at a window: "I'm feeling not just the natural light. That's the spiritual light!"
Cinema is a cathedral for Malick, and in it, light is heavenly. Much of the film, with cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, was shot in the golden glow of "magic hour." You will seldom see a more majestically shot movie, one both impressionistic and detailed, sensual and grounded. Even if other elements of the film are lacking, the sheer inventiveness and variety of the contrasting images keeps you riveted.
"To the Wonder" isn't the finest Malick film. But if it's a failure, it's the best kind. It strives, in a superficial medium, to communicate something universal about our inner nature. It seeks beauty in the world and finds it everywhere, from the shores of Normandy to the grocery store aisles of Oklahoma.
It may be easy to laugh at, but wherever the love that loves us is, it's in this movie.
"To the Wonder," a Magnolia Pictures release, is rated R for some sexuality and nudity. Running time: 113 minutes. Three stars out of four.


text:
Contribute to the session development in Theme 4 by emailing your ideas to the coordinators for each topic.
For the Right to Water and Sanitation (RTWS) to be truly meaningful, its recognition must result in improved access to water and sanitation especially for the poor and vulnerable, as well as in conflict situations. Is the RTWS really making a difference to the poor and marginalized? How can they use the RTWS as a tool to gain access and to hold governments and other actors accountable? What are the actions to enable its implementation if it should be a tool for accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals? Though the Right to Water has been clarified, do we have the same level of understanding of the meaning of the right to sanitation and do we know how to implement it?
1) View the latest information on the development of this topic2) View the list of sessions under this topic
An independent regulatory framework for operators and service providers is being promoted world-wide as a means of providing clarity on roles and responsibilities and of achieving improved service and economic performance, but will regulation work in all situations? What is the current situation and what role can regulatory frameworks play in the future with regard to the (re)use of waste water, or for the sustainable use of groundwater resources?
While the concept of "water ethics" seems unquestionable, enabling better water governance and management requires a consensual definition – is this possible? The creation of such a standard would also encourage the engagement of stakeholders in decision-making processes that are transparent, that create accountability and that provide access to justice. What additional measures can achieve this?
As economic and labour-force circumstances continue to evolve, the roles and responsibilities of both public and private organizations in the provision of water services likewise continue to evolve. In this context and in addition to increased outsourcing of specific functions to the private sector, communities are turning to alternative models of service provision including "corporatizing" their utilities under public ownership, delegated models of service provision, and hybrids involving small-scale service providers. In some cases, these changes have been controversial because of fears of the loss of community control as a consequence of increasing levels of private sector involvement.
Photo credits: Creative Commons - World Bank
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 3
Theme 4
Theme 5
Theme 6


text:
About Us
We're looking for new writers to join us!
Modern Warfare 3's Season of content is coming to an end. Here are the final release dates
posted: 8/2/2012 6:41:00 PM
More On:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Its almost time for
Modern Warfare 3
's amazing season of DLC content to come to an end and Activision has released the details on the final pieces of content to be released and it looks to be some of the biggest content drops yet.
On August 9th Activision will release "Chaos Pack" and will introduce a brand new Spec Ops Chaos Mode. In addition three all new face off maps will be included along with four new Special Ops Missions. Chaos Mode still has traditional hoard mode gameplay but will now feature maps littered with power-ups allowing players to chain together the largest possible scores ever.
The Special Op's missions are titled
Arctic Recon
Light 'Em Up
Special Delivery
The Face Off maps are titled
Collection 4 Maps are titled
French Quarter
On September 6th the season will come to an end with "Final Assault" and will deliver a whopping five all new multiplayer maps.
Both Collection 3 and 4 will be released first on Xbox Live for $14.99 and will be available to Premium Elite members at an earlier date
Collection #3: Chaos Pack Releases on August 9 with New Special Ops Chaos Mode; Collection #4: Final Assault Closes the Season on September 6 with
Five All-New Multiplayer Maps
Season Will Have Delivered Fans Unprecedented Value of 29 Pieces of Content
Santa Monica, CA - August 2, 2012 - The Call of Duty®:
Modern Warfare® 3
Season of Content wraps up with the last two Content Collections - Collection #3: Chaos Pack and Collection #4: Final Assault - set to release on the Xbox 360 on August 9 and September 6, 2012 respectively. The Call of Duty:
Collection #3: Chaos Pack, will introduce gamers to the brand new Special Ops Chaos Mode, in addition to offering three all new FACE OFF Maps and four new Special Ops Missions. The final Collection #4: Final Assault will be released on September 6 and deliver five all-new Multiplayer Maps.
By its conclusion, the season of content will have delivered an unprecedented depth and variety of content to fans worldwide - including 29 pieces of Call of Duty:
Modern Warfare 3
DLC (including three free maps) and introducing the new multiplayer FACE OFF and all-new Special Ops Chaos Mode and delivering Special Ops Missions in DLC for the first time in franchise history.
Call of Duty: MW3
Collection #3: Chaos Pack offers extensive solo and co-op gameplay for the Special Ops enthusiast, featuring four brand new Special Ops Missions - Vertigo, Arctic Recon, Light 'Em Up and Special Delivery - and FACE OFF maps - Vortex, U-Turn and Intersection. Introducing a new way to play
Call of Duty
®, Special Ops Chaos Mode delivers a frenetic form of combat that demands players to outlast waves of enemies, while chaining kills on maps littered in power-ups to achieve the highest possible score on fan-favorite multiplayer maps Resistance, Village, Underground and Dome.
The final act of the
Call of Duty: MW3
Content Season, Collection #4: Final Assault, is tailored toward hardcore multiplayer fans, and features five all-new multiplayer maps. "Gulch" sends combatants into a forgotten mining town with mine shafts and equipment sheds for cover. In "Boardwalk," fun in the sun on the Jersey Shore means facing enemies on the beach. "Offshore" and "Decommission" will test players' sea legs on deadly oceanic oilrigs and among a maze of rotting ocean liners respectively. Rounding out the collection is a trip to the French Quarter in a war-torn New Orleans, where "Parish" pits players against one another amidst the city's rubble.
Both Collection #3: Chaos Pack and Collection #4: Final Assault will release first on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $14.99. The Collections will be released on other platforms shortly thereafter. The DLC included in the Collections will be made available to Premium Elite members at an earlier date; for current release dates for Premium Elite Members, go to
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
is published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), and co-developed by Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For more information go to
or check out @InfinityWard or @SHGames on Twitter.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, mainland China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including with respect to the release date of Call of Duty: MW3 Collection #3: Chaos Pack and Call of Duty: MW3 Collection #4: Final Assault, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
, and
are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.
Xbox 360 is either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.


text:
| 3.1°C Belfast
Hull manager Steve Bruce bemoaned an "injustice" against his side after a wrongly-awarded throw-in allowed Stoke to claim a late equaliser at the KC Stadium.
Bruce was unhappy about a penalty decision in last week's 1-0 win at QPR and was again left frustrated with the officials after the Potters snatched a 1-1 draw against 10-man Hull.
Their goal, bundled in by Ryan Shawcross, came seconds after referee Jonathan Moss had given Stoke the throw, despite an apparent deflection off one of their players.
Nikica Jelavic's poacher's finish had put Bruce's men on the cusp of a second successive league win for the first time in almost a year despite James Chester's 14th-minute sending off.
But instead of celebrating three points, the Tigers boss was left exasperated.
"We feel an injustice because you can see how blatant it is," he said.
"Their player ran away and didn't want to even take the throw-in. Surely that's an indication to the referee or the officials to say, 'hang on a minute, it must have hit him'. It wasn't even a slight deflection either. Everyone in the ground must have seen it except for the officials.
"I expect three officals to get something as blatant as that throw-in right...they're only 30 yards away and I saw it.
"They said to me I was only guessing but when you see it's ridiculous."
Bruce tried his best to stay on the right side of tactful, wary of attracting disciplinary action, but was aggrieved enough after his side's hard-working effort to make his point.
"I got into trouble twice last year so I've vowed I'm not going to give the FA any more money," he added.
"But we've had two shocking decisions in two weeks. Last week it was an awful penalty in the last 10 minutes but it didn't count (against us), it was saved.
"Given the circumstances you would accept a point because we were down to 10 men in 15 minutes. But it's difficult to take and it's difficult for the players because the determination was manful to say the least."
Potters boss Mark Hughes, who saw his side beaten by Aston Villa last week, was disappointed with the way Stoke went about their business but is pleased to have registered a first point of the campaign.
"Given the situation we found ourselves in we didn't take the best from that situation," he said.
"We found ourselves up against a team with 10 men and first and foremost you don't concede a goal. So we found ourselves in a situation entirely of our own making.
"We needed to show a little quality and guile and use our intelligence to understand what was required.
"We didn't do that to a great extent in the second half.
"In the end we've taken an away point and that's something we haven't done too many times on our travels so to get a point in our first away game, I would suggest, is a good sign.
"But we're an honest group and we know we can do better than that."


text:
This is Why Traditional Car Insurance is Unfair (Part II)
Have you read Part 1?
Why Traditional Car Insurance is Unfair To You
Awesome. We're not quite finished. Here are more ways traditional car insurance is less than fair.
It's unfair because shopping for it is bad. Really bad.
The old way: As it stands now, you have two choices when purchasing traditional car insurance:
Choice A: Find an agent.
The problem? Simple economics. Agents work on commission. The more they sell you, the more they make. And that means that you'll often end up paying more for insurance products and add-ons that don't actually make sense for your situation.
Purchasing insurance from an agent is also inconvenient and time-consuming. Who wants to take the time anymore?
Then there's Choice B: Figure it out for yourself online. But there's a reason no one wants to do that: shopping online for car insurance involves lengthy forms, invasive questions, confusing terms, and hours of frustration.
(And all the shiny ads for comparison shopping websites? They exist for one reason only: to gather your data and sell it -- usually to insurance agents.)
Insurance shopping is one of the worst consumer experiences still available in 2018. It's twenty years overdue for massive innovation.
The Root way: Enter massive innovation. Root is app-based insurance. No agents. No hassle. You can sign up in under a minute, and you can choose your coverage right in the app. Easy -- it's a word you won't hear with insurance the old way.
It's unfair because so much money goes to advertising.
How many insurance mascots can you think of?
Auto insurance spends more on advertising than any other industry in the US. And that money is coming from somewhere. (Hint: your pocket.)
If you're a Geico customer, for example, about 6 percent of your policy check is going to their $1.1 billion annual ad spend.
Essentially, ordinary families are paying for all those car insurance mascots, celebrities, spots, and massive Super Bowl media buys. And that doesn't seem fair.
The Root way: A good product sells itself. You can't get a better endorsement than satisfied customers telling their friends about you. That's why you won't ever see Root spending your dollars on egregiously expensive Super Bowl ads. There's a better way.
It's unfair because they can raise your rates for no reason.
The old way: Price optimization is a particularly unfair practice of traditional insurers. It happens when insurers look at the customer base and use their data to predict who is least likely to cancel their policies even if their price goes up. Then they charge those people more.
Yes, you read that correctly. This is a price increase that has nothing do with changes in risk or behavior fluctuations-they just do it because it's possible.
Insurance companies often create complicated legal structures to allow them to do this legally. And they even do research to determine the maximum amount they can raise prices without inciting a mass exodus. They know their numbers.
The good news? Price optimization is now illegal in some states. And regulators are doing their job and cracking down on this practice wherever they find it.
But wouldn't it be nice if traditional insurance companies just did the right thing in the first place?
The Root way: Doing things the right way. Root doesn't engage in the practice of price optimization-they don't believe in it. Their rates are never arbitrary. You drive and Root gives you the rate you deserve.
Okay, by now you've got the picture. Had enough of unfair insurance?
It's time to try it the Root way.
Download the app and get started now.
Disclaimer for savings: Based on national reviews reported by actual customers.
Disclaimer for coverage: Coverage is available in the event of a covered loss. Exclusions may apply.
Form 1. Not available in all states.
ROOT is a registered servicemark of Root Insurance Company, Columbus, OH.
Sponsored content.
Fair Car Insurance sponsored by Root
This story is part of our special report titled Fair Car Insurance sponsored by Root. Want to read more? Here's the full list.


text:
If you can't visit the Tucson Gem Shows, you can live vicariously through this roundup of pearls and people. You won't even need the most important accessory in Tucson -- a good pair of walking shoes!
First stop was the NAJA booth to see author Renee Newman and pick up the terrific new edition of her Pearl book. Renee's books are full of wonderful photos and her clear writing style makes gems easy to understand and appreciate. For those who want to branch out, the Exotic Gems series is perfect for credentialed and armchair gemologists, alike.
My second stop was the AGTA show back hallway, to spend time with Jennifer Heebner, my favorite pearl-loving journalist. Okay, my favorite journalist, period. I know of no one as open to new ideas as Jennifer. She's working on some wonderful new projects and showed me some rough video that will be amazing when complete. Jennifer's insight into the people side of the jewelry industry is going to get a workout. Look for her own website, coming soon: www.jenniferheebner.com.
Then it was off to the show floor where I stopped by Atelier Marisa to see Marisa La Belle's latest designs. Here is a necklace with Tahitian keshi strands and drop pearl, centered around a gem carving made to look like a trapiche emerald. Later, you'll see the real trapiche emeralds in dazzling earrings that will be a "Pearls of the Week" feature on Pearl Guide.
Marisa La Belle, Atelier Marisa
Time with The Pearl Goddess, Betty Sue King of King's Ransom Pearls, is always well-spent. Betty Sue has a knack for finding pearls that cry out to be caressed and cherished. Here are some candy colored Edison or Edison-style pearls. The ovals in the second row are splendid. Betty Sue has started mixing them with golden South Sea pearls -- gorgeous.
Betty Sue King, King's Ransom
Stopping by the CPAA (Cultured Pearl Association of America) awards/display, Paula Crevoshay posed for a photo. Her magnificent earrings received a commendation award. Another future Pearls of the Week, they will be featured in a video that lets the gems sparkle.
Paula Crevoshay
While Paula is popular with the Pearl Guide forum crowd, the clear favorite is Hisano Shepherd of little h jewelry. Hisano's incredible black diamond and Tahitian pearl earrings received a CPAA commendation award. No photo of Hisano, as she was showing her jewelry in the handmade section of the NY Now Show, for which little h was immediately declared Best in Show by JCK.
Brenda Smith had her new necklace "stolen" for the public's viewing pleasure in the CPAA display. This amazing necklace featured the largest suite of round freshwater pearls available. Word got out and the necklace was purchased by a client just before the show began. Definitely a winner!
Brenda Smith
Another CPAA commendation award went to Michael Jensen for his intricate bracelet with green gold, exquisite tiny pearls and a whopping Tahitian pearl. I wanted to visit his booth at another show to hear the story behind his whimsical bracelet, but ran out of time.
Kathy Grenier, of Imperial and CPAA, pointed out the wonderful carving work within these earrings by Elizabeth B. Kirby of Elizabeth Blair Fine Pearls and helped me to get a photo where it could be seen and appreciated. These would be perfect bridal wear.
Elizabeth B. Kirby
Helen Serras-Herman is an artist. The gem carving on her pearl and gem necklace is a regal example of her work, titled "Uranus, the Sky God". Helen is an FGA, has a Masters of Fine Art degree and has been inducted into the Lapidary Hall of Fame. You can read about her life on her website and check out her sculpture.
Helen Serras-Herman
We have been talking on Pearl Guide about the gem connoisseur experience to be found in Richard Wise's 2nd Edition of Secrets of the Gem Trade. Richard knows how to tell a story and illustrate it in the most beautiful way. The first edition was great, but this is sensational. Here is Richard working the Author's Table at the AGTA Show.
Richard Wise
This is Tucson we are talking about, so we must include a giant crystal photo. It was taken in front of the Riverpark Inn, where the Pueblo Show was in full force. I procured a volunteer to stand nearby to give reference to the enormous size. If you love rocks, this show literally has tons of them.
Back on the pearl prowl, I headed to the GJX Show where I visited Pacific Coast Pearls. They only deal in natural (wild) pearls. Tish Rankin graciously allowed me to take many photos, which will be shared later on Pearl-Guide. Here is a lovely clutch of pink conch pearls. My friend Jeremy Norris postulates that conch pearls are subconsciously enticing as they look like jelly beans. Definitely for adults!
Tish Rankin and Zachary Kottong
Sarah Canizzaro of Kojima Pearl Company is an active member of Pearl Guide and another favorite. Sarah shows in partnership with Fuji Voll of Pacific Pearls. Together, their booth is a little slice of pearl heaven where you can get the REAL Kasumi-ga-ura pearls from Japan. We will be featuring a wonderful video of the booth at a later date. For now, enjoy these luxurious earrings.
Sarah Canizzaro
Perlas del Mar de Cortez is the place for colorful Sea of Cortez pearls, also known as Cortez Pearls. You can see what I am talking about here. Douglas McLaurin-Moreno and Enrique Arizmendi-Castillo enjoy sharing the colorful produce of the pearl farm. These pearls are little chameleons that shift color in different lights and are prized by jewelry designers.
Ikeda Pearl Company had an enormous pastel multicolor baroque South Sea pearl strand that was stopping people in their tracks. I was one of them!
You meet the greatest people in Tucson. The conversation starter for Teresa Polly of Jewelry Television was this dreamy pearl and opal brooch owned by Christopher Clark. It was featured in Volume 1 of the Sisk Gemology Reference by Jerry Sisk, whose untimely passing in 2013 left a huge void. Teresa shared that the three-volume Sisk Gemology Reference set is being completed and will be ready sometime in March. I've seen the first volume and it looks terrific.
Over at the GJX Show, I was perusing the booth of Brian Cook and Kendra Grace, Nature's Geometry, and commenting that I wished they had some pearls so I could put their jewelry online. Kendra said that I had to go see her daughters over at AGTA, where they were showing the line Quore which did have pearls. Not only pearls, but Cortez Pearls! Small world, eh?
Beautiful jewels and a beautiful family to end this review.
Blaire Beavers
Managing Editor
Pearl Guide News


text: A touch of the Wild West lingers on the beautiful scroll work of the knife and the scent of the American Cherry box. The 3.5 inch long knife features a stainless steel locking blade for long life and safety. The box is packed with foam inserts to keep the knife safe. Remove the inserts and fill the box with everything from baseball cards to a small tool kit. This box measures four inches by ten inches.


text:
What you need to know before you go
Canada is probably best known for its wild and expansive nature. The second-largest country in the world, by landmass, has only a few major cities, leaving huge areas of wilderness to explore. Expect breathtaking views across crystal-clear lakes, verdant valleys and rugged mountains. Take a good, deep breath of the crisp, clean air and just enjoy life for a while. For those with a love of the great outdoors, you can hit the ski slopes in British Columbia, go looking for moose in Banff, or enjoy the (better) view of Niagara Falls on the Canadian-American border.
The few large cities in Canada shouldn't be overlooked, though – each provides an interesting and unique cultural hub, from the French-Canadian Montreal to the cosmopolitan Toronto. Canadians are famously among the most polite and welcoming people on the planet, and that attitude has created a fascinating culture for you to explore, combining influences from around the world.
Top destinations in CanadaWhere will you go next?
Vancouver lies between the Pacific Ocean and Coast Mountains in Western Canada. Its glassy skyscraper skyline shouts modernity and business, but it's also one on the countries major cultural hubs. The Museum of Anthropology tells stories of art and history from around the world, and the Access Run Art Center supports emerging creatives.
To live like a Vancouverite, check out the Granville Island Public Market. There are tons of foodie delights on offer, from steaming fresh-baked bread to bundles of colorful vegetables, plus local arts and crafts sold by the artisans themselves.Read more


text: Kama Aina is the project of Takuji Aoyagi, and is a Hawaiian word for 'native man' or 'islander'. Music Activist shows off Aoyagi's unique perspective and is compiled from his many Japanese releases as a 'best of', or introduction. In Japan, Aoyagi is perceived as almost uncategorisable, although, like Tori Kudo of Maher Shalal Hash Baz, he is fascinated by native musics, even if his own music seems closer to a different Japanese underground; perhaps the one where Susumu Yokota expertly makes new tracks out of Young Marble Giants off-cuts. Aoyagi's main source is himself and he creates a homespun exoticism from his multi-instrumentalism and the found sounds he uncovers on his travels. For Aoyagi these travels are the key to this music. "Kama Aina represents me as a fan of music which comes from islands, as well as referring to myself living in an island country. I sometimes think that my music reminds me of a remote island somewhere. On the other hand it also sounds like a champroo music of an island, which is a melting pot of everything from the outside world. Again I thought the word would suit my position well." Aoyagi is a Tokyo resident with wanderlust, frequently travelling abroad to see the sights, meet people and collect sounds wherever he goes; Bali and Hawaii are two of the places which have left a very deep impression. Aoyagi formed a seminal rock trio, Little Creatures, in the late 80s while he was still in high school and ever since has been writing, performing, recording and producing music restlessly for his own projects as well as with Double Famous and Ram, and in collaborations with Kev Hopper, Lonesome Organist, Tommy Guerrero and others. He is a keen curator too, operating the Folkcore label with P-Vine, and the 'Orca' brand with Tamie J. Hirokawa, producing clothes, books and miscellaneous goods including a famous 'don't shoot' t-shirt for journalists in dangerous areas. He has composed for film and performance, and promotes an annual 'Book Worm' event. With Kama Aina, Aoyagi has shown an impeccable talent for writing instantly memorable melodies, and he's already constructed a uniquely sparse yet rich style across a catalogue of intimate, personal music which always aspires towards an all-encompassing feeling. Music Activist is a compilation of Kama Aina music selected by Aoyagi as his favourite recordings. This year he's planning to visit Hawaii, Dominican Republic and Spain, and will visit the UK in September for his first peformances outside of Japan.


text:
I have installed "AsteriskNOW 3.0.0" in Oracle virtual box and then physical machine OS is Windows server 2012.
SSH service stopped, after restarted the asterisknow instance on oracle virtual box, and then it looks like irrespective ownership permission after restarted the AsteriskNow instance.
- Code: Select all
Error is,
# service sshd start
/ Var / empty / sshd must be owned by root and not group or world-writable
# ll /var/empty
drwx--x--x. 2 asterisk root 4096 Jan 21 15:28 sshd
what i did?
changed the ownership permission by following command
- Code: Select all
#chown -R root.root /var/empty/sshd
then is started, it was working good
Then another few hours, it has changed as old setup and sshd service stopped
- Code: Select all
# ll /var/empty
drwx--x--x. 2 asterisk root 4096 Jan 21 15:28 sshd
Could you please assist me to identified the root cause?


text:
Smoke Cakes - 55% Exmoor Blueface , 25% Masham, 10% Grey Gotland, 10% Zwartbles - 5 x 20g/60m
Smoke is a beautiful rustic and charming yarn. Blended exclusively for Easyknits.co.uk in the UK. Blended to be a naturally smokey grey shade when left undyed, with the addition of our signature bright colours the natural fibres simply 'pop'. Perfect for larger garments due to it's larger skein size, and wonderful for shawls and accessories too due to it's beautiful texture. Use one of our Smoke Cake Sets as a gradient project solo or pair with a full sized skein of smoke to create the perfect shawl with pops of colour.
Use needle size 2mm-4mm.


text:
Breaking down the East Coast Pro Showcase bats
Hitters paled in comparison to pitchers at event, but some familiar names stood out
On Tuesday, the top pitching performances at this year's East Coast Pro Showcase were discussed. Now it's time to take a look at who impressed the most with the bat.
The ECPS comes right in the middle of the summer showcase season for 2014 high school Draft hopefuls, coming after the Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis and USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., but before the Area Code Games and Perfect Game All-American Classic in California and the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory, in Chicago.
The East Coast Pro Showcase was a four-day event held in Syracuse featuring prep talent from all over the eastern United States. Run by Major League scouts, it gives the industry an opportunity to see players over a longer stretch, allowing for pitchers to throw more than once (and for multiple innings) and for hitters to pick up double-digit at-bats.
Scouts were a bit more effusive about the pitching at the event this year, but that doesn't mean there weren't hitters worth talking about. And even if some of the top prep bats didn't stand out in this particular showcase, there is some optimism about the upcoming high school hitting class.
The list below reflects conversations with a range of scouts, from area guys up to scouting directors, about the top bats in Syracuse.
1. Nick Gordon, SS, Olympia HS (Fla.): Gordon didn't do anything overly exciting at the plate, though he still showed his innate ability to make contact and rack up base hits. He also showed defensive ability on both sides of second base. He's also playing in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and the Under Armour All-America Game.
2. J.J. Schwarz, C, Palm Beach Gardens HS (Fla.): There may not have been a hitter who helped himself more than Schwarz did in Syracuse. The son of former big leaguer and pitching coach Jeffrey Schwarz is on the USA Baseball 18 and Under Trials roster. Based on his East Coast performance, which saw him consistently hit the ball hard and pick two runners off of second, he should make that final squad.
3. Braxton Davidson, OF, T.C. Roberson HS (NC): He has a terrific left-handed swing that looks like it should allow him to hit for both average and plenty of power. He could join Schwarz on that USA Baseball roster heading to Taiwan at the end of August after playing in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
4. Kel Johnson, OF, Homeschooled (Ga.): While Johnson showed a solid approach at the plate, and scouts feel he has all the ingredients needed to be a very good hitter, he didn't show the pop he has in the past, like at Tournament of Stars. Scouts will get to see him at the Perfect Game Classic as well as the USA Baseball trials.
5. Chase Vallot, C, St. Thomas More HS (La.): While his ability to stay behind the plate might be up for debate, if Vallot swings the bat like he did in Syracuse, there won't be any questions about his hitting. He'll get to show what he can do at both All-American games later this month.
6. Forrest Wall, SS, Orangewood Christian HS (Fla.): Wall was dealing with some kind of shoulder issue, so he wasn't able to show too much in the field, but it certainly didn't hurt his hitting. He seemed to hit everything hard over the four days of the showcase.
7. Benny Santiago C, Coral Springs Christian Academy (Fla.): That's right, he's the son of the long-time big league catcher of the same name. And some of the skills clearly were handed down. The younger Santiago, who will play in the Perfect Game event, looked terrific both behind the plate and at it, sending line drives to all fields.
8. Michael Gettys, OF, Gainesville HS (Ga.): Gettys also pitches but didn't throw as well as he has in the past. He did show flashes of all of his tools at the plate and in the outfield. He'll have them on display at both All-American contests.
9. Isan Diaz, SS, Springfield Central HS (Mass.): At first glance, Diaz may not jump out at you, but he definitely is the type who grows on you the more you see him. That certainly happened in Syracuse, where the left-handed hitting infielder impressed with his bat. He might be an offensive-minded second baseman down the road.
10. Michael Chavis, INF, Sprayberry HS (Ga.): It was hard not to like how Chavis played the games in Syracuse, showing aggressiveness and hustle. He also showed the ability to run and play defense. He didn't produce a ton in games, but showed the ability to swing the bat aggressively as well. He will be playing in the Perfect Game Classic in San Diego.
Others of note: Luke Bonfield, OF, Immaculata HS (N.J.); Reece Cooley, OF, Fleming Island HS (Fla.); Drew Lugbauer, C, Arlington HS (N.Y.); James Marshall, South Gwinnett HS (Ga.); Justin Smith, OF, Bartram Trail HS (Fla.); Pavin Smith, 1B, Palm Beach Gardens HS (Fla.); Logan Sowers, OF, McCutcheon HS (Ind.)


text:
Have you ever heard of OpenStreetMap?
It's been a long time since people carried a paper map around with them on their holiday, or when exploring a new city or even find an important address in their own city. Nowadays, more and more people are using online digital maps. However, most users do not know that doing so in specific cases constitutes a breach of data copyright and they should pay to use these data. Why? In most countries geodata, i.e. data relating to geographical information, are not free but belong to the military or other institutions or bodies who have ties to the government.
From a legal standpoint, personal use of Google and other providers is only allowed under certain circumstances. Furthermore, the maps are often not up to date and incomplete, and errors are solved at a snail's pace. Let's not forget that complete maps found online do not come with the data used to map them in the first place.
What is OpenStreetMap?
The OpenStreetMap (OSM) project is part of the Wiki projects. The heart of the project are geodata contained in a database following Wikipedia's format. OSM's goal is to collect geodata, i.e. data on roads, houses, rail tracks, bike trails, rivers, forest and everything else you can see on a map. With these data, they plan to design a digital, free and open world map which can be accessed for free and modified by all interested parties. All this is possible because data is collected personally and not from previously existing maps. That means that the OpenStreetMap community possesses all rights. OSM data is license-free for everyone to use and pass on.
How do you participate?
There are different ways to take part in this project. You can draw the map, develop the project or collect data for the database with the help of GPS devices or aerial views, i.e. mapping. Another way to cooperate is to report errors via the OSM main page.
OpenStreetMap in the world...
Steve Coast founded the OSM project back in 2004. Since then, its users have grown to one million and OpenStreetMap communities have popped up all over the world. These cooperate in collecting and working on geodata on a voluntary basis, as well as developing the software. In this way, they try to stop depending on other providers. The communities host 'Mapping Parties' from time to time. Users select a location and map it, collectively uploading the collected data online. Beside these parties, there also is an annual OpenStreetMap conference, the "State of the Map".
...and in South Tyrol
The South Tyrol OSM community is alive and works closely with the Trentino OSM community. Thanks tothe OpenGisData.eu project of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, together with TIS innovation park and the South Tyrolean municipalities Consortium, another community focusing on Open Data popped up. The OpenGisData.eu project's aim is to make geodata of the province of Bolzano freely accessible, also enabling their use in OpenStreetMap. TIS innovation park organises regular Mappers' meetings. If you're interested in mapping, why not come along?
Mapping Projects
OpenStreetMap is the largest, free geo database in the world. There are all types of maps, such as hiking, biking, sailing and kayaking maps. There are also numerous 'specialty' maps that OSM members are working on. These focus on environmental issues and sustainability.
Further information
For those who want to explore the topic of OSM, we have listed below the most important links.
OpenStreetMap - information page
Have you ever heard about Open Data?
Open Data embodies the concept of making data open and accessible. Why? Data produced by public bodies, authorities and institutions are sources of untapped potential just waiting to be found. Imagine if all citizens had transparent access to geodata, traffic data, weather and environmental data, household data, statistics, publications and research findings, protocols, laws, sentences and decrees: only then a sustainable and democratic development can be possible.
So, what are Open Data?
To cut it short, Open Data are freely accessible data. This means that data of all sorts, previously paid for and managed information, would be open and accessible to everyone. Data are uploaded, used freely, modified and once again made accessible on safe platforms from an archive containing all type of information. There are no restrictions whatsoever. These could be geodata, traffic data, publications or research findings, didactic material or media content. Normally these data are accessible to everyone anyway. The only exception are personal data or data which may help identify a person- those remain inaccessible just as always.
Why use Open Data?
Transparency and collaboration equal development: Open Data contribute to the dissemination of useful information. Data and knowledge thus become available to everyone and affect the growth of our wellbeing as well as making the connection of different data volume cheaper. The idea behind Open Data is for data not to be used exclusively anymore: data should be free, accessible and available to everyone. For personal and commercial use, for example, such as the creation of apps. This step towards Open Data translates into an evolution and improvement of the professional profile of programmers and IT technicians. Traditional red tape belongs to the past. Information is passed on, developed and the cycle starts anew. It's a never-ending circle, a process of giving and taking, as well as being an unstoppable force of development. Thanks to Open Data records it has become possible to work on a project, improve it and pass it on to the next person. From here, the cycle starts again: there's no such thing as starting from scratch. This equals saving time and cutting costs relating to resources and their efficient use.
Open Data in the world…
Data are the new digital gold. Recently, various governments decided to publish their Open Data on their websites to ensure it received more attention and to raise awareness amongst the country's citizens. The EU stipulates that Open Data should be accessible and passed on to third parties in a clear, legible and usable format. The publishing of data relating to public administration is seen by the EU as an important contribution to a democratic and knowledgeable society. That's why every year an International Open Data Day is held across the whole EU. Open Data have led to the creation of other 'open' formats, such as OpenStreetMap, Open Source, Open Government, Open Content, Open Education, etc.
... and in South Tyrol
The Centre for Free Software and Open Technology at TIS innovation park supports projects encompassing Open Data in South Tyrol. International Open Data Day also takes place in South Tyrol, while during the SFScon- Free Software Conference, topics like Free Software and Open Source are presented and discussed.
5 steps to become an Open Street Mapper
Everyone can become an Open Street Mapper and make an important contribution to the improvement and completion of the digital Wiki world map. Curious? Interested in Mapping 101? Just follow these easy, 5 steps and you'll nail it!
Step 1: register online at www.openstreetmap.org
Go online and create an account. Your username is public, so pick one carefully. It will be linked to all your future contributions. Other mappers can contact you with the email address provided. They message you, and the message is then forwarded to your email. Your email won't be visible, sold or forwarded. Pay attention! OpenStreetMap (OSM) gives you the opportunity to register and log in twice, respectively to edit on the main page and on the OSM Wiki page. They are two different log in accounts.
Step 2: Create your profile
You will receive a confirmation email with an activation link as soon as you register. This will prevent anyone from logging in using your email. Time to create your profile and insert your location on the map. Other users can see who is in their area.
Step 3: Select a map layer
Select a map layer when working on the main page of OSM. You can choose between a regular, traffic, MapQuest and bike map layer.
Step 4: Modify the map
At the beginning, it makes sense to select a location you know like the back of your hand and where, maybe, you've already spotted an error. Now, select 'modify' from the drop down menu at the top screen. The following mapping tools are available: Potlach, JOSM, Merkaartor. Attention: data must be provided with characteristics.
Step 5: Upload data
What's next? Just upload the data to the OSM database and hey presto, you're a mapper! To verify if the newly uploaded data has reached the central server, go back to the main page and select 'map data' and have a look for yourself.
Still confused?
Here some useful link with beginners´ OSM instructions


text:
The Middle Class Shrinks and Income Segregation Rises
In 1980, 23% of U.S. lower-income households lived in majority low-income neighborhoods; in 2010, that had risen to 28%. At the other end of the economic scale, the share of upper-income households living in majority upper-income neighborhoods doubled, to 18% in 2010 from 9% in 1980, according to a new Pew Research Center income segregation report based on census data. Read more


text:
Can you imagine how much creating a television show set that looked like this would cost if Split/Second was a real reality television show?
More than I have in my pocket right now, I'd daresay. And that's being conservative. Say what you will about Disney's Split/Second - it does one of the core things I believe video games should do. Take what would be an excellent idea that's far too expensive or implausible in real life, and give it life. I'd tune in every week if this sort of thing were on television.
Split/Second is due out May 18 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.


text:
Head of hardened, tempered light alloy.
Permanent magnetic sections of special alloy with wide-radius action.
Non-magnetic coating is smooth for easier, better cleaning.
Recommended for Grinding Machines, Hydraulic Units and Large tanks.
On request, supplied with different length.
All orders placed before 4pm will be dispatched that same day.
Who do we use?
We use some of the top carrier companies in the world, although you can use your own carrier to collect the order. Below are our main carrier companies.
For all other International shipments, costs are clearly marked on the item listing.
Please make sure the ship to address you type during checkout is correct.
We are not responsible for any wrong or undeliverable addresses.
All shipments for UK Delivery over 1.7kg are despatched by Fed Ex, TNT, DPD.
All shipments for delivery within the EU will arrive on a 2-5 delivery service depending on Country location, please check for accurate delivery times within the EU with the Flowfit sales department.
All shipments outside the EU will arrive on a 3-7 day delivery service depending on Country location, please check for accurate delivery times with the Flowfit sales department.
All smaller shipments are despatched by Royal Mail Postal service.
We take great care packaging every item to ensure safe shipment to you.
Orders are generally shipped on the day of full payment or latest next day depending on when payment is received; all deliveries require a signature on delivery.
Click here to download our technical information


text:
In light of the COVID-19 situation, offers via Citi World Privileges may be temporarily disrupted due to travel restrictions and Government quarantine measures being implemented across the globe. Your health and safety is our priority and these will be available and accessible when it is safe to do so.
10% off
20% off
Up to 15% off
Otto Berg
Fashion and Accessories


text:
2 charged six months after homicide
Marquis Blassingame, Michael Lee charged in Darius Williams' death
Investigators with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have arrested two men in connection to the death of Darius Lee Williams six months ago.
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call on Jan. 8 requesting help at a home Springbrook Drive where a man had been shot.
Deputies arrived on scene and found Williams shot multiple times. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Deputies said the investigation led them to 18-year-old Marquis Syshawn Blassingame and 17-year-old Michael Mclean Lee. Both men have been located and arrested.
Blassingame and Lee have are charged with murder, conspiracy, armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Both men are being held without bond in the Greenville County Detention Center.


text:
This A list singer/celebrity/reality judge is trying to make amends. When crew members first saw her when filming started, they didn't say anything to her. When she asked one why they were not talking to her, they reminded her that last time they filmed she had specifically ordered that no one was to speak to her or look at her unless spoken to or looked at first. Our celebrity said that was the old her and this is the new her. Probably not booze that is making her so friendly, because I heard she gave that up. Pot? Adderall?
Christina Aguilera "The Voice"
Source: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net


text:
The procedure introduced in India in an attempt to make 'black money' null and void, or 'demonitise' such funds is inherent with a flaw, I believe.
In practice, the idea of forcing people to exchange their 1, 000 and 500 rupee notes has caused lot of frustration, with people having to que up outside banks to exchange these high denomination notes. Some of the banks don't have the money to give in exchange - such are the ques and such is the quantity of money being brought to be exchanged. So far, about five billion pounds worth equivalent has already been exchanged. The Indian authorities believe there still is about nine billion pounds worth of the high denomination notes still in circulation. Of that, they estimate it will whittle it down to approximately five billion poundsnt? worth equivalent which will not be able to be exchanged legitimately.
What will happen with this five billion pounds worth equivalent in rupees? By demonitising this, the Indian government is going to write it off, I suppose, making the possessors of the black money effectively holding worthless paper, never in the future being able to use their treasure which has been written off. Effectively, the Indian government surely is not going to reduce the amount of money in circulation by such a grand amount? It would be such a shame. Removing such an amount from circulation would create a squueze, probably necessitating an increase in the benchmark interest rate. When the Western nations with their reserve currencies have been printing more or authorizing more digitally, can India afford to be effectively tightening their money supply to their detriment?
It just not make sense, to effectively reduce to null and void what is part of their nation's wealth.
That is where I suggest the flaw lies.
What may be better may be to levy a tax of say twenty five or thirty percent on money that may be surmised to be black money. This way, the culprits with black money will be identified, charged tax on that, but they may have the oppprtunity to hold as savings in banks their hoarded money, effectively keeping it legitimately in circulation. This would be good for perpetuation of the nation's wealth. And the tax thus collected will prove useful for national purposes, be it providing education, social security, or building houses, schools, dispensaries.
Kind regards,
(C) copyright.


text:
Functional Exercise Fashion Write ins
Regular price
Introducing our new functional to do write in sets! This is perfect to compliment any of our Disorderly Planner kits.
Stickers can fit any planner.
Please select your color theme from the variants tab
This listing is for:
1 Sheet containing 6 stickers.
Made using HP scales. About 1.5" wide
Stickers are matte.
Our stickers work best with non-felt tipped markers or pens.
Can be used on:
Any flat surface - paper, plastic, glass, wood, metal
Personalize events, bumper stickers, food jars, address labels, and you own personal expression!
You may not re-sell our items or reproduce in any fashion.
All sales are final.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Please note: colors may vary slightly due to different computer monitors.
We do offer International shipping!
Follow DisorderlyPlanner on Instagram for sneak peeks, sales, coupons and more!
You can visit us at: WWW.DisorderlyPlanner.Com
Join us on FB under Disorderly Planner Chatter


text:
Brothers Osborne took the stage to perform during halftime of the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears football game this Thanksgiving (November 28). Just as the duo got ready to start their set, the entire stadium went black due to a power outage.
Due to the technical difficulties, the band wasn't able to really get going until about 7 minutes and 30 seconds were remaining on the halftime clock. The delay resulted in players coming onto the field before the show ended to get a warm up in before the second half. Fans present for the show in person along with those watching on TV, were not happy about the outage.
"And we've lost Brothers Osborne. Their mics went dead. What else can go wrong today?!" one person wrote. Another wrote, "the Brothers Osborne so electric, they blew a circuit. Actor, Chad Michael Murray, shared his thought tweeting, "How great is @brothersosborne !!!? Way to play Halftime boys!"
Despite the unexpected technical difficulties, Brothers Osborne still delivered an energetic and entertaining performance. They kicked off the set with their 2014 hit song, "Stay A Little Longer," followed by "Shoot Me Straight," the title track to their 2018 record. To wrap up their shortened performance, the duo sang their 2016 hit, "Ain't My Fault."
Last month, on October 11, Brothers Osborne released their brand-new live album, Live At The Ryman. The duo, which consists of John and T.J. Osborne, recorded their three-night, sold-out show at Nashville's famous Ryman Auditorium from earlier this year to compile the new record. The three songs performed during their Thanksgiving halftime show are included on the album along with an additional nine songs like "Rum," "21 Summer," and "I Don't Remember Me (Before You)."
The duo is currently on the road with Chris Stapleton for his All-American Road Show. Tickets to the tour are available here.
Photo: Getty Images


text:
90 West St, etc. instead of water?
I see. . . *a 'promotional' photo.
(Edited by Jasonik at 1:34 pm on July 23, 2003)
I am more than satisfied; I believe that the final design surpasses that of the original World Trade Center. 10/10
While nothing may ever live up to the Twin Towers, I am wholly satisfied with the new World Trade Center; it is a new symbol for a new era. 7/10
I have come to terms with the new World Trade Center; although it has a number of flaws, I find the design to be acceptable. 5/10
I am wholly disappointed with the New World Trade Center; we will live to regret the final design. 0/10
I am biased, but honest, and hate anything that is not a reincarnation of the original Twin Towers.
You would think that the view is post 09/11/01, but among other things, the ballfields are pre 09/11/01.
90 West St, etc. instead of water?
I see. . . *a 'promotional' photo.
(Edited by Jasonik at 1:34 pm on July 23, 2003)
A couple of items -
From the New York Times:
Gifford Miller, the City Council speaker, yesterday endorsed a resolution that called for the future World Trade Center memorial to list the names of firefighters, police officers and rescue workers separately from those of other victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. The resolution asks Gov. George E. Pataki and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to honor rescue workers by listing them together, by department, including rank, badge number and unit "in the context within which they gave their lives." The current guidelines for the memorial competition say there should be no hierarchy in listing the victims. * *Winnie Hu (NYT)
...and from NYNewsday.com, an expansion of the above item:
Council Dems Press Gov. on WTC Memorial
By Dan Janison
Staff Writer
July 23, 2003, 6:10 PM EDT
Democrats in the City Council sought Wednesday to increase pressure on Gov. George Pataki to create a separate memorial for emergency officers who died responding to the World Trade Center attack.
A non-binding resolution calls on the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. to recognize each uniformed rescue worker killed Sept. 11, 2001, with agency, rank, badge number and unit.
"So far the powers that be have turned us down," said Councilman G. Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), who's co-sponsoring the resolution with Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens)
"While the World Trade Center memorial will honor all victims of the 9/11 attack," Koppell said, "it is fitting" that those who rescued thousands of others be honored in an "appropriate" way.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other leaders have supported the "Fallen Heroes Memorial" promoted by Fire Department Lt. John Finucane, chairman of an ad hoc group advocating the project.
"Every soul that perished that day is equally precious," Finucane said on City Hall steps. "We just want to make sure these brave men and women are never forgotten. ... Please put pressure on the governor to come to his senses."
But Lower Manhattan Development Corp. spokeswoman Joanna Rose replied that it's the work of an independent jury selected for memorial purposes.
"Neither the governor, the mayor or the LMDC will select the 9/11 memorial design," she said, "because we respect the integrity of the independent jury which has been entrusted with this important responsibility.
"We hope the City Council will also respect the integrity of the process," Rose said.
...and again from NYNewsday.com:
WTC Plans Draw Concerns
By Matt Donnelly
Staff Writer
July 23, 2003, 11:58 PM EDT
Plans for rebuilding at the World Trade Center site drew an array of concerns Wednesday from worries that too much was going to be packed onto the 16-acre site to questions about the memorial and even some distress that birds might collide with the proposed new skyscrapers.
About 200 people from across the city spoke or listened at public hearings Wednesday discussing the environmental impact of the proposed World Trade Center memorial and redevelopment plans in back-to-back public hearings at the Borough of Manhattan Community College just blocks from the World Trade Center site. Experts, planners and concerned residents gave their response to a draft environmental impact statement by the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. detailing how the designs created by Daniel Liebeskind might impact the area's environment, including noise control, traffic patterns and air quality.
Some family members of those who died in the Sept. 11 attacks voiced concern over the memorial. A group called WTC Families for Proper Burial asked that the LMDC's proposal contain a plan to include the ashen remains of some of those who died as part of the memorial. The group said most of the ashen remains still are at Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island.
"Otherwise, I'll have to continue to visit my son at a city garbage dump," said Diane Horning, of Scotch Plains, N.J., whose 26-year-old son Matthew was killed in the attacks.
The LMDC is holding a competition for the memorial design.
The LMDC's plan includes more than 10 million square feet of commercial office space, 1 million square feet of retail space, 1 million square feet of conference center and hotel space, parks and a museum.
Two groups asked officials to rebuild the towers and restore the city's skyline. "It's a very tough problem when the only way you know how to build is outward," said Ron DeVito, founder of Team Twin Towers. Alex Butziger, who flew in from Germany for the hearing, said he believes "great things should be replaced with great things" and the plans don't provide that.
Several architects and city planners expressed concern over efforts to regain all the original office space, sacrificing the public's interest for commercial purposes.
"The should require a serious consideration of reduction rather than redistribution of the office and retail space on the World Trade Center site," said Rick Bell, executive director of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter. "Less is more."
Other residents focused on the secondary impact of the site. The New York City Audubon Society asked that planners consider how the site will be lit at night to keep from distracting migratory birds. One woman brought in a filter from her apartment to show how much dust was being kicked up from the construction.
The environmental statement is required by several federal, state and local agencies and is scheduled for completion by March 2004.
...and finally from Firehouse.com News, more grief from the Fam-a-Nazis' (with apologies to Rush Limbaugh for usurping his term) concerning the WTC Memorial:
9/11 Families Criticize Construction At WTC Site
A group representing the families of 9/11 victims is criticizing construction within the footprint of the World Trade Center and has submitted a request to the governor and to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation that the area be preserved.
The Coalition of 9/11 Families is comprised of 9/11 family organizations and represents thousands of family members, survivors and rescue workers, according to the group's website.
Coalition members did not return Firehouse.com's calls Monday through Wednesday, but told the New York Post last week that Governor Pataki has broken his promise to protect the WTC site by allowing the Port Authority to build four emergency exits including walkways and stairwells for a temporary WTC PATH station due to open in November.
The coalition is also asking New York senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton to sponsor a federal law barring further construction on the footprints, according to the Post.
The coalition's goal is to preserve the interior of the slurry walls for a future memorial, their website says.
"The Memorial Complex should be encased in the slurry wall from bedrock to surface level and above ground where the greatest concentration of human remains were recovered," the site says.
The website also states that, "The Coalition has taken the position that the PATH Tunnel and tracks which existed prior to 9/11/01 will be the only infringement on the Footprint area for transportation. All other transportation should be moved east of Greenwich Street. Infrastructure components within the slurry walls should be related solely to memorial components selected by the WTC memorial jury panel."
No Games With Ground Zero, Please
The profit motive must yield to the greater good.
Thursday, July 24, 2003 12:01 a.m. EDT
NEW YORK--The announcement of the collaboration between Daniel Libeskind, the architect of the winning design for the World Trade Center site, and David Childs, the architect working for Larry Silverstein, the developer who acquired the leases of the Twin Towers six weeks before their destruction on 9/11, is something that would be normal under any normal circumstances. This is common practice when more than one interested party is involved in the development of a site; properly pursued, the procedure usually works out to everyone's advantage.
But nothing is normal about this site. It was created by extraordinary circumstances requiring an extraordinary solution; the enormity of the disaster and the cataclysmic nature of the destruction turned a real estate operation into a mandate for a rebuilding plan in the city's greater public interest. Mr. Silverstein does not recognize that mandate. He has his own mandate, repeatedly expressed as his right to rebuild all 10 million square feet of pre-existing commercial space according to his own ideas and the terms of an insurance policy that are now unrealistic, impractical and hideously undesirable. He is intent on overriding the Libeskind plan that has been arrived at through a public process and endorsed by the people of New York and all the public agencies involved.
Mr. Silverstein already has a sweet deal in the control of this prime downtown commercial space, but in New York development circles, excess is never enough. To get what he wants, he is trying to hold the city and the plan hostage to the insurance money, although it is still an open question as to how much it will be, and where and how it will be used. Many factors are unresolved. What seems to elude him is that rebuilding Ground Zero is not the usual high-stakes real estate game to be played for top profit at the bottom line by whatever means are available; manipulating the system is not going to work here.
As gross as this reasoning is, it is the kind of self-interested opportunism that has been honed to a fine art by New York's builders. It is easy to understand. Developers are deal makers. They have never been known for their sensitivity to design or the urban environment. They are notoriously tone deaf architecturally.
Not only has Mr. Silverstein proved singularly resistant to the notion of any kind of responsibility beyond his commercial interests--a blindness to human and moral values that defies comprehension in these circumstances--he has also pursued those interests relentlessly. It can be safely assumed that he will continue to do so; he has been quoted as saying that he controls whatever goes on the site, and he obviously has not changed his mind. He sees himself as the victor in the proposed collaboration; it is clear that he views it as a way to put his architect, and his ideas, in charge.
This would be true only if his architect were an instrument of his own desires--developers are unusually good at finding them--but Mr. Childs, a distinguished practitioner in his own right, is not. Mr. Libeskind and Mr. Childs are top professionals with a great deal of mutual respect. Their collaboration is not a triumph for Mr. Silverstein or a step backward in the process, or a way of getting Mr. Libeskind out of the picture. Both understand that collaboration is accommodation, not nullification, and that the plan, while well defined, will require further design of its elements and of the buildings themselves. Changes are natural and inevitable as the proposal is fleshed out; they can improve and strengthen the plan without affecting its integrity.
The best line of defense against subversion or co-optation is the architects themselves. They know there is much work to be done. Their styles are totally different, but their abilities complement each other. Mr. Libeskind, a talented, innovative designer, is a seasoned, successful battler for his principles, but he is also a rational man open to negotiated improvements.
Mr. Childs, an experienced builder of skyscrapers, is in the sensitive position of representing a client who believes he can remake the plan for his own purposes. He will have a hard time finding a credible diplomatic way to promote an unacceptable agenda. As an architect and a New Yorker, he is aware that he has a professional responsibility to the official blueprint for Ground Zero and the future of Lower Manhattan. Whatever role he has been given must be supportive of the Libeskind design.
Mr. Silverstein will discover that he cannot direct the collaborative relationship. He has already found that the usual easy political accommodation for the city's builders is not forthcoming; the word from the governor's office, in response to his proposal to relocate the pivotal Freedom Tower from the northwest corner of the site to the transportation center for his greater commercial convenience, is leave the plan alone. The issue is far too public and emotional, and politicians can count votes as well as money.
It is much too soon to pick winners and losers. What happens next is what really matters; the outcome of the collaboration will determine the fidelity to Mr. Libeskind's vision and the fate of his design. So far, the process is on track. It is being followed intently by community groups and professional organizations whose knowledgeable and involved members understand the nature of betrayal and the need for commitment to the plan. They also can count votes. New Yorkers threw out substandard schemes once before, and they will be watching closely and critically again.
Ms. Huxtable is The Wall Street Journal's architecture critic.
I hope this proves to be true.Mr. Silverstein will discover that he cannot direct the collaborative relationship.
I have found Huxtable (agree or disagree with her) to be quite accurate in her predictions so far.
In any case, it will be interesting to get an alternative proposal out of the pairing.
by Peter Slatin
Larry Silverstein and architect Daniel Libeskind have reached a preliminary agreement about a subject that should not have even been on the table: who will control the ultimate development of office space at Ground Zero, and thus the ultimate use, configuration and appearance of the site. The agreement covers the 70 stories of office space in the blandly named Freedom Tower, Libeskinds 1,776-foot-tall structure. Yet it appears, sadly, to leave open the door for Silverstein to remix Libeskinds publicly recognized dare I say acclaimed? master plan like an engineer working a sound board. Implicit in Silversteins continued insistence on his right to determine the sites outcome is the suggestion whether intended or not that the most important question to be resolved at Ground Zero is the destiny and legacy of Larry Silverstein. Will the outcome be Silversteins city of commerce, or the capital of culture and memory called for overwhelmingly by the public and envisioned by Daniel Libeskind?
Silverstein has insisted from 9/11 forward on his leaseholders right to rebuild on a vast commercial scale what is inarguably a public place, owned by a public authority. Neither the Port Authority nor the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has addressed directly what they really desire of Mr. Silverstein or what they think of his intentions. At present, it appears that they are both willing to permit him to develop 10 million square feet of commercial space there.
Thus, the question still haunts: Whose place is this? By virtue of the Ports ownership, it is public land. Indeed, the precedent for less-than-heedful development there was set some 40 years ago when the Port chose to build the trade center, obliterating a neighborhood, disrupting an office market and inserting an eye-grabbing but unrewarding landmark. Now that the land has, through terrible ordeal, literally fallen back into the peoples purview, only Larry Silverstein, wielding his lease as if it were a deed, still insists on his right to shape the site for centuries to come. Is this good business or good government?
In the hard-won agreement between Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority that was concluded in July of 2001, the keys to the World Trade Center were entrusted not to a master builder or visionary city shaper, but to a proven, prudent manager of assets and a dedicated real estate developer. Stewardship of such a public trust extends outward and implies a willingness to demonstrate responsibility to a widening circle of constituents. There is an excellent opportunity here for Larry Silverstein to live up to his vision of creating a bold legacy for himself at Ground Zero. He can best do this not by insisting on dominating the outcome of development there, but rather by the more heroic and beneficent act of withdrawing, or at least cooperating by understanding his role and relevance amid a vast array of players.
Throughout his career, Larry Silversteins most important benefactor has been New York City. The city gave him the raw materials to work with, from banks to tenants to streets teeming with one of the greatest work forces on the planet. It gave him the platform from which he could make his fortune and stake his claim to an important place in the world we live in. Now, Larry Silverstein needs to give back to the community that has supported him from the start. It will forever honor his generosity.
What I cannot understand is that Silverstein at age 72 for what reasons is looking to make a profit in his lifetime. The original World Trade Centers took a decade to turn a profit, and notwithstanding a glut of 50 million square feet of empty space and still without a tenant for 7 WTC.
What Silverstein could however create is a legacy for him-self, for what he will be remembered for his vision, an effective financial failure. Or to adopt the vision of the architect for a world-class complex in the world's city, for which he chooses, he is largely in control.
Doesn't that just say it all. As much as I support replacing the lost space, whether residential, commercial or a combination, I just can't help but think he is trying to squeeze every penny out of the site.Larry Silverstein, wielding his lease as if it were a deed, still insists on his right to shape the site for centuries to come.
In any case, Silverstein is actually just the front man for a bunch of investors, it is not all his own money. I'm surprised the newspapers barely mention this. My opinion is that the silent inverstors are pressuring him and he would rather leave a legacy to his heirs than to the general public. It'll be a shame really if the Childs/Libeskind pairing fails.
I agree, Silverstein is missing a rare opportunity to attach
his name to history.
Another factor that doesn't get as much press as it should is the role of insurance companies. Besides the litigation on the site itself, there have been disputes over the surrounding buildings. At 7 WTC, the insurer is refusing to pay beyond 9/11/03.
Silverstein is a business man who fought for and won the lease for the World Trade Center. *It is about business. *He has loans on the purchase. He is still paying rent. *He is still REQUIRED top ay rent. *I don't undersatand all the questions of his motive or loyalties. *He is a business man protecting his investment. *His perspective is truly unique amongst all the other people involved - he is the only one who stands to lose big time in this process. He has an obligation to his employees, investors and family to see that the relevant provisions of his business contract (lease) are executed properly. *
You can't fault a business man for wanting to turn a profit . *And, if I were in his shoes, you better believe I'd be wanting to leave a legacy - LIKE A NEW WORLD TRADE CENTER - behind, especially if the power to do so were within my legal rights. *
Thank you for putting it in a better than I ever could.Quote: from BrooklynRider on 10:44 am on July 25, 2003
Silverstein is a business man who fought for and won the lease for the World Trade Center. *It is about business. *He has loans on the purchase. He is still paying rent. *He is still REQUIRED top ay rent. *I don't undersatand all the questions of his motive or loyalties. *He is a business man protecting his investment. *His perspective is truly unique amongst all the other people involved - he is the only one who stands to lose big time in this process. He has an obligation to his employees, investors and family to see that the relevant provisions of his business contract (lease) are executed properly. *
You can't fault a business man for wanting to turn a profit . *And, if I were in his shoes, you better believe I'd be wanting to leave a legacy - LIKE A NEW WORLD TRADE CENTER - behind, especially if the power to do so were within my legal rights. *
As far as I am concerned, unless the PA cancelled the leases on the WTC and payed off all the parties, Westfield, Silverstein, etc, for the REMAINING investment, Silverstein and Westfield (S/A) could have sued in a court for full control of the site and do whatever they wanted to. Instead, they chose to bow to the PA, several elected officials, and public pressure.
Despite what their chritics are saying, they are being very good and very generous corporate citizens.
The problem with Silverstein is that he is focused only on short term return on investment. I agree that in today's world that is what the real estate business his.
But, the WTC site is not just some other new developement. It is not as if he were developing some huge project in West Midtown. He must build for more than just business reasons in this case. His business interests have suffered greatly because of 9/11 and have to suffer more because of the "public" nature of the site now. I fully support him being able to rebuild all the space he lost. This does not mean that he should have complete control IMO.
So far, out of all the parties, he has done what I consider to be the only truely unforgivable thing in the rebuilding process. Namely, limited the heights of the buildings. This is the thing that has caused virtually all of the planning controversy on the site.
There is no legal precedent for Silverstein (or any other investor) to gain control of the site. He could have simply stopped making rent payments, the lease would have been voided, and any legal proceeding would be to settle any payments.Quote: from Chicagoan on 11:06 am on July 25, 2003
As far as I am concerned, unless the PA cancelled the leases on the WTC and payed off all the parties, Westfield, Silverstein, etc, for the REMAINING investment, Silverstein and Westfield (S/A) could have sued in a court for full control of the site and do whatever they wanted to. Instead, they chose to bow to the PA, several elected officials, and public pressure.
Despite what their chritics are saying, they are being very good and very generous corporate citizens.
Silverstein was never forced to make rent payments. In truth, he wanted to keep the lease, and the PA, eager to get out of the real estate business, was happy to let him keep it - that's why they made the deal in 2001. The PA has already taken the position that the insurance payments are transferable to the agency as owners, a claim that the insurers have not disputed.
As for Silverstein the businessman - even those paragons of capitalism, the Rockefellers, extended largesse to the city.
I have not seen the copy of the lease agreement between the PA and the Silvestein/Westfield (S/W) Group, but one of the main articles of that agreement is that they were legally and financially responsible for reconstruction of the center should it be damaged or destroyed. This was to insulate the PA from the cost of reconstruction. ( I assume that the PA was thinking of the 1993 bombing.)There is no legal precedent for Silverstein (or any other investor) to gain control of the site. He could have simply stopped making rent payments, the lease would have been voided, and any legal proceeding would be to settle any payments.
Silverstein was never forced to make rent payments. In truth, he wanted to keep the lease, and the PA, eager to get out of the real estate business, was happy to let him keep it - that's why they made the deal in 2001. The PA has already taken the position that the insurance payments are transferable to the agency as owners, a claim that the insurers have not disputed.
As for Silverstein the businessman - even those paragons of capitalism, the Rockefellers, extended largesse to the city.
First, the context of the conversation is "lease" not "ownership". Control of the site means the right to develop it as they wish and as is legally permissible as long as they fullfil their contractual obligation. Suing would have been to affirm that right, assuming no modifications to the lease had been made post 9/11.
Therefore S/W are forced to continue paying, specifically because it is what they agreed to, despite the destruction of the center, specifically because it was one of the central points of the agreement. In essence there was no provision for the discontinuation of the lease on the grounds of destruction.
It would be akin to saying that you are not "forced" to pay rent every month. You are lawfully "forced"/obligated to. Now if your lease says that you should still pay rent even if your apartment burns down, and it is legal to require this, and you agree to it, then you have to. It all comes down to the provisions of the lease, and that is not strictly within the realm of "legal precedent".
What I am saying, and as was postes by others here, is that there are a few people/organizations that have a financial stake here. To accept only that would be crude. But to also assume that it is crude to consider such motivations as just is irresposible to those who- in the end have to put the effort into building this complex. (Zippy, that last comment was not specifically directed to you.)