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Washington (CNN) - Sen. Chuck Schumer vowed Monday to offer legislation that would prohibit airlines from charging passengers a fee to carry on luggage.
Spirit Airlines recently announced a carry on fee ranging from $30 to $45 per bag, becoming the first U.S carrier to charge for carry on luggage.
The New York Democrat said in an interview on CNN that the new fees "step over the line" and if the Treasury Department does not answer his plea to prevent the fees from being implemented he is certain that the legislation will go through the Senate and the House "like a hot knife through butter."
so they will add it onto the ticket price instead. At least that would be more honest. I would be more concerned about getting trapped on the run way for hours with no food or beverage and pay toilets.
Wait, with wars going on in two theaters, unemployment increasing and Taxes abound our senate is actually spending time arguing if they should charge for luggage on flights??? Those evil airlines should be in prison. Come on Chuck, take a moment to soulve some real problems we are facing in this country.
Leave it to a democrat. Let capitalism run its course. If no other carrier is doing this, then people will switch to another carrier. Once they feel it in their pockets, they will change.
Great Job, Senator!
Informed Americans are getting tired of Corporate America running this country while they empty the purses of the American People. Even uninformed Americans (largely conservative, largely Republican) are frustrated. But uninformed Americans haven't quite yet figured out the true source of their frustration–they themselves, how they have been voting, their characteristically poor choices across many decades, and their characteristic gullibility which is so valued by the corporate and political elite these sheep so blindly serve.
We don't need to pass an outrageous law every time a corporation does something outrageous. What we need are well-regulated corporations. The bigger the corporation, the more comprehensive the regulations.
We have learned that a CEO will do pretty much anything for a hundred million dollars. He will cook the books, lie to consumers, lie to Congress, bribe elected officials, hide assets, hide liabilities, provide pretty girls (or pretty boys) to government officials, buy elections, pollute the ground/air/water, and sell poisonous toys to our kids.
An airline executive recently commented: "We have learned that good customer service does not always result in higher profits." The unspoken message is that bad customer service often does.
This is ridiculous. The Government has no business in sticking their nose into the fees that private companies charge for particular services. Next thing you know they will try to mandate that no fast food meal include over 50 french fries and the chain can't charge more than $4.99 for that meal.
If McDonalds wants to charge $100 for a value meal, then it is up to the consumer to decide that it would be better to go to Burger King for $5.
Likewise, it should be up to the consumer to decide when it becomes a better deal for them to fly Southwest as opposed to Spirit. The fee strucutres for all of the airlines is readily available and this is nowhere close to deceptive practices.
This is a freemarket system that is, yet again, being hindered by our oversized and exceedingly expensive government.
This should be a discussion about truth in advertising. Spirit Airlines is running a bait and switch on their pricing.
The Brand has no integrity with such shoddy business practices. I am not sure we need new legislation to highlight a obvious bad business practice.
Tell it the way it is sell it the way it is.
Schumer will raise taxes that can't be avoided with no thought to the people he hurts, but when private businesses charge decreationary fees that can be avoided by the customers, he wants laws to control them. He has to know what he is doing.
Interesting how Spirit Airlines has implemented a fee for carry-ons to force us, the consumer, to pay the other baggage fee, for checked bags. That puts us in a forced fee situation. If the other airlines follow suit the true price of an airline ticket has just risen by 20% on a $200 ticket.
Option 1 – Fly another airline. Option 2 – Don't fly. Option 3 – Fly naked. Option 4 – Make your feelings known to the airlines and push for these fees to be dropped.
Good to know that even the littlest of things get attention these days!
Thanks, Chuck.
glad someone is doing what is right to stop this madness of harrassment fees from the big copanies> These fees seems unnecessary, and it wouldn't help the airlines. These fees are another try sample why big companies should have regulators.
I think all airlines should charge for carry on luggage. What was meant to be a small bag or two of a personal nature, like a purse and a meds bag has become a crazy world with people taking a five day vacation with carry on bags. They fill up the overhead bins, the bags are heavy because they are loaded down, and i have been hit on more than one occasion by a person trying to heft the overburdened bag over their heads and missing the mark. it slows the airlines down and every one behind them in line waiting to board while they try to place these bags in the overhead bins. then it causes everyone to have to wait once again while they try to heft the things out of the overhead bins once the plane has landed. it is unfair for the rest of us who use the check bag service. I also think carry on bags r dangerous not only from a terrorist standpoint but also in case of a accident the bags become lethel weapons and r in the way.


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Tucker's Bistro has always held a kind of enchantment for us, as for many other customers. The tree outside the restaurant wrapped in tiny white lights is only the beginning. Inside there are large chandeliers created from wired ribbon and multi-colored lights; the walls are a rich scarlet with deep green accents; they are comfortably crowded with an eclectic collection of oil paintings, sconces, and mirrors.
Each linen-draped table has a different lamp and salt-and-pepper combo. This time our lamp looked like a slave holding an Art Deco globe on his head; the s&p were tiny German steins. If all of this sounds a bit baroque, it is, but in a fascinating, transported-to-a-European-bistro kind of way.
Tucker's Bistro | 401.846.3449 | 150 Broadway, Newport | Mon-Sun, 6-10 pm | Major Credit Cards | Full Bar | Sidewalk-Level Access
Reading through both sides of the menu and trying to balance what we might indulge in, I was drawn to the Delicata squash and maitake risotto with mascarpone cheese and a sage-tinged brown butter ($9.95). But I also loved the sound of Thai shrimp nachos and knew it would thrill Bill ($12.95).
The shrimp were farm-raised in Mexico (I'm not sure if that qualifies them for sustainability and chemical-free status, but I took a chance). The five large shrimp were sautéed with scallions, leeks, and sweet red peppers and then tossed with a coconut red curry broth, along with crisp-fried wontons to serve as the "chip" in these nachos. Although a bit spicier than I expected, I could easily hie myself weekly to Tucker's just to eat it again. Bill was, indeed, thrilled.
The risotto was, unfortunately, undercooked, but the chef admitted his mistake and gave it another round before packing it up for our take-home bag. I didn't pick up the squash taste, but the mushrooms and sage gave it a wonderful fall earthiness.
From the salmon, rib eye, spinach fettuccini, chicken breast, scallops, and duck dishes on the entrée list, we chose the latter two. The duck is from Long Island's Crescent Farm and is served as a trio of preparations ($28.95); the scallops are from George's Bank ($27.95).
The seared scallops were accompanied by pomegranate spaetzle (curly homemade noodles) and sautéed salsify in a sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke) sauce. There was a hint of the curry oil in the seared edges of the scallops, and the plate was decoratively sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. The accompaniments to the scallops were a perfect foil for their ocean sweetness.
Bill's triad of duck was astounding. Slices of medium-rare duck breast were draped over a "risotto" made from sunflower seeds instead of rice; a confit of the dark meat had a small egg yolk-like circle of mango-and-ginger sauce perched on it; house-made duck prosciutto was tossed with a bit of beets and greens in a Grand Marnier-almond vinaigrette. "I haven't had better duck," Bill exclaimed.
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360U , Laura Beyer and Maria Van Abel
Laura Beyer and Maria Van Abel created 360U as a way to merge their business training, love of softball, and desire to empower young women. The athletes in their program not only improve their softball game, but also gain life skills like increased confidence, situational strategies, and mental approach techniques. Beyer and Van Abel, who are sisters, started by jotting down ideas on a whiteboard – and by seeking help from SCORE. Last year, they registered more than 1,500 athletes for 360U lessons and project that they will register 4,000 by the end of 2018.
With a four-to-one instructor-to-student ratio, 360U sessions help girls work through anxieties and pressures they feel about softball. In the process, the girls become more confident individuals and carry that confidence out into the world. 360U offers camps, one-on-one instruction, and small group lessons, even assisting families with the college recruitment process. Parents attest that they've seen their daughters' confidence and skills transformed through their participation in the program.
Beyer and Van Abel leased their own headquarters three years ahead of projection, nearly doubling their income between 2016 and 2017. They now have zero debt and no outstanding loans. 360U now employs five part-time staff members and has plans to offer an online instructional forum to reach athletes and coaches across the country. In 2018, 360U was a finalist for the 2018 American Small Business Championship
Beyer and Van Abel worked with SCORE mentor Jim Heiting, which they say was the best decision they have made. Beyer says, "Through Jim, we have found direction for ALL business functions including payroll, marketing, taxes, the hiring process, asset management, legal questions, sustainable growth, planning, and many other areas. Jim does not simply give us a quick answer – he is extremely thorough and has encouraged us to understand the functions and processes of all of the aspects of our business, versus just outsourcing tasks."
According to Beyer, Heiting was instrumental in helping 360U lease its own facility. "Had Jim not encouraged us to forecast and understand the relationship between our growth and facility needs, we may not have had the foresight and confidence to take the leap towards leasing our own space as quickly as we did," says Beyer.


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Benjamin Levisay's open letter on why Winter 2016 issue of The Knitter's magazine, (in print and digital format) is the final issue of Knitter's Magazine.
From the screenshot.
January 17, 2017
Dear friends of Knitter's Magazine,
It's been 32 years and 125 issues—from K1 (that's my twin brother on the cover) to K125—and we feel fortunate that you have joined us on the Knitter's journey.
Over 3+ decades the worlds of publishing and knitting have evolved. To meet the new challenges, we have grown along the way—happily adding XRX Books, STITCHES Events, and an active digital presence. Meanwhile, the major shift in the marketplace from paid-print to free-digital content required different approaches. Now, the recent retirement of key members of our publishing team allows us to refocus for the next generation of XRX, Inc. So, K125 (Winter 2016, in print and digital format) is the final issue of Knitter's Magazine.
We couldn't be here without you, and we are dedicated to doing our part to continue a good working and knitting relationship with each of you. Individual letters are in the mail to our subscribers (so we can make arrangements to reimburse or credit for remaining issues), advertisers, contributors, shops, and other associates. Note: If you're a subscriber, haven't received your letter, and it is after February 1, 2017, please call Sandy at 800-237-7099, extension 10 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com so we can track down the problem and take care of it.
Back to the refocus: STITCHES will continue to be front and center. Our events are full of inspiration not only for knitters and crocheters but also for quilters, sewers, weavers, embroiderers, and other crafters. This has happened spontaneously, and now we are deliberately adding those choices to our teacher and vendor lists while maintaining a strong core of knitting and crochet. Watch for new STITCHES events—Expos and Camps—and the occasional XRX Book.
So…what else is on the horizon? Soon you will see our website change from the KnittingUniverse.com to STITCHES.Events. Our editorial team, led by Rick Mondragon, will produce and publish a wide range of projects and articles on that website. This gives us a platform for cool, high-quality content, which will be free to you and anyone who wants to share our interests, experiences, and archives. We know you're going to love what we have in the works.
Knitter's Magazine grew out of our passion for knitting—in all of its colors; teaching—in all of its voices; and learning—in all of its wonder. Our newest "pub" will be on-line, free, and cross-craft, extending beyond knit, crochet, and other fiber and fabric crafts—creating a space big enough for all we love to do, all we love to make. We're cycling back to our beginnings with energy, passion, and, we hope, you.
Thank you for your friendship and support of Knitter's Magazine. We look forward to "seeing" you online and at one of our STITCHES Events!
All my best,
Benjamin Levisay
XRX, Inc — STITCHES Events, Knitter's Magazine, & XRX Books
Link: http://www.knittinguniverse.com/KnittersOpenLetter


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AMBIG Arizona January 12 from Ambig on Vimeo.
The Pig Skate tool has the usual suspects but what makes it stand out from the rest is it's self-aligning axle re-threader. You know how it is, your axles get beat and you don't want to carry some gargantuan tool around. The Pig tool is it. Comes in neon colors and black too. Foundation Team dudes Merlino and Dakota rock the Pig Tool with every set up.
Demand from your local skate hack! If they fail you - Shop.TumYeto.com.


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By chance I was in my home town of Harpenden on Sunday, and after the 9.45 Mass many people from the Catholic church went down the road to the United Service of Remembrance round the War Memorial on Church Green.
It's years since I have been present for this. I have memories of a few hundred people scattered around the green in the centre of town. But this Sunday there must have been a crowd of over two thousand people, spilling onto the surrounding roads. Perhaps it has been growing over the years; perhaps it was particularly large this year.
It was very moving, and very Christian! Prayers, hymns, readings. The names of the dead were read out. And it's so easy to forget, but the whole town was gathered round a standing cross (see the old postcard above). I've wandered across the green a thousand times over the years (we moved to Harpenden when I was four), but I've hardly stopped to reflect that the focus of unity for the town was and still is the Cross of Jesus Christ. And when people want to reflect on death and life, remember their loved ones, or just come together as a community conscious of itself and its history – they gather round the Cross.
I'm not suggesting that everyone there had faith, or even that Christianity is on the increase in Hertfordshire (who knows?). But the huge crowds present this Sunday made me wonder if there is a deepening hunger for community and for a sense of connection with those in the past. Maybe we are more aware of our military than we used to be; maybe it's the patriotism of the Jubilee or the communitarianism of the Olympics and the Paralympics; maybe we just long to feel more connected.
This was civic religion at its best: people still broadly connected with the nation's Christian faith, even though there would be various shades of belief and unbelief; people finding that this faith gives them a unity with each other, and a way of making sense of their human struggles, that perhaps they wouldn't find in any other place.
And a final note about purgatory: It was an ecumenical service, but I was fascinated how each prayer spoken was actually a prayer for the dead. We kept hearing phrases like: 'May they find the fulfilment in God they were longing for'; 'May they rest in peace'; 'May they come face to face with the Lord'. All of these 'may they…' prayers suggest, theologically, that there is still something to be achieved or worked out for those who have died. In other words, this wasn't just a service of remembrance – whatever the service sheet suggested – it was also a service of prayer for the dead. I don't think this was very conscious or theologically explicit, but it shows how hard it is to just remember the dead without actually praying for them – at a psychological level. And a Catholic would add that this makes theological sense as well!


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Zebra 2.5" x 1" Multipurpose & Barcode Labels Direct Thermal Labels
Dimensions: 2.5" x 1" Colour: White, Direct Thermal, Permanent-Adhesive, Labels per Roll: 1380
Compatible printers include but not limited to: GK420T, GX420T, GX430T, GK420D, GC420D, GC420T, GX420D, LP 2824, LP 2844, LP2442, TLP2844, ZP450, LP2442, LP2443, LP2642, LP2742, LP3642, LP3742, TLP3842, TLP3844Z, R402, T402, G Series
- 1" Core Perforations between each label. Commonly used for Amazon FBA, address labels, UPC codes, barcode labels, postage, mailing & shipping labels and other identification purposes
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Thanks for reaching out! While you wait for confirmation from an Apptentive team member, you may find these free resources to be of interest:
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Learn how to fight feature creep, deliver the right value, and translate vision into action. Let us help you revitalize your product roadmap today, and help make 2021 your year.
Request a Demo
We tailor each demo to your specific business needs. See it for yourself and contact us today!
Thanks for reaching out! While you wait for confirmation from an Apptentive team member, you may find these free resources to be of interest:
GuideView resource
7 Steps to Product Roadmap Success
Learn how to fight feature creep, deliver the right value, and translate vision into action. Let us help you revitalize your product roadmap today, and help make 2021 your year.
Mobile Marketing
Better ratings for your applications
[Editor's Note: Due to the popularity of this post and the ever-changing nature of the app stores, we've released a free guide full of actionable steps on securing better ratings, rankings, and reviews for your app. Enjoy!]
Begging for better ratings is lame
It's a commonly held belief that better ratings and reviews will lead to more success for your app. As a result, we see a lot of developers experimenting with ways to get ratings.
- Asked all of your friends to download and rate your app
- Used your Twitter account to remind every follower that they should check out your app and rate it
- Told every friend you have on Facebook to download your app and like the Facebook fan page you've made
- Installed code in your app that prompts a user to rate based upon how many days the app has been installed
If you've been doing this, it's not the worst thing in the world. After all, you're trying to grow your business. We understand why you're doing it and we think you're ahead of many developers who aren't even thinking about how to help themselves out.
There is, however, a better way. Asking for ratings needs to be about YOUR APP CUSTOMER.
Stop yourself and think about the rating process in this way:
How can you make your customers' lives better by asking them to rate you?
This is a challenging question for some developers. Fortunately, we're learning about this every day with our customers and we've discovered a few principles you might find helpful in thinking about ratings, reviews and the overall customer experience:
Ask a simple question: how many people love my app?
Remember: the surest way to better ratings is to have a better app FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. It's that simple.
Your app doesn't have to make the entire world like it. It just has to have a rabid and loyal fan base.
Like Apple.
Got it?
Start with that goal in mind and work backwards from it.
You have limited time. Learn FAST.
A lot of our customers have fewer than 10 people working on an app. Not a lot of resources. Which features do you prioritize? Which bugs are the most important?
One of the reasons we're big believers in the Lean Startup movement is that it's designed for organizations with resource constraints. A major benefit of the approach is to reduce waste by reducing the number of useless features you build as you discover your market's needs. The more your product benefits from what you learn on a daily basis, the more likely you are to be efficient in its creation.
Ratings and reviews are prime opportunities for you to learn. Here are ways in which you can utilize ratings/reviews and customer feedback as learning tools:
- The comments from ratings and reviews can inform your view of what users care about
- The velocity of your ratings, that is, the number of ratings you get per day or per week can inform you about changes in customer perception. Are you suddenly seeing a lot more ratings and reviews? Did you make a change to your app that creates a reason for people to be more active in giving feedback?
- The score – the actual values that people are giving you. This is an obvious one isn't it? Most people just focus on the overall rating, however, instead of analyzing how it changes over time and monitoring significant shifts in the trends.
- What is it that makes people unhappy when using your app? What can you learn from the critiques and complaints you receive? Are there customers who just don't make sense for you?
- What is it that people LOVE about your app? This is the most important thing you can learn from your ratings – what is it that delights people and what kind of people are delighted by your app?
When you look at ratings and reviews, think about what they're truly about: giving customers a voice. Your goal should be to build upon that, giving them a voice so that you can learn from their feedback and make your app better.
So, how do you do that?
Ask simply…
People often overlook the importance of asking nicely. Pay attention to when and how you ask for information. Pay attention to what you're really asking for as well. What are you trying to discern from your app customers?
We think it's fundamentally about love. If you can earn a customer's love, you're on to something. You're probably on their home screen, they use you daily, and they actively recommend you to their friends (usually by demoing your app in-person).
It turns out that asking a simple question gets honest feedback, constructive criticism and yes, more customers who truly love you. (We're happy to share our app ratings component with all of you for free, by the way)
When you ask this simple question you inform your customers that you care about their feelings and needs, while respecting their time. By giving your customers permission to answer no, you communicate that the question is really about THEM, not about you. This is a huge departure from the traditional tactics we've highlighted above, which are really not about your customer's needs. Consumers are smart and they can tell when they're being asked to do something just for you.
When you're asking customers to share their opinion, you're also setting the expectation that you'll be listening. That's a huge gap in the current behaviors we see by developers who are asking for ratings. In today's incredibly connected environment, customers expect to be heard and responded to. So, give yourself that capability (or use us to be able to respond to consumers quickly and directly).
…and respond nicely!
Responding to consumers who are expressing frustration is often all that's required to soothe the frustration. Instead of being incapable of following up with the person having the problem, you can actually get in touch with them and possibly debug your code together.
While many developers think that people just want to vent and complain, we find that most people appreciate the knowledge that something is actually being done about their problem. Negative ratings and reviews are not about publicly badmouthing an app so much as achieving consumer catharsis. By establishing a direct line of communication with your app customers and reducing the friction required to speak up, the person with a problem is far more likely to talk WITH YOU.
While being willing to listen is great, true consumer happiness comes when you respond. Just the act of responding nicely provides catharsis to your customers, delighting them at a time when most consumers are left alone.
You don't have to tell customers that you'll solve their problems (sometimes you just can't) but by being honest, polite and apologetic you'll ensure that they realize you are a real person who actually cares about the time they've invested in your product. That is not an impression most of those consumers will ever forget.
Plan for the long-term & respect your customers
Ultimately, we're here to help you build a business that lasts. We understand that many of you feel similarly to Arash Payan, who created Appirater due to his frustrations around the behavior exhibited by consumers in the existing ratings and review model. As he wrote on his blog:
"In comparison to the unhappy user, the satisfied user rarely takes the time to review your app. Which leaves you with crummy reviews from uninformed users hurting sales of your app.
If Apple would allow developers to respond to reviews, or more easily challenge the validity of a review, this would be no big deal. But I don't have any hopes of Apple wising up and fixing anything, so I'm left trying to get more positive reviews of my apps to drown out the negatives ones."
Those frustrations are very real, but it doesn't mean that you should settle for solutions that don't get to the heart of your customers' needs.
The app world is more competitive every day and the only way to consistently win is to have a core base of users who absolutely love you. Those folks will keep you on their home screen, applaud your updates and eagerly give you feedback, if you make it easy. They will tell their friends about you, they will pay attention when you release new apps and some of them will help you build the best apps you can possibly make. So, aim for winning more of those customers and keep their needs in mind.
Remember: if you're trying to get ratings just to get more ratings, you're doing it wrong.


text: Many have been wondering why there has not been a theme builder for OS 7 devices yet. There has not been much said by RIM regarding the issue other than they were working on it. Surprisingly it wasn't even revealed a DevCon this past week. Now we have a little more of an idea to why there has been a delay. A tweet from Alec Saunders, RIM's new VP of Developer Relations, states that the theme engine has been delayed becauseSo at least now we have some closure to why it has not been released. Hopefully the issue will get resolved soon. I am excited to see what some of the talented theme developers will come up with. Are you a theme developer just itching to create a theme for OS 7?"Liquid Graphics broke theme engines, and I'm working with team to determine if we can fix."


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Neb., SD wildfires grow with help of strong wind
OMAHA, Neb. – Wildfires in northwestern Nebraska tripled in size in less than 24 hours, as strong winds pushed flames through the rugged, rural terrain.
More than 285 square miles — an area more than twice the size of the state's largest city, Omaha — had burned by Sunday afternoon, fire officials said. One of the fires had crossed into South Dakota this weekend and burned more than 50 square miles, including land on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
A day earlier, the fires had only burned roughly 93 square miles in the ranching territory that's favored by deer and turkey hunters.
"We've got a very challenging situation out here because of the winds and the very dry conditions," Gov. Dave Heineman said Sunday after touring the damage and meeting with officials.
Cooler weather moved through the area Saturday night, helping firefighters mostly contain two major fires — the West Ash and Douthit fires — near Chadron. But winds gusted up to 40 mph Sunday, helping spread the fires through drought-stricken trees and grasses.
The Wellnitz fire, north of Rushville, broke through containment lines Sunday, Heineman said. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said it had burned roughly 150 square miles by Sunday evening.
Heineman said it will likely take several more days to fully contain the fires, but he says firefighters appear to have all the resources they need to do that.
Overall, the fires have damaged at least 10 homes and more than 50 structures in Nebraska and South Dakota. The fires also forced the evacuation of several small communities, although residents of the small town of Whitney, southwest of Chadron, were allowed to return home Sunday.
Rushville Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Kearns said Sunday that firefighters are working hard to contain the fires and protect property, but they sometimes have to make difficult choices. Kearns said it's hard to watch a rancher's hay burn because of this summer's ongoing drought.
Those very ranchers know the wildfires will scar the land.
Verona Douthit, 65, has always lived in these hills on land her family bought in 1929. Because one of the current fires started on her ranch, officials have named it after her last name.
Douthit says she knows it takes a long time for the land to recover — some of her family's land burned in 1989 — and the pine trees she loves may never be the same.
"It probably will take a person's lifetime to see it like it was again, and it may never happen," Douthit said.
The Douthit fire is nearly contained, but it burned about 30,000 acres. The other fire in the area, the West Ash fire, had consumed nearly 58,000 acres by Sunday and was about half contained.
Douthit said it has been fantastic to see the way people came together to help fight the fire and support those affected. She and her 66-year-old husband especially appreciated the help because of their age.
"We're retirement age, so we're not as agile anymore," Douthit said.
Firefighters have already battled several wildfires in Nebraska this summer, and more than 35 volunteer firefighting departments are working with NEMA and federal incident command teams to contain these.
Conditions are likely to remain ripe for fires for at least several more weeks because the land is so dry.
"Firefighters have put more water on the ground than Mother Nature this year," Chadron Fire Chief Pat Gould said during the governor's tour.


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As a fully-integrated manufacturer of injection-molded polymer components and sub-assemblies, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS acts as a local partner to world-class manufacturers across a range of industries, in the creative development and production of polymer-based parts and components for critical systems. Components produced by Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials fall into five major categories: functional packaging; automotive; medical; electrics & electronics and mechanical equipment, examples of which can be found via the tabs below.
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials experiences that it's profile of a state of the art molder with large engineering support activities is regarded as an asset to large companies active in Beverage, Personal or Home Care.
The business model which Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials encounters in this market segment learns us that customers do not only expect responsive suppliers but also expect innovative input which they can apply in their products range.
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials's response to this need is an open business model, by which it creates more value for its customers by collaborating with innovative partners.
Based on their initial development, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials further industrializes these innovations towards attractive solutions for its customers. Following the product requirements, production takes place in cleanroom or HACCP environment.
Please click on the following link to view examples of functional packaging:
|Hospitals, physicians, medical labs and research facilities across the globe are working with an ever-increasing number of plastic instruments and devices. Production of these devices, according to all stringent quality and hygienic requirements, requires specific technical knowledge and ability.
Customers value the product development know-how Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS can deliver, its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities up to cleanroom class 100,000 and its high degree of automation. Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS manufactures injection-moulded optical parts, disposable products, home diagnostics and health-care products, amongst others.
The combination of product development, production and assembly from a single source has enabled Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS to become a supplier to a number of leading, international main suppliers to the automotive industry.
True to its stated business objective of supplying components for critical systems, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS focuses on high-precision, injection-molded parts for safety, electrical, under-the-bonnet and interior applications.
|Today's Electrical & Electronical (E&E) applications make the almost paradoxical demands of increased exterior aesthetics with increased internal sophistication. Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS' expertise for simultaneously developing the product and the mould makes it an ideal partner for the design and manufacture of plastic components and systems for the E&E market.
Here Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials focuses on technical housings, frames and supports as well as electromechanical components.
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS has earned a high reputation in mechanical and systems engineering by virtue of its many years of experience with a wide range of engineering and high-performance plastics, as well as in product design.
In these markets Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials CMS manufactures components which meet the highest standards in terms of mechanical load-bearing capacity and temperature resistance.


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I finally finished my marathon read of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. My reading binge was inspired by a snarky comment in The New Yorker piece, The Percy Jackson Problem. I can definitively say that these books do not "repel" adults. 🙂
Last night I finally got to start reading Teresa Frohock's new novella, The Broken Road. I have been looking forward to this as she is one of my favorite authors. Her Miserere never leaves my Kindle, I re-read it so often.
I have been trying really hard not to buy any new books — at least, not until I have cleared off some of the finished books off of my Paperwhite. Notice that I said trying. A few came my way that I just couldn't resist buying and adding to the TBR pile.
- Fool's Ride (The Jenkins Cycle Book 2), the sequel to John L. Monk's Kick (The Jenkins Cycle Book 1).
- Who is Dell Zero? by Carol Ervin, a dystopian that sound really interesting. The writing style in the sample was just lovely….
- Ice Cold: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen. I like both the novels and the TV show. This one was a special for only $1.99.
- Penny Dreadful Multipacks, Volume 4 and Volume 5, which were free. I like to keep anthologies and short stories on hand as they are great to read before bed.
- Keith C Blackmore finally released the latest in one of my favorite zombie series: Well Fed (Mountain Man Book 4). The book debuted on November 20, 2014.
Yes, that is me not buying books…. You should see me on a spree, LOL!
I am still trying to find the time to re-read the Senyaza series by Chrysoula Tzavelas. I just got her latest, Wolf Interval, from her recent Kickstarter. Since it has been a while since I read the earlier books, I want to start with Matchbox Girls and re-read them all the way through.


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Our June workshop will open for submissions on Saturday, June 2nd at noon, EST. In addition to our wonderful permanent mentors, we have Kim Culbertson as our author mentor and Danielle Burby of Nelson Literary as our agent mentor! (See below for Danielle's background and query preferences.)
The workshop is designed to help writers struggling to find the right opening for their novel or for those looking to perfect the all important first five pages before submitting for publication. Why the first five pages? Because if these aren't perfect, no agent, editor, or reader will continue reading to find out how great the rest of your story really is!
Why is the First Five Pages Workshop a GREAT Opportunity?
- You are mentored by at least two traditionally-published published or agented authors for the duration of the workshop. These authors have been through the trenches and know what it takes to get a book deal, solid reviews, and sales.
- In addition, you receive feedback from the four other workshop participants.
- Feedback is given not just on your initial submission, but on two subsequent opportunities to revise your manuscript based on the previous feedback so that you know you've got it right!
- The final revision will also be reviewed by a literary agent, who will also give you feedback on the pitch for your story--the one that may eventually become your query letter or cover copy.
- The best entry from among the workshop participants will receive a critique of the full first chapter or first ten pages from the mentoring agent, which may, in some cases, lead to requests for additional material.
How It Works:
Please see the complete rules before entering the workshop, but in a nutshell, we'll take the first five Middle Grade or Young Adult entries that meet all guidelines and formatting requirements. (Double check the formatting - each month we have to disqualify entries because of formatting.) Click here to get the rules. We will post when the workshop opens and closes on Adventures in YA Publishing and on twitter (@etcashman, @MelissWritesNow, @charlotteclg ), with the hashtag #1st5pages. In addition to the rotating team of our wonderful permanent author mentors, the final entry for each workshop participant will be critiqued by our agent mentor.
June Guest Literary Agent Mentor: Danielle Burby
She particularly enjoys complex female characters, quirky adventures, narratives that ask readers to think deeply, girls with swords, and seaside novels.
June Guest Literary Author Mentor: Kim Culbertson
Kim Culbertson is the author of the teen novels THE WONDER OF US, THE POSSIBILITY OF NOW, CATCH A FALLING STAR (Scholastic 2014), INSTRUCTIONS FOR A BROKEN HEART (Sourcebooks 2011), and SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD (Sourcebooks 2010).
Much of her inspiration comes from her background teaching high school since 1997. In 2012, Kim wrote her eBook novella The Liberation of Max McTrue for her students, who, over the years, have taught her far more than she has taught them. Kim lives in Northern California with her husband and daughter.
About THE WONDER OF US
Riya moved to Berlin, Germany, with her family for junior year, while Abby stayed behind in their
They haven't talked in weeks.
They've both been keeping secrets.
Can Riya and Abby find their way back to each other among lush countrysides and dazzling cities, or does growing up mean growing apart?
Where to Buy:
Barnes & Noble Amazon Indie Bound
Add it on GOODREADS!


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I have been mostly wearing the Inika mineral foundation, though mineral powders are not the best for my dry skin, my skin sensitivities and acne flare ups are such that this formulation seems to cause me the least problems.
The BM beauty foundation (£14) immediately caught my eye as its a cheaper price and also appeared to come in a lighter shade (my Inika is a touch too dark). I am highly impressed with the BM and I find the performance easily comparable to the Inika. It feels lightweight, coverage is buildable, it lasts quite well and causes me no irritation/acne. The shade Stripped is a much better match, its lighter and has a slight pink tone which matches my cool toned skin.
Concealer & foundation pictured below:
- Mica
- iron oxide
- zinc oxide
- titanium dioxide
- Use the mineral foundation brush 121 to buff your mineral foundation to a perfect, flawless finish.
- Apply using firm, circular movements.
- For more camouflage, simply build up the layers till blemishes disappear.
- Keep the tip regarding adding foundation to moisturiser.
- Mix mineral eyeshadow with a little water and apply as an eyeliner using eyeliner brush 119.
- Apply Marble Sparkle eyeshadow to the inner corner of the eye, where you naturally have a dark shadow for a youthful, wide eyed look.
- Mica
- iron oxide
- zinc oxide
- ultramarine
The foundation brush (£14) is extremely soft and fluffy. The head is full and rounded. This works very well to apply the mineral foundation which surprised me as I have been using much denser packed brushes previously, I also really like this for blush application.
Pictured below against a MAC 116 for size compare
I'm very pleased with all the products and it will be a brand I repeat buy from, its nice to find an affordable range that still delivers great results.
I bought these from bmbeauty.com


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Handcrafted in USA
Item size shown are not to scale
Since 2008, we at Sosie Designs Jewelry have been making handcrafted jewelry in sterling silver and gold-filled featuring Swarovski Crystals, CZ's, freshwater pearls and semi-precious gemstones in earrings, necklaces, bracelets and wire-wrapped rings. All our jewelry items are designed for adults. Actual prices may vary from printed prices if there are extreme fluctuations in silver prices.


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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Pittsburgh's defense was great and the Duck was just fine. After weeks of wondering how this bunch keeps piecing together victories, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge.
Maybe the Steelers are just pretty good.
Diontae Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown and the defense had three crucial interceptions in the second half as Pittsburgh beat Arizona 23-17 on Sunday for its seventh win in eight games.
"We're going to be unashamed and unafraid," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "Today was enough. We'll get ready for the next challenge that the National Football League presents us."
Pittsburgh's defense came up big with the interceptions — two by Joe Haden and another by T.J. Watt —- to end promising Arizona drives, including two that had ventured into Steelers territory.
"Everybody expects to make the play," Haden said. "We're just depending on ourselves, everybody's looking at the man in the mirror and feeling like they're the next one who's going to make the play."
Pittsburgh (8-5) won again to stay in the AFC playoff race. Rookie free agent quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges made his third career start, completing 16 of 19 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.
Hodges didn't need to make many tough throws but came through with a good one in the third quarter, hitting Johnson in the front corner of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 20-10 lead.
"Great protection, great route," Hodges said. "It's all about timing, we've been practicing it and it's nice to execute it in a game."
Hodges also finished with 34 yards rushing.
Arizona's Kyler Murray completed 20 of 30 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions were very costly.
"That's a great defense, and they obviously made more plays than us today," Murray said.
The Cardinals (3-9-1) lost their sixth consecutive game.
They pulled within 20-17 on Murray's 24-yard touchdown pass to David Johnson with 6:44 left, taking advantage of a short field after Steelers punter Jordan Berry fumbled. The Cardinals had a chance to win on the final drive, but Murray's desperation fourth-down heave was intercepted by Haden.
"He's just a quality, low-maintenance, high-production veteran player," Tomlin said of Haden.
The Steelers never trailed, pulling ahead 10-0 late in the first quarter after Johnson's 85-yard touchdown. He caught Andy Lee's 60-yard punt, used a few blocks and then cut across the field to his right, where he found lots of room to run.
From that point, he was escorted down the sideline by a handful of teammates, running into the end zone untouched.
The Cardinals spent the second quarter slowly recovering from the slow start. They capitalized after Pittsburgh's Benny Snell Jr. fumbled, ending the ensuing drive with a 30-yard field goal to pull within 10-3.
Murray hit Charles Clay for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:51 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 10.
Pittsburgh took a 13-10 halftime lead on Chris Boswell's 37-yard field goal as time expired. Boswell made three field goals.
"We played hard, had a chance to win it at the end," Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "I thought the fight was much better than last week. You've got to give them credit — (Hodges) came in and didn't turn the ball over, executed their offense and gave them a chance to win."
Tomlin said he was pleased that Johnson bounced back with a big game one week after a rough performance against the Browns.
Johnson a rookie drafted in the third round out of Toledo, finished with six catches for 60 yards and the huge special teams touchdown.
"He's a rookie," Tomlin said. "Days like today are days that we like. Last week, we don't. We'll see what next week holds."
Pittsburgh's Berry took a big hit in the fourth quarter when he tried to run the ball on a fake punt.
Berry said the initial play call was a fake punt, but it was changed at the line of scrimmage after the Steelers saw the Cardinals' defensive formation. The problem was Berry didn't hear the change.
"That's why I got smacked in the face," he said.
Cardinals LB Chandler Jones forced his sixth fumble of the season in the second quarter when he smacked Hodges' right arm just as he was trying to throw. Pittsburgh recovered the fumble.
The play was also Jones' 14th sack of the season and his 55th in 61 games since joining the Cardinals in 2016.
Steelers: TE Vance McDonald left with a concussion. Tomlin said RB Jaylen Samuels had a groin injury.
The Steelers host the Bills next Sunday.
The Cardinals host the Browns next Sunday.
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


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Perry: Davis didn't learn from herself
Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday slammed the woman who this week led a filibuster in the state legislature, derailing sweeping abortion legislation.
"Even the woman who filibustered was born into difficult circumstances," Perry said of state Sen. Wendy Davis, speaking at the National Right to Life Convention. "She was the daughter of a single woman, she was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas Senate. It's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example. That every life must be given a chance to realize its own potential; that every life matters."
His comments came after a 13-hour filibuster led by Davis, a Fort Worth Democrat, earlier this week halted the progression of a far-reaching abortion bill, preventing the measure from achieving final passage before the end of the special session. On Wednesday, Perry called for another special session, set to begin July 1.
"Rick Perry's statement is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds," she swung back, according to Texas news reports. "They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view. Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test."
( PHOTOS: Wendy Davis's filibuster)
On Wednesday, Perry called for another special session, set to begin July 1, in which abortion legislation would be considered.
"This is simply too important a cause to allow unruly actions of a few to stand in its way," Perry said to a standing ovation. "And that is the reason I've announced that I'm bringing lawmakers back to Austin, Texas to finish their business."
Perry accused those who protested at the state capitol Tuesday night during the debate of "hijacking the democratic process." Due to the filibuster and ensuing ruckus that evening, the legislative session had ended before the final processes of passing the bill were completed.
( WATCH: Wendy Davis comments after Texas abortion filibuster)
"We witnessed the very extremes the pro-abortion forces resort to in order to further their cause," Perry charged. "They demonstrate that even if they lose at the ballot box, even if they come up short in attempts to stall on the Senate floor, they'll resort to mob tactics to force their minority agenda on the people of Texas."
"We will ban abortion after 20 weeks" in the next session, he said.
But he urged the audience to pursue more sedate tactics than those on display at the capitol from the pro-abortion rights advocates.
( Also on POLITICO: Abortion tables may turn on Monday)
"Over the past few days the world has seen images of the Texas capitol filled with pro-abortion activists screaming, cheering, drowning out elected officials," he said. "Going forward, we have to match their intensity, but we have to do it with the grace and civility and dignity that our cause deserves."
Offering encouragement to the activists assembled at the convention, Perry added, "The louder they scream, the more we know we are getting something done."


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Welcome to the Wonderland! But... first you have to become a bit smaller, and a little bit more, and more, and more.... now, do you see that little door? It does not look that little any more! Come in!
These series of progressively smaller balloon arches in front of the tiny door into the tent was entrance to the party. And if some guests did not manage to get smaller, they had to crawl in on their knees! Even though it is a very straightforward design, it is one of the most successful installations.
New York NY Birthday party


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Apple co-founder and visionary CEO Steve Jobs has passed away at the age of 56.
Apple posted the following statement on their website:
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
Below are pieces of remembrance from some of the people surrounding Steve Jobs.
Statement issued by Apple's Board of Directors:
We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.
Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.
Steve Jobs' family have provided the following statement:
Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.
In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.
We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.
CEO Tim Cook just issued the memo below internally to the company:
I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
We are planning a celebration of Steve's extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email email@example.com. No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve's death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.
Bill Gates offers his condolences (via AllThingsD):
I'm truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.
Google's Sergey Brin just posted this statement on Google+:
From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met.
On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.
Mark Zuckerberg posted this:
Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.
AT&T released the following statement:
We are saddened by the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was an iconic inventor, visionary, and entrepreneur, and we had the privilege to know him as partner and friend. All of us at AT&T offer our thoughts and prayers to Steve's wife, family, and his Apple family.
Disney CEO Bob Iger:
Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an "original," with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.
And the note to Disney employees:
Dear Colleagues:
After a courageous fight, Steve Jobs has lost his long battle against cancer. It's almost incomprehensible that such a force of nature could ever be subdued, much less stilled. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend.
An incomparable innovator, Steve influenced two separate centuries and forever changed what we believe is possible. Inspired and inspiring, he worked tirelessly to surprise and delight people – launching entire industries built from his imagination and his ability to make us all want to come along for the ride. I know we are all proud that he was part of our Disney family, honored that he entrusted the creative brilliance of Pixar to our keeping, and grateful for his support, advice and friendship.
Steve once shared his views on life with college graduates in a commencement address that, true to his style, set a new standard. He said, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life…have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
That's how Steve lived, who he was, and how I will always remember him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.
"Think Different."
Sent from my iPad
President Barack Obama via The White House Blog:
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
By building one of the planet's most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve's wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.
Chief creative officer John Lasseter and president Ed Catmull for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios:
Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar's DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.
Apple has invited those wishing to share their thoughts, memories, and condolences to email email@example.com
Adobe co-founders John Warnock and Chuck Geschke,
"We met Steve Jobs about 3 months after we started Adobe. He called us and said: 'I hear you guys are doing great things – can we meet?' He came over to our tiny office in Mountain View and saw the early stages of PostScript. He got the concept immediately and we started about 5 months of negotiations over our first contract. Apple invested $2.5 million into Adobe and gave us an advance on royalties. This allowed us to help Apple build the first LaserWriter. Without Steve's vision and incredible willingness to take risk, Adobe would not be what it is today. We owe an enormous debt to Steve and his vision.
We have always had great admiration and respect for Steve. The world is a better place because of him, and his absence will leave a huge hole in the world of technology.
We will miss him greatly."
Steve Jobs will be truly missed. Our hearts go out to his family. Rest in peace.
Flags at Apple's Cupertino headquarters fly at half staff this evening (via Scoble):
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Crooked congressman going to prison
Cunningham sentenced to 8 years, 4 months for taking bribes
-- A Rolls-Royce
-- Yacht-shopping trip: $15,000
-- Two rugs: $40,000 each
-- French lampshade: $3,500
-- China hutch: $24,000
-- Hall tree: $3,700
-- Statue: $12,000
-- Moving expenses: $11,393
-- 42-foot yacht: $140,000
-- 3 shooting simulators: $13,800
Source: The Associated Press
SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- Former GOP Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham was sentenced Friday to eight years and four months in federal prison for taking $2.4 million in bribes from at least three defense contractors.
The sentence is the highest ever for a former member of Congress, prosecutor Jason Forge said. Cunningham was taken into custody after sentencing, he said.
The 64-year-old Cunningham, a former U.S. representative from California, pleaded guilty November 28 to conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion. He also pleaded guilty to a separate tax-evasion violation for failing to disclose income in 2004. (Watch Forge applaud the prison time handed down to Cunningham -- 4:36)
Hours after entering the pleas, Cunningham resigned from Congress in tears.
He could have been sentenced to 10 years in prison, but U.S. District Judge Larry Burns shortened his time because of Cunningham's military service, age and health, Forge said. If he continues to cooperate with authorities, his sentence could be reduced further, the prosecutor said.
Cunningham is a former Navy fighter pilot who shot down five MiGs during the Vietnam War.
"We're absolutely satisfied," said Forge, adding that he hoped the sentence "will help restore the public's confidence in our system and respect for our laws."
Cunningham sat on the powerful subcommittee that approves spending for defense programs. He has admitted accepting cash and gifts aimed at influencing the Defense Department while serving in that capacity.
The bribes enabled the congressman -- whose salary was about $160,000 a year -- to buy a mansion, yacht, Rolls-Royce and condo in suburban Washington, prosecutors said.
Perhaps the most audacious of Cunningham's purchases was a $2.5 million home he bought after selling his home in San Diego to defense contractor Mitchell Wade for $1.6 million. (Read about Wade's guilty plea)
Wade, in turn, sold the San Diego house for about $900,000, sparking allegations that Wade bought the home at a higher price to scratch Cunningham's back for steering Pentagon contracts his way.
Wade pleaded guilty last month to two counts of conspiracy, one count of using an interstate wire facility for bribery and one count of election fraud. He faces sentencing in August.
House Speaker and fellow Republican Dennis Hastert issued a statement after Cunningham's sentencing stating that he hopes the congressman's prison term sends "a strong message" that nobody is above the law.
"It is my hope that Congressman Cunningham will spend his incarceration thinking long and hard about how he broke the trust of the voters that elected him and those on Capitol Hill who served with him," Hastert said.
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Theaters raise revenue and tensions by charging to show trailers
Coming soon to a theater near you: a multimillion-dollar battle over coming attractions.
Theater owners are squeezing extra coin out of film companies by charging them to play the trailers for their upcoming movies.
Traditionally, theater owners were happy to run the advertisements for upcoming movies on the understanding that they drove box-office receipts and concession-stand sales. Studios paid to make the trailers and cinemas screened them. Each movie came with two coming attractions attached, while others ran at the discretion of the theater, often as a result of lobbying by Hollywood marketers.
But now theater owners, realizing the value of having Hollywood's target audience already in the theater, have begun charging movie companies to run their trailers. Although some trailers still run for free, movie distributors complain that they're increasingly being asked to pay to get their trailers played — or get shut out.
OSCARS 2013: Defining scenes | Oscar Watch
"We've reached the tipping point," said Jeffrey Neuman, chief executive of Verites, a Burbank company paid by studios to check theaters to see that trailers are being shown and that marketing materials such as lobby cards and standees are in place. "If you're not one of the ones paying for trailers, you're left struggling for placement."
In one controversial move, the nation's largest cinema chain, Regal Entertainment Group, recently cut the number of trailers that studios can run with their own movies for free from two to one. Some studio executives are privately grumbling about the practice, upset that they are being asked to pay still more to a supposed partner that typically keeps half the box-office receipts.
"It's logical a theater operator has an obligation to market studios' movies, when we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars on [making] each one," said one studio executive who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the topic. "But they have gone all the way around to wanting to be paid."
Four of the major studios — 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. — reportedly have made annual marketing deals worth several million dollars with theater chains such as Regal and AMC Entertainment. In exchange, the studios are exempt from the one-free-trailer-only rule and get the best possible placement.
Walt Disney Studios and Paramount Pictures don't have such deals, while smaller studios may pay as much as $100,000 to play a trailer for one film.
Some coming attractions still make it on the screen through studio executives lobbying and cajoling contacts at theaters with whom they have long-standing relationships. But such old-fashioned methods that don't involve payments are increasingly rare.
Large theater chains won't publicly acknowledge that they charge for trailers, nor will the studios that pay them. Spokespeople for Regal and AMC declined to comment, as did representatives of Cinemark Holdings Inc. and Carmike Cinemas Inc., the next largest national cinema chains.
MOVIE TRAILERS: What's opening soon
But within the film and exhibition industries, it's common knowledge — and a growing source of resentment.
"Everybody says, 'No, no, there's no money ever paid to show trailers,' but we know that's not the case for some of the big boys," said Rafe Cohen, president of Galaxy Theatres, a Sherman Oaks chain that operates 115 screens. "For us little guys, we'd love to charge for trailers, but we don't have the leverage."
There are no official stats on how many trailers make it to the big screen thanks to a payment, but the practice has become increasingly common. Verites checked on about 100 trailers in 2012, compared with 30 in 2009, Neuman said.
The dispute marks the latest flare-up between film companies and exhibitors, whose symbiotic relationship has been strained in recent years. Turning trailers into a business, some fear, could add to the tension.
"What makes this business run are trailers," said Chuck Viane, a former president of distribution for Walt Disney Studios. "When the right trailers aren't seen by the public with the right movie, that can hurt the box office."
Although Regal's one-trailer-only rule is new, the free trailer system began to break down in 2001, when Sony paid to advertise its comedy "The Animal" in front of the hit Universal movie "The Mummy Returns." That aberration soon became the norm, with pay-for-play accelerating in the last two years.
As they rose in value, the total number of trailers shown before a movie started going up. Three or four was the norm a decade ago. Regal and AMC theaters now run six or seven before every feature.
"The number of trailers has absolutely exploded," said Federico Ponce, owner of High Res Hype, a graphic and design company that has worked on trailers for such movies as "The Avengers" and "Iron Man." "When we started out, we'd work on one or two trailers every four months. Now we're doing three or four trailers at the same time."
PHOTOS: Costliest flops | All-time leaders | Billion-dollar films
The competition is fierce, and prices high, to run a trailer in front of popular movies such as "The Hobbit." Theater chains typically receive $25,000 to $100,000 to run a spot before a popular film at half their theaters — saving an equal amount of time at the other half of their theaters for another paid trailer.
Theater owners charge more for the final trailer before a movie starts because, Neuman said, "There's a big difference between how many people see the first trailer and the last."
Major studios forge "marketing partnerships" with theaters, in deals that cost $3 million to $6 million and include benefits such as special advertising in lobbies and on popcorn bags along with preferential theater placement. And cash doesn't always change hands. One studio spends heavily advertising on a theater chain's website with the expectation its trailers will be treated better as a result.
Some studios opposed to paying for trailers have been forced to relent.
"It's unfortunate that we need to make deals for material that is the lifeblood of the industry for everyone involved," said an executive at one studio.
Executives who are paying Regal now fear they'll soon be paying other chains too.
"If studios agree to this, and you're AMC, why wouldn't you do it?" one said.
INTERACTIVE: TVs highest paid stars
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PHOTOS: Hollywood back lot moments
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