text:
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Noted short seller David Scially of Kingsford Capital Management LLC is retiring at the end of this year, after more than a decade running the investment firm with partner Mike Wilkins, according to two people familiar with the situation.
Scially decided to leave to spend more time with his family, after taking a break this summer to consider his plans, one of the sources said.
Scially oversaw a big portion of Kingsford's assets under management, but the firm has had some time to prepare for his departure, the people said. They did not want to be identified because Kingsford, which is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a private investment firm.
A representative at Kingsford declined to comment.
Scially and Wilkins, who are general partners of the firm, comb through the balance sheets and income statements of mainly micro-cap companies looking for symptoms of over-valuation or fraud.
They are held in high esteem by other short sellers, partly because their research effort is focused on so many different short ideas.
"Dave researched a lot of companies thoroughly and carefully and was highly regarded for that reason," said David Rocker, who ran short-selling hedge fund firm Rocker Partners before retiring himself in 2006. "When I was in business we would see each other at conferences and share ideas periodically."
Rocker said David Einhorn, head of hedge fund firm Greenlight Capital, has risen to prominence as a leading short seller in recent years, partly because he speaks publicly about some of his bets against stocks.
"Dave was not outspoken - he would do his work and not be a public advocate of his positions," added Rocker. "Some people prefer that approach."
Scially's departure comes at the end of what has been a tough year for short sellers, who bet on stock declines. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up more than 10 percent so far this year.
Through the first three quarters of 2012, returns of all types of hedge funds trailed the S&P 500, according to firms that track industry performance. Short-biased hedge funds, which have more short positions than long positions, were down 18 percent this year through October, according to data from Hedge Fund Research.
Before starting Kingsford with Wilkins in late 2001, Scially worked at Off Wall Street Consulting Group, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based research firm that unearths buy and sell recommendations, often for hedge fund clients.
Kingsford Capital oversaw roughly $2 billion at one time, according to one of the people familiar with the situation. It was not immediately known how much money the firm manages currently.
A Securities and Exchange Commission filing in January showed the firm had raised $400 million from investors for a fund called Kingsford Capital Partners LP.
Reporting by Alistair Barr; Editing by Andrew Hay and Tim Dobbyn


text:
It's hard to keep the kayak aimed straight to the waves. Bobbing up and down about a quarter mile north of Spring Island in the Pacific Ocean, just west of the tiny native village of Kyuquot on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, it's not the waves that have my attention. It's the raft of sea otters I can see straight ahead.
A bunch of lions is known as a pride. A whole lot of sea otters are known as a raft. Here, off Kyuquot, drifting in a giant bed of kelp, are anywhere between one and two hundred otters. I think I may have found the largest raft of sea otters in North America. It's a sign of renewal, not only of the sea otter population but also of the Kyuquot people and this remote region.
West Coast Expeditions is a small company based in Comox and it offers the best opportunity to explore this remote destination.
Dave Pinel has been running kayak trips out of his base camp on Spring Island and leading west coast marine adventures since 1985, and organizing personal adventures long before that. Since 2002, Pinel has coordinated and taught the Coastal Adventure Tourism Program for North Island College. He has a passionate interest in coastal ecology and local native culture. A trip with him is more than finding sea otters; it's a story about renewal, of the otters and the land and aboriginal culture, and yourself. The revival of the sea otter is a success story on Vancouver Island.
Eliminated through hunting by the early 1900s, a re-introduction of 89 otters from Alaska in 1969 has grown to an estimated 3,000 individuals living from Cape Scott to Barkley Sound on the west coast of the island.
The sea otter is a "keystone species," exerting an effect on its environment far greater in proportion to the actual numbers of otters living in the community. The otter's regulation of the sea urchin population is the sole reason the urchins do not decimate the kelp forests.
When the otters became extinct in this region, the kelp forests and the vast majority of the life living in them suddenly vanished. Now that the sea otters have been reintroduced, the urchin population is once again regulated, and the kelp forests (the most productive ecosystem in the world) are once again taking hold on Vancouver Island's west coast. It's not easy to get a photo of a sea otter from a distance of several hundred metres.
My kayak bobs up and down, and the raft of otters bobs in the waves, and we can't seem to get in sync. However, with luck, one might swim by your kayak just to have a look.
Along with baby seals and pandas, sea otters could be the most photogenic creatures in the world. Lying on their backs with their paws tucked under their chin, they are almost intolerably cute. You want to give them a kiss and tuck them into bed.
Sea otters primarily eat bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as sea urchins, plus clams, mussels, crabs and occasionally some fish. This last transgression puts them in competition with local fishermen. The nearby village of Kyuquot is home to 300 people, the northernmost of the 14 Nuuchah-nulth First Nation bands on the coast. Logging used to be an employer here, and signs of clear cuts are still evident, but much of the forest has grown back.
Until recently, fishing was the prime industry in Kyuquot.
In recent years, with the fishing season becoming more limited, tourism is seen by some natives as a viable alternative.
Kyuquot village now has a bed and breakfast, motel and restaurant, a general store and several fishing lodges.
Kyuquot people are involved with West Coast Expeditions. Some Kyuquot folks cook and cater for large groups.
Pinel has built a main camp comprised of sheet plastic walls and roof sheltering a kitchen and dining area where excellent meals are served. Large comfy tents with beds are scattered in the woods for guests. The biffies have won awards. No, it's not roughing it. The real adventure is out on the waves.
A multitude of kayak lessons and adventures are offered, from beginner to expert.
The western shores face the Pacific, while the eastern beaches open upon calm, sheltered waterways. The interior forest of the island offers hikes to view massive cedars up to 1,000 years old and the island's west coast contains wild beaches where wild gales can blow. After a long look at the otters, I head east. Drifting lazily among scattered islands, basking in the summer sun, I realize I am in paradise.
If you go
West Coast Expeditions
Kyuquot is a remote destination, one where the journey is part of the attraction. Fly directly to Comox or Campbell River airports. Both are easily accessed with many connecting flights from Vancouver.
Otherwise ... By road - Kyuquot is a 30-minute boat ride from the nearest unpaved road on Vancouver Island. From Nanaimo drive north on Highway 19 to kilometre marker 320 and turn off to the left at the road marked Zeballos/Fair Harbour.
By air - Air Nootka airnootka.com has scheduled flights from Gold River to Kyuquot Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Vancouver Island Air vancouverislandair.com from Campbell River. Kenmore Air or kenmoreair.com from Seattle.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
22 November 2016
Looking ahead: Indications of increasing volatility?
Read our latest post written by our Quantitative researchers: Are tighter funding conditions indicative of increasing volatility?
Seeyond MTI indicator analysis – October 2016
MTI indicator
In October, we had two noticeable regime changes for the MTI indicators (*).
On October 24th first, the EuroZone (EZ) MTI moved from "Neutral" to "Safe": a combined result of a favorable momentum and a base effect that turned the regime into safe territory. We are nonetheless paying attention to warning signals in Europe: the EZ Ted spread – a component of the MTI sentiment - further widened: this traditionally reflect tighter funding conditions (higher credit risk). Chart 1 shows the recent gap between Eurostoxx 50 volatility index & EU TED that have been historically well correlated. Would it signal an upcoming rise in volatility level?
Chart 1. Source: Seeyond, Bloomberg
On October 31st, the US MTI moved from "Safe" to "Neutral". Indeed, our US momentum sub indicator, which tracks the momentum of sentiment-driven stocks for instance, has recently spiked (Chart 2). We believe the approaching US election was linked to this.
Chart 2. Source: Seeyond, Bloomberg
*The Market Tension Indicator (MTI) is a bounded metric which evaluates the degree of uncertainty and market risk. MTI indicators range between 0 to 1 and transitions through 3 regimes (Safe, Neutral and Risky). The lower the value, the lower the risk.
A set of three main MTI indicators are developed to focus on different geographical areas (US, Eurozone, and Emerging Markets).
On the macroeconomic side, inflation expectations have recently picked up, and demand for inflation-protected bonds are on the rise. This was consistent with the current equity market vulnerability, likely due to a more hawkish Fed (chart 3) and uncertainties about the very recent U.S. elections (chart 4).
Source: Seeyond, Bloomberg
With the election now behind us, we are expecting very interesting observations over the next month.


text:
The Patriots made one of the biggest early splashes this offseason when they signed cornerback Darrelle Revis and they remained in the news as the offseason workout program drew to a close this week.
They had much less to do with this appearance in the headlines as Browns coach Mike Pettine's comments about the Patriots possibly having the Jets' playbook obviously didn't come from New England, but it makes for a good time to check in with New England all the same. Tom Curran of CSN New England will join Mike Florio to talk about all things Patriots on Friday's edition of PFT Live. They'll cover Revis, playbooks and more during Curran's visit.
We'll also close out the week with another crop of questions from PFT Planet. Florio will answer queries sent our way on Twitter — @ProFootballTalk — or you can give a call to 888-237-5269 during the show.
It all gets started at noon ET and you can watch it all live by clicking right here.


text:
Book your tickets here for our Explorers Session.
Please book tickets in the name of the child that will be attending.
Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the session. It's a good idea to bring a drink, pen and paper..
Please pick up ninjas (children) from their respective rooms at 12 noon
Follow us on Twitter @CoderDojoSligo


text:
Compelling: Woman Falls Into Subway Track & Almost Gets Killed By An Incoming Train That Stops 1 Feet Away
Subway Stops Inches Before Woman on Tracks
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Thanks to a nifty counter-balanced linkage system, you can stop your reclining chair or sofa back at any and every angle. It's truly the best option for customizing your comfort to your body, this feature is available on both manual and power recliners.
Don't be fooled by the technical jargon- Blue Steel and Dualflex springs are the real deal. The manufacturer's innovative, time-tested Blue Steel springs and the updated Dualflex system are made of heavy-duty materials and never need retying or replacing. If you don't believe it, the spring system can be replaced by the manufacturer at any time thanks to a lifetime warranty.
Unlike recliners that are built with a two- or three-piece seat and leg rest cushion, this recliner has a single chaise cushion that extends from the seat to the feet. This style offers a fuller comfort and support for your legs, as well as eliminating the open gap that toddlers can get fingers or toys stuck in.
Make your recliner less cumbersome by removing the back(s) when you are moving in or out of your home. Locking brackets safely join the reclining seat(s) and back(s), ensuring your recliner will be stable when you use it.
There are always pieces of furniture you inexplicably remember from growing up. Usually these are special for their comfort and the memories you've shared while relaxing and enjoying the company of your family and friends. This recliner is destined to become one of those favorite pieces to everyone that gets a chance to enjoy it. A stable and durable frame construction is paired with a plush back cushion and full-support chaise leg rest. The chair gets its cozy, casual style from timeless rolled arms and button-tuft detailing. All matching reclining pieces in this collection are available with or without nailhead studs on the front arm panels, as well as the option of power or manual recline.
The Mackenzi Casual Button Tufted Wall Recliner (No Nailheads) by Flexsteel at Find Your Furniture in the area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Comfy furniture goes a long way in making a new house or apartment feel like a home. Whether you are ready to downsize to a smaller place or settle down into your first cozy haven for a blossoming family, the Mackenzi group provides the homey, relaxing comfort that you and your family craves. Mackenzi features timeless recliners available with or without classic nailhead stud trim. In a handy new feature for the modern, connected world, power recliners include built-in USB charging ports that are super easy to reach when you need to charge your phone or devices.
The Mackenzi collection is a great option if you are looking for Casual furniture in the area.
These images are representative of this group as a whole and may differ from this item.
Browse other items in the Mackenzi collection from Find Your Furniture in the area.
This item has been tagged as: Recliner, Reclining Chair, Glider Rocker Recliner, Rocking Recliner, High Leg Reclining Chair, Lift Recliner, Pop - Up Recliner, Reclining Chair and Ottoman, Motion Recliner, Standard Recliner, No - Rock Recliners, Wall Recliners, Easy Chair, Living Room Chair, Living Room Furniture, TV Chair, Chair Recliner, Massage Chair, Massage Recliner, Swivel Rocker Recliner, Massaging Recliner
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


text:
I don't want to complain but I can't help but notice three things attached to the name John which bother me: people who patronize hookers, toilets and unidentified dead people. Not to mention John Stossel. (cringe.)
A friend of mine referred to tall hillbillies as Bojohns the other day. According to www.chasclifton.com, Bojohn is an ethnic slur that refers to people of Polish descent and is used mainly by older people in Pueblo, Colorado. It makes sense my friend would use this term as he hales from Colorado, even if he is using it incorrectly.
I think I speak for Johns everywhere when I say that the madness must end.
A little research was required on the topic so I went to the nearest thing humanity will ever have to god--Wikipedia.
Let us begin with toilets. Not a bad thing but I don't like my name being associated with a feces disposal apparatus. I don't care if they were invented thousands of years before I was born.
According to the ever reliable Wikipedia, a chap by the name of John Harington invented a precursor to the modern toilet in the 1500s. He wrote a book about it and was subsequently banned from the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
Next there is the practice of calling a person who frequents prostitutes "Johns." According to my lord and savior, Wikipedia. This may have started when customers gave their name as "John" to remain anonymous. No further explanation is given. Why not Todd or Chad? In the United Kingdom they are called "punters."
Finally there is the John Doe, not the bass player from X but the unidentified corpse in the morgue. Wiki/God tells me that John Doe can also be a placeholder name for an unidentified party in a law suit. Unidentified women and children are called Jane Does and Baby Does, respectively.
In any case, knock it off. I have enough problems without being equated with toilets, desperate men and dead people with no friends. Stossel is such a better word anyway.
dead people
Eating In
Hollywood Helper
Make dead celebs' dishes the life of your Oscar party
7 Grave Wonders
Rest in peace, famous dead Americans
All these bad things having to do with the name John
I don't want to complain but I can't help but notice three things attached to the name John which bother me: people who patronize hookers, toilets and unidentified dead people. Not to mention John Stossel. (cringe.)


text:
Judges have pared down 215 nominations to 20 finalists for the 2013 Jefferson Awards.
Judges have pared down 215 nominations to 20 finalists for the 2013 Jefferson Awards.
The annual awards that honor the contributions of volunteers funnel initial nominations through a two-tiered judging system, said Angela Pace, director of community affairs for WBNS 10TV.
"All the nominations are divvied up and judged by Dispatch Media Group employees: 10TV, Dispatch (and) Dispatch Digital," Pace said. "From that judging, we get our semifinalists: 56 nominees who got the top scores from our preliminary judges."
The top 56 nominees then go to 12 business, civic and community leaders who rank them and pick their top five.
"They vote, discuss, vote, discuss, vote, discuss until they come up with their top 20," Pace said.
The process to identify finalists and finally the top five winners isn't taken lightly. The 12 judges choose five winners who will be announced April 4.
The finalists are judged in five areas, Pace said: need for a service that is provided; impact on a problem in the community; the challenge taken on by the volunteer; whether the problem would have continued if not for the volunteer's work; and if the volunteer showed "take charge" initiative.
The 20 Jefferson Award finalists will be honored April 4 and five winners will be announced. One of the five will be selected by a national panel to go to Washington, D.C., to be recognized.
The finalists for the 2013 Jefferson Awards are:
* Gahanna residents Christine Broas, who started the H.O.P.E. picnic to provide food, blankets, health care and grooming services to the homeless; E.L. Hardy Center volunteer program director Stephen Garland, who developed a model for providing thousands of meals to hungry children; and Emily Pina, an advocate for Muscular Dystrophy who started raising money and awareness after being diagnosed with the disease at age 12.
* Bexley resident Mary Morrison for her work teaching music at Columbus recreation centers and leading three local choirs and the only inner-city 4H clubs in Franklin County.
* Clintonville resident Dr. J. S. Jindal for his work to unite the area's interfaith communities and recruitment of under-represented minorities for blood donations.
* Dublin residents Nicole Rule, a peer collaborator at school who supports students with learning disabilities while working to stop bullying; and Rick Smith, whose work focuses on children who are sick or have special needs by supporting groups such as Easter Seals, the Mike Furrey Foundation and Recreation Unlimited.
* Ellie Hite, of Grandview Heights, who founded AngelWorks. The group helps central Ohio families facing the loss of a loved one or expensive medical problems.
* New Albany resident Phil Heit for his work promoting health with Healthy New Albany and the New Albany Walking Classic.
* Bruce Green, of Pickerington, for creating the Impact Team at Eastmoor Academy that gets students helping the homeless.
* Reynoldsburg resident Andrea Johnston for encouraging young girls to explore the subjects of math, science and computer science.
* Upper Arlington residents Catherine Plasket, who focused on raising money to help ill children attend camp at Flying Horse Farms; and Nashawn Stevens, who focuses his energy on helping poor and homeless children develop self-esteem and positive ways to deal with problems.
* Westerville resident Tyler Moon for his fundraising efforts to cure and raise awareness of Crohn's disease. Moon has suffered from the disease for most of his life.
* Phyllis Gamble, of Worthington, who leads the Riverside Methodist Hospital Sewing Guild in making blankets, pillows and other items for patients and their families.
* Columbus-area residents Dr. Gregg Ashcraft, medical director of La Clinica Latina, who is a champion for the medically under-served and people who do not speak English as a native language; Al Edmondson, a U.S. Army veteran, who is leading revitalization efforts on the Near-East Side and working to promote awareness of prostate cancer among African-American men; Helen Roots, who helps the disadvantaged get food, clothing and spiritual fulfillment through her "Miracle on Long Street" program; Dr. Dana Vallangeon, founder of the Lower Lights Christian Health Center that helps with the health care needs of Franklinton residents; and Ann Walker for decades of founding and supporting programs in Columbus' black community.


text:
NEMA 6-50 Adaptor Available In Tesla Shop
NEMA 6-50 Adaptor Available In Tesla Shop
Thanks for the update.
If you live near a service center just ask them to get it - $0 shipping.
I know - what is it with startup companies and next day fedex? They think nothing of sending something fedex overnight to someone in the same city. Hello? UPS ground *is* next day from San Francisco to San Diego. And a heck of a lot cheaper. Get a UPS account, Tesla!!
Now all we need is a nema 10-30 for older clothes dryer plugs...
I saw the NEMA 6-50 adapter and can't tell where I'd find the outlet on the road to use it. What I did find doing a Google search was that this configuration is used in older welders.
How common is this configuration?
OBTW, I ordered the cargo net and Frunk liner from TM and I live 31 miles from the plant in Fremont. I called the two closest service centers and neither had either one of these items in stock so I had to pay $27 for shipping. Outrageous.
NEMA 6-50 is a 3 wire (hot-hot-ground) connecter used on 240V, 50A circuits and is the outlet that is installed if someone is waiting for an HPWC to be installed. It saves having to run the extra neutral wire that a 14-50 requires.
Probably need an electrical engineer/electrician (@Jat!) to say why we are putting 14-50's in instead of 6-50s. Must be a good reason.
6-50 is typically used by arc welders and the 3 wires (hot, hot, neutral) is the same ones used by the HPWC. If you are waiting for a HPWC then you can save 1 wire by using a 6-50 plug.
The 14-50 uses 4 wires (hot, hot, neutral, ground) and is commonly in RV parks. For that reason, it costs more to install but the adapter is handy on road trips.
Whoops, I meant hot, hot, ground for the 6-50.
Thx. Never been to an RV park. That explains it.
I got a 6-50 adapter from my service center for free. Never hurts to ask.
They may be the most numerous and convenient source of power on the road. Peter, who did the cross-country, used them extensively, and as a gonzo EE, built his own Multi-Input EVSE to drain two 14-50s at once. As you might imagine, interest in getting his promised plans is intense. He used KOA sites, mostly. So have many others.
My 6-50 was free as well. I asked my DS prior to delivery. He brought the 6-50, 14-50 and a few others when he arrived with my car the other day.
Interesting; all $45 except the $95 J1772.
I noticed on in the Roadster adapter section of the store for $100 they provide 8 adapters. It states Model S options will be released at a later date. I hope they plan to do something more.
I wish! Tesla sells T shirts for $26! That is $100 savings, $800 for the Roadster bundle, not $100.
@nickjhowe - I ran 14-50 because I couldn't get confirmation that I would get a 6-50 adapter with the car, but everything said it came with a 14-50 adapter. My car showed up with only a 14-50 adapter, and I didn't get the 6-50 adapter until last week, but it was free since I have an HPWC on order. So, if I hadn't run a 14-50 outlet I would have had to share my LEAF's J1772 charger or use 120V for a month, which would have been rather unpleasant. It cost me about $100 to run 3 conductors + ground rather than the 2 conductors + ground that would have been required for 6-50, but I figured better safe than sorry.
14-50 is more useful overall, since there are tons of RV parks around to charge at. You might find some body shop that would let you plug into a 6-50 outlet in a pinch, but they have to be less common.
I am in agreement with @shop, we really need a 10-30 adaptor!
Thanks @Jat.
I took a look at the roadster collection of charging adapters, and missing is a TT-30, the 120v 30a plug used in older RV parks. I would think that would be a useful adapter to have for the model S.
To the extent 120V is ever useful ...
@BrianH - +1, even at 30A (using 24A) that is only twice as fast as a regular 120V outlet and 3.5 times slower than a 14-50 -- really only useful in dire emergencies or just topping off.
Depends on your use case. If you are parked overnight or all day at an RV site, then 30a 120v will do nicely.
I for one would add a 30A 120V adapter to my arsenal. All RV parks have 30A not everybody has 50A 240V service. Just one more opportunity to charge:-)
@shop - even after 24 hours, you can't even get a full standard charge (only about 190 rated miles). Sure, some charge is better than nothing, but I think that hardly counts as practical.
Jat - you are right but it is STILL better than a regular 20A outlet - so given the choice I'd plug into a 30A outlet any day:-)
@Carefree - sure, but I think if you have to rely on it you have already failed. I would never start on a trip planning to use one, so it would only be in case of emergencies, like the place I planned to charge wasn't available for some reason and the only way to make it home was to sit there for 8 hours.
It seems highly unlikely that one of these would be available, but no L2 J1772 charger (30A@240V or better) would be available, as those are quite widespread (every Nissan dealer for one, plus Blink/Chargepoint networks, Plugshare, etc) and charge at least twice as fast.
@Jat - in everyday cases you are correct but there are many remote, off-the beaten-path places where charging at an RV place is the only option. My wife and I go camping regularly and we typically go hiking or do outdoor stuff (photography). The car might not be moved for two days in those situations because we are on the trail - why not use that opportunity to charge the car? Again, this would not be for regular charging to replace 240V.
Jeez what is so hard about thinking that 30a 120v is useful? I go to a horse show every year and will park there for 10 hours a day for three days. That's at least 80 miles of charge a day. If I can get any kind of overnight charging at my hotel, then I'll never have to visit a public charger. That's useful.
Ya, I wasn't really trying to imply 120V was always useless, but that its use had some severe constraints that have to be realistically understood. The Model S is NOT a 120V appliance, and doesn't really enjoy being made to simulate one!
I just ordered the NEMA 10-30 adapter today. It's available now, and may be in stock at your local service center. About $49.
@rockyb - For the Model S? There's no such thing on the TM website. Where'd you see a link?
I would definitely buy a 30 amp 120v adapter. I've been charging at RV parks and a couple times now I've taken the last 50 amp plug. Only a matter of time before I'm forced to use 120. A 30 amp plug would cut my wait in half! 30 amp is always available.
@nickjhowe - I simply called my service center (Rockville, MD) to inquire about availability of the 10-30 and they told me it's available, and ordered one for me. I would not rely too much on their website info as some of the info is really not current.
Thanks @rockyb.


text:
Latest News
See what's happening at Quest by checking our Facebook page.
Visit our Facebook page now»
Visit our Facebook page now»
Teacher Blogs
Be informed about classroom news by finding your student's teacher and then viewing his/her website.
K-5 Faculty » | 6-9 Faculty »
K-5 Faculty » | 6-9 Faculty »
Use Gradebook (formerly SIS) to stay up to date on your student's academic progress.
Check your student's grades »
Check your student's grades »
Excuse Absence
Need to keep your child home? Excusing an absence is easy. Just fill out our online form.
Excuse an Absence »
Excuse an Absence »


text:
Ziggybox from Christian Losert on Vimeo.
Meet the Ziggybox. By way of a few strategically-placed cigarettes, cigarette boxes and some sensors, it creates music that totally slays the people who listen to it.
Designers Christian Losert and Paul Schengber even created a handy video so you can see how it works and what it sounds like. Driving the rig are light sensors, C++ and Open Frameworks software.
Very neat, but it's too bad those cancer sticks are what's needed to power that catchy tune. Could this pink lung use a carrot or something instead? No, I can't? Man, what a drag. [Synthopia via technabob]


text:
1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1000Washington, DC 20005202.887.6400Toll-free: 800.544.0155
All Contents © 2020The Kiplinger Washington Editors
By the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance
| November 25, 2013
Don't give up on this bull market yet — it still has room to run, thanks to stronger economic and corporate underpinnings. Also key: improving sentiment among investors.
Here are 24 stock picks poised to ride that growth in 2014. We've culled them.from Kiplinger's investing editors and columnists James K. Glassman and Andrew Feinberg.
Analyst estimates are provided by Thomson Reuters. James K. Glassman, who writes the Opening Shot column, is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. His most recent book is Safety Net: The Strategy for De-Risking Your Investments in a Time of Turbulence. Andrew Feinberg, author of our Promised Land column, manages New York-based hedge fund CJA Partners.
Courtesy Coca-Cola
52-week high: $43.43 52-week low: $35.58 Annual revenues: $47.3 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 6.7%
Coca-Cola (KO) has trailed the market significantly for the past two years, under fire from competitors as well as from policymakers who want citizens to slim down.
But columnist Andrew Feinberg calls it a classic "faith-based" stock—a great company that, by means that can't be predicted, always seems to bounce back. And the 2.8% yield will quench your thirst while you wait for the price to rise.
Coolcaesar via Creative Commons
52-week high: $15.79 52-week low: $9.38 Annual revenues: $80.7 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 50.6%
Many investors have shunned Bank of America (BAC) because of problems related to Countrywide, which it bought in 2008. But those troubles now seem to be winding down. BofA's deposits are growing, and the quality of its loans is improving. Columnist Andrew Feinberg says the stock could easily rise 50% over the coming year.
Courtesy Honeywell Intl.
52-week high: $89.52 52-week low: $59.85 Annual revenues: $38.3 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 12.3%
In 2010, when Honeywell International (HON) announced an ambitious five-year growth plan, analysts were skeptical. They acknowledged that the firm, which makes everything from thermostats to jet engines, was well run, but they thought it couldn't wring enough efficiencies from its operations to overcome a struggling economy. But Honeywell hit all of its goals and has turned skeptics into believers, says Stifel Nicolaus analyst Jeff Osborne. Now, Honeywell is set to put out a new five-year plan that he thinks will be even more ambitious—and will help boost the stock
52-week high: $58.37 52-week low: $36.09 Annual revenues: $3.8 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 47.1%
Salesforce.com (CRM), which helps its clients use remote computing—the "cloud"—to conduct business, has seen a tenfold increase since 2008. Terry Tillman, who analyzes software stocks for Raymond James, predicts that revenues will rise 32% in the fiscal year that ends in January 2014 and 31% in the year that ends in January 2015.
Courtesy Air Lease
52-week high: $33.57 52-week low: $21.08 Annual revenues: $796 million Projected 2014 earnings growth: 29.1%
The dynamic duo who turned International Lease Finance Corp. into an airplane-leasing giant in the 1980s, Steven Udvar-Házy and John Plueger, came out of semi-retirement to launch Air Lease (AL) in 2010. Since then, the company has built a fleet of 174 jets, which are leased to more than 75 airlines.
Air Lease also helps manage air fleets, so when customers lease its new planes, it also brokers the sale of their old ones. Analysts expect profits to increase 30% in 2014, but the stock sells for only 16 times estimated earnings.
Courtesy Baker Hughes
52-week high: $58.83 52-week low: $39.56 Annual revenues: $21.8 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 37.5%
Baker Hughes (BHI) is the third-largest energy-services company in the world, but relatively few people know it. Though it has earned its neglect through poor management, Baker Hughes's leaders are now determined to improve the firm's profit margins, which are half those of rival Halliburton. Columnist Andrew Feinberg says the stock could rise by 33% over the next year.
Courtesy Eaton Corp.
52-week high: $73.19 52-week low: $50.50 Annual revenues: $20.9 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 18.7%
An improving global economy is bullish for Eaton (ETN), which specializes in power management—from the manufacture of hydraulic systems for trucks and planes to the circuit breakers used in commercial construction. Eaton moved its headquarters from Ohio to Ireland in 2012 as part of its purchase of electronics giant Cooper Industries. The deal helped boost sales and profits in 2013. But the sluggish commercial-construction market is weighing on results.
Morningstar analyst Daniel Holland thinks that business will rebound in 2014, allowing Eaton to fire on all cylinders.
52-week high: $73.09 52-week low: $59.02 Annual revenues: $23.30 Projected 2014 earnings growth: 9.4%
Qualcomm (QCOM), the maker of popular chips that serve as the modems and brains of wireless phones, is attractively priced. The stock sells for 14 times estimated year-ahead earnings, a figure that compares favorably with analysts' estimates of 17% yearly earnings gains over the next three to five years. It's the only stock that the Value Line Investment Service gives a top rating for both timeliness and safety.
52-week high: $60.18 52-week low: $33.14 Annual revenues: $1.7 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 137.3%
Ocwen (OCN) is a tech-savvy mortgage servicer (essentially a highly paid bill processor and collector) that specializes in dicey loans. Ocwen's efficient systems give it a 70% cost advantage over competitors with regard to subprime loans, which leads to more business and better profit margins. Columnist Andrew Feinberg says the stock could easily rise 50% over the coming year.
52-week high: $22.30 52-week low: $3.53 Annual revenues: $401 million Projected 2014 earnings growth: 114.3%
Tower Group International (TWGP) is a potentially rewarding stock, albeit a risky one.
Its 18% dividend yield attests to that. Growing doubts about the adequacy of the property-and-casualty insurer's loss reserves caused the stock to fall from more than $22 in August to less than $4 in October.
This stock is favored by James Roumell, a super-contrarian money manager who launched Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund (RAMVX) three years ago. He thinks investors have overreacted.
Courtesy Cree Inc.
52-week high: $76.00 52-week low: $31.05 Annual revenues: $1.5 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 34.5%
Cree Inc. (CREE) is a leader in the manufacture of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. These energy-sipping bulbs, which require up to 85% less power than traditional bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs, are gaining popularity. Only about 3% of the U.S. population currently uses them, but government price subsidies are making them more popular and affordable.
Cree is also stepping into the solar-power industry. That should help light up sales and profits for years to come and justifies the stock's rich price, which amounts to 34 times estimated earnings.
52-week high: NA 52-week low: NA Annual revenues: NA Projected 2014 earnings growth: NA
Columnist Andrew Feinberg sees buying warrants of General Motors as a way to magnify gains in a cheap stock in the hot car market. Here's how that works: GM's shares are held back by perceptions that the firm is a loser and by the fact that Uncle Sam will soon sell its stake. When the Treasury unloads, the stock should pop.
If you buy GM stock at today's price of about $37 and it goes to $56 over the next year (Feinberg's target) you would make 41%. But if you owned the warrants, which are like long-term options and in this case are moving dollar for dollar with the stock, you'd make 95%. Of course, if the common falls, the warrants will lose more.
52-week high: $47.25 52-week low: $10.33 Annual revenues: NA Projected 2014 earnings growth: -9.4%
Stemline Therapeutics (STML) is a small, early-stage biotech firm that focuses on developing drugs that target cancer stem cells. We like that the Eventide Gilead fund lately has loaded up on Stemline; the little-known fund has one of the industry's best five-year records.
52-week high: $11.19 52-week low: $8.60 Annual revenues: $112.5 million Projected 2014 earnings growth: 17.0%
Material Sciences (MASC), a tiny (market capitalization: $97 million) maker of lightweight alternatives to stainless steel, is a favorite of Daniel Abramowitz, of Hillson Financial Management, in Rockville, Md. He thinks that, considering Material Sciences' earnings potential and $9 share price, the stock is a bargain. "The company has $3.73 per share in cash, is debt-free and sells at a discount to book value" (assets minus liabilities), he notes.
Jeffrey Beam via Creative Commons
52-week high: $42.71 52-week low: $23.93 Annual revenues: $990 million Projected 2014 earnings growth: 42.7%
Home Inns & Hotels Management (HMIN), which runs about 1,700 economy-priced hotels in mainland China, could benefit if the country's economy bounces back from a recent slowdown in growth.
coconut wireless via Creative Commons
52-week high: $121.68 52-week low: $70.74 Annual revenues: $461 m Projected 2014 earnings growth: 214.8%
Howard Hughes Corp.'s (HHC) real estate holdings include 60 acres in Honolulu as well as property in New York City's South Street Seaport and the booming Woodlands planned community in Houston. When the Hawaii real estate is fully developed, it could be worth Hughes's entire market value. Hughes is the biggest holding in columnist Andrew Feinberg's hedge fund, CJA Partners, LP. The stock has tripled in three years, but sees it rising another 50% by November 2014.
Tonlipes via Creative Commons
52-week high: $43.88 52-week low: $37.40 Annual revenues: $66.6 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 6.5%
Unilever (UL), the Netherlands-based consumer-products company, has a major presence in burgeoning markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. So far in 2013, Unilever shares have trailed the S&P by 20 percentage points, but they are likely to rebound.
It's a top ten holding of Artisan International Value (ARTKX), which has whipped its benchmark by an average of 7.6 percentage points per year over the past five years.
52-week high: $1.00 52-week low: $0.45 Annual revenues: $117 million Projected 2014 earnings growth: NA
Monitise plc (MONIF) is a leader in mobile-payment software. The London-based firm has struck important deals with Visa and IBM, among others. Visa projects that by 2020, half of its credit and debit purchases will be made using mobile devices. If that forecast is anywhere near accurate, Monitise's stock could be a monster.
52-week high: $35.44 52-week low: $21.06 Annual revenues: $28.7 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 25.2%
Fox (FOXA) is the new movie-and-TV company that resulted from the split-up of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (NWS), which retained the newspaper and other media properties. It's the largest holding of the Yacktman Fund (YACKX) — particularly significant since that fund holds only 45 stocks and rarely changes them.
johnwilliamsphd via Creative Commons
52-week high: $99.42 52-week low: $72.69 Annual revenues: $24.5 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 3.7%
A major energy producer, Occidental Petroleum (OXY) has an edge over many of its peers: It gets the bulk of its energy from politically stable North America, and most of that energy is in liquid form, which benefits from a favorable balance of supply and demand. Oxy also boasts a superb balance sheet, with plenty of cash for dividends and share buybacks.
To boost Oxy's long-moribund stock price, the company has launched a restructuring plan, which initially involves selling assets to raise cash. Morningstar analyst Allen Good thinks Oxy's stock is a bargain.
52-week high: $57.52 52-week low: $39.88 Annual revenues: $96.3 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 36%
Over the past two years, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has been mired in controversies, ranging from billion-dollar losses in the London Whale trading debacle to a proposed $13-billion settlement with regulators over improprieties in the mortgage market.
The sideshows, though, mask the bank's underlying strength, says Raymond James analyst Anthony Polini. JPMorgan is one of the best-run banks, with a strong balance sheet and a compelling international investment-banking operation. The legal woes have suppressed the stock, which trades for just 9 times earnings.
52-week high: $28.05 52-week low: $15.05 Annual revenues: NA Projected 2014 earnings growth: 94.4%
Altisource Residential (RESI), a spinoff from Ocwen, is in a related business. It buys baskets of loans that are heading for foreclosure and then either modifies them or takes possession of the collateral. Columnist Andrew Feinberg forecasts not only a 30% increase in the stock price over the coming year but rising dividends as well.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) is a Minnesota-based logistics company that offers global transportation services. It's also a holding of Mairs & Power Growth (MPGFX), a fund that's a member of the Kiplinger 25, and which has been in the top one-third of its category four years in a row. But C.H. Robinson is the only MPGFX stock that didn't increase in value during 2013, which columnist James K. Glassman sees as a sign the stock is due to surge. He calls it a bargain-priced contrarian pick poised to prosper as global trade increases.
Courtesy General Electric
52-week high: $27.50 52-week low: $20.26 Annual revenues: $144.9 billion Projected 2014 earnings growth: 7.4%
Global conglomerates such as General Electric (GE) tend to expand at the same pace as overall economic growth. So GE will benefit from an improving world economy—and then some. That's because, according to Morningstar analyst Daniel Holland, GE is better than most conglomerates at creating synergies among its various operations—from aviation to health care—that help facilitate the creation of new products.
Shareholders are benefiting from dividend hikes, as well as share buybacks, which will help profits grow at a 10% pace over the next few years. Plus, the stock yields an above-average 2.9%.


text:
Afternoon tea is my favourite meal. Nicely filling that otherwise too long void between lunch and dinner, it ticks just about every box I have. Tea is all the best parts of a meal, pared down and made beautiful. There are no brussel sprouts, no over-cooked meat, and no wilting salad on an afternoon tea tray. Instead it's tiny sandwiches with crusts delicately removed, fingers of cake and shortbread, and little hor'doeuvres. It's like a canape tray placed in front of you at a party, and you are free to devour the entire thing.
To add to its list of virtues, afternoon tea is economical. Granted, The Balmoral may charge £21 (£34.50 with champagne), but that's still a far cry cheaper, and every bit as luxurious, as a three-course dinner. Recline on a comfy chair, sample cakes from a tiered stand as the city rushes by outside and just try to not feel decadent.
But one problem with the resurgence in popularity of the afternoon tea is that it is now everywhere, and the difference in standards is dramatic. I recently visited a tea room in Morningside: the place where one would expect the utmost in afternoon tea. However, the afternoon began badly when my order failed to appear. When I finally made it clear that I wanted Afternoon Tea, and not a pot of tea (strangely for a tea room, this was quite the task), I waited the further 25 minutes for a plate of stale traybakes and soggy sarnies. Not a treat at all at £16.95.
But at the other end of the scale, The Howard on Great King Street is so confident of their tea service that they have an afternoon tea club. I am delighted to be their 139th member, and although tea is also £16.95 a head, they run a range of offers and promotions that make it quite an affordable visit. And with sandwiches like fig and parma ham and cucumber and mint, and coffee and pecan roulade and chocolate moelleux for sweets, it may well be my new favourite place. I plan on spending most of the winter here, in the style of Lady Bracknell, subsiding on cucumber sandwiches and Earl Grey tea - at least, until the German Market opens... (R. Edwards)


text:
The Special Sunday Night Showcase!
The Special Sunday Night Showcase!
Rick Jenkins hosts...Caitlin Arcand, Kendra Dawsey, James HuessyTooky Kavanagh, Kirsten Logan,
David McLaughlin, Al Park, Nate Shu, Erin Spencer, Gabe Stoddard, and Brandon Vallee
The Comedy Studio is located on the 2nd floor of Bow Market in Union Square, Somerville, MA and is open Mondays through Sundays.
Variety, our lounge bar, will be open serving housemade cocktails, beer, wine at 2PM and doors for the theater open at 7:30pm- show begins at 8:00pm! And, yes, we will have Scorpion bowls!
Seating is assigned. If you would like to be seated with another party under a different name, please call 617-661-6507 or email email@example.com to make arrangements. Please arrive on time!
For more info, call us at 617-661-6507 or email us anytime!
Directions - Our NEW address is at:
1 Bow Market Way #23, Somerville, MA 02143
The entrance to the courtyard where we're located is actually on Somerville Avenue, right on the corner of P.A.'s Lounge.
There is street parking available.
For public transportation, both the 86 and 87 MBTA buses have stops nearby, and there is a Rideshare dropoff point right in front of the courtyard driveway for both Uber/Lyft.
When you walk into the courtyard, feel free to take the stairs (straight ahead) up to the second floor, or go to the common lobby area (on the right side of the courtyard) and take the stairs/elevator up to the second floor. We are located right above Remnant Brewing on the second-floor walkway- you will see the Variety and The Comedy Studio sign entrance amongst the windows! Call us if you have trouble finding our spot! - 617 661 6507
See you soon!


text:
More than a thousand blackbirds fell from the sky over an Arkansas town, and no one knows why. Wild, rampant speculation time!
The dead birds, which fell in a one-mile area near Beebe, Arkansas, appeared traumatized, perhaps like they'd been the targets of a giant alien laser shotgun. Or! Maybe they were killed in a government experiment involving mind control. Maybe it was an avian Branch Dividian type situation.
Officials believe that the birds were killed by natural causes like lightning or high altitude hail. Others believe that the birds were scared from their roosts by New Year's Eve fireworks-related revelry and died of fright.
Whatever really happened to the 1,000 dead blackbirds of Beebe, Arkansas, it's probably terrifying and bad and awesome and worthy of being talked about while low, ominous music plays in the background. God, do I ever wish Unsolved Mysteries was still on the air. Now that was a show.
More Than A Thousand Dead Birds Fall From The Sky [NPR]


text:
Editor, Redress Information & Analysis
Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, August 6, 2012
The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly denounced the Syrian regime's crackdown on the people's revolution.
The resolution, passed today by 133 in favour, with 12 against and 31 abstentions, says "the first step in the cessation of violence has to be made by the Syrian authorities".
Before the vote, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reminded the assembly of the fresh violence in the city of Aleppo and drew comparisons between the failure to act in Syria and past genocide in Srebrenica and Rwanda.
"The acts of brutality that are being reported may constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes," he said of the Aleppo fighting. "Such acts must be investigated and the perpetrators held to account."
Meanwhile, a tiny but vociferous group of ultra-reactionaries and racists masquerading as "leftists" and "anti-imperialists" continues to poison and disinform on behalf of the doomed sectarian regime of Bashar Assad.
Obsessed with imaginary conspiracies, ridden with empty slogans and determined to fight their armchair pseudo-ideological battles until the last drop of Syrian and other Arab blood, these pretenders are now completely at one with the sectarian Alawite clique that has sold the Syrian Golan Heights to its soulmates in Israel.
In 1967 Bashar Assad's father, Hafez – the butcher of Hama and Tal al-Zaatar – abandoned the Golan Heights to the Israelis without a fight. Now Bashar – the butcher of Homs, Hama, Aleppo and all of Syria – has told the Israelis they can keep the Golan in return for convincing the Americans that his regime is the best guarantor of Israel's security on the northern border.
But no more. The Assad regime is doomed. Just as the light of day is sure to follow the darkness of night, it will fall and with it the self-styled "leftist" and "anti-imperialist" pretenders will be exposed for the ultra-reactionary fascists that they are.
The Arab people has erupted and there is no rolling back of their intifada.
But freedom and justice have never been cheap. Along our path to liberation there will be many rivers of blood to cross and mountains of propaganda, disinformation and lies to demolish – the fossilized scum of the ultra-reactionay pretenders and their Russian, Chinese and regional sectarian godfathers.
Soon Aleppo, Homs, Hama and all of Syria will be liberated.
The Syrian people will be free – free to exrcise their inalienable civil and political rights and free at last to liberate the Golan Heights from the terrorists and colonists of the Zionist entity.
And beyond Syria, progressive forces all over the world will be free to build genuine grassroots movements with justice and democracy at their core, unshackled and cleansed from the Stalinists, reactionaries and fascists.
For more information, see:
Henry Lowi, "Storming the Bastille in Syria"
Phan Binh, "Libya and Syria: when anti-imperialism goes wrong"
Nureddin Sabir, "Cynicism and black propaganda: the left's reactions to the Libyan and Syrian revolutions"


text:
We offer affordable Moda fabrics, Moda quilt kits, Moda precuts, and a great variety of patterns and notions for all of your quilting, decor, accessories and sewing needs. When you shop at our online quilt fabric store, you'll always be treated with prompt, caring southern-style hospitality and service as well as our personal satisfaction guarantee. We look forward to serving you!
-Wanda & Gary-
Old South Fabrics is an online quilting store located in Cleveland, Tennessee. We specialize in selling top of the line Moda fabrics, Moda pre-cuts, Moda quilt kits and unique patterns from world-class fabric designers such as Holly Taylor, Kate Spain, Bonnie & Camille, Fig Tree & Co., Cozy Quilt Designs, Jaybird Quilts, 3 Sisters & Sentimental Studios. From beginners to experts, we have a wide assortment of superior quilt fabric, patterns and notions to meet your quilting and sewing needs.


text:
America's #1 Seller of Mortgage Protection Insurance
Have Fun
Do you believe in taking time to enjoy the fruits of your labor? We do, too. Our group adventures have been described as "going on vacation with a few hundred of our friends." Exotic trips are a common occurrence each year, as well as attending concerts, sporting events, team building exercises and leadership retreats. Regardless of the activity, agents create fun and lasting memories for everyone.Have Fun
Make Money
Whether you want to learn fast or slow, or work part-time or full time there is opportunity for a great income. You definitely will be paid well for the level of effort you put in. Some agents prefer to concentrate on writing policies, while others desire to build an independent agency. The Alliance accommodates either type of agent, and excels at producing people with the knack to do both. Either way, working as an agent with us is a very lucrative endeavor.Make Money
Make a Difference
People like us feel strongly about giving back to the community. It is our duty to leave this world better than we found it. Even when our agents are on a fabulous trip in an exotic location, they often make the effort to donate some of their time to a local need and provide physical labor to enhance the area. The Alliance truly believes in helping people and does so in various areas and ways.Make A Difference
How does it work?
Everyone knows that money does not grow on trees – if only it did! And a nine-to-five job sometimes feels like you have no room to grow, making your performance "conditional" on what you are compensated for. At National Agents Alliance you have complete control over your income because you are paid what you are worth. Thousands of people are looking for what you have to offer and we are the matchmaker that puts you together. In this situation, everyone wins!
in insurance coverage applied for since 2002
protected with a tax-free savings plan since 2002
families helped since 2002


text:
Burning instructions
It took me 10 attempts to get a working disc with audio, so I figured I'd share my secrets.
First, the burning instructions on chu's project page are wrong. Ignore them, but praise the man for neo4all. Download a copy of bootdreams from the dc help pages ( http://www.consolevision.com ). It must be version 1.0.2, this is the magic cdda burning version. It's worth repeating, bootdreams v1.0.2. This version will hang if it's asked to make an ip.bin so make one beforehand and put it inside you noiz2sa directory. The bootdreams setup will place a copy of the program in your root directory. Go there, open it and place your .mp3s into the folder labeled cdda. You'll need 11 tracks in total. 5 tracks for the level 1-5/6-10 music, one for the menu and one track each for endless and endless insane. You will also need 3 4 second long buffer tracks. If you don't have them you'll be missing your first 3 audio tracks. If you can't figure out a way to create them then get the echelon selfboot toolkit and make 3 copies of audio.raw and rename them to .wav.
Your cdda directory should look like this
a.wav 690k
b.wav 690k
c.wav 690k
Reminder: make an ip.bin and put it in your noiz2sa directory before proceeding.
Open bootdreams, switch it to cdrecord frontend mode (last icon before the burn icon), go to extras and check burn cdda tracks, click browse and select your noiz2sa directory, then click process. Select your cd burner from the list and a window will come up labeled "Select the CDDA Tracks". all the audio files in your cdda directory will be avalible. Highlight and move them over. Make sure that your 3 buffer tracks go first, check the "convert to valid wav" switch, put a blank cd in the drive and watch it go.
Notes: which track goes to which level?
to make this easy, assume that the track naming convention begins with track 0 and goes to track 7
track 0= endless (all levels except insane)
track 1= level 1 and 6
track 2= level 2 and 7
track 3= level 3 and 8
track 4= level 4 and 9
track 5= level 5 and 10
track 6= endless insane
track 7= menu
note: the menu music will not load until you've started a level and played through it or died, weird but inconsequential bug
The game levels run about 3 minutes. so if you want the music to play completely through during the level, pick short songs (noiz2sa pixies edition)
my current playlist
she "nebula" (get it from 8bit peoples, it's perfect for the game)
kevin cey "incandescent glow"
psychadelic furs "areoplane"
this morn omina "suneater"
lippock and morgenstien "if the day remains unspoken for"
clock dva "cycom" (also perfect for the game)
spahn ranch "u tell em u"
skinny puppy "mirrorsaw dub"
one last feature request:
a second button to slow the ship down. the dc version goes waaaaay to fast on full and a little too slow on slow. it needs a third setting basically half way between the two.


text:
This time, the San Jose Earthquakes' typical late-game heroics were only half the story.
With goals in the 75th and 84th minutes from Alan Gordon and Chris Wondolowski, respectively, the Quakes' 2-1 road victory against Real Salt Lake on Saturday could be filed as just another entry in San Jose's ever-growing dossier of fairy-tale endings.
In so many of those earlier matches, however, the Quakes' standard operating procedure was to chase a game from behind. Facing an angry RSL side that had blown a two-goal lead Wednesday in an eventual 3-2 loss to LA, San Jose's defense was finally an equal contributor as the Quakes came into Rio Tinto Stadium and wrested away ownership of the Supporters' Shield lead.
Full Match Highlights
Even though Javier Morales' world-class strike off a free kick in the 79th minute prevented San Jose (10-3-3) from posting their first shutout in almost three months, the Quakes' back line took a starring role in keeping things sealed up, allowing Wondo & Co. to work their offensive alchemy.
Justin Morrow, on the dead run, contorted himself to divert Fabian Espindola's 23rd-minute shot with a goalmouth header. Victor Bernardez's sliding deflection in the 31st kept Alvaro Saborio from getting a free look from 12 yards out.
Most of all, there was Jason Hernandez, who delivered three goal-saving plays in the second half to highlight one of his best performances in 111 appearances for the Quakes.
"I think Jason played a great game tonight," Quakes coach Frank Yallop said. "He was in really good spots all night and handling a really good center forward. For me, Saborio is one of the best in the league at what he does, fantastic from 10 yards in, and I think Jason did a terrific job on him, along with Victor. You've got to commend those guys for not crumbling. All our guys really put their bodies on the line to get a result."
No play from Hernandez was more critical than when he nodded Saborio's looping redirection just over the crossbar in the 71st minute, after the ball had fluttered over the outstretched hand of San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch.
Busch had to come off his line to make a last-ditch kick save on Will Johnson, leaving him trapped in no man's land when RSL substitute Jonny Steele corralled the rebound and Saborio flicked it gently goalward. But it was practice, not luck, which stationed Hernandez in the right place at the right time.
"In training, I've been known to creep in behind [Busch] and try to be that last line of defense [during a scramble in the box]," Hernandez said. "In years past, I've had one or two come my way. That's just natural for me. ... I was just making sure I cleared the bar and hopefully didn't put it in my own net."
You didn't need a high-definition television to catch Hernandez's mile-wide smile after his save on Saborio, who offered a playful shove in exasperation.
"He was in a bit of disbelief," Hernandez said. "I smiled at him because Saborio is a very talented striker and he's scored a lot of goals in this league. ... You don't get to rob Saborio of a lot of goals."
Hernandez also kept RSL off the board with a 48th-minute clearance that prevented Kyle Beckerman being presented with a gift-wrapped chance on inside the 6, and again in the 57th when his clean diving tackle dispossessed Johnson on the doorstep.
"I've seen him play unbelievably, and I think that ranks right up there with them," Wondolowski said of Hernandez. "He was on fire. He tracked so many runs. The movement that Salt Lake creates makes it tough to stay with runners. They try to pull you out of position, and I thought he played great."
Geoff Lepper covers the Earthquakes for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Dallas Fed Trimmed Mean PCE –0.1 Percent for April
For immediate release: May 31, 2013
DALLAS—The Trimmed Mean PCE inflation rate for April was –0.1 percent at an annualized rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
The overall Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation rate for April, released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, was an annualized –3.0 percent, while the inflation rate for PCE excluding food and energy was an annualized 0.1 percent.
The Trimmed Mean PCE inflation rate for the 12-month period ending in April was 1.3 percent. Over the same 12 months, the price index for overall PCE rose 0.7 percent and the price index for PCE excluding food and energy rose 1.1 percent.
The Trimmed Mean PCE inflation rate is an alternative measure of core inflation in the price index for PCE. It is calculated by the Dallas Fed, using data from the BEA.
Next release: June 27.
Media contact:
Alexander Johnson
Phone: 214-922-5288
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
With women seen as key to victory in the U.S. Senate race here, both candidates were focusing yesterday on issues that impact women.
Democrat Elizabeth Warren got a boost from the longest-serving woman in the U.S. Senate, and Scott Brown highlighted an endorsement from victims advocate Wendy Murphy.
The woman some call the "Iron Lady" of the U.S. Senate, Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., campaigned with Ms. Warren in Boston, and then the pair made their way to the Worcester YWCA to charge up an audience of about 100 supporters for a final grass-roots push.
Ms. Mikulski said that she urged Ms. Warren to get into the race last year. When she was introduced by state representative candidate from Worcester Mary Keefe as only the 38th woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate, Ms. Mikulski said, "not for long" and pointed to Ms. Warren saying, "Number 39."
"Oh boy, there's 11 days to go. The clock is ticking. My heart is beating. My toes tingle with anticipation that we are going to have the 39th woman elected to the Senate," Ms. Mikulski said as the crowd cheered her. "We want Elizabeth Warren to come to the United States Senate, and we need you to turn it up and turn it out on election day to make sure she does."
Meanwhile Mr. Brown was airing an ad featuring women saying that they have seen Ms. Warren's ads claiming that Scott Brown doesn't support women and saying that those claims are not true. The incumbent appeared with Ms. Murphy, a prominent lawyer who has undertaken advocacy for children and women who have been abused or victimized. He talked about his support for renewal of the federal Violence Against Women Act and criticized Ms. Warren for not being more an outspoken supporter of women alleging sexual harassment at Harvard University where she is a member of the faculty.
In Worcester, Ms. Mikulski said while Scott Brown "is really a very nice guy in many ways," he could be the deciding vote to put conservative Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in control of the U.S. Senate in January. That, she said, would mean "turning the clock back" and "throwing sand in the gears of the Obama agenda" and appointments he would make, including new members of the Supreme Court.
Using her rally voice to address the audience of mostly women at the YWCA, Ms. Mikulski said the country needs Ms. Warren and a Democratic-controlled Senate.
"She's a reformer. She's a fighter. She took on Wall Street," she said. "She also stuck up for Main Street and our troops to make sure they aren't gouged on car loans and other things.," she said.
"She was the first to write an article about family bankruptcy when you face a catastrophic medical situation," the senator from Baltimore said, a problem that was addressed in Obamacare, which eliminates lifetime insurance coverage caps to prevent people from declaring bankruptcy.
When Republicans held up Ms. Warren's presidential appointment to head up the new Federal Consumer Protection Agency Ms. Warren proposed and formed last year, Ms. Mikulski said, she and other members of the Senate began calling her. "I got on the phone in my usual dainty style, and gently said, "Elizabeth, don't get mad. Get elected!" as the room erupted in applause.
"If you are pro-choice then there is no choice, but to vote for Elizabeth Warren," she said. "He says he's independent," Ms Mikulski said of Scott Brown. "Well you can't have it both ways."
The Senate veteran criticized Mr. Brown for voting against a bill aimed at helping women get equal pay. "He had a choice. He voted no," she said, before listing a host of benefits provided by Obamacare that Mr. Brown wants to repeal. When she mentioned his support for the Blunt amendment to allow employers to take birth control coverage out of worker health plans, Ms. Mikulski said, "I think it's time we blunted Scott Brown's momentum," to cheers from the audience.
Ms. Warren got a standing ovation when she said, "I can't believe I have to say this in 2012, but I want to go to Washington to stand up for women."
"For the next 11 days we will work together and make sure we have done everything we possibly can, knocked on every door, made every phone call, talked to every person, not just your friends," she said, urging supporters to help the campaign. "There's exactly one way to win a Senate race in Massachusetts and that is face to face, hand to hand, person to person all across this Commonwealth," Ms. Warren said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
A Minnesota man was charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly mowing his lawn while clad in nothing but a loincloth.
Matthew Swanson, 43, drew the eyes of the law after a neighbor said the Fergus Falls resident had partially exposed himself while clipping his grass Wednesday afternoon near a day care where children were present, WDAY-TV reported. He was reportedly yelling obscenities to boot
Police said they arrested the modern-day Tarzan after he responded with more foul-mouthed curses to their request that he stop the nearly naked mowing, WDAY-TV reported.
U.S. & World
Swanson had reportedly been cited earlier Wednesday for harassing police by phone.


text:
Exif: F Number: 4, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/100 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 60.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Uploaded on August 20, 2010
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Joyce Bohm. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings make the kind of ebullient, impassioned soul music that often gets labeled as "retro"--when, in reality, "timeless" is a much more appropriate description. These days, Jones and co. are one of the most fruitful branches on the soul/funk family tree, churning out album after album of soon-to-be-classic grooves that branch out pleasantly from the genre's Aretha/Etta/Mavis roots. After a delayed release due to Jones' triumphant battle with pancreatic cancer, the group's latest album, Give the People What They Want, came out earlier this year and the irrepressible Ms. Jones and her Dap-Kings have been on the road ever since.
The band took some time from their busy schedule to sit down with the "What's In My Bag?" crew and talk music. Jones kicks the segment off with disco icon Sylvester's live album, Living Proof. Next, drummer Homer Steinweiss talks about Norman Greenbaum's psych/gospel hybrid album, Spirit in the Sky. "Everyone should have this record," says Neal Sugarman about his pick, Bobby "Blue" Bland's classic Two Steps from the Blues. As they pull out LP after LP, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' passion for music reveals itself in the depth and breadth of their picks. Check out the full episode below and get a crash course in the history of soul, funk, and disco.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - What's in My Bag?
Watch and comment on YouTube.


text:
Flushing, Queens — The line stretching out of J.K. Bakery in Union St, Flushing, Queens, reached three doors down from the bagel shop. Inside, the scent of freshly baked onion bagels was enough to make one's stomach rumble.
Behind the counter, Joon Hee Kim, the son of the Korea-born owner of the shop for the past 20 years, greets the regulars by name and their preferred order in quick Korean. The star of the shop, a classic that doesn't get old: the plain.
"Koreans are very cautious with food," said Kim, handing out the third plain bagel in a row. "Even among customers who have been coming for years, the plain is our best sold bagel."
The bagel is the most beloved breakfast item in New York – even in Flushing, a predominantly Korean neighborhood. But as the city's demographics shift, so do its icons.
J.K. Bakery, a traditional Jewish bagel shop which has been on Union Street for decades, is now owned by the Kim family. The bagels are as iconic as they've always been, but the faces behind this bakery's counter are changing.
New York's food staples like pizza or bagels cannot be attributed to any demographic group anymore, said City Comptroller John C. Liu, who represented Flushing at City Council from 2001 to 2005 and is a usual customer of J.K. Bakery. "They are a part of New York now," he said.
J.K. Bakery has become a staple of the eating scenery of Flushing, the hub of the Korean community in New York City for over ten years. Before that it was mainly white and Jewish, as shown by the numbers from the 1960 Census. Since 1965, when the first Korean immigrants started arriving, the area's Korean population has grown to reach 64,000 according to the 2010 Census. The numbers make Flushing the biggest Korean neighborhood in the U.S.
One of those early arrivals was Kim's father, who worked odd jobs for a couple of years before starting to work as an apprentice at J.K Bakery, then owned by a Jewish family. Five years later, when the Jewish owner retired, Kim's father bought the shop.
Twenty-three years later, he still owns the neighborhood hotspot—and still has a hand in how the bagels are made.
"My father tastes the dough every morning to make sure it's perfect," said Kim, 28. "No salty or bland bagels are sold here."
Bagels are not alone in this demographic switch-a-roo – the other quintessential New York bite, the pizza, is experiencing a similar revolution. Pizza by the slice for $1, sometimes less, is still served by many Italians. But in at least one corner of Midtown, pizza slices are dished out by different hands.
"Everybody likes pizza," said Mohid Kumar, manager of Bombay Pizza, an Indian owned pizza-by-the-slice place on 38th st. and 6th Avenue. "And everybody can make pizza, too."
Kumar, 49, a Bangladeshi immigrant, has been managing the store for two and a half years. He employs four people, all Hispanic, which sometimes complicates communication just a little bit. "When they talk among themselves, I have no idea what they're saying.," says Kumar, who insists thought that making pizza is team work. "One colleague makes the dough, the other puts in the ingredients, then to the oven. I cut it."
"Everybody loves pizza. Everybody can make pizza, too."
– Mohid Kumar,
Bombay Pizza Manager
In spite of his 16 years in New York, Kumar is not willing to give up in his roots: in the back of Bombay Pizza there is an Indian vegetarian food counter, which includes dosa, an Indian version of pizza. "Many customers change their mind when they come into the store," said Kumar. "They come for the pizza, and stay for the Indian curries."
The popularity of pizza and bagels in New York City date back to early 20th Century, when Jews from Eastern Europe and Italians were the two major immigrant groups in New York. This combined with the abundance of wheat made it easy for both bread-based products to spread.
"The particular demographics of New York brought bagels and pizza to other groups who would otherwise never have tried them," said New York-based food writer Frederick Kaufman. "What is happening today is one step further in the fusion of cuisines."
As deeply engraved into New York's history as they are, these food staples must not be altered, at least anymore than necessary: Kim and his father adhere to that philosophy.
"We don't toast bagels here, sorry," says Woo Hee Kim – Kim's aunt who also helps at the shop – to a customer who requested it be done to her bagel. "We don't even own a toaster," continues Kim. "Bagels are not traditionally toasted, so we don't do it."
Old habits die hard though, even when mastering the art of making a bagel. Kim, who was born in the States, does take daily advantage of the treats of his shop; his father, on the other hand, starts the day the Korean way: with a dish of rice, seaweed and soup.
"Koreans are still dazzled by the idea of bagels," said Kim. He said that a couple of years ago, his father tried to open a bagel shop in Seoul, but ended up returning to New York when the business did not prosper.
Apparently though, the Korean population is actually opening up to new cuisines.
"We hear that Mexican food is all the rage now," said Kim. "So who knows, maybe bagels will be the next thing! And then we can try again."


text:
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced that Science magazine has ranked Regeneron as the #1 employer in the global biopharmaceutical industry in the journal's annual Top Employers Survey.
"This recognition by Science as the most respected company to work for in the biopharmaceutical industry is very satisfying for all of us at Regeneron," said Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and President, Regeneron Laboratories. "Since we opened our first lab in 1989, we have believed that innovative science could be harnessed to deliver important new medicines for serious conditions. As we have grown from a handful of people to nearly 1,900 employees today, we have worked hard to maintain a culture that values rigorous science, creative thinking, and collegiality. We are fortunate to have such talented employees who are dedicated to discovering and developing new treatments for patients in need."
This is the first year that Regeneron has captured the #1 position and the first time a New York based company has topped the survey. Last year Regeneron was ranked #2.
The 2012 survey sought to identify the companies with the best reputations as employers, based on 4,276 survey responses from readers of Science and other survey invitees. Survey participants came from North America (78%), Europe (14%), and Asia/Pacific Rim (5%); 93% worked in private industry. Details of the rankings and survey results can be found in the September 21 online edition of Science and will be featured in the October 19, 2012 print issue.
On Monday, September 24, New York State Lt. Governor Robert Duffy and U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey and other public officials are scheduled to participate in an event with Regeneron's Tarrytown employees that will recognize this important achievement.
Separately, Regeneron announced another step to reinforce its commitment to science by launching a new Post-Doctoral Training Program that is accepting applications for its 2013 class. The three-year multi-faceted program will integrate cutting edge science with didactic training, discussion groups, and focused mentoring.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron markets three products in the United States, EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection, ZALTRAP® (ziv-aflibercept) Injection for Intravenous Infusion, and ARCALYST® (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use; ZALTRAP is co-commercialized with Sanofi. Regeneron has filed a regulatory application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a second indication for EYLEA. Phase 3 studies are in progress with EYLEA in two additional indications and with product candidates sarilumab and REGN727. Regeneron has active research and development programs in many disease areas, including ophthalmology, inflammation, cancer, and hypercholesterolemia. Additional information and recent news releases are available on the Regeneron web site at www.regeneron.com.
Contact Information:
Peter Dworkin
Corporate Communications
Manisha Narasimhan, Ph.D.
Investor Relations
|SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Copyright©2012 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


text:
Between earth and sky
Lufthansa Pilot Ulrich Beinert is a passionate photographer. His impressive aerial shots of cities and landscapes are taken from the cockpit at a height of at least 10 000 feet.
Ulrich Beinert can remember exactly what it was like in 1997 when the Hale-Bopp comet passed by the earth. For several weeks, this incredibly bright object shone up in the sky, visible all around the globe. This was young Ulrich's very own big bang, the start of his enduring fascination with everything in the sky: the stars, the constellations, the whole universe. His deepest wish was to understand, to make obscured objects visible and capture their essence.
When he was 15 he was given a proper telescope through which he photographed the sun, the moon and planets with his battered viewfinder camera, bringing them in close enough to touch. Later, with the advent of digital cameras, he took pictures of stars, glowing gas nebulas and space dust pierced by rays of light. "All the things that are difficult to put into words," says Beinart, who studied aviation systems technology at Bremen University. For his final thesis he sent a research balloon with a camera up into the middle stratosphere, taking pictures far above the clouds. "It was the closest I'd ever been to space."
Beinert is now 34 and a Lufthansa pilot and his is possibly the best vantage point from which to view the world. He takes many of his pictures from the cockpit during flight: pictures of sunsets, Alpine glaciers, Brussels by night with a crescent moon, or the Northern Lights dancing on the horizon. But wait, shouldn't he be navigating the plane rather than snapping pictures? Beinert laughs, it isn't the first time he's been asked this. "At cruising altitude when the autopilot is on and a copilot is at the controls to keep an eye on things, I have time to look out the window for things to take a picture of."
I can't photograph most motifs, I can only store them in my mind
Otherwise, Lufthansa has an ironclad rule for captains and first officers: below an altitude of 10 000 feet, the focus is solely and exclusively on flying. "I can't photograph most motifs," says Beinert, "I can only store them in my mind." Is there any one picture he is particularly proud of? "My favorite shot is of a vintage Airbus, standing on the runway in a storm, framed by lightning in the distance. You can't plan pictures like these; they're real snapshots – simply magical."
And ever since colleagues described having seen it, he has dreamed of also spotting the Soyuz capsule over the Caspian Sea as it returns to to earth from the ISS station. "I would gladly sign up for an extra shift just to see that spectacular arc of fire trailing across the night sky," he says.


text:
Dear friend,
Thank you for visiting my home on the web. Since you're here I am assuming that you have listened or are going to listen to my music. Thank you!
My heart's desire is to create lyrical piano music to lift your spirits and it's you, my listener who are giving me inspiration.
Thank you for your love, support and wonderful messages. I am excited to share with you my latest work - Peace a christmas album celebrating the warmth and light of the holiday season.
Love and joy!
Contemporary solo pianist and composer, Kendra Logozar (formerly Kendra Springer) is a fresh, inspiring voice in the instrumental genre. Her melodies sing above delicate yet energetic chordal accompaniment, through all the varying moods of the human heart.
An active member of the Whisperings (Solopianoradio.com) community of new age / contemporary pianists, Kendra both relaxes and inspires with her unique flavor of music. A crowd favorite at Whisperings concerts, Kendra can also be heard on Youtube, Pandora, Calm Radio and a variety of stations around the world.
Buy CD ($12) Buy Album MP3 Digital Download ($9)
"Peace" is the third solo piano album from Kendra Logozar ("Faith" 2012 and "Hope" 2009 were released under her maiden name, Kendra Springer). Over the past decade or so, there has been a trend to release quiet Christmas albums to relax and counteract the stresses of the holiday season, but I'm not sure anyone has succeeded in this endeavor quite as well as Kendra Logozar has. I have to admit that I also love the spirited, joyful side of Christmas music, but Peace is so graceful and beautiful that it's already one of my favorite Christmas albums. Kendra's elegant touch and musical sensitivity bring new life to these well-worn chestnuts, refreshing them and giving them a personal interpretation. Sometimes when music is referred to as "quiet and peaceful" it means that it's very simple, but while this album can easily slip into the background, it merits repeated listenings with more focused attention - thirteen absolutely gorgeous arrangements including a duet of "Carol of the Bells" with her pianist/composer husband, Michael.
"Peace" begins with a lovely arrangement of "The Holly and the Ivy" that brings out the innocent charm of the melody. "Silent Night" starts out with a quiet "Joy to the World" before segueing into the main song, which is hushed and reverent. "Carol of the Bells" opens simply, gradually building energy as it evolves and becoming a sparkling duet with Michael Logozar - love this one! "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" are often uptempo and playful, but Kendra really brings out the beauty of both melodies, making the songs thoughtful and cozy. "Go Tell It On the Mountain" has a light, dancing rhythm that honors the original gospel style but gives an entirely new take on the song. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" is one of the very first Christmas carols and is one of my own favorites. I love Kendra's haunting arrangement! The only other time I've heard "Los Peces en el Rio" was on a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album, and I've always wondered why it isn't included in more collections. Kendra's arrangement is quieter and more subtle, but that wonderful melody is even more beautiful in her hands. I don't think I've heard "There's a Song in the Air" before, but what an evocative piece! The music goes back to 1905 - love it! This exceptional album closes with a heartfelt arrangement of "The First Noel" that again emphasizes the melody with sensitivity and deep emotion.
Kendra Logozar has created a true work of art with "Peace" - one that will be a favorite Christmas album for many years to come. It is available from Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby. Very highly recommended!
Kathy Parsons
Kendra Springer
2009 / Kendra Springer
51.4 minutes
Hope is the debut recording by pianist/composer Kendra Springer, and what a beautiful beginning it is! The thirteen tracks include six original compositions, one vocal, and occasional sparing usage of atmospheric sounds. Most of the pieces are pure solo piano, and the piano sound is excellent. Springer cites influences as diverse as Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Glenn Miller, Kenny G, Jim Brickman, Yanni, David Foster, and Walter Afanasieff, and that diversity goes a long way in giving her a distinctive sound. I was surprised to learn that Springer is mostly self-taught since there are strong classical influences in her music and no trace of the unimaginative left hand that is a dead give-away for many self-taught pianists. On her website, Springer says, "As an artist, my goal in making music is to create an ambiance of soothing relaxation through the healing power of music, to lift your spirits." I would say that she has succeeded very well in reaching her goal with grace, heartfelt expression, and an obvious love for her music and instrument.
Hope begins with the title tune, which is one of my favorites. The rubato flow and graceful lyricism of the piece immediately catch your attention and make you want to pay close attention to the rest of the album. I also really like the dreamy "Hint of Dawn," which overflows with wistful optimism and contentment. "Your Eyes Are Closed" is based on a traditional tango ("Sus Ojos") and is a bit darker and more dramatic. "Angela" was apparently composed in honor of a beloved aunt and often conveys her name in notes. Gentle and very loving, it's a tender beauty! "True Love" sings of joy, wonder, and deep emotion. "Reminiscence" is a gorgeous adaption of the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul," updating and personalizing it to perfection. "Where Sky Meets Sea" begins with the sound of the ocean along with Native American flute and string washes which give way to solo piano after about a minute. This graceful and evocative beauty is another favorite. "Coming Home" is a lovely medley that includes parts of the Largo movement of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" and "The River Is Wide," a combination I never would have thought to put together, but that works seamlessly. "With You" is a vocal love song that includes percussion and piano. Earthy with a touch of the blues, it shows another musical side of Kendra Springer that fits in well with the rest of the album. "Above the Clouds" closes the album with a warm and contented day dream.
Kendra Springer is certainly off to a promising start with her first album! It can be purchased from www.kendraspringer.com, Amazon, CD Baby, and iTunes. Recommended!
Kathy Parsons
Buy CD ($12) Buy MP3 Album Download ($9)
Kendra Springer
2012 / Kendra Springer
52.6 minutes
Faith is the follow-up to Kendra Springer's 2009 debut, Hope. As much as I liked her first album, I like Faith even better. All thirteen original pieces are solo piano this time (no vocals or keyboard embellishments) and have an elegant, graceful flow designed to be uplifting, soothing, and healing. The influence of classical composers such as Beethoven and Tchaikovsky are apparent in the complexity of the music, but this music is firmly rooted in the 21st century. Produced by fellow pianist Michael Logozar, the piano sound is velvety yet crystal clear - no harshness and no mush - perfect! The freedom in Springer's playing style suggests extensive improvisation, and it suits her music well, giving it a freshness and spontaneity that is hard to beat. Hope was an exceptionally promising first album, but Faith is certain to establish Springer as an artist with enduring staying power.
Faith begins with "Skagit Valley," named for an area in the northeast corner of WA state known for its tulips. Springer's light, dancing touch on the piano keys makes this a wonderful opening piece that provides a warm welcome and enticement to see what follows. "Every Spring" has a gentle fluidity that meanders a bit, but never gets off-track. Spontaneous yet cohesive, this piece is a favorite. "Figurine" reminds me of the fantasies I used to make up about the various figurines my grandmother had all over her house, collected from her travels. Simple and very graceful, it's funny how it triggers a long-forgotten memory from my childhood. The title track is a bit more energetic - strong and confident. "Kathleen's Lullaby" is as soothing as a cup of hot cocoa by a cozy fireplace fire - another favorite. "Sonora" is very slow and spare but breathtakingly beautiful. The middle section takes on a Spanish/Mexican flavor that makes the piece even more intriguing, and then returns to the original theme. "Prism" captures the delicate flash of colorful reflected light, sometimes slow and sometimes quick, moving at the whim of a breeze. WordReference.com defines "Spelnienie" as the Polish term for "fulfillment," and this piece seems to be all about contentment and satisfaction - light, gentle, and very warm. "Illumine" is my favorite piece. Very fluid and free, the graceful melody conveys passion mixed with longing and a sense of peace. Love it! This exceptional album concludes with "Through a Glass," which is also a favorite (I know - I have a lot of favorites on this album!). Very dreamy and peaceful, it floats you along on a fluffy cloud of sound - sigh!
Faith is a beauty from the first note to the last. It is available from Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby. Very highly recommended!
Kathy Parsons
Buy CD ($12) Buy MP3 Album Download ($9)
Michael Logozar
2012 / Michael Logozar
44.6 minutes
Time is the wonderful follow-up to Michael Logozar's 2008 debut, Coming Into View. The ten original piano solos convey a variety of moods and experiences, but the music is always flowing, elegant and beautifully expressed. Where Logozar's first album was mostly improvised with some post-recording editing, Time is more composed - and recorded on an acoustic Yamaha grand. Logozar worked with Grammy Award-winning Corin Nelsen on mixing and mastering the final product and the results are a warm, clean piano sound that is clear but not overly bright. As often happens with artists in all genres and media, life's difficulties seem to have inspired Logozar to reach new heights with his music. However, rather than expressing the dark side of those difficulties, Logozar's newer compositions seek a peaceful and calming influence in his often late-night compositions.
Time begins with "The River," a gentle piece that sets the tone of the album. The graceful motion of the music suggests the movement of water as it flows lazily but constantly. The more energetic passages convey power and strength, returning each time to effortless tranquility with sparks of sunshine dancing on the water. "Awakening" expresses the hope and promise of a fresh start, whether it is a new day or a new phase of life. "Midnight Waltz" is a bittersweet waltz that begins slowly, picking up the tempo at the mid-point and then gradually slowing as it winds down. I really like this one! The title track is another favorite. Gentle and very introspective, it evokes images of reflective late-night musings at the piano. "Around the Bend" feels like a musical daydream - wondering what's ahead and anticipating the unknown. "Innocence" sweetly captures that elusive quality found mostly in very young children - simple, full of wonder, and very fragile. "The Sun Will Shine" is hope and optimism set to music. Graceful and uncomplicated, the warmth of this piece is inviting and deeply comforting. "In a Dream" closes the set with a longer piece that feels more improvised than the other nine tracks. Very free and unstructured, it floats on air much like, well, a dream, making it easy to surrender to the music, allowing it to take you on a effortless musical journey.
Time is an anxiously-awaited gem that was well worth the wait! It is available from www.michaellogozar.com Amazon, CD Baby, and iTunes. Very enthusiastically recommended!
Kathy Parsons
Buy CD ($12)Buy MP3 Album Download ($9)
Coming Into View
Michael Logozar
2008 / Michael Logozar
53.5 minutes
"Coming Into View" is the debut release by pianist/composer Michael Logozar. A classically-trained pianist from an early age, the Canadian-born Logozar formed a recording studio and production company in Calgary where he composed and produced many styles of music for other artists. After many years, he decided to return to his own pianistic roots, and this beautiful and compelling CD of ten original piano solos is the result. Although the music is largely improvised, it is melodic, flowing, and very soothing. Citing David Lanz and Michael Jones as strong influences, Logozar's playing style is very much his own. Gentle, delicate, and very expressive, this is a perfect CD for quiet dinners, relaxation, and getting lost in. It is a lovely and unobtrusive backdrop, but is complex and interesting enough to listen to over and over without it getting old. Logozar's music can be heard underscoring a number of films and television shows, and has been nominated by the Los Angeles Music Awards and Unisong International Songwriting contests.
The CD begins with "Orchard Hill," a graceful and very spare piece that sets the light and peaceful tone of the album. "Linger" is almost fragile in its delicacy - like a savored moment. "Soaring" seems to be depicting the freedom of floating on a cloud or gliding through space as in a dream - very calm and tranquil. "Autumn Rain" is one of my favorites - very dreamy and lightly percussive like the rhythm of a lazy rain shower (the kind I like to go walking in!). "The Promise" is a gorgeous ballad that comes from the heart - a deeply-felt and sincere vow set to music. "A New Day" conveys the warmth and anticipation of a fresh start - uncluttered and carefree. "If I Could" is another favorite - a daydream set to music with a leisurely pace and heartfelt melody. "Coming Home" is also a beauty - optimistic but somewhat bittersweet, as most emotional experiences are.
"Coming Into View" is an impressive freshman effort and is sure to turn more than a few heads. Treat yourself to calming piano at its best!
Kathy Parsons
Buy CD ($12) Buy MP3 Album Download ($9)
The Road Ahead
Michael Logozar
2013 / Michael Logozar
50 minutes
The Road Ahead is Michael Logozar's third album of original piano solos, following his 2008 debut Coming Into View and 2012's Time (one of my Favorites for the year). This collection of fourteen new pieces reflects the joy and optimism of Logozar's recent marriage and of sharing and planning the years ahead with a beloved soulmate. While not overly "showy" or dramatic, Logozar's playing is heartfelt, confident, and true. Many musicians play from the heart (or claim to), but when an artist has the playing chops to do whatever his composer's heart wants to express, it makes such a compelling difference. Logozar is an artist with great sensitivity as well as passion, and this album is definitely a candidate for my 2013 Favorites list. It makes a wonderful backdrop for other activities, but please don't leave this one in the background because there is so much to hear and feel with full attention.
The Road Ahead begins with "This Joy," a lighthearted yet substantial piece that expresses the kind of happiness that is hard to contain as it bubbles up from the soul - a beautiful opening! "Fly Away" is more on the bittersweet side - very quiet, wistful, and one of my favorites. "Someday I Will" is a warm and gentle waltz that plays like a cozy daydream. "Inner Strength" delivers its message with a strong, flowing rhythm and conversational melody. The title track is a soft-spoken powerhouse that could have been created spontaneously late at night by candlelight - a man going into the depths of his soul at the piano. "Dance With Me" is a sweet and romantic invitation in 3/4 time. "North Star" is a favorite with its gently flowing rhythm and graceful melody - sheet music???? I also really like "Reflections on the Water," stillness and peace set to music. "Out to Sea" is a different water experience altogether. Although it is still calm, the power of the ocean is suggested in the deep bass of the piano. "A Quiet Peace" floats as softly as a puffy white cloud on a blue sky, bringing this excellent album to a serene and blissful close. Where's that "replay" button???
The Road Ahead is inspiring from the first note to the last and establishes Michael Logozar as a distinctive voice in the solo piano community. The album is available from www.michaellogozar.com, Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby. Very highly recommended!!!
Kathy Parsons
Kendra Logozar's (formerly known as Kendra Springer) life has always been full of music.
She began violin lessons at the age of 8 but at the age of 12 after a neighbor moved away and left their old piano for Kendra's family, Kendra found her true musical love; the piano. She began excitedly picking out tunes from an old method book and soon began playing for her church.
She spent many years playing for various soloists, groups and churches, even a country music dinner show as her musical sensibility grew. She began writing her own songs in 2009 and recorded her first album Hope.
In 2011 she attended her first Whisperings solo concert featuring David Nevue, Joe Bongiorno, Philip Wesley and Michael Logozar and was excited to become involved in hosting and performing.She loves the warmth and intimacy of home concerts and the chance to meet and share music with fans in such a personal venue.
After the process of recording her 2nd album Faith together with producer and fellow artist Michael Logozar, Kendra and Michael's relationship grew from friendship to love. They were married in the fall of 2012 and continue to host and play concerts together.
You can listen to Kendra's music on radio stations worldwide and Pandora, Spotify, Youtube and she also plays concerts around the USA.
For licensing questions see - contact page.
To send Kendra an email, please use the contact widget at the bottom right of this website.