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The Gallery Los Angeles should receive a distinction award for presenting The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show at Smashbox Studios during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Of all the Spring 2008 shows, the LA fashion scene anticipated the one with a universally charged message: Think Green. Finally, a revolutionary turn in the heady yet heedless world that is fashion.
Compassionately produced by The Gallery Los Angeles, a philanthropic public relations firm dedicated to promoting socially responsible designers, five eco-friendly collections came together to raise global awareness and broke stereotypes of the environmentally conscious. Worn with easy hair and confidence, clothing struck a chord with exceptionally fine-looking organic fabrics that retained its attention to quality and detail. Integrating a pro-green mindset did not reproduce the shabby or unkempt appearances of early 90s grunge nor did it bore us with bland interpretations of granola garb. Designing for the betterment of humanity and the earth we live on apparently lent a purity and refinement to clothing catering to like minds. Lauren Bush, whose humanitarian efforts through sponsoring the FEED bag has raised funds for hungry children nationwide, sat front row and center admiring the clothing and the cause.
M the Movement, Protect the Element, Peligrosa, Vintage China, and Wet Cement brought our attentions to earth-friendly threads with high quality intact. Clothing exhibited something I will unofficially coin as "dirty chic" as it reeked of the dirty goodness of the earth and sheer fashionability. Fabrics made out of bamboo, hemp, cotton, soy and natural fibers stayed true to the ecological theme. As the show was designed to raise awareness, the majority of styles fell into the category of casual everyday wear suitable for the average consumer.
M the Movement presented breezy visions of Banana Republic and Abercrombie & Fitch without the attitude. Men donned suit jackets with relaxed jeans and polos for a fresh take on spring attire. Linen khakis, grey denims, white separates, cowboy boots, wintery greens, vests and scarves completed the show's rugged landscape. Women were dressed in similar street smart fashions, flaunting denim knickers, cotton Ts and button shirts. A luxury line known for using organic pima cotton and alpaca knits from Peru, M the Movement put its best foot forward during the show with nature-inspired designs and crisp colors.
Peligrosa and Protect the Element were elegant lines that produced exclusive items made from organic wool, cashmere and recycled cotton. Peligrosa founders use only natural mordants and organic dyes derived from roots, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Their creations are a testament to the quality and benefits of ethical manufacturing. Aside from producing fashionable silhouettes in organic fibers, handtags are printed with soy-based inks on recycled cardboard. Roshi Salim, the earth mother behind Protect the Element, resorts to organic bamboo fabrics to avoid the use of harsh pollutants in her divine collection. Her goal is to stress the importance of wearing clothing that is free from chemicals and pesticides.
Vintage China made its grand entrance with an emperor and empress dressed in ornate costume guarding the runway, lending a truly authentic semblance to the culture from which the line originates. The collection retraces inspiration from old Chinese roots through fashion forward style while embracing new age humanitarian values and sustainability. I had heard about this distinguished line on my own and was psyched when I saw their logo project from the green fluorescent lighting.
Vintage China showcased pared-down couture which featured military jackets, hoodies and special occasion denim. There was a definite rock star look to the combinations, pairing high end denims with glamorous pieces and introducing functional staples for trendsetting men and women. Denim seems to be their brightest gem, supplied in the generous forms of pants, skirts, shorts and capris and exclusively detailed with Asian silk-lined pockets. Constructed with bamboo fabric, denim was all the rage with oxidized vintage buttons, discharged denim treatments, hand-sewn dragon embroidery and Chinese character embellishments. A number of pieces featured peacock feathers stitched into the back pocket designs (how appropriate, as VC really stood out and beautifully!) Outfits would stand out in a crowd most definitely, but could be worn during the day or night without stopping too much traffic. Men's apparel was noticeably hip and imitable with its high street style and ample bearing of skin. Women paired knockout denim shorts with heels while men looked every part the superstar wearing organic Buddha bead necklaces and bracelets. Vintage China should be dubbed the "LA of environmental rock star" line as it successfully fuses standout hip hop/surfer trends with benevolent mythical designs to produce eco-friendly apparel.
My favorites were the high quality hoodies and studded jeans. Artfully conspicuous on both were large copper studs worn by imperial leaders from ancient dynasties. The red woven jacket in particular replicated the red doors of the Imperial Palace in China during the Ming Dynasty. Along the zipper and sleeve edges were golden rope embroideries, reminiscent of the heavy silks embroidered with dragons in gold thread that signified leadership ranking in the olden days. According to owner Elton Chung, his Vintage collection "uses indomitable Chinese tradition as inspiration and seeks to push the clothing line to a new caliber of vintage appeal with modern luxury, quality and style." By utilizing hints of organic fabrics while spreading humanitarian messages written in Chinese script, Vintage China is able to interpret an elaborate culture and translate exclusive creations into the quintessential American wardrobe.
The show that encapsulated the green theme most directly and effectively was the aptly named Wet Cement. A line rich with earth-friendly metaphors and political nuances, designers Andrew Lee and Stef Z knew exactly where they were going with their gritty ready-to-wear collection. It was a bit Urban Outfitters, a bit Planet Funk, a bit pajama party and a lot green. This is a collection for the casual dresser with edge (but much cooler of course...) that you could rumble-and-tumble in while getting into heated arguments about our government officials and rainforest destruction. The logos neatly spelled out across boy bottoms were "SAVE WATER" and "WEAR DIRTY" with just enough green material to spare. Reminding us of nature's resources and enforcing the need to save water brings us back to the recycling chain. Recycle materials to save more trees, which aids in reforestation, preserving the forests that purify our water. "Wear Dirty" promoted ethical fashions whether it be wearing a hat made of biodegradable peanut shells or rejecting to carry a leather handbag. The dirty implied is pure and of the earth, anything else should be questioned for the sake of sustaining our green cause.
Clothing ranged from mini dresses to versatile tops, accentuated by edgy layering and symbolic designs. The purely organic pieces are hand-made and custom-screened for a unique fit and feel. The dirty chic look brilliantly applies here, raising the eco-stylish bar even higher with bold twists. The green tube dress with grey top looked all the more hip for excluding one sleeve. The outfit throws you off a bit with its matching yet reversibly black and white numbered prints, designed distinctively as a pocket-patch and the one long sleeve. A bracelet with frayed seams accessorized the sleeveless arm, visible proof that recycling leftover fabric can result in precise creations.
My favorite was the t-shirt and green shorts worn by the model with a mission. One look at his shirt and the signs are blatant. Deconstructed at the neck to outline the shape of a tie, the exposing flesh signals rebellion. Underneath the tie construct you see a vest which represents the yuppy professional. The ripped shirt and dog tag necklace symbolize the rebelliousness of military men while the tie and vest speak to blue collar workers. In this one fascinating design, the priorities of the government and the working class coexist and clash. The imaging is very illusionary; sometimes you see one class more than the other, superbly entwining aspects of the alpha male and working class culture. The message that resonates here is, what happens to our environment when we are so busy fighting in wars and working to sustain a living? The pair of green shorts is disreputably the last thing we notice. To prevent our environment from suffering, we need to strive for peace in our surroundings and care for the green.
Wet Cement is communicating to a society that has the power and potential to become greener with the "wet" cement notion of making positive changes rather than keeping important environmental issues dry and unaffected. Being eco-friendly means cutting down on wasteful habits of consumption that lead only to the demise of our planet. And as the barefoot models demonstrated with utter cool and conviction, wearing organic clothing is hardly a bad place to start.
The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show was a clear indication that eco-friendly clothing is becoming a trend for all the right reasons. In light of global warming, air pollution and another budget crisis to name a few, it was uplifting to witness the fashion industry making a statement to the masses. Recycle. Reuse. Respect the environment and the people around you.
If you take a look around, our citizens seem to be shaping up and taking heed from creative environmentalists to seek alternative methods when the environment is concerned. As designers and consumers are gravitating toward eco-friendly fashions, hopefully we aren't opting for burlap simply because it's the hip thing to do. Unlike many transient moments in fashion, we were given deeper aspirations to revel in and were honored to have been part of such a remarkable show. The Gallery Los Angeles brought to surface what we can do for the greater good known as Earth and the human race. Judging from the energy at the show, something green is happening and we don't plan on jumping off the ecological bandwagon anytime soon.
For more information on The Gallery Los Angeles, please visit www.TheGalleryLA.com
Photos courtesy of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week


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Josh Brolin was back to looking happy and spiffy at the "Gangster Squad" premiere in Hollywood.
A week after getting busted for alleged public intoxication, the 44-year-old actor hit the red carpet as scheduled tonight--though without his most reliably glamorous accessory.
"My wife is home sick," he told E! News, explaining the absence of the lovely Diane Lane. But, let's hear it for bromance, Brolin didn't have to face the crowd all by himself.
U.S. & World
See what the critics are saying about "Gangster Squad" so far
He had an incredibly tan Sean Penn by his side!
"We cuddle up well together," Brolin quipped about his costar, who also went on record saying he and Brolin were each other's dates for the evening.
"He's great, we've been friends for a long time," he added of Penn, whom he also starred with in Milk, "so, you know, there's no weirdness anymore. We got through the romantic stage and we're just married--or, as if."
We'll assume Brolin means no weirdness, minus the shockingly rich hue of Penn's skin.
Ryan Gosling also bypassed the opportunity for romance and escorted his other best girl--his mom--to the premiere instead of girlfriend Eva Mendes.
See who else walked the red carpet at the "Gangster Squad" premiere

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Events >
Weekly Civic Hack Night + Long Beach Fellowship Team
Interested in helping San Francisco? You have found the right place!
Join neighbors, government employees, designers, coders, students and more! Our weekly hack night is focused on civic tech and making government services better in San Francisco. We hack/build and learn together every Wednesday evening.
• Contribute to the betterment of San Francisco
• Build your own portfolio of work or work on someone else's cool project
• Meet new (and different!) people
Interested in our current projects?
This week
Helping entrepreneurs in Long Beach, CA navigate the business license process - Lisa Ratner, CFA Fellow
Code for SF Partner Packages (nuts & bolts of sustaining our brigade) - Pamela Mardo, Finance Lead CfSF
Hacking with CivicMakers, WeVote, OpenReferral, Data Science Working Group, BrigadeHub, User Research, Adopt-A-Drain, #StopViolence, and many more.
6:00p doors open, socialize and eat dinner
6:30p welcome remarks, presentations by Lisa and Pamela, and project pitches
7:00p start hacking or stay for new member orientation
8:00p more hacking
9:00p keep on hacking
10:00p doors close and lights out.
Check out our website. Read/contribute to our code. Communicate via our slack team (or IRC Freenode #sfbrigade).
If you have questions, please reach out over Slack, contact the organizers via meetup, or drop by on Wednesday evening.


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Fort Caswell
Fort Caswell, named after North Carolina's first governor and Revolutionary War hero Richard Caswell (1729-89), was a permanent masonry garrison built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the eastern end of Oak Island in Brunswick County between 1826 and 1838. It guarded the mouth of the Cape Fear River as part of a national chain of forts for coastal defense of the United States known as the Third System. Designed by Brig. Gen. Simon Bernard, Fort Caswell was an irregular pentagon with a completely encircling outer wall, or covered way, and an inner main work that was loopholed for defense.
The fort was never fully armed, and until 1861 it was usually occupied only by army caretakers. Following South Carolina's secession from the Union, fears that the Federal government would send troops to occupy North Carolina's forts prompted local secessionist militia troops to seize Fort Caswell on 9 Jan. 1861. But North Carolina had not seceded, and so the fort was returned, only to be retaken on 16 April, after the Civil War began.
Now armed, the fort became one of the main Confederate defenses of the Cape Fear River. The Confederates strengthened it by constructing a massive earthwork defense around the fort and on top of the main work to accommodate 29 heavy guns. However, the fort was never directly attacked; its guns occasionally fired on Union warships in the ocean blockading the Cape Fear entrance. After Union forces captured Fort Fisher on the opposite side of the river on 15 Jan. 1865, retreating Confederate forces detonated gunpowder magazines in Fort Caswell on the morning of 17 January, literally blowing away the southeast face and shattering the west face. After the war, the fort reservation was returned to caretaker status.
In 1885 Secretary of War William C. Endicott's Fortifications Board selected Fort Caswell to receive modern defenses. The work continued from 1894 to 1904, significantly altering the original fortification. The army used the reservation until after World War I, when, in 1923, it was closed by the War Department and listed for sale as surplus property. In 1925 it was purchased by Florida developers. With the onset of World War II, the U.S. Navy bought the reservation in 1941. Sold to the Baptist State Convention in 1949, the reservation has been used as the North Carolina Baptist Assembly.
John G. Barrett, The Civil War in North Carolina (1963).
Ronald B. Hartzer, To Great and Useful Purpose: A History of the Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1984).
Ethel Herring and Carolee Williams, Fort Caswell in War and Peace (1999).
Additional Resource:
Fort Caswell: http://www.fortcaswell.com/
Image Credit:
Fort Caswell, Marker: D-62. Image courtesy of NCMarkers, North Carolina Office of Archives & History. Available from https://www.ncdcr.gov/about/history/division-historical-resources/nc-highway-historical-marker-program/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=D-8 (accessed May 15, 2012).
1 January 2006 | Branch, Paul
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I'm Going Back To Being A Hobbyist....
Business By indydebi Updated 21 May 2015 , 2:59pm by solascakes
Due to health issues, Im closing my business and am going back to being just a cake hobbyist. I delivered my last paid cake this weekend.
I have arthritis in my neck and its flaring up more and more. Catering is hot, hard, heavy, stressful work. Much as I love it, I have to cut my load. I cant pay the overhead on half of a workload, so we are closing.
If I stop now, it remains manageable. If I continue, Ill have serious problems the rest of my life. Its pretty much a no-brainer. Ive worn a soft neck collar off and on for 30 years. My daughter has said, Ive only seen two things that make my mom cry because of pain . When she was having a baby (daughter was 14 when my youngest was born, so she heard it all!) and when her neck hurts her.
No condolences, please. Ive gotten some of that from well wishing friends and its irritating. Its been a great ride and many people never even come close to living their dream, and I got to do it for quite a few years. Ive loved every second of it the ups, the downs, the good and the bad. But its time to get off of the fast and exciting roller coaster and walk across the midway to a new ride.
Im experiencing lots of positives already .
I got a full grant (not a student loan, but a grant! Woooo-whooo!) to go back to school and will start next month. Ill be pursuing a teaching degree in History. Being a teacher is something Ive wanted to do since I was 7 years old. And I get to pursue this dream at no cost to me!
Ill have more time for the writing that Im constantly being encouraged to do, more time/opportunity for public speaking (which is a big passion), and consulting. (So . You know anyone looking for a speaker ?)
Ive already found a job in a hotel that is flexible and will work around a full-time school schedule. And its only a 3 minute drive from my home!
As we start dismantling everything (man, that is a BIG job!), I find myself sitting at home with nothing to do. Oh wow is THAT a weird feeling! Almost feel guilty about it! But I told hubby, when I start work at the hotel and going to school, I wont have these days of luxury so Im enjoying them while I can! Ive already spent more time with my 2-year old grandson in these last two weeks than Ive been able to in the last six months!
I will be continuing my blog. Ill be changing my website soon. Primarily Ill be moving the How To Cut A Wedding Cake page to my blog so everyone who has it bookmarked will still have access. The good news is that Ive paid for the website in advance for the next year so I can still use it for informational purposes. (The bad news is Ive paid for the website in advance and there are no refunds!)
I plan to stay in the wedding business somehow, but just havent figured out what avenue yet. Ive had lots of suggestions and one friend even has the office space and name for the company that he wants me to form! (luv him!)
Just for the record, dont expect me to go soft on my stance of licensed vs. unlicensed baking. And Im not shelving my years of business experience so expect my ever so never so humble opinions to continue.
So thats it, gang. Just wanted to share my latest and greatest life adventure as we explore yet another detour down the many exciting side roads of life!
It's a shock, but I wish you the best! What a hole you will leave here! You have become one of the voices in my head, usually warning me not to do something stupid.
It's always best to leave the stage while you are on top. With your brains and heart, I have no doubt that you will be a roaring success at whatever you turn your hand to.
Good luck, no GREAT luck!
How wonderful to be able to pursue your dream of becoming a teacher! I do wish you the best on all of your new endevors!
Good Luck and I still look forward to seeing and smiling at your posts here!
Wow, that is big news Debi! I applaud your insight to know when it is time to quit. It is not worth compromising things that are important to you.
Good luck with the teaching thing! I gave it up for cake decorating! But it has its own rewards....especially weekends, holidays, and summers, when we find ourselves the busiest!
Indy, you're already a teacher to so many of us here! You're going to be an amazing teacher. Congratulations on opening a new chapter in your life!
Hey, for your sore neck, here's something that might help... http://www.salonpas.us/ They sell them at Walmart for $4 for a box of 40 and as long as you don't mind smelling a little like icy hot or bengay ointment, they work great. It's like a little bandage that you put over the sore area and it helps to relieve pain for about 8 hours. They work really well on the arthritis in the leg that I broke last year.
Wow! And as a History major (recent America concentration) I can say that History is exciting!
Best of luck and I know you'll be amazing!
Well, if you ever get a yen to move where the weather is better, I'll hire you to do my sales & marketing. We even have a big ol' University 107 steps from our back door...and did I mention how nice the weather is for arthritis??
Congratulations on beginning the next part of your life and a huge THANK YOU for all the help you have given us so far ... and yes, we DO expect more!! You have been a wonderful teacher for us all. If you have any moments of quiet/down time before you start school, I would suggest you begin a journal - aside from the whole keeping your sanity thing - it could easily turn into a book ... a realistic humorous book on the running of your business, dealing with Bridezillas, a goofy hubby, all of us or facing the "wonders" of aging/career choices....? I had to alter how I worked with kids ( special needs ) after health problems, but there is NOTHING more rewarding than teaching! We have lots of cake designers and that's fantastic, but the world needs great teachers and you are one of them.... okay, now can I go cry into my buttercream?
How exciting to be starting a new adventure. It sounds wonderful to have some many opportunities opening up for you. Thanks for all your advice and help to all of on CC.
Best wishes to you in your new adventure! I don't post much, but I do really enjoy reading yours. I'll continue to look forward to learning from you; I do get quite a kick out of your sometimes spicy perspective!
Well wishes to you too!!
I had to open this to find out who was "retiring", but this was the last thing I expected to find!! Thanks, Debi, for all your help, we still want it to continue. Lucky kids who will have you for a teacher, they will be learning alot about life between all the history lessons! Good luck in all your new adventures!!
Sounds exciting and scary at the same time! Congrats!!
..."so expect my ever so never so humble opinions to continue."
...was hoping to read that along the way!! YEA!!!
Best of luck to you. You've been such a great teacher to us already!
Just prediction, but I'm gonna bet that this will be the longest thread ever.....
Best Wishes and congrats on getting the grant and going back to school. You'll make a great teacher, Debi! I'd sit in the class even though I'm not a history buff. lol
I hope that you're neck problems will ease up with stepping away from the business. You've been a great mentor to all of us wanna-be's and professionals alike.
I do not post much on here, but have to reply to this one. A big THANK YOU! for all the adivse and lessons you have already taught! I follow alot of the threads and always look to see what your response is. You have been and will continue to be an inspiration to me and I know thousands of others... I understand your "why" as I have 2 herniated disc in my neck with arthritis throughout my neck and am possibly facing the surgery to fuse them together. The pain can be unbearable at times and I can definately sympathize with you. Best of Luck in your new adventure.... If your life so far has been a model of what is to come, then you will definately succeed at all you do. I look forward to seeing more great post from you, reading your blog, and could there possibly be a BOOK in there somewhere????
Congrats on taking that next step. Pain management is one of the hardest things to deal with. Nobody likes being in pain. To bad I didn't live closer.
History is exciting, I just love the ancients
Wow!! Debi, you are the last person I expected to be writing this thread!
I'm sure this was a difficult decision to make and hope that you will be able to heal. Best wishes in your newest endeavors.
I also hope that you will continue to offer your wisdom to us on CC.
Just out of curiousity, what are you doing about the clients you have booked thru 2010?
Good Luck to you with everything! You are already a teacher to all of us here, so you aren't really changing careers much, just shifting your focus to a different subject. I am glad you are not leaving us!
congratulations on your upcoming adventures! Hope it's a great ride!
Debi, the best of luck in your new adventure! For everyone who thinks Debi just helps on the cake boards, she was so helpful for my questions about the different areas of Indy this past summer, her help guided us to where we should (and shouldn't) stay for the 10 days we were out there. I know we didn't get a chance to get together this past July, BUT the nationals will once again be in Indy - I'll be out there (staying in Carmel) from July 9-19, hopefully this time we can get together for a coffee between my son's tournament schedule. Keep us up to date with your new life!!!
I was shocked to find out who the author of this thread is, but wanted to wish you the best of luck.
I'm glad you'll still be here, though. Wouldn't be the same without ya!
My very best wishes to you as you begin this new season in your life and persue interesting and long wished for endeavors.
My bakery, caking career came to an end for the same reason as yours; same disease. But, I waited too long. You are so wise to leave now and be able to still go after those dreams.
Thanks for the buttercream recipe and your help and encouragement to take the leap into "fondant" with my now caking hobby.
Best of luck in all you do.
Oh Debi!!! I am sorry that you are inso much pain. I wih you much luck (like you need it) with your next big adventure. You will be an excellent teacher.
You better not leave us here... we will hunt you down... and make you eat cake balls... that aren't Jill's...
Condolences? No way! This sounds way too exciting for condolences!
Enjoy the ride...I wish you the all the best!
Debi, I wish you all the best!! History is a fav in my life - I'm a (Canadian) History major - and I know you'll make an awesome teacher! Thank you for all of your advice over the years - and don't be a stranger!
Hi, Debi! Just dropping in to say that I hope your new endeavor makes you as happy as this on seemed to. I totally understand your reasoning behind this decision. I will be glad to at least keep seeing you around here for all of your wonderful, witty knowledge of caking! You have been a amazing cake friend and mentor to us all here! Enjoy yourself with everything you do. Besides, God doesn't close a door without opening a window, right? Take care and I wish you all of the best!!!!
Many blessings to you Debi.
Thank you for sharing your insight and experiences here on CC. Unfortunately you are leaving as I am coming in. Thank you for sharing with me "How To Determine How Many Slices You Get From A Cake."
We share a love of history. I was a Black History major in college and I loved every minute of it. You will do well on your new endeavor.
A bouquet of compliments and thank yous to you!
I am so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. I wish you the very best and I know that you will be an excellent teacher. It sounds like you have the makings of an exciting portfolio career and please do keep us updated of your adventures!


text:
Now that May dramas are winding down and new ones are starting, left with the dilemma of what to watch next. Currently, aside from CYHMH and LTM, I've been watching Romance Town and City Hunter -that last one I blame Kcomments great music videos for making me tune in after I dropped it ages ago. (I still have issues with some of the "yeah right – like he can do that within that time span" but then the camera zooms in on LMH's face and I forget what I was complaining about. It's a sick cycle. Then this week on RT, I was like yelling at the screen "where did the money go? who took the money?" Don't get too excited, I am not going to start memorizing new names and staying up to translate all of it or anything. Just wanted a place to post highlights of certain lines or scenes cuz to be honest, I have the ability to ignore names and still watch a drama without any problems. How I am going to be able to do mini recaps without knowing names – now that will be the trick. Might need fans of the show to help me out with that.
As for the upcoming new dramas, even though I can't translate a sageuk on my own to save my life, I really want to see Yoo Seung Ho in Warrior Baek Dong Soo. Never saw that kid in any drama, but so many ppl rave about his acting chops-want to see what the hype is all about. Don't ask me why, but something about this makes it my first choice. More than likely, if it ends up being boring, I will have to drop it really quick. The other one is Scent of a woman cuz Kim Sun Ah's new thin look scared me silly at first and I did a double take, but now I want to see if she can still do comedy as well as she used to in MNIKSS. Heard it could be sad, but I'm hoping that happens way later down the line. Then of course we have You've fallen for me or Festival (not sure what the final name is now)- PSH and JYH. No expectations whatsoever, will be surprised if it's good at all.
So this page will be where I post highlights or impressions of current dramas or new ones. You guys are welcome to post questions about what happened on a current episode, videos, insights, rants, whatever you want. Let's see if this page functions better than the KD forum one. Fingers crossed.


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Documentation, training and migration resources
Migrate to SQL Database
Get started right away with the Azure Migration Center.
How to lower costs, raise productivity in the cloud
Discover the benefits of migrating to managed instance in this commissioned Total Economic Impact™ study conducted by Forrester Consulting.
Making PCI compliance easier with Azure SQL Database
This whitepaper provides guidance on how to achieve and maintain compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard with Azure SQL Database.
Azure SQL Database for Gaming Industry Workloads
Read the whitepaper detailing the technical aspects of why Azure SQL Database is the best place to run online games.
Updates, blogs, and announcements
October 14, 2019
Azure SQL Database: Continuous innovation and limitless scale at an unbeatable price
August 12, 2019
Six ways we're making Azure reservations even more powerful
July 31, 2019
Understanding and leveraging Azure SQL Database's SLA
July 8, 2019
Thanks for 10 years and welcome to a new chapter in SQL innovation
May 17, 2019
Optimize price-performance with compute auto-scaling in Azure SQL Database serverless
May 6, 2019
Get high-performance scaling for your Azure database workloads with Hyperscale
Frequently asked questions about Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database provides the following deployment options for an Azure SQL database
- As a single database with its own set of resources managed via a logical server
- As a pooled database in an elastic pool with a shared set of resources managed through a logical server
- As a part of a managed instance, which is a collection of databases that contains system and user databases and shares a set of resources
In general, elastic pools are designed for a typical software-as-a-service (SaaS) application pattern, where there is one database per customer or tenant. Purchasing individual databases and over-provisioning to meet the variable and peak demand for each database is often not cost efficient, but with pools, you manage the collective performance and the databases scale up and down automatically. Azure's intelligent engine recommends a pool for databases when a usage pattern warrants it. For details, see Elastic pool guidance.
SQL Database Managed Instance is an expansion of the existing SQL Database resource types, combining the best of SQL Server with all the benefits of a fully-managed (platform as a service) PaaS, minimizing or eliminating the need to re-design the application. SQL Database Managed Instance uniquely offers instance-level compatibility for SQL Server features such as SQL Agent, Service Broker, Linked Server, and cross-database queries, enabling new migration scenarios where application changes are significantly reduced or eliminated.
Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server helps you maximize the value from your current licensing investments and accelerate their migration to the cloud. Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server is an Azure-based benefit that enables you to use your SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance to pay a reduced rate ("base rate") on SQL Database. Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server is available for vCore-based databases, pools and instances. You may apply this benefit even if the SKU is already active, but please note that the base rate is applied from the time you select it in the Azure portal. No credit will be issued retroactively.
No, Azure SQL Database is a fully managed database service, which means that Microsoft operates SQL Server for you and ensures its availability and performance. SQL Database also includes innovative features to enhance your security and business continuity. For example, built-in high availability. A comprehensive security portfolio allows you to implement intelligent features like threat detection, so that don't have to worry about administering or maintaining hundreds or thousands of your SQL Server databases.
View the full feature comparison between Azure SQL Database vs. SQL Server.
This new purchasing model is an addition to the existing DTU-based model. The vCore-based model is designed to give you flexibility, control, transparency, and a straightforward way to translate on-premises workload requirements to the cloud. It also allows you to scale your compute and storage resources based on your workload needs. Single database and elastic pool options using the vCore model are also eligible for up to 55 percent savings with Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server. See the vCore-based purchasing model for more information.
The vCore-based service tiers are primarily differentiated by availability, storage type, and IOPS.
- General Purpose offers budget-oriented balanced set of compute and storage options where IO performance or failover time is not the priority.
- Hyperscale is appropriate for most business workloads, optimized for OLTP and hybrid transactional analytical workloads (HTAP), with highly scalable storage size, read scale-out, and fast database restore capabilities.
- Business Critical is best for OLTP applications with high transaction rate and low IO latency. It offers highest resilience to failures and fast failovers by using multiple synchronously updated replicas.
Connectivity between your Microsoft Azure SQL Database and the Azure Internet gateway is guaranteed at least 99.99 percent of the time, regardless of your service tier. 0.01% is reserved for patches, upgrades, and failovers. For more information, read the SLA. For information about the availability architecture of Azure SQL Database, see High Availability and Azure SQL Database.
Ready when you are—let's set up your Azure free account.
1Price-performance claim based on data from a study commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by GigaOm in August 2019. The study compared price-performance between a single, 80 vCore, Gen 5 Azure SQL Database on the business critical service tier and the db.r4.16x large offering for Amazon Web Services Relational Database Service (AWS RDS) for SQL Server. Benchmark data is taken from a GigaOm Analytic Field Test derived from a recognized industry standard, TPC Benchmark™ E (TPC-E), and is based on a mixture of read-only and update intensive transactions that simulate activities found in complex OLTP application environments. Price-performance is calculated by GigaOm as the cost of running the cloud platform continuously for three years divided by transactions per second throughput. Prices are based on publicly available US pricing in East US for Azure SQL Database and US East (Ohio) for AWS RDS as of August 2019. Price-performance results are based upon the configurations detailed in the GigaOm Analytic Field Test. Actual results and prices may vary based on configuration and region.


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Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, has been hospitalized following a brain-related blockage.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office says the 89-year-old Lee was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on Friday after experiencing a suspected transient ischaemic attack, which occurs when blood flow to the brain stops for a period of time. The condition is associated with irregular heartbeats.
The statement says Lee is recovering but will remain in the hospital for a few days.
Lee became prime minister in 1959 and saw the country through self-rule under the British, a two-year federation with Malaysia and independence in 1965. He remained in office until 1990, overseeing a period of rapid development that turned Singapore into a darling of foreign investors.
Lee's son Lee Hsien Loong is the current prime minister.


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Family angry after airline 'loses' elderly mother
Woman, 85, sat at a gate for 11 hours
A woman is upset after she says that Southwest Airlines failed to keep track of her 85-year-old mother, leaving her stranded in an airport for 11 hours.
Denver's CBS4 reports that Alice Vaticano, 85, was flying from Newark Liberty International Airport to visit her daughter in Denver when as miscommunication between Skycap, a service that assists special needs passengers like Vaticano to their gates, and the gate agents left the elderly woman sitting alone in a wheelchair for most of the day.
After being dropped off at the airport in Newark, Skycap promised to wheel Vaticano directly to her gate.
But somehow Vaticano got parked at the gate and forgotten.
"She pushed me there and left me," Vaticano told CBS4. "I was just sitting all day in a wheelchair."
She missed her flight, and when she didn't show up at the Denver International Airport at the scheduled time, Vaticano's daughter who was waiting for her in Denver grew increasingly concerned.
Vaticano, who suffers from diabetes, admitted to being confused, saying she didn't know where she was and that she wasn't given any food or water all day.
It was verified that Vaticano checked in for her flight in Newark two hours prior to her scheduled departure, but a processing error failed to alert gate agents that there was a person with a wheelchair in need of assistance with boarding the plane.
Once Southwest Airlines officials realized the mistake, they put Vaticano on a flight to Denver.
Southwest gave her two $100 vouchers for future travel.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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600 X 600 Fixed Roof Dome With Sloping Kerb
£266.30 Ex Tax: £221.92
- Brand: Mardome
- Product Code: TRK600X600
- Availability: In Stock
Description: Mardome trade roof dome, fixed, with sloping kerb. Available in single, double & triple skin, in either clear, bronze or opal.
Dimensions: 600mm x 600mm
Vent Options (Trickle vent)
Manual Vent (Hit & Miss vent)
Auto humidity control vent
All roof domes are manufactured to order returns are not permitted so please check your sizes before ordering.
Choice of Clear, Opal or Bronze with Double and Triple Skins


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Public Comment
New: Winning Proposition 30
What a joy to win the uphill battle on behalf of the California tax measure, Prop 30. The grass roots effort to win Prop 30 was immense. The Berkeley based Tax the Rich group which in alliance with The Wellstone Democratic Party encouraged hundreds of activists to reach thousands of likely voters. We organized a vigorous people's campaign, which was more effective than the tens of millions of dollars that the super-rich spent to defeat it.
We leafleted regularly at Bart stations and other busy venues. During our weekly rallies on the streets of Solano Avenue we spoke to enormous number of people. Throughout the campaign huge numbers of window and lawn signs were distributed. We phone banked and some of our activists went door to door. And at meetings we attended voters were urged to support Prop 30 to improve the quality of schools for K-12 students and to deter further increases in tuition at higher education institutions.
Other groups with a membership base, including the faith based PICO organization, did the same as we did. In California almost every previous initiative to raise taxes was defeated. So winning on Prop 30 was a major accomplishment for the 99 percent.


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Before You Store
Always wash items before storing to prevent mystery stains from appearing later. Use
Use Wool & Cashmere Shampoo when caring for woolens and down. For cotton, linen, and durable synthetics, use Signature Detergent.
Do not store items that are starched; moths love starch.
Prevent Bugs & Moths
After washing, spritz with Wool & Cashmere Spray. The scent of cedar naturally repels insects.
Toss in our fragrant Lavender Pouch for additional protection from critters.
Avoid using toxic mothballs and cedar blocks or chips that transfer oil.
What To Use
Routine Maintenance
Seasonally vacuum drawers, closets, and shelves. Wipe down with Surface Cleaner and a Lint-Free Cleaning Cloth.
Take this time to launder and reorganize clothing to keep things fresh and orderly!
Where To Keep
Store items in a space that is clean, cool, dark, and dry.
Avoid storing in attics or basements, as humid areas are optimal environments for insect breeding as well as mold and mildew growth.
Areas of extreme temperature or direct sunlight lead to deterioration of textiles over time and should be avoided.


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What are some particularly well-known functions that exhibit pathological behavior at or near at least one value and are particularly useful as examples?
For instance, if $f'(a) = b$, then $f(a)$ exists, $f$ is continuous at $a$, $f$ is differentiable at $a$, but $f'$ need not be continuous at $a$. A function for which this is true is $f(x) = x^2 \sin(1/x)$ at $x=0$.


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JPriebe necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 68 diseños de 21 diseñadores freelance.
Karoleena Custom Homes
We need a homepage design for a high-quality custom home builder. We have brand colors & logo (See description).
We'll be very quick about responding & providing feedback.
We have some images that can be used in the design (see description for download).
This contest is for graphic design only: no HTML work.
Please grab the zip download which includes images, logos, etc. here: http://188.8.131.52/karoleena/design-res.zip
We need a design for a new website. We first need the homepage to be designed. From there, we'll need 2 other inner page templates to be designed on a related theme (more on this below).
Karoleena Custom Homes build custom enviro homes. Karoleena uses a unique process to reduce waste, increase quality, and speed the final delivery. You can find out more (as well as see moer images of our work on our current website: http://www.karoleena.com).
We have a lot of great imagery from existing homes (photos & 3D architect renderings) and, while we'll be using that in photo galleries, we want to use that throughout the design as well. You can get a sampling of some of these images here in the zip download.
This contest is for the first design, then we will work with the winning designer on the 2 related designs (other page templates for the website) - for an additional fee, of course.
The target audience is mostly home buyers (the end home-owner). They are often younger (20-40). But this is not exclusive, by any means - it has to appeal to older buyers as well
Some words to describe the design
Large, prominent images
Bold (especially text)
Strong colors
Solid areas of screen real-estate
Breaks out of the visual box somewhat
Slight web 2.0 look
Full, but not be busy
Textured, but not messy
Needed Elements in the design
Logo (rough version in zip download, full version coming)
Nav / Menu
Main image / video highlight
Featured Development (with an image)
Email Sign Up
Area for text
Copyright & other footer information
Nav repeated in the footer area
Optional Idea: include a few "highlight areas" (article, current homes for sale)
Attached is a color palette. The browns are fairly set, but feel free to alter the accent colors if you have a good reason and idea that you want to run with.
3 levels
First Level (Max 8 items): Home, About, Portfolio, Featured, Our Process, Portfolio, Homes For Sale, Resources
Second Level (Max 15 items): Under Process > FAQ, Modular Systems, Communication, Built Green, Construction Process
Third Level (Max 15 items): Under Built Green > About GeoThermal, High RValues, Why it Matters
Sites we like
Simple design, prominent calls to action, interesting use of shapes to break up the box.
Nice header & link area. Good use of the background & the bottom silhouette treeline to break up the rectangular nature of the design
Prominent images, simple (a bit too simple perhaps)
A few more:


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- Details
- Reviews
Vanco International RG6/U Cables with F-Type to F-Type Connectors are ideal for connecting video components, DSS, digital satellite receivers, TVs, VCRs, cable boxes and antenna systems. RG6/U Cable is required for all satellite systems and all digital broadband systems. This Vanco International RG6/U cable features an 18 AWG center conductor that results in less signal loss and allows higher frequency. Additionally, heavy duty maximum shielding with bonded aluminum foil and a copper clad steel center are used for a better signal path and superior pull strength. This cable also has the added feature of being weatherproofed, ideal for outdoor cable installations. 90% of home construction uses RG6/U premium broadband cable. The F-Type connector is a type of coaxial RF connector commonly used for "over the air" terrestrial television, cable television and is used universally for satellite television and cable modems.
This product is also available in the following lengths (each sold separately):
25 Foot, Black (Weatherproof)
50 Foot, Black (Weatherproof)
75 Foot, Black (Weatherproof)
This product is also available for indoor use (not weatherproofed) in the following lengths (each sold separately):
3 Foot, Black or 3 Foot, White
6 Foot, Black or 6 Foot, White
12 Foot, Black or 12 Foot, White
18 Foot, Black or 18 Foot, White
25 Foot, Black or 25 Foot, White
35 Foot, Black or 35 Foot, White
35 Foot, Black or 50 Foot, White
75 Foot, Black or 75 Foot, White
100 Foot, Black


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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - It does get better for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth, according to a new study of the name calling, threats and violence faced by teens in England.
Researchers found that although more than half of non-heterosexual teens reported getting bullied at ages 13 and 14, less than one in ten was still being victimized six years later.
"This study provides strong empirical support for the idea that it does get better," said lead researcher Joseph Robinson, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
"Even though you're bullied in high school, chances are you won't be bullied in young adulthood."
However, the findings weren't all good news. Gay and bisexual men, in particular, reported that they were still bullied much more often than heterosexual men on their final survey, at age 19 to 20.
And bullied LGB youth said those experiences contributed to their feelings of depression and worthlessness years later as young adults.
The new data are based on a study of 4,135 teens in England who were surveyed every year between 2004 and 2010. Of those, 187 - or 4.5 percent - identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
At the start of the study period, when kids were 13 and 14 years old, 52 percent of gay and bisexual boys and 57 percent of lesbian and bisexual girls said they were called names or experienced threats or violence.
Six years later, nine percent of non-heterosexual men and six percent of women were bullied, according to findings published Monday in Pediatrics.
By then, heterosexual and non-heterosexual women had a similar chance of being bullied, but gay and bisexual men were four times more likely to be victimized than their straight peers.
"Prior studies suggest that the general public has stronger negative feelings toward gay and bisexual males than toward lesbian and bisexual females," Robinson told Reuters Health.
"We have the idea that kids are more tolerant as they get a little older and more mature," said Andrea Roberts, who studies trauma and health at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
The new findings support that thought. But, she told Reuters Health, "It's important to keep in mind that even in kids that were 18 or 19, there's still easily detectable discrimination, at least in the boys."
Even when name-calling, threats or violence had stopped, many LGB teens in the study continued to feel emotional distress - in part related to past bullying.
"There's a lingering effect into early adulthood… from what has happened earlier in life," said Anthony D'Augelli, who studies LGB youth at The Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
"Despite what would appear to be a decrease (in bullying), we should not assume that all is well in the lives of these young people," D'Augelli, who wasn't part of the research team, told Reuters Health.
"People are still victimized, and sometimes from early ages and for long periods of time, and there are consequences that don't go away just because the victimization stops."
Robinson said schools can help LGB teens by forming gay-straight alliances, including LGB topics in the curriculum and having anti-bullying policies that specifically mention harassment due to sexual orientation.
Roberts, who also wasn't involved in the new research, pointed out that bullying trends have a lot to do with local culture and acceptance of LGB people, so it's hard to know whether the findings would apply to other places.
"It would be really beneficial to have this study done in the United States," she said.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/cxXOG Pediatrics, online February 4, 2013.


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In a discussion that I had over at ZeroHedge there came the topic of whether bank runs are possible in Europe. Well, I believe we've already had some devastating one's (ex. Northern Rock) but if one takes the continent only or the EZ in particular, we still have a significant systemic threat. The gist behind the argument is that if the true economic capital is weakened to the point that depositors/creditors/counterparties make a run for it, the sovereign nation in which it is domiciled will simply nationalize it. Hmmm... Let's take a look at how that might work out, as excerpted from Overbanked, Underfunded, and Overly Optimistic: The New Face of Sovereign Europe March 2010
I will attempt to illustrate the "Overbanked" argument and its ramifications for the mid-tier sovereign nations in detail below and over a series of additional posts.
Sovereign Risk Alpha: The Banks Are Bigger Than Many of the Sovereigns
Imagine the Swiss nationalizing just UBS and Credit Suisse, whose assets constitute 500% of the Swiss GDP. THAT'S JUST TWO BANKS!!! Imagine if the entire banking system got into trouble from daisy chaining European defaults???
This is just a sampling of individual banks whose assets dwarf the GDP of the nations in which they're domiciled. To make matters even worse, leverage is rampant in Europe, even after the debacle which we are trying to get through has shown the risks of such an approach. A sudden deleveraging can wreak havoc upon these economies. Keep in mind that on an aggregate basis, these banks are even more of a force to be reckoned with. I have identified Greek banks with adjusted leverage of nearly 90x whose assets are nearly 30% of the Greek GDP, and that is without factoring the inevitable run on the bank that they are probably experiencing. Throw in the hidden NPAs that I cannot discern from my desk in NY, and you have a bank that has problems, levered into a country that has even more problems.
If BoomBustBloggers remember, I went on a tear with my theory of European bank runs last summer. Reference:
- The Anatomy Of A European Bank Run: Look At The Banking Situation BEFORE The Run Occurs!
- The Fuel Behind Institutional "Runs on the Bank" Burns Through Europe, Lehman-Style!
- On Your Mark, Get Set, (Bank) Run! The D…
- The Mechanics Behind Setting Up A Potential European Bank Run Trade and European Bank Run Trading Supplement
I strongly suggest that any interested in the topic peruse the links above if they haven't already done so. They drive the point home. And on the topic of Greece and bank runs, ZH runs Greek Bank Deposit Outflows Soar In January, Third Largest Ever
According to just released data from the Bank of Greece, January saw Greeks doing what they do best (in addition to striking of course): pulling their money from local banks, after a near record €5.3 billion, or the third highest on record, was withdrawn from the local banking system. As a result, total bank cash has now dropped to just €169 billion, down from €174 billion in December, and the lowest since 2006. This is an 18% decline from a year ago, or €37 billion less than the €206 billion last January, and is a whopping 30% lower than the all time deposit highs from 2007, as nearly €70 billion in cash has quietly either left the country or been parked deep in the local mattress bank.
Were the big Greek banks effectively nationalized already? Don't the depositors and counterparties/creditors know that Bank of Greece and the ECB have their backs. I mean, come on now. Paranoia is simply going too far. MG Global account holders may be getting some of their monies back, as is somebody who had an account somewhere in Lehman. I remember when I made this warning about Bear Stearns back in January of 2008 (2 months before Bear Stearns fell, while trading in the $100s and still had buy ratings and investment grade AA or better from the ratings agencies). Nobody wanted to listen: Is this the Breaking of the Bear?
Once again, do I have a crystal ball??? Or just a spreadsheet??? After all, the ECB just injected a record amount of junk collateral backed, near ZIRP liquidity into the European banking system - Helicopter Ben style - a half trillion Euro worth, or 3/4 trillion dollars or so. And to think, many believe Hip Hop music and iPhones to be one of the biggest US exports:-) Of course, everybody on the sell side sees this as bullish - reference Cascade is to Domino as Greece is to Por… and Does Anyone See This Emergency As An Eme… for a more common sense approach to this ECB bailout of bailouts. As for just why such a massive liquidity injection was necessary? Well, as this excerpt from the subscriber edition of the BNP Paribas report is marked...
'Nuff said! Subscribers, as (not if, but as) this breaks, these are the companies trading at the valuations that are most shortable/profitable in my opinion...
- US REIT Fire Sale Scenario Analysis
US REIT Foreclosure Scenario Analysis
- US REIT Sample Property Valuation
- US REIT Cashflows and Debt Preliminary Analysis


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Westland mother tries to overcome hardships
Chassy Horton lost her son, is now battling cancer
WESTLAND, Mich. – Chassy Horton, a single mom from Westland, is no stranger to hardship.
The loss of a child is unimaginable. A year ago, Chassy's son Lucas was diagnosed with a rare illness that took his life at only six weeks old.
"There's definitely anger, you know?" said Horton. "He was only here for such a short time, but I definitely do cherish the time that we did have with him."
Her sister Kristen remembers it like it was yesterday, saying, "When he passed away they cleared everyone out of the room for us and we were all sitting there as he was passing away and he passed away in her arms."
Chassy had to explain death to her 4-year-old daughter Kaelynn after Lucas died.
"She loves to send balloons to him. She talks to him when she's outside. Looking at pictures. Just things like that to keep him fresh in our memory," said Horton.
Now, Kaelynn is learning about something no child should have to, mommy's cancer.
"I told her how the medicine is going to make my hair fall out and I told her she can be a part of it when it comes time to shave my head and she's actually kind of excited for that part," Horton said.
In October, Chassy was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkins Lymphoma. Although her doctor tells her she has a 70-80% chance of beating the disease, it's not enough to calm her fears.
"That's all I've thought about ever since being diagnosed. It's scary to think about if something was to happen.. leaving her," Horton said of her daughter.
Just when you think it can't get worse, life throws another curveball. Chassy is currently unemployed, making it impossible to afford necessities. Her car is in disrepair and the loss of healthcare means bills are mounting.
"I got a prescription for one of the anti-nausea medications the other day and they want $450 for 4 tablets that last me two days and it's a struggle," explained Horton.
Local 4, Charity Motors helps Chassy
On Local 4 News Morning Wednesday, Chassy was given a Ford Taurus to help her get to and from her doctor appointments.
If you are interested in helping Chassy pay for her medical expenses, her friends and family have set up a donation page: Help Chassy Horton beat cancer
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Press Releases
When the Stars Allign...the Result is Hardee's New Breakfast Sandwich
Feb 23, 2009
The Familiar Happy Star™ Icon and the Star of Texas Join Forces for New Texas Toast Breakfast Sandwich
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – February 23, 2009 – Fast-food breakfast leader, Hardee's®, is combining a staple from the Lone Star State, Texas Toast, with its breakfast expertise to create a new line of Texas Toast Breakfast Sandwiches. Sure to satisfy even the hungriest of cowboys, the new breakfast menu item features two slabs of buttered and grilled Texas toast piled high with egg, American cheese, and a choice of sausage, bacon or ham.
"Everything really is bigger in Texas and Texas toast is no exception, at roughly twice the thickness of regular bread," said Brad Haley, Hardee's executive vice president of marketing. "Since Hardee's has always been known for its hearty breakfasts, it made sense for us to look at making breakfast sandwiches on Texas toast and the result was just as delicious as it was filling."
The Texas Toast Breakfast Sandwich will be sold at participating Hardee's restaurants for $1.99 and is available in a small combo for $3.69 including Country Potatoes and a beverage. Prices may vary by location.
About Hardee's Food Systems, Inc.
Celebrating more than 45 years in the quick-service industry, Hardee's Food Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the third fiscal quarter ended November 3, 2008, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,110 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 14 countries, including 1,185 Carl's Jr. restaurants and 1,912 Hardee's restaurants. For more information, or to find a Hardee's near you, go to www.ckr.com or www.hardees.com.


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On the calm waters of Moreton Bay, Amity Point is located on North Stradbroke Island, the second largest sand island in the world. Located just off the coast of Brisbane, North Stradbroke Island can be accessed by regular passenger and vehicular ferries which depart from mainland Cleveland.
Amity has a quiet, laid-back fishing village atmosphere and is the perfect place to relax, unwind, wet a line or watch the sun set over the bay. Amity's most popular landmark is its jetty, a favoured spot to watch the sun disappear over the mainland and the dolphins play. The calm bay waters make the swimming enclosure to the side of the jetty a safe place for the kids to splash about or swim. The rock wall on either side of the jetty is teeming with marine life and a vast array of fish species makes snorkelling a truly memorable experience.
There are a range of accommodation options in Amity Point to suit all budgets. Waterfront cabins, cottages, bungalows and houses are all available for short term hire. There is also a large camping ground which boasts magnificent views over Moreton Bay.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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The Daily Caller is published by Tucker Carlson. Tucker Carlson is a man who once informed us, on national television, that he'd assaulted a gay man for subjecting him to the sort of treatment which nearly all of women-kind experiences hourly. This is not the assumption of a violent handle, or the quotation of rap lyrics it is the admitted commission of actual violence. Moreover, it's the kind of violence that's routinely dismissed as pathological in black boys, as well as the kind that had it ever been committed by Trayvon Martin would immediately serve as irrefutable evidence that he deserved to slaughtered in the street.Coates continues:
I would not withhold the life of Trayvon Martin from scrutiny and investigation. When someone claims a vicious assault upon their person--as George Zimmerman has--it is only intelligent to investigate the relevant background of the alleged assailant. It certainly is relevant to ask what, precisely, Martin was suspended for. It surely is important to ask if Martin had a history of violence. Whether or not Martin had a criminal record, most certainly is pertinent.Excuse me, Ta-Nehisi, but I'd like to take that one.
But what, precisely, is the relevance of wearing gold grills? What, specifically, is the pertinence of having once given an obscene gesture? Why, exactly, does it matter that Martin's imagination sometimes ranged into profane thoughts of sex and violence? How does any of this help us understand his killing at the hands of by George Zimmerman?
See, some people think they know what Martin was really like, something MSNBC will never tell you: Trayvon was just another n****r. So this country, real America, is better off with him gone. Now normally, thanks to all us horrible politically correct un-American non-gun-loving liberals, "These assholes always get away." Well here's one who didn't.
Zimmerman's killing of Martin reflects paranoid racist America's Id. So there's a greater storyline here, a patriotic battle, a veritable Zoroastrian conflict between the forces of light and dark, good and evil. Martin represents the dark, thus Zimmerman must be on the side of light. And if you believe that, then your Id does contorted cartwheels of logic to justify Zimmerman's actions. "You see," blurts Id, "Martin was a thug. A criminal. An asshole. A bad egg. He might have even been looking for a house to break into. I mean, we've never found the skittles, have we?!" Id just knows this to be true. Maybe can't prove it, but believes it to the end.
But, I'm sorry to cut you off, Ta-Nehisi. You were saying?
It does not--unless you believe that the fact that Martin once gave a middle finger to a camera somehow proves that he is the sort of person who would saunter up to a man who outweighs by nearly 100 pounds, summon the powers of Thor, deck the man with one-shot, and stove him against concrete. We do not draw such conclusions from most teenagers, or even most people. That those who see nothing wrong with labeling a black man as a "Food Stamp President," would draw them in the case of young black boy cannot be dismissed as coincidental.And Coates again:
I'm sorry that Trayvon Martin's actual appearance obstructs your inalienable right to scandalize children. That you are forced into cartwheels, and rendered ridiculous, all in the laudable quest to justify bias is the true tragedy, one which pales when compared to an actual death. If I have in any way, contributed to your travails, I hope that some day you will be wise enough, or simply human enough, to forgive.To say Zimmerman's actions were reprehensible but perhaps legally covered by the horrible and deeply flawed Stand-Your-Ground law is one thing. But I find it deeply troubling when people want to see everything through a prism that somehow morally justifies the death of Trayvon Martin.


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Question: So, how exactly do you prevent crime?
Answer: You kill all the victims.
This is apparently the strategy adopted by current mail server spam filters and their blind followers; mail server administrators. They are targeting email users.
Spammers are notorious for their ability to circumvent anything that spam filters have been throwing at them over the years. Spam filters have evolved from simple from header parsers into software around the 4 figure mark. And it has to be said, that despite them costing that much, spammers still happily bounce around them.
There was a time when the user was the one doing the spam filtering. This was a task that we, email end users, chose or not to do. Some of us considered spam just an annoyance, others actively sought to fight it. Regardless, the choice was on our hands. ISPs however hated spam. Most users don't understand the whats/hows/whys of spam. They complained to their ISP their box is filled with junk about penis enlargement or credit card approvals and they don't understand why they received an email from the former Minister of Finance of Chad. And so, because ISPs never really made an effort to tutor their customer base, email server spam filters became quite a catch.
Naturally spammers laugh at them. This is so because of the very nature of the email protocol. One can't simply expect to stop spam with the current rules. But spam filters claim to do just that. They claim to stop (lie) or reduce (lie) spam. What they are doing instead is killing ISP based email by implementing the only thing that is left to them to implement; draconian spam rules that ban addresses or IPs based on their overly subjective email parsing rules.
And this is exactly what I'm currently experiencing with my ISP at clix.pt. I yesterday stopped 700,000 clix.pt customers from sending emails to @xxxx.ca (let's leave the canadian ISP anonymous for now) by provoking an IP ban on the assumption my email was spam. Naturally it wasn't. It was text commands to a PBEM (Play By Email) wargame mailbot to process my turn orders. Unfortunately I typoed the address and it went to another account of the same ISP.
Because the server spam filter parser considered that spam, it didn't stop that email on its tracks, it didn't ban my email account. Nope. That wouldn't do. They know that doesn't stop spam. It instead banned my ISP outgoing email server IP address! Clap! Clap! Hurray!
As of this rant, my ISP is still banned and I'm waiting on replies from both my ISP and xxx.ca administrators.
I remember once reading something like "Spam is an annoyance. Spam filters make me lose money." You see, it's becoming more a choice of web based email, domain name email or... phone.


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Why Has Nobody Bought Everton?April 14, 2010
While the focus on Merseyside has been on Liverpool, both in terms of their likely failure to qualify for the Champions League and the financial doom and gloom arising from the Hicks and Gillett regime, people seem to have overlooked what is happening at Goodison Park .
Not only have Everton recovered very well after a dreadful start to the season, including a memorable dismantling of Manchester United, but they also have issues of their own off the pitch. Their financial problems may not be quite so spectacular, but the fact is that Everton's business model is bust.
Their strategy, for want of a better word, appears to be to run the business at a loss every year in a gamble to achieve success on the pitch and to fund it by steadily increasing their debt. Every now and then, they might accidentally make a profit, but only at the price of selling one of their prize assets, the best/worst example being Wayne Rooney five years ago.
From a commercial perspective, it is difficult to see how the club will prosper in the future—unless they find a wealthy benefactor.
That is why leading theatrical producer, "True Blue " Bill Kenwright , who has been Everton chairman since 2004, formally put the club up for sale in 2008, when he appointed Keith Harris of the investment bank Seymour Pierce as broker, but Everton has effectively been on the market for many years.
The reasons are obvious, but Kenwright explained why his "kind of chairmanship" no longer has a future in the rich men's playground known as the Premier League: "I am a pauper when it comes to other chairman. I want this club to have a billionaire owner, but it's not me and I apologise it's not me. Everyone knows this football club needs investment. If I can sell it, it will be sold tomorrow."
If this had not been evident before, it became abundantly clear with the arrival of Sheikh Mansour 's billions at Manchester City, which has starkly highlighted the limited budget available to David Moyes .
"Here comes the sun"
So why has nobody bought Everton? After all, this is a club with a fine tradition, having been winners of the old First Division nine times, the FA Cup (when it meant something) five times and the European Cup-Winners Cup once in 1985.
As the song goes, "if you know your history ," but it's not all old news, as Everton were the last team to break the Big Four stranglehold on Champions League places in 2005, came fifth in the Premiership for the last two seasons and were finalists in the FA Cup only last year.
In David Moyes, they also have a very good manager, who Kenwright described as "the most important figure at the club." It is certainly true that Moyes is responsible for taking the club to the upper echelons of the league, but paradoxically his ability could be considered a strength and weakness, as there is always a risk that he could leave for pastures new.
Recently, he appeared to break ranks for the first time, "It's getting harder to keep up with the Joneses . I want to be involved in a football club which makes progress."
Even the man tasked with selling the club, Keith Harris, admitted that Everton were not football's most attractive prospect, "The demographics of Liverpool as a city are not hugely compelling. It is not a very wealthy city. Everton share the city with another club, which arguably has been in the vanguard for the last decade, and they both have a stadium to build. So the economics need a lot of looking at."
They have a loyal, but parochial support, with no identifiable image or brand, which was not helped by the UEFA ban on English clubs in the 80s, which prevented Everton from taking their rightful place in the European Cup.
"I'm reviewing the situation"
In fact, Harris confessed that he was making "no progress at all," exacerbated by the credit crunch, "It has never been more difficult to find buyers. It's no longer a question of price negotiation—it's should we?
People are wondering if now is the time to spend." Kenwright agreed, "We aren't living in a normal world. I am talking to people every week, but in the last few months it's been 'We want a deal done in the next week' and then you literally don't hear from them again. There's just no money."
That may be true, but it does not take long for hard-nosed financial investors to appreciate that this club simply does not make money. Move along, nothing to see here. They walk away even more quickly once they have noticed the club's growing debt and realise that they would have to fund the building of a larger stadium.
Ah, the new stadium. Everton had proposed building a new 50,000 capacity ground as part of a retail park in Kirkby , on the outskirts of Liverpool, but in November the government rejected their planning application.
This was a real blow to the club, as they had been putting all their energies into this scheme for the last three years. Former chief executive Keith Wyness had gone so far as to describe it as "the deal of the century," because Tesco were going to pay £52m of the construction costs, leaving Everton to find "only" £78m.
Wyness argued that much of this money would have been raised by selling Goodison Park and Bellefield , the club's former training ground, and charging for naming rights at the new stadium. Any debt would be "easily" serviced from the increased earnings at the larger ground. On the face of it, this rejection seems disastrous, as the supporters have been told, "There is no Plan B," but now "the book is closed" on Kirkby.
Current chief executive Robert Elstone had made this very plain, "If this club is going to compete at the top end of the Premier League, we need a favourable decision."
"Brave new world?"
This is the third time in 13 years that a proposal for a new ground has come to nothing, but this rebuff might just be a blessing in disguise. Many fans never warmed to the idea of moving to Kirkby, which prompted the formation of the "Keep Everton In Our City " (KEIOC) campaign.
Their opposition was explained thus, "This was a location issue. This stadium would have been nine miles outside the city centre, further from a city centre than any other Premier League ground."
Their concerns were shared by Liverpool Council, who would also prefer a central site. A better alternative for the supporters was the proposal to build a new stadium on Liverpool's prestigious King's Dock , but that scheme was scrapped when the club failed to raise sufficient money.
Which brings us to the question of how exactly Everton would have funded Kirkby. We're none the wiser after the planning inquiry, as the club refused to explain how they would meet the construction costs on the grounds (sic) of "commercial sensitivity."
The sale of Goodison is unlikely to make "loadsamoney ," as it is situated in a far from salubrious area with boarded-up terraced houses, while their hopes of redeveloping their former training ground for housing were dashed when the application for planning permission was refused (there's a trend here).
The idea of securing big bucks for naming rights also appears a little far-fetched when you consider the low money paid for shirt sponsorship. If by some miracle the club did manage to cobble together the funds, all it would do is further inhibit their capability to spend money on new players.
"My hands are tied"
On the other hand, a brand new, state of the art stadium (or even planning permission) should "improve the club's financial position, attract investment and provide more money for the manager."
According to a club spokesman, "Any club which can boast a stadium which is modern, fit for purpose and capable of expansion does represent a more attractive proposition to potential investors."
Indeed, the club's second largest shareholder, Robert Earl , the Planet Hollywood entrepreneur, said that he would not put further money in until the club had moved to a new stadium. Kenwright explained the economic facts (as Rafa might say), "I don't want to be the guy that takes the club away from Goodison Park. I would sooner stay here personally, but it is not an option financially."
In the same way that Arsenal had to leave Highbury for the Emirates , Everton need to relocate to a stadium with more commercial opportunities and higher match day revenue.
Something has to be done to boost the club's revenue, as the profit and loss account looks simply awful. Last year, even when the club reported record turnover of £79.7m (an increase of £4.0m on the previous year) on the back of a pretty successful season, they still suffered a loss of £6.9m.
This is nothing new under the sun, as Everton have only managed to record a profit once in the last seven years—and that was only due to Wayne Rooney's big money transfer to Manchester United in 2005. Since "Wazza" was sacrificed, there have been £27.1m of cumulative losses (2006 - £10.8m, 2007 - £9.4m, 2008 break-even, 2009 - £6.9m).
Although revenue has significantly increased over the years, thanks to the arrival of Sky television money, this has been matched by spiralling costs. In 1999 Everton reported a loss of £10.7m on turnover of just £25.6m, so in the last ten years revenue has risen by a remarkable £54.1m, but less impressively this has only produced a slightly smaller loss.
"From Hair to Eternity"
The main reason for the cost growth is player wages, which rose by 10.3 percent last year alone from £44.5m to £49.1m. This "significant investment in the playing squad" gave rise to a higher wages to turnover ratio of 62 percent, which is nowhere near the worst in the Premier League , but is far from comfortable, even if the club considers it "appropriate."
On top of the salary levels, headcount is also increasing from 210 to 226 with "players, training and management" rising from 80 to 86. As a small compensation, at least the director's remuneration, presumably Kenwright's, has reduced from the £450k average of the last three years to "only" 244k in 2009.However, costs have not been helped by wasting nearly £3m on fees incurred for the design and planning of the failed stadium bid (£1.5m in 2008 plus £1.3m in 2009).
The losses over the years would have been even higher if the club had not been selling players. Over the last five years. £40m has been contributed by what accountants call "profit on disposal of players' registrations."
The impact was most obvious in 2005 when Rooney's sale resulted in a net profit of £23.5m, but you can also see its importance in the last two years. The club just broke-even in 2008, thanks to £9.2m profit from player sales, but reported an overall loss of £6.9m in 2009, when the profit from player sales was much lower at £3.8m (principally from the sale of Andrew Johnson to Fulham).
This bodes well for next year's results, which will include the £22m sale of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City.
"Moyes has just been told his budget"
This has not stopped the club buying players and Everton have somehow found £84m in the last five years to improve the squad. This does not include £11.8m of contingent liabilities, which will be payable based on future appearances and loyalty bonuses, which would bring the total to nearly £100m.
In the accounts, costs associated with buying a player are capitalised as intangible fixed assets and written-off over the length of the contract, as the assumption is that the player would have no value after his contract expires, since he could then leave on a "free." As an example, John Heitinga was bought for £6m, so if we assume that was on a 4-year contract, £1.5m costs would be booked to the accounts in each of the next four years.
Although costs of buying a player are not fully reflected in the accounts in the year of purchase, over time the amortisation costs can have a real impact, which is what has happened at Everton with these costs rising from £12.3m to £13.0m in 2009. That's a lot in the context of a £6.9m loss.
Kenwright is quite open about this policy in the annual report, "Once again, every available penny was channelled towards the manager to facilitate the upgrading of the senior squad."
This could be seen in the period covered by the last accounts with the record £15m purchase of Marouane Fellaini . Since then, the bulk of the Lescott money has been spent on Sylvain Distin £5m, John Heitinga £6m and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov £9m, but the tap might be closed for a while, given Moyes' remarks during the January transfer window, "We will be trying to get some players in January but they will probably all be loans.
We won't be buying anyone, we don't have those finances." That's one of the problems: the only way that Everton have managed to buy these players is by taking on more debt, but Kenwright himself has admitted, "I can't go on every year as I have been doing, borrowing for transfer funds for David Moyes."
"No business like show business"
Net debt did actually increase slightly in 2009 from £36.8m to £37.9m, which is nothing compared to the £237m debt at Liverpool or £716m at Manchester United, but it is meaningful, as the club appears to have no way of paying it off.
In July Kenwright admitted, "Our debt is a big debt and a worrying debt. It is manageable because of our performance on the field, but it is too much debt that every year is going to be added to."
The debt largely arises from a £30m 25-year loan arranged by Bear Sterns in 2002, which has the advantage of being long-term with a fixed interest rate of 7.79 percent, but has contributed towards a net interest charge of £4.1m last year (up from £3.9m).
In fact, in return for the £30m loan, Everton will end up repaying £68m. The accounts also reveal one other obvious reason for the club's need to borrow—they have no cash at bank. Nothing, nada, zilch. Not a surprise, given that the cash flow has been negative for the last four years: 2009 - £1.8m, 2008 - £10.9m, 2007 – 4.7m and 2006 - £5.3m.
The last time that the cash flow was positive was 2005, due to, guess what, the Rooney sale.
To be fair, Everton control costs quite well, but their revenue lags way behind other major clubs. The 2009 turnover of £79.7m may have been a record for the Toffees, but it's significantly lower than the Big Four (Manchester United £279m, Arsenal £224m, Chelsea £206m and Liverpool £185m).
Fair enough, they benefit from the riches of the Champions League, but Everton are also a fair bit under their peers (Spurs £113m, Manchester City £87m and Aston Villa £84m). They're even outperformed by Newcastle £86m—who play in the Championship. How can Everton hope to compete on their level of revenue?
Even where revenue has grown considerably, as with broadcasting increasing from £27m in 2007 to £49m in 2009, this has little to do with the club, being down to the collective Sky Premier League agreement. Everton has a huge dependency on television, more so than other clubs, with 61 percent of their total revenue coming from this stream, but it just about covers the wage bill.
This will further rise in the next three years by at least £7.5m per annum, thanks to the recent agreement on overseas rights, but Everton would have to qualify for the Champions League to earn the really big money (another £25m).
This is why we have a number of clubs building up debts in order to reach the heady heights of the top four—but they aren't all going to get there…
Although the club promised to improve its commercial operations a few years ago, it remains feeble at £9.2m, up just £0.5m from the prior year. As a comparison, Spurs earn £29m commercial revenue.
To be fair, the club outsourced its merchandising and catering operations in 2006 and its retail business to Kitbag in 2009, which mean that they receive a lower net income from subcontractors, but even so.
Everton boast that their shirt sponsorship deal with Chang is the third longest running in the Premier League, but strangely do not mention where they stand in terms of revenue.
It's definitely a lot less than the deal Liverpool recently signed with Standard Chartered Bank – one promise that Christian Purslow actually has delivered on.
"The Story of the Blues"
But where Everton really fall down is match day revenue, which was only £21.9m last year, even though it rose 7 percent. It may be even lower next year, following the team's early exit (fourth round) from the FA Cup, though this may be offset by their progress in the Europa League.
To place this into context, Manchester United and Arsenal both earn more than £100m from match day revenue, while even Liverpool, whose ground is not much larger than Everton's, managed to gather £43m.
This is the reason why Everton must still look at other options for their ground. Plan B was always to remain at Goodison Park and refurbish their traditional home, but this really would be a case of making the best of a bad job.
Limited by a capacity of only 40,000, which is effectively even lower, due the large number of seats with a restricted view, it also does not possess any quality corporate areas for money-spinning hospitality.
The ground itself is hemmed in by Victorian housing (and a church) and supported by an inadequate road network. In short, there is no feasible way of transforming Goodison into a modern stadium.
Even if Kirkby had gone ahead, it would not have generated much additional revenue. A study performed by Deloitte on behalf of Everton estimated a paltry £6m extra a year and that was based on the club almost filling the 50,000 stadium every match.
That would represent an appreciable increase from last season's average attendance of 35,667 (down from 36,904 in 2008), so Everton cannot take for granted an increase in crowds, unlike, say, Tottenham, whose proposed new ground is partly justified by their waiting list of 23,000 for season tickets.
"Show me the money"
Others, including Liverpool Council and KEIOC, believe that an alternative location in the city centre can still be found. Although this would be expensive, the suggestion is that it could be financed by some sort of mortgaging scheme, e.g. selling seats for the next 25 years.
The council has also indicated that it would favour a ground-sharing scheme, given the financial troubles of both Liverpool clubs. This has worked well on the continent for many years in Milan and Rome and more recently in the Allianz Arena in Munich, where the stadium glows red when Bayern play, and blue when it's the turn of 1860.
How appropriate.
However, some worry that this would be detrimental to Everton's brand, if they were perceived as the junior partners.
What other assets do Everton have? In short, not many.
The balance sheet has been deteriorating for a long time with net assets of £18.5m in 1999 declining to net liabilities of £26.7m ten years later.
The club takes great pains to emphasise the long-term nature of their loans, but the net current liabilities are also at a record high of £37.4m. Most of the club's assets have been sold off (the training ground, the academy at Finch Farm and the Megastore), which also increases costs for higher rents, while Goodison's value is declining.
The only assets left are the players themselves with intangible assets now up to £39.4m. Nothing has been included in the accounts for home grown players, but the horrible truth is that any (financial) value would only be realised if the player were sold. What price a debt reducing, balance sheet strengthening sale of Jack Rodwell to Arsenal or Manchester United for £15m this summer?
"Say Hello, Wave Goodbye"
There appears to be no way out for Everton short of a wealthy patron buying the club, described by the Bundesliga chief executive as "the greater fool theory—some day a greater fool will come and buy the club."
At least, Everton have not sold out to leveraged buy-out vultures like the Glazers or a buffoon like Mike Ashley , but the club deserves somebody more financially astute than Kenwright, who unbelievably stated, "I do not understand why football clubs have such big debts, it is a mystery."
Indeed, some fans are growing suspicious of Kenwright's numerous claims that he is looking for an investor ("Every name you see that has been out there looking for football clubs, we've spoken to them. We've had people in the Far East, America, Switzerland, Japan …"). When challenged on this at the 2009 AGM, Kenwright's incredible response was, "I'm not answering your question. I'm bored with your question."
Whoever buys the club would need very deep pockets. First, they would have to buy out the directors' shares (Kenwright 25 percent, Earl 23 percent, John Woods 19 percent), but they would also have to repay the loans, fund a new stadium, pay for new players and inject working capital.
Not a very appealing prospect from a financial point of view. Just look at Randy Lerner at Aston Villa: he paid £63m to takeover the club, but has since pumped in another £200m to improve the squad—without spending anything substantial on the stadium.
This is a major issue for Everton, as the other clubs striving to break through the glass ceiling all have rich sponsors (Villa—Lerner, Spurs—Joe Lewis , City—Sheikh Mansour).
As Kenwright put it in the annual accounts, "maintaining our progress, continuing to punch above our weight will be very difficult." He added, "At the end of the day, the club's finances will be key to everything."
If that is indeed the case, Everton's fans might have to settle for mid-table mediocrity, unless Moyes can continue to "work miracles".


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