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Top 11: Three-Row SUVs With The Most Cargo Room
If you want to carry your entire family or a big group of friends on a road trip, you'll need a vehicle with lots of seating and plenty of cargo room. Minivans are typically the go-to choice for carrying seven passengers and their baggage, but they're dull to look at and equally dull to drive. We prefer the style and sophistication of a three-row crossover or SUV. Unfortunately, in a quest to cram in three rows of seats, many large SUVs have only marginal amounts of cargo room. An Audi Q7 with all three rows of seats occupied has less cargo room than a Ford Fiesta, for instance. That makes little sense given that anyone traveling with seven or eight passengers will probably have a lot of stuff on board, too.
With that in mind, we looked for three-row SUVs that are able to haul lots of people and all of their belongings. These vehicles still have plenty of cargo room even when all three rows of seats are filled with people, meaning you can take six or more of your closest friends without limiting everyone's suitcase size. Here's our list of the eleven three-row crossovers and SUVs with the most cargo room.
First Place (tie): Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, 45.8 cubic feet
It's hardly surprising that vehicles this large offer lots of interior room. Measuring between 222.4 and 222.9 inches long, these three long-wheelbase SUVs all have the same cargo room because they are essentially the same vehicle. The Escalade ESV and Yukon XL are simply primped and gussied-up versions of the Chevrolet Suburban. Even with the window-dressing, however, all three of these vehicles can haul plenty of people and plenty of cargo. They seat up to eight people and can tow as much as 9400 pounds.
The downside of all that space and capability is fuel economy: not one of these SUVs exceeds 15 mpg in the city or 21 mpg on the highway in EPA testing. The Escalade ESV only has a 403-hp 6.2-liter V-8 engine, earning ratings of 14/18 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 13/18 with all-wheel drive. The Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL are rated for 15/21 mpg with the 310-hp, 5.3-liter V-8, which drops to 12/15 mpg with the optional 352-hp 6.0-liter V-8 engine. The top-spec GMC Yukon XL Denali also can be equipped with the same 6.2-liter engine as the Escalade.
The three big SUVs vary in price based on their relative equipment levels and positioning. The 2013 Chevrolet Suburban is the cheapest at $43,540 after destination, the 2013 GMC Yukon XL starts at $44,900, while the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV requires $66,765.
Fourth Place (tie): Ford Expedition EL, Lincoln Navigator L, 42.6 cubic feet
After Ford killed off its gargantuan, gas-swilling Excursion in 2006, the company lengthened an existing model to sate customers who still wanted big SUVs. The Expedition EL launched in 2007 with a wheelbase extended 12 inches compared to the regular Expedition. The stretch necessitated unique body parts for everything behind the B-pillar, including new windows and doors. But the benefit was phenomenal interior room, with 24 cubic feet more cargo room than the regular Expedition. Ford then applied the same transformation to turn the Expedition's twin, the Lincoln Navigator, spawning the Navigator L.
Both have a 5.4-liter V-8 engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and a choice between rear- and four-wheel drive. The main differences concern styling and equipment, with the Lincoln positioned as the more luxurious version. It wears 18- or 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, while the Expedition EL has 17-inchers as standard. Goodies like leather seats, power seats, automatic climate control, and a power-folding third row are all standard on the Navigator L but optional on the Ford. As a result of those equipment disparities, there's a big price gap between the two SUVs. The 2013 Ford Expedition EL costs $43,735 (including destination), while the 2013 Lincoln Navigator L starts at $60,935.
Sixth Place: Chevrolet Traverse, 24.4 cubic feet
The Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave are all built on General Motors' Lambda chassis, but subtle differences between each model mean the three crossovers have varying amounts of luggage room. The Traverse has the most storage space behind the third row, besting the Acadia by 0.3 cubic foot and the Enclave by 1.1 cubic feet. The Chevrolet also is the cheapest of GM's three-row SUV triplets, starting at just $30,485 (including destination) with front-wheel drive and a 3.6-liter V-6 engine. Despite being the cheapest of its siblings, the Traverse still has a long list of standard equipment like automatic headlights, Satellite radio, cruise control, OnStar, and seating for eight. A seven-seat configuration with second-row captain's chairs is optional on LS and LT models, and standard on the top-spec LTZ. But the best news of all for thirsty road-trippers is that the Traverse has 12 cupholders.
Seventh Place: GMC Acadia, 24.1 cubic feet
In keeping with the GMC brand's hard-working stance, the Acadia wears bolder and more truck-like styling than the Traverse and Enclave. That means flared, squared-off fenders and a large, rectangular front grille. A mild update for the 2013 model year brought some revisions to the sheetmetal and interior, as well as more standard equipment. All Acadias now have a backup camera, LED running lights, rear parking sensors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The presence of those gadgets helps merit the 2013 GMC Acadia's base price of $34,875 after destination -- which rises to $46,770 if buyers select the glitzy Denali. The Denali model's price reflects the addition of a chrome grille, unique Cocoa Dune leather, panoramic sunroof, 20-inch aluminum wheels, and some other upscale trimmings.
Eighth Place: Buick Enclave, 23.3 cubic feet
The Buick Enclave offers the least cargo space of General Motors' three Lambda-based crossovers, but its 23.3 cubic feet behind the third row is still more than adequate for a road trip with seven or eight passengers on board. Mechanical differences between the Buick and GMC crossovers are few: both have a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, but the designs and options lists are quite different. The Buick is by far the most luxurious version of these crossover triplets, wearing miles of chrome exterior trim, Buick's elegant waterfall front grille, and softer lines than the other two models. The equipment list is more generous, too, with goodies like HID headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch chrome wheels, and power front seats all standard. Like the Traverse and Acadia, the Buick Enclave received a few design tweaks for the 2013 model year.
Ninth Place: Ford Explorer, 21.0 cubic feet
The Explorer nameplate has been a mainstay in Ford's lineup since the first version launched in 1990. Today's Explorer is more modern than ever, with a car-based unibody design, a long list of technology, and even a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine. That engine, a 2.0-liter turbo, allows the 2013 Ford Explorer to return 20/28 mpg (city/highway), impressive mileage for a large three-row SUV. On the safety front, the Explorer can be equipped with a Lane-Keeping Assist feature, inflatable rear seatbelts, and a system called Curve Control that automatically applies the brakes if the driver enters a corner too quickly. A feature called PowerFold can electrically fold the third row of seats to create a flat load floor for more storage space. There's even a new Explorer Sport variant to satisfy lead-foots. It has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 with 365 hp, larger brakes, and more chassis braces to improve handling.
Although it's not as utilitarian as the first truck-based models, the Ford Explorer offers a good blend of passenger and cargo room, and overall performance. The Explorer can seat seven people, tow 5000 pounds, and is offered with all-wheel drive.
Tenth Place (tie): Ford Flex, Nissan Armada, 20.0 cubic feet
These two vehicles may have exactly the same amount of space behind the third row of seats, but they couldn't be more different. The Ford Flex is a thoroughly modern and stylish crossover, whereas the Nissan Armada is a macho, truck-based SUV. The Flex is one of the most stylish three-row crossovers on the market, although its squared-off design and retro-wagon proportions can be polarizing. Buyers choose between a 287-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with front- or all-wheel drive, and a twin-turbo 365-hp EcoBoost V-6 that is uniquely paired with all-wheel drive. The Flex can tow up to 4500 pounds, and the options list includes the MyFord Touch infotainment system and inflatable rear seatbelts.
The Nissan Armada, meanwhile, strikes a much more utilitarian pose. Its nose is defined by a large grille flanked by tall headlights. A slight curve in the roofline is meant to break up the boxy design, but overall the Armada has flat sides and a beefy, almost vertical liftgate. The Armada can seat eight if equipped with a second-row bench seat, and can tow up to 9000 pounds depending on configuration. The only engine choice is a beefy but thirsty 317-hp, 5.6-liter V-8 engine. If the Ford Flex is ideal for style-conscious drivers who wouldn't be caught dead in a dowdy minivan, the Nissan Armada is better suited for drivers who want the capability to tow boats and handle light off-roading -- all while carrying several people and their belongings.


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Democrats view Castro as rising star
Hungry after working through lunch at City Hall, Mayor Julián Castro heads out for some pizza and some time alone to continue crafting what will be his most important speech to date.
In a corner booth, Castro folds his hands over a stack of paper that's taken the place of his lunch plate.
It's the makings of the keynote address he's to deliver Sept. 4, the opening night of the Democratic National Convention.
Already a national co-chairman for the Obama re-election campaign and the first Latino tapped to deliver the keynote for Democrats, he's drawn flattering comparisons to the nation's leader — young, energetic and polished, he's an astute politician emerging from a new, minority power base.
Mayor of the seventh-largest city in the country, Castro is popular with both local parties and has enjoyed broad support for his work in the city. Beyond San Antonio, he's largely untested. This is Castro's breakout role.
It's not standing on a national stage that worries him. It's ensuring that his message is evocative.
"You've got to be impactful, say something with the time you're given that's meaningful," he said.
Barack Obama, a then-unknown Illinois state senator, gave the same speech in 2004. It was a defining moment for Obama, who was then running for the U.S. Senate and who moved from relative obscurity to rock-star status overnight.
Now Castro, 37, will take the stage in Charlotte, N.C., as the youngest mayor of any major city in the country. Much like Obama, he'll be introduced to a national audience as an up-and-coming Democrat and representative of the future of the party.
"He is going to have every eye of every Democrat on him," said Lionel Sosa, the San Antonio consultant who worked for the presidential campaigns of President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain. "They are looking to see who the next leaders of the next generation of the party are."
These days, Castro's calendar is crammed with near-daily media interviews, often with national networks and publications interested in profiling the man who's being called the new face of the Democratic Party. He's traveled to Chicago to attend Obama campaign briefings, and he — and other DNC speakers — will work with a speech coach before they take the stage in Charlotte.
More Information
Cruz to speak as the voice of next GOP generation
Save the dates
Republican National Convention: Aug. 27-30, Tampa, Fla.
Democratic National Convention: Sept. 4-6, Charlotte, N.C.
Castro's selection to give the keynote address and then campaign for the president's re-election is a calculated move to attract Latino voters who could be critical in Obama's efforts to win key swing states such as Florida, Nevada and Colorado.
Henry Muñoz, national chairman of the Futuro Fund — the Latino wing of the Obama re-election campaign, said Obama's decision to tap Castro for the keynote address is historic.
"It demonstrates that the president recognizes that Latinos have a voice, not only within the party of the country, but with the future of electoral politics," Muñoz said.
"Julián Castro has said that San Antonio is the American city of the future. This speech demonstrates that he may be right. The United States of the 21st century increasingly looks like San Antonio both in challenge and opportunity."
The other side of the aisle, too, recognizes the importance of the growing Latino voting bloc.
Ted Cruz, the former Texas solicitor general and Republican nominee for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, is slated to address the GOP convention in Tampa this week. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is courting Latinos with his message of job creation and fiscal policies.
Castro's role in this year's presidential election is as much a symbol of the party's evolution as it is for Obama's administration, and that rekindles questions about where Castro is headed once he leaves City Hall.
"It's a major play to Latinos. In the longer term, it's an eye to the future," said Kelton Morgan, a national Republican consultant who worked on McCain's 2000 campaign. "He's got big shoes to fill — because Obama gave this speech. It's not do-or-die, but this is his introduction to people beyond Texas."
Growing up on the West Side
Castro will speak about the need to strengthen the country's middle class through the prism of his own life story — one that he shares with his twin brother Joaquín, a state lawmaker running for Congress.
He's the mayor's closest confidant and is widely expected to introduce his brother at the convention, though it's yet to be made official.
"I've been very proud and happy for him and excited about the opportunity that he's going to have to talk about the American dream in Charlotte," Joaquín Castro said. "We've been very supportive of each other, best friends, since we were young. We were competitive growing up but as you get older, you mature and mellow a bit."
From the beginning, the twins were steeped in political activism on the West Side. Both activists, their parents split up when the boys were 8. Julián Castro said their father, a now-retired high school teacher, always remained in their lives.
They lived with their mother, Rosie, a leader in the La Raza Unida Party, who they ubiquitously point to as the foundation of their success.
"My mother dreamed dreams for Joaquín and for me long before we could dream them for ourselves," the mayor said during the keynote address he gave earlier this summer to the party's state convention.
Castro later noted an important lesson he learned from his mother — that the true measure of a man isn't the power he holds, but on whose behalf he wields it.
The twins graduated from Jefferson High School and earned undergraduate degrees from Stanford University and law degrees from Harvard Law School.
Julián Castro, a voracious reader, didn't always aspire to be a politician. Growing up, he was a sports buff. He collected trading cards and played football and basketball before taking up tennis in high school.
"I wanted to be a quarterback," he said. "I used to like Johnny Unitas, the old quarterback for the Colts."
His grandmother wanted him to become a chef, and as a teen, he considered a career in marketing.
But Castro's focus began to shift when he left for the West Coast. It was in the San Francisco Bay Area that he began envisioning a different future for his hometown. There, he saw a well-educated, entrepreneurial community with strong universities and became intrigued how he could help shape San Antonio into a so-called "brainpower" city.
After Stanford, the Castros headed east to Harvard. And before they even walked across the stage to accept their law degrees, Julián already had begun raising funds for a City Council campaign in San Antonio.
It was then that he began to polish his look — starched shirts, power ties and dark suits.
Castro recently ditched his BlackBerry in favor of an iPhone and picked up an affinity for Twitter. His tweets from @JulianCastro range from political missives to remarks about movies he's caught on television. On Saturday, he tweeted: "Making progress on the speech. On the third draft now."
In his address, Castro will weave a story of family, with a broader message, one that he will carefully craft with members of Obama's campaign.
"I'll speak to my family's story and how that relates to the investments we need to make to build a strong middle class and make America competitive in the 21st-century global economy," he said.
Castro's wife, daughter and parents will attend.
Building a resumé
As his national stature grows, so does his pool of critics.
"His record of accomplishment is somewhat light," said Matt Mackowiak, an Austin-based GOP political consultant.
Mackowiak, who worked for Hutchison, said Castro's speaking role is "more about Latinos than it is about Castro."
"It will be the largest thing he has ever done," he said, "and it could be the biggest thing he will ever do."
Castro also runs the risk, Mackowiak said, of giving a red-meat speech to the Democratic base that could alienate moderate Texas voters in a future gubernatorial run.
The consultant accuses Castro of being an Obama surrogate rather than someone who focuses on some of San Antonio's pressing issues: "He seems to be someone who is extraordinarily focused on politics and ambition and not problem-solving."
Castro shrugs off the accusation.
"I've spent about 95 percent of my time during these last couple of months on the city budget and Pre-K 4 SA," he said. "That's just boilerplate junk from a political party."
Castro's calendar supports his statement.
Several months' worth of entries shows he's focused on city business. His days typically are packed with meetings — both private and public, including meeting with community leaders about the Pre-K 4 SA initiative, on which he's staked his mayoral tenure.
Castro, who is in his fourth year as mayor, is asking local voters in November to approve a 1/8-cent sales tax to fund a program that would increase the quantity and quality of pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds in San Antonio.
Pointing to a mix of pragmatic and legacy projects, Castro says his record of public service speaks for itself.
He's fought for ethics reform on the City Council, kept San Antonio from further investing in a nuclear expansion project that was billions of dollars over budget, and supported a strengthened tree-preservation ordinance and a bolstered smoking ban.
Those, however, aren't the accomplishments he highlights. Before he rattles off his successes, Castro explains what exactly he's trying to accomplish in San Antonio.
"My vision is to create a brainpower community that is the liveliest city in the United States," he said. "So the three basic components of that are economic development, matched with a well-educated workforce that's prepared for 21st-century jobs and a city that is exciting to live and work in."
Castro points to a boom in center-city residential units; to his efforts in revamping the city's economic development model to entice "21st-century, higher-paying jobs, particularly in the new-energy economy and bio-tech;" and to supplementing school district efforts through Café College, mentoring, and "hopefully through the Pre-K 4 SA initiative," if voters approve it in November; and the passage of the 2012 bond program, which largely will address needed infrastructure improvements in the city.
The simplest, yet most significant, accomplishment to date: Castro's brainchild, SA2020 — the grass-roots, long-range planning process that charts a path "for success for San Antonio."
What his political future holds has yet to come into focus. Castro chuckles when the idea of a presidential run arises and flatly denies that he would take a Cabinet appointment if Obama is re-elected.
Another San Antonio mayor, Henry Cisneros, traveled a similar political path — a rising star among Democrats and Latino leaders, popular for his work in the city during four mayoral terms.
Cisneros, also an Obama supporter, followed the trail to Washington when he was tapped by President Bill Clinton to serve as secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1993-97.
Castro's mainstay response is that he'll be mayor of San Antonio until 2017, when he's term-limited out of office, if voters will have him.
Castro says he would consider running for a statewide office. The list of possibilities is long, but the speculation is that he's eyeing the governor's mansion or a seat in the U.S. Senate — tough prospects in the deep-red state of Texas.
But in the booth at lunch, Castro remains coy about his future in politics, joking that a run for "dog catcher of Texas" someday, isn't off the table.
Political watchers have higher expectations though, casting Castro in a game-changing role for the party.
Tapping him for the keynote speech shows Democrats see rising Latino political stars as a way to build their base, said Sylvia Manzano, a senior analyst with Latino Decisions, a national opinion research firm.
"Given Castro's relative youth, a strong performance at the convention could propel a long political career," Manzano said, "and mobilize Latino voters along the way."
John Gonzalez contributed to this report.

subset: commoncrawl


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In a shock result which rendered the previously vociferous Labour Twitterati silent last night, City Independent candidate Jackie Barnes won the Springfields and Trent Vale by-election.
The seat formerly held by Sarah Hill until her resignation from the cabinet & the city council was thought to be a safe Labour seat. Continue reading


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Open Thread: The Best Spring Pizza Toppings
Spring is rolling in—trees and flowers are beginning to bloom, the weather is warming up, and finally some fresh produce is joining the potatoes, carrots, and cabbages in the market. Whether or not you find it thrilling, there's no doubt that it opens up a whole new world for dressing up your pies: so which things are you most excited about?
What are your favorite spring pizza toppings?
To get the creative ball rolling, we've pulled together a list of ten late winter/early spring pizza ideas:
- Goat Cheese and Escarole Pizza
- Arugula Salad Foldover Pizza
- Roasted Potato Pizza with Chive Oil and Blue Cheese
- Pea Shoots on Pizza
- Artichoke and Smoked Pancetta Pizza
- Stuffed Artichoke Pizza
- Vignarola Pizza
- Shiitake Pie
- Shaved Asparagus Pizza
So how about it—slender ramps, stalks of asparagus, baby artichokes, spring onions and garlic, early tender little greens, fresh herbs...what makes for the best topping on your spring pies?
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Embo Hospital by Ching-I Wu
Ching-I Wu Portrays The Embo Hospital Hospital
Ching-I Wu, the maker of the award winning project Hospital by Ching-I Wu says, Embo hospital was then a decrepit building before its construction, whereas now, it is a revolutionary designed health care institution in Xiamen, China, representing a fresh vision of a hospital environment by breaking the traditional boundaries with a brand new concept for gynecology and obstetrics. The undulating opening drawn to the skywalk illustrate an embryonic form, symbolizing the beginning of life and the purpose of this hospital- a place of hope, miracles and new life. The environment not only created a new inspiration for global hospitals but world-wide services..
Embo Hospital by Ching-I Wu Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design Mediator homepage.


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Eurosonic festival is apparently focussed on Swedish music this year. This is supported by the appearance of several Swedish artists in Groningen, in the northern region of The Netherlands, including the chart-topping Robyn, ultra-trendy indie-funk combo Little Dragon and the dark, atmospheric hardcore of Cult Of Luna.
The fact that all the delegates that have amassed here from the various music industries across Europe are all buzzing about a British band or another is testament both to the fact that the Brits are still churning out something for everyone else to get excited about and also to the fact that perspective is sometimes slightly skewed.
The Best Of British?
Arguably the biggest British band on the line-up goes under the moniker of The Hoosiers. Critically much-maligned but commercially very successful in their homeland, their success is spreading due to the handy inclusion of their smash hit single, 'Goodbye Mr A', on the soundtrack to Oscar-nominated feature film Juno.
True to form, the venue in which they're due to perform is heaving and there's a queue a festival long before they come on. Three songs in and there are already disgruntled enthusiasts bumbling out through the front door whilst muttering, "Crap, aren't they," or words to that effect in their respective languages.
Luckily the venues are equally full for appearances from Blood Red Shoes and The Futureheads. While a bunch of curmudgeonly Finns cleverly label our Mackem indie rock heroes_ "The No Futureheads"_, they go down a storm regardless.
Brighton's answer to The White Stripes (kidding) go one better. Unless you got there very, very early, you will not have seen one of the most blistering performances of the weekend. Blood Red Shoes blew everyone's blood red socks off.
While there was the good, there is also the bad. You must understand that there is always balance; there is always karma. While on one hand you have the explosive, unpredictable enthusiasm, chemistry and guile of Blood Red Shoes, you will always have a contrived pile of musical bullshit on the other.
Welsh emo try-hards *The Blackout *are that pile of crap this time. While there are a few bands around that are trying to be Every Time I Die, these prancing idiots are the ones that whoop and cavort with the least style and do it whilst causing the most annoyance.
One band that almost slipped through the net is The Darkn… AC/D… sorry, The Stone Gods. That pretty much says it all but to elaborate: it's the The Darkness with the charisma-free bassist taking charisma-filled Justin's place and singing songs that sound like Acca Dacca rather than Queen. Oh, and they've got a new bassist. Dull? Of course.
European Bands In Europe
We didn't go to Holland just to see British bands, obviously. We went to see loads of Icelandic and Finnish bands as well! Obviously.
As ever, the Icelandic folk are out in force with Olafur Arnalds playing with a laptop and a string quartet and somehow getting a packed room to stay quiet for half an hour and sit on the floor.
*Mugison *gets all bluesy and sexy on our cold, wet asses and the distinctly Faroese Boys In A Band show that they've definitely got quite a lot in the locker.
Nobody can actually get in to see electro buzz band Bloodgroup, but we were all comfortably assured that it was very, very good.
One revelation is the delightfully chirpy *Soko *- a young Parisian lady who sings lo-fi garageband songs with titles like _'I Think I'm Pregnant' _that have even funnier lyrics, all sung with a cherubic accent.
To juxtapose such delicate crudeness with bloody, gore-fuelled Viking metal is perfect because *Turisas *come onstage covered in fur and fake blood. Do you need more?
The Swedes
One might wonder that the Swedish bands have been slightly overshadowed, but there's no chance of that. ABBA are from there! And Bjorn Borg!
So are Mustasch. The heavy metallers won a Swedish Grammy for Best Hard Rock Act the night before this show. Rumours that they're still drunk are not backed up by their stellar performance which deafens anyone in a three mile radius. It's loud.
*Cult Of Luna *take you off into a dreamland which makes you lose a half hour of your life before bludgeoning you all the way to death with pummelling riffs and punchy vocals. Some people could well be scared of this music.
*Robyn *is a frightening woman. Imposing and strong onstage, she intimidates without even trying. You see some artists perform and you understand just how they achieve their level of success. She's a star.
It appears there's something inextricably physical about Swedish music. Mustasch ruin your eardrums and CoL's style wants to fight you while Robyn just has murder about her. This isn't actually true, of course. It's just music.
What is for sure is that while some stars like Robyn make you understand how some music becomes popular, others like The Hoosiers just leave you baffled and feeling cheated. It's just the way it is. It's just music.


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This is part of my ongoing series "Start-up Lessons." If you want to subscribe to my RSS feed please click here or to get my blog by email click here.
In the Beginning …
This is a very important post to me because I find myself giving this advice all the time and if you don't follow the basic advice here you can cause yourself much heartache down the line – even if your company ultimately becomes über successful.
I often talk with entrepreneurs who are kicking around their next idea. Sometimes they're working full time at a company or sometimes they've already left their employer and they're bouncing around ideas with friends. These periods of time can leave a founder very vulnerable in the future.
Here are some lessons to avoid common traps. Please remember to read my disclaimer (it's not long) – I am not a lawyer and my advice should not substitute getting formal legal advice.
1. Moonlight Responsibly – If you are still employed please be very careful not to use your company's resources to produce your product and please do not work on your next idea during business hours. It's hard enough to build a successful company. Imagine you pour 5 years of your life into your next gig and it starts to become successful. Would you want to run the risk that your former employer could have a claim against the intellectual property you've created because you broke company policies and developed your ideas on company resources? Not worth it.
To the best of my knowledge US law allows you to work on your own resources and in your own hours and let you personally own your IP. I don't know 100% that this is true in all 50 states (if any lawyers read this please put notes in comments section) but I'm pretty darn sure that this is statuary law in California. In some countries outside the US (the UK for example) employers can specify in an employment contract that ANY IP you develop while you're employed by that company is owned by them. If you live somewhere where this is the case you're better off discussing with your employer that you may from time-to-time work on private projects outside of work hours and you want their clearance in writing that this is OK.
2. Register a company. When I hear entrepreneurs say that they're kicking around ideas with friends I ask, "have you legally registered a company?" Many times the answer is 'no." The problem is that you're opening yourself up to a claim by one of these people that you somehow stole their ideas. I know it sounds crazy because you're talking about friends or colleagues here. And you're probably right. BUT … if you do create the next MySpace, Facebook or Twitter there will be much money at stake. Where money is at stake sometimes things get crazy.
Don't believe me? See here for the Facebook story. Register a company before you do anything else. Even if you keep it dormant for 2 years while you work on your idea. It isn't expensive and the admin isn't too great. You can find a good start-up lawyer to help or if you want to do it on the cheap there are tons of websites you can find on the Internet to help. Here is just one (I don't endorse them – there are many). You can probably get loads of information on Legal Zoom also.
3. Pick the founding members. This is advice that I give people all the time. I'm reluctant to put it into writing because people get so passionate about this issue and many disagree. But I'm so certain that this is one of the single most important areas for you to preserve your future wealth creation opportunity that I feel compelled to write it: your founding team should never have more than 2 people total (including you).
Why? I know that your goal in creating a company is to "change the world" or create something really cool and enduring that has a positive impact on some group of people. Presumably you also want to make a bit of money over time. If you start a company with 4 people you've just given away 75% of the value of the company. It is hard enough to have a great financial outcome when you start with 100%. Starting with 25% is even harder. Assuming normal valuations at fund raising rounds you'll be down to 6-12% after you've created a stock-option pool and raised capital.
I know that 6-12% is more than most senior executives who join start-ups get. But these people seldom make retirement money from the stock options on these companies. I know it happened in the late 90's and there are some very wealthy minority shareholders from Google's early days. But many people win the lottery every week also.
The fact is that most people lack the willingness, ability or nerve to start a company from the very beginning with just an idea or a desire to start a company. These same people will join you and your one other co-founder (maximum) 6 months later when you've established the company, done your Powerpoint deck, built a prototype or product and started fund raising discussions.
They'll happily join for 5% or less and they'll have options and not stock. That's the difference between a founder and a non-founder. You're the one who gets paid extra rewards for taking the extra risk and more importantly taking the initiative. The world is much safer for non-founders. There is nothing wrong with non-founders – by design they are the overwhelming majority of companies. But the worst case scenario in my mind is more than 2 co-founders where everybody sub-optimizes. That said, if you're already in a company with more than 2 founders – put it behind you. The decision is already made. Your next business will have less 😉
4. Research your market. I know it's obvious but I'm always surprised how many people just start building products without thinking enough about the market. You need to do some analysis. Start by evaluating areas that you have domain expertise in. Make sure that you've identified a problem that you believe exists. Calculate how much time or money this is causing the people involved. Sketch out your solution. Find out what solutions they're using today. Use all of this for the basis of a plan that defines your company strategy.
Don't worry if it isn't perfect from day 1 – just make sure it appears to be a good idea. You will confirm that later on. Putting your thoughts into spreadsheets, PowerPoint, HTML, etc. forces you to come to grips with whether you really have a good idea or not. DO
NOT start with product, start with the market.
5. Get customer input. This is another big mistake. People design their products in a box assuming that they'll show customers later and get feedback. Get feedback before you start building anything – else you might be wasting your money. Interview customers to better articulate their problems. Show them multiple solutions to their problems and find out which ones resonate. Ask if they'd be willing to pay for a solution like that if it existed. Ask them how much they think such a solution would cost them.
6. Build prototypes and/or product. Start building out your product. It you have a great software engineer that's awesome. If not, at least find someone really technical that you trust to help act as an adviser to you. If you can't find somebody any technical resources at all through networking please consider keeping your day job. I'm not being flippant (OK, maybe slightly) but seriously it isn't hard to network your way into someone technical. If you can't do this it is highly likely that you lack some of the basic entrepreneurial skills to be successful in your own company.
If you need a cheap way to get a prototype build consider the following options: student interns, people willing to work for stock options rather than cash or some mix, doing the work through oDesk, eLance or Rentacoder.com.
7. Make sure you own your IP. This is a BIG mistake many early stage companies make. They have developers or friends help code their software without having legal agreements in place. You MUST have a legal agreement that stipulates that anybody working on the design, coding or testing of your system assigns any and all intellectual property (IP) created to your company. Otherwise you run the risk that in the future somebody claims that the programming work that they did for you represents their IP and not yours.
8. Assemble a team. As you know my preferred route is the start the company, register it, get the basic plan in place, sketch out wireframes and/or start getting your product built AND THEN assemble your team. You can be talking with potential employees all along the process getting them excited. But best to bring some of your team members on as your plan starts to solidify. If you started the company yourself consider bringing on a "partner." By this I mean somebody who has a large and meaninful percentage of stock options – but nowhere near 50%. There is no specific % – it is different in each case. But for the sake of my example – say 20%. Treat this person like your true partner where you share all information with them and involving them in the decision-making processes.
You also need to get other people around you. Teams create companies – not individuals. Teams raise money – not superstar CEO's. Start building your team early.
9. Founder vesting. Yesterday I wrote a blog posting on founder vesting (see here). You should implement restricted stock with vesting at the earliest stages in your company -even before the VC's ask. The reason is that if you found a company with a partner (or 2) and somebody decides to leave the company do you really want them to be able to walk away with half of the value when they may have only worked with you for 9 months and all the hard work is ahead? Founder vesting is an insurance policy for all team members involved.
This post isn't meant to be a comprehensive guide on starting a company so I think I'll stop here. I just wanted to list some of the most value destroying mistakes I see many early-stage entrepreneurs make. It's a shame because these mistakes are often made in the first 12 months when all the work still lies head. I'm sure there are many more early-stage mistakes – please feel free to add comments or send me a twitter message @msuster.
(Cross-posted @ Both Sides of the Table)
Editor's update: Fox Business broadcast a segment on this very same subject, featuring Mark.Enjoy the show:


text:
[Funeral Program for Mary Washington, July 30, 1975]
Description: Funeral program for Mrs. Mary Washington, born March 21, 1943 and died July 26, 1975. The funeral was held July 30, 1975 at Second Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. C. W. Black, Jr. Funeral arrangements were made through Collins Funeral Home, and she was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Hearne, Texas.
Date: July 30, 1975
Item Type: Refine your search to only Pamphlet
Partner: San Antonio Public Library


text:
"The Balm of Blame"
The balm of blame relies on shame
While fools amass in cloisters; clowns, their terrors
Grouped in choirs as with fires sired in hell. Errors
Come as natural as breathing, while their eternal flame
Afflicts the every man, and cannot be concealed.
How, then, does the crown not fit
As when in the thick of smoke and mirrors bells peeling
Not from above or from the side but fulgent, sealing
Heaven's signs in record time, the eyes, the gait, the every gesture
Bold prophetic witness as the Eastern Prophets' Word is echoed in the West,
Their lights snuffed out in increments that underline the tortured tests
Of wills and structures of the Occident in bulging bank accounts–sequestered,
Belching fallacies–metered by the hour that all but scream for want of closure?
Yet, the line is long and longer for ambient mists of deft exposure.
They will not hear the key left limp at latch–the entrance
Or the exit; they cannot see the rising
Or the setting of the complaisant star, its restive analysing
Of the land and sea at midnight, the telling glance
Of creatures who stalk their prey in the foyer of the edifice;
The temporary seating exceeds the number of the tombs is evidence
Enough that in all creation few defy the mirage; the fence
That must divide the space above a phantom's presence
Of this planet from the gaping hungry star-filled void
Of all that passes for imagination.
Connoisseurs of matter taste
Nothing but the venom of the fang in hours of self-defeating waste:
That posits purpose in pursuit of the outrageous, they speak of decoys
And photographs in place of simple memory and obsolescent joy.


text:
Call of Duty 2 - Xbox 360 Cheats
2 Cheats
Hints and Tips
Super Gamer Dude
Call of Duty's pretty easy really, providing you use all the choices and people available to you, you should have little problem advancing along and getting those achievements from the top difficulty setting.
Make sure your squad is with you:
Your squad can tackle quite a few objectives a lot more effectively than you can on your own. Use them to setup covering fire whilst you move to outflank the enemy. Make use of the available cover to stay alive and your squad will come up and take on your opposition enabling you to advance/return fire from a safer position. At the very least they'll be a decent distraction and you can get on to the next checkpoint!
Make use of your grenades:
The game hands you a limited amount of grenades but is very eager to give you a refill, so make sure you walk over downed foes and replenish your grenades to take out the next lot with.
"Gauntlet" houses:
The later 'objective' houses in Call of Duty 2 seem to spawn a near infinite amount of German's until you're able to get into them. Once you're in the house make sure you get to cover quickly (I recommend backing into a corner so you don't get shot in the back) so you can take out the germans that will inevitably come at you, your cover should allow you to stay alive long enough for your squad mates to storm the bottom of the house, although it's usually left up to you to clear the top floor! It's best to flush out the top floor with the grenades you have to get those germans moving about so you can eliminate them without too much bother.
Multiple routes:
Through the levels there's sometimes more than one route see if you can make use of these to outflank your enemy.
Charge forward:
Sometimes it's possible to charge forward to the next checkpoint without fully eliminating your foes, this can be a quick way to advance if you'd rather get the level over with than eliminate every enemy in the area.
Don't forget about your melee attack:
Sometimes the only thing between surviving and the long slog from the last checkpoint can be the all important melee attack. Get thumping!
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Unlockable Achievements.
Super Gamer Dude
Unlockable Achievements.
Carry out the following tasks to get the corresponding number of Gamerscore points:-
Veteran Of El Alamein 60 points
Veteran Of the Tank Squadrons 60 points
Veteran Of D-Day 60 points
Veteran Of Crossing the Rhine 60 points
War Hardened 200 points; game completed on Hard or Veteran
Veteran Of the Battle for Caen 60 points
Veteran Of Fortress Stalingrad 60 points
Veteran Of Hill 400 60 points
Veteran Of the Winter War 60 points
Veteran Of Stalingrad 42 60 points
Veteran Of Rommel's Last Stand 60 points
Won The War 150 points; game completed
Complete training mode 50 points
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text:
There is no translation available.
Clinical studies are an essential step in the development of novel treatment methods for cancer and other diseases. Especially in rare cancers like sarcomas, clinical studies are an important component of treatment concepts, because here the standard forms of therapy are often limited. Please find more information about clinical studies in general and their importance, study groups and a selection of currently open sarcoma studies in this section.


text:
- This event has passed.
Creative Sisterhood
Jan 3, 2018 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
Weekly on the same day until Dec 26, 2018
Event Navigation
The group of crafting ladies meets each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at Santa Cruz Elementary.
Take the third driveway into the school and proceed to the back of the school building where the chain link fence is. Door are at the back of the school rooms.
Carol Young 520-413-8190


text: I've written for publications including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Glamour, Marie Claire, Wine Spectator, and Time Out NY Kids and websites including Babble, AOL/Huffington Post, BN Review, MSN, and Salon. My work has been anthologized in the book "Maybe Baby" and eBook "Welcome to My World" and honored with a MADD Media Award. My proudest accomplishments, however, are a son who says I look like a teenager and a daughter who draws princesses and labels them "Mommy."


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|November 3, 1988
|Release # 88-093
WASHINGTON-Tonka Products, Division of Tonka Corporation, is voluntarily recalling its "Love Me Tender" dolls because the plastic eyes may come off and could present a choking hazard to young children.
Tonka instituted the recall in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The company acknowledged having received 76 reports from consumers about model #8900 and #8901 dolls where the eyes had come off. While no injuries have been reported, the company said it is recalling the dolls to prevent any ingestion of small parts. More that 100,000 of these dolls were sold nationwide since July 1987 for $18-$30.
Consumers are urged to take the dolls away from young children and return the dolls either to the place of purchase or to Tonka Products, Attention: Department K, 2950 Robertson Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45209, for a full refund of the purchase price. To obtain a prepaid mailing label or for more information, consumers may call the company toll-free at 1-800-548-7262 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


text:
Leonid Afremov (born 12 July 1955 in Vitebsk, Belarus) the same town where Marc Chagall was born. Leonid Afremov graduated from Vitebsk Art School in 1978. The school was founded by Marc Chagall in 1921. Along with Malevich and Kandinsky, Leonid Afremov is one of the elite members of the famous Vitebsk art school.
Is a Russian–Israeli modern impressionistic artist who works mainly with a palette knife and oils. "I tried different techniques during my career, but I especially fell in love with painting with oil and pallette-knife. Every artwork is the result of long painting process; every canvas is born during the creative search; every painting is full of my inner world. Each of my paintings brings different mood, colors and emotions. I love to express the beauty, harmony and spirit of this world in my paintings. My heart is completely open to art. Thus, I enjoy creating inspired and beautiful paintings from the bottom of my soul. Each of my artworks reflects my feelings, sensitivity, passion, and the music from my soul. True art is alive and inspired by humanity. I believe that art helps us to be free from aggression and depression." ~ Leonid Afremov ~


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Indigenous leader Tom Calma has skewered Attorney-General George Brandis' proposed changes to race-hate laws, making for an awkward Monday as the two men will share the stage at a reconciliation launch.
Dr Calma, the co-chairman of Reconciliation Australia, said Senator Brandis' changes would set back the reconciliation process between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
Dr Calma and Senator Brandis are preparing to launch a ''reconciliation action plan'' for the Federal Circuit Court at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on Monday.
The federal government's race-law changes would create ''more opportunities for people to humiliate, vilify or denigrate other people based on their race or religion,'' Dr Calma said.
Broad exemptions in Senator Brandis' proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act could lead to ethnic minorities being humiliated and denigrated, he added.
The changes could also undermine indigenous reconciliation - the very cause Dr Calma and Senator Brandis will be in Redfern to promote.
''This will put back reconciliation, understanding [and] respect,'' Dr Calma said. ''The protections are there to protect people from being vilified but also to be a deterrent to potential offenders.''
Dr Calma's intervention is significant, not only because he is one of Australia's most senior and respected indigenous leaders. He also served as race discrimination commissioner for five years between 2004 and 2009.
Senator Brandis has been criticised by ethnic and religious groups, the opposition and some of his own cabinet colleagues and backbenchers, for his desire to repeal the ''Andrew Bolt laws'' - sections 18B-E of the Racial Discrimination Act.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Senator Brandis were inspired to change the race-hate laws after News Corp columnist Bolt was found to have breached them in 2011 because of the way he wrote about light-skinned Aborigines.
Under Senator Brandis' proposed changes - which are canvassed in an ''exposure draft'' for community consultation over the next month - it would no longer be unlawful to ''offend, insult and humiliate'' someone because of their race, colour or ethnic origin.
But, under new sections of the act, it would be unlawful to incite hatred against or intimidate them.
The problem with this, critics say, is a broad ''get-out'' clause that allows intimidation, incitement of hatred and other forms of vilification, so long as they are done in the course of participating in a public discussion.
Senator Brandis believes these changes are necessary to promote free speech, but cabinet colleagues including Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull are understood to believe that the proposed amendments go too far.
Labor MPs have highlighted community concerns about the changes, which were inflamed by Senator Brandis telling the Senate last week that ''people do have a right to be bigots, you know''.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten denounced Senator Brandis' plans in a speech in Melbourne on Sunday to the Zionist Federation of Australia. ''I believe this is a colossal mistake, and a dangerous one,'' Mr Shorten said.


text:
Glenn Beck was dropped from his gig on a New York radio station due to poor ratings.
The conservative pundit's syndicated show on WOR (710 AM) will be replaced by another right-wing commentator, Mike Gallagher, on Jan. 17, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.
"The reason is ratings," WOR program director Scott Lakefield told the Daily News. "Somewhat to our surprise, the show wasn't getting what we wanted."
He said he hopes Gallagher will add more of a local angle to the program.
Beck, a nationally famous TV personality and Tea Party favorite, is also known for his weekday show on Fox News and his impassioned and activist approach to political commentary. The "Restoring Honor" rally he lead in August attracted thousands to Washington D.C. and sparked protest rallies.
On a national scale, Beck's ratings are much stronger, although he suffered a 6.5% loss of viewership on his television show last year, according to Nielsen ratings via Politico. Talkers magazine rated him the No. 3 talk show host in radio for their "Heavy Hundred" list, after Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
"We are very proud of Glenn Beck's performance in New York," Chris Balfe, who runs the talkmeister's media company, told Politico in a statement.
Gallagher has been a long-time host of WABC (770 AM) before moving to national syndication several years ago. He told the Daily News he looks forward to increasing "ratings and revenue" on the radio show.
The shift will move WOR morning host John Gambling's show to 6-10 am, and Gallaghers show will begin at 10am.
Selected Reading: New York Daily News, Politico, Newser


text:
Course Information
The Single Degree program usually requires more than four years to complete the degree.
A Dual-Degree Program is available for students who desire to earn two bachelor's degrees, a mathematics or science degree from VSU and an engineering degree from Georgia Tech. This program should be carefully planned and usually requires more than five years to complete.
Click here for the Engineering Curriculum Checklist and Engineering Brochure.
Specialty Courses for Engineering Majors
ENGR 2200 Statics
Elements of statics in two- and three- dimensions; forces and moments; particles, objects, and structures in equilibrium; centroids; distributed forces and beams; friction.
ENGR 2310 Into to Signal Processing
Introduction to signal processing for discrete-time and continuous-time signals. Filtering, frequency response, Fourier Transform, Z Transform. Laboratory emphasizes computer-based signal processing.
ENGR 2500 Engineering Graphics for Design
Introduction to engineering design and three-dimensional visualization; geometric construction; graphical projection and sketching; introduction to descriptive geometry; computer graphics.
ENGR 3210 Dynamics
Kinematics and kinetics of particles; kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies in plane motion; kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies in three-dimensional motion.
ENGR 3220 Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Definition and analysis of strain and stress, applications to axially loaded elements, torsion of circular shafts and bending of beams, introduction to simple plasticity and column stability.
ENGR 3320 Circuit Analysis
Introduction to the basic concepts of DC and AC circuit theory and analysis.
ENGR 2320 Intro to Computer Engineering
Computer system and digital design principles; architectural concepts, software, Boolean algebra, number systems, combinational datapath elements, sequential logic, and storage elements; design of DRAM control and I/O bus.
ENGR 4950 Directed Study
Study in an area or subject related to engineering not normally found in established courses offered by the program. May also allow student to explore in more depth an area of subject offered by the program.
ENGR 2001 Principles and Applications of Engineering Materials
A treatment of structures, properties, processing and performance of engineering materials and their relationships.
ENGR 4310 Thermodynamics
Principles of classical engineering thermodynamics which includes open and closed systems for both steady state and transient processes.
- 229.333.5752
- 229.219.1201
Campus Address
Nevins Hall
Room 2006
1500 North Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698
Mailing Address
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698


text:
The Game Theory Podcast
Episode "Science of Immersion in Video Games"
I've been meaning to dive deep into the topics of realism, immersion, and video game violence for a while now. The folks at The Game Theory Podcast dissect these issues very well in these two episodes. You, the awesome geeks and gamers in our community, have also really started to talk about game mechanics and the psychology of gaming so it's time to really talk about it. I'm stoked about the response because this is the heart of what makes the world turn – game mechanics!
Recently we talked about realism in shooters (FPS games) and the surge in realism units. Obi touched upon the main facet of immersion and realism: graphics. Your typical gamer will first judge a game by theme and presentation, but I would argue that these alone do not create immersion and realism.
We will continue through the key points here with this in mind:
HD graphics do not guarantee immersion or fun, though they do improve realism.
To me, graphics only serve the purpose of providing an initial hook, much like theme, effective marketing, or good buzz/word of mouth could accomplish. I am a firm believer that graphics won't see much innovation within the next decade or so. Even more importantly, graphics should be judged more on the art style, cohesion in presentation (and storytelling), and overall tone of the experience, not in terms of frame rates and resolution.
The questions we need to ask ourselves should revolve more around replay value, community, and support. Innovation and fresh new ideas are important as well but, as we've seen with indie games, new is not always good. The next few sections will give provide a game mechanics crash course but, if you are already familiar with game design and the psychology behind it, feel free to skip ahead!
Basics Of Game Mechanics: Immersion, Realism, And Stickyness
Realism is what we've mainly been talking about so let's tackle that first. Realism can be defined as a state of simulating or copying real life. When the world as we know it is translated into a believable digital form, it can be considered realistic but not necessarily immersive. The more important thing to consider here is that a story-driven video game, much like a good book or movie, should allow us to suspend our disbelief and get lost in a new world (while likely losing track of time). Thus, good graphics are a significant part but not the major or only factor to consider here.
Immersion is what I think we really think about when we talk about realism. Immersion is the experience of feeling fully-indulged and perhaps committed. Simply put, it's getting lost in an experience. The most immersive video games have dynamic elements such as customization, branching storylines, and personalization. Immersion can be impersonal or personal; for the latter, think of role-playing games.
Stickyness is similar to immersion but it focuses more on the aspects of game design that keep people coming back. It's more about the commitment and lifestyle changes than the actual experience and indulgence itself. Today, stickyness is usually forced through terrible game mechanics like those we saw in Farmville or Tiny Tower, where game developers act as if you are dedicated to their game only and can set your schedule around it.
We'll proceed with this discussion with the understanding that we are determining what really matters in what we consider "good games". In doing so, we'll further distinguish immersion from realism and why the foremost is far more important.
Personal & Impersonal Immersion: What About Role-Playing?
One of the easiest ways to design an immersive video game is to make it more personal. Personalization allows players to see themselves as their digital avatar and feel more fully-vested in the virtual world. Personal immersion usually involves the main character and his abilities, decisions, and so fort but it can also incorporate story, supporting characters, environments, and so much more. Traditional Dungeons & Dragons can be considered the most personally immersive experience.
Of course, all the aforementioned does not mean that we as the players cannot identify with a character if we are not pretending to be them. Impersonal immersion places us in pre-set roles but the immersion comes in the form of the things that remain dynamic. Even "on-rail" or linear games can be immersive provided the experience sucks us deep into their worlds.
Role-playing games tend to favor personal immersion and the beauty of this approach is that every experience will be unique to each individual player. On the flip side, we have games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect, where the characters have been chosen for us yet we can easily be immersed in the experience if we enjoy it. The common thread here is that the details tend to create more realistic and immersive worlds.
What's interesting is that even fantasy worlds with magic, dragons, and other craziness can be both realistic and immersive. The trick to creating realism is keeping your facts in check and establishing a believable premise. In doing so, storytellers and game designers alike can have players see their creation as real, maybe moreso than the real world we live in (just ask the LARPers). Great storytellers know how to keep people hooked long enough to instill a sense of commitment, total "surrender", or loyalty.
The Fun Quotient: What Does Gabe Zichermann Think?
Gabe is considered to be one of the forefront authorities on game mechanics and what he calls "gameification by design". One of his most well-known theories is the fun quotient, which simply states that theme and realism do not matter, games just have to be fun. I agree with this design philosophy but I do feel theme is a much bigger factor than Gabe thinks.
Theme is not only part of the initial draw. Theme is a big part of immersion and stickyness too. This is evident in our choices between otherwise exact games. League of Legends comes to mind for me because I prefer DotA (Defense of the Ancients) and Guardians of Middle-Earth (sometimes Smite too) yet I am constantly drawn back to LoL. The characters are a big draw for me (YAY boobies). Heck, I sometimes even read the lore and get intrigued, even though the experience is by no means story-driven. Every now and then, we strange MOBA/ARTS players find ourselves role-playing, flirting with the digital avatars, and being fully immersed in the characters, even if only for 20 to 60 minutes at a time.
Fun is paramount but I also find that community is a critical component in keeping us addicted to our games of choice. The interaction, both social and objective-driven, make for more fun and immersive experiences. We forget about the food we are cooking, block out nagging wives, and forget our worries. This is not to say that the most fun or immersive experiences have to be multiplayer-focused, but it certainly helps unless maybe you are a total hermit or introvert, which is okay too!
Prioritized Sensory Information & The Impact On Immersion
The gang at The Game Theory podcast touched upon sensory stimulation and prioritization of information. One thing they did not get into really was the way game developers can guide us through the intended experience to distract us from the aspects that may otherwise detract from it. In such a manner, sub-par graphics can be excused if everything else is impressive. A better example exists when we look at boundaries in linear and open world experiences but we will get into that in the next section.
Since we have no smell-o-vision (yet), game developers have to rely on stimulating our senses of sight, hearing, and touch (i.e. force feedback and vibration) to create immersive experiences. Let's look at a great horror game. While great graphics may help create a more realistic and immersive experience, it's the sounds that create more tension, despair, and fear. I would say sometimes it is better for things to be left to our imaginations as we can often conjure up far more gruesome or compelling things.
The prioritization of audio is not always the best option but it certainly bolsters immersion. After all, who doesn't get lost in good music? Tactile response is an aspect that can be improved upon but there are good examples of it out there. Nothing beats total silence and non-events interrupted by a sudden, unexpected vibration jolt. This works great for horror so it's no wonder we are seeing a surge in survival horror with Slender, Outlast, Day Z, etc.
As I mentioned before, the details lend a lot to immersion. When our senses are stimulated in a deliberate manner, even non-story-driven games benefit. In open world games where exploration is a major focus, lavish worlda with nooks and crannies to explore are a fantastic thing to experience as a gamer.
Quality definitely trumps quantity. I still find Shenmue's worlds to be as good as, if not better than, anything we have seen in the Elder Scrolls games to date. Almost every detail provides deep interaction and triggers new events. Having a massive world like we see in Skyrim is nice but it can be overwhelming to the point of breaking immersion. Once again, theme helps maintain the illusion of reality and immersion alike. If you enjoy the mythos, you will dig deeper and stick with it longer.
The most interesting thing about prioritized sensory information is that the right balance can make otherwise ho-hum aspects shine. Back to audio, the right sounds can build us up for visuals that may not otherwise have impact. When you look at these efforts as a whole, we appreciate the creative aspects individually as well.
Willingness and pre-disposition to certain experiences help improve or detract from immersion. This places a greater focus on the sensory information because game developers can illicit emotional and psychological responses even when other information does not immerse us enough or, worse, causes disruption. It's certainly easier to accept something we are already familiar with or believe in, but immersion goes beyond any individual's framework for realism or their world views.
With traditional pen-and-paper games, veteran GMs and DMs understand that they can't force players to do things they are unwilling to do. The challenge is finding ways to guide players through the experience as they intended it. They have to seduce their participants or risk having reluctant players that ruin the experience for the rest.. Or just giving up before the good parts start up. There's no doubt that a seductive narrative can make it easy to give up our existing realities but I must reiterate that a gripping story is not the only path to achieving deep immersion.
Think about the last memorable game you enjoyed so much you replayed it or logged hundreds of hours in it. Chances are your memories will all tie into senses. To this day, I still recall the music from the original Sonic The Hedgehog and I remember that being a huge factor for why I would tune out the world and get lost in the bright colors and hyper-fast action. Sonic was never a deep game (unless maybe you consider the Adventure games on the Sega Dreamcast) so it brings up some interesting points…
Breaking The Fourth Wall
The term breaking the fourth wall, goes back to the early days of live television and stage performances. Just picture a stage or TV set where there are three walls. We are able to look in because there is no physical fourth wall. The fourth wall is essentially us: the audience, gamers, players, readers, etc. Video games sometimes try to get cute with tongue-in-cheek antics that bring self-awareness to the gamer within the virtual construct. This can be entertaining but it kills immersion because we are reminded that essentially all we are doing is killing time or playing pretend, with no direct value being created in the real world (usually).
When characters in a video game are aware that they are in a video game, immersion suffers (though we can forgive Deadpool or Zelda for this) but there are better examples. Some argue that games with no HUD (Heads-Up Display) are more immersive. I'd say that is a fair point but it depends on the context. I definitely feel that the visual assets are far more important than the quality of the graphics.
That may be so but the biggest immersion-breaking gaming trope that comes to mind immediately for me is the tutorial. The best games find ways to teach you the core mechanics naturally. Pop-ups and forced tutorials make me want to smash my head against a lawn gnome, just because such an action would probably be more worthwhile.
Another game-breaking trope are the elusive invisible walls we see in so many games. A good game would find a way to weave the boundaries into the story or guide us through the proper paths and habits. Game developers should not place a heavy focus on exploration if it is not obvious where you can go and can't go, or where you should look or shouldn't. It's really quite simple yet this mark is often missed.
More commonly, gamers experience bugs/glitches that are so bad that the game is no longer enjoyable, let alone immersive. Cumbersome core mechanics are a similar shame. Clunky controls, wonky movement, repetitive gameplay, and so many other things plague games and prevent us gamers from getting immersed. All this tells us that anything that breaks the game thus disrupts the experience and ruins immersion.
Now for another concept in game mechanics:
The flow zone or "game zen" is when the perfect balance between challenge and reward is achieved.
Maybe I am just getting old and jaded but I feel games lack proper rewards or other hooks to keep us invested. Sometimes games are too easy or too hard, which is augmented further by lack of rewards. Scaling is another major game development pitfall because we as the players are not properly prepared for the shift in challenge. These things certainly detract from immersion because it's hard to indulge when we're too busy huffing and puffing.
Accepting the transparency of the fourth wall further reinforces that we are willing to make certain concessions to enjoy a creative work. Artists, writers, and game designers are all tasked with the challenge of maintaining the illusion and appealing to our senses. This is the very essence of immersion: hooking us in and keeping us hooked. The epitome is when the experience is so good we come back to it in our heads and in conversations.. but that's for another discussion!
Why Is Violence So Prevalent?
It seems that you can't talk about realism without violence coming up so let's talk about that briefly. The scope of this obviously goes beyond what we're really getting at here but here's my main thought on the topic:
While we may complain about the excessive violence in video games, there is no doubt that violence appeals to our hidden, more visceral desires.
I am of the opinion that violence has been over-done in video games yet I still find it satisfying when I am in that dark place where all I seek is blood. The sad truth is that game developers today still see this as the easiest opportunity to create mass appeal and get gamers hooked. As long as it works, it will continue to be prevalent.
What's interesting is that if we had 100% realism in violent video games, it'd be a very exclusive experience. Imagine if a headshot always resulted in a kill (unlike in Halo or CoD). Imagine if there were no respawns. For the average gamer, that does not sound like fun yet I go back to the days of Soldier Of Fortune II: Double Helix. The "real damage" servers running infiltration play modes were always fun for me, even if I spent a lot of time in spectator mode. The Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, and Arma games have always been the most realistic but not to a degree where they sacrifice the fun quotient.
Even on Call of Duty, I prefer Search & Destroy but no one really plays that so I'm relegated to play deathmatch and other terrible modes. I can't lie: the violence is gratifying but the fun and immersion is introduced when you go deep with the tactics and teamwork aspects. Shooters may be stale these days but, when you play with friends on a regular basis, it's satisfying to know people have your back. I am intrigued by realism units in Arma II but I worry if the realism may be TOO much…
What are your thoughts on video game violence? Leave us a voicemail on the GANG Hotline at (206) 415-4987 and we'll flesh out the core issues further together!
Conclusion: Virtual Reality, Simulations, And True Immersion
With all the talks about Sony's Project Morpheus and Facebook buying the Oculus Rift, some gamers are hoping that virtual reality will finally be here to stay. I personally feel it would be nice to have another way to enhance and experience video games but I don't see the need for VR to come in and improve realism. VR comes with a strong promise behind it. We are hoping that we will have truly immersive experiences but, as we already revealed, if the core mechanics are lacking and features feel tacked on, immersion is disrupted and inhibited.
Alongside RPGs, simulation games provide a genre that lends to deeper immersion but I would argue that not every simulator is immersive or realistic for the same aforementioned reasons. I'd say that realism may be served in high doses but that does not guarantee deep immersion. Ultimately, games have to be fun for us to log in the hours and consider them true escapisms or alternate realities.
Wrapping up my diatribe before HorsePLAY! LIVE starts up in a few minutes, I believe true immersion does not require realism or high-end specs. It always boils down to the little details and core mechanics that make a game fun and allow us to surrender ourselves to the experience. We can definitely talk about this further so, before I go off on more tangents, leave us some comments and we'll keep the conversation going. See you guys on the ObioneX2 Twitch Channel!


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It's nothing more than a witch-hunt.
The move comes after speculation linking the former Real Madrid chief with the top job at the Etihad Stadium in recent days.
City manager Roberto Mancini is under pressure as his side trail rivals Manchester United by 12 points in the Premier League title race and their European campaign was over before Christmas.
Jose Mourinho has also been linked with the City job and sits second in Sky Bet's next manager market at 5/1.
Sky Bet football trader Chris Spicer said: "It would appear unkind to replace Mancini but clearly the owners have expectations that match their lofty investments.
"Pellegrini may not be a huge name amongst City fans but it is hard to ignore the success he is achieving this season with Malaga. The Chilean has had a spell in the big time before, in his short time at Real Madrid in 2009.
"Sky Bet customers were aware of rumours early on this afternoon and did some damage at 20/1 before we were forced to change the odds dramatically. A quick appointment isn't necessarily what City will prefer but sources suggest they may appoint him at the end of the season."


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By Kate Bennett, KF16, Peru
When I arrived in famous Nazca, Peru last week to complete some borrower visits, my mind was not on the celebrated and mysterious Nazca Lines but on the mystery of Caja Rural Señor de Luren borrower Gaby, who repaid her entire loan a mere month after disbursement.
I was checking in on Gaby's loan as part of my borrower verification (BV) for Kiva Partner Caja Rural. The borrower verification item on a Kiva Fellow's workplan always has us feeling anxious. One of the BV's key objectives is to ensure transparency of loan repayment from Kiva Field Partners and potentially unearth any foul play within the Kiva partnership. Obviously, most of the time this is not the case; Kiva works with accredited and trustworthy microfinance institutions whose missions selflessly aid in the betterment of clients' lives. But nevertheless, when I see something as rare as full repayment on the first repayment date, I can't help but wonder.
With our meeting scheduled in the afternoon, Caja Rural's Kiva Coordinator and I spent our morning touring the legendary Nazca Lines. The Lines are actually a series of ancient geoglyphs (or designs etched into the earth) created by the Nazca people somewhere between 400 and 650 AD sprawling across the Nazca Desert. Nearly unrecognizable from ground level, they were discovered the 1930's when spotted from an airplane flying North to Lima (they're hard to miss from 20,000 feet). Expressing calculated artistic design, the Lines are not simply lines in the sand- but are designs of spiders, monkeys, fish, sharks, orcas, llamas, lizards, and hummingbirds (the hummingbird on Caja Rural's logo, in fact, is from the Nazca Lines)- a number of which were not native to coastal Nazca, but of the inland and areas far North and East.
But the true mystery of the lines is their sheer immensity. The lines cover an area of nearly 190 square miles and the largest figures span nearly 890 feet. The Nazca Desert (part of the Sechura Desert that encompasses Southwestern Peru) is one of the driest on earth and maintains a temperature of about 77 degrees Fahrenheit year round- a climate primed for preserving the lines. And yet, despite my interest in the mystifying creation of these lines 1,700 years ago, I was more distracted that morning by a loan disbursed in August 2011 to a woman named Gaby.
On the way to Gaby's house, Caja Rural loan officer Brian talked about helping her navigate through the loan process for the past several months. Gaby is a first time borrower from any bank. Her loan was disbursed in August this year and she repaid in full during her first scheduled payment. Brian noted that Gaby was one of the most cautious borrowers he has ever worked with- it took two months of deliberation and careful thought before Gaby finally committed to her loan.
Gaby's hesitancy to borrow is not without good cause. The microfinance market in Perú is heavily patrolled. Once a borrower falls into arrears on a single loan, this stays on their record forever. And by 'record,' I mean a sophisticated national index shared by all the banks in Perú. Before disbursing a loan, every microfinance institution (MFI) checks the national index for shaky credit histories.
This practice can be considered both a strength and weakness of microfinance in Perú. It is completely rational and evenhanded for MFI's to take a client's credit history into full consideration before lending. In fact, in the case of Kiva clients, this represents even more accountability to lenders. However, one of the strengths of microfinance is that institutions can tailor their services to the handicaps of certain borrowers- those lacking collateral, a credit history, or other obstacles to the traditional banking industry. Theoretically, through a properly administered and monitored microfinance loan, allowances can be made for someone with either a shaky or nonexistent credit history. Small loans over time can help build a strong credit history and a habit of repaying. Nevertheless, this is not the case in Perú, and this may be why Gaby gave her loan such excruciating excruciating consideration leading up to signing the papers.
This, to me, seemed like good news. While an MFI certainly does not want borrowers to fear the microfinance sector, they do hope experience can establish a working knowledge of personal accounting and instill a keen sense of responsibility to repay loans on time. Gaby proved to have no shortage of either quality.
In the afternoon, Brian and I set out for the visit. Gaby's one-room home is made of caña (cane stalks) and chozas (thin weeds), a common construction in arid Southwestern Peru- these houses tend to last around 4 or 5 years before needing rebuilding (for the same reason that the Nazca Lines have been so well preserved). Outside of central Nazca, choza houses begin to emerge from the sands by the hundreds, and on the edge of this cubical maze we found Gaby's home. Though she was sharing lunch with her 16-year-old daughter, she was kind enough to invite us in and talk about her loan and motivation for promptly repaying.
As a single working mother with no help from extended family, she supports her two youngest children, ages 16 and 12, who still live at home. Gaby herself never completed elementary school and cannot read or write. But she says that providing her children with an education, something she was never able to secure for herself, is extremely important to her. Gaby glowed with pride while she spoke about her 18-year-old son who is currently in university; clearly a major achievement for himself and for his family. Gaby glowed with pride while she spoke about him.
Finally I steered the conversation in the direction of her seemingly-mysterious repayment schedule. In August, Gaby had wanted to use her loan to make improvements to her house. In fact, Gaby took out her loan she had two sources of income in Nazca: her stall at the market, where she sells prickly pears (called 'tunas'), cheese, and veggies; and the store she has built next to her home, where she sells sodas, snacks, and beer. I learned than Gaby's painstaking contemplation surrounding her loan with Caja Rural was a function of the delicate balance she strikes between her businesses. Gaby walked me through a basic breakdown of her income and profits and, though she is illiterate, exhibited a masterful knowledge of her two businesses' accounting.
Gaby's work in the market is the most trying. For each day at the market, Gaby sells approximately 200 tunas for PE$.5 soles each (marked up from PE$.4) and 50 blocks of cheese for PE$4 each (marked up from PE$3 ). However, the market is only open Wednesday and Saturday each week, or 8 days each month. Furthermore, Gaby must make a trip several times a month to the sierra (or the Peruvian highlands) where she buys the fruits and vegetables to sell in her stall. It is a long, difficult journey, and she does not like to leave her children so long to care for themselves. Gaby's sales from her market stall are about PE$2400 per month, but her actual profits come out to PE$560 per month. After factoring in the operating costs of renting her stall and her trip to the sierra four times a month, Gaby's makes PE$419/month at the market each month. To give you a frame of reference, that's about US$154.04.
Her store's income is PE$120 soles per working day a month. Gaby works four days a week (she rests on Sundays) approximately 4 weeks per month- so her monthly income from her store comes to PE$1920 per month. Her inputs for the store are PE$1180, so her profits from the store come out to PE$740, or about US$ 272.06. It's clear that her work in the store shows far more potential. Therefore, Gaby decided to use a portion of her loan to pay for improvements to her store and dedicate herself completely to this business. However, in doing so she loses profits she would otherwise gain at the market. Worried that this change might cause her to fall into arrears in the months that come, Gaby decided that for the time being, while waiting for business at the store to pick up, she should repay her loan in full and not risk her credit history in the long run.
Sitting with Gaby for half an hour and discussing her loan and businesses left me awestruck at the very real accountability she felt towards her loan, her impressive business savvy, and her measured entrepreneurialism. Gaby hopes to take out another loan from Caja Rural next time for 6,000 Peruvian soles (about US$2,200). In the coming months her next loan will allow her to make huge changes to her home and store: she hopes to build brick or cinderblock walls, lay a cement floor, and install lighting fixtures. The size of this loan will prevent it from being a Kiva loan (the funding limit on Kiva is $1,200 for a Individual Loan), but Caja Rural still has the capital to lend to Gaby. Now that she has established a good credit history for herself, she has proven her ability to be successful borrower and demonstrate that despite difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances, the working poor have a very solid grasp on financing their own future.
Kate Bennett (KF16) is thrilled to be working in Ica, Peru with Kiva Field Partner Caja Rural Señor de Luren. For more on Kate's experiences with Caja Rural Señor de Luren or life in Peru, follow her work here.
If you have any other questions about Caja Rural Señor de Luren's work in Ica, send Kate Bennett a message via her lender page or check out their Field Partner page.
And better yet, to continue supporting Kiva and Caja Rural Señor de Luren in rural Perú, join Caja Rural's lender team or check out their currently fundraising loans on Kiva!


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Region F, Zone 1
Cnr Cumberland and Ocean streets, Kensington
Telephone: (011) 622-1829/615-5629
This modestly sized park is truly great in creative stature. A marvellous mix of stepping stones and railway sleepers leads you through the park - along the lanes, over the waterfalls, through thickets and past beautiful ponds. Adding to this special appeal is a small amphitheatre, where theatrical performances are occasionally hosted.


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Danny Batdorf, Rated: 5
Works very well
Good track part. Saves time and fewer connections as opposed to using 60mm straight sections.
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The big TV news this week, of course, is Katie Couric joining ABC for a hybrid daytime talk show-special correspondent gig to help usher in the post-Oprah era.
Not attracting as much attention, by design, is Wednesday's departure of Meredith Vieira from "Today," almost five years after she took over Couric's vaunted morning spot.
While Couric always got – and still gets – the bigger headlines and hype, Vieira leaves the most profitable show in television with a legacy of getting the job done, sans much fanfare. Vieira's relatively modest exit is in keeping with a style that helped her overcome the hoopla that greets high-profile TV comings and goings, and seamlessly establish herself as part of the weekday morning routine for some six million viewers.
She took the difficult – replacing Couric, who became a TV icon during her 15 years on the job – and made it look easy. Vieira forged an easy chemistry with Matt and Al, who've earned first-name-basis status with loyal viewers. Somewhere along the way, Meredith entered that pantheon.
For her fans from "The View," Vieira arrived at "Today" as an old friend in a new setting. For many others, she came across as the kind of new friend you feel like you've known forever.
Even with her news background, Vieira, fairly or otherwise, might be remembered more for fluffier moments (being front-and-center in the show's "I've Got a Feeling" viral lip-synch video last year) than hard-hitting interviews (getting then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in 2006 to basically concede she regretted voting to authorize the war in Iraq). But for the most part, Vieira ably balanced the light with the heavy.
By arriving at "Today" four months after Couric left for the CBS Evening News in May 2006, Vieira avoided instant comparisons. She leaves in a somewhat similarly understated fashion, departing mid-week, post-sweeps month. Vieira, who has said she is stepping down to spend more time with her family, recently told E! Online's Marc Malkin that she wanted to keep her going-away celebration to a post-show pizza party. "That's a little more my style," she said.
"She has brought such class and dignity to this show, and such a sense of humor and such a sense of humility as well, " Matt Lauer told NBC News.
NBC is adopting that low-key, confident approach by replacing Vieira with the show's news anchor, Ann Curry, a "Today" mainstay for 14 years. Familiar can work well on TV, especially in the morning when the news and life tend to slap us awake into a sometimes uneasy reality.
The long-term future of the "Today" lineup is far from certain, but Lauer, whose contract is up at the end of next year, has said he isn't going anywhere. The future of TV talk shows and news are less assured, amid a changing media landscape – many eyes will remain trained on Couric and her new venture. Meanwhile, only tomorrow will tell how much Vieira is missed on "Today."
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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Guest: L.A. Little provides us with a great discussion on technical analysis. He is spot on with a prediction about which side of the market to be on as he said that Thursday' move higher was potentially setting up to be a good point of entry for a short. We also cover Apple (AAPL) in this episode as well as what to watch for after the election.
We also cover the relationship of the U.S. Dollar to stocks, retail and insurance companies are also part of this episode's conversation.
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L.A. Little, a professional money manager trading his own accounts while managing investment funds for qualified investors from his Colorado-based office, is the author of multiple trading/investment books that espouse a neoclassical approach to trading the markets. He has and continues to write extensively for many popular publications such as Stocks and Commodities, Active Trader, TheStreet.com, RealMoneyPro.com, MarketWatch.com and Minyanville.com. He comments daily on his website Technical Analysis Today, which offers services that implement the concepts he espouses, and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com .
Technical Analysis Today's primary focus is to provide the little guy with the tools and education necessary to allow you to become consistently profitable trading stocks. The methods used are technical in nature and seek to move the art of trading to the science of trading. These principles are accomplished through cutting edge technical analysis tools and neoclassical theory practicing active money and portfolio management and the use of simple probabilities to put the odds in your favor on each trade.
At TA Today our carefully crafted trading methodology blends these three key trading components into a powerful approach to trade selection, management, and completion. Our premise is simple. Active money management combined with our unique form of neoclassical technical analysis with an eye to capital preservation provides the means to outperform. Small traders have a distinct advantage over large ones as they are more agile. They can dart in and out of the market at will and can move from net long to short in a few minutes. That is not true of large money managers and funds. That doesn't mean that you need to be hyperactive but when the risk increases safety is a virtue. All you can truly control is your risk and capital preservation is the key to outperforming the market over long periods of time.
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I own an electrical drum set (a Roland TD-9K, as seen here) which has some pre-set songs in the computer to play along with. In these songs you can mute the drums if you want. You can also connect an MP3 player to the computer (or anything else, it has a standard jack input) and play along with your favorite songs.
The downside is that you can't mute the drums in existing MP3s. So I was wondering if there are websites where you can download songs (famous or not) where the drums are left out? That way, I could play along with other songs than the ones pre-set in the TD-9K drum computer.
I haven't really found any such sites yet.


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Dear friends,
We are happy to present you with our 11th edition of The Alpha Source show at Triplag webradio!
re-broadcasted via BOOM-radio
SUNDAY 27th of November 2011
19:00 CET ( Central European Time)
handy time conversion page http://time.is/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hosted by Alpha in this show we have 5 releases from NABI records to give away for free and you will hear Triplag special interviews with
- Vic Triplag presenting his first Mix CD release Imaginarium
http://www.triplag.com/music/cd/Vic.Tri ... aginarium/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Imaginarium is a mix of tracks collected and played by Vic all over the world. It brings together various flavours of darkpsy genre that over the years have defined and shaped as Triplag Music and subsequently as Vic's own DJ style..
- NABI records with presentation of next compilation Swift Subconscious Switch
http://www.nabi-records.com/index.php?m ... ucts_id=29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This new compilation was especially put together for night worshippers! Here we are just talking about psychedelic trance: The heavy one, not for kids. With heavy bass lines supporting crazy stories, this new release is pure NABI style and definitely oriented for psychopaths music lovers. Featuring great artists from all over the places and sometimes even further, it's now time to turn down the lights, let the night come and turn up the volume. It's time for a Swift Subconscious Switch.
and: VIC with TRIPLAG forum news !
Your hosts:
bio and profile at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/alphainterzone" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Home page: http://www.interzone-pa.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
via web: http://www.triplag.com/artists/Vic.Triplag/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
via email: trip [at] triplag.com
we are always looking for artists and labels who want to promote their work via Alpha Source Show. Please contact us!
LISTEN NOW or DOWNLOAD:
links will be provided after the show at our podcast account:
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[1111] The Alpha Source Show 27-Nov-11
Information about Live & scheduled events on TRIPLAG radio ~ times, schedules, line ups, comments & feedback!
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Re: [1111] The Alpha Source Show 27-Nov-11
yeehaw brothas
Can't wait to listen
Can't wait to listen
Re: [1111] The Alpha Source Show 27-Nov-11
gonna tune in also
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If you missed the show you can listen or download from here:
still couple of free give aways left for NABI records release - listen the show to find out how to cliam
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Before passing out during his match at the Australian Open against France's Benoit Paire, Canadian tennis player Frank Dancevic claims that he saw Snoopy from Peanuts.
Dancevic was unconscious for about a minute before coming back and losing the match in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The 29-year-old called the temperatures in Melbourne "inhumane" and said that playing on court six was "hazardous."
"I was dizzy from the middle of the first set and then I saw Snoopy and I thought, 'Wow Snoopy, that's weird,"' Dancevic said. "I couldn't keep my balance anymore and I leaned over the fence and when I woke up people were all around me."
Australian Open officials claim that no player has ever died from dehydration on a tennis court.
"The relatively low level of humidity ensured that conditions never deteriorated to a point where we needed to invoke the extreme heat policy," said tournament referee Wayne McKewen.
"Until somebody dies, they're going to keep playing matches in this heat ... and personally I don't think it's fair," Dancevic said. "It's not only the heat you're battling with the air temperature, you're battling the heat coming from the court and also the sun so you've got heat coming from all sides."
[The Herald Sun]