Friday, 30 November 2012

Huge Sports Memorabilia Rummage Sale | Brookfield Sports ...

Thursday, 29 November 2012

The Ugly Duckling House | DIY Home Improvement Blog: Ho Hum-bug

Wanna know a dirty little secret? ?Here's my confession:

I don't feel like putting up my Christmas decorations this year.

Yup. ?Don't wanna. ?Don't feel like dragging down the boxes that took me until February this year to bother putting away. ?Don't wanna drag out the tree, wrestle with the ornament boxes, or hear a single jingling bell on any of the doorknobs in my house. ?I don't want to bake Christmas cookies (but I'll be happy to eat yours if you offer). ?You could say that I'm not "in the Christmas spirit", but the truth is, I just feel like skipping the whole decorating thing for a little while.


Yup. ?Skip it. ?A DIY home blogger would like to humbly confess that the idea of exhausting herself on holiday decorations just seems like too much this year. ?It feels akin to making my bed each morning. ?Why bother?

There are a lot of others that are more worthy of a break - totally sure of that. ?And they're putting up Christmas decorations. ?And creating Christmas cards, and making hot chocolate from scratch, and homemade wreaths to deliver to the neighbors.??There are probably people reading this who can take my workload and raise me three-kids-with-inlaws-in-town. ?Then they'll dismantle a bomb (don't ask me why I always go there, I guess dismantle a bomb just seems both awesome and difficult), and still have the house ready with table seating for twelve. ?And I will happily sit on my ass and hold up a spoonful of strawberry ice cream in salute. ?But I'm not going to dig out the decorations from guilt that someone else can handle more. ?I?don't want to play the?I'm busier than you?game.

The simplest explanation is that my brain feels completely and totally fried. ?I don't feel tired;?I feel behind. ?I've enjoyed so much this year, and I'm happy and grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way. ?But my to-do list just keeps getting longer and I still haven't even found the time to recount some of the cooler experiences (like being in a commercial!). ?And now that my first year of grad school has come to an end (for you new visitors, I'm getting my MBA while working full time and renovating a house by myself - better yet, read here), I just feel like hitting the pause button until the new year. ?I want to simply work on my home, spend time with family and friends, and completely disconnect from the things I just don't feel like doing.

So while you may be wondering if that means I'm going on a blog hiatus, what I'm actually doing is quite the opposite: ?I'm looking at my December break from school as my opportunity to really focus on things that I always feel too spent to do. ?I'm going to take a few days off of work and relax, #sawdusttherapy style. ?I'm?going?to finish my first workbench and make progress on my dining room. ?I'm going to have friends over to see how the last year of DIY has treated me (the first entire year of DIY-ing on my own). ?I'm going to the gym and the salon. ?And I'm going to watch Christmas movies in bed instead of trying to recreate the holidays around the house.


Maybe mid-December, I'll change my mind and you'll at least see a tree (Uncle Knick-Knack the II) gracing the living room. ?But I've already got half of my Christmas shopping done, and I still don't feel like making a move around the house other than caulking, priming, sawing, and using the air compressor. ?Perhaps, this Christmas, my holiday spirit will be the gift of completed projects and renewed energy for a productive 2013.

Or, you know, I might just watch TV for a month. ?There's that.

Sarah

Source: http://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/2012/11/ho-hum-bug.html

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Best of #StateReads: Washington State Loses Women and Latino Lawmakers

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Source: http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/best-of-statereads-washington-state-loses-women-and-latino-lawmakers-85899432683

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Skeletons in cave reveal Mediterranean secrets

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? Skeletal remains in an island cave in Favignana, Italy, reveal that modern humans first settled in Sicily around the time of the last ice age and despite living on Mediterranean islands, ate little seafood. The research is published November 28 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Marcello Mannino and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany.

Genetic analysis of the bones discovered in caves on the Egadi islands provides some of the first mitochondrial DNA data available for early humans from the Mediterranean region, a crucial piece of evidence in ancestry analysis. This analysis reveals the time when modern humans reached these islands. Mannino says, "The definitive peopling of Sicily by modern humans only occurred at the peak of the last ice age, around 19,000 -26,500 years ago, when sea levels were low enough to expose a land bridge between the island and the Italian peninsula."

The authors also analyzed the chemical composition of the human remains and found that these early settlers retained their hunter-gatherer lifestyles, relying on terrestrial animals rather than marine sources for meat. According to the study, despite living on islands during a time when sea level rise was rapid enough to change within a single human lifetime, these early settlers appear to have made little use of the marine resources available to them. The authors conclude, "These findings have crucial implications for studies of the role of seafood in the diet of Mediterranean hunter-gatherers."

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Journal Reference:

  1. Marcello A. Mannino, Giulio Catalano, Sahra Talamo, Giovanni Mannino, Rosaria Di Salvo, Vittoria Schimmenti, Carles Lalueza-Fox, Andrea Messina, Daria Petruso, David Caramelli, Michael P. Richards, Luca Sineo. Origin and Diet of the Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers on the Mediterranean Island of Favignana (?gadi Islands, Sicily). PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (11): e49802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049802

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/HoDbhCcFLcw/121128182945.htm

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Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Launch of Sunday Art Salon: South east London's latest art adventure

?Portrait of a Young Woman? by Picasso. A 1946 signed lithograph of a 1938 work

In times like these where interest rates are next to nought, it is a thankless task trying to accrue interest from money sat in bank accounts.?

Art, like property, has always been highly regarded as a far greater prospect to invest your money in.?Time and again this has been proven in the London Art Market and it is always an eye opener to see which art is going to be suddenly reassessed to become the next big thing.

I can remember when I visited Sotheby?s in 1995 during the last recession, Modern British art was going through the doldrums and the work of several big name artists could be picked up very reasonably at auction. John Bratby (1928-1992) one time Blackheath resident is a case in point. A prolific ?kitchen sink? artist, noted for depicting such humble domestic subjects as well as lavatories, he courted the press in his day and was as notorious a figure in the 50?s as Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin is today. I saw paintings by him sell under the hammer for a few hundred pounds, including a cracking self portrait I wish in hindsight I had bought when I had the opportunity.

Alex C. Koolman, RP, RBA, (1907 ? 1998). Portrait George Harrison 1970

Charles Saatchi then surprised the art world by buying three very large works from the late 50?s by Bratby from a London dealer in 2003 to display in a dedicated room in his then new County Hall Gallery. This caused something of a ripple effect in the revision of Bratby?s reputation and prices, which had taken a knock since the 1960?s invasion of the American Abstract Expressionists and the new wave of British Pop Art.?Now his work can sell for anywhere between five to fifty thousand pounds plus from London dealers.

My experience in dealing in fine art and antiques for over twenty years has led me to some wonderful finds. On leaving school I went into the family business, The Mount Antiques in Whitby, Yorkshire, where I learnt the art of buying from my mother as I accompanied her to auctions and house calls.?She trained as a textile designer and had a great eye for decorative art and antiques, building an international reputation over twenty years for her emporium on the north east coast.?I then went to college to study both art practice and the history of art.

a view from my studio of Hilly Fields, Brockley

When I came to London I joined Harrods Antiques and Fine Art Department for several years and went on to work as an art consultant in contemporary art to GX Gallery in Camberwell. I have continued to exhibit my own work in London and open my studio each year in Brockley since moving there.

Sunday Art Salon is the latest idea in urban leisure art consumption. It places the emphasis on real social networking, as a platform for meeting like minded professionals and collectors looking for unique stylish statement pieces to enhance their living space and for long term investment.

It creates a stimulating, friendly environment for the public and creatives to meet and engage with a wide range of artist practitioners. Guests have the opportunity of purchasing and talking about artwork with the artists and curator in the setting of a private studio with extensive views across Hilly Fields in Brockley.

Following the opening up of south London in 2010 by the extension of the Overground tube, affectionally nicknamed the ?Ginger line?, places like Brockley and Forest Hill are now on the map as areas of artistic enterprises, with Deptford and Peckham as neighbours, it creates part of a new trend of artistic networks where small galleries and open studios are tailoring themselves to a resurgence in community spirit and awareness.

Whilst the artist?s of the Brockley Open Studios have been quietly opening their doors in their leafy Conservation Area one weekend per summer for twenty years, new initiatives like the South London Art Map have a strong online presence which operates as a listings site, promoting exhibitions in art spaces open late on the last Friday of each month. Undoubtedly as part of the recession and in line with the growing number of markets, both farmers food and craft based, the public are enjoying and demanding something of a renaissance in rediscovering small local trade and commercial premises.

Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson visit Canvas and Cream

The Canvas & Cream Cafe and Gallery in Forest Hill is a family-run social enterprise where locals got together with friends and family from their neighbourhood to develop this collaborative project. It comprises artists studios, an artists-designed up cycled restaurant/cafe and a dedicated gallery/project space with art workshop.

It was here where artist Raf Zawistowski?s solo debut show was bought outright by Charles Saatchi before the show even opened in April this year. Proving that once Saatchi has dared to brave this far into London?s south east hinterland, sealing his approval by purchasing art, it can truly be said to have ?arrived?.

Raf Zawistowski?s solo debut show was bought outright by Saatchi

The Misty Moon Gallery in Ladywell, previously the Tank Gallery, originally an 17th?century coaching house behind the Ladywell Tavern, is operated by another artists collective and now caters as an accessible platform for the work of local and international artists, as does Cue B Gallery at the rear of the Brockley Mess cafe on Brockley Road.

The White Room SE4, is the new home of modern women?s wear label, NC23 by a local designer keen to encourage networking and collaboration in the boutique/studio/workshop also on Brockley Road. They plan to offer workshops in sewing, pattern cutting, tailoring and drawing, the first of which is Make a Swing Skirt in 3 hours. This couldn?t be more fitting flanked as it is by a resurgence of vintage style coffee shops selling cupcakes in the area.

Not to mention the unique Grade II Listed Rivoli Ballroom next door, regular home of hipster jivers, where Florence + the Machine just played live in her?BBC Radio 2 concert,?while the White Room held its late night opening party.

Sunday Art Salon

Sunday Art Salon launches its first exclusive Winter Collection on Sunday 2nd December 11am ? 3pm with a wonderful array of bold contemporary art and a unique collection of vintage art and collectables, including important portraits of Charles I, George Harrison and a signed portrait print by Picasso. We hope there will be something for everyone. Artwork can be viewed by appointment at other times to suit busy lifestyles.

Sunday Art Salon -?Hilly Fields Studio, 12 Montague Avenue, London SE4 1YP.
Sunday 2nd?December 11am ? 3pm. Coffee station and edible art.
Further information visit:?www.sundayartsalon.co.uk? or email info@sundayartsalon.co.uk
(stairs so with regret no disabled/pushchair access and no stilettos as wooden floors)


Source: http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2012/11/27/launch-of-sunday-art-salon-south-east-londons-latest-art-adventure/

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Satellite photo shows increased activity at North Korean launch site

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new satellite image shows a marked increase in activity at a North Korean missile launch site, pointing to a possible long-range ballistic missile test by Pyongyang in the next three weeks, according to satellite operator DigitalGlobe Inc.

The imagery was released days after a Japanese newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, reported that U.S. intelligence analysts had detected moves that were seen as preparation by North Korea for a long-range missile launch as early as this month.

DigitalGlobe, which provides commercial satellite imagery to the U.S. government and foreign governments, on Monday released a new image that it said showed increased activity at North Korea's Sohae (West Sea) Satellite Launch Station.

It said the imagery showed more people, trucks and other equipment at the site, a level of activity that was consistent with launch preparations seen before North Korea's failed April 13 rocket launch.

"Given the observed level of activity noted of a new tent, trucks, people and numerous portable fuel/oxidizer tanks, should North Korea desire, it could possibly conduct its fifth satellite launch event during the next three weeks," DigitalGlobe said in a statement accompanying the image.

A Pentagon spokesman had no immediate comment.

North Korea, under heavy U.N. sanctions for its nuclear weapons program, has tried for years to influence major events in South Korea by waging propaganda or armed attacks. South Korea is gearing up for a presidential election on December 19.

North and South Korea have been technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, and regional powers have for years been trying to rein in the North's nuclear program.

North Korea is believed to be developing a long-range ballistic missile with a range of up to 6,700 km (4,200 miles) aimed at hitting the continental United States but the last two rocket test launches failed.

In April, under its new leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea launched a rocket that flew just a few minutes covering a little over 100 km (60 miles) before crashing into the sea between South Korea and China.

(Reporting By Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/satellite-photo-shows-increased-activity-north-korean-launch-015549347--finance.html

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Tichina Arnold Dishes On Her Recent Wedding And Shares Her Weight Loss Secrets!

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Actress Tichina Arnold stopped by the ?Wendy Williams Show? today and dished on her recent wedding with husband Rico Hines and shared her weight loss secret.

Plus, Tichina gave her opinion on Chad Johnson and Evelyn Lozada?s marriage crisis, revealed how she makes her long distance marriage work and and if she wants more kids at age 43!

Watch the interview below:


Photo

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BallerWives/~3/y4JHmMFruOg/

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Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Supreme court revives challenge to Obama health law (reuters)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/266403606?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Why Can't Chris Brown Curb His Twitter Impulses?

Music industry pros and health experts put the 23-year-old's latest online meltdown in context.
By Phillip Mlynar, MTV Hive


Chris Brown
Photo: Jeff R. Bottari/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697952/chris-brown-twitter-feud.jhtml

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Make Your Relationship Last - Send Gifts

Many people are now opening themselves to the notion of long distance relationships. Studies show that the chances of success in these forms of unions have greatly increased during the recent years as a result of the advances in modern communication and technology. This post covers some suggestions for those who would like to send gifts to make their better half feel special.

Special Considerations

1. In terms of offering presents, your intentions matter most. Through the item which you give, your recipient should be able to get connected to you. 2. To make them feel that you value and consider their needs, see to it that you're mindful of the other person's likes, dislikes, pastimes, passions, and pursuits. 3. If you're planning to send a present for occasions that involve your relationship, give something which echoes the bond that you share as a couple. Anniversaries are examples of these types of events. For instance, if you met at a coffee shop during your first date, you could provide a do-it-yourself coffee brewer. Though simple, this gesture will still be cherished because it conveys a special meaning. 4. For events that involve the recipient alone like birthdays or celebrations like graduations or career promotions, it is advisable to give an item that focuses more on the person rather than your romantic affair.

How to Shop

1. Browse the World Wide Web for online stores that cater to international deliveries. 2. The credibility of the websites you are looking at needs to be ascertained. The content of the site is expected to be maintained, modified, and organized competently. When it comes to transactions such as payments, deliveries, exchanges, returns, and warranties, reliable retailers often display their shopping conditions. 3. Take a look at the ways that you may pay for the products you would like to purchase. Most retailers request you to deposit money in their bank accounts or ask for your bank card facts. Never provide your personal data and banking details if you're not certain about the reliability of the site. 4. Given the fact that they involve overseas shipping fees, be prepared to spend a larger sum of money for these forms of transactions. Also make sure to ask about the amount of time it normally takes for the merchandise to arrive at your recipient.

Thanks to the technological advancements in international gift delivery, getting in touch with the ones you love is definitely more convenient today. Follow the suggestions mentioned above to assist you in shopping. Distance should never be an obstacle in making your relationships go on for a long time.

The author writes for http://overseasgifts.com/ which specializes in sending gifts and hampers overseas. Visit his website for more information on how to send gifts to USA.

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/make-your-relationship-last-send-gifts-304707

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Euro zone, IMF to seek Greece deal, debt write-off main problem

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund will seek to unfreeze the second bailout package for Greece on Monday, but they first need to agree if some of the official loans to Athens might eventually be forgiven to cut Greek debt.

Euro zone ministers and their deputies have held numerous meetings and conference calls over the last two weeks to decide how Greek debt, seen at almost 190 percent of GDP next year, could be cut to a more sustainable 120 percent in 8-10 years.

Without agreement on how to reduce the debt, euro zone ministers and the IMF do not want to resume payments of loan tranches to Athens -- even though Greece has met all the conditions -- because they have no guarantee on whether the need for emergency financing will ever end.

The key question is: Can Greek debt become sustainable without the euro zone writing off some of the loans to Athens?

So far, the options for debt reduction under consideration include reducing interest on already extended bilateral loans to Greece from the current 150 basis points above financing costs.

How much lower is not yet decided -- France and Italy would like to reduce the rate to 30 basis points (bps), while Germany and some other countries insist on a 90 bps margin.

Another option, which could cut Greek debt by almost 17 percent of GDP, is to defer interest payments on loans to Greece from the EFSF, a temporary bailout fund, by 10 years.

The European Central Bank could forego profits on its Greek bond portfolio, bought at a deep discount, cutting the debt pile by a further 4.6 percent by 2020, a document prepared for the ministers' talks last week showed.

Not all euro zone central banks are prepared to forego their profits, however, the German Bundesbank among them.

Greece could also buy back its privately-held bonds on the market at a deep discount, with gains from the operation depending on the scope and price.

But the preparatory document from last week said that the 120 percent target could not be reached in 2020, only two years later, unless the ministers accept losses on their loans to Athens, provide additional financing or force private creditors into selling Greek debt at a discount.

The latest analysis for the ministers showed the debt could come down to 125 percent of GDP in 2020, one euro zone official with insight into the talks said.

FORGIVING OFFICIAL LOANS?

To cut the debt more boldly, the IMF wants the euro zone to forgive Greece some of the official loans, in what is called Official Sector Involvement (OSI) in EU jargon.

This is an idea that several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Slovakia, firmly reject.

On Monday, the biggest battle is likely to be over just that.

"OSI is at the core of the problems with reaching a deal," one euro zone official with insight into the talks said.

German central bank governor Jens Weidmann has suggested that Greece could "earn" a reduction in debt it owes to euro zone governments in a few years if it diligently implements all the agreed reforms. The European Commission backs that view.

German paper Welt am Sonntag said on Sunday that euro zone ministers were considering a write-down of official loans for Greece from 2015, but gave no sources and a euro zone official said such an option was never seriously discussed.

European Central Bank executive board member Joerg Asmussen told the German Bild paper on Sunday that a write-down on Greek debt should not be part of the deal, echoing repeated statements from German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble who said it would be illegal.

"It will be touch-and-go if we get a deal on Greece on Monday," a senior euro zone official said. "Euro zone countries have made concessions worth a lot of money already, so it is difficult to see how this can move even further."

French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said on Sunday evening that euro zone ministers made big progress to reach a common position during at a conference call on Saturday in preparation for their talks with the IMF on Monday.

"I will go with a firm determination, with a mandate from the president and prime minister, to reach a conclusion," Moscovici said. "We are very close to a solution."

Moscovici mentioned the reduction of interest on bilateral loans, foregoing ECB profits on Greek bonds and the debt buy-back as the options that would need to be applied for a deal as well as additional financing for Athens to keep it funded until 2016, rather than only until 2014.

(Additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey in Paris and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/euro-zone-imf-seek-greece-deal-debt-write-055911326--business.html

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Monday, 26 November 2012

PFT: Seattle CBs facing suspensions for PEDs

New York Giants quarterback Manning passes under pressure by the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of their NFL football game in East RutherfordReuters

The arm looked rested.

So did the legs.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning bounced back from a rough stretch before the bye, but the truth is, he wasn?t all that different than he always has been.

He?s always been pretty good, even if he hasn?t been as well-regarded as others.

Manning led the Giants to a clean and thorough 38-10 thrashing of the Packers, to improve to 7-4 on the season.

He was 16-of-30 passing for 249 yards and three touchdowns, and showed some nerve (if not excellent judgement) by rushing for a first down early, and not sliding.

It was the kind of night he needed after a rough stretch before the bye. He used the time off to rest his arm (which, for the record, seemed fine) and clear his head by watching classing movies, such as ?Road House.? Like Patrick Swayze?s character Dalton, who people constantly underestimate by saying ?I thought you?d be bigger,? Manning?s had a harder time fighting perceptions than opposing defenses.

Manning threw his 200th career touchdown pass in the third quarter, passing Phil Simms for most in Giants franchise history. Simms can parse it however he chooses, the guy who spent his career being the little brother is elite.

And if he?s not, it?s the definition of the word that needs a second look.

Here are five more things we learned during Sunday Night Football:

1. As long as Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback, there?s a ceiling on how often you want the ball out of his hands.

But there?s a difference between not wanting to run and not being able to. The Packers are stuck on not being able to.

Having a philosophy is fine. But there will be nights when good teams can game-plan your strengths out of your hands, and you have to have a Plan B. The Packers Plan B is simply ?throw some more? and that didn?t get them anywhere.

2. Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has interviewed for head coaching jobs before.

He will again, and the Giants better enjoy him while they can.

Fewell (who was the runner-up to Ron Rivera for the Carolina job two years ago, and might have another chance soon) had the Giants defense humming after the bye week, constantly throwing new looks at the Packers.

He opened the game in a three-safety set, with the return of Kenny Phillips. That Stevie Brown had played well in Phillips? absence made it reasonable, but they weren?t through tweaking. At one point, they threw safety Will Hill out there with Phillips, Brown and Antrel Rolle.

Coupled with the sheer talent they have up front, that gives Fewell the ability to tinker, and he?s proving he knows how to move the pieces around.

Phillips wasn?t able to finish the game with a knee injury, so Fewell?s ability to improvise will be tested again. He?s up to it.

3. In the third quarter, the Giants dropped Rodgers for the 36th time this season.

That?s the same number he absorbed last season, and there are five more games left to play.

The Packers line has been a hash all year, but losing right tackle Bryan Bulaga might have been a last-straw situation, putting multiple guys in bad positions.

In addition to getting some guys well, the Packers need to invest in blockers this offseason, which could add some balance to the offense as well as keeping Rodgers on his feet if he?s going to throw on practically every play.

4. Maybe practice is overrated.

Ahmad Bradshaw, who basically shows up for work on Sunday, ran well Sunday night. Taking the screen pass 59 yards early was one thing, but the burst he showed on his 13-yard touchdown run made him look like a guy who was tired of losing short-yardage carries to Andre Brown.

Bradshaw?s foot issues have obviously robbed him of some of his burst, but he can still get the job done, thanks in part to the fact they?re willing to use him smartly.

5. Perhaps Packers coach Mike McCarthy was giving his kicker a chance to hit a home run, to regain some confidence.

But letting embattled Mason Crosby try his first one from 55 yards in a stadium not known for its consistent conditions wasn?t the best bet to get him back on tack.

Naturally, Crosby missed.

He entered the game 11-of-18 on field goals this season, having missed five of his previous 10. He came back to hit a 28-yarder, but he?s well off his career pace, and you wonder how many chances he?ll get.

It also gave the Giants a short field, and they scored in a hurry to go up 14-7 in the first quarter, and they never looked back.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/25/sherman-browner-will-play-until-appeals-are-resolved/related/

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Stocks end lower after a strong week

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, file photo, shoppers wait on a check-out line in the Times Square Toys-R-Us store after doors were opened to the public at 8 p.m., in New York. U.S. shoppers hit stores and websites at record numbers over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation on Sunday. They were attracted by retailers' efforts to make shopping easier, including opening stores on Thanksgiving evening, updating mobile shopping applications for smartphones and tablets, and expanding shipping and layaway options. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, file photo, shoppers wait on a check-out line in the Times Square Toys-R-Us store after doors were opened to the public at 8 p.m., in New York. U.S. shoppers hit stores and websites at record numbers over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation on Sunday. They were attracted by retailers' efforts to make shopping easier, including opening stores on Thanksgiving evening, updating mobile shopping applications for smartphones and tablets, and expanding shipping and layaway options. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 29, 2008, file photo, carts full of merchandise ordered online are rolled to the main packing area for shipping at the Overstock.com warehouse, in Salt Lake City. Cyber Monday, coined in 2005 by a shopping trade group that noticed a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving when people returned to their work computers, is the next in a line of days that stores are counting on to jumpstart the holiday shopping season. This year it is expected to be the biggest online shopping day of the year for the third year in a row. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

(AP) ? Wall Street came back to work after the Thanksgiving weekend and faced leftover worries about the "fiscal cliff" and the European debt crisis. Stocks retreated after one of their best weeks of the year.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 42.31 points to 12,967.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 index declined 2.86 to 1,406.29. And the Nasdaq composite index managed a 9.93-point increase to 2,976.78.

Utility stocks rose the most, while telecommunications companies fell the most.

The major U.S. economic reports were not due until later in the week, leaving investors to rehash the European debt crisis and talks in Washington over the "cliff" of tax increases and government spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 1.

"The themes seem about as recycled as Thanksgiving turkey," David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds, wrote in a note to clients.

He expected a better read on the economy later this week, with reports on consumer confidence on Tuesday and unemployment claims and third-quarter economic growth on Thursday.

Scott Carmack, co-portfolio manager at Leader Capital in Portland, Ore., said the decline Monday was all but inevitable after last week, when the Dow climbed 3.3 percent because of encouraging signs from Washington and good economic news overseas.

That made Monday a good day to cash out on last week's gains, Carmack said, especially because traders aren't sure how the fiscal cliff will affect the market for the rest of the year.

"Monday is a good day to take profits," Carmack said. "No one was in on Friday, so they're doing it Monday."

The National Retail Federation reported that 247 million shoppers visited stores and shopping websites during the long Thanksgiving weekend, up 9 percent from a year ago. They spent an average of $423, up 6 percent.

Some worry that the momentum won't last, and that deep discounting will hurt stores. Macy's fell $1.87, or 4.5 percent, to $39.86. Saks dropped 29 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $10.23. Target declined $1.71, or 2.6 percent ,to $62.77.

Abercrombie & Fitch was an exception, rising 21 cents to $44.61.

The cliff cast a pall. A government report released Monday warned that a sudden increase in taxes would crimp the spending of middle class families next year, and some analysts wondered whether families would curb spending before the year is over.

The report, by President Barack Obama's National Economic Council and his Council of Economic Advisers, estimated that a married couple earning between $50,000 and $85,000 with two children would see a $2,200 increase in their taxes.

In Europe, leaders of European Union countries tried to reach a deal to lend more money to debt-crippled Greece. The ministers have failed twice in the last two weeks to reach an agreement to release ?44 billion, or $56.8 billion.

In the U.S., though, "Most of these uncertainties have been with us for quite some time," Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ, wrote in a note Monday, "and are now regarded by many as annoyances to resolve rather than obstacles to fear."

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 2 percentage points to 1.66 percent from late Friday.

In other stock trading:

? McGraw-Hill announced it would sell its education unit to a private equity firm. The company's stock rose 20 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $51.89.

? Facebook stock jumped $1.94, or 8.1 percent, to $25.94 after a Bernstein analyst upgraded his rating of the company, predicting it will beat revenue expectations for the near future.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-11-26-Wall%20Street/id-31df4528e5d24c0a996d1049e1794200

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Sunday, 25 November 2012

Automotive History: 1960-1963 Chevrolet Corvair ... - Curbside Classic

Every silver lining has a cloud, and the Corvair?s is a deadly thunderhead. We?ve reveled in our love for the Corvair on these pages repeatedly, (here, here, and here), and shown how the 1960 Corvair sparked a global design revolution. But for all of our silver-tongued love sonnets for the most unique and refreshing car to escape Fortress Detroit in decades, we?ve so far avoided its very controversial shadow side. No longer; get out your umbrellas, for a hard rain?s gonna? fall.

The most fundamental question has to do with the decision to make the Corvair a rear-engined car, as all of its issues ultimately stem from that. According to the oft-repeated story, in 1955 Chevrolet Chief Engineer Ed Cole asked Maurice Olley, the division?s Director of Research, to analyze the various engine-drive train variations for a small car, including conventional front engine-rear wheel drive, FWD, and rear engine variations. A number of small European cars were tested and examined, and the rear-engine configuration as used by VW and the smallest Renaults and Fiats was determined to be the most advantageous for a number of reasons.

Those were its light steering (power assist not necessary), a flat floor, a relatively quiet and comfortable ride, and excellent traction. It?s important to keep in mind that at this stage, the Corvair was envisioned as a more compact and cheaper alternative to the full-sized Chevrolet, not the sporty car that it eventually evolved to be.

Specifically, the Corvair project was to take up where the 1947 Chevrolet Cadet had failed: to be a profitable compact car. And the way that ?compact? was defined then was for the car to be shorter and lighter, but still be able to accommodate six. That presented inherent challenges in packaging the drive train.

The solution then was Cadet Engineer Earl MacPherson?s use of his eponymous struts at both front and rear, combined with an independent rear suspension and the transmission under the front seat. A rather brilliant solution from a brilliant engineer, but this was not France or Germany where such an advanced car could be priced accordingly. The Cadet suffered from a recurring GM malady: technical overkill, given the cost structure of the US market. Wouldn?t a more conventional car seating perhaps merely five have been adequate?

The also-brilliant Ed Cole fell for similar trap, although in terms of construction costs, the Corvair probably was presumably profitable to build, despite the huge investment in unique facilities to build its engine. By trap, I mean the hubris of being convinced that he could find a low-cost solution to the problems that had long stood in the way of building a six-passenger rear-engine car.

The rear engine was the hot new thing in the early thirties, along with aerodynamics. Tatra epitomized and popularized both of those, and others quickly took them up too, at their peril. The first large V8 Tatra streamliner, the 77 (above) suffered from very severe handling problems, and was built in only limited numbers.

Its successor, the 87? (above) was shorter and lighter and had a smaller 3.0 L air cooled V8 in its tail, but its snap oversteer at the limit?thanks to its rear-weight bias and swing axles?was still deadly. So much so, that Hitler banned his top officers from driving it, after a number were killed in high speed accidents. It was dubbed ?The Czech Secret Weapon?.

Mercedes, that paragon of engineering prowess, also took up the rear engine, but more cautiously. Its 130H, 150H and 170H (above) were built alongside conventional models. They sold poorly, in part due to a smaller luggage area, noisy engine, and bad handling vices. The positive rear camber clearly visible in this picture is a tip-off to that.

Mercedes dropped the rear engine, but did adopt swing axles, and eventually made them work quite successfully thanks to the better weight distribution of front engines and constant improvements in their geometry. By the late fifties, Mercedes had tamed it almost completely, with its exclusive ?low-pivot? variation, but that was not suitable for a rear-engine car.

Of course it was the Volkswagen that popularized the rear engine, and the even-smaller Renault 4CV and Fiat 600 followed in its swing-axle tracks. But these were all small cars, with low power outputs. Even then, they were still susceptible to the dreaded effects of snap-oversteer and rear-wheel jacking. Needless to say, the early Porsche 356s were famous for their oversteer, but that was tamed to various degrees by initial negative camber, and in 1959, a revised rear end with softer torsion bars and a camber compensating spring.

When the rear end of a swing-axle car approaches or exceeds its limits, the centrifugal forces acting on the rear of the car causes the outside wheel to tuck under the body, which results in the rear rising and drastically exacerbating the intrinsic oversteer of a rear-engined car. This picture shows a front-engined Triumph Spitfire; rear engined cars can respond even more violently because of the high percentage of weight in the back. It?s very easy to lose control, unless one can anticipate the event, or forestall it with deft counter-steering. But that isn?t always possible, even in the hands of experienced drivers.

Maurice Olley, who was charged by Ed Cole to evaluate the various configurations, had written about the intrinsic limitations of the rear-engine format. From Ralph Nader?s ?Unsafe At Any Speed?:

(Olley?s) field of specialization was automobile handling behavior. In 1953 Olley delivered a technical paper, ?European Postwar Cars,? containing a sharp critique of rear-engined automobiles with swing-axle suspension systems. He called such vehicles ?a poor bargain, at least in the form in which they are at present built,? adding that they could not handle safely in a wind even at moderate speeds, despite tire pressure differential between front and rear. Olley went further, depicting the forward fuel tank as ?a collision risk, as is the mass of the engine in the rear.? Unmistakably, he had notified colleagues of the hurdles which had to be overcome.

So why did Cole go for the rear engine anyway? Despite the rep engineers have for being objective, it seems quite likely he wasn?t in this particular case. Cole had been intrigued with both rear-engines and air-cooled ones for some time, having been involved with an experimental rear engined Cadillac that had dual rear wheels to help deal with its severe intrinsic challenges. He also was involved with the M41 Light Tank that used an air-cooled flat six. Undoubtedly, he was prejudiced to some degree, and convinced himself of the rear-engine?s assets.

Seeing that this was the mid-late fifties?and GM?there was another important factor: trendy good looks. Which meant a very low car, among other things.

In January 1960, (Corvair project head) Kai Hansen told a meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers: ?Our first objective, once the decision was made to design a smaller, lighter ear, was to attain good styling proportions. Merely shortening the wheel base and front and rear overhang was not acceptable. To permit lower overall height and to accommodate six adult passengers, the floor hump for the drive shaft had to go. Eliminating the conventional drive shaft made it essential then that the car have either rear-engine, rear-drive or front-engine, front-drive. Before making a decision, all types of European cars were studied, including front-engine, front-drive designs. None measured up to our standards of road performance.?

?The result was a total height of 51.3 inches?extremely low for a six-passenger sedan?and lower than a current Porsche 911 Carrera. It?s quite clear that the rear engine configuration ultimately was selected for the sake of stylistic vanity, or in their words ?the most aesthetically pleasant? way to achieve the desired space. The Corvair looked like a scaled-down full-size car, and that could only be achieved by making it lower. Which in turn demanded a rear engine. And once that? ill-advised decision was made, GM was not prepared to spend the money to make it work properly.

All of the European rear-engined sedans GM had evaluated were much smaller four-passenger cars, with very small and light four-cylinder engines. A four-cylinder was originally considered for the Corvair, but abandoned for a six because of its greater smoothness. A boxer four is intrinsically a balanced design, but is prone to some exhaust growl due to its firing order. But that can be mitigated by exhaust system tuning.

Ed Cole?s initial plans and calculations were for the Corvair to use aluminum cylinders with a high-silicon alloy, similar to that later used in the Vega. Perhaps from a durability point of view, it was for the best that it was not feasible then, and individual finned cast iron cylinders were ultimately used. This contributed to the production Corvair engine weighing 78 lbs more than initial projections. Needles to say, in a rear engine car the greater the weight in the back, the greater the challenges and risks, due to the intrinsic influence of centrifugal force in a curve. Production Corvairs had up to 64% of their weight on the rear wheels, a problem further exacerbated when the spare was moved from the front trunk to the engine compartment in 1961 due to complaints about trunk space.

Without going into all the technicalities of the specific choices made by the Chevrolet engineers, it is apparent that one over-riding criteria was predominant: cost control. David Rubly, a Corvair engineer, made the following comment at an SAE meeting in April 1960:

Another question that no doubt can be asked is why did we choose an independent rear suspension of this particular type? There are other swing-axle rear suspensions, of course, that permit transferring more of the roll couple to the front end. Our selection of this particular type of a swing-axle rear suspension is based on: (1) lower cost, (2) ease of assembly, (3) ease of service, and (4) simplicity of design. We also wished to take advantage of coil springs ?? in order to obtain a more pleasing ride ??

Having made their decision on the basic configuration, there were several ways available to mitigate the intrinsic tendencies of the Corvair?s suspension design. A front roll bar (estimated to cost $4) was originally intended to be used, for its (debatable) effect? in compensating oversteer to some degree.

More critically, a rear camber-compensating spring was not used, despite the adoption of one by Porsche, and a large aftermarket for that developed for VWs, Renaults and older Porsches. This device had come to be seen as the most critical element in taming the vices of rear-engined swing-axle suspensions.

Given the $19.95 retail price of the EMPI Camber Compensator, it probably would have cost Chevrolet some $15 or less in mass volumes to buy and install. A whole industry grew around Corvair chassis improvements, as serious Corvair driver were all-too aware of its limitations:

By 1963, sports car racer and writer Denise McCluggage could begin an article on Corvair handling idiosyncrasies with words that assumed a knowing familiarity by her auto buff readers: ?Seen any Corvairs lately with the back end smashed in? Chances are they weren?t run into, but rather ran into something while going backwards. And not in reverse gear, either.?

Then Miss McCluggage went on to describe a phenomenon she termed a ?sashay through the boonies, back-end first.? ?The classic Corvair accident is a quick spin in a turn and swoosh! ? off the road backwards. Or, perhaps, if half- corrective measures are applied, the backward motion is arrested, the tires claw at the pavement and the car is sent darting across the road to the other side. In this case there might be some front end damage instead.?

And noted race driver and Corvair-tuner John Fitch had this to say: ?I didn?t want a race car,? he said: ?if I did, I?d buy something for that purpose. But I did want to feel more confident when behind the wheel that the car would go where I pointed it.?

Instead, Chevrolet jiggered with the tire pressure differential, arriving at a somewhat ludicrous 15 lbs front, 26 lbs rear recommendation. The benefits of the differential were known, as the lower front pressure increased understeer to counteract the oversteer. But there were several fatal flaws in these numbers, which were obviously arrived at in a desperate attempt to maintain the vaunted GM soft ride.

To start with, 15 lbs in the small 6.50 x 13? front tires reduced their load capacity precariously low, again considering the six-passenger seating and luggage capacity. But the more critical issue was the rears, as they were also technically overloaded with just two passengers at 24 lbs. And 26lbs was not enough to ensure that the tubeless tires would resist deflection to the point of popping off the rims under the extreme pressures in a critical handling situation; specifically an oversteer/jacking up incident.

Shortly after the 1960 Corvair was released, a number of tragic accidents occurred, and it was noted that the pavement often showed severe gouging. This was the result of the rear tire popping off the rim, which then contacted the pavement and had the effect of drastically escalating the incident into a severe or deadly accident.

Popular entertainer Ernie Kovacs was killed in his 1961 Corvair Lakewood wagon (which had an even more exaggerated rear-weight bias) when he lost control on a rainy evening in Los Angeles (picture at top of article). Note the right rear tire that is off the rim; it?s possible that happened from the curb, but it is typical of numerous similar incidents where the rear tire rolled off the rim during an emergency maneuver and caused the Corvair to be essentially uncontrollable.

Corvair engineers knew about this problem and considered raising the recommended rear tire pressures. Once again, however, they succumbed to the great imperative-a soft ride. Rubly recounts it plainly enough: ?The twenty-eight psi would reduce the rear-tire deflection enough but we did not feel that we should compromise ride and add harshness because under hot conditions tire pressures will increase three to four psi.?

Even if the recommended inflation numbers had been increased with a similar differential, say 19/28, there was still another huge obstacle: essentially no one in America was used to the concept of a differential tire pressure. When I was a gasoline station attendant in 1968-1970, we inflated all car tires to 24-26 lbs, unless told otherwise.? Which we never were, except the occasional sports car fanatic who knew and cared about such things.

Chevrolet made no effort to educate its dealers and the public on the importance of these differential tire inflation recommendations. As well, there was no reference to ?oversteer? and how to identify it and compensate for it by counter-steering in the Corvair Owner?s Manual or elsewhere. This was an innately counter-intuitive thing to do for Americans that had grown up with understeering cars, and were repeatedly told in Driver?s Ed to ?steer into the skid?, not against it.

The issue GM and other American makers using cheaper undersized tires has been a recurring one (and one we?ve covered here). VW, Porsche and Renault used 15? tires on their rear-engine cars. And interestingly enough, the 1961-1963 Pontiac Tempest, which used a modified version of the Corvair?s swing axle rear suspension (but with a front engine), bucked the trend and was the only GM car during that whole era to use 15? tires exclusively. That looked rather odd at the time, but undoubtedly was a conscious decision at Pontiac based on the belief that larger diameter tires would mitigate the swing axle?s tendencies.

Pontiac had been on track to have its own version of the Corvair for 1961, dubbed Polaris (above, and which also looks to have substantially larger tires that the Corvair). The division had already spent some $1.3 million in adapting the Corvair, before John DeLorean pulled the plug. He was convinced by his top engineers, including Advanced Engineering Chief Albert Roller, who had come from Mercedes-Benz: ?(he) tested the car (Corvair) and pleaded with me not to use it at Pontiac?he said that Mercedes had tested similarly-designed rear-engine swing-axle cars and had found them too unsafe to build?.

DeLorean got approval to dump the Polaris project, and instead adapted the front engine Buick-Olds compact, but not without some creative engineering, including the swing axle rear suspension. And as it turned out, even the Tempest came in for criticism due to its turning nasty in extreme situations. It was a short-lived experiment.

DeLorean also alleges in his book ?On A Clear Day You Can See GM? that the problems with the Corvair?s handling were all-too well known inside GM. He says that Frank Winchell, then a Chevy engineer, flipped one of the first prototypes, and others followed. A huge internal fight ensued, with Ed Cole and his camp on one side, and a number of top engineers on the other, including Charles Chayne, VP of Engineering, and Von D. Polhemus, GM Chassis Development head. Their efforts to keep the Corvair from production, or change its suspension was a lost cause, as ?Cole?s mind was made up?.

A number of GM executives were directly affected by the Corvair, including the death of the son of Cadillac General Manager Cal Werner, and the critically-injured son of Exec. VP Cy Osborne. Of course these represent just a small sampling of the accidents that the public was experiencing, and which soon led to a spate of lawsuits against GM, most of which were quickly settled.

Undoubtedly, driver negligence was involved in some of these cases, but there?s also no doubt that the Corvair?s unique response to sudden steering, brakes or other inputs created a situation the general public was unfamiliar with. And one that could be exacerbated by incorrect tire pressure.

In a partial response, for 1961 Chevrolet made available an optional RPO 696 sports suspension, which included stiffer springs and shocks, the previously-missing front anti-roll bar, a negative initial camber setting for the rear wheels, and rear-axle rebound straps to reduce tuck under, all for some $10 or so. My 1962 Monza four-speed had it, and it performed admirably enough under lots of spirited cornering. But then I also knew of the ultimate danger and respected the Corvair?s limits, except on certain snowy parking lots or frozen lakes. Nevertheless, the camber-compensating spring was still not installed or available.

And the sports suspension had its limitations too, reducing rear wheel travel due to the negative camber and stiffer springs. This made it less than ideal for the kind of use a family sedan might typically get, with heavy loading and such. Chevrolet had put themselves between a rock and a hard place with the Corvair?s suspension design.

DeLorean says that after Bunkie Knudsen took over at Chevrolet in 1961, he was so concerned about the Corvair?s handling issues that he demanded that the camber-compenstor be made standard. The roughly $15 cost to make and install it was deemed too expensive by the ?Fourteenth Floor?, and he was turned down. Eventually he gave the top brass an ultimatum: either he would be allowed to improve the Corvair?s suspension, or he would very publicly resign from GM over it. They relented, and that led to the camber compensating spring in 1964, and the complete redesign of the rear suspension for 1965, which essentially eliminated the issues altogether.

Ralph Nader?s ?Unsafe At Any Speed? is commonly blamed for the Corvair?s demise, but that already happened years before its publication in 1965. By that time, the Corvair was already on artificial life support. Within two months of its introduction in the fall of 1959, Ed Cole realized that the Corvair was not really the right formula for what America was looking for in a compact sedan. The Falcon instantly outsold it two-to-one, and Cole ordered a crash program to develop the very pragmatic Chevy II.

From that point forward, the Corvair?s future, to the extent it had any, was in its new role as a sporty coupe, and the bucket-seat Monza immediately became the best selling version after it was introduced in the spring of 1960. The Monza pioneered a whole new market segment that would be taken over by the Mustang in 1964.

Given how obvious that was by mid-1960 makes it even odder that GM resisted the efforts to adopt wholesale the suspension improvements readily available. One thing is clear: Ed Cole did not set out to design a sporty car. The up-scale Monza coupe was shown as a show-car concept in January of 1960 to generate some interest in the coupe version due shortly (in 500 and 700 trim levels), but the public response to the Monza was so favorable, it was rushed into production.

The Monza inadvertently created and opened a huge market segment (we covered that here) which led to bucket seat versions of its competitors, as well as the Mustang. But a flat floor and seating for six was certainly not in the brief for a sporty coupe or convertible, as the Mustang proved convincingly. Unless you like your passenger to squeeze left.

The Monza may have pulled some of the Corvair?s fat out of the fire, but that doesn?t negate the fact that Ed Cole?s Corvair was a fatally flawed design for its original intended role.? In fact it?s tempting (and fairly easy) to speculate that if Chevy?s 1960 compact had arrived in more conventional front-engine form, like the related B-O-P 1961 compacts, that it would have just as readily (and likely) spawned a sporty coupe variant with V8 power, one that would have largely usurped or dampened the Mustang?s huge success.

The Corvair was the product of GM?s repeated tendencies to go off in directions that were an engineer?s dream, but were either flawed from the initial concept, or diminished by the bean counters. In the case of the Corvair, it was both. But for us lovers of the Corvair, like the lovers of the 1966 Toronado, the Vega, and other GM Deadly Sins, it was a huge boon. Suspension mods are easy to effect, and Corvairs are now safely in the hands of those that understand and respect its limitations (and tire pressures). But that was not the case in 1960 or so, and too many paid the price, unnecessarily so.

?

Ralph Nader?s ?Unsafe At Any Speed? is online here (Corvair Chapter first).

Source: http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-1960-1963chevrolet-corvair-gms-deadliest-sin/

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Althouse: "Now that legal pot is here, will cigarette companies dust ...

NPR explores the coming of legal marijuana:
In the '70s... "there were high-level conversations about adding marijuana to tobacco, creating a line of marijuana cigarettes, and being ready to jump in and market this."

As recently as 1993, when it looked like France was poised to legalize marijuana, Philip Morris trademarked the name "Marley." But when the estate of Bob Marley complained, the company claimed it had nothing to do with the reggae singer.

"Philip Morris said, 'No no, it could be any kind of Marley,... like Jacob Marley, the cheap, cantankerous teetotaler from A Christmas Carol.'"...

Want legal marijuana? Write to the President:

Source: http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/11/now-that-legal-pot-is-here-will.html

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Mexico arrests suspected murderer on FBI most wanted list

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican federal police have captured suspected murderer, rapist and drug gang member Joe Luis Saenz, one of the 10 most wanted fugitives on the FBI's list, the government said on Friday.

Saenz, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in the city of Guadalajara in western Mexico on Thursday following an investigation by the federal police in conjunction with the FBI, the government said in a statement.

Saenz will be returned from Mexico to Los Angeles this weekend under FBI escort, said a statement from the FBI.

According to the FBI, Saenz is suspected of shooting and killing two rival gang members in Los Angeles in July 1998.

Less than two weeks later, Saenz allegedly kidnapped, raped, and murdered his estranged girlfriend. Saenz also is believed to have murdered another man in October 2008 in Los Angeles County.

FBI records suggest Saenz is 36 or 37, and the bureau offered up to $100,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Born in Los Angeles, Saenz was known to travel between the United States and Mexico, and was believed to be working for a Mexican drug cartel, the FBI said. He had a number of aliases including Zapp, Peanut Joe Smiley and Honeycutt, it said.

(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Bill Trott)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-arrests-suspected-murderer-fbi-most-wanted-list-052103329.html

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Portland political consulting firm draws national attention in recent ...

PORTLAND, Maine ? It?s not only the recently elected politicians and successful advocacy groups who are celebrating big wins in the wake of election season.

A small political consulting firm in Portland has emerged with a winning record and a national reputation for producing compelling, authentic political advertisements for television and Web.

The company, CD2 Consulting, produced some of the most memorable ads from Maine?s recent election cycle. Remember Harlan Gardner, the 90-year-old WWII veteran and Machias resident who, while sitting at the dinner table with four generations of his family, including his gay granddaughter, said ?marriage is too precious not to share?? That ad was one of CD2?s creations. Remember the York firefighters who appeared in an ad with their gay colleague? That was a CD2 ad. There were several others produced throughout the campaign, which was successful and made Maine the first state to legalize same sex marriage by popular vote.

David Farmer, communications director for Mainers United for Marriage, gives CD2 a big share of the credit for the power and recognition their ads brought to the campaign.

?They were able to turn real Maine people into household names,? said Farmer, who also served as deputy chief of staff and communications director for former Gov. John Baldacci, and writes a political blog and a weekly column for the Bangor Daily News. ?They are storytellers and were able to tell stories in 30 seconds in a way that made a real difference.?

The ads CD2 produced for Mainers United for Marriage were so effective, in fact, they were picked up around the country and used as templates for ads in other states such as Minnesota and Washington state, according to Farmer.

?They (CD2 owners) are on the verge of big, big things,? he said.

Maine?s Yes on 1 campaign had a high profile, and several ?top-notch? political consulting firms wanted to produce those television ads, Farmer said. Yet CD2 got the job. ?They won on the merits of their work, and they delivered,? he said.

Besides the Yes on 1 campaign, CD2 also produced web advertisements for Elizabeth Warren?s successful Senate campaign in Massachusetts, unseating incumbent Scott Brown; online content for Maggie Hassan?s successful gubernatorial campaign in New Hampshire; and a TV ad in support of Rep. Carol Shea-Porter?s successful Congressional race in New Hampshire.

?That?s a winning record right there,? Farmer said. ?The results speak for themselves.?

There was a time when all the big political consulting firms were in Washington, D.C., and New York City, but technology has made that model obsolete, and today consultants can work anywhere. CD2 owners Jim Cole, Aaron Duffey and David Loughran choose to work in Maine, where the three grew up in the Greater Portland area.

?It?s great to be doing what I want to be doing in the place where I want to live,? Duffey said on a recent morning in CD2?s office in Portland?s Old Port.

The company doesn?t have to be in D.C., Loughran said. ?There are probably opportunities we miss by not being there,? he said, ?but there are other opportunities we?ll gain from being here.?

CD2 is actually a conglomeration of smaller, specialty operations that each of the men ran before joining forces to offer a wider range of political consulting services.

Cole and Duffey formed Gum Spirits Productions, a film production company, in Portland in 2008. They produced independent films (Sundowning and Three Priests are two of the more well-known flicks) and TV advertisements for political campaigns, including for VoteVets.org. In 2009, they joined forces with a pair of Bowdoin College alums, Frank Chi and William Donahoe, who live in Washington, D.C., and produce websites for political campaigns. Cole and Duffey joined Chi and Donahoe ? notice the initials? ? to form CD2 in 2009.

Loughran had worked on political campaigns all over the country before returning to Maine in 2008 to form his own political communications consultancy called Mach3Media. Loughran reconnected with Duffey, who he grew up with in Gorham, upon his return to the Portland area. In 2010, he officially joined CD2.

The crew first gained national attention in February 2011 for an ad it produced about the battle in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker?s attack on the collective bargaining rights of unions.

Instead of writing a 30-second script, the CD2 crew spent the entire day in snowy, 16-degree weather interviewing protesters in Madison, Wisc., as snow piled on their shoulders. ?That?s why we?re able to capture authentic moments and are able to turn what would be a good ad into a great ad,? Loughran said.

Cole, who Duffey called the ?creative genius? behind CD2, then spent the evening cutting more than three hours of raw interview footage into a 30-second ad spot, which was extremely successful and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in small donations in the following weeks.

The ad, which was produced for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, got national attention. Rachel Maddow called it ?the most pointed, stand-with-the-people-who-work-for-a-living ad that we have seen for a very long time.? Lawrence O?Donnell called the ad ?beautiful film making,? and said ?I?m really quite struck by it.?

?You don?t usually get people on D.C. television talking in such effusive ways about a TV ad, but that speaks to the power of this particular one,? said Adam Green, the D.C.-based co-founder of Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Duffey said the ad opened doors. Loughran and Duffey expect they?ll be able to leverage the success of its ads during the recent election season to grab more work on other high-profile campaigns.

Judging by the ads it?s produced, CD2?s future looks bright, Green said.

Progressive Change worked with 40 campaigns this past election season, and Green said he?d be looking for CD2 to contribute to more campaigns in the future. ?We definitely hold [CD2] out as a model for the future of ad making as we try to wean candidates off the past ? overly priced D.C. consultants doing lesser quality work,? he said.

Green said the fact CD2 is based outside D.C. is a benefit as they?re not captive to the standard talking points. ?Instead, they?re thinking outside the box,? Green said. ?They?re thinking about persuading the people on Main Street back home.?

Loughran declined to discuss CD2?s revenue except to say it has grown ?tenfold? since 2010. But Loughran and Duffey (Cole was out of the state on a shoot) don?t want CD2 to grow too big too fast.

?We don?t want to take every possible project that comes through the door,? Duffey said, because doing so would force them to not be so hands-on with the various campaigns.

?Our business will grow, and Jim, Aaron and I will continue to be principals in every campaign,? Loughran said. ?That?s how we want it to be.?

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/23/business/portland-political-consulting-firm-draws-national-attention-in-recent-campaigns/

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NewsDaily: Dubai plans massive tourism and retail project

Dubai plans massive tourism and retail project


By Andrew TorchiaPosted 2012/11/24 at 2:34 pm EST

DUBAI, Nov. 24, 2012 (Reuters) ? Dubai announced plans for a huge tourism and retail development including the largest shopping mall in the world, a fresh sign that the glitzy emirate has recovered its commercial ambitions after a crippling corporate debt crisis three years ago.

The development, on the outskirts of Dubai's current downtown area, will include a park 30 percent bigger than Hyde Park in London, said Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, also prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.

A retail complex named the "Mall of the World" will be able to host 80 million visitors a year and include over 100 hotel facilities, Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement on Saturday.

A family entertainment centre linked to the mall, developed with Hollywood's Universal Studios, a unit of Comcast Corp , would be designed for 6 million visitors each year.

The development, named "Mohammed Bin Rashid City", would also include a district of art galleries and an area where entrepreneurs could develop businesses.

Sheikh Mohammed did not say how much the development would cost or when it would be finished, but his description indicated investment would total many billions of dollars. It would be built by Dubai Holding , a conglomerate owned by him, and Dubai's leading real estate firm Emaar Properties .

"The current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the city," Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that Dubai aimed to become a business and cultural capital for 2 billion people in surrounding regions.

Such ambitions would have seemed ludicrous three years ago, when a crash of Dubai's inflated real estate market triggered a corporate debt crisis that forced state-owned conglomerate Dubai World into a $25 billion debt restructuring. Some of Dubai Holding's own units restructured their debt.

Property prices plunged over 50 percent from their peaks and neighbouring Abu Dhabi, which has most of the UAE's oil wealth, came to Dubai's rescue with a bailout worth over $10 billion.

But Dubai, home to the world's tallest building, an archipelago of man-made islands and an indoor ski slope in one of its shopping malls, has staged a dramatic recovery this year, partly because of a tourism boom.

Tourist arrivals grew 10 percent and hotel revenue 19 percent in the first half of 2012. Some state-linked companies have made progress working through their debt loads, while property prices have started to rebound in some areas.

Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East, including Syria's civil war, appear to have helped Dubai, which has attracted funds seeking a politically and economically stable haven.

Several extravagant real estate projects, shelved during the debt crisis, have been revived in the last few months, including a $1 billion replica of India's Taj Mahal that would include a 300-room hotel, and a canal to the city's business district.

Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport will exceed 50 million people this year and the airport is being expanded. Sheikh Mohammed said traffic would top 90 million in six years and Dubai's development should revolve around this prospect.

"Our development initiatives concerning infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve them," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed did not say how the latest development plan would be financed. Although yields on bonds issued by Dubai firms have plunged this year, showing a return of investor confidence, some bankers are concerned that Dubai is merely pushing many debt maturities into the future without selling assets and taking other difficult steps to cut the debt load.

Standard Chartered said in a research note this month that while the recovery of key areas of its economy would help Dubai, its entities would face nearly $50 billion of liabilities maturing between 2014 and 2016, and there had been "little progress on the deleveraging front".

(Additional reporting by David French and Dinesh Nair)

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