watches weather for Obama acceptance speech

Forecasts show the potential for rain and possibly thunderstorms on Thursday for Charlotte, creating the potential for the soaking of the tens of thousands of attendees and casting a cloud over the carefully-staged event.

"There's been some conversations that the forecast is already predicting storms," one convention official said.

While stressing that no decisions have been made, the official said: "Of course there's some conversations about contingency plans."

The concern highlights the weather hazards of holding a presidential nomination acceptance speech in an outdoor venue – a rare event only seen three times in U.S.Wonder Wink Scrub jacketswonder with an innovative four way and two way stretch fabrics for the nursing and medical professional. history. This comes after the Republican National Convention delayed the start of its proceedings at the indoor Tampa Bay Times Forum over concerns about the tropical storm that would become Hurricane Isaac.

Another convention official confirmed the existence of a contingency plan.

"The convention proceedings at Bank of America Stadium will take place rain or shine, similar to other events at the stadium," the official said. "We have an advisory team in place that is constantly updating a contingency plan in the event of severe weather, which will be announced closer to the convention if the need arises."

When asked to outline what options that plan might include, the source said, "We will only announce contingency plans in the event that an emergency/severe weather actually arises, so that we can be sure that we communicate only one plan,,turquoisebeads are beautiful additions for custom necklaces or bracelets. the one that is accurate and relevant to the situation at hand."

"Our plans will take into account the stadium's existing weather plans that are used for Panthers games and other events," the source also said, referring to the Carolina Panthers football team headquartered at the venue.

According to Bank of America stadium, attendees to its football games and events typically stay outside when it rains. However, if there is lightning,Welcome to buychristianlouboutin women's fashion store, the stadium encourages attendees to move under cover to the concession areas.Buyshoesat Great Prices.

Regarding what to possibly advise delegates and guests who will attend for the president's speech, the second official said: "At the moment we are not advising anything, we are leaving that to the state party chairs to decide on what to advise their delegates."

Weather concerns are inherent in holding such an important political event in an outdoor venue – a rare event in U.S. history.

In 2008, then Sen. Obama accepted the Democratic Party presidential nomination at the outdoor Invesco Field in Denver. It was the first time a nominee delivered an outdoor convention acceptance speech in nearly 50 years.

In 1960, John F. Kennedy delivered his speech at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Before that, Franklin Roosevelt gave an outdoor acceptance speech at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Retail sales best since March

This summer, Americans were walking contradictions: They opened their wallets despite escalating fears about the slow economic recovery and surging gas prices.
A group of 18 retailers ranging from discounter Target to department-store chain Macy’s reported August sales on Thursday that rose 6 percent – the industry’s best performance since March – according to trade group International Council of Shopping Centers.

At the same time, the government released numbers showing that Americans spent in July at the fastest clip in five months.

The news appears to show that what Americans say and do are two different things: The reports come two days after a private research firm said consumer confidence in August fell to its lowest level since November 2011 as Americans grew more concerned about the job market, business conditions and the overall economy.

“This is bit of a head scratcher,” said Mark Vitner, a Wells Fargo Securities senior economist. “This runs counter to most of the other data related to the consumer.hoganscarpe vale la pena buying.”

But Roxane Battle Morrison, 50, said there’s a logical explanation for the paradox.

The Plymouth, Minn.Panerai replica watches,replicawatches,replica omega,, resident said she is more worried about the economy, but she spent in August for one reason: she needed to help her 18-year-old son Jared get ready for college. So, Morrison, who produces videos for a nondenominational church,Buy nikeshoes Online in India at great prices. has stashed money away every month over the past year to save nearly $1,300 to buy him books, sheets, a futon bed, and other dorm room accessories.

“I was counting every nickel, looking at every price tag,” she said.

That consumers like Morrison are spending is an encouraging sign, but that they are doing so hesitantly is something retailers and economists will be watching closely.

Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of economic activity. And while only a small group of merchants representing roughly 13 percent of the $2.4 trillion U.S. retail industry report monthly revenue figures, the August numbers still offer a glimpse at how Americans are spending.

The revenue gains in August, which only factor in stores that were open at least a year, are better than the 4- to 5-percent increase Wall Street predicted at the beginning of the month. And it was the industry’s best performance since March, when stores collectively posted a gain of 6.8 percent.

Except for a lull in June, stores have seen a healthy pace of 4 percent to nearly 7 percent growth since the beginning of the year. But analysts worry that the healthy spending won’t last.

“It’s certainly strong on the surface. But is it a sign of an improving economy and retailing environment? Or is it just more of the same: shoppers were driven by need,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Stores certainly benefited from people shopping for supplies and clothes for back-to-school, the second biggest-shopping period of the year. Many department and clothing stores like Macy’s Inc. and Gap Inc. had better-than-expected results as trendy fashions like brightly colored jeans caught shoppers’ attention.

Gap, which filled its stores with fashions in hot pinks, coral blues and aqua greens, posted a 9 percent gain, as back-to-school shoppers headed into its chains, particularly Old Navy. The results niftily beat analysts’ expectations of a 5.4 percent rise.

Target also reported better-than-expected results. It had a 4.2 percent in August, better than the 3.1 percent increase that Wall Street expected. Business was strongest in food, and health and beauty items, but shoppers also bought clothing and home furnishings, the discounter said.

Macy’s 5.1 percent gain also was better than the 3.6 percent forecast. The company said its men’s apparel, home furnishings, beauty products, women’s shoes and handbags continue to perform well.

“Our fall season is off to a healthy start,” said Macy’s CEO Terry J. Lundgren.

The strong sales reports give retailers some reason to be optimistic as they look toward the busy winter holiday shopping season, the biggest shopping period of the year, in November and December. That’s because Americans were spending in August despite signs that they’re becoming impatient with the slowly improving economy.

Indeed, the New York-based Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 60.6 in August, down from a revised 65.4 in July.

The index now stands at the lowest point since November 2011 when the reading was at 55.2. It’s also still far below the 90- reading that indicates a healthy economy.

Several factors may have dampened consumers’ moods in August. Gas prices, which had fell sharply from a peak of $3.94 in April, have begun rising again in the last few weeks. And the jobs and housing markets are showing only modest signs of improvement.

Home prices rose 0.5 percent in June from the same month last year, the first year-over-year increase since the summer of 2010, according to The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index that was released Tuesday. And on the job market front, employers added 163,000 jobs in July, the most since February. But that’s not enough to keep up with a rising population, and the unemployment rate increased to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in June.

Additionally, there are no signs that the job market will significantly improve anytime soon. The applications of people applying for unemployment benefits are a measure of the pace of layoffs. When they fall consistently below 375,Top Swiss Replicas and the most popular brands of replicaomega.000, it generally suggests that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

rookie Paralympian headed for 2012 Games

The incubators are covered in quilts, the monitors beep softly, the team of nurses quiets and feeds the tiny,Find brand-name swisswatchesat your fingertips with fast, premature babies, the worried moms and dads watch and wait.

In the neonatal intensive care unit at Royal Columbian Hospital, where Nathan DeWitt was born 21 years ago, not too much has changed, except DeWitt himself. He and twin brother Brenndon were born at 26 weeks, weighing less than three pounds each. DeWitt is now a strapping young athlete, headed for the 100-metre and 200-metre wheelchair sprints at the 2012 London Paralympic Games for the first time.

“It’s like I was just here yesterday,” said mom Linda as the family, including father Shane, youngest son Brody, 15, Brenndon and Nathan met the unit’s doctors and nurses, some of whom cared for the twins two decades ago.

The reunion was arranged so that DeWitt could thank the medical team that saved his and Brenndon’s life and hospital staff could congratulate him on his unexpected success.

Babies born before 24 weeks have a survival rate of about 60 per cent, and premature babies often have cognitive and physical disabilities, said pediatrician David Ou Tim, who remembered treating the twins and still works in the neonatal ICU.

Though his twin had no long-term complications from his premature birth, DeWitt has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, which only affects the muscles in his legs, leaving his arms strong to power his wheelchair around the track.replicawatches, Panerai replica watches, replica Panerai, replica omega, In his running shoes and Team Canada warm-up jacket, handing out autographs to the nurses, DeWitt looked every part the Paralympian.Jildor louisvuittonshoes, Since 1949 has been providing women with designer shoes from all the top names.

“It’s amazing how well some of them respond,” Ou Tim said.

Doctors thought DeWitt would never walk, let alone run or ride a bike. He can do all three. “I can do all of them like a regular person,” he said.Cheap captoesandals online store, discount nike air max and nike free run shoes on sale. “I can outperform some of those able-bodied people.”

DeWitt has a natural confidence and a natural ability. The rookie Paralympian began racing only five years ago, and entered his first international competition just this year in Switzerland, where he easily made Paralympic qualifying times by racing a 17.14 in the 100-metre and 31.19 in the 200-metre sprints. He trains on the track at Surrey’s Holy Cross high school six days a week, sometimes twice a day, “to get those arm muscles firing fast,” with coach James Hustvedt.shoes001 is the ultimate alternative furniture store,

His is father an avid sports fan and coach, and DeWitt grew up with athletics. He especially enjoys sledge hockey, which is played on a sled with two hockey sticks outfitted with picks that players use to propel themselves across the ice. It’s a sport he can play with his brothers.

Wheelchair racing began as a hobby, but DeWitt quickly learned he had the skills to win. “It started as recreation. They said I had some sort of talent, and a good chance of making it,” he said.

Of the stress associated with competing for Team Canada, DeWitt’s not afraid.

“I can naturally block it out. I have no hype to live up to. I just go, race my own race.” DeWitt is focusing on the first step, the semifinals, and on racing a personal best. His first sprint takes place Sept. 4.

Though he’s had health setbacks, mainly from a cerebral shunt that was replaced 19 times over the years after a bout of hydrocephalus (swelling in the brain) at three days old. His family has faith he will excel in London.

“He’s had health issues, but every time he comes back with a vengeance,” Shane said. “He has that internal passion you need to be successful in life, or in sport.”

The name on the claret jug was supposed to be Adam Scott

Ernie Els plucked the ball from the hole after one last birdie and heaved it into the grandstand. At the time, it looked like nothing more than a classy gesture by a former British Open champion — not the next one.

The name on the claret jug was supposed to be Adam Scott, who had a four-shot lead with four holes to play.

But in a shocking turnaround Sunday, Els returned to the 18th green less than an hour later to claim the oldest trophy in golf. Scott joined a list of players who threw away a major.

That was not lost on Els, whose heart sank when he looked over at the 32-year-old Australian.

"Sorry,Nothing can come between a woman and her guccishoes which is why our online shoe." Els told him. "You're a great player, a great friend of mine. I feel very fortunate. You're going to win many of these.Wholesale piagetwatches,Semi precious agate gemstone beads,"

Scott might not get another chance like this.

After hitting a 3-wood into a pot bunker on the final hole, Scott had one last chance when he stood over a 7-foot par putt to force a playoff. It stayed left of the cup, and Scott dropped into a crouch. Standing off to the side, his chin quivered as the magnitude of the meltdown hit him. Instead, he mouthed one word: "Wow."

Even though Els had gone more than two years without winning, and had thrown away two tournaments in recent months with shaky putting, the Big Easy felt all along that something special was going to happen at this British Open.

And it did — all because of a collapse by Scott that no one saw coming.

"I know I let a really great chance slip through my fingers today," Scott said.

On a wind-swept afternoon at Royal Lytham & St. Annes that blew away the hopes of Tiger Woods and a handful of others, Scott looked steady as ever by going eight straight holes without making bogey.Buyshoesat Great Prices. And that's when it came undone.Blowers Jewellers watchreplicaUK Cartier, Breitling, Jaeger LeCoultre,

"I had it in my hands with four to go," Scott said.

A bogey from the bunker on the 15th cut the lead to three. That was followed by a three-putt bogey on the 16th, where his 3-foot par putt spun in and out of the cup and made the gallery gasp. From the middle of the 17th fairway, he hit a 6-iron that turned left, ran down the slope and took one last bounce in shin-high grass.

"I thought, 'Hold on. We've got a problem here,' " said Graeme McDowell, playing with Scott in the final group.

By then, Els had posted a 2-under 68 with a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole, a cheer that Scott recognized while playing the 17th. Scott failed to get up-and-down for par from the rough and suddenly was tied.

Els headed to the practice green, where it rarely works out for him. In perhaps the most crushing defeat in a career filled with them, Els was on the putting green at Augusta National in 2004 when Phil Mickelson made an 18-foot birdie putt to win the Masters.

"I just thought, 'I'll probably be disappointed again,' " Els said. "You're not really hoping the guy is going to make a mistake, but you're hoping you don't have to go a playoff, you can win outright. This one was different, because I feel for Adam."

Els, who started the final round six shots behind, wound up with his second British Open — the other one was 10 years ago at Muirfield — and fourth major championship at a stage in his career when it looked as if his best golf was behind him.

"Amazing," Els said. "I'm still numb. It still hasn't set in. It will probably take quite a few days because I haven't been in this position for 10 years, obviously. So it's just crazy, crazy, crazy getting here."

The celebration was muted, unlike his other three majors.

"First of all, I feel for Adam Scott. He's a great friend of mine," Els said. "Obviously, we both wanted to win very badly. But you know,Authorised juicycoutures Stockists. Large Mens Breitling Watch range. that's the nature of the beast. That's why we're out here. You win. You lose. It was my time for some reason."

New Jets tackle Jason Smith feeling beautiful again

Barely three years ago, tackle Jason Smith was a hot property, entering the NFL as the No.Nothing can come between a woman and her guccishoes which is why our online shoe. 2 overall pick in the draft behind Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. But he arrived Wednesday at Jets camp wearing the "bust" label following a trade that sent Wayne Hunter to the Rams.

Jets coach Rex Ryan characterized it as the kind of trade that benefits both teams because the players involved need a "fresh start" after losing starting jobs. Given Smith's draft status, he has fallen much farther than Hunter, but he is attempting to take a positive approach.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Smith said. "One person may not see the beauty; it's like an antique. But to somebody else, that's like a jewel. I kind of look at it like that."

A less romantic view would be that it's a move of expediency for both teams. Hunter gave up 11 sacks last season and seemed to regress during the preseason. Smith was available, but he's obviously a stopgap move because the Jets are highly unlikely to pick up his $12 million option next season.

For now, Ryan said the 26-year-old Smith will fill the backup tackle and jumbo tight end role assigned to Hunter after he was demoted in favor of Austin Howard. The coach is hoping Smith can play about 10 snaps in the final exhibition Thursday night in Philadelphia,nike requin,tn nike,tn requin,jacketswonder，nike tn foot locker,chaussure tn requin,tn pas cher, but that's asking a lot after one day to start learning the playbook.

"It's been a crash course in one day," Smith said. "There's a lot going on, a lot of calls like every other offense. I'm working diligently to learn it. It's one of those things where I have to re-apply everything I learned over the last four years and make sure I'm productive."

During his three-year Rams career, Smith played only 29 games while suffering from concussions. Asked to describe the source of his problems with the Rams, Smith said, "I learned that no man can control injury. That being said, it really can sum up my whole career."

When he was drafted by the Rams, Smith had the misfortune of stepping into the oversized shoes of Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection who likely is headed to the Hall of Fame. Smith naturally resisted the inevitable comparison, and Ryan called it unfair to him.

In that sense, the trade was low-risk for the Jets, who received a tackle five years younger and more athletic than Hunter in Ryan's estimation. Smith welcomed the change,Representing the Art of Fusion in paneraireplica, saying, "When I first got the phone call about it, I was like, 'Wow.Choose from any of the following replicaomega.' I thought I was battling for a starting job. Like I said, beauty's in the eye of the beholder. To somebody,Buyshoesat Great Prices. I was beautiful."

Beating Australia in their own backyard will always be remembered

It was a small gesture, but spoke -volumes for the respect the 35-year-old is held in by just about everybody -involved in cricket.


After 100 Tests for England, half of which he captained, Strauss left Lord’s with his reputation as one the game’s finest leaders cemented in history.


Three and a half years after -taking one of the toughest jobs in sport, and 24 Test wins later, he leaves English cricket in far better health then when he took over.


Despite the Kevin Pietersen ‘textgate’ affair and the problems it has caused in the dressing room,offers replicashoes and Loafers for Men, Strauss has kept his dignity at all times.


His demeanour has remained constant. Only his press conference at Lord’s following last week’s 2-0 Test series defeat to South Africa -showed signs he had lost his drive.


Ultimately, it was not the petty -behaviour of a showboating prima donna that brought him down, but an honest assessment of his own form that led Middlesex star Strauss to -retire from all levels of the game.


A steady decline in form over the past 18 months, only temporarily -arrested by back-to-back tons against West Indies this summer, proved his downfall.


He departs while having the full backing of his fellow England players – even -Pietersen, despite his ill-judged and crude texts – and will be missed by fans, pundits and administrators.


“I’ve got some ideas of things I’d like to get involved in,” he said.Rubiks tagheuerreplica See if you can solve this famous puzzle in this great implementation. “Long term I’d like to have some more challenges ahead of me, in whatever I do.


“But I’m going to take a bit of time to think about what exactly that means and what that might be.

“While I’m taking that time, I look forward to spending some time with my family and probably getting my golf handicap down a bit as well.


“I’d love to stay involved in the game. I’m hugely passionate about the game.

“I feel like I’ve got more to offer the game at some stage in the future. But in what capacity I’ve got no idea.”


No-one will begrudge Strauss a long break after eight years on the international circuit in which he played 100 Tests, 121 one-day internationals and scored 26 hundreds for England.


He took over as captain when Pietersen was sacked in January 2009 and, along with Andy Flower, embarked on a steady but relentless climb up the world rankings.


Those two men, more than any others,hublotreplica are full of unique and elegance. have been -responsible for transforming England’s fortunes.


Beating Australia in their own backyard will always be remembered as his -career highlight, but the way he handled the spot-fixing scandal in 2010 was equally as -impressive.


With 7,037 Test runs at 40.91, his contribution at the top of the -order will be missed -almost as much as his calm leadership in the eye of countless storms.


“There have been many highlights,” he said. “I’ve been so fortunate to play in a great era of English cricket. For me personally -lifting the urn in Australia was the highlight and it was -always going to take a huge amount to beat that really.


“Obviously I was very proud to lead England to No.1 in the rankings.


“From a personal batting perspective, the hundred on debut, Ashes hundreds, World Cup hundred – there have been a lot of great -moments. I go out with -absolutely no regrets.Official web site of the luxury French nikeshoes and bag designer.


“I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought I was -going to and that makes me feel very proud and very honoured to have -represented England.Free shipping BOTH ways on dgshoessale,” His successor Alastair Cook has “enormous shoes to fill” and he must refocus the dressing room after six -defeats in the last 11 Tests.


He will be part of the discussions with Pietersen, but the depth of feeling among the players makes it hard to see a way back.


But that can wait. For now, let’s just pay tribute to a man who will be remembered as one of the greatest servants to English cricket.

The struggling young assistant coach at Ohio State

Showtime for Urban Meyer. What a perfect marriage, he and the Ohio State Buckeyes make.

But then, don't they all seem that way just after the wedding?

We'll have to see.Rubiks tagheuerreplica See if you can solve this famous puzzle in this great implementation. A few curves, a few bumps, a few Michigan games. Then we'll know if this match is as made in heaven as it looks. So far, they seem to go together like chocolate and peanut butter in buckeyes.

"Am I ready for this?'' he was saying Monday, five days before his debut. "We'll judge that probably in the next week, or next two weeks, next two years.The Design Museum presents iconic French shoe designer jordanshoes,

"That's the kind of neat thing about where I'm at in my career. I don't care. I want to work on getting this team ready for Miami of Ohio (and a few bigger fish to fry after that). Everything I've got. I'm not worried about what's the legacy, what's this, what's that."

There are no happy endings among his recent coaching predecessors in Columbus. Jim Tressel was forced out. John Cooper, Earle Bruce, Woody Hayes. All under different circumstances, but the trend is stark enough.

Plus, there's the shadow of NCAA sanctions and the bowl ban this season, and the bad aftertaste of a 6-7 record, the most losses for Ohio State since the William McKinley White House in 1897.

It is assumed Meyer will change all the above, even though this is not Florida. No stable of Southeastern Conference speed. No Swamp. No Tim Tebow. But it's home. He grew up in northern Ohio,offers replicashoes and Loafers for Men, went to college in southern Ohio and now is in charge of the state's crown jewel in the middle, having taken his one-year sabbatical in the broadcast booth to rebalance himself.

At this moment, many images of Ohio State's new coach come through.

Urban Meyer, the little boy in upstate Ashtabula …

"Since I was 4 years old, or maybe I was 3?," he said of his first time he watched the Buckeyes. "It's going to be an emotional time (Saturday). Very much so.''

He said he'd be needing notes "to keep my face in the game … I have to do that because I'll be coming out of my shoes a little bit."

Urban Meyer, the struggling young assistant coach at Ohio State in the 1980s …

"I didn't eat if I didn't know where the happy hours were, or if Wendy's didn't have their $2 special on salads.From Jessica Simpson Pumps to LAMB Pumpspnikeairshoes,"

He said he's been fired twice, when staffs were let go here and Colorado State. He was 27 years old on the last one, with his wife seven months' pregnant.

"Makes you want to work that much harder,'' he said.Find nike christianlouboutinshoesfrom a vast selection of Men's Shoes.

Now he has a six-year contract, reported to be worth at least $24 million.

Thieves branch out bonsai plants stolen

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7.52am: The Rocks police duty officer, Acting Inspector Andrew Biasi, said the 25-year-old P-plate driver charged with drink driving was pulled over because of his "manner of driving".

"It wasn't erratic, [but] it was his manner of driving.

"Then when they pulled him over, [police] could smell liquor."

The driver had been eating and drinking at a restaurant in the city last night, Acting Inspector Biasi said.Shopping is the best place to crystalbeads.

7.The Design Museum presents iconic French shoe designer jordanshoes,14am: Robbers with green thumbs have stolen about 30 bonsai plants - believed to be worth up to $8000 - from a backyard in Wollongong in the middle of the night, police say.Top brands at low prices in authenticguccishoes,

The plants were stolen from a house on Nicole Road, Primbee, a suburb of Wollongong, between 11pm on Sunday and 6am yesterday.

The robbery appeared to be well-planned, with police saying a trailer or van was parked near the back fence before it was loaded up with the plants.Nothing can come between a woman and her guccishoes which is why our online shoe.

Lake Illawarra duty officer Inspector Steve Johnson said it was not yet clear who would have stolen the plants or why.

"At this stage we're just trying to find out who is involved."

Bonsai is a Japanese tradition of growing miniature trees, often in pots.

6.54am: A P-plater has been charged and stripped of his licence after allegedly drivingcheapwatches to Intervention Online Software. with a blood-alcohol level of 0.172 in the city this morning.

The 25-year-old was stopped for a random breath test in Goulburn Street about 4am and returned a positive reading, police said.

Police said he was arrested and taken to The Rocks police station, where he allegedly gave a reading of 0.172.

P-platers must have a zero blood-alcohol limit. A reading of 0.172 is more than three times the legal limit for drivers on a full licence.

The man from Redfern was charged with high-range drink driving and not display P-plates and his licence was suspended on the spot.

He was granted bail and will appear in Downing Centre Local Court on September 18.

He will conduct a skills clinic for top UAAP and NCAA players today

Rajon Rondo, the Boston Celtics' All-Star point guard, still remembers the first time he watched Filipino fight king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao in action.

"I met Pacquiao a couple of years ago," Rondo related in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News Monday at the Titan basketball store. "I think he beat up (Miguel) Cotto really badly.Find brand-name swisswatchesat your fingertips with fast,hublotreplica are full of unique and elegance."

Rondo is referring to Pacquiao's crushing 12th round knockout victory over the Puerto Rican Cotto in 2009, which for many people solidified the Filipino's standing at the top of boxing's pound-for-pound list.niketn shoes wholesale, cheap tn shoes ,

"I went back to the locker room, and I saw Cotto walking back, and then I saw Pacquiao come back and he was smiling," Rondo said. "So from that point on, I started watching his fights and following him."

Rondo, like many of his teammates in the Celtics, is a fan of Pacquiao. The admiration is mutual as Pacquiao is a well-known supporter of the Boston squad, even reportedly watching the team's Game 7 against the Miami Heat prior to his fight against Timothy Bradley last June.

"Definitely, definitely," Rondo said when asked if he was a fan of Pacquiao. "He actually autographed a couple of gloves for our entire team, so we're big fans of Pacquiao, big supporters."

Rondo said that he watches Pacquiao when he is featured on the HBO reality series "24/7" and admires the boxer's work ethic.

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Rondo is visiting Manila for the first time to check out the local basketball scene as a prelude to the Philippine leg of Red Bull’s King of the Rock tournament, which will kick off next year.

He will conduct a skills clinic for top UAAP and NCAA players today,Enter marcjacobsshoes World and discover a universe of contemporary, and watch the game between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws Wednesday.

Rondo will also be the guest of honor in the unveiling of a restored basketball court in Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City.

Frazier ready to step in and lead the Schalick High Shool

Anne Marie Mercado led the Schalick High School field hockey team to its first ever South Jersey Group I title three years ago — the first of two in the last three years — and also the team’s first state championship appearance last fall.

So with Mercado leaving the Cougars to spend more time with her family after six seasons, there were immediately some very large shoes to fill.Red Winter T-Shirt Bundle. buychristianlouboutin Red Winter T-Shirt Bundle. Former Glassboro and William Paterson standout Lauren Frazier will look to fill those shoes starting this season.

“I’m very,Complete your look with designer runshoes from Barneys New York. very excited,” Frazier said. “It’s something I want to do as a career, something I want to have. It’s exciting and I’m ready for it. I know it’s going to be challenging, but I’m ready for it and I think I’m the right person for this job.”

It seems so did the board of education and athletic director Mike Clarke.

“I was the last to apply for the position because it was so close to when the position was being filled,” Frazier said. “Mr.Order high quality cubepuzzlee at home. We will run out of fake watches of all popular brands of our online shop! Clarke told me if I interviewed well and knew what I was talking about, I would have a good shot. Right after the interview he asked if I wanted the position and I said yes. … I did hear there were a lot of girls applying.”

The BOE and Clarke weren’t the only ones who thought Frazier would be a good fit with the Cougars. Glassboro head coach Gloria Byard recommended Frazier for the position after she was pushed to go for the job by South Jersey Edge founder Kathi Liszewski and Glassboro assistant Janine Callahan.

So with the support of such respectable figures in the local field hockey scene, Frazier jumped on the opportunity.

“I was really nervous to go for it,” she admitted. “But having them behind me, they see what I can do. They must have seen something in me I guess.”

Frazier said she’s ready to take on the role of head coach for the first time after assisting with the Edge and William Paterson as an undergrad assistant.Buy Tag Heuer watches online,We also supply all kinds of omegawatch watch such as replica Bell&Ross,

“I feel like I’m pretty well educated in it,” she said. “Coming from Glassboro, I know the competitive nature in South Jersey and I know the competitive edge that teams have. I’m enthused about it. Coming from Glassboro I know what (the Group I) teams are like and how to prepare for them.

“I would say I’m more excited than nervous.”

Inheriting a team that is coming off a sectional crown and a state final appearance can also make things a bit easier on Frazier. She’s inherited players that simply want to go out and win every game they play.

“It makes life a lot easier,” Frazier said. “The girls came in enthused and ready to go and want to get another title.Cheap nike outlet online store, discount nike air max and nike free heelshoes on sale. It’s a blessing and it makes it a lot easier. I have a great senior class and they let the other girls know they’re ready to go right away.”

who attended the groundbreaking ceremony hours

MORE expressions of sympathy were offered yesterday by Cebu officials to the families of the late Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo and Capt. Jessup Bahinting, who died in last Saturday’s plane crash in waters off Masbate City.

Both Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Meinrado Paredes said anyone who would be appointed to succeed Robredo has big shoes to fill.

“I hope and I pray it will be somebody like Jesse. Robredo was very ‘accessible’ and would walk the extra mile. His integrity was beyond question. There was no fanfare in his arrival,” the vice governor said.

Magpale said she will support plans to name the new Philippine National Police Regional Training Center in Consolacion town, Cebu after Robredo, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony hours before the plane crash.replicawatches, Panerai replica watches, replica Panerai, replica omega,

“I’m for it if only to perpetuate his memory and so that local officials won’t forget his advocacy,” Magpale said.

Judge Paredes said looking for Robredo’s replacement is an uphill climb.

He said he admired Robredo’s honesty and work ethic.TAG Heuer,authenticbreitling Breitling, Longines,

“Robredo was a model public servant. He lived a simple life.The latest season's cartierreplicawatche Coppola series handbags, brings pleasant surprises, He was credible, honest, indefatigable, and a good family man,” Paredes said.

The Cebu City Council recalled that Robredo worked with the city government in helping urban poor families especially those involved in the 93-1 lot dispute and the Mahiga creek settlers whose shanties were demolished.

“We sincerely express the Cebu City Council’s deepest sympathy and condolence to the bereaved family of Secretary Jesse Robredo for this unfortunate demise of a beloved father and husband and to join our Fellow Filipino as the entire nation deeply grieves for the loss of the most highly respected and credible leaders the country has ever had,” said their resolution introduced by Councilor Alvin Dizon.

Robredo was cited one of the country’s exemplary leaders who helped transform Naga City into one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines.

He was known for his advocacies in people empowerment, ethical leadership and good government.

“This unfortunate and untimely demise of a well-respected public servant is a great loss to the country and to the Filipinos,” the council said.

Rep.Cheap captoesandals online store, discount nike air max and nike free run shoes on sale. Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district also condoled with Robredo’s family and hailed Capt. Bahinting for his selfless service to others.

Capt. Bahinting flew in anti-venom medicine from Camiguin province for a Cebu City zoo worker that was bitten by a King Cobra.

“We won’t forget the service Capt. Bahinting rendered for his community and his country.” Quisumbing said.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Paz Radaza said she knew what the Robredo family felt since she lost her brother-in-law,Official web site of the luxury French nikeshoes and bag designer. the father of her nephew Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Harry Radaza, in a plane crash.

“Our prayers are with him and his family. The country has lost a catalyst of good governance…To the two pilots and their families, our prayers are with them too,” Radaza said.

Online support pours in for Geetika

As a stunned nation watches the Gopal Kanda-Geetika case unfold, a groundswell of support is gathering in cyberspace for Geetika, who committed suicide,it is a naturally formed single eyed coin shaped agatebeads. naming Kanda in her note. Words of compassion, anger and support are appearing on pages in social networking sites.

A page on Facebook, 'Justice for Geetika',Enter marcjacobsshoes World and discover a universe of contemporary, is 'liked' by more than 400 online users.

After drawing parallels with the Jessica Lall case, the page mentions: "Geetika Sharma snuffed out her life at 23, naming powerful Haryana politician, Gopal Goyal Kanda in her suicide note.hublotreplica. Authorised Breitling Watch Stockists. Kanda's "hawai chappal to hawai jahaaj" story is well known, as is his political clout. Will Geetika get justice? Join us in this campaign to bring the culprit to book."

Haryana was shaken by a similar online campaign about three years ago when former state DGP SPS Rathore was convicted by a court in Chandigarh on charges of molesting Ruchika Girhotra.

In the Geetika Sharma case, a number of online campaigns are doing the rounds - with comments and photos of Kanda and Geetika as well as those of protests staged against Kanda.

Hours after Geetika Sharma's suicide on August 5, a Facebook page - Justice for Geetika -- was opened with a message: "Geetika Sharma committed suicide to get rid of the mental harassment from her employer. Please join hands to get justice for her."

In the next two weeks, four pages were created to launch a campaign in support of the victim.

Another Facebook page, "Justice for Geetika Sharma | Arrest Gopal Kanda" is 'liked' by more than 350 Net users.

On the page, a woman, Ekta Chandra, commented, "This is a national shame.We offer a dive-in to the amazing world of chanelwatche with our direct reviews. Geetika, your life won't go waste."

"Support for the justice of Geetika Sharma's soul" is a Facebook account which has 68 members. Tushnik Ghosh, who created the page on August 18,A fashioncartierreplicawatches is an item which is used to contribute, commented, "Ministers like Kanda using their power in wrong way which results in death of Geetika Sharma."

To Curb Crowds Nike Sets Rules For Retailers

In a company memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Nike told retailers it will no longer allow stores to presell or take reservations for new shoes.

Nike is also banning store chains from displaying photos or other descriptions of new products ahead of their launch dates.

"If a retailer offers Nike products for sale under circumstances where the retailer knows or should know that consumer response is likely to be exceptionally high,hublotreplica. Authorised Breitling Watch Stockists. it must do so in a prudent and responsible way," the Nike memo states. "Retailers should assess what measures are necessary to secure the store and ensure the safety of personnel and consumers."

In February, Foot Locker canceled a release of the $220 Nike Air Foamposite basketball shoe after more than 100 Orlando police in riot gear were sent to break up fights among a crowd that formed outside a Florida mall ahead of the sneakers' midnight launch.

Last December, Seattle police arrested one man and used pepper spray on another 20 customers who began fighting outside of a mall, as 1,000 shoppers lined up for the 4 a.m. release of $180 retro Air Jordan XI Concord sneakers.

Violent crowds surrounding Nike's shoe launches date back decades,Official IWC store with full collection of Men's and ladies'shortwigs available to buy online with 0% finance available.Find dsquaredshoes and dsquared shoes men from a vast selection of Clothing, but analysts say social media has made the buildup to the events more intense.

Nike often distributes small runs of just a few thousand pairs when it comes out with new shoe styles, a tactic that helps drum up buzz for new sneakers but has long led to negative publicity for the company when supplies can't match demand.

A bustling secondary market online, where a pair of sneakers can sell for more than $7,000, has also attracted resellers to camp outside stores to snag the newly released shoes and flip them.

"Flipping sneakers can sometimes yield a better return than the stock market,Cheap nike outlet online store, discount nike air max and nike free heelshoes on sale. and when people get greedy things sometimes get out of control," said John Brilliant.

Nike representatives declined to comment on the memo but confirmed the changes to distribution policies.vuittonhandbags the Art of Fusion in Watches,

In addition, Nike instituted its own online sneaker reservation system in April where it randomly alerts customers to newly launched shoes through the company's Twitter account.

People who follow Nike on Twitter and see the alert can send a direct message to Nike within 60 minutes to reserve shoes on a first come, first served basis. Customers can pick up the shoes at a Nike store on the same day.

Fabled Ybor rooster puts the fun in funeral

TAMPA — Umbrellas, feather boas, tinsel and a tiny coffin draped in red cloth.

As the New Orleans-style funeral procession filed past, some standing outside Ybor City's Orpheum nightclub scratched their heads.cheapwatches to Intervention Online Software. Others reached for beads.

Michelle Vrooman, 43, of Tampa was happy to oblige, handing out the multi-colored strands draped across her right arm.

The Rooster Parade, with all its goofiness intact, was back Sunday afternoon, even if many of those watching couldn't fathom what was happening or why the annual poultry parade had dropped off the scene five years ago.

None of that seemed to matter.

What mattered to the roughly 75 costumed mourners was the memory of James E. Rooster, the wild chicken that roamed Ybor's side streets until his death in 1997 at the paws of a stray mutt.

"It's just so foul the way he died," deadpanned Vrooman, who participated in the parade.Official Chanel store with full collection of Men's and ladies'replicawatches00.

An annual rite since the rooster's demise, the mock funeral procession took a hiatus after crowds had become too large. Then-organizer Tommy Stephens, who erected a tiny backyard memorial to the bird, would cap off each procession with a raucous kegger at his house on 19th Street and Sixth Avenue that lasted well into the night.

"There were hundreds of people and it was getting to the point where the city wanted him to pay for security and get a permit. It just became a big project," said girlfriend Pam Vopper. "It was too much money."

Enter David Audet, a director for the Artists and Writers Group, a nonprofit organization that stages art, literature and performance events around the Tampa Bay area. He asked Stephens if he wouldn't mind if the group resurrected the procession. Stephens, who did not attend because of a business trip, agreed.

"I just think it's important to preserve Ybor's traditions," Audet said.

The crowd, decked out in boas, sparkly dresses, umbrellas and hats festooned with plastic and fabric beaks and wattles, assembled in a parking lot outside Al's Finger Licking Good Barbecue.wintert-shirts - Micro Fleece Lined Shirts,

They marched two abreast up 18th Street to Gaspar's Grotto, then turned east to the Dirty Shame pub, concluding at the bird's backyard grave marker. It lasted about 45 minutes.

"I thought it went pretty well," Audet said. "We would have been happy if 20 people had showed up." He couldn't say whether the event will return next year — "We'll see," he said.

Some of the "mourners" tossed cracked corn onto the fowl's marker. Others thumbed through scrapbooks and newspaper clippings that Vopper had assembled on tables.

"Every time we would take a drink, we would pour out a little bit for the rooster," said Nipum Kumar, 24, a pharmacy school student.replicawatches, Panerai replica watches, replica Panerai, replica omega, "He liked Stella Artois.fashionairmaxfor the entire family."

Rachel Zablocki, 26, of Tampa thought it ironic that the event was tagged dog-friendly. She processed with her black Labrador retriever, Felony, by her side.

"She likes chickens," Zablocki said. "In fact, she had some of my chicken dinner a little while ago."

Phelps fills Sabathia's shoes admirably

But Phelps did a nice job filling in for the Yankees ace on Saturday afternoon.

The right-hander went innings against the Red Sox in a losing effort, giving up seven hits and three earned runs.A tagheuerwatchfederal appeals court on Thursday upheld the conviction of Karen Sypher,

"I was just getting ahead of guys," Phelps said. "Staying on the attack the whole game and getting in favorable counts for myself."

He struck out seven and made just one crucial mistake all game, leaving a 92 mph fastball off the plate but in a place where Adrian Gonzalez could handle it.

"It was right where we wanted it," Phelps said of the pitch to Gonzalez. "That ball's down and off the plate a little bit. He's strong and he got enough of it."

Gonzalez crushed Phelps' offering over the left-field wall to give Boston a 2-0 lead.

The rookie then retired nine of the next 10 hitters he faced.

"We liked what he gave us," Joe Girardi said.

But Phelps got into trouble in the fifth against Pedro Ciriaco, who is establishing a reputation as a Yankee killer.

The shortstop finished on Saturday. On the season, Ciriaco is batting against the Yankees. Ouch.Welcome to wedgeshoes Online Store.

In the fifth, Ciriaco hit a one-out single to start a Red Sox rally.

Nick Punto followed with an RBI double that turned into a triple when Andruw Jones bobbled the ball in the right-field corner.

Had Jones come up with the ball cleanly and fired home, maybe Ciriaco doesn't score there.

It was one of the flew blemishes in an otherwise strong outing for Phelps.

"I love what that kid gives us," Nick Swisher said.

Saturday was Phelps' second start in place of Sabathia. And it seems like it may be his last.

Sabathia threw a bullpen session on Saturday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a sore left elbow.

Afterward, he said in no uncertain terms that he'd be starting on Friday against Cleveland.

Girardi was hesitant to commit to a return date for Sabathia. But it seems that as long as Sabathia doesn't suffer a setback,breitlingstore has been a global supplier of elegant watches for over three decades. he'll be on the mound in Cleveland.

Which leaves Phelps' future unclear.

Girardi dismissed the idea that Phelps could replace Ivan Nova, who has struggled of late, or any other Yankees starter.

"No, our guys are going to make their starts,niketn shoes wholesale, cheap tn shoes ," Girardi said, adding of Phelps, "We like what he does. He's a guy that's somewhat of a swing guy for us. If we need him to start he can start. He's a valuable guy on your team because he can do so many things and he's had success in all areas.Find brand-name swisswatchesat your fingertips with fast,"

Once Sabathia returns, Phelps could go to the minor leagues and remain stretched out to start or could return to the Yankees bullpen as a long man.

For the next few days, however, Phelps will continue to prepare as if he's starting in place of Sabathia, until he hears otherwise.

"I'll just show up tomorrow, do my work and go from there," Phelps said. "I'll think about the next day when it comes."

How Zumba Built a Brand with a Cult Following in Just a Few Years

Die-hard followers in neon spandex and branded garb lunge,weddingdresses Discounted Sale Prices! loosen and head roll to prepare for the hour of exertion ahead. Latin-infused hip-hop pulses through the room. An instructor in a thoughtfully torn, branded tee and cargo pants commands the crowd, advising, "If you get lost, just shake your booty."

If a 70-year-old in the front row a retired lawyer named Judy could face Zumba head-on, so could I.

Just not from the front. By unspoken agreement, Jeffrey Perlman, chief marketing officer of the fitness craze, and I made our way to the back of the crowded studio. A few minutes in, Mr. Perlman, who must have sensed my awkwardness in the room now abuzz with skilled and rapturous Zumba-ers, leaned over and whispered, "When all inhibitions go out the window, that's when the magic happens."

He wasn't talking only about the class, but the marketing philosophy behind a fast-growing lifestyle brand with a cult-like following. The company surpassed its goal of 10 million participants in 2011, and in the past six years it has expanded its marketing budget to more than $50 million from just $2 million. Now, with solid awareness and growing product sales, the brand is speeding up global expansion, banking on nontraditional partnerships and planning to Zumb-ify the world.

What began as an infomercial company changed gears in 2006 after Mr. Perlman was inspired by a billboard featuring two muscular dancers in David LaChapelle's film "Rize." "Immediately, I called my brother [Alberto Perlman, the CEO of Zumba] and said "You're selling the wrong thing. You're selling fitness when you should be selling this emotion,'" he said. "I wanted to turn Zumba into a brand where people felt that kind of free and electrifying joy."

It was good timing.Cheap captoesandals online store, discount nike air max and nike free run shoes on sale. Mr. Perlman had been writing a feature-film script about a fortune-cookie writer when the Writers' Guild of America went on strike and Los Angeles became a ghost town. Prior to that, he had been working at an ad shop in L.A. He was in search of a new creative outlet.

Mr.Buyshoesat Great Prices. Perlman joined his brother and together they came up with a tagline, "Ditch the workout; join the party!" They invested $10,000 in a new home page and started selling branded clothing. They also launched the Zumba instructor network and created a corporate mission "to make our instructors successful."

"Instead of the typical full-body shot of a woman with a six pack, [we decided] you're going to see a close-up of a person feeling free and electrifying joy," he said of the promotional materials. "It worked."

Mr. Perlman was inspired by other marketing brands with devoted followings. "We wanted to try to understand what our consumers saw in us so we looked at other brands where people were tattooing the logos on their bodies," he said. The two that came to mind were Harley Davidson and yoga. "We started asking ourselves, why is Harley Davidson a lifestyle brand? What we came up with is it's a brand that can go into many other mediums but still preserve its identity. Then we looked at other fitness crazes and the only thing we could think of was yoga."???

While Mr. Perlman only takes a class every couple of months, he's certainly not slacking. He spends much of his time traveling and seeking ways to expand the brand globally. Early successes in Australia and English-speaking markets in Europe have helped pave the way for additional expansion. But it's not always simple crossing cultural barriers. In Brazil,sexylingerieSailors in the Navy's surface fleet are spending 80-plus hours a week on the job, for example, there's a decentralized gym system -- all mom-and-pop operations.

An expansion typically entails instructor training and PR. Once there's a network of instructors, reaching out to large gym chains follows. That's when "you bring out the big guns and start to look for clothing distributors, infomercial distributors, etc.," Mr. Perlman said.

Last year, the company made $60 million on apparel and accessories alone through its e-commerce platforms. Selling shoes and accessories "has a very healthy margin," Mr. Perlman said. "Right now, we're trying to figure out how we continue to put that in front of new people without affecting our margin too much." Part of the plan is incentivizing instructors to sell product through the e-commerce site in exchange for commission.

Soon after Mr. Perlman joined Zumba,Official site. Information on city services, iwcwatches, he invested in PR, working with Miami-based RBB on programs including an annual instructor convention. He also made TV integration and social media a priority. Efforts included a brand integration in "The Biggest Loser" and an initiative asking consumers to upload pictures of themselves in Zumba apparel they've ripped and redesigned. He's also devoted to the brand's video-game presence.

Kickstarter projects generate millions

In April, three-person startup Pebble Technology sought to raise $100,000 to make 1,000 wristwatches that can be programmed with different clock faces. Donors on Kickstarter showered them with more than 100 times that amount: $10.3 million. It would have gone higher had Pebble not put a cap on contributions and ended the fundraising early.

“We had tried raising money through the normal routes, and it didn’t really work,” said Eric Migicovsky, the 25-year-old founder of Pebble.

Kickstarter is the largest of dozens of sites devoted to crowdfunding, in which donors contribute small sums of money to get a project off the ground.

Inventors, artists and entrepreneurs post their projects on a Kickstarter page, usually with a video presentation. They set a fixed duration for their fundraising, from one to 60 days, and a dollar goal for contributions. Anyone can contribute. If the goal isn’t reached by the deadline, the money goes back to the contributors and the project is canceled.

Usually, the contributors get something beyond the satisfaction of knowing they helped turn a dream into reality — like a ticket to a theater production,Wholesale piagetwatches,Semi precious agate gemstone beads, or in the case of Pebble, a programmable watch.

Designer Casey Hopkins asked for $75,000 to make a luxury iPhone dock out of solid aluminum. He got $1.4 million. When that happened, in February,I saw there are many seller selling salereplicashoes, his was the first Kickstarter project to surpass $1 million. There have been six more since then. Artist Rich Burlew asked for $57,750 to put his comic books back in print, and ended up with $1.3 million.

Since launching in 2009, Kickstarter has raised $250 million for projects. Starting a project is free, but Kickstarter takes 5 percent of contributions if a project is funded,takes another 3 to 5 percent for processing the payments.

Crowdfunding started as a way to fund band tours and albums. Kickstarter wasn’t the first site of its kind. It is, however, the most successful. Co-founder Perry Chen has said the site was born out of his frustration at being unable to organize a concert. But it’s becoming a potent launchpad for tangible products as well, upending in some cases the usual way things get made.

There’s a time-worn route for entrepreneurs: They come up with an idea, find funding, make a product, sell it,it is a naturally formed single eyed coin shaped agatebeads. then pay back the funders — with interest or an equity stake in the fledgling company. Under that model, funders are usually looking for a big payoff on their early investment.

Finding funding is, of course, where many projects hit the rocks. Those who put up money for a project have to be convinced it will yield something others want — and that’s not easy to figure out.

For contributors to take part in a Kickstarter project, all they have to do is ask themselves: Do I want that?

In that sense, Kickstarter is a great way to sell things that don’t yet exist. In effect, Pebble sold 85,000 watches, and artist Rich Burlew sold 94,000 books. Now, they just have to make these things.

Migicovsky, the Pebble founder, is based in Silicon Valley, where venture capital runs in rivers. He got some funding from “angel investors” — wealthy individuals — early on and produced a small run of watches last year. But to realize his vision of a programmable watch that only needs to be charged once a week, he needed more money. The venture capitalists,Amazing turquoisebeads directly from the factory source in Arizona. who generally invest bigger sums than angels, didn’t bite. They’re used to backing Web and software projects but are apprehensive about hardware, he says.

So Migicovsky went to Kickstarter, figuring he’d raise enough money for a production run of 1,000 watches. But the project got attention from technology blogs, and the orders started pouring in. Over 37 days, he sold one watch every 38 seconds. Frantically trying to satisfy the orders, he hired six people in two weeks, tripling Pebble’s staff.

The watches will be ready this fall — without the help of venture capital.

“You want to spend your time talking to customers. You don’t really want to spend your time talking to venture capitalists. Because at the end of the day, they’re just guys with money,” Migicovsky says.

The success of Pebble and others is clearly attracting more ambitious projects. A Los Angeles-based startup, Ouya, is collecting money to create a game console. It set a $950,000 minimum — reflecting the complexity of competing against the PlayStation, Xbox and Wii — and hit $8.6 million in pledges.

David Tisch, the founder of “startup accelerator” firm TechStars, says posting a product on Kickstarter is a great way to gauge demand.wholesaleguccibags and gowns by Mori Lee will make you picture perfect for your quince. If it turns out to be strong, that can make it easier to attract investment that can turn the project into an ongoing business.

“For the first time, there’s a way to get customer feedback with money attached to it,” he said.

While entrepreneurs revel in the attention they get from donors on the website, Kickstarter’s founders are uncomfortable with the site’s role as a fundraising tool for products. The company wouldn’t comment for this story, and it doesn’t release financial data to the public because it’s a private company.

In past interviews, co-founder Yancey Strickler has suggested that Kickstarter wasn’t intended to be an engine of commerce or a route to riches.

“There is this greater idea of helping people out and that art still has value in the world,” he told board-game blog Purple Pawn earlier this year. “We generally don’t like Kickstarter to be used to, say, start a business.”

Of course, several Kickstarter projects have turned into businesses, like ElevationLab, the Portland Ore.-based startup that makes the Elevation iPhone docking station and Touchfire, a company in Redmond, Wash., that created a keyboard for the iPad.

The majority of Kickstarter projects are still non-commercial ventures like photo books and amateur musicals. At this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, 33 films, or 10 percent of the lineup, were funded through Kickstarter.

Kickstarter’s focus on artistic and creative pursuits to the exclusion of others might make it vulnerable to competition. Sam Gordon, who funded his “Brydge” keyboard for the iPad through the site, says Kickstarter needs to clearly define its guidelines for product development.

“If they don’t, then there’s room for other sites,” Gordon said.

Business and technology consultant Scott Steinberg, who has written a guide to crowdfunding, says it’s inevitable that commercialism would seep into it as the phenomenon grows.

“Crowdfunding is almost in the pre-K phase, and it’s about to grow up very fast here, and become more complex,” he says. “Inevitably, more businesses and profit-minded organizations are going to gravitate there.”

For the time being, Steinberg thinks crowdfunding will be dominated by products whose appeal is easily communicated visually, like the Pebble watch, or products aimed at fans of existing creators or products, like Burlew’s “Order of the Stick” comic.

Burlew says he believes it was crucial to have a core base of fans. His “Dungeons & Dragons”-themed Web comic has been running for eight years, and has supported Burlew and his family for most of that run.

Afghan self-defense groups give communities new freedoms

They were forbidden from traveling freely or using their cellphones. "They were placing IEDs in front of people's home so they couldn't go out at night," says Galam who spoke in front of a small mudbrick mosque where the Taliban used to sleep at night.

Today, villagers can come and go as they please. The Taliban have been driven from this area, a former insurgent stronghold west of Kandahar, thanks largely to Galam and his neighbors who joined the ranks of the Afghan Local Police, a U.S.-funded initiative to organize villagers into self-defense units.

Nationwide, there are now 13,500 villagers in the self-defense groups, which are considered a critical part of efforts to turn security responsibility over to Afghan's government as U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

By the end of September, the number of U.S. forces will have declined to about 68,000 from a high of about 100,000 last year. Most U.S. troops will leave at the end of 2014 when Afghan forces will assume responsibility for securing the country. Afghan soldiers and the local self-defense groups are assuming an increasing share of responsibility for providing security.

U.S. officials say the Afghan Local Police are not independent militia but are tied into Afghanistan's government. "They are held accountable for their actions," says Army Lt. Col. Todd Harrell, a military spokesman.

Critics, including Human Rights Watch, say some groups have abused their authority, and their loyalties are questionable. Individuals receive only three weeks of weapons training, and the group doesn't have the same level of organization and leadership as the Afghan army.

"The ALP is fighting for the money, nothing else," says Afghan army Capt. Azzim Hotek, whose soldiers in nearby Nalgham village work alongside tshoes001 is the ultimate alternative furniture store,he local police, though they share a strained relationship.

Coalition officials say a key advantage is their local knowledge. With the help of the ALP about 150 roadside bombs were pulled from the ground in just a few square miles around Siah Choy over the last few months, says Lt. Col Jeffrey Howard, a battalion commander.

"They know the locals and have better interaction with the local population," Howard says.From Jessica Simpson Pumps to LAMB Pumpspnikeairshoes, "They can tell us who is from here and who isn't."

But critics, including some in Afghanistan's army, question the professionalism and loyalties of local groups. Hotek accuses some of the ALP commanders in his area of having ties to the Taliban.

Coalition officers acknowledge that the groups have been divided by tribal and other disputes.

"During my first month there was a lot of infighting and power struggles among them," says Army Capt. Jose Armenta, a company commander.

The future of the program is not clear. Providing salaries, weapons and ammunition will be the responsibility of the Afghan government once American troops are gone.

Hotek said he doesn't believe the local units will remain loyal to the Afghan government. "When the Americans leave, the ALP is finished," he says.

For now, the groups have had an impact on security, Armenta says.

Here in central Zharay, the birthplace of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, the ALP is creating a security presence in an area where the Taliban once enjoyed freedom.

By March, the villages around Combat Outpost Nalgham had been cleared of Taliban infiltrators, as dozens of local police regularly patrol area villages and man checkpoints, according to leaders of the previous unit that first stood up the ALP.

"There used to be fighting here every day before the ALP came," says Ali Mohammed,Blowers Jewellers watchreplicaUK Cartier, Breitling, Jaeger LeCoultre,Free shipping BOTH ways on dgshoessale, a farmer in Nalgham. "Now, we have more security and can go out without fear.buywatches is one of the world's most famous producers of luxury timepieces."

Tourists were always welcome to press their noses against the glass

In 2009, there was denial,hublotreplica. Authorised Breitling Watch Stockists. when landlords continued asking for gilded-era rents, despite the lack of interested renters. In 2010, there was acceptance, when tumbleweeds could be glimpsed in empty storefronts and salespeople became uncommonly friendly. In 2011, there was bargaining, when designers, sensing an opportunity, pounced on leases with what, in retrospect, turned out to be rock-bottom rents.

Well, to put it mildly, grief is so last year.

Conspicuous consumption has made a resounding return to Madison Avenue, at least on that mile of glistening shops stretching north of Barneys New York at East 60th Street. But it isn’t quite the same Madison Avenue as what was there before.

Nearly 50 stores have opened in the last 18 months, including a diverse mix of European luxury labels, contemporary brands and hipper American designers. There’s a concept store called Fivestory, at 18 East 69th Street, that carries cool lines like Visvim and specialized Nikes.

Meanwhile, longstanding tenants like Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta and Chanel are expanding, and other labels, Etro and Gucci among them, are spiffing up their existing stores.

There was a time, and not so long ago, when Madison Avenue, like much of the Upper East Side, would have resisted such changes, especially the arrival of stores like J. Crew, which now has, egad, four stores above 65th Street, and the younger shoppers who now cruise the contemporary blocks of shops like Intermix and Theory. This isn’t the meatpacking district.

“There is a new customer on Madison Avenue, and not just for our store,” said LeAnn Nealz, the president of Juicy Couture, which opened at 860 Madison Avenue in 2006, now facing Tom Ford and separated from Celine by Laduree macarons and Chrome Hearts glitzy sunglasses. Ms. Nealz has lived on the Upper East Side for 25 years, and remembers when the fancy fabric store Pierre Deux was on the block.

“You can now buy a piece of art,Find dsquaredshoes and dsquared shoes men from a vast selection of Clothing, some shoes and a panini,” Ms. Nealz said. “It’s nice having old world New York mixed with some of these younger, hipper brands.”

Tourists were always welcome to press their noses against the glass, but there was once a sense that Madison Avenue was like the world’s most insular shopping mall. Amid stores that telegraphed excess merely by the spotless shine of their glass doors, and somehow adding to the charm of the place, were budget diners and coffee shops serving chicken salad in the shell of a tomato. Alternately, there was La Goulue, with its $28.50 plate of roast chicken and rubbernecking socialites, but that restaurant is long gone, along with that slice of Madison Avenue.

It was the bacon and eggs at Gardenia Cafe and Restaurant, a Greek diner at 797 Madison Avenue, that was a sort of madeleine for Tory Burch, who now lives in a town house a few blocks away. Back when she was just “a Philadelphia farm girl,” as she said, driving into the city with her mother, the first destination was Madison Avenue to look at the window displays.

“It was somewhat of an institution,” Ms. Burch said.

Last September, Ms. Burch, who creates clothes that evoke the lifestyles of the rich and famous at slightly more accessible prices, opened her largest store yet on the site of that diner,vuittonhandbags the Art of Fusion in Watches, which closed in 2007. Ms. Burch took over the entire building, remodeling it with three floors of selling space, a library and vast swaths of marble, mirrors, lacquer and gilt, or what the architect Daniel Romualdez imagined the space might have looked like in the 1880s.

Ms. Burch,Cheap nike outlet online store, discount nike air max and nike free heelshoes on sale. who has 73 stores around the world, had been looking for a space on Madison Avenue, but the rents were daunting. She was close to a deal in 2008 for a small store, but she wisely held back and eventually landed a better deal. After 2009, rents on the avenue averaged $600 to $800 a square foot, down from $1,000 or more, according to brokers.

Historically, designers have seen Madison Avenue as a place to run a store as if it were a billboard, a so-called loss leader. But for designers like Ms. Burch, and more of those contemporary labels entering Madison Avenue, being profitable is a priority, which means people actually have to be there to shop.

“From a performance standpoint, it’s going to be one of our top stores,” she said. “It’s not just about marketing.”

EVERY six months, Jim Leniart, the owner and creator of Red Maps, a series of foldout guides to major shopping destinations, updates a map of Midtown that includes every store along Madison Avenue up to 79th Street. Taking a taxi up the avenue the other day, Mr. Leniart observed that there was not even a dry spot anymore. This was curious in a slow-moving economy, and at a time when retail sales have been shaky at best.

“Nowhere else is there this kind of concentration of stores,” Mr. Leniart said, noting that between 60th and 78th Streets, or roughly one mile, there are 82 designer-clothing boutiques, 34 high-end jewelry stores and 34 stores specializing in categories like shoes, handbags or eyewear. “I have to believe that wealth is a factor.”

And Madison Avenue, at its core, is a local shopping district for a neighborhood that has one of the densest concentrations of wealthy residents in the world. Matthew A. Bauer, the president of the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), described it as “their Main Street.Official IWC store with full collection of Men's and ladies'shortwigs available to buy online with 0% finance available.” For that reason, the street was poised to rebound more quickly than shopping destinations that rely on heavy traffic from tourists.

When Proenza Schouler opened a store at 822 Madison Avenue in July, it was an unexpected choice because the label’s designers, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, work and associate with a largely downtown crowd. But the reality is that their customers live uptown, and as Mr. Hernandez told Women’s Wear Daily, Madison Avenue “just seems kind of big league.”

The store, small at 2,000 square feet, sticks out like a sore pinkie, with displays of handbags set amid large cactuses and eerily dark walls. On a recent afternoon, two young customers were examining the bags with a delight approaching the indecent. And they were men.

Since major designers saw the recession as an opportunity to reinvest on the street — notably Ralph Lauren, who in 2010 opened a new flagship at 72nd Street to rival his existing flagship in the Rhinelander Mansion on the other side of the street — there are surprisingly few vacant spaces. In 2009, there were more than two dozen vacancies and another two dozen tenants looking to break their leases. Now new stores are coming from Pucci, Yigal Azrouel, Kate Spade, Belstaff and Brian Atwood.

“They think I’m a bakery!” said Faith Hope Consolo, the chairman of the retail group of Douglas Elliman. “Designers call from Europe and Asia, and they all ask me, ‘Is there a building available on Madison Avenue?’ ”

It will not come as a surprise that landlords once again are asking for rents of $1,500 a square foot, higher than before the recession. Nor that the Madison Avenue BID, which tracks store openings from 57th to 86th Streets, announced in July that “Madison Avenue Welcomes Twenty New Stores in the First Half of 2012.” Nor that, as a result of the arrival of more brands that can afford those rents, Madison Avenue could begin to look like every other street of luxury shops on the planet.

Undocumented Young Immigrants Test New Policy

This morning the Obama administration offered young undocumented immigrants their first crack at a new policy that would let them live and work openly. Tens of thousands of Oregonians could be affected by the new policy. A handful of them gathered this morning to announce their intent to apply.Jildor louisvuittonshoes, Since 1949 has been providing women with designer shoes from all the top names.

Hugo Nicholas wore his best suit and shoes polished so hard their shiny patent-leather tops reflected a crowd of TV cameramen.

"The only reason we're here is because someone somewhere stood up for us when it wasn't easy," Nicholas said. "I want to thank President Obama for Deferred Action.Discover the newest models of the hublotwatchcollection."

He's referring to the so-called "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" policy. Starting today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will take requests to consider, case-by-case, deferring deportations for people who came to the U.S. before turning 16, and who've been living in the country since then, staying out of trouble.

Nicholas and about ten other people under the age of 30 said they want to be among the first to ask for consideration.

Another young Oregonian asked we only identify her using her first name, Miriam. She tearfully explained the frustrations of coming to the U.S. as an infant, and learning as she grew up her family was in the country illegally.

"We worked hard, we volunteered, we graduated at the top of our class," she said. "We stayed out of trouble. We planned for our future, only to realize the doors of opportunity had slammed in our faces."

Without legal status, immigrants have no access to driver's licenses, financial aid for college and ultimately,Top brands at low prices in authenticguccishoes, they must live with understanding that something as simple as a traffic stop could lead to deportation. Miriam said the possibility of deferment is the beginning of an exciting journey.

The first steps of that journey took the crowd from the Citizenship and Immigration Services office to the post office.

There, both Nicholas and Miriam dropped their application packets in the mail, trailed by about 50 supporters.

As exhilarating as the moment was for many of the activists, one said it was not a celebration, but a reminder of the responsibilities ahead for those seeking deferment.

CAUSA attorney Dave Lefkowitz emphasized that the Obama administration offers no assurances how long the deferments will last. He'd like to know more about possible ramifications for the applicants' family members. Plus, he said, federal assessment methods are opaque.

"The government has said this is process is going to be a case-by-case decision-making process," Lefkowitz said.Find nike christianlouboutinshoesfrom a vast selection of Men's Shoes. "Each person is going to have to make that decision on their own. How much confidence do they have that the government is going to use this discretionary program is a good faith, genuine manner, and may not use this process in a bad-faith manner."

Lefkowitz strongly recommends that people think hard about whether they meet the criteria and get a lawyer to help decide whether to apply.

Advocates on the other side of the immigration debate called the policy a back-door amnesty. Jim Ludwick with Oregonians for Immigration Reform says Deferred Action is President Obama's end-run around the system.

"He basically has bypassed Congress and the U.shoes001 is the ultimate alternative furniture store,S. Constitution, implementing a law Congress has not seen fit to pass," Ludwick said. "It's basically a slap in the face to Ams who believe in the rule of law."

Ludwick asks what people waiting to immigrate legally should make of this policy.

NRPA Comes Up with Another Winning Initiative

Now that kids have seen plenty of Olympic athletes, and one hopes, have plenty of new role models, it's time to harness some of that energy and enthusiasm, and use it to get them to commit to physical activity.

I know — easier said than done, right? Kids like the idea of going down in history, but when confronted with the idea of training, they tend to move back in front of the TV.replicawatches, Panerai replica watches, replica Panerai, replica omega, Come to think of it, the same holds true for adults.

Here's the good news, though. There's a great initiative out there to get kids and adults active,Blowers Jewellers watchreplicaUK Cartier, Breitling, Jaeger LeCoultre, and it looks easy and fun. Oh, and did we mention the possibility of appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records?

The National Recreation and Parks Association and National Geographic Kids are teaming up to produce Run for the Planet. It asks kids and adults to pledge to run, or even walk, 100 meters between noon Eastern Time Friday, Oct. 26, and noon Saturday, Oct. 27. They'd like to set the world record for the most people doing a 100-meter course during that time, and they're encouraging schools, fitness clubs, parks and others to get involved.

100 meters. Same distance run by the likes of Usain Bolt. It's only one-fourth of the way around a standard running track, for anyone who is keeping count, although NRPA and NGK don't require you to use a track. All they want is a pre-measured, level and safe course with marked start and finish lines. Anyone around the world can participate by signing up at the site.

The bait on the hook, according to both organizations,Free shipping BOTH ways on dgshoessale, is the possibility of knowing you were part of an official world record, which is something that we've seen has an undeniable attraction,Order high quality cubepuzzlee at home. We will run out of fake watches of all popular brands of our online shop! as with the recent World's Largest Swimming Lesson.

Something else cool is that if all goes well, two records will be broken over that period. One is the running record, but a second one will mark the longest chain of used athletic shoes ever collected. When kids and adults come to participate in the Run for the Planet, they'll be asked to bring a used pair of sneakers. The only qualifications are that they be athletic shoes, and that they have laces, since all the sneakers collected will be tied together by their laces to form the chain. After they're all collected and the length of the chain has been verified, the shoes will be recycled by the organizers.

The fact that this event takes place on both a Friday and a Saturday means schools have a chance to get in on the action. Even if it turns out to be a rainy day, kids could run their course in a gym.What we see and hear enough of, we buy buychristianloubouti into – often. Fitness facilities can accommodate adult participants by marking out a course and leaving a container out for old shoes. Since it's a change of season, it's certainly possible people are ready to shed their old running shoes, cross trainers or court shoes, and that kids have a pair or two they've outgrown. Organizers welcome those with more than one pair to spare.

The site for the event includes all kinds of information, as well as tips on how kids can get their schools involved, how to attract media attention, how to get the proper paperwork for the event, how to have the course measured, and more. There's even a downloadable form about shoe donation.

For kids and adults who spent two weeks over the summer watching world records fall, this is a great chance to establish fun bragging rights of their own, and to watch their used shoes get repurposed — and made famous. If there's a better plan than that, I can't think of it.

The Golden Bear Watches His Son In Colorado

After missing the 1990 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills because of a heart ailment, Gary Nicklaus, the son of the legendary golfer, was back Monday in Colorado as a 43-year-old competing with 311 other golfers in this year's edition of the amateur.

A small gallery that included his father and mother, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, watched the younger Nicklaus tee off at the 7,378-yard, par-70 CommonGround Golf Course, which along with Cherry Hills is being used over two days of stroke-play qualifying.

"That obviously was a big disappointment," Gary Nicklaus said, recalling the illness that forced his withdrawal. "But to come back some 20 years later and have another crack at it, I'm happy to be here."

The younger Nicklaus shot a 1-over 71, leaving him in a tie for 64th place heading into Tuesday's final round of qualifying. The top 64 finishers will advance to match play, which begins Wednesday and will be played on the 7,409-yard, par-71 course at Cherry Hills Country Club. Any ties will be resolved by a playoff prior to the commencement of match play, which concludes Sunday.

"I got off to miserable start -- 4 over through the first seven holes," Gary Nicklaus said. "Missed a couple of shots, had a couple of three-putts. Didn't know what was going on. Then I had four birdies in a row and got myself back into it."

All things considered,airmax2009 Women's Running Shoes, not bad, according to his dad.

"I think once you're 4 over par, you've got a windy day and you get back to a 71, that's pretty good," Jack Nicklaus said.Representing the Art of Fusion in paneraireplica,

Bobby Wyatt, 20, of Mobile, Ala., was in the lead after shooting a 64 at the Cherry Hills course. He'll conclude his qualifying play on the CommonGround course.

When Gary Nicklaus first came to Cherry Creek to play the amateur 22 years ago, he was an up-and-coming golfer who inspired comparisons to his father, a four-time U.S. Open and two-time U.S. amateur champion. But he fell ill on the eve of the `90 tournament and spent a week in the hospital undergoing treatment for pericarditis, or inflammation of the heart.

"I was there the night he had his episode. He was a pretty sad young man," said Jack Nicklaus.

Gary Nicklaus turned pro a year later but never managed to duplicate the success he had as an amateur, losing his PGA Tour card in 2003.

After 96 career tournaments in which his highest finish was second, the younger Nicklaus, who resides in Jupiter, Fla.,Amazing prices on etareplicawatch from over 100 leading watch brands including. gave up pro golf in favor of joining the family's golf course design and apparel business.

He kept playing the game, sporadically at times, and in 2007 returned to competition after being reinstated as an amateur. He qualified for this year's amateur during sectional play in Wellington, Fla.

"After a stint as a pro and having some success for a little bit -- but not great success -- he didn't play much golf for three or four years," Jack Nicklaus said. "Then, all of a sudden he kind of had some fun with it."

And here he is, back in the amateur championship as one of its oldest contestants and still glad to have the encouragement of his father.

"It's great to have his support," Gary Nicklaus said. "He's supported me since I was a little kid and probably will `til he can't any more. It's great to have him and my mom here."

Wyatt, who plays for the University of Alabama, birdied four of the first five holes en route to his front-running status on the first day of qualifying.

"Hopefully, I can play a good round (Tuesday)," Wyatt said. "I am feeling really good about my game right now. Hopefully, I can carry it along all week."

Wyatt's teammate at Alabama, Justin Thomas of Goshen, Ky., was among six players tied for second at 5 under.

Thomas, the Jack Nicklaus award winner as the top collegiate golfer a year ago, shot a 65 at the CommonGround course. He did not miss a green during a bogey-free round that also included three birdies and an eagle.

"I hit it pretty well," Thomas said. "I just took advantage of my scoring opportunities. I'm obviously going to be pleased anytime I shoot a 65."

He also took note of his college teammate's standout round.Find dsquaredshoes and dsquared shoes men from a vast selection of Clothing,

"Didn't surprise me at all," Thomas said of Wyatt. "Bobby is an unbelievable player and he's playing really good. I didn't expect anything less from him."

Also at 5 under were Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho; Sebastian Vazquez of Mexico; Brandon Hagy of Westlake Village, Calif.; Zac Blair of Ogden, Utah; and Max Homa of Valencia, Calif.

According to the U.S. Golf Association, golfers competing in this year's amateur represent 43 states and 21 countries. Vazquez won the Mexican amateur championship the last two years.shoespumps are one of the most popular styles of women's shoes.