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Tag Archives: bittersweet
11/19/15: Love The One You're With
Adam Brody, Amy Schumer, asteroids, bittersweet, cinema, Connie Briton, Derek Luke, directorial debut, end of the world, film reviews, films, Gillian Jacobs, Keira Knightley, Lorene Scafaria, Mark Moses, Martin Sheen, Melanie Lynskey, Movies, Nancy Carell, odd couple, opposites attract, Patton Oswalt, road trips, Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, romantic-comedies, Seeking a Friend For the End of the World, Steve Carell, T.J. Miller, Tim Orr, Tonita Castro, William Petersen, writer-director
When faced with the impending end of the world, there are lots of appropriate responses. One might wallow in abject despair, collapsing in the corner in a wretched ball of sobbing sorrow, lamenting all that could have been: perfectly acceptable way to meet Armageddon, no two ways about it. One might attempt some sort of last-minute, all-or-nothing push to save the day, giving every plan a shot, regardless of how far-fetched: if you have nukes, this is probably where you wanna use 'em. Will turning on every fan in the world blow the asteroid back into space? You won't know 'til you try it. If you're gonna go down with the ship, after all, make it count.
One might use the threat of upcoming doom as impetus to attempt things one's never tried: after all, if the world is ending at noon, why not try deep-sea diving at 11? If you really like drugs, sex, video games, movies, chocolate, whiskey or huffing oven cleaner, there's no better time to indulge than right before the whole world goes up in flames, right? Bottoms up, sport! Alternately, the overly pious and religious might use the countdown as an opportunity to double-down on their faith, making sure that they're as "nearer their God to Thee" as possible.
Writer-director Lorene Scafaria's Seeking a Friend For the End of the World (2012) showcases all of these possible reactions to an imminent extinction-level event but there's one possible angle that the film is much more interested in: the need for closure and the quest for true love in the twilight hours of humanity's stint on this big, ol' ball of water, rock and air. With only days to live, would you try and make the most of the life you have or take a wild shot at getting the life you always wanted but we're too afraid to go for?
SAFFTEOTW begins, ironically enough, with humanity's ultimate end: a last-ditch effort to divert a massive asteroid's collision course with Earth has failed and we are, to put it quite rudely, massively fucked. In three weeks, the enormous space rock will pulverize our former home planet, turning it (and us) into so many cosmic memories. There are no second, third or fourth chances, no last quarter Hail Marys or hope for intergalactic intervention: this is the way the world will end…with a big, ol' "bang" and a cut to black.
As the denizens of Earth rush about, doing all of those last-minute things that we previously mentioned, we're introduced to mild-mannered office drone, Dodge Petersen (Steve Carell). His wife, Linda (Carell's real-life wife, Nancy), has just left Dodge after receiving the thoroughly bleak news about humanity's future. Stunned into a sort of blank acceptance, Dodge continues to putter about the remains of his life, even as everyone around him indulges their whims to the best of their abilities.
Dodge's time to stretch his wings comes soon enough, however, when he ends up in the orbit of his quirky neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley). Not only is Penny one of those vaunted "Manic Pixie Dream Girls" that will kick-start Dodge out of his boring rut, she also holds the keys to his (assumed) happiness in another major way: she's been collecting his mail for years and one of the letters just happens to be from his long-ago girlfriend/one-that-got-away Olivia. Seems that Olivia wrote him a note a few months back in which she explained how Dodge was the love of her life and she regretted letting him go. For our hapless hero, that's all the information he needs in order to undertake a mission to reunite with Olivia and find true love in the waning hours of our collective existence.
As is always the case, however, this is easier said than done. Once Dodge and Penny hit the road together, they'll have the usual adventures (an esctacy-fueled orgy in an Applebees-type family restaurant is an easy highlight), meet the usual quirky people (CSI's William Petersen has a blast as a weirdo trucker, in one notable instance, while the party scene is stuffed to bursting with comedians like Amy Schumer, Rob Croddry and Patton Oswalt), learn the usual life lessons (sometimes, what you really need is right under your nose the whole time) and learn what it means to truly be happy.
Full disclosure: I've never been the biggest fan of either Steve Carell or Keira Knightley. In Carell's case, I've found the actor to be distressingly one-note: as far as I'm concerned, most of his roles are just variations of his Michael Scott character from The Office, including his much vaunted "serious" turn in Foxcatcher (2014). I was never particularly charmed by indie-efforts like The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Little Miss Sunshine (2006) or Dan in Real Life (2007), while films like the Get Smart (2008) remake, the Ron Burgundy films and the Despicable Me flicks really aren't in my wheelhouse.
Ditto for Knightley, who always strikes me as embodying the worst excesses of the "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" trope: regardless of the film, Knightley has a particular gift for letting her "quirky" persona overpower the proceedings, similar to someone like Zooey Deschanel. While I've seen performances of hers that were less grating (such as The Imitation Game (2014)), I've never really been fully on board.
To my immense surprise, then, Scafaria's low-key dramedy (with much more emphasis on the drama than the comedy) not only presented performances from Carell and Knightley that were tolerable, it offered performances from the two that I genuinely enjoyed and got behind. Quite frankly, the two are pitch-perfect in the film, handily portraying characters that are equal parts damaged-goods and hopeful human beings. There's a sense of world-weariness to Carell's performance that's perfectly balanced by Knightley's acid-tinged optimism: too much of one or the other might have tipped the scales but the co-stars end up providing the best kind of checks-and-balances on each other's performances.
For an actor that's made a cottage-industry out of portraying lovable doofuses, Carell's performance as Dodge marks one of the few times (for me, at least) where I actually like the character he's portraying. Dodge isn't perfect, mind you, but that's part of the charm: he's a (generally) nice guy who has made a few bad decisions, over the years, but who still takes a real "do no harm" view of society. The impending end of the world might have made him angry, depressed, or even selfish: any and all are perfectly acceptable outcomes. At the end of the day, however, Dodge is just a pretty normal dude who makes some pretty hard decisions and there's nothing about that that's hard to relate to.
For her part, Knightley's Penny serves as the perfect foil for Dodge's rather glum straight arrow. She's quirky, yes, but not in the outrageously showy, self-centered way that…well, that previous Knightley performances were. There's an underlying sadness and reliance to Penny that's as much a by-product of Knightley's performance as it is Scafaria's script. Whereas similar films might try to shove Penny's square peg into a round hole, Knightley grounds her just enough to make her seem like a genuine rebel rather than an obnoxious attention-seeker. She also expertly conveys Penny's growing attraction to Dodge, a relationship that's pretty much a foregone conclusion yet one that's still allowed a little room to breathe and grow.
The one thing that I fully expected going into Seeking a Friend For the End of the World was a full-on goofy affair, full of silly, broad characters, pratfalls and endless dismayed looks from Carell (patent pending): what I ended up with, surprisingly, was the exact opposite. Rather than a loud, blaring multiplex "adventure," SAFFTEOTW is a relatively low-key, morose affair, full of subtly strange characters, odd situations and some surprisingly astute commentary on human foibles. To be honest, the film is much more drama than comedy: even the film's obvious comic setpieces, like the aforementioned restaurant bacchanalia or the house party, are shot through with just as much melancholy and quiet sense of loss as they are outrageous knee-slappers.
Ultimately, Scafaria's end-of-the-world rom-com is a pretty rare bird: a mainstream, wide-release, popcorn flick with a big heart, sly sense of humor and bittersweet tone that never panders to its audience, yet manages to be both fun and thought-provoking. There's an honesty and sadness to the film that you just don't see in these kinds of things (suffice to say that the ending compromises nothing and gives not one inch on the film's overall thesis): it's the very epitome of "laughing through the tears" and, without a doubt, one of the film's greatest strengths.
From the outside, Seeking a Friend For the End of the World might look like a dozen other films but it's got a secret weapon that none of the others possess: it genuinely cares about the characters that haunt its reels and it wants you to genuinely care about them, too. In an all too disposable culture, that's a pretty tall order for a romantic-comedy. Scafaria understands, however, that this is probably how the world will end: with a little hand-wringing, some quiet resolution and, hopefully, a bit of true love.
3/12/15: Where There's a Mom, There's a Way
abandoned in a foreign place, adult friendships, Andres Munar, Anthony Chisholm, bittersweet, Bradford Young, cinema, co-directors, co-writers, Colombian immigrants, coming of age, courage, dramas, dysfunctional marriage, Eddie Martinez, Entre Nos, feature-film debut, female friendships, film festival favorite, film reviews, films, Gil Talmi, Gloria La Morte, homeless, homeless children, husband-wife relationship, immigration, inspired by true events, Jacqueline Duprey, Laura Montana, motherhood, Movies, multiple directors, multiple writers, Paola Mendoza, Sarita Choudhury, Sebastian Villada, self-sacrifice, set in New York City, single mother, Spanish-language films, strength, writer-director-actor
Think about Mariana (Paola Mendoza) the next time you're having a bummer day: uprooting herself and her two children from their lives in Colombia, she follows her shifty husband, Antonio (Andres Munar), all the way to Queens, New York, only for him to suddenly head off to sunny Miami, where he's decided to start a new life…one that doesn't include his "old" family. Alone in a foreign land, unable to speak the language, jobless and with children in tow, Mariana's options look as grim and hopeless as they do scarce. Like I said: there are bad days…and then there are BAD days.
The human spirit is a funny thing, though, the kind of inner power that would make a superhero blush. When someone has the will to survive and the relentless drive to keep pushing forward, against all odds…well, pretty much anything is possible. Paola Mendoza and Gloria La Morte's extraordinary Entre Nos (2009) is testament to this notion of inner strength, a semi-autobiographical story about an unstoppable mother's ferocious fight to keep her family together, despite every disaster, tragedy, hiccup and speed bump that the universe can possibly throw at her. What could have been maudlin, overly emotional or obvious becomes vibrant, life-affirming and genuinely resonant in the hands of the truly gifted filmmakers and cast.
While Entre Nos (roughly, "between us") is about the struggles that immigrants face when coming to a new country, it's also about how easy it is for people to slip from the scant comfort of the "lower" classes into the abject terror of homelessness: as Mendoza and La Morte show, there's only a few short steps and misfortunes that lead from four walls and a floor to a park bench. There's a universality to the film that goes far beyond the nationalities of its protagonists: while not all of may have first-hand experiences with the struggles of being an emigrant to a foreign country, it's fair to say that any and everyone worries, at least in the back of their heads, where their next meal is coming from.
It's to Mendoza and La Morte's great credit that they manage to combine these twin struggles, that of the immigrant and the newly homeless, into such a potent, vibrant stew. As mentioned earlier, there's nothing overly sentimental or aggressively manipulative about the film: we're simply shown a woman who's been thrown into a hole and, rather than bemoan that fact, simply puts her head down and starts digging her way out. There's a refreshing matter-of-factness to the way in which Mariana sizes up any given situation and acts: she's conflicted, sure, and we get more than a couple heart-breaking breakdown, along the way…that's just the unfortunate other half of the human condition. When the chips are down, however, Mariana has a resilience and power that's positively inspiring: if she doesn't let life beat her down, why should we?
Entre Nos, then, is about the struggles of the immigrant and the ever-present threat of personal and economic collapse: that would be a potent enough one-two punch for just about any film. There's more under the hood, however, than just the "big" issues: Mendoza and La Morte's film is also about the relationship between a mother and her children, about trying to balance being a kid with becoming an adult and about the importance of providing for your family, regardless of the costs or sacrifice. It's about friendships, those halting ones that begin over shared strife and continue based on genuine love.
This is Mariana's story but it's not hers, alone, to tell: characters like the kindly recycling maven, Joe (Anthony Chisholm), or Mariana's landlord/hesitant friend, Preet (an absolutely extraordinary Sarita Choudhury), contribute just as much to the overall tapestry, but we'd be remiss not to mention the reason for Mariana's constant struggle: her beloved son, Gabriel (Sebastian Villada), and daughter, Andrea (Laura Montana). As strong as the rest of the cast are, Villada and Montana still manage to shine as the equally resilient kids. It's a real treat watching Gabriel, slowly, become a man, while Andrea provides a necessary innocence and sense of child-like optimism to circumstances that could certainly be deemed soul-crushing.
Entre Nos isn't just an acting tour de force, however: the film is exquisitely crafted and looks amazing. Props to Gil Talmi for a funky, head-bobbing score that mixes cumbias with more "traditional" dramatic scores and only occasionally dips into stereotypically "serious" territory. The often gorgeous cinematography, courtesy of Bradford Young, has endless appeal: there's one shot that frames Mariana and her sleeping children like the Pieta and is almost impossibly beautiful. In the years since Entre Nos' release, Young would go on to shoot a couple of films called Selma (2014) and A Most Violent Year (2014): you know…no big deal…
Like the particular spot of land that it depicts, Entre Nos is nothing if not a melting pot of influences, styles, points of view and ways of life. There's a vibrancy and immediacy to the proceedings that pulls viewers in and keeps us right in the thick of things: if I had to compare the filmmakers' style to anything, it would be latter-day John Sayles, which is pretty damn high praise, indeed. There's an eye and ear for the way that every-day folk talk and interact that cuts thorough generations of artificial bullshit and gets right to the heart of the human condition: each and every one of us deserves to live our lives to the fullest of our potential, regardless of our individual situations.
We find out, at the end, that Andrea became a filmmaker and created Entre Nos as a tribute and testament to the strength of her mother. It makes perfect sense: everything about the film has the feel of a passion project and Mendoza's triple-threat of writing-directing-acting is nothing short of stunning. Reminiscent of Marion Cotillard's powerful blend of iron-will and vulnerability, Mendoza's performance is utterly unforgettable and the film's deserves all of the love that it's received at festivals since its release (although a little mainstream attention might be nice…).
Exemplifying the very best aspects of the human condition, Entre Nos is a film that deserves not only praise for its technical and thematic elements but for its ability to unite us all under one common need, regardless of race, class, gender, nationality or political affiliation: if you can't understand and empathize with Mariana's need to make a better life for herself and her children, well, pardner…I'm gonna go ahead and assume that you're not human. In this one case, the film was definitely not made for you: move along…absolutely nothing to see here, whatsoever.
3/5/15: Hail To the Freaks
17 Tuesday Mar 2015
bands, Best of 2014, bittersweet, Captain Beefheart, Carla Azar, Chris Sievey, cinema, co-writers, dark comedies, disguises, Domhnall Gleeson, dramas, dysfunctional family, entertainment community, experimental music, fame, favorite films, film reviews, films, foreign films, François Civil, Frank, Frank Sidebottom, Frank Zappa, Hayley Derryberry, hidden identities, inspired by true events, Irish films, James Mather, Jon Ronson, Leonard Abrahamson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, mainstream vs counter culture, masks, mental illness, Michael Fassbender, Movies, music-based films, musicians, outsider art, outsiders, Peter Straughan, pop music, Scoot McNairy, Shane O'Brien, social media, Stephen Rennicks, voice-over narration, Wes Anderson
Do true musicians create for themselves, alone, or is there always some sort of audience in mind? It's a question that's probably plagued the entertainment community since the first humans discovered that banging rocks in syncopated fashion caused people to get up, get down and get a little crazy. As music gradually moved from a pure art form into a commodity as readily quantifiable as real estate holdings, the question has become even more prescient: where, exactly, is the dividing line between art and product?
Is it even possible for musicians to create purely for the sake of creativity or is a marketing angle necessary regardless of how "experimental" or "outre" you are? Would past geniuses like Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart or Einstürzende Neubauten even be able to get a foothold in our current musical climate or would they be instantly written off and discarded for being too "uncommercial" or "difficult to sell"? And what, exactly, does it say about us if everything nowadays must come with a price tag? Art for art's sake? Not on our watch, bub!
Leonard Abrahamson's Frank (2014) takes a look at some of these questions, although it's not as interested in the answers as it is in positing more questions: To whom, exactly, does an artist's music belong? Does it belong exclusively to that artist? To their fans? Their critics? The world at large? Is it more important to stay true to one's "vision" and languish in obscurity or is compromise necessary in order to insure that at least some part of an artist's meaning makes it out, even in an unintended form? What responsibility do musicians have towards their fans and vice versa? Do the wants and desires of the masses outweigh and override the needs of the individual artist? And, perhaps most importantly: what responsibility do audiences owe severely "damaged" artists? If the very act of creating leads to mental distress for the musician, is it proper (or even moral) for the rest of us to consume said product?
Loosely based on Jon Ronson's book about his tenure with Frank Sidebottom (aka Chris Sievey) in the '80s, Abrahamson's film combines elements of the enigmatic performance artist (known for wearing a giant, fake head at all times) with aspects of Captain Beefheart's eclectic, "everything and the kitchen sink" recording process to come up with the perfect outsider artist. By updating the action to the present day, Frank also allows for some rather piercing insight into the ways in which things like social media help to shed light on previously unknown performers, for better or (in the this case) much worse. Through it all, however, one thought remains clear over all others: some people are just out of step with their era, regardless of what era that happens to be.
Our entry into the story is young Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), an aspiring singer-songwriter-keyboardist who still lives with his parents, is constantly on Twitter and seems to spend the majority of his time walking around, writing spontaneous songs about any and everything he sees. As luck would have it, Jon lands a gig with a touring band after their keyboardist, Lucas (Shane O'Brien) tries to drown himself in the sea. The band's name is unpronounceable, their music sounds like an atonal, experimental jam (including theremin!) and their frontman, Frank (Michael Fassbender) wears a giant paper-mache head as he rants, raves and performs what seems to be some sort of stream-of-conscious manifesto. Needless to say, Jon is fascinated by the group and thrilled when he gets the call to join them, full-time, as their new keyboardist.
Once in the band, Jon finds himself smack dab in the middle of a fairly unique group of individuals: Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal), the theremin player, is almost impossibly angry and seems to hate Jon with absolute zeal; Don (Scoot McNairy), Frank's right-hand man, spent time in a mental hospital and used to "fuck mannequins"; Baraque (François Civil) and Nana (Carla Azar) don't speak English and dress as if they just stepped out of a French New Wave film. And Frank…oh, my…Frank. Our titular fellow is a complete mystery, a soft-spoken, well-reasoned musical prodigy who just happens to operate on a completely different wavelength from the rest of the world. His perception of "normal" is so skewed that when Jon asks him for a more "mainstream" song,at one point, his contribution still sounds like some form of mutant Martian national anthem.
Things go from "absurd" to "very difficult" in no time flat after the group convenes in an isolated cabin (on a deserted island, to boot) in order to record their album. As Jon tries to push the group into a more "mainstream" direction, Clara and the others push back with all their might: only Frank seems bemused enough to want to give it a shot. Frank's idea of "normal," however, is about as abnormal as it gets and Jon begins to dread the group's upcoming performance at a South By Southwest music showcase: will Frank's decidedly cracked psyche be able to handle not only the trip to America but the exposure to a (presumably) new audience or will Clara need to make good on her promise to stab Jon if he "fucks up America for them?" As their situation gets stranger, more strained and more precarious, Jon will gradually come to realize that some artists really are better off in the margins, away from the blinding-white spotlight of public perception.
In every way possible, Leonard Abrahamson's Frank is a love letter to the weirdos, the freaks and the dreamers of our world, those individuals who follow their own drummer and, in the process, create so much indelible, amazing art for the rest of us to enjoy, puzzle over, debate, love and hate. Operating within a production style that handily recalls that other great lover of the misfits, Wes Anderson, Frank is a colorful, quirky, odd and utterly endearing film, packed with great performances and some nicely nuanced commentary about this crazy era we find ourselves in.
As a biopic of the original Frank Sidebottom, it's difficult to gauge how well Frank hits its mark: as someone who's only peripherally aware of the Sidebottom character, it's pretty impossible for me to determine how "accurate" any of this is. On the other hand, I'm familiar enough with outre artists like Captain Beefheart to recognize bits and pieces of their history in the film, leading me to believe this is more of a melange than anything approaching a straight-forward biography. If anything, I'm sure that the character of Frank Sidebottom provided the filmmakers with a readily identifiable outside artist to reference, as well as giving the film its visual hook (that big, fake head is pretty unforgettable, after all).
By updating the action to the present day, Abrahamson, Ronson and co-writer Peter Straughan are able to make plenty of astute observations about the ways in which social media help to fuel (or, in some cases, create) a performer's career. Despite never playing a single gig in the U.S., Frank and the others (supposedly) have a ready-made audience waiting for them, thanks to Jon's numerous Twitter and Youtube updates on the band's recording process. It doesn't matter that their music is highly experimental and unlikely to appeal to the "average" music festival fan: social media hype turns everything into an "event," even if for only a minute or two. As Jon comes to discover, however, interest in "hype" is much different from actual interest in something: hype is what gets bodies in the seats but it's no guarantee that they'll stay there.
There's also plenty of interesting discussions on the dangers of exposing "vulnerable" artists to a larger, uncaring audience. As we come to know Frank better, it's painfully obvious that he's a deeply troubled, possible mentally disturbed, individual. This, of course, doesn't stop Jon from trying to expose him to a larger audience: as a "true fan," Jon feels that he has an obligation to expose his heroes to as many people as possible. As a similarly hardcore fan of music, I know exactly what he's feeling: if I had a penny for every time I tried to expose someone to challenging, experimental or "difficult" music, I'd own most of the planet's uninhabited islands, by this point.
While there are plenty of great performances in the film (Gyllenhaal and McNairy are particularly great), they all tend to orbit around Gleeson and Fassbender's twin planetary spheres. Gleeson is quickly establishing himself as one of this generation's finest actors, as handily capable of portraying sweet naivety as he is petulant bullheadedness. In other hands, Jon might have come out a much different character: too much "nice" and he's a lunk-headed bit of stage property…too much avarice and he's an unrepentant creep. In Glesson's hands, however, Jon is nothing if not complex: we come to understand not only his over-riding desire for fame and recognition, at any cost, but also his genuine love and affection for Frank and his band. The last thing that Jon would ever want to do is destroy the group that he loves so much which, ironically, makes his inevitable destruction of said band so genuinely sad.
For his part, Fassbender works wonders with just his voice and body language: Frank's fake head could have come across as just another gimmick but there's never the sense that Fassbender takes the performance as anything less than deadly serious. It would have been incredibly easy to turn Frank into a childish symbol of innocence and purity but Fassbender is always able to keep the character fully grounded, even during the film's more whimsical moments. For as often as the film builds genuine laughs and humor from the character of Frank, it just as often frames him in a poignant, bittersweet way that never fails to remind us of his ultimate situation: this isn't just a quirky weirdo…this is a real, damaged individual whose unblinking mask hides a wealth of fear, insanity, confusion and sorrow. While Fassbinder has been a reliable presence in films for a good decade, at this point, Frank is one of his most subtle, vibrant creations yet. The moment where we finally see him, sans mask, is a real gut-punch and Fassbender deserves much of the credit for that.
Frank is a helluva film, no two ways about it. While there's plenty of humor here (the scenes where the band tries to record their album are all great, as are any of the ones where Clara threatens to commit grievous bodily injury to Jon), the film has a solid emotional core that leads to some incredibly powerful moments. By the time we get to the hushed, intimate finale that features a band reunion in a scrappy pool hall, it's pretty obvious that Frank is an exceptional piece of filmcraft. Whether you love music, love outsiders, love a rags-to-riches-to-rags story or just love good films, Frank should be right up your alley.
If nothing else, the film should give anyone pause for thought whenever they consider their favorite "unknown" artist: we might want the whole world to celebrate them, just like we do…but what would they actually want? Chances are, if they're anything like Frank, they just want the chance to live their lives, in their world, under their own terms.


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Gaming Tips 12.27.2021
The Best Racing Games of 2021
For when you absolutely, positively gotta go fast.
by Brittany Vincent 3 Minute Read
Run, don't walk, to play our picks for the best racing games of 2021!
When you just gotta go fast, jumping in your car and putting the pedal to the metal isn't always feasible. There are rules of the road to obey, after all. And you probably don't own a Bugatti Chiron. So what do you do? Turn to games, of course! This past year was a great one for various genres of games, but an especially good one for racers. Here are our favorites of the year, the best you can get right now.
Hands-down the best racer of the year, Forza Horizon 5 speeds past the rest to make a memorable open-world adventure that anyone can enjoy. Forza Horizon 5 is a triumph in terms of sheer number of activities to complete, cars to unlock, and ways to enjoy the game and its massive open world with friends and even strangers. Its customization options are unmatched as well, with plenty of wrap options and other cool ways to take your favorite car and make it your own. Whether you're more into import cars and souping them up or you want to try out the most luxurious names in racing history, it's all there for you in Forza Horizon 5 — as is an awesome, gorgeous landscape to tear up alone or with friends.
Hot Wheels Unleashed
A Hot Wheels game may not seem like best of the year material, but that's where Hot Wheels Unleashed will prove you wrong. This was, by far, one of the most enjoyable racers that debuted this year. It didn't have to introduce a whole inventory of realistic cars or tracks to be fun. Instead, it served up some of the coolest, toy-centric racing the industry has seen in some time. Drive a DeLorean, paint a Corvette glittery pink, and race around basement man caves, construction zones, and fanciful destinations that make you feel like you've been transported to the realm of childhood once more. It feels fantastic to drive every single one of the cars you unlock, and it channels the Hot Wheels spirit exceptionally well. If you need a little more childlike excitement in your life, this is the way to get it.
Riders Republic may not center solely around cars, but that's what makes it so exciting. You can power down a mountain on jet skis, explore the National Parks of the United States, and rocket around with some of the coolest extreme sports you can think of. It's a fun mishmash of unique experiences that no one has placed together in a game quite like this before, and the way it approaches bringing all of these things together feels like you're playing a well-developed collection of mini games more than anything else. If you're looking to do a few different types of racing, this is the game that'll strike your fancy as soon as you jump in.
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Which racing games get your blood pumping? Join the official SteelSeries Discord to chat about your favorites of the year!
About Brittany Vincent
Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for 14 years for a variety of publications. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the next great visual novel (like Saya no Uta.)
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FacePhi reaches Vietnam
After their appearance in Asia in 2019, the company has consolidated its presence among important financial groups and banks in the region, recently accessing the 'Innovation Financial Services' sandbox launched by the South Korean government
FacePhi will integrate its SelphID software into the account opening processes for Pinetree Securities clients, so that the new user can verify their identity through a comparison between a simple selfie taken at the moment and the photograph of their identity document
"Vietnam is one of the economies that has evolved the best in 2020, despite the difficult situation experienced by the pandemic, with growth forecasts that many experts place above 6% in 2021″, the Company explains
FacePhi maintains its momentum in Asia with the signing of a new agreement with Pinetree Securities, the digital leading finance company specialized in online investment services in Vietnam. This project represents the entry of Spanish technology into the Vietnamese market, marking a new milestone in its rapid expansion across the Asian continent, just two years after establishing its first international headquarters in South Korea.
The technology that the firm will integrate into Pinetree Securities will be the SelphID digital onboarding software, which will facilitate the opening of new client accounts. To achieve this, the solution will request a simple selfie from the user, which will be taken with a passive liveness test, it will extract the patterns from their face and compare them with the photograph present in their identity document, in order to verify their identity in a quicker and safer way. This fully-digital & mobile-accessible process will provide better user-experience with strong security and convenience.
"The Pinetree Securities project gives us the opportunity to collaborate with a leading company in Vietnam, which has made customer service and the generation of trust their true hallmarks. It is a great opportunity to be able to contribute our biometric solutions to the digitization process of such a company", explains Dongpyo Hong, CEO of FacePhi APAC, who also values the firm's entry into a new market: "Vietnam is one of the economies that has evolved the best in 2020, despite the difficult situation experienced by the pandemic, with growth forecasts that many experts place above 6% in 2021. It is a country that is being very proactive in the commercial sphere, which in recent years has opened up a lot abroad by signing international treaties and which is managing to attract more and more foreign investment".
With this new agreement, FacePhi continues to boost its presence in Asia, where the firm specialized in biometric solutions has already developed multiple projects for major financial groups, banks and hospitals. Since mid-2019, the company has grown especially in South Korea, where it has become part of the regulatory sandbox 'Innovation Financial Services' launched by the Korean government.
Pinetree Securities Corporation is Vietnam's leading online investment services company and since 2019 is part of Hanwha Investment & Securities and Hanwha Group Hanwha Group, a leading economic group in Korea.
PrevBackFacePhi and Inviu sign agreement for use of Selphi
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PeopleFund's Korean customers can now borrow at any time from any location
Ten years of unstoppable growth
We specialise in digital onboarding and biometric authentication solutions and are the leaders in Spain for user identification technology.
Digitalise - CV Remote Working Project. Thanks to FEDER and IVACE, the organization has adapted to a production model that minimises dependencies on face-to-face activities and allows the integration of new talent from multiple universities in the Valencian Community.
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Q: How to track number of hits to a particular web app on application server I am working on development of web application where i need to track the number of hits to a particular web application from client side using Ajax.
MyEar has below wars:

*

*APP-a

*APP-b (using Spring framework 3.1.0 )

*APP-c (using Spring framework 3.1.0 )

*APP-d

I want to track/count(using filters in APP-b and APP-c) the number of request to application APP-b and APP-c from a APP-d(using ajax)
I cannot use session as my APP-b and APP-c are stateless.
Thanks for any help :)

A: You can use interceptors.
1)If you want to have separate count of requests to APP-b and APP-c, just define a static variable in your both apps. Every time , a request is received in the interceptor, check whether it is from APP-d. If it is, increment the static counter. Keep on updating the file or db(where you are saving your count) periodically after some time.
2)If you want to have overall count as total no of hits in both your apps, then you should use a cache that supports clustering(most of caches do), so that you will be able to access it from both your apps. After receiving request, get previous count from cache , increment it and update it in your file or database.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Can't promote posts Who know how use graph api for promotion posts? I mean feature from next link:
https://www.facebook.com/help/promote
I should from my app can send a post to some fan page and then able to "Promote" this post.

A: Manually you can promote a post by following these steps

*

*Click  at the top right of any Facebook page and choose Account Settings

*Click Payments in the left column

*Click View next to Purchase History

To do it via your app, you should have acces to facebook Ads API. Please note that if you want to apply for Ads API Access, you will need to fill form at https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/517221111658494.


The following email addresses are not secure for sending confidential information. Contact the credit union for other methods to send confidential information i.e. Social Security numbers, Drivers License, Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Income Tax Returns, W-2's, etc.


text:
A very special invitation
By: Dave Gunner
Sarah Read is our external affairs specialist who looks after all our air transport agreements, or bilaterals, which are treaties between nations that enable commercial airlines to fly. We found her stepping off a flight from Cuba and asked what she'd been up to.
Last year saw the first visit of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to the United Kingdom. To mark the landmark occasion, a UK Cuban trade body known as The Cuba Initiative hosted an event at which the president suggested a re-launch to celebrate 25 years of the partnership, along with a trade mission to Cuba.
We worked closely with The Cuba Initiative following the announcement, in order that we'd be the airline of choice for delegates attending the mission. Virgin Atlantic flies twice a week from London to Havana so we were keen to welcome these high profile businesses onboard.
After mojitos at our pre-brief in Havana's Melia Cohiba hotel, delegates headed off for an early night in preparation for the days ahead. The mission began with a flurry of excitement as it became clear the president would be attending, and a series of presentations, discussions, meetings and tours followed over the next few days. During the week, HBM Ambassador to Cuba hosted delegates and Cuban ministers at the British embassy residence in Vedado; a beautiful building although rivalled by many others in the neighbourhood. Most unexpected, and a standout highlight of the trip, was an invite to a reception held by President Díaz-Canel at the Palace of the Revolution, behind Revolution Plaza.
Sarah standing next to President Diaz-Canal at the Palace of the Revolution.
My first visit to Havana was back in 1996, my last in 2012, and once again I was fortunate enough to have some time to explore. While Havana is a great city to encounter on foot, with the encroaching June humidity, and having just seen Joanna Lumley filming by the Hotel Nacional, I opted to follow her lead and take a tour in a classic car.
Restored and running classic cars were certainly visible on my previous visits, but it was nothing like on the scale you see now. Today they are everywhere, no doubt to accommodate growing tourism, and the bonus is it makes determining your routing, duration and price totally negotiable. Lewis was my knowledgeable and accommodating driver, and was happy to stop for my 'quick photo' requests. It's such a fantastic way to orientate yourself around the city, especially if time is limited. I hopped out at the Hotel Nacional for a 'research' mojito hoping I may see Joanna; I didn't. But I did soak up some stunning views over the Malecon, while music echoed from a distant corner and peacocks strutted around the gardens. It's an especially lovely location at the weekends to watch the sun set and the world go by, as Havana heads out to promenade along the Malecon.
That evening, however, I was meeting delegates at Paladar5Sentidos for dinner. My last memory of a paladar (private restaurant) was ascending a dimly lit staircase into an eclectically furnished room. This time, as I ambled through old Havana looking for the address, I was genuinely surprised to see the restaurant looking like it could have been in any city, no hidden doorway, no mismatched plates. The kitchen was open, the menu choice vast, the food and mojitos excellent, as confirmed by my fellow diners and by me.
The arrival of the newer hotels in Havana such as the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski and Iberostar Grand Packard brings with it glamorous Miami-style roof terraces with horizon pools and spectacular views – a lovely if slightly expensive way to take a break. In Old Havana, the long-established Saratoga and Parque Central have exceptional views over the National Capitol Building, and for a Hemingway connection head to the pale pink Hotel Ambos Mundos, where the roof terrace offers strong coffee and friendly staff. I may have needed both in equal measure that morning.
The National Hotel
It feels like a lot has changed in Havana since my last visit, however the two strongest memories I have of the city were still gloriously evident. Firstly, hearing music all around, in bars and restaurants, on street corners, from car radios, like a continual soundtrack to your personal Havana discoveries. Secondly is the genuine warmth of the people – usual precautions apply for every city of course, but you'll find you can never be lost for long, and you'll be greeted with the friendliest welcome.
Our cabin crew know this destination incredibly well and are experts on the latest places to visit in Havana and beyond, so be sure to check with them on your next visit.
Find out more about Sarah and the strange world of bilateral agreements here. Book your Virgin Atlantic flights to Havana on our website
Dave Gunner
Welcome to the Virgin Atlantic Blog. We hope you enjoy reading stories about our people, the places we fly, our aircraft, and what we're doing to reduce our environmental impact.
More articles by Dave Gunner
Categories: Our People
Tags: Cuba People
Cuba's creative hubs: Inside the Havana art scene
10 of the Best Paladares in Havana
Where to Dance Salsa in Havana
Beyond Havana: Exploring the Viales Valley


As their beloved Black Sheep member Lucy Binger prepares to tie the knot, the close-knit group decide they need a weekend to unwind before the big day. Suzanne Cavanaugh has just the spot—her friend Amy lives in a luxury New England community on Osprey Island, renowned for its famous cliff walk and spectacular ocean views, and she would be happy to host the knitters.
Knit to Kill by Anne Canadeo is the first book in A Black Sheep & Co. Mystery series (continuation of Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries). The ladies are off to enjoy four days on Osprey Island, Maine before Lucy Binger gets married. Suzanne Cavanaugh's friend Amy has loaned them a cottage and they are looking forward to a relaxing few days. The first night, Maggie has agreed to teach a knitting class to Amy's knitting group. They witness an argument between Dr. Julian Morton and Derek Pullman. The next morning during yoga class, they hear sirens. They find out that Dr. Morton was found dead on the rocks below the cliffs. Evidence suggests that Julian was pushed to his death. When Amy's husband becomes Detective Dunbar's prime suspect, the ladies discover that Julian had many enemies. Can they untangle the clues and nab the killer before the end of their weekend? Knit to Kill is technically the ninth book in the series. I recommend reading the other books in the series prior to attempting Knit to Kill. The full backstory (not even last names) of the main characters is not provided in Knit to Kill. I found the majority of the book devoted to drinking, eating, walking, biking, knitting, talking, more eating, spa treatments, and swimming. The mystery was a small portion of the story and it was unchallenging. My rating for Knit to Kill is 3 out of 5 stars. The killer's identity can be discerned before Dr. Morton's body is discovered below the cliffs. With a lack of action, I found that the story dragged. I wish there had more investigation and less speculation (and rehashing). There is a recipe for French toast (mentioned in the book) at the end of the book along with a shawl pattern. Knit to Kill is a light, breezy cozy mystery that will appeal to many readers.


Fast, Friendly, HONEST,EXCELLENT Service at fair prices. I highly recommend Rudy's. They don't Rip you off with needless repairs.
You guys are the best! Thanks for taking the initiative to find the nail in my tire and just fixing it. You knew that what I would have wanted. I count on the care you give to my vehicle.
I am so happy with the work that was done by Rudy's Auto! We will not only reccommend your shop to others, but as my husband said to me after my car was fixed: "I guess we've found our new shop for both of our vehicles maintenance!" Thank you for everything, we were made to feel comfortable, treated with honesty and respect, and even though I was stressed to the max about my vehicle's problems I left there knowing that I now have a shop I can count on to be honest and provide quality work. Bang up job!
My diagnosis was wrong, yours was right. Friendly, helpful front desk. Glad I brought the problem to you. When the times comes I'll be back.
I've been coming to Rudy's for over 25 years because I know it is a place where I can trust the service and the people who provide it. Hester is one of the reasons I've kept coming back since I always felt I could talk with her about whatever vague or undefined problem I might be having with my car. I never felt judged for my lack of knowledge.


An away Boys Freshman/C-Team Basketball game on 1-29-19 at 6:15 at Peru has been added to the schedule.
Due to Wabash having to reschedule a Boys JV/V game, the Boys Freshman/C-Team game against the Apaches originally scheduled at Eastern will now be at Wabash with a start time of 5:00.
Due to injuries at North Miami, the home Boys Freshman/C-Team Basketball game tomorrow night (1-17-19) against the Warriors at Eastern has been cancelled.
Due to low numbers at Carroll, the Boys Freshman/C-Team Basketball game on 1-15-19 at Carroll has been cancelled.


Includes unlimited streaming of Fleursy Music (PLOP4) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
"Fleursy Music" is a breathtakingly beautiful album by young Japanese composer. He creates music by merging electronics with many type of acoustic instruments such as piano, organ, violin, viola, cello, trumpet, sax, clarinet, flute, guitar, glockenspiel, accordion, melodion, drums and percussions. These instruments are remarkably well textured as he records in very unique situations - like in the tunnel, mountains, abandoned hotel lobby and concert halls - capturing the natural reverberations of the atmosphere. And after recording, he processes and carefully layers these sounds in his computer to obtain the perfect combination.
The 10 tracks here were selected among over 150 compositions he made during these 2 years.


text:
January's Theme
Community picks
EvilBlackSheep
March's Stats
aka. Weird times are upon us
How is it going guys? I hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well. Like a lot of people right now, I'm confined at home so at least there is time for the backlog. It was my last month of Xbox pass and I managed to play Final Fantasy XV and then try a few more games. At least now I know that Ori 2 and Indivisible are not really for me. I also started Metro Exodus and liked what I played of it, but didn't have time to finish it, especially because I went back to Dead Cells and I'm addicted to it again (I blame Skatrzoo for this). Anyway, I just hope you're all staying home for those who can, and staying safe for those who still have to work in those weird times. Let me know how you've been dealing with the situation, depending on what measures your country has been taking. And game on!
Assassinations Report
Added to the Backlog of Doom
Backlog+
10 3 0 5 55+53
Backlog of Doom
ABC Challenge 2.0 Progress (2/27)
Finished this month: 0
89% never played
4% unfinished
4% beaten
4% completed
Most Satisfying Finish
Most Exciting Addition
Gems of War
105 hours playtime
61 of 74 achievements
71 of 100 achievements
36 hours playtime
Iris and the Giant
5 hours playtime
5 of 16 achievements
Hidden Through Time
1 hour playtime
Monster Hunter World - Iceborne
372 hours playtime, 71 of 100 achievements
Finished the main story of the Iceborne DLC in coop with girlfriend. The DLC is definitely worth the money, as it adds a lot of content and new monsters. As for the base game, the story itself has little interest, and hunting with friends is where it's at. Will probably put some more hours into it in the upcoming month. Recommended for all those who liked the base game.
4 hours playtime, 16 of 19 achievements
Pretty much a clone of Hidden Folks, with added color and a level editor, by a totally different studio. It's not a bad game and if you liked Hidden Folks and want more, have a look at it, but the original is better.
36 hours playtime, 43 of 59 achievements
That was my "big" project for March, to finish this before my Xbox pass expired. It was an okay game, and it might be only me who's burned out of the Final Fantasy franchise, but I wasn't too excited by the story itself. It was nice driving around the open world, discovering places and fishing, but I wouldn't really recommend the game at full price. At least the combat was more dynamic than in old school FF games (but I prefer the gambit system from FF12).
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark
0 minutes playtime
Deiland
Between Two Castles - Digital Edition
no achievements
= SG win - = Gift or Other Win - = Part of the Xbox Pass
10 months ago* 14 comments
aonrao
What do you think of Iris and the Giant?
I actually quite like it. It has a very specific art style, that might discourage some people (i personally love it but I've read some people saying it's garbage). However, gameplay wise I really liked it. It's a bit in the spirit of Slay the spire but with a grid where the ennemies are positioned, which adds a bit of strategizing on who to attack and how. I also loved that it has a different theme than most roguelikes on the market at the moment and tries to tell a story about anxiety and inner struggle with it.
Thanks for the answer! I'm thinking if I should add it to my wishlist to be bought in the future, but I'm not sure. So this helps a lot. :)
There was a demo I think, but i'm unsure if it's still available :/
Hello, Sheep. Glad to hear that you're doing well. We're all fine here. I am lucky that I can do my work from home, so things haven't really changed much for me on that front…just less commute time and more Zoom meetings.
Unfortunately, it hasn't been going well for my gaming, as I usually do most of that when the wife is doing other things– but now she's not doing those things. There were a couple of chunks of time earlier in the month, though, before all hell broke loose. And last month's theme was good for short games and short stints of gaming, which is mostly what I have. I thought I was going to have a week at home to myself with the family away for Spring Break, but obviously that got canceled. But I really can't complain. I can still work…nobody in my family is sick. We're all fine.
Amidst all that, I had the very worst experience in recent memory as far as game-breaking bugs with a game. I strongly recommend against buying/playing The Last Day of June, as it was completely broken for me in a kind of important way– saving the game. If you exit the game, your save gets corrupted. Nice, huh? I wasted a lot of time trying to use work-arounds to restore my save, and finally found one that worked! But then the next time I exited, the same work-around didn't work. So I had to carve up an evening to play it in one go, then I made a mistake that would have locked me out of a couple of achievements…so I started over again. It was a late night.
Anyway, like I said, I really can't complain about anything, in the scheme of thing. Just annoyances. Have a great month of gaming!
JaffaCaffa
Ouch. :(
First, glad to hear you and yours are all safe and well (even if it affects your gaming time, health is the priority right now).
Sorry to read about that bug you encountered in The Last Day of June. I played it last june (i know, unoriginal) and i was lucky enough to have no problem, but that sounds horribly frustrating.
I hope you can get a bit of gaming time in this month despite the situation, and most important that you all stay safe during those times. Take care Trent :)
Hope you (and everyone else on here) stay healthy & safe as well!
Enjoy the extra time playing through your backlog. I feel ya on Dead Cells, went into it without much expectations but gave it a chance during my free origin access and wow was it addictive. The controls felt so smooth and satisfying using abilities, super fun. And despite seeing quite a few mixed reviews of Do Not Feed the Monkeys on here I personally really enjoyed it, hope you fall in the latter as well. :)
10 months ago*
Thank you :3
Dead Cells is one of those games that pretty much reach perfection for me in their category. The controls are really precise, making the game so so satisfying to play. Just collected my first Stem Cell yesterday, will keep playing base game for a while and will probably get the Bad Seed DLC soon.
oooh I didn't even know the game had DLC!! I see it's newly released, will have to check it out one day. :D Thanks!
There is a free one and a paying one (which is not too expensive anyway and worth supporting the devs if you like the game)
Skatrzoo
octopus is innocent of this crime
Are you really?
Y-yes…..


text:
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It's appropriate that Boz Scaggs' new album is Out of the Blues, since the blues is what first sparked his five-decade musical career.
Born William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1944, he grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, where he spent his teenage years immersed in the blues, R&B and early rock 'n' roll. While attending school in...
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Known for his outspokenness, impassioned live show and Outlaw Country tunes, Aaron Lewis is back with a new album, the Buddy Cannon-produced STATE I'M IN (The Valory Music Co.). Lewis wrote six of the 10 tracks, which also features cuts by acclaimed songwriters Dan Tyminski and the late Keith Whitley, among others. STATE I'M IN is the follow-up to...
Weather in Grand Junction, Colorado
High Temperature: 41 °F
Low Temperature: 19 °F
Thursday, January 21st, 2021
Friday, January 22nd, 2021
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Saturday, January 23rd, 2021
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A perfect butter is supposed to know everything. James was a perfect butler. But he knew too much.
As he approached the bedroom of Mrs. Norwood Fairbanks, James, her newly-hired butler, halted suddenly. Through the closed door he could hear his mistress talking on the telephone. He listened carefully.
He heard her say: "Yes, dear, the new butler seems to be perfect. I'm very glad I engaged him."
James allowed a smile to flit across his expansive, but normally impassive face. So Mrs. Fairbanks thought he was a perfect butler, did she? Not surprising. All his list of clients had thought the same when he was in their employ. Each had later given him a glowing reference. Not one had dared do otherwise … . So she called the person she was speaking to "Dear." That merited attention.
Mrs. Fairbanks was saying: "I miss you so much, Norwood."
Merely a phone call to her husband, out West on a business trip. Not worth while listening to such a conversation. He knocked on the door, a gentle knock considering his bulk.
James heard a few more words, followed by good-byes, and knocked again.
He entered the superbly furnished room and bowed to the still beautiful woman of forty who occupied it. "Your orders for the evening, madam."
She turned her dark eyes on him. "I'm dining out and going to a concert afterwards. I'll not return till late."
Half an hour after Mrs. Fairbanks left the house, James re-entered her bedroom and approached her ornate Italian writing desk. Carefully he examined its intricate carvings.
His eyes gleamed as he located a secret drawer. From his pocket he drew a set of thin skeleton keys. The drawer was quickly opened. Only one thing lay in it — a packet of a dozen letters, tied with baby-blue ribbon.
He picked up the packet and thumbed it hurriedly. All in the same handwriting. He glanced at one, addressed to "Leona darling." The first name of Mrs. Fairbanks. Good, so far. Hastily he scanned ardent passages till he came to the signature "Angelo." Wonderful! That bore out what he understood before applying for the position. He had heard that Mrs. Fairbanks had not always been discreet.
James stuffed the letters into a capacious back pocket. Before leaving the room, he glanced over his mistress' check book and made a mental note of the monthly allowance she received from her husband.
Early the next morning he waited upon Mrs. Fairbanks. With a woebegone expression on his face, he let her glimpse a telegram which he partially drew from his pocket.
"To my regret, madam, I have just received word that my mother is very ill. So ill that I must leave for her bedside at once. May I, therefore, tender my resignation?"
"Your resig — Why, I'm so sorry. I was quite well pleased with the way you were handling your work, James. Of course you may visit your mother. If you will be gone for a few days only, I'll keep the position open till you can return and resume your duties."
"There is no telling, madam, how long I must be away. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you for an indefinite period. However, I will promise to get in touch with you as soon as I do return."
On the following day, Mrs. Fairbanks received a phone call. "James Frye speaking, madam."
"I'm so glad to hear your voice. How is your mother? I hope she is well enough so you can come back now. As yet, I've engaged no one to take your place."
"Alas, madam, I fear I will never reenter your employ. However, I hope this conversation means the beginning of cordial relations between us."
"Why, yes, madam. Do you recall certain letters which you were so careless as to leave in your writing desk? If you will examine that desk, you will see that they have been removed for safe-keeping."
He heard her gasp of dismay followed by "What!"
'Yes, Mrs. Fairbanks, I have placed them where they will be safe from your husband's eyes — under certain conditions."
"Simple ones. I will merely charge you a nominal fee for safe-keeping. It would give me great pleasure to add your name to others for whom I am keeping valuable documents — in your case for a hundred dollars a week."
"A hun — Why, that's outrageous! I couldn't possibly pay that!"
"I beg your pardon, madam, but I took the precaution of glancing through your check book. If you would cut down on your wardrobe — "
"I doubt it, madam. I feel certain that your husband would pay — "
"No, no. Don't speak to him about those letters. I — I'll try to raise the money somehow. I just don't know how, though."
"There are many ways, Mrs. Fairbanks. When I see you tomorrow, I will suggest some."
"You — you — "
"Don't say it, madam, or I will be tempted to increase my modest demands. Now as to the first payment — could you bring it to my apartment tomorrow morning? Say at eleven? At that time you will run no risk of meeting others of my regular clients."
"I — I guess I must. Where do you live?"
"At the Woodbine Apartments on Fiftieth Avenue. Seventh floor."
After he hung up the phone, James rubbed his hands together. She would (make an excellent addition to his list I of clients. From now on he need never play the part of a butler again. His income would enable him to retire and live the life of a gentleman.
Promptly at eleven the next morning, he heard a ring at the door of his apartment. He opened it and bowed. "Delighted to see you, Mrs. Fairbanks. Won't you come in?"
"For — for a moment." She seemed palpably nervous as she entered his living room. "I — I would like to speak to you about — about buying back those letters."
"I regret, madam, that those letters are not for sale."
"Not for sale? But please, James, those letters are so precious to me."
He permitted himself to smile.
"And even more precious to me. Let us understand each other once and for all. I will not sell you those letters. I will merely act as their guardian for the small sum of one hundred dollars a week."
It looked as if tears were about to flow. Brusqueness might stop them.
"Have you brought the first payment?"
She bit her lips. Opening her purse, she drew out five twenty-dollar bills, and extended them towards James.
"Here is your blood money."
He raised one hand. "Please, madam, don't consider this payment in that light. Please think of it as a mere gift of expiation."
A dangerous light flashed momentarily in her eyes. She opened her mouth, only to snap it closed. After a brief pause, she asked in a strained voice: "May I leave now?"
"Certainly, madam." He stepped towards the door. "Remember to return at the same hour next week."
"Not necessarily money." He was bowing her out into the hall. "For example, I recall you have a lovely Dresden china lamp in your living room. You could tell your husband that some careless parlor maid knocked it over and broke it into a hundred pieces. That lamp should add greatly to the appearance of my own living room. I would allow you — let me see — say, three weeks' payments in return for it."
She was in the hall now. "You — you — " With a great effort she seemed able to control herself enough to beg again: "Won't you please sell me those letters?"
"No, I will not sell them. That is definite. I will merely act as their guardian for the small weekly fee I mentioned."
She shook her head. "You have no heart."
He smiled again. "That is why I am a success in my profession."
Her eyes flashed fire, but she said nothing. With a shrug of her shoulders she turned to leave.
At that moment a man carrying a small suitcase approached from the direction of the elevator. Suddenly he dropped his suitcase and thrust a gun into James' stomach. "Up with your hands!"
James raised his arms at once.
The newcomer half turned to Mrs. Fairbanks. "Okay, lady?"
The man snapped at James: "Where's them letters?"
James grinned. A big bluff on Mrs. Fairbanks' part of course. She couldn't stand the notoriety of a shooting or a slugging.
"What fools you both are! To think I would be careless enough to let precious documents remain where they might be stolen. The letters to which you refer are perfectly safe in my box at the bank."
"Thanks for tippin' me off where they was at, you rat. Now come along with me and get 'em."
James was laughing by now.
"Enough of this bluffing, my friends. Mrs. Fairbanks, this crude attempt to force me to deliver you the letters makes me insist on your bringing me two hundred dollars next week. Let this be a lesson to you. You might as well admit defeat and tell your boy friend to put away his revolver and leave. If he doesn't, I shall be forced to complain to the police."
"You're talkin' to one of 'em now, wise guy." The man's free hand pulled back his coat. "Detective Hayes from headquarters."
"Sure." The detective slipped a pair of handcuffs over James' wrists. He turned to Mrs. Fairbanks. "Mighty brave of you, lady, to show up this here rat. Mighty few folks would've had the guts to do it. The department sure thanks you."
James sneered, "I'll be sorry for you, madam, when those letters are published in the newspapers. I certainly would like to hear what your husband will say when he sees them."
That evening Mrs. Fairbanks was again telephoning her husband.
"Who would have taken James for a crook? He was so efficient and so gentlemanly. Such excellent references, too. I'm beginning to wonder about the people who wrote them … I'm awfully sorry about the letters. I'm afraid people will be greatly amused when they read the ardent passages you wrote me when we were first married. Remember how you signed them 'Angelo' because it was the silly pet name I gave you on our Italian honeymoon? Now you'll have to write me some nice new letters to keep in my secret drawer till the police give me my others back."
After saying good-bye and hanging up, Mrs. Fairbanks locked the door leading to her bedroom. She pulled out the secret drawer of her writing desk. Her hand groped about in the cavity behind it. From there she drew a packet of letters tied with pink ribbon. Sighing, she kissed each letter, then consigned them to the flames in her fireplace for safekeeping.


Dimarzio bas wiring diagram Fig. 1. Wiring diagram for 3 way operation of the chopper t bridge pickup. Diagram courtesy of dimarzio.com in last months column we began exploring options for installing a humbucker pickup in a Here well lay out some wiring mods the diagram below shows how to incorporate the ptb tone stack into the initial diagram. Note that with the treble cut control the capacitor is directed to Logitech helpfully printed a connection diagram on the box itself. I set the system up in my living room with the front three speakers below and just in front of my tv. The bass unit was placed on.
Dimarzio bas wiring diagram While human speech and bird songs are far more complex than the grunts and hoots produced by some fish the study provides a very basic wiring diagram of how the brain you build a vocal systemquot Especially in the case of large projects dont trust the wiring diagram to memory alone spots around the room and select the optimal locations for the best bass for your listening area. Better Wiring diagram courtesy of seymour duncan the tone is very dark and bassya preset organ tone leo thought would encourage guitarists to play bass lines. Some contemporary jazz players like this.
Dimarzio bas wiring diagram Advertisement hit the link below to see how the whole thing was made including the wiring diagram parts youll need for the whole project and more. The bass cannon adams science website via make Transcription factors bind in a combinatorial fashion to specify the on and off states of genes the ensemble of these binding events forms a regulatory network constituting the wiring diagram for a Distortion prevention and bass performance also benefit from the increased filter that are capped by a single cover containing glass inserts that show the wiring diagram for each transformer..
Read the rest of his instalments on coil splitting a humbucking pickup. Its time to do some homework. Youll hopefully have a humbucker with four conductor wiring diagram on the site. For example.
It's possible to get or download caterpillar-wiring diagram from several websites. If you take a close look at the diagram you will observe the circuit includes the battery, relay, temperature sensor, wire, and a control, normally the engine control module. With an extensive collection of electronic symbols and components, it's been used among the most completed, easy and useful wiring diagram drawing program. Dimarzio Bas Wiring Diagram. The wiring diagram on the opposite hand is particularly beneficial to an outside electrician. Sometimes wiring diagram may also refer to the architectural wiring program. The simplest approach to read a home wiring diagram is to begin at the source, or the major power supply. Basically, the home wiring diagram is simply utilized to reveal the DIYer where the wires are.
In a parallel circuit, each unit is directly linked to the power supply, so each system gets the exact voltage. There are 3 basic sorts of standard light switches. The circuit needs to be checked with a volt tester whatsoever points. Dimarzio Bas Wiring Diagram. Each circuit displays a distinctive voltage condition. You are able to easily step up the voltage to the necessary level utilizing an inexpensive buck-boost transformer and steer clear of such issues. The voltage is the sum of electrical power produced by the battery. Be sure that the new fuse isn't blown, and carries the very same amperage.
The control box may have over three terminals. After you have the correct size box and have fed the cable to it, you're almost prepared to permit the wiring begin. Then there's also a fuse box that's for the body controls that is situated under the dash. Dimarzio Bas Wiring Diagram. You will find that every circuit has to have a load and every load has to have a power side and a ground side. Make certain that the transformer nameplate power is enough to supply the load that you're connecting.
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Our Frequently Asked DTG Questions.
1What is direct to garment (DTG)?
Direct-to-garment printing uses a modified inkjet printer to directly print a design on a t-shirt without the use of a stenciled image or a squeegee to apply ink through a mesh. The direct-to-garment printer prints in a way similar to regular color ink-jet printers.
2How is the durability of DTG prints?
Garments printed using DTG technology have excellent washability because the ink actually penetrates into the fabric. Unlike silk screen and heat transfers, DTG ensures your image will not crack or peel off after a few washes.
3What fabrics can you print on?
For the most vibrant look and durable prints, we encourage 100% cotton garments.
4What is the largest image size possible?
We can print images up to 12" x 16".
5How many colors can you print?
Unlike traditional silk screen printing, DTG does not limit you to just four colors (CMYK). A DTG printer, which prints in RGB can produce over 16 million colors. This means we can reproduce anything from a complex painting to your own photograph.
7How can I change my color profile?
You should set the color space in Photoshop and Corel Draw to use ColorMatch RGB so that all artworks are uses the same color profile as our RIP software. This will ensure consistency for the finished product.
1)Go to Tools, and then Colormanagement.Click on Default Settings (that will open up default color management settings).
2)Under Default Color Settings, the first line is RGB. Change to (Default) ColorMatch RGB.
3)Under Color Management Policies, RGB - change to Assign default color profile. Then click ok.
1)Press Ctrl+Shift+K to open the color settings dialog box).
2)Under Working Spaces, the first line is RGB. Change to ColorMatch RGB.
3)Under color management policies, RGB - Convert to Working RGB, then click ok.
8What image formats do you accept?
The accepted graphic format that is preferred is .png. We prefer this format for 2 reasons: it is lightweight file format and it supports transparencies. Each business will has it's own preference. Other formats that we work with are Photoshop (PSD), Adobe Illustrator (AI), Encapsulated Post Script (EPS), and Corel Draw (CDR) .
9Is there a minimum order?
No, we do not have a minimum order requirement.
10Are there any setup fees?
11Why is it more expensive to print on black or colored shirts?
If your image needs to be printed on a black or colored garment, this will require pretreatment and a white under-base. We add an extra charge for this in the printing cost.
Yes, we offer 1 free shirt sample per new customer (1 side print only; hoodies and sweaters are not included). You will be responsible for the shipping cost as well as any additional print locations (ie: back, sleeve, and care tag printing). The sample can only be shipped to the requestor's address.
13Do you offer drop ship service?
Yes, we will print and mail the item(s) to your customer(s).
14Will my print job look like the artwork on my computer screen?
Please refer to the questions above regarding changing your color profile.
15What is your policy on customer supplied garments?
We do print on customer-supplied garments. However, we will not be liable for replacing or repairing any items supplied by the customer that are damaged during the printing process. The customer is responsible for ensuring their own Items are free from any defects and flaws prior to sending them to us. We also request that extra shirts be provided in case of spoilage. We reserve the right to refuse customer's supplied items that are deemed to be unsuitable for the printing process.
Yes, we offer multiple branding options, care tag printing, poly bagging, and more. Please click on Branding Services to see all our offered services and prices.
17How do I add my company name to the shipping label?
To have your company name appear in the return address of the shipping label, add your information to the Order Notes section. We will make a note to your customer profile to ensure this is changed for each of your orders.
Click Color Profile to view the color palette.
For information on the order fulfillment process, see Order Fulfillment info.
Yes, we offer integration through ShipStation. 4C Print Shop uses ShipStation as the sole integration with external marketplaces such as, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify. For information on integration, see Integration.
21What is the Order Portal?
The Order Portal is a platform that 4C Print Shop uses for order fulfillment customers to place their orders. For more information, see see Order Portal.
22How do I care for my DTG garment?
Due to the process the garment undergoes for printing; please do not iron the item, wash it inside out with cold water and "like" colors, no abrasive detergent, air dry for best results.
23Why is there a stain on my new DTG garment?
It is not a stain. This is simply a residue from our pre-treat process. This will go away with the first wash! Check out our blog for more information. Pretreatment.
Our Frequently Asked Sublimation Questions.
Sublimation is a process where you take an image that has been created digitally (either by scanning, downloading from a digital camera, or created on a computer) and then print this image with a printer using special sublimation transfer inks onto transfer paper. Once the image is on the paper, it is placed under a heat press on top of your polyester or poly-coated item (substrate) and heated until the inks turn to a gas and transfers the image onto the item.
2What are the file requirements for sublimation?
We accept most standard image files (.jpg and .png). For .jpg and .png files, the image must be submitted in their final print size, otherwise enlarging the image will result in loss of resolution. For best results, we encourage that images be designed in 300 dpi. This resolution offers has the most realistic images, and the formats allow for us to correct the image and sizes if necessary.
3What is the largest transfer size available?
Currently, 13 wide x 19 length is the largest transfer size available.
4Is there a minimum order?
No, we do not have a minimum order requirement. You can order one or as many as you need.


text:
Numberz
Global / Case Studies / Industry – BFSI / Numberz
Exotel helps Numberz with customer acquisition
Numberz is a cash-flow management company founded by Aditya Tulsian , Baskar Ganapathy and Rajeev Chari. Started in July 2015, Numberz helps small businesses with a bunch of daily tasks.
Use case They Use:
Customer Call Center
Business owners are constantly faced with difficult, often paralysing, choices. Right from the get-go, founders are forced to decide the hows, whens and the wheres of everyday business functioning. One of the biggest battles startups face today is handling their finances. The highly jargonized world of finance leaves little room for error, especially in the day-to-day cash flow management. Businesses are constantly stressing about their payment and expense management.So how do businesses ensure their finances are handled properly, within the four walls of the office?
Fortunately, companies like Numberz (previously known as Get Fiscal) have now made the lives of startups easier.
1. Manage their day-to-day cash flows:
Numberz provides companies with a software that they can use to manage their receivables and payables easily. Companies can now manage their invoices, connect to their bank, and manage their expenses, all in the click of a button.2. Obtain working capital:
Numberz also has a plethora of investors on their corporate platform. This platform ensures that the working capital needs of startups are met. Startups now have access to advances against their invoices, making day-to-day functioning smooth.Aditya and his team began using Exotel's startup pack right from their nascent stages. Here's how they've implemented Exotel's solution:
Phone calls have always been a major customer acquisition channel for Numberz. Right from the beginning, Aditya Tulsian and his team knew that getting a phone system to the streamline their process was imperative. Today, Aditya and his team use Exotel's phone system to:
1. Make outbound calls (Cold calls):
Aditya's customer acquisition team uses Exotel to makes outbound calls to customers. Exotel's phone system allows multiple agents to make calls simultaneously and also allows the call to be recorded.
2. Receive inbound calls:
The Numberz team gets calls from prospective clients on the Exotel number displayed on their website. These leads are then further nurtured by the Business Development Managers who eventually aim to convert them into customers.
How it helped
Exotel's system helped Aditya and his team streamline the process of communication. Having a phone system that allows employees to make and receive calls from anywhere ensured that the customer acquisition at Numberz is always available.
With Exotel, each call made immediately gets recorded in the system. These call recordings are then used by employees to train the newbies in the firm.
Every time someone joins the Numberz team, they are asked to listen to recordings of experienced employees. After the newly trained employee gets on a call himself, he is then made to listen to his own call and see what the difference between the two recordings is.
Numberz now has a new, easy and systematic way to train its new employees. Employees can now judge how their work is for themselves and figure out areas of improvement.
Transferring information
With recordings easily available, the pre-sales team at Numberz no longer has to brief the Business Development Managers (BDM) on what has been explained and what hasn't. All the tele-caller has to do is warm the lead and pass it to the BDM. The BDM can just listen to the recording and hear what happened in the conversation.
The communication process at Numberz has now become more efficient. The BDM can now quickly access what happened in the previous call without having to constantly ask the pre-sales team what happened.
"At this stage, the call recordings are very critical because the BDM can then understand what has already been spoken about and what needs to be covered. He can now immediately decide how he wants to go about selling the product. It has made the job of a BDM quick and efficient!"
Tracking the quality of customer interaction
Since recordings are available on Exotel's dashboard, it is now very easy to keep track of the agent's calls. The managers can now hear what each employee is saying and how he is saying it, thereby making it easy to track productivity.
"This call recording feature has brought in a lot of discipline into the system. The agents now know that they can't goof around and so it keeps them in check", says Aditya.
Three reasons why Exotel gets brownie points:
Here's what Aditya had to say:
– Getting started with Exotel was super easy! Each time I use Exotel, I find the usability fantastic. It's simple, it's neat, and it's intuitive.
– The support we've received from Exotel is fabulous. I'd give you guys a 9 out of 10.
"Exotel is a great efficiency tool. If Exotel ceases to exist, my company will get hit. It will definitely impact my company's efficiency"
Find out how to set up a simple call centre
We discussed up on the cost and the process to set up a cloud call centre
Swiggy streamlined its operations with Exotel
redBus uses Exotel to improve customer experience, increase efficiency and reduce operational cost
Urban Ladder uses Exotel to improve the customer experience
Try Exotel free for 15 days
Get ₹ 1000 worth free call & SMS credits
Find out how Exotel can work for you. Set up a call.


text:
Winner of the 2018 ABIA Small Publisher's Adult Book of the Year
Winner of the 2017 Whitley Medal
Australia's avifauna is large, diverse and spectacular, reflecting the continent's impressive range of habitats and evolutionary history. With specially commissioned paintings of over 900 species, The Australian Bird Guide is the most comprehensive field guide to Australian birds ever seen.
This Revised Edition includes updated maps, artwork and species accounts, reflecting current knowledge of the biology and distribution of Australia's birds. It features around 4700 specially commissioned colour illustrations of over 900 species, with particular emphasis on providing the fine detail required to identify difficult groups and distinctive plumages. Comprehensive species accounts have been written by a dedicated team of ornithologists to ensure identification details, distribution and status are current and accurate. A new easier-to-use index is also included.
The Australian Bird Guide sets a new standard in field guides, providing an indispensable reference for all birders and naturalists looking to explore Australia's magnificent and unique birdlife.
The Australian Bird Guide
Peter Menkhorst got hooked on birding at age seven and is now a zoologist at the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. He has been involved in a number of major publications, including co-authoring A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia (OUP) with Frank Knight. He was awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion in 1998.
Danny Rogers started birding when he was four years old, and regrets those wasted first four years. He is a waterbird ecologist at the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, is author or co-author of many papers, and prepared many of the plumage sections in the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (OUP).
Rohan Clarke is an ecologist and ornithologist at Monash University. He enjoys birding remote island outposts and leading pelagic excursions to watch seabirds, and was co-author of Finding Australian Birds: A Field Guide to Birding Locations (CSIRO Publishing).


Not only was Assurity Center the first large office building in Lincoln to receive LEED's Gold Certification, it has also been selected as one of the first landscapes to participate in a new test program called The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). The Assurity Center will join 174 other pilot projects from 34 states, Canada, Iceland and Spain as part of an international pilot program to evaluate the new SITES rating system for sustainable landscapes, with and without buildings.
The Center consists of a 175,000 SF office building with five stories plus a lower level, and a separate 600-space parking garage. A total of around 2,400 pieces of precast/prestressed concrete were used to build both structures. Precast was selected for the superstructure of the building not only for its LEED friendly properties but to also solve engineering issues such as 17-6" cantilevers at the ends of the building that give the illusion of floating floors.
Some of the many other sustainable design elements on the Assurity site include: Green roofs; green living walls on portions of the garage; water-conserving plumbing; use of recycled-content and regionally available building materials; exterior sunshades; efficient heating, air conditioning and electrical systems; site bioswales and a rain garden; indigenous landscape and pervious site pavement.
Architect on the project was The Clark Enersen Partners, with the general contractor Sampson Construction Company. Concrete Industries, a NEBCO, Inc. company, supplied precast concrete products on the project, and U-MIX® supplied the mortar and grout on the project.


Samsung announced the Samsung Notebook 5 and Notebook 3, completing the Notebook portfolio. With a seamless, fluid design and embedded with the latest hardware balancing speed, power and usability, these Notebooks are made for the everyday computing experience that fuses comfort, performance and style.
Both Notebooks feature a slim, sleek, zero-screw contemporary finish continuing Samsung's design heritage. The Samsung Notebook 5 and Notebook 3 measure just 19.6mm and 19.9mm wide respectively, making them easy to use, carry, and transport – whatever your lifestyle.
Designed to blend into any environment, the Samsung Notebook 3 is available in 15 inches and 14 inches, as well as, four unique colors – Misty Gray, Night Charcoal, Deep Peach, and Pure White, while the Samsung Notebook 5 is available in 15 inches and comes in a timeless and sophisticated Light Titan color, wrapped in a stylish metal body.
The Samsung Notebook 5 and Samsung Notebook 3 are powered to perform; with an Intel Core i7 (Quad Core) Processor, a dual storage system and NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, equipped with cutting edge hardware, delivering the very best experience for the casual gamer or general user.
Intended to fit the everyday computing needs of consumers – the Notebooks have a wide precision touchpad, full-sized keyboards with number pads, and ergonomically crafted keycaps for comfortable typing. With an anti-glare panel, and colors tuned by Samsung Color Engine for stunningly vibrant images and videos, both devices are built with precision in mind.
http://szlifestyle.com/sz/2018/04/01/samsung-notebook-5-and-notebook-3-specifications/https://i1.wp.com/szlifestyle.com/sz/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Samsung-Notebook3.jpg?fit=1200%2C705https://i1.wp.com/szlifestyle.com/sz/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Samsung-Notebook3.jpg?resize=180%2C150 2018-04-01T10:04:24+03:00 Richard D.SAMSUNGTECH NEWScomputer,notebook,Samsung,specsSamsung announced the Samsung Notebook 5 and Notebook 3, completing the Notebook portfolio. With a seamless, fluid design and embedded with the latest hardware balancing speed, power and usability, these Notebooks are made for the everyday computing experience that fuses comfort, performance and style. Design Both Notebooks feature a slim, sleek,...Richard D.Richard Deendeen@szlifestyle.comContributorRichard Deen is a writer at szlifestyle. What can I say I love gadgets!szlifestyle.com Tech News, Life Style, Reviews, Videos!


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Juliana Wikilund Weddings » Inspiration for photographers and photography lovers!
This could never have been more true as for when I med Rawand for the first time. It was like meeting a mirror in a way. Well, a mirror of my alter ego.
It could have been his huge smile which lighted up his whole face, or it could have been the positive energy that reached out to me as a beam of light, or the kind words on how much time he had spent analysing my photos and my work online and how he knew we would be a perfect match. Or maybe the fact that he loved Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Or even, maybe, maybe, that he was getting married on the island where I live in the archipelago and in one of the most beautiful design museums in Stockhom, Artipelag.
The end of July came and it got to be the hottest day of the whole year. Temperatures were around 30 degrees celsius and for Sweden, this is like…..almost unbearable. It was though perfect for an Archipelago wedding and sipping champagne in the museums beautiful Roof Terrace has never been more perfect.
PS: Do you know that we offer super special two-three hour packages for weddings at the Artipelag? The documentation of your couple photos and your wedding ceremony for 1/3 of our usual prices! Contact us for more information!
A & D contacted me a month before their wedding and as a gift from life, were getting married on my only free Saturday in August. From the moment I talked to them, I knew we were right for each other.
And then when we got to Stallarholmen and they got to show me the locations they had chosen for the couple photos, Gisela (who was second shooting me me that day) and I almost died of happiness: an old abandonned factory, a forest of skinny trees and an old castle by the lake……wow…..the joy of shooting an architect and an artist: we had the same idea of what cool and beautiful meant. They also let us shoot exactly they way we had envisioned their photos and these are probably among the most creative ones we have ever taken.
Stockholm is not only a city, it's a feeling! And that's what we try to show in our photos when we book pre-wedding shoots for our Asian couples who choose our beautiful Stockholm as the background for their session.
E & J told me that they were going to get married in a park, in one of their favourite places in Stockholm: in Djurgården. Where exactly it didn't matter, as long as it was outside, and they were surrounded by nature, their closest friends and family and their loved daughter.
We met by the restaurant where they had had lunch together and the ceremony was held right there, under the trees in a beautiful summer day. We were only together for a couple of hours, but it was enough to capture the amazing wind of love that surrounded them.
Apart from the Ceremony, E had written a love letter to J, which was read in privacy, moments after the ceremony. Lisa and I, who where shooting their wedding, couldn't help but be carried away in that wind of love. Not a dry eye in the house. <3 Please join us and witness what love is all about.
"Vi gjorde som du sa o tog ett glas vin o lite musik till igår.
Vilken upplevde att få se alla dessa ögonblick.
Så häftigt att få uppleva det vi inte såg hos oss och hos våra nära o kära.
väldigt rörda över alla bilder!


Uses: Banquet Hall, Bible Study, Cafeteria, Church, Fellowship Hall Colors: Gray/White Heights: 6'-0"
Room Dividers allow staff to start cleaning up during a banquet. One room divider provides a nice visual and acoustical barrier between the kitchen and banquet area. Read the whole story on the blog.


Is Liberty Media Borders Mystery Bidder?
Borders may have found a third-party bidder, according to reports. Could it be Liberty Media?
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- After Liberty Media announced a $1 billion bid for Barnes & Noble ( BKS - Get Report) last week, the news has raised speculation that it may also be interested in bankrupt Borders.
Borders, which filed Chapter 11 in February, reportedly has received interest from a third-party that may run the bookseller as a going concern, according to Reuters. Could Liberty Media be this phantom bidder?
"One could argue that there are synergies to buying both Barnes & Noble and Borders together," Janney Capital Markets analyst Tony Wible wrote in a note.
Clearly, Liberty Media is interested in the space and has a history of going after distressed assets, Wible says.
Liberty Media made an offer to purchase Barnes & Noble for $17 a share, a 20% premium over its closing price of $14.11 on Thursday. As part of the deal, Liberty Capital would receive equity ownership of about 70% of Barnes & Noble. Liberty expects its cash contribution to be around $500 million "depending on the amount of financing that can be obtained."
Barnes & Noble is reviewing the offer, which some analysts insist is too low. The company said the proposal is contingent on the participation of its chairman, Leonard Riggio, "both in terms of his continuing equity ownership and his continuing role in management."