Business Day|Popular Wrench Fights a Chinese Rival

Popular Wrench Fights a Chinese Rival
By SHAILA DEWAN NOV. 8, 2012
Last Christmas, Sears had a brisk seller in the Bionic Wrench, an award-winning, patented tool with spiffy lime green accents. This holiday season, though, Sears has a special display for its own wrench, in the red and black colors of its house brand, Craftsman.
One customer who recently spotted the new Craftsman tool, called the Max Axess wrench, thought it was an obvious knockoff, right down to the try-me packaging. "I saw it and I said, 'This is a Bionic Wrench,' " recalled Dana Craig, a retiree and tool enthusiast in Massachusetts who alerted the maker of the Bionic Wrench. "It's a very distinctive tool," he added.
The tools have one significant difference, Mr. Craig noted. The Bionic Wrench is made in the United States. The Max Axess wrench is made in China.
The shift at Sears from a tool invented and manufactured in the United States to a very similar one made offshore has already led to a loss of American jobs and a brewing patent battle.
The story of the Bionic Wrench versus Craftsman, which bills itself as "America's most trusted tool brand," also raises questions about how much entrepreneurs and innovators, who rely on the country's intellectual property laws, can protect themselves. For the little guy, court battles are inevitably time-consuming and costly, no matter the outcome.
Still, the inventor of the Bionic Wrench is determined to fight. He is Dan Brown, an industrial designer in Chicago who came up with the wrench after watching his son try to work on a lawn mower. Mr. Brown says he believes that the Max Axess wrench copies his own and he is planning to file suit against Sears, which declined to answer any questions about the wrenches for this article.
The Bionic Wrench is distinguished by its gripping mechanism, a circle of metal prongs that, inspired by the aperture in a single-lens reflex camera, descend evenly to lock onto almost any nut or bolt.
Since Sears has halted new orders, the Pennsylvania company that makes the Bionic Wrench has had to lay off 31 workers, said Keith Hammer, the project manager at the company, Penn United Technologies. "And that's not to mention our suppliers," he added.
Mr. Brown sees a broader issue than just the fate of his wrench. "Our situation is an example of why we're not getting jobs out of innovation," he said. "When people get the innovation, they go right offshore. What happened to me is what happened to so many people so many times, and we just don't talk about it."
Inventors typically spend $10,000 to $50,000 to obtain the type of patent Mr. Brown has on the wrench, said John S. Pratt, a patent expert at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton in Atlanta. Though he said he could not comment on the merits of Mr. Brown's potential suit, patent infringement cases can be especially difficult in the tool field, where many improvements are incremental, Mr. Pratt explained.
A defendant in such a case would most likely argue that either the tool did not warrant a patent in the first place, or that its own product did not violate the patent.
Dan Brown, inventor of the Bionic Wrench, is defending his patent rights against the Max Axess, made in China. Credit John Gress for The New York Times
The fact that Sears made some changes to the wrench's design, like making the grooves that allow the metal prongs to slide back and forth visible instead of hidden, will make the case more challenging, he said. "It's hard for me to imagine that Sears isn't particularly careful about breach of patent, so there's probably another side to the story," he said.
After patenting the wrench in 2005, Mr. Brown formed a company, LoggerHead Tools, to bring it to market, making a point of having it made in the United States.
The Bionic Wrench was greeted with enthusiasm at trade shows and in industrial design competitions, and the company survived the downturn in 2008. Mr. Brown resisted overtures from large chain stores that wanted to sell the tool under their proprietary brand, he said, and rejected the lure of cheaper manufacturing in China. "I was raised a different way," he said.
The tool sold fairly well on its own  -  LoggerHead has shipped 1.75 million of them  -  but Mr. Brown, 56, who teaches industrial design at Northwestern University, says LoggerHead operated on a shoestring and he plowed much of the profit back into the company. "You cannot have big offices and fancy cars and everybody with an administrative assistant, because we are competing with China," he said.
In 2009, LoggerHead hit pay dirt when Sears agreed to do a test sale. The product sold out, Mr. Brown said, and Sears ordered 75,000 Bionic Wrenches the next year. In exchange Mr. Brown agreed not to sell the wrench to Sears's competitors, including Home Depot and Lowe's.
In 2011, sales at Sears increased again, far outpacing LoggerHead's other outlets like the QVC shopping channel and smaller hardware stores. But LoggerHead's profit margin remained small, in part because it produced a television commercial and paid Sears to show it.
The Sears Holdings Company, which owns the Craftsman brand, declined multiple requests to comment on the Bionic Wrench or the Max Axess Wrench. The company would not answer questions about patent infringement or the volume of sales.
But in a string of e-mails provided by Mr. Brown, the buyer at Sears who had the LoggerHead account wrote, making liberal use of exclamation points, that the wrench's holiday sales last year exceeded its target by 23 percent.
In the manufacturing world, lead time can determine price, and from the beginning cost was a particular issue for the Bionic Wrench, because of the competition from China. A 2006 article in The Wall Street Journal was headlined, "Wrench Wins Awards, but Is It Priced Too High to Be a Hit?"
According to Mr. Brown's account of his dealings with Sears, the chain was pleased with the tool's performance and agreed to place an order for 2012 in plenty of time to keep the cost low. Then his buyer at Sears changed and that agreement seemed to get lost in a new round of haggling. When the order for Father's Day finally came, Mr. Brown said, it was too late to guarantee the lower price. He refused the order.
Sears responded by agreeing to the higher price. But when it came time for the Christmas holiday order, negotiations stalled once more, again pushing LoggerHead past the deadline to get the best price, according to Mr. Brown.
"We were sitting there going, 'Why do they want Father's Day so bad but they won't commit for Christmas?' " Mr. Brown said. Now he believes that the company had already placed its order for the Craftsman version.
The Bionic Wrench is made in America by Penn United Technologies. Sears sells the Max Axess, sourced from China. Credit William P. O'Donnell/The New York Times
In late September, Mr. Brown said, his suspicions were confirmed. LoggerHead got a "customer feedback" e-mail from Mr. Craig, the tool connoisseur, describing the new Max Axess wrenches. "Sadly, they are made in China," Mr. Craig wrote. "Can you tell me if LoggerHead has authorized these?"
Craftsman has come under fire before, accused of misleading customers into thinking that its tools are made in America and for stealing intellectual property. In one case, Sears spent two decades defending itself against a claim by Peter M. Roberts, who as a young Sears employee had, on his own time, invented a type of socket wrench.
Mr. Roberts told the court that Sears had played down the value of his invention, paid him $10,000 for the rights, and then made tens of millions of dollars. He eventually received settlements of less than $10 million, according to news reports.
In another, more recent case led by Lee Grossman, Mr. Brown's lawyer, a judge awarded $25 million to the maker of a tool called the Rotozip who said he had disclosed trade secrets to Sears in an attempt to get the store to carry a new version of the tool.
Sears, a jury decided, took the trade secrets and had the tool made abroad for Craftsman.
"You have LoggerHead out, Dan Brown out, and dozens of American workers laid off  -  all in the name of profits for Sears," Mr. Grossman said.
LoggerHead's lawsuit, Mr. Brown said, will most likely include claims that Sears interfered with the company's ability to do business with other stores.
"I'm in favor of free trade," Mr. Brown said. "The person who's out-innovated loses. But it's destructive when someone competes but doesn't out-innovate, they just produce it in a different market without regard to safety codes and human conditions."
The company that makes the Max Axess wrench and other tools for Craftsman, the Apex Tool Group, is being acquired by Bain Capital, the company founded by Mitt Romney, in a $1.6 billion deal.
Throughout the presidential campaign, Bain was criticized on the grounds that it encouraged outsourcing by companies it buys at the expense of American workers. Apex makes many of its tools overseas. A company spokesman referred all questions to Sears.
Mr. Brown and his lawyer say they believe they have a solid case against Sears, but it could take years to litigate. "What happens to us in the meantime?" Mr. Brown asked.
Mr. Brown is also concerned that while he fights in court, Sears can undercut the price of his wrench.
For now at least, Sears still has some of Mr. Brown's wrenches in its inventory. On the Sears Web site, the Craftsman and the LoggerHead wrenches are listed at the same regular price, $24.99 for the 8-inch version, and today both are on sale. But for at least a few days in recent weeks, only the Craftsman version was on sale, for $19.99.
Correction: November 13, 2012
An article on Friday about a patent battle between an American inventor and Sears misidentified the camera feature that inspired the gripping mechanism on the patented product, called the Bionic Wrench. It was the aperture, not the shutter.
A version of this article appears in print on November 9, 2012, on Page B1 of the New York edition with the headline: An Innovator vs. a Follower. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
TODAY'S QUESTION
Could the Inventor of the Bionic Wrench Have Avoided This Fight? NOV. 9, 2012


Access to thousands of journals in danger of being blocked
MAASTRICHT. A sinister radio silence is all that is left, after negotiations between Dutch universities and Reed Elsevier publishers have failed. Licences are due to run out on 1 January and researchers will no longer be able to read the latest editions of many journals, including The Lancet.
What exactly is the problem? Dutch universities and government want publishers to change over to an open access model, in which articles based on publically funded research will be freely accessible for anyone. Things are not that far yet. At the moment there is a transitional phase, which is very unfavourable for universities. They have double expenses, which is referred to as double dipping. The institutes pay subscription fees for the journals and they also have to pay (an average of two thousand euro) for each open access publication. It works like this: the author pays, not the subscriber. Universities expect a gesture from the publishers.
A breakthrough was achieved recently with the Springer publisher. University umbrella organisation VSNU and Springer had reached agreement, a press release stated: "Open access publishing is the way of the future." Exactly what that entails, remains to be seen. Negotiations are still going on. Discussions with Elsevier, the largest publisher, came to a standstill at the beginning of November. The proposal that the publisher presented, was brushed from the table by VSNU. And then all was quiet.
What was Elsevier's proposal? What was unacceptable for VSNU? What will happen now? Nobody knows, says Henk van den Hoogen, programme manager at the university library. "Things are tense at the moment. The licence runs out in a couple of weeks' time. Having articles published is always possible and older articles will remain accessible, but new content will not. This means that researchers cannot learn about the latest insights in their field."
Access to thousands of journals will be blocked, including leading journals such as The Lancet and Cell. "Many researchers are capable of finding each other, I expect, and will exchange articles among themselves. It is now more important than ever to have an international network, where researchers inform each other about new publications. I expect a lively exchange of academic publications on social media. The geographic position of Maastricht is no disadvantage in that case. There is a lot of content present in Hasselt and Aachen. It is not something that the university library promotes, but some researchers will reconnect with their Belgian and German contacts."
Not all researchers will be affected equally. "Economists have a culture in which they share early versions of articles, at congresses, or on digital platforms such as Repec. There is SSRN for social scientists. In medical-biological circles, this hardly happens at all."
Alongside the so-called golden route to open access (through publishers), there is also a green route. This is when universities, such as the UM, give researchers the opportunity to place their manuscript in a repository (digital archive), which is accessible through Google. "There is usually a ban or embargo on the publisher's version, but to a lesser extent on the author's version, which does not differ in content, only in its look and feel."
However, very few people at the UM have found their way to the repository, says Van den Hoogen. "It is a matter of lack of awareness, as well as the willingness to look into things. You have to know what conditions the publishers set. Fortunately there is a website, by platform Sherpa Romeo, where you can see exactly which requirements the publishers have, and the university library has an information desk."
How many Maastricht publications end up in open access journals? Research by the university library shows that 10 per cent of the 3,200 Maastricht research publications that saw the light in 2013, ended up in freely accessible journals. "So the UM is pretty much in line with other universities. Those who want to know more about what is 'on sale', can visit the DOAJ site, a Danish initiative that provides a directory of open access journals."
Maurice Timmermans - 03-Dec-2014 15:11
Oxford University Press journals behind a paywall
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THE NETHERLANDS. The Association of Universities (VSNU) and publisher Reed Elsevier have reache...
"Young researchers aren't panicking - that came as a surprise"
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Oconee County Habitat for Humanity
Amanda Harris
Oconee County Habitat receives Malachi 3:10 Award
Habitat's vision: A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
This summer, Oconee County Habitat for Humanity received the Malachi 3:10 Award from Habitat for Humanity International. This award recognizes a $500,000 lifetime tithe milestone. Founded in 1986, Oconee County is only the 2nd affiliate in South Carolina, the 128th affiliate within the United States (there are over 1,200 affiliates), and the very first all-volunteer affiliate to meet this goal. Oconee County Habitat has, through its tithe, supported Habitat International's Global Mission Fund which enables the gifts to be used where they are needed most around the world. The tithe represents helping over 140 families worldwide obtain decent homes, as well as community projects for safe infrastructure and water.
Susan Yow, Director of Affiliate Tithe and Global Engagement, Habitat for Humanity International; Jon Goyert, Oconee County Habitat President; Tom Bottin, Past President; Ken Cushing, Past President
The award was presented by Susan Yow, Director of Affiliate Tithe and Global Engagement, Habitat for Humanity International, to the Oconee affiliate's board of directors on June 10th. "The work here in Oconee County is as much a part of our big global mission is as the work in Zambia, Nepal, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and the other 70 countries around the world where we're working," said Yow. "I know you are all very blessed here in Oconee County, and our families around the world certainly are blessed with your support."
This coveted award is named after a verse in the Bible, Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that it may be food in my house. Test me in this and see if I do not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
For more information visit .
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Poets & Writers Receives $25,000 Grant from the NEA
New York, NY - Poets & Writers, Inc. received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support creative writing workshops for seniors. Poets & Writers is one of fourteen recipients of the NEA's first Creativity and Aging in America grants. According to the NEA, "the program supports projects that involve older Americans as creators through literature and music, and that promote lifelong learning in the arts." The writing workshops sponsored by Poets & Writers will be led by published writers and will focus on poetry and creative nonfiction. Each year, Poets & Writers' Readings/Workshops program supports hundreds of writers participating in events in large cities and small towns throughout New York and California, as well as in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Seattle, New Orleans, Tucson, and Washington D.C.
ABOUT POETS & WRITERS
Poets & Writers is the nation's largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers. Since its founding in 1970, Poets & Writers' mission has been to foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the U.S. literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public. Poets & Writers accomplishes this by publishing Poets & Writers Magazine, maintaining Poets & Writers Online, offering publishing advice to writers, producing an on-line database of more than 7,500 authors, introducing emerging writers outside of New York City to the New York City literary community, and providing direct financial support to writers participating in public literary events.


Molecular data helps specialists predict chance of breast cancer recurrence
March 15, 2019 | Michael Walter | Care Delivery
Molecular data from a patient's breast cancer cells can help predict if they are at an increased risk for recurrence, according to new findings published in Nature.
The research, a collaboration of the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, built on previous work published by the team from Stanford and included tracking the medical histories of more than 3,000 breast cancer patients. It revealed that approximately one in four patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative tumors are at a higher risk of recurrence for up to 20 years after diagnosis.
"We found that about 25 percent of women whose tumors express the estrogen receptor and not HER2 have an exceedingly high risk of late distant relapse and account for the vast majority of these events," co-author Christina Curtis, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and genetics at Stanford and co-director of the Stanford Cancer Institute's Molecular Tumor Board, said in a prepared statement. "These are the women who seem to be cured but then present with systemic disease many years later. Until now, there has been no good way to identify this subset of women who might benefit from ongoing screening or treatment."
Another subgroup of patients with triple-negative breast tumors, according to the team's work, is unlikely to see its cancer return after five years.
"A clinical challenge in breast cancer management has been distinguishing which tumors pose greatest risk of late recurrence," Harold Burstein, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said in the same statement. Burstein was not an author of the study. "This important scientific paper identifies molecular features that determine the timing of cancer recurrence. In the future, this type of genomic classification should help us separate patients who remain at jeopardy - and might warrant additional or ongoing treatment - and those who do not."
The research team's next step is to conduct clinical trials to investigate if these findings can help improve patient outcomes.


PG&E says prepare for days-long power...
PG&E fire-safety shutdowns: 'We're all freaking out about it'
Utility says it must keep customers safe in dangerous 'new normal'
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 18: Neal Narayan and Anthony Malnati confer inside PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 18: Aaron Green keeps an eye on monitors inside PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 18: Components for a PG&E weather station sit on a window ledge inside the company's Wildfire Safety Operations Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 18: Neal Narayan works inside PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 18: Sarah Gibson works inside PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
By Ethan Baron |  | Bay Area News Group
In a large office overlooking the San Francisco Bay Bridge, PG&E's wildfire-safety analysts keep watch 24/7, monitoring streams of images and data from satellites, weather stations, forest cameras and emergency responders. Sitting in front of dual monitors at work stations, with a wall of giant screens in front of them, they track winds, temperatures, humidity and the dryness of vegetation to calculate wildfire risk across Northern California. Under a new PG&E program to reduce the threat of its power lines sparking fires, these are the people whose work could get your power shut off even if your community is not in danger.
Under the embattled utility's new Public Safety Power Shutoff program, when the analysts in this Wildfire Safety Operations Center determine conditions have reached a threshold for fire risk in an area, company officials will activate an emergency center in the basement of a building next door, and begin cutting power to electricity lines. That means that communities that aren't at risk but get power from the same lines could also be blacked out. Any of the utility's 5 million customers could be affected for several hours or "multiple days," according to PG&E.
"That is why we are telling all of our customers to be prepared because it is possible that you could be some distance from the problem area and experience a public safety power shutoff," said PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith.
As the utility seeks to limit the threat of fires sparked by power lines in what it calls a "new normal" of massive fire risk from drought, widespread tree deaths, record heat waves and "extremely strong" windstorms, its program has ushered in a new era in Northern California that's forcing everyone to prepare for blackouts that could come without notice. The company says in an online fact sheet that it will give customers up to 48 hours advance notice of shutdowns  -  "when possible." PG&E is urging customers to update their contact information with the utility for calls, texts and email notifications, and offering tips to prepare.
The program, similar to one in effect in Southern California for years, has already raised concerns as health care providers, restaurant owners and others scramble to figure out how to power electricity-dependent medical devices, air conditioning, appliances and more during a shutdown.
Jason Belden, a disaster-preparation manager for the California Association of Health Facilities, which represents 1,300 skilled-nursing facilities and intermediate-care facilities, worries about a worst-case scenario if back-up power isn't immediately available to patients who rely on oxygen, dialysis or other life-sustaining equipment. "You could kill people right away," he said.
For Alan Carlson, chef and owner at Italian Colors in the Oakland hills, PG&E's new program came as a shock. "We're all worrying and freaking out about it," Carlson said, noting that power outages can cause problems that range from filling a restaurant with smoke when kitchen fans shut down to spoiled food. "We maybe have to get a generator, at least for the walk-ins and freezer. It's pretty darn scary."
Since the shutoff program was approved by California regulators in May, PG&E has turned off power due to fire risk in two areas. One day earlier this month, power was cut to 1,700 customers in Solano, Napa and Yolo counties and to some 21,000 customers in Butte and Yuba counties. Both shutdowns lasted less than a day, PG&E said.
The utility did its first preventative power shutdown last year, but that was only for distribution lines, which carry power shorter distances than transmission lines. That outage, in the North Bay and Sierra Foothills, left 60,000 customers in the dark for four days.
"The changing conditions in climate throughout the state and ... extreme weather events driven by climate change have caused unanticipated wildfires in our state primarily over the last couple of years," Smith said. "We've been looking at how can we best keep our customers safe."
After devastating fires in Southern California, the state Public Utilities Commission in 2012 gave San Diego Gas & Electric approval to run a program that's been a model for PG&E's plan. However, although a commission review of two 2017 shutdowns by the San Diego-based utility found the blackouts were a "reasonable" response to fire risk, the commission concluded that even five years after the program was approved, there had been multiple complaints about last-minute or non-existent warnings of shutdowns, and the utility's provision of back-up power was inconsistent.
PG&E, which filed for bankruptcy in January seeking relief from billions of dollars in debts and liabilities following a series of deadly wildfires that torched Northern California over the past two years, says it expects it will restore power after public-safety shutdowns within 24 to 48 hours once extreme weather conditions have subsided.
The Camp Fire rages in Magalia Nov. 9, 2018, as Sacramento Metropolitan firefighters battle the flames. The fire burned for 18 days and was determined fully contained when rainstorms hit the area. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group file)
Large areas of the hills surrounding the Peninsula and East Bay are "extreme" fire-threat areas, and most of the rest of the Bay Area's heights have "elevated" risk, according to the Public Utilities Commission. PG&E says electric lines passing through such areas are the most likely to be shut off for public safety.
Nursing homes and other care facilities worry about what could happen if an outage persists. Back-up power systems typically provide effective air conditioning, and facilities where frail seniors live would have to be evacuated, leading to "transfer trauma," said Belden. "About 10 percent of those residents are going to die in the next three months just simply because of that evacuation," he said.
If, for example, during the 2018 Carr Fire in the Redding area, PG&E had shut down power to that city while temperatures were hitting 115 degrees, every resident of skilled-nursing homes and intermediate-care facilities serving the mentally disabled would've had to be evacuated, Belden said. "It could be really, really bad," he said.
Redding is under evacuation as the Carr fire makes its way into the city. A long line of traffic on Buenaventura Blvd. along Benton Air Park. Credit: Hung T. Vu/Special to the Redding Record Searchlight
PG&E, which recently agreed to pay $1 billion to local governments for damage from fires in 2015, 2017 and 2018, acknowledges that while the blackouts may shield it from liability for causing fires, shutting off power carries its own threats. "It's not a decision that we make lightly," Smith said.
Although state and federal law requires backup power systems for hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, intermediate-care facilities and long-term care facilities, many people who get home care or live in hospices, assisted-living or group homes don't have generators to power medical devices, said Corrigan Gommenginger, CEO of Advanced Home Health and Hospice, which provides home-based services in the East Bay and other areas of the state.
Gommenginger thinks PG&E's program falls short. "Our public utilities have a real responsibility to consumers to be able to provide us safe energy, and we shouldn't have to worry about ... trees rubbing against the lines," he said. "Turning off people's electricity to prevent fires is a band-aid. The real response should be, 'How can we deliver safe energy to everybody all of the time?'"
Ethan Baron
Ethan Baron is a business reporter at The Mercury News, and a native of Silicon Valley before it was Silicon Valley. Baron has worked as a reporter, columnist, editor and photographer in newspapers and magazines for 25 years, covering business, politics, social issues, crime, the environment, outdoor sports, war and humanitarian crises.
Follow Ethan Baron @ethanbaron
46 whales were confirmed entangled in 2018, trending up from the year before
California heat wave to slowly ease
Lightning strikes in Red Bluff; power knocked out to nearly 200


After returning to Formula 1™ in 2001, Renault gradually moved up through the field, eventually claiming its first race wins in 2003 and 2004. The following year, Renault was officially aiming for the world championship title. Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso were tasked with leading the team to glory in an R25 designed to meet the new regulations. The new car boasted an innovative front suspension system to combat the outlawing of tyre changes, improved aerodynamics and an engine capable of running in two successive Grand Prix. Despite pressure from Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes, Renault became the first mainstream manufacturer in F1™ history to win both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' titles, an achievement they would then repeat in 2006.


EBTC Enterprise Bancorp Inc.
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2019 Net Income of $8.7 Million
LOWELL, Mass., April 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Enterprise") (NASDAQ: EBTC), parent of Enterprise Bank, announced net income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 of $8.7 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 27%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.74 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of 28%, compared to $0.58 for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
As previously announced on April 16, 2019, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share to be paid on June 3, 2019 to shareholders of record as of May 13, 2019.
Chief Executive Officer Jack Clancy commented, "Over the past twelve months, total assets increased 8%, total loans increased 4% and customer deposits have increased 14% as compared to March 31, 2018. The increase in customer deposits includes several relationships which had large short-term balance increases in the quarter. Loan and deposit growth, along with a reduction in the loan loss provision due to improved credit metrics compared to the March 2018 quarter, were the key drivers to our earnings increase as compared to the first quarter of 2018."
Mr. Clancy added, "The collective efforts and contributions of our dedicated Enterprise team, including active community involvement, relationship building, a customer-focused mindset, and ongoing enhancements to our leading-edge product and service offerings, continue to drive our growth. This includes operating from a sense of purpose to serve our fellow team members, customers and communities. Our top priority and focus has been, and always will be, ongoing investment in our greatest asset: our people. We also remain focused on organic growth and continually planning for and investing in our future with an emphasis on people, technology, digital transformation, branch renovations and market expansion."
Founder and Chairman of the Board George Duncan commented, "We are profoundly grateful for the trust and confidence placed in us by those who create our success - our shareholders, our customers, our team members, and the communities we are privileged to serve - and who embrace our mission as a genuine community bank to create a lasting and positive impact in our world. All of us at Enterprise Bank have an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment in what we have achieved to date - a branch network consisting of 24 locations in 19 communities, assets in excess of $3 billion, assets under management in excess of $4 billion and 118 consecutive profitable quarters - and we are extremely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead."
Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 amounted to $28.1 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 8%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in net interest income was due largely to interest-earning asset growth, primarily in loans. Average loan balances (including loans held for sale) increased $98.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same 2018 period average. Tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.98% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to 3.95% for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 there was a negative provision to the allowance for loan losses of $400 thousand, compared to a provision of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The primary factor in the decrease in the year-to-date provision for loan losses compared to the prior year was a reduction in the balance of the allowance for loan losses allocated to impaired, adversely classified, and criticized loans of $81 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to an increase of $1.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Also affecting the provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year were:
Net recoveries of $280 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to net recoveries of $9 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Total non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans amounted to 0.46% at both March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018.
The ratio of adversely classified loans ("substandard," "doubtful," "loss") to total loans amounted to 1.45% at March 31, 2019, compared to 1.19% at March 31, 2018. However, the reserves allocated to these loans declined $472 thousand over the same period due to generally improved collateral values on impaired loans.
Loan growth for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was relatively flat, compared to loan growth of $20.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The allowance for loan losses allocated to general reserves for non-classified loans declined $39 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to an increase of $233 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
The allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio was 1.41% at March 31, 2019, 1.42% at December 31, 2018 and 1.51% at March 31, 2018.
Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 amounted to $3.8 million and was relatively flat compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. Increases in deposit and interchange fees and other income, primarily as a result of market value adjustment gains on equity securities, were partially offset by lower wealth management fees.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, non-interest expense amounted to $20.9 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 7%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. Increases in non-interest expense over the first quarter of 2018 primarily related to the Company's strategic growth, digital and market initiatives, particularly salaries and employee benefits expenses and technology and telecommunications expenses, partially offset by lower FDIC deposit insurance expenses in the first quarter of 2019.
Key Financial Highlights
Total assets amounted to $3.07 billion at March 31, 2019, compared to $2.96 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $109.4 million, or 4%.
Total loans amounted to $2.38 billion at March 31, 2019, compared to $2.39 billion at December 31, 2018, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 0.1%.
Customer deposits (total deposits excluding brokered deposits) were $2.73 billion at March 31, 2019, compared to $2.51 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $217.7 million, or 9%.
Investment assets under management amounted to $848.4 million at March 31, 2019, compared to $800.8 million at December 31, 2018, an increase of $47.7 million, or 6%.
Total assets under management amounted to $4.01 billion at March 31, 2019, compared to $3.85 billion at December 31, 2018, an increase of $158.1 million, or 4%.
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that conducts substantially all of its operations through Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, commonly referred to as Enterprise Bank. Enterprise Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and investing in commercial loans and investment securities. Through Enterprise Bank and its subsidiaries, the Company offers a range of commercial, residential and consumer loan products, deposit products and cash management services, digital banking options, and insurance services. Enterprise Bank also provides a range of wealth management, wealth services and trust services delivered via two channels, Enterprise Wealth Management and Enterprise Wealth Services. The Company's headquarters and Enterprise Bank's main office are located at 222 Merrimack Street in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Company's primary market area is the Greater Merrimack Valley, Nashoba Valley, and North Central regions of Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire (Southern Hillsborough and Rockingham counties). Enterprise Bank has 24 full-service branches located in the Massachusetts communities of Lowell (2), Acton, Andover, Billerica (2), Chelmsford (2), Dracut, Fitchburg, Lawrence, Leominster, Methuen, Tewksbury (2), Tyngsborough and Westford and in the New Hampshire communities of Derry, Hudson, Nashua (2), Pelham, Salem and Windham.
This earnings release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by references to a future period or periods or by the use of the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "assume," "will," "should," "plan," and other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements should not be relied on because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company. These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results, performance, and achievements of the Company to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, competition and market expansion opportunities, changes in non-interest expenditures or in the anticipated benefits of such expenditures, the receipt of required regulatory approvals, and changes in tax laws. For more information about these factors, please see our reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty, and specifically disclaim any duty, to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
(Dollars in thousands) March 31,
2018 March 31,
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and due from banks $ 35,715 $ 43,865 $ 34,703
Interest-earning deposits 99,547 19,255 22,175
Total cash and cash equivalents 135,262 63,120 56,878
Investments:
Debt securities at fair value 458,765 431,473 412,213
Equity securities at fair value 2,049 1,448 295
Total investment securities at fair value 460,814 432,921 412,508
Federal Home Loan Bank stock 1,491 5,357 2,370
Loans held for sale 332 701  -
Loans, less allowance for loan losses of $33,729 at March 31, 2019, $33,849 at December 31, 2018, and $34,524 at March 31, 2018 2,350,908 2,353,657 2,255,649
Lease right-of-use asset 18,851  -   -
Accrued interest receivable 12,619 11,462 11,210
Deferred income taxes, net 10,632 11,747 12,858
Prepaid income taxes  -  732  -
Prepaid expenses and other assets 8,470 11,279 10,953
Goodwill 5,656 5,656 5,656
Customer deposits $ 2,725,667 $ 2,507,999 $ 2,385,895
Brokered deposits 30,499 56,783 185,494
Borrowed funds 488 100,492  -
Subordinated debt 14,863 14,860 14,850
Lease liability 17,871  -   -
Income taxes payable 809  -  53
Accrued interest payable 1,092 979 596
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued  -   -   -
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 11,798,114 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019, 11,708,218 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018, and 11,682,914 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 118 117 117
Additional paid-in capital 92,089 91,281 89,159
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 1,850 (1,284 ) (5,848 )
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2019 2018
Loans and loans held for sale $ 29,616 $ 26,150
Investment securities 3,222 2,487
Other interest-earning assets 459 134
Total interest and dividend income 33,297 28,771
Deposits 4,706 2,236
Borrowed funds 279 292
Subordinated debt 228 228
Total interest expense 5,213 2,756
Net interest income 28,084 26,015
Provision for loan losses (400 ) 1,600
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 28,484 24,415
Wealth management fees 1,299 1,408
Deposit and interchange fees 1,564 1,489
Income on bank-owned life insurance, net 162 168
Net (losses) gains on sales of investment securities (1 ) 1
Gains on sales of loans 36 84
Other income 776 641
Total non-interest income 3,836 3,791
Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits 13,471 12,108
Occupancy and equipment expenses 2,212 2,157
Technology and telecommunications expenses 1,726 1,553
Advertising and public relations expenses 715 720
Audit, legal and other professional fees 423 507
Deposit insurance premiums 351 500
Supplies and postage expenses 224 232
Other operating expenses 1,728 1,670
Total non-interest expense 20,850 19,447
Income before income taxes 11,470 8,759
Provision for income taxes 2,774 1,934
Net income $ 8,696 $ 6,825
Basic earnings per share $ 0.74 $ 0.59
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.74 $ 0.58
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding 11,730,482 11,628,587
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 11,783,405 11,700,854
Selected Consolidated Financial Data and Ratios
At or for the
year ended At or for the
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 March 31, 2018
BALANCE SHEET AND OTHER DATA
Loans serviced for others 90,200 89,232 88,816
Investment assets under management 848,412 800,751 846,853
Total assets under management $ 4,012,393 $ 3,854,341 $ 3,770,597
Dividends paid per common share $ 0.16 $ 0.58 $ 0.145
Total capital to risk weighted assets 11.89 % 11.77 % 11.48 %
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets 10.06 % 9.93 % 9.62 %
Tier 1 capital to average assets 8.57 % 8.56 % 8.24 %
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets 10.06 % 9.93 % 9.62 %
Allowance for loan losses to total loans 1.41 % 1.42 % 1.51 %
Non-performing assets $ 11,304 $ 11,784 $ 10,558
Non-performing assets to total assets 0.37 % 0.40 % 0.37 %
INCOME STATEMENT DATA (annualized)
Return on average total assets 1.17 % 1.00 % 0.98 %
Return on average stockholders' equity 13.59 % 12.15 % 12.00 %
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)(1) 3.98 % 3.97 % 3.95 %
(1) Tax equivalent net interest margin is net interest income adjusted for the tax equivalent effect associated with tax exempt loan and investment income, expressed as a percentage of average interest earning assets.
Contact Info: James A. Marcotte, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (978) 656-5614
Underlying
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Reports by Enterprise Bancorp Inc.
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2019 Net Income of $8.7 Million LOWELL, Mass., April 18, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Enterprise") (NASDAQ: EBTC), parent of Enterprise Bank, announced net income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 of $8.7 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 27%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.74 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of 28%, compared to $0.58 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. As previously announced on April 1...
Enterprise Bancorp Inc.
87d 18/04/2019 1 EN
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend LOWELL, Mass., April 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") () On April 16, 2019, the Board of Directors of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share to be paid on June 3, 2019 to shareholders of record as of May 13, 2019. Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that conducts substantially all of its operations through Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, commonly referred to as Enterprise Bank. Enterprise Bank is principally engaged in the busines...
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Completes its 30th Year and Announces 2018 Net Income of $28.9 Million
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Completes its 30th Year and Announces 2018 Net Income of $28.9 Million LOWELL, Mass., Jan. 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Enterprise") (NASDAQ: EBTC), parent of Enterprise Bank, announced net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $28.9 million, an increase of $9.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. Diluted earnings per share were $2.46 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $1.66 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2018 amounted to...
171d 24/01/2019 1 EN
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend LOWELL, Mass., Jan. 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") () On January 15, 2019, the Board of Directors of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share to be paid on March 4, 2019 to shareholders of record as of February 11, 2019. Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that conducts substantially all of its operations through Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, commonly referred to as Enterprise Bank. The Company is principally engaged in the busi...
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2018 Net Income of $8.0 Million
Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2018 Net Income of $8.0 Million LOWELL, Mass., Oct. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Enterprise") (NASDAQ: EBTC), parent of Enterprise Bank, announced net income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 of $8.0 million, an increase of $2.5 million, or 45%, compared to the same three-month period in 2017. Diluted earnings per share were $0.68 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $0.47 for the same three-month period in 2017, an increase of 45%. Net income for the nine months ...
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Galecki Christmas Vacation
Anthony Michael Hall in "Vacation" (1983), Jason Lively in "European Vacation" (1985), Johnny Galecki in "Christmas Vacation" (1989) and Ethan Embry in "Vegas Vacation" (1997). In this new "Vacation,".
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 8 p.m. ET The Griswolds are preparing for. Directed by Jeremiah Checkik, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D`Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki and Randy Quai.
Quarks fly when two geeky physicists discover that they have a new neighbor: a sexy actress who inspires them to try a relationship with a real woman. This quirky sitcom follows the adventures of roommates Sheldon and Leonard, two brilliant physicists who don't have a.
The actress has landed a guest-starring role as the girlfriend of Johnny Galecki's character, David. The casting is a little odd as the two former child stars once played brother and sister in 1989 co.
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more!Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Each week, The News-Gazette will show a screen shot of a home from a movie and ask readers, "Who lives here?" The first person to. and son Russ (Johnny Galecki) in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vac.
Articles and galleries about the latest celebrity news, breaking stories, and Hollywood exclusives from PEOPLE.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 American Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon 's Vacation film series , and was written by John Hughes , based on his short story in National Lampoon magazine, "Christmas '59".
You will get a notification at the top of the site as soon as the current price equals or falls below your price. You can also optionally receive an email notification (sent only once), this is specif.
Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). The ringleader of the Griswold clan, Clark "Sparky" Griswold has grand visions of a good old-fashioned family Christmas. In typical fashion, however, things do not go to plan.
The comic misadventures of the beleaguered Griswold family continue in this latest "Vacation" outing, the third and most successful of the series.
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is a classic holiday comedy, and it features all of the Griswold family hijinks we've come to know and love. If you are a fan of this film, take our quiz and see how much you really know about Clark and the gang!
Blue Water Vacation Rentals Vacation Rentals Crescent City Ca We sell real estate in Crescent City CA, Smith River, Hiouchi, Klamath, and. Our other services include vacation rentals, property management, build-to -suite. Such a project would have capital costs of about $160 million, Swanson
Christmas Quizzes - Our bank of pub Christmas quizzes - Christmas picture rounds, Christmas films, Christmas songs plus many more. Pick a complete pub quiz of seven rounds or choose by topic.
"Christmas Vacation" is a cuckoo clock of a movie. including the remarkably deadpan Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki. "Everything in comedy is setup," "Christmas Vacation" director Jeremiah S. Che.
Christmas Vacation. Let us celebrate that holiday wonder written by. Also look for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brian Doyle-Murray The Griswold kids are played by Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) an.
in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989). On the set, Chase took a liking to him, and Galecki recalled in a later interview that Chevy Chase showed him some tricks for comedic timing. By that t.
Johnny Galecki. Left: Galecki in 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation; Right: Galecki at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles in April 2014. Back to top
and "Christmas Vacation," in which the son was portrayed by Johnny Galecki of TV's "The Big Bang Theory." For "Vegas Vacation," Ethan Embry, who'd previously starred in the Hughes-scripted "Dutch," st.
Mainz Travel Germany profile, German facts and links to internet recourses regarding geography, travel, culture, art and history. Official web sites of the government, embassies, cities, tourist boards and newspapers. Germany profile, German facts and links to internet recourses regarding geography, travel,
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki star in the 1989 comedy "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (9 p.m., ABC Family).  -  Willy cuts a Christmas record on.
Johnny Galecki, Actor: The Big Bang Theory. John Mark Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, to American parents; his father was stationed there while serving in the U.S. Air Force. When he was three years old, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he grew up with his parents, Mary Lou and Richard Galecki...
Johnny Galecki - 'Christmas Vacation' (1989) Before he was one of the world's most endearing and favorite nerds, Johnny Galecki was dealing with Clark Griswold's desire to put on the perfect Christmas.
. their own Christmas Tree deserves some kudos - it plays out as a nice hat tip to Johnny Galecki's performance in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Assuming it was intentional, aside from it p.
Then I think of him as "Rusty" on Christmas Vacation. Find this Pin and more on big bang theory by Ashley Michelle. johnny galecki: When I think of him, the first thing I think of is when he was "David" on the show Roseanne.
Johnny Galecki once said. Johnny Galecki Quotes - Notable Johnny Galecki Quotes Index - Born: April 30, 1975, Bree, Flanders, Belgium. We lived in the same apartment building when I was about. jeez, I guess it was when I was doing 'Christmas Vacation', so I was about 13 or 14.
Seeing as it's Christmas Eve and the entire staff is out of the office, we're republishing this 2009 piece about one of the undisputed champions of holiday cinema: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacatio.
Frommers Travel Insurance None of the authors contacted reported that their titles would appear in print. Google purchased Frommer's Travel and Unofficial Guides from Wiley in August 2012 for $22 million. The search giant woul. Frommer's EasyGuide to Iceland (Easy Guides) [Nicholas Gill]
He appeared as Rusty Griswold in the 1989 film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and, in 2011, he made a guest appearance on Entourage as himself. Family Life He began dating actress Kelli Garner in 2011, but the couple split in 2014.
The most popular of all the Chevy Chase "Vacation" movies was. attempts at having a big family Christmas end in disaster. Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Juliette.
Galecki and Lewis, who famously played siblings back in 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, will guest star on The Conners Season 1.
The best Christmas bit: Kidnapping Santa so that they can take over Christmas. Why it qualifies: It's wild and crazy comedy, certainly, but it also makes some decent observations about a 'real family.
Playing Mona Lisa and the comedy classic National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, playing Rusty, the son of dad Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). A longtime patron of the theater, Galecki has himself been i.
Luggage For International Travel Reviews Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its fun, laid-back ambiance and inventive "freestyle cruising" concept, which promotes no enforced dress codes, no fixed dining times and comes with a plethora of on. Travel is the movement of people between distant
There will be a Christmas. Vacation. I worked on that movie for several months, and what a wonderful experience. The script was so funny, and the cast so amazing (Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Juliette.
On the big screen, Galecki's film work includes "Rings," "Vanilla Sky," and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. ARIES (Mar 21-Apr. 19): Stay on the sidelines. Trying to be a cheerleader or becomin.
While its slapstick humor, strong language and raunchy jokes set it apart from most traditional "holiday movies," National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation has emerged as a modern Christmas classic in.
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Grenjaðarstaður
Sitting exposed to the prevailing icy winds in a broad valley, Grenjaðarstaður is a nineteenth-century church and block of well-insulated turf-roofed farmhouses, now a museum (June-Aug). The estate was founded in medieval times (a contemporary altar cloth from the original church is now in the Paris Louvre) when it counted as one of the best holdings in all Iceland, and now comprises the largest collection of period buildings in the country. Most of the rooms are kept as they were when last lived in, full of household items and farming implements from days gone by, though one building has been taken back to its original state, with beaten earth floors and central stone fireplace and kitchen.
The Rough Guide to Naples, Pompeii & the Amalfi Coast
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Men in Contemporary Russia
The Fallen Heroes of Post-Soviet Change?, 1st Edition
$59.95$47.96 SAVE ~$11.99 12 Month Rental - $35.97 6 Month Rental - $29.98
Rebecca Kay assesses how men in post-Soviet Russia are represented through media and popular discourses. Using case studies she explores the challenges which have arisen for men since 1991 and the ways in which their responses are shaped by and viewed through the prism of widely accepted attitudes towards gender. The lives and concerns of men in provincial Russia are examined through ethnographic fieldwork, combining extensive participant observation with in-depth interviews. The book reveals how individual men strive to maintain a sense of equilibrium between the activities in which they are engaged and the ways in which they are perceived, both by others and by themselves. The findings of the research have produced significant areas of contrast and comparison with the author's earlier work on women. This is drawn out throughout the book, placing the study of Russian men in a broader gendered context. The issues raised by the men mirror concerns discussed in men's studies literature and popular discourse beyond Russia. The book is therefore of interest to a wider international audience as well as contributing to ongoing interdisciplinary debates, in Russian Studies, Anthropology, Sociology and Human Geography, addressing the need for new approaches to understanding post-Socialist change.
'An intriguing and suggestive book that illuminates men's experience as they try to find new meanings for manhood in post-Soviet Russia. Based on interviews with men from Siberia and the European heartland of Russia, and from a wide range of backgrounds, Kay's book explores how these men have responded to the challenges of military service, the new economy, marital life and fatherhood. The commonplace view of Russia's men as superfluous and self-destructive in the face of economic and national crisis is found wanting, and the significance of both the civic and the intimate in Russian men's own reconstructions of gender should give politicians, policy makers and scholars pause for thought.' Dan Healey, Senior Lecturer, Swansea University, UK 'Rebecca Kay's study of narratives of masculinity brings an important new dimension to the English-language literature on gender in post-Soviet Russia. This book is a thoroughly researched, empathetic and engagingly written account of how the other half� has negotiated the constraints of the post-Soviet gender regime. It will be an important resource for teaching and research in the fields of gender studies, Russian and East European studies, sociology, cultural studies and social policy.' Hilary Pilkington, University of Warwick, UK 'Russian policymakers concerned about very high male mortality and very low birthrates would do well to read Kay's account...The challenges for Russian men and women are great because of the scale and rapidity of change but they are also part and parcel of far broader processes of globalization. Kay's fascinating and insightful work helps to enhance our understanding of both.' Transitions Online 'With this thorough and rich study of changing masculinities in contemporary Russia, Rebecca Kay has made an important contribution to our understanding of gendered structures and relations in post-socialist societies...Kay's study...fills a gap in the literature and simultan
Contents: Introduction: studying men in Russia: historical perspectives and international contexts; Heroes or Villains?: 'being a man' in contemporary Russia. Men in the Public Sphere: Military service: rite of passage or waste of time?; 'What kind of a man doesn't provide for his family?': making ends meet in the new labour market; 'What's a man without capital?': the pitfalls and potential of private enterprise. Men in the Private Sphere: 'I couldn't live without my kids': fatherhood as a contested identity; 'A woman has a right to expect certain conditions': personal relationships between men and women; 'Just give me an aspirin and I'll be fine': the provision of social services and support for men, a case study of the Altai Regional Crisis Centre for Men; Conclusions: new perspectives on men in contemporary Russia; Appendix: Respondents' socio-demographic data; Bibliography; Index.
About the Originator
Rebecca Kay is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Central and East European Studies at the University of Glasgow, UK. She is author of Russian Women and their Organizations, Macmillan, 2000, winner of the Heldt Prize for the best book in Slavic Women's Studies in 2000. In addition, she is author of a series of articles on gender in contemporary Russia.
Central Asian, Russian & Eastern European Studies
SOCIAL SCIENCE / Men's Studies
SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General


Swiss court frees air worker's killer
Published time: 8 Nov, 2007 14:13 Edited time: 8 Nov, 2007 17:13
The highest Swiss court has ruled that Vitaly Kaloyev should be freed. The Russian was jailed for stabbing to death an air traffic controller he blamed for an air crash that killed his wife and two young children in 2002. Earlier this year, his eight-yea
Sister Zoya Kaloyeva said they felt great joy:
"Tears were in our eyes when we got the news. The phone keeps ringing all the time. Vitaly must take care of his health - he suffers from high blood pressure. He will first stay with his older brother in Moscow, and then will see".
"Finally the truth has triumphed and Vitaly is released. We thank those judges who have been deciding his fate and who understood that this man has had enough and shouldn't be punished any longer. He has already lost the most precious things he had - his loved-ones. The whole family and all the neighbours have been praying for him and God eventually heard us," she added.
"This is a long-awaited moment. He is exhausted. This is a person who went through two major tragedies: the first one, when he lost his family, and this got him into the second one, when he killed Peter Nielsen," Konstantin Kaloyev, Vitaly Kaloyev's brother, commented.
Kaloyev's lawyer, Markus Hug, told Russia Today that it was one of the most difficult cases he's ever had to deal with because of all the tragic circumstances of the crash and unanswered questions. Kaloyev was also a victim of this tragedy, the lawyer believes.
Monument on the grave of Kaloyev's family
And he added that he believed that good reasoning by the defence helped persuade the judges:
"I was always convinced that we had good arguments in the case and we proved it today. I've already contacted Kaloyev's translator. I will perhaps meet Kaloyev tomorrow - if he stays in prison until tomorrow. He could be released in a matter of several hours".
Kaloyev, 50, stabbed Peter Nielsen to death because he held the SkyGuide employee responsible for an air crash that killed his wife and two young children in 2002.
Earlier this year, the eight-year term was cut to five years and three months with the possibility of parole. But an appeal to the Federal Court by the prosecution overruled the parole decision.
Now the court has ruled Kaloyev is a free man as he served more than 2/3 of his term and behaved well in prison. Kaloyev will be actually released within a few days.
On July 1, 2002 a Russian passenger plane collided with a DHL cargo plane over southern Germany, killing 71 people, including 49 children.
Peter Nielsen was the only air traffic controller on duty at the time of the accident.
Kaloyev tracked him down to his home in Switzerland, where he stabbed him to death.


Ultra-left activists storm Russia's foreign ministry
Published time: 2 Jul, 2008 07:25 Edited time: 2 Jul, 2008 11:25
Banner says: "Foreign ministry - a lair of traitors" (AFP Photo / Natalia Kolesnikova) © AFP
A dozen Bolshevik activists have been detained in Moscow after storming the reception of Russia's main foreign ministry building. The members of the banned National Bolshevik movement handcuffed themselves to pipes and h
"Police detained three Muscovites and nine Moscow Region residents in the Russian Foreign Ministry lobby in Denezhny side-street. They were brought to the Khamovniki police station," the source in Moscow's police said, adding that they were likely to be given fines.
The ultra-left activists timed the act to coincide with the criminal sentencing of one of the National Bolshevik movement leaders, Vladimir Abel, in a Latvian court. Abel was arrested in Moscow in February, 2008, and extradited to Latvia, where he had been accused of plotting an assassination attempt on the country's president at the time Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
National Bolsheviks themselves claim it was the Russian foreign ministry inaction in protecting the Russian-speaking minority rights in the Baltic states that made them go the length of such a move.
A week ago the Latvian Ambassador to Russia, Andris Teikmanis, was attacked by members of the same movement during a media briefing in Moscow. The assailants, a man and a woman, threw a substance which they claim was blood at him. During the incident they chanted "Free Vadimir Abel".


Learning Disability Super League Launched
Wed 13 Feb League
Super League (Europe) and the Rugby Football League (RFL) have partnered with the national social care charity Community Integrated Care to form a ground-breaking inclusive sports programme for people with learning disabilities and autism.
The 'Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League' will give people with learning disabilities the opportunity to play an adapted version of Rugby League, in a series of high-profile festivals and events. The programme aims to promote the development of skills, confidence and positive experiences for people with learning disabilities, and make a major statement about social inclusion. This world-first initiative is the first ever example of a professional sports league sharing its brand with a learning disability sports programme.
The inclusive competition has been supported by eleven founder clubs, who have established or will be developing Learning Disability Rugby League teams: Castleford Tigers, Huddersfield Giants, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, Newcastle Thunder, Salford Red Devils, St Helens, Wakefield Trinity, Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings, Wigan Warriors and York City Knights.
Learning Disability Rugby League is a specially adapted non-competitive game, which focuses on encouraging participation and skills development. To support the success of this programme, Community Integrated Care is providing specialist training to all participating clubs, as well as direct investment into the sport.
The programme is set to launch at the Betfred Super League's Dacia Magic Weekend event, which takes place at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, on 25-26th May 2019. This will provide one of the biggest ever crowds for a learning disability sport event.
The initiative was revealed today at Community Integrated Care's Annual Conference, which took place at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United. The launch event was hosted by Sky Sports presenters Terry O'Connor and Brian Carney. It featured contributions from Warrington Wolves hooker Danny Walker, Leeds Rhinos forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Wigan Warriors second-row, Willie Isa, and St Helens prop, Luke Douglas, who have all signed up as Ambassadors for the programme, having proudly supported LDRL initiatives or the charity Community Integrated Care in the past.
Community Integrated Care is one of Britain's biggest and most successful social care charities, supporting over 3500 people who have learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia across England and Scotland. The charity has developed several pioneering sports and social care programmes, including initiatives with leading Rugby League clubs that have been recognised at the National Dementia Care Awards, 3rd Sector Care Awards and the Great British Care Awards.
This announcement is part of a wider strategic partnership between Community Integrated Care, the Super League and the RFL, which aims to develop and enhance the community programmes provided by the sport to people with care and support needs. As the Official Social Care Partner of the sport, the charity will be leading the development of a range of programmes that will use Rugby League to transform the lives of people who require care and support.
Robert Elstone, CEO of Super League, said: "I would like to thank Community Integrated Care for presenting this ground-breaking opportunity to Super League. The passion and commitment shown to date to get this project underway bodes well for a partnership that will reward all participants in so many ways. Not only will this deliver amazing opportunities for all the players, and experiences that will live in the memory for lifetimes, it will also endorse everything that Super League stands for.
Our Clubs sit at the heart of proud communities and bring people together every day of the year. The Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League will widen that reach and amplify these special qualities."
Ralph Rimmer, the Chief Executive of the RFL, said: "As a governing body we are extremely proud of our work in developing both Physical Disability and Learning Disability Rugby League over the past 12 months. To have a partner of the calibre of Community Integrated Care come on board is really exciting and they will add real value as we look to develop this format.
The work the Club Foundations have done in giving players with a learning disability the chance to experience Rugby League has been first class and we look forward to working with Super League, Club Foundations and Community Integrated Care to continue to deliver some unprecedented playing opportunities."
Mark Adams, CEO of Community Integrated Care, says: "We believe that this collaboration will become one of the most significant inclusive sports programmes in the world. This initiative gives people with learning disabilities an unparalleled platform to stay active, make friends, develop skills and achieve their dreams. By providing people with the opportunity to represent the clubs that they love, become Super League players, and be part of the game's biggest events, such as Magic Weekend, the sport is not only changing people's lives but also making a powerful statement about the inclusiveness and values of Rugby League.
"As the Official Social Care partner of the sport, we are looking forward to working with the sport to changing the lives of thousands of people with learning disabilities, mental health concerns, autism and dementia.
"We would like to commend the Super League, RFL, all participating clubs, and the players and legends who have signed up as Ambassadors, for their vision and passion for this programme."
St.Helens LDRL face Wigan Warriors LDRL this Sunday at Robin Park. 3pm kick off
This is the first game of the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League so come on down and support the saints!
Robin Park Leisure Centre
Loire Drive
WN5 0UL
See whats it all about here.
Watch J.P, A current LDRL saint. check out his story here.
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Journalist Alan Schwarz crunches the numbers and breaks a scandal wide open
Anne-Lindsay Beall, SAS Insights Editor
How Alan Schwarz took his statistical background and used it to achieve what one Hall of Fame sports writer described as "the most remarkable feat in sports journalism history."
On his first day of kindergarten in 1973, when the teacher asked Alan Schwarz what he wanted to do when he grew up, Schwarz's answer was: "I want to learn square roots because I don't know all of them yet."
Schwarz describes himself as "a proud, card-carrying math geek." He was on the math team in high school, and his life's ambition was to teach high school math. But when he found out he'd need a master's degree, he changed course to something else he'd always loved: sports.
He became a sports journalist and brought his love of math into his writing, finding fertile ground in baseball's numbers and statistics. He even wrote a book about the history of statistics in baseball. And then everything changed.
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The story of a lifetime
Someone came to Schwarz with something big: A brain disease commonly associated with boxers (dementia pugilistica, commonly known as "punch-drunk syndrome") had been found in deceased NFL football players Mike Webster, Terry Long, Andre Waters and Justin Strzelczyk. All of them had basically lost their minds between the ages of 30 and 52.
Why did these players have cognitive problems? Postmortem examinations found that they had chronic traumatic encephalopathy - a rare disease related to punch-drunk syndrome that's not seen in the general population.
"So we went to the NFL and said, 'Hey, your ex-employees are showing brain damage, psychological problems, memory problems and emotional problems - far earlier than the general population,'" said Schwarz.
In a response to The New York Times, an NFL spokesman said: "There are a great many people who have played football ... who do not appear to have suffered these types of deficits."
But Schwarz knew the numbers didn't add up.
"Statistically, it doesn't matter how many healthy players there are," said Schwarz. "What matters is how many players have the disease and how it compares to the right proportion."
When Schwarz pushed further, the NFL released another pseudo-statistical argument, saying: "Memory disorders affect many people who never played football or other sports."
"Right. But, once again, it's not how many people in the general population have the disease," said Schwarz. "It's how many guys in football have it, compared to how many should?"
Statistically, it doesn't matter how many healthy players there are. What matters is how many players have the disease and how it compares to the right proportion. Alan Schwarz Pulitzer Prize-nominated National Correspondent The New York Times
With more retired players reporting problems, the NFL came up with a plan to pay any ex-football player who had dementia $88,000 a year to help offset medical expenses - but the league wouldn't admit that head trauma sustained from football was the cause.
"I knew this would be their downfall," said Schwarz. "They were now collecting data and figuring out how many ex-football players had this disorder, and then we could take that data and compare it to the general population."
Schwarz began collecting the names the NFL came up with, getting their birthdays, researching who they were. "I was obsessed with this for two years," said Schwarz. "And when I found out that there were 95 players in January 2009, I ran the numbers in many different ways to try and conceptualize and show that what I knew in my bones was true. And I was so close."
But before he could finish his analysis, the NFL scooped him. They did their own study with the University of Michigan, and the numbers they found helped Schwarz make his case.
The Michigan report stated that in the US population, for men ages 30-49, only one out of 1,000 suffered from dementia. For retired NFL players ages 30-49, one out of 50 suffered from dementia.
The numbers were even worse for retired NFL players 50 and above. When compared to the general US population, the retired players were six times as likely to suffer from dementia.
When Schwarz asked the NFL about this, the response was: "The numbers are still small."
In response, Schwarz wrote his groundbreaking 2009 article, stating:
All rates appear small. But if they are accurate, they would have arresting real-life effects when applied across a population as large as living N.F.L. retirees. A normal rate of cognitive disease among N.F.L. retirees age 50 and above (of whom there are about 4,000) would result in 48 of them having the condition; the rate in the Michigan study would lead to 244. Among retirees ages 30 through 49 (of whom there are about 3,000), the normal rate cited by the Michigan researchers would yield about 3 men experiencing problems; the rate reported among N.F.L. retirees leads to an estimate of 57.
So the Michigan findings suggest that although 50 N.F.L. retirees would be expected to have dementia or memory-related disease, the actual number could be more like 300. This would not prove causation in any individual case, but it would support a connection between pro football careers and heightened prevalence of later-life cognitive decline that the league has long disputed.
The New York Times put Schwarz's article on the front page, and it caused an immediate sensation.
"People went bananas," said Schwarz. "Congress held hearings. I proved that other data reinforced the Michigan study, and everything started changing. The NFL changed its rules and philosophy of how to handle a concussion. And they finally acknowledged that the data was out there to show the link."
Alan Schwarz took his statistical background and used it to achieve what one Hall of Fame sports writer described as "the most remarkable feat in sports journalism history."
He's been credited with saving lives and revolutionizing the protocol for head injuries in almost every youth and professional sport.
And it all goes back to the numbers. "I love finding the mathematical argument where I can say, 'No. 2 + 2 does not equal 5, and I'm not going to let you get away with that,' " said Schwarz.
Adapted from SAS Technology Connection Keynote, SAS Global Forum 2015.
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Music in the Air, Music Everywhere: Students host pop-up concert series across Greater Victoria to celebrate diversity in music
More than 1,500 music students in the Greater Victoria School District will be performing in concerts across the region from May 6-16th, 2018. Students and their instruments will be popping up in city squares, parks, senior residences and shopping centres to sing and play for the community.
This is part of an 11-day concert series called, "Music in the Air/ Music Everywhere". Elementary, middle and secondary students in music programs are participating to raise awareness of, and engagement with, Greater Victoria School District's music programs.
"This is a great opportunity for community members to engage in our music programs collectively", noted Board Chair Edith Loring-Kuhanga. "Over the years, school music programs have played a significant role in student learning while promoting musical competence across the District. Now, students can showcase their talents to the broader community through a shared musical experience."
More than 30 student performances will happen during the festival. The concert series will feature choirs, string quartets, orchestras, ukulele ensembles, drum circles, concert bands and marching bands.
Concert Schedule Highlights:
Beacon Hill Park - May 6, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
Centennial Square - May 9, 2018, at 2:00 p.m.
Willows Park - May 11, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.
Buccaneer Days Parade - May 12, 2018, at 10 a.m.
Ship Point - May 12, 2018, at 10:45 a.m.
University of Victoria - May 15, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Songhees Wellness Centre - May 16, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Senior Residence performances - May 7-16, 2018
For more information on above performances visit Music in the Air, Music Everywhere Brochure.
Detailed Concert Schedules:
Jazz Stage
Music in the Air, Music Everywhere is supported by the Cooper Smith Music Library (CSML). The Cooper Smith Music Library Collection holds over 9,000 sets of choral works, vocal and instrumental jazz charts, musicals, string orchestra selections, and pedagogical resources for ukulele, recorder, general music at all levels, conducting, music theory, world music, and music history. It also houses a large inventory of instruments for rent and a recording studio.
The CSML is supported by the Administration and Board of Education of the Greater Victoria School District. The library opened in 2003 and has expanded steadily over the years. It was formally named after its founders, Eileen Cooper and Bonnie Smith, in the fall of 2013.
This will be the last year Eileen Cooper and Bonnie Smith will oversee the library. The pair were part of the first music steering committee in 1981, which held the District's first music festival.


Sunny. High 72F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph..
Bar, gym approved in San Carlos
By Anna Schuessler Daily Journal staff
San Carlos will be home to a downtown cocktail bar and a gym slated for a warehouse space on the city's east side after two separate sets of plans submitted to the city's Planning Commission got the green light in recent weeks.
Expected to replace the dry cleaning business Jin's Cleaners at 765 Laurel St., a proposal to operate a piano bar and lounge offering high-end cocktails earned approval from the Planning Commission Monday.
Situated just south of Frank D. Harrington Park, the single-story building where the business has been proposed would receive interior improvements and a new facade under the plans submitted by applicant Kevin Canfield. Equipped with a 6-inch podium for musical performances, a 250-square-foot bar as well as tables and banquette seating, the bar will feature space for live entertainment and a lounge, according to a staff report.
The bar is expected to be open Sunday through Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. with one to two bartenders, a bar-back and a security guard working at the business each night, according to the report.
Required to provide eight parking spaces, the applicant plans to pay $143,488 in parking in-lieu fees to the city. As a condition of approval, the applicant is also required to close windows and doors at 10 p.m. each night to comply with the city's noise ordinance.
The Planning Commission also approved a conditional use permit allowing Rev Fitness to offer personal training and fitness classes at a warehouse space at 930 Commercial St. previously used by Abbey Carpet for storage. Though his business currently operates as Core Total Fitness in a shared space at 969 Industrial Road, applicant Elliott Spear said at the commission's June 17 meeting that the move into the 7,200-square-foot space marks an opportunity for his business to expand.
Spear's business would share the building with Galleher Corporation, which uses the space for warehouse use, and the 1.7-acre lot where the 14,400-square-foot building currently stands holds another commercial building.
"We've loved being part of the community and hope to continue doing so as we expand into this new facility," said Spear, according to a video of the meeting.
By offering boutique-style classes, the business is expected to draw no more than 40 people at a time with three employees at its busiest hours, said city planner Lisa Costa Sanders. Because the business plans to create two on-site bicycle parking spaces, two motorcycle parking spots and two accessible parking spaces, the 46 parking spaces currently provided on the site were deemed sufficient for the new use, explained Sanders.
Sanders said Rockin' Jump at 401 Quarry Road and PongPlanet at 848 Brittan Ave. are among the other recreational uses that have more recently been approved in the city's industrial zones.
In response to Commissioner Jim Iacoponi's question about whether the business would consider expanding its hours from the 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. as currently proposed to a 24-hour model, Spear said he doesn't plan on keeping the business open 24 hours due to safety concerns.
As owner of the building, Tony Bollock, president of Black Mountain Properties, said he was pleased to work with Spear, who was a previous tenant of the company. Bollock said he felt Spear's business could meet demand for a high-quality, membership-based fitness facility, noting it may fall into a sort of middle ground between 24 Hour Fitness, which is more affordable, and some of the higher-end, expensive clubs on the Peninsula.

Elliott Spear
Tony Bollock


AB 1968 Creates Lifetime Gun Ban for Some Afflicted with a Mental Health Disorder
Posted by Neil Shouse | Jan 04, 2019 | 0 Comments
Assembly Bill 1968 establishes a lifetime ban on gun ownership for certain individuals
Assembly Bill 1968 was signed into law by Gov. Brown in September 2018. The bill establishes a lifetime ban on gun ownership for those persons who are:
involuntarily admitted to a facility for a mental health disorder more than once in a year; and,
are considered a danger to themselves or others.
Please note, though, that persons subject to this ban can petition the court every five years to have the ownership ban reversed.
AB 1968 marks a change in California law. Prior to the bill, persons involuntarily committed to a mental health facility, and deemed a danger to themselves or others, could potentially own a gun after five years from the date of release from the facility.
New Laws Under Assembly Bill 1968
AB 1968 applies to those persons who are both:
involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility on more than one occasion in a single year; and,
are designated as a danger to themselves or others.
The bill states that if a person falls into this category, they are prohibited from owning a firearm for the rest of their lives.
But this ban can be reversed. Persons subject to the ban can petition the court every five years to have the gun prohibition overturned. Gun ownership will be granted if a judge believes the person would be likely to use a gun in a safe and lawful manner.
Laws Prior to Assembly Bill 1968
AB 1968 changed California's existing law on gun ownership for those involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility. Under the State's old law, persons involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility, and deemed a danger to themselves or others, were prohibited from possessing a firearm for five years from the date of release from the facility.
After the five-year period expired, a party could petition the court for the restoration of the right to own a gun. This right would be restored if a judge determined that the party would be likely to use a firearm in a safe and lawful manner.
Reasoning for AB 1968
Proponents of the new law support it for two main reasons.
The first is a pure policy interest in safety. Supporters of the bill state that it is in the best interest of society if people at risk of harming themselves and others do not have easy access to guns.
The second reason is to help prevent persons with mental health disorders from killing themselves. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, mental health afflictions are a major contributor to suicide, and 51% of suicides are committed with firearms. The reasoning then follows that if persons with a mental health disorder do not have a gun, they will have less of a chance to take their own lives.
Assembly Bill 1968 was introduced in January of 2018 by Assembly member Evan Low. The bill adds Section 8103 to the California Welfare and Institutions Code.
Neil Shouse
Southern California DUI Defense attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT).
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Ledley King Stresses the Importance of England International for Tottenham Hotspur
Former Tottenham Hotspur legend Ledley King has hailed current Spurs player Eric Dier for his versatility, and praised him for his importance to the North London club, reports the London Evening Standard.
King, who started 268 matches for Spurs between 1999 and 2012 before retiring due to injury, recalled his thoughts when he first watched him put on the Lilywhites' jersey in 2015.
"I remember watching him in pre-season in Denver, and he impressed me straight away. At the time, I didn't know he could step into midfield and perform that well."
King, who is now an ambassador for the team, continued: "I quickly saw he was capable of that and he went on to have a great season in midfield. I'm not sure what position he would say he wants to play, but he does both equally well."
Alex Menendez/GettyImages
"It can be difficult but playing multiple positions is the sign of a good player. When you're competing in a tough team that's full of top players, you're usually happy to be on the pitch and to have a starting position. He can start and if he feels as comfortable at the back as he does in midfield, it may be no problem to him."
King then went on to discuss the England international's importance to his club side: "That's a great strength that this Tottenham team have. They are able to play three centre-halves or two, so you can change. You've seen Eric either step out or step back and make subtle adjustments.
"It's a great strength for any team to have, without having to change your personnel. It makes it a lot easier. People rotate a lot more now and that's one of the things that surprised me about how easy it was for Eric.
"With the ball at his feet he looks very comfortable and very cultured. He doesn't give the ball away at all but also he's not just playing sideways and backwards, he's turning on the ball under pressure and playing forward balls, and he's been brilliant."
King's praise comes as Dier celebrates spending three years at the club, after joining from Sporting Lisbon on 31 July 2014, for an estimated £4.5m. There had been rumours that Jose Mourinho had been looking to lure Dier to Old Trafford, with a £40m bid being made last week. However, with the news of Manchester United's £45m signature of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea, it appears that his future is safe at Tottenham.
And the club's fans are most definitely happy about that, with some suggesting Dier is of a higher standard to Matic.
When you need a plan B after failing to sign Eric Dier. #THFC
 -  Marc Benamram (@MarcBenamram) July 31, 2017
Dier has only missed three Premier League matches in the last two seasons as his team have put forward two sustained title challenges for the first time in decades. He has also played on 19 occasions for the England national team.