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Norwegian Epic 4
Member Since 2005
1,115 Posts

Member Rating

Cabin 5.0
Dining 5.0
Embarkation 5.0
Enrichment Activities Not Rated
Entertainment 5.0
Family & Children Not Rated
Fitness & Recreation Not Rated
Public Rooms 5.0
Rates Not Rated
Service 5.0
Shore Excursions Not Rated
Value for Money 4.0

Compare Prices on Norwegian Epic Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruises

Sail Date: June 2014
Destination: Europe - Western Mediterranean
Embarkation: Barcelona

NCL Epic is the ideal ship for people like myself who are travelling alone. There are Studio Cabins which do not incur the usual dreaded single supplements. I viewed one of these cabins and they are very compact but quite adequate for one person (no fridge though!). However, I opted for an inside midship cabin and paid a very small supplement. There is a designated lounge for solo passengers which is open 24/7 and this can be used by anyone travelling alone, irrespective of their cabin category - just need to have your cruise card swiped at reception to authorise access. The solo's co-ordinator, Gabby, worked so hard to ensure those travelling alone had an enjoyable time. We would meet up in the lounge each evening at 6.30 pm, Gabby would give us information as to what was happening on board that evening, provide us with information about the next day's port of call (more information available from her than the shore excursion desk!) and we would then go off in groups for dinner, the More entertainment and shows. Meeting up with others in this way meant no-one need feel lonely.

My Cabin on Deck 9 was very comfortable with plenty of storage space. The toilet and shower with their frosted glass might be off-putting for people sharing a cabin and this has caused a lot of debate on the roll calls. My cabin steward was efficient, friendly and kept the cabin spotless throughout the cruise.

DINING: There were so many options. I tended to have a light breakfast in the Studio Lounge or a leisurely breakfast at Tastes. Evening meals were either in Tastes or the Manhattan Restaurant. I avoided the Garden Café after one visit there. I did not think much of the buffet, the food was not particularly hot or of a high standard. The place was so crowded all the time and it was not a relaxed atmosphere to enable you to enjoy your meal. O'Sheehans was satisfactory but not the best service with long waits between ordering and being served. I did visit the Cagneys speciality restaurant (supplement payable) and had the most delicious steak there - well worth the extra money. I also paid for Premium Seating at the Cirque Dreams & Dinner in the Spiegel Tent. This was a spell-binding show and the meal was excellent.

DRINKS: Knowing that every drink ordered would incur a 15% surcharge I decided to pre-order the Ultimate Drinks Package before I left home. By ordering this in advance as opposed to buying on board I avoided the 15% surcharge and this package was, for me, the right decision. Wine in this package can only be ordered by the glass - if you want a bottle of wine they will try to sell you a Wine Package, yet another way to get more money out of you!

ENTERTAINMENT: In general this was not as good as on other cruise ships. The Blue Man Group was mediocre and did not really appeal to me whereas some people raved about it. I have seen better tribute acts so Legends in Concert for me was only satisfactory. Enjoyed time spent in Headliners, Bliss and the Epic Lounge but most fun was had at Spice H2o an adults only venue which although crowded gave myself and my fellow solo travellers the best entertainment on several evenings. The Cruise Director and his Entertainment Team worked hard at all times and were very friendly and efficient.

DECK AREAS: Were kept clean and tidy at all times and there were plenty of sunbeds available. The two main pools and the Adults Only pool were all too small for such a large ship but were OK to cool off in after being in the lovely sunshine we had throughout the cruise. On the advice of someone on the roll call I managed to purchase the weekly pass for the Posh Club and at $59 this was money well spent. My card was swiped giving me access to this area on Deck 18 where there were the most comfortable sun beds, a bar for drinks and food and a most friendly, efficient waiter who looked after everyone so well. It was lovely to escape up there away from the crowds and it was easy enough to just pop down in the private elevator to Deck 15 to cool off in the pool. It would have been nice to have a pool on Deck 18 or even to have had the shower area and sprinkler system up there operational.

STAFF: On the whole they were polite and willing to help. Bar staff and waiters throughout the ship and in the dining rooms were efficient and friendly. With the free style dining concept you do not get to know any one particular waiter and this I do miss. Officers could be seen walking around the ship and would invariably acknowledge your presence and sometimes stop to ask if all was going OK - a pleasant surprise as on a lot of ships you never see the officers apart from Captain's Cocktail Party!

EXCURSIONS: The ship's own excursions (like most cruise lines) were very expensive and the thought of being herded onto a coach with 50+ others did not appeal at all. Fortunately some of the roll call members were kind enough to arrange private shore excursions and I enjoyed being part of small groups ashore.

Naples: Most on the roll call wanted to visit Pompeii/Sorrento/Amalfi Coast - places I had already visited. I wanted to return to Capri so organised my own excursion through Viator and I took the Capri Day Trip with Lunch From Naples. There were just four of us in the group - a couple spending time in the area and a young lady travelling around Italy on her own. We were met at the ferry terminal by the rep, took the ferry across to Capri where we were met by our charming guide. We travelled by mini-bus along the "Mamma Mia" (or the Oh My God!) Road with its very narrow streets and winding roads to Anacapri. We took the cable car (extra fee) to the top of Mount Solare from where the views were stunning. Our guide then arranged for the mini bus to take us to the far end of the island so that the others in the group could visit the Blue Grotto (I have already been there). By descending the steep steps the other three in the group were able to avoid the crowds and managed to get a boat into the grotto within ten minutes. All credit to the guide for arranging this even though we had to pay extra for the mini bus there. We then returned to the centre of Capri where we had a most enjoyable lunch (drinks were extra). After free time to wander around the tiny streets with their numerous little shops and purchase souvenirs we met our guide at the ferry terminal for our return ferry to Naples. A most enjoyable trip.

Rome: Six roll call members joined together for a fantastic day out with Stefano Rome Tours ( We saw all the wonderful sights - Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (disappointed no water in fountain due to renovation work so could not toss in my coin!),Spanish Steps, Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. We had all individually paid extra and booked advance tickets for the Colosseum and Vatican City and for an independent guide in the Vatican and were able to skip the long ticket queues at this places. This tour was excellent value, the guides were helpful,knowledgeable and we were not rushed. The car which took us around was most comfortable and the air conditioning was so welcome in the temperatures of 43C!

Livorno: Another excursion organised by a roll call member. Six of us travelled with RomeinLimo for a tour of Florence and San Gimignano with Wine Tasting Torciano and Lunch. We each purchased our tickets in advance for the 11 a.m. entry to the Accademia(Statue of David) and again skipped those long queues. Florence was a breath-taking city and after the tour there we travelled into the Tuscany countryside where we had a wine tasting lesson accompanied by the most delicious lunch, where the wine flowed. We were also tempted to make purchases of the balsamic vinegar, the pure olive oil and of course some of the wines - these are despatched direct to our home addresses. It was a wonderful day, the guide was superb and we all fell in love with Florence and the surrounding countryside.

Cannes: Yet another excursion organised by one of the roll call. This time our guide was Sylvie DiCristo, an independent tour guide. We had a very comfortable seven-seater car which Sylvie drove so expertly around the narrow streets of Cannes. We also visited Eze, a quaint little village with stunning views from the top of the hill, Nice, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Sylvie was a very professional guide, most knowledgeable and we were given lots of interesting information about all the places we visited. We had sufficient free time at each location and the whole day was most enjoyable.

Palma: I had intended to join a roll call excursion but my arthritic hip decided to give me a lot of pain so I knew I would be unable to do the walking involved and had to back out of the trip. The trip was arranged through Miguel Corral - Palma Highlights & Countryside Valldemossa. The lady who organised the tour told me it was a most enjoyable afternoon. As I did not want the rest of the group to have to pay extra because I was not joining them, I did pay the tour organiser my share of the cost (Euros35) and Miguel has e-mailed me offering me a free tour of Palma should I return there in the near future. How about that for customer relations?

None of the above mentioned tours asked for money up front. We all just paid our share of the cost to the guide along with any tips we felt appropriate at the end of the tours. In this way the person organising the excursion was not out of pocket in any way.

I must thank everyone on the roll call who so kindly organised such great excursions. You all did a great job - thank you so much.

Overall I did enjoy the cruise but this is down to the great people I met through the roll calls and in particular those from the Solo Travellers meetings. Had it not been for the solo gatherings I would have felt so alone on Epic and it is great that they cater for the solo travellers BUT the ship is too big - I am used to smaller ships of around 2,000 passengers at most. I still cannot get my head around having an art auction on board, the prices in the Spa were way too high compared to other cruise lines, so I avoided that. I am just not used to having to book so many things, like entertainment, in advance. A lift midship would be helpful as anyone with a midship cabin has a long way to walk for the aft or forward lifts. Not all of us are energetic enough to use the stairs all the time! Not many lifts went to the 5th deck and to me the escalator was a waste.

If the right deal and the right itinerary came along I might consider Epic again but until then I guess I will go with my preferred cruise lines and just accept I will be hit with those dreaded supplements. That's life I guess! Less

Published 06/24/14

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Compare Prices on Norwegian Epic Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruises

Cabin review: 9179

Very spacious, comfortable bed, plenty of storage space. Washbasin in main section of room quite strange. Did not like the frosted glass on shower and toilet areas - could be a problem for two people travelling together and not related - know this has cause some debate in other reviews. Shower cubicle a good size and water pressure always efficient.

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Voyager of the Seas Cruise Review by SgpMBL: Wonderful Cruise Experience

Voyager of the Seas 4
Member Since 2008
393 Posts

Member Rating

Cabin 4.0
Dining 4.0
Embarkation 5.0
Enrichment Activities 4.0
Entertainment 4.0
Family & Children Not Rated
Fitness & Recreation 5.0
Public Rooms 4.0
Rates 5.0
Service 4.0
Shore Excursions 3.0
Value for Money 5.0

Compare Prices on Voyager of the Seas Transatlantic Cruises

Wonderful Cruise Experience

Sail Date: November 2008
Destination: Transatlantic
Embarkation: Barcelona

Overall, we enjoyed the transatlantic cruise on the Voyager of the Seas very much and would do it again. In addition to the ships features and quality of service, we enjoyed traveling and sightseeing with passengers of a good range of ages (albeit skewed towards retirees), from a diverse group of backgrounds (ethnic, geographic, and political), and with a variety of family structures (couples with an elderly inlaw, newlyweds, and GLBT families alike).. A few areas for improvement are noted below.

Embarkation was smootheven better than our experience boarding the Majesty of the Seas at RC's homeport in Miami. The staff was friendly, the embarkation facility was comfortable, and the process was efficient. I especially appreciated that I wasn't feeling like the baggage handlers were pressuring passengers for a tipa situation that I felt when I embarked in Miami. All of our baggage arrived just a few hours later.

We did a More guarantee rate, and was in an inside stateroom on deck six. The beds were comfortable and had enough blankets to keep us warm. Though we had requested that the beds be put together, we found it to be separated on our first day. We ended up rearranging the beds ourselves. Being relatively low and centered made the rocking less noticeable (good because I was prone to sea sickness).

We packed light (considering it was a 15-night cruise) so there were adequate storage for both of us. However, some of the doors for the storage were beginning to get loose and sagged. It rarely felt crowded, even when we ordered room service. The cabin attendant was not as friendly as others we've had (though he wasn't unfriendly either), but he was responsive. When we asked for the clothes line to be replaced, it was done by the next time we were back. Also, when we asked him not to leave the lights on after making the bed, he made sure not to do so again.

We greatly enjoyed the performances by the ship's singers and dancers, as well as the performances by the ice skaters. The ice skaters were phenomenal and it was just amazing what they could do in such as small space (especially while the ship was rocking). We only wished that they had more musical reviews by the singers and dancers since they only did two. They did also perform during the parades, but it can be hard to see the performance because there usually were so many people in the Royal Promenade and the performers were usually on the bridge.

As usual with Royal Caribbean, we liked the food on the ship. It wasn't the best that we've ever had, but it was very good for the price. And although we were on for 15 days, the food had enough variety that it didn't get old. We frequently indulged by having multiple desserts during dinner. On a typical day, we went to the Windjammer for breakfast and lunch, and then went to the dining room for dinner. We wished we knew how good the lunch options (especially the salad bar) was in the Carmen dining room sooner. The midnight buffet was not as impressive as past cruises I've been on (where they've done "chocolate extravaganzas"). However, I did appreciate that there were a lot of fruits, which made it healthier.

One complaint is that the soft serve ice cream machines on deck twelve were frequently out of service (a significant problem since one of us has a sweet tooth for ice cream). Though we complained to the manager, he did not seem to really care and gave us a somewhat flippant response. During the 15-day cruise, the soft-serve ice cream was probably only available for a few days. We especially appreciated late night (up to 2 am) availability of the Cafe Promenade, which served pizza, sandwiches, fruit, and desserts. When we stayed up, this was a great place to get a small snack so we're not starving late at night.

Going on a transatlantic cruise, I thought that I may get boredI was wrong. There were plenty of activities on the ship and at the end of each day, we often wondered where all the time went. We worked out, played in the sports court, learned a dance, listened to lectures, ice skated, or mini-golfed when we were on the ship. As much as we can, we went to see Mimi (one of the lead singers) performshe just had such a great voice. Our one complaint would be the movies hosted in the screening roomthe facility was way too small and it was just too frequently packed. Though we tried a couple of times, we never were able to make it inside. It was surprising since the screening room was hard to find (just below La Scala).

GLBT-Friendly Atmosphere

There was a sizable contingent of GLBT passengers (and staff) who were all welcomed and made to feel at home on the ship. We were surprised how many passengers showed up for the FOD meetingsthere ended up being three different times to accommodate everyone's varying schedules and preferences. Other passengers were very welcoming and we had no problem presenting ourselves as a same-sex couple. Even during the dance lessons, we slow danced together and no one batted an eye.

At Port

We made a point to engage in sightseeing at each port. Not everyone does (we were guilty ourselves of having slept through a port on our last cruise). This time, we walked quite a bit around each of the cities (and helped burn off all the extra calories we were consuming). None of the ports were boring. The ship had ports of call in: Cartagena (Spain), Funchal (Madeira), Canary Islands, Nassau (Bahamas), Miami, and Galveston.

Cartagena - a great city with very interesting old ruins. We highly recommend seeing the roman amphitheater and going to the old fort for great views of the city. A large family of peacocks also reside in the old forta nice treat if you've never seem peacocks. While docked, there was a renaissance fair going on, so we were also treated to medieval music and folks in period garb.

Madeira - a great place to sample and buy Madeira. It was our first time trying Madeira and we found it to be robust and delicious. Well worth the time to sample and buy some to take home and enjoy. The honey cakes make for a good item to bring to the office. A little dry by the time we got back, but it was fine if you dunk it in a little coffee or milk.

Canary Islands - We initially intended to the beaches, but we didn't end up spending too much time exploring the Canary Islands since it was somewhat rainy and cold. Here we found an interesting monastery that was celebrating its 500th anniversary by displaying art and antique instruments and tools. After a few hours, we went back to the ship and stayed (since there was a long walk back to the dock). Other guests told us later that the other side of the island was sunny and had amazing landscapes. I suppose we'll have to catch that next time we take this cruise.

Nassau - We ended up visiting the straw market and snorkeling while in Nassau. We also recommend going up to the old fort, where you will be treated with a view Nassau's cruise docks. It's possible to walk to the fortplan for a 20 minute walk.

Miami - Unfortunately, getting through customs was a big hassle and there was a lot of confusion because it was unclear if people who were staying on needed to fill out forms. We were givin conflicting instructions by members of the crew, but also saw customs officers giving conflicting instructions. Moreover, it was clear the two hadn't coordinated with each other. We were supposed to get off around 8:00 AM, but we didn't get out until 11:00 AM due to the confusion. Some friends of ours ended up being 4-hours delayed, so they stayed on.

Galveston/Houston - We ended up signing up for the ship organized excursion for a tour of Galveston. During the excursion, we drove through parts of Galveston, saw the rocket center, and parts of Houston. Hurricane Ike had just hit a few months prior and it was clear that the community needed more help and had more work ahead of them to fully recover.

At Sea

Captain Patrick Dahlgren did a great job and made key decisions that made the 6-day voyage across the Atlantic more pleasant. A storm front in the northern Atlantic and we would have crossed through parts of it had we maintained our planned course. The Captain took us further south and because of that, we enjoyed relatively calm seas and warm weather that was conducive to relaxing on the ship's pools on deck 12. We definitely appreciate the Captain's decision for it made the cruise much more pleasurable.

Activity-wise, I've explained what we ended up doing already. So I'll just leave this with a few suggestions: (1) participate in the Olympics - it was a good way to meet others and it's a lot of fun during the ocean crossing; (2) do the walk-a-mile - it's a nice workout, you get to enjoy the seascape, and you even get rewarded if you do it often enough; (3) wake up early - try to catch a sunrise and you'll be rewarded with a majestic view; and, (4) stay up late - go to the helipad in front of the ship late at night, and you can see so many stars. Also, note that during the ocean crossing, you'll gain an hour on most nights (at least going westward). So feel free to stay up a little, maybe go to the disco, and know that you'll get about an hour back anyway.

Disembarkation was pretty easy, though expect to wait. Keep a book or a magazine with you to keep you entertained while you're waiting. And the airports are pretty far from Galveston so make arrangements for a shuttle ahead of time. Taxis can be very expensive. Less

Published 03/07/09

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Cabin review: L

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Old June 10th, 2005, 03:23 PM
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Default Re: Re: 4 day cruise....menus?

The buffet seems to have an international theme each night but all of the choices are not limited to the theme. We always had dinner in the dinning room so I don't know a lot of details but the Capers listed the theme of the buffet each day.
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Old August 22nd, 2012, 06:28 PM
leeds leeds is offline
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Default world cruise

thanks for the reply i would love to do a world cruise the cost is 16000 english pounds for two people ie 8000 each 15000 english pounds single cabin.the route i fancy is england to thailand singapore kualar lumpar sydney and back to england via mumbai and europe 8000 pouns is very good value about 50pound a day departs jan 2013 princess cruises do a route florida to venice via far east ie singapore thailand then australia. i am thinking also of a segment if i cannot find a cabin share i am taking leave from my employment
my e mail is
check the exchange rates on line
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  #1 (permalink)
Old May 13th, 2001, 09:59 AM
Susan Bebbington
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Default Rhapsody of the Seas

We are booked on the Rhapsody to Alaska in late June 2001. Anyone have any comments or advise on the best things to see and do ? We have booked a C class cabin and would like to know what you thought of the size? Would appreciate any help. Thanks.
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Old May 13th, 2001, 10:27 AM
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Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

Hi Susan,
Sounds like you have the perfect cabin for seeing the sights in Alaska. We too had a catagory C cabin on Rhapsody for a southern itinary and it was great.
You may get a kick out of reading about the Vision of the Seas cruise in Alaska that Kuki here from Cruisemates wrote about, some good tips in there as well,

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Old May 13th, 2001, 05:10 PM
Pam Pam is offline
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Posts: 240
Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

We were on the Rhapsody last summer in a C cabin. It was great. We had 4 in the cabin and fit no problem!
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Old May 14th, 2001, 12:58 PM
Justine Bradley-Vargas
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

Hi, We are booked in a Cat D cabin on the Rhapsody for our May 25th cruise. This will be the second time that we are cruising Alaska on this ship. There is so much to see and do in Alaska, but I would defintely recommend riding the White Rail Pass train in Skagway. Each of the various ports have their own tourism websites and you can get brochures from each city to see what you might want to do. Here are the websites for you to check out.

Enjoy and have lots of fun.

-- Justine
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Old May 15th, 2001, 10:51 AM
sally richards
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

we were on the rhapsody in march (mexican riviera) in a C (8584) and it was the most beautiful cabin! large veranda, lots of storage and even a bath tub! it was a little worn and a few stains here and there. No hair dryer and bring your own lotion, shampoo etc. as it just has a dispenser in the shower with the worst shampoo/conditioner combo. Nice bathrobes are supplied. Charo was next door! I have photos of the cabin if you want to see them.
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Old May 18th, 2001, 10:02 PM
Susan Bebbington
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

Hello Sally,
Thanks for the return e-mail. If you don't mind, I'd love to see the cabin photos. You can e-mail me directly at
Looking forward to hearing from you.
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Old May 19th, 2001, 01:49 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 150
Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

I have sent a photo to you..hope it makes it! We just got back from a cruise on the Radiance..WOW! Had a lesser catagory cabin. Had a balcony but smaller. I missed that cabin on the Rhapsody!
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Old May 23rd, 2001, 05:33 PM
Cyndi Wagner
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

Hi, check out my website with pictures of our Alaska cruise on Rhapsody as well as my review of the ship. The stuff on our Alaska trip is at the bottom of this page. Hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you have specific questions and have a great trip!!

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Old June 26th, 2001, 01:10 AM
Mary Ann Wolf
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Default Re: Rhapsody of the Seas

Hi, Hope you had a great, great trip. I just wanted a review of your trips at port.
I have a 12 & 9 Year old. Thank you
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text:
<D <M <Y
Y> M> D>

: One more cool thing about It Is Pitch Dark. Sumana and I hashed this out together.

And I retain plane tickets, snapshots, receipts,
yet I stand unconvinced that this has happened to me.

In those lines near the end, MC Frontalot compares the Infocom feelies to the fake documents from "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale". Both attempts to add realism to an experience you didn't actually have.

Unless otherwise noted, all content licensed by Leonard Richardson
under a Creative Commons License.


text:
<D <M
Y> M> D>

: Today I weeded the whole-- yes! the whole! backyard. I am going to be so sore by morning. I also made cheesecakes, one for us and two for the Boy Scout fundraiser.

I am reading Niall Ferguson's The Pity of War, which is a British revisionist history of World War I. It is interesting because he has gone back to primary sources and corrects many of the misconceptions everyone has about the reasons for the war. It gives a lot of extremely detailed background information on the build up towards conflagration. The text, tables, charts, and graphs are a very heavy read, but the photos are enough to keep a person awake nights. There are some "official" photos reprinted, but most of them are from the personal albums of ordinary soldiers which have never before been published. My poor grandfather!

: Leonard gave me an early Mothers' Day celebration. A jasmine scented candle, a t-shirt that said "Garden Mom" and a pair of Horton Hears A Who pajama pants. (Yertle The Turtle green.) I dyed my hair Manic Panic red today, so maybe I'll wear the pants to work on Monday.

© 2001-2006 Frances Whitney.


text:
Roy's Postcards: 1987/10/01

Dear Leonard,
Just a note to let you know that a dinosaur never forgets, even one with a club tail.

Leonard's comments:

The phrasing makes me think my dad had forgotten something important recently, or I'd accused him of forgetting something, and this was by way of apology.

I don't know what happened to the postcard itself. Looks pretty ugly.

See also: dinosaurs

This document (source) is part of Crummy, the webspace of Leonard Richardson (contact information). It was last modified on Saturday, November 22 2014, 13:00:09 Nowhere Standard Time and last built on Sunday, August 30 2015, 15:00:35 Nowhere Standard Time.

Crummy is © 1996-2015 Leonard Richardson. Unless otherwise noted, all text licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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"Zelda Musou" Hits Wii U in Japan on August 14

Action game will make its way to the west as "Hyrule Warriors"

Recently set for summer in Japan, hack-and-slashing Wii U action game Zelda Musou has narrowed its release to August 14 according to this week's issue of Japanese gaming mag Famitsu

Expect more information to surface from the report soon. A western release as Hyrule Warriors is coming sometime this year.

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter at @Moldilox.

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Harper Seven Beckham Requests These 8 Ridculously Expensive Gifts For Her First Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Harper Seven Beckham! It seems like just yesterday David Beckham and Victoria Beckham welcomed her into the world.

Though this bundle of cuteness is only one years old, Harper Seven has already done more than some of us will ever do! She has traveled to various places, been to multiple fashion shows and already has celebrity friends like Suri Cruise!    his mini-fashionista seems to have everything a girl could ever want, tons of clothes AND great genes. So what could you possibly get this little cutie?

We searched the interweb high and low for some appropriate gifts that won’t have her running to return them.

Check out the gallery below for a peek at what we think would make Harper very, very happy. And you very, very broke.

(Photo: en.paperblog.com)

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Who Exactly Volunteered Their Child To Be Suri Cruise’s Body Double?

Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise arriving at the Music BoxSo according to TMZ, Suri Cruise has a body double now? What new Scientology devilry is this?? I get that Suri is famous and all — she’s the daughter of Katie Holmes, the mildest, side talking-est brunette in all of showbiz, and Tom Cruise, the smallest, springiest Scientology elf there ever was. But she’s also six years old, so why exactly does she an identical copy of herself roaming the city with her visiting parks and eating fro-yo? TMZ has separate pictures of the two dressed exactly alike — in blue parkas, black tights, and brown Uggs with pink soles — just wearing different colored hats.

Wait but I don’t get this! She’s six! It’s not like she’s a famous inventor who holds the secrets to nuclear fusion in her brain and you’d have to capture and tickle them out of her. She’s just a normal, famous little girl who, judging by her constant koala-grip on her parents, doesn’t like to walk or smile or see the sunshine. It’s probably how I would be if I grew up famous, too. I don’t even like talking to people that I do know, so I can’t imagine I’d be obsessed with being followed around by strangers with cameras. But I think you’d have to be crazy to try to kidnap her with all the security surrounding her, so what’s the deal here? Is it just a coincidence that the girls looked the same that day, or is that seriously a body double? And if it is, which six-year old’s mother is willing to sell her into body double slavery? WHAT’S GOING ON HERE.

Actually I better just calm down, because Suri is probably only allowed to hang out with other little girls who look exactly like her. I have heard much weirder things about Scientology.

(Image: Mr. Blue / WENN.com)

Share This Post:
    • Lala

      Stupid writers! TMZ is your source of accurate news??

    • CF98

      You people are morons this is a friend of Suri’s(possibly cousin) as I’ve seen a pic of this kid before.. she’s not a body double.

      • Alexis Rhiannon

        But why are they dressed identically?!?

      • jsterling93

        I have nieces ( cousins not sisters) who are only 6 months apart in age. My mother use to dress them in identical clothes whenever she took them places. It was weird but she loved it. Maybe that is the case here as well.

      • Jessie

        Did you never have “twinsie” says with your friends growing up? From the sounds of things you didn’t, so allow me to explain: Sometimes little girls have friends and they think it’s fun to dress up the same as each other once in a while. Don’t ask me why, I can’t explain it even to this day, but it happens. I had friends when I was little and we did that all the time. It’s just a weird kid thing. Or maybe their moms just did it because it’s cute.
        Trust me, if she was body double, they most likely wouldn’t be seen in the same areas as each other. They’d put one kid in a different are of the city (alone with a Katie Holmes look-alike, most likely) to try and confuse paparazzi and other stalker type people into staying off the REAL Suri.

        You people really ought to get a better news source than TMZ, seriously.

    • Ramrod johnny

      Why is it little miss Cruise must be picked up and carried everywhere? Can’t she walk? every pic of her is her being lugged around by Tommy the thetan or Katie the ex cultie , what gives?

    • Trustmeonthis

      You guys do realize she’s not a part of $cientology, yes?


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12 Former Child Actors Who Should’ve Quit While They Were Ahead

Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette GIF(via)

Happy birthday to Kirsten Dunst, who’s been a working actor in Hollywood ever since she was six years old! You maybe didn’t realize this, but Kristen began her career as a child star, taking a role in a Woody Allen short film anthology called Oedipus Wrecks, another as Tom Hanks‘ daughter in Bonfire Of The Vanities, and an appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation, all while she was under ten years of age.

Her real breakthrough came when she was twelve, however, in the movie Interview With A VampireThe movie itself wasn’t especially popular with the critics, but everyone was blown away by Kirsten’s portrayal of the vampire Claudia, particularly with her ability to convey great age and maturity as a young girl. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her acting…and from that moment on, we all decided she was a really great actor.

And we never really reevaluated that decision! Even through the crappy movies she’s made since, the very public meltdown that she experienced in early adulthood, and the inane things she insists on saying to this day, we’re like sure! Kirsten Dunst is great! Even though with every year that passes, she’s getting further and further away from her greatest critical success. She’s spoken about not really enjoying acting all that much, but it’s like she doesn’t know how to quit.

Kirsten Dunst GIF

Which got me to thinking about other child actors who had their first and greatest success early…and there are kind of a lot of them! People who knocked it out of the park on the first try and probably should’ve left it at that, while they were ahead. But instead, they keep coming up to bat until finally we’re just waving them on base so we don’t have to watch them wiff it anymore.

So not that celebrities ever take my advice anyway, but if they do, I’d suggest that these twelve former child actors should first go make a time machine, and then go back in time and quit while they’re ahead.

1. Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst Wink

Like I said, Kirsten has had some really great gems in her great career, but with every additional crappy movie she does, she makes it harder to find them in the wreckage. For every Little Women or Jumanjiyou also have an ElizabethtownEvery cheesily amazing Bring It On is cancelled out by a surprisingly unlikable BacheloretteAnd on and on and on into history.

2. Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin screaming GIF(via)

Oh girl. Let the Culkin family be a lesson to all you future parents out there. I feel like your kid can do one movie as a child star and not get sucked into a downward spiral, but not ten. If Macaulay had only gotten out of the business after Home Alone and My Girl, he might have been able to transition into adulthood without that whole married at eighteen with multiple drug arrests thing.

But instead, he waited until age fourteen to retire from acting, leaving him with a very scary face in paparazzi photos and a credit on his resume from as recently as 2011. Yikes.

3. Abigail Breslin

Abigail Breslin dyed blond hair GIF(via)

Life would be perfect if only we could go back to a time when all we knew of Abigail Breslin was her amazing, endearing work in Little Miss SunshineBut instead, I now know what she looks like with platinum blond hair and her boobs sticking out at a premiere, so that’s just great.

4. Britney Spears

Britney Spears cringing X Factor GIF

Know how I know I’m a better Britney fan than the rest of you guys? Because I would give up the entire second half of her catalog if I could trade it in for her being happy and healthy. It’s like the girl had one hit one time and you haven’t let her sit down and take a nap ever since.

5. Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment The Sixth Sense GIF I don't like people looking at me like that(via)

Poor Haley Joel. It really seemed like he’d wised up on this whole situation and gotten out of the industry with only paying it forward and the tag line ‘I see dead people’ as baggage…but then he returned, round face and all, to help us forget his child star legacy piece by piece.

6. Emma Watson

Emma Watson GIF

I’ve said this so many times now that you guys could probably make my points for me. Emma was the perfect Hermione, and no one can ever deny that. So I want to live out my days with Emma rejoicing in that perfection, not being distracted by her woefully bad American accent in every role she’s done since. Just let me love you!

7. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill in Wolf Of Wall Street GIF(via)

Bring on the hate mail guys, but I’m pretty sure the only role Leo did that was actually worth an Oscar was the first one he was nominated for – What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? And whether we’re willing to accept it or not, it’s just been a long slow slide into a pit full of sympathy models ever since then.

8. Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan saying no in Mean Girls GIF(via)

Do I seriously need to argue this point with anyone? There can’t really be a person on Earth who thinks that LiLo is yet to do her best work. Get out while the getting’s good, girl. And since you already missed that window, get out while the getting’s…not at rock bottom yet? Or have you hit rock bottom? I hate that I don’t even know.

9. Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf I just want to matter GIF(via)

When you show up at a film premiere wearing a literal paper bag over your head, that’s a pretty good indicator that things have gone too far. But Shia was so great in Even Stevens! Why couldn’t we just leave it at that instead of dragging ourselves through an escalating series of dares that Shia seems to have set with himself in regards to how weird he can possibly be on any given day.

10. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez Shocked

Selena seemed for a long time like she was gonna make it out of the Disney unscathed, but then 2014 happened, and it was a whole ‘nother story. Can you imagine if Selena had just done her time on Barney and dropped a couple albums and then peaced out on the whole fame scene? She would’ve saved herself a lot of time and trouble and reconfiguration of her Instagram account, plus, left us remembering her as a perky, well-spoken Disney lady instead of a rumored hot mess who canceled her tour. Such dreams!

11. Frankie Muniz

Frankie Muniz on Malcolm in the Middle on the phone GIF(via)

Frankie unraveled impressively quickly after Malcolm In The Middle, publicly criticizing members of the Obama administration and being accused of holding a gun to his head and threatening his life after punching his girlfriend in the back of the head…but he still has Hot Bath An’ A Stiff Drink 2 on the docket for this year, so it sounds like he’s doing great.

12. Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes Smile(via)

So far, Amanda is the only happy ending to come out of this, having stepped away from fame and the limelight after a very public social media meltdown last year. For a while it seemed like she’d be sucked into the same famehole as the other people on this list, forcing us to remember that before we remembered her great works as a child star. But now she’s gotten help for her mental condition, whatever it is, and appears to be doing well. So hurray for her.

But boo for everybody else, because they’ve all but missed their opportunities to be a one hit wonder.

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    • capoupascap

      Really Leonardo DiCaprio?! http://media2.giphy.com/media/Fml0fgAxVx1eM/giphy.gif

      but cue the click bait on that addition I guess. I’m in the minority but I loved Bachelorette, Melancholia, and I really want to see The 2 Faces of January (which I’ve mostly heard only positive things about) so I don’t think Kirsten Dunst deserves to be on this list either. Most actors have a few clunkers on there IMDB page, NBD

      • Nancy

        Yeah, and I liked Marie Antoinette, Mona Lisa Smile, Spiderman, Dick, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Virgin Suicides! And hellooo, Titanic! I also loved Shutter Island, the Departed, Catch Me If You Can. I agree with everyone else in this article though. But I’ve loved Kirsten Dunst since Jumanji lol

      • capoupascap

        Haha yes the Departed is def my fave DiCaprio movie, and Marie Antoinette is my fave Dunst movie. I still have never seen Virgin Suicides (I know) but I really need though. So glad somebody understands my Kirsten love.

      • Kaitlin Reilly

        You should definitely watch The Virgin Suicides.

      • brebay

        One of my faves!

    • Olivia Wilson

      Yeah but now Macaulay sings about pizza all day long, so is he actually losing at all?

      Also, this list is so true. I think I want to personally delivier it to each of them.

      • Alexis Rhiannon

        Pizza delivery person to the STAHS!

      • Olivia Wilson

    • Kaitlin Reilly

      I think you should put Shia on here again.

    • Guest

      I think Kirsten Dunst is a pretty good actress!
      She was really underrated in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. She added even more emotional depth to an already brilliant film.

      I can’t even fathom that you put Leonardo DiCaprio on the list. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a wonderful gem of a movie and he showcased his talents incredibly in the film. However, what about The Aviator, Shutter Island, Catch Me If You Can and Inception? There is no way he should stop making movies. He’s one of the best actors of our generation.

    • Vera

      I can agree with you on ~almost~ everything you wrote. The “almost” being Leo Dicaprio (I see him as a consistently good actor and, often-times, a great one) and Abigail Breslin (I’m curious to see how she’s gonna mature professionally).
      I even liked Kirsten Dunst but… her latest statements on women’s roles and sexual assault responsibility got me thinking she’s a douchebag.

      • Alexis Rhiannon

        Yeah her commentary is so gross now.

      • happy1ga

        You also chose as your reasons for listing Dunst “increasingly inane things she says everyday.” How is that judged, other than by you, or matter in your reasons that she shouldn’t be acting now? Her inane things are not any more inane than any other actress or celeb. They just bothered you. Same for Lebeouf, you posted as an example of proof of his rapid unraveling, “criticizing the Obama Admin publicly.” LOL. So? Again, just because we may not like or agree with everything he, she or someone else on this list says, neither thing affects their acting career, or are signs of mental instability or failure.

    • Jenny

      Film Hermione was horrible. She was given all of Hermione’s good characteristics, as well as a lot of Ginny’s qualities and many of Ron’s intelligent remarks, and many of her not-so-perfect traits were overlooked. Film Hermione was, unlike canon Hermione, annoyingly perfect. But I guess that’s not Emma’s fault as much as a poorly written script, although I can’t say I think she’s a very good actress.

      Can’t say I agree with you on Leo though – what about Catch me if you can?

    • Butt Trophy Recipient

      Only if Leo did quit… then we wouldn’t have Titanic

      • Jenni

        And I wouldn’t lose three hours of my life every month when it’s on. Every time I tell myself I’ll just watch it for a few minutes and then end up watching the whole thing. Spoiler alert: Kate’s selfish about that board in the water every single time.

      • Butt Trophy Recipient

        No way. I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt that Leo weight would have caused the board to sink completely.

        (well, except the fact that Leo hangs on to the side without tipping it over… THAT BITCH!!!!!!!)

      • Lady Pool

        Myth Busters did a thing on it and they had to tie their life jackets to the board but the both could have used it.

      • Butt Trophy Recipient

        I dunno, too many variables;

        Different wood have different buoyancy.

        Obviously actors + clothes + whatever else have to weigh the same and also have the same buoyancy.

        Salinity and water temps matter. Water off of SF and waters in the middle of the Atlantic can’t be the same.

        Were these addressed by those two nerds?

      • Jenni

        But if she had just stayed in the original lifeboat, Jack could’ve had the floating board completely to himself.

      • Alexis Rhiannon

        He was still a kid for Titanic!

      • MCR

        Yet another good reason he should have dropped out before it was too late. Thanks.

    • Shanna

      I in no way think that Kirsten Dunst should be on this list…even if Melancholia was her only performance I’d ever seen I’d say that…and Leo? Have you seen The Departed? Gangs of New York? I agree that he hasn’t necessarily given an Oscar-worthy performance since What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, but he’s had other spectacular performances.
      I also think Emma is hugely talented and she’s only a few years departed from the childhood role that made her famous, so maybe give her a bit more time to prove herself?
      The rest I pretty much agree with.

      • StephanieTruth

        Agree re Melancholia, agree re Leo, agree re Emma, agree re the rest. Thanks for saving me the time :)

      • MCR

        I agree with you about Melancholia. Kirsten Dunst’s main problem IMO is her choice of movies, not her acting.

      • brebay

        I started watching Melancholia, but got dizzy.

    • loser_sneeze

      If Culkin had quit too early we wouldn’t have his great performance in Saved! and I really loved him in that one.

      • Alexis Rhiannon

        Ooh good call.

    • CW

      How did Anna Paquin not make this list? Take Leo off and put Anna on!

      • Alexis Rhiannon

        Ooh that’s an interesting one! Good call.

    • mike

      Do you ever reread anything you write?

    • gothicgaelicgirl

      eh Abigail Breslin is growing up, surely she’s allowed to wear what she wants and dye her hair, no?

      I thought this article was going to be about acting ability, not how OMG AN ACTOR I THOUGHT SHOULD STAY A KID ACTUALLY GREW BOOBS, THE HORRORRRRR!!!

      • brebay

        That’s what I thought. “boobs sticking out?” um, where are they supposed to go?

      • gothicgaelicgirl

        Plus like as far as idols go, I’d rather the girls looked up to her than Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez.
        Yeah her boobs are a little exposed but they’re big!
        What’s she meant to do, strap them down “Boys Don’t Cry” style?

        I think she looks beautiful, grown up and mature and her dress sense is still a lot more modest than most celebrity girls her age!

    • MCR

      I’m surprised to see Emma Watson on the list. She went to college after her child actor gig where she did well, avoided serious substance abuse and public meltdowns, and moved on into some decent films. Her acting seems fine to me, and as for her American accent, I find it no more awful than any actual, real American accent.

    • brebay

      It was NOT an American accent, it was an Alexis Neiers accent, and it was perfect!

    • anonnnn

      Agree with all except LEO! I will love him forever. Even with his little pot belly he’s been sporting recently.

    • Carson

      I would have to chose to agree to disagree with you on most of these actors. Leonardo has many movies after Gilbert Grape that are phenomenal. Titanic, Shutter Island, Gatsby, just to name a few. He is no where near any of these other actors… not to be rude to any of the others it’s just he’s not really comparable.
      As for Emma Watson, I loved her in HP but she’s been in some other great movies since then and pretty much has a new movie coming out every 6 months. Definitely a talented actress.
      And Abigail Breslin, I understand that some people don’t like the whole “boobs out in the open thing” and I don’t really know if you personally have large boobs but I do… and let me tell you it is not fun to try to find something to wear without them popping out or having other people criticize you for picking a really cute dress, that someone with a small chest could easily wear, but you have more cleavage so it makes it more “sexual.” It’s hard being big chested, unfortunately.
      But I do agree with you on Kirsten Dunst, Lindsay Lohan, and Selena Gomez. I have never been a fan of Selena to be quite honest :/

    • LordTrikke

      The author of this article failed to provide a proper example of a child star that in his / her opinion made it as an actor. For example if he / she were to pick Miley Cyrus then how could anyone take the author or the article seriously.

    • JOJO

      NO! NO! NO! this list is all wrong!

    • Pingback: Joey King Comments On Staying Sane As A Child Actor()


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Sony ICD-SX733D

4GB digital voice recorder with expandable memory and voice-to-text-software

Item #: 158SX733D

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Original Price: $169.99

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No pressure, no commission — just lots of good advice from our highly trained staff.

The compact Sony ICD-SX733D makes high-quality voice and audio recordings. The built-in stereo microphone picks up voices and music clearly. Dual analog-to-digital converters ensure the recordings are rendered with detail and accuracy.

Sony ICD-SX733D voice recorder

The provided stand helps you angle the ICD-SX733D for better hands-free recording.

The recorder features a built-in retractable USB plug for easy connection to a PC. Just plug it in when you need to charge the built-in battery or transfer your files — no need to keep track of a separate cable.

Transcriptions made easy

This recorder includes Dragon Naturally Speaking® software to remove the drudgery of taking notes or transcribing audio. Record that speech, lecture, or event and transfer the resulting MP3 to your Windows® computer. The included software helps you transcribe recorded content into text documents.

Expandable memory

Don't worry about running out of memory. The 'SX733D has 4GB of built-in memory that can store over 1,000 hours of recordings. If you need more, just insert a microSD card into the player and keep recording.

Versatile recording options

Never worry missing the opening of a song or speech again because you didn't press Record fast enough. Pre-record mode continually keeps 5 seconds of sound in a memory buffer, so when you press Record, the file starts with the previous 5 seconds already captured.

Variable playback speed lets you slow down the recording to catch that fleeting phrase, or rapidly skim through the file to find the section you're looking for. Voice-Up amplifies low volume, so you can catch voices or sounds in the background.

Select what you want to record, such as lectures, music, or personal memos, and Scene Select automatically adjusts the recording levels for you. And the intelligent noise cut feature further improves recordings made under less-than-ideal circumstances. The voice-activated mode lets you operate the recorder hands-free. And the included stand holds the 'SX733D at an angle for optimal recording.

Product Highlights:

  • battery-powered digital voice recorder with expandable memory
  • built-in stereo microphones
  • 4GB embedded memory
  • dual analog-to-digital converters for accurate and detailed recording
  • Voice-Up amplifies low volume sounds for clarity
  • built-in editing functions:
    • Pre-Record mode buffers sound for 5 seconds before Record key is pressed, ensuring start isn't lost
    • noise cut to reduce ambient sound during recording
    • adjustable playback speed
  • expandable microSD card slot (memory card not included)
  • Scene Select automatically sets levels based on activity (notes, music, lecture, etc.)
  • LCD display
  • built-in speaker
  • high-speed USB interface through built-in retractable USB plug
  • headphone minijack output
  • stereo minijack input for an optional external microphone
  • up to 19 hours of operation with built-in rechargeable battery
  • stand and carry case
  • 1-5/8"W x 4-5/16"H x 5/8"D
  • weight: 2.625 oz.
  • warranty: 1 year
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
Computer Requirements:
  • for Dragon Naturally Speaking software: Windows® 8, Windows® 7, Windows Vista® SP 2 or higher, Windows XP SP 3 or higher
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Hands-on research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • IC recorder
  • 6.75" USB extension cable (Male Type A USB on one end and Female Type A USB on other end)
  • Stereo earphones with 39" cord (3.5mm plug)
  • Recorder stand
  • Soft storage case
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking Recorder Edition 12.0 software DVD-ROM
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Limited Warranty sheet
  • Online product registration sheet
  • Dragon Quick Card (Eng)
  • Dragon Quick Card (Span)
  • Audio Studio promo sheet
  • Listening for a Lifetime headphone safety sheet

Product Research

General Features
Recording Features
Edit and Playback Functions

General Features

Overview: The Sony ICD-SX733D is a feature-packed hand-held portable digital voice recorder. It has a built-in 4 GB flash memory for hours of recording time. It has a built-in 3-element microphone, mono speaker, and jacks for an external microphone and headphones. The SX733D operates on a built-in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Included with the recorder is a pair of stereo earbud headphones, a recording stand, a soft storage pouch, and the Dragon NaturallySpeaking software on DVD-ROM.

Dual A/D Converters: The SX733D features dual analog-to-digital converters, working in tandem, to deliver recordings with a wide dynamic range and minimum distortion. You'll get full, smooth sounding recordings, ideal for both voice and music.

LCD Display: The SX733D features a 1-3/16" square, backlit, monochrome LCD display which indicates recording and playback information. The recorder will display the elapsed or remaining recording time in hours, minutes, and seconds. When not recording, the current time can be displayed.

Date and Time: The recorder features a built-in clock. If you have set the time and date, information as to when a sound file was recorded is stored automatically with that file. In addition, you can set an alarm and start playback of a selected file at a specified time.

Built-in Microphone: The unit features a built-in, 3-element, stereo microphone on the top of the recorder. You can set the microphone sensitivity for music, voice, or for zoom functionality. In addition to the built-in microphone, the recorder also has a 3.5mm external microphone input.

Built-In 4 GB Flash Memory: The SX733D Digital Voice Recorder features a built-in 4 GB flash memory which can hold hours of audio or voice memos. The unit has 5 pre-programmed folders (400 maximum), and up to 199 files per folder (or a maximum of 4074 files). Because a portion of the memory is used for system management and/or application files, available capacity is approximately 3.2 GB.

Memory Card Slot: In addition to the 4 GB built-in memory, the SX733D has a memory card expansion slot for more recording capacity. The slot will accept microSD and M2 (Memory Stick micro) memory cards.

USB Port: The SX733D has a retractable Type A USB plug that makes it easy to connect directly to your computer for file transfer or charging. A short USB extension cable is supplied for use with hard-to-reach USB ports. The unit is Hi-speed USB compatible, and can work with the following Operating Systems:

  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7 SP1 or higher
  • Windows Vista SP2 or higher
  • Windows XP SP3 or higher
  • Mac OS X (v10.3.9-v10.8)

Dragon NaturallySpeaking: The ICD-SX733D includes the Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software (Recorder Edition 12.0) on DVD-ROM. You can capture your thoughts and ideas, or record a speech or lecture on the recorder, and the speech-to-text software will translate the audio to words on the page. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is compatible with Windows XP (SP3), Vista (SP2), Windows 7, and Windows 8.

Sound Organizer: The unit features built-in Sound Organizer editing software. When you connect the recorder, you can install the software on your computer. Sound Organizer is compatible with Windows XP (SP3), Vista (SP2), Windows 7, and Windows 8.

Power Requirements: The recorder is powered by a built-in Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. See the chart below for battery life information.

Recording Features

Recording Format: The ICD-SX733D records audio files in MP3 format in four recording modes at bit rates of 48 kbps to 320 kbps, or in 16-bit, 44.1kHz LPCM. Lower bit rates provide longer recording times while higher bit rates offer better quality recordings. The selectable recording modes are as follows:

Recording Mode Frequency Response Maximum Recording Time
Built-in 4 GB Memory
Max. Battery Life
LPCM 44/16 40Hz -20kHz 5 hrs 20 min 19 hours
MP3 320k 40Hz - 20kHz --- ---
MP3 192k 40Hz - 18kHz 39 hrs 45 min 17 hours
MP3 128k 40Hz - 16kHz --- ---
MP3 48k (Mono) 40Hz - 14kHz 159 hours 19 hours

VOR Function: The VOR (Voice-Operated Recording) function makes the digital voice recorder start recording when the recorder detects sound, and pause when no sound is heard, eliminate recording during soundless periods.

Pre-Record Mode: The Pre-Record mode buffers sound for five seconds prior to the moment the Record button is pressed. This way you don't miss a word or note.

Intelligent Noise Cut: Sony's Intelligent Noise Cut feature significantly reduces ambient noise during recording for clearer playback.

Scene Select: You can select a pre-determined recording mode with the push of the Scene Select button. You can choose from Auto Voice Recording, Meeting, Voice Notes, Interview, Lecture, Music, and My Scene 1 or 2, to optimize the recording settings for each type of scene.

Edit and Playback Functions

Key Control: The ICD-SX733D's Key Control function lets you manipulate the audio playback to your convenience. The playback speed can be adjusted from 0.25x to 3x normal speed with normal-sounding audio, due to special digital processing. If you need to change the pitch, you can adjust the audio playback in semi-tones higher or lower in 6 steps each.

Voice Up: The Voice Up feature amplifies low volume sounds so that distant voices and other sounds can be clearly heard.

Overwrite and Add Functions: The SX733D allows you to correct dictation in playback and add a recording after the original recording. Added recording will be placed after the current file, and will be counted as a part of the file.

Divide: In the stop mode, you can divide a file into two parts, with the new file number being added to the newer part of the divided file.

Erase: You can erase your recorded messages one by one, or all messages in a folder at one time.

Track Mark: You can place up to 98 track marks for each file to assist you in finding an exact spot in your recording.

Protect Files: To prevent a file from being accidentally erased or edited, you can protect an important file. When a file is protected, it is regarded as a read-only file. Protection can be released, if desired.

Built-In Speaker and Headphones: The SX733D features a built-in mono speaker for listening back to your recordings. The recorder also features a 3.5mm headphone output. A pair of stereo headphones is supplied.

Easy Search: You can go forward for approximately 10 seconds or back for approximately 3 seconds to locate a desired point in a long recording.

A-B Repeat: You can place marks at the beginning and the ending of a recorded passage for repeated playback. This constant repetition feature can be used for language learning.

Hold Function: The SX733D has a Hold function that will lock the buttons to prevent accidental operations. The Hold function is activated by sliding the power switch to the left.

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what’s in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.


text:
Vision, Video and Graphics

  University of Bath, UK. 10-11 July 2003

VVG Home
How to Submit
The programme
Community session
Getting to Bath
Our Sponsors

Pictures by courtesy of Bath Tourism and Conference Bureau. For more click here.

The intersection of computer graphics and computer vision promises many new application areas and raises new fundamental questions. This conference is a response to this developing area, and its purpose is to promote cooperation between the graphic and vision communities.

Invited speakers are

!! Student bursaries !!
EPSRC have generously agreed to provide some bursaries to help Ph.D. students attend. Contact us or click here for more information. Note: the bursaries details were updated 25 April; make sure you're up to date.

There will be a Convergence Community session, to discuss how researchers can come together, funding opportunities etc. Visit our sponsor's link to find out more.

The conference themes are all aspects of the convergence of vision and graphics, within such topics as:

  • Image based rendering (view synthesis from other images).
  • Models from images and video, for graphics and visualisation applications.
  • Augmented reality.
  • Video augmented environments.
  • Content based retrieval (images and video).
  • Photographs, paintings, and drawings.
  • Vision for scientific visualisation.
  • Images, videos, and volumes.
  • Analysis of dynamic scenes
  • Hybrid model and image based methods.
  • Graphics models for vision applications.
  • Novel and interesting applications.

The conference will be a high-quality single stream event, comprising key-notes talks, peer reviewed podium presentations, and posters. The conference will be held at the University of Bath. Bath is a World Heritage City, an architectural gem set in the beautiful west of England. It is easy to reach by all forms of transport and a wonderful location for a holiday.

Papers will be peer reviewed and published in an ISBN proceedings. A selection of the best papers will be put forward for a special issue of Graphical Models (formerly Graphical Models and Image Processing).

News: The quality of submissions is such that in addition to the special issue of Graphical Models, we have a special section in Image and Vision Computing too.

VVG 2003 is sponsored by the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications.

Following the success of related EPSRC events, we expect this conference to be well attended. The Eurographics Association will publish the proceedings and a selection of papers will appear in Graphical Models, published by Elsevier.


text:
Next: Exclusive-Mode Prefetching Up: Experimental Results Previous: Scheduling Algorithm

Prefetching Indirect References

The prefetching algorithm used so far in this chapter attempts to prefetch both dense and indirect array references. Indirect references are prefetched as described in Section . Only one of the multiprocessor applications contained a significant number of indirect array references: MP3D. Figure breaks down how much of the prefetching benefit came from the dense versus the indirect prefetches.

As we see in Figure , the overwhelming majority of the benefit was from prefetching the indirect references. This is in contrast with the results we saw earlier in Figure for the uniprocessor version of MP3D, where there was very little advantage to prefetching the indirect references. The difference between these two cases is that the indirect references are to objects that are very actively shared and modified amongst the processors (the ``space cells''), whereas the dense references are to objects that are rarely shared and reside in a processor's local memory (the ``particles''). Therefore the miss latency tends to be substantially larger for the indirect references, since they are often found dirty in a remote processor's cache, in contrast with the dense references, which are found locally.

This application illustrates several aspects of our prefetching compiler algorithm: (i) locality analysis to reduce the overhead of prefetching dense matrix references (as shown in Figure ), (ii) prefetching indirect references (as shown in Figure ), and (iii) non-binding prefetching for multiprocessors (as evidenced by the size of the ``pf-miss: invalidated'' category in Figure ). We now consider the final aspect of our multiprocessor prefetching algorithm, which is using exclusive-mode prefetches.

Sat Jun 25 15:13:04 PDT 1994


text:
Madam President

CSB alumna leads association that represents 48 non-profit community clinics and health centers in Los Angeles area

December 27, 2012

By Diane Hageman

Louise McCarthy '96 moderates a forum of L.A. mayoral candidates at the South L.A. Health and Human Right Conference in mid-December 2012. Photo credit: St. John's Well Child & Family Center.

When Louise McCarthy '96 was taking her peace studies classes at CSB and SJU, she never dreamed that nearly 20 years later she'd rely daily on the diplomacy and negotiation skills she learned.

"I am using these skills on a regular basis," said McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) who leads a staff of 20 and represents the interests of the 48 non-profit community clinics and health centers that make up the association. "I work to bring people together by finding common ground, whether it's meeting with legislators to protect public programs, or working with clinic leaders to develop common strategies to improve patient care."

The clinics care for more than one million underserved and vulnerable patients each year, the majority of whom are uninsured.

McCarthy finds it "absolutely exciting, absolutely fun" to be working at the ground level of health care reform. She is currently working with member clinics and L.A.'s Department of Health Services to implement an early expansion of Medicaid to over 200,000 individuals before the nationwide implementation in 2014. They are also testing new payment models that encourage improved quality of care and advocating to ensure that Congress continues to fund the implementation of reform. "We're writing the book as we live it.  The bureaucracy can be very challenging but the passion people have for it is contagious," she said.

Prior to becoming president and CEO in 2010, she was vice president of governmental affairs at CCALAC for three years. She has also worked for the California Primary Care Association, the California Bureau of State Audits, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Family Housing Fund.  She holds a master's degree in public policy from UCLA.

Sense of accomplishment matters

"I've never had a set career plan," McCarthy noted. "I've just found things that seem interesting to me and pursued them — particularly in the areas of economic and social justice. Coming from a broad liberal arts and policy background, we tend to be generalists, not specialists. This means we can adapt to working in a number of arenas. My work allows me to know that, at the end of the day, I've accomplished something."

In addition to majoring in peace studies, McCarthy majored in French and minored in Spanish. She followed a long line of Johnnies and Bennies — her dad, uncles, cousins and brother all paved the way for her.

"CSB made it affordable for me to go. I had a good financial aid package with scholarships," she said. "It made a huge impact on me."

Life isn't all work

As one might imagine, leading an organization that is in the trenches of health care advocacy can be all-consuming and stressful.  Yet, McCarthy enjoys a couple of unique activities that help her unwind from the intensity of her career.

McCarthy practices capoeira, a Brazilian martial art rooted in music, dance, gymnastics and "serious butt-kicking." She teaches a weekly capoeira class at the Brasil Brasil Cultural Center in Los Angeles. She's also an amateur samba drummer and has performed with various Brazilian groups in L.A.

"I really got interested in Brazilian culture through a Latin American studies class I took when I was at CSB and SJU. I first saw capoeira at a protest in San Francisco when I was doing my peace studies internship from CSB," she said. "It's remained an ongoing interest."

The future

McCarthy isn't placing any bets on what the next steps of her career will be. She's focused on her current role and following her passions.

"I can't predict anything. I didn't look for this job, it found me," McCarthy said. "I am just focusing on my work and making sure it lines up with my values."

Photo Credit: Focus Bella Productions


text:
Gabrielle Giffords shooting: a leadership moment for Obama, Boehner

Gabrielle Giffords tragedy – and that of 19 others killed or wounded during a mass shooting Saturday – puts special demands on President Obama and new House Speaker John Boehner.

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    As ordered by President Obama, the American flag flies at half-staff over the White House at dawn Jan. 10 in Washington, in observance of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) of Arizona and the other victims of an assassination attempt against her in Saturday's shooting outside a Tucson, Ariz., supermarket.
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In the face of tragedy, the job of political leaders is to set the moral tone, offer words of comfort, project authority – and leave the politics to others.

President Obama and Rep. John Boehner, the newly installed Republican speaker of the House, have done just that in the days following the shooting rampage Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., that took the lives of six people and injured 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) of Arizona. She remains in critical condition in a Tucson hospital after being shot in the head.

When news of the Tucson tragedy broke, Mr. Obama moved swiftly, following perceptions that he had reacted slowly in the "underwear bomber" case on Christmas Day 2009 and with the BP oil spill last summer. Saturday afternoon, he made an in-person statement on the incident and sent FBI director Robert Mueller to Tucson to oversee the federal investigation. On Sunday, he called for a national moment of silence at 11 a.m. Monday, which he and White House staff will observe from the South Lawn.

“It will be a time for us to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart,” Obama said in a statement.

The president also signed a proclamation ordering that flags be flown at half-staff, and postponed a Tuesday trip to Schenectady, N.Y. The White House released photos portraying a president in charge, one showing him leading a meeting in the Situation Room (including his new chief of staff, William Daley), another of him talking on the phone with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R).

Speaker Boehner and the rest of the congressional leadership of both parties came out with statements of sober concern and no partisanship.

“An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve,” Boehner has said more than once since the shootings. He and Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) ordered flags flown at half-staff over the Capitol, in honor of an aide to Congresswoman Giffords, Gabe Zimmerman, who died in the attack. Legislative activity, including consideration of a bill to repeal Obama’s health-care reform, is postponed for the week. In a bipartisan conference call with lawmakers, Boehner announced he has arranged for law enforcement to conduct security overviews for members.

But swirling around this island of solemn nonpartisanship is a barrage of charges and countercharges by members of Congress and political activists over what led to this tragedy, including suggestions that the gunman was responding to hyped up rhetoric – some of it from tea partyers – that encouraged violence. By various accounts the suspect, Jared Loughner, has mental problems and espoused a confused antigovernment ideology, but that hasn’t prevented Democrats from pointing a suggestive finger at the populist tea party movement and one of their heroes, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose PAC had targeted Giffords for defeat last November with a graphic use of bulls-eyes (and which an aide now calls “surveyor’s marks”). Republicans and tea party supporters have responded in kind, citing examples of Obama’s use of overblown rhetoric when speaking of political opponents.

Still, the onus is on the Republicans to keep the narrative of “tea party as extremists” from settling in the mainstream public consciousness as fact, just as they incorporate new members backed by the tea party movement into their congressional caucuses. It’s a scenario reminiscent of the 1995 bombing of the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City at the hands of domestic terrorists, which allowed Democrats to paint a picture of a big-tent GOP that includes extremists.

The magnitude of the Oklahoma City attack, in which 168 people died, was far greater than the one in Tucson. For President Bill Clinton, the bombing represented a turning point in his presidency, as he captured and gave voice to the national sense of mourning and anger.

For Obama, Tucson may not be a turning point, but it’s an opportunity to take the high road while other Democrats suggest that some Republicans have engaged in over-the-top rhetoric that can create an atmosphere of violence.

“It is of course commonplace for presidents to use surrogates to take the low road, especially when they don’t want to soil their skirts with that level of discourse,” says Bruce Buchanan, a presidential scholar at the University of Texas, Austin.

Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, obliged Sunday, with a reference to the Palin graphic in an appearance on CNN.

"The phrase 'don't retreat, reload,' putting cross hairs on congressional districts as targets, these sort of things, I think, invite the kind of toxic rhetoric that can lead unstable people to believe this is an acceptable response," Senator Durbin said.

IN PICTURES: Arizona shooting vigils

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text:
China guts budding civil rights movement

Authorities have effectively disbarred 20 key lawyers who defended Tibetans, Falun Gong members, and other politically sensitive clients.

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    Chinese laywer Jiang Tianyong, shown in Geneva in this 2008 photo, said the Beijing Justice Bureau was dragging its feet in approving a mandatory annual renewal of his credentials.
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Twenty of China's most courageous and outspoken civil rights lawyers face being disbarred next Monday, as judicial authorities reject or delay their applications to renew their professional licenses, according to three of the lawyers affected.

Forbidding them to practice after a May 31 deadline would, at a stroke, decapitate the budding "rights protection movement" that is at the heart of activists' efforts to build a civil society in China.

"If these 20 lose their licenses it would be the biggest step back in legal reform for 20 years," warns Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher with Human Rights Watch based in Hong Kong. "It would be really very dramatic."

The lawyers who have reported problems having their annual licenses renewed have all represented plaintiffs or defendants in politically sensitive cases over the past year, such as members of the banned Falun Gong religious group, parents of children killed at their school desks in the Sichuan earthquake last May, and people arrested in the March 2008 crackdown in Tibet.

What they have in common, says Jiang Tianyong, who recently successfully represented a Tibetan monk charged with concealing weapons, is that "we do not take orders from the [government's] Judicial Affairs Bureau" about which cases to take.

Some, like Wei Liangyue in the northern city of Harbin, who recently served 30 days in prison in connection with the defendant, accused of belonging to Falun Gong, whom he is representing, have already been told by officials that their licences will not be renewed before the deadline.

"They are worried that I will take more Falun Gong cases," says Mr. Wei.

Others, such as Mr. Jiang, have not yet received official notification that they should send their license for renewal. "There is not much time left," he points out, fearful that he will be unable to practice law next week.

Dong Chunjiang, a senior official at the Beijing Judicial Affairs Bureau, refused to answer a reporter's questions about the delay.

Though troublesome lawyers have had problems in the past renewing their licenses, "this year it is more severe," says Patrick Poon, executive secretary of the Hong Kong-based China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group. "These lawyers are taking up a lot of sensitive cases ... and that has touched a nerve in the authorities," he adds.

"More and more lawyers are getting involved in these sorts of cases," says Wen Haibo, who says he fears for his license because of his work on behalf of some of the 50,000-plus children poisoned by Sanlu-brand powdered milk last fall, among other things. "Somebody believes that if this trend continues, the situation will get out of control."

The handful of civil rights lawyers have an impact far beyond their numbers. Of the 120,000 lawyers in China, hardly any take criminal cases, let alone human rights cases. Only a few score lawyers have taken it upon themselves to litigate sensitive cases.

Even if all or most of the controversial group are eventually given new licenses, warns Mr. Bequelin, the affair "will have a chilling effect on lawyers, to deter them from taking sensitive cases.

"You can have all kinds of nice laws, but if people don't dare to take cases to court it defeats the purpose of having rights," he points out. "In China lawyers are walking on thin ice, and we are hearing some cracks that are not very reassuring."

Jiang and other civil rights lawyers say that their firms have come under quiet but strong pressure from the judicial authorities to sack them, or to steer them clear of cases that the government would prefer to see swept under the carpet. Earlier this year a prominent civil rights law firm, Yitong, was closed down for six months on a technicality.

"We are seen as unstable elements in society, and the government wants to maintain superficial harmony and stability," Jiang says.

Silencing lawyers, however, does not resolve the social problems that they bring to court, such as land grabs or other illegal practices by local authorities.

The ranks of civil rights lawyers have swelled in recent years because "they are riding a tectonic shift in the citizenry's view of the law," says Bequelin. "You can shoot the messenger, but that won't change Chinese citizens putting up more of a fight to defend their rights."

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text:
US steps back from Libya, shifting burden to Europe

In order to sustain operations, experts say France and Britain need to forge a broader European consensus on Libya intervention.

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    A dust cloud rises after an explosion during what is believed to be an attack against anti-Qaddafi rebels near Brega on April 7, in this still image taken from amateur video.
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With the US military ending its airstrikes in Libya this week, France and Britain are taking the lead in an increasingly chaotic and confusing desert theater.

For the first time in NATO’s 62-year history, Uncle Sam is not on the front lines directing the show, but will play a back-up role that includes aerial refueling and emergency support. The unprecedented move accords with longstanding US calls for other nations within the alliance to share the burden on the international scene.

But the effect is slightly jolting in European capitals that have often talked of military leadership but have rarely followed through, or needed to.

IN PICTURES: Libya conflict

For Europe, taking the lead on Libya – a conflict still hazy on aims and outcomes – is a “wake-up call,” say analysts. It is also seen on this side of the Atlantic as a sign of things to come as the US faces budgetary convulsions and global overreach.

“It is a big wake-up call,” says Alexis Crow of Chatham House in London. “It means Europe is going to have to cooperate more with Europe. America’s immense deficit is playing a role here.”

The wake-up call for France and Britain

France and Britain signed a bilateral military pact last year, seen as a way to reduce expenditures. But Ms. Crow says events are pushing the two nations, which combined have significant power projection capabilities, into new territory. There's discussion of a six-month no-fly zone, of negotiations, and of use of special forces.

Coalition pilots flying along the coastal road near Ajdabiya, northeast of Brega, yesterday reported difficulty determining friend from foe as the sides rapidly shifted, a problem predicted at the outset of the campaign. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddifi’s forces have used civilian vehicles to conduct operations, making them harder to identify.

Reports in The New York Times today said rebels had been told to paint the roofs of their vehicles yellow, but that many did not. In the chaos on the ground, NATO jets mistakenly hit rebel tanks Thursday, mistaking them as loyalist forces.

"It would appear that two of our strikes yesterday may have resulted in the deaths of a number of [rebel] forces," said the NATO deputy commander, Rear Adm. Russell Harding, today. NATO officials expressed regret for the deaths, but did not formally apologize in order to avoid language that could later have legal implications.

Taking the lead in Washington's absence

Today British Foreign Minister William Hague said the Libya operation has reached a second phase: “maintaining” a no-fly zone. British government leaks today suggest that a number of planned cuts in the British defense budget may be rethought. The language in London this week is that budget cuts have not accounted for "world events."

After urging from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron, President Obama agreed to help European allies stop a bloodbath in Libya that threatened to reverse the Arab democratic uprisings. Europe is America’s main ally and has responded, if not always robustly, with help on Afghanistan and other needs.

But while the US opened operations in Libya using “unique capabilities” – the Pentagon said there were 1,600 sorties in two weeks – the US president would not commit to the lead role. This week the tripartite US-France-UK flag on Libya was reduced to just the UK and France.

“Washington has made clear that it does not want to be in the lead in the Libya operation,” says Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. “That leaves Europe with two tasks. First, Europeans must step up to the plate and deliver the assets necessary to prosecute the mission. Second, they must demonstrate that they can forge a consensus on the mission's strategy and objectives.”

France, Britain ask for Europe's help

France has been sending about 20 planes a day and says it will increase that number to pick up the slack from US forces. Britain has been sending about half that number. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Britain and France are now calling for help from the rest of Europe.

Paris is also now involved in the Ivory Coast to protect civilians and help dislodge strongman incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to step down after losing the November presidential election.

Mr. Sarkozy was an important progenitor of the Libyan venture to create a no-fly zone through UN Resolution 1973. However, Sarkozy’s critics say the French president will have to maintain discipline and not get distracted in order to see through the campaign with his British partner.

Different views on Libya emerged this week with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe arguing an affirmative, patient game that involves multiple tactics to dislodge Qaddafi. "The question today is to know under what conditions Qaddafi goes, not how he's going to be able to hold on to power," he said.

US Army Gen. Carter Ham, who led US air operations in Libya before the NATO handoff, said this week in the Senate that a successful rebel siege on the capital of Tripoli is a "low likelihood."

While the US is withdrawing its lead role, it is not withdrawing from Libya NATO operations. It will be continuing to use its military assets in a wide range of areas. “America is still there [in NATO], but it is rerouting,” says Crow. “Obama is being shrewd politically which is not something we’ve always seen in American presidents that have wars on their hands.”

One US aircraft that NATO may call on in future is the A-10 “Warthog,” an antitank craft that, while not speedy, can fly low, has great visibility and can emerge from behind hills in an element of surprise. The French and British-made jets are targeting from greater heights.

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text:
Movember is here again!

Movember is here again!
November 1, 2011, 4:01 pm
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By Jon Fucile

November is a joyous time of year for mustache enthusiasts. Men everywhere grow 'staches in an effort to raise awareness for mens health issues.

The Bruins also enter November with a terrible record and one theory is that once they shaved their playoff beards they lost their power. In an effort to turn their season around, the Bruins are growing mustaches for Movember and we were lucky enough to get a sneak preview.

The Thornton

Hes a lover and a fighter and his style of mustache is perfect for both.

The Rask

Since the defense always comes up so small when he plays, he wanted a giant mustache.

The Seguin

If you have the inability to grow facial hair, the Seguin is for you. Look at how umm clean he looks? Give it a few years, kid!

The Thomas

The worlds most awesome man grew the worlds most awesome mustache! Behold The Thomas in all of its glory!

The Ference

If you are a hipster the Ference is for you. He grew this mustache before Movember because hes cooler than all of you.

The Horton

Horton is always smiling. Now his mustache is too. His stache brightens everyones day!

The Bergeron

Pick this mustache if you want to go from French-Canadian hockey player to French waiter! Make sure to talk with the accent. The ladies love it!

The Krejci

Like his performance, his mustache is small in the regular season but grows into a mighty force in the playoffs.

The Chara

He doesnt need a reason to look like a 1970s TV show cop. Hes Chara. If you have complaints, take them up with him.

The Boychuk

Get destroyed in style with this fashionable, macho beardmustache combo!


text:
Don't let our kids drown in Seagram's TV ads
An open letter to Seagram CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr.

Dear Mr. Bronfman,

In June, when you broke the 48-year voluntary ban against hard-liquor advertising on TV, you made a deadly decision for America's youth -- the same deadly decision the beer and wine producers made before you.

We are writing to ask you -- as a father, husband, and corporate citizen -- to reverse your decision today and take your ads off the air.

Alcohol is already the drug of choice for your children. Eighty percent of all high school students have experimented with alcohol by the time they are seniors.

Alcohol is a factor in all leading causes of death for young people aged 15 to 24 -- including drunk driving, homicide, suicide, drownings, fires, and burns. Alcohol use also leads to more teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and AIDS. Young people who drink heavily are more likely to become alcoholic and suffer multiple drug problems later in life. In short, alcohol is a major reason why the death rate for 15- to 24-year-olds is higher today than 20 years ago.

Mr. Bronfman, you say it's only fair to advertise your whiskey and vodka on TV because beer and wine companies advertise their products.

But what's best for our kids?

Instead of adding to the avalanche of beer advertising that now helps bury a tragic number of children, we ask you, in the name of true fairness, to exert responsible corporate leadership and immediately pull your TV spots off the air.

Let's work together to end the tragedy of teenage alcohol use.

Robert C. Byrd, U.S. Senator
Peggy Charren, founder, Action for Children's Television
John Conyers, U.S. Representative
Robert L. DuPont, M.D., founding director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Eni Faleomavaega, U.S. Representative
James V. Hansen, U.S. Representative
Maurice Hinchey, U.S. Representative
Martin R. Hoke, U.S. Representative
Eleanor Holmes-Norton, U.S. Representative
Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative
Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Representative
Joseph P. Kennedy II, U.S. Representative
Jean Kilbourne, media analyst
James Moran, U.S. Representative
Rob Portman, U.S. Representative
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American College of Physicians
American College of Preventive Medicine
American Council on Alcohol Problems
American Muslim Council
American Nurses Association
American Public Health Association
American Society of Addiction Medicine
The Arc
Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine
Center for Media Education
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center on Alcohol Advertising
Children of Alcoholics Foundation
Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Consumer Federation of America
Corpus Christi Baptist Association
Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas
Hispanic Ministerial Alliance, Corpus Christi, Texas
Institute for Health Advocacy
Join Together
Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco
Manocherian Foundation
Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems
National Association for Children of Alcoholics
National Association of African Americans for Positive Imagery
National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors
National Association of Black Substance Abuse Workers
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
National Families in Action
National Family Partnership
National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting, and Prevention
Orphan Foundation of America
Public Citizen
RID-USA (Remove Intoxicated Drivers)
Scott Newman Center
Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission
Students Against Driving Drunk
Texans' War on Drugs
Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers
Trauma Foundation
United Methodist Church, Board of Church & Society, Board of Global Ministries