Sports

Sidney Crosby – Who are you calling kid?

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At the start of the 2008 season, there weren’t many who would have thought that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be the team to beat in the NHL. Sure, they had a great crop of players and the heroic property represented by Mario Lemieux, but this was a team that still found its wings. Budding superstars abound, but making the playoffs and acting respectable was a huge goal.

But that was not enough for these pens. They made it all the way to the Stanley Cup final, tantalizingly close to putting the finishing touches on the Cinderella story.

The penguins had a great unit of players. Sure, everyone had heard of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who were fighting for the NHL scoring race. But players like Marc Andre Fleury and Jordan Staal were the key to their success in that first test of play-off success. How quickly the Penguins had emerged from the dark days of 60 losing seasons, to the post-lockout spending spree gone wrong, to the best team in the league.

We have seen Cinderella approach and never return to the ball. There was Anaheim in 2004 when they lost to New Jersey in 7 games. That was the closest they got, before lifting the cup with a different cast in 2007. The Buffalo Sabers lost to the Dallas Stars in 1999, and they never competed again, their team dismantled in the process. Would the same thing happen to Pittsburgh after losing to the Detroit Red Wings in 2008?

Not even remotely. While every great team that comes to the brink of a championship must be led by tremendous performances of skill and will, Sidney Crosby has an otherworldly glow associated with him. He’s “Next” after all, and he’s been breaking records since before he was in the NHL, or even declared for the draft. Winning a Hart Trophy at age 20, leading a great history of turning the Penguins organization, were already great feats.

But superstars are ultimately measured by team hardware, and that means championships. The Stanley Cup.

After surprising many observers by reaching the Cup final so early, the Penguins were quite disappointing early in the 2008-09 season. Inconsistent play, poor special teams and injuries staggered the Pens, in danger of missing the play-offs let alone being a contender. A midseason trade behind the bench to bring in Dan Bylsma was a shake to the arm they needed.

Sidney Crosby may have finished behind Evgeni Malkin in league scoring, but there was no question where his approach was heading toward “second” season.

The first were the Philadelphia Flyers, and they proved not a formidable challenge, especially compared to their much louder series in 2008. The Penguins easily dumped the Flyers and moved on to Round 2.

That contest turned out to be much more challenging. The Washington Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin awaited them. This was what NHL and hockey fans were only dreaming of when Ovechkin and Crosby first entered the league in 2005. How spoiled the hockey gods had made us serve up an epic showdown in 2009.

The series went the distance in 7 games, featured heroic and entertaining performances from both sides, but in the end, the penguins’ courage and determination won out. Crosby showed that he is above all committed to victory and not worried about comparing himself to Ovechkin. While Ovechkin is the flash of Crosby’s robot demeanor, in such a close series it came down to heart and determination, not just talent.

The Carolina Hurricanes were the semi-final match and they were also eliminated without as much stress or fanfare as the Capitals series. Frankly, Canes seemed happy to get this far. But that meant the Pens would face the Red Wings for the second year in a row for the Stanley Cup. Talk about overcoming your demons.

The Red Wings have won more than any other organization in the last two decades, and if it weren’t for some upsets in the play-offs, they would have had a number of mini-dynasties to talk about. Still, the depth and youth of Red Wings were noted by observers who felt this was setting up as a replay.

This time, the Finals were 7. A moral victory to be proud of?

How about making history? Captain Sidney Crosby was seriously injured during most of the second and third periods. This must have been devastating for him and the team, but they didn’t let it show. Crosby sat and watched from the bench as Maxime Talbot scored two goals and Fleury made a last-second save to win his first Cup.

Sidney Crosby likely has a long way to go in collecting hardware in the NHL. But it’s not just his talent that will take him far. It is your absolute refusal to accept failure at any cost.

Tours Travel

Wallet- and pet-friendly summer getaways

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Few would disagree that summer vacations engender thoughts of pristine beaches, sparkling pools, relaxing spas, and great restaurants for every member of the family except, perhaps, the four-legged. The perfect summer day for Fido or Fluffy would probably include a helping of delicious sandwiches, a relaxing grooming session, and a few hours to search and chew on chew toys before catching some Z’s in a comfortable hotel room. Thanks to pet-friendly packages offered at various pet-friendly hotels in major cities like vibrant New York City, historic New Orleans, and scenic San Francisco, your pet can have an “amazing” experience without forcing it. break the bank. Below are a handful of pet-friendly properties that offer a ton of treats too good for your furry companions to pass up.

one. New York Hotel Pennsylvania: As the host hotel for the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania is no stranger to four-legged guests. Conveniently within walking distance of the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Times Square, and the world-famous Broadway Theater District, the hotel offers a special pet-friendly offer that includes a comfortable room for you and your pet, a gift welcome for pets at check-in. -in, and a copy of Fido-Friendly Magazine. There is a limit of two dogs per room, but the hotel does not impose weight restrictions. Although New York is known as “The City That Never Sleeps,” your pet is likely to do the opposite once they set foot in one of the hotel’s quiet rooms.

two. Affinia Chicago: Affinia’s Jet Set Pets program is designed to help pets feel at home. Services offered include grooming, childcare and lodging, walking / caring for local dogs, dog treats, pet beds, pet psychics, and pet taxis. Guests can take home a city-specific chew toy, a can of organic Robbie Dawg treats or homemade canine treats, and a travel-friendly water bowl. Exotic animals or multiple pets are subject to hotel approval, and pets must remain on a leash or in a carrier while in public areas. Guests must confirm the accommodation of their pets with the hotel one week prior to arrival.

3. Hotel Monteleone New Orleans: If your pet is friendly and sociable, he will be in good company at the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans. Located at the foot of Royal Street in the French Quarter, the historic property features pet-friendly apartments where your pup or feline can mix and play with other visiting pets. The hotel’s Monte’s Pet package includes a rug for your dog to rest comfortably, monogrammed food and water bowls, trash bags, a chew toy, a bag of gourmet treats, and a city brochure. Guests can take these gifts home with them after their stay. If you decide to take your pet for a walk, you are sure to come across several pet-friendly attractions and restaurants that are located just minutes from the hotel. Among them are City Park, The Levy Dog Park, Mickey Markey Playground, Cafe Du Monde, Oak Street Cafe, and La Thai Cuisine.

Four. Ocean Park Resort Myrtle Beach: Certified by the “Pets Can Stay” program, Ocean Park Resort is a pet-friendly facility for small dogs. Accepted year-round, pets must be leashed in all public areas, are not allowed in pool areas, and cannot exceed 20 pounds. Carriers are recommended in case you need to leave your pet (only one allowed per accommodation) unattended in your room. After frolicking with their four-legged friends, kids (under 18s stay free) can take a dip in one of the hotel’s indoor or outdoor pools.

5. The Powell Hotel San Francisco: The Powell Hotel, located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, combines historic charm with luxurious accommodations for you and your pet at no additional charge. Opened in 1908, the hotel evokes feelings of an earlier era with marble floors, ornate 20-foot ceilings, and wrought-iron railings. While you marvel at the hotel’s beautiful features, your pup can enjoy the welcome treats included in the hotel’s pet-friendly package. The property’s central location puts it minutes from Yerba Buena Gardens, a lovely place for an afternoon stroll with your pet, near the Museum of Modern Art and the Moscone Convention Center.

If you long to get away from him all summer, why not wear the furry ones? These pet-friendly hotels are perfect places for your furry friends to stretch their paws while you kick back and relax in front of the TV or watch the kids play in the pool. And with great service and great amenities waiting for travelers, you can be sure that you and your pets will be well cared for.

Arts Entertainments

Remembering Whitney by Cissy Houston – The Life and Death of Nippy Vs Whitney Houston

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Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012 at age 48, of drug-related causes at the Beverly Hills Hilton during Grammy weekend celebrations. Her mother, Cissy, honors her daughter’s legacy in her new book, “Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped.”

Nicholas and Delia Mae Drinkard raised Cissy as the youngest of eight children in Newark, New Jersey, during the Depression era. Her Newark upbringing made her more resilient, but she can’t say the same for her children.

“My childhood made me tough. But my kids, especially Nippy, never developed the same toughness. And that would cause even bigger problems later.”

Strong Christian faith combined with excellent singing voices inspired the brothers to create the Gospel-based Drinkard Singers. Their talent led them to sing with the legendary Mahalia Jackson at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in 1951.

John Houston admired Cissy; and his musical connections got an introduction. Unhappily married and pregnant, Cissy divorced after two years of marriage. She moved in with John, even though he was still married and headed for divorce. Two sons (Michael and Whitney) joined Gary (from Cissy’s first marriage) to form the Houston family.

Whitney earned his nickname, “Nippy,” in early childhood, based on a popular cartoon character at the time; and followed her to death.

Nippy often imitated his mother’s singing career, playing dress-up in the basement and using props like microphones. At age 12, he declared his professional ambitions as a singer.

Cissy’s experience in the industry, which included forming the backup singing quartet, Sweet Inspirations, which sang with legendary artists, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, and Elvis Presley, among others; helped guide her daughter.

Unfortunately, bad press often overshadows the good news, because Nippy earned his share of accolades, including establishing the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children.

Cissy shares pictures and stories about Nippy, including the near destruction of his vocal cords in early childhood after a perch lodged in his throat.

He also placed second in the Garden State Competition, a New Jersey teen singing contest, due to a time limit violation. Ironically, the winner sang “The Greatest Love of All,” which later became one of Nippy’s biggest hits.

Rumors persisted about the relationship between Nippy and her best friend and personal assistant, Robyn Crawford, whom she met in high school. Instinctively, Cissy didn’t like Robyn’s strong, assertive personality. He later found out that Robyn was gay, but says that has nothing to do with his disdain for her.

“I know there has been a lot of speculation over the years about the friendship between Robyn and Nippy and if it was more than that. I honestly don’t know what exactly happened between them, when they first met or later.”

Cissy credits Robyn with alerting her in the late 1980s that Nippy was using drugs, when no one else did it bravely.

Nippy met her future husband, Bobby Brown, at the 1989 Soul Train Awards ceremony. Their bad boy reputation endured even after they got married, including run-ins with the law. Although Cissy thought the couple did not match, she respected her daughter’s decisions.

Cissy doesn’t blame Bobby (or the music industry) for introducing Nippy to drugs, the way a lot of people do. She also doesn’t think he did much to help her, since he also partied.

Both Gary and Michael used drugs in their teens; and it influenced Nippy’s penchant for experimentation.

Many of Nippy’s actions hurt Cissy, including her infamous 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, where she declared, “Crack is Whack.” His 2005 reality show with Bobby Brown, titled “Being Bobby Brown,” surprised Cissy with what she considered Nippy’s unrecognizable behavior.

Cissy also experienced heartbreak after visiting Nippy unannounced at his Mendham, New Jersey mansion, only for her to open the door drugged.

Although Cissy mourns the loss of her daughter, she attributes her death to God’s plan. Many people think that Nippy died prematurely, but now they are not so sure. “I think God had enough of seeing her go through everything that happened while she was here, so He decided to bring her home.”

At birth, hospital staff promoted Nippy’s beauty in the maternity ward. Cissy says it’s like Nippy has been in the public from day one.

Cissy admirably refused to mourn her daughter with public fanfare; adamant in honoring Whitney Elisabeth, his daughter, not Whitney Houston, the internationally acclaimed artist. Family and friends celebrated Nippy’s funeral services at New Hope Baptist Church, the Houston family’s lifelong place of worship.

“Remembering Whitney,” published on January 29, 2013, enraged Bobbi Kristina, Bobbi and Whitney’s only child. He stated that his grandmother’s book was “disrespectful” towards his mother. Not so. Cissy wrote a lasting dedication to her daughter; and through his tribute we are reminded that celebrities also have flaws and weaknesses, in addition to the fragility of life.

To view Billboard magazine’s collection of Whitney Houston photographs, “Remembering Whitney: Her Life in Photographs, visit: http://www.billboard.com/photos/428547/remembering-whitney-her-life-in -photos

Technology

EBay antique sales: dire downtrends continue into 2016

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EBay Antiques: A Dead Market in 2016/17?

It’s been about 2 years since I last wrote about this topic and I thought I’d share some developments since then.

The context

Let’s give it some credibility to begin with, I hope. Who am I and what real knowledge do I have on this topic?

Well, I’ve been selling antiques (mostly watches, silver watches, and some militaria items) on eBay since 2004. In total that’s around 12-13 years so I know what I’m talking about.

That’s why when I say that eBay has been practically dead as a sales channel since 2013/4, I speak with knowledge.

Who is it for?

Why am I bothering? That’s simple because my target audience consists of two broad categories of readers:

  • buyers / collectors, wondering where all the old “ open bidding ” eBay deals have gone and

  • new antique dealers who have a passion for old things and think they can combine that with making a profit.

In this article, my messages to both parties will not be warm and welcoming, but harsh statements of fact. Be careful!

Today’s reality

It’s almost impossible to get solid statistics on this topic, but I’ve seen some sources suggesting that, globally, only about 1 in 6 old listings on eBay actually result in a sale. Most of them are of the cheap and cheerful variety consisting of items (of any gender) priced under 50 ($ / £ / Euro). For anything of higher quality and therefore of value, the figure is likely to be MUCH lower.

Generally speaking, if you offer an item for sale at a fixed price (or minimum initial bid level), it will almost certainly not sell. If you bid open with a low start and expect “a hit”, 90% of the time you will be disappointed and take a loss.

An exaggeration?

Well, take this as an example. I recently experimented with open zero offer on a late 19th century French bronze piece (an urn) in the art nouveau style. It was about 15 cm tall and it was something very beautiful. It was sold for 0.50p – yes, you saw it correctly, 0.50 PENCE!

New dealerships – BE CAREFUL

For dealers, this kind of thing is a catastrophe.

You can keep advertising all you want and help make eBay even richer, but generally speaking, unless you cut your prices to deficit levels, you won’t sell anything. If you advertise at a fixed price or realistic starting prices, your ad will be ignored.

Now I know that there is always an exception. Sometimes a piece will work fine, but they are the rarity. I speak with hundreds of distributors in many countries and the message is the same “eBay is a disaster for quality item sales“.

So, remember the next time you watch one of those vintage TV shows where people make a lot of money; it is very likely that he is on the scene and some of the valuations of objects that are “found” during the hunt are totally ridiculous. Most of what you buy on sale will be caught or end up selling at a loss.

*** MAIN ADVICE FOR NEW DEALERS ***. One of the most common things I see now is novice traders walking the markets and estate clearance sales with the dreaded smartphone in hand. Over and over again, I hear them looking at an item and then frantically searching eBay for it and enthusiastically proclaiming to the person who is with them “look, people are asking XYZ amount for these on eBay, so this price here must be cheap”. Just yesterday I saw that happen no less than four times in a large property sale.

WRONG! There is a big difference between the prices that people who order an item on eBay see and the actual value of the item for a professional. Some people on eBay ask for sums that are almost 100% higher than the realistic retail value of the item. They have no chance of selling their items for a price even remotely close to what they are asking for.

Remember as a professional that you need to base your idea of ​​how much you want to buy an object with the idea of ​​reselling it, based on what you have seen other SOLD in a retail environment like eBay. and then pay maybe 75% less than that to give you room for taxes, expenses and profit margins, etc.

Antique buyers and lovers

Now there is or should be a useful lesson here for you too.

For every merchant I speak to who complains about eBay, I speak to probably 3 collectors / buyers who complain that good antiques can no longer be found on the forum or, more correctly, not reasonably priced.

Now this is the conundrum: what do you mean by “reasonable prices”? Right now, too many buyers interpret that to mean “next to nothing.” So they don’t bid, buy, or bid, instead waiting in the hope that sellers will be desperate to advertise their products in an open zero-start offering, at which point they’ll get what they want for next to nothing.

In a sense, that’s fair enough, but keep in mind that this attitude has helped virtually eliminate eBay as a viable antiques trading leader. If you think the price is not that bad, please buy it! Don’t be paralyzed by indecision and wind up doing nothing in hopes of seeing you again soon at a lower price.

If you maintain your current behaviors, selling antiques online in an open bidding context will become a thing of the past. You will return to expensive High Street antique shops with high prices or the same online. It’s the buyers who are killing eBay now, so if you’re one, don’t complain about their demise!

General market forces

One last contributing factor to consider.

It makes no difference that people are simply not buying antiques, of any kind, in the way that they did before 2008 and possibly even 2013. Suddenly the heat has just left the market. There are strange “hot spots”, like Chinese art, that can flare up for a few months before fading, but in general, people just aren’t interested in buying.

That, of course, is hitting eBay hard.

This is not unique. Fashions come and go and while everyone suddenly wants (for example) shoddy Scandinavian-style flat furniture, albeit with clean design lines, antique dealers specializing in solid wood furniture from bygone eras will be hugely successful. .

These things go in cycles and have been seen before. This “antiques are boring” cycle may last longer than others like this I’ve seen in the past, but it will regress.

When you do, you can help get things back on eBay, assuming there’s any viable eBay antiques market left to pick up!