nifer

http://www.m3summit.com/masterlist/main.php

http://bbs.clubplanet.com/showthread.php?t=263110 http://bbs.clubplanet.com/showthread.php?t=263074

if lil louie were to play progressive at crobar, that's grounds for a huge riot.

sound clips and pics of the rally: http://www.hiphopliveshere.com/

yep they are

depends on what grant we're working under. in the past we've done studies regarding sexual orientation and induced sensitivity of certain odors, racial differences in perception, pheremones (no, not that cheap crap sold in the back of magazines that supossedly will make you irresistable to the opposite sex ), and yep, we have done work on beauty/personal care products as well. edit - yep, i play house. good guess

magic sessions/soulfuric @ crobar it is!

well i DJ, but i also have a full-time career as a chemical senses scientist. every year my company flies me down to tampa for a week long "conference" in april.

sign up for clinical trials

work bag - gym clothes sneakers headphones lock purse containing: wallet, gloss, lancome vinefit lip, cellphone, mini-size cetaphil lotion going out bag - wallet gloss/lipstick keys phone

ehhh? familiar with the tsunami song?

Congressman Pete Stark March 3, 2005 Stark Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Establish Right to Health Care Today, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) announced his introduction of a proposed amendment to the US Constitution to guarantee health care as a right for every American. The amendment, H.J. Res. 30, is cosponsored by Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-CA) and 27 other House members. "The health of every American is vital to their unalienable rights of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,'" said Rep. Pete Stark. "To ensure these rights are fully enjoyed, we must be certain that every American can access quality health care - regardless of their income, race, education or job status. This Constitutional amendment is aimed at achieving this fundamental goal." Today, there are 45 million uninsured Americans, including 8 million children. Millions more are underinsured, excluded from certain types of health coverage or being quickly priced out of the health insurance market altogether. Additional disparities in access, treatment, and outcomes exist for people of color. Facing skyrocketing costs, many employers are cutting benefits or dropping coverage for their employees, chipping away at the very foundation of health care insurance in the United States. Proposed cuts in Medicaid now endanger coverage for the over 50 million Americans that currently rely on the program for medical care. "We face a health care crisis where equal opportunity and basic fairness in our nation are at stake," said Rep. Stark. "I'm frustrated, as many Americans are, that the President and Congress continue to ignore the problems we face. A Constitutional guarantee of health care for all will force Congress to take action to ensure that health coverage is there for all Americans." H.J. Res. 30 would amend the Constitution to say "all persons shall enjoy the right to health care of equal high quality." It would require ratification by three-fourths of the States and so-called implementing legislation must be passed by Congress to ensure compliance with the amendment. "I firmly believe that until we can guarantee that all people have the right to equal, high-quality health care through the Constitution, the interests of the people will continue to play second fiddle to the corporate bottom-line," said Rep. Stark. "It's time we put the health care of the people first. Our Constitution should be amended to promote that common interest." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/03-02_healthamendment.htm

America's consumers extended their bargain shopping spree for another month in February. Reflecting an improving economy, consumers took advantage of stores' final clearance sales and stocked up on the newest fashions for spring. Sales increased 4.2 percent at retail stores open at least a year, according to the Goldman, Sachs & Company retail composite index, released yesterday. That exceeded the expectations of Wall Street analysts, who had predicted a rise of 3.3 percent. "Clearly, the consumer is faring better than myself or a lot of analysts on the Street expected," said Kennard Perkins, the president and chief statistician at Retail Metrics, a research firm that compiles analysts' estimates. "Certainly, in the first quarter the economic picture improved, and weekly employment results were better; they broke out of a sideways trend they had been in for roughly a year." Tax refunds, running a little more than 9 percent higher than a year earlier, also fattened consumers' pocketbooks and wallets last month, adding to the surprising strength in spending. Merchants who cater to teenagers - a fickle group of customers - got it right in February, analysts said, racking up sales numbers that surprised even the most optimistic. Abercrombie & Fitch, with its scantily clad male models, continued its turnaround with a 19 percent increase over February 2004. American Eagle Outfitters, heavily into color and denim, kept roaring with a 32.4 percent increase from a year ago. "Teen apparel retailers turned in a tremendous month and were the clear-cut standouts," Mr. Perkins said. Comparable-store sales figures for the group rose 17.3 percent, he said, "an incredible 11.3 percentage points above expectations." Even department stores did better than analysts - and some of their own executives - had thought they would: sales were up 2.7 percent from a year earlier, a full two percentage points more than expected. Federated Department Stores, in the news this week because of its announced $11 billion acquisition of May Department Stores, was up 1.8 percent for February. While that did not come close to American Eagle's result, Federated's chairman, Terry J. Lundgren, had predicted that sales would be flat or slightly down for the month. At May, sales were down 4.2 percent. J. C. Penney reported a 6.1 percent increase; it had estimated flat sales. On a seemingly never-ending roll, the luxury emporiums struck it rich again, with Saks Fifth Avenue, a division of Saks, reporting a 7.1 percent increase for February. Results at Nordstrom were 7 percent higher than last February's. At Neiman Marcus they were up 6.6 percent, though in February 2004, Neiman gained 24.9 percent. The discounters also did surprisingly well. Wal-Mart Stores, the country's largest retailer, reported an unexpectedly strong 4.1 percent rise for the month, exceeding its own 2 percent to 4 percent guidance. Costco beat expectations with a 7 percent rise. February recorded healthy selling at full price, analysts said. During the holiday season, fall and winter fashions did not fare as well; merchants started marking them down even before Thanksgiving. Rachel Schechter, a retail analyst at Thomson Financial, said some of the overall rise could be attributed to those holiday clearance sales, and also the continuing redemption of gift cards. There were other reasons, too, enumerated in reports issued yesterday by analysts. "The Super Bowl boosted sales, particularly in the discount sector," said Ms. Schechter, who said customers stocked up on party goods and football paraphernalia. Because of the late Super Bowl, she explained, these sales were not recorded until February. (Other analysts said the game lifted Target's numbers, in particular, by 9 percent, past a 6.4 percent estimate.) As good as February's overall 4.2 percent increase was, not everybody was a winner. The Gap stores reported a 3 percent decline, and its Banana Republic stores fell 6 percent. Limited Brands' Limited stores were flat, and its youth-oriented Express division declined 20 percent. There were a few other notes of caution. Last year's overall February gain was even higher, the analysts pointed out: sales increased 7 percent from February 2003. Still, that does not explain why American Eagle Outfitters, a chain of casual clothing shops for young people, keeps climbing. Executives there were not available for comment yesterday. Todd D. Slater, a retail analyst for Lazard, said the momentum could not last forever. "Teen concepts, brands, they tend to rise and fall when they catch a wave," Mr. Slater said. "We haven't seen performance like this since the dot-com era - not that this is a dot-com." American Eagle Outfitters closed yesterday at $57.90, down 97 cents. The company, he said, has been helped by greatly improved execution. In addition, he said, the clothes are "more on target and the deliveries, the inventory management, the way they are sourcing, all have become more efficient." Yet he cautioned that the preppy trend, which American Eagle mined so richly, may be nearing its end. And how high, he asked, can the operating margins go? Performance at youth-apparel chains, he said, rarely exceeds the mid-teens, "and these guys are already at 19.3 percent." "You'd have to go back to 1999, when they had 18.0 operating margins - and that was a stronger period, economically, for consumer spending." Mr. Slater cautioned that American Eagle's strength may well wane in the second half, because the comparison with past performance will be much more difficult. "It's not just 'tougher,' it's record levels of profits and same-store sales growth," he said. "Two years ago, the executives were all going to be thrown out. It shows you specialty retailers can refocus very quickly. Nothing's easy in retailing, but its easier to turn around a specialty chain than a giant department store chain." http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/business/04sales.html

i'm sure you'll have craploads of fun at sxsw i don't think i'll be making it out to coachella this year. i have to go away on business shortly after i get back after wmc. oh well!

are you goin this year?

she wants to wear flipflops to a club? that's a huge foot accident waiting to happen. entry-wise, i don't think it should be a problem. fashion-wise though, beg her to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get some sandals instead

5'5" i've given up on high heels though. the highest i'll go now is 1.5" i guess that makes me not as tall as most gals?

how long? most of the jeans i have were 34" when i bought them and i needed to get them hemmed.

21 days!

dupe topic: http://bbs.clubplanet.com/showthread.php?t=262278

ederated Department Stores, which owns Macy's and Bloomingdale's, announced today that it would buy May Department Stores, which owns Lord & Taylor and Marshall Field's, for about $11 billion in cash and stock. The deal, which was approved by the boards of directors of both companies on Sunday, would transform Federated, already the nation's largest department store company, into a retailing giant with more than 1,000 stores and $30 billion in sales. "This is truly an exciting day in American retailing," Terry J. Lundgren, Federated's chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. "Today, we have taken the first step toward combining two of the best department store companies in America, creating a new retail company with truly national scope and presence." As big as the combined company will be, however, its sales will be far exceeded by the discount retailing juggernaut Wal-Mart, which had sales of $262 billion last year. The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2005, is the latest retail merger in an industry that is rapidly being redrawn as the conventional department store faces mounting pressure from rivals on all sides: discount giants like Wal-Mart and Target, specialty stores like Gap and Victoria's Secret and upscale retailers like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Late last year, two other famous names in retailing, Kmart and Sears, Roebuck & Company, agreed to merge in an $11 billion deal. Some retail and fashion executives lament that such consolidation has left the industry devoid of department stores that were once landmarks, like Gimbels in New York, Bullock's in Los Angeles and Wanamaker's in Philadelphia. Lost too, the executives suggest, are the industry's personal touches, like its "merchant princes" - buyers for department stores who traveled the country spotting the Ralph Laurens and Calvin Kleins before they were household names. And even more retail mergers may be in the making. Wall Street analysts and fashion industry specialists have been buzzing in recent weeks about the deal prospects for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. Fortunoff and Barney's were sold last year. Federated's deal with May is a long time in the making. Two and half years ago, the companies held talks but failed to reach an agreement after a dispute over which executives would run the combined company. Last month, May's chief executive, Gene Kahn, was ousted by the company's board, which created an opening for Federated to resume negotiations. The companies have been negotiating off and on for several weeks, executives involved in the negotiations said.Mr. Lundgren has received high marks for being a disciplined executive who refuses to overpay for acquisitions. When Marshall Field's came up for sale in the last year, he walked away and let May buy it when he thought the asking price had become too high. And in his negotiations to buy May, Mr. Lundgren was similarly tough. While May's board had been holding out for more than $40 a share, Federated was able to reach a deal for $35.50 a share in cash and stock, based on Friday's closing prices. Shares of May were trading down 82 cents, to $34.53, this afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange. Federated's shares were down 47 cents, to $56.32. When Mr. Kahn stepped down, before speculation began swirling about talks with Federated, May's shares traded at $27.84. Federated will also assume about $6 billion in May's debt in the transaction. The deal is subject to approval by regulators, who are not expected to block the transaction but may press Federated to sell stores in cities in which it has a stronghold. Industry analysts predict that Federated, based in Cincinnati, will probably close a significant number of May's underperforming locations, perhaps as many as 200 stores. Federated may also give the Macy's name to many of May's regional stores, discarding the familiar names that have been known to generations of shoppers in those areas. Besides Lord & Taylor and Marshall Field's, which are likely to go untouched, May owns Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May and Strawbridge's, among others. "Together, using the Macy's name, a powerful national franchise could be established," Bernard Sosnick, an analyst at Oppenheimer & Company, recently wrote in a note to investors. "This, we believe, is the compelling force behind a possible merger between the two, along with cost reductions due to the elimination of redundant activities." Thousands of layoffs are also expected, although other merchants, including Kohl's, J.C. Penney and Nordstrom, are reportedly already lining up to take over some of the locations that Federated may jettison. May, which is based in St. Louis, is expected to keep some offices there, but there will be layoffs. Some analysts worry that the deal is marrying two companies facing critical challenges. "There may be back-office synergies," Joshua R. Goldberg, a managing director of Mercantile Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Manhattan, said last week. "But will a combined May-Federated be more attractive and effective with customers than each is now?" Analysts said May was in a tough position, since there were no other natural buyers for it. Same-store sales for Federated grew 2.6 percent last year. May, which has not had sales growth for four years, had a same-store sales loss of 2.4 percent last year. In acquiring May, Federated will have to decide how May's 501 department stores and more than 700 specialty stores like the David's Bridal chain will fit into the merged company. Mr. Lundgren has been praised marks for imposing an innovative streamlining on his 458-store chain since he took over the company two years ago. He is pushing to increase the amount of creative private-label fashions, a way to allow stores to differentiate themselves from other chains and discount stores. The Federated consolidation began in 1929, with the combination of Abraham & Straus; Filene's; F&R Lazarus of Columbus, Ohio; and Bloomingdale's of New York City. Federated, in its fact book, said it created the idea of "pay as you can" credit policies, as well as grouping clothes by size as opposed to color, brand or price. By 1964, Federated had combined 14 store chains. In the 1970's, it began developing shopping centers, bought Rich's and built a new headquarters in Cincinnati. But the 1980's brought trouble: Robert Campeau, a Canadian real estate developer, in a highly leveraged takeover, laid claim to Federated in 1988 and two years later, the company went bankrupt, emerging in 1992 as a public company. Two years later, it bought Macy's, a triumph, and Fingerhut, a dismal and very public failure. The year after Mr. Lundgren became chief executive in 2002, he began adding the Macy's name to its regional store chains, creating Bon-Macy's, Burdines-Macy's, Goldsmith's-Macy's, Lazarus-Macy's and Rich's-Macy's. The next year, after what he said was extensive customer polling, he decided to remove the old names, and Federated began concentrating on its two marquee names: Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Besides Marshall Field's in Chicago, which Federated has coveted for years, the company will acquire valuable Robinson-May locations on the West Coast and Foley's locations in Texas. Lord & Taylor, particularly, will be closely watched. Jane Elfers, its chief executive, is in the midst of a turnaround, and has closed third of her stores to concentrate on sales and profits at the rest. Ms. Elfers has been mentioned as a successor to Mr. Kahn, the recently ousted May chief executive. Yet by the weekend, new speculation surfaced that Nordstrom had put in a request for Lord & Taylor's grand Fifth Avenue flagship. To pay for the acquisition, most retailing specialists say Mr. Lundgren will sell one or both of the company's credit card operations. Over the weekend, they also were speculating that Mr. Lundgren was likely to shed David's Bridal, the successful wedding apparel chain. May also owns After Hours Formalwear and Priscilla's of Boston, an upscale wedding gown retailer. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/business/28cnd-shop.html?hp&ex=1109653200&en=def9820e9ed9ec18&ei=5094&partner=homepage

^^^ i've only done that once, for the ovum@crobar party. it wasn't a problem for me, but then again i was on the comp list.

ehhh.. pick the parties based on who you want to see,not what venue it's at. last year i ended up at this tiny lounge that i never heard of to hear paul johnson, but it turned out awesome because it gave this nice intimate vibe and i wasn't bumping into someone every 2 seconds.