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cqcbepaper.cqnews.net/cqcb/html/2013-09/05/content_1673281.htm...泰國首個旅遊法庭定于5日在東部海濱城市芭堤雅正式成立，以加速審理外國遊客提告的案件，及時維護遊客權益。 泰國副總檢察長薩塔亞...迷你倉

到底是誰讓邪惡的手伸進了具備“質量安全保障”的專賣店？既然這些貨品並非出自正規奢侈品品牌生產製造，存倉那麼貨品從何而來？是代理商在境外開設了A貨製造廠，還是另有其他貨源渠道？☉記者 張櫳元 ○編輯 長弓誰讓假貨進入專賣店？對於奢侈品專賣店存“李鬼”現象一事，是員工出于一己之私，從而“狸貓換太子”，還是老闆默許了A貨在專賣店內流通呢？到底是誰讓邪惡的手伸進了具備“質量安全保障”的專賣店？根據以往發生的案例，很容易讓人猜想到應該是內部員工與奢侈品仿貨製造廠合作，將真假貨品互換，“借雞生蛋”，以賺取高額利潤。不過，一位不願透露姓名的資深業內人士王先生（化名）明確告訴記者，“奢侈品‘李鬼’現象”背後的主使者正是專賣店的老闆，經銷商就是最大的造假商。“能夠一手遮天地讓假貨明目張膽進入專賣店，並長時間持續流通，員工無法做到這一點。事實上，老闆也不會告訴員工，店里有一定比例的高仿貨存在。此外，現在高仿貨的製作精良，仿真程度一流，即使員工，都難以有效區分。”王先生還說，即便難以區分真貨和假貨，但員工最後還是能通過探究消費者的購買意圖、購買心理，有區分地將貨品賣給不同的消費群體。那麼，員工是如何在不知情的情況下，與老闆“心有靈犀”，做到“看人下菜單”?對此，王先生沒有對記者作進一步回應，只是明確指出，老闆不可能告訴員工實情，即使有少數員工察覺到異樣，他們也會採取不理會的態度。“當前境外一些地區經濟環境不佳，失業率高居不下。員工們沒必要給自己添麻煩，他們只管拿好自己的工資，做好份內之事。其實做這一行業，員工也需要一點悟性。”王先生笑著結束了此次的對話。專賣店為何敢於售假？“沒辦法，這裡面的利潤實在太高了，商家根本沒法拒絕這塊送到嘴邊的‘肥肉’。加上現在整體經濟依然不景氣，為謀生計，魚目混珠的現象自然難以避免。”北京某奢侈品研究專家對奢侈品專賣店售假一事如是表示。據王先生稱，專賣店流通A貨的原因主要在於四點。首先，近兩年，全球經濟發展依然未走出陰霾，人們的消費能力有所下降，奢侈品銷售增速出現下滑。經銷商為了擴大銷售利潤，便開始有意接受各類高仿貨品。從仿貨的成本來看，售價在15萬—30萬元人民幣的手包，拿貨成本大約為1萬至7萬元之間。售價在2萬到5萬元人民幣的手包，拿貨成本甚至低達1000元。市場價格高達1萬多元的高檔圍巾，其真實成本可能只有800元。其次，國人對境外物品的質量存有較高信任度。加上隨著中國境外旅遊業的快速發展，多數奢侈品消費均發生于海外旅遊的過程中。在此情況下，即使消費者事後發現有問題產生，也無法退貨。“近幾年來，中國內地食品質量安全的負面消息頻繁曝光，各類售假事件嚴重打擊了高端客戶的消費信心。而有能力于境外消費的客戶相信，只要是境外發達市場的原裝物品，等同于貼上了防偽標簽。他們根本不會懷疑，境外地區假貨流通的問題或大於中國內地。歐美及亞洲等地的一些正規專櫃門店，均存在不同程度的假貨庫存。”王先生表示。除了上述兩點原因，王先生苦迷你倉道:“目前，中國內地一些消費者對奢侈品的消費處於炫耀型消費階段，將奢侈品視為身份的象徵及上流社會的通行證。他們需要的只是價格上的奢侈，而在消費上僅是滿足心理上的虛榮，對奢侈品的真正品質和內涵缺乏瞭解。在歐洲、北美等地區，奢侈品消費群多數是大於40歲的成功人士，但在中國內地，這個消費層的年齡大約提前了20歲。境外的一些專櫃銷售門店就是看穿了內地消費者的這種消費心理，熟知他們要的不過是品牌效應，便大膽將邪惡的念頭在中國內地消費者身上付諸實踐。”此外，禮品饋贈在中國內地顧客的奢侈品消費中占較大比例。據專業機構統計，中國市場50%左右的奢侈品消費由送禮需求構成。而接受饋贈的一方多為有一定身份的人，,即使貨品出現問題，他們也不方便現身專賣店提出退換要求。這也令經銷商的“假貨策略”有機可乘。前幾年就盛傳某基金公司送給客戶的一款知名品牌紗巾被指是A貨。專賣店假貨來自何處？業內對假貨的定義是：未經過官方品牌正式授權，而進入一手市場直接流通或交易的貨品，以及其他的全部假冒仿真貨品。既然這些貨品並非出自正規奢侈品品牌生產製造，那麼貨品從何而來？是代理商在境外開設了A貨製造廠，還是另有其他貨源渠道？據知情人士向記者透露，代理商在歐洲等地設立製造廠的可能性不大。由於發達經濟體地區僱傭工人的成本太高。同時，一旦廠房被查處，老闆需承擔嚴重的法律責任和巨額的懲罰金。一般情況下，境外代理商們不會冒險自產貨品，以提供貨源。不過，去年6月，法國警方也在當地搗毀了一個專門製造、流通和販售“山寨”愛馬仕包的造假團伙，並分別在巴黎和里昂逮捕了12名犯罪嫌疑人。隨後，愛馬仕品牌發佈公告表示，兩名已被解聘的愛馬仕前僱員參與了此次造假，此外還有可能包含若干名愛馬仕現任僱員。據悉，在秘密假冒偽劣產品製造車間里，警方繳獲的“山寨”愛馬仕包及原材料堆放在一起有20立方米。由於是愛馬仕內部人員製造、法國生產，產品原材料考究，使得普通消費者很難辨別真偽。法國警方還查獲了數萬歐元現鈔以及一些銀行戶頭，其中包括22個開設在中國香港的賬戶以及3個在塞浦路斯的賬戶，賬面金額達數十萬歐元。法國檢方調查顯示，這是一個架構複雜完善的國際犯罪組織，假貨的銷售總價值高達1800萬歐元。一位不願透露姓名的資深奢侈品行業業內人士透露，中國廣東是另一個“造假天堂”，其東莞地區和深圳布吉區隱匿著多家假貨製造廠。廠家造假的不僅限于皮包、服飾和手錶等，還包括了發票、吊牌、包裝袋及紙盒等，提供的是一條完整的假貨生產及銷售的產業鏈。由於近年來廣東嚴查仿冒品牌，出于安全考慮這條產業鏈變得更加隱秘。非業內人士根本無法獲悉A貨製造廠及倉庫的具體位置。受此限制，記者無法深入內部一探究竟。不過。有知情人士向記者透露，若想感受一線奢侈品大牌的A貨成品，可踏訪深圳羅湖商業城。該商業城素有A貨“黃金城”之稱，盤踞于深圳羅湖口岸及火車站，毗鄰香港。來這裡淘貨的顧客不僅有各地的商品批發商、普通白領、年輕潮人，還有相當多的境外人士。自存倉

很多市民發現，文件倉今年“十一”出游價格比以往要高不少。究其原因，都與今年10月1日將正式實施的新《旅遊法》有關，由於其中明令禁止“零負團費”、增加購物點、強迫購物等行為，不少原本將這些自費項目作為利潤點的旅行社無所適從，學習新法規、調整產品內容、調整價格，使得境內外旅遊產品均出現大幅上漲。猜到了開頭，卻沒有猜到結尾———用這句話來形容《旅遊法》的實施與旅遊價格上漲的現實，最為貼切不過。只是，更讓人沒有想到的是，一些旅行社隨著《旅遊法》實施日期的將近，把個別線路的成本抬高到了以前的兩倍。如此大幅度的漲價行為，讓許多準備在國慶節進行旅遊的“驢友”大呼吃不消。許多網友想問，本來是規範存倉遊市場、保護消費者利益的《旅遊法》，何以在出台後讓消費者掏出了更多的錢?當下的《旅遊法》僅僅是對“利用公共資源建設的景區”規定了“不得變相漲價”的條文；對於絕大部分景區流行的、善用的漲價行為卻基本沒有多少約束。綜合看來，《旅遊法》對於旅遊市場作出了一些規範，但是，制度並不是十分健全，站在消費者的立場上，仍然需要進行修訂。此外，法律本身不是萬能的。改變我國旅遊市場，不僅僅需要《旅遊法》的實施和進一步完善，更需要我國旅遊市場的自我淨化，包括地方政府把屬於公共的資源免費開放，還包括中央政府別再這樣集中放假了。加強對旅遊市場的規範，我們還有大量的工作要做，還有相當長的路要走。◎王傳濤迷你倉

　【中新社廣州八月三十一日電】（程景偉）記者三十一日在廣州舉行的二０一三中國（廣東）國際旅遊博覽會上採訪瞭解到，迷你倉新蒲崗隨著中國新《旅遊法》將於十月一日起實施，在放棄「低價團費+高價購物」模式後，泰國、馬來西亞等出境遊部份路線報價呈現大幅上漲。　新《旅遊法》規定，旅行社不得以不合理的低價組織旅遊活動，誘騙旅遊者，並通過安排購物或者另行付費旅遊項目獲取回扣等不正當利益。　業內人士分析，此規定有助於使扭曲的旅遊產品價格回歸其價值本身。在旅博會現場，一些參展旅行社的宣傳冊中已標明了「無指定購物點」、「無小費」等信息。　廣東不少旅行社的出境遊部分路線九月與十月報價差距頗大。廣州康輝旅行社九月五日出發的「曼谷、芭堤雅六天團」只要一九五０元人民幣，而幾乎同樣行程十月一日的團卻要五千五百八十元，但取消了珠寶中心、皮革中心、燕窩店等多個購物點的行程，以及一些自費海上旅遊項目。　廣州廣之旅國際旅行社市場推廣中心總經理溫前稱，其旅行社絕大部分產品將不會出現明顯的價格變動，特別是歐洲遊、東南亞海島遊、馬爾代夫等高端路線報價基本不變，但一些「吃喝玩樂」、「博覽」的出境遊路線價格則有所上調。　溫前表示，其旅行社不包括自費項目的泰國「安心遊」價格維持穩定，但全行業的不少泰國遊路線迷你倉出租價普遍上漲上千元，原因在於可牟利的自費項目和購物行程被取消。　泰國國家旅遊局廣州辦事處市場經理潘國鵬向記者證實，受中國新《旅遊法》影響，部分泰國遊路線報價翻倍，如去年「十·一」兩三千元的路線，今年漲至五六千元，預計短期內中國赴泰旅遊人數增速會有所放緩。　台灣遊同樣受到影響。台灣旅行商業同業公會總會秘書長許高慶稱，由於購物等因素存在，台灣遊原有價格偏低，隨著新《旅遊法》實施，團費必然有調整，但地區之間也存在較大差別，如旅遊市場較成熟的廣東報價提高兩三成，北方多地則要翻番。　「沒有購物壓力的導遊，服務會更好。」許高慶說，台灣旅行社對大陸遊客購物介入太深，有些甚至依靠陸客購物運作市場，新法將對台灣旅遊購物消費帶來不小的衝擊，這對台灣業界也是很好的整頓機會，可引導旅遊市場走上正軌。　潘國鵬也稱，自費項目、強迫購物減少，從長遠看，這對於泰國遊的品質和形象都會有大的提昇，中國人可真正體驗到泰國遊的樂趣。　中國即將實施的新《旅遊法》規定，應當在旅遊包價合同中載明導遊服務費用。廣之旅市場推廣中心總經理溫前稱，遊客在報名出遊時，將包含導遊服務費的團費支付；對於出境遊，出於尊重境外旅遊國際慣例，遊客還必須另外向境外導遊、司機支付小費，該做法並未被《旅遊法》所禁止。◇迷你倉

盧芝高說，自存倉為了將嵌瓷手藝傳下去，他已毫無保留地把技藝和數十年的經驗傳授給徒弟。盧芝高說，嵌瓷難度最大的是可以近觀的人物類作品，圖為他製作栩栩如生的各類人物。　　嵌瓷藝術歷經數百年的發展，經歷了風雨，現在面臨傳承與創新的重要課題，嵌瓷非物質文化傳承人盧芝高祖上四輩都在傳承嵌瓷的傳統，對於嵌瓷在這幾十年的發展以及以後的發展，他都有著獨到的見解。盧芝高告訴收藏周刊記者，他將用畢生的精力和經驗去做好嵌瓷的傳承工作，希望能將嵌瓷繼續發揚光大。　　■收藏周刊記者 陳福香　　家學淵源，六七歲受藝術熏陶　　深厚的家學淵源為盧芝高搭建了藝術成長的平台，自身的勤奮與執著又將其藝術推向精益求精的高峰。他將國畫的技法與壁畫藝術的精華熔鑄在嵌瓷創作中，融會貫通、相得益彰，為原本單純的嵌瓷藝術打開了更寬廣的創作空間；加之傳統儒釋道精神的滋養，他的嵌瓷藝術變得更富內涵和生命力。　　盧芝高告訴收藏周刊記者，學習嵌瓷製作技術，他有家學淵源。據他回憶，他六七歲時就受到家族的藝術熏陶，他非常喜歡畫畫和捏泥塑。稍年長之後，又經常到父親創作嵌瓷的厝地觀看，對嵌瓷的整個製作流程已非常熟悉掌握。上初中之後，他一邊讀書，一邊畫畫。在老家的牆上用貝灰水刷白之後，就自己學習畫壁畫，人物花鳥都畫。改革開放之後，潮州古建築的修復和建設中很多都需要進行嵌瓷的創作。因為早就掌握嵌瓷技藝，又有比較好的藝術基礎，通過吸收前人的構圖和手法，盧芝高對嵌瓷技法的提高很快，開始參與了四鄉六里很多古建設的嵌瓷製作，小有名氣。　　但他不滿足于現狀，在上世紀九十年代中期，又花了三年的時間專門報讀北京中國書畫函授大學，比較系統地進行了國畫基礎的學習，隨著自己的藝術修養和水平進一步提高，嵌瓷製作技藝也有了更加突出的進步，在潮汕地區所創作的作品受到了廣泛的好評。　　老師傅提醒，專心做嵌瓷　　嵌瓷為何要學習國畫呢？盧芝高解釋，嵌瓷想要提高檔次，需要一定的繪畫基礎，這樣嵌起來藝術性比較高，國畫技巧與嵌瓷相輔相成，如果有較好的國畫功底，嵌瓷做起來效果、構圖就比較好。據他介紹，嵌瓷分三大類，一種“平饒”，是嵌平的，人物頭部是畫的，身體用線條表現。第二種就是半立體，有點凸出來。難度最大的就是全立體。這其中還有分上中下，上面有上面的嵌法，中間有中間的嵌法，還有貼近觀賞的嵌法，“如果在屋頂，你做得太精細，在下面欣賞就不好看了。”盧芝高說。　　盧芝高的從藝之路並非一帆風順。盧芝高此前在接受媒體採訪時曾表示，改革開放以後，他是工程和嵌瓷一起做，很忙碌，當時就有個老師傅提醒他“針無兩頭利”，要想學有所成，就要專心做嵌瓷。經老師傅提醒，盧芝高就將工程轉給弟弟做，自己專心做嵌瓷，並專門學習了三年的國畫。　　實際上，嵌瓷技藝傳承之所以面臨困境，主要是費時費力，工錢也不高，而且局限于建築裝飾。對此，盧芝高也表示，嵌瓷難度最大的是可以近觀的人物類嵌瓷，精細得要把瓷片剪得像牙籤一樣細，相當于在石雕中雕出牛索一樣辛苦。“有時好不容易快剪成，‘啪’一聲斷了，前功盡棄，所以難度非常大。”　　此外，嵌瓷和泥塑不同，泥塑做到一半可以休息，但嵌瓷的泥灰是有時間限制的，當天沒法完工上彩，第二天就上不了彩了。　　不過，對於嵌瓷未來的發展，盧芝高還是很樂觀，現在他也收了十多個徒弟，並且毫無保留地把技藝和數十年的經驗傳授給他迷你倉新蒲崗，“希望能把平生所學傳授給這些徒弟，把這個文化傳承下去”。　　盧芝高簡介　　筆名山石，1946年10月生于潮州古建築嵌瓷壁畫藝術世家　　1964年高中畢業後師從父輩從事古建築嵌瓷壁畫民間工藝　　現為國家級非物質文化遺產(潮州嵌瓷)代表性傳承人　　廣東省工藝美術大師　　廣東省工藝美術協會常務理事　　潮州嵌瓷博物館館長　　潮州市工藝美術家協會副會長　　高級工藝美術師　　潮州畫院畫家　　對話盧芝高　　嵌瓷成了可近賞藝術品　　為創作提供了新的空間　　收藏周刊：您的嵌瓷生涯歷時四十多年，是什麼精神支撐著您在這條藝術道路上一直堅守？　　盧芝高：從事這門藝術，其實非常辛苦。必須淡泊名利，吃得了苦，才能投身其中，掌握到獨特的製作技藝。　　收藏周刊：您的作品在題材、風格和文化觀念上有沒有發生什麼轉變？您如何定位自己目前的創作階段與創作水平？　　盧芝高：嵌瓷本來是古建築的一種裝飾藝術，但是隨著人們審美習慣的與時俱進，逐步出現了擺件，成了可供陳設和近賞的藝術品，這就為我的創作提供了新的思考和空間，製作技藝也由此有了新的發展。也正因為如此，作品能夠在大型的文博會上奪得金獎，這大概也是對我的創作能力和水平的一種肯定吧。當然了，我並不僅滿足于此，自己還是要繼續努力創作出更多精益求精的作品。　　收藏周刊：您曾經應泰國邀請去創作嵌瓷，國外創作與國內創作有什麼不同？有沒有根據那邊的審美習慣而適當改造？　　盧芝高：在泰國創作的作品，主要功能是宣揚佛教故事的，在題材上與在國內略有區別，當然也會根據當地的一些要求對相關內容進行表現和調整。　　收藏周刊：您現在如何安排自己的繪畫創作時間與嵌瓷創作時間？　　盧芝高：這個沒有具體的細分，兩者都已經成為我個人藝術創作的組成部分。　　收藏周刊：除了嵌瓷藝術之外，您有沒有從事過其他類型的民間藝術？這些對您的嵌瓷藝術產生了哪些影響？　　盧芝高：是的，我一直堅持不懈地瞭解和掌握整個古建築藝術門類，曾經花很長時間從事過壁畫藝術，這些對嵌瓷創作還是很有幫助的。　　收藏周刊：我看您的人物畫作中多以古代人物為主，比如無量壽、仙醉酒、福祿壽等，給人一種仙風道骨，栩栩如生的感覺，您在創作中是否受到中國傳統釋道思想的影響？　　盧芝高：是的，尤其是儒家的忠孝思想，它成了我創作的重要題材，並且豐富著作品的文化內涵。孔子講“興觀群怨”，強調文藝的審美作用和教化功能，我從中借鑒經驗，像“二十四孝”這樣的作品，已經在審美之外，更添了一層“忠孝”的教育意義。　　收藏周刊：接下來有沒有什麼大的創作計劃？　　盧芝高：通過此次展覽之後，我會在廣泛聽取各方面的批評和建議的基礎上，努力創作出更高層次的作品。　　相關鏈接　　嵌瓷的幾種製作方法　　第一種：平瓷，用草根灰打底後，用佛青畫輪廓再用色瓷片嵌配，須糖灰粘結。在無嵌瓷片的地方，可用二白灰批抹後，配以色彩。由於瓷面與灰面一樣平，就叫做平瓷，顯得幹潔。　　第二種：半浮瓷，用草根灰打底後，用佛青畫輪廓，以糖灰塑花鳥，人物等，圖案浮胚，再用大白灰批抹畫幅底地，染上色彩（控制上色時間是最關鍵的環節），再在圖案上以糖灰嵌瓷片。　　第三種：浮瓷（或稱主體嵌瓷），以瓦片及紅磚碎、糖灰、麻絲，在屋頂或牆面塑技骨模胚，再用草根灰加糖灰批、塑、雕成形，以糖灰粘結貼上色彩瓷片。在瓷面上還要加畫線條等。陳福香迷你倉出租

雷漢發 張 欣 呂獻忠 申貴飛攝影報道河北張家口市張北中都草原，儲存全國熱氣球比賽前的特技表演炫彩奪目。近年來，張北縣加大文化旅遊開發力度，從深度與廣度上促進文化旅遊相互融合，旅遊產業發展態勢良好。今年1至7月，全縣旅遊收入14.16億元，同比增長20.3%。赤城縣丹霞山景區，一位遊客正在拍照。該縣大力打造旅遊產業，旅遊經濟發展勢頭強勁。張北縣佳聖農業科技園區，遊客正在採摘瓜果、蔬菜。該園區是集科研、推廣、觀光為一體的農業現代化示範園區。赤城縣依托豐富的地熱資源，以溫泉為賣點，全力打造國家4A級風景區。赤城縣黑龍山風景區是國家級原始森林保護區，前來觀光的旅客絡繹不絕。風力發電是張北縣的支柱產業之一，目前已形成了從研發到製造、檢測的產業鏈。一座獨特的風電主題公園吸引�多遊客前來觀光。初秋時節，正是地處燕山山脈與內蒙古高原連接帶區域秋高氣爽、氣候宜人的季節。站在湛藍的天空下，映入記者眼簾的是林木蒼翠，鳥語花香的綠色生態景象。被這無限風光吸引，京津及周邊無數旅遊愛好者慕名到此休閒旅遊。其中，河北張家口市下轄的張北縣、赤城縣就是人們追捧的兩個熱點區域。由傳統農業大縣邁向經濟大縣，用活資源優勢當是第一位。張北地處壩上，不僅有大面積的天然草場，而且常年勁風不斷，光照充足；赤城與北京西北部接壤，不僅有大面積的原始次生林，而且有著豐富的溫泉資源及�多風景名勝。通過近些年的發展，兩縣充分認識到了依托資源優勢、發展新興業態的重要性。於是，生態旅遊、新型能源、現代農業等產業開始取代礦產品開發，成為新的經濟增長點。張北以草原生態為重點，傾全縣之力重點打造風光儲輸新能源產業和生態旅遊產業。其中，新能源產業引新蒲崗迷你倉中節能、中水顧問、國電龍源、大唐等14家能源公司。目前，全縣已完成風電裝機約173萬千瓦，並網規模約163萬千瓦，已簽約光伏項目45萬千瓦，完成光伏並網4萬千瓦。張北還重點實施了元中都國家考古遺址公園、百里壩頭風景線壩頭閆片山民俗村、雞冠山長城驛站等建設項目，以及喜順溝鄉村旅遊等9大旅遊項目，形成了以中都草原文化村為核心的草原觀光度假游、草原軍事體驗游、草原民俗風情游、草原特色產業游、草原歷史文化游、草原冰雪游“張北草原風情大區”。當地通過完全市場化手段，成功舉辦了第五屆草原音樂節，使得張北草原品牌名氣大為提升，今年1至7月，全縣接待遊客224萬人次，旅遊收入14.16億元。赤城以北方水城為龍頭，不遺餘力地開發全縣山水靈泉風景區。他們以全省正在實施“城市面貌三年大變樣”規劃為契機，累計投入近百億元，傾力展開湯泉河治理、霞城大道、城市道路、市場廣場、居民小區建設等工程，全力打造北方生態水城，其中重點實施了雲州水庫除險加固工程、縣城段河道治理及景觀建設兩項工程，在主城區形成近20多萬平方米的生態水面。在全面提高城市承載力的基礎上，以有關外第一泉之稱的赤城溫泉、國家級自然保護區大海陀、北方道教聖地金閣山崇真觀、國家級森林公園黑龍山等名勝古跡為龍頭，當地著力打造“滑天然雪，沐溫泉浴，賞森林景，尋歷史脈”4大區域品牌，先後達成了總投資109億元新雪國旅遊度假區、總投資10.3億元後城飛行小鎮等項目合作意向，使得旅遊經濟快速崛起。今年上半年，赤城縣共接待遊客30.4萬人次，實現旅遊收入2.2億多元，同比增長4.8%。正是通過這種矢志綠色發展的發展方式轉變，張北、赤城的強縣富民步伐邁得更加堅實。mini storage

Source: Portland Press Herald, MaineAug.迷你倉 30--Dear Governor LePage,Hear that sound?It's the long knives coming out -- and they're all pointed directly at your back.Now I admit I'm not exactly a member of Maine's Republican inner circle -- assuming such a thing still exists. In fact, I was halfway around the world last week, attending my son's wedding reception in South Korea, when I read the news -- on the New York Times website, no less -- of your latest bout of foot-in-mouth disease.President Obama hates white people. I've got to hand it to you, Big Guy, when it comes to this year's nominations for the Right-Wing Crazy Talk Hall of Fame, it's a dead heat right now between you and that ex-cop in Sabattus who called for shooting the president (actually, he used a racial slur) because he thinks Obama wants to take away his wife's Social Security spousal benefits.Upon returning to Maine this week from Seoul (where I actually came across a few things that reminded me of you, but more on that later), I figured this whole Obama-hates-white-people thing would have blown over just like the "kiss my butt" comment to the NAACP, telling President Obama to "go to hell," the ladies with little beards, the "Gestapo" Internal Revenue Service, the Vaseline scandal, the "cloud of blind hatred" hanging over the Legislature, the labor mural, blowing up the Press Herald ... which, by the way, I was relieved to see didn't happen.But back to your latest gaffe, which I understand you made at a private fundraiser in Belgrade attended by more than a few pillars of Maine's Republican establishment.First came the two lawmakers who confirmed anonymously to the Press Herald that you made the crack about Obama and white people.Then came your claim that you never said it and that we media folks "are all about gossip."Then, when that didn't work, came your usual non-apologetic apology to your fellow Republicans "for any difficulty that remarks recently reported in the press may have caused you."I love the way you do that: The problem isn't that you made the remarks, but rather that the media reported them and your Republican friends had "difficulty" digesting them. I swear, if you were caught robbing a bank, you'd blame it on the unmarked bills "that recently found their way into my brown paper bag."Anyway, I'm hearing that your mea culpa, or whatever it was, hasn't gone over too well in Republican land.A big reason for that, of course, is that those who attended the Belgrade bash, rather than man (or woman) up and publicly tell the truth about what happened, initially feigned amnesia ("I don't recall hearing that") or sudden hearing loss ("If he said it, I didn't hear it").Now that you've acknowledged those "remarks," however, your ertswhile defenders look (and I suspect feel) like a bunch of cowering wimps who actually believed that what was said in that room could actually stay in that room.(Kind of reminds me of a Korean proverb I learned last week: "Words have no wings, but they can fly a thousand miles.")But this goes way beyond your uncanny ability to make grown men and women tiptoe around you as if you were some kind of improvised explosive device. This time, Governor, it appears you've done some real and lasting damage.Did you catch that special election this week in state Senate District 1文件倉 -- the one in which former Sen. Paula Benoit was widely expected to win back a coveted seat for the Republicans?Didn't happen, did it, Big Guy? The turnout, at 31 percent, was much higher than expected -- and more than a few of the voters who ended up electing previously unknown Democrat Eloise Vitelli said it was your crack about Obama that propelled them to the polls on a perfect, late-summer beach day.Bummer, huh Guv? You shoot from the hip and the Republican minority in the Senate takes one in the backside.The painful truth here, at least for you, is that it's no longer just those you like to call the "loyal opposition" who think your time in the Blaine House has become an unmitigated disaster.It's a growing number of your own party members -- you know, the ones with brains -- who break into a cold sweat at the thought of you winning re-election next year and spending another four years spewing about all that is wrong with the state you're supposed to be leading. (Coming soon to the turnpike entrance in Kittery: "Welcome to Maine: We Stink at Everything.")Those same Republicans look at the latest Public Policy Polling numbers showing Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud ahead of both you and independent Eliot Cutler and now wonder if a Republican gubernatorial primary might not be such a crazy idea, after all. ("Paging state Sen. Roger Katz ... your place on the ballot is waiting.")What's that, Governor? You're going to blow up Public Policy Polling as soon as you've leveled the Press Herald?Bombs away, Big Guy. But it won't change the fact that 60 percent of the respondents, including 30 percent of Republicans, now believe you cause Maine "national embarrassment." I'll bet you a lobster that number rises to 80 percent by next fall.Say what? You gave all your lobster away last week to the 49 other governors around the country? I heard about that too -- and how New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan promptly forwarded hers to the hungry masses at a soup kitchen in Concord.(Look at the bright side, sir. At least you can claim you now have irrefutable proof that Maine's tax dollars are being used to provide free lobster to welfare recipients. Your base will eat it up!)Speaking of seafood, let me close with a little snapshot from my trip to South Korea.One evening, I had the opportunity to visit a place where you pick out an assortment of live fish still swimming in tanks just a few feet from where the fishing boats dock. Then you go upstairs and, within minutes, they serve you your selections raw on a platter.All I can say is thank God for that hot wasabi paste.A short time later, I came across another old Korean proverb -- and here's where I thought of you. It goes: "A fish wouldn't get into trouble if it kept its mouth shut."I know, Governor, you can no sooner keep your mouth shut than persuade all those restive Republicans to put away their daggers and keep defending you from your own endlessly moving lips.So go ahead, Big Guy, keep yapping.The closer we get to November of 2014, the more you're starting to look like sushi.Bill Nemitz can be contacted at 791-6323 or at: bnemitz@pressherald.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine) Visit the Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine) at .pressherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉

Source: The Wisconsin State JournalAug.迷你倉 30--Less than a week before the start of the varsity football season, the future of the Evansville/Albany prep program went up in smoke.Thousands of dollars' worth of smoke.Just before midnight Aug. 17, the press box adjacent to the Evansville High School football field burned to the ground. Six fire departments were called to the scene, and onlookers reported that flames rose 20 feet above the facility's roof."It was a total loss. A total loss. Everything's gone," said Ron Grovesteen, the Blue Devils' coach for the last 40 years.Police and insurance investigators are busy trying to determine the source of the fire."The origin and cause of this fire is undetermined," Rock County Sheriff's Department Capt. Todd Christiansen said in an email. "Investigators can not say with any certainty where the fire started or by what means."One thing is certain, though: The bill to replace all that was lost will be astronomical. As one might expect from a press box fire, the public-address system, speakers and scoreboard controls were destroyed. But the real damage took place down below.Grovesteen said the ground floor of the press box was used to store helmets, pads and uniforms to outfit as many as 190 youngsters in the E/A youth program, along with about 20 sets of spare gear for the varsity program."We have about 80 to 90 middle-school players in grades 7 and 8, and our youth program from K through 6, that's another 90 to 100 kids," Grovesteen said. "All the helmets, shoulder pads, pants, everything we've stockpiled over the years -- all of that was lost."The communities have taken an aggressive approach to getting the youth football program back up and running. Many neighboring programs and businesses have stepped up to help, too."We've always had our fundraisers for the varsity, the middle school and the youth program, but this is a special occasion," Grovesteen said.The coach said youth and middle-school helmets can cost $100 to $150 each, and varsity helmets can go for $260 to $300. Shoulder pads range from $30 for youths up to $200 for varsity linemen. Then there are belts, hip pads, thigh pads, rib pads, practice jerseys, practice pants. ..."It's adding up to be quite a number," Grovesteen said. "This is stuff we've been able to build up over the years, and now it's all gone."The Blue Devil Gridiron Club has put fundraising plans in place to help cover costs above and beyond what the district insurance plan might cover, including what the club said on its website was "a substantial deductible."Grovesteen said youth programs in DeForest, Janesville, Middleton, Milton and Edgerton have contacted the club to volunteer assistance. More importantly, representatives of suppliers Badger Sporting Goods and helmet-and-pads manufacturer Riddell Sports Inc. already have provided the youth program with the gear it will need to start the season."We started practice (Monday) and we'll go three days without pads. By then, we should have enough gear on hand to get everyone fitted," Grovesteen said. "Their first games aren't for a couple of weeks. By then, everyone should be ready to go."The Blue Devils got by without their press box on Friday, taking a 30-21 home victory over Union Grove. The team visits Brodhead/Juda on Friday, and then welcomes Walworth Big Foot in a big Rock Valley North Conference game on Sept. 6.WARMING UP:This football season has unfolded in unusual fashion, weather-wise. Preseason practices took place under pleasant, even cool conditions. Now, during Week Two of the regular season is here, temperatures have shot up to the 90-degree mark.Coaches and athletes have been educated about best practices for heat management through an aggressive WIAA program, and they have been conscientious about following those guidelines."We know the WIAA policy, and we implemented a lot of those precautions today," Cambridge coach Mike Klingbeil said Tuesday night. "We made sure everybody had water breaks and a little extra rest. We took buckets out there with cold water and towels. It worked very well."We talked about going half-pads or no pads, but it was a defensive practice and we needed the kids to work with pads most of the time. We tried to make it as little a disruption as possible," Klingbeil said.PASSING FANCY:No, Brandon Matz didn't have to ice down his arm after East Troy's 70-52 loss to Delavan-Darien in its season opener at Delavan.As for the statistician who charted the game? Well, rotator-cuff surgery wouldn't be a big surprise for that poor guy.After watching the game film, East Troy coach Eric Sulik confirmed the original numbers credited to the 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior: 34 completions on 43 attempts for 524 yards and seven touchdowns, with one interception and one rushing TD."He was a little disappointed. He thought he was up around 600. Truthfully, so did I," Sulik said. "Some guys, that's a year for them."Matz's yardage文件倉total ranks third in state history, behind the 612-yard game by Southwestern's Jeff Skemp in 2002 and the 551-yard game by Lomira's Steve Sterr in 1965. Matz's seven-TD passing total joins a long list tied for the state record for a single game.The game also ranked second in state history for combined point total, trailing only D.C. Everest's 70-63 victory over Wisconsin Rapids in 1998. The teams combined for 1,104 yards of offense, ranking fourth on the all-time state list.The Playstation-like numbers were a result of Delavan-Darien running a seven-man front against the Trojans' spread offense. "With their blitzing linebackers, they had to go with man-to-man coverage on our receivers. That's a tough sell with a guy who's as big and moves as fast as Sam Eckert," Sulik said. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior receiver -- who missed all of last year with injury -- totaled 209 yards on 12 catches with four scores.Despite the euphoria of the big numbers, the fact that Delavan-Darien scored 10 touchdowns on his defense isn't lost on Sulik."We hurt ourselves with two turnovers inside our own 30 and another on a (line-drive) kickoff that bounced off our guy's hand," the coach said. "But a lot of it was poor tackling. We've got some work to do there."MORE BIG NUMBERS:Weston's Mark Klang started the season with a bang. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound sophomore raced for 256 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries as the Silver Eagles held off Plainfield Tri-County, 34-25, in their nonconference opener. He was tackled at the Plainfield 1-yard line after a 64-yard run to close the third quarter, then scored on the next play and popped a 65-yard TD run on his next carry, Weston coach Corey Brunett said. Klang also caught a 35-yard TD pass.Also Friday, Necedah's Matt Brown ran for 208 yards and three scores, Williams Bay's John Higgins ran for 203 yards and two TDs and Marshall's Ty DeForest and Highland's Austin Yager rushed for 200 yards each, with DeForest scoring three times and Yager four.Not to be overlooked was the Aug. 22 performance of Madison Edgewood quarterback Bobby Dunn. The 5-11, 190-pound senior threw for 345 yards and four TDs, completing 18 of 26 passes in the Crusaders' eye-opening, 41-35 victory over Waunakee.Also, Adams-Friendship junior Mario Chavez threw for 309 yards and four scores in a 42-30 victory over Weyauwega-Fremont. The victory snapped a 22-game losing streak for the Green Devils -- whose defense forced 10 turnovers, including a TD on an interception return by freshman Joe Doty.Another big-play guy on the defensive end was Sam Patterson of Fort Atkinson, who intercepted a pass in overtime to clinch the Black Hawks' 34-27 victory over visiting Reedsburg.AND NOW, IT'S OFFICIAL:When the Williams Bay football team beat Kenosha Christian Life, 34-0, in an extra ninth game last October, some said it ended the school's 45-game losing streak.But some didn't. Kenosha Christian Life claimed it sent a junior varsity team to the game, and as such, it did not count as a varsity victory for the Bulldogs. Among those following that school of thought is Williams Bay athletic director Mike Coolidge.But the debate ended on Friday, when Williams Bay started its season with a 41-0 pasting of Christian Life's varsity squad.The Bulldogs' long losing streak dated back to October 2007, relieved only by a forfeit victory over Madison Abundant Life in 2010 and the Christian Life game.Now, it can be said that Williams Bay not only has a two-game winning streak, it has a two-game shutout streak. The Bulldogs entertain Almond-Bancroft tonight in nonconference play.PICKS TO CLICK:--Verona (1-0 Big Eight Conference, 1-0 overall) at Sun Prairie (1-0, 1-0), 7 p.m. Friday: The Big Eight Conference champion could be decided on this muggy August evening. Sun Prairie was ranked third and Verona ninth in the first Associated Press state poll of the season.--Madison Edgewood (1-0) at DeForest (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday: With six days between starts, Dunn's throwing arm should be ready for another workout as the Crusaders take on Badger North favorite DeForest. The Norskies' tough and experienced defense was a major factor in last week's 45-7 romp over Milton.--Marshall (1-0) at Jefferson (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Two teams picked to challenge for championships in their leagues (the Capitol North and Rock Valley North, respectively) throw down in J-town. Jefferson held Watertown Luther Prep to 117 yards in a 49-6 victory last week.--Black Hawk (1-0) at Cuba City (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Both teams broke into the also-receiving-votes category in the AP state small-schools rankings after opening victories. Black Hawk produced 537 yards in a 52-0 victory over Benton/Scales Mound, and Cuba City downed Viroqua, 42-17.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.) Visit The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.) at .wisconsinstatejournal.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉

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Source: Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAug.迷你倉 30--An Allegheny County councilman may investigate complaints from part-time jail guards that their hours are being unfairly cut.Two guards, Brian Englert and Sergio Garcia Chavez, spoke at Tuesday's county council meeting against the upcoming cuts, which will reduce the maximum amount a part-timer could work in the jail from 32 hours a week to 24.They contend the cuts will shrink their paychecks precipitously, keep them without health insurance and force full-time officers to work more overtime."After they cut our hours, they're going to lose a lot of part-time officers," Mr. Garcia Chavez told council. "My main concern is financial situation of my family. Part-timers have no benefits. If anything happens to me, who is going to take care of my family?"Councilman James Ellenbogen, chairman of the public safety committee, said he almost fell out of his chair when he heard the jail's 60-odd part-time correctional officers don't receive health insurance from the county.He's mulling o文件倉er calling a meeting to address the matter."It is something that I do have my eye on, and I am interested in getting some idea of what is going on down there," he said.County spokeswoman Amie Downs said the part-time hour cuts will take effect Dec. 1 and are part of the ongoing reorganization taking place under new warden Orlando Harper.Mr. Harper, she said, has a mandate from county leadership to make the changes he deems necessary."He has been given a great deal of discretion in regards to changing or enacting policies, reviewing personnel, assigning staff and making other changes that he believes appropriate in operating the Allegheny County Jail," she said.Manpower lost through the cuts will be made up by shift changes, additional part-time hires and using full-time officers more heavily, Ms. Downs said.Andrew McGill: amcgill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1497.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at .post-gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉