The Cairns Airport Adventure Festival kicked off on the warm, sunny shores of Port Douglas this morning, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Coral Coast Triathlon – a milestone no other race has achieved n Australia’s rich triathlon history.
The Olympic distance course (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) was hot and fast and played well into the hands of Joseph Lampe (Lennox Heads, NSW), who took out his first Coral Coast title.
An aggressive swim leg put Lampe almost two and half minutes ahead of his nearest competitor leading into the 4-lap cycle where he continued to put time into the rest of the field and extend his lead.
“I definitely had a plan,” said Lampe.
“I wanted to be first out of the swim and get a lead early and just maintain it the whole day – I was hoping to run them scared.
“It was good having a nice flat cycle course; we had a headwind out and a tailwind back so I could really push it home.
“It wasn’t easy but I wanted to go hard and stay that way,” he added.
With such an extensive lead, Lampe was able to ease off towards the end of the 4-lap beach run, in preparation for his bid on the Cairns Half title next weekend (1.9km swim, 90km cycle, 21.1km run).
“I eased off a little bit just towards the end there, and hopefully I’ll recover in time for the Cairns Half.
I’ll have a bit of a rest and fit in a couple more training sessions – I should be fine,” he added.
Age-group competitor Rob Creasy (Christchurch, NZ) clocked the second fastest time of the day, taking to the course as a warm-up to next weekend’s inaugural Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns iron-distance triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km cycle, 42.2km run).
“This has been a really great event. I’m really happy with my result and it was good to race in the warm conditions ahead of next weekend.
“I’m going to take the next few days to recover, enjoy the sunshine and hopefully have a good race next weekend,” Creasy said.
Germany’s Markus Hein, who claimed third place, also used the event as a final hit out before the half iron distance event next Sunday.
Exiting the water 3 minutes behind the leader, Hein was unable to make up time on the fast, flat course.
“He (Lampe) was such a fast swimmer and was too fast on the bike and the run - congratulations to him.
Hein is looking forward to going toe-to-toe with Lampe in the Cairns Half next weekend.
“I’ll be doing the Half next week so I will have another go at him but I think he might just be a bit too strong. I’ll definitely be trying my best though,” said Hein.
In the women’s field, Brisbane’s 20-year old Emily Donker took line honours.
“It feels pretty awesome to win - this is my first triathlon away from Brisbane so I had a bit of a challenge packing up my bike into the bike box yesterday and then unpacking it again last night. But the conditions are fantastic up here and the crowds are great so I really enjoyed racing up here today.
“The conditions were really nice out there, no chop in the swim and the bike course was beautiful, you could see everyone as you went along the course, and it was nice and flat which was good, and the run along the beach was something different, most of the other triathlons I’ve done have road runs but I really enjoyed the beach,” said Donker.
Enjoying the break from Brisbane, Donker is keen to return to Tropical North Queensland next year.
“A nice warm winter is always nice, I’d love to come back next year to defend my title,” she said.
Amongst the competitors taking to the Coral Coast course for the first time were the ‘Coral Coast Legends’, competitors who have raced the event at least 15 years out of the events 30 year history.
Neil Parker raced his 24th Coral Coast Tri race – a number unmatched by anyone in the events history.
“I had a really great day – I raced the same time as I did last year, actually it was pretty much the same time as I did in my first race in 1986 so I’m pretty happy with that,” said Parker.
“The course was really good, the swim was a bit challenging, we had a few currents going, the cycle was good but the run up the beach was the best – it’s a great way to finish the race.
“The organisers have done a great job and I’m looking forward to coming back for my 25th race next year,” he said.
Eighty-year-old Thelma Bryan from Cairns competed in the team’s category, tackling the 1.5km swim.
“It was getting a bit rough out there for me but it was very good. I was first here for the swim in 1983 so I am very pleased to still be here for the 30th anniversary,” she said.
In addition to the Olympic distance race, competitors of all ages and abilities took to the Enticer course (300m swim / 10km cycle / 2.5km run) and Sprint distance course (750m swim / 20km cycle / 5km run).
Also kicking off the week-long Cairns Airport Adventure Festival was the RRR Mountain Bike Challenge and the Hekili Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge which saw 50 crews of OC6, OC2, OC1 and surf skiers. In total over 1000 competitors participated in the weekend’s events.
The festival continues in Cairns next week with the Quicksilver Reef Swim – Green Island on Thursday 2nd June, The Cairns Post Run for Cairns on Friday 3rd June and Junior Challenge Cairns - a triathlon just for kids on Saturday 4th June.
2011年5月29日星期日
RLPO Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
In the five years since Vasily Petrenko became chief conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra they have together demonstrated rare finesse and confidence in a wide repertoire. Music from Petrenko’s native Russia has understandably done well, but he has also proved a natural Elgarian. Now he adds another string to his bow: Mahler.
Sir Charles Groves stamped the composer on to Liverpool’s consciousness in the 1960s with a pioneering cycle of symphonies that had the impressionable young Simon Rattle smitten. Petrenko has taken advantage of the 2010-11 Mahler double anniversary – 150 years since Mahler’s birth (1860) and 100 since his death (1911) – with a similar marathon, and if this account of the Seventh Symphony is any guide, he has given Liverpool something more to be proud of. Like the music itself, it was a mercurial, multifaceted performance, full of deftly sketched colours and moods, and all the more potent for the orchestra’s characterful playing – never blowsy or undernourished, and always alert to Mahler’s quicksilver inspiration.
But the most notable quality was Petrenko’s seamless grasp of tempo, managing the myriad transitions with a fluency that eludes many more experienced conductors. That, and his flexibility of phrasing, tapped into the music’s gut – a wonderful marriage of head and heart, freedom and control. The interpretation was very much in the Classical-Romantic mould, promoting the symphony’s structural integrity and lyrical inspiration over its garish, episodic qualities.
The best came first, in an opening adagio-allegro movement that built an unstoppable head of steam, underlining how skilfully Petrenko places his crescendos. The first Nachtmusik showcased the orchestra’s softer edges, the scherzo its unshowy virtuosity. Petrenko’s only misjudgment was his neutral tempo for the second Nachtmusik, which sagged, but he compensated with a firecracker finale, the graveyard of most performances of this work.
Before the interval Alina Ibragimova, a Russian-born violinist increasingly noticeable on the UK concert scene, was soloist in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 4. She lent it her sweet, slender, feminine tone in a typically unmannered performance that did not have quite enough to say.
Sir Charles Groves stamped the composer on to Liverpool’s consciousness in the 1960s with a pioneering cycle of symphonies that had the impressionable young Simon Rattle smitten. Petrenko has taken advantage of the 2010-11 Mahler double anniversary – 150 years since Mahler’s birth (1860) and 100 since his death (1911) – with a similar marathon, and if this account of the Seventh Symphony is any guide, he has given Liverpool something more to be proud of. Like the music itself, it was a mercurial, multifaceted performance, full of deftly sketched colours and moods, and all the more potent for the orchestra’s characterful playing – never blowsy or undernourished, and always alert to Mahler’s quicksilver inspiration.
But the most notable quality was Petrenko’s seamless grasp of tempo, managing the myriad transitions with a fluency that eludes many more experienced conductors. That, and his flexibility of phrasing, tapped into the music’s gut – a wonderful marriage of head and heart, freedom and control. The interpretation was very much in the Classical-Romantic mould, promoting the symphony’s structural integrity and lyrical inspiration over its garish, episodic qualities.
The best came first, in an opening adagio-allegro movement that built an unstoppable head of steam, underlining how skilfully Petrenko places his crescendos. The first Nachtmusik showcased the orchestra’s softer edges, the scherzo its unshowy virtuosity. Petrenko’s only misjudgment was his neutral tempo for the second Nachtmusik, which sagged, but he compensated with a firecracker finale, the graveyard of most performances of this work.
Before the interval Alina Ibragimova, a Russian-born violinist increasingly noticeable on the UK concert scene, was soloist in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 4. She lent it her sweet, slender, feminine tone in a typically unmannered performance that did not have quite enough to say.
2011年5月25日星期三
June an action-packed month for holidaymakers with villas in Portugal
Those going to villas in Portugal next month will have plenty to see and do in the country, from the Quicksilver Pro surfing event in June to the Festivities of Lisbon.
Surf lovers will surely want to head over to Ericeira between June 14th and the 19th, when some of the world's top board riders will battle it out for supremacy on the waves.
Watersports fans staying in villas in Portugal will also get a chance to witness the World Match Racing Tour at Portimao Marina. A qualifying series for the Americas Cup, the regatta comes to Portugal between June 22nd and the 26th.
Meanwhile, visitors to the capital on June 12th will be privileged to see Lisbon come alive with music, dancing and food as the annual Festivities of Lisbon get underway.
One of the capital's most vibrant celebrations, the festival sees the city decorated with coloured globes and garlands of flowers, while traditional roasted sardines and sweet basil are served in local eateries.ADNFCR-2074-ID-800557009-ADNFCR
Surf lovers will surely want to head over to Ericeira between June 14th and the 19th, when some of the world's top board riders will battle it out for supremacy on the waves.
Watersports fans staying in villas in Portugal will also get a chance to witness the World Match Racing Tour at Portimao Marina. A qualifying series for the Americas Cup, the regatta comes to Portugal between June 22nd and the 26th.
Meanwhile, visitors to the capital on June 12th will be privileged to see Lisbon come alive with music, dancing and food as the annual Festivities of Lisbon get underway.
One of the capital's most vibrant celebrations, the festival sees the city decorated with coloured globes and garlands of flowers, while traditional roasted sardines and sweet basil are served in local eateries.ADNFCR-2074-ID-800557009-ADNFCR
Quiksilver's custom boardshort program taps brand heritage, technical expertise
Less than two days after I posted about Vans' new custom boardshort program through Shortomatic.com, the folks at boardsport behemoth Quiksilver fired off an email to let me know that they'd launched a similar program just a month and a half earlier.
And, at first glance, it looks stunningly similar.
Like Vans, Quiksilver's custom boardshorts are designed online, allow users to customize a handful choices (Quiksilver's version offers a dozen choices in all, including the left and right front and rear panels, waistband, pocket flap and embroidery color), a $99 price tag and an order-to-delivery time of two to three weeks.
Further, both versions are touted as being handmade right here in the good old U.S.A; Quiksilver's down in Huntington Beach, and the Vans/Shortomatic's in the Los Angeles area.
So when I got a chance to chat on the phone with Nicholas Nathanson, head of Quicksilver's custom boardshorts division, I asked if the dueling custom boardshort programs were the result of some sort of action-sports version of the space race. (In Hollywood, it's the kind of phenomenon that results in oddly concurrent dueling monkey-virus movies, "Snow White" remakes and Steve Prefontaine biopics.)
"Honestly, we learned about it from your blog post," Nathanson said. "We had no idea these guys were doing [a custom boardshort program]."
"It's an idea that's been percolating for 15 years ... We'd tried it in the past in a kind of primitive way, but the tool set just wasn't there."
According to Nathanson, Quicksilver finally pulled the trigger on the program, which launched on March 22, once it had worked out all the back-end logistics. He said the final piece of the puzzle was figuring out how to meld that Web-based shopping experience with Quiksilver's existing e-commerce efforts.
"We didn't want to develop a separate custom checkout," he explained. "Meaning that we wanted customers to be able to order a custom product and a non-custom one at the same time. Once we could do that, we knew we were ready."
Which brings up the differences -- and there are some big ones -- between Quiksilver's and Van's/Shortomatic's custom boardshort programs (beyond the obvious patterns, colors and artwork from each brand's archives).
Beyond the "all-in-one-shopping-cart" convenience (currently not an option with the Vans version), Quiksilver's website allows the user to create and share a boardshort design -- even one that doesn't end up being purchased -- by generating a code that can be shared via social media. (At Shortomatic.com, the custom Vans shorts live on in a gallery that scrolls across the bottom of the site.)
"We've sold a lot of boardshorts," Nathanson said, "but for every boardshort we've sold, there have been 50 designed by our customers that haven't been bought but shared with their friends [instead]."
Nathanson won't divulge specific sales numbers to date (which is not uncommon for a publicly traded company such as Quiksilver), but a company representative characterized the custom boardshorts as "selling three times better than any other [Quiksilver] product line."
And those with a less-than-svelte physique will be happy to know that Quiksilver's custom line can accommodate up to a 50-inch waist. ("We've envisioned the fact that there are athletes from Tahiti -- that are big dudes -- who will want to make their own boardshorts," Nathanson said.)
Currently the program offers a single style (based on the label's Cypher Kaimana silhouette) in a four-way stretch material (dubbed "Diamond Dobby"), but plans are to add new silhouettes and 15 new color and pattern choices over the next few months.
Which brings us to what Nathanson thinks is the biggest difference of all: "We're bringing our whole company's technical boardshort expertise to bear on this."
"No offense to their prowess, but we've been making boardshorts for 40 years, and they're outsourcing [their] boardshorts to someone who makes yoga mats," Nathanson said, taking a not-so-subtle swipe at Shortomatic, whose parent company, Anymatic, has its roots in the custom-printed yoga mat business. "It's a little different."
Sounds like the opening volley in a full-on battle of the custom boardies, no?
And, at first glance, it looks stunningly similar.
Like Vans, Quiksilver's custom boardshorts are designed online, allow users to customize a handful choices (Quiksilver's version offers a dozen choices in all, including the left and right front and rear panels, waistband, pocket flap and embroidery color), a $99 price tag and an order-to-delivery time of two to three weeks.
Further, both versions are touted as being handmade right here in the good old U.S.A; Quiksilver's down in Huntington Beach, and the Vans/Shortomatic's in the Los Angeles area.
So when I got a chance to chat on the phone with Nicholas Nathanson, head of Quicksilver's custom boardshorts division, I asked if the dueling custom boardshort programs were the result of some sort of action-sports version of the space race. (In Hollywood, it's the kind of phenomenon that results in oddly concurrent dueling monkey-virus movies, "Snow White" remakes and Steve Prefontaine biopics.)
"Honestly, we learned about it from your blog post," Nathanson said. "We had no idea these guys were doing [a custom boardshort program]."
"It's an idea that's been percolating for 15 years ... We'd tried it in the past in a kind of primitive way, but the tool set just wasn't there."
According to Nathanson, Quicksilver finally pulled the trigger on the program, which launched on March 22, once it had worked out all the back-end logistics. He said the final piece of the puzzle was figuring out how to meld that Web-based shopping experience with Quiksilver's existing e-commerce efforts.
"We didn't want to develop a separate custom checkout," he explained. "Meaning that we wanted customers to be able to order a custom product and a non-custom one at the same time. Once we could do that, we knew we were ready."
Which brings up the differences -- and there are some big ones -- between Quiksilver's and Van's/Shortomatic's custom boardshort programs (beyond the obvious patterns, colors and artwork from each brand's archives).
Beyond the "all-in-one-shopping-cart" convenience (currently not an option with the Vans version), Quiksilver's website allows the user to create and share a boardshort design -- even one that doesn't end up being purchased -- by generating a code that can be shared via social media. (At Shortomatic.com, the custom Vans shorts live on in a gallery that scrolls across the bottom of the site.)
"We've sold a lot of boardshorts," Nathanson said, "but for every boardshort we've sold, there have been 50 designed by our customers that haven't been bought but shared with their friends [instead]."
Nathanson won't divulge specific sales numbers to date (which is not uncommon for a publicly traded company such as Quiksilver), but a company representative characterized the custom boardshorts as "selling three times better than any other [Quiksilver] product line."
And those with a less-than-svelte physique will be happy to know that Quiksilver's custom line can accommodate up to a 50-inch waist. ("We've envisioned the fact that there are athletes from Tahiti -- that are big dudes -- who will want to make their own boardshorts," Nathanson said.)
Currently the program offers a single style (based on the label's Cypher Kaimana silhouette) in a four-way stretch material (dubbed "Diamond Dobby"), but plans are to add new silhouettes and 15 new color and pattern choices over the next few months.
Which brings us to what Nathanson thinks is the biggest difference of all: "We're bringing our whole company's technical boardshort expertise to bear on this."
"No offense to their prowess, but we've been making boardshorts for 40 years, and they're outsourcing [their] boardshorts to someone who makes yoga mats," Nathanson said, taking a not-so-subtle swipe at Shortomatic, whose parent company, Anymatic, has its roots in the custom-printed yoga mat business. "It's a little different."
Sounds like the opening volley in a full-on battle of the custom boardies, no?
2011年5月22日星期日
Lake County 150: The Lower Lake Stone Jail
The Lower Lake Stone Jail was built in 1876 and is known as the smallest jail in the United States.
It is located on the corner of Highway 29 and Main Street in Lower Lake.
One of Lower Lake’s first stone masons, Stephen Nicolai, built the jail from local materials with the help of John and Theodore Copsey.
The Copsey brothers, thrilled with the completion of the jail’s construction, celebrated in one of the local saloons and became rather rowdy. Hence, the brothers became the jail’s first occupants but didn’t remain so for long.
The Copseys realized that they had not yet fastened the wooden roof down and, being tall men, they were able to lift up the roof and escape.
There is some speculation as to whether John and Theodore got themselves arrested for the sole purpose of being the jail’s first occupants. It would make sense since only they knew that if they were put in jail, they would not have to remain there.
One may wonder why a jail was needed for such a small town. The population in Lower Lake was at 1,000 people and quicksilver mining was at its peak. The Sulphur Bank Mine began mining quicksilver in 1874, and as there were jobs available, more people were drawn to Lake County.
The combination of steady income, liquor and disagreements made this one of the wildest times for Lake County.
As the population continued to grow, crime rose with it. There became an urgent need for civil order, so plans to build the jail began to unfold.
The Lower Lake Stone Jail, although small, has seen quite a bit of action in its time.
Chinese workers at the mines usually smoked opium in moderation. One incident is recorded where moderation went out the window and five Chinese men, extremely high on opium, were thrown into the Lower Lake Stone Jail all at one time.
There was never a guard or watchman for the jail, even when there were occupants. The jail also was without a sanitary facility of any kind and food and water were only provided when absolutely necessary.
After some time, the little jail was closed. For years after it served the county as a gasoline storehouse.
In later years, some townspeople wanted to get rid of it entirely. The Civic Club, Luncheon Club and Native Sons of the Golden West came to the rescue and saved the little building.
It became a California Historic landmark on Oct. 2, 1962.
It is located on the corner of Highway 29 and Main Street in Lower Lake.
One of Lower Lake’s first stone masons, Stephen Nicolai, built the jail from local materials with the help of John and Theodore Copsey.
The Copsey brothers, thrilled with the completion of the jail’s construction, celebrated in one of the local saloons and became rather rowdy. Hence, the brothers became the jail’s first occupants but didn’t remain so for long.
The Copseys realized that they had not yet fastened the wooden roof down and, being tall men, they were able to lift up the roof and escape.
There is some speculation as to whether John and Theodore got themselves arrested for the sole purpose of being the jail’s first occupants. It would make sense since only they knew that if they were put in jail, they would not have to remain there.
One may wonder why a jail was needed for such a small town. The population in Lower Lake was at 1,000 people and quicksilver mining was at its peak. The Sulphur Bank Mine began mining quicksilver in 1874, and as there were jobs available, more people were drawn to Lake County.
The combination of steady income, liquor and disagreements made this one of the wildest times for Lake County.
As the population continued to grow, crime rose with it. There became an urgent need for civil order, so plans to build the jail began to unfold.
The Lower Lake Stone Jail, although small, has seen quite a bit of action in its time.
Chinese workers at the mines usually smoked opium in moderation. One incident is recorded where moderation went out the window and five Chinese men, extremely high on opium, were thrown into the Lower Lake Stone Jail all at one time.
There was never a guard or watchman for the jail, even when there were occupants. The jail also was without a sanitary facility of any kind and food and water were only provided when absolutely necessary.
After some time, the little jail was closed. For years after it served the county as a gasoline storehouse.
In later years, some townspeople wanted to get rid of it entirely. The Civic Club, Luncheon Club and Native Sons of the Golden West came to the rescue and saved the little building.
It became a California Historic landmark on Oct. 2, 1962.
Quicksilver Resources counting on a big year
Quicksilver Resources CEO Glenn Darden expects 2011 to be "a breakout year" as the company advances into the development phase of its Horn River Basin project in Canada, moves into oil exploration and continues amping up natural gas production from North Texas' Barnett Shale.
"It looks like it's going to be a fabulous year," Darden said at last week's annual shareholders meeting of the Fort Worth-based natural gas producer, which has a healthy $500 million capital budget for 2011. "We're moving more toward oil, but we're still a gas company, and we'll always be a gas company," Darden told shareholders at the downtown Fort Worth Club.
Quicksilver will soon start to show "how valuable Horn River is," as it completes more natural gas wells in cold, remote northeast British Columbia and benefits from new pipeline links allowing it to transport more gas to market more cheaply, Darden said. The company is also testing for oil there.
With 130,000 net acres leased at Horn River, Quicksilver has drilled eight natural gas wells there and completed four, which cumulatively are producing 30 million cubic feet a day. It expects to complete the other four wells this coming winter, when drilling equipment can be transported on ice roads. In warm weather equipment bogs down in the swamplike terrain called muskeg.
Horn River potential
Quicksilver estimates that each Horn River well will have an exceptional "estimated ultimate recovery," or lifetime output, ranging from 8.8 billion to 19.4 billion cubic feet of gas. Those numbers far exceed the 1 billion to 5 billion cubic feet estimated for most Barnett Shale gas wells, although operating costs are considerably lower in the Barnett.
Quicksilver's latest annual report said Horn River "appears to be the largest gas find in the company's history and has the potential to quadruple our current total company reserves." The company estimates that it could recover 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from Horn River, or nearly double what it expects from the Barnett.
As of Dec. 31, Quicksilver's proved reserves were equivalent to 2.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, with 2.6 trillion from the Barnett. The reserves are 99 percent natural gas and natural gas liquids such as propane and butane.
Getting more 'oily'
Crude oil accounts for a tiny 1 percent of Quicksilver's reserves, but that could rise. U.S. energy producers are increasingly focusing on oil and natural gas liquids, which command higher prices than natural gas. Quicksilver is pushing this year to become more "oily."
The company expects to complete a horizontal well in the Exshaw formation at Horn River this summer, with oil the target instead of natural gas. Quicksilver has "gotten great oil shows" there, Darden said, from both the Exshaw and from natural gas in the Muskwa and Klua formations below it.
Darden said Quicksilver's biggest thrust into oil this year will be in the emerging Niobrara play in the Green River Basin, where the company has 200,000 net acres leased in northwest Colorado. The company expects to drill up to six exploratory wells there this year.
"We're in oily country, and we're very excited about it," Darden said. "The Niobrara has about 1,500 feet of thickness, so it's a very big target."
Quicksilver is also launching some oil prospecting in the Bakken formation in northern Montana, where it has 175,000 net acres.
The company is also "targeting multiple formations" in the Delaware Basin in West Texas that could yield oil, said Rick Buterbaugh, Quicksilver's vice president for investor relations and corporate planning. These targets include the Bone Springs formation that is attracting increasing attention.
The company has 54,000 net acres leased in Culberson, Reeves, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties and expects to acquire more.
Quicksilver can move quickly in West Texas by re-entering "noncommercial natural gas wells" the company drilled in the West Texas portion of the Barnett Shale, Buterbaugh said. The clay content in the Barnett zone made the results from fracking "less than desired," Buterbaugh said.
With the new oil plays, Quicksilver has "some very high-potential prospects that can really change the look of this company," Darden said.
The company has had lackluster earnings the past two years, primarily because of weak gas prices and related write-downs. The company's stock (ticker: KWK) closed Friday at $14.44, up 14 cents. The stock is down about 2 percent this year.
Quicksilver, however, generally has been a low-cost operator and profited from the sale of its majority interest in Quicksilver Gas Services, which helped trim its debt to a manageable $1.7 billion, with major debt maturing in late 2015. It had 65 cents of debt per 1,000 cubic feet of reserves as of Dec. 31, down 44 percent from $1.17 two years earlier.
Barnett still mainstay
The company's bread-and-butter revenue source this year should continue to be the Barnett Shale, where Quicksilver hopes to boost production by 20 percent. Some of the company's biggest gas wells, with estimated lifetime production of 4 billion to 5.5 billion cubic feet, are in the Alliance and Lake Arlington areas, but smaller wells in the southern Barnett provide more natural gas liquids.
Although natural gas prices have barely topped $4 per 1,000 cubic feet, Darden said Quicksilver will benefit by hedging most of its 2011 gas production at just under $6.
In the company's annual report, Darden said Quicksilver doesn't believe today's abnormal price disparity between oil and natural gas will continue. And at the shareholders meeting he said company officials believe its stock is undervalued.
"We believe this presents a tremendous opportunity to invest in natural gas at the bottom of the cycle," he concludes in the annual report.
"It looks like it's going to be a fabulous year," Darden said at last week's annual shareholders meeting of the Fort Worth-based natural gas producer, which has a healthy $500 million capital budget for 2011. "We're moving more toward oil, but we're still a gas company, and we'll always be a gas company," Darden told shareholders at the downtown Fort Worth Club.
Quicksilver will soon start to show "how valuable Horn River is," as it completes more natural gas wells in cold, remote northeast British Columbia and benefits from new pipeline links allowing it to transport more gas to market more cheaply, Darden said. The company is also testing for oil there.
With 130,000 net acres leased at Horn River, Quicksilver has drilled eight natural gas wells there and completed four, which cumulatively are producing 30 million cubic feet a day. It expects to complete the other four wells this coming winter, when drilling equipment can be transported on ice roads. In warm weather equipment bogs down in the swamplike terrain called muskeg.
Horn River potential
Quicksilver estimates that each Horn River well will have an exceptional "estimated ultimate recovery," or lifetime output, ranging from 8.8 billion to 19.4 billion cubic feet of gas. Those numbers far exceed the 1 billion to 5 billion cubic feet estimated for most Barnett Shale gas wells, although operating costs are considerably lower in the Barnett.
Quicksilver's latest annual report said Horn River "appears to be the largest gas find in the company's history and has the potential to quadruple our current total company reserves." The company estimates that it could recover 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from Horn River, or nearly double what it expects from the Barnett.
As of Dec. 31, Quicksilver's proved reserves were equivalent to 2.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, with 2.6 trillion from the Barnett. The reserves are 99 percent natural gas and natural gas liquids such as propane and butane.
Getting more 'oily'
Crude oil accounts for a tiny 1 percent of Quicksilver's reserves, but that could rise. U.S. energy producers are increasingly focusing on oil and natural gas liquids, which command higher prices than natural gas. Quicksilver is pushing this year to become more "oily."
The company expects to complete a horizontal well in the Exshaw formation at Horn River this summer, with oil the target instead of natural gas. Quicksilver has "gotten great oil shows" there, Darden said, from both the Exshaw and from natural gas in the Muskwa and Klua formations below it.
Darden said Quicksilver's biggest thrust into oil this year will be in the emerging Niobrara play in the Green River Basin, where the company has 200,000 net acres leased in northwest Colorado. The company expects to drill up to six exploratory wells there this year.
"We're in oily country, and we're very excited about it," Darden said. "The Niobrara has about 1,500 feet of thickness, so it's a very big target."
Quicksilver is also launching some oil prospecting in the Bakken formation in northern Montana, where it has 175,000 net acres.
The company is also "targeting multiple formations" in the Delaware Basin in West Texas that could yield oil, said Rick Buterbaugh, Quicksilver's vice president for investor relations and corporate planning. These targets include the Bone Springs formation that is attracting increasing attention.
The company has 54,000 net acres leased in Culberson, Reeves, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties and expects to acquire more.
Quicksilver can move quickly in West Texas by re-entering "noncommercial natural gas wells" the company drilled in the West Texas portion of the Barnett Shale, Buterbaugh said. The clay content in the Barnett zone made the results from fracking "less than desired," Buterbaugh said.
With the new oil plays, Quicksilver has "some very high-potential prospects that can really change the look of this company," Darden said.
The company has had lackluster earnings the past two years, primarily because of weak gas prices and related write-downs. The company's stock (ticker: KWK) closed Friday at $14.44, up 14 cents. The stock is down about 2 percent this year.
Quicksilver, however, generally has been a low-cost operator and profited from the sale of its majority interest in Quicksilver Gas Services, which helped trim its debt to a manageable $1.7 billion, with major debt maturing in late 2015. It had 65 cents of debt per 1,000 cubic feet of reserves as of Dec. 31, down 44 percent from $1.17 two years earlier.
Barnett still mainstay
The company's bread-and-butter revenue source this year should continue to be the Barnett Shale, where Quicksilver hopes to boost production by 20 percent. Some of the company's biggest gas wells, with estimated lifetime production of 4 billion to 5.5 billion cubic feet, are in the Alliance and Lake Arlington areas, but smaller wells in the southern Barnett provide more natural gas liquids.
Although natural gas prices have barely topped $4 per 1,000 cubic feet, Darden said Quicksilver will benefit by hedging most of its 2011 gas production at just under $6.
In the company's annual report, Darden said Quicksilver doesn't believe today's abnormal price disparity between oil and natural gas will continue. And at the shareholders meeting he said company officials believe its stock is undervalued.
"We believe this presents a tremendous opportunity to invest in natural gas at the bottom of the cycle," he concludes in the annual report.
2011年5月18日星期三
Electric Sky sells in Australia, India
UK distributor Electric Sky has sold a package deal into Australia, and is reporting sales into Denmark, India and more.
Denmark terrestrial DRTV has acquired the current affairs documentary Secret Iraq (2 x 59 minutes) by Quicksilver Media for BBC2, which was recently nominated for a BAFTA. The doc gives a new look at the story of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Fox in India has picked up Mercurio’s Menu series 1 and 2 (26 x 21 minutes) by WTFN Entertainment for the Seven Network Australia. The travel and cooking series is presented by Strictly Ballroom star Paul Mercurio.
Also in India, Discovery has acquired Trishna & Krishna: Separate Lives (1 x 52 minutes) by WTFN for Seven (pictured). The documentary focuses on the separation of Siamese twins, and has also been picked up by UKTV’s channel Really.
In Australia, Seven picked up a package of programming, including green Olympic games documentary Going for Green: Britain’s 2012 Dream (1 x 48 minutes) by Darlow Smithson; HD two-parter Building Sea City (2 x 44 minutes) by Furnace for the Discovery Channel and architecture special Bridging the World (1 x 48 minutes) by Title Role Productions for History.
Seven also picked up a number of racing series including Racing Green (8 x 26 minutes) by Von Planta Productions for BBC World News; Great Grand Prix Racing Heroes (12 x 52 minutes) and Le Mans, Battle of La Sarthe (1 x 52 minutes) both by Brunswick Films.
Elsewhere in Australia, XYZnetworks’ LifeStyle HOME channel picked up A Place in the Sun – Home or Away series five (55 x 48 minutes) by Freeform Productions for Channel 4. Nine Network Australia has licensed World’s Fattest Man (1 x 60 minutes) by Electric Sky Production for Discovery TLC/Channel 4.
Electric Sky also announced other recent deals with E! Entertainment, which has licensed more than 40 hours of fashion and design series including Big Boutique series one and two (52 x 24 minutes) and Big Boutique In the City (13 x 24 minutes) and Fashion Avenue series 1 – 3 (32 x 25 minutes) which is presented by supermodel Jodie Kidd.
In New Zealand, Sky Network acquired HD special Looking for Lowry (1 x 78 minutes / 1 x 60 minutes) by Foxtrot Films, featuring Ian McKellen. The doc celebrates British artist L.S. Lowry.
Lastly, French broadcaster Planete has picked up a package including Crime Scene Insects (1 x 47 minutes) by Crocodile Media for the Crime and Investigation Network; Partners in Crime (6 x 25 minutes) by Very! for Crime and Investigation Asia and The Second Coming (1 x 50 minutes) by UK producer Wild Dream Films for National Geographic USA. This one-hour documentary special features three men who claim to be the second coming of Christ.
Denmark terrestrial DRTV has acquired the current affairs documentary Secret Iraq (2 x 59 minutes) by Quicksilver Media for BBC2, which was recently nominated for a BAFTA. The doc gives a new look at the story of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Fox in India has picked up Mercurio’s Menu series 1 and 2 (26 x 21 minutes) by WTFN Entertainment for the Seven Network Australia. The travel and cooking series is presented by Strictly Ballroom star Paul Mercurio.
Also in India, Discovery has acquired Trishna & Krishna: Separate Lives (1 x 52 minutes) by WTFN for Seven (pictured). The documentary focuses on the separation of Siamese twins, and has also been picked up by UKTV’s channel Really.
In Australia, Seven picked up a package of programming, including green Olympic games documentary Going for Green: Britain’s 2012 Dream (1 x 48 minutes) by Darlow Smithson; HD two-parter Building Sea City (2 x 44 minutes) by Furnace for the Discovery Channel and architecture special Bridging the World (1 x 48 minutes) by Title Role Productions for History.
Seven also picked up a number of racing series including Racing Green (8 x 26 minutes) by Von Planta Productions for BBC World News; Great Grand Prix Racing Heroes (12 x 52 minutes) and Le Mans, Battle of La Sarthe (1 x 52 minutes) both by Brunswick Films.
Elsewhere in Australia, XYZnetworks’ LifeStyle HOME channel picked up A Place in the Sun – Home or Away series five (55 x 48 minutes) by Freeform Productions for Channel 4. Nine Network Australia has licensed World’s Fattest Man (1 x 60 minutes) by Electric Sky Production for Discovery TLC/Channel 4.
Electric Sky also announced other recent deals with E! Entertainment, which has licensed more than 40 hours of fashion and design series including Big Boutique series one and two (52 x 24 minutes) and Big Boutique In the City (13 x 24 minutes) and Fashion Avenue series 1 – 3 (32 x 25 minutes) which is presented by supermodel Jodie Kidd.
In New Zealand, Sky Network acquired HD special Looking for Lowry (1 x 78 minutes / 1 x 60 minutes) by Foxtrot Films, featuring Ian McKellen. The doc celebrates British artist L.S. Lowry.
Lastly, French broadcaster Planete has picked up a package including Crime Scene Insects (1 x 47 minutes) by Crocodile Media for the Crime and Investigation Network; Partners in Crime (6 x 25 minutes) by Very! for Crime and Investigation Asia and The Second Coming (1 x 50 minutes) by UK producer Wild Dream Films for National Geographic USA. This one-hour documentary special features three men who claim to be the second coming of Christ.
Lustig eyes U.S. Open
The field of nearly 60 golfers hopeful of qualifying for a chance to play in the U.S. Open was like a "Who's Who" of Pennsylvania's top professional players at Quicksilver Golf Club.
There was Oakmont Country Club pro Bob Ford. There was touring pro Bob Friend. Also in the field were current pros Mike Van Sickle and Robert Rohanna.
But when the last putt was holed on the soggy, 7,100-yard course, only four people qualified for the last step to playing in the U.S. Open — a 36-hole sectional at either Columbus, Ohio, or Rockville, Md., on June 6.
One of them is Belle Vernon Area senior Bo Lustig.
Lustig, 18, shot an even-par 72 through miserable conditions and finished in a three-way tie for the lead with Matt Hoffman and William Miller, college standouts at Illinois and Georgia Tech, respectively.
Getting the fourth spot one stroke back with a 73 was long drive competitor Justin Moose.
Dennis Munko of Leechburg and Pittsburgh's David Brown both shot 74, then survived a sudden-death playoff with Gordon Vietmeier to earn the two alternate spots for the sectional.
Lustig, the 2010 WPIAL golf champion, said the wicked weather conditions did not bother him. In fact, he said, the rain was an ally.
"The rain actually helped me," Lustig said. "I carry the ball a long way and my drives weren't hurt by the rain because of the carry. I probably was driving the ball 300-320 yards out there and was a lot longer than a lot of the other players."
"Other than 18, the casual water wasn't too bad," added Lustig, who shot a 2-under 34 on the front. "This was probably one of my best rounds under these kinds of conditions."
Miller, a senior at Georgia Tech, wasn't as long. But he was steady in getting around the front nine with a 1-under 35 and a 1-over 37 on the inward nine.
"It was a pretty solid round," said Miller, who had four birdies. "The greens didn't affect my putting and my ball striking was solid, but I struggled a little bit with my wedge."
Lustig said he was pleased with his round, noting, "I thought I played great today. I probably left a few strokes out there with putts, but I made a couple long putts to make up for that. I played solid all day."
Lustig, erased many of his mistakes with clutch putts. He rolled in a 15-footer on the 401-yard, par-4 third hole. He followed with 10- and 20-foot birdie putts on 9 and 10 before stumbling with a double-bogey on 11 and a bogey on 12.
"The conditions were rough, especially because I fly most of my tee shots," said Lustig, who will attend Robert Morris. "The ball was plugging even with my 2-iron (off 12). I kept the ball straight all day."
Lustig barely escaped a big number on the 540-yard, par-5 17th when he buried his tee shot in the deep rough. Just as Lustig was prepared to hit three off the tee, a friend spotted his ball.
"They probably should have sent me back to the tee, but my friend found it and that saved me," said Lustig, who finished second in the state championships this past season. "I probably would have made seven or eight if he hadn't found it."
Lustig said he will continue practicing to get ready for the June 6 event. In the meantime, he said he will be playing in one other tournament at Hannastown Country Club before then.
The U.S. Open will be held June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
There was Oakmont Country Club pro Bob Ford. There was touring pro Bob Friend. Also in the field were current pros Mike Van Sickle and Robert Rohanna.
But when the last putt was holed on the soggy, 7,100-yard course, only four people qualified for the last step to playing in the U.S. Open — a 36-hole sectional at either Columbus, Ohio, or Rockville, Md., on June 6.
One of them is Belle Vernon Area senior Bo Lustig.
Lustig, 18, shot an even-par 72 through miserable conditions and finished in a three-way tie for the lead with Matt Hoffman and William Miller, college standouts at Illinois and Georgia Tech, respectively.
Getting the fourth spot one stroke back with a 73 was long drive competitor Justin Moose.
Dennis Munko of Leechburg and Pittsburgh's David Brown both shot 74, then survived a sudden-death playoff with Gordon Vietmeier to earn the two alternate spots for the sectional.
Lustig, the 2010 WPIAL golf champion, said the wicked weather conditions did not bother him. In fact, he said, the rain was an ally.
"The rain actually helped me," Lustig said. "I carry the ball a long way and my drives weren't hurt by the rain because of the carry. I probably was driving the ball 300-320 yards out there and was a lot longer than a lot of the other players."
"Other than 18, the casual water wasn't too bad," added Lustig, who shot a 2-under 34 on the front. "This was probably one of my best rounds under these kinds of conditions."
Miller, a senior at Georgia Tech, wasn't as long. But he was steady in getting around the front nine with a 1-under 35 and a 1-over 37 on the inward nine.
"It was a pretty solid round," said Miller, who had four birdies. "The greens didn't affect my putting and my ball striking was solid, but I struggled a little bit with my wedge."
Lustig said he was pleased with his round, noting, "I thought I played great today. I probably left a few strokes out there with putts, but I made a couple long putts to make up for that. I played solid all day."
Lustig, erased many of his mistakes with clutch putts. He rolled in a 15-footer on the 401-yard, par-4 third hole. He followed with 10- and 20-foot birdie putts on 9 and 10 before stumbling with a double-bogey on 11 and a bogey on 12.
"The conditions were rough, especially because I fly most of my tee shots," said Lustig, who will attend Robert Morris. "The ball was plugging even with my 2-iron (off 12). I kept the ball straight all day."
Lustig barely escaped a big number on the 540-yard, par-5 17th when he buried his tee shot in the deep rough. Just as Lustig was prepared to hit three off the tee, a friend spotted his ball.
"They probably should have sent me back to the tee, but my friend found it and that saved me," said Lustig, who finished second in the state championships this past season. "I probably would have made seven or eight if he hadn't found it."
Lustig said he will continue practicing to get ready for the June 6 event. In the meantime, he said he will be playing in one other tournament at Hannastown Country Club before then.
The U.S. Open will be held June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
2011年5月15日星期日
Van al Clásico
After several hours of competition, surfers mazatlecos Marco Antonio Galindo and Antonio Vazquez got two tickets in the game due to Mazatlan Classic Quicksilver 2011, scheduled from 1 to 5 June in Playa de El Camarón.
The two young locals imposed their class on the rest of their opponents, also local, by the dispute of the two wildcards to be planted directly in the Quicksilver World.
Although the waves were not as expected in Playa de El Camarón, the nine fans to the sport did their best in each of his qualifying heats.
By order of Louis Skeen, president of the Mexican Federation of Surfing, Adrian Valenzuela, head of the State Association, and Feliciano Altamirano, municipal committee, it was decided that the selective be held in one day and not two as scheduled earlier.
A lot had to do the registration of the nine participants in the position of the three agencies for the event took place only yesterday.
Saw action in the qualifying tournament Galindo, Vasquez, Daniel Kelly, Fernando Domínguez, Phillip and Mitchell Salazar, Shane Castro, Rodrigo Arregui and Samuel Suvalsky.
After several rounds were installed in the final Galindo, Vazquez, Dominguez and Kelly.
Each one is rated for 20 minutes of competition the top of the table skills, expertise, and speed changes to make waves, among other things.
At the end Galindo, unanimously, received three first places for judges to win the seat of honor and pass the world event, along with Vazquez, who finished second with two second places and a third score of the three judges present.
The two young locals imposed their class on the rest of their opponents, also local, by the dispute of the two wildcards to be planted directly in the Quicksilver World.
Although the waves were not as expected in Playa de El Camarón, the nine fans to the sport did their best in each of his qualifying heats.
By order of Louis Skeen, president of the Mexican Federation of Surfing, Adrian Valenzuela, head of the State Association, and Feliciano Altamirano, municipal committee, it was decided that the selective be held in one day and not two as scheduled earlier.
A lot had to do the registration of the nine participants in the position of the three agencies for the event took place only yesterday.
Saw action in the qualifying tournament Galindo, Vasquez, Daniel Kelly, Fernando Domínguez, Phillip and Mitchell Salazar, Shane Castro, Rodrigo Arregui and Samuel Suvalsky.
After several rounds were installed in the final Galindo, Vazquez, Dominguez and Kelly.
Each one is rated for 20 minutes of competition the top of the table skills, expertise, and speed changes to make waves, among other things.
At the end Galindo, unanimously, received three first places for judges to win the seat of honor and pass the world event, along with Vazquez, who finished second with two second places and a third score of the three judges present.
Ski Grouse till Canada Day
The ski season seems to never end at Grouse Mountain.
Operators of the North Vancouver resort have decided to keep the ski hills open through June and into the Canada Day long weekend.
The mountain still has 600cm of snow and there has been a light amount of snow in the last few days, and there is more in the forecast.
"Our mountain operations team has a bit of a split personality this year," said Grouse Mountain general manager Michael Cameron. "All of our summer attractions are getting ready and will be on schedule to fully open May 20, while at the same time we are keeping the skiers and boarders ecstatic. We have the snow this year so we are thrilled we can continue to let everyone enjoy it."
Grouse Mountain will be temporarily shutting down alpine snow sports from May 17 to May 27 for some previously scheduled annual maintenance.
Beginning May 28, skiing and boarding will resume on Saturdays and Sundays. Hours of operation for skiing and boarding will be from 9: 30 a.m. until 5: 30 p.m.
Snow enthusiasts will have access to the Screaming Eagle Chair allowing them to enjoy the exceptional spring conditions on The Cut, the Quicksilver Terrain Park and Paper Trail.
The Snowshoe Grind will also remain open indefinitely. The Grouse Mountain Skyride remains in regular operation seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.
The latest conditions atop Grouse Mountain can be found at www.grousemountain.com or by phoning the resort's snowphone at 604-986-6262.
With the warmer weather, the Canadian Avalanche Centre is warning backcountry skiers to watch for dangerous snow conditions.
The centre issued the warning because there remains an avalanche hazard in many parts of B.C. due to a "delayed spring snowpack."
With temperatures colder than normal this spring there has been a delay in the natural process of the spring snowpack. Avalanches are being reported in many regions of the province, with some having fracture lines of 300 metres wide.
Backcountry users are being advised to travel through slide-prone areas in the early part of the day when it's cool and the snow is frozen. Users are also being advised to carry full avalanche rescue gear.
Operators of the North Vancouver resort have decided to keep the ski hills open through June and into the Canada Day long weekend.
The mountain still has 600cm of snow and there has been a light amount of snow in the last few days, and there is more in the forecast.
"Our mountain operations team has a bit of a split personality this year," said Grouse Mountain general manager Michael Cameron. "All of our summer attractions are getting ready and will be on schedule to fully open May 20, while at the same time we are keeping the skiers and boarders ecstatic. We have the snow this year so we are thrilled we can continue to let everyone enjoy it."
Grouse Mountain will be temporarily shutting down alpine snow sports from May 17 to May 27 for some previously scheduled annual maintenance.
Beginning May 28, skiing and boarding will resume on Saturdays and Sundays. Hours of operation for skiing and boarding will be from 9: 30 a.m. until 5: 30 p.m.
Snow enthusiasts will have access to the Screaming Eagle Chair allowing them to enjoy the exceptional spring conditions on The Cut, the Quicksilver Terrain Park and Paper Trail.
The Snowshoe Grind will also remain open indefinitely. The Grouse Mountain Skyride remains in regular operation seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.
The latest conditions atop Grouse Mountain can be found at www.grousemountain.com or by phoning the resort's snowphone at 604-986-6262.
With the warmer weather, the Canadian Avalanche Centre is warning backcountry skiers to watch for dangerous snow conditions.
The centre issued the warning because there remains an avalanche hazard in many parts of B.C. due to a "delayed spring snowpack."
With temperatures colder than normal this spring there has been a delay in the natural process of the spring snowpack. Avalanches are being reported in many regions of the province, with some having fracture lines of 300 metres wide.
Backcountry users are being advised to travel through slide-prone areas in the early part of the day when it's cool and the snow is frozen. Users are also being advised to carry full avalanche rescue gear.
2011年5月10日星期二
Quicksilver Gas Services LP Reports Operating Results (10-Q)
Quicksilver Gas Services LP (KGS) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2011-03-31.
Quicksilver Gas Services Lp has a market cap of $229.93 million; its shares were traded at around $0 with a P/E ratio of 37.1. The dividend yield of Quicksilver Gas Services Lp stocks is 6.9%.
Highlight of Business Operations:
General and Administrative Expense — The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to transaction costs associated with the Frontier Gas Acquisition, an increase in compensation and benefits costs, costs of a new corporate location and transition costs related to the transition services agreement with Quicksilver, which expired March 31, 2011. Transaction costs related to the Crestwood Transaction and Frontier Gas Acquisition amount to approximately $2.0 million for the 2011 period. General and administrative expense includes $0.2 million and $0.7 million of equity-based compensation expense for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities — The decrease in cash flows used in investing activities resulted from the distribution to Quicksilver of $80.3 million related to the purchase of the Alliance Midstream Assets in the prior year. For the 2011 period, we spent $13.1 million for gathering assets and processing facilities, of which $5.1 million relates to the purchase of the Las Animas acquisition.
Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities — Changes in cash flows used in financing activities during the 2011 period resulted primarily from the net borrowings under our Credit Facility of $9.3 million compared with the 2010 period net borrowings of $100.4 million. This change is largely reflective of our funding of the purchase of the Alliance Midstream Assets for $84.4 million in the 2010 period. In addition, we distributed $2.7 million more to our unitholders during the 2011 period. We have increased our quarterly distribution by 12.8% from the 2010 period to the 2011 period. In January 2010, the underwriters of our equity offering exercised their option to purchase an additional 549,200 common units, which generated proceeds of $11.1 million for which there was no comparable 2011 event.
We budgeted approximately $90 million in capital expenditures for 2011, of which approximately $30-$35 million relates to the Fort Worth Basin and approximately $45-$50 million relates to the Frontier capital program. In addition, we have budgeted approximately $8 million as maintenance capital expenditures.
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we increased gross property, plant and equipment by $6 million, including expansion capital expenditures of approximately $5.5 million, $0.4 million in maintenance capital expenditures and $0.1 million in asset retirement cost.
Credit Facility — At March 31, 2011, we had $292.8 million outstanding under our $400 million Credit Facility. Our Credit Facility permits us to expand our borrowing capacity up to $500 million subject to certain financial ratios being met and lender approval. The weighted-average interest rate as of March 31, 2011 was 3.1% on our Credit Facility. Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K contains a more complete description of our indebtedness. On April 1, 2011, we entered into a Joinder Agreement with certain lenders under our Credit Facility, which expanded our borrowing capacity to $500 million from $400 million.
Quicksilver Gas Services Lp has a market cap of $229.93 million; its shares were traded at around $0 with a P/E ratio of 37.1. The dividend yield of Quicksilver Gas Services Lp stocks is 6.9%.
Highlight of Business Operations:
General and Administrative Expense — The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to transaction costs associated with the Frontier Gas Acquisition, an increase in compensation and benefits costs, costs of a new corporate location and transition costs related to the transition services agreement with Quicksilver, which expired March 31, 2011. Transaction costs related to the Crestwood Transaction and Frontier Gas Acquisition amount to approximately $2.0 million for the 2011 period. General and administrative expense includes $0.2 million and $0.7 million of equity-based compensation expense for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities — The decrease in cash flows used in investing activities resulted from the distribution to Quicksilver of $80.3 million related to the purchase of the Alliance Midstream Assets in the prior year. For the 2011 period, we spent $13.1 million for gathering assets and processing facilities, of which $5.1 million relates to the purchase of the Las Animas acquisition.
Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities — Changes in cash flows used in financing activities during the 2011 period resulted primarily from the net borrowings under our Credit Facility of $9.3 million compared with the 2010 period net borrowings of $100.4 million. This change is largely reflective of our funding of the purchase of the Alliance Midstream Assets for $84.4 million in the 2010 period. In addition, we distributed $2.7 million more to our unitholders during the 2011 period. We have increased our quarterly distribution by 12.8% from the 2010 period to the 2011 period. In January 2010, the underwriters of our equity offering exercised their option to purchase an additional 549,200 common units, which generated proceeds of $11.1 million for which there was no comparable 2011 event.
We budgeted approximately $90 million in capital expenditures for 2011, of which approximately $30-$35 million relates to the Fort Worth Basin and approximately $45-$50 million relates to the Frontier capital program. In addition, we have budgeted approximately $8 million as maintenance capital expenditures.
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we increased gross property, plant and equipment by $6 million, including expansion capital expenditures of approximately $5.5 million, $0.4 million in maintenance capital expenditures and $0.1 million in asset retirement cost.
Credit Facility — At March 31, 2011, we had $292.8 million outstanding under our $400 million Credit Facility. Our Credit Facility permits us to expand our borrowing capacity up to $500 million subject to certain financial ratios being met and lender approval. The weighted-average interest rate as of March 31, 2011 was 3.1% on our Credit Facility. Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K contains a more complete description of our indebtedness. On April 1, 2011, we entered into a Joinder Agreement with certain lenders under our Credit Facility, which expanded our borrowing capacity to $500 million from $400 million.
Quicksilver Resources of Fort Worth lost $70.8 million in first quarter
In the same quarter a year earlier the Fort Worth-based producer earned $8.2 million, or 5 cents a share.
Quicksilver's revenue was $212.2 million in the most recent quarter, down $10 million from a year earlier. The company realized an average $5.07 per 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas, compared with $7.44 a year earlier.
The first-quarter loss included a $49.1 million write-down in the value of Canadian properties and $23.3 million in losses associated with hedging by BreitBurn Energy Partners, a California-based oil and gas partnership in which Quicksilver has a minority interest.
Excluding extraordinary items, the company earned $2.8 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with $33.8 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier.
"Our base operations continued to improve as production volumes once again set new records," Quicksilver CEO Glenn Darden said. He said Quicksilver "has assembled meaningful acreage positions in four developing oil plays and three natural gas plays" where the company "can use its expertise in unconventional resource development to cost-effectively grow our reserve base and production."
First-quarter production averaged the equivalent of 392.3 million cubic feet of natural gas daily, up 23 percent from a year earlier. The bulk was in North Texas' Barnett Shale, which averaged the equivalent of 318.6 million cubic feet a day, up 31 percent.
Quicksilver's Canadian production equaled 70.5 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, with 59.4 million cubic feet a day from the established Horseshoe Canyon coal bed methane field in Alberta and 11.1 million from its initial wells in the promising Horn River Basin in northeast British Columbia.
Production was 81 percent natural gas, 18 percent natural gas liquids and 1 percent oil.
In a conference call Monday with analysts, Quicksilver executives expressed optimism about significantly boosting oil production through substantial lease holdings in the Niobrara Shale in Colorado and the Bone Springs and Wolfcamp formations in West Texas, areas in which it plans to launch drilling projects this year.
Quicksilver's revenue was $212.2 million in the most recent quarter, down $10 million from a year earlier. The company realized an average $5.07 per 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas, compared with $7.44 a year earlier.
The first-quarter loss included a $49.1 million write-down in the value of Canadian properties and $23.3 million in losses associated with hedging by BreitBurn Energy Partners, a California-based oil and gas partnership in which Quicksilver has a minority interest.
Excluding extraordinary items, the company earned $2.8 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with $33.8 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier.
"Our base operations continued to improve as production volumes once again set new records," Quicksilver CEO Glenn Darden said. He said Quicksilver "has assembled meaningful acreage positions in four developing oil plays and three natural gas plays" where the company "can use its expertise in unconventional resource development to cost-effectively grow our reserve base and production."
First-quarter production averaged the equivalent of 392.3 million cubic feet of natural gas daily, up 23 percent from a year earlier. The bulk was in North Texas' Barnett Shale, which averaged the equivalent of 318.6 million cubic feet a day, up 31 percent.
Quicksilver's Canadian production equaled 70.5 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, with 59.4 million cubic feet a day from the established Horseshoe Canyon coal bed methane field in Alberta and 11.1 million from its initial wells in the promising Horn River Basin in northeast British Columbia.
Production was 81 percent natural gas, 18 percent natural gas liquids and 1 percent oil.
In a conference call Monday with analysts, Quicksilver executives expressed optimism about significantly boosting oil production through substantial lease holdings in the Niobrara Shale in Colorado and the Bone Springs and Wolfcamp formations in West Texas, areas in which it plans to launch drilling projects this year.
Quicksilver Resources posts 1Q loss on charges
Natural gas producer Quicksilver Resources Inc. said Monday that it fell to a loss for the first quarter as it faced weaker natural gas prices and higher costs and wrote down the value of some assets.
The Fort Worth, Texas company lost $70.8 million, or 42 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31, compared with a profit of $8.2 million, or 5 cents per share, a year ago. The latest quarter included a charge of $49.1 million related to acquisitions, exploration, and development in Canada and a $23.3 million loss on the value of contracts associated with the company's stake in BreitBurn Energy Partners LP, a California-based independent oil and gas partnership.
Adjusted to exclude all one-time gains and losses, the company earned $2.8 million, or 2 cents per share, compared with $33.8 million, or 20 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2010. Revenue slipped to $212.2 million from $222.2 million a year earlier as lower natural gas prices were only partly offset by higher sales volumes of natural gas and better prices for NGLs and crude oil.
On average, analysts were expecting a slightly higher profit of 3 cents per share on revenue of $198.1 million, according to FactSet.
Production averaged 392.3 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day during the first quarter, up 23 percent from a year ago. The increase was once again driven mostly by growth in the Barnett Shale, along with its Horn River Basin natural gas project in northeast British Columbia. Quicksilver said it has built up acreage positions in four developing oil plays and three natural gas plays, to grow its reserve base and production, and expects initial results later this year.
Quarterly average daily production volume is expected to increase approximately 8 percent sequentially in the second quarter.
Shares rose 35 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $14.22 in morning trading.
The Fort Worth, Texas company lost $70.8 million, or 42 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31, compared with a profit of $8.2 million, or 5 cents per share, a year ago. The latest quarter included a charge of $49.1 million related to acquisitions, exploration, and development in Canada and a $23.3 million loss on the value of contracts associated with the company's stake in BreitBurn Energy Partners LP, a California-based independent oil and gas partnership.
Adjusted to exclude all one-time gains and losses, the company earned $2.8 million, or 2 cents per share, compared with $33.8 million, or 20 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2010. Revenue slipped to $212.2 million from $222.2 million a year earlier as lower natural gas prices were only partly offset by higher sales volumes of natural gas and better prices for NGLs and crude oil.
On average, analysts were expecting a slightly higher profit of 3 cents per share on revenue of $198.1 million, according to FactSet.
Production averaged 392.3 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day during the first quarter, up 23 percent from a year ago. The increase was once again driven mostly by growth in the Barnett Shale, along with its Horn River Basin natural gas project in northeast British Columbia. Quicksilver said it has built up acreage positions in four developing oil plays and three natural gas plays, to grow its reserve base and production, and expects initial results later this year.
Quarterly average daily production volume is expected to increase approximately 8 percent sequentially in the second quarter.
Shares rose 35 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $14.22 in morning trading.
2011年5月8日星期日
Stageloft's 'Hamlet' plays up wit, humor
To paraphrase one of the many memorable quotes in Shakespeare's most famous play, “Ferocity, thy name is Sean Gardell!” !"
Does director Ed Cornely's latest production of “Hamlet” measure up to Stageloft's 2002 brilliant staging with Glenn MacDonald in the title role? The apples-and-oranges answer to that depends on what you're looking for. The beauty of Shakespeare is the opportunity for boundless interpretation in all his work, and is there a more complicated character in theater than the melancholy Dane? Or a more challenging role to take on?
Gardell took it on in fearless full measure and then some, giving a magnificently mercurial performance Saturday night, full of quicksilver intelligence and passion.
His Hamlet is by turns tortured, vengeful, funny, angry, playful, wickedly disingenuous, sorrowful and grieving.
Wouldn't you be slightly “mad” if your father's ghost told you that your mother plotted with your uncle to murder him? Since he didn't have the luxury of a psychiatrist to guide him through all those seething, conflicting emotions, Hamlet is forced to be his own best counsel. Lucky for us, that affords us the pleasure of listening to many glorious soliloquies— all of which Gardell delivers with astounding comprehension and slashing eloquence.
It's exhilarating to watch an actor who understands the role so completely and confidently that the invisible gears in his mind and heart manifest themselves in every vocal inflection, facial expression and physical gesture. Dare it be said that one almost feels as if he's making up his performance from moment to moment?
That's how thrivingly real Gardell's Hamlet is. He's a roller coaster of emotion, a bipolar wonder. When he isn't confiding in his best friend, Horatio (solidly enacted by Kyle Maxwell), with comradely intimacy, he's rejecting Ophelia (an admirably wayward and forlorn Briana Gardell) with the searingly delivered admonition, “Get thee to a nunnery!”
In stark contrast to a sentimental recalling of happier childhood days, holding court jester Yorick's skull in his hands, he lashes out at his mother, Queen Gertrude (Melissa Earls), with furious recrimination for her betrayal. Because Earls brings an exquisitely simmering sensuality to the role, she and Gardell intriguingly play up the Oedipal undertones. There's a subtle mix of guilt and complicity in Earls' elegantly rendered performance.
Fred D'Angelo's portrayal of Claudius is fascinatingly opaque, villainy masking itself with more than the usual stealth. D'Angelo plays the part close to the vest, rarely allowing Claudius' feelings to get the best of him, as in the play-within-a-play scene that Hamlet stages to “catch the conscience of the king.” D'Angelo's Claudius is a quiet viper of a man.
Dave O'Neil and Scott Bezoenik make a cute couple as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Cornely is to be commended for recruiting George Trevlakis, another Stageloft newcomer, for the pivotal role of Laertes. Trevlakis not only has considerable stage presence, but like Gardell, he gives one the sense that he's acting in the moment — a talent put to good use in the “to thine own self be true” father-to-son speech he gets from Ron Jolicoeur, who plays Laertes' father, Polonius. Trevlakis and Jolicoeur exploit the scene for all its potential humor — the dutiful son impatiently listening to his father's advice, thinking him finished and turning to walk away, only to be pulled back for more words of wisdom as he rolls his eyes. Some things are universal, no matter the time or place.
One of the major accomplishments of this production is how Cornely and his cast emphasize the surprising level of wit and humor that runs through “Hamlet.”
Considering the steadily rising body count and prevailing tragedy, it's nice to have a healthy, commercially motivated supply of comic relief.
As an added bonus to Gardell's indelible acting, he shows off his skills in a spectacular, harrowing demonstration of swordplay with Trevlakis in the Hamlet-Laertes showdown. It's a duel choreographed with unnerving intensity. Gardell wouldn't have it any other way.
Does director Ed Cornely's latest production of “Hamlet” measure up to Stageloft's 2002 brilliant staging with Glenn MacDonald in the title role? The apples-and-oranges answer to that depends on what you're looking for. The beauty of Shakespeare is the opportunity for boundless interpretation in all his work, and is there a more complicated character in theater than the melancholy Dane? Or a more challenging role to take on?
Gardell took it on in fearless full measure and then some, giving a magnificently mercurial performance Saturday night, full of quicksilver intelligence and passion.
His Hamlet is by turns tortured, vengeful, funny, angry, playful, wickedly disingenuous, sorrowful and grieving.
Wouldn't you be slightly “mad” if your father's ghost told you that your mother plotted with your uncle to murder him? Since he didn't have the luxury of a psychiatrist to guide him through all those seething, conflicting emotions, Hamlet is forced to be his own best counsel. Lucky for us, that affords us the pleasure of listening to many glorious soliloquies— all of which Gardell delivers with astounding comprehension and slashing eloquence.
It's exhilarating to watch an actor who understands the role so completely and confidently that the invisible gears in his mind and heart manifest themselves in every vocal inflection, facial expression and physical gesture. Dare it be said that one almost feels as if he's making up his performance from moment to moment?
That's how thrivingly real Gardell's Hamlet is. He's a roller coaster of emotion, a bipolar wonder. When he isn't confiding in his best friend, Horatio (solidly enacted by Kyle Maxwell), with comradely intimacy, he's rejecting Ophelia (an admirably wayward and forlorn Briana Gardell) with the searingly delivered admonition, “Get thee to a nunnery!”
In stark contrast to a sentimental recalling of happier childhood days, holding court jester Yorick's skull in his hands, he lashes out at his mother, Queen Gertrude (Melissa Earls), with furious recrimination for her betrayal. Because Earls brings an exquisitely simmering sensuality to the role, she and Gardell intriguingly play up the Oedipal undertones. There's a subtle mix of guilt and complicity in Earls' elegantly rendered performance.
Fred D'Angelo's portrayal of Claudius is fascinatingly opaque, villainy masking itself with more than the usual stealth. D'Angelo plays the part close to the vest, rarely allowing Claudius' feelings to get the best of him, as in the play-within-a-play scene that Hamlet stages to “catch the conscience of the king.” D'Angelo's Claudius is a quiet viper of a man.
Dave O'Neil and Scott Bezoenik make a cute couple as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Cornely is to be commended for recruiting George Trevlakis, another Stageloft newcomer, for the pivotal role of Laertes. Trevlakis not only has considerable stage presence, but like Gardell, he gives one the sense that he's acting in the moment — a talent put to good use in the “to thine own self be true” father-to-son speech he gets from Ron Jolicoeur, who plays Laertes' father, Polonius. Trevlakis and Jolicoeur exploit the scene for all its potential humor — the dutiful son impatiently listening to his father's advice, thinking him finished and turning to walk away, only to be pulled back for more words of wisdom as he rolls his eyes. Some things are universal, no matter the time or place.
One of the major accomplishments of this production is how Cornely and his cast emphasize the surprising level of wit and humor that runs through “Hamlet.”
Considering the steadily rising body count and prevailing tragedy, it's nice to have a healthy, commercially motivated supply of comic relief.
As an added bonus to Gardell's indelible acting, he shows off his skills in a spectacular, harrowing demonstration of swordplay with Trevlakis in the Hamlet-Laertes showdown. It's a duel choreographed with unnerving intensity. Gardell wouldn't have it any other way.
2011年5月5日星期四
Arts Briefs
Award winning Homer News columnist Andrea Van Dinther reads in celebration of Mother's Day at 5 p.m. Sunday at Bunnell Street Arts Center. Refreshments will be served and donations accepted. Van Dinther writes a monthly column exploring her life in Homer as a mother of three. Her reading examines those themes further. Van Dinther won third place for the Alaska Press Club's Suzan Nightingale Award for best columnist. Susan Bennett, the judge for the contest, wrote of Van Dinther's columns: "Warm, down to earth, genuine, with startling flights of lyricism, Andrea's quicksilver reactions to her world find a resonance in each reader's heart."
Birders seek young artists
The Keen Eye Birders have put out a call for artists under age 18 to enter a children's art exhibit, "Birds of the Kenai Peninsula," to show May 19-22 at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, in conjunction with the 2011 Kenai Birding Festival.
Birders seek young artists
The Keen Eye Birders have put out a call for artists under age 18 to enter a children's art exhibit, "Birds of the Kenai Peninsula," to show May 19-22 at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, in conjunction with the 2011 Kenai Birding Festival.
Bluegrass will reign at FarmPark
Music shows featuring more than 12 acts run Thursday through Saturday.
This will certainly be one to remember as it will mark the last North Carolina performance by nationally acclaimed bluegrass band Cherryholmes before the group dissolves later this year.
Cherryholmes stormed to the top of the music charts since winning the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year. Many awards have followed.
“I know that will be a big draw,” said Karen Loflin Miller, general manager of the FarmPark. “At the time we were booking them, we didn't know they would announce they would be disbanding.”
Miller's family has owned the FarmPark for over 40 years offering family entertainment like the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival, Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion, FarmPark Bluegrass Festival and the Christmas Country Train.
The festival actually began for the diehards Wednesday evening with a barbecued chicken meal and open stage featuring regional and local acts performing.
The national acts begin performing at noon Thursday with Donna Hughes. Don't fret if you missed it. She will perform again at 5 p.m.
Other performers Thursday are: Josh Williams Band at 1 and 6 p.m., Marshville Brigade at 2 and 7 p.m., Russell Moore and IIIrd Time Out at 3 and 8 p.m. and Dailey & Vincent at 9 p.m. only for a 90-minute show.
Friday performances are Darrin & Brook Aldridge at noon and 6 p.m., Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers at 1 and 7 p.m., Cherryholmes at 2 and 8 p.m., Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at 3 and 9 p.m. and Goldwing Express at 4 and 10 p.m.
On Saturday, Little Roy & Lizzie will perform at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sierra Hull at 12:20 and 6:50 p.m., New Found Road at 1:10 and 7:40 p.m., Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at 2 and 8:30 p.m., Gibson Brothers at 3:10 and 9:40 p.m. and Joe Diffie and New Found Road at 4 and 10:30 p.m.
Tickets at the gate are $85 for three days, $65 for two days or $35 for one day. Children 14 or younger enter free with a parent. Children 15 to 17 will pay half the admission price if with a parent.
Anyone can take advantage of a special after 5 p.m. price of $20 on any festival day, Miller said.
Miller said having the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival for 31 years is special because the event is very family-oriented and quality entertainment.
“It's unique in this county because we have a place that can host national acts and it be a good, family, traditional event,” Miller said. “We are family owned and try to supply family entertainment.”
Besides the nonstop bluegrass performances, the event will also feature a free children's play area with inflatables and pony rides from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Also, train rides on the park's full-size steam train will be given for $5 for adults and $4 for children before the entertainment begins from 11 a.m. to noon and during the supper break from 5 to 6 p.m. daily on the 11⁄2-mile track. Preschool-age children can ride for free.
This will certainly be one to remember as it will mark the last North Carolina performance by nationally acclaimed bluegrass band Cherryholmes before the group dissolves later this year.
Cherryholmes stormed to the top of the music charts since winning the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year. Many awards have followed.
“I know that will be a big draw,” said Karen Loflin Miller, general manager of the FarmPark. “At the time we were booking them, we didn't know they would announce they would be disbanding.”
Miller's family has owned the FarmPark for over 40 years offering family entertainment like the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival, Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion, FarmPark Bluegrass Festival and the Christmas Country Train.
The festival actually began for the diehards Wednesday evening with a barbecued chicken meal and open stage featuring regional and local acts performing.
The national acts begin performing at noon Thursday with Donna Hughes. Don't fret if you missed it. She will perform again at 5 p.m.
Other performers Thursday are: Josh Williams Band at 1 and 6 p.m., Marshville Brigade at 2 and 7 p.m., Russell Moore and IIIrd Time Out at 3 and 8 p.m. and Dailey & Vincent at 9 p.m. only for a 90-minute show.
Friday performances are Darrin & Brook Aldridge at noon and 6 p.m., Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers at 1 and 7 p.m., Cherryholmes at 2 and 8 p.m., Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at 3 and 9 p.m. and Goldwing Express at 4 and 10 p.m.
On Saturday, Little Roy & Lizzie will perform at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sierra Hull at 12:20 and 6:50 p.m., New Found Road at 1:10 and 7:40 p.m., Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at 2 and 8:30 p.m., Gibson Brothers at 3:10 and 9:40 p.m. and Joe Diffie and New Found Road at 4 and 10:30 p.m.
Tickets at the gate are $85 for three days, $65 for two days or $35 for one day. Children 14 or younger enter free with a parent. Children 15 to 17 will pay half the admission price if with a parent.
Anyone can take advantage of a special after 5 p.m. price of $20 on any festival day, Miller said.
Miller said having the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival for 31 years is special because the event is very family-oriented and quality entertainment.
“It's unique in this county because we have a place that can host national acts and it be a good, family, traditional event,” Miller said. “We are family owned and try to supply family entertainment.”
Besides the nonstop bluegrass performances, the event will also feature a free children's play area with inflatables and pony rides from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Also, train rides on the park's full-size steam train will be given for $5 for adults and $4 for children before the entertainment begins from 11 a.m. to noon and during the supper break from 5 to 6 p.m. daily on the 11⁄2-mile track. Preschool-age children can ride for free.
2011年5月2日星期一
10 worst car names--plus six more
In the car name game, there are winners and there are losers. Our friends at Hagerty Insurance recently posted their vote for the 10 worst car names. We took it upon ourselves to critique that list and add six of our own contenders. Got an entry of your own? Drop it in the Comments section.
1. Mohs Ostentatienne Opera Sedan: The MOOS, as it should have been called, could win for one of the ugliest cars on the list, too. The Opera Sedan could only be entered from a rear hatch, leaving the side doors as mainly a conversation piece.
2. Zimmer Quicksilver: Although quicksilver is an antiquated word for mercury, which causes cancer and a host of other ailments, we think it's actually not a bad name for a car. It definitely sounds fast, and shiny. Of course, saying "I just bought a silver Zimmer Quicksilver" doesn't really roll off the tongue.
3. Studebaker Dictator: Fortunately for Studebaker, the Dictator was produced in the 1920s and '30s, before the word had such a negative connotation. Unfortunately, it's now the answer to the question WWFD--what would Fidel drive?
4. Geely Beauty Leopard: Because of a fuzzy translation--and the words "beauty" and "leopard" just not meshing well--the compact Geely's name is slightly more impressive than the car. Other choices were the Geely Happy Fun Time and the Geely Amazing Fast Car.
5. Mitsubishi MAUS (Mini Active Urban Sandal): Introduced at the Tokyo motor show in 1995, the MAUS really wasn't heard from after that. Whether it conjures images of hippies in hemp shoes or pantry rodents, it's all bad for Mitsubishi.
6. Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard: This is the actual name of an SUV that debuted in Japan in 1991. At least if it was the Mysterious Utility Vehicle, it could have been a MUV, which would have been a little funny. As it stands, it seems to be another wobbly translation to an Americanized name.
7. Honda That's: Honda's rationale for the name was that it wanted people to see the car and exclaim, "That's it!" It was probably more like, "That's um . . . what?" The That's was, until 2007, a 0.65-liter Kei car shaped like the Nissan Cube.
8. Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear: This is not a piece of steel to fix your broken rocket ship: "We need a new Delica Space Gear or we won't be able to get through the atmosphere." Or new sneakers that will let you jump into orbit--"Just got a pair of the new Space Gears; cost me 300 bucks." It's just another in a long line of names like Starion, Cordia and Tredia.
9. Datsun Fairlady: We really don't mind the name Fairlady. The 50 years of performance have blinded us to the absurdity of the fact than Nissan actually named the car after the musical My Fair Lady.
10. Mazda Bongo Friendee: Another name that could double for a Japanese TV show, the Bongo Friendee was a minivan you could stuff full of . . . Friendees.
Here are five also-rans from AutoWeek that we think should have made the top 10:
1. Pontiac Aztek: Because no list of ugly cars or worst car names would be authentic without it. Name your car for a long-dead civilization, misspell that name and sell it with a tent. Marketing gold.
2. Audi E-tron Concept: The Audi has nothing to be ashamed of with the looks of its electric E-tron. It looks like a smaller, battery-powered R8. Unfortunately, after the car debuted, the French translation became clear. Étron roughly means "a lump of excrement."
3. Dodge Diplomat: The Diplomat is different from the dictator for several reasons. First, a dictator might have actually driven a Dictator. A diplomat has never driven a Dodge Diplomat. Also, there will be no talk of diplomatic immunity in a Dodge; any crime you commit will be yours and yours alone, including driving a Diplomat. The only other interesting thing about the hapless Dippy was that it was used for police cars for a short time.
4. Volugrafo Bimbo: Designer Claudio Belmondo named the Bimbo after the Italian word for baby. The 125-cc vehicle has quite a different connotation in the States--not to mention that the last thing you'll be picking up in the near-toy car is people of the opposite sex.
5. Ford Aspire: The last thing the renamed Festiva will do is get better. The uninspired hatchback was a joint project by Ford and Kia. It lived in Ford's stable for a few years as the Aspire and as the Kia Avella before being dropped. It did have the lofty aspirations to be the first car in its class to feature dual front airbags and optional four-wheel antilock brakes, and for that we thank you.
6. Anything alphanumeric: R8. X5. CTS-V. Some of our favorite rides, but the marketing teams couldn't even muster the creativity to give them proper names. It's the automotive equivalent of a forfeit.
1. Mohs Ostentatienne Opera Sedan: The MOOS, as it should have been called, could win for one of the ugliest cars on the list, too. The Opera Sedan could only be entered from a rear hatch, leaving the side doors as mainly a conversation piece.
2. Zimmer Quicksilver: Although quicksilver is an antiquated word for mercury, which causes cancer and a host of other ailments, we think it's actually not a bad name for a car. It definitely sounds fast, and shiny. Of course, saying "I just bought a silver Zimmer Quicksilver" doesn't really roll off the tongue.
3. Studebaker Dictator: Fortunately for Studebaker, the Dictator was produced in the 1920s and '30s, before the word had such a negative connotation. Unfortunately, it's now the answer to the question WWFD--what would Fidel drive?
4. Geely Beauty Leopard: Because of a fuzzy translation--and the words "beauty" and "leopard" just not meshing well--the compact Geely's name is slightly more impressive than the car. Other choices were the Geely Happy Fun Time and the Geely Amazing Fast Car.
5. Mitsubishi MAUS (Mini Active Urban Sandal): Introduced at the Tokyo motor show in 1995, the MAUS really wasn't heard from after that. Whether it conjures images of hippies in hemp shoes or pantry rodents, it's all bad for Mitsubishi.
6. Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard: This is the actual name of an SUV that debuted in Japan in 1991. At least if it was the Mysterious Utility Vehicle, it could have been a MUV, which would have been a little funny. As it stands, it seems to be another wobbly translation to an Americanized name.
7. Honda That's: Honda's rationale for the name was that it wanted people to see the car and exclaim, "That's it!" It was probably more like, "That's um . . . what?" The That's was, until 2007, a 0.65-liter Kei car shaped like the Nissan Cube.
8. Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear: This is not a piece of steel to fix your broken rocket ship: "We need a new Delica Space Gear or we won't be able to get through the atmosphere." Or new sneakers that will let you jump into orbit--"Just got a pair of the new Space Gears; cost me 300 bucks." It's just another in a long line of names like Starion, Cordia and Tredia.
9. Datsun Fairlady: We really don't mind the name Fairlady. The 50 years of performance have blinded us to the absurdity of the fact than Nissan actually named the car after the musical My Fair Lady.
10. Mazda Bongo Friendee: Another name that could double for a Japanese TV show, the Bongo Friendee was a minivan you could stuff full of . . . Friendees.
Here are five also-rans from AutoWeek that we think should have made the top 10:
1. Pontiac Aztek: Because no list of ugly cars or worst car names would be authentic without it. Name your car for a long-dead civilization, misspell that name and sell it with a tent. Marketing gold.
2. Audi E-tron Concept: The Audi has nothing to be ashamed of with the looks of its electric E-tron. It looks like a smaller, battery-powered R8. Unfortunately, after the car debuted, the French translation became clear. Étron roughly means "a lump of excrement."
3. Dodge Diplomat: The Diplomat is different from the dictator for several reasons. First, a dictator might have actually driven a Dictator. A diplomat has never driven a Dodge Diplomat. Also, there will be no talk of diplomatic immunity in a Dodge; any crime you commit will be yours and yours alone, including driving a Diplomat. The only other interesting thing about the hapless Dippy was that it was used for police cars for a short time.
4. Volugrafo Bimbo: Designer Claudio Belmondo named the Bimbo after the Italian word for baby. The 125-cc vehicle has quite a different connotation in the States--not to mention that the last thing you'll be picking up in the near-toy car is people of the opposite sex.
5. Ford Aspire: The last thing the renamed Festiva will do is get better. The uninspired hatchback was a joint project by Ford and Kia. It lived in Ford's stable for a few years as the Aspire and as the Kia Avella before being dropped. It did have the lofty aspirations to be the first car in its class to feature dual front airbags and optional four-wheel antilock brakes, and for that we thank you.
6. Anything alphanumeric: R8. X5. CTS-V. Some of our favorite rides, but the marketing teams couldn't even muster the creativity to give them proper names. It's the automotive equivalent of a forfeit.
Tingling emotion as newlyweds change face of monarchy
A JOYOUS Prince William has a wife - and Britain a new princess - after a spectacular service that entwined the most imposing ceremonial traditions of the 1000-year-old English monarchy with the quicksilver immediacy of the digital age.
Westminster Abbey, Gothic and ever mysterious, played witness to the young couple who took their vows before 1900 guests - among them kings, prelates and prime ministers. About 1 million well-wishers listened in silence and later cheered on the streets and parks of London while another 2 billion the world over watched the first royal wedding to be streamed live on YouTube.
The Abbey was full of guests 90 minutes before the wedding began, the women's hats and fascinators competing with the lush green-and-white floral display.
The bride, on the arm of her father Michael Middleton, arrived at the Great West Door on schedule at 11am. She wore a diamond-studded Cartier tiara lent to her by the Queen, and was sheathed in an ivory satin Sarah Burton full-length gown with a comparatively modest three-metre train.
Ms Middleton was accompanied down the aisle by the choral masterpiece composed for the coronation of King Edward VII, Prince William's great-great-great-grandfather.
As the choir's voices soared into the arches of the ancient abbey - the resting place of no fewer than 17 monarchs - spines tingled with the theatre of the moment. The collision of youth with lineage, continuity and tradition seemed briefly to reduce the distance between ancient histories and the here and now.
Westminster Abbey, Gothic and ever mysterious, played witness to the young couple who took their vows before 1900 guests - among them kings, prelates and prime ministers. About 1 million well-wishers listened in silence and later cheered on the streets and parks of London while another 2 billion the world over watched the first royal wedding to be streamed live on YouTube.
The Abbey was full of guests 90 minutes before the wedding began, the women's hats and fascinators competing with the lush green-and-white floral display.
The bride, on the arm of her father Michael Middleton, arrived at the Great West Door on schedule at 11am. She wore a diamond-studded Cartier tiara lent to her by the Queen, and was sheathed in an ivory satin Sarah Burton full-length gown with a comparatively modest three-metre train.
Ms Middleton was accompanied down the aisle by the choral masterpiece composed for the coronation of King Edward VII, Prince William's great-great-great-grandfather.
As the choir's voices soared into the arches of the ancient abbey - the resting place of no fewer than 17 monarchs - spines tingled with the theatre of the moment. The collision of youth with lineage, continuity and tradition seemed briefly to reduce the distance between ancient histories and the here and now.
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