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This article is about the Australian department store chain. For other uses, see Myer (disambiguation).
Myer Holdings Pty Ltd
Public (ASXMYR)
Industry Retail
Founded 1900 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Headquarters Docklands, Melbourne, VIC,
Number of locations
Key people
Sidney Myer (Founder)
Paul McClintock (Chairman)
Richard Umbers (CEO & Managing Director)
Jennifer Hawkins & Kris Smith (Ambassadors)
Products Womenswear, Menswear, Miss Shop (Youth), Childrenswear, Intimate Apparel, Beauty, Fragrance and Cosmetics, Homewares, Electrical Goods, Toys, Footwear, Handbags and Accessories and General Merchandise
  • Increase A$3.3 billion (2016)
  • Decrease A$113.5 million (2016)
  • Increase A$60.5 million (2016)
    (after implementation costs)
Number of employees
MYER's national flagship store in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall
Former MYER Emporium, Lonsdale Street facade (1920s-2010)
Myer Lonsdale St, including Lonsdale House (former head office building until 1980s & again between 2006 and 2010). Built in 1934, Myer successfully applied to demolish Lonsdale House in 2009 to widen Caledonian Lane for delivery trucks despite the buildings being in a City of Melbourne Heritage Overlay, retaining just the facades of two Victorian buildings.

Myer (stylised MYER), is an up market Australian department store chain trading in all Australian states and one of Australia's two self-governing territories.[1] Myer retails a broad range of products across women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and travel goods. Myer's primary department store rival is David Jones.

Australian model, and Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins, is the long-serving 'face of Myer'. The department store also engages a number of other personalities as 'fashion ambassadors'.

Myer's has long been Australia's largest department store by revenue and store count.

Early history[edit]

The Myer retail group was started by Sidney Myer, who migrated from Russia to Melbourne in 1899 with very little money and little knowledge of English to join his elder brother, Elcon Myer (1875–1938), who had left Russia two years earlier. They opened the first Myer store in Bendigo, Victoria in 1900. After prospering, the second store opened in 1908.

In 1911, Myer purchased the business of Wright and Neil, Drapers, in Bourke Street, Melbourne, near the General Post Office, and a new building was completed and opened in 1914. From this base in Melbourne, Myer built Australia's largest chain of department stores, and the only chain with stores in all Australian states.

In 1918, the Doveton woollen mills at Ballarat were purchased, and in 1921 a new building fronting Post Office Place was added at Melbourne and in the following years Myer purchased adjoining properties, eventually building a store known as the Myer Emporium.[2] Myer expanded to Lonsdale Street in the 1920s.[3]

The Myer Emporium grew with the purchase of the old established businesses of Robertson & Moffat and Stephens & Sons. In 1925, Myer Emporium Ltd was listed on the Melbourne Stock Exchange and the new building on the Lonsdale Street frontage was begun. In Adelaide, in 1925, the company Myer SA Stores Ltd acquired a controlling interest in Marshall's department store and its shares continued to be listed on the Adelaide Stock Exchange until Myer Emporium Ltd made a successful takeover bid in 1966. A separate building in Queensberry Street, Melbourne, was put up in 1928, and the Collins Street businesses of T. Webb and Sons, china importers, and W. H. Rocke and Company, house furnishers, were bought and transferred to the Bourke-street building. By 1934, the public company had a paid-up capital of nearly £2,500,000. The company was then employing 5300 people with medical and nursing aid for the staff, and rest homes for them at the seaside and in the Dandenong Ranges.

On the death of Sidney Myer in 1934, leadership of the company fell to Elcon Myer, and on the death of Elcon in 1938, leadership went to their nephew Norman Myer. Norman Myer led the company until his death in 1956.[4]

Myer grew by developing its own stores (becoming one of Australia's major property owners and developers in the process) and acquiring other department stores, including Adelaide's Marshall's, Western Australia's Boans in 1984, Queensland's Barry and Roberts and in New South Wales they acquired Western Stores, Farmers & Co in 1961, Mortimer's (Gosford) in 1968 and Grace Brothers in 1983.

Target, Grace Bros and merger with GJ Coles[edit]

In 1968, Myer acquired Geelong's Lindsay's stores,[5] renaming the business Target following the purchase of name and logo from US Target Corporation and positioning it as a discount department store chain.[6]

In 1983, Grace Bros. bought Myer NSW, and then in July of that year Myer acquired Grace Bros. Holdings Ltd.[7] The Myer store on Market and Pitt Sts in Sydney became the main Grace Bros. store.

In 1984, Myer acquired Boans Ltd,[8] the dominant Western Australian department store chain and embarked on a major redevelopment of its Perth City Store.

In 1985 the Myer Emporium (and Target, its discount department store) merged with GJ Coles & Coy forming Coles Myer Limited, then Australia's largest retailer.[9] Myer remained a distinct entity within the new corporate structure until it was sold in 2006.

In 2000, Coles Myer CEO Dennis Eck, faced with lower sales and profits from Myer and Grace Bros. stores took the department stores down market, reducing service levels, increasing stock volumes on the selling floor and introducing product to appeal to younger consumers. In doing so, he ended up replicating the approach of another of Coles Myer's chains, Target. The resulting effect included reduced customer visits and reduced units sold per transaction. In 2001, Coles Myer set about to reposition the store to appeal to customers lost in the down market experiment.[10]

In 2003, one of the key changes made by the recently appointed Managing Director, Dawn Robertson, was to classify each Myer Grace Bros. store using a grid system referencing the socio-economic status of the area, its turnover and growth potential. Larger city-centre stores would rank at the top of the grid and smaller regional stores would rank at the bottom of the grid. The grid would affect the merchandise allocated to each store, rather than selling the same range of product in downtown Melbourne as in regional Queensland.[11]

On 13 February 2004, Grace Bros. stores were rebranded as Myer.[12]

Myer Bondi, as seen from Westfield

In April 2004, Myer re-opened its Bondi Junction, New South Wales, store which replaced a former Grace Bros. store closed in April 2002 to make way for the redevelopment of Westfield Bondi Junction. It was the first Myer store to open in several years and incorporated new features such as white glossy floor tiles, extensive use of glass, and greater use of mannequins.

Under managing director Dawn Robertson, Myer began to target the Sydney market more strongly, to challenge the position of chief rival David Jones particularly in ladies fashion. In February 2004, Myer held its Sydney fashion parade the day before David Jones. On 9 August 2004, Myer staged a fashion parade open-air in Martin Place, gaining widespread attention, and again it was held the day before David Jones' show.[13]

Divestment by Coles Myer[edit]

On 17 August 2005, Coles announced that within 12 months, it would decide to demerge, divest or retain Myer. Thirteen expressions of interest were made for all or part of Myer.[14]

On 13 March 2006, Coles Myer announced it would sell Myer to a consortium controlled by US private equity group Newbridge Capital, part of the Texas Pacific Group. The consortium also included the Myer family, who held a 5% stake. The new owners, who also secured the freehold on the flagship Bourke Street store, indicated that they would not radically change the business, at least in the short term, and had no plans to redevelop the Bourke Street site as this would impact too heavily on profitability during the construction period. Texas Pacific also have interests in UK department store Debenhams and high-end US retailer Neiman Marcus. This sale was completed for A$1.4 bn on 2 June 2006.[15]

Private Ownership[edit]

After being divested from Coles Myer (later Coles Group, then purchased by Wesfarmers), new owners Newbridge Capital and the Myer family appointed chairman Bill Wavish and chief executive Bernie Brookes, both formerly of Woolworths. Rupert Myer joined the board representing the Myer family. Head office for Myer, moved from Coles Myer head office in Hawthorn East back to Lonsdale House (Lonsdale St store) in Melbourne's CBD.

Flyer for the History Making Clearance distributed to customers

Beginning July 2006, Myer held a "History Making Clearance" to clear out excess stock deemed either unprofitable or unpopular, and reduced inventories from $1.5 billion to $750 million, and all store-specific warehouses were closed.[16]

Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins began appearing in campaigns for Myer in 2006 and in January 2007 signed a $4 million deal to be the "face" of Myer for four years.[17]

Myer withdrew from the Coles Group part-owned flybuys rewards program on 1 February 2007.

In March 2007, Myer announced first half earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $123 million, an increase of 84% on the previous year. This represents a profit margin of 6.8%, compared with 3.9% in the previous corresponding period. According to chairman Bill Wavish, all Myer stores were now profitable, and all stores were more profitable than in the previous year.[18] Myer acquired four Harris Scarfe stores (including regaining a store it divested to Harris Scarfe in 1998) and took a minority shareholding in Harris Scarfe.

The Mymerch system, developed with IBM and Oracle, cost $99 million and was implemented early April 2007. Among other functions, Mymerch increased Myer's ability to carry out statistical analysis of customer habits giving it greater capacity to forecast sales trends and target promotions.[19]

Myer's profit turnaround was tempered in April 2007 by the loss of key staff. Bob Boutin, apparel director, Mark Bingemann, women's wear business manager and Jasmine Bingemann, footwear and accessories manager all resigned within a short period.[20] This followed reports of management dissatisfaction over the direction of the fashion business signified by the defection of designers such as Alex Perry and Tigerlily to David Jones.[21]

In June 2007, a consortium comprising the Myer family, Colonial First State and GIC Real Estate (Singapore) announced it would be purchasing Myer's Melbourne CBD store. The Bourke Street part of the store was planned to be redeveloped by 2009, with Myer taking a 60-year lease,[22] but the development was not completed until March 2011.[23] The Lonsdale Street part of the store closed in 2009.

In September 2009, following rumours from the previous month,[24] Myer indicated it would float the business at an indicative share price range of $3.90 to $4.90 when it listed on 2 November, giving it a market capitalisation between $2.3 billion and $2.8 billion.[25] The final issue price was $4.10,[26] but by August 2011 the shares had fallen to $2.09.[27]

In 2010, Myer's re-developed Bourke St mall store opened, becoming the company's new 'flagship' store. Head office moved to a new site in Docklands. The historic Lonsdale St store was officially closed.

In September 2015, as part of an outcome from the 2015 strategic review, a $221mn capital raising was announced. The resulting dilution of shareholder value in conjunction with little support for the actions in the strategic plan saw the share price decline to $0.91.

Proposed Merger with David Jones Limited[edit]

In January 2014, it was revealed by Fairfax Media that Myer had made a bid to purchase and merge with department store rival David Jones.[28][29] The merger would have kept both chains operating independently on the surface, combining back-office and supply chain operations saving both companies an estimated 5 billion dollars per year. The 3 billion dollar non-binding indicative proposal was made to the David Jones board of directors in late October 2013, however was rejected by the board in November 2013. In February 2014, Myer reapproached David Jones, offering to purchase David Jones at market value (estimated to be 1.7 billion). David Jones had not yet commented on the new proposal, when food and clothing retailer, Woolworths South Africa offered to purchase David Jones, by way of a scheme implementation deed, in which shareholders of David Jones would be offered $4-per-share.[30][31]

In response to the Woolworths deal, Myer withdrew their proposal to David Jones.

Slipping Employment Conditions & Resignation of CEO Bernie Brookes[edit]

Leading up to, and during the same time period as the proposed merger with David Jones, slow economic growth in the company resulted in significant cut backs at Myer's Head Office base of operations. Staff of approximately 800, were sliced down to approximately 700, in order to consolidate the business. Further reductions in team member investment also resulted in a freeze on all employee salary increases of Myer Head Office for over two years, including entry-level employees, whose salaries slipped well behind industry average. The business went through a period where staff who resigned were not being replaced.

Moreover, Bernie Brookes, whose strategy was to clean up the business and develop efficiency strategies all across the business, announced his departure in March 2015.[32]

Stores and services[edit]

"MYER one" rewards program[edit]

The MYER one program was introduced in August 2004 after Coles Myer discontinued its shareholder discount card the previous month.

It initially credited 1-point per $1 spent up to $2500 per annum; 1.5 points per $1 spent from $2500 to $5000 per annum; and 2 points per $1 spent for $5000+ per annum. Each 1,250 points accrued would earn the customer a $25 gift card, provided $1,500 was spent each year. With the relaunch of the Myer store card in November 2006, this changed to awards 2 points per $1 spent, regardless of annual spend, with 2,000 points required to receive a $20 gift card. Members who pay with a Myer store card receive an additional point per dollar spent. Customers also earn 1-point for every $1 spent outside of Myer when using the Myer Visa card. MYER one members are sent a quarterly update, in addition to special member offers, including discounts, a free copy of the "Myer Emporium" magazine, product samples and "gift with purchase" offers.

Myer revamped its MYER one program by introducing a graduated rewards system with four levels including Standard, Silver, Gold and Platinum . Each reward level is dependent on customer spend and confers exclusive benefits. The Platinum membership is by invitation only and is for Myer's highest spending customers and was added to the program in May 2013.

In September 2010, Myer stated there were 3.7 million members and five million cards in circulation. Of these, over 20,000 had Gold status, spending over $7,500 per annum. Sales attributed to members accounted for 68% of total Myer sales. Gift cards valued at $51 million had been provided to members as rewards in the previous year.[33] As of 2013, the Myer One program has more than 5 million members.

Myer store card and branded credit cards[edit]

Myer originally had a store card managed by Australian Retail Financial Network (ARFN), sold in 1995 to GE Money.[34] This was superseded by a Coles Myer Card which could be used at all Coles Myer stores. This was augmented by the Coles Myer Source MasterCard, also managed by GE Money.

Following its sale, Myer relaunched the Myer card in October 2006 in conjunction with GE Money. According to GE Money, 125,000 accounts had been opened by August 2007.[35]

In November 2007, Myer launched a Visa credit card, also in conjunction with GE Money. Myer stated it was prepared to wear losses from the card for two years and that its objective was to drive increased loyalty from the card (which links with the MYER One card) rather than being profitable in its own right. It expected to sign 100,000 customers to the Visa card by November 2008.[36] Myer reported it had signed 15,000 customers to its Visa card in the first five weeks from launch, half of whom were converts from the existing store card.[37]

In 2007, the Coles Myer Card and Coles Myer Source MasterCard were renamed Coles Group Card and Coles Group Source MasterCard respectively and as such were no longer affiliated with Myer.

The former Myer logo, featuring the "is my store" slogan.

"Find wonderful"[edit]

In late 2014, after more than a decade with their "is my store" slogan, Myer dropped their iconic slogan and introduced "find wonderful". The move brought about an overall rebranding of store marketing, involving a large advertising campaign starring Australian actress, Tilda Cobham-Hervey - across cinema, television, online and radio. The campaign was launched to refresh the Myer brand and to reposition the store's focus on younger, more contemporary, consumers.

The former Myer logo following the discontinuation of the "is my store" slogan.

Daniel Bracken, Myer Chief Merchandise and Marketing Officer, states the "...campaign is designed to appeal to our growing contemporary customer segment, as well as emotionally engaging with all our existing customers."; while CEO,

Bernie Brookes, claims "It is a way of showing our customers we understand what they are looking for, and sharing our love of shopping and the great moment of joy that comes from finding just what you want."

The rebrand also focused heavily on the Myer online website, with a refreshed home page, and overall style template for images and print.

The rebrand has also introduced a new logo for the department store, now featuring a thick underline of the traditional Myer font. Media and print for the store now heavily features the colour persimmon.

Store locations[edit]

Myer has stores in all six Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory. The store locations are a mixture of main city centre stores, suburban shopping centres, and high street and shopping centres in regional Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania.

The national flagship store is located in the Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne and received a $300 million redevelopment which officially opened in April 2011.[38]

In 2006, Myer announced the opening of several new stores, starting with four former Harris Scarfe stores (two in South Australia and two in Victoria).[16] Further to this, in 2008 in Sydney, Myer opened two new stores in Sydney at Eastgardens, New South Wales and Bankstown, New South Wales replacing the former David Jones Limited stores, while David Jones replaced the Myer store in Burwood, and stated it would open a store in suburban Townsville centre in early 2009. This project was delayed due to problems with the acquisition of land; however, in late October 2012 a Myer store opened in that centre.[39]

In 2007 Chairman Bill Wavish stated Myer was willing to build new stores if necessary, and that new locations could be in any city or town with a population over 40,000 people.[40]

MYER Sydney City Pitt Street entrance

On 22 September 2007, Myer's Liverpool Street building in Hobart was destroyed by a fire that is believed to have started in the cosmetic section. Estimates placed the damage costs at $50 million for the building alone with many millions more for all the stock which was destroyed. The building including its historic façade was subsequently demolished. The adjacent Murray Street building suffered substantial smoke and water damage. Within a day of the fire, Myer issued a statement saying it would be rebuilding in Hobart. They reopened the Murray Street section of their store on 16 November – 44 days after the fire.[41][42] Myer also stated that they will build a new store that may take up to 3 years to build and will add 2,000 m² of space. Whilst that development is taking place in the damaged part of the store, Myer will be using a site in MacQuarie Street for departments unable to fit into the Murray Street building, in a Harvey Norman style "home store". As of July 2015, construction of the new store on Liverpool Street is well underway and is set to open in late November 2015.[43]

Myer opened a store in the redeveloped Top Ryde shopping centre in northern Sydney in 2010. There was (previously an A.J. Benjamin's store) Grace Bros. store at this centre from 1964 until closure in early 1985.[44] The Myer store closed in July 2015.

In April 2008, Myer announced that it would open 3 new stores in Queensland. The first two stores were planned to open in 2010 at Westfield Garden City – Upper Mount Gravatt, Robina Town Centre with the third store planned to open in Mackay in 2011. Myer also announced that it would open a store at East Maitland in 2011 when the redevelopment was completed, later delayed until 2013.[45]

In July 2008, Myer stated it planned to expand into the Middle East and open its first overseas store in Dubai,[46] but by March 2009 had put such plans on hold.[47]

In September 2009, it was announced that three more stores would open at Tuggerah on the New South Wales Central Coast, Woden in Canberra and Robina on the Gold Coast, Queensland. In total, at the time of launching its prospectus, Myer stated it had signed conditional lease agreements for 12 locations to open progressively from 2010 to 2013[45] with a plan to reach 80 stores by 2014.[48] Myer has since announced that not all of the proposed store openings will occur. The proposed Myer store at East Maitland, west of Newcastle, New South Wales, will no longer open, nor will the store at Woden. It has been rumoured that stores at Tuggerah and Coomera, Queensland will no longer proceed, both of these locations are already served by nearby Myer stores.

In February 2013 Myer closed the Elizabeth, South Australia store.

In January 2015 Myer closed its Hurstville store.

Myer operated its own direct mail order company, Myer Direct, from 1989 until its sale to EziBuy[49] in January 2002.

Myer places stores into one of four clusters, which reflects the store specific shopper demographics. The cluster determines the merchandise mix, brand assortment, services offered, and capital expenditure. The sales performance expectations are also based on which cluster a store is placed. As of September 2015 the clusters (store numbers) were Flagship (7), Premium (16), Mainstream (27), and Community (17). At the time of the announcement it was stated ca. 20% of footprint rationalisation could occur.

In February 2016, Myer temporarily closed its Warringah Mall store for redevelopment, reopening in time for Christmas 2016.[50]

In 2017, Myer closed its Wollongong and Orange stores. Myer was one of Orange's main clothing shops for 60 years.[51]

Online shopping[edit]

In October 2007, Myer launched an online gift store, including electronic goods, perfumes, miss shop clothing and gift cards.[52]

In 2011, Myer launched an online shopping site called (which is now closed) based in Hong Kong for people in Australia.[53]

Myer will continue to operate based in Melbourne where sales tax applies.

  • Womenswear has always been a prominent component of Myer and is often the largest department in the store. Myer carries various mass market labels in womenswear - with national, exclusive and international brands; and a selection of designer clothing generally available only in flagship locations per region.[citation needed] Petite (short) and plus sized clothing are also becoming a more considerable focus of the department store's specialty womenswear offering - with a number of new contemporary labels being signed to the range. As of 2015, Myer has begun to adopt a more 'concession'-style fashion business, with multiple brands signing 'store-in-store' arrangements. Unlike menswear, women's accessories - such as shoes, bags, millinery and underwear, tend to be located in separate adjacent specialty departments.
  • Cosmetics, Fragrances & Personal Care also make up a significant amount of Myer store floor space. Such departments are often presented in 'concession'-style arrangements, in which beauty and fragrance houses - such as Armani, Chanel, MAC, Benefit and Dior operate 'store-in-store' concepts. These departments also offer a range of exclusive brands, and generally house premium labels that can be purchased only at Myer and David Jones stores, or their respective brand outlets. Cosmetics continues to be a growing department for Myer, and the 'concession' concept is serving as inspiration for the chain's other departments.
  • Menswear is usually located on a separate floor to womenswear, with Myer stocking a range of mid-to-upmarket labels. Following the 2015 rebranding and the 'New Myer' strategy, a new emphasis has been placed on developing the menswear offering to provide a more contemporary, premium offer. Recently, menswear has overtaken womenswear as a high-growth category; and Myer have supplemented this by introducing "The Myer Man" - a range of social media outlets for men to discover Myer fashions and lifestyle. Unlike womenswear, the department has areas devoted to accessories, business shirts, suits, shoes and underwear within the overall menswear space. Designer and concession brands are available in selected stores, as is formal hire.[citation needed]
  • Fashion Accessories houses women's handbags, scarves, hats, belts, purses/wallets, jewellery, hosiery, socks; women's & men's watches and sunglasses.
  • Intimate Apparel departments sell women's underwear, lingerie, sleepwear and gowns. Myer operate a lingerie-fitting school to provide staff with training in professionally fitting women's bras and underwear; and appointments for such services can be booked online, over the phone or in-store by customers.
  • Electrical consists of two sections: Small Appliances and Home Entertainment. The Small Appliances departments carries kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, electrical personal care and many other household electrical goods. The Home Entertainment department carries personal computers, TVs, digital cameras and other audio visual equipment.
  • Homewares includes cookware, kitchenware, tabletop (dinnerware, glassware & cutlery), manchester and napery. Usually extremely busy during sales,[citation needed] this department also contains the Gift Registry for weddings and special occasions.
  • Miss Shop and Men's Youth departments are targeted for shoppers ages from mid-teens to early thirties.[citation needed] Such areas of the store are complemented by a difference in music, design and visual merchandising. At the Melbourne City store, both these departments are branded as "The Basement" and are much larger than in other stores, at almost 6,000m².[54] The staff are dressed casually to reflect the youth target market, and their ages are often reflective of the target customer. There are also a small number of concession stores within this area. "The Basement" concept has been slowly phased out following Myer's rebranding - and a more premium, contemporary approach has been promoted.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

  1. ^
  2. ^ "Myer's place in history". Bendigo Advertiser. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Myer's Food Hall's bitter end". Herald-Sun, Melbourne. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Myer, Sir Norman (1897–1956)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Finance and Business". The Age. 26 October 1968.
  6. ^ "Myer's enter discount war". The Age, Melbourne. 25 November 1969.
  7. ^ "Myer wins Grace Bros". The Age, Melbourne. 16 June 1983.
  8. ^ "Myer offer gets blessing from Boans". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 February 1984.
  9. ^ "Myer family clears way for Coles $1.12bn bid". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 August 1985.
  10. ^ "Eck's Challenge at Coles Myer". MMR. 16 April 2001. Archived from the original on 12 January 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  11. ^ "The Dawn of a new era". Melbourne: The Age. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  12. ^ "Name falls from Grace as Myer becomes my store". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  13. ^ "'Store wars' launch summer fashion". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 August 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  14. ^ "$800m Myer sale season tipped". The Age, Melbourne. 17 August 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  15. ^ "Myer sale finalised". ABC News online. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  16. ^ a b "Brookes on Myer renovation". Inside Business. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  17. ^ "Golden girls battle for city's heart and cash". The Sun Herald. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  18. ^ Gluyas, Richard (27 March 2007). "Myer's makeover reaps $1bn". The Australian. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  19. ^ "Australian IT – Myer weaned from Coles IT". The Australian. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  20. ^ "Myer loses top layer of fashion expertise". Brisbane Times. 29 April 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  21. ^ Flirting, After; Fashion, High (2 August 2007). "Dressing down at Myer". The Australian. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  22. ^ Butler, Ben (22 June 2007). "Family ties bind at Myer". Herald Sun, Melbourne. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  23. ^ "Myer Bourke Street reopening". Daily Telegraph. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  24. ^ "TPG eyes IPO for Australia's Myer department store group". The-Financial-Times, Australia. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  25. ^ Greenblat, Eli (6 October 2009). "Demand for Myer stock tops $2b". Melbourne: Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  26. ^ Gluyas, Richard (24 August 2011). "Tax Office wins legal backing to pursue TPG over Myer float millions". The Australian. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  27. ^ "ASX:MYR". Google Finance. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  28. ^ "Myer and David Jones merger: cautious approval but doubts remain". The-Sydney-Morning-Herald, Australia. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  29. ^ "Myer confirms David Jones merger approach" (PDF). ASX-Media-Release, Australia. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  30. ^
  31. ^
  32. ^ "'They made him go to his own funeral'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  33. ^ "ASX and media release – Myer Full Year Results for 2010". Myer. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  34. ^ Kohler, Alan (25 October 2003). "General Electric gets the sparks flying". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  35. ^ "GE grows with Myer Black". The Sheet. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
  36. ^ "Myer uses Visa card to generate loyalty". Australian Financial Review. 12 November 2007: 16.
  37. ^ "Retailers take on the banks...again". Australian Financial Review. 30 January 2008: 1, 61.
  38. ^
  39. ^
  40. ^ Dunlevy, Maurice (29 March 2007). "Myer into building mode with 17 new stores planned". The Australian.
  41. ^ "Historic Hobart Myer destroyed by fire". Melbourne Herald Sun. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  42. ^ "Myer handed back part of store after fire". The Age, Melbourne. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  43. ^
  44. ^ "Myer to open new Sydney store". 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  45. ^ a b "Myer prospectus" (PDF). ASX. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  46. ^ "Shopping giant spreads wings". Sydney Morning Herald.
  47. ^ "Myer's Dubai move put on hold". 24 March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  48. ^ Greenblat, Eli (28 September 2009). "Prospectus out: Myer prices shares". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  49. ^
  50. ^ Swain, Sarah (27 October 2016). "New Myer will be opened by Jennifer Hawkins, as Warringah Mall work nears completion". Manly Daily. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  51. ^ Janda, Michael (20 May 2016). "Myer to close Wollongong, Orange department stores, 130 jobs to go". ABC News. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  52. ^ "Myer Gifts Online". Myer. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  53. ^ [1]
  54. ^ Retail Environment Design: Myer Basement

External links[edit]

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Seikphyu Township

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Seikphyu Township
Seikphyu Township is located in Myanmar
Seikphyu Township
Seikphyu Township
Coordinates: 21°4′N 94°31′E / 21.067°N 94.517°E / 21.067; 94.517Coordinates: 21°4′N 94°31′E / 21.067°N 94.517°E / 21.067; 94.517
Country  Burma
Division Magway Division
District Pakokku
Capital Seikphyu
Elevation 90 m (300 ft)
Population (October 2010)[1] 132,254
Time zone MST (UTC+6:30)

Seikphyu Township [2] is a township of Pakokku District in Magway Division of Burma (Myanmar). The principal town and administrative seat is Seikphyu. The township has its southeastern border along the Irrawaddy where its principal town, Seikphyu, is a port. The township lies between 20° 51' and 21° 15' north latitude and 94° 09' and 94° 48' east longitude.The Yaw River forms the township's eastern boundary.[3] It is one of the areas destroyed by Cyclone Giri on 23 October 2010.[4][5][6]

Seikphyu Township is bordered[7] by:

Agriculture is the major economy of the township. Onion from Seikphyu Township is famous in onion market of Myanmar. Onion is grown along the sandbank of Yaw River from December to April.

Secret projects[edit]

The State Peace and Development Council is constructing 2 secret nuclear suspected military projects on the northern side of Seikphyu Township along with other secret projects in Mindon, Padan, Pwintbyu, Sidoktaya, Salin, Pakkoku, Laung Shay (in Saw Township) and Saw Townships.[8] Actually, the sites in Seikphyu Township are 2 factories for the production of military weapons and are not the nuclear projects.

  1. ^ "Cyclone GIRI - "Who is Assessing Where"" Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU), 10 October 2010
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Seik Phyu Township - Magway Division" map from Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU)
  4. ^ Reliefweb Updates, Myanmar: Flash floods Hit Pakokku
  5. ^ Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU), UNDP, Map of Cyclone Giri
  6. ^ DREF Operation Update, Myanmar Cyclone Giri
  7. ^ "Myanmar States/Divisions & Townships Overview Map" Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU)
  8. ^ The Irrawaddy, Junta Constructing Tunnel in Magway

External links[edit]


text:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the original 1988 game. For the 2010 remake, see Splatterhouse (2010 video game).
Splatterhouse arcadeflyer.png
Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s) Namco Splatter Team
Namco Networks America (iOS)
Publisher(s) Namco
Namco Networks America (iOS)
Director(s) Shigeru Yokoyama
Producer(s) Kazumi Mizuno
Haya Paya
Designer(s) Akira Usukura
Programmer(s) PSQGL
Artist(s) M. Ishida
Composer(s) Katsuro Tajima
Yoshinori Kawamoto
Platform(s) Arcade
PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16
FM Towns
Microsoft Windows
Release date(s) Arcade
  • JP: November 1988
  • NA: 1989
  • EU: January 1989[1]
PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16
  • JP: April 6, 1990
  • NA: April 21, 1990
FM Towns
  • JP: 1992
  • JP: 2000
  • JP: 2003 (MediaKite)
  • WW: November 18, 2010
Genre(s) Beat 'em up
Mode(s) Up to 2 players (alternating turns)
Cabinet Upright, cabaret, and cocktail
Arcade system Namco System 1
CPU 2x Motorola M6809 @ 2.048 MHz, 1x Motorola M6809 @ 1.536 MHz, 1x Hitachi HD63701 @ 1.536 MHz
Sound 1x Yamaha YM2151 @ 3.57958 MHz, 1x Namco CUS30 @ 96 kHz, 1x DAC
Display Horizontal orientation, raster, 288 x 224 resolution, 5121 palette colors

Splatterhouse (スプラッターハウス Supurattāhausu?) is a 1988 beat 'em up slasher arcade game developed and published by Namco. It is also subsequently the title of the entire series of games released in home console and personal computer formats.

Due to its violent nature as well as some questionable enemies, the TurboGrafx-16 port of Splatterhouse had a parental advisory warning printed on the front of the box that read, "The horrifying theme of this game may be inappropriate for young children... and cowards."

Splatterhouse is a sidescrolling beat 'em up video game in which the player controls Rick, a parapsychology student who is trapped inside West Mansion. After his resurrection by the Terror Mask, Rick makes his way through the mansion, fighting off hordes of creatures in a vain attempt to save his girlfriend Jennifer from a grisly fate.[2] Players of this game will also recognize a number of western horror film influences, such as Friday the 13th and Evil Dead II.

Similar to many sidescrolling beat 'em up games, Rick can only move in a two-dimensional environment. The playing field does not feature a three-dimensional area, a feature that was added later in the series with Splatterhouse 3. He has the ability to jump and can punch and kick. Rick also has a Special Attack, where he will perform a dropkick that sends him skidding along the ground, damaging any enemies he hits. Rick can also perform a low kick, low punch, and jumping attacks, as well as pick up and use various weapons placed in the levels.

All of the levels consist of walking left to right, with occasional auto-scrolling segments. However, alternative pathways through sections of the house are possible by falling down through holes or jumping up onto ladders. In this way, branching gameplay is possible, if only prevalent in the middle levels. Levels culminate in boss fights that take place in a single room. Unlike traditional side-scrolling fighters, boss fights have varying objectives and styles. Unlike most arcade games in the genre, Splatterhouse sends players back to checkpoints after losing lives or reaching game over, discouraging "credit feeding" as a method of overcoming the various challenges.

Two college students, Rick Taylor and Jennifer Willis, take refuge from a storm in West Mansion, a local landmark known as "Splatterhouse" for the rumors of hideous experiments purportedly conducted there by Dr. West, a renowned and missing parapsychologist. As they enter the mansion and the door shuts behind them, Jennifer screams.[2]

Rick awakens in a dungeon under the mansion having been resurrected thanks to the influence of the "Terror Mask", or in some versions, the "Hell Mask", a Mayan sacrificial artifact from West's house which is capable of sentient thought. The mask attaches itself to Rick, fusing with his body and transforming him into a monster with superhuman strength. With the mask's encouragement, Rick goes on a rampage through the dungeon and the mansion grounds, killing hordes of monsters.[2] Inside the mansion, Rick finds Jennifer, prone on a couch and surrounded by a throng of creatures that retreat upon his arrival. After their departure, Jennifer transforms into a giant, fanged monster that attempts to kill Rick while begging him for help. Rick is forced to kill Jennifer, who transforms back to normal and thanks him before she dies. Infuriated, Rick tracks the remaining monsters to a giant, bloody hole in the mansion's floor. Upon entering it, Rick discovers that the mansion itself is alive. He follows a bloody hallway to the house's "womb", which produces fetus-like monsters that attack him.[3] Rick destroys the womb, which causes the house to burst into flames as it "dies".

Escaping the burning mansion, Rick comes across a grave marker. The Terror Mask releases energy into the grave, reviving a giant monster named "Hell Chaos" that claws its way up from the earth and attempts to kill Rick. Rick destroys the creature, which unleashes a tormented ghost that dissipates into a series of bright lights. As the lights vanish, the mask shatters, turning Rick back to normal, and he flees as the house burns to the ground and the credits roll. However, after he leaves and the credits end, the Terror Mask reassembles itself and laughs evilly, staying there for 45 seconds, with the word "END" appearing on the bottom right corner of the screen.

Rick wields a weapon in the 2D game environment (PC Engine)

Splatterhouse was released in various home version ports on the TurboGrafx-16, FM Towns and PC. In addition to loss of graphical detail and removal of some sounds (standard for a port to less powerful hardware), the following edits were made to both the Japanese PC-Engine and North American TurboGrafx-16 versions of the game:

  • The arcade version opens with an animation of Rick and Jennifer running through the storm and into the mansion, followed by an exterior shot of the mansion and the sound of Jennifer screaming. The console version opens simply with the exterior of the mansion, and no sound effects.
  • The weapon in Stage 1 and Stage 2 is changed from a meat cleaver to a wooden stick.
  • The overall violence and gore is toned down; enemies bleed less and the sound effects are less gruesome.
  • The weapon for the Stage 4 boss is changed from an axe to a golden meat cleaver, the only cleaver in the game.
  • The crawling hand in Stage 5 no longer flashes the middle finger.
  • The death of the womb boss of Stage 6 is changed from a graphic spilling of embryonic fluids into a generic fiery explosion.
  • The final boss uses different attacks.
  • The end cut scene is changed from the original arcade ending, in which the mask breaks from Rick's face, followed by a shot of him walking away from the burning mansion and an additional cut scene showing the mask reform and laugh. The ending in the TurboGrafx-16 version only shows the mask explode, followed by a picture of West Mansion burning while the credits roll, and finally a large red and orange "End" is displayed.

The following edits are exclusive to the North American TurboGrafx-16 version:

  • The Terror Mask is changed from a white hockey mask to a red mask with black accents. This is to keep Rick from looking too much like Jason Voorhees. The mask became more skull-like in later games.[3]
  • The cathedral arches are removed from the Stage 4 boss chamber background and the altar is removed from the following cut-scene.
  • The inverted cross boss of Stage 4 is replaced with a severed head.
  • The final boss' grave is changed from a wooden cross to a tombstone.

The TG-16 version was released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on March 16, 2007 and in North America three days later on March 19, 2007. The arcade version was released on May 26, 2009 on the Japanese Virtual Console. There are currently no plans for a North American release of the arcade version.[4]

The FM Towns version, ported by Ving Co. and released only in Japan in 1992, is a pixel-perfect rendition of the original arcade, with no substantial changes apart from a new menu interface in the title screen. There was also an LCD handheld version released, Splatter House, but it is not a port of either games. It is considered to be an original Splatterhouse game in and of itself, though many elements in it are similar to the original game.[3]

It was then ported to mobile phones and iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad to coincide with the release of the 2010 remake . The only change was in the Java-based mobile phone version, where Rick's mask is modeled after the one present in the 2010 remake. This change is not present in iOS version of the game. However, the iOS version includes a "Splatter Rush" mode where enemies continuously spawn from both ends of a wide screen.

The original arcade game was included as an unlockable extra in the 2010 remake.[5]

Aggregate score
Aggregator Score
Metacritic iOS: 49 / 100[6]
Review scores
Publication Score
AllGame PCE: 4/5 stars[7]
CVG ARC: Positive[1]
PCE: 92%[8]
GameSpot VC: 4.7 / 10[9]
GameSpy PCE: 8 / 10[10]
IGN VC: 6.5 / 10[2]
iOS: 4.5 / 10[11]
Nintendo Life VC: 8/10 stars[12]

Following its European release at the ATEI show in January 1989, Computer and Video Games gave the arcade version a positive review.[1]

Wii Virtual Console release[edit]

IGN's Lucas M. Thomas said of Splatterhouse that "Putting aside the aesthetic design and just looking at the game on the merits of its mechanics, Splatterhouse is lacking."[2] He complained about the limited variety of attacks, one way scrolling, and censorship present in the North American console version. Thomas did, however, compliment the game's horror themes and music, noting that the console graphics, despite being "toned down", are a "good representation of the arcade original".[2] Frank Provo of GameSpot had similar complaints about Splatterhouse. "Ultimately, the problem with Splatterhouse is that there's not much to it. There are only seven levels, and you'll finish each one in just a few minutes", he wrote, going on to explain that the enemies all follow easily memorized patterns, making the game very simple to play.[9] In particular, Provo criticized the fact that the Virtual Console version was the censored console version, noting how he missed the meat cleavers and extra violence of the arcade game.[9]

  1. ^ a b c "Splatterhouse arcade game review". Solvalou.com. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lucas M. Thomas (2007). "Splatterhouse (1990) IGN review". Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  3. ^ a b c Rob Strangman (2007). "Splatterhouse at Hardcore Gaming 101". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  4. ^ Namco Banda (2009). "Namco Bandai Games: VC". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  5. ^ Pigna, Kris. "New Splatterhouse to Include Original Splatterhouse Trilogy". 1up.com. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  6. ^ "Splatterhouse for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  7. ^ House, Michael L. (2014-12-11). "Splatterhouse - Overview - allgame". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  8. ^ "CVG Magazine Issue 107". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  9. ^ a b c Frank Provo (2007). "Splatterhouse (TG16) review". Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  10. ^ "Classic Review Archive - Splatterhouse". Web.archive.org. 2008-04-08. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  11. ^ Levi Buchanan (November 18, 2010). "Splatterhouse iPhone Review". IGN. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  12. ^ Calvert, Darren (2007-03-17). "Splatterhouse Review - TG-16". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2016-03-11.

World Record's Rudy J. Ferretti set an official score 708,000 points On the Arcade Game, both Guinness Accredited and here is a link to the official post and videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y09sN0xhfvc http://www.twingalaxies.com/scores.php?platformid=2&keyword=Splatterhouse

Rudy J. Ferretti also holds the World Record on the Turbo Grafx 16 console Version of this game 782,700 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJeCVIb3sTk http://www.twingalaxies.com/scores.php?platformid=36&keyword=Splatterhouse

External links[edit]


text:
Vagos Motorcycle Club

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Vagos MC
Motto We Give What We Get
Founded 1965
Type Outlaw motorcycle club
Region Southwestern United States, northern Mexico, Canada and Australia [1] and Europe[2]
Membership 4000 full-patch members[3][4]
Abbreviation 22,[5] Green Nation [6]

The Vagos Motorcycle Club, also known as the Green Nation, is a one percenter motorcycle club and alleged organized crime syndicate formed in 1965 in the unincorporated community of San Bernardino, California.[5][1] The club's insignia is Loki, the Norse god of mischief, riding a motorcycle. Members typically wear green.[7]

The Vagos have approximately 4,000 members among 200 chapters[citation needed] located in the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Missouri, Several Canadian chapters Peterborough, Ontario,Chapters throughout Europe and ten chapters located in Mexico (Baja California, Jalisco and Mexico City).[3][8] Two hundred members are in Inland Empire (California), where the club was started in the late 1960s.[3][9]

In 2013, the Vagos expanded to Sweden and Australia.

During World War II, many military service men rode motorcycles and grew attached to them, and could not leave them after the war. The motorcycle enthusiasts formed clubs around the time hot rods were in style. In 1948, the Hells Angels formed a motorcycle club; their first chapter was in San Bernardino (Berdoo), California. They shared the streets with another motorcycle club named the Psychos (Redlands). In 1965, a feud occurred among a few of the Psychos members; they left the group and created their own club, which is now known as Vagos MC. Their colors pay homage to their founders' Mexican heritage. The club expanded to the Riverside, California and the California high desert areas, and later to Mexico and Europe.[11]

A member from the Berdoo chapter (slang for San Bernardino) created a patch while he was in prison featuring Loki, the Norse god of mischief. Vago is Spanish for vagabond or wanderer. Their denim jackets sport their top rockers with their club name integrated into the middle patch,[12] and bottom rockers with their chapter's region or state, such as "SO. CAL",[12] "California", or "Arizona".[13] The middle patch "depicts a muscle-bound caricature of the Norse god of mischief, Loki, set against a green field".[13] Loki is colored red on top of a bike with his hands holding up their club name.[14] Other patches the club wears are the number 22 (the 22nd letter of the alphabet, V, for Vagos), and a Loki head. An MF patch (meaning motorcycle family), is received by a member after a probationary period is over and the member is validated as a member of the Vagos family on the front.[11] Some members have been seen with a green swastika and an "SS" symbol on their jackets.

Vagos Membership primarily consists of Caucasian and Hispanic males.[11][15]

Official chapters[edit]

The Vagos have Chapters all throughout Southern California. They have Chapters in the High Desert (California),[3]Inland Empire (California) which includes both Riverside County, California and San Bernardino County, California where they started, Los Angeles and San Diego.[16] They also have chapters in the states of Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah as well as Memphis Tennessee and Chattanooga Tennessee and Kingston Tennessee also the country of Mexico, Mexicali BC Mother Chapter, Tijuana, Tecate Centro, Rumorosa and Rosarito beach.[17] Europe,[2] Canada and Australia.

Vagos MC criminal allegations and incidents[edit]

Hemet traps[edit]

On March 17, 2010, amid allegations that Vagos members had fabricated home-made booby traps to maim and kill police detectives in Hemet, California,[18] police arrested at least 30 Vagos members in a multi-state raid of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California, involving 400 police officers from 60 law enforcement agencies. The police raided 73 locations in Southern California, seizing weapons and drugs, and discovered a meth lab.[3][19] The raids were the result of several incidents involving booby traps where the club was implicated:

  • On December 31, 2009, the unmarked headquarters of the Hemet Gang Task Force was filled with natural gas, which had been routed into the building through a hole drilled in the roof. Two task force members had detected the gas and backed away without triggering the explosion. The day before that attack, a Vagos funeral was held at a church next to the office.
  • On February 23, 2010, a task force member opened a security gate outside the building, causing a homemade zip gun attached to the gate to fire, nearly hitting his head.
  • On March 5, a task force member who had parked an unmarked police car in front of a convenience store in Hemet found a homemade pipe bomb hidden underneath the vehicle.

California and federal authorities announced a $200,000 reward for information on these cases.[20] California Attorney General Jerry Brown called the attempts "urban terrorism."[21] Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said that Vagos members posed an "extreme threat" to law enforcement officers and were notorious for trying to "infiltrate" public safety agencies, by obtaining sworn or non-sworn positions and working undercover to obstruct and dismantle police investigations.[3][22]

In March 2011, the club sued Riverside County law enforcement for defamation and damages caused by implicating the group to the attacks on the Hemet police officers.[23] On August 1, Riverside County settled the lawsuit, and cleared the club of any involvement with the attacks on the officers. Meanwhile, they had arrested two men that had no ties to the club. The club's attorney, Joseph Yanny, stated he was pleased with the result: "This was never about money. What was important was that the club clear its name and take this shadow off them."[24][25]

Nugget Casino shooting[edit]

On September 23, 2011, Vagos members were involved in a shooting at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks, Nevada, where Jeffrey Pettigrew, the president of the San Jose, California chapter of Hells Angels was killed, and Vagos members were wounded. The next day, a Vagos member was wounded at a rally by a drive-by shooter. On September 29, police arrested Ernesto Manuel Gonzales, a Vagos member, at the University of California, San Francisco, for killing Pettigrew.[26][27] On December 7, police announced that they had arrested Gary Rudnick, the vice-president of the Los Angeles chapter of Vagos, for instigating the fight that led to the shooting.[28] Rudnick later pleaded guilty to second degree murder in a bargaining agreement.[29] The trial for the two Vagos members, as well as a Hells Angels member who fired at a crowd, was held on October 29, 2012.[30]

Other incidents[edit]

In 1974, four Vagos members were convicted and sentenced to death for murdering University of New Mexico student William Velten. The four, Richard Greer, Ronald Keine, Clarence Smith and Thomas Gladish, spent 17 months on death row, but during the appeals process, Kerry Rodney Lee confessed to the murder.[31]

In October 1998, police arrested more than a dozen Vagos members for kidnapping, drug and weapons crimes, following a two-year undercover investigation. In September 2004, state police arrested 26 members and seized more than $125,000 in cash, drugs and guns. On March 9, 2006, law enforcement conducted "Operation 22 Green", which involved 700 personnel from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local police and sheriff's departments. The operation resulted in the arrest of 25 Vagos members and associates for violating firearms and drugs policies. It was "one of the largest coordinated law enforcement probes ever conducted in Southern California". The investigators seized 95 illegal firearms, illegal drugs, $6,000 cash, and two stolen motorcycles.[32] An ATF agent called the group a "ruthless criminal bike gang" that deals in "guns, drugs, and death."[19]

In December 2007, police arrested six Vagos members for "charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery, coercion and second-degree kidnapping" that occurred in August 2007. The victim had announced he was leaving the club, but suffered a beating at the Custom Motorcycle auto shop in Grants Pass, Oregon, and was then taken to his home where they attempted to rob him they failed.[33] In February 2010, the ex-president of the chapter involved was acquitted of all charges relating to robbery assault and kidnapping.[citation needed]

Three Vagos members were arrested on June 9 and 10, 2009, and charged with sexually assaulting a woman in San Jose, California.[34] Police investigators told the San Jose Mercury News that the victim met the three men in a nightclub on May 4, 2009, and that they had offered to drive her home, but instead they took her to the Vagos clubhouse on Kings Row where she was beaten and sexually assaulted.[35][36]

On August 13, 2011 law enforcement authorities reported that the Vagos Motorcycle Club and the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club were involved in a shootout which shut down traffic on I-44 near Waynesville, Missouri. The local 9-1-1 center received about 20 calls, which reported that approximately 20 men were fighting, and that shots had been fired.[37]

  1. ^ a b "Top 10 Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs". Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  2. ^ a b "vagos mc Scandinavia chapters". Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Asbury, John (2010-03-18). "30 arrested in Vagos club crackdown". The Press-Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2010-03-22.
  4. ^ "Appendix B. National-Level Street, Prison, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Profiles". Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  5. ^ a b "History Channel Gangland Season 6 Episode 1 "Snitch Slaughter"". Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  6. ^ "". Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  7. ^ "Vagos MC Meeting In Grants Pass". 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  8. ^ "Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in the United States". Archived from the original on 2009-07-23.
  9. ^ Watkins, Thomas (2010-03-18). "Calif. bikers eyed in police building booby traps". Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  10. ^ Bussewitz, Cathy (2010-06-14). "Calif. bill would target spouses who hire hit men". Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
  11. ^ a b c "Snitch Slaughter". Gangland. Series 6. Episode 1. AETN Television Networks. 2009-11-05. 12 minutes in. History Channel. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  12. ^ a b Williams, John. "Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs" (PDF). Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  13. ^ a b Outhier, Craig (October 2011). "Hells Angels Shootout". Phoenix Magazine: 108.
  14. ^ "Vagos IE Website".
  15. ^ Escalante, Frank. "OutLaw Empires". Outlaw Empires. Studio Lambert and sutterink. Six within 12 min into Episode. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  16. ^ WIllion, Phil. (2011-10-07). "10 Vagos motorcycle gang members arrested in Southland raids". L.A. Home - Los Angeles Times collection- Drug Trafficing. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-11-12. Law enforcement authorities Thursday executed 52 search warrants in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Imperial counties. Arrest warrants also were issued for 12 high-ranking Vagos members, 10 of whom were in custody by late morning. Two associates also were arrested.
  17. ^ "Outlaw Biker gangs". Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  18. ^ Adams, Guy (20 March 2010). "California declares war on biker gang accused of 'booby trap' plot". The Independent.
  19. ^ a b Farrell, Michael B. (2010-03-18). "Gang crackdown: Vagos Motorcycle Club targeted in police raids". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29.
  20. ^ Grinberg, Emanuella. "Booby traps targeting California police lead to $200,000 reward offer". CNN.
  21. ^ Memmott, Mark (2010-03-19). "$200,000 Reward For Those Who Have Tried To Kill Calif. Anti-Gang Police". Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  22. ^ "$200,000 reward announced for information leading to arrest in anti-gang unit attacks". Temecula: The Valley News. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  23. ^ Lopez, Robert J.; Willon, Phil (2011-03-19). "Vagos Motorcycle Club sues Riverside County law enforcement agencies alleging defamation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  24. ^ Lopez, Robert J. (2011-08-01). "Riverside County settles bikers' defamation lawsuit". L.A. Now - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  25. ^ "Motorcycle club gets an apology". Inland News Today. August 4, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011. County officials are offering an apology to the Vagos Motorcycle Club for statements made last year that its members may have been involved in attacks on law enforcement officers in the Hemet area. In a statement Monday from Arthur Cunningham, legal counsel for the county, it was found the club was not involved in the attacks.
  26. ^ Sonner, Scott (2011-09-29). "Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez Accused Of Killing Hells Angels Gang Leader Jeffrey 'Jethro' Pettigrew". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  27. ^ "Suspect In Murder Of San Jose Hells Angels President Arrested At UCSF". CBS San Francisco. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  28. ^ "Third Suspect in Casino Hells Angels Killing Back in Reno". Associated Press. 2011-12-07.
  29. ^ "Vagos pleads to 2nd degree murder in Nevada shootout". Associated Press. 2012-03-02.
  30. ^ Sonner, Scott (2012-12-09). "Oct. 29 trial for fatal shootout at Nevada casino". Deseret News. Associated Press.
  31. ^ "Infamous Crimes in New Mexico History". Alberquerque Journal. 1999-09-19. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  32. ^ Risling, Greg (2006-03-10). "Vagos Motorcycle Club targeted in Southern California crime sweep". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18.
  33. ^ "Six Vagos bike club members charged in beating, kidnapping". 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  34. ^ "San Jose Police Report Arrest of Eduardo Larios, Jose Portillo-Garcia and Edwin Portillo-Garcia for Alleged Sexual Assault". Fugitive Watch. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  35. ^ Webby, Sean (2009-06-23). "San Jose Police Seek Possible Rape Victims of Vagos Motorcycle Club Members". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on 2009-06-23.
  36. ^ "SJ Gang Members Arrested In Alleged Rape". 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  37. ^ Maurina, Darrell Todd (2011-08-15). "Biker brawl on Interstate 44 involved national gangs, Pulaski sheriff says". Pulaski County Daily News. Retrieved 2011-10-28.  Vagos set up Canadian chapter Deeth I, Sarah (2013-10-30). "Vagos set up shop in Peterborough". The Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 2013-05-27.

External links[edit]


text:
Scream 2

From Wikiquote
Jump to: navigation, search

Scream 2 is a 1997 film, the second part of the Scream trilogy. As with the other films in the trilogy, Scream 2 combines straight-forward scares with dialogue that satirizes conventions of slasher films, in this case slasher film sequels.

Directed by Wes Craven. Written by Kevin Williamson.

  • Phone Voice: Hello, Sidney. Remember me?
  • Phone Voice: [to Randy referring to Dewey and Gale] I'm not interrupting anything, am I? You three look deep in thought. Have you ever felt a knife cut through human flesh and scrape the bone beneath?

  • Mickey Alteri: You should really deal with your trust issues, Sid. I mean, poor Derek, he's completely innocent, and such a nice boy too. He's bright, funny, handsome, he has a great singing voice, and he was gonna be a doctor. This is just the kind of guy you'd love to bring home to mom... if... you had... a mom.
  • Sidney Prescott: FUCK YOU!!!

  • Joel: I was just reading in your book about your last cameraman, the guy got gutted.
  • Gale: First of all: he wasn't gutted. I made it up. His throat was slashed.
  • Joel: Gutted, slashed, the point is the guy ain't in the union no more...Brothers don't last long in situations like this.

Debbie Salt: Excuse me, Ms. Weathers? Um? Could I have a minute?
Gale Weathers: No.
Debbie Salt: Just one second. I-I know you probably get this all the time, but I just wanted to say I am such a big fan of your work. I just finished your book. I-I couldn't put it down. Insightful, probing... I just really, really loved your book.
Gale Weathers: Thank you.
Debbie Salt: Sure
Gale Weathers: Thanks. [she is about to leave, but Debbie follows her]
Debbie Salt: I'm a writer myself. I write for the local paper, for the Post Telegram. I'm Debbie Salt. [shakes Gale's hand] I took your seminar in Chicago last year. I was the one in the front row asking all the questions.
Gale Weathers: Right. I thought you looked familiar.
Debbie Salt: Oh, thank you. Um, can't wait to see the movie. You know, you must be getting quite a lot of flak on that, right? I mean, with all the violence-in-cinema issues. What is your position going to be?
Gale Weathers: No comment.
[Gale leaves, as Debbie keeps following her]
Debbie Salt: Miss Weathers, please... I-I would... It would be such an honour for me if I could just get a quote from you for my story.--- [Gale stops]
Gale Weathers: Okay. Begin quote:
Debbie Salt: Great.
Gale Weathers: [quoting] "Your flattering remarks are both desperate and obvious."
[Gale walks away, leaving Debbie speechless]

Gale Weathers: Hello, Sidney.
[Sidney turns to Gale with Joel who began to record their interview]
Gale Weathers: How are you?
Sidney Prescott: Hi... What do you want, Gale?
Gale Weathers: Well, I was hoping I might get just a few words with you.
[Cotton appears]
Sidney Prescott: Cotton.
Cotton Weary: Hi, Sidney.
[Gale starts her report, while Joel is recording]
Gale Weathers: [reporting] "Here we are at Windsor College, where Sidney Prescott has just been reunited with Cotton Weary for the first time, since she wrongly accused him of murdering her mother."---
Sidney Prescott: [interrupts her interview] What the hell are you doing?
Gale Weathers: We want to know how you feel? [continues her interview] Tell us everything that's happened, looking back on the last two years?
[Gale aims her microphone to Cotton, who began to talk to Sidney]
Cotton Weary: Uh Sidney, I'd just like to say that I forgive and forget. And just like you, I'd like to get back on with my own life.
Gale Weathers: [reporting] Do you have any comments?
Sidney Prescott: You... bitch!--- [lunging at Gale]
Gale Weathers: Ah-ah.
Derek Feldman: [stops Sidney and calms her down] Whoa, Hey, hey, hey hey, Deep breaths, Lot of deep breaths.
[Sidney began to leave]
Gale Weathers: Oh Sidney, share with us, please!--- [Sidney turns around and slaps Gale in the face]
Sidney Prescott: [lunges at Gale] I'll share with you!
[Derek manage to grab Sidney away from Gale]
Derek Feldman: Okay, okay, okay.
[Hallie walks to Joel]
Hallie McDaniel: [to Joel] Did you get that on film?
Joel: [mocks Hallie while recording] "Yes, I got that on film"!

Cici's Friend: [on phone] I love those guys. Are they stlll together? I haven't seen It in, like three weeks.
Cici Cooper: No, they broke up again.
Cici's Friend: [on phone] Really?
Cici Cooper: Mm-hmm. Sarah found out that Bailey slept with Gwen. She dumped him, like, two episodes ago.
Cici's Friend: [on phone] I wish she'd get her shit together.
[phone rings, tied on her phone to her friend]
Cici Cooper: Hold on. Someone's calling. [hangs up the call to her friend; shifts to talk to someone] Omega Beta Zeta.
Phone Voice: Hello?
Cici Cooper: Yes?
Phone Voice: Who is this?
Cici Cooper: Cici. Who's this?
Phone Voice: Who do you think?
Cici Cooper: Ted? Where are you? Are you drinking? Hold on. [shifts to her friend's call] Ted's on the other line. He sounds drunk. I'll call you back.
Cici's Friend: [on phone] That shit only calls you when he's drunk. Don't go over there, Cici.
Cici Cooper: Okay, All right. I'll call you back. [shifts back to someone's call] Okay, Ted. You sound loaded. What's up?
Phone Voice: Who's Ted?
Cici Cooper: Oh, I'm sorry. My bad. I thought you were someone else.
Phone Voice: That's okay. I am.
Cici Cooper: Who are you calling for? Nobody's here.
Phone Voice: Where is everybody?
Cici Cooper: We're cosponsorlng the acid rain mixer at Phi Gamma Alpha tonight.
Phone Voice: Why aren't you there?
Cici Cooper: I'm "sober sister". I need to be here in case a drunk sister calls and needs a ride.
Phone Voice: That's too bad.
Cici Cooper: "Drink with your brain." That's our motto. Who are you calling for?
Phone Voice: What if I said you?
Cici Cooper: What if I said goodbye?
Phone Voice: Why would you want to do that?
Cici Cooper: Why do you always answer a question with a question?
Phone Voice: I'm inquisitive.
Cici Cooper: Yeah, and I'm impatient. Look, do you want to leave a message for someone?
Phone Voice: Do you want to die tonight, Cici?
[Cici's eyes widen in shock]

[Sidney picks up the phone]
Sidney Prescott: Hello?
Phone Voice: Hello Sidney. Remember me?
Sidney Prescott: What do you want?
Phone Voice: I want you. It's showtime.
Sidney Prescott: So, why don't you show your face, you fucking coward?
Phone Voice: My pleasure. [after Ghostface cames in arrives and locks Derek out of the house]

[Gale smokes a cigarette, stops, turns to Dewey and Randy]
Gale Weathers: Sorry. All right, Let's just assume the killer is repeating Woodsboro...
[Gale's phone rings; she ansers it]
Gale Weathers: Yes?
Gale's Agent: [on the phone] I have Bob calling.
Gale Weathers: I'll have to call you back. [hangs up phone]
Randy Meeks: That doesn't explaln Sidney's attack. Sidney wasn't killed In Woodsboro. Wasn't for a lack of trying. The killer is trying to finish what was started.
Gale Weathers: Well Sid's under protection, right?
Randy Meeks: Yeah.
[Gale's phone rings again; she answers it]
Gale Weathers: What?
Gale's Agent: [on the phone] Bob really needs to talk to you.
Gale Weathers: Tell Bob I'll call him back. [hangs up phone]
Deputy Dewey Riley: When'd she start smoking?
Randy Meeks: Ever since those nude pictures on the internet.
Gale Weathers: It was just my head. It was Jennifer Aniston's body. Anyway, you're forgetting something. In Woodsboro, there were more victims before the homestretch.; Tatum, my cameraman, Himbry...---
Joel: Time out! I don't need to be hearing about no dead cameramen, all right? Now I'm warning you guys. I am a verb away from vacating these premises. I'm gonna get me some coffee, donuts, Prozac, see If I can find some crack, Special KX, "not Malcolm and I'll be back when you guys start talking about something a little more Saved By The Bellish, all right?
[Joel leaves]
Deputy Dewey Riley: He seems a little shaky.
Gale Weathers: Don't worry about him. If the killer is following a pattern, maybe we can figure out who's next.
Deputy Dewey Riley: I wouldn't follow a killer's pattern. We were all involved In Woodsboro. Could be any one of us.
Gale Weathers: So what do you wanna do, bonehead? Sit here, wait and see who drops next?
Deputy Dewey Riley: Well, I don't know... [Gale's phone rings again] "Phonehead"!
[Gale's phone kept ringing; Randy gets her phone and answers it]
Randy Meeks: Gale's not here!---
Phone Voice: I'm not interrupting anything, am I? You three look deep in thought. Have you ever felt a knife cut through human flesh and scrape the bone beneath? [the voice laughs evilly]
Randy Meeks: It's him.
Deputy Dewey Riley: Who?
Randy Meeks: The killer. He can see us.
Deputy Dewey Riley: Just keep him on the phone.
Randy Meeks: What do you want me to say?
Deputy Dewey Riley: I-I don't know. Just keep him talking. Come on, Gale.
Randy Meeks: Uh... Hi. -
Gale Weathers: What are we doing?
Deputy Dewey Riley: Look for somebody with a cell phone.
Randy Meeks: So, uh... what's your favorite scary movie?
Phone Voice: You'll never find me.
Randy Meeks: What do you care? Let'em have their fun. So, uh... what's up?
Phone Voice: What's your favorite scary movie?
Randy Meeks: Showgirls. Absolutely frightening. What's yours. Wait. Let me guess. The House on Soroity Row? The one that dripped blood? Splatter university? Graduation day? Final exam? Am I close?
Phone Voice: Closer than you think. [A random person bumps into Randy] Too slow, geek. Do you want to die?
Randy Meeks: Is that the best you can do? Because Billy and Stu were much more original.
Phone Voice: Why are you even here, Randy? You'll never be the leading man.
Randy Meeks: Fuck you!
Phone Voice: No matter how hard you try, you'll never be the hero and you'll never, ever get the girl.
[Randy attacks a man on a phone next to a van, believing he's the killer, but he's not]
Randy Meeks: Sorry.
Phone Voice: Wrong guy, dead boy.
Randy Meeks: Oh, yeah? Well, let's re-direct the moment, Mr. I'm So Original. Huh? Where's your motivation? Huh? Why copycat two high school loser ass dickheads? Stu was a pussy ass wet rag. And Billy Loomis? Billy Loomis, what the fuck? Jesus! What a rat looking homo repressed momma's boy! Why not set your goals higher, huh? You wanna be one of the big boys? Huh? Manson, Bundie, O.J, Son of...
[Ghostface attacks Randy and kills him]

[Sidney is struggling to free Derek]
Derek: Oh, thank god, Sidney, I thought I was gonna be up there until opening night.
Sidney Prescott: I'm gonna get you out of here. Derek, he killed Hallie.
Derek: What are you talking about?
Sidney Prescott: The killer! He's here!
Derek: Where?
[Ghostface appears]
Ghostface: [Speaking in the Phone Voice] Right here. You're fast, Sid. I wouldn't do that if I were you. You really wanna trust your boyfriend? [The voice suddenly changes to Mickey's voice] Don't you know history repeats itself? Hm? Sid?
[Ghostface takes off the mask to reveal himself as Mickey, who brings out the voice changer and speaks through it]
Mickey/Phone Voice: Surprise, Sidney!

Gale Weathers: [checking Mrs. Loomis.] Is she dead?
Sidney Prescott: I don't know. They always come back.
[Mickey starts to rise, but Sidney and Gale shoot him many times, until he is dead.]
Cotton Weary: Whoa!
[They all turn around to Mrs. Loomis as Sidney shoots her in the head, dead.]
Sidney Prescott: Just in case.
[Sidney drops the gun and leaves.]

  • Someone has taken their love of sequels one step too far.
  • Because once is never enough

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

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text:
The Travels of Marco Polo/Book 2/Chapter 24

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How the Great Kaan Causeth the Bark of Trees, Made Into Something Like Paper, to Pass for Money All Over his Country[edit]

Now that I have told you in detail of the splendour of this City of the Emperor's, I shall proceed to tell you of the Mint which he hath in the same city, in the which he hath his money coined and struck, as I shall relate to you. And in doing so I shall make manifest to you how it is that the Great Lord may well be able to accomplish even much more than I have told you, or am going to tell you, in this Book. For, tell it how I might, you never would be satisfied that I was keeping within truth and reason!

The Emperor's Mint then is in this same City of Cambaluc, and the way it is wrought is such that you might say he hath the Secret of Alchemy in perfection, and you would be right! For he makes his money after this fashion.

He makes them take of the bark of a certain tree, in fact of the Mulberry Tree, the leaves of which are the food of the silkworms,--these trees being so numerous that whole districts are full of them. What they take is a certain fine white bast or skin which lies between the wood of the tree and the thick outer bark, and this they make into something resembling sheets of paper, but black. When these sheets have been prepared they are cut up into pieces of different sizes. The smallest of these sizes is worth a half tornesel; the next, a little larger, one tornesel; one, a little larger still, is worth half a silver groat of Venice; another a whole groat; others yet two groats, five groats, and ten groats. There is also a kind worth one Bezant of gold, and others of three Bezants, and so up to ten. All these pieces of paper are [issued with as much solemnity and authority as if they were of pure gold or silver; and on every piece a variety of officials, whose duty it is, have to write their names, and to put their seals. And when all is prepared duly, the chief officer deputed by the Kaan smears the Seal entrusted to him with vermilion, and impresses it on the paper, so that the form of the Seal remains printed upon it in red; the Money is then authentic. Any one forging it would be punished with death.] And the Kaan causes every year to be made such a vast quantity of this money, which costs him nothing, that it must equal in amount all the treasure in the world.

With these pieces of paper, made as I have described, he causes all payments on his own account to be made; and he makes them to pass current universally over all his kingdoms and provinces and territories, and whithersoever his power and sovereignty extends. And nobody, however important he may think himself, dares to refuse them on pain of death. And indeed everybody takes them readily, for wheresoever a person may go throughout the Great Kaan's dominions he shall find these pieces of paper current, and shall be able to transact all sales and purchases of goods by means of them just as well as if they were coins of pure gold. And all the while they are so light that ten bezants' worth does not weigh one golden bezant.

Furthermore all merchants arriving from India or other countries, and bringing with them gold or silver or gems and pearls, are prohibited from selling to any one but the Emperor. He has twelve experts chosen for this business, men of shrewdness and experience in such affairs; these appraise the articles, and the Emperor then pays a liberal price for them in those pieces of paper. The merchants accept his price readily, for in the first place they would not get so good an one from anybody else, and secondly they are paid without any delay. And with this paper-money they can buy what they like anywhere over the Empire, whilst it is also vastly lighter to carry about on their journeys. And it is a truth that the merchants will several times in the year bring wares to the amount of 400,000 bezants, and the Grand Sire pays for all in that paper. So he buys such a quantity of those precious things every year that his treasure is endless, whilst all the time the money he pays away costs him nothing at all. Moreover, several times in the year proclamation is made through the city that any one who may have gold or silver or gems or pearls, by taking them to the Mint shall get a handsome price for them. And the owners are glad to do this, because they would find no other purchaser give so large a price. Thus the quantity they bring in is marvellous, though these who do not choose to do so may let it alone. Still, in this way, nearly all the valuables in the country come into the Kaan's possession.

When any of those pieces of paper are spoilt--not that they are so very flimsy neither--the owner carries them to the Mint, and by paying three per cent, on the value he gets new pieces in exchange. And if any Baron, or any one else soever, hath need of gold or silver or gems or pearls, in order to make plate, or girdles, or the like, he goes to the Mint and buys as much as he list, paying in this paper-money.[1]

Now you have heard the ways and means whereby the Great Kaan may have, and in fact has, more treasure than all the Kings in the World; and you know all about it and the reason why. And now I will tell you of the great Dignitaries which act in this city on behalf of the Emperor.

  1. 1.0 1.1 It is surprising to find that, nearly two centuries ago, Magaillans, a missionary who had lived many years in China, and was presumably a Chinese scholar, should have utterly denied the truth of Polo's statements about the paper-currency of China. Yet the fact even then did not rest on Polo's statement only. The same thing had been alleged in the printed works of Rubruquis, Roger Bacon, Hayton, Friar Odoric, the Archbishop of Soltania, and Josaphat Barbaro, to say nothing of other European authorities that remained in manuscript, or of the numerous Oriental records of the same circumstance. The issue of paper-money in China is at least as old as the beginning of the 9th century. In 1160 the system had gone to such excess that government paper equivalent in nominal value to 43,600,000 ounces of silver had been issued in six years, and there were local notes besides; so that the Empire was flooded with rapidly depreciating paper. The Kin or "Golden" Dynasty of Northern Invaders who immediately preceded the Mongols took to paper, in spite of their title, as kindly as the native sovereigns. Their notes had a course of seven years, after which new notes were issued to the holders, with a deduction of 15 per cent. The Mongols commenced their issues of paper-money in 1236, long before they had transferred the seat of their government to China. Kublai made such an issue in the first year of his reign (1260), and continued to issue notes copiously till the end. In 1287 he put out a complete new currency, one note of which was to exchange against five of the previous series of equal nominal value! In both issues the paper-money was, in official valuation, only equivalent to half its nominal value in silver; a circumstance not very easy to understand. The paper-money was called Chao. The notes of Kublai's first issue (1260-1287) with which Polo maybe supposed most familiar, were divided into three classes; (1) Notes of Tens, viz. of 10, 20, 30, and 50 tsien or cash; (2) Notes of Hundreds, viz. of 100, 200, and 500 tsien; and (3) Notes of Strings or Thousands of cash, or in other words of Liangs or ounces of silver (otherwise Tael), viz. of 1000 and 2000 tsien. There were also notes printed on silk for 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 ounces each, valued at par in silver, but these would not circulate. In 1275, it should be mentioned, there had been a supplementary issue of small notes for 2, 3, and 5 cash each. Marsden states an equation between Marco's values of the Notes and the actual Chinese currency, to which Biot seems to assent. I doubt its correctness, for his assumed values of the groat or grosso and tornesel are surely wrong. The grosso ran at that time 18 to the gold ducat or sequin, and allowing for the then higher relative value of silver, should have contained about 5d. of silver. The ducat was also equivalent to 2 lire, and the tornese (Romanin, III. 343) was 4 deniers. Now the denier is always, I believe 1/240 of the lira. Hence the tornese would be 9/60 of the grosso. But we are not to look for exact correspondences, when we see Polo applying round figures in European coinage to Chinese currency. His bezant notes, I agree with Marsden, here represent the Chinese notes for one and more ounces of silver. And here the correspondence of value is much nearer than it seems at first sight. The Chinese liang or ounce of silver is valued commonly at 6s. 7d., say roundly 80d. But the relation of gold and silver in civilized Asia was then (see ch. I. note 4, and also Cathay, pp. ccl. and 442) as 10 to 1, not, as with us now, more than 15 to 1. Wherefore the liang in relation to gold would be worth 120d. or 10s., a little over the Venetian ducat and somewhat less than the bezant or dinar. We shall then find the table of Chinese issues, as compared with Marco's equivalents, to stand thus:--
    Chinese issues, as recorded Marco Polo's statement

    For 10 ounces of silver
    (viz. the Chinese "Ting")
    10 bezants.
    For 1 ounce of silver,
    i.e. 1 liang, or 1000 tsien (cash)
    1 bezant.
    For 500 tsien' 10 groats.
    200 tsien
    5 groats. (should have been 4)
    100 tsien
    2 groats.
    50 tsien
    1 groat.
    30 tsien
    ½ groat (proportionate equiv. 25 tsien)
    20 tsien
    10 tsien
    1 tornesel (proportionate equiv. 7½ tsien)
    5 tsien
    ½ tornesel (proportionate equiv. 3¾ tsien

    Pauthier has given from the Chinese Annals of the Mongol Dynasty a complete Table of the Issues of Paper-Money during every year of Kublai's reign (1260-1294), estimated at their nominal value in Ting or tens of silver ounces. The lowest issue was in 1269, of 228,960 ounces, which at the rate of 120d. to the ounce (see above) = 114,480l., and the highest was in 1290, viz. 50,002,500 ounces, equivalent at the same estimate to 25,001,250l.! whilst the total amount in the 34 years was 249,654,290 ounces or 124,827,144l. in nominal value. Well might Marco speak of the vast quantity of such notes that the Great Kaan issued annually!

    To complete the history of the Chinese paper-currency so far as we can:

    In 1309, a new issue took place with the same provision as in Kublai's issue of 1287, i.e. each note of the new issue was to exchange against 5 of the old of the same nominal value. And it was at the same time prescribed that the notes should exchange at par with metals, which of course it was beyond the power of Government to enforce, and so the notes were abandoned. Issues continued from time to time to the end of the Mongol Dynasty. The paper-currency is spoken of by Odoric (1320-30), by Pegolotti (1330-40), and by Ibn Batuta (1348), as still the chief, if not sole, currency of the Empire. According to the Chinese authorities, the credit of these issues was constantly diminishing, as it is easy to suppose. But it is odd that all the Western Travellers speak as if the notes were as good as gold. Pegolotti, writing for mercantile men, and from the information (as we may suppose) of mercantile men, says explicitly that there was no depreciation.

    The Ming Dynasty for a time carried on the system of paper-money; with the difference that while under the Mongols no other currency had been admitted, their successors made payments in notes, but accepted only hard cash from their people! In 1448 the chao of 1000 cash was worth but 3. Barbaro still heard talk of the Chinese paper-currency from travellers whom he met at Azov about this time; but after 1455 there is said to be no more mention of it in Chinese history.

    I have never heard of the preservation of any note of the Mongols; but some of the Ming survive, and are highly valued as curiosities in China. The late Sir G. T. Staunton appears to have possessed one; Dr. Lockhart formerly had two, of which he gave one to Sir Harry Parkes, and retains the other. The paper is so dark as to explain Marco's description of it as black. By Dr. Lockhart's kindness I am enabled to give a reduced representation of this note, as near a facsimile as we have been able to render it, but with some restoration, e.g. of the seals, of which on the original there is the barest indication remaining.

    [Mr. Vissering (Chinese Currency, Addenda, I.-III.) gives a facsimile and a description of a Chinese banknote of the Ming Dynasty belonging to the collection of the Asiatic Museum of the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg. "In the eighth year of the period Hung-wu (1375), the Emperor Tai-tsu issued an order to his minister of finances to make the Pao-tsao (precious bills) of the Ta-Ming Dynasty, and to employ as raw material for the composition of those bills the fibres of the mulberry tree."--H. C.]

    Notwithstanding the disuse of Government issues of paper-money from that time till recent years, there had long been in some of the cities of China a large use of private and local promissory notes as currency. In Fuchau this was especially the case; bullion was almost entirely displaced, and the banking-houses in that city were counted by hundreds. These were under no government control; any individual or company having sufficient capital or credit could establish a bank and issue their bills, which varied in amount from 100 cash to 1000 dollars. Some fifteen years ago the Imperial Government seems to have been induced by the exhausted state of the Treasury, and these large examples of the local use of paper-currency, to consider projects for resuming that system after the disuse of four centuries. A curious report by a Committee of the Imperial Supreme Council, on a project for such a currency, appears among the papers published by the Russian Mission at Peking. It is unfavourable to the particular project, but we gather from other sources that the Government not long afterwards did open banks in the large cities of the Empire for the issue of a new paper-currency, but that it met with bad success. At Fuchau, in 1858, I learn from one notice, the dollar was worth from 18,000 to 20,000 cash in Government Bills. Dr. Rennie, in 1861, speaks of the dollar at Peking as valued at 15,000, and later at 25,000 paper cash. Sushun, the Regent, had issued a vast number of notes through banks of his own in various parts of Peking. These he failed to redeem, causing the failure of all the banks, and great consequent commotion in the city. The Regent had led the Emperor [Hien Fung] systematically into debauched habits which ended in paralysis. On the Emperor's death the Empress caused the arrest and execution of Sushun. His conduct in connection with the bank failures was so bitterly resented that when the poor wretch was led to execution (8th November, 1861), as I learn from an eye-witness, the defrauded creditors lined the streets and cheered.

    The Japanese also had a paper-currency in the 14th century. It is different in form from that of China. That figured by Siebold is a strip of strong paper doubled, 6-1/4 in. long by 1-3/4 in. wide, bearing a representation of the tutelary god of riches, with long inscriptions in Chinese characters, seals in black and red, and an indication of value in ancient Japanese characters. I do not learn whether notes of considerable amount are still used in Japan; but Sir R. Alcock speaks of banknotes for small change from 30 to 500 cash and more, as in general use in the interior.

    Two notable and disastrous attempts to imitate the Chinese system of currency took place in the Middle Ages; one of them in Persia, apparently in Polo's very presence, the other in India some 36 years later.

    The first was initiated in 1294 by the worthless Kaikhatu Khan, when his own and his ministers' extravagance had emptied the Treasury, on the suggestion of a financial officer called 'Izzuddin Muzaffar. The notes were direct copies of Kublai's, even the Chinese characters being imitated as part of the device upon them. The Chinese name Chao was applied to them, and the Mongol Resident at Tabriz, Pulad Chingsang, was consulted in carrying out the measure. Expensive preparations were made for this object; offices called Chao-Khanahs were erected in the principal cities of the provinces, and a numerous staff appointed to carry out the details. Ghazan Khan in Khorasan, however, would have none of it, and refused to allow any of these preparations to be made within his government. After the constrained use of the Chao for two or three days Tabriz was in an uproar; the markets were closed; the people rose and murdered 'Izzuddin; and the whole project had to be abandoned. Marco was in Persia at this time, or just before, and Sir John Malcolm not unnaturally suggests that he might have had something to do with the scheme; a suggestion which excites a needless commotion in the breast of M. Pauthier. We may draw from the story the somewhat notable conclusion that Block-printing was practised, at least for this one purpose, at Tabriz in 1294.

    The other like enterprise was that of Sultan Mahomed Tughlak of Delhi, in 1330-31. This also was undertaken for like reasons, and was in professed imitation of the Chao of Cathay. Mahomed, however, used copper tokens instead of paper; the copper being made apparently of equal weight to the gold or silver coin which it represented. The system seems to have had a little more vogue than at Tabriz, but was speedily brought to an end by the ease with which forgeries on an enormous scale were practised. The Sultan, in hopes of reviving the credit of his currency, ordered that every one bringing copper tokens to the Treasury should have them cashed in gold or silver. "The people who in despair had flung aside their copper coins like stones and bricks in their houses, all rushed to the Treasury and exchanged them for gold and silver. In this way the Treasury soon became empty, but the copper coins had as little circulation as ever, and a very grievous blow was given to the State."

    An odd issue of currency, not of paper, but of leather, took place in Italy a few years before Polo's birth. The Emperor Frederic II., at the siege of Faenza in 1241, being in great straits for money, issued pieces of leather stamped with the mark of his mint at the value of his Golden Augustals. This leather coinage was very popular, especially at Florence, and it was afterwards honourably redeemed by Frederic's Treasury. Popular tradition in Sicily reproaches William the Bad among his other sins with having issued money of leather, but any stone is good enough to cast at a dog with such a surname.

    [Ma Twan-lin mentions that in the fourth year of the period Yuen Show (B.C. 119), a currency of white metal and deer-skin was made. Mr. Vissering (Chinese Currency, 38) observes that the skin-tallies "were purely tokens, and have had nothing in common with the leather-money, which was, during a long time, current in Russia. This Russian skin-money had a truly representative character, as the parcels were used instead of the skins from which they were cut; the skins themselves being too bulky and heavy to be constantly carried backward and forward, only a little piece was cut off, to figure as a token of possession of the whole skin. The ownership of the skin was proved when the piece fitted in the hole."

    Mr. Rockhill (Rubruck, 201 note) says: "As early as B.C. 118, we find the Chinese using 'leather-money' (p'i pi). These were pieces of white deer-skin, a foot square, with a coloured border. Each had a value of 40,000 cash. (Ma Twan-lin, Bk. 8, 5.)"

    Mr. Charles F. Keary (Coins and Medals, by S. Lane Poole, 128) mentions that "in the reign of Elizabeth there was a very extensive issue of private tokens in lead, tin, latten, and leather."--H. C.]

    (Klapr. in Mem. Rel. a l'Asie, I. 375 seqq.; Biot, in J. As. ser. III. tom. iv.; Marsden and Pauthier, in loco; Parkes, in J. R. A. S. XIII. 179; Doolittle, 452 seqq.; Wylie, J. of Shanghai Lit. and Scient. Soc. No. I.; Arbeiten der kais. russ. Gesandsch. zu Peking, I. p. 48; Rennie, Peking, etc., I. 296, 347; Birch, in. Num. Chron. XII. 169; Information from Dr. Lockhart; Alcock, II. 86; D'Ohsson, IV. 53; Cowell, in J. A. S. B. XXIX. 183 seqq.; Thomas, Coins of Patan Sovs. of Hind., (from Numism. Chron. 1852), p. 139 seqq.; Kington's Fred. II. II. 195; Amari, III. 816; W. Vissering, On Chinese Currency, Leiden, 1877.)

    ["Without doubt the Mongols borrowed the bank-note system from the Kin. Up to the present time there is in Si-ngan-fu a block kept, which was used for printing the bank-notes of the Kin Dynasty. I have had the opportunity of seeing a print of those bank-notes, they were of the same size and shape as the bank-notes of the Ming. A reproduction of the text of the Kin bank-notes is found in the Kin shi ts'ui pien. This copy has the characters pao kilan (precious charter) and the years of reign Cheng Yew, 1213-1216. The first essay of the Mongols to introduce bank-notes dates from the time of Ogodai Khan (1229-1242), but Chinese history only mentions the fact without giving details. At that time silk in skeins was the only article of a determinate value in the trade and on the project of Ye lue ch'u ts'ai, minister of Ogodai, the taxes were also collected in silk delivered by weight. It can therefore be assumed that the name sze ch'ao (i.e. bank-notes referring to the weight of silk) dates back to the same time. At any rate, at a later time, as, under the reign of Kubilai, the issuing of banknotes was decreed, silk was taken as the standard to express the value of silver and 1000 liang silk was estimated = 50 liang (or 1 ting) silver. Thus, in consequence of those measures, it gradually became a rule to transfer the taxes and rents originally paid in silk, into silver. The wealth of the Mongol Khans in precious metals was renowned. The accounts regarding their revenues, however, which we meet with occasionally in Chinese history, do not surprise by their vastness. In the year 1298, for instance, the amount of the revenue is stated in the Siu t'ung Kien to have been:--

    19,000 liang of gold = (190,000 liang of silver, according to the exchange of that time at the rate of 1 to 10).
    60,000 liang of silver.
    3,600,000 ting of silver in bank-notes (i.e. 180 millions liang); altogether 180,250,000 liang of silver.

    The number seems indeed very high for that time. But if the exceedingly low exchange of the bank-notes be taken into consideration, the sum will be reduced to a modest amount." (Palladius, pp. 50-51.)--H. C.]

    [Dr. Bretschneider (Hist. Bot. Disc., I. p. 4) makes the following remark:--"Polo states (I. 409) that the Great Kaan causeth the bark of great Mulberry-trees, made into something like paper, to pass for money." He seems to be mistaken. Paper in China is not made from mulberry-trees but from the Broussonetia papyrifera, which latter tree belongs to the same order of Moraceae. The same fibres are used also in some parts of China for making cloth, and Marco Polo alludes probably to the same tree when stating (II. 108) "that in the province of Cuiju (Kwei chau) they manufacture stuff of the bark of certain trees, which form very fine summer clothing."--H. C.]


text:
Hello World/Ada

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Ada was developed under a US Department of Defense contract from 1977 to 1983. It's main goal was to develop a language to replace, in sorts, the various hundreds of languages then used by the Department of Defense. What resulted is strong-typed and modular programming language that is used widely in mission critical systems. It was originally targeted at embedded and real-time systems, but as seen a wide range of applications, especially in the defense community.

  1. A basic knowledge of programming. Familiarity with an Algol-based language, such as C, C++, or Pascal, will be useful.
  2. A Linux operating system, preferably Ubuntu. This can be run as a virtual machine with software like Oracle's VM VirtualBox.
  3. Strong desire to learn.
  4. Patience and time to learn. No language is learned overnight and one certainly cannot expect to develop full-blown applications after only 2 weeks of learning any language.

Course description[edit]

This course is designed to introduce the student to the basics of the Ada programming language, enough to understand what is going on and how to further proceed with learning more about its applications. This course is not designed, as of yet, to introduce the student to the full power of Ada. Most program examples are text-based console applications developed on the Linux operating system.

Lesson 0: Setting up the compiler
Lesson 1: Introducing Ada