Rhodri Giggs (born 2 April 1977) is a Welsh football player who plays as a right-sided midfielder for Curzon Ashton. He is notable for being the younger brother of the former Wales skipper, Manchester United's winger Ryan Giggs.
Giggs was born in Cardiff, but attended Grosvenor Road Primary School and Moorside High in Swinton after his family had moved there. He played football for Salford Boys before joining Torquay United as a trainee, going under the name Rhodri Jones to avoid comparisons with his famous older brother. His time as a trainee was not a happy one and he left halfway through his traineeship and temporarily quit football. He attempted to resurrect his footballing career - three years later at the age of 19, heading north and having trials with Scottish outfit Hearts, eventually ending up playing with Livingston (for only six months).
He worked as an estate agent, but in October 1997, was arrested after being accused of supplying cocaine to the undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood, better known as the News of the World’s ‘fake sheikh. He lost his job, but was later found not guilty after the prosecution said that it could not rely on taped conversations between him and the journalist.
He eventually returned to football, joining North West Counties League Division One side Salford City. He moved on to Welsh side Bangor City in October 2000, but in August 2001 was jailed for nine months for attacking a man outside a nightclub in Manchester.
On his release he joined Aberystwyth Town in January 2002 before returning to Salford City in February 2002.
In July 2003, he left Salford to join Kidsgrove Athletic, moving to Bacup Borough in October 2003 . In January 2004, he was the victim of a car-jacking in Manchester, his Porsche being stolen and driven to Blackburn after Giggs had been assaulted .
He moved again in February 2004, this time to Mossley. He was Mossley’s player of the year the following season, but was released by Mossley in May 2006.
In 2006, Giggs joined F.C. United of Manchester. He made 37 appearance for FC United and scored 15 goals. In August 2007, he left the club, joining Curzon Ashton the same month.
Giggs’ father, Danny Wilson, played Rugby Union for Cardiff RFC and more famously Rugby League for Swinton Lions.
Giggs was born in Cardiff, but attended Grosvenor Road Primary School and Moorside High in Swinton after his family had moved there. He played football for Salford Boys before joining Torquay United as a trainee, going under the name Rhodri Jones to avoid comparisons with his famous older brother. His time as a trainee was not a happy one and he left halfway through his traineeship and temporarily quit football. He attempted to resurrect his footballing career - three years later at the age of 19, heading north and having trials with Scottish outfit Hearts, eventually ending up playing with Livingston (for only six months).
He worked as an estate agent, but in October 1997, was arrested after being accused of supplying cocaine to the undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood, better known as the News of the World’s ‘fake sheikh. He lost his job, but was later found not guilty after the prosecution said that it could not rely on taped conversations between him and the journalist.
He eventually returned to football, joining North West Counties League Division One side Salford City. He moved on to Welsh side Bangor City in October 2000, but in August 2001 was jailed for nine months for attacking a man outside a nightclub in Manchester.
On his release he joined Aberystwyth Town in January 2002 before returning to Salford City in February 2002.
In July 2003, he left Salford to join Kidsgrove Athletic, moving to Bacup Borough in October 2003 . In January 2004, he was the victim of a car-jacking in Manchester, his Porsche being stolen and driven to Blackburn after Giggs had been assaulted .
He moved again in February 2004, this time to Mossley. He was Mossley’s player of the year the following season, but was released by Mossley in May 2006.
In 2006, Giggs joined F.C. United of Manchester. He made 37 appearance for FC United and scored 15 goals. In August 2007, he left the club, joining Curzon Ashton the same month.
Giggs’ father, Danny Wilson, played Rugby Union for Cardiff RFC and more famously Rugby League for Swinton Lions.
In the long running television animation The Simpsons, numerous fictional businesses have appeared, often recurring. These are sometimes spoofs or real life businesses.
The following is a list of businesses seen in the town of Springfield where The Simpsons live.
Recurring businesses
Aztec Theater
Aztec Theater is the downtown movie theater in Springfield. The first known appearance was in The Telltale Head where Bart and the school bullies Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph all sneak into the theater through the Fire Escape to watch Space Mutants IV. The theater was used to screen the premiere of the Itchy and Scratchy Movie in the episode titled as Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie.
Bowl-A-Rama
Bowl-A-Rama (also known as Barney's Bowl-A-Rama) is the bowling alley in Springfield. The Bowl-A-Rama has had several appearances in Simpsons episodes. The very first known appearance is the episode Life on the Fast Lane where Homer forgets Marge's birthday so after rushing out to purchase a gift he ends up buying a bowling ball. Marge is insulted at the fact her gift from Homer was something obviously intended for his own personal use given the fact the ball had Homer's name engraved on it. So Marge decides she will keep the gift for her own use and goes bowling for the first time.
In the episode And Maggie Makes Three Homer tells the family the story of Maggie's birth. In this story Homer tells how he quit his job at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to work at the Bowl-A-Rama, which was Homer's dream job. This episode reveals where the bowling pins go after they are knocked over, the pins are shown ending up in a heap and new pins are manufactered instantly to replace those knocked over.
The Bowl-A-Rama is used in the episode Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment as a way of smuggling beer into Moe's Tavern. In this episode alcohol is banned in Springfield and as a result Homer begins bootlegging beer he uncovered from the city dump. The beer is poured into bowling balls and Homer then bowls the ball into the gutter at the Bowl-A-Rama, the ball then falls into a pipe leading to Moe's Tavern where Moe charges and outrageous price.
Krusty Burger
Krusty Burger is a fast food chain owned by Krusty the Clown as one of the many products and services owned by Krusty. Krusty Burger is seen as a parody of a typical fast food chain such as McDonalds or Burger King, a typical store features a Drive-Thru with a speaker box and most of the employees are young teenage workers. In the episode 22 Short Films About Springfield the Springfield police are comparing the differences between Krusty Burger and McDonalds, this is a parallel of the Royale With Cheese dicussion seen on Pulp Fiction.
It appears that Krusty Burger is located across the entire United States, in the episode Boy-Scoutz N the Hood after Homer looses the map he tells the group that luckily he has brought a map along which happens to be a map of the entire United States with locations of Krusty Burger restaurants. There is actually a Krusty Burger located on an off shore Oil Rig, this was seen after Homer, Bart, Ned Flanders and Rod Flanders had been lost at sea several days and were saved after finding an a Krusty Burger on the Oil Rig. In the episode I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can it was also revealed that Krusty Burger operates in different markets across the USA when Krusty Burger start a new burger called the Ribwich. After the Ribwich stopped selling in Springfield Homer and group of Ribwich fans known as the "RibHeads" followed the "Ribwich tour" as the Ribwich was tested in various markets.
Kwik-E-Mart
Main Article: Kwik-E-Mart
Kwik-E-Mart is a convenience store located in Springfield and run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The Kwik-E-Mart first appeared in the first season episode The Telltale Head and is still featured in current episodes. The episode Homer and Apu it is suggested that Apu is an employee of the Kwik-E-Mart and after loosing his job there had to travel to India where the Kwik-E-Mart head office is located, in the Himalayas. The episode The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons suggests different where Apu mentions at a bachelor auction that he runs his own business.
As well as selling food, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other items offered at a typical convenience store gasoline is also sold. In the episode Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song, Bart is visiting Principal Skinner at the Fort Springfield where a missile is fired in the wrong direction, the scene is then cut to Apu standing in front of the Kwik-E-Mart bragging about his 8 new pumps just as a shadow from the missile appears, the scene cuts back to Fort Springfield where a 'K' from the Kwik-E-Mart lands in smoke. The episode Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield also shows the Kwik-E-Mart selling gasoline where Apu refuses to go out and serve a customer on the forecourt.
Moe's Tavern
Main Article: Moe's Tavern
Moe's Tavern is the local bar in Springfield run by owner Moe Szyslak. Moe's Tavern first appeared in the episode Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire and is still featured in current episodes. In the first season of The Simpsons the entrance appeared to be a saloon style door. The bar sells mostly Duff Beer although other beverages are served. In the episode Flaming Moe's Moe got behind on his beer payments and the distributor cut off his supply of beer as a result Moe started selling a drink Homer invented which Moe claimed title to and branded as the Flaming Moe. The Flaming Moe was an extremly popular drink until Homer revealed the secret ingredient allowing other businesses to create a similar product, The Flaming Moe has never appeared in any later episode.
Moe's Tavern has seen several other makeovers in various episodes of The Simpsons but the tavern always reverts back to it's former state before the show has ended. Most notable are in the episode Bart Sells His Soul where Moe turns his tavern into a family restaurant called Uncle Moe's Family Feed Bag and in Homer the Moe Moe turns his tavern into a yuppie bar called m.
Noiseland Video Arcade
Noiseland Video Arcade is the video arcade in downtown Springfield a popular place for the youth of Springfield. The video arcade has had several appearances in The Simpsons however mostly in the earlier seasons. The earliest known appearance was in Moaning Lisa where Bart challenges Homer to a boxing game on their home TV game system and while Bart is continuosly undefeated Homer decides to fight back by going to the video arcade to learn from the young children how to win in the same boxing game. Homer almost beats Bart but Marge switches off the game at the crucial moment.
The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop
The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop is a comic book store owned by Jeff Albertson who is better known as Comic Book Guy. The comic book store and it's owner first appeared in the episode Three Men and a Comic Book when Bart sees the store is selling the very first edition of Radioactive Man for $100.
In the episode known as Worst Episode Ever (which is a remark often used by Comic Book Guy) Bart and Milhouse are given the job of running the comic book store after Comic Book Guy suffers from a heart attack and is told to take a rest from the store and go out and make some friends.
The Leftorium
The Leftorium is a store in the Springfield Mall that specializes in products for left-handed people. The store is owned by Ned Flanders who first started The Leftorium in the season 3 episode When Flanders Failed. At first business at the store was going very poorly, Homer wished that Flanders store would go out of business after receiving the larger half of a wishbone. Homer got his wish and the Flanders family were forced to sell many of their possessions much of which Homer purchased at a very low price, the bank reposessed the Flanders home and the store was to be next. Homer then regrets making this wish and the fact he never told any of his friends, who were in need of left handed items, about The Leftorium and as a result manages to get everyone he knows in town to shop at Ned's store saving the store.
The Leftorium has continued to trade profitably since this however there has been episode where Flanders has mentioned the store doesn't do that well such as in the season 9 episode Thirty Minutes over Tokyo Ned mentions that most of his possessions he purchased cheaply. Also in the episode Home Away from Homer Ned mentions how a mega left hand store, recently opened, called Left-Mart is threatening his business.
Once off or seldom seen businesses
King Toots Music Store
King Toots Music Store is a music store located next door to Moe's Tavern. The store sells musical instruments and is the place where Lisa's saxophone was purchased. The most notable appearance of King Toots Music Store was in Lisa's Pony where Lisa asks Homer to pick up a new reed for her saxophone for her recital. Homer heads to the store after work and realises Moe's is next door and since the store wasn't to close for 5 minutes Homer decides to have a quick beer first. Homer finishes his beer with 15 seconds to spare but only to find the store owner has closed early. Homer goes back to Moe's fortunately to find the owner of the store and after much convincing from Homer and Moe the owner opens up to sell Homer a reed, unfortunately Homer is too late for Lisa's recital.
The other appearance was in Lisa's Sax where after Lisa's Saxophone was run over by a truck, as a result of a fight between Bart and Lisa, Homer tells the story of how Lisa first got her Sax as she can always remember having it.
The following is a list of businesses seen in the town of Springfield where The Simpsons live.
Recurring businesses
Aztec Theater
Aztec Theater is the downtown movie theater in Springfield. The first known appearance was in The Telltale Head where Bart and the school bullies Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph all sneak into the theater through the Fire Escape to watch Space Mutants IV. The theater was used to screen the premiere of the Itchy and Scratchy Movie in the episode titled as Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie.
Bowl-A-Rama
Bowl-A-Rama (also known as Barney's Bowl-A-Rama) is the bowling alley in Springfield. The Bowl-A-Rama has had several appearances in Simpsons episodes. The very first known appearance is the episode Life on the Fast Lane where Homer forgets Marge's birthday so after rushing out to purchase a gift he ends up buying a bowling ball. Marge is insulted at the fact her gift from Homer was something obviously intended for his own personal use given the fact the ball had Homer's name engraved on it. So Marge decides she will keep the gift for her own use and goes bowling for the first time.
In the episode And Maggie Makes Three Homer tells the family the story of Maggie's birth. In this story Homer tells how he quit his job at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to work at the Bowl-A-Rama, which was Homer's dream job. This episode reveals where the bowling pins go after they are knocked over, the pins are shown ending up in a heap and new pins are manufactered instantly to replace those knocked over.
The Bowl-A-Rama is used in the episode Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment as a way of smuggling beer into Moe's Tavern. In this episode alcohol is banned in Springfield and as a result Homer begins bootlegging beer he uncovered from the city dump. The beer is poured into bowling balls and Homer then bowls the ball into the gutter at the Bowl-A-Rama, the ball then falls into a pipe leading to Moe's Tavern where Moe charges and outrageous price.
Krusty Burger
Krusty Burger is a fast food chain owned by Krusty the Clown as one of the many products and services owned by Krusty. Krusty Burger is seen as a parody of a typical fast food chain such as McDonalds or Burger King, a typical store features a Drive-Thru with a speaker box and most of the employees are young teenage workers. In the episode 22 Short Films About Springfield the Springfield police are comparing the differences between Krusty Burger and McDonalds, this is a parallel of the Royale With Cheese dicussion seen on Pulp Fiction.
It appears that Krusty Burger is located across the entire United States, in the episode Boy-Scoutz N the Hood after Homer looses the map he tells the group that luckily he has brought a map along which happens to be a map of the entire United States with locations of Krusty Burger restaurants. There is actually a Krusty Burger located on an off shore Oil Rig, this was seen after Homer, Bart, Ned Flanders and Rod Flanders had been lost at sea several days and were saved after finding an a Krusty Burger on the Oil Rig. In the episode I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can it was also revealed that Krusty Burger operates in different markets across the USA when Krusty Burger start a new burger called the Ribwich. After the Ribwich stopped selling in Springfield Homer and group of Ribwich fans known as the "RibHeads" followed the "Ribwich tour" as the Ribwich was tested in various markets.
Kwik-E-Mart
Main Article: Kwik-E-Mart
Kwik-E-Mart is a convenience store located in Springfield and run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The Kwik-E-Mart first appeared in the first season episode The Telltale Head and is still featured in current episodes. The episode Homer and Apu it is suggested that Apu is an employee of the Kwik-E-Mart and after loosing his job there had to travel to India where the Kwik-E-Mart head office is located, in the Himalayas. The episode The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons suggests different where Apu mentions at a bachelor auction that he runs his own business.
As well as selling food, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other items offered at a typical convenience store gasoline is also sold. In the episode Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song, Bart is visiting Principal Skinner at the Fort Springfield where a missile is fired in the wrong direction, the scene is then cut to Apu standing in front of the Kwik-E-Mart bragging about his 8 new pumps just as a shadow from the missile appears, the scene cuts back to Fort Springfield where a 'K' from the Kwik-E-Mart lands in smoke. The episode Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield also shows the Kwik-E-Mart selling gasoline where Apu refuses to go out and serve a customer on the forecourt.
Moe's Tavern
Main Article: Moe's Tavern
Moe's Tavern is the local bar in Springfield run by owner Moe Szyslak. Moe's Tavern first appeared in the episode Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire and is still featured in current episodes. In the first season of The Simpsons the entrance appeared to be a saloon style door. The bar sells mostly Duff Beer although other beverages are served. In the episode Flaming Moe's Moe got behind on his beer payments and the distributor cut off his supply of beer as a result Moe started selling a drink Homer invented which Moe claimed title to and branded as the Flaming Moe. The Flaming Moe was an extremly popular drink until Homer revealed the secret ingredient allowing other businesses to create a similar product, The Flaming Moe has never appeared in any later episode.
Moe's Tavern has seen several other makeovers in various episodes of The Simpsons but the tavern always reverts back to it's former state before the show has ended. Most notable are in the episode Bart Sells His Soul where Moe turns his tavern into a family restaurant called Uncle Moe's Family Feed Bag and in Homer the Moe Moe turns his tavern into a yuppie bar called m.
Noiseland Video Arcade
Noiseland Video Arcade is the video arcade in downtown Springfield a popular place for the youth of Springfield. The video arcade has had several appearances in The Simpsons however mostly in the earlier seasons. The earliest known appearance was in Moaning Lisa where Bart challenges Homer to a boxing game on their home TV game system and while Bart is continuosly undefeated Homer decides to fight back by going to the video arcade to learn from the young children how to win in the same boxing game. Homer almost beats Bart but Marge switches off the game at the crucial moment.
The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop
The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop is a comic book store owned by Jeff Albertson who is better known as Comic Book Guy. The comic book store and it's owner first appeared in the episode Three Men and a Comic Book when Bart sees the store is selling the very first edition of Radioactive Man for $100.
In the episode known as Worst Episode Ever (which is a remark often used by Comic Book Guy) Bart and Milhouse are given the job of running the comic book store after Comic Book Guy suffers from a heart attack and is told to take a rest from the store and go out and make some friends.
The Leftorium
The Leftorium is a store in the Springfield Mall that specializes in products for left-handed people. The store is owned by Ned Flanders who first started The Leftorium in the season 3 episode When Flanders Failed. At first business at the store was going very poorly, Homer wished that Flanders store would go out of business after receiving the larger half of a wishbone. Homer got his wish and the Flanders family were forced to sell many of their possessions much of which Homer purchased at a very low price, the bank reposessed the Flanders home and the store was to be next. Homer then regrets making this wish and the fact he never told any of his friends, who were in need of left handed items, about The Leftorium and as a result manages to get everyone he knows in town to shop at Ned's store saving the store.
The Leftorium has continued to trade profitably since this however there has been episode where Flanders has mentioned the store doesn't do that well such as in the season 9 episode Thirty Minutes over Tokyo Ned mentions that most of his possessions he purchased cheaply. Also in the episode Home Away from Homer Ned mentions how a mega left hand store, recently opened, called Left-Mart is threatening his business.
Once off or seldom seen businesses
King Toots Music Store
King Toots Music Store is a music store located next door to Moe's Tavern. The store sells musical instruments and is the place where Lisa's saxophone was purchased. The most notable appearance of King Toots Music Store was in Lisa's Pony where Lisa asks Homer to pick up a new reed for her saxophone for her recital. Homer heads to the store after work and realises Moe's is next door and since the store wasn't to close for 5 minutes Homer decides to have a quick beer first. Homer finishes his beer with 15 seconds to spare but only to find the store owner has closed early. Homer goes back to Moe's fortunately to find the owner of the store and after much convincing from Homer and Moe the owner opens up to sell Homer a reed, unfortunately Homer is too late for Lisa's recital.
The other appearance was in Lisa's Sax where after Lisa's Saxophone was run over by a truck, as a result of a fight between Bart and Lisa, Homer tells the story of how Lisa first got her Sax as she can always remember having it.
Russell Longcore (born August 31, 1953 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an insurance claims adjuster living in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Russell is one of the foremost authorities on property and insurance claims in the world. He is the author of a 2007 book entitled "Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!" The book shows consumers worldwide how to take control of their insurance claims, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to their claim settlements. Russell writes books and articles about insurance-related topics that are published in newspapers, magazines and websites. Russell also has a hobby as a classically-trained lyric tenor, singing opera and oratorio internationally and winning four Grammy Awards since 1998.
Biography and career
Russell Longcore, the second of three siblings, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Baptist parents Clifford and Hazel Longcore of Kent City, Michigan (population 600). His father was a bricklayer: his mother was a homemaker. During Russ' early childhood, his father bought into a construction company about 60 miles from Kent City. The family moved to Montague, Michigan, where the business was located, in the summer of 1968. Russell graduated from Montague High School in 1971 solidly in the middle of his class. He played football, basketball, baseball, wrestling and track & field.
Russell attended Muskegon Community College in nearby Muskegon, Michigan in 1971 and 1972. He attended Grand Rapids Baptist College in 1974.
In 1972, Longcore was working as a laborer in his father's construction company when he bought a house. He bought homeowner's insurance at closing, and soon thereafter, the insurance agent offered him a job as an insurance agent. In April of 1973 at age 19, he became the youngest insurance agent in the history of Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Michigan. He left Farm Bureau soon thereafter to become an independent agent. In the ensuing years, he moved back and forth between the insurance business and the family construction business. He eventually became Vice President of the family business, with his father as President. In 1984, his beloved mother Hazel died of cancer. Russ sold his interest in the business back to his father in 1986, and went back into the insurance business full-time. In late 1991, he sold his interest in his insurance agency to his partner and moved to Atlanta, Georgia.
Soon after arriving in Atlanta, Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida and Southwestern Louisiana. He was hired by a national independent claims adjusting company as a "Storm Trooper," a temporary adjuster, because of his knowledge of construction and insurance. That began Russell's career in the insurance claims field. Longcore became a General Adjuster in Property in just four years, which normally takes an adjuster 10 to 15 years to accomplish. He has rocketed forward in the claims adjusting field through a combination of hard work and constant continuing education. Russell is now an Executive General Adjuster in both Property and Casualty claims, which is the highest position available to an adjuster. His claims adjusting practice is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Inspiration for first book
Russell has spent many years adjusting claims in residential and commercial property and casualty insurance claims. During that time, he came to understand that the insurance companies expected him to assist them in holding down claims settlement amounts and claims costs. At the same time, he understood that the claimants and policyholders were often entitled to collect hundreds or even thousands more dollars under the terms and conditions of their policies. This became a moral dilemma that would not go away. The dilemma caused many sleepless nights as he tried to balance the issues.
In the summer of 2004, he attended a workshop put on by Cory Rudl, an Internet marketing genius (now deceased). Russ was looking for a way to generate some extra income by marketing on the Internet. It was suggested to Russ that he write a book about the area of his expertise. He had always been a good writer and an avid reader, but had never dreamed that he could write a book. He set about writing the book in August, and finished the book entitled "Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!" by the end of 2006.
Russell intended the book to be a handy guide for policyholders on how to submit an insurance claim. However, in the process of writing the book, he naturally revealed important strategies for consumers on how to take control of their insurance claims...strategies that the insurance companies would never reveal to their own policyholders. The strategies, if used, would result in higher insurance settlements. The content of the book placed him at odds with the insurance companies and insurance adjusting companies.
When the book was still in manuscript form, Russ gave a copy to the President of the company he worked for, an international claims adjusting company. He wanted to fully disclose the manuscript to that employer. The manuscript was written under an assumed name to protect his identity while he still worked in the industry. However, the executives at the adjusting company told him that if insurance companies learned that the author of the book worked for the adjusting company, they would stop giving them claim assignments. They told Russ his book was a conflict of interest, and fired him in March of 2007...even though the book was only a manuscript, under an assumed name and not published at that time.
The book was released in Russell's name in May 2007, published by Trafford Books.
The book is available through the publisher, at Amazon.com, and at: http://www.insurance-claim-secrets.com
Publications
Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED! (2007) ISBN 142510443-6
Car Rental Insurance Report
Coming Soon: Business Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED! Release date: August 1, 2008
Family life
Russell is married to Julia Ann Longcore. "Julie" is an internationally known voiceover actor, using the professional name Deborah Richards. Julie spent 25 years in radio in the Atlanta market, retiring in 2002. Julie was co-winner of an award from the Academy of Country Music in 1988. Their son, Jarrett, is in college studying for a career as a sports broadcaster.
Russell has two grown children from a previous marriage. Melissa Longcore O'Connell lives with her husband Daniel and children Abigail Grace, Morgan Elizabeth and Austin John, in Holland, Michigan. His son, Russell Jr., is single and lives in the Atlanta area.
Performance history
Russell was a soloist in church all of his life. However, when he moved to Atlanta in 1992, he was encouraged to audition for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus as a tenor. He was accepted into the chorus as a First Tenor. The conductor, the legendary Robert Shaw, told Russell to take voice lessons. He studied with Dwight Coleman, Chairman of Opera Studies at Georgia State University. He also studied with Dr. Jennifer Cable, Chair of Vocal Performance Department at the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.
Russell has also sung with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, the Atlanta Opera Company, Richmond Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Richmond Symphony Chamber Chorus. Russell has recorded 20 CDs with the ASO Symphony and Chorus on the Telarc label. He has been on recordings that have won four Grammy Awards.
In December 2003, Russell traveled to Berlin, Germany to perform Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has performed onstage at Carnegie Hall on seven occasions.
Discography
1. A Capella Works by Copland, Durufle, Tavener, Vaughn Williams, Messiaen and Tallis
2. Absolute Heaven
3. Bach Mass in B Minor
4. Barber: Cantana Profana, Barber: Prayers for Kierkegaard, Op. 30 & Vaughn Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem
5. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
6. Berlioz: Requiem
7. Choral Masterpieces
8. Dvorak: Stabat Mater
9. Gloria!
10. Grand & Glorious - Great Opera Choruses
11. Great Choral Classics
12. Mendelssohn: Elijah
13. Mozart: Requiem
14. Orff: Carmina Burana
15. Rachmaninoff: The Bells and Adams: Harmonium
16. Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe
17. Szymanowski & Poulenc: Stabat Maters
18. The Power and The Majesty
19. Ralph Vaughn Williams: Symphony No. 5, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Serenade to Music
20. Verdi: Requiem and Operatic Choruses
See Also
1. http://en. .org/wiki/Insurance#Criticism_of_insurance_companies
Biography and career
Russell Longcore, the second of three siblings, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Baptist parents Clifford and Hazel Longcore of Kent City, Michigan (population 600). His father was a bricklayer: his mother was a homemaker. During Russ' early childhood, his father bought into a construction company about 60 miles from Kent City. The family moved to Montague, Michigan, where the business was located, in the summer of 1968. Russell graduated from Montague High School in 1971 solidly in the middle of his class. He played football, basketball, baseball, wrestling and track & field.
Russell attended Muskegon Community College in nearby Muskegon, Michigan in 1971 and 1972. He attended Grand Rapids Baptist College in 1974.
In 1972, Longcore was working as a laborer in his father's construction company when he bought a house. He bought homeowner's insurance at closing, and soon thereafter, the insurance agent offered him a job as an insurance agent. In April of 1973 at age 19, he became the youngest insurance agent in the history of Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Michigan. He left Farm Bureau soon thereafter to become an independent agent. In the ensuing years, he moved back and forth between the insurance business and the family construction business. He eventually became Vice President of the family business, with his father as President. In 1984, his beloved mother Hazel died of cancer. Russ sold his interest in the business back to his father in 1986, and went back into the insurance business full-time. In late 1991, he sold his interest in his insurance agency to his partner and moved to Atlanta, Georgia.
Soon after arriving in Atlanta, Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida and Southwestern Louisiana. He was hired by a national independent claims adjusting company as a "Storm Trooper," a temporary adjuster, because of his knowledge of construction and insurance. That began Russell's career in the insurance claims field. Longcore became a General Adjuster in Property in just four years, which normally takes an adjuster 10 to 15 years to accomplish. He has rocketed forward in the claims adjusting field through a combination of hard work and constant continuing education. Russell is now an Executive General Adjuster in both Property and Casualty claims, which is the highest position available to an adjuster. His claims adjusting practice is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Inspiration for first book
Russell has spent many years adjusting claims in residential and commercial property and casualty insurance claims. During that time, he came to understand that the insurance companies expected him to assist them in holding down claims settlement amounts and claims costs. At the same time, he understood that the claimants and policyholders were often entitled to collect hundreds or even thousands more dollars under the terms and conditions of their policies. This became a moral dilemma that would not go away. The dilemma caused many sleepless nights as he tried to balance the issues.
In the summer of 2004, he attended a workshop put on by Cory Rudl, an Internet marketing genius (now deceased). Russ was looking for a way to generate some extra income by marketing on the Internet. It was suggested to Russ that he write a book about the area of his expertise. He had always been a good writer and an avid reader, but had never dreamed that he could write a book. He set about writing the book in August, and finished the book entitled "Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!" by the end of 2006.
Russell intended the book to be a handy guide for policyholders on how to submit an insurance claim. However, in the process of writing the book, he naturally revealed important strategies for consumers on how to take control of their insurance claims...strategies that the insurance companies would never reveal to their own policyholders. The strategies, if used, would result in higher insurance settlements. The content of the book placed him at odds with the insurance companies and insurance adjusting companies.
When the book was still in manuscript form, Russ gave a copy to the President of the company he worked for, an international claims adjusting company. He wanted to fully disclose the manuscript to that employer. The manuscript was written under an assumed name to protect his identity while he still worked in the industry. However, the executives at the adjusting company told him that if insurance companies learned that the author of the book worked for the adjusting company, they would stop giving them claim assignments. They told Russ his book was a conflict of interest, and fired him in March of 2007...even though the book was only a manuscript, under an assumed name and not published at that time.
The book was released in Russell's name in May 2007, published by Trafford Books.
The book is available through the publisher, at Amazon.com, and at: http://www.insurance-claim-secrets.com
Publications
Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED! (2007) ISBN 142510443-6
Car Rental Insurance Report
Coming Soon: Business Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED! Release date: August 1, 2008
Family life
Russell is married to Julia Ann Longcore. "Julie" is an internationally known voiceover actor, using the professional name Deborah Richards. Julie spent 25 years in radio in the Atlanta market, retiring in 2002. Julie was co-winner of an award from the Academy of Country Music in 1988. Their son, Jarrett, is in college studying for a career as a sports broadcaster.
Russell has two grown children from a previous marriage. Melissa Longcore O'Connell lives with her husband Daniel and children Abigail Grace, Morgan Elizabeth and Austin John, in Holland, Michigan. His son, Russell Jr., is single and lives in the Atlanta area.
Performance history
Russell was a soloist in church all of his life. However, when he moved to Atlanta in 1992, he was encouraged to audition for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus as a tenor. He was accepted into the chorus as a First Tenor. The conductor, the legendary Robert Shaw, told Russell to take voice lessons. He studied with Dwight Coleman, Chairman of Opera Studies at Georgia State University. He also studied with Dr. Jennifer Cable, Chair of Vocal Performance Department at the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.
Russell has also sung with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, the Atlanta Opera Company, Richmond Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Richmond Symphony Chamber Chorus. Russell has recorded 20 CDs with the ASO Symphony and Chorus on the Telarc label. He has been on recordings that have won four Grammy Awards.
In December 2003, Russell traveled to Berlin, Germany to perform Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has performed onstage at Carnegie Hall on seven occasions.
Discography
1. A Capella Works by Copland, Durufle, Tavener, Vaughn Williams, Messiaen and Tallis
2. Absolute Heaven
3. Bach Mass in B Minor
4. Barber: Cantana Profana, Barber: Prayers for Kierkegaard, Op. 30 & Vaughn Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem
5. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
6. Berlioz: Requiem
7. Choral Masterpieces
8. Dvorak: Stabat Mater
9. Gloria!
10. Grand & Glorious - Great Opera Choruses
11. Great Choral Classics
12. Mendelssohn: Elijah
13. Mozart: Requiem
14. Orff: Carmina Burana
15. Rachmaninoff: The Bells and Adams: Harmonium
16. Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe
17. Szymanowski & Poulenc: Stabat Maters
18. The Power and The Majesty
19. Ralph Vaughn Williams: Symphony No. 5, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Serenade to Music
20. Verdi: Requiem and Operatic Choruses
See Also
1. http://en. .org/wiki/Insurance#Criticism_of_insurance_companies
Education is a common recurring theme in the Television show The Simpsons. Many of the episodes feature scenes at the fictional Springfield Elementary School and several plotlines have also revolved around education. Many different themes have been featured, including lack of funding of public schools ("The PTA Disbands") and evolution vs. creationism ("The Monkey Suit").
Other episodes have revolved around the fictional Springfield University, which is where Homer went when fired from the Nuclear Power Plant ("Homer Goes to College"). Lisa also secretly started attending it in the episode "Little Girl in the Big Ten".
In general, many of Springfield's citizen's educational level is not specified in the series, and several have gone onto post-high school education.
Daycares & Pre-Schools
Ayn Rand School for Tots
Run by "Ms. Sinclair", the sister of a musical director, this daycare is featured in the episode "A Streetcar Named Marge". She runs her school under the strict teachings of Ayn Rand and does not believe in baby bottles, trying to develop "the bottle within". She also does not allow pacifiers, which leads Maggie and her fellow babies to rebel. She also believes that when a baby wants its bottle it doesn't say, as Marge believes, "Ba-Ba" but "I am a leech!"
Elementary Schools
Springfield Elementary School
*Principal: Seymour Skinner
*Superintendent: Superintendent Chalmers
*Teachers: Mrs. Krabappel, Miss Hoover, , , and Coach Krupt.
*Janitorial Staff: Groundskeeper Willie
*Cafeteria Staff: Lunchlady Doris
*PTA Chairman: Ned Flanders
In "" Springfield Elementary was revealed to once be the most dilapidated school in Missouri and was moved to Springfield brick by brick. Springfield has long been an underfunded school with a computer-less computer lab, a less than enthusiastic staff and a group of very uneducated students. On many occasions it has been said that Lisa is the only one keeping the school going. There are several subjects that have been cut, such as Geography (which was proving to be an embarrassment), math, and music, gym and art (due to a lack of funding). The majority of Springfield's adults attended Springfield Elementary in "The President Wore Pearls".
The school is horribly underfunded. For instance, there is a cinder block in place of a tether ball, and it has several grossly incompetent teachers; a camp of gypsies were once shown living on the school's playground as well. Also, only the teachers and the student body president eat french fries made from potatoes. The milk was shown to be from rats provided by Fat Tony.
The school's lack of funding has been the center of several episodes, including "The PTA Disbands", in which the teachers go on strike until more funding is provided and "The President Wore Pearls" in which Lisa leads a student strike to get music, gym and art back.
West Springfield Elementary School
This school has been seen only in the episode "Trilogy of Error". Lisa, in a rush to get to school, hitches a ride with Krusty who accidentally goes to the wrong school. West Springfield Elementary has a French class and is attended by a boy named Thelonious, who Lisa fell in love with. The fact that West Springfield Elementary resembles Springfield Elementary is a parody on how some public school systems build elementary schools that use the exact same blueprints.
Springfield Preparatory School
Encountered by the Simpson family in "The Bart Wants What it Wants", it is attended by the children of many of Springfield's more affluent citizens, including Dr. Hibbert's daughter, Kent Brockman's daughter and Rainier Wolfcastle's daughter Greta.
Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children
Attended by Bart after he cheated on a test in the episode "Bart the Genius," he was admitted to this school, filled with stereotypical nerds and child prodigies. Bart got tricked by the students easily for his food.
Springfield Magnet School for the Gifted and Troublesome
At the end of "The President Wore Pearls", Lisa is sent here by Skinner, intending to stop the strike she started. She discovers a charming French boy who tells her of their large library, but Homer immediately stopped her from going due to not wanting to drive 45 minutes every day.
High Schools
Springfield High
Because there are very few teenage characters in The Simpsons, Springfield High School is most often seen in flashbacks, notably to when Homer and Marge met. Squeaky Voice Teen goes there.
Colleges
Springfield University
Springfield has a large and prestigious college which Homer attended in the episode "Homer Goes to College", the third episode of the fifth series. It teaches several different courses, including nuclear physics, arts management and the meaning of cartoons.
Springfield A&M
The longtime rival of Springfield U, its mascot is a pig named "Sir Oinks-a-lot" who has several powerful friends, including Richard Nixon. The two schools meet in an annual football game. The college is often referred to as a "cow college," as it was literally founded by a cow. Lenny and Carl are both alumni.
Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
Attended by Apu during the 1970s, where he enrolled in Professor Frink's Computer Science class. During Apu's stay they had a least one supercomputer which ran on punch cards.
Springfield Community College
Marge took a painting class here in "Brush with Greatness". Also, Homer briefly taught a class on "Secrets of a Successful Marriage". Other classes taught there include "how to chew tobacco", "orange eating", "funk dancing for self-defence" and "Strip for your wife".
Alma Mater
Several of the characters on the show went to college or University, including:
*Homer Simpson: Springfield University
*Lenny Leonard: Has a Master of Physics from Springfield A&M
*Carl Carlson: Has a Master of Physics from Springfield A&M
*Mr. Burns: Yale, has a seat on the board at Springfield U
*Otto: Brown
*Sideshow Mel: Cornell
*Sideshow Bob: Yale
*Cecil Terwilliger: Princeton
*Lionel Hutz: Harvard, Yale, MIT, Oxford, the Sorbonne, "the Lou-vra"
*Edna Krabappel: Bryn Mawr
*Snake Jailbird: Ball State and Middlebury
*Dr. Hibbert: Johns Hopkins Medical School
*Moe Szyslak: Swigmore University
*Apu Nahasapeemapetilon: Calcutta Technical Institute, Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
*Frank Grimes: Degree in Nuclear Physics in a correspondence course from an unknown school
*Professor Frink: Professor at Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
*Superintendent Chalmers: Ball State
*Kirk Van Houten: Gudger College
*Barney Gumble: Claims to have given a guest lecture (while drunk) at Villanova, or perhaps a street corner. He might have gotten into Harvard had Homer not exposed him to alcohol.
*Ned Flanders: Has a Degree in Pharmacology from Oral Roberts University
*Hans Moleman:Brown
*Selma Bouvier: Springfield University
*Herbert Powell: Harvard
*Dr. Nick: Hollywood Upstairs Medical College
*Eleanor Abernathy: Harvard Medical School, Yale Law School
*Marge Simpson: Springfield University
Harvard and the Ivies
Many of the Simpsons writers attended Harvard, including:
*Al Jean
*Dan McGrath
*John Collier
*Greg Daniels
*Patric Verrone
*Bill Canterbury
*David X. Cohen
*Jon Vitti
*Richard Appel
*Bill Oakley
*David Sacks
*Ken Keeler
*Steve Tompkins
*Conan O'Brien (Also president of the Harvard Lampoon)
*George Meyer
*Max Pross
*Steve Young
*Dan Greaney
*Jeff Martin
*Mike Reiss
*Tom Gammill
*Nell Scovell
*Daniel Chun
*Matt Warburton
Former director Lauren MacMullan is also a Harvard alumnus, and was briefly president of the Harvard Lampoon.
Other Simpsons writers who have attended well-known universities (Ivy League or otherwise) include:
*Josh Weinstein - Stanford University
*Ian Maxtone-Graham - Brown University
Episodes that focus around education
*"Bart the Genius"
*"Lisa's Substitute"
*"Homer Goes to College"
*"The PTA Disbands"
*""
*"The President Wore Pearls"
*"The Monkey Suit"
*"Girls Just Want to Have Sums"
*"Little Girl in the Big Ten"
Other episodes have revolved around the fictional Springfield University, which is where Homer went when fired from the Nuclear Power Plant ("Homer Goes to College"). Lisa also secretly started attending it in the episode "Little Girl in the Big Ten".
In general, many of Springfield's citizen's educational level is not specified in the series, and several have gone onto post-high school education.
Daycares & Pre-Schools
Ayn Rand School for Tots
Run by "Ms. Sinclair", the sister of a musical director, this daycare is featured in the episode "A Streetcar Named Marge". She runs her school under the strict teachings of Ayn Rand and does not believe in baby bottles, trying to develop "the bottle within". She also does not allow pacifiers, which leads Maggie and her fellow babies to rebel. She also believes that when a baby wants its bottle it doesn't say, as Marge believes, "Ba-Ba" but "I am a leech!"
Elementary Schools
Springfield Elementary School
*Principal: Seymour Skinner
*Superintendent: Superintendent Chalmers
*Teachers: Mrs. Krabappel, Miss Hoover, , , and Coach Krupt.
*Janitorial Staff: Groundskeeper Willie
*Cafeteria Staff: Lunchlady Doris
*PTA Chairman: Ned Flanders
In "" Springfield Elementary was revealed to once be the most dilapidated school in Missouri and was moved to Springfield brick by brick. Springfield has long been an underfunded school with a computer-less computer lab, a less than enthusiastic staff and a group of very uneducated students. On many occasions it has been said that Lisa is the only one keeping the school going. There are several subjects that have been cut, such as Geography (which was proving to be an embarrassment), math, and music, gym and art (due to a lack of funding). The majority of Springfield's adults attended Springfield Elementary in "The President Wore Pearls".
The school is horribly underfunded. For instance, there is a cinder block in place of a tether ball, and it has several grossly incompetent teachers; a camp of gypsies were once shown living on the school's playground as well. Also, only the teachers and the student body president eat french fries made from potatoes. The milk was shown to be from rats provided by Fat Tony.
The school's lack of funding has been the center of several episodes, including "The PTA Disbands", in which the teachers go on strike until more funding is provided and "The President Wore Pearls" in which Lisa leads a student strike to get music, gym and art back.
West Springfield Elementary School
This school has been seen only in the episode "Trilogy of Error". Lisa, in a rush to get to school, hitches a ride with Krusty who accidentally goes to the wrong school. West Springfield Elementary has a French class and is attended by a boy named Thelonious, who Lisa fell in love with. The fact that West Springfield Elementary resembles Springfield Elementary is a parody on how some public school systems build elementary schools that use the exact same blueprints.
Springfield Preparatory School
Encountered by the Simpson family in "The Bart Wants What it Wants", it is attended by the children of many of Springfield's more affluent citizens, including Dr. Hibbert's daughter, Kent Brockman's daughter and Rainier Wolfcastle's daughter Greta.
Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children
Attended by Bart after he cheated on a test in the episode "Bart the Genius," he was admitted to this school, filled with stereotypical nerds and child prodigies. Bart got tricked by the students easily for his food.
Springfield Magnet School for the Gifted and Troublesome
At the end of "The President Wore Pearls", Lisa is sent here by Skinner, intending to stop the strike she started. She discovers a charming French boy who tells her of their large library, but Homer immediately stopped her from going due to not wanting to drive 45 minutes every day.
High Schools
Springfield High
Because there are very few teenage characters in The Simpsons, Springfield High School is most often seen in flashbacks, notably to when Homer and Marge met. Squeaky Voice Teen goes there.
Colleges
Springfield University
Springfield has a large and prestigious college which Homer attended in the episode "Homer Goes to College", the third episode of the fifth series. It teaches several different courses, including nuclear physics, arts management and the meaning of cartoons.
Springfield A&M
The longtime rival of Springfield U, its mascot is a pig named "Sir Oinks-a-lot" who has several powerful friends, including Richard Nixon. The two schools meet in an annual football game. The college is often referred to as a "cow college," as it was literally founded by a cow. Lenny and Carl are both alumni.
Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
Attended by Apu during the 1970s, where he enrolled in Professor Frink's Computer Science class. During Apu's stay they had a least one supercomputer which ran on punch cards.
Springfield Community College
Marge took a painting class here in "Brush with Greatness". Also, Homer briefly taught a class on "Secrets of a Successful Marriage". Other classes taught there include "how to chew tobacco", "orange eating", "funk dancing for self-defence" and "Strip for your wife".
Alma Mater
Several of the characters on the show went to college or University, including:
*Homer Simpson: Springfield University
*Lenny Leonard: Has a Master of Physics from Springfield A&M
*Carl Carlson: Has a Master of Physics from Springfield A&M
*Mr. Burns: Yale, has a seat on the board at Springfield U
*Otto: Brown
*Sideshow Mel: Cornell
*Sideshow Bob: Yale
*Cecil Terwilliger: Princeton
*Lionel Hutz: Harvard, Yale, MIT, Oxford, the Sorbonne, "the Lou-vra"
*Edna Krabappel: Bryn Mawr
*Snake Jailbird: Ball State and Middlebury
*Dr. Hibbert: Johns Hopkins Medical School
*Moe Szyslak: Swigmore University
*Apu Nahasapeemapetilon: Calcutta Technical Institute, Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
*Frank Grimes: Degree in Nuclear Physics in a correspondence course from an unknown school
*Professor Frink: Professor at Springfield Heights Institute of Technology
*Superintendent Chalmers: Ball State
*Kirk Van Houten: Gudger College
*Barney Gumble: Claims to have given a guest lecture (while drunk) at Villanova, or perhaps a street corner. He might have gotten into Harvard had Homer not exposed him to alcohol.
*Ned Flanders: Has a Degree in Pharmacology from Oral Roberts University
*Hans Moleman:Brown
*Selma Bouvier: Springfield University
*Herbert Powell: Harvard
*Dr. Nick: Hollywood Upstairs Medical College
*Eleanor Abernathy: Harvard Medical School, Yale Law School
*Marge Simpson: Springfield University
Harvard and the Ivies
Many of the Simpsons writers attended Harvard, including:
*Al Jean
*Dan McGrath
*John Collier
*Greg Daniels
*Patric Verrone
*Bill Canterbury
*David X. Cohen
*Jon Vitti
*Richard Appel
*Bill Oakley
*David Sacks
*Ken Keeler
*Steve Tompkins
*Conan O'Brien (Also president of the Harvard Lampoon)
*George Meyer
*Max Pross
*Steve Young
*Dan Greaney
*Jeff Martin
*Mike Reiss
*Tom Gammill
*Nell Scovell
*Daniel Chun
*Matt Warburton
Former director Lauren MacMullan is also a Harvard alumnus, and was briefly president of the Harvard Lampoon.
Other Simpsons writers who have attended well-known universities (Ivy League or otherwise) include:
*Josh Weinstein - Stanford University
*Ian Maxtone-Graham - Brown University
Episodes that focus around education
*"Bart the Genius"
*"Lisa's Substitute"
*"Homer Goes to College"
*"The PTA Disbands"
*""
*"The President Wore Pearls"
*"The Monkey Suit"
*"Girls Just Want to Have Sums"
*"Little Girl in the Big Ten"