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Landscape design brings together the main aspects of art and science to generate a efficient, great looking extension of inside lifestyle to the outdoors. It is a part of scenery architecture and will allow place and design and style to reflect ingenuity. Entirely a person created physical exercise, the goal of panorama layout is usually to merge technology with character. To become panorama fashionable you have to have a operating expertise in art factors and style guidelines.
Though an structural field, landscape design carries a specific aesthetic importance. Elements of art work involve however are not restricted to shade, collection, form, texture and scale. These factors are never self-sufficient of each other, but their personal natures must be handled attention before taking into consideration the relationships.
Scenery design is a multi-disciplinary field, which includes within its retract mathematics, technology, design, artwork, technology, sociable sciences, national politics, background, approach. Shade, collection, form, feel and size are tools which are employed in mixtures to alter design the panorama. Layout guidelines include unity, balance, transition, focalization, amount, rhythm, rep and simpleness. Every one of these concepts communicate to produce the planned scenery design and style.
The landscape developer essentially performs on:
o The form, scale and citing of new innovations
o Public areas, greenways, golfing programs, concept parks and sports amenities
o Property locations, manufacturing park systems and business developments
o City layout, village and city squares, and walking schemes
o Small or large city regeneration schemes
o Forest, visitor or historic panoramas, and historical backyard evaluation and efficiency studies
o Environment examination and landscape examination, preparing advice and terrain managing proposals.
o Seaside and overseas advancements
The real key actions in landscaping style are:
o Develop a plot strategy.
o Perform a web site analysis.
o Examine family members demands and desires.
o Track down exercise regions.
o Design and style action places.
o Plant variety and positioning.
Essential in scenery design:
o Unity is obtained with the successful usage of components in the layout to convey a primary concept through steady design. It is actually emphasized by persistence of personality between models within the scenery. Usage of components to convey a particular concept within models produces equilibrium in landscape style.
o Stability can also be required. It refers back to the harmony or equality of graphic attraction. Symmetrical harmony is accomplished when one area in the design and style is actually a looking glass picture of another aspect. There is a unique dividing series between your two sides. Equal outlines, kinds, designs or colours are stored on either side of your symmetrical landscaping layout.
o Colours are combined into colour schemes for useful applications. 3 simple shade systems are monochromatic, comparable and contrasting. A monochromatic color system consists of various tints and hues of merely one coloration and it is seldom obtained in its real kind from the landscape style.
o A line is preserved in landscaping layout together with the size of your vegetation that have been planted. Within the overall landscaping, lines are inferred by mattress layout and just how these mattresses in shape or flow collectively.
o The actual size of the area will be taken into account for a definite landscaping design.
Panorama developers and Landscape specialists or engineers are utilized with landscaping development and service organizations. Landscape designers, like back garden creative designers, style a variety of planting and environmentally friendly spaces. With quick contemporary urbanization, panorama layout is fast getting momentum.
Inspired by: ezinearticles


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Collaborative Student Volunteer and Service Projects
This collection was built in response to the surge in student volunteer and service projects that provided additional support to communities, medical schools, and health systems in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Largely student-initiated, this open repository of curated resources features volunteer and service experiences that are responsive to local needs, do not place additional burdens on local systems, and prioritize student, patient, and community safety. They can be adopted or adapted for local use and have helped inform student-led projects around the country.
Seeking your submissions for the next phase of this collection
As a working collection, we are actively seeking new submissions of student volunteer and service experiences, particularly those that are virtual and/or otherwise prioritize individual and community safety, we are specifically asking for projects that focus on these areas: (1) diversity, equity, and inclusion, including antiracism, (2) public and population health, and (3) collaborations (interprofessional, inter-institutional, with health systems and community organizations). Understanding that schools are considering engaging students in efforts to vaccinate the public, we are also interested in vaccine-related volunteer or service projects.
- Community education resource development (22)
- Telemedicine support (22)
- Medical education activities (20)
- Community outreach to minimize social isolation (16)
- Research (12)
- Support COVID-19 screening/triage (12)
- Overflow staffing/support (11)
- Wellbeing support for healthcare workers/students (11)
- Coordination of PPE donations or manufacturing (10)
- Coordination with local departments of health (10)
- (-) Infection control/occupational health (7)
- COVID-19 community hotline (5)
- Grocery delivery/food coordination (5)
- Food banks (3)
- COVID-19 vaccine effort (2)
- Blood banks (1)
- Childcare for healthcare workforce (1)

subset: commoncrawl


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If you go
What: Bluegrass at the Audi
Who: Finnders & Youngberg and The Blue Canyon Boys
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road
Cost: CBMS members, students, seniors $12; non-members $15. Available at coloradobluegrass.org
More info: 303-464-5835
The unmistakable squeal of fiddle strings, the timeless duel of banjos, and sweet Appalachian harmony will herald the return of bluegrass to the Broomfield Auditorium.
The Colorado Bluegrass Music Society on Saturday kicks off its 2013 Bluegrass at the Audi concert series with The Blue Canyon Boys and Finnders & Youngberg. Both groups represent some of the finest bluegrass talent that can be heard on the Front Range.
"They've got it together, instrumentally and vocally, and their performances are entertaining," said CBMS president Doris Gray. "In addition to their obvious talents, both bands have members who are songwriters, as well, and they perform many of their own originals. Audiences of all ages and musical tastes will not be disappointed."
The Colorado Bluegrass Music Society, a registered nonprofit entity, is renowned in Colorado and beyond for its promotion and preservation of bluegrass music. It is itself a social network of sorts, linking musicians, fans and businesses to develop, promote and encourage all things bluegrass in the Centennial State.
Gray has served as president for five years and might just be the genre's greatest fan.
"Bluegrass music fills me up. The blend of acoustic instruments and the vocal harmonies are unique and the music is fun," she said. "Bluegrass pickers and fans are welcoming and down-to-earth folks, who create a community of acceptance and support for all levels of talent and interest, whether it be participating in a jam, playing in a band, or simply tapping your foot to the beat."
More shows
Future Bluegrass at the Audi dates are Feb. 9 featuring Jeff Scroggins & Colorado and the Stanleytones Bluegrass Band, and March 30 with High Plains Tradition and Steel Pennies.
The Blue Canyon Boys describe their music as a high-octane traditional inspired bluegrass that blends incredible "brother-duet-style vocals with hard-driving instrumental proficiency," creating an infectious brew of Colorado bluegrass. They're thrilled to be on the CBMS bill again.
"Their gigs are always a great time with a wonderful audience," said guitarist Jason Hicks. "They do quite a lot to help promote bluegrass in Colorado, as well as support the bluegrass musicians and bands across the state."
The Saturday gig is the band's second Bluegrass at the Audi performance and will serve as a release party for its fifth CD, "Next Go Round." On the heels of the performance, the band will hit the road across Colorado and the western states, letting loose their brand of bluegrass on new fans.
Fort Collins' Finnders & Youngberg have been CBMS members since the band's founding in 2008.
"Our sound is certainly bluegrassy, but we do all original music, and mix in a lot of our other influences, including country, folk and blues music," said guitarist, principal songwriter and band namesake Mike Finders.
Veterans of the Front Range acoustic scene, Finnders & Youngberg are releasing a new album this spring and are heavily booked through June.
In addition to hosting the concert series and other events, the Society hosts four jam sessions annually, encouraging members, non-members and fans to participate. The CBMS board of directors is "always open to creating new ways to fulfill its mission of supporting, preserving and educating," said Gray.
"I have been a fan of bluegrass music for close to 40 years, and I love being a part of the contingent that supports, promotes, preserves and educates others in keeping the genre alive and well in the state of Colorado. It's exciting to see young people as well as the cronies engage in bluegrass music."


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A few days ago, Linete and I foud ourselves in Detroit, without kids, poking around Corktown. The plan was to get something warm to drink at Astro Coffee, but it looked too crowded. Linette peaked in, through one of the fogged-up windows, to see if there was space for me. (She can fit most anywhere. […]
Tag Archives: Emily Linn
Lisa Waud on her plans to expand Ann Arbor's Pot & Box into the thriving entrepreneurial hotbed that is Detroit's Corktown
By Mark | January 17, 2013
Posted in Ann Arbor, entrepreneurism, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Mark's Life, Uncategorized | Also tagged 2520 Michigan Avenue, absinthe, Andy Didorosi, Astro Coffee, Bureau of Urban Living, Canine to Five, City Bird, Claire Nelson, Cliff Bell's, cocktails, Corktown, Dave Landrum, Detroit, Detroit Bus Company, Detroit Farm and Garden, Detroit gas stations, Downtown Home and Garden, entrepreneurism, entrepreneurship, Felch Street, flowers, friends who do cooler stuff that I do, Gallery 555, gardening, Green Dot Stables, Hatch Detroit, Helen Harding, Honor & Folly, Hugh, ice cream truck, indy retail, Izzy's, Jean Henry, Joe Posch, Katherine Yates, Le Petite Zinc, Lisa Waud, Liz Blondy, Mercury Bar, Michigan Avenue, Model D, Mudgie's Deli, new ideas in retail, Open City Detroit, Paper Street, Pete Bailey, Pop-up for the Holidays, pop-up retail, Popular Mechanics, Pot and Box, Rachel Parke, retail in Detroit, Rooselvelt Park, scotch, Slows Bar BQ, Small & Mighty, St. Cece's, Stagger Lee, The Sugar House, Two James Distillery, urban gardening, Valentine's Day, Xavier's, YEP, Young Entrepreneurial People | 24 Comments


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ZeroMQ Free Software Licenses
The libzmq library is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License V3 plus a static linking exception.
- You get the full source code. You can examine the code, modify it, and share your modified code under the terms of the LGPL.
- Static linking exception. The copyright holders give you permission to link this library with independent modules to produce an executable, regardless of the license terms of these independent modules, and to copy and distribute the resulting executable under terms of your choice, provided that you also meet, for each linked independent module, the terms and conditions of the license of that module. An independent module is a module which is not derived from or based on this library. If you modify this library, you must extend this exception to your version of the library.
ZeroMQ for Commercial Applications
- ZeroMQ is safe for use in close-source applications. The LGPL share-alike terms do not apply to applications built on top of ZeroMQ.
- You do not need a commercial license. The LGPL applies to ZeroMQ's own source code, not your applications. Many commercial applications use ZeroMQ.
Intent to Move to MPL v2
It is the intention of the ZeroMQ community to move gradually towards the Mozilla Public License v2, as a replacement for the current LGPLv3 + static link exception.
MPLv2 offers largely the same advantages as our custom LGPLv3 + static link exception license, with the added advantage of being a standard license, thus easier for corporate lawyers to accept.
MPLv2 is the recommended license for new ZeroMQ projects, and where possible, ZeroMQ projects should collect approval from contributors to move towards MPLv2.
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HELUKABEL®'s extensive line of flexible cables, hook-up wire, cable accessories, industrial connectors and strain relief cable glands are ideally suited to meet the requirements of industrial machinery. Regardless of the application – continuous movements on multiple axes to working in a broad array of temperature environments – HELUKABEL® offers its customers a superior, cost-effective solution.
We look forward to assisting you in identifying the best products for your specific application and to answer any questions you might have.
Call +359 888 18 96 38 or email us: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Get the look of wallpaper without the commitment! Our wall stickers are made from high quality removable vinyl in a matte finish. Perfect for that 'painted on' look but way easier to accomplish. Awesome for renters who don't want to damage their walls.
These plus's come ready for you to peel and stick! Place them on your wall in a pattern or go for a more random look.
Our stickers aren't just for walls either! You can stick them on furniture, windows, mirrors, any flat dry surface really. So choose your color and your pack size and you're on your way to achieving a new fresh space.
Plus are available in 2" and 4". Mix and match smaller packs in different colors for an even more colorful look! (shown in light grey)
*Please note the colors shown may vary from actual colors due to different computer screen settings. If you would like a sample of a specific color before purchasing please feel free to contact us. Metallic colors are a matte finish.*


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Model SS-C7-1414-CB-S Mechanic Truck Body
Service Star SS-C7-1414-CB-S, 11 foot mechanic trucks and field service trucks are the premier heavy-duty mechanic trucks and field service trucks that are specifically designed for use by operators that require a mechanic truck or field service truck that delivers the features and benefits required to excel in the field. SS-C6-1100-CB-S Mechanic truck bodies support both electric/hydraulic cranes and fully hydraulic cranes up to 14,000 lbs and is rated to 72,000 ft lbs. The SS-C7-1414-CB-S mechanic truck and crane body is a field service truck that is designed for Class 7 chassis. (Note: Crane capacity may be limited based on specific model selected as well as the chassis GVWR rating. Please contact the factory to determine the specific model you are interested in as well as crane capacities)
Service Star bodies can be equipped with a wide array of optional equipment from custom tool box configurations, tool box drawer dividers, bolt bins, additional shelves, shelf dividers, sixty inch tall extended height street side compartment designed to match the curb side oxy/fuel compartment, exterior work lighting systems, emergency lighting systems and compartment lighting systems. Service Star heavy duty mechanic truck bodies support gas engine and diesel engine driven air compressors, hydraulically driven air compressors to 160 CFM output, hydraulic drive welders, hydraulic driven generators and hydraullically operated tool systems with the addition of an optional hydraulic system.
Options also include a 30 inch workbench, 24 inch deep and 36 inch deep welding decks, enclosed welding deck's, compartment mounted welder installations, slide out welder trays, gas and diesel engine driven welders, gas and diesel engine driven generators, bed mounted/removable fuel/lube skids, auxiallary diesel fuel systems, sliding bed top cover systems, electrically operated aluminum roll top bed covers, tarp systems and complete body and bed enclosures.
Whatever your service needs, no matter how difficult they are, we can help! Let our engineering staff configure a custom engineered Service Star mechanic truck body designed to meet your needs today!
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It seems everyone has resolutions for the New Year, and mobile SEOs should be no exception. Last year, I focused my first column of the year on predicting trends for the New Year, rather than making resolutions on mobile search. And while those minor predictions have stood up pretty well, this year I want to focus on something that all of us can more easily control: three resolutions for mobile search and SEO in 2013.
1. Give More Tactical Advice On How To Do Mobile SEO Well
OK, you get it: you should be doing something to account for mobile searchers. You're not one of the misinformed masses who believe that mobile SEO is a myth, or that mobility doesn't matter in a multiscreen world or that mobile search results and desktop search results are the same. I know I spent a lot of time in past columns dispelling these myths, but going forward, I'm going to focus on real actionable insights for improving organic search traffic from mobile searchers.
I've done this in the past a bit. Regular readers will know that I'm not completely theoretical or strategic here. Early last year, I dove in deep to uncover 7 common examples of duplicate content created by mobile sites, and gave specific advice on how to best optimize a mobile site.
Starting next month, I'll continue this trend and explain a little about how we do keyword research for mobile searchers at Resolution Media. This should help you bring your keyword research into the 21st century, where not doing mobile keyword research could cost you insights into more than half of your audience, depending on your category.
As the percent of searchers using mobile devices continues to increase, mobile SEO might become redundant, as SEOs will need to account for mobility in order to do their jobs. When that happens, readers of this column will be ahead of the curve.
If you can't wait until next month for new information, be sure to check out my recent guest post on the Stone Temple blog for two tips on how to do a simple mobile SEO audit.
What other mobile SEO topics do you want to see covered in detail this year? Please sound off in the comments.
2. Give More Case Studies To Demonstrate Mobile SEO Success
It can be easy to think that all of this is theoretical; as we do a lot of talk about how and why to do mobile SEO here but not much demonstration of it has worked for businesses. And, honestly, in the beginning, a lot of it was more abstract than client-based.
Yet today, I know more of our clients are asking for mobile SEO help, so we have case studies about what works and what doesn't when it comes to app store optimization and mobile SEO for sites.
n 2013, you can expect to hear more concrete examples about how some of the techniques that we talk about here have worked for real businesses like yours. Keep in mind that some of them may be anonymous, as I'm sometimes limited in terms of what data I can provide.
Still, all of the case studies should give you a better sense that mobile SEO isn't a theoretical exercise that we will all be doing sometime in the distant future; but a real process that businesses use to their advantage today.
To this end, I'd love to hear from you all about what has worked for your business when it comes to mobile SEO. Have you had phenomenal success doing mobile specific keyword research or getting incremental links to your mobile site? If so, let me know and I'll be happy to publish in a future column.
3. Leave The Responsive vs. Mobile Web Debate In 2012
Finally, though many of us mobile search columnists here have spilled a lot of ink about the pros and cons of responsive Web design versus some other mobile configuration in 2012, this year it's time to move forward.
Though I respect and frequently agree with him, I would have to disagree with Michael Martin's assertion that the single URL approach is best for SEO, as we all know that Google now has switchboard tags to consolidate link equity in the event of duplicated pages across URLs, and that mobile URLs are one of three supported options for mobile SEO.
Yet, in spite of the fact that this was announced last June, I'm still seeing many people claiming that the single URL approach is best because of its SEO value– consolidating link equity in the absence of duplicate URLs. We know now that this is false.
If you want to make your site mobile and do well in search results, you now have three supported options: dynamic serving, responsive design and mobile URLs.
Google and Bing prefer responsive design if it makes sense for your users and you're targeting smartphone users; but if it doesn't and you're not they can still make it work.
Of my more than thirty published articles last year, more than half of them were about when responsive Web design is appropriate for SEO and when it's not. I don't plan on talking about this much more in 2013, and I hope that others like me who write about mobile SEO leave it in the past as well.
Repost From: http://searchengineland.com/3-mobile-seo-resolutions-for-2013-144026


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After several months of fruitless fighting and terrifying campaigning, America's gentle, besweatered hatemonger Rick Santorum has announced he's aborting his bid for President. It seems the best way to deal with the Santorum campaign in death is the way we dealt with it in life: like it was all one terrible, drawn-out joke. Rick Santorum was the worst. But how bad was he, exactly? Let's turn to our friend, the analogy, for help.
Rick Santorum's campaign for President was the political equivalent of drunk sex that goes on to the point of chafing in spite of the fact that neither party is capable of orgasm.
He was never going to get the nomination. Party establishment wasn't wet for him, and at times, Rick seemed like he was running for America Pope instead of President, especially when he said anti-constitutional things like how the Establishment Clause made him want to barf all over or that Barack Obama was a snob for suggesting that kids go to college. But he kept jackhammering away anyway.
Rick Santorum's campaign for President was so bad that it felt like being in labor with a giant baby for several months.
He was supposed to quit ages ago, back before Huntsman and Bachmann and Perry and even Cain dropped out. But Santorum stayed stubbornly embedded in America's political process, refusing to budge in spite of our pushing and heaving. Even after pulling bush league stunts like the time he said that he didn't like welfare because he didn't want to make black people's lives better by giving them someone else's money, and then three days later explained that he was actually saying "blah people." Because nothing is a scourge on society like giving money to the unstylish and indistinct.
Rick Santorum's campaign for President was so bad that it felt like sitting on the train next to someone mumbling to themselves during one of those unfortunate trips where the train randomly stops underground for track work.
It was supposed to be an amusing little jaunt — a 10 minute ride punctuated by nonsensical urban mumblings of a guy who says things like women shouldn't be in combat because of their emotions getting the best of them (and presumably moving them to just start firing a machine gun in all directions while crying). We thought we'd be getting off at the next stop, but were delayed. And thus we were treated to an endless stream of paranoid rambling about how birth control is a license to do things that are contrary to the way things should be.
Rick Santorum's campaign for President was the political equivalent of an ill-fitting sweater vest.
Useless on its own, tacky, retro, and undesirable to a large percentage of the population. And the only people who like him are hipsters or elderly.
Rick Santorum is the annoying friend who is in love with America and won't leave America and Mitt Romney alone so they can make out.
Mitt's electoral dominance had been hard-fought but decisive, and even though the rightest of the right wing is hesitant to support the father of Romneycare, as of a few weeks ago Santorum would have had to win 70% of the remaining up-for-grabs RNC convention delegates in order to win the nomination. But he just couldn't take the hint! We liked him as a friend because he's such a good listener. He's like a brother to us.
Rick Santorum's campaign was like getting into a heated internet argument with a Twitter account that turns out to be a Christian bot.
Rick Santorum's well-established anti-birth control stance has been central to his public rhetoric. And so it came as quite the surprise to people when he denied ever mentioning contraception on Morning Joe the other week. He demand that Puerto Ricans speak English if they want to be part of the US.
Rick Santorum is Ned Flanders.
Rick Santorum is a Ditka mustache and a new haircut away from becoming that character from The Simpsons known for his diddly speech tic and tendency toward cheerfully spouting churchy proclamations. Especially since he made bravely standing up against porn one of his campaign promises, a Flandersy move indeed. Yes, he's a family man with eleventy children whom he loves very much — but he's also a dangerous, regressive zealot who saw it fit to run for the highest office in the country on a "everybody has the freedom to do what Rick Santorum wants" platform.
And some say Rick is like a flower that in the spring becomes the rose.
We'll miss your crazy ass, Santorum. Here's hoping Fox gives you a job saying terrible shit on TV.


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This is the time of year when looking back helps give direction for the future. After reviewing the "Healthy Sports" columns for 2010, it is clear that several themes developed:
• Many people faced with chronic illnesses like Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia and Parkinson's Disease fare better when they are involved in a fitness program. Yoga, dance and a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises can slow disease progression and improve symptoms. Remaining active is crucial when putting together an effective treatment plan.
• The long-standing effects of repeated brain trauma continue to be a focus of concern and research. This year, a connection between repeated head trauma and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) was proposed. While this theory garnered a great deal of notoriety, much more research is needed before any conclusions can be made. It is encouraging to see many athletes who have been involved in violent collision sports now donating their brains for postmortem analysis.
• An area of national concern is safety in youth sports. This pertains to all sports where the participants are younger than 14. The lack of medically trained personnel in attendance, the violent nature of the individual sport and the fact that children are more susceptible to catastrophic injury are all factors that have heightened awareness. Thanks to this increased level of interest, USA Hockey is considering raising the age where checking is allowed to 14. A symposium sponsored by the National Football League and the American College of Sports Medicine will convene next month to address urgent safety modifications in youth sports.
The most rewarding trend is knowing that "Healthy Sports" readers continue to be active and safe in whatever sport they choose.


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Look, no wires. Nokia's new Lumia 920 smartphone can be charged wirelessly thanks to its own built-in technology.
Known as Qi (pronounced chee), the wireless charging standard lets you place your phone on any compatible charger whenever it needs a boost in power. Designed in cooperation with Wireless Power Consortium co-founder ConvenientPower, Energizer unveiled the first-generation Qi Inductive Charger in 2010.
The Qi standard is now supported by a collection of carriers, service providers, and other companies striving to use the same technology to charge any supported device no matter where you are. Any phone with the right built-in technology can be charged via Qi, notably the Lumia 920. The Lumia 820 can also be energized via a Qi charger but requires a special wireless charging shell.
Nokia has already signed deals with Virgin Atlantic and the coffee chain Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to set up wireless charging stations in airport lounges. Nokia is also working with other companies to offer home wireless charging accessories, including a dedicated charging dock.
The Lumia 920 is equipped with a 2,000 mAh battery, which Nokia says will get most users through an average day.


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This Passover brings more gluten-free matzo choices than ever, which is a welcome relief from a few short years ago when you had to hunt to find any gluten-free options.
Gluten-free matzo falls into two categories. The first is gluten-free oat matzo, which is expensive and tastes like cardboard, but is the ritually correct type of matzo to include in a Passover seder. During the Passover seder, the Hamotzi blessing should be recited over matzo made from one of five grains (wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oats), so gluten-free oat matzo qualifies.
The other type of gluten-free matzo is much more tasty (good enough to eat year-round as a crispy flatbread cracker) and much cheaper, but is made primarily from potato starch and tapioca starch. These "matzo-style squares" don't meet ritual requirements, because they don't contain wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oats, so the box states "not a replacement for seder matzo" or "not for sacramental purposes." Yehuda has produced matzo-style squares since 2011, and Manischewitz has come out with its own version this year. (For more information, Tablet magazine published an interesting discussion of the merits of gluten-free matzo.)
Gluten-Free Oat Matzo
In this post, I focus on gluten-free oat matzo. Stay tuned for my post later this week about "matzo-style squares." (Update: Posted 3/8. "Gluten-Free Matzo for Passover Part 2.")
A few years ago, oat matzo was the only kind of gluten-free matzo on the market, and it cost about $35-$40/box. Now, prices have come down to about $20-$25/box. There are two versions: machine-made matzas, which are square, and handmade matzas, which are round and are kneaded and baked by hand.
— Lakewood Matzah uses certified gluten-free oats that are grown, cleaned and ground in a gluten-free environment. The oat matzo is certified gluten-free by the GFCO, making it a safe choice for celiacs. Their matzo comes in two versions: Gluten Free Oat Machine (Square) Matzoh, $25.99 per lb, with nine matzos per pound, and Gluten Free Oat Hand (Round) Matzoh, $25.99 for three hand matzohs (at least half a pound).
—Gluten-Free Oat Matzos. Rabbi Kestenbaum's gluten-free oat matzos were the first, and for many years the only, gluten-free matzos on the market. Based in London, Kestenbaum has been making them for more than 20 years. This year, for the first time, his Gluten-Free Oat Matzos are certified by the GFCO, making them a safe choice for celiacs. They cost about $29.99 per pound.


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After the potatoes cool I cut each in half with a sharp knife then neatly scoop out some of the flesh from the center of the potato, (a melon ball tool works perfectly for this.) To flavor the potato I like to sprinkle a little Piment d'Espelette* in the cavity. Next top with chunks of the Camembert or Brie (or any cheese you prefer.)
*Hot Paprika or Cayenne Pepper may be substituted.


text: An Atlanta based duo that have a strong foundation in fine arts but loves to work in modern mediums. We like to ask ourselves what would it look like if we brought together animation and photography backgrounds and combined them into one. Our photos will show the precision and high resolution quality of a photography background. While being able to capture and create life and motion from the mindset of an animation background.


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Rockford students put talents on display at CAPA auditions
ROCKFORD — Once a year, Auburn High School on Rockford's west side becomes a gathering place for aspiring artists, ready to put their talents on the line for a spot in the district's Creative And Performing Arts program.
At one end of the school, a group of girls lean against a stairwell wall outside the dance studio.
"We'll learn 16 counts, and show them," one says. "Really?" another replies.
At the other end of the school, young musicians, some lugging instrument cases larger than themselves, get situated in a line of chairs and join each other in playing scales to pass the time.
The hallways are abuzz, an electric combination of melody and nervous energy.
Current students, identified by name tags rather than stickers with numbers on them, lead prospective students and parents to various audition halls where they wait outside closed doors for their chance to impress the judges.
About 215 students auditioned earlier this month. Of those, roughly half will earn a spot, explained Fine Arts Director LuAnn Widergren, partly because of space and partly because of the program's standards.
CAPA, housed at West Middle School for grades 6 through 8 and Auburn High School for grades 9 through 12, offers students the standards of high school education — English and math and science — along with intensive instruction in art, music and dance.
"This is for kids who love the arts. It's why they come to school," Widergren said. "You can see it in the hallways — the singing and the playing everywhere. That's who these kids are. This is their gift."
Looking for teachability
Securing a spot in CAPA is no easy task.
There are letters of recommendation that need to be turned in. Applications need to be filled out, not to mention the live auditions.
Musicians have to play. Actors have to act. Singers have to sing. They all have to compete.
"As we continue building the program, as we continue on this path of excellence, the cut off is going to get smaller and smaller," said band director Lynne Olson. "We really want kids to practice for the auditions and take it seriously."
Unlike the district's Renaissance Gifted Academy, where a score of 95 percent or better on an entrance exam gets students in, the doorway to CAPA, which started in 1977, is opened by judges.
"Talent is important, but passion in the heart is just as important," said dance instructor Lou Ann Alberts as she kept a watchful eye on students sashaying across the studio floor.
"I don't care if they have two left feet. That doesn't worry me. ... We teach dancing here," Alberts said as she jotted down notes on auditioning students. "I'm looking for a passion for dancing, for spirit. That we can't teach."
Instructors Beth Heuer, who teaches vocal music, and Olson, concurred.
Raw talent is great, but they're in the business of nurturing talent. One thing CAPA's 680 students had in common before they owned the stage was a good attitude and a desire to learn.
"More than anything," Olson said. "I'm looking for teachability."
Going for a dream
Abony Austin sat in the stairwell at Auburn High School, holding her purse in her lap and her daughter Briosia Perkins' spot in the audition line.
Perkins is only 13, but she already has three years of CAPA training under her belt. On Dec. 6, she went for another four years.
"I know she's got this hands-down." Austin said, "but I'm still nervous. ... She still has to audition just like everyone else."
Unlike Perkins, who auditioned as an incoming freshman, Zarrell Wyatt, is hoping to join CAPA as a sophomore next school year.
Wyatt has been singing in her church choir since third grade, the 15-year-old said, but didn't feel "ready enough" to audition for CAPA until now.
"I just decided that I really love singing, so I'm going to go for my dream," she said.
For her audition, Wyatt sang an angelic version of Bruno Mars' "If I was Your Man," and belted out a few verses of Adele's "Someone Like You."
"Nice job," Heuer said as the audition came to a close. "I was wondering if you had any power, and then, pow, there it was."
Wyatt closed the door to Heuer's classroom and took a big breath.
"I was so scared," she said. "I thought 'OK. You've got to do this. So just do it now, and get it over with.'"
Middle school auditions are next month.
Corina Curry: 815-987-1371; firstname.lastname@example.com; @corinacurry
Notable CAPA graduates
— Michelle Williams, vocal recording artist and Broadway star, former member of Destiny's Child
— Marcel and Kevin Wilson, brother duo have danced with Cher, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, Mandy Moore. Now operate Mr. Wilson Entertainment.
— Lesley Kennedy, professional dancer in New York, performed in Hell's Kitchen Dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov
— April Littlejohn, television and movie stunt actress and choreographer. Known for her work on Alias, House on Haunted Hill and Happy, Texas.
— Sylvia Mathis Manning, singer, recording artist and stage and television actress. Known for her work in music and theater in New York and Chicago, independent film, back-up vocals and a guest starring role on Walker, Texas Ranger.
— Frank Wright II, performed with the original Broadway cast and touring casts of Disney's The Lion King.
— Angela Criscimagna, a dance teacher. Taught with the CAPA program and currently teaches at Great Oak High School in Temecula, Calif.
— Audrey Wax, a theater arts professor at Edgewood College and Artsitic Director for Madison's StageQ., Inc.
— Michael McNamara, associate theater professor, Purdue University
At a glance
CAPA offers course in fine arts disciplines such as: dance, instrumental music, theatre (both technical and media arts), vocal music and visual arts. For more information contact Lu Ann Widergren at 815-720-4856 or by email email@example.com.


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A price cut for the PlayStation 3 games console may be in the cards as Sony looks to strengthen the platform and expand its penetration.
Sony said Thursday that both pricing and production volumes are under review as it looks to take its next steps now that the third-generation PlayStation has been launched in Japan, North America, Europe and Australasia. The company stressed a price cut is not imminent, however, meaning it may still be weeks or months away.
Sales of the console have been lackluster in some markets due to the popularity of Nintendo's Wii. The rival console, which features wireless motion-sensitive controllers, surprised many by outselling the PlayStation.
Sony has stuck to its launch estimate of shipping 6 million PlayStation 3s before the end of March, which marks the end of its financial year. The company is due to announce its results for the period along with console shipments in mid-May.
On Thursday Sony also said its European PlayStation operations could see layoffs as part of a restructuring.
Up to 160 jobs could be lost at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reported, quoting an e-mail message sent to staff on Monday from company President David Reeves.
Sony Computer Entertainment in Tokyo said its European unit is considering the reinforcement and streamlining of its operations to remain competitive, but that no restructuring has taken place yet.
Sony had already been eyeing cost savings from using a more advanced technology to make the Cell processor, which sits at the heart of the machine. First generation consoles used chips made on a 90-nanometer production process, but Sony will switch soon to chips made on a 65-nanometer line. Those chips are 40 percent smaller and thus cheaper to make.
Sony hasn't said when the 65-nanometer Cell will begin appearing in the PlayStation 3, but in mid-March IBM Corp., another of the companies that makes the processor, said it had begun making the more advanced chip.
In January, when Sony announced its third-quarter earnings, Chief Financial Officer Nobuyuki Oneda ruled out the possibility of price cuts for the PS3 in the near future, but hinted it could happen in two or three years' time. That thinking has apparently been revised.


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About six hours of testimony before a House committee Tuesday came down to a simple question: Should Colorado school districts be given permission to create rules that allow concealed weapons inside classrooms?
By a party-line vote, the House Judiciary Committee decided the answer was "no."
Rep. Steve Humphrey, R-Severance, had insisted that in the wake of mass shootings at schools across the country, districts should have the option.
"It's not requiring schools to allow weapons, but it gives them the option. It could help keep our kids safe," said Humphrey, who sponsored a bill authorizing a school board to adopt a written policy that allows employees to carry concealed weapons on school grounds as long as they have a valid permit. Humphrey in 2013 sponsored similar legislation that was rejected in the House.
Republicans and Democrats listened as officials from school districts and parents offered testimony on House Bill 1157.
Testimony began at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the committee voted after 7:30 p.m.
Katie Lyles, a teacher from a metro-area elementary school, said she might consider leaving her profession if the measure were to pass.
"My hope would be that our discussions of what to do once a gunman is inside our schools transforms into how do we prevent this situation to escalate to that point," Lyles told lawmakers.
Officials from Denver Public Schools also voiced opposition to the measure.
A recent Quinnipiac poll found that about 50 percent of Coloradans believe teachers should be armed in schools, while 45 percent were opposed. It was the first poll conducted on the issue since December's shooting at Arapahoe High School, where a gunman killed a classmate before taking his own life.
Jeff McGovern, who lives in Parker and has three daughters in Douglas County schools, traveled to the Capitol to insist lawmakers pass the measure.
"This does not mandate that schools create policy," said McGovern, echoing Humphrey. "It only gives them that option, which is an option I support."
Kurtis Lee: 303-954-1655, email@example.com or twitter.com/kurtisalee


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Debra Tate, sister of Roman Polanski's murdered wife, Sharon, went full-tilt Whoopi on the Today show this morning, arguing for the director's release. "It was rape, but it wasn't rape," she told Matt Lauer. Also, have you heard Polanski's brilliant?
Seriously, after Matt Lauer asks her what she can tell us about Polanski personally, as someone who's kept in touch with him over the years, the first words out of her mouth are, "Roman is a brilliant director." He's also a "philanthropist," a "humanitarian" and a "good guy," and wait, I don't know if I mentioned this yet, "He's brilliant as well."
You know, all of these things may very well true. Can I just point out that none of them rules out his also being a child rapist? As Bitch Ph.D.'s M. Leblanc said on Twitter yesterday, "I really am baffled by how hard people find it to accept that great artists can do terrible things. Where have you been for all of history?"
Lauer asks Tate what she'd say to those of us asking questions like that, and she tells us that back in the '70s, Polanski was in custody for 4 months — 4 months, 42 days, tomayto, tomahto — that the shrinks judged him not to be a pedophile*, and then, here it comes! "There's rape, and then there's rape." Actually, Debra, I think the legal term you're looking for is "rape-rape." (Ask Whoopi Goldberg about it.)
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She continues, "It was determined that Roman did not forcibly have sex with this young woman." Really? Was that determined by someone other than Roman Polanski? 'Cause I sure haven't seen anything indicating it was. The charges involving issues of consent were dropped because he agreed to a plea bargain — you know, the one he skipped town before being sentenced for? But for all the talk about how the victim has forgiven him and doesn't want to see this drag out, I haven't heard anything about her saying, "He didn't put his penis in me while I said no. First in my vagina, then in my anus. After raping me orally. He actually did none of that! Sorry for the confusion!"
And yet, Tate assures us, "It was a consensual matter. I am a victim's advocate, and I know the difference." And that is where I lose any respect I might have had for Debra Tate (and also where my head explodes). First, as far as I know, she's an advocate for families like hers, who have lost loved ones to murder, not for rape victims. Second, even if she were an advocate for child rape survivors, her opinion would still be just that. As it is, I don't even have snark for someone who says, "I work with victims of violent crime, therefore I have special knowledge that allowed me to determine conclusively that this 13-year-old was lying when she said my ex-brother-in-law kept putting his penis in her, long after she said no." I just... yeah.
*No word on whether they would have called the forty-something man who went on to have a relationship with 15-year-old Nastassja Kinski an ephebophile, instead.


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When I interviewed Wired for War author PW Singer last March, he told me that the preconditions for a successful Terminator-type uprising are not in place. As computer development accelerates, however, those preconditions become way more possible.
So, what are the preconditions, according to Singer?
1. The AI or robot has to have some sense of self-preservation and ambition, to want power or fear the loss of power.
2. The robots have to have eliminated any dependence on humans.
3. Humans have to have omitted failsafe controls, so there's no ability to turn robots or AI off.
4. The robots need to gain these advantages in a way that takes humans by surprise.
At the moment, says Singer, these conditions do not exist. "In the Terminator movies, Skynet gets super intelligence, figures the humans are going to eventually shut it down, thinks, 'I better strike first.'" However, in today's army, "we're building robots specifically to go off and get killed." He adds, "No one is building them to have a survival instinct—they're actually building them to have the exact opposite."
As far as human dependence, robots may do more and more human dirty work, but robots still need the meatbags to handle their dirty laundry. "The Global Hawk drone may be able to take off on its own, fly on its own, but it still needs someone to put that gasoline in there." Still, it's not hard to see how this precondition could eventually be overcome.
The failsafe discussion is surprisingly two sided. "It seems rather odd that people who grew up watching Terminator in the movie theaters wouldn't think, 'Hmm, maybe we should have a turn-off switch on there.'" But on the other hand, "brilliant AI could just figure a way around it." Besides, "we don't want to make the failsafe all that easy, because we don't want a robot that comes up to Bin Laden that he can just shut off by reaching around the back and hitting the switch."
We of course assume that robots will never gain the element of surprise. "You don't get super-intelligent robots without first having semi-super-intelligent robots, and so on. At each one of these stages, someone would push back." The scary thing is, Singer does acknowledge that the exponential growth of super-smart machines may indeed catch us by surprise eventually. "By the end it's happening too quickly for people to see."
No matter what preconditions are prevented deliberately, there is a point on every futurist's timeline where computers become "smarter" than humans, in terms of sheer brain capability, and no matter what happens up till that point, the game then changes completely. "In the Terminator movies, Skynet both tricks and coerces people into doing its bidding." How do we stop that from happening?
"Some people say, 'Let's just not work on these systems. If they're so many things coming out of this that are potentially dangerous, why don't we just stop?'" says Singer. "We could do that, as long as we also stop war, capitalism and the human instinct for science and invention." [More from my interview with PW Singer]
Machines Behaving Deadly: A week exploring the sometimes difficult relationship between man and technology.


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January 30th, 2013
While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.
January 30 has never been butter - it's National Croissant Day!
You can't have a continental breakfast without a pastry or piece of bread, so today, enjoy a fluffy, flaky croissant on your plate.
While the origin of croissants is often debated, it's quite likely that they're not - sacré bleu! - French. They're Viennese.
A little lore for you: Back in the early 1800s, a Viennese man opened up a bakery in Paris. He made a traditional half-moon shaped pastry from his homeland, called a kipferl. While crescent-shaped breads had been around since as early as the Middle Ages, these are said to be the ancestors of modern day croissants.
Croissants, at their prime, are served warm with butter and jam. They can be sweet, savory or plain. A sweet croissant might have chocolate baked into the pastry, while a savory croissant might be filled with ham and cheese, or bacon and onions.
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Can you imagine newly arriving to the United States from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as a happy, expecting 22-year-old newlywed to attend college and then finding out through a routine prenatal visit that you are HIV positive? This is precisely what happened to Fortunata Kasege in 1997. What turned out to be a dream of coming to America to study journalism quickly turned into a nightmare when she discovered her HIV status.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing," said Kasege. "I was shaking. I was screaming. They were basically telling me that I was going to die. Everything was really, really spinning around my head at that time. I had a high level of anxiety. I had deep depression."
That was then. Today, life is measurably better for Fortunata Kasege.
Today I hung out on Google+ with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and had the opportunity to speak with and hear Kasege's uplifting story of hope and survival. It's moments when I hear true stories of those who have triumphed in the face of despair that I am humbled beyond words by their courage and drive to help others. Today Kasege is a HIV/AIDS advocate and ambassador who spreads the word of hope to other mothers who are also HIV positive. "I feel so lucky," said Kasege. "I feel like I am the one who got the gift. I am the one who got this incredible gift to be a mom."
Fifteen years ago all Kasege knew about HIV/AIDS is what she saw in her native Tanzania. When people contracted HIV/AIDS they rapidly died from the disease. "I come from a completely different world where people die from HIV," Kasege remembered. "You just prepare yourself for the worst. I didn't want to die at 22."
In those days HIV/AIDS ravished the African continent. Little did Kasege know after her diagnosis that there was medication to treat her and prevent HIV transmission between she and her unborn daughter. Today Fortunata Kasege is doing well and is healthy. Her daughter, Florida, who is now a teenager, is HIV-free thanks to the medications Kasege received when she initially learned of her HIV status fifteen years ago.
Like Kasege, this Mother's Day you can celebrate your mom and mothers around the world. Visit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation site, A Mother's Fight, and leave a comment and tell them how your mom inspired you.


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Inspector General: Broader concerns of misconduct at Westfield State
Preliminary findings: Evan Dobelle violated school policies
Team 5 Investigates has obtained the preliminary findings of the Massachusetts inspector general's investigation into questionable spending by Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle.
Team 5 Investigates' Kathy Curran reported the findings were released the night before Dobelle and Westfield State University board of trustees chairman Jack Flynn are scheduled to meet with the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and the secretary of education to discuss the allegations.
In the letter to the Westfield's board chairman, state Inspector General Glen Cunha said his office is working diligently to complete its investigation into the allegations of improper activities by Dobelle and told Flynn the actions of the board of trustees in following up on recommendations of an outside audit would not impede any efforts on the part of his office.
Cunha said his office found Dobelle and others violated school policy and he expressed concerns about the broader allegations of misconduct when it comes to the spending of donor and university money.
Dobelle has been in the spotlight since Team 5 Investigates first exposed questionable spending at Westfield State University last month.
The inspector general's preliminary review confirms that Dobelle and others used credit cards for personal expenditures and Westfield State Foundation's funds were used "indiscriminately with little or no consideration for the mission or financial viability of the Foundation."
The inspector general also concluded that various expenses appear to violate the school's standard of "reasonable and not excessive."
Dobelle spent $180,000 of donor money in two and a half years, charging limousines, concert tickets, stays at high-end hotels and nights out at expensive restaurants.
The Office of Inspector General has determined that in 2010, the foundation ran an operating deficit caused in part by Dobelle's expenditures and spending undertaken at his direction. As a result, the school was forced to transfer more than $400,000 to the foundation.
Dobelle has justified his spending, citing the positive return on investment to the university, but the inspector general questions that return on investment and encouraged the board to request data to support that assertion. The inspector general also urged the board to provide strict oversight of Dobelle's ongoing expenses.
In a written statement, Dobelle told Team 5 Investigates he looks forward to working with the inspector general to resolve these issues and he stands by his assertion that there is a substantial return of the investment on the expenditures in question.


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The Asus 10-inch Android tablet has resurfaced with leaked press shots and a new name.
Now called the Asus MeMo Pad 10, it looks to be the same tablet as the ME301T model hinted at earlier this year.
Based on previous information, the Pad 10 should sport a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 resolution display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor.
If earlier reports still hold true, inside of the tablet is a mere 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, though at least the latter can be expanded through a microSD card slot.
A 10-inch alternative tablet
The MeMo Pad 10 is hardly a powerhouse by any stretch of the definition, but that may work in the tablet's favor.
After CES, Asus announced the similarly underpowered 7-inch MeMo Pad with an attractive US$149 price tag to offset its specs.
Asus could use the same strategy to position the MeMo Pad 10 as a budget-friendly 10-inch tablet. Early reports from smaller European shops disagree though, with listed prices ranging from €329 (US$449, UK£286, AU$431) to €386 (US$526, UK£335, AU$506).
The leaked press shots look like the genuine article, and show the tablet in gray, white, and pink, but there is still no official word from Asus confirming the MeMo Pad 10.
The tablet may make its official debut at MWC 2013 later this month, though Asus seems just as keen on announcements the day after a big event these days.
Via Tablets Magazine


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Patagonia: The Good, The Bad, and The Expensive.
To kick off our adventure in the Patagonia area, we took a flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas. Chile might not be a wide country (it never exceeds 150 miles), but it sure is long (like 2,700 miles), and it takes … Continue reading


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Street Stories
High-end squawkers
News flash! Some of Sarasota's new high-rises are being nibbled and pecked to death by.parrots?
Among Sarasota's charming features are the flocks of wild green parrots that have invaded the town during the last decade. Noisy and colorful, the birds lend a tropical air to our community. But as usual, the law of unintended consequences has struck.
A bit of background. Did you know all the geegaws and curlicues hanging off the several new "Mediterranean-style" condo towers in town are actually molded styrofoam? And did you know that wild parrots love to discover cool new places to nest communally?
Well, that's true; and now those raucous birds have discovered they can peck holes-burrows, actually-into that styrofoam. A maintenance worker at Huntington Plaza says he daily finds "what looks like popcorn all over the ground every morning, but it's styrofoam pecked out by the parrots." Possible solutions thus far, according to one architect, don't include shotguns-yet.
Save your money
Downtown bookies are gleefully taking the money of true believers in the strong mayor referendum coming up next month in the city. What I'm hearing is that there aren't even any odds being offered or asked.
With the defeat of Dan Kennedy's bid to fill the remaining 18 months of now-Bradenton Police Chief Al Hogle's term, it looks as though the strong mayor group was dealt a serious, maybe fatal, blow. Kennedy, who lost to Mary Anne Servian, was widely seen as the stalking horse for the strong mayor movement, and probably its candidate if the referendum passed.
The smart money is staying in the pocket on this one.
Now hear this!
"There's a lot more power in being the puppet master than the puppet."
Retired City Manager David Sollenberger on the strong mayor movement's financial support from some prominent businessmen.
Best Bites
Two food tips on the new Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
The most romantic new sunset watching spot in town is the Ritz's Bay View Bar & Grill. This second-floor outdoor bar overlooks the channel out to Sarasota Bay and New Pass beyond and is a spot for serious wooing.
Sure, the Ritz-Carlton dining room is the hot new power dining spot in town, but if you want to skip all the folderol, try this.
Every morning you can enjoy coffee and pastries at one of the private little tables set up just outside the Ritz gift shop. By mid-morning that pastry case in the shop is filling with some of the most amazing deserts you've probably ever seen-and individual servings are available the rest of the day.
So if all you want is a quick cup of coffee and something delicious to go with it, meet a friend at the gift shop, where Ivana the shopkeeper will tend to your caffeine, sugar and chocolate cravings.
Speak up
Want to become a genuine Sarasotan? Then give the city or county commission a piece of your mind.
Every first and third Monday evening of the month, beginning at 6 p.m., the city commission can be found in its city hall chambers trying to deal with some fiendishly complicated issue. Some issue you probably have an opinion about-informed or not.
Think megahouses are great or awful? What about speed bumps or spending your tax dollars to hire an expensive out-of-town consultant?
How about passing a civil rights ordinance forbidding age discrimination that just might outlaw senior citizen discounts?
You get the idea.
The county commission does the same Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The reality is most citizens never bother to tell their leaders what they think-and believe it not-most of those commissioners would like to know. OK, so you have to sign one of those "yella forms" as city clerk Billy Robinson calls them, and you may have to sit through what seems like interminable talk until your name is called.
But it's worth it. Suddenly you'll be able to look right in the eye those names you've been voting (we hope) for or against over the years. And you'll find that being respectful nearly always results in being treated that way.
Hey, you're a Sarasotan. A taxpayer and a voter, and that allows you to give the commissioners a piece of your mind whenever you like. Do it. Maybe you'll help make "America's best small town" a better place to live.
Hot Seat
Michael McNees, Sarasota's newly arrived city manager, has about six months here under his belt. A one-time Big 10 track champion who went on to gain a reputation as a tough numbers guy while working for the Collier County government, McNees gave us his first impressions.
Q. Do you prefer Michael or Mike?
A. Mike-it's easier to say, but either is fine.
Q. How does Sarasota compare with Naples?
A. Sarasota and Naples are alike in terms of basic demographics, economics-even racially they're similar. The difference is there's a lot more texture and diversity of interests in Sarasota. Sarasota is simply a more urban place.
Q: Any big surprises or disappointments?
A: My expectations of what Sarasota is about have been met. No, there have been no disappointments.
Q. You're here to manage a city. How do you manage the city commission?
A. The city commission is a very diverse group, and I deal with each commissioner as an individual, paying attention to how they think and do things. In addition, it's important to make sure that each of them is getting good and timely information.
Q. Any thoughts on the strong mayor movement coming up for referendum next month in the city?
A. That issue affects me way too much as an individual to comment.
Q. Three Collier County commissioners are being accused of taking kickbacks from developers. Any comment?
A. I was never in that particular loop of county government as evidenced by the fact none of those three ever voted for me as county manager. I'm proud of that now.
Q: You certainly give the impression of being a very centered person-are you? A. I think of myself that way. Balance is very important in my life. For example, in Naples I spent a lot of time in community theater work in addition to government; and frankly, I think both groups thought I was a little crazy. But part of my nature is to have an even keel-and I try to cultivate that because when things get going wrong, those in control of themselves are the most effective.
Valentine's Day is upon us, and that means you'd better have some pretty good romantic ideas, or you might be celebrating it with somebody else next year. Think boats and water. Think waterfront drinks and dining. Think gourmet picnic baskets you can order (full of great food and wine) from places like The Gourmet Market at 1469 Main St. or Morton's on Osprey.
For sunset cruises, there's the Enterprise at Marina Jack if you're into sailing, or Le Barge if you're not. If you want to make a real overnight trip out of it, there's Chitwood Charter's trawlers, berthed at the Hyatt.
Just make sure you make reservations for your waterfront dining if a restaurant is your choice. They get mighty crowded on Valentine's Day.
To avoid the crowds and revel in that most romantic of experiences, good conversation, I'd take that gourmet picnic basket to a favorite secluded beach spot and after dark...hmmmm, maybe do a little Valentine's Day skinny-dipping.
Now that's real Sarasota living.
Rumor Mills
Political gossips have County Commissioner David Mills looking for a new job. True, he still has one more run before being term-limited out, but rumor has him laying groundwork now.
First there was the story that Mills would move into the city so he could run for the strong mayor job, if that passed. That, however, looks less and less likely, now that Dan Kennedy, widely considered the strong mayor stalking horse, was defeated in the recent City Commission race by Mary Anne Servian, who opposed the concept.
Then, at a County Commission meeting recently, Mills suddenly started berating "a local legislator" who he said wasn't being honest about what they were voting for in Tallahassee during the special sessions. Said they were voting one way on budget items and coming back home to tell folks they'd voted differently.
Mills refused to name whom he was talking about but his comments immediately sparked chatter about his prospects of a possible run for the legislature. Historically, however, the county commission has almost never led to the legislature, if for no other reason than that it's a big pay cut.


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How to use status
Status allows you to share text, photo, video, and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours, and that is also end-to-end encrypted. In order to send and receive status updates to and from your contacts, you and your contacts must have each other's phone numbers saved in your phones' address books.
Create and send a status update
- Open WhatsApp > Status.
- Tap:
- Textto compose a written status update.
- Emoji to add emoji or GIfs.
- T to pick a font.
- Colorto pick a background color.
- Voiceand hold to record a voice status update.
- Cameraor My status to take a photo, record a video, or GIF or choose an existing photo, video, or GIF from the picker. You can also add a caption or make edits to the photo, video, or GIF, which you can learn how to do in this article.
- Text
- To select the audience for a status, tap your default audience. Then, select your status contacts > tap Done.
- Tap Send.
Alternatively, you can create and send a picture, video, or GIF status update by going to the Chats tab, then tapping Camera
Note: WhatsApp supports 3GP and mpeg4 video formats.
View or reply to a status update
- To view a contact's status update, tap the Status tab. Then, tap the contact's status update.
- To reply to a contact's status update, tap Reply while viewing.
- How to share WhatsApp status updates to other apps
- About status privacy
- How to use status on: iPhone | KaiOS


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Voice That Is
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Blue Note Records
John Maurice Hartman was a critically acclaimed, though never widely known, baritone jazz singer who specialized in ballads. Born in Louisiana, but raised in Chicago, he began singing and playing the piano by age eight. Hartman attended DuSable High School studying music under Walter Dyett before receiving a scholarship to Chicago Musical College. He sang as an Army private during WWII but his first professional work came in September 1946 when he won a singing contest awarding him a one-week engagement with Earl Hines. Seeing potential in the singer, Hines hired him for the next year. Although Hartman's first recordings were with Marl Young in February 1947, it was the collaboration with Hines that provided notable exposure. After the Hines orchestra broke up, Dizzy Gillespie invited Hartman to join his big band in 1948 during an eight-week tour in California. Dropped from the band about one year later, Hartman worked for a short time with pianist Erroll Garner before going solo by early 1950.
After recording several singles with different orchestras, Hartman finally released his first solo album, Songs From the Heart, with a quintet for Bethlehem in 1955. Releasing two more albums with small labels, neither very successful, Hartman got a career-altering offer in 1963 to record with John Coltrane. The saxophonist likely remembered Hartman from a bill they shared at the Apollo Theater in 1950 and later said, "I just felt something about him, I don't know what it was. I like his sound, I thought there was something there I had to hear so I looked him up and did that album." Featuring all ballads, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is considered a classic. This lead to recording four more albums with Impulse! and parent label ABC, all produced by Bob Thiele.
With the 1970s being difficult for singers clinging to the pre-rock American songbook, Hartman turned to playing cocktail lounges in New York and Chicago. Recording again with small labels like Perception and Musicor, Hartman produced music of mixed quality as he attempted to be viewed as an all-around vocalist. Referring to his approach to interpreting a song, Hartman said, "Well, to me a lyric is a story, almost like talking, telling somebody a story, try to make it believable." Returning to the jazz combo format of his earlier albums, Hartman recorded Once in Every Life for Bee Hive, earning him a 1981 Grammy nomination for Best Male Jazz Vocalist. This was quickly followed up by his last album of newly recorded material titled This One's for Tedi as a tribute to his wife.
In the early 1980s Hartman gave several performances for jazz festivals, television, and radio before succumbing to lung cancer at age sixty. His reputation grew considerably in 1995 when the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood's The Bridges of Madison County featured seven songs from the then out-of-print Bee Hive album. With the renewed public interest in his deep-voiced, romantically charged ballads, all the music from Hartman's solo albums and most of his earlier singles have since been reissued. Considering the nearly unanimous critical praise Hartman received during his life, it is unfortunate greater popularity always seemed to escape him.
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This post originally appeared at Campaign for America's Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture I am a Fellow with CAF.
Conservative policies have propelled us into a global raced to the bottom. Conservatives can take pride: we're winning!
"Free trade" — moving factories across borders to evade the protections of democracy that generations of Americans fought for — pits exploited workers with few rights and no means of improving their condition against Americans who once had environmental and wage protections. But ideas like protecting the gains of democracy are out of favor. That is labeled "protectionism" and is thought for some reason to be a bad thing. Conservatives were able to break the unions and wages for working people have stagnated, while the amount going to the top few has soared.
Here is the future of American wages: From today's Washington Post: In its biggest foreign market, BMW gets skilled workers for less,
Among the applicants: a former manager of a major distribution center for Target; a consultant who oversaw construction projects in four Western states; a supervisor at a plastics recycling firm. Some held college degrees and resumes in other fields where they made more money.
But they're all in the factory now making $15 an hour – about half of what the typical German autoworker makes.
. . . the price of having a more globally competitive workforce means more in the United States could fall well short of the middle-class living standards that manufacturing workers once could expect. Wages adjusted for inflation have declined for these workers since 2003.
That's right, German workers are now paid almost twice what American's can make. (And they get health care and an average of 35 paid vacation days, we get 13.)
Tea Party Wants To End Minimum Wage
The Tea Party has its sights set on the minimum wage. They say it is "unconstitutional" and want it "abolished."
Your Wages Are Next
If you still have a job, your wages are next. You can bet that executives in every company are wondering why they are paying their employees so much when there are so many hungry, unemployed people out there looking for work. Every dollar they can save on paying you goes into their pockets.
Isaiah Poole pointed out the other day, in Latest Reagan Revolution Price Tag: A $313 Billion Wage Cut, (Please click through an dread his whole post!)
New data compiled by the Social Security Administration reveals that the total wages earned by American workers fell by a total of $313 billion from 2007 to 2009, Johnston writes. That's a 5 percent cut, and is measured in 2009 dollars.
In one year alone, from 2008 to 2009, wage income declined $215 billion.
What can you do about this? Terrance Heath writes in, Minimal Wages For All, (Please click through an dread his whole post, too!)
Here's another reason to vote in the mid-term elections this November: Conservatives think you need a pay cut. As I've said once or twice before, conservatives' bottom line message is simple: America has economic problems because too many people have had it good for too long; and when they're worse off again, the nation and its economy will be better off. The people they think had it too good for too long are you and me, and almost anyone who punches a clock to pull a paycheck.
The Answer
The answer is to insist that goods brought into this country are made by people who are paid a decent wage. That way they could make enough to buy things we make, too. That really could be called trade. And the other answer is to pay people here enough to have a decent standard of living, even if it means hedge fund manager could only make maybe $100-200 million a year instead of billions. That way we would all benefit from our economy, instead of everything going to the top at the expense of the rest of us.
Vote as if your standard f living depended on it.
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September 23rd, 2012
Tina Fey wants to make you cry with '30 Rock's' final season
With "30 Rock" headed into its final season, Emmys nominee Tina Fey has a new goal: Make the fans weep.
Since the show's already covered plenty of zany plots, as Fey told E!'s Ryan Seacrest on the Emmys red carpet Sunday, she just wants to make sure the last season is "satisfying to people who actually care about the characters."
Maybe her character, Liz Lemon, "will get a baby, and maybe she'll get married, I don't know," Fey said, jokingly adding, "our goal is to make people cry."
So far they've had guest stars like Olympic champ Ryan Lochte stop by for a cameo, and Fey revealed that Lochte was "really funny ... He played a sex idiot. He's good at it."
Fey was decked out in Vivienne Westwood on the Emmys red carpet, for what she said could be her last time at the ceremony.
"I may never be here again," she told Seacrest. "So I'm going to steal a bunch of stuff."
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Scottie Wilbekin has dealt with the ups and downs of being a first-year starting point guard.
On Saturday, Wilbekin wasn't in the starting lineup for Florida's 83-58 win over Mississippi State. The 6-foot-2 junior Gainesville native still wound up playing 33 minutes off the bench, finishing with 5 points and 7 assists. Florida coach Billy Donovan said the benching was due to a lack of performance and lack of energy in practice leading up to the Mississippi State game.
"It was a wake-up call to let me know how I needed to play and how hard I need to play every day just to be at my best," Wilbekin said.
Donovan said he was pleased how Wilbekin responded to the benching in the Mississippi State game.
"He really played the right way," Donovan said. "I thought he was really focused. I think he made really good decisions with the basketball. I thought he got it where it needed to go. He and (Kenny) Boynton accounted for half our assists in the game, which was great."
A former point guard at Providence, Donovan has been notoriously hard on his point guards. He didn't like what he saw in the Arkansas game. It wasn't that Wilbekin put up a game-high 15 shots in the loss to the Razorbacks, it was the kind of shots he took.
"He can take 30 shots in the game as long as they're open," Donovan said. "When the place is going nuts and they're on a run, he's coming down and needs to get us in offense, but he's trying to make plays and take it on himself to do things and taking some difficult, challenged shots.
"There was no need for some of those things in the midst of that run. For him, it snowballed a little bit where he was almost trying too hard. I got on him about that. I got on him after the game about that and the next day in film about that. The normal Scottie Wilbekin usually comes out with a chip on his shoulder and an edge and a focus to get better. That was anything but his response. It was almost his response was no enthusiasm, dejected, down."
Wilbekin admitted he was trying to force things against Arkansas. He said it's a mistake he won't make again.
"I got kinda carried away," Wilbekin said. "Being down by 20 made you feel like you had to do something, and I probably forced plays that weren't there."
Other notes:
— Florida senior guard Kenny Boynton is looking to shake another shooting slump. Boynton had a streak of at least 15 games with one 3-pointer snapped when he went 0-fot-5 against Mississippi State. Boynton is just 3 for his last 19 from beyond the arc. Before that, Boynton went through a stretch in which he made 25 of 56 from 3-point range. "The game against Mississippi State, I thought all his shots were pretty good," Donovan said. "They didn't go in. But as long as he's taking good shots, I have a lot of confidence that he can put together a string and make those kind of plays." Said Boynton: "I just need a couple to go in. Honestly it's been good in practice, just got to keep taking open shots. Those shots I've missed have been wide open, so I just need a few to go in."


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iOS accessories at CES 2012: Multi-docks for iDevices, wireless HDMI, infrared keyboards, and more
There are tons of accessories on the show floor at CES 2012 this year, many of which were designed specifically for our iOS devices. Earlier we brought you some of the best audio devices and accessories announced at the show, and now we have compiled all the other interesting docks, cases, and peripherals being unveiled for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
Displayed below are a couple multi-docks that provide various methods of charging multiple iOS devices simultaneously, a new "wireless HDMI" solution for beaming content to the big screen, and a couple iPhone cases that do much more than simply protect your device.


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jleve206· Registered
21 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
So my young dog, now almost 8 months old does really good in the field. I have been taking him pheasant hunting the last few weekends and when we get a bird, he runs out, retrieves it and drops it in my hand or on the ground directly in front of me. However, as we walk around, he has this very unpleasant behavior. If he finds a dead bird... or animal, he totally disregards his commands and starts to inhale what he can before I make it over to him to take him away from the situation. Is there a way to correct this? Is this where the e-collar comes into play? II feel like it might be my only way to correct him without having to basically go to him and pulling him away. Any comments or past experiences with this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Jeremy and Ishmael
Jeremy and Ishmael


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Mark Emmert says 'lot of change' coming soon for NCAA
GRAPEVINE, TEXASPresident Mark Emmert said Monday that he expects "a lot of change" for the governance structure of Division I sports over the next year.
"I've said publicly on a number of occasions the only thing everybody agrees on with Division I governance is that it doesn't work," Emmert said during his opening remarks at a meeting of more than 100 Division I faculty athletics representatives. He later said NCAA directors are looking at the next six to eight months in particular.
"I think the board anticipates a lot of change," he said. "They're going into their October and January meetings expecting to look at a whole different governance model for Division I. So it will be significantly different."
The NCAA's annual convention is in January. The board hopes to adopt proposals at its meeting next April, and then have a special meeting for the full membership next summer.
MORE:College football players' protest of NCAA more murky than meaningful
The discussion focused on transparency and the public perception of the NCAA.
Emmert has received sharp criticism for months, for everything from the unprecedented sanctions handed to Penn State for the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal to the botched investigation of alleged misconduct in University of Miami athletics. He, and the NCAA in general, have been singled out by conference commissioners, professional athletes and even current college football players.
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, who says in an upcoming documentary he accepted money while at Tennessee, recently called the NCAA a bully. Some college players wore patches Saturday with the letters APU, standing for All Players United, to call for NCAA reform.
Additionally, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive suggested last week that the NCAA's rules on governing agents are part of the problem amid reports of possible problems at Alabama and Tennessee.
"I haven't talked to Mike about it, so I can't speak for him," Emmert said Monday.
The third-year president is fully aware of the public's perception of the NCAA. Emmert said the board and other NCAA officials have concerns about that. The public sees him as more of a commissioner of a professional sport, which Emmert said is not the case.
He said getting people to understand the NCAA is more than just him or the board of directors — decisions are driven by the hundreds of member schools — is a difficult task.
"To think that the president of the NCAA has ever been anything like the commissioner of baseball is ludicrous," Emmert said, "but yet that would be the most popular perception I suspect that people have of what my job is."
The discussion did touch briefly on whether the NCAA would consider creating a new big-school Bowl Division — in essence, splitting up the current Division I. A packet distributed at the session called "Principles and Model for New Governance Structure" suggests that FBS institutions and conferences that are more closely aligned in issues and athletics resources form a new division.
"The simpler the governance structure, the better," the packet states.


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December 15, 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 7:00 pm on Sunday, repeating indefinitely
Lyrical Therapy Open Mic
Every Sunday
UrbArts, 2600 N. 14th Street
Every week, The Therapeutics host their weekly open mic in Old North St. Louis on Sunday. There is a $5 cover to enjoy the featured emerging artists from the greater St. Louis region. Open to the public.


text: So have not had a response , it has been 4 days and not herd from you. Sorry to be a pain but I'm going to contact paypal and get money back if you cant contact me. Maybe your busy but just want to know when you are getting pack out. I paid you for it so would like it thanks .


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Martino Gamper has a penchant for furniture: to be specific, chairs. In his project 100 Chairs in 100 Days, he takes apart a mix of discarded and systematically collected pieces found on London's street corners (or sympathetic friends' lounges and living rooms) over a period of two years, disassembles and then reworks them, creating unique, functional chairs that blend the "stylistic and structural elements of the found ones."
Educated first in Vienna where he studied sculpture and product design under Ron Arad, and then at the Royal College of Art, Martino Gamper has made London his home and workshop for the last ten years.
From dining sets and plastic garden furniture to cult classics, the juxtaposition of the basic with the highbrow makes for a quirky and lip turning contemporary aesthetic. Mixing traditional styles and materials, the results are playful and imaginative pieces that walk the line between irony and ornament. His humor, as much as his love of detail, makes us curious what he'll think up next.
+ Martino Gamper + Design Museum


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Gender in transport
Transportation facilitates access to the labour market, healthcare and education infrastructure as well as to other services and infrastructures necessary for improving the welfare of individuals and households. Despite the fact that transport projects and policies are often considered to equally benefit women and men, there is a large body of professional literature emphasising that transport is not gender neutral.
Further information
Transport on EIGE's Gender Mainstreaming platform


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I ran every day this week except for Tuesday. I just couldn't help myself. The weather is wonderfully cool (or even cold) in the morning and the leaves were so colorful this year; they burst into color over the last weekend and now they're all falling, which is very dramatic on windy days.
I did a wonderful 10 miler this morning. The weather was gorgeous and perfect: sunny with temps around 52 and windy. I ran an average 8:40 pace at 78% heart rate and enjoyed myself immensely. I was truly sorry when the run was over. But it tired me out enough to nap for two hours on the couch after getting through the first few essays in the newish David Sedaris book When You Are Engulfed in Flames.
When I looked at my mileage this week, I could hardly believe it: I ran 39 miles. I hadn't expected to get back up so quickly, but my legs have felt great and I wasn't really paying attention to the cumulative mileage as the week wore on. I'll probably keep it under 55 for the next couple of weeks, then start gradually working the mileage base back up into the 100+mpw range in preparation for starting up training again sometime around mid-January.
It's nice to have such a long spell between races. The next one isn't until very late May (that's assuming we go through with our plans to run Newport, OR next year). I'm not going to do so much hard running during the base period again. Probably just one or two moderate-pace runs a week and the rest very easy. And I'll probably do some racing for fun and training too, as there are some good ones coming up in the next few months: the Nyack Hospital 10K, the Hot Chocolate 15K, the Manhattan Half Marathon and the Boston Buildup series in CT.
Speaking of running 100+ miles a week, former champion Ingrid Kristiansen and 2008 gold medalist Constantina Tomescu-Dita had some training advice for Paula Radcliffe, who will be 38 when the 2012 Olympics roll around. Paula does not agree. I do, though, at least for myself. I'll be cutting down on the mileage to average around 75 per week during training. I won't, however, be having a baby.
Anyway, as for the next week, I have no plan. I will probably run almost every day again, once per day, with quicker running days determined by how I feel.
Filed under: basebuilding, elites, humor, olympics, racing, reading, recovery, training |


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Another round of weekend picks, brought to you by…well…me. Enjoy!
1. Caras de Mexico at 33 Collective Gallery
Work by photographer Joe Compean.
33 Collective Gallery is located at 1029 W. 35th St. Reception is Friday, from 7-10pm.
2. Corazón Grafico/Corazón Urbano at Co-Prosperity Sphere
New mixed media works by Gabriel Villa.
Co-Prosperity Sphere is located at 3219 S Morgan St. Reception is Friday, from 7-11pm.
3. Love Letters to Antarctica at Swimming Pool Project Space
Works by Annie Heckman and Lorien Jordan.
Swimming Pool Project Space is located at 2858 W. Montrose Ave. Reception is Saturday, from 7-10pm.
4. Practice Makes Purpose at Monument 2 Gallery
New works by Justin Thomas Schaefer.
Monument 2 Gallery is located at 2007 N. Point St. Reception is Saturday, from 6-10pm.
Two days of art auctions to clear out Old Gold before its peeps move out to LA.
Old Gold is located at 3102 W Palmer Blvd. Auction Saturday and Sunday, from 11am-5pm.
- 10 Shows to See Friday After EXPO - September 17, 2015
- Top 10 Weekend Picks! (9/4-9/6) - September 3, 2015
- Top 5 Weekend Picks! (8/21-8/23) - August 20, 2015


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When it comes to same-sex marriage, Texans seem to be in the minority.
As the Supreme Court today began hearing arguments on high-profile cases that some expect to have historic implications, there is growing evidence that gay marriage is becoming more widely accepted. A New York Times analysis concluded that 51 percent of Americans favor same-sex marriage, based on a review of eight national polls. And recent polling shows that support is on the rise.
Texans aren't convinced. As of last month, only 37 percent of Texans supported legalizing same-sex marriage.
However, the numbers supporting gay marriage seem to be growing slowly. The University of Texas' Texas Politics Project show that the percentage of overall opinion supporting same-sex marriage has increased by almost 10 percent since 2010.
Both Texas Democrats and Republicans are more open to the possibility. In February 2010, 46 percent of Democrats supported gay marriage. Today, 63 percent say they believe homosexuals should have the right to marry. Texas Republicans remain strongly opposed — just 13 percent say they support gay marriage, up barely from 11 percent in 2010.
Independents, on the other hand, have become less supportive of same-sex marriage — down 8 percentage points since 2010.
The Supreme Court justices today reviewed California's Proposition 8, which sought to ban gay marriage. Proposition 8 was approved by the people, overturning the state Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage and redefining marriage as between a man and a woman. The court will decide if the proposition is legal under the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment.
If proposition 8 is overturned in a broad decision, it could eliminate Texas' laws against same-sex marriage.


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Are you wondering what to write in a thank you note? Maybe it's for a holiday gift received, or maybe it's time to pen your bridal or baby shower thank-yous. Maybe you're looking to write that mother of all thank-you notes that someone might save in a memory box. Or maybe you're just plain, old procrastinating. Well, the first thing you can thank is your lucky stars, cuz you've got your own personal gratitude guide right here.
In my own little part of the planet, people have been thanking me for my thank-yous for as long as I can remember. I've had my fair share of experience, too. In the last couple years, I got married, had a baby, and the accompanying showers — and let me tell you, there's no faster way to learn how to write a memorable thank-you! Sure, it all started out with Mom forcing me to write a note after every birthday or holiday gift growing up, but by now it's just part of who I am. There's something I really love about knowing I've sent this little connection out into the world, a thoughtful envelope in a sea of bills and junk mail, to let someone know just how much they're appreciated.
So, without further ado, I'm going to let you in on my little secret…
It's all about the details.
Whether it's filling in a blank note or adding a few lines to a greeting card, taking the time to write a personal message can really go a long way. My team works on American Greetings' Thank-You cards, and we love to find fresh, creative ways to help you say thanks! We'll give you a great sentiment to start, but taking the time to add a few personal words can really make all the difference.
- Start with the "Dear." Whom are you thanking? Pay attention to the card or gift tag you receive, and address your thank-you the same way. If a gift was from a family, include the children as well. At a shower, make sure someone takes notes so you can get this part right — that extra attention to detail really helps.
- Make it specific. Start your thank-you with a description of the gesture or gift: "Thank you for…" or "I really appreciate…"
- Gift — Let them know how much you like the gift, or how you plan to use it, but be careful not to exaggerate. There's really no need to say you'll think of them every time you do dishes.
- We love the new dish towels. I can't believe you found something that so perfectly matches the colors in our kitchen!
- Money/Gift Card — Try not to directly mention money. Explain how you'll use the gift, and consider thanking them for their kindness or generosity.
- Thank you so much for your generous gift. We'll be using it toward a beautiful wooden changing table for the nursery.
- Hosting — Compliment the host on a specific food, decoration, or a memorable moment.
- Your home is so warm and inviting, and I especially loved your beautiful centerpiece. I can't believe you made it yourself!
- Being There — There are many more reasons to write a thank-you. Here are some to get you started: for child or elder care, for helping out when you're sick, for encouragement, advice, or friendship, for listening or support, for mentoring or helping you achieve a goal.
- Thank you so much for talking me off the ledge last week. It means so much to know you're really there for me.
- Be genuine. Use your own voice. Not mine, your Aunt Edna's, or anyone else's.
- Match the emotion. Think about the emotion behind the gesture or gift, and try to reflect it in your message. If someone gives you something small, a short, simple thank-you may be enough. But, if someone really went above and beyond for you, a phrase like I can't even begin to tell you how much it means will really help to convey the gratitude you feel.
- How do I even begin to thank you…
- Your kindness and caring mean so much to me.
- You always know the perfect thing to do to make me feel special.
- Wrap it up. It's a nice touch to end your card with a message about the sender rather than a gift. Try thanking them for thinking of you, or mention looking forward to seeing them again soon.
- Thank you again for thinking of me. It means so much to have you in my life.
- Be timely. Etiquette experts agree you have up to a year to write wedding thank-yous, but best practice is to try to get any thank-you sent within a month. A Christmas thank-you in June just doesn't feel like you made it a priority. This is one of my own personal challenges, and my rule of thumb is that's it's always better to send the thank-you. Even a belated one.
- A much-belated thank-you for your thoughtful birthday gift. I absolutely love…
- Gift — Let them know how much you like the gift, or how you plan to use it, but be careful not to exaggerate. There's really no need to say you'll think of them every time you do dishes.
I don't know about you, but I just inspired myself to send off a couple tonight. In this fast-paced world we live in, a handwritten thank-you stands out. It's the kind of mail people love to receive. It says that you took the time to reflect on someone's thoughtfulness, the influence they've had, or what someone continues to do for you. The most important thing really isn't finding the perfectly crafted phrase to write — it's that what you do write comes from your heart.
Whom do you plan to thank today? Post it in here in the comments!
And if you want to take the next step in thanking someone, don't forget check out American Greetings'#ThankList movement.
– Jessica
Jessica L. Dolce's love of greeting cards started early — she created her own card line as a child, complete with a logo and rhyming verse! These days she's a writer, editor, hiking enthusiast, home renovator, wife, and doting mama to the world's most adorable toddler.


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The Armattan FPV series of frames is our classic offering. These are the frames that loved by pilots of all skill levels: from the beginner to the professional. Each of these frames is designed lovingly to be light, yet exceptionally durable. In addition, for that added peace-of-mind, all of the carbon fiber base-plates (and many of the other plates) of these frames are warrantied with Armattan's tried and true Lifetime Warranty. Whether you break it learning to fly or attempting to shoot a gap almost smaller than your bird, we've got you covered.
So what are you waiting for? Pick your desired propeller size below, and lets get flying!