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Pet Stuff Warehouse offers online pet supplies, online cat supplies and other online dog supplies. Pet Stuff Warehouse has pet containment supplies for cats and dogs, including cat crates, dog crates and pet cages. We are your pet supplies store for quality Perimeter Dog Fences or Petsafe electronic dog fences and cat fences. Our online dog supplies store offers dog containment systems, both underground pet fences and the wireless dog fence. We have a great assortment of collars: designer, leather, as well as dog shock collars and bark collars. For all of your pet supply needs please consider us. We are online and easy to find. Our Online Pet Supplies Store uses full featured shopping technology for your pet supplies shopping convenience and safety. The Pet Stuff Warehouse customer service staff is always ready to assist.
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- Description
- Additional
- Ingredients
- Reviews
A great all around dog food for dogs of all life stages, ACANA Heritage Free-Run Poultry delivers dog nutrition at its best. With a rich level of protein and 60% premium animal ingredients, ACANA Free-Run Poultry suits dogs that do well with or enjoy chicken and turkey.
Along with free-run poultry this dog food also features organs and cartilage that not only mirror the diet from your dog's evolution, but also provides nutrients naturally without synthetic additives. In essence the inclusion of whole-prey ratios in this food means that you will be feeding your dog muscle meat that provides protein for energy and cell replenishment; giblets that suppy protein, iron & zinc, liver that supply B vitamins and minerals such as iron & zinc which both play a role in immune system function, and cartilage that provides amino acids that helps support healthy bones, skin, coat, immune system and digestive function. Because of this, we believe that ACANA Free-Run Poultry is one of the best moderately-priced dry dog foods in the market.
Optimal Nutritional Balance for Peak Health - ACANA Heritage Free-Run Poultry is loaded with 60% premium meat ingredients, including chicken, turkey and catfish. This variety of animal protein helps provide the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are needed for your dog's peak health. Because your dog cannot get all of his/her essential nutitients from one protein source, the diversity of meats in ACANA Free-Run Poultry dog food provides the optimal nutritional balance that your dog needs.
Builds Lean Muscle Mass – Instead of pea or potato protein concentrates, ACANA Heritage Free-Run Poultry derives its protein content from animal ingredients. This animal meat content helps your dog maintain lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass is not only good for building strength and burning calories more efficiently, but it also is beneficial for your dog's long-term health.
Helps Maintain A Healthy Weight - Because ACANA Heritage Free-Run Poultry limits carbohydrates and replaces fast carbohydrates (rice, potato and tapioca) ,which are recognized as leading causes of obesity and diabetes, with low-glycemic, locally grown vegetables and fruits, this helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels and reduces the potential for fat storage. This is all great for maintaining a healthy body weight because a healthy weight translates to a longer life for your dog and it helps prevents certain medical conditions.
No Undesirable Ingredients That Would Harm Your Dog - ACANA uses actual food ingredients to provide all required nutrients; that is, since ACANA Free-Run Poultry features the meat in whole prey ratios, essential nutrients, vitamins & minerals are provided through this rich diversity of meats, liver, giblets and cartilage. Thus, this eliminates the need for a long list of synthetic ingredients. The only supplement that ACANA has added is zinc.
Additional Information
Product Category Dog Food Product Type Dry Food Lifestage All Life Stages, Puppy, Adult, Senior Breed Size All Breed Sizes, Small Breed, Medium Breed, Large Breed Special Formulas/Features Gluten Free, Grain Free, Low Glycemic
America's Best and Freshest Ingredients
ACANA's Free-Run Poultry features an unmatched variety of local ingredients that are raised or fished by people they know & trust, come from federally inspected facilities and then delivered to their DogStar® kitchens fresh each day.
First 5 Ingredients - These are the main ingredients that make up the bulk of the dog food.
- Deboned Chicken
- Deboned Turkey
- Chicken Meal
- Whole red lentils
- Whole pinto beans
Ingredient List:
Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, chicken meal, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, chicken liver, chicken fat, catfish meal, whole chickpeas, whole green lentils, whole yellow peas, lentil fiber, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), eggs, fish oil, Natural chicken flavor, chicken heart, pea starch, salt, dried kelp, whole pumpkin, mixed tocopherols (preservative), zinc proteinate, calcium pantothenate, collard greens, whole apples, whole pears, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin, folic acid, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, copper proteinate, dried chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla, althea root, rose hips, juniper berries, citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product.
Natural Ingredients & Their Benefits:
Zinc - An essential mineral that helps support a healthy immune systm, helps support a healthy liver, helps with protein & carbohydrate metabolism and helps the skin function and with wound healing.
Mixed Tocopherols – A natural preservative that works to keeps dog food from turning rancid and losing its nutritional value. Unlike artificial preservatives which has had suspected health issues and is a synthetic additive, mixed tocopherols are a family of Vitamin E that are naturally found in fish and leafy green vegetables.
Chicory root - The root from a woody plant that supports digestive health, prevents bacterial infections, protects the liver, boost the immune system, provides dietary fiber and relieves arthritis pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Tumeric - A spice that contains compounds with medicinal properties. Tumeric helps fight inflammation, increases antioxidants that fight disease, helps improve brain function, lowers heart disease and helps prevent cancer.
Sarsaparilla root - A root from a woody plant that protects the liver, has natutal detoxifying properties, alleviates skin problems, helps prevent cancer, reduces inflammation and boosts the immune system.
Althea root - A root of a plant known as the marshmallow plant that helps fight bacterial infections, improves digestion, lowers inflammation and heals skin conditions.
Rosehips - The fruit of the rose plant that is one of the best source of Viatmin C, which helps treat infections and boosts the immune system. Rosehips also helps prevents diseases such as cancer, increases circulation, regulates digestion, reduces the symptons of arthritis, treats inflammation and enhances skin and bone health.
Juniper berries - Seed cones from the juniper plant and are used as a bitter spice. Juniper berries contain great antioxidant potential and thus, may help prevent diseases such as cancer. They help improve skin conditions, may improve digestion and can help improve heart function.
Dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product - used as a probiotic. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help promote a healthy digestive tract and a healthy immune system. Known as "good bacteria," probiotics promotes healthy digestion and helps balance the good and bad bacteria in the intestines.
Dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product- used as a probiotic. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help promote a healthy digestive tract and a healthy immune system. Known as "good bacteria," probiotics promotes healthy digestion and helps balance the good and bad bacteria in the intestines.
Dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product.- used as a probiotic. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help promote a healthy digestive tract and a healthy immune system. Known as "good bacteria," probiotics promotes healthy digestion and helps balance the good and bad bacteria in the intestines.
Customer Reviews
- Our Dogs LOVE Acana Review by Miles & Rex APPROVE!
Price Value Quality
- A HAPPY Dog! Review by Doggie Mom
Price Value Quality
- Max Loves this! Review by JeffNY
Price Value Quality
- What's Not to Like?!??!? Review by Happy Dog
Quality Price Value
- Molly has another Favorite! Review by Molly's Mom
Price Value Quality
- Acana's newest is a WINNER! Review by Stacey
Price Value Quality
- Another Great Formula from Acana! Review by laura
Price Value Quality

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Recently I've been exploring scrapbooking through mini albums. I love their size and they are absolutely perfect to make as gifts. This sweet baby album was a gift for my daughter. I'm pretty sure that I enjoyed the gift as much or even more than her as I had so much joy remembering those precious days and creating it.
The album I started off with is the Maya Road 4" Canvas Binder. The canvas is perfect for misting, stamping and painting or even stitching. Inside, there are three canvas pages and three chipboard pages giving you limitless possibilities.
The front cover is perfect for decorating with lots of great Maya Road goodies. I've grouped them all together in a sweet Vintage Metal Heart Tart Tin.
Of course, I couldn't resist adding lots of Maya Road accents inside the album as well. Fat albums with hints of what is inside just makes me want to open them and take a look.
One of my favorite things to do in this album was to add color with paint and mists and then stamp on the canvas. Test your inks on scrap canvas. A permanent ink will hold up best on your creation. Maya Road carries an incredible selection of clear stamps that are perfect for journaling and embellishing your projects with.
This canvas page was one that I really enjoyed creating. It's actually a see-through peek a the next page by die cutting the canvas page. After die-cutting it, I carefully picked out the stitching at the top of the page and inserted a White Ledger Transparency to give it stability. I stitched up the top seam and then stitched around the butterflies to secure the canvas openings.
I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my canvas album and inspires you to try some fun techniques. One of the things I love most about these albums is they are a great place to explore your creativity.
Happy creating!


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Matka Canyon
Matka Canyon is located in the surrounding of Skopje and covers approximately an area of 5 000 hectares. It is one of the most popular and most visited destinations in the country. It is also one of the favourite places of the inhabitants of Skopje to escape the noise from their everyday busy lives. It is not only interesting for the visitors who are coming to enjoy the walks in the breathtaking nature and the delicious dishes at the same time, but it is also a point of interest for many specialised visitors, such as biologists, speleologists, religious groups and the admirers of kayaking and alpine hiking.
Matka Canyon is a home of diverse plants, 20% are endemic species. It is also home of 77 species of Balkan endemic butterflies, while 18 other species are new for the science. The caves are shelters for a large population of bats. There are 10 caves and among them the well known Vrelo Cave, located on the right bank of Treska River. It was listed as one of the top 77 natural sites in the world in the New 7 Wonders of Nature project. An international team of explorers is trying to precise the exact depth of the cave. Until today, according to the speleologist's assessments, Vrelo's depth is 230 meters, which makes it one of the deepest underwater caves in the world. Matka is also a cradle of the orthodoxy represented in the fresco painting of the few churches and monasteries from different historical periods. While you are lighting a candle for health and happiness, you can enjoy the remarkable view overlooking the lake. If you would like to enjoy your holiday in a different way, Matka Canyon is the right choice for you.
Top things to see
Vrelo cave
Located on the right bank of the Treska River, Vrelo Cave was listed as one of the top 77 natural sites in the world in the New 7 Wonders of Nature project
Vrelo cave is divided into tho parts, underwater and upper Vrelo cave. The underwater Vrelo cave is one of the deepest underwater caves in the world, so far the registered max depth is 230 m.


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A Family with Flaws
I believe family should always be there for one another. No family is perfect, although the imperfections are what keep my family together. As in many families, we have our differences, but when it comes time my family can pull together in a united front. A major point in my life in which my family was there for one another was to take care of my nephew.
There was a point in time where my brother had issues with the law and was in jail. During that time his son was taken away from his mother on child neglect charges. This was a tough time for my family. Originally, my nephew was placed in the foster care of his mother's aunt. A couple of weeks passed and my mother received a call from his great aunt stating that she didn't have the patience and time that my nephew required and said that either we needed to step up and take my nephew or that the state would place him into the arms of strangers while he needed foster care. So my mother took the necessary steps to become a foster care provider so we would be able to take my nephew. This time was really hard for my family. My mother had my nephew all day long which was a big change. Then I had to be home directly after school so my mother could go to work. I was in about eighth grade when this happened and we had him for about two years. For the most part it seemed like I was unable to do the things other people my age were able to do but that was how my family pulled together to help one another out. During this time my sister would try to help out, after all she didn't get home from work till about 7pm and she had her own son to take care of. I was glad to except any and all help I could get from my sister on raising my nephew.
This is one of the ways my family pulled together through our flaws and helped each other out. I grew up with my mother teaching the importance of family and believe that without family I would be lost today. My family has been there through thick and thin and continues to be there for each other whenever someone is in need.
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God Is With Us
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us. Isaiah 8:10
Do you have a personal motto? Some families have family shields with mottos expressing their values. Here's an idea. Whether a motto or simply an awareness you carry within your heart, think of the power of the phrase: "God with us." That's the meaning of Immanuel.
An old volume of The Family Christian Almanac said: "There is nothing like the consciousness of Immanuel for men that are fighting the battles of life. Give me, of all mottoes, 'God with me.' Oh that I might write on my child's cradle, 'Immanuel—God with us.' Oh, that I might write it on the threshold of every child's entrance into wedded life: 'Immanuel—God with us.' Oh that I might write it on the garments that my child wears, so that they should [see] …. the motto, 'Immanuel—God with us.' Oh, that I might write it on every book and task. Oh that it might be inscribed on every fear and sorrow—'God with us.' Always and everywhere I would have for my motto, 'Immanuel.'"1
We can endure difficulties in life because God is with us. Immanuel!
- The Family Christian Almanac: 1864 (Boston: American Tract Society, 1864), 24, condensed.
#4 Book of Isaiah 8-10:4 by Chuck Missler
25 years after this was recorded the situation in the middle east with those players is even more relevant than it was then. and the super state of the EU is about to get desperate to hold itself together. And now Iran has nukes! Russia is back in the picture dealing directly with Syria. this is even more surreal now.


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Multinational food processing and retailing company Associated British Foods swallowed SA's biggest sugar industry player, Illovo, in May last year. The move by the British group (which, as it happens, owns cheap 'n chic Primark) was part of a scramble for Sub-Saharan African agricultural assets. Crookes Brothers, another JSElisted player now stands out as another highly attractive potential target.
The stage for an eventual acquisition of Crookes could already be set thanks to the involvement of African agriculture-focused UK private equity firm SilverStreet Capital as the key shareholder through its Silverlands (SA) Plantations investment vehicle. As with all private equity firms, SilverStreet will exit at some point.
SilverStreet's involvement began in 2013 when it acquired Rand Merchant Bank's 33.1% stake in Crookes. SilverStreet followed this in June 2015 when it upped its stake to 45% through a R215m claw-back issue of new ordinary shares. The issue was pitched at R80/share, a premium of over 30% to Crookes' then share price.
SilverStreet clearly sees solid growth potential. Crookes aims to deliver it, targeting 15%/year headline EPS (HEPS) growth over rolling five-year periods. "We are fairly confident we can achieve this," says Crookes MD Guy Clarke.
Diversification strategy and new projects
Underpinning his confidence is a diversification strategy whereby a steady stream of new projects will kick in over the short to medium term. The strategy calls for R500m investment in new projects between 2014 and 2018.
Diversification has already radically reduced Crookes' dependence on sugar cane, which had been its mainstay since its founding in 1913. Highlighting this, in the group's year to March 2016 sugar cane produced in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Swaziland and Zambia accounted for 41% of operating profit, just ahead of the 39% contribution from its 700ha Western Cape deciduous fruit operations.
Bananas from Crookes' Mpumalanga plantation were another big contributor, accounting for 18% of operating profit.
It is a contribution that is set to rise. Under development in a R117m joint venture with Silverlands Mozambique is a 300ha banana plantation in southern Mozambique. The project promises higher yields and lower costs compared with SA production, says Clarke. The first 40ha of banana trees will be planted in February with the first crop likely in as little as 18 months.
Crookes has gone it alone on another project in Mozambique: a 300ha macadamia nut tree plantation. Under development since 2012, the first crop will be harvested in March with full plantation maturity and the first positive cash flow expected in 2021. With macadamia nut prices hovering around record highs, prospects are good. But, cautions Clarke, as with all agricultural commodities, prices are prone to high volatility.
Crookes to capitalise on its property holdings
Taking diversification another step forward, Crookes is capitalising on its vast property holdings through a new venture, Renishaw Hills, an upmarket retirement village on KZN's south coast.
"We plan to sell 550 units over the next five to seven years," says Clarke. "They will take up 20ha of 260ha-280ha suitable for development. We envisage full development to take 2030 years."
Riding agricultural commodity price volatility
SilverStreet's confidence in Crookes is paying off. In Crookes' year to March 2016, HEPS jumped 37% followed - despite a 19.5% rise in issued shares - by a 27% rise in the six months to September. The big interim results kicker came from sugar cane, where operating profit jumped 169% to R134m.
The division rode high on a 12.5% rise in the SA sugar reference price in February and another 15% rise in July. Another strong boost came from a 50% rise in world sugar prices, which lifted export prices to almost the same level as SA's normally far higher reference price.
Also turning in robust growth were bananas, where a drought-driven 48% rise in SA prices lifted operating profit 168% to R26.6m.
It was not all good news from Crookes. Hammering home the risks inherent in agricultural commodities and the wisdom of diversification, a fall in deciduous fruit prices sent this division's operating profit crashing to a R24.8m loss.
Trading on a 15.5 p:e, Crookes appears fully priced. However, for small-cap investors prepared to ride agricultural commodity price volatility, it is a share worth consideration on price weakness.


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One of my old martial arts instructors—a man specializing in knife fighting—used to have what he called the "5-Minute Knife Fighting Lesson."
It's a useful thought experiment, but one that needs a little explaining.
Basically, the instructor took an imaginary student. The imaginary student had no prior knowledge of martial arts, no fighting experience, and a minimal amount of athletic ability. In this scenario, the student approaches the instructor in a panic, saying he has to be in a knife fight in 5 minutes. He can't avoid it.
What does the instructor teach him? What tool does he give the student in 5 minutes that gives him the best chance to succeed?
He settled on a simple defensive move, one that forced the enemy to come to the student. He showed the student how to stand, how to hold the knife, and how to retreat. "Just cut anything that comes in reach, and keep cutting."
That instructor's thought experiment is something I've circled back to more than once over the years. It's an incredibly useful way to identify crucial parts of a complex system, and put them at the forefront in a practical way.
Not to say that the entire system needs to be thrown out. You can—and often should—still practice the larger and more complex system. Especially when it comes to something as deadly serious as martial arts. But it does give you a good idea of which principles are most important, and which things you should be focusing on as you hone and perfect the larger system.
Anyway, I'm rambling a bit, and I still want to tie this point to the subject of today's post:
A discussion thread popped up in my Twitter feed yesterday. In it, the self-styled "Evil High Priestess" of the OSR cavegirl talked about how Alignment-as-written is is poorly fleshed out, usually leads to bad experiences, and most DMs cut it entirely.
You can read her entire thread by following this link. You can also just read the following screen caps of my buddy Cirsova's posts. They copy cavegirl's posts word-for-word, but they add photos of oiled-up bodybuilders and vintage Charles Atlas ads to the bottom of each one:
Admittedly, the Cirsova posts are a bit of a piss-take. Mostly because our mutual buddy Meffrius—who was unfairly dog-piled not too long ago over his "#EliteLevel powergaming" schitck—said the same thing about Alignments as cosmic factions months ago.
Incidentally, you should follow Meffridus on Twitter. You should also buy Cirsova.
But I digress.
Cavegirl is right, of course. Alignment should be a form of cosmic faction play. In fact, with Gary Gygax's inclusion of Poul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions and Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion books on Appendix N, it's difficult to see how it was ever intended otherwise.
Anderson, in particular, gives a fantastic "5-Minute Knife Fight" version of Alignment-as-cosmic faction play. The following excerpt comes from Chapter 3 of Three Hearts Three Lions.
But the fact is, not many of the responses below cavegirl's post indicate people are familiar with the reading material. As John McGlynn, co-host of Geek Gab points out, the concept of Alignment-as-personality-test is at least as old as Moldovay, making the Appendix N interpretation the exception rather than the rule.
Which honestly has me thinking. Not too many people have read Appendix N as deeply as Jeffro Johnson or Joseph Goodman. I'm a dabbler compared to those two, and there are plenty in the OSR scene who have read much deeper than me.
But I'd assumed more—if not most—people in the OSR were at least passingly familiar with the more famous works on Appendix N. At least the ones responsible for the quirkiest bits of D&D's ruleset.
For a long while, I'd been thinking about what I'd put on an "Abridged Appendix N," the three or four books I'd hand someone who wanted to give their D&D game an entirely different feel than the standard "D&D brand" setting and flavor. I'm still mulling that one over, because I think it will skew heavily to science fantasy.
But I think after reading cavegirl's post, I have what I'd call my "5-Minute Knife Fight" version of Appendix N: pre-supposing a brand new player—one who has no prior knowledge or experience of D&D, fantasy, or roleplaying games—what three books would I give him to teach him about D&D's underlying concepts to help him understand and run a game quickly?
Again, this is by no means exhaustive. I'd still urge people who are interested in D&D to read the other authors on Appendix N, or the other works by these authors. Lovecraft and Howard spring readily to mind, as to Burroughs and Brackett. Plus there's the rest of Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser series, the rest of Vance's work, and the rest of Anderson's.
Any or all of them would be worth reading on their own merits, and any of them would undoubtedly enrich and inspire your game. So would countless other fantasy writers.
But in terms of my old instructor's "5 Minute Knife Fight" concept, those three titles are probably the three most crucial books on Appendix N. Those books are the "standing, holding the knife, and retreating," of the world implied by D&D's basic ruleset.
Read those three books, and you have a basic grasp on Vancian Magic, Alignment, Thieves' Guilds, how humans and Demi-humans do (or don't) get along, magic items and artifacts, certain monsters, how to run a series of connected adventures (via Anderson and Leiber's examples), the politics of a big city, wilderness and sea travel, and some example ruins/NPCs you can liberally steal from.
As an added bonus, most modern fantasy fans haven't read them, so they'll think you're being original.
It's also important to note that each of these books clocks in at around a hundred fifty pages or so. All together, they equal approximately one Harry Potter book. I'm a naturally slow reader. But I'd guess most people can probably read all three in about a week and a half of their spare time.
Add to that the time needed to figure out the chosen ruleset—not long, if you picked a 0e or B/X retro clone—and you're probably looking at about two weeks from complete novice to Dungeon Master.
So, there you have it. D&D's very own "5-Minute Knife Fighting Lesson."
Take it, build a foundation, and keep the crucial parts in mind as you hone and perfect your game.
Apologies for the lack of updates, folks. I had a lot going on over the last two months, mostly between VA appointments, paperwork, and associated crap. The silver lining is that things are finally starting to look a bit untangled, for the first time in years.
That said, lack of blogging about my Fantasy Effing Vietnam project doesn't mean I haven't been working on it. Fact is, I've been trying to donate every spare scrap of time to it that I can.
In my last post on the subject, I mentioned I'd been re-thinking the skills and resolution system. Specifically, I was planning to give every PC some limited access to the thieves' skills. It was partly for flavor reasons, and partly out of a desire for a unified skill mechanic. Specifically, I wanted the exact same resolution roll to apply to everyone sneaking through the bush.
But after a few play tests—and some fascinating OSR readings over the holidays—I think I'm going to walk that back a bit.
I'll get into the reasons below. But first, I want to introduce the newest addition to the game: Sapper Dwarves.
You wake up screaming again. It's a good ten seconds before you recognize the cool, vaulted brick ceiling, the soft candle glow, and the pungent smell of burning herbs.
You're in the keep's infirmary. Just where you've been for almost two weeks.
You only have vague memories of how you survived the goblin ambush. You just remember running through the woods, your arm and your thigh burning. You remember both Bregan and Kruppa, laying in the kill zone like sacks of meat.
They say an Elf patrol picked you up. According to the report, you were half-delirious form the poison in your veins, wandering alone through the forest, babbling like a madman.
They never found any trace of Bregan or Kruppa.
You're still groggy when a troop of hard-eyed dwarves bursts into the infirmary. None of them pay any attention to the Sisters of Mercy trying to block their way. They shove through the nuns as roughly as if they're pushing through a shield wall.
"There he is," one of them says, pointing at you.
The dwarves make a bee line, quickly surrounding your bed, all eyes boring into you. The leader produces a rough-sketched piece of parchment covered in long, intersecting lines. You don't read Dwarven rune-script—not even a little—so it's a moment before you recognize some of the terrain features.
It's a map. One tracing a system of tunnels and warrens that would put an ant-hill to shame. Gods... is this the goblin tunnel network? How could anyone hope to fight and clear such a thing?
The Dwarven leader jabs a finger at the parchment. "That goblin ambush. Where was it?"
You trace a rough circle around the area. "It was somewhere around here, between—"
The Dwarf cuts you off. "We already know the area. Where was it exactly?"
Exactly? You concentrate hard. You try to remember the configuration of the land, looking at the map for a corresponding pattern.
"Here," you say at last. "Right here between these hillocks."
The Dwarf smiles. It's an evil looking sight. He turns to his companions. There's some excited chatter among them.
"It's near Ogre's Fist. We could insert there, turn north, and start pouring oil down the the side passages."
"Whole area under those hillocks is unstable. Might be able to bring the entire thing down on 'em if we undermine the right junctions."
"What if we borrowed one of the Magic Users? Fill the whole thing with that flaming gas spell they've got. Burn the hill and the stinking tunnels."
It's then that you see the tattoo on the Dwarf leader's wrist. Bregan had one like it. Could they be kinsmen?
"We move by night," the leader says. "Hit the tunnel during the day when these green bastards are sleeping. Then we go in quiet, and we do it by hand." As he says it, his hand drifts to the brace of knives hanging across his chest.
The Dwarves leave without another word spoken. The Sisters of Mercy mutter prayers. You lay back, thinking.
The Dwarves have adapted to this new way of war, perhaps better than any other race on the side of Law. They move more silently than the Elves. They deliver knife thrusts in the dark, and they slip away before the alarm is raised. They have an uncanny knack for spotting the goblin traps, and dismantling them with surgical precision.
That's not the surprising part. The surprising part is to a man, they seem unnaturally pleased by this. Almost as if they'd been born to this way of fighting, and their millennia of using shield walls, spears, and axes was nothing but a small diversion.
You relax into your pillow, strangely at ease. There will be blood beneath the earth come morning. And for once, you don't think it will be from the side of Law.
One thing I've been considering more heavily since last update is role protection: how do the various classes distinguish themselves from one another, and how do I ensure that each class has a defined niche in the game?
This is something old-school D&D unquestionably did better than new editions. The Fighter was the fighter, and anyone else who tried to step in and fill the heavy combat role would get a mud-hole stomped in their guts. Likewise with Magic-Users, Thieves, and Clerics.
Early D&D handled role protection more-or-less organically, with each class being tied to a basic archetype. Characters were either the Strong Guy, the Sneaky Guy, the Magic Guy, or the Holy Guy. The Elf was the only real exception, being something of an "in-between" character in both B/X and OD&D.
That said, there were still some hiccups in earlier editions' handling of role protection. In B/X and its clones, the Dwarf and the Halfling were basically short Fighters with infravision and a handful of special abilities. Their good saving throws made them better at surviving, but neither one really filled a true "in-between" role, like the Elf.
In any event, later editions didn't pay much attention to the idea of role protection at all. Giving players shiny new options meant including multi-class rules, or creating more "cross-archetype" classes like the Ranger and the Eldritch Knight. The more of them that popped up, the less specialized the basic classes felt.
That gradual drift away from the basic, archetype-based classes is one of the things that ended up changing the overall feel of the game. So much so that I'm honestly starting to think of role protection as a "silent feature" of the OSR.
But is it more important than simple, unified mechanics?
As I mentioned in my last update, I'd been toying with giving each of the classes limited access to certain Thieves' skills. I did give it a shot, running about half a dozen sessions with three separate groups in Keep on the Borderlands. And two things became readily apparent:
Admittedly, number two was something I should have seen coming. With Move Silently, Hide in Shadows, and Find Traps all being things the DM rolls in secret and adjudicates the result of, most of the players never even saw their abilities in action. All they ever saw was the results of a missed roll turning into an ambush, or a successful one turning into a chance to get the drop on a sentry.
In other words, all I really did was create more bookkeeping for myself behind the screen, with absolutely none of the flavor results finding their way to the PCs.
So while I did gain a unified mechanic in terms of skill rolls, the trade-off wasn't really worth it. Bottom line, "Thieves skills for everybody" is a feature I'm axing.
Which, unfortunately, brings me right back to the problem described in that last post: how do I adjudicate Thieves and non-Thieves attempting the same action, like sneaking up on a guard?
I eventually found a pretty good answer in Philotomy's Musings, a collection of OD&D interpretations, thoughts, house-rules, compiled by Jason Cone. It's a justifiably famous document in OSR circles, if only for the "dungeon as mythic underworld" section. But the entire thing is very much worth a read.
Cone's take on the Thief's Move Silently ability is that it represents a skill far above and beyond normal stealth. A successful roll means the Thief truly moves without making a sound, moving with an almost supernatural silence. A fighter wanting sneak up on a sentry, on the other hand, is just using "normal" stealth. In the latter case, the DM rolls a 1d6. On a 1 or a 2, the attempt is successful, as in the standard surprise rules.
As for how Cone squares this with the Thief's Move Silently ability, his solution is simple and elegant: if the Thief fails his percentile roll to Move Silently, the DM rolls a "normal" stealth roll on a 1d6. In other words, the Thief gets two chances to sneak up: one with his class ability, and one with the same mechanic everyone else is using.
I like this solution. For one thing, it doesn't break the game by asking me to resolve the same action two different ways. Everyone gets the same mechanic. The Thief just gets an extra attempt with his different one. But much more importantly, it protects the Thief's unique role in the party.
So where does that leave the others?
As I mentioned back in my "MASH Clerics and the Walking Wounded" post, I've removed Clerics and healing magic as player options. Instead every PC starts with the large pool of HP. While this is a necessary change for the "progressive exhaustion and battle fatigue" theme I'm going for, it does have the unintended consequence of taking away one of the Fighter's main advantages: HP.
Yes, it is still possible for a Fighter to start with more HP than most other classes. But that's not enough to make the Fighter feel like a clearly defined role. At least not at lower levels.
One way I'm going "give back" to the Fighter is by implementing class-based damage. A Fighter with a dagger should be more deadly than a wizard with a staff. Another thing I'm adopting is the old rule about how strength bonuses for melee combat only apply to Fighters.
Add those to the Fighter's ability to hit weaker enemies once per level each combat round, his ability to use any weapons or armor, and an improved THAC0 table, and the Fighter suddenly starts to differentiate himself again.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the spell casters. Since I already removed the Cleric, what I have left is the Magic User and the new, Illusionist-inspired Fae class. Since there isn't much of a way to differentiate them with abilities, I decided the best way to do it would be with their spells.
I took great pains to ensure each class had a completely unique spell list, with no crossover between them. In addition to all the "classic" illusions, the Fae gets exclusive access to the "mind-f*ckery" spells, like Charm Person and Invisibility. The Magic-User, on the other hand, still gets the damage and mobility spells, like Fireball, Magic Missile, and Levitate.
In purely military terms, if the Magic User fills an artillery and logistics role, the Fae is psyops and counterintelligence.
Which brings us to the Thief and the Dwarf. Getting back to my other design principle of "rules imply setting," I decided to do away with the human Thief altogether, and re-conceptualize the Dwarf to keep the Fighter's role unique.
I decided the best thing to do was make the Dwarf class adhere to the Thief-archetype, imagining them as the war effort's Tunnel Rats, Combat Engineers, and Sappers. To that end, I'm probably going to do away with some of the standard Thief skills, like Pick Pockets and Pick Locks. I'm probably going to replace them with something like "Underground Navigation," and "Jury-Rig," to reflect their focus on warfare over theft.
For the Elf class, I decided to keep the principle of an "in-between" character. I kept the Fighting and spell-casting abilities mostly intact, but decided to stop the Elf's access to spells stronger than 3rd Level. The Magic User, on the other hand, has access to 4th and 5th Level spells.
I also decided to grant the Elf—and only the Elf—some limited access to the Thieves' stealth skills, like Move Silently and Hide in Shadows. But where the Dwarf will continually get better at them, the Elf only gets his base score, with no chance of improvement. This puts the Elf squarely in the center of the three archetypes I have left: he's part Strong Guy, part Magic Guy, and part Sneaky Guy.
As for Halflings, I struck them from the game entirely, replacing them with the above-mentioned Fae.
The end result is a list of character classes slightly smaller than in B/X, but with more overall attention paid to how their roles complement and play off of one another.
This, I'd argue, is real game balance, and something the earlier editions did amazingly well. It's not about making sure each class has equal access to powers and abilities. It's about making sure each class—and by extension, each player—has a niche to fill that none of the others can.
Anyway, that's all I've got for now. Next post, I plan to talk about the last two big changes I've made to the game: The Critical Hit chart, and the re-vamped Magic System.
Until then, stay quiet out there. And keep low. The goblins are getting better with those damned crossbows.
I'm an award-winning science fiction and fantasy writer based out of North Carolina. This is where I scream into the digital void. I like cookies.
November 2021


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CPR Saves (Animals') Lives
BERLIN — Last Friday, a student gave CPR to a tiger cub who was chocking on a piece of meat reports Reuters. The German medical student jumped over the fence on the visit to the zoo to help the animal keeper. After removing the meat from the animal's mouth, the animal still would not breath. It came to after about five minutes of CPR from the unnamed student.


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As the Principal Industry Analyst for many of Google and YouTube's top beauty advertisers, Michelle Lipszyc helps brand marketers navigate the digital marketing landscape to develop impactful advertising solutions that reach a brand's target consumer where and when it matters most. She will discuss how she identifies a brand's essential attributes to create a story that resonates with consumers and brings the brand to life. She holds a BA and MA in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and is completing her MBA at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
"We are honored to have a brand authority like Michelle Lipszyc as one of our featured speakers," states Erin Utter, Director of Vegas Beauty Unbound. "She has assisted hundreds of brands with impacting advertising campaigns and offers a valuable and unique perspective for all professionals of the beauty industry."
About the Forum From October 20-21, 2012, the Mane, Style, and Face Forum will present educational classes for beauty professionals to introduce exciting new tools, colors, and opportunities to market their skills in the ever-changing social media marketing realm. The event will culminate in a spectacular runway fashion show styled by Celebrity Master Colorist Kim Vo. The latest products will be unveiled in the New Generation of Beauty Trade Exhibit. The Forum will also feature the Art & Beauty Unbound Student Competition.
About Vegas Beauty Unbound From October 20-22, 2012, Vegas Beauty Unbound will descend on Las Vegas to create a conscious awareness of the transforming Beauty Industry. Beauty professionals and industry icons will participate in strategic education and networking sessions, experience new tools, and witness and participate in explosive battles that challenge them in new ways.
In addition to the Forum, Vegas Beauty Unbound will feature Battle of the Strands 2012: Xtreme Beauty, the most extreme salon competition in history, where five salons who have survived preliminary challenges compete head-to-head at The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas to create a hair, makeup, and wardrobe masterpiece as a living, breathing artistic participant in a chosen production number to highlight their work. The Beauti Gras Halloween Celebration, a Mardi Gras done Vegas style, will be held at Body English, on October 21st.
For More Information For more information about the event, please contact Erin Utter, Director of Operations, Vegas Beauty Unbound, at 702/990-3368 or 702/612-0394, email erin(at)emailbestbeauty(dot)com or visit battleofthestrands.com
To submit celebrity talent or register for media credentials, please contact Mari Escamilla at Marketing Maven Public Relations via phone or email: (310) 994-7380 or mari(at)marketingmavenpr(dot)com
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• Also available in Bittersweet and Iris


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On September 29th the Guardian published an article by Harriet Sherwood in its 'World News' section entitled "Yasser Arafat's exhumation may answer questions over his death".
The article actually has no news value whatsoever: it consists of nothing more than unfounded speculation and rumour of the kind already dismissed by more serious news outlets such as Le Figaro and the Jerusalem Post when Al Jazeera first 'broke' its Arafat-Polonium poisoning story back in July.
But what Sherwood's non-story does do is to allow the Guardian to present its main interviewee Tawfik Tirawi with a platform for unfettered propaganda. Thus Sherwood ends her piece with the following: [emphasis added]
"In the past, Tirawi has expressed scepticism over claims that Arafat's food or water was poisoned. But, he insists, Israel's siege of the Muqata contributed to Arafat's death. "Regardless of how, of the way it happened, the Israelis killed Yasser Arafat. The situation that was around him, the living conditions. But it's not an easy task to get at the truth. There's a chance we might never know."
So who is Tawfik Tirawi? Sherwood describes him as:
"…the head of the Palestinian committee investigating the death and one of those who was holed up with Arafat in the Muqata under Israeli siege for more than two years.."
But that is only part of the story. In fact, Tirawi has a very rich past as one of the people behind the organization and execution of the five-year terror war against Israeli civilians known as the second Intifada (barely mentioned by Sherwood in her article) which – a full eighteen months after it began, and immediately following the murders of 29 people in the Park Hotel suicide bombing – was the reason for the IDF's entry into Ramallah.
During the second Intifada, Tirawi was Head of the PA's intelligence services in the West Bank. As such, he was directly involved in the organization of terror attacks against Israeli civilians and collaborated with the internationally recognised terror organisations Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
"In the course of Operation Defensive Shield the direct and acute involvement of Tawfik Tirawi, head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service in the West Bank, in orchestrating terrorist operation against Israel was revealed. Tirawi, who is a close confidant of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and has been with him in the Mukata'a since the IDF entered Ramallah, emerged as being directly involved in organizing attacks, providing financial aid to operatives involved in terrorist attacks and preparing them to carry out the attacks.
Tirawi's men are also directly involved in terrorism and continue in the spirit of their commander. Thus, for example, on April 16, 2002 two explosive belts, one of them ready for use, were found in the home of Muhammad A'arj, a member of the General Intelligence Service and a resident of Kalandia refugee camp. Two suicide letters, battle vests, ammunition and red berets were also found."
Tirawi is now a senior member of the Fatah Central Committee and as recently as last year was quoted as saying that Fatah has not abandoned armed conflict. In 2009, whilst in the role of Security Advisor to Mahmoud Abbas, he stated that "Jerusalem cannot be regained without thousands of martyrs".
"Tawfiq Tirawi: I am saying these things so that we understand that words are ineffective. Action is effective. Today, you have chosen to call [your course] "The Return [of the Refugees] and Jerusalem." Believe me, brothers, whoever thinks that Israel will give us anything is deluding himself. And why would they give us anything? The Palestinians are divided, and the Arabs are weak. Any negotiations that are not based on a position of strength will not get you anything from the enemy. Indeed, why would they give us our rights as long as we are weak, divided, and dispersed?
Therefore, action [is what we need]. We do not have a position of strength on which negotiations can be based. However, as [former Israeli PM] Shamir said in 1993, if we want negotiations for the sake of negotiations, it can go on for decades.
But let me tell you, Jerusalem needs thousands of martyrs. If we live to see the day, and you become the leaders of the future, mark my words: It is impossible for Jerusalem to be restored to us without thousands of martyrs. Anyone who thinks that America will restore Jerusalem to us is mistaken. It will never restore Jerusalem to us. And if it does not give us Jerusalem, how can it possibly give us the Right of Return?
These are the two symbols that you have chosen as the title of this course. These two symbols require blood, action, efforts, resistance, and Palestinian unity."
Such statements should, of course, be taken into account when trying to assess the end game of those intent upon rekindling the notion that Arafat was poisoned by Israel.
"Suha Arafat said determining there had been a plot to kill her husband "will glorify more his legacy" and harden Palestinian resolve in any future negotiations with Israel."
Tirawi's committee is responsible for the collaboration with the Swiss laboratory which produced the information cited in the Al Jazeera report. The establishment of that 'Investigatory Committee' was a result of the second resolution passed at the Fatah conference in Bethlehem in 2009. The first resolution – agreed upon unanimously – stated that Israel was responsible for Arafat's death.
One may therefore be justifiably sceptical of the impartiality of Tawfik Tirawi's committee.
Whatever the eventual scientific conclusions (if any) to the resurrection of the poisoning story by Al Jazeera and Suha Arafat, one can be fairly sure of the fact that they will pale into insignificance next to the political hay which will be reaped as a consequence of Arafat's exhumation.
The Guardian, which recently gave an astounding display of its irresponsibility in the trigger-happy propagation of unfounded rumours of Israeli and Jewish involvement in the making of the 'Innocence of Muslims' video, appears – regrettably – to have learned nothing from the ensuing events.
As one bout of cross continental rumour-fueled violence finally begins to subside, did Harriet Sherwood really think there was any journalistic merit in uncritically repeating the fact-free speculations and urban myths of a man with a rich terrorist past and self-professed violent intentions for the future?


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Bryce Canyon is renowned for its outstanding rock formations and beautiful scenery amongst the steep red cliffs of southern Utah. As many as an estimated two million people visit the site each year, and some of these are part of groups such as wedding parties, family reunions, and activities, and friends just wanting to challenge themselves and view some of the world's most enchanting landscape. Many others visit with their partners or come to the site alone wishing to gain solace, contentment, and relaxation. Staying and trekking in Bryce Canyon allows individuals to disconnect from the busy lives they know in the cities and enjoy a simpler way of life for a while.
You'll Have Longer To Spend There
It's simple math to work out that by staying close to the canyon, you'll be able to spend a long time there compared to other accommodations. Look into staying at Bryce canyon campgrounds and choosing to stay in a tent or a log cabin, for example. You won't have to trek so far in the morning to get there, and you shouldn't have to turn around early to make it back before the sun disappears. Staying centrally is advised for quicker and easier accessibility, and by doing this, you'll avoid feeling exhausted before even getting to the main attraction in the canyon; the staggeringly enormous hoodoos.
See The Sunrise and Sunset
One benefit of staying as close to the canyon as possible is that you can watch the sunset without then having a long trek back to your accommodation mostly in the dark. The closer you stay, the sooner you can relax back at your base. The same applies to watching the sunrise, except what's even better is that you can spend a longer time in bed before having to get up to walk to the best vantage points! Remember to take a camera with you so that you can capture the emerging sun or as it disappears over the cliffs in the distance. Enjoying the sunset is a given when you're visiting, as who would struggle to see the insurmountable beauty in the light closing in and disappearing around the peaks and the valleys in the canyon?
Enjoy A More Immersive Experience
You want to be close in on the action, right? The area surrounding the canyon is relatively quiet and calm, but by staying closer, you maximize your chances of hearing and seeing wildlife unique to the canyon. This incredible wildlife includes rocky mountain elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and perhaps even those from the list of endangered species: the Utah prairie dog, the California condor, and the southwestern willow flycatcher.
You Will Meet Eager Travelers
You surely won't be the only one to have had the great idea of staying close to Bryce Canyon, so you'll meet likeminded travelers like yourself who have come to the area to gaze at the sublime formations just as you have. You have the opportunity to make new friends and share stories and tales about your experience. Another benefit of meeting new people in this way is that you can ask for, and share, advice about the different treks and staying safe.


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Your property is a crucial a part of your life, something you spend money on and luxuriate in for a long time. For those who do wish to withdraw out of your mortgage during this time it's essential to repay, no later than 30 calendar days after giving discover of withdrawal, the overall loan quantity (that is the quantity we paid into your account) and the each day curiosity that we charge, each could be discovered on the Mortgage Settlement).
The most cost effective loan rates are often available on borrowing between £7,500 and £15,000. Sadly, they had been more just like the worst value so please beware and do not waste your time with them until you wish to pay 3 times more what one other respected company will charge you! The minimal loan quantity is $6,000 for debtors in Ohio and $7,000 for borrowers in Massachusetts.
The pricing matched the worth we extracted not solely on a venture, but also on an emotional/mental level given my past contractor experiences. Almost 4 in 10 respondents mentioned they would undertake home improvements particularly to increase the worth of their house. This proper to withdraw will start on the day after you signal your mortgage agreement.
If you are contemplating utilizing equity launch to pay for house enhancements, search skilled advice first, because it may have an effect on your entitlement to state advantages and will reduce the worth of your property. If the lending bank learns that remodeling work was … Read More


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Comic Bento Unboxing & First Impressions - Boxbuster!This Comic Bento box was sent to us free of charge in exchange for an honest review... and that's what they are going to get! Randy takes a look at Comic Bento in this unboxing/initial impressions video on the Grawlix Podcast YouTube Channel.
Want to sign up for Comic Bento? Use this affiliate link and we may get a commission at no additional cost to you: http://fbuy.me/d5qwj
What do you think? Do you think Randy missed the mark? Which books looked more interesting to you? Let us know in the comments or send us a tweet @GrawlixPodcast and watch for proper reviews of the books we received in the future.


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Jose Mourinho says he had known for months that Sir Alex Ferguson would be retiring but he had never been tempted to replace the Scot at Manchester United as he wanted to return to Chelsea.
11x2 is a community of awesome people posting and discussing the latest football news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


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We're excited to announce our first-ever Steel Day event in Houston. Steel Day is the nationwide celebration of America's structural steel industry.
When: Friday, September 27, from 11 AM to 2 PM
Where: Eaton Experience Center - Houston
Topic: Vibration Analysis and Serviceability Design of Steel Frames and Concrete Foundations
Steel and concrete structures need to be designed for strength, but the serviceability criteria of these structures may govern the design as many engineers start optimizing their members and supporting foundations in a very tight market.
In this event you will learn how the vibration of steel structures can become a problem and how these issues can be resolved before a structure is built. Unintended structure and foundation vibration is not just a minor nuisance, and in some cases can cause safety issues which could lead to costly repairs and project delays.
Lunch will be provided and PCH credit available.
Register Now
Geoff Blumber
Technical Sales Manager, Hexagon PPM
Geoff Blumber is the Technical Sales manager in the BricsCAD, CADWorx and Analysis Solutions group, aligning the people and resources to deliver the right solutions to the right people at the right time. He has held varied positions in structural engineering and construction management over his career, though solution consulting direct field sales within the power and plant industries has been his primary focus the last ten years. He has a broad knowledge of CAE tools and workflows, steel fabrication and construction, and engineering practices in the AEC, process plant, and power industries. Geoff holds a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Ravi Ozarker, P.E., P. Eng.
GT STRUDL Support Consultant, Hexagon PPM
Ravi Ozarker is the GT STRUDL Support Consultant for Hexagon PPM. As a structural engineer and engineering software developer for the past 14 years, he has worked for several organizations in different roles, such as consulting engineering, government agencies, semi government agencies, software companies, EPCs, transmission tower design corporations, research universities, and air pollution modeling and monitoring in the U.S. and Canada. This range of experience has given Ravi unique insight into how each of these entities function and what internal processes and bottlenecks one can run into when completing projects under deadlines and with multi-discipline collaboration required.


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7 ultimate tips for filming across borders
- Blog
- flexport, germany, international, italy, online video, video production
- February 10, 2020
Have you ever had the opportunity to work in another country and faced some issues regarding the difference in culture or even a language barrier? In this post we will share our insights and tips & tricks to make your video production be able to cross borders without any difficulties. DitzTV had the pleasure to create multiple video productions in …Read More


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Xenna Kristian received bruising and possibly a broken jaw after she was allegedly yanked from her chair and kicked on the ground.
The incident happened at Walford and North Shropshire College in England, where Xenna goes to school. The alleged attack was reported to local law enforcement.
Xenna had been working as a Taylor Swift look-alike for about a year before the bullying. She said she regularly receives mean comments from other students.
Xenna said the alleged attack was due to jealousy:
"They must be jealous that I'm going off to do something with my life... Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I'm still shaken... I've had to cancel three appearances this week. If my jaw is broken I could be out of action for two months."


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Tommy Crawford, communications manager on the Detox campaign, reveals the latest success story in getting clothing brands to ditch toxic chemicals.
As fashion-lovers around the world ponder over which clothes to add to their Christmas wishlists, news about a different list linked to the fashion industry has got the Detox team here buzzing. I'm talking about H&M's Restricted Substance List, a detailed version of which appeared for the first time on the company's website this month.


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Boris Johnson announced on September 9 that plans to pilot larger audiences in venues later in September would have to be revised. Indoor performances resumed on August 15.
Outdoor theatres reopened and other leisure venues, including cinemas, art galleries and museums, were allowed to reopen more fully from July 4, albeit with their own social distancing rules in place.
Suggested guidance in galleries and museums includes one-way systems, spaced queuing, increased ventilation and pre-booked tickets. Wearing a mask is mandatory in visitor attractions and entertainment venues. Cinemas are expected to sell only a certain proportion of seats for each movie and face masks are now mandatory.
Both the Cineworld and Picturehouse cinema chains have said film screenings will have staggered start and end times, and customers are likely to be required to queue outside before entering to maintain social distancing.
Once inside, families and friends who book together will be allowed to sit with each other at screenings, but it is likely that seats will be kept free between different bookings. However, there will be no pick 'n' mix or other self-service snacks.
In depth: This is what the Covid cinema experience is actually like
Bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos
Casinos, bowling alleys and skating rinks reopened on August 15.
All of the above premises are expected to have "Covid-secure" measures in place, which will most likely involve limitations on customer capacity.
Places of worship are reopening, but hymns are forbidden due to the higher risk of the virus being transmitted through singing.
Churches are encouraged to implement a "booking system", meaning people may need to reserve their space ahead of services.
Worshippers are advised to bring their own bible or holy book to their place of worship with them. Where worshippers are unable to do so, books should be cleaned and quarantined for 48 hours since their previous use. Muslims should also bring their own prayer mat to services.
Communion is allowed if it is deemed "essential", but worshippers should not drink from the same glass or share the same bread, which could come pre-wrapped. The priest distributing communion should wear gloves and all those involved in the practice should wash their hands before and after.
No hymns should be sung or wood instruments used as they create an "additional risk of infection".
At christenings, if a family wishes to have their baptism as a private ceremony then the attendees must be limited to six people, excluding the officiant and others working at the ceremony. If the baptism is to happen within the course of communal worship – a service at which the general public can attend, not just an invited group, and normally referring to an advertised regular act of worship – then the numbers who can attend need to be assessed for the building to determine how many it can hold safely with physical distancing.
For christenings and other water rituals, only "small volumes" should be splashed onto the body with full immersion avoided. Those present should stand "distant from any splashes" and all those involved should thoroughly wash their hands before and after such ceremonies. Parents should hold their children throughout the christening service.
Story continues…


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Liberty AV Realigns Sales Force
Liberty AV Solutions president John Dace recently announced that the company would realign its sales force across the U.S.
Liberty AV Solutions president John Dace recently announced that the company would realign its sales force across the U.S. Following on the heels of an announcement in which Liberty AV disclosed that David Ellis was named director of western regional sales and Dan Reich would begin serving as his counterpart in the East, official news this week from Liberty headquarters bares details of an inside/outside sales model that will be put into place effective immediately, company officials said.
The reorganized sales force will introduce direct sales associates into the field that will work hand-in-hand with existing independent manufacturer's reps, according to Liberty AV. Calling on customers daily in their respective territories, these outside sales associates will be teamed with inside sales people who possess both product knowledge and sales experience of their own.
"The motivating factor behind this move is to provide an exceptional customer experience," Dace said in a statement. "It's our belief that investing in a sales team like this will help us deliver the best customer service within the AV industry, and help us grow our market share in turn."
As part of the launch of the newly reorganized sales force, Kevin Cole has been named inside sales manager. Working from Liberty AV's Colorado Springs headquarters, Cole will oversee the activities of all inside/outside teaming efforts.
As part of the announcement, Dace said that Liberty AV has no intentions of usurping the power and place of its network of independent manufacturer's reps. "These changes will position Liberty for substantial growth over the next several years by taking advantage of all our strengths," he added. "The independent reps that have served us so well over the years are part of the solid bedrock that supports our sales, and will continue to be into the future."


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Answers few as VA threatens to withdraw funding for big housing project for homeless veterans
The Alachua County Housing Authority is racing to prepare a proposal to persuade the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs not to withdraw its grant funding for a long-planned homeless veterans housing project -- but getting a straight answer from the federal agency's personnel has been difficult.
ACHA Executive Director Herbert Hernandez says he has spoken several times with Jeffery L. Quarles, director of the VA's Grant/Per Diem Program, who sent a letter on April 9 informing him of the VA's plan to terminate the grant award because it doesn't consider the housing program viable. But he said he hasn't been able to get a straight answer from Quarles regarding project deadlines.
Quarles' letter said the housing authority has made "minimal progress toward completion," citing a May 1 deadline by which ACHA had indicated to the VA it could complete construction. The exact deadline for the project's completion has been a point of uncertainty for the housing authority.
"I have talked to Mr. Quarles several times," Hernandez said. "It seems as if his reasons have changed depending on when I talk to him."
Guy Liedke, program analyst for the VA National Grant and Per Diem Program Office, declined to comment. Other calls to the VA had not been returned by late Friday.
The ACHA has until May 10 to respond to the VA's letter and explain why the VA shouldn't withdraw the grant. If its argument is persuasive, the VA could decide to continue its original plan to fund the program.
The transitional housing project would provide temporary housing for as many as 112 homeless veterans in 38 modular homes. It would be a two-year program that helps veterans transition from homelessness and would be located on the south side of Northwest 39th Avenue where a planned, but now defunct, residential development called the Villas at 39th originally was intended to go.
The total grant award is worth about $20 million and includes nearly $2 million for construction as well as additional funding to cover the program's daily operations for 20 years, Hernandez said. If the VA withdraws the money, the housing authority plans to search for another funding source, but finding $2 million, let alone a way to cover those long-term expenses, will be difficult.
Hernandez, who became executive director in February, said he thought May 1 was the deadline to show substantial progress, not completion as the VA's letter stated. He said he hasn't been able to find any documents showing the housing authority indicated it would be done by then, although they could exist but would predate his arrival at ACHA.
Hernandez now is working under the assumption there is an Aug. 1 deadline to complete all of the construction expenditures. It would be nice to have a letter from the VA that clearly states the situation, he said, but at this point he's dealing with second-hand information.
The ACHA could have easily met the August deadline, Hernandez said, but the VA's letter forced it to stop focusing on construction plans and turn its attention to preparing a defense explaining why it should keep the funding. The agency has all of the permits it needs and is ready to break ground.
The housing authority has reached out to elected officials and asked them to contact the VA and express their support for this project. Hernandez said he has heard that Quarles told one elected official's staff, the identity of which could not be confirmed, that the housing authority really has a Sept. 30 deadline because that is the end of the federal fiscal year. However, Hernandez said Quarles told the politician's staff the VA doesn't allow anyone to spend money on projects after Aug. 1.
Hernandez said his understanding of the situation indicates Quarles determined in April that the housing authority wouldn't meet that deadline for its project.
He also said Quarles' letter makes it seem as though there is a May 1 deadline, which doesn't seem to exist.
"In my opinion, he misinformed me that it's a May 1 deadline," Hernandez said.
Hernandez said he worried VA personnel also might not have a good understanding of how modular-home construction works. If they had, he said he thinks it would have been clear how fast the homes could be constructed and how close the housing authority is to completing the project.
Three to five modular houses can be built and three to four of them set onsite per day, he said. Construction would take 120 days at most, he said.
Another misunderstanding between the VA and ACHA might have occurred because of inaccuracies in a form the housing authority submitted to the federal agency.
Kali Blount, chairman of the housing authority, contacted the VA about its letter to explain a document mishap he thought might have been involved in its decision to withdraw funding.
The ACHA submitted a few versions of a form that listed the project as zero percent complete on one version, zero to 50 percent complete on another and showed only a blank in that field on the third, he said. But the housing authority was in step-by-step contact with the VA during that time, so he said he felt the agency should have known how much progress it had made despite the mix-up.
Blount signed off on the documents, which is why he offered to resign if necessary to save the grant funding. The VA hasn't addressed his offer to resign.
"I was just reaching every which way to find some way for them to reconsider," he said.
While the housing authority works on a response to the VA for why it shouldn't withdraw its funding, the staffs of U.S. Reps. Ted Yoho and Corrine Brown are discussing the situation with the federal agency as well.
Yoho doesn't weigh in personally on casework issues, but his staff has asked the VA to keep its promise to fund this project, said Kelley McNabb, the congressman's press secretary.
"A promise was made," she said. "We're just asking that they remain accountable."
Brown said she is waiting for a written explanation from the housing authority about how it plans to complete this project before talking to the VA, although her staff has discussed the issue with the federal agency.
"The VA is not happy that in five years they have not completed the project, and so I'm trying to get a status report on the project," she said. "Naturally, if you haven't done something in five years, then some other area could use the money."
But Brown said she understands the housing authority has faced challenges over the years with the program and does think it is needed.
The ACHA already has received five extensions and has requested a sixth, Hernandez said.
Brown said she needs to see a strong case for why the housing authority hasn't been able to complete the project in five years.
The housing project would be forced into an indefinite, and possibly permanent, hiatus if the VA sticks with its plan to cancel the funding, but homeless veterans still are eligible for other locally based programs.
Gainesville, as well as the North Florida/South Georgia region, has undergone a great transformation over the past five years in terms of veteran services, said Vianne Marchese, chief of community care service at the VA's North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.
In 2008, the Alachua County and Gainesville housing authorities began receiving vouchers from the HUD-VASH, or Department of Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing program. The Ocala Housing Authority has them, too.
HUD-VASH vouchers provide permanent housing for veterans, and the program has had a sizable impact on the VA's ability to help chronically homeless veterans, Marchese said.
There are also several transitional housing programs available locally that are similar to the one the ACHA hopes to salvage.
The Alachua County and Gainesville housing authorities fight homelessness among veterans from a housing-first perspective, she said. First they get veterans under a roof, and then they work with them to rebuild their lives with help from an array of VA-provided services.
"It really is a change to get them in their own place, and then when we get them in a stable living environment, we're able to connect them with the myriad of services," she said.
Contact Morgan Watkins at 338-3104 or email@example.com.
(Note - this is a list comprising some, but not necessarily all, of the local housing programs available for homeless veterans.) - Volunteers of America, 34 spaces depending on the facility. - VETSPACE, 16 spaces. - Ocala's Ritz Historic Inn (Volunteers of America program), 50 spaces. - Salvation Army in Ocala, 10 spaces. - HONOR Center, 45 spaces, for veterans with disabilities, health problems, etc. - Sunshine Inn, 20 spaces. - Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, 10-16 spaces, for veterans with mental health or substance abuse issues. For more information, call the office of Vianne Marches, chief of community care service for the regional VA health system, at 548-1800.


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Tov Pinkwhite or Tov Beige Mosaic
Tov on a Pinkwhite is always an interesting. It can show up in several shades and color varieties, usually darkening as the chin ages. Sometimes you just can't tell until the chin produces a TOV kit.
2003 - Proven TOV Pinkwhite female. Her coloring is very unusual, but she displays the classic paw stripes and facial mask associated with the TOV pattern, and has thrown many Tov kits.
2001 - A male that is pure white with only this face marking. Proven TOV by throwing a Black Velvet kit. Photo Courtesy of Tangaloor Dunes.


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LG UH8500 4K Smart TV
LG's line of Super UHD 4K televisions was a big hit at the recent Consumer Electronics Show, and the LG UH8500 is a big reason why. Once I saw this TV in action, I knew it would be very popular, and with good reason.
It's quickly obvious that LG didn't settle for plain old Ultra High Definition with this television. Instead, they chose to incorporate several other technologies to take the picture quality to a whole new level. This is what sets LG's Ultra HD televisions apart from other manufacturers.
One of the first things I noticed was the rich colors, great – but not overpowering – brightness, and how smooth the picture is.
The colors are very impressive. What was even better, was that the colors didn't lose any clarity when I moved to a different viewing angle. In fact, I couldn't find a "bad" viewing angle no matter where I sat.
Check UH8500 Price
- 55″
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The support for High Dynamic Range, or HDR, also contributes to the top notch picture quality. Colors are very realistic and life-like, even scenes similar to what you would find in direct sunlight. LG didn't just settle for great bright scenes, though. Even dark scenes look good. You can easily pick out details from dark scenes, just like you can from bright ones.
I also like LG's TruMotion technology, which is something I didn't find in other TVs I looked at. The TruMotion innovation makes fast moving scenes, like you would find in action movies or sports, look clear as a still picture. Gone are the days of a blurry picture just because you are watching a scene in your favorite action movie. Instead, everything is smooth and the blurriness is greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
Yet another nice feature of the UH8500 is the updated Smart TV system, which LG named webOS 3.0. It is very easy to connect mobile devices to the TV, which makes showing pictures and videos to family and friends a breeze.
The LG UH8500 also has voice recognition software, which is used with the included "magic remote". Just speak certain commands into the remote, like changing the channel or volume, and the TV will respond accordingly.
You also get the usual Smart TV capabilities, like streaming videos, browsing the web and checking out social media web sites.
If you like action movies, like me, you will also like the LG UH8500 passive 3D capabilities. There's something about watching a movie and instinctively dodging as scenes literally fly out at you. If you like saving money, you will definitely be pleased that LG includes two pairs of 3D glasses. Thanks to LG, you don't have to worry about immediately running out for 3D glasses, you can start enjoying your favorite 3D content as soon as you unpack the TV.
The sound system is not as powerful as some other LG televisions, but it is better than most. It is designed by Harmon Kardon and pumps out 60 watts of power, which is 20 watts more than most televisions. The biggest disappoint is the speaker system is only 2.2 channels, but you do get support for Dolby Digital, DTS and a surround sound mode.
With innovative and new technologies designed to make Ultra High Definition better than its competitors, and some great 3D and Smart TV features, the LG UH8500 is a great TV that will grace many households around the world.
If you take the LG UH8500 home and set it up, you will be very pleased with the picture quality, 3D capabilities and Smart TV features. With Ultra High Def resolution and support for High Dynamic Range pictures, the screen quality is very impressive.
You also get to start watching 3D movies right away, thanks to the two included 3D glasses. Plus, you can easily connect mobile devices and once it is connected to Wi-Fi, the UH8500 gives you access to social media, streaming media and more.
With so many features and such high screen quality, you really can't go wrong if you make this television part of your home theater system.
Hi, between the LG uh850 and the Sony x850D which one would you recommend?


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Coming into the season at Kentucky, the first question I had about Knox was whether he'd be able to play as a three on the wing, or be restricted to hybrid four-man duties based on his less-advanced handle. He now looks like a polished NFL Jerseys Paypal enough shooter to be a three, at least […] Read More →
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On top of his prolific passing performance, Smith also broke free for a 70-yard run down the right sideline.Thursday, December 28th, 2017:
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Eagles OT Jason Peters sympathizes with Chargers' lack of fan supportSunday, October 15th, 2017:
Eagles offensive lineman Jason Peters could hear his quarterback Carson Wentz calling out his snap count perfectly fine Sunday inside the StubHub Center. He found that odd. Philadelphia was on the road Sunday, playing against the Los Angeles Chargers, but Peters said the Eagles were never forced to use a silent snap count, according to […] Read More →


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905 5th Ave #1W New York, NY 10021
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Liposuction, Fat Transfer
Our 27 yr old male patient is seen before and 3 months after his surgery. He recently lost weight with diet and exercise, but wanted more of a result so he opted to have liposuction of his waist, abdomen and chest. He also had BodyTite to his chest.
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Measures to maintain social distancing remain in place.
For more information,
see the
COVID-19 information page on anra.org
Thank you for your understanding.
The Neches Compost Facility (NCF) was first conceived in February of 1992 as a means to help preserve landfill capacity, preserve water quality, and to beneficially reuse wastewater treatment plant sludge through the composting process. Initially, over 20 entities participated in a planning study to determine the viability of constructing a Regional Composting Process.
In November of 1996, the facility became a reality when six participants signed long term agreements for operations & maintenance and debt service. In August of 1997, the Angelina & Neches River Authority in conjunction with the City of Athens, City of Bullard, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, City of New London, City of Palestine, and the City of Whitehouse filed an application with the Texas Water Development Board, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and East Texas Council of Governments for funding of the project.
In the Spring of 1998, the River Authority began construction of the compost facility, located near the Neches River on Hwy 79 West of Jacksonville. The facility construction was certified complete by ANRA's Consulting Engineers, the Board of Directors, and officially opened in August of 2000. Though the facility was officially opened in August of 2000, NCF began receiving wastewater biosolids during the spring of that year and began the composting process.
The facility was originally designed to receive and compost an annual total of 1.3 million pounds or 2,600 cubic yards of biosolid sludge from its participant cities, which consumed nearly 5,000 cubic yards of tree trimmings and wood material. The facility produced between 5,000 and 7,000 cubic yards of finished compost on an annual basis.
In January of 2003, NCF began a capitol improvement project to expand and enhance the operation of the composting process. The facility covered the existing windrow processing area with concrete for additional ground water protection and a metal roof to allow compost operations to continue 12 months a year. These improvements included approximately 50,000 square feet of concrete surface area and 45,000 square feet of metal roof.
These improvements were estimated to increase the volume of biosolids treated to approximately 3,000,000 pounds or 5,500 cubic yards and consume nearly 11,000 cubic yards of tree trimmings and wood waste. This capitol improvement project effectively doubled the production volume from the facility.
These improvements give the facility the flexibility to produce compost a full 12 months a year, rain or shine, as well as providing a stable environment in which to meet end product quality assurance guidelines and to expand the facilities product lines.
The facility markets its product under the trade name Soil Therapy Compost™. For more information about Soil Therapy Compost™ visit our retail web site at www.soiltherapy.org
For additional information, call 903-584-3415 or send us your questions via e-mail at email@example.com.


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Houston & Killellan Kirk
Serving the Community
Church of
Sco land
August 2017
July 2019
October 2019
January 2020
April 2020
April 2020
April 2021
October 2021
Apr 2022
MWANDI Parcels
We have a dedicated group of members who send a parcel of baby clothes to our missionary partners (Keith and Ida Waddell in Mwandi) so that a parcel arrives each month. Ida is most grateful for these clothes which help her in her work trying to persuade the young mums who are HIV positive not to breast feed their babies and thus make the new born babies HIV positive. In addition the Kirk also gives money for formula milk for the mums to feed their babies. This would not be possible without the generosity of our members and that generosity is most appreciated.
Recently some of our young mums have donated baby clothes for Mwandi which I have put into parcels and addressed in the hope that some other members might be willing to post a 'one off' parcel (which would cost approx. £10.00). If you feel you could help in this way please contact us.


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A HEALTH professional who stole a sedative drug and used a syringe to administer it to himself while on duty has been struck off the register.
Carl Green, an operating department practitioner, admitted the offence while on duty at Mount Vernon Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, after a nurse went looking for him and found the empty, used syringe on the toilet floor.
At a Health Professions Council hearing in London last Friday, which Green failed to attend, the panel heard about the events leading up to the offence at the hospital.
Matron of the Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust, Bridgette Morris, who had been asked to conduct an investigation by the Trust, said that on August 23, 2006, Mr Green had returned to work from sick leave.
Jenny Bishop, a senior staff nurse, had reported his behaviour as 'strange'. He was slow, his behavior was inappropriate and he could not manage his workload.
He was later found asleep and had gone for a shower to wake himself up. He then left the department at around 1.45pm without permission and did not return until 3.30pm, when his eyes were glazed and he looked vacant and sluggish.
At one point the nurse went to look for him and a used syringe was found on the toilet floor.
Mr Green subsequently admitted to administering Propofol to himself. He was then dismissed.
During an interview at Uxbridge police station he admitted stealing the anaesthetic drug from the Trust and was given a caution.
He could not explain why he did it but admitted he had suffered with depression and said he was extremely remorseful and embarrassed.
At a later investigatory meeting he admitted he had been drinking the night before he returned to work and could not remember the events.


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As per the recently released NRF analysis for holiday 2012 sales, the overall year-over-year sales growth for 2012 topped at 3% compared with 12% for the online channels. Only a handful of leading national retailers like Nordstrom, Macy's, and Gap had a reasonably successful season compared with J.C. Penney, Sears, and a majority of others.
These results were in perfect alignment with my own analysis and conclusion that in order to be successful retailers have to be in constant touch with the changing behavior of their customers and continue to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. In absence of this, they run the risk of being outdated and will be driven out of business in a matter of time.
In the last few years, as smartphone and tablet sales have zoomed, a number of retailers seized the opportunity to establish their online presence and won a fair share of their customers' online spending. Initially, the online and store channels were operated independently, however, due to fragmented customer experience; recently, a few of them have initiated efforts to integrate their channels.
As a result of increasingly improved online shopping experience, I sense that in very near future, even for a conventional consumer like me, a typical shopping day will be inherently omni-channel, and would resemble something like this:
7 a.m.: Text message from my favorite brand Alpha that the jacket I was looking at their website last week is available at my local store. It also included a surprise 20% off coupon, link to their website and directions to my local store.
7:30 a.m.: On my iPad, I visit Alpha online site and checkout the jacket once more, specifically the sizes and colors and inventory availability in my size at my local Alpha store.
6 p.m.: Coming back from work, I walk into my Alpha store and log on to the store Wi-Fi. An associate greets me on the floor. I show him the jacket on my mobile; he looks up the jacket's shelf on his mobile device and takes me there. He leaves me alone while I try the jacket.
6:15 p.m.: I decide to buy the jacket and approach the sales associate who was arranging the items and updating the inventory on his device. Associate scanned the jacket tag with his mobile device, it showed the price. In addition, it showed a complete ensemble including the jacket and a nice blue pair of jeans. Associate also informed me of another special offer which was applicable if I chose to buy the ensemble. Associate clicks on the ensemble to see the available sizes/colors for a pair of jeans. He finds one in my size and brings it to me.
6:30 p.m.: After trying on the ensemble, I decide to buy a pair of jeans along with the jacket. Suddenly a reminder for my dinner appointment pops up on my mobile. I ask the associate if it's possible to put the items on hold since I didn't want to carry a shopping bag to my dinner appointment. Instead, he offers to ship the items to my home by next day delivery for free of charge, I couldn't have been happier. I provide him with my payment information; he looks up my profile, confirms my shipping address and thanks me for being a valued customer with Alpha. He asks me for a suitable delivery window and sets up shipping.
5 p.m. next day: I have a parcel waiting at my home with my jacket and pair of jeans, a thank you card and an event calendar for future shopping events.
As illustrated in the above scenario, to continue serving their customers profitably and win market share, it is imperative for retailers to get their omnichannel right and execute it with utmost urgency.
The three key pillars for a successful omnichannel strategy for a retailer must include:
Leverage technology to provide a seamless customer interaction and transaction platform across the channels to enable buy/service/return regardless of the channels.
Establish retail stores as point-of-service by providing right tools and information to associates on their fingertips so they can service their customers better whether buying/servicing or returning an item.
Tight alignment between marketing and merchandising organizations to ensure that price, promotions, and marketing campaigns are consistent across the channels and help improve customer loyalty. Furthermore, a regular cadence was established among leaders of the marketing, merchandising, supply chain and store operations groups to ensure that all key business initiatives get the right visibility and support from the entire organization.
To the credit of Alpha brand, after struggling with negative comp store sales in 2012, their board and sr. management committed to the omnichannel strategy and put their unflinching support to completely transform the organization and capabilities to become the leading multichannel retailer with one of the highest customer satisfaction scores.
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