text:
PHASE Worldwide rebrand.
PHASE Worldwide is a charity that helps isolated communities in the most remote and mountainous regions of Nepal, through integrated and sustainable programmes in health, education and livelihoods. They recently asked My Agency to help them refresh and update their branding and communications, which we agreed to do 'pro bono'. The approach we came up with takes several strands of Nepalese life and culture and weaves them together. Inspired by the bright colours of Nepalese textiles and iconic images of prayer flags it uses an abstract graphic device to represents the mountain landscape interwoven with the hope, help and friendship between PHASE Worldwide and the Nepalese people they help.


text:
NUT comment on A-Levels results
NUT comment on A-Levels results
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, commented on today's A-level results.
"Today's results serve as a testament to the commitment of young people and the skills of teachers. It is time for the annual disparaging attack on such achievements to end.
"The NUT welcomes the increased take up and the overall high results achieved in the sciences and Mathematics, but continues to have grave concerns about the declining entry for Modern Foreign Languages. I urge the Government to come up with a coherent policy for ensuring that all young people acquire at least one Modern Foreign Language. The dismantling of MFL as an entitlement in secondary education was a disastrous decision.
"An argument that is often made is that modular exams and re-sits lead to 'easier' A-Levels. Modular A-Levels have increased the opportunity for all young people to achieve their full potential at A-Level. The difference between today's modular A-Levels and the linear A-Levels the Government wants to see is that hard work is more likely to pay off in the current system. With the modular system and the opportunity to resit, harder working students have more of a chance of success, and there is less chance of candidates receiving an undeservedly low grade because they have failed to perform in a single exam on a particular day.
"With a tighter control on places, a brutal 80% cut to the teaching budget for this coming academic year and a sharp rise in tuition fees from September 2012, the Government is throttling diversity in higher education. David Willetts' latest brainwave, to award higher UCAS points for what he calls 'classic' A-Levels, is an insult to the hard work of many thousands of students studying the full range of subjects.
"The Government places itself in serious danger of alienating an entire generation of young people. The continual squeeze on university places comes at a time when yet more of our 16-24 year olds – another 38,000 in fact – are not studying or working. That is now more than one in five of our young people and will have devastating consequences for this generation. Stripping away careers and support services for young people whose next step is uncertain entrenches the disadvantage.
"The spate of errors in this year's examinations was inexcusable and it is vital that any appeals arising are dealt with as a matter of urgency.
"A test of the Government's reforms will be in two years' time, when we see the impact of their slashing the Education Maintenance Allowance. Our serious concern is that cutting financial support will deter talented young people from staying on past the age of 16, to do their A-levels and deprive them of the achievements we should be celebrating today."
For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 3780 4706 or 07879480061

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If you're in the market for 3D printable toy files, look no further.
A new company known called ToyFabb has just announced the launch of their online marketplace that offers files for 3D printable toys.
ToyFabb is a Switzerland-based startup, founded by Jochen Hanselmann and Alex Schmid. The online store is designed to make 3D printable toys more accessible, allowing those with access to a 3D printer to select the design of their choice, download the file, and 3D print their new toys. Those who don't yet have their own 3D printers can just as easily get their toys printed via a 3D printing service like Shapeways.
"ToyFabb is your online marketplace for 3D toy designs that you can produce on your own 3D Printer," the company website states. "Select, purchase and get your 3D design instantly for 3D Printing at home."
The company was founded with the goal of providing a platform for designers to share their exceptional creations with the world.
"We think that there is a huge potential out there," the company website states. "And 3D printing is the ideal technology to free up this potential."
ToyFabb's mission is to bring toys to the future of 3D printing and personal manufacturing, by offering a specialized, convenient, and integrated platform that brings designers and customers together.
The company has also announced a new contest along with their company launch. Hobby designers and professional designers alike are welcome to submit their design ideas for 3D printable creations. The winner in each of the categories will win $100. The last day to submit designs is September 30, 2014.
For more information on ToyFabb and 3D printable toy files, visit their website or check out the Toyfabb Facebook page to keep up to date on company news.


text:
The performance Saturday in No. 12 Oklahoma's 90-89 win over No. 10 TCU by freshman guard Trae Young will likely be a huge part of the curriculum vitae he compiles during his stint with the Sooners -- 39 points, 14 assists, game-winning free throws, and all that.
But what the history books also need to note is the contribution from the Sooners in a supporting role - namely Kameron McGusty and Brady Manek, guys that made a difference down the stretch of a tight game on the road against the previously unbeaten Horned Frogs.
Young's 39-point performance included a pair of free throws with 7.9 seconds remaining that provided the winning margin, as Oklahoma rallied from a 13-point, second-half deficit to stun TCU at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
The victory was the ninth straight for the Sooners (11-1, 1-0 Big 12) and snapped TCU's nation-leading 17-game winning streak that dated to last season's five-game run to the NIT championship.
Oklahoma matched its win total from last season with its 11th victory in 12 games.
Vlad Brodziansky's layup off an inbounds pass from Kenrich Williams gave TCU an 87-85 lead with 44 seconds remaining, but the Sooners responded with McGusty's 3-pointer with 31 seconds to play to take an 88-87 advantage.
"As soon as it left my hand it felt like a green bean on 2K," McGusty said. "I knew it was money."
The Horned Frogs were out of timeouts but found Williams for a short jumper that allowed TCU to leapfrog back to an 89-88 lead.
Young then drove hard to the rim, was fouled and made both free throws to push the Sooners in front with 7.9 seconds left. Williams' wild 3-point attempt with 5.1 seconds remaining was never close and McGusty corralled the rebound to secure the win for Oklahoma.
"We contested that final shot decently, but Williams is still capable of making it," Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said afterward. "The hand on the ball was a good contest. At least made it a tougher shot for him."
Young, a freshman from Norman, Okla., added 14 assists for the Sooners while McGusty scored 22 points off the bench (15 of those in the second half), Christian James added 10 points and Manek grabbed 13 rebounds -- all on the defensive end -- for Oklahoma.
"Young shooting 9 of 23 we can live with, but 18 free throws can't happen, or the 14 assists," TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. "Obviously he's good -- it's no secret. Lon Kruger can coach, and he puts him in the right spot."
Williams led TCU (12-1, 0-1) with 22 points. Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed and Desmond Bane added 15 each for the Horned Frogs while Kouat Noi scored 14 points and Brodziansky hit for 12.
"We've got to get better defensively -- I've been saying it and saying it and saying it," Dixon added. "The 12 wins (to start the season) kind of hid that. It's on us. We've got to make improvements. We can, we have and we will. But it's got to be at another level."
Oklahoma scored the game's first 11 points but TCU responded and tied the game at 36 with 3:27 to play in the first half. The Horned Frogs scored the final five points of the first half to forge a 46-41 lead at halftime and then extended their run with a 5-0 spurt to begin the second half.
Williams, returning to the court after missing the Horned Frogs' last game with knee discomfort, led TCU with 15 points in the first half. Noi added 11 points off the bench for the Horned Frogs on 4-of-6 shooting.
Young led all scorers in the first half with 19 points, with four of his five made shots coming from behind the 3-point arc.
TCU expanded its lead to 69-57 on a jumper by Brodziansky with 9:53 to play but Young shot and passed the Sooners back into the game, as a McGusty layup off a Young assist cut the advantage to 77-76 with 5:40 to play.
"We've got to learn how to finish," Williams said. "When we've got the lead, we've got to learn how to hold the lead until the end of the game. We're going to take care of it. It is what it is. We're just going to move on from this game."
NOTES: This was the first loss for TCU since losing to Iowa State in the semifinals of last season's Big 12 tournament. ... Oklahoma G Trae Young scored 20-plus points on Saturday for the 11th straight game, tying the longest such streak by a Sooners player since Stacey King (11) in 1988-89. ... TCU's No. 10 ranking in the AP Top 25 is the highest ranking in school history. ... During its previous four games, Oklahoma had scored an average of 55.8 points in the opening half and had gone to halftime with an average lead of 18.3 points. ... Next up for TCU is Tuesday's contest at Baylor while Oklahoma returns home to face Oklahoma State in the season's first Bedlam game on Wednesday.


text:
Gingerbread Dreams: A Christmas story to share with your family
Everything was perfect.
A set of blinking lights circled the front window of the bakery, the bright colors glowing against the frosty glass. Behind the counter, a pine garland was strung along the shelves, where each compartment held a different kind of bread. And the glass cases were filled with tray after tray of sweets — doughnuts, cakes, pies, muffins, cookies.
Yes, Forcani's Bakery was ready for the season.
The baker stood for a moment, taking it all in, then went to unlock the front door.
Outside, the sky was still dark and snowflakes darted in the wind before settling on the dusty awnings of Main Street. A group of runners passed the shops on the other side. In front, a cluster of schoolchildren, maybe a half dozen, waited for a bus, the streetlights casting the chase of their shadows across an overnight dusting of snow.
The baker had no sooner returned to his spot behind the counter when the door opened with a jangle, bringing with it a blast of cold air and a rush of kids. They jostled their way inside, knocking into the table stacked with prepackaged goodies, voices loud: "You're open!" They raced to the cases, pushing and shoving — "Cut it out!" — until a yellow bus pulled up outside — "We gotta go!" — and they all crowded back through the door.
It was quiet again, but for the gentle humming of a Christmas song from the back kitchen. The glass cases were smudged with fingerprints. Snow was melting into muddy puddles on the tile floor. The tray with free samples had been picked clean, the crumbs spilled on the counter.
The baker looked up, dismayed.
A small boy stood at the window, seemingly torn about what to do. He wore a red hat and gray mittens. A striped scarf was pulled tight around a heavy blue coat. The boy offered a shrug and half smile, then ran to the bus.
The baker turned toward the doorway to the kitchen, where a short man stood wearing an apron with a name — "Cookie" — embroidered across the chest in red letters.
"So much for finding the spirit of Christmas," Cookie said.
"It's OK," the baker replied. "Tomorrow is another chance."
A boy with a secret
Yet every weekday morning, the scene repeated itself: The blur of boots and backpacks. The poking and pushing and grabbing. The mad dash to the door when the bus rumbled up.
The baker tried instituting rules: One sample per person. Then samples only on request. Only one child in the store at a time. Then paying customers only.
Sometimes the boy from the window wouldn't come in, but when he did, he'd always linger in the back, an apologetic look on his face. One day after school, the boy was alone and slipped inside, closing the door so quietly there was barely a jingle.
After so many years in the business, the baker felt like he could size up kids pretty well: Who studied hard, who let things slide. Who helped the teachers, who was a bit of a handful.
Now he studied the young boy. He was 7, maybe 8.
His hair was blond, his cheeks thin. Behind his glasses, there was a sleepiness to his eyes. That red hat was frayed and a bit dirty. The scarf was missing, the mittens replaced with tattered knit gloves. His boots had laces that stopped halfway to the top. Instead of a backpack, he carried his books in a cloth grocery bag.
"What's your name, young man?"
"Lucas," came the response. Voice quiet. Eyes on the floor.
The baker could usually see into a child's heart. But this boy kept something hidden.
2017:The Santa Visit: A Christmas story
2016:Stitch in Time: A story of Christmas
2015:Special Delivery: A Christmas story
He told Lucas he could choose anything in the shop, anything at all.
The boy stood before the cookie case for the longest time: One shelf was all sugar cookies — yellow stars, blue snowflakes, red Santas. Another held rows of frosted gingerbread figures, names of children traced onto ones that had been pre-ordered: Isabelle, Leah, James, Evelyn, Eleanor, Henry.
The baker watched the boy's face light up for a moment, then saw his smile fade.
The boy walked over to the shelf marked "Day old" and reached up for a loaf. "Momma always says, 'Never take what you don't need,'" the boy offered, by way of explanation. And with a polite "Thank you," he turned and left.
Yes, something was hidden.
Within the boy and the baker.
Looking for a sign of hope
During the mid-morning lulls, the baker would sit on a stool behind the counter and stare out the window. The world, he decided, had become a different place — a place where strangers passed without nodding, where litter was left to blow across the sidewalk, where horns honked the moment a car didn't move fast enough.
Where people paid more attention to their devices than each other.
As he waited for a sign of hope, one that would restore his own Christmas spirit, he started to work on the display in the front window. Every afternoon, he added something.
What had started with a small gingerbread house had grown into an elaborate version of the North Pole. There was a castle-like house at the center, with a toy shop to one side and a reindeer barn to the other. There were peppermint paths and gumdrop trees, frosting windows, chocolate shutters, even a tiny sugar mailbox labeled "S. Claus."
It was a reminder of a happier place, a simpler time.
It was a reminder of home.
After all these years, he had come to see the world as an hourglass, one that was never quite in balance. Tilt it one way, and everything would flow toward meanness and envy, bickering and spite. The other, and all would slide — slowly, sometimes — toward light and love, kindness and compassion.
Over the generations, there had been many times when the hourglass had nearly emptied itself toward darkness, only to have someone — always, it seemed, a child — provide the nudge that tilted it back again.
2014:Home for Christmas
2012:The Christmas Map
2011:The Magic Skates
2010:Letters From Santa
The baker believed you could always find that bit of goodness, if you looked hard enough. But Cookie was not so sure they would find it this year. He was worried. There was no twinkle in the baker's eyes, no rosiness in his cheeks, no laughter in his heart.
This year, it seemed, without a nudge, there might be no Christmas at all.
So they waited.
Every day, just before closing, Cookie climbed to the very top of a step stool, reached up and peeled another sheet from the wall calendar.
One day, he waited as they watched the school bus pull up. But it only brought more of the same: An older boy pushed a younger one aside. Another threw a snowball at the passing cars. Two boys wrestled each other to the ground.
Cookie tore the page away: Dec. 23, two days left.
"Maybe we should go look somewhere else," he said.
Outside, Lucas climbed off the bus — today he had no hat — and offered a shy wave.
"No," came the response. "Let's give it a final day."
Something to give
The next day, the school bus pulled to a stop and the kids piled off — many carrying art projects that were too big, or too delicate, to fit in backpacks. There was the familiar scramble into the bakery, a mess of pointing and pushing and shoving around the window display.
Finally, Cookie shooed them all toward the door.
They had left behind a mess — peppermint wrappers crinkled on the counter, napkins that missed the garbage can and a big streak of frosting wiped from the roof of Santa's workshop, which now featured a crumpled chimney and a missing hunk of wall.
Outside, Lucas was wearing only a light jacket. He turned and began walking — arms tight across his chest — down the snowy street. The baker's heart sank. He grabbed his own jacket, a dusty red plaid, tucked a single gingerbread figure into a cloth bag, and went to catch the boy.
Lucas was already out of sight, but his tennis-shoe footprints marked a zigzag path: Around the corner and up a small hill to the side door of an old church. Stairs led to the basement and a long, dimly lit hallway.
"Can I help you?"
"Why, yes," the man said. "I have something to give —"
The voices, all children, came from a nearby doorway.
"— Lucas," the man finished.
The woman, who offered her name as Maggie Gilmore, explained the church was hosting a temporary shelter that sprang up every winter. Not many shelters took families, but this one was filled with the chatter of children.
"Do I know you from somewhere?" she asked.
"Maybe the bakery," the man said quietly.
He was already drawn to the doorway and all the activity. The hall was lined with cots and sleeping bags. In one corner, tables were set up for a meal. In another, there was a small tree, mostly spare of lights.
In the middle, Lucas was with a group of children, organizing them to play some sort of game outside. One boy wore a red hat. A girl wore a striped scarf. Another boy had the mittens, still another the boots.
"So, is Lucas a volunteer?"
"No," the woman said, lowering her voice. "He's a client."
She explained that at the shelter they try to avoid too much talk of Christmas, since the lives of the children are so disrupted already. But every night, she said, Lucas takes one of his belongings, wraps it in newspaper and leaves it at the foot of another child's bed. It might be a toy, a book, even his own winter clothes.
"The biggest fear these kids have," she said, "is that Santa won't know where to find them."
The man's heart broke and burst at the same time.
In that moment, simple and pure, he could feel the world tilt a little bit toward goodness. His face brightened. He could feel the magic again.
"Well, tell them I'm here," he said.
The woman wasn't sure how to respond, but before she could decide what to do, a line of children formed and the baker helped himself to a chair. One by one, wishes were whispered in his ear. For every child, he pulled a gingerbread cookie from his bag.
The frosting on each spelled out the child's name: Sydney, Ethan, Demarcus, Roberto, Ahmed, Kendrick, Evelyn, Eleanor. The bag seemed to be bottomless.
Maggie stood in the corner with a volunteer. As director, she was always careful to rein in expectations — she hadn't even been able to find a bread donation for Christmas dinner — and knew the expectations would now be sky high.
"They'll all be dreaming of gingerbread tonight," she said quietly.
There was a tug on her sleeve.
It was Lucas, who held out a gingerbread figure, and gestured that it had come from the baker. Somehow the cookie was still warm, but the frosting did not melt away the name: "Mags." She had not heard that nickname since she was 10.
Now her heart warmed.
She turned to thank the man.
But he was gone.
Stamped in red letters
The next morning, Maggie went to the bakery. When she went inside, there was no line, no last-minute rush for goodies. The lights in the cases were off and the cases were empty. The smell of warm bread filled the air — and the shelves were filled with loaves and rolls.
But no one seemed to be working.
"Excuse me," Maggie called out. "What happened to all your cookies?"
A man appeared from the back, tying on an apron. He was tall and thin, a patch of black hair tucked under a floppy white cap. He apologized and explained: His mother fell ill three weeks ago, so he had to tend to her in Italy and had just made it back last night.
"Only had time to bake some bread," he said. "Cookies will be back after Christmas."
Maggie didn't know what to make of it all.
"Well, can you tell the man who was here yesterday, that Maggie came to wish him a Merry Christmas?"
As she turned to leave, the man stopped her.
"Wait, by chance are you Maggie Gilmore? From the shelter?"
He fumbled through a small stack of notes, before settling on one and holding it up for her to read. The slip carried her name, an order for 12 loaves of bread and the word "Paid" stamped in red letters. A confused look crossed her face.
"It was called in this morning," the man said. "Why don't you let us bring it by in a little while?"
She agreed that would be fine. He apologized again for the lack of cookies.
"You and those kids deserve something special on Christmas."
"That's OK," she said. "I think we already got it."
Greg Borowski, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editor, writes a Christmas story every year for his family and friends. Some of his previous Christmas stories are collected in two books, "A Christmas Wish" and the earlier "The Christmas Heart." He can be reached by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Tomorrow, April 23, is a big day for Arizona. It has been one year since Gov. Brewer signed SB1070. We are not the same and never will be.
It has created confusion and given law enforcement carte blanche to harass and intimidate our friends, families and neighbors even as not one official arrest has been made under the law.
It is now common knowledge that the 1070 Boycotts have had such a powerful impact on the business community that it stopped the republicans from passing 5 bills even worse then 1070.
The business community made it very clear by their own testimonies before congress. Yet we cannot forget that under the Obama administration, deportations of non-criminals have increased. Children continue to lose their parents who should've been given legal status years ago. Much of this could've been done administratively despite the lack of republican support.
Young adults raised here are denied education or even the right to work. Those DREAM-ACT students risked so much and fought so hard. What kind of a society would reject them? What kind of world is this where they are Legally considered less then human?
This Wednesday, ICE arrested 40 people working at Chuys restaurant chain. Their crime? Trying to survive. How many children lost their parents because of what was supposed to be an IRS raid? Does the Obama administration really need ICE to be involved in a 400,000 dollar tax debt? Arpaio misused 100 million in tax dollars yet I see no federal action toward him. He is still free to destroy families and our economy with heartless raids designed for self-promotion.
So tomorrow, at 10:00AM we meet, greet and rally. Why? One reason is we forget we are part of a larger community or family. God knows we sometimes fight with each other just like family.
Lets all meet as a family tomorrow. Lets break bread, walk, talk , shout and sing together. Lets stick up for each other. Lets listen to one another.
We need each other. I know I need all of you to teach, forgive and love me. I am so grateful for all of you. Those that decided to get arrested standing up for justice and dignity last summer are my heros. Others who have been arrested simply because of who they are and what they do are also heros. I want to be the kind of person that always has your back.
You are all in my prayers or thoughts-all of you. From students and teachers in Tucson who continue to fight for the Ethnic Studies program that brought us so many remarkable people and saved many from what was referred to as "at risk" youth become amazing successes to the people of Flagstaff brave enough to say unapologetically that EVERY HUMAN has the right to live, love and work wherever they wish.
From the Anarchists who refused to give up our streets to neo-Nazis to the republicans from Mesa supporting the recall of Russell Pearce. From the Barrio committees organizing their neighborhoods to those teaching one another english. From those helping the victims of Arpaio's raids helping children find their parents and put together their lives to those that simply send money to the many lawyers that have given freely.
From the rock stars who give up money, time and even fame to help, to the medical professionals on the streets for us...even willing to offer assistance to those that wish us harm.
From those that have stood ground in front of Wells Fargo for over 3 years to those that stayed at the Capitol every day last summer and those who confronted the hatred this legislative session at a cost to there own careers only to be accused by racist politicians of being paid. From the wonderful churches and atheists who stand on the side of love....together. And, of course, my brothers and sisters who made me stand and film in the pouring, freezing rain in Washington DC as they protested in front of the DOJ making it clear they will not back off until Arpaio is somewhere he cannot hurt anyone anymore.
It's no secret we don't all get along. Sometimes it seems like we fight with each other more then the evil we are supposed to be opposing. But thanks to all of you-I know what it means when they say "It takes a village."
You are all amazing and I am so very grateful for all of you-even the ones that piss me off. We are all more connected then we are able to see sometimes.
Two short videos:
One shows an arrest of a brave, non-violent protester who was brutally detained and arrested last week while Arpaio was bragging about the 100 million he stole from the Tax Payers at the Tea Party.
The other shows Russell Pearce as an "Illegal". Pearce decided to make out a check for 225 dollars to the Fiesta Bowl. But he said he would show us receipts. Show us your papers Mr. Pearce. Illegal is illegal.
Start: Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza
200 W. Washington
End: Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington


text:
Ryan, a surfer who grew up in Southern California, was raised to believe that caring for health and happiness is as important as caring for community and our planet. After falling in love with açaí bowls and other tasty Amazon Superfoods on a surf trip to Brazil in 2000, he started Sambazon, which now offers an array of Non-GMO Project Verified beverages and frozen goodies.
Please note that all ingredients are Non-GMO Project Verified and/or organic. Look for Verified products by brand or category on our shopping list.
Serves: 1
- 2 Sambazon Original Smoothie Packs
- ½ banana
- ⅛ cup apple juice
- 1 handful blackberries (or any berry)
- 1 spoonful nut butter
- Optional toppings:
- ¼ to ½ cup granola
- 5 to 6 blackberries
- 1 to 2 tablespoons local honey
Let Smoothie Packs defrost for five minutes at room temperature. In package, break each Smoothie Pack into smaller pieces then open and put contents in blender with remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth then pour into a serving bowl. Top with suggested toppings or whatever you're in the mood for!


text:
There is an often-repeated mantra in business that it is easier to grow your business by doing more business with existing customers than by acquiring new ones. The goals of customer experience improvements are to actualize that mantra. Based upon a recent conference I attended, one might have come away with a very different point of view – that the goals of Customer Experience (CX) are to increase customer acquisition and conversion.
At this conference, speaker after speaker discussed ensuring a good or strong CX from the very first touch point the prospective customer had with their firm. The very first touchpoint. There was a lot of conversation around first impressions. Ease of doing business. Ensuring a quality experience through lengthy and extended sales cycles. Plenty of thoughts around how the entire ecosystem has to be considered to ensure these prospective new clients were getting everything they needed in order to 'convert' and become actual customers. And herein lies the rub. While all of the above is true, customer experience is about a lot more than just customer acquisition.
The majority of firms at this conference have been in business for a long time. That means that the very first touchpoint for most of their current customers or clients was likely some time ago. At least before "CX" became a thing. Or the thing that it is today. Talk about improving the experience for these, ACTUAL customers, was extremely limited. In fact, one of the few firms that discussed CX improvements for existing customers was a large firm not known for their stellar customer experience. But at least they got it, and recognized that CX improvements had to go beyond just the buyer's journey.
One panelist, when asked what successes around CX they could cite for their existing customers, answered, "None. But we've made great strides in new customer conversion goals." The panelist then corrected that statement and added, "In a meeting a few weeks ago, when a senior person was laying out a new policy, someone in the room asked how our customers would feel about the proposed policy. That is the biggest internal success I have had regarding improving the customer experience for our existing customers." Baby steps, I get it.
There was almost no discussion regarding how customer experience improvements were communicated to customers. A large portion of the initiatives discussed came from within their organizations, rather than from direct customer feedback. Many of the alleged CX improvements came across as little more than thinly veiled cost cutting initiatives masquerading as CX process improvements. I have been on the receiving end of some of those "improvements" – and have changed vendors a few times as a result!
There were many discussions around how the entire enterprise had to buy in to improving CX in order for these initiatives to be effective. Issues related to the silo-nature of many large organizations prevented that needed buy-in. As a result, there were some discussions of valid CX improvements that withered on the vine. Improvements that got implemented half way, then abandoned. Improvements that looked good on paper but became brutal to show real ROI and were subsequently jettisoned. The notion of improving the customer experience attained near global agreement. The actuality of implementing CX improvements, not so much. So how can the promise of CX be realized for actual existing customers? Here are some basics to help get you started.
Start by listening to your actual customers: Sometimes the view from inside an organization just doesn't match the reality of your customer's experience with your firm. If you don't sanity check your internal ideas with external realities, it seems unlikely that your CX efforts will produce the desired results. I have been a pretty loyal customer to many firms over the years. It is the rare one who ever proactively asked me how they can improve. I go out of my way to patronize those firms because they come across to me as genuinely trying to improve to better meet my needs.
Mine your call center data: While great insights can be gained by mining your search data, analytics, social streams and by conducting primary research, there is low hanging fruit in your call center data. Most customers reach out to the call center when they have an issue or problem that they cannot resolve on their own despite likely having exhausted all self-service channels. This has to be one of the lowest hanging fruits in the CX game. Your customers are literally revealing where, what and often how to improve.
Map both the Acquisition and Service sides of your Customers' journey: Over-focusing your CX efforts primarily on the acquisition journey exposes your newly converted customers to a potentially less than stellar service experience. Negative services experiences are far more likely to cause your customer to churn than occasionally delighting them. Take the time to fully map your customer service journey. If done correctly, you will not only bridge those organizational silos, but you will get happier customers as well.
While you are mapping the Customer Service Journey, show your existing customers some love as they likely spend more time there than in the acquisition journey. Remember that they pay your bills but they don't always get the attention, better deals, better treatment and better service that new prospects do. Take the time to consider what you have done lately to show that you care about them. Your actual customers will appreciate it!


text: Producers, TeddyBear Records label owners, remixers and DJ`s, located in Belgrade(Serbia), started their careers in 2010 with only one target and intention – to place unique and recognizable music on the market. Simply said-it`s their Dream Job. With hard work and much effort they have placed 35 editions on the market. They have signed their editions with big and prestigious publishing houses: Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, Pacha Recordings, Pornostar Records, EGO, Disco Bombs, Mjuzieek Digital and many many more. Soon after founding, their label(TeddyBear Records) has left a huge mark on world music hit lists by placing editions of, until then, undisclosed talents. With those editions they came on the very top of the Beatport House list. In 2014 they founded their second label(ROMP) with the target to gather around performers whose work was already published by major publishing houses, or those who have been at the very top of music hit lists. The effort, dedication and production creativity is the main feature and guideline in which way this duo wants to direct their career.


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The 2013 salmon season opened on the island portion of Newfoundland June 1, and I suspect many anglers cleared the cobwebs from their eyes and strung weight forward floating lines for opening day.
You can't legally wet a salmon line in the Big Land until June 15. I'm guessing that's because the salmon arrive later in Labrador, its rivers being further north than those on the island. But I really don't understand the delayed opening.
So, if there are few or no salmon in the river, what is the harm in fishing? Why can't one fish empty or nearly empty water if one chooses to do so? What is the harm in a little practice?
It's kind of like shooting clay pigeons before the opening of duck season. I'd certainly fish early if given the opportunity.
Bigger salmon typically enter rivers early in the season when the water is running high from springtime snow melt.
There's a breed of hardcore anglers from all over the world who love nothing more than snagging these early run chrome beauties. It's a quest where one doesn't expect to catch many; hunting the illusive lunker is the game.
The spring run angler is usually casting to moving fish, or if holding at all, only for a few minutes. One must cover as much water as possible for many hours to have a decent chance of tangling with silver.
You'll need perseverance and steadfast dedication to your purpose if you expect the gods to relinquish the sweetest prize, a slab sided and brawny 20-pounder.
This spring, a friend of mine, Jim Rusher, invited me to stay at his place and fish with him for early run salmon on the Restigouche, a huge river system that separates Quebec and New Brunswick. Jim runs a salmon lodge in the tiny logging town of Routhierville, on the banks of the Matapedia, another world-class salmon river that joins forces with the Restigouche in the picturesque French Canadian town of Matapedia.
It's where I ate frog's legs for the very first time, buts that's another story.
The game would be chasing elusive silver in early season high water, before many anglers bother to wet their boots or flies. It also helps the cause, that although early fishing is permitted on Quebec rivers, no salmon may be retained before June 1.
This means lots of open water and plenty of opportunity to hunt your fish of a lifetime.
I would be meeting up with three buddies of mine from British Columbia, all crazy steelhead and salmon guides on the mighty Skeena, and also friends of Jim.
Jim Rusher is a giant in the salmon-angling world; now in his late sixties, he's still at the top of his game. He's dedicated much of his life to spey casting, tying classic salmon flies, and of course catching salmon.
He started out as a professional golfer, but couldn't resist the lure of the long rod. He's an interesting character, to say the very least, and cures the best cold smoked salmon I have ever tasted.
I left Torbay at 5:30 a.m. May 23 and flew to Fredericton, N.B. I rented a car and drove six hours to Routhierville, where I crossed the Matapedia via a covered wooden bridge, the first I've ever seen in real life. That was cool. I pulled into Chapelle Lodge and chatted with Jim while waiting for the B.C. boys to return from the river.
The lodge, as the name implies, is a former chapel converted into a fishing camp, also very cool. There were once 200 families living and working in Routhierville; now there are only two full-time residents. But people still come here to fish. Guess what Jim and I talked about? Fishing, maybe.
Matt, Jeroen, and Derek showed up at about 7 p.m. with a bunch of Gaspe lobster. I contributed 4 lbs of moose sausage that I had tucked away in a small cooler in my luggage. We fired up the barbecue and had a feast.
The fishing and fly talk intensified. Jeroen gave me the play by play version of a 40-lb leviathan he had landed the day before. Derek followed with his 24-lb silver salmon, actually his very first Atlantic.
What a way to start — beginner's luck, maybe? Not a chance. Actually, Derek is an expert fly angler and quite capable of catching Atlantics. It was only his second stint and both were early run expeditions, always difficult angling conditions.
We awoke in Chapelle Lodge to a downpour of rain. This is sadly typical of my early run salmon life. Last year, in Norway, during the first week of June, we fished through four days of torrential rain. It's not the getting wet that troubles us, it's the rising river, which makes already tough fishing even more so.
There's just that much more swollen river for fish to swim in, and lower visibility to boot. Now we were truly fishing for a needle in a haystack, but a very big shiny needle — that's what keeps us casting hour after hour.
Five of us fished all day and didn't get a tug. A rousing birch fire in Chapelle Lodge dried out our soaked clothes and raised our sagging spirits.
Stout drinks and Cuban cigars didn't hurt, either. But the next morning it was raining again. The B.C. crew were leaving for home at noon and they opted to pass on angling for a classic fly-tying session with Jim.
This was a wicked opportunity that I too could not pass on, in spite of how badly I craved a fix of silver. Besides, I would have all afternoon and evening to fish. Observing Jim tie a classic full dress Green Islander was worth the journey to Quebec.
At 1 p.m., I was fishing public water on the lower Restigouche, about a kilometre above where the main power lines cross the river. I fished for three hours with nary a pull. But finally, through dark bellowing rainclouds, the gods smiled upon their devout servant.
As my giant Blue Charm swung through the powerful current, I felt the mighty tug I had been waiting for, and dreaming about all winter. It was a beautiful thing.
I lifted the rod to set the hook and we squared off in the pouring rain for a 20-minute battle. Finally, up to my thighs in water, I had the fish in hand, my freezing fingers precariously squeezing its tail. I took a measure with my rod and confirmed it later at 39 inches (a metre). I'd estimate the salmon was at least 20 pounds.
My free hand, also with very cold, numb fingers, fumbled down my chest waders for my cellphone. It ended up on the bottom of the river.
My next waterproof case will be neon pink, not bloody black. I released the fish and ended up wetter than ever diving for my phone. I found it, but there's no photo of my first Restigouche salmon. There's always next year.
You might be interested sometime in fishing for salmon in Quebec. I'll explain the regulations and give some tips on where to go in a future column.
Paul Smith, a native of Spaniard's Bay,
fishes and wanders the outdoors at every
opportunity. He can be contacted


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A new report published has found that many female immigrants working in the healthcare sector in Australia are being exploited. The report says that the Australian government's decision to grant more temporary work visas has made this problem worse. The report calls on the Australian government to 'support permanent migration'.
The report, Quality Health Care and Workers on The Move – Australia National Report, was written by Dr Jane Pillinger for Public Services International, an international public services union, with 20 million members in 150 countries. The report focuses on the experience of women who travelled to Australia to work in healthcare. 90% of immigrants who travel to Australia to work in healthcare are female.
Dr Pillinger analysed the responses of 478 female immigrants working in Australian healthcare in Queensland and New South Wales. The migrants came from 51 countries. The 'top country of origin was the Philippines. Next came China, India, the UK and Zimbabwe. Most decided to move to Australia for better pay and working conditions. Over three quarters said they intended to stay in Australia.
Dr Pillinger says that Australia has introduced new restrictions on immigration and has begun to rely more heavily on temporary migration. She says that this policy creates a risk that temporary workers will be 'treated as second-class workers and are employed in insecure conditions with uncertain futures for themselves and their families.'
Dr Pillinger says that failures in Australian policy have led to a situation where there are shortages of trained health professionals, particularly in the 'aged care sector'. It is in this sector where most exploitation of migrant workers occurs.
About one third of the respondents were found work by recruitment agencies. Of these, about a quarter said that the agencies were 'unethical' in that they charged excessive fees, failed to provide accommodation as agreed or misled the respondent about the level of pay.
About half of those surveyed travelled to Australia on temporary business (long stay) (457) visas. Of those, about three quarters later acquired permanent resident status or citizenship. They reported that they were exploited when on 457 visas because they were, effectively, tied to one employer. They 'often tolerate[d] lower pay, longer working hours, poorer working conditions, limitations on applying for promotional positions and career development and insecurity at work because they feared complaining.' They also had lesser healthcare provision than native Australian workers.
They also found that their qualifications and experience gained overseas were often not given full value. They were often placed on the lowest pay scale when they arrived, even if they were very experienced. They received little assistance with integration from either the Australian government or the trades unions.
However, the respondents reported that they had had 'largely positive experiences with integration in a new country, the workplace, housing and acceptance by the host society'. 'A sizeable minority' had less positive experiences of integration.
The report makes two main recommendations to the Australian government. Firstly, it says that the government should provide practical assistance to the workers when they arrive in Australia such as helping them with English language tests. Secondly, the government should reduce the number of 457 visas that it issues and, 'support permanent migration rather than temporary migration.' But it also recommends that action should be taken to prevent exploitation by recruitment agencies
The report also advises Australian unions to 'actively lobby the government to protect the rights of migrant workers and to end practices that lead to exploitation and vulnerability'.


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Big change for 'Little Princess'
Professional Coin Grading Service will now attribute and grade 1841 quarter eagles both as proofs and circulation strikes.
The big change involves one of the most famous United States gold coin rarities, the $2.50 gold piece nicknamed "The Little Princess."
"This is a monumental decision on our part, and we have taken two years to reach the decision. The really interesting thing about the whole process is that this is not a unanimous point of view in the numismatic community," said David Hall, co-founder of PCGS and president of Collectors Universe, Inc.
Traditionally, it has been thought that only proof quarter eagles were struck by the Philadelphia Mint in 1841 and no circulation strikes were minted, Hall said. However, over the years, several experts questioned the "proof-only" status of the 1841 quarter eagle.
PCGS has determined that the most likely scenario is that both a small number of circulation strikes and an even smaller number of proofs were struck.
"There are world class U.S. coin experts on both sides of this issue. Some of the smartest numismatic minds of all-time feel very strongly that circulation strike 1841 Philadelphia Mint quarter eagles were indeed minted," Hall said. "But there are also some of the best coin minds of all-time who believe only proofs were struck."
The list of experts who feel that some 1841 Philadelphia quarter eagles are circulation strikes reads like a who's who of numismatic experts, Hall said. They include David Akers, Q. David Bowers, Harvey and Lawrence Stack, Doug Winter, Jeff Garrett, Anthony Terranova, Jim Halperin, Fred Weinberg, Don Kagin, David McCarthy, Steve Contursi, Jason Carter and Gordon Wrubel.
"But equally illustrious experts feel just as strongly that only proofs were struck, including numismatic researcher extraordinaire and my friend and fellow PCGS founder John Dannreuther, PCGS CoinFacts President Ron Guth, and PCGS Director of Grading Mike Sargent," Hall said.
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"I have never seen the coin expert community so divided over a technical numismatic issue and this is one of the few times in our nearly 40-year relationship that John Dannreuther and I have disagreed about a pure coin issue."
Hall said it's been a complicated dilemma.
"So after two years of research, after showing five different specimens to all of these experts and after trips to the Smithsonian Institution, the question became 'What should we do about it?' Our choices were to do nothing or to make a monumental change in the way we attribute some 1841 Philadelphia quarter eagles."
The decision to change the way PCGS attributes one of the greatest U.S. gold coin rarities was not taken lightly, Hall said.
"But the experts who felt there were circulation strikes were too numerous to ignore. So, with some reservations and a lot of mixed emotions, PCGS will now recognize circulation strike 1841 Philadelphia quarter eagles.
"And this changes everything," Hall said. "The Condition Census, the Population Report, auction records, the way most people will collect, even the value of all of the coins including the proofs – it all changes. And the circulation strikes now become one of the great circulation strike rarities of U.S. numismatics."
Hall also added a word of caution: "While PCGS has made the decision to recognize circulation strike 1841 Philadelphia quarter eagles, it is a decision that could be subject to change. The majority of the experts involved feel this is the right thing to do, but it is possible that further research will show that this is not the case. If that happens, then PCGS would once again change the way it attributes 1841 quarter eagles."
According to the PCGS CoinFacts condition census, there are now four known proof 1841 quarter eagles, the finest being the Gem proof in the Smithsonian Institution, and there are 12 or 13 circulation strikes, the finest (and only mint state example) being the coin PCGS has just graded MS-61, which is owned by a California collector. This coin, along with two other examples, was procured for our research by Steven L. Contursi of Rare Coin Wholesalers.
The first PCGS designated circulation strike 1841 Philadelphia Quarter Eagle will soon hit the auction block as Stack's Bowers will be selling an EF-45 specimen during the "Rarities Night" Thursday, March 22, in their auction held in conjunction with the upcoming March Baltimore coin show.
PCGS has published a 35-page study of the 1841 Quarter Eagles including the case for circulation strikes written by Hall and others, the case for the proof-only status written by Dannreuther and Guth. It also includes a new registry of known specimens by Guth and P. Scott Rubin, along with images of 15 of the 16 or 17 known specimens.
Call PCGS customer service at 800-447-8848 for a copy of the study or go to the Professional Coin Grading Service home page at www.PCGS.com to view the study online.
More Coin Collecting Resources:
• State Quarters Deluxe Folder By Warmans
• Subscribe to our Coin Price Guide, buy Coin Books & Coin Folders and join the NumisMaster VIP Program


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|Reviews for Taken
| Luna's Child chapter 1 . 3/15/2013
Wow, this poem was amazing! I loved the theme, and the way you wrote it really made me feel it. Great work.
| Oreos4theheart chapter 1 . 10/14/2012
I loved your poem, especially the stanza
"The sky for your eyes,
and the wind of your hair,
the sand for your skin,
so rough and so fair."
It was really good (:


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About us
"The adventure beds which have been on the market at that point of time did not meet my ideas and expectations "
Children and parents "straight from the heart"
The mail order firm WOODLAND was founded in 1992. Within a few short years the organisations founder Gabriele vom Hofe had made the firm the unchallenged leader and trendsetter in the German market for high quality children's adventure furniture. The resulting customer orientation led to an intelligent range of products. These products are adaptable to the child's needs and do not only have in mind to suit the maximum customer use, but also to move young families deeply with regard to WOODLANDs child friendly shaping, clever multifunctionality and individual design. In this respect, various early experiences our organisations founder Gabriele vom Hofe has made as a mother of two children inure to the benefit of our customers.Gabriele vom Hofe explains: "The adventure beds which have been on the market at that point of time did not meet my ideas and expectations of a good combination of price-performance relationship, environmentally friendly production, flexibility, design and safety. Therefore there was nothing else I could do except produce my own ideal adventure bed for our children with the help of an experienced carpentry crew." This is how a successful business idea was born.
Environmental protection beginning with the purchase of raw materials
|The wood used in the production of WOODLAND furniture has been purchased from sustainable forests this means the ecological balance of the forests is protected. Likewise the forest is just a short distance away from the sawmill which protects our environment as well. Our 1st class wood is selected to be as low in knot content as possible. It does not come from remote forests and does not have to be transported an unnecessarily long distance by polluting vehicles but is nearby where our own strong regulations are enforced, protecting the environment. Therefore the kind of wood we use represents a significant contribution to the environment through its purchase.
Social engagement
|Since 2005 WOODLAND supports the humanitarian organisationn children first e.V. / onlus This organisation aims to help suffering children in various conflict zones all over the world since 2002. Under the leadership of Sylvia Eibl children first, wholeheartedly, places a special focus on humanitarian relief operations, such as food distribution, medical care and improvement of the living conditions of children and their families in need worldwide.
Ausbildung bei WOODLAND
|WOODLAND ist seit 2003 ein von der IHK Nordrheinwestfalen zertifizierter Ausbildungsbetrieb. Zur Zeit wird ein Kaufmann für Bürokommunikation ausgebildet.


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Winter Soldier #15
All new mission! All New creative team! All new status quo!
Join writer Jason Latour (Loose Ends, Wolverine) and artist Nic Klein (Dancer, Viking, Doc Savage) as they take the reins to the critically acclaimed series!
In the wake of the hunt for the Black Widow, a broken and beaten Winter Soldier begins perhaps his most personal mission yet: a quest for redemption.
But as Bucky looks to make peace with his deadly past, a new villain from his future is out for war...and blood...
Cover Illustrator


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I'm still waiting for news of my latest grandchild's arrival but still nothing to report.
We've had a busy weekend with friends and family popping round which has been lovely and Lily and Callum certainly keep me going but that's probably what I need.
Lily bought me a lovely plant though she says that it's hers really, isn't it pretty...
and I think Stella likes it too....
Sunday was my sister's 65th birthday, she was christened Patricia but she's always been known as Pop as my gran said that she was a little poppet and the name stuck.
This is a photo of me, my dad and Pop, she's the one standing, we are at my grandad's allotment which we had to look at each time we visited. We didn't have a car so we all went on the bus and usually it was a double decker which meant we could sit upstairs looking out of the front window where we could see all around us. After the walk to the allotment we'd go back to grandma's house where she'd have dinner ready, a lovely treat. After dinner we'd sometimes walk home, visiting bluebell wood on the way. In those days you could pick the bluebells and we usually came away with our arms full though by the time we got home they were looking a bit bedraggled but mum always found a pretty vase to put them in. This photo was taken over 50 years ago and I can't believe how quickly the years have flown, so many happy memories.
It's been colder here today so I've spent the day indoors just pottering about, all the plants and seedlings are behaving themselves so no need to go out other than give them a good water later on.
Just a few pots to put away and then I'm through for the day so I might put a few more stitches into something.
Love and hugs,


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Some big insurance companies charge higher auto rates for lower-income drivers, even if the drivers have safe driving records, an analysis from the Consumer Federation of America finds.
The federation, a nonprofit comprising 250 consumer groups, has argued that insurers often give nondriving-related factors, like occupation and education, more weight than driving-related factors, and that such practices unfairly penalize lower- and moderate-income drivers. Occupation and education, the federation says, are proxies for income.
In its latest report, the federation obtained insurance quotes in 12 different cities from the public Web sites of five big auto insurers, using information for two hypothetical women. The insurers — State Farm, Allstate, GEICO, Farmers and Progressive — represent more than half of the private auto insurance market, the federation said.
Both drivers shared certain characteristics: Each was 30 years old; had been a driver for 10 years; lived in a Zip code with a median income of $50,000; owned and drove a 2002 Honda Civic; drove 7,500 miles per year and carried the minimum auto liability insurance required by state law (minimums vary from state to state).
The first driver, however, was a single receptionist with a high school education who had a 45-day gap in her insurance coverage, but had never had an accident or moving violation. (Gaps in coverage often occur because drivers can't afford their premiums, said Robert Hunter, the federation's director of insurance and a former Texas state insurance commissioner.)
The second driver was a married executive with a master's degree who owned a home, had continuous insurance coverage and one at-fault accident with $800 of damage in the last three years.
In two-thirds of the 60 quotes, the receptionist was quoted higher premiums, even though her driving record was clean. And in more than three-fifths of the cases, the premium quoted the receptionist exceeded the quote for the executive, who wasn't as safe a driver, by at least 25 percent.
The federation argues that "largely uncontrollable" factors, like education and occupation, are often given greater weight in rate setting than actual losses.
Robert Passmore, senior director of personal lines for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, said in a telephone interview that it was reasonable to use such factors because "they are predictive of loss." Different insurers give different weights to different factors, he said, depending on what they saw as the best way to predict a given driver's risk.
During a conference call with reporters, Mr. Hunter and Stephen Brobeck, the federation's executive director, were asked why the analysis didn't include smaller automobile insurers as well. They said it was because the analysis was time consuming and because the largest companies tend to offer the lowest rates, even though the federation still considered many of them to be unreasonably high for lower-income drivers.
The federation argues that the wide disparity in rates quoted, from company to company and market to market, suggests that the auto insurance market is not truly competitive, but the insurance industry rejects that position.
"Auto insurance provides important, cost-effective financial protection to millions of Americans, and most drivers have dozens of auto insurers constantly competing for their business," said Steven Weisbart, chief economist for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group, in a prepared statement. "The price is risk-based and always will be."
The federation's analysis found that in every case, GEICO and Progressive quoted the safe driver — the receptionist — a higher premium than the driver who had caused an accident. In several cases, companies refused to provide a quote to the "good" driver, but offered one to the executive.
"We work to price each driver's policy as accurately as possible, so that every driver pays the appropriate amount based on his or her risk of having an accident," said Jeff Sibel, a spokesman for Progressive, in an e-mail. "We use multiple rating factors, which sometimes include nondriving factors that have been proven to be predictive of a person's likelihood of being involved in a crash."
Geico didn't respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
State Farm, however, charged the receptionist (the good driver) less than the bad driver in all 12 cities. In addition, in all the markets, State Farm's quotes were either the lowest or the second lowest.
That suggests, said Mr. Hunter, that State Farm gives less weight to nondriving factors than other companies. A State Farm representative declined to comment.
Mr. Hunter said states should insist that insurance companies make the factors used in setting their rates transparent, so consumers know how their applications for coverage were being considered.
Do you think factors like education and occupation should be used to set auto insurance rates?
Article source: http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/when-good-drivers-pay-more-for-insurance-than-bad-ones/?partner=rss&emc=rss


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Teaching English in Spain was never a dream of mine. I've ended up here through a series of choices, coincidences, and a fair amount of luck. Nonetheless, while I may not wish to pursue this career path after my time in Spain comes to an end, I know that teaching English has helped me in many ways, including in my knowledge of English. Yes, my English grammar and semantics have improved as a result of me teaching English here.
Gee, what a great cultural ambassador I am
No, I didn't confuse your and you're, and I most certainly never wrote to instead of two or too. And while I used to be a bit more of a grammar fascist, I've come to realize that I'm more of a descriptivist than a prescriptivist. Nonetheless, while other people may talk and write without following the "rules," I choose to try my best to follow the rules. Thus, I have been thrilled to find that teaching English has allowed me to brush up on certain facets of the English language.


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Lehman Roofing Inc. was established in March of 2006. Owner Todd Lehman along with his dad - Dan Lehman, and brothers - Nick, Danny and Scott organized a strong union work force to support the roofing needs of building owners, contractors and architects. Todd and his family have a combined 160 years of experience in the commercial and industrial roofing market. This experience includes installing, estimating and managing roofing projects from $200 to $2,000,000. Lehman Roofing's reputation for honesty and dedication to quality roofing has provided confidence, trust an and support from all of the major manufacturers in the roofing industry.
In 2008 Todd expanded the business to include a more advanced Architectural Sheet Metal division to include wall panels and standing seam roofing.
In 2010 Lehman Roofing relocated and a new office was built.
In 2012 Lehman Roofing was honored with the award of Master Contractor and Partner in Quality from Firestone as well as Carlisle's Perfection award, which is given to the top 5% of roofing contractors in the country. Lehman Roofing employs 35+ people and caters to the needs of a diverse client base; which includes commercial business, educational, medical and industrial facilities.
As the construction community continues to evolve so does Lehman Roofing; continued expansion due to an honorable reputation allows Lehman Roofing to continue to thrive in all of its markets.


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Consultation Information
For a free consultation with one of our patient advocates please fill in the form below or give us a call at 1-800-669-7744.
Please make sure that you provide a good description of your medical history including recent PSA, Gleason Score, and Treatments so far and other relevant medical information.
It is not our remit or expertise to dictate a particular diagnostic or care pathway, that is clearly the responsibility of the Consultant.
Your information is always confidential.


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Despite nearly every negotiation going down to the wire last night all but one first-round pick ultimately ended up signing, with No. 21 overall pick Tyler Beede turning down the Blue Jays' offer to attend Vanderbilt.
And according to Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star the two sides weren't even particularly close, with the Blue Jays offering $2.5 million and Beede seeking $3.5 million. MLB's recommended "slot" bonus for the 21st pick is $1.3 million.
Now the 18-year-old pitcher from Massachusetts won't be eligible to be drafted again until 2014 and Toronto will receive the No. 22 overall pick in next year's draft as compensation for not signing Beede, which general manager Alex Anthopoulos admitted played a big part in the negotiations.
In the meantime the Blue Jays used some of the money that may have gone to Beede to give significantly above-slot signing bonuses to supplemental first-round pick Kevin Comer, second-round pick Daniel Norris, and 13th-round pick Matt Dean. That trio signed for a $4.4 million.


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We've seen increased demand on travel managers in recent years to gain more visibility into meetings and events. It makes sense; meetings, travel and expense management share many of the same goals. Travel managers have become more accountable for driving cost savings and reducing risk associated with meetings and events within organizations. The most effective way to manage meetings and events spend is to begin at the sourcing process.
Budget Management: Visibility into meeting & events spend is key to controlling costs and ensuring bottom-line savings. It also helps facilitate a strategy that will embed long-term meeting objectives into everyday decisions. Organizations may leave more than a third of their leveraging power on the table by not employing a strategy.
Risk Management: In most organizations, risk comes in many forms; from unmanaged spend to accountability of corporate travelers across the globe, or duty of care. The stakes are high for those with little to no understanding of meeting activity across the organization. Organizations have thrived by managing meetings more strategically and adding controls to monitor compliance and mitigate risk.
Decentralized organizations add an extra level of complexity to tracking and managing meeting spend. In the past, there was a belief that to get centralized data, you had to centralize the sourcing of meetings. With the right technology partner, you can leverage your decentralized users and begin to paint a complete picture of your organization's meeting activity. Regardless of how the organization is set up, every travel manager should have real time visibility into these four data points:
1. Brand Spend & Savings
The best way to impact your meeting spend is by tracking spend and cost savings by brand. It's not one or the other, but both. Visibility into your brand spend is your bargaining chip. Create a meetings policy to leverage buying power with these preferred vendors. Then, stack your meetings with preferred hotels to drive further savings. Take it a step further and track brand savings. Know which brand is truly partnering with your organization and earning your business.
Recommended Resources: Get your detailed checklist of what to look for in a modern SMM solution to fast-track meeting and event success. Download your free copy of our SMM Guide!
2. Booked Room Rate Comparison
Gain more control over budget with insight into guest room rate by hotel rating. Ensure your organization is consistently booking the lower end of the offered rates by hotel rating. If your team maintains a competitive bid environment by submitting bids to at least three hotels prior to selection, you will clearly see where you fall. Tracking room rate can also offer visibility into demand by location and season.
3. Concessions – Negotiated Value
Although tough to get, ensure bidding hotels add values to each requested concession. Concession savings is usually the largest savings area and the one that is least reportable. Hotels do not track concessions offered, so having this data at your fingertips when you talk with your hotel partners will put you in the driver's seat. Furthermore, create a standard set of hotel concessions and special requests as part of your meetings policy and ensure all planners add them to every RFP.
4. Response Rate by Brand
With the current trends continuing to favor a seller's market, tracking how many hotels bid on vs turn down your RFP will help you decide which brands to favor. High-response rates mean eager and hungry GSOs and on-property sales people. This data can be particularly important if you have a brand contract and are falling short of your commitments. Receiving the proverbial "A for effort" is key to mitigating the shortfall.
With a little extra work, these KPIs will dramatically improve visibility and impact your organization's spend and savings.
This post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated for relevance and clarity.


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Farm house living room
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For Gravy
- 50 gms Bengal Gram Dal (Chana dal)
- 50 gms Pigeon Pea (Tur Dal)
- 50 gms Red Lentil (Masoor Dal)
- 2 piece Green Chillies
- 1 tsp Ginger (grated)
- 2 tsp Oil
- 1/2 piece Tomato (finely chopped)
- 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
- approx to taste Salt
- approx Corriander Leaves
- 5-6 piece Curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 cup Water
For Gravy
- Mix all the ingredients adding water little by little. The dough should be hard. Keep it aside for 10 minutes. For Gravy Pressure cook dals adding turmeric powder & salt. Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, once it crackles add cumin seeds, curry leaves and coriander leaves and tomatoes. Saute for 2-3 minutes adding little salt to it. Now add cooked lentils and add water. Cover with a lid & let it boil for 2 minutes. Now using noodle mould ( Chakli mould) Place the dough inside the mould and press the lid. Noodles start coming out. Put it directly on the lentil gravy and allow it to cook for 2 more minutes. Healthy noodles are ready. Serve hot.


text: Duhaime's Law Dictionary s Legal definitions for terms and concepts beginning with s Statement of Adjustments A document that proposes financial reconciliation of a transaction to a specified date and requisite pay-outs to the parties to the transaction or to a defined third-party. Statement of Claim The document which sets out the plaintiff's allegations of fact and thus, engages the judicial process by seeking trial. Statement of Defence A defendant's written answer or reply to a statement of claim, admitting or denying each and every one of the facts contained in the statement of claim and alleging such facts as the defendant wishes to assert at trial in opposition to the plaintiff's case. Static Condition A condition that does not change and is dangerous only if someone fails to see it and walks into it. Statuta Suo Clauduntur Territorio, Nec Ultra Territorium Disponunt Statutes are confined to their own territory and have no extra-territorial effect. Statute of Frauds A statute that set a minimum standard for enforceable contracts, usually requiring at a minimum something in writing or the actual exchange of reciprocal obligations, at least in part. Statute of Limitations A procedural rule which limits the time in which a party may bring an action for a right which has already accrued. Statute of Repose The deadline set by statute on the assertion of a right by litigation. Statute of Uses A 1535 English law that prevented, for a time, the legal structure of a use. Statutes The written laws approved by legislatures, parliaments or elected or appointed houses of assembly. Statutes in Pari Materia Statutes sharing a common purpose or relating to the same subject and which are construed together. Statutory Lien A lien arising solely by force of a statute on specified circumstances or conditions. Statutory Rape A statutory definition of rape which allows for conviction regardless of the consent, such as with a minor. Statutory Trust A trust created by the effect of a statute. STAXI, State Trait Anger Expression Inventory A psychological test which measures the intensity of anger in an individual and the disposition to experience angry feelings. Stay To stop; to suspend; also known as a stay of proceedings; when a law suit is suspended either indefinitely or until the occurrence of a condition imposed by the court. Steal The taking of something from another without any legal right to do so. Stenographer An individual employed to receive and transcribe dictation. Step-Child Help! Step-Parent The status of one spouse in regards to the natural children of the other spouse issue from another. Still-born Child A child which which did not at any time after being completely expelled from its mother breathe or show any signs of life. Stipulated Judgment USA: consent order. Stipulation (USA law) An agreement between the parties with respect to an issue before the court. Stirpes Latin: the offspring of a person; his or her descendants. Stock Available merchandise or the aggregate of a person's share holdings in a corporation. Storm in Progress Rule A doctrine of personal injury law excusing a property owner for injuries occurring before the owner has had a reasonable chance to address hazards created by a storm. Storm Warning Data available to an ordinary investor that would give rise to a suspicion of fraud. Straight Condemnation A formal process for the exercise of eminent domain in which a price is adjudicated and then the property bought by the government. Straight-line Depreciation A depreciation formula which writes off the cost of an asset at a fixed percentage rate every year of an asset's useful life. Strangle To interrupt breathing by interference with the windpipe. Strata Title in a prescribed part of a building coupled with a tenant in common interest in common areas. Straw Boss An employee with minor supervisory duties. Streaking Dashing through a public area in the nude. Stream A watercourse having banks and channel through which waters flow, at least periodically. Street A public way or road, usually urban, and embraces the surface from side to side and end to end. Strictissimi Juris Latin: the strictest letter of the law. Strict Liability Tort liability which is set upon the defendant without need to prove intent, negligence or fault; as long as you can prove that it was the defendant's object that caused the damage. Strike A common stopping of work by a group of employees. Strip Search The removal of all or part of an individual's clothing so as to visually inspect private areas or undergarments. Striptease Removal of clothing in a manner so as to arouse sexual desire. Style of Cause The formal title of the proceedings in a court of law, usually the action number, the name of the court and the full, formal and complete name(s) of the plaintiff(s) and that of all defendant(s). Subfile Order A declaration of rights as regards waterways for the interim regulation of those rights pending a final determination of those rights either by contract or judicially. Subinfeudation The process whereby, under the feudal system of tenure, a person receiving a grant of land from a lord, could himself become a landlord by subdividing and subletting that land to others. Sub Judice Latin: under judicial consideration. Sublease The subsequent lease of property that is itself leased; with the primary tenant retaining an interest in the original lease. Sublicense The grant by a licensee of certain licensed rights to a third party. Subordination To be subject to the orders or direction of another; of lower rank. Subpoena Latin: an order of a court which requires a person to be present at a certain time and place or suffer a penalty (subpoena means, literally, under penalty). Subrogation The substitution of one person to the rights of another. Subsidiary A corporation subordinate to a dominant company which is able, through share ownership, to exert influence or control over its affairs. Page1 (Sa - Se) | Page2 (Se - Sm) | Page3 (So - St) | Page4 (St - Su) | Page5 (Su - Sy) Always looking up definitions? Save time with our search provider (modern browsers only) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Law Dictionary, or if you have suggestion for a legal term, we'd love to hear from you!


text:
Pricing for Services and Products
All rights reserved.
Pantographs start at $.008 per square inch for the economy patterns and for large
meandering over the entire quilt. These patterns are great for utility quilts, charity
quilts, or any quilt that you do not wish to invest a lot of money in.
Level "A" pantos are $.01
/sq. in. These are simpler designs that do not require a lot
of time to complete.
Level "B" designs are $.013/sq. in. These designs are more complex than an "A"
pattern, but not as involved as a "C" pattern.
Level "C" designs are $.016/sq. in. These designs are more complex and take a
considerable amount of time to complete.
Finally the "D" patterns are $.0185/sq. in. They are very dense and take almost as
much time as custom quilting.
Please see the pattern pages for available pantos. If you have a particular design in
mind and I don't offer it, please let me know and I'll see if I can get it. Also, I add new
pantos regularly and my web page may not be completely up-to-date.
If you would like a special border treatment with a panto (ex. panto in the center of
the quilt with a different design for the border), the charge will be $20. This includes
quilts with a flange. There will also be an extra $20 charge for quilts that have raw-
edge applique. The hopping foot tends to fold the edges back and it takes a lot of
extra time to keep them neat.
Thread prices
I charge a flat fee of $3.00 for solid color threads and $7.00 for monofilament (aka
invisible) and variegated colors. Specialty threads will be determined at the time of
Please use the button on the navigation bar for the batting page.
I have 118" wide natural and white muslin available to use for backings at $9.00 per
yard. I also have Kona solids in a variety of colors for $6.80 per yard (44 inches wide).
You are more than welcome to send your own backings and/or batting. Please make
sure they are at least 6" larger than the quilt top on all four sides.
Other Services
You supply the prepared binding.
machine sewn to front you turn to back
05/linear inch
machine sewn to front and back $.10/linear inch
I prepare the binding - add $.05/linear inch to the above prices and you supply at
least one yard of fabric.
Please be aware that my bindings are presentable but not show-quality (and, most of
the time, my Mom does them) . Bindings are sewn front and back by machine using a
decorative stitch.
Prepare Backings
I can prepare the backing for your quilt top for $10/seam. This includes piecing,
squaring and pressing.
Any other preparations needed to begin quilting will be charged at $20/hour. This
includes squaring up the top or back, pressing seams flat, fixing open seams, etc. If
tops are not pressed or square, I cannot guarantee that there will be no puckers in
the quilting.
A Michigan 6% sales tax will be added to the final total of all thread, batting, and
fabric for MI residents only.
All prices effective as of
1st, 2
and are subject to change without notice.
Please note that I do not have a minimum charge. I am happy to quilt any size top
from small wallhangings and tablerunners to large king size quilts.
I no longer offer discounts on charity quilts. I have added special pricing on a couple
of pantos and a large meander for these types of quilts.
Please note that, at this time, I am not able to accept quilts for custom quilting.
Karen's Quilted Creations


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The two hands have been ready to hold your tablet for hands-free entertaining. If you're curious, let's go on checking the Felix TwoHands II tablet stand.
Felix TwoHands II is a portable and practical tablet stand that measures 7.0 x 2.5 x 2.0 inches and weights 4.0 oz. As we can see from the images, the tablet stand features ultra portable design, and is made from aluminum for solid construction and premium feeling, moreover, its soft-touch grip securely hold your iPad, iPad mini, or other Android tablet in portrait or landscape viewing mode in order that you can comfortably enjoy your favorite games and videos, apart from that, the improved anti-slip base keeps your smart device in place.
Felix TwoHands II tablet stand is available in three colors, each one is priced at $24.99 USD. If you're interested, jump to Target official site for more details. Additionally, If you need other options you might like to check FIXIE tablet stand and more via "tablet stand" tag.


text:
A new study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic reports health and economical outcomes of reduction in asthma medication in stable asthma patients. The research paper, entitled "Comparative safety and costs of stepping down asthma medications in patients with controlled asthma," was recently published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The results of the study could aid in helping public healthcare organizations control asthma treatment costs while still managing positive patient outcomes.
The reduction of asthma medicine use is common practice since, in addition to the obvious attempt of physicians to prescribe the least amount of medications to effectively treat patients and avoid potential side effects, drug-based asthma therapy also entails significant costs. In light of the limited information regarding outcomes from medicine reduction, researchers led by allergy and immunology specialist Matthew Rank, MD, at the Mayo Clinic set-out to investigate the safety and economical outcome of such a decision.
The research team selected 4,235 eligible persistent asthma patients with stable asthma symptoms for at least a year, and divided them into one group maintaining a prescribed daily asthma medication treatment and another with reduced asthma treatment. Researchers concluded from analysis of clinical results in both study groups that gradually reducing medication for asthma in patients with controlled symptoms was as clinically safe as maintaining treatment. Researchers report that only about 11% of patients stepping down the use of prescribed therapies had asthma-related problems. Regarding financial costs, the average monthly savings in asthma-related treatments was $34 when compared to patients who maintained their medication treatment, without any additional costs related to asthma treatments such as hospitalization. Furthermore, stopping the treatment did not yield negative effects in other aspects of patients' lives, such as school or work absence.
"This study is important because many people with asthma may be able to safely reduce their asthma medicines with the appropriate guidance from their health care teams," Dr. Rank said. "Many patients try to step down on their own, but we encourage patients to work with their doctors before doing so."


text:
"At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus explained that He was sent 'to heal the brokenhearted' (Luke 4:18). The Bible often tells us of His healing people 'of their infirmities' (Luke 5:15; 7:21). The Book of Mormon records His healing those 'that were afflicted in any manner' (3 Nephi 17:9). The Gospel of Matthew explains that Jesus healed the people 'that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses' (Matthew 8:17).
"Isaiah taught that the Messiah would bear our 'griefs' and our 'sorrows' (Isaiah 53:4). Isaiah also taught of His strengthening us: 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee' (Isaiah 41:10).
"Thus, we sing:
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, …
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
('How Firm a Foundation,' Hymns, no. 85.)
"Speaking of some of his own mortal challenges, the Apostle Paul wrote, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me' (Philippians 4:13).
"And so we see that because of His Atonement, the Savior has the power to succor—to help—every mortal pain and affliction. Sometimes His power heals an infirmity, but the scriptures and our experiences teach that sometimes He succors or helps by giving us the strength or patience to endure our infirmities."
- Dallin H. Oaks, "Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ," Ensign, November 2015, pp. 61-64
Click here to read the full talk
The message of the Savior's gospel is one of healing: of "infirmities" as well as the heart, our sorrows and our mourning. I love that reassuring, hope-filled, faith-filled verse from "How Firm a Foundation" that is drawn almost word-for-word from Isaiah's declaration. And what can match Paul's ringing witness of his confidence in help:
So the divine help is offered to all of us, to heal and to help. This second perspective of succoring through trials is also faith-affirming:
We don't get to choose whether we are healed, or whether we are strengthened to endure for a season. But the eventual outcome will be the same!