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How Long Does a Mattress Lastby | Last Updated
Let me ask you this:
Investing $300 in a new mattress, how long do you expect it to last?
And what about buying a mattress costing $1,000?
If you're like me, your answer in both cases would be "long enough". The fact is that a mattress isn't something people are ready to buy every year or two.
How Long Does a Mattress Last?
Let's be honest, we all expect this kind of product to serve 5, 10, or even more years. But in reality, we can never know when we'll actually have to buy a new one. There are many factors that will influence the durability of your new mattress, and this is exactly what I'm going to tell you about in this post. Get ready.
What Is the Average Mattress Lifespan?
Before I dive into specifics, let's get one thing out of the way first:
A mattress is considered to be good as long as it still possesses a certain level comfort and firmness.
If your bed started to break down and became saggy, that means it reached its retirement age, and you should buy a new one for your own sake.
"You can't completely rely on reviews to find out how durable a mattress is since most reviews are left soon after the purchase has been made, and the owners can't know how long their mattress will serve them."
Here's the deal:
You surely expect your mattress to perform its duties for a considerable amount of years before you need to get a new one. However, since the material it's made of plays an important role in determining the durability of your bed, there's a drastic difference between different types of mattresses.
According to statistics, most top-quality mattresses serve for a period of seven to ten years but can last even longer if you dedicate some time to take care of them properly. Experts recommend changing a mattress within ten years to maintain a good night's rest.
If you're asking yourself, "How long does a mattress last?", look at the warranty period to find the answer. It can give you a general idea about the durability. Unfortunately, in many cases, this figure has nothing to do with the actual durability. Besides, some companies that offer twenty-year warranties only cover a particular part of the construction and not the entire item. So, search for brands that provide coverage for the entire mattress, even if it's only for five to seven years.
"A mattress shouldn't only be comfortable and supportive; it also has to serve its owner for years."
The Best Mattress Materials for Longevity
So, again, the primary factor that determines the life expectancy of a mattress is its material. Take a look at the rating of the most durable types of fabric:
- Latex
A decent model of this kind can last for as long as fifteen years if you take adequate care of it. The reason behind such longevity is that the layers in latex beds are replaceable. Thus, you're basically getting a new mattress each time you change them.
"Mattresses that consist of 100% natural latex serve the longest, while blended latex and hybrid foam core models take the second and third place respectively."
- Memory Foam
The second place goes to memory foam mattresses with their typical lifespan standing at ten years. This type possesses an excellent sagging resistance level and doesn't contain any materials that wear off quickly.
- Spring Core
Innerspring mattresses usually don't survive for longer than eight years of everyday use. This is because the metal coils get weaker over time, leading to hollows forming on the surface.
- Waterbed
This type is a mixed bag. If taken care of properly, it can serve for eight years or even longer. However, due to a fragile construction, waterbeds can get destroyed in a blink of an eye by a sharp object or a pet.
A high-end airbed lasts for about five years if used regularly. Afterward, the overnight air leakage becomes a big problem, and sooner or later it won't be worth the hassle.
This type of mattresses is bought as a cheaper alternative, and it serves as one. A futon has the shortest lifespan and usually loses its properties after three or four years.
What Factors Do the Most Damage to Your Mattress?
Regardless of the material, the durability of a mattress can also be determined by your answers to the following three questions:
- How often do you use your mattress?
As it is with all physical objects, the lesser you use them, the longer they can serve you. A mattress that is used night after night for years will wear out quicker than a guest bed.
- How much do you weight?
Your overall weight defines how much pressure your mattress has to endure on a daily basis. Logically, the heavier you are, the quicker your bed will lose its qualities.
- How do you use it?
If you're using your mattress during the day as well or treat it as a "table" to eat and drink on, your bed suffers from additional pressure and can also be damaged by spills that will weaken its structure.
"Most materials lose their firmness over time and tend to break down under the heavier parts of your body. Fiber materials, on the other hand, suffer from compression and become too hard to sleep on after active use."
So, How Can You Prolong the Durability of Your Mattress?
To make sure that you get the maximum from your bed, you need to take good care of it.
Here's what you can do:
- Clean your mattress on a regular basis.
If you don't clean your bed often enough, you run the risk of your mattress being destroyed by harmful bacteria. Even though a lot of mattresses are advertised as mold- and mildew-resistant, why tempt your fate?
That's not it:
It's also recommended to get your mattress professionally cleaned every once in a while, as your own efforts can't guarantee a perfect result.
- Buy a mattress protector.
Some people tend to do it when it's too late, and most of the damage has already been done. However, a protector should be used from day one, as it's the easiest method to avoid any spills falling onto the surface of the mattress.
- Consider getting a mattress topper.
A high-quality topper is an efficient way to extend your mattress lifespan. This item is great for dealing with sweat and bacteria and slowing down the sagging process.
- Don't forget to flip your mattress.
Rotating the mattress decreases the sagging as well as minimizes the wear that specific spots endure from your body. It's advised to flip your mattress about two times per year, and even more frequently if it's still new and hasn't adapted to your bodyweight.
A top-quality mattress will serve you somewhere between five to eleven years, with the exact period depending on the material that was used for production.
However, if you flip your mattress on a regular basis and use a mattress protector, you can even further prolong its lifespan. Not only that but investing your time to take proper care will also allow you to enjoy a more comfortable and hygienic night's rest in your bed.


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Federal fines of $935 million.
Up to $625 million for victim compensation.
More than $200 million to fix the cars.
And $575 million to settle many, but not all, of the pending lawsuits.
The known financial toll to General Motors for hiding a deadly safety defect now exceeds $2.3 billion, or about $900 per recalled car, on top of whatever GM lost selling them in the first place. It will undoubtedly keep rising for years as the remaining legal issues play out.
"People were hurt and people died in our cars," GM CEO Mary Barra told employees this week as she outlined a $900 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department. "We accept the penalties being announced today because that's what it means to be held accountable."
But outside GM, there's little feeling the company has been held genuinely accountable for the negligence, inaction and, according to prosecutors, intentional concealment of the ignition-switch flaw now tied to 124 deaths and 275 injuries over more than a decade.
Safety advocate Ralph Nader called GM a "homicidal fugitive from justice." Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, wrote in an email: "GM officials walk off scot-free while its customers are six feet under."
Even U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who exacted 25 percent less in fines than he collected from Toyota Motor Corp. in a similar settlement last year, sounded displeased with his ability to seek justice given the abundant evidence of wrongdoing.
Corporate "siloing" and the high burden of proof for violations of laws governing the auto industry mean that prosecuting individual executives or other employees is "not as easy as it looks sometimes," Bharara said during a press conference at his offices in New York.

subset: commoncrawl


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Letter to the editor
In his recent editorial published in the Big Sky Weekly [Dec. 14 – 28], David Allen of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation made a number of statements about the killing of several wolves from Yellowstone packs that don't jibe with my 27 years of study of gray wolves and their restoration.
Allen writes, "These [wolf] hunts are legal, necessary and scientifically sustainable."
A number of authorities disagree with him on the latter two points. Necessary? Why?
Does Montana have too many wolves? History may add perspective. In 1884, Montana set a bounty on wolves; in the next three years, 10,261 wolves were bountied (Lopez, 1978). That's 16 times Montana's 2011 population of 653 wolves.
Dr. Bradley J. Bergstrom, chair of the Conservation Committee of the American Society of Mammalogists, and four other authors, wrote in 2009 that having gray wolves occupy more than 2 percent of their former range in the conterminous United States, and at a tiny fraction of their former number (380,000, according to DNA data) constitutes recovery. They wonder at the wisdom of reducing their numbers just a decade or two after they have been back in the ecosystem.
Scientifically sustainable? Dr. Linda Rutledge and five colleagues at Ontario's Trent University wrote in 2010, "Legal and illegal killing of animals near park borders can significantly increase the threat of extirpation for populations living within ecological reserves, especially for wide-ranging large carnivores that regularly travel into unprotected areas.
"Our results indicate that even in a relatively large protected area, human harvesting outside park boundaries can affect evolutionarily important social patterns within protected areas." The loss of these social patterns negates the value of Yellowstone as a control or baseline against which other areas, where wolf hunting is allowed, can be compared.
Norman A. Bishop


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Bus ride from Baltimore to NYC—with load of passengers boarding at Wilmington, Delaware, 2 girls hop on—both tall, thin, attractive, both dressed same—tight black pants and gray hooded sweatshirts. After sitting and texting and adjusting her bag and standing to take off her sweatshirt, the brunette sits back down next to me and she smells nice. She pulls out a book of theology and highlights some phrases as she reads. College? Must be. But I get a kick outta how she enjoys being seen. She catches my glance while she leans forward to text. She smells good. Like soft clean clothing. Light fragrance. Nothing special or particularly alluring—just nice to smell something other than bus funk and old lady hair and Chick-fil-a and even my own musty smoke laden clothes. Small legs, thin—funny. I find her attractive but no thought of sex, just thoughts of college years and energy and youth and different priorities—that attractive life. Keys, phone, iPod btwn her legs on seat—she juggles them—changing tunes or txting friend who sits in front of her—texts of me or reading or nonsense or whatever? As I sit up to write this, she settles for the first time 'cause I'm hunched over journal and she has no chance of side eye glance. Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. But she smells nice. A small comfort on a long trip. She stands and startles friend with tap on shoulder before walking to restroom in back. Her bag has Andy Warhol's face and banana on it. I'm incredibly curious about her school but don't have courage to ask. But mystery and thought stimulus are better than movie. Thinking now that she's probably a moron slut—why not? She only peaked my interest with her reading theology. And I'm the chubby hairy guy sitting next to her that smells of stale smoke. How many times have I looked out the window since starting to write this, to think and not look at her tiny funny legs pants boots? She's back. Yeah, she's definitely texting her friend in seat ahead. "Anne, Fordham University" reads her badge attached to keys as she stands to leave parking bus.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Bus from Baltimore to NYC
4 comments:
I've never been so fortunate with seatmates on the bus. It is almost cliché how I attract creeps.ReplyDelete
I like how you reference how pleasing she smells three times. It was a great, subtle unifier.ReplyDelete
Reading theology and knows Warhol in a world of txting? "Moron slut" - yeah, right. You wish. = )ReplyDelete
Sundance . . . are you sure? Read again. :PReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Trying to improve your website's search engine ranking can seem a bit like the quest for romance. Like people looking for love, websites looking for a high search ranking can find it many different ways and with varying degrees of success. As with romance, you don't need to spend a lot of money; your intrinsic appeal matters more than the size of your investment. And, as with love, you can't achieve a high search engine ranking once and then never worry about it again. Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ongoing effort, and the more you work at it, the better it will be.
There are many things that any small business—even one with no budget for SEO—can do to improve its search rankings. Here's a look at some of the most effective ways to raise your profile in search.
SEO Tips: Finding "Link Love"
The most effective and long-lasting way to improve your ranking in a search engine is to increase the number of "inbound" links to your site from other websites. Inbound links represent an endorsement of your site. If these other site owners find your site useful, the logic goes, then Internet searchers are likely to find your site useful too.
Building a search engine based on inbound links (instead of simply reviewing keywords in hidden "meta tags" or website text) is what propelled Google from a late entrant to the search field to its current position as undisputed leader. Google currently has more than 65 percent of searches, and shows little sign of relinquishing this dominance, despite Microsoft and Yahoo's combined effort to unseat it.
This link-based approach (called "link analysis") proved so effective that other major search engines followed Google's example. "Link analysis is at the core of almost all major search engines," says Aaron Wall, author of SEO Book.com, a search engine optimization education service that, incidentally, is the first website result in a Google search of "SEO."
Dig Deeper: How Google's Universal Search Format Impacts SEO
SEO Tips: Five Ways to Get Linked
1. Give stuff away. Does your company offer free samples of its product? Do you have any handy applications or an ebook you can let site visitors download for free? There are few more effective ways to get people to link to your site than to offer something for nothing.
2. Share useful information. Links are commonly used to share information, so putting useful information on your site, such as articles or how-to guides will help draw links.
3. Connect with your community. This can be either your geographic community or a community based on your industry. Sponsoring an event at a local charity, interviewing an industry expert and posting the interview on your site or writing articles and blog entries for others to post can all bring inbound links.
4. Reach out to the blogosphere. Bloggers are always looking for new ideas, new websites to link to, and new products to write about, and they can be a great source of link love.
5. Use good old-fashioned PR. Getting mentioned in the press is good for your company in many different ways, and one of them is that online publications may include links to your site or your information if your company is mentioned in an article.
WARNING: Whatever you do, don't join a "link farm"—a website consisting only of links whose only goal is to raise rankings. Search companies are liable to punish sites listed in link farms by lowering their rankings instead.
SEO Tips: Finding Search Terms
Words are the cornerstone of an effective SEO strategy, so one of your first tasks is to determine exactly what word or phrase searches bring customers to your site. If your business sells umbrellas and galoshes, do you get the most benefit from searches of "umbrella" or "rain gear?"
1. Think phrase, not word. Search "batik shower curtains" in Google (at press time) and the top result is the site for Saffron Marigold, an online retailer of fair trade, hand-printed linens from India. Searches on various products account for some 60 percent of the company's business, according to Sandip Sarwate, co-founder. "It would be extremely difficult for us to rank with the search terms 'shower curtains," he says. "The key instead is to have 'long tail' terms that are very specific to you."
2. Think buyers, not just browsers. "You should focus on conversions, not just traffic to the site," Sarwate says. He uses Google Analytics reports to break down keywords and phrases by revenue, so he can concentrate on optimizing for words that lead directly to revenues.
3. Look for suggestions. Several online tools, such as the Google Keyword Tool, can help you come up with terms your customers are searching that you may not have thought of. Starting from "rain gear," the tool comes up with hundreds of suggestions, including "nylon rain gear," "golf rain gear," and "breathable rain gear." A quick way to get just a few ideas is to start filling in a search text box and see what your search engine suggests. Typing "rain" into Google elicited the suggestion "rain boots," for instance.
3. Don't forget to ask. Asking customers how they found you and what made them choose you over your competitors should give you come clues to what your most effective search terms will be.
WARNING: Don't get so obsessed with keywords that your page becomes a mass of search terms with just a few other words stringing them together. Your main objective is to appeal to human visitors, so you should limit yourself to a few very effective keywords per page. Remember that each page has a different focus, and each should be optimized accordingly: Optimize for "raincoat" on the raincoats page, "rain boots and galoshes" on the footwear page, etc. Needless to say, trickery such as white-on-white text to fool search engines is a bad idea. It will only serve to get your page downgraded.
Dig Deeper: 9 Places to Put Your Keywords to Increase Density
SEO Tips: Using Search Terms
Once you've done your research, you should wind up with a manageable number of search terms that dependably generate revenue. Use these terms in the titles and headings of your pages. (Titles show up on browser tabs, but don't appear on the page itself, as headings do.) You may be able to gain benefit by varying them. For instance, in our rainwear example above, the title of the page could be "Rain gear and waterproof apparel," while the heading on the page itself might read "Umbrellas, galoshes, rain coats and wet weather clothing."
You may have heard a lot about meta tags and search engines. Meta tags are invisible text incorporated into web pages to describe what the page contains and list relevant keywords. Meta tags are read by "spiders," software applications that search the Web and rank pages for search. Before Google and link analysis, meta tags were an important SEO tool, and unfortunately one that was subject to manipulation. Today, meta tags have lost their luster. You should still use them, but don't expect them to help your search ranking.
SEO Tips: Making the Most of Search Technology
With a good keyword and link strategy in place, you can use some features of search engine technology to help your search rankings.
1. Refresh content often. Search engine spiders return most often to websites that are most frequently updated. This is one reason blogging is a popular activity among small business sites. "Creating a blog is the one thing that definitely changed our search engine presence," says David Lewis, president of OperationsInc, a human resources outsourcing company. The OperationsInc blog is updated daily Monday through Friday, he says, and contains information from a newsletter the company also sends to about 1,500 subscribers.
2. Consider a content management system. Created to support blogging, content management systems are versatile website platforms that can allow you and your staff to add content to your site easily, encouraging the frequent updates that can boost rankings. OperationsInc's website is currently being transferred into Drupal, an open-source content management system.
"Drupal and WordPress are the two most popular content management systems, with Drupal having both a steeper learning curve and more features," Wall says. Either way, he adds, content management systems make it easy to post material and easy for users to comment on posts, all of which can be good for search ranking.
3. Eliminate underused pages. If pages on your site are out of date or generating little interest, remove them, Wall advises. This will help your search ranking, since the number of links or "link equity" you have can be diluted by a large number of pages. "If a page isn't generating any real traffic and no one is linking to it, the content probably isn't useful and you should get rid of it," he says. Not only will this help your ranking, it will also help keep your site relevant and fresh.
SEO Resources
To learn more about SEO:
• Aaron Wall's site SEO Book.com (seobook.com) offers a vast array of articles, tutorials, and tools such as a free tool to determine your site's search engine ranks.
• Google's Webmaster Central SEO, part of (google.com/support/webmasters) offers a lot of information from Google on how to improve search ranking, including a video tutorial, PDF starter guide and discussion forums. Keep in mind, though, that no search company will share too many secrets about how to manipulate its rankings.
For finding your best keywords:
• Wordtracker (wordtracker.com) is a very popular keyword finding tool that costs $59 per month but comes with a free trial.
• A free alternative is Keyword Tracker (digitalpoint.com/tools/keywords)
• And Google also offers its own (google.com/sktool)
• Google provides the Google Keyword Tool to suggest search words (adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal)
Popular content management systems:
• WordPress (wordpress.org)
• Drupal (drupal.org)
• Joomla (joomla.org)


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Intell report says China, Russia stealing US secrets
After years of saying, "We can't prove who's behind the attacks, (cough) China," the U.S. clears its throat.
After years of suspicions and mounting evidence, the United States has formally called out China and Russia on cyber espionage, accusing the countries of stealing U.S. economic and technology secrets. China quickly denied the accusation.
In a report, "Foreign Spies Stealing U.S. Economic Secrets in Cyberspace," the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive also said U.S. allies have used online methods to help themselves to sensitive information, although the report does not name those countries.
"Chinese actors are the world's most active and persistent perpetrators of economic espionage," the report states. It contains a list of significant attacks that have been traced to servers in China, although it does say, "the [intelligence community] cannot confirm who was responsible."
Related coverage:
China puts itself in the cyber crosshairs – what now?
The smoking gun on China's US cyberattacks
Russia also is active in cyber espionage, according to the report, which says that country's "intelligence services are conducting a range of activities to collect economic information and technology from U.S. targets."
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a denial, citing the difficulty of proving the source of online attacks and calling the reports "unprofessional and irresponsible," Reuters reported.
The United States' leadership in technology and economic development makes it a target, and the fact that information is stored and shared electronically creates the vector for online attacks, the report states. "Cyber tools have enhanced the economic espionage threat, and the Intelligence Community judges the use of such tools is already a larger threat than more traditional espionage methods," it says.
At a news conference to release the report, Robert "Bear" Bryant, the national counterintelligence executive, called online spying "a quiet menace to our economy with notably big results," The Washington Post reported. "Trade secrets developed over thousands of working hours by our brightest minds are stolen in a split second and transferred to our competitors."
Those competitors also include U.S. allies and partners, the report says, which have used "their broad access to U.S. institutions to acquire sensitive U.S. economic and technology information, primarily through aggressive elicitation," a reference to social engineering and phishing attacks.
"Other countries with closer ties to the United States have conducted [computer network exploitation] and other forms of intelligence collection to obtain U.S. economic and technology data, often taking advantage of the access they enjoy as allies or partners to collect sensitive military data and information on other programs," the report states.
U.S. officials have long hinted at China's apparently growing involvement in cyber espionage, but until very recently any specific accusations have come from outside the government.
Among some recent high-profile attacks, the report says, VeriSign iDefense accused the Chinese government of being behind a hack into Google's networks; McAfee traced the theft of data from energy companies to an IP address in China; and a number of U.S. companies, particularly those doing business with China, have reported the thefts of sensitive information.
But in the last two weeks, a report to Congress cited China as the probable source of the hack earlier this year of RSA Security, and said 760 companies, government agencies and other organizations may have been hit by the same operation.
And a congressional commission said China may have been behind the hack several years ago of two U.S. Earth observation satellites.
The report also notes several insider thefts of corporate information by people with ties to China.
Attacks against U.S. business and government organizations will continue, as China, Russia and other countries focus on economic growth and the number of IP connections grows, the report concludes, while recommending a list of best practices for U.S. organizations, including improved education, monitoring and data management.


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From everyone here at Peaches'n Clean, "Happy Easter!" Peaches'n Clean is "hoppy" to serve all your post-holiday cleaning needs! For spills, stains, or to simply freshen up your carpet, call Peaches'n Clean to schedule a cleaning appointment tailored to YOUR needs!Read More
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Paragraph on A Good Teacher
Paragraph on A Good Teacher
A good teacher is good person of a country. He |she is a person who teaches the students according to the method. Mr. X is such kind of person. He is an MA in English. He took training on English and also has a B.Ed. degree and another Master degree on Secondary education from IER of Dhaka University with thesis. He tries to teach us methodically.
He believes on transfer of learning. He never influences us to memorise the lesson. He often says that the coaching centre and the school have a vast difference. A school tries to influence the student to know but a coaching centre always influences on memorizing. For this a school is always needed. He is a person of good character. He never tells a lie to us which most other teachers frequently do now. He also believes that a teacher never tells a lie with the students if he or she is really a teacher. So we love him and took him as an ideal character for our future life.


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Transactional emails
Reach inboxes when it matters most
Send system notifications to your contacts with confidence.
What is transactional email?
Transactional emails are one-to-one messages triggered by user actions, like requesting a password or placing an order. They're powerful touchpoints between you and your customers, so we've made it easier to make the most of them.
Send in seconds
Fast delivery of your time-sensitive notifications.
Get personal
Use conditional content and custom code to personalize your messages.
Onboard quickly
Follow our Quick Start Guide and learn to deploy and deliver like a pro.
Deliver with confidence
We've got 20+ years of email experience—and the tools to help you send at scale.
Put Transactional to the test
Try the free* demo to see how Mailchimp Transactional can work for your business—before committing to a plan. With our quick setup, sending your first email is easy.
Fast delivery, straight to the inbox
We'll get you to inboxes quickly, help you avoid spam folders, and give you flexibility to set your own rules with custom settings.
Track analytics that scale with your business
Optimize your emails by using automated tags, webhooks, and A/B testing. Then, evaluate and download reports easily from your Transactional dashboard.
Customize your settings from start to send
Stay on-brand
Build emails from scratch or seamlessly import your Mailchimp templates.See guides
Manage inbound email
Respond to emails with an action, like sending an RSVP or updating a to-do list.Learn more
Send from anywhere
Send from multiple domains or subdomains, all from one account.Explore directory
Get world‑class support
Get in touch with our award-winning Support team for troubleshooting.
Discover what Transactional can deliver
Send personalized, one-to-one messages with speed and reliability.
What is a Mailchimp transactional email?
Mailchimp transactional email is a delivery API, or application programming interface, that can deliver transactional emails to customers without you overseeing the process.
Transactional emails, also known as "triggered emails," are one-to-one messages sent when a specific action occurs or a request is made from the contact. For example, a customer may receive a transactional email with their order information after a purchase is complete. Other examples of transactional emails include account updates, password reminders, and notifications or alerts.
Compared to bulk marketing messages, transactional emails are only sent to one individual at a time rather than a group of people. Typically, these emails are time-sensitive and require you to deliver messages quickly. With our transactional email service, you can automatically send messages to the recipient's email server in 1.79 seconds.
When you send a transactional email with Mailchimp, you can ensure customers receive the information they need in a timely manner. Not only do transactional emails have the power to boost customer satisfaction, but they can also increase loyalty and engagement since they're capable of being personalized. Remember, every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to solidify your relationship with them.
Why use Mailchimp for transactional emails?
Our transactional email service allows you to reach customers quickly, ensuring they don't have to wait long for relevant information to reach their inbox. You'll also have access to email templates and our email builder to keep your transactional emails on brand. In addition to transactional email tools, our comprehensive marketing platform can help you stay on top of analytics, allowing you to test and refine your campaigns.
The best part is that you can try our transactional email software for free before committing to it. This way, you can see if this type of email is right for your business needs. Plus, new users can take advantage of the transactional email demo and send up to 500 transactional emails.
How to make a transactional email with Mailchimp?
Making a transactional email is easy with Mailchimp. Here's how to get started:
- Ensure you have a Standard or higher monthly plan.
- Find the Automations tab and click Transactional Email.
- Click Pick a Plan and select the package you want.
- If you need more than 3 blocks for transactional emails, you can enter a custom amount.
- Indicate what you want to have happen if you run low on emails.
Once you finalize your selections, you'll need to generate your API key to authenticate your request. You must also add a sending domain and configure your DNS. You can then begin sending transactional emails via the Transactional API or with SMTP integration. Mailchimp Transactional offers a delivery API that's highly customizable, providing you the necessary tools to analyze, optimize, and track your sends.
If this sounds confusing, don't worry. When you use Mailchimp for transactional email templates and tools, you'll have access to our award-winning support team. Our Mailchimp Support team can assist with troubleshooting transactional email services and provide guidance on next steps.


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« Did Natalie Portman Misrepresent Herself To Win Her Oscar? | Main | NATO: Fine, We'll Take This Libya Thing »
March 27, 2011
Gates: Libya Isn't In Our National Interest, Clinton: Yes it Is
On NBC's "Meet the Press," Gates was asked, "Is Libya in our vital interest as a country?" He answered, "No, I don't think it's a vital interest for the U.S., but we clearly have interests there, and it's a part of the region which is a vital interest for the U.S." Gates' statement wasn't an entirely convincing rationale for a major military commitment, and moderator David Gregory responded by saying, "I think a lot of people would hear that and say well, that's quite striking -- not in our vital interests and yet we're committing military resources."
We have to go to war when France and Italy's vital interests (aka Libyan Oil) are at stake? Really, that's the story Hillary is sticking with? No War for Europe's Oil!
The amazing thing is we've been engaged in
Breaking news update....I've just been informed we do have "A President". Here's the current holder of the office.
President Empty Suit*
As for Clinton's idea that it's in our vital national interest to stand behind our allies when they decide to go adventuring...um, no. The reason they went to Afghanistan is because they were pretty much bound to by a little thing we like to call the North Atlantic Treaty which declared an attack on one was an attack on all. We don't owe them a solid for living up to their sworn obligations. If we're keeping score, I'd say even factoring in Euro 'help' in Afghanistan, the whole, "thanks for saving us from the Nazis and keeping the Soviets in check for 40 plus years" account isn't quite even yet. But who is keeping score?
Oh and Hillary would like the world, especially Bahir Assad, to know this Libya thing is a one off and we're not going to get involved in Syria. So you know...take care of business, we're not going to say or do anything.
Arguing that Qaddafi's longstanding history of brutality distinguished itself from the regime of Syrian President Bashir Assad, Clinton said Syrian circumstances had not aligned in a fashion to suggest that the U.S. would undertake military operations there.
I'm not advocating going into Syria (that's a job for Joe Lieberman) but Assad isn't as bad as Kadaffi? Really? I don't think the US Secretary of State should be laying out a road map for a dictator like Assad to follow to keep the killings under some threshold for concern. There's a little thing called "strategic ambiguity", it can be helpful to keep the bad guys guessing what might set you off. But no, Hills just said "have it at Doc!".
If this is Smart Power(tm), I think I would like some old timey Stupid Power about now.
One other thing, some guy over at the New Republic is pretty bummed that Obama hasn't gotten a bump in the polls out of his Libyan, er, thing. (safe link to the Daily Caller). You'll never guess whose fault that is.
A week into American and allied action in Libya, one political result is already clear: Barack Obama has not benefited in the polls. If anything, Obamas Gallup approval numbers are actually down a few points since American involvement in Libya began.
As Mickey Kaus points out at the link maybe it's not the criticism of the policy (which has been pretty mild and there's been a lot of GOP support) but the policy itself. But it can't be that! Obama is awesome and France and the UN said ok! It must be those evil, anti-war Republicans who won't get on board with this awesome new war.
I'd go back to the empty suit nature of this presidency. Obama launched a war and then went to South America for 5 days. Since returning he hasn't been seen in public except on Friday to celebrate Greek Independence Day. President's get support because they lead and ask for it. Obama has hidden first behind military leaders (Admiral Mullen was the only figure on the talk shows last week) and now Clinton and Gates (who can't get their stories straight). Obama will be MIA for about 10 days before we hear from him tomorrow night. I think people would like to support him but he's got to tell us what the hell we're supposed to be supporting first.
*Courtesy of the man, the myth, the legend...Slublog.
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[prMac.com] Irvine, California – An esteemed panel of judges from across the country has voted Finestra Art's, Smooth White Metallic Pearl Photo Paper as the best product in the "Glossy Paper" category of the Hot One Awards. This award was given to the 13″x19″, 25 sheet package but extends to all the different sizes of Smooth White Metallic Pearl in Finestra Art's product lineup.
The 2013 Hot One Award Winners will be featured in the August issue of Professional Photographer Magazine. Information on the awards will also be available on the PPMAG website. The Hot One Awards are given by Professional Photographer Magazine, the official magazine of the Professional Photographer's of America. The 2013 awards represent the 14th year the awards have been given and the first time newcomer Finestra Art has entered.
"We couldn't be happier to win the glossy paper category our first time entering. The Hot One's are the premiere awards for everything photography related. The competition in our category came from companies that have been producing products much longer than we have. It just goes to show how much effort we put into our products. We make sure our products are the best they can be, providing photographers with stunning vibrancy, color rendition and display life. In our case, being the new guys on the block and winning before our 2 year anniversary means we're doing something right." said Bryan Linden, Director of Product Development.
"I'm thrilled Finestra Art received this recognition! I've been using their products since they've been offered, and so have many in our user group. We love Finestra's products and service. I love seeing my artwork jump off the page with Finestra's Pearl Metallic." said Stephen Burns, President – San Diego Photoshop Users Group; Adobe Community Professional; Digital Instructor
"How cool is this win! The Finestra Art team really has it going on. I love seeing my images on their metallic papers. Congratulations, Finestra Art!" said Colin Smith, Founder – PhotoshopCafe; Digital Artist/Photographer/Lecturer/Author; (3x )Photoshop GURU Award Winner
Finestra Art offers Smooth White Metallic Pearl in 4″x6″, 5″x7″, 8″x10″, 8.5″x11″, 11″x14″, 11″x17″, and 17″, 24″, 36″ 44″ and 50″ roll sizes as it does for all of its inkjet products. Not entered this year, but shipping now and ready for next year's awards, is Finestra Art's Silver, Gold, and Gold Rapid Dry metallic offerings. Finestra Art also produces fantastic Luster, Pearl, Smooth Art, Matte Canvas, Satin Canvas, and a full line of coating products.
All Finestra Art products are compatible with Pigment and Dye based inkjet printers. Although newer to the market, the parent company has more than 25 years of serving customers' needs and all inkjet media products are backed by a love it or return it guarantee. Finestra Art is regularly lauded by its customers for their stellar customer service and product support.
Finestra Art's products can be purchased from: FinestraArt.com, Amazon and most recently Rakuten, which was formerly Buy. Interested dealers should contact Bryan Linden online.Finestra Art
Hot One Awards
Finestra Art Products
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Finestra Art, an emerging leader in the inkjet media industry founded in 2012, is a wholly owned division of H.Co. Computer Products, Inc. a computer electronics company that has been an industry leader since its inception in 1987. Finestra Art's wide range of media types: Resin Coated Papers, Fine Art Papers, Metallic Papers, and Canvas products meet or exceed other products in the market and are backed by the same great service and support that has made H.Co. A leader since 1987. A complete line of cut sheet product in computer industry standard sizes, photo industry standard sizes and a large selection of roll products is available now. The new Finestra Art division will continue to produce media and other products that can benefit today's busy photographer and graphic artist. To reach Finestra Art for products and additional information, visit Finestra Art online. Copyright (C) 2013 Finestra Art. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
###Bryan Linden
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Man gets prison after U.S. postal inspectors intercept package of cocaine
When Joed A. Negron-Sanchez grabbed the package from what he thought was a letter carrier, he figured his cocaine had finally arrived.
But the letter carrier was an undercover postal agent, and Negron-Sanchez was arrested on a charge of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, according to court records.
On Wednesday, Judge Bradford H. Charles sentenced Negron-Sanchez, 39, of 547 N. 10th St., Lebanon, to state prison for 45 months to nine years and ordered him to pay a $100 fine.
On March 28, 2013, U.S. postal inspectors intercepted a package addressed to a woman at 516 Sarah St. in Lebanon, according to court records. The package had been sent from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. A drug dog alerted on the package, and postal authorities obtained a search warrant. They found nine ounces of cocaine inside the package.
Postal officials, state police and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force went to the Sarah Street home, delivered the package and arrested Negron-Sanchez.
Negron-Sancheck pleaded guilty May 19. His plea agreement called for the 45-month minimum state prison sentence.


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Exploring West Orange County and the wonderful natural, ecological, historical, and agricultural assets in our own backyards has just been made easier by a partnership fostered by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation (WGHF), the West Orange Chamber, Observer Media, Windermere, Oakland, Ocoee, Winter Garden and Orange County Government. Maximizing their designation as a Visit Florida Certified Visitor Information Center, the WGHF brought us all together to create a tourism brochure called "Explore Orlando's West Side – West Orange County".
We all wanted one colorful, comprehensive brochure that showcased the places that staycationers and vacationers should visit to see the real Florida. Visitors to our west side will be amazed by the diversity of our attractions from historic buildings, to wildlife at a nature preserve, to museums showing the rich history of our communities, to our lakes, cycling and walking trails, and even an old train caboose.
These attractions will bring tourists and their dollars to our communities after they have visited Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Orlando Resorts. We all benefit from the marketing campaigns of Visit Orlando and specifically, Visit Florida's marketing campaign to have vacationers stay one extra day. One extra day brings millions of dollars to our region and state and we know West Orange County has the unique places to visit in that one extra day and appreciate the tourism dollars for our businesses and attractions.
This brochure will be available at the Florida Welcome Center at I-95 as motorists enter our state, local hotels, the Chamber, and municipal and WGHF offices.


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Niger Delta can be developed like Dubai – Minister
Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Mr Usani Uguru Usani, has urged investors and other stakeholders to support the government to initiate infrastructure projects for speedy development of the region to make it like ' Dubai '.
Usani said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari had reiterated its commitment to build a 'new Niger Delta region'.
According to him, the administration is poised to do all that is necessary to build a regional economy that will be virile and an infrastructure base that will be above average.
"Such is the compelling power of a noble purpose that propels us to attain the dreams and aspirations of the region's destiny, commensurate with her endowment and the demands for qualitative development,'' he said.
According to him, the ministry has developed a veritable model in developing the Niger Delta region.
"It is neither a replacement nor an alternative to the Niger Delta Action Plan or the Niger Delta Master Plan, rather it is a vehicle through which the Action and Master plan of the region will be driven by this administration.
"Its objectives are to provide a common framework for implementing concerted development efforts in the region.
"It is also to provide a joint accountability framework for monitoring and evaluating development projects in the region.''
"It is also to provide a unified strategic response based on a shared vision for development action by the agencies driving development in the region,'' the minister said.
Usani said the strategic plan would focus on 13-development strategic objectives for the region as contained in the "20-Point Agenda" of government.
He added that the agenda was in alignment and specific development demands made by the Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) in its 16-Point Agenda for the region.
The minister noted that an Inter-Ministerial Working Group would meet quarterly to review progress across the 13-target areas, as well as appraise performances.
He also said that all projects would be actively mapped and tracked, with a clear space for public involvement to improve accountability.
"The working group in-conjunction with the Office of the Vice-President shall assign tasks to ensure speedy implementation and weekly updates of activities.
"Communication plans to support implementation of the plan and facilitate information dissemination regarding status of implementation are also in place.
"Project Monitoring Mechanisms and monthly or quarterly visits to the region have also been arranged,'' he said.
The minister, however, added that looters, who have contributed in depriving the region of sustainable development over the years, should be made to return the loots.
NAN recalls that the minister had on Aug. 3, presented a draft of the Niger Delta Strategic Implementation Work Plan to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo. (NAN)


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Schneider Electric appointed Laurent Vernerey as president and CEO of its North America operations. Vernerey has been with Schneider for 28 years and worked his way up from plant manager to lead the company's $8 billion North American line of business. Schneider has more than 150,000 employees and had sales of $31 billion in 2013.
KACO New Energy, a PV inverter manufacturer, named Jurgen Krehnke, previously president and GM of SMA America, as its new CEO for the Americas. Krehnke is currently a board member with the Solar Electric Power Association. KACO is hiring in its San Antonio, Texas offices to support the 400-megawatt OCI/CPS project.
Vivint Solar, one of the largest U.S. residential solar providers, named Dwain Kinghorn as its Chief Strategy and Innovations Officer. Kinghorn joins Vivint Solar from SageCreek Partners. Prior to that, Kinghorn was CTO at Altiris.
OneRoof Energy, a solar services provider, named Valerie Iwinski as SVP of Operations. Most recently, she served as VP and GM at Express Scripts. Prior to that, Iwinski managed multiple business functions at American Express, including merchant and fraud services and customer call centers. OneRoof recently completed a transaction that resulted in the firm being listed as a public company on the Toronto Exchange.
Eric Hafter and Todd Lindstrom announced the founding of Enable Energy, "a technology, product development and business strategy consulting firm" that will seek to accelerate the deployment of solar PV and thermal technologies, energy-efficient lighting and energy storage. The company plans to announce a new commercial flat-roof racking system later this spring.
Misty Benham is now VP of Sales for North America at Norwegian Crystals, a maker of monocrystalline silicon. Benham previously helmed business development at REC Americas.
Greensmith has named Andrew Tang, formerly of AutoGrid, as SVP of Business Development at the energy storage management firm.
Dr. Mohan Narayanan, formerly the VP of technology at Hanwha SolarOne, is now Head of Strategic Marketing and Global Customer Quality Service at JA Solar.
Hanwha SolarOne, a manufacturer of solar modules, announced that its Chairman and CEO Ki-Joon Hong has retired from the firm. No reason was provided for the departure. A replacement is expected to be named by the end of April, according to a release.
Andalay Solar named Steven Chan as CEO and President. Chan has held positions at NRG Energy, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and Suntech Power. He served as the Vice President of NRG Energy, overseeing residential solar for the company's NRG Residential Solar Solutions business.
Comverge, a supplier of demand response software for residential and C&I customers, named Gregory Dukat as Chairman, President and CEO. Dukat was most recently Chairman and CEO of Campus Management, a provider of software to higher education institutions. Dukat's appointment follows Blake Young's resignation as President and CEO. Comverge was acquired in 2012 by H.I.G. Capital.


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Ideas conflict on redevelopment of Northridge buildings
Last fall, Department of City Development officials recommended a plan to convert empty and underused stores near Milwaukee's former Northridge Mall into light industrial buildings.
However, the area's newly elected alderwoman, Chantia Lewis, has a different idea.
She says the city should instead focus on attracting supermarkets, other stores, restaurants and family entertainment businesses, such as a movie theater and a bowling alley, to the large commercial area centered at W. Brown Deer Road and N. 76th St.
As a result, one plan to buy and convert a big box store into light industrial space has been dropped — with that developer instead buying a building in Brown Deer. A similar proposal, involving the purchase and redevelopment of a former Target store, is apparently on hold.
Lewis, who succeeded Ald. Robert Puente in April, said neighborhood residents want more retail businesses.
Lewis said her aldermanic district already has a lot of light industrial buildings that are used by both manufacturers and wholesale distributors.
By adding more light industrial space, Lewis said, 'we might be forgetting the residents who live there.'
Her successful election campaign, which resulted in this year's only defeat for an incumbent Common Council member, included calls to restore retail businesses in the Northridge area.
In one campaign video, shot in the parking lot of the former Target, Lewis said she decided to run for council because she was 'fed up that our businesses are leaving the area.'
In another video, she asks viewers to imagine the area 'bursting at the seams with community- and family-oriented businesses: popular retail stores, a variety of grocery stores providing healthy food options, restaurants and entertainment options.'
Those entertainment businesses could include skating rinks, bowling alleys and movie theaters, Lewis said in the video.
In an interview, Lewis said those businesses are needed in part because the area has a lot of families with young children.
Another priority is more supermarkets.
Lewis said part of her aldermanic district is a 'food desert,' with the 2014 closing of a Pick 'n Save supermarket, 8120 W. Brown Deer Road, and upcoming closings of Sam's Club at N. 76th and W. Calumet streets and Aldi discount grocery at 8080 W. Brown Deer Road.
Reversing that trend is 'more important to me than manufacturing or industrial,' she said.
A focus on converting some of the Northridge area's empty retail buildings into light industrial space is part of a proposed area development plan unveiled last November by the Department of City Development.
That proposed plan, a guide for future land use decisions, will need Common Council approval.
The plan, based in part on studies by two consulting firms, S.B. Friedman & Co. and Graef USA, notes the steep decline in retail jobs on Milwaukee's far northwest side over the past several years.
Northridge's last remaining store shut its doors in 2003.
Nearby chain store closings since then include Dunham's Sports, Value City Furniture, Big Lots, Best Buy, Circuit City, Stein Mart, A.J. Wright, Kids 'R' Us, Office Depot and Toys 'R' Us. There also have been chain restaurant closings, as well as the Marcus Theatres Corp.'s 2012 shuttering of Northtown Cinema.
The Northridge area faces increased competition from new and expanding shopping destinations, including Whitestone Station in Menomonee Falls and Bayshore Town Center in Glendale.
Also, the apartment buildings near Northridge saw an influx during the 1980s of lower-income residents, who took the place of middle-income people with more spending power.
Finally, the mall was hurt by not being located near a freeway interchange — unlike Southridge, Mayfair, Bayshore Town Center and Brookfield Square — and by fears of crime, both real and perceived.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood's light industrial areas, such as Bradley Woods Business Park, continue to attract new investment.
Despite those trends, Lewis said it's important to try to draw more stores, restaurants and entertainment businesses.
'If you actively pursue something that doesn't happen, OK,' she said. 'But you've tried.'
However, officials from the Granville Business Improvement District, which represents the area's business operators, aren't convinced that a bigger focus on retail is a good idea.
'Up here, retail really struggles,' said Kristie Goben, president of the Greater Milwaukee Auto Auction and a member of the business improvement district board. 'Our only chance is light industrial.'
The district will work with Lewis on plans to redevelop the area, said Mary Hoehne, executive director.
But, she added, 'Retail continues to leave, and manufacturing continues to increase.'
Some retail-to-industrial conversions have already happened.
The former Walmart discount store at 8700 N. Servite Drive, near the southwest corner of W. Brown Deer Road and N. 76th St., is now the headquarters for ETE Reman Inc., which rebuilds automotive transmissions. It was sold as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opened a supermarket and discount store in neighboring Brown Deer, at 6300 W. Brown Deer Road.
Also, the former American TV & Appliance store, 6700 W. Brown Deer Road, was recently converted into a facility for chemical packager and distributor Pak Technologies Inc.
Meanwhile, MCR Group LLC's plan to convert the Sam's Club building, 7701 W. Calumet Road, into light industrial space was approved by the Milwaukee Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee on April 12. MCR, led by Matthew Ryan, wanted to buy the building from an affiliate of Walmart, which opened a Sam's Club discount store there in 1991. That store will close after a new Sam's Club opens this summer at W. Bradley Road and N. 124th St.
MCR was getting interest from prospective tenants, including two printing companies.
But Lewis, after winning the April 5 election with 53% of the vote, spoke with her future council colleagues about the Sam's Club proposal.
Lewis said neighborhood residents 'weren't excited' about Ryan's plans, which her predecessor supported. The council voted 14-0 on April 15 to send the proposal back to the zoning committee. Lewis took office four days later.
On April 28, a group led by Ryan, 51st Industrial LLC, bought an industrial building, at 9009 N. 51st St., Brown Deer, from Jason Inc. for $3.1 million, according to state real estate records. Meanwhile, the Common Council voted Tuesday to drop the Sam's Club rezoning proposal because it was no longer needed.
Ryan didn't respond to requests for more information. But John Kuhn, a real estate broker hired by Walmart to sell or lease the Sam's Club building, confirmed that Ryan dropped his plans to buy the property.
Lewis said she is not 'vehemently opposed' to converting the Sam's Club property to light industrial space. But she first wants an effort to put the building back into either retail or entertainment use.
'That's what the residents are really hoping to get,' she said.
Kuhn, of Cushman & Wakefield/Boerke Co., said he would welcome that outcome. But, he said, it will be difficult to find such tenants for a 138,000-square-foot building.
'I think we all agree we do not want another empty building on the northwest side,' Kuhn said.
The similarly sized former Target store, 8501 W. Brown Deer Road, has attracted the interest of General Capital Group, which wants to convert it into light industrial space, according to sources. But that possible sale is on hold because Lewis wants the property considered for retail use, those sources said.
General Capital owner Michael Weiss declined to comment, and Target's broker, Matt Friday of CBRE Inc.'s Minneapolis office, couldn't be reached for comment.
Lewis declined to comment, other than to say, 'We're working on something.'
The area's biggest question mark is the future of the former Northridge Mall. Most of the former mall and its parking lots are owned by U.S. Black Spruce Enterprise Group Inc., a group of Chinese investors.
Black Spruce wants to convert the former mall, with nearly 900,000 square feet, into a trade mart for Asian businesses to sell furniture, toys and other items to North American companies. But city officials, including Mayor Tom Barrett, say there's been no progress in that effort.
Penzeys Spices owner William Penzey, who owns the mall's former Boston Store building and that building's parking lot, hasn't given up on his attempt to buy the rest of the former Northridge and convert it into his growing company's headquarters.
Lewis said she doesn't have a position on Black Spruce's plans, saying she has questions for the former mall's owners. And she has encouraged Penzey to present his plans to neighborhood residents.
'I'd leave it up to the residents to determine whether they like (Penzey's) plan,' Lewis said.
Penzey said Lewis is intelligent and energetic. And he understands the lure of restoring the former mall with stores, restaurants and entertainment uses.
But Penzey also said he doubts there's enough market demand for such businesses at the former mall. And he believes Penzeys Spices' move to Northridge 'could have a powerful impact on the neighborhood.'
City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux said the proposed plan to convert some buildings into light industrial space included provisions for concentrating retail use into certain locations in the Northridge area.
Those two uses can be compatible within the area, he said. The department is seeking additional comments on its proposed plan before submitting it to the Common Council for its review, Marcoux said.
Some of the area's business operators, however, remain concerned about focusing too much on retail development.
'I love (Lewis') dream. I wish it could happen,' said Goben. 'I just don't know if it's realistic.'
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