text:
For the average privacy-minded person, it's chilling enough to think of the vast hordes of personal information that are tucked away in obscure government databases.
Now a government monitoring agency is drawing attention to what it believes may be a bigger concern: the privacy dilemmas that ensue when databases are mixed together.
In a report called Record Linkage and Privacy, the General Accounting Office posits that the ability of government research teams to ever more efficiently combine and cross-reference records from different agencies poses considerable privacy risks.
As techniques for mining data grow increasingly sophisticated, GAO officials believe there's an increased likelihood that information that was meant to be anonymous may be matched to particular individuals.
"This is a phenomenon that the increasing power of computers has permitted to begin to occur," said Nancy Kingsbury, GAO managing director of applied research and methods.
Combining databases often helps government agencies avoid wasting money by duplicating each other's research, said Michael Overly, an online privacy attorney with Foley & Lardner. Linking could also theoretically make life easier for U.S. citizens trying to call up records on themselves, since information would be stored in more centralized locations.
But although it would be more convenient to have records in the same place, the practice poses some worrisome considerations. Certainly the thought of having myriad government records lumped together in a few giant databases isn't a comforting image.
"There's a lot of data out there that people would really be surprised to know isn't protected by any specific privacy legislation," said Overly, who advises against setting up new linking projects before crafting privacy policies.
The reasoning behind such a suggestion, echoed by the GAO, is that new software programs have made it increasingly easy for "data snoopers" to re-identify unnamed subjects of research projects.
If, for example, one knows the age, ethnicity, gender, zip code, address, marital status and profession of an unnamed person, it's sometimes possible to figure out their true identity.
While most large sets of publicly available data, like the Census or a labor department survey, are scrubbed of personally identifiable data, the GAO's Kingsbury said, few agencies have standards that dictate in what ways their findings can be combined without research.
"It's when their statistics are linked to other statistics from the public or the private sector that the potential for re-identification arises," Kingsbury said.
The practice at the heart of the GAO investigation – record-linking – isn't a new activity for users of government data. Researchers in both the government and the private sector have traditionally incorporated publicly available records – be it census reports or polling data – into new projects to save time or produce more accurate results.
At the federal government level, the uses of record-linking run the gamut from research on health care to maintenance of address changes of U.S. residents.
In one project cited in the report, researchers combined records on individuals' health care plans and instances of cancer. By combining the data, they were able to determine whether people with a particular type of insurance plan (say, an HMO) were more or less likely to have their cancer detected at an early stage.
In another project, data from personnel records that identify workers exposed to Agent Orange were linked to death records to determine whether each worker has died, and if so, the date and cause of death.
In yet another, the IRS combined tax return records from two different years to see if people had changed their addresses.
The GAO believes it makes sense for agencies that conduct surveys to inform participants that data they submit may be linked with other records, and get their consent. It also sees a need for agencies to develop standards for secure transfer of data, including stripping records of items that would make it easy to identify the subject involved.


text:
What seems second nature to designers isn't all that intuitive for clients when it comes to creating the right type of content for a brochure, website or something as simple as a logo.
We refer to "content overload" as "Kitchen Sink Design."
Here's the scenario, a client comes in and is ecstatic about their rebranding ranging from their logo to a new website, brochure, the whole nine. When we discuss the project scope and what we're looking for in terms of content (this is before the design process actually starts) more often than not we find the client wants to tell their entire business' history, the fine details about every product etc. all encapsulated online or within the confines of their printed material. That's all well and good if they are the only ones reading it but the reality of it is they won't be. The goal with content writing is to captivate your audience not bore them.
This mindset is similar to when I was a kid and my parents invited the neighbors over to watch our 8 mm family movies — I just get shivers thinking about that. It's cute for about a minute but 2 hours later, you find that your audience's eyes have either rolled to the back of their head or they've hit their forehead on the table in front of them because they fell asleep. You don't want this to happen with your business materials.
The biggest favor you can do for your clients is sell them on the idea of having someone else write the content for them, this solves a few problems. It will allow your firm to obtain the content a lot quicker, the content will be structured, streamlined and professionally written, your client has to do very little and for the design firm, and it can cut their project management time in half. Nine times out of ten we've found waiting for content from a client will hold a project up the longest — what should have been a 4 week project ended up being an 8 month project. By introducing a copywriter into the equation, this will alleviate everyone's burden and will free-up valuable time. Yes it costs more but what is your time worth and more importantly what is your client's time worth? To be continued. . . (part 1 of 2)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I have been told by my good friend C M Reddy to forget about Innovation, Entropy and all the blah blah and concentrate on writing stories - he said this after reading my story Ambition
Well, I will definitely think about it.
Meanwhile I am posting the second story from the book Bhelpuri Thoughts (The book is still being written by the way :))
MURDER (Story written in 1994-95)
This story is not real. But the characters did exist in the real world. I am going to talk about three persons – all three came in my life at some point of time or other but were not linked in any manner with each other. Yet my mind always links them together.
First character is a girl. She used to serve us tea in a shabby shed near out hostel. Actually there were many sheds in a row parallel to the road. The road led to the main market. These sheds have cropped up on the road over the years because of the need of the hostel students to have some meeting place. In each shed a middle-aged person used to make tea and his or her children used to serve it. We used to go to those sheds. The girl's shed was in the middle. She was very fair – her face was full but she never smiled. Her forehead had vertical lines – the lines were in the area between the two eyebrows – those lines were always there, indicating continuous tension. She looked permanently tensed. Her feet were large. By continuous work and walking around throughout the day near the dirty sheds her feet were broken at various places – yes broken – they were torn – her age would not be more than eighteen yet she looked more mature. She always wore a very light colored suit that was always very neat and clean. We students regularly went to those sheds, sit there, take our tea, read the local newspaper – talk among ourselves and come back to our hostel. We never really gave any importance to the girl. She was there but for us her existence was immaterial. I don't know her name but we will call her Rani for our story.
The second character is Inspector Loha Singh, a six-footer, with jet-black moustache and with a head built like a battle tank. Hairs on his head were small and were always standing up like the thorns of a porcupine. The thorns were always shining as he kept them well drenched in the barrels of mustard oil. He always carried an iron rod. It was rumored that he was very strict. His name was Loha Singh as he was known to beat the criminals or who so ever is considered a criminal with the iron rod. It was rumored that he had killed many people in the lock up but because of his political connections no action more than his transfer to another police station was ever taken against him. He was the most corrupt police inspector one can think of, the whole city was in awe of him - some liked him, many didn't. We students, had heard about him – he never really mattered for us – we knew that he existed but he was immaterial or us.
The third person is the most interesting one. He was black, very thin and mad - completely. Hairs on his head were small. His madness was almost harmless. During the winter season he used to roam around the roads without his clothes. On any bone–chilling morning he could be seen jumping only quirkiness was that he would always be without any clothes. We always passed him without giving much attention. During summer days, of course, he would be wearing a warm three-piece suit with a matching black tie. It was unbelievable. Some times we discussed amongst ourselves that may be his mind has lost the sense of season – and it believes winter is summer and summer is winter. These discussions invariably were limited till we pass him; afterwards we never discussed him. His name will be Kalu for our story. While going to the tea-stalls where Rani's tea stall was also there, we would always meet Kalu – either while standing at a place and brooding over God knows what; or running to and fro between two points.
It was a summer evening; the state elections were to take place within few days. We were sitting in Rani's tea stall. Evening was very beautiful. Everywhere election candidates were the hot topics. Every one was discussing the possible voting pattern. We were also sitting and in between the tea sips we were talking about that Gopi Gajanand will win the elections. He had good support and it was clear that his opposite candidate would have very difficult time. Radio at the Rani's tea stall was singing some old Hindi film songs. Suddenly a police jeep came and stopped, four constables armed with rifles got down from it. Then Loha Singh got down. He came out very fast. His huge body came up to Rani's father who was putting tea in the glasses and he slapped Rani's father, "Where is that Bastard?" "Tell me, You Dog's Son, now you will know the meaning of supporting a terrorist". We were stunned. We didn't know that had happened. I went up to Loha Singh & asked what has happened. Loha Singh "you don't come in this; this is not your business". His son in law has killed Gopi Gajanand Sahib today and he is hiding him. Rani's father was shocked and pained, folding his hands and with tears in his eyes he said "No Sahib, I don't know. My son in law can't do this – I don't know what you are talking about – Sahib". Loha Singh slapped him once more "Today, your son in law threw a country made bomb on Gopi Gajanand's rally and he was killed and I know who has given you money to do this you bastard". Loha Singh slapped him twice. Rani's father fell and his face hit the corner of the wooden bench – blood started pouring out and he lost some more of his remaining teeth as well. Loha Singh pulled him up by holding his hair and asked "tell me you bastard where is he or you will be killed" and he hit Rani's father with the iron rod in his hand. The strike was very powerful and definitely some bone of his arm must have broken with the hit. He fainted.
Suddenly Rani came running and threw herself on Loha Singh" and shouted" you pig, you dog why are you doing this to us. "She leapt up to Loha Singh face and clawed his face with her nails". We were stunned the peaceful face of Rani was contorted into bitter rage as she scratched Loha Singh's face. Loha Singh threw her down " and barked" you bitch, what do you think, you will be saved – you are bastards and will remain bastards only – you bitch " Loha Singh slapped her once more and then said to the people around, " This girl's husband has killed Gopi Gajanand today – and I am going to take all of his family into custody. They are terrorists; they should be treated like dogs – yes like dogs "…". He could not complete the sentence. Rani had suddenly sprung up and with a roar of a lioness she plunged two iron rods lying nearby into Loha Singh's enormous stomach. Blood erupted out of his uniform. His face was shocked and we all were stunned by what has happened – Rani didn't stopped at that, like a cat she poured the kerosene from the kerosene jar and lighted Loha Singh – Loha Singh started burning – his enormous frame was burning – and she was shouting, crying and laughing simultaneously. Suddenly two more police jeeps came and sent us onlookers back to our houses.
Later, we heard that Rani's, her father and her husband were arrested and will be charged with murder.
After many weeks we went back to the tea stall. We talked amongst ourselves and I don't know why I asked the tea stall owner "where is Kalu these days what has happened to him". He said "you don't know Babu; He was arrested by the police". I was surprised and asked him "on what charges could a mad man be arrested" He said for killing the party candidate. I said killing the party candidate. I said what do you mean - Rani's husband killed Gopi Gajanand. He very calmly said "yes, Kalu is Rani's Husband, babu".


text: The Fairhaven Tennis Association Junior Tennis Program held its first junior tournament of the season on June 3. There was a yellow-ball tournament and a green-dot tournament. In the yellow-ball competition, Adam Powers and Andrew Smith tied for first place. Isaac Petruski came in third place, and Ashton Perry and Jake Ozcan tied for fourth place. In the green-dot competition, Kaydin Pinto and Kole Pinto tied for first place, Adin Munroe came in third place, and Sabrina Zheng and Elizabeth DaCunha came in tied at fourth place.


text:
Equipment suited for the tilting glass effortlessly and safely in applications type horizontal numerical controls, evacuation of glass cutting tables, working out of camera lines with stamping in horizontal, etc. It adds the functionality of the tire rotation 90° to facilitate the work of the operator.
Light and compact equipment with reduced dimensions for working in the workshop. Ideal for handling in glass processing inputs and outputs in where only vertical movements are required. It only needs pneumatic supply thanks to vacuum generation through the Venturi system and movements executed by pneumatic devices. There are two watches available for measuring pressure and vacuum level and an alarm.


text:
|This article is about a/an set of rangers in Power Rangers Ninja Storm.
The Thunder Rangers are a duo (Crimson and Navy) of Ninja Power Rangers originating from the Thunder Ninja Academy. They were, at first, convinced by Lothor that the Wind Rangers were the enemy. However, when they learned the truth, they joined with the Wind Rangers and Green Samurai Ranger as the Ninja Rangers.
|Crimson Thunder Ranger
|Hunter Bradley
|Adam Tuominen
|Navy Thunder Ranger
|Blake Bradley
|Jorgito Vargas Jr.
Team History
Hunter and Blake were trained and raised by Sensei Omino at the Thunder Ninja academy. They were young boys whose adoptive parents were murdered. They were captured by Lothor and Lothor lied to Blake and Hunter about their parents' deaths in order to gain their allegiance. The Thunder Ninjas soon believed the Wind Ninjas are responsible for their adoptive parents' death. The brothers worked in conjunction with Lothor in order to destroy the Wind Rangers and their sensei whom they believed to be their parents' murderer. Before they were about to destroy Sensei Watanabe, their parents appeared in the Cavern of Lost Ninjas and told the brothers the truth about their deaths and who was truly responsible. After realizing the truth, the brothers departed in order to clear their heads and seek revenge on Lothor. Unfortunately, the feat proved to be too much for the two Thunder Ninjas alone and after falling into a trap set up by Choobo. The Thunder Ninjas believed the Wind Rangers were their enemies once again. Tori, Dustin, and Shane manage to help break the grip Choobo has on the Thunder Rangers and finally, the brothers realize that they must team up with the Wind Rangers in order to form a stronger team to defeat Lothor's forces.
Dino Thunder
Legacy of Power
The Thunder Rangers were featured in a chronicle of Power Ranger history compiled by Tommy Oliver shortly after he formed the Dino Rangers, which was found by the nascent Ranger team in the Dino Lab. Legacy of Power
Super Megaforce
The Thunder Rangers returned with their fellow Ninja Rangers as part of the army of Legendary Rangers that helped the Mega Rangers defeat the Armada once and for all, fighting in a huge battle against hundreds of X Borgs and dozens of Bruisers. Legendary Battle
The Thunder Rangers are not present in the crowd of Legendary Rangers used for original footage in Legendary Battle. They do, however, appear in the Sentai footage due to their counterparts indeed fighting in the Legend War.
Legendary Ranger Keys
- Power Rangers Ninja Storm Ranger Keys: These represent the Thunder Rangers.
Super Megaforce/Thunder Rangers Legendary Ranger Mode
|Crimson Thunder Ranger
|Jake Holling
|Navy Thunder Ranger
|Emma Goodall (female version)
- The Thunder Rangers resemble 2 out of 3 of the main characters from Saban's Big Bad Beetleborgs.
- They were taught at (and Hunter currently teaches at) the Thunder Ninja Academy.
- Originally, there was supposed to be a third US exclusive Yellow Ranger to mirror the Wind Rangers.
- The Navy Ranger was going to be female in this plan
- Interestingly, Emma is the one that becomes the Navy Ranger, not Noah
- The Navy Ranger was going to be female in this plan
- Since Dark Ranger is exclusive to the comics and Kyuranger has yet to be adapted, they are the only Crimson and Navy Rangers
See also
- Ninja Rangers (Ninja Storm)
- Gouraigers - Super Sentai counterpart in Hurricanger. See comparison page.
All items (2)


text:
Following a 2-2 draw against Valencia, Real Madrid made another intriguing decision as they sacked Rafael Benitez and replaced him with former super star, Zinedine Zidane.
Although Benitez's departure might not sound as a surprise considering the pressure his been having, but Los Blancos decision is still considered harsh, especially since it's Zidane who has been set as the new head coach.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman accepted his role with a proud feeling as he promised to give his all for Madrid and make everything work out.
Madrid's president, Florentino Perez was also excited with his decision in appointing Zidane, stating that the former star midfielder have strong support from every element of the club, including Los Blancos' die hard fans.
Perez also thanked Benitez for his short tenure at Madrid, saying that the former Valencia boss is a professional, who has done all he can.


text:
Pre-order now for delivery mid August
Add that little bit of extra comfort to your outdoor seating with our cotton Seat Pad. Available in a choice of striped colourways, choose the one to suit your style. The pillowed French style stitching is not just for appearances, it also...
We have reduced our Garden Trading team following government guidelines and so deliveries are taking a little longer than normal. Please bear with us whilst we work to safely deliver your order as soon as we can. Orders placed using standard UK Delivery are currently taking up to 7 working days to dispatch. We'll keep you updated should this change, thank you for your understanding.
Delivery Costs:
Standard UK Delivery takes 3-5 working days. Next Day orders must be placed before midday for delivery the following working day. If a Next Day order is placed after midday on a Friday, or over a weekend, delivery will take place the following Tuesday. Named day delivery can be placed up to 2 weeks in the future.
Pre-order items will be delivered on the date specified at the time of ordering. Pre-order dates are subject to change, for an updated date of arrival please contact our customer services team directly.
For more information please see our delivery page.
You can return items to us within 14 working days of receipt. All we ask is that you return the goods in all their original packaging and condition, including the outer box and in a re sell-able condition. We are not able to issue refunds for goods that are not returned in a re sell-able condition. Please note, returns charges may be applicable dependent on the item(s) you are returning. For more information please see our returns page.
Height: 40cm, Width: 40cm, Depth: 3cm
Yes, they are the same colour.
Product SPOS01: Attractive and comfortable.
Service: Good communication and easy to order.
Product SPCB01: Nice quality and material
Service: Excellent quality, lovely colour and well packaged
Product SPOS01: I'm glad I bought these along with my bistro set. Just finishes it all off!
Service: As ever, lovely products - making them a joy to use and to see.
Product SPEG01: Fitted chairs well, look good
Service: Service was good, delivered on agreed date and time. Items were easily assembled and look great.
Product SPEG01: I the cushions match the bistro set perfectly , they fit the seats and are very pretty
Service: The communication via email and text were very good, the items delivered very well packed and in immaculate condition
Product SPEG01: No comment available
Service: poor delivery ... still waiting for my order after 3 weeks.
Product SPEG01: Good quality cushions which fit well on bamboo Hampstead chairs
Service: No comment available
Product SPCO02: Nicely made, good fabric and pleasing colours which match our furniture well
Service: Efficient service, items well packaged and delivered on time. Would recommend
Product SPOS01: Excellent quality and match the Bistro Set perfectly
Service: Excellent Service! A slight wait was advised, but delivered when promised.
Product SPCO02: Great product! Looks fab outdoor!
Service: Exceptional service and high quality products.
Product SPCB01: Match the chairs very well. Sturdy fabric.
Service: Really good service. I had a query and they telephoned within a day or so, despite being understaffed. Lovely bistro set, so we ordered 2 more chairs and seat pads, which came quickly. Great company to deal with.
Product SPLS01: One of the ribbons needed to be sewn back in
Service: As below in my statement
Product SPLS01: Superbly made and look great. Exactly what was advertised. Very happy.
Service: Excellent service and great, well-made product, will absolutely be using again. Thank you.
Product SPLS01: Very good quality and look great!
Service: Great service ,delivered promptly and well packaged. Items very good quality.
Product SPOS01: Good quality, look durable.
Service: I would use them again l, kept myself up to date with the order.
Product SPEG01: Comfortable and beautiful quality.
Service: Superb! Delighted with all items from my delivery, great customer service.
Product SPLS01: Love my purchase which arrived quickly
Service: I am thrilled with my Bistro set and cushion seat pads. They are excellant quality and even at these difficult times arrived quickly.
Product SPCB01: Very pleased with the product
Service: I was very pleased with the product.
Product SPCO02: So attractive and comfortable and fit well.
Service: Quick service, great products, helpful after sales.
Product SPOS01: These do the job. Bit expensive as proportion to overall cost of table and chairs.
Service: As it should be


text: As a Florida fanatic you need your daily fix of Gators material. But reading the sports section listening to all the radio discussions and rewatching the highlight reels is never enough you have a serious addiction and always need more UF football. Luckily this 4?€ football helmet sculpture will have you never going through those football withdrawals ever again ?€" even when the season is long gone ?€" as this polyresin piece features a replica team helmet on an oval stand with the school name on a custom metal nameplate. There is no doubt that this piece will have your fandom staying strong and intact for years to come.


text:
UM Reorganizes North American Network After Big Wins in the 'Year of the Pitch'
IPG's UM was named Adweek's 2015 Media Agency of the Year in February after winning J&J, Coca-Cola, CVS, BMW (in Japan) and McCormick in the spate of reviews known colloquially as "Mediapalooza" or "The Year of the Pitch."
But now, the agency is reorganizing its North American network. President Kasha Cacy has been promoted to U.S. CEO after leading several successful pitches and promoting UM's efforts to improve its targeting with data.
UM global CEO Daryl Lee called Cacy "a superstar" and told Adweek, "What we are doing is recognizing and reinforcing the U.S. leadership that has been so successful over the past year."
Three UM executives also have been promoted to serve as presidents of their respective geographic regions. Global CMO Lynn Lewis will lead the East Coast region, while UM Detroit EVP and General Manager Scott Russell will be president of the network's central region. Karen Hunt, EVP and Global Managing Partner, will manage West Coast operations.
"Lots of attention has been paid to me and Kasha," Lee said, "but all of these people played a key role in our success. At the same time, we are expecting them to help us maintain that momentum."
He added that Lewis "is now running all clients on the East Coast, including building the Coca-Cola Connection Studio into the same sort of innovation engine that J3 always was. Russell is looking for expansion opportunities into markets like Chicago. Hunt, who leads Sony in our L.A. office, will [also] be president of San Francisco and handle all of our clients there."
Of the West Coast offices, Lee said, "I like the idea of joining S.F. and L.A. into one community, creating a marriage between entertainment and tech innovation."


text:
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Grade: A-
I couldn't really tell you why I wanted to originally pick up this game. The only time I ever played the original Dawn of War was back when it first released and they had a demo. Furthermore, I was so flabbergasted by the multiplayer beta they had up on Steam. The thing didn't even have a proper tutorial! However, I found myself inexplicably drawn to Dawn of War II and could not resist it's primal pull. I've always kind of had a dirty admiration and longing to play me some real time strategy games, and even have that same longing to play the actual tabletop version of Warhammer. My issue is that I could never really get into base building for digital RTS' and I didn't have the time and patience to build and paint an army for the tabletop game.
Enter the delicious soup that is Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2. This game is part RTS, part tactical RPG, part Diablo, and completely dope.
Continue reading


text:
Horowitz scores Annakin's 'Genghis Khan'
Richard Horowitz has been engaged to compose the original score for a very special film: Ken Annakin's Genghis Khan. This was made by the British director, who is best know for The Longest Day, in the early 90s but it was never released due to financial problems with the Italian production company. Today, Annakin is 92 years old but he is still active and is now working on finally completing Genghis Khan. Richard Horowitz, whose previous scores include Any Given Sunday, Three Seasons and David & Layla, plans to do an orchestral score incorporating Mongolian folk music elements.


text: Vegetables are some of the most nutrient rich foods we can eat. Learn what to look for so you are buying the produce with the highest nutritional value. A few tips will help you spend your money wisely and keep your produce fresh longer. Walk through choosing spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, and beets with this video.


text:
Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer
Delicious on a Dime
Delicious & Affordable Seasonal Recipes - Delicious on a Dime
About Us
Recipe Index
Save Money
Stock your Pantry on a Dime
Stock your Freezer on a Dime
2 Easy Ways to Save Leftover Tomato Paste
7 Steps to Meal Planning
Fresh Herbs
Freeze Cheese
Freeze Goat Cheese
Freeze Mushrooms
Superstar Food for Your Budget
Stock Your First Kitchen
Stock Your Fridge on a Dime
The Best $10 Kitchen Tool
Food for Thought
What are we to do?
On Buying Local
Warm Gingerbread Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce
Easy Berry and Cream Cheese Pastries – for breakfast, brunch or dessert!
15 Incredible Recipes Using Lemon Curd That You Need In Your Life
Easy Lemon Curd – With Whole Eggs (No wasted egg whites!)
Fresh Strawberry Shortcake Bars
Creamy Rhubarb Tart – a perfect Mother's Day dessert!
Candy Cane Whoopie Pies
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.


text:
Life Is Good Again!
Over the past few weeks, I've written almost exclusively about the debt ceiling/budget deficit debate raging in hapless Washington, DC. Doing so has been at once frustrating, draining, demoralizing and, often times, downright disgusting. After having written each column concerning the debt ceiling issue, I've felt as though I should take an immediate shower in an effort to cleanse my body and soul from slimy Washington. Frankly, it has been depressing.
But all is not lost in my world – not by a long shot (or pass). On Monday, the National Football League ended its 4 1/2 month lockout by coming to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement that will remain in effect for the next decade. Forget that our country is spiraling towards credit default for the first time in her history, the knowledge that there will be football in just over a month is cause for celebration. Break out the champagne and glow sticks – it's party time! But why exactly is a celebration of such epic proportions in order?
To answer this question one must consider life without football as many of us were doing during the protracted lockout. Many of us were left wondering how we would cope with life's many trials and tribulations come this fall and winter without football serving as our diversion from reality. It's already bad enough having to pass the dog days of summer with baseball alone as our escape. Although we had yet to lose a single game to the NFL lockout, the mere possibility of such an occurrence was leaving men (and many women) all over this great country in a cold sweat.
In addition, the NFL lockout was producing all sorts of pressing questions. For instance: What am I going to do at work now that I don't have to manage my fantasy team? And now that I don't have to intensely study and meticulously scrutinize the spread and over/under of each game, what should I do with all the left over brain power? And speaking of left overs, what shall I ever do with all the extra money I save from not being able to gamble it away? Last, but certainly not least, was this question: What in the hell am I going to do on Sunday afternoons (and Sunday nights, Monday nights and some Thursdays) anyway?
The potential answers to these important, indeed critical, questions sent chills down the collective spines of men everywhere who were beginning to envision Sunday afternoons spent shopping at the mall, doing yard work or other intolerable chores or, worst of all, visiting the in-laws. To these loyal football fans who were inching ever closer to the proverbial ledge, I say congratulations that these nightmares will never come to fruition – at least not for another decade. If that alone is not cause for celebration, I don't know what is.
I am extremely grateful that the negotiations between the NFL and the Players Association (NFLPA) weren't led by President Obama and Speaker Boehner. If this were the case, undoubtedly, we wouldn't be seeing football anytime soon. Thank God for Jerry Richardson – the owner of my Carolina Panthers who led the owners' negotiating efforts – and DeMaurice Smith – who represented the players' interests – for their ability and willingness to compromise and achieve the best possible deal for their respective sides. It seems to me that the president and House Republicans could learn an awful lot from the NFL in terms of negotiations and compromise.
Perhaps the answer is to elect those involved in the NFL negotiations as our new political leaders. Roger Goodell – the NFL Commissioner – could serve as president with Jerry Richardson as Vice President. Obviously, DeMaurice Smith would make a fine secretary of state given his superb diplomatic skills. The NFL players could round out the Senate and House of Representatives. Now, I bet we could get a debt deal. And don't worry about President Obama and Speaker Boehner. The NBA is still engaged in its own messy lockout – they would be perfect for that job.
So now that we fans know that there will be an NFL season, it is time to put on our home team hats and make completely irrational, unfounded predictions regarding the success of our teams. One of my good friends from back home in North Carolina is the best at this that I've ever seen. He shall remain nameless; however, his hometown team is the Cleveland Browns. And every year this friend of mine honestly believes that Cleveland has a shot at the Super Bowl. And, of course, every year the Browns fall far short of even making the playoffs. But what's life without hope, right?
I, however, only make predictions based on facts. I am one of those rare football fans grounded completely in reality. My Carolina Panthers were the worst team in football last year, compiling a 2 – 14 record. Armed with this information, I am now ready to make my prediction for this year's team. Based solely on reason coupled with my daily briefings from Panthers super-fan and my super-friend, Landon Betsworth, mark my words: The Carolina Panthers will win the Super Bowl this February in Indianapolis. They will win by a stomach-churning score of 27 – 24 on an Olindo Mare (really? push John Kasay out the door) last second field goal. And whom will they beat? The Cleveland Browns, of course.
- Rock Bottom – Trump & Charlottesville
- Right Now is Right Now for NC State
- A Search for Light: Reflections on the Election of 2016
- Reflections on my Weekend in the Queen City
- The Old North State: We Are Not This
- Confessions of a Panthers Fan: Coping With Success One Day at a Time
- The Education of Ron Rivera: From the Outhouse to the Riverboat (to the Penthouse?)
- Those Things for Which I Am Thankful: The Sports Edition
- The Beautiful Game
- Elite Quarterback Club: The Newest Member
- Falling For Fall…Again!
- Football Giveth and Taketh Away
- August 2017 (1)
- February 2017 (1)
- November 2016 (1)
- September 2016 (1)
- April 2016 (1)
- February 2016 (1)
- January 2016 (1)
- December 2015 (1)
- November 2015 (1)
- October 2015 (1)
- September 2015 (1)
- August 2015 (2)
- 2012 Presidential Election
- 2014 Elections
- 2016 Presidential Election
- 47 percent
- Aaron Rodgers
- Affordable Care Act
- AME Church
- Andrew Luck
- Autumn
- Ben Carson
- Bill Clinton
- Boehner
- Budget Deficit
- Cam Newton
- Carolina Panthers
- CenturyLink Field
- Charleston
- Charleston Shooting
- Charlotte
- Charlotte Hornets
- Charlotte Ordinance
- Charlottesville
- Chris Christie
- Climate Change
- Confederate Flag
- Corey Brown
- Dean Smith
- Debt Ceiling
- Democratic Party
- Democratic Primary
- Devin Funchess
- Donald Trump
- Dr. Ben Carson
- Fall
- First Republican Presidential Debate
- Fox News
- Fox News Debate
- Glenn Beck
- Golf
- Governor McCrory
- Greg Olsen
- Gun Control
- Henry David Thoreau
- Herman Melville
- Hillary Clinton
- Indianapolis Colts
- Iowa Caucuses
- Iran Nuclear Deal
- Jarrett Boykin
- Jeb Bush
- Jerricho Cotchery
- John Kasich
- Jon Huntsman
- Kelvin Benjamin
- Libya
- Marco Rubio
- Mark Gottfried
- Marriage Equality
- Media
- Mel Kiper
- Michele Bachmann
- Mike Huckabee
- Mitt Romney
- Monday Night Footbal
- National Football League
- NC State
- NFC Championship Game
- NFL Draft
- NFL Lockout
- North Carolina
- Obama
- Obamacare
- Payroll Tax
- Philosophy
- Politics
- President Obama
- President Trump
- Quarterback
- Race Relations
- Rachael Maddow
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Rand Paul
- Republican Party
- Rick Perry
- Rick Santorum
- Ricky Proehl
- Ron Paul
- Ron Rivera
- Ryan Leaf
- Scott Walker
- Seasons
- Seattle
- Seattle Seahawks
- Serena
- Shaq Thompson
- South
- South Carolina
- Sports
- Super Bowl 50
- Ted Cruz
- Ted Ginn Jr.
- The Masters
- Tom Brady
- TPP Trade Deal
- Transcendentalism
- Uncategorized
- Walt Whitman
- War Powers Act
- Weiner
RSSEntries RSS
Comments RSS


text:
P.A. Alvarez Property Ventures Inc.
Building / Maintenance
Bridgepointe Place by P.A. Alvarez Property Ventures, Inc. is an exclusive 33-hectare development located in the...View ads
- 4 vacancies
- Pampanga, Central Luzon
- Building / Maintenance
Bridgepointe Place by P.A. Alvarez Property Ventures, Inc. is an exclusive 33-hectare development located in the...View ads
The company strives to provide quality developments which are above standards that ensure our customers satisfaction...View ads
Established in 1999, CMCS started as a small trade Contractor, engaged in small and limited budget projects, under...View ads
We provide real estate services and business process outsourcing services. We offer spaces for rent for banks,...View ads
Green Built Steel Industrial Corp. is a Construction Company located at Meycauayan, Bulacan. The Company specializes...View ads
TKI is a foreign corporation established and registered under the laws of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ....View ads
AAA Dornier Technology, Inc. is a subsidiary of AAA ( Assistance Aeronautique and Aerospace), a French company with...View ads
Tan Song Bok (TSB) Realty & Development Corporation is one of the leading real estate developers in Angeles City and...View ads
A Licensed Real Estate Broker with real estate property listings for sale, lease, wanted to buy and joint venture,...View ads
Global Gateway Development Corporation ("GGDC") is the developer of Global Gateway Clark ("GGC"), a state-of- the-art,...View ads
Hausland Development Corporation started as a single-proprietorship company named Haus-Land Assets and Realty in 1986....View ads
C.G. Garcia Realty and Development Corp is a pioneer in real estate sales and services here in Pampanga. We have been...View ads
Accounting and Real Estate Brokerage.View ads
RealtyView ads
Desinfection system for water.View ads
Attivo Realty Developement Corporation (ARDC) is a corporation engaged in realty development, dedicated to help...View ads
Donggwang Clark Corporation is one of South Korea's largest developers. Built in 1985, Donggwang's spirit of...View ads
Anvidan Realty Inc. is a real estate developer/lessor based in Angeles CIty, Pampanga. Work location is near Fil-Am...View ads
Rimaven Properties Inc., an affiliate of RD Policarpio & Co. Inc., is engaged in the business of Real Estate in...View ads


text:
Working with a gifted student can be both a joy and a frustration. giftedness is a measure of innate ability, not performance hence this is a paradox. This is because motivated student who works hard, gets straight "A"s, and behaves well in class may not be gifted and student who doesn't perform well, is disruptive, and clowns around in class may well be gifted. This is often frustration for the teachers.
A gifted student is one who asks many questions ans is very curious, is in possession of large amounts of information and a good memery, however, they easily miss the path and often impatient if not recognized in class, the ability to learn new things is big, finishes class work easily, displays unusual academic achievement, but can also become disruptive in class, is easily bored, shows strong resistance to repetitive activities and memorization, completes work quickly but sloppy.
The student is interested in many things and is involved in a variety of activities, enjoys challenges, but the student may show disinterest in areas they do not like, they may also leave the projects unfinished because they take too much and become overwhelmed.
The gifted student thinks independently and experesses unique opinions and this may cause them to challenge authority and be poor team player.
The student may not also take criticism well and has a strong sense of justice. Uses high level thinking skills and makes connections thatother students may not make by analysis, synthesis and evaluation. However, the student may forget to do his/her assignments and maybe absent-minded regarding practical deatails. Emerick observes that Underachievement among the gifted has been a focus of research for over 35 years.
With few exceptions, studies of interventions for gifted underachievers have demonstrated only limited success. However, the present education system suffers massive inadequaces in the development of gifted students. Firstly, identiofy a gifted student is not easy. The term itself fifted is ambiqous because a student may not perform well in class which often is the case inb intellectual giftedness but may show exemplorary skills and gifts in other areas. (Callahan 2005)
The identification of gifted and talented students from those populations that are underrepresented in programs for the gifted (minorities, children from low socioeconomic status environments, students with limited English speaking ability) is a problem that needs to be examined as the complex issue that it is rather than as a problem that can be solved with a single, silver-bullet answer. the use of 1-shot paper-and-pencil assessments, the inherent biases in policies and procedures, and the lack of coordination of curriculum with identification and placement procedures.
Thse are some of the issues that need to be examined. According to the National Academy of Sciences ( Donovan and Cross,2002), althoughhere has been an increase in the representation of American Indian and Native Alaskan, Black, and Hispanic students identified as gifted, the underrepresentation of these groups continues to plague our educational system. The report points out that, although there is considerable variation among states, Black and Hispanic students are less than half as likely to be in gifted programs as White students, and American Indian and Native Alaskans fall between Blacks and Whites
The education plan for these students need to take i8nbto account the various giftings and areas of interest. The cirriculum should incoproate the development of that talent and streamline it for productivity. The following should be incoprrated in the plan. Expand Conceptions of Intelligence and Giftedness, Provide Exemplars of Gifted Performance and Use the Identification Process To Enhance Understanding, Because teachers are often gatekeepers (Archambault et al.
, 1993; Donovan & Cross, 2002) and, thus, have the potential to become advocates for gifted students in the nomination, screening, and identification of gifted students from underserved populations, it is important they are provided with examples of how the various talents, both the traditional verbal–linguistic and analytic intelligence as well as the less known alternative talents, may manifest themselves in performance outside of the typical indicators as manifest in reading and writing in formal English.
A carefully constructed program of talent development based on student interest, highly relevant and motivating tasks, and the use of high-level and sophisticated thinking skills should be instituted in the primary grades. Renzulli, Gentry, and Reis (2003) have proposed one model of engaging all children in an enrichment curriculum that fits these criteria (Enrichment Clusters). The activities in these core units are built around the real world and relevant to the lives of the children. The gifts of students are as diverse as the background of the students themselves.
The cirriculm should be developed inbsuch was that the areas of exposing thse gifts and grow them. At the same time, the job market should be created insuch way that it abosrnbs these talents into specific areas of production. References Carolyn M. Callahan (2005) Identifying gifted students from underrepresented populations: Theory Into Practice, retrived from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0NQM/is_2_44/ai_n13783926/ on July,2010. Renzulli, J. S. , Gentry, M. , & Reis, S. M. (2003). Enrichment clusters: A practical plan for real-world, student-driven learning.
Mansfield Center, CT: Creative Learning Press. National Association for Gifted Children. (2004, June 24). Using tests to identify gifted students. Retrieved June 24, 2004 from http://www. nagc. org/Policy/testsgifted. htm. Donovan, M. S. , & Cross, C. T. (Eds. ). (2002). Minority students in special and gifted education. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Renzulli, J. S. , Gentry, M. , & Reis, S. M. (2003). Enrichment clusters: A practical plan for real-world, student-driven learning. Mansfield Center, CT: Creative Learning Press.
Cite this essay
Gifted Students. (2016, Sep 21). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/gifted-students-essay


text:
From the desk of Adam H. Bowles, PGA
Golf Operations Manager
The end of the season is upon us. But do not let that stop you from playing in our last few events of the year. Listed in the newsletter are a few of the options you have left before we start to feel that cool breeze every day and frost lays on the ground for hours. Also listed are a few additional nuggets of golf related news and things to look forward to. This upcoming weekend, November 9th-11th, will be the last time we can play the Bald Mountain course until it reopens on April 1st, 2019. We will also be opening all 18 holes for that three day period so you can enjoy it one more time before we close down. So make your tee times soon!
continue reading…


text:
Update 4/1/19: We are disappointed to announce that we did not receive enough entries to hold the contest. Therefore the Edible Book Festival has been canceled.
Official Rules & Information
What is an Edible Book Festival?
Edible Book Festivals feature projects made of edible materials which draw inspiration from a book or story. The projects may resemble a book, or feature aspects of the story itself. Judges select winners from several categories such as "Best Literary Pun" or "Tastiest Looking". This festival is a great way to celebrate books as well as culinary arts.
Who May Enter
Open to all library patrons ages 10 and older. Patrons may enter as individuals or as a group.
How to Enter
Pick up an entry form at the Circulation desk or enter here
The deadline to register is Sunday March 31st, 2019 at 5pm. No exceptions.
Will Judges Taste my entry?
No! While the entry must be composed of edible materials, they will not be judged on taste. Entries will be shared among attendees after the awards ceremony.
All Entrants will receive a custom Marple Library apron for participating!
People's Choice (1 Winner)
- Trophy
- Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet
Best Literary Pun (AKA Punniest) (1 Winner)
- Trophy
- Amazon Gift Card $50
Best Presentation (1 Winner)
- Trophy
- Amazon Gift Card $50
Best Young Adult Entry (Ages 10-18) (1 Winner)
- Trophy
- Amazon Gift Card $50
Our guest judges will be announced soon so check back!
The Young Adult prize is only available to entrants ages 10-18.
The "People's Choice" award will be determined by tickets which the public can purchase and place in a voting bin for each entry. Tickets will cost $1/ticket, or $3/5 tickets.
General Requirements
- Entries must be 95% edible (for example you may use skewers or supports to steady your creation, but you cannot have the bottom 2 layers be Styrofoam just to add height.)
- A list of ingredients must accompany each entry.
- You may free-hand any cover art if desired. Please refrain from using copyrighted materials or images, such as images printed on edible paper.
- By entering this contest, the creator of the entry is giving the Marple Public Library permission to photograph and publish information on the edible creation and its creator (You may opt out of having your name or picture displayed publicly)
- Your entry must relate to a literary work. Either a book, poem, or essay.
- Do not submit anything which requires refrigeration. Entries must be able to sit at room temperature for 3-4 hours without collapsing or going bad.
- If you have any questions please contact Bridgette at the library at (610) 356-1510.
Contest Day: April 7th, 2019
- 1pm Entry Drop-off and set-up. All entries must be in the building by 1:30pm or they will not be judged.
- 1:30pm Entries will be open for public viewing, people's choice voting, and Judging. Judges may ask you for more information about your entry, so be sure to stay near your table.
- 2:15pm Public Voting closes.
- 2:20pm Awards Ceremony. Judges picks will be awarded first, followed by People's Choice.
- 2:30pm All entrants and the public are welcome to share in eating the edible entries! The library will provide drinks.
Need some inspiration? Check out these Edible Creations here


text:
Last Updated onThis post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.
Between beach escapes and city breaks, the little country of the Netherlands is home to more than its fair share of stunning attractions, cities, and scenery. And if you're looking for a place in which to base yourself for exploring the wider region, the city of Rotterdam is close to all the attractions and is much cheaper than Amsterdam. Here are eight epic day trips from Rotterdam worth taking!
#1 Delft
Rotterdam to Delft is easily one of the best Rotterdam day trips. After all, if you've ever read about European pottery, then no doubt you'll have come across the iconic Delftware blue, a Dutch tin-glazed earthware that originates in the city.
Other highlights of Delft include a Vermeer Centre, several churches, and a stunning view from the top of the Nieuwe Kerk. If you're short on time, then a visit to Delft and Leiden can easily be combined into a day trip thanks to both cities proximities with one another.
#2 The Hague
Located around twenty minutes away from Rotterdam on the train, many people make the mistake of skipping the Hague by thinking that it's 'too boring' or 'simply full of politics'. And while there are plenty of political sites to be explored within the city, The Hague is so much more than that!
After all, within the city centre, there's the Mauritshuis to explore (this is where The Girl With the Pearl Earring can be admired), plenty of vegan and vegetarian eats, as well as countless hofjes in which to get lost. If you're looking for family-friendly activities, then aside from a wide array of museums, Madurodam is the miniature Netherlands and is one of the oldest theme parks in the country!
#3 Scheveningen
Though technically a district of The Hague, thanks to its unique seaside vibe and laid back atmosphere, Scheveningen is a beach district home to an impressive stretch of sand, several historic hotels, and plenty of board-walk eateries (especially in the summer months).
If you're looking to catch a bird's eye view of the place, then a trip on the Scheveningen Ferris Wheel is an absolute must! Nearby, the former town centre (but what is now a suburb of The Hague) is best-known for its fishing history and historic cobbled lanes complete centuries-old old churches.
#4 Leiden
The pretty university city of Leiden is easily one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands. And not just because of its endless canals, tree-lined walkways and 17th-century canal houses. Instead, the entire city has a charm seldom found in larger settlements. And thanks to Leiden's location at just over half an hour on the train from Rotterdam, a day trip to Rembrandt's birthplace couldn't be easier!
#5 Amsterdam
The Dutch capital city of Amsterdam can be visited as a day trip from Rotterdam as the train only takes around forty-five minutes between the two cities. Of course, everyone knows that there are plenty of secret and small museums to visit in Amsterdam, as well as a plethora of canals to wander around.
But what you may well not know is that Amsterdam is also home to some of the best eats to be had anywhere in the Netherlands as well as some incredible green spaces. While in the city, be sure not to miss out on the Jordaan district (which is easily the prettiest area of Amsterdam) as well as numerous churches dating back centuries.
#6 Dordrecht
Of all the day trips from Rotterdam that you could possibly take, Dordrecht is one of the easiest places to reach. A little more off the beaten tourist trail that some of the other Dutch destinations you could visit, Dordrecht traces its roots back to at least the 13th-century, when the metropolis was granted city rights by William I, Count of Holland.
Today, Dordrecht is also known locally as Dordt. Some of the best things to do in the city once there include ascending the impossibly high (and incredibly leaning) Dordrecht Minster and admiring the town from above and checking out one of the many museums the city has to offer. While in town, I highly recommend grabbing a bite to eat at the vegan-friendly Coffeelicious.
#7 Gouda
You've probably heard of Gouda before thanks to the cheese of the same name that originates in the city. Home to a historic cheese weighing house, countless cheese tasting opportunities, and a museum partially dedicated to the dairy stuff, Gouda also has a whole other history worth exploring as well.
Things to do in Gouda include talking a self-guided walking tour on the city's most historical features (canals, hidden churches, a still-in-operation windmill grinding its own flour) and enjoying the laid-back vibe of the city. Truth be told, of all the day trips from Rotterdam, Gouda is probably my favourite city o them all!
#8 Kinderdijk Windmills
The world-famous Kinderdijk Windmills can be found in a town of the same name, just over 10 km away from Rotterdam's city centre. Easy to reach on either bicycle or on public transportation, the windmills are of such historical importance that they're now designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Tips for visiting Rotterdam
If you're planning a visit to the second largest city in The Netherlands, then there are several things you should know before you go. Firstly, don't go with any prior expectations of what you'll see in Rotterdam! The city is like no other place you're likely to see in The Netherlands.
After all, the architecture of the city will surprise you and entice you in equal measure. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they're venturing into a quaint cobbled town. However, following the Blitzkrieg of the Second World War, Rotterdam rose like a phoenix from the ashes, into a futuristic time-warp that's a must-see on any adventure through Europe.
As such, I highly recommend exploring the city on foot via this self-guided walking tour. While in The Netherlands, you'll likely want to cycle around as this is the best way to explore the flat country. However, truth be told that the bicycles may not be like what you're used to back home; there are often no handle brakes (instead a back pedal brake) and gears are rarely present.
Finally, while Rotterdam is an escape from the hustle and bustle of the crowds of Amsterdam, the city can still get pretty busy! This is especially true of the high season (summer) when events like Summer Carnival take place. As a result, you'll want to book your place to stay as far in advance as possible. Check here for the best Rotterdam accommodation rates.


text:
"When you say grace you can say it to grown-up Jesus or teenage Jesus or bearded Jesus or whoever you want."—Will Ferrell, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
No one watches a Will Ferrell movie for an accurate theology of prayer, but if they wanted a general idea of how many North Americans approach prayer, it would be an easy start. Granted, I don't think they would find many people who seriously pray to teenage/grown-up/bearded Jesus, but it would be pretty easy to find someone who's praying to a Jesus who looks more like the person praying than the Second Person of the Trinity as revealed in Scripture. This is something we're all guilty of, to varying degrees. No sinful mortal can completely and accurately conceive of someone so wholly distinct from themselves as the God Man—but if that's the case, how then do we pray? How can sinful humans, bowed down by their guilt and hindered by the limitations of their mortality, approach a holy God?
Unlike the gods of the ancient Near East, who let humans figure it out for themselves, the Triune God of the universe tells his people (in language they can understand) how they may approach him. Although we see slightly different iterations of it at various points in redemptive history, the principles remain the same—with reverence and awe, in the forgiveness of sins, through his appointed mediator. We no longer need the blood of a bull, and there is no cloud of glory that descends upon an earthly temple. That's because we have something much better: the blood of the Son of Man and the Holy Spirit, who makes the body of every believer his temple. We see the primary elements of prayer in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray—not with ostentatious shouting or empty repetition, but privately, in a manner befitting a respectful child with his revered father.
Through prayer, we weave together God's promises and our unique circumstances. In this issue, our contributors take us deeper into the different aspects of the tapestry of prayer. Paul Miller discusses the necessity of prayer as the driving force of the local church, and Lutheran pastor John Bombaro discusses the organic nature of private and liturgical prayer, showing how both shape our worship. Editor-in-chief Michael Horton explains how the final declaration—"For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever"—acknowledges the purpose of our prayer as the family of God, and executive editor Eric Landry rounds us out with a biblical-theological exposition of the famous praying man of James 5.
In these turbulent and unsettling times, it's comforting to know that God does not just tolerate our petitions; he welcomes them and uses them as means to accomplish his sovereign ordering of all events, both good and bad. Let's draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we can cast all our anxieties freely upon him because he cares for us.
Brooke Ventura associate editor


text:
At the AXE Twist launch during the E-Games event, I bumped into Rachelle Ann Go who was with fellow singer Mark Bautista.
Wearing a short and very chic dress (because guys want less right?), Rachelle looked like the diva that she is. Watch the video above where Style and Relax interviews Rachelle Ann about her style, beauty regimen, and her voluptuous hair :)


text:
The US consulting market nearly reached double digit growth last year, expanding by 9 per cent to over $50bn, according to new data from leading global consulting market analysts, Source Information Services (Source)
This growth rate is almost four times faster than the US economy (2.4 per cent in 2014), and is a rate typically reserved for emerging markets.
- Digital hype turns to action across most sectors
- Financial services sector fastest growing — up 11.9 per cent to $12.4bn
- Big Four firms outperform the market — posting growth of 12.8 per cent to $17.5bn
- Risk-reward contracts are rapidly growing in popularity
The Source report says that while a strong domestic economy partially fuelled consulting market growth, digitisation is driving demand for consultants across every function, in every sector. For the first time, digital is living up to its hype.
B.J. Richards, Senior Editor at Source, and author of the report, added: "Consulting budgets expanded across most sectors as clients threw off the conservatism of the last few years, eager to grow, get things done, and maybe even start taking risks again."
Financial services sector fastest growing
The US consulting market's biggest customer: financial services, was the fastest growing industry sector — up 11.9 per cent to $12.4bn in 2014. Regulation continues to be a big driver of activity, but there's also a growing amount of work connected with digitisation. Both the second and third biggest US consulting sectors grew strongly: energy and Resources up by 9.6 per cent to $6.8bn and manufacturing up 8.9 per cent to $6.5bn, largely due to growth in the automotive sector. Here, complex manufacturing processes and innovations such as driver connectivity and the driverless car made this a ripe sector for consultants.
On strong growth in financial services, Lynne Doughtie, Vice Chair — Advisory at KPMG, said: "Financial services companies are asking themselves how they're going to grow in the future. They still face regulatory and cost pressures, but they pulled almost all the levers where efficiency is concerned and they now have to look at how they can improve their top line. Our role is to bring innovation as clients are looking for this."
Cybersecurity moves up the corporate agenda
From a service perspective, the big riser was financial management and risk, which grew by 11.8 per cent to $16.2bn in 2014. Source says that aside from regulatory work, cybersecurity is driving a lot of work for consultants as it has moved up the corporate agenda in recent years just as it has moved towards the front pages of newspapers.
Technology services also grew strongly, up 8.9 per cent to $12.7bn. Source expects this growth to continue as over three-quarters of US clients (76 per cent) said their spend on technology will increase over the next 18 months.
Big Four firms outperform the market
Big Four firms outperformed the US market by some distance in 2014, posting growth of 12.8 per cent to $17.5bn. This is partly thanks to a strong commitment to acquisition. According to the Source M&A bulletin, in the US market alone, over a quarter of consulting acquisitions in the last 27 months involved accounting firms.
Risk-reward contracts rapidly gaining in popularity
The Source report also revealed that risk-reward contracts, where fees are aligned to project outcomes, is striking a chord with value-conscious US clients. As one senior accounting firm consultant told Source, "We think that 40 per cent of volume in the US in 2020 will be some form of outcome-based fees." With the balance sheets strong enough to underwrite millions of dollars in risk, this method of billing is mainly popular among larger firms.
Ken Hutt, Principle at Deloitte, added: "To relieve price pressure, we do more value-based billing. It's probably easier for us to offer that as a big firm. We're able to make the economics better for the client until they are able to see the impact."
Deals market continues to drive work
With growth back on the table, consultants saw M&A work come back with a vengeance, fuelled by low interest rates, high volumes of cash, and the robust economy. The US accounted for almost half of global M&A activity last year, bringing consultants a steady stream of work ranging from due diligence all the way through to post-merger integration.
Thomas Puthiyamadam, U.S. Management Consulting Leader at PwC added: "We think M&A will be really an explosive source of growth in the next 12-14 months: clients are more active, are fending off more competition, entering new markets, and are exploiting new technology."
The future
US consultants are some of the most optimistic in the world, and many think 2015 will be even better despite a tough first quarter. Many report strong pipelines, with a book of work stretching well into the fall and beyond.
B.J. Richards from Source concluded: "Of course, it's not all sunshine everywhere. There may be a few clouds on the horizon for consultants in the energy sector as oil prices continue to be depressed, and those in federal government are still experiencing a good deal of stress. But even these bits of gloom can't distract from what is a dominantly sunny forecast."


text:
The article premise is that technology can be used as an effective teaching tool for English language learners. A modern example is the rise of communication technology, which has lessened barriers to human interaction and as a result has helped spawn new subcultures; the rise of cyberculture has at its basis the development of the Internet and the computer 15 Not all technology enhances culture in a creative way; technology can also help facilitate political oppression and war via tools such as guns.
It has helped develop more advanced economies (including today's global economy ) and has allowed the rise of a leisure class Many technological processes produce unwanted by-products known as pollution and deplete natural resources to the detriment of Earth's environment Various implementations of technology influence the values of a society and new technology often raises new ethical questions.
In the Automated Innovation Revolution the process for determining how to acquire and utilize technology for a competitive advantage (which includes R&D) is automated so that it can be executed with unprecedented speed, efficiency and agility. According to the 2013 results, students are leveraging mobile devices both to be more efficient in their day-to-day tasks and to transform their own learning processes. After telling the Times that being a mother would make her a better PM than her rival Theresa May, she cried gutter journalism!
When asked why traditional broadband access wasn't their primary means of connectivity, students said there was less contention for access with other members of the family through these non-traditional devices. It also publishes articles that advance our understanding and application of research approaches and methods. The effects of computer-enhanced vocabulary lessons on achievement of ESL grade school children.
Project Socrates concluded that technology exploitation is the foundation of all competitive advantage and that declining US competitiveness was from decision-making in the private and public sectors switching from technology exploitation (technology-based planning) to money exploitation (economic-based planning) at the end of World War II.


text:
In 2012, A Thinking Ape was a relatively new company and were looking for people to step up their engagement ideas. One of the cofounders had an interest in hockey and brought it up amongst some of the employees. It turned out that we had a handful of actual players, not just fans and there was genuine interest in playing if the company started a team.
I never had the chance to play hockey when I was a kid; my parents couldn't afford hockey gear for me at the time, but like most Canadians, I still had fun playing street hockey with friends in the parking lot after school. The idea of an joining an actual ice hockey league with my fellow coworkers definitely peaked my interest, but knew it needed a great deal of planning to pull off successfully, let alone learn how to skate.
And so it began…here are some highlights of what I learned while building a company hockey team from the ground up.
Building A Team Out of Teams
A Thinking Ape was growing fast. With this you have the problem of a lot of people…which requires a lot of space. You either have two floors of people, or one floor that spread flat across large square footage. Of course, you want teams to stay grouped together as it's more efficient to throw ideas back and forth. But now you have the problem of very little cross pollination. Solutions like Donut dates are great in theory, but are incomplete in practice (See my posts on how I take them to the next level here). How do we solve this problem through voluntary fun and not forced communication? Build an internal sports team.
First step: What are we called?
You can't build a team without a name, it's just bad luck. When you see teams made in the pros, they pick names long before they even announce it. They just give the illusion that the fans have a choice. I decided on the name "Rampage" for several reasons:
- We're a video game company with an ape logo. Naturally, the game Rampage by Data East was a good fit.
- I tried to have a team without an "s" at the end. Very few teams of such names exist. How many can you name? (Hint: 4 NBA, 3 NHL, 2 MLB as of 2019)
Then came the logo. Most of my family come from a graphic design background and I have experience in the production side of graphics, but pursued music/audio path. This means that although I could take care of getting the jerseys ordered, branded, etc., I wouldn't be the right guy to design the logo.
Lucky for me, the lead artist at A Thinking Ape was REALLY into hockey. Being the audio guy at the office, I was stuck in a booth away from everyone while I made a bunch of noise. Because I needed pros for the logo design, I finally got to know the art team.
This collaboration of skill meant that we had a pro logo, a mutual understanding of building a colour palette, and how to execute with surgical precision to get an end result so slick that people outside of the team wanted to wear it casually.
Most companies would stop at iron on practice jerseys. Not me. This represented our company. I would accept nothing less than embroidered crests. And right when you thought I'd settle with just horizontal stitching, check out the gold portion of the logo:
A Company Hockey Team Requires at Least GSuite Knowledge (seriously)
It goes without saying, but HOCKEY IS AN EXPENSIVE ASS SPORT. Think about it…
-The protective gear alone is necessary. You get what you pay for, so you have to spend money in order to be relatively safe, especially as a beginner. You may be able to know when to stay clear of someone, but spears in your hands and knives on your feet don't.
-Vancouver doesn't have ponds… of course it doesn't. Even if it did, it wouldn't get cold enough to freeze. And even if IT DID get cold enough, it wouldn't last long enough to have a full season of hockey. So the solution is to build ice rinks. The price per square foot is insane. Consider that not only do you have to water it, you have to keep it cold constantly for long periods of time, which takes a lot of energy. You also have to keep it flat so you have to have a Zamboni. PLUS you need staff to run the place. This raises the price considerably so literally every minute that no one is skating on the ice is money lost.
-The above problem can be solved by rinks running in house leagues, BUT they have to get people to sign up in teams. Individuals are on a list to join teams. This means that outside of the rink, one person has to be the one collecting money, calculating what they owe, etc.
ATA was generous enough to pay for league fees and ice times for practice depending if you were an employee or from outside the company. But I had to organize the program. Here's how it broke down:
The fees included things like, practice ice times, paying outside coaches for clinics, and once a month dinners. Considering that there were so many factors that changed the price per player, I needed to act like a bookkeeper.
If there was ever a time to elbow smash GSuite from the top ropes, this would be it. Need the players name, address, phone number, jersey size, allergies? Boom Google Forms.
How much does each player owe? Are they in the company? Outside? How much did each player pay in taxes to be in the team? Boom Google Sheets.
Writing waivers or welcome/thank you letters? Boom Google Docs.
What Happens Outside the Rink Is More Important
One goal of the hockey team was to grow. Both grow as a team and as an individual. But how do you balance the fun when there's a vast disparity of experience on the team? How do you keep egos in check when everyone wants to be Gretzky or Crosby and score the winning goal? I made sure players left that at the door.
If you were an experienced player, you wouldn't automatically make it on the team. As GM, I made it explicitly clear that if you were an experienced player, you'd have to do some sort of coaching during practice in exchange for the company paying for your fees. When you put together the right people with the right attitudes, you get a well oiled machine. Because of this condition, the noobs saw rapid growth in their skating abilities and awareness on the ice, while the experienced players learned how to break down techniques that were second nature to them and pass them on to less skilled players.
Leadership is of utmost importance and the best players in a team aren't necessarily the best people to lead. Lucky for us, we had someone join that was both a great player and a great leader. I worked with him on how I could make the task of coaching easier for him. He pointed out that we had one very experienced player that was showing a bit of disinterest (This usually happens when there's a skill gap that large). He was showing up late and not really putting in 100%.
Turns out that person was interested in music. So I made a deal with him: Show us how to skate and when we are off the ice, I'll transfer my music theory knowledge to you. He became an integral part of the team also has has been featured on media, doing tours and shows for his hip hop duo, SO LOKI. We still good friends to this day.
Put in the effort to get good people on your team. Put in the time on and off the ice to keep good people on your team.
Create Buzz With People On AND Off the Team
It was great to see people from all corners of the office talking to each other about how someone made an amazing deke or that perfect pass to set up a winning goal. But I really wanted the whole office in on the action.
Another member of the hockey team and I joined forces to play at Rogers Arena. This was big time so we couldn't just play a game there. We wanted it to be a spectacular! Since two of the ATA founders played on the hockey team, we decided to make them each a coach and do a draft. We called it "The Founders Cup". I made the announcement about the game at a company Townhall meeting. After I gave the news, jersey and hat sales went up from people in the office.
Since I love sourcing cool trinkets and building things, I decided to build an amazing sought after prize. Going from pawn shop to pawn shop, I found an old tennis trophy, buffed it and built a two tier base to mount it on. The results were stunning.
Employees, friends and family bought tickets to the game at Rogers Arena to cover the costs. I set up the audio, organized a musician friend of mine to sing the national anthem and also edited music to be played between whistles, complete with custom music for each player who scored a goal. This, plus our in house announcer (who worked in the support department) got the crowd going. Even the staff at Rogers were excited. They told us that they've never seen a group put this much effort to create such an experience. One of them went to the scoreboard to complete it all with the airhorn when goals were scored.
I was in net that day and won 5-2. But really, no one lost. Everyone had so much fun and it was great to see kids excited to watch their dad play on the same ice as the Vancouver Canucks.
This barely touches the surface of what I learned building this team and I know all of us have lasting memories. Since the team started in 2012, there have been many new players and coaches. When I run into Rampage players from the past, we still reminisce about the great times being on the team. Those are the types of connections that every office should create.


text:
Home > Coarse and match fishing tackle > Seat box accessories
Brand: Preston innovations
New 36mm version now also available
With dual telescopic extensions, designed to fit across the front of your footplate and includes 3 Quick Release Accessory Blocks suitable for attaching keepnets, pole socks and other accessories.
Inserts Included 30mm Round, 25mm Round, 23mm OffBox
All items which show thelogo feature a quick release system which means items can be swapped between Snaplok knuckles. This means you can leave the main knuckle on the box leg and remove or swap different items.
Preston mini tool bar Offbox 36£29.99More Info
Preston Offbox Pole Support£49.99 £44.99More Info
Preston Snaplok accessory block£8.99More Info
Free Next day delivery on most mainland UK orders over £50
Gift vouchers available in-store or online
Drennan rodsUK's largest stockistsnew Vertex now in stock


text:
Hello all, I am Joe Mercier. My wife Diane and I have just ordered a Casita Independence 17 Deluxe. We are retired and live in the far north of California in the middle of the Trinity Alps. Our plans are to pick up the new Casita in Winslow Az, which is about 1/2 way from where we live to Rice Texas. We would have liked to make the trip to Rice to get our trailer but just couldn't spare the time as we have live stock at home that depend on us.
Its been many years since we have pulled a trailer but I am sure that we will be old hands at it in no time. Our tow vehicle is a 1997 Toyota 4runner limited. For sure this will be the smallest vehicle that I have ever used towing but many posts in this forum says it will work just fine for us.


text:
- This event has passed.
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 02/26
Services at 7:00 am, 12 noon, & 7:30 pm
Come together to begin Lent on Wednesday, February 26. Services are at 7:00 am in the chapel, and at noon and 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. The morning service is simple and spoken. The midday service is simple as well, but includes some music, and the evening service includes full choral music. We'll be sharing the imposition of ashes, a reminder that we are mortal and belong to God, at all three services.


text:
Lauren Burns Hodges (USA)
LAUREN BURNS HODGES currently serves as Lecturer in Viola at Valdosta State University, Principal Viola of the Valdosta Symphony, violist of the Azalea String Quartet, and Director of the South Georgia String Project, winner of the 2011 NSPC String Project of the Year. During the summers, she is a faculty artist at the Premier Orchestral Institute in Jackson, MS and the Schlern International Music Festival in South Tyrol, Italy. Recent orchestral, chamber and solo performances have taken her to Périgueux (France), Graz and Bad Leonfelden (Austria), Havana (Cuba), and seventeen cities in China.
Dr. Hodges was a founding member of the Hausmann Quartet, performing throughout the United States on series such as Lyrica Boston, Lyrica New Jersey, and the International Music Foundation in Chicago under Marilyn Gilbert Artist Management. In 2007, the Hausmann Quartet was chosen as a showcasing ensemble at the Chamber Music America National Conference in Times Square, New York. As a member of the quartet, Dr. Hodges completed two years as a young artist-in-residence on the Lyrica Boston Chamber Music Series and two years at Kent State University in Ohio as a teaching assistant to the Miami String Quartet. She was a fellow at Norfolk and Kent/Blossom summer music festivals, coaching with Claude Frank and members of the Keller, Tokyo, and Vermeer quartets.
As an orchestral player, Dr. Hodges has performed in the Eastern Music Festival Faculty Orchestra as well as a summer concert in the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom. She has been Principal Viola in the Ohio Valley Symphony, Lyrica Chamber Orchestra (Boston and NJ) and in the Manchester Chamber Music (VT) and Texas Music Festival orchestras. She has also performed as section viola in the Albany, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Mansfield, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Brockton, Augusta, and South Carolina Philharmonic orchestras and in the AIMS – Graz, Aspen and Brevard Music Festival orchestras.
Winner of the Narramore Fellowship, Dr. Hodges received her doctoral degree from the University of Alabama upon completion of her document entitled Coordinated Action in String Playing: A Comparative Study of the Teachings of Paul Rolland and Karen Tuttle. She earned a master's degree at Peabody Conservatory as a winner of the prestigious Jacob K. Javits national fellowship and her bachelor's degree summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina. Primary viola teachers include Daniel Sweaney, Victoria Chiang, and Frits DeJonge. Her pedagogy training is from Rebecca Henry (Peabody Preparatory Division) and Suzuki certification from teacher trainer Mary Cay Neal.


text:
7 Most How To Solder Copper Electrical Wire Solutions
Related photos in this project:
Other recommended ideas:
Most How To Solder Copper Electrical Wire Solutions - Tin the twine. Heat the pads and soften a small quantity of solder directly to each pad and allow it cool. Then vicinity the twine on top of the cool solder and use the soldering iron to soften all of it together. Executed. I just did precisely this the opposite day - those led strips are neat!. If the wires are for low voltage application inclusive of connecting 12v as much as led strip lights then you definately ought to bear in mind simply the use of twist on cord connectors instead of soldering. Those have a determined benefit in that they can be eliminated for destiny cord adjustments and they offer an insulated cover over the twine be a part of.
I have an led strip that could be a little over 1 cm extensive with 5 connectors on it, every approximately 1 mm huge i estimate. The wires at the left are those that were in the beginning on this strip. It is supposed to be viable to reduce this strip so i am now not doing something out of spec. How does one properly solder a ten awg copper stranded cord with an 18 awg copper stranded cord. There are masses of tutorials on a way to solder identical gauge wire, but what is the endorsed way to solder wires which can be considerably different awg?.
It seems that the combination of too much solder, too extensive soldering iron, and little soldering revel in, are preventing you from obtaining the effects we see in chuck's image. Of the 3 problems may be fixed right away. In case you tin the wires and the holes, you will want little or no, or none, additional solder. Use a pencil soldering iron, like the one in the equal photograph. After you positioned the cord in a hollow, warmness the junction of the cord and hole, until the solder at the twine and hollow soften (need to take no greater than 2 seconds). In case you do need to use a bit extra solder, use the very skinny type (approximately 2 mm diam, rosin center). I propose you first exercise this in a pcb with comparable spacing, then do the strip. Appropriate success!.


text:
Frilled Shirt for Kids
- frilly shirt for kids
- perfect for festive events
Medieval frilled shirt with lace for kids
Shirt for medieval markets, banquets, weddings, etc. Grandson will bring tears to grandma's eyes (literally) when she sees him on the medieval wedding.
100% rayon
This product in other colours
£27.67 *
ships within 10 business days
- item no: BA-4891K-40-100
- Money back guarantee
- Free shipping above 249€/220£
- Need help? Call +49 (0)63 51 12 65 42
Reviews forFrilled Shirt for Kids
Complete the look
Related products
More information aboutFrilled Shirt for Kids
Approximate sizes. British sizes are for chest. Please ask for exact measurements for each product.


text:
Crystal Meth Abuse Recovery Alicante
- Alcohol Rehab Spain |
- Residential Addiction Treatment Spain |
- Crystal Meth Abuse Recovery Alicante, Spain
Crystal Meth Abuse Recovery Alicante€ Call For Prices
The Health Effects of Drinking Soda - Quotes from the crystal meth abuse recovery alicante Experts. At the recovery same time there has to be some form of evidence of drug dependence which may include testimonies from the patient or close people to them about substance abuse. He states:.
In the alicante same way that our hypothetical son might choose to ascend dangerous mountains any individual might choose to use drugs because they satisfy his particular needs. If that is the recovery case know that intervention is very often successful and you are doing the right thing. This can assure you that this center has high quality rehab programs and therapy to cure someone 's drug habit.
The treatment centers offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment plans. This can assure you that this center has high quality rehab programs and therapy to cure someone 's drug habit.
officials have acted to outlaw the crystal drugs favored by powerless people especially racial minorities and immigrants. cocaine in the alicante United States).
The detoxification process seems simpler and less painful in a luxury treatment center. Counseling goes on even after a successful treatment just so that the abuse individual does not go back to drug abuse for one reason or the other. Sugar can increase your risk of gout.
Drug use by the recovery general public violates no such obligation. Instead of being sick kindness was not generally displayed to drug addicts as society viewed them to be wicked or bad.
Conflict theorists also note that it is powerful corporate interests who sell highly profitable drugs including alcohol and tobacco with the seaside crystal meth recovery center alicante full protection of the law even though these two drugs are linked to more deaths annually than all the illegal drugs combined. And yet just like other drugs it destroys a person's health over time rotting out their teeth disrupting normal brain function promoting heart disease and directly causing diabetes and obesity. unexpected hallucinations without taking the private crystal meth treatment centers alicante drug again).
If you don't believe me just put a spoonful on your tongue and observe the crystal meth abuse recovery alicante instantaneous effects. All these symptoms are generally found in chronic alcoholics. A life and target problem history is then used to identify the target treatment problem.
Peer Support. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
Contact us for Crystal Meth Abuse Recovery Alicante
If you see a green border round the padlock your connection is encrypted and secure.
Updated Wednesday 8th July 2020
Location of The Crystal Meth Abuse Recovery Alicante
Small single room with en-suite.
- Treatment Of Crystal Meth Abuse Alicante
- Nicest Crystal Meth Rehab Centers Alicante
- Best Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment Centers Alicante
- Gambling Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Gambling Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Sex Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Eating Disorder Treatment Alicante
- Alcohol Dependence Treatment Alicante
- Cocaine Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Heroin Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Links
- Eating Disorder Treatment Alicante
- Alcohol Dependence Treatment Alicante
- Alcohol Addiction Rehab Alicante
- Residential Rehab Alicante
- Crack Cocaine Rehab Alicante
- Amphetamine Rehab Alicante
- Khat Rehab Alicante
- Miaow Miaow Rehab Alicante
- Mephedrone Rehab Alicante
- Spice Rehab Alicante
- Gambling Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Sex Addiction Treatment Alicante
- Morphine Rehab Alicante
- Alcohol and Drug Rehab Alicante
- Methadone Rehab Alicante
- Tramadol Rehab Alicante
- Crystal Meth Rehab Alicante
- Methamphetamine Rehab Alicante
- Mdma Rehab Alicante
- Nitrous Oxide Rehab Alicante
- Drug Rehab Alicante
- Fentanyl Rehab Alicante


text:
Web design services for clients in Durbanville, Cape Town, South Africa
Why FrogWorks?
The internet is a crowded place but FrogWorks have a reputation at getting our clients noticed. Not all websites are the equal and we strive to give our clients the edge over their competitors.
We offer a wide range of complimentary services including domain registrations, hosting and online marketing along with online marketing and social media management for SME's
How Are We Different?
So, what sets us apart from any other web design company?
We are a proudly South African business. Based in Durbanville, Cape Town, FrogWorks is not limited by geography, we service clients from all over South Africa.
A decade's worth of experience. We know this business inside-out and have been involved in it since the birth of the internet. We are driven to stay current with emerging web technologies and have our finger on the internet's virtual pulse. Have a look at some of our work and see for yourself.
Your brand is our priority. When we design a website, our focus is finding out who your customers are and building a project that caters for them with the express purpose of expanding your reach and bringing you more business.
Custom Web Design
In today's extremely competitive business world, it's important to differentiate yourself from your competition. All FrogWorks websites feature custom themes tailored to represent your brand and stay true to your company's vision. We focus on creating sleek, responsive, user-friendly websites, helping convert the casual browser into a paying customer.


text:
Today I have Camille Faye at the Blogathon! And she's also doing a fab giveaway, so stay tuned for info on that!
Camille, tell us all about you! What would you most like your readers to know?
I am smack dab in the middle of the mothering season. I have a toddler and a soon-to-be second grader. You think that age difference would mean they wouldn't fight, well, like siblings. And you'd be wrong. In between my job as a mom-referee, I write for my critique group's blog, The Literary Ladies, which focuses on empowering women writers. I also write paranormal fiction which is based on my personal experiences growing up in a haunted house. Voodoo Butterfly, my debut novel, was a 2013 Lone Star Contest finalist and has earned only 4 and 5-star reviews on Amazon. (Mama's proud).
Are you one of those writers born with a pen in your hand and ideas flitting through your mind, or did your interest develop later?
When I was 8 or 9, I'd type stories about princesses and Oscar the Grouch on my mom's electronic typewriter. Over the years, I dabbled in writing in one form or another, writing for my high school and college newspapers, reporting for a local NBC affiliate, and teaching Composition at the college level. I finally made time for my dream of writing a novel when I decided to stay home to raise my kids.
How long did it take you to complete your first manuscript? Did it fly from your fingertips, or did the story emerge slowly?
My story is not one of overnight success. I started writing in October 2009 and, in one year, wrote a draft that was good enough to garner a few manuscript requests from NYC agents and editors. Over the course of the next few years, I had many editors and agents tell me they "really liked it, but it was not quite the right fit" for them. In 2013, Voodoo Butterfly was a finalist in a writing contest hosted by the Northwest Houston Romance Writers of America. One of the final round judges was Debby Gilbert, who owns Soul Mate Publishing, and she offered me a contract. Voodoo Butterfly finally made its debut 5 years, to the month, after I began writing it.
What are some life experiences that have infiltrated your stories?
I grew up in an old house where many people experienced paranormal activity. The scariest episode I experienced was waking in the middle of the night to someone—or something—tapping my head with what felt like a finger. I was so terrified, I literally couldn't move. The drumming on my skull continued for who knows how long as I rattled off Our Fathers and Hail Marys in my mind (being the good Catholic girl that I am). Eventually, I fell asleep.
Writers face many time-constraint challenges. What are some of yours? What do you do to overcome them?
Being a SAHM, I have very little quiet time. There have been some periods in the kids' lives (especially during toddlerhood), that I've had to basically give up writing for a month or so. It sucks. I wish things were different, but it is what it is. Most times, I commit to a practice of writing 15 minutes per day. Most times it turns into an hour or more. I never have writers block because I write notes to myself throughout the day if an idea hits me. When I sit in my chair, those notes guide where the story will take me.
How do you begin a story? Do you just sit down with an idea in mind and start writing, or are you a person who wouldn't dream of starting without a detailed outline, character sketches, and pages of research data?
I normally start out with a loose outline, but for my most recent work, I've made a detailed outline. So far I like it. Along the way I research about voodoo and New Orleans so that I can be as true to those cultures as possible. My plot and character development is completely made up, though, and that's where I have my fun and freedom.
Voodoo Butterfly actually began as a dream. When I was on a family trip in New Orleans in 2008, I dreamt of a woman who had the power to change evil people good. Immediately following that dream, I had a flash of a dream where I saw Saint Louis Cathedral in NOLA completely covered in monarch butterflies. In the middle of the night, I wrote down those two imaginative sparks and it itched in the back of my mind for months. I finally started writing the story in fall 2009.
Tell us a little about what you're currently working on.
Right now I'm working on the second book in the 'Voodoo Butterfly' series. My main character, Sophie, is going to go through some dark-night-of-the-soul kind of stuff. And we're also going to get to know the dark and mysterious Jacques better. I can't wait for people to read it!
Camille's debut book with Soul Mate, VOODOO BUTTERFLY:
When twenty-five-year old Sophie Nouveau inherits her grandmother's voodoo shop she knows nothing about voodoo. Or her family's history of Mind Changers, who have the power to change evil people to good. To complicate matters, someone doesn't want Sophie in New Orleans and sends a series of death threats to scare her away from her new enchanted life.
Tipped off by her grandmother's ghost, Sophie realizes her mind-changing spell's been missing one magic ingredient: true love. If Sophie cannot experience transformative love, she cannot make her spell work, and she will be powerless to fight back when confronted by the one who wants her dead.
Find Voodoo Butterfly on Amazon:
Find Camille online:
Facebook: Camille Faye
Twitter: @CamilleFaye
Website: http://www.camillefaye.com
Blog: http://www.thelitladies.com
Camille is doing two giveaways*:
1) An ebook copy of Voodoo Butterfly
2) A $5 Amazon gift card
*To enter, please 1) Follow Camille on Twitter, 2) Friend Camille on Facebook, and/or 3) Sign up for Camille's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/6AIsT.
Comment below with which things you did for more chances to win.
Camille, thanks so much for visiting with us today!


text: Another celeb with a tramp stamp tattoo. For those of you that don't know – a tramp stamp is a tattoo just above the butt. Let's slide this one into the "dope tattoo" category, simply because it's Jessica Alba. VN:F [1.9.22_1171]please wait...Rating: 3.0/10 (2 votes cast)VN:F [1.9.22_1171]Rating: -1 (from 1 vote)Jessica Alba Tramp Stamp, 3.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings


text:
AFEC-X 2017 application
This questionnaire is paused!
Advanced Fieldcourse in Ecology and Conservation - XTBG, China 2017
Venue: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS),
in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
Dates: 12 Oct – 23 Nov 2017 (6 weeks)
Organiser: XTBG
Thank you for your interest in this years AFEC-X!
We have limited places, so please answer the questions with as much detail as possible as we will
use these answers in selecting students.


text:
If you're planning on growing out your bangs, you might find it difficult to style your hair in such a way that it still looks really good. Longer bangs can be grown to match your own hair length, so it'll be good for you to grow them out so that you can try easier hair styles. In the meantime, you still need to be able to easily style the hair so that it looks gorgeous and doesn't look too overgrown. There are many ways for you to style your bangs while you are trying to grow them out to your own hair length.
How to Style Your Bangs
One style that you can try if you'll be growing out your bangs is to sweep them off to the side. You can accomplish this by training the hair to sweep to one side and stay that way. You will need to use a blow dryer regularly with a round brush to dry the bangs and give them some body. You can then use a straightening tool to blend the bangs into your own natural hair. If you have curly hair, you can even use a curling iron to sweep them more to the side and give them body.
You may also want to think about putting your bangs up and away from your face using bobby pins. This bump look is very popular nowadays, and many girls and women are wearing it while they happen to be growing out their own bangs. It might be beneficial for you to try to grow out the bangs as well, so be sure to have some styling tools and items available if this is something that you would like to do for your own good.
What to Avoid
There are certain things that you may want to consider avoiding if you would like to be able to style longer bangs without having to cut them. First and foremost, never try to have your bangs straight over your forehead if you'll be growing them out. Long bangs can look unkempt if you style them this way, and they are going to cover your eyes and look something awful. It is best to go with more of a side swept look if you would still like to show off your bangs without having to actually cut them to a shorter length.
You also want to avoid cutting your bangs just because you're getting frustrated with them. There are literally dozens of different things you can try for yourself if you want to have gorgeous bangs that are going to be completely grown out. By getting frustrated with them and cutting them to a shorter length, you are defeating the purpose and will only regret it again once they are cut. This is why it is so important for you to try these styles so that you can grow the bangs out and feel good about the way that they look framed on your head.


text: This is a guest post, written by Lauren Ridgely, who bravely shares her family's story of losing their 8 day old son in the Health Sciences NICU. Lauren is a nurse, a mother of a fiery 3 year old daughter, and the wife of Justin. She's a fan-fiction writer, a deeply loyal friend, and a… Continue reading The Dawn Will Come – a story of infant loss