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Michael McGrann, William Jessup University – Songbirds and Effects of Climate Change
Climate change is having an impact on the routines of songbirds.
Michael McGrann, assistant professor of environmental science at William Jessup University, looks into how an early arrival of spring in the western U.S. can throw a wrench into the songbird's mating rituals.
During his career, Dr. McGrann has participated in a wide range of conservation and applied ecological research, much of it along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). He has authored numerous research studies and is involved in a wide range of conservation and applied ecological research.
Dr. McGrann is heading up the new Institute for Biodiversity and the Environment (IBE) at William Jessup University, which launched in late April. The program consists of a diverse interdisciplinary research agenda and the centerpiece of this agenda is the Pacific Crest Trail Biodiversity Megatransect.
The program is designed to inform and motivate the conservation, preservation, and restoration of biodiversity, and the environment upon which it depends, through research, education, and the dissemination of knowledge.
Dr. McGrann received his Ph.D. in Geography at University of California Davis.
Songbirds and Effects of Climate Change
Most of the birds we see and hear on a daily basis are songbirds. In the springtime, these birds sing the melodies that enrich our experience outdoors.
In the mountains of California, Oregon, and Washington, songbirds are particularly abundant and diverse. But even in these remote mountains, they are not immune to the effects of climate change.
Due to climate change, warming temperatures are causing spring to arrive earlier in the year. Insects are an important food source for many songbirds and are most abundant in the spring. However, peak time for insects may be shifting to earlier dates. Many songbirds may struggle to adjust their seasonal timing of mating and raising their young to match the peak availability of their food source. Consequently, there may not be enough food to nourish their young.
Song has an important role in mating behavior. Males sing to advertise their presence to females and to defend breeding territories from rival males. Patterns in singing activity are therefore a very good indicator of when these birds are actively breeding and raising their young during the spring season.
In our research at thousands of sites along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which runs from Mexico to Canada, we have developed an innovative new method to track the response of singing behavior to climate change. We deploy automated bird recording devices. The recordings are later downloaded, allowing us to identify the particular species based on their song.
We can now utilize our established technique in our research going forward. It will successfully enable us to track the population trends and reproductive behavior – specifically singing behavior – of songbirds to climate change. Our technique should allow our research teams to track breeding behavior over the next 10 to 20 years.


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"Hawking's answers, and his efforts to out-do O Briain in the comedy stakes, gave us a palpable sense of the man behind the world famous digital voicebox."
Dara Ó Briain Meets Stephen Hawking, BBC1
"O Briain asked good questions and Professor Hawking gave even better answers. More revealing, however, were those awkward moments when conversation didn't quite flow. All these delays and distractions were effective at building up a picture of Hawking, a man whose superhuman determination to achieve can sometimes obscure his ordinary humanity."
Ellen E Jones, The Independent
"As an interviewer, O Briain while lively was not especially penetrating. Still the playfulness and mischievous charm that characterised so many of Hawking's answers, and his efforts to out-do O Briain in the comedy stakes, did succeed in giving us a palpable sense of the man behind the world famous digital voicebox."
Gerard O'Donovan, The Telegraph
"O Briain is an excellent choice of host, asking difficult questions despite his clear reverence for his subject, and it is impossible not to feel the contagion of his sheer pleasure in finding himself in such a situation. It seems a shame that Hawking's work is relegated to a brief chat about Hawking radiation, right near the end."
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian
"That in 45 minutes Hawking's life's work received barely five minutes of airtime and that his theories were neither explained nor critiqued must be one of this year's great missed opportunities by the BBC."
Andrew Billen, The Times
"Dara's uncritical approach meant he would never dare raise awkward questions about the claims that Hawking had been abused by his second wife, let alone tackle embarrassing stories that the scientist has been an attendee at strip clubs and swingers' parties."
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail
Your Inner Fish: An Evolution Story, BBC4
"Your Inner Fish: An Evolution Story is an unexpected delight of the nature schedules. To what is, in some senses, just a pile of old bones, anatomist Neil Shubin brings a delicious wit and a storyteller's turn of phrase, turning evolution itself into something of a saga."
Matt Baylis, Daily Express
"Dr Neil is engrossed in his subject, but he doesn't quite trust viewers to share his excitement. The result was like an Open University lecture on This Morning — neither fish nor fowl, reptile nor mammal."
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail
Undercover, Dave
"Undercover generally didn't work. There is little shame in that. The attempts to make politically acceptable a passage of dialogue saturated with the word 'paki' snapped my patience, however. Well over that edge."
Andrew Billen, The Times

subset: commoncrawl


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Thomas Cook's chief executive urged staff to ignore the "noise" of media speculation over its fate less than a fortnight before its collapsed, according to former employees.
A memo seen exclusively by Yahoo Finance UK suggests CEO Peter Fankhauser told cabin crew the deal to save the company would be a "complete game changer," advising them to "stay calm" and reassure customers.
Three former staff members expressed anger at the memo, dated 13 September, which they said they had seen on Thomas Cook's intranet for staff. One said it gave them "false hope."
It comes amid growing scrutiny of Thomas Cook's former leadership and events leading up to its dramatic end, which left thousands of staff out of work and hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.
A committee of MPs announced an inquiry into Thomas Cook and its leaders' "stewardship" of the company on Thursday, with Labour MP Rachael Reeves claiming its decline "uncovered what appears to be a sorry tale of corporate greed."
READ MORE: Unemployed cabin crew fear for their homes as they head to Jobcentres
Prime minister Boris Johnson and others have questioned the millions paid in salary and bonuses to top staff in recent years, while the insolvency service is also investigating the circumstances that led to liquidation.
Katie Brown, a former cabin crew member at its airline, said the memo had made her confident until late on Sunday night. She said she had expected a deal to be reached even 10 minutes before it emerged the firm had collapsed.
"Even Sunday, I was on edge but kept thinking of that memo. You can see why we all thought we would be okay. It's why we are all angry," she said.
"Obviously it was all in the press, but said it was all noise. Up until Saturday I thought it was just the media."
READ MORE: 'Sorry tale of corporate greed': Thomas Cook leadership face probe by MPs
The memo in Fankhauser's name said: "As you can imagine there are a multitude of legal and administrative steps that need to be taken, made all the more challenging under the watchful eyes of the external world and the scrutiny of the media.
"On this point, I want to reiterate that we should all expect the next few weeks to be particularly noisy. Everyone will be keen to speculate...While we have many supporters there are also those who will negotiate through the media to protect their own positions.
It continued: "We have to remember that there are many stakeholders who are having to give up a lot to make this deal happen. Now more than ever I need you to rise above this noise, stay calm, keep our customers and suppliers reassured and remain as focussed as you have been throughout this unsettling period.
"When finalised, this deal will be a complete game changer for our business ensuring that we are able to grow and become a strong competitor again from a much more stable financial footing."
One other ex-employee, speaking anonymously, said it gave staff "false hope."
Andrea Yates, another cabin crew member, told Yahoo Finance UK she was "absolutely fuming" about the memo, as well as other reassurances reportedly made by senior staff in the group's airline.
"We were told not to worry," she said. "I remember being told in August by management not to worry because the airline is profitable in the UK."
She said ex-staff she knew were also "getting really angry" that a deal had not been reached by Thomas Cook or the British government to keep the UK airline afloat, as two Nordic and German arms of the business have been.
The Thomas Cook group is now being wound up by the Official Receiver, part of the UK government's insolvency service.
A spokesman for the insolvency service said it would not comment on the company's affairs before it went into liquidation.
Yahoo Finance UK has also approached Peter Fankhauser for comment. Fankhauser was the chief executive of Thomas Cook Group from 2014 until its collapse on 23 September.


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Video released of deathly shooting outside South Fulton barbershop
SOUTH FULTON, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The search is continuing for a gunman wanted in a shooting at a South Fulton shopping center Friday night.
It all happened at a busy shopping center on the 6000 block of Old National Highway near Flat Shoals Road.
Police say they arrived to find the young victim, 17-year-old Willie Reddit, with a gunshot wound.
Officials said Reddit had just walked out of a barber shop when he was shot multiple times.
Saturday night, South Fulton police released surveillance video from the shooting.
The suspect appears for only a second, but the profile is clearly visible.
Police say they have promising new leads in the case, but they currently have not released a description of the suspect.
The shopping center re-opened for business on Saturday. Several shoppers said they were concerned with the sudden deadly attack, especially at such a busy place.


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Live election results for Michigan, including St. Clair County
It's likely Michigan voters will be weighing in on at least one close race on Tuesday. Lansing State Journal
Voters in St. Clair County were present throughout the day, as they headed out to cast their ballots in the 2018 midterm election.
In Michigan, the race for governor between Gretchen Whitmer and Republican Bill Schuette highlight key contests across the state.
Nationwide, this year's midterm elections won't just decide who takes control of the House or Senate. The midterms are seen in large part as a referendum of President Donald Trump, whose two years as president have been tainted with controversy and scandal.
Residents in St. Clair County will be able to cast their ballots until 8 p.m. ET. Local midterm election results can be found here after the polls close. See election results here.
Election results: Michigan
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
Election day in Michigan
- Election results: How do I find them?
- Local turnout: Voters turn out early to cast their ballots in mid-term election
- What to watch for:Election night
- Ballot proposals: What to know
- Value of votes: Is this the year every vote counts?


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Directory: Characters → Villains → DBZ villains
Pit Bull Pete (ボス) is a professional fighter and scammer. He appears in episode 272 (287 in the uncut), "Celebrations with Majin Buu".
Pit Bull Pete is a fairly tall, muscular, tan-skinned man with small, beady eyes, a cleft chin, and spiky black hair. He wears a black shirt with torn shoulders, green cargo pants, black sneakers and a pair of red boxing gloves.
Pit Bull Pete is shown to be extremely confident, as evidenced by his belief that he would defeat Majin Buu as well as later when remaining calm when the police surrounded the diamond store that he and his manager are robbing, only losing confidence when he realizes Majin Buu was also in the store.
Majin Buu wants to buy fourteen ice cream cones, but has no money, so he goes looking for money. Soon, he discovers Pit Bull Pete and his manager offering a hundred thousand zeni to anyone who can last for three minutes in a fight against him. Buu, of course, entered the fight, and apparently was the first to do so, as the entry fee is ten thousand zeni, and Pit Bull Pete is a professional. A fan of Mr. Satan's pays the ten thousand for Buu, believing him to be one of Mr. Satan's students. Pete punches Buu repeatedly, but Buu is unaffected, and then Buu slaps him into a brick wall, knocking him out and winning the money. Afterwards, he spends it all on ice cream and tells the shop owner to keep the change.
Later, when Bulma asks him to hold the groceries for her while shopping for jewelry (Vegeta and Trunks ran off because the shopping took more than an hour), Pit Bull Pete and his manager return and try to rob the store, even after they were surrounded by the cops. Pit Bull Pete brags that he killed over a dozen gangs. Bulma warns him that Majin Buu is with her, and they panic when they see Buu (remembering their humiliation at Buu's hands). Pit Bull Pete shoots Buu, although he is unaffected by the bullet, causing Buu to flick the bullet inches from his face while remarking "You dropped this!". Great Saiyaman and Great Saiyawoman arrive to stop the robbery, but they show up too late as Pete and his manager turn themselves in to the police, afraid of having to fight Buu.
- After the Earth is restored with the Dragon Balls, the Z Fighters wish to revive everyone except the very bad ones. Though he is a criminal, it seems that Pit Bull Pete is not evil enough for Shenron to leave him dead.


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Community meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest 7 miles southwest of Safford, AZ
Start Date: June 7, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 9100 Acres Operational Objectives Completed: 16%
Vegetation: Timber, brush and heavy downed timber from the 2004 Nuttall Complex
Resources Assigned: 415 Persons, 15 Engines, 14 Crews, 6 Helicopters, 1 Dozer, 5 Water tenders, and Miscellaneous Overhead
Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair/ Dave Gesser (t) with the Southwest Area Type 2 Team 3
Public Meeting: Monday, June 19, 2017, 7:00 p.m. at the Graham County General Services Office.
Closure: The Area Closure for the Frye Fire has expanded to include all campgrounds, roadways and trail systems within the Forest boundary in the Pinaleño mountain range including the Bible Camp, Turkey Flat and the Old Columbine area. Graham County Sheriff Officers will stop any non-essential-fire traffic to maintain safety in the closure area. The closure will remain in effect until rescinded. The entire official order and map is available on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5221/35695/
Summary: The fire has burned in the Ash Creek, Hawk Hollow, Frye Canyon, Frye Mesa, and Deadman Canyon areas. The fire in the bowl below the Bible Camp has advanced uphill. A significant volume of smoke continues to be visible from the surrounding local areas, Tucson, and beyond. Critically low relative humidity and near record temperatures are contributing to increased fire activity.
Firefighters have improved more than 15 miles of control lines on Forest Road 507 around the Observatory, Old Columbine, and the Bible Camp. Crews will continue preparing control lines from Old Columbine to Peter's Flat.
"Today's transition with the Type 3 Team went very smoothly. We were handed a solid plan that was easy to continue building upon," said Incident Commander Alan Sinclair.
Temporary flight restrictions remain in effect until further notice. This restriction includes "drones" or any unmanned aerial vehicles. The public is reminded that "If you fly, we can't!"
Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect on the Coronado National Forest.
For further information, please see the Frye Fire Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FryeFire/ the Coronado National Forest Facebook page at http://facebook.com/CoronadoNF and/or Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.


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Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
"Deep red/purple colour, with a lightly toasty bouquet featuring some smoky oak, quickly giving way to violet and blackberry aromas with a sprinkling of dried herbs; the palate intense and fresh, clean and lively, with brilliant depth of dark and red berry fruit flavours. The acidity is refreshing on the finish and the tannins are firm and upright. This seems to be a more elegant style of Moss Wood, but still concentrated, and a long-term keeper. This is a great Moss Wood cabernet." - Huon Hooke - 98 points
cabernet blend
margaret river, australia
Out of stock


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Classics is in everything: it is myth studies, political science, art history, religion, psychology, linguistics, and medicine; it is great literature from epic to tragedy and comedy, history and satire, philosophy and the novel; it is even the powerful arts of persuasion and rhetoric. We explore them all. We look to the past to see the present. You can major or minor in Classical Civilization, Classics and Philosophy, Classics and Religion, Myth Studies, Ancient Greek, Latin, and/or Modern Greek. You can study all this under one roof or while abroad and have a blast doing so. And don't miss out on our faculty/undergraduate raucous production of Aristophanes/Plautus every Spring.
Our graduate program in Classical Studies offers a MA, a MA/PhD, and a PhD. The program is both structured and flexible to offer careful training and guidance as well as to foster independent research and growth. For details, visit our Graduate Program page. We also offer a dual-degree: MA in Classical Studies/PhD in Philosophy.


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City of OlatheHome Menu
Interior Remodel-Basement Finish Permit
Interior Remodel - Basement Finish Permit Process
- Submit a Residential Building Permit Application.
- Submit a plan drawing, showing the remodel room sizes and uses, doors and windows, and room uses of adjoining/existing rooms.
- Refer to Basement Finishing and Remodeling Code Guidelines for specific plan requirements.
- Submit a Homeowner Installation Notarized Statement. This process applies if the homeowner is doing the work.
- The Residential Plan Review and Permit Fee is paid when the residential building permit is issued.
- Checks are payable to the City of Olathe.
Call 913-971-7900 for additional information.


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Connecting you to care and support in the East Riding.
Thinking about your caring role, how its affects your life and what support you may need
Don't quite know what you need? Our house will help you find the right equipment for you.
View our factsheets about care and support in the East Riding
Social care training for the private, voluntary and independent sector
Choosing the right services - how do I know if a service is good and right for me?
While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information, neither Connect to Support East Riding or shop4support will be held responsible for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any inaccuracy or error within these pages.


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Jeff Rense is an American anti-New World Order activist. He hosts a website at Rense.com and is the radio talk-show host of the Jeff Rense Program. His show broadcasts on US satellite radio and internet radio. The website and show often discuss topics such as 9/11, World War II revisionism, Zionism, contemporary geopolitical developments, alternative medicines and some more eccentric aspects such as Ufology.
Listen Download Hour 1 - Dean Henderson - Left Hook
Listen Download Hour 2 - John Barbour - Merry Christmas!
Listen Download Hour 3 - John Barbour - Merry Christmas!
56k CF
Rense's site
Download From Archive.org


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Philbin: Winston Moss was let go because of 'fit' with team
A day after losing head coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers associate head coach Winston Moss is out, too. "It's never about one thing", said Philbin, who took over after Mike McCarthy was sacked Sunday. During the Packers' start to this season's 4-7-1 campaign, Rodgers reportedly did so more often than then-coach McCarthy liked. McDaniels definitely knows all about football, and he could accomplish big things in Green Bay, especially with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers .
Chelsea stunned as Wolves show their class against the league's elite
And will Wolves bounce back from a fifth defeat in six? Jesse Lingard equalised moments after Alexandre Lacazette had restored Arsenal's lead in the second half. The young midfielder could develop his game with a ball-playing team like Wolves and he would bolster Nuno's squad in the short-term. And we feel Sarri will prefer Barkley over Loftus Cheek in midfield - only if the former is a 100 per cent fit.
Adelaide is favorite ground away from home: Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane will have to step up and be the glue in the middle order, like he did wonderfully in the last tour down under. Speaking about the previous tour, when Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson were involved in quite a few altercations out in the centre, Ponting said that Kohli can be quite rattled.
Nats sign P Corbin to 6-year deal
Nightengale tweeted that Corbin will get at least a six-year, $125 million contract according to several executives. After a lot of speculation that he was set to sign a six-year deal, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post dropped the bombshell Nats fans were hoping for, reporting that he was set to sign in D.C.
India vs Australia: Ajinkya Rahane believes the hosts are still the favourites
The duo were both banned after Cameron Bancroft, who is also serving a suspension, attempted to alter the condition of the ball with sandpaper against South Africa in Cape Town in March. Zaheer Khan said that Umesh along with Bumrah and Shami should play the series-opener. "Ishant is leading the attack on his fourth tour (of Australia ) now, that's heaps of experience which is very important", said Khan.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden says team 'discussed' Kaepernick
Added Gruden: "You want to have somebody with a similar skillset to the quarterback you have". Obviously, the media's focus will turn to Super Bowl signal caller Colin Kaepernick . He filed a grievance against the National Football League previous year, saying team owners colluded to keep him off rosters. Sanchez went 13-of-21 for 100 yards and an interception without much knowledge of the playbook.


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Posts Tagged 'Childhood'
Malcolm Schofield At Koç University: Infancy and Childhood in Ancient Greek Philosophy
As part of the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities' Distinguished Scholar Seminar Series, Professor Malcolm Schofield (Cambridge) will be at Koç University, Monday 7th October 2013, at 16:00 in Room CAS 133.
Abstract: Childhood is often thought to have started to become a subject of intellectual interest in its own right only with the beginnings of romanticism in Western Europe in the late eighteenth century. But for ancient Greek philosophers – including Heraclitus, Plato, the Stoics, and the Epicureans – childhood and infancy already represented paradigms good to think with about a whole range of important topics. This lecture will discuss the use of the paradigm in their explorations of our access to knowledge, their discussions of the foundations of ethics, and their treatment of the role of play in a well-ordered human life.
More info on http://cssh.ku.edu.tr/phil/events
All welcome!
Going to Koç University:
From Sarıyer: Dolmuş leave from Sarıyer Iskelesı to Koç university every ten minutes or so. Warning: some Dolmuş will leave you at the gate of the campus, a 15-minute walk away from the main building and the event venue. Dolmuş going all the way leave from Sarıyer every 30 minutes or so. Allow 30 Minutes for the ride.
From Haciosman Metro: take a taxi to campus (app. 20TL), a bus to Sarıyer or the direct bus to Campus (number 154). Warning: there is no bus 154 between 9:40 and 16:20. Alternately, you may take bus 150 that will leave you at the campus gates.


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Perv Eyewear
Shop Perv Eyewearat birdsnest online for bargain sunglasses style. Find sunglasses in every style and shape, each for less than $50! Perv Eyewearwill deliver you your best style yet... Sun safe and very cool, our birds are seeing summer through Perv Eyewearglasses!
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What a sweet heart! A simple heart adornment on our soft, matte ballet flat. Perfect for any occasion.
Also available in dove.
Please refer to our size chart.
Direct all enquiries to email@example.com or you may use our contact form.
We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.


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Cinematic Action Packed Trailerby AuthorMusic
Royalty Free Music
Item details
This royalty free music track perfectly portrays your champion's long-lasting battle for the love of his life! You can hear her calling him in this epic cinematic track featuring synthetic sounds as they are so famous nowadays. It also features some catchy piano melodies and a very motivational end. This alluring and invigorating music piece can be used for your advertisement as well to trigger some emotional moments in your movies, trailers, video games, documentaries, vlogs, infomercials, radio and TV shows, corporate promos and presentations, openers and intros and many more. Its convincing and powerful attitude will help you with your stories and visions in so many positive ways! Enjoy it today!
- .wav
- 44.1kHz
Need to test this track with your project? Download the preview


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How can I write a here document to a file in a script?
try to use tee:
tee newfile <<EOF
line 1
line 2
line 3
It's concise and can be combined with sudo if you need to write to files with root permissions.
Your first problem can be solved like ...READ MORE
You can use this:
stat -c "%a %n" ...READ MORE
You can use if-else branch to check ...READ MORE
To create a symbolic link, you can ...READ MORE
Try using systemd isntead of a cron ...READ MORE
I needed to do a similar thing ...READ MORE
Is your problem is not with the ...READ MORE
The scope of an alias command is the shell ...READ MORE
$0 will give you the complete basename. ...READ MORE
You don't actually have to call the ...READ MORE
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KRIS REBUILDING LIVES FUND aims to help restore the lives of individuals and families who have fallen victim to disasters.
Following the great devastation that Typhoon Haiyan left on its wake, the KRIS Rebuilding Lives Fund donated homes and motorized boats to families that have fallen victim to the disaster.
In July 2015, during its biennial Lift Up the Orphans Mission trip, the KRIS team traveled to the islands of Leyte and Samar and had the wonderful opportunity of visiting with the Fund beneficiaries face to face. The team brought rice, groceries, clothes and shoes for the families and their neighbors.
The smiles on the families' faces and the tears of gratitude that some of them shed in sincere thankfulness for the love and care afforded them was truly a HEARTWARMING experience.
The Rebuilding Lives Fund also helps select individuals with serious medical conditions and in dire need of treatment.


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This is the birthday card I made for Mom. I used the Lotus Blossom set that you can get FREE during Sale-a-bration! I used Pacific Point for the images, because Mom's favorite color is blue. (Or, at least, it used to be. I guess it still is. Mom?)
Lotus Blossom is a 3-step stamp. Lots of samples I've seen use one color for the first two layers (stamping off for the second) and then a second, lighter color for the third stamp. But Pacific Point doesn't have a "dynamic duo" pair. It's dark enough, though, that I used it for all three stamps. I stamped full strength for the first, then stamped off once for the second, and stamped off twice for the third.
If you look closely, you can see there's a flaw in the final – lightest – stamp. But, of course, Stampin' Up! has the best customer service ever. They're sending me a new stamp for the one that's messed up. I should have waited until the "good" stamp arrived, but I couldn't. Patience isn't my thing. But all cards from here on out will be perfect, because the stamp should be here by next week!
The background paper is the Painted Blooms designer series paper. It's gorgeous! It coordinates with the Painted Petals set (seen here) from the Occasions catalog, but, of course, you can use it with any stamp set.
I needed to add a little more blue, so I added some of the Painted Blooms Cotton Twine in Soft Sky.
Be sure when you place your order that you add your Sale-a-bration choices! And your order can be from the annual catalog, weekly deals, clearance rack, Occasions catalog and online only items (so basically everything!).
Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a wonderful day!


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Samantha Nelson was only 32 when she died after a heart attack in 2010. Ms. Nelson, who had been on the phone with her mother and sister just a couple of hours before she died, had pledged to call back after she took a bath, but had not been heard from. Then the call came. Ms. Nelson was frantic; she had just awaked in a tub filled with scalding water with little clue as to how she got there.
Ms. Nelson's mother and sister urged her to call 911, but she wanted to call her husband first. He headed straight home, but when he arrived, she was already dead. Her next-door neighbor, an emergency medical technician, was home at the time.
Ms. Nelson's brother, Michael, a neuroscientist in Brooklyn, has taken it upon himself to make an app to ensure that what happened to his sister happens to fewer people. On a phone screen, his app, iUDAME, is little more than a large gray button. When the button is pressed, the app can alert 911 as well as family members to the distressed user's location. (Ayúdame is Spanish for "help me.")
Mr. Nelson says a person who might be facing a traumatic event — even death — would sense that something was wrong and would be able to hit a panic button.
"If people had something like that," he said, "then we'd be able to save a lot of people."
The iUDAME app is financed entirely by Mr. Nelson, and it is best seen as a manifestation of his grief. It is available free for a trial period; users are then asked to pay $1.99 monthly.
Not wanting to crank-call an ambulance (or to alarm my family), I tested the app to the point of actually letting the button go through. Using it consists mostly of entering information about emergency contacts and frequent haunts. After you press the button, which you must open the app to gain access to, you are given five seconds in which to reconsider. Simply pressing the button again cancels the call.
Mr. Nelson said he had not informed the city's emergency response officials about the app.
When asked about the possibility of hypochondriacs' calling for help when they are less than distressed, he said the five-second countdown should be enough to deter those people.
It seems reasonable to wonder whether an app — especially one that costs $1.99 every month — is necessary when its core function essentially duplicates a free emergency service. But Mr. Nelson said that iUDAME, with its single-button operation, provided a crucial service.
"You can't always dial 911," he said. "If you have someone in the room causing distress, you can't really call. If you're about to have a seizure, you don't really have time to stop your seizure and give 911 a call."


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You bought your nifty sports utility vehicle (SUV) and your boat and trailer, and you're ready for a weekend on the lake. The wife has the food packed and ready, and the kids are slathered in sunscreen, eager for some water-skiing. All you need to accomplish as the head mechanic in the family is to hook your SUV to your boat trailer and hit the road. All goes well with the hookup, but when it comes time to wire your trailer to your truck, things get a little iffy. Your trailer wiring plug doesn't match the one on your vehicle. The wife and kids stare daggers into your head as you curse your way through hours of agonizing wiring mishaps. Thanks, Dad.
Each state has its own set of towing laws and regulations, from size limits to weight restrictions. The one common denominator for each state in the U.S. is that the trailer must be wired to the vehicle. Just like your car or truck's brake and signal lights must be in working order, so should your trailer's lights. This is accomplished by wiring the vehicle to the trailer.
Many times, trailer wiring is as easy as inserting the trailer plug into your vehicle's pre-rigged system. In fact, most vehicles, especially those meant for towing, come prewired and ready to roll. Whether your vehicle is pre-rigged or not, you'll have to go through the necessary steps to make sure your trailer is wired to your car. Besides being the law, it's also common sense. You'll want the cars behind you in traffic to see every brake tap and turn signal on your trailer, just like they would on your car.
Read on to find out more about trailer electronics. How can you wire your trailer to your tow vehicle to ensure towing safety on your journey to your recreational destination?
Trailer Lighting
If you're going to tow a trailer, you need your trailer lights up and running. Most trailers have three circuits that you'll connect to your vehicle. One operates the taillights, one runs the left brake light and the last one runs the right brake light. When it's time to turn, your brake lights will flash to let everyone know which way you're going. Obviously, trailer lighting is essential to safe towing.
You also need a ground wire. This provides a conducting path which is independent of the normal current-carrying path -- a fancy way of saying that it prevents the system from shorting out due to an electrical surge. So this means your trailer wiring plug will need at least four contacts. The good news is that the standard connector for trailers uses four pins, plus the ground. These plugs are typically flat, with the pins set in a row. Easy enough, right?
Some of the other common styles of connectors use five, six or seven pins. These plugs are usually round and plug in much like an electrical socket would. But if you only need the brake lights and taillights hooked up, why would you ever need more than four pins? It's because larger trailers will occasionally have a separate circuit for running lights on the sides and front of the trailer. Your extra pins will operate these lights. Some trailers, like ones that carry cars or horses may have interior lights powered by the tow vehicle's battery. This can account for the need for another circuit as well.
If your vehicle is pre-rigged with a four-pin plug and your trailer is ready to go with a four-pin plug, all you need to do is plug it in and test it out by doing the following:
- Turn on your vehicle lights and make sure the trailer taillights come on.
- Tap your brakes to make sure the trailer's brake lights work.
- Test each turn indicator and make sure the trailer complies.
That's all there is to it in the best case scenario. Another situation might find you with a seven-pin connector on your tow vehicle and a four-pin connector on your trailer. This is when you need to adapt -- literally. Go to your local auto parts store and ask the specialist which adapter you need, if you don't feel comfortable picking it out yourself. Chances are it will be as easy as locating something with a label that reads "Seven-pin to four-pin trailer wiring adapter."
Read on to find out about buying trailer wiring kits when your vehicle isn't pre-rigged.
Trailer Wire Identification
Let's say that your vehicle isn't pre-rigged for towing. Don't worry, you can still take your boat to the lake for the weekend. You just need to buy a trailer wiring kit and do it yourself or have a professional do it for you.
The easiest way to find the wiring kit you need is to order it on the Internet or go to an auto parts store that has a nice selection of wiring systems. The kit will be specific to your vehicle make, model and year. These days' kits take most of the brain work out of it, and you won't need to wire anything yourself. That means no splicing, soldering or even taping of wires. What you'll get in the kit will most likely be a T-harness or T-connector. The T-harness has two plugs, one for each taillight. These plugs are connected to each other and feed into a single plug that hooks to your trailer. Each side of the T-harness will plug into your taillight, and the original plug will then go into the newly installed T-harness.
Once you have the right T-connector for your vehicle, it's simply a matter of plugging it all in. What you want to do here is access the rear taillights of your vehicle from the inside. If you have a wagon, you can do so by simply looking under your trunk. Lift up the carpet in the rear and you'll find a storage area where your spare tire and jack are most likely kept. There may also be a piece of molded plastic that shields the taillight from the rest of the trunk. You need to remove this as well -- it most likely pops out and snaps back into place pretty easily. Some SUVs won't have access to the light from the trunk, so you'll have to remove the entire taillight housing with a screwdriver.
Once you have access to the taillights, you'll notice the wiring plug leading into it. This comes directly from your car's electrical system. All you need to do is unplug it from the light, plug your T-harness in and then plug the car's original set of wires into the newly installed trailer harness. Do the same thing on the other side, and you'll be wired for towing your trailer. Then simply attach the ground wire to some metal. It will probably be a ground with a metal loop at the end. Just drill a hole into the metal base of your trunk and drive a screw through the loop to attach it to your car.
The plug that you'll attach to your trailer will have several feet of wire. You can just keep the plug and wire stowed under your trunk storage space alongside your spare and jack until you need it for towing. When that time comes, simply pull it out and close the trunk on top of the wire -- you won't do any damage to the system.
If you find that you have a car that's too old or a trailer that has a mess of wires, you may need to bring your vehicle in for some help from a mechanic. Otherwise, it's as easy as plug and tow.
Trailer Plugs and Sockets
When it comes to trailer wiring and harness plugs, there are several to choose from in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. The standard trailer plug and socket design is a color coded system using four wires. In this case, the brown wire is used for the tail lights, the license plate light, and the side marker lights. The yellow wire gives power to the left-hand brake light and the left-hand turn signal. There's a green wire that controls the right-hand brake and light and the right-hand turn signal. The last wire of a standard four-wire system is white -- it's used as the ground wire. Most boat trailers and small utility trailers that don't have their own brakes use this kind of harness plug, often referred to as a "flat-four."
When researching what kind of trailer plug and socket system to go with, you may hear them referred to as having a certain amount of "poles." This term is synonymous with the number of wires. Following are some of the other wiring systems you may want to consider, depending on your needs:
Five-wire systems are the same as the four-wire system, right down to the wire color and corresponding function. The one difference is the additional wire. The fifth wire for these units is blue and is typically used to control things like hydraulic disc brakes or additional auxiliary outlets. This can include interior trailer lights or extra side lights.
Six-wire systems are also the same as the four-wire models but they have, you guessed it, two extra wires. In this case there's the additional blue wire that would serve the same purpose as the one for the five-wire system. There's also a red wire that acts as a 12-volt feed. This can operate everything from a cigarette lighter to a car alarm system.
The seven-wire system corresponds exactly to the six-wire systems plus one bonus pole that's generally used to power interior and exterior lighting. You'll often use a seven-wire setup for a camper trailer, RV or cargo trailer.
As with any kind of auto wiring, trailer plugs and sockets can be a little confusing for the novice trailer tower. Before you go and plunk down some hard-earned cash for a wiring harness, talk to an expert. Your mechanic or your local auto parts store employee may be able to give you the advice you need. It also may be a good idea to get some information from some wiring manufacturer Web sites before you start asking questions.
For more information on towing your boat and whatever else you'd like to link to your vehicle, visit the links on the next page.
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
- Is there a green way to tow?
- How to Turn While Towing
- How to Shift While Towing
- How to Pass While Towing
- How Boat Towing Safety Works
- How to Brake While Towing
- How Trailer Towing Safety Works
- How to Use Mirrors While Towing
- How to Load and Unload Towed Vehicles
- How Towing Weight Distribution Systems Work
- 10 Tips for Easy Towing
- How Backing Up Towed Vehicles Works
- How to Tow a Four-wheel-drive Vehicle
- Electrical Considerations for Towing Quiz
More Great Links
- "How do I troubleshoot trailer wiring problems?" rofb.net. 2008. http://www.rofb.net/faq/faq_trailerwiring.htm
- "How Plug-In Simple! Trailer Wiring Works" trailerwiring.com. 2008. http://www.trailerwiring.com/cgi-bin/static.cgi?p=how
- "How to wire a car for trailer lights." helium.com, 2008. http://www.helium.com/items/543698-how-to-wire-a-car-for-trailer-lights
- "Trailer Wiring Diagrams." Accessconnect.com. 2008. http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm
- "Trailer Wiring for the Do-It-Yourselfer." trailerwiring.com. 2008. http://www.trailerwiring.com/
- Allen, Mike. "Saturday Mechanic: Wiring Your Trailer Hitch." popularmechanics.com. February 2004. http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/automotive/1272556.html


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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that attacks the immune system and myelin sheath of the central nervous system. People with MS can typically experience one of four disease progressions, each of which might be mild, moderate, or severe.
Relapsing-Remitting MS
People with this type of MS experience noticeable exacerbations, or flare ups, that are followed by recovery periods [either partial or complete], during which the disease does not progress. This is the most common form that most people are initially diagnosed with.
Primary-Progressive MS
This type of MS occurs with a slow decline in neurologic function from the beginning, with no obvious symptoms of flare-ups, or recovery. A minimal amount of people are diagnosed with primary-progressive MS.
Secondary-Progressive MS
Following an initial period of relapsing-remitting MS, many people develop a secondary-progressive disease course in which the disease worsens more steadily, with minor recoveries. Before the disease-modifying medications became available, more than half of the people with relapsing-remitting MS developed this form of the disease within 10 years.
Progressive-Relapsing MS
This is the rarest form of MS. This form of MS continues to progressively get worse, but still have exacerbations that cause the neurologic function to decline along the way. They may or may not experience some recovery following these exacerbations, but the disease continues to progress without recovery.
Physical Therapy can allow for secondary symptoms of MS to decrease or be non-existent. Physical therapy can help with balance issues, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and posture all due to symptoms of MS. Physical therapy treatment can allow you learn new activities to compensate for inabilities caused by MS. Activities performed are those that include strengthening and stretching muscles, and teaching the patient to do the same. Since no two people have exactly the same experience of MS, the treatment is guided on an individual basis.
Reference: https://www.nationalmssociety.org
We treat patients with MS in the 34711 area!


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Estranged: March '68 and Its Aftermath
9 Mar 2018 – 24 Sep 2018
Cost of entry
Full Price 12 PLN / Concessions 8 PLN
- 6 Mordechaja Anielewicza St.
- Warsaw
Masovian Voivodeship
- 00-157
- Poland
It is an innovative exhibition showing not only the historical background to the events but also the experiences of people who have been affected by them.
"Estranged: March '68 and Its Aftermath" exhibition, to be shown between 9 March and 24 September 2018, will explain the causes and the course of the anti-Semitic campaign that culminated in the expulsion of about 13,000 Poles of Jewish descent from Poland.
A metaphorical installation drawing upon the 1960s aesthetics of Warsaw's Gdański Railway Station will be the focal point of the space describing the departures. It is a space of saying goodbye to Poland, where visitors will be able to hear oral history interviews. Separate sections will describe the life of refugees after leaving Poland.
The upper temporary exhibitions room will host an installation entitled March Archive, made up in the form of display cases containing items related to goodbyes and departures from Poland.
Apart from stories about the historical events, we will also present artistic works that interpret the March developments and emotions related to them.


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Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, writes in response to some false and destructive teachings on the gospel message being spread in the early years of Christianity. These were not unique to that time, however, for we are faced with similar distortions today. Interestingly Paul never specifically identifies or confronts the actual false messages, but simply presents Christ as the CENTER of our faith; the very image of God, the Creator, the sustainer of all things, the fullness of God in bodily form, and the reconciler. With all we face in the world today, we need this reminder as well. Our CENTER, Jesus Christ, is completely adequate regardless of whatever false doctrines are presented to us. Paul writes that we "have been given fullness in Christ" – what a promise – what a victory!!!. The world offers us hollow and deceptive philosophy; empty of any real value to restrain our sinful nature. We need a reminder of our center – Jesus Christ and Him alone.
Paul's opens with this letter (Col 1:1-14) with a prayer for his readers on the "content" or true knowledge of what Christian faith is all about. In this he stresses that the only source of real knowledge is God Himself; the only place from which to draw "spiritual wisdom and understanding". He further cautions that his readers (and us as well) keep our focus on Christ as our center, and not be tempted to follow strange promises of "hidden, secret, and special" knowledge. Christian faith is not an intellectual exercise, but instead is bound up in our relationship with God through Jesus as his only begotten son. So just what is this content of the faith that Paul wants us to know? His next verses reveal this.
The Supremacy of Christ (Col 1:15-20)
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
The content of the faith that Paul wants the Colossians (and us) to know is the "beloved Son", Jesus Christ, the center of our faith. Consider what this passage is telling us – who Jesus really is.
1:15 image of the invisible God. Christ is called the "image of God" (Greek "Icon" – the imprint of the invisible God) in accordance with 2Cor 4:4 "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Further, Heb 1:3 presents Christ as "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." So if you want to know what God looks like, take a look at Jesus Christ. If you want to know God's character, take a look at Jesus Christ, He is the "imprint" of the invisible God expressed in a human form to whom, as humans, we can relate. These passages suggest two truths: (a) God is invisible (Jn 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.) and (b) Christ, who is the eternal Son of God, reflects and reveals him (Jn 1:18, 14:9-10 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.) The tight Father-Son union confirmed!!
1:15-16 firstborn over all creation. Just as the firstborn son had certain privileges and rights in the Biblical world, so also Christ has certain rights in relation to all creation; priority, preeminence and sovereignty (vs 16-18). by him all things were created. Paul mentions "all creation," "all things" and "everything," stressing that Christ is supreme over all. Consistent with this, John begins his gospel by presenting Christ as the "Logos" – the explanation and grounding for everything; the Creator, not a part of creation.
1:17 He is before all things. Referring to time and precedence as in Jn 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. and Jn 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!".
1:17 In him all things hold together In the context of today's science, this is an intriguing statement. Modern physics identifies four basic "forces" (electromagnetism, gravity, and the strong and weak nuclear forces) that form the "glue" which keeps everything together in the physical universe – from the smallest atomic particle to the largest cosmic body. Science calls these "forces" because there does not seem to be anything materially substantive to identify, just "forces" – a nebulous concept that is as far as human science can go. Further, as science has delved into what makes up the physical reality we consider "solid", at the atomic level there is no basic "stuff", just empty space and "forces" It is interesting that here Paul says that Christ Himself, as the Creator, operates continually to keep everything together and functioning. What would happen if He just got tired, got fed up and quit? Interesting!
1:19 fullness. For Paul, "fullness" means the totality of God with all his powers and attributes. It is noteworthy that the writer of Hebrews used Psalm 8:5 about Christ; Heb 2:5-9 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified (Ps 8:5) "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." There is no conflict here between God's "fullness" dwelling in Jesus, while at the same time God the Father had Jesus made "little lower than the angels". Jesus was not "made" by God, but rather was "made" flesh (human), and in that sense was a "little lower than the angels" who are spirit beings. Note Jn 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
1:20 reconcile to himself all things. Reconcile (Greek katallaste) gives us "catalyst" which in chemistry is something that changes what it touches, but is not itself changed. [A catalyst causes a chemical change but is not itself permanently affected by the chemical reaction] Jesus Christ does not change, even after absorbing all of our sin; He stays who He is and changes everything He touches. 2Cor 5:17-19 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
In Summary
Col 1:15-20 points to the essential center of our faith – who Jesus Christ really is. Our center is not an idea, a program, or even the result of all the good things that God is doing, like our "liberation" from the consequences of our sin. Instead Paul focuses not on the result (i.e. liberation), but on the person, the "Liberator", the one who is the catalyst. The giver of the gift is more important than the gift itself. Jesus Christ is not a mystical, unknowable, indefinable, divine something standing over us as a dominating power. Rather we have a concrete figure – the man Jesus Christ who bears a name, comes from a place, and has a life history in time – He is our Lord. This is the great fact that Paul wants the Colossians (and us) to know, and then to live under this great fact. In making this point, note the four markers Paul gives us on the significance of Jesus Christ;
- He is the image (imprint) of the invisible God!. John's gospel begins with describing Jesus Christ as
the "Word" (Greek "Logos") – that which gives meaning to everything.
- He is the firstborn of creation – the Lord of Creation! – the Source of all that is, all creation.
- In Him all things hold together! Paul states that Christ is the binding power that keeps everything from falling into complete chaos. He uses this same idea in 2Cor 5:14 (NIV) "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died" and the KJV says "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead." Think of the banks of a river that hold the water together so that it can freely flow and not become a fetid swamp. Likewise, Jesus Christ personally holds us together – he integrates us and makes us whole persons.
- He reconciles us to God!. He stays who He is, but enables our forgiveness and sets us free. So now we can have full fellowship with God the Father. Christ enabled this by making peace through His blood; His life given on our behalf on the cross. He took upon Himself our humanity, our sin, the power of evil, and even the power of death – He absorbed it all at the cross. No one else can be our redeemer, nobody else has taken death and absorbed and conquered it. No one else has taken our sin and the power of evil, and absorbed it in Himself. Now, because of Christ's willing sacrifice, there is no longer despair, but hope that our sins will no longer control our lives. His life was given for us.
This is who Jesus really is – fantastic!!!!


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We are so very excited about ART BY ME this year which is in full swing! For those of you that are new to Olive Chapel, "Art By Me" is an art-based fundraiser. It has become a tradition and something that families look forward to every year here at Olive Chapel. It is also part of the Art Department Curriculum, and the funds earned go back to Olive Chapel! It's a unique art program that transforms a student's artwork into beautiful, professionally made products. This year we will have online ordering again to make it easier and convenient to order your children's treasures! Great for holiday gifts, anniversary presents, birthdays, and more!!! Ordering dates and more information to come. Thank you always for all your support and for nurturing your child's creative spark! Cheers, Gussie Marshallsea
Art By Me, for all tracks
Art by Me is now in full swing for Track 3. By now, all of Track 3 should have received the Art by Me tear and share postcards and order forms. Many thanks to those of you who have already ordered. **TRACK 3 ONLY** - If you are still considering what to order, please make those final decisions on or before Tuesday November 19th to guarantee holiday delivery. **ALL OTHER TRACKS** - If you have not placed your order yet, you may still do so! All paper and online orders will be processed! Thank you to everyone for your orders. Your masterpieces will be arriving soon!
April 2016


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Urge the Florida Legislature to Buy Sugar Land Now and Save the Everglades: Action Alert
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is again dumping excess nutrient-polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, threatening the health of marine life in these coastal communities. Meanwhile, the Everglades, a unique ecosystem stretching from Orlando all the way to Florida Bay at the tip, is starving for clean water.
According to the Everglades Foundation, the solution is for the South Florida Water Management District to buy land previously occupied by sugar farms, where water can be stored, cleaned and then sent south to the Everglades. In 2010, the state of Florida made an agreement with the sugar industry to acquire land to clean up the industry's pollution, protect drinking water, and clean up polluted waterways on both coasts.
Thanks to the Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment 1, approved by 75 percent of voters in 2014, there are available funds dedicated to acquiring, restoring and managing conservation lands, including lands protecting water resources and drinking water.
Floridians can tell Governor Rick Scott now to urge the South Florida Water Management District to buy 46,800 acres of U.S. Sugar's land south of Lake Okeechobee before the state's option expires in October 2016.
To sign the Act Now petition, visit Act.ProgressFlorida.org/sign/everglades.


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By Graham Thiele, RTB Director
Attending the General Assembly and Scientific Conference of the Association for strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) in Bujumbura, Burundi from 9-13 December, convinced me of the need to have a clearer plan for engagement with them.
While I was motivated to take part by an invitation from Dr Fina Opio, Executive Director of ASARECA, to a side meeting of CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs), I found the whole event a great opportunity for CGIAR Centers and CRPs to learn more about and engage with a wide range of partners including policy makers (an impressive group of agriculture ministers), national agricultural research systems, farmer associations and SROs.
Research and agricultural transformation
Plenary sessions included updates from Dr Yemi Akinbamijo of FARA, Dr Harold Macauley of CORAF, Dr Adipala Ekwamu of RUFORUM and Prof.Timothy Simalenga of CCARDESA which will hold its General Assembly next year in May, in Botswana. Prof. Geoffrey Mrema made an excellent presentation on progress with the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa.
Prof. Agnes Mwang'ombe gave a stimulating keynote on "Research and agricultural transformation". She pointed out that, whilst strong engagement of the private sector is essential, the public sector still has a key role in areas such as policy analysis, neglected crops and training. The new paradigm supported by the African Union/NEPAD and embedded in the CAADP process requires dynamic agricultural markets. The CGIAR reform and system level outcomes open new prospects for engagement, and partnerships are needed to pull in the 16 CRPs.
After the plenary sessions, I attended the technical sessions most relevant to RTB:
-Clet Masiga and Charles Mugoya explained how ASARECA is supporting low-cost tissue culture for bananas, cassava and potatoes, using pressure cookers instead of autoclaves, wooden hoods to maintain sterile conditions and locally available vitamins and chemical inputs. They are linking up with the private sector, including AGROBIOTEC in Burundi, to enter markets with a more competitive product.
-William Tinzaara (Bioversity International, Uganda), told us about an innovation systems approach to help combat banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW). Farmers working with participatory learning are connected via a website and organized into accountability groups who decide if planned actions are addressing knowledge gaps.
-Rodin Randriantsalama (Centre de Développement Rural et de Recherche Appliquée) explained the different control options being tested for late blight in Madagascar. Three resistant potato clones from CIP, he said, yielded 50% more than the Spunta control.
-Astere Bararyenya (ISABU – Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi) noted that in Burundi only 1% of seed was certified in 2013. They are working with an ASARECA-supported project on alternatives such as farmer-managed seed plot technique and positive selection. Bararyenya stressed the need for inclusive quality assurance, with quality declared seed by private sector and cooperatives.
-Jane Ngugi led us through the mechanisms being introduced by the Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agri-business project in 20 counties to create a pluralistic, demand-led system. The idea is to provide guidance on farming as business and linking with markets, and to empower farmer organizations to influence extension services. 109 service provider consortiums and 36 priority enterprises have been established and farmers have been organized into CIGs.
A side meeting was organized by IDRC, a close partner of ASARECA on making agri-systems work for the poor. Similarly, Judith Francis (CTA) and Michael Waithaka (ASARECA) held a side meeting on seed science and policy which included presentations of experiences with Integrated Seed System Development in Ethiopia and Uganda: a good opportunity to link up with RTB seed system work.
Visiting stands
The East Africa Productivity Project had an extensive and well-staffed stand. Chris Omongo (NaCCRI), who coordinates the Cassava Regional Centre of Excellence in Uganda explained their work in varietal development and postharvest. They have links with IITA scientists in Tanzania.
Evelyn Katingi (ILRI) was looking after the CGIAR stand with posters and materials on some CRPs. Ben Lukuyu (ILRI) and Carlos Leon-Velarde and Sammy Agili (CIP) prepared a poster on sweetpotato for food and feed showing an emerging collaboration of Livestock & Fish, RTB and Humidtropics.
I was pleased to talk with Denis Kyetere, the Director of AATF who commented on the progress in evaluating transgenic lines with resistance to BXW with IITA researcher Lina Tripaathi. They have recently negotiated with Brazilian companies with help from CLAYUCA.
The Kilimo Trust just published a study of banana value chains in East Africa. I discussed the ethical concerns in working with banana beer – the most important processed product – with their CEO, Nuhu Hatibu. "Consumers are going to look for banana beer anyway," he said, "and moving to a more industrialized and safer product will lead to a net welfare gain".
On the bus I chatted with Endale Gebre, Head of Research at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and current President of the African Potato Association. We discussed the widespread adoption of CIP varieties in Ethiopia which Gebre attributes primarily to their resistance to late blight. However, in Sshemene – an irrigated area – farmers plant year round and they need varieties with a short dormancy. CIP varieties are not doing so well there and bacterial wilt is also a significant problem.
Developing collaboration
The side meeting for CRPs became a working dinner chaired by Francis Wachira (ASARECA Dep. Executive Director). All ASARECA program managers took part as well as representatives of around eight Centers/CRPs. Fina Opio clarified "The CRPs are the principal point of engagement with the CGIAR," although they will continue to work also with the DGs. Joseph Methu, the Head of Partnerships, reminded us of the collaboration mechanisms proposed during the May meeting with CRPs including: MoUs with CRPs/Centers, mutual involvement in design of projects, involving ASARECA in CRP planning and steering forums, sharing CRP working sites and EAAPP Regional Centers of Excellence, scientist training and regular six-month review meetings.
Dr. Ivan Rwomushana made a presentation on the new Operational Plan for 2014-18 with a set of thematic projects based on stakeholder priorities, a process in which CRPs have been involved. We discussed progress in collaboration but were hampered by a lack of continuity in participants from the earlier meeting and rather limited time. New points emerged around the possibility of a single MoU with the Consortium, the need to have an additional mechanism for reporting to complement the six-month review, and options for collaboration around results-based management and M&E.
In summary, the meeting was not only an excellent opportunity to network with ASARECA and its partners, it also showed me RTB needs to seek ways for a more structured engagement.


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Show # 1 Christian Hansen
Who doesn't love cheese? My first guest is the Upstate's premier cheese maker, Christian Hansen of Blue Ridge Creamery and he's got quite the story to tell. Although he's a third generation dairy guy, he basically started with a dream and a few gallons of milk


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- Office: (352) 243-6784
- Primary: (828) 781-3947
- Mobile: 352-432-8661
- Fax: (352) 224-3394
- Email: Ashley Jordan, Sales Associate, Property Manager
- Address: 720 W Montrose St
Clermont, FL 34711
I relocated to Clermont in 2014 to be closer to family and friends. The closeness of attractions and beaches are added bonuses! I love the small town feel next to the big city. I truly enjoy being a tourist in my home state and will find any excuse to take a road trip. I feel that hard-work, passion, persistence, and thirst for knowledge are the keys to success. I have been blessed with a few good mentors in my life that have helped me get to where I am today, and I am excited to see what the future holds. "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." -Henry Ford


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This whole deal with "The Popular vote" meme is starting to get out of Hand. Bernie is shilling it, protesters are shilling it, The NPV is almost finished.
I'm honestly petrified that, after this election, the left going to cement their political sway. Nobody, and I mean nobody mentions the fact that 75-95% of Hillary's PV numbers are from California ALONE.
They seem okay with the lives of others and the fate of the nation being dictated by out of touch urbanites, and a state that has no ID requirement.
How do we kill this in it's cradle?


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Mattel Disney Pixar CARS 3, Fall-Winter 2017 Target-Only Diecast Spotters Guide + S Singles Case
Here is the case breakdown showing the Wave 2/New CARS diecasts at Target. Not listed but there is ALWAYS at least 1 Rust-Eze Racing Center Lightning (gold foil version).
This chart does NOT SHOW Wave 1/more common releases.
If you want to see the full case contents, just search on TakeFive with the phrase – Singles CASE (and the letter code).
The current Case Spotter's Guide for other non-Target cases is HERE.
Happy shopping and collecting!
Here's the new Target look – if you're in the Houston area, you can check it out – hopefully with new CARS.
The S Case contents
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Detailed Itinerary
Note: This itinerary is customizable. You can talk to the travel agent and further customize it as per your requirements.
Day 1
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is a famous Vedic temple in the hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is around 600 km (370 mi)from Hyderabad, 138 km (86 mi)from... Read More
Day 2
Chennai Temples
The Tirumala Hill is 853m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The s... Read More
Day 3
Visiting Temples
The temple is on Venkatadri (also known as Venkatachala or Venkata Hill), the seventh peak, and is also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, an... Read More
Day 4
Depart From Tirupati
The temple is the richest pilgrimage centre, after the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, of any faith At more than INR 500 billion and the most-visited place of worship in the... Read More
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Budget Estimate
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|Budget Type
|Saravanan Lodge, Kensington Hotel
|Gharanah Serviced Apartment, New Victoria Hotel
|The Pride, VGP Golden Beach Resort
|Asiana Hotel, The Pod Hotel
|Sindhuri Park Hotel, PLR Grand Hotel
|Vista Rooms at Renigunta Road, Hotel Raj Park
|The Bhimas Residency, Bliss Hotel
|Fortune Select Grand Ridge., The Bhimas Residency
- 3 night stay (on twin sharing basis)
- Breakfast (Kindly check timings & venue from the hotel)
- Return Airport transfers by Non AC vehicle on seat sharing basis
- Sightseeing by Non AC vehicle on seat sharing basis
- Driver's allowance, Road tax and Fuel charges
- Parking and Toll taxes
- All presently applicable hotel and airline taxes
- Should there be any further levy of Govt. / statutory taxes or charges, the same shall be chargeable extra as and when applicable.
Note: These are representative inclusions. Please check with travel agent for exact details during booking.
- Items of personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, room service charges, soft drinks and hard drink charges, etc
- The payments for additional services taken at the hotel are to be settled directly at the hotel
- Any service not mentioned in inclusions
Cancellation Policy
- 15 days or more before date of departure: 20% of total cost
- Less than 15 days before date of departure: 100% of total cost
Note: This is representative policy. Please check with travel agent for exact details during booking.
Payment Policy
- 30 days or more before date of departure: 10% of total cost
- 30 - 15 days before date of departure: 50% of total cost
- Less than 15 days before date of departure: 100% of total cost
Note: This is representative policy. Please check with travel agent for exact details during booking.
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Our team
The primary focus of our company has always been selling meticulously restored & like-new condition Certified Preowned watches and one-of-a-kind estate jewelry pieces, but we can also special order unused watches from most of the famous Swiss Brands and have an impressive selection of modern jewelry as well as diamonds of all types & qualities.
We are always acquiring new watches and jewelry pieces, so check our website frequently, or sign up for our free monthly catalog. If you have an item that you are interested in selling, we can help sell your piece
Our Swiss-trained watchmakers are experts at restoring watches to their original like-new condition. We are one of the preeminent locations for Miami watch repair - and around the world. With six in-house Swiss-trained watchmakers with over 150 years combined experience to handle all your watch repairs and service issues. If you have a watch that is not working as it once did, send it to us. You will be amazed at your new watch. Our Miami Beach showroom is located across from the world renowned Bal Harbour Shops, and we have been doing mail order business with customers around the country, and even around the world. If you are ever in the area please stop by, we would love to meet you.
Keith Gray, President & Founder
e-mail: [email protected]
Keith is the company's primary international buyer and the visionary of Gray & Sons marketing. He is particularly proud of the team that he has helped train over the years to become specialists in this field. Having taken many seminars on personal & corporate effectiveness, Keith strives to keep his company on the cutting edge of this industry. He loves working, collaborating, doing restoration of watch bracelets/watch cases and doing what most jewelers/specialists would consider too difficult or impossible.
Keith loves mechanical Swiss and USA made pocket and wristwatches. He likes the gears, the wheels, and under the hood experience working with his watch repair staff.
Our Team
Rich Finlinson, Marketing Director & Sales Specialist
e-mail: [email protected]
After graduating in English at the University of Utah and taking specialized studies in advertising, Rich started working at Gray & Sons 14 years ago. Rich uses his experience in all aspects of international advertising, marketing & sales. Rich speaks both English & Spanish.
"The watch that looks best on Rich's wrist is the Breitling Montbrillant - it is a great modern interpretation of a classic vintage style."
Jackie March, Senior Sales Specialist
e-mail: [email protected]
From a young age Jackie has been involved in many sales environments. Here at Gray & Sons, she has grasped a vast knowledge of complicated timepieces and estate jewelry and has grown to appreciate and love them all. Jackie speaks both Spanish & English.
"Jackie loves her Rolex Pepsi bezel GMT Master, because like her, it is highly coveted, desired and considered to be an "investment" timepiece."
Joe Cerullo, Master Watchmaker
One of our favorite employees at Gray & Sons comes to us with a wealth of knowledge & experience in the repair & restoration of fine Swiss timepieces. Joe Cerullo is a Certified Master Watch & Clock Maker and past President of the American Watch & Clock Makers Institute. He is a gold medal graduate and a micro-lathe expert from W.O.S.T.E.P. in Switzerland and has 35 years of experience restoring high-grade complicated watches and has worked with most of the big Swiss watch manufacturers including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Piaget, Cartier, Corum, Breguet, and Girard Perregaux. Joe is a great addition to our service team that ensures all our Certified Preowned watches function and look the best they possibly can.
Claudine Faifer, Sales Specialist
e-mail: [email protected]
Claudine, born in Paris France, has worked for Gray & Sons in various capacities for over 20 years. She has an excellent knowledge of antique and estate jewelry, sterling silver, and watches. Besides showroom and phone sales, Claudine also manages our online auctions. Claudine speaks English, French & Spanish.
Junior Whyte, Repair & Restoration Specialist
Junior has worked at Gray & Sons for over 25 years. Over his years as a watchmaker Junior has fixed or serviced thousands of fine watches. Junior learned the trade of watchmaking in his native Jamaica from his father, he also spent three years in Switzerland getting additional training. Junior has been supervising and training along with Keith Gray all facets of jewelry and watch service & quality control. He has helped give Gray & Sons a definitive advantage over the competition - in fact many authorized and factory service centers have used Mr. Whyte's staff to repair, polish, detail & restore their fine products to new showroom condition.
Viktoria Peshkur, Sales Specialist
e-mail: [email protected]
Viktoria has completed her Master Degree in Law from University of Belarus and is currently residing in Hallandale, Florida. Viktoria is educated in Great Britain and fluent in English and Russian. She also finished 5 years Art school and was nominated as the best drawing artist in a Japanese drawing competition.
"Viktoria is in love with extraordinary and vintage-inspired jewelry which she finds in estate worlds of Gray and Sons house collection. Jewelry to her is a lifelong love affair and talismans of her journey through life."
Natalia Kudelina, Sales Specialist
e-mail: [email protected]
Natalia is a wonderful addition to G&S team. She has a bachellor degree in Economics from Saint-Petersburg, Russia. She loves watches and jewelry and works in sales and quality control. Her out of work time is spent loving her 2 children.
"Natalia doesn't imagine her life without jewelry, it has become a part of her life. She loves to work, to live and enjoy the beauty of precious stones and metals, vintage and modern watches, each of them is a piece of art."
Margaret Bus, Graphic Web/Print Designer, Photographer
e-mail: [email protected]
Originally from Poland, Margaret is the newest member of the Gray & Sons Marketing Team. She uses her experiences to branding, responsive Web design and printing design. Margaret combined her formidable skills and experience with a willingness to listen to our needs and concerns and respond accordingly. She was engaged with the website and catalog redesign project where she shows a highly organized and time management skills. She redesigns Gray & Sons website and catalog from start to finish.
"She loves Patek Philippe for its quality, style and amazing history."
Laurie Raya, Accounting
e-mail: [email protected]
Originally from New York, Laurie works in our accounting department as a bookkeeper. Laurie has over 15 years experience in accounting, and is well versed in event planning & logistics. Although she has never worked in the jewelry field prior to joining the team at Gray & Sons, she is eager to learn everything she can about such an exciting industry.
Max Stalmach
e-mail: [email protected]
Maximilian Stalmach Gray is the son of the owner, Keith Gray. He has been working at the store since the tender age of 13 and has grown up in the business. He went to Immaculata La Salle High School in Coconut Grove for the first three years of high school. The following year, he transferred to Riverside Military Academy located in Gainesville, Georgia, where he graduated from. This introduction to the military life led him to enlist in the United States Army Reserve. He has attained the rank of Specialist and is currently stationed at the 344th Sapper Engineer Company. He is also a full time student at Florida State University where he is in ROTC and pursuing a degree in Chemistry. He is fluent in Polish, intermediate in Spanish, and has a strong interest in world history.
Patricio Brondo
e-mail: [email protected]
Originally from Argentina, Patricio began working for Gray and Sons Jewelers a year ago, at the very end of senior year in Miami Beach Senior High. Since then, Patricio continues his studies at Florida International University for a Masters' Degree in Architecture. While studying Architecture at Florida International University, he continues to work part-time at Gray and Sons Jewelers. Patricio is reliable, trustworthy, courteous, and has learned a complex oracle inventory program, and outbound customer service calling. He is always committed to completing tasks with precision and excellence; this reflects his performance in school as well. Over time, Patricio learned the front office sales aspects of the jewelry and watch industry as well as the back office components of the business. Before working at Gray and Sons Jewelers, he knew nothing about luxury watches such as Rolex, Cartier, and Patek Philippe. He knew even less about high-end jewelry including brands like Tiffany and Co, Van Cleef, Chopard, and Bvlgari. Now Patricio is on the sales floor, operates in-house stock items, manages descriptions on online inventory, shipping department, engages in customer transactions, makes outbound calls to instate and out of state customers wishing them Happy Birthday and Anniversary, and occasionally blogs for the catalog and website. Despite Patricio still being a student of the game, he is on the right path. Patricio speaks both English and Spanish.
"Patricio favors Breitling over other watches because he likes their Auto Pilot theme."
Antonella Diaz, Sales Associate
e-mail: [email protected]
At 17 years old, Antonella began working here at Gray and Sons Jewelers as a high school intern coming from North Miami Senior High. After graduating, she stayed working for our company and is now one of our head receptionists helping our customers with any concern they may have. Antonella continues to study at Miami Dade College aiming towards her Registered Nurse title while working part time in our show room dealing face to face with real-time customers. Although this is her first job, Antonella shows great promise in problem solving, customer service, task managing and can handle any obstacle given to her. In the short time she has been here, Antonella has quickly grasped the ability to handle the sales, purchases and repairs of a plethora of high end jewelry and watches such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin and many more. Now that she has experienced first-hand what it takes to run a luxury business, Antonella has grown her understanding of how the real world works. Working at Gray and Sons Jewelers, Antonella has learned that there is a lot more to watches and jewelry than the glitz and glam. Each client that runs into Gray and Sons can know that when working with our staff, they will be encountering personnel that know the importance behind every birthday, wedding anniversary, graduation gift and other eventful moments in life.
Elizabeth Godefoy
e-mail: [email protected]
Elizabeth joined the marketing and design team at Gray & Sons in May 2019. After graduating high-school with various certifications in the Adobe suite, she continued her education in marketing and the arts. Once achieving her first degree, she went to Germany where she was able to expand her skills both linguistically and professionally. While in Berlin, she worked with several non-profit organizations helping them establish an online presence and volunteered teaching Englsih. Elizabeth brought this experience back to the U.S. in 2018 where she returned to school to obtain her Bachelors in International Relations from Florida International University. The education received when obtaining degrees in multiple areas of study includes research, writing, data analysis, and problem solving among a number of other valuable professional and interpersonal skills. She says that while she continues working with non-profit organizations, Gray & Sons provides new and challenging avenue to expand her skills and to continue learning. She unwinds with sunset yoga or a quick tennis match. While she continues developing new language skills on the weekend, Elizabeth also enjoys kayaking, water sports and trying new restaurants with friends.
Dennis Lindo, Senior Graphic Designer
e-mail: [email protected]
Born in Cuba and father of three wonderful children, Dennis is one of our newest additions to the Gray & Sons Marketing Department. He is a College graduate in Graphic and Fine Arts and brings extensive experience in design, printing & marketing. He was an instant fit and had an immediate impact to the improved catalog design and production, web graphics and other marketing materials."
It was 1980 when we first opened our doors for business in Miami Beach, Florida. While a lot has changed since then, there are fundamental principles that have governed Gray & Sons since day one. Principles like offering only the highest quality merchandise coupled with the highest quality service all at a substantial discount, have helped us grow into what we are today.


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Our language of money (+ step-by-step guide to value pricing)
Why do you do what you do?
Are you motivated by providing for the people you love? Do you just do it for the love of it? Is the collaboration your driving force? Maybe it's a combination of all these things.
When I "officially" started my business about 6 years ago, my eldest daughter had just been born so I had a lofty, love-driven aim:
I wanted to be a role model.
And that is still true. I do want to show my daughter, all my children, that you can do what you love. But now, I want to show her that you can do what you love and earn money from it.
I also want to model that wanting to is not greedy, unseemly, money-grabbing, selfish....I could insert any number of (negative) adjectives here.
We seem to think that a driving force of money or financial gain stands at odds with the more "noble" reasons..
You might say that you do what you do for the love of it. That you aren't motivated by money.
Thing is, the hardworking folk at your bank who kindly lent you all that money for your mortgage, they do kinda care about money. And try telling the guys at the tax office that you'd like to pay your VAT with hugs.
Why do love and money have to stand opposed?
The language we use to discuss money gives us a bit of an insight into our feelings on it, and it's (usually) the result of our life experience. Think about it: do you ever catch yourself using the same phrases that your family and friends do to describe someone who you perceive to be wealthy?
Sometimes it can have a different effect - individuals who grew up in relative poverty (by this I mean first world poverty, to be clear) may want to distance themselves from their childhood by increasing their financial means dramatically.
Still others find it hard to do so because they've been raised to be "happy with their lot", so to desire more would make them feel greedy.
On the flip side, I've met many entrepreneurs who enjoyed a more...well-funded youth, but who are working every hour under the sun to make their own way, earn money that is theirs and not a handout from their relatives.
What do all of these examples have in common?
In all of the above, our relationship with, connection to and language we use when we talk about money is shaped by our life experiences. It's only natural!
So, I'm not going to tell you to get thyself to a psychologist and try to banish these thoughts. I'm just going to ask you to bear them in mind, and see how they affect your business.
How does my language of money affect my business? That's a great question. As usual, I'll give you an example:
Hi John,
How are you? I hope you had a lovely weekend - wasn't it great to see some sunshine?
Sorry for the delay in getting this proposal over to you. I wanted to make sure I covered everything. Anyway, I've attached it to this email. I hope it's okay for you. Have a read through it and let me know what you think - I'm open to negotiation! I would love to work with you on this project (and others in the future!)
If anything's at all unclear, just let me know.
Kind Regards
The above is an email I sent about 3 years ago to a client. Could I be any more subservient? I mean, I'm a big fan of being polite and chatty, but this email takes it to another level!
It's full of phrases that invite objection. I mean, I actually tell the guy "I'm open to negotiation". With that sentence, I have effectively said: "I think my quote is too high, please confirm this to me by beating me down on price."
Which he did.
Does my email look familiar to you? The language and specifics might change, but does the general theme ring any bells? Maybe you pepper your emails with "just"....
"I'm "just" attaching this proposal."
"I "just" wanted to see if you'd received my invoice?"
"I "just" wanted to follow up to see if your product was delivered."
Maybe instead of being generous with your justs, you ask your customers permission for everything.
"I'll be raising my prices to $XXX - is that okay?"
"May I send you the invoice?"
For me, the Just Police came a-callin' one rainy Tuesday when I had a sick child to deal with. A request for a proposal came through and, given that I was balancing him on my lap and dealing with tears and snot (mine), I didn't have time to send my usual Shakespearean plea to accept my quote.
In fact, I think the body of my email consisted of two lines:
Hi X,
That would be £XXX and I could start the work in 2 days. Let me know if you want to proceed.
And they accepted! Not only did I just state my price without all the usual flowery faffing, but I also set the start date myself....for the future!
This was huge to me (not least because their next email asked for my bank details to pay me in advance) as I felt that the balance had shifted and the relationship would start on a even, equal footing.
Is that it? Do we simply need to set a price list and fire off a curt email every time someone wants to work with us?
No, probably not. But for many of us, a little less faff and a little more firmness will go a long way.
But what about the price itself? How do you work out the rate you charge? Is it always the same? If you're a service provider, this is a really useful starting point....
Is this how you price? Even if you're not a service-based business, pricing your products with more in mind than breaking even is a big step.
My clients who have product-based businesses often say that the two elements they forget to account for are their own time and turning a profit.
Here's my challenge to you: add a teensy tiny profit margin to your next quote. Even if it's only a couple of percent. And when it's accepted and you receive payment for that job, save that amount of money, however small it may be, in a separate account.
I got that tip from the book, Profit First, by Mike Michalowizc (which I recommend to everyone.) It's an amazing book, and extremely useful for entrepreneurs.
But we're not done yet.
Building in a profit margin to your quotes is really just the first step I want you to take.
Uh-oh, it's value pricing time!
Value pricing is a pretty controversial topic. Why? Because it means that you don't have a set price for whatever "thing" you sell ("thing" can mean a service, your time, a product, whatever.)
It means you charge different prices to different people...sometimes for the same thing.
It means you charge based on the value to your customer...not to you.
I presented about this topic at a conference in Portugal this year, and I gave this example. Let's say Disneyland got in contact with you about coming up with a tagline, or (re)designing their logo, or creating a product. Coincidentally, a local theme park in your village also got in touch, asking for the exact same thing. The work required would be identical. On your side, it would take precisely the same amount of time.
Would you charge the same?
Before you answer, I'd like you to skip forward a year and imagine the unthinkable. They don't like what you produce and decide to have it re-done by someone else.
Consider the impact for Disney - think about the implications for their printing budget, their merchandise, their advertising, the damage to their reputation...the cost could run into the millions.
And for your local client? Yes, it would be a massive inconvenience, but probably nowhere near as catastrophic.
I am definitely a glass half full type of gal, but sometimes it is helpful to look at things from a pessimistic perspective. When it comes to ascertaining the value to a client, considering the impact on their business from both the positive and negative consequences of contracting you is crucial.
Here's a handy list of examples of value for clients:
Sometimes, it's useful to think about how working with you can benefit them, i.e. what they can get, win or sell as a result of what you do for them.
For example, let's say you're a public speaking coach. You coach someone ahead of a big sales presentation. They win the contract. Would they have won it without you? Possibly, possibly not. But is it a risk they're willing to take?
That's your perceived value.
With that in mind, here's a new way for you to look at pricing your services:
How you price your services and your inner (and outer) money monologue don't have to hold you back in business. Just like your own language of money is personal to you, a client's perception of value is personal to them.
Remember: Your client is evaluating whether the value to them is worth paying your price; they are not evaluating you as a person.
Speaking of pricing, this month's Magic Words Club template is all about the money. Specifically - a template for your quotes. As usual, you'll get the editable template for you to customise for your own clients, as well as a PDF showing an example layout.
One last thing: It's the final countdown for having access to all of the templates forever.
Once we hit September, new Magic Words Club members will only have access to that month's template (the back catalogue will only be available by purchasing templates individually.) So get registering!
Sign up for membership here - it's a teeny tiny £15 per month (cancel any time.)