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Aptitude and ability tests are designed to assess your logical reasoning or thinking capabilities. They consist of a number of multiple choice questions and are strictly timed.
You may be asked to answer the questions either on paper or online. The advantages of online testing include immediate availability of results and the test can be taken at an employment agency or even at home. This makes online testing particularly suitable for initial screening as it is very cost-effective.
Aptitude and ability tests can be classified as speed tests or power tests. In speed tests the questions are relatively straightforward and the test is concerned with how many questions you can answer correctly in the allotted time. These tests tend to be used in selection at the administrative and clerical level. A power test on the other hand will present a smaller number of more complex questions and tend to be used more at the graduate, professional or managerial level.
There are at least 5000 aptitude and ability tests on the market and every year new tests are devised and added to the already huge number of tests available. Every company that produces tests needs to differentiate their own test from those of other companies. This has produced a bewildering range of test names and acronyms. However, all of the tests you are likely to come across can be clasified into six basic types:
Verbal Ability Tests
These include questions which test your ability to spell words correctly, use correct grammar, understand analogies and follow detailed written instructions. These tests are widely used since most jobs require you either to understand and make decisions based on verbal or written information or to pass this type of information to others. In practice, the more straightforward types of question (spelling, grammar and instructions) tend to be more applicable to administrative roles and the reasoning and deduction type of questions to management roles.
Numeric Ability Tests
These include questions on basic arithmetic, number sequences and simple mathematics. This type of test is used to determine your basic numeracy. These tests are directly applicable to many administrative and clerical jobs but can also appear as a component of graduate and managerial tests. In more complex data interpretation and numerical critical reasoning questions, blocks of information are provided that require manipulation and interpretation. Sometimes these questions are designed to approximate the type of reasoning required in the workplace.
Abstract Reasoning Tests
These tests are based on diagrams and measure your ability to identify the underlying logic of a pattern and then determine the solution. Abstract reasoning tests are thought to give the best indication of your general intelligence and are very widely used. These tests are of particular value when selecting people for technical jobs which involve working with abstract ideas or concepts. However, as they also provide the best measure of your general intellectual ability, you will usually find some questions of this type whichever particular tests you are given.
Spatial Reasoning Tests
These tests measure your ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to visualize three-dimensional objects presented as two-dimensional pictures. Spatial ability is required in production, technical and design jobs where plans and drawings are used, for example; engineering, architecture, surveying and design. It is also important in some branches of science where the ability to envisage the interactions of 3 dimensional components is essential.
Spatial ability questions often involve the visual assembly and the disassembly of objects that have been rotated or which are viewed from different angles or objects that have different markings on their surfaces.
Mechanical Reasoning Tests
These tests are designed to assess your knowledge of physical and mechanical principles. For example, pulleys, levers, simple electrical circuits etc. Questions are in the form of a question and a diagram and you will need to determine which mechanical principle is being illustrated. No specialist knowledge is required to answer these questions, only an understanding of the principles. Mechanical reasoning tests are used to select for a wide range of apprentice and engineering occupations.
Data Checking Tests
These tests present you with number of tables of information which must be checked against each other. This type of test is used to measure how quickly and accurately errors can be detected in data. It is used to select candidates for clerical and data input jobs, particularly where accuracy is important, for example, accounting and banking. In these tests you will usually be given two columns of data to check for consistency and you will be asked to mark up any differences.
In all of the above tests the questions will be presented in multiple-choice format and have definite right and wrong answers. You will usually find that there are more questions than you can complete in the time allowed and the aim is simply to give as many correct answers as you can.
Ideally, your score will then be compared with the results of a control group which has taken the tests in the past. This control group could consist of other graduates, current job holders or a sample of the population as a whole. Your reasoning skills can then be assessed in relation to this control group and judgments made about your ability.
More commonly, your scores will be compared to the other candidates who took the test at the same time. Whilst this does not represent 'best practice', due to the small size of the sample, it is often what happens in real life.
You may also be interested in Psychometric Tests Introduction, Personality Questionnaires, How Personality Profiles are Used, Aptitude Tests, Aptitude and Ability Tests - Speed versus Power, The Assessment Center, Why are Selection Tests So Widely Used, The Growth of Psychometric Testing and What You Can Expect on the Day.


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The Fed Ex delivery man came to my door just a little while ago, carrying a huge box. I carried it up the steps and all the while feeling something shift inside, like it was moving. Oh my I wondered. What is it? Rebecca was jumping up and down with joy, yelling what is it Mommy? Who is it for? Where did it come from? I brought the box into the livingroom. Rebecca was yelling, Open it up Mommy now!!!!!!! I made her wait a couple minutes until I finished the previous entry in my journal.
I cut the tape on the box, got my camera ready and Rebecca tore into the box. First item she grabbed gave her a fight, but after wrestling for a few seconds Rebecca won the battle. The giant Duck gave up, and let Rebecca win the battle. LOL So here Rebecca is.
Do you see the white chicken there in front? Well, you twist off it's head, fill it with gumballs, put the head back on and wind it up. As it walks a gumball comes out of it's butt, LOL. I love that thing. Rebecca says, Mommy look it's laying eggs, lol.
And to who does Rebecca owe a big thank you too? It is to her Jland Godmother Angie, of canyonsun and founder of the Giving Tree. Angie, thank you so much. With all your packing and loading and fixing up of your home to sell, and spreading around the word for my sister, you still found the time to do a wonderful thing for Rebecca and have brought her so much happiness this morning. You are awesome lil sis, and I love you sooooooooooooooo much. I swear when Angie comes to visit me someday, out the window goes her diet, cause I am going to spoil you rotten girl with all kinds of dishes of my cooking. And as for the giant duck. He is in the kitchen sitting in a chair watching Rebecca play with all the playdough that was in the box.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((ANGIE))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) your awesome sis.
Love ya lots,
Cindy xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxxoxox

subset: commoncrawl


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Every day is always different in the Eternal Spirits world which is partly what I love and partly what frustrates me about having a business!!! Sometimes I crave for a bit of routine but I know it's the last minute rush, the stress and inconsistency that keeps me going… and I know I'm lucky so I shouldn't complain!! This last week as is usual for this time of year has been a busy week for brides. I love my brides; love this aspect of Eternal Spirits so much infact it's what makes me smile the most. It is such a huge honour to create a gown for the most important day of a woman's life. Because the process is so hugely personal and involved its also so lovely to spend time with my clients and their regular visits for fittings… just feels like I am having old friends over for a cup of tea every time. Now I see all my clients at home its just wonderful. I have an old Victorian house in mapperley which is just perfectly in keeping with all things Eternal Spirits and my clients love to come here for the personal service and beautiful fitting room that's like a giant dressing up box. Also this week I have had a new intern start with ES for the next 6 months and she is just wonderful!! I was so ready for an extra pair of hands… especially for some of the exciting things we have coming up, I need all the help I can get!! The Spring and Summer is very much about all things bridal…. And I have also been busy preparing for this Sunday's wedding show at the Albert Hall in Nottingham which I am doing with Charlotte Thomson the wonderful pin up illustrator.
Speaking of collaborations; the photos from our new collection 'Steal the Show' are back and I went through them on Thursday with Sarah Davenport and photographer marcus holdsworth to select which ones we'll be using for press and promotional work. The shoot took place in Iceland and they are truly incredible!! I just wish I could have been there myself too…. but alas; my job really isn't that glamorous!
A few more things in the pipeline… launches, exhibitions, shows and getting back to the old Eternal Spirits ways are on the cards for us this year. I have been on my sabbatical from stress for far too long!! Working from home does that to you…. But its not put people off we are as busy as ever! Kissing goodbye to city centre rates was the best thing I could have every done for my pocket and my creativity!! And our word of mouth business has rocketed since doing so. Just goes to show that a personal service and bespoke product rises above and beyond a glamorous façade.
I have a busy weekend of brides ahead of me….. just hope the weather stays so beautiful ready to greet all these gorgeous ladies coming to my house. I'll be looking forward to sharing wedding tips as I am getting married myself in October. Does anyone know a good dress designer? 😉
Follow Eternal Spirits at www.eternalspirits.com or twitter/susihenson


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Contact InformationTop of Page
Jason Coss
Phone Number - 909.971.8270 X7010
E-mail - firstname.lastname@example.com
Principal's MessageTop of Page
Dear Lone Hill Families,
It is with great pride and excitement that I write this letter of introduction to you as the new Principal of Lone Hill Middle School. My name is Jason Coss, most recently I held the position of Principal of Oak Mesa Elementary here in Bonita Unified School District. Before entering administration, I taught at Shull Elementary, and prior to that I was a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff.
Along with our outstanding staff, I will work hard to continue the legacy of success established at Lone Hill by building strong relationships with parents, students, staff and community partners. This year we will focus on character education initiatives and 21st Century skills, along with fostering a nurturing and safe environment for children. Use of data will be utilized to drive instruction, and consistent implementation of direct instruction strategies will be a priority to increase student achievement. In addition, Lone Hill will continue to afford all students exciting and challenging enrichment opportunities.
During the course of the year, it is my hope that we will work together to provide the students of Lone Hill the best possible opportunities; thus preparing them to be world class citizens ready to master the challenges of the 21st Century with a solid foundation created here at our school. As Principal, my door is always open and I welcome your input. Please feel free to stop in, email or call to make an appointment to discuss any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to help make this the best year yet!
I look forward to getting to know you this year and ask for your continued support and personal involvement with Lone Hill Middle School in the weeks and months ahead.
Look forward to meeting you all!
Jason Coss
(909) 971-8270 ext. 7010


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Here are some common sense rules that motorists should follow to maximize safety in the car:
1. Plan the route you will take and let someone know where you are going and your expected time of arrival.
2. Have your car keys ready prior to approaching the vehicle.
3. Always view the interior of your car before entering.
4. Lock your doors when in a vehicle to stop an offender from getting into the vehicle at traffic stops.
5. Be cautious of any stranger approaching the vehicle. If you feel danger, press the horn repeatedly in short blasts to attract attention.
6. If you think you are being followed, drive to the nearest public place and blow the horn - do not drive home.
7. Do not pick up hitchhikers.
8. Have a flashlight in the glove box or in the vehicle for emergencies at night.
If you have car trouble:
1. Raise the hood of your car half way. If your vehicle does not permit this, raise it full way.
2. Lock yourself in the car and wait for the police or a service truck.
3. If a stranger offers to help, do not get out. Open the window slightly and ask the person to call a service truck.
4. Carry a cell phone if possible.


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Monday, 22 February 2016
Nutella & Cinnamon Sugar Muffins
50 comments
OH MY WORD these look amazing! Please send me some in the post cause I suck at baking haha!ReplyDelete
Robyn / Phases Of RobynReplies
Hahah why thank you!Delete
These sound ridiculously good! Having to resist reaching for the Nutella and just grabbing a spoon right now!ReplyDelete
Laura | Lala London: Beauty & LifestyleReplies
They're SO good, Nutella makes anything amazing!Delete
These look lush, defo gonna give these a go xoxoReplyDelete
Yay! Send me pics if you do xDelete
omg kat these look amazing!!! I'm gonna have to try theseReplyDelete
Hannah at WRITTEN BY HANNAH
God they look good, recipe saved! :)ReplyDelete
Ami x
These muffins look incredible. I am obsessed with cinnamon sugar topping, so pairing it with Nutella is the ultimate combination. :]ReplyDelete
// ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲Replies
Omg same? I love cinnamon sugar with churros so why not put it on top of muffins haha!Delete
Ahhhhh look at those absolute BEAUTS! I need them in my life. Please send a batch to Essex. xxxReplyDelete
They're on their way! ;)Delete
These look and sound amazing! I'm off chocolate for lent and this is killing me lolReplyDelete
Jennifer | Jennifer Lanigan
Oh my goodness - they even resemble doughnuts?! Count me inReplyDelete
Hannah | Oh JanuaryReplies
I thought that too!!! Like mini doughnuts you get at a fair!Delete
THESE LOOK SO GOOD OMG.ReplyDelete
E x
My word, Kat these look amazing! I'm going to have to give this recipe a go - I'll let you know how it turns out when I do! <3ReplyDelete
Katie || KNEL xxReplies
I'm so excited for you to make them!! xDelete
Omg Kat, you domestic goddess! These look seriously yummy, thank you for giving me an excuse to get off my lazy bum and bake!ReplyDelete
Holly | www.thekittyluxe.comReplies
Haha well they don't call me Mary Berry for nothing ;) please do make them!Delete
these look absolutely delicious. i don't bake as often as i should/want to so this is a great inspiration to do so. // ▲ conundrumofcoitus.com ▲ReplyDeleteReplies
Aw I'm the same now and again, I have to be in the mood to bake but once I do, I really enjoy it haha!Delete
These look so amazing!ReplyDelete
I love your blog btw. I've followed via Bloglovin
Oh my gaaaad Kat these sound delicious! My sister is amazing at baking too...I on the other hand am not but these look pretty straightforward and (kind of) fool proof so I might have to give them a go! xxxReplyDelete
Haha I think you'd be able to make them, they're super easy! xDelete
You're really a superwoman! I don't think I'd be able to do all these under an hour. These muffins have everything I love in it(nutellaaaaa!), I'm sure I'd love them! When I have some time, I will give them a try too.ReplyDelete
Ela BellaWorldReplies
Oh I didn't make the muffins in under an hour, I meant writing the post etc haha!Delete
Thank you, if you love Nutella then you'll love these!
OHHHHH MY GOODNESS, I now have drool all over my keyboard. But seriously those look delicious!ReplyDelete
Hannah xx
HAHA *passes you a tissue* thanks girllll xxDelete
oooh, I think you posted this in Snapchat! They turned out great!ReplyDelete
Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle BlogReplies
I did indeed! Thank you :)Delete
Kat can you please just send me all your cooking!! I want to eat everything!!XXReplyDeleteReplies
Yes of course, you can be my taste tester haha! xxDelete
Oh my days, lets call you Kat Berry! These look delicious! Can I have one please?! xxReplyDelete
Jasmine || http://www.blogsallbeautyy.blogspot.co.ukReplies
Kat Berry, I like it! *sends you a muffin* xxDelete
You are a Superwoman, babe! Thanks for posting this recipe <3 Not sure my waist would thank you but I have hearts in my eyes over these muffins. Love ya girl!ReplyDelete
xox Nadia
Aw hehe thanks! I keep saying the same about my waist but I can't stop eating them haha! xxDelete
Oh my god these look AMAZING!!!ReplyDelete
Four Cats Plus Us x
OH. These sound amazing. I love cinnamon soooo much. I've never actually tried to make any cinnamon muffins (I'm not a great baker...) but these are definitely going on my list. I may even attempt them tomorrow.ReplyDelete
So so so yummy !! I love cinnamon and sugar and muffins and Nutella .. I think I have to get into making these haha!! Thanks for the recipe lovely!!ReplyDelete
I NEED to try and make these xReplyDelete
Heather | Of Beauty & Nothingness x
These look SO good. I'm salivating (really, I am)! xReplyDelete
Xtina G Says..
These look amaaaaazing! Pretty much everything I will ever need in a muffin!ReplyDelete
Jasmin Charlotte
Oh wow!! These look and sound sooo good! Three of my favourite things: Nutella, cinnamon AND muffins! Will definitely be trying out the recipe at some point, thanks for sharing! Glad to hear the random posts are working out for you. I too am considering scrapping the schedule and post as and when I like.ReplyDelete
Love Hannah xx
These look so good! Love writing a baking post, they may be my favourite!ReplyDelete


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If you're single and looking to connect with other Catholic singles, we invite you to visit CatholicMatch.com for additional resources. Today's article was written by Christina Ries for CatholicMatch.com.
There are many stirring stories emerging along with the rescued Chilean miners, but one is of special note to CatholicMatchers. It involves Esteban Rojas, the 18th miner about to be rescued.
According to CNN, he has been with his partner, Jessica Yanez, for some 25 years. In one of the letters he sent back up to the surface, he reportedly told Jessica, "I'm rethinking this. Let's do this properly," and then requested a Catholic wedding Mass.
The story resonated with a Texan fashion designer, who has been emailing Jessica and is designing a wedding gown for her, according to CNN. "It's going to be in a champagne color, I understand," reported an on-located CNN journalist. "It's going to have sequins and beads on an outer layer, a sheer champagne layer underneath, a lace jacket. It is going to be a beautiful affair."
Amazing how things come to light when you're trapped half a mile below ground. "I was with God and with the devil – and I reached out for God," Mario Sepulveda, the second rescued miner, said in an interview.
The ninth rescued miner, 63-year-old Mario Gomez, dropped to his knees after he emerged, bowing his head in prayer and clutching the Chilean flag.
Imagine the many prayers that preceded that moment – cries for help, Hail Marys, soundless pleas.
The most grueling battles between good and evil, hope and despair, are often waged in isolation – one person, one choice. Catholic singles know this.
We all have an opportunity to learn from these miners, to choose hope over despair, to let hardship deepen faith, and to finally make changes.
If you were to be trapped below ground, what bold step might you be inspired to take?
If you're single and looking to connect with other Catholic singles, we invite you to visit CatholicMatch.com for additional resources.


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Rebels run muddy Duluth course
October 12, 2017
On Saturday, October 7, the Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum Rebels cross country team headed to the 67th running of the Swain Invite in Duluth. This is the second largest meet put on in Minnesota, with the Milaca Mega Meet the largest. With just over 1,750 runners from 68 teams covering both A and AA teams, it looked to be a very muddy course due to the rain of the past few days and lack of drainage at the course. The course was so muddy in spots, though not as bad as the Hibbing course, but close. Due to the mud, the course had to be extended by 200 to 250 meters; in one corner you could sink in the mud over your shoes just walking. The temps during the race were around 55 degrees and it was partly cloudy.
The Class A varsity girls race was won by Tierney Wolfgram of Math and Science Academy in a time of 19:02.5.
The Rebels varsity girls team placed 13th out of 32 schools, with 172 runners in the race. Leading the team was Coriella Sheetz, 32nd in 22:45.3; Kelli Granquist, 42nd in 22:58.6; Kyra Heaton, 77th in 24:23.0; Lexi Tekippe, 93rd in 24:56.9; Savannah Gamst, 104th in 25:15.0; Sarah Michels, 106th in 25:25.5; and Delaney Koecher, 111th in 25:29.8.
The Class A varsity boys race was won by Harris Anderson, also of Math and Science Academy, in a time of 17:21.7.
The Rebels varsity boys team placed ninth out of 37 teams, with 204 runners in the race. Receiving a medal for the Rebels was Ethan Olson, fourth in 17:47.1; followed by Lake Doran, 43rd in 19:16.7; Maverick Koecher, 63rd in 19:39.2; Danny Whited, 76th in 19:52.0; Tan Dipman, 84th in 19:58.7; Johnathan Danelski, 113th in 20:21.5; and Wheeler Anderson, 147th in 21:18.3.
In the Rebels JV races, the girls were ninth out of 26 schools and the boys had a great finish at fourth out of 26 schools.
Running for the JV girls were Maddy Gamst, 33rd in 27:27.5; Maddy Stadin, 35th in 27:33.5; Kelly Crump, 87th in 31:42.4; Ella Rhoades, 105th in 34:59.0; and Leah Rhoades, 106th in 34:59.1.
The boys JV team had Spencer Lower 20th in 21:41.9; Sam Stadin, 30th in 21:41.6; Henry Collier, 31st in 21:41.9; Lucas Koecher, 35th 22:06.1; David Webb, 55th in 22:36.3; Joseph Mikrot, 63rd in 22:44.6; Everett Gamst, 67th in 22:46.8; Levi Granda, 70th in 22:59.6; Hunter Olsen, 72nd in 23:01.3; Grant Pettit, 74th in 23:09.6; Levi Skelton, 101st in 24:41.1; and Carl Halverson, 121st in 26:49.8.
The seventh through ninth grade girls and boys race was set up as a 3km course, with both Class A and AA running at the same time. The Rebels girls had Rayna Klejeski 42nd in 14:31.0; Abbey Erwin, 108th in 16:41.9; and Anna Molis, 151st in 20:10.9. The Rebels boys had Davin Leino 111th in 13:27.1; Blake Overland, 205th in 15:03.7; Noah Salzer, 230th in 16:47.6; and Sam Collier, 236th in 17:19.4.
Next up for the Rebels was the Polar League Conference Championship in Grand Marais on Wednesday, October 11; the Proctor Lions Invite on Tuesday, October 17; and the Section 7A Championship in Cloquet on Thursday, October 26.


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Polytechnic (Studio F2)Arcola Northside23 – 27 Arcola StreetLondon E8 2DJ
studio (at) polytechnic.works
+44 (0)7769 948 026+44 (0)7717 582 845
Selected clients
Abbey Road StudiosAlicia GalerThe Architecture FoundationBarbicanC.M.EldershawEkkistForgeGedney CommonGreater London AuthorityLeeds College of ArtMaison ArtefactMalt Coast BreweryNick Holmes Fine ArtThe Norfolk BroadsOctopus PublishingRoyal College of ArtUniversal MusicVictoria & Albert MuseumWeber IndustriesWellcome Trust
Selected Press / Events
Best of SempliceFonts in Use (Staff Pick)Fonts in Use (Staff Pick)Greater London Authority: Emerging Practices & DesignersGRAFIK: September '17GRAFIK: March '17Mindsparkle PlatformSiteInspire #1 #2The Gallery N°1286 1728Typewolf #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
Recent collaborators
Thomas Adank, Neal Fletcher, French + Tye, Alicia Galer, Genevieve Lutkin, Kyle Molleson, Owen Richards, Victoria Siddle, Benedict de Silva, Aaron Skipper, and Spencer Wilton
© 2019 Polytechnic. All rights reserved. Design by Polytechnic. Photography by Thomas Adank.Site credits


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Amazon are running a Baby Bonanza event every day until 11 September (that's a week on Sunday) on various selected baby products.
So, every day there'll be different products and their price will be guaranteed for that one day only; the exact deal time is from 9am until 11.59pm.
Now there are various terms and conditions but, having read them, there's nothing 'tricksy' in them at all.
The only one you need to be aware of is you MUST complete your purchase in the daily time frame for the discount to be applied, so you can't add things into your basket, leave them there and then pay for everything at the end of the week - not sure why you'd do that, but just in case it crossed your mind...
If you have various things to buy for a new arrival, you'd do worse than keeping an eye on Amazon each day until the 11th - you could end up saving yourself a fair bit of money.
Just remember that the new deals will be published every day at 9am and you'll have until 11.59 pm to compare and contrast the prices of things that appeal to you with other retailers, before you make a final purchase decision.
Thanks to shadow1 at HUKD


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For the fourth year in a row I have decided to take part in Goodreads 2015 Reading Challenge. This fun, and often stressful, book challenge is a great way to make sure I pay more attention to what I read. Last year I pledged 65 books, read 99, 89 of which counted towards my goal. I also participated in Historical Tapestry's 2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, however I fell short of my 25 book goal by 8 books. Oh, well! 2015 is a new year, and this year I have decided to take part in 5 book challenges apart from the annual Goodreads challenge!
1) Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge
- The challenge will run from January 1-December 31, 2015.
- You can read as many fantasy novels as you'd like to. No levels for this challenge!
- There will be 2 giveaways, one at 6 months and one at the end of the year. More details will be provided closer to those dates.
- Help us spread the word! Feel free to tweet about the challenge using our official hashtag #flightsoffantasy, grab the button to link to the challenge in your sidebar & pin the image on Pinterest.
- Challenge yourself to read a certain number of fantasy books. Share your challenge number in a comment below, a post on your blog or even a tweet!
- On the last Sunday of each month, we'll be sharing our personal updates on the challenge. We'll be including a Linky, just in case you decide to do the same. (This is optional!)
- As mentioned, we will have giveaways! If you want to gain bonus entries for the giveaways, read any (or even all!) of our favorite fantasy books listed below:
- Joint Favorites: Throne of Glass, Harry Potter, Fire and Thorns, Snow Like Ashes, Queen of the Tearling
- Alexa's Favorites: Eon, Daughter of the Forest, The Elemental Trilogy, Song of the Lioness, The Hobbit
- Rachel's Favorites: The Grisha Trilogy, Harper Hall Trilogy, The Fever series, The Winner's Curse, Graceling
I tend to read a lot of fantasy, so this challenge hosted by Alexa Loves Books and Hello, Chelly seems to be right up my alley. For the challenge, I pledge to read 15 books.
2) 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Challenge Guidelines
- The challenged hosted by Bookish will run from January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015.
- Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, just as long as you review the book you've read. You can review on your book on your blog, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, etc.
- Any genre, length, or format of book counts as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your self for some time. Short stories and novellas do count! The only stipulations that the book must have been released in 2014 or earlier. No 2015 ARCs or 2015 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed.
- On the 25th of every other month (see schedule below), we will post a wrap-up for the previous two months. These posts will be done by one our bloggers and will contain new linkys for you to add your own wrap-up posts. If you did not sign up by January 16, this is where you can sign up as well.
- To help you tackle your TBR piles we will also be hosting Read-A-Longs on months that do not have wrap-ups. Voted on by challenge participants, Read-A-Longs will have two post dates: the first half of the book and the second half. Please note: You do not have to take part in our Read-A-Longs to participate in the TBR Pile Challenge. You can participate in all of them, some of them, or none of them. This aspect of the challenge is entirely optional.
- There will be two giveaways – July and December. Giveaway details will be explained once the giveaway post goes up. We don't want to overwhelm you with too many details now 🙂
- You don't have to follow Bookish to join the challenge, but you do have to follow us to be entered in the giveaways.
3) Back to the Classics Challenge 2015
- All books must be read in 2015. Books started prior to January 1, 2015, are not eligible. Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2015.
- All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; therefore, 1965 is the cutoff date. The only exception is books published posthumously, but written before 1965.
- E-books and audiobooks are eligible! Books may also count for other challenges you may be working on.
- Books may NOT cross over categories within this challenge. You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge. One book per category — otherwise, they won't count.
- If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicy accessible online format.
- Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 31, 2015. If possible, please link to your sign-up announcement post, if possible or applicable.
- You do NOT have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it's more fun if you do! You can always change your list at any time. Books may be read in any order.
- Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing! Adding links within the post would be greatly appreciated.
- The prize will be awarded the first week of January, 2016. All qualifying participants will receive one or more entries, based on the categories completed, and will receive a $30 (US) gift card from Amazon.com or The Book Depository, as long as they live in a country that can receive shipment. See here for list of countries.
I have several classic books tat have been on my TBR pile for years, and others I would love to read. This challenge hosted by Books and Chocolate will hopefully push me to read more classic literature. For this change I pledge to read a book for each of the twelve categories. (List of books will be published in separate post).
4) Banned Books Challenge 2015
Buckling Bookshelves is hosting this book challenge to read any banned or challenged book. Check it out below!
DATES: January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015
RULES: Any book that has been banned or challenged counts. Books can be any format, any length, and can overlap with other challenges. Graphic novels, children's books, picture books are all fine — any book that has been banned or challenged works for this challenge.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Write a post identifying which level you are aiming to complete, linking to this sign-up post. If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment below stating what level you are trying for. Listing the books you'd like to read for the year is optional. If you do make a list, you are welcome to change it at any time.
LEVELS: Below are the levels you can choose from. Changing your mind is OK — you can go up or down in level at any time. I said low-pressure, remember? I'm not the book police, I promise.
Making Waves: 1-2 Challenged Books
Trouble-Maker: 3-5 Challenged Books
Rabble-Rouser: 6-9 Challenged Books
Rebel: 10-14 Challenged Books
Leader of a Revolution: 15+ Challenged Books
5) 2015 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Dates: The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2015.
Here are the Reading Challenge details:
- Everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)
- Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we'll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)
- Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:
20th century Reader – 2 books
Victorian Reader – 5 books
Renaissance Reader – 10 books
Medieval – 15 books
Ancient History – 25 books
Prehistoric – 50+ books
This year Passages to the Past is hosting this challenge, and like last year I still plan to read 25 historical fiction books. I fell short by 8 books last year, but I believe my other challenges will help me reach my goal this year. Especially since many of the books I bought for last year's challenge are now gathering dust on my iPad and Kindle's TBR piles.
Unlike previous years, I will not have one main post linking all of my reviews for this challenge. Instead, you will be able to check out my progress for this, and the other challenges by looking under the Reading Challenges menu on the Home page. There are separate pages created for each of the challenges mentioned above, and all reviews will be tagged and categorized according to which challenge they belong. Some reviews will find themselves on more than one challenge. If you are interested in any of these challenges, be sure to check them out, and sign up before the cut-off date. Are you participating in any reading challenges this year? If so, which ones? Be sure to let me know!


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You must contact the Holiday Inn University Plaza or use the Holiday Inn web site to reserve your room. Space is limited, so we suggest you make your reservations early. The room rate is $95 plus tax when you use the code C20.
Holiday Inn University Plaza
& Sloan Convention Center
1021 Wilkinson Trace
Bowling Green, KY 42103
Phone: 270.745.0088
Thanks to our generous sponsors, registration is FREE OF CHARGE for our association members, grain farmers, extension and government agency personnel. Sponsoring companies and trade show participants also receive complimentary registration for their employees.
All attendees must register prior to January 6, 2020. Entry into the Luncheon and Awards Banquet requires a meal ticket and will only be provided to those who register by the deadline. Be sure to select "yes" for lunch and the banquet if you plan to attend.
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Get into the holiday spirit in downtown Lava Hot Springs with gingerbread houses on display during the entire month of December at the local businesses.
The event will kick-off with a Holiday Lighting on November 30 at 6:00 pm at the Veteran's Park. Caroling and touring the houses to follow.
Four blocks of Gingerbread Houses will be on display in downtown Lava Hot Springs this year with a guided walking tour brochure, with a contest for best Gingerbread Houses: and customers that vote on the house will have a chance to win fun prizes from local merchants.
Gingerbread houses can be viewed through December 31st.
The winner of the Gingerbread House contest and prizes will be announced in January.
For questions or more information contact Liz at (208) 776-5504 at Riverside Hot Springs Inn.


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By Alexandra Adornetto
August 30, 2011
Summary: Even the love of her boyfriend, Xavier Woods, and her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can't keep the angel Bethany Church from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, Jake Thorn bargains for Beth's release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly her loved ones as well. Can he be trusted in this wager? And what does Jake have Xavier believing about Beth's fate that may result in an act of betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if Xav is so good after all?


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75 Year-Old Man Saves 16 Children From Knife Attack
(Photo Credit: Pekin Daily Times)
75 year-old Army veteran, James Vernon, saved the lives of sixteen children and other adults at a library in Pekin, Illinois, from a knife weilding man bent on pure evil. He tried to talk to the young man but the assailant was having none of it. He wanted to hurt as many people as he could. When James saw his opening, he sprang into action. "I grabbed him and threw him. Somehow he wound up on a table," Vernon said. "I hit him on the collarbone with my closed hand." The man's arm was numb and he dropped the knife while pinned by James and another library employee until police arrived. James was cut badly on his arm, damaging two arteries and a tendon, but is healing well at home now. We salute you, James Vernon!
Listen to The Jack Show every weekday afternoon, 3pm - 7pm!
Listen to The Jack Show every weekday afternoon, 3pm - 7pm!


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Based on the song "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley
Adapted by Cedella Marley, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Just purchase temporary tattoo paper and load it into your printer.
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Circle Square Salon
I was part of a show called "PIXELS" with RAWartists at the Hippodrome Theater a few months ago, and it was there that I met Heather who works for RAWartists as well as Circle Square Salon in Richmond, VA. She thought my art might look cool in the salon and she hooked me up with the owner, Jess. Long story short Jess is awesome and gave me a HUGE canvas that had a painting of the previous owner on it (see below), and told me that I could use it to make a new painting that could be shown & put up for sale in their salon! Super generous!! So I thought you all might like to see the progress I've made on it so far:
This is the largest surface I've painted on in 7 years! It feels great to spread out and I'm thankful for Circle Square Salon for giving me the opportunity! Also - if you're looking to get a haircut, definitely give the salon a try! Ben got his best haircut ever there and the staff is really sweet :)
I'll be showing this painting as well as some others at the salon this winter so stay tuned to hear about the opening date!
Leave a Reply.
Hi friends! Welcome to the blog! I'm Mandy and I'm an artist, blogger & founder of the "Artists to Know" interview series. Here you'll find photos of my latest art adventures, furniture makeover projects & advice from successful artists!
Looking for new art? Click below:


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Kylie Jenner's New Boyfriend Has Been Arrested
Kylie Jenner's new beau, rapper Travis Scott, was arrested for inciting a riot during one of his concerts in Arkansas on May 13.
The Rogers Police Department told Us Weekly that the 25-year-old was arrested after leaving the stage. During the concert, Travis "encouraged people to rush the stage and bypass the security protocols to ensure concertgoer safety," with multiple people injured as a result.
Travis was charged with inciting a riot, endangering the welfare of a minor and disorderly conduct. He was later released without bail, TMZ reports.
Dating rumours began after the reality star took a break from her on-again, off-again relationship with Tyga in early April.
Following loads of PDA at Coachella, Kylie has reportedly been spending a lot of time in her new man's hometown of Houston. Things seem to be heating up fast, with TMZ revealing that Kylie has already met his family.
This article originally appeared on WHO


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Monday, 30 November 2009
Posted by becca_mcgee at 09:22 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Being and Time, being-in-the-world, Heidegger
Monday, 23 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Friday, 13 November 2009
Cutting Pink into Bits...
Posted by becca_mcgee at 18:12 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: comics, Philosophy, poker, wittgenstein
Friday, 6 November 2009
Notorious B.E.I.N.G
Posted by becca_mcgee at 21:12 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Being and Tim, Immanuel Kant, Philosophy rap
Super Kant!
I kept meaning to re-do this cartoon, so it looked more dc/marvel/film noir- i think if kant had been a super-hero he would have taken the same serious attitude to it as he did to everything else: but hopefully the point comes across anyway! New episodes of Super Kant are on the drawing board, including the feature length motion picture, 'The Return of the Repressed!' beccax
Posted by becca_mcgee at 21:02 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Being and Tim, Dogma, Immanuel Kant, philosophy cartoon
Howling from the Vaults
Just when you thought Being and Tim was dead, I have returned with more philosophical adventures! Now that I've recovered from my MA thesis I should be able to put new strips up pretty regularly, as well as adding all the old cartoons which I've been saying I'd finish properly for years!
Here's an old one, a bit of character development.
Here's an old one, a bit of character development.
Posted by becca_mcgee at 20:15 0 comments Links to this post
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Threatened Coastguard base sees callouts rise
There has been a steady rise in search and rescue operations from Belfast Lough's Coastguard station, leading to criticism of ministers' plans to close it.
Figures released in Parliament show there were 50% more callouts to the Bangor centre last year than in 2006 - 650 compared to 460 - with the total rising steadily every year.
Shipping Minister Mike Penning, the key man behind the controversial review of the UK's Coastguard operation, also confirmed that more than a third of the callouts were in the hours of darkness.
The revelation undermines one option put forward by the consultation, which would see the station operate in daylight hours only.
The Government first unveiled plans to operate just three stations around the clock, in Aberdeen, Southampton and Dover, with all others being axed or opening for reduced hours.
Five sub-centres were to open during the day, and one of those will be at either Belfast Lough or Liverpool.
Ministers have since suggested a rethink, and the Government's final decision is expected to be made before the Parliamentary recess on July 19.
Belfast Telegraph


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Top 8 Reasons to Study in India
- Wide Choice of Courses
India has the second largest education system in the world offering the widest spectrum of programs encompassing traditional, modern, futuristic & hybrid programs in various streams like Engineering, Management, Computing, Hotel Management, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences, Bio- Sciences, Tourism, Legal Studies & many more.
- International Exposure (Recognition)
The courses as well as professionals trained in Indian Educational Institutions are recognized the world over - 200 of the Fortune 500 companies regularly participate in campus placements in Indian institutions. Indian universities and institutes of higher education and research have made significant contribution in research and development in various fields.
- Large English Speaking Community
India is the 2nd largest English speaking population in the world and hence it is a place where foreign nationals feel at home. Every Indian University has English as the medium of instruction and most Indian Universities consider a good knowledge of English as a pre-requisite to pursue academic studies.
- Affordability
India offers quality education at a fraction of cost as compared to other educational destinations. The quality of Indian education is comparable to the best available anywhere in the world, while the costs are less and affordable.
- Building Global Leaders
India has been a global destination for education, offering the best learning experience for a long time. A large number of students come to India from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Maldives, Mauritius, France, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, US, Vietnam and Zimbabwe etc. for their higher studies. They look at the Indian education system with thrust and belief.


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Sun Arrow Totoro Catbus Soft Toy (Neko Bus), 20 g Low in Stock (only 1 available)
Fans of Miyazaki's famous Japanese animation "My Neighbour Totoro" will love this soft toy of the Catbus, made by Sun Arrow, who own the official rights to Studio Ghibli's merchandise. This Catbus displays the name Mei in Japanese as its destination, just like in the film! This is perfect as a gift or for fans of Miyazaki.
Soft toy measures approx. 14cm in length, 5.5cm in width, 5cm in height.


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Parents and students we need your help in order to make our tournament a success. There are lots of volunteer opportunities available. Click the links below for additional information.
If you have any questions, contact Sabine Schroeder at
* If you are unable to access the files and require access to the volunteer sign-up sheet please send an email to *
Concessions and hospitality is requesting for donation of items for the tournament. Your generous support will help in the successful outcome of this event.
Please click on the link below for additional information.
The "Hospitality Tent" portion of the tournament takes care of the food and beverage needs for the judges, all band directors and assistant directors, coaches, and a few of our generous GOLD supporters.
Please click on the link below for more information and to sign up!


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Apply only if you are good in writing in English or have experience as a SEO writer.
To qualify Veritable Writers needs atleast 1 sample from your past work and your CV.
They will give you a test article to see your capabilities.
You should also be able to write at least 5 articles per day (500 words each).
You should also be available online from Monday to Friday and half day Saturday.
You can work part time if you want but they need 5 articles per day.
Here's what you need to work as work at home/freelance SEO article writer
Send application to: veritablewriters3{at}gmail.com
For more jobs in Africa, see: Job opportunities


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I'm not really into cars, never have been and never will. I only know what a Mercedes SL or a Chrysler Crossfire look like because they managed to get down the farm track before it was tarmac'd! An amazing feat in itself. I loved watching the old Top Gear – only when the boys were larking around, the rest of the programme was of little interest. If I ever meet Mr Clarkson, I would like to ask him what "under steer" is or "over steer" and just what is a "tank slapper"?
I haven't bought a new car in 23 years. Larry Landrover was bought new and is still going strong, so why buy another? It's because of this distinct lack of interest that many times I have no idea who has driven past me and waved. If it's a pickup then it's probably a Gamekeeper, if it's a Landrover it could be one of a dozen people, so I just wave back. People do give me grief when they have waved from their new car and I didn't wave back. It takes me a blooming age to finally remember who drives what and then they go and change it. So I when I sold my dad's old car to my mate and livery Karen, I was surprised when she had a go at me for not recognising it when she drove past. Admittingly having driven the car for many years I should have recognised it, but I didn't. So I now clock every blooming Freelander that goes past. And if I wave at the wrong person well never mind, at least now and then I will wave at someone who knows me.The other thing I am not really into is technology. I do my best as I don't want to get left behind, but I'm not really that interested. So put technology and cars together and you have totally lost me. However, I am pleased to announce that Larry Landrover has been brought up to date and is now bluetoothed! Yes bluetooth. It all started when I was thinking of purchasing an iPhone. I was sitting in the London Inn with my mate Sarah. She was giving me a presentation on what an iPhone can do and said "….and you can bluetooth your phone to your car". Her face was a picture when she remembered what I drove and said "OH… your car" with a very disparaging look on her face. So it gave me great pleasure that the first person I called from Larry was Sarah. I just never told her that I had to stop driving in order for her to hear me over the distinct noise a Landrover makes.


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Hybrid electric bus with Argentine technology to hit Buenos Aires this December
Hybrid vehicles are not widely available in Argentina yet, but the country's capital will have its first hybrid electric bus with national technology and auto-parts this December.
The project is an initiative of the Buenos Aires Environmental Agency along with the La Plata University and a transport company called TAT. According to Minutouno newspaper, the first unit will have a cost of 800 thousand pesos (266 thousand US dollars) and will function with one of the lines that operate now in the city in a route that will allow developers to test its functioning. Read more in the extended.
Via Minutouno.Project details
The idea is that the bus uses the electric engine in the city's downtown, usually packed at rush hour because of its narrow streets, and helps reduce noise and contamination in the area. Meanwhile, in other areas where the buses can speed up, it would turn to the diesel engine.
"This is a very important technological change that's already in use in the world. Once the prototype is running we'll analyze how we can instrument its serial production to reduce costs and encourage bus companies to choose these models. The State might be able to give a subsidy if they show they are environmentally sustainable," said Graciela Gerola, president of the Buenos Aires Environmental Agency to La Nacion newspaper.
Environmental advantages
According to estimations published by Minutouno newspaper, the promoters of this initiative are expecting to run twice the distance with the same amount of fuel, and reduce carbon emissions in 55% and other greenhouse gases in 40%.
According to Critica newspaper, the need to reduce noise and air contamination in the city is urgent. The paper publishes a statistic by the World Bank that says the metropolitan region has to take care of the mobility of 13 million people who demand 18 million daily trips, 7.5 million of them by bus and another 7 million by taxi or private car.
Background and hybrid buses in the world
In Argentina, there have been other initiatives of eco buses with engines running on hybrid hydrogen (gas and water) in the city of Rosario, located in Santa Fe province (the country's third city in population size).
In the United States, buses with hybrid electric technology have been functioning for a while in cities like New York and Seattle, and are coming to Washington, Philadelphia and Minneapolis. In Europe, they are present in the UK and Germany, among others.
Sources (all in Spanish):
An eco bus arrives in the streets of Buenos Aires (Minutouno).
Buenos Aires designs hybrid bus with national technology (CanalAR).
Buenos Aires will have an eco-bus (La Nacion).
An eco-bus arrives to Baires.
Related posts:
More Cities Jumping on the Hybrid Bus Bandwagon.
How to green your public transportation.


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Definition of Eczematous
1. a. Pertaining to eczema; having the characteristic of eczema.
Definition of Eczematous
1. Adjective. Of, pertaining to or afflicted with eczema ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Eczematous
1. [adj]
Medical Definition of Eczematous
Lexicographical Neighbors of Eczematous
Literary usage of Eczematous
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1859)
"... and eczematous eruptions of the anus and genitals, which are so often such a source of annoyance to both the patient and the practitioner, ..."
2. On diseases of the skin: A System of Cutaneous Medicine by Erasmus Wilson (1868)
"... eczematous AFFECTIONS. The agents of the constitutional treatment of this disease, our ren dies, belong chiefly to the class of ..."
3. A Practical treatise on the diseases of children by John Forsyth Meigs, William Pepper (1870)
"eczematous AFFECTIONS. with toasted rye or wheat flour, which are often very ... ARTICLE I. eczematous AFFECTIONS. As already stated in our introductory ..."
4. A System of surgery: theoretical and practical v.5 by Timothy Holmes (1870)
"eczematous ulcers merit distinction from the preceding, although like them in many characters, especially in their most frequent seat, their usual shape and ..."
5. A Practical treatise on the diseases of infancy and childhood by Thomas Hawkes Tanner, Alfred Meadows (1879)
"eczematous ASTHMA. and the sitting or kneeling position, ... In this case, our object should be to gradually overcome the eczematous condition, by cod-liver ..."
6. The Principles and Practice of Veterinary Surgery by William Williams (1882)
"eczematous INFLAMMATIONS. THE majority of skin diseases, particularly in the horse, are due to the expression of some form of eczema; indeed, ..."
7. Transactions of the American Pediatric Society by American Pediatric Society (1894)
"RAPID ABSORPTION OF CARBOLIC ACID BY AN eczematous SKIN (Case). ... In December last an eczematous eruption appeared upon the scalp and rapidly extended ..."


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Tips – My Most Valuable Tips
The Easy Way to Understand Consumer Faith in Marketing Many people who work in real estate will tell you that there can be a lot of pressure involved in making deals. Because of how much money will be spent on any house, both the buyer and the seller are going to be a lot more thorough about the types of properties and people that they are working with. You're going to have to ensure that the buyer and the seller can trust each other if you want to be sure that everyone can settle on the type of deal that will serve both parties well. Because of this, it's important for everyone involved to be working from a place of honesty and collaboration. At the same time, there is a lot of competition out there when it comes to attracting various types of buyers to look at a home. If you really want to be able to make the most out of the Tallahassee real estate world and the people in it who are looking to purchase a home, you'll really need to focus on finding the best type of approach to the way you market everything. You're going to be able to take advantage of a lot of consumer trust when you shape these messages, but this will only be the case if they actually believe that what you say is true. If you really want to be able to create some solid messaging to use as marketing materials, you're going to discover that the right thing to do for any Tallahassee real estate company will be to focus on informative and honest marketing. As you start looking around at all of the different types of marketing strategies that you could use when trying to figure out how to market your homes, you'll generally find that your most successful option will revolve around offering honest information to help consumers make a good choice.
Interesting Research on Tips – What No One Ever Told You
The main reason for this is that consumers these days will find it very easy to be able to look up their own information to use as a comparison to whatever they read in your marketing materials. Because of this, you will tend to engender more trust in the kinds of sales you make when you promote your homes using all kinds of honest messaging that people can trust.
A Brief History of Tips
If you want to sell homes and also make sure that your consumers will trust your business, then the type of marketing that you practice will be vital. When you have a reputation for being truthful about what you sell, you will be able to hold onto customers much better.


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Monday, February 6, 2012
NYC Visit Over
Posted by John Wells at 7:48 PM
Labels: redbone
6 comments:
- MsBelinda said...
What is MsBenita eating? It looks like mud.
I did not realize Mr.Floppy was so small. He is a cutie pie :)
- February 6, 2012 at 10:39 PM
- alam0tx said...
Yaw'll come back now...ya here...
- February 7, 2012 at 12:04 AM
- JB SMITH said...
- February 7, 2012 at 1:03 AM
- John Wells said...
MsB...Benita's teeth are so worn down that I soak her range feed in water to turn it to mush. I noticed that too about Mr. Floppy looking small in the photo - it's really because Leon is kind of a giant.
- February 7, 2012 at 7:57 AM
- Rev.JimmyLeeBob said...
MIA New York Giant ? Floppy is all head and dangler...........
- February 7, 2012 at 2:33 PM
- Allen Hare said...
Your friend has one of those BIG cameras. Hope she got a lot of great pictures. The FL is pretty photogenic.
- February 7, 2012 at 6:55 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Making the Most of Mentor MeetingsMarch 29, 2017
"The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words: 'I did not have time'." Franklin Field
Book the Time for Your Mentor Meeting UpfrontHow many times have you postponed a meeting, event, or activity because it wasnt booked into your calendar and someone else booked over it?
If youre anything like me, probably a lot. Too many times to count.
Follow up question: how many times was the original thing you meant to do postponed indefinitely?
For me, once again, the answer is almost every time.
You already know this - and your mentors and mentees do too but the most efficient way to ensure that mentors and mentees actually meet is to book the time upfront. Dont look at it as getting them to commit to something extra week after week; this is all about setting a habit. After the third or fourth meeting, their mentor meetings will be ingrained in their schedules, and it will no longer feel like a strange occurrence.
What does it take to get them to make their mentor meetings a habit? 3 steps:
- Identify how often they will meet
- Determine where and when they will meet
- Put all their meetings on the calendar so that other activities dont take over that time.
As we all know, we can pretty much guarantee that if its not there, someone else is going to take that space, and your mentors and mentees wont meet let alone meet enough times for it to become a habitual thing for them.
Have an Agenda for Your Mentor MeetingOnce its in the calendar, the trick is keeping each mentor meeting focused and productive. Weve all seen the plethora of articles circulating about the inefficiency of meetings in organizations, and the number one solution in each article is to set an agenda.
Its no different here. Each mentoring meeting should have an agenda, so the time mentors and mentees are spending together is efficient and focused.
These agendas can be very simple as long as mentors and mentees are sticking to the learning plan and goals they set out in their first mentor meeting:
- Check in from last meeting,
- Discuss whats been accomplished
- Action steps for going forward.
Do be sure to encourage mentors and mentees to make the most of the time they meet by knowing ahead of time what theyll be discussing, and having the necessary documents to support that discussion as well as any technology prepared for a virtual meeting.
Virtual Mentoring is Still a Mentoring MeetingWe use GoToMeeting, Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, and any number of other video conferencing technologies in the workplace for business meetings and we still consider them meetings.
Virtual mentoring doesnt only have to apply to mentors and mentees who are part of a distance mentoring scheme especially if one or both mentoring partners travel for business often, it can be difficult to schedule face-to-face meetings, and in these cases virtual mentoring can be an excellent way to ensure that regular mentoring meetings occur.
Just remember to stick to preparing an agenda beforehand!
Learn about how mentoring training can assist you with managing your mentoring program - including helping your mentors and mentees make time for mentoring.
Related Articles:


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The world is full of incredibly talented people with amazing talents and abilities. Whether it's incredible basketball shots in the driveway, or amazing flips and tricks, people really are capable of anything. Not all of us are, however. We Did It! Sketch Comedy shows us that Steve is not one of those people.
Don't be a Steve, ok guys? Call your mom.


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Steve Heiting, editor of Musky Hunter magazine is an excellent musky fisherman. As a member of the Mepps Field Staff, Steve was very influential in the design of the Giant Killer Sassy Shad.
"I really like this lure, Steve comments. It's a bucktail and swimbait in one lure. To put it simply... This lure is hot!"
All Mepps Giant Killer Sassy Shads feature a. . .
Fish Caught: MuskyI love fishing for muskies with bucktails. I had been reading about a trend in musky fishing - soft body lures. When I went to my favorite fishing store and saw the Mepps Giant Killer Sassy Shad, I knew that this lure had to work. The first day I used it, I hooked a 38" musky on Lost Land Lake in a spot that I have never even had a bite!
Write a product testimonial and share your fishing experiences with other customers.
Giant Killer Sassy Shad


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Pre-school children visited local Garden Nursery Golding's in Outwell to choose their Christmas tree to take back to the nursery. This annual event allows the children the chance to see the trees all different sizes, touch and feel them and enjoy the excitement of bringing it back to nursery to dress in time for Santa!
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On a balmy late night in a historic town square, the welcoming glow of a pizza parlor beckons the hungry and the bored. Inside, a tidy row of tables, a soda fountain, and polished wood paneling reflect the smooth operation of a modest business; the guy working behind the counter smiles patiently as he jots down an order from a group of college kids. A few patrons promptly disappear down a flight of stairs, while others sit at a nearby table to peruse an abandoned newspaper and munch on their pepperoni pizza. A young man with tattoos snaking down his right arm feeds quarters into a winking, bleeping pinball machine. All is well in this little world.
Suddenly, noise erupts from somewhere down below--a manchild wildly yelping, "We want a riot!" Then music--loud, full-throttle--whooshes up the darkened stairway and washes through the restaurant; it's the hoarse grind of a Les Paul and the determined pound of a kick drum---thunk, thunk, thunk--and again the stricken cry, "We wanna riot!"
Dip into this scene: two weeks ago, Thursday night, down the dark, narrow flight of worn steps into a low-ceilinged area not larger than a standard living room, with a few bare red and blue light bulbs sputtering at one end above a shallow stage. Standing below these lights with the rest of his band is the yelper, with his short mane of bleached white spikes, red plaid pull-on slacks, and leopard-skin creepers; he wails earnestly into a microphone, though his static limbs betray youthful nerves. The freckled guitarist, sporting heavy red bangs fringed over Elvis Costello horned rims, sneers and smirks with jittery concentration.
The band is called the Visitors, and it churns out hook-laden punk tunes in rapid-fire succession, each one familiar in tone ("Sniffing Glue" and "Twelve-Inch Ruler" among them), though entirely new. Forty or so young people fill the cramped space. They scuffle about and yell to one another; some stand near the band and grin widely when the guitar player glances up at them; some perch on the edges of frayed rattan chairs, clutching oversized glass jars of pissy beer. Beads of liquid gather on the glass bottoms, hot sweat pours off foreheads; water drips slowly from the dented vent in the ceiling at the back of the room, forming a small, puddle on one of several wood veneer tabletops. A kid in the shadows slams his beer down into the center of that puddle, scattering it, and whoops joyously for the fifth time in five minutes.
This could be anywhere. New York City, 1977. Manchester, England, 1980. Olympia, Washington, 1991. But tonight, it's about 35 miles north of Dallas, in the heart of Denton. Hardly anyone knows about it, only a handful of regulars attend it, and most Dallas bands would turn down playing there. Yet it's the best rock club in the region.
The room is the below-ground peripheral to a standard-issue Mr. Gatti's pizza parlour, one flanked by pawn shops and a big red courthouse, and several nights a week, it doubles as an all-ages rock club in an otherwise rock-club-bereft town. But the irony isn't just in its geography. It's in what happens on those nights when the kids file downstairs and the bands switch on their amps, when that basement air grows undeniably thick and hot with the stench of sweat, and then throbs with something most of us thought rock and roll had lost some time ago.
Sometime this very decade, rock and roll lost its driving spirit, like an alcoholic mom loses track of her own child: carelessly, lazily, drowning in self-loathing. The money-hungry, industry-driven part of rock killed off much of the creative part, and that spirit--the spitting, bright-eyed, finger-pointing love-child of R&B and C&W, the uppity fire starter that begat Buddy Holly who begat John Lennon who begat Jello Biafra who begat Peter Buck and so on, sought refuge underground. Literally--because that spirit is alive and well and hiding out in a basement in Denton, Texas, of all places.
This tiny sunken oasis thrives despite a world where rock music is as watered-down and attention-deficit as it's ever been, a world where bands as tepid as No Doubt introduce generations to a "new" rhythm (we called it ska back when), and the closest a 16-year-old gets to the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" is a throwaway song called "Wonderwall" by Oasis; where Matchbox 20 is considered "alternative." Alternative to what? To intelligent songwriting? To pioneering production? To originality?
Sure, it's a bitchfest, but it's the sad and increasing truth, and that basement of Gatti's is the only place in the region that flies straight in the face of that truth. There's no hovering club owner angling for big cash flow, no promotion company fishing for ticket sales, no musicians preening in a too-bright spotlight, or patrons playing the "see-and-be-seen" game. Hell, there isn't even a PA system: The bands bring whatever they have on hand, including home stereos. Is it really about the music and the camaraderie? Ah, purity--thy name is "college town." And why play here, when all these musicians will receive in exchange is some free pizza and 30 minutes in a sunken room that can't possibly launch their careers further than a flying anchovy? Sure, the pizza's good and all, but...
College towns, Denton included, have gears that click and whir to the beat of a youthful pulse--growing, restless suburban kids free from parental scrutiny for the first time. Denton's University of North Texas and its 25,000 students make up a sizeable portion of the city's population, and its academic and creative energies float like a passionate and sometimes pretentious haze over the whole town.
Clusters of young people, like their counterparts in Chapel Hill and Austin and Ann Arbor, find their way into music projects with surprising ease, thanks to punk's introduction to the do-it-yourself ethic, MTV, and the rapid spread of all things counter-cultural by the media. Old boundaries of rock have evaporated. Ten years ago, playing in a band was the special realm of the creative, the determined, the eccentric. Now it's as common for a 20-year-old to start a band as it is to eat breakfast.
UNT's prestigious music school attracts would-be geniuses from all over the country to its flat, beige jazz-focused campus, but over the past few years, the membership of Denton rock bands has shifted from music students to other kids--English majors and film majors and, frankly, a shitload of dropouts. They chose UNT because it's cheap and easy to get into; they stay in Denton because it's cheap and easy to negotiate. And since the bands are often new and ever-transforming (some would call their interchanging line-ups incestuous), the members haven't started calculating their money-grubbing potential. They're still learning to play their instruments and write songs.
Thus, the non-agenda of a college town music scene; Denton has built itself a healthy rock microcosm, one that often shows more backbone and credibility than commercial-minded, non-college-enhanced Dallas. Even though crap-quality Denton rock clubs open and close as often as school lets out, the Dallas music contingent has learned that Denton rock bands are a force to be reckoned with, either on their own academic turf or as they move on and trickle into Dallas itself, often infiltrating Dallas bands. Many of Dallas' strongest acts--from Baboon to the tomorrowpeople to Bobgoblin to Slow Roosevelt--have at least some genetic makeup in Den-tone's music scene. As Denton bands recognize that migrating to Dallas doesn't guarantee musical happiness, Dallas bands migrating to Mr. Gatti's may be finding just what they are looking for.
"We wanted to play here. We asked to play here," says Benji Bollox, the spike-haired Visitor, after finishing his Gatti's gig. "It's a good room, it's fun, it's a good audience." The band had driven in from Dallas to unload its cheerful ire on Denton music fans, as did the act that followed them on the Thursday-night bill. Supersport 396, three guys looking far more like a 1998 band than the Visitor's circa-1978, with unremarkable haircuts, tennis shoes, and slumped postures, graced the dim basement for the second time in several months, and had made the trip up from Dallas as well.
"It's one of the most comfortable rooms in the whole country," says Will Johnson, better known as Centro-matic, a musician who, while touring with his former band, Funland, has played just about every indie-rock club across America. "And I feel comfortable in most rooms. I booked [Centro-matic's] only June show there. It's like playing in a friend's living room with beer and pizza being served, and pinball games, to boot."
Johnson, who moved back to Denton a few years ago to finish up his undergraduate studies at North Texas after a four-year stint in Dallas, could play anywhere here--Trees, the Curtain Club, you name it. But he chooses to play Mr. Gatti's basement, as have so many since the club opened in late 1994.
George Neal is the pizza guy-musician who started Gatti's puppy-love affair with rock. At the time, the bespectacled, articulate Neal was newly employed at the pizza place, playing in various Denton bands and recording solo work as Little Grizzly. He was also frustrated with the lack of music venues in his town.
"Gatti's had only been open a few months," he recalls. "We had that downstairs set up for dining, and we already served beer. There really wasn't any place in Denton to play; the Main Event had shut down, the Argo hadn't opened yet...We thought, why the hell not?"
And the precise notion spark? In October, 1993, Neal attended a party at the same spot, which then was just the hollowed-out apartment of John Norris, who at the time was a member of the band Chomsky (now of the tomorrowpeople). Norris had invited some fellow bands to play a Halloween bash--Factory Press, Caulk--and Denton's close-knit rock community flooded the place. Shoot up to fall of '94, when Neal was walking around the just-installed pizza parlor and reminiscing: "At that party, there had been all these cats running around, all this cat shit covering the floors. So it had been rock bands and cat poop. It was perfect." (Now is when we all yell, "Punk rock!")
"I wasn't sure what kind of club it should be at first, whether to charge cover, what kind of acts to book," Neal says. "Rock bands, or have a coffee-house feel, or what."
The owner of the new Gatti's was safely, anonymously, tucked away in Dallas, and the managers didn't care what the excess space was used for as long as it didn't cost the store anything. Neal's pizza-tossing co-workers were members of bands, too, and the earliest shows in the quickly transformed basement often featured Gatti's employees. "The first band that played there was Slobberbone," Neal says. "Brian Lane [Slobberbone's bassist] was working that night, and when he got off, he just walked downstairs and played the show in his uniform." (So damn punk!)
"And then the punk bands started coming," Neal explains. "The Sillies, Breadbox, Girls Are Mean. It was an open booking policy--I was too lazy to screen every band, and so we had some crap sometimes. High school bands. Then we had some TABC [Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission] scares because of underage drinking--and with so many younger kids hanging around, we had to cut down on the all-ages shows."
By this time, early 1995, the Argo had opened just down the street but crucially closer to campus. It was the first Denton rock club to aggressively book both local and national indie-rock acts. From Bedhead to Breadbox, Tortoise to Corn Mo, the Argo's reach was ambitiously broad (read: unfocused), but was stricken with management and financial problems throughout its brief life span. (It closed its doors in the fall of 1997.) Management would threaten to shut down every few months and beg local bands to play benefits for free; at one point the legendary John Cale turned his back on a few hundred hopeful fans and drove his bus out of town when Argo workers informed him the club couldn't pay the promised $2,000 up-front fee.
Gatti's, however, has suffered no such plagues. There's no charge at the door, no payment for the band, no percentage to a sound guy. It's all understood that you play there because you want to; you let a band play because you like 'em. "We thought about charging cover," Neal says. "We even thought about covertly charging at the door and pocketing the money. But again, we were too lazy to be sneaky. We finally gave up on it being a money-making venture."
Even though its only financial benefit was a slight increase in beer sales, Gatti's basement club thrived. From winter '94 through August '97, bands played every Thursday and Friday night, and for a brief stint Neal scheduled "Wednesday Night Solo Nights." In short order, the booking end of the job became the least of his worries.
"It was the weird place to play, something cool and different," he says. "We stopped having to approach bands, and we ended up with a solid roster of good acts. The bands booked themselves." Dooms UK, Corn Hole, Check...Gatti's was a one-hit pit-stop for Denton's local scene--punk and otherwise.
As Centro-matic, Johnson played a smattering of his initial shows there, testing the solo-musician waters after years of playing drums for one of Dallas' best rock acts. The room would fill to capacity with anxious supporters, and the skinny guitarist would turn up his tiny practice amp all the way and bound around and sing out, as though he were a kid again playing in front of the mirror in his bedroom and pretending to be a rock guy. His Denton audience would applaud like proud parents who knew they were witnessing something utterly unique--the well-crafted music and the Spartan space playing off each other in miraculous harmony. The lack of pretension and pressure made everything possible.
"I hate the word 'vibe,' but there's never a tense vibe there," Johnson says. "It's friends playing for friends. It's by the musicians, for the musicians, and all that. I mean, with no real PA and no one in particular running sound, you have people in the audience walking up and adjusting the mixer at the singer's feet, or wherever the band has put it. You get these space rockers in the audience running up during a Light Bright Highway set going, 'More 10K! More 100K!' It's downright interactive."
Neal adds: "We thought about collecting money at the door to buy a PA. Again, we were too lazy." (Again, how very punk.)
By late summer of 1997, Neal had grown tired. He was the one who had to keep things running smoothly until closing time every weekend, to clean up the spilled beer and empty cups and upended chairs after the shows, to repair the room's band-and-crowd addled damage: holes in walls, collapsed stage supports, broken furniture.
"This hard-core band from San Antonio got a little out of hand," Neal recalls. "Actually, right now a beer sign is covering up a hole in the wall. I patched it once, but then Chris Driggs from Check did this flying jump kick and re-opened it."
Neal needed a break and more free time to work on his own music projects, so he stepped down as king of the basement. He transferred to the Mr. Gatti's across town, got a job as its co-manager. And for the next six months, the Gatti's on the square was nothing more than another pizza franchise. The downstairs space sat empty, silent, a once-hopping romper room whose kids had sadly moved away.
By December, Gatti's employee Marc Pearson had grown sick of the peace and quiet. The 22-year-old Denton native had worked at the restaurant long enough to have enjoyed the basement's sonic heyday, and wanted it back. He told Neal he would start booking bands, and with his predecessor's earnest blessing, invited the bands to come play again. And come, they did.
"I get four or five calls a day," Pearson says. "I never have to call them. They think it's cool to play in a little basement in a pizza shack. And they're still mostly Denton bands, and some from Sanger or McKinney or Krum." His club-management practices pay homage to Neal's: no ID-checks at the door, no cover charge. No plans for a house PA or sound man, no cash for the bands.
Here we are now, entertain us.
It's not as though casual-feel rock venues don't exist elsewhere; witness Dallas' own Bar of Soap, or Fort Worth's Aardvark, or Denton's other current indie-clubs, Rubber Gloves and Dan's Bar, which have taken up much of the Argo's slack. Nor does that "spirit" of rock elude the established clubs without exception: When Darlington plays an all-ages matinee show at the Orbit Room, the bright-eyed specter peeks in on the slew of 15-year-olds crowded in front of the friendly punk band; when Bobgoblin fills up half the front room at Bar of Soap and plays at eye-level with its sweaty and loyal audience, that noble soul of pop music pays a visit.
But in the end, those clubs book bands with an undeniable smack of professional expectation and convention--it's about money and profile. They advertise, they observe crowd attendance when deciding who can play; they pay bands in dollars, not pizza and applause. And the bands that play those venues expect an expanded audience and cash.
In Denton, while Rubber Gloves lobbies for national touring acts such as The Promise Ring or hosts ambitious multi-band benefits, while Dan's Bar charges cover and treats bands as an afterthought to its liquor sales, and shiny-clean Rick's Place on Fry Street caters to the money-spending frat crowd much of the time, Gatti's celebrates rock and roll like a freewheeling, guileless bastard son.
The issue at Gatti's isn't about musicianship, it's about--as Johnson cautiously put it--the vibe. Most in the audience would take the salad days of an earnest band like The Visitors over the tricked-out agenda of some clever-clever Dallas act, especially if they could see the show somewhere outside the Deep Ellum commercial unloading zone. As one ex-Denton bass player half-jokes, "All it takes to ruin a rock band is a good musician." However, popularity has its price. As Neal and Pearson attest, while stronger bands increasingly flood Gatti's roster, the acts that come in with no sense of themselves no longer fit the bill. The improving action shows no signs of slowing, as long as someone helms the schedule and pesky grown-ups don't get in the way.
Which prompts the question: How does the Mr. Gatti's owner figure into all this, really? The pizza-punk scene comes off like a Peanuts strip--a cast of smart kids and absent adults. When Neal and Pearson speak of those in charge, it's easy to conjure up images of nameless, faceless big people who never quite mess with the plot. "He still doesn't really understand what goes on there," Neal laughs. "He kinda turns a blind eye. We never see him, and besides, it's a tax write-off. I probably shouldn't even give you his name."
"I don't think he could care less," adds Pearson. "He tolerates it. We never really get into trouble."
Not that much, anyway. Besides the TABC paranoia, Neal recounts only few stories of Mr. Gatti's gone awry: one about an older couple living in the apartment above the restaurant who would call with noise complaints every weekend ("We would just tell them, 'Umm, you're living above a bar. These are live bands. We can't just turn them down like a stereo.'") The couple moved out.
Or the time Gatti's tried carding every patron, and installed John Turner, a member of the band Check, at door duty. ("We were paying him in beer, and so by the end of the night, he wasn't doing a very good job. Letting in his friends and pretty girls and not paying attention. It didn't work out.")
When the cops are up for harassing college kids, they can always hit the Fry Street area a half-mile away, just across from the UNT campus. The high concentration of bars and restaurants make it an easier target; on Thursday and Friday nights especially, slews of hormonally driven students spill onto the streets with their open bottles of Schaeffer and Shiner and mounting energy. Back on the quiet town square at Gatti's, the kids walk in, order up a pizza at the counter, and head downstairs. Not much action for the authorities to bite, much less grasp.
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That action is too specialized, too nuanced for grown-ups like cops and restaurant owners to appreciate. When a songwriter like Slobberbone's Brent Best takes the stage as he did a few weeks back for a solo performance, his acoustic strum and twang and graveled voice speak directly to his late-teen and twentysomething audience. While the crowd pays wide-eyed attention to Best's bittersweet ditty about wanting to off his own dad, they nod and smile. Maybe it's a good thing, the cops staying away.
It's after midnight, the same Thursday night that the Visitors and Supersport 396 played. Supersport has cleared the stage for Denton's own Dooms U.K., which is a crowd in itself. All the members, most Denton rock veterans, seem very much at home; Dooms have played this club countless times. As the band sets up, the crowd lolls about in tiring, glassy-eyed anticipation in a room that seems even smaller, hotter, and ranker than it did an hour before.
"Last call!" someone shouts from above, and a handful of kids, presumably legal-age ones, trip up the stairs to buy one last beer. The lights dim one final time, and the band roars to life, ripping playfully through its odd array of comedy, metal, and cabaret. Halfway through the set, orange-haired frontman John Freeman surveys the night-weary crowd and strikes a quasi-defiant pose.
"Stand and deliver, fuckers!" he squeals, and the crowd jerks back to full attention and laughs and shouts back at him. That response is the band's payment, and tonight in the basement of a pizza shack, that's enough.


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The three-letter words of the genetic code are the same in every creature. CGA means arginine and GCG means alanine - in bats, in beetles, in beech trees, in bacteria. They even mean the same in the misleadingly named archaebacteria living at boiling temperatures in sulphurous springs thousands of … [Read more...]
Genetic Code – One language, diverse forms
January 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment


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Do you like cats, rockets, and sweet justice? Then we've got just the game for you: Super Rocket Cat Deluxe. As a gun-toting, space-faring cat, you must protect your rocket ship from hordes of monsters, while gathering fuel cells to make your escape. This is a game loosely inspired by Super Crate Box, with the following upgrades and features:
- Large levels and tricky platforming to push that strategy over 9000
- Choose and upgrade an unnecessarily large arsenal of weapons
- Eyeball irritating super moves and power ups
- Hordes of mindless enemies waiting to be destroyed by your paws
- Special celebrity cameo appearances by other internet space cats (and doges!)
- No DLC! oh my gawd. wow.


text: After taking the summer off to recover from heart surgery, Barbara Walters will return to The View for its 14th season premiere. And things promise to get interesting early: The Associated Press reports that CBS' Late Show host David Letterman will be the show's guest for the Sept. 7 opener. It will be Letterman's first appearance on the show.


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Collaboration can be toxic to an Information Security program. Assaulted by conflicting management agendas and priorities, the consensus needed for success sometimes suffers an early death.
However, many organizations perpetuate the mantra that collaboration is always a good idea. Unfortunately, managers' collective memories tend to cling to the outcomes of successful collaboration at the cost of the details that enabled those wins.
In Collaboration Is Misunderstood and Overused, Andrew Campbell examined the misuse of collaboration and highlights issues that I have seen in my consulting practice – problems that threatened to reverse the momentum gained after a security assessment.
Teamwork and collaboration are distinct approaches to harnessing the skills/knowledge of corporate stakeholders to address a challenge. The former emerges when a leader, or leadership team, directs a group that cooperates to solve a problem.
According to Campbell, team actions "are interdependent, but they are fully committed to a single result." This focus requires an outcome-focused management style where individual or group differences are sublimated for the benefit of the team.
"Team members may dislike each other. They may disagree on important issues. They may argue disruptively. But with a good leader they can still perform," said Campbell.
Collaboration differs in the lack of a central leader. According to Campbell, those involved "will have some shared goals, but they often also have competing goals. Also, the shared goal is usually only a small part of their responsibilities."
Complicating things further is the lack of conflict resolution that is an organic part of a team's leadership structure.
A healthcare provider contracted me to map the flow of Personal Healthcare Information (PHI) throughout their organization. Three weeks of interviews revealed the controls applied to the collection, processing, utilization, storage, and destruction of patient data.
These controls, together with discussions with various managers, revealed that each department had very different ideas on how PHI should be used and secured. Some managers felt that protection of PHI was a validation of the faith entrusted to them by their customers. Other managers felt that PHI should only be protected to the extent required by HIPAA.
Upon review of this feedback, upper management realized that wholesale collaboration would be unproductive in formulating an enterprise-wide strategy to optimize PHI security while enhancing their value proposition. Recognizing that a team-based approach would be more effective, they created teams based on a functional analysis of the PHI data collected previously.
The teams were comprised of departments that participated in those functions and led by a corporate committee. The outcome was an ongoing, coordinated compliance effort focused on securing patient data at a reasonable cost.
What makes collaboration succeed when it is used appropriately? Stakeholders' emotional engagement and mutual respect coupled with a governance structure increases the chance of success.
Campbell advises that managers "avoid relying on a collaborative relationship except in the rare case when a company objective is important enough to warrant some collaborative action but not so important as to warrant a dedicated team."
Realizing the value of security investments requires teamwork. However, corporate teams play on a competitive arena that demands flexibility and responsiveness. Managers must be ready to recognize when to use tactical collaborations for the benefit of team strategy.
This mix of collective problem solving is common to supply chains where risk management involves multiple suppliers, and it's a topic we hope to discuss further in upcoming Security Connected blogs and on Twitter at @McAfeeBusiness.
Cross-posted from the McAfee Security Connected blog


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Who wrote Linux? Oh gosh, is Linux really IGOS?
Another batch of Who Wrote Linux tall tales offers a few more possibilities into the origins of the operating system.
I came out with my explanation of Linux's origins -- I wrote it! -- right after Kenneth Brown, president of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institute, claimed that Linus Torvalds stole Linux from Minix. Now, Linux's creators are coming out of the woodwork, as thick as flies or, if you ask me, thieves.
Take the two spurious claims below…please. I can't believe these guys expect anyone to believe their stories! Isn't it a lot more believable that I wrote Linux while birding in Finland? Each of these stories is presented in the writers' own words (with some editing). Be sure to check out the other tall tales in this series. If you can outdo them, send your story to email@example.com.
According to Laurent Duperval…
Kenneth Brown is correct: There is no way that one person, no matter how talented, could have written the Linux kernel on his own in less than a year. Linus didn't do it. Neither did I, actually. My teammates and I created the Linux kernel. That was the easy part. Our greatest contribution to Linux, though, was a process.
In 1990, I was an undergrad student at the University of Montreal. Over the course of the year, a few students and I had put together a perfect process for handing in our school work. We called it "Intelligence Gathering."
Basically, as an assignment's due date approached, we would consult other team members on the given assignment, asking them what approach they took. After gathering the required information, we would analyze our findings, keep the best ideas, put it all together, and systematically hand in the best work of the class.
In the summer of 1991, I went to the University of Helsinki on a four-month summer internship. There, I met a seemingly nice young man by the name of Linus Torvalds. He was a self-effacing, gentle chap, and we generally had a good time together.
Over the course of the summer, I explained to him the ideas behind our concept of Intelligence Gathering. I explained to him how we would solicit and check various ideas and code for an assignment. Then our team would discuss the merits of the solutions we found, and we would incorporate the best ideas into our work, sometimes by adding improvements.
Doesn't that remind you of the Linux development process?
At the same time, I showed Linus the initial rewards of our method: On a single, 1.44M floppy, I had the source code for something our team wanted to dub IGOS: Intelligently Gathered Operating System. Most of the work was done, but our team agreed not to publish it before December 1991, after our semester was completed.
Linus seemed so enthusiastic about our project that I agreed to give him a copy. I was young and stupid. I didn't ask him to sign an NDA. I didn't ask him not to disclose the information on the floppy. Heck, I didn't even ask him not to change the copyright on the code.
History shows that Linus posted a message on Usenet on Oct. 5 1991, mentioning his OS project, effectively undermining our planned December announcement.
I've tried to contact Linus since, but he has refused to acknowledge my personal e-mails. My team disbanded and I haven't spoken to any of them since.
So, there you have it. Not only did I participate in the invention of Linux, but my colleagues and I also invented open source. However, we were too young and stupid to patent the processes behind both.
I'm older and wiser now, and I only have two things to say: Linus, you're gonna pay! Eric Raymond, you're going down!
According to Bob Steen…
The truth of the matter is, I created Linux during my world tour in 1991. Having just completed a four-year degree in philosophy, I thought I might grow my mind by traveling around the world.
Well, you need to know that I have a rare condition called "exo-codus-lavatorius". Whenever I'm doing my thing in the bathroom, I have an uncontrollable urge to right code on the bathroom walls. In Japan, some sushi resulted in "memory addressing". In China, some pork buns ended up in "kernel synchronization". "System Calls" were the work of something really spicy in Thailand.
Throughout my travels I left code in the lavatories of the world. So you can imagine my surprise when I noticed that my global code ended up in the Linux Kernel. Pure co-incidence? Or just a load of …?
What? You say that you created Linux? Well, Dr. Tuxenstein, let's hear your story. Tell me how, when, where and why you created Linux. The best story I receive-- as judged by an impartial jury of editors -- will win a $50 gift certificate. The runner-up will receive an excellent IT book from – you guessed it -- Prentice Hall. Send your entries to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Highville Charter, a 501(c) (3), is an enterprising and caring community charter school with a strong parent and community involvement. Our main goal is to prepare and instill a desire for all learners to confidently use technology, think globally, develop globally conscious citizenship, and utilize world languages and cultures as the basis for launching learners on their voyage as responsible navigators. Such a globally-conscious citizen will be values-oriented, wellness conscious, career directed, competent in communications and problem-solving, skillful in creative and critical thinking, culturally sophisticated, and acutely aware of global interdependence.
The Highville Charter Board of Directors comprises leaders from the nonprofit and for-profit sector who are dedicated to the organization's mission. As a leader in charter education, Highville's own board strives to be a model of governance performance. Our board members champion the importance of exceptional board leadership and believe that each and every organization needs a strong and effective board to fully realize its potential for good. In addition to the standard roles and responsibilities of a board member, our board members are active advocates and ambassadors for the organization and are fully engaged in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for Highville to advance its mission.
Board members are expected to responsibly represent Highville to their respective communities and to advocate for Highville's mission, programs, and services as appropriate.
Board terms last for three years and board members can serve for up to five consecutive terms.


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You won't be able to change domain forests on an existing domain. Your best be would be to create the new child domain go.contouso.com on a new server and use the AD migration tool to migrate users, computers, and policies from one.contouso.com. Make sure you have DNS, DHCP, and matching services installed and configured on your new server. If done correctly there will be little downtime for AD services, but I recommend that you plan and schedule this for off hours to minimize complications with other services like exchange and LDAP dependant software and services.
Register Hereor login if you are already a member


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