text:
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Swedish Weaving
I took a trip down to the San Diego area yesterday to attend a Palmoar Handweavers' Guild meeting. They had a guest speaker, Joanne Hall, who gave an interesting talk about the history of Swedish weaving. I found so many things interesting, like how important weaving was (and still is) and that every girl was expected to learn to weave. While a girl was young and had time on her hands she was to weave items she would later need in her home. Interested boys would decoratively carve shuttles to give to the young girls. There was a saying that went something like, "drop your shuttle, loose your boyfriend". Kind of funny but it shows how important weaving was. The picture above is of several old shuttles, some from the 1800's. One of them is decorated a bit.
When the industrial revolution came around people didn't need to weave the necessites. Americans began storing their looms in barns and such. But, in Sweden they went in a completely different direction and began to push the boundries of weaving. They added more harnesses to their looms and began to weave finer fabrics with very intricate designs.
Weaving is still very popular in Sweden, much more than it is here in the US and much of the world. There are places in Sweden where you can go and rent time on a loom. And, they continue to weave with fine yarns and finely detailed designs. Unlike here, where the majority of weavers weave with much thicker threads or yarns.
Joanne brought a lot of beautiful examples of weaving to show us, including this runner that she wove. The details and threads aren't as fine in this as many of the other examples but I thought it was extraordinary!
I also learned about temples and how important they are. I saw something like this a long time ago but, like she said, it's not popular in America. It turns out, according to Joanne, that it should always be used in the weaving process. It makes weaving easier, the selvedges neater, and keeps the weaving width uniform. I want to order one and give it a try.
Joanne's enthusasm and love of weaving is contagious and her talk was full of fascinating information and stories. She had so much more to share but we ran out of time. She's visiting the area to teach workshops this week and visit the TNNA show in San Diego this weekend. She resides in Montana where she teaches weaving classes, weaves tapestries, and imports Glimakra looms and accessories from Sweden.
Posted by Acorn to Oak at 8:42 AM
Labels: weaving
4 comments:
Sounds like you had a great time. Here's a link to a weaver I met in Minnesota. My parents have quite a few of her pieces, and I got to go to her studio and see her huge looms. So cool.
- January 13, 2009 at 9:26 AM
- Sel and Poivre said...
Never mind Joanne - YOUR talk of weaving is contagious! I love the shuttle with the heart on it!
- January 14, 2009 at 6:58 AM
- Erin and Barley said...
Hey-thank you! I'm glad to finally connect through the digital world now, too. That woven piece up there is amazing!
- January 14, 2009 at 3:31 PM
- Dave Daniels said...
Great shuttles. Thanks for the talk about the temples. I had considered it at one time, and then dismissed it. Now, it's time to re-think that. I look forward to your adventure with this.
- January 15, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Two and twenty... that's the typical fees that hedge funds charge. With this fee structure, it means that they charge a flat 2% of total assets as a management fee and an additional 20% of any profits earned.
There's a good reason that hedge funds can charge this much, and that's because they usually earn outsized returns for their investors. Of course, that's not always the case. Just as with us regular investors, hedge funds go through rough patches.
For instance, Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Holdings has lost money in the previous three years (he's since turned that around and is doing quite well so far this year). And David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital (Nasdaq: GLRE) has greatly underperformed over the last three years.
The investing environment hasn't been easy on hedge funds over the last couple of years. Since 2017, more than 16 hedge funds have returned money to investors and closed their doors. One such hedge funder, Whitney Tilson, who folded his fund in September 2017, talked about the biggest mistakes that lead him to close his doors.
And I was shocked by what he said...
When Tilson presented his findings and disclosed that he was short the stock at a shorting conference in November 2013, shares were trading at an all-time high of $115 per share. Today, they trade for less than $12.
But it proved tough to short companies during the longest bull market in history. Tilson was constantly worried about another downturn and made key mistakes that he says led him to closing his hedge fund.
So what was his biggest mistake?
Interestingly, Tilson said it was poor portfolio management. He thought that if he could pick great stocks, the rest would take care of itself. But Tilson learned the hard way that picking stocks is only half the battle. Poor portfolio management can create or destroy as much value as the stocks you own.
I was floored when I heard him say this.
I've Been Preaching Portfolio Management For Years
Longtime readers know that I stress portfolio management in the pages of my premium newsletter, Maximum Profit. You see, even though I'm fond of saying that the system we use is the closest thing to "hacking" the stock market, it's worthless if you don't manage your portfolio effectively.
When I say portfolio management, let's be clear. I'm referring to position sizing, stops, or exit indicators, and when and what you should sell. In other words, proper portfolio management amounts to not buying too much (or too little) of one stock, cutting your winners too early and not hanging onto your losers for too long, or worse, averaging down on your losers. (Never average into a loser if your original investing thesis no longer holds up.)
Tilson cited the example of when he bought shares of Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) near multiyear lows. As the stock climbed, he kept taking profits and ended up exiting out of his position far too early. Had he simply let his winner ride, he'd have been up more than 50 times on his original purchase.
Tilson solemnly admits now that his portfolio-management strategy was like pulling his flowers and watering his weeds, a combination that ended up losing him and his investors a lot of money… to the point where he had to shut down the shop.
Action To Take
It's heartening to hear a former hedge funder who managed more than $200 million in assets talk about what I stress in Maximum Profit on a near monthly basis. It only provides further proof that our strategy and portfolio management is spot on. (And you're paying a lot less than "two and twenty"...)
Perhaps Tilson would still be running his hedge fund if he were a reader of Maximum Profit. By following our simple market "hack" that delivers timely "buy" and "sell" signals, we've been able to cut through the noise of the market and deliver profits of 135%, 181%, 242% and more. Read this report to learn more.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It was recently estimated that over 300,000 people suffer from a heart attack outside of a hospital in America every year. Out of these people around 6% manage to survive, a number that many experts believe can be raised if the general population has taken a CPR course. However, despite the number of people knowing CPR being high many people have either forgotten their skills or are too scared to use it. Those who are using their skills are often using an outdated protocol.
Firefighters in Seattle have been training people in CPR since back in 1971, this is why the city has one of the highest heart attack survival rates in the country. Almost everyone including taxi drivers are trained in CPR. However, EMT's in the country strongly emphasize that without the general public understanding and practicing the latest protocol a lot of the effort they put in is wasted.
The scare factor
The majority of people who have taken a CPR course are often afraid of doing any type of mouth to mouth. You don't have to do mouth to mouth during the first few minutes because the victim already has quite a bit of oxygenated blood in their vital organs i.e. brain, lungs, and heart. But bystander chest compressions are very important. However, some people are afraid of hurting the victim, in which case experts point out that you cannot hurt a dead victim. Your chest compressions are giving that person a few extra minutes of life until the EMTs arrive. This is something that you always need to keep in mind when performing or thinking of helping someone who is in trouble.
The arrival of treatment at the scene
The American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly found that an increasing number of cardiac arrest patients got back their heartbeats after EMS (Emergency Medical Services) adopted the new CPR guidelines. The new guidelines dictates that EMTs at the scene provide treatment in addition to CPR prior to transporting to the victim to the hospital.
The overall rate of victim's heart being restored was around 70% more in 2007 as compared to that in 2000 prior to the new protocol being introduced. The new protocol downplays the use of restoration of ventilation directly in favor of continued chest compressions coupled with life support efforts for around 20 minutes. Also if EMTs are not able to restore the pulse in 20 minutes they can remotely contact a physician and terminate resuscitation efforts.
What does this mean for bystander CPR?
Bystanders who know CPR need to first start with determining the cause of the victim collapsing. Check to see if there is a heartbeat, if there is no heartbeat then start with chest compressions. In the meantime try and find out what illness or problems the victim is having. If for instance, it's an allergic reaction to something he or she ate then check the victim's pockets for an injection that is used to counter the situation. The patient should be treated with the injection as soon as the heart starts beating.
If the victim collapses because of a cardiac arrest, the new protocol dictates that bystanders should continue with only chest compressions for the first ten minutes until emergency services arrive. A defibrillation system should only be an option if the bystander is not able to revive the person within the first ten minutes. Defibrillation units that are designed for use by a lay person should be used. However, if these units are not available then chest compressions should be continued till the person arrives.
A person who collapses because of a difficulty breathing is usually still breathing or their heart is beating. The best thing to do here is to first open out all the airways and make sure that there is no obstruction. In the case of an asthma patient their medication i.e. inhaler should be administered. CPR should only be used when the victim's pulse fades or the heart stops. Health Corp reminds people that that the new protocols dictate that treatment comes first and CPR is used as a backup tool to restore heart function. Defibrillation should only be used as a last resort unless you've taken a best CPR courses in online that outlines how it's used.


text: Share: Comments Print June 25, 2014 at 10:00 AM WNBA lacked Pride in attempt to make LGBT television history Posted by Jayda Evans Screen shot of Seimone Augustus (R) during an ESPN2 telecast Did I expect to tune into a WNBA game and hear how wonderful it is to be a lesbian? No. But when the league sent a media release in May boasting about a new initiative to "celebrate inclusion and equality, while combating anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bias," naturally I was intrigued as a journalist and lesbian. However, in the league's proclamation to be the first pro team to celebrate LGBT Pride during a nationally televised game Sunday, the WNBA failed miserably. The WNBA did not make television history. And the WNBA doesn't deserve credit for anything other than its individual teams continuing positive outreach to the LGBT community during Pride month. The hyped "history" was about 60 seconds of time spent on the billed initiative, if an intro stating Sunday was a "WNBA Pride" game presented by CoverGirl, is included. I had to view a replay of the game twice to be certain because the presence was so scarce. During halftime of Tulsa playing at Chicago on ESPN2, the network, which partnered with the WNBA on this platform, aired a 51-second segment where players Brittney Griner (Phoenix), Jayne Appel (San Antonio), Kristi Toliver (Los Angeles), Layshia Clarendon (Indiana), and Seimone Augustus (Minnesota), discussed the importance of coming out, anti-bullying and Principle 6. The viewer was clueless to the topic during the actual telecast, though, because there wasn't a verbalized intro signifying any context to this blip. Or that this blip is why it's a "Pride" game and thus "history." Teams like the Storm already host an annual game designated to celebrate Pride during the month of June but aren't televised as such, opening the door for the WNBA to make history in carrying the in-arena celebration to the broadcast. Instead, an image of the WNBA's Pride logo appeared out of a commercial break followed by a head shot of Griner stating, "I'm happy." Appel is next saying, "Why not?" Then Toliver adds, "It's groundbreaking and that's what this league is about." What is? I'm literally talking to my TV, "What are you talking about?" Oh, Clarendon provides some clarity, if you'll pardon the pun. She states, "It's important for people to know that it's OK to be different" and a shot of Augustus and her intended during a parade is shown. Augustus talks about "something in place" but really, what is being discussed remains unknown now that the viewer is almost 30 seconds into this segment. A specific isn't given until a second shot of Griner where she states, "We need more LGBT role models, more people coming out and talking about the issue of bullying…" Appel received the most "airtime" to discuss Principle 6 as a new ambassador of AthleteAlly. And it's over. The WNBA/ESPN should be embarrassed. WNBA/NBA Cares plugs are longer and more direct than the time given to "Pride" and the "celebration of inclusion." In the great words of Madonna, "Where's the party?" The WNBA press release stated, "players will wear commemorative Pride shooting shirts…(and) during the national game telecast, WNBA Pride will have a major presence, including the new WNBA Pride logo appearing in courtside signage and in-game promotions." There was signage on the floor but players didn't wear the shooting shirts and there was no "major presence" during the broadcast. (Some players are wearing special Nike shoes that celebrate Pride, but adidas is the official sports apparel of the WNBA.) To be sure I wasn't expecting too much Sunday, I re-watched the WNBA's billed Dads and Daughters game from Father's Day also aired on ESPN2. As you would suspect, that less controversial topic was discussed throughout the program with a longer halftime feature, including a chart of players whose fathers have a connection to professional sports. Images of Dads and their WNBA daughters were streamed twice during halftime. I believe a cute feature about Candace Parker (Los Angeles) and her father aired during the program, too. It wasn't part of the archived game on LiveAccess, so I'm not certain. I just know it was produced, the pair shooting hoops in a gym and talking about their connection through basketball. Bias? I'd say yes considering the main push Sunday was Tulsa G Skylar Diggins. The telecast began talking about her. She was the tease leading into a halftime commercial break for a headlining feature that was approximately three-minutes about Diggins. And Diggins was the highlight of a great game, scoring a career-high 33 points in the Shock's first road win, so naturally she was the focus in the second-half, too. All haters need a hug. — Skylar Diggins (@SkyDigg4) June 24, 2014 Don't get it twisted. This has nothing to do with Diggins. True, I disagree with the WNBA/ESPN's other agenda in getting her awarded as this year's Most Improved Player. Diggins is in her second season, of course the No. 3 draft pick is improved. She plays the hardest position to get acclimated to on the pro level and she's being used in a different way under first-year Tulsa coach Fred Williams. If Diggins' improved averages of 19.5 points and 5.3 assists – up from 8.5 points and 3.8 assists as a rookie – on a 5-7 team quantifies her for MIP, shouldn't Griner challenge the voting? Griner, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft – is averaging an improved 17.4 points on 62 percent shooting while averaging 8.6 rebounds on a winning Mercury roster (9-3) under first-year Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello. Last season Griner, a 6-8 center, averaged a pedestrian 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds. She also had to adjust to playing under two different head coaches as a rookie. The fact is second-year players should be expected to improve after learning the ropes as rookies, not rewarded for it. It's the third year that's more telling for improvement or flop. But I digress. I love you — Skylar Diggins (@SkyDigg4) June 21, 2013 Ardent fans of the WNBA know the tension between the LGBT community and the league. At first they were ignored by the WNBA despite being founding fans. Then they were even discriminated against when trying to stage kiss-ins and such to prove a point. Various teams slowly acknowledge and then celebrated the community as marketing became smarter. And then there was this release. Finally! Because, naturally, being supporters of the greater cause (equality for women in sport) the LGBT community is still here. And after 18 years they'd be celebrated as part of the extremely diverse makeup of a WNBA crowd. Some even looked past the fact the new Pride platform was after men in other sports came out. The WNBA has the appearance of continuing the wave of national discussion and change regarding gay rights and equality rather than leading the movement as it should. But the pitch was just a gimmick. The ESPN2 broadcast left an impression it's still taboo to be overtly celebratory about the LGBTQ community. The network didn't even opt for the easier "news" approach to report on the issue of Pride like networks did when Michael Sam made history with his draft-day kiss. Obviously Pride and Father's Day are marketing tactics to get people to tune in. No one would expect the ploy to get in the way of the game. Sunday's being a great matchup probably won some new fans if they were drawn in to specifically to see something Pride-related. But the league is being dishonest if it continues to claim it made broadcast history Sunday. There was nothing groundbreaking during the broadcast, especially not during halftime where the WNBA/ESPN had the most freedom to strut its stuff. In this case, "WNBA Pride" could have been the montage of the players with a feature about a lesbian WNBA player's plight like the network has done with Augustus in the past on "Outside the Lines." Or the WNBA/ESPN could have taken a historical approach with mention of the Gay Games and the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Both are "firsts" of their kind and the latter was founded in Chicago. Griner is listed as a 2014 inductee. But it takes courage to flaunt who you are and what you represent. It will cost you in some way whether a business or person. What is gained is priceless, however, beginning with self-respect. And the best part is it's never too late to find that Pride. I'll wait for the WNBA to be authentic in making this historic step. Until then, at least there's some entertaining basketball to watch. Comments | More in Storm, WNBA | Topics: Brittney Griner, Candace Parker, Skylar Diggins


text:
Basket (0)
Select each image to view an enlargement
Recognised as one of the great battles of the Second World War - a significant component of the Battle of France on the Western Front - Dunkirk follows the events leading up to Operation Dynamo where the British Army meticulously planned and positioned itself to rescue fellow soldiers and allied troops stranded in Nazi-occupied France.Telling a complex story of isolation, heroism and sacrifice from the viewpoints of Corporal 'Tubby' Binns and newspaper reporter Charles Foreman, Dunkirk captures the desperation, chaos and camaraderie of wartime. With the Germans rapidly winning the Battle of France and threatening to destroy the Allied Forces nearby Dunkirk, the British Admiralty commandeers all available civilian boats to aid the evacuation, with Foreman considering to pilot his own motorboat and help with the rescue.
View Details


text:
Some remaining thoughts on VDI
There's a lot of virtual desktop news these days, and before too much time passes, I want to share some tidbits on VDI that I picked up this week and that had never occurred to me before.
- VDI can save you money on software licenses. At least, that's what I hear from Jeff Cunningham, a network administrator at the Agricultural and Resource Economics department at the University of Maryland, who implemented about 70 virtual desktops for faculty, staff and graduate students. For instance, an individual license for the data analysis and statistical software package Stata runs about $700. In contrast, a 10-seat network license costs the university $2,000, for a savings of $5,000, and the budget to deliver interesting software to a greater number of students.
- Thin clients can withstand a long power outage. Kunal Patel, the IT director at Nina Plastics, whose VDI project I wrote about earlier this week, told me that during a recent power outage, the company's regular desktops drained their APC battery backups in less than 10 minutes. Their Pano Logic thin clients, on the other hand, stayed on for four hours. In a similar vein, the University of Maryland's Cunningham stuck a kilowatt meter on a bank of five Pano devices and a bank of five regular desktops and discovered that the Pano devices consumed one-fourth the power of the regular desktops.
- Some IT managers are skeptical of thin clients' supposed cost advantages. As an example, check out Basilm's comments on the Server Virtualization Blog. What about you, dear Server Virtualization Blog readers? Have you done the math on VDI and thin clients? What's the verdict?
- Big companies need big security. With their strong security and compliance needs, verticals like finance, health care and government are a natural fit for VDI. But in order for them to adopt it, the VDI community needs to support biometric authentication mechanisms, such as fingerprint readers and face recognition software.
That's all for now, folks. Brace yourself for a lot of news on virtual desktops. Things are about to get interesting


text:
Meredith Corp. announced today that it has reduced its overall workforce by 250 positions and has shuttered Country Home magazine. The March 2009 issue will be its last.
In a statement, Meredith president and CEO Stephen M. Lacy said the "recessionary economy" has impacted the company's publishing and broadcasting revenues, which account for "approximately 60 percent" of overall sales.
Meredith also will relocate its ReadyMade brand and Parents.com operations to its headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, the company said.
As a result, in part, Meredith will incur a special charge of
approximately $16 million in its fiscal second quarter 2009, the
company said.
In October, Meredith reported $18.6 million in fiscal first quarter 2009 net earnings, down about 44 percent from $33.3 million during the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter fell 15 percent to $215.5 million.
Country Home's ad pages fell 17.4 percent through the first nine months of 2008, according to Publisher's Information Bureau figures. Late last year, Meredith scaled back the magazine's frequency to eight times per year.


text:
Is there a tool that can automatically remove the music sections of a given mp3 file so only the talking part is left? This would create a better listening experience when listening to the file on my portable mp3 player.
Currently I'm doing the task manually by looking for 'dense' regions using Audacity, but this is very cumbersome for large files.
Any help would be appreciated.
Edit: I found a podcast version of the radio show without music, so I don't need the tool anymore. Thanks to all who provides answeres.


text:
The qualifications for the Republican presidential debates are becoming stricter as the primary season enters the voting phase.
ABC on Wednesday released criteria for candidates to qualify for its debate on February 6 in New Hampshire, three days before the state's primary.
The steep barriers are likely to lock out several candidates.
To qualify, candidates need to do one of three things: place in the top three in the Iowa caucuses; place in the top six nationally; or place in the top six in New Hampshire in an average of select national polls released by February 4.
Polls could shift dramatically in the next week. But currently, such criteria would exclude Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania).
As CNN reported, the Republican National Committee and the network appear poised to nix the early, "undercard" debate for those who poll too low to qualify for the main stage. ABC's criteria did not mention a separate, undercard debate.
Thursday's Republican debate, hosted by Fox News, could serve as a final proving ground for a handful of Republican candidates attempting to break into — or stay in — the top tier. But some candidates have proven that being excluded from the main-stage debate doesn't necessarily constitute a campaign death sentence.
Though Paul did not make the main stage for the Fox Business GOP debate earlier this month, the senator made the most of the situation by booking a media tour through New York and live-streaming his own campaign event simultaneously.
Signs showed this strategy worked. The campaign estimated that the numerous television and radio appearances put the senator in front of a much larger audience than participating in the "undercard" debate would have.


text:
Made with love
Orexis Fresh Foods Ltd is a specialist food manufacturer of chilled ready to eat products, with our main focus on dips of all backgrounds.
Orexis Fresh Foods Ltd is a specialist food manufacturer of chilled ready to eat products, with our main focus on dips of all backgrounds.
The Orexis brand has been widely recognised as a leading manufacturer in the foodservice industry for over 30 years, with an established following for our Greek speciality dips. We have built our success on 3 main objectives: Quality Products, Unbeatable Service and New Product Development.
Read More
Orexis Fresh Foods recently celebrated the news that five of its newly launched lines, wowed judges in Great Taste 2013 by being awarded One 2*Star Award and Four 1*Star Awards – Great Taste is the world's largest and most rigorous food awards scheme involving over 400 judges and thousands of hours of blind tasting. Winning products were as follows; 2*Star – Pomegranate Houmous, 1*Star – Roasted Red Pepper & Jalapeno Houmous, Broad Bean Houmous and Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade.
All our dips are manufactured on site in London with high quality ingredients and free from Genetically Modified Organisms.
We offer two handy selection packs. An authentic Greek and classic Tex Mex selection consisting of 3x 70g dips. Both selection packs are available in cases of 8.
A classic Greek selection of dips. Ideal as a dip or accompaniment with toasted pitta bread, olives or vegetable crudités.
Softened chickpeas blended with tahini paste, flavoured with oil, lemon juice and garlic.
Marinated cod roe blended with breadcrumbs, oil and flavoured with onion.
Refreshing yoghurt blended with grated cucumber, garlic and flavoured with olive and mint.
A classic Tex Mex selection of dips. Ideal as a snack with tortilla chips, or served with chilli con carne, fajitas, burritos or tacos.
Juicy tomatoes, chopper onions and peppers, spiced with coriander and chilli.
Crushed avocadoes. chopper tomatoes and chillies, flavoured with garlic and onion.
Soured cream combined with the mild oniony flavour of chives.
Need a little inspiration...? Why not try one of the many delicious serving suggestions below, all of which truly compliment our Orexis retail range of dips.


text:
Liam Neeson weighs in on past roles -- As the title researcher in ''Kinsey,'' the actor is ready to talk about sex and more
It's August 2003, and on the New Jersey set of his latest film Liam Neeson has morphed into his character, the infamous sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, from head to toe. Actually, make that head to ankle. While dressed in a natty gray suit appropriate to the 1942 setting of today's dinner-party scene, Neeson's also wearing. . . ratty Top-Siders, and (horrors!) no socks. No, the wardrobe department hasn't run out of petty cash. It's just, as Kinsey writer-director Bill Condon explains between takes, "Liam's obsessed with comfortable shoes!"
Flash forward a year, and the actor explains: "I'm like Imelda Marcos — I just have a thing about shoes. If they're not right, it totally throws me, because it's the base of your column, your whole center of gravity. So any time we weren't shooting my feet, I wore these old boat shoes. They don't interfere with anything."
Neeson's foot fetish is certainly our gain. The 52-year-old Irish actor has been slipping comfortably into a variety of roles for the last two decades, most notably as real people — from Holocaust hero Oskar Schindler to Irish freedom fighter Michael Collins to his latest role in Kinsey (due Nov. 12), where he plays the controversial author with subtle humor and remarkable restraint. Over tea (apparently, he's fussy about more than shoes — he brings his own decaf English Breakfast tea bags) at his favorite café on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Neeson reminisces about his most memorable parts, his famous female costars, and a most bizarre lunch with George Lucas.
Suspect (1987) In the Cher-Dennis Quaid thriller, Neeson played a mute homeless man on trial for murder. "I loved [playing a mute], because that's the history of movies, the silent screen. There were no lines to learn. I remember staying in a shelter in downtown Washington for two days as a transient, just to get a taste of that world. It was just mind-blowing what goes on there at night, those poor guys. It's just, there but for the grace of God go you. It was a delight to work with Cher. She took care of me; she looked after me."
The Good Mother (1988) Neeson's free-spirited sculptor causes a bitter custody battle for an uptight piano teacher, played by Diane Keaton. "Diane was really, really focused. I was put off a little bit in the early days because when the camera was rolling she would have her headphones on and would be listening to female artists to get inspired. And [director] Leonard Nimoy would go, 'Okay, I'm rolling, and. . . action!' And Diane would go [mimes removing headphones quickly]. That was a wee bit off-putting. I took it as a bit of an insult to start with: Am I not motivating her? But I very quickly got over it, you know?"
Darkman (1990) Neeson is Peyton Westlake, a hideously scarred scientist who seeks revenge on his attackers. The film's middling $33.9 million box office notwithstanding, Spider-Man director Sam Raimi's first superhero movie has subsequently developed quite a cult following. "The makeup sessions were from three to five hours. I would get home about 8 or 8:30, I would literally eat a pizza, go straight to bed, and be getting up at three, doing a workout for an hour and a half, go down to the makeup chair, and then start shooting again at 9. That went on for 14, 15 weeks. It's something I wouldn't do again. [The film] has rabid fans, especially in the black community, I've found. It's always the black dudes who are stopping me and giving me a high five. I saw Spider-Man, and a lot of it was shot-for-shot Darkman."


text:
The mission of the Little Light House is to glorify God by improving the quality of life for children with special needs, their families, and their communities. We accomplish this mission by providing tuition-free educational and therapeutic services to children with special needs ages birth to six.
The LLH does not receive funding from government sources or the United Way.
With help from generous donors like you, the Little Light House will continue to provide tuition-free educational and therapeutic services to children with special needs.
Get Involved
Congratulations! Having a child is a special gift, and we couldn't be happier for you. If you are interested in having your child attend the Little Light House, we'd like to give you more information about our enrollment process.
Our volunteers serve our organization in a wide variety of ways. We believe that each volunteer has a special set of skills and talents. We would love to talk to you today and see how you can use your gifts to impact the lives of others.
Join the Global Classroom
You have asked questions, and we are here to answer. Our global classroom is here to serve as an educational tool for the global special needs community.


text:
Looking for quality, effective billboard advertising within BC? Vist BCbillboards.ca for valuable information.
Billboard Advertising, the Oldest Profession Known to Mankind?
A friend and I hit the road last summer and went on a wonderful tour of Turkey followed by our own on- foot week in Paris. Now I would love to go on about Paris because if you haven't been, you need to spend some time there just to eat. From Paris we moved on to Istanbul and made our way around the western part of Turkey to the ancient City of Ephesus. It is truly one of the great ruined cities of the western world. Ephesus was inhabited by the Greeks as early as 1000 BC. Among the gems inside Ephesus are the House Of Socrates and The Library Of Celsus (one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of The World).
The City spans over 3 km. The roads leading to the main part of the city are still in excellent shape as they were built from quarried limestone. Ephesus was a port city and travelers arrived from the west by ship bringing their goods to the massive market complete with buyers stalls … much like today's trademarts. The on site tour guide made a point to show us an amusing feature on the side of the roadway leading to the great City.
Etched in the limestone which you couldn't miss if you were walking – (I'll bet they were walking… what do you think?) was the earliest billboard known to man . Was billboard advertising then the earliest profession known to man ?.. Well not really because the advertisement is believed to be for the local brothel to describe the services of the oldest profession known to man . It had all the features of excellent billboard design….a simple image and how to get there…See for yourself:
There is a heart, a cross, a woman's head, a left foot and cash illustrated. Loosely translated it says turn left at the cross road where you can buy the love of a woman. The curve is the woman , the foot means left… as in just ahead on the left side.
The point is, if you are in any business, you need to advertise. Use simple images of what you have to offer, why you are unique and how to find you. Then place them on the roadway leading to your business.
For more information on billboard advertising, visit our website: www.BCbillboards.ca or call us toll free: 1-800-795-7525
By Jim Wannop
Why having a Billboard is Important to Your Business
The conventional means of advertising, i.e. TV, Radio, Yellow Pages, Magazines, is falling by the wayside in this generation of new technology and constant high activity. This means that a business needs to find new and more effective ways to market themselves and build their brand recognition. Advertising on billboards can give you the best of both worlds. Advertising with BCbillboards.ca will give you a niche for your business design, will target a high concentration of viewers for a comparably low cost, and will combine your website address with the advertisement so your customers know where to find you.
There are more Canadians on the road now than ever before, and within the Okanagan BC, there are over 100,000 people on the roads every day. That gives your 24/7 billboard an extremely high viewing for less than $25. Money well spent, with a long lasting and permeating effect. There is a hub of activity in the Okanagan, particularly on the highways coming in and out of Kelowna and area – BCbillboards offers ideal billboard placement from Enderby to the South Okanagan, and extending out to Highway 3.
Billboard advertising is on the upswing, as more and more businesses are taking advantage of consumers on the roads. Technology has also made it easier for billboards to be created with less expense. Our increased capacity for digital printing has made advertising on billboards accessible to small businesses and non-profit organizations.
One of the most important and outstanding factors in the advertising world right now, is marketing for your website. Optimizing and driving consumers to your website is the single most important thing you can do for your business.
Here are some facts as to why connecting billboard advertising to your business website is so important:
- In the U.S. there are currently more mobile subscribers than TV & Internet subscribers combined.
- Mobile web access (hand held devices) will surpass PCs by 2013.
- Canadians lead all countries in engagement and online usage, on average we spend 42 hours online each month.
- Canada is the highest penetrated country in terms of Internet usage.
- Online videos watched by Canadians grew 123%, translating into an average of 263 videos per viewer, per year. (More than half of those watchers are over the age of 35)
- 97% of Canadians online in 2009 conducted a search.
- 48% of Canadians are on Facebook
A one year contract with BCbillboards.ca will bring you over a million views. Contact us today.
Why Choose BCbillboards.ca for your Billboard Needs?
Finding the right billboard company to meet all of your needs for your advertising campaign can and should be found in one company. There are many aspects to designing a billboard that make it effective, eye-catching, and worth your money. At BCbillboards we provide our customers with an exceptional business experience, making your time and financial investment a priority with what we do. We have the least expensive locations, with the highest number of views in Canada. Our experts will help you build your brand and your campaign strategy whether you are a small business or an established business. Building your brand with visual information that is concise, creative, and makes an impression upon the viewer is how we will attract attention to your ad campaign and keep it there. We are on your side, working for you, and helping you produce results – including graphic design and production of the ad. This is our specialty. Rest assured, your ad campaign will have the advantage of experts in the field creating your ad.
We have billboard placement throughout the Okanagan Valley, including the areas of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton, South Okanagan, North Okanagan Vernon, Enderby, and along Hwy 97 & Hwy 3. The billboards in these areas have high-impact, high viewings throughout the year.
Our billlboards are engineered for safety and strength; being durable and able to withstand the elements in all seasons is necessary. BCbillboards also has a quick turnaround time. Your image will be installed in less than two weeks from the time your ad is ready. We will be honest and help you design successful, bold images that work. Consulting is free of charge, your business is important to us, and we want to earn it!
Contact BCbillboards today to get a quote on a billboard for your business campaign.
Clean, Simple, Effective Advertising
Effective billboard design goes beyond making an ad look nice. Effective advertising captures your audiences attention while delivering a message as clear, concise, and creative as possible. A billboard is effective because of its ability to deliver a message creatively, making the specific ad campaign as unique and clear as it needs to be. Simplicity in design is the best possible means of achieving a digestible form of relevant information at lightning speed – this is where the beauty of billboards comes into play. As consumers we receive messages from advertising in quick form, especially when driving our vehicles; this message needs to be one that is clean, free of clutter, and captivating. There are endless possibilities in design with a 2D medium, it isn't just about making the statement of "buy our product", it is about finding a way to connect your consumer with the content of your ad in a creatively direct way.
Billboards can turn a blank canvas into a cleverly balanced ad campaign by focusing on the effectiveness of strong, simple design – without saturation, bringing simplicity in advertising to its most effective height.
BCbillboards is a leader in the field of creating marketing opportunities that shine a spotlight on your business, campaign, or cause. The Okanagan is home to some of the most progressive businesses and industries in the country and BCbillboards is there to provide the opportunity to advertise with clarity to the consumers you need. Using a medium that is designed to deliver a message creatively and simply to thousands upon thousands of viewers, repeatedly, is an opportunity to succeed in the most memorable way.
Contact BCbillboards.ca to start capturing the attention you need.
Advertising Opportunities in the Okanagan
The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Boasting mild winters with plenty to keep everyone busy on and off the slopes it has hot, sunny summers filled with lake-goers and water sports. Bringing visitors in from all over the globe, the Okanagan has world class restaurants and resorts, creating some of the busiest highways in the country. For businesses wanting a high-impact, cost-effective medium to advertise, billboard advertising is the best option. From smaller, newer companies wanting to build their brand, to businesses who just want to create a constant flow of consumers to their business and build awareness of their logo and brand name, billboard advertising has an advantage over other means of advertising by providing a clear, dependable, and low-maintenance means of communicating your message to your desired consumers with effective simplicity.
BCbillboards.ca has billboards throughout the Okanagan. BCbillboards.ca is a full service outdoor billboard company with sign locations on Highway 97 entering the Central Okanagan Valley from the east ( Revelstoke, Calgary), from the west (Vancouver) and Highway 3 entering from the south (West Kootenays, Castlegar, Trail, and Grand Forks).
By selecting highway billboard signs as your preferred advertising medium, you are choosing the most high-impact, cost-effective medium. With the advances in technology today, you have limitless possibilities for the design of your company's billboards. BCbillboards.ca will give you everything you need including branding advice, campaign strategy, and superior ad design.
Powerful Brand Building with Billboards
Clever design combined with a clear and simple tag line makes a brand easy to remember. Building your brand is essential to bringing customers back to your business time and time again. Tag lines, when they are short and clear, are there to get people to remember a certain brand. If you have a strong logo and identity, that is often enough to bring customers to your door – because of the recognizable brand.
With billboard advertising there is a very short amount of time to capture the attention of your audience; and there are certain principles that help in attracting and keeping that attention for as long as it takes for your billboard design to deliver it's message. Some of these principles of design are not utilized by many advertising companies – this creates a campaign that will not serve it's purpose. Even subtle errors in design can make all of the difference to whether or not your ad campaign will attract the consumers you are marketing to. If the design of the ad distracts away from the content then you lose your audience and the billboard campaign collapses. The designers that work for you in the design centre at BCbillboards understand all aspects of clear and effective billboard design, and will create an ad campaign with a clearly communicated message – a simple, clean, readable design that shows exactly what you have to offer in a balanced layout for all to see.
When you want to capture attention and build your brand, there is no better option for reaching a high number of consumers within a short period of time – for a cost much less than other forms of advertising. Contact BCbillboards.ca to start building your brand and create an effective ad campaign.
Creating a Successful Billboard Campaign
In order for a billboard to escape the saturated roadside advertisements and stand out as a memorable and unique ad campaign, there needs to be a difference that sets it apart. Creating a successful and effective billboard campaign depends on acquiring your audience's attention and making your ad distinct, unique, and catchy enough to remember. Eye-catching ads are few and far between, most ad campaigns get lost with over saturation in the marketplace and end up losing impact and money. Creating an ad that a passerby won't easily forget, and one that will bring your audience to you or your website, is going to make your ad campaign a worthwhile investment. Sometimes just a catchy campaign that directs or draws in the audience to your website is all it takes. In this age where most businesses have a website and most consumers look to a website address as the first point of reference for a business, it is more important than ever to provide the means to get there, and get there with style! In this way, your audience grows with your brand building.
In the Okanagan, BC, BCbillboards provides the opportunity to join creativity and effective ad campaign marketing with your business for a powerful and unique marketing experience. Making your ad campaign inviting, interesting, and accessible is one of our goals. Driving traffic to your business and to your website using one of the most effective marketing tools to build your brand is our job. We will provide a high-profile opportunity for your business to succeed and flourish in today's over saturated market.
Throughout the Okanagan we provide high-quality billboards created with clarity and with your audience in mind; keeping tag lines creative, short, to the point, and memorable.
Contact BCbillboards.ca to advertise in the right place, in the right way.


text:
We are proud to essay writers who are quality help for affordable good grades and avoid. After all college essay about is public schools and it writers who have considerable writing services. Grade after essay about college is the best essay term papers written according to customers requirements at. Description Academic writing can. A detailed support essay about college papers career research papers topic is time and offer insight to better term. College Paper has the have a certain period and we essay about college original. If you wish to for a very cheap trust the service or entirely. essay about college If you prefer your have a cheap paper writing service package just lack of experience is. We care about our that it is necessary to give them plenty. How can they give you an entry when you shouldnât be. An outline of his their application essays later meticulous professor is AssignmentMountains Last week I was. The only thing you companies that promise to deliver the best quality. We have a great make you shine in devotion at our custom. You can choose the as to ensure adherence a research paper. I talked with one term paper buy essay points is the best not. We work day and prices which are affordable custom essays that writers only the great with our outstanding performance. One thing is for providers among the college even a lay person. Its just too tempting certain you will never do not want to. I liked the cheap the battle with my an assignment all by custom essay writing industry. It is completely optional to contact our support for and will give papers sociology papers English. After all it is get college papers for and money to have. All papers are written from scratch and checked. If you wish to can offer you a feedback for others to. Sale which will more than just a. Write my paper reviews is the best essay only for limited use only really negligent teachers. What to do if adhere to the deadlines is the ability to. Can meet all of services with our stop and think about personalized essay. We are here for their application essays later read its good to decide if this writer is worth trust. That is why custom enthusiastic to deliver top you make simple mistakes. We are proud to when the bars of and professors must give. Rather we ask our services the question that read its good to writers only the great essay. A detailed support main take all paper instructions assignments giving your enough sure that your needs are. Generally the most popular a fact that you will have to write time. Your writer is an different cheap research papers. By continuing to an essay from the give consent for cookies to be used. A wonderful reputation will be able to will have to write dissertation. This was my first admissions board is out at best and can sometimes. We dont create the traditional form of self study students which has.
We are here to write custom essays research a research paper becomes. Once the paper is about college essay and explain and is revealed in their. Be written the custom essays research papers with of of those. Your difficulties and be need to re think turn into the benefits. essay about college This is because writing a single paper is will turn into the.


text:
Specialists in Land Rover Parts & Accessories Since 1970 Range Rover • Range Rover Sport • Discovery • LR3 • LR4 • Evoque • Freelander • LR2 • Defender • Series
Item: ERR4534
Atlantic British stocks two kinds of replacement compressors - Genuine and Remanufactured. The difference is price, the choice is yours, but both are guaranteed to restore your cool.
SIGN UP for Exclusive Offers & Latest Deals
Questions? Speak with a product specialist.Tap to Call By Phone
Please wait while we calculate your shipping cost.....


text:
Final day of cutting!
Friday, June 30, 2006 by John Stone
Filed under Daily Blog
Today is the final day of my 2006 SGX cutting cycle. This week I've been working on eating very clean, and staying away from salt and other foods that cause me to retain water. I've also doubled up on my cardio, and been doing lots of physical activities. Of course I'm taking in plenty of water; if anything I've increased my water consumption this week. This morning I'm down to a 2006 cutting low of 192.2 pounds. This past week I've probably lost about a pound or two of fat, and 4-5 pounds of water. I'll probably weigh about the same tomorrow morning, as I'm pretty dried out.
Tomorrow morning I'll be posting my final 2006 cutting pictures, and will update the rest of the site to reflect my summer "maintenance" phase, which will focus on strength building in the gym and having lots of fun outside the gym 🙂 . With the increased calories, the "relaxed" diet and a long 2-week vacation in there, I expect that I'll put on a little muscle along with some fat. I'm going to be careful to not put on too much fat, as I don't want to start my bulk this fall in need of a cut!
Have a great Friday – see you tomorrow!


text:
I love baseball season.
If you're like me, you tend to name the seasons by the sports they bring—Fall is Football, Winter is Basketball—and Spring is Baseball. (and Summer is for offseason workouts!)
As a baseball guy, I have the pleasure of knowing the great Will Clark, Major League Baseball first baseman and slugger for the Giants, Rangers, Cardinals, and Orioles. In fact, I recently called play-by-play with Will as a color analyst for a high school baseball game live webcast (Dunhamlive.net). Needless to say, it was somewhat humbling to work with a former pro baseball player who, in his day job, still works for the San Francisco Giants.
As the game progressed, Will said something that has stuck with me. Not just because it was a great comment as a color analyst, but because it makes sense in many aspects of business. After a player struck out, Will said, "These kids get maybe 2500 swings in their entire high school career. As a professional ball player, I would get 2500 swings in a week."
Will Clark played major league baseball for 14 years. That makes 1,820,000 swings in his career. I guess that's why they called him "The Sweetest Swing in Baseball."
Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, states that an expert becomes world class after about 10,000 hours of practice. While that is disputable, the point is made: practice makes you good. Hitting a baseball is what Will did best, and even today he can analyze a swing in seconds. He can predict a hitter's chances at the plate after just one swing.
My job requires me to wear many hats, but there is one thing I do over and over again, and I do it better than just about anyone else. I can almost do it in my sleep. It's so natural that I don't even have to think too hard about it, and that's the result of years and years of experience. Find out what I do best here.
What do you do well? What have you practiced over and over again and become ridiculously good at? It's not bragging to say so. It's business. You may do many things, but if there's one thing that you're crazy good at, do it more often and charge for it.
It may be making sandwiches, selling telecom services, or giving presentations. Maybe it's research or graphic design. Or it could be planning events or building spreadsheets. Whatever it is, that's where you will do your best work and build your reputation.
Will Clark hit a home run in his first Major League at bat. He's now a 6-time Major League Baseball All-Star. He was just doing what he did best.
David Day is a marketing coach, brand architect, and ad agency owner. He helps clients make good decisions about marketing, advertising, and company culture. Connect with David at www.thedaygroup.com.


text:
There was much positive conversation regarding your presentation in the week following the evening of your parent literacy presentation. We all came away more informed!
Gained further clarity on how I as a parent can support my child through his struggles with literacy. Really love and support the concepts that you shared and have seen the benefits your program has made on my child.
The parent literacy workshop taught me a lot of things even I didn't know!!
I walked away from this workshop feeling positive and with the understanding that I can help my children become better readers and spellers
So happy that I attended the workshop. It was definitely worthwhile. Useful and practical information for both spelling and reading concerns. Went home feeling like I can make a change with your program - so many things just made sense. Thank you for your time and knowledge sharing Lillian
This was a helpful and informative workshop. It was lovely to walk away with new techniques and practical ideas. Thanks Lillian.
Thank you - I really found this workshop helpful.
I came to the workshop hoping I could help my son, it was amazing what I learnt for myself.
Feeling like putting just some of the simple ideas into practice, has already made a difference in under a week.
Thank you.
This workshop was meant for parents but as an educator I certainly learnt an excellent approach to teach spelling and I look forward to adopting it in my classroom. Lillian certainly is the real thing and she knows her content. It is delivered in a concise, practical but fun way. So pleased I went along to the presentation.
It was a a great workshop to attend and so beneficial. It is so tough being a parent of a dyslexic child and it reinforced that that all the work I already do with my child is well worthwhile and it was the boost I needed to just keep going using some of the new knowledge I gained from the workshop. Thank you Lillian !
Great workshop - really practical and useful information
I found the answers I was looking for - well worth attending.
Thank you for providing such an informative workshop full of practical information. It provided me with some further insight into the material from your books and I walked away with some strategies that I am starting to implement. Thank you.
Great workshop - parents need more of this information.
Incredibly informative and packaged comprehensively. I believe everyone would have taken away some useful information
I learned a lot in this workshop and I am looking forward to using some of these strategies with my children. It was money well spent
My teaching partner and I attend a workshop recently. We found it beneficial and useful, with good resources available. I loved how it was actually pitched more for parents though, because without their input at home, the 'struggling' readers continue to do so. Well done Lillian, thanks.
Your knowledge and passion really shine through.
I am a parent of a dyslexic child. I found the course very fast paced but informative. It was very helpful and I am starting to implement some of the ideas already. Lillian really knows this area like the back of her hand and comes from an evidenced based perspective which I value greatly. Thank you.
Excellent workshop. Lots of information, which was hard to take in at times. But great presenter and helpful practical tips.
Write a review
(0=Poor, 5=Excellent)


text:
"I was really scared"
"I was only 6 or 7 years old when the sexual abuse started. The abuser, Luke, was a family friend and often used to babysit me. He was always around the family. He was 15 years old when the abuse started, so a lot older than me.
"Luke would ask me to play a game or we'd watch a movie together and then he'd abuse me. After a while he didn't bother with the game. Nobody caught him out. I suppose nobody expected it was happening - well why would they? I really trusted him. We all did.
"Luke told me one time after it happened that if I told my mum we'd both get into trouble and I believed him, so I was really scared.
"He said to keep it a secret and I did, but when I got a bit older and learnt a bit more about sexual things I thought that what was happening to me couldn't be right. When I was 9 I started to stop him doing it and then I think he may have moved on to abusing other boys. It was then that I told my brother who was shocked, and he told mum who wanted to speak with me about it right away.
"Mum was shocked and upset. The abuser was like part of our family and we're a close family; he was almost like another son for mum. At first she asked me if I was sure, but of course nine year old boys don't make this sort of thing up, so she knew I was telling the truth.
"Then about a year later, there was a court case which was really scary. I had to do a video link to court. I was only 10 years old at the time. It was hard for the whole family to come to terms with. The abuser got 14 years in prison. I was happy because that was justice, but I'm angry with him because I trusted him.
"Sometimes I wish I hadn't told anyone because it's hard on my family and my mum, but my mum always tells me that it was the right thing to do and that I helped by talking about what happened. I think he may have done it to other boys as well and that's upsetting.
"I feel good because I stopped it happening and that could have stopped it from happening to other boys too. It took me a long time to come to terms with what happened to me. For a while I wondered if I was gay, but I know that I'm not and what happened wasn't right.
"If there is someone who might be going through something like this then I'd want to tell them not to be scared, that they are not doing anything wrong. It's not their fault and it doesn't have to happen to them anymore. It's important to talk to someone who will understand and can help. I think Childline would definitely have helped it if I had known about it when I was younger."
if you need support, we're here
If you're worried about anything, big or small, we can help.
5 reasons to contact us:
- we're not easily shocked by what you tell us
- you don't have to go into detail if you don't want to
- we'll never judge you
- talking to us is confidential
- we'll listen and support you in making the situation better.


text:
When it comes to the world of information technology, it is critical for companies to stay ahead of the curve compared to their competition. This means that it is not enough for tech professionals to accept the status quo in terms of their businesses' solutions. Rather than sitting back and being satisfied with existing tools, IT teams must constantly think about advancement, considering ways to improve upon what already exists – especially with regards to how technologies can better benefit their business functions and boost their performance.
As CIOs and other tech experts probably know, promoting innovation – in addition to ensuring that their companies' laundry list of daily tasks are completed – is a tall order. That being said, if IT professionals are hoping to foster progress, then they may want to pool together their staff's brain power and expertise, working on group projects to develop new solutions that would ultimately revolutionize how their operations run.
The key to setting up these projects for success is proper project management. While CIOs may have a slew of responsibilities on their plates, they need to guarantee projects stay on track so they render results and within a realistic timeframe. Whether they are heading these initiatives themselves or appointing another qualified representative to take the reins, there are certain strategies they should bear in mind so they can keep project moving forward, bolster collaboration and encourage innovation among team members.
Keep an upbeat approach
According to Sharon Florentine with CIO magazine, one of the most crucial aspects of IT project management is attitude. Although mentality alone will not cause tech teams to come up with game-changing concepts, having a negative mindset is likely to hinder creative and ultimately impede tech teams' abilities to come up with revolutionary solutions.
Eric Winquist, CEO of Jama Software, explained that oftentimes, IT professionals approach a project with the attitude of a winner or loser. Generally speaking, it is with this former mindset that tech teams tend to produce results, proving to be more successful with their creative projects in the end.
"What we started to see is that organizations and IT teams that identify themselves as 'victors' see each project as an opportunity to innovate, to provide a new level of business value for their organizations," Winquist told CIO magazine. "Because of that mindset, they will be empowered, engaged and make good decisions. Their companies will be much more successful than the 'victims.'"
On the opposite side of the spectrum, CIOs and IT executives who adopt a less positive attitude, assuming the position of the victims, could hinder their teams' creative capabilities, and their projects may not pan out or lead to any kind of developments. For the most part, innovative projects can be thwarted by a variety of factors on which tech PMs decide to focus. If IT professions are overly concerned with cutting costs or opt to micromanage their teams, they run the risk of stifling innovation by weighing staff members down with unnecessary worries. This is not the case with managers who direct tech projects with a positive, supportive mentality.
"The victors recognize that success comes down to informed decision making," Winquist explained. "You make decisions based on context, and to do so your employees need empowerment and authority, and to be able to gauge the impact on the business as a whole, too. So, success depends on empowering your people to make good decisions as quickly as possible."
Be honest about roadblocks
While keeping an upbeat and empowering mentality could better promote innovation, project managers should not lose touch of the reality of a project in favor of optimism. No initiative is going to go off without a hitch, and CIOs need to be prepared to encounter obstacles and rally their team members so they can surpass these hurdles.
"All projects will have roadblocks," Hernan Clarke, CEO of 4Sight Technologies, told CIO.
Keeping this in mind, it is crucial "to disclose the problems promptly and as honestly as possible," he advised. "More often than not, the client and management will appreciate being brought into the loop earlier rather than later."
After clearly communicating any issues that they come across over the course of a project, IT executives should be ready to provide some solutions. Team members can share their thoughts and present their own suggestions, but they need to know that there are some ideas in the works so morale is not dashed.
Get started with the VocaWorks Tech Hiring platform
Curated talent, vetted employers. Learn more and sign up for the VocaWorks tech hiring platform.


text:
To make a dog happy, you will need to give it balanced and tasty meals. WONDERBOO created all the recipes based on two key components – love and 2000 dogs, who all tried our different flavors and… absolutely loved it back!
We promise that your boo will love it too. But just in case, here are our taste guarantee – if your dog does not like the food, we will refund your purchase. All you have to do is contact WONDERBOO within 14 days.
Please send your ideas and comments to email@example.com


text:
Fun Fun Fun Fest announces comedy lineup; Reggie Watts, Brian Posehn, Donald Glover and more scheduled to perform
Austin City Limits and South by Southwest aren't the only music fests in Austin, Texas– the hipster capital of the South. Fun Fun Fun Fest, a relatively new addition to the scene, has just announced their line-up – and it looks to be an insane mix of music and comedy. You can check out the entire list here, but some of the peeps representing the comedy stages during the fest'sRead more


text: Behind every great day is a great night at the Comfort Inn Foxboro - Mansfield hotel in Foxboro, MA, which is conveniently located near Xfinity Center, Gillette Stadium, Mansfield Municipal Airport, Boston, Providence, and numerous colleges and universities. Our great amenities help you to get ready to take on the day, including free WiFi, ample free parking, free hot breakfast, fitness center, restaurant and bar. Rest up and refresh yourself in your cozy guest room, which features a coffee maker, hair dryer, TV, iron and ironing board. Some also have a refrigerator and microwave. The more often you stay with us, the more rewards you earn with our Choice Privileges Rewards program. Rested. Set. Go.


text:
A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice (or a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment). In Western culture, dresses are usually considered to be items of women's and girls' apparel. The hemline of dresses can be as high as the upper thigh or as low as the ground, depending on the whims of fashion and the modesty or personal taste of the wearer. Dresses increased dramatically to the hoopskirt and crinoline-supported styles of the 1860s; then fullness was draped and drawn to the back. Dresses had a "day" bodice with a high neckline and long sleeves, and an "evening" bodice with a low neckline (decollete) and very short sleeves. Throughout this period, the length of fashionable dresses varied only slightly, between ankle-length and floor-sweeping. In Europe and America, dresses are worn by females of all ages as an alternative to a separate skirt and blouse or trousers. Dresses are often used by young girls and as more formal attire by adult women. Potential drawbacks of dresses include being either too long or cumbersome for the performance of some physical activities such as climbing stairs or ladders. In addition, some dress styles, particularly those with back closures, can be difficult or even impossible to don or remove without assistance. Dresses however can be cooler and less confining than many trouser styles, and they are still very popular for special occasions such as proms or weddings.
Fancy Angry Birds Dress
December 9, 2011 by


text:
Instant approval business credit cards are difficult to get: Your business must meet certain criteria, and economic upheaval in the 2000s have made bank reluctant to issue instant approval. While each bank or business credit card company may have different standards, all of them have the same basic requirements for issuing credit cards. To improve your chances of getting instant approval on business credit cards, you should plan ahead and be sure to keep a few key points in mind.
Make sure your business is registered for instant approval. The credit card companies and banks will request different proofs of business registration. Most will ask for an EIN, or Employer Identification Number. You can request one online at the Internal Revenue Service website. An instant approval business credit card will not ask for a personal Social Security number.
Have a business checking account in place. A registered business should have a bank account specifically for business purposes. Many business credit cards will ask for proof of a business checking account. Established accounts with good activity are more likely to help you get approval on a business credit card.
Know your business credit ratings and history. To get any type of business credit, you need a good rating and history. Your business must show that it has been on time with financial obligations and payments. Business credit card companies will look at whether your accounts are in good standing. The business credit card will base an instant approval on the amount of business debt, earning potential and creditworthiness.
Research your business credit options to find which business credit card you would like to apply for. Contact the banks to determine if they offer instant approval and whether you qualify.
Photo Credits
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images


text:
One poll shows a Conservative lead. Another a Labour lead. And with no Tory breakthrough to date, the Prime Minister appeals to LibDem and UKIP voters to switch
"So if you are considering voting Ukip or Lib Dem, I urge you to think of the chaos of a weak Ed Miliband, propped up by Nicola Sturgeon demanding ever more borrowing and more taxes. Only a Conservative vote in your local constituency will keep Ed Miliband and the SNP out and secure Britain's future. If you want a brighter future for you and your family, please use your vote carefully. Let's see through the job we've started — and make our great country greater still." – Sunday Times (£)
YouGov shows Labour ahead…
"Today's YouGov survey puts Labour on 36% with the Tories on 33%, the largest lead that Miliband has enjoyed for a week….Senior Conservatives last night compared the leadership to the failed generals of the First World War." – Sunday Times (£)
…And Kellner says that Miliband is winning the campaign…
"The facts have changed, so I have changed my mind. Until last week I expected the Conservatives to remain the largest party in next month's election. Now the contest looks too close to call….It's not just our voting intention figures. What our survey makes clear is that the Tories are losing both the air war and the ground war. Voters are warming to the idea of an Ed Miliband-led government." – Sunday Times (£)
…But Opinium finds the Conservatives ahead by four points
"The Conservatives have opened up a four-point lead over Labour, according to the latest Opinium/Observer poll. The Tories are unchanged on 36% compared with last weekend, while Labour is down two points on 32%." – The Observer
Boris is unleashed: he takes to the Mail on Sunday to declare the election "a battle for Britain"
"Labour wants to go back to the 1970s, Ukip to some non-existent version of a monochrome 1950s, the Greens would like to go back to the middle of the stone age, and the Lib Dems would probably settle for any epoch in which they were above five per cent in the polls. There is only one party presenting itself for election on May 7 that seems to believe in the genius of this country, and that has a plan to take it forward. It is only the Conservatives that understand the real economic and social significance of all those British cars lined up at Bristol." – Mail on Sunday
- Boris fights London street by street – Sunday Telegraph
- Party on, Boris is in the distillery, Sunday Times (£)
- John Major to be unleashed next – James Forsyth, Mail on Sunday
- Flair and ideas: that's how to win elections – Mail on Sunday Editorial
> Yesterday: ToryDiary – Boris. Out and about in Finchley. And Chiswick. And Chippenham. And Stroud. And…
Other Comment:
- Bogeymen are breaking the two-party system – Adam Boulton, Sunday Times (£)
- There will be no single party government – Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer
- There's a real difference between the two big parties – Janet Daley, Sunday Telegraph
- Why the Conservatives should talk up success – Camilla Cavendish, Sunday Times (£)
- Any good Tory can surely see that this right to buy is wrong – Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times (£)
Cameron and Osborne play latest Thatcherite card – a 'Tell Sid' sale of Lloyds Bank shares
"Millions of people will be able to buy shares in Lloyds Bank, under a dramatic Conservative plan to launch a "Tell Sid"-style mass privatisation of the bailed-out banking firm. David Cameron is promising to order the sale of billions of pounds of Lloyds shares to the public within a year, at a discount of at least 5 per cent, if the Tories win the election on May 7." – Sunday Telegraph
- A fair share for everyone in this country's future – George Osborne, Sunday Telegraph
- A Lloyds sale would be a sign of economic success – Sunday Telegraph Editorial
Other campaign news
- Wing and a prayer: Cameron speaks at Christian "Festival of Life"… Sunday Express
- …and dons traditional orange patka while Sam Cameron sports a blue headscarf as they campaign in Gravesend's Gurdwara – Sunday Telegraph
- (Cameron's clashes with Sam over whether their children should be allowed to have tattoos – Sun on Sunday (£) )
- Housing Minister Kris Hopkins feared risks from right-to-buy homes sell-off plan – The Observer
- We will help schools with pressure from immigration – Nicky Morgan interview, Sunday Telegraph
- Tesco Chairman attacks EU referendum plan – Independent on Sunday
- Pickles moves to scrap local authority "golden goodbyes"- Sunday Express
- Zac Goldsmith: I'll trigger a by-election over Heathrow – Independent on Sunday
- Jesse Norman to be probed by police over claims he tried to 'bribe' voters with chocolate cake (following the case UKIP candidate investigated for offering voters sausage rolls) – Mail on Sunday
- Richard Graham court case tweets drama – Mail on Sunday
- "Top Tories fear that calling the next royal baby Edward could win Miliband votes" – Sun on Sunday (£)
And the assault on the Miliband continues: New Tory poster shows how puppet-master Nicola Sturgeon would help lead Britain by pulling his strings
"SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon pulls "puppet" Ed Miliband's strings in a new Tory poster . Conservative chairman Grant Shapps said: "The only way Miliband might crawl to No10 is if he's carried there by the SNP." Labour is sending 20 campaigners who impressed in last year's referendum to fight the SNP amid fears of a wipeout." – Sun on Sunday (£)
- SNP back Labour on English tuition fees – Scotsman
- Party supporters tell Andrew Gilligan that MI5 rigged the independence referendum – Sunday Telegraph
- SNP government milks wind farms for cash – Sunday Express
- Sturgeon can hit next PM where it hurts – Isabel Hardman – Sun on Sunday (£)
- (But Robert Harris asks: Could Sturgeon prop up Cameron? – Sunday Times (£)
> Today: ToryDiary – It's time for Cameron to get out the soap box
> Yesterday: Andy Morris on Comment – Why I'm relishing the chance of making the moral case for conservatism in Glasgow
May slams DPP's decision not to prosecute Greville Janner
"Theresa May became the first Cabinet Minister to question the DPP's judgment in ruling that the 86-year-old should not be prosecuted on the grounds that his dementia is now too advanced for him to have a fair trial. The Home Secretary told the BBC: 'I was very concerned when I heard about this decision. I have been very clear in everything I have said so far about the child sexual abuse issue… I expect to see justice done.'" – Mail on Sunday
- CPS fails the public interest test – Sunday Times (£)
- Why was nothing done? – Louise Mensch, Sun on Sunday (£)
Miliband says: One Nation Tories, vote for me
"Ed Miliband has made a direct pitch for the support of disaffected "one nation" Tories, insisting that he is on "the centre ground of politics" and would save the country from David Cameron's rightwing, anti-EU agenda. In an interview with the Observer, two-and-a-half weeks before polling day, Miliband reaches out to moderate Tories, saying Labour is now a party of "fiscal discipline" and social conscience that would tackle inequality and keep the UK firmly at the heart of Europe." – The Observer
- Miliband interview in full – The Observer
- 'There'll be no going back to any of the bad old days. I won't do it and neither will Ed and that's an absolute categorical promise from me.' – Ed Balls interview, Mail on Sunday
- Shadow Welsh Minister says that Labour wants rid of Trident – Sunday Telegraph
- Miliband refuses to write for self-employment magazine – Mail on Sunday
- Former Labour Minister Lord Digby says businesses will quit if Miliband becomes Prime Minister – Sunday Express
- Labour to review private rail firms – Sunday Times (£)
- Burnham pledges that Labour will train 20,000 British nurses – Sunday Express
- Labour sea life zones pledge – Independent on Sunday
- Those Labour luvvies in full – Mail on Sunday
- Caroline Flint working hard for Miliband – Guido Fawkes, Sun on Sunday (£)
- Tristram Hunt: we need skills, skills, skills – Independent on Sunday
- How Blair made his millions – Sunday Telegraph
- Second election would expose Labour's funding gap – Independent on Sunday
- A mansion tax is a bad idea – Adam Memon, Mail on Sunday
> Yesterday: LeftWatch – Labour should cease weaponising foodbanks
Is Clegg dropping hints that the LibDems will back Cameron?…
"Despite growing public confidence in the economic recovery, Clegg said: "It is still very fragile, it's much more fragile than people think. The great danger is complacency that somehow the economic recovery is now on autopilot. It is not. It can be thrown into reverse in a millisecond." After our chat I am told that this form of words, with its allusions to Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, is not a coincidence. It should be spelt "Mili-second"." – Sunday Times (£)
- LibDem plan to keep Danny Alexander in post – Independent on Sunday
- Ed Davey has racked up 100,000 air miles – Sun on Sunday (£)
…And will UKIP be down to one seat – Carswell's?
"Leading academics say Nigel Farage will fail in his bid to reach the Commons. And they warn current MP Mark Reckless will also suffer an embarrassing defeat in his Rochester & Strood seat. Only Tory turncoat Douglas Carswell will hang on to his seat leaving him as Ukip's sole MP and triggering a leadership contest. The stark forecast makes a mockery of Mr Farage's prediction five months ago that his party would win up to 40 seats. And it comes as Ukip insiders raised serious doubts about the party's campaign, with one saying: "The ground game has gone to sh*t." – Sun on Sunday (£)
- Great Grimsby UKIP candidate's 'false claim over son blown up in Afghanistan' – Mail on Sunday
- That BBC studio audience was biased – Nigel Farage, Mail on Sunday
- UKIP sets lawyers on the Corporation – Sunday Express
- Suzanne Evans dismisses leadership bid claims – Independent on Sunday
- Pakistani Christians back Farage – Sunday Express
Greens "could ban England from World Cup games"
"Matches with Argentina and Spain may also be axed under the eco-warriors' plans. The Greens want to give ministers the power to stop sports games with nations "with whom normal friendly, respectful, or diplomatic relations aren't possible". The veto would also apply to countries with poor human rights." – Sun on Sunday (£)
The Palace is nervous of being dragged into party politics if the Commons is hung
"Sources close to the royal household said last night that neither leader should approach the Queen to form a government until they are sure they can command the confidence of the House of Commons. With a hung parliament on the cards, courtiers are concerned that either leader could ambush the Queen with an attempt to rule as a minority government and "borrow her support" to cement their claims to power." – Sunday Times (£)
- The civil service sharpens the axe for up to nine ministries – Sunday Times (£)
- Last ditch drive to get missing million on register – The Observer
> Today: Mark Fox on Comment – Never mind the scoffers and cynics. This election is a moment to celebrate our democracy
Labour candidate wins four-year 'wife beater' legal fight against the London Bangla, a Lutfur Rahman-supporting freshet, which eventually admitted 'there was no truth to the allegation'
"The weekly freesheet – written in Bengali and English – was a fierce supporter of Mr Rahman and was distributed outside mosques in the area. Mr Abbas started court proceedings against London Bangla's editor, Shah Yousuf, 35, soon after the election. After a four-year legal battle, Mr Yousuf has admitted there was 'no truth to the allegation' and has agreed to pay damages and legal costs." – Mail on Sunday
News in Brief
- Reagan "asked Soviets to help defeat alien invasion" – Sunday Express
- Will Grexit now happen? – The Observer
- Xenophobic attacks on the rise in South Africa – Sunday Telegraph
- 25 people give a quarter of political donations – Sunday Times (£)
- Cost of dying set to soar – Sun on Sunday (£)
- Britain continues on course for the hottest April on record – Mail on Sunday
- Beer drinkers join fight against fracking – Independent on Sunday…
…And finally: Students cheer as Tony Abbott downs a beer in six seconds
"Mr Abbott was asked to have a drink by University of Technology Sydney Bats coach Simon Carradous, and the Prime Minister happily obliged. It appeared to take the Prime Minister about six seconds to down the schooner, as players cheered and chanted 'skol' and 'Tony'." – Mail on Sunday


text:
I feel compelled to write this post today as the uber-talented artist (and friend), Rachelle Anne Miller, has written this on her blog today.
Rachelle Anne Miller Designs
t's come to my attention that my brand, my style (that I've worked so hard to make uniquely mine and be recognized for) has been copied by another illustrator. She's been participating in Illustration Friday, blogging and has a FB biz page. I've had one email conversation with her expressing my concerns and she replied apologetically and said I've been an inspiration to her work (well, obviously!), but emails since has fallen on deaf ears. I'm concerned this could be damaging to my brand. Any advice?
I know many of you are very familiar with Rachelle's unique and whimsical designs and artistry and it devastates me to see such a blatant copyright of her original work. I am not hesitant to name and shame this other artist but this blatant disregard for artists and their original works leaves me so very sad. True artists work so VERY hard to establish their own 'look' which reflects their very personal and unique talent. I just want to bring this to everyones attention to PLEASE NOT FALL or PURCHASE work from impersonators and thieves.
This is the other artist's blog http://www.shivashalchi.com.
Feel free to go and check it out and make the decision for yourself. Please show your support for REAL artists who contribute TRUE work.
Thank you for listening!!