text:
Our Food
Our kitchen serves artisanal food inspired by our love of different styles and flavours – food for the soul at breakfast, brunch and lunch.Find out more
Our Coffee
Our coffee, supplied by the Roasting Party, is a completely innovative experience. A sense of taste, aroma, warmth and comfort is what we provide.Find out more
About Bench
Managed by Gather & Gather since 2014, Bench is their first high street café and has become a hub for the local creative community.Find out more
Contact Us
Want to visit us? We're open Monday to Friday (8am to 6pm). For enquiries about Bench please email firstname.lastname@example.com out more


text:
This week's featured Summit speaker is council member, Jasmine Green, Vice President & Chief Customer Advocate of Nationwide, who will be leading a discussion on creating a customer focused culture for Nationwide.
How do you transform the behaviors of 32,000 people to become a truly customer centric organization? Through engagement, empowerment, and accountability. Beginning with a rich cultural heritage and significant executive support, Jasmine Green quickly earned her own authority as she earned the respect of the employees. Learn how Green has created a culture of excitement around serving customers as she¹s worked with executives, business leaders, and front-line employees to "do the right thing" for customers.
Watch my two minute video on the Summit and Jasmine's contribution.
Related Posts
Add Comment
Cancel reply to comment
Become a Member | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map
Copyright © 2020, Chief Customer Officer Council.
All rights reserved. Various trademarks held by their respective owners
The ONLY newsletter geared exclusively to the CCO. Learn best practices & critical strategies to drive solid business results.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Choosing Your First Outdoor Barbeque Grill
There are thousands of options available to you when you are purchasing your first grill. It may seem overwhelming, but knowing the difference it each type of grill will help you may an easier decision. Charcoal Grills Charcoal grills are one of the most used types of grills. Charcoal grills utilize charcoal and lighter fluid to heat up and cook your food. Charcoal grills come in all shapes and sizes, and vary in cost. Charcoal requires you to buy charcoal and lighter fluid each time you cook with it. It must also be cleaned out each time. Charcoal grills come in small ...
Different Types of Barbeque Grills
Summer is here, which means that it is time to begin grilling and preparing awesome barbeque parties. The only problem is, you have not bought your barbeque grill yet. When purchasing your first grill, you will find that you have a large array of options available to you. It may seem overwhelming at first due to the almost endless amount of possibilities and options available. The best way to decide on what type of grill is right for you is by educating yourself about them. Cost Barbeque grills can range from extremely cheap to very expensive depending on the type and features ...
Eliminate Outdoor Cooking Mistakes
As humans, we all make mistakes. It is human nature to do so, and cannot be prevented each and every time. When it comes to barbequing, this rule is no different. We often make mistakes that we do not even realize until we taste our food, or something potentially dangerous happens. Some mistakes just mean that the food you cook is not going to taste very good, while others could potentially mean a trip to the hospital, or a visit from your claims representative on your home insurance policy. No matter the severity of the mistake, you should do your best ...
Plan a Perfect BBQ Party
Barbeques are popular for events such as the 4th of July, birthday parties, receptions, and going away parties. No matter why you have decided to plan a barbeque party, the memories that will come from it are sure to stick with your guests for many years to come, provided that you plan ahead. Planning the perfect BBQ party is not difficult, as long as you follow a few simple steps. 1) First, no barbeque would be complete without guests. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guest for scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is suitable ...
Why is Barbequing So Popular?
Barbequing is an American tradition. Each year, statistics show that at least 90% of families attend at least one barbeque party or celebration. About 40% of families delight in throwing parties that center around the idea...Your First Charcoal Grill
Perhaps you have just moved into your first place, or you decided that you wanted to broaden your horizons and try new things. Maybe you went to a Fourth of July barbeque party and tasted the beautiful smoked flavor, and decided...More Advice Articles Here >>>
Tips for Better Barbequing
If you are new to barbequing, chances are you have run into some problems when it comes to barbequing. Barbequing, like anything else, takes practice. Learning from your mistakes, as well as the mistakes of other will help you learn quickly. Before you begin cooking, spray your cooking area with a nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent your meat from sticking when you are...More Tips Here >>>
Barbeque Maintenance Tips
When purchasing your barbeque grill, think of it as an investment rather then just another item for your outdoor entertainment. You should expect this item to become a large part of your outdoor activities for many years to come. But like any other investments, proper maintenance and care is needed to ensure that your barbeque grill will work for you for many years to come. While some maintenance... [Read more of this review]Barbequing: An American Tradition
No matter if it is the 4th of July, or just another day in the summer, chances are someone in your area is barbequing. Barbequing has become a standard American tradition for families. The reason as clear as to why, not only does the food that comes from barbequing have a taste that is unmatched by other cooking methods, but barbequing presents a reason for families to gather together. Some on... [Read more of this review]Summer Grilling – The Perfect Barbeque
Summer time is the perfect time for barbequing. Not only is the temperatures perfect for outdoor activities, but often the children are out of school, and families are traveling for their summer vacations. Today in America, it is unheard of for a family to go a full summer without having or attending a barbeque cookout. Today, over 90% of families attend a barbeque at least once a year. Summer... [Read more of this review]How To Use A Charcoal Grill
So you have decided that you want to start barbequing. What more, you have done your research and decided that a charcoal grill is the right type of grill for you. So now you have to pick out the charcoal grill that suits you best. One of the first things to consider when purchasing your first charcoal grill is what you will be using it for. If you plan on traveling and using your charcoal grill,... [Read more of this review]More Information Here >>>


text:
In the market for an iPhone? Here's a breakdown of all the currently shipping iPhones from Apple.
AT&T to Stop Offering Two-Year Phone Contracts Starting January 8
As outlined in the document, the new rules apply to all of the phones that AT&T sells, including smartphones and more basic devices, which will be paid for using new installment plans. More information on how AT&T will handle corporate accounts and non-smartphone devices like tablets and wearables will become available after an official announcement from AT&T, but it appears certain corporate users will be able to continue making two-year contract purchases.
The shift away from two-year contracts and iPhone subsidies began with T-Mobile in 2013, when the company introduced its Un-carrier payment plans uncoupling device costs from plan costs. Verizon followed suit in August of 2015, debuting new smartphone rate plans and eliminating its subsidized two-year contract option for new users.
Existing Verizon customers can still renew their two-year contracts, but AT&T's no-contract implementation is more extreme and will not offer existing customers the option to keep their contracts once they expire.
AT&T has already been working on shifting away from two-year contracts by pushing its Next plans. In June of 2015, AT&T forced Apple and other third-party retailers to remove the option to purchase AT&T phones with a two-year contract, leaving customers with AT&T Next or a full-priced smartphone as their only third-party purchase options.
Update: AT&T has confirmed its plans to stop offering two-year contracts in a statement given to Re/code.
"With $0 down for well-qualified customers, the ability to upgrade early and down-payment options available with even lower monthly installments, our customers are overwhelmingly choosing AT&T Next," AT&T told Re/code. "Starting January 8, AT&T Next will be the primary way to get a new smartphone at AT&T."
Top Rated Comments(View all)
I know full-priced phones aren't cheap, but contracts are so ****ing overpriced that they need to get removed eventually.I've stayed on 2-yr contracts because they have been cheaper for me than buying the iPhone for full-price.
The iPhone costs $650 retail (plus tax).
I could always sell the iPhone for about $200 at the end of the 2 year contact.
Subsidy was $450.
So doing the math, I was always breaking even after 2 years. In other words I have been getting free iPhone upgrades for the last 6 years. Coupled with Unlimited data and it was a sweet deal.
If the 2 year contracts were soo overpriced, AT&T would be making a huge profit from it and would keep them. The fact that they are getting rid of them shows that they were actually too good a value for the consumer.
I feel sorry for these people since they are way overpaying for their plan.Huh? I'm on the unlimited plan and I'm NOT "way overpaying". How do you people come up with this stuff?
I feel sorry for these people since they are way overpaying for their plan.
Um no. You are wrong. I am on a grandfathered unlimited plan and I recently got a message from AT&T that I could save money by switching to AT&T NEXT. When I used their comparison tool I got the following:
So for $10 more per month I can have a data cap. No thank you.
I feel sorry for these people since they are way overpaying for their plan.
Not if you use tons of data. I never have to worry about overages. Also, AT&T has been upgrading lots of these (even the 450 minute plans) to unlimited voice and text, so after all the discounts it winds up being slightly less than a 5GB shared data plan.
No matter how I price it on the current shared data, my plan remains cheaper than any plan offered to date with them.
I feel sorry for these people since they are way overpaying for their plan.
I pay $30/mo ($35 soon) for unlimited data and because of subsidies I haven't paid for an iPhone since the original. I have had every model on launch day. I've calculated the math over the years and compared it to all of AT&T's new plan options as they have rolled them out. With the amount of data I go through on average; roughly 15 GB/mo for the last few years, I have saved an incredible amount of money. Not to mention every other year when I received a subsidized phone I actually make a profit by selling my current one. Generally making enough to pay full price for next years model after again selling my current one...and still retaining a little profit.
TLDR; Unlimited plans and 2 year contracts=free phones and cheap date. I've done the math.
[ Read All Comments ]


text:
Share in the Hawaii Photography Community.
Pacific New Media's annual exhibition opens Friday April 1 from 6-9pm with an awards ceremony at 7pm.
Over 100 photographers entered close to 500 images!
The show is up from April 1 to April 30.
Come by and see a survey of the state of photography in…Continue
Added by Pacific New Media on March 30, 2011 at 10:00am — No Comments
Visit Maui in style by staying in the beautiful area of Kula in Upcountry Maui.
The Kula Cottage is an 800 square foot guesthouse on the mountainside offering romantic luxury accommodations. This superb vacation rental has everything you would want while staying in Hawaii, including 2bedrooms, a sofa bed, dining area, lanai with 180 degree views of Maui, and all…Continue
Added by Hawaii Web Group LLC on March 26, 2011 at 2:30pm — No Comments
All of the following photos were taken on or of the Pride of Maui out of Maalaea Harbor. They do trips to Molokini Crater, Turtle Town, along the south and west coast of Maui. They also do sunset dinner cruises, whale watches, and they have experts in finding the best spots for snorkeling in Maui.
We especially like that they offer scuba diving and snuba diving. Snuba diving is the next…Continue
Added by Hawaii Web Group LLC on March 10, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments
Most visitors have difficulty finding the best spots along the Road to Hana because they don't have an experienced guide. You don't have to worry about finding the best waterfalls, monuments, and look outs when you travel with Valley Isle Excursions.
THey'll take you to 13 Maui tour locations with 4 hours worth of stops. Trust us, you'll want these 4 hours to explore rainforest, lounge in the sun, watch…Continue
Added by Hawaii Web Group LLC on March 7, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments
© 2020 Created by Hawaii Web Group LLC. Powered by
Badges | Maui Hawaii Web Design | Report an Issue | Terms of Service


text:
Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015)
Tourism is firmly positioned in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This brochure outlines tourisms potential to contribute, directly or indirectly, to achieving the SDGs and ultimately to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and fix climate change by 2030.
Tourism Driving Trade, Fostering Development and Connecting People (2015)
Tourism is one of the key socio-economic sectors of our times. From an activity reserved for the privileged few only some decades ago, tourism today moves more than one billion people across international borders each year. This brochure outlines the rationale of why tourism matters, its development dimension and the necessary financing component.
Sustainable Tourism for Development Guidebook - Enhancing capacities for Sustainable Tourism for development in developing countries (2013)
The Guidebook takes a comprehensive approach to tourism, covering a wide range of topics relating to its planning, development, management and impact. By working through the whole document, users can identify priorities for intervention across a spectrum of issues. The Guidebook's aim is to mainstream tourism by: - Enhancing understanding and commitment to sustainable tourism - Providing guidance to assess the tourism sector's importance, identifying opportunities for sustainable tourism development, planning actions, and enhancing sustainability of projects. - Delivering a "Sustainable Tourism for Development Study" enabling the EU and other development institutions to include sustainable tourism development in their programme cycles.
Manual on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation – Practical Steps for Destinations (2010)
With the aim of contributing to the understanding of tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development, UNWTO jointly with SNV has produced this publication, which outlines some practical steps that can be taken in tourism destinations to shape and manage tourism in ways which deliver more benefits to disadvantaged individuals and communities. The manual looks at the process of analysing a tourism destination in terms of current contribution of tourism to the poor and planning how this could be strengthened in the future. It proposes the establishment of a tourism strategy and action plan based on this analysis which embraces pro-poor concerns and actions and provides guidance on planning monitoring and evaluation. Furthermore it contains an indicative programme of training sessions, including handouts, using the material contained in the manual.
Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism Development in Small Island Developing States (2012)
This publication presents an overview of the status of tourism in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), while providing evidence of the key importance it has for the sustainable development of many islands and for the achievement of the MDGs. It draws together and updates a wide range of evidence on tourism performance and impacts and on the factors affecting the future development of the sector in SIDS, and provides policy orientations, guidelines and other tools to the various tourism stakeholders in SIDS on how to address these challenges and develop and manage tourism in a sustainable manner for the benefit of their population.
International Handbook on Tourism and Peace (2014)
Providing a unique overview of tourism as a tool in peace building and reconciliation efforts, the International Handbook on Tourism and Peace published by the Centre for Peace Research and Peace Education of the Klagenfurt University (Austria), in cooperation with UNWTO, within the framework of their joint 'Tourism and Peace' project, was launched with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth and the Ministry of European and International Affairs of Austria (Vienna, Austria, 29 January 2014).
Tourism Stories
Tourism Stories –Capturing voices of tourism employees from across the globe, UNWTO's Tourism Stories allow you to gain insight into how people and communities are shaped by the sector, highlighting how an individual´s work has the ability to unlock community value chains, inspire empowerment and revitalize traditions of the past to set the foundations for the future.
How tourism enriched my life (2013): http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284415571
My Story, My Community, Our Future (2015): http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284417186
The UNWTO Affiliate Members Global Report, Volume fourteen on The transformative power of tourism: a paradigm shift towards a more responsible traveller is a joint publication with Affiliate Member, Institute of Tourism, Zagreb, Croatia. The notion of transformative tourism refers to socially and environmentally conscientious tourists, who employ tourism as a transformative medium to re-invent themselves and promote sustainable practices that have a positive impact on local communities. The aim of this report is to illustrate with real-life initiatives that best reflect the great potential of transformative tourism in contributing to tourism development.
Cvent Online Event Registration Software | Copyright © 2000-2020 Cvent, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
Reaching into Outlook's toolbox
The following is tip #20 from "20 Tips on securing Outlook in 20 minutes."
The following is tip #20 from "20 Tips on securing Outlook in 20 minutes," excerpted from a chapter in Paul Robichaux's book, Secure Messaging with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 © 2004, published by Microsoft Press. Return to the main page for more tips on this topic.
Apart from the well-known tools discussed earlier, Outlook also has some additional security capabilities. Depending on what you're doing with Outlook, these might or might not be useful to you.
Configuring the Outlook Junk Mail Filter
Outlook's Junk Mail Filter, based on work originally done by Microsoft Research, is a very handy piece of technology. In previous versions of Outlook, Microsoft shipped some junk mail filters that did an acceptable job with the style and volume of spam that was prevalent at the time. The onslaught of spam we face now, however, calls for tougher measures. Outlook's filters are designed to provide automatic, client-side filtering that works in conjunction with the Exchange Information Store and perimeter filters. However, the Outlook filters give good results even when used against IMAP or POP accounts.
In addition to the built-in junk filter rules, which you cannot view or change, Outlook gives you another mechanism to control how mail is processed. There are three lists stored for each mailbox, either in the local PST file or the Exchange mailbox; when the lists are stored in the Exchange mailbox, they're available to the user whenever he or she logs in to Outlook or Outlook Web Access. The lists will probably sound pretty familiar:
- The Safe Senders list contains e-mail addresses and domains that the user explicitly trusts. Mail sent from one of these addresses will never be flagged as junk. For example, my Safe Senders list contains microsoft.com so that mail sent from Microsoft addresses will never be flagged as junk.
- The Safe Recipients list contains e-mail addresses and domains that the user expects to receive mail from. For users who have multiple e-mail services in a single profile, adding the Exchange mailbox's address to the Safe Recipients list prevents any mail sent to that address from being flagged as junk.
- The Blocked Senders list is for people and organizations that you don't want to receive mail from. As with the Safe Recipients list, you can add individual domains or addresses to this list. Messages whose sender address or sender domain appear on this list are flagged as junk.
If you add the same sender or domain to the Safe Senders and Blocked Senders list (either accidentally or on purpose), Outlook errs on the side of conservatism and treats the message as safe.
Working with the Junk Mail Filters
Using the Junk Mail Filter is easy: as mail arrives, it's filtered, with varying degrees of aggressiveness, into the Junk E-Mail folder. You can inspect the contents of that folder at any time, deleting messages or marking them as you see fit.
The Junk E-Mail Options dialog box is accessible from the Junk E-Mail button on the General tab. You use this dialog box primarily to control the level of aggressiveness of the Junk Mail Filter. There are four levels:
- When you choose the No Automatic Filtering radio option, blocked senders' mail is still moved to the junk folder, but the Junk Mail Filter itself is not run, so junk messages still end up in your Inbox. Because this level doesn't block inbound spam at all, it's probably not the best choice for most environments.
- The Low option is the default setting; when the Junk Mail Filter is set to this level, "obvious" junk mail is filtered. I don't know exactly what "obvious" means in this context, but this setting does a decent job of catching most spam messages that escape common perimeter filters, and it has a very low false-positive rate.
- The High option turns the Junk Mail Filter up a notch; in this mode, Outlook is much more aggressive about mail that arouses its suspicions. As the option description in the dialog box notes, though, this mode might sidetrack some legitimate mail, too, so you should check the Junk E-Mail folder frequently.
- The Safe Lists Only option is the ne plus ultra of spam filters: any inbound mail whose sender isn't on your Safe Senders or Safe Recipients list will go straight to the Junk E-Mail folder. This is a great way to limit the amount of mail you have to look at, but it will probably take a while until you get the Safe lists fleshed out enough for this mode to be useful.
- The Permanently Delete Suspected Junk E-Mail check box is dangerous but useful. When you select it, Outlook removes any message that it otherwise would store in the Junk E-Mail folder. This minimizes the amount of time you have to spend cleaning up the junk folder, but it increases the risk that Outlook will delete some mail that you really wanted it to keep. In most cases, it's safer to leave this off, but if you have high spam traffic and you're comfortable with the filtering decisions of the Junk Mail Filter in Low mode, you might want to turn this option on.
As with most other Outlook 2003 settings, you can use GPOs to deploy and enforce these settings for users; look under User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 | Tools | Options | Preferences | Junk Mail in the Outlk11.adm GPO template.
Tweaking the Safe and Blocked Lists
What about adjusting the filtering lists? To add a message sender or recipient address to the Safe Senders, Safe Recipients, or Blocked Senders lists, you have two choices: you can use the tabs in the Junk E-Mail Options dialog box to manage the lists, or you can right-click individual messages and use the Junk E-Mail command on the shortcut menu to add the sender or recipient address or domain to the appropriate list. The tabs give you a greater degree of functionality, because they also include buttons for importing and exporting their respective lists to disk files. This is handy because it provides a way to quickly clone one mailbox's settings to other mailboxes on a small scale (for larger scale cloning, read on).
Creating Standardized Filter Lists
You can easily create a standardized set of Safe Senders, Safe Recipients, and Blocked Senders lists and deploy them as part of your initial Outlook 2003 deployment. You'll need to create the lists on a test computer, then use the Export To File button in each list's tab to save the files with unique names. Once that's done, you can use the Office Custom Installation Wizard to package the lists for deployment with Outlook. As described in the Office Resource Kit section on deploying Outlook 2003, the Custom Installation Wizard allows you to individually specify files for these lists and whether you want Outlook's setup routine to overwrite existing lists or append the new list to whatever the user's already defined.
Controlling Automatic Image Downloads
One favorite trick of spammers is the use of beacons or Web bugs -- small (usually 1×1) images embedded in HTML e-mail. When the e-mail is opened, most HTML-aware e-mail clients attempt to fetch the embedded image from a server; a savvy spammer can use the Web server's logs (combined with information embedded in the message) to track information about the user who opened the message. It's very difficult to distinguish between legitimate images embedded in mail and those that serve as beacons, so Outlook 2003 helpfully defaults to not fetching any images linked to remote servers in HTML mail.
This behavior is controlled through the Change Automatic Download Settings button, which sharp-eyed readers might have noticed on the Security tab shown earlier in Figure 13-8. When you click this button, you'll see the Automatic Picture Download Settings dialog box shown in Figure 13-16; you can also open this dialog box by right-clicking an image placeholder and choosing the Change Automatic Download Settings command. The options in this dialog box are pretty straightforward:
- The Don't Download Pictures Or Other Content Automatically in HTML E-Mail check box is selected by default; when it's selected, Outlook does not load images tagged with the IMG SRC tag if they point to a remote server. However, the behavior of this check box is modified by the two following check boxes.
- The Permit Downloads In E-Mail Messages check box allows you to specify that you want images embedded in e-mail from people you trust. This is a handy way to bypass the default image blocking of Outlook for your mom, spouse, mailing lists, newsletters, or other sources that you trust not to spam you with Web bugs. This option is on by default.
- The Permit Downloads From Web Sites check box controls whether Outlook downloads images where the tags point to sites in the Trusted IE security zone. Enabling this option allows Outlook to automatically download images only if the IMG tag points to a site that's in the Trusted security zone. Because you should already be careful about what sites you put in that zone, this option is on by default.
- No matter what settings you apply here, Outlook will download embedded images when you forward or reply to an HTML message that contains them. This can effectively negate the protection you got in the first place, although you probably shouldn't be responding to spammers' messages anyway. The Warn Me Before Downloading Content When Editing, Forwarding, Or Replying To E-Mail check box lets you ask Outlook to warn you before you do this. It's turned off by default.
Converting inbound HTML mail to plaintext
The existence of HTML mail is a sore point for many mail users, particularly those who come from a UNIX background. On one hand, HTML mail can contain pretty colors, fonts, images, and so forth. On the other hand, it takes more space to store and transfer, and scripts embedded in HTML mail can do a variety of annoying or even destructive things. Users' complaints found a sympathetic ear in the Outlook product group, so Outlook 2002 Service Pack 1 and later versions contain a feature that lets you forcibly convert all HTML mail to plaintext. Of course, this strips out all of the useful formatting, but it also renders impotent any scripts in the message, saving you from potential attacks that exploit Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. If you add a new DWORD value named ReadAsPlain to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Options& #92;Mail key, then give it a value of 1, Outlook converts HTML mail to plaintext, preserving embedded images as attachments. This doesn't affect signed or encrypted messages, but all other messages are updated as they're read. You can use this registry key in system policies or GPOs, as described in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 307594.
Encrypting RPC traffic
RPC traffic between Outlook and Exchange Server is already compressed, and it's mostly unintelligible anyway. However, for added security (particularly for users who are using physically insecure links), you can force Outlook to encrypt RPC packets before they leave your computer. The encryption isn't as strong as the Windows VPN software, but you can use RPC encryption on your LAN or in conjunction with Microsoft ISA's MAPI RPC publishing feature -- both situations where VPNs would just get in the way.
This change needs to be made to each individual client, unfortunately, although it's supported by Outlook 2000 and later versions. To force Outlook to encrypt RPCs to the server, do the following:
- Launch Outlook.
- Choose the Tools | E-Mail Accounts command. Verify that View Or Change Existing E-Mail Accounts is selected, and then click Next.
- Select your Exchange e-mail account, and then click Change.
- When the Exchange Server Settings dialog box opens, click More Settings.
- In the Microsoft Exchange Server dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
- Make sure that the When Using The Network check box is set, and then click OK to return to the E-Mail Accounts wizard.
- Click Next and then click Finish.
Controlling Outlook folder home pages
Outlook 2003 continues Outlook's provision of a useful but scary feature first delivered in Outlook 2000: the ability to use folder home pages so that visiting a folder automatically loads the Web page associated with that folder. This is particularly useful when used with public folders, because it allows you to associate content on an intranet (like a customer relationship management or enterprise resource planning system or other line-of-business application) with a folder. However, any scripts embedded in the page can make calls to the Outlook object model, so they can easily steal users' mail, send mail, or do a variety of other potentially undesirable things. In the normal scheme of things, this is not a huge risk. However, because anyone who can create a public folder and tie a home page to it can potentially use that ability for evil, it's a good idea to watch out.
The Outlook 2003 policy template includes a policy called Disable Folder Home Pages (under Microsoft Office Outlook 2003MiscellaneousFolder home pages for Outlook special folders). When you enable this policy, it automatically blocks folder home page access for all users who are subject to the policy.
Get more "20 Tips on securing Outlook in 20 minutes!" Return to the main page.
About the author: Paul Robichaux is a partner at 3sharp LLC, author of several books on Exchange, Windows, and security, a Microsoft MVP for Exchange Server, and a frequent speaker and presenter at IT industry conferences. He's written software for everyone from the U.S. National Security Agency to scientists flying their experiments aboard the Space Shuttle, fixed helicopters in the desert, and spent way too much time playing video games.


text:
Well, before everyone was after a miniature landscape for their mantlepiece, my mother showed me how to make a terrarium. When we took family road trips there was always an obligatory detour down a side road and into the bush to fossick for a few wee seedlings and a little bit of moss to complete one when we made it home.
Recently my sister got married, so a terrarium production line was set up to decorate the tables.
These terrariums won't last forever, but with a little care will hold up for at least a couple of months, and when they do die off you can start afresh.
You'll need:
Small round glass vases (easily found online, try Freedom or Briscoes)
Potting mix
Ferns and small seedlings
Choose glass containers large enough to house your selected plants and small enough to sit happily on the windowsill, bookshelf or wherever you want them to end up.
The ideal plants are found in swampy or cool bush areas, such as moss and ferns. When collecting your plants, wrap the roots in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag to keep them alive. Alternatively, there's a range of miniature house plants called 'Wee Cuties' that can be found at most garden centres.
To begin assembly, place a layer of potting mix – keep this layer thin to help inhibit the growth of your plants, allowing them to conform to their miniature surroundings. Top with a layer of moss.
Dig holes down through the moss for your plants and arrange according to shape, size, colour. Start with the smallest plants first – gently press the moss in and around each root system. Once all plants are in their final positions, clean and tidy the inside of the terrarium, discarding any dead areas.
Initially water only enough to moisten the soil, less is better. Should your terrarium wilt at all simply add a little water. Generally it can be left to its own devices, but occasionally spraying with a de-mister (about once a week) will stop it drying out. Place the finished terrarium in good light, but never in direct sunlight as its little eco-system will overheat!
These are super cute on the windowsill in your kitchen or bathroom. Or cluster a few together on a table, bookcase or mantle.


text:
Guess what time it is?! It's time for the Gap Creek Gourmet Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway! No, you all aren't going home with everything on the list. I'm not Oprah, y'all. But, there ARE some amazing ideas for everyone on this year's gift guide, so I hope you aren't one of those over-achievers who have already finished their shopping.
*IF YOU ARE A CLOSE FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER ON THE RECEIVING END OF MY GIFT GIVING, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STOP READING NOW… This concludes my warning.
Stay tuned to Gap Creek Gourmet's Facebook page for details on the upcoming annual giveaway! Tell all of your friends to "like" us, too! I'm giving away some awesome stuff as my big holiday hug to all of my GCG fans and readers.
Let's see what's in Santa's big red bag, shall we?
New Gotta-Have Products:
I present the Yeti Rambler Colster and the Yeti Gift Set (for both guys and gals). Sometimes we just don't give science the credit it deserves. What if they told us in school that you can actually go to college to learn to design products guaranteed to keep your beer cold all day long. God bless America and God bless Yeti, cause there are going to be some happy men on my list this year!
The wine lover on your list is going to love the Corkcicle Wine Thermos! Its built to keep your wine cool on the beach all day long.
UGG Blanket. From the makers of those ugly (but uber comfy) UGG boots we all love to wear, comes a blanket we now can't live without. The Duffield Throw is the perfect addition to that spot on the couch beside a cracklin' fire. And it comes in purple! (Squeal!)
Erin Condren ANYTHING! If you know me personally, you know I won't shut up about my Erin Condren planner. The company just signed Staples as a supplier and their online offerings are growing all the time. You must check out the personalized Wine Tote (also can be used for big water bottles) , personalized classic photo tray (I want one of these for my desk), and personalized notebooks for people on your list, like me, who are habitual list makers and write EVERYTHING down. Sometimes twice.
Six & Twenty Distillery has released two new products just in time for Christmas. Located just 10 minutes outside of downtown Greenville, the Distillery makes hand crafted, premium spirits from locally grown grains. New for the holiday season, an "Barrel-Age Your Own Whiskey" kit, and Six & Twenty Carolina Cream, which is great for sipping on the cold winter nights. Stop by the distillery to grab yours today, along with t-shirts, hats, stickers and more.
Modern Forestry Candles are amazing for people who don't like the heavy perfume smell from most candles you buy in the store. These are subtle and soft. The hand-poured soy candles are made with essential oils, cotton wicks, and 100% American-grown soy. Scents include Pipe on the Porch, French Toast, Shot in the Dark (coffee scent), Smoke, and Apple Maple Bourbon. How is that for some manly scents? There's also Lavender, Caramel Popcorn, Cinnamon Chai, and Christmas Orange.Check out their Etsy Shop for more scent offerings and for customized lid details!
The (much anticipated) Soby's Cookbook, Second Edition. You will soon be able to find the Second Edition of our favorite Greenville restaurant's famed cookbook at Soby's and M. Judson Bookstore in downtown Greenville. No web orders yet. I can't wait to see the new recipes! I'll announce release dates on the Facebook page.
From Peter Meehan and the editors of Lucky Peach, the cerebral food mag we all drool over, comes a cookbook of 101 easy Asian recipes. Lucky Peach Presents 101 Asian Recipes is a great read for everyone from chefs to home cooks. I've got something to tickle your belly: Lucky Peach is helping me give away a cookbook AND a subscription to Lucky Peach. Stay tuned for giveaway details.
Toast: The Cookbook. Here's a toast to a brilliant new cookbook that breaks bread from the chains of breakfast boredom. Author Raquel Pelzer is an award-winning food writer, cookbook collaborator, former editor of Cook's Illustrated and senior food editor and test kitchen director for Tasting Table, and has written recipes for Saveur, Wall Street Journal, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and Edible Manhattan. She is also a cookbook columnist for Epicurious. This is her first solo project! I can't wait to try my hand at gluten free versions of her recipes. Big hug to Udi's for making gluten free bread worth eating.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime: Comfort Classics, Freezer Food, 16-Minute Meals, and Other Delicious Ways to Solve Supper! I just bought this cookbook for my future sister-in-law for her birthday… after I drooled over every single page. You can't beat a Ree Drummond cookbook. The photos are beautiful, the step-by-step recipes are easy, and they are meant to feed a mass of people! Loaded with ideas for Sunday lunch, dinner with friends, or any giant family dinner.
An Actual book. To buy people. To Read.
Food Whore. I was totally obsessed with this book by the end of the first chapter. I carried it around with me for a week even after I finished reading, occasionally flipping through and taking in a page or a sentence here or there. It was like a love letter straight to my foodie brain. First time author, Jessica Tom, sucks us into the fast paced, super stressful world of food in NYC. (Oh, did I live vicariously!) Imagine Devil Wears Prada for the food world. Quickly: the main character, Tia Monroe, is fresh out of school and looking for an internship that can take her places. She gets lured into experiencing food for a legendary New York Times restaurant critic who has lost his most valued sense of taste. She exchanges her integrity for all the food and fashion her heart desires. Now how could that go wrong? I (nervously) interviewed Tom about her project and she hinted that there were already talks about sending this one to TV or the big screen. Here's hoping!
Games and Toys.
For that 12 year old in your brain that still laughs when someone says "butt," I present Exploding Kittens. (If your tender heart has immense love for actual kittens, the graphics on these cards might be mildly disturbing.) It's a fun party game that will keep your teens-adults entertained for hours. There is also an "adult version" for those "no kids allowed" parties.
I can't wait to play Superfight with our friends. If you like Cards Against Humanity, pop culture, comic books, Walking Dead (any of the above), you are going to want this game for your next party or friend gathering. Players draw one character card and two traits. Players argue each other to death, basically. Which player's character would win in an actual battle? Here's a video in case you are confused. I'm not very good at describing games… or reading directions… PS: The company responsible for Walking Dead and Invincible is now producing Superfight! (Folks, I'm giving one of these away!)
Let's talk Legos for a minute. I'm obsessed. I'm sorry, but Legos weren't this cool when I was little. You can now build famous structures like the Empire State Building and White House, and deck your house out with holiday sets for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter… that's a full year (plus some) of building fun! (For adults. The kids are out of luck. We're taking over their Legos. Wait until THEY step on a brick while going to the bathroom at 3 am.)
Here are three of my faves: LEGO Creator Expert Parisian Restaurant, Lego Changing Seasons Cottage, Lego Friends City Bakery and Lego Friends Heartlake Juice Bar. Folks, there's even a pizzeria.
Brick Stix. These little reuseable, removeable and restickable decals are made for decking out bricks like LEGO® and MEGA BLOKS®. Building a house? Add windows, textures and even put food on the table in your creation! Building a city? There is signage, barricade stickers, and even foliage. How about graffiti, furry friends, clothes for the closet… I'm gonna need intervention.
Artisan Edibles:
For those raging carnivores on your list, there's The Carnivore Club. The Carnivore Club is the world's first cured meat of the month club featuring a curated box filled with 4-6 handcrafted cured meats made by artisans from around the world. Each month's box is themed around one producer specializing in a particular style of cured meats like French Charcuterie, Italian Salumi, Spanish Chorizo, South African Biltong or Artisan Jerky. The club supports artisans that purchase ethically treated animals, employ humane slaughtering practices, use locally sourced ingredients and have a passion for making exceptional products. There are single gift shipments and full memberships available starting at $55.
La Rue Chocolate. Greenville's fine chocolatier sells her gorgeous chocolates at local farmers markets and events, or you can pick up a box or two at The Community Tap. I bought a box and before I knew it, had devoured all six pieces on my way home. They are so decadent! Contact her directly for special orders and shipping options.
Carolina Girl Cooks Tea Cookies. My husband LOVES shortbread cookies. Jennifer Glover makes yummy flavors like Lavender, Orange Cardamom, or Chocolate Chip Rosemary Sea Salt for the holidays! Not a baker? These would make wonderful gifts for neighbors, family friends, corporate or housewarming gifts. She sells bags of crushed cookies too, that are perfect for your holiday cheesecakes and pie crusts. Contact her via the Carolina Girl Cooks Facebook page for holiday selections and crushed cookies. Lavender and Orange Cardamom tins can be ordered via the website.
Fried Chicken Caramel and a Giant Fried Chicken Caramel and Chocolate Bar from Cool Haus. What can I say about that other than both are in my shopping cart as I type and as soon as I finish this guide, I'm paying and pressing send.
Skoshbox. Have teen in your life obsessed with Japanese culture? Mine teen sure is! Give them this awesome subscription box and they'll have a taste of Japan delivered to their mailbox once a month!
Artisan Drinkables:
I am in love with tea. It started with my first sip of Peach Tea Latte at Tealoha in Greenville, then the discovery that I could make tea lattes at home with the help of my handy dandy Nespresso Milk Frother from last year's gift guide. Then after an innocent swing through Teavana at the mall to sample their offerings? Well, THAT hooked me for sure. I am completely in love with White Chocolate Peppermint Tea from Teavana and Celestial Seasonings Gingerbread Tea. Add a teaspoon of honey to the cup and a splash of warm milk for a bit of heaven at home.
Charleston based Cannonborough Beverage Co. is now shipping their fruit fresh artisan sodas. This is exciting news for people who are totally addicted and only able to get their fill on tap at some local breweries and on trips to Charleston! Current offerings online are Grapefruit Elderflower, Ginger Beer and Honey Basil. (They'd make great mixers for your holiday party!) $25 plus shipping.
Stocking Stuffers:
Food Socks. With designs featuring bacon, beer, tacos, candy, coffee and more, you'll find a pair for everyone on your list.
Secret New York and Secret Paris coloring books. When you can't actually travel, you can at least meditate on it, right?
Crayons. Who doesn't love a box of BRAND NEW crayons? Kick it old school with this MEGA pack with a desk caddy to keep you (or your friends… or kids…) doodling for hours.
Star Wars Silicone Ice Trays and Deathstar Ice Mold I don't know if you've heard, but there's another Star Wars movie coming out. (Jokes.) I can't wait to see an R2-D2 swimming around my Bourbon.
Stewart and Claire Old Fashioned Lip Balm I love a good lip balm! Co-founders Kristin Donnelly (a former editor at Food & Wine) and her husband Phil Cooper focus on making high quality products with great ingredients and subtle scents just for grown-ups.
I have lusted over the Caramel Apples from Kilwin's for years and recently broke down and bought a pecan chocolate drizzled caramel apple to share with my family during our Tree Day. My friends, we have a new Livengood family tradition! Everyone deserves to get one of these in their stocking. And if you're nice, maybe they'll share. (You can pick up your caramel apples from the store at Noma Square in downtown Greenville or order online to have them shipped.) Guess what? Someone's gonna win a Caramel Apple from Kilwin's during the Gap Creek Gourmet Holiday Giveaway!
Have you been good this year? This is the big stuff!
I LOVE my Le Creuset kettle. The company has just released their new gift set, a Le Creuset French Press Coffee Set complete with kettle, press, and two mugs! I'm not only adding it to the gift guide, I'm giving away a Cherry Red Le Creuset French Press Coffee Set, plus two boxes of my favorite Gingerbread tea and a pack of Carolina Girl Cooks cookies, as a part of this year's giveaway! (The crowd can stand and cheer now.)
Winner of Garden and Gun Magazine's 2014 Overall Made in the South Award, the Bulls Bay Oryo Oyster Cooker (retail $1295) is for the serious oyster connoisseur on your list. Bulls Bay Oryo has made it their mission to preserve the wood fire method of cooking oysters in the SC Low Country for generations. Hand crafted in Mcclellanville, SC, Bulls Bay OYRO is the only wood-fired oyster cooker on the market. The wood fire oyster cooker is durable, portable, and includes a cooking table, fire box and cooking pan.
Don't forget to order your oysters! The Rappahannock Oyster Company has been harvesting oysters in Chesapeake since 1899. You can order online and have them shipped right to your door in time for your next oyster roast (even if you haven't been good enough for Santa to deliver the Oryo Cooker…)
I hope I've helped you mark some people off of your list! Let me know if you like this year's Holiday Gift Guide. I love feedback!
Follow Gap Creek Gourmet on Facebook. Details will be posted there soon about the Gap Creek Gourmet Holiday Giveaway. You don't want to miss out on the fun!
Happy Holidays from Gap Creek Gourmet.


text:
Attorney at Law, licensed to practice before the State Courts in Missouri and Illinois, the Federal District Courts for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern and Central Districts of Illinois, and the United States Supreme Court. Certified Mediator in State Courts of Missouri and United States Courts.
McGlynn & Luther P.C.
Involved with automotive and motor vehicle product liability litigation for DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Suzuki, Mazda, and NUMI.
Active in personal injury litigation for over 30 years, including significant reported cases of product liability.
Has handled medical malpractice matters for both plaintiffs and defendants, including Bristol Myers Company.
Representative clients include DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Bostrom Seating, Inc.; Parker-Hannifin Corporation; Tyrone Irish Crystal; and Northland Insurance Company.
Circuit Attorneys' Office
Assistant Circuit Attorney, St. Louis – Prosecuted felonies; co-authored new Criminal Jury Instructions; taught in Police Academy.
St. Louis University School of Law
Juris Doctorate, 1958
University of Notre Dame
B.A.in Economics, 1955
Served in U.S. Army twice, in Legal Affairs; involved in many court martial trials.
- Founded Ladue Council #4751 of the Knights of Columbus; held statewide office. Member of Degree Team for many years.
- Founded the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Louis in 1970. Serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee
- Was President of Notre Dame Club of St. Louis; National President of Notre Dame Alumni Association; Served on University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees.
- Past National Legal Counsel for Ancient Order of Hibernians.
- Former Trustee for University of Galway Education Fund in United States.
- Received Papal recognition as Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 1988.
- Served on the Board of Governors of the Missouri Athletic Club.
- Served on the Board of Directors of St. Patrick Center, a non-profit homelessness agency with a $5 million annual operating budget; Currently on the Board of Trustees
- National Legal Counsel for Tyrone Irish Crystal Company, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
- Honorary Consul for Republic of Ireland.
- Board of Advisors for St. Louis University School of Law.
- Board of Trustees Fontbonne University, Chairman of Development Committee; member of Executive Committee.


text:
12 April Fools' Day Pranks To Play On Your Friends In 2017
With so much despair peppering your newsfeed lately, a little levity is just what you need this spring. Luckily, April Fools' Day is almost upon us, and that means it's time to pull some epic pranks. These April Fools' Day pranks to play on your friends in 2017 are just what you need to help bring laughter back into your life.
While the exact origin of April Fools' Day is murky, it's thought to be rooted in the 1500s when when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Since the only way to get the word out back then — you know before newspapers, TV, radio, and social media — was most likely word of mouth or carrier pigeon. Because of these communications limitations, not everyone got the memo, and those slow to catch on were dubbed April Fools' for continuing to celebrate the new year in April instead of January.
Additionally, History.com claims that April "fools" were often marked by having a paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as "poisson d'avril" (April fish), to symbolize a young, easily caught fish, and a gullible person.
English pranksters popularized the April Fools' Day holiday in the 1700s when they began to play tricks on people. Since then the tradition of playing April Fools' Day pranks has been adopted by almost everyone, including the news media. If you're looking for a laugh this Apr. 1, here are 12 fun April Fools' Day pranks to play on your friends in 2017.
1. Anything Involving Fake Insects
I hate bugs. A lot. They scare me to death, and I know it's completely irrational. Maybe don't play this prank on someone who might pass out if they see a bug. But, if your friends have a good sense of humor you can pick up some fake insects and put them anywhere, and everywhere. You can stick one in a friend's sandwich, under a lampshade so it's illuminated when they switch on the light, on their laptop — it's up to you! The best part about this is the relief when your friend realizes the bugs are fake.
2. Create A Fake Online Event To Audition For Their Favorite Show
You and your friends probably have at least one show that you never miss. This is a perfect opportunity for an epic April Fools' Day prank. Create an online event detailing that the show is going to be shooting an episode in your city, and is looking for locals to be in the cast. Ask them to submit a 60-second video about why they are perfect for the show, and a sample of them singing. When you get all of the submissions, string them together in a hilarious video that ends with you shouting "Happy April Fools' Day!"
3. Change The Language On Their Computer Or Phone
If you're true besties, you likely know the password to your friends' phones. When they step away, grab their device and make a quick language change. When they come back, play dumb for as long as you can stand it.
4. Put An Airhorn Under Their Chair
Give your friends a surprise when they sit down by putting an airhorn under their desk chair. This April Fools' Day prank is loud, and will literally startle your friend right out of their seat.
5. Cover Yourself In Temporary Tattoos
If you are known among your friends as someone who would never get a tattoo or piercing, here's your chance to play a fun joke. Get a bunch of temporary tattoos and cover yourself with them. Make up a crazy story about how you got the tattoos, and stick with it as long as you can keep a straight face. You can also buy a fake nose ring. See how long your friends are in shock before they realized they've been punk'd.
6. Serve Them Carmel Onions Disguised As Apples
OK, this one is pretty mean, but you know your friends best. Instead of making traditional caramel apples, use onions instead. The look on your friends' faces will be priceless, and you can probably expect some payback for this one, because gross.
7. Replace The Autocorrect Words On Their Phone
Swipe your friend's phone and replace the words in their autocorrect settings with something hysterical. Your friend will never see this one coming, and it's a gift for you too since you'll be able to enjoy the absurd texts they send you all day trying to figure out what happened to their phone.
8. Leave A Post-It Apologizing For Hitting Their Car
Leave a post it on your friend's car with a note apologizing for hitting it. Watch your friend frantically inspect their car trying to find the damage.
10. Make Their Car Sing
You can easily pull off this April Fools' Day prank with a harmonica, and some duct tape. Simply tape the harmonica to the front grill of your friend's car. Once they start cruising, the harmonica will start playing thus creating an instant soundtrack for their morning commute.
11. Sign Them Up For An Odd Club Or Subscription
You can have some fun with this one. Search the internet for a club, or email subscription your friends would never sign up for on their own, and add their names to the list. Perhaps there is a group for people who eat paste, or a new religion no one has ever heard of that revolves around vegetables. This April Fools' Day prank is sure to leave them scratching their heads.
12. Boil All Of Their Eggs
If your friend or roommate has eggs for breakfast every morning, this fake out is perfect. Boil every egg in the carton, then put them back. Watch with delight as your friend tries to make their breakfast.
And, because I'm not into being mean I would also surprise my friend with fresh eggs once I had my April Fools' Day fun, but hey — it's up to you. Happy pranking!


text:
YMCA 5 Week Training Program
These 5-week hands-on training programs provide an amazing opportunity for kids to get ready to complete their first triathlon. Through a unique partnership with the YMCA of Greater Houston, kids across the region are able to get expert instruction and gain the confidence and abilities necessary to become triathletes. Each program consists of five hour-and-a-half sessions that focus on each of the four disciplines of the sport of triathlon.
These programs are free if you are a member of the Y. The charge for non-members is $25. But there are a few things you must understand before registering for one of these programs:
- They are NOT learn-to-swim programs. They are focused much more on education and awareness than "hard-core" training. Separate swim lessons are available at most Ys and should be completed if you do not know how to swim. All kids will be required to complete a swim test.
- Your child must be registered to participate in the 2020 Houston Texans Kids Triathlon. You will be asked to provide proof of registration during the first session.
If you are not able to commit to every session and to participating in the actual triathlon, please do not take up one of the valuable spaces in the class. Hundreds of kids need these programs to be ready and we do not want to turn anyone away.
These sessions will start in March and will fill very quickly.
Training program list coming soon!
Hands-On Clinics
In addition to the 5-Week Training Program, we are proud to offer multiple hands-on clinics at locations across greater Houston. Each clinic lasts for 3 hours and will give each participant the knowledge they need to complete a triathlon. These clinics are not as intensive as the 5-Week Training Program, but they are ideal for young athletes who are physically ready to complete the triathlon but need some practice and knowledge.
At the start of each clinic, the participants will be divided into 4 groups (usually by age). After a brief introduction, the 4 groups will each rotate across 4 different stations. Each rotation lasts for 30 minutes and gives every participant the opportunity to swim, bike, and run and practice their transitions. Each clinic ends with a question and answer session that helps make sure everyone is ready for race weekend. Parents are welcome to attend, but we ask that you allow the coaches to do all the coaching.
These clinics are free if you are a member of the Y. The charge for non-members is $25. But there are a few things you must understand before registering for one of these clinics:
• They are NOT learn-to-swim programs. They are focused much more on education and awareness than "hard-core" training.
• Space is limited in each clinic and advanced registration is required. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have registered and will not be able to attend. It will allow us to offer your space to another young athlete.
Clinic list coming soon!
Training Guide courtesy of Texas Children's Hospital
The Houston Texans and Kids Triathlon, Inc. are proud to partner with Texas Children's Hospital on the 2020 Houston Texans Kids Triathlon. To prepare yourself or your child for the race, Texas Children's Hospital has put together a guide that offers nutrition advice, an endurance training plan and safety tips so all participants will train properly and perform their best on race day. This tool is FREE so make-sure to download and print today!
To download the guide, click here!
The Buddy Program
At the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon presented by Texas Children's Hospital, our commitment is simple. Any child who has the desire and ability to become a triathlete should be given the opportunity. For this reason, we work with generous individuals and organizations to offer registration scholarships to kids who would not otherwise be able to participate. In select situations, we are also able to provide some of the equipment necessary to complete the race.
If you know of a child who would benefit from The Buddy Program, please let us know or encourage them to contact us directly. Every child who completes the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon is doing something amazing, but kids who are able to participate because of The Buddy Program are truly special. To learn more, please contact one of the folks below:
Race DirectorChris Reese
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 904.448.2464
Event DirectorTom Gildersleeve
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 904.610.9921
School Programs
This program has quickly become one of the hallmarks of the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon. During 2020, it will enable us to engage more than 20,000 students across Southeast Texas in discussions about the importance of being healthy, active and responsible. And, it will result in donations of more than $19,000 back to schools to support their on-going efforts to motivate kids to exercise every day and watch what they eat.
The primary goal of these programs is to encourage kids to do something healthy and active with their friends. Most participants in the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon are first-time triathletes, though more than 80% of the kids elect to participate again the next year. Every finisher gains a huge sense of accomplishment, and everyone involved experiences a tremendous amount of pride. The event enables participants, many for the first time, to represent their school and to help it earn money to fund new equipment and programs.
Important Details
- The #1 objective is for the kids to see that being healthy and active can be fun.
- The program is very flexible, but it usually works best when two or three people at a school embrace the effort and actively encourage kids to participate. The more excitement and enthusiasm, the better. The leaders can be parents, staff or teachers.
- Participation can be as simple as agreeing to form a team and notifying all students and parents about the team through existing channels. This can include PTA meetings, school newsletters, teacher announcements and enclosing event information in weekly folders.
- Our objective is to introduce kids to the healthy habits of swimming, biking, and running, and there is also a strong focus on proper nutrition and safety.
- Every school that participates earns $10 per participant for an educational grant to use at your discretion.
- If you want to grow your school's team, Kids Triathlon, Inc. has numerous resources available – at no charge – to assist you. These include:
- Student assemblies that focus on nutrition, exercise and being responsible;
- Coaches available to transform a day's P.E. classes into Intro to Triathlon sessions;
- Volunteers who are able to lead before or after school triathlon clinics; and
- Printed posters, brochures and registration forms.
- Registration is easy. You can either direct parents to register online via our website or hold a registration drive where kids bring their completed forms and payment to their teachers or central collection point.
- Lots of prizes are available if you want to turn participation into a school-wide contest. Classes with the highest participation rates can earn free lunches, cool t-shirts, or gift cards.
- For more information about how to get a team started or to officially form a Houston Texans Kids Triathlon Team, please contact our team coordinator, Lagenia Clark. She can be reached at 281.830.5411 or through email at email@example.com.


text:
2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS
It's cute aesthetically but mechanically not so cute.
After 6 years, the car stereo just didn't turn on.
General Comments:
The helpful advice that fuse #42 is for the radio saved me a lot of money. All I had to do is remove the fuse for ten seconds like someone suggested, and insert it back in... And my radio worked again, thank you!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 10th July, 2008


text:
"Environments require certain sounds for specific purposes, especially a garden party, network function, product launch, festival or public/corporate event. Choosing styles of music from Classic jazz, Swing, Mainstream, Big band, Latin to Electro Lounge and Ambience, accommodating the surroundings.
Working with event organisers, planners and promoters for nearly 10 years has secured many functions in the private, public and commercial sectors, deliverinbg music that is truly memorable.
The Gazzini brand is soundscape consultancy, without using the DJ title that many people are familiar with, for the reason, this is at a different platform in knowing the brief and purpose of the function and how to deliver in a professional, but not conventional way.
Variety is just as important, having cross genres of music gives greater perspective and widescope ambience in bringing a venue to life as opposed to standard methods that may not be used in modern trends and cultures anymore ... I think they say: 'Move with the Times'."
Richard Compton
Soundscape Advisor
Since leaving school my passion has always been working within the arts from working as a partner at a recording studio, performing on national TV, to organising events and supporting peoples career paths.
Music is an area I totally am engaged with, and was honoured to endorse the highly branded bluenote label from EMI records from performing at many major festivals throughout the UK from the Isle of Wight, Cheltenham, Oxford to Twinwoods as resident music provider for six years - and now my seventh year at the Showman's Show.
My skills have developed in a way to ensure clients have the full co-operation to planning either an event or function and I was trained through an organisation that are international award winners with the service they provide.
The flexibility of bespoke audio planning requires strong knowledge for many platforms as each brand is measured on style, concept and identity. Jazz is just one area of music that can be broken down into at least 15 sub genres and each can add dimension bringing any venue to life - just take a look over recent years how this style of music has been used from TV advertising & product launches to networking events.
The Music I provide is from the best artists past and present, as the focus is towards the client, not the client distracted to the performing artist, except in situations when at times to dance the night away.
Each playset requires moments of highs and lows and this can only be achieved in reading the audience without any self indulgence, apart from this I am qualified in health & safety, risk assessments and event planning adding extra skills to my music knowledge and look forward to hearing from you, on how I can make you event come to life.


text:
If you're looking for the best Charleston contractor, you need to find a service provider that excels in three areas:
Credentials – The best contractors need to be elite installers with credentials from top construction materials manufacturers.
Education – First-rate contractors focus on continuing education. They don't allow themselves to stagnate, because they know that no matter how good they are, they can always get better.
Standards – The best contractors have the highest possible standards. They run a stable business, have a great reputation, hold themselves to an intense level of professionalism, and display an unparalleled commitment to quality workmanship.
Contract Exteriors loves Charleston, and we love working with Charleston homeowners. We strongly believe that delivering anything less than the best would be a disservice to our clients and our community.
Not all contractors feel that way, of course. They just want to get the job done and take home a paycheck. They might say they care about professionalism and workmanship, but they often don't have the credentials, education, reputation, and company history to back it up.
We're not here to tear anyone down, we're just here to show you, the homeowner, what you should expect from the best Charleston contractor. If you're ever looking to hire someone, but you still don't feel totally sure about working with them, here are a few things you can look for.
We're more than just roofers, we're more than just siders, and we're more than just deck installers. It's not a case of "jack of all trades, master of none" with us. If something is worth learning and doing, we believe there's no reason to not become an expert.
This isn't just idle boasting. We've worked hard to master roofing, siding, and building decks. Without the hard work and commitment to continuing education, we wouldn't have earned our credentials.
We care about our materials, and mastering our trade. Working with the best in the business, and gaining credentials from top-level manufacturers doesn't come easy. We do it because we take pride in our work, and because we don't believe in providing Charleston homeowners with anything less than the best.
Not all contractors are dedicated to continuing education. Many contractors either think they already know everything, or know there's more out there but don't care to see it.
The one thing we know is, we don't know everything– no one does.
We're committed to continuing education because there's always more to learn. We can always know more and get better, no matter how good we are. Like any good tool, the mind needs continued care and maintenance to keep it operating at peak efficiency.
If there's a new installation technique, we want to learn about it. We regularly attend local events like the Storm Expo in Myrtle Beach and national events like Certified Contractors Network's annual Fall Conference.
We travel both near and far for training and education. If we think we can learn how to better serve Charleston homeowners and continue being the best Charleston contractor, we'll be there.
As a homeowner, you'll never be satisfied unless you hold the contractors you hire to a high standard. We never want to leave a client unsatisfied, so we hold ourselves to the same high standards.
Those standards don't have to be nebulous. They can actually be strictly defined, both for the contractor and for the homeowner.
A stable contractor is a trustworthy contractor. As well as having all of their licenses, insurances, suppliers, and paperwork in line – and they have proof.
Being in business for more than a handful of years shows they are a stable contractor. They're not just a few guys who bought a truck and some tools. They care about their craft and they care about their clients, so they're not just in it to make a quick buck.
A stable contractor has:
As a homeowner, you can and should ask a contractor to supply any of these items at your request.
You probably already know this, but word-of-mouth and referrals are huge for contractors. When you recommend us to a friend or family member, we're grateful and humbled. Our reputation is our business, it's what keeps the lights on and puts gas in the truck. We couldn't do our jobs without our reputation.
That's why we'll happily show anyone our reviews on Angie's List, Yelp, Google+, or anywhere else.
As a homeowner, though, you need to be aware that a contractor's reputation extends beyond online review sites and word-of-mouth.
As with proof of stability, you can check for proof of reputation from any contractor you want to work with. We're happy to provide any of these items, but some contractors are not.
Professionalism is what separates the well-meaning little kid who mows your lawn from a professional landscaper. Unfortunately, some people charge like professional landscapers, but have worse manners than the kid using his family's lawn mower to make $5.
Professionalism is important, because it shows you a contractor cares about doing a good job. If they care enough to answer questions and explain every detail of a project, they're a much better choice than someone who's not concerned with providing you information.
Again, your contractor should be able to provide proof of any one of these things. If you're on the fence about something, ask to see it on paper.
Good contractors are committed to their craft. We're dedicated to every component of your home's exterior, but some contractors only focus on one thing. That's totally fine, as long as they exhibit a high-level of workmanship.
We're not happy with a roof unless the homeowner is happy with the roof. It has to be functional and aesthetically pleasing. If our client isn't satisfied, we've done something wrong and we need to fix it.
Of course we try to never make a mistake in the first place, but if something does happen, we want Charleston homeowners to feel safe and secure that we'll take care of it.
Contractors with a high-level of workmanship offer:
Any good contractor can explain every line on every page of their warranties, and they're happy to spend as much time as it takes going over the finer details with their clients. They should also provide photographic evidence of their workmanship.
At Contract Exteriors, we're proud to show proof of our credentials, education, and standards to any homeowner that asks. To be the best Charleston contractor, you have to provide proof.
If you're curious about a contractor's proof of credentials, education, and standards and need more information, look no further than our Contractor Standards Guide. It explains everything you need to be aware of, every document you need to see, and every question you need to ask so you can separate the real professionals from the amateurs in branded trucks.
After all, not all contractors are created equal.
Premeditated Excellence
Randy Hann


text:
Recently I came across this image on the Book of Faces (the book that makes you learn surprising and frightening things about people you thought you knew and now might not want to know. But I digress.) and number of people who seem to miss core issues that this image brings to a head surprises me. While for many this image shows a funny creative student who probably didn't study and tried to get away with it; for me this test is an example of one of the reasons that many students struggle on admissions tests (and other standardized tests). It is also indicative of how enforced conformation to societal "norms" stymies our most creative thinkers. Yup, for me, this test is an indictment of not the student but the educational system that doesn't properly train teachers or students. It's an indictment of the refusal of many of those in power to look inward and acknowledge their own errors and flaws.
And for many students, especially our most vulnerable, this is indicative of the type of interaction that hurts their educational progress, stymies their growth, and ill-prepares them for future tests and future work. But don't take my word for it, let's breakdown what's going on in this image.
Bad Testing Teaching Bad Habits
One core issue with this test is that it's a horrible test. It's full of ambiguity, assumptions, and imprecise language. (It's full of random capitalization also, but I won't bother with that now.) While there is a logic to expecting students in a class (I'm assuming this was "given" in a high school classroom) to make the assumption that each test comes with unnecessary and implicit instructions. Why would a teacher not simply ensure clarity by including instructions? A simple statement like "Please answer all of the following questions according to the previous week's discussions and work in this class" , would add little or no time to the 12 minutes it took for this test to be developed. As it stands it seems that this smart and observant student answered the questions based on his own life experience rather than on classroom discussion and are entirely correct based on the (lack of) instructions provided. The kind of assumptions the author of this test makes create the further problem of training students to make assumptions instead of following explicitly given instructions. Once we've trained students to ignore specificity and answer questions based on assumed context it makes taking standardized test like the SAT, GMAT and LSAT exceedingly difficult because those tests value and explicitly tests specificity in use of language. After years of learning to ignore specificity, after years of being called a "smart ass" for calling attention to vague language used by adults, after years of being told you should "know what I mean", how is a student to suddenly turn off all this to realize that now is the appropriate time to be persnickety?
The Blindness of Hubris
What does it mean that the grader, ostensibly an educator, rather than acknowledge that the student, at a minimum, has valid arguable points on almost all her answers? What does it say that the teacher has chosen to define as "creativity" the attention to detail displayed by the student? Does this use of creativity convey that creativity is something non-academic? Does this send this student the message that using words as God, Shakespeare and Webster intended is somehow wrong if some "authority" has chosen to use words informally (in formal settings).
If this is reflective of the practice and pedagogy of this teacher (and others?), how will students ever learn to distinguish their own faulty understanding from flaws in the question asked by teachers or errors in the worksheets (which are rampant and frustrating). What does this say about the arrogance of the teacher? Does this mean that this teacher refuses to be corrected and will be one of those who react negatively to any perceived challenge to their authority? Will this teacher be among those who punish, shame, and suspend children of color far more frequently than white children? If my child had submitted this test and gotten this grade, I'd have been forced to go to school to talk to the teacher. I'd fully expect the teacher to either modify the grade or give a valid explanation as to why he is right and my child is wrong (I could accept, "Akil, your child asked during the test and I told him to assume that every question said based on the chapter we've read"). My fear is that neither the reasonable explanation nor the acknowledgement of the tests flaws is common practice, but instead the common practice is that "you know what I meant" explanation, which leads students away from true learning and toward acceptance of the dictates of "authority."
Fixing the problem
The fixes for this test are so simple it seems even a caveman could have done it, and it makes me question the reading comprehension skills of the author of this test (it also makes me hope that this is just another made up internet thing with limited basis in reality). A slight (?) rewrite of the test would yield a much better tool which would prevent Mr. Smarty Pants from being able to submit answers that he probably knows are technically correct while being socially suspect. Here's my version of the test, with the questions I can understand rewritten.
And here is a bunch of other fun images where poorly designed test questions have allowed the smart asses to win.


text:
Instead, people read headlines like GMO feed turns pig stomachs to mush and get scared. They post hateful, ignorant comments along with these news articles. They share the links on Facebook, where group think deepens hatred towards the out-group of scientists, and reinforces fear of an imagined conspiracy of greed to make people sick.
The statistical rebuttal to this pig paper has already been done. Go check out what Weed Control Freaks, Random Rationality, Farm Progress, Mark Lynas, and The Progessive Contrarian have to say.
The bottom line is, no statistical significance. It's more fake science.
But wait, there's more!
Do you remember Howard Vlieger, from my post titled Don't Eat Soil? This guy spoke out against GMO. He also said:
[GMO] is causing a tremendous disruption, and a wide array of digestive problems.He couldn't be more biased, right?
Well, he's the 2nd name on the pig paper, and the farmer who's pigs were studied, on his own farm.
Yes, this kind of stuff still shocks me...


text:
About the Engaged Learning Office
The Engaged Learning Office (ELO), launched in 2017, is an initiative to facilitate transformational, high-quality engaged learning experiences for all UMSI students with local and global community partners.
From organizing data for non-profits in southeast Michigan to working with human rights lawyers in India, students will help solve challenging information problems while gaining hands-on experience in their fields of interest, and learning how to work productively with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Through the programs and services offered by ELO, students engage in information and technology-related projects and action-based learning as a significant part of their studies.
The ELO works with a wide range of community partners from all industry types and sectors, ranging from Fortune 500 tech companies to grassroots social services non-profits and to cultural and heritage industries in a variety of project-based opportunities. Community partners can engage with UMSI students as a means to amplify the impact of their information systems and to increase their internal knowledge of appropriate and novel information practices.
ELO Staff
Kelly Kowatch, Director, Engaged Learning Office, email@example.com
As the Director of the Engaged Learning Office, I lead a cross-disciplinary team with the goal of facilitating transformational, high-quality engaged learning experiences for all UMSI students. I work with students, faculty, and community members from industry and the social sector to create mutually beneficial learning experiences within the framework of information issues and solutions. Our team is here to help you achieve your career goals through participation in experiences that deepen your information knowledge and holistic professional skill set.
I advise students on global, civic, community, innovation projects and opportunities and consult with students to help them create opportunities in the community that will further define their professional skill set.
D. Scott TenBrink, Manager, Citizen Interaction Design, firstname.lastname@example.com
I'm interested in building community and civic engagement. I manage the Citizen Interaction Design program, where I build partnerships with cities, and connect our students with them to create information tools that support 21st century citizenship.
I can help you find ways to build experience and apply your emerging skills to the challenges facing cities and the people who want to improve their communities. I believe that information skills are important beyond your career goals; you can apply them to improve your home, neighborhood, and community.
I have a Masters Degree in Urban Planning and 10 years of experience leading and collaborating in the nonprofit sector. I love riding my bike and traveling the world, but always return to the Great Lakes state.
Alissa Talley Pixley, Assistant Director, Engaged Learning Office, email@example.com
I am interested in connecting students with community partners and nonprofit organizations. In my role with the Engaged Learning Office, I facilitate experiential learning and service engagement opportunities for students, including Alternative Spring Break, Fall Break, UMSI Service Week and I work with the A2DataDive student organization. I'm always interested in how to best facilitate these partnerships, and enjoy talking about this with students and community organizations.
Jill Coughlin, Intercultural and Global Engagement Program Manager, email@example.com
I'm interested in helping all UMSI students develop intercultural awareness and competency through meaningful global engagement. I manage UMSI's signature global engagement programs, including the Global Information Engagement Program (GIEP), Peace Corps partnerships, study abroad opportunities, and other global experiences. I lead advising, programming and related activities for all UMSI students who seek to participate in global programs, and I facilitate on-campus events and programming aimed at promoting deep global learning and intercultural awareness.
Jennifer Chizek, Design, Innovation, and Engaged Learning Program Manager, email@example.com
I am interested in the ways that design and innovation can be applied to a multitude of contexts, from community engagement projects to startups. I manage the infoLab program, which matches student teams with mentors and clients to help solve real-world information challenges. I also lead advising on innovation and entrepreneurship and enjoy working with students to explore the ways that design, creative problem-solving, and user-centric methods lead to positive impact and social change.
I have nearly a decade of experience in international development, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, and have run social impact programs in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.
The Mission of Engaged Learning at UMSI
The Engaged Learning Office facilitates transformational, high-quality engaged learning experiences for all UMSI students. Through our teaching, research, and professional development, we….
- Prepare students to be change agents in information professions, and culturally and socially conscious alumni and citizens
- Provide inclusive, equitable, and innovative information solutions to the local and global community throughout diverse sectors
- Lead the field of engaged learning, globally and domestically, amongst Information Schools and at the University of Michigan
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Statement
The Engaged Learning Office is dedicated to amplifying students' understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion through participation in engaged learning programs. We believe that learning through practice is integral for opening minds, increasing empathy, alleviating social justice issues, and affirming humanity amongst all people.
We seek to prepare students to be respectful and humble representatives of the School and University in the community, where reciprocal trust is valued. By engaging students and diverse communities in ethical and sustainable partnerships, we promote opportunities to deepen cultural humility and invoke self-agency through risk-taking and discomfort, ultimately creating change agents in the information profession.


text:
Welcome to Duckrabbits. My name is Logan Rees, and I'm a writer.
What is a duckrabbit?
The duckrabbit is an image used in the philosophical teachings of Ludwig Wittgenstein to describe how our perceptions of the external world are inherently deceiving. As you look at the image, it shifts from looking like a duck to looking like a rabbit and back again. Nothing about the image changes, it is only your perception of the image that changes. For Wittgenstein, this became an ever-present state of mind that informed all of his perceptions of reality, and kept him in a state of constant disbelief of what his senses told him.
About Duckrabbits
Duckrabbits is meant to be a place to find articles and information that will challenge the way you have viewed reality thus far. That and some random bullshit that I decide to write. Feel free to join the discussion on any topic, but keep in mind that no one, not even you, really sees the whole picture.
If you like what you see, check out my website. Chock full of music, films, and other shit to waste your time on.
Also check out my new series The Rise of the Fallen.


text:
To Meetup's LGBTQ community,
We're writing to share our deepest sympathies after yesterday's tragic shooting in Orlando.
The history of the LGBTQ movement shows us that people are most powerful when they come together. There are more than 3,000 LGBTQ Meetup groups with a half million members around the world. Together, we can be powerful.
Consider scheduling an #OrlandoUnited Meetup in June to honor the victims and create a web of support this Pride Month. (Simply add #OrlandoUnited in the event name.)
Whether you're seeking support, or can be there for someone else, showing up makes a difference.
Support each other. Community will prevail.
Scott Heiferman & Brendan McGovern
Meetup Cofounders
Photo credit: The Adventuring – LGBT Outdoors Club


text:
A Mind Forever Voyaging Ad Blurbs (Commodore 128)
Published by
Developed by
Also For
Advertising BlurbsInside Cover of Box - Commodore 128 (United Kingdom):
TAKE THEIR WORDS FOR IT!"When someone asks me what my computer can do, I show them an Infocom game."
Marion, 26, Research Technician
Dayton, Ohio
"Every Infocom game breaks new ground in the art of game design. The craft has reached the level of an art form, primarily because of Infocom."
COMPUTER GAMING WORLD magazine
"You folks design the best text adventures. Better than chess or a good movie, it's like a fine wine."
Christopher, 29
St. Ann, Missouri
"Infocom, your products are the stuff that dreams are made of!"
Sandi, 31
Napa, California
"The passion that players bring to these games comes from the same source as all fiction-induced pleasure—the projection of self into another world and the desire to learn what happens next as the adventures unfold. Only in this case, it's up to you to determine what happens next."
ROLLING STONE magazine
"I'm not an avaricious person, gathering unto me great gobs of wealth does not make my soul stir, but the challenge of saving the world or rescuing a person is where it's at."
Lancaster, California
"Your games are great! I swear I enter a time warp when I begin to play. Thanks for creating this wonderful form of entertainment."
Naperville, Illinois
"Keep it up, Infocom!"
Don, 15
Glendale, Wisconsin
Contributed by Patrick Bregger (244042) on May 23, 2011.
It's 2031. The world is on the brink of chaos. In the United States of North America, government and industry leaders have developed The Plan for Renewed National Purpose. Will the Plan ensure peace and prosperity? Or will it set the earth on a suicide course to destruction? As the world's first conscious, intelligent computer, only you have the ability to enter a simulation of the future and test the Plan's effectiveness.
A MIND FOREVER VOYAGING is reminiscent of such classic works of science fiction as Brave New World and 1984. You'll spend less time solving puzzles, as you explore realistic worlds of the future.
"AMFV uses the expanded memory to breathtaking effect, creating a richly imaged anti-Utopian futureworld... AMFV isn't '1984', but in some ways it's even scarier."
"An ambitious departure from anything Infocom has done before and a major event in software entertainment."
-Games magazine
Contributed by Belboz (6582) on Oct 09, 2001.
are about to see
the fantastic worlds of Infocom
unfold before your very eyes.
A MIND FOREVER VOYAGING Marking Infocom's entry into the realm of serious science fiction such as 1984, this excitingly different story contains fewer puzzles to solve and more mind-blowing avenues to explore. As the world's first conscious, intelligent computer, you must simulate the future to predict whether a radical new political plan will bring peace and prosperity... or set the world on a suicide course. Featuring Interactive Fiction Plus.
Contributed by Belboz (6582) on Oct 05, 2001.
New Release: A Mind Forever Voyaging
A Mind Forever Voyaging, the first advanced-level science Fiction story from Infocom, is for true text-adventure buffs. Why? Because it has more locations to visit (several hundred), more things to do, more responses, and a large vocabulary (1800+ words) than any of our previously released products.
The story takes place in 21st-century Rockvil, South Dakota. The United States of North America has fallen prey to incredibly high unemployment and crime rates. Political indifference, perhaps caused by backward educational systems or diminishing national resources, has swept the nation. Exploiting this opportunity, Senator Richard Ryder has develop [sic] the Plan for a Renewed National Purpose, stressing patriotism and a return to American values as they were at the country's peak, the 1950s. The public, desperate for a change, embraces the Plan, but many high government officials are unsure whether it will succeed. That is where you come into the picture.
You are PRISM (Perelman-Randu Introductory Soliptic Machine): the first intelligent, self-aware computer. You have been created to enter a simulation of Rockvil, years in the future, and return with recordings of what life would be like if the Plan were to be introduced. While you're busy exploring the future, the scientists and programmers who created you are honing and perfecting the simulation's parameters. Thus, as the story progresses, you can travel further and further in time, watching Rockvil prosper as the Plan succeeds, or perish as it fails. Only you can tell on what course the country sets itself by adopting the Plan.
While there are several puzzles to keep players on their toes, designer Steve Meretzky (author of Planetfall and Sorcerer, and co-author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) concentrated more on immersing the player in a vast, highly detailed, realistic world; a vision of the destiny of mankind. A Mind Forever Voyaging represents Infocom's greatest step yet away from games, and toward true fiction: a serious, often chilling, look at the future of the human race, reminiscent of such great works of science fiction as 1984 or Brave New World.
What makes an epic game like this possible? Interactive fiction "plus," the latest development system from Infocom, designed to complement our currently-used "classic" system. "Plus" will be available for most machines that have 128K or more of internal RAM, allowing us to more than double the size of our products. In fact, the entire Zork trilogy could have fit into one game if we'd had the "plus" system at our disposal in 1981. Thus, large projects, like A Mind Forever Voyaging, are now entirely within our capabilities. Unlike the new Whopper, or New Coke, this revolutionary gaming technology promises to please the tastes of even the most discriminating player, allowing for more of just about everything (game bugs being no exception). Finally, this size increase should not be seen as "the beginning of the end" of our support for machines with under 128K of memory. Owners of smaller computers can rest assured that we will continue to produce plenty of products for their machines, using the "classic" system.
Meretzky began work on the project by writing a short, intriguing fictional piece, which introduces the player to the concept of artificial intelligence, as well as to the main characters and themes of the story. This short story, part of an issue of "Dakota Online Magazine," is found in the game package, along with the instruction manual, a full-color map of Rockvil, a "21st-century" plastic pen, and a Class One Security Mode Access Decoder.
Contributed by Belboz (6582) on Aug 26, 2001.
"If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not..." -Shakespeare
IT'S 2031. The world is on the brink of chaos. In the United States of North America, spiraling crime and unemployment rates, decayed school systems and massive government regulations have led to a lazy, contentious society.
To reverse this critical situation, government and industry leaders have developed a Plan combining the economic freedom and strong moral values of the 1950's with the technological advancements of the 21st century. Will the Plan ensure peace and prosperity? Or will it set the earth on a suicide course to destruction?
As the world's first conscious, intelligent computer, only you can visit places that have never been seen before. Only you can view the future. And only you know what must be done to save humanity.
A major departure for Infocom, A Mind Forever Voyaging is reminiscent of such classic works of science fiction as Brave New World and 1984. You'll spend less time solving puzzles, as you explore realistic worlds of the future.
Contributed by Belboz (6582) on Aug 20, 2001.
Welcome to A Mind Forever Voyaging (which, for brevity's sake, will henceforth be
referred to as AMFV). In this story, you will be PRISM, the world's first sentient
machine. Before you "boot up" your disk, make sure you read the short story in the first
part of the booklet. The story begins in the world of 2031, a world on the brink of chaos.
The economy of the United States of North America (USNA) has been stagnating for
decades. Crackpot religions are springing up all over the place. Crime and urban decay
are rampant. Schools have become violent, chaotic places ill-suited for educating
children. Today's youth frequently use joybooths to "tune-out" the world, leading in the
extreme case to joybooth suicide, where a psychological addict wastes away in his or her
private nirvana.
The global situation is even grimmer. The calcuttization of the Third World has almost reached its limit, causing extreme overpopulation and poverty. This has created a climate ripe for East Bloc adventurism, exploiting instability and fanning the numerous flash points around the globe. The superpower race to build an impenetrable missile defense has ended in a tie, with the foreseeable but unforseen result that an even more dangerous arms race has begun -- a race to build miniature nuclear weapons, some as small as a cigarette pack, and smuggle them into enemy cities -- a race which threatens to turn the USNA into a giant police state.
Things are bad, and it appears that they can only get worse. So when Senator Richard Ryder, along with a small group of leaders from government, business, and the universities, announces the Plan for renewed national purpose, everyone is only too willing to embrace it.
Only one thing stands between the Plan and its adoption: a test of its validity. That's why you have been "awakened" from your simulated life and had your true nature revealed to you several years ahead of schedule. You have been chosen to use your unique abilities to enter a simulation of the future, based on the tenents of the Plan, in order to check its effectiveness. The eyes of the world are on you.
Contributed by Brian Hirt (10035) on Mar 10, 1999.