text:
Nov 28, 2008
USABILITY: This has always cracked me up...
Nov 22, 2008
Funniest Tweet of the Week: TNAuctioneer
TNAuctioneer: just watched Dirty Jobs and poo eating Talapia! then wife tells me we are having Talapia for dinner! can you say loss of appetite?
Nov 2, 2008
Coloradans Will Laugh (or at least smile)
A winter statistic:
98% of Americans scream before going in the ditch on a slippery road. The other 2% are from Colorado and they say, "Hold my soda and watch this".
You're from Colorado if You'll eat ice cream in the winter.
When the weather report says it's going to be 65 degrees, you shave your legs and wear a skirt.
It snows 5 inches and you don't expect school to be canceled.
You'll wear flip flops every day of the year, regardless of temperature.
You have no accent at all, but can hear other people's. And then you make fun of them.
'Humid' is over 25%.
Your sense of direction is: Toward the mountains and Away from the mountains.
You say 'the interstate' and everybody knows which one.
You think that May is a totally normal month for a blizzard.
You buy your flowers to set out on Mother's day, but try and hold off planting them until just before Father's day.
You grew up planning your Halloween costumes around your coat.
You know what the Continental Divide is.
You went to Casa Bonita as a kid, and as an adult.
You've gone off-roading in a vehicle that was never intended for such activities.
You always know the elevation of where you are.
You wake up to a beautiful, 80 degree day and you wonder if it's going to snow tomorrow.
You don't care that some company renamed it, the Broncos still play at Mile High.
Every movie theater has military and student discounts.
Everybody wears jeans to church.
You actually know that ** South Park ** is a real place not just a show on TV.
You know what a 'trust fund hippy' is, and you know its natural habitat is Boulder
You know you're talking to a fellow Coloradoan when they call it Elitches, not Six Flags.
A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you.
Your two favorite teams are the Broncos and whoever is beating the crap out of the Raiders.
When people out East tell you they have mountains in their state too, you just laugh.
You go anywhere else on the planet and the air feels 'sticky' and you notice the sky is no longer blue.
Oct 30, 2008
What a blast! IgniteBoulder - Oct 29, 2008
Video via YouTube
So last night, Dan of vendorHIPPO.com, Adam (AK my son), and I went to the IgniteBoulder event in Boulder CO. It was a blast! We hooked up with Ryan Wanger (of The Reluctant Eater) before the event began and got acquainted. Ryan and Dan had hooked up via Dan's new interest in blogging and Ryan may be a food reviewer for Dan's vendorHIPPO.com site.
Perhaps the most fun of the night was the look on Dan's face from about the third presentation on... (wish I had a picture) but it's that blank stare you see when it's obvious someone has been drinking from a fire hose of info. But he did great.
We heard/saw 20 slide (timed automatically at 15 second intervals) presentations on everything from what soap bubbles have in common with yoga (really a bizarre presentation, seriously), to info about Lucid Dreaming (maybe more bizarre than the yoga/soap), to instructions on branding yourself, perception possibility, what angel investors are thinking, and more.
Maybe next time I'll live blog the event. A video of the event is in process. I'll edit and post a link here when it's available for anyone interested.
Overall a great evening of branching out and exploring new stuff. There are Ignite events occurring all over the country (world?) and you should definitely check for one in your area and go if can.
Thanks to Andrew Hyde of Boulder for coordinating this event! Let's do another!
Oct 13, 2008
Interesting Whose Lists You End Up On
Oct 8, 2008
Fall 2008 Color Ride in the Rockies
(this is the super high bandwidth version... which will take a little longer to load - see below for lower)
(a little lower bandwidth version)
Oct 6, 2008
Latest Finished Project
Oct 2, 2008
Classic Game Meets PHP
Sep 27, 2008
Celsius to Farenheit and Vice Versa
That part went pretty smoothly so I sat down to start coding the stuff on the board. But, when I uploaded the file I was in dismay as the calculation functions were obviously doing something, just not the right thing. After a couple of hours on and off it (doing other stuff that actually paid) I finally realized I had left the "$" off of a variable in both calculation functions... AMAZING! No telling how many sets of working code I had been through before discovering that.
So I finally got it working... or so I thought. The page is supposed to issue a error message if the input field is blank or if it has non-numeric input. Mine did that, but it also issued the warning when you loaded the page before any input. UGH! Back to debugging. I finally figured that out and all was going very well... or so I thought...
So when I tried to convert "0" from either F to C or C to F the page just kind of stared back at me with nothing. I looked over the formulas and saw nothing that could be wrong so I emailed my professor about it. He was kind enough to tell me I had discovered a nuisance in PHP. It seems that "0" is considered empty by PHP. So, there was nothing to convert, and it was neither empty or non-numeric so it did nothing. First he told me to play with using the === operator (which I had done early on when I was missing the $ in the variables) and then he suggested the is_null() fucntion. Shazaam! Put that on in and all was great... problem solved!
Or, so I thought. Another problem which had always been there, it just was not till now I could test to see it. When you enter 32 F to convert to C the result is seen as... you guessed it... empty by PHP. Now I have that conundrum to solve. Oops.. solved it by using the same is_null() instead of empty() again in the output.
YAY! Done. Here's the page. Now, wonder if I can give a visual diagram of this output like last week?
Sep 18, 2008
Pro Coders Would Consider This Child's Play
Today was our fourth class meeting and we came out with five assignments. I have to say the last one made me a little nervous. Especially when the instructor told us we would really not like him when we got to step 4 and 5 of the fifth assignment. Guess what... I don't hate him at all. (Of course, it's yet to be seen if I did it "wrong")
The fifth assignment was a story problem instructing us to create a PHP script that fictional high school students could use to estimate the time and cost for their jobs mowing lawns around the neighborhood. Here's the text of the problem:
- The students use the following method to estimate the time and cost of their jobs for customers:
- Calculate the total area of the yard in m² (Multiply the length of the yard in meters by the width of the yard in meters)
- Calculate the total area of the house in m² (Multiply the length of the house in meters by the width of the house in meters)
- Subtract the total area of the house from the total area of the yard to find the total area of the lawn that must be mowed.
- Find the total time it will take to mow the lawn knowing that a high schooler can mow 4.3m² of lawn/minute
- Find the total cost for mowing the lawn. The high schoolers charge $10 per hour to mow the lawn
- Given the following dimenstion for a Customer:
- Length of Yard: 62 meters
- Width of Yard: 93 meters
- Length of House: 27 meters
- Width of House: 20 meters
Write a program which uses PHP to output the following (and then a sample text output that should appear on the page).
So, check out my page (P.S. It looks like the output with the correct calculations... YAY!)
And, here's a link to my main page I'll use throughout the semester to link to all my projects/assignments... if anyone cares!
So, here's the crazy thing. I finally understand the addiction of coding. I've had friends for years who were hard core coders. And, though I always appreciated their zeal and passion to just sit and write code... I actually understand and have experienced it myself tonight... whoa! More problems... more code! I'm ready! (I think I'm addicted!) Is there a CWA (Code Writers Anonymous) chapter near me? I may need it!
Sep 16, 2008
Flashback Charts
Mine is 1960 ... "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley. And for those of you young critter friends who don't know this song...
Go look yours up and post it here if you have a minute.
Sep 9, 2008
What a great job!
Sep 7, 2008
vendorHIPPO Video
One of the things Kendall Media Group is coming alongside the HIPPO to provide is video services for the markets and vendors he's working with. And, Dan wants to do some video on the site as well. So, today we're going to shoot an intro video as a "welcome to vendorHIPPO" piece for the main page of the site. We're shooting it at the Twenty Ninth Street Market in Boulder, CO so we have an authentic backdrop. It should be lots of fun and I'm hoping for some great outtakes to bribe Dan with.
Aug 11, 2008
Monday Match - Craig Kendall LAS VEGAS
Aug 5, 2008
Afternoon Snack
See how good she is to wait till we tell her okay! I love the way she looks away but keeps her eyes on it intently.
Because I Can
Anyway, the high today was 88 and a storm blew by just as it got up there. So, I grabbed my book and am sitting on the front porch watching clouds go by and enjoying the afternoon breeze.
Love working for self from home! Time for some water and snack!
Aug 4, 2008
Monday Match - Craig Kendall - Curve Design
Surface pattern and decorative imagery for interiors, greetings, gift-wrap and textiles.
Here, you'll find details of a wide range of original, fresh and exciting designs - many of which are now available to purchase as Canvas Wall Art, Mounted Prints or Handmade Greeting Cards.
Whether its mouth-watering glamour or cool elegance, our aim is to provide stylish and contemporary alternatives to the everyday - allowing you to achieve the look you want.
Check it/him out at http://curvedesign.net
Pretty random and awesome that design runs in the family... especially when there is no direct relationship between
Jul 28, 2008
Monday Match - Falling On Her Own by Craig Kendall
Jul 26, 2008
One year ago today...
It's been an interesting year. One month later we were actually here in Denver and moving our stuff into two storage units until we could find a place. WOW how time flies. Kinda like how it's flown between my blog posts the last couple of times.
And on an interesting note, I was at a restaurant this week sharing lunch with a friend when our server (another friend) came up and told us that until moments before she thought she had seen it all as a server. Seems another server's table/guests left a $5 bill and a hand full of coupons (some were actually expired). At first we thought the folks had actually left the coupons as the tip. Then when we found out about the $5 bill we were more inclined to believe the guests were merely cleaning out their coupon envelope or something and left those as trash. But, what a funny thought. Anyone out there leave coupons or something other than money as a tip for your server (not counting those of you who leave tracts... I know about that one)?
Jun 29, 2008
Random Letter - Thanks to a Good Samaritan
So yesterday I checked the mail at our office PO Box and found I had received this letter. I wasn't sure who I knew at Maritech Resources, Inc. in The Woodlands TX. I rifled through all the people I knew in TX as I drove home and no one whom I remembered the location of was in The Woodlands. So, I began to wonder if someone at Maritech had seen something on our business web site that prompted them to contact us by mail. Funny all the thoughts that race through your mind as you process something like this. I was even more baffled when I opened the letter to find the contents pictured above. It took me a few seconds to process what must have happened. Someone appears to have purchased a book titled Cat & Mouse (I found one by that title on Amazon by James Patterson) on June 12th and discovered the photo and the two airline boarding pass stubs. Being the Good Samaritan that he or she was (I'm going to say "she" from now on as the writing looks to be that of a lady), and assuming the photo was ours and was a cherished memory she must have obviously sought out a Craig Kendall on the Internet and found our series of sites that are out there. The only one with a physical address listed is the PO Box for the business so she kindly packaged up the leftovers from her used book purchase and mailed them to us at that address. How sweet. Thanks to you Good Samaritan for trying to return to us what appear to be keepsakes.
Now, some interesting observations from the encounter. I'm not sure who the picture is. I've not read Cat & Mouse. The boarding passes might have been mine as I have been to Houston by way of Phoenix and have connected through Minneapolis before. The dates threw me as I have only been to Phoenix three times that I remember and it was odd that none of the boarding passes showed a departure from Nashville, Dallas, or Denver which is where I would have most likely originated going into Houston. Then it hit me as my mind flashed back to my college encounter with a second "Craig Kendall" that lived in the same small college town I had been in while attending college. I realized I could look up the OnePass frequent flyer account to see if it was mine which it was not. So, from my side at least, the mystery is solved. Sorry Good Samaritan, but the stuff you kindly sent was not mine. I've posted them here and maybe some Craig Kendall searching his name on the Internet will happen across this and I can return the favor by mailing him the photo when he contacts me. I love the Internet! Here's the possibilities I found on a whitepages.com search in the Houston TX area:
Jun 19, 2008
TurnHere, Citysearch, 1515 Restaurant
1515 Restaurant in Denver
Jun 15, 2008
Commemorating Dad
I also have mini video clip memories of the day John F. Kennedy was shot. I think that was because I paid super careful attention due to the obvious emotion and concern I saw in my mom as she monitored the news about what was going on stateside. I'm pretty sure we were still in Germany when it happened.
And I remember my brother and some of his friends thinking it was funny to scare the little brother walking through tall grass between our apartments where they could duck down and knew I couldn't see over the grass like they could to find them. Pretty scary when you're a little kid and all you can see is sky above and grass all around and the comforting hand of the person who can see disappears amidst laughter and "shhhh!, He'll find us!"
All that aside, as I reflect on Father's Day about memories of my dad, here are a few:
Favorite: Both my brother and I got motorcycles when we were kids so we could enjoy riding. When we were teenagers in New Mexico we went on a weekend camping/riding trip with my dad. It was quite the adventure. We trailered the bikes to somewhere in Northern New Mexico (near Madrid I think I remember) and set up camp in what seemed to me a desolate rock quarry area. I just remember the tents on lots of gravel and not much vegetation around. We had two tents, one for Kenn and I and one for dad. We were so tired I don't remember anything about the night. However, I will never forget breakfast the next morning. Seems we had remembered EVERYTHING when packing except more than one pot to cook breakfast in. Now understand, I love grits and I love corned beef hash, but first thing in the morning and cooked in the same pot... well, it looked like it had already been eaten and brought back up for a vote. Joking aside though, one of the qualities I remember about my dad that has influenced who I am was that no challenge would overcome him. When something seemed impossible he would always back off, think about it, and then solve it.
Scariest: I don't remember much of the details, but when we lived in the San Fransisco area one night I got up late for some reason and met what I later found out was only my dad in a Alfred E Newman mask and trench coat in the hall. I don't think I want to know any more details.
Most Humorous: (Punked!) I worked at a stereo store just after I graduate high school. One of the perks was that we could bring equipment home to try out while the store was closed. One Saturday after a long day at work for me and a long hard day of working in the yard at home for dad, I had brought home some really nice equipment and an amazing record (yes, even though cassettes and 8-tracks were around then) of rain and thunderstorms. Just after sitting down to dinner I excused myself briefly and set the speakers in the hall right outside my door (where they would not easily be seen) and set the record to play from the beginning. I wish I had pictures of the complete problem solving looks on his face as he attempted to figure out where the freak and enormous rain and thunder storm had come from when he had just come in from what looked like an amazingly clear evening. Oh, and the sound of the water falling off the roof and hitting something... he was really stumped by what the rain could be hitting. When he got up to check, as he neared the sliding glass door it became clear something was out of whack and then his ears led him to the hallway where he found the speakers I had set up. The look on his face was priceless. Oh...wait. There's one better than this... ask him about night he came home from the theater where he saw Jaws and the plastic shark in the toilet!
Proudest: There are lots of times I remember to be proud of my dad. He was always the rock and everything seemed more stable when Pa (I started calling him "Pa" when I was in high school... daddy was just too childish to say as a teen and dad was not cool) was around. As an Air Force officer who promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Colonel he had many promotions, but there was only one the whole family went to. I know he went through many, but other than it being a lot like a graduation ceremony (people talking FOREVER ... but it was cool because they were talking about my dad!) I remember when he stood at attention to have his oak leaf clusters pinned on in Albuquerque. "That's MY dad!" I remember thinking.
Freakiest: When he almost drowned me capsizing our sailboat when he was learning to sail on a tricky lake and he used my back as the bottom to push off and get to the top. - haha, Pa, you know I had to put this one in here ;o) He still swears he didn't, but I think the footprint is still on my back.
Commonalities: Though I know my wife and children would like point out many more things my dad and I share in common, here's a few I'm fond of:
- Strong love for Mexican - I think we could both eat it 3x7x365
- Geekiness - we both love gadgets and tech stuff
- Love the outdoors - though I can't stand to be outside much in the South, out here in the West, where I grew up with daddio we spent lots of times outdoors doing stuff
- Motorcycling - My dad planted this love in our hearts early on. I still remember the day he brought his first Suzuki home when we were in Colorado Springs. Now I ride a Suzuki (haha, Pa, mine's BIGGER now!)
- Analytical mind - Though we were on very different career paths the skill sets we both seem to have are amazingly similar. Problem solving is one of our fortes.
- Temper - yeah, blah, blah, blah. Thankfully we've both learned to control it more as we've gotten older.
- Opinion - we both have one. Sometimes they're similar sometimes they are not.
So, here's to Pa on Father's Day. There's a lot more I could say, but hey, what would I post about next year?
Jun 12, 2008
Happy Anniversary Baby!
This date however will likely be etched in my mind for quite some time. One year ago today I sat in the office of my supervisor at the company I had worked at for 11 years and was informed that my position was one of three being eliminated to make room in next year's budget for other types of personnel. I cannot describe the rush of things that go through your head in a moment like that. If you've been there you know what I mean.
A folder is pulled out and you go over all the paperwork related to severance and all. How crazy is it that once you are told you will be without a job they go over all these details and expect you to sign a piece of paper agreeing to all the terms right there as this amazing thought-flood is going on. Anyway, I elected to have a lawyer friend review mine before I signed and left the office.
I was told I could go for the rest of the day, finish the week, and then, though I officially was not finished until July 31, if I had transitioned all the stuff I was working on I was no longer expected to be in the office after that Friday. I have to say, all this flexibility and a generous severance package was the bright side of the coin but there still is no rush like being told you are being laid off permanently. (I guess that's different than being fired. Fired would be if you screwed up or did something immoral or illegal. Laid off is when the type of service you have to provide is no longer needed or organizational changes mean your skill set is no longer part of the mix.) Either way, after Friday the 15th I was gone.
One of the interesting pieces of all this was how Julie and I had already discussed that we wanted to have our own business established by the date the severance was set to run out. Difference was rather than working full time and at the same time laboring to launch a sustaining business, we now had a severance period to concentrate on establishing the new work and would not be looking at a two week notice and transition.
On the way to lunch the next day before going in to begin the transition and cleaning out process it hit me that this was the perfect time to move back to Colorado (where we had lived before going to Nashville). And, if we were going to be working to establish a business, it was better to establish it where we ultimately wanted to live rather than establish it and then relocate later. Hence, the whirlwind escalated. That was June 13. August 1st our house went on the market. August 6th we had a contract. August 26th we were out and on our way to Colorado to find our way. So, here we are. One year later. Since this is getting long, I'll wait till August 1 to update the status and reminisce about where the business is now.
Thanks to everyone who helped us through the amazing transition train we've been on. Here are some of our transition support super stars to whom we are SO SO grateful:
Ray and Katie Carman who helped with the whole house sale/purchase thing (even so far as traveling to CO for a scouting trip Jul 26-31) as well as being amazingly supportive friends to lean on, and were gracious enough to host a drop by for folks who wanted to come by and say good bye before we left. Oh and hats off to Ray who was the packing/loading ANIMAL! We never could have gotten out of there if it were not for you guys.
Todd and Monica (as well as AJ and Ashley) Donaldson who opened their home to us in CO while we house hunted and were here for us to lean on at the CO side of our journey.
Scott Wendland, Chris Papetti, and Tripp Karrh who graciously labored to help load us up, drive out on the trek from Nashville to Denver in the dual-26-foot-Penske-truck-with-car-carriers-Pathfinder-motorcyle-trailer caravan, and unload and stuff all the stuff into storage buildings.
Our awesome kiddos Jes & AK who helped with lots of stuff and checked in on us to make sure we were making it okay (oh and have since relocated to CO as well... what sweeties!). You guys were so strong and never showed any nervousness which helped mom and dad not worry so much about leaving you in TN.
John and Debbie Revell who helped pack and were amazing pillars of support for us when the pressure began to mount.
Denver and Amy Bierman who were the rocks we leaned on. Though we know you were incredibly busy (Denver with the whole Next Great American Band thing and Amy months from delivering London) crushed by our leaving, you continue to be incredibly encouraging and full of support emotionally and spiritually through the transition.
Kathie Hill of Kathie Hill Music who was one of my first clients back in 2005 and who patiently endured during our moving right in the middle of her launching WAM! a whole new revolutionary product line for kid's music.
And everyone else who encouraged us and whose thoughts and prayers supported us in the transition.
So, we press on in Life 2.0 mode one year later.
Jun 11, 2008
The Green Meanie
As the snow melted off this Spring it became obvious that some issue had developed with a section of our front lawn. We've had landscaping people look at it and they all are stymied. Everyone rattles off a list of things they think it could be, but then they eliminate all of them pretty quickly because it looks like nothing they've ever seen that have those conditions.
It's very disconcerting. When we moved into our house I thought to myself, "Finally! With a sprinkler system and established grass, surely we won't embarrass the neighbors with our lawn here." HaHa. Right!
So, I contacted the folks who put the lawn in months before we ever bought the house and the girl I talked to looked our address up and informed me I had called on the last day of the warranty. I won't go into all the long litany of interactions that followed. Suffice it to say that I essentially reached the point that I realized they were not going to honor the warranty after being told by their own folks that it was very weird and like nothing they had seen and acknowledged that the grass had never taken root in the areas where the mange (that's the name we've given the condition) had set in. It's like it was sod that had just been put down today except it was dead. It could just be lifted up with no roots and a smooth dirt bottom existed on the downside of the dead grass rug.
(Side note: Later the same day I called the landscaping company when I checked the mail I had gotten a letter from our HOA manager informing me that if the problem was not corrected we would receive a fine. Good grief!)
So, while I was standing in Home Depot, grass repair supplies in my buggy, I made one last attempt (I owed the landscaping company a payment on the backyard sod which had been put in a couple of weeks before) to leverage my position and attempt to get my hands on some of the scrap pieces which I had seen evidence in the vacant lots in our neighborhood were cast off after an installation. This time though, I was not so nice with the guy. I shared with him how VERY frustrated I was at the lack of communication the company provided through most of my dealings with them to date (except when they wanted money... they were very timely and persistent in those contacts) and with the lack of willingness to accept responsibility for sod that never took root but appeared only to grow on the surface for the previous year. I emphasized how frustrating it was that during my first contact regarding the issue I was informed that it was the very last day of the warranty only to be told the lawn was now out of warranty when I finally got to talk to anyone to follow up. So standing there with $55 dollars worth of repair supplies I pleaded to be informed of a location where I could stop by and pick up some of the scraps that were to be cast off from an install which I could piece into my mangy spots.
To my surprise, after discussing the approximate square footage of the areas affected, the guy asked if they could drop off several rolls of fresh sod at my house later the week when they came to collect the check for the work completed in the back yard. I was shocked. I just about fell over. Finally! I jumped for joy, put my repair supplies back on the shelves and headed out of the store.
Yay! Maybe my neighbors won't be embarrassed by my mangy lawn anymore after Thursday! I wonder if I should have someone else affect the repairs so my greenie meanie-ness doesn't kill the repair grass or what's left in the front?
May 12, 2008
70's, shorts and flip flops today, tomorrow snow and gollashes in forecast
Today I mowed my lawn in flip flops and shorts and tomorrow they say there's snow on the way (backed up by the radar image to the left). Mountains are supposed to get a foot of snow and they are saying like 3" here! Yay! in May no less!
May 2, 2008
Yes, it did snow on May 1st, 2008!
Apr 23, 2008
We're gonna be in pictures!
Oh, and on a side note, referring back to my post about An Exciting Day for Kendall Media Group while we're still waiting for expertvillage to get our videos online, I had to get some samples up for another similar service we are working to get set up with so here's a link to some of the video we shot with Sam Brede of Carver's Ski Snowboard Sports in Breckenridge CO on Feb 22. You can't see them, but Julie's on one camera and Amy Bierman, a.k.a. The Super Amy, who was visiting with us at the time we did the shoot, is crawling around on the floor holding the boom mic pole. Oh, look... I found a picture! Love ya Amy!
Apr 16, 2008
Some excitement at the end our street yesterday
Apr 15, 2008
Happy (yeah, right!) Tax Day :o(
Oh, some good news: We're getting a refund of taxes we paid in 2007!
And, some bad news: We had to pay CO state income tax on severance paid by my former TN employer for the months we lived in CO while getting the severance. UGH!
How about you? Did you come out on the refund side or the "please, take the rest of my blood, sweat, and tears" side this year?
Apr 11, 2008
Stuff I Did Today...
- Tweaks to my wife's newest endeavor craftygirlz.com (header text refined, added social bookmarking links, added Google analytics)
- Set up several social book marks to craftygirlz.com myself... Facebook, StumbleUpon, del.icio.us, Google Bookmarks
- Initial set up on a podcast page for Denver and the Mile High Orchestra
- YouTube page initial set up for Denver and the Mile High Orchestra (thanks to my friend Nancy Hawthorne who works with Kathie Hill Music for a promo idea I may pitch to Denver & crew).
- Watched a tutorial about video specifications for a video service called TurnHere.com who we hope to be shooting some video for soon.
- Checked to see if our first ExpertVillage assignment has been posted yet... ugh... it hasn't!
Hmm... that's it so far. Not good. Almost all non-billable. Not good at all for a guy trying to make his own way. Got a lot done, but not much of personal financial influence. Guess I better look into some billable stuff.
Mar 31, 2008
aksings (or AK Sings - his myspace identity)
So, I'm posting them without his permission and he may sue me for copyright...
I Want You
Not That Bad
I'm Through (remix... he's already doing remixes of his own work)
The Christmas Song
Proud papa has these rights I think!
Mar 28, 2008
Our friend Katie & her boyfriend Todd
Ever been to a "Let's all celebrate I didn't die!" or "Let's all say goodbye to my kidney, ovaries, and uterus!" party? Well, neither had we until last Wednesday night. Katie, a friend we met here shortly after we arrived back in Colorado, had what I would totally justify as a horrible month... well, several months really. Back in November we went to her engagement party and shortly thereafter she found out she was facing a recurrence of cancer. Her lousy fiance (not Todd who is pictured btw) dumped her with the "I can't handle a sick wife" line cleaning out their joint bank account and anything else not nailed down in the house. Her surgery to remove her uterus and ovaries was a success... well sort of. Seems they nicked something during the surgery which caused lots of bleeding and just when she thought she was on the road to recovery an urgent emergency room trip uncovered that her abdominal cavity was filled with blood. They had no idea from where it was coming. Two surgeries and two transfusions later, they had removed her kidney which had gone septic due to the enduring presence of all that blood. Next thing she knows, they diagnose her with a rare blood disease (von Hitler or something like that she jokes) which resists clotting in certain cases. Now she carries with her a small emergency injection which, should she be injured, will help her blood to clot.
The best news is our friend Katie is on the road to recovery. She met a great guy on Match.com named Todd and they are dating. We had a great time at her uterus/ovary/kidney wake a.k.a. glad Katie didn't die party and we are truly glad our friend Katie did not die!
Mar 21, 2008
Given my "launch" of econoclips...
The Waldo Ultimatum: File it under funny flashbacks
Mar 20, 2008
Hooray! Exciting Day: Follow-up
In addition, two years ago I registered a domain with the bright idea of selling high definition stock video footage of the various places we go and stuff we see while there. Yesterday the first videos were officially up. It's a small library, but hopefully I'll be able to continue adding new clips every week (maybe every day for a little while) and eventually have enough to generate some portion of our monthly income from the purchases by video editors looking for a quick clip and not wanting to purchase a whole DVD or collection of clips. Check out the three clips up as of 3/19/2008 if you are interested!
Feb 21, 2008
Exciting Day for Kendall Media Group!
Feb 17, 2008
Okay, this is a little over the top!
But, this HAS to be over the top!
I guess it's the month to release cool cooking apps...
Cookthink is an online cooking resource made up of three related parts.
We are the Cookthink blog, where we feature recipes and daily posts on seasonal ingredients, kitchen tools, techniques and food news.
We are the Root Source, a weekly newsletter in which we look at one ingredient and chew over the best way to buy it, store it, prep it and cook with it.
Most of all, we are Cookthink.com, an innovative cooking website with recipes and related tips, all pulled together by the Recipe Mapping Project. Our unique, trademarked "cookthink it†tool is the first of its kind to let you search for recipes by a combination of ingredients, dish types, cuisines and moods so that we can answer the question: What are you craving?
Feb 11, 2008
What HAVE You Been Up To?
Feb 1, 2008
Every now and then a great idea comes along!
This is a once in a lifetime GREAT idea someone had. Supercook is a new recipe search engine that finds recipes you can make with the ingredients you have at home. To begin, simply start adding ingredients you have. The more ingredients you add, the better the results will be.
Keep this one bookmarked away for that time you don't have time to run to the grocery store but need to put something on the table with just what's on your shelves. I think it will be interesting to see who can come up with the most bizarre combination of stuff that ends up finding a receipe. If you do, post it here as a comment.
Actually, if you use this at all, post a message here with what you input and some description of what it offered you and if you made it.
Jan 30, 2008
New Look
I'm kind of buried doing a site refresh for a client so I've not posted much recently. Hopefully I'll try to get back to regular updates as soon as possible. Pant, pant, pant....
Jan 14, 2008
Hooray! Over 4GB later...
Jan 12, 2008
She was Beth Collins before she married...
... and she goes by Beth Farris now since she married, but it's the same sweet Beth we knew as a middle schooler in Colorado... and she got a cameo in a music video. Here's a link to the video! Way to go Beth!
Jan 3, 2008
Holiday Recap
Since our kiddos (for a little while anyway) are on the other side of the country and work in retail we awaited their arrivals to have our family Christmas day. AK arrived on the 24th, and Jes came in on the 27th. Then we enjoyed a Christmas-evening celebration the 28th.
AK had wanted for his Christmas a series of snowboarding days... he got one. We went up on the 26th (were supposed to go on the 25th but an all day snow made mountain roads treacherous... we'll more treacherous than we wanted to navigate or risk) it was a great day... until AK took a front side toe edge spill and landed squarely on his shoulder. At first he thought it was only a bad bruise or strain so we worked our way back down the 2/3rds of the mountain left (we were at Keystone, so that's a long way). When we got to the bottom, we were in a different place than we had parked since we took the easiest way down possible. I decided to find somewhere to sit him that was warm while I went to get the car and Julie, who had finished her day several runs earlier. The best place to leave him was the lobby of the on-site medical facility at the base of the mountain. When I returned with the Jeep and Julie, he was hurting bad enough and to avoid a potential later trip to an emergency room we decided to have someone look at him. Yep, he broke his clavicle. And, is this our family or what, not your usual break. His was basically at the tip of the clavicle. We followed up with an orthopedic doctor the next day and AK was grateful to hear no surgery required immediately or perhaps at all. The Dr. we saw was awesome and told AK that if he did do surgery, AK had done half his work for him already as with a break in that area they usually remove the tip of the bone and reattach muscles/ligaments to the part that's left. And get this... the Dr. has a brother at Hendersonville Hospital in TN who practices same type of medicine. So AK is to follow up with him in a month or so, and then with Dr. here when he is back in CO.
We were sweating Jes' arrival a little as we were expecting a significant amount of new snow by the time she came in on the evening of the 27th. She got here, but as is her flying luck she was about two hours later. However, the great news is all of her luggage came in with her on this trip. I was a little nervous about her arrival as she openly professes to hate snow and cold. I guess parking at the top level of the airport garage was not the greatest idea, but there was not much open at that point. She got to step out of the airport into the cold and wet. Thankfully she seems to have done great though since. In fact she seems to have stayed warm (similar temperatures feel so much warmer here than in humid areas) when dressed correctly for the weather and she's not complained about the snow or cold... YAY!
Christmas was a nice quiet evening (instead of morning) as we exchanged gifts and emptied stockings (a Kendall family tradition we've enjoyed for years). By far the highlight was watching our two kiddos reaction when they opened the Rock Band game (we put the box with instruments away and just wrapped the actual game/case. AK was amazed we got it and we have all enjoyed playing on the big screen we've put up temporarily in the basement. Great fun!
Got our first eventon.tv entry edited and up on the website. It was Julie's first run at the rover camera instead of the fixed tripod. It's a little jumpy but still works. Here's a link to the eventon.tv site I threw up to house the first event info/video. We've shot two other events since and I can't believe the improvement she's already shown. Have two more in the can to edit.
And, like we've not had enough to do over the holidays, I've been working on a major update to one of our client's web sites over the holidays. A couple of snags have delayed it's re-launch so I'm STILL working on that (why AM I posting to my blog right now?)
Today our kiddos begin trekking back across the skies to work/school. It looks like both will beginning their last semesters at MTSU in TN. Jes is set to graduate in May and AK, well it looks like he'll be making preparations for a transfer to Colorado State University in Fort Collins beginning in the Fall 2008. He and I spent yesterday looking around up there and meeting with some faculty to see what they had to offer. It was a very impressive program and offers TONS better program and opportunities directly out of school. He's very excited... we are too.
As is the case with most college graduates, Jes is planning to apply her Spanish/linguistics degree toward a future in baking. Yep, you read right. She is seriously pursuing the idea of opening her own bake shop. How exciting is that. We figured she'll have a great opportunity to use her Spanish with customers.
And we begin the new year absolutely, 100% self-employed for the first time in our lives. We're already being quite blessed as we had two new client opportunities last week and may already have all the work we need and can handle. Now we just have to buckle down and get 'er done. Speaking of which, I have work to do... more later.


text: Just curious, has anyone tested this voice assistant application yet? I think it's pretty freaking cool myself.. But it needs a whole lot of work. This is basically the rundown of what this application does. It's obviously a voice assistant, but it has a pretty cool list of commands. You can set your name by saying Call me then state your name. To cancel a command you can say cancel, nevermind, shush, or cancel cancel (in mid sentence) You can ask the time or time in any city+country as well date. You can ask about the weather and whats the weather in city+country Here's my personal favorite, the battery. You can state what is my battery.. Level Temperature Health Status and Voltage. You can also toggle wifi, bluetooth, airplane mode,gps, NFC, and hotspot. It's not quite on par with Siri or Google Now but it definitely has potential to be just as good, and best of all the best FREE alternative. Let's help the dev out and help him work the bugs out of this app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brandall.nutter&hl=en

subset: commoncrawl


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The Mazda MX-5 RF features a retractable hardtop that has been beautifully crafted using the flowing KODO: Soul of Motion design theme. This advanced roof can be opened while driving (up to 6mph), and transferring you from the quiet of the cabin to the exhilarating joy of open air driving. It's the very best of both open and closed top driving.
KODO design
With its stunning KODO: Soul of Motion design, the Mazda MX-5 RF expresses its superior handling ability through its sculptured yet simple look, whilst the luxurious cabin allows you to sit back in comfort and truly experience the exhilaration of driving in the open-air.
Be in charge
Connectivity is key in Mazda MX-5 RF and via a compatible mobile device you can access thousands of internet radio stations from around the world, safely check and reply to text messages, and even keep up to date with Facebook and Twitter*. Enjoy streaming your choice of music via a Bluetooth® connection. All of this is easily controlled using the 7'' colour touch-screen display and the intuitive Multimedia Commander, leaving you to concentrate on enjoying the drive.
*With compatible mobile device. Data usage and costs will vary. For further information please refer to the infotainment specification table.
Luxurious interior detail
Focusing on ultimate driver comfort, the cockpit design of the MX-5 RF places all major controls in perfect symmetry. The soft touch materials and high quality of the leather seats* enhances the relaxing and sophisticated ambience of the interior style.
*Sport Nav models only
Newly developed body colour
Mazda's TAKUMI-NURI painting technology achieves a precise, high quality finish to look like it's been hand painted by a master craftsman. The arresting and enticing Machine Grey expresses the beauty of a machine's strength and precision. With the strong contrast between light and shadow, and a sleek high density finish, it gives the impression that the MX-5 RF has been sculpted from a solid block of steel.
Elegant, flowing lines
The elegant styling of the MX-5 RF roof features side sections that slope down gently towards the rear, whilst also neatly tucking in at the sides to create a perfect teardrop shaped cabin around the driver. This flowing roofline fuses with the straight body line which runs from the low front overhang over the bonnet through to the rear deck, creating a graceful fastback silhouette guaranteed to turn heads.
World-class retractable fastback roof
Carefully considered and beautifully designed. The overhead roof panels and back window glass smoothly and sleekly slip away out of sight, leaving the rear roof in position when the top is down. This truly unique new design expression differs from any other hardtop model on the market and takes up no boot space when retracted.
Steering wheel design
Wrap your hands around the premium leather steering wheel with red stitch detail and stylish satin chrome finish, whilst controlling your music via the handy steering wheel audio controls. The ergonomic shape is designed to fit your hands, enabling quick and easy control when on winding roads.
Uncompromised boot space
Our designers ensured that the MX-5 RF didn't sacrifice practicality when creating a retractable fastback roof that stows itself away compactly and efficiently. Whilst still achieving a beautiful profile and sleek design, the independent boot also has the same luggage capacity as the convertible model; enough for two standard aircraft carry-on bags. A perfect expression of style and function.
Engineered from the ground up to provide comprehensive all-round protection for you and your passenger, the active and passive safety systems in Mazda MX-5 work together to warn you of impending dangers, meaning less chance of a collision.
Combined with the rigid body, each technology of the i-ACTIVSENSE system ensures you remain safe, without reducing comfort or the wind in your hair thrills of MX-5. Pedestrian safety is also improved, with the Deployable Hood System raising the bonnet during a collision, increasing the crumple zone between the pedestrian and the engine. Inside, Mazda MX-5 is fitted with front and side airbags as standard and also provides significantly enhanced visibility thanks to the carefully positioned seats for that extra peace of mind.
Take a closer look by using our interior and exterior tours


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News Release
The Annual Calle Ocho Street Festival will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2016.
The festival officially starts at 11:00 a.m. EST and ends at 7:00 p.m. EST. This year, the Calle Ocho Festival will take place on S.W. 8 Street from S.W. 27 Avenue to S.W. 8 Avenue.
Streets closures are as follows:
–Beginning on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 11:30 p.m. EST, eastbound traffic on S.W. 8 Street from S.W. 27 Avenue to S.W. 7 Avenue will be closed. Traffic traveling eastbound on S.W. 8 Street will be detoured north or southbound on S.W. 27 Avenue.
–Miami-Dade Transit buses, which normally travel along S.W. 8 Street, will be detoured. Please check with Miami-Dade Transit Agency for further information.
–S.W. 7 Street will remain open westbound until S.W. 8 Ave, then detoured north.
–Residents who live in the area will be allowed access via "local traffic only" basis to S.W. 7 Street on the north side or on the south side of S.W. 9 Street.
Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes if they need to travel in the vicinity. City of Miami Police officers will be placed along the closure areas to provide assistance.


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The Scottish SPCA centre at Drumoak will open its doors for a family fun day next month.
The event will give people the chance to hear all about the work that goes on there, learn about the animals looking for their forever homes and enjoy a day of family friendly fun.
Scotland's animal welfare charity is celebrating its annual #RehomingWeek2019 (13 -19 May) by hosting open days at all of their centres and aiming to find homes for the longest residents.
Manager of the Scottish SPCA animal rescue centre in Aberdeen, Graeme Innes said: "Rehoming Week is the perfect time to try and find these pets a loving new home as we're able to spread the word about all the wonderful animals in our care and share information about the rehoming process with the public.
"Our longest resident is William Wallace the cornsnake. He has been with us for a staggering 639 days.
"William Wallace is a young snake that came into our care as a stray but unfortunately we were unable to trace his owner so he is looking for a new home.
"He is still quite young so could use some handling and time spent with him but once out his vivarium, he does tend to calm down. So far in our care he has shown himself to be a brilliant eater.
"As with all our snakes, despite the masculine name, we don't know Wallace's sex for sure as he has never been probed.
"Whilst our expert teams are well placed to give these animals the love and care they need, we know nothing compares to a loving forever home."
Graeme encourages the public to come along to the centre open day, taking place on Saturday, May 11 between 12-4pm.
He added: "Previous open days have proven to be tremendous fun for humans and animals, and we expect this one to deliver fun for all the family.
"We have a scavenger hunt, carnival games, a farrier making horse shoes, refreshment vans and so much more."


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Book & Author Details:
Storm of Attraction by Lily Black
Publication date: February 13th 2017
Genres: Romance, Suspense
Love is worth fighting for.
Alexa Wolving has just one rule: never give a guy a second chance. That works just fine in the safe life she's built. In the charming town of Willowdale, her day job as a librarian balances perfectly with her evening job as a black belt instructor. But when she attracts the attention of a stalker, Alexa's carefully built world begins to crumble.
Drew Cosimo knows he broke Alexa's heart five years ago when he took his first Ranger assignment and disappeared from her life. Now that he's out of the army, he's moving back home to Willowdale. He's not looking for a fight, but making peace would be easier if Alexa hadn't told the entire town he was a money-grubbing jerk. Despite the tension between them, Drew is quick to offer his protection when a stalker forces Alexa from her home.
As the stalker's attacks escalate, Alexa and Drew are forced to face their painful past and the simmering attraction between them. They must fight to save each other before everything they care about goes up in flames.
OK. Bear with me here. There is an awful lot to like about this book, there really is. My biggest issue with it? The apparent depth and strength of feeling after a relationship (5 years ago) which lasted weeks.
However, if you can get past that, then you have the bones of a good story. I enjoyed the way that the tension built alongside the rekindled relationship between Alexa and Drew. The chemistry between them is perhaps more on the subtle, slow burn side, but in the context of the story and the author's writing style.
I look forward to seeing more of this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a reviewer copy of this book.
Lily Black believes in true love, but she is also quite certain that going after it is the scariest thing we'll ever do. She explores this dynamic in her romantic suspense novels, which are set in the small imaginary town of Willowdale, where people dream big, love deeply, and kick butt if necessary.
Lily has a black belt in Chung Do Kwan Tai Kwon Do, and she has also trained in everything from judo to broadswords. She lives in North Carolina, where she tries to divide her free time between the mountains and the sea. She shares her home with a very patient and loving husband and their teenage daughter.


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BlingFinder is the better way to find your bling and now available in Apple's App Store ready for download. It has quickly emerged as one of the best apps to help you find your engagement ring and wedding bands. Jones & Son Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry in Little Rock, Arkansas is the developer of this new technology.
There are over 900 rings in both engagement and wedding categories in both ladies and gents styles to choose from.


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Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) is the heart of any SaaS operation. When pumping fast it shows business strength, ability to scale, and profitability to potential investors. Business operators need to put time in to ensure MRR is kept at optimum performance. However, your energy might be going to waste if you're calculating and tracking one of the most important business metrics incorrectly.
What is MRR?
MRR is the net amount of monthly revenue a business generates from its subscribers. MRR is exclusively applicable to any business that has a contractual agreement on a monthly retainer with a customer, such as:
- Software as a service (SaaS)
- Subscription-based business
- Subscription commerce
- Professionals who provide a service on a monthly retainer (lawyer, marketing professional, or accountant).
Why should I bother with MRR?
MRR is a lot more than simply measuring and presenting your revenue.
- When your MRR is increasing month over month, it shows potential investors that you are actively growing and that your business has the ability to scale.
- MRR shows that you're able to retain customers, as well as acquire new ones.
- Measuring MRR will allow you to accurately measure customer lifetime value (CLV).
- MRR allows business operators to forecast next month's revenue, which in turn enables them to make smarter business decisions based on data.
All of these points ring true, as long as operators calculate MRR correctly.
How to calculate monthly recurring revenue
Let's say you're a small SaaS startup with a handful of monthly subscribers. You'll want to calculate MRR on a customer-by-customer basis.
For example, Customer A pays $50 per month, Customer B pays $50 per month, and Customer C pays $75 per month. Simply add these amounts together to calculate your business's MRR, which in this case is $175.
Calculating MRR using the customer-by-customer method produces high levels of accuracy, however, if you're a slightly larger operation with a higher volume of customers, this method can be time consuming and overly complicated.
A more effective way to calculate MRR is to multiply your total number of paying customers by the average revenue per customer (ARPU).
For example, if your ARPU is $100 and you have 50 paying customers, your MRR would be $5,000.
Why calculate MRR correctly?
In 2004, streaming giant Netflix was sued by its shareholders for allegedly inaccurately reporting the company's churn rates. The prosecutors argued that the tech company claimed its churn rate in Q3 of 2003 had "reached a record low of 5.2%" when actually it had risen to 7.7%.
Even though the case against Netflix was thrown out of court, it shows that making calculation mistakes — whether you realize them or not — can potentially cost a business both time and money.
Not calculating correctly can also lead to operators making poor business decisions that ultimately affect a business's long term success. If you're an operator who thinks they have a higher MRR than you actually do, you may spend more freely, hire more staff, or scale your operation faster than is wise to.
MRR: Common Calculation Mistakes
Don't fall into the same traps as everyone else and steer clear of these common MRR calculation mistakes.
1. Annual and Quarterly Sales
MRR is all about calculating your recurring revenue and your recurring revenue only. A huge mistake that business operators make is including quarterly or annual payments into their MRR measuring, as was the case for Buffer. In 2014, the social media automation service realized they had been including one-time annual payments in their monthly revenue calculations.
If your business bills customers on a separate annual or quarterly payment plan, you will need to reconfigure this into a monthly amount. For example, if you have a plan that is $299 per year, simply divide this by 12 to get a monthly average. For a quarterly payment plan, divide the total by 4.
2. Trial customers
When calculating MRR, business operators can fall foul of adding trial customers to their calculations. Because these customers aren't full subscribers yet nor do they pay a monthly recurring fee, it's advised not to include them. If you do, beware that you're actively skewing your MRR figures.
3. Refunds
Understandably operators want to report the most accurate MRR figure they can. With this in mind some may be tempted to subtract any refunds given from their MRR totals. The downside of doing so is that any refunds are then not monitored and, therefore, unable to be assessed and optimized. It's recommended that you keep these transactions in your monthly MRR calculation and segment them into a separate cohort for analysis.
4. Other types of sales
If your SaaS business offers customer add-ons, charges a setup fee, or has any other non-recurring features, omit these when calculating MRR. Remember, you want to focus on your guaranteed monthly recurring revenue (i.e. what the customer pays for their subscription) — nothing more, nothing less.
5. Spreadsheets
Data entry is a tedious beast. Make one small typo and you've suddenly misinterpreted hours of work. For example, adding an extra 0 onto a set of numbers, putting a decimal point in the wrong place, inputting a formula incorrectly can happen when using human calculators and a monthly recurring revenue spreadsheet.
Switching up your measuring method to a dedicated payment analytics service is not only more practical, it tightens the room for error, meaning that your MRR reporting will be accurate each and every time.
Calculating MRR correctly is the cornerstone of any good payment analytics monitoring. The impact that this metric has on the overall health of your business means that operators need to be ensuring complete accuracy at all times — no matter what.
Originally published on the now defunct Control blog.


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By Car
You may simply show up at the rehearsal site on the day of check-in.
By Plane
Shuttles will be available from Philadelphia International Airport only and pick up on every odd hour starting at 3pm Friday.
By Train
Shuttles will be available from 30th Street Train Station in Philadelphia. Pickup information will be announced before the event.
Our Mission is to support the development of young people into magnificent human beings through participation in the performing arts.
For general information about YEA! and our programs please contact us at:
info @ yea.org
601 W Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101


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Family Nutrition: Get Everyone on the Right Path
Decades ago, weight problems were not generally a family issue. One parent might be slender while the other was overweight, and the same might apply to the kids. Back then, people often dealt with the problem by isolating the overweight person's diet from the rest of the family.
Studies indicate that this does not generally work. If you have a child who is struggling with their weight, or you have your own issues, you need to solve the problem as a family.
Diet Time
This is time for a reality check. If your kids' diet is no good, chances are that your meals could use a hefty makeover as well. Experts argue that children get most of their attitudes about food and diets from their parents, not their friends. So as much as it pains you, you have to set a good example. You can do this by avoiding thinking about it as a diet at all. When your children hear you talk about gaining weight or binge-eating something, they learn that this is how women should act.
You may wonder how you turn this around. Start with your own diet. Record every bite of food you eat for the next week or two. Ate a whole bag of Cheetos? Count the servings. You will begin to notice certain patterns in your behavior. By the end of the observation period, you can figure out what most of your eating problems are.
Work It Out
The trick is to stop thinking of eating as a diet. Healthy eating is a lifestyle, not a temporary hassle. Use that mantra as you plan your family meals. Fill up the plates with delicious and colorful fruits and vegetables. Research new recipes, and perhaps even take cooking classes. Learn to enjoy the process of making and eating healthy food, and include your kids in the fun.
In the end, you want your children to leave the home and grow into healthy adulthood. You can serve as a great example by making the food you eat help you to live a better life.


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This morning the sun came out after some overnight rain, and I headed to Murphy's Bush. It's a remnant of the native forest that once covered this area of Manukau, 20 kilometres south of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland. The air was alive with the cries of birds - tui, greywarbler, fantail, pigeon and silvereye - and flocks wheeled and swooped above the canopy. This huge Puriri tree, (above) beside the walking track, has bright red fruit, one of their favourite foods.
Murphy's Bush was owned many years ago by Mr Conway Grey Murphy, who protected the bush from grazing cattle, and encouraged people to use it for picnics and outings. Dominating it today are these Kahikatea, or White Pines, (above) which can grow up to 50 metres or more. Their trunks seem quite flexible and were swaying alarmingly in the breeze. (Early Maori used them to make weapons and canoes.)
Beside the track I found a Rewarewa, or NZ Honeysuckle. Though small now, it may eventually grow up to 30 metres high. Its flowers play an important part in honey production.
I loved the patterns made by the sunlight on the leaves of this Nikau palm tree. It bears pink flowers, followed by green berries which turn red as they ripen.
One of the star attractions of Murphy's Bush is this giant Totara. Its age wasn't recorded on the name plaque, but they can live for over a thousand years, and grow up to 30 metres tall.
Ponga ferns abound in the reserve. The silver undersides of the fronds (NZ's emblem) were shining out from the shadows.
Although the bush was full of birds, the dense canopy made them difficult to spot. But this tui appeared overhead, and stayed long enough for a photo.


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Second Retirement Party Checklist items include party theme, invitations, announcements, decorations, food and drinks. The party theme is first as all other checklist items mirror the theme. Dividing party planning into several lists fits my divide and conquer strategy.
See themes for more ideas. Themes such as quilting, woodworking or a "Sock Hop" can be fun. They create a more festive atmosphere. "Things that don't work" is a clever theme. Guests were asked to bring items that no longer work.
Themes can eliminate much of the concern that people may not have fun at the party. Choose a theme that your committee is excited about. Get those creative juices flowing. Then move on to the next Second Retirement Party Checklist item.
Theme influenced invitations should be ordered or made. An invitation must include the purpose for the party, date, day of week, time, and location. It should include the name of contact person, telephone number or email address and suggested dress code.
Mention the time that food will be served. Remember to address these items on the invitation. The invitation should answer all of the invitees questions.
When receiving an invitation I immediately go to a calendar if the day of the week is not mentioned. I also wonder what I should wear. Remember to address these items on the invitation. The invitation should answer all of the invitees questions.
What about a gift? I read about a clever retirement party idea. The theme was "Things That Don't Work". Guests were encouraged to bring a gift item that no longer works.
"Gifts are not required, Good Wishes are" is excellent. Make up your own clever saying to give guests information. The retiree may have a favorite charity. Suggest a donation. One by one check off the items on the Second Retirement Party Checklist.
Suggestions for an opening statement:
Check with your printer for an endless number of opening statements. Consider a picture of the retiree on the invitation. Circulating and posting a flyer at work is acceptable for a casual gathering after work.
Finally, when should the invitation be sent. Emily Post's recommendation is 3 to 6 weeks. Too early and it could be lost or forgotten. Too late and the date may already be booked.
The next item on the Second Retirement Party Checklist is decorations. The creativity of your committee will determine how extensive the decorations will be. A banner congratulating the honoree and balloon clusters should top the list.
Ask you contact at the restaurant or hotel about decorations at other parties. Check with your party supply store for even more ideas.
Theme parties should try to carry the theme into the banner, balloons, cups, napkins and table settings or centerpieces. Tables can be named based on the theme. Keep the party respectful. Make it fit the personality of the honoree.
Place enlarged photos of the honoree on tables or walls. For work themes, include photos of the retiree in the workplace. For the race car buff use photos at the track.
An enlarged framed photo of the honoree on an easel at the room entrance is touching.
You have already determined if it is a casual meeting after work or a lavish Saturday night dinner party. So many of the food and drink decisions have already been made. There may be reasons to have a non-alcohol party. Note that in the invitation.
A pool party and bring a salad or dessert requires refrigerator space and extra chairs. A party at a restaurant requires choices from their party menu.
I've heard that "a party is only as good as the food".
The food and drinks are important. True.
All of the items in this Second Retirement Party Checklist are important. But the next item on the third list, I believe, is the most important.
Return to: Home Page - Theme Party Page- Party Checklist
less than $600 for a 55 in. TV


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Waitalawa is such an incredible place. The Community Friends tea estate here is situated in 40 acres of land and is one of the highest tea plantations in the Knuckles Mountain Range. It is also the only organic tea estate here.
Our driver, Yappa, who took us up to the land, does incredibly well negotiating the winding dirt track. After picking up vital supplies, we happen to pass the village manager, K.P., and a couple of the local residents. So with typical Sri Lankan kindness we give them a lift to the top. I must say I was slightly nervous about introducing myself as an Englishman from London assuming there would be some bitterness toward the British who set up the tea plantations in the first place. There isn't. K.P. straight away tells me how the superintendent for the area 40 years ago went by the name of 'Richard' and was also an Englishman from London!
Furthermore I am greeted with smiles all round from the tea pickers and in particular from Soma and Tikira, who are hosting us. Tikira is one of the oldest residents in the village. He has a couple of tattoos on his arms. They are hard to make out but he says that they are of a bird and a stag. I ask him when he got them and he tells me that he was once a bit of a rebel in his youth–drinking and smoking with his friends. He doesn't now though, and he seems almost apologetic about his past and now leads a very simple life. Now he enjoys gardening with Dasuni, his great granddaughter. Dasuni had a very difficult birth and we are very fortunate that she is here today—thanks to the doctors and directors of Community Friends who assisted with the birth.
Dasuni, age 2, with Tikira, age 99.
Before K.P. goes home to eat dinner with his wife, I with the help of Jeewa ask how the tea estate is going. K.P. as the land manager has a tough job, telling workers each morning where they will be working for the rest of the day. These decisions can greatly affect the villagers' income. Anyway, things have been quite tough lately on the tea estates due to two main problems. Firstly, there has been an unprecedented 8 months of rain which has badly affected the tea crop this year and has contributed to soil erosion. Secondly, and possibly more worryingly, there is a shortage of tea pickers. Jeewa had noticed this on the drive up that many of the plants are passed the point of picking. Young men in particular are leaving Waitalawa and seeking better paid, less work jobs in the city. That now is the major problem that has to be tackled.
John Ainger
Community Friends' Intern


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Being An American
A Personal Response to American Citizenship
One fifty-minute class period
This lesson challenges students to reflect on the meaning of American citizenship and understand its many forms, including private action and public service. Students will explore avenues for maintaining individual responsibility and civic engagement before articulating responses to the challenges of citizenship.
Founding Principles
Civic Virtue
A set of actions and habits necessary for the safe, effective, and mutually beneficial participation in a society.
Individual Responsibility
Individuals must take care of themselves and their families and be vigilant to preserve their liberty.
Private Virtue
The idea that only a knowledgeable and virtuous citizenry can sustain liberty.


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A new event on the L.A.H.C. calendar, the 2009 American Air Day was held on 4 May and presented visitors with the opportunity for a close look at some quality examples of American warbirds.
American themed Second World War re-enactors set up displays around the centre and despite the inclement weather, there was flying in the form of East Kirkby's latest resident, Dakota N473DC Drag 'em oot. The aircraft featured strongly in the proceedings, having successfully completed its post winter servicing with a test flight two days before.
P-51D Mustang Marinell, flown by Maurice Hammond, also performed a very impressive display and joined the small static line up of Dakota, Stearman and Harvard.
Also on the ground was G-AOIR, a 1943 vintage de Havilland Jackaroo (a modified DH.82A) and from North Weald came Beech H-18 N663TB, acting as Dakota crew support aircraft.


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Monday, March 22, 2010
You know what those are, I'm sure - they're little bundles of inexpensive items that someone who loves you picks up when they're out and about that captures their eye and makes them think of you. Sometimes it might be a food Care Package, full of goodies that are sure to be your favorites. Most holiday meals result in a food Care Package to take home with you that provides meals for you for several days.
My Mom loves her kids, plain and simple. She now extends that love to her two Grandsons and creates Care Packages for them whenever she's out shopping. Personally, I have kept things she's given me over the years that have very little monetary value but that hold such loving significance for me that they are priceless items.
When I was very young, my Mom gave me two small pottery trinket boxes that had gold leafed edges and pastel colors. I remember her watching me open the boxes they came in and telling me, "Maybe you can use them for jewelry as you grow up." I couldn't have been more than 9 or 10 years old at the time, of an age where toys were usually more desirable gifts, but those two little trinket boxes are still with me. I use them for jewelry items that are dear to me and each time I open them, I am embraced by that inestimable, indefinable sense of love from my Mother. All is right in my world and I feel accepted, loved and secure.
With age comes the recognition that Care Packages aren't always corporeal. Many times we send Care Packages along to a loved one in the form of a phone call, or, as is common in this technological age, an email, a Facebook or Twitter post, a text or an e-card. Prayers are yet another, more highly energized form of a Care Package. I think anything that touches our heart, reaches out to someone else in the same way and leaves the day brighter as a result is a form of this time honored tradition.
No, it isn't necessary to have a physical item to deem something a Care Package. I talk to my Mom daily on the phone, sometimes many times a day and that will fill me up inside with those same emotions. She makes me laugh and she understands me like no other person on Earth does. We always take pieces of those we love with us in our memories, so again, it isn't necessary to have a physical item to identify with. There's just something so sweet about the fact that my Mom still does this for me and my sister and brother, even though we are adults.
The nice thing is that this habit has continued - by my Mom's example, I tend to do this same thing with Care Packages. I don't have children yet, but I tend to pick up those small items for friends and family members when I spot something I know will be perfect for them and give them a little moment of surprise and pleasure. I also tend to shop throughout the year for Christmas gifts for family. In fact, just the other day I ran across something that is ideal for my brother and I snapped it up to tuck away for Christmas.
Boots on Ground Website.
True to her loving nature, when I mentioned this to my Mom recently, she said, "Take me with you the next time you go shopping; I want to help add to the Care Package." I am confident that the package we send will be chock full of useful, fun, girlie items, as well as some things to munch on, and a few things that are just frivolous and cute in nature, such as games and toys to fill the long hours when Whitney and her friends are bored and homesick.
Life is challenging for all of us on a daily basis. There are so many reasons to choose to dwell on negatives. I have found that doing for others, as was taught to me by the example my wonderful Mom set, is a sure-fire method to lift any gloom surrounding you. There's something so delightful about picking up a small, completely foolish item that costs very little, with a loved one in mind, simply to tease a smile out of them. It is a small affirmation that, yes, you matter - you are loved, you are in that person's thoughts and you deserve to be showered with that type of warm attention for no particular reason.
If I could, I would gift every person I know with the relationship I enjoy with my Mom. I think she's that special. And as is that special relationship between loving parent and loving child, she feels the same way about me. She shows it in those Care Packages...those little touches of whimsy, those little inconsequential items that I rarely indulge myself with, those little unusual decorative items that have no particular purpose other than to make me smile. That's my Mom loving me in her quiet, gentle way.
Don't get me wrong, she loves me outwardly too - she showers me with hugs when I'm in her presence, and when we are together, we have that silent language that is shared between family members. We can also be together and not speak a word for hours - simply being together is the joyful thing, especially given that it doesn't happen as often as we'd both like. Dratted Life gets in the way, as it does for all of us. We laugh often. I think that is a beautiful thing.
So, I continue the loving tradition of Care Packages. They make me happy to create and give them to others, just as much as I enjoy receiving them. I think they make a profound difference in the world, simply because they denote thoughtful, loving attention towards others given for the joy of making another person smile. We need more of that in this world....Care Packages should be present in every walk of life.
If you enjoyed this post and would like to read more, you can find me at Healing Morning blog.
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There is a saying that "good things come in small packages" and, here at Mama's A Rolling Stone, we couldn't agree more! After all, one of the season's most major trends is neither bold nor big. On the contrary, dear readers, the latest trend to sweep the fashion world—Peter Pan collars—is unfussy and somewhat inconspicuous, but worth noting all the same! In fact, thanks to stylish stars like Kate Moss and Florence Welch, the Peter Pan collar is having a major fashion moment! On that note, if you are ready to discover all the need-to-know details on how to work this trend, click through to today's Trend Report for the scoop!
Kate Moss
It is no surprise to see Kate Moss leading the pack when it comes to Peter Pan collars. Kate was spotted out and about in London last month wearing a little black dress, which she paired with pointy pumps and her signature dark sunglasses. We like the way Kate's white Peter Pan collar adds a youthful and girly touch to her otherwise sexy ensemble. The result is an ultra-chic look that is perfect for your next night out with the girls. To put together a similar look, pick up Motel's Alexis Dress ($70) or Jason Wu's Belted Jersey Dress ($1,070) and pair it with Boutique 9's Quinn Pointy Toe Pumps ($150).
Emma Roberts
When it comes to the red carpet, Emma Roberts is a rising star, and it is not hard to see why. Emma was spotted at an event in West Hollywood late last month wearing ASOS's Mesh Dress ($77.58), which she paired with patent nude platforms. While the flared skirt and Peter Pan collar give this ensemble a 1960s-inspired charm, the color and silhouette keep the outfit fresh and modern. To try this look for yourself, pick up Emma's exact dress or check out Forever 21's Peter Pan Collar Lace Dress ($22.80). Complete your look by adding Dolce Vita's Dorothy Pumps ($134.55).
Freida Pinto
One of the things we love most about this trend is that it isn't limited to mini dresses. On the contrary, dear readers! Back in April, Freida Pinto wore a grey knit Louis Vuitton romper—with a white collar—to a Glamour Magazine event in Beverly Hills. The combination of the romper silhouette with the Peter Pan collar gives the ensemble a youthful feel, but the addition of peep-toe patent pumps makes this look feel all grown up! To give this look a try, grab Opening Ceremony's Peter Pan Collar Onesie ($354) and pair it with Topshop's Sienna Patent Platform Peep Toe Shoes ($124).
Florence Welch
Florence Welch was spotted at the Nylon Music Issue launch party in New York City earlier this month wearing a folky Anna Sui dress with a matching collar. We like the way Florence has balanced the hippie-luxe vibe of the dress with modern accessories such as a quilted Chanel bag and patent Mary Jane heels. The result is a look that stays true to Florence's signature bohemian rocker aesthetic. To create an equally chic ensemble, pick up Anna Sui's Metallic Ribbon Striped Chiffon Dress ($308) or Forever 21's Dove Dress ($22.80) and pair it with La Fenice's Elle Mary Jane Patent Pumps ($175) and a felt fedora.
Photos: AB Images, Picture Group, Rex, WENN.com


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:10 — 46.2MB) | Embed
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If you're a regular listener to my podcast you've probably noticed the show has had a bit of a makeover - including a change of name. Listen to this special episode on why I've changed the name of my podcast, and what to expect over the coming episodes. If you're new to the show it's... READ MORE


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Parking Guide
We hope all PNC Arena guests have an enjoyable and memorable experience. Please take a moment to review this information intended to assist you in planning your trip.
Directions and Map
For turn by turn navigation visit our Directions & Map page.
Mobile Parking Pass
Need assistance accessing your mobile parking pass? Follow these simple instructions for loading mobile parking passes on the Ticketmaster App or the Ticketmaster Website.
Parking Fees
*Fees vary for select events. Prices listed below are for reference only and are subject to change.
NC State Basketball
Cars and Vans - $10
Limousine, Bus, Mini-Bus, and RV's - $30
Carolina Hurricanes
Cars and Vans- $20
Limousine, Bus, Mini-Bus, and RV's - $40
Early Bird Parking - $10; limited to the first 300 cars in the Early Bird Parking Lot, accessible only via Gate A off of Trinity Road (does not apply to playoff games)
All Other Events | Please visit the event page for specific pricing (effective Jan. 1, 2019)
Cars and Vans - $20-$30
Limousine, Bus, Mini-Bus, and RV's - $40-$60
Premier Parking - $30-$40 pre-purchase at box office only
Parking payment can be made using cash, credit or debit cards, and NFC devices (Apple/Android Pay). For all events, excluding NC State men's basketball, parking vouchers may be pre-purchased prior to the day of the event at the PNC Arena Box Office.
PNC Arena Parking Maps
- General Map
NC State Basketball Ingress Map
Suggested routes.
- Early CH Hockey Ingress Map
Traffic at Capacity Redirect Ingress Map
When the shaded lots are full, the traffic pattern will be redirected.
- Exit Routes to I-40 Map
Parking and Traffic Tips
Parking lots open early.
PNC Arena parking lots open 3 hours prior to hockey games, and 2.5 hours prior to NC State Basketball and most other events.
Arrive Early.
To avoid traffic congestion and delays, we recommend arriving 1 hour prior to the event start time.
Enjoy a delicious meal in the Arena Club Restaurant.
Restaurant hours and Menus can be found HERE.
Traffic Radio.
Listen to 1630AM PNC Arena Traffic Radio for all traffic alerts and traffic flow changes. Traffic Alerts can be found HERE.
Parking Passes.
Please display any parking credentials (VIP, PREMIER, etc.) for easy recognition.
Premier Parking Passes are available for purchase at PNC Arena's Box Office for most concerts and events (excluding Carolina Hurricanes hockey games, NCSU basketball, and family shows with multiple performances). For information on pricing and availability visit individual event pages or call the Box Office at 919-861-2323.
Can't arrive early?
Paved parking lots surrounding the PNC Arena fill quickly. If arriving less than 30 minutes prior to event start time, please plan to park in unpaved lots.
Plan ahead for heavy traffic.
Plan ahead for heavy traffic traveling on I-40, I-440, and Wade Avenue during weekdays.
Avoid Towing.
There is no curbside parking around PNC Arena. All unattended vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense.
Passenger Drop-Off and Pick-Up.
Passenger drop-off and pick-up is permitted.
Private, Bus, UBER, and Limousine Traffic Map and Procedures.
Tailgating is permitted in one parking space only - refer to our Tailgating Guidelines for proper setup and regulations. Please dispose of charcoal properly, and do not leave an open fire unattended. Please think of your fellow guests while tailgating, be safe, and dispose of all trash, bottles and cans. Broken glass may cause harm to others walking on PNC Arena property.
PNC Arena Rideshare presented by Bud Light
Heading our way? PNC Arena Rideshare presented by Bud Light offers convenient, one-stop drop-off and pick-up location outside of the South entrance. The rideshare zone is available for all Arena events. View the Passenger Pick-up & Drop-off Procedures for details.
The Pepsi Caniac Coach
The Pepsi Caniac Coach Program is a convenient door-to-door luxury bus service to & from Carolina Hurricanes hockey games, select concerts & other events held at PNC Arena from Pepsi partner restaurants. Avoid traffic by using this free service sponsored by Pepsi. For routes and times, visit The Pepsi Caniac Coach website.
Electric Vehicle Charging Spots
PNC Arena offers six Level 2 EV charging spots in the VIP parking lot. Available from 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. daily, each charging session is $5. If space is available, guests may upgrade to VIP parking to access the chargers. Drivers are encouraged to download the ChargePoint mobile app to start charging sessions, get updates on charging status, and for 24/7 support.
Reasons to Arrive Early
Prior to each Carolina Hurricanes game, PNC Arena offers many exciting activities for you during each visit.
Come Early & Enjoy These Pre- and In-Game Activities:
- Tailgate - Tailgate with family and friends pre-game in the parking lot (parking lots open 3 hours before game time). Be sure to follow our Tailgating Guidelines.
Once the doors open...
- Visit the Buffalo Brothers Zone for pub style food and a great view of the game.
- Promotions - Sign up for promotions that take place during each game (visit the Promotions Kiosk at Section 109 for more information).
- CanesVision - Watch for up-to-date statistics and special features on the videoboard.
- Merchandise - Shop for Carolina Hurricanes merchandise in the Eye merchandise stores.
- Silent Auction - Get the first bid on Kids N' Community Silent Auction Items. Held at the Kids 'n Community Kiosk (Main Level, Section 129/130); the silent auction features signed hockey memorabilia. Proceeds benefit the Kids 'n Community Foundation.
- Team Warm-ups - Watch both teams warm-up during their pre-game skates.
Reasons to Stay After the Game
After each Carolina Hurricanes game, hangout at one of the post-game hot spots while you wait for parking lots to clear out.
- Buffalo Brothers Zone
- Ledge Lounge
Details on these areas can be found HERE.
PNC Arena is approximately a 10-15 minute drive from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (depending on traffic) but is easily accessed using I-40. For more information visit the airport's website or call 919.840.2100.
Taxi Service
Taxi Pick-Up & Drop-Off Zone at PNC Arena is located just outside the VIP Entrance. Taxis will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the conclusion of each event.
Should any guest need to call for a taxi prior to the event end, the Security Representative located at the VIP Entrance will be more than happy to assist.
GoRaleigh Bus Service
GoRaleigh's Route 26 Bus stops across from PNC Arena and services Crabtree Valley Mall, Laurel Hills Park, Olde Raleigh Village Shopping Center, and Trinity Corporate Park.
Camping Accomodations
Located across the street from PNC Arena, the N.C. State Fairgrounds offer convenient camping amenities. There are over 350 full-service sites currently offered on Fairground property.
Call 919-612-6767 for more information or visit the Fairgrounds page for more information.
Traffic Alerts
For a list of construction projects, traffic alerts, etc. to help prepare your travel to PNC Arena click HERE.
Traffic Radio
Listen to 1630AM PNC Arena Traffic Radio for all traffic alerts and traffic flow changes.
General Parking Directions
To enter the PNC Arena Parking Lots from I-40 or Wade Avenue, exit Edwards Mill Road. Travel South to Edwards Mill Road. The main PNC Arena entrance is on your left.
VIP/Premier Parking Directions
Please display your VIP/Premier Parking Pass at all times. Special VIP/Premier lanes are created for your convenience and ease of access.
Take Wade Avenue Exit #289 onto Edward's Mill Road and travel South to Trinity Road; turn left and enter the PNC Arena property at Gate D.
From Blue Ridge Road, turn onto Westchase Blvd. and enter Gate F.
Important Contact Info
PNC Arena Parking
919.861.2300 ext. 2114 or 1428 | email
Guest Services Hotline
PNC Arena Box Office
PNC Arena Switchboard
PNC Arena Security
919.861.2300 ext. 1141
On-site police officers and security measures are in place at the PNC Arena.
PNC Arena provides FREE motorist assistance including:
- Lockout Assistance
- Jump Starts
- Flat Tire Assistance
- Lost Car Assistance
Contact Guest Services, Security or any Parking Attendant for help.


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Rectangular Current Transformers are designed for use with ammeters, wattmeters and cross current compensation. All models have an Insulation level of 600V, 10 kv BIL Full Wave, 50 - 400Hz and are CSA and UL Recognized.
Model 500 Split Core
(Window Size 4.00" x 7.00" to 10.00" x 30.00")
Ratio 300:5 to 10000:5
The Model 500 has the capability to be assembled around existing bus bars or conductors.


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Barry White, Unlimited Love
- Get Tickets
- Closed Sept 14, 2015
Regular Hours:
M-F 10:30am - 6:30pm
Sat-Sun 10:00am - 6:30pm
Barry White was a composer, songwriter, producer and had one of the most distinctive voices in music. When you say his name you'd be hard-pressed to follow it with the name of any other recording artist with such a huge international fan base. A two-time GRAMMY Award winner, White has been referred to around the world as "The Maestro" a tribute to his impressive stage performances which always included his Love Unlimited Orchestra. He was the "maestro" at crafting music that blended soul, funk, pop and disco. During his 40-year career, White had numerous gold and platinum albums and singles with combined sales of over 100 million.
Located on the third floor, Barry White, Unlimited Love provides a unique look into the life and career of Barry White. Featuring items from White's own personal collection, this small exhibit will be on display through June 17, 2014.
Book A Group Tour
Group tours of The Museum can be arranged. Please contact our Group Sales Department at 213.763.7923 or submit your group tour request online.


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The OIT Help Desk is available 7 days a week.
We also have walk-in service in the Founders and McDermott computer labs as well as the ROC.
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is an encrypted file transfer method used to move files between your local computer and a file server.
When you are logged into a Lab computer, files that you save onto the hard drive will not remain after you log off of that machine. SFTP is especially helpful in storing files if you do not have a disk with you on which to save them and/or your personal drive is not mapped. Once your files are stored using SFTP, you may later retrieve them to use on another computer.
As a student of the University of Texas at Dallas, you are allotted 1 GB of storage space in your home directory. Your home directory already has several different types of files and folders. Included are your web folders, storage data, and personal preferences.
If you would like to access your Home Directory from off-campus using sftp, you will need to connect to giant.utdallas.edu while connected to the VPN or connect to pubssh.utdallas.edu
Public SSH: Pubssh Is a public-facing SSH/SFTP server. Although the UTD VPN is not needed to access pubssh you will need to use NetIDplus two factor authentication in order to login. The hostname is pubssh.utdallas.edu, and the IP address is 22.214.171.124.
These are the instructions for using SFTP to move files between your local computer and a file server on Windows. The Windows computers located in the Labs offer SFTP through a program named WinSCP.
If you do not already have access to WinSCP, you can download it at www.winscp.net. After downloading the program, follow the instructions below.
These are the instructions for using SFTP to move files between your local computer and a file server on Macintosh. Cyberduck is a commonly used free SFTP client for Mac computers. After downloading the program, follow the instructions below.
Using SFTP from any UNIX machine requires usage of the Terminal. It is assumed that you are familiar with basic UNIX commands. You can also refer to this about.com reference page for useful SFTP commands
To access your home directory using Terminal:


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By BECKY GILLETTE
LAUREL — Magnolia State Bank (www.bankmagnolia.com) recently held a grand opening of its new branch of the bank in a triangular-shaped, landmark historic building downtown that housed the Laurel Mercantile in the late 1800s.
"They are bringing new jobs and excitement to the area, but they aren't new to downtown," said Jim Rasberry, Rasberry Financial Services, who is chairman of the Jones County Economic Development Authority. "They have been part of the growth of downtown since the beginning and Heather Brown has been a leading voice for downtown revitalization."
Magnolia State Bank is a family business. At the grand opening March 2, the building was dedicated to the late Thomas E. Brown, the founder of Magnolia State Bank who passed away a year ago. His wife, Barbara Brown, is now chairwoman of the board.
Also involved in the business are the couple's children, including Tom Brown, Betsy Brown, Drew Brown and Drew's wife, Heather. Drew is branch president at the new downtown location for the bank that has been headquartered in Bay Springs since being founded in 1975.
"We practice what we are preaching about downtown revitalization," Drew Brown said. "We just wanted to be a part of downtown. We want to be a part of the community, not just a business in the community. There is something special going on down here. You can feel it. It is almost like electricity in the air. It is a good time not just for downtown Laurel, but Laurel and Jones County in general."
The old Laurel Mercantile building used to be a center of commerce in downtown Laurel at a time when farmers from miles around would bring their products to sell.
"We have pictures of horses and pigs walking around in the street in front of building," Brown said. "As soon as my dad, mom and I saw the building, we knew we had to have it, if nothing else, to open it up for people to see. We even kept up the nostalgia by keeping details in the lobby like pretty old-time antique belt fans on the mezzanine."
He describes Magnolia as a true hometown bank. When someone comes in for a loan inquiry, they can expect an answer within a day. That is because decisions are made in-house.
"We're small, but we have all the things the big boys have such as the latest banking technology and any of the other services big banks have except on a local scale," Brown said. "We have very low employee turnover. Our employees take pride in who we are. Many have been here years and years. I just turned 34, and several employees were here before I was born and have known me my entire life."
His mother supervises decorating each branch for the holidays. Even though the downtown branch did not open until February, this year they decorated the windows of the new building for the holidays.
"You wouldn't have found a prettier window display on Times Square," Brown said. "People came downtown just to take pictures of it. It won the Laurel Main Street contest. Right now we have put up a display, 'Spring showers bring magnolia flowers,' which has Magnolia State Bank umbrellas and magnolias that are raining down."
Heather Brown, who grew up in downtown Laurel, said the new three-story branch office is definitely a landmark of downtown Laurel. An active member and promotional chairwoman of the Laurel Main Street organization for about five years, she is past delighted to be a part of the renaissance of downtown Laurel.
"It's crazy and awesome and fabulous," Brown said. "My office is on the bottom floor of the building, and our location is in the middle of downtown. One recent Friday, I was just blown away from seeing so many people walking around downtown. Usually I know everyone, but I didn't know any of these people. It is awesome seeing people coming and going to the new bakery, the butcher shop, the popcorn shop and the home décor stores. People are just actually walking around downtown, which you would never have seen a few years ago."
Brown grew up downtown and earlier in her life when there was little business activity downtown, she never thought she went end up back in downtown Laurel.
"But I wouldn't be anywhere else now with family close and the ability to give back with our business," Brown said. "Drew has made it a habit to walk to the school our daughter. It is only a couple blocks away. He can stop at the bakery or the butcher on the way if he needs to pick something up. We love being able to shop local."
In addition to the home office in Bay Springs, Magnolia State Bank has a branch in north Laurel, which is important to customers who come from north of town. Other branches of the bank north of town Laurel are Bay Springs, Heidelberg and Taylorsville. There is a branch south of Laurel in Petal. They continue to grow with plans to open at new location on Highway 98 in Hattiesburg mid-April.


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The Keys to Custom Web Applications & Marketing
August 14, 2009
JFM Concepts has created custom cross media e-commerce applications for start-ups and the Fortune 20. Our experts have designed both business to business and business to consumer applications for firms such as Marriott, California Closets, Thermospas, Pet Intact, Life Extension, Gold Eagle and Nordyne.
Here are a few things we have learned.
Understanding the Goal
Every client has different needs and expectations. JFM Concepts uses its extensive experience to help prioritize requirements. Based on a comprehensive project analysis the functional requirements of the project are created keeping budget and ROI at top of mind.
A Clear Plan of Action
The planning phase is the most crucial element of any JFM project. A realistic development plan is created based on the functional requirements. Implementation is prioritized to produce results. All projects are fully scalable and are designed to upgrade to the next iteration with minimal effort.
A Strong Foundation
The original functional blueprint will serve as documentation for the project and required web applications. This documentation will serve as a record for any future modifications on the code, allowing other programmers and web designers to make modifications and enhancements as necessary. Formal planning and functional blueprints ensure things are well documented.
Putting the Plan to Action
The JFM team creates websites and applications using the latest web development software. This allows for rapid and scalable development both now and in the future.
For websites, the pages are first constructed in a general form. Menus, headings, basic text and functions are added allowing us to test drive our new site. A functional web site will emerge as work continues. Through feedback and testing we will fine tune the operation of the site together.
Keeping Current
Ongoing updates and marketing can be provided after the site has been deployed. Critical operations such as monitoring traffic and return on investment would be completed regularly. A reporting system that puts the success of the month's activity into relative context is used to evaluate performance. Changes can be made as necessary.
For a free consultation, contact us.


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Sadly I don't have a mod I work on or make. Someday I will when I learn how to :). Until then I will joy the mod's on DB. Until next time I get around to posting more info on my self, keep gaming! ;)
Well since my last blog I have played around with the new Version of ModDB site and I am happy to say things here at ModDB have gotten better. They are still working on it and hopfully it will by at 100% soon. It's a work in progress. I just wish they would have pluged in the new site after they had everything ready and working. But was not my call. But all in all Moddb is doing better since they last updated there site.
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Thanks for the modwatch on FOT:R
NP, I just have to pass FO 2 which will be soon, to move on to FO:T with your mod.
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