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This is a raw sample chapter for my upcoming book, Leader: The CEO Manual For Entrepreneurs.
Hire For Your Core
"What job(s) should I hire for first (next)?"
I'll attempt to explain why that question is so difficult to answer for founders and how to solve it.
Here are several of the key issues I see with my clients:
- competing priorities
- unclear vision for the company / vague plan
- no or little money (more a perception than reality)
- hiring is emotional
- unsure of which positions will improve the company
- belief that hiring equals more work for themselves
Hiring Equals More Work
I'll start with the easy one first. If you hire someone who will have very little impact on the business' objectives, you will likely have more work to do.
I've seen this play out over and over with the advice of "hire a virtual assistant." The idea is that if you hire a VA, that person will handle all the little things that take up your day so you can work on more important activities. This feels like more work because it is.
What happens is the founder unloads 5 to 10 hours of low-level, limited-impact, work on the VA, and then fills that time with other work. The problem comes with having management work added in.
An example from one of my clients: he hired a VA for 20 hours of work per week. He freed up a lot of time to work on his business… in theory.
What happened was he spent approximately an hour per day managing his VA. She was really good at certain tasks, but every time a new task came up, he had to go through a whole training process that included instruction, standard operating procedures and even videos that the VA could reference in the future.
When he became my client, his VA had been with him for over a year. I had him analyze his VA's productive time. Her productive time was about 10 hours a week — maybe. He was spending an average of 1 hour to get 2 hours of relatively menial work completed.
From this experience, he had the idea that hiring more people would just be a massive headache.
Here's what I had a different client do recently: My client was still doing customer support each week, which required 15 to 20 hours of work per week. Her idea was to hire part time just for that labor, but I encouraged her to hire full time.
Not just full time, but also someone capable of managing the customer support department. This new hire should be able to do the current customer support, create and improve support procedures, and train and manage new customer support staff.
To accomplish all of that work only takes the new customer support person 20 hours a week (and it's all productive time). The other 20 hours a week are used to assist her in other areas of the business.
Not only does my client have more time to work on key areas of her business, but her management requirements are less. Her hire has a major impact on the business with customer support running much smoother, and she can focus on growing the company.
A new hire shouldn't equal more work for the founder. It should equal more output, more results, for the company both from the new hire and for the founder.
Unsure Of What Position Has Impact
There are a few variables that cause a founder to not know what jobs will have impact:
● For my clients, a big variable is inexperience. They are young, have little job/industry/domain knowledge and experience so they are figuring it all out as they go.
● They don't have a clear plan for growth. Since they are 'winging it' they just hire for their biggest pain at the moment and not for the biggest impact.
● Not having a clear path causes a conflict of priorities. They can't identify what is the most important activity so they focus on immediacy — putting out fires instead of preventing fires from starting.
Little Or No Money
"How can I hire when I don't have any money?"
This is the seemingly eternal conundrum for bootstrappers. They need more money to hire, but need to hire so they can make more money.
I believe this catch-22 is why so many entrepreneurs feel compelled to hire low-cost, low-reward employees in the early days of their business. They can't afford someone with years of technical know-how so they hire an relatively inexperienced admin to do random tasks they don't like doing.
One of the Internet-era's greatest boon is also a trap for many. Businesses can now be started for nearly $0. This is amazing, but it can also trick people into thinking any business can be started and grown without any capital.
Most of the hiring issues I've ever seen with entrepreneurs could have been avoided had they saved up some capital before they started their business, or even raised a small amount through a loan or friends-and-family investors.
Here are a couple scenarios that are common to bootstrappers:
● Founder is working a job, has an idea for a business and gets it going while maintaining the job. As soon as the fledgling business has enough revenue to pay the founder's bills, the founder quits the job to work full time on the business.
The smartest play, assuming a very small savings account, would be to keep working and use the startup's revenue to hire someone who could help grow the company. When the revenue grows and could support the founder, he/she could quit working or make the next most important hire.
● The founder has some savings, maybe a year's worth to cover personal expenses. The founder gets the business started while working full time, but even before the business has any traction, the founder quits the job to work full time. The startup makes some early sales and the founder starts spending some of it on company expenses such as software subscriptions and also to cover personal bills.
Then one day the founder realizes that he/she doesn't like working 80 hours a week, most of the savings account has dwindled away, and now the founder doesn't have enough capital to risk on hiring someone who can have a substantial impact on the business. So, the founder hires a virtual assistant for $3/hour out of the Philippines in hopes of working less.
Possible solutions to not having enough money to hire for your core:
● Save money. Every business needs to maintain at least 3 months worth of expenses in its bank account to weather any unforeseen problems. Also, a business should be saving for anticipated expenses (i.e. new hires). You may have to work 80+ hour weeks to save up enough to hire someone (at least 3 months worth of their expected salary).
● Get a loan or investment. You're probably bootstrapping for a reason and may not like either of these options, but they can be faster and less stressful than taking many months to save up for a hire.
● Hire ambitious apprentices. My friends, Dan and Ian over at the podcast, TropicalMBA, popularized this strategy with their businesses.
The concept is to attract inexperienced talent that doesn't want the typical corporate cubical, "go get coffee and make copies" starter job. They are willing to trade a market rate salary for real experience that can propel their careers. Your job is to give them that experience, and if you can provide them with a great vision for the future, they'll stay with you long term.
Several of my clients have had great success with the apprenticeship path. One of them even had their marketing apprentice go from marketing apprentice to CEO of their company. Sure that's likely to be extremely rare, but I mention it to show that there are very ambitious young people who want experience over starting salary.
Hiring Is Emotional
Hiring is scary.
"What if I hire the wrong person?"
"What if my plans for the person don't work out?"
"What if I have to fire the person in 3 to 6 months… or ever?"
Hiring is a huge responsibility. Entrepreneurs truly feel the weight of employment. They must make enough money to hire. Hire the right person so as to make a profit that warrants hiring in the first place. And they have to be able to afford to keep the person as that person put his or her family's livelihood in the entrepreneur's hands.
Oh, and all that is typically thankless. Society just expects you to do it. Politicians and voters love to talk about how it's the responsibility of companies to create more jobs. And companies equals you and me.
Hiring is also emotional in that entrepreneurs may hire someone they "like" instead of someone more capable of doing the job. Sure culture is important, but many people hire based on whether they feel a connection with the job applicant and less on that person's capabilities.
Getting over the emotion of a hire is important. You must understand the math and the roles and responsibilities required to contribute to a profitable company. Many entrepreneurs don't do the math — the path to profitability, when they hire. They frequently have only a tangential idea as to what impact the job will have on the company.
The logic kind of goes like this: "I'm really busy so I need to hire. I don't like doing these jobs (feelings) so I'll hire someone to do them. I'm currently (or near) profitable so by hiring someone to do the jobs I don't like, I'll become more profitable."
The hiring planning should be more like this: "The company is growing and I need help with marketing. I've got a few activities that are working, but need to test more marketing channels. Hiring a marketing assistant, who can eventually become marketing manager, will help us drive more customer acquisition. I'll then be able to focus more on conversions instead of spending most of my time trying to attract prospects."
Hiring by feelings tends to fill roles that support the company's core competencies instead of filling openings in the core first.
Core Competency
Jobs that have impact are always in your Core.
There are areas of your business that are critical to your success. I call them your Core Competencies.
Inexperienced entrepreneurs simply assume all activities in a business are important to their success. This is made worse when an activity seems like it should be a core competency.
I use Apple as an example. Two of Apple's main core competencies are design and engineering. They do an amazing job of designing new products and engineering them, but they don't manufacture them.
Manufacturing is a critical element of producing an iPhone and for Apple's success. It looks like it should be a core competency. But working with a company that's sole core competency is manufacturing allows Apple to excel at their core.
An example from one of my clients was when he was considering hiring a designer. He didn't have the budget to hire a great designer for the company, but needed high-quality design for his products.
We analyzed what his company's core competencies were. Design wasn't important. His products needed to look good, but the design wasn't why his customers bought. Customers bought because the products solved a major problem they had.
The plan became, outsource product design to an amazing designer, and get a templated system and style guide for making new products. Then a junior designer could be hired to adjust the template for future products.
During this process, my client discovered a core competency that he did need to hire for: launching and maintaining the marketing for new products.
He needed to build a product launch team. This team would have an immense impact on his company whereas the designer would not.
Competing Priorities
There are never-ending lists of things that must get done in a business from the time you conceived the idea of it until you've sold it.
Coping with these endless to-do lists is an important lesson to learn for entrepreneurs. They start their day with 53 items on their to-do list and go to bed with 153 on it.
The issue isn't how much needs to get done (it never ends), it is what needs to be done when.
There will be 153 things to do 10 years from now in your business, different things (hopefully) to do, but still they'll need to be done.
Prioritization isn't about which of the 153 items get done first today, but which of the 1 to 3 most important, highest-impact activities get done today, this week, this month, this year.
If you can't identify what those activities are, no productivity hack will ever help you grow your business. You'll make the mistake of hiring a dozen part time people to do lots of little tasks trying to check off all the items on your to-do list.
When you know your highest impact activities, your Core Competencies, you can hire specifically to fill those roles. You won't need a bunch of random employees or contractors.
The client from part 1 who learned that marketing was a core competency for his company focused on determining what roles within marketing had the most impact.
He identified affiliate management, copywriting, paid advertising, and project management.
He had been filling all of these roles (as most bootstrappers do). His next steps were to profitably fill those roles. First, he contracted paid advertising to a company that specialized in increasing conversions. Next was hiring a project manager to free up most of his time for higher level activities. Then the project manager contracted out copywriting and helped hire the affiliate manager.
This formed the basis of his marketing team. The part time work, copywriting and paid advertising, were important to the team, but the company couldn't afford to bring anyone on full time so he made the judgement call that it was best to have those jobs outsourced to experts until the company could afford to bring the jobs in-house.
What to do with the other 150 items on the list?
You've found your 1 to 3 highest impact activities, you've hired appropriately for them, but what about all the other items on the list?
I developed the Leadership Task Filter to help with all those nagging tasks that just won't go away.
Most items on your list simply don't have to be done. Shocking, right?
They are low priority and low impact. Put them off for as long as you can.
Sometimes the need to do them goes away. Tim Ferriss wrote about letting little bad things happen.
You, as the leader of your company, have to learn to let little things pass so that important things can get done.
But even if you're great at that skill, there will still be lots to do and you need help.
Search the web and you'll see lots advice to hire a virtual assistant to get work done, but I've already warned you about that hazard.
You need a Lieutenant.
You need someone who can take your vision and strategy, rally the team, and get the work done.
Many times this person fills the role of operations. In a small company 'operations' is a catch-all term for getting everything done that doesn't have someone currently doing it.
Over time the role of operations manager will coalesce. This person will help you systemize your small, but varied departments so each department is working toward your vision.
This brings us to the number one reason why entrepreneurs have difficulty knowing what job to hire for first or next…
Unclear Vision
In the beginning, the entrepreneur's vision is to manifest an idea into reality. Once the business exists, vision gets cloudy. It gets swamped by all the immediate necessities of getting the company to exist and keeping it in existence.
The stress and workload obscure the vision, what little of it existed, but so does the validation process. Figuring out product-market fit and message-to-market match are filled with trial-and-error.
Figuring out what works and what doesn't and then trying to make it repeatable gets confusing fast.
Soon the vision becomes, "If I can just get this one thing to work then I'll be able to get this other thing to work. Maybe one day the whole business will work."
In other words, entrepreneurs succumb to the cliche' of "take it one day at a time." They stop looking more than a day or two into the future to say where the company is going.
The team members just focus on doing their jobs and hoping that it is what the boss wants and it will help the company. But the reality is they have limited impact because they can't tie their results to the company vision.
Aim For The Horizon
Vision isn't set it and forget it. It isn't a project. Vision isn't one of the to-do list items that gets checked off the list.
I liken vision to the horizon.
You can't ever reach the horizon. Sail across the ocean and the horizon stays the same distance from you. You sail closer to it, but it somehow stays out of reach.
We entrepreneurs have faith that our destination is right over the horizon. All we need to do is keep our ship pointed in the right direction and one day we'll reach it.
Your vision for the company is that destination that is always on the other side of the horizon. The company will take a quick stop at some amazing places along the way, but the true destination is still over the horizon.
That metaphor will either energize you or frustrate you depending on how you've handled your priorities, and who you've hired so far.
If you're frustrated its because you see the journey as just more work. Like I wrote above, the work never ends until you sell, retire from, or close your business. There isn't some magical destination that will make it all better if you could slog it out until you got there.
But you don't have to struggle. This article isn't about eliminating the work. It's about removing the struggle from the work your business must do.
How To Create Your Vision
I don't have a solution for creating a great vision for everyone. I do have a process you can use.
Creating a vision for your company isn't something you do once and it's done. It's the horizon. It is a continuous journey. Don't treat your vision as a project.
Your vision must get updated regularly because markets, your customers, your employees, and even yourself, all change. Those changes, the new data, has to be included in your vision or you'll end up way off course.
You need to set aside times to specifically work on where your company is going. You have to take yourself out of the daily grind to give yourself enough mental space to look into the future and see it clearly.
Types of Vision Sessions
- Annual leadership meeting
- Quarterly leadership meetings
- Weekly team meetings
- Solo strategy time (60 Minute Mission)
Your leadership team may still be just you, but that doesn't mean you can skip a formal annual planning meeting. You need to set aside time to plan for the long term — 5 years (over the horizon) and 1 year.
Next, is to check in each quarter to see if you're still on track for your long term vision and your annual objectives.
As the leader of the company, you must communicate your vision to your team on a regular basis. If you've got a big team, weekly in-person/live meetings might be cumbersome, but that doesn't mean you get to skip communicating your vision each week.
For distributed teams (employees and contractor scattered around the world), I recommend entrepreneurs make a weekly Vision Video. Record 5 to 10 minutes of how the company is doing and where it's going. This can include praise for teams or individuals who have excelled, areas the company can do better, what is important to you and the company (clear priorities), and any words of encouragement you have for the company.
Not only does this communicate vision, it also has the bonus of helping create your company culture.
How Vision Guides Hiring
Clearly knowing where your company is going helps you hire for jobs that will get you there.
You may need an administrative assistant in your company to keep all the files, records, and calendars in order, but that job won't ever get you to your destination. It may make the journey tidier. Make life easier on the jobs that will impact the company's success, but it won't be the cause.
With a clear vision you'll know what the highest priority activities are to achieve that vision.
Knowing what the priorities are will guide what jobs must be hired for and when. You won't be confused as to what jobs will have impact and which ones won't.
When you hire for impact, you won't be adding more work to yourself — you'll be adding more output, more results, for your company.
Core Competency: A fundamental skill or activity that is integral to your success. A core competency also leads to differentiation in your market.
Examples are Zappos with customer service, Walmart with distribution, and Uber with convenience.
Most companies have between 1 to 3 core competencies, without which, the company isn't differentiated or doesn't gain market traction.
There may be half a dozen or more other competencies within the company that support the core, but could be outsourced without a loss in differentiation or market positioning.
Many early stage entrepreneurs confuse all activities in their business as critical to success. They fundamentally treat all work as core competencies even if they don't understand that they are treating tasks this way.
The earlier example of hiring a virtual assistant to do low-level tasks signals that the founder believes those tasks are critical to the company's success, or at the very least, its continued operation.
It may be true that many or all of the outsourced tasks contribute to the operation of the company, but it shows a lack of understanding about which activities cause success and which merely support success.
By understanding what areas of your business are core to success, priorities can be set, and appropriate jobs can be filled within (or outside) the company.
Here is how to solve the problem of menial labor preventing the founder from working on more important activities:
- Write down all work that is preventing more impactful work.
- Batch them into logical job titles.
- Write down all the impactful work that will get done once the menial work is offloaded by the founder.
- Batch the impactful work into job titles.
- Hire for the impactful job titles. If you don't have enough money to also hire for the menial work, then share some of the menial workload with your new hire. That person should be capable of wearing multiple hats like you.
Everything up to this point has been to illustrate the difference between activities that are a part of your core and which tasks are not. If founders can't determine what work is impactful and what work isn't, then they are unlikely to know what is a core competency or not.
How To Identify Your Core Competencies
Now that the confusion between hiring for menial work and impactful work has been removed, or at least lessened, we can determine what impactful work is core to your company.
Clues to look for are things like:
1) Does it increase my sales?
2) Does it create or improve my products?
3) Does it improve my customers experience?
4) Does it give me a competitive advantage?
Work that positively answers the questions above may or may not be your core. Manufacturing is mission critical to the success of Apple's products, however, it isn't their core.
If an impactful job, such as manufacturing, can be done much better than you by another company, then it isn't a core competency. You should outsource it.
There are companies that only do sales and marketing while all other activities are outsourced.
There are even brands that simply license out their brand to other companies who do all the activities that create and sell the products. In a way, their only core competency is having a popular brand. If they make poor choices with their licensees then that brand would lose cache in the market and future licensing deals would evaporate.
Typical Core Competencies
Most companies need sales and marketing to be core to the company, at least in the beginning. Few outsourced sales or marketing companies will have the drive to make your product successful in your startup phase.
Product design or service fulfillment is typically a core competency. Nike designs its products and does a great job, but then hands manufacturing off to companies that have that as their sole core competency.
Distribution, or distribution management, is commonly part of the core. If the company doesn't control the distribution, it must manage its distribution to gain an edge on the competition.
Customer service should be a core for most companies. This is an opportunity to learn about changes in market demand, improve your products and customer experience, and create brand loyalty.
Administrative is never a core competency. It is simply a cost of doing business that should be minimized. It shouldn't be your first hire.
Putting It All Together
As the founder of your company, you are responsible for choosing what your core competencies are.
Determine what activities have impact on the success of the company.
Determine what activities support the impactful work.
Identifying impactful and supporting work prevents confusion as to what may or may not be a core competency.
Categorize the impactful work into departments such as the sales department or the product design team.
Label the departments of your company as Core or Supporting Competency.
Hire within your core first.
These people will speed up the growth of your company, meaning more revenue, more market share, and ultimately more profits.
Know this… in the early days of your business, you'll just be guessing at what your core competencies are.
And that's okay. It's part of the process of creating a great company.
Over time your core competencies will stand out. As soon as they do, it's up to you to capitalize on them. Improve them. Polish them.
Then you're business will be world-class.


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Monday, 14 March 2011
Just One Fix
Here is the Master Chief wearing some Orly Meet Me Under The Mistletoe -- this is the armour upgrade he's been waiting for for years and years, though I reckon he could have done with another coat.
I don't think that his new paint job will stand up to the trials of battle and sticky grenades and marines driving Warthogs but it looks grand and I still want a cigarette but I'm going to get some Nubar Absolute instead. Yeah.
Posted by Missus Boot at 14:53 Labels: Green, Halo, Master Chief, Orly, Other, Posh Nail Polish, Shimmer
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subset: commoncrawl


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The case began when an environmental organization used FOIA to obtain records regarding trade negotiations between the United States and 33 countries. The government withheld one document under Exemption 1, arguing that its release would harm national security and foreign policy interests.
After the trial court ordered the release of the document, the government appealed arguing, in part, that the district court exceeded its authority and cannot second-guess the Executive Branch on classification decisions regarding national security or foreign policy records.


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Unseeded players, Lathika Prem Kumar of Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan's Udayan Bhakar, caused the biggest upsets in the girls' under-12 and boys' under-16 singles respectively, in the semi-finals of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) 6th Ramesh Desai Memorial All India Ranking National Tennis Championship 2012, played , at the (CCI) courts, Mumbai on Friday.
Enjoying a superb run in the tournament, Udayan, who had sidelined third seed Vishu Prasad of Delhi in the quarter-finals on Thursday, produced another stellar performance to send second seed Sachin Kumar of Chandigarh packing out of the competition.
After warding off the initial challenge from Sachin in the first set, Udatan was in cruise control mode as went on to close out the match in straight sets at 7-6(3), 6-1. In Saturday's final, he will meet top seed Tamil Nadu's Akshay I.B., who swamped qualifier Paramveer Bajwa also from Chandigarh 6-0, 6-0.
Lathika continued her giant killing spree as she came up with a strong display to topple yet another higher ranked and seeded player. The tall and well built girl from Chennai, who is ranked 24th in the country, served well and hit some powerful forehand winners to outplay Maharashtra's 16th seed Ishwari Seth 6-2, 6-0 without much ado and progress to the summit round.
She had earlier conquered 15th seed Tanvi Hatangadi (Ktk) in the second round, second seed Rutvi Shah of Gujarat in the pre-quarters and eight seed Shivani Ingle of Maharashtra the quarters.
Lathika now runs into Andhra Pradesh's top seed Sathwika Sama, who tamed third seed Kaaviya Balasubramaniam of Tamil Nadu 6-2, 6-2, in the final.
Delhi's Karman Kaur the top seed in the girls' under-16 singles also fell by the wayside going down to ninth seed Akshara Iska (AP) 2-6, 6-4, 5-7. Andhra Pradesh's second seed Abhimanyu Vannemreddy (AP) joined the casualty list as he lost in straight sets to fourth seed Vikash Singh (WB) at 3-6, 1-6.
All the doubles finals will be played from 9-30 am and the singles finals from 3.30 pm at the CCI courts.
Semi-final results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Boys' under-16 singles: 1-Akshay I.B. (TN) beat Q-Paramveer Bajwa (Chd) 6-0, 6-0; Udyan Bhakar (Raj) beat 2-Sachin Kumar (Chd) 7-6(3), 6-1.
Boys' under-12 singles: 1-Adil Kalyanpur (Ktk) beat Megh Patel (Guj) 6-2, 6-2; 4-Vikash Singh (WB) beat 2-Abhimanyu Vannemreddy (AP) 6-3, 6-1.
Girls' under-16 singles: 9-Akshara Iska (AP) beat 1-Kamran Kaur (Del) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; 2-Pranjala Yadlapalli (AP) beat 15-Vasanti Shinde (Mah) 7-5, 6-3.
Girls' under-12 singles: 1-Sathwika Sama (AP) beat 3-Kaaviya balasubramaniam (TN) 6-2, 6-2; Lathika Prem Kumar (TN) beat 16-Ishwari Seth (Mah) 6-2, 6-0.


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In the minute-long ad for Russian telecommunications firm MTS, a CGI baby delivers itself, Googles instructions for cutting an umbilical cord (then does it), snaps a selfie, shoots a video, and uploads everything to the internet, all to the tune of Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out."
Creativeland Asia, the 150-person, Mumbai-based company behind the "Born for the Internet" campaign, says it is now the most-viewed Indian ad of all time. In less than four months online, it's racked up nearly 25 million views. The previous Indian record holder, according to AdWeek, was an emotional public service video for soap and hygiene company Lifebuoy, which had 19 million views.
Sajan Raj Kurup, Founder and Creative Chairman of Creativeland Asia, says the intent was to be provocative.
"We knew it was an outrageous idea," said Kurup. "The internet isn't about niceties. It's a very Darwinian existence. It makes you a lot more ambitious in your endeavors."
Kurup says the ad took six months to create and "took on a life of its own" once it was shared, first seeded as a BitTorrent file available for digital natives to discover and download 15 hours before it was officially published.
The inspiration for the concept was his own children.
"By the time my daughter was one, she already knew the password for my phone and how to swipe through pictures," said Kurup. "I thought, 'My God! If this is how kids are now, imagine what they're going to be like in the future.'"


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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Panthers lost another game and lost another regular to injury on Wednesday.
Gregory Campbell is out with concussion-like symptoms although general manager Randy Sexton says those symptoms have cleared up. Campbell was hurt when he hit the ice face-first after colliding with teammate Bryan Allen at the end of the second period.
Sexton says Campbell has to clear another test Thursday before he could be cleared to rejoining the team.
"We won't get the results until Friday,'' Sexton said. "I talked to [Campbell] today and he was feeling better. But he was still, you know; he still needs to finish all the tests. It's related to his ability to process information. We're just being careful, being cautious.''
Campbell was replaced Wednesday by Shawn Matthias – the fourth player on the current roster who has logged significant time with Florida's AHL affiliate in Rochester, N.Y.
The Panthers have four regulars on the shelf because of various injuries, with the team hopeful that winger Cory Stillman can return from a left knee injury in the coming weeks.
David Booth, who led the team in goals last season, has been out since being blindsided by Philadelphia's Mike Richards on Oct. 24. Richards received no fine nor suspension for the hit, but Booth hasn't yet begun skating.
The team says they hope Booth can return sometime after Christmas, but that timetable seems very optimistic.
"This is what you have a farm team for,'' coach Pete DeBoer said before Wednesday's game against the Blue Jackets. "In a perfect world, you hope your injuries are few and far between or at least spaced out so it's more manageable."
(*) Bad loss on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets were really hurting and ripe for picking. Only the Panthers failed to do much of anything offensively and have now lost nine of 10.
I know everyone points to the standings, but playoff teams usually don't go through streaks like these Panthers are. They started the season winning just two of 10; they have currently lost nine of 10.
Tonight was only the second shutout of the season however. Remember the first? That's right HelsinkiHeads, it came on Oct. 3 against the Blackhawks.
(*) Defenseman Ville Koistinen cleared re-entry waivers on Wednesday meaning he remains property of the Panthers as no other team wanted him despite basically getting him for half off.
Koistinen signed a two-year deal worth $2.4 million as a free agent on July 1. Had a team claimed him, the Panthers would have split the remainder of the money with that team.
Sexton said the Panthers would keep Koistinen in Rochester but could call him back if Florida has any more injuries.
"We have four games in six days here so we'll see where we are after that,'' he said. "If we don't start to get healthy soon; Rochester is missing 10 guys. It's getting to almost epidemic proportions.''
(*) Columbus came into this season with high hopes after the team made it to the playoffs last spring for the first time in franchise history.
Things haven't gone according to plan for the Jackets this season as they sit 11th in the Western Conference and like the Panthers, came into Wednesday's game with losses in eight of nine games.
(*) The Panthers worked on their shootout skills at the end of Wednesday's skate at Nationwide Arena, with DeBoer saying it was an "open tryout." '
The Panthers have been better in shootout this season, but it would hard for them not to have been: The Panthers are 5-5 in such games this season, 3-8 last year.
(*) Got word that a few of my friends lost their job last week when the Panthers downsized some more with four good people shown the door.
Just wanted you all to know I feel for you and make sure to call if I can do anything for you. Best of luck.


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Great Tips for Sandal-Ready Feet
Sandal season is just around the corner… But are you ready to slip into your fave pair of sandals, showing off your perfect feet and polished toenails? For those whose answer is in the negative we've prepared the following great tips to make feet sandal-ready.
How to Make your Feet Sandal-Ready
- Soaking your feet in a warm foot bath with several drops of tea tree oil is a must for those who want to make feet ready for the forthcoming sandal-season. The matter is that tea tree oil is a wonderful antiseptic remedy, moreover it kills fungus. 10-minute bathing at least once a week can work wonders to your toenails and foot skin.
- Exfoliation is another key ritual to make your feet sandal-ready. Get a special foot exfoliating formula to get the best results. Rub it into your feet paying special attention to heels. Exfoliation will help to remove dead skin cells and make skin smooth and soft.
- Apply foot cream every day before you go to bed. Dermatologists recommend using foot creams necessarily containing alpha hydroxy acid. It helps to exfoliate dead skin cells making foot skin smoother.
- Regularly trim your toenails and file them in one direction on the top, and a bit on the sides. Apply cuticle oil or cream to the cuticles and push them back using orange stick.
- Add polish to your toenails to get them sandal-ready. Firstly make sure you remove any excess cream from your nails with nail polish removal or any alcohol-containing spray. After apply a base coat, then two coats of colored nail polish and fix the result applying top coat.
Now the only thing left is to find a trendy pair of sandals!
Latest posts by Mary Rise (see all)
- Make Your Pedicure Last Longer - July 26, 2012
- Tips to Prevent Eyeshadow from Creasing - July 25, 2012
- Anne Hathaway's Catwoman Diet and Workout - July 25, 2012
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Takizawa prevented Japan's destruction -- and then he vanished. Six months later, clues lead Saki to the Big Apple in search of her missing friend. Meanwhile, the remaining Seleção are plotting their final move. Some of them would prefer Takizawa dead and out of the way. Some might even be willing to help him achieve his goals. Unfortunately, some are prepared to destroy everything if it means claiming checkmate in Mr.Outside's puzzling game.
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Split your monthly payments easily with 0% Finance when you spend over £275! You can apply online or in any of our stores and it doesn't just have to be a bike you're buying to apply for finance!
Finance is available on almost every item online and in-store — even if it's below £275. If you're buying several smaller items and the total of your order meets our minimum value, then you're able to checkout using finance.
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The DMR V6 Plastic Pedal is the newest member of the DMR pedal family, with a nylon constructed V12 body design that offers the same concave footprint and narrow profile.
The DMR V6 Plastic Pedal is the newest member of the DMR pedal family, with a nylon constructed V12 body design that offers the same concave footprint and narrow profile. These DMR MTB pedals also feature the new dual DU bush system as well as full length off road pins and are available in wide range of vivid colours so you can find the perfect colour for your bike.
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With Pre-Launch, the date when we expect to receive the product ourselves is still a little too hazy to be confident in accepting Pre-Orders.
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Founded in 2014 by a German businesswoman, Suzhong Consulting focuses on Classical Feng Shui Consulting services for residences and commercial space.
Suzhong Consulting operates in Europe, China and Southeast Asia, and offers its Classical Feng Shui Consulting and training services to the vast expat communities in these regions, as well as to companies and corporations seeking to maximize their business success. From individuals, small businesses to multi-national organizations, Suzhong Consulting prepares tailor-made Feng Shui strategies and solutions to meet our clients' needs.
Our Feng Shui consultancy is based on the Classical Feng Shui principles of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics, who's owner and CEO, Dato Joey Yap, is himself a world-renowned and prestigious Feng Shui master and professional, operating all across South East Asia, Europe and North America. Trained personally by Joey Yap, our consultants strictly adhere to the classical and authentic teachings of Feng Shui and assist our clients to optimize the health and wealth capacities of their work place, companies, and their residences.
To learn more about Suzhong Consulting and our services, please go here to download our company profile.


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The Footside Pillow can nestle between the longer Crib Side Protector Pillows.
Rian Tricot of Brazil makes amazing nursery decor products. Since 2004, their products have decorated tens of thousands of baby rooms the world over. Knitting is their raison d'etre. The warmth of knitted high-grade yarns in beautiful patterns and textures fills both eyes and hearts.
Rian Tricot's extensive collection of cushions, pillows, and blankets are well-designed with a varying yet complimentary color pallet; each individual product coordinates with others to bring effortless luxury to every nursery.
This is a home/nursery decor item. This is not a toy. Secure well and out of reach of children. Children should be supervised at all times; the product has strings and ribbons. Materials: Knitted cotton 50% and nylon 50%; Fill: 100% polyester silicon fiber. Designed and Made in Brazil.
Product Dimension: 20 inches length.
Notes: The size for all standard crib mattresses is regulated by the US government. The minimum size is 27 1/4 inches x 51 5/8 inches and not being thicker than 6 inches. Cribs are also regulated, but their interior dimensions have a "plus or minus" 5/8 inch tolerance from the standard 28 x 52 3/8 rectangle.
Shop the full selection of Rian Tricot's crib pillows, rolls, blankets and plush on Toytoise.com to make a beautiful nursery.


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Military Grade Polymer
Runways, Military Camps, Temporary Roads and Accesses. GRT: 1000 is a tough durable, all purpose polymer soil binder and sealant that achieves a stable layer of clear, bonded material resistant to wind erosion, rain impact, pedestrians, and traffic.
GRT: 1000 give military engineers a water miscible, spray-able, multi-purpose coating and binding technology that:
- Mixes readily with water
- Is easy to apply
- Doesn't need heating
- Is completely non-toxic
- Simply by adjusting amounts, can be tailored to most applications, many soil types, and any environment.
Using existing soils onsite, GRT: 1000 is used to:
- Quickly stabilise and seal earthen runways, using standard military construction equipment such as graders, water trucks and rollers.
- Construct a dust free, weatherproof military camp or forward position.
- Seal or stabilise temporary roads and tracks
- Lock down material stockpiles from wind and rain erosion
It can also be used to seal off the open tops of earth filled, rapidly deployable barriers, such as those developed by Hesco. This provides a highly water resistant layer, prevents the loss of material by wind, and eliminates the generation of dust from the open top of soil retaining structures.
Quality Assured:
GRT: 1000 is manufactured to ISO9001 standards and has been comprehensively reviewed by leading independent testing institutions and major companies worldwide.
Unique GRT Product Features
Non Hazardous
Dries Transparent Clear
Non Corrosive & Safe
Simple & Easy to Apply
Non Flammable & Non Volatile
Water Resistant
Non Leeching
Non Dissipating
Dries Completely Odorless
Ultraviolet Ray Resistant
Environmentally Safe
Contact Us for a Quote or More Information about this GRT Product.


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The mission of Invest in Children is to mobilize resources and energy to ensure the well-being of all young children in Cuyahoga County, provide supportive services to parents and caregivers, and build awareness, momentum, and advocacy in the community around children and family issues.
You are here:
Home > Programs > Effective Parents and Families
Click here for information on Home Visiting.
Click here for information on Early Childhood Mental Health.
Click here for information on Home-based Early Literacy Services.
1400 West 25th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 241-3400
Bright Beginnings
ESC of Cuyahoga County
6393 Oak Tree Blvd. Independence, OH 44131
(216) 698-7500 www.brightbeginningskids.org
Family Connections of Northeast Ohio
19824 Sussex Rd.
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
(216) 921-2023
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25th March 2015
The Ancient Tree Forum launches new mobile-friendly website
The Ancient Tree Forum is delighted to launch its new website, which is designed to be fully accessible for those on the go, as it adapts for viewing on tablets and mobiles.
More information will be added to the website www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk over the coming weeks and months, but it already includes a wealth of information on topics from the fungi, lichen and other wildlife associated with veteran trees, to types of landscape where you might expect to find ancient and other veteran trees.
Resources on the website include books, videos and Ancient Tree Guides. You can even download an electronic version of the Ancient Tree Forums's book 'Ancient and other veteran trees: further guidance on management' – or follow the link to buy your own copy.
A key feature of the site is a map and listing of sites across the UK which can be visited by the public, and where ancient and veteran trees can be seen. Many more sites and trees are due to be added to this section which will feature single heritage trees such as Newton's apple tree in Lincolnshire and the Discoed Yew in Wales, and larger sites like Hampstead Heath in London, where hundreds of veteran trees can be seen.
The new look website also features the ATF's new logo too, with its characteristic ancient tree.


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**November 13th Issue of The JMRD Market Observer**
In This Week's JMRD Market Observer
- JMRD Strategy Comments
- 2015 Tax Season Reminders
- JMRD Basket Corner
- Retirement Corner
- Week at a Glance
- Reads of the week
- Economic Calendar
- Earnings Reports
JMRD Strategy comments
It was a volatile week for global equity markets after a positive October and first week of November. The CBOE Volatility Index, as one measurement of volatility, was up 41% this week while the S&P 500 Index slid 3.5% on the week. There is much debate about when the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates and what the impact will be for equity markets. The US employment data released last Friday was well ahead of the most optimistic expectations and the market took this as a sign that if the economic backdrop is continuing to improve then short term interest rates will have to move higher sooner rather than later. The employment data was a case of good news is bad news, as seen in the equity market volatility this week. Theory suggests that if interest rates rise, equity prices are sometimes adversely affected. However, for the next rate tightening cycle, the Federal Reserve will be starting at a historical low level so rate hikes may not have as much of an initial impact. This is a topic that will continue to be discussed endlessly by economists and strategists. The next Federal Reserve meeting is being held Dec.15th/16th with the interest rate decision coming the afternoon of the16th.
Our thought here is that even if interest rates move higher at some point (and they will) the longer the US Federal Reserve puts it off, the more uncertainty there will be for the market. We also feel that the path to a more normal interest rate environment will be a slow and gradual process because the Federal Reserve does not want to derail the economic recovery that is currently unfolding in the US. Another important thing to note from past interest rate increases is that it's usually not the first interest rate hike that negatively affects the economy and markets but usually the last one. You will see in the chart below the effects of past interest rate increases have had on the S&P 500. Take note of the SLOW CYCLES trend line.
Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions or comments on anything.
2015 Tax Season Reminders
As we recently turned the page on another month and are now getting closer to the end of 2015, we thought it would be a good idea to get everybody thinking about TAXES again. You will find below some key dates and figures to have in the back of your mind when preparing for the upcoming tax season. Like last year, we will also feature a special "Tax Edition" email in the New Year which will include tax slip information as well as other helpful tax tips.
- Last day for Tax Loss selling of Canadian Equities – Thursday, December 24th, 2015 (Canadian Markets are closed December 28th in lieu of Boxing Day)
- Last day for Tax Loss selling of U.S. Equities – Monday, December 28th,2015
- 2015 RSP contribution deadline – Monday, February 29, 2016. The 2015 maximum RRSP contribution limit is 18% of "earned income" in 2014, to an annual maximum $24,930. The 2016 contribution limit is a maximum of $25,370.
- 2015 TFSA contribution deadline – Thursday December 31, 2015 – contribution limit $10,000.00
- Note, if you are planning a TFSA withdrawal in early 2016, consider withdrawing the funds by December 31, 2015. The advantage is that you will not have to wait until 2017 to re-contribute that amount.
- The last date to make an RESP contribution is Thursday December 31, 2015.
- As a reminder, in order to benefit from the entire government grant, the contribution per child per year is $2,500. If by chance, there are unused grants from the past, $5,000 can be contributed and still receive the full 20% grant. If your child turns, or already turned 17 in 2015, this will be your last year to receive the government grant, which makes the December 31st deadline all the more important for you.
JMRD Basket Corner
DIG Basket
Hydro One (H) – Following their just completed Initial Public Offering, Hydro One announced on Friday that their Q3 profit increased 11%
Thomson Reuters (TRI) – Thomson Reuters said Wednesday that it is exploring strategic options for its intellectual property and science business in a move to "sharpen its focus". The division's products include Web of Science, Thomson CompuMark, Thomson Innovation, MarkMonitor, Thomson Reuters Cortellis and Thomson IP Manager.
All-Cap Growth Basket
Boyd Group (BYD.un) – Boyd reported Q3 revenue of $301.1 mln (vs. $280.5 mln estimate & $218 mln in Q3/14), adjusted EBITDA of $26.4 mln (vs. $22.2 mln est. & $16.9 mln in Q3/14) and DCPU (NBF definition) of $0.83 reflecting a 15% payout (vs. $0.79/16% est. & $0.69/17% in Q3/14). Results were similarly ahead of the Street's $287.5 mln top-line & $23.8 mln adj. EBITDA forecasts. NBF's Diversified Equities analyst Trevor Johnson said, ''Operationally BYD is performing the best we have seen, it has one of the healthiest balance sheets and amount of dry powder in the diversified universe, and despite the multi-store acquisition slowdown still provides an above average growth opportunity to investors in a relatively defensive industry (both organically through persistent SSSG and via single-store tuck-ins)." (full report attached) Boyd Group Inc.
US Growth Basket
NASDAQ Inc. – Nasdaq said to be in talks to acquire Chi-X Canada
Retirement Corner
- "Ten factors to consider when planning to leave an estate" (Globe and Mail)
Week At a Glance
See Week At a Glance Report
Reads of the Week
- "Underestimating the Power of Compound Interest" (A Wealth of Common Sense)
- "The Upside of Being Miserable" (Motley Fool) Today's good was born from yesterday's bad.
- "There's still time to save on tax before end of year" (Globe and Mail)
- "The dollar hasn't been this overbought for 30 years" (Marketwatch)
- "The Economy Is Better — Why Don't Voters Believe It?" (FiveThirtyEight)
- "What Interest Rates Can Teach Us About Behavioral Biases" (A Wealth of Common Sense)
Economic Reports
Monday November 16th – Canadian Manufacturing Sales, Canadian Existing Home Sales, U.S. Empire Manufacturing
Tuesday November 17th – U.S. CPI, U.S. Industrial Production
Wednesday November 18th – U.S. Housing Starts, U.S. Building Permits, FOMC Meeting
Thursday November 19th – U.S. Leading Index, U.S. Initial Jobless Claims
Friday November 20th – Canadian Retail Sales, Canadian CPI
Earnings Reports
Monday November 16th – Canadian Apartment Properties REIT, DHX Media
Tuesday November 17th – Home Depot, Wal-Mart Stores
Wednesday November 18th – Loblaw Cos, Metro
Thursday November 19th – None
Friday November 20th – None
Have a good weekend!


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Student Leadership at Mount Royal University
Welcome to the new Student Leadership page for MRU students. On this page you will find:
- information on the leadership model that guides us,
- stories featuring current student leaders at MRU,
- resources that can aide you in your leadership journey,
- leadership opportunities on campus, and
- information on our annual student leadership conference.
Many departments have filled their leadership roles for the 2018-2019 academic year, however ongoing recruitment occurs for some positions. Click on the Leadership Opportunities button on the left side of this page to see the great opportunities available!
To request an edit to this page, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.


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CASL Brands Steel Portable Camping Shovel with Pick and Carrying Case
Tackle all kinds of backyard tasks with the CASL Brands Steel Folding Shovel with Pick. This all-in-one tool is made of black powder-coated 45# carbon steel for greater durability. The textured plastic handle provides a comfortable grip while you work on your projects. One end features a shovel, while the other has a handy pick that is great for breaking up tough soil or ice. Dig up your old plants and roots with ease with the shovel to get your garden beds prepped for spring. Take a break from cleaning up your yard or garden and pop the cap off a refreshing bottle of soda with the bottle opener on the shovel.
Once you're all done, simply fold up the tool and stow it away in the included carrying pouch. The zippered carrying case includes two loops that allow you to hook it onto your belt loop or backpack for greater ease of portability. This compact tool is not only ideal for handling backyard projects, but it's great to take along while camping, hiking and more.
Features of the Steel Folding Shovel with Pick:
- Unfolded tool dimensions: 1" diameter x 10.5" W x 12" H; Folded tool dimensions: 3.75" W x 12" H; Shovel blade dimensions: 5" L x 3.75" W x 6.23mm thick; Pick dimensions: 4" L x 0.875" W x 0.75" H x 6.1mm thick: Plastic hand grip: 1" diameter x 3.5" L; Carrying case: 6.5" H x 4.25" W x 2" D; weighs 0.6 lbs
- Multifunctional tool is made of black powder-coated 45# carbon steel for rugged durability.
- Includes a convenient carrying case that makes it easy to store this tool and take it with you on the go.
- Shovel features a bottle opener.
- Pick is ideal for breaking up ice or tough soil.
- The textured plastic handle provides a comfortable grip while using this product.
- CASL Brands backs its products with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty for worry-free purchasing.
About CASL Brands:CASL Brands is a manufacturer of a broad range of high-quality home essentials. In their travels they strive to find the most innovative and useful products suitable for your home and everyday living needs. Their talented designers create premium products using manufacturing processes and materials that truly add value and functionality to your everyday life.
|Steel, Rubber
|Package Contents
|1 Shovel and 1 Carrying Case
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You can likely think of a couple of areas of improvement where your standard electrical plug is concerned, namely made more apparent as household gadgets multiply and come in from international manufacturers. This wall socket by Anh Nguyen Tuan makes for one of the most adaptable power ports you will have seen, catering to the sparseness of installed sockets, to travelers and to gadget junkies.
First of all, the interface has been designed so that it can fit the metal prongs of any region's cables. Presumably, a voltage adapter has been built in as well. This amendment makes it possible to use any device globally, wherever this wall socket by Anh Nguyen Tuan is installed. To top it off, the plug can even be pulled out of the wall with an integrated extension cord, allowing you to set up your electronics almost anywhere you like in a room.
Wall Socket by Anh Nguyen Adjusts to Geographic and Domestic Locations
Amelia Roblin — February 1, 2012 — World
References: industrialdesignserved


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I'm still really entertained and enthralled by literature set during the British Raj. I continue my Booker Prize conquest by reading Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's Heat and Dust, which won the titular prize in 1975. I very much liked the novel, but I didn't love it.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The Siege of Krishnapur
J. G. Farrell won the Lost Booker Prize for his 1970 novel, Troubles, but since my library has a queue for it, I took out his 1973 winner The Siege of Krishnapur, and I reviewed it for the Complete Booker. Overall, I loved the book. It was very exciting and thematically deep, while still being engaging and enthralling.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Kung Fu Bear
Apparently this is real. And awesome.
Horatio makes my kind of pun
The first was mine, while the second (possibly the funnier one) was written by my beloved girlfriend.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Desert Island Essentials: More Music
If you click here, you can read the first ten albums that I said I couldn't live without. Now, I'm going to take a look at some more albums that I can't possibly live without.
Radiohead - The Bends
One of the most important albums of the nineties, this is one I frequently revisit after forgetting about for a couple years. I always forget how emotional, intense, cryptic, beautiful and epic each song seems to be. From the opening salvo of Planet Telex to the ominous sing-along Street Spirit, every single track is a winner. Consistently excellent, this is my favourite album from Radiohead.
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
At work, we used to listen to Shine on You Crazy Diamond over and over again, air-guitaring and air-saxophoning every time, having a fantastic time. From there, it segues into the classic triple-hit of Welcome to the Machine, Have a Cigar and the title track. What Floyd learned on the past few albums, plus the anger, and the technical virtuosity, make this an amazing album.
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
Often overlooked in favour of IV or Houses of the Holy, I like this one best because it features some of the slower more folksy songs from Zep's catalogue. That's not to say that it doesn't have moments of face-melting like the opening thunder of Immigrant Song, or the blistering Since I've Been Loving You. More sonically varied than any other album they put out, this is the greatest rock n roll band at their best.
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
I liked all their previous albums. I love this album. I think it's because it's a concept album, that tells a bizarre prog-rock Victorian story that doesn't really make a lick of sense. But it's like every instrument they could get their hands on was used, and every studio trick. This is prog-rock, but it's very coherent, musically speaking. Always listenable.
Sublime - Sublime (eponymous album)
Great times, great grooves, great summer music. Sublime's previous albums are good, but again, just like other bands, they nail it with this exceedingly awesome disc. It's like Sublime refined and tested, and perfected.
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
I thought of going with Parachutes, their first album, but it doesn't have the staying power that this one does. Every song is so pop-perfect, like it was created by a time of scientists for maximum popularity. That polish and sheen on every track makes this so good, the title track being the best of all.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Take a Break
This is the hilarious punk supergroup's album of covers by black people, and it represents every single member's most shining moment sonically. Everybody is playing at a masterful level, and Spike's vocals are some of the best singing I've ever heard. He does serious justice to every single artist, from Lionel Richie to Stevie Wonder to Aretha Franklin. That's how good this is.
Paul Simon - Graceland
My first exposure to world music. If one can forget the cultural appropriation and all that Los Lobos crap, one can hear Simon's experimentation and pop skills at their finest. He really uses those African rhythms and makes them his own (hence the qualms of appropriation, but this isn't the venue for that discussion)
Thrice - Vheissu
I said it before, but again, it's like the band finally comes together after a couple good discs, and then produces a masterpiece. Every - single - track - on this album is crushing, epic, beautiful, dense, and always amazing. This is the band I've seen most live in my life, and I will always go see them live, no matter what.
Alice in Chains - Dirt
A lot of people say this is a depressing record, about addiction and despair. It never depresses me. In fact, this album always gives me energy. It's like Layne Staley is singing to me, saying "better yourself, or else you'll face this dirt" and every time, I look forward. This is the most positive downer album ever. I love every track, its grinding neverending guitar, Layne's piercing and soulful screams, and the bizarre moments of drug induced haziness. This is a fantastic record, and should be more highly regarded. Especially since this album is better than the entire Nirvana catalogue. There I said it.
Staying On
Here is another example of an author being awarded the Booker for a novel not their most famous. I encountered this first with V. S. Naipaul and In a Free State (which I hated. A lot), and with Kingsley Amis and The Old Devils. Paul Scott is more famous and heralded for his Raj Quartet, none of which I've read, but in 1978, he was presented with the Booker Prize for Staying On.
Tusker and Lucy Smalley are literally the last of the British Raj to stay on in India, and it's 1972, and they are both in their seventies. They live in a medium quality hotel being physically overshadowed by a better bigger hotel, which threatens to buy out the little hotel. Tusker is in ill health and ill temper, and Lucy feels empty and unfulfilled. This is the story of their last days together in India.
I certainly did not know what to expect with this novel. I was sure it was going to be a mixture of present day (1972) and flashbacks to the thirties and forties, Tusker's heyday in the Raj. However, that was not the case. Instead of retreading ground that he spent over 2000 pages doing, Scott chose to focus on what the end result is.
This is 200 pages of the couple, their servant, the married couple that owns the little hotel, and a couple other Indians living together, having conversations, arguments, tender moments. This is 200 pages of very minute social observation, but always with an extremely subtle and deft hand. Never did I feel that Scott was pointing to something excrutiatingly obvious.
Scott's prose is so clear, his dialogue rich, and his control over the story is fantastic. However, the lack of specific plot momentum sort of hinders this. This isn't a page-turner. It is a slow and methodical autopsy of a dying breed.
Apparently it's also a comic novel, but I never really laughed. The humour just didn't do it for me.
But these are minute problems. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it made me want to read his Raj Quartet immediately. I have spoken of this theme numerous times on my blog, but really, the whole point of this challenge is to read different authors I would never normally expose myself to.
Staying On is an excellent novel written by a professional. It has great characters, clear coherent prose and structure, and it's consistently subtle. Fans of British or Indian history will have a great time with this.
Last Orders
I decided to post another Booker review for everyone to read, but I went with one that I had read awhile ago, which is Graham Swift's Last Orders, from 1996. I thought the novel was good, but not great, and overall it entertained me.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Booker Progress
Okay, let's take a look at my progress with the Booker Prize and see where we are. It's been a long time since I looked at the list, and calculated a total, so let's do this now. Here is the complete list of Booker Prize winners that I've read.
2008 - The White Tiger (Adiga)
2007 - The Gathering (Enright)
2006 - The Inheritance of Loss (Desai)
2005 - The Sea (Banville)
2004 - The Line of Beauty (Hollinghurst)
2003 - Vernon God Little (Pierre)
2001 - True History of the Kelly Gang (Carey)
2000 - The Blind Assassin (Atwood)
1999 - Disgrace (Coetzee)
1998 - Amsterdam (McEwan)
1996 - Last Orders (Swift)
1995 - The Ghost Road (Barker)
1993 - Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (Doyle)
1992 - The English Patient (Ondaatje)
1990 - Possession: A Romance (Byatt)
1989 - The Remains of the Day (Ishiguro)
1987 - Moon Tiger (Lively)
1983 - Life & Times of Michael K (Coetzee)
1976 - Saville (Storey)
1974 - The Conservationist (Gordimer)
1974 - Holiday (Middleton)
1971 - In a Free State (Naipaul)
There are 44 novels on the list of Booker Prize winners and I have read 22! That means that I am officially at the halfway point! Yay!
Right now, from the library, I have Scott's Staying On, Farrell's Siege of Krishnapur, Amis' The Old Devils, and Jhabvala's Heat and Dust. I'm about 20 pages in Staying On, so look forward to more Booker Prizes. I'm back on the Booker bus!
I think it's hilarious that I made a big to-do about not being able to finish a Pynchon book, and then I read four of them in a row, and loved them all. Here's the fourth, Vineland, and here's my review.
Zoyd Wheeler is an ex-hippie in the Eighties living a normal existence with his teenaged daughter Prairie in a northern California logging town called Vineland. Things suddenly change when Wheeler's old nemesis Brock Vond of the government comes swooping in with an army, tries to kidnap Prairie, takes away his home, and drives him deep into the underground where he used to live. Along the way, they meet ninjas, punk bands, Mafioso's, a possible time machine, anarchists, students, drug dealers, and any freaky character that you think Pynchon uses a lot.
Vineland seems like the runt of Pynchon's literary litter. Released twenty years after his undisputed masterpiece Gravity's Rainbow, his fans were left wanting. This is a shorter, more accessible work, and part of Pynchon's pattern of releasing novels about California (rather than everything).
It's easy to see why this doesn't have the critical acclaim of his other novels. Frankly, it's just not that interesting. There's way too much happening with what little plot there is, and the characters and jokes aren't really that funny. We're supposed to imagine that Vineland is like a cartoon, which is reinforced in the text by cues. As a cartoon, this isn't cartoony enough, if that makes sense. Not enough bizarre antics, gratuitous violence, or zaniness.
There is zaniness, don't get me wrong, it's just that the zaniness isn't that funny. Maybe I just burned out on too much Pynchon, and the style and jokes wore thin for me. Maybe I need to give this another try.
I didn't hate or even dislike Vineland; I just thought it was satisfactory. There are too many books in the world for me to waste my time on something satisfactory. This is harsh, but it is true.
Vineland is definitely one of Pynchon's lesser works. It's more entertaining than most books in the stores nowadays, but it wasn't enough for me. Not deep enough, not funny enough, not cartoony enough. I will re-read it, to give it another shot, as I will all of Pynchon's books, but for now, I have encountered my second misstep with the reclusive author.
Moon Tiger
So, back on the Booker train, I suppose. You can read my review for Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively on the Complete Booker blog. In summary, I loved this novel, way more than I expected. It's the reason why I'm doing this challenge, so that I can be introduced to new authors and love them.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Things I'm Into Right Now
Thomas Pynchon - author
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - Post-Impressionist painter
Frank Zappa - composer
Lost - American sci-fi television show
Supertramp - 70's pop-rock band
A Trio of Pynchon Reviews
Remember a long time ago I confessed to not being able to finish Thomas Pynchon's Against the Day? Well. I decided that I was going to defeat my personal Hydra of literature and read some Pynchon. Little did I know that once I finished one, I had to read them all. So here, for your reading pleasure, are mini-reviews of the three Pynchon novels I read in the past three weeks.
I decided to start with his first novel, published in 1963. It's the saga of Benny Profane, Stencil, the Whole Sick Crew, and the mysterious mercurial woman called V. Alternating between episodes of Benny and the Crew, their misadventures, and a multigenerational epic spanning the globe in the past, charting the path of V.
Once I got a handle on Pynchon's bizarre and all over the map writing style, I realized that V. is a fun, hilarious book about everything. It's the kitchen sink approach to writing that threw me off about Against the Day, but here, it absolutely made the novel for me. From the hilarious names, to groan inducing puns, to proto-steampunk elements, to scary moments of "otherness", this book has it all.
Upon finishing V. I tried going back to Delillo and reading Underworld, but Delillo's flat style did nothing for me. What I wanted was Pynchon. I wanted his zany voice, his wacky characters and Star Trek references. I wanted more.
The Crying of Lot 49
The shortest of his novels, more of a novella, this features Oedipa Maas unraveling a labyrinthine conspiracy about an alternative mail delivery conspiracy, including an underground society, the bones of GIs being used to make cigarette filters, music groups, and everything in between.
Even though this book is short, it is filled to the brim. Ostensibly a potboiler, it lets the readers have a glimpse at a more paranoid and darker reality, the one beneath the surface. This metaphor extends through all that I've read about Pynchon, that there exists something deeper than what the straights and squares would have you believe.
I really liked this book, but I wished it had been much longer. I was left wanting more. So I kept going.
Inherent Vice
Instead of going with the next book chronologically (Gravity's Rainbow), I went with his most recent, and apparently more accessible work. This novel is Pynchon's twist on the detective fiction, set in the Free Love era of the 60's in a Californian surfing suburb, where everybody smokes pot and has no idea what's going on.
I'm decently well-read with detective fiction (I own two biographies about Raymond Chandler) so I was hugely entertained by Pynchon's spoof. Metaphors used so perfectly in The Long Goodbye and in Chinatown, are twisted and fogged by drugs. It's quite hilarious.
While Inherent Vice is more accessible than, say, V. or Gravity's Rainbow, it's not easy. This is one of the most over complicated mysteries I've ever read, almost out-complicating Ellroy's L.A. Quartet. I'm not even fully convinced that all the pieces fit. But a tidy resolution is not a requirement of detective fiction.
They say for Pynchon newbies to just let everything wash over you, and then on the second or third reading, the intricacies and meanings will be more clear to the reader. I will certainly agree that I missed tons, I'm sure. I can't wait to re-read all of Pynchon's stuff, and tease out what I can. But first, I have to finish Against The Day.
I know that I completely switched my stance on Pynchon, but I think I just wasn't ready to read Against the Day. It's over a 1000 pages of his unique insanity, and I needed to work my way up to that. Now I'm ready for his tricks.
Keep checking back for more updates. I'm already 50 pages into Vineland, and Gravity's Rainbow is next.
"Where have you been?"
Working 70 hours a week.
Sue me. It's my blog.
There will be some posts tomorrow, so stay tuned.
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Increasing Online Visibility for a Textile Leader
Loyal Textiles is one of the largest manufacturers of yarn, fabrics, garments and textile products in India. From modest beginnings in 1956 as a spinning and weaving mill, Loyal Textiles has evolved with the times to occupy a leadership position today. It comprises four spinning mills, two weaving units, one knitting unit, one dyeing house, seven garment manufacturing units, one trading cum retailing company and a joint venture trading company in Italy.
With an ISO certification of 9002:2008 and an annual turnover to the tune of $25 million, Loyal Textiles has many firsts to its credit. Today, they are widely recognized as market leaders in their segment.
The Challenge
Since its inception in 1956, Loyal Textiles had remained an offline business with zero digital footprint. The portal was not well structured with limited visual flair.
With the changing times, there was an urgent need to tap the huge consumer base looking to buy textile goods. Loyal Textiles was also looking to expand its online presence.
What they needed was a complete overhaul of their Digital presence.
The Solution
On further analysis, a few areas of improvement were noticed:
- The site's home page was not reflective of the company's vision. Banners were static and uninspiring.
- The website content did not come across as lively and SEO friendly.
- The site was not optimized for mobile devices (not responsive).
- Search engine rankings were not significant and hence brand visibility was poor.
- Measurement using analytics and better reporting to stakeholders was an area of concern.
Based on the observations, Xerago proposed a comprehensive solution which involved a complete revamp of the website with emphasis on Information architecture, responsive design, implementation of SEO and a real time analytics framework that would help measure the customer journey. Interestingly, to arrive at the solution, design-thinking methods were used (with our small twists!)
Once the business requirements were frozen, our design and development teams got down to work.
In the first phase, the overall information architecture was changed and a new website navigation structure was established.
On the creative side, a dynamic flash banner with multi-colored tiles for the homepage was designed. Carefully chosen images reflecting a modern era were used. The purpose of a completely re-engineered homepage was aimed at capturing and retaining the audience's attention.
The earlier site used a PDF dump to disclose the portfolio of Loyal Textiles' product line. Our development team analyzed the entire dump to segregate the products and created separate pages for each segment. These product pages had complete information about the kind of fabric, style and the technology used. This listing was created to provide complete information about a certain material – aimed at increasing engagement among the visitors.
Adding to that, an enquiry portal was created for small businesses to get a quote for different products. Being a B2B company, Loyal Textiles would greatly benefit from the leads generated through the enquiry page.
In the second phase, the entire focus was on making the site responsive.
The earlier version of the site was built using pre-defined plug-ins from WordPress that did not render well on some viewports (device specific). Our development teams sat for days together to fix the source code that went through multiple rounds of testing.
The third phase was to include the SEO elements and the analytics code to all the webpages. Our SEO and the analytics team did a keyword research for the most relevant terms. Meta tags rich in keywords were included in all the pages.
Once the source code was pushed to live, the search engine rankings were monitored and the reports were generated for tracking competitors and optimization of the site.
The Result
Xerago achieved the following milestones:
- We succeeded in creating a highly responsive website from ground up – in a matter of 60 days.
- Through the enquiry portal, we created an online property for a completely offline business for generating sales.
- Loyal Textiles' website traffic and search engine rankings increased dramatically.
- Armed with the analytics data, Loyal Textiles was able to derive insights from metrics such as page views, visitor duration and bounce rate to further optimize its online experience.
In summary, Xerago increased the usability of website to a great extent which paid rich dividends for our client. Digital Transformation at it's best.


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Global Manufacturing, Local ServiceGlocalSource is our service of providing rubber product from manufacturers around the globe, supported by Molded Dimensions' local, technical service, and support. Your company will benefit from our engineering expertise and program management, including design, logistics and communication.
What parts fit well with GlocalSource?Knowing there are exceptions to every rule, the basics can be summarized:
- Stable product design
- Relatively basic, straight-forward rubber material formulations
- High labor content parts
- "Higher" usage item with regular, consistent demand
- Parts that pack and ship well
How does it work?
- New tooling is constructed and sampled for approval.
- Upon approval, production quantities are ordered, landed, and inspected at MD.
- Releases are shipped from inventory at MD per customer demand.
- Minimum inventory and restocking is managed based on customer orders and planning information.
Where does the product come from?
- Worldwide partner rubber manufacturers
What are the benefits?
- Local Engineering expertise, approach to DFM, and knowledge of rubber formulations.
- Piece price and tooling competitive in a world market.
- Domestic and Asian production capabilities.
- Expertise in inventory programs and logistics.
Global ReachMD has a global reach in both production and fulfillment. Product may be produced in North America or Asia, and is shipped to our worldwide customers. MD's ability to offer multiple manufacturing and fulfillment strategies allows the best possible supply chain for your project.
Molded Dimensions takes pride in the technical excellence and versatility of our business. The GlocalSource business unit is one of three units that contributes to our remarkable company and sets us apart from other domestic manufacturers.
Download our GlocalSource brochure


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11 September (Part 1) - Bonkers is not Labour
I was amazed to think someone thought so; and was in a position to perpetrate
the myth. If Bonkers was associated with the local Labour party I might spend some
time sorting out their ward websites; they are in a pretty awful state. Out of date
and not all working properly. I've noticed that my MP seems to be far more active
and aware of local needs than her male colleagues to the south but I've not exactly
overdone the praise. Teresa Pearce (Labour) has featured here only twice as far as
I can remember, once when she took
the Nick Johnson pension fiddle to the House and again when she wasn't keen
on Bexley council giving
lap-dancing clubs incentives to come here. Anyone who
thinks this is a Labour party site obviously hasn't seen the criticism of their 2010
election addresses. Try the
blog for 3rd March 2010 for example. Looking back on it I feel it was a little over
the top, but if Bonkers was a Labour supporting site it wouldn't be there.
I don't see how anyone could detect political bias because I personally don't like any party at the moment and I don't think any of my colleagues do either. Oh, I almost forgot. There is one who speaks up for the Lib Dems. Well there has to be one somewhere.
Sure I've admitted to voting Tory in the past but attending Bexley council meetings has put paid to that and Cameron is proving to be 'the heir to Blair' as far as I am concerned. Hopeless.
Something that annoyed me more than being labelled Labour is being labelled British National Party. It happened once at the Boris Johnson show when an unbelievable bigot sat next to me and in the conversation that ensued made that assumption and jumped up and ran away in terror as if I was suffering from the plague or something. There was a similar reference on another local (and in my view politically biased) website. Actually I have news for both. I am informed that on 19th September the BBC's Panorama programme is going to devote their thirty minutes to annihilating any remaining thoughts that the British National Party leadership might be anything other than hopelessly misguided and absolutely beyond the pale. I know those words aren't enough to satisfy everyone but it's practically certain that someone will have set a Google Alert which will send a site link to them and I don't particularly want their heavy mob coming to my door. Last week I sent Panorama a load of documents that I had come by which will aid their cause. I have the BBC acknowledgement to prove it. It is just possible that you will see a Bexley link in the programme, but not one that Bexley council need worry about.
I and my colleagues have somehow been drawn (in my case it wasn't planned, it just sort of happened) into pursuing any local politician who lies, unreasonably withholds information or acts in his or her own interests and Bexley council has them in spades. It is they who issue obviously false public statements, it is their administration that uses the police as their own personal bodyguards and 'hit men' to pick off residents they don't like, and it is a Conservative administration that attempts to usurp the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts. When Labour do the same thing they will be criticised too.


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The silk tree, also called mimosa or silky acacia, is a relatively short-lived tree even under the best conditions, with a typical lifespan of 10 to 20 years. However, they still make lovely landscaping trees thanks to long, ferny leaves and bright flowers. To help your silk tree live as long as possible, it is important to keep an eye out for disease symptoms. By being aware of potential threats to the tree's health, you can act quickly if need be to restore your mimosa before it fails.
Mimosa (Silk Tree) Vascular Wilt
Mimosa vascular wilt is nearly always deadly, but it is important to spot it quickly since otherwise it can spread to all mimosas in the vicinity. At first, leaves yellow and curl, finally falling off the tree completely. In later stages, the bark of the tree may crack and ooze a frothy, foamy liquid. Since wilt enters through the roots, removing affected limbs will not be sufficient to control the infection. However, using sterile pruning to remove wilted foliage and limbs--and disposal of this plant material using a sealed bag or by burning--can limit the spread of infection and, in some cases, when combined with the administration of a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer, may save the tree.
Mimosa webworms have been infesting American silk trees since 1949, according to Penn State's Woody Ornamental Pest Management. You can detect an infection by the white, cobwebby substance on the tree and by isolated patches of brown, dead leaves. Minor infestations can be removed by hand or by pruning affected branches, but you must be sure to completely dispose of the plant material to prevent reinfection. Insecticides are a good preventative measure, but will usually not entirely eliminate an existing infection.
Silk Tree Canker
Cankers are bacterial or fungal infections that form as a result of a wound to the tree. Cankers start out as small, slightly depressed and discolored areas on the bark of the tree. They are very hard to see in this stage. However, left untreated, they will swell until they are a large, woody bulge. These bulges can elongate and spread, eventually girdling and killing branches via defoliation and malnutrition. Cankers should be removed using sterile pruning techniques during cool weather when reinfection is less likely. If a branch has many cankers on it, then remove it entirely from the tree about 4 inches below the last canker.
More Articles
- Tree Diseases of the Blue Atlas Cedar
- Tree Wasps
- Linden Tree Diseases
- Diseases of Pecan Tree Leaves
- Japanese Maple Tree Diseases
- Diseases of a Live Oak Tree
- Insect Control For a Leyland Cypress
- Maple Tree Fungal Diseases
- Mimosa Tree Wilt Treatment
- Prune Boxelder
- Care for a Corkscrew Willow Tree
- Care for a Mimosa Tree


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The Commerce Department reported that U.S. fourth-quarter GDP contracted by 0.1%, way below forecasts of a 1.0% increase. This is a sharp and fast deterioration from the third-quarter which saw GDP expand by 3.1% and marks the first contraction since the second-quarter of 2009.Of course economists brush of the negative figures and stamp them as meaningless, but if the figures would have been positive they would have labeled them as very significant.
The contraction came despite an increase in consumer spending which rose 2.2% which shows that consumers started to borrow again and continue to support the fragile economy with money they do not have. Consumers load up on debt and a consumer debt crisis in the U.S. is imminent. Incomes have stagnated and prices increased which means consumers have less disposable income available. The increase in consumer spending signals a worrisome increase in household debt.
Defense spending saw the biggest cut in almost half a century and companies reduced inventory production in anticipation of weak demand in the future. Exports saw the biggest drop in four years and suggest weakness in manufacturing ahead. The U.S. Dollar should be under pressure over the next few weeks and the EURUSD may approach the 1.3800 level next month.
Adding to consumer problems is Obama's increase in social security tax which will further slash disposable income and the U.S. may enter a technical recession during the first-quarter. Most Americans never exited the Great Recession and the way the government calculates figures is not in line with real economic developments. Consumer spending should contract starting this quarter and remain weak throughout the year with a small increase in inflation which will further pressure American households.
Due to Obama's tax increase consumers will have between $1,000 and $4,500 less in disposable income during 2013 which will shave roughly $40 Billion of economic activity alone. The middle-class will carry most of the burden due to Obama's tax policies and the economic cost will be malicious for the government through 2020.
Spain reported its fourth-quarter GDP came in worse than expect at a contraction of 0.7% only days after the country reported an unemployment rate of above 55% in adults under the age of 25. This was the sixth consecutive GDP contraction and the most recent indicator that austerity measures have put the country deeper into the recession than anticipated. There are rumors of a Spanish exit from the Eurozone which currently join the Greek exit rumors and hint at a slow collapse of the Eurozone which should force positive change to the monetary union.
A complete collapse of the current Eurozone is required before policy makers realize they system was destined for failure and that changes should have been made decades ago. The current approach of the Eurozone in order to handle the issues are counter-productive and cause further monetary bleeding which tax payers have to endure while the overall quality of life is on the brink of collapse.
The UK initiated the latest round of economic contraction when it reported last week that GDP shrank by 0.3% and the country currently flirts with a triple dip recession. The trend is evident that the global economy is not nearly as healthy as economists have predicted which puts recent equity market performance out of line with reality. Market participants should anticipate a sharp contraction in most equity markets in excess of 30% in a bear market which will fully unfold towards the end of 2013 and last through 2014 and possibly beyond due to counter-productive measures taken by governments and central banks.
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Many of us have seen the story about the IRS failing to grant tax-exempt status to the Richmond Tea Party Group (RTG). It appears this may be a targeted pattern or strategy from the IRS.
Like RTG, Ohio Liberty Council has been trying, for the last 18 months, to obtain tax-exempt status only to be faced with "unreasonable, overly burdensome, intrusive and possibly politically motivated" requests for information that, the group states, "have little to do with determining our organization's qualifications for non-profit status."
So they're fighting back.
Yesterday, they announced they are going to refuse to comply with the latest round of requests and ask Ohio's congressional delegation to investigate the delay and IRS demands.
In a letter to the IRS, OLC President Tom Zawistowski wrote:
Therefore, we hereby refuse to comply with your request. We have asked our Congressional Representatives to investigate your actions and intentions and we are exploring every legal means available to defend our rights. We answered all pertinent questions about our organization in our detailed original 1024 application in June of 2010 and see no reason why non-profit status should not be granted. We hereby request that our organization be granted non-profit status on the basis of that application without further delay."
I defy any American to read this list of demands by the IRS and not be outraged. This is the kind of personal information that this government is going to be demanding from your church, your doctor, your hospital, your business and your favorite charity going forward. This isn't speculation, these documents prove it is actually happening and will continue – particularly under Obamacare. Like the Catholic Church, we will not comply, we will resist with all our might, and defend the Constitution."
The list of questions from the IRS included an 'updated description' since the application was originally filed in June, 2010. It seems to me that the failure of the IRS to timely act in reviewing an application for tax-exempt status should not result in additional work by the requesting organization. But that's what you get when government fails to do it's job: additional work on your part.
They want to know all events and activities of the group, including the qualifications of the people conducting all such activities and events. And they don't just want to know past events - but future events as well, including any payment for speakers or panel participants.
Does anyone in their right mind think any organization could provide such information on future events? Exactly how far into the future is the Ohio Liberty Council supposed to go?!?
They're supposed to predict how much time members of OLC are going to spend on conducting such events and whether or not - again, in the future - the group will spend any time or resources attempting to influence the outcome of legislation.
Also like RTP, Ohio Liberty Council was given very little time to respond. The IRS request was dated January 26th and the response had to be received by February 16th. Taking out several days for mail, this left with group with about two weeks to, basically, predict the future.
Oh, and just to make it more difficult, the letter instructs them NOT to fax the response nor to call about the status of the response. And if the response isn't received on time, they'll just assume OLC doesn't want the tax-exempt status and close the case. Oh - and they could require a whole new application if the response was just delayed in the mail.
When one organization has a problem like this, it could be just that organization. When two similar organizations are being treated the same way by a government agency, I'm thinking the problem lies with the government agency.
I can only wonder if the delays and scrutiny will apply to the Occupy Wall Street tax-exempt request.


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L'Anatra dalle Uova d'oro has been founded in the 1998 from Massimo Palazzi. Briar pipes from "L'anatra dalle uova d'oro" are born from an originality and innovation merging, without disregarding classic beauty and elegance. In 2000 with the coming of the third millennium "l'anatra" decided to undertake a genetic operation with the introduction of genes of Andrea Pascucci.
Massimo and Andrea originate handmade pipes with much passion, each one beginning from the choice of the briar, respecting its nature. They mould each pipe following our unmistakable style.
With both genes of the two pipemakers of "l'Anatra" became to around all the world (particularly Europe, America, Asia). With big satisfaction the 2 pipemakers of l'Anatra remembers New York in 2005 to realize the Pipe of the Year for "Pipes & Tobacco" magazine, for "Accademie Internazionale de la pipa" in 2004, for the German catalogue "Dam Pipe" in 2007 and they reminds the pipe clubs that welcome them: Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Padova, Milano.
All L'Anatra pipes are made with briar seasoned for a time of 18 months. Mainly material used for mouthpieces is methacrylate. Massimo and Andrea made 2000 pipes per year with a range from € 80,00 to € 1,500.00 and more. Their grading system are divided in: Rusticated, Partially Rusticated, Sandblaster, Combing Sandblaster, Smooth 1 Egg, 2 Eggs, 3 Eggs (depending on the grain), Straight Grain 1 Egg, 2 Eggs, 3 Eggs (depending on the grain), Nirvana (pipes with virtuous characteristics), Ventura (pipes with small spots of putty).
14 Items
- L'anatra 1 Egg€ 269,50
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- L'anatra Pettinata n. 60€ 229,50
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- L'anatra Scottanaso Sandblast€ 299,50
- L'anatra Scottanaso Sandblast€ 299,50
14 Items


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Actor Prince David Osei has revealed that he formerly led the church choir at Royal House Chapel until he decided to turn his back on the group.
In an interview with Becky on EWITHBECKS on Joy Prime, the movie star disclosed that his role in the movie 'Heart of Men' attracted accusing fingers at him due to the film's sexually explicit content.
"I used to lead the choir. What happened was when I got into the movie thing, anytime I mount the podium at Church then they will be saying…'isn't this the boy who acted in heart of men?'," he said.
According to Prince David Osei, he quit the choir as a result of the accusing fingers that were pointed at him.
The man who claims to be Ghana's sexiest actor stated that despite his absence from the choir, he still has a good voice for singing.
'Heart of Men' is a Ghana-Nigeria thriller movie released in 2009 featuring screen stars such as Majid Michel, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, Jackie Appiah, Martha Ankomah, John Dumelo, Prince David Osei and others.
The Frank Rajah Arase-produced and directed movie contains multiple sex scenes dominating the plot.
A number of people sharply criticized Majid Michel for baring it all with his buttocks completely showing in one of the hot sex scenes.
Watch the video below:
By: Maxwell Amoofia (myjoyonline)