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The Verb Ser
Worksheets > Spanish Verbs Ser
Explanation of the uses of the verb Ser.
(Yo)Soy – I am
(Tú) Eres – You are
(Él/Ella/Usted) Es – He/She/ It is/ or you formal
(Nosotros/as) Somos- We are
(Vosotros/as) Sois – You (plural) are
(Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes) Son – They/ All of you (plural) are
When to use "SER":
* To identify people:
Example: Tú eres doctor. = You are a doctor.
* To express nationality:
Example: Yo soy colombiano. = I am Colombian.
* To express what something is made out of:
Example: La camisa es de algodón. = The shirt is made of cotton.
* With "para" to tell what something is intended for:
Example: El dinero es para mi amigo. = The money is for my friend.
* To tell the time:
Example: Son las ocho y media de la mañana. = It's 8:30 AM.
* To express possession:
Example: Este carro es de ellos. = This is their car.
* To express a characteristic:
Example: Yo soy inteligente. = I am smart.
* To express the date:
Example: Hoy es domingo. = Today is Sunday.
Exercises in This Lesson


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12 Actors Who Almost Died While Filming!
Pretty well all of us think that being an actor is a really an easy job. Learn a few lines, make the right expressions to show emotion and when things get a little physical call in the stuntman or woman.
With green backgrounds onto which you can add dangerous looking mountains, car crashes and chases and whatever CGI you like, being an actor would be the most pleasurable job in the world. On top of all that, they pay you squillions!
Unfortunately, it's not always a bed of roses for the actors in movies. To make a movie as realistic as possible actors are sometimes asked to do some risky things. That's when it gets interesting because not all of them are perfect physical specimens or freakishly fit and able to do what is asked of them.
Another problem that occurs is that the props used to create the scene are not always made correctly or set up properly and that causes set malfunctions that can seriously injure the star of the movie!
Here's 9 very lucky actors who escaped serious injury and possible death while making a movie.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
While making the movie Django Unchained, DiCaprio slammed his fist onto a glass table so hard that it shattered and his hand went through the glass. He needed immediate emergency medical treatment to stop the bleeding from a deep cut. Big Bad Leo demanded they finish the scene before going for treatment.
2. Diane Kruger
Another Quentin Tarantino movie, Inglorious Basterds, in which Kruger's character was being choked almost turned into a disaster. Tarantino didn't want to take any risks and decided to do the choking himself but forget to yell: "Cut!" Kruger was unconscious and almost died of asphyxiation.
3. Jason Statham
In the film The Expendables 3 he was drove straight into the ocean after the brakes on the truck he was driving failed. He somehow managed to free himself and swim to safety. That certainly helped his reputation of being a tough badass.
4. Sylvester Stallone
Not all the Rocky movies went smoothly during filming. In Rocky IV Stallone tole Dolph Lundgren to really box like real boxer do for about 15 seconds. Lundgren hit Rocky Balboa so hard that he ended up with a swollen pericardia sac around his heart resulting in Stallone being rushed to hospital where he was in intensive care for 8 days.
5. Meryl Streep
Meryl almost died while filming the movie The River Wild when she fell overboard into the icy waters during a scene. Kevin Bacon was close enough to pull her to safety before Steep would have certainly died.
6. Johnny Depp
Depp has been getting into trouble outside of movie making recently with his trip to Australia and then later accusations about his treatment of his previous girlfriend. However, when on the set of the movie The Lone Ranger in which Depp plays the Indian, Tonto, he was thrown off his horse and almost trampled to death.
7. Jennifer Lawrence
Now famous for the Hunger Games, Lawrence almost died of suffocation after a fog machine malfunctioned and filled the area with smoke. In the scene where she is running through a tunnel the excess amount of smoke made it impossible to breathe.
8. Michael J Fox
We all loved the Back to the Future movies but in No. III, Fox almost died when he misplaced his hands during the hanging scene. Nobody noticed anything was wrong before somebody realised Michael wasn't acting but was unconscious.
9. George Clooney
When filming Syriana, Clooney injured his back very badly and almost died. His pain was so bad that he even contemplated suicide. He spent weeks lying in bed with an IV in his arm during which time he had a lot of 'dark' thoughts about how it was all going to end.
10. Jackie Chan
His amazing stunt tricks during his films have made Jackie Chan enormously popular with movie-going audiences. But sometimes things don't go as planned. In the movie Armor of God Chan missed his landing when jumping into a tree. He smashed his head when he hit the ground and almost died. These days he has a plastic plate in his head as a result of that near-miss accident.
Jackie's stunts had another near-miss when he was filming Police Story. He always did his own stunts and in one scene he jumps onto a metal pole, sliding down while light bulbs explode around him. He got it wrong in the timing and ended up with a cracked seventh and eighth vertebrae, a dislocated pelvis and burnt hands, thanks to the lights.
11. Chevy Chase
The movie Modern Problems made in 1981, Chevy Chase was almost electrocuted in that scene where he was dreaming he was an airplane. In that scene he was wearing landing lights when the current short-circuited through his arms, legs and neck muscles. He lost consciousness and had a near-death experience. It took him a long time to recover from that incident which resulted in him suffering deep depression.
12. Isla Fisher
She was certainly no magician as portrayed in the movie Now You See Me during which she almost drowned on set. She was stuck under water for almost 3 minutes while filming a magic trick in a particular scene. She finally was able to activate a quick-release switch and with the help of a stuntman nearby, she was pulled from the water. Almost too late!
These are just a few examples of times when acting almost became reality. The thing we would all like to know is, did the director end up keeping the almost deadly accidents as part of the movie or did they have a re-shoot of the scene?

subset: commoncrawl


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8 Best Pool Pump Reviews 2019 Including Inground and Variable Options
Pool pumps come in different shapes and sizes. But their basic is the same: to filter and circulate swimming pool water. Medical Daily explains here the health risks of dirty public swimming pools, and if you don't have the best pool pumps, the same thing could happen to your pool.
Finding the right pool pump from the thousands online is time consuming. To help you out, we've narrowed the list down to 8 most popular and best rated pool pumps. Read on after to check out our buying guide.
Best Pool Pump Comparison
|Editor Rating
|1. Hayward SP2610X15 Super Pump
|2. Pentair 011018 IntelliFlo
|3. Jandy FHPM 2.0 FloPro
|4. Pentair 340039 SuperFlo
|5. Hayward SP1580X15 Power-Flo LX Series
|6. Pentair LA01N Energy Efficient Single Speed
|7. Hayward SP3400VSP EcoStar VS
|8. Jandy JEP 2.0 ePump
Pool Pump Buying Guide
Pool Volume vs Pump Flow
Based on your pool volume, you'll want to select a pump with the right flow. If it is too powerful it may burn out easily and can break quickly. On the other hand if it is too weak then your pool won't get clean since water won't move fast enough through the pool system.
Having a reliable pool pump timer will ensure that your pump isn't used too much, but that your pool is still properly maintained.
Pool pumps aren't high maintenance machines, but they do quire some guidance. Look for pumps that last a while and require minimal maintenance, and work with your current swimming pool filter.
These are the main 2 points as everything else is pretty straight forward - you get what you pay for and if you buy a cheap product then expect it to be cheap.
Without further adieu, we go more in depth with these pool pumps.
Best Pool Pump Cover Reviews 2017
Editor Rating: 4.8/5
Most pool pump reviews have given the Super Pump the thumbs-up as one of the top rated pool pumps. In fact, it is probably the best in ground pool pump. Like the other Hayward pool pumps, it has swing way knobs so no tools are needed to take the strainer off.
There are four bolts which provide access to its internal workings. Support for the pump is provided by its base, and it has a heavy duty seal.
This self-priming pump also has a large basket (110 cubic feet, similar to the Power-Flo) for smooth operation.
Other notable features on the Super Pump are its transparent strainer, simplified installation process and Noryl impeller. The Super Pump's features also allow you to use it on various in-ground pools.
The Super Pump feature list may not seem that different from other Hayward models. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you have used other Hayward pool pumps before, the installation and setup process will be familiar.
The Super Pump is superior to most other pool pumps due to its features and options. At 1.5 HP there's more than enough juice here for most pools. But you can also buy versions with 2, ¾, and 2 ½ HP, underscoring its efficiency.
The best variable pool pump work without a fuss, and that's what you get here. It is well-designed, and one reviewer said he operates it all summer 8 hours a day without running into problems.
The pump is also built to last: no matter which HP model you opt for, the Super Pump doesn't force itself to do more than it's capable of, and this prolongs the pump's lifespan and saves you money.
The Super Pump is easy to install and performance is excellent. It doesn't overheat during the summer and it doesn't make a lot of noise either. We have already mentioned the benefits of the swing way knobs and strainer cover so no need to repeat them here. Suffice to say the Super Pump is one of the top self-priming pumps available and easily the best inground pool pump.
Things We Liked
- Reliable performance
- Easy to track maintenance requirements
- Easy installation
- Large capacity
Things We Didn't Like
- A little loud
Editor Rating: 4.7/5
In this Pentair IntelliFlo Pump review we'll talk about its long life, quiet operation and energy efficiency, and how the 011018 upholds this with some really solid features.
The IntelliFlo is Energy Star certified, and this means two things: savings of up to 90% energy consumption and meeting the requirements of the US Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency.
The pump has a built-in timer so you can operate the unit for specific periods. Like the other IntelliFlo pumps, there are 8 speed options you can program. Depending on how you use your pool, you'll prefer one speed over the other. Whatever you choose, the pump is going to run at maximum performance.
The pump has a magnet motor to cut down vibration, and the motor also reduces the noise when you run the pump at high speed levels. You may need to use different speed settings, but any setting will produce optimum results.
The IntelliFlo is one of the best pool pumps based on performance and efficiency. You can control the pump any number of ways, i.e. the SunTouch® Pool Control, EasyTouch® and IntelliTouch systems. The pump is also compatible with other control mechanisms.
The pump runs quietly and does its work with little input required. It's versatile enough to be used for spa jets and pools, and it has a built-in troubleshooting tool. Before taking it to the repair shop, this diagnostic tool should be your first recourse.
A lot of customer reviews detail their energy savings, and it's true. Depending on how use your pool, this can be in the hundred or thousand dollar range.
There are some complaints about faulty installation voiding the warranty. However it you follow the instruction guide and have a professional install it, there should be no problems.
Things We Liked
- Multiple speed settings provide precise control
- awesome diagnotics
- TEFC design ensures long life
- Works w/ pop up cleaning system
Things We Didn't Like
- Noisy at low RPMs
- Could use better instructions in manual
Editor Rating: 4.7/5
The Jandy FHPM FloPro is designed to work with a wide array of pools for better filtration and water circulation. The FloPro shares a lot of features common with other Jandy pumps, but it also has unique features that set it apart. It is the best single speed variable pump.
Among these is its adjustable base, and this makes it easy to replace your present pump. The design also minimizes the amount of plumbing adjustments, and this alone means savings of a considerable amount.
The Jandy pump design allows for superior water flow even in its small body. Its compact shape also makes it an ideal choice for installing in tight locations.
The Jandy FHPM comes in four types: 1 HP, 2 HP, ¾ HP and 2 and ½ HP and is easily the best 1hp pool pump. The higher the horsepower, the more powerful the pump is. However, the other features are similar to other pumps
All models have a high flow capacity and the same compact housing. It's also easily the best energy efficient pool pump. The pool pump also comes with inline connectivity for quiet operation.
Variable speed pool pump reviews have given the FHPM some of the highest ratings for a Jandy product, and those ratings are accurate considering its performance and durability.
The pump set up is quick as the instructions are easy to follow. True to the claim, there's very little plumbing needed. Considering its affordability, the FHPM does very well in water filtration and circulation.
All good pool pumps run quietly and that's the case here. Once the pump is activated it starts the filtration process. Like the other models here the Jandy doesn't make a lot of sound.
In spite of its compact size, the FHPM does an excellent job drawing water. It's also fast, and should clean a good sized pool in a day.
The FHPM pumps are good for extended use: you can run it during the height of summer and it'll hold up fine. Because the base is adjustable you can install or replace your current pump without difficulty.
Things We Liked
- Quiet pump
- Easy installation
- Little maintenance required
- Alignment indicators ensure proper usage
Things We Didn't Like
- Pump can get hot
Editor Rating: 4.5/5
The SuperFlo has received some of the best pool pump reviews and with good reason. It's got a lot of features which ensure water circulates at maximum efficiency. This model comes with ½ HP but other HP options are available.
The SuperFlo pumps are made for in-ground pools. It's also constructed for heavy duty use with its sophisticated hydraulics. It also comes with a powerful 56 square flange motor, and each component has solid walls.
The unit is compact so you can install it in pads, and locking requires a simple turn. Built as a replacement for the Hayward series, the SuperFlo also works well for a spa pump. The SuperFlo is self-priming for rapid start up and superior performance.
The SuperFlo has a 1 year limited warranty, UL/CUL/NSF certification and unionized fittings.
The SuperFlo is an excellent pool pump. The default settings work fine but it's easy to change them if you want. The pump's design also simplifies cleanup. If you're using the built in controls, it's even easier to modify the settings.
The pump operates quietly, and it also does a good job reducing power cost. Reviewers have also expressed satisfaction with its durability, and this is possible because the SuperFlo doesn't exert too much pressure during operation. The less stress the pump places on the components, the longer it'll last.
Its energy efficiency is another plus. The best pool pump should be energy efficient and this is no exception. When it comes to pool pumps, you want specific features like cost efficiency, reliability and superior filtering performance. The SuperFlo delivers on all those.
The SuperFlo pump is very effective at what it does. It doesn't take long to install, and cleaning up the water is just as quick. Pentair is known for their quality pool cleaners, and this is one of their top releases so far.
Pentair Pumps Review - Is it Worth It?
Whether it is for a swimming pool or Jacuzzi, the SuperFlo does what it should. Compared to other products in the market, the pump is more cost effective making it close to one of the top swimming pool pumps, and a great choice.
Things We Liked
- Different HP options available
- Solid construction
- Good instructions
- Nice and solent
Things We Didn't Like
- One report of a priming problem
- Becomes noisier with age
Editor Rating: 4.5/5
The Hayward Power-Flo LX Series comes with several features for optimum performance on spas and above ground pools. One of its primary features is its Noryl impeller which generates superior flow rate without straining the horsepower, making it the best above ground pool pump.
The Power-Flo LX is equipped with a powerful motor for long term use and its mounting base offers support, stability and it's self-priming. The pump air flow ventilation was also designed to keep the pump quiet.
It also has swing away hand knobs so you can take the strainer cover off easily. The seal is ceramic, drip proof and resistant to heat, and another notable feature is its basket, which at 110 inches offers plenty of capacity.
The strainer has a see-through cover, and what this means is you can see if it needs cleaning. It also helps the seal is self-adjusting. The design also simplifies access to the internal components in case servicing is needed.
The Power-Flo LX deserves its reputation as one of the best variable pool pump options today, as the extra-large capacity cuts down the amount of maintenance you have to do.
Out of the box the pump is configured to 220V, though a simple adjustment lets you set it to 110V. The pump doesn't make a lot of noise when you run it, and for a lot of pool owners, its efficiency is another attractive option.
Too often pool pumps put so much pressure on the motor it breaks down after just a few months. The Power-Flo LX pumps don't do that so it's going to last longer. Each component has also been built for heavy duty use.
The pump also scores points for its debris loading capabilities. Operation doesn't get affected and the PermaGlass XL keeps the components corrosion proof, while ordinary pool pump are vulnerable to corrosion.
Installation is easy for in-ground pools, so all things considered, the Power-Flo is a solid pool pump. The design is good and housing is well-built for quick priming. If you know how a pool pump works, getting the Hayward to work will be easy.
If you're looking for a top above ground pool pump then trust this pump review - it's the best for any above ground swimming pool.
Things We Liked
- Resistant to heat
- Doesn't suffer from drip problems
- Spacious debris basket
- Awesome instructions
Things We Didn't Like
- No on/off switch (must be unplugged to be turned off)
- Short cord (6 ft long)
Editor Rating: 4.4/5
Pentair has manufactured several quality pool pumps, and the LA01N is one of them. This is our second of several Pentair pool pumps reviews, which shows how good Pentair pool pumps really are.
Its features include an energy efficient design and reliable water circulation, and measuring 16 x 9 x 10 inches, the LA01N doesn't take up as much space as other units.
The best swimming pool pump should include all the necessary components, and that's true here as the adapters and hose are bundled. The pump itself is made from corrosion resistant materials to ensure longevity.
The LA01N goes up to 50-PSI at 12-GPM and works with different legend pool cleaners. With ¾ HP, the LA01N is designed to circulate and clean pool water efficiently. Its features and design are also ideal for boosting your pressure side cleaner.
The LA01N runs quietly. As a booster pump it's also designed to work for long periods without performance deterioration.
Performance wise the LA01N is hard to match. Most booster pumps max out at 8 hours a day, but you can run the LA01N longer. As customer reviews have pointed out the pump is easy to set up and should be up and running quickly.
The instructions are easy to understand, and if you've worked with booster pumps before should present no problems. Setting and replacing your old pump shouldn't take more than half an hour.
The LA01N pump is not just effective, but it is also quiet. In fact as one reviewer said, she had to check to make sure pump was working because it's so quiet.
The LA01N is a well-made booster pump and it's the ideal replacement for old cleaners and easier to use. There are also four connectors and a hose so installation should be straightforward.
While the pump is easy to install, the warranty is only covered if the pump is installed by a professional.
Things We Liked
- Very popular
- Little maintenance
- Easy installation
- Quiet motor
Things We Didn't Like
- Components need to be replaced every couple of years
Editor Rating: 4.2/5
The EcoStar sports a unique control interface and it's been designed to provide quick access even in tight spots. You can adjust it four different ways and the interface also comes with automated protection and on-board diagnostics.
The pump comes in two versions, the EcoStar and the EcoStar SVRS (Safety Vacuum Release System). The biggest difference between the two is the SVRS provides sufficient suction power without the need for extra equipment.
The EcoStar has a 24 hour time clock and this time clock can be programmed with multiple speed options available. The combination of the timer and 8 speed options result in more efficient flow.
The EcoStar is Energy Star certified for more efficient energy use, and the TEFC motor is durable and silent.
There are also several ways to control the pump and you can use Hayward systems like OmniLogic and many others.
The EcoStar pump usually runs without any problems, and that's one of the reasons why it gets solid variable speed pool pump reviews. Its features are also top of the line and practical.
Its diagnostics tool does what it should. If there's a problem this utility helps you sort it out. This tool also serves as protection for fluctuating voltage, extreme temperature and other potential system failures.
Control and programing options are extensive. Aside from the controllers mentioned above, your current pump controller should work fine. Either way it's easy to get a grip of its functions.
The EcoStar does well in real life situations as you can use the variable speed settings throughout the day. The built in watt meter is just as useful: with it you can measure how much energy you'll use up as you adjust the RPM accordingly.
The EcoStar is a green pool pump, but don't mistake that for lightness. Its performance is comparable to those of other pool pumps without adverse effects on your energy consumption.
Things We Liked
- Energy efficient design
- Powerful filter
- Runs quiet
- Easy to use controls
Things We Didn't Like
- Doesn't work with solar heating equipment
- Not easy to install
Editor Rating: 3.9/5
The Jandy pump is equipped with 8 variable speed options for precision work. It is powered by a ½ HP motor (2 HP motor option available), and the SuperFlo is customizable, plus it allows you to program it to perform specific functions.
The ePump has Jandy's Stealth technology built-in for quiet and efficient performance. The motor is constructed for long term use and in varying conditions without performance deterioration. The ePump also comes with a large trap basket, reducing the amount of maintenance you have to perform.
You can control the Jandy via its built in controller, the PDA or AquaLink RS OneTouch. All these models have ergonomic handles for convenient handling and once set up you can check the indicators for information.
These pumps have Energy Star certification so it uses up to 90% less energy than other pool pumps. For an average American home this leads to savings of more than $1,200 every year.
The pump's design is an upgrade from the previous releases. The cable compartment looks better and it's now convenient to get to the controls. Overall it's a major improvement from the previous model.
The Jandy ePump is a decent pump. It is well built and looks like it's designed for long term use. Weather doesn't affect its performance and it runs quietly and does what it should without a hitch.
There are a few customer reviewers who complain of a malfunctioning part here and there. But most of the feedback is positive and says a lot about the pump's quality. In fact a lot of the customers who buy the ePump do so because of its reputation as one of the top pool pumps.
The filtration system works well and the basket does an excellent job of trapping debris and other elements that might impede operation. Most customers agree the motor pump runs quietly, perfect for pool filtration.
One of the biggest cons is that you need to pay for technical support. You would think that buying a product from a company is enough to get some help, but for this product specifically you need to pay which is a pretty weird situation.
Overall, avoid purchasing this Jandy pool pump as this is probably the least desirable out of all the swimming pool pumps we have reviewed. It just goes to show that a higher prices does not always mean a better product.
Things We Liked
- Not affected by cold
- Energy efficient
- Programmable functions
Things We Didn't Like
- Short motor life
- Technical support requires payment
So what is the best pool pump?
It really depends on you. However, our first 2 options are our best rated pool pumps and are safe bets if they meet your criteria (great HP for your pool and work with your system). Most of the other options are fine as long as we gave them above a 4.0 rating.
If you get one under that then be prepared to possibly be annoyed!


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Perricone Cold Plasma Sub-D
Perricone Cold Plasma Sub-D is a beauty treatment that claims to improve the appearance and texture of the skin around your jawline, chin, neck, and décolletage.
Perricone Cold Plasma Sub-D Review: Does It Really Work?
In an era when facial wrinkles are more of a choice than an inevitability, some brave men and women forgo Botox injections and lifts in lieu of being able to actually move their faces. However, while they may nobly live on with the lines between their eyebrows, you're hard-pressed to find an individual who embraces their notoriously-stubborn turkey waddle.
Enter Perricone Cold Plasma Sub-D, a treatment specifically designed to combat a falling chin and wavering jawline—potentially saving our generation from turtlenecks, high collars, and suffocating scarves.
Part of the Perricone MD skincare range, Cold Plasma was developed by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a dermatologist made famous for spearheading the trend of medical experts creating and endorsing their own products.
Can Cold Plasma Sub-D really tighten and lift the area that some unaffectionately call "the drop zone," or are we still damned to droop? We'll take a look at Dr. Perricone's neck rejuvenation treatment to find out.
What Does Cold Plasma Sub-D Claim To Do?
The key selling point of Cold Plasma Sub-D is that it reduces signs of a sagging neck and double chin. The product, which Perricone claims is the first of its kind, promises to sculpt loose skin so that you're tightened and refreshed from jawline to décolleté.
By addressing visible signs of aging along the jawline, chin, and neck area, Cold Plasma Sub-D claims that consistent use will minimize the look of wrinkles and ring lines along the contours of the neck, imparting a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Purchasing Cold Plasma Sub-D
If you want to purchase Perricone's Cold Plasma Sub-D through SubD.com, you're forced to purchase a skincare kit.
Not only does the brand's official website strong-arm potential shoppers into choosing a multi-product kit, any purchase automatically signs you up for their auto-ship program.
What's an Auto-Ship program?
Approximately four weeks after your first order is shipped, and then approximately every 12 weeks thereafter, you will be sent a new 90-day supply of Cold Plasma Sub-D. Each shipment will be charged to the card you provide at purchase.
That's right, without any further action on your part, purchasing Cold Plasma Sub-D means that approximately every four weeks you'll be charged $79.95, plus $3.99 for shipping and handling—unless you call 1-800-567-0287to cancel, that is.
Before you brush off the complication of being forced into an auto-ship program, understand that these commitments are more toxic than a cell phone contract: Sure, they deliver your goods on a regular basis. But, more often than not, you end up paying for way more than you use.
Ready to Place an Order?
Unfortunately, this section of Cold Plasma Sub-D's website is downright painful. Seriously, what's going on here? The home page looks like a glossy magazine. However, should you try to make a purchase, you're forced to navigate text larger than a preschooler's first attempt at the alphabet.
If you have the patience to navigate road sign-size text, you can choose between two purchasing options:
Face & Neck Firming Collection ($49.95): Includes Cold Plasma Sub-D and High Potency Amine Face Lift Treatment.
Cold Plasma Sub-D Face, Eye & Neck System ($79.95): Includes everything in the Face & Neck Firming Collection, with the addition of High Potency Eye Lift, Face Finishing Moisturizer, and High Potency Evening Repair.
Regardless of which kit you choose, each purchase includes free standard shipping. You'll also receive a free, high-potency amine face lift treatment and the Blue Plasma Collection with each order.
In case you're not impressed with the firming results delivered by Cold Plasma Sub-D, each purchase is protected by a 60-day money back guarantee, less shipping and handling charges.
If you'd prefer to purchase through a third-party retailer, avoiding Perricone MD's auto-ship program altogether, Cold Plasma Sub-D is also available through Sephora, Ulta, Amazon.com, Nordstrom, QVC, and more.
How Does Cold Plasma Sub-D Supposedly Work?
Taken straight from the Cold Plasma Sub-D website:
"Cold Plasma Sub-D utilizes powerful ingredients suspended in Dr. Nicholas Perricone's revolutionary delivery system and proprietary technology, including DMAE, to create a total neck rejuvenation treatment for the appearance of increased firmness to the jawline, chin and neck."
Let's get this straight: powerful ingredients, a revolutionary delivery system, and proprietary technology? So much for Perricone's claims of revealing the "science behind Cold Plasma Sub-D."
Notice the wording: Cold Plasma Sub-D is a "treatment for the appearance of increased firmness"—it's the word "appearance" that should make you check any expectations of lasting improvement at the door.
But, before we apply research, logic, and FDA regulations to our assessment of Cold Plasma Sub-D, let's list the anti-aging cream's other gold-star ingredients:
- Alpha lipoic acid, claimed to brighten and nourish
- Concentrated levels of caffeine, claimed to impart a chiseled appearance
It should be noted that neither of those two are high up enough to make the top ten of Cold Plasma Sub-D's list of ingredients (located at the bottom of the page)—indicating that the product doesn't contain particularly potent levels of either.
Shoppers with sensitive skin may find that what Cold Plasma Sub-D is formulated without is of equal importance. The product doesn't include any parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.
However, for a brand whose tagline is "The Science of Aging Beautifully," Perricone MD dishes out a pretty small serving of science to validate the mechanisms that make Cold Plasma Sub-D work. Nonetheless, we'll take what's given and examine Cold Plasma Sub-D's claims of imparting a chiseled chin off the three listed ingredients: DMAE, alpha lipoic acid, and concentrated caffeine.
What Makes Neck Skin Sag
Before we dive into the effectiveness of Cold Plasma Sub-D's ingredients, you should know that tightening an aging neck isn't a simple process. In fact, the area presents a threefold problem.
First, you've got muscles that sag naturally with age, potentially bearing the burden of bulging fat. The skin on your neck is thinner than anywhere else on your body, save for your eyelids, making the area particularly prone to wrinkling and crepey-ing.
If those two weren't enough, a veritable Bermuda Triangle of aging doom is created by your platysma. Oh yeah, the platysma—that thin, ropey muscle you can see splitting into a V-like formation of two cords. Did you know that it increasingly protrudes as they contract and release throughout your lifetime?
Basically, your neck was doomed from the get-go.
In fact, it's those three factors—sagging muscles, thin skin, and ropey platysma—that make your neck one of the first places to show signs of aging. Combined, they also make the neck a particularly difficult area to treat. W Magazine describes trying to battle your sagging wattle with lotions and potions alone, like "waging a two-front war on a sheet of thin ice."
Before we get suture-happy, let's examine the ingredients in Cold Plasma Sub-D to determine if Perricone's cream can effectively combat a sagging wattle.
The Science Behind Cold Plasma Sub-D
Cold Plasma Sub-D contains many of the same ingredients Perricone uses in his other products—including DMEA, which has its share of controversies.
DMAE: Is It Dangerous?
What kinds of controversies surround DMAE? This article by Smart Skincare does a fantastic job detailing the substance's history and applications, so we'll lean on their research to summarize the risks.
First, it's important to understand that there's a difference between topical treatments that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and those that can affect sagging skin—as Cold Plasma Sub-D claims to do.
That's because topicals with tretinoin (such as Retin-A) have been consistently shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in some people. But, as Smart Skincare states, no topical treatment has yet been proven to affect sagging skin.
So, how does DMAE, short for dimethylaminoethanol, fit into a facial regimen if no ingredient has been proved to sculpt the sag?
While the DMAE molecule can't produce anything near the tightening achieved by a facelift, Perricone isn't all hot air: DMAE may, indeed, be the first agent proven in a study to have at least some positive effect on facial sag.
Before you excessively protrude your platysma in excitement, know that DMAE's effect on skin is far less researched than it's other uses facilitating neurotransmitters. Basically, no one yet knows how DMAE firms the skin—much less if it does so consistently.
Research shows that even when DMAE does reduce sagging skin, the results are never dramatic. Additionally, DMAE can't reverse existing sag, it's only hypothesized to prevent future wattles—which puts a dent in Perricone's promise to sculpt your jiggly jawline.
Cold Plasma Sub-D's Other Ingredients
Lipoic acid has been shown to slow signs of aging some animal experiments; however, the micronutrient's effects were measured when digested in the form of the leafy greens, from which it's naturally found.
Science Daily reports that when consumed, either in its fresh farm-to-plate natural state or in a supplement, lipoic acid does appear to help restore a cellular "signaling" process that tends to break down in older blood vessels. Additionally, it can reduce mitochondrial decay in cells—a process which is closely linked to the symptoms of aging.
While lipoic acid might help halt the slow breakdown of cells as we age, caffeine is an established pick-me-up for more than your morning mood. From coffee grounds in cellulite lotions to firming under eye creams, caffeine is proven to provide a temporary boost to skin. However, just like your morning cup of coffee, the effects are short-lived—skin that's been perked up will likely sag again by mid-afternoon.
Cold Plasma Sub-D: Advanced Science or Hype?
Despite having established that sagging neck skin is particularly difficult to treat—and that Perricone keeps many of the mechanisms which could support his claims of efficacy under wraps—the three Cold Plasma Sub-D ingredients listed are supported by anti-aging studies as at least potentially useful.
But, what does that mean for you, as a consumer? Will using Cold Plasma Sub-D allow you to throw out your turtleneck and scarf collections, much less make repeated neck motions with wild abandon?
Let's examine the evidence:
The chemists at The Beauty Brains, an online resource dedicated to answering consumer's questions, were asked point-blank if expensive skin-tightening lotions really worked—with the reader specifically mentioning Dr. Perricone's brands.
Their response?
"Skin tightening lotions are a scam. The best performance you can expect from this kind of product is a temporary tightening feel if the product contains film forming agents. And even this marginal effect is not very long lasting."
In fact, The Beauty Brains has called out Perricone's brands in three other separate episodes of their podcast, calling the brand's products overpriced, over-promised, and ineffective.
The Cosmetics Cop at Paula's Choice is equally dismissive of Perricone's claims in her response to a reader's question:
"I actually don't know where to begin when discussing the nature of Perricone's work. In many ways this embodies some of the worst elements of what is taking place in the world of dermatology (starting with Dr. Murad of infomercial fame), namely using the cloak of medical expertise to promote the sale of skin-care products. The physician allure attributes medical connotations to products that end up not being different in any significant way from other skin-care products being sold from many lines without a doctor's endorsement."
Both The Beauty Brains and the Cosmetics Cop criticize Perricone for selling products that are over-priced. How overpriced?
According to Smart Skincare's report on DMAE:
"A number of skin care companies sell DMAE creams, most costing upward of $25 for a small jar. The prices reflect the hype and relative lack of competition from "supermarket" brands.
DMAE itself is a rather simple substance, no more costly than alpha hydroxy acids or aspirin. Besides, DMAE does not need special stabilization like vitamin C, and it is easy to disperse in a topical vehicle. Based on purely economic and manufacturing considerations, a DMAE cream should cost well under $10."
And if the realization that Cold Plasma Sub-D is being sold for seven times its approximate worth doesn't turn you off of purchasing, the Cosmetics Cop brings hits one final nail in this product's coffin: The jar Cold Plasma Sub-D is packaged in? According to the experts at Paula's Choice, it can't even keep the cream's anti-aging ingredients stable for long after you've opened it.
"That's a shame but especially so for a moisturizer that costs this much. In the end, Cold Plasma Sub-D isn't worth your time or money. If you're tempted by Perricone's claims, remember his classic quote from the doctor as seen in a November 18, 2001 New York Times article: 'If you promise them an unlined face, you can sell them anything!'."
Our Bottom Line on Cold Plasma Sub-D
Whether or not Cold Plasma Sub-D is "worth it" is subjective: Perhaps you don't mind dropping over $50 on a cream just to try or maybe its consistency and ingredients compliment your complexion.
However, if one were to judge Perricone's product simply by how well it delivers on promises, the evidence leaves giving this cream the cold shoulder.
» See Also: 19 Proven Ways to Reduce Wrinkles
1 out 1 people found this review helpful
Nasty reaction.
I purchased my products from the Shopping Channel. I have had many products from Perricone and I like them, they are very smooth and feel really nice on the skin (I have not seen much results from anything yet, just the same). But there are two products "cold plasma sub D" and "High potency face firming activator." These two products have a strong smell and after using these a couple of times, I started getting very itchy and my skin turns red like it has been burnt. I have found this very disappointing, since the products are not cheap and after 30 days with the Shopping Channel, you cannot send it back. The strange thing is, I did not react the first few times, so when I started having the reaction, it was too late to send it back. I figured there was nothing else I could do, so I have waited several months and I decided last night to try the face firming activator again. That one had given me the least amount of trouble. I put it on my jawline and up as far as my ears and went to sleep. I awakened scratching myself, and when I got up the area was itchy, red, and looked like I had a first-degree burn. I really don't know what is causing this and I've only used about a quarter of each of these products. I also use cold plasma, neuropeptide firming moisturizer, face finishing moisturizer, and firming eye cream with no problems. I would love to hear if anyone else has had this sort of reaction. I am not a person, that normally has any kind of reaction to anything.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
After one application my skin turned bright red and it burned. This is months later and my skin still hasn't healed. It feels like sandpaper. Trying to contact Perricone is impossible. Emails are never answered.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Good results
I am a skeptic when it comes to creams and potions. I am, however, surprised at the results of the Plasma Sub-D; not dramatic, but enough to make me go "hmmmm." Received the Sub-D as a sample, used it up, started to feel like my neck wrinkles were minimized, and bought a pot of it. Again - not dramatic results, but I don't necessarily want to look 30 (I'm 50), just want to take the edge off. For me, a former Botox junkie, this product is good enough.
Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
3 out 3 people found this review helpful
Love it
I actually love the Cold Plasma Sub-D. It works for me even if it is just the appearance, but isn't that what we all want? And the price for my jar of Sub-D plus my free mask and eyelid serum was $29.95. I just order it when I need it, and it lasts a long time. My neck looks better since I have been using it. I smell no fishy smell. Try it for yourself. I have used a few jars and love it.
Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
25 out 25 people found this review helpful
Be cautious
I ordered the Cold Plasma Sub-D (in a kit). After receiving it, I tried a couple of the other products, and they were fine, including the mask. Two nights ago I applied the Sub-D and woke up the next morning with a red, puffy neck that burned. I haven't put anything on my neck since, and this morning when I woke up my neck is not quite so red or puffy but it still burns, and the skin feels rough and stiff. Not exactly the results I was going for.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
26 out 28 people found this review helpful
Doesn't do a thing
Three weeks into the Cold Plasma Sub-D and the full kit, and nothing. I have been religiously taking it as directed, but nothing. For this price I could have had ten units of Botox, which would have actually helped.
Do not waste your time and money. My Mom is 87 years old and has used plain Ponds for 50 years, and that's our best bet.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
25 out 26 people found this review helpful
Not happy, no results.
I have not seen ANY RESULTS, I believe it is a scam like all the others. All the women they use in the commercial look good before the treatment. And if it is as great and wonderful with FANTASTIC results, why does Dr. Pericone have such wrinkled skin? He also wears a very high collar to hide his neck.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
30 out 31 people found this review helpful
Unethical sales tactics
I bought the Perricone Cold Plasma neck cream after I saw it advertised on TV. I believed that I was buying the cream from Perricone MD as a one an off purchase. To my utter horror, I received a parcel with more Perricone products a month later from a company called Guthy Renker who also took money from my account. Apparently I was put into a continuous supply scheme by Guthy Renker and they would have continued supplying me with products which I did not order and take money from my bank account. Perricone MD is aware of Guthy Renker and told me that they were their sister company.
I have blocked Guthy Renker from taking any more money from my bank account and have reported both companies to the Trading Standards and the ASA. If the products are good why use such sales tactics? The cream seems OK but I would never buy another Perricone product.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
36 out 36 people found this review helpful
Don't ever purchase from this company or a Perricone Product
Package arrived, used Cold Plasma D and other products. Smelled like fish and made me itch. Learned my lesson and will never order or use this product again. Well, a few weeks later they send another package, didn't ask for one, so found out this was an every month shipment. Called the company to return it and had to take a lengthy survey. Received Return Label and returned product. Guess what, never got a credit and now they say they didn't get the product back. Credit card fought this fight for me. Husband didn't keep UPS receipt, so we can't prove anything. So here I am, sit with a $158.00 charge, no product and pissed off. Do not ever do business with Perricone or Guthy Renker. It's a scam.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
33 out 34 people found this review helpful
Lies upon Lies
This all started for me about a year and a half ago. I purchased the full range of cold plasma products from tsc.ca (theshoppingchannel.com). Luckily for me they have an excellent return policy because back then the cold plasma smelled like rotten fish. I emailed the shopping channel saying that the online presenter should talk about the scent.
The next time they were on tsc.ca, the scent was described as having a ''slight'' earthy odor. So not true. I did some research into Nicholas Perricone, the presenter, and he said that he breezed through Harvard Medical School in 3 years. Well actually I couldn't come across any record of him being there, interesting. Now the presenter says there is no added fragrance in any Perricone product. So once again I went on to tsc.ca to check the ingredients of about a dozen products. 7 out of the 12 I checked had added fragrance.
So I think they just make this up as they go along not thinking anyone would check. Lies and more lies, or maybe they're just brain dead from all that ''DMAE''. If you want a great skincare company, check out skinactives.com where you can design your own product or buy premade products where every ingredient is explained. Thanks
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend
22 out 23 people found this review helpful
Cold Plasma Sub-D
Keep your money! An expensive product that does not work. The product has a funny odor and texture. Could just be my skin and expectations. Their customer service, however, is very professional and courteous.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend


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Advanced Search Click Here
Known to be used on vehicles fitted with a LDV chassis, such as ambulances
This is the whole unit complete with steel end caps, rather than just the rubber bellows.
Based on a customers comments, we understand these relate to Renaults part number 7700314153, but do investigate yourself to be sure as we are uncertain about this information.
The price quoted is for ONE unit
For searches - PNP314680200 PNP 314 680 200 PNP 3146 80 200


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Hello Guest!
Customer Support Call us toll free!1-888-667-5776
Thermostat Guard - 13x12x7.5 cm
General Description
Thermostat Guard - 13 x 12 x 7.5 cm
The guard is made out of plastic and has a size of 13 x 12 x 7.5 cm.
The thermostat lock box is installed around a thermostat control unit. The guard is installed using screws. The plastic case acts as protection with a locking mechanism and key ensuring that only approved people can access the thermostat.
The thermostat lock box is ideal for the workplace and other commercial settings to prevent tampering and unwanted temperature changes.
Technical Details
|Outer dimensions:
|13x12x7.5 cm
|Inner dimensions:
|Plastic (PS)
|Come with screws, lock and key
|Deelat Industrial
|180 Day
Do you have a question about this product?
Receive $5 off your purchase simply for asking a question! Ask us anything! In fact, we use questions asked on our website about our products to further inform future customers, so we want you to leave a question. In addition, you will automatically be entered in our monthly $100 giveaway when you ask a question! Click for details »
If you need an answer to your question immediately, please call our friendly CUSTOMER SUPPORT.
Hi there, are these dimensions for the inside or outside?
Hello Mike, thank you for your question. The dimensions listed as 13x12x7.5 cm is for the outside of our thermostat guard. If this size does not work for you please contact our customer support team to go over all the options we offer.
Reply Inaccurate Deelat Industrial on Feb 13, 2018
Are the dimensions for the inside of the guard or the outside (including plastic thickness)?
Hello Chris, thank you for your question. The dimensions are for the outside of the thermostat guard.
Reply Inaccurate Deelat Industrial on Feb 26, 2018
i have a thermostat measuring 12cm x 12 cm square. is this the right size or do i need to go up a size. Also do i need an electrician to fit it?
Hello Sue, thank you for your question. You would need the thermostat guard one size up as the dimensions provided are outer diameter. You can have an electrician install it but we believe its an easy enough job that anyone can do it.
Reply Inaccurate Deelat Industrial on Apr 10, 2018


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The Wild & The Wonderful
The Wild & The Wonderful will open your eyes to the diversity and uniqueness found below the surface. If you or your kids enjoy strange, exotic creatures, you'll definitely enjoy some of the outlandish inhabitants in this enthralling exhibit.
Building B
- California Sea Lions
- Hellbender
- Poison Dart Frog
- Stonefish
- Black-Footed (jack-ass) Penguins
- Clownfish/Anemones
- Spiny Lobster
- Lionfish
- Barracuda
- Knife Fish
- Seahorse Reef
- Axolotl/Tiger Salamander
- African Lungfish
- Chambered Nautilus
- Electric Eel
- Snake Neck Turtle
- Small Moray Eel
- Blind Cave Fish


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HTC snubs ASUS' buyout hints
ASUS Chairman Johnny Shih might have just been throwing suggestions in the air, in pubic, but HTC is making its official stance known. It isn't interested in a merger. These words were posted in Taiwan's stock exchange, responding to Shih's statements to shareholders last week. If it did happen, it would be the largest move to consolidate Taiwan's smartphone industry, though both companies, and not just HTC, would have probably benefited from such a union. For now, however, HTC is sticking to its own guns, no matter how bleak the situation may be.


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Grease: Cypress College Theater and Dance Spring Musical
Friday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 11, at 4 p.m.
Friday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 18, at 4 p.m.
Buy Grease Tickets Now
No refunds or exchanges after purchase.
Online ticket sales end 3 hours before the performance time. Seats may still be available at the box office. Please give us a call at 714-484-7200.


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Luke joined Stratton Craig (Bristol office) in 2016 after escaping the hustle and bustle of London for a more relaxed pace of life in the creative hub of Bristol.
He's come a long way from the insurance call centres where he used to work, most recently earning his pennies as part of the digital media team at global television retailer QVC. He's a stickler for punctuation and writes naturally punchy copy, counting brands like Boots and Links of London among those in his portfolio.
He claims to write a cracking pub quiz, was once a backing dancer for one of the UK's poorer Eurovision entries (of which there are many), and can often be found attempting to earn a green finger at his new allotment.


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In the royal-wedding afterglow, Buckingham Palace still has a major P.R. problem: how to handle Prince Andrew, Britain's trade ambassador and fourth in line to the throne. The prince's dissolute lifestyle, links to unsavory foreign potentates, and friendship with the American registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are undercutting the Queen's efforts to rehabilitate the monarchy. And while many blame Andrew's problems on his perennially broke ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, EDWARD KLEIN discovers some insiders pointing to another woman—his mother herself
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Redesign by Subtraction
GGD has a new look. I was inspired by Gina Trapani (Smarterware, Lifehacker) to remove any extra lines, links, and other "ink" that doesn't serve any purpose, and I hope the site appears cleaner and easier to read. I also wanted the extra horizontal space for larger images and avoid the dreaded side-scrolling in posts with lots of code like this one. The space will also be handy for short instructional screencasts I've been recording for my clients here in the core, which I'll start posting here soon. Leave a comment if anything appears broken. I hope you like the new look!
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Public Cloud adoption is growing among enterprises as it offers organizations agility and elasticity in provisioning compute resources. In a short period, cloud has become a platform of choice among entrepreneur and scientist to bounce new idea and test theories.
rograming paradigm is also evolving and focus is shifting away from developing giant monolithic applications that suffer from lengthy and cumbersome build-test-release cycles and can only be scaled vertically. Industry trend is to break product features and functionality into micro services that can be self sustained and developed and scaled independently, thus giving developers freedom to build and test features quickly by realizing the benefit of Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline and DevOps model.
Amer Ather from Netflix will discuss set of technologies fueling public cloud success
Public Cloud Overview
Amazon, Microsoft Azure, Oracle etc.
Industry trends:
Container (Docker) orchestration, Server-less computing, and general purpose GPU computing in public cloud.- Multi tenancy in cloud via hardware and software virtualization
Infrastructure, platform and software as a service
Public cloud Managed services
Public cloud multi-tier security and authentication schemes
Public cloud instance (Virtual Machine) selection and features
Cloud Storage flavors: Object, Instance and Network storage
Cloud Network infrastructure features and capabilities
Building cloud native applications via Cloud API and services
Hands on labs to reinforce foundation and concept learnt.
Venue: Plug and Play, Sunnyvale, CA
Date: Sunday, March 11th 2018
Time: 10:30AM to 2:00PM
Members Free, Non-Members $10
Meet and network 10:30AM
Cloud basics and extent 11:00AM
Using or design for the Cloud 12:00AM
Lunch 1:00PM
Workshop 1:15PM


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A 2019 study found that drinking 2 or more sodas a day (regular or diet) is linked to a higher risk of early death. more...
January 27 , 1973 : The Vietnam War ended. more...
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
The term Jacobs Taper refers to one of a family of tapered machine tool shafts used to lock the tools in place in drill presses, lathes, and milling machines. This group or family is collectively known as machine tapers and offer a cheap, efficient alternative to conventional jawed chucks. The machine taper has been in use since the earliest manual drill, milling machines, and lathes and is still used as a reliable tool mounting system on modern computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines. Unlike convention chucks which rely on the pressure exerted by three or more jaws to secure a bit or tool, the machine taper relies simply on the friction across its surface and the pressure against the work piece to hold it firmly in place.
The different members of the machine taper family all work on the same basic principle. The tool shaft is tapered and is simply inserted into a similarly profiled socket in the machines head or chuck. Friction across the two mated surfaces and the pressure exerted by the work piece hold the tool firmly in place. This simple system produces considerable torque transmission and a very secure grip on the tool. These tool shafts and their corresponding chucks typically have a slot cut through them allowing a wedge to be used to dislodge the tool when the job is complete.
Other variants in the machine taper family include the Morse Taper and the Brown and Sharpe Taper. These machine taper groups all feature a set of different sizes graded according to their taper profiles which are defined by three basic dimensions. The first is the diameter of the taper at its broad end or major diameter, the second is the diameter at the narrow end or minor diameter and the third the axial length between the two. The Jacobs Taper is generally represented by ten different sizes all of which are typically used in light load applications such as drill presses.
Jacobs Taper chucks are far cheaper to produce than conventional jaw types and tools may be changed a lot quicker using this system. The Jacobs Taper and its counterparts in the family have been in use for many years and are still popular tool-locking options even on modern CNC machines. The Jacobs Taper chuck and tool shaft system is most commonly found on larger, commercial drill presses although smaller do-it-yourself (DIY and hobby machines are available with the locking system.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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Anthony B. Pinn
Anthony B. Pinn is Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies at Rice University and teaches courses on African American religion, history of black religious thought, and black theology. He is the author of over thirty-five books, including The New Disciples: A Novel (2015), The End of God-Talk: An African American Humanist Theology (2012), Varieties of African American Religious Experience (Fortress Press, 1998), and Why Lord? Suffering and Evil in Black Theology (1995).
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After heading in after lunch to give R the chance to rest up before heading out again...I was trying to take a selfie to send to my mom in China when I opened up and drank this DC, R just couldn't stand the fact that I was taking a selfie without him and ran clear across the room to jump in the picture with me!
Not taking a nap like he was supposed to be doing with Poppy...
...and then 30 minutes before we need to leave, this is what he does!
Our evening was spent at Big Cedar's new addition, Top of the Rock. You have to get in the car to get there, but it's just around the corner! No more than a 5 minute drive!
While they were redoing this area, they found a cave...and have since turned it into an attraction site. The golf cart cave tour had only been opened 2 weeks when we were they and our tour was guided, but I heard them say when they got the proper railing up it would be an "on your own" type deal.
It was a very neat experience and I'm so glad that we got to experience it! Luckily the weather was so nice that week...and since we were moving, it kept things breezy!
Inside the cave...
Coming out of the cave...and headed over the bridge!
They let us stop and take pics at this beautiful view.
Then it off to the literal "top of the rock" for dinner reservations! (This is the view of the practice course...it is all artificial, including the "sand")
The menus were made out of old wood, and were bond together with a strip of leather...VERY unique!
R took this of us!
Surprisingly...everything was Mexican--I stayed with what I knew and went with the fajitas! Can't go wrong there, and I was right!! ;)
Then we were off to tour the rest of the place...including the cutest little chapel!
Out of the bottom floor another restaurant is this beautiful infinity pool!
This is a little bit hard to see...but there is a little bitty ole cabin in the middle of those trees--nothing special really. We couldn't figure out what it was, so we finally asked someone. It is an old civil war cabin that has been turned into the "Honeymoon Suite" for couples that get married in the chapel! Craziness right!?Looking back at everything from the chapel...
The chapel wasn't quite complete yet...but they still let us in, but only to view this floor (there are 2 or 3 OTHER floors, down below)...yes that back wall is glass to be able to see the beautiful view! It was breathtaking, and nothing like I've ever seen before!
I think this outdoor area next to the infinity pool (that has doors that go directly inside) would make a fantastic reception area for guests after attending a wedding in the chapel!
We came back to Big Cedar before sunset...and noticed something was going on!--They had smores going for everybody! They handed us the cutest little package of two graham crackers, a marshmallow, a Big Cedar chocolate bar and a wipe and we were good to go!<<--this another="" felt="" font="" i="" is="" isney="" it="" reason="" thought="" very="" world-ish="">--this>
Somebody LOOOVES their smores!
I'm gonna try and get the rest of our trip up on the blog this week, so stay tuned!


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Politics News Editor
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The Wall Street Journal is looking for skilled, experienced, dynamic news editors to join the Politics team as it ramps up to cover the 2020 presidential election and beyond.
The positions, which report to the Politics Editor, will involve guiding and editing small teams of reporters within the Politics team to ensure that we have peerless breaking news, analysis, in-depth features and creative presentation for our politics coverage.
We are looking for editors who can help conceive and drive coverage, provide mentorship and story guidance to reporters, and edit stories expertly and in keeping with the fundamental principles of WSJ journalism: accuracy, fairness, objectivity and clean, lively writing.
At least five years of editing and/or reporting experience is preferred. Applicants should include a cover letter, resume and examples of edited work.
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Watching a skilled conversion optimizer work is a sight to behold.
These people — the good ones — are wizards. They know exactly what to do, where to move stuff, how to organize it, how big to make it, and exactly how to design a page that will earn floods of conversions and loads of cash.
How do they do it?
Conversion optimization, part mystical art and part entrancing science, is not something that comes naturally. The best conversion optimizers have analyzed thousands of landing pages, spent a long time on boring split test results, and have developed the ability to read the minds of their customers.
In addition to my experience in conversion optimization, I've had the privilege of working with some of the world's most successful conversion optimizers. What I've produced in this article is an unveiling of how the best conversion optimizers create landing pages.
A word about landing pages, content, and this crazy world of conversions
For many businesses, the process of creating landing pages is a templated task. Rather than develop unique landing pages for different PPC ads or campaigns, the designers merely swap out a few content pieces in a template and produce a new landing page.
Unfortunately, that's not a very strategic method. A landing page, whether that landing page is also the website's homepage or a PPC target, is a conversion powerhouse. Allowing its fate to be determined by the efficacy of a templated design is risky at best.
All of the features of a landing page matter. The elements of "content" that I will reference below include more than just words or CTA copy. They include the whole approach of a landing page — its purpose, intent, audience, action, and then the obvious things like images and text blocks.
A word of warning: Conversion optimization isn't as simple as following a few "best practices," reducing your form fields, or making your CTA button bigger. Sure, those things help.
But it's more than that — more complicated and far deeper.
What you're about to read simplifies it, but doesn't change the fact that there is a level of complexity that goes beyond what you may be expecting.
I sweep aside all the customary babble about orange buttons and things that always boost conversions.
Instead, I've gone straight for the cognitive jugular. This is the deep stuff that really matters in conversion optimization. This is how the pros create landing pages.
Know the target customer.
This single point trumps every other point in the history of conversion optimization.
Knowing your target customer is the single most important thing you can do as you create your landing page.
- Because your target customer is the one who will be converting. Make it for that person, not for anyone else.
- Every group of buyers is different. What works for cat lovers is not going to have the same impact on marketing professionals.
- Every element on a landing page needs to meet the unique needs of the target audience — images, copy, explanation, etc.
- People have different learning styles. An explainer video may work for some people, while long-form content may work for another type of learner.
- The more targeted the landing page, the more effective it will be.
I suggest a laser-focused approach to understanding your customers.
Before you run a single test, create a single headline, or look for a single image, do this: Research and know your customers.
Nothing matters unless you know your customers.
How do you do this?
- First, I suggest that you develop a customer persona. You can use the list in my Online Marketing guidebook to help you.
- Second, create a customer journey map to help you understand how and where your marketing intersects with the customer's experience.
Notice how some of the most successful landing pages have an unstoppable focus on the target audience.
Here's ManPacks. A landing page with this type of headline, subheadline, and picture would work with few other audiences.
Compare that with a landing page that targets a completely different demographic.
Everything about these landing pages is different. The conversion action, the layout, the copy, the options, the images — everything is different.
Because the two pages have two distinct audiences.
If you learn your customers, then the rest of the conversion optimization process is possible.
Don't even attempt to do conversion optimization unless you know your customers.
Understand the right conversion action.
Before we can have a coherent discussion about conversion optimization, we need to understand what the conversion action is.
What do I mean by conversion action?
Every landing page has a certain action that it is trying to get the customer to do. When the customer completes that action, it is known as a conversion.
Conversions may be a purchase, or they can be a micro-conversion such as filling out a form or submitting an email address.
The conversion action is very important to the conversion potential of the page.
For example, a conversion action to "buy now" may not be the right one for a landing page. Instead, a conversion action of "free trial" may be better. This has to do with more than just CTA copy. It has to do with the overall focus of the page as a whole.
There are huge differences in landing page conversion actions.
Here is Salesforce, a CRM SaaS. Conversion Action: Fill out the form and get a demo.
Here is Starbucks. Conversion Action: "Explore" the variety of coffee subscriptions.
Here is Sprint. Conversion Action: Buy an iPhone 6, an iPad mini 3, and a subscription plan.
How do you know what action to choose?
- The place to start is with your goals. What are you trying to accomplish? What is your goal?
- Know your customer. What would be best for them?
- Understand the customer's journey. Where does this landing page meet them? Does it address their position?
- Know the position of the customer in the buy cycle. When and where are they most likely to make a purchase or decision?
Once you analyze these factors, you'll be able to successfully determine the best conversion action for your landing page.
Create cognitive flow
Cognitive flow is an often-overlooked feature in landing page creation.
Cognitive flow is the way that a landing page addresses a user's need, answers the user's question, and leads them to the point of conversion.
Cognitive flow is an application of the cognitive information processing (CIP) theory. According to the theory, learners are viewed as both seekers and processors of information.
Information flows in the following way:
Image source
At the most fundamental level, a learner is absorbing phonetic and visual information, processing the information in both her long-term and working memory.
Simultaneously, as the user looks at a landing page, he is following the train of thought in the content, asking questions, expecting answers, and raising objections, all in an unbroken flow of conscious processing.
A landing page must successfully meet the user's need for cognitive flow in the processing of information.
Here are the questions or demands that a landing page will answer. Remember, a landing page can't answer all these questions in a single glance. Thus, a landing page has a cognitive flow by which it addresses these issues sequentially and systematically.
- What is this page about? (Usually answered by a headline or image)
- What does this mean? (Usually answered by a subheadline)
- Show me or tell me more (Image, bullet points, or additional paragraphs)
- How can I be sure? (Customer testimonials or other trust signals)
- But I have some objections! (Testimonials, social proof, statistics, data, emotional persuasion, further information, etc.)
- What should I do about it? (Conversion action)
Here's a landing page for Ramit Sethi's online course "How to Talk to Anybody." The CTA button is not in the screenshot below, but each element of the page helps the user flow cognitively through the process that climaxes in conversion.
Notice how the following long-form landing page accomplishes a specific purpose at each section.
The landing page answers questions that a potential buyer is asking:
- Can I host it on my own server?
- Does it work for enterprise-level organizations?
- Is it easy to use?
- Does it work with JIRA, Slack, Hipchat?
The landing page answers each question, coaxing the user towards a conversion using the power of cognitive flow.
Identify and eliminate friction.
Within every landing page are elements of friction.
Friction is another one of those cognitive issues that lies under the hood of most conversion optimization efforts.
The definition of cognitive friction is "the resistance encountered by human intellect when it engages with a complex system of rules that changes as the problem permutes."
Applied to conversion optimization, friction is anything that gets in the way of a conversion. It could be a complicated process, a hard-to-find button, an unclear phrase, a slow-loading page or a weird font.
The best conversion optimizers know that they must seek and destroy such friction.
WiderFunnel's LIFT Model of conversion optimization makes the attack on friction a major part of the process. Removing anxiety and distraction are two major methods of eliminating friction.
Here are some friction-fighting questions that you can ask about the landing page. These are taken from my article, "What Every Marketer Needs to Know about Conversion Optimization."
- Is there too much information?
- Am I introducing any extraneous topics or issues?
- Do I have any unnecessary form fields? Are there too many?
- Are there any terms or concepts that might be confusing to the visitor?
- Does the user have enough information to make a decision?
- Is there any more information that the user might want? Questions to be answered?
- Is the information organized logically?
- Does the information flow well?
- Does my design style offend or please most of my visitors?
- Do I have enough stylistic interest to engage users and eliminate style friction?
- Does the page take too long to view, read, or scroll?
- Does the conversion feel too rushed?
- Are there too many/not enough pages in the funnel process?
- Is the text size appropriate for headlines and content?
- Is the call-to-action button an appropriate color?
- Are prices clearly indicated?
- Does the background color and text make for readable content?
These are just a sample of the many issues that could produce friction.
The best way to identify friction is to get in the mind of your users (back to point number one).
Know what tests to run
One of the main things that conversion optimizers do is test. Rather than rely on hunches and suspicions, they micro-analyze each element of a landing page in order to make the page as effective as possible.
Although split testing is not without its pitfalls, it is the single best method of improving the conversion rate of a landing page or website.
But what should you test? For any given landing page, there are thousands of things that could be tested. How do you select the elements of a landing page that will make the biggest impact?
It will vary from landing page to landing page, and from industry to industry. That being said, there are a few things that most CROs tend to test right away. Here is a list of five things that you can immediately begin to test.
Test a major redesign.
Sometimes, the biggest conversion gains come from the biggest changes. Such is the case with a radical redesign.
You may decide to radically redesign your landing page after reading this article. Such a change can reverse everything about an existing landing page. The color scheme is different, the form is different, the copy is different — everything can be different.
Note: Some optimizers would not consider this to be a split test, because it is testing a huge variety of elements. For simplicity's sake, I'm calling it a split test because it compares two versions of a page. Technically, however, the test involves more than two isolated elements.
A few years ago, Conversion Rate Experts redesigned CrazyEgg's landing page. Here is how radical it was:
The newly redesign page — the long one — outperformed the original one by 30%.
Marian University conducted a series of tests to see which of their landing pages performed better. The differences were pronounced.
Test images
Images are a great source of testing fodder. One of the most basic tests is to compare an image landing page with a no-image landing page.
You might be surprised by the results. For example, Hubspot tested two versions of a landing page to determine whether the image had greater conversion power or the no-image variation.
As it turned out in the above test, Version A (no image) scored a 24% increase in submissions over the variable of Version B.
You can also test the type of images.
Highrise CRM tested the original design of their landing page against a simplified design with a picture of a user. The result was an increase in conversions of 102.5%.
Not content with testing just a single picture, they produced six variations, and tested all of them.
Test headlines
One of the most popular and effective split tests is headlines.
A single headline tweak can produce surprising upticks in conversion rates.
A LeadPages test compared two variations of a headline. One was short, and aimed directly to attract the book's target audience of retailers.
The variation was longer, but spoke more directly to the user.
The single test was profitable. It boosted conversions by 307%.
Testing a headline is a fairly straightforward process. Buffer explains how they do it using Twitter traffic test cases. The tweetability of a headline can serve as an indication of its conversion success.
We're at the conclusion of the article, and I haven't even told you how big to make your CTA button, or what size your image should be.
The point of this article is much different. Successful conversion optimization looks beyond the external details and dives into the internal thought processes of the user. By understanding the user, the CRO can…
- Understand the right conversion action
- Create cognitive flow
- Identify and eliminate friction, and
- Know what tests to run
Complicated? Sure.
But effective? Heck, yeah.
What is your starting point for creating a conversion ready landing page?
Read other Crazy Egg articles by Neil Patel.


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Dystopia and its discontents
Kim Stanley Robinson breaks down the various flavors of utopia and dystopia and comes out in favor of writing about, and pursuing, utopias, despite their limitations.
He concisely explains why dystopias are unable to spur real change:
These days I tend to think of dystopias as being fashionable, perhaps lazy, maybe even complacent, because one pleasure of reading them is cozying into the feeling that however bad our present moment is, it's nowhere near as bad as the ones these poor characters are suffering through…If this is right, dystopia is part of our all-encompassing hopelessness.
And why utopias meet such strong opposition:
It is important to oppose political attacks on the idea of utopia, as these are usually reactionary statements on the behalf of the currently powerful, those who enjoy a poorly-hidden utopia-for-the-few alongside a dystopia-for-the-many.
It's interesting to read his comments in the context of reactions to politically progressive efforts like the Green New Deal and universal healthcare. Some of the loudest opposition has come from those who already enjoy the desired benefits.
Immediately many people will object that this is too hard, too implausible, contradictory to human nature, politically impossible, uneconomical, and so on. Yeah yeah. Here we see the shift from cruel optimism to stupid pessimism, or call it fashionable pessimism, or simply cynicism. It's very easy to object to the utopian turn by invoking some poorly-defined but seemingly omnipresent reality principle. Well-off people do this all the time.
Crafting a compelling utopia–or as I sometimes put it, designing a better way to live together–is the defining project of our generation. We have the resources and capability; what we still lack is the right design and pathway.


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Tagged with FDT …
Compiling and Running an App using local data with FDT – #in
Introduction I'm currently creating a 'mini' as3 framework which can run on Eclipse and FDT on a thumb drive. Which means I will not have to configure the machine I'm working on. I'm building the swf's using the FDT Flex compiler without Flash Data Error I exported the build to the deploy folder on my … Continue reading
Setting up Eclipse/FDT for AS3 Using the CS5 iPhone Packager
Introduction: Further to previous post, Packager for iPhone I began experimenting with creating an AS3 project for iPhone OS. My aim was to set up FDT, so I could write the AS3 code with all the normal hints and typical IDE assistance rather than be plagued by a multitude of red dots. Also, I need to … Continue reading
Setting up SVN for an Existing FDT Project
Aims To create a Subversion Repository for an Existing FDT Project Preamble I've created a few Blogs on the topic of using Subversion and FDT, which missed explaining how to perform this simple task. I was generally, checking out a fresh subversion project then copying the existing project to this other project. Requirements FDT 3.0 … Continue reading
Creating Subversion Repository and new Flash Project in Eclipse in OSX
Introduction I have already created a post Copying Base Project in Reposoitory to new Project in Eclipse/FDT, and wanted to document my approach in creating a Flash project from scratch. The advantage of starting a project from scratch from a Subversion Repository is the ability to use Trac from the onset of the project. Requirements … Continue reading
Pure MVC
Pure MVC – quick outline and a collection of useful links I've recently been creating a lot of projects using Pure MVC, (see my post MVC for an introduction to MVC), and believe it to be the best Framework by far for ActionScript development. Of course there's a learning curve, but leaning the Framework is … Continue reading
Using Bitami to set up Trac in OSX
Requirements Mac OSX 10.4 Subversion Bitnami FDT Eclipse SVN plug-in Preamble I used Trac an enhanced wiki and issue tracking system for software development projects, some time ago and found it an excellent tool. Trying to install it on my own machine (a MacBook 1.83 Ghz) I came across numerous problems downloading and installing from … Continue reading
How to increase memory allocated to Eclipse.
I've recently upgraded to FDT 3.0 and encountered a warning message: "Not enough memory. To use FDT you should raise the available memory for eclipse. Edit the file 'eclipse.ini' inside the eclipse installation directory and add the line: -Xmx512m After doing so restart eclipse." I had some trouble finding the correct file. I Found the … Continue reading


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[BUG] It is possible for Enemy to get stuck in an infinite loop at the start of their turn in the Mangar's Horde fight.
PLATFORM : Steam, Win10
When I was in the Mangar's Horde fight against the eight waves of skeletons, the fight got stuck at the beginning of the enemy turn on Wave 8 of 8. I had completed my turn and the two remaining skeletons were standing on caltrops and also in the fire from the Fire Horn.
I had Ended my turn and was waiting for the enemy turn. I would have expected them to possibly trigger the caltrops, perform their shooting then die from fire damage before the impending respawn thus ending the entire fight.
Instead, the combat switched to the Enemy Turn and hung. The game did not freeze but the Enemy seemed to be stuck in an infinite loop and never performed any actions. I waited five minutes. The party and enemy were performing idle animations and the music was playing but they didn't move or shoot.
My only option was to surrender the fight and try again. The second time through, the exact same thing happened at the end of Wave 3. There were two skeletons left, I was expecting fire or caltrops to kill them and again they stuck still. They were in different grid squares this time.
I would consider this a critical bug as it completely prevents access to Mangar's Snare.
You can see the party from the picture. I had both bards with tankard trinkets, Dalgliesh with Healing Potions, Crux and Leosliach with Faerie Bombs and Wringneck with caltrops. My tactic in this fight was to move Wringneck up, throw caltrops, attack and retreat, place fire from the Fire horn then use occasional Faerie Bombs to make sure back row skeletons were removed at the end of their turn. I had no Practitioner or Rogue AOE. Only Bard songs used were Sanctuary Score and Duotime. Leosliach did use her sweeping strike where appropriate.
(LARGE IMAGE FOR DETAIL - 550Kb) http://www.dcoffey.co.uk/images/bardstale/Horde.jpg
[BUG] Infinite Loop in Enemy turn in Mangar's Horde fight
For all Bard's Tale IV discussion that does not fit elsewhere, suggestions, feedback, etc. No spoilers allowed.
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[BUG] Infinite Loop in Enemy turn in Mangar's Horde fight
Last edited by DanielCoffey on October 1st, 2018, 9:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: [BUG] Infinite Loop in Enemy turn in Mangar's Horde fight
Naah, under 100MB they don't even notice it @ InXile!DanielCoffey wrote: ↑October 1st, 2018, 8:40 am(LARGE IMAGE FOR DETAIL - 550Kb)
- DanielCoffey
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Re: [BUG] Infinite Loop in Enemy turn in Mangar's Horde fight
Ah, it has scaled it anyway.
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Lay Low @ Nuna Now Festival in Manitoba, Canada
This weekend, Lay Low will again visit Winnipeg and Gimli for the Nuna Now.
This is her second time joining this lovely festival.
Traveling on her own, doing a solo set on Friday in Winnipeg and Sunday in Gimli.
Facebook events:
25th of May, in Winnipeg with Leif Vollebekk and Christine Fellows
27th of May, in Gimli with Leif Vollebekk and Mise en Scene
Don't miss this if you're in the area!


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Just click and send this Glorious Flower Arrangement conveying the warmth of your love to your lovely relatives residing far away. This Arrangement is loaded with 2 Orange Lilies, 2 Yellow Roses, 2 red mini Gerberas and plenty of greens (Diameter about 30cm). 1 free Vase.
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|It's my birthday!
I realize it might be a bit shameless to make today's blog post about me, but it's my birthday and I thought it would be fun to share my day here with you.
As a long time celebrator of birthdays, I feel like I have gotten better at them. The early ones, of course, are easy. Ideally, moms and dads make those first ten birthdays extra special for you so you don't need to work hard to have fun. I remember my mother gave me a birthday party when I turned about six or seven and I wore one of my favorite-ever dresses-- a brown, smocked, knee length dress covered with Winnie the Pooh images. It had a ribbon around the waist and I picked it out at Sears, Possibly from the "Winnie the Pooh" collection. I learned that just having a special outfit makes a birthday more fun.
|The next book in my Heartache, TN
series releases in October!
My next significant piece of birthday wisdom was gleaned much later. I was speaking to a girlfriend about birthdays, and that year I was a bit blue I hadn't done a better job of celebrating my special day. She said, "Day? Joanne, you need a Birthday Week." Suddenly, it wasn't too late to celebrate because I was still in "my" week. I went to the florist that very day and bought myself the kind of bouquet I secretly longed for but no one knew to choose for me. I took an inordinate amount of joy seeing my all-purple arrangement and I learned a great lesson for all the rest of the years that followed. A) don't wait for anyone to make your birthday special for you when you are well-versed in what you love and B) it's never too late to spoil yourself.
|A gift for YOU!
So, as an experienced celebrator, I will make many plans with family and friends today and for the next week. And to cap off my birthday extravaganza, my husband is taking me to Disney for a quick visit and dinner out. I might even see Pooh. I know I'll definitely have a fancy drink while wearing my favorite dress.
**Have any favorite birthday memories from childhood? Share with me and I'll give one random poster a fun present suitable for YOUR special day-- a cute makeup bag, Fabulips and a pink, glittery makeup mirror to ensure birthday fabulousness at all times.


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Ancient Secrets to Success: The Richest Man in Babylon and His 'Seven Cures for a Lean Purse'
Babylon became the wealthiest city of the ancient world because its citizens were the richest people of their time. They appreciated the value of money. They practiced sound financial principles in acquiring money, keeping money and making their money earn more money. They provided for themselves what we all desire . . . incomes for the future. – George Samuel Clason
What can a book that is first published in 1926 offer about modern finance? Why is the book "The Richest Man in Babylon" being "hailed by millions of readers as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth"?
Considered a modern-day classic, this book offers its readers an understanding of and a solution to personal financial issues. The author, George S. Clason, is a successful businessman who founded the Clason Map Company of Denver, Colorado and published the first road atlas of the United States and Canada.
Having read this book recently, I would like to share with you the hidden treasures that I was able to gather from it and why I believe this book must be a required reading for every young adult.
The book itself consists of several parables of varying degrees of quality and length. In this short review, I will be focusing on the story of Arkad, who was known not only for being the wealthiest man in old Babylon, but also for his liberality, charity, and generosity.
In the story "Seven Cures for a Lean Purse," Arkad was summoned by the King of Babylon to share his wisdom to a group of 100 Babylonians on how he acquired his vast wealth. He taught them for seven days, with each day focusing on one cure to make one's purse fatter.
Listed below are the seven cures as expounded by Arkad during his class.
Start thy purse to fattening. The assumption here is you have a source of income. From whatever you earn, you pay yourself first by taking in one-tenth (1/10) and saving it. A part of what you earn is yours to keep. The book uses coins for analogy: For each ten coins I put in, to spend but nine. In my previous article, The Habit of Saving, I mentioned about setting aside 20% of your income for savings and investments and 10% for tithing. Both cases emphasize the need to set aside a fixed portion of your income on a regular basis for savings. Isn't this a wonderful goal for all of us to have?
Control thy expenditures. Budget your expenses so that you may have enough money to pay for the necessities, to pay for the enjoyments, and to gratify your worthwhile desires without spending more than nine-tenths of your income. Be frugal and not spendthrift. Discern what are necessary expenses and not. Make a budget for necessary expenses. Do not buy what you do not really need, even if you have more than enough money to pay for it. Live within your means and avoid bad debts. Life is good and life is rich with things worthwhile and things to enjoy.
Make thy gold multiply. Arkad mentions that each one of us desires an income that continues to come whether you work or travel. After some time of regularly saving a fixed portion of your income, you will already have some amount that you can now invest. One thing I want to emphasize though, is to make sure you are not just keeping your savings by putting the money inside a piggy bank or under your secret compartment at home. If you are just starting to save, it is better to put your money in a savings account after choosing a bank with the best interest rates. Now, on the topic of investment, there are many options: stocks, mutual funds, real estate, etc. The idea is to find an investment vehicle which takes advantage of the power of compounding while providing a safe and steady income. Nowadays, the concept of passive income is booming and has helped many people achieve financial independence.
Guard thy treasures from loss. I really appreciate this line from the book: It is wise that we must first secure small amounts and learn to protect them before the Gods entrust us with larger. Invest only where the principal is safe. Take care not to be swindled or scammed by cheaters. If you are investing in stocks, do not be a trader unless you have years of professional study or experience on how to be one. Invest only on good and strong companies. Another important point in this cure, is to find wise men or mentors who have the experience of living a profitable life. Their wisdom will help you protect your treasure from unsafe investments. In my case, I am a member of Bo Sanchez's Truly Rich Club, which offers guidance on which Philippine companies and mutual funds are good for long term investment while enriching its member's spiritual life on his way to becoming truly rich.
Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment. This one is quite simple: own your own home instead of renting so that you can use the money for savings and investment. If you are looking for a home to own, consider your income properly.
Insure a future income. In short, invest for your retirement, old age, and your family's future after your passing. Provide in advance for the needs of your growing age and the protection of your family. In the modern society, this translates to health and life insurances and retirement funds (through long-term investments, for one).
Increase thy ability to earn. This focuses on cultivating one's strengths and educating one's self to become wiser, more skillful, and more confident. In short, add value to yourself. Try your best to find a job that you love that working hard does not seem to matter to you at all. Never say never to opportunities, and look for them yourself. And as I have mentioned above, having passive income in addition to your regular job earnings is one way to increase your ability to earn.
I definitely find this book a great read for learning more about becoming wealthy. The tales are interesting and make the book easier to understand. The edition I read though uses old English which made it a little bit difficult for me to understand the first portions of the book. But as I continued reading, the book made a little more sense. (For the latest edition of this book, you can purchase a copy of "The Richest Man in Babylon: Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century".)
To close this review, I would like to borrow this line from the book itself: LO, MONEY IS PLENTIFUL FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLE RULES OF ITS ACQUISITION. In addition, it is ACTION that will lead you to the success you so desire. Just reading this article or the book won't make sense unless you put your learning into action.
Marj Baynosa is a chemical engineer and educator, who loves reading and writing in her spare time, especially on finance, faith, and other seemingly mundane things.