text:
Eva is The French Coconut. She's a vegan recipe developer, coconut lover and storyteller from the south of France. She is passionate about all things health, including lifestyle, plant-based food and good vibes. We chatted to Eva about her inspiration, lifestyle and what it means to be apart of our cookbook Vegan Bowls for Vegan Souls.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I grew up in the south of France, in Cannes, I now live in Paris. I've always been passionate about cooking, although that's not what I studied, (studied art and cultural mediation). I share my creations, recipes and vegan lifestyle on Instagram, I am a private chef and I also create content/recipes for brands and vegan options for restaurants sometimes a whole new menu.
When did you start food blogging on Instagram and what inspired you to start?
I started in 2015. One summer night I was making dinner for some friends and my best friend came in the kitchen and said: "wow that's beautiful, honey you should share your creations out there, the world needs to see that!"…that's how it all started.
What are the biggest challenges and greatest rewards of being a food/lifestyle blogger?
The biggest challenge I would say is posting regularly I guess… also being able to disconnect. My greatest reward is all of the amazing people I have had the chance to meet since I started. Also, being able to actually do what I deeply love.
You are such a positive advocate for plant-based living. What led you to this lifestyle choice?
In 2011 I lived for 6 months in India, where I ate food with a lot of veggies, seasoning, spices, and I wasn't missing any other food. So when I came back home I decided to change!
Where do you get your recipe inspiration from?
My biggest recipe inspiration are the seasons, the seasonal vegetables and fruits, also I am very much inspired by traditional south of France, "Provencal" cooking.
What are some things you like to do in your spare time?
Throwing big dinner parties with friends. Hiking in the wild nature of south of France, doing yoga, meditation, reading books, listening to my vinyl collection.
If you could live off one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oooh, that's a hard question… because the South of France is very close to Italy, we often visit. During one trip to Portofino, I learnt how to make pasta. So yes pasta with a simple garlic thyme tomato sauce or even with my homemade ratatouille.
You were one of the first bloggers to create amazing dishes in our bowls when we first launched two years ago! What is your favourite thing about your Coconut Bowls?
Yes I do remember when you first started, I was like this is a no-brainer I need those, this is amazing! Because of the name I chose for my Instagram account The French Coconut… Also, I love them cause they make me feel each morning like I am on vacation, an immediate feeling of being far away, I simply have to close my eyes and imagine myself in a beautiful tropical landscape. Taste of heaven!
You serve up some pretty amazing dishes in our Coconut Bowls! What has been your favourite so far?
My very first nice-cream and also, of course, the recipe I created for the cookbook!
We are so excited to have one of your recipes included in our cookbook 'Vegan Bowls for Vegan Souls'. Tell us about the recipe you chose and what it means for you to be apart of the book?
This recipe is very much related to my roots and my family, I remember my grandmother Nina gathering the whole family around the table, making amazing dishes and serving delicious recipes. So this recipe for me is like a tribute to her and to my parents who thought me how to cook. For me to have been included in the book was like a dream come true, I have always dreamt (still do) about writing my own cookbook…maybe one day.
Thanks Eva! Big love from Coconut Bowls x


text:
Katherine Timpf Boyfriend, Married, Husband, Salary, Net Worth, Bio
Quick Information
|Date of Birth
|TV Personality
|Marital Status
|Not Yet
|Not Yet
|Blake (Split)
|Social Media
|Twitter, Instagram
|Not Yet
|5 Feet 7 Inches (169 cm)
|Hillsdale College
|Julia Timpf (Sister)
28 years old Katherine Timpf was born in Detroit, Michigan, the USA on October 29, 1988. She is a reporter, comedian, and television personality. She lives in New York City. Timpf has appeared on numerous radio and television programs such as Fox and Friends, America live with Megan Kelly, Cavuto, Stossel, The Nightly show with Larry Wilmore, The Greg Gutfield Show, Red Eye and Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. She graduated in 2010 from Hillsdale College with a B.A. in English.
Since May 2015 Timpf has played a recurring, on-air role on The Greg Gutfeld Show which airs on Fox News Channel. She has appeared as a frequent guest on many other shows of Fox News.
Timpf also regularly provides political commentary expressing her libertarian and millennial views as they relate to feminism, economy, culture and political correctness. In 2017 Timpf began co-hosting a show called The Fox News Specialists with Eboni Williams and Eric Bolling since 2017.
Timpf began her career by working as a video and print reporter for the Leadership Institute's CampusReform.org in Arlington, Virginia where she covered fraud, bias, waste, and abuse on colleges. Before that, she also worked as-as a producer and reporter for Total Traffic Network in Santa Ana, California, a digital editor for The Washington Times and as the news anchor for NASA's Third Rock Radio.
In 2012 Timpf received Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program grant awarded through The Fund for American Students. There she completed a project titled, "As California Goes, So Goes the Nation: The Consequences of Following Golden State Policy."
Timpf has been a contributor to different publications such as The Washington Times, Investor's Business Daily and Orange County Register. She is also a featured comedienne on the morning drive radio show on 98 Rock in Baltimore. Timpf has also been performing in stand-up comedy at venues across the country which includes The Improv in Los Angeles and in New York at Gotham Comedy Club.
Timpf is also a reporter at National Review Online where she writes columns and satire pieces on various topics addressing government overreach and cultural over-sensitivity. She often uses sarcasm, humor, and satire in her writing. Her writing has been featured by numerous news organizations.
Timpf believes in limited government and calls herself a libertarian. In November 2015, Timpf's satirical remark about the Star Wars fandom on a 3AM political comedy showed Red Eye with Tom Shillue which made a month prior led to death threats against her.
She announced on March 1, 2016, that she had joined Barstool Sports. On March 20 of 2016, she started a weekly podcast which was called 'The Kat Timpf Show.' In the show, she talks to a guest about random subjects, and reveal about their personal life.
She is a single woman and has not married, yet so there is no question of her having a husband. There were the rumors about her dating a guy named Joel Pavelski, and he was her boyfriend. She was also in a love relationship with a guy named Blake, but there is not much information about the couple in media.
Kat has a height of 5 feet and 6 inches. She has a good figure with measurements size of 34-24-35. Her net worth and annual salary are not made public. Her bio and other information are found on wiki sites and other medias.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Profits for MasterCard rose 33 percent to $608 million during the second quarter of the year, up from $458 million in the same period last year, as consumers used the company's branded debit and credit cards more frequently, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. During this period, revenues increased 22 percent to $1.67 billion.
[Featured Product: Looking for credit cards for bad credit?]
The amount of money spent on MasterCard-branded debit and credit accounts rose 16 percent over the second quarter in 2010, and the number of transactions rose 17 percent, the report said. However, the majority of the purchases made on these accounts were through debit and commercial credit, rather than a sharper increase for consumer credit cards. However, consumer credit card growth was healthy as well.
As a result of the increases in spending and dollar volume, the growth seen during this period was the largest by quarter the company has experienced since the final three months of 2007, the report said.
Some analysts believe MasterCard can continue to expect its profits and revenues to expand going forward, according to Barron's. Purchase volume and the number of transactions both beat forecasts, and given its status as a global processing power, foreign transactions will also help contribute to further growth.
[Featured Tool: Get your free Credit Report Card from Credit.com]
Image by Alan Chan, via Flickr


text:
How to Get More Traffic and Leads from Your Online Marketing Efforts
If you're interested in marketing your business online (and who isn't at this point), you can't escape hearing about content marketing. It's everywhere you look, or listen.
You hear that people don't want advertising when making purchasing decisions, they want valuable information.
You hear that it's content that spreads via social networks, generating powerful word-of-mouth exposure for savvy content marketers.
You hear that it's content that people desire and seek out, and it's great content that Google wants to rank well in the search results so those people can find your business.
You hear that content is the best way to achieve what advertising is supposed to achieve, but doesn't do so well online — to get people to know, like, and trust your brand.
You hear all of that, and yet, perhaps you're thinking …
"So what? What does any of that actually mean for my business?"4
The Power of Audience
The subtitle of this ebook refers to traffic and leads, because if you ask any business person charged with exploring effective online marketing tactics and strategies, they'll say that's they want. That's what ultimately leads to sales and profits, right?
Content marketing done correctly will get you traffic and leads. No doubt about that.
But the true allure of content marketing is in building an audience. Rather than the constant rat race of conventional online lead generation, an audience puts your business into an entirely different space within your industry.
Rather than buying access to an audience from the media, your company becomes the media. In the process, you build an owned media asset (your content website) that gets more powerful and valuable each month and each year that you continue producing content.
Soon, you're enjoying benefits from your owned media asset that make the initial goals of traffic and lead generation seem almost quaint.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.5
What is it exactly about content marketing that leads to higher revenue and more profit? Why is this type of traffic, and these types of leads, better than others?
How Do People Decide to Buy?
The evidence is unmistakable — the internet has completely upended the lead generation and sales process. Prospects are not waiting to be sold to — they're proactively gathering information, soliciting peer recommendations, and making decisions about you and your competitors … before you realize anything is happening.
This means that prospective buyers have a preconceived frame of mind about your company before your traditional marketing machine even steps to the table. To say this may not be optimal is a massive understatement.
Even worse, they may not find any significant difference between you and your competition at all. At this point, it becomes all about getting the lowest price.
Again, not a great situation.
Let's face it — businesses large and small have a problem standing out in our modern competitive landscape. Products and services are largely
undifferentiated to buyers, and trust is at rock bottom, especially for unfamiliar brands.
Sure, you understand the unique benefits that your offer enjoys compared to the competition. But odds are your prospects don't, and there's a good chance that they're not swayed, even when you have the opportunity to make those differences clear.
Here's what makes a true difference — the sales experience itself. In other words, in many cases how you sell is more important than what you sell.
That's not to say you can sell something that's sub par. It's quite the opposite: competition is fierce enough these days … to the point where multiple high quality solutions can come down to a virtual flip of a coin among prospects. You need something more to sway the decision by enhancing the sales experience.
Content marketing is your "something more". It:
- Puts your brand out front by embracing how the information-driven sales experience now works;
- Positions you as the indispensable advisor on the buyer's chosen purchasing journey; and
- Creates a natural affinity for your solution.
Content marketing is how the modern buyer comes to know, like, and trust you. In other words, it's the new branding. But it's also much more.
In many cases how you sell is more important than what you sell.
Because you're teaching first instead of pitching, content has an additional powerful, persuasive effect when it comes to communicating benefits and overcoming objections. That's because an education-forward marketing approach gives you the influence that comes with authority.
Creating an Authoritative, Enjoyable Sales Experience
I often say that content marketing is all about educating prospects enough to do business with you. These days, people want to learn before they buy, be educated instead of pitched.
They don't necessarily want to hear about your product or service, at least at first. They want a better understanding of the entire arena of knowledge that surrounds their problem or desire.7
This is why content marketing works.
It provides prospective buyers with what they want (rather than interrupting them with what they don't care about), while making your brand the expert resource for that specific arena of knowledge.
People inherently want to do business with the foremost authority in the field. It makes them feel more confident about their choice, because no one wants to be wrong.
So, Solution A and Solution B are close on features and benefits, but the experience of buying from the authoritative Provider B has alleviated the risk of making a bad choice.
Authority rules. It's psychological influence at its finest — not based on manipulation — but rather on service and value that's worth paying for in itself.
Instead of paying for advertising, you create content that's worth paying for, and give it away for free. Counterintuitive? Maybe, but that's what works when empowered prospects control their own path.8
These days, people want to learn before they buy, be educated instead of pitched.
It's no coincidence that Google also uses authority as the gauge for which sites and pages to rank ahead of others. After Panda and Penguin, a tightly-focused level of demonstrated expertise with content is more crucial than ever.
Add to that the signals Google now factors in based on the authority of individual writers with AuthorRank, and you see how you can create a perfect storm of authority with search engines. But you have to cultivate strong content creators, and keep them on your team.
It's too early to discuss Google, though. We need to understand effective content marketing from a big picture perspective in order to see that desirable search engine rankings are simply a beneficial outcome of a larger process.9
Content + Social + Search = Content Marketing
The struggle many face with marketing online is a misguided impulse to put various tactics into separate boxes, instead of seeing each as an aspect of one strategic process. The result is often a disjointed, ineffective mess that leads companies large and small to question the return on investment of online marketing in general.
To this day, I see people referring to content marketing, social media marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) as three different things — as if each is a tactic that can get you there alone. The smart way to practice effective content marketing is to treat social media and search engine results as aspects of a holistic strategy necessarily centered around content.
In other words, content, social media, and SEO are the primary three aspects of the content marketing process (at least in ways that won't get you marked as spam or nuked by Google).10
Let's look at each part, and how they relate to one another.11
The foundational element is content. Not just any content, but valuable information uniquely tailored to speak the language of your intended audience, while simultaneously addressing the problems and desires that this audience expresses.
Content must answer their questions, alleviate their fears, encourage their desires, but most of all … it must inspire and challenge them to transform their lives away from the ordinary to the new experience that your solution provides.
Your initial goal should be to create audience-focused content as if social media and search engines don't exist. Content marketers have done that successfully dating back to 1895, because they're giving people something they want that's also persuasive. At that point, realize that the very same content is what will get shared by the right people in social media.
- Social
Effective social media marketing amounts to content distribution. Luckily, that's what the data shows social networks revolve around. 12
People want content. Sharing content has become one important aspect of social media status, and content curation has made select editorial voices into powerful conduits.
Social sharing provides some direct signals to Google that indicate your content is high quality (especially on Google+), but more than that, social media provides networked word-of-mouth publicity. Content curators — and those looking for authoritative citations — look to these social indicators for clues as to what to link to, and natural, authoritative links are the original signal Google looks for.
- Search
You create content that the people you're seeking to reach love. Those people prove it by sharing it on social networks and linking to it from their own blogs and content sites. Google picks up on those signals, and understands that you've created something that more of "the right people" might want to find when searching.
Google continues to get smarter at weeding out false signals that seek to boost unworthy content. Other than that, Google still isn't any smarter than your average 5-year-old at being able to determine content relevance for ranking purposes — not without a little help from you. 13
No matter how much people love your content, and provide natural signals to indicate that love, it's up to you to gently tweak your content so that Google knows exactly who the right people are that need to find that content.
The entire content marketing process is what SEO has become. The good news is, higher search engine rankings are just one of the benefits of an integrated content marketing strategy.
Wait … Isn't SEO Dead?
That depends on what you refer to as "SEO."
Is it buying links to thin keyword-stuffed pages?
Is it low-quality content enhanced by inorganic link building?
Is it building a content "farm" based on brute site authority and weak value?
If so, then yes, SEO is pretty dead, or at least on life support. And the Panda and Penguin updates to the Google algorithm are not the end of the story … the engineers at Google will continue to do everything they can to stick a stake in the heart of this type of search engine "optimization."14
But that's not what I call "optimizing" for search engines, because eventually the search engines will sniff you out (and wipe out your rankings). On the other hand, some of the brightest minds in SEO have been taking a content and socially-driven approach since before Twitter and Facebook were around, and Panda and Penguin have not caused those folks one bit of distress.
The kind of SEO that actually works from a long-term perspective is alive and well:
- Creating high-value content that achieves business objectives as if search engines didn't exist.
- Using the power of social media to gain exposure for that content, which results in natural links and other signals of quality and relevance.
- Focusing on enhancing the natural authority of websites, pages, and individual writers, which creates industry influence and trust with Google.
- Doing smart on-page optimization using the language the audience uses when searching and socializing, so Google sees you as the most relevant option.
And guess what? Google absolutely encourages this approach, because it makes their algorithm smarter and their search results better.15
Again, it's not just about search results. Smart content marketers derive benefit from audience-focused content as well as by social media exposure and sharing. This enables you to build a profitable audience in itself.
But if you do content plus social correctly, you'd be crazy not to take advantage of better search rankings. Here's why …
Search Engine Rankings are the Icing on the Content Marketing Cake
Targeted search traffic is still the holy grail of achieving your business objectives (you know, like sales), as opposed to scoring random traffic. Social media traffic is crucial, but mostly in the sense that it allows you to develop more valuable long-term traffic sources like opt-in email subscribers and high search rankings.
The average order value (AOV) of website traffic from search in Q2 2012 was $90.40, … more than 40% higher than traffic from social networks ($64.19), according to an August report from Monetate.1
The reason why is simple … it comes down to intent. Marketers have known since way before the Internet that the frame of mind of the prospect makes all
1 http://pages.monetate.com/eq/?src=M-W-Web&ast=R-EQ16
the difference (which is why expensive advertising is used to try to influence that frame).
Online, people who are searching for something specific are in a very different, and more valuable, frame of mind than when they are socializing on Facebook.
To use a nearly obsolete example, think of your state of mind when you used to reach for the Yellow Pages. Now think of your state of mind when your favorite TV show is interrupted by a commercial. Next, extrapolate that out to being pitched by a stranger while chatting with a friend at a cocktail party.
A new Forrester report titled "The Purchase Path of Online Buyers In 2012" shows that fewer than 1% of transactions could be traced back to social links.2
In other words, compared with social traffic, searchers are the most motivated people who hit a website. This is important.
If they're looking for a product or service, there's a good chance they're looking to buy it. If they're searching for information and your site provides it, you've got a great chance of converting that drive-by traffic into long-term attention (email subscriber, anyone?) with your content.
2 http://pages.monetate.com/eq/?src=M-W-Web&ast=R-EQ17
Content paired with social media is not primarily a conversion-to-customer path, but instead an audience-building path. And if you follow that path successfully, you're able to add long-term, high-value search engine rankings, which in turn continue to grow the audience in a highly-targeted way over time.
In that sense, smart content optimization is more important than ever.
Is Content Optimization Still Required?
The most disturbing nonsense I've seen since the Google Panda and Penguin updates is this idea that content no longer needs to be optimized for search engines. The thinking goes that Google will just magically know what you're talking about and rank you accordingly.
Sorry, that's not the way Google works.
Search engines have come a long way since the early days of the web, but they're not as sophisticated as you might think. It's not that Google is dumb; it's more like Google is a bright little toddler who needs information delivered in a way that works for him. He needs to be "spoon-fed" …
Think of it this way. You wouldn't set a bone-in ribeye and steak knife in front of a 4-year-old and expect him to have at it. You'd present the food in easily chewable bite-sized chunks with appropriate utensils.18
Likewise, you might write an article about "green widgets" using metaphors, entertaining analogies, and smart synonyms. You know you're writing about green widgets, and most reasonably intelligent people know it too.
But if you don't use the words "green widgets" in certain locations and frequencies along with other SEO copywriting best practices, both you and the search engines are out of luck. The toddler goes hungry, and you're frustrated and left dealing with a meltdown of sorts.
Google is a bright little toddler who needs information delivered in a way that works for him. He needs to be "spoon-fed" …
That's not to say you want to serve up keyword-stuffed crap with less appeal than mashed beets. That's a really bad idea.
On the contrary, you create ribeye content that engages people first and foremost, while also spoon-feeding the search engines exactly what they need. The end goal is always to let other people find you with the language they use when searching and discussing via social media.
And now, post-Panda, you also have to optimize your overall editorial strategy to make sure your site (as a whole) contains enough content about the topics you want to rank for. You can thank the content farms for that, but it makes sense regardless of search — your content marketing focus has to be on the things your audience cares about.19
And those are the topics you want to rank well for. They're the cornerstone content areas your site's foundation should be built upon.
It always comes back to the audience you're trying to reach, and they way they think about their problems and desires. This has always been what Google has aimed for with their search results, and their goal is actually tightly aligned with what you should be doing with content regardless of SEO.
So, keyword and on-page optimization is still required for search. Is this, however, something new?
All Smart Marketing is Optimized (And Always Has Been)
"There is your audience. There is the language. There are the words that they use." –Eugene Schwartz
Surely these anti-optimization pundits are not suggesting you abandon targeted search traffic, given the dismal conversion rate of social traffic. The more likely answer is they hopped on the "social media expert" bandwagon without a clue about the history and evolution of advertising, branding, or direct marketing.20
So, again … let's pretend search engine rankings are out of the picture. Would "optimizing" your content still matter for marketing purposes?
The job of any smart marketer is to enter a conversation that's already taking place, and channel existing desire for solutions and benefits onto a specific solution. The key to intimately understanding that existing conversation is to first understand how the people you want to reach think, feel, and view the world.21
This is not an "internet" concept; it's just that search engines and social media have given us the ability to glean this vital insight in ways that were impossible before.
Look back at the quote from the top of this section. If you're not familiar with Eugene Schwartz, he's not a social media or online marketing expert. He's no longer even alive.
Schwartz was one of the most influential copywriters in the history of the craft. The quote above is an excerpt from a longer statement from the "Mad Men" era of the 1960s:
"One hour a day, read. Read everything in the world except your business. Read junk. Very much junk. Read so that anything that interests you will stick in your memory. Just read, just read, just read… There is your audience. There is the language. There are the words that they use."22
He's making the very important point that in order to effectively communicate with an audience, you must learn how the audience speaks. This is vital in word choice, but also for understanding how they think, feel, and view the world.
Now, thanks to the internet, we have unbelievable access to the language of our desired audience. Search engine data and social media listening tools make it all available … to anyone willing to do the necessary research.
The job of any smart marketer is to enter a conversation that's already taking place.
So what's the problem?
Well, just like some self-proclaimed social media experts err on the side of becoming a Pollyanna due to a lack of real marketing expertise, the less-sharp end of the SEO industry has given keywords (among other things) an undeserved bad name. These people simply spent years focusing on gaming search results by creating poorly-crafted pages without any real regard for true conversion principles or long-term viability.
Don't let these bozos keep you from seeing the reality of keyword research, or diving deep into the language of the audience.23
Keyword research, at its essence, is vital market research. It tells you what people are interested in when they search in Google and converse in social channels.
Better yet, it reveals the actual language people are using when they think and talk about those topics, which provides you with insight on how to frame your content.
That information is worth its weight in gold, if you know what to do with it.
Email Marketing Remains Central
The point of everything we've discussed so far is this — content optimization, social media optimization, and search engine optimization are not the point. They are all aspects of the broader goal of building a real audience, not transitory traffic.
The Internet is a direct marketing medium. You have the power to build an audience and speak to them directly at your discretion, without intermediaries.
This is huge.
The central contrast between traditional direct marketing and online marketing is permission. You don't buy a list, you build a list. People will 24
voluntarily accept your offers only because of the independently valuable content your deliver.
Content so good it's worth paying for.
Reflect back on what you've read so far. You're producing great content, and giving it away for free. And it's less expensive and more effective than advertising. So, in reality, you're not actually giving away anything.
The money is in the list.
In terms of Q2 2012 conversion rates, email (4.25%) easily outperformed search (2.49%), with both far ahead of social (0.59%).3
The inbox is the most intimate audience channel, and if you get invited in, attention to your messages is at the highest point outside of the customer/ client relationship. Most of all, email is a transactional medium, where business is handled. The inbox is the place not only to be, but to be anticipated.
So, you've got to build an email list, powered by permission, sparked by free content.
3 http://pages.monetate.com/eq/?src=M-W-Web&ast=R-EQ25
Is this what we mean by audience?
The Rise of Audience Optimization
We started this ebook talking about the power of audience. About the "unfair advantage" you gain over your competitors when you develop an authoritative position in your industry thanks to great content, distributed in social media channels, resulting in targeted search traffic, all of which builds an email list.
It's important to realize, however, what your audience will truly look like, and how it works. Because all the optimization you do with content, social, and search is really a process of audience optimization.
You have the power to build an audience and speak to them directly at your discretion, without intermediaries.
Take a look at the graphic below. I like to call this the content marketing "circles of trust," with an obvious nod to De Niro in Meet the Parents. Except in this case, those outside the content marketing circle of trust don't trust you!26
There is your audience. These are the people who have, in one fashion or another, established a relationship with you which entails trusting you enough to follow you over time.27
The idea is to constantly optimize the level of trust the audience has in you. This, in turn, results in conversion optimization.
Social network fans and followers at Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn are definitely part of your audience, but your relationship with them is the relative weakest in the concentric circles of trust. They perform a vital function, however, even if they never become customers and clients — by sharing your content.
The goal is to continually move people into the audience at the point they want to enter, and then deeper into the stronger relationship circles. The focused email channel before conversion to customer/client is where an email autoresponder or other marketing automation will become your best friend.
And don't forget … your existing customers and clients are not only part of the audience, they're vital members of the audience. Not only when it comes to repeat purchases and recurring lines of business, but also as sharers and evangelists.
You'll notice that search isn't included in the ring of circles. Targeted search engine traffic is the most likely to enter your audience at a deeper level, perhaps even directly into the customer/client rings. But unless you optimize your site to actually make the conversion, that search traffic is lost, likely never to return.28
Interestingly, data shows4 that converting search engine traffic into the focused email ring first (rather than trying to sell to them directly), actually boosts ultimate sales conversion rates. Content wins again over initial pitches in just about every context, and the companies with just a slight degree of patience ultimately achieve dominance over time.
Great content that generates social media and search traffic are vital aspects of all viable content marketing strategies. But all of this "optimization" you're doing is really about building an audience that converts, shares, and evangelizes.
It's all about building an audience and constantly optimizing to make that audience more valuable to your business. And the key to audience optimization is to create content in an agile manner.
An Agile Approach to Content Marketing
So far, you're up to speed on the need for smart content marketing. But the question remains … how do you create a content marketing strategy that works?
The first step is to get your head right. In other words, you need to begin with the correct perspective to succeed with online content as a marketing tool.
4 http://blog.kissmetrics.com/triple-salespage-conversion-rates/29
Mainly, you need to begin with the end (the result you want) in mind. This is where content marketing strategy fails … essentially when there isn't a executable strategy in place at all.
Agile content marketing is the answer. Because no matter how wrong you get it at first, you can always make it right — if you abide by this general philosophy.
Once again, we can borrow methods that have been proven to work by others. Some software companies have been using an agile methodology for quite a while.
The word agile used in this sense comes from the world of software development5, and is based on iterative and incremental development. Meaning, as with lean manufacturing6, you start with something simple, understand that it needs improvement, and quickly make those improvements based on feedback.
Sound strange to apply to content development? It's not, really.
This is the way stand-up comedians create content that cracks audiences up. Let's start with them.
5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development
6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing30
How Stand-Up Comedians Develop Content
When applied to content marketing, agile development can be best understood by the way stand-up comedians write, test, and refine their acts.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not some isolated act of creative genius; it's a process of iterative and incremental joke development.
First, a comedian writes material. These jokes are based on what the comedian thinks is funny based on an educated guess of what might be funny to the audience.
The comedian knows the act needs to be tested and improved. So, she heads out to small comedy clubs and performs the initial jokes in front of a live audience.
Based on audience response (laughter, or lack thereof), after each performance the comedian cuts certain bits, tweaks others, writes new jokes, returns to the stage, and repeats. At some point, she arrives at a honed set of material that is then taken to larger venues, an HBO comedy special, or other important setting where a more polished performance is crucial.
Simple, but not easy. You've got to have the courage to just put it out there, and then objectively and progressively adapt.31
How to Create Content that Isn't a Joke
Similarly, agile content marketing follows the same 3-step process:
- Start with an educated guess for your content strategy
- Create and release content knowing it's likely a bit flawed
- Optimize constantly based on audience feedback
It's that rare approach that encourages disciplined execution and constant innovation at the same time. This ready, fire, aim methodology actually boils down to five distinct steps:
- Research
This is the phase of the process where you're making your own educated guesses. Those guesses come primarily from general market research into who you're trying to reach, what they're currently buying, what they need to learn to solve their problems and/or satisfy their desires, and how that relates to a general class of products or services they want to buy.32
- Release
Research is vital, but at some point you need to settle on the overall positioning of your website, and start putting content out. You don't need a theater or stadium-sized audience, just the equivalent of a small comedy club. Even then, you're going to have to work to get your content viewed and shared enough to generate meaningful feedback.
- Optimize
The first three steps are repeated endlessly for the life of a project, just like the evolving editorial focus of a magazine, production cycle of a TV series, or career of a stand-up comedian. Mistakes are made and pivots performed. But you'll also discover the content that is fundamentally crucial to your website, which can be organized and optimized as a constant workhorse for your content marketing efforts.
- Connect
In this sense, connection refers to the relationships, alliances, and networks you build in order to spread your content and grow your audience at an accelerated rate. From guest blogging for related sites, to content promotion partnerships, to the growth of your social networks, you must work constantly to get your content the maximum exposure it deserves.33
- Repeat
Iteration is the act of repeating and refining a process in order to reach a certain result. In mathematics, it means taking the output of a function and using that result as the starting point of the next function. Likewise, with content, the results (comments, shares, links, etc.) you receive from a certain content topic or type fuels the approach you take with the content you produce next. Plus, your industry and audience will be constantly evolving, giving you an endless opportunity to express your fundamental audience-optimized topics in new and interesting ways.
Content marketing is a continual process, not a set-it and forget-it strategy. But so are traditional marketing and advertising, which carry the additional burdens of being expensive and ineffective.
Welcome to the vast opportunities of the world of real-time. Are you ready?34
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Let Us Show You How to Build Your Online Authority We've put together the most comprehensive content marketing training Copyblogger has ever produced, and we call it Authority …
The ebook you've just read has covered the very basics of building Authority online as a writer and content producer … but that's only the beginning.
We've been building the software and marketing training business known as Rainmaker Digital since 2006. We've been fortunate to enjoy a lot of success in that time, but it took hard work … and we've made our share of mistakes along the way.
What if you could directly benefit from those years of experience — and avoid those mistakes?
What if you could easily keep up with state-of-the-art content marketing tools and trends?
What if you could effortlessly build a powerful network of entrepreneurs and writers, all working toward the same goals you are?
Authority opens to new members periodically throughout the year. Interested?


text:
Product Information
More information
Our gift cards can be used in any USA store location and never expire. Unfortunately, our website is not geared up at this time to enable the use of the gift card when placing an online purchase. The card can be used for phone orders or in-store purchases only. If you would like a different amount on the card, we recommend you contact your local store where they can load the exact amount you desire on the card. If you total purchase is less than our Free shipping minimum order threshhold, to avoid our flat rate shipping charge on a purchase of a GIFT CARD ONLY, please select the "In-store pickup" option and we will ship the card via First Class post with USPS at not cost to you.


text:
Bloomberg says Trump bashes immigrants yet hires overseas workers
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg portrayed Donald Trump as a hypocrite on immigration in a speech at the Democratic National Convention.
While Trump wants to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, he also uses the system to his advantage to hire foreigners, Bloomberg said in his endorsement of Hillary Clinton July 27, 2016.
Trump "games the U.S. visa system so he can hire temporary foreign workers at low wages," Bloomberg said.
While the accusation that Trump "games the system" is tough language, the real estate tycoon has hired temporary foreign workers to fill typically low-wage jobs at his properties. We will explain how he did it.
H-2B visas
We couldn't reach a spokesman for Bloomberg, however, it's likely he was referring to Trump hiring foreign workers at his Mar-A-Lago Club, an exclusive eating club in a mansion in Palm Beach County, Florida. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz made a similar attack during the primary.
The club has sought H-2B visas for low-skilled, low-wage workers such as cooks, wait staff and housekeepers. H-2B visas are legal — Congress has set the cap at 66,000 per year — and its agricultural counterpart is the H-2A visa. The vast majority of the workers on these two visas programs nationwide are young Mexican men, although news reports say Trump sought workers from Europe.
Employers argue they need these temporary workers to fill jobs Americans don't want, while critics say the workers can be exploited. Since the visas are tied to a particular job, the foreigners can't simply jump ship for a better paying job at another resort. The worker is paid based on the prevailing wage or minimum wage.
Since 2010, nearly 300 U.S. residents applied or were referred for jobs at Mar-A-Lago, but only 17 were hired, the New York Times reported in February. Meanwhile, Mar-A-Lago sought more than 500 visas for foreign workers. (The visas were also sought at some of his other properties.) We don't know how many people actually used the visas and became employees.
To obtain the visas, businesses must prove they were unsuccessful at filling positions with Americans or legal residents.
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the resort posted jobs through CareerSource Florida, the local workforce development boards throughout the state.
A U.S. Labor Department spokesman told PolitiFact Florida previously that 93 people applied for 250 seasonal job openings at the resort. Four were hired, while 79 didn't answer interview requests or turned down jobs (10 applications were classified with unknown status).
Documents the resort later filed with the Labor Department showed that many of the American applicants weren't hired because they didn't meet requirements. Some applicants didn't want to work split shifts, lacked experience, wanted full-time jobs instead of part time, or didn't respond when the resort contacted them.
After that process, the Labor Department certified 685 H-2B visas for the Mar-A-Lago Club between 2008 and 2015.
The New York Times asked Trump why he hired so many foreign workers when Americans applied for the same positions.
"The only reason they wouldn't get a callback is that they weren't qualified, for some reason," Trump replied. "There are very few qualified people during the high season in the area."
But some experts question Trump's assessment that it's hard to find local help.
In 2015, CareerSource assisted in placing nearly 1,800 candidates in hospitality jobs in Palm Beach County. But Mar-A-Lago didn't show much interest in using the free service.
Tom Veenstra, senior director of support services at CareerSource in Palm Beach County, told PolitiFact Florida that the first time his office received a request for helping finding workers was September 2015. (That was shortly after one of the first news reports, by Reuters, about Trump's foreign hiring practices.)
Since that time, Mar-A-Lago used the office to hire just one person, a banquet server.
"We called the HR director after the hire, and she said they were pleased with the hire and the candidates we sent them," Veenstra said. "There has been nothing else since then."
So is Trump gaming the system?
Gabriel "Jack" Chin, a professor at University of California Davis School of Law, said many of these companies say they can't find American workers but only put in minimal effort.
"One answer is 'yes, this is gaming the system, but everybody does it,' in the sense that the labor certification standards are widely thought to be evaded in the way that Mar-A-Lago has done in the past," Chin said.
Trump spokesman Stephen Miller referred us to Trump's reply during the March 10 debate in Miami when he defended the use of these visas.
"I'm a businessman," Trump said. "These are laws. These are regulations. These are rules. We're allowed to do it. And frankly, because of the devaluations that other countries -- the monetary devaluations that other countries are constantly doing and brilliantly doing against us, it's very, very hard for our companies in this country, in our country, to compete. So I will take advantage of it; they're the laws. But I'm the one that knows how to change it. Nobody else on this dais knows how to change it like I do, believe me."
Miller said that Trump has opposed legislation to expand the visa program and pledged to reform visa programs to protect American workers.
Our ruling
Bloomberg says Trump "games the U.S. visa system so he can hire temporary foreign workers at low wages."
Trump sought visas for hundreds of foreign workers to fill temporary positions at his Mar-A-Lago Club in Florida in recent years. Hundreds of U.S. applicants either applied or were referred for the jobs, but only a handful were hired.
There is some debate about whether those applicants were qualified or not.
Trump has used a legal program to obtain workers with H-2B visas. Saying he "games" the system is harsh language, and an expert says the process used by Trump is common.
We rate this claim Mostly True.https://www.sharethefacts.co/share/90e178aa-a06c-4fa1-913f-1777415af770


text:
Puryear IT has over 10 years of experience in Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris, as well as a wide range of popular open source applications such as Apache, MySQL, Sendmail, Bind, DNS, SpamAssassin, and many others. We help companies in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the surrounding areas manage Linux.
This is just a small list of the most popular selection of open-source software Puryear IT supports and can deploy for your company. Puryear IT has a wide range of experience with popular open-source applications and will assist your company in finding the right solution for you!
Our experience has lead us to be one of the top referred Linux consultants in south Louisiana, and our customers have included Our Lady of the Lake, EATEL, and many more. Dustin Puryear, our CEO, is a well-published author on Linux, including titles such as "Integrate Linux Solutions into Your Windows Network" and "Best Practices for Managing Linux and UNIX Networks".
Your Business Needs Reliable Technology Allowing You To Reach Your Desired Business Outcomes
Puryear IT is Here To Help.
Fill in the information below
Privacy: We will keep your information safe and will not be given to third parties!


text:
Canadian Citizenship TestEdit
Failure toll meant for immigrants symbols residency tests cover soared since the spring, as soon as tougher questions and revamped rules made it harder meant for newcomers to suit Canadian.
The original test, introduced protest march 15, was based on a bulked-up residency escort released a time before to confer immigrants a richer picture of Canada's history, culture, law and politics.
The 63-page escort, Discover Canada, replaced a slimmer volume dating from 1995 with the aim of had fewer particulars to commit to memory. The failure rate meant for the old residency test, with questions drawn from the lesser escort, ranged involving four and eight apiece cent.
Failure toll meant for the original test, however, rocketed to in the region of 30 apiece cent as soon as it was earliest introduced — prompting officials to revise the rules to sidestep clogging the structure with thousands of would-be Canadians who, for the reason that they had flunked, often had to plead their suitcases or else taken residency judges.
A reworked canadian citizenship test introduced Oct. 14 is serving to incision the inhabitant failure rate to in the region of 20 apiece cent, still far privileged than historic levels and making the exam-hall experience much more nerve-wracking meant for newcomers.
Hundred of papers outlining the bumpy introduction of the original tests were obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.
"This is the highest add up to of fails I cover seen in my point in time at this point with CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) liability the test," assumed a harried sanctioned by the side of a Mississauga, Ont., headquarters on protest march 19 this time, someplace 15 of 43 intimates had unsuccessful with the aim of calendar day.
The old and original tests both cover 20 multiple-choice questions and a 30-minute point in time limit. Only folks residency wannabes aged 18 to 54 years are vital to write down the test, which is to be had in French and English.
But the pass mark meant for the canadian citizenship test introduced protest march 15 was suite by the side of 75 percent, implication by the side of smallest amount 15 of the 20 answers had to be correct. That compares with really 60 apiece cent, or 12 correct answers, meant for the old exam.
The contact of the tough original values was dramatic: Shocked officials by the side of taxing centres across the population reported massive failure toll in the earliest sittings.
"I couldn't believe it, it's the highest fail rate I cover eternally seen at this point," single Toronto-area sanctioned reported by email to head office.
An interior survey of 35 taxing centres across Canada, passed dazed involving April 19 and June 24, showed an be more or less of single in four intimates were flunking. At round about centres — such as the taken Etobicoke headquarters in Toronto — it was single in three.
And while many intimates under the prior regime finished the test inside 15 minutes, the original exam had nearly everyone intimates sweating meant for the stuffed half-hour.
People who unsuccessful the old test were routinely referred to a residency connoisseur. Featuring in 2008-2009, meant for exemplar, 9,500 applicants who blew the test had to finish up to an hour with a connoisseur to argue they were still worthy of residency.
Worried with the aim of the tougher tests may well swamp the structure, officials firm with the aim of applicants who flunked would be tolerable to rewrite. And in the revamped test introduced Oct. 14, the sector extra eased the rules by eliminating a long-standing rule requiring correct answers to a hardly any mandatory questions.
"We anticipate with the aim of the pass rate will settle in the 80 apiece cent to 85 apiece cent range, which would indicate with the aim of the test is not too uncomplicated or too tricky," assumed sector orator Karen Shadd.
She added with the aim of the test questions are being shuffled more often to help put a stop to come again? The sector believes was rampant cheating under the old structure.
"In the forgotten, with the old test, round about intimates would bad buy the answers from unofficial sources," Shadd assumed in an email.
"After paying meant for the answers, they would commit to memory them in order to pass the test. This accounted, in part, meant for a much privileged pass rate."
Shadd in addition assumed the option of rewriting the test is lone a temporary gauge implemented to deal with the transition to the original exam.
She declined to provide an exemplar of the test but assumed predictable questions are either fact-based — "Name two Canadian symbols" — or conceptual, such as "What is the implication of the Remembrance Day poppy?" Sample questions are integrated in Discover Canada.
The interior survey of 35 taxing centres in minute spring found the Etobicoke headquarters in Toronto had the highest failure rate by the side of 34.9 apiece cent, followed faithfully by Surrey, B.C. (33.7), Winnipeg (31.5), Scarborough in eastern Toronto (31.3) and Niagara Falls, Ont. (30.4). Officials declined to speculate on why these were the most awful performers, but assumed education levels to a certain extent than care for tongue appear to be a immense feature.
Citizenship and Immigration administers in the region of 150,000 residency tests every time. The current 75 apiece cent pass mark is the same as in Australia and the United Kingdom, but privileged than the 60 apiece cent suite by the United States.


text:
Orange BeddingMonday, August 30th, 2010
Making progress on Desi's room! We have all of the curtains hung, also put some in front of the closet. Got him a dresser and shelf and they are put together. Still need lamps and painted walls. Trim would also be nice. Also liking this orange quilt and shams!


text:
Skip to main content
1 - 1 of 1 results
Items per page:
SR Technics is a world leading MRO service provider for the civil aviation sector. The company offers comprehensive and fully customized solutions for...
© Reed Exhibitions Ltd.
We use cookies to operate this website and to improve its usability. Full details of what cookies are, why we use them and how you can manage them can be found by reading our Privacy & Cookies page. Please note that by using this site you are consenting to the use of cookies.


text:
CHARLIES NAIL ART HAULFriday, May 30, 2014
Yesterday I was lucky enough to receive this awesome nail art package from charliesnailart.co.uk . Charlie has been so lovely and has sent me loads of lush new nail art products which are all suitable to use on my natural nails. There are water decals, 3D nail art shapes, glitter, gems and glue so I'm going to be very busy creating funky nail designs and I cant wait to share them with you.


text:
Because of the sheer amount of comment and blog spam that goes on, I have this site set up so that all comments are moderated until I've approved at least two comments from you. Then it will go to auto-approve. This applies to ALL comments, both post and page. Even if you are approved, I reserve the right to delete comments I feel are not appropriate. Disagreement is fine, personal attacks and throwing out f-bombs is not. If you are a real commenter, not someone trying to compliment me in grand and generic terms in the hopes I will approve your porn site spam or something, and your comment hasn't appeared within 24 hours, please use the Contact Me form to let me know. I do my best to parse through the junk but it may not be perfect. I thought it may be time to post this note as I've obviously shown up on some spiders now and have been getting a lot of spam comments. Thanks for your understanding.
I've been a fan of Ms. Leigh's Breed series from the very beginning and it's been interesting to see the world change and grow as the series has been playing out. I've especially been looking forward to this story because I really wanted to see Navarro lose it over a woman. That much self-control just begs for a total crash. For the most part, my anticipation was fulfilled. Novarro and Mica are both interesting characters and the lust and emotions run hot and heavy between them. I especially enjoyed the awakening Navarro has in the latter part of the story.
Something About You is a great mix of strong personalities that can fall in love and become a couple without losing their individuality or careers. Instead they both give and take strength, comfort and love from each other. I truly loved Ms. James voice and the snarky but not bitter dialogue. I laughed out loud at some points and this is one of the things that really draws me to buy more books by Ms. James.
When You Dare is a book I've been looking forward to for quite a while. Molly is a really fun heroine in that she's an author of romantic suspense. As When You Dare unfolded, I could see little tidbits of real-life author issues pop up. Dare is an interesting mix of distrustful operative and someone who really does want to have close relationships with a few select people but doesn't know who he can trust or if he can trust anyone human. I've been a Lori Foster fan since the Buckthorn Brothers series and this book did not disappoint. I'll be happy to recommend it. 4.5 Stars. Published by Harlequin, 4/26/2011.
This book includes all the things I like best about a Linda Wisdom paranormal. Demons are a Girl's Best Friend was a lively, fun read that kept my attention and had me rooting for Maggie and Declan all the way. 4 Stars. Published by Sourcebooks, 4/1/2011.


text:
I often say that the main difference between Michele Bachmann, R=BizarroWorld and Eirk Paulsen, R=TargetCorp, is that Paulsen isn't stupid enough to say the crazy stuff that Bachmann does. Because when it comes down to issues, they're an awful (and I do mean "awful") lot alike. Now, here's what Bachmann's Congressional webpage says about Veterans:
It is imperative that America's military men and women receive the support they deserve for the sacrifices they have made. Our members of the Armed Forces have fought to preserve the freedoms we cherish and I believe Congress must be steadfast in honoring our commitment to them.
Here's what Paulsen's Congressional webpage says:
As elected officials one of our greatest responsibilities is to honor the service and sacrifice of our service members and their families. I take that commitment seriously and I am actively working to uphold that commitment already in Congress.
Sounds good, "right"? But how do Tweedle-Dee's and Tweedle-GaffeMachine's actual records look? Let's look!!!
The Veterans Of Foreign Wars just happens to track who sponsors and co-sponsors bills that actually do things to honor the commitment to Veterans that Paulsen and Bachmann often claim to do – and they even have a swell webpage for voters to hold them accountable. Go ahead; click on "Elected Officials" an check on anyone in Congress you want to!
Here's Paulsen's page; now click on "Bills" and you'll see a list under the headings "Bill Name" and "Co-Sponsor?"
And please note that after each and every single bill to help Veterans, under the "Co-Sponsor?" header is: "No"
And if you hit the "More Bills" icon, you'll find that they still are all: "No"
No surprise there! But, what about Bachmann? Let's look!!!
Here's Bachmann's page; now click on "Bills" and you'll see a list under the headings "Bill Name" and "Co-Sponsor?"
And please note that after each and every single bill to help Veterans, under the "Co-Sponsor?" header is: "No"
All eleven – ELEVEN - of 'em.
And if you hit the "More Bills" icon, you'll find eight – EIGHT - more bills supporting Veterans, that Bachmann doesn't support.
But, here's the kicker – way at the bottom of the list, there actually are two bills that Bachmann did support – meaning as p*ss-poor of support Bachmann gave for Veterans, Paulsen was even worse.
Now, what are some of these Bills Paulsen and Bachmann won't co-sponsor? Here's just a couple:
H.R.2074 – Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act
H.R.115 – CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011
H.R.865 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans
Paulsen & Bachmaann – talking the talk but not walking the walk.
No suprise there!
graphic via the amazing Tild)
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
According to Professor Harry G. Frankfurt, liars lie deliberately; BSers simply don't care. Professor Frankfurt wrote a book on this; it's called "On Bullsh*t." There's a great discussion of this going in a post entitled "On (CowPuckey)" over at Barataria; Erik Hare starts out by asking:
Is it really a lie when the person making an outrageous statement doesn't actually care if it's the truth or not?
Simply not caring explains Michele Bachmann, a Finalist for Politifact.com's 2009 Lie Of The Year. In fact, Politifact.com has examined 9 – NINE – statements from Bacnmann, and found all – ALL – of them "False" (four of those claims were actually rated "Pants On Fire" – as in "Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire").
Bachmann still doesn't care; just last month, as noted here, Bachmann went on a Sunday TV show and said some (stuff) that prompted a Pat Kessler "Reality Check".
As noted:
And in Kessler's "Reality Check" – on Bachmann's outrageous fabrications concerning the economy – Kessler found Bachmann's claims, and I quote: "That's factually WRONG" and "This is FALSE" and "This starts with a kernel of truth, but is OUT OF CONTEXT" and "This is NOT TRUE." (emphasis NOT added) (MnProgressiveProject.com)
So, what did Bachmann do, after getting Reality Checked by Pat Kessler? Went on stage at a GOPer rally with Sarah Palin, and repeated that same (stuff) Pat Kessler had found to be: "WRONG", "FALSE", "OUT OF CONTEXT", and "NOT TRUE".
That's what BSers do, because they simply don't care if something is true or not – they only care that the listener (in Bachmann's case, "voter") thinks it's true.
Erik Hare will be joing The Big E and yours truly, the ol' TwoPutter, this Saturday (May 15th) as I Guest Host "Radio Cafe with Cathy Hauser" from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on AM950 – KTNF. We'll be talking about Professor Frankfurt's book ("On Bullsh*t"), Erik's post over at Barataria, this post (and any subsequent comments!), the media's role in propagating/covering BS, and how BS seems to be the modus operandi of today's Republican Party.
There's a video interview of Professor Frankfurt discussing his book below the fold, plus an added bonus – a link to Jon Stewart interviewing Professor Frankfurt on "The Daily Show"!
Professor Frankfurt's Book, "On Bullsh*t", is available locally through Common Good Books in St. Paul; if you can't make it in to the shop, you can order on line and they'll ship.
A little bit about Emeritus Professor Harry G. Frankfurt of Princeton University, from Wikipedia:
On Bullshit is an essay by philosopher Harry Frankfurt. Originally published in the journal Raritan in 1986, the essay was republished as a separate volume in 2005 and became a nonfiction bestseller, spending twenty-seven weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list.[1]
In the essay, Frankfurt defines a theory of bullshit, defining the concept and analyzing its applications. In particular, Frankfurt distinguishes bullshitting from lying: while the liar deliberately makes false claims, the bullshitter is simply uninterested in the truth. Bullshitters aim primarily to impress and persuade their audiences. While liars need to know the truth to better conceal it, bullshitters, interested solely in advancing their own agendas, have no use for the truth. Thus, Frankfurt claims, "…bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are," (Frankfurt 61).
This work laid the foundation for Frankfurt's 2006 follow-up book, On Truth.
For a more entertaining, less scholarly interview of Professor Frankfurt, here's the link to The Daily Show's Jon Stewart!
The Daily Show – Professor Frankfurt
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly – the ol' TwoPutter – is Guest Hosting this afternoon's edition of "Radio Cafe with Cathy Hauser" from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on AM950 – KTNF. I'll be joined in-studio by Dusty Trice!
We'll be getting a report from
Tea Bagger Central "Jason Lewis Tax Cut Rally"; rumor has it Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive may say something stupid make an appearance.
And in "honor" of that, we'll be giving away one copy of "False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story (Volume 1)", to one lucky listener — courtesy of AM-950 KTNF sponsor Common Good Books – so, pay attention and call in when asked!!!
As always, call 952-946-6205 to join the conversation!
We'll also be joined in-studio for an in-depth conversation with MN-GUV Candidate Matt Entenza!
So tune in the radio today to AM-950 KTNF, or listen live on your computer, here!
Oh – in case you missed it, I sat in for Mike McIntee's "Quick On The UpTake" show yesterday and was joined in studio by Spot from The Cucking Stool! You can listen to the archived show here.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
I got up to Duluth on Thursday, to play Enger Park Golf Course. Sure, it was in rough shape, what with Duluth being a couple of weeks behind the metro (greens were REALLY rough), but it was a great time with great weather and I really enjoyed playing with one of the Cadets from the Air Force ROTC at UMD.
Friday was a lot of fun; expectations were high and it was great seeing friends and meeting new ones. A highlight was hanging out at the booth for StopBachmann.com; a picture of their button, that a whole bunch of folk were wearing, is below the fold! Of course, Friday night was a blast; simply too many parties to attend but the ones attended were unforgettable. It was great to go to Ruk's party, and hear John Marty give the intro to Ruk! Two old friends, competing, but still staying friends – that's what it's all about. Plus, Ruk had Paul Metsa playing!!!
Saturday brought the honor of attending the UMD Air Force ROTC Spring Awards Ceremony for luncheon. It's always moving, watching the Cadets perform the POW/MIA Table Ceremony before dining; for the significance, link here.
Back at the Convention, State Senator Mee Moua called all the veterans on the floor to join her on stage – and the stage was soon packed with DFL Veterans!
And MAK won – congratulations to her and her team; they had a great plan, worked smart and worked hard, and locked up the convention in a lot fewer ballots than I expected.
Sunday brought breakfast at Uncle Loui's Cafe (best hangover breakfast in town, according to college kids!) and the slow ride back to the cities – and strangely (appropriately?) enough, Pink Floyd's "A Momentary Lack Of Reason" was bein' played.
Sure, there were SNAFU's at the Convention, some things were completely FUBAR ("hey, is the WIFI on yet?"), some folk said some incredibly stupid things ("activists are a dime a dozen" being one that particularly stood out), and some folk did some incredibly stupid things (is it really possible that Ole Savior was allowed to speak, but former Minnesota Department of Energy and Economic Development Commissioner; former Minnesota State Auditor; former US Senator Mark Dayton wasn't even allowed on the floor??!?) but overall, it was a great convention and filled out the roster for the DFL team for November.
Well, except for that pesky little primary MAK has to survive, that is….
Here's that StopBachmann.com button:
OK, I know the image is a little blurred, so: here's what that button says: –
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." – Sinclair Lewis
Which, of course, is an appropriate quote to put on a Bachmann button.
And since we're on quotes, and the GreedOverPrinciples party has their convention this weekend, here's two more:
_ Tom Emmer quote: "I don't think you can call yourself a freedom-loving American and be a Democrat." Marshall Independent, Sept 2009
_ Tim Pawlenty quote: "Children who are victims of failed personal responsibility are not my problem, nor are they the problem for our government." — Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, April 2001 – as quoted in the Aitkin Independent Newspaper
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Yesterday, I posted the video of Michele Bachmann's latest appearance (Monday, 4-19-2010) on the Sean insHannity Show, and asked:
Anyone care to weigh in with the first lie uttered by one of Politifact.com's "2009 Lie Of The Year" Finalists, Michele Bachmann?
Astute blogger Bullied Pulpit noted:
My favorite part of this clip, BY FAR, is the end, where she equates Net Neutrality to censorship. How on earth does this airhead manage to dress herself in the morning? It's astounding.
Well, Andy Birkey at Minnesota Independent picked up on that, too.
Obviously, she either lying (again) or has not a clue what "net neutrality" means – not that blissful ignorance has ever stopped Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive from spewing proven lies no matter what the source; either talking points originated from GOP HQ or random factoids springing from her teabag-addled brain. For a recent example of that, link here.
Video and transcript of Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive's latest lies, below the fold.
Do Democrats Want to Silence Dissent? Rep. Bachmann Responds
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," April 19, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
SEAN HANNITY, HOST: All right, so I have finally found one thing I like about the Democrats' health care bill. It turns out that Congress may be fined millions of dollars a year under its own bill because the bill kicks current members and their staffs off their health care plans.
So if Congress is subject to the $3,000 per employee fine imposed by the bill, it will be shelling out $50 million each year to the federal government. I guess you could call that the silver lining in this very dark cloud.
More HANNITY straight ahead.
HANNITY: All right, so Bill Clinton was not the only one drawing parallels between the GOP and the Oklahoma City bombing. Democratic congressman Betty McCollum joined the chorus, chastising her Republican colleagues on the House floor.
REP. MCCOLLUM, D-MINN.: When members of Congress compare health care legislation to government tyranny, socialism or totalitarianism in the hopes of scoring political points it's like pouring gas on the fire of extremism.
I don't want another Oklahoma City to ever take place again. And just as we would not give aid and comfort to Al Qaeda let us not allow the words of elected leaders to give comfort and — comfortable excuses to extremists bent on violence.
HANNITY: All right, so are the Democrats just asked the Republicans to shut up? Joining me now with reaction is one of those pesky, wascally (ph) Republican, Congresswoman McCollum was probably talking, this is Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
So I guess you can't be critical. You can't say socialism exists. You can't be critical of government. I thought this was the highest form of patriotism when the criticism was aimed at George W. Bush.
Something has happened, I must have missed it. What happened here?
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN, R-MINN.: Apparently it is hate speech when it's on the right and it's not hate speech when it's on the left so, you know, go figure where that comes from.
But the main thing right now really is the government takeover of private industry and we're seeing that in one sector after another. And the worst is this new financial regulation bill where the federal government wants to decide who will get credit in the future in the United States.
They what to decide when a bank teller in Peoria, Illinois will make and they also want to give permanent bailout authority to the federal government and bypass Congress. That is the federal government coming in in a real thuggish way, if you will, and taking over the boardrooms of private industry.
This is what makes people very unsure about their government right now.
HANNITY: Well, I think a lot of people are raising very legitimate questions about the debt. About the deficits. About a weakening of our national security. About a lack of moral clarity in the War on Terror.
These are legitimate questions. And there seems to be a coordinated effort to intimidate, silence and demonize any critic of this administration, this House of Representatives, this leadership.
And you in particular have been singled out here. And I just want to know what do you think is behind this from your perspective?
BACHMANN: Well, one word that we've heard a lot just in this last week is the word "violence." And that when people on the right are disagreeing with the Obama administration that we're fomenting violence.
Well, I think violence is when the Democrat-controlled base, whether it's President Obama, Harry Reid or Speaker Pelosi — when they feel like their political position of power is being attacked, that's what they equate violence with.
But as a matter of fact, the First Amendment was written specifically to guarantee freedom of political speech. People have the right to disagree with their government, especially when they see these unprecedented actions that are taken by this president putting us in greater debt than we've ever seen, increasing taxes to a level that we haven't seen before, at least what they are talking about increasing taxes to.
And this very unprecedented level of the federal government taking over private banks, car companies, insurance companies, the federal government owning over half of all home mortgages taking over the student loan industry, health care.
HANNITY: Yes.
BACHMANN: Of course the people are reacting.
HANNITY: You see, and this is what is troublesome to me because the very same people that are now accusing any conservative critic of this incendiary language they were noticeably silent — we have a video of FALN terrorists — that Bill Clinton eventually pardoned — making bombs on video.
He gave them a pardon. They had very little interest in the relationship between Barack Obama, the candidate, and this unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers. So there seems to be really a double standard.
I guess what I'm trying to get an answer to this question, though. Do you think this is a coordinated attack — in other words the echo chamber of the Democratic Party — do you think this is coordinated by all people on the left?
A strategy has emerged because it appears that they're all singing from the same hymnal at this point.
BACHMANN: Well, they are. If you look at all of the new shows over this last weekend, they used practically the identical language. They're talking about a war of words. They specifically identified Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin and they were — as you said they're singing off the same hymnal.
But essentially it's whoever they see as an effective voice that's who they go after and attack right now. But really the bigger issue in all of this is what is happening in Washington?
What's the federal government doing under the Obama administration. And this is serious. When you have the Obama administration, for instance, in this new financial control bill, financial services, suggesting that the federal government should decide who gets credit in the future or having permanent bailout authority in the future.
People are opposed to this. But they want to ram this bill through, just like they rammed through health care.
HANNITY: Yes.
BACHMANN: But the American people are saying no dice, we don't want to play this game any more.
HANNITY: You know the thing that I find most interesting is in the "Wall Street Journal" today is you have the guy, the president of the Pew Research Center basically saying the general public now wants government reform and its power curtailed.
BACHMANN: That's right.
HANNITY: So what I think has happened, and tell me if you think I'm wrong here, is I think conservatives have won the argument. They won the argument on health care. They forced it down our throat any way.
They're winning the argument on the size and scope and influence of government. And now the reaction is that to now just lash out at the messengers that are saying, you know what, we could do better with limited government, lower taxes and a strong national defense.
And this, you know, propaganda campaign — what do you think the net result is? Does it work? Does it backfire?
BACHMANN: Sure, that's all they have left now, is they use pejorative terms, hateful terms against those that are carrying the message. So whether they're attacking conservative talk radio, or conservative TV or whether it's Internet sites, I mean, let's face it, what's the Obama administration doing?
They're advocating net neutrality which is essentially censorship of the Internet. This is the Obama administration advocating censorship of the Internet. Why? They want to silence the voices that are opposing them.
Despite the fact that they continue to have much of the mainstream media still providing cover for all of these dramatic efforts that the Obama administration is taking. So they're very specifically and pointedly going after voices that they see are effectively telling the truth about what the Obama administration is trying to do.
HANNITY: Yes.
BACHMANN: The American people don't like it very much.
HANNITY: I think the narrative that the president is not the moderate that he ran as, and is far more radical, has taken hold.
BACHMANN: Without a doubt.
HANNITY: And I think that's very irritating to them.
BACHMANN: Yes. Without a doubt.
HANNITY: All right, Congresswoman, good to see you as always. Thanks for being with us.
BACHMANN: Thank you, Sean.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Anyone care to weigh in with the first lie uttered by one of Politifact.com's "2009 Lie Of The Year" Finalists,Michele Bachmann?
(cross posted from ; comments welcome there)
Last Sunday Morning, on Esme Murphy's WCCO show, MN GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb said:
"Congresswoman Bachmann, Governor Palin, are just the gold standard right now inside our party." (WCCO.com)
The amazing thing about that statement, by Brodkorb, is he said it in a segment immediately preceeded by a Pat Kessler "Reality Check". And in Kessler's "Reality Check" – on Bachmann's outrageous fabrications concerning the economy – Kessler found Bachmann's claims, and I quote: "That's factually WRONG and "This is FALSE" and "This starts with a kernel of truth, but is OUT OF CONTEXT" and "This is NOT TRUE.".
"WRONG", "FALSE", "OUT OF CONTEXT", and "NOT TRUE" – all from just one appearance from Bachmann on March 28th's "Face The Nation". Essentially, Kessler all but called Bachmann a liar.
Now, that "Reality Check", by Pat Kessler, was actually aired twice – once on March 30th, as a result of the above mentioned "Face The Nation" appearance, and again last Sunday, just before Brodkorb's appearance on Esme Murphy's Show.
So, gentle readers, wouldn't you expect that someone spewing stuff debunked – twice – might just drop that cr@ppola from their repertoire?
For GOPers, NOT A CHANCE. Yesterday, at her Fool's Gold Express stop on The Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive Tour at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Bachmann repeated that debunked cr@ppola, once again.
Shameless – completely shameless. And the Fools gathered by the GOP to watch their Standards, ate it up.
But that shamelessness really isn't surprising, coming from Bachmann – a Finalist in Politifact.com's "2009 Lie Of The Year" contest. Indeed, Politifact.com recently checked another Bachmann Statement, one that Kessler checked, too, and found Bachmann's statement, on the Truth-O-Meter, to register as false.
That makes Bachmann ZERO for NINE on claims checked by Politifact.com.
What IS surprising, is 3rd CD GOP Incumbent Erik Paulsen, R=BoughtAndPaidFor, hitching his wagon to the GOP Fool's Gold Express. Conventional Wisdom suggests he should be running as far away and as fast as he can from Bachmann and Palin – that Fool's Gold Express may play in Minnesota's nutjob 6th Congressional District, but I highly doubt it will in the 3rd.
For a good recap, with plenty of pictures, of yesterday's Fool's Gold Express Stop on The Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive Tour, link here.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
It's been a busy week, and I wanted to touch back on the Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive FEC problems reported by Karl Bremer over at Dump Bachmann. It seems Bachmann has some serious paperwork problems with the FEC, and that's FEC problems from BEFORE she hired republiCon Ron.
The Minnesota GOPers have a longstanding tradition of running a completely FUBAR paperwork operation; for example, here's the infamous "Tostenson Memo".
And I wanted to share one FEC Filing from the MN GOP that just warms my heart:
GOPers simply have to wonder where their "donations" to the GOP go. We know at the national level, donations fund stuff like "meals" at bondage clubs. And I'm sure it warms local GOPer's hearts, too, knowing that their donations went to pay for Senator Franken's legal fees….
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
…well, could be filed in the ol' republiCon "Do As We Say (Not As We Do)" Department, too…
Yesterday, over on Brodkorb's Blog, Michael's newest
pseudonym "Contributor" tried – TRIED – to rip Tarryl Clark for the ghastly deed of "holding a fundraiser outside of the 6th District." Now, this is funny for two reasons: 1) Michael's newest pseudonym "Contributor" – Luke Hellier – used to work for Bachmann, so he surely knows about the many fundraisers Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive has held outside the 6th District, such as the infamous fundraiser D*ck (cheney)in' Cheney held for Michele on Lake Minnetonka, and 2) Brodkorb knows – KNOWS – that GOPer Eva Ng recently held a fundraiser outside of the district bounaries where she's running, 'cause not only did MudSlingerMike tweet about it, it's on the official Mn GOP website, where the ol' MudSlinger is the State Party Deputy Chair!!!
And Tony Sutton had to know about the fundraiser; it was held at FEC Tony's taco shop.
That, gentle readers, certainly qualifies as "stupid is as stupid does."
It's things like this, and more, why I say – often – "Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP."
Let's look at a couple more examples:
In 2007, Mn GOP Party Chair republiCon Ron wouldn't answer questions about his piss-poor "stewardship" of Party Finances, as documented in a June 2007 Strib story:
Party records show that money was withheld for employee retirement plans from September 2005 through May 2006, but Federal Election Commission (FEC) records reflect no deposits into the accounts during that period. In June 2006, the party made two makeup payments totaling $12,243 into the accounts.
The delay in depositing the money could have benefitted the party by giving it temporary access to the employees' funds.
Carey didn't explain why the retirement money wasn't deposited promptly.
"There seemed to be some gray areas as to what was the requirement," Carey said. Asked to explain the gray areas, he said, "I really would prefer not to get into the weeds on something like that." (StarTribune.com)
Hmmm…."gray areas"….hmmm…."don't want to get into the weeds"….
Where and what was republiCon Ron doing, during the summer of '08? Ripping Al Franken over Franken's paperwork problems, and demanding – DEMANDING! – that Franken answer questions!!!
Oh, and it needs to be pointed out that during the whole shoddy and sorry MnGOP PaperGate saga, FEC Tony was involved, except during his stint as Deputy to State Auditor Pat Anderson. And the shoddy and sorry saga apparently isn't over…why, less than two weeks ago, the Mn GOP had to fix MORE of their (cheney)-ups:
Filings by REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA – C00001313
The Following FEC Electronic Filings are Available:
Click on the form name to view it.
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433152
Period FROM 11/25/2008 through 12/31/2008
Report Type: YEAR-END
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433149
Period FROM 10/16/2008 through 11/24/2008
Report Type: POST-GENERAL
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433147
Period FROM 10/01/2008 through 10/15/2008
Report Type: PRE-GENERAL
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433140
Period FROM 09/01/2008 through 09/30/2008
Report Type: OCT MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433126
Period FROM 08/01/2008 through 08/31/2008
Report Type: SEP MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433122
Period FROM 07/01/2008 through 07/31/2008
Report Type: AUG MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433116
Period FROM 06/01/2008 through 06/30/2008
Report Type: JUL MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433113
Period FROM 05/01/2008 through 05/31/2008
Report Type: JUN MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433112
Period FROM 04/01/2008 through 04/30/2008
Report Type: MAY MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433107
Period FROM 03/01/2008 through 03/31/2008
Report Type: APR MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433104
Period FROM 02/01/2008 through 02/29/2008
Report Type: MAR MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433101
Period FROM 01/01/2008 through 01/31/2008
Report Type: FEB MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433099
Period FROM 12/01/2007 through 12/31/2007
Report Type: YEAR-END
Filed 09/21/2009
Form F3XA – 09/21/2009
FEC Filing #: FEC-433098
Period FROM 11/01/2007 through 11/30/2007
Report Type: DEC MONTHLY
Filed 09/21/2009
(Federal Election Commission)
Fourteen – FOURTEEN! – more "oops! We screwed up – AGAIN" amended reports??!?
Amending and re-amending and re-amending the re-amended is a long-standing pattern for Minnesota's GreedOverPrinciples party. Amazing, when you consider GOPers like to consider themselves "The Party Of Fiscal Accountability"…
The last example I'll use today is GOPer Governor-Candidate Marty Seifert – as explained by Dusty Trice:
Marty Seifert Gets Hit With His Own Slime!
Last Wednesday Marty Seifert held a press conference where he attacked several of his opponents by saying they might be using taxpayer money and their elected positions to gain publicity.
"I don't know if they are doing that, but I want to throw it out there," Seifert said. (MinnPost)
Looks like Marty Seifert combed over one very important detail. It turns out in the MN House Seifert is the chief offender!
MPR News checked, and it turns out it was Marty Seifert who claimed more money for expenses over the last four months than any other House member running for governor. (MPR via Blue Man)
Seifert has expensed $6,081 in travel, lodging and other expenses to the taxpayers since early June! (DustyTrice.com)
Pawlenty plenty more examples of GOP Hypocrisy, such as Republicans Believe In States Rights (Except When They Don't), and we'll be reviewing them often.
"Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP"
(cross-posted from MnProgressiveProject)


text:
How has Richard Branson made his airline the pinacle of air travel for customers? As he points out in the above video, every airline has planes from the same manufacturers, it's about the service they deliver that makes people come back time and time again.
Here, in a video with Forbes, Carmine Gallo finds out the 7 valuable customer service lessons that Virgin America CEO David Cush and Virgin empire founder Richard Branson live by.
It's good to see that he genuinely believes what he's saying and compeltely sticks to his word on the matter, so much so that earlier this year he dressed up as an Air Asia X air hostess after losing a bet.
You can find out more about how to look after your customers at Loyalty World Europe where industry executives and gurus share their knowledge of the customer loyalty market to help you gain a bigger return on your investments.


text:
Why The Digital Classroom?
With so many CE courses and providers competing for your attendance these days, it takes more to engage you, the dental professional to register for those continuing education courses. And when it comes to choosing which courses to take, discounts and benefits are increasingly what make the difference.
The Digital Classroom Podcast, hosted by John Stamper was created so you can develop a better understanding of the individuals and companies behind the CE courses that are being marketed to you every day. Each podcast is rich in content provided directly from the CE provider and new podcasts are added regularly.
We have gone a step further and paired many of the podcasts with discounts from CE providers. It's important that the perks and discounts being offered are relevant and eye-catching value. They can't simply be a discount or incentive that you can get just anywhere. Otherwise, they're neither meaningful nor effective.
And that's where the Digital Classroom comes in. We empower you to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars on CE courses that will assist you in satisfying your state CE requirements as well as advancing your education; taking your practice to the next level. Our VIP members will instantly find themselves saving enough to offset the costs of membership, making the membership fee a non-issue and retention a virtual certainty.
Welcome to The Digital Classroom!
Digital Classroom Featured Partners
Listen to Podcast
CE Course Discount
VIP Members get a $1000 Discount off a Smiles at Sea "You Pick it" Custom CE Cruise!
Listen to Podcast
CE Course Discount
VIP Members get 20% off Dr Tripke's Complete Periodontal CE Office Package, a $55 value! CE for the entire practice!
Listen to Podcast
CE Course Discount
VIP Members receive $50 off any Live CE event!
Listen to Podcast
CE Course Discount
VIP Members receive $500 off The Pankey Institute "Essentials One" Course!
Newsletter Sign up
Subscribe to The Digital Classroom Newsletter
1302 Clear Springs Trace Suite 100
Louisville, KY 40223
Quick Links
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
Copyright © 2018 - The Digital Classroom is a Division of CE Exchange


text:
The Great One vs. The King
22 Jan
August 14, 2010 by Rodimus Dunn
When Lebron James stated he was "taking my talents to South Beach" the Miami Heat became a more polarizing team than the Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, and maybe even the Yankees. Whether or not you have venom in your heart towards the Superfriends, Miami Thrice, Holy Trinity, Three Kings, or whatever you wish to call them, everyone is excited to see how three superstars in their prime can mesh together on the court. By accepting a lot less money and losing an immeasurable amount of popularity, James (deemed "The Sidekick" by Cleveland'ers) essentially made imminent greatness a requirement for this experiment to be considered a success. But what would be considered enough success? How many titles would the team have to win? How many more MVPs would James need to win? Would all three guys have to be elected to the Hall of Fame? There is no barometer for such an unprecedented occurrence … or is there?
I know Americans don't care about Hockey anymore, especially Canadian hockey teams, but Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers provided a fantastic illustration of what a team constructed of all-stars in their primes should accomplish. Gretzky was unequivocally the best hockey player who ever lived; basically everyone agreed that Lebron was well on his way to putting his name into that conversation in basketball, so the comparison is legit. James and Wade are sure fire hall of famers barring a serious injury, the jury is still out for Bosh. The dynasty Oilers had a ridiculous 6 hall of famers (Gretzky, Mark Messier, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Glenn Anderson)! They didn't just have a bunch of great players from 1980-81 through 1989-90, they accomplished some amazing feats also, many of which may never be duplicated in sports history … unless the Superfriends do some super things on the court.
When all was said and done, those amazing Oilers won 5 Stanley Cups in a ten year span. To be completely accurate, they won those five championships in the last 7 years of their amazing run! Moreover, they also lost in the finals twice in those ten years. So all told, in ten years, they played for the championship a remarkable 7 times! Will any team in any major sport ever come close to duplicating such a feat? I'd imagine the easy answer is no, but I also never would have imagined that a team in a salary capped sport could acquire three top ten guys in their primes.
Team glory is typically accompanied by individual glory, and the Oilers had plenty of that with lots to spare. Those 5 Stanley Cup championships produced 4 playoff MVP awards (in 1986 rookie goalie Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers won the award in a losing effort as he almost single-handedly took the Oilers to a game 7 in the finals). They had a total of 8 regular season MVP awards during the ten year run; they amassed 6 individual scoring titles, 2 defensive player of the year awards, and 1 award for the best goalie. They even had 15 guys make the NHL 1st team and 9 guys make the NHL 2nd team. One could easily counter with "Gretzky accounted for almost all of those records, so it shouldn't count." Of course Gretzky had a hand in almost all of those records; he was the most gifted hockey player every time he stepped onto the ice. But can't we say the same thing about Lebron? He's probably been the most gifted person on the court since he was about 15 years old. Hockey is an absolute team sport (not like baseball, which is an individual sport masked as a team sport), so having just the best guy doesn't guarantee success (just ask Ovechkin, Alexander).
I admit it's not a really fair comparison since the Superfriends haven't played a game together yet, but here's a comparison of how the two teams stack up right now:
Championships Playoff MVPs
Oilers- 5 Heat-1 Oilers- 4 Heat- 1
Regular season MVPs Scoring titles
Oilers- 8 Heat-2 Oilers- 6 Heat- 2
1st team selections 2nd team selections
Oilers- 15 Heat- 6 Oilers- 9 Heat- 5
Defensive player of the year
Oilers-2 Heat- 0
All told, the "Miami Thrice" have a long way to go to catch Gretzky's gang from the 1980s. Heck, they might not even be the best actual team in the NBA next season. Either way, once the King decided that he was going to take his talents to South Beach, he entered into a competition with the Great One that he may have no chance to win.


text:
Select a chapter aboveor enter a keycode fromyour Earth Science textbook and clickGo!
Earth and Space Comprehensive
Learn more about plants and techniques used in xeriscaping.
Keycode: ES0107
Learn more about how science effects your everyday life.
Keycode: ES0202
Make your own map with an online GIS.
Keycode: ES0306
Access images of Earth from space.
Access scientific journals and associations.
Learn more about how time is measured.
Keycode: ES0406
Learn more about methods of keeping time.
Keycode: ES0409
Learn more about minerals and their properties.
Keycode: ES0507
Learn more about how people use rocks.
Keycode: ES0606
Discover more about thin sections of rocks.
Keycode: ES0611
Learn more about solar power
Keycode: ES0704
Learn more about GIS mapping.
Keycode: ES0811
Find out more about current volcanic activity.
Keycode: ES0908
Learn more about earthquake safety
Keycode: ES1006
Learn more about the impacts of earthquakes in populated areas
Keycode: ES1008
Learn more about creating earthquake-resistant structures.
Keycode: ES1011
Learn more about Global Positioning System (GPS)
Keycode: ES1104
Learn more about rainforests and conservation programs.
Keycode: ES1203
Learn more about famous floods.
Learn more about regional and local aquifers
Keycode: ES1404
Learn more about Antarctic research
Keycode: ES1503
Learn more about glaciers and glacier movement.
Keycode: ES1508
Learn more about dust storms.
Learn how air pollution can be reduced.
Keycode: ES1709
Learn more about instruments used to study the atmosphere.
Keycode: ES1710
Learn more about acid rain and its effects on architectural structures.
Keycode: ES1809
Explore how our understanding of global winds has improved through time.
Keycode: ES1907
Find out more about past and current methods of forcasting weather.
Keycode: ES1909
Learn more about lightning safety.
Keycode: ES2005
Learn more about tornado safety.
Keycode: ES2007
Learn more about hurricane safety.
Keycode: ES2009
Learn more about winter storm safety.
Keycode: ES2010
Explore more about hurricanes.
Keycode: ES2011
Learn more about the technologies used to monitor climate change.
Keycode: ES2102
Learn more about the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Keycode: ES2106
Learn more about the history of ocean exploration.
Learn more about ocean research projects.
Keycode: ES2304
Find out more about mapping the ocean floors.
Keycode: ES2308
Learn more about tides.
Explore information on recent and historical missions to the moon.
Keycode: ES2502
Learn more about impact craters on planets and moons.
Keycode: ES2507
Learn more about Galileos telescopes.
Keycode: ES2604
Find out about the latest missions to Mars.
Keycode: ES2703
Learn more about Jupiters satellites.
Keycode: ES2709
Discover more about telescopes in space.
Keycode: ES2806
Learn more about current methods of scientific dating
Keycode: ES2904
Find out more about dendrochronology.
Keycode: ES2907
Learn more about endangered species and efforts to save them.
Keycode: ES3004
Learn more about paleontological fieldwork and expeditions.
Keycode: ES3009
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
United States Geological Survey
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


text:
Birthday Flowers by Bouquet Florist And Gift Shop
Look no further than Bouquet Florist And Gift Shop in Boone, NC for birthday flowers and happy birthday gifts! Liven up any birthday party with a festive bouquet of birthday flowers or surprise them with a cheerful "Happy Birthday" bouquet! Or give them a long lasting plant or romantic roses. Everyone loves flowers for birthdays!
|We Accept: