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These days, POS systems for restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc.. are a feature at eateries both large and small, from greasy spoon food trucks to 5-star white tablecloth restaurants. Food service is a hectic, highly-competitive industry where speed and efficiency are of paramount importance and finding ways to tweak your offerings from day to day can be the ticket to getting ahead of the pack.
The best restaurant POS systems need to be able to handle the unique needs of various types of restaurants. For example: There are differences between the features of a POS system for pizza restaurants to those of a POS system for bars.
POS systems for restaurants have taken off in the food service world for the same reasons they're a hit in the retail world – they allow you to track sales, customer information, and purchase history in a sophisticated manner that traditional cash registers can't. They allow restaurateurs to use complicated data gathered from customers at the point of purchase to better plan out their business strategy in real time, determining which items sell best and when, and to which types of customers.
The best restaurant POS systems can also be a boon for tracking inventory and waste management down to the very smallest denominator. This can help restaurants manage their food costs – which can often be the difference between a restaurant becoming a local institution or just another flash-in-the-pan.
A good restaurant POS system can instantly compile information about which menu items and daily specials sell best at which times of the day and with which pairings. For large restaurants that turn over hundreds of guests per service, a POS system can help streamline management of a workforce that can number in the dozens. When you're slammed with reservations every night and have private parties and events to manage on the floor, an efficient restaurant POS system can be a lifesaver.
Like in retail, the POS system can be carried by restaurant employees throughout the establishment. Wait staff taking orders can enter them instantly into the tablets, saving the trouble of reading scribbled handwriting off a leather pad or relying on their memory which sometimes might not be as flawless as they think. The data in the tablet instantly goes back to the kitchen before the waiter leaves the table, increasing efficiency, order time and accuracy.
A restaurant POS system can also improve marketing, allowing a restaurant, bar, or pizzaria to target customers with reward programs, special discounts and other offerings which can encourage diners to return and improve customer loyalty.
At a restaurant, things can go from calm to D-Day in an instant. The best POS systems allow for instant menu changes and discounts that can be updated on all systems instantly, depending on how the service is going.
When it's time to present the bill, a good POS system can quickly divide the check for several diners in all types of ways, helping wait staff keep their blood pressure below volcanic. POS systems include split-second, secure processing of credit card transactions at the table, the entrance, or really anywhere in the establishment. They can turn wait staff into mobile registers handling credit and debit purchases – which make up the vast majority of transactions in eateries.
Security is a growing concern for consumers, especially when handing off a credit card in a crowded restaurant in the middle of a packed dinner rush. POS systems provide extensive encryption and secure logins, helping customers keep their peace of mind throughout the dining experience.
When tax season comes around, a digital POS can help get you past the avalanche of paper and organize your records on earnings, expenses, and labor costs – one of the major headaches of running a food service business.
POS systems also allow for off-site, remote management of the business and its transactions, for the rare moments that a restaurant manager might actually not be at the establishment.
Like any major purchase, you're going to want to read up on the reviews, to get a better sense of what you're getting.
You can read our in-depth reviews of major POS systems.
When considering a POS system, an eatery should ask that age old question: how big are we going to be? If the vision is to be a successful food truck and possibly branch out to a second unit years down the road, then you're best off with a POS provider suited for smaller businesses. If you're integrating POS into a chain of large, high-volume restaurants, then a company that offers discounts as the number of platforms increases could be far more affordable.
Considering that most restaurant transactions are cashless, finding the company that provides the cheapest credit and debit processing fees can help cut expenses.
With a large or even a small workforce, ease of operation is important. You don't want to waste time training your staff on a complicated, non-intuitive system, especially if the learning process takes place during the free-for-all of a Friday night dinner rush.
It's crucial that the system you purchase has regular, scheduled updates and a reliable technical support system that can help you with employee training and be a lifeline in real time with any hiccups that may occur.
Whichever system you purchase, it is imperative that you examine how the platform will help cut food costs, manage your workforce, and better engage with customers during and after the dining experience.
Touchbistro has consistently been ranked one of the best platforms on the market. It charges based on the number of devices licensed with them, all with the same features and 24/7 customer service and training.
In a video on their company website, chef and owner of "Masseria", Nicholas Stefanelli, describes how the system has helped his home cooking Italian restaurant by combining a user friendly interface and great customer service:
Upserve is another industry leader, which in 2016 acquired Breadcrumb POS, a platform designed by former food service employees. In a video on the company website, bartender Kolby Goryl of "The Malted Barley" in Providence, RI describes how the ease of the Breadcrumb POS system frees him up to do what he loves – serving drinks and chatting with his guests. The system is more efficient, allowing him to access the back office from the bar, "cutting the chaos of things" and saving time – a precious resource in a busy brewpub.
Revel is a giant in the POS game, and boasts over 25,000 platforms in use by their clients. Geared towards large retailers and major restaurant chains, their clients include household names like Cinnabon and SmoothieKing.
A theme that runs through all of these testimonials is the desire to find a system that not only expedited service and allowed restaurants to better market to and service customers, but also made life easier for staff working in a fast-paced, high-stress industry.
Take a look your own company needs and what the industry leaders offer and you can find a POS system that can help take your restaurant to the next level.


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From Yellow Eyeshadow to Glossy Red Lipstick: 25 of the Best Skin, Hair and Makeup Looks Lately
As soon as I saw this week's photo of Karlie Kloss—in a straight-from-runway flower crown (!!!) paired with chartreuse eyeshadow—I knew it would lead our latest batch of inspirational beauty pics. But there was lots more going on this week: Lupita Nyong'o and Lily Collins looking stunning at Lancôme's 80th anniversary party, Lily Donaldson at an amfAR Fashion Week dinner, plus some classic Amber Heard and Emma Stone.
These were the best celebrity beauty looks this week:
Karlie Kloss
OMGOMGOMG. Karlie went straight to this event wearing her same outfit from the Versace show, flower crown and all—and I'm totally blown away. It makes me want to head over to Free People right now and peruse their selection of Boho headgear (this one would kinda achieve the same effect, no?). The standout in the makeup is the shimmering greenish yellow shadow concentrated at the inner corners and then smudged out under the lash lines. Not sure how it'd translate on regular a civilian, but wow, it sure looks great with her blonde hair.
Lupita Nyong'o
Excuse the low-quality pic, but I think you can still appreciate Lupita's gorgessity. I love this woman in a red lip, and this one makes her complexion just sing. Especially with the matching sheer blush, and the black lil' cat eye flicks. Hair couldn't be cuter in a high bun with a flirty headband and bow. With the sparkly silver dress she looks a bit like a modern flapper girl out of the 1920s!
Lupita is wearing: Lipstick in 165 Rouge Grand Coeur • Blush in Plum Noir • Eyeshadow in Lavender Grace • Mascara in Black • Brow pencil in Noir • Foundation in 555 Suede • Powder in 550 Suede
Amber Heard
Amber's another one who wears red lipstick like a dream, and also did a bit of a retro thing here. I adore her wavy faux bob—they're so great when they're executed well, like here—and the dewiness of her skin is actually quite nice for summer. Brows are darkened but not too much, lashes are natural and the lids have a touch of shimmer. The only thing I'd change is the border of the lipstick.
Emma Stone
What did I tell ya? Classic Emma here. She always does fresh, youthful makeup and hair with that one little fun twist—which in this case is the graphic bright blue liner. It's applied in a "V" shape at the outer corners only, which is an application I don't recall seeing before. I might've done it with a lighter, less rosy lip to really let the blue stand out, but overall I really love this. The updo with the undone wavy section at the front is perfect.
Emma is wearing: Eyeliner in Matte Marine • Eyeshadow in Skinlights • Mascara in Black • Brow pencil in Dark Blonde • Lipstick in HD Primrose • Foundation in Vanilla • Foundation in Ivory • Blush in Charmed • Illuminator in Bare Light
Ashley Madekwe
Now here's a cat eye for you! Ashley nailed it with her exquisitely applied black liner, starting skinny from the inner corners and then thickening up before tapering off into perfect points. It's a super-pretty look with her hair off her face—just groomed brows, nude lips and fresh skin. The lashes could be subtler, but at least they're not fighting with a bunch of other things on the face.
Cara Delevingne
Leave it to Cara D. to wear the most potentially horrific eyeshadow colour known to woman—a bold rusty orange!—and not just pull it off, but look totally aspirational. Not that I think most of us should try this at home, but damn, it looks good on her. I think her full brows help, because they act as a frame, and also she's wearing little other makeup (bare lips and natural lashes). The neat, straight, centre-parted and half-up hair helps keep the focus on the eyes.
Lily Donaldson
Being a model, Lily always looks great, but I usually scroll on quickly because nothing stands out. Not this time. Finally, she's brought some excitement: flicking black liner all the way around her eyes, plus sparkly grey shadow, and rosy cheeks. It all looks awesome with her ultra-pale colouring, yet fortunately, doesn't feel overdone.
Lily Collins
Meanwhile, the other Lily did this—a juicy red lip, looong lashes and slicked-to-the-head hair. Is this girl adorable or what? Normally, the wet look doesn't do it for me, but I admire how she's playing with her short cut instead of looking the same all the time (like, say, Anne Hathaway did). With her big brows and the statement makeup, the hair needed to be out of the way here.
Emilia Clarke
And the Emilia lovefest continues! She sure has a lot of beauty tricks up her sleeve on this press tour, no? Here, it's a cool wavy side-swept style for her new lob length. Then, a raspberry lip stain, a bit of illumination on the cheeks and mascara to define her eyes. She always knows how to play it just right, this lady.
Charli XCX
It's always a treat when we get some Charli. She stuck to the same basic makeup formula (and pose!) as always, sporting a creamy red lipstick and lots of black liner and smokiness around her eyes. But there are a few tiny changes: a hit of orangey copper at the inner corners and above the creases, a more defined cat-eye liner, and is it me or is her lipstick more fluoro-red this time? Also, did she cut her hair?
Emily Blunt
I really don't think enough people appreciate Emily's prettiness. She's a true English rose here, with absolutely flawless skin (even in harsh daylight), and a very vintage wavy hairstyle. Thankfully, she wears it and it doesn't wear her. Makeup is spot on: creamy pink lips, flushed cheeks, defined lashes and black liner that stops short of cat-eye territory.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Nice to see Rosie breaking out of that tawny brown phase she was in for a while. This makeup seems so much more flattering, and interesting. Notice how her cheeks and lids are a warm peach but the mouth is a cooler rose. Kind of an interesting mix of tones. Brushed-up brows, fluffy upper lashes and tousled hair complete the look.
Eiza González
I think Eiza's foundation could possibly match her neck and chest a little better (i.e. more golden), but otherwise, what a stunner! Her long, loose hair is gorgeous and shiny, and the makeup is low-key with a fun twist: a shimmery peach drawn straight under the lower lashes. A lovely look for summer.
Olivia Palermo
Did you ever notice what beautiful skin Olivia has? That's my major takeaway from this neutral makeup look, of which the main feature is brown shadow all over the lids to accentuate her big brown eyes. Her lashes seem a bit heavy, and I'm not super in love with the centre-parted updo.
Jessica Alba
Speaking of heavy lashes, I wish Jessica would lose hers, too. I think they cheapen what is otherwise a great look for her—super-sleek, centre-parted hair (something few of us could pull off!) and a glamorous berry lipstick. The other lil' detail that bugs is the mismatch on the eyebrow pencil, which seems to be a common issue in celeb land these days.
Natasha Poly
The beauty of Natasha's look is in the subtleties. I'm the most drawn to her green eyes with flecks of brown, and they dictate the direction of the makeup. It's all about the brown eyeshadow, which has been expertly applied in an angular shape and then blended to perfection. Obviously, she picked up a few tricks from the runway!
Ana Beatriz Barros
Ana is such a knockout, and I think she'd been even more of a knockout if she changed her hair colour. (I'm thinking darker and richer instead of the greyish blonde highlights.) I love her soft berry lip colour, and the idea of pairing it with smudgy tightlining. Just seems like the liner might be irritating her eyes a bit.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
I had to include this rare Zeta-Jones sighting! Catherine is 45 now, and as glamorous as ever. Obviously, I'm not a fan of the lip liner, but I do think the way she did her eyes—all smoky-smudgy brownish plum—is very flattering.
Lara Stone
I can't say I'm a fan of this ultra-light blonde hair colour on Lara, but I do appreciate that she made it look very runway instead of cheap and Playboy Mansion-ish. With her pale skin and the pale pink lips, it definitely makes her green eyes stand out. I love the defined lashes and soft shimmer along her lash lines.
Petra Nemcova
Petra went very classic this week (it was a big week for red lipstick, huh?). Hers is darker and more matte than the others, and I quite like how there's no distraction of an obvious lip liner. Paired with centre-parted straight hair, tucked behind both ears, and just some pale taupe on the lids, she looks très elegant.
Naomi Watts
Pretty Naomi kept to her usual soft makeup here, which is perfect for her delicate colouring. What I'm really interested in is her hairstyle, though. The length is a few inches shorter, and it seems thicker now? I love the face-framing effect of the soft waves and the centre part. (Sooo many centre parts lately, did you notice?)
Rhona Mitra
When you have crazy-beautiful hair and skin like Rhona does, you don't need a lot of artifice. I'd love to brush out her waves a bit, but man are they gorgeous—and so are her tone-on-tone caramel highlights, which look like they came from the sun (but probably didn't). Her brows are on the thinner side, and she doesn't pretend otherwise with her makeup. I really respect that!
Kylie Minogue
Aw, I miss Kylie's darker strawberry bronde hair colour. This blonde seems a bit too light/brassy for her. But at age 47, she still looks fan-freakin'-tastic. (No doubt with some help from her derm, but still.) I like her subtle makeup, but I don't think she needed to add the lashes; they're too much.
Zoey Deutch
I don't know about her acting, but beauty-wise, Zoey is definitely a new one to watch! She looks so pretty and fresh here, and I'm totally digging that messy fishtail braid tossed over one shoulder. I think maybe her foundation is a bit too yellow, and that lip liner is not needed at all.
Natalia Vodianova
Final shot this week is of Natalia, whose beauty vibe isn't for everyone, but I like it! (Yeah, she might attend to her upper lip, but models are real people, too!) Her smile is totally genuine, and I go gaga for brows like these ones. I'd love to see her with darker hair—I think it would make those clear baby blues pop even more.
Who had your favourite beauty look this week?

subset: commoncrawl


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Born from a necessity to repair, re-fabricate or reinvent camping kit that kept falling apart Neil Wragg, the craftsman who makes all Ragsto Bags by hand, has been sewing a long time.
'We throw away far too much these days', comments Neil Wragg, 'when we could pause and be creative with our rubbish'.
"There is lots of 'junk' that needn't be thrown away, I mean we could reuse that yoghurt pot as a vase, couldn't we? But who wants a house that looks like it's full of rubbish?"
"Ragsto Bags can use your junk but with skill & imagination can transform it into a product that turns heads!"
All the bags are made by Neil Wragg in his workshop in Marlow, Bucks, England. Most bags
are made to order and others are special commissions.
As the awareness of Ragsto Bags builds so does people wanting to donate leather sofas, garments or old tents. Even bicycle and car inner tubes are donated from the local businesses.
Neil lives with his wife and two children in Marlow and mixes up sewing with Scouting, cycling, surfing, camping, whittling or fixing his old Land Rover!
BBC TV's Money For Nothing program was an adventure! After getting in touch through twitter the production company spent five days filming in the small workshop at Ragsto Bags premises in Marlow.
'When the Director says "you won't notice us, just do your normal thing and we will film you in the background", then don't believe him!' You have to do your 'normal thing' several times, every time to make sure they have every angle covered!
Still it was a great experience and a tough challenge when presented with the tasks they wanted. However, the results 'blew away' Sarah Moore the presenter of Money For Nothing when she was presented with her transformed junk for the programs. Search iplayer.


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Rhonda Barnett Tingle from the J.M. Tull Gwinett Family YMCA and Christy Fennessy from Torq Cycle Atlanta answer readers' questions about fitness.
Q: I just joined a gym to work on my New Year's resolution. Can I just hop on a machine and get started?
A: Have a certified trainer or fitness professional show you how to use the equipment properly and safely. There are specific criteria involved in alignment, proper range of motion, proper progression and volume of weight lifted. Using the machines properly provides the most effective and safest strength training gains.
Q: Can I really get a solid workout done in half an hour?
A: Absolutely. Studies show that moderately overweight people who exercise for 30 minutes and break a sweat can lose more weight over three months than those who do similar workouts for 60 minutes a day.Why? When you know there's a shorter workout on tap, you might be more likely to give it your all. Use intense intervals to make your 30 minutes count.


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Through an investigation carried out by League Officials, evidence demonstrated that Krüger displayed consistent negative behaviour in ranked play over the course of the past months. He was initially issued a warning by League Officials on the 5th of January when he was evaluated as an LCS substitute, but has since continued to exhibit ongoing misconduct unbecoming of a professional player. Krüger's continuous usage of discriminatory and denigrating language towards other players in the game is unacceptable. Given the frequency, quantity and severity of said misconduct we are suspending Krüger for an extended period of time from Riot-affiliated competitive play.
Krüger has violated rules 8.2.2 and 8.2.4 of the EU Rulebook. Based on the Player's actions and the punishment prescribed in the Global Penalty Index, specifically the section "Ongoing Misconduct", he will be suspended for the next 4 competitive months.
"Harassment is forbidden. Harassment is defined as systematic, hostile and repeated acts taking place over a considerable period of time, or a singular egregious instance, which is/are intended to isolate or ostracize a person and/or affect the dignity of the person."
"Team Managers/Members may not offend the dignity or integrity of a country, private person or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigrating words or actions on account of race, skin color, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, financial status, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason. "


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Rdp Ams with Unlimited Smtp
Life-time of RDP and SMTP
We buy servers exist in a month
But if you use RDP & SMTP it's survival time is 1-2 days
Because you used to spam mail
Unlimited SMTP Relay Server
Because, it was created by server, you can send unlimited emails. However, supplier's agent will detect if you send a larger number of emails, they (suppliers) will stop your services. So we do NOT guarantee more than 12 hours..


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Great-Grandmother Pumpkin Pie
Gran-Gran & Pop-Pop
Grammy & Pop-Pop
Welcome to our new home! It was time for a change, so this blog was created to pick-up where "The Booga Wooga: Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, & Tigger Too!" left off. If you ever want to take a stroll down memory lane and visit the first blog, just click on "The Booga Wooga's Blog" tab below to get you there. Same as before, this blog will continue the standard of being a diary-journal that is child-oriented, family-friendly, and safe for kids to visit!


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Holmes Report 13 Mar 2015 // 1:03PM GMT
LONDON—TVC Group managing director Nicky Minter-Green is stepping down as MD of the agency, after nine years in the role.
Minter-Green, who joined TVC 16 years ago, becomes agency chair and also takes on a new role as president of Economist Films, a new video venture launched this week by
the Economist Group, which acquired TVC in 2012.
Current UK MD James Myers succeeds Minter-Green as global MD, reporting to Paul Rossi, president of Economist Group media businesses.
"James and I have worked together for 12 years and he is perfectly placed to step-up to the new position," said Minter-Green in an email. "Not only is James a world expert within content-led communications but an incredibly dedicated and driven colleague."
Myers will oversee client experience, agency sales and marketing across both UK and USA offices. The restructuring also sees the promotion of former Kindred MD, Sarah Harris to group operations director.
"We have ambitious plans for investment over the coming year that should see us take the agency to the next level of growth," said Myers.


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I thought the sleeves turned out well for my first time using ricrac.
Adelle was intensely focused on the fish.
We wanted to capture Adrian's 3 month pictures, This rocking chair was Brett's when he was little.
Jenna said this looks like its right out of a movie, you can really see the lovely vintage floral
I thought photographing 1 kid was hard 2 is a magic trick. Kudos to all those children photographers!


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How to survive Back-to-School
Published 27 August 2015 by Kyri Levendi
Back-to-School is not only hard on the kids but for the parents too, so check you're ready with our survival guide.
It's hard to believe that the summer holidays are almost over – those six weeks can feel like a lifetime when you're little and even longer when you're an adult (ahem!). But it would seem that for most parents, there's no relief in the kids going back-to-school.
Recent research* conducted on our behalf found that parents dread the school run after the summer holidays, with 40 percent saying that they don't look forward to the return of school assemblies, clubs and helping out with homework. A fifth of parents say that they find the school run more stressful than actually going to work.
To help you de-stress and prepare yourself for the start of term, we've put together this guide of back-to-school essentials!
School uniform
It's always better to try and pick up a new uniform before the rush of back-to-school, but don't worry if you haven't sorted it yet – there's still time! In fact, even though leaving it late could see you faced with a few tedious crowds, you could just nab yourself a bargain because of this!
Some stores can start to provide discounts** closer to when the kids are about to go back to school. BHS and Debenhams are both great examples of this – they're currently offering 20% off on all school uniform. Similarly, if you're a Tesco Clubcard holder, you can now exchange every £5 of your Clubcard vouchers for £10 of Boost tokens to spend on school uniform. You also can get £5 off sports shoes when you spend £20 at Clarks.
When it comes to school shoes, try to set yourself a budget of what to spend and stick to it. We know this can be difficult, especially if your child has gone through an unexpected growth spurt but stick to your guns. Ask the shop assistant if there are any shoes in the sale and think carefully about whether to invest in a sturdy or cheaper pair. What you ultimately decide will depend on how rough your child is with their shoes.
Study essentials
We know it can be annoying when your child's study essentials go missing after the end of every term but there are places you can pick these up quite cheaply:
• Pencil case, B&M, £1.29
• Stationery, B&M, £0.99
• Lunch box, Tesco, £2
• Water bottle, Asda, £2
• Book Bag, Asda, £4 (for younger children)
• Rucksack, Matalan, £6
So there you have it – the only advice left to give you is to make sure you time when you shop with razor-like precision. Evenings are often quieter and a sales assistant might be more likely to show you sale items then. And if all else fails, hold onto the thought that the next school holidays are only six weeks away – hurrah!
*Red Dot questioned a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults aged 18 and over between 30th July and 4 August 2015, of whom 641 were Scottish residents.
**All discounts correct at time of writing – 25/08/15


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C(n,k) = n! / {(k!)(n-k)!} C(n,n-k) = n! / {(n-k)!(n-(n-k))!} = n! / {(n-k)!(k!)} C(n,n-k) = C(n,k)
2 Answers · Science & Mathematics · 23/10/2007
How to plot function in matlab or maple for example {(F/M)/(k-c)^2+ω^2}*{exp(-kt) – exp(-ct)*[cosωt-{(k-c)/(ω)
t = t_start:h:t_end; y = {(F/M)/(k-c)^2+ω^2}*{exp(-k*.t) – exp(-c*t)*[cosω*.t-{(k-c)/(ω) ; plot(t,y); (t_start, t...
1 Answers · Science & Mathematics · 08/11/2007
... and not the school uniform everyday. But now that Claire and K.C are practically going out, Reese is jealous of K.C...
3 Answers · Entertainment & Music · 15/07/2009
...dangerous to drive. Whether or not the weather is bad, you should always avoid K.C.
1 Answers · Cars & Transportation · 06/02/2012
...under the proper circumstances. CONTINENTAL (the most common C.K.C referred to around here) are NOT eligible for AKC registration...
4 Answers · Pets · 23/09/2010
I will be in K.C. in the fall. Which part(s) would you advise to not stay overnight in or walk thru at nite?
To be safe stay in Hotels in Blue Springs, Lees Summit, but there is a very nice one across the street from Kuffman Stadiums stay away from the city that is when bad things happen just to be safe north KC is safe
13 Answers · Travel · 02/05/2007
Just because your yorkie pup is a.k.c registered doesn't have anything to do with her ears...
7 Answers · Pets · 30/07/2010
... Samuel Earle. If you're talking about what K.C. stands for, well haha it doesn't say, all it says, is that...
1 Answers · Entertainment & Music · 24/12/2008
do you mean Drew? Katie never dated K.C. but she pretty much said that she changed her image so it makes a statement that boys shouldn't mess with her. she's so dumb. lol.
2 Answers · Society & Culture · 04/08/2012
...but have always loved 'Please Don't Go' by K.C.... Brilliant, tear jerking, mini epic of a song, that still ...
3 Answers · Entertainment & Music · 11/10/2010


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Busy week/random post
What?! It's been almost a week since I posted? Oops!
Last weekend was going to be nice and relaxing but instead all sorts of things happened! It started with an easy 8 miles that led to a wide variety of conversation topics (maybe our most diverse yet despite being a relatively short run!). I sold my Roomba and couches, then went to buy new couches (yeah, yeah, that's backwards, I know) and they said the couch I want won't be ready til mid-May! What? I thought it would be next week. Ugh. Now they've called and said June third. Boy oh boy.
But the best part of Saturday was the farmers market! Saturday was the first day to pick up our CSA. So exciting. I was just about giddy. And I talked to the cheese guy and he said they will now sell wheels of cheese ALL THE TIME. I used some of the cheese Saturday night when inaugurating our new awesome grill! This spring/summer/fall/(winter?) is going to be awesome!
Sunday. Easter Sunday. My favorite holiday. I started the day off with a cold swim. After church, I headed to Katya's house where she had prepared a somewhat traditional British Sunday meal for us. It was so delicious: lamb with gravy and mint sauce, potato gratin with goat cheese, puddings, all of it was great. With even better conversation and a great play list (my only contribution to the meal).
I had a paper due yesterday so the first couple days of this weeks have been consumed by finishing that. I did manage to run on Monday and swim on Tuesday, but both were pretty short workouts. Oh yeah — because it's taper time! I'm doing a half marathon Sunday so I'm doing fewer workouts this week and I'm making the workouts I'm doing a bit easier. Tapering is hard. I want to be doing mooooore!
How's that for a random, picture-free post?


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You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2011.
I'm here. Thinking about what I possibly could have to add and how I could possibly sum up the last 4 months.
I love being married. I love learning about flour and sugar. I love life. I love genuine-ness.
There's more coming friends. I just need to start again. I want to share recipes. I want to share my love for this beautiful world.
There's more coming. I promise.


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Located on the Connetquot River at a point that it empties into the Great South Bay, the hamlet of Oakdale was once a playground for the rich and famous. Today, residents enjoy sailing and beaches and is recognized as one of the most beautiful areas of central Suffolk County.
Local modern history of the area began in 1697, when the land upon which the Hamlet of Oakdale was developed, was granted to William Nicoll.
In 1868, the Southside Railroad arrived in the region resulting in the influx of several millionaire families of note.
The Connetquot River State Park, a conservation area dedicated in 1967 was part of the 3,575- acre Southside Sportsmen's Club upon which the former land barons of the area hunted game.
One of the wealthy 19th century residents was William K. Vanderbilt. He built "Idle Hour", a 900-acre estate on the bands of the Connetquot River. Following Vanderbilt's death in 1927, the property was sold to independent land developers. Many of the original buildings have been placed on the National Register of Historical Places. In 1927, the 16-acre farm, a part of Idle Hour, was developed into an artists colony. Today, the "Artist Colony" is a thriving residential neighborhood that itself has attracted newcomers to the Hamlet of Oakdale.
Oakdale is served by the Connetquot Central School District, which also includes Bohemia and Ronkonkoma.
Oakdale is full of winding roads, creeks, and small bridges. The homes located in Oakdale vary from quaint mini-mansions and many blessed with magnificent views of The Great South Bay.
Easy access to the water and mannas in Oakdale provide boat-lovers with a small piece of paradise, while remaining close to home.


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What to Expect from Comstock Resources
Comstock Resources (NYS: CRK) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 29. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Comstock Resources's revenues will wither -8.9% and EPS will remain in the red.
The average estimate for revenue is $113.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.28.
Revenue details
Last quarter, Comstock Resources logged revenue of $111.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 8.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $103.8 million.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.54. GAAP EPS were -$0.58 for Q1 compared to $0.03 per share for the prior-year quarter.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 79.4%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -28.7%, 970 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -28.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
The full year's average estimate for revenue is $455.2 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.95.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 278 members out of 301 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 57 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 50 give Comstock Resources a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Comstock Resources is outperform, with an average price target of $20.91.
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- Add Comstock Resources to My Watchlist.
The article What to Expect from Comstock Resources originally appeared on Fool.com.Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor ofMotley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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If you have been feeding your pets raw meat, you must be aware of the possible dangers your pets, and even you may face. Researchers analyzed 35 commercially-available raw-meat cat and dog foods. They discovered that 86% of these foods have possible dangerous bacteria.
According to BMJ's Vet Record, dog and cat foods in the Netherlands were subjects of the study. Raw-meat diets are popular around the world, but there is no evidence that such foods have health benefits. In fact, according to numerous studies, they may have potential risks.
The Research Findings about Raw Meat in Pet Food
According to Utrecht University researcher and veterinarian Paul Overgaauw, people can also get sick from parasites and bacteria found in raw meat products. They may even be shedders and carriers of these pathogens.
Cross-contamination can occur during food preparation, or when cleaning the food bowls. Also, direct contact with infected animals poses a higher risk. A person may get sick when his infected pet licks his hands or face, or when he cleans up his pet's waste.
In the research of Overgaauw and his group, they discovered that frozen pet products have bones, raw meat, animal by-products from duck, lamb, beef, chicken, horse, and other ingredients.
Research findings showed that 40% of the tested pet-food products have high levels of E. coli bacteria. In 23% of the products, the researchers found traces of E. coli 0157, a dangerous strain of bacteria that wreaked havoc in North America because of a lettuce-based outbreak. 43% of the samples had listeria bacteria, while 20% of them had salmonella bacteria.
11% of the products had Sarcocystis cruzi parasite while 6% of the samples had Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Sarcocystis cruzi is harmful to farm animals. Toxoplasma gondii causes illnesses in humans and cats in the United States. In fact, it causes mental illness to people who have cats.
Researchers said that even though the number of products tested was low, these raw-meat pet diets were contaminated by various parasitic and bacterial pathogens. Other studies showed that animals which ate raw-meat diets were more likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Convenience of Buying Raw-Meat Pet Food vs. Preparing Own Pet Food
In Europe and the United States, commercially-available raw-meat pet products have different kinds of bones, organs, and meat. Sometimes, they also had fruits or vegetables. Pet owners may like the convenience that these foods offer. They do not have to prepare raw food for their cats and dogs.
Aside from contamination and risk of infection, these raw-meat diets available in the market do not provide balanced and complete nutrients for the animals to stay healthy and to grow. According to Overgaauw, pet owners have the freedom to decide which food is better for their pets. But, Overgaauw believes that each of these products must have warning labels.
Education is important for pet owners. Pet-food companies, pet stores, and veterinarians must education these pet owners about proper food handling and personal hygiene. Ultimately, these pet owners must make an informed decision not only for their pets but for themselves as well.


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During this one-day, work process course, participants will learn all of the necessary elements for a successful Asset Performance Management (APM) initiative and the framework for a living strategy.
Course attendees will gain an understanding that a successful APM initiative will ensure basic yet appropriate asset characterization and measurement processes, such as critical analysis, asset health indicators, on-line analytic and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) interfaces.
Participants will create Health Indicators based on Measurement Locations and Xi Tags, as well as, learn about Health Indicators that are based on other Primary Sources.
Key Session Topics:
- Asset Performance Management
- Asset Characterization and Measurement Process
- Importance of Good Recommendation Management
Who Should Attend:
Individuals who want to ensure their assets perform more effectively.
Course Length: 1 day


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Monday, March 11, 2013
Grouchy Canines: Dogs Who Growl or Snap
If your dog recently growled or snapped, you may be wondering why. After all, you may have done your research and made sure you adopted the best dog for your family. Does this sudden behavior change mean you must rehome him, or worse? Does it mean you have a dominant dog on your hands that you must force to be submissive? What would suddenly make your dog act aggressively?
To us humans, expressions of canine aggression are unacceptable behaviors. However, for a dog, they're simply ways of communicating. From a dog's perspective, there's always a good reason for aggressive behavior. The good news is that growling and snapping don't necessarily mean that worse behavior is inevitable.
Simply put, dogs can't use words to talk to us. They can't say, "Please don't do that to me. I don't like it." They can't reason with a small child to quit pulling their ears or quit crawling on them. Instead, they communicate via the only means available to themthey growl or snap.
Humans and dogs have different communication systems and as a result, there are often misunderstandings between the species. Many dogs are uncomfortable with being hugged or being approached with direct eye contact. When humans approach dogs in this way, they usually intend to be friendly, but dogs may perceive this behavior as threatening or intimidating, and react accordingly.
There's no way around it: we don't want canine aggression in our homes. A dog's aggression can lead to a bad outcome if your dog bites someone. The good news is that a growl or snap is your dog's way of communicating a waning—and your dog is choosing to warn you instead of biting.
In the past, many dog trainers viewed growling and snapping as dominant behaviors and advised dog owners to respond by doing alpha rolls (forcing the dog down onto the ground and onto his back), stare-downs (staring at the dog until he looks away, which signals his acknowledgement that you are dominant over him), shaking his scruff, and long, forced "stays." Unfortunately, even though a wealth of information now exists about the hazards of these training techniques, a number of trainers continue to use them, including popular celebrity dog trainers who make them appear effective through highly-choreographed video editing. Some trainers recommend even harsher methods for dealing with aggression such as shock collars, which allow you to administer a shock to dog when he displays aggressive behavior. You'd be best advised to stay away from such trainers and advice.
Any trainer/behaviorist who understands dog behavior and the psychological process behind modifying behavior knows that punishment does not help aggression. In fact, punishment often makes the problem worse. If the aggression is motivated by fear, punishment will only make the dog more fearful, and therefore more aggressive. Attempting to punish a pushy or controlling dog is likely to make his behavior even worse. In either case, the dog and owner end up in a vicious cycle of escalating aggression. Punishing territorial, possessive or protective aggression is likely to elicit additional defensive aggression and is likely to ultimately result in worse behavior.
My own sweet collie-shepherd mix growled at me this winter when I leaned over him to wipe salt from his paws. Luckily, I was walking him with a dog trainer who said, "Don't lean over him next time." I'd been trying to comfort him but to him, my leaning wasn't comforting at all, and he growled to let me know he didn't like it. Since then, by simply being aware of my posture while cleaning his feet, I've had no further problems. Had I ignored his growl, he would have learned that I don't listen to him. And, if I had continued to act in a manner that made him uncomfortable, his growling could have escalated. I didn't punish him for growling because I understood that his growling was simply a verbal cue. He wasn't behaving badly—he was communicating with me the only way he knew how.
Sometimes, dog owners assume that punishment prevents further aggressive behavior. I probably could have intimidated my dog into not growling at me again. But would that have solved the underlying problem? Not at all.
If you don't address the underlying issue—perhaps of fearfulness or possessiveness—behind your dog's aggressive behavior, you're not changing your dog's feelings about the incident that caused the growl in the first place. The danger in this is that even if you're successful in making your dog suppress a growl, your punishment might intensify his feelings. Thus, the next time a similar incident happens, your dog will still feel threatened and become more likely to bite. The dog has learned that his warning (growling) doesn't work, and in his mind, the next logical step is a bite.
It's also important to remember that your dog will associate his punishment with whatever is causing him to be upset in the first place. For example, if you punish your dog for growling at a crawling toddler (when your dog was just trying to tell the toddler, "Please don't bother me!"), your dog may interpret your punishment as "I get yelled at when that child crawls towards me." Thus, the punishment could cause an escalation of aggression towards the child.
The moral of this story is that we want our dogs to communicate with us. We want them to warn us when they feel uncomfortable or threatened and we want them to know we'll respect their warning. If they growl and we respect the growl, they're much less likely to resort to further aggression in the future. The purpose of this article, however, is not to advise you to be permissive with your dog or to ignore the circumstances that caused the growl. If your dog is growling, there is something bothering him and you must address it. It's important to understand why your dog is growling and what you can do to fix the problem proactively rather than punitively. Your dog will thank you and you will ultimately reap the reward of having a great relationship with your dog.
If you wish to learn more about how dogs perceive human behavior, behaviorist Patricia McConnell has written two very insightful and easy-to-read books about this titled The Other End of the Leash and For the Love of a Dog.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dog's behavior, please call our Behavior Helpline at 412.847.7070 or click here.
25 comments:
Me and my boyfriend adopted a dog. We had him for about a month now. He just recently started growling and sniping at my boyfriend. Only time he does it is when he's laying down. He fine when I touch him but not my boyfriend.ReplyDeleteReplies
I have a German Shepherd mix that was abused by a male before we got her at 4 months old. She is not as comfortable with men and she behaved the same way with my son's. I would recommend that maybe consider something negative could have happened regarding a male. I would also give the dog a treat every time she allows your boyfriend to touch her when the dog is lying down. Maybe that will work.Delete
I was walking with my German Shepherd dog... my cousin came to me who is also his caretaker who also feeds him... we were having discussion face to face while the dog was standing on my side suddenly he attacked my cousin and bite him brutally for almost 1 min and the dog bite him 9 to 10 times brutally almost start bleeding..... while i was beating my dog brutally with rubber pipe very very badly almost i hit him 20 to 25 times with rubber pipe... but dog was not leaving him...then i put rope in his neck and separate dog from my cousin...ReplyDelete
Now i am still shock and don't understand why the dog bite that guy brutally who feed him and take care of him all the time...
Would u like to tell me about this behaviour. ..
Coz if he is abnormal dog then why he didn't bite me while i was also beating and pushing him away from cousin...
Guide me plz what i have to doReplies
You are an idiot.Delete
This isn't helpful.Delete
Thats animal abuse. You should never hit an animal ever. It doesint matter what there doing. Maybe your cousin was doing something to the dog when you didint notice. Theres always a reason for aggressionDelete
Thats animal abuse. You should never hit an animal ever. It doesint matter what there doing. Maybe your cousin was doing something to the dog when you didint notice. Theres always a reason for aggressionDelete
It's not animal abuse to defend someone against an dog attacking, would you let a dog bite your face off just because you might have triggered the reaction unknowingly? And sometimes dogs do attack without reason, it's just uncommon.Delete
You are not fit to have a dog! that dog should be removed from you right away!!! I would like to whip you with a rubber hose 25 times, you stupid idiot.Delete
Clearly hitting dog for it being a dog is not OK & not needed.Delete
However those that have made abusive comments need to wake up themselves. This person has asked for help. I would suggest they are young & have learnt from experience wrongly that hitting a dog is a way to disipline it. The only time I'd hit a dog is for the protection of a living creature including itself. If it wants to eat a worm though .... But generally hitting a dog latched on to your arm in most cases will just antagonise the dog more. To the person who asked for help don't stop asking the questions, but a forum is the wrong place to do that. A vet or pet store coild lead you to the right place for you locally They're proffesionals. But stop hitting the dog for being a dog. Learn dog talk. Observe your dog. Stay away from forums & ignore those who insult you. You asked for help, so guess who the idiots are. Yup! Those with low self esteem to not care about others.
I was walking with my German Shepherd dog... my cousin came to me who is also his caretaker who also feeds him... we were having discussion face to face while the dog was standing on my side suddenly he attacked my cousin and bite him brutally for almost 1 min and the dog bite him 9 to 10 times brutally almost start bleeding..... while i was beating my dog brutally with rubber pipe very very badly almost i hit him 20 to 25 times with rubber pipe... but dog was not leaving him...then i put rope in his neck and separate dog from my cousin...ReplyDelete
Now i am still shock and don't understand why the dog bite that guy brutally who feed him and take care of him all the time...
Would u like to tell me about this behaviour. ..
Coz if he is abnormal dog then why he didn't bite me while i was also beating and pushing him away from cousin...
Guide me plz what i have to doReplies
It could be a certain scent or perfume that trigger the attack too.Delete
There is always a trigger factor...
Thank you so much for taking the time for you personally to share such a nice info. I definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share.ReplyDelete
Dog Trainers Portland
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
I have a very submissive dog that never growls or barks I've often joked that he is softer than my Labrador. He was sitting next to me not sleeping my friends toddler who he has always been great with Eason my lap the toddler help his hand out and the fog licked it as he normally does the toddler leant forward to stroke him and he snapped and growled never heard him do this before even in exactly the same situation I e always been careful I do believe they are animals and need to be treated right the toddler knows never touch if he's sleeping go in his bed or touch he's food. I'm at my wits end can I still trust him he never bit just made us jump please helpReplyDelete
I have a 7 month old husky/malamute mix, so he is fairly big dog, and I got to admit I'm a bit scared of him for his size. I'm the one that feeds him, plays with him the most, and has more compassion on him, so I don't understand why he snapped at me recently (didn't sink his teeth, his teeth just grazed my skin) I didn't get it. All I was doing was petting him like I've done many many times, all I can think of is that he doesn't respect me, or the fact he had just come in from a nap.ReplyDelete
I don't know, I guess I'm scared he is actually an aggressive dog.
But then again, he lets me stick my whole hand in his mouth if I'm trying to get something out of there, so I'm confused.
I have a 3 year old mix breed dog an he is so sweet however when he was about a year old he ate a packing blanket an had to take pills to poop it out. Not sure if this has anything to do with it bit ever since this instance he has been a growler. Wierd I know. I don't understand my dog. I'm not scared of him but I want to understand him. I can wake up in the morning an he will lick my face an then start growling I will say no he will stop growling an then lick my fave some more. He was never socialized. An he goes into a trance like state sometimes when he growls like he's not in there. He's only snapped at us once. I don't want him to bite us am I would like to change his behavior but I don't know how?ReplyDelete
My dog is about 3 and he has always been friendly with kids. But now he has started growling and shaking when kids come towards him. If kids are not around he is fine but as soon as a kid goes near him he growls and shakes all over. Why?ReplyDelete
I have a Boerboel (South African mastiff), now aged 2. He his very loving dog constantly looking for cuddles.ReplyDelete
How ever these last couple of days he would seek me asking to rub is head (by nosing my hand) yet growl when I do rub his head. There is no teeth showing, his body behavior is submissive. (he is sitting relaxed, no tension can be seen). He responds to voice commands very well and should you scold him he immediately lies down. But the recent growling is out of character. Is it because of pleasure or warning me? Cause I don't understand why he comes to looking for cuddles and then growling... He shows no aggression to our other dog (ridge back).
It's no secret that most men only want one thing, right?
Well it turns out that's not only wrong, but may actually be the root of many failed relationships.
In fact, the one thing men are universally obsessed with...
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It's an elusive combination of emotion and biological drive that's rarely satisfied in life or love.
===> (The secret obsession that makes men fall in love) - (What men look for in "The One") <=====
And when you know how to satisfy this life long obsession...
He will make it his life long mission to cherish and please you...
And he will pursue your love to the ends of the earth.
Here's a video you won't want to miss that shows you how to become your man's deepest obsession:
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Most of the time I don't make comments on websites, but I'd like to say that this article really forced me to do so. Really nice post! directory about MastiffsReplyDelete
Many people use pet gates at the foot of stairs or the entrance to certain rooms as a way to manage this. Various options are available to a pet owner when it comes to the type of gate or other means of corralling their pet. petful101.comReplyDelete
Has a guy ever given you mixed signals?ReplyDelete
One minute he's crazy about you and the next minute you have no clue if he ever wants to see you again?
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I assure you it's nothing that you did.
In fact, he may even care about you a great deal and still not be able to stop himself from acting this way.
But why does this happen?
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[Sign off]
My dog snap my cousin who live with us. He was at the living room and she pass by, he jump and bit her. Was big bruise and little blood. He coddle sometimes with her. Why he bit her?ReplyDelete


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Rodgers and Rodgers Jewellery
Rodgers & Rodgers is the eponymous jewellery brand from mother and daughter duo, Lynn and Kate Rodgers. Together they create stunning jewellery from sterling silver and 18ct gold vermeil with carefully selected semi-precious gemstones, each piece is handmade in their Derbyshire studio. A piece of Rodgers & Rodgers jewellery is sure to brighten up the plainest of outfits, from statement gemstone earrings to pretty drop necklaces. Perfect as a gift to a friend or a treat for yourself!


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How to Gain Weight (the Healthy Way!)
Before diving into a milkshakes-and-burgers diet, check out these tips for bulking up the right way.
We Need the Reminder That #GainingWeightIsCool When Everyone Is Busy Dieting
You actually have a lot to gain from putting on a few pounds.
The Reason Your Weight Can Fluctuate 5 Pounds in a Day
Remember this next time you panic after stepping on the scale.
How to Feel Great Even Though You've Gained Weight
Don't let a few extra pounds mess with your mindset.
Can Your Breath Predict Weight Gain?
A new study suggests we might be able to predict weight gain based on what we exhale.


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Levitra as Your Mantra
If one man is having difficulty of achieving or maintaining an erect penis, then, he is experiencing erectile dysfunction. This condition is also referred to as impotence. The man may report decreased frequency of erections, inability to achieve a firm erection, or rapid subsiding of erection. But, he should not worry when experiencing impotence since there is a treatment for this. Treatment can be medical, surgical, or both, depending on the cause.
Penile erection is process that involves blood flow. It starts with the relaxation of the smooth muscles in the corpus cavernosum and the arterioles around it. This part of the man's reproductive is composed of a pair of sponge-like areas in the penis. When there is a presence of sexual arousal, the endothelial cells as well as the nerve endings in the area will release a substance called nitric oxide. The substance nitric oxide will activate the guanylate cyclase, an enzyme which results in an increased synthesis or production of cGMP or cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the corpus cavernosum's smooth muscle cells. These will in turn make the smooth muscles relaxed and will result in an increased blood flow into the male sex organ which will then result in an erection.
One should not bother if he has problems in maintaining an erect male sex organ because there is an available medical treatment or the use of pharmacologic therapy which is effective. Phosphodiesterase-5 or PDE-5 inhibitors are medications taken orally and are the first-line therapy used to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence. Currently available Phosphodiesterase-5 or PDE-5 inhibitors include sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis). Each of these agents has a similar mechanism of action but a different pharmacologic action and clinical use.
This article will focus on the function and mechanism of action of the drug Levitra. Levitra is a smooth muscle relaxant and is one of the many types among the selective inhibitor of cGMP or cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific PDE5 or phosphodiesterase type 5. Vardenafil is the generic name for this drug and Levitra is its given brand name. Levitra works by causing smooth muscle relaxation which will subsequently cause in an increased flow of blood into the corpus cavernosum in the male sex organ which will help in gaining and sustaining an erection during sexual stimulation. The active ingredient of the Levitra works on the chain of reactions around the penis during sexual stimulation, when the corpus cavernosa or the two large chambers in the male sex organ fills with blood resulting in an erection.
Levitra is a film-coated tablet that must be stored below a room temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. It is rapidly absorbed after oral administration. It can be taken with or without food. Levitra and its major circulating metabolite are highly bound to plasma proteins and are metabolized predominantly by hepatic enzymes. The total body clearance of Levitra is 56 liters per hour at a time duration of about four to five hours. The drug is flushed out of the body as metabolites excreted through the feces and to a lesser extent in the urine.


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South Korea is hosting a tournament of the world's best teenage football teams. The "Under 17 World Cup" is a chance for global sports fans to catch a glimpse of the Beckhams and Ronaldos of the future in a make-or-break setting. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin spent a little time with the United States team before they were eliminated by Germany - and learned about some of the challenges facing young American soccer players.
Lugging water and equipment. Doing homework on the road. And practicing hard, rain or shine.
That is the price the young U.S. athletes pay for a shot at soccer stardom.
The U.S. team is one of 24 that came to South Korea for the Under 17 World Cup competition.
The organizer, FIFA, has been streaming highlights and even entire games all over the world on its website, in partnership with regional broadcasters.
By the time they make it here, these players take part in a residency program first started by U.S. Soccer in 1999. They live, train, eat, and go to school together.
U.S. Head Coach John Hackworth says the program helps build strong soccer players - and well-rounded human beings. "The development both on and off the soccer field has been significant. I think they've become much better soccer players, but they've also matured and grown as people, and learned how to be in this kind of environment - and the expectations and standards that we expect from our national team."
Unlike many U-17 teams, the U.S. team does not come from a place where there is a deeply embedded soccer culture. Still, the team's communications officer, Kate McMaster, says there is a small but intense body of fans. "The soccer culture in the U.S. is more of an underground culture. But the people that are involved in that are very involved in it. They follow it very closely; they watch our every move. So the culture is there."
More Americans may be paying attention to soccer these days, following the recent splashy arrival of English superstar David Beckham, now playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
These young men may not attain the stardom of a David Beckham - but they learn some valuable lessons about applying themselves. "We've definitely put in a lot of hard work, and a lot of fitness, all kinds of ball drills and stuff. And I think it's really helped us prepare a lot for the World Cup" says Jared Jaffrey, midfielder
Of course, it's not all about hard work. Win or lose-- these world class athletes still find some time for fun.


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Emergency services were called into action this morning (7 June) to reports of a man in the sea.
His partner called for help after he got into trouble, whilst swimming out to an anchored vessel.
The Inshore Lifeboat, Eastbourne Coastguard and coastguard helicopter were launched around 9.10am to look for the man, thought to be about a mile out to sea off the coast near the Sovereign Centre.
He was later seen staggering ashore near Sovereign Harbour and was helped by the lifeboat crew.
He was passed to the care of paramedics and has been taken to hospital.


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The number one reason people don't buy life insurance? It's too expensive. Second reason people don't buy it? Unacceptably long application process. Yet the only solution carriers had to these complaints was to offer a simplified issue product. Accelerated underwriting is the new and improved simplified issue, emulating a similar buying experience without the extra risk to the carrier and providing a much broader and less expensive product offering.
During this one-hour webinar, Aite Group senior analyst Samantha Chow will describe the technologies, processes, and tools carriers can use to offer their customers an accelerated data-driven process.
Key discussion points include:
- Accelerated underwriting's impact on the carrier's ability to support straight-through processing
- How to create a more customer-centric experience for a fully underwritten policy through accelerated underwriting and less invasive testing
- The technology, data, statistics, and processes available to support the move toward accelerated underwriting
Aite Group Insurance clients can access the full webinar by logging into our website.
For more information about this topic or other Aite Group services, please contact us at email@example.com
Samantha Chow is a senior analyst with Aite Group, specializing in the life and annuities industry. She brings over 15 years of experience in primary and secondary market research, product development, pricing strategies, competitive intelligence, project management, process improvement, and change management in the financial services industry.


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Rent a Car in Chile
|La Serena
|Viña del Mar
|Puerto Varas
|Puerto Montt
|Punta Arenas
Driving in Chile
You should always carry your driver's license and vehicle registration, since police check frequently. Most countries driver's licenses are honored by car rentals and police controls, although strictly speaking an international license is required.
A seat belt is mandatory for the driver and companion. Just as it is the use of special seats for children under four years, traveling in light vehicles. Those who must travel in the back seat. Smoking, using a cellular phone or a Walkman is prohibited for the driver. Chilean policemen (Carabineros de Chile) will schedule an appointment for you to speak with the local Judge in case of an infraction and the driver's license is always taken. Carabineros are always polite and comprehensive especially with foreigners.
Driving under the effects of alcohol is a severe offense. You could be fined or arrested depending on the level of alcohol intoxication. Speeding is also punishable. The maximum speed, unless otherwise stated, is 120 km/h (75 mph) on highways and 70 km/h (45 mph) in urban areas.
There are many agencies that rent cars on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They generally require the driver to be over 21 years of age, have a valid national or foreign driving license, and a major credit card as a guarantee.
Requirements for Car Rental
Driving in SantiagoAlthough the requirements for renting an automobile in Chile can vary depending on the rental agency, there are some general measures to which the majority apply.
- The person renting the car has to be at least 25 years old and younger than 75 years old. For an additional charge some rental agencies will lease to persons younger than 25. Some companies do not enforce the age limit.
- A current passport or other valid identification must be presented in order to rent an automobile.
- The driver must have a current driver's license from his or her native country.
- The driver must show a credit card or leave a check guaranteeing proof of credit at the time of leasing the car.
Things to consider
There are some things that should be considered when renting a car in Chile.
- Automobiles are generally leased by category not by specific make or model.
- In some rental agencies, if at the time of rental the desired category of vehicle specified while making the reservation is not available, the agency will lease a vehicle of a superior category at no additional charge.
- In some rental agencies it is possible to return a vehicle in a different city than the one in which it was rented; however, there is usually an extra charge.
- At the time of rental, the automobile contains a specific level of fuel. Generally, the driver should return the vehicle with the same amount or otherwise pay an extra charge to the rental agency. If the contrary applies where the amount of fuel in the tank exceeds the initial amount at the time of rental, the driver will not be reimbursed.
What services are included in an automobile rental?
Rental agencies offer various services included in the price of renting automobiles. In addition, there are optional services for an additional charge.
The most common services include:
- Unlimited mileage
- Accident insurance with deductible which varies according to the company
- 24-hour reservations
- Safety seat for children
- Airport drop-off
- Luggage rack
- Ski rack
- Chains for the snow
- Map
Optional services usually offered include:
- Chauffeur, in some cases bilingual
- Permission or civil liability insurance to go to Argentina
Traffic and tolls
Ministry of Public Infraestructure
Tolls in Chile: Prices and Location
We Recommend


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An essay on recent events might appear as the easiest to write. The fact that the topic is on the lips of the public makes it to appear easy. In fact, it meets an important criterion for choosing a topic which is freshness. The challenge with topics on recent events is the absence of reliable reference materials. This does not make it impossible to produce a captivating essay on recent events. Here are some of the topics that would help create an interesting paper.
With such topics, you have already captured the interest of your reader since the topic is fresh. It is upon you to maintain that interest with captivating points and arguments. Make your arguments reasonable and coherent. Be very cautious to differentiate between facts and opinion. There is likelihood to give your opinion or that of other people and claim to be the truth. Though a lot of research has not been conducted on a subject, be mild and conservative with your pronouncements.
Check this site for fresh topics on current affairs. The site also gives tips on how to determine whether resources are reliable or not. It is a very resourceful site for students at all levels.


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History of Brady
As one of America's oldest and boldest gun violence prevention groups, Brady's history of success goes back decades.
In 1974, Dr. Mark Borinsky founded the National Council to Control Handguns after being robbed and nearly murdered at gunpoint. The organization evolved in 1980 when it became Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI). It was just one year later when HCI's and the country's future changed forever.
Jim "the Bear" Brady had achieved a lifelong dream when he was named White House Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan. However, his service was cut short on March 30, 1981, during an assassination attempt against the president. In addition to President Reagan, Jim and two law enforcement officers were shot. Jim suffered a serious head wound that left him partially paralyzed for life. Although Jim never returned to his position after the shooting, he kept the title for the remainder of President Reagan's presidency.
Soon after the shooting, Jim's wife Sarah Brady, a respected political operative in her own right, began working with HCI. She was elected to the board in 1985, and became the Chair of the organization in 1989. Two years later, she became the Chair of HCI's sister organization, the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence.
At HCI, Sarah and Jim led the fight to pass federal legislation requiring background checks for all gun sales. Sarah and Jim spent years navigating the halls of Congress, meeting with legislators across party lines to generate enough votes to pass the "Brady Bill," a law they knew would save lives.
The original Brady legislation was introduced in 1988. It took six votes over seven years and three presidencies until Sarah, Jim, and their team were able to declare victory.
On November 30, 1993, after Sarah and Jim's seven-year battle, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law. Brady Background Checks would now be required on all handgun purchases from federally licensed firearm dealers. The signing of the Brady Bill was only the beginning. Sarah continued to advocate for common-sense gun laws at the state and federal level throughout the rest of her life.
In 1994, Sarah and Jim received the S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards. In 1996, she and Jim received the Margaret Chase Smith Award presented by the Secretaries of State.
In 1996, Jim received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton, the highest civilian award in the United States. On February 11, 2000, President Clinton officially named the White House Press Briefing Room "The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room" in Jim's honor. A plaque honoring Jim for his service as White House Press Secretary now hangs in that room.
In December 2000, the Boards of Trustees for Handgun Control and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence voted to honor Jim and Sarah Brady's hard work and commitment to gun control by renaming the two organizations the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. That same year, the Brady Campaign and Center joined with the Million Mom March to expand their efforts to communities throughout the country. Jim and Sarah both continued their commitment to preventing gun violence for the remainder of their lives, with Sarah serving as the Chair of both organizations until 2015.
Jim Brady passed away on August 4, 2014 at the age of 73. His death was ruled a homicide, caused by the shooting 33 years earlier. Sarah passed away one year later, on April 3, 2015 at the age of 73.
Today, Brady continues to uphold Jim and Sarah's legacy by uniting Americans from coast to coast, red and blue and every color, to combat the epidemic of gun violence. In Congress, in the courts, and in communities across the country, Brady can be counted on to be there for all victims of gun violence, leading the fight for a safer country for all of us. Brady has always been more than a name, it's a passion for change.


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A U.S. drone crashed Tuesday at Seychelles international airport on the main island of Mahe, the U.S. embassy said.
The remote-piloted MQ-9 aircraft crashed on landing but no one was hurt, said the U.S. embassy in Mauritius, which also handles the Seychelles. The drone was operating from the Seychelles, it said.
"The MQ-9 was not armed and no injuries were reported," it said. "The runway at the airport has reopened for normal traffic. The cause of the incident is unknown and currently under investigation."
The U.S. drones began anti-piracy surveillance in late 2009 after the Syechelles and the U.S. Africa Command tested the aircraft to be used in seeking out Somali gunmen prowling the Indian Ocean.
With 115 islands scattered inside an exclusive economic zone spanning 1.4 million square kilometers, a population of only 85,000 and a military of 500, the Seychelles requested foreign assistance to stave off the pirates.
U.S. drones also overfly Somalia from an Ethiopian airbase, but Washington officials have denied media reports that the aircraft are armed and attack Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militia fighting the Western-backed Somali government.
|Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved.


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— Profile
Generating a reputation on the international stage is the key these days to securing those vital foreign investments from abroad, but also the gateway to ensuring a steady flow of foreign students to the University.
Deeks believes, "UCD's reputation abroad, where people know it, is very good. The issue is that it is not widely known. The people that have had contact with UCD know how good it is. There is that dichotomy."
He reflects that this is the first stumbling block that all colleges struggle with and that UCD's reputation will gain momentum when the strategy for 2020 is in full effect.
"When we go through developing the new strategy to 2020, then we will be looking particularly at the international strand of that and assuring the things we do internationally are going to ensure that the University becomes much more widely and better known.
"That is one of the challenges of moving up the rankings, of improving this reputation and to have reputation you need to be known. It is a great University, we need more people to know about it."
UCD students have shared sentiments in the past that efforts focused on improving the reputation have resulted in the domestic affairs being ignored. This is a problem Deeks is acutely aware.
"The internationalisation should always be complimentary to what we do here in Dublin on the main campus. So all the globalisation activities, in the end should support what is going on here and should support the education of our domestic students.
"I will be looking, as we develop this next strategy, to ensure the strategy is integrated. What we do in terms of internationalisation, what we do in terms of research all supports in terms of what we're doing in education and student experience.
"Exactly what that will look like, will have to develop together as the institution, but I'm convinced that internationalisation is necessary, but it needs to compliment the experience of the home students and bring benefits to the campus."
With regards to improving UCD's placing in international university rankings such as the World University Rankings release by Times Higher Education, Deeks also feels that, like the internationalisation complimenting efforts domestically, the rankings must be improved upon by focusing on achieving excellence in all areas.
"For UCD, I see us pursuing excellence in all activities, the rankings being a key performance indicator that follows, rather than something we focus on. If we are concentrating on excellence in student experience, excellence in education, excellence in research, then the ranking will follow."
When addressing the major challenges faced by UCD in terms of boosting its international reputation, Deeks draws the discussion back to following through other national efforts such as addressing the funding of third-level in Ireland.
"We need to get our funding for universities right, such that we can compete in that international space. Clearly we want to attract the best academics from around the world to come and teach our students, to do research and contribute to the Irish economy. It's more the challenges are domestic, so we can compete internationally."
He continues, "In terms of the international market, again, the challenges are that other countries are putting much more resources into their higher education and the developing countries see higher education as an important part of their economic growth.
"Therefore they are funding it very well and putting great facilities in place. So, increasingly, we will be challenged by the higher education systems in those developing countries."
— Profile


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SEO or Search Engine Optimization / Organic Marketing is the most famous word in the internet marketing. Embarking on SEO or organic marketing is a good decision as it means employing SEO strategies that produce the best and desired results in marketing. Due to the fact that advertising is a must in running a business online. When you will need to market services or products to customers advertisement is important to run an online business. In connection with this, SEO marketing is a useful tool for free advertising in a form of search engine rankings.
Google is one of the most popular search engines that rank websites based on the most complex algorithms. These algorithms are being used to determine the relevant websites for the specific search term.
As for you, there is a need to take the effort and time of optimizing the website according to the related search terms. This will result to your business getting a high ranking in the search engine. This is crucial as internet users are relying heavily on these rankings.
If you have made it possible getting a high ranking for your website, you will enjoy an improved traffic back to your website. If the website has made it into the second or the first page, then you will get a huge deal of traffic from the visitors that make use of the search engines.
After getting a complete understanding of the search engine rankings, you need to best obtain these rankings. One of the easiest ways of embarking on a journey on SEO or organic marketing is by hiring a specialist.
SEO is continually evolving and thus, business owners find it difficult to specialize in SEO. They also cannot keep up with the recent changes. Business owners who are longing to optimize their websites have a difficulty of being at par with competitors. The decision of hiring an expert SEO strategist is great for website optimization.
In SEO or Organic Marketing, complex algorithms are being used along with other common factors such as Meta tags, inbound links, titles, content, and website traffic and keyword density. The presence of an SEO strategist helps in effectively implementing an SEO marketing campaign.
SEO or organic marketing is proven to be an effective marketing tool that helps in increasing the profits among marketers. The qualified traffic is obtained from the search engines. Due to this reason, wholesalers and B2B marketers must ensure that their websites are optimized for better position in the search engines. You can expect for great value in SEO or organic marketing as a marketing tool.
Search engine optimization marketing is a nonintrusive tool for advertising that affects the consumer behavior. The users who are focused on seeking for the services, products and information are delighted about being driven back to the website.
In addition, search engine optimization marketing motivates visitors to click on the listing than that of the other competitors. Thus, they are more than motivated of exploring the list of offerings! It is also not a wonder that SEO or organic marketing has its impact in the return of investments or (ROI)!
Have you been struggling to get Google rankings lately? If so, then you're not alone… Unfortunately Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as a stand alone traffic strategy is officially DEAD (may it rest in peace)… and everyone, including all the the big name players have abandoned ship…
The good news is…
There's now a brand new kind of optimization which:
- Is way more effective than SEO for generating traffic
- Doesn't require paying for ads or clicks
- Works like a treat in Google, Youtube and Facebook; And
- Is so easy a 10 year old can do it…
Watch this Ultra-Timely Presentation to discover exactly what this new optimization is, and how you can apply it in your business to quickly generate a flood of free, high quality traffic…
It might take a minute to load but it should play automatically for you here.
Your Goodbuddy,
Richard La Compte's Blog
P.S. The video has a VERY nice surprise right around the 7:11 minute mark, and by surprise I
mean, it will BLOW YOUR MIND 😉
Video Post :
Discover A Brand New Kind Of Optimization
Which Is Way More Effective Than S E O
For Generating Traffic ! –
If you enjoyed this post on SEO / Organic Marketing, click like, retweet, share and comment below please…


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Hi There,
I am having a hard time finding a good car wash product that doesn't leave a residue on my 2017 Bright Yellow Camaro Convertible. Does anyone have a suggestion for a product they use.
Suggestions for Car Wash Product
New Members please take a moment and introduce yourself to the club. We are glad to have you as part of 5th Gen Camaros of the Carolinas!!
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Ghost Rider
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2018 4:51 pm
- Location: Gastonia
- First & Last Name: Butch Yates
Re: Suggestions for Car Wash Product
I use Adam's Products to keep my Camaros clean
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1


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Information For
DeBlogs > Tim Littman > first-impression
Tim Littman / 10/20/2014 / Posted in: Academics; Navigating DePaul / Twitter / Facebook /
It is crucial that you are in class on time. Especially if it is an important or difficult class, the professor will start lecturing right when the class begins. Running in late is obnoxious and can be easily alleviated by catching the earlier train or hitting the snooze button one less time
It is one thing to be in class and another thing to be actively listening and participating in the discussion. Let's face it, professors know if you do not care. They know if you are actually taking notes on your computer or if you are just tweeting about how bored you are.
In my opinion, this is most missed step, the hardest step, and the most important step. If you are able to go to the professor and show interest, share a commonality, or ask a question after or before class, it will show your interest and desire to have a personal relationship with your professor.
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Fone Haus is PNG's leading Mobile Phone and Accessories Retailer.
Currently there are 5 Fone Haus stores in Port Moresby and 3 Fone Haus stores in Lae . Locations include the Vision City Mall, Downtown, Boroko Head Office and Lae ANZ building and Downtown.
All Fone Haus mobile phones are 100% Genuine and come with a full warranty. We sell all of the leading brands including Samsung, Iphone, Nokia, Lenovo, HTC, LG and Digicom. All phones can be used on all PNG networks and overseas.
Fone Haus also operate the Digicel Flagship stores in Port Moresby and Lae. We operate the stores in Vision City, Town, International Airport and Lae. Digicel is the number 1 network operator in PNG and the Digicel stores are the latest in Design. We have a strong relationship with Digicel and also retail and wholesale Digicel mobile phones and Digicel Flex cards
With a great range of mobile phone accessories and headphones we have everything you need to keep updated in the Telecommunications Industry.
Our Fone Doctor Service Centre can repair your mobile phone when it needs help. We have Technical Centres in Port Moresby and Lae that have Qualified Technicians. We can help you repair your damaged phone and give you support when your phone isn't working properly
Fone Haus is also a major Distributor of mobile phones and Digicel Flex cards throughout PNG. We have a Distribution Centre operating in Port Moresby which operates as a Warehouse and Distribution point. We can currently supply all Regions of PNG with mobile phones and Digicel Flex. With our increased focus in Q3 of 2015 we are expanding to other countries within the South Pacific Region
Fone Haus is part of the very Successful NWTL (Nambawan Trophy limited) group of companies which operate Fone Haus, Kwik Distribution, South Pacific Paint ( Nippon Paint), Trophy Haus, Kwik Mart, Jeans West, Mobile and Green Energy companies. We also have Fone Haus and Trophy Haus stores in Timor
Fone Haus: Great phones, Great prices and Great Service
What can we do for you ?
We operate in a system that always value customer needs and satisfaction
We only sell and distribute the best, among the best products
We only work with the most reputable courier service in the country, to make sure that you receive your orders n time and in tip-top quality


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Project Overview
4 hyperrealistic drawings of 8 main characters of the TV-show "THE RETURNED"
The drawings were used in print and online advertisement, and a "Making of" video was produced.
- Client: A&E Networks
- For: The Returned
- URL: www.aetv.com
More Information:
The Returned is an American supernatural drama television series developed by Carlton Cuse as an adaptation of the French series Les Revenants, which was broadcast internationally with the title The Returned. Dirk was hired to design and create 4 drawings of some of the main characters, which were then used for advertising the TV-Show. An
online video "behind the scene" was also produced. The talents drawn by Dirk are India Ennenga and Sophie Lowe, Sandrine Holt and Dylan Kingwell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Mat Vairo, Leah Gibson and Rhys Ward.
Project Overview
A large scale drawing done entirely with Waterman pens to introduce their new pen line "Blue Obsession" in 2014.
The campaign consisted of exhibitions, life drawing and video billboard advertisement in Paris and Tokyo, and 2 short internet videos.
- Client: BBH London
- For: Waterman, Paris
- URL: www.waterman.com
Waterman, Paris Writes:
"To mark the launch of The Blue Obsession Collection by Waterman, we asked the world-renowned hyperrealist artist, Dirk Dzimirsky, to express his passion using our new range of pens. The Blue Obsession Collection by Waterman is a work of art. The colour blue has been emblematic of
the Waterman brand since 1940 when the first blue ink bottle was produced. Inspired by this heritage, each pen is beautifully detailed and encased in striking blue. There are pens for people who love beautiful design as much as they love the art of writing."


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I want to tell you a funny story about what happens when two kids who are incredibly advanced for their age interact with a kid who is developmentally delayed. I want to tell you this story because,
A) it was absolutely hilarious.
B) it's a story of what happens when competition, ego and status don't influence relationships.
First a little bit of background.
My sister and I are an interesting pair. Basically we are the same person but we couldn't be more different. What I mean is, at our core, we hold the same values, same ethics and same outlook on life but we have always been a bit opposite in how we ended up there.
Growing up we fought like cat and dog. Only 18 months apart in age I was never quite older enough to assert full dominance of my superior age all over her and we were fiercely competitive in every mundane aspect of our lives. Who got to sit in front seat of the car, who got to push the trolley, who did our parents love more….(yes, I actually asked them that once)
I was the one who found school work easy and didn't have to try too hard to get good marks whereas Sammy found it more difficult. Yet, she was the one who had a million friends by lunchtime and I was still working out how to keep the two or three I'd had for years.
She was short, blonde haired, blue-eyed and adorable and I was tall, lanky, and well….I guess my neighbour summed it up when she said to us..."Sammy will always be pretty, but one day, you will be beautiful".
I think?
(I spent many years wondering if that "one day" had arrived yet!)
We didn't become friends until I moved out of home. As we moved into our separate lives as adults, married and became parents, we became incredibly close. Basically…we grew up…and now we understand who the other one is. I don't talk to anyone like I talk to Sammy, both in a good way and a bad way! We still drive each other batshit crazy in the way we do things but deep down there is respect and an unbreakable bond.
She often gets the faltering voice on the end of the line saying "Have you got a minute to talk?" And I also answer the phone to hear "I just need to vent!" She is the one who tells me to get a grip when I'm losing rational thought and acting like a crazy person and I am the one who tells her that yes…on this particular occasion, I think you were wrong and you might need to suck it up.
Continue reading


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Looking for a deal in your part of town? Check your Kindle. Amazon's Kindle and Kindle with Special Offers customers will begin receiving offers from AmazonLocal on their Kindle screensavers. AmazonLocal is essentially a local deals service similar to Groupon, and is currently available in 44 locations across 15 states.
Amazon's new initiative, which is launching in New York City before expanding to other cities later in the year, will send information about local deals directly to users' Kindle or Kindle 3G with Special Offers devices, in the same manner the Special Offers service functions: by displaying new deals when Kindle screensavers activate.
Once purchased, the voucher will be sent directly to the Kindle home screen. You can redeem the voucher by either showing it to the participating merchant on your Kindle or by providing them with a printed copy of the offer. The company has already announced the first few deals that will be available to users in the NYC area, which includes $8 off a one-hour bike rental in Central Park, $53 off lunch at City Winery, or $5 for $10 worth of ice cream at Coldstone Creamery. New deals will scroll through your screensaver as they become available. To use a deal, just purchase it from your Kindle.
Kindle users will begin receiving AmazonLocal deals as part of a software update in the coming weeks.