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Here's how you can get started:
1: Join the Community
Want to engage with other participants? Join our private Facebook group below and make sure to introduce yourself!
2. Access Your Workouts
Get access to your daily jump rope and bodyweight workouts on our simple workout page (you'll also be notified by email).
3. Download Your Nutrition Guidelines
To get the best possible results during this challenge, you need to make sure your nutrition is on point. Here are some simple nutrition guidelines to follow.
4: Get Your Jump Rope
Do you need a good jump rope for the challenge? Or just want to upgrade? If you want to get the best results possible, get yourself a set of weighted ropes here:
Get Your Crossrope Plus Set (save $10)
Use coupon code JROCTOBER to apply savings.
5. Download Your Accountability Chart
To help you stay accountable over the course of the challenge, we've created a simple accountability chart that you can use to track your progress over the 4 week journey.
6. Access Jump Rope Quick-Start Guide
If you are new to jumping rope, we have a simple quick-start guide to help you learn the basic techniques that you'll need to complete the workouts in this challenge.
Need Help?
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
How to Win the Transformation Cash Prizes
As an extra boost of motivation, we're giving away $250 to the best male and female transformations PLUS $100 to the second beset male and female transformations.
If you would like to qualify for the best transformation prize, here's what you will need to send us before October 16, 2016:
1. Before photos: before you start the challenge, take one photo from the front and one from the side, making sure there's plenty of lighting and you're wearing minimal clothing. Please have something in the photo to identify the day's date.
2. Your weight measurement: step on the scale first thing in the morning (before you eat breakfast) and mark down your weight.
Click here to submit your photos and measurements
We encourage you to re-take these measurements and photos each week throughout the course of the challenge to track your progress!
- Dave & Serge


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The Hardest-Working House in Town
Erin Feher | Photo: Sahra Jajarmikhayat | November 6, 2018
The Pacific Heights manse of Canopy founder Amir Mortazavi houses a trio of apartments—and a many-layered past.
For the first time in decades, Amir Mortazavi's house is just, well, a home. It's a novel situation for the art collector and real estate developer, who eight years ago took the three-unit Pac Heights Edwardian down to the studs and reimagined its ground-floor apartment as a multifunctional space comprising a furniture showroom, an art gallery, and his own living quarters. "When people would come for appointments, it was like, 'Time to clean up the kitchen!'" he recalls. Even after the showroom and the gallery were converted back into more traditional living areas, the house remained the headquarters for Mortazavi's real estate development firm, M-Projects.
Alas, even that enterprise was finally served with an eviction notice—of sorts, anyway, courtesy of Mortazavi's wife. "Justifiably so," Mortazavi admits. Now he works five days a week out of Canopy, the collection of high-design coworking spaces he operates around the city. All of which means that, at long last, home is where he goes to unplug.
That's not to say that the place has been stripped of the creative energy that seems to propel Mortazavi. The first thing one notices on entering is the art collection. International and eclectic, the works include a ribbonlike wall sculpture by Philippe Decrauzat, a large-scale diptych by Davide Balula, and a concrete woman shouting into a megaphone—Protester, by Pedro Reyes. The furniture blurs the line between art and design, including a chair constructed out of raw birch branches, bundled together and sawed methodically into shape, and a three-foot-long walnut coffee table hand-carved into a blocky topographical map of Versailles, Missouri—"a place where walnut actually grows indigenously," explains Mortazavi, who designed both pieces and built them out of leftovers from construction sites. Otherwise, the home is a study in clean, modern lines—seamless corner windows, smooth white plaster, and sturdy, charred-black structural beams. Moldings, he explains, are intended to conceal the kinds of imperfections that well-built houses shouldn't have.
Mortazavi's aesthetic is all the more intriguing when you contrast it with that of his father, Mohammad Mortazavi, the Peninsula developer behind so many sprawling Beaux-Arts mansions and Tuscan-inspired compounds in Atherton. Mortazavi grew up learning the trade at his father's side but seems to have left the showy architectural flourishes behind.
Despite its address on a leafy residential block in Pacific Heights, Mortazavi's abode has been home to commercial endeavors as far back as its records go, he says. It was a ballet studio in the 1960s, then evolved into a cotillion training ground for upper-crust teens. When he bought the building in 2009, the ground floor was being used as a photo studio. For Mortazavi and his wife, who's also an avid art collector, the plan to turn their living room into an avant-garde furniture showroom and their basement into an art gallery was born out of "a shared interest and a crazy idea we concocted. It was great to activate the space and give an homage to what was here before," he says.
But the vagaries of time and life being what they are, Mortazavi and his residence have once again pivoted. The sunny living room corner that long served as his home office is today outfitted with a child-size piano and a colorful heap of Magna-Tiles—property of Mortazavi's son, age five. "My son built a shipyard the other day," he says proudly, pointing to the tiles. "I think he wants to go into industrial real estate."
Originally published in the November issue of San Francisco
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subset: commoncrawl


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It was a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, hip-shaking good time at Landmark on Main Street on Saturday, Feb. 5, when Buckwheat Zydeco brought Creole music and spirit to the stage of the Jeanne Rimsky Theater. The sold-out show attracted a diverse audience who wasn't the least bit dissuaded by the foggy, rainy winter night.
Buckwheat Zydeco is fronted by Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Jr. – a talented accordionist, organist, and vocalist, and the heart and soul of the Buckwheat Zydeco band. Other musicians included a trumpet player, two guitarists, one of whom is the extremely talented Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal who played a guitar solo with his teeth, as well as bass player Lee Allen Zeno, drummer Kevin Menard, and Dural's son, Sir Reginald Master Dural, on washboard and organ.
After an introduction by WFUV's John Platt, the band, minus "Buckwheat," took the stage and launched into some toe-tapping, upbeat Zydeco music. After about two songs, and with much fanfare, Buckwheat came out dapperly dressed in a gold shirt, three-piece white suit, and alligator boots. The next two hours were a whirl of dancing, audience sing-along participation, hand clapping, and general exuberance. The band's clear joy of performing was infectious – you could not help but dance, even if you only did so in your seat. Many people, however, were moved to spring out of their seats and rush down to the open space in front of the stage, or the aisles, where dancing was encouraged. In fact, the house lights were turned on several times during the performance to facilitate the dancing.
Buckwheat enthusiastically played the accordion and Hammond organ, spoke to the audience both in English and in French, and sang joyfully. While some of the songs sounded similar (a hazard with many types of music), there were several standouts, including "Walking Through New Orleans," and the closing number, a reggae-themed song inspired by Bob Marley – "Why Can't We Live Together."
By the end of the evening, the theater was about 20 degrees hotter than at the start. It wasn't just the temperature that was raised either – it was the spirits of the whole audience. As the band shouted out "We love you!" to the crowd, there wasn't a face that wasn't smiling. Buckwheat, too, seemed to be reluctant to stop playing, telling the audience "it's so hard to stop what you're doing, when you're doing what you love."
All in all, it was a wonderful, upbeat, joyful performance, and an excellent way to spend an evening in Port Washington.
Event Details
Buckheat Zydeco performed Winter 2011 at Landmark on Main Street in Long Island NY.
Image credit: HorsePunchKid via Wikipedia (2006)


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Hola peeps! I hope that you are staying warm being that majority of the country is under a severe freeze. Well today's editorial with Arlenis Sosa for Glamour magazine has me thinking of springtime and warmer temps. I am here for that gorgeous face and printed Gucci jumper! Thoughts?
Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier.


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I was running on an empty heart
Not a trace of gasoline
Trying to dim every single spark
That could hurt, that could burn all of me
Like a soldier on a battle ground
Lying wounded on the field
I was fighting along with the broken sword
Now I'm caught in a war with no shield
Someday my prince will come. I hope your battle aren't difficult and that your heart remains strong. I wish that you are healthy and content, and hopefully sooner than later our paths will cross…
I know you're out there. Help me find you.


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This page is devoted to Vincent's performances on the Colorslide Tours and Panorama audio books.
These Colorslide Art Program Books were produced by Panorama, a Service of Columbia Record Club, in 1960/61. Each provided a guided tour of one of the world's great museums, and contained 32 color sides and single 33 1/3 rpm record. Each book is about 44 pages in length and 11" by 8" in size. The following were narrated by Vincent Price.
1. Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio
2. The Pitti Palace in Florence.
3. The Louvre in Paris.
4. The Prado Museum in Madrid.
5. Museum of Impressionism in Paris.
The tour consists of a discussion of 32 masterpiece artworks displayed in the Museum of Impressionism, Paris. Text was written by Germain Bazin, Curator-in-Chief of the museum. Endpaper/inside cover design is a photograph of a gallery of paintings by Degas.
1. Italy. Record narrated by Vincent Price in 1961. This is the first travel program for which Price is narrator. Includes hardback book, 45rpm record and two colour slide cards with 16 pictures on each card.
2. Greece. Record narrated by Vincent Price.
3. Spain. Record narrated by Vincent Price.


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Today we did a super quick review of the multiplication of integers before we played a game using multiplication of integers and finished up with our Distributive Property work.
If you are interested in further explanation of why a negative times a positive gives you a negative number, Khan Academy has a really good explanation:
Multiplying Integers (LINK) – Khan Academy
You could also watch videos of adding and subtracting integers, if you want to review further back:
Why subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive! (LINK) – Khan Academy
Adding and subtracting negative numbers (LINK) – Khan Academy


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Beginning Birth Photography? The BBH Birth Photography Course
It's just around the corner. Jennifer Mason and I are getting ready for our next online birth photography course to start, and we couldn't be more excited. Our first cohort walked away with the knowledge and support they needed to feel confident and creative in the birth space. We loved our weekly discussions. We loved sharing the knowledge we've accumulated after 300+ births. We loved offering feedback on the final galleries that our students submitted. We loved seeing GROWTH.
Jennifer and I created the online course because we were hearing from so many new and beginning birth photographers that wanted better education options. Birth photography is one of the most incredible and growing fields out there...and yet we seriously lacked any type of formal education.
Birth Becomes Her aims to fill that gap!
We've been asked a lot of questions about the course during our registration window, and we wanted to take the time to answer them.
1. Is this course only for brand new birth photographers? Or will it help someone with 20 or even 30 births under their belt?
We designed our birth photography course to help both new and beginning birth photographers. If you've been shooting births for 1-2 years but still struggle to get either the clients or the images you love...then this course is for you. We cover both basic and advanced photography topics. We help you think differently about style. We introduce you to one of the best photography marketing experts in the country. And we offer individualized feedback to each of our students.
2. What will I get by taking this course?
First and foremost: confidence. Confidence to create. Confidence to market. Confidence to enter the most sacred of spaces - the birth space. You'll also be listed as a Certified Birth Becomes Her Birth Photographer on our interactive map (and you'll get a badge to put on your website too!) We've worked with local midwives, nurses, and hospitals to create a course that not only prepares you to work well with your camera...but also with labor and delivery staff.
We also offer personal gallery feedback to each of our students. We'll pour over your work and offer you suggestions on how to grow and improve.
You'll also receive access to a private BBH-mentorship group, as well as several discount codes to purchase other BBH products.
3. Do I have to login at certain times each week?
No! You study whenever you want. Our course takes place over six-weeks. Jennifer and I release lessons twice a week with discussion forums that pair with each lesson. You can access the material 24/7 and read/watch whenever you have the time. Jennifer and I do our best to answer every question we receive in the forums...and it's where some of our best learning happens!
4. Do you talk about the business/marketing aspect of this job?
Yes. What we've been hearing again and again is that birth photographers LOVE their job but are struggling to find and book their ideal clients. We know amazing photographers who produce incredible work, but aren't making enough money to justify the demands of being on-call. So we wanted this course to spend an ample amount of time on both business and marketing. We want to give you the tools you need to find and book your client. We also want to help you establish a legal business that can thrive.
5. Is it worth the investment?
We'll let one of our students answer here:
BBH's online photography course has been crucial not only in my business development but also in satisfying my soul. On days where I knew a new lesson would be waiting for me in my inbox, I would awaken and start the day eagerly absorbing Monet's & Jennifer's professional guidance (often I would be so excited that I wouldn't even make it out of bed first!). I have learned many technical shooting and editing skills that have afforded me the confidence I needed to feel like a professional and to start marketing myself as one. Both Monet & Jennifer have lovely, genuine personalities and are available to connect with you one-on-one. They helped me troubleshoot camera and flash problems, going above and beyond what I would expect from any instructor of an online course. If you are debating whether this course will be worth the investment, know that it is. Not only will you receive access to comprehensive photography and birth lessons, but you will gain access to a warm, nurturing community of photography professionals who will help you grow.
6. Okay, where I can sign up?
You can sign up right here. Our course begins February 1st, and it's already filling up. We can't wait to have you join us!


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Pet Friendly Only
holidaypaws.com.au is a great place to find your next pet friendly holiday destination. You will only find pet friendly properties on this site. You start by listing properties by state and region via our menu. Once you find an interesting destination you can further refine your inquiry via our search form.


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Developing informed consent content requires a lot of back and forth communication between multiple stakeholders - an inefficient, slow process with a history of allowing unapproved or out-of-date consents to be accidentally deployed to sites.
Electronic Informed Consent (eConsent) offers a streamlined, collaborative process that promotes faster content development, approval and deployment on one platform, guaranteeing that only the most current and approved consent version is used each time.
Watch this short video to learn about the improvements that eConsent brings to the consent development process.
Sandra "SAM" Sather's current focus of consulting is to promote clinical quality systems for Sponsors/CROs and Investigators/Research Institutions. She has over 30 years of clinical experience, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Master of Science degree in Education with a Specialization in Training and Performance Improvement. SAM has been dual certified by the Association for Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) for over 10 years as a CCRA and CCRC. She is a current member of the ACRP Academy Board of Trustees, and ACRP Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC); SAM has been a clinical research coordinator, site manager, sponsor and CRO monitor, auditor, trainer and quality manager. She has multiple training, monitoring and project management experiences of diverse size, and objectives with a variety of global clients. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has authored dozens of courses for clinical research training programs. In 2002 she co-founded Clinical Pathways (CP), LLC.
It's a very ah, difficult laborious process to develop an informed consent.
It takes a lot of time, a lot of back and forth communication. So if we could streamline that with an electronic collaboration design, it really could help save time and money.
Currently the process is paper, so it's Track Changes on documents, there's a lot of ah, sharing information back and forth, version control challenges as well.
In the development of the consent, the institutional review board for this site, the research ethics committee, needs to approve the version that needs to be used for the subject, for the patient prior to study procedures. And ah, sometimes it does—they use the wrong version of the consent.
When we develop an electronic informed consent, the electronic system actually date-time stamps and creates an approved version, so there's no other version available to the site. So it's very site specific. So there's no way for them to use the wrong version, unlike paper which is very possible.
In the consent development process, sponsors typically use a standard operating procedure template that they are required to use.
In some cases, in paper—and electronic—if some of that content has already been used on other studies, we can repurpose it.
Why re-approve something that has been done again and again.
Being able to support getting an informed consent developed quicker, approved quicker, and also to ensure that we have more compliance with patients being enrolled in our studies, and that when they're being enrolled, they're much more informed.
Errors in informed consent are very costly. So by not using the right version, by having to re-consent or lose patients because of not getting adequate consent, we could lose data. So— which is—it costs a lot of money. So by doing consent right the first time and then supporting the patient as they move throughout the trial with consent, is—can really save us a lot of money.


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This post may contain affiliate links to help offset the cost of running and maintaining a blog. Read the disclosure. Thanks for your support!
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Special Education
The Montesano School District Special Education Program serves approximately 200 students ranging from birth to twenty-one years. These services are provided by special education teachers, including a birth to three teacher, paraeducators, counselors, a school psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, and a physical therapist. Students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive environment possible as specified in federal and state laws. As a result, special needs students participate in the general education classroom with the general education curriculum, as much as possible.
Child Find
Please contact the special services department at 360.249.2114 if you would like to learn how to refer a student for an evaluation.
Parent and Student Rights (Procedural Safeguards)
OSPI Special Education Website
Policy & Procedures
Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students - Policy
Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students-Procedures


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Located in "The Heart of The Bay", living at Alvista at the Bridge adds an unmatched level of comfort and convenience to your lifestyle. Our 1 & 2-bedroom apartments for rent in Hayward, CA, offer the best of charming features and great amenities. Residents of Alvista at the Bridge enjoy thoughtfully designed and renovated residences featuring stainless steel appliances, plank-style flooring, stackable washer & dryer and ample space for entertaining. You will have easy access to a fully equipped indoor and outdoor fitness center, two swimming pools, two hydrotherapy spas, outdoor lounge with wi-fi and dog park.
Getting where you need to go has never been easier. Alvista at the Bridge is just off the San Mateo Bridge, making it simple to commute to work or enjoy your favorite activities nearby. If you're looking for more than just a place to crash – come and grab a coffee with us and let's talk about how we can elevate your living experience in the Bay!


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Post by Meghan Ryan, SEO Analyst Recently, Google released a new feature within its search engine results page (SERP) called "sitelinks search box." When users search for navigational queries (e.g. a brand name or the URL of a brand site), the sitelinks search box could now appear below the brand website. The search box enables searchers to enter a detailed query and receive results from within the brand website, rather than from across the web. Oftentimes, users will use navigational queries to find a brand's website, and they'll then make a more detailed query once on the site. The sitelinks search box eliminates this extra step, allowing the user to do a detailed query without having to first click-through to the site. HOW IT WORKS The sitelinks search box offers search results from directly within a brand's site, rather than from across the web. These search results may appear in two different layouts: (1) a second set of Google search results or (2) the brand site's internal search results. Layout 1: Google Search Results By default, when searchers use a brand's sitelinks search box, they are sent to a second set of Google search results, which is refined to show only results from that site. This is the same results that a searcher would find by using the "site:" operator. While this limits the search to the brand the user was originally interested in, Google ads are still displayed. With this layout, users have the chance to click on an ad rather than clicking through to the brand site. Layout 2: Internal Search Results Google offers brands the opportunity to bypass this second page of Google search results and instead send users directly to the brand's internal search results. This option requires a special set of Schema.org code placed in the homepage. With this special code implemented, someone searching for a keyword in the sitelinks search box may be directed to the internal search results on a brand's page. This option is preferred because it automatically brings users to the site and doesn't offer them the chance to click on competitors' ads. This option may lead to more website visits, and it better enables the brand to control the user experience. ELIGIBILITY Not every site qualifies for the sitelinks search box. Typically, the sitelinks search box is reserved for sites that receive a high amount of branded search queries, but Google isn't transparent with its requirements. To determine whether your brand qualifies for the sitelinks search box, consider the qualifications listed below (note these qualifications aren't proven to determine eligibility for the search box, but typically mean that a website is eligible):
- High volume of navigational or branded search traffic
- Message regarding sitelinks search box in Google Webmaster Tools. Google will send notifications to qualifying websites regarding eligibility for the sitelinks search box.
- The sitelinks search box may already appear for branded queries. If this is the case, adding the search box Schema.org code would be advantageous in bringing users directly to internal search results.
IMPACT ON TRAFFIC As the sitelinks search box helps to refine results to a specific brand, it should cause a lift in traffic to the page. Moz.com, another prominent SEO blog, posted the following screenshot, which depicts a slight boost in traffic after implementing the sitelinks search box. *Image courtesy of Moz.com This is an increase of roughly 150 visits per week, about a 0.05% increase in organic traffic. Moz reports that other websites have seen a similar increase in traffic numbers. This implies that the sitelinks search box doesn't have a significant impact on organic traffic. Although the impact on organic traffic is small, the sitelinks search box helps drive traffic to the most relevant page for the user's query. This provides an improved user experience and may lead to an increase in onsite conversions. IMPLEMENTING THE SITELINKS SEARCH BOX USING JSON Google recommends implementing the sitelinks search box using JSON-LD, rather than using microdata as with other Schema.org markup. Important properties defined:
- url: This property specifies the website's URL. It must match the canonical URL of the homepage.
- potentialAction:target: This property specifies a search URL pattern for sending queries to your site's native search engine. Performics recommends the URL structure remain the same as the canonical URL structure of the website. Other key points about this URL pattern to note:
- It must include a string enclosed in curly braces that is a placeholder for the user's search query (e.g. {search_term_string}). The string inside the curly braces must also appear in the name attribute of the query-input property.
- It must point to the same domain on which the markup is found
- An actual query string instead of the placeholder string must produce a valid search results page on your site
- query-input: The value for the name attribute of query-input must match the string enclosed inside curly braces in the target property of potentialAction
In order to properly implement the sitelinks search box, ensure that the following configurations are implemented:
- Set a preferred canonical URL for your domain's homepage using the rel="canonical" link element on all variants of the homepage. This helps Google choose the correct URL for your markup.
- While no change to the robots.txt is necessary in order for the sitelinks search box to work correctly, prevent crawling of your site's search results pages by updating the robots.txt.
SUMMARY The sitelinks search box allows users to search for information on a particular website directly within Google. Although the sitelinks search box only slightly boosts the organic traffic to a site, it helps searchers locate the information they are searching for, and it improves user experience. A brand may qualify for the sitelinks search box if it receives a high amount of branded and navigational search queries. For more info on implementing Google's Sitelink Search Box, please contact your performance account team today.


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Black and White
Hello Sugars,
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm....! What girl doesn't love classic black and white? I do, and I so very often post about it, like here, here and here.
My staple wardrobe for work is black and white basics - shirts skirts dresses skinnies - and then I'll throw in HUGE accessories and splashes of colour. The dress and shoes below are too beautiful, most certainly something I'd indulge in.
Do any of you have pure white interiors? I'm going through this stage where every vintage piece of furniture I buy gets sanded down and painted white, it's gorgeous!
via Jacqui Wonder on Pinterest
All my love


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Ask The Herbalist
Ask A Question View All Answers
I am thinking about purchasing your Full Body Cleanse program, but I am concerned about one thing... too much weight lost. I am already thin, and do not want to fade away as I think three weeks on nothing but raw fruits and veggies may leave me looking sick. What is your suggestion? Are there any foods high in protein I can eat while cleansing? Also, thank you so much for your wisdom and insight. I listen to you on Blake Radio, and one of the reasons why I am buying your product is because you speak with so much passion. There are a lot of cleaning products out there, and to be perfectly honest, I have been so overwhelmed by the products out there that I ended up not buying anything. At any rate, thank you for your time and let please let me know if you have any suggestions on keeping up my weight while I cleanse.
If you are concerned about getting enough food while maintaining a raw foods diet over a 20-day period, make sure you are consuming plenty of healthy fats to keep you full and satiated. Avocado, Coconut Cream or Oil, Raw Nuts, Raw Seeds, are great sources of nutrients and healthy fats that will keep you from losing weight.
To get the protein you need, you can try making a smoothie with Vegan Protein Powder.
To get the protein you need, you can try making a smoothie with Vegan Protein Powder.
$19.95 $17.96
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$19.95 $17.96


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Withings Steel HR: A perfect balance/
Withings gets it right with the Steel HR. It finds an elusive quintuple-point balance of features, attractiveness, battery life and cost. Check out my detailed, hands-on review.Read More
Withings gets it right with the Steel HR. It finds an elusive quintuple-point balance of features, attractiveness, battery life and cost. Check out my detailed, hands-on review.Read More
I run in minimalist shoes. While some minimalist runners run without socks, I really dislike the sensation of my shoes. However, running with thick, padded socks doesn't really work for the minimalist runner. Plus, it's HOT down here in Texas, so I wanted socks that wouldn't make my feet too warm.
I tried a variety of thin running socks, but in invariably wore a hole over my big toe within a few weeks of regular use.
Then I ordered some Balega "Hidden Dry" socks. If there is a sock Nirvana, these are it.
First, they are incredibly thin. I mean, nearly nylon-stocking thin. They are ingeniously constructed to follow the contour of the foot without a bulge, wrinkle or snag. Firm, but not tight or constricting. As I pulled on my first pair, I thought, "my toenails are going to tear these up." Now, nearly 18 months later, I still have the same pair. No snags, tears or holes.
Lastly, these socks come in S, M, L and XL. That means they can easily fit your foot, from size 2 all the way to 15.
The company, based in Cape Town, South Africa, prides itself on its workmanship and quality. On their website, they profile all their employees and you can even see a photo of the person who inspected your socks! If you, as I am, are concerned about US jobs, the high-quality, synthetic fibers used in the socks are made in the USA.
Comfort, durability and superb fit make these socks the best I've worn. They currently retail for about $12 on their site. Check them out.
Travel? Trekking? Need to do laundry? Check out the Scrubba Wash Bag -- a VERY effective travel laundry wash bag.Read More
I love a good hat. It covers my head if I've gotta rush out first thing in the morning and need to tame my bed-head. It helps keep me cool and shield my pale scalp from getting burned when I run. I love a good hat. However, I have an enormous noggin. As in, huuuuuge. When I was in the military I always had to special order my headgear. Needless to say, finding a hat that will ensconce my massive cranium is challenging. Until recently, I contended with hats that were too-tight or perched atop my head like a beanie with a bill.
Then I found JackRabbit Caps. I stumbled across their site while Googling for "big running hat" and quickly fired off an order for one which arrived a few days later. JackRabbit Caps are made in the US, just outside San Diego. They use high-quality materials including a very light-weight wicking material for the body of the cap. The build quality is impeccable. The seams are all sewn over with no stray threads. The inside of the cap is lined with a stretchy headband that easily and comfortably accommodates my sizable skull. Not only that, but the cap was large enough to fit down over my head all the way to my ears -- no more beanie cap look!
So, how does it perform? Very well. As I've previously mentioned, I sweat a lot. This hat handles it with no difficulty. The technical fabrics do a great job wicking away the moisture and helping everything evaporate. I ordered my first JackRabbit cap about eight months ago and my second about three. I've worn both on long runs and short. I've started wearing my black one as a daily wear. They really are that comfortable. No tugging, sliding or pulling. I scarcely feel them at all. I've washed both caps, in my washing maching, at least a half-dozen times and they look as good as the day I received them. (Note: the instructions recommend hand washing)
JackRabbit offers their warm weather caps in two varieties: wicking and visibility. The visibility caps are just the wicking caps with reflective piping and other accents to help make you more visible at night. They also offer a visor. Furthermore, they offer a wide variety of wool and synthetic winter running caps. Since it rarely gets that cold down here in San Antonio, I haven't had an opportunity to test their warmer head covers.
Overall, I'm delighted with my JackRabbit caps. They're comfortable, fit well, provide exceptional performance and are unexpectedly durable. JackRabbit offers a "Take It For A Run Guarantee": If you aren't delighted with their cap, they'll refund your money. Check out their website at www.jackrabbitcaps.com
Have a JackRabbit Cap or any other suggestions on runners with giant heads? Leave a comment below!
SPIbelt, the purveyors of a fantastic line of belts to carry your necessities during your runs, recently sent me their newest accessory to test: the H2O Companion. This 6 oz bottle is specifically designed to attach to any SPIbelt belt, with quick access and absolutely no bounce.
Typically, on my longer runs, I carry a hand-held bottle with my water. While this generally does the trick, I would prefer to have my hands free. I examined belt mounted water systems, but was reluctant to leave behind my awesome SPIbelt and really didn't like the plastic brackets that Amphipod or FuelBelt use. I'm pretty picky about how my belt should feel and I didn't want have to mess with adjusting the brackets to makes sure the bottles didn't annoy me while running. Plus, I've invested in SPIbelt, really like their product and don't want to give that up.
The H2O Companion is designed to address these concerns. I used the bottle on three runs this past week and found that, for the most part, it performed as expected. The bottle itself is a BPA free plastic with a detachable bracket and cap. The cap has a small silicon valve, similar to a kid's sippy cup or CamelBak. No pulling or pushing to open an close a valve here. The neck of the bottle is angled to ease drinking that very last drop at the bottom. After rinsing out the bottle for its first use, I did not notice any nasty, chemical taste in my water, as you see in lower quality bottles.
Using the bottle is easy. Just put on your SPIbelt, position the bottle on the belt and off you go. I ran a recovery run, a interval run and a 10 miler with this bottle and barely noticed it was there. No bouncing, no shifting. Many of the promotional materials from the company show the bottle positioned on the front, but I found that my leg tended to push the bottle around. So I positioned it near my back instead, where it was scarcely noticeable. It was a cinch grabbing the bottle for a drink, although putting it back on generally required me to use one hand to pull the belt away from my body (creating a small gap) and the other to put the bottle back on the belt. I did not have to look down, however. Then I just slid the bottle back into position. I estimate that I could fit up to four bottles on my SPIbelt. The valve worked well when drinking. Give the bottle a squeeze and you'll get about a mouthful of water. The bottle is fairly rigid and squeezing more than a mouthful at a time resulted in some minor leaking around the threads of the cap.
The only issue I really encountered with the bottle was that it tended to leak around the cap when not in the upright position. I typically fill my bottles at home and found about a teaspoon worth of leakage in my trunk from the bottle. Not sure if this is common to all bottles or just my tester.
Overall, I am very pleased with the SPIbelt H2O Companion water bottle. It is a bit on the small side, so I'll be ordering another one soon. Despite the minor leaking issues, it performed marvelously and now gives me a hands free option to carry up to 24oz of water for those long runs away from water sources.
Check out the SPIbelt H2O Companion on their website. $9.99 + shipping. 4 out of 5 stars (Recommended, minor flaws).
Do you have an H2O Companion or other hydration system? Tell me about it in the comment section!
So, as I've mentioned elsewhere on this site, I live in San Antonio and it's hot. And I sweat. A lot. Today, in early November, I needed to run at 4pm. It was 91. Degrees. Yuck.
Several weeks ago, my wife taunted me ("you are sweaty") into buying a Halo V headband that we saw while at the Disneyland Half Marathon Expo. I grabbed one figuring I'd give it a shot. Now, I never run without it.
The folks over at Halo really nailed it with this product. The design is deceptively simple: take the stretchy goodness of Dryline® fabric, put a little strip of rubber along the bottom seam the folks at Halo call, "Sweatblocker" and tell folks it'll keep the sweat from running down their faces and into their eyes / on their glasses. With the Halo V, throw a little Velcro® to make it adjustable and *poof*, new product.
And it works exactly as advertised.
I've probably put in around a hundred miles with my band and have yet to get a drop of sweat running down my face or glasses. The silver Halo incorporates into the fabric to help keep the stink down also works as advertised. A side effect of all this sweat-blocking goodness is that you are left with a rather prominent red dent on your forehead after a run that can take a little while (less than an hour) to fade. Small price in my book.
All in all, I love my Halo V band. Works well under hats, visors, helmets (for you cyclists or triathletes out there) or, for that 70's vibe, all by itself.
Have a Halo product or an alternate suggestion? Leave a comment below!
Straight from the "Why didn't I think of that?" files, came the SPIBelt. For the unfamiliar, this line of belts, the brainchild of Kim Overton, is a fantastically convenient way to carry your necessities while you run, exercise, play or whatever. Kim was frustrated by having to carry her key tucked in her bra and in a flash of brilliance, conceived the SPIBelt.
Thousands of runners wear her gear today. The belts are small, securely hold the contents, but most important, they do not bounce. At all. In fact, I barely notice mine. I had one of the early models, but recently with my increasing mileage as I prepare for my first marathon, I purchased one of the Endurance edition belts.
Several features make the Endurance Series different from the regular SPIBelt. First, the elastic belt is wider, 1.5 inches, for better comfort and to better distribute the increased carrying capacity of the larger pouch. This larger pouch, the second new feature, easily accommodates my iPhone 6 Plus, my wallet and my car key. Third, they sewed a total of six loops to the elastic band to carry gels and fourth, there are elastic loops with toggles for your race numbers. Fourth, they use a contrasting color inside the belt to help you locate those small items.
I've put in about 100 miles on this belt and rarely notice it until I need to fish my phone out and look at a map. The new wide elastic band really does comfortably distribute the weight of the belt and its contents. The gel loops work exactly as you would expect. One of the nice design features is that the larger contents of your pouch, such as you phone, will stay in the pouch when you unzip it. So you can open the pouch without spilling everything everywhere.
SPIBelt goes to great lengths to say that their pouches are not waterproof. If you immerse it in a swimming pool or take a dunk in a stream, your stuff is going to get wet. However, it did keep my phone and stuff completely dry in a driving rainstorm recently. So it is quite water resistant.
If you're looking for a small, simple running pouch with a bit more capacity and tons of comfort, check out the SPIBelt Endurance Series. Available in a variety of colors, it will serve you well on your runs or other adventures.
Any thoughts? Please leave comments below.
I really haven't been running all that long. Yet, after my first race or two I was really puzzled how to display my medals. At first, they just got piled up on a book shelf, forgotten, unseen. Then, while I was at the Disneyland Half Marathon, I came across Sport Hooks at the Expo and found the answer to my quandary.
Sport Hooks is the brainchild of Marcey, owner of the company. As an avid marathoner (putting that mildly -- she's finished nearly 100!) she was faced with the same issue as I, albeit at a somewhat larger scale. With her husband, she created a series of really snazzy hooks that you hang on your wall to display your hard-won metal. The hooks come in two main sizes: five and ten, and each hook can hold up to five medals. The hooks come in a myriad of designs and you can commission your own custom design.
Run out of room? Add on a bar, either below or next to your original hooks.
The hooks are made from sturdy metal and include two color-matched screws to attach your swag to the wall. I found the screws to be too small, however, to work with drywall anchors and ended up using non-color matched screws. However, the hooks work exactly as advertised and they function exactly as advertised.
Lastly, I had the pleasure of speaking with Marcey and her husband about their business and running. They are really terrific people who love what they do. They gave me some great advice on my running. Check them out at www.sporthooks.com


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WILLIAM H. BLANKENSHIP, dealer in leaf tobacco in Ohio County, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Burgess) Blankenship, was born in Warren County, Ky., December 16, 1838. His grandfather, Drury Blankenship, immigrated to Kentucky from Virginia at an early day. His father was intelligent and industrious, and had by great energy and perseverance acquired considerable property, but just prior to his death, which occurred in Hardin County, Tenn., January 1, 1855, he lost the greater portion of it by putting his name to a security bond. Mr. Blankenship has been twice married. The first wife was Miss H. E. Parrott, of Ohio County, who died January 29, 1883, leaving four children; he was next married on the 30th of August, 1884, to Luretta Austin, daughter of A. J. Austin, of Ohio County. In 1866, Mr. Blankenship began farming, and continued in that occupation twelve years. He then engaged in his present business, and now has one of the largest warehouses in the county, and controls an extensive trade. His facilities for acquiring an education were somewhat limited, but he has gained a good knowledge of business, and has met with a large degree of success in all his undertakings. He and family are consistent members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Blankenship's political affiliations are with the Republican party.
Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895
Note: Mr. Blankenship died in Beaver Dam, Ohio County, in 1896.


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Four high-profile departures from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have many asking if the business group's strict opposition to climate change legislation is causing a broader rift amongst its members, reports The Hill.
Companies including Apple and Exelon, the nation's largest nuclear power generator, have resigned from the chamber as a result of its stance against such legislation. Nike recently stepped down from the chamber's board of directors, saying in a statement: "We will continue our membership to advocate for climate change legislation inside the committee structure and believe that we can better influence policy by being a part of the conversation."
The Hill reports that Daniel Weiss, the director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress, called Apple's departure from the chamber particularly "earth shattering," and climate backers say the brand represents innovation and forward thinking.
But opponents of the climate change bill counter that the chamber still represents the broader interests of the business community.
"Why have 3 million members stayed?" said Michael McKenna, an energy lobbyist and Republican pollster. "If this were a referendum, who would be winning?"
The Associated Press reports that Thomas Donohue, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said in a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs that the current climate change bill "will cause Americans to lose their jobs and shift greenhouse emissions overseas."
I am sorry to learn of Apple's resignation. ... The US Chamber of Commerce continues to support strong federal legislation and a binding international agreement to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change ... It is a shame that Apple will not be part of our efforts."


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Kevin Slimp Online
Kevin Slimp is a favorite speaker and trainer in the publishing world. He can be reached at email@example.com.
Current Newsletter
Increasing Productivity by Upgrading Workspace
There's a question I get asked a lot by friends, colleagues and audience members at conferences. There are variations, but they all go something like, "How do you find time to do everything that you do?"
I usually just answer with something like, "I never sleep" or "I don't know. I've always done a dozen things at once."
Consider Yourself Told
"Sure," I answered. "Of course. How can I help?"
His question was straightforward and deliberate. "What's really going on at newspapers across the country?"
I knew it wouldn't be a quick answer. I had been standing for two hours and there were a couple of chairs in the corner of the room, near the door. I suggested this was a conversation that required sitting.
As I began to answer his question, the area began to fill. Soon, there were a dozen or more publishers, editors and others standing in a semicircle, intently listening in on the conversation. I appreciated their interest. It's a bit humbling to know people sincerely care what I think about anything.
Recent Columns
Checking the Pulse of Journalism
At newspaper conferences, I often give a "pop quiz" to learn a little about what is going on at newspapers and what journalist think is going on at papers across the country. I used to be surprised that most attendees could guess, with relative success, the answers to the quiz.
Tariffs are behind us for now. What's next?
It's been two hours since I received word concerning the news that tariffs aimed at newsprint had been overturned. The first person to write me was Ron White, a retired university journalism chair who now lives in North Carolina. Within minutes, stories from major news outlets were spread across my "extra wide" computer monitor.
Common Traits: What successful newspapers have in common
In two of my previous columns, I've mentioned other newspapers I've visited recently, and I can't help but notice a trend. Every paper I've visited over the past few months seems to be doing well It's not because of me. They were all doing well before I came along. Some of these papers were weeklies, some dailies, and a couple of others were somewhere in-between.
Upton Sinclair would be pleased as GateHouse and Gannett build "stronger communities"
"GateHouse looks forward to leveraging our national resources to support the community that will enhance quality of life and help create a stronger community," Jason Taylor of GateHouse is quoted as saying.
Excuse me while I ponder on that for a moment.
RESEARCH: Daily vs Non-Daily Health
I've noticed a definite trend lately. It might be related to the increased number of industry activities I'm involved in these days, or perhaps it's just be one of those things that can't be explained. Whatever the reason, I've been getting a lot more email over the past few months.
The Great Digital Divide: daily & weekly publishers view digital benefits very differently.
Today, I'm going to take a look at the differences in how daily and weekly newspaper publishers view the benefits of their digital efforts.
Differences between healthy and unhealthy newspapers
Today, I'd like to focus on one particular question from the survey. Question No. 7 asks, "Compared to three years ago, how is the overall health of your primary publication(s)?"
Readers help compile New Year list
I suppose any time is the right time to look over your newspaper operation and search for ways to make improvements., but the beginning of the year seems especially appropriate for such a task.
As I sat at my trusted keyboard to begin, I sent a note out to newspaper friends throughout North America to ask for their suggestions. Let me share a few of those first.
Keeping Up With Styles
Recently, Ed Henninger and I did something we've never done before. We taught a class together. Titled, "What You Need to Know About Paragraph Styles," we took the group through a very fast paced 90-minute session, covering everything from simple nested styles to advanced nested styles.
Sharpening Your Focus
The second task was to meet with his circulation staff and discuss ways to increase circulation. The conversation was lively, and we seemed to come up with a few new ideas worth pursuing. Toward the end of the discussion, I made a suggestion that doesn't take a lot of effort, but usually garners great rewards: creating focus groups made up of readers and non-readers to look over their products and suggest possible improvements.
Front Page
What (or who) to believe about the state of newspapers
I was looking for an email yesterday and was surprised to find a five year-old message from a business leader in New Orleans who was excited about a plan I had created, at his group's request, to lure a new daily newspaper to the city after their long-standing daily newspaper moved to a digital-first format, abandoning their traditional daily model.

I felt a rush of adrenaline as I read the words he wrote five years ago, "I love it!"
Closer to home: Health of newspaper largely depends on ownership model
Continuing a practice begun in late 2014, I contacted newspaper publishers, CEOs, owners and other top management throughout the U.S. and Canada to get information about the state of their newspapers. After a week, I've received just shy of 800 responses. I suspect that number will increase even more by the time I finish summarizing all the information.
Interestingly, this particular survey had the best response of any I've conducted. Papers of all sizes and types are represented in statistically reliable numbers. There are plenty of metro dailies, as well as tiny weeklies, and everything in between. Even a few monthly and online-only publications took part.
Read on to learn what was most interesting to me.
Dancing with the one who brung me: Answering questions from readers
An editor in South Carolina wrote to me yesterday, "I'm always amazed at your productivity."
I get that a lot these days. Since yesterday, I've written an opinion piece that's already filling my inbox with responses from readers; my fictional weekly serial, The Good Folks of Lennox Valley; and my alarm just reminded me that I'm on deadline to write my column for newspaper professionals.
Looking over my email, I noticed there has been an increase in the number of folks asking for technical advice over the past few weeks. Perhaps work slowed down a bit over the holidays, allowing people more time to write.
Whatever the reason, I've always believed in "dancing with the one who brung ya," so it seems like a good time to answer some questions from readers.
In 2015, I visited a lot of Successful Papers
I don't have to spend very long at a newspaper office to tell you how they're doing in terms of circulation, readership, ad sales and profits. No one has to tell me. There are qualities that lead to successful newspapers, and without them it's a good bet that there are some problems in one or more of those four areas.
I could have listed fifty newspapers in this column, because I ran into a lot of papers that are doing things right in 2015. And it's showing in their numbers. Due to space limitations, here are a few that stood out in my memory.
The best word to describe Minnesota Newspapers: PHENOMENAL
I got out the dusty thesaurus and found a synonym that best describes the newspapers in Minnesota: phenomenal. That's the best word I know of to describe the trip I just took to Minnesota. Yes, that's right, Minnesota.
I've worked with more than 100 papers in Minnesota this year. I know, that's a lot of papers. And there is something that's very apparent as I crisscross the frozen tundra (OK, tundra might be a stretch) of Minnesota, visiting papers from McGregor to Pipestone to Preston: newspapers in Minnesota are doing really well. That truth was never more apparent to me than in late October, when I visited papers in the central and western areas of the state.
Dead at Deadline!
The email came to me at 6:15 last night, just as I was getting ready to take my two teenagers out for dinner. It was from Joe, a publisher at a small weekly who, like many newspaper publishers, has become my good friend over the past 20 years.
Before I tell you more about the email, let's step back in time to yesterday afternoon when I mentioned to some folks in my office that I needed to come up with a topic for today's column. A couple of ideas were tossed around when, finally, I said, "Don't worry. Something will come up. It always does."
I just didn't know that "something" would be my friend, Joe.
Newspaper Hall of Fame unveiled July 17
The Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame celebrated its opening on Friday, July 17, 2015. It was a glorious evening, filled with a celebration fit for the industry it represents.
Adobe Bridge: There's a surge in interest
Last week, I spent a day with a weekly newspaper in Eastern Ohio. I even took a pic of the big building shaped like a basket to prove it. After lunch, the publisher asked something I've heard quite often in my visits with 100-plus newspapers this year, "Could you take a little time to teach us some things about Bridge?"
Top four reasons some newspapers aren't having a good year
With so many newspapers reporting a really good year, why are there still newspapers who aren't? I thought about this as I drove to the airport this morning (the roads are pretty clear at 2 a.m. in Sioux Falls, making it safe to think while driving) and came up with what I'm calling:
My top four reasons some newspapers aren't having a great year
Thinking about your newspaper's future
I couldn't help but think of all the speakers and teachers I've had over the years.


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The Two Coreys, Season 1
- $16.99
- $16.99
In 1987, teen actors Corey Haim and Corey Feldman appeared in Lost Boys, a movie that catapulted them to fame, fortune, and a string of roles that made The Two Coreys a household name. Unfortunately, superstardom was fleeting and the Coreys left the public eye. Now, 20 years after their first rise to the top, the two Coreys find themselves together in front of the cameras again. Corey Feldman has married a beautiful woman and his long career is on an upswing — and Haim is staying with the Feldmans in the hope of jumpstarting his career and getting back on the path to superstardom. Can two former heartthrobs — and a wife — share a house without driving each other crazy?
© 2007 A&E Television Networks. All Rights Reserved.


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The floodgates of Axess have opened and course signups for Spring Quarter are upon us. For those of you looking for a cool class, a GER fulfiller, or just a temporary distraction from your paper due tomorrow, here is the TUSB Spring 2010 course guide. Feel free to add your own additions in the comments section!
Courses you won't forget (In a good way):
Bio 150: Human Behavioral Biology
Find out why we act the way we do and fulfill that NatSci GER. Taught by Professor Robert Sapolsky – don't let his mountain-man appearance fool you; this guy's a neurobiology god and quite the comedian.
English 90: Fiction Writing (also check out English 91: Creative Nonfiction and English 92: Reading and Writing Poetry)
In order to snag a spot in these always-popular courses, enter the lottery at http://creativewriting.stanford.edu
ArtStudi 70: Introduction to Photography
Learn everything from how to turn on your camera to developing your own prints. A bit-time intensive, consider this course a license to spend an afternoon wandering around snapping photos and calling it "homework."
Under-utilized athletic courses:
Athletic 134: Synchronized Swimming, Beginning
Don't pretend you haven't thought about it.
Athletic 38M: Eskrima
A Filipino martial art that emphasizes both open-hand and weapons-oriented defensive tactics
Athletic 195: Mind, Body, and Spirit
A perfect retreat from the stress of all your other classes
Most Badass-Sounding Course:
AA 236C: Spacecraft Design Laboratory
'Nuff said.
Course that might actually be useful post-graduation:
MS&E 41: Financial Literacy
Get prepared for the real world with this crash course in personal finance; from banking and credit cards to paying taxes, this class will bring out the financially-responsible adult in you (I promise, it's in there somewhere…)
Surg 223: Wilderness Medicine
Learn how to respond in emergency situations in the wilderness with an opportunity to become Wilderness First Aid certified; a must for anyone serious about outdoor adventuring.
My kind of course:
CEE 46Q: Fail your way to Success
Ironically, no Pass/Fail option.
Courses with awesome field trips:
Artstudi 184A (Bio 122): Along the Track of the Yellowstone Hotspot: Fusion of Art and Science
Described as providing "a scientific yet personal intimacy about how ecosystems work and how they change." Not quite sure what that means, but hey, you get to go to Yellowstone National Park as part of the course.
BIOE 70Q: Medical Device Innovation
The fusion of medicine and engineering, guest lectures, and trips to local medical device companies; non-engineers welcome.
Some Interesting GER-fulfilling courses:
GERLIT 16N: Music, Myth, and Modernity: Wagner's Ring Cycle and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (freshman seminar, Hum and GlobalCom)
CS 105: Introduction to Computers (EngrAppSci)
Particularly Timely Courses:
PoliSci 37: Justice and the Obama Presidency
Taught by Rob Reich and James Steyer, this 1 unit course delves into issues of domestic and international justice under the Obama Administration with a look at the implications for the upcoming November 2010 elections
Classes with the Vaguest Names*:
Classhis 235B: Ancient War
Phil 23L: Love and Friendship
Complit 123: The Novel, The World
CEE 151: Negotion
* and potentially the most amount of work
For more information on courses offered, check out the Stanford Bulletin and Courserank!


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Are you looking for real Microsoft MB6-896 MCSE: Business Applications exam questions to prepare for MB6-896 Distribution and Trade in Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations? If yes, just choose Killtest MCSE: Business Applications MB6-896 Exam Questions now. We just got reviews from our customers, who have passed Microsoft MB6-896 exam with Killtest MCSE: Business Applications MB6-896 Exam Questions.
Introduction of New Microsoft MB6-896 Questions
MCSE: Business Applications MB6-896 Exam Questions
You negotiate product-specific pricing with a customer for two products.
You need to create a sales price trade agreement for the customer that includes the two products.
Which three actions should you perform? Each answer represents part of the solution.
A. Validate and post the journal.
B. Enter the journal lines for each product.
C. Create a trade agreement journal.
D. Select a relation of line discount (sales.)
E. Select an account code of Group.
Answer: ACD
You need to enable the purchase order (PO) process to initiate for a vendor when the vendor accepts a PO.
Which option should you choose?
A. Active (PO is auto-confirmed)
B. Not active
C. Pending
D. Active (PO is not auto-confirmed)
Answer: A
You need to create vendor accounts by using Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations.
Which field is mandatory?
A. Group
B. Credit limit
C. Method of payment
D. Mode of delivery
Answer: A
You need to configure a customer record to enable shipment of orders to the customer by rail.
What should you do first?
A. Set up a delivery charges group.
B. Create terms of delivery.
C. Create a mode of delivery.
D. Create a destination code.
Answer: C
You are creating a customer record.
You need to add transportation costs to customer orders.
What should you define?
A. Sales Tax Group
B. Terms of Payment
C. Delivery Terms
D. Mode of Delivery
Answer: D
Which two types of trade agreements are supported in Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. multiline discounts
B. threshold discounts
C. mix and match discounts
D. line discounts
E. quantity discounts
Answer: AD
You are the accounts receivable manager at Contoso. Ltd.
You must configure commission calculations based on information provided from the sales team and upper management.
You need to configure the groups for commission calculations.
Which three types of groups should you configure? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. Item discount groups
B. Customer groups for commission
C. Item groups
D. Sales groups
E. Price tolerance groups
Answer: ACD
Which steps are needed to set up the transport calendar in Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations?
A. Sales and marketing, Modes of delivery
B. Inventory management, Transport days
C. Organization administration, Calendars
D. Inventory management, Modes of delivery
Answer: A
Which status is required before you can generate a picking list for a sales order?
A. Open Order
B. Printed
C. Charges
D. Confirmed
Answer: A
Which of the following factors should be considered for delivery data control functionality?
A. transport times
B. converge calendar
C. vendor calendars
D. order deadlines
E. inventory lead time
Answer: A
Which two actions can be performed on the sales quotation? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. Confirm quotation
B. Revoke quotation
C. Approve quotation
D. Send quotation
Answer: AD
You need to define charges specific to a customer or vendor that will be automatically added when new sales or purchase orders (POs) are created.
Which three types of charge groups can you define as auto charges? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
A. Cash discounts
B. Billing codes
C. Items
D. Customers
E. Vendors
Answer: CDE
Which action on a sales order indicates that physical inventory has been deducted?
A. Invoice a sales order.
B. Create a sales order.
C. Post a packing slip for a sales order.
D. Pick a sales order.
Answer: D
You need to flag an item for direct delivery.
Which two actions should you perform? Each correct answer presents part of the solution.
A. Select a Direct delivery warehouse for the product.
B. Enable the Direct delivery slider on the products.
C. Select a default vendor for the product.
D. Select a Direct delivery site for the product.
Answer: BC
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Over two years ago, I pitched an idea to a British philosopher & esoterist about collaborating on a documentary together. The idea was basically to combine his depth of subject matter with my quality of asthetics.
The film is a mutual benefit for both of us since it provides him a way to make a seminal & timeless addition to his content library, which up until this point has primarily been audio only, while spreading his material out to a new range of people. For myself, it's a way to also be a key part of that while at the helm of a thought provoking, mind-expanding, first feature-length movie which can be made with the limited resources at hand.
The film is not going to be your typical documentary with people taking into camera in starchy, fluorescently lit rooms while sitting in front of white walls but more a cinematic tone poem of people talking over footage on location which is helping tell the story of the narration. The goal with the trailer is to have it convey Neil's depth of writing and such beautiful delivery with my direction which can hold it's own in regards to the production values. It's already been a life-changing project for me and our collaboration both professionally and personally is manifesting beautifully.
We've put together an official film site for all information related as it's released so head on over.


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It is time for the Monster Drawing Rally, a tradition established in Los Angeles by Outpost for Contemporary Art.*
The Monster Drawing Rally consists of four one-hour shifts with 25 artists drawing simultaneously each hour. Completed drawings will be available for $75 each.
This year's guest curators are Carlyn Aguilar, Leonardo Bravo, Kristin Calabrese, Chloe Flores, Eve Fowler, Liz Glynn, Micol Hebron, Luis G. Hernandez, Maryam Hosseinzadeh, Bill E. Kelley, Jr., New Highland Art Agents, Elana Mann, Jill Newman, Karen Rapp, and Evelena Ruether. This year's signature image (above) by Carolyn Castaño.
Popular food trucks Nom Nom, No Tomatoes and Coolhaus will be on-site throughout the day. Beer provided by Pasadena's own Craftsman Brewing Company. Music by DJ Trolley Parker and DJ MANVNATURE. Kids drawing activities, too.
- $10 Suggested Donation at the Door -
*The event concept, Monster Drawing Rally, was initially developed by Southern Exposure, a San Francisco-based arts organization, in 2001 and has continued to thrive there since. Outpost is pleased to bring the concept to Los Angeles' vibrant art scene.


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Here's our sailing calendar. If you're not sure of a date, please fee free to call us at 631-875-2631
The boat is open to the public. Sailing hours for porgy and sea bass fishing are leave dock at 7:30am return to dock at 3:00pm everyday one trip per day. We strongly suggest you be there 45 minutes before sailing time – Capt. Dave


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The Pat Bravo inspiration post had me thinking about boho sewing patterns. I thought I'd do a round-up of some of the best.
Clockwise from top left:
- Museum Tunic (free pattern) by Anna Maria Horner
- Evening Empire Dress by Anna Maria Horner
- Flirting The Issue skirt (free pattern) by Anna Maria Horner
- Flirty Skirts by Make It Perfect
- The Versatile Wrap skirt by Make It Perfect
- Cabo Halter by Amy Butler
- Barcelona Skirts by Amy Butler
- Boho Dress by Pat Bravo
Clockwise from top left:
- London Peasant Top/Dress by Lila Tueller
- Summer Time swing top by Favorite Things
- Meghan Peasant Dress by Sis Boom
- Empire Maxi Dress (coming soon) by Joel Dewberry
- Street Fair Skirts by Marie-Madeline Studio
- Meghan Peasant Dress (another version) by Sis Boom
- Hope Skirts by Favorite Things
Do you like boho style? Have you tried any of these patterns?


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Can Oak Hill School serve my child with special needs?
Oak Hill School serves students in grades K through 12+, in the following areas of exceptionality: autism spectrum disorders, speech-language impairment, cognitive impairment, specific learning disabilities, and other health impairments.
Programming includes individualized instruction provided by credentialed special educators; and on-site speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, and psychotherapy.
Instruction is individualized for each student based on specific developmental profiles and longitudinal (i.e. transition-oriented) planning. Some students focus on critically important life skills, functional literacy, and real-life mathematical problem-solving. Other students access their grade-level curriculum, with appropriately accommodated and modified instructional strategies.
What are the criteria for admission to Oak Hill School?
Oak Hill School serves students with autism and related neurodevelopmental differences. Students range from non-verbal and emerging verbal students on a broad developmental continuum that also includes students with highly developed verbal skills who may have difficulty succeeding in a typical classroom setting due to neurological challenges consistent with those of autism spectrum disorder. These may include challenges in the areas of communication, social interaction and sensory motor integration. Our goal is to determine if the individual strengths and challenges of each child can be served optimally by placement at Oak Hill in the classroom positions that may be available at the time of application.
What facilities does Oak Hill School have?
Oak Hill School's campus is adjacent to undeveloped open space. This makes for ideal hiking and nature exploration. Oak Hill students have access to the outdoor pool (weather permitting), shared-use athletic fields, and gymnasium adjacent to classroom spaces. Students also have ready access to outdoor play structures; a sensory gym, featuring swings and climbing equipment; computer equipment; pianos and other musical instruments; and two kitchens.
What methods does Oak Hill School use for instruction and treatment?
Oak Hill School's approach is highly developmentally-focused, individualized, and relationship-based; however, with a more eclectic approach, we no longer primarily identify as a Floortime environment. Teachers and therapists employ a range of instructional and clinical approaches, including experiential learning; sensory integration; emotional regulation; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); community-based instruction; computer-based instruction; Treatment and Education for Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH); social cognition; and specialized instructional techniques in literacy and mathematics.
Examples include:
City College of San Francisco with a high school diploma through SF Unified School District
College of Marin
Eaton Cognitive Improvement Centre
Threshold at Lesley University
The ARC Program, San Francisco
Autistry Studios
Employment at Bed & Biscuit doggie Salon and Spa, employment
Self-employment with online greeting card business: www.artabas.com
CLE: College Living Experience in Monterey and Denver
Graduation to less restrictive high school settings with typically developing peers, and diploma receipts.
First Mate on a commercial fishing boat based out of San Francisco
Where have graduates gone after Oak Hill?
Yes. Oak Hill School is certified by the California Department of Education as a non-public, non-sectarian school (NPS). Students are placed here by their public school districts, based on the decision of the student's individualized education program (IEP) team. Oak Hill School contracts with numerous school districts across the region to provide these services to their students. And, some students are privately placed in the school.
Is public funding available for a child to attend Oak Hill School?
What transportation options are available?
Students who are placed at the school through their school districts have transportation provided by the school district, by school bus, car service, or mileage reimbursement to parents and guardians. Oak Hill School also operates a van service with stops at Serramonte Center in Daly City, the Golden Gate Bridge, and southern Marin. Golden Gate Transit bus stops are located near campus.
Oak Hill School students currently range in chronological age from 6 to 22. Within that age range, students generally fall into mild to severe categories, including students considered high-functioning ASD.
What is the developmental range Oak Hill serves?
Yes. Oak Hill students experience neurologically based challenges in the areas of speech and language, sensori-motor and social development.
Does Oak Hill take students without an Autism diagnosis?
These would be disorders considered to be neurodevelopmental in origin or to have neurodevelopmental consequences when they occur in infancy and childhood, and include autism and autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injury, and communication, speech and language disorders.
What are "related developmental challenges?"
The school maintains three vans for transporting students on field trips, to and from therapeutic horseback riding, and one van transports students who live south of San Francisco.


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Labelcorr PTY LTD, Plastic Encapsulation and more
We are Labelcorr, a company situated in Durban, South Africa. The following Manufacture to order products. From, books, self adhesive stickers(licence discs), header cards(sombrero/euro/circle slot), swing tags, clothing tags, brochures, self inking (delivery) books, A4 pocket presentation folders, ...
Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
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Glen Faba holds a small number of Carp, however these are predominantly in the 30 - 40lb+ size range.
For the Carp, find features such as bars, plateaus, holes in weed beds and gullies. The north section is very under-fished and could be worth persevering with.
This water is a conservation area and fish are frequently seen in the margins of the numerous secluded bays. The water suits the mobile angler as the low stocking level means that fish location is paramount.
There is a limit of four rods per angler. The 'Out of Bounds' areas are not to be fished without exception. DO NOT under any circumstances park across any gates or entrances.
Glen Faba is controlled as a limited member Day/Night Season Permit fishery. A waiting list is in operation for this fishery. For details on permit availability see the News page on this site.
Prices can be found here: Angling and Fisheries Prices
Add accommodation, places to go or events in the Lee Valley to an itinerary.
Register for free or
Airfield Site
Green Lane Pits
Carthagena Fishery
Nursery Pit
Slipe Lane Pits
Fishers Green Complex
Friday Lake
Old River Lea
King's Weir Fisher
Holyfield/Langridge Lake
Lee Flood Relief Channel
Note: Due to the nature of some languages, the layout of the webpage may change.


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Empower Play is a one-of-a-kind charity event bringing together teams of young professionals to compete in a mini-sticks hockey tournament, while raising money for MLSE Foundation initiatives. Since inception three years ago, Empower Play has raised over $60,000 and draws over a dozen corporate teams and over 200 attendees annually.
Congratulations to the team from Stikeman Elliott LLP who took home the championship in the Empower Play 2016 tournament!


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Davey Jones Locker
Take a trip to the tropics with this amazing e-liquid blend of Pineapple, Mango, and Berry.
|Hold Fast E-Liquids - Davey Jones Locker 15ml
|Flavor Name
|Davey Jones
Reviews 1 to 5 of 6 total
Good price, good stuff, ended up having to buy morei order some of this for my girlfriend without really knowing what it was. i figured worst case scenario if it sucks im out $3. She loves it and now i need to order more. She wants 10 more bottles so I guess now I'm out at least $30. At least it's priced right! Good stuff!
Amazingwhat a flavor! was not expecting the flavor to be so highlighted but happy that it is. Beware, when vaping this at a bar drunk girls will swarm wanting to know what it is. If they ask to try it, just say no! Some girl dropped my vape and broke my tank before running off to vomit in a bush…disgusting…buying another tank now but also going to buy a coupe more bottles of this stuff
Reviews 1 to 5 of 6 total
By entering this website, you agree that you're of legal age in your state to purchase electronic cigarette products.
Falsifying your age for the purpose of purchasing products from this web site is illegal and punishable by law!


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by Nels Jensen
Lung is a band that I had never heard before, and they're really good. And, they'll be at Dreyfest. I know that when it comes to new music, many people can't stomach the thought, but I urge you to liver in the moment, I know you'll heart them.
Who are you, what do you play, and what is a completely irrational fear that you have?
K: My name is Kate, I play the cello, and I am irrationally afraid of walking up stairs in the dark with someone behind me.
D: I'm Daisy, I play the drums, and I've got too many irrational fears to list.
Your band definitely doesn't have the most "traditional" set-up for something so rocking. I've heard your sound described as quite a few things, if you HAD to describe to someone what you sounded like, what would you say?
K: If Tori Amos got confused and started a metal punk indie cello band with Rasputina.
D: I would tell them we are a rock band, and if they like rock bands they might like us.
I also noticed from your website that you've received quite a bit of good press recently. Is there anything that someone has said about you that you were pretty stoked on? Anything that you wish hadn't been written about you?
K: I like when people say our music has inspired them to create. At a show in the valley, there was a poet who told me afterwards that our set filled them with ideas for new poems. I love that. As far as negative things go, I used to be bugged about having crazy eyes when I play, but now I'm just rolling with it.
D: I think it's cool that my friend Syd Bishop said that I "beat the drums like they took my lunch money." I like lunch and would be upset if I couldn't eat it for financial reasons.
Your current tour seems pretty extensive. Add that to the insane list of places you've been on previous tours, and it seems you have covered a good part of the U.S./Canada. I find it pretty rad, that from your updates, you seem to be checking out some of the touristy/scenic places along the way. Is there anything you've seen recently that totally blew your mind?
K: The Grand Canyon was epic. Yesterday we hung out for a bit in the Redwoods and that was truly gorgeous as well.
Looking other tours you've been on (of which there are quite a few), and didn't see anywhere in Montana on any of them (maybe I missed it). Have you ever played here? Or will your Missoula/Montes/Dreyfest shows be your first?
D: This will be our first time in Montana. We weirdly haven't been west all that much in general, so it's more just that we haven't really been close by than a purposeful neglect. Everyone knows Montana is awesome!
Have you heard of Taco Montes? If I asked you to try the poutine taco there… would you?
D: I have heard of it because we are playing there. The spot, not the poutine taco. That's news to me.
K: I would try it. That sounds delicious. Is that real?
Could you name a role Julia Louis Dreyfus has played (besides Elaine)?
D: Maggie Lizer in Arrested Development!
On your website, you have a pretty neat, and detailed experience of your journeys under the heading "Misadventures"... how did you come up with that wonderful idea? And why doesn't Daisy pitch in as much as Kate?
K: When we first started touring I thought it would be a fun way to keep track of all the places we played and people we met. I don't know why Daisy hasn't updated it. He should start his own blog called "More Adventures by Daisy" or something.
D: Because i'm not very good at writing and Kate is.
Alright…a few quick ones to end this up.
I saw that you've recently opened up for Murder By Death. Is there anyone (else) that you've played with recently that you were excited about, or you think everyone should listen to?
K: Ahhh! I love Murder By Death. That was such a fun show. I really enjoyed opening up for a band called Hepa.Titus in LA and another really fantastic one called Fer (artist formally known as The Fergus Show). I also absolutely love playing with Tina Panic Noise when we go to Buffalo NY. We play with a lot of killer bands.
D: MBD is amazing and their new record is killer! GRLWood, Silence Mill, Ms. God, Damned African Descendants, Hungry Man, and the Cell Phones. All great bands we've played with recently that everyone should dig.
If you could only listen to two albums for the rest of your life what would they be?
K: Björk's live album of Vulnicara and Tori Amos' album Little Earthquakes.
D: two copies of Toxicity by System of a Down just in case one wears out.
Most inspiring, yet underappreciated musician you know of.
K: Elisabeth Pixley-Fink is incredible live. She is a folk musician who used to be based out of Kalamazoo and I saw her in a chilly barn in 2013. It was one of the best, and most heart felt performances I've ever seen. I think she's out west teaching children or doing something cool like that now.
D: Brianna Kelly (Soften/solo) should be a lot more famous.
Describe your idea of Montana in one word.
D: Beautelegant, a portmanteau of "beautiful" and "elegant" that I just made up.
K: Mysterious!!


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An explosion on a train at a St. Petersburg, Russia, subway station killed at least 14 people and injured dozens on Monday afternoon.
President Vladimir Putin, who was in St. Petersburg at the time, said the cause of the blast wasn't yet clear but authorities were investigating.
Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said it found and deactivated a bomb containing shrapnel at Vosstaniya Square station, also in St. Petersburg, according to the Associated Press.
Russian law enforcement agencies were hunting for two suspects, said the Interfax news agency. Authorities later determined that a suicide bomber was behind the explosion and that the suspect was a Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, U.S. State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. condemned the attack. "We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed, and our thoughts and prayers are with those injured in the attack and with the Russian people," he said.


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Author: Brandy Sullivan
A team of University of Central Florida research scientists, led by Asst. Prof. J. Manuel Perez, has developed what could become an alternative treatment to chemotherapy for patients diagnosed with cancer. The research centered on engineered nanoparticles designed to eliminate tumors in the body.
The researchers used Taxol, a well-known chemotherapeutic drug, which under normal conditions results in the degradation of both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Perez and his team engineered nanoparticles that increase the specificity of the drug targeting it only to cancerous cells.
In order to increase the specificity of the drug the researchers attached folic acid (vitamin B9) to the nanoparticles. Cancer cells consume high amounts of folic acid and thus preferentially take up the engineered nanoparticles. More specifically, "cancer cells in the tumor connect with the engineered nanoparticles via cell receptors that can be regarded as "doors" or "docking stations." The nanoparticles can then enter the cell and release their therapeutic cargo" (ScienceDaily, June 17, 2009). These engineered nanoparticles also enable physicians to observe the actual effects of the treatment. They are tagged with a fluorescent dye and attached to an iron oxide magnetic core, which can be detected using standard imaging techniques
Furthermore, these nanoparticles including the iron magnetic oxide core without the drug are also used to detect the presence of cancer using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. If cancer is not present in the body, the liver degrades and detoxifies the nanoparticles. The body then reabsorbs and makes use of the remaining iron from the iron oxide magnetic core once attached to the nanoparticles.
"What's unique about our work is that the nanoparticle has a dual role, as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent in a biodegradable and biocompatible vehicle", comments Dr. Perez.
"New Nanoparticles Could Lead to End of Chemotherapy"


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the hangover
Adults Only Escape Room
*ID required at Check-in*
Your best friend is getting married! To celebrate the occasion, you and all your friends head to Vegas for one final night of epic partying. Too bad you can't remember a thing. You wake up in a trashed hotel room to discover that not only is your friend's priceless antique wedding ring missing, but you locked yourself inside the room sometime during the night. With the wedding starting in 60 minutes, you must follow the clues left behind from your wild night to find the missing ring and the hidden location of your room key. Escape or ruin your best friend's wedding day!
Difficulty: Expert/Advanced
*NOTE: The Hangover can not be booked in conjunction with any special promotions or deals*


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Northwestern Wildcats
Support your Northwestern Wildcats wearing a necklace and bracelet from Laura Lively. Our Esprit* collection is both casual and fashionable at the same time. You can try it on yourself by downloading our Try-On App.
The pearls are white freshwater and designed to be informal, funky and fun! They are threaded on 4 strands of purple suede with a magnetic clasp. This necklace is sure to compliment your Northwestern game attire!
*Esprit de Coeur - "spirit of the heart"
Free Shipping!
18" Necklace - $55 / 8" Bracelet - $40
See all: Esprit Collection
Team Colors - purple and white
We have matched our suede colors for both schools and professional teams recognizing there may exist subtle color variations. Teams will also vary their stated colors making an exact match even more difficult.
No Hassle Return Policy: If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, it may be returned within 15 days for credit or refund.
You can also find a more complete listing of college and professional team necklaces at gameday necklaces.


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Our boldest interior design decisions include decorating a £5m loft with chairs made by ex-convicts and re-using discarded glass bottles to build the bar of a London private member's club.
We aim to unite the artistic, the socially conscious, the disadvantaged and the affluent through design.
The apartment of progress
This curated living space challenges the misconception that socially conscious and sustainable design relinquishes style.
L'Appartement du Progrès brings together noteworthy designs picked from 19 greek street's collections, including Nina Tolstrup's Re-imagined chairs; Marni's 100 Chairs made by Colombian ex-convicts; pieces fabricated by UK charity Out of the Dark; Vij5's NewspaperWood cabinets; and a dining-table top created out of recycled glass bottles by resident designer Dian Simpson.


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[img]IMAGE [OPTIONAL][/img]
Character Template
Character Template
Character Name: Takai Sakage
Nicknames/Alias: Death or The Reaper
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown
Appearance: (Describe your appearance here with a word count of 100. If you prefer to to, you may post a picture, but you will still need the 100 words.)
Special Characteristics: His eyes can glow a deep blood red
Personality: (Tell me about your character in detail. Describe your character's character traits. What does your character strive towards and why? Why do they react a certain way? Explain. Must be at least 300 words long.)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Faction; Country: Guardian
Extra: N/A


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Most people I know feel time-pressured and I'm no exception. Because of this, I continuously seek out tips for organizing my work to increase my sense of personal achievement and success. Here it is near the end of the semester – only two more weeks of classes — and I find that yet again, I am spending my time mainly on what's urgent rather than on what's most important to me. It has happened for me this way every November-December for the last umpteen years as the crush of end of the semester school work takes up more and more of my time. Case in point: this is my first blog post in two weeks even though it's important to me and I enjoy it.
Put Your Big Rocks in First
A while ago, I wrote a post about how Sherra Aquirre, a friend of mine, prioritizes her tasks. She's head of Aztec Services, Inc., an industry leader in facility services, and as you might guess, has a lot on her plate. We were talking about how we organized our work and Sherra said one of her tactics is to rely on Steven Covey's principle of "Put the big rocks in first."
The idea is this: if you fill a jar with the big rocks first, you will still have room for the small rocks because they settle into the crevices between the big rocks. Reverse the process and the small rocks may fill up the bottom of the jar, leaving little room for all of the remaining big rocks. For a video illustrating the principle, click here.
In reminding me of this principle, Sherra explained that for her, the big rocks are the hardest tasks. Prior to talking with Sherra, I had thought of "hard tasks" as the most important tasks, not the most difficult. As she talked, however, I realized that she was right – for me the big rocks were the things I dreaded doing.
The very next day, I woke up and started with my most difficult task. I was amazed with how good I felt once it was done and with how much energy that relief gave me for my other tasks that day. For a few weeks afterward, I began my day doing my most dreaded tasks with excellent results.
Over time, though, the novelty eroded. So, here I am back in my old habit of beginning my day with what is most immediate and easy to do while letting the big rocks—my dreaded tasks–build up.
Getting Rid of Old Habits Isn't Easy
This is predictable. Old habits are hard to break and under stress, we tend to revert to the familiar, no matter how ineffective. Researchers have estimated that it can take from 3 months to 2 years to retrain the brain to adopt a new habit, depending on how entrenched the old habit is.
Small wonder that under the press of classes on top of my regular work, I have let the "big rocks first" strategy fade away. As Dee Hock, founder and former CEO of Visa International, put it: "The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get the old ones out."
Law of Success to the Rescue
Unexpectedly, a door has been opened by Napoleon Hill, author of the longtime best-selling book Think and Grow Rich. I am reading Hill's extensive treatise, The Law of Success, which he wrote in 1929 prior to Think and Grow Rich after interviewing 500 highly successful people of his time. A basic principle of the book is that our lives reflect what we have attracted into it.
Skeptics who decry "the law of attraction" as hocus-pocus don't realize just how well-supported are its principles by behavioral science today. Napoleon Hill's interpretation of the Law of the Attraction is not think positive thoughts and things will magically appear in your life. Rather, to make the law of attraction work for you, you have to work for it. I have written about this in previous posts, beginning with "The Secret as a Voluntary Behavioral Modification Technique."
So what does Napoleon Hill recommend to those of us with more work to do than we believe we have time to do it in?
First he explains that we must become really clear about our "definite chief aim" – what is it that we really want to do. My definite chief aim has remained unchanged for the last two years. Since the publication of Reframing Change, my major goals have been to share the concepts of Leading Consciously as widely as possible and to innovate in this work. Organizational clients and students have reported amazing successes to me through applying the Leading Consciously skillsets. Their stories are heartwarming and keep me motivated and committed to doing more and better.
According to Hill, once we know our definite chief aim, the next step is to go into action to bring the definite chief aim into reality. Hill's law of attraction, then, requires that we go beyond "I wish" thinking. Rather, our dreams are only dreams until we bring to them to fruition through action.
So far so good. I am up to Lesson 13 on Cooperation in the Law of Success, so I knew that Hill was a fervent advocate of taking action on our dreams to achieve success. Then, last night, I read a passage that made time momentarily stand still:
To understand how to become active requires understanding of how not to procrastinate.
These suggestions will give you the necessary instructions:
First: Form the habit of doing each day the most distasteful tasks first. This procedure will be difficult at first, but after you have formed the habit you will take pride in pitching into the hardest and most undesirable part of your work first.
Second: Place this sign in front of you where you can see it in your daily work, and put a copy in your bedroom, where it will greet you as you retire and when you arise: "Do not tell them what you can do; show them!"
Third: Repeat the following words, aloud, twelve times each night just before you go to sleep: "Tomorrow I will do everything that should be done, when it should be done, and as it should be done. I will perform the most difficult tasks first because this will destroy the habit of procrastination and develop the habit of action in its place."
Fourth: Carry out these instructions with faith in their soundness and with belief that they will develop action, in body and in mind, sufficient to enable you to realize your definite chief aim.
— Napoleon Hill, Law of Success, 1929, Excerpt from Lesson 13
I read and re-read that passage several times, amazed at that Hill had predated Covey in recognizing the benefits of putting in the hard rocks first.
Hill, however, was adding a deeply insightful aspect that had not occurred to me before. Doing the easiest tasks first is really a form of procrastination. Every time I do the easy thing first, I am postponing doing the harder task. I may congratulate myself for getting things done, but I am also reinforcing procrastination — avoiding those difficult tasks that will bring me closer to my definite chief aim. In short, doing the easiest task first can be a form of self-deception, an illusion of productivity, if the easiest tasks fill up the jar and there's no room left by the end of the day for the hard rocks.
This morning I woke up committed to doing the hardest tasks first. And I did them. Now that I know that I am breaking a habit of procrastination as well as moving closer to my definite chief aim, I'm even more motivated to make this principle work for me. Behavioral science tells me that it may take at least three months for doing difficult tasks first to become a habit and that I may relapse several times along the way. I don't plan to let that deter me. I'll keep you posted.
1. Do you do your easiest or hardest tasks first?
2. Which principles for achievement and success have worked well for you?
Reference: Covey, S. R. (1989). The seven habits of highly effective people. New York: Simon and Schuster.


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U.S. Small Business Administration
Established in 1953, the SBA works to assist, counsel, and often finance American small businesses. Its site has some terrific resources, including tutorials on venture-capital and business plans, information on federal-loan programs, and FAQs on disaster assistance. Expect to learn a great deal about entrepreneurship and how the government can help you. Also expect to be frustrated as you try to navigate. User friendly, this site isn't. Essential, it is.