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Posts Tagged 'status'
Best things to do with your new Linux Ubuntu 11.10 using Gnome ShellPosted: April 4, 2012 in offlines, tech
Tags: 2d, 3d, alternative, apps, apt, apt-get, best extensions, buttons, canocnical's unity, center, centre, command prompt, computer, dash, dock, extension, free, gnome, gnome 3.0, gnome shell, gnome sushi, hibernator, keyboard shortcuts, launch, launcher, linux, menu, navigator, new, open source, operating system, os, power off, selector, seperator, shell, software, status, sudo, sushi, terminal, tiling, tool, tweak, ubuntu, ubuntu 11.10, ubuntu software center, workspace
Got ubuntu 11.10? A View at Gnome Shell.
GNOME Shell is GNOME foundation's official shell for GNOME 3.0 and as we have seen in so many posts before, GNOME Shell is an incredibly good alternative for Canonical's Unity UI which became the default Ubuntu interface starting from Natty Narwhal release. The least you can say is, now you have two unique interfaces to choose from instead of plain vanilla GNOME. Top things to do after installing GNOME Shell in Ubuntu 11.10.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fall is the most agreeable time—it's drier, with clear, sunny days and temperatures similar to those in spring. Lows may be a bit lower but not substantially so. The weather is normally more stable in the fall; spring can have some severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes but can be a fabulous time to visit when the azaleas and dogwoods are blooming.
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July 2017
All the pictures and videos contained on Laughterizer.weebly.com were collected from different public sources, including different websites, considered to be in public domain. Laughterizer.weebly.com makes every attempt possible to source the artist or photographer, but sometimes we cannot find the exact information. We respect the work of others, that is why we always try to put a link to the source where images were found. If you believe that your work has been copied and posted without your permission or in any way that constitutes copyright infringement, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com . Material that violates your rights will be removed as soon as possible.


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You may have noticed that activity at the Carolina Soul blog has slowed down these past several months. One big reason has been our involvement in a new local humanities project focusing on Durham, NC's rich heritage of soul, funk, and R&B music. Dubbed the Bull City Soul Revival, this collaborative effort has resulted in a concert, a series of discussions, and an exhibit, the latter of which we were a part of. We are pleased to announce that the exhibit opens on Thursday, April 19th at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham; more details are here.
Above is a sneak peak from the exhibit, which is called "Soul Souvenirs: Durham's Musical Memories from the 1960s and 1970s" and which was co-curated by Joshua Clark Davis and Jason Perlmutter and designed by Lincoln Hancock and Robin Vuchnich. The "Soul Souvenirs" narrative touches upon origins, influences, politics, history, venues and other related businesses, radio and other media, and of course music and musicians. On the walls of the Hayti's second floor gallery space, we have featured images and history of several Durham performers who may be known to Carolina Soul readers through their great vinyl releases: Nick Allen (who recorded for Walas), the Black Experience Band (who have 45s on Duplex, Microtronics, and Tri Oak), Blue Steam (on the Catamount label out of New Jersey), the Communicators (the headliners on two out of three of the Black Experience Band releases), Duralcha (of "Ghetto Funk" fame), the Modulations (Buddah recording artists), NCCU (United Artists stars), Risse (who cut singles for Chocolate Cholly's), and Johnny White (the creator of some fine soul on Valle-Dalle). To get a taste of a selection of these songs, and more, check out our new mix at SoundCloud.
In addition to images of the complete recorded output of the artists mentioned above (as well as all other locals known to have cut 45s or LPs), the exhibit also displays numerous vintage advertisements, newspaper clippings, publicity materials, and other memorabilia. We are excited to say that some crucial last-minute additions came in just today from legendary Durham concert promoter Roosevelt Lipscomb. Two are pictured below from shows that Mr. Lipscomb put on at the Durham Civic Center: a flyer for an April 1977 double-bill of Chocolate Funk of Greensboro and Bite, Chew & Spit of Asheville (previously the Innersouls, who cut a great funk 45 on the Plemmons label); and an unused ticket for a fall of '74 concert by Millie Jackson, who was joined by the Communicators & Black Experience Band, among other regional talent. Anybody ever heard of the Unity Band or the Tobacco Road Movement?
"Bull City Soul Revival" was made possible by funding from Durham Library Foundation and from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities.


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While director Bill Condon has been giving tons of details on the filming of Breaking Dawn, it was this quote from an interview at Comic-Con that caught our attention:
Q: One of the most insane places for Twilight, one of the most passionate places in the world forTwilight, is Brazil, how did you handle filming there with so many fans who are different from fans in America, who are very passionate?
Bill: But respectful. It was very interesting. You know Rob told that story when we were shooting (laughs) but it was truly like everyone was in the street having a party and then suddenly one girl was like all over him (mimics arms across Rob's neck, Rob's surprised expression). And I think she was beheaded (everyone laughs) because I did ask like two hours later "What happened to her?" and everyone was like "I don't know!"(laughs).
We remembered hearing about that incident, so we pulled up the video for you to judge. And yes.. that would be Dean who was last seen with the girl. Take away lesson.. Don't. Mess. With. Dean.
Finally, the girls over at Twilight Series Theories are reporting that Breaking Dawn merchandise has started arriving at Hot Topics across the U.S. - While we haven't gotten our hands on those goodies, we do have some Comic-Con Breaking Dawn memorabilia we got from Summit that we'd like to give away to fans. Stay tuned for details!


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For Small Firms
FINRA provides tools, templates, and other resources for firms with 150 or fewer registered representatives.
FINRA has also established the Small Firm Advisory Committee (SFAC) to advise FINRA leadership and the Board of Governors.
For Investors
Learn how to invest, build your financial knowledge and protect your investments from fraud.


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Friday, July 6, 2012
Living on Less Part 2: Practical Budget Tips
This post is much more practical in orientation than the last post, which was about using mental tricks to change how you think about money, possessions and needs vs. wants. Originally it was strictly tips for saving money, but along the way it became money oriented in general.
John and I live very happily on a smaller income because of the previous post. We realize we don't need as much as the culture would like to make us think is necessary :) I remember my grandpa said to us shortly before he passed away, "when you're starting out you haven't got anything but love. But we found that you can live on love for a long time." True words! I saw it posted that, "some people are so poor that all they have is money".
But hey, we still have to pay the bills! So these practical tips are important, too. I won't do much of an intro, because the content itself is so long... so without further ado: 47 budget tips for those of us who aren't rolling in dough, baby!
(1) Dream jar. Make a DREAM jar. This goes back to yesterday's post and is a bit more mind related, but when you have a certain goal in mind and can physically see it, you're more likely to abstain from little purchases (which add up) and save the money. Right now we have a little jar with "Poland" on it because a dear, long time friend is getting married there this October. And we *will* be there! Ps- make it, don't buy it.
(2) Cook at home. I could say so much about this. If you will make your own meals in your own home, you will save so much money. So much. And hey- it's healthier. Bonus points if you make your family eat together at the dinner table. I know that cooking takes forever and we're all busy- so make use of a slow cooker and check out these links here, here and here, they have tons of make ahead recipes that you can just toss in during the week! Voila!
(3) Inventory what you have. Before you go shopping for *anything*, inventory to see if you have it, or something similar enough to work in it's place. Believe me. I have purchased many a double just because I didn't think to wear a black pencil skirt with tights instead of buying black pants. Or hey, I forgot about that set of (insert anything kitchen related) that I got for our wedding.
(4) Reuse/repurpose. Before giving or throwing something away, make sure you can't reuse it or repurpose it somehow. Just google repurpose or refashion + the item in question. You may find that you can save yourself from a future purchase (see above) by reusing something that you already have.
(5) Craigslist. You want some extra cash? Sell your junk. John is so stinking pro at this. It borders on ridiculous. Go through your home (attic, basement, garage...) and see what is just lying around collecting dust. If you haven't used it in over 2 years, it can probably go. Also, if you want to buy something and have already determined that you a) don't own it and b) can't refashion something as a substitute for it then check Craigslist. Case and point? The Tassimo we were dying for was on craigslist (brand new!!) for $30 with boxes and boxes of cups included. And hey, we sold our old Keurig to pay for it (sorry, buddy, but you don't have lattes or cappuccino...).
(6) Ditch cable. I am convinced that there is no greater waste of money in the world than cable. First of all, you can watch basically anything the next day on Hulu. John watches most sports events stream live. If you really want to, you can always get Netflix or Hulu plus to make up the difference. I suggest hooking up your computer to your TV. We used a $16 cord, but if you have a Wii or even a PlayStation, those will work too. I often forget we don't have cable. Call your company- cancel now. Don't even get me started on Satellite.
(7) Cheap internet. We pay about $20/month for internet. It's a non-negotiable, obviously, given that this is my second job. However, I refused to pay $50 for internet and booted our old company. I quickly found a much more reasonable replacement. It isn't super fast, but it's still considered high speed and it's wireless. Did I mention it's $20 per month? Still more than I want to pay, but I bet it's much cheaper than most! Find out what the absolute cheapest internet you can get is and decide if being a little more patient is worth the extra cash ($30/month in my case!).
(8) Rethink smartphones. I realize this is a sacred cow for most people. Let me tell you- there is LIFE without smartphones. I have never had one and it doesn't damage my quality of life in the least. First of all- the monthly fee for cell phones is ridiculous in the first place. John and I share the cheapest family plan available and still pay an arm + leg. But if you add in an extra $30 or more for a data plan it makes me want to scream. No. I cannot handle it. Until data plans are free- I refuse to own a smartphone. Plus, let's be real, phones were made to break. I've never met a phone that worked properly for longer than 1 year. So investing a ton of $$ into one just doesn't make sense to me. Try life without a smartphone, it's a really easy way to take back your budget.
(9) Toys. Do you have kids? I don't. But I have a crazy amount of young relatives (courtesy of my older brother + zillions of aunts and uncles). Toys these days are EXPENSIVE. And there are tons of them. And is it just me or do they seem to become boring to children really easily? Mom to Mom sales. Garage sales. Toy-swaps with other parents. These all seem to be much better alternatives than buying more and more toys from the store- which let's be honest- will end up discarded in a few months.
(10) DIY products. Make your own laundry soap, dish washing detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, all purpose cleaner/counter cleaner... pretty much anything. There are tutorials all over the web. You will save so much money. I know on my site alone I have tons of natural DIY tutorials. You will save your body from ingesting harmful chemicals as well as saving your wallet. Some take more time than others, but if you can make it happen- make it happen. My budget has been SO much happier since I started making my own items. The bonus is that almost everything uses the same items (borax, washing soda, baking soda, white vinegar, essential oils) so you can stock up once and make it all.
(11) Say 'no' to processed. Want to see your grocery budget become as light as air?? Skip processed + junk foods. Overpriced, under nutrition-ed (not a word)... the extra chips, fruit snacks, candy... it's all just taking away valuable dollars and cents. Let's be honest- who eats candy out of hunger? No one. It's just an indulgence. Skip it + save.
(12) Rethink Date Night. Click HERE and HERE for my two posts with over 100 free (or crazy cheap) dates. John and I have insane amounts of fun, we rarely spend money. If you go out once per week and spend $25 (what is that? a movie? I don't even know what $25 buys in date world), that's $100 per month. Do you KNOW what I could do with $100?!
(13) DIY art. Click here. I like to decorate, I love it actually. But I don't like spending money, so I make almost all of the decor in our home. It's way cheaper. Oh- did I mention that I have zero artistic skills? Make use of the internet, people.
(14) Bloggers. While we're at it- just follow blogs. Lots of them. Any that speak to you. Following DIY bloggers, the more the merrier, will save you so much money and give you so many ideas. Why pay someone a zillion dollars to reupholster something when you can do it yourself? You can learn anything online these days. Some things you may have to pass on, but I'm sure you can do a lot more than you realize! Also- there are bloggers who write *only* about saving money in your specific area. Google coupon, sale, money or savings bloggers + the area you live in (big city or region, i.e.- West Michigan)
(15) Library. Make full use of your library, people. Rent books. Did you know that you can request books which the library doesn't have in stock? And hey- let's talk about the free internet. Or what about the fact that you can CHECK OUT DVD'S (good ones!)! And CDs and Audio books. And in the summer- I bet your library does all kinds of free activities for kids. In fact, in Michigan you can get free passes to our State parks just by asking for one at the library. Just step into your library and scavenge the goodness.
(16) Brown bag it. Don't buy your lunch. Don't. It seems like $3-5 here and there, but it adds up. 3 times per week is $72 (at $3 per meal) each month. I make John's lunch (and mine!) every night. It isn't the most fun part of my day, but it saves tons of cash.
(17) Water. This is the part where you all start stoning me. I'm about to suggest that you drink only water. Go ahead. I'm ready. Bring it. For real, people. Water is CHEAP! I fill up a DIY LOVE BOTTLE which is cute and fun. It goes with me all day. It's free. Pop, juice, milk... it's all expensive. Plus it isn't very good for you- so you can save on dental bills down the road (Pop + juice) :). Just try it. Start out with THESE FLAVORED varieties if you have to.
(18) Generic. Forget name brands. Most of the time the generic brand is just as good and costs a fraction of the price (check the label to be sure). This alone will save you so much money. I don't know if we've ever purchased name brand *anything* except for certain over the counter meds.
(19) Farmer's Markets. Oh man- google to see when + where they are in your city. This is GREAT for the local economy and great for your economy. Straight from the farm = deals + tasty + more nutritious. Just trust me. Oh- and buy in season when you ARE at the grocery store. Buying out of season fruit + veggies is much more expensive. Skip them. CHART HERE.
(20) Coupons + sales. I'm not a crazy coupon lady. I see the merit, but it's too much work. Way too much for me. BUT I do cruise the paper and clip coupons. Use them. Also, I sale shop + make use of my freezer. Case and point? This week all natural turkey dogs were on sale 8/$1. OH MAN! I bought 4 packs and stuck them in my freezer. We can live off of those bad boys for a long, long time. Don't think hard and fast about what you need, instead to flexible about what you buy that week based on what you have a coupon for and what is on sale- that's basically our motto for cereal.
(21) Check in specials. You may be saying to yourself, 'wait a minute lady! No smartphone?!' ... true. We don't have one. But John *does* have an i-Pod touch that he bought 2nd hand for $10. And it uses wi-fi. Sooo we check in everywhere and take advantage of the check in special. I mean everywhere.
(22) Staycations + flex travel. If you have paid vacation- consider a staycation. I know it sounds lame to just stay home, but I did it recently and I promise it is FUN! You can get your home organized and clean at the very least. Plus, I think it's easier to relax (and sleep) in my own bed than in a hotel's. Rediscover your area. I bet if you spend some time googling, you'll discover much much than you ever knew available! If you must go somewhere else, be flexible about your location. Join an emailer like travelzoo and choose a special offer at a much reduced rate vs. paying full price for a different location.
(23) Second hand. Ok- if you have to buy it and you can't craigslist it... second hand it other ways. This is mostly applicable to clothing. Thrift stores, consignment shops like GEORGIE'S and ebay are all great resources for very nice, extremely gently used clothing, shoes and accessories. This works the other way around, too. Consider taking old clothing/shoes/accessories to consignment shops (or ebay) and selling them for cash. I've sold a lot of items on ebay with great success! I've even sold perfume + body products that I had never used or opened.
(24) Cut out specialty drinks. This is kind of related to water, but not. I'm referring mostly to coffee. It's expensive and will destroy your budget. Attempt to make your coffee at home- you can even purchase syrups + flavorings for the cost of 1-2 coffee shop trips. John and I love coffee, I feel you here. But we made it into a weekly date and now it's special. Once per week we get coffee at our favorite shop- and since we're loyalty members we get one for free. Holla! Now it's just a $5 date every week, one where we sit at a coffee shop and laugh together, savoring every single delicious sip of goodness.
(25) Cash + Envelopes. Have you ever used envelopes as a budget system? Definitely consider it. My mom has done this since before I can remember and it's really effective. You'll need a budget for this, so write down your bills and when they are due (we keep a bill calendar on the wall) first. Add it all up and then consider how much money you'll make in a month. Subtract the bill total from that amount. Record, please. Then subtract out gas. Next groceries and then lastly is extra (entertainment, products, items, savings, whatever categories you want). Create an envelope for each category and put the necessary money in it each week/2 weeks/month depending on your paycheck sched. That way you don't spend your grocery or bill money on extras. And when the envelope is empty, it's empty. Plus, it's a fact that spending cash is harder (mentally) than using a credit card because it is tangible and you *watch* the money leave. Don't you hate breaking bills? Me too. Honestly, though, if you don't have the money available, you won't spend it. Budget envelopes, people. They work.
(26) DIY hair. Yes, I'm for real. Guess who cuts John's hair? Me. I have no idea what I'm doing. I hack at it at least twice per month til it looks nice and fun, and have been doing so for over a year. John's hair grows crazy fast. Insanely fast. If we paid for him to get it cut professionally, it would basically cost as much as rent. Ok, not really. But it would stink. So I started doing it myself. Boy hair is easy, people. At the very least, try coloring your own hair. Oh- and check out THIS LINK for more help.
(27) Cut classes. This is for the little people again. I'm not a parent, so I'm trying to be careful... but kids seem really... busy? There are so many classes for kids (dance, sports, music, language) to take these days. And I feel like maybe it's a little unnecessary? Cut your stress & gas budget + gain back your wallet & family time but reconsidering how many (if any at all) classes your child(ren) take(s). Or, see what your local community center/library may offer for free!
(28) Barter. Ha- I'm legit being honest. My mom sewed every costume for the girls in my class in exchange for free dance lessons for me as a kid. I can teach French, and I exploit that. Do you know how to do something? See if you can trade with someone *else* who knows how to do something and cut out a bill.
(29) Recycle. If you have to pay for trash removal, recycle everything you can (not that recycling for the sake of recycling isn't worth it!) and you will save on trash bills. Also, you can save on purchases. For example, ask me how often I buy trash bags. The answer is rarely if ever- instead I use all of the plastic shopping bags that come home with me when I forget one of my 8 zillion reusable bags. I have a steady supply and we've never run out. I also use old jam jars to organize buttons and other little things in my craft room. And I use them to cart my OATMEAL to work every day for second breakfast (I like to eat). Forget mason jars. They cost money. Old beauty product bottles can be re-used in DIY beauty products. Don't ditch it. Recycle or reuse it :)
(30) Check your bills. First of all- check your bills every month. Don't just auto-pay. These people can be sneaky and sometimes add on charges that you don't have to pay. It happens a lot, I speak from experience. Always double check your bill. And while we're at it, if you've been a loyal customer for a while, see about a discount. Call up your insurance or cell provider. Or any other provider you have. Tell them why you've been such a good customer (bills paid on time, referrals, loyalty) and see if they'll reduce your rate. Be super nice. It works, promise.
(31) Cancel credit cards. In the long run (if you keep a balance), they just cause more damage than good. We haven't had one in years, we have ATM cards instead. Cancel your card and pay it off. You will pay it off MUCH faster if it's canceled. And think of all the extra budget you'll have each month when you don't have any more credit card bills to pay. If you can't pay cash, or pay it off each month, don't buy it. Interest charges stink.
(32) Dave Ramsey. Have you heard of him? Read a book of his if you really want financial success/to get your budget in order. He's a billion times smarter than me. It's long term vs. short term, but that guy helps people become debt free + savers!
(33) Save, save, save. Speaking of- save. Even if you can only save $1 per week, save it. It's important to have an emergency fund. We didn't have one, so when my beloved Aztek bit the dust this December it really cost us. First of all, if we had money saved away- we could have paid for the repair (costly as it was). We didn't. So we had to sell her for *much less* than she was worth and finance a car. Now we have a fat car payment every month. I really loved not having a car payment. If we had saved $$, we could have avoided that.
(34) Don't drive new. Again- speaking of (these last two are both add on bonuses!) don't drive new cars. What a waste of money. You drive it off the lot and lose so much value. You can get a car that is reliable and runs well for a few thousand dollars. And if you do that- you can either have no (or a very small) car payment each month. I so miss that. Prior to the death of the Aztek, we had no car payments. Sigh. BUT we're saving now and working toward the place where we won't be in that situation again.
(35) Monitor. This is a fun (not) exercise. Monitor every penny you spend for a month and you'll find out exactly what's blowing your budget. Most likely, you have more money than you realize, but it's being spent in small increments and slowly being drained. Gas station food/drinks? Trips to Target? I-tunes music at $1/a piece? You'll find out real quick where your money is going. And once you ID that weakness, you can eliminate it. That last sentence came off a bit terrifying.
(36) Utilities. Learn to save them and be a nazi about it. Heat + A/C for starters... during the winter we keep our house heated at 60 degrees *or below*, especially at night (wayyy below at night! Once you get all snuggled up in bed, you don't need as much heat). Our bill is about $40/month. Put on a sweater and deal with it for that amount of savings, right? Heat is expensive. You'd be shocked how much each of those little degrees cost you. Same for A/C. Today it was over 100 degrees where I live and my thermostat was set at 83. Totally survived it. We don't need to blast our air either. People who are pregnant, elderly or not in the best health obviously get a pass for this section. Our bodies are pretty good at adapting - and just so you know, it is *well documented* that being overly warm turns me into a raging, psychotic version of myself. I hate sweating. Hate it. I'm a totally different person when I'm too hot, so I can give you my word that you will adjust and it isn't as bad as it seems. Remember to turn off any heating/air when you aren't home. You can always use a fan to keep you cool while the house gets down to a manageable temp. Oh- and did you know about shutting vents in rooms you don't use? And shutting doors, too. A room heats up/cools down faster if it's smaller. Lastly, remember those curtains! Open during the day provides more heat and closed during the day (shutting out the sun) keeps the room cooler.
Same topic, second paragraph. Careful how you waste water. Every toilet flush (bugs + kleenex anyone?) adds up. If you're waiting for water to get to a certain temp, try to save it in a bucket for watering your plants or something. And electricity-- turn those lights off! Back in my office days, the team I worked with was always entertained at my desire to work in the dark. I prefer natural lighting and really only turn on lights when it's absolutely necessary. Try it out. Don't forget to unplug electronics not in use. They're still sucking energy, even if they aren't on. Save those pennies, people!
As for your dryer- try not to use it. Hang dry whatever you can, it's better for your clothes, too. Especially undergarments, ladies. I only dry about 10% of my clothes + towels & sheets. Everything else goes on our drying racks.
(37) Downsize. For real. Consider a smaller living space. I realize if you own a home, this is a laughable concept. But for those of us with the freedom to relocate, consider it. Have you seen TINYHOUSEBLOG? I love the tiny house movement, people have increased their quality of life by eschewing the notion of "bigger is better" with housing. They live in tiny spaces, have part time jobs, and spend tons of time with their family and doing things they love to do. Whatever, totally speaks to me. I don't know that I could ever go that far, though. Anyway, you may be able to save a bundle on rent... do you need that second or third room? Or bathroom? For us, we found that just our city choice saved us a crazy amount of money. The same size apartment is *hundreds* of dollars more in different markets. Try a smaller city, just be sure not to get too far away from your job, otherwise you'll lose your savings to your gas tank. Rent already bugs me. It makes me feel like we're flushing water down the toilet, so the cheaper the better.
(38) Know your sales. Become familiar with when stores have sales and only shop then. Prime example? Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale (January + June) is the best time to buy bras. They go as low as $15.99 (which they are right now, so you should go). CHA-CHING!
(39) Skip paper products. Kleenex and paper towel are so expensive. We don't use either. Toilet paper is a much cheaper alternative, or even better, you can go old school and get some hankies. As far as paper towel, get a bunch of washcloths instead. You will save so much money. Do not buy these items. Oh- and hey, skip plastic bags, too. Stores like THIS offer BPA free little boxes for your sandwiches (because you're brown bagging now, right?) and snacks.
(40) Don't waste food. Ahh. This bugs me so much. People who can't eat leftovers make me want to raid their fridge and steal them for myself. Don't make me go all, "there are starving people in China" on you! Follow my friend, Meghan, of Split the Lark and make THIS. It's a nice little "eat me first" box to go in your fridge and help you ID what is going to spoil the soonest. Honestly, don't waste food. That alone will help you save so much money. Extra spaghetti? Turn it into baked spaghetti two days later. Extra chicken?? Chicken tacos, fajitas, chili, chicken + dumplings... anything! You don't have to serve the same meal twice, but don't discard the food.
(41) Swap nites. Do you have friends with kids? Save on babysitting by offering to have a swap night. One week you'll watch their kids and the next week they'll watch yours. Childcare is expensive. Even if you just have a night in to yourself, it's a nice treat. You can go all 'The Holiday' and see if someone is willing to swap homes with you, too, for a vaca. This works for pet sitting, too.
(42) If it's free, it's for me! Stole this from a guy named Lester. If it's free, take advantage! It's about to get real people... there were many times I cruised grocery/wholesale stores and ate free samples for lunch when I forgot mine. Haha! I cannot believe how personal this post is getting!
(43) Packaging. Save your packaging. Consider this the official stamp of approval on gift bag reusing. $4 each? Ridiculous. No. I have no issue with receiving a re-gifted gift bag. Dispense them at will. Same goes for tissue paper, holiday themed tins + jars, everything. Reuse the tins like THIS or make your own gift bags like THIS.
(44) Turn hobbies into cash. What do you do and enjoy? Can you knit, speak a foreign language, decorate cakes, teach sports...? Anything, really! You can turn that into extra income, and since you love the activity it doesn't seem like work. You can sell your handmade goods on sites like Etsy or Ebay. If you're a seamstress, you can do alterations part time for a shop or out of your home. Offer your teaching skills to your community center and see if they'd be interesting in having you give a class. Honestly- hobbies can easily become extra income. That's how my blog started! I was just kind of doing it between jobs and it stuck. And now it provides some extra money each month- which is awesome! Getting paid to do what I love? Yes, please!
(45) Don't buy pre-done anything. Items that come to you ready made are going to cost more. Sliced, cubed or shredded cheese. Baby carrots- actually any pre-cut veggie. Prepared meals or sandwiches at the deli, little cups of sauce/peanut butter/dressing/applesauce... and it goes beyond food, too. But I've been writing this for four hours now and my brain is mush. Before you buy it, think to yourself, "if I did it myself, would it cost less?"
(46) Loyalty memberships. Join every single one. Honestly. When it's my birthday month, I live like a stinking QUEEN! Free Coldstone, burgers, shakes, pastries, coffee... it's a world of happiness. Plus, you do save money throughout the year (how do you think John and I get our free coffee every week?!).
(47) Re-print. Real cheap tip from my mom? She uses the back side of marked up paper to print on (not legal documents or important items, obviously). Why waste, right? And did you know that you can get your ink cartridges refilled at places like Staples for a discount?
(part three here)
I have more- but I think this is enough reading for one day! Hopefully you picked up a couple of tips to save a bit more cash. And if you leave here without thinking I'm totally insane and super cheap, that would be cool too. How do you save money? Weigh in below and I'll add it in for the next edition! Have a great weekend everyone! I'll see you Monday and as always, thanks for reading!
12 comments:
Thank you for this! I'm always looking for new ways to cut my spending without being miserable!ReplyDeleteReplies
Me too! But even if adjusting is tough, it never lasts long!Delete
Another post I love! Thank you for the tips :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 6, 2012 at 7:28 PM
Followed a lot of these when our kids were young and we were poor (not that we still aren't!) We should go back to these - they just make sense. And thanks for some new ideas.ReplyDelete
Marti- i *love* it! do you happen to have any extra tips for me?!Delete
Where do you get your internet dor so cheap?!ReplyDeleteReplies
AT&T- no bundle package :) it's the slowest wireless they offer. I use some sort of "customer code" and have to renew a one year contract annually, but it's much less. <3Delete
really liked this post..some great tips ;)ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you! i'll probably do a part three on Monday :)Delete
Loved this post, some great ideas! We're in the process of cutting back, which is never fun. But we're being taught the value of a dollar, which should really be helpful for the future. Thanks for sharing your tips! =)ReplyDeleteReplies
I agree- never fun, but definitely helpful! Good luck! I have a part three going up today :) <3Delete
I love reading + responding to comments! Keep in mind that comments are moderated and spam will never be approved :)


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Shortly after voluntarily dismissing a fraud case against former mayoral candidate Brett McClafferty, his father Thomas McClafferty and their company, Mac & Mac Properties Inc., Canton businessman Chris Muraco has refiled the legal complaint against the same parties.
A central point of the legal complaint, filed Dec. 14 with the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, as it was in the prior case, is that Brett McClafferty allegedly falsified Pulp Smoothie's January to July 2010 sales figures.
The complaint then alleges Brett McClafferty arranged to have the point of sales data reset for the business on the day the sale of the business took place, Sept. 8, 2010.
"This action was done intentionally to erase sales history of the business for the express purpose of preventing plaintiffs from accessing any and all historic sales data and to further their fraudulent conduct," states the legal complaint.
Denying the allegation, Brett McClafferty said the case has a hole in it because he was not in Streetsboro Aug. 2, 2010 when the complaint alleges he faxed sales figures to Muraco.
"They are making an allegation they got false numbers on a day that I was in Chicago," said McClafferty. "That is an inherently frivolous lawsuit. The guy is digging himself a legal grave … Now he's trying to force a settlement."
McClafferty said he has receipts and witnesses from airlines, hotels and other businesses proving he was out of town when Muraco claims he faxed the sales records to him.
Muraco's attorney, Brad Barmen, disputes McClafferty's explanation that he was out of town the day the documents were sent to Muraco.
"I look forward to cross examining Brett at trial," he said. "The evidence and testimony doesn't support that."
Muraco is seeking recission of the contract, repayment of the $169,998 sale price, compensatory damages of more than $25,000, punitive damages to be determined at trial attorneys' fees and any other incidental costs associated with the case, said Barmen.
Brett McClafferty said he plans to file a counter suit, alleging the Dec. 14 case is a frivolous lawsuit.
"I don't care if he goes on '60 Minutes,' I'm not settling with him if he calls me a liar," said Brett McClafferty.
The complaint also alleges the defendants breached the terms of the asset purchase agreement by failing to provide on-site assistance for two weeks after the closing of the sale and failing to provide the business' historic sales data.
Brett McClafferty said Thomas McClafferty, his father, should not be included in the legal complaint as a defendant.
"Chris Muraco said in his deposition that he never even spoke to him," said Brett McClafferty.
As president of Mac & Mac Properties, the elder McClafferty "benefitted from the fraud by pocketing the money my client paid" and should be included, according to Barmen.
Barmen Dec. 3 voluntarily dismissed a prior case including the same allegations. He said he dismissed the case based on what he called a "procedural technicality," promising to refile the case.
In the prior case, McClafferty's attorney Greg Rufo argued in a Nov. 28 brief that C.P. Muraco Enterprises Inc., the plaintiff in the case, "lacks standing to assert its fraud claim" because the C.P. Muraco Enterprises P.S.P. didn't exist at the time the alleged fraud occurred.
In the refiled case, Muraco himself is named as a plaintiff. C.P. Muraco Enterprises P.S.P., a plaintiff in the dismissed case, was not created until after the sale took place, according to the refiled complaint.
"While plaintiff C.P. Muraco Enterprises Inc. was not registered in Ohio until Aug. 11, 2010 and plaintiff C.P. Muraco Enterprises P.S.P. was not registered until March of 2012, defendants dealt with Muraco as a de facto corporation at all times relevant to this action," states the Dec. 14 complaint.


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The Old Synagogue in Erfurt (1100), which was only rediscovered as such in the 1990s, is the oldest fully intact synagogue in central Europe.
It houses the extensive 14th century Erfurt Treasure, which contains one of only three medieval Jewish wedding rings still in existence and which is remarkable in both content and scope.
Opening times:
Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm
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Orlando and Disney World's Closest Beaches
There is nothing better than getting your family and friends together to share time at the beach. Florida's Space Coast's coastline goes on for 72 miles and showcases a variety of beach options, waiting just for you!
Secluded and undeveloped natural beaches include the Canaveral National Seashore where the beauty of sand dunes are left isolated just like Mother Nature intended. Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area to the south is considered one of the best surfing breaks along the East Coast. It's also a great family recreational site.
Amazing views are at Port Canaveral's Jetty Park, where you catch rays while watching 4,000-passenger cruise ships and cargo ships glide by at close range. About 14 miles of the beaches south of the port are restored with natural sand dunes supporting vital habitats for birds, sea turtles and other aquatic life.
The classic beach scene with families and shopping can be found in Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indialantic, and Melbourne Beach. All have a wide variety of beach parks and access points. Amenities at these parks can include covered pavilions, public restrooms, nature walks, playgrounds, beach volleyball courts, showers, picnic tables and even beach clubhouses. There is even a fido-friendly dog beach at Canova Beach Park.
Florida's Space Coast's beaches are Orlando and Walt Disney World's closest beaches. Come and get your toes sandy and make a memory on the Space Coast.
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Check out the surf and beach conditions at some of the best surf spots on the Space Coast
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Spot Seashells by the Sea Shore! Shelling on the Space Coast is an activity that can be enjoyed by all! No matter if you're just picking up the ones that...
Travel has changed and so has the Space Coast. Here's what to expect on your next trip to Orlando's Closest Beach. While travel has certainly changed, the desire to explore...
Find your space in the sun You want to go to the beach, but you also want to avoid the crowds. On the Space Coast, that's an easy order. While...
March on down to the Space Coast You've made it past the first month or so of the new year. All the resolutions have stopped being talked about, and you've...
Vacation Planner for Florida's Space Coast
The official Space Coast Vacation Planner Guide is now available. There are two ways to get yours:


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Discussion of MAGIC cataloging and serials issues.
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From WikiLeaks to Wiki-Revolutions: Internet and the Culture of Freedom
June 22, 2011 § Leave a comment
Manuel Castells at the Northwestern university
Communication is the primary human activity, and anything that can transform communication, can also transform social change and social organization.
This is fundamental in the context of power relationships: power throughout history has always been based on the control of informationcommunication.
In the last years we have seen deep transformations regarding the processes of communication, as a consequence of the transformation of technologies, communication, culture.
According to Castells, the key of this transformation is the shift from mass communication (traditional mass media, in the form "one message, one-to-many", with little interactivity) to mass "self-communication" (Internet, in the form "many messages, from many-to-many", with high interactivity, multimodal communication, hypertexts, where senders and receivers are the same).
Technology is not decided only by engineers, it is material culture. Internet was designed this way because it was on purpose a technology of freedom (a free network of communication).
In recent years there have been some major challenges in terms of social worlds, based on this technology of free communication.
But this is partly based on the waves of culture (see also his book "The Internet Galaxy" for this):
1. Techno-meritocratic culture
2. Hacker culture (culture of freedom)
3. The virtual communitarian culture (try to use Internet as a foundation for a community)
3. Enterpreneurial culture (the people who bet on these technology of freedom, e.g. Google)
4. Mobile communication youth culture (which transformed the use of the Internet – permanent connectivity is the most important feature of mobile phones: we are always connected)
5. Organizational change & networking (networking became a demand not only for society, but mainly for business – the demand came from society)
6. Culture (it's all about the interaction between technology – the Internet -, organization – networking – and culture: culture of freedom, emerged by the social movements of the 60s and 70s.)
Many people see the culture of autonomy as a key component of the Internet culture and the productive interaction between the culture and technology, but at the present there are not convincing empirical studies on this. Castells did a study in 2000-2007 in Catalonia on the use of the Internet with 55 thousands interviews, comparing Internet users and non-users. Indexes of autonomy measured individual autonomy of the body (es. how much people followed prescription, how much they called the doctor, …, in medical practice). He applied a factor analysis, which showed the presence of 6 independent factors indicating autonomy:
1. Autonomy of professional development
2. Communicative autonomy
3. Business enterpreunership autonomy
4. Body autonomy
5. Autonomy of socio-political participation
6. Personal autonomy (as affirmation of individual personality)
High levels of autonomous people in a population are always a minority, but usually these are the peple capable of moving societies.
They measured frequency, intensity of use and knowledge of the Internet in two different moments in time.
Results showed that the more people were autonomous, the more they scored high in the use of the Internet; and the more they used the Internet, the more autonomous the became.
Based on this, Castells has been working lately on two different types of use of the Internet in the relation between social actors and the State:
1. Wikileaks
2. Wiki-revolutions
The important thig is not Wikileaks per se, but the reactions it provokes. Wikileaks provides a safe way to disclose the information people think is depictable. Wikileaks members didn't solicit information, but just opened the doors, providing very good technology to protect their dropbox and protecting communication. This technology allowed people to safely provide information. Once they had this information, Wikileaks volunteers checked it through an editorial committee and lawyers. They tried to reach out the entire world, making an agreement with the most important newspapers in the world. Note that this is not a Wiki (in the sense of Wikipedia): the editorial committee made decisions on the publication of the information.
Wikileaks diffused research (6 hundred research reports) funded by the US government on Afganistan and Iraq, that were kept hidden by the US government.
Asange stated: "To radically shift regime behaviour we must think clearly and boldly, for if we have learned anything it is that regimes do not want to be changed. We must think beyond those who have gone before us, and discover technological changes that embolden us with ways to act in which our forebears could not." Now there is the technology to force the regimes change, and there are instruments to promote transparency.
[Entropy: the more you try to protect your system from the world, the less tansparent you become, the more conspiratory you become, and the less efficient because you have to break down the networks of communications inside your system.]
There is now a diffusion of other kind of organizations similar to Wikileaks: we assist to a "mass insurrection" against everything is secret (even if it is diplomatic gossip, which shouldn't be secret anyway). This is extraordinary because it attacks the heart of the power, which is the control of information.
There are three key elements which describe WikiRevolutions:
1. The first is a constant pattern in revolutions: they start always with a moment of outrage, emotional outburst provoked by some dramatic event. E.g. in Tunisia, this event was the suicide, in Sidi Bouzid, of Mohammed Bouazizi, who was a street vendor, constantly humiliated by police. His desperate act was a reaction against humiliation of his personal dignity.
2. The demonstration was immediately organized on FB and on the Internet.
3. No political oppposition parties joined at the beginning.
This is similar to what happened in May '68: a few thousand people started like that (no organization, no connections), and the whole country started to change. Just later on the unions and the organizations came. The notion was to change the values and people's minds (while political movements try to change power in the state, social movements try to change values in people's minds). It had started spontaneously, through personal networks.
Now, Internet networks are instant, fast, and broad. And they are transparent: everything is open, everybody can check, and for this reason there is trust. These network do their work by getting together and creating the physical pressure that attract the media, which report on their self-organization and on the barricates of history: these barricates were created in the virtual space. And it is fundamental this connection between the virtual space and the physical space.
Contagion, diffusion from Tunisia to Egypt
Egyptian revolution started on April 6 2008, in a city at the north of Cairo, with a workers strike (see on Wikipedia; on Al Jazeera). This generated the April 6 Youth Movement (see on Wikipedia), which started the demonstrations on Facebook in January 2011.
The critical thing is the connection from the social networks to the public space. For the first time in history the government tried to shut down all the Internet in the country, but they couldn't. A global movement of support started globally, with the goal to defend freedom of people and of the Internet.
Also Google and Twitter took part in the Egyptian revolution. The problem was that Egyptian users of Twitter were "only" around 14000. How to build a network then? A Swedish based hacker global organization, Telecomics, designed a program to find automatically through Google all the fax machines numbers in Egypt: in this way, all the messages coming in through Twitter were sent to fax machines everywhere in Egypt. The Internet allowed to start the network, building the core of global-local communication, organizing a set of multimodal networks. After 5 days Mubarak decided to stop trying to shut off the Internet.
In general, the most important things of the revolutions are:
1. Overcoming fear, which is the basic emotion that drives our life. If you overcome fear (of being tortured and killed, for example), then you can do anything, everything is possible.
2. Togetherness, support, networking, protection by the fact that you're not alone, that there is support in the whole world. If people in the rest of the country do not care about your protests, then you'll be killed. But if there is a protection system, then the costs of killing rise.
These revolutions could not have happened without Tweets. Surely, they were not sufficient, but necessary.
So, these Revolutions are WikiRevolutions because they are co-generated, co-managed, co-directed just like wikis, in the sense that they have the capacity, through free networking, to express the culture of autonomy in the sociopolitical change.
North African protests
March 1, 2011 § Leave a comment
On 17 December 2010 Mohammed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old fruit vendor in the central town of Sidi Bouzid set himself on fire in front of a local municipal office. On 25 January 2011 Cairo was shocked by a series of protests against the government. In the following days, the protests quickly spread across the countries and finally led to the departure of the Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from the country on 14 January 2011, and to the resignation of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February 2011. These happenings since their very beginning received an extensive mediatic attention. However, in addition to this they also triggered an intense activity on the related articles on the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia (see for example the articles "2011 Egyptian revolution" and "Tunisian revolution").
Traumatic events like these are inherently shocking for the involved comunities and involve different layers of the social and cultural tissue. For these reasons they are deeply connected to the formation of the emergent collective memory and collective identity of these communities. The widespread diffusion of Web 2.0 services and technologies and the massive participation to social networking websites provide researchers with new opportunities to study the progressive formation of collective memories about these events since their very beginning.
In fact, since Wikipedia records every edit made to every pages by every user (registered or anonimous), it is now possible to study these memory building processes as they unfold an on a large scale, without going through laboratoy-based experiments and self-reports (which may be biased, especially when it comes to deeply traumatizing events like these).


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If you want to sell your Los Angeles house this winter, you may be disappointed to learn that winter can be a difficult time to list and sell your home. Often, home sales decline over the winter months in many markets around the country. Fortunately, there is a solution to sell your house in Los […]
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Ginseng Panax
Ginseng is very much the old man of the herb world having been used in Asia for the last few thousand years. It's also an old-timer in growing terms as the root is harvested when it is six years, which is pretty old in terms of keeping a crop in a field.
This long-term cycle ensures we get a powerful concentration of active elements.
Both red and white ginseng come from the same plant, with the processing giving them their distinct colourways.
White ginseng is peeled and dried after harvesting whereas its red sibling has the skin left on and is then steamed. This steaming gives the ginseng a 'hotter', more stimulating property as well as its translucent red colour.
The ginseng we use is from an organic project in North China.
The plants survive temperatures of -20°C and this ability to survive in such extremes is an example of ginseng's strength and adaptability in the face of intense environmental stress.


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With Venice and Telluride coming to a close and Toronto set to kick off this weekend, film festival season is officially in full swing. Later this month, genre festival Fantastic Fest will get underway in Austin, and it has just been announced that the Red Dawn remake will act as the closing film. The redo—which was shot in 2009—stars Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki as a ragtag group of young 'uns who must work together to repel invading North Korean forces. The world premiere on September 27th will be followed by a Red Dawn-themed party in which "prisoners will experience mandatory enjoyment from delousing stations as well as free prison tattoos and head-shaves." Deer blood shots will also apparently be handed out while the band Future Folk takes the stage.
Hit the jump to read the full press release and to check out a new image from the film featuring Palicki and Hutcherson. Fantastic Fest runs from September 20 – 27th, while Red Dawn opens in theaters nationwide on November 21st.
FilmDistrict's 'RED DAWN' Stars Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson & Josh Peck and Hits Theaters This Thanksgiving
World Premiere On Thursday, September 27!
Austin, TX-Wednesday, September 5, 2012– The Wolverines are infiltrating Fantastic Fest to defend all that is good and American! The world premiere of FilmDistrict's RED DAWN will close Fantastic Fest, on Thursday, September 27, with stars Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki in attendance. A Korean-invasion-themed party will follow the premiere screening to celebrate the closing night of the festival. Fantastic Fest will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
RED DAWN stars CHRIS HEMSWORTH (Thor, The Avengers, Snow White & The Huntsman), JOSH PECK (Drake & Josh, The Wackness), JOSH HUTCHERSON (The Hunger Games), ADRIANNE PALICKI (Friday Night Lights, upcoming GI Joe: Retaliation), ISABEL LUCAS (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Immortals), CONNOR CRUISE (Seven Pounds) and JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN (Watchmen).
In RED DAWN, a city in Washington state awakens to the surreal sight of foreign paratroopers dropping fromthe sky – shockingly, the U.S. has been invaded and their hometown is the initial target. Quickly and withoutwarning, the citizens find themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation. Determined to fightback, a group of young patriots seek refuge in the surrounding woods, training and reorganizing themselvesinto a guerilla group of fighters. Taking inspiration from their high school mascot, they call themselves theWolverines, banding together to protect one another, liberate their town from its captors, and take back theirfreedom. FilmDistrict will release RED DAWN in theaters nationwide on November 21, 2012, just in time for Thanksgiving.
Following the World Premiere, Fantastic Fest will transform the Austin American Legion into a maximum-security prison for the ultimate Red Dawn shindig. Prisoners will experience mandatory enjoyment from delousing stations as well as free prison tattoos and head-shaves. Executive chef John Bullington will be doling out wild-game bulgogi, kimchi and piping-hot shots of deer blood while the uniformed detainees enjoy the musical stylings of festival favorite Future Folk.


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Ernst and Young Announces Winners of North America Entrepreneurial Winning Women For 2013
Ernst and Young (EY) announced the 12 winners of its 2013 class of Entrepreneurial Winning Women, a competition and executive leadership program that identifies a select group of high-potential women entrepreneurs from the United States and Canada whose businesses show real potential to scale — and then helps them do it.
This year's group of Entrepreneurial Winning Women includes companies with services that range from personalized medicine to jet aircraft charters to cyber security. From the Jersey Shore to California and up to British Columbia, this year's diverse class represents some of the most innovative women entrepreneurs in business today. Cumulatively, the 12 Winning Women employ almost 400 people, and have annual sales totaling nearly $150 million.
"Women entrepreneurs have the potential to ignite our economy and become powerful engines of economic growth," says Kerrie MacPherson, Principal, Financial Services Office, and North American Entrepreneurial Winning Women Executive Sponsor at Ernst & Young LLP. "Our Entrepreneurial Winning Women program helps bridge the gap for a group we call 'the missing middle' — those second-stage women business owners whose companies have emerged from the start-up phase but face a crucial inflection point in their growth journey. By providing the right information, networks and guidance, we're able to help these talented women access capital, identify strong business advisors and put the processes in place to radically expand their companies." According to an independent assessment by Babson College, participant companies have an average growth of nearly 50% per year and a corresponding 26% average growth in the number of jobs they provide.
Launched in 2008, the program is intended to help women entrepreneurs break through the barriers that keep thriving second-stage businesses from scaling to their full potential. Once selected, the entrepreneurs participate in an ongoing, customized program designed by EY to catalyze their companies' growth by building and fostering critical relationships, enhancing leadership skills, expanding business know-how and providing increased visibility.
They are coached on the five crucial leaps they need to scale up their business:
– Thinking big and being bold
– Building a public profile
– Working on the business, rather than in it
– Finding and establishing the right networks
– Evaluating financing for expansion
"I'm so proud to be included in a program that truly helps female entrepreneurs think big," said Leslie Firtell, Founder and CEO of Tower Legal Solutions. "Through the program, I have connected with a network of incredible advisors who have provided strategic advice on raising my company's profile. The growth of the company has resulted in recognition on both the Crain's Fast 50 and the Inc. 5000 lists."
The 2013 winners are:
Raegan Moya-Jones, Co-Founder and CEO | aden + anais, Inc.
(New York, New York) aden + anais has built a successful global brand on one of the most classic baby products: muslin swaddling blankets, which are light-weight and perfect for keeping babies cool in summer and warm in winter. From a home-based business launched in 2006, aden + anais has grown to more than 4,500 retail clients, including Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Harrods and Babies R Us, with a growing worldwide distribution network that spans 61 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Retailers are clamoring for the company's rapidly expanding product line that is a favorite among moms everywhere.
Julia Beardwood, Founding Partner | Beardwood & Co LLC
(New York, New York) Beardwood & Co, founded in 2004, has made its mark taking an uncommon approach to product branding and advertising: eliciting emotional reactions based on needs, wants and dreams, and putting clients' end-users at the center of its campaigns. Today the company has some of the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry and counts among its clients a roster of globally known consumer products, nonprofits and business-to-business brands. The company hopes to leverage its clients' branding and advertising successes (and its own blossoming reputation) to further entrench itself as a leading agency-of-choice worldwide.
Kelsey Ramsden, President | Belvedere Place Development, Ltd
(West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) Belvedere Place Development is a nine-year-old general and civil contractor with a reputation for delivering projects on-time and on-budget. The company began with small roadway projects and now constructs large-scale infrastructure, including roads, bridges, underground works, treatment plants and airports. Expanding globally, Belvedere is on track to continue expansion from Western Canada and the Caribbean into emerging markets, where fast-growing populations mean high demand for infrastructure development.
Denise Wilson, President and CEO | Desert Jet
(Palm Springs, California) Desert Jet is a full-service aircraft management, charter and maintenance company. Structured as the private car service of the sky, private flyers can use Desert Jet's services as they need, with no requirements like buying a fractional share, jet card or membership. Aircraft under asset management with Desert Jet benefit from increased operational safety with the option to earn revenue. A three-time Inc. 500|5000 list honoree, the company has grown over 600% in the last three years and has its sights on further expansion.
Corin Mullins, CEO | Holy Crap
(Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada) Holy Crap is the world's most amazing breakfast cereal. The handmade, certified organic, non-genetically modified, allergen-free cereal line was born in 2009 from the desire for a great-tasting cereal safe for people with food allergies. Now, Holy Crap products are sold in over 2,500 stores and are favorites of athletes, diabetics, celiacs, dieters and even astronauts, who brought the cereal with them to the International Space Station.
Karri Bass, CEO | Illumination Research
(Cincinnati, Ohio)Illumination is a market research and strategy consulting firm that conducts customer research throughout the world to help businesses create ideas to fuel growth. The company's clients include many of the world's largest consumer products companies and retailers, including Procter & Gamble, Nestle and Pepsi. It has a track record of delivering better and faster research through its unique capabilities and team of experts. The eight-year-old business is rapidly gaining ground, with significant global expansion plans to serve its multinational clients.
Jamie Kern Lima | IT Cosmetics
(Jersey City, New Jersey) IT Cosmetics is one of the fastest growing cosmetics companies in America. The innovative business works with leading plastic surgeons to infuse anti-aging technology into high-performance makeup and skin care products that solve women's beauty concerns and help them look and feel their most beautiful. Established in 2008, IT has received 200+ press placements in 2013 alone including TODAY Show, Allure, CEW, WWD, InStyle, W, Glamour, People StyleWatch, Marie Claire, MORE and The New York Times. IT is sold on QVC as well as in 600+ ULTA Beauty stores nationwide and on itcosmetics.com with 2013 sales of over $60 million. IT's truly your beauty, but better®!
Adrienne Choma | Saladax Biomedical, Inc.
(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)Saladax develops and commercializes novel diagnostic assays for the practical delivery of personalized medicine, including improved cancer drug dosing and early Alzheimer's detection. The nine-year-old company's ultimate goal is replacing the current standard of care in cancer drug dosing with more precise dosing methods, resulting in a better quality of life, fewer adverse side effects and improved treatment results for chemotherapy patients.
Jennifer Blumin | Skylight Group
(New York, New York) With six properties, Skylight Group is New York's largest event venue management firm, brokering access to otherwise inaccessible spaces for a roster of clients that includes Google, Nike and Ralph Lauren. With the rise of global media, Skylight has grown in tandem with its clients, enabling them to create experiential narratives that expand an event from the 300 people in a room to the 300,000 watching across the world. Alone in its niche, Skylight Group has seen 100% growth in the last year, enabling the company to lead its Fortune 500 clients into the future of events as an invaluable part of marketing today.
Joy Taylor | TayganPoint Consulting Group
(Lambertville, New Jersey) TayganPoint Consulting Group, established in 2009, is a niche management consulting company focused on helping pharmaceutical, health care, financial services and energy organizations improve their efficiency and overall business performance. TayganPoint's team of process experts have a reputation for hands-on service and deep sector expertise. This deep knowledge of its clients' business needs allows the company to continue to grow its client portfolio and expand into new markets.
Dr. Lisa Williams | World of EPI, LLC
(Chula Vista, California) The World of EPI, which teaches multicultural understanding among children, was founded on the belief that all children deserve access to authentic, multicultural dolls that encourage dreams, promote intelligence and open their hearts to beauty of all types. Founded with a line of books in 2005, the World of EPI is now a multi-faceted business that includes the Positive Perfect doll line with plans to expand into animation.
Phyllis W. Newhouse | Xtreme Solutions, Inc.
(Atlanta, Georgia) Xtreme Solutions, founded in 2002, is an end-to-end IT services and solutions provider, with offerings that range from IT business consulting to state-of-the-art cyber security consulting and forensic analysis. The company employs 23% of the world's certified ethical hackers and network security professionals to help secure its clients' private networks and prevent cyber-attacks. The company plans to create a larger global presence and platform for new international customers, supported in part by strategic alliances with large companies to help serve smaller businesses.
The 12 members of the Entrepreneurial Winning Women Class of 2013 received an all-expense paid trip to this year's EY Strategic Growth Forum® 2013, an invitation-only gathering of more than 2,300 high-growth, market-leading company CEOs being held this week in Palm Springs, California. The Forum presents a one-of-a-kind platform for Entrepreneurial Winning Women to introduce their companies and share their corporate and personal brands with a community of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ winners, top executives, prospective investors and business advisors. All 2013 Entrepreneurial Winning Women were introduced and honored at a special celebratory luncheon today during the Forum.
The distinguished 2013 panel of independent judges for the Entrepreneurial Winning Women program included:
Cynthia Cohen, CEO, Strategic Mindshare
Laurie Cunnington, President, Ward Williston Oil Company
Leslie Firtell, President & CEO, Tower Legal Solutions
Harold Mills, CEO, ZeroChaos
Mike Cohen, Managing General Partner, VGPartners
The Entrepreneurial Winning Women program is conducted in collaboration with several organizations that encourage the development of women-owned businesses, including the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), The Committee of 200 (C200), the Kauffman Foundation and Babson College's Center for Women's Leadership.
Learn More: http://www.ey.com/us/entrepreneurialwinningwomen
About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Practice
Ernst & Young LLP's Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multi-disciplinary team of elite professionals provides perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate the path to market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate.
Learn More: http://www.ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
SOURCE: Ernst & Young


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In a world of non-stop, in-your-face marketing, don't lust after what you can't afford. Be happy with what you have.
Editor's Note: The Angry Singlespeeder is a collection of mercurial musings from contributing editor Kurt Gensheimer. In no way do his maniacal diatribes about all things bike oriented represent the opinions of Mtbr, RoadBikeReview, or any of their employees, contractors, janitorial staff, family members, household pets, or any other creature, living or dead. You can submit questions or comments to Kurt at [email protected]. And make sure to check out Kurt's previous columns.
Brian Caldwell of Highland Way.
My buddy Brian is a bona fide Scotsman. He has thick Scottish accent, a big bright smile, long blonde hair in a ponytail and is a singer/guitarist/songwriter in a popular Scottish folk band in San Diego called the Highland Way. He sings in broad colloquial Scots of the Highlands, and yes, he always wears a kilt to his performances. I cannot confirm or disconfirm whether or not he wears anything underneath.
Beyond his enormous musical talent, Brian is a fascinating guy. He's a big wave surfer who has traveled the world in search of the ultimate ride, he used to be a windsurfing instructor, he has a recording studio in an old RV in his backyard and he's married to a falconer. That's right. His wife walks around with a giant falcon on her arm and raises exotic birds. She is also the only person who is trained and brave enough to work with Honey Badgers at the San Diego Safari Park. To show his pride, Brian wears a Honey Badger t-shirt to our Thursday night mountain bike rides, boasting his wife's talent and bravery.
Because Brian is Scottish, he is also unabashedly cheap. He's even proud of his frugality, cracking jokes at his shows including "Scotsmen are so cheap that they're the only people who can drop a coin and have it hit them on the back of the head as they are picking it up."
This frugality comes through with his riding gear. He rocks a 10-year-old Bell helmet that's well past its service life, a pitted-out white cotton undershirt that's tucked into some threadbare riding shorts and a red Specialized Rock Hopper that's at least a decade old. Although it's still in once piece, Brian's bike is more haggard than Merle, with finely polished chainstays thanks to pedal rub and a head tube completely devoid of red paint on one side thanks to the most severe case of cable rub I've ever seen. His tires are almost completely worn down and his saddle has more holes in it than a bag of donuts.
The worse case of cable rub I've ever seen
But Brian couldn't care less. The dude straight up hammers even though his handlebars are far too narrow, his saddle is too low and his cable-operated disc brakes haven't been serviced in years. My three friends and I – who all ride high-zoot carbon fiber bikes – keep telling Brian he needs to get a new whip. We tell him how much faster he will be with a newer, lighter bike with a better fit, more suspension and superior braking power; not to mention a fresh set of tread. But Brian's tightwad Scottish upbringing prevents him from making the jump to a new bike. "This old gal is fine for me", he says.
One day a friend let Brian test ride his full-suspension Niner RDO with full SRAM XX. We were all a bit worried, because we knew that as soon as Brian got going on the bike, his riding would immediately improve. And it did, especially downhill. However, when I asked Brian how he liked the new ride, he simply shrugged his shoulders, flashed a bright smile and said "I dunno, it's a bike."
It's a bike. I couldn't help but laugh and have a new level of respect for the guy. In a country where in-your-face marketing and non-stop consumption are as routine as eating double bacon cheeseburgers and taking prescription medication, Brian is completely immune to it all. He's just as happy riding his clapped-out Rock Hopper as he is a Niner worth more than his 20-year-old Toyota 4Runner.
I recently heard a standup routine on satellite radio by Katt Williams. He was talking about being happy with what you have. He said, "If you got a raggedy car, stop talking sh*t about your raggedy car. That's your raggedy car. You need to go home and wash the sh*t out that muthafu*ka; put Armor All and everything on it."
Katt Williams professes being happy with what you have.
All too often we get caught up in the trap of not being happy with what we have. Non-stop marketing and meaningless acronyms to describe new useless technologies are designed to make you feel that the bike or gear you have is inferior. With the exception of a few new innovations in the past ten years, there's very little new under the sun. Don't lust for something you can't afford, be happy with what you have; because it's most likely a lot more that what most everyone else in the world has.
Don't hate on your bike regardless of how new or old it is, because every time you ride out into the middle of nowhere, you depend on that raggedy bike to get you back home. Treat it right. Wash it, clean it and keep it in good working condition. And when it's time to buy the bike of your dreams, sell or give your raggedy bike to someone else, because as unlikely as it may sound, a ride like Brian's old clapped-out Rock Hopper just might be someone's dream bike.


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Americans use more than 1 billion pounds of pesticides each year to fight pests in homes, businesses and other public places, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Because children play around on the floor and with objects that pesticides may have touched, their chances of pesticide exposure are higher and their developing bodies offer less natural protection against the harmful chemicals.
Harmful effects of pesticides : The American Academy of Pediatrics has linked childhood pesticide exposure to decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems. In addition, prenatal exposure can result in low birth weight, attention and learning problems and pediatric cancer.
Reduce exposure to pesticides: A few ways to help reduce your children's exposure to pesticides:
- Lock cabinets containing pesticides and cleaning products. Keep harmful chemicals out of reach. Make
sure products are tightly sealed and stored in tall cabinets with locks to deter curious children. Learn additional ways to avoid accidental poisonings.
- Use chemical-free pest-control tactics. Keep vegetation at least one foot away from structures. Clean
surfaces and dishes daily. Fill cracks in walls, windows and floors. Store food in sealed containers,
and empty garbage containers regularly.
- Buy organic produce. If buying only organic fruits and vegetables is too expensive for you, follow the
Clean Fifteen™ and
Dirty Dozen™ lists to determine which to prioritize. Always wash and dry your produce before
eating to remove any trace of pesticide residue.
- Keep children away from a treated area until it's dry. If you plan to treat an area or a pet, ensure that your child remains clear of the area until the product has dried completely. Follow directions on the product label for best results.


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International Cooperation
I don't know about you, but the Olympics always bring out my international cooperation side. Which is a fancified way of saying that for 30 minutes every night until the closing ceremonies I'll have the inexplicable urge to ditch work, learn all 6 official languages of the UN, and go take a job as a diplomat. Never mind that the closest I've ever come to international diplomacy is having both Taco Bell and Domino's be part of the same dinner.
So, it's that time again, and this time, I decided I'm going to make a legitimate attempt to learn a language- by reading magazines. Turns out, the Monroe Library has a super-sweet collection of foreign language magazines, newspapers, and journals. Interested in learning Spanish? Check out El Pais. German? Well, I think Stern Magazine is for you. And if French is more your thing, have a look at Paris Match, a French tabloid that I am pretty certain has had either Nicolas or Carla Sarkozy on the cover every issue for the last 6 months. There's plenty more, too. Here's how you look up foreign language periodicals in the catalog.
Of course, I act like I know this stuff off the top of my head, but in the 'There's no such thing as a stupid question' department, I actually asked Beth how to do this. Beth, being a super-awesome reference librarian, happily complied, and now I'm taking credit for it. Anyway….
1) Go to the Library's full catalog.
2) Under the search box, click 'Advanced Search.'
3) In the drop down box marked 'Language,' pick the language you want to search for. In the drop down box marked 'Material type,' select 'Periodical.'
4) Hit search, and presto! A list of periodicals in a given language!
Neat. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I hear some Thai food calling my name.
Tags: Good reads, Olympics


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This Is How The Deltas at Hampton Won Their University's 2020 Stroll Off
This Is How The Alphas at Hampton Won Their University's 2020 Stroll Off
Watch The Greeks Stroll at Southern University in 2020
This Is How the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Hold It Down at LSU
Watch The Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Win The FISS 2020 Stroll Off with a 'Dora the Explorer' Theme
Watch How The Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Won First Place at The Steel City Step Show
Watch How The D9 Held It Down at the University of Tampa's NPHC Showcase
The Deltas Don't Play! This Is How Delta Sigma Theta Won The 2019 GHOE Step Show
StompFest Announces Its 2019 Celebrity Host and Musical Guests
This Is How Alpha Phi Alpha Revealed Its Spring 2020 Line at The University of Houston
Watch How The Alphas Revealed their Spring 2020 Line at LeMoyne-Owen College
This Is How Alpha Kappa Alpha Revealed Its Spring 2005 Line at North Carolina A&T
Watch How Omega Psi Phi Revealed Its Spring 2000 Line at LSU
This Is How The Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi at FAMU Revealed Their Spring 2020 Line
Watch The Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Perform at Langston University's 1991 Homecoming Step Show
These Coppin State University Students Remade This Cafeteria Photo From The 1970s
Check Out This 1991 Homecoming Step Show Performance from The Nupes at North Carolina A&T
Throwback: This Is How Delta Sigma Theta Did Step Shows at FAMU in 1991
This is What Kappa Alpha Psi Step Shows Looked Like In 1988
NASCAR recently announced the appointment of Kappa Alpha Psi brother Brandon Thompson to the newly created position of Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion. According to NASCAR,...


text: El Salvador struggles to reduce gang violence while mother looks for kidnapped son The World July 24, 2012 El Salvador has the world's second highest murder rate. More than 4,300 occurred there last year alone. Though the U.S. has poured millions of dollars into anti-gang efforts in the country, nothing seemed to change until a few months ago when the Catholic Church stepped in.


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APS bosses get raises, teachers pissed.
Legislators suspicious of Gov. Martinez filming them in the Roundhouse.
Taco Bell unveils baked potato wrapped in a tortilla.
State cop takes a woman into custody and then has sex with her in his patrol car on their way to jail. No charges are filed.
Guy slices his tongue to get his wife back.
The Tea Party says it's Romney's fault.
Your brain and music.
Welcome to Middle-Earth Airlines.
Diane Sawyer, drinking wine, taking meds, making coke jokes.
The worst appearances of musicians in sci-fi movies.
Google unveils JAM, which is, roughly, Garage Band. Here's other stuff Google has wasted money on.
For balance: Forgotten Apple products of yore.
For x-mas, please buy me a petri dish ornament.
Puerto Rico is thinking it wants to be a state.
Neil Gaiman writes some "Doctor Who," tries to salvage the glory of the Cybermen.


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May's most exciting two minutes -- the Kentucky Derby -- bring two decisions each year: which horse to bet and which Bourbon to drink?
While it's fine to slosh well-brand Mint Juleps in the Churchill Downs infield as tons of horseflesh pound by, when your nag makes it to the winner's circle, the way to drink Bourbon is rich and neat. You want to celebrate with the class of the field, and in the world of corn-based whiskey, you can't get much more well heeled than the Distillers' Masterpiece tandem.
The race may be for three-year-olds, but fine rewards come in much older packages. Few Bourbons age more than the 18- and 20-year-old hyperpremiums from Jim Beam. If they seem adolescent compared with single-malt Scotches and Cognacs at twice the age, consider that Kentucky's searing summers and frigid winters drag flavor from the barrel faster than any other spirit. In that climate, two decades in new, charred-oak barrels can be geriatric.
In 1999, Beam first tested the aging stratosphere with the 18-year-old, a collaboration between Booker Noe, the grandson of Jim Beam and creator of Booker's True Barrel, and Alain Royer, the renegade Cognac maker and cigar aficionado from the Fussigny house. The trick was an extra year or more of finishing in a Cognac barrel. The result was sublime, a huge Bourbon flavor loaded with all the orange, leather, vanilla, maple, nuts and honey of Booker's, but without the attendant heat. The Cognac cultured the backwoodsman with utter finesse and also left its distinct brandy taste on the palate.
Two years later, Beam took 20-year-old Bourbon and turned to Daryl Groom of its California Geyser Peak winery for the finishing touch. Extra aging in Port barrels created another refined flavor bomb, this time an elegant, toasty quaff that hits the tongue with explosions of licorice, maple, apple, caramel, vanilla, coffee and lots and lots of wood. You won't, however, find telltale signs of Port as you would traces of Cognac in the brandy-finished version.
Each expression comes in an impressive French glass decanter, the 99-proof 18-year-old in a display case with doors, the 98-proof 20-year-old on a pedestal inside a transparent box. Proud owners can also order a free personalized name tag for their bottles.
At the betting window you might want to consider a long shot as Distillers' Masterpiece also pushes the outer limits of what Bourbon can cost: $250 for the 18, $300 for the 20.
Available in better liquor stores.


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Life as a DH
OK, you are the designated hitter. You get to bat in a game, your pitcher doesn't. For nine straight games starting Friday, the Phillies will be playing interleague games in American League cities meaning the DH will be used.
What do you do between at-bats?
Doze off?
Watch the World Cup?
Gulp down a hot dog?
Polish your baseball spikes?
Read the newspaper?
Listen to "The Sound of Music"?
Comfort your fielder's glove you won't be using, reassuring it you still love it?
For real answers, let's check in with someone who has been there, Phillies outfielder David Dellucci.
Dellucci, playing for the Texas Rangers a year ago, ranked 11th among AL DHs with a .266 average. He hit 14 homers and drove in 27 runs in 67 games.
"Go to the batting cage and get in some extra swings, ride a stationary bike to stay loose, check out video of your last at-bat or the pitcher you are facing, or sit on the bench and watch the pitcher," said Dellucci, pulling on his red stirrups before batting practice this evening.
"I guess I've tried them all. Sitting on the bench can be trying. I found I needed to get my mind off my last at-bat. I tried hitting in the cage, taking 200 swings. But that wore me out," he continued.
"To me, the big thing is not looking back at your last at-bat or getting too anxious for your next one. It's a mind game."
Dellucci gives an insider's look at the three ballparks the Phillies will be playing in over the next nine games:
Fenway Park, Boston: "Clubhouse is very small. No real place to swing a bat or to stay loose. The benches are small so you can't really go there and get away from your teammates. Everyone is cramped."
Camden Yards, Baltimore: "Big clubhouse. Plenty of space to swing a bat, stretch or run. Benches are very spacious."
Rogers Centre, Toronto: "Hitting cage near the dugout with a batting tee. Spacious dugouts."
Being a left-handed hitter, Dellucci will probably be penciled in the Phillies lineup by Charlie Manuel often. The three teams the Phillies are facing, Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays, aren't loaded with left-handed starting pitchers.
"I'll be ready. Been there, done that."
3 Comments
It's really intriguing to see what Dellucci can do with some steady AB's, he had a great 1st half in 2005 and tailed off in the 2nd half, it is a real shame you can't sit the starters more but can you blame anybody for starting Abreu, Rowand & Burrell? I'd like to think in Abreu's case Shane & David can keep him from getting overworked into August and Sept…
I've enjoyed your blogs Larry, but right now I and alot of fans are confused over the lack of appropriate verbage paid to the Myers situation. You need to get on your boss and tell him he needs to class up and let the world know you guys don't condone wife beating before you start loosing more fans…
Please–I can't stand it any more—get rid of Burrell for a bucket of baseballs if you have to–2 bad plays today–and a called 3rd strike–McCarver nailed him when he said its not that you make out–ITS HOW YOU MAKE OUT when you don't get the bat off your shoulder with men on base–PLEASE—get him out of town now–


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Rampant Rabbits
The imitators are flattering but there's only place to get the real deal. We started a sex toy revolution when we created the Rampant Rabbit. Mighty or mini ones, rotating or rechargeable ones, hands-free or just the ears - we've got bunnies covered, honey. Whether you're buying your first or looking to upgrade, nobody does it better than the originators of OH. Welcome to the pet shop and meet your new best friend...which one will you take home?
Need more ideas on what to do with a Rampant Rabbit in your life? Our 10 tips will have you buzzing.


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