text:
by Mike Todd
"Dude, what's that sound?" my sister Amy asked from her air mattress in our basement.
I shrugged, pretending not to hear the skritch-a-skritch coming from behind the drywall. Then Amy turned her truth-extracting eyeball beams on me. She's had them her whole life, but being a lawyer made them worse.
"Okay, okay, we have mice in the wall. But they just hang out in there. They probably won't come out," I said.
She took the news better than I'd expected. After one lap around the room, checking for possible entry points, she climbed back into bed, probably deciding that if a mouse came out to visit, she'd just subpoena it to death.
A few days later, we had to start storing our dog food in plastic bins. Some critters had been pillaging our pantry, burrowing holes into the bottom of our 50-pound kibble bags. Then my wife Kara moved some old boxes in our laundry room to find that the corner of the room had become something of a rodent rest stop.
"This is so nasty. They carry diseases. We need to get rid of them," Kara said, with "we" being me, and "get rid of" being used in the mobster sense of the phrase.
"What if I just housebreak them one-at-a-time instead?" I suggested.
In the end, I found myself at the hardware store, reluctantly choosing between various instruments of death, like a gladiator preparing to enter the Coliseum, except less happy to be there.
Poison? Too medieval, plus the unpleasant thought of mice keeling over in random places throughout the house. Glue traps, which just stick a mouse to a sheet that you throw in the trash while they're still alive? Honestly, if you put down a glue trap, it's not that you're a terrible person, it's just that a non-terrible person wouldn't do that.
Staring at all the chemicals and devices that were designed to transport cute little critters off this mortal coil, it was hard not to picture the mice in red shorts, holding hands in our basement and singing "It's a Small World."
The least awful solution seemed to be the old-fashioned mousetrap. I thought somebody was building a better one. What ever happened to that? Still, if a mouse had come shopping with me and witnessed the disturbing array of other options, I feel like he would have said, "Fine, yeah, just get some of the regular ones. You people are sick."
That evening, donning my coonskin cap, I set about preparing the varmint traps. With peanut butter smeared on the triggers, I set the traps and placed them around the house, careful to put them where I wouldn't catch a dog or a child. We have enough of those already.
In the morning, I approached the first trap with trepidation. What grisly, splattery scene would I encounter, causing me to get nauseous and leave the room whenever the movie "Ratatouille" came on?
As it turned out, mousetraps don't actually catch mice, but they do make excellent mouse feeders. All of the traps had been licked clean during the night. One of them had a Post-it note stuck to the trigger, with a tiny scrawling that read: "Do you have anything in a super chunk?"
I could picture the mice fluffing the insulation inside our walls, flopping down with their bellies full, saying, "Do you think that was store brand? I think it was store brand. Would it kill him to give us some Skippy?"
My dad suggested a modification where you tie the head of a Q-tip to the trap with some dental floss, then coat everything in peanut butter, which makes the mouse work a little harder for what is about to be its final snack.
The next night, I tried his technique. The following morning there was another Post-it with the words: "Thank you for the dental floss. It helped us finally get this sticky stuff out of our teeth. We can't afford a dentist, and this is the next best thing. Please leave more dental floss tomorrow night, and by the way, a little Brie cheese would not hurt!"


text:
book titles
mailing list
about us
20 short duologues.? The collection of short scenes for a wide age range of performers includes extracts from Ken Pickering's longer works together with new original pieces. The variety of experiences explored are those which we can all easily identify with such as an awkward situation, 'You Tell Her', and the journey of self knowledge in 'Gilgamesh' whilst pieces such as 'Mobile Phones', 'Sales' and 'Food' observe realistic situations in an interesting and perceptive way. Other duologues are based on well-known stories including Snow White and Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.
Each piece has a brief background description and acting notes and the scenes have syllabus recommendation for a number of examination boards and a wide variety of theatrical and school use for key stages 2-4.
book titles |
gifts |
join mailing list |
about us

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rays Roll Over Twins Monday Night
The Twins fell in Tampa by a 7-4 final score at Tropicana Field Monday night. The Rays broke a 3-3 tie with a three run seventh inning.
Twins outfielder Aaron Hicks was 4-4 to raise his average to .205 on the season, and shortstop Pedro Florimon was 2-4.
Twins starter Sam Deduno took the loss after allowing five runs on ten hits in a little over six innings of work. The righty is now 4-4 on the season.
The Twins and Tampa will play again Tuesday at 6:05.


text:
Here's a visual, to help you cry. My baby then:
And now:
I know.
Before I start looking at more pictures of my son as an adorable toddler and spend the rest of the afternoon bawling on the couch, I wanted to say thank you. The last seven years have been action-packed, in both excellent and terrible ways, and through it all you've supported me, cheered me on, and given me a kick in the ass when I needed it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
According to my stats there are many of you who read and never comment. Which is fine, but today, please say hello! Tell me who you are, what brought you to Finslippy, what you're up to, what your favorite cheese is--whatever. I really don't care. I mean, I care, but I'm not going to demand you tell me your life story. But I would welcome hearing your life story! If you felt like writing it. I'll stop now.
As a reward for commenting, you'll be in the running to receive a copy of my friend Jessie Sholl's new book, Dirty Secret. I wrote about Jessie's book on my Redbook blog, but I wanted to do a giveaway here. Dirty Secret is Jessie's story of growing up with a mom who's a hoarder, and it's a doozie of a book. (And yes, I did just write the word "doozie." I couldn't decide between that and "humdinger.") It's funny and harrowing and ultimately uplifting. You will enjoy it! So comment, and a week from today I'll announce the winner.


text:
Testimonies from the Past
To heed Brigham Young's prophetic counsel to gain a living testimony, many young women wrote and preserved their testimonies as a witness to the world. They were committed to live by the principles of the gospel and determined to receive the blessings promised of God.
Learn Together
- What can I learn from young women's stories that strengthens my faith and helps me develop my testimony?
- Why is it important to write my story and to share my testimony?
Faith of an Orphan Girl
A Young Girl Strong and Courageous
A Willing and Obedient Daughter
A Testimony in the Heart of a Girl
A Witness of the Savior
A Testimony of Virtue
Elvira Stevens Barney
Elvira Stevens Barney was born March 17, 1832. "When twelve years old, Elvira heard the gospel preached by a Mormon Elder, and from that time daily prayed in secret till the Lord gave her a testimony that satisfied her heart.
"Elvira was baptized in 1844, and went with her parents to Nauvoo where her father died after a brief illness, on October 4th. The January following Elvira and her mother were preparing for the journey across the wilderness, parching corn, etc.; her mother, overcome by toil, grief and exhaustion, died the 6th of the month. Their farm, household goods, etc. were sold, and the five children received ten dollars each to fit them out for a western journey. Elvira parted with her twin brother, fourteen years old, with tears in his eyes, and never saw him again. He died six years aVer. Elvira was taken some twenty—five miles across the prairie among strangers and there spent the winter. There were no children for her to mate with, no one to feel tenderly for the lonely, quiet aching heart of this orphan girl" ("Dr. Elvira S. Barney," in Representative Women of Deseret, comp. Augusta Joyce Crocheron [Salt Lake City, UT: J. C. Graham & Co., 1884], 76–81).
In 1846 the early members of the Church dedicated the temple in Nauvoo. Like Elvira Stevens, many of the Saints had already crossed the Mississippi River and left Nauvoo to begin their journey to Winter Quarters. "Few of those already on the trail to Winter Quarters returned for the dedication, but one who did was fourteen–year–old Elvira Stevens. Orphaned in Nauvoo and traveling west with her sister and brother–in–law, Elvira crossed the Mississippi three times to attend the [dedicatory] services, the only member of her wagon company to do so. 'The heavenly power was so great,' she wrote, 'I then crossed and recrossed to be benefiied by it, as young as I was.' Elvira had not yet received the temple ordinances, but the spiritual power of the edifice itself and the circumstances of its dedication remained prominent memories of her ... life in Nauvoo" (Carol Cornwall Madsen, In Their Own Words: Women and the Story of Nauvoo [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994], 23).
Years later Elvira wrote about her experience on the back of a postcard that depicted the Nauvoo temple in 1846 and then later when it had been left in ruins.
"The temple appears as I last saw it in 1846. I left there after returning three times across the Mississippi River (the only one from our company that was westward bound) to witness the dedication, 1st, 2nd, 3rd days of May 1846, I then only 14 years, an orphan. The Heavenly power was so great I then crossed and recrossed to be benefitted by it as young as I was." —Elvira Stevens
Mary Elizabeth Rollins
Fall, 1830
Kirtland, Ohio
"Quite a number of the residents of Kirtland accepted baptism. Mother and myself also, in the month of October, 1830. There was a meeting that evening, and we learned that Brother Morley had the Book [of Mormon] in his possession the only one in that part of the country. I went to his house just before the meeting was to commence, and asked to see the book; Brother Morley put it in my hand, as I looked at it, I felt such a desire to read it, that I could not refrain from asking him to let me take it home and read it, while he attended meeting. He said it would be too late for me to take it back after meeting, and another thing, he had hardly had time to read a chapter in it himself, and but few of the brethren had even seen it, but I pled so earnestly for it, he finally said, 'Child, if you will bring this book home before breakfast tomorrow morning, you may take it.' He admonished me to be very careful, and see that no harm came to it.
"If any person in this world was ever perfectly happy in the possession of any coveted treasure I was when I had permission to read that wonderful book. . . . We all took turns reading it until very late in the night as soon as it was light enough to see, I was up and learned the first verse in the book. When I reached Brother Morley's they had been up for only a little while. When I handed him the book, he remarked, 'I guess you did not read much in it.' I showed him how far we had read. He was surprised and said, 'I don't believe you can tell me one word of it.' I then repeated the first verse, also the outlines of the history of Nephi. He gazed at me in surprise, and said, 'child, take this book home and finish it, I can wait.'
"About the time I finished the last chapter, the Prophet Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland. . . . Brother Whitney brought the Prophet Joseph to our house and introduced him to the older ones of the family (I was not in at the time.) In looking around he saw the Book of Mormon on the shelf, and asked how that book came to be there. He said, 'I sent that book to Brother Morley.' Uncle told him how his niece had obtained it. He asked, 'Where is your niece?' I was sent for; when he saw me he looked at me so earnestly, I felt almost afraid. After a moment or two he came and put his hands on my head and gave me a great blessing, the first I ever received, and made me a present of the book, and said he would give Brother Morley another."
—Mary Elizabeth Rollins
Fall 1831
Independence, Missouri
After leaving Kirtland, 13-year-old Mary Elizabeth moved with her mother, brother, and sister to Independence, Missouri.
"Terrible were the threats against our people, we were too much united to suit the inhabitants of Missouri, and they did not believe in our religion, or our way of doing business; [also] we did not believe in slavery. . . . Soon a mob began to collect in the town and set fire to the grain, and hay stacks in the yard of Bishop Partridge. All were destroyed. Then they began to stone the houses, breaking the doors and windows. One night, a great many got together and stoned our house, part of which was hewed logs, the front was brick. After breaking all the windows, they commenced to tear off the roof of the brick part amidst awful oaths and howls that were terrible to hear; all of a sudden they left and all was quiet. Soon after, I saw Bishop Partridge tarred and feathered, also Brother Charles Allen.
"The mob renewed their efforts again by tearing down the printing office, a two story building, and driving Brother Phelps' family out of the lower part of the house and putting their things in the street. They brought out some large sheets of paper, and said, 'Here are the Mormon Commandments.' My sister Caroline and myself were in a corner of a fence watching them; when they spoke of the commandments I was determined to have some of them. Sister said if I went to get any of them she would go too, but said 'They will kill us.' While their backs were turned, prying out the gable end of the house, we went, and got our arms full, and were turning away, when some of the mob saw us and called on us to stop, but we ran as fast as we could. Two of them started after us. Seeing a gap in a fence, we entered into a large cornfield, laid the papers on the ground, and hid them with our persons. The corn was from five to six feet high, and very thick; they hunted around considerable, and came very near us but did not find us. After we satisfied ourselves that they had given up the search for us, we tried to find our way out of the field, the corn was so high we could not see where to go. . . . Soon we came to an old log stable which looked as though it had not been used for years. Sister Phelps and children were carrying in brush and piling it up at one side of the barn to lay her beds on. She asked me what I had. I told her. She then took them from us, which made us feel very bad. They got them bound in small books and sent me one, which I prized very highly."
—Mary Elizabeth Rollins
(Autobiography of Mary E. Lightner, Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 17 (1926), pp. 193–96)
Zina Young Card
When Zina Young heard a bell summoning her to a meeting in the parlor of the Lion House, she may have thought nothing unusual was about to happen. But what her father, President Brigham Young, had to say probably surprised her. He asked his teenage daughters to be better examples to others by giving up something very dear to them—the ruffles and flounces that made their dresses stylish.
Zina was an artistic girl who enjoyed drama and acting. Why did she have the courage to give up her beautiful ruffles? Zina gave us a clue about why she responded obediently when she wrote about her life as one of the prophet's daughters:
"President Young was so just, so tender, so noble, and his children were taught by their mothers to obey him implicitly. But his rules were few. The time for instruction and association with him was found when evening came and he would ring the old prayer bell that would bring the whole family together for prayers in the spacious parlor. Oh, those prayers! It seemed as if he talked face to face with God. They have been a tie that bound the family with sacredness and devotion that is rarely found. … He used to have his children sing and dance for him. They had a music teacher, dancing master, and a governess, for he appreciated an education and did all in his power to give everyone in his family an opportunity for knowledge and improvement and culture."
—Zina Young Card
("A Biographical Sketch of the Life of Zina Young Williams Card. Salt Lake City, Utah, March 26, 1930, Church History Library, Zina Card Brown collection, MS 4780, Box 5, Fd. 14, It. 1, pp. 2-3)
Zina D. Huntington Young
"One day on my return from school, I saw the Book of Mormon, that strange, new book, lying on the window sill of our sitting-room. I went up to the window, picked it up, and the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit accompanied it to such an extent that I pressed it to my bosom in a rapture of delight, murmuring as I did so, 'This is the truth, truth, truth!'"
("How I Gained My Testimony of the Truth," The Young Woman's Journal, April 1893, p. 318).
As a young woman, Zina had many remarkable spiritual experiences, including, as her patriarchal blessing promised, witnessing the ministering of angels:
"On one occasion I saw angels clothed in white walking upon the [Kirtland] temple. It was during one of our monthly meetings, when the saints were in the temple worshipping. A little girl came to my door and in wonder called me out, exclaiming, 'The meeting is on the top of the meetinghouse!' I went to the door, and there I saw on the temple angels clothed in white covering the roof from end to end. . . .
"When the brethren and sisters came home in the evening, they told of the power of God manifested in the temple that day, and of the prophesying. … It was said, … 'That the angels were resting down upon the house.'" (Tullidge, Women of Mormondom, p. 207.)
Another time in the Kirtland Temple, Zina and her sister Presendia heard angels singing:
"While the congregation was … praying, we both heard, from one corner of the room above our heads, a choir of angels singing most beautifully. They were invisible to us, but myriads of angelic voices seemed to be united in singing some song of Zion, and their sweet harmony filled the temple of God." (Tullidge, Women of Mormondom, p. 208.)
When the Prophet Joseph revealed that the Saints were to leave Kirtland for Missouri, Zina's family left all their valuables behind. This move, Zina said, "left us bare as a sheered sheep." In 1839, the family moved on to Commerce, Illinois, where the whole family became ill with cholera:
"In a few days all our prospects were blighted, our mother dead, ourselves all sick and our crops going to waste, weeds choking them. … None attended [mother's] funeral but John and William. I was so sick that I noticed nothing hardly. … We were a pitiful sight and none to [pity] us but God and his prophet. …
For a time, Zina was inconsolable at her mother's death. Then another spiritual experience confirmed her faith. As she paced the floor, almost brokenhearted in her loneliness, she heard her mother's voice:
"Zina, any sailor can steer on a smooth sea, when rocks appear, sail around them."
Zina cried out:
"O Father in heaven, help me to be a good sailor, that my heart shall not break on the rocks of grief."
A sweet peace came over Zina's soul, and never again did she give way to such heart-rending grief.
("Mother," The Young Woman's Journal, Jan. 1911, p. 45.)
Genevieve Johnson Van Wagenen
"I shall never forget one sacrament meeting in the Provo First Ward. I was about 12 years old at the time. Apostle Melvin J. Ballard was the speaker. He bore his testimony. It was truly a spiritual experience. His testimony thrilled the audience. He told of seeing the Savior. He wept as he told how the Savior took him in his arms and kissed and hugged him and blessed him. And as Apostle Ballard kissed the Savior's feet he saw the nail prints.
"I sat spellbound and enthralled, for I truly felt the Lord's Spirit at the meeting. Apostle Ballard was a wonderful soloist. After speaking, he sang 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives.' The tears rolled down his cheeks as he sang. They rolled down mine too. I felt very close to my Savior. I knew his testimony was true. I desired to live so that I too could be in my Savior's presence."
—Genevieve Johnson Van Wagenen
Elder Melvin J. Ballard recorded the experience as follows:
"I recall an experience which I had two years ago, bearing witness to my soul of the reality of his death, of his crucifixion, and his resurrection, that I shall never forget. I bear it to you tonight, to you, young boys and girls; not with a spirit to glory over it, but with a grateful heart and with thanksgiving in my soul, that I know that he lives, and I know that through him men must find their salvation, and that we can not ignore this blessed offering that he has given us as the means of our spiritual growth to prepare us to come to him and be justified.
"Away on the Fort Peck Reservation where I was doing missionary work . . . I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night in that sacred building, the temple. After a season of prayer and rejoicing I was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one of those rooms, to meet a glorious Personage, and as I entered the door I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious Being my eyes have ever beheld, or that I ever conceived existed in all the eternal worlds. As I approached to be introduced, he arose and stepped towards me with extended arms, and he smiled as he softly spoke my name. If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile. He took me into his arms and kissed me, pressed me to his bosom, and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When he had finished, I fell at his feet, and, as I bathed them with my tears and kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world. The feeling that I had in the presence of him who hath all things in his hands, to have his love, his affection, and his blessing was such that if I ever can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt!"
(Melvin J. Ballard, "The Sacramental Covenant," Improvement Era, October 1919, 1031-32)
Lena Jensen
My Dear Sisters,
Let us try to be virtuous. There is nothing that will bring us greater reward than virtue. If we are virtuous and pure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father he will pour his blessings upon us. Let us make up our minds to be virtuous and pure in the eyes of our God, so that when we choose a partner for life we can be to him a virtuous wife if we can not do any more, for virtue is better than riches.
My dear sisters how blessed are we if we will only live as we should. The Lord has said, whatsoever you ask in faith you shall receive, but how can we have faith if we do not live so that the Lord can be pleased with us, and how can the Lord be pleased with us if we are not virtuous, pure and holy? Let us cultivate the faculties which our Heavenly Father has given us so that when we are called to leave this stage of action we may leave a good name worthy to be long remembered, and God may say, well done thou good and faithful servant, enter in to my glory and be clothed in robes of righteousness. May this be our happy lot is the prayer of your sister and friend,
Lena Jensen
The Young Ladies Advocate, Editor Mary A. Fletcher, dated March 31, 1884 (Punctuation added for clarity)


text:
Capital Award
New alumni-funded scholarship helps students pursue their dreams in pricey Washington, D.C.
As the epicenter of the political world, Washington, D.C., has culture and beauty and many educational and professional opportunities. It is a town rich in many things. College students, however, are often not, at least in the monetary sense. And while it is worth the price of admission, our nation's capital is very expensive. Two Ohio Northern University criminal justice majors, LeAnne Clark and Haley Wershbale, didn't let that stop them from pursuing their dreams of a summer internship among the cherry blossoms. They didn't need to.
Thanks to the generosity of ONU alumni Cheryl McCain Mason, BA '86, ACIT '10, and Brett Mason, BSEE '86, ONU students who are accepted into internship programs in the Washington, D.C., area no longer need to worry about how they are going to survive while there. The Capital Leadership Award they created assists students in the colleges of Arts & Sciences and Engineering with a $1,000 scholarship to help with accrued expenses during internship and co-operative experiences.
Clark and Wershbale are the first recipients of The Capital Leadership Award, and both held internships facilitated by The Washington Center. Clark interned at the Metropolitan Police Department in the Forensic Science Service Division for 12 weeks, where she completed more than 300 hours with Metro PD. Wershbale also accepted her placement with Metro PD, working in the Human Resources Division at central command.
"One of the reasons I chose ONU was because of the good relationship the school has with The Washington Center," says Wershbale. "I wanted to go to D.C. for my internship because I love the city, and I knew I wanted to intern at the Metropolitan Police Department.
Clark hopes to use her daily experience working with crime scene technicians to further her graduate studies in forensic psychology.
From left: ONU students LeAnn Clark, Lisa Bradley and Haley Wershbale
take in the sights during time off from their summer internships in
Washington D.C. last summer.
"My internship gave me experience that I can use in the future. If I have to analyze crime scene photos, I'll know what to look for because I got to see the real thing," says Clark.
Over the course of her internship, Clark and other ONU students with The Washington Center joined the Masons at their home for an ONU alumni picnic, where the students networked with ONU alumni in D.C. and northern Virginia. The ONU alumni network is prominent all over the U.S. but is growing particularly fast in the greater D.C. area, jokingly known as "Potomac Fever" according to Dr. Rob Alexander, chair of the Department of History, Politics and Justice, and liaison to The Washington Center.
While her time in D.C. was rewarding, Clark encountered the high cost of living as an ever-present factor of her daily life in the capital. Her biggest expense? Transportation. With a daily commute to work and without a personal car, public transportation fees added up quickly over the 12-week period.
"Sometimes, I had to take cab rides to my place of work, which would be $15-$20 a day," she says.
It's certainly understandable that many students would be unable to have an internship in D.C. — and thereby miss out on potential opportunities — without financial support.
"I think I knew that I was going to need more money than I had budgeted out, but when you get down there, it's a shock. Because you know it's going to be expensive; you're in a city. Food is not that cheap, and transportation is all on your own," says Clark.
As their time at Northern winds down, the experiences and opportunities that Wershbale and Clark received during their respective internships in Washington, D.C., cannot be understated as driving factors in their futures.
Wershbale is currently applying to become a police officer with the very police department she interned with, the Metro P.D.
"Without my internship opportunity and the financial assistance I received from the Capital Leadership Award, I would not have gotten all the valuable information and connections that helped shape my decision to apply to MPD," she says.
As for Clark, her internship taught her much about her chose field of forensic psychology, but it also taught her about the power and importance of giving back.
"Knowing that ONU alums gave me this opportunity, it definitely makes me want to give back once I get established. Just to have that real relationship with alumni is great because when you enter college, you always hear about how alumni provide financial support or will help you network," she says. "But it's not until you are actually touched by them, that you actually see it in person, do you realize that ONU's alumni relationship with the students is actually stronger than what you thought it was.
"Our alumni are pretty awesome."
—Steve Saunier
Senior, history major
Centerburg, Ohio


text:
Us On:
Needle Law Group
NW 33rd Avenue, Suite 206
Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Toll Free
Business Debt Collection - Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach, Florida -
The Needle Law Group aggressively collects business accounts receivable in
the Boynton Beach area and throughout the entire State of Florida. As experienced
business collection attorneys, we provide immediate service on all
business receivables placed with our law firm in order to effectuate the quickest turnaround time possible for our clients.
business collection attorneys begin immediate liquidation on every
account placed. We maximize our efforts by utilizing proven collection strategies to achieve the very best possible results on the business debts that have been entrusted to us.
Typically, many of the business receivables placed with our collection law firm are collected for the full amount of the debt while others are settled favorably through negotiation by a collection attorney or skilled collection staff member with the consent of the client. It is somewhat infrequent that our collection attorneys must utilize legal remedies in order to recover the funds owed on a business debt.
We collect business receivables in Boynton Beach and statewide throughout Florida on a contingent basis but there are times when a client prefers for us to collect or litigate a case on an hourly fee basis also. Our success in collecting Boynton Beach business
receivables stems from the many years of experience and seasoning we have in the collection of business debt since opening the law firm in 1996. With business debt collection, our recovery rate is much higher than that of consumer debt collection, though the business side is much more complicated, primarily due to larger balances that deal with complex debtor-client issues. Another factor which makes business debt more difficult to collect is that we are communicating directly with the executives of a company, as opposed to a consumer who is solely responsible for his or her own debt.
Business debt collection may be more complex but our collection attorneys and staff have a very high recovery ratio in collecting Boynton Beach business
receivables because we are aggressive, skilled and knowledgeable in our craft.
Our clients are very satisfied with the collection and legal services that our
business collection attorneys and staff provide. We have been representing business collection clients in the Boynton Beach area for many years and are very proud of what we have accomplished and of the skills and experience that we bring to the
Should you have
business receivables in Boynton Beach that require the assistance of a collection attorney, we can customize a business collection campaign to quickly and efficiently collect the money that is owed to your company. Please contact
Boynton Beach business collection attorney, Mr. Jeffrey J. Needle, at 1-800-367-1174 at your earliest convenience to discuss a business
debt collection campaign to suit the needs of your company. We stand ready to serve your company in the collection of your Boynton Beach business receivables.
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisement. Before, you decide, please ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.
Should you choose to engage this firm to represent you or your company in any matter, we will forward to your attention a claim authorization/retainer agreement allowing this firm to represent your interests in any matter and explaining all terms and conditions of the representation. Before we can proceed with any claim on your behalf, we must receive the claim authorization form mentioned above and you may be required to forward to us, any additional paperwork or information necessary to effectuate your claim. The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar [4-1.5(f)(2)] require that contingent fee agreement must be
signed. (Please Read Our Privacy Policy)
Design & SEO by
2006-2015 The Needle Law Group. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Ashley visited me in Boston last week, and even though I had to work most of the time, I had a great time with her in between the work and the sleep. On Saturday, she stopped by the office to see where we work our hineys off to elect Mitt Romney as the next president.
Because she was a guest, I had to check her in at the security desk, and while we were there we saw two older ladies waiting to get checked in to volunteer for the campaign. They were sweet, and very talkative in obvious long island accents.
We got to chatting with them, and this is what one of them had to say …
"I've been a registered Democrat for over 40 years. I voted for Barack Obama in 2008, and I regret it and you have my deepest apologies. I'm an independent now, and I will work as hard as I can to elect Mitt Romney."
I've been hearing these kind of stories from people, and I always want to know why.
"Because he's failed to lead. I'm paying more for gas. I'm paying more at the grocery store. People are still unemployed. This is a recovery? Ha! Some recovery."
I mentioned that we're optimistic for the outcome of the election.
"Oh, we're going to win, and I'll tell you why … the first time I said out loud that I supported Mitt Romney, I got called a racist bigot. Can you believe that? That sealed the deal for me — those people are trying to win votes by fear mongering. And I'm telling you, there are people that will not admit they are voting for Romney because they're a afraid of being called racists. But no one knows whom you vote for in the voting booth. They're going to vote for Romney, even if they won't admit it to the pollsters."
The chick has a point. And many, many thanks to her and everyone else working hard to get out the vote.
Let's win this thing tomorrow.


text:
Proposed plans for a Goodwill store to come to Morris were approved unanimously by the City Council, but a time frame is still uncertain.
On Monday, the council approved the revised preliminary plat for Saratoga Business Park, which is located off of Mission Parkway near Walmart. The plat outlines the number of lots and their locations for the business park.
Mayor Richard Kopczick said the council had approved this plat before but developers did not return within the required year for a final plat, so it has to be done again.
"Goodwill is looking at one lot, but as far as the city is concerned, it's all one parcel [for the preliminary plat]," he said.
City Engineer Guy Christensen said the lot Goodwill is interested in has been reduced in size on the revised plat so now there are three lots on the west side of Arthur Avenue instead of two.
Besides Goodwill, there has not been any recent interest in the business park.
Goodwill is proposing the construction of a store and attached warehouse. Originally, Goodwill was hoping to break ground this fall on the building, but city officials said that during the planning process some soil samples have been taken and there are some concerns that could push the project to the spring.
The grounds used to be strip mines and can be troublesome for building.
Scott Jenkins, director of retail operations for Goodwill Central Illinois, said earlier this month he could not comment on the details or status of the project yet, but said the company hoped to have a location running in Morris by this time next year.
He said previously the store would employ 25 to 30 people.
No one spoke on behalf of Goodwill at Monday's meeting.
The council also approved the final plat for Saratoga Business Park Phase 1, which is only good for the Goodwill property, said Kopczick.
"The remainder of that subdivision has a year to come in for the final," he said.
According to its website, www.goodwillpeo.org, Goodwill relies on donors to: "provide gently used items they no longer want or need.
Shoppers purchase quality merchandise at affordable prices. And the revenue generated goes to train adults for employment, prepare young people for life and work, and help veterans readjust to civilian life."
The site also states more than 92 percent of the proceeds from the stores stay in central Illinois.


text:
21 February 2012
Free For All Tuesday No 55
47 comments:
I will start:ReplyDelete
1-Does anyone know if the travel packet will be available at filofaxusa when the new range comes?
2-I flipped thru the pages on the UK website and it seems that the packet is more for the actual trip (games, journaling, exchanging phone #s etc) than for planning the trip. I have a "summer planning" packet from FC on personal size but would love to find something similar for A5 size. Has filofax ever made something like that?
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Hi! I love my zipped Holborn (personal), but like other people, I've got problems with the rings being slightly open. I think this is due to the way the ring mechanism is attached to the leather and I think it must be the reason why it was discontinued by Filofax. One of the rings is permanently open but fortunately doesn't snag, but I notice that the top 2 rings also come open after I've opened them to put in a new week of diary pages. I only open them once per week, and I notice that they close up again after a little while (although the other ring remains permanently open). I wonder if opening the rings more often, like once or twice a day, will help the mechanism ease up, or will it make it worse?? Thanks!!ReplyDelete
@Butenban - I noticed in a previous post you mentioned you have a quiver which I am quite interested in - did you send for it from the US? Am interested in which one you got, how long it took to arrive and what you think of it? If you would prefer to do this off Philofaxy my email is ali at alisonreeves dot co dot uk. Thanks!!! I don't have your email, otherwise I'd drop you a line.ReplyDelete
I have only ever seen that happen to the rings if people dont use the buttons to open them, instead pulling the rings apart to open. If you have been using the buttons, then return it to filofax and they will fix it for you. It shouldnt be doing that.ReplyDelete
If anyone is interested, the Temperley showed up on Filofax UK website yesterday but not yet available to purchase.ReplyDelete
If anyone is interested the Temperley showed up on the Filofax UK website yesterday but not yet available to purchase.ReplyDelete
Hi cshepherd, I use the buttons to open the filo, but this problem with the rings is inherent with the Holborn Zipped filo, and the reason it was discontinued from the filofax website I think :(ReplyDelete
@Saffy Yes I saw the Temperley filofaxes and felt slightly disappointed. They are VERY expensive, but (from what I can tell) both only have very small rings (15mm I believe). I think they are very pretty and I wish they would use these sorts of designs with standard size rings, and also in A5 size. I am a bit of an A5 girl!ReplyDelete
It was nice to see the Temperley but I would never EVER pay that much for a filofax. My most expensive FFs are A5 Amazona and Siena which were not that hardy and I would not pay that much for a filo again. I have Mulberry and Smythson planners which were at the same price level as the Temperley but the Mulberry leather is legendary (just gets better the more you batter it and their paper is nice. The inserts are basic but so are the FF ones these days). The Smythson paper is breathtaking (lightweight, hardy. The lines are up to 1/10 of a millimetre accurate) and their workmanship is stunning. For them I would pay eyewatering prices. Not the Temperley though.ReplyDelete
@TPS - I have an A5 Holborn (25mm rings) that works fine. Yet the A5 zipped version (30mm rings) has been widely reported as having "mech problems". The Holborn Zip is still UK listed in personal size, suggesting it may be an A5 batch problem unrelated to your rogue Holborn.ReplyDelete
You should get yours back asap whilst a replacement is still available!
I was in a tiny Parisian papeterie last week that stocked just a few Filofaxes - one of which happened to be an A5 Holborn Zip. As this was the first time I had seen one in the flesh, I had to have a quick look inside. The mechanism looked OK but I didn't think it proper to test it a few times, as I wasn't buying!
@Alison, I agree they are lovely but I wonder how they would stand up to being used every day. I too was surprised at the 15mm ring size but with the added Flex I guess it reduces the need for diary ring space. But the price!!!??? It would be nice to see a larger range in the A5's, I am looking forward to seeing the Luxe in Purple, it is supposed to be slimline I think.ReplyDelete
@Janet, I would love to buy a Mulberry, I have seen one in a local store that must have been there for several years as the diary is not current. The colour is lovely but the price is as you say "eyewatering". If it was reduced I would definitely buy it but not at the full price for what in my mind is old, dusty and out of date stock.
My Amazona seems to be quite sturdy, have you had problems with yours?
@Janet I have a black amazona that I have been very pleased with - but did buy a red one that has shown definate signs of wear. However my black on does have an easy life - mostly it stays on my desk or I might carry it to another room - it rarely goes out!ReplyDelete
@Tim- Thanks for telling me the Holborn Zip is on the Filofax UK website!! It wasn't there a few weeks ago! I'll think about sending it in to get replaced... :DReplyDelete
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 07:46
There is a Temperley Affair binder on eBay now at £299 and with good pics if anyone is interested. I'm not - I can't afford it, wouldn't get it if I did and am waiting impatiently for my BNIB black Personal Pimlico instead!ReplyDelete
This is way off topic, but hopefully you will all indulge me. Since the start of November I have been going to Slimming World and have lost 1.5 stone. I still have a way to go! I wanted to add some exercise to my life, but am useless at motivating myself! As the accountability of going to SW has worked so well for me I was looking for something similar for exercise.ReplyDelete
After a lot of soul searching, I decided to do a 5K race for life. (Raising money for Cancer Research) I like the idea of raising money for charity and figure I can do this - I have 4 months to prepare. Bearing in mind I have to go from a standing start - I have zero fitness at the moment! I will do it even if I have to crawl round, but am hoping to do it in a respectable time if all goes well with the training.
Would any of you kind people consider sponsoring me? I have a page setup - http://bit.ly/y7QnSE I understand these are tough times for everyone, but if you could just spare a £1 I would be delighted! My target is £200 (which I would love to exceed!). I've never done anything like this before so don't know how easy or hard my target will be!
If anyone feels they can support me I would of course be really grateful and delighted!!!
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 08:20
I don`t really like the Temperley binder, but I like the notepad idea. Unfortunately it makes the compact binder quite big.ReplyDelete
My red amazona has some of the colour coming off..could i use leather paint? Does anyone else have any experience with this?ReplyDelete
@Alison. I absoloutely love my Quivers. They have a site which can be googled easily and they are also on Facebook, so you can e. mail the owner of the firm direct. A very helpful customer service ethic. The web site explains the size of the Quivers and the types. I ordered an A5 2 pen one for my A5Finsbury and it fits very well. It is the width of a standard ruler,aprox, measured it and it is 3.75cm, so you have to allow that amount of space between your ring mechanism and your front left pockets..... but usually there is bags of space. I ordered it from the USA and the postage adds a lot to the price, making it £18 aprox in total. BUT it is a superb product and will last a lifetime of use. It took ten days to arrive each time, so allow a fortnight. So pretty prompt. My first Quiver had some loose stiching,so I sent it back and received a complimentary second one free of charge with a replacement for the first!! No problems whatsoever with the others. High quality. I was given one for Christmas too from my dad. So I'd say go ahead and purchase. I have the 2 pen flat variety in black with red stiching, currently my favourite, a plain black (complimentary) and a brown (the replaced one). Go ahead and be enabled Alison. You will not regret this purchase I promise you.... lovely, as it takes chunky pens ie fountain pens, and means with more pens you can colour code your diary. Also my pens have never fallen out.... huge plus. Hope this helps. xxReplyDelete
@Alison. I have lost five and a half stone in weight over four years. I finally decided NEVER to diet ever again, but to tweak my habits, ie a healthy dinner, which I love, a lighter but yummy breakfast and lunch and NOT to fret over the occassional meal out ie with Philofaxy- fish and chips at the Tate!!! I too managed the 5k Race for Life. Half walking, half jogging. Was SO SO unfit to start with, but my dad bought me a gym membership for a year and THAT is what lost the weight, a gym and personal trainer. Good for you. You will not regret the steps towards weight loss. I still have a few stones to go and have plateaued.... but each step, even a baby step is a weight and health step in the right direction. It is lovely to be able to buy normal clothes out of normal shops, including Per Una!!! 5km is further than you think, so if it's a hot day dress lightly and take lots of water with you. I did it in just under an hour. Get the best impact ie hard surface cushioned trainers that you can, to support your ankles and cushion your knees. Oh.... and enable an exercise and diet Filofax..... The Olympic one?????? xxxxReplyDelete
@saffy and @alison I have a brown A5 Arizona but the edges and closure are showing definite signs of wear. I chose a colour that was less shiny though (I found the black too bling) so maybe that is why. But it showed wear quickly and I was very disappointed.ReplyDelete
The Siena also showed wear quickly but that was described as 'antiqued leather' so I kind of expected it.
I love my Mulberry and it has really stood up well to use. I have several of their bags too and that leather is EPIC. Plus the Mulbery paper is divine. Pricey though but I have to drag my planner out of my handbag about fifteen times a day so things that I don't kill with use are few and far between. I lug my planner and my handbag up to 12km per day no kidding.
I usually buy Smythson and Mulberry duty free at Heathrow and their outgoing models are often 50%off so if you travel in December/June you can score.
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 10:32
OK...rant hat on...ReplyDelete
I've been catching up on posts (including this one) from around mid-week last week, since which time I've been away to Somerset for three days and London for two (ending today), hence the lack of activity.
I've been back on the Filofax Facebook page following the comments last week about readers' questions being ignored (hey, nothing new there.....they've been ignoring ours for months and years), and I've come to the conclusion that Filofax now consider themselves to be purely fashion accessory manufacturers and nothing else. If they *do* consider themselves to be anything else (purveyors of time and task management aids, perish the thought?) they certainly do a *very* good job of disguising it.
The FB page has glamorous young things by the yard...no hint of a committed time manager there...toting (and promoting) insanely overpriced 'fashion' filos which add nothing to the functionality of the range, and the inserts issues continue to rank exactly where they customarily have in the FF mindset - nowhere.
I'm all for having nice things (my leather TMI binder and Malden Personal bear witness), but this really has now gone too far. I very sadly (having been a fan for 20-odd years) now have one foot through the door so far as brand loyalty is concerned. Show me someone within the FF empire who stops for even one minute a week to consider the long standing, loyal customers who have put FF where they are, and I'll reconsider.
Worst of all, this isn't even a sane busienss decision. Fashion is fickle. Personally I'm now looking forward to when the wheel turns again (diamante iPhones anyone?) leaving these hollow, useless form-over-function junkies exactly where the deserve to be.
I've got to develop a talk for a number of networking groups on time management to be delivered around Wales and the South West over the next three months. FF won't be figuring. My conscience won't run with it.
OK...rant over...as you were :)
I totally agree with you David. Filofax is kind of spreading themselves a bit thin - competing on the luxury end of the market with brands like Smythson who have snob value and losing their credibility as a planner brand.ReplyDelete
Perhaps they will be like Marks and Spencer who became complacent and lost their core market due to being so big and old they didn't think they had to listen to the customers. Then when the ship started sinking they tried unsuccessfully to rebrand themselves as a cool brand and lost their original customers? I don't think they will ever be able to claw themselves back to where they were.
I am a strange mix of computer technician and fashion journalist. I changed from digital back to paper because I found paper planning soothing and relaxing. But in the fashion market the cycles are shorter and shorter (two weeks for some of the chains) and it just causes fatigue and overload. I need a good looking for planners that work for ambitious time management.And FF ain't cutting it at the moment :(
I wonder where they are trying to pitch themselves at the moment - H and M's COS perhaps?
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 10:57
Now my comment looks like a slight on the fashion industry, which wasn't intended! :)ReplyDelete
I think your phrase 'being so big and old they didn't think they had to listen to the customers' sums it up perfectly.
I also prefer paper to digital - I really do. It gives me control, ease of access, variety of perspective across a variety of different planning periods, and the TMI system has all of that in spades - it just weighs so darn much!
I don't believe FF will be able to return themselves or retrieve their loyal customer base either, and I think the comparison with M&S is entirely correct. Of *course* we want smart looking (or even uber-smart-looking) binders, but there has to be *some* functionality built in.
I have to disagree. The Filofax FB page is most likely run by a PR company to promote their latest products and to get the name out there and recognised. Whenever I have had any dealings with FF customer service itself they have been nothing other than polite, prompt and extremely helpful.ReplyDelete
Secondly - the Temperley filofaxes are TWO binders out of the whole range. Yes, there are more fashion binders like the Swift, but surely they have to do that to appeal to the broader market? Otherwise you'll be left with 2 or 3 elegant, full leather binders which please the purists and a company going down the pan rapidly.
As long as they can retain the nicer, old-fashioned, leather binders while drumming up newer businesses with the Temperley range and the more modern Swifts, Songbirds, etc, where's the harm?!
@Babs - I think the reason some of us are so annoyed is that Filofax are dropping more and more of the 'functional' stuff and replacing with 'fashion' conscious products. I think the best example is the now very much reduced range of inserts. It's now impossible to get hold of any genuine time management inserts for the A5, and they don't even make them for the personal anymore.ReplyDelete
@David Popely - I really think some of the day-timer inserts would suit you for use in your Malden. Very time management focused and a wide range of designs to suit everyone. Now you are back in circulation I'll be in touch.ReplyDelete
I see more Temperley videos have appeared on YouTube, the longest being a review of the models.ReplyDelete
As a regular critic of Filofax I now take my hat off to them, a good business move and I hope it is repeated. I like the Temperley designs, partly because they are new and stylish/original, though am a bit worried about how a printed guinea fowl would look in real life. I think the Guinea model will be the better seller, but Filofax will have to sell a makeup kit to fit in one of the pockets. The Affair model looks to be the most adaptable and practical, but I suspect the first thing I'd do is lose the A5 pad and use the space for a phone and proper calculator.
There are a number of interesting new ideas included within the Filofax Temperley videos and hope that they are transferred in some part to the other models, possibly to be used for a third or fourth Temperley design.
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 12:23
Hi BabsReplyDelete
With respect, I don't think you've properly read my email. Labelling me as 'a purist' because I object to the vacuous concentration on form alone with no attention to content isn't really helpful to the discussion. I fully accept the market is there for attractive binders aimed at a broad range (I have two *very* attractive binders myself, one FF and one from TMI). Also a number of less attractive ones! My argument is that FF aren't aiming at a broad market any more....only at the fashion-driven end - and that that is not only an insult to their historical customer-base (of which I am a member), but it's not even good business sense. You're dead right - marketing across a broad base *would* be a *great* idea, but that isn't what FF are doing, any more.
You're quite right that the FB page (along with the Twitter and most of the external communications) are now in the hands of the morally-vacant spin-doctors, who will run with any message they are paid to promote...and what a job they are doing. I note that the entire LFW Temperley launch was run by an events/PR company (they get far more credit on the FB page than do FF), and the emperor now really *does* have no clothes. Pointing this out doesn't make me a purist - it makes me someone who's not buying FF's very expensive spin, someone who runs his own business, and someone who thinks these business decisions are Very Bad Indeed.
Still, when the fashionista bandwagon has rolled on next year, we'll be left with the same crap insert range printed on poor-substitute toilet paper, and *that's* when this whole sorry episode will come home to roost. The fashionistas will be off with their diamante iPhones (or whatever) and those of us who *used* to use FF for *proper* time management will be looking elsewhere, as many of us already are. At that stage it will be goodbye to FF.
I've no objection to anyone having a good choice of well made (open to discussion there), attractive binders. I just want some content to go with the form, and some sign that FF respects all sectors of its client base.
I think it's interesting to compare Filofax's business model to that of - say - Hewlett-Packard's printer division. HP is all about the consumables. They are happy to sell the hardware at pretty much cost - even below - because people with printers will buy cartridges and toner. One printer sale generates many consumables sales.ReplyDelete
Now, Filofax seem to have it the other way around. They charge a premium price for the hardware - the binder - and have over time narrowed the range and neglected the quality of their consumables - the paper inserts.
Given that everyone who has a binder will buy paper, but NO-ONE who DOESN'T own a binder will buy paper, they might be better advised to make their hardware more easily affordable.
On the other hand, I've never run a business of the size and type of Filofax. No doubt cleverer and more experienced people than me have considered and rejected this idea. But I do wonder why.
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 13:55
I would happily volunteer to be the liaison between Filofax and their customers. I agree with what has been said, and being a Franklin Covey convert, I thought I understood the concept of repeat customers and customer satisfaction. There is no doubt that Filofax makes a superior binder, but how could they allow their customers to seek fillers from other companies? I truly appreciate what Steve and Ray have done to address the needs of those of us truly interested in time management tools, and I am a little surprised that Filofax hasn't seemed to notice what's going on.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 14:35
They've noticed.ReplyDelete
They just don't care.........
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 14:38
@cgarsnrealest8 I'd be interested to hear more about your experience with FC....I know it's a time management system and not just an organiser. Ho has it helped? What are the 'distinctives' of it?ReplyDelete
I read 'First Things First a few years back and was mightily impressed. I've never read the 'Seven Habits'.....
There's a Temperly Affair model on ebay... more photos..ReplyDelete
does anyone know about leather paint? anyone? some of us are trying to have a decent looking filo without spending £400ReplyDelete
i think they have the right idea with the temperley collaboration- professional women are probably their biggest growing market. I don't know why everyone is hating on them so much, if people are willing to pay then it makes sense that filofax are willing to sell.
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 15:57
@David PopelyReplyDelete
FC was and still is a very good system for time and life management based on the books First Things First and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The system is very structured although you can use it as you wish. I used the system, them went electronic (iphone). Upon my return to paper, I somewhat got caught up in the Filofax hype. I think the happy medium is to get the stylish Filofax binder and try to fashion in the FC inserts (or, just wait for Ray to finish).
- Anonymous21 February, 2012 17:04
@David Popely-ReplyDelete
While I don't strictly follow the time management aspect of FC, I do use their inserts and love them. Between the dedicated spaces on the inserts and my color coding system, I feel that my time is much more well managed than it ever has been in the past.
Granted, their size (a bit wider than FF) prevents them from being used my more people, however, I haven't found it to be a problem in the Malden.
Haven't heard of leather paint, just dye and that takes a few coates to get an even finish. Using dye would be difficult on most filofaxes because there is a protective finish to most modern faxes.ReplyDelete
About time Filofax did produce a much wider, broader and higher quality set of stationery. We've been saying it for years. I agree with Ray's Hewlett Packard business model... sell the binders which are good quality, reasonably priced and last for years, so that folks keep coming back for the stationery and add on goodies.... plus customers will buy a new binder from time to time. Also think of the male customers as well as the females. I think the Temperley will be a bit of a damp squib in reality, but time will tell. As a dear friend of mine used to say.... "All fur coat and no knickers!!!!!" Very flashy and gorgeous, but too expensive and so small, even in A5, it's very far practical!! I swoon over the design of the A5 Affair model, lovely,but what a ridiculous name.... and for the function a huge NON!!!!ReplyDelete
Hi, I'm experiencing a massive planner fail right now, and it seems to me that you posted something about moving to TMI this year. Did you do that? How is it working out? I can't find Filofax inserts that I like. I currently use a personal size hybrid arrangement that (sort of) duplicates the Time/System model, but it just isn't helping me address my goals or break them into manageable bites. I use A5 Time/System for work (in a Filofax binder), but I use it to track work projects and little else, and I want to keep it that way so that (maybe) work won't take over my life.
Anyway (tying this back into the subject at hand), I'm only considering other systems because I can't find Filofax inserts that I like. I've done FC, but I don't like the fact that the pages are too wide (OCD much?) and I don't like the DayTimer paper.
p.s. I think the Temperley binders are really pretty, and if I was Madonna or maybe even Lady Gaga, I might want one.:)
@alisonreeves @babs I think Alison hit the nail on the head with her post. It's the lack of a kickass time planning system to go with the pretty binders that gets me. FF is a planner system after all.ReplyDelete
@Dollface, I've used Humbrol enamel paints successfully in the past to touch up damaged leather on boots, handbags and purses, also to paint a design on a biker jacket: gloss paints work best on patent/normal leather and matt paints are best on suede, they do a wide range and with half an eye for colour you can usually mix two or more shades to get your colour exact... they're durable and waterproof as well.ReplyDelete
Usual cautions apply though, test an area that's less noticeable first and be aware that they're incredibly hard/impossible to get out of leather and fabric, without staining or using harsh chemicals like white spirit.
I had success using the thicker paint at the bottom of the tin (without stirring/shaking TOO much) and I also found they needed a long drying-time, and were still damageable (can't think of a better description) after they were dry to the touch - I'd give it at least 48 hours.
Modelzone are the shop I use for them, they have a big shop near Holborn with a comprehensive range of paints, or you can buy online, http://www.modelzone.co.uk/
Hope that helps!
- Anonymous22 February, 2012 04:48
@SSJ The answer is 'yes and no', I'm afraid. But there is much more than that to say. I certainly feel your pain! If you'd like to email me via davidpopely (at) googlemail (dot) com I'd be only too happy to drivel on at length!ReplyDelete
Can anyone confirm for me that the pen loop on the personal size Holborn is sewn so that it lies flat AWAY from the rings (like the Kendal and the Amazona) instead of TOWARDS the rings/tabs? Much appreciated.ReplyDelete
@Nancy - I can only speak for A5 but it'll be the same principle. On the Kendal the loops are fixed leather and are sewn so the pens stick out of the binder cover but inside the fastening strap. On the Holborn the loop is part leather/ part elastic. It is sewn onto the inside hidden pocket (about 12mm inside the A5 cover) still facing out, so the pen loop lies in the space beside the inner pocket and within the main binder cover. Pens of various sizes work well (I use a Frixion) and it is much tidier than the Kendal arrangement (in my view). Hope this is clear. TimReplyDelete
@Tim Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I THINK I understand, but not entirely... I have a Holborn Slimline and the pen loop is similar to what you describe, tucked away inside the pocket, but the way the loop is stitched to the cover, along the right edge of the loop, causes it to lay towards the tabs/rings/pocket. Can you picture what I mean?? I'm wondering if the Holborn Personal pen loop has the stitching along its left edge, so that it lays more towards the right-hand edge of the binder rather than towards the center/rings/tabs/pocket.ReplyDelete
Clear as mud?? <:-\ Thank you for your patience!


text:
Affyzzle & Triple S- Orange White Green [Unsigned Hype]
Cle reports "Cle De Sol Entertainment Presents Affyzzle & Triple S in "This Is Not The Irish Flag Volume 1". Here is the 1st street single "Orange White Green". Download the mixtape for free at their myspace page MYSPACE.COM/TINTIFTHEMIXTAPE . Support The Movement."
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text: I am trying Apply Quota Patch To Postfix i have build postfix.spec file in SPEC folder but when i used to build the spec file : # rpmbuild -ba postfix.spec libdb-devel is needed by postfix-2:2.9.2-2.el6.x86_64 systemd-units is needed by postfix-2:2.9.2-2.el6.x86_64 i am unable to install these packages via yum, i have removed db4-devel rpm because libdb-devel conflicts with db4-devel . but i am unable to install libdb-devel and systemd-units. i use : yum install libdb-devel systemd-units. it says no package found I am using local repository and epel repository , i have installed all Development tools but unable to install Development libraries at starting. please help how to install both the packages. I am following http://www.howtoforge.com/virtual-u...urier-mysql-and-squirrelmail-fedora-17-x86_64. To build a mail server.


text:
Additional Information
|Sizing Info
1 whole filet serves up to 15 guests with a 4 oz. portion or up to 10 guests with a 6 oz. portion
|Dietary Guide
*Please keep in mind that any items prepared without wheat (gluten) are made in a facility that handles many other wheat products. There is a possibility for food items to come into contact with wheat gluten/products. However unlikely, we are unable to guarantee that any menu item is completely gluten-free.
**Not a dairy-free product with the sauce
I've placed my order, what is my next step?
Once you place your order, you will receive an email confirmation of your order. If you do not receive an email confirmation of your order, please give us a call at 610-649-4046.
Where do I go to pick up my order?
Once you arrive at the location that you have specified when placing the order (Ardmore or West Chester), please visit the designated Quick Pick-Up Service Desk.
What do I bring with me when picking up my order?
You may bring either a printed copy of your receipt or show us a copy of the email on your smartphone to the customer service representative at the Quick Pick-Up Service Desk.
How long will it take for my order to be ready?
Your Quick Pick-Up order will take approximately 30 minutes from the time of confirmation email reception.


text:
TerryGroup8 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 22 designs submitted by 8 freelance designers.
Logo Design adapted from existing company that has an established logo font style, Berkely Book.
A longstanding company that sells windows and doors is creating a new division in their company for a Handyman service. The men who do installation already have the skills to do odd jobs around the house, so now we are going to offer this Handyman service in addition to Windows and Doors.
We do not want a totally new design, rather we want an adaptation of the existing design. The font style is Berkely Book. You can see it on the website, http://www.mrrogerswindows.com
The new logo needs to read:
Mr. Rogers Handyman
Only the words Mr. Rogers need to be in Berkely Book. The blue color is PMS 300.
Acceptable objects might include a tool box, a tool belt, or a group of tools. No object is necessary, it can just be an adaptation of the logo font.
You can also use an adaptation of the standing "character" we use as a sign outside the home when we are working there. To see the sign/logo, you can go to this page: http://www.mrrogerswindows.com/99permonth/
- Item 1... Must use Berkely Book Font for words: Mr. Rogers
- item 2... Must use PMS 300 for Mr. Rogers font
- item 3... Must provide finished files in vector art immediately upon selection- prompt payment provided
- Item 1...
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Espa ol
The double album Gotan Project Live is the first live recording from electro-tango pioneers Gotan Project. Recorded at London's Kentish Town Forum and Neuchâtel, Switzerland, the album features material from their La Revancha Del Tango and Lunático world tours. Left-looking spinners Gilles Peterson, Thievery Corporation, Peter Kruder, UFO, Jazzanova, Rainer Trüby, Herbert and Mr. Scruff have all championed their fusion of tango, dub and beats since their debut single "El Capitalismo Foraneo" appeared in January 2000. Subsequently recording cover versions of the theme from Last Tango In Paris and a dubbed-out take on Frank Zappa's "Chunga's Revenge," Gotan Project have consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional tango, creating willfully weird but strangely compelling music that ignores both geographical and musical borders.For those who, ten years ago, predicted that Gotan's success would be limited to coffee tables and catwalks, this live set comes with an ever elegant sting. The group have passed the test of the scene in proving that acoustic instrumentation and electronic programming can come together in an utter spectacle and, above all, stay faithful to the first demand of tango amateurs from the days of la Guardia Vieja: dance. Their performance plays with sight and sound to express their art's gift: memory and anticipation interlaced. Between today and tomorrow, this performance makes no choices - because desire, just like tango, is but the regret of the future.Gotan Project embark on an exclusive European tour from La Revancha del Tango to Lunático, beginning November 27th.
RSS Feeds
Contact us |
Press Room |
Contests |
About Global Rhythm magazine |
Advertise / Media Kit
Privacy Statement |
Terms of Use |
Global Rhythm Contributors |
Link to Us |
Back Issues
Copyright © 2008 Zenbu Media. All rights reserved.


text:
Standout fights back from injury
Tom Griffin, head coach of the Scarborough softball team, said opposing teams will be forced to take junior Erin Giles as a serious threat this year.
Griffin said Giles, a third baseman and pitcher, is finally recovered from the knee surgery she had last year and is playing some of the best softball he has ever seen her play.
"Erin is a kind of kid that not many people have taken seriously, but she is one of the premier players in the league, if not the state. She has worked really, really hard to get to where she is," Griffin said during a practice on April 26, the day before a 12-0 win over Bonny Eagle.
Giles, who has been playing softball nearly her whole life, said she didn't start pitching until fourth or fifth grade after getting an opportunity to attend an offseason pitching clinic with Griffin.
"When that opportunity came up, I jumped on it," Giles said. "It was one of the best decisions I made."
Giles began pitching for the varsity her freshman year and pitching still remains her favorite position on the field.
"I do really enjoy both (pitching and playing third base). I'd much prefer being on the pitcher's mound because that is what I have been working on for the last eight, nine years, but I like being part of the infield. I like being close and right in front of the action," Giles said.
Giles said she feels pressure when she is on the mound, but she would have it no other way.
"It is natural to feel pressure. I think everybody does. I have an incredible team to back me up. I don't worry about giving up a hit or two or putting a ball into play," Giles said. "If I didn't love the pressure, I wouldn't do it. That is what makes the sport fun for me."
Going into the team's games against Thornton Academy on May 2, Giles is 2-0 after earning wins in a 13-0 victory against Biddeford on April 19 and a 12-0 victory over Gorham on April 25. She also pitched in relief in a 14-6 victory over South Portland on April 24.
Giles hopes to continue this success and show her coaches and her teammates the type of player she truly can be after struggling through an injury she sustained her freshman year.
Giles suffered the injury when she was climbing over a teammate to get out of a car. Giles caught her knee on the window roller and split a tendon in her knee.
At first she was diagnosed with patella tendonitis and went to physical therapy several times a week for three or four months, yet saw no improvement. Giles said she still played softball through the injury, but didn't realize the severity of the injury until just prior to her sophomore year.
"It really began hurting the beginning of sophomore year. Every step I took hurt," Giles said. She sought several opinions and determined she had a longitudinal tear of her patella tendon and needed surgery. She had the surgery in November 2010 and had a three- to four-month recovery period. She was cleared to resume her softball activities in early April of last year, a week before a team training trip to Florida during April school vacation. Giles, a former soccer and basketball player, played basketball her freshman year, but has not been cleared to play that sport due to lingering effects from the injury. She chose not to play soccer in favor of dedicating the fall sports season to softball.
Giles didn't miss any games because of the injury last season and continued to get stronger and stronger as the season went along.
"My goal is to be the best player I can be," Giles said of her 2012 season goal. "I want to prove I am fully back from the injury because the coach hasn't seen me at 100 percent yet."
Griffin has taken notice.
"She is moving great. She is looking great. You are starting to see the athlete she is," Griffin said.
With Giles healthy, and a strong lineup of returning players, Griffin said he expects another successful season for the team.
"We feel we can contend for another state title," Griffin said. "We are regarded as one of the top teams in the state. We are excited about what we have."
Giles said there is pressure on her and her teammates to repeat.
"This year we have a huge target on our backs after winning states last year. Usually the state champions do," Giles said.
"We only lost four players and two starters. We have a lot of our core back," she added.
One player that the team was forced to replace this season was Abby Rutt, the team's starting catcher last year who transferred to another school to play hockey.
Griffin said a challenge in the young season has been to break in two new catchers, junior Paige Moore-Haskell and sophomore Megan Murrell. So far, he said, the two have met the challenge of replacing Rutt.
The team, as a whole, has risen to the challenge so far this season. Over the course of its first five games, all victories, Scarborough has outscored opponents 70 to 8, while pitching three shutouts.


text:
January 2012 4xForwardPosted in Features on January 1, 2012
Last month I made my midyear's resolution to go wheeling at least once a month for fun. I'm happy to say I have stuck to that resolution and reawakened many of the thoughts and processes I had left dormant in my brain. It's not like I had forgotten anything, but by not using a skill set and keeping it up to date, one tends to be a bit foggy on some of the basics.
Case in point: Last weekend. I was driving cross-country with a fully loaded Land Rover LR4 (our 2010 4x4 of the Year winner) when I spied an unmarked and unused road off to the right—an abandoned stretch of asphalt that was cracking and heaving under the forces of time, as well as calling to me. I had an appointment 25 miles away and was early by three hours. How could I possibly resist? I didn't know where the road ended up or what I would find, but the southwestern desert of this country can be mighty inviting in the late summer—if you don't mind the heat.
The LR4 is shod with the optional Goodyear MT/R 255-55 on factory 19-inch rims, and since it had recently rained I knew the tires would be appropriate in the forthcoming mud, and of course for the regular rocks and desert dunes that are in the area. I felt confident of the vehicle itself, as after nearly a year of testing it has proven its worth in all sorts of circumstances. Finally, I always carry all the survival gear and trail tools with me regardless of the trip, as you never know where you might find that special road or trail leading off into the sunset.
Since this was just a quick foray into the dirt I decided not to air down from the full-load capable 50 psi, as I had just been duning like a dream earlier in the trip while near Glamis, where speed and power rule supreme. With the electronic nannies negated from the dash switches, one can make the tires spin and go with the 5.0L V-8 engine.
All was good with life. And then, driving down the ancient tarmac, a monster dune swallowed up the road as it marched slowly across the desert. But it was only 25 feet tall and a few hundred feet across, so I opened up the LR and scooted and booted up and over the top like it wasn't even there. From my vantage point on top I could now plot my new route to another dune where the road popped back out, so I took a leisurely charge and played for an hour amid the shifting sands, throwing roosters and doing powerslides across the slipface of the dunes. The flawless Rover felt good and rode right, and I was in heaven once again—wheeling as I should.
Of course I needed a bite to eat and to relieve and replenish myself, so I stopped after a rocky climb to the side of a dune looking for nonexistent shade, turned the rig off, and made a pork chop sandwich. That and a drink are hard to beat in the blazing sun of a desert afternoon, especially with a bit of windblown sand grinding your teeth down. It's good for the digestion as well as the soul.
After reveling in the heat for a bit, I decided to head back to the road and highway for my appointment. Firing up the LR, I nailed the throttle once again and lurched forward about 5 feet, then straight down to the not-framerails in the sand. I had made a full-on rookie mistake, and I was going to pay for it. Wait until next month's Readers' Rides issue, when I will reveal the rest of the story and whether or not I made my appointment.


text:
In the wake of a disastrous E3 launch cycle for its Xbox One, Microsoft is taking a page from the wrong playbook by doubling down on the most controversial aspects of the entertainment console. After the disaster of Windows 8, you'd think the company would know that owning up to and correcting mistakes quickly is the way to go.
There's still plenty of time between now and the November release of Xbox One for Microsoft to reverse course, and one has to think that the firm's marketing brains are now debating the possibilities in Redmond. But publicly this week, Microsoft has done nothing but dig itself a deeper hole.
I wrote about Microsoft's loss at E3 earlier this week in "Microsoft vs. Sony in Dueling E3 Presentations," and in my PlayStation 4 preview I make the case that Microsoft's Xbox One is at least the equal of Sony's coming console. But whether it's hubris, inept marketing, or just the wrong product at the wrong time, Microsoft's Xbox One messaging is simply ringing hollow with its most important customers: the hardcore gamers that it expects to buy the device in November.
Case in point: When asked about Xbox One's controversial and Draconian "always on" Internet connection requirement, Don Mattrick, the president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, this week recommended that those gamers stick with the aging Xbox 360.
"The Xbox One is the future-proof choice," he said. "We have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of [Internet] connectivity. It's called Xbox 360 … If you have zero access to the Internet, [the Xbox 360] is an offline device. Seriously, [when I saw the complaints about Xbox One] and thought about who was really most impacted [by the always-on requirement], it was a person who said, 'Hey, I'm on a nuclear sub' … I can empathize, if I was on a nuclear sub, I'd be disappointed [too]."
And there you have it: The damage is done not by Sony, which again was quick to capitalize on Microsoft's Xbox One design decisions, but by Microsoft itself. Having followed Microsoft for 20 years and watched its PR machinations direct the conversation, it's obvious that Mattrick was obeying a very strict messaging script that required him to communicate key points. But pushing a previous-generation console as a response to very real complaints about a device that has yet to ship was the wrong decision. It just cements the notion that Xbox One isn't the right product for the right audience.
Indeed, in an earlier editorial called "What if Xbox One is Another Windows 8?," I semi-rhetorically wondered whether the marketing geniuses who thought combining separate mobile and PC operating systems into a single OS weren't behind the Xbox One's similarly confused identity. With this device, Microsoft is trying to please too many incompatible groups of users: hardcore gamers, consumers who have bought into the broader Microsoft ecosystem, and casual users who just want to enjoy TV and entertainment services. This mirrors the disconnect with Windows 8, which presents mobile UIs to desktop users and a Windows desktop to tablet users.
The core issue might be that both Xbox One and Windows 8 represent bets on bigger, longer-term visions than today's users aren't interested in hearing about, let alone dealing with day-to-day. But unlike with Windows 8, which is being retroactively "improved" with features that should have been there from the get-go, Microsoft still has a chance to "fix" Xbox One before it's released. These fixes are easy to implement and should include:
Always off. Nix the always-on requirement in a way that makes sense. For example, if you can't access the Internet, you can't share games with other users electronically. Make it an option.
Lower the price. Ship a version of the console without Kinect for $399, matching Sony's price for the PlayStation 4.
Used games. Do not allow third-party game makers to charge a fee for used games. The system works as-is.
Kill stupid features. Live TV is a red herring and only adds to the complexity of the device at a time when the world is in fact moving away from live TV. This one thing stands in sharp contrast to the device's otherwise leading-edge features.
Ultimately, Microsoft needs to fix Xbox One, not defend it.The Xbox team has been blogging up a storm since the May Xbox One reveal, but most of their posts are defensive in nature, as if by explaining their strategy enough they can get people to understand why their decisions make sense. If they made sense, Microsoft wouldn't have to explain them so often.


text:
Just like the ice-cream man, Icecream Architecture is all about the community. The organization was established in Scotland in 2009 by Desmond Bernie and Sarah Frood with the aim of bringing an approachable face to the architecture profession. With a strong background in architectural planning, the duo focuses on community consultation and engagement, bringing a fun and interactive element to what can often be a difficult process.
The van itself acts as quite the icebreaker at the workshops, festivals, charettes and events they attend, getting the architectural juices and conversation flowing on sociable basis. The van also offers a platform for clients and community groups to develop their projects into realized spaces, structures and buildings. The founding aim was to involve clients in every aspect of the design process and to ensure that the architect acted as a facilitator for the needs of the project's end user. The physical presence of their friendly team at the early stages of a project ensures a strong relationship is built on trust and inside knowledge; this process generates feedback on design ideas and a truly collaborative practice.
When working within communities, a sense of ownership of changes to their community and environment is second to none. There is an emphasis on locality and the urban/rural environment of interest to each project. Icecream Architecture's design strategies are based on context and need; the context of the project's heritage and environment as well as the needs of the continued end user.
It takes guts to remove a designer from the safety of their office and go out on the road. Icecream Architecture's basic principles require this of them, and their ice-cream van is their fun-time facilitator.
Imagine that everyday is different, it's no ordinary job, you can drive as far as you like and meet as many people as will talk to you. There is romanticism to this uncertainty in our current economic environment that I think many designers would envy.
Photos via Icecream Architecture's website


text:
Is It 'Fair' That Baauer Gets The Proceeds From Harlem Shake Videos, Despite Having Little To Do With Meme Popularity?
from the questions,-questions deptLast week, we wrote about some of the copyright issues around the whole "Harlem Shake" meme (and, yes, we know it's not the "real" Harlem Shake, so don't even bother commenting about that). However, a few days ago, I was talking to an old friend who also happens to be an IP lawyer, and he pointed out one of the nuttier things about our copyright system. Yes, he said, Baauer is making tons of money by monetizing all of those Harlem Shake videos with ads. But Baauer actually had almost nothing to do with the popularity of the song or the meme itself. This isn't a Psy situation, where his video/dance created the meme. Instead, as we discussed, there was this video, which led to this video, and then this video and then this video... and then tens of thousands of copycats bloomed.
Yes, they all use 30 seconds from Baauer's song (which itself included many samples from others, some of which do not appear to be licensed, based on Baauer's own statements), but the popularity was because of the original video by "Filthy Frank," and then TheSunnyCoastSkate (TSCS) building on that to create the basic framework, quickly followed by PHLOn NAN and the folks at Maker Studios. In many ways, this reminds me of Derek Sivers' popular discussion of the importance of the "First Follower."
But, when we step back and look at the copyright system, it does make you wonder why the system is so focused on Baauer's ability to get paid, but not the people who actually made the whole meme what it is. In many ways, this is an extreme example of where copyright may be fundamentally flawed. Content becomes popular through cultural sharing. People talk about something amazing and it gets passed along. The "Harlem Shake" videos are a form of that, where the importance of everyone in the role of expanding the community and making the song/meme a cultural "thing" is that much more clear.
Historically, we've often lumped together the initial creative work with the eventual popularity of it, leaving aside the role of the community in making that work a hit. But the Harlem Shake is a case where we can actually separate out those two things, and realize that perhaps copyright is focused on only one part of our cultural setup, while ignoring what may arguably be the more important part: those who make something culturally relevant.
Now, I'm a big believer in learning to gain benefits without resorting to copyright, and it seems like the folks who really built this meme are being rewarded in their own ways, outside of the copyright system. But, for those who think that copyright is necessary to "reward" creators, and who argue that copyright is all about fairness in protecting the rights of creators, do the people who actually "created" the popularity around this meme not count?
Filed Under: baauer, copyright, first follower, harlem shake, meme, viral


text:
Bryanna Clark Grogan's Vegan Feast Kitchen/ 21st Century Table: The kitchen journal of a vegan food writer.. I'm on Facebook and Twitter (see links in sidebar at right).
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Today three of my grandaughters made Greek Easter bread with me. I made a big one, and they each made a small bread with 1/3 of the remaining dough to bring home. (They also made some amusing-looking "buns" out of leftover hot cross bun dough!) Here is the recipe: http://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.ca/2006/04/easter-breads.html
Have a wonderful Easter, everyone!
7 comments:
Oh, such sweet girls! These pictures really made me smile, Bryanna. Thank you!
My daughter, who is almost 13, loves to make bread too. Every Easter I make the hot cross buns from your holiday book, and this year she made them almost all by herself - I had to put them in the oven because she doesn't like doing that. LOL We get much enjoyment from cooking your recipes together!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter weekend. XOXOXOX
- Sun Apr 16, 03:54:00 AM PDT
- Dori said...
My kids rarely like being in the kitchen and prefer box mix recipes when I make them cook, with the exception of one very messy pasta making day a few years ago. Your little ones did a great job! Have a Happy Easter!
I'm off to get some garden plants from my father in laws greenhouse today.
- Sun Apr 16, 06:24:00 AM PDT
- Spice Island Vegan said...
Hi Bryanna,
The girls are adorable! Are they going to be future vegan bakers?
I love that bread too!
- Sun Apr 16, 01:03:00 PM PDT
Those are some of the cutest photos I've ever seen! And a lovely Easter to you too.
- Sun Apr 16, 02:44:00 PM PDT
- Vegan Momma said...
Those are lovely pictures. I love baking bread. I have not made Greek Easter Bread in a long time. It's been about 12 years!
- Sun Apr 16, 08:16:00 PM PDT
- Nancy said...
Great pictures! That little Faith looks like quite a character :-)
- Sun Apr 16, 10:25:00 PM PDT
- Bryanna Clark Grogan said...
Oh, she is, Nancy!
- Mon Apr 17, 06:44:00 AM PDT


text:
Baby Baker
Paula Showen 7/25/2012 4:41:12 PMAnother adorable capture! #1476890
JO ANN CLEVELAND 9/7/2012 1:46:23 PMAwwww, sooo sweet! Congrats on this awesome finalist
jo ann c. #10313283
Miss Ellie, 1 year old and SOO cute and cooperative! Taken indoors with natural and studio light.
Exif: F Number: 2.8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.33, ExposureTime: 1/200 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 500, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 38.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D
Uploaded on 7/23/2012 10:17:57 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Debbra Bailey. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
ZFS Pool Configuration
ZFS storage pools are comprised of vdevs which are striped together. vdevs can be single disks, N-way mirrors, RAIDZ (Similar to RAID5), RAIDZ2 (Similar to RAID6), or RAIDZ3 (there is no hardware RAID analog to this, but it's a triple parity stripe essentially). A key thing to know here is a ZFS vdev gives the IOPs performance of one device in the vdev. That means that if you create a RAIDZ2 of ten drives, it will have the capacity of 8 drives but it will have the IOPs performance of a single drive. The need for IOPs becomes important when providing storage to things like database servers or virtualization platforms. These use cases rarely utilize sequential transfers. In these scenarios, you'll find larger numbers of mirrors or very small RAIDZ groups are appropriate choices. At the other end of the scale, a single user trying to do a sequential read or write will benefit from a larger RAIDZ[1|2|3] vdev. Many home media server applications do quite well with a pool comprising a single 3-8 drive RAIDZ[1|2|3] vdev.
ZIL Devices
ZFS can use dedicated devices for its ZIL (ZFS intent log). This is essentially the write cache for synchronous writes. Some workflows generate very little traffic that would benefit from a dedicated ZIL, others use synchronous writes exclusively and, for all practical purposes, require a dedicated ZIL device. The key thing to remember here is the ZIL always exists in memory. If you have a dedicated device, the memory ZIL is mirrored to the dedicated device, otherwise it is mirrored to your pool. By using an SSD, you reduce latency and contention by not utilizing your data pool (which is presumably comprised of spinning disks) for mirroring the in-memory ZIL. There's a lot of confusion surrounding ZFS and ZIL device failure. When ZFS was first released, dedicated ZIL devices were essential to data pool integrity. A missing ZIL vdev would render the entire pool unusable. With these older versions of ZFS, mirroring the ZIL devices was essential to prevent a failed ZIL device from destroying the entire pool. This is no longer the case with ZFS. Missing ZIL vdevs will impact performance but will not cause the entire pool to become unavailable. However, the conventional wisdom that the ZIL must be mirrored to prevent data loss in the case of ZIL failure lives on. Keep in mind that the dedicated ZIL device is merely mirroring the real in-memory ZIL. Data loss can only occur if your dedicated ZIL device fails and the system crashes with writes in transit in the unmirrored memory ZIL. As soon as the dedicated ZIL device fails, the mirror of the in-memory ZIL moves to the pool (in practice, this means you have a window of a few seconds where a system is vulnerable to data loss following a ZIL device failure). After a crash, ZFS will attempt to replay the ZIL contents. SSDs themselves have a volatile write cache, so they may lose data during a bad shutdown. To ensure the ZFS write cache replay has all of your inflight writes, the SSD devices used for dedicated ZIL devices should have power protection. HGST makes a number of devices that are specifically targeted as dedicated ZFS ZIL devices. Other manufacturers such as Intel offer appropriate devices as well. In practice, only the designer of the system can determine if the use case warrants a professional enterprise grade SSD with power protection or if a consumer-level device will suffice. The primary characteristics here are low latency, high random write performance, high write endurance, and, depending on the situation, power protection.
L2ARC Devices
ZFS allows you to equip your system with dedicated read cache devices. Typically, you'll want these devices to be lower latency than your main storage pool. Remember that the primary read cache used by the system is system RAM, which is orders of magnitude faster than any SSD. If you can satisfy your read cache requirements with RAM, you'll enjoy better performance than if you use SSD read cache. In addition, there is a scenario where an L2ARC read cache can actually drop performance. Consider a system with 6GB of memory cache (ARC) and a working set that is 5.9 GB. This system might enjoy a read cache hit ratio of nearly 100%. If SSD L2ARC is added to the system, the L2ARC requires space in RAM to map its address space. This space will come at the cost of evicting data from memory and placing it in the L2ARC. The ARC hit rate will drop, and misses will be satisfied from the (far slower) SSD L2ARC. In short, not every system can benefit from an L2ARC. FreeNAS includes tools in the GUI and at the command line that can determine ARC sizing and hit rates. If the ARC size is hitting the maximum allowed by RAM, and if the hit rate is below 90%, the system can benefit from L2ARC. If the ARC is smaller than RAM or if the hit rate is 99.X%, adding L2ARC to the system will not improve performance. As far as selecting appropriate devices for L2ARC, they should be biased towards random read performance. The data on them is not persistent, and ZFS behaves quite well when faced with L2ARC device failure. There is no need or provision to mirror or otherwise make L2ARC devices redundant, nor is there a need for power protection on these devices.
Joshua Paetzel
iXsystems Senior Engineer
<< Part 2/4 of A Complete Guide to FreeNAS Hardware Design: Hardware Specifics
Part 4/4 of A Complete Guide to FreeNAS Hardware Design: Network Notes & Conclusion >>


text:
So, I finally had my first Brik Wars experience over the weekend!
Two of my friends and I spent hours on the prep time - building, calculating stats, etc.
When we finally got down to playing... we each got one turn and then one of my friends had to leave.
It basically ended up with Batman being taken out by sniper fire, an LRV (Warthog) being blown to smithereens by my Land Yacht's Repulsor Cannon, a squad of undead being blown to pieces by a plasma grenade (only to have their Necromancer Officer resurrect another on his turn), a dead alien squad member, a decimated squad of knights, and the Fruitcake Squad (so named for wielding fruit and such) caught in an eternal deathlock with a group of archers.
All and all... a very fun time!