text:
Staying Sane During College Applications
One woman shares what she learned through two college application processes, including research, expert advice, and personal experience.
You can slog through guidebooks and surf the Web all you want, but nothing prepares a parent for the college application process better than advice from people who've gone through it. I've survived it twice now. What I learned through research, talking to experts and personal experience will help you be part of your kid's search for a school that fits—without going nuts.
Ground Rules
Applying to college is a marathon, not a sprint. Memorize these mantras.
- There's a school for everybody. The notion of fierce competition is a huge distraction from the fact that "Most teens end up at colleges they love," says Cheryl Paradis, Psy.D., associate professor of psychology at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, and coauthor of Tackling College Admissions (Rowman & Littlefield).
- Get in the zone. The way to all but guarantee a happy ending to your kid's search is to target realistic prospects, says Peter Van Buskirk, author of Winning the College Admission Game (Peterson's). "Don't discount a college just because you haven't heard of it or it looks like it's easy to get into," he says. Neither has any bearing on whether your child could thrive there. When my son Matt wanted to apply to colleges for TV production, we discovered a number of under-the-radar schools that were not only welcoming but generous with scholarship money. He's a senior at one of them now, and he can't imagine being anywhere else.
- Organization saves the day. Set up a system to track paperwork. It should include bins with hanging folders for each school, files for financial aid and supplemental materials, and a centrally located calendar for plotting deadlines.
- Silence is golden. Resist the urge to talk about college constantly. "Kids don't want to hear at 7 a.m., 'I think you should take another look at Syracuse,'" says Louise Morgenstern, a mom of three from Santa Monica, California. Martha Merrill, dean of admissions and financial aid at Connecticut College in New London, suggests designating one day per week when you can ask questions or voice concerns, then keeping quiet the rest of the time. Just be sure to emphasize to your teen that he can pipe up anytime.
- "We" aren't applying to college. This is your kid's journey, not yours. "Definitely allow her to keep ownership over the process," says Carol J. DelPropost, assistant vice president of admission and financial aid at Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, Ohio. She told her two daughters, "I'm here if you need me" and gladly set up campus visits and tests when asked. Beyond that, she purposely-and wisely-held back.
Sizing Up Schools
Forget about prestige and the handful of colleges that always top the so-called hot lists. "A good school is where your child snaps into place like a puzzle piece," says Arlene Matthews, author of Getting in Without Freaking Out (Three Rivers Press). Here's how to find one.
- Start with the big picture. Ask your child to describe his dream college. "Focus on types, not names," says Missy Sanchez, director of college counseling at Woodward Academy, a school in College Park, Georgia. Consider size, location, climate, distance from home and campus vibe. Check out nearby campuses to get a sense of big versus small and liberal versus conservative. But, "Don't do formal tours until junior year," says Paradis. Kids shut down if you show them stuff too early, and you'll need test scores to know whether a school is a realistic option.
- Nail down must-haves. What's nonnegotiable? Amy wanted a school with a winning football team, daily newspaper, charming town and diverse student body. For Matt, a student-run TV station and being close to home were critical.
- Dedicate time to research. Amy scouted early options on the floor of our local bookstore, with giant guidebooks in her lap. But you can also use search engines (collegeboard.com and princetonreview.com) to find schools matching your child's preferences and academic stats. Log on to college websites for admissions info, blogs, chats and virtual tours.
- Compile a master list. The preliminary one might be long, but whittling it will get easier with time. The final list should have around eight schools, says Matthews-four targets (where student grades and test scores are within the average range accepted), two safeties (where she has well beyond what it takes to get in) and two reaches (highly selective schools or where student scores are on the low end of the average range accepted). Matthews also suggests including a "financial safety," like a state school or community college.
Nailing the Application
This is what impacts whether your kid's file lands in the "Yes" pile.
- Transcript. The GPA should be solidly within the specified range, and your teen should be taking the most challenging courses possible and doing well in them. The more selective the college, the more emphasis there usually is on getting A's in advanced courses.
- SATs/ACTs. Most colleges accept both, so it's wise to have your child take the PSAT and ACT in fall of junior year to see which she does better on, then focus efforts there, says Laura Wilson, founder of wilsonprep.com, an affordable online coaching service that's gaining popularity around the country. Poor test takers may wish to consider the 760 test-optional schools listed on fairtest.org.
- Extracurriculars. Schools generally favor students who dedicate themselves to a few key passions at the leadership level rather than dabbling in many. If your high school doesn't offer an activity that interests your teen, encourage him to organize one. "Colleges like resourceful students who create opportunities," says Elizabeth Wissner-Gross, author of What High Schools Don't Tell You (Hudson Street Press). But they also value work experience, so don't worry if your kid opts for a paying job at the mall instead of joining a lot of clubs or teams.
- Letters of recommendation. These should be lined up by mid-September, since teachers write them on a first-come-first-served basis. By far, the most memorable ones share specific anecdotes that reveal a student's character beyond what appears elsewhere in the application, says DelPropost. Ideally, at least one should be from a recent teacher in whose class your kid excelled, but don't rule out a teacher who witnessed your child struggle academically. For instance, someone who watched your daughter falter in physics but stick with it to nab a B can genuinely praise her work ethic and refusal to give up.
- Short-answer questions. Pay close attention to the one that asks, "Why do you want to come here?" According to Wissner-Gross, it's critical. Your teen should seize the opportunity to show why he's a great fit for the school, by mentioning precise things like courses he'd like to take and why, particular professors he wants to study with or observations from a campus visit.
- Essays. These should reveal a remarkable element of your teen's personality and something she cares deeply about. When we brainstormed what makes Amy unique, her list included "afraid of clowns," "played on boys' teams" and "only wakes up to sports radio." Since she's an aspiring sportswriter, her best essay was about playing on all-boy teams at camp and how doing so prepared her for a career in a male-dominated field. "I always urge my students to focus on something only they can write about," says Sanchez. The results come from the heart.
Decisions, Decisions
Study up on these admissions terms.
Common Application: A single application and essay accepted by more than 300 schools, accessible at www.commonapp.org.
Rolling Admission: Applications are reviewed as soon as they are received, until all slots are filled.
Early Decision (ED): Your kid applies by early November and must enroll if accepted. Only do for an absolute number one choice.
Early Action (EA): An early November deadline and pre-Christmas decision, but nonbinding, so your teen can still apply elsewhere.
Deferred: When ED and EA applications are neither accepted nor denied but considered with the regular- decision applicants for an April reply.
Regular Decision: Applications are due around January 1; answers arrive in April.
Waitlist: Status unknown until after May 1. In the meantime, submit a deposit to secure a spot at another school.
Crib Sheet: Making the Most of a Campus Visit
Even though student blogs, virtual tours and streaming video can bring a college to life from afar, nothing beats hanging out in the student union, sampling the pizza and peeking in the dorms. Travel is costly, but try to swing as many visits as possible. Some do's and don'ts:
- Do make every effort to go when classes are in session. An empty campus just isn't the same, and the lack of student energy can bias you against a good school.
- Don't visit more than two schools in a day; the details will start to blur.
- Do explore from all angles. Attend the information session and tour, but wander around too. Hit the cafeteria and bookstore, chat up students and read school papers for an attitude check. Amy got turned off to one school after seeing so many dressed-up girls, then reading a newspaper article that bragged about having California's most beautiful students.
- Don't blow off your teen's observations-no matter how trivial they seem. I laughed when Amy counted how many kids wore the school shirt, until I realized that it was how she measured spirit. But I'll never understand why she rejected a school because it had an ugly smokestack!
- Do document each visit thoroughly in words and pictures. Besides jotting thoughts in a notebook, we used our cell phone cameras to remember dorms and quads.
- Don't editorialize. Open-ended questions like, "What did you think?" are okay, but avoid comments that might sway your kid's real feelings, such as "I didn't think you'd like a place where the classes are so big." When evaluating a visit, aim to let your teen speak first and last.
What Teens Want You to Know
Teenagers want and need your help, but they don't want to be treated like babies. Here, kids share what helped-and what didn't-in their own words.
- Chill out. Know that there's such a thing as too much information. "I'm the oldest, so my parents were pretty clueless about the college process," says Becca Weinstein of Greenbrae, California. "They bought stacks of books and hired a private counselor. I appreciated the advice, but I wish my mom and dad had taken a step back, calmed me down and reminded me that I could be happy anyplace."
- Have faith. Set a drop-dead date for completing applications, then trust your kid to meet it, says Lindsay Pike of Eastchester, New York. Kayla Bolton of Beverly Hills, Michigan, says, "My parents reminded me of deadlines every now and then, and of course I got annoyed. But I loved that they left the organization up to me. It helped me realize that I can deal with pressure."
- Be discreet. "When people asked, 'Where are you applying?' my mom just answered, 'Some very good schools,'" says Kayla. Have vague, scripted answers ready for nosy relatives and neighbors, like, "Oh, we're not allowed to talk about that until April 1."
- Stay neutral. "I hated it when my dad said, 'If it were me, I'd definitely go there,'" says Katie Stephens of Birmingham, Michigan. If you find it hard to be objective, opt for a joke to defuse tension. Even though Michigan resident Quinn Golinske's dad went to Michigan State University and she favored University of Michigan, he never pushed his choices on her. But, "He was pretty funny in the bookstore," she says. "At Michigan State he offered to buy me all sorts of stuff, but when I wanted a T-shirt at the University of Michigan, he looked at me and said with a grin, 'Don't you have any money?'"
- Channel serenity. "My parents never panicked and that helped me a lot," says Kayla. "It made me feel capable and confident that they believed I could handle things."
Awesome Websites
The search tool pinpoints what kids are looking for in a school and generates a list of options.
Sign up to receive scholarship alerts.
Download student-produced campus life videos.
Find excellent, lesser-known schools and info about free panel presentations and college fairs.
Tons of discussion threads on every possible college topic.
Originally published in the September 2008 issue of Family Circle magazine.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Acer Acer Acer Aspire 5052WXMi Main Board (Motherboard), Acer MB.AV306.001.
* We have limited quantity of MB.AV306.001 in stock. Our inventory changes constantly and quantities listed are based on available stock. This item comes with our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
I purchased a battery for my Gateway cx2610 laptop from Code Micro. I was very happy with the produ...
Jason G.
Great NorthWeb
Our department needed two discontinued drive modules for our servers. Code Micro delivered on time. ...
Mark E.
Citi Corp


text:
johngrandy necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 55 diseños de 11 diseñadores freelance.
EPIC Student Ministry
We are a relevant, modern youth ministry at a thriving church south of Cleveland, Ohio. Don't think of your grandmother's church, think of a church that reaches the current creative generation right where they are at. We are real people, living relevant lives, relentlessly pursuing new life. This vision permeates our entire community, especially our youth ministry.
Our vision for our new youth ministry branding is, "Finding our place in the EPIC story God is telling." We want our logo to paint a picture of a journey we are all on to find life and find God. Every week we strive to reach students right where they are at as we speak their language and design environments and images that will engage their attention and their souls. We realize the youth group environments and designs of yesterday are simply irrelevant to a generation of students who embrace mystery and abstract concepts. We want our logo to draw students into mystery through abstract and retro design elements.
I hope this project makes your creative genius come alive and fire on all cylinders as you have a blast creating what we envision!
We are a youth ministry which engages students age 11-18. We have three separate youth gatherings...one for 6th grade, one for junior high, and one for senior high. These students are like any other teenagers you see. They love having fun, talking, hanging out and they have all the latest technology.
Like I said, this isn't your grandmother's church, so our students are all on Facebook (who isn't, right?), most have cell phones, and they are up on all the latest music, movies and media.
As far as design goes, they are attracted to colorful, layered, complex images that make them zoom in closer to see all the layers. Although mystery puzzles them, it also engages them, so they ask many questions as they wrestle with deeper meaning and hunger for truth and purpose.
The first and most important requirement is to HAVE FUN! We want this to be a fresh, cutting-edge logo that gives the feeling of relaxation and fun. Please feel free to be as creative as possible. Let this project give you permission to branch out into new areas of design
As you design this logo, I would love to see four separate images. The first with the main "EPIC Student Ministry" image itself. The second with the main "EPIC Student Ministry" image and "6th Grade" on it somewhere. The second with the main "EPIC Student Ministry" image and "JR High" on it somewhere. And the third with the main "EPIC Student Ministry" image and "SR High" on it somewhere.
I would also like to see an emblem of some kind that would represent who we are as part of the logo…Maybe a really cool looking "E" that could also show part of the journey. This "E" could be positioned alongside or atop the "EPIC Student Ministry" in the logo or actually be a part of the word "EPIC". This would be a similar concept to the way the "LW" is in our church's logo (see http://www.livingwaterfmc.org).
Here are the links to our church and youth ministry web pages to give you another glimpse of who we are:
--Church: http://www.livingwaterfmc.org
--Youth Ministry: http://www.themelting.com
I've also attached images of designs and fonts that capture the style of design we love and want to see incorporated into the design of our logo.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
VentureMedia necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 93 diseños de 18 diseñadores freelance.
ProTrafficAds; (www.protrafficads.com); Pro Traffic Ads ;
protrafficads.com is a new traffic and advertising website due to be launched shortly. The site has been developed and tested over a period of a few months (trafficpython.com). We are now looking for a strong web 2.0 ish corporate image.
Please take a look and listen to the 2 videos at the following sites This will give you a better idea of what the website will offer.
http://www.protrafficads.net (the test site) and http://www.protrafficads.com.
The final brand will be developed on protrafficads.com
Our current slogan / tag line is
"Unleash a Torrent of Targeted Traffic To Your Website"
Some ideas may be to use a wave / tsunami type logo to build on the "torrent" element of the tag line
Mock up of new site layout has been attached in a zip file
The majority of website owners selling a product or service
Blog users
Affliliate product promoters
Those wishing to drive targeted traffic to their website.
You have the freedom to be creative in this task.
I do ask that you use a maximum of 3 colors.
Logo should give the impresson of reliability, strength and quality.
Try possibly experimenting with a red / white and blue combination such as those at ultimatefooterad.com
The logo must be delivered in different file formats for print and web including EPS, JPEG and Photoshop PSD
The final logo / brand should be designed so that it easy encorporated into other media both online and offline.
Examples might include as, banner ads at different sizes, T-Shirt, Postcards, affliate promotion images/tools
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Desmond Bryant was arrested Sunday morning in Florida on a criminal mischief charge, the team confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network.
|Mug shot of then-Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Desmond Bryant after his arrest on a criminal mischief charge. (Miami-Dade Police Department).
Bryant was booked into a Miami-Dade County, Fla., jail at 9:24 a.m. ET and was being held on a bond between $200 and $1,000.
"We're aware of the situation and are gathering more information," Raiders spokesman Zak Gilbert said in a statement.
It's never a good time to get arrested, but Bryant's slip-up is especially poorly timed. The 6-foot-5 veteran is entering unrestricted free agency for the first time in a few weeks. He was seen as one of the more talented defensive linemen on the market and was in line for a solid contract. This will complicate matters.
The similarity of Bryant's name to Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant caused some confusion Sunday morning when a Sun Sentinel reporter initially misidentified who was arrested.
Dez Bryant posted on Twitter: "Ooo (expletive) false rumors about jail? Lol I was working out at 2 something in the morning in Dallas." There's even Twitter proof of said workout, not that we need it.Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.


text:
Hi Friends,
I had a very very bad buying experience when i took the delivery of linea dynamic last friday,20/03/2015 @ 9pm,with the new fiat dealer in Kochi,Pinnacle fiat.You guys wont believe what they did to me!The most disappointing part is that the fiat guys, eventhough i got a call @ saturday and an assurance that my query will be answered by monday, didnt call back , despite shooting multiple emails.All i am getting is the below reply.Does any one has contact details for anyone who is responsible for customer complaints from the fiat end?..Earlier when we had issues with our punto , i used to get immediate response emails/calls from fiat India.Now that independent fiat does'nt even hear to customers!!!
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your communication, we regret the inconvenience.
Matter is coordinated with region /dealer, we assure you of all due attention through Pinnacle Fiat
We have already registered your complaint & no. for same is 1-1004980147
With warm regards,
Customer Care.
1800 209 5556 │*firstname.lastname@example.com
Roadside assistance RSA 18002093428


text:
When tires are completely worn or unable to meet a driver's needs, the tire purchasing and installation process usually follows. The specific reasons why a motorist might want to purchase new tires when the current set of tires isn't worn will vary. A vehicle towing heavy weight will need tires with a high load rating. If a vehicle is driven in an area with heavy rain, the driver might prefer to purchase new tires that offer a better traction rating. During our tire purchase and installation service, our service staff will conduct a thorough investigation of your driving needs to help guarantee the best possible set of tires for your car or truck. Once a driver buys the new tires, they will need to be correctly installed on the vehicle. Contact us today to learn more about our tire offerings or feel free to browse our online tire catalog.
If your tires are worn or unsatisfactory, consider purchasing and installing new ones through us. When tires are worn, they won't perform correctly. Worn tires heat up more quickly, puncture more easily, and take on roads less effectively. They may also emerge as a potential danger to their driver and other motorists. However, worn tires aren't the only reason to install new tires. Depending on your environment and needs, it may be wise to purchase and install new tires even if your current set is okay. This is because using tires that are unfit for your needs can quickly deteriorate them. If you need assistance finding the right tire, our expert staff can help. When you're ready to make a purchase or install a new set of tires, let us know.
We proudly service the Tire Purchase & Tire Installation needs of customers in Bowdon, GA, Ranburne, AL, Carrollton, GA, and surrounding areas.
Areas Served :
Bowdon, GA | Ranburne, AL | Carrollton, GA | and surrounding areas
Bowdon Tire & Radiator is a pillar of the community. Bowdon Tire & Radiator is a leader in offering name brand tires, wheels, and auto repair services for customers in Bowdon, GA, Ranburne, AL, Carrollton, GA, and surrounding areas. Our goal is to focus on customer service. It is the foundation of our business. Bowdon Tire & Radiator employs a well-trained staff specializing in the sale and installation of passenger car, performance, light truck, or SUV tires. Take this opportunity to browse our website or call us for personalized service.
Please click anywhere to continue browsing our site.


text:
"All of the firms have a focus on investment quality and their alpha thesis," says J. Gibson Watson III, president of Prima Capital Holdings. "Post credit-crisis, due diligence is more than just stringing together a set of historical returns; now, it's all about the culture of the companies and the quality of their management."
That, according to Watson, is the theme common to the 2011 Separately Managed Account Managers of the Year, and largely responsible for the recognition and award.
This is the seventh year that Investment Advisor and Prima Capital, the Denver-based firm that conducts due diligence on SMA managers, have joined together to choose the best SMA managers in multiple categories.
"We started the program as a joint venture with Standard and Poor's," Watson explains when asked about the awards' genesis. "The idea was to develop an SMA ranking and rating platform to be housed in S&P's Advisor Insight. We felt with the increasing popularity of SMAs as a product, it would be of value."
The initial criteria for inclusion are at least $200 million in assets; tenured management (at least three years); superior ratings in five Prima Guide categories (all data in the following profiles come from Prima's Prima Guide online tool, with data as of Dec. 31, 2010). If an attractive prospect for an award is below average in one category, or has an N/A in one category, the analyst will manually evaluate the merit of the manager in relation to the category in question. Lastly, the product should be widely available through retail SMA programs.
The committee starts with a quant approach, making sure each portfolio scores high marks in firm strength, resources devoted to the particular strategy, tax efficiency and performance, compared to their benchmarks and their peers. The quant analysis goes on for some time, but the discussion on the candidates—chosen by Prima's analysts—ends with a quality discussion on the manager (or, usually, team), including their tenure and the ownership of the firm, whether they have skin in their own games, and what makes them unique in their process of stock or bond picking through different business and market cycles. As Investment Advisor and AdvisorOne Group Editor in Chief Jamie Green wrote when announcing last years' winners, "they are not flashes in the pan who've been able to scrape together a good year or two: their processes and their human capital allow them to perform well, and consistently, year after year."
"Our comprehensive historical analysis encompasses a rolling period of time," says Watson, who blogs for AdvisorOne.com. "We can therefore see how the managers perform over different, extended periods of time."
Which, he says, allows Prima analysts to evaluate not only their alpha thesis, but specifically how they exploit market inefficiencies.
"We have more qualitative questions for managers when performing our due diligence," he adds. "And this tracks with the industry as a whole. Advisors and investors have a deeper appreciation for due diligence. It is incumbent upon advisors to go beyond historical performance. In a post-Madoff world, they absolutely must verify the independent auditors and the clearing and custodial firms and perform all the necessary operational due diligence."
Whether it's a UMA, UMH, traditional or model-based SMA, they should be used as part of a broader, diversified portfolio, one that include ETFs, mutual funds and other effective products.
"We don't feel it's appropriate to look at any product of this type in isolation," Watson says. "What's relevant is how they work with other products they're teamed with in the portfolio."
In the profiles of the top managers that follow, you'll learn how these SMA Managers of the Year set themselves apart. Look for additional coverage on these managers and their portfolio building strategies on AdvisorOne.com.
Large Cap Core 2011 SMA Manager of the Year
Cornerstone Investment Partners
Concentrated Equity Portfolio
Throughout the month of April, AdvisorOne will focus on separately managed accounts: the money manager options advisors have, the platforms through which they can gain access to those managers, how they can conduct due diligence on those managers, and how advisors are using SMAs in client portfolios.
We begin our coverage by presenting the Investment Advisor-Prima Capital seventh annual Separately Managed Account Managers of the Year. In a feature article in the April 2011 issue of Investment Advisor, seven managers in six different asset classes were chosen as "A Class Apart."
In this article, we focus on Atlanta-based Cornerstone Investment Partners' Concentrated Equity Portfolio.
The philosophy: A bottom-up approach, conducting fundamental research on those stocks identified as trading at the deepest discount to their fair value.
The portfolio: Limited to 30 stocks, each of which the managers believe has a direct impact on portfolio performance
The performance:
2010 performance figures (company supplied).
Gross returns: 13.10%
Net returns: 12.64%
Assets in strategy: $973.5 million
Percent of firm's assets in strategy: 40.7%
The people: Investment Advisor Editor John Sullivan spoke in March with Rick van Nostrand, portfolio manager. Team members are Fred Wetzel, Jr., CFA, partner and architect of Cornerstone's Fair Value model; Cornerstone's CIO is John Campbell, CFA. Portfolio managers are Neilson Brown, Dean Morris and Cameron Clement.
The Follow-Up: AdvisorOne readers are invited to register for a free trial of PrimaGuide Plus, Prima Capital's online research tool.
Large-Cap Core Award
Cornerstone Investment Partners
Concentrated Equity Portfolio
"Information is a commodity," says portfolio manager Rick van Nostrand, when asked about the investment philosophy of Cornerstone Investment Partners. "We don't try to out-research the market. Rather, we adjust for investor behavior and exploit price/intrinsic value ratios with 30 solid stocks in our portfolio. When the behavioral gap 'snaps back,' we're rewarded."
Of course, not "out-researching" the market doesn't mean they don't perform proper company due diligence, something for which the Atlanta-based company is particularly proud. It's that they believe the market to be efficient, and would rather rely on the predictable irrationality of their fellow investors.
The employee-owned make-up of the firm gives each member a vested interest in doing right by the client, with the majority of ownership in the hands of the eight member investment team, in order to ensure they're properly incentivized.
The team, whose members average 28 years of portfolio management expertise, conducts fundamental research to identify characteristics that enable a company to achieve long-term profitability and to ensure those qualities are repeatable. They include quality of management, patents, products, distribution, culture and brand value.
"We keep the portfolio limited to 30 stocks to ensure each has a direct impact on portfolio performance," van Nostrand says. "Some of our competitors have 50 or 60 stocks in their portfolio; that completely dilutes their performance. It doesn't make sense to us."
The firm also looks to include those names with the greatest margin of safety and the greatest chance of achieving fair value. Industry and sector weightings are strictly an outgrowth of the firm's bottom-up stock selection process.
In choosing Cornerstone as this year's winner, Prima noted the firm uses a fair value model that screens a universe of approximately 800 large-cap stocks to find which stocks are trading at a discount to Cornerstone's fair value estimate. Cornerstone then looks at which stocks are trading at the deepest discount to their fair value and conducts fundamental research on those names. The firm spends all of its time researching these stocks and works to understand why the stock is cheap since the fundamentals are strong. When researching a name the team focuses its time on understanding the current operating environment, dissecting the company's business model and financial statements, assessing its competition, and studying the management team.
Cornerstone then builds a portfolio with its highest conviction names and will trim or sell a position once it meets its fair value, or if the manager finds a better opportunity.
Overall, Prima believed Cornerstone was a strong candidate for the large-cap core SMA award due to its clearly defined and repeatable investment process, strong risk-adjusted returns and consistent exposure to the large-cap asset class.
The investment team consists of John Campbell, chief investment officer; Edward Mitchell, Jr., managing partner, portfolio manager; Fred Wetzel, Jr., portfolio manager; Neilson Brown, portfolio manager; Rick van Nostrand, portfolio manager; Dean Morris, portfolio manager; and Cameron Clement, portfolio manager.
Large-Cap Growth Award
Wedgewood Partners Inc.
Large-Cap Focused Growth Strategy
Ask David Rolfe for the firm's elevator pitch and he has it at the ready.
"We're big subscribers to the arguments put forth by Charles D. Ellis, author of 'The Loser's Game'," begins Rolfe, chief investment officer of St. Louis-based Wedgewood Partners. "Instead of trying to time the markets and getting sucked into short-term volatility, we take a long-term view and let the markets work for us. Too many of our competitors try to do otherwise, and we refuse to play that loser's game. That, quite simply, is our investing philosophy. "
This longer-term view naturally leads to a big belief in—and heavy reliance on—index investing which, as Rolfe notes, by definition is buy-and-hold investing. This means the firm has a history of minimum turnover in the portfolio. As a corollary, Rolfe notes, this approach also affects the firm's stock selection.
"If we expect to invest in companies for many years, we focus on those select companies with the brightest multi-year prospects for growth," he says. "Additionally, our view on risk is contrary to the typical manager as well. We don't view risk via individual security price volatility, rather all of our risk analysis is centered on the individual business."
The second time's the charm for the 22-year-old firm, as Prima has previously recommended Wedgewood for an SMA award. In recommending the firm this year, Prima said it was "pleased the manager is looking to grow its business through the SMA channel and is solely focused on the large-cap growth strategy."
With $875 million currently in assets under management, Wedgewood believes consistent execution of their fundamental, long-term-focused research process coupled with disciplined valuation can produce excellent long-term returns, according to Prima. The strategy has delivered, producing top quartile performance on an absolute and risk-adjusted basis over the last three, five and 10 years. Wedgewood builds a concentrated portfolio of 18 to 22 stocks trading at a deep discount to their estimated intrinsic value that are typically driven by two factors: overly conservative consensus estimates and compressed valuation multiples.
Confirming Rolfe's long-term views, Prima says Wedgewood is a very patient investor focused on a three- to five-year outlook which typically results in low turnover. Over the past five years, portfolio turnover has ranged between 30% and 53%, which contributes to its tax efficiency. Additionally, Wedgewood is able to accommodate tax loss harvesting at client request, further improving potential tax efficiency. The firm was a strong candidate for the large-cap growth SMA award due to its ownership structure, talented and tenured investment team and consistency of alpha generation.
The investment team includes Anthony Guerrerio, president and founder; David Rolfe, chief investment officer; Dana Webb, senior portfolio manager; and Michael Quigley, portfolio manager.
Mid-Cap Equity Award
Denver Investment Advisors
Concentrated Mid-Cap Growth Strategy
Denver Investment Advisors has a process that works, and they're sticking with it.
The (surprise) Denver-based firm was founded in 1958, with the separately managed account team put in place in 1998.
The firm has a long history of real dedication to investment research and to being early with new opportunities," says Mitch Begun, partner and co-director of mid-cap growth research. "The Concentrated Mid-Cap Growth strategy was designed as a best-ideas, high-conviction product."
Begun says the mid-cap asset class is extremely attractive, and the firm's sweet spot is companies with between $1 billion and $10 billion in market cap. They are a little more developed than their small-cap brethren, he says, but still more flexible and with more opportunity for growth than large-cap stocks.
"We generate alpha from our stock selection," Begun explains. "We look for a nice balance of growth, value and quality characteristics. We also look for companies that are either market leaders or can gain market share. From a secular standpoint, we look for dynamic growth in an industry; from the more cyclical industries, we look for an inflection point in which to enter. Overall, we have company-specific drivers, rather than top-down drivers."
A key differentiator for the firm, he says, is that it focuses on risk management and a strict sell discipline. The latter is something not enough managers focus on, according to Begun.
"Our risk screen helps us identify characteristics that lead to underperformance. And we don't want to overpay for our stocks. We sell when the market recognizes what we recognize. We have to be very disciplined about this because when you make mistakes in the growth space, they tend to be more violent, so we focus on delta."
When looking to buy, the team looks to see if the overall industry is growing, if the company is gaining market share, if margins are expanding and if the valuation if attractive. When looking to sell, naturally the signals are the opposite: a slowing industry, losing market share, compressed margins and valuations that are simply too expensive.
The firm names health care company Varian Medical Systems by way of example of a company they like. The x-ray and diagnostic provider is a leader in its space and recently released a new product, TrueBeam. The new product is gaining market share in radiation oncology and diagnostics, and is expanding, in particular, in economies where wages and quality of life are increasing.
Begun notes that the firm is structured as to avoid the echo chamber by assigning managers to sectors rather than entire industries.
"For instance, we have one manager dedicated to technology hardware," he says, "and another to technology software. In this way it helps in the collaborative process."
Small-Cap Equity Award
The London Company
Small-Cap Core Strategy
"We don't think we're better than anyone else, we just take a rational approach to investing," says Stephen Goddard, when asked to brag on himself and his firm.
Goddard, managing director and founder of The London Company, based in Richmond, Va., then gets down to basics. The firm takes positions in low beta, conservative companies that are large enough to make an impact to portfolio performance, but with a primary focus on downside protection.
"It's far easier to determine downside risk than it is to determine the next winner," Goddard says. "What really hurts the portfolio are the names you're wrong about."
The firm was founded as "a very small shop" in 1994, but soon got the attention of industry consultants and today has roughly $2 billion in assets under management.
Jonathan Moody, a principal and portfolio manager with the firm, says he distills the investment process into four pieces. The first is that they go into a new investment with a long-term approach and don't key in on short-term fluctuations.
"We don't want to try to outguess the other 1,000 analysts on what the earnings will be for this quarter," he says.
The second is buying in at attractive valuations, or building the portfolio "on the backs of the companies' balance sheet." They look at valuations in the same manner as an owner or private equity investor, and assume zero to little growth because they don't trust the analysis coming from Wall Street.
"We're private equity wannabes," says Goddard. "We look to control what we can. We can't predict the future, but the balance sheet is something real; something that's in the here and now."
The third piece, Moody says, is to find the appropriate investments and then weight them accordingly.
"We hate positions of 1% or less," he says.
The last piece is ensuring tax efficiency on the part of the portfolio. Moody claims turnover is currently less than 25%.
It all sounds pretty staid and conservative. Is there anything that really sets their philosophy apart?
Yes, according to Prima. The London Company takes a somewhat unusual approach in that it seeks to determine a company's optimal cost of capital, which it then uses to discount future cash flows. A discount of 40% or greater to the firm's determination of intrinsic value is sought in potential "buy" candidates, thus, the product's value bias. The firm conducts intensive research on each company which includes knowing management's capital allocation strategies. The methodology is similar to evaluations by private buyers (Goddard's "wannabes" comment), which can benefit returns in an environment in which private equity buyers, and mergers and acquisitions are prevalent.
According to Prima, "The small-cap strategy has been an exceptionally consistent performer on an absolute and risk-adjusted basis since its inception."
Specialty Manager Award
Forward Uniplan Advisors
Uniplan REIT Portfolio
As we said; second time's the charm, even more so for Forward Uniplan Advisors, as this is the firm's second win in as many years.
"The team started out in the balanced portfolio space," says president and portfolio manager Richard "Rick" Imperiale. "Our REIT portfolio came out of that."
It's a good thing, since REITs are what won them this year's award. REITs, according to Imperiale, raise portfolio returns while lowering volatility, something any introductory 101-investor should like, but getting the message out still takes a concentrated effort.
"Our first order of business is educating advisors to the benefits of REITs in the portfolio," he says. "Real estate is always local. New York always seems to never have enough office space. Chicago, on the other hand, always seems to have too much. It would be nice to simply transfer that capacity from New York to Chicago but as we all know, it doesn't work that way."
Understanding those supply and demand fundamentals are critical, he says, as are the products to best address those fundamentals.
Once the firm solves for location and geography issues, it moves to more qualitative issues; meaning the quality of the management team and how they'll take advantage of the relatively good real estate outlook in their local market.
"Just as advisors evaluate us when looking for help in managing the REIT portion of their portfolio, we too evaluate REIT managers to ensure the right fit," Imperiale says. "That qualitative analysis is something, I feel, that's a bit different from how other managers evaluate the opportunities in the space."
Prima would seem to agree, and notes Forward Uniplan has one of the longest and most consistent track records in the SMA REIT peer group, and has outperformed the Wilshire REIT Index 18 times in the last 22 years. The boutique firm manages roughly $500 million in assets, with $288 million in the REIT portfolio.
Prima considers Imperiale to be a pioneer in REIT investing and his extensive experience, willingness to move to cash in turbulent market environments such as 2008, and consistent sell discipline are the chief value-adds for the strategy. Imperiale and his team of six blend macro/microeconomic, quantitative and qualitative analysis to construct a concentrated (25 to 35 holdings), benchmark-aware portfolio with low turnover. The REIT strategy has had tremendous success throughout its history, with top quartile annualized alpha over all trailing time periods in the last 10 years.
Fixed Income Award
Sage Advisory Services
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio
When Bob Smith, (right), decides on a course of action, he doesn't mess around. After meeting Mark MacQueen, (left), at the wedding of a mutual friend, the two opened the door of Sage Advisory Services three weeks later.
Smith and MacQueen, both Merrill Lynch alums, decided on a fixed income focus, not a popular message in the tech bubble build-up of 1996.
"It was all equities at that time, so we knew we needed a specific strategy to get people interested," Smith recalls. "I also knew that in order to keep them engaged, we'd have to have complete transparency about what it was we were doing. It's their money; they should have access to it whenever they want and I had no problem with them looking over my shoulder about the moves I was making. That holds true today."
It's that strategy that brought the firm from nothing to their current $10 billion asset level, Smith says.
According to Prima, the intermediate fixed income portfolio ended 2010 with $3.7 billion in total assets. The investment team is reasonably staffed with 14 investment professionals. Like many taxable fixed income processes, Sage begins with its six member investment committee setting specific duration, yield curve and sector positioning for each portfolio. For the intermediate portfolio, maturities range from one to 10 years, and include all of the sectors of the taxable market, though the MBS sector is consistently underweighted relative to the Barclays Intermediate Aggregate. Sage leverages several street research sources in addition to its own internal research.
The approach in security selection is different from most managers in that Sage isn't looking for the "hidden gems" in the corporate credit space (typically 30% to 40% of the portfolio), but rather focuses on liquidity and relative value comparisons, looking to capture the broad beta of the preferred industry segment. Given this approach, the average corporate holding is just 1% to 1.5% and the typical account will hold more than 25 corporate issues. Treasuries, agencies and, to a lesser extent, the MBS holdings in the account are used to modify duration and provide liquidity.
As Prima notes, the performance of the intermediate strategy has been exceptionally consistent over the past 14 years. The composite has outperformed the Barclays Intermediate Government Credit Index in 12 of the 14 years, underperforming by a total of just over 1% in 2002 and 2003 combined. The outperformance has always been relatively small (only in 2009 was the outperformance more than 1% in a calendar year). On a risk-adjusted basis, the rolling two-year alpha on the product has been positive 96% of the time.
But Smith notes another area where the firm is finding alpha: the efficiency with which the firm executes its trades, keeping transaction costs low that it can then pass along to clients.
"It's an area where we find considerable alpha," Smith says. "We make the street compete against itself for the benefit of our clients."
International Award
Thomas White International
International ADR Strategy
"We really consider ourselves a research firm," says Tom White, a man who needs little introduction in the separately managed account space, but we'll do so anyway. The chairman and president of Thomas White International, White has over 40 years of investment experience, beginning in 1966 at Goldman Sachs. Stints as an officer of Lehman Brothers and managing director at Morgan Stanley soon followed, and White founded the firm that bears his name in 1992.
The firm's international ADR strategy is something that sets it apart, White says. Its research driven approach translates to "people on the ground," so to speak, most notably with the opening of its office in Bangalore, India.
"We have the capability not only to buy ADRs in many countries, but we often can actually trade securities on their exchanges, which gives our clients a distinct advantage," White says.
Prima notes that Thomas White was their primary candidate for the 2011 International SMA Award from the beginning, as the firm has the highest aggregate ranking (i.e. sum of the four category scores) of the five finalists. Additionally, the organization has been very stable over the years, has gradually built out retail SMA relationships and continues to execute their well-designed investment process. This was especially the case in 2010, when the portfolio was underweight emerging markets and overweight Japan (i.e. this was non-consensus positioning) and yet still managed to outperform the Index.
"The international ADR strategy is a derivative of the firm's ordinary share strategy; however, no apologies are necessary as it has performed equally well," Prima writes. "Our overall opinion of the firm is quite high, particularly in regard to the investment process, the pedigree of the investment team, and the consistency of performance."
Thomas White International employs a consistent, repeatable process that relies heavily on a quantitative system to rank stocks in deciles among over 100 valuation groups that are based on industries, sectors, regions, countries and combinations thereof, according to Prima. There are qualitative aspects to the process whereby team members analyze each company in terms of its management team, products and accounting quality, thus making the process more balanced than a purely quantitative approach.
Douglas Jackman, executive vice president and chief operations officer, runs the firm on a day-to-day basis. It is employee-owned, a business model Prima favors in its deliberations, and repeatedly White took pains to point to the expertise and performance of the entire team during our interview. The investment team consists of Wei Li, Ph.D.; David Sullivan II; Douglas Jackman; John Wu, Ph.D.; Jinwen Zhang, Ph.D.; and Marc Ma, Ph.D.


text:
Bike Place is the UK's newest trade-only show, this was its third year, and fittingly enough it takes place inside the new Wing complex at the Silverstone motor racing circuit. It may be a young show, but it does attract some very interesting brands from the the more boutique and high end of the road and mountain bike market. Here's our selection of the best road bits from the show.
Kuota Kuraro is new for 2013, and is their aero road bike offering. The company is well regared for its time trial bikes, and they've used this expertise to model this sleek road frame. The carbon monocoque frame has been shaped to reduce drag with optimised tube shapes.
Stiffness has been considered an important aspect, giving the popularity of aero bikes with sprinters. The PressFit BB30 bottom bracket is houses inside a hugely reinforced section of the frame. A tapered head tube features along with a reversible aero seatpost – so triathletes can get the steeper seat angle they're allowed to run. The frame costs £1,399, with complete bikes from £2,450.
The Kuota KOM Air is one of several models in the KOM range. As the name suggests, they're designed to be light. The frame is in the region of 770g, depending on frame size, making it one of the lightest production frames currently available.
There's a BB30 bottom bracket down below, a tapered head tube up front, and skinny stays out back. Cables are routed internally, as is the case with nearly every top-end race frame these days.
Wishbone seatstays with the rear brake cable routed through the top tube and popping out the top, just ahead of the seat tube.
Roux Bicycles is a brand new line of bikes with a focus on low prices and intelligent specifications. They're the work of distributor 2x2 Worldwide who wanted to put all their combined expertise into their own range of bikes. There's nine bikes at launch, and they're planning to expand the offering over the next year. The models they've brought to market already look very good.
The road bike range starts with the Vercors R3 at £529.99. It has a 7005 double butted aluminium frame built with a 8-speed Shimano A070 drivetrain and FSA Tempo compact chainset. Brakes are Tektro and there's space for mudguards
A little more money, £449.99, gets you the Vercors R7. IT has a similar 7005 double butted frame but has internal cable routing. Drivetrain is a 8-speed Shimano 2300 with an FSA compact chainset.
And at the top of the range is the £979.99 Vercors R9. It too has a 7005 frame but it's triple butted, so lighter, and has smooth welds and internal cable routing. The fork is carbon fibre. A full Shimano Tiagra 10-speed groupset is complemented with a Shimano R501 wheelset. Tyres are Schwalbe Lugano.
This model, the Conquest 3500 disc-equipped cyclocross bike, was grabbing a lot of attention. The frame is left raw and a clear coat lacquer is applied over the top, it looks very nice in real life.
It has Tektro Lyra mechanical disc brakes with a carbon fibre fork and cables routed internally. The frame is made from 7005 aluminium. A Shimano Sora 9-speed groupset completes the nice build. It costs £779.99.
Our final pick is the Carbon Drive G8, costing £899.99. Most interestingly is the fitting of a Suntour Swing Shock fork up front. It looks like an old AMP suspension fork from mountain bikes in the early 90s. A simple cantilevered design keeps it very simple and light, and it's the same height as a rigid fork. There's just 30mm of travel, enough to smooth out bumpy roads and potholes. The legs are magnesium to reduce weight, it's about 1.41kg on its own.
It's bolted to a 7005 aluminium frame with a Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal gear hub with a Gates carbon belt drive. It's a very nicely designed bike for commuting cyclists and is about as maintenance free as bicycles get.
We saw the first Torus prototype at this show last year, and this year the final production bikes were on show. Torus is created by the Andy Jones at Clee Cycles, the UK distributor for KCNC components. They've worked with Justin Burls, a titanium frame building specialist, and between them they've designed a nice range of 29er mountain bike hardtails and this single road frame.
It's designed as an all-rounder for racing, sportives and riding to work duties. The tubeset is plain gauge 3Al/2.5V titanium with 6Al/4V cowled dropouts. A traditional 38mm head tube houses a straight 1 1/8in steerer tube and the 31.9mm seat tube takes a 27.2mm post. IT's currently only available in a medium and large, with a small on the way. Weight for a medium is a claimed 1.32kg. A frame costs £899.
We were very impressed with what we saw. There's a winter training bike and disc-ready cyclocross frame on the way.
KCNC have a new set of Aero bars. They're a fully adjustable design and will cost £299.
Chris King
Chris King now do coffee beans and branded cups, to add to their existing tampers. The beans, which come in two roasts, Cielo Espresso and Machinist, will cost £15.99 a bag. The cups, available in espresso or regular sizes, will cost £23.
Back to what Chris King is really known for, there's a new R45 disc hub in the pipeline. The same as the regular R45 hub, with a 6-bolt mount for the new breed of disc-equipped road bikes coming onto the market. The front will cost £212 and the rear (with 135mm spacing) is £414.
As the bicycle world slowly moves away from external bottom brackets increasingly to press fit types, Chris King have developed a PressFit 30 and 24 bottom bracket. The PF30 weighs 178g, comes with a 5-year warranty and is available in 10 colours. No word on pricing yet.
The Fondriest TFZero highly impressed Stu when he tested it towards the end of last year, and here's a look at some of the slightly more affordable models.
The TF2 is the next step down from the TFZero, and where the latter is a fully custom model, the TF2 is available in stock sizes. It's a full carbon frame with a weight of just 950g, and a 345g fork. It uses their own aero seat post which weighs 190g.
Tapered headtube with top tube wraparound bulge at the top, and internal cable routing.
A Monolithic Bottom Bracket Shell...
Cables are routed internally and this limited edition version, with a snazzy carbon weave finish, has been designed specifically for Di2 and EPS electronic groupsets.
Next down in the range is the TF3, which visually has a very similar looking frame to the TF2. It has a different carbon fibre layup however and the weight is a little higher, but it's still under a kilo at 980g.
The fork is slightly up too at 370g, and it has the same scuplted frame profile as the more expensive TF2.
This is the new Magnus from Velocite. The young brand, founded in 2008, is ambitious and the Magnus is their flagship carbon bike. Frame weight is about 1kg and it's built from high-modulus carbon fibre and is packed with modern details. An oversized BB30 bottom bracket and a tapered head tube, 1 1/8in up top to 1 1/2in at the bottom.
The Helios is the aero bike in the Velocite range with a cutaway seat tube that manages airflow over the rear wheel, and a skinny-bladed fork. Again, it gets a BB30 bottom bracket and a tapered head tube but this time you get internal cabling throughout.
David has worked on the road.cc tech team since July 2012. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds.


text:
Past and Present Stevens Ducks are Invited to 2013 Homecoming Weekend
Join Stevens alumni, as well as current students and their families, at the university's annual tradition of Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 3-6, 2013. Homecoming brings together past and present members of the Stevens community for a weekend of exciting festivities and reunions.
Stevens Athletics welcomes all students, parents, alumni and fans to cheer on the current men's soccer, women's soccer, women's tennis and field hockey teams at their respective home games. The department will also host a special event to recognize receiving the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Institution of the Year honors for the 2012-2013 seasons. In addition, the Stevens Athletics Hall of Fame 2013 induction class - Waleed Farid '08 (men's basketball), Dawn Herring '08 (women's volleyball), Brandon MacWhinnie '08 (wrestling), William Marsillo '94 (men's soccer) and Tom Sobe '02 (baseball) - will be recognized at a formal dinner event honoring the most accomplished Stevens Athletics alumni.
"Homecoming at Stevens is a special time because it brings faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends all together on campus," Stevens Director of Athletics Russell Rogers. "Our student-athletes and teams involved in competition over the weekend especially look forward to the large crowds and festive atmosphere. This year should prove to be no exception as we are hosting a number of exciting Empire 8 Conference contests where the support of our fans is so important."
The Stevens Alumni Association will also host a variety of other celebrations and activities for returning alumni, including the Alumni Legacy Reception, which honors the legacy of families that graduated from Stevens.
"The reception brings together generations of alumni families – brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, fathers, mothers, grandparents and grandchildren – to celebrate the rich history of Stevens and welcome the next generation of graduates," said SAA Associate Executive Director Michael Smullen.
Homecoming also coincides with Freshman Parents Weekend, hosted by the Stevens Office of Student Life, which helps parents of the newest members of the Stevens community get a taste of their son's and daughter's early college experience. Relatives of the Class of 2017 are invited to participate in numerous fun and informative activities, including campus tours, a community barbeque, and seminars on undergraduate academics, careers and internships, and health and safety.
"This is a chance for families of Stevens freshmen to experience campus life and learn about all Stevens has to offer, while also enjoying all of the festivities of Homecoming weekend alongside the university community," said Dean of Student Life Ken Nilsen.
Throughout the weekend, there will be numerous performances by Stevens musicians and actors open to all Homecoming attendees. Listen to the Stevens Jazz Band, sing along with the Stevens Choir, and get tickets to Smokey Joe's Café, a musical revue featuring Stevens alumni which brings popular songs like "On Broadway," "Love Potion #9," "Jailhouse Rock" and "Stand by Me" to the stage.
"Usually when you think of Homecoming you think of sports, but at Stevens, you also think of the performing arts," said David Zimmerman, executive director of the DeBaun Center for Performing Arts at Stevens. "This year we are excited to feature many of our talented student and alumni musicians, actors and singers for performances, sing-alongs, a performing arts showcase, and a musical – great fun for all ages!"
To learn more about 2013 Homecoming Weekend and for a full schedule of events, please visit http://www.stevens.edu/sit/homecoming.


text:
294. That is my "unofficial" jar count for the 2011 growing season. I say unofficial because sometimes I gift a jar (or two) before I remember to write down how much a recipe yielded; other times, I just forget all together.
This year's number is slightly less than what I had anticipated, but then I remembered I did not put up beans (thank you cucumber beetles) or whole tomatoes (due to having quite a bit left over from 2010). Had I not cooked-down most of my tomatoes into sauce, and had not fought the worst bug battle to date, I'm sure my jar count would have surpassed 2010's unofficial count of 342!
Here is a glimpse into my just-off-the-kitchen, perfectly polished, meticulously arranged, and precisely labeled dry storage/canning pantry. In my dream home it would be an entire room!!!
What you don't see is my upstairs closet packed pull of the remaining jars! I couldn't get a decent picture, so just imagine 19 dozen more jars neatly packed into ball half boxes, all labeled and dated! Yeah, you could say I'm a little neurotic.
And encase you were wondering what delectable goodies fill those jars in waiting, I've got the rundown of what went into last year's canner.
SAUCES & CONDIMENTS: vanilla maple & plain applesauce, spicy & plain pasta sauce, ketchup, and bbq sauce.
SOUPS & STOCKS: tomato-garlic, 10 bean, split pea, vegetable stock
JAMS, JELLIES & MARMALADES: strawberry-rhubarb jam, clementine marmalade, grape jelly, quince jam, love apple jelly, tropical peach jam, tomato jam, malibu peach jam, corncob jelly, vanilla-pear jam, raspberry-apricot jam, raspberry jam, cherry-vanilla jam, yellow tomato jam, apricot jam, white grape peach tea jam, and strawberry-blueberry-rhubarb jam.
CHUTNEYS & FRUIT BUTTERS: vanilla bean peach butter, quince-apple chutney, peach-apple butter, rhubarb chutney, and spring conserves.
PICKLED: chard stems, radishes, and dilly scapes.
SALSAS & TOMATOES: tomato salsa, peach salsa, summer salsa, stewed tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, and tomatillo salsa.
FRUITS & VEGETABLES: carrots, roasted eggplant (it's almost pickled), beets, and peaches.
Yep, I think that covers just about everything! I may revisit this post (at another time) to link the recipes.
After skimming over all of those tasty titles, you may have noticed that a large number of them have yet to make it onto the blog. Lets just say I've got plenty of future posts at the ready! Who knows, maybe this will be the year I finally catch up… but I wouldn't bet the farm! 😛
Images and content copyright © 2009-2012 Danielle R Limoge.


text: by Helping Me Hear | Andover, Massachusetts, USA Is this your practice? Claim this listing Audio Hearing Center 1 Elm Sq # 21,Andover, Massachusetts 1810 978-475-9595 Visit Website Search Articles Search for: Follow Hearing Aids Choosing Styles Technology News Fitting Cleaning Repair Accessories Insurance Prices Hearing Loss Types Symptoms Causes Prevention Protection Testing Infections Tinnitus Symptoms Dizziness Treatment Relief GET ADVICE FROM DR. CLIFF Watch Dr. Cliff's popular videos on hearing, hearing aids and your health. Phonak Audeo M (Marvel) Hearing Aid ReviewBest Bluetooth Hearing Aids ReviewsThe 7 Best Hearing Aids of 2019Clogged Ears – Ear Problems5 Ways To Unclog Your Plugged Up Ears


text:
We know that you expect your goods to be delivered promptly and efficiently. That's why we have made it a priority at electricshop.com to deliver your goods as quickly as possible using our fast, efficient delivery service which comes direct to your home and is FREE!
Our bulk stocks mean that many orders are processed and delivered from stock, normally within 7-10 working days from payment anywhere within the UK mainland.
Deliveries direct from manufacturers or suppliers can take a little longer but we will keep you informed and updated.
- We deliver six days a week
- Smaller items are despatched via specialist carriers and are normally delivered within 5-7 days.
- Larger Items are despatched using our team of specialist nationwide carriers. Delivery can vary depending on where the stock is being despatched from. However you will receive a phone call within 48 hours verifying your order and an estimated delivery date.
In addition, together with our preferred installation partners, we can also offer installation services for complete Home Entertainment / Automation solutions including Lighting.
For a list of areas we cover, please see our Installation Service page.
Alternatively you can give us a call on 01707 802030 or send us an email


text:
NimbleMarketingPro necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 40 diseños de 3 diseñadores freelance.
Solarsoft Informance
Solarsoft Informance ANALYZES MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY IN FACTORIES. We have developed a custom interface for one of our customers, so that they can access performance metrics on-the-go throughout the facility.
We are a polished, professional technology company.
Informance is a product line of Solarsoft. You can learn more about Solarsoft at http://www.Solarsoft.com, and get to know the product at http://www.solarsoft.com/applicatio…igence.htm.
NOTE: There are three images showing mockups of our software in use on the iPad. The software is still in development, but we wanted to show what users might see when they're using the software. However, you shouldn't use these images ... we hope for a clean, modern welcome screen that gives the feeling of "analytics inside factories" or "manufacturing analysis".
The audience for this application are factory managers, production analysts, and factory workers.
#1 iPad portrait size: 1024x768px
#2 iPad landscape size: 768x1024px
#3 App icon (72x72px)
- design should have a modern, iPad "feel"
- incorporate the concept of analyzing/analysis inside the factory
- must use both the Solarsoft and Informance logos (Solarsoft in an upper or lower corner, Informance anywhere near factory/analytics)
- must include client's logo (Diageo)
- Diageo & Informance logos should be similarly sized
- Solarsoft logo should be somewhat larger than the other two logos
- may choose to include the client's product lines (visit http://www.diageo.com/en-row/ourbra…ands.aspx)
- Tagline: Manufacturing Intelligence for Diageo Perfect Plant
- final product must include 3 distinct pieces in Photoshop or Illustrator: 1 landscape launch, 1 portrait launch, 1 icon
- must follow spec guide located at http://www.appgraphix.com/ipad-icon…een-sizes/
- if stock images or photography used, they must be obtained from istock photo, and may not exceed 30 credits total for all images (we will purchase separately and provide to you), and final images must be include purchased items
Final artwork requirements:
* Original Photoshop or Illustrator layered file(s)
* Vector artwork, EPS for PC


text:
Watch Today full episode ASAP January 20 2019 in HD Video Online. Keep watching more Pinoy Tv Series. Watch all latest episodes of ASAP serial here from this page. Stay tuned to watch all latest Pinoy TV Shows online. ABS CBN Network Watch all Tv shows here Live In HD. ASAP January 20 2019 Full Episode of Pinoy Tambayan at Lambingan. Watch Online All Pinoy Shows HD lambinganTV
Video Source: Official Player
Telecast Date:January 20 2019
Distributed by:ABS–CBN – Official Website All Rights Reserved.
Watch All Dramas in HD Video Dailymotion,Youtube,Vimeo,pariwiki.ph


text:
On page 1 of this recent paper by Bousso and Susskind we read.
This question is not about philosophy. Without a precise form of decoherence, one cannot claim that anything really "happened", including the specific outcomes of experiments. And without the ability to causally access an infinite number of precisely decohered outcomes, one cannot reliably verify the probabilistic predictions of a quantum-mechanical theory.
According to the Law of Large Numbers there is no requirement that I need to perform an infinite number of experiments in order to verify that results will asymptotically approach an expected value. Why would Quantum Mechanics be any different?
UPDATE: I wanted to find an relatively simple proof of the strong law of large numbers, best I can come up with is the combination of the following two wikipedia entries:
Kolmogorov's Three series Theorem
Additional links are available in articles.


text:
The song of killer electrons
Light and sound are two fairly different things. They're both waves, but their similarity ends there. Sound is a compression wave: something happens (like a tree falling in a forest) that compresses air a little bit, and that wave travels outward at – shockingly – the speed of sound. Your ears detect it, and your brain translates it into sound.
Light is an electromagnetic wave. The whole story is fairly complicated, but it's an oscillation of electric and magnetic fields, and doesn't need a medium (like air or water) through which to travel.
But because they're both waves, light and sound have a frequency and an amplitude. If you're clever – and we humans are – you can convert one to the other… well, more like translate one to the other. It's not like it's a real conversion, with physical meaning (like converting feet to meters). But it can make for an interesting, and lovely, experience.
In August 2012, NASA launched a pair of satellites called Radiation Belt Storm Probes. They are designed to detect the electromagnetic radiation (also called EM for short) emitted as charged particles bip and bop around Earth's magnetic field, high above the surface. Various phenomena in the geomagnetic field produce radio waves – which are a form of light, but too low energy for our eyes to detect. These waves can have the same frequency as sound waves we can hear – a few Hertz, or oscillations per second – so they can be directly translated into sound. Scientists did that using RBSP data, and it sounds eerie and beautiful.
Here's the sound file of these waves. It's… odd. Like birdsong, but unearthly. You can understand why scientists call these waves "chorus".
And they're handy, too. Translating light to sound in this way can be helpful in understanding it, much like creating color pictures helps astronomers understand data better. The folks at NASA put together this video to explain all this:
This is actually pretty important stuff. Electrons blown from the Sun in the solar wind get trapped in Earth's magnetic field, like bugs in a net. Usually these are low energy particles, which eventually follow the magnetic field lines to the Earths poles, where they are deposited safely into our atmosphere. But sometimes, something caffeinates these electrons, pumping them up to very high energies. They travel so quickly that if they hit one of our satellites, they can damage the electronics! The reasons benign particles can turn into "killer electrons" isn't well understood, but it may have to do with these chorus waves. Understanding them better means we can protect our satellites better, and since we spend trillions of dollars on satellites, there's some decent motivation to make sure they work well.
Also? It's just cool. If you like the killer electron song, then you'll get a kick out of other sounds created the same way, from the aurora to meteors burning up in our atmosphere! You'll find links to those listed in Related Posts below.
Image of my good friend Dr. Nicole Gugliucci, aka Noisy Astronomer, used totally without her permission. Won't she be surprised?
Related Posts:
– Hear the Sun's roar
– Listen in on the Perseid meteor shower
– Saturn, the Forbidden Planet
– Phoenix sings
– Laying down the pulsar beat


text:
Very Funny quotes are considered by many just another sort-of-funny-stuff-around. I could not disagree more! Certainly, many very funny quotes that do not really teach us anything, and have been designed for this - it's fun. But behind many of them very funny quotes found in the wisdom of age, and we really can learn a lot from Them, if we only we take time to think. Take a moment to watch, while some - and you'll understand my point. Live every day as if it was your last, because one day you're right. How many times have we heard? One? Ten? Raining? I would say it is closer to the truth. But what really learn from this phrase? Well, not much. We will continue to live as if we're going to live forever ... Life is divided into a horrible and miserable.
Woody Allen
Well, I disagree. Life can be tough sometimes, but in general - we are solely responsible for its quality. We can make yourself happy - and we can make ourselves miserable, is basically everyone chooses for themselves. You see now? Also very funny quotes we may discuss and disagree on life! Life is not so bad, if you have a lot of luck, good physique, not too much imagination. Christopher Isherwoo Well, here I think it all up! Believe me, people, too much imagination can ruin everything. Been there, done. When you go to these ideas, it is very difficult to go back, so the basic idea is to just be thinking too much. And - the good doctor can be very useful sometimes with luck:) Here's another good in my opinion a very funny collection of quotes about life, you may consider, in particular: My advice to those who are about to begin, seriously, life, travel, must take their heart and the club.
Josh Billings
Yes, it is also 100%. Alas, that good heart does not - we must have this club in the other hand, if we really want to succeed. Do not use too often, though - this is not a very good thing to do! Finally, my favorite quotes about life very funny - Live life to the max ... Think of all the people on the Titanic who passed up chocolate dessert. Never give up something good in life. Miss dessert - and you'll never get anything. Makes you think about all the limits ... Maybe we really? After all. As they say - Do not take life too seriously Nobody gets out alive.
Article You May Be Interested In Reading : Portable Saunas and Cool Pictures
Here's VERY FUNNY Pictures for you!
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Land Based Activities
Water Based Activities
Air Based Activities
City - Colombo
Category - Inland Villas and Mansions
Distance from Colombo - 6.6 km (0 h 27 min Drive)
Distance from Airport - 36.5 km (0 h 58 min Drive)
Price Guide - Rates on Request
The Gateway Hotel Colombo
Nestled amidst a 38-acre coconut plantation bordering the tranquil Negombo Lagoon. The Gateway Hotel, Airport Garden,
D Villas-Nawala
D Villas is a small luxury boutique hotel situated in the picturesque village of Nawala (Sri Lanka), with easy access to the centre of the capital, Colombo.
The Ocean Front - Colombo
Located on Marine Drive, one of Colombo's premier addresses, The Ocean Front sits at the nexus of the business, entertainment and shopping districts. Guests are able to easily access major banks, restaurants...
Mount Lavinia Beach Hotel Sri Lanka
Mount Lavinia Beach Hotel is located on a stunning promontory overlooking the Indian Ocean, is the former residence of a governor of Sri Lanka.
The Galle Face Hotel-Colombo
Mount Lavinia Beach Hotel is located on a stunning promontory overlooking the Indian Ocean, is the former residence of a governor of Sri Lanka.
Taj Samudra Hotel-Colombo
This charming hotel welcomes you in style with soothing water fountains and an opulent lobby befitting Rajasthani royalty. Fresh and tranquil, nature blooms in every corner, while rich Indian design details...
Mount Lodge - Mount Lavinia
Mount Lavinia is the southern point of the City seascape. A Beachside enclave, where the view at night is like a fairyland of lights. The area is noted for its wonderful beachside Restaurants and cafes.
Maulie's Niche - Sri Jayawardenapura
Situated in Sri Jayawardena Pura the capital of Sri Lanka, near the House of parliament on the bank of Diyawanna Oya (lake) is a 4 bed roomed house presented as two independent units - fully furnished.
Ranjit's Ambalama - Colombo
Ranjit's Ambalama in Cinnamon Gardens provides comfortable rooms in an eco friendly setting with a leafy courtyard, verandhas and a large garden with thick vegetation.
SilviKris Villas-Colombo
The Luxury Villa is ideally located in a tranquil, yet convenient location in Colombo
The Park Street Hotel
A 250-year-old colonial bungalow and adjoining stores/warehouses that occupy an extent of two acres of land in the heart of Colombo.
Berjaya Hotel-Colombo
Wrapped in blue waters and abundant greenery, the hotel is located 10km south of Colombo, in the city of Mount Lavinia.
The Villa at Gods Little Acre-Moratuwa
The Villa at God's Little Acre is situated in a suburb south of Colombo. The location is no doubt the most scenic location in such close proximity to the capital city. We are the ideal location for those who...
Haus Chandra-Mount Lavinia
A quiet comfortable hotel in located at the end of Beach Road, Mount Lavinia, is a holiday maker's dream.
The Kingsbury-Colombo
The Kingsbury, as its very name suggests, is an ode to the golden age of grace and elegance, an era when royalty was celebrated the way it deserved to be. Well, in here, that is what you will feel like.
Villa Palma - Pamunugama
Built just over twenty three years ago but inspired by 1930's classical Spanish architecture, Villa Palma sits metres from an intimate reef beach in the tranquil coastal village of Pamunugama .
Villa Thalawatugoda
Built just over twenty three years ago but inspired by 1930's classical Spanish architecture, Villa Palma sits metres from an intimate reef beach in the tranquil coastal village of Pamunugama .
Sairas Garden Hotel - Colombo
Abutting an acre of park land at the end of a quiet by road in central Colombo.
Cinnamon Grand Hotel - Colombo
Welcome to a place where senses are delighted and desires indulged. A place of colours, sounds and unexpected pleasures
Cinnamon Lakeside - Colombo
Welcome to a place where senses are delighted and desires indulged. A place of colours, sounds and unexpected pleasures
Grand Oriental Hotel - Colombo
An iconic building at the heart of Colombo, placed by the seafront overlooking the busy harbour; gifted with history, it is where comfort blends with affordability for the most discerning traveler.
Cottage - Kotte
2 Luxuriously Furnished bedrooms with Queen Sized Beds & With Split Type A/c Fitted onto Each room
Alankara Villa-Battaramulla
A luxurious Boutique Hotel located in tranquil and intimate surroundings in the city of Colombo.
Lavinia Villa-Mount Lavinia
Our goal is to provide our guests with a comfortable stay in a cosy surrounding. The private and homely atmosphere Lavinia Villa offers, allows you to unwind and relax while sipping a hot cup of tea.
Ankinda Villa - Panadura
This is a brand new two storied house located in Panadura (just 24 km from Colombo on the Old Galle Road). It is built around a large Ankinda tree (a famous Sri Lankan herbal tree).
Imma Lake Resort-Panadura
Its a Luxurious Resort Built on the boundry line of bolgoda lake, Panadura, Sri Lanka. It has a capacity of 6 Luxury Rooms with WiFi Facility, Reception Hall, Mini Conference room and a Swimming Pool.
Pearl Grand Hotel-Colombo
A wonderful serenity has taken possession at the city of Colombo, with many luxury features and facilities just for you. Indulge in your dream of tranquility to experience the lifestyle of your choice in this...
Hotel Sapphire-Colombo
A warm WELCOME to all, to The Gem in the City. Where you could relax in a cozy and homely atmosphere that you are bound to appreciate from the moment you enter the gates of hotel sapphire you will experience a...
Omni Holiday Bungalow-Mount Lavinia
Omni Holiday Bungalow is conveniently situated in a residential area, just 12 km south of Colombo with easy access to Colombo city center
Colombo City Hotel
Situated in the heart of Colombo where many financial institutions and entertainment venues are found, the Colombo City Hotel is ideal for...
Hotel Renuka-Colombo
Hotel Renuka and Renuka City Hotel, brings you to the heart of Colombo and is conveniently located just steps away from some of the City's best attractions.
Palm Villa-Biyagama
Indulge in a quiet and scenic environment amidst a vast coconut grove and rediscover Sri Lanka's laid back village lifestyle.
Colombo Courtyard
Colombo Courtyard is a luxury boutique hotel situated in the heart of Colombo. Nestled in the heart of the city of Colombo, ...
Colombo Haven
We welcome you to "Colombo Haven" with the cultural tradition of clasped hands and warm hearts. Serving our guests is our passion and privilege,..
Global Towers Hotel-Colombo
Welcome to Global Towers Apartment Hotel which is conveniently located in the city of the Colombo and the only city Hotel where you can enjoy a long stretch of golden beaches.
Hotel Janaki-Colombo
We offer you a warm welcome from the moment you step in and make you feel at home from that very moment. Our friendly staff will pamper you with true hospitality. It is indeed a home away from home.
Indra Regent Hotel-Colombo
We offer you a warm welcome from the moment you step in and make you feel at home from that very moment. Our friendly staff will pamper you with true hospitality. It is indeed a home away from home.
Mount Breeze Hote-Mount Lavinia
Located in Mount Lavinia which is just 12 Km away from Colombo City Center. And 40 Km from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Omega Regency-Colombo
Omega Regency is one of the most pleasing places in Colombo to stay. A star class Colombo hotel of great repute, it embodies the passion of business and leisure traveller, with spacious rooms and suites of...
Pearl City Hotel-Colombo
Stay at Pearl City Hotel and experience the authentic and warm atmosphere of Sri Lanka, right in front of the hotel's door steps. Relax in the comforts of friends and efficient service.
Supun Arcade Residency-Colombo
Supun Arcade Residency is a city apart hotel located in the heart of Colombo city, offering all the comforts of home within a luxurious setting. The 40-suite complex, spread across a spacious eight floors...
The Ocean Front-Colombo
The Ocean Front hotel sits in the upscale Colpetty neighbourhood, in the heart of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Unique Towers-Colombo
Unique Towers presenting its guests with inimitable experiences and amenities, is centrally placed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in the exclusive neighborhood of Hyde Park. Opulently designed
Zylan Luxury Villa-Colombo
The cool, elegant property is decorated in charmingly understated soft hues of coffee and cream which accentuates the vibrancy and colours of Jennifer's art which adorns the walls of the public rooms as well...
Oak Residencies-Kiribathgoda
Ever wanted a sanctuary within the city? A place you could kick back without the noise and bustle of Colombo and yet be a stone's throw away from the civilized
Flower Garden Stay Apartment-Malabe
2 Airconditioned rooms, Living room, Pantry & kitchen, Bathroom, Free WIFI internet etc.
Hotel Kitul Kanda - Meepe
Welcome to Kithul Kanda the secluded mountain resort that provides the perfect mix of a serene village atmosphere, luxurious accommodation and convenient travel, being just about half hour away from the...
Ceylon City Hotel - Colombo
Ceylon City Hotel welcomes you to the most modern tourist hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. While you enjoy your stay at the pearl of Indian Ocean we will bring you the best hospitality.
Hotel Escondite - Kotte
A hideout in the suburbs of Colombo city- Escondite is an Eco friendly chic new boutique bungalow located in the capital city of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. With a sparkling fresh water pool, open air gourmet...
Cinnamon Red
Are you a contemporary new age traveller who is discerning and independent? Then Cinnamon red, Sri Lanka\'s first lean luxury hotel is for YOU!
Havelock Bungalow - Colombo
Governor, Hand-written Deed and Peppercorn The year was 1892 and what was known as "Ceylon" was under British rule. Governor Havelock transferred the title to the land (on which the bungalows are built),...
Rockwell Colombo
Welcome to Rockwell Colombo Rockwell Colombo, a small boutique style hotel with elegantly appointed suites and rooms located in the heart of Colombo, the modern bustling city which is the gateway to the...
Ivylane - Colombo
Ivy Lane Colombo Was Foundered By Travel Enthusiasts, And Was Established With A Passion To Provide A High Quality Accommodation Option For Travelers
Best Western Elyon Colombo
BEST WESTERN Elyon Colombo We are proud to be the only BEST WESTERN in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Conveniently located within close proximity to downtown Colombo attractions,
D Pavilion Inn - Colombo
D Pavilion inn was formerly known as the Wimalasurendra Walawwa, named after its first proprietor, the famous engineer D. J. Wimalasurendra, the "the father of Hydropower" in Sri Lanka. The colonial villa...
Ellens Place - Colombo
Ellen\'s Place offers guests luxurious accommodations perfected by a myriad of amenities and blissful comforts. Offering ample living space, all accommodation options at the hotel have been elegantly designed
OZO - Colombo
SMART. SIMPLE. SAVVY !!!!! Maybe you're the adventurous type, someone who revels in discovering those one-of-a-kind experiences that gives a destination its flair.
The Mangrove - Colombo
Luxury living in a private and personal setting, that's close to the city, but also a quiet escape on the outskirts of Colombo. Make your holiday your very own and relax and rejuvenate in comfort
Lavinia Lodge - Mount Lavinia
Situated in close proximity (2 min walk) to Mount Beach, historical Mount Lavinia Hotel and Mount Lavinia Town with easy access (2-3 min) to Super Markets (Keells Super/Cargills Food City/Family Super), Coffee...
The Margosa Residencies - Mount Lavinia
FitsAir launches their newest luxury accommodation facility, The Margosa Residencies, Mount Lavinia commencing from the 25th July 2015. Whilst assuring you of our highest standards of service and...
THE VILLA 'W' - Colombo
The Villa 'W', is a beautiful luxury villa set amidst the natural splendor of a tropical garden, the perfect hideout for a serene and relaxing getaway. The Villa was designed by renowned architect...
Mirage Colombo
Mirage Colombo, the latest addition to Sri Lanka's star class accommodation. "A brand new luxury hotel with 04 star facilities". Offer sophisticated business and leisure travellers the best of everything.
Lake is a 13-room Bed & Breakfast Budget Hotel. Down a quiet residential lane in the heart of commercial Colombo, Lake was one of the first accredited Tourist accommodations in Sri Lanka.
The Sovereign Hotel
The Sovereign hotel is the \'a la mode\' addition to the capital city of Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, conveniently located within minutes of a drive to the commercial city of Colombo.
Aloka Luxury Apartment-Mount Lavinia
A place where you go for a holiday but yet feel as if your at home, with the beautiful Mount Lavinia beach at your door step, we at Aloka make sure you have the perfect holiday experience.
Borella Apartment
2 A/C & 1 non A/C rooms (all rooms with fans), 2 attached toilets/bathrooms with 24 hrs hot water
Authentic Ceylon - Colombo
We at Authentic Ceylon like to bring you the most authentic Sri Lankan hotels, villas and lodges for your stay in Sri Lanka.
Fairview Hotel Colombo
To your home in Colombo where you can leave the cares of a demanding journey behind
Residence by Uga Escapes
Nestled between leafy Park Street and the lakeside Buddhist shrine of Gangarama, the Residence is a unique boutique hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city.
Tropic Inn - colombo
Tropic Inn offers comfortable accommodation situated within 1.5 km from Mount Lavinia Railway Station and 200 m walk from Mount Lavinia Beach.
The Mirror Mansion
Situated at the edge of a bird sanctuary, whilst being only 20 mins from Colombo,
Hotel Galadari
Presenting sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, Galadari Hotel is just 320 m from Colombo World Trade Centre.
Movenpick Hotel
With open spaces, modern designs and cool features, Mövenpick Hotel Colombo is the first new five-star hotel to open in Colombo in 25 years, making it the perfect base from which to explore this capital city.
Mandarina Colombo
Discover true luxury at Mandarina Colombo, set in the heart of the bustling business capital amidst irresistible vistas of the Indian Ocean.
Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo
In 2005, Tintagel, the family home of the Bandaranaike's was leased to Udayshanth Fernando by the family to become Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, a unique private hotel.Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo...
55TG's Boutique Suites
Featuring free WiFi and a sun terrace, 55TG\'s Boutique Suites offers accommodation in Colombo. Free private parking is available on site.
The Fern Cove Villa - Battaramulla
Offering an outdoor pool and year-round outdoor pool, The Fern Cove Villa is located in Battaramulla in the Colombo District Region
Hotel Clarion
Hotel Clarion is located in Kiribathgoda, 3.2 km from the famous Kelaniya Temple. It offers free parking, free Wi-Fi in public areas and a well-equipped fitness center with personal trainers.
Land Based Activities
Water Based Activities
Air Based Activities


text:
As Batman has his trusted and loyal valet Alfred, director Christopher Nolan has his go-to cinematographer Wally Pfister.
As the director readies "The Dark Knight Rises," the third installment of his revered reboot of the Batman film franchise, it's a fait accompli that his longtime director of photography Pfister, who's made six films with Nolan, will be fighting the good fight at his side.
"I really follow Chris," Pfister, who's camera has created emblematic images for each of Nolan's feature films, tells PopcornBiz. "He could go marching off a cliff and I'd be right there with him. He's just such an exceptionally talented director and writer, and so really I just kind of roll with it from one picture to the next. He gives us something amazing as the audience, whether it's a Batman picture or 'The Prestige' or 'Insomnia' or 'Inception.' It's something completely different every time and I'm always there for the ride."
Pfister says the cinematic imagery starts to take life the moment he delves into the screenplay for Nolan's latest project, with the director has typically shaped himself with his collaborators.
"It always begins with his word," says Pfister. "It's always like reading Chris's words and getting my early inspiration that way and then when I start to break it down in my head then Chris and I get together and we have conversations and it really is just a series of conversations that leads to the visual blueprint for the film. It's a great experience with Chris. We've been working together for eleven years and it's a fantastic collaboration – and one that I cherish."
It might surprise some admirers of Pfister's arresting camerawork in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," considered to be the definitive cinematic interpretations of the 71-year-old superhero, that he very rarely turned to the comic book source material when envisioning the imagery.
"I didn't really look at the comic books for inspiration for the Batman films," he says. "We looked at much more realistic kind of films, more gritty films, things, oddly enough, like 'Apocalypse Now'. We wanted it to be a real film. We wanted Batman to be a real person, and so the look followed that. So much more gritty than the previous films have been."
Meanwhile, as they say in the comics, Pfister formed a team-up with another powerful director, Bennett Miller ("Capote"), and a group of cinema superpowers. "I finished a film called 'Moneyball' with Brad Pitt, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Jonah Hill. It's a baseball movie, and it's a great film," he says. "Brad is a regular guy. I really, really enjoy working with him. I think also he's a fantastic actor, too. He really brought so much to that part and he crafted it to work for him and it really made sense to me. He was such a lovely guy to be with on set and he's such a pleasure to work with in general and creatively just smart and strong."


text:
The JewelleryClub necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 172 diseños de 39 diseñadores freelance.
The Jewellery Club
I am a fully qualified jeweller with 24 years experience in jewellery design and manufacturing, repair and restoration. My passion for jewellery is about creating personal handcrafted high quality jewellery. This business is going to be about teaching basic jewelcrafting skills to anyone! But having lots of fun along the way.
There are several target markets.
1: Engaged couples/couples wishing to make their own wedding bands for each other or another special occasion.
2: Groups looking for a fun activity eg hens/bachorette parties, birthdays,etc.
3: Individuals who wish to learn how to design and make precious jewellery out of silver/gold and using gemstones.
Looking for a logo to go with the text "the jewellery club" keen for ideas for both the logo and text.
We are keen to turn the logo into some sort of stamp to stamp items with - so needs to work for stamping into jewellery pieces.
Want it to be recognisable, elegant and simple.
Perhaps only one or two colours maybe metallic/ metal style colouring?
perhaps encompassing a silver ring?! Or metalwork?
Convey handmade - but also that the items they produce are basically good enough to be in a jewellery store.
Want the logo to establish TJC as both a place to learn an enjoyable new skill as well as a destination to design and craft individal pieces perhaps even meet new people and have some fun!
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.