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HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR AFFILIATE PROGRAM WISELY | by Wealth Is Your Health | Sep, 2021
HOW TO choose YOUR AFFILIATE PROGRAM WISELY
Affiliate marketing programs have sky-rocketed in popularity in the past few years. As one of the fastest and easiest ways to start an online home business people are jumping on this wave by the millions. Affiliate programs offer merchants the opportunity to employ vast armies of sales people who get paid for the results they achieve.
The rewards for affiliates can be very good, and the skilled affiliate marketer can earn many thousands of dollars per month. This win-win situation has led to an explosion in the number of affiliate programs that are available to affiliate marketers.
With this growth of affiliate opportunities have come many questions, such as: how do you go about choosing the right affiliate program for you? What qualities should you look for in a program and which gives you a good chance of making a sustainable income? Below are some tips that will help you to evaluate affiliate programs, and help you to avoid wasting time and money.
What Commissions Does the Program Pay?
It is very important that you know how much you can expect to earn from a sale. There is no point in spending time and money promoting a product that pays very small commissions. You could end up spending more on marketing than you make on sales. It is probably best to stick with marketing products with a high commission value, unless you have found a niche market where you can sell vast quantities of product, and make substantial commissions on your volume of sales.
How Much Traffic is their Website Getting?
Try to discover the amount of traffic the affiliate owner's website is already receiving. Alexa.com is a very useful tool for doing this research. If the website is ranked in the top 100,000, the merchant is getting a good volume of traffic, so it's possible that there may already be too many affiliates. If it is ranked below 500,000 it may be no good, or it could be a golden opportunity to make some real money by becoming one of the first affiliates!
Always research a merchant's product if their website has a low traffic ranking. It may be a good idea to buy the product yourself if you can afford it. Otherwise you could do a search to find out if there are any negative reviews about it on the internet. Be careful who you listen to though because many people are in the habit of bashing affiliate programs with nothing to really support their comments. If you find a large amount of negative reviews with little positive ones then it would probably be a good idea to stay away from that affiliate program.
How Often Are Affiliate Commissions Paid?
Some affiliate programs pay commissions every week; some once a month, others only pay every quarter. It is important that you know how often you can expect a pay check if you are going to have financial control over your business.
Do you have the financial resources to continue to market a product if you have to wait a long time before you get paid?
would also be wise to find out the minimum commission that you have to earn before you get paid.
Does The Affiliate Program Use Tracking Cookies?
Many customers do not buy on their first visit to a merchant's website. It is important therefore that the merchant uses cookies for their affiliate program, so that you get credit if the customer returns and buys at a later date. Check out how long the cookies last. The longer the cookies lasts; the better the chances of you getting paid!
Does the Affiliate Program Pay on Subsequent Sales?
Some programs will only pay commission on sales that come through customers visiting their site via a direct link from your site. They pay you nothing for any subsequent purchases that the customer makes if they visit the merchants site directly. It is important that you get paid no matter what route the customer returns by if you are to build a sustainable affiliate business.
What Marketing Resources Does the Affiliate Program Offer?
Look at the type and quality of the marketing resources that they provide.
Do they provide articles, advertisements, or other content that you can use to put on your site?
Do they provide free guides, special offers, free viral e-books, or product samples that you can send to your list?
If the marketing material they provide is good then it is likely that the business will provide good support for their affiliates. Finding the right affiliate program for you can be tough to do. The best advice is to do your own research, follow the advice above, and listen to your instincts. Use the above questions as an aid to finding an affiliate program that enables you to reach your financial goals. You never know… You might just strike affiliate marketing gold!
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Adele Officially Files for Divorce From Husband Simon Konecki
Adele is officially moving on from her marriage to Simon Konecki.
According to TMZ, the "Hello" hitmaker filed for divorce from her husband on Thursday (September 12) five months after announcing their split. The couple, who were together for seven years, share a son named Angelo.
"Adele and her partner have separated," her rep said in a statement at the time. "They are committed to raising their son together lovingly. As always they ask for privacy. There will be no further comment."
Though the singer never publicly addressed the breakup after that, she did take to Instagram in May to reflect on everything she's overcome. "This is 31...thank f--king god," Adele wrote in the caption.
"30 tried me so hard but I'm owning it and trying my hardest to lean in to it all," she continued. "No matter how long we're here for life is constant and complicated at times. I've changed drastically in the last couple years and I'm still changing and that's okay. 31 is going to be a big ol' year and I'm going to spend it all on myself."
Meanwhile, a recent People report claims new Adele music is just around the corner with sources saying she plans to drop a new album — that will be just as personal as her previous records — later this year.
"She is definitely getting ready both mentally and physically to promote new music. It seems it will happen later this year," the insider explained. "She talks about last year as a very difficult year, and she's said in the past that creating new music is almost like therapy. You can tell that she is ready to share with her fans."

subset: commoncrawl


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Executive Summary
In today's business era, it is a given that to be effective, salespeople need to embrace the art of negotiation. However, there have been few studies that demonstrate the impact of negotiation skills development on sales performance and business results. A recent study was designed to assess the impact of a sales performance improvement process created around Wilson Learning's Negotiating to Yes (NTY) workshop.
The effectiveness of Negotiating to Yes was clearly demonstrated in our study of a large U.S. company that provides a variety of environmental services to industrial clients (hazardous waste disposal, site cleanup services, etc.). The results showed:
- Positive improvement in all skills and performance outcomes
- That 53% of the total revenue value (approx. $2.5 million/year) of individual sales opportunities was attributed to negotiation skills acquired in the improvement process
- That Negotiating to Yes had the greatest impact on improvement in client relationships, better internal staff interactions, and better negotiation outcomes leading to more profitable business
The results strongly support the value of Negotiating to Yes in improving the salespeople's negotiation skills and work performance. In turn, having salespeople who excel in the art of negotiation has helped the company gain better financial return, as well as improved overall organizational performance.
Negotiating to Yes and Effective Negotiation Skills
A successful negotiator knows the importance of finding balance between accomplishing business objectives ("keeping your eyes on the prize") and nurturing and building relationships with clients for long-term mutual success. However, many salespeople have difficulty finding this balance. Negotiating to Yes is therefore designed to teach salespeople skills for focusing on business objectives while simultaneously enhancing client relationships.
Negotiating to Yes is a negotiation workshop jointly developed by Wilson Learning and William Ury, coauthor of the best-selling book Getting to Yes. We believe that balance between achieving business objectives and nurturing client relations can be achieved by following three principled negotiation processes: aligning people, exploring issues, and reaching agreement. Aligning people teaches salespeople how to gain perspective on the negotiation and create an environment in which "people issues" do not prevent the achievement of positive negotiation outcomes. In exploring issues, salespeople are taught how to identify interests beyond what's obvious and to offer options accordingly. Finally, in reaching agreement, salespeople learn how to create win-win offers and to develop alternative options if a mutually satisfying agreement is not easily reachable.
For this study, we were interested in four principle research questions:
- Does Negotiating to Yes improve the salespeople's negotiation skills?
- Do the new skills improve the salespeople's productivity?
- What is the financial return that can be attributed to Negotiating to Yes?
- Which Negotiating to Yes skills have the greatest impact in improving business?
The Study
This study was conducted in a large U.S. environmental services company that provides a variety of services to industrial clients (hazardous waste disposal, site cleanup services, etc). Negotiating to Yes was implemented to support a new pricing strategy. Management was aware that the new strategy could result in a significant increase in pricing to some of their clients and would have a major impact on customer loyalty. Thus, it was essential that all salespeople knew how to effectively negotiate on the new pricing strategy and help clients see additional value in the company's services.
It is Wilson Learning's (and our client's) belief that training can only be effective when it is implemented within the context of a broader performance improvement process. Therefore, the Negotiating to Yes implementation in this company consisted of multiple activities centered on the Negotiating to Yes skills. Specifically, the 120 salespeople involved in this study:
- First identified specific and important sales opportunities
- Participated in a two-day Negotiating to Yes workshop, during which they developed negotiation strategies for the identified sales opportunities
- Received biweekly tips and e-mail reminders after the workshop over a 12-week period to reinforce the use of the skills
- Had available one-on-one coaching to address problem areas and provide support
Performance Measures
The first step was to determine how to measure performance. To prove the impact of negotiation skills development on the company, we wanted to use a strategically significant performance metric. We were interested in both the salespeople's perceptions of improvement and the real bottom-line outcome. Thus, the study consisted of two parts:
- Participant Surveys: Participants were asked to fill in an online survey approximately three months after the program to determine their use of Negotiating to Yes skills and the impact of those skills on critical business outcomes; 120 people responded to the online survey.
- Opportunity Reviews: During the Negotiating to Yes workshop, each participant developed a strategy for a specific negotiation. We then sent a follow-up survey to determine how Negotiating to Yes skills affected the negotiation outcome and the dollar value attributed to the workshop; 47 people responded to the follow-up surveys. We selected 18 specific opportunities that were significant to the organization's success and had been completed during the six months of the study. We then conducted in-depth interviews on these 18 sales opportunities to gain greater insight into the outcomes.
Our findings provided strong support for the value of Negotiating to Yes and this performance improvement process in improving the salespeople's negotiation skills and the company's overall business results.
Improvement in Negotiation Skills
The following graph shows the results of the participant survey on skill improvement. Participants were asked to indicate how much their negotiation skills improved as a result of the program, from No Change (1) to Significant Change (4). As the graph shows, there was significant improvement in all skills. Eight of the ten skills received average ratings of 3.0 or above, and all ten were rated 2.7 or above.
Impact on Work Performance
The new negotiation skills, in turn, had a significant impact on work performance. In the survey, we asked salespeople if there was a change in specific performance outcomes that resulted from participation in Negotiating to Yes. Participants agreed that the skills they learned in Negotiating to Yes had a positive impact on their performance outcomes. The results of the survey are shown in the graph at right. On average, salespeople agreed that all skills showed meaningful improvement.
In another question, we asked the participants how much improvement in their work performance they would attribute to Negotiating to Yes. As shown in the graph at right, over half (52%) attributed 25–50% of their productivity improvement to Negotiating to Yes—a significant improvement when you consider all of the other factors that affect performance.
Financial Impact of Negotiating to Yes
Of course, one of the most important questions associated with any training and development effort is its impact on the financial performance of the organization. We were able to explore this question through an in-depth analysis of selected sales opportunities.
As part of the Negotiating to Yes improvement process, we asked each participant to complete a negotiation plan for a specific client opportunity. After the anticipated closing date of the sales opportunity, we e-mailed the participants asking them the status of the negotiation; 47 salespeople responded that their sale had in fact closed. We selected 18 opportunities on which to conduct in-depth interviews. In these interviews, we asked how the participants used the Negotiating to Yes skills, the effect of these skills on the sale, the total dollar value of the sale, and the percentage of the sale they would attribute to Negotiating to Yes.
The graph at right shows the impact of Negotiating to Yes on those 18 sales opportunities. The total value of those sales opportunities was approximately $5 million. When asked the percentage of the sales they would attribute to their Negotiating to Yes skills, salespeople attributed approximately $2.7 million of that $5 million to their Negotiating to Yes skills (about 53%).
Of course, not all salespeople attributed the same amount of the negotiation outcome to Negotiating to Yes. The graph at right shows individual Negotiating to Yes contribution to the negotiation outcome, as reported by the 18 salespeople we interviewed. As you can see, they range from 0% to 100%, with an average of 53% of the final sale attributed to Negotiating to Yes skills.
Finally, while we do not have total actual costs associated with implementing the Negotiating to Yes development program, it was estimated that about $2,000 was invested for each salesperson (combining the workshop costs, coaching sessions, travel and living expenses, evaluation, and other miscellaneous costs). Thus, for this group of 18 salespeople, the estimated total cost of $36,000 returned $2.7 million in revenue, or a 75:1 ROI.
Negotiating to Yes Skills Having the Greatest Impact on Performance
Combining the results of the surveys and interviews gave us a clear picture of the impact of Negotiating to Yes skills. The skills that helped this group of salespeople the most in their negotiations were:
- The ability to step back from the negotiation to better understand the client's perspective and to manage their own emotions
- The ability to separate people problems from the real issues
- The ability to ask the right kinds of questions in order to identify the underlying issues and concerns
- The ability to anticipate what clients would do during difficult negotiations and develop alternative sets of actions if the negotiation failed
This was effectively summarized in the statement of one of the participants:
". . . we were certainly more aware of the participants from the client company and their stakes and possible positions. This helped immensely as we proceeded through the negotiation process and had favorable results."
This study showed that a sales performance improvement process centered on Negotiating to Yes had the intended impact:
- Better negotiation outcomes and increased sales revenue
- Improved client relationships for future business opportunities
- Better internal staff interaction
Although the study was conducted in a U.S.-based company in the environmental services industry, we believe that the findings have implications for organizations in other industries as well.
First, the findings provide support to the significance of the art of principled negotiation for salespeople in general. Strategic initiatives, like pricing increases, could easily affect client relationships and influence organizational performance negatively. This did not happen with this company! Clearly, having the ability to focus negotiations on sales objectives and, at the same time, build and nurture client relationships improved the performance of the salespeople. This, in turn, proved to be advantageous for organizational performance, improving revenue and increasing customer loyalty.
Furthermore, these findings provide support to the value of viewing training within the context of performance improvement. The Negotiating to Yes implementation went beyond a two-day negotiation workshop. A variety of Learning Transfer Technologies (LTTs), such as biweekly e-mail tips and reminders, individual coaching, and sales opportunity reviews, were applied. We also worked closely with top executives and participants' managers to ensure that Negotiating to Yes skills learned in the program were incorporated into participants' daily work processes and supported. We believe that these types of support, beyond the two-day training workshop, made a significant contribution to the client's results.
In summary, the findings of our study indicate that implementation of Negotiating to Yes as part of a performance improvement initiative had a positive impact on the company's performance. Negotiating to Yes supported the company's strategic initiatives and contributed to the increase in salespeople's productivity. We believe that companies with a similar need to make salespeople part of their sustainable competitive advantage can benefit from Negotiating to Yes implementation as well.


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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice dismissed claims that Edward Snowden's highly classified leaks have weakened the Obama presidency and damaged U.S. foreign policy, insisting that the United States will remain "the most influential, powerful and important country in the world."
Videos by Rare
Rice's remarks were her only public ones on Snowden and came in an interview with The Associated Press as she prepared to leave the U.N. post and start her new job Monday as President Barack Obama's national security adviser.
She said it's too soon to judge whether there will be any long-term serious repercussions from the intelligence leaks by the former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Hong Kong and then Russia after seizing documents disclosing secret U.S. surveillance programs in the U.S. and overseas, which he has shared with The Guardian and Washington Post newspapers.
"I don't think the diplomatic consequences, at least as they are foreseeable now, are that significant," she said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have called Snowden's leaks a serious breach that damaged national security. Hagel said Thursday an assessment of the damage is being done now.
"There will always be difficult issues of the day," Rice said, "and frankly this period is not particularly unique."
"I think the Snowden thing is obviously something that we will get through, as we've gotten through all the issues like this in the past," she said in the interview Thursday before heading to a lunch in her honor hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The United States has charged Snowden with espionage and demanded his extradition, but China and Hong Kong let him fly to Moscow and the Russians have so far refused. The Snowden case has not only raised tensions with Moscow and Beijing but with many Americans concerned about the NSA collecting their Internet and phone data.
Rice dismissed commentators who say Snowden's disclosures have made Obama a lame duck, damaged his political base, and hurt U.S. foreign policy, saying: "I think that's bunk."
"I think the United States of America is and will remain the most influential, powerful and important country in the world, the largest economy, and the largest military, (with) a network of alliances, values that are universally respected," she said.
Rice said Obama has "significant ambitions and a real agenda" for his second term, pointing to major speeches last week on disarmament and nonproliferation and this week on the impact of climate change.
As for Snowden, she said, "It's often, if not always something, and U.S. leadership will continue to be unrivaled, demanded, expected — and reviled and appreciated around the world."
Rice, 48, is expected to bring her outspoken and aggressive negotiating style to her new, higher-profile job.
At the United Nations, she has been a bold and blunt ambassador, successfully pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran and North Korea and international intervention in Libya. But Libya ultimately caused her greatest professional disappointment when she became the face of the administration's bungled account of the terrorist attack in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.
The furor scuttled Rice's long-held hopes of becoming secretary of state when it became clear she would not gain Senate confirmation to that post, which went to John Kerry.
Rice has called her 4 1/2 years at the U.N. "the best job I ever had," and told The AP she would be "hard-pressed" to think of any better place to prepare for her new post.
"You get to deal with … literally every country under the sun, and I think you get a unique feel for the orientations, interests, styles, of a wide, wide range of countries," she said.
To succeed at the U.N., Rice said, it's crucial to form alliances and coalitions, which change depending on the issue, so a friend one day can be an opponent the next day.
Rice has sparred repeatedly with Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who can be equally blunt. But despite being on opposite sides of the Syrian conflict, which has paralyzed council action to end the fighting,Rice said they agree perhaps 85 percent of the time.
"I like and respect him," she said. "I think he likes and respects me, and it's been a good relationship. That's why I asked him to speak at my farewell. I asked people who were important to me. He's a very smart and a very funny guy and he can be a pain in the butt, too — and I tell him that to his face!"
At the farewell, Churkin delivered an off-the-record roast of Rice, without notes, that had some 300 diplomats, U.N. officials and journalists doubled-over in laughter.
The Syrian conflict will be near the top of Rice's agenda in Washington as will the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea.
Rice said the result of Iran's presidential election earlier this month, a victory for Hasan Rouhani, a moderate who supports direct talks with Washington, "was a dramatic demonstration of the Iranian peoples' dissatisfaction with the status quo."
"To the extent that the leadership feels obliged to heed popular opinion — obviously we would hope they would — it may perhaps signal a readiness to move in a different direction, and if so, we would welcome it," she said.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.


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There are many potentially harmful (and sometimes deadly) diseases which can be prevented with vaccines. Why wouldn't you want to protect your pets from these diseases?
We are proud to offer a wide range of vaccinations. However, not every pet needs each one. It all depends on where you live and your pets' lifestyle. For this reason, we recommend discussing both of these topics with our helpful staff and your veterinarian. We want only the best for your pets.
We believe vaccinations are important for your pets' overall health, so be sure to keep your pets' vaccinations up to date. If you have any questions about the vaccinations we offer or if you want to make sure your pets are current on their vaccinations, please contact us today at (409) 838-2510.


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The City
Artist: Wu-tang Clan
Album: Wu-tang Forever
[unknown conversation which carries over from the last track]
That's black?
Whattup god?
Aiyyo shorty got beef with that nigga? word?
*blam, blam blam* oh shit!!! yo!
Hold the fuck up
Aiyyo yo, eight niggaz down (just enough)
Fuckin around with my sound (ci-ty)
Yo, bring backup (ci-ty)
Fuckin with me, and mine
[inspectah deck]
Check it, yo
The world is shifty, we livin just enough for the city
The rough witty killa bee sting just like the jiggy
My family stone, foes attempt to gradually clone
Label them my anus and the casualty's home
It glows coffin, wu stormin like the light brigade
Ride the wave like frankie avalon
As i decipher aids crime pays
The law's long arm be tryin to strongarm, walkin timebombs
Before i bomb firearm
The chalm smoker, i hit the dread with a poster
He toke with his own love and expose the black toaster
Composer was shook
I took your bad looks for joke get your back broke
Deep throat this murder i wrote
The antidote be seekin like a buried treasure
By every measure lethally inject your whole sector
Wanted dead or alive
Rebel i escapes across the desert sand
Leavin no footprints to trace
Keep a war face, in your place
Conceal the baby knives on the north breaks
I still shine in shady times
Yeah, yo
We livin just enough (livin just enough)
Just enough (in the ci-ty)
Just enough, for the ci-ty
Yo, in the jungle
I make moves like iron monkey
Plots to bump me off d.o.t. be on the hunt for me
We stay hungry, for money drugs and guns
Ones who fake get caught in the crossfire for crumbs
Know the science be my goddess
The facts tell gats sell like sex and violence
And break the project silence, a vision
This is way beyond four corners, escape this mental prison
Before we're all goners, now embrace the world
For the world war is ocean bomber
Visionary soldier comma
My code of honor, mind still start from the drama
Trauma sent the victim, witness them run, scream in horror
Military chopper come gun down the slum
The outcome do or die son it's bound to come
Mentally aware i see truth within the square
The future's here catch me on computer software
Warfare's inevitable, rebel i hold several government official
It's a thirty-eight special, that steps through
Like nat turner create a spectacle
I may die in the scuffle but i'm takin forty devils
We livin just enough
Just enough
Just enough
For the ci-ty
Killa beez, sting mceeez, yeah, wu
Wu-tang Clan: Severe Punishment Wu-tang Clan: The Closing


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Top 6 Home Design Trends To Watch in 2023
Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home—and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. Some of us have adapted our dwellings in new ways, from creating functional home offices to upgrading the appliances we use most.
But while it's important to make your home your own, it's also smart to think about the long-term impact your renovations could have on its value. Choosing highly-personalized fixtures and finishes can make it harder for future homebuyers to envision themselves in the space. Even if you don't plan to sell your home soon, investing in popular design choices that are likely to stand the test of time will make things easier down the road.
And if you're in the market for a new home, it's wise to keep an eye out for features that might need to be updated soon so you can factor renovation costs into your budget.
We've rounded up six trends that we think will influence interior design in 2023, as well as ideas for how you might incorporate them in your own home. Remember, before taking action, it's always wise to consult with a real estate professional to understand how specific updates and upgrades will affect your property's value in your local market.
1. Separate Kitchen, Dining and Living Areas
For years, home design has been dominated by open-concept floor plans, particularly for kitchen, dining, and living areas. However, as the pandemic forced families to work and study from home, many struggled to find the privacy and separation they needed. As a result, designers report that more families are choosing to bring back kitchen and dining room walls to break up the space and create quieter areas.1
That doesn't mean that we're returning to an era of dark and cramped spaces, however. Even as walls make a return, it's important to take care to retain a sense of flow and openness within the home and to prioritize natural light.
If you're buying or building a new home, consider how you will use the space and whether or not an open floor plan will suit your needs. If you already live in a home with an open floor plan and it isn't working for you, try rearranging furniture and strategically placing pieces like bookshelves, room dividers, or rugs to create distinct areas within the home and reduce noise.
2. Nature-Inspired Design
In the past few years, we've seen the "biophilia" trend explode, and there are no signs that it will be any less popular in 2023.2 This trend is all about bringing the outside in by adding natural touches throughout your home.
This year, design experts predict that natural, sustainable materials like bamboo, cork, and live-edge wood will lend character without being overwhelming. Wooden kitchen cabinets and islands will become more common in 2023, with white oak and walnut among the most popular choices.3,4 Wood will also appear in bathroom vanities and shelving and furniture throughout the home.
Colors inspired by nature (think mossy greens and desert tones) will also play into this trend and will blend seamlessly with wood tones. We're also seeing a return to natural stone countertop materials like quartzite, marble, dark leathered granite, and soapstone.4,5
If you're planning to add new shelving or redo your kitchen, consider turning to these materials to embrace the biophilic look. Or, incorporate elements of the trend by choosing nature-inspired paint colors and adding to your houseplant collection.
3. Lighting as a Design Feature
Spending more time at home has shown us the importance of having the right lighting for specific tasks and times of the day. As a result, many homeowners are reconsidering the ways they light their homes and using light fixtures to change the usability and mood of their spaces.5
In particular, homeowners are rejecting bright, flat overhead lighting and replacing it with lamps and task-specific options. A layered approach to lighting—such as using a combination of under-cabinet, task, and ambient lighting in a kitchen—enables homeowners to tweak the level of light they're using based on the time of day and what they are doing.
In 2023, we expect to see more statement chandeliers, pendants, and wall sconces in a variety of shapes and materials.6 Thinking about switching up the lighting in your home? Start by adding floor or table lamps and swapping out fixtures before you invest in rewiring your space. Take note of what works and what doesn't and watch how the light in your home changes throughout the day. You can then use that information to make lighting decisions that require a bigger investment.
4. More Vibrant Color Palettes
After the long dominance of whites and grays, more vibrant colors are coming back as a way to add character and dimension to homes.
This year, warm and earthy neutrals, jewel tones, and shades of red and pink are particularly popular.7,8 If your style tends toward the subtle, consider options like light, calming greens, blues, and pastels.
Major paint brands have responded to these homeowner preferences with their newest releases. Benjamin Moore's 2023 color of the year, Raspberry Blush, is a lively shade of pinkish coral, while Sherwin William is embracing warm neutrals with Redend Point, a blushing beige.9,10 Behr's choice of the year, Blank Canvas, is a creamy off-white that's a warmer version of the stark whites that have been trending over the past few years.11
If you're planning to put your home on the market soon, it's better to play on the safer side and avoid extremely bold or bright color choices when it comes to paint or fixed finishes like tile and countertops. Instead, try incorporating pops of color through throw pillows, art, and accessories.
5. Curved Furniture and Architectural Accents
Goodbye, sharp corners. In 2023, arches and curves lend a sleek feel that draws on classical design and retro trends while remaining modern.5,8 Rounded corners feel more relaxed and natural than sharp edges, lending more of a sense of flow and comfort to a home.
If you want to incorporate the trend into your new build or remodeling plans, curved kitchen islands and bars and arched alcoves are all good options—or you can take it a step further with arched windows and doorways. You can also carry this trend through to your light fixtures by incorporating a bubble chandelier or globe pendants.
It's easy to embrace this look without renovations, too. Look for a softer feel in furniture, with sofas, chairs, and tables that showcase curved edges. Or, break up your space with an arched folding screen and a circular rug.
6. Art Deco Revival
Art Deco, the architecture and design style that took hold in the 1920s and '30s, is enjoying a resurgence.12
As a style, Art Deco is marked by bold geometry, textures, and colors, as well as an emphasis on art. But the 2023 interpretation of this style is likely to be a bit less splashy than its historical roots. Designers predict that instead of incorporating all of the elements of the style, which could feel overwhelming, homeowners will pick bursts of color or bold accessories to bring some whimsy to their space.
Keep an eye out for vintage mirrors, lamps, or vases that bring a touch of Art Deco glam to your home, or embrace bold colors and fabrics like velvet. Choose pillows and throw blankets in bright colors and geometric patterns to nod to the look without diving in all the way.
Are you thinking about remodeling or making significant design changes to your home? Wondering how those changes might impact your future resale value?
Buyer preferences vary significantly based on your home's neighborhood and price range. We're happy to share our insights on the upgrades that will make it easier (or more difficult!) to sell your home. Give us a call for a free consultation!
The above references an opinion and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult the appropriate professionals for advice regarding your individual needs.
1. US News and World Report –
2. Architectural Digest –
3. Insider –
4. Houzz –
5. The Spruce –
6. The Spruce –
7. The Spruce –
8. Good Housekeeping –
9. Benjamin Moore –
10. Sherwin Williams –
11. Behr –
12. The Spruce –


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Car unlock Florida City, FL – Gallery Locksmith Store
Just like our homes and offices need security, so do our cars! Many times we at Gallery Locksmith Store have had clients who have called us in cases where their children get stuck in cars or their car keys are left behind in their ignition slots. What does one do, especially when the car is in a public parking lot or maybe when the car is on the highway? Gallery Locksmith Store is specialized in offering car unlocks on an emergency basis. Clients often tell us that when they try using old tricks for car unlocks, things tend to get more complicated with repeated attempts. Gallery Locksmith Store is known in the Florida City, FL for timely resolution of car unlocks and related services with the help of our team of locksmiths and engineers.
24-Hour Car Unlock Help
90% of the times that car unlocks happen, immediate resolutions are required. Gallery Locksmith Store has been around for a decade solving emergency situations like car lockouts. Gallery Locksmith Store offers a comprehensive range of services on an emergency basis. Our mobile vans are ready to leave for your location 24/7. Equipped with the latest tools and technologies and the finest team of engineers and locksmiths, Gallery Locksmith Store have been a renowned name in this space and there is a reason for this. We offer emergency solutions like car unlocks at all times and through the year. We make sure that our clients are not overcharged for these services but they are serviced at affordable rates in not more than 15-20 minutes form their call to us. Now you know why we have earned this name for ourselves.
Gallery Locksmith Store's technicians
Pressure can create troubles for the finest minds. We know that some locksmiths can also have their weak moment of stress, hence we send across a special team of men in our emergency vans. These locksmiths have dealt with numerous emergency situations like car unlocks and are capable of dealing with the stress of the moment, including impatient clients. An exemplary team equipped with the best tools, nourished and honed with the best skill sets is available all the time, even on holidays.
The next time you are in a tough situation and want an easy solution for the toughest locksmith issues like a car unlock, you can call Gallery Locksmith Store in Florida City, FL! We will be there in no time at all, at your service.


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Pairing the INNOCN 13K1F OLED Portable Monitor and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 (Gen 1) Makes Multitasking Easy
Shenzhen, China – March 19, 2023 – When it comes to producing high-end portable monitors, smart displays, and all-in-one computers, Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company Ltd. (INNOCN) has been at the top of its game for years. In order to boost productivity for its customers, INNOCN is a manufacturer with a mission to improve technology by enhancing the value of monitors for users everywhere.
Any person, regardless of profession or industry, can benefit greatly from having access to a second monitor. The best portable monitor for the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 (Gen 1) is the high-end, feature-packed INNOCN 13K1F 13.3 Inch OLED Portable Monitor. A 16-inch touchscreen laptop like the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 (Gen 1) is ideal for use with the 13.3-inch screen of the 13K1F to boost productivity and allow for easier multitasking.
The 13K1F OLED Monitor is currently on sale for $199.99 (reg. $249.99) when a customer uses the $50 off coupon for Amazon Best Deals. This price reduction is valid until March 31.
The 13K1F monitor is an OLED screen with 400 nits of brightness and a 1920 x 1080p resolution, all of which result in sharp and detailed images and video. Other features include an improved color scheme with a contrast ratio of 100000:1, a color standard of 100% DCI-P3, and a (Delta E < 2) color accuracy. As a result of its TUV certification, the graphics are guaranteed to be flicker-free and the users' eyes are safeguarded. Screenplay tears and frame delays are never an issue thanks to the 1ms response time and 60Hz refresh rate.
Working on multiple assignments at once is a breeze when you pair the 13K1F with the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 (Gen 1). No matter what a person needs to get done-checking documents, making PowerPoint presentations, or switching between programs-the INNOCN 13K1F OLED Portable Monitor is the way to go.
Media Contact:
Manufacturer's Name: Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company Limited
Manufacturer's Official Website: https://www.innocn.com
Manufacturer's Email Address: [email protected]
Media Contact
Company Name: Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Company Limited
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: https://www.innocn.com


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Legacy Design Strategies
Omaha, NE, Minot, ND and Iowa Fall, IA Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm
Estate Planning and Elder Law Blog
Leaving an equal amount to adult children works for many families, but equal is not always equitable. In those cases, leaving different amounts to heirs can lead to irreparable breaks within the family. A recent article titled "The Unequal Inheritance: It Can Work, or It Can 'Destroy Relationships'" from The New York Times examines the problem and some of the solutions. There are times, however, when even the fairest of decisions doesn't heal the "Mom always liked you best" hurt, imagined or otherwise.
Unequal inheritances can trigger sibling fighting after a parent dies, some of which end up in court, especially if one child thinks that a parent was being overly influenced by the sibling who ended up with the bigger inheritance.
Parents need to explain their decision to each child, individually and as a group, or even seek mediation. Many estate planning attorneys encourage a family meeting, where everyone is in a neutral location, to discuss the parent's wishes and estate plan. In some cases, the children understand when one of the siblings is disabled or has a lower earning potential.
Another reason for unequal inheritances is to balance things out when one child received significant support that others did not need. Equalization of gifts can be documented in an estate plan, as heirs may need to be reminded of the parent's generosity at an earlier date. If this isn't addressed, the siblings who received less help during the parent's lifetime may resent their decision to give equally.
What about the caregiving child? Some parents decide to give extra to the adult child who became their primary caregiver. That usually takes the shape of the family home, a larger cash distribution or life insurance proceeds. However, siblings don't always agree on how this is handled. Some will see the child's decision to care for their parents as manipulative.
Blended families with stepchildren run into complications often. The growth in stepfamilies is a big part of why Americans 50 and older left their children unequal bequests, which more than doubled from 16 percent in 1995 to 35 percent in 2010, as reported in a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
At the same time, the study also found that the longer the relationship, the more likely the parent would leave stepchildren inheritances equal to that of a biological or adopted child.
Even when parents intend to split the estate equally, failing to plan for taxes can leave children with different inheritances. This happens when parents leave different types of assets to different heirs.
If a parent left a $500,000 IRA to one child and a $500,000 taxable brokerage account to another, the child who received the IRA will pay federal income taxes up to 37 percent on every withdrawal, which now must be done within ten years of the death of the parent. The child with the brokerage account would have to pay a long-term capital gains tax of up to 20 percent, when an appreciated asset was sold.
Generally speaking, IRA and other tax deferred accounts should have all children as equal beneficiaries. These accounts are usually outside of the probate estate. A house may be left in a trust or the will, with directions for the house to be sold and all assets divided equally.
There is no way around it—inheritances are seen as a proxy for love, and any unequal distribution will be felt as such, even by the most rational of people. Speak with your estate planning attorney to learn how to avoid these scenarios and consider holding a family meeting to make sure your intentions and the reasons behind your intentions are made clear to all concerned.
Reference: The New York Times (Feb. 19, 2021) "The Unequal Inheritance: It Can Work, or It Can 'Destroy Relationships'"
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text: Learn Portuguese in Salvador de BahíaLearning Portuguese abroad in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil is one of many language immersion programs offered by AmeriSpan. Originally colonized by Portugal, Brazil is by far the largest country in South America. It is a country diverse in culture, landscape, and style. The country is covered by dense Amazon rainforest in the north and central regions. The coastal regions of Brazil offer some of the most famous and beautiful beaches in the world. Each city in Brazil has its own unique character ranging from the modern capital of Brasilia to the tourist capital of Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Maceio. Portuguese is the language spoken in Brazil. Learn Portuguese Language in Brazil: |


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How You Can Start Preparing Now
When you first start thinking about going to the orthodontist, it is normal to feel apprehensive. What will your orthodontic experience bring? Whether you have been advised by a dentist or chosen to seek out orthodontic care from Drs. Cassinelli and Shanker on your own, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your initial consultation at Cassinelli and Shanker.
One of the best ways to prepare for an orthodontic consultation is to understand your options. With so many choices available today, orthodontic care is a lot more versatile than in the past. You can start preparing now by seeking out and understanding those options. With a few specific things in mind, you can be totally confident and prepared for your consultation.
Questions to Ask During the Consultation
As you consider orthodontic care, it is likely that a few questions may naturally arise. Don't be afraid to ask any questions you might have. Our orthodontic team is here to help. Here are just a few examples of questions you may want to ask at your consultation.
- Is there an estimated length of time that I will likely require braces?
- How much should I expect to pay for my treatment? What are the payment options?
- Does getting braces hurt? Is there anything I can do to prevent or minimize pain?
- Is it likely that I will be wearing extra appliances in addition to braces to correct my overbite or other problems?
- Are there specific foods I will need to avoid when I get braces?
- Will braces prevent me from playing my favorite sport or musical instrument?
- How can I keep my teeth clean with braces?
- How often will I be expected to come in for checkups and other appointments?
Once your consultation is over, you don't have to feel like your options are exhausted. If questions arise after the consultation, don't be afraid to ask. Our orthodontic team will be here to help throughout the entire process.
Confidence throughout the Process
With answers to your questions, and an orthodontic team on your side, you can be confident about any necessary orthodontic treatments. From the initial consultation to the day your braces come off, your orthodontic treatment at Cassinelli and Shanker can be a smooth and simple process. The moment you see that beautiful smile, you'll know it was all worth it.
We love bringing nothing but the most amazing smiles to our patients!


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Trump to reassure Saudi allies, promote business, talk tough on radicalism
WASHINGTON/RIYADH, May 16 (Reuters) - When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Saudi princes in Riyadh on Saturday, he can expect a warmer welcome than the one given a year ago to his predecessor Barack Obama, who Riyadh considered soft on arch foe Iran and cool toward a bilateral relationship that is a mainstay of the Middle East's security balance.
Beneath the pomp, Riyadh will be looking for assurances that the Trump administration will continue its notably harsher tone toward Iran and keep up pressure, through both rhetoric and action, to stop what Saudi Arabia sees as Tehran's destabilizing activities in the region.
The U.S.-Saudi alliance has experienced turbulence since Riyadh faulted what it saw as Obama's withdrawal from the region, a perceived tilt toward Iran since the 2011 Arab uprisings and a lack of direct action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an Iranian ally.
See more on President Trump:
Saudi Arabia will also want to showcase high-profile investment deals with American companies to show progress on its ambitious "Vision 2030" economic and social reform agenda, while Washington says U.S. arms sales arms worth tens of billions of dollars are in the pipeline.
Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia is the first stop on his maiden international trip since taking office in January. U.S. and Saudi officials are eager to highlight the powerful symbolism of an American president choosing to visit the birthplace of Islam as his first stop rather than to neighbors Canada or Mexico.
Besides meeting with Saudi officials, Trump will also meet with leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and have lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries.
Critics have accused Trump of being anti-Muslim after he issued a ban, now blocked by U.S. courts, on entry into the United States by citizens of several Muslim-majority countries, citing national security concerns.
U.S. public opinion of Saudi Arabia has never fully recovered since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi. The U.S. Congress last year passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, a law permitting lawsuits holding Saudi Arabia responsible for the attacks. The Saudi government has long denied involvement.
Trump's visit "sends a clear message that the U.S. is standing with its close allies in the region and that they're not abandoning them," a senior Saudi official told Reuters, reflecting the view many Gulf leaders had of Obama, who they considered had made securing a nuclear deal with Iran a higher priority than the U.S.-Gulf alliance.
Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia in April 2016 was overshadowed by Gulf Arab exasperation with his approach to the region, and doubts about Washington's commitment to regional security.
"This (new) administration comes in and ... says, 'No, wait a minute, Iran is active,'" the official said, referring to Gulf states' views of Iran's involvement through proxies in regional conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen.
The Trump administration has called the nuclear agreement with Iran "the worst deal ever negotiated," and senior administration officials have repeatedly criticized Iran's behavior for its support for Assad, its ballistic missile activities and its support for militant groups in the region.
Mustafa Alani, the director of security and defense at the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Center think tank, said that beyond U.S. rhetoric, Gulf leaders would like to see "America classify Iranian-supported militias as terrorist groups."
Saudi Arabia will also be looking for further U.S. support in the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the loosely Iran-aligned Houthi group and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to restore the internationally recognized government to power.
The Obama administration backed Saudi Arabia when it launched air strikes in Yemen in March 2015 but grew sour as it saw the number of civilian casualties grow and curtailed some military support to Riyadh.
By contrast, "we don't get criticized about the war in Yemen" by the Trump administration, the senior Saudi official said.
In Trump's meeting with GCC leaders, the discussion will revolve around how to strengthen the structures of the group, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to be more effective, a senior White House official said.
The Republican U.S. president along with first lady Melania Trump will dine with Saudi royal family members. Trump, known for his penchant for Twitter, will participate in a Twitter forum with young people, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said on Tuesday.
Trump will deliver a speech on "the need to confront radical ideology" and participate in the inauguration of a new center intended "to fight radicalism and promote moderation," McMaster said.
While Trump has criticized Saudi Arabia for not paying enough for U.S. military support, he has been silent since becoming president about its religious conservatism. Traditional Wahhabi doctrine is ultra-conservative, imposing a strict version of Islamic law and urging resumption of early Muslim practices.
Critics of the kingdom say the government does not do enough to prevent the teachings of some of its ultra-conservative clergy from fanning militancy overseas as well as a domestic security threat at home.
Radicalization of Muslims in the world's top oil exporter has led to domestic attacks and the involvement of Saudi citizens in jihadist movements in Iraq and Syria.
The senior clergy have denounced militant Islamic doctrines, such as those of al Qaeda or Islamic State, but still preach intolerant views.
An inaugural Saudi-U.S. CEO forum will be held in Riyadh on Saturday in which several deals are expected to be signed in defense, electricity, oil and gas, industrial and chemical sectors. New licenses for U.S. companies to operate in the Kingdom also will be issued.
Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's son, is the face of "Vision 2030" and is eager to showcase the kingdom's success a year since its inception.
The CEO of state oil giant Saudi Aramco is expected to sign deals with top U.S. companies to promote local manufacturing.
General Electric Co is due to sign several memoranda of understanding. Saudi Basic Industries Corp and U.S. oil company Exxon Mobil Corp are also expected to sign a protocol agreement to develop their joint chemical project in Texas, a source close to the matter said.
The White House official said the kingdom was in the final stage of negotiating a $100 billion arms deal.
A New York Stock Exchange delegation is also expected to visit Saudi Arabia after Trump to try to lure a listing by Aramco, slated for 2018 and worth about $100 billion. World stock exchanges are vying for slices of Aramco's initial public offering, expected to be the largest in history, with Hong Kong currently the frontrunner among bourses in Asia because of its strategic links to key Saudi oil importer China.
The NYSE delegation will have tough competition as rival exchanges tweak regulation to become more attractive options.
(Reporting by Yara Bayoumy in Washington and Katie Paul in Riyadh; Additional reporting by Reem Shamseddine in Jeddah and Steve Holland and Mike Stone in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Will Dunham)


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Off-the-shoulder knitted top
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Orders completed by 2pm, Monday to Friday, are shipped the same day. Orders received later after 2pm, are shipped on the next business day.
Delivery times are 1-2 working days for shipments to Italy and 3-6 working days for international shipments.
In Italy, shipping is free for orders over 50 Euros. For orders of smaller amounts the shipping cost is 6 Euros.
Shipping costs and minimum order for Free Shipping to other destinations are listed here.
In-store pickup is available at some selected stores. Delivery times vary from 24 to 48 hours. You will receive an email when your order has been processed, with a tracking link and tracking code.
It is possible to return one or more items purchased by you no later than 30 days from the date of receipt.
Returns from Italy are completely free.
For returns from other regions, shipping costs may apply. At the moment it is not possible to return items purchased online to our stores.
To find out how to return a garment click here.


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1. We ship to over 200 countries and regions worldwide. You could estimate your delivery cost in Shopping Cart before checkout.
2. The items don't include the accessories such as Veil, glove, bustle and so on if the picture shows them.
3. Colors displayed on your monitor may vary from the actual fabric color.
4. As all of our dresses are hand-sewn and custom tailored, the finished dresses may vary by approximately 1.5 inch in either direction of the specified measurements. To ensure that your dress will still fit you perfectly, our tailors have created all our dresses with additional fabric in the seams to allow minor size modifications to be made easily.
Receiving Time
Total receiving time = Order confirmation (1-2 days) + Tailoring time (around 10-20 days) + shipping time (around 3-8 days to most countries).
Color Chart
Satin(Colors on Satin Swatch)
Chiffon(Colors on Chiffon Swatch)
Taffeta(Colors on Taffeta Swatch)
Organza(Colors on Organza Swatch)
Elastic Woven Satin(Colors on Elastic Woven Satin Swatch)
Size Chart
How to Measure


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Red Lodge Clay Center – Short-Term Resident (AIA) 2019
Posey Bacopoulos is a studio potter working in New York City. She has been making pots for more than twenty years. Posey has a BS degree in European History from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and has also studied at the University of Florida in Gainesville and the University of Georgia Studies Abroad at Cortona, Italy. She studied ceramics at several craft schools including Penland School of Craft and Anderson Ranch.
Her work has been shown in many national juried and invitational exhibitions, winning awards in the Fourth Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National and
the International Orton Cone Box Show. It has recently been published in several books including The Ceramic Design Book, Best of Pottery 2, and The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. She has taught numerous workshops on Majolica.
Her pots combine thrown, altered and hand-built sections, which are made separately and then assembled. The pots are majolica on terracotta. Majolica is a glaze tradition that began in the Middle East with a tin-opacified glaze. The majolica glaze is smooth, white and opaque. Colorants are applied in a thin wash to the glazed surface to create the lively decoration.
In my work, it is my intention to create pots that enter people's everyday lives in a direct and intimate way. My goal is to integrate form, function and surface in a manner that brings a sense of excitement to my work. I am continually exploring the relationship between surface decoration and form, while in the surface treatment of my work; I strive for lively expression of line, pattern and color. The floral motifs on my pots are patterns rather than actual representations that serve to divide the space in interesting ways. My hope is that the pots invite use and that my pleasure in making them is shared by those who use them.
The pots combine thrown, altered and hand-built sections. These sections are made separately and then assembled. I enjoy altering the thrown forms and working in this manner. The pots are majolica on terracotta. Majolica is a glaze tradition that began in the Middle East in the 9th century with a tin-opacified glaze. Majolica glaze is smooth, white and opaque. Colorants are applied in a thin wash to the glazed surface to create the lively decoration. The pots are fired to cone 04 in an electric kiln. After the firing the glaze gives a glossy surface that maintains the line quality and color of the decoration.


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OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — Tim Scott seldom specifically brings up race in Iowa. Nor does the Republican presidential candidate have to.
He is often the only Black person at his campaign events in the state. The South Carolina senator introduces himself as the product of early-life mentors who taught him not to be bitter.
When race comes up, he often says the United States is not fundamentally racist.
"We don't have Black poverty or white poverty. We have poverty," he told an all-white audience Thursday in Oskaloosa after being asked about race. He earlier had spoken about his poor Southern upbringing and his late grandfather, born into Jim Crow-era South Carolina.
"The brilliance of this nation is that we keep moving forward, even though there are lots of forces who want us to think the problem is that someone doesn't look like you," Scott said.
Scott, the only Black GOP presidential candidate campaigning aggressively in the early-voting state, is betting that his upbeat message of personal responsibility, wrapped in the Christian faith he comfortably cites, is a good fit for Iowa Republicans who might split from former President Donald Trump. So far, Scott and others in the White House race remain far behind Trump, and the senator did not achieve a breakout moment during the first GOP presidential debate.
Scott has been criticized by scholars who say his rejection of systemic racism, especially in light of the recent racist killings in Florida, plays down larger social and political obstacles facing African Americans.
But dozens of Iowa Republicans interviewed over the past several months say his position, common in the 2024 GOP field, resonates more coming from Scott than from others.
"It definitely means more from him," said Mary Rozenboom, a 77-year-old retired hospital employee from Oskaloosa who is white. "He's saying, 'This is me. I'm am Black. But I succeeded because I worked hard, and those opportunities remain in America.'"
Recent polls suggest Scott's support in the state hovering around 1 in 10 among likely participants in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, still four months away.
That is significantly behind Trump and slightly behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Still, it suggests Scott's position in Iowa is slightly stronger than it is nationally, where his support in most recent polls hovers in the low single digits.
Scott may have unique advantages among Republican voters on race issues, according to political experts, even if his argument may be out of step with more diverse voters or in a general election.
Among voters for Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections, just 18% said racism is a very serious problem in U.S. society, compared with 61% of voters for Democratic candidates, according to AP VoteCast data.
"He's a Black man who rejects the idea of systemic racism, which is very popular in Republican circles," said Christine Matthews, a national political pollster who has worked for Republican candidates. "It absolutely resonates more."
But Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, said Scott is deliberately trying to appeal to voters who want to believe that racism is not a serious problem.
"He's glossing it over and saying he's achieved all these things because he's taken advantage of every opportunity and worked hard," Williams said. "It creates this kind of powerful, yet flawed, narrative that it's grievance politics on the left that are solely responsible for economic inequality, for continued police brutality, for housing inequality."
"But it buys him points with that GOP base that says, 'Finally, someone who sounds like me who is a Black person which proves I'm not racist,'" he said.
Scott argues that racism is one of many forms of hatred that exist in the U.S. and that American society has improved over time.
He was asked to comment this summer on the accusation by Joy Behar, a host of the ABC talk show "The View," that he failed to understand systemic racism.
"I said America is not a racist country," he said. "Because it's not."
He achieved his political rise in South Carolina, once the cradle of the Confederacy. As in Iowa, the Republican primary vote there is vastly white.
When he won a seat in the U.S. House in 2010, Scott became the first Black Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina since the 1890s, during an era when white Democrats ousted many Republican officeholders after Reconstruction and disenfranchised Black people through state-sponsored violence, including lynching.
Scott won the House primary by beating Paul Thurmond, the son of longtime South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond, a segregationist who fought against civil rights legislation. Scott was later appointed to the U.S. Senate and has been reelected twice to six-year terms.
"I think it is important that, in the history of eternity, that I had the good fortune of being born in the place where the Civil War started, being elected in the seat that Strom Thurmond used to hold, to be in a position to have this serious conversation that confronts racial outcomes in this nation," he told The Associated Press in 2020.
Bonnie Boyle, upon leaving a June event, compared Scott to the late former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Black figures popular among Republicans.
"I don't think I'm prejudiced, but I know a lot of people who are, and I don't think the color of your skin should matter," said Boyle, who is white. "Tim Scott says you can rise above the perception that you're stuck, and you can make it, and I like that a lot."
Most of the Republican presidential candidates deny the U.S. faces systemic racism. And the study of race in American society has animated core Republican audiences. Several Republican-controlled states have invoked critical race theory in legislation restricting how race can be taught in public schools. GOP lawmakers in some states have also tried to outlaw or defund diversity and equity programs intended to address disparities in racial representation.
Scott was a key spokesman for the party and involved in legislation in Congress aimed at reducing police violence after the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by Minneapolis police in May 2020.
The senator seldom mentions that legislative work in Iowa. The legislation would have, among other measures, established a commission to study race and law enforcement. Republicans and Democrats were unable to reach a compromise package and legislative efforts fell apart.
Already in this campaign, Scott has faced unique expectations to respond when Florida issued new state education guidelines on slavery. DeSantis repeatedly defended the guidelines, which require teachers to instruct students that enslaved people learned skills "could be applied for their personal benefit."
"What slavery was really about was separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives. It was just devastating," Scott told reporters in Iowa. "So I would hope that every person in our country — and certainly running for president — would appreciate that."
Scott's success has not come by ignoring America's legacy of slavery and segregation, said Stephen Gilchrist, a Black man who is a Republican and chairman and CEO of the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce.
"He tries to live up to the creed of Dr. Martin Luther King, where we shouldn't be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character," said Gilchrist, who has not endorsed a candidate for 2024. "He's inspired many of us who are African American Republicans."
But Frederick Gooding Jr., an African American studies professor at Texas Christian University, said untold more Black Americans have worked just as hard as Scott but struggled against invisible barriers.
"He did work hard," he said. "But it's not quite that simplistic."
AP Director of Public Opinion Research Emily Swanson in Washington and Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.
Source: post


text: Copyright 1937-2015 Yale Alumni Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. The Yale Alumni Magazine and its website were until July 2015 published by Yale Alumni Publications, Inc., an alumni-based nonprofit not run by Yale University. Content published before July 2015 is the responsibility of its editors and third-party users of the website and does not necessarily reflect the views of Yale or its officers.


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We Are More
by Shane Koyczan
When defining Canada, you might list some statistics
You might mention our tallest building, or biggest lake
You might shake a tree in the fall and call a red leaf Canada
You might rattle off some celebrities, might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
Might even mention the fact that we've got a few Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things like zippers, electric cars, and washing machines
When defining Canada it seems the world's anthem has been
"been there done that", and maybe that's where we used to be at
It's true. We've done and we've been. We've seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine, and turned into theme parks
But when defining Canada don't forget to mention that we have set sparks
We are not just fishing stories about the one that got away
We do more than sit around and say "eh?". And yes, we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
Who inspired little number nines, and little number ninety-nines
But we're more than just hockey and fishing lines off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
And some say what defines us is something as simple as please and thank you
And as for you're welcome, well we say that too
But we are more than genteel or civilized
We are an idea in the process of being realized. We are young, we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry. And the design is what makes us more than the sum total of our history
We are an experiment going right for a change, with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
We are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
We dream so big that there are those who would call our ambition an industry
Because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow. We do more than grow wheat and brew beer
We are vineyards of good year after good year we reforest what we clear
Because we believe in generations beyond our own, knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be we can stand here today, filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like "someday"
Someday we'll be great. Someday we'll be this or that. Someday we'll be at a point, when someday was yesterday and all of our aspirations will pay the way
For those who on that day look towards tomorrow, and still they say someday we will reach the goals we set, and we will get interest on our inspiration
Because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks. More than backpacks and hiking trails. We are hammers and nails building bridges towards those who are willing to walk across
We are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss. We are not the see-through gloss or glamour of those who clamour for the failings of others
We are fathers brothers sisters and mothers, uncles and nephews aunts and nieces. We are cousins.
We are found missing puzzle pieces
We are families with room at the table for newcomers, we are more than summers and winters. More than on and off seasons, we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
Because we are more than what we say or do. We live to get past what we go through and learn who we are. We are students. Students who study the studiousness of studying, so we know what as well as why
we don't have all the answers
But we try. And the effort is what makes us more. We don't all know what it is in life we're looking for
So keep exploring. Go far and wide. Or go inside but go deep. Go deep, as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss, and suddenly there was this location scout, trying to figure some way out. To get inside you
Because you've been through hell and high water, and you went deep.
Keep exploring, because we are more than a laundry list of things to do and places to see. We are more than hills to ski, or countryside ponds to skate
We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait. We are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
A country that is all the ways you choose to live. A land that can give you variety
because we are choices. We are millions upon millions of voices shouting "keep exploring… we are more"
We are the surprise the world has in store for you. It's true.
Canada is the "what" in "what's new?" So don't say "been there done that" unless you've sat on the sidewalk while chalk artists draw still lifes on the concrete of a kid in the street beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
Don't say you've been there done that, unless you've been here doing it
Let this country be your first-aid kit for all the times you get sick of the same old same old. Let us be the story told to your friends, and when that story end leave chapters for the next time you'll come back
Next time pack for all the things you didn't pack for the first time
But don't let your luggage define your travels. Each life unravels differently and experiences are what make up the colours of our tapestry. We are the true north strong and free, and what's more is that we didn't just say it
We made it be.
-Shane Koyczan
**As recited to a crowd of 60,000 people at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies**
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Dear CurlySuzy: I noticed cetearyl alcohol in some of the products. I thought any alcohol was drying to the hair and not good for naturals. I'm a 4a.
Dear Angela: The alcohol thing can be confusing. There are good alcohols and bad alcohols.
Here is some information about alcohols:
GOOD (fatty"> alcohols
Cetyl Alcohol: This is a fatty alcohol that is derived from coconut and palm oils. This alcohol is an emollient. It makes hair and skin softer.
Stearyl Alcohol: Another fatty alcohol. Stearyl alcohol is often used in conditioners and shampoos and acts as an emollient (softener">.
- Cetyl Alcohol*
- Acetyl Alcohol
- Sterol Alcohol
- Stearyl Alcohol
- Lauryl Alcohol
- Lanolin Alcohol
- Stearic Acid*
*: see sidebar.
BAD alcohols
- Menthanol
- Ethanol
- Propanol
- Alcohol Denat
- Specially Denaturated Alcohol
- Isopropyl Alcohol
I hope this helps. Check out this article for even more information about alcohols.


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While packing up the apartment for our move to San Francisco, I keep coming across articles I've clipped from newspapers and magazines, even whole chapters of books, that I obviously once meant to write about for BLDGBLOG…
[Image: J.M.W. Turner, The Dogana and Madonna della Salute, Venice, 1843; for more, see Tate Britain].
One such article, published nearly a year ago today, proclaims that Venice, Italy, may soon become "a tourist ghost town."
Venice is on course to become a city virtually without residents within the next 30 years, turning it into a sort of Disneyland – teeming with holidaymakers but devoid of inhabitants… The city may then become a museum, to which, as La Repubblica remarked, it would be "normal to charge entry".
Other cities for whom this fate could be very, very interesting, if culturally ill-advised? Detroit and the New York borough of Manhattan.
In any case, as the BBC describes this phenomenon:
At night Venice sometimes resembles an empty museum, a ghost town.
After [11pm], when the day trippers have all left and the restaurants and bars are closed, the waterways and calles – narrow streets that intersect the islands upon which Venice is built – are almost deserted.
Tomorrow another 60,000 people will arrive – and depart.
This vision – of Venice, populated only by the odd night security guard and a few absent-minded curators – surely sets up a far more interesting future storyline than Night in the Museum ever hoped to be.
(Earlier on BLDGBLOG: Venice Resonator).


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The release of Deadpool 2 gives us a perfect excuse for a little Morena Baccarin nude special.
The sexy Brazilian actress resumes the role of Vanessa Carlysle AKA Copycat, lover of Ryan Reynold's Deadpool character, in the blockbuster sequel now packing theatres.
The pair hit it off, bringing great chemistry to the tongue-in-cheek superhero franchise. Not to mention, raunch in their hot and steamy love scenes.
Morena Baccarin Naked Deadpool Scenes
Morena's rising star in movies comes on the back of a stellar success in some of the biggest shows on TV. Over the past decade, she has become one of the most successful latin stars in Hollywood.
Morena Baccarin was born in Rio de Janeiro on June 2, 1979. She moved to Greenwich Village, New York, aged 7 when her journalist dad got a job at Globo TV's headquarters.
The young Morena took more after her actress mother. In a strange coincidence she attended New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies, where her future Homeland co-star Claire Danes was a classmate.
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Despite becoming as fluent in English as her native Portuguese, Morena struggled in her early career from being typecast as an Hispanic actress.
Her TV breakthough came playing Inara Serra in Joss Whedon's 2002 cult sci-fi drama Firefly. It made her a favourite with sci-fi fans and Morena happily embraced the love and the genre.
She reprised the role of Inari in the spin-off movie Serenity. Comic-Con conventions loved her and she won more sci-fi successes in the likes of Stargate SG-1 and the 2009 remake of the series V.
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A move in to the superhero sub-genre has proved, if anything, only more successful. Morena provided the voice for Black Canary in multiple episodes of the animated series Justice League Unlimited.
And before Deadpool, she wowed audiences in the leading role of Dr. Leslie Thompkins in the Fox hit series Gotham. She also met her second husband, co-star Ben McKenzie, on the show.
Sexy Morena achieved her first Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress, thanks to Showtime's runaway hit Homeland. She played the conflicted wife of a former prisoner-of-war alongside former classmate Clare Daines.
You might also like to check out or Superhero Movie Stars Nude section for more Marvel hotties.


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Back in 2015 I came up with a theory that you could measure the value of a car event by the quality of the Ferraris on display, a shaky premise to be sure but as good as any other subjective tool. So now at the fag end of the year it is an opportunity to look back at some of Maranello's finest that I encountered on my travels.
The approach of autumn is heralded by some of the finest car events of the year. Salon Privé continues to delight those of us fortunate enough to attend with an eclectic selection of cars for our delectation and the Ferrari crop in 2016 is no exception to this rule.
Perhaps the place to start is at the top and the 2016 Best in Show which was awarded to this fantastic Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa which has recently been totally restored by DK Engineering, whose painstaking skills have rightly been recognised..
This example, 0614MDTR, has a well documented competition pedigree. Starting life across the Atlantic, the 500 TR became a fixture at the Nassau Speed Weeks in '56 and '57 plus appearances at the Cuba Grand Prix, with the original owner, William Helburn scoring a class second with Le Mans Legend, Olivier Gendebien, in February '57 edition.
A new owner, Boris 'Bob' Said, took a class win in the Nassau Trophy. Said competed in the 1959 US Grand Prix at Sebring and was the father of well known endurance and NASCAR driver, Boris Said III. The Ferrari was sold on again to James Place, who campaigned it at Meadowdale and Elkhart Lake, eventually sticking a Chevvy engine to replace the 2-litre, four cylinder Italian unit. A Ferrari engine was eventually put back and now we have this most elegant mid-50's barchetta to admire and enjoy.
Another piece of 50's style from Maranello was this Ferrari 250 Europa. One of two prototypes and the sole example of a short chassis with Pininfarina styling.
Powered by a 3-litre V12 version of the classic this model was the ancestor of the Ferrari 250 GT range.
Fast forward some 30 years, to another legendary Ferrari, the 288 GTO. Back in 1982 the FIA introduced Group B regulations to encourage a move to production-based cars for competition as opposed to the prototypes in Group C that raced in the World Championship and Le Mans. A minimum production run of 200 examples was mandated but the laws of unintended consequences intervened. Porsche and Ferrari considered building cars for the tracks, whereas Austin-Rover, Audi, Ford, Lancia and Peugeot introduced Group B cars to rallying. The vastly increased performance of the new cars led to several incidents with spectators being killed or injured. The final straw came with the deaths of Lancia star, Henri Toivonen, and his co-driver, Sergio Cresto, on the Tour de Course, when, inexplicably, their Delta S4 left the road and caught fire. Group B was finished, cancelled by the FIA.
One of the reasons that there was little enthusiasm for racing either the Porsche 961 or the Ferrari 288 GTO is that it was cheaper to buy a Porsche 956/962 and have a shot at outright victory as privateer teams beat the Werks car on several occasions, even at Le Mans. The cancellation of the FIA regulations might have caused Ferrari a problem but the designation GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) guaranteed demand and in the end 272 cars were built. They sold out immediately, the 288 GTO achieved iconic status.
Looking at the auction houses gives a clue as to why this matter, the spiritual ancestor of this car, the 250 GTO, achieves prices way, way in excess of any other car. The 250 GTO is the Holy Grail of Ferraris, the ultimate object of desire for those with 'Il Cavallino Rampante' in their hearts. A look through the list of owners of the 288 GTO turns up some well known names, four FIA World Champions, Niki Lauda, Keke Rosberg, Michael Schumacher and Bobby Garretson. F1 notables such as Adrian Newey, Eddie Irvine, Walter Wolf, Jean-Pierre Van Rossem and Michele Alboreto have had a 288 GTO as have endurance racing stalwarts Fredy Lienhard, John Bosch, Giuseppe Lucchini, Hans Hugenholtz, Martino Finotto, Rik Bryan and Jean Blaton aka 'Beurlys'. Arguably the most famous owner was front-man from the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, proving that
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need
However it was not just sentiment or the collection of stars that purchased the car that makes it special, the 288 GTO was a very important car in the Ferrari story. It was the first Ferrari to utilise the modern technology developed from motor sport to enhance performance and the driving experience. Powered by a 2.8 litre V8 with twin turbochargers installed longitudinally in a tubular chassis derived from the 308 GTB and clothed by a body made of a glass-fibre or mixes with Nomex and/or Kevlar.
To quote Joe Sackey, author of the book that is the last word on the 288 GTO. 'This car epitomised a new beginning for Ferrari, and served to popularize its road-going cars in a way that previous models had not. The 288 GTO was truly the last car that Enzo Ferrari had any direct influence on, personally naming the car and setting a mandate for his men which left little doubt about his goals by stating: "What we have to do is build a new version of the Berlinetta. We shall call it the GTO." ' No pressure then, but the result of this encouragement speaks for itself, it is a truly special car, even by the standards of Maranello.
If the 288 GTO had restored Ferrari's reputation for producing the ultimate supercar, then its successor, the F40, propelled this status to the heavens. The F40 was intended to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary and it took the performance of the 288 GTO to another level and was claimed to be the fastest car in the world at the time of introduction in 1987 and the first road-legal production car to exceed 200mph.
It was not just the performance but also the dramatic style of the F40 that caused shock waves when publicly unveiled to the world at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Enzo Ferrari was well aware that his time was short, as he was approaching 90, and he encouraged his workers to create the 'ultimate Ferrari', he would have felt satisfaction at the results of his encouragement.
Available only in 'Rosso Corsa' and despite the eye-watering price tag, the F40 was a best seller, 1,311 examples were produced in the production run stretching from 1987 to 1992. The Ferrari F40 is right up there in the pantheon of Maranello's heroes.
Any serious consideration of the roll call of Maranello's Heroes would have to include the 365 GTB/4 or perhaps the even more precious 365 GTS/4. This handsome beast catapulted Ferrari back to the top of the supercar tree in the face of the challenge of the Lamborghini Miura, much as the 288 GTO and F40 would do in the following decades. Moreover the car was nicknamed as the 'Daytona' in a salute to the 1-2-3 victory in the 1967 edition of the Daytona 24 Hours, despite heavyweight opposition from the normally rampant Ford factory effort that suffered with catastrophic transmission failures in all their entries. To beat Ford so comprehensively in their own backyard must have been particularly sweet for Enzo Ferrari, especially in view of the drubbings that Ferrari endured in 1966 at the hands of the Detroit giant, the Daytona designation was allowed to stick.
The Daytona was first presented at the 1968 Paris Salon and although production was slow to begin with, by the time the model was replaced in 1973 1,284 examples were built. The numbers on the convertible were were much smaller, all but 18 of the 122 production run were destined for the US market and this is one of the few.
The premium attracted by the desirability of the open top has led to some conversions from the original coupé. Author and Ferrari expert, Anthony Pritchard, in his excellent book The Road Ferraris, gets quite cross about this vandalism as he sees it: "Prices of the open cars are ludicrously high, even by classic car standards, and rather foolishly some Berlinettas were rebuilt as convertibles by Autokraft and other concerns, with sellers often anticipating similar prices. Original Daytona Spiders are worth a very great deal of money, but converted coupés simply debase the coinage, and no genuine and serious enthusiast, as opposed to misguided investors, would buy one." Well that told us.
Another strikingly elegant convertible on display was this 250 GT Series ll Cabriolet that was introduced at the 1959 Paris Salon. 202 examples of this car were made up to 1962.
No assembly of Ferraris would be complete without a Dino and this 246 GT is particularly attractive. The Dino is a truly landmark car in Ferrari's history. Glen Smale in his great book, Ferrari Design – The Definitive Study had this to say: "Pininfarina readily admit that the stylistic approach of the Dino concept served as the foundation for all successive mid-engined Ferraris. Perhaps this fact serves to highlight the importance of this model."
So there I rest my case, a high bar has been set and with the 70th birthday of Ferrari in prospect the Salon Privé will have its work cut out to go one better in 2017, I look forward to seeing the results.
John Brooks, December 2016


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Window includes 625 series blind (5/8") on the left and 1000 series blind (1") on the right, Half door lite includes 625 series blind, Full door lite includes 1000 series blind
We are a manufacturer of Between-Glass Metal Venetian blinds. We primarily sell directly to commercial window manufacturers, and glazing contractors, throughout the USA and Canada. Most of our blinds are used in hospitals or school applications. This is primarily due to the commercial quality of the product, the low maintenance required, and the cleanliness of the product as it is installed between glass.
We were awarded the contract to supply approximately 50,000 between glass Venetian blinds that were used in the renovation of the schools in New York City. The City of New York had decided to use our blinds because of the high quality and the life expectancy of the product. We manufacture all of our blinds incorporating a slip-clutch mechanism, which will minimize any damage to the blinds if they are "over tilted."
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Hospitals like to use our products because of the cleanliness and low maintenance. While vandalism is not as a much a concern as it would be in a typical school application, cleanliness is. Hospitals also often run relatively high humidities in their rooms to aid in the healing process of their patients, and between glass blinds are not bothered by these high humidities.
Not only is the design of our products important to the success of our company; more important is the quality of our employees, and the customer service provided after the sale. We have very conscientious employees that take pride in what they manufacture, and when they ship a finished product, they do not want to see it again. This shows in the fact that our returns are virtually non-existent. We have outstanding employees and it shows in the finished quality of the product we sell.
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President & Vice President