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I've been playing games for a very long time. I've seen many different types of games come and go, become popular and lose their popularity. I've seen genres die, and genres come alive. Currently, in this day and age of video games, the popular thing to do is make games as cinematic as possible; to try and mimic a movie. Game after game I play I notice that I'm watching more cut scene than I am playing and even when I'm playing, the developers make it seem like I'm still watching a movie by taking the gameplay and adding dynamic camera angles or cinematic quick time events; all of it working towards a more movie like experience. And to me, this couldn't be farther off from what I expect from a video game.
Not to say that there is anything wrong with video games being cinematic. One of my favorite series of all time is the Metal Gear Solid series, and those games pride themselves in being incredibly cinematic, with hours after hours of movie like cut scenes. So no, there is nothing wrong with a video game trying to imitate older forms of media. But sometimes, I just want to play a game. And that's when a game like Lollipop Chainsaw becomes my saving grace, because it's the most video game like video game I've played in a long time.
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have already given their press conferences at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) this year, and, as any self-respecting gamer should do, I'm going to reflect on all three of them.
Microsoft was the first to take the stage, early Monday morning. Well, early in California; I had time to hit the snooze button seven times, roll out of bed, make some coffee, browse the internet and leisurely mosey over to the IGN streaming site before noon hit, Eastern time.
Microsoft started out with an epic, ten minute demo of Modern Warfare 3 running on the Xbox 360 console (not without "proving" that it was in game due to a controller connection interruption). It showed some pretty cool cinematic, though it did seem that the game was reusing quite a few assets used in Modern Warfare 2. Regardless, the game is sure to be the same, action packed romp that it always is.
Then came the new Tomb Raider reboot, which had the new, less-but-also-somehow-more sexually attractive Laura Croft getting stabbed, beaten, bruised, punched, and battered all to hell as she made her way out of what looked like a sacrificial cave. It looked quite exciting, and this will be the first Tomb Raider game that I'm actually looking forward to, let alone feel excited for.
Cliff Bleszinski, later, came on stage, and, together with the help of Ice-T, beat a enthralling single player mission on Gears of War 3, taking place on a ship that was actively being eaten by a giant squid-octopus hybrid thing. Looks to be pretty fun and over the top, as is expected out of Gears of War games.
Then Microsoft started shoving Kinect
shit games down our throats. 85% of the entire press conference was glitchy, buggy, boring and unintuitive Kinect games that didn't interest me in the slightest. Come on, Microsoft, Kinect doesn't work; quit trying to sell it like it does.
Of course, they also announced the Halo 1 remake, which is a completely remade and high-definition of the original game, single player and all. It will have online co-op and online multiplayer with the original maps and some new, updated ones. I didn't get super excited about that, but hey, Halo is fun, and fun is good.
At the very end of the conference, Microsoft showed us a Halo 4 trailer that left of right where Halo 3 did; with Master Chief floating away in a space ship. It looks like it could be cool, but I worry about the series without Bungie behind the helm.
Overall, Microsoft showed off some cool, multiplatform games that were interesting, but the majority of the gamers were flat, cardboard Kinect games, and that just doesn't interest me.
Grade: C-
Sony started off with something they really needed to do: an apology. And while that was a nice enough gesture, they didn't really phrase it in a way that made much sense. Instead of "Hey, look, we're sorry about everything", the phrasing made it seem like "We're sorry you couldn't enjoy everything that we know you love and is awesome on the PSN", which is sorta the same, but it comes off like an advertisement more than an apology.
Then we got to the real stuff. Uncharted 3, duh, looks awesome. And by awesome, I mean FUUUUUUUU insane. This is a series that gets worlds better every iteration, and considering the first one was a very good game, that speaks wonders about the quality of the stuff Naughty Dog puts out.
Resistance 3… is another Resistance, which is to say, "yawn".
Then Sony went into something that I hold very dear to my heart; HD remakes of older games. I'm oh-so pumped for the Shadow of the Colossus and ICO remakes, but ovbiously I'm going to buy the Metal Gear Solid remakes as well.
The press conference was littered with games that supported the Move controller. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the Move shows so much more promise than Kinect, but so far, I still haven't seen anything that makes it a must own peripheral (which is why I don't have one), and E3 didn't do much to rectify that. Try again, Sony.
The new Sly Cooper game looks very nice. Having never played his games before, I'm tempted to go back and explore the older games to get ready for the new one.
But easily the biggest surprise of all of E3 (surprise, and nothing more) was the Playstation Vita. Weird, new age-y name aside, Sony showed quite a bit of games running on the console, all of which looked like console ports. I guess that's not a bad thing, but at some point, you have to ask yourself "Wouldn't I rather be playing this on my actual PS3 and my HDTV?" I think that is the main problem that the Vita is going to come across, but I digress, that is not the exciting news I was referring to. No, the biggest surprise out of E3 2011 was that the PS Vita would retail in America for 250$. 250$!!! People had been guestimating at over 300$ and into the 400$ range, and for Sony to pull a "Yeah, we're the same price as Nintendo" just blew me away. I'm still having problems believing it. Nintendo has got some work cut out for them.
Overall, Sony was interesting, if not terribly exciting. The PS Vita was easily the best part of the show, but still, it just wasn't all that fun.
Grade: B-
Nintendo started off their press conference with a real orchestra playing Zelda music at Miyamoto's request. I mean really, how can anything top that? They can't… they just can't.
After some quick footage of Skyward sword and some announcements about more Zelda games coming to the Wii, 3DS and DSi, Nintendo moved right onto their newest console, the Wii U. And this is where things started moving downhill.
They announced the name. Then they showed us a controller with a screen. Then, as the audience scratched their heads, they started showing games using this new controller. There was no announcement of a new console, no pictures of any sort of new hardware. It was just this controller. No one could figure out what exactly it was. Was it an extension of the Wii? Was it a portal gaming console that connected with the Wii? It wasn't until minutes passed that it finally clicked for a lot of people: There was a new console, but Nintendo wanted to focus on the controller as the new expereince. Well, cool, Nintendo, except you confused everyone watching and I'm sure there are still some people confused as to what the crap was going on.
So yeah. Wii 2. HD graphics. About as powerful as the current generation (2006 technology. Woo) with another gimmicky controller that no one will take full advantage of. Sure sounds like Nintendo!
Then they moved onto 3DS stuff, and as a game deprived 3DS owner, was a good change of pace. The showed us some gameplay of the new Mario game, the new Mario Kart, the remake of Star Fox 64 and some Ocarina of Time 3D footage. The coolest surprise was the return of Luigi's Mansion, and boy did it look nice! That's easily become my most anticipated 3DS game (aside from Ocarina, which comes out soon!).
And… that's about it for Nintendo. Their 3DS showing was all nice and dandy, but I just had a problem with the way they presented the Wii U (WEEEEUUUUU). But still, they put on a much better show than Sony and Microsoft.
Grade: B
It seems like I'm always ranting about how much I love the Half-Life games. I could talk all day about the certain aspects of the game that I love, and I could turn any non-believer into a fan.
But, more recently, it seems I'm always ranting about how Valve is leaving us out in the snow when it comes to Half-Life 2: Episode 3. In the snow, naked. Yes, naked. We're all in the snow, naked, Valve. You hear me? NAKED.
Every single day that I don't hear anything about Episode 3 is another day where I lose faith in my all time favorite game company. It's been nearly three years since Episode 2 was released and we've seen nothing from the final "episode" in the Half-Life 2 series besides a single concept art. That's outrageous! I can give them the development time; hell, I don't mind that they are taking this long. In my eyes, three or four years is a perfectly acceptable amount of time for a AAA game to be released (nevermind the fact that Episode 3 is, you know, an episode, not a full game). It's the LACK OF INFORMATION that is really making me angry. Because Valve is so incredibly secretive about their games, Episode 3 is turning into vapor-ware.
Yes, I said it. In my mind, Episode 3 is vapor-ware. Like, pre-PAX Duke Nukem vapor-ware. Three years and not so much as a screen shot? Do they have it half completed? Is the story-board written? Have they even started the damn thing!? What kind of developer ends a game on such a cliff hanger as Episode 2 ended and then just drops the game off the freaking radar? You don't see TV producers ending season 1 on a cliff hanger and then waiting 4 years to revel what happens in season 2 (well, unless it gets canceled).
I have no doubt that Episode 3 will eventually come out, but making us wait with no information is just punishment. What did we do to Valve that they are punishing us like this?
Newel, I love you and your company. You guys do great things and I always look forward to your games. But enough is enough. Give us something, anything, about Episode 3. Please. You're losing faithful customers every second you continue to neglect Episode 3. Put down Left4Dead and put down Portal and finish what you started.
Am I the only one who feels this way? Will anyone else send a message to Valve that we want something, ANYTHING, about the vapor-ware-Esq Episode 3?
Just this past Monday, Microsoft rolled out a rather sizable update to their gaming console, the Xbox 360. The update, which we've known about for at least a couple of weeks, enabled users to use any flash drive or USB hard-disk drive on their Xbox 360 to store data, game saves and even installed games. The update basically gives the Xbox 360 the same features the PS3 has had since the beginning of it's life.
What's the catch? It only allows up to 16 gigs.
Ok Microsoft, thanks for trying, but you lost me on "hello".
What the console does is this: you plug in your flash drive or hard drive, sizable anywhere from 1 gig (minimum) to 40 terabytes, if such a thing exists. The console recognizes the drive and tells you that it will erase everything on it and set it up for the console. Well, ok then, go ahead.
After a minute or two, you notice that your 418 terabyte drive is down to a measly 16 gigs. "What the crap!?!?" was the first thing I said.
Yes, Microsoft makes you limit all the drives to a maximum of 16 gigs. You can, however, have two devices (only two) plugged in at the same time for a grande total of 32 gigs!!
In this day and age, what with downloadable content and game installs becoming more and more popular, it makes sense that Microsoft would allow us to use the random flash drive sitting around in our house. But the limit is such an obvious restraint to make it so we still have to buy their overpriced hard drives; it makes me sick! Can't you, Microsoft, give your users something that benefits them entirely instead of trying to make a pretty penny off ALL of us ALL the time?! They're even selling a 16 gig "Xbox" flash drive, selling for $50, which is laughable considering I can find a 16 gig flash drive for under $20 easily.
Regardless of my complaints, I am actually using the new system. I have a modded Xbox and sometimes my burned games don't run exactly perfect unless they're installed to a hard drive. Trouble is, all I have is a 20 13 gig hard drive. So I've plugged in a 40 gig USB hard drive (partitioned to bloody 16 gigs) and another portable 20 gig hard drive into my Xbox and have installed a few games to them. I have to say, the games installed to the USB drives run really fast compared games installed to the 360's hard-drive. I've seen a good five or six seconds of improvement on loading times and almost 100% framerate on most games.
Anyways, I suppose the newest Xbox update wasn't all terrible. It was a great idea on paper, but as soon as a Microsoft employee said "Hey, if we let them do this, won't they stop buying Xbox 360 hard-drives?" and they added the limit, the "awesome-ness" factor dropped nearly 24 super points for me.
Microsoft, come see me when you're increased the limit to 32 or, heck, no limit at all.
I first picked up Fallout 3 this past summer. Sam, my cousin, had it and insisted that I give it a try. Well, me and Sam, have pretty similar tastes in games, so I figured I'd trust him and I took Fallout 3 for a spin.
Let's go ahead and get this right out in the open: my playing conditions for Fallout 3 were terrible. I was A) playing on a TV so bad, it made the thought of smashing rocks into your eye sockets sound like a good idea, B) I was playing with a constant glare in my TV due to the fact that the sun loves to annoy us all night throughout the summer in Alaska and C) I was also playing with incredible sleep deprivation due to B).
So yeah, I hated Fallout 3 when I first played it. I found it way too hard to get into. I put it away to never touch it again…
…that is, until I got my modded Xbox. A friend burned me a copy of Fallout 3, and told, nay, COMMANDED that I play it. I figured I should give it a fair chance since I was back home and on my huge TV under optimal gaming conditions.
Once again, the game started off incredibly slow and I found myself bored. TheAllGamer (Zachary Walton) told me to keep playing and threatened me with physical violence unless I played it (or maybe not… I'm sort of fuzzy after that random hit on the head when I stopped playing Fallout 3).
So I kept playing.
And it got better…
…and better…
…and now, at a measly seven hours into the game, I'm finding myself putting Darksiders aside and immersing myself into a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C.! It's very addicting, and the VATS system (a system that basically freezes time, let's you aim in on a certain body part and gives you detailed information on how much death you're about to bring down upon your enemies) is a very intuitive idea, and it's one of the main reasons I'm playing Fallout right now.
I'm worried that the main story line is going to get a little dry, because, even this early on, it's already starting to get stale. But, with the purchase of Broken Steel, a downloadable add-on, I can play past the ending of the game and go back and do all my side missions! And, I got it for only 5$; thank your "Deal of the Week" on XBL. W00!
Alright, so basically, Fallout 3: One beast of a game and, while similar to Oblivion, I'm actually enjoying it.
*looks at Final Fantasy XIII*
Frik… I'm so stuck
I would be playing you right now, I really would.
*bashes head against wall*
By the way, this marks a new Category for Reflection Gamer: Reviews. I'll be marking all the games I write substantial information about with this tag.
I won't be posting anything else this week due to a very hectic schedule caused by our schools play production. I am the lead role, and we've got a lot of work to do to be ready by Thursday; I'll be lucky if I even get any gaming time or, for that matter, homework time in this week at all. Early mornings, late nights, no gaming time; sounds like not my kind of week. Still, the play should be fun if we can get it together.
But before I go, I'll let you all know what I've been playing over the past week; I've got quite a full plate in terms of games. Here goes:
Uncharted (PS3) Brilliant game, dogged down by the 29,236 enemies that attack you all at once.
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3) Another very amazing game, but I'm currently stuck on a very evil boss.
Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3) Fun shooter, though not exactly my cup of tea.
Darksiders (360) *sigh* Better than I originally thought.
Fallout 3 (360) I'll save what I think about this for a longer post.
LittleBigPlanet (PS3) The create feature is just phenomenal; it's a great party game!
Well, that's about it. I have a few others on the back burner, but what you see are the games I've been playing most.
Have a good week, and if you think about it, send some prayer my way; I could use it.
*paused FFXIII*
As most of you already know, I purchased Final Fantasy XIII on the PS3 just this past week. And as some of you may not know, the game was also released on the 360. Now, this was a problem for me. I've had my 360 a lot longer than my PS3, so I've had time to grow addicted to the 360's Achievement system, which basically rewards me for doing things in games with a number award, which basically boils down to your "bragging rights" number. I'm at over 15,000, which isn't much considering some people have hit over 100,000.
Anyways, the reason I had a hard time choosing between the 360 or the PS3 version of FFXIII was because even though the PS3 version is better than the 360 version, the 360 version has those bloody achievements. The Playstation 3 does have a system similar to achievements called trophies. You are awarded a bronze, silver, gold or platinum trophy depending on what you do in the game, and, like achievements, they add up and you can brag to all your friends about it. But, that is the main problem; there is no friends on PSN. Well, ok, you can have friends, but there isn't any sort of contact with them. Unlike the 360, which included a headset with every purchase, the majority of PS3 owners have no headset, therefore, no contact with fellow gamers. So getting a trophy on the PS3 is like getting a new car in the 1700's; there are no roads to drive on.
Also, the trophies came in a bit too late in the life cycle of the PS3. Most games missed them entirely, though the developers can go back and add them in if they wish. But for me, who is completely addicted to achievements, the trophies are just too little too late.
So you ask, "Why did you buy FFXIII on the PS3 not the 360??! ACHIEVEMNTES?EA ?!?!!?". Well, for a few reasons. One, no disk changing. Two, better looking cut-scenes. Three, I like the PS3's controller better for RPG's. And four, the game started on the PS3, so I'd support it on it's original platform. I don't want a port of the biggest game of the year.
*un-pauses FFXIII*


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29 Feb Bulletin Magazine Illustration – March 2016 Issue
Recently, I was lucky enough to be asked to work once again with the team at Bulletin Magazine on an internal editorial illustration. Last year I did a typographic cover for the magazine, which was my first cover art, and my overall experience with the team at the publishers, has led me to love the creative freedom they give their artists.
Below is my editorial spread for the article on therapists using Skype to offer one-one sessions with school students.
I wanted my illustration to convey the privacy of the sessions but also the remoteness of doing therapy via the internet. To convey this I used the image of a desk in an office with the computer screen showing the start of a session between a child and their therapist.
You can see below some rough sketches that were sent along to the client before I started on the computer. These are more rough than I normally would do, and I would generally tend to do roughs on the computer in line. You can see the theme beginning here in the roughs, and the client decided upon the bottom version which was my top choice.
This is the final version in print in the March 2016 edition over a centre fold spread. I'm really happy with the simple colour scheme and overall effect of the finished illustration. Coming up with a solution to the subject matter was a challenge but I think I achieved a response that was both bold and sensitive to the theme.
It's a real pleasure to work with clients who give creative freedom to their artists, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with the team at Bulletin again.
If you like this editorial piece and would like something similar, then please get in touch HERE.

subset: commoncrawl


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Latest News
Newton on wreck: 'Somebody's supposed to be dead'
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton says he's not worried about when he might play again. He's just thankful to be alive.
Speaking for the first time since he was injured in a two-car accident Tuesday in uptown Charlotte, Newton repeatedly mentioned his good fortune in escaping the wreck with two fractures in his lower back.
"I'm on somebody's fantasy league, and I think it's the man upstairs," Newton said Thursday at Bank of America Stadium.
Newton was back at the stadium less than 48 hours after his lunchtime accident left his black pickup truck totaled and ignited a social media frenzy as Panthers fans and NFL followers sought updates on his condition.
"I really couldn't talk afterward because I was in such shock," Newton said. "I got myself out the truck, and I couldn't stop smiling. ...
"I'm looking at this truck and I'm like, 'Somebody's supposed to be dead.' And I just can't stop smiling because it's like, God has his hands on me."
After spending Tuesday night at Carolinas Medical Center, Newton was released Wednesday and returned to the stadium Thursday to receive treatment and attend meetings with the team's other quarterbacks.
He will sit out Sunday's home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just the second game he will have missed since the Panthers selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo sustained the same injury as Newton's – two transverse process fractures – this season and returned after missing one game. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Thursday is the best-case scenario for Newton to return in time for the Dec. 21 game against Cleveland.
But Newton said concerns about his football status are secondary.
"As far as when I'm coming back, who cares? That's not something that I'm worried about right now," Newton said. "I'm just thankful to have breath in my lungs."
Newton said he never lost consciousness during the wreck, which occurred at the intersection of South Church and West Hill streets, a block from the Panthers' stadium.
Newton was traveling south on Church when he said he saw the driver of the other vehicle, Nestor Pellot Jr., pull out and attempt to cross Church in a Buick sedan. Newton said he attempted to avoid Pellot's car, but the Buick "clipped the back of my truck."
The impact of the collision caused Newton's truck to overturn on the bridge over the John Belk Freeway.
Neither driver was cited in the crash, which is Charlotte's fourth-most dangerous intersection, according to traffic statistics.
Newton, 25, was traveling at the posted speed limit of 35 mph at the time of the accident, according to the crash report.
Newton said the airbags deployed in his truck, and he sustained no external cuts or injuries. He climbed out of the rear window of the truck, then sat on a curb while emergency personnel checked him out.
The crash report shows Newton's truck sustained $9,000 in damage, while Pellot's 2013 Buick had $4,000 in damage.
Pellot, 46, was treated and released at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.
Newton, who wore a blue hoodie and leaned on a podium during his seven-minute press conference, said he came to the stadium Thursday in part to ease the minds of teammates and coaches.
Rivera said Newton looked "a little sore," but otherwise appeared to be OK.
"When he gets warmed up and treated, he moves around pretty good. He's in good spirits. He's positive," Rivera said. "There's a lot for him to build on as we go forward and see what happens in a week or so, as far as his health is concerned."
When Newton saw Panthers cornerback Josh Norman on Thursday, Newton jokingly told him he needed to intercept more passes.
"I said, 'Well we need you back so you can throw the ball more,'" Norman said. "It's one of those joking things, playing with him. He's in good spirits overall."
Newton said he didn't want his situation to become a distraction for the Panthers as they prepare for a Tampa Bay team that is 2-11 and has been eliminated from playoff contention.
The Panthers (4-8-1), despite going more than two months between victories before last week's 41-10 win at New Orleans, are just a half-game behind the Saints (5-8) and Atlanta (5-8) for first place in the NFC South.
Backup quarterback Derek Anderson will fill in for Newton against the Buccaneers, as he did during a Week 1 win at Tampa Bay when Newton was sidelined with cracked ribs.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Bank of America as hyped as it's been this whole year," Newton said. "I'm anticipating a big win for these guys and I'm backing D.A. 100 percent."
Newton said seeing pictures of his 1998 Dodge Ram, with its smashed cab on the passenger's side, made him realize how fortunate he was.
"I'm just lucky to come out of there unscathed with just the little injury that I did have," Newton said. "Every time I see that flashback of looking at that truck, I'm surprised that nothing serious was done to me."


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Spring is here (this actually means my Spring break is finally here!) so, I've decided to change a few, little things:
- On the menu you can now find an About page with more information about me.
- Now the blog has a contact email, to be found on the right sidebar.
The reason for these changes is that I want to make the blog more accessible, but at the same time more complex. I started blogging seriously after visiting my good friend Sadie-Jean's blog. Then, I started meeting people and seeing how hard-working and devoted you all are to your blogs. Sometimes I do not have so much time to spend at Books and Reviews (especially during school time) but many other days I can't wait to get home and publish a review, or my thoughts.
I don't want to plan anything long-term, I prefer to see things happen little by little and spontaneously, because everyday we learn new things that change us (and I do want to apply all of them to reading and blogging). So, for now there are the changes.
Also a big thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my blog, and even a bigger thank you to those who share their opinions.
To all my fellow students out there, enjoy the break, study hard and prepare for the wonderful summer to come!


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An often overlooked feature of John Stuart Mill's famous statement of the 'harm principle' is that it refers to the 'civilised community': "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised against any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." So for Mill the operation of the harm principle is conditional, or at least dependent, on the existence of the civilized community.
But what did Mill understand by this term? A useful starting point for understanding this is Mill's essay on civilization, published in the London and Westminster Review in 1836. Mill understood the term 'civilization' to have a broad and a narrow sense. The broad sense was the way in which we might speak of a society as more perfect, as "happier, nobler, wiser", as in the civilization of ancient Greece or Rome. The narrow sense was comparative: the term could be used to distinguish a wealthy and populous nation from savages and barbarians, but in doing so could also recognize that the progression of civilization might be accompanied by new miseries or give rise to new kinds of vices.
Focusing on this latter sense Mill argued that the degree of civilization could be measured by the degree of co-operation in a society: "Wherever, therefore, we find human beings acting together for common purposes in large bodies, and enjoying the pleasures of social intercourse, we term them civilized". Savage society was violent and power could be exercised in an arbitrary way. In a civilized society security, which he understood as the protection of individual interests, would depend on the collective arrangement of society, rather than on individual strength or courage. Indeed for Mill this was the measure of civilization, as he want on to argue that "There is not a more accurate test of the progress of civilization than the progress of the power of co-operation". Co-operation in his view was something that was learned in the progress of civilization – the division of labour was, in his phrase, the "great school of co-operation". Civilization brought about the diffusion of property and intelligence throughout society and taught self-control and compromise, the sacrifice of individual will to a superior purpose.
Why does this matter? Its importance, I think, lies in the sense in which Mill was establishing preconditions. The harm principle does not apply to all, but only to those individuals and those societies which qualify. It must be understood in this sense not as a simple statement about the limits of state power, but in terms of a more complex relation. The operation of the 'harm principle' was linked to the division of labour and the degree of social progress, both in the sense of whether or not it was appropriate to a particular society or group within that society, and in the sense that civilization could give rise to new vices or harms. And of course the important questions then becomes those of who is to judge whether you meet the entry criteria for the club of civilization and according to which criteria is this judgment made.
I have two further comments about this. First, it is clear that this judgment was made on the basis of cultural assumptions about the the superiority (and civilized character) of western societies. So for Mill this justified, in particular the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent and Africa as a civilizing project. Imperial rule could be despotic because the barbarians could not govern themselves
Second, once you are aware the way this distinction, you will be surprised at how often it is still used even in the present day as a means of justifying non-liberal measures. Rioting is uncivilized behaviour and the police are the the thin blue line which stands between us and the breakdown of civilization - so liberal principle s of law may be suspended. Once you look you will see many examples of this kind, which makes you think about the continuing importance of the idea of civilization.


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Nancy J. Donovan
1958 - 2018
Viewing at Funeral Home
Viewing at Funeral Home
Obituary of Nancy J. Donovan
Nancy J. (Gray) Donovan, age 60, of Conshohocken, passed away on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at her home.
Nancy was born in Norristown, PA on May 14, 1958, daughter of the late Joseph T. and Anne (Owens) Gray.
Nancy worked as a Medical Secretary with Center for GI Health Associates of East Norriton and formerly worked with Unisys of Blue Bell, PA.
She was the beloved wife of the late Andrew J. Donovan, IV.
She is survived by her children Andrew (& Katie) Donovan, V of Aston, PA and Krista (& Thomas) Hunsicker of Gilbertsville, PA; two grandsons Lucas Thomas Hunsicker and Andrew J. "AJ" Donovan; as well as a sister Cheryl Harris of Lansford and a nephew Kenneth Braatz of Boynton Beach.
Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Jeffrey T. Gray.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:00 AM from the Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 300 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428.
There will be a viewing on Sunday afternoon, December 9th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and on Monday, December 10th from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at the Funeral Home.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Nancy's memory to: Home at Last Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 1341, North Wales, PA 19454.
Conshohocken Location
300 Fayette Street
Conshohocken, PA 19428
Phone: (610) 828-0330
East Norriton Location
19 East Germantown Pike
East Norriton, PA 19401
Phone: (610) 277-1600
Trappe Location
224 West Main Street
Trappe, Pa 19426
Phone: (610) 489-7900
Our Affiliations
- Monco FDA
- Salvation Army
- Commercial Club


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NEW YORK, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICON) ("Iconix") announced today that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $325 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 (the "notes") in a private offering. The notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Iconix also expects to grant to the initial purchaser of the notes a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $50 million aggregate principal amount of notes, solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
Iconix expects to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes (i) to fund the repurchase of up to $75 million of its common stock in privately negotiated transactions through the initial purchaser conducted contemporaneously with the pricing of the notes, (ii) to fund the net cost of a convertible note hedge transaction and a warrant transaction with a hedge counterparty, as described below, and (iii) for general corporate purposes, which may include investing in or acquiring new brands through opportunistic transactions and strategic relationships and additional share repurchases. Since January 1, 2013, Iconix has repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $62.0 million.
The notes will mature on March 15, 2018. Prior to December 15, 2017, the notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of certain events and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the business day preceding the maturity date of the notes. Upon any conversion, Iconix's conversion obligation will be settled in cash up to the principal amount and, to the extent of any excess over the principal amount, in shares of Iconix common stock, or, if Iconix so elects, cash. The interest rate on, and the conversion rate of, the notes will be determined by negotiations between Iconix and the initial purchaser of the notes.
In connection with the offering of the notes, Iconix expects to enter into a privately negotiated convertible note hedge transaction with an affiliate of the initial purchaser of the notes (the "hedge counterparty"). The convertible note hedge transaction is expected to cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of Iconix common stock that will initially underlie the notes. Iconix also expects to enter into a separate privately negotiated warrant transaction with the hedge counterparty relating to the same number of shares of Iconix common stock. In addition, if the initial purchaser exercises its over-allotment option to purchase additional notes, Iconix expects to sell additional warrants and to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the additional notes and from the sale of the corresponding additional warrants to enter into an additional convertible note hedge transaction. The convertible note hedge transaction is expected to reduce the potential dilution with respect to Iconix common stock upon conversion of the notes. However, the warrant transaction will have a dilutive effect with respect to Iconix common stock to the extent that the market price per share of Iconix common stock exceeds the applicable strike price of the warrants on any expiration date of the warrants.
In connection with establishing its initial hedge of the convertible note hedge transaction and warrant transaction and concurrently with, or shortly after, the pricing of the notes, the hedge counterparty or its affiliate expects to purchase Iconix common stock in open market transactions and/or privately negotiated transactions and/or enter into various cash-settled derivative transactions with respect to Iconix common stock. In addition, the hedge counterparty or its affiliate may modify its hedge position by entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to Iconix common stock and/or by purchasing or selling Iconix common stock in open market transactions and/or privately negotiated transactions following the pricing of the notes from time to time (and are likely to do so during any conversion period related to a conversion of notes). Any of these hedging activities could also increase, decrease or prevent a decline in, the market price of Iconix common stock.
The notes and the shares of Iconix common stock issuable upon conversion thereof, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Iconix, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iconix to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainty regarding the results of Iconix's acquisition of additional licenses, continued market acceptance of current products and the ability to successfully develop and market new products particularly in light of rapidly changing fashion trends, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties relating to Iconix's licensees' dependence on foreign manufacturers and suppliers, uncertainties relating to customer plans and commitments, the ability of licensees to successfully market and sell branded products, competition, uncertainties relating to economic conditions in the markets in which Iconix operates, the ability to hire and retain key personnel, the ability to obtain capital if required, the risks of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the risks of uncertainty of trademark protection, the uncertainty of marketing and licensing acquired trademarks and other risks detailed in Iconix's SEC filings. The words "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "confident", "continue", "will", "project", "provide", "guidance" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made.
Contact Information: Jaime Sheinheit Investor Relations Iconix Brand Group 212.730.0030
SOURCE Iconix Brand Group, Inc.


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It's been a busy month. Sam competed for the first time in the K*Bots World Championships which are held right here in Las Vegas each year. Unfortunately, "right here in Las Vegas" means in Summerlin so it's a 30 minute drive each way twice a day. The competitors spend the week building robots out of K'Nex parts and battle each other on Thursday and Friday. Sam made it through to the second round in each of his divisions, which is not bad at all for a rookie.
Building the K*BotsDivision M preliminary rounds
Sam's point of view behind his K*Bot during competition
What we affectionately refer to as the "Nerd Herd". These competitors came from Nevada, Arizona, California, Utah, Texas, Massachusetts, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Costa Rica, Thailand, Taiwan and China.


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Maintaining total control of who has access to your property and buildings is critical to protecting valuable company assets. For more than 20 years Access Master has designed and installed robust access…..
A custom Video Surveillance system designed and installed by Access Master makes keeping eyes on your business easier than ever. Even a single, well-positioned video camera enhances security at any location…..
A hosted access control system provides a greater level of security and benefits to our clients. No longer do you need to have a specially trained employee to manage the access control software. If this person were to go on…..
The limitations of traditional office phone systems can prevent your business from achieving optimal productivity. Access Master installs voice over IP (VOIP) telephone systems that offer users expanded capabilities and benefits…..
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Secluded Jungle Luxury with Dining and Spa Inclusions, Daily Breakfast and Daily Yoga
Find your slice of jungle paradise at Nandini Jungle Resort & Spa, a serene sanctuary set amid the timeless landscape of Ubud. Discover why this striking resort was voted the Most Outstanding Luxury Hideaway in 2018 as you enjoy daily breakfast, a multi-course lunch and dinner, a 60-minute massage for two, a daily yoga class, daily afternoon tea and minibar refill, a welcome drink with fresh fruit and a 15-minute relaxing ritual on arrival and so much more.
Package Options
- Inclusions valid for two adults
- Delicious daily breakfast
- One multi-course lunch during your stay, to be enjoyed at Wild Ginger Restaurant
- One multi-course dinner at Wild Ginger Restaurant
- Inclusions valid for two adults
- Spacious villa offering spectacular views of the sunrise
- One daily cocktail per person
- Delicious daily breakfast
- Inclusions valid for two adults
- Spacious villa with a large terrace overlooking the forest
- One daily cocktail per person
- Delicious daily breakfast
- Inclusions valid for two adults
- Delicious daily breakfast
- One multi-course lunch during your stay, to be enjoyed at Wild Ginger Restaurant
- One multi-course dinner at Wild Ginger Restaurant
- Inclusions valid for two adults
- Spacious villa offering spectacular views of the sunrise
- One daily cocktail per person
- Delicious daily breakfast
- Inclusions valid for two adults
- Spacious villa with a large terrace overlooking the forest
- One daily cocktail per person
- Delicious daily breakfast
Known as the spiritual capital of Bali, Ubud is home to some of the island's most famous natural landscapes, where glorious rainforest meets terraced rice paddies, where Hindu temples and shrines peek outside the lush jungle. A peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the busy areas of Kuta and Seminyak, Ubud calls for slow down the pace, reconnect with nature and check out from your daily life – and there's no better way to experience this than with a stay at the spectacular Nandini Jungle Resort & Spa, a secluded resort offering a collection of newly renovated Balinese villas amidst the exotic jungle of Ubud.
What You'll Love...
The Resort – Find your inner peace in this oasis of tranquility
Stamped with a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and winner of various accolades including the Most Outstanding Luxury Hideaway at the 2018 Global Luxury Hotel & Spa Awards, Nandini Jungle Resort & Spa has been modelled on a traditional Balinese village landscaped into the hillside, just on the slopes of the gorgeous Ayung River Valley.
With a collection of just 18 villas built with natural materials to highlight the untouched beauty of Ubud's landscapes, world-class facilities and unparalleled views over the lush greenery, your days at Nandini Jungle Resort & Spa will be spent enjoying yoga classes, indulging in delicious fresh food, relaxing at the onsite spa and swimming in the resort's glorious pool, offering the most breathtaking views over the river gorge and beyond.
The Villa – Balinese charm, glorious views over the jungle and a daily minibar refill
Unwind in one of the resort's Jungle View Villas, offering 48 sqm of Balinese charm with a spacious bathroom complete with a romantic bath tub, gorgeous floor to ceiling windows opening onto a fully furnished private balcony with a relaxing day bed, luxury bathroom amenities, a minibar restocked daily and high-speed Wi-Fi connection.
VIP Upgrade Watch the sun rising from the lush forest when you upgrade to a Sunrise View Villa, featuring the same state-of-the-art amenities of the Jungle View Villa with the added luxury of even more incredible views.
Celebrity Upgrade: Romance abounds in the New Panorama Villa, offering 360 degrees views over the river valley from an extra spacious private terrace. Located in a higher position, these villas also feature a Nespresso coffee machine, for your daily coffee fix with a view.
BONUS: Upgrade to a Sunrise View Villa or a New Panorama Villa and receive a daily cocktail per person.
Food & Drinks – Indulge with daily breakfast, daily afternoon tea and more
From a plate of fresh fruit with a refreshing cocktail on arrival (paired with a 15-minute massage), to sumptuous daily afternoon tea, you will be well and truly looked after at Nandini Jungle Resort & Spa.
Start each day with a sumptuous breakfast served at Wild Ginger Restaurant, carefully prepared by the talented in-house chef with ingredients sourced from the resort's organic garden. After your daily yoga session, an indulgent afternoon tea awaits featuring a selection of sweet and savory treats. You will also be treated to a multi-course lunch and a multi-course dinner during your stay, where you will sample delicious fresh food and local specialties.
See & Do – Relax with a 60-minute massage and discover Ubud
Framed by Bali's iconic terraced green rice paddies, lush rainforest and swaying coconut palms, Ubud offers some of the island's most beautiful scenery, which can be discovered on rice field tours by foot and by bike. With a complimentary shuttle from the resort to Ubud, in just over 20 minutes you will be able to discover the cultural heart of Bali, brimming with restaurants, yoga studios, galleries and markets. Included in your package is also a guided trek of the surrounding rice paddies and a visit to a local village, which will give you a unique insight into Balinese life and culture.
Achieve the ultimate relaxation with a 60-minute massage for two at the Sungai Spa, located right near the Ayung River. Soothe away your stresses to the calming sounds of the water, as you get pampered by the experienced therapists.
Perfect for a bit of romance
With stunning surrounds and intimate privacy, Nandini Jungle Resort & Spa is the ideal location to whisk away someone special or celebrate a very special occasion.
Valid for travel until 30 June 2020 (bookings must be made before 31 January 2020).
Nyepi Day: Please note the Nyepi Day of Silence will take place on 25 March 2020, during which airports are closed and check-in at the resort is unavailable.
Blackout Dates Apply. Dates are identified in the Booking Calendar.
Check Availability: To confirm your dates of stay at purchase, click on 'Check Availability' and select your preferred package. Use the calendar to browse and select available dates. Dates with a surcharge are identified.
Buy Now Book Later: If you want to secure this offer and don't know when you want to travel please select 'Buy Now & Book Later'. This will secure your package and give you the flexibility to choose your travel dates - within the book by and validity period and subject to availability. To select dates post purchase, simply select 'My Escapes' under the 'My Account' tab and follow the prompts.
7-Day Change of Mind 'No Questions Asked' Refund Guarantee: Things don't always work out. Our 7-day Change of Mind Guarantee is there to help. Bookings (except for tour bookings and flights) may be cancelled with a full refund provided that cancellation occurs strictly within 7 days from the date of purchase and provided that the cancellation is made no less than 21 days prior to the check-in date.
Feel Like Changing your Dates? No worries… You can make one (1) change to the date of your booking provided the change is made no less than 45 days before the start of your original booking date and provided you choose dates which are of an equal value and are available. Any change to booking dates is subject to and must be made online in accordance with our Terms and Conditions. Change of date not applicable when package is purchased with flights.
Jungle View Villa, Sunrise View Villa, Panoramic View Villa – Packages valid for two adults
Bedding configuration is one king bed plus one rollaway bed for a surcharge.
Maximum Room Capacity: The maximum room capacity is three people. See the 'Extra Guest Policy' and 'Child Policy' below:
Extra Guest Policy: One additional guest (aged 12 and over) may stay for a surcharge of AUD$50 per night, sleeping on a rollaway bed with accommodation and breakfast only. Payable directly to the resort.
Child Policy: One child (aged 11 years and under) may stay free of charge, sleeping on existing bedding with breakfast and accommodation only. A rollaway bed can be added upon request for a surcharge of AUD$50 per night, payable directly to the resort.
Baby Policy: One infant aged one year and under may stay free of charge and will not count towards the room capacity. A cot can be provided by the resort free of charge.
Connecting rooms are not available.
Please note: The complimentary shuttle runs on selected times only.
Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated). Menus are subject to change without notice.
Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to website's terms and conditions.
- Purchase with confidence. We offer a 7-day 'Change of Mind' no questions asked guarantee.
- Exclusively negotiated offers. We go direct to ensure you get the best price possible.
- Quality guaranteed.


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There's not much in life that Chance can't have, and for that reason, he's bored with the ordinary. In Jay, Chance sees a chance to have some fun and to feel young again. When he finds out that Jay isn't as young as he first thought, and that he will stand up for himself, he realizes there may be more to this twink than he first thought.
"Taking a Chance" is available from Torquere Press. It was a lot of fun to write, and after the Charity Sip Blitz for which we did it was over, we offered it back to Torquere and are thrilled they decided to take it again.
Chance is a fun character to play with because he's got everything except the man of his dreams. Finding out what makes him tick is key to the story and we're hard at work on the sequel, a novel-length story called Chances Are.


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70% of an organisation's culture comes from its leaders. These leaders need the skills and understanding to become responsible and accountable for making things change.
That's why inclusive leadership is so important. Recognising what diversity brings to an organisation is the first step in promoting gender equality as a measurable benefit to the business.
We assess a leader's emotional intelligence, then help them to build trust and respect.
We work together to develop an inclusive style that works for them.
We offer practical guidance on avoiding gendered communication and holding inclusive meetings.
We stretch people's thinking and help to change behaviours for the long term, using 1:1 or group coaching and interactive workshops.
If your leadership needs to become more inclusive, get in touch to discuss how we can help make it happen.
Creating emotionally intelligent leaders.
We'll work with EQI tools and assessments to support you in your leadership role. We'll help you develop awareness of your preferences, build empathy and improve how you listen. If you're filtering, then we look at how this impacts on your effectiveness.
Our process helps you to identify the barriers to becoming a successful, inclusive leader, then works with you to remove them.
Meetings – the key to inclusivity?
Equal Talent can help you run more effective, inclusive meetings where people's knowledge and opinions are heard and better decisions get made.
Inclusive Leadership Programme
We identified the need for inclusive behaviour from the leadership team as the key to turning things around. Our Inclusive Leadership Programme focused on helping the leaders to look, feel and behave like a single, united team. By encouraging everyone to value difference, we broke down barriers, built trust and improved communication.
The programme led to much more openness and collaboration across the whole leadership team.
Ready to Make a Change?
Equal Talent can make a difference to your organisation, to your leadership, and to you. So be the change you wish to see and contact us.


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2 Samuel 6-8 New International Version (NIV)
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah[a] in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name,[b] the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it,[c] and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,[d] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.
8 Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[e]
9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
12 Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"
21 David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."
23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
God's Promise to David
7 After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
3 Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you."
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
8 "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[f] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
"'The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[g]; your throne will be established forever.'"
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
David's Prayer
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
"Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![h]
20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22 "How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?[i] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
25 "And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, 'The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
27 "Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."
David's Victories
8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at[j] the Euphrates River. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers[k] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah[l] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
9 When Tou[m] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram[n] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.
11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: 12 Edom[o] and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites[p] in the Valley of Salt.
14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David's Officials
15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were priests.[q]
Cross references:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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The Caribbean has always been the quintessential cruise destination, but this might be the best time to take a cruise there in recent memory. Repairs have been made quickly to many of the affected islands following this summer's unusually active hurricane season. And it's not just good news for travellers: Many of these islands depend heavily on cruise and land-based tourism, and the faster they can get those tourists back, the better.
One of my favourite lines, Holland America, has some great deals on right now in the Caribbean — especially if you can cruise between the time you read this and January. Eastern Caribbean cruises aboard the elegant Eurodam are running just over $500 per person for an inside cabin for select week-long sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in December and January (though these prices are highly subject to change), and there are still some spaces open on the Nov. 29 departure of the Koningsdam. The latter is a 10-night Southern Caribbean Wayfarer voyage with onboard wine experts and is one of Holland America's Adventure of Your Life cruises, featuring special activities, events and speakers curated by the people behind O, The Oprah Magazine.
Next year also marks an important milestone for Holland America. In the new year, the line's private island, Half Moon Cay, will celebrate its 20th anniversary. It's worth it to book a Holland America cruise just to visit this pristine wonderland. The waters are impossibly beautiful, and there are endless on-shore activity options, from horseback rides along the beach to cycling tours of the island, snorkelling excursions and of course, the option to do absolutely nothing but kick back with a cocktail and a good book.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line reopened Grand Turk on Nov. 1, with Carnival Ecstasy inaugurating the event during a day-long call. The $60-million cruise facility in the Turks & Caicos was opened by Carnival Corporation back in 2006, and has become one of the most popular spots in the Eastern Caribbean thanks to its sprawling sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundance of activities within Grand Turk itself, and in nearby Cockburn Town.
Almost the entirety of Carnival's fleet is positioned in the Caribbean this winter, and Carnival president Christine Duffy noted that the Fun Ships will resume sailings to San Juan on Nov. 30, and St. Thomas and St. Maarten in January. In the meantime, however, there are great deals to be had for the rest of the Caribbean, including voyages on Carnival's newest vessel, Carnival Vista, which is operating some really fantastic eight-day voyages from Miami to the Southern Caribbean this winter.
Also noteworthy is the recently refitted Carnival Elation, which has been given a complete makeover that includes an entirely new deck of balcony staterooms, refitted interiors, and completely redesigned cabins. I'll be checking out this exciting new refit in January but for now, you can find Carnival Elation sailing quick cruises to the Bahamas out of Jacksonville, Fla.
Other lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are also rolling out the special deals and incentives right now. These can be in the form of reduced deposits, added amenities like complimentary gratuities and drink packages, or both. Celebrity Cruises even has some rare, quick itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas aboard Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Reflection in the coming months; a great chance to try out Celebrity's coolest new ships for a fraction of what it normally costs.
If you need more reasons to cruise the Caribbean, consider this: MSC Cruises is launching its largest, newest, and most exciting ship to-date in Miami this December. This high-tech, 4,140-guest ship is the first of an entirely new class of vessel for MSC, and promises to be unlike anything afloat. Although she's plenty big, her indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to reconnect guests with the sea. To that end, she has plenty of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sweeping promenades, and terraced decks to provide every guest with more of what any good cruise should: sweeping views of the ocean.
MSC Seaside will be christened in Miami on Dec. 21, and she sets sail on alternating week-long Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises shortly after that.
Happy Caribbean cruising.
Visit Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly email@example.com


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omg. i want to make this. and the rest of them. you may have inspired me to do the incredible
This was a big hit at our BBQ!!! Very good....
I was looking for something fun to make next weekend and I think this might be it. I am also considering using alcoholic whipped cream just for some extra added fun!
Can I use vanilla rum??


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MBA Career Outlook
Starting Salary & Placement
|National Starting Salary
|ISU Grad Salaries
|ISU Grad Placement
Professional Development
The College of Business is home to the unique Professional Development program designed to prepare students for the career search beginning as early as their freshman year. Our Professional Development team will help students get setup with internships, networking opportunities and resume preparation. Learn more about the program.
John Ney
Directory of Professional Development
(208)282-3637 | email@example.com
Gail Hunt
Administrative Assistant
(208)282-2504 | email@example.com
Contact Us
Idaho State University College of Business
Business Administration
921 South 8th Ave
Pocatello, ID 83209 Stop 8020 BA 510


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From a snippet of a patient's skin, researchers have grown blood vessels in a laboratory and then implanted them to restore blood flow around the patient's damaged arteries and veins.
It is the first time blood vessels created entirely from a patient's own tissues have been used for this purpose, the researchers report in the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
Cytograft Tissue Engineering of Novato, Calif., made the vessels, in a process that takes six to nine months. Because they are derived from patients' own cells, they eliminate the need for antirejection drugs. And because they are devoid of any synthetic materials or a scaffolding, they avoid complications from inflammatory reactions.
Doctors in Argentina have performed the first human tests of the vessels on six patients, the team reported. Two additional implants have been performed since the report was submitted, said Dr. Todd N. McAllister of Cytograft.
The longest follow-up among these patients has been for 13 months. Cytograft says the vessels hold promise for patients with damaged blood vessels from diabetes, arteriosclerosis, birth defects and other problems. But monitoring for a much longer period will be needed before those uses could become standard, the team said.Continue reading the main story
"This technique has a big potential in the vascular surgical field," said Dr. Toshiharu Shinoka, who directs pediatric cardiovascular surgery at Yale and who plans to conduct studies with Cytograft on the new vessel. He called the technique an advance over one he used in operations on children in Japan, in which vessels were grown from cells on a scaffold that then degraded and was absorbed into the body.
Doctors not connected with the company agreed on the importance of the new technique. "A potential benefit may be for infants and children with congenital heart defects," said Dr. Deepak Srivastava, director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease at the University of California, San Francisco. Unlike grafts from cadavers, he added, "the Cytograft vessels should be able to grow as the child does."
The Cytograft studies were done at a leading cardiovascular center in Argentina, where medical costs are much lower than in the United States. The patients were all receiving chronic kidney dialysis, which cleanses wastes from the blood.
As is standard for such treatment, doctors had surgically cut an artery and a vein in the forearm and joined them in a link known as a shunt, which provides access for the repeated needle punctures needed to connect a patient to a dialysis machine. Such shunts can last up to 15 years. But when clots and infections develop in the shunts to reduce or stop blood flow, new ones must be created.
Dr. Sergio A. Garrido, a vascular surgeon in Buenos Aires, said he implanted the Cytograft vessels in the forearm or upper arm under general anesthesia, in a different area from the malfunctioning shunt. The procedure took 60 to 90 minutes. Through surgical gloves, the Cytograft vessel, 5 ½ to 11 ¾ inches long, felt a little more delicate than a regular vein, he said.
Volunteers were chosen for the study because of their need and because the shunts allowed an easy way to monitor the functioning of the new vessels. The doctors performed ultrasound tests three times a week and could repeatedly puncture the vessels for dialysis.
Vessels in the arm would be much easier to repair in an emergency than vessels implanted deeper in the body. In one potential use of the technique, the team hopes to use the vessels to save the toes and lower legs of people with poor blood circulation from arteries damaged by diabetes and arteriosclerosis. A second potential use is among people who need coronary bypasses. Cytograft is recruiting patients for those procedures in Poland and Slovakia.
A third potential use is pediatric, for children with some congenital heart birth defects. Cytograft plans to work with Dr. Shinoka to start those studies in another two years.
The skin biopsy takes about 15 minutes. Under local anesthesia, a doctor removes a piece of skin, including a strip of vein about an inch long, from the back of the hand or inner wrist. Then technicians use enzymes to extract fibroblast cells from the skin and endothelial cells from the inner lining of the vein. The cells are grown by the millions as sheets in a laboratory. The fibroblasts provide a mechanical backbone for the sheets that are peeled and rolled into a tube.
Although the vessel resembles a vein under the microscope, it has the mechanical strength of an artery, Dr. McAllister said. The technique allows the body over time to remodel the cells from a vein into a vessel with the elasticity of an artery.
Because of limitations in the length of the vessels that can be grown in the laboratory, Dr. McAllister said, his team sews shorter segments to create a longer one. The team plans to create a two-foot-long graft from four shorter ones for lower-limb grafts to be performed on patients in Argentina and Slovakia this year.
Dr. McAllister estimated that the cost of treating a patient now would be $15,000 to $25,000 but added that the price would be likely to fall with wider use.
The Cytograft team plans to publish a full report of the findings from its trial after 10 patients have been monitored for six months. Cytograft has applied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval to conduct tests of the vessels in the United States.Continue reading the main story


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Skip to main content
LGBT Pride Month
Search this Guide
LGBT Pride Month: Home
LBGT Books and DVDs Not to Miss
Forcing the Spring
Jo Becker
"Forcing the Spring begins on Election Night 2008, when a controversial California ballot initiative called Proposition 8--which removed the right of gay men and women to marry--passed alongside Barack Obama's stunning victory. Forcing the Spring details how a small but determined group of political and media insiders took the fight for marriage equality all the way to the Supreme Court. Gay activists and Hollywood liberals joined together to enlist attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies--the opposing counsels on the Supreme Court's infamous Bush v. Gore ruling--to bring a controversial legal case against Proposition 8 before the highest court in the land. Forcing the Spring is the extraordinary ringside account of this unprecedented effort to shift public opinion and reengineer the political certainties of an era"
The gay revolution : the story of the struggle
Lillian Faderman
This book offers the sweeping story of the modern struggle for gay, lesbian, and trans rights from the 1950s to the present—based on amazing interviews with politicians, military figures, legal activists, and members of the entire LGBT community who face these challenges every day. Based on rigorous research and more than 150 interviews, The Gay Revolution tells this unfinished story not through dry facts but through dramatic accounts of passionate struggles, with all the depth, and intricacies only an award-winning activist, scholar, and novelist like Lillian Faderman can evoke.
Gay, straight & accepted [videodisc]
Life can be confusing for adolescents when they begin to develop sexual attractions. Through the perspective of straight teenagers, we meet students coming to terms with how they feel and dealing with the anxiety of 'coming out'.
It's not over : getting beyond tolerance, defeating homophobia, and winning true equality
Michelangelo Signorile
From the author of the groundbreaking bestseller Queer in America, comes this myth-shattering look at the present and future of gay rights. Marriage equality has surged across the country. Closet doors have burst open in business, entertainment, and even major league sports. But as longtime advocate Michelangelo Signorile argues in his most provocative book yet, the excitement of such change makes this moment more dangerous than ever. Puncturing the illusion that victory is now inevitable, Signorile gathers evidence that an age-old hatred, homophobia, is still a basic fact of American life. He exposes the bigotry of the brewing religious conservative backlash against LGBT rights and challenges the complacency and hypocrisy of supposed allies in Washington, the media, and Hollywood. Not just a wake-up call, It's Not Over is also a battle plan for the fights to come in the march toward equality.
Same-sex legal kit for dummies
John G. Culhane; Carrie Stone
A practical, plain-English guide to the legal information and guidance LGBT people need. From making medical decisions and leaving property to loved ones, to having and raising children, this guide shows how to protect yourself, your partner, and your family.
Stonewall uprising [videodisc]
Stonewall Uprising is a 2010 American documentary film examining the events surrounding the Stonewall riots that began during the early hours of June 28, 1969
President Obama Hosts a Reception for LGBT Pride Month
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month
Presidential Proclamation -- LGBT Pride Month, 2016
The Presidential proclamation says in part " Last year's landmark Supreme Court decision guaranteeing marriage equality in all 50 States was a historic victory for LGBT Americans, ensuring dignity for same-sex couples and greater equality across State lines. For every partnership that was not previously recognized under the law and for every American who was denied their basic civil rights, this monumental ruling instilled newfound hope, affirming the belief that we are all more free when we are treated as equals. LGBT individuals deserve to know their country stands beside them. That is why my Administration is striving to better understand the needs of LGBT adults and to provide affordable, welcoming, and supportive housing to aging LGBT Americans. It is also why we oppose subjecting minors to the harmful practice of conversion therapy, and why we are continuing to promote equality and foster safe and supportive learning environments for all students. We remain committed to addressing health disparities in the LGBT community -- gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color are at a particularly high risk for HIV, and we have worked to strengthen our National HIV/AIDS Strategy to reduce new infections, increase access to care, and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV."
LGBT Pride Month
LGBT Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a turning point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," while the actual day was flexible. In major cities the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long celebration. Currently, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, workshops, symposia and concerts. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the effect that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history, on a local, national and international basis. President Barack Obama issued the 2013 LGBT Proclamation on May 31, 2013, calling upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere, and to celebrate the diversity of the American people.
Infoplease Celebrates LBGT Month
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month is observed every June in the United States and in several other countries. Learn about famous firsts by gay, bisexual and transgender people, read about the history of the month, and find information about milestones in gay, bisexual and transgender history.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month from the Law Library of Congress
The Law Library of Congress compiled this guide to commemorative observations, including a comprehensive inventory of the Public Laws, Presidential Proclamations and congressional resolutions related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month Pride.
LGBT Pride Month: 12 Moments to Remember
Oprah spotlights a few notable moments in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pop culture.
GLBT Historical Society
The GLBT Historical Society houses one of the world's largest collections of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender historical materials. The society's GLBT History Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the United States.
LGBT Life Database
The LGBT Life Database is available to researchers in the reading rooms of the Library of Congress. LGBT Life Database contains the full text of more than 120 of the most important and significant LGBT journals, magazines and regional newspapers, as well as more than 140 full-text monographs/books.
Same Sex Marriage
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LGBT Websites
ACLU LGBT Basic Rights and Liberties
For over 75 years, the ACLU has included lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in its mission of civil rights and civil liberties for all and they continue to work for anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people in employment, housing, businesses, and public places.
Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network
GLSEN strives to protect students from bullying and harassment, to advance comprehensive safe schools laws and policies, to empower principals to make their schools safer, and to build the skills of educators to teach respect for all people.
GLBTQ Encyclopedia
The largest encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, transgender and queer culture.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up by training activists, organizing campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, building the organizational capacity of our movement and generating groundbreaking research through our Policy Institute.
The Human Rights Campaign - HRC
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and so that we can become a nation that achieves fairness and equality for all.
Gay News from the Advocate
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November 1st, 2015 | by VoiceCouncil
Vocal Coach comments from Juliet Russell
Roman – It's great to see a live performance video. It takes a lot of courage to sing in a situation like that, in front of your peers and with minimal instrumentation. There's an emotional honesty and vulnerability to your performance, especially in the verses. When the dynamic builds musically, you need to be able to match this vocally and find more strength in your sound. You could practice better vocal fold closure as its hard to be dynamic with a breathy sound. Try some exercises using a gentle glottal onset to feel the sensation of the vocal folds meeting.
In terms of performance, physically let the audience know that you are ready. Your body language could be a lot more positive and commanding. You have a habit of looking down and actually bringing the shoulders forward and down. This is also having an impact on your breath support that will help you to sustain the longer phrases.
Thank you for sending in your video. It's a pleasure to hear different singers, styles and songs.
Roman's bio
Pls support me and leave a comment below, thx !
This singer was an entrant in our competition which ended on January 15th 2016.
The overall winner received:
- 1000.00 in Prizes (USD or equivalent)
- Feedback from Celebrity Vocal Coaches
- Media promotion for You and Your Music


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Our soup bowl is a multi functioning item of our Titan range serving as a soup, stew or dessert bowl. The deep bowl shape avoids unsightly spills whilst the wide lip makes serving easy and gives the bowl a contemporary feel. This 9" dish doubles as a bowl for softer desserts or dishes with sauces.
Pack Size: 10 Pieces
Dimensions: 9 Inches / 22.5cm
Contact Info
Hire Catering, International House
24 Holborn Viaduct
0203 141 7740
Catering Hire
User Links


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Hosted By: B P & Partners
Co-hosted: Energy Union Global EEIG
A by invitation brainstorming webinar analysing innovative financial structures that , conveniently tailored to a specific country, will robustly contribute to the implementation of national, regional and local plans to scale-up their strategic plans in the energy sector, focus on renewables, alternative energy, energy efficiency, passive housing, waste to energy.
The different possibilities of PPPs and similar structures as a very convenient tool for taking the most from individual efforts of every involved public and private entity.
Case examples will be provided to support the relevance of PPs.
Free Event


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Who would have thought that after all the hurts, Eduardo (played by Ian Veneracion and Amor Powers (played by Jodi Sta. Maria) will still have feelings with each other – and that love was sealed by a kiss.
The kiss happened Monday (October 26, 2015) when the two saved a little girl who was trapped under a collapsed house.
(Photo source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/ video screengrab)


text: Website and Re Designs! Not sure how many times I have re arranged and re designed our home down to paint color, furniture, accessories. Well I am back at it again. My mom was looking for a new home for her oh so comfy hardly used sofa. Well of course I would take it (thanks mom) had no idea if it would fit in our small house, it is very large...but did I mention, oh so comfy!! Joe knows the comfort of this sofa and loaded up kids and all to go grab this large comfy sofa! So the re arranging and re designing begins, and wall arrangements still need to be done. Again our small house acquires another large over sized item (a bit of an obsession for large scale items). So making progress thanks to my hard working hubby. (who usually takes a bit more nagging to get house projects done, we must be making progress on that front as well). Excited to have a functional comfy living room! The farm........well the new website is up and running for now. A little updated redesign on the farm also to freshen things up. (loving it, check it out here) http://www.havertonhill.com/ Lambs are still coming in full force (no joke) people always seemed shocked when they see all our lambs....then shocked when they find out, yes, all bottle fed by hand! We had our weekends filled with farm projects, farm tours and lots of milking. LOTS of sheep milk, which is a great thing for us. The ladies are loving their new feed regimen and it is working GREAT! Joe and I are excited to have a cheese maker come teach us how to make a special sheep cheese next weekend, looking forward to spending time with family and making another product with our milk (always fun)! So lots of re arranging, re designing, new projects and of course more painting ahead. Stay tuned! Missy AdiegoJanuary 13, 2013 Facebook0 Twitter Tumblr 0 Likes


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19 Mar Email Marketing Tips That Produce Results
Email marketing is one of those things that many companies do, but most wonder if they are doing it correctly. When you consider your own email habits, such as how many times each day you check your inbox, which messages attract your attention, and what makes you hit the delete button immediately, you have a great basis for what your own campaign needs to include. However, there are other aspects that can increase the potential of your email marketing, and most of them are relatively simple to use.
Exclusivity Matters
When your email customers feel as if they are special, or a part of an exclusive group, they are much more likely to open and respond to the email. Offering subscribers early access to sales notifications, blog posts, and other important information generates interest.
Make It Personal
There are actually a couple of different ways to work this into your email marketing. First, address your readers by name – it adds a human touch to your emails. Second, consider telling your customers about the history of your organization. Did something work splendidly, or fail miserably in the early days? Whatever you have to share, do so. You will be building relationships and generating interest at the same time.
Happiness and Excitement Builds Your Brand
If you have customers who are expecting a refund, a frequent shopper reward, or even payment for something that was sent to you, build happiness into the subject line – something as simple as "How's This for a Great Morning?" generates interest by inciting curiosity. When the reader opens the email and finds out the good news, they will certainly remember to read all those emails as they filter into their mailboxes.
Thank You's Are Appreciated
Whether you incorporate it into a typical email, or you have the time to send it in its own message, a thank you goes a long way in customer service. Did a customer leave detailed, relevant feedback? Show him or her that you read it, and appreciated it, with a simple thank via email.
Buttons Make Life Easier
If you are sending marketing emails as a method of increasing sales, you need to include buttons. It is much faster and easier to just click an embedded button, rather than trying to copy and paste, or remember to visit the website later. Internet users are an "I want it now" crowd, and those buttons will satisfy that need – and yours!
Referrals Generate Profits
Including referral codes in your email marketing campaign is a no-brainer. Happy customers let their friends know about the great products or services they use, and when you include referral codes that give the reader something as well, you both win. Potential customers trust referrals from friends over other forms of advertising, and email codes make them quick and easy for your customers to share with their friends.
Email marketing is a major part of successful sales. By incorporating these tips into your campaign, you will generate more interest, greater ROI through engagement, and increase your potential for repeat customers – all via their inboxes.Email Marketing Tips That Produce Results by staff


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WASHINGTON--An expert panel recommended today that the National Science Foundation (NSF) go ahead with its plan to build an ambitious new research station at the South Pole. But with an eye to making the cost more palatable to Congress, the panel is asking NSF to revise its blueprints, trimming the price tag from $150 million to $120 million, and squeeze $20 million out of its Antarctic research efforts.
Testifying today before a receptive House Science Committee, Norman Augustine, CEO of Lockheed-Martin and chair of the 11-member panel, called the existing Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole, one of three operated by NSF, the "crown jewel" of its scientific activities. But the jewel is tarnished--"the United States would not send a ship to sea or a spacecraft into orbit in [such] condition," he told the committee--and in need of immediate replacement.
In 1994, NSF proposed a $200 million replacement station that would allow 50 people--24 more than the current station--to winter over and would have expanded research and support facilities. That figure was later lowered to $180 million, and $25 million was spent this year on upgrades that would be part of the new station. The Augustine panel has trimmed another $30 million off the cost by shrinking the proposed station and abandoning some innovative features, including a hydroponic system for growing food and purifying sewage. NSF's 1998 budget request already calls for $25 million for unspecified renovations and repairs; the panel has calculated that NSF will need an additional $95 million over 5 years, starting this fall, to complete the new station by 2005.
The report, due out next month, will go to NSF director Neal Lane, who in a statement today applauded the panel's "dedication and expertise" and said he would consider its recommendations carefully. Neal Sullivan, head of NSF's Office of Polar Programs, said the biggest challenge is to "minimize the damage to research" from any program cuts and to "keep the community intact" while the new station is built. The final arbiter will be Congress. Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), chair of the science committee that oversees NSF's programs but not its budget, said he supports the need for a new station and that "$120 million is a lot better than $180 million" for selling the idea to appropriators.


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Apple Archive Gallery
24 years working with Steve Jobs' "A-list" designers.
The images here are a selection from the thousands of photographs my studio produced for Apple Computer between 1983 and 2007. During this period, I made more photographs for Apple than any other photographer in the world.
We photographed everything from product and people shots for brochures, ads, and packaging, to aerial photos of the Apple campus for a government contract proposal.
Working with Apple's in house Creative Services group, I had the wonderful good fortune to collaborate with some of the best designers and art directors of the time. "A-list" players, as Steve Jobs put it.
*NOTE: Due to contractual restrictions with Apple, these images can not be shared or reproduced on the internet or anywhere else without prior permission of John Greenleigh and Apple, Inc.
All images by John Greenleigh, ©Apple, Inc


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I've seen countless of Instagram posts or websites encouraging to forgo carbs completely so as to lose weight. But we don't have to demonize carbs and we shouldn't embrace low-carb diets. Carbs are the best source of energy and thus, when you drastically cut out your carb intake, your body will respond by preserving fat... Continue Reading →
How do you define an eating disorder?
This question or at least variations of this question ran through my head now almost four years ago. And this is a question I've been asked multiple times by other people. Indeed, one of my closest friends after I opened up that had an eating disorder was worried that she had an eating disorder too.... Continue Reading →
Does a juice cleanse really work?
The juice cleanse diet is among one of the popular diets I've heard of. Juice cleanses are a type of detox diet that involves only consuming liquids (squeezed from a mixture of fruits and vegetables) and not consuming any food. I've never had the urge to try one as I need the chewing aspect and... Continue Reading →
what's the point anyway?
I would like to think that it's natural to often wonder what the point of a healthy lifestyle is. Our modern culture is quite confusing: we emphasize feasting on junk food but at the same time impose a certain body standard, both expectations unrealistic and definitely not a one-size-fits-all. Indeed, I know several friends who... Continue Reading →
life is precious
In the wake of Kate Spade's passing, I wanted to drop my two cents on mental health. Mental health has always been a delicate topic to discuss on: I've realized this when naive freshman me signed up to conduct a school-wide investigation on mental health for the high school newspaper. At the time, I was... Continue Reading →
It's All About Lifestyle—24 Healthy Habits, Hobbies & Scientific Facts
I'm sure a lot of you are feeling the same thing I'm feeling right now: burned out and tired with school/work/life. As a high school junior, wow, I am drowning in homework, school tests, standardized testing, and that end of the year stress. And especially at this point of the year, it's super easy to... Continue Reading →
TEDx: Do you already love yourself? | Discussing what it means to practice self-love
Today was quite an emotional day for me. I gave a TEDx speech about my eating disorder and how it helped me learn what self-love truly means. While yes, I did slip up during my TEDx speech, standing in front of the audience and finally putting into words my eating disorder was an overwhelming experience... Continue Reading →
What are you willing to fight for?
To those who are struggling with eating and/or their body image, I ask, give me 3 minutes. There have been many times where I wanted to restrict myself again. There are times where when looking at myself in the mirror, I do not love myself nor accept myself. There are times where I forget the... Continue Reading →
Stubborn or Perseverant? You Choose.
I'm coming off full on honest: I am not fully recovered yet. I don't even know if I am 50% recovered. While I label my eating disorder time to my late middle school and early high school years, internally and emotionally I am still very much suffering with my eating disorder. ... Continue Reading →