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I'm honored to have received a nomination for the Liebster Award by Karen Brown over at Stooping for Manna. Karen is a dear person in my life, who God only placed into my life for a season, but our connection has long passed the time we had together in the same city and the same church. I am grateful for her encouragement and her amazing spirit and what it has brought to my life.
Here is her shout out: "Stephanie has a way of slowing down moments and inviting her readers into them- so that you must feel, think, and experience as a reader. She is an honest and brave writer, and beautiful friend." Um… yeah. Speechless.
Liebster is a German word that encompasses the following meanings: dearest, sweetest, kindest, lovely, and valued. That's a great word to name an award after.
Nominating someone for the Leibster is like giving credit to someone who has a blog that you would like to bring attention to. It's a way that we, small-fry bloggers, can cheer each other on.
The rules are that I must give five fun facts about myself, answer the five questions posed to me by Karen, then… I get to nominate five others.
So here goes…
Five Fun Facts About Stephanie:
1. I knew God called me to lifelong ministry while in a van riding through the mountains of Colorado, with a friend's feet in my lap, and Mere Christianity in my hand.
2. I got lost on the Metro in Paris when I was 19. It would have been terrifying if I wasn't with three other girls who made me laugh during the whole experience.
3. One of the major events that changed my life involved a needing a locksmith, freezing cold weather and a neighbor who didn't own a phone book. But seriously, who needed one anyway, with Al Gore's internet invention?
4. Six months after I picked up the guitar, for my dad's birthday present, I surprised him by playing a guitar solo for the first time during a communion service. I played his favorite song "Amazing Grace" and he cried. I won't ever play that song for anyone else.
5. One of my favorite things is snow. I don't enjoy driving in it, obviously. But I love how it takes a brown and dead and barren land and makes it shimmer and look beautiful again. I haven't seen snow in two years. 😦
Questions (nominees, answer these as well):
1. Why do you blog?
Because I don't know what I think and feel until I write it.
2. What are your spiritual gifts?
In a generic spiritual gift test, teaching, wisdom and leadership are my top three. My motivational spiritual gift is mercy. (i.e., my motivation for all other gifts is based in compassion for others.)
3. What was your favorite class in college?
Since seminary was more recent for me, I'm going to pick a class from that instead of college. And my favorite class was on the book of Joshua. Not because the book of Joshua is all that fascinating or that I loved the professor, but because it was there that I learned how to exegete a passage of scripture, which is an amazing skill to have been taught. It also opened up my eyes to both and beauty and the destruction of the Old Testament, God's character, and human nature.
4. From where does your inspiration for your writing come?
My answer is identical to Karen's: That's easy. It comes from life. From what I read, what I experience, who I meet, and what I'm feeling. Organizing life into words on a page truly helps me process and make sense of it all.
5. If you had a warning label to wear, what would yours say?
"Warning: emotional baggage attached. This one is intense and serious. But if you can get past it, she's not so bad." (I think.)
And now it's time for my own nominations. But first, here are the rules (if you can):
· post the award on your blog
· offer thanks and a link back to the blog/blogger who nominated you
· share five random facts about yourself
· nominate five other bloggers who you believe deserve the award and have less than 500 followers
· answer the questions and ask five of your own
I went through the list of bloggers I read on a regular bases, but all have more than 500 followers. So, sadly, I cannot fulfill all of the rules… Sorry!


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Monthly Archives: February 2011
A diary of sorts
Day 11 The sound of bells from the Bristol Cathedral, an ambulance towards Clifton, loud rain on the windows and the baby's soft breathing. A grey day. Day 12 Today the baby was restless all morning. Usually there are three … Continue reading
Relying on the kindness of the strange and not so strange
10 days old Baby and I left the hospital eight days ago and hadn't left the flat since. If it had been up to me I would have waited a few more weeks but I had to get to my … Continue reading
The amazing NHS
I talked to my midwife today, well I say 'my', and she is, but she was one of a team of midwives who I would see on regular intervals. The one who I talked to today was the one who … Continue reading
Drifting in and out on Valentine's day
Six days old I'm not quite ready to talk about the labour. At least not in any narrative styled format. There are some fragments which feel a little more accessible so I will pass those on instead. Light contractions started … Continue reading
Baby photos on Something Doing
I have yet to be able to post properly about the baby but wanted to share some photos from Something Doing's blog www.somethingdoing.com/blog/2011/02/bugalugs/
Gratuitous baby photo
Good night all
Welcome to the world baby girl
Mersina Papageorgiou was born at 12.39 pm on 14 February 2011 weighing 10 lbs and two and a half ounces.
Baby: the perfection of patience
There was once a monk who spent twenty-five years up in a mountain cave meditating. A yogi came to visit this monk and asked him, "What are you practicing?" The monk replied, "I am practicing the perfection of patience." The … Continue reading
Baby: waiting and love
40 weeks, four days I have to write this sentiment down because I suspect it will be one of those things I shake my head at later. I am looking forward to the pain of child birth so long as … Continue reading
How the baby went from mine to ours
For a few days in January I thought that I had lost my unique selling point of being a single mother doing it alone and making all my own decisions. I chose the baby's name, where we lived, what religion, … Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Here is the second installment of the 1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement series. In this episode the transmission comes out, we swap things over, and install it back into the van. Well, mostly install it. As you'll see, there's still quite a bit more work to be done.
This is a BIG video, over 2.5 hours in length total. It will be released in 4 parts. There will be a full version available to Premium Members of EricTheCarGuy.com at the time Part 4 is released. Here's a link to that.
There IS a Premium Video for the 1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement (Full Version)!
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1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement (Part 1):
1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement (Part 3):
1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission/Radiator Replacement (Part 4):
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I'd like to give a special thanks to the contributors to this repair.
ETE Remanufacturing: http://www.etereman.com
Radiator.com: https://www.radiator.com
Peak: http://www.peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-coolants/
Sunex: http://www.sunextools.com
Zep: http://www.zep.com
J&B Tool Sales: http://www.jbtoolsales.com#oid=1002_1
Camera: Brian Kast
Thanks for watching.
Fixing it Forward Donate Link: http://www.gofundme.com/3a3s27dg
Related Fixing it Forward Videos:
Introducing Fixing it Forward:
1998 Chrysler Town & Country Diagnosis:
1998 Chrysler Town & Country Transmission Diagnosis:
1998 Chrysler Town & Country Rear Wing Window Motor Repair $0!:
1998 Chrysler Town & Country AC Repair (Part 1) & Headlight Restoration:
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Related Videos
How To Flush a Transmission Cooler:
Town & Country Strut Replacement:
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Educational Resources
Skillbuilders offers an extensive and innovative range of contemporary learning products for children from 0 – 18 years.
Every item in our range has been carefully considered and selected by our team of highly experienced occupational therapists.
Our commitment is to source and supply products that we use with clients ourselves and can stand by as useful resources and learning tools in play or for therapy.
We highly recommend all products in the Skillbuilders on-line range for parents and teachers to use with children at home or at school.


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Zen In The Castle
I don't know what has come over me. Ever since the start of the new year I've been hellbent on rearranging everything in the castle; ever drawer, every corner, every bookshelf, every little bit of my life down to bobby pins and booby traps. Every dungeon needs a few of those.
I've thrown out or given away seven large garbage bags of junk! I'm not sure if it's the sense of transition I'm treading ever so loudly or the need for a fresh start all the way around. Who cares? It feels wonderful. I am on a mission to alter not just what my home looks like but how I live in it.
How I feel when I am in it.
Someone recently told me "You're Zen!"
I'm happy.
If that's Zen then I'm in.
Since my father died the last of October I've had some time to readjust the universe a bit - when a parent leaves, your world goes wonky for awhile. It changes the energy around you. Death of loved ones and death of relationships will transform you. I had both in spades last year. Funny. Death....gave me an entirely new perspective on life. Its brevity. Its wonder. Its tethered soul to my thoughts.
So I looked around and started changing things to suit me and only me. Taped to my refrigerator I now have a goal for each room. Not a look - an environment.
Some rooms are already in the desired state. I just had to change my mind about how to use them and rearrange a few things. I've finished the kitchen and living room thus far. I am taking my lovely time too.
(another part of my new Zen personality. No rush. No panic. No blood pressure. No heart attack.)
I love earth tones peppered with reds and rich hues for a nice mix of calm and vibrancy. I like lots and lots of large and small lamps. Thick rugs and hand painted boxes, dark wood and floral prints, antique pieces mixed with European lines. I hate overhead lighting unless it's a pretty chandelier. And I love to scale back the drapes in the summer and fall for nature's beauty through the windows. Window boxes outside filled with snow-proof pansies make it seem as though they're inside the room with me on a winter's day. I need continuity and a blending of nature's colors wherever I look. A home should foster inspiration and peace. Make sense?
So I've change my mind totally about how I want my sanctuary to function.
Here are my goals:
Living Room - A place of Socializing and Entertainment
Den - A place of warmth
Music Room - A place of Creativity
Guest rooms - A place of Refuge
Exercise room - Life. Purpose. Discipline
Bathrooms - A place of Comfort. Convenience. Cleansing.
Reading and computer room (unfinished) - A place of knowledge, the smell of books....where I meet the muse
Hallways, stairs, in-between places of transition - Beauty. Life. Light. Happy images. Joy. Peace.
Closets - A place of order so that I don't lose my mind - and my Zen.
I would like to transform the attic into a writing nook but that might guarantee I'd lose my Zen.
Maybe later.
Meanwhile you can find me buried in the dungeon ala downstairs closets rearranging the racks and torture devices (smile)
There's a lot of Zen-ning to be done down there.
Maybe I'd better meditate first.
I hope I have enough garbage bags.


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As the advertising world becomes saturated with digital media, companies look for new ways to get the attention of consumers. Many companies try to mask the commercial aspect of the product so customers feel like it is familiar or more reliable. Instead of brands, real people and real product reviews will merge consumers with products.
Let's take a step back into the 90's and look at advertising strategy. Large companies would have amazing stories behind their brand and product. They would list qualities that would not relate to the product itself, but that related to the story behind their product. Advertised products couldn't live up to the brand's promises. Their strategy was camouflaged, using psychological triggers to help potential customers draw conclusions about a brand by the appearance it portrayed or way it could make you feel.
There has been a shift for people to buy less stuff. Live simple. Don't buy what you don't need. And just as consumption can be a way of life, there is a new wave of non-consumption becoming very popular. This is where debranding is happening. There is a shift in the branding focus. It shifts from products to places. Think of sites like Etsy with individual shops and real sellers or small online boutiques where like items all come together in one place. Instead of brands, real people and real consumers share their opinions, stories and satisfaction of the products.
In this new debranded world, it doesn't mean that consumers will spend less but they will buy higher quality items and experience less impulse buys. No more wasting money on throw away cheaper items. Prices will reflect real value, not conceptual escalated value based on the brand name. We are getting back to basics and basic is a good place to be.


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Justin Fenton and Kevin Rector pointed out in their article, "Prior back injury alleged," 12-8-15, that Judge Barry Williams refused to declare a mistrial, after he acknowledged that prosecutors committed a discovery violation in the Freddie Gray case. This fact reinforces the initial complaint I filed with the Attorney Grievance Commission several months ago with regard to the shameful conduct of Marilyn Mosby, the State's Attorney for Baltimore City.
Now, I have started the process of filing a complaint against Judge Barry Williams with the Commission on Judicial Disabilities regarding his denial of a mistrial and his refusal to change the venue for the trial of the 6 city police officers.
Sad to say, rather than showing the courage to follow the Constitution, Judge Williams chose to cave into mob rule.
Is this judicial justice for the citizens of Baltimore City? I don't think so.


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So you want to know more about me? Well if you stick around a bit you are going to learn quite a bit about me and the family just through my weekly blog posts. In the mean time here's a little snippet about me and the family!
Call me Rose. By day I'm a wife times two, mother 7 times over, grandmother, entrepreneurial blogging homemaker. By night I'm a corset lovin, stilleto heel wearing, cosplay adventuring, Mistress. And 24/7 I am a sensuality seeker!
Mother of 7 children, and 1 grandbaby; 6 of the 7 are still at home. My maternal influence ranges over my children whose ages range from 2 years old to 21.
I'm an openly bi-sexual woman who is wife to my life partners and spouses, Robert and Amy. I don't hide this with anyone I meet. We are extremely open and candid about our very crazy family circus and unconventional life, because I believe if I want people to accept 'me' for 'me', then I better be the first one comfortable with me!
So without further ado meet the loves of life, my best friends, and my crew!
My hubby! My love! My prince charming! Are you all mushed and gushed out yet? OK, OK, I'll stop now… We have been together 18 years and have 5 beautiful children together, whom you will meet in a moment. Ro-Bear loves indulging in all things Celtic and celebrating his ethnic heritage in Scotland. He is working on his bachelors degree in history. And he loves to enjoy the sensual experiences of smoking his pipe on the porch after a hard days work as a professional fine dining waiter, playing a good game of D&D, and a good romp in the hay with his bonny lass. (Yes that's me!)
The other love of my life for the past 5 years. My wife and I have 2 beautiful children together whom you will also meet. She has a sensual love of geeking out on games, kicking my yellow belt ass with her brown belt bad ass'ness, and hiking the outback wilderness of Arizona. Together we are still learning that popping the baby out doesn't automatically mean kids come with an instruction manual, and stumbling through the adventures of motherhood together in a unique way.
The oldest child in the family, Mo-Mo is 21 and soon to be expecting her second baby; and our second grandchild. She lives with her husband and their wife in a polyamorous family very similar to ours. She works as an insurance agent and mom by day and creates sensual bath and body products for her Etsy store by night.
Taizy is the oldest teen in our house. She has a zest for life that even I could take a lesson from. She sings like Taylor Swift, plays guitar like a rock star, and loves animals. You can usually find her hanging with friends or helping me out by modeling for my IG account.
If you need to know about Minecraft, my son has you covered! He is an aspiring YouTube celebrity with Captain Sparkles and Tobuscus being his primary heroes at the moment. He has his own little company called 'Awesome People Inc'. He loves school! Does great in nearly all subjects, and responds to the affectionate nick-name, 'Red Headed Stepchild'.
The next up and coming inventor of all things, and probably the next Bill Nye, we are never lacking for science experiments in our home. Also master Lego builder, my personal gardening assistant, and not half bad a baker as well!
My step daughter and aspiring singer, Pixie got this nick name because she was such a tom boy when I first met her, I wasn't sure if she was a boy or girl. I just called her pixie. She has had cute pixie short hair ever since! Aspiring baker, and anime fanatic too!
Very much like his older brothers he loves all things Lego and Minecraft. He is also my little archery and bowling buddy. There are often times he can score over 100 on the lanes or get closer to the bullseye when I don't!
My other step baby and THE baby in the household, My-My is my little snuggle face. He loves school, being read to, and peanut butter and jelly! He also loves the ladies and the little ladies at school love him. And who can blame him with those killer eyes!
Our furry babies and family puppies. Luna is our Rotty & Sheperd mix and is proudly in training to be a service dog. Toby our North Highland and Yorkshire Terrier mix is always working hard to maintain his big dog complex.
**Disclaimer – To respect the privacy of my children, (because hey they are people too – even if littles), I have obviously used nick-names for each of my family members. If you would like to re-post or distribute any content involving any of my family members, PLEASE email first for permission. Thank you. email@example.com


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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to extracellular: Extracellular space
situated or occurring outside a cell or cells.
Outside the cells.
extracellular/ex·tra·cel·lu·lar/ (-sel´u-lar) outside a cell or cells.
Located or occurring outside a cell or cells: extracellular fluid.
ex′tra·cel′lu·lar·ly adv.
Etymology: L, extra + cella, storeroom
occurring outside a cell or cell tissue or in cavities or spaces between cell layers or groups of cells. See also cell, edema, interstitial.
Outside the cells.
extracellularIn the space surrounding a cell or collection of cells. The extracellular tissue fluid is the medium of transfer of nutrient materials and oxygen, and of waste products, between the cells and the blood.
extracellularsituated or occurring outside the cell, for example extracel lular digestion, where cells secrete enzymes to break down food material which is then absorbed.
Outside the cells.
situated or occurring outside a cell or cells.
extracellular constituents
all of the constituents of the body outside the cells; include water, electrolytes, protein, glucose, enzymes, hormones.
extracellular fluid
all of the body fluid lying outside the cells. Includes intravascular fluid or plasma and the interstitial fluid. That part of the extracellular fluid that is in special cavities which have special characteristics, e.g. synovial fluid, urine, aqueous humor of eye, are called transcellular fluids.
extracellular matrix
the network of proteins and carbohydrates that surround a cell or fill the intercellular spaces.
extracellular space
see intercellular.


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Taste of Kirstenbosch
Recently I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon at the Kirstenbosch craft and food market with a few other South African bloggers. It was such a special experience as I have seen the craft market many times in the past, but have never really set aside time to check it out - and it really is worth it. Located at the stone church opposite Kirstenbosch, the craft and food market is the perfect family activity, with local food vendors, children's play areas, live music, and wonderful stalls to stock up on birthday gifts for the month. It is open on the last Sunday of every month, from 9am - 3pm [the next market is Sunday 27 March].
Being part of a foodie event (thanks Hippo Communications) was wonderful, as I was able to try a variety of food from some incredible vendors. I've compiled a list of my favourites, but there are many more at the market, so be sure to take a stroll first to check out all your options.
First on the list is Jacqueline's Falafel - her vegan food is fresh, light and perfect for a light mid-morning snack. If you're eating with a few friends, getting a few platters from The Mighty Schwarma and Masala Cafe as well as Jacqui's Falafel is a great way to enjoy a variety of food. All three of these vendors work with similar flavours, but in different combinations, so it is difficult to pick a favourite.
Next up is a definite must for any pizza lovers out there ... Maggino Bro's Artisan Pizza uses lovely thin bases, fresh ingredients, and has a lovely selection of toppings to choose from. Both Maggino and The Mexican Nacho can also be found at other market events around Cape Town, such as the Galileo Open Air Theatre.
The Mexican Nacho was probably my favourite, purely because of the way it is prepared in front of you. The chef uses a blow torch to melt the cheese on the nacho chips, which results in the food being warm and quickly ready for consumption.
The last of the savoury dishes I tried was 18-hour slow cooked beef burger, by the Hungry Bear. They also prepared a baked beer bread topped with the same slow cooked beef, which was just as good as their burger.
If you've got a sweet tooth, a lovely way to end off a meal is with a Wicked Waffle, drizzled in pure dark chocolate - decadent is the only word that would suffice.
An exciting pairing with your Sunday lunch is a locally produced craft beer, Harfield. With a brewery located in Deep River, it adds a level of excitement knowing you're supporting a local business.


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In the Steve Martin film Roxanne, when a dart-throwing bully insults the loveable, big-nosed fire chief C.D. Bales (played by Steve Martin) by calling him, well, "Big Nose," a verbal battle ensues. Eventually the bully challenges C.D. to come up with something better than Big Nose.
On the spot, C.D. invents twenty "something betters," including: "You know. It's not the size of a nose that's important. It's what's in it that matters."
When coaching interview teams, I press my clients to begin their interview presentations with something better than "Good afternoon, we are [insert your firm name here] and we are pleased to be here today…."
They, in turn, challenge me to come up with something better.
For fun today, I sat down to see if, in the spirit of C.D. Bales, I could write out twenty something better phrases in fifteen minutes. I think I did. Here they are: [Read more…] about Twenty "Something Betters" – How to Begin Your Interview Presentation with Power


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The Book of Deuteronomy is comprised largely of three sermons of a very old Moses speaking to a new generation of people about to enter the Promised Land. In this text, Moses sounds a bit like a mom or dad driving their family on the journey of a lifetime with tired kids in the back seat complaining, "Are we there yet?" "Not yet, kids," he responds, "But when we get there, I promise you that half the fun of this trip will be in looking back at the memories we are making right now. We'll look back at pictures taken in Iowa's "Field of Dreams." We'll laugh at running out of gas in Gallup. We'll remember the thrill of seeing a bear and her cub in Yellowstone, the shiver of fear on the Grand Canyon Skywalk. We'll recount sleeping under the stars in Joshua Tree. And you know what, it's hard to appreciate it right now on this God-awful barren stretch of desert, but it will be worth it, the minute you see the Pacific Ocean. I promise. 'Then we'll rejoice in all the good things the Lord our God has given us!'"
And so it is that on this Lenten journey over hills and through the vales of life, on this Lenten journey through trials and tribulations, on this Lenten journey on the barren road to Easter, let us remember in advance, how God heard the complaints of our spiritual ancestors in like moments and delivered them into a land flowing with milk and honey in God's perfect time. Let us remember and bow.


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Changes To CMN's Coming
Changes To CMN's Coming
Medical Billing News: Changes To CMNs Coming
When performing medical billing, October 25, 2005 will create more money for certain medical practices. Beginning in October, new regulations dealing with Power Mobility Devices will need to be implemented. These new regulations may be a hassle to implement, but will come with medical billing rewards.
The CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services) will require a physician to see a patient face-to-face prior to writing a prescription for a power mobility device. This new medical billing rule does not apply to all durable medical equipment, just power mobility devices.
There are some changes that will make medically billing power mobility devices easier. Physicians will no longer need to sign a certificate of medical necessity for these devices. Also, the old medical billing requirement that only physical medicine specialists can prescribe PMDs will no longer be the case. Non-specialists will be able to write prescriptions for these devices.
You many be wondering, "What's the hassle?" Here it is! For medical billing purposes, a physician that writes a prescription for power mobility devices must provide copies of patients' files and the written prescription to the wheelchair supplier. In order for the supplier to medically bill for the PMD, the documentation from the physician must be on file prior to billing.
This does seem like a lot of work to do just for power mobility devices. Don't worry. Your practice can get reimbursed for this service by medically billing for it. A new G code will be created. It will be designed so that physicians can medically bill for the services providing documentation to PMD suppliers. This will pay about $21.60 in 2005. Your efforts will not go unnoticed.
There are so many medical billing changes coming into effect in October of 2005. To prepare for these drastic changes, a medical billing firm may be able to assist. The important thing is to keep up on all medical billing changes. if practices were unaware of this additional reimbursement, they may have lost hundreds of dollars a year. Accurate medical billing is a necessity for medical practices.


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Also blue, this time deliberately, is my new work handbag, purchased on Sunday afternoon when I snapped after sewing for two days solid and then getting a sleeve caught in the machine so I had to cut it out, and decided that I was not spending any more time on the bloody thing before Christmas. It struck me that the only way I'm going to have a handbag large enough for work, which means the ability to carry a good-seized book, an umbrella, and lunch, without it feeling too big if I'm popping out at the weekend, is if I just go and buy one for work and use a different bag at the weekend. So now I have, and it takes sandwiches, an umbrella, and a hardback Pratchett comfortably. I seem to have managed to read some when I just wasn't in the right mood, and re-reading now I wonder how on earth I didn't like them a lot more first time round. Clearly I am now in the right mood, and am going to take advantage of it.
*A process I have learnt today is called "crocking".
**Salt doesn't help – salt sets dye, but unset dye isn't the problem, the issue is excess dye and the specific properties of indigo. Vinegar doesn't help, because vinegar also sets dye, but for protein fibres, which cotton isn't.


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Statigram is the best website to view photos from Instagram, photos that you may have uploaded or anyone else you are following. On this website you have more space available to view many photos at one time compared to the small screen on your iPhone, Android or tablet. A computer screen just can't be beat when you want to relax and not have to fiddle with your fingers to view some photos.
The website presents a grid view of photos similar to what Twitter used to offer on a users photos archive but they don't anymore. It was a big disappointment!
Below are screenshots of Statigram and the numerous advantages that it offers to Instagram users. I would like to also point-out that you do not have to create an account for Statigram as you can login with your Instagram account.
– – The screenshots of my account and statistics are tailored to your activity and are different for every user. – –


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Entrepreneurial burnout can come at any time but for many, the end of the year is particularly difficult. This is a time when business managers and bosses will go into overdrive to ensure a strong finish. Through it all, it's important to keep in mind that you are one of your business's greatest assets, and a healthy, well-rested and focused version of you is crucial to your success. Here are some ways to avoid burning out, or as we call it, Boss Burnout.
Say No to Burnout. Talk It Out.
Yes. Reading business articles such as these is great. However, do you remember a student counselor recommending a mentor? Well, finding a mentor in business is not a bad idea either. You may not have a mentor at the time, but regularly communicating with a peer in business can really help you put things in a broader perspective. Having someone that you can bounce thoughts and feelings off will not only clear your mind but it will also help curate your plans for success.
Get Physical.
Who doesn't want to look better? Everyone does. But besides fighting the flab, regular exercise is a great way to fight off and even prevent the stress that leads to burnout. You'll get an all-natural high that will have you feeling energized and more positive. This new-and-improved you will benefit your business too. You don't need a gym membership or elaborate equipment. A simple search on YouTube for "home workout routines" will give you more than enough to get you sweating that stress away.
Be Negative.
We don't mean this in the pessimistic sense but get comfortable with saying no. A can-do attitude is great, but you can't say yes to everything that comes your way. This is a huge reason why many of us stretch ourselves thin, and it's particularly true for those who are naturally people pleasers. People-pleasing is a great trait to have in in customer service, but from a management standpoint, giving out too many yeses can mean you're biting off more than you can chew. Carefully weigh the things you agree with taking on. You can't jump on every opportunity, fulfill every personal favor, attend every meeting. Be mindful of your yeses and remember the old saying, "It's better to under-promise and over deliver."
Taking on more than you can handle will hurt you and your business, but delegating can allow you to accomplish extra work without putting all of the burdens on your own shoulders. Allow yourself to trust responsible partners and employees and delegate matters that are well within their capabilities. Not only will this provide immediate relief, but you will nurture trust and help develop others in a way that continues to provide support and growth. And don't worry, you're still the boss.
You don't have to be that old to remember a time without mobile devices. If you can't remember, just know that business still got taken care of. Learn to leave your phone in the living room when it's time to have dinner or to go to bed. If you go to the park or visit family or friends, put the phone on silent and enjoy the moment. For some of you, putting your phone on silent won't be enough, so turn it off. Don't worry, your messages and emails will still be there for you. Always being connected may seem like a great way to stay productive, but it can easily become counterproductive too.
Go out for an hour at least one day a week. Schedule time off for yourself and enjoy a vacation from all the work every once in a while. This may be particularly difficult for you as you might feel that you should always be around for things to run smoothly. Don't be that person who busts themselves day in and day out but doesn't enjoy the fruits of their labor. You can squeeze in one major trip a year to get to know another part of the world and one or two weekend trips where you get to explore a part of the US you haven't yet seen. Traveling not only helps rest the mind, but you may find yourself stumbling into great ideas for your business and make some new friends along the way.
Talk to Yourself.
There is something therapeutic about having a few minutes to yourself every day to just think and talk to yourself. Whether it's meditation, reflection, or some other practice. Quiet time can be great for the mind and the body.
Business owners take several steps to protect their businesses. They insure their businesses to cover unfortunate events and implement policies to prevent them from happening in the first place. Think of the tips we provided as personal policies you can implement for yourself to prevent burnout. Are you already feeling the stress creeping up on you? Check out these slides from WebMD on busting stress and be sure to try a couple of them today.
This content is offered for educational purposes only. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.


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I installed TWRP2 custom recovery onto my rooted D800 ATT G2, via the "dd" method using adb on computer. All of the pushing and loki stuff worked, but when I boot into recovery, I get a "Secure boot error" and "Boot certificiation verify" error, then I reboot the phone again and it turns back on like normal. I really want to flash the volume boost onto my device but I cannot without a custom recovery.
I've done hours and hours of research and I cannot figure this out.
Thanks in advance.


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No need to drop and give us 20! This laid-back 3-panel hat is enzyme washed and distressed to perfection.
--100% Cotton Twill
--Low Profile
--Hook and Loop Closure
A monogram is included, so leave a note at check-out to let me know how to personalize it just for you!
Unfortunately, once an item has been monogrammed it cannot be returned unless the item is defective.


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We hear so many stories of neglect, abuse and abandonment of animals. On the other hand, it's always heartwarming to hear these animals make it through.
A good Samaritan was driving through a road when a peculiar scene caught his eye. A distressed dog is clawing at a box right next to said road.
He decided to stop and help her out. Upon inspecting the box, he was surprised to see that it was taped shot.
He knew immediately that something is amiss and hurriedly opened the box. To his surprise, there are four puppies inside. From the looks of it, the distressed dog clawing at the box is probably their mom.
The box was small, about one feet long. The puppies were packed like a can of sardines inside. Thankfully it was winter so the arrangement worked out for them somehow.
The puppies kept each other warm and alive as mama dog was desperately looking for a way to free them.
Turn to the next page to see what happens next.


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We all have one, or a handful of that.
Yes, we have a mission in life. That's what I believe. We may not ever recognize it but as each day unfolds, we are directed for a life's purpose, for a mission.
Just the other day, a very inspiring and motivational friend struck me again with his words of encouragement. I simply notice a purple bracelet on his right hand, I was about to ask because I've never seen him wear such a thing since I met him. But the conversation flow about so many things led me to ignore the thought of asking. Until we were led to be talking about inspiring things in life, just before we parted ways he gave me this purple bracelet, he put on my left hand and told me that the moment I complain, I transfer it to my other hand. Then it would make me more aware how often I complain in a day. Wow! what a wonderful awareness!
The bracelet is engraved with A Complaint Free World.org. Whoever thought about this thing, is really blessed to have a mission in life. My friend told me that " we all have a mission and our mission is to change the world".
Dreamer as he maybe, but who among us never dreamed of a happy world around us?
Whatever we do, wherever we are, let us wear that purple bracelet not just in our hands , but in our hearts. That makes one of our mission to ourselves.
Here's to your purple-blessed day! (~_~)


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Has The Handling Speciale Package Transformed The 2017 Ferrari California T?: Video0
Sponsored Links
Earlier this year Ferrari spruced up its 2017 Ferrari California with the Handling Speciale package, which brings retuned suspension and a louder exhaust note to the automaker's turbocharged V8 grand tourer.
The California T HS features springs that are 16% stiffer in the front and 19% stiffer in the rear and retuned, more responsive versions of Ferrari's SCM3 magnetorheological dampers. Ferrari's F1-Trac logic traction control system is also toyed with to provide better acceleration out of corners and on bumpy surfaces, and a new exhaust delivers a more imposing note.
Motor Trend recently flew out to Italy to sample the new 2017 Ferrari California T Handling Speciale and see it the $8,000 package can transform Ferrari's softest, most comfortable car into something more fierce. They also wanted to answer the question of whether the California T is a true Ferrari, or more of a showpiece. You probably already now the answer to that, but to be sure, you'll want to check out the review embedded above.


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Culture and Ethics: A Tool for Analyzing the Effects of Biases on the Nurse-Patient Relationship
Greipp, Mary Elizabeth
Bibliographic Citation
Nursing Ethics. 1995 Sep; 2(3): 211-221.
For most nurses world-wide, activities are centred around working directly with patients and so the nurse-patient relationship is of the greatest importance. Ethnocentrism on the part of the health care community has led to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and undertreatment of culturally diverse individuals world-wide. This author discusses a tool, Greipp's Model of Ethical Decision-Making, which can be used to assist nurses in analysing the effects of culture, beliefs and diversity upon the caregiver and care recipient within an ethical framework.
Caring; Competence; Cultural Pluralism; Culture; Decision Making; Education; Ethical Analysis; Ethical Theory; Ethics; Health; Health Care; Justice; Minority Groups; Nurses; Nursing Education; Nursing Ethics; Patient Care; Patients; Professional Competence; Professional Patient Relationship; Values; Theoretical Models;
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Culture and Ethics: A Tool for Analyzing the Effects of Biases on the Nurse-Patient Relationship Greipp, Mary Elizabeth (1995-09)


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USC Football: Trojans Host Sports Agent Summit Attended by NCAA and NFLFebruary 9, 2011
USC hosted an invitation-only conference on Feb. 8 at the Galen Center to foster a better understanding about issues regarding agents.
The Trojans received the harshest NCAA football sanctions since the SMU death penalty in 1987 primarily due to the actions of aspiring agents with the Reggie Bush family.
This conference is an example of the USC "culture of compliance" that athletic director Pat Haden pledged when he succeeded Mike Garrett in August, 2010. USC currently has the largest compliance staff in the nation.
Representatives from the NCAA (vice president of enforcement Julie Roe Lach), Pac-10 conference (commissioner Larry Scott), SEC (commissioner Mike Slive), NFL (vice president football operations Ray Anderson), NFL Players Association (agent administration director Mark Levin), several agents (Jimmy Sexton, Tom Condon and Rick Smith) and every Pac-10 athletic director attended the "Agent Awareness, Education and Eligibility Summit."
USC was represented by president C.L. Max Nikias, athletic director Pat Haden, vice president of athletic compliance David Roberts and senior associate athletic director Mark Jackson.
"Obviously, the issue of college student-athletes dealing with agents is a hot-button topic," Haden said in a statement announcing the summit. "We at USC know that firsthand. We decided to organize this summit so that all of us at USC can pick the brains of our peers throughout the Pac-10 and also hear from those on the firing lines at the NCAA and Pac-10, at the NFL and within the agent community."
Haden left the meeting with a core goal to build trust between student-athletes and school administrators. This includes the following:
- Use of "extenders" such as assistant coaches and athletic training staff to serve as liaisons between student-athletes and the compliance office,
- Recognize that the majority of football and basketball players who attend Division I schools like USC want to play in the pros, and
- Hire a recent graduate to act as an ombudsman who can be a counselor and be viewed as independent.
"Let's help them. Let's not be an impediment," Haden said. "We're not going to have a football major, but we want to be able to have enough resources for our men and women—to get valuable information for them to make good decisions."
As a successful example of the "extenders of compliance," Roberts cited the recent Everson Griffen party in Las Vegas, which the university's administrators requested the student-athletes not attend for several reasons. The party was subsequently canceled.
NFL executive Ray Anderson delivered a strong message from commissioner Roger Goodell that the league will consider penalizing players found to have committed NCAA violations. But, that will take approval from the NFLPA.
"We're never going to get a solution to this (agent) problem without help from the NFL and the NFLPA," Haden said.
A recent Inside Higher Ed story "Bad Apples or More?" detailed how 53 of the NCAA's 120 FBS schools committed a major violation in the last decade (and the previous decade was about the same) with the number and complexity of the rules a contributor in many cases. SEC commissioner Silve and the agents informally told the NCAA to start over and stop coming up with bylaws and adding them to the rulebook.
Julie Roe Lach, the NCAA's vice president of enforcement, praised USC for organizing it.
"The agent summit… was a productive, candid discussion of what educational and investigative efforts are currently working, as well as different approaches the NCAA and its members may want to take," Roe Lach said in a statement.
Post summit video comments include Pat Haden, Dave Roberts, and Mark Jackson.
A related ESPN report has additional information: "USC administrators talk agent summit."
As USC fans know too well it takes just one player, and not even an actual agent, to put a program in real trouble. As indicated in the story "Eight Solutions to Fix the NCAA and Improve College Football" there are many things that could be done by the NCAA if they truly care about college athletes.


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Looking for a shampoo that nourishes your scalp and hair? Look no further than Head & Shoulders Nourishing Hair & Scalp Care Shampoo. Head & Shoulders Nourishing Hair & Scalp Care Shampoo, infused with lavender, nourishes hair from scalp to tip. Plus, Head & Shoulders is the number one anti-dandruff shampoo recommended by dermatologists so you know your hair will be up to 100% flake-free.*, *visible flakes; with regular use
Active Ingredient: Pyrithione Zinc 1%, Inactive Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Zinc Carbonate, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide MEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethicone, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-10,Stearyl Alcohol, Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.
For external use only. When using this product: Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse eyes thoroughly with water. Stop use and ask a doctor if: Condition worsens or does not improve after regular use of this product as directed. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
For best results use at least twice a week or as directed by a doctor. For maximum dandruff control, use every time you shampoo. Shake before use. Wet hair, massage onto scalp, rinse, repeat if desired.


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Welcome to Adi's Pick of The Week. If you are new to this website, this is where I recommend one piece of software, hardware or even a website. I think it goes without saying that this week's pick is a must have!
Let me start out with some background on this one. When buying a new computer (desktop, laptop or laptop/tablet hybrid), one of the packages that you need is something that Microsoft Office. Sad as it is to say this, there is no laptop out there that comes with Microsoft Office. This is how you write documents, this is how you put together presentations. Indeed at work, you don't have to worry about this because there is a very good chance that your desk at work will already have a computer with Microsoft Office.
Right now, Office 2016 costs £89.99 (Source: Amazon UK – affiliate link) for the home and student version if you have a PC running Windows. If you are on an Apple computer, then Office for mac costs £108.99(Source: Amazon UK – affiliate link) for the home and student version. That's almost the cost of a cheaper tablet computer or an inexpensive mobile phone(or cell phone). Some of you out there might find that a little bit pricey. Even still if you choose to go with office 365 it's a little bit cheaper at about £60 a year(£6 a month) and you get the latest version of Office as soon as it's available.
If you decide to stop paying that subscription fee then your copy of office is restricted, meaning that you cannot make any changes to your documents, spreadsheets or presentations. At that point you would only have the ability to open and read your documents. Some of you might not even like the idea of having to effectively "rent" software.
This is why my pick of the week goes to LibreOffice. It's Office Suite just like Microsoft Office. It comes with a few different applications. Let's take a quick look at what they are:
Writer: the LibreOffice equivalent of Microsoft Word
Calc: the LibreOffice equivalent of Microsoft Excel
Impress: the LibreOffice equivalent of Microsoft PowerPoint
Base: the LibreOffice equivalent of Microsoft Access – for creating databases
Math: the LibreOffice app that lets you do formulae (of the mathematic kind)
Draw: the LibreOffice app that lets you draw things
As you can tell, it has pretty much most of the applications that Microsoft Office has. You can create documents, spreadsheets, presentations and even databases. Most of the time, people might send you documents that were made to be opened in Microsoft word or excel (for instance). You guessed it, LibreOffice will also open up Microsoft Office files (that's word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations). Of course, if you are working on a document (say a Word document), you can then save it in a format that you can open in Microsoft Office.
If you want to, you can even make LibreOffice get close to the look of more recent versions of Microsoft Office. Sure it's not the real ribbon look that Microsoft Office has but it gets pretty close to it if you ask me.
Of course, you can do most of the formatting that you would for your documents (e.g. formatting a cell in a certain colour, changing how wide or narrow the page margins are, assign a different transition for each slide of your presentation to name but a few).
If you are into using functions in Excel, then you can also take advantage of those Excel functions in Libre Office. For example, you would be able to use functions like IF, VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, SUM and many others as well.
Overall, I would say that LibreOffice is my go-to alternative to Microsoft Office. Again, it has most of the functionality that Office has and it can also read the same types of documents that Microsoft Office can open. Additionally you can even save your documents as PDFs (just like Microsoft Office can). It pretty much is a fully-featured office suite and I would high recommend putting LibreOffice on your computer and checking it out for yourself.
LibreOffice is free and available on PC, Mac(Apple desktop and laptop computers), and Linux. You can install it on as many computers as you want and you can download it from the LibreOffice website. Coincidentally I should mention that there is a portable version of LibreOffice for PC that you can take with you on a USB Flash Drive if you like.
Are you using LibreOffice? What do you think of it? Let me know in the comments.


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19 August 2011
District Energy
This course has been developed in cooperation with representatives from the District Energy industry in Denmark. The Engineering College of Aarhus offers a Summer School with focus on District Heating Technology. The purpose of the Summer School is to enable you to apply your engineering competences to District Energy issues, and to gain an insight into the technology and the main components, different kinds of heat production, smart production and consumption, and the great environmental advantage in using District Energy.Course offered by Engineering College of Aarhus.
Course leader
Jens Brusgaard Vestergaard and others
Target group
The Summer School welcomes you who:
• are studying to become an engineer - on bachelor or master level
• have a great interest in District Energy, energy savings and reduction of carbon emissions
• will finish your engineering education within the next year
• have educational competences within mechanical and civil engineering
• have graduated within the last year and now work within the District Energy sector
Course aim
Through participation in the Summer School you will gain following competences:
• Understanding of advantages, problems and principles in District energy.
• Understanding of the functions and main elements from production to the consumer.
• Experience in applying your own engineering knowledge.
• A district energy approach to subjects as:
◦ Network and components
◦ Combined Heat and Power, boilers, heat store tanks, incineration, solar and biogas plants
◦ Operation of the production, the grid and the consumption combined with smart grids
Fee info
EUR 0: See website for information regarding fees


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Minecraft: Story Mode Support
[Kindle] I can't download or install Minecraft: Story Mode
The base game app requires 2.9 GB of free space on your device to successfully install. If you are unable to download the game, or you are receiving a Cannot Install message, please clear out some additional space in your device's Storage.
If you are able to, we recommend having at least 4 GB of free space on your device. This will give your device enough room to install the game, run the game, and download episodes.


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Side Opening Standard Carrier
Our Side Opening Standard Carrier was designed to meet most all requirements of side opening drive-up carriers. This carrier is ideally suited for use where side opening carriers are required. It will fit either 4" or 4-1/2" systems made by Hamilton Air, Security Systems Equipment, American Vault, Comco, Fortis, Collier, and LeFebure.
We take pride in providing a complete line of drive-up pneumatic tube carriers, which are excellent for cash handling products along with other products that are designed to last a lifetime. Our Standard Carrier has a unique design for a "floating hinge" which results in less breakage caused by torque and impact. This provides our carriers with a longer usage life than carriers made by other manufacturers.
Side Opening Penkeeper Carrier
Our Side Opening Penkeeper Carrier was designed to eliminate the problem of broken pens in high impact situations. This carrier fits 4" and 4-1/2" drive-up units made by Hamilton Air, Security Systems Equipment, Fortis, American Vault, Comco, Collier, and LeFebure.
This carrier has several unique design features including:
Two unique sides—main body and lid
Inner cavity for securing a pen with rubber bumpers to reduce breakage
Reinforced hinge area
Hourglass body shape making it easy to get through a tight radius
These features make this the strongest carrier available in the market today!
Side Opening "L" Series Carrier
Our Side Opening "L" Series Carrier was designed to be used on LeFebure systems that use side opening carriers. This carrier can be used on Tel-Aire 10 and Ultima systems by using colored Velcro for air seals and lane designation. It can be used on all other LeFebure systems by using a conventional air disc.
Bavis Boxes
We have multiple color options available. Call us for more details, or request a free quote.


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Just when you think you've got it all under control…
The sidewalk's shoveled, parking spaces are plowed, door locks are thawed, and the chatter of a store full of customers is drowning out the incessant but disregarded humming, whirring and bubbling sounds of tanks full of happy, healthy fish.. Then, instantaneously and without warning, the whole scene is plunged into an eerie darkness and silence.
A loss of electrical power is a nuisance for people: we might miss a rerun of "Crocodile Hunter" or a Rush Limbaugh monologue, or the toaster pastries might never get done. But for a tank full of fish, an outage means their life support systems are no longer functioning, and catastrophe is right around the corner. And while a few of the best-prepared shopkeepers and managers will not only possess but know how to use a gas-powered generator, most of us will just tough it out and hope for the best.
The first rule in any emergency is to step back and take a moment to assess the situation before making a first move. Many situations are not nearly as dire as they first appear, and actions taken during a moment of panic are often more disastrous than no action at all. Due to the grace, or perhaps self-interest, of the local power company, businesses often seem to be near the top of the list when it comes to restoring power, and a few minutes to an hour without electricity should be no cause for alarm. Some stores even remain open for business, selling fish and supplies by flashlight and writing up sales by hand.
For longer outages, the most immediate threat to an aquarium's livestock is lack of aeration. Fish continue to consume oxygen that is no longer being replenished by pumps and aerators and produce carbon dioxide that is no longer being removed. Generally, a tank that is not heavily overstocked or overfed will survive several hours before showing signs of stress., but eventually the excess carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen will begin to damage and kill fish.
To forestall this event, the staff should do as much as practical to reduce oxygen demand in each aquarium. Since certain individual tanks may have a higher fish population density than others, it may be useful to move a few fish to less crowded quarters; perhaps there are even a few fishless tanks that had been prepared for a future shipment that could be utilized.
I'm not sure why even occurs to us (maybe it's part of a Great American Eating Disorder, wherein some inner voice tells us that food heals all wounds), but fish should not be fed during the outage. Fish can go without food for days, but the increased fish activity and the increased bioload from uneaten food and fish waste can quickly deplete oxygen and put a tank at risk within minutes.
Darkness is a good thing. With the lights out, many fish will slow down and rest, and will use much less oxygen than when they are active. Encourage this behavior by leaving them alone as much as possible. Be observant, but not a nuisance. Covering tanks of skittish fish with towels or blankets will help keep them calm and rested, especially if there is sufficient daylight to allow them to see you and your staff pacing about. Darkness is also a bad thing – at least as far as heavily planted aquariums go. At first, it may seem that lots of oxygen-producing aquatic plants might actually be a solution to declining water quality, but it must be remembered that plants only produce oxygen while they are well-lit. During the darkness, they consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide just like the fish do. A few live plants per tank won't likely make much difference, but a plant-selling unit choked with Anacharis or Hornwort might easily have more fish loss than an unplanted tank.
If power is expected to be out for a prolonged period, temperature change may become a concern, especially since many power failures are a result of extremely hot or cold weather. A few key tanks of expensive or sensitive fish may be worth protecting by draping blankets over them to act as insulation. Fortunately, many fish rooms and "fish store" buildings are already well-insulated in order to reduce energy costs and will chill or overheat more slowly than a more typical retail building.
Before power is restored, it's a good idea to assess the filtration system(s) employed. If the power has been out for more than a few hours, the organic waste collected in the filters may have begun to decay anaerobically (without oxygen), producing foul and toxic compounds like methane and hydrogen sulfide that will pumped into already stressed aquariums. If there is reason to suspect there is a large buildup of waste, the filters should be cleaned before the power comes back on. If that is not possible to do on such short notice, it may be advisable to take loaded filters offline until they can be cleaned, and arrange for some other sort of aeration in the meantime.
When power is finally restored, go ahead and let out a sigh of relief, and perhaps add a few kind or unkind words about your local power company. But the story's not quite over yet; those stressed survivors need to be watched closely for a few days for ich and other common pathogens that may take advantage of their weakened state. If the tanks had been chilled more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit, a preventive dose of malachite green or other mild parasite controller might be considered, but should not be applied until tank filtration and aeration have been brought back up to normal for a day or two and power is unlikely to fail again.
It's also possible that an extended outage will have diminished or destroyed the biological filtration system, so ammonia and nitrite should be monitored regularly during the next week. Partial (25%) water changes and sharing decorations or filter media from unaffected systems will help dilute toxins and restore the beneficial bacteria quickly.
Insert 1 – The Mini Failure
Most power loss problems are due to failure of the power company's lines or substations, and can't be prevented or corrected by the end user. Others, like loss due to blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers, are more under the control and responsibility of the shopkeeper and staff.
A particularly insidious situation can occur when power is out on a circuit that supplies filtration or heating systems. In such cases, the failure may not be immediately obvious, and huddling or gasping fish may be the first indication of a problem. The cure, of course, is to restore power and remove or repair whatever is causing the short circuit (for example, a soaked pump or cracked heater). How well fish recover is determined by how long the systems were interrupted. An inexpensive (less than $20) plug-in alarm device that sounds when power is interrupted is a worthwhile investment. Install one on each important life support circuit, and stock a few to sell to customers that might want to protect there investments as well.
Insert 2 – Your Customers
Many of your customers will also be experiencing power outages, and they may last longer in residential areas than in commercial districts. Many of the tips in this article apply to the home aquarium as well, and the retailer should be prepared to advise his clients to help insure the health and survival of their aquatic pets.
In addition, inexpensive battery operated air pumps should be stocked in sufficient quantity, even though the whole year's inventory will probably sit on the shelf for months, then be sold out in two days. For a mere $15-$20 and a couple of batteries, a battery pump can keep an entire tank full of fish aerated throughout the entire outage.
This article originally appeared in
Pet Age Magazine


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You have a great product idea you can really get behind. Your spouse loves it. Your friends, workmates, clients, and patients encourage you – they want to see more. Your designer has never been … [Read more...]
Entrepreneurship as a Path to Mastery
A few weeks ago, we talked about How to Know When to Quit, and Seth Godin's handy little guidebook The Dip. There's one more recommendation Seth makes in The Dip to help us know whether to move … [Read more...]
How and When To Blog About Yourself
How often do you talk about yourself when writing for your site? I ask because we're getting mixed messages out there. First, you're told; "Don't talk about yourself, focus primarily on the … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Attract Your Ideal Subscribers
How Building A Web Business is a Lot Like Dating Karla had a nice site getting very little traffic or attention. She had posted regularly and done a lot of things right. And then one day, one … [Read more...]
How to Know When to Quit
If you're like most entrepreneurs, you have a lot on your plate. Maybe you have a full-time job, and you're building your online business on the side – and it seems to be growing too slowly – or is … [Read more...]
How to Be Remarkable
. . . And Why it Matters I think the purpose of life is, above all, to matter; to count, to stand for something, to have made a difference that you lived at all. – Leo Rosten Maybe you didn't … [Read more...]
How to Grow More Fresh Ideas
If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us … [Read more...]
Energizer Buddy, Super Geek, and Shiny Happy People
Do You Have The "Online Business Success Gene?" Have you ever compared yourself to others succeeding online and thought to yourself, "if I only had their stamina / wit / confidence / [insert your … [Read more...]
Who's On Your Side?
Masterminds, Forums, or Coaching – Which is Right for You? Last night in one of our mastermind calls, the group recommended I get a dog. I'm not sure what they were suggesting about my life, but … [Read more...]
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iCatchers: Blue Hue
Vogue says purple is the dominating hue of the season. I disagree. I am loving these blocks of blues and the extreme affect it has on this season's looks. 9 Crow Street actually have an blue kimono that i might have to nab.
Images via: Fashiontoast, Stockholm Streetstyle, Natalie Hartley wears..., fashionedited, 5 inch and up, Columbine, Olsens Anonymous, The Man Repeller.


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Hilary's Social Media Tuesday Tip 002: Your 13-Second Hashtag Tutorial (Plus a Bonus!)/
Hey guys! Back again with another Tuesday Tip! Today we're talking about hashtags and reach. If we're creating content for business we certainly want to reach as many people as possible. Are hashtags the way to go? Should you always slap on a hashtag just in case it helps expand your audience? It's important to know how hashtags work on each social platform. Here's a quick run-down of what you need to know.
1. Twitter. Hashtags can be very effective for growing your audience. I would encourage you to really only use them when they're highly appropriate for a certain audience. And more often than not add them on at the end. Because #nothing is more #annoying than a #tweet that looks like #this. #amiright?
2. Instagram. This is the place where you can really feel that hashtag freedom--especially if you put your hashtags in a comment below your caption rather than right in the caption. To each his own but I'm comfortable with seeing a good 9 or 10 hashtags if they are purposeful.
3. Linkedin. Leave your hashtags at home people because they don't do anything for you on this platform!
4. Facebook. This one is tricky guys. Hashtags do work on Facebook but they don't actually expand your reach. Facebook's algorithm actually punishes posts that include hashtags. So avoid, avoid!
And a bonus that didn't fit in my 13-second video:
5. Pinterest. Hashtags are only clickable in a pin description. Don't bother with them on boards or in your profile bio. Words without hashtags are just as searchable as words with hashtags on Pinterest. So unless you're creating a special hashtag just for your brand and you want consistency across Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, it may not be worth bothering.
I hope you've found this brief hashtag tutorial helpful. If you have any other hashtag questions feel free to throw them at me!


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A Social Security COLA for 2017 not looking good.
The CPI-W for July 2016 was at 234.789 (down from June). This is the first of the three months whose average determines whether or not there is a Social Security COLA for 2017. The August CPI-W was 234.909 meaning the two month average is 234.849.
The CPI-W for September when added to this average will determine any COLA.
The average for the previous benchmark of July, August and September 2014 (last year of a COLA December 2014/January 2015) was 234.241.
At this point a COLA could be 0.3%
By the way, if they follow the law, all of such an increase will be consumed by higher Medicare premiums. For most people your SS check will not go down, but neither will it go up unless by some miracle the COLA is greater for you in dollars than the Medicare premium you should paying.
Categories: Social Security


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How is it that I have come this far in life and still don't have laundry figured out? This is a cry for help!
Do you do a load a day? Fold immediately? These seem like great ideas, I just can't seem to execute.
I'm in the same camp, of probably college students where laundry is a serious struggle. There has been an occasion (or maybe two...ish) where I put my jeans on and I'm out the door pretty quickly, only to realize that the jeans have a smell. I'm usually on the train to the city at this point and there's no turning back. Why is it so hard to dry immediately after the wash. Just me?
And don't get me started on these front loading washers. Leaving the door open to let them air out? This design over function thing is for the birds.
Our laundry room is in the basement and looks like what I imagine anxiety to look like. Would I be amazing at laundry if I had a beautiful squeaky-clean laundry room on the second floor? Pretty sure that's like the person who says they will be happy once they get on vacation. Analogies aside, a laundry room refresh is definitely in order.
I remember reading that Glennon struggles with this too, so I know I'm not totally alone. I'm very much a work in progress and ready for all of your laundry tips.


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Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I'm wearing pink today!!!
13 comments:
What a darling idea! Girls are the best (not that I would know the alternative), congrats! :)ReplyDelete
Well congratulations!! :D I think this is just an perfect way to find out the gender and also chare this special moment with the family!! Love the idea!! :)ReplyDelete
I LOVE that you guys did it this way though I would have had a hard time waiting if I knew the results of the ultrasound were so easy to peek at. Heck, we've had a hard time waiting to find out what you were having! We are, of course, SO excited that it's a girl- our girls can't wait to meet her and I am sure that Blake will warm up to the idea a bit more once she gets there. That little girl is going to have three big brothers to watch out for and protect her for sure. What a different dynamic little C will bring into your house! Congrats, Ginger and Marc! We are so grateful that she looks healthy, too. I bought something for you this morning :)ReplyDelete
YAAAAAY! I'm super excited for you Ginger! I saw Becky's FB post yesterday, and wanted to drop by to say congrats! Such a cute way to find out or atleast tell everyone too! :DReplyDelete
You will have a wonderful relationship with her. I am so happy and excited for you all. Congratulations! I too think girls are great. Shopping for little girls is so much more fun. :)ReplyDelete
Congratulations!! Very happy for you. Now you get to make flowers for those upcoming girly LO's!!ReplyDelete
What a great reveal party!! Congratulations! It'll be fun to see you scrapping a girl now. :)ReplyDelete
This made me smile from ear to ear... I'm so excited for you. THANKS SO MUCH for sharing the photos. I love your facial expression when seeing the pink balloons :)ReplyDelete
Congrats! That is so exciting Ginger. And what an adorable idea for your reveal and party! I'm tickled pink ;). Shopping for girls is so fun!!! We can't wait to meet her!ReplyDelete
Cutest party ever!! I am so happy for you! There is something very special about having a little girl. This is so exciting! I really love this party idea. Way to make life fun!!ReplyDelete
Big congrats Ginger.Woow we will see pink in your life!!ReplyDelete
- ana roatMarch 6, 2012 at 10:31 PM
What an awesome way to share such precious information. Your boys are darling and I love all of your work. I'm excited to see what you do with all the great "girly" products out on the market.ReplyDelete
My daughter is the only girl among a family full of boys. 9 months ago she had a little girl. The best part...watching grown men swoon over 18lbs of fire red curls and baby blue eyes....!
Congratulations and may our heavenly father keep you all well and happy!
PS...My daughter included my mom's name for the baby which made great grandma so very happy. What a blessing to have generations old and new. Our grandbaby's name is Reagan Adriana.
YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I told you it was the year for the girl!!! We've got to get our girls together!!! YAY!!! I'm so excited for you! Congratulations!!!!!ReplyDelete


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haha - so we took Miss Bella Ooxie to Petsmart the other day, and since we had no collar to fit her (which was the reason for the trip in the first place) Katelyn put her in an old purse. She fit perfectly, and even slept in it. Hysterical. So, until she's bigger, maybe we'll just take her on outings in a purse.. the whole leash and collar thing is over rated anyways! ;P
Ooxie is such a mommas girl right now.... when she wants to sleep, she wants me to hold her so she can nuzzle up along my neck. I love that... except for when I need to be @ the computer... or to scrap. I forgot how much work taking care of a puppy is.. it reminds me greatly of a newborn.. except for the sleepless nights. She actually sleeps through the night better than Cameron does. *snicker*
I am actually a part of TWO, count 'em.. TWO ONLINE crops this weekend.. The Scrapping Spot & TallyScrapper
Both should prove to be a ton of fun... prizes, games, and conversation on the MB's.
Come check them out!
Oh, and there are as of last night, only a couple of the kits left for July available at The Scrapping Spot.... their flying off the shelves!
Speaking of kits, shelves, and almost being sold out... did I forget to mention that Christine gave me the opportunity to design JULY's TallyScrapper kit?! There is a peek HERE with a FULL blown peek coming this weekend!! I'm SO excited about this kit... which I think will be named, Sweet Summer Sunshine... why break with the Tally tradition?? Most ALL the kits have started with S's! ;)
Yeah baby, I'm stoked!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
pug in a purse
8 comments:
i'm stoked too! love the pug in a purse.ReplyDelete
how freakin adorable!! and congrats on designing the kit! im sure it will be fab!ReplyDelete
Cyber CROP! Cyber CROP!!ReplyDelete
I love that kit name...you should totally go with that! :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your kit's NAME!!! Perfect.ReplyDelete
aww cute puppy!ReplyDelete
I can't WAIT to see your kit Leah!
ooooooohhhhh..... i want a doggie like that!!!!ReplyDelete
girl, you are one busy WOMAN! loving the baby!!! so cute! and congrats on all the work you are able to do, I don't know how you manage! the music rocks sister! miss you so much!!!!ReplyDelete
love your kit. love u.ReplyDelete
Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment, it warms my heart. I hope you have a blessed day. Crafty hugs, Leah
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A LEADING member of the BNP has admitted causing fear and provocation to violence after a fight in the foyer of a university campus building.
Tony Wentworth, 23, appeared before the town's Salford magistrates' court yesterday along with his co-accused "bodyguard" Joseph Owens, 42, who pleaded guilty to common assault.
A Greater Manchester Police jeep and monitoring van were stationed outside the court where about a dozen members of "Unite Against Fascism" were protesting.
Judge Jonathan Finestein gave Wentworth, of Salford, and Owens, from Norris Green, Liverpool, conditional discharges and ordered them to pay court costs of é200.
Owens was also ordered to pay é150 compensation to his victim.
The men were charged after a fight broke out in the foyer of a Salford University campus building in March last year, where Wentworth - chairman of the BNP youth movement - is studying history.
Both the BNP members were canvassing support for Wentworth's election as communications officer, which includes editing the university's newspaper. He was not elected.
After the hearing, Owens, who has a string of violent offences, said: "We did not go down there to cause trouble, it's just sad that it ended up with fists, but I did assault someone."
Unite Against Fascism spokesman Mike Killian said: "We were all pleased with the result. Justice was done."
He said the group would now be lobbying for Wentworth to be thrown out of the university. "He can no longer claim to be a law-abiding citizen," said Mr Killian.
After the case Wentworth said: "This whole thing has been a farce, costing tens of thousands of pounds over nothing more than a scuffle. We were provoked."
Should known BNP members be allowed to stay at college? Have your say.


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Polling of San Jose's District 7 residents shows that their four most important issues are, in order, homelessness, jobs, public safety and housing. With good reason. Anyone spending time in the neighborhoods along the Monterey Road corridor can see that there is work to be done to improve what has been the city's most neglected district.
The current councilman, disbarred attorney Tam Nguyen, has been ineffective in combating the problems or unifying the political factions that make up the diverse district adjacent to downtown.
Challenger Maya Esparza would be a breath of needed fresh air. We recommend her to District 7 voters in the Nov. 6 election.
Esparza didn't receive our endorsement in the June primary. But we said that she stood out as a qualified candidate and hoped she would make the runoff.
Esparza is director of the non-profit Destination Home's "All The Way Home" campaign to end veteran homelessness. It puts her head and shoulders ahead of her opponent in preparing to deal with what is clearly the No. 1 problem facing District 7. The contacts, experience and inclusive approach she brings to her work would serve her well on the City Council.
Her work on the Franklin-McKinley School District Board enhanced her reputation for being a community builder. She also has nearly 20 years' experience working in a leadership role on volunteer boards and commissions, including the Guadalupe-Coyote Resource Conservation District, Second Harvest Food Bank and American Red Cross.
Contrast that with Nguyen, who has contributed to internal feuding within the Vietnamese community and is one of the least effective members on the council.
It's not a close call. For much needed change, voters should back Esparza.


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Children's Ministries
Vacation Bible School and Day Camp at Trinity
Day Camp and VBS will be held concurrently at Trinity this summer. They will run June 24-27, 2019. All are invited! Attendees do not have to be members of Trinity, so bring a friend, a cousin, a neighbor, and join us for a week of fun!
Vacation Bible School is for children ages 3 (by 9/1/18) to 5. It is from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Cost is $10.
Vacation Bible School registration form
Day Camp is for youth entering grades 1-6 this fall. Cost is $20. Please register by June 3. Thank you!
Day Camp registration form
Sunday School Survey
Click here for a link to a short survey regarding location of Sunday School at Trinity. Thanks for taking the time to fill it out! We appreciate your input.
Sunday School Supplies needed
We're looking forward to a fun-filled year of Sunday School! Our activities and lessons take a lot of supplies!
If you're interested in supporting the Sunday School education program here at Trinity, we welcome you to help us by donating supplies or a monetary gift.
You can sign-up to bring an item….
….By contacting Bekah in the office, 498-5291 or email@example.com.
.....Click here to see a list of needed items each month.
Thanks for your support!
Children's Ministries (Youth helpers Grades 9-12)
Sunday School begins at age 3 and continues through Grade 6. Youth in Grades 7-8 are Sunday School helpers. Sunday School choirs sing at worship services. In 2011, Trinity implemented a Rotational Sunday School model that teaches bible stories in a variety of creative ways including art, drama, storytelling, and hands-on learning.
Sunday School begins the Sunday after Labor Day and continues through the second Sunday in May, with breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Vacation Bible School invites children 3-5 years of age to participate in hands-on activities related to Bible stories.
Day Camp blends the outdoor ministry of Bible camp and congregational ministry. Children participate in hands-on activities related to Bible stories. Day Camp is offered one week during the summer.
Release Time provides religious education for Grades K-3. Participating children are dismissed from school for an hour of faith education at Trinity Center.


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Why choose Photo Generations in Dexter?
Your senior pictures session always includes:
- your yearbook photo file with permission to print, Or we will deliver the portrait to your school
- A consultation: tell us what kind of clothes, activities, the look you want represented in your image set and together we'll tailor the setting and backgrounds for you.
- Indoor & Outdoor choices
- unlimited change of clothes, time permitting
- an in-studio Big Show Debut to see your images big and beautiful!
- Proofs: Online Included !
- Refer a friend and you both get a choice of $ credit or use of a digital file!
- Expect to get the best portraits of your life !
- Like us on Facebook for your free facebook digital files.
4 senior picture session choices:
- $75 EZEE SESSION is just a half hour, and includes outdoor & indoor portraits at the Studio.
- $150 NO LIMITS SESSION is 90 minutes & is the most popular session at Photo Generations. Indoor studio plus multi-location outdoor options near the studio: parks, the river, carriage house, alleys, main street…NO LIMITS means: Include a friend, your cat, your horse, your tuba, your sibling, your dna molecule, your artwork, your mom, whatever-we've done sessions with all of the above.
- $225 YOUR SPECIAL PLACE SESSION: is 120 minutes is reserved for your session at a location of your choice. Note: consultation prior to session is essential!
- $425 HAVE IT ALL SESSIONS: TWO sessions TWO hours each TWO different days, TWO different locations. Great for special interests activities, sports, drama, etc. Requires purchase of Have it All Collection with storybook album.
Attention Class of 2018 high school seniors needing senior portraits
At Photo Generations we make Senior portraits at various Ann Arbor area locations & at our Dexter Studio. Not sure of what you want for your portraits? No worries, we have many ideas & 4 sessions to choose from, as low as $75 and each has both indoor & outdoor senior portrait options.


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The photograph shows the Revd Danny Wheadon with Dan and Louise Balsdon.
NEW MANAGERS FOR SACREdplace CHRISTIAN RESOURCE CENTRE AND FAIRTRADE SHOP
The Trustees of the SACREd Trust held a small party on Saturday to say farewell and wish Godspeed to the manager of SACREdplace, Dan Balsdon, who is leaving the area to begin
training for the Methodist ministry. Revd. Danny Wheadon, Chair of the SACREd Trust, thanked Dan for all his hard work and presented him with a gift and card.
SACREdplace is the Christian bookshop and resource centre and Fairtrade hub in High Cross Street, St. Austell. It opened nearly six years ago with Dan as manager. Since then it
has gone from strength to strength under his leadership and with the help of a small band of willing volunteers.
New managers, Kathy Pope and Carolyn Rowse, will take over from Dan on 9th May.


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Pandora, like any Internet database is only as good as its ability to return the information that you want. Let's take a look at information that Pandora is really good at retrieving versus the types of information that Pandora is not good at retrieving. For starters Pandora is really good at retrieving Bela Fleck. It knows the style and attributes of Bela Fleck, the banjo player, and it is really good at finding similar music. But there are a lot of things that Pandora does not do well. One thing that Pandora does not do well is use the title of a station as an indicator of the type of information that the user is trying to receive. Let me explain. If I name a station, for instance Johan Sebastian Bach, Pandora will assume based on its design, that all songs by Johan Sebastian Bach are similarly created equal. Based on the station title of Johann Sebastian Bach Pandora knows exactly what to do with it because it knows that Johann Sebastian Bach is an artist and composer and it will find other music by Johann Sebastian Bach. But if you name a station after something that is not an artist or is not a song Pandora knows little about what to do with it. In the next post I will take a look at an example of the station that I created in Pandora that I've had a lot of difficulty with getting Pandora to know exactly what to do with it and we'll see why exactly it doesn't know what to do with this station.
Pandora part 2


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Some content marketing agencies want to cut others down to win business. Here's why we don't play those dirty games.
Last month, I received an inquiry from a guy who seemed like an unlikely prospect for our content marketing services. He was a solopreneur, when the vast majority of our clients are larger businesses or organizations, and his business was already built around blogging.
We realize that we're not a fit for everyone, and most solo entrepreneurs don't have the budget to hire us. The majority of our engagements start at around $3,000 a month, and we've built enough of a client base and portfolio of high quality work that we don't need to bargain ourselves down. If prospects aren't willing to invest in our services, we'd rather cut them off at the chase than wait until after a half hour call to play the budget game, so I mentioned our typical pricing range in my initial response to this prospect. He still wanted to talk.
I was surprised, but thought maybe I'd underestimated his business after all. So we had a 10-minute chat, and he asked me to send through a proposal. I did—and got radio silence.
After checking in a week or so later, he told me he'd gone with another agency. I shrugged it off—it happens.
Before long, though, I discovered something interesting about this "other agency."
It was his own.
Since I'd connected with him on LinkedIn, I noticed when he spotlighted his newly launched content marketing agency website there a few weeks later. He'd been using me (and no doubt, numerous other content marketing agency founders) for marketing research.
Was I annoyed? Sure. He'd contacted me under false pretenses and taken up some of my valuable time.
But honestly, it was his loss. If he'd had questions about starting a content marketing agency, and asked me without hiding behind a false persona, I would have been happy to answer them. He would have gotten a lot more high-quality information out of me that way then he did by pretending to be a prospect—and maybe even gotten referrals for some leads that weren't a fit for our agency.
Our pricing details are no secret—in fact, we'll plan on listing package examples publicly on the next incarnation of our website. And in terms of what we provide in our proposals, we realize that it takes time to understand a brand well enough to outline deliverables, so our clients generally pay for a set amount of monthly hours, with specific deliverables and strategies to be defined once we've started working together. He didn't get any information out of me that I wouldn't have passed along willingly.
We don't try to hold on to any trade secrets, and we don't believe in competitors.
Back when I was a freelance writer, I joined some online forums, where we'd share advice, spill publication contact and rate details, hold each other to our goals, and commiserate over late payments and curmudgeonly editors. Without fail, everyone I talked to was incredibly helpful and always willing to share advice and insight. When I could share a contact or tip in turn, I always did. (And in fact, several of those writers work with our agency regularly now.)
Even now that we've grown into an agency, I still appreciate that generosity of spirit, and know that the more referrals and help that we pass on to others, the more we'll get back in kind. Recently, we got a lead that fell a little outside of our main focus areas. Instead of struggling to put together a team for the project, I introduced the contact to Gina LaGuardia, a fellow agency owner I worked with for years as a freelancer. I know the prospect would be in good hands with her, and I'm avoiding the hassle and frustration of getting up to speed on a subject that I don't know well.
When you know a project isn't a good fit, or requires skills that your team doesn't possess, passing it along to a good referral is a great way to help both your prospects and your fellow agency owners. We've built up solid referral relationships with partners in other specializations including website development, videography, and graphic design for this reason too.
As a content marketing agency, we're not competing only against the 100 or so agencies out there that clearly define themselves as content marketing agencies (though that number seems to grow every day). We're competing against bloated, do-it-all marketing and PR firms; against SEO firms who are trying to convert into content marketing agencies; against agencies whose main goals are reselling software; and against the companies that sell content by the piece for bargain-basement prices.
In general, the businesses that call themselves content marketing agencies (if they're genuine about it, and not just jumping on the latest buzzword) are the ones that we most respect and are happy to communicate and collaborate with. They typically approach marketing from a perspective that highly values well-written content, and have a solid background in developing strategies to execute and promote it. We've corresponded with numerous content marketing agency founders about agency life, and look forward to more thought-provoking discussions in the future. Agencies like Content Harmony, TopRank Blog, and Distilled produce well-written, genuinely useful content that we're happy to share with our social followers, and we always appreciate it when other agencies take notice of our work.
We find that by trading tips and information with owners of overlapping (or "competing") businesses, we can help get a better pulse on our industry landscape, and gain valuable advice on managing our growing business. And when we're approached in an authentic manner, we're more than happy to share advice of our own.
As a service-focused agency, there's only so large that we can grow our business before it becomes unsustainable. As things stand, Jeff and I, as principals, communicate directly with each and every client. We know when they're headed to technology trade shows or Vedic chanting workshops, and sometimes we'll send chocolates or flowers to mark a special occasion. And it goes both ways: A thoughtful client sent us an embroidered baby blanket to mark our son's birth last year.
We probably won't always stay this small. We work with an ever-growing team of pro freelancers, and we recently hired our first full-time employee (the phenomenal Jesse Baines), with more likely to come—but we never want to grow so big that we lose the personal connection to each of our clients.
Even as we grow our team, we'll keep our client base small enough to make sure they feel cared for and supported, focusing on developing long-term retainer-based relationships. Maybe it means going up to 15 retainer clients, maybe 20. Our client base is national (and sometimes international), so there's no reason we'd feel threatened by other agencies when we're only interested in working with a handful of new clients each year as it is, and we have a global pool to draw from.
So welcome, competitors. Play fair, and there's room for all of us.
Learn about our new office hours for introductory calls with potential marketing partners.
Bylined executive blog content can help to generate leads and support talent acquisition. Learn how to get started with a ghostwriting service.
When all your coworkers are out of office, it can be tough to maintain a strong content marketing cadence. These tips can help.


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A week ago. With the Cupertino De Anza Lions. Doing some much-needed maintenance on the grounds. A long relationship continues. Photos after, and during. We Serve.
Finding good anywhere, sharing it everywhere
I belong to a Lions service club, one of some 46,000 clubs around the world.
This year we are celebrating 100 years of Lions Clubs and the important service work the Lions do.
Today, it's that time again, this go around, the THIRTIETH Annual Cupertino De Anza Lions Charity Golf Classic. Today we play, and celebrate the fun and fellowship of helping others.
The Lions motto says it all:
And today we play, for fun, for each other, and to raise funds and awareness of the needs of others in our community and around the world.


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Scientific background
Microbial communities in engineered and natural habitats consist primarily of uncultured and poorly described microorganisms, sometimes called the "microbial dark matter" of the Earth. These communities are only poorly understood in terms of metabolic food webs, species interaction and adaptation processes. Beyond these fundamental challenges they harbor a great potential for development of sustainable bio-technologies. However, their high complexity requires novel multidisciplinary approaches to reveal their interactions, potential, and how they can be managed.
- The overall research goal of the Center for Microbial Communities is to provide new fundamental understanding of structure and function of microbial communities in engineered and natural habitats.
- The Center will strengthen both multidisciplinary research on microbial communities and interactions to industrial partners as well as train and educate PhD students and postdocs.
Main research areas
- Systems microbiology in wastewater treatment and anaerobic digesters
- Microorganisms involved in biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal/recovery
- Microbial detoxification of micropollutants
- The role of the microbiome for human and environmental health and microbial communities on human implants
- Bacterial interactions and relationships to local environments
- Discovery of novel microorganisms and microbial functions
- Structure and function of the extracellular matrix of microbial communities
- Development of novel methods in metagenomics, metaproteomics, metabolomics, and single cell microbiology


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Beats Audio coming to Windows Phone 8 too?
Although we thought Beats Audio was dead for HTC, the company is pushing forward with the technology and are reportedly bringing it to Windows Phone 8 this fall.
According to the Verge, the HTC Accord (a 4.3" display device) will feature the high-end audio technology with the familiar Beats branding on the back of the device.
With Nokia pushing their camera and ClearBlack display, Samsung with their super-thin phones, it appears that HTC too will have their own "sword" to slay the competition by focusing on more high fidelity music.
Since Windows Phone 8 allows more customization to the hardware via the OS, it appears that HTC will take advantage of this new power to offer some quality music devices with Windows Phone 8. Rumors go back to nearly one year ago that HTC was bringing Beats to Windows Phone, but nothing ever came of it.
In a recent public statement, HTC did reaffirm their commitment to Beats Audio:
"HTC remains strongly committed to Beats Audio and including their innovation in our devices. Any rumor of HTC no longer integrating Beats Audio into our devices is categorically false."
The question is, which do you value more? Your camera, a super thin phone or high-end audio?
Source: The Verge