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Walk The Line
This story appears in the April 2001 issue of Entrepreneurs Start-Ups magazine. Subscribe »
When a truck dumps half a ton of lemons into your backyard, it wouldn't be an insane idea to start selling freshly squeezed lemonade. But when an unexpected flood threatens to ravage your town, is it right to unload your stockpile of sandbags with a sign on your garage door reading "Neighborhood Special: 3 for $5"? There's a fine line between capitalizing on an obvious opportunity and taking advantage of an unfortunate situation for personal gain. And entrepreneurs-opportunists by nature-often have to risk their reputations (in both the business and consumer worlds) in the name of seizing their chances at success, be it long-term or not.
We talked with some entrepreneurs who've spotted "sure thing" opportunities too potentially prosperous not to pursue and pre-existing businesses blessed by the gods of timing. Some have cashed out, and others didn't generate quite as much interest as they'd hoped for. So can we conclude that when a blatantly opportunistic endeavor fails, it's because the quality so many successful entrepreneurs swear by-having passion for a venture-was absent, and that consumers can smell a gimmick devoid of value miles away? Or is spotting an opportunity and capitalizing on it, by any means, rewarded and applauded in this Survivor era? A scientific answer, there is not. Each entrepreneur must be his or her own judge-and await public opinion, of course.
|Why Are You Doing It?
There's no doubt it's possible to make fast money capitalizing on a craze, but in Randy Komisar's mind, the validity of a business relies on its ability to create value for customers. Komisar (at right) left his CEO position at video game company Crystal Dynamics to help get start-ups off the ground until they find permanent CEOs. In his book, The Monk and the Riddle (Harvard Business School Press), the 46-year-old Silicon Valley veteran narrates his dealings with fictional character Lenny, an opportunist looking to get in on the Internet craze who approaches Komisar with his proposal for the next billion-dollar business idea: Funerals.com. Says Komisar, "[Throughout the book], we work through what [Lenny's] true passion is and incorporate it into a business opportunity that is much more interesting to him and something he can really commit to."
While Komisar admits business isn't all about doing things out of the goodness of your heart, the goal of making money should merely be the physics of business, while doing something useful to society should be the purpose of it. "Profits, growth and opportunities for employees and investors are all very valid and all tend to work well when founded on bedrock," says Komisar. "The problem is, in an exuberant market like the one we just came through, greed overwhelms intelligence a lot. And as a result, you end up with a lot of people who are just looking to cash in and cash out and aren't thinking about building real value or long-term opportunities for themselves and others."
Robert D. Hisrich, professor of entrepreneurial studies at Case Western University's Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland, says it's ultimately up to the public to determine the worthiness of an entrepreneurial endeavor and up to the entrepreneur to act responsibly. "I don't think we should have an expectation that everything produced in a society is going to have some significant impact," says Hisrich. "But what I think we need to expect is that when entrepreneurs create services and products, they maintain ethical standards in their business dealings and their treatment of customers and employees. As long as those ethical standards are maintained, then the [company's] output-as long as it's not harmful to society-is [there for society] to judge whether or not [to] buy it."
One Entrepreneur's Story
When Marcia and John Diamond, education professionals and political junkies, registered the Electoral College Sportswear & Accessories (ECSA) trademark in 1994, they could never have imagined what was coming in the winter of 2000. The presidential election to end all elections garnered them international press coverage and produced a throng of orders for the company's products: T-shirts, sweat-shirts and caps bearing the logos "Electoral College" and "Electoral College Athletic Department."
Back in 1994, ECSA Inc. simply seemed like a natural outlet for the Bangor, Maine, couple's political passions when Marcia, 38, took time off work after having their second child. And it was done without haste: They wrote a detailed business plan, spent months looking at possible graphic designs and attended small-business seminars. Their idea was to market collegiate-style merchandise and simultaneously educate customers by shipping the products with an explanation of the real electoral college.
To educate wasn't necessarily the motivating purpose, but, says John, 46, "we felt it should have some significance beyond simply taking advantage of a clever play on the name."
By 1996, word about ECSA was spreading in political circles, thanks to the occasional print ad, direct-mail campaigns and a bare-bones Web site. With repeat customers as their largest chunk of business, the Diamonds were satisfied with the cottage industry they'd created. Fast-forward to last October, when business began escalating, and then to Election Day, when C-SPAN discovered ECSA and aired a segment about its merchandise. That day alone saw the Diamonds answering 200 phone calls and Internet queries. The Associated Press picked up the story soon after, which led to talk of ECSA on radio stations across the nation and around the world, not to mention interviews with NBC's The Today Show, England's BBC Tonight and a mention on CNN.
"We were hoping way back that, because 2000 was an open presidency, there would be more talk of the electoral college, but of course nobody could've anticipated what happened," says John. And the Diamonds never would've guessed that they'd have to hire 14 people, order six additional phone lines, move operations into a warehouse facility and resort to letting voice mail pick up calls for at least three hours per day so they could get some shut-eye.
Surprisingly, ECSA didn't receive any criticism from folks assuming the business was established to poke fun at the election's unfortunate turn. The Diamonds did, however, get many questions from people unaware of their pre-Election 2000 life asking how it was possible to erect a business so quickly.
That's not so far-fetched a mistake. There are businesses that appeared out of nowhere once the election took a turn for the uncertain. While political shirts Web site FloridaElections.net, launched in November 2000 by Cleveland Web design/hosting and e-commerce services firm Cool and Arty Productions, and VoteChad2000.com, the "first to offer chad for sale over the Internet," may not hold quite the political weight ECSA does, they, too, found there's money to be made from national crises.
We can't tell you how much in sales those little bits of paper actually generated, but Jory Rozner was pretty impressed with the $40,000 her Chicago-based Jewish media and marketing company, Zipple, made in only six weeks off the (Joseph) Lieberman Yarmulke sold through its Web site, Zipple.com.
Was your first instinct to roll your eyes-shake your head, maybe? Rozner, 32, admits she was hesitant last September to go ahead with the idea, which was suggested by a company outsider, for fear of that very reaction. Luckily, the only negative feedback she received was from people who didn't like Lieberman. No one in the Jewish community took offense to the yarmulkes, which, according to Rozner, were meant to celebrate cultural diversity and the fact that a Jewish person was on a presidential ticket. Besides, if all the cool kids in Jewish day schools are sporting yarmulkes with Rugrats and Sesame Street characters, what's wrong with a $15 star-spangled, white leather skullcap with "Lieberman 2000" emblazoned on the side?
In explaining her ultimate decision to go to market with the yarmulkes, Rozner quips, "Someone was going to do it-it might as well have been me!" But in all seriousness: "You just have to draw the line," she says. "You don't want to be offensive or turn anyone off. But everything's going to turn someone off. You could open a restaurant, and if someone doesn't like seafood, it's going to turn them off."
New York City publicist Paul Lerner agrees there's a definite line between what society deems acceptable and what it thinks is questionable. If a company makes unpopular PR decisions, it might get press and increased sales-but it could also leave a bad taste in the mouths of many. Such was the fate of Annapolis, Maryland, software firm Risk Watch, which produces software that analyzes security measures in buildings. It sent out a press release trying to increase awareness of school security the night of the Columbine tragedy in April 1999. "I think people's gut reactions are more negative than positive, even when [companies are] trying to help," says Lerner. "Especially if someone's profiting."
The difference between how society views something like the Risk Watch situation and the sudden success experienced by ECSA and Zipple, according to Lerner, is that the latter two are somewhat lighthearted. "I don't think [the Election 2000 business] is so bad," he says. However, in the case of Columbine, says Lerner, people died, and that makes any appearance of opportunism-real or imagined-a danger for companies like Risk Watch.
While the Diamonds benefited from a nation in political upheaval for a while, John says that what Marcia told Katie Couric on The Today Show sums up their thoughts on the matter. "She said that the last thing we want to do is trivialize the electoral college process or even the election of the presidency," says John. "We don't want to see ourselves benefit from it if it means the turmoil of the country continues. We don't want to be accused of profiteering on the situation, and hopefully, we're not."
The Downside Of Opportunity
Hanna Irwin, 46, and Albert Will, 45, saw the dollar signs in Y2K kitsch years before the ball touched down on the first day of 2000. They originally intended to trademark "Y2K" so clients of their Indianapolis marketing and consulting firm, Looking Glass Partners LLC, could buy the right to the catch phrase and exploit it based on their needs. In early 1997, Irwin and Will went ahead and trademarked "Y2K" as well as the phrases "Millennium Bug," "Uh 00H!" and "Sorry, it's a non-negotiable deadline" to name a few, but none of Looking Glass Partners' clients were biting.
You can probably chalk lack of interest up to the foreseeable lack of longevity in Y2K merchandise. After all, where are all those sites like AMillenniumStore.com and AY2KStore.com now? In cyberspace heaven. The current owner of "Y2KStore.com" has put the domain name up for sale, but who's going to bid on it? Maybe the same person who bought two "Vermont Y2K Lanterns" to get one free. But in 1997, Irwin and Will were convinced Y2K could be marketed well after the fact, based on confusion about when the new millennium actually began and the fact that a millennium lasts 1,000 years. So they decided to exploit it for themselves, launching Y2K Stuff, home to millennium-related apparel, gifts and toys.
In hindsight, "generally disappointing" is how Will describes the venture. "The real lesson is that every business has its own nuances and complexities that, when you're not in the business, you don't realize are there," he says. "When [Looking Glass Partners] got into Y2K, we got into two businesses we'd never been in: licensing and retail. Both are brutal businesses, and sometimes when you're embroiled in something new, you tend to underestimate just how different each business is."
There were painful "six-figure surprises" to deal with, not to mention snide comments at a retail trade show about marketing Y2K-but that stuff won't stop Looking Glass Partners from pursuing another novelty brand in the future when the time is right. But, says Will, "My eyes [will] be wide open to the difficulties, and not just to the opportunities."
Contact Sources
- ECSA Inc., (800) 353-2867, www.electoralcollegeusa.com
- Robert Hisrich, (216) 368-5354, firstname.lastname@example.com
- Randy Komisar, www.hbsp.harvard.edu


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We live in a world that is often too cruel and unkind. Living in Israel for the last 30 years, I have attended too many funerals for those whose lives were taken through incomprehensible acts of terror. During the years of the second intifada there were many days that I found it impossible to continue teaching, as a student would burst into my classroom and announce that there had been another terrorist attack. How could I just go on with a regular lesson when lives were lost?
Throughout those years, other images stood out in my mind. There were the scenes of emergency caregivers, doctors and nurses who valiantly saved the lives of the wounded – many times performing what seemed like miracles when all hope was lost. One of those places where these seeming miracles took place was Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The hospital head, Professor Jonathan HaLevi, was often interviewed on Israeli television and asked about the condition of the wounded.
On a personal level Shaare Zedek, its doctors and nurses were responsible for saving my life after I had been diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis. I had entered the hospital with a lingering fever and stomach virus, and all I can remember was my wish just to feel better. The night before I went to the ER, I became more concerned when I was barely able to stand up on my own and felt chills all over my body.
At the hospital I was immediately given two IVs as I was severely dehydrated. And after taking many different tests, it had still not been determined what the main problem was. Then, on the following day, when I was given a special test whereby a tube was placed in my mouth, I remember the doctors looking at the computer screen and saying they saw bacterial growth in my heart. The only courses of action were to do open-heart surgery to replace my mitral valve that had been destroyed, and to start IV antibiotics. The heavy dose of antibiotics was referred to as a "cocktail." After the very successful three-hour operation, I remained in the ICU for another 10 days – with at least 10 different wires attached to my body.
One of my recollections from that very difficult period was being confined to my bed, not being allowed to get up and move around. There was a male nurse, an Arab, who dutifully bathed me every day. Here we were, a caregiver and a patient, not two enemies but rather one helping to improve my quality of life while I gladly accepted it. Many nurses and doctors examined me for an entire month, taking my blood and administering test after test. They were young and old, Jew and Arab, paid workers and volunteers. They were all working for one goal: the preservation of life. A great lesson indeed for all to practice!
After a month at Shaare Zedek I was allowed to go home, but my actual recovery period would be slow and arduous. I would be a heart patient for life, with a pacemaker that needed to be checked every six months. I would take occasional blood tests and would always have to take a blood thinner. But I would say with great kavanah the words of the Modim prayer: "for Your miracles that You perform every day."
Most recently my family and I renewed our connections with Shaare Zedek. I wasn't the patient; my mother-in-law was. Last July she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the most serious kinds of cancer. The entire family was expecting the worst, but my mother-in-law has great strengths, some of which I never knew. She continues her daily activities, attending lectures for seniors, shopping and attending shul every Shabbat. And during this period we have had the opportunity to share more meals together and enjoy each other's company.
Every week my wife and her sisters take turns going to the hospital for my mother-in-law's chemo treatments. It is a very special ward with very loving and concerned nurses and doctors. Last Chanukah, the oncologist recommended that my mother-in-law have a CT in order to check the status of the cancer. While we waited for what seemed like an endless amount of time, a group of children was visiting sick patients and singing Chanukah songs. Chanukah is the holiday that recalls the miracles of old; we were hoping and praying for a miracle right now.

subset: commoncrawl


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Diplomats in the Republic of West Korea were being lauded last night after seventy years of peaceful coexistence with both the Southern Republic of Korea and the Northern People's Democratic Republic, which outside observers put down to the nation's hard work at hiding from everyone.
In 1950 the DPRK armies just rolled right past our easterly borders, not once wondering what lay behind the low hills towards the sea. The Americans pushed the North Koreans and Chinese back beyond the 51st parallel, but clever cartographic manipulation by the West meant that the borders of West Korea were never violated.
Even today most maps do not show the secretive nation, which spreads from near Incheon in the east to a long land border with Shandong province, China, in the west, instead showing an entirely fictional northern extension of the East-China Sea. Satellite images are often confused as houses and roads in the country are painted wet to simulate the sea and loose rocks are banned.
The President of West Korea, who isn't widely known outside his anonymous homeland, and who didn't give his name, has assured his people that his country would not get involved on either side if war sparked up between the North and the South, although he followed it up by admitting that his nation would possibly send forces to help either country if they decided to attack "the illegitmate rump leadership" of the Republic of East Korea.


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Exciting news: our brand new website will be arriving very soon. To be the first to hear about it, sign up here.
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beef, bolognese, cooking, Dinner, fettuccine, fettucelle, garlic, Pasta, recipe, sauce, tomatoes
I grew up in a family of six (four kids, two parents). I like to think this is why I'm completely incapable of making meals for just one or two people. It just never really occurs to me to halve a recipe. Or when I'm just creating something, it never looks to me like I'm making too much. Mostly, it's not a problem. I, unlike most, like leftovers. I like them for breakfast or lunch or dinner. (There is nothing like pasta for breakfast. Mmmmm.) And, since I tend to cook big, I can usually feed myself for all three of those meals based on whatever I made for dinner the night before.
In the last year or so, though, I've finally come to appreciate my freezer. Sure, it was always a happy home to ice cream and the odd frozen pizza. Now I tend to freeze some leftovers for those crazy times when work is insane and there is a strange absence of groceries and I'm contemplating a dinner of peanut butter on crackers. And this Bolognese sauce is the perfect thing to have stashed away for dinner emergencies.
I got it out of Real Simple magazine; the only magazine I've subscribed to since Chickadee and Owl when I was a kid.
So, I used to make this with fettuccine and then one time when I went to buy pasta there was no De Cecco fettuccine. But there was fettuccelle. Sure, that'll do. But it was so much better than that. It's now my pasta of choice. It's flat like fettuccine, but better. Thicker, I think. Or something. Sigh. Just better; let's leave it at that.
There is nothing more comforting than a big bowl of hot noodles (al dente, please!) with thick, rich sauce all chock full of tomatoes and beef that's been simmering for an hour or so. So, I'm happy to make the whole batch of this, freeze half in ziplock bags and then eat the rest for a handful of meals. Then, the next time a craving comes, I still have my freezer stash.
And let me offer this handy 'recycling' tip. Don't throw away the heels of your parmesan wedges. Throw them in as the sauce simmers; they will add a nice richness. (When I'm down to the heel of the cheese, I throw them in a ziplock and into the freezer so they are ready to go when I make the sauce.)
As usual, this is with my adaptations. (These are, for the most part, another carrot — yeah for more vegetables — and no pancetta. I have nothing against pancetta — mmmm bacon-y goodness — but I don't typically have it on hand and can't be bothered to go get some for this recipe as I generally have all the other ingredients. Oh, and I add the garlic later than they suggest. There is nothing worse than burnt garlic, so adding it with the celery and carrot seems a bit premature.)
Pasta Bolognese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diceed
- 2 carrots, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup milk (I use 1 per cent)
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 14-ounce (398 mL) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Parmesan heels (if you've got them)
In a Dutch oven or large, solid frying pan (I use one with straight sides), heat the oil. Add the onion and saute until they start to go transluscent, about three minutes. Add the celery and carrot and cook for five minutes more until they too start to soften. Add garlic and saute until you can smell it, about a minute. Add beef and cook until browned. Add wine, milk and the rest of the ingredients. (Don't fret, the milk is going to look like it's curdling a bit. It's not.) Add the cheese heels and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over hot, drained pasta with fresh Parmesan.


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The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Space Systems Advanced Technology Center (ATC) has opened a new state-of-the-art laboratories building that will enable the company to provide innovative technical solutions to customers with more agility and efficiency.
The Advanced Materials & Thermal Sciences Center, with 82,000 square feet of floor space, will house 130 engineers, scientists and staff. The new laboratories will host advanced research and development in emerging technology areas like 3-D printing, energetics, thermal sciences, nanotechnology, synthesis, high temperature materials and advanced devices.
"This magnificent new facility will be home to many of the innovative technologies that will help shape the future of space payloads, satellites and missile systems," said Dr. Kenneth Washington, vice president of the ATC. "Scientists and engineers here are creating advanced materials like our CuantumFuse™ nano-copper, which promises to make more reliable electrical connections in space and other applications. We're also perfecting technologies to manage the heat generated by on-board satellite sensors. Our new microcryocooler is the smallest satellite cooler ever developed, another example of the ground-breaking technologies we're advancing in this lab."
The new building was designed and constructed to achieve a Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices including sustainability; water efficiency; energy efficiency and atmospheric quality; use of materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovations in upgrades, operations and maintenance. The U.S. Green Building Council's Building Rating System is a voluntary national standard for high-performance sustainable buildings.
"Our new Materials and Thermal Sciences Center is not just a home for innovation, it's a shining example of the benefits of sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices," said Marshall Case, vice president of Infrastructure Services at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "By replacing two other buildings that are each 50 years old with this new facility, we'll save $1 million in annual maintenance costs, cut energy costs by more than 60 percent, and reduce our carbon footprint. This new facility is better for the environment, more affordable for our business and more versatile for our technologists."
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 115,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.
For more information, visit: www.lockheedmartin.com


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Mavic Allroad Pro UST Disc 6-Bolt WTS Front
The flagship wheel system in Mavic's updated Allroad family is engineered for performance in the most challenging conditions. From gravel grinders to mixed surface road rides, it delivers everything you need to push the pace when the going gets rough. Lightweight, stiff and responsive, it features Mavic's new UST Road Tubeless technology with super-wide rims (22mm internal). It's integrated with Mavic's Yksion Allroad UST tubeless tires, and you can choose either 30mm or 40mm width. Mavic's proven UST system lets you run lower tire pressure to improve comfort and handling with no risk of pinch flats. By removing the tubes, we've also reduced friction, so you get less rolling resistance and carry more speed on smooth or rough roads. Best of all, the UST system makes it easy to install and remove tires, so you can easily change them according to what terrain you'll ride. The lightweight rims feature ISM 4D technology (Inter Spoke Milling), which strategically removes material from the rim where it's not needed but keeps it around the spokes, where the tension is applied. This keeps the rim weight low, even with its generous width. This disc-brake specific wheelset features 24 steel spokes front and rear to distribute the brake torque efficiently and evenly. The wheels are compatible with 6-Bolt or Center Lock rotors. The front hub comes with a 12mm thru-axle and can convert to 15mm or quick release. The rear wheel is 12x142 thru-axle and can also convert to quick release.
Going tubeless allows you to run lower tire pressures without the added weight of a tube. Lower tire pressure has many benefits, including greater traction, lower rolling resistance over rough surfaces, and decreased risk of a puncture-related flat.
Tubeless-ready rims and tires are parts of a complete system that eliminate the need for tubes by creating an airtight chamber between the rim and tire. Liquid sealant is added to the chamber to fill small punctures and maintain air pressure while you ride.
UST (Universal Standard for Tubeless) is a specific type of tubeless system that dictates the shape of the rim and tire bead. UST rims should be paired with UST-specific tires for best results.
|Rim Material
|Brake Compatibility
|6-bolt disc
|100 x 12mm
|Inner Rim Width
|Aluminum, sealed cartridge bearings QRM
|Zicral straight pull, bladed
|Spoke Count
|Fore integrated aluminum
|Valve Type
|Yksion Elite Allroad tire, Tire sealant syringe, multifunction adjustment wrench, specific disc bolts, UST valve and accessories, user guide
* Subject to change without notice.


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Today's story is a good news/bad news sort of story. I like to think the 'good' part outweighs the bad in the long run, and gives us hope for humanity. I don't know … what do you think?
The bad …
It was just after 5:00 a.m. last Saturday morning, and people were arriving for Fajr, early morning prayer services, at the at the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. About 20 people had entered the mosque when a fire bomb was hurled through the window, shattering windows and causing extensive damage. Fortunately, nobody was injured, but certainly the intent of the criminal was to destroy, maim, and even kill.
The center had been receiving threatening phone calls for some time, according to Mohamed Omar, Executive Director for the mosque. "… people talking about us, telling us, accusing us that we shouldn't be here, that we are like a burden to the community or we are like harming it. We've had some threats and comments. People walk to our door, bang on our door and had foul language. With the country's climate and rhetoric going on, we feel [we're] in the middle of the tension." Omar cited hateful comments on Facebook including some that read, "Islam needs to be eliminated like the black plague," or "maybe they will start leaving now. Keep up the good work."
The FBI is investigating the bombing and says it was a form of a pipe bomb, but with "more sophistication" than expected. There were no security cameras at the mosque, as the congregation is made up mostly of Somali immigrants and does not have extra funds for such things. The FBI also said in a statement that they want to "assure the community that this investigation is our top priority and we continue to work to determine who carried out this crime and why." Let us hope so.
The good …
The good news in all of this is the community and the support they have shown. According to a post by Robert Reich …
"Members of a local Catholic church delivered over 200 notes like the one below. On Sunday, a steady stream of people stopped by to leave flowers and express their sympathy. Erik Stoltenberg brought along his 4-year-old daughter, telling the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "I explained to her that people attend things that are like our church but different and that some people sometimes don't like other people for bad reasons and that it was important for us to come and show our support as a community." People have also donated over $50,000 to a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for repairs."
The GoFundMe account has thus far raised $67,275 in just two days, and has been contributed to by 1,629 donors!
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton condemned the act and 'called a spade a bloody shovel' when he called it an act of terrorism. "What a terrible, dastardly, cowardly terrible act this was that was committed yesterday. As someone said in the meeting, if the roles were reversed, it would be called a terrorist attack. And that's what it is, an act of terrorism. That action is despicable and hateful, but it does not represent who Minnesota is. It does not represent the vast majority of the people who live in this fantastic state."
The silent …
The only response to this terrorist act from the entire Trump administration came from the Department of Homeland Security in a canned statement:
"Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke is aware of the explosion today at a mosque in Bloomington, Minn. We are in close contact with federal, state and local authorities and local community leaders as the investigation into this matter continues. The Department of Homeland Security fully supports the rights of all to freely and safely worship the faith of their choosing and we vigorously condemn such attacks on any religious institution. We are thankful there were no injuries, but that does not diminish the serious nature of this act."
Not so much as a tweet from Donald Trump, nor any of his mouthpieces. No condemnation. No words of empathy or support. Nothing.
Filosofa's take …
I commend and am proud of the good people in the community, of the 1,629 people who have contributed their hard-earned cash to help repair the mosque; of the people who showed up with flowers, checks, and those who simply brought a hug and a kind word. These, folks, are the people who define this nation, who give us hope that we might yet overcome the trash that currently resides in the White House and the trash … white supremacist trash … who have the unmitigated gall to believe they have a right to condemn people simply because of their religion or ethnicity. White supremacy? HAH … white trash is a better description. Donald Trump has yet to comment on the bombing, but can you imagine the outrage he would be spewing if a person of Middle-Eastern ethnicity had done this to a white, Christian church? His silence speaks volumes.


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Explore new interests at The Amberleigh, where our blend of desired amenities and convenient services offers residents a vibrant lifestyle that encourages health and independence through innovative recreational, educational, health and wellness programs. Our Williamsville, New York, Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care community provides comfortable features such as walk-in closets and individual climate controls with the added benefits of emergency call buttons and bathrooms with assist hand rails in all one- and two-bedroom apartment homes. The Amberleigh offers privacy and freedom to live the way residents choose in comfortable surroundings. At the same time, we offer companionship. Say goodbye to the worries of living alone, home maintenance and housework. Say hello to a relaxed lifestyle with weekly housekeeping services, beautifully manicured grounds and recreation and entertainment programming that will impress family and friends. Our residents have the freedom to partake in special Sunday brunches in our tastefully decorated dining room or visit a number of local and chain restaurants surrounding our community less than 30 minutes from Buffalo, NY, and its highly regarded medical services.
The following policies and procedures will be in effect as of July 15, 2020 to meet the criteria set by the New York State Department of Health to allow for visitation with residents in the assisted living setting at The Amberleigh:
Our courteous staff members are ready to answer questions or schedule a tour.Contact Us
We offer a number of apartment sizes with desired amenities and services that will fit any lifestyle.Galleries


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United States Army
The United States Army is a branch (or section) of the United States Armed Forces.
An army mainly deals with land based missions and operations. The army started as the Continental Army from 1775 to August 7, 1789 when the War Department (now known as the Department of Defense) was formed. The United States Secretary of the Army, a civilian, leads the army with the help of the Army Chief of Staff, a general.
Officially, a person (or member) in the army is called a soldier. The soldier must take orders from a person in charge known as a CO or commander. When a person joins the Army, they must serve for a certain amount of time or a "tour of duty". A new soldier or recruit must go through training called Basic Training to become a soldier. Each soldier is trained in a variety of weapons and equipment to carry out commands.
The United States Army serves as the land-based branch of the U.S. Military.
Traditionally, the US Army has had three different combat arms:
Cavalry (Armoured)Edit


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Last Post Ever
After 16 months we're leaving on the Astreus flight tomorrow. The experience of Liberia has been crazy, and not always enjoyable, but we've seen a lot of positive change in a short time; Liberia's getting better all the time. The city has started paying people to clean up trash, electrical poles are going up all over the place, and soon they're going to start repaving Tubman Blvd. Heck, you can even get cinnamon rolls in the morning now!
I can't wait to see this place in ten years' time. The other day a friend showed us an old postcard of Monrovia from the 1970's and the place looked downright beautiful. Hopefully those days are coming back again. It really depends on the desire of individual Liberians to live in peace with each other. And a lot is riding on the willingness of the diaspora to come home and contribute.
Yesterday out on Old Road I got stuck in a mud bog and couldn't move my company jeep even with the 4WD engaged. I was immediately surrounded by a mob of 20 young men. To be honest, I was a little concerned for my safety. But instead of doing me any ill, without a second's hesitation, the guys volunteered to wade through the mud and push me back to dry land.
When I told her the story, my ladyfriend said, "This country's really changing."
Here's hoping!
Thanks for reading,


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Surgical Theater and University Hospitals Case Medical Center Create Virtual 3D Models that Neurosurgeons Can Feel and Manipulate for the Ultimate in Patient-Specific Practice Prior to Brain Surgery
Surgical Theater and University Hospitals Case Medical Center Create Virtual 3D Models that Neurosurgeons Can Feel and Manipulate for the Ultimate in Patient-Specific Practice Prior to Brain Surgery
MORRISVILLE, N.C., June 14, 2012– Geomagic®, a global company providing 3D technology solutions for digital reality, announced that its customer, Surgical Theater LLC, is being spotlighted at an event held at the White House starting at 9 am ET today to highlight advanced broadband Internet technologies with dramatic potential. Sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the White House event will include a live demonstration of Surgical Theater's Surgery Rehearsal Platform (SRP), the first simulator on the market to use patients' own CT and MRI images so that surgeons can practice on the patient's unique anatomical variations in advance. The platform helps enable surgeries that proceed swiftly and lessen the risks of unforeseen outcomes. Force feedback haptic devices and OpenHaptics™ developer's software from Geomagic, acquired from haptics industry pioneer Sensable Technologies in April, are what provide a realistic sense of touch to the platform.
The White House event also will feature neurosurgeons, Dr. Warren Selman and Dr. Andrew Sloan of University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center in Cleveland, in a telepresence application where mentor and novice surgeons use the SRP's virtual model of a patient and explore surgical options. Drs. Selman and Sloan are clinical collaborators who helped incubate the SRP, and also will explain the role of virtual reality in saving operating time and helping avoid adverse consequences, such as a stroke.
"It's vitally important that we embrace new computer simulation technologies in medicine as part of our efforts to reduce surgical errors and improve patient outcomes," said Warren Selman, M.D., Neurosurgeon-in-Chief of University Hospitals. "The Surgical Theater team has made the surgical rehearsal platform ultra-realistic, right down to the sense of touch, and the anatomy is based on the patient's unique preoperative imaging. Surgeons can rehearse operative approaches and techniques based on the particular anatomy they will encounter in each individual patient, just as a fighter pilot can rehearse their specific mission in a flight simulator prior to takeoff." Dr. Selman continued that "as a neurosurgeon myself, I strongly believe that my colleagues, and other surgeons performing technically challenging procedures, will embrace the surgical rehearsal platform concept of 'pre-living the future,' and it will emerge as an essential component of preparing for surgical procedures to improve outcomes."
The Surgery Rehearsal Platform (SRP) uploads and transforms medical images, such as CT and MRI scans of patients, into life-like, dynamic and interactive 3D models. The initial offering is targeted at brain aneurysm surgery, one of the most technically complex procedures a neurosurgeon performs. A cerebral aneurysm is a ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain that is often treated by microsurgical techniques involving the placement of a small titanium clip across the neck of the aneurysm.
Holding a Phantom™ haptic stylus to operate as if they were holding a surgical instrument, the surgeon can "feel" the virtual tissues, note their reaction to different shaped surgical clips, feel the results of more or less pressure on the aneurysm, and practice different angles of insertion. By providing a realistic environment, it allows the surgeon to make critical decisions in advance, on an exact replica of the patient, in a 'risk-free' virtual rehearsal environment.
The SRP evolved from a chance meeting in a Cleveland area coffee shop in 2009, between Dr. Selman and two former Israeli Air Force officers who had developed flight simulators for their country. Dr. Selman became intrigued with the idea of applying virtual reality to the realm of surgery, and a collaboration followed. Surgical Theater will begin a clinical trial of the SRP later this year and is placing units in various medical education institutions' residency programs. Dr. Sloan is developing additional neurosurgical simulations for the SRP platform, such as the removal of benign and malignant tumors located in critical areas of the brain as well as microvascular decompression, pituitary tumors, and acoustic neuroma surgeries.
"We believe that once a surgeon experiences the clinical benefits he or she can gain from 'pre-living the future' of their patient's case by rehearsing and planning the surgery with the SRP, they will not want to perform surgery without the SRP again," said Moty Avisar, CEO of Surgical Theater.
"Surgical Theater's application of digital reality to improve the lives of patients is the core of Geomagic's vision of benefiting humanity," said Ping Fu, CEO of Geomagic. "By marrying the sense of sight and touch, simulators like this can help transform medical training and education, reduce surgical time and improve the efficacy of surgery."
About Surgical Theater LLC
Surgical Theater LLC produces virtual realistic and interactive scenes where surgeons are able to plan, rehearse and tele-Mentor toward their special missions. Surgical Theater solutions help doctors "pre-live the future" as a vitally important part of a national effort to reduce medical errors and improve outcomes. The founders of Surgical Theater (http://www.surgicaltheater.net/) have more than 20 years in research and development for the Israeli Air Force creating advanced large-scale flight simulator programs. For more information visit www.surgicaltheater.net.
About University Hospitals
University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers, and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org
About Geomagic
Geomagic (www.geomagic.com) is a global company dedicated to advancing and applying 3D technology for the benefit of humanity. Geomagic's scanning and design software solutions are used to capture and model 3D content from physical objects, organically sculpt complex shapes, and prepare products for manufacturing. In addition, the company produces powerful 3D metrology and inspection software that verifies dimensional quality by comparing as-built products to master designs. Geomagic's Sensable Phantom haptic devices simulate the sense of touch in a digital environment.
Geomagic's software and hardware are utilized by world-class customers in a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, consumer products, toys, collectibles, coin design, jewelry, fine art, heritage restoration, research, education, mold making, entertainment, training and surgical simulation. In fact, some of the world's leading companies and research organizations use Geomagic software, including Ford, BMW, Boeing, Harley Davidson, Timberland, Mattel/Fisher Price, Lego, Pratt & Whitney, NASA, Schneider Electronic, 3M, Danahe, and Invisalign. Geomagic is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., USA, with an office in Boston, subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, and channel partners worldwide.
Geomagic, Geomagic Studio, Geomagic Qualify, Geomagic Qualify Probe, Geomagic Spark, Wrap, Geomagic Wrap, Phantom, OpenHaptics, Omni, Freeform, Claytools, Sensable and Sensable Technologies, Inc. are trademarks or registered trademarks of Geomagic Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


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Physical Address
506 Dolorosa
San Antonio, TX 78204
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283
Media Inquiries
Published on Thursday, July 11, 2013
FESTIVAL, PEOPLE EN ESPAŃOL, Presented by Target expands the talent line-up for day and night events at the two-day celebration of Hispanic entertainment, culture and community. Mexican superstar, actress and singer Maite Perroni will kick off the promo tour for her first solo album with a performance at the Alamodome on Saturday, August 31. Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, Noel Torres, Carla Teresa Mauri, Lucía Navarro and Sebastien De La Cruz join an all-star lineup of day and nighttime talent at Festival. Previously announced acts performing at the Alamodome include Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Fernandez, Demi Lovato, Wisin y Yandel, 3 Ball MTY, Frankie J, Kat Dahlia, and more. Set for Labor Day weekend (Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1) in San Antonio, Texas, FESTIVAL PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL Presented by Target offers free open-to-the-public daytime activities at The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and a mix of live performances each evening at the Alamodome.
"People en Español is a part of my life, my story, they are my family. It's the best place to kick off such an important stage of my life, and to share my work and my dream," reveals Maite Perroni.
Produced by the legendary, 19-time Grammy Award-winning, musician and producer, Emilio Estefan, the heavyweight performances at the Alamodome are bolstered by an equally impressive celebrity roster at free and open-to-the-public daytime activities at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. For example, Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, one of Univision Radio's most popular radio personalities, whose "Piolín por la Mañana" is syndicated across the United States in more than 53 markets will host Festival's Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza on Saturday August 31. The Mariachi Extravaganza is the largest group and vocal camp in the nation.
"Festival, People en Español is offering our attendees the greatest entertainers in Latino music from breakout artists like Maite Perroni and Sebastien De La Cruz to the iconic Gloria Estefan", said publisher, People en Español, Monique Manso. "The addition of phenomenal new talent combined with endless experiences the whole family can enjoy for free at the convention center ensure that we are providing our audience with an event that can't be missed!"
The updated list of FESTIVAL PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL 2013's talent is as follows:
Daytime talent: Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, Maite Perroni, Lucia Navarro, Cristina Saralegui, Myrka Dellanos, Maria Marin, Chiquis Marin, Juan Rivera, Adam Irigoyen, Jencarlos Canela, Bobby Pulido, Marjorie de Sousa, Rafael Amaya, Silvia Navarro, Jeannette Torres, HBO Latino bóxer Sergio Martinez, HBO Latino's Habla Women participant Marlen Esparza, Marcos Witt, America Sierra, DJ Lechuga, Pepe Garza, Letty Guval, Benita Veliz, Mariachi Extravaganza, Sebastien De La Cruz, José Fernandez;
Daytime hosts (both dates): Marycarmen Lopez, Alessandra Villegas
Nighttime talent: Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Fernandez, Grupo Treo, Noel Torres, Maite Perroni, Jencarlos Canela, Demi Lovato, Wisin y Yandel, Bobby Pulido, Frankie J, Kat Dahlia, The Chris Perez Project, 3BallMTY, Carla Teresa Mauri;
Nighttime host for Saturday, August 31: Angelica Vale
Concert tickets start at just $30.00, and are available now through Ticketmaster.
The presenting sponsor for Festival PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL 2013 is Target and major sponsors include Coca-Cola, Jeep and MundoFox. Official sponsors are Interjet, HBO Latino, Pine Sol, the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau.
About PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL:
PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL was launched in 1996 as a special issue, and today has become the top-selling Hispanic magazine in the United States. Published 11 times a year, PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL's guaranteed circulation is 540,000 and reaches over six million readers every month with its editorial mix of Hispanic and popular entertainment, fashion and beauty trends, and compelling human-interest stories. PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL delivers original editorial content that captures the values, contributions and impact of today's Hispanics in the U.S. PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2011. For daily news, photos, exclusive behind-the-scenes video and celebrity scoops, visit PeopleEnEspanol.com
Ra'Chelle Rogers
Marcee Rondan
818-380-0400, ext. 248
inHOUSE Public Relations
Lisa Andrade
210- 389-9765
Author: Anonym
Categories: Uncategorized


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|Stratford, CT
|High School:
Collegiate Personal Bests:
500 Meter Dash: 1:05.28
600 Meter Run: 1:23.60
800 Meter Run: 1:54.59
1,000 Meter Run: 2:37.12
One Mile Run: 4:31.98
2013 Outdoor Track: Competed at the UMASS Pre-Conference meet in the 800m run where he crossed the finish line in 1:59.79, good for 26th of 37.
2013 Indoor Track: Named First Team All-NEC for his impressive performance at the NEC Indoor Championships in the 4,000m distance medley relay, the team crossed the finish line in 10:15.75 for the victory...Placed eighth at the NEC's in the 500m dash finals with his time of 1:06.72...Claimed second at the Army Crowell Open in the 1,000m run, crossing the line in a career-best 2:37.12...Finished 22nd of 85 in the 500m dash at the Boston University Terrier Invitational on Jan. 26, setting a career-best time of 1:05.28...Also placed 22nd at the New England Indoor Championships, completing the 500m dash in 1:07.02.
2012 Cross Country: Best finish came at the Quinnipiac Invitational on Sept. 15 where he placed seventh with his time of 28:48.40...Finished 48th at the season opener, the Nassaney Men's College 8K, crossing the line fourth for CCSU...Placed 47th at the Ted Owen Invitational on Sept. 22...Completed his season crossing the finish line 71st at the 2012 NEC Championships on Oct. 27.
2012 Outdoor Track: Placed fourth in the 4x800 meter relay at the Northeast Conference Outdoor Championships, team earned a time of 7:49.92...Ran the second leg of the 4x400 meter relay at the NEC Outdoor Championships, team placed sixth with a time of 3:18.74...Team placed 13th in the 4x800 meter relay at the New England Championships with a time of 7:56.16.
2012 Indoor Track: Named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year in 2012 for the 500 meter dash...Awarded All-New England honors for his performance in the 4x800 meter relay...Ran the second leg in the distance medley relay, team placed first with a time of 10:08.25 notching a new meet record at the Northeast Conference Indoor Championships, he also earned All-Northeast Conference honors for the event...Placed third in the distance medley at the Yale Intercollegiate Track Classic with a time of 10:05.43...Ran the first leg of the 4x800 meter relay, team placed fifth with a time of 7:52.46 at the Yale Intercollegiate Track Classic...Finished sixth in the 500 meter dash at the NEC Indoor Championships with a time of 1:07.07...Also placed sixth in the 600 meter run at the University of Connecticut Winter Invitational with a time of 1:23.60.
Before Central: Competed in track & field and cross country at Bunnell High School.


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Retail Operations Manager-Pentagon Row - Store 1398
- Employer
- Ulta Beauty
- Location
- Arlington, VA
- Posted
- Oct 17, 2019
- Closes
- Oct 19, 2019
- Ref
- 416546666
- Function
- Operations / Logistics, Retail Sales Associate, Sales
- Industry
- Retail
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
- Hours
- Full Time
Job Description The Retail Operations Manager (ROM) is responsible for leading through Ulta Beauty''s mission, vision, and values in order to develop a high-performing team that consistently delivers top-line sales growth. The ROM leads a team of task associates, including a key-holding supervisor, and is accountable for all aspects of managing the operations of a retail store, inclusive of inventory-related processes, merchandise resets, visual ad sets, and pricing compliance. This leader drives his/her business through a focus on performance (sales, inventory results, and operational compliance), people (training and development), and process (standard operating procedures). This position requires a passion for operational excellence, a drive for results, and the ability to quickly and efficiently lead through unforeseen complexity. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (*Essential Functions) The ROM is a champion of Ulta Beauty''s mission, vision, and values, and should demonstrate them skillfully and consistently through the following (as well as all other projects/duties as assigned): Performance * Meet or exceed goals related to total store sales, inventory, and operational excellence. * Forecast and adjust payroll to maximize productivity and complete task workload (eg, shipment, planogram, inventory, and ad set processes) on time, and within the payroll budget. * Build a team that embodies the Ulta Beauty brand by delivering exceptional service through the execution of tasks that drive product availability, newness, and the option for a self-navigated shopping experience. * Review and interpret financial and operational reporting regularly, including store visit and audit results. * Identify underperforming metrics and inefficient processes, and develop strategies that leverage company programs, tools, and resources to improve and grow the business. People * Attract, hire, and retain a diverse team of top talent. * Train, coach, and develop associates using company programs, tools, and resources. * Create an environment that inspires and encourages the growth and engagement of associates. * Establish professional vendor partnerships that foster a shared interest in collaboratively delivering on shipment and planogram expectations. * Promote a culture of operational excellence amongst the leadership team by sharing best practices, establishing priorities, and providing support. Process * Be knowledgeable of, and ensure compliance with Ulta Beauty policies, procedures, and standards. * Use the company''s scheduling tool as directed to adjust schedules and manage attendance in-the-moment during manager-on-duty shifts to ensure accurate schedules and reporting. * Use the company''s task management tool as directed to prioritize and execute store workload, including product and marketing resets, pricing updates, inventory related tasks, cleaning, and replenishment. * Protect company assets and minimize loss by ensuring all store standards and operating procedures are met, including workplace safety, inventory control, and loss prevention. * Support continuous improvement by implementing company programs and influencing end-user adoption JOB REQUIREMENTS Education * Bachelor''s degree is preferred Experience * 2-3+ years of fast-paced, retail management, or other relevant work experience * Financial management: success with driving top-line sales, interpreting reporting data, managing payroll budgets, and controlling expense * Retail management: proven ability with monitoring inventory levels, achieving operational excellence, driving a service culture, and executing merchandising directives * Leadership management: experience with attracting, developing, and motivating top talent, swiftly adapting to change and leading others through the change-curve, developing collaborative relationships with others, and leading and influencing Skills * Proficient with basic technology (eg, POS system, Microsoft Office programs, and Apple devices) * Excellent written and verbal communication * Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills * Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks with moving parts * Ability to react under pressure, use good judgment in ambiguous situations, and be flexible/adaptable SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS * Work a flexible, full-time schedule to include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays * Attend offsite meetings (may require overnight travel) WORKING CONDITIONS * Continuous mobility throughout the store on a daily basis * Lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. on a daily basis * Stoop, kneel, and crouch on a daily basis * Climb a ladder and maintain balance on a daily basis *LI-DNP by Jobble


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£152.50 £185.00
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My name is Keith Giles. I love to write so that people can know Jesus and experience His life in their own. So, I started this blog to help people understand who Jesus is, and how He reveals what the Father is really like. This is a safe place to talk about all those questions you've had about the Bible, and Christianity. It's also a place to learn how to put the words of Jesus into practice.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Part 1 of 5
Over the last several years I have been involved in serving the poor here in Orange County, California. During this time I have learned a lot about what to do, and what not to do, when it comes to serving the least and the forgotten.
In the upcoming series of articles I will do my best to provide practical insights and information about what serving the poor looks like. I hope to inspire many of you to step outside your comfort zones and begin to serve the poor in your own community.
Whether you volunteer at a local soup kitchen or if you lead a small group or a church team to go out and minister to the poor I hope you can benefit from these articles and catch a vision for serving others.
I am very excited about this new series of articles. My prayer is that this will inspire many of you to take first steps into an outward expression of God's love for others. I welcome your feedback and your questions as we take a few weeks to explore this subject and wrestle with these ideas.
This series will not be about building a case for the "Why" we serve the poor, instead I will assume that most of you reading this have already come to terms with the overwhelming Biblical evidence regarding God's command to care for the poor and the example of our Lord Jesus towards the sick, the broken and the outcast.
It is my firm belief that, as a follower of Jesus, serving the least and the forgotten in our culture is expected of us. Jesus was our blueprint for living the Kingdom life. His example to us compels us to leave our comfort zones and to seek out the lonely, the forgotten, the least and the lost in our society. Jesus himself made it very clear that those who sincerely love him will be found caring for the hungry, the poor, the lonely and the imprisoned (see Matthew 25).
For more on the Believers Biblical mandate to care for the poor please refer to the numerous Scriptural references (over 2,000) concerning Gods heart for the poor and His expectation of compassion and obedience from us.
So, with the assumption of an understanding regarding our personal calling to serve the poor and to love them as we love Jesus, (and as Jesus has loved us), I will try to share some of what I've learned over the last few years regarding God's heart for the poor and how we can step forward in obedience to care for them.
One of the first things I did when I realized that God was calling me to lead a ministry to the poor, (or Compassion Ministry), was to seek out other leaders who were already caring for the poor around me. There was a church in my neighborhood that hosted a weekly luncheon for the poor in their parking lot. I was also aware that they had started a Men's Shelter and opened a local Thrift Store to fund the ministry. After a few phone calls I got in touch with the pastor in charge of this ministry and took him to lunch.
Over a cheeseburger I took notes and asked a lot of questions. From there I took this pastor's advice and got in touch with the chaplain of our local rescue mission. A meeting with this amazing gentleman proved very insightful and provided further understanding of what poverty in our community looked like and how best to help.
If you feel called to start a ministry to the poor through your church, or small group, or just want to get involved in some way, here's what I recommend:
*Understand that this is a Spiritual Battle - Some of the people you are about to minister to are trapped in the most unbelievable darkness you can possibly imagine. They are bound by drug addictions, sexual perversion, demonic possession, mental illness, physical sickness and more. You will need to recognize that you are not enough. You are perfectly inadequate in every way. You will need the power of the Holy Spirit. You will require a complete dependence upon God for help. You will not last a second without Jesus as your example, friend and constant strength. Pray.
*Don't reinvent the wheel - If there's already a dozen ministries in your area who are serving the homeless there's no point in starting another one. Partner with them and work together.
*Find out what causes poverty in your community - In Orange County there are several non-profit organizations who conduct annual surveys and publish community index reports on everything from education and crime to employment rates and homelessness. A call to your local Rescue Mission and/or the area Salvation Army office can probably put these reports into your hands. Learning what the specific causes of poverty and homelessness in your community are goes a long way to providing
your next step. NOTE: If you live in Orange County, California you can visit www.PovertyInTheOC.com to find more resources and info to help you understand poverty in the OC.
*Become an expert in what causes poverty in your city - Soon you'll be teaching others about the problem, and the solutions. Because I've taken the time to study the causes of poverty in Orange County, I've had numerous invitations from local churches to come and share what I've learned. Part of my personal mission is to help others to see what I see and to catch a vision for serving the poor. This is a great way to do that.
*Piggy-back with others who have more experience and learn from them - When our group wanted to minister to prostitutes we did our best to find others who were experienced in dealing with this issue. When we felt called to minister in motels we partnered with the local Rescue Mission who was already organizing church groups to address the issue. Don't assume you know the needs, or the best methods for helping the poor. Every city is different. Every category of ministry (homeless, elderly,
veterans, prostitutes, drug addicts, battered women, etc.) is unique. Learn before you step out.
*Build a team who can serve with you - Don't start out alone.
Even if it's only one other person, you need to have a partner in this adventure. Pray together. Research the needs and brainstorm your approach to ministry.
*Don't blindly copy what someone else is doing - Every community is different, and I believe we need to begin caring for "our poor" first. The homeless or the low-income family in your area is not the same as the homeless or the poor in San Francisco, or New York or Chicago, etc. Take cues from others, but don't assume you can "cut and paste" what one ministry does into your community and be
*Start close to home - The poor who live within ten miles of you are "your poor" and getting to know them, and understanding their needs and what keeps them in poverty is crucial. Try not to do long distance ministry to the poor. Find ways to be in fellowship with those you are serving.
4 comments:
- Jeremy Myers said...
Thank you for this post.
After reading it, I did about 30 minutes of research online, and found five organizations in my area that I am going to call tomorrow and see how I and my family can get involved.
I look forward to the other posts in this series.
- Kevin said...
Wonderful work, thanks for putting it together. I know blogs can be another one of those painstacking tasks that gets little notice and even less appreciation, much like serving the poor can sometime get. I've been enriched by reading it and am excited to have a roadmap for some practical aspects of getting out of my comfort zone and being biblically and socially relevant.
Thanks Again,
Kevin K.
- Karla said...
I have felt led to serve the poor but did not know where to start. Your post was very helpful. Thank you.
- Unknown said...
Keith, nice teaching, After many years, with the poor, We have learned that there are a few standard ways to deal with problems in society. Most of the time we institutionalize the poor, the criminals, unwed mothers, the list goes on. Ministry can institutionalize, but love won't. If we want to do the right thing, we will invite the poorest of the poor, into our homes, spend time with them make them part of our own life. This is not radical, it is the least we can do. The poor will always be with us, because we can! Love you all, spread the love 13


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July 1972 Selection of Domestic Wine
The Parducci winery is strictly a family enterprise. The original vineyard was planted in 1921 in Cloverdale, California by Adolph Parducci. Adolph built the Ukiah winery in 1931, banking on the fact that Prohibition could not last forever. He was ready to open his doors on Repeal in 1933. Of four sons, two continued the interest in the business. John is the winemaker, and George handles the adminis¬tration.
Flora is a hybrid variety Semillon and Gewuerztraminer grape, devel¬oped by the School of Viticulture at U.C. Davis. The wine has the delicate, soft fruitiness of the Semillon along with the spiciness of the Gewuerztraminer. It has turned out to be quite an outstanding wine. Flowery nose, tremendous fruit, excellent balance of acidity, and clean taste. We recommend this wine be consumed young, since with age, the fruitiness may tend to disappear.
Serve well chilled. Great with seafood, chicken or light dishes. $2.40/fifth
July 1972 Selection of Imported Wine
Italy is one of the major wine producing countries of the world. The majority of Italian wine is consumed within the country. This is true not only of the tremendous amount of everyday table wine, but also of the great wines as the fine Bersano's of the Piedmontese District.
The soft rolling hills east and south of Turin is the site for our selection this month. A Barbera type wine, made from the slow matur¬ing Nebbiolo variety of grape (named after Nebbia, the "mist" because it is gathered late in the year, in the season of fog). The gem-hued velvety red wine produced is often called the giant of Italian wines.
Bersano Barbera Cascina Tranquillo, a rich hearty Barbera from Dr. Bersano's small vineyard. The Italian translation is "Quiet Vineyard". This soft rich wine takes you to the serenity of the Italian countryside. Enjoy it with a leisurely dinner of steaks, roasts, chops, cheeses or spaghetti. Serve at cool room temperature. (Salut)
Scallops in Wine Cream Sauce
Miss Gyl Rheingans, Sanger Winery Association, Sanger
Editor's note: Scallops in a wine-cream sauce, embellished with mushrooms and bacon bits are usually served with (or over) rice.
Defrost scallops, if frozen; cut in half, crosswise, cover with boiling water,simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, drain. Cook bacon until crisp, drain. Return 2 tablespoons bacon drippings to skillet, add butter, onion and green pepper. Cook until vegetables are soft but not brown. Blend in flour. Add broth, cream and liquid from mushrooms; stir until thickened. Add mushrooms, scallops, salt, pepper and wine. Heat to serving temperature. Sprinkle crisp bacon bits and parsley on top.
My choice of wine to accompany this dish: CALIFORNIA JOHANNISBERG RIESLING


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From Charlaine Harris, the bestselling author who created Sookie Stackhouse and her world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, comes a darker locale—populated by more strangers than friends. But then, that's how the locals prefer it...
Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It's a pretty standard dried-up western town.
Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth...
Start reading Midnight Crossroad now »
What could be scarier than the first day of school? How about a crash course in the paranormal from Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner, editors of Games Creatures Play?
Your worst school nightmares—taking that math test you never studied for, finding yourself naked at a school assembly, not knowing which door to enter through—will pale in comparison to these thirteen stories that take academic anxiety to realms you never dared to imagine. You'll need more than an apple to stave off these creatures. Remember your first lesson: Resistance is fruitless!
Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full with the shapeshifter Quinn—a possible new man in her life—and the upcoming vampire summit. With her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans, Vampire Queen Sophie-Anne is vulnerable to those hungry for a takeover. Sookie's job at the summit is to support Sophie-Anne. But she'll soon discover just how dangerous that job can be, as she is drawn further and further into the vampire world.
When a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, Sookie will learn that what passes for the truth is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough...
Features an all-new section of FAQs submitted by fans and a sneak preview of Midnight Crossroad!
Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels and the Harper Connelly Mysteries, and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden present an original graphic novel illustrated by acclaimed comic book artist Don Kramer—first in a brand-new trilogy.
Collect them in order! Here are all the books featuring original artwork by Lisa Desimini. To see other variations of the cover art for the Sookie Stackhouse series, browse through our catalogue.


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Video: PSB M4U 2 noise-canceling headphones
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
Tara W., Crutchfield copywriter, talked to Jeff from PSB about their M4U 2 noise-canceling headphones when he visited Crutchfield.
Read video transcript
PSB M4U 2 noise-canceling headphones
Tara: We're here with Jeff from PSB checking out some of PSB's new headphones. So Jeff, what can you tell us about them?
Jeff: We have the new PSB headphones called the M4U2. These were specifically designed by Paul Barton, who runs PSB and all the loudspeaker designs. And these are our first foray into headphones. They're a higher end type headphone. They are an active noise-canceling headphone, but also can be used for the passive user at home if they have a headphone pre-amp or maybe the batteries die in the headphones while they're on the road they can still use them. And it has another mode as well called "amplified mode" so if there's maybe some strange things going on around you-maybe a lawnmower outside, maybe the kids and you want to boost up the volume a little bit, it has its own amplifier which also helps if you're using a portable device so it won't drain the batteries as quickly on your portable device.
We have two separate cords we include with it. One specifically designed for iOS i devices iPhones that have all the controls and the microphone built in as well as skip, play, pause, and things like that.
And a very cool function we have, particularly for the road warriors and the travelers out there, is a monitor function on the cable which allows you to activate the microphones of the noise canceling function from the outside and pull in the dialogue from someone talking to you in through the earphones so you don't have to take them off your head.
A couple other neat functions about it real quick is we have the ability to plug the cable into either ear cup so depending on where the device is on your body you don't have to have the cable cut across or anything like that. It is a foldable design as you can see and we have a nice travel case that we give you with the product as well as both cables. We have extra ear cups included and the best part is, as many have said here at Crutchfield today, they are extremely comfortable. And of course they sound great, too, so that's the best part.
Tara: Thanks Jeff.
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The governing body of BAYS shall be the Board of Directors (referred to as the Board hereafter) and shall consist of the following:
- President
- First vice-president
- Second vice-president
- Third vice-president
- Fourth vice-president
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Ejection Secretary
- Referees Representative
- Registrar
- Scheduling Manager
- Immediate past President
- U-9/U-10 Boys Administrator
- U-9/U-10 Girls Administrator
- Directors
The President, First, Second, Third, and Fourth vice-presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. They shall be elected for a one-year term and are eligible for reelection.
The President shall appoint a Referees Representative, Scheduling Manager, Registrar, Ejection Secretary and such additional minor officers as the Board deems necessary. These appointments shall be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Board present and voting. Vacancies in any of the officer positions shall be filled by this same procedure.
The number of Directors on the BAYS Board of Directors, for any given year, shall be fixed at the Annual General Meeting, as a preliminary to the election of Officers and Directors.
As a guideline, the authorized number of Directors should be based upon the number of teams registered in BAYS during the previous year, in the ratio of one Director for each 24 teams registered.
At any time, the President may appoint additional Directors, with the concurrence of a majority of the existing board.
The Officers and Directors shall assume their offices and duties immediately upon their election at the Annual General Meeting or following their appointment, and shall continue in office until the conclusion of the next Spring BAYS season, or until replaced. The Treasurer shall use the conclusion of the Spring season as the time for closing of the books for the fiscal year.
By mutual agreement, the President and/or any of the vice-presidents may assume each other's duties and responsibilities during temporary absence of one of these officers.
The duties and responsibilities of the members of the Board shall be as follows:
The President shall officially preside at all general meetings and board meetings; be the official representative of BAYS; be one of those authorized to sign checks; and shall appoint all committee members and chairpersons except as those otherwise provided herein.
The First Vice-President shall succeed to the office and powers of the President in his/her absence, or for the remainder of his/her term if the office is vacated for any reason. In the event of such vacancy, the Board shall elect a successor to the post of First vice-president. The First vice-president shall be the administrator of the Protest Process and shall be the chairperson of the Competition Committee and the chairperson of the Playoff Committee.
The Second Vice-President shall be executive director of Divisions 1 and 2 for U-12 and older age groups, and shall be the chairperson of the Sportsmanship Review Committee. This person shall supervise and assist the Directors of these divisions in the management of their playing divisions.
The Third Vice-President shall be executive director of Divisions 3,4, and 5 for U-12 and older age groups. This person shall supervise and assist the Directors of these divisions in the management of their playing divisions. In addition, this person shall be a member of the Sportsmanship Review Committee and the Competition Committee; shall be the person charged by the Competition Committee with receiving and processing all waiver requests; and shall administer the President's Cup competition.
The Fourth Vice-President shall be executive director of all U-9, U-10, and U-11 soccer divisions. This person shall supervise and assist the Division Directors and U-9/U-10 Administrators in the management of their playing divisions.
The Secretary shall keep detailed minutes of all board and general meetings, attend to record keeping and communications of the Board of Directors, and shall attend to all correspondence pertaining to the general membership.
The U-9/U-10 Boys Administrator and the U-9/U-10 Girls Administrator shall be the executive directors of their respective U-9/U-10 6v6 programs.
The Ejection Secretary shall receive ejection cards (and passcards if division 1 or 2) from referees; notify referee schedulers of players/coaches ineligible for games in their respective area; return passcards to ejected persons; provide a periodic report of ejections to the Board of Directors as requested by the President; and notify the chairperson of the Sportsmanship Review Committee of any ejection reports of a serious nature.
The Referees Representative shall be the official contact between the BAYS Board and the Massachusetts State Referee Committee, and will perform the following: coordinate entry level referee courses; communicate with all BAYS referees; schedule one annual in-service referee clinic in the BAYS area; administer the BAYS Referee Rating Card process; provide the Referee Schedulers with the necessary information to assign referees for the Spring season; and, assemble and distribute the team kits.
The Registrar shall assist sponsoring organizations with any required affiliations; appoint assistant registrars who will process roster forms and passcards requiring specific approval; and submit all required affiliation paperwork and information on a timely basis.
The Scheduling Manager shall draw up the official league schedule with consideration for special constraints (such as field sharing) which are listed on the team application forms.
The Treasurer shall have charge of the finances of BAYS and shall report on the condition of the same at all Board and general meetings; submit a written report at the annual general meeting, covering the prior year's activities; be one of those authorized to sign checks.
The Directors shall have the responsibility and authority for administrating BAYS affairs in specific areas which shall be assigned by the Board. Primarily, each Director shall be in charge of one or more playing sections and divisions. The Directors shall hold the team rosters, maintain the standings, and be the point of contact for any problems arising in scheduling or playing of games.


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To evaluate AC adaptors, engineers must acquire the voltage, current, power, and I/O efficiency of input signals (100 VAC) and DC output signals (12 VDC) in both loaded and unloaded states. There are also cases where two outputs come from one AC signal input. The WT500 Power Analyzer handles these tasks efficiently because it can calculate total efficiency and other parameters under those conditions in a single unit.
You can display the AC voltage, current, and power from the input plus two systems of measured DC voltage, DC current, and power from the output. I/O efficiency ((output power 1 + output power 2) /input power) can also be displayed.
* With no load, current can be a repetitive intermittent signal with widely fluctuating current values resulting in unstable power values. In this case, you can average the data by lengthening the data update rate or by using the Average function. If this does not stop the fluctuation, you can calculate the average power value by measuring mean active power with the Integration function.
Calculation of Average Active Power
Since intermittently-occurring instantaneous power values constantly fluctuate as in the figure above, the displayed value differs at each data update. However, if the repeatedly occurring instantaneous power values are averaged, the average approaches a knowable, constant value that can be confirmed.
Solution Features
WT500 Features


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Stoner sensational
The only run Tobi Stoner gave up on Sunday afternoon went to Indy's leadoff man, Brian Bixler. The solo shot would be the only damage against the Bisons' right hander over his eight innings, leading Buffalo in a 2-1 win.
Six of the Herd's 10 hits were split between Mike Lamb and Jesus Feliciano. With three hits, Feliciano took his average up to .310 on the season. Tim McNab earned his second save in two chances.


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Opinion: North Korea's Ticking Time Bomb
Bret Stephens on North Korea's nuclear test.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... so toward Korea detonated its third ... um atomic bomb this week ... just on the eve of President Obama as state of the Union address ... if you were on Lantus Morris that you would call that ironic ... because the president is scheduled to announce who has been reported ... it is going to announce major cuts ... in the American strategic stockpile well below the low ceiling imposed ... by the new start treaty agreed in two thousand ten ... between ... the United States ... and Russia ... so why is this ironic wise the strange because as the United States is trying to eliminate of large numbers of its own weapons we are in fact moving ... into what has been called ... a second ... nuclear age in the late nineteen nineties of course we welcome to welcome has the right word Pakistan and India ... formally ... into the club in two thousandsix was North Korea ... we may have seen in this North Korean test we don't know yet ... Iran's entry into the nuclear ... club Iran's ... and North Korea cooperated very closely on ballistic missile technology it's not inconceivable ... that they have also been cooperating ... on nuclear technology now some people might ask why ... does the United States need to so many nuclear weapons after all a thousand ... nuclear weapons which is what President Obama is calling for its ... more than enough it would seem to set the world back ... thousand years or so ... but countries like South Korea countries like Japan countries like Saudi reviewed issues like the United ... Arab Emirates ... are looking to the United States and wondering whether Americans can have enough nuclear deterrent power ... that they won't need to develop their own weapons and already were seeing worrying signs ... that a piece in the back of their mind the Koreans than the Saudis and the Japanese ... are thinking about today which they might want to develop ... a nuclear deterrent ... in some ways the United States has a choice between having ... a relatively larger arsenal of its own but to work states that the allies with nuclear weapons ... and having a smaller Arsenal ... but more allies are other states with nuclear weapons ... I think the former option has kept the nuclear peace for very long time ... and it's one ... that this administration in future one should think very carefully about ... before they decide to go ...


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Astonishing care to detail, very high production quality and attractive packaging – These VESPA accessories are ideal as a present – whether to yourself or a friend. All of these products, manufactured by FORME, are officially PIAGGIO licensed Vespa merchandise.
An unusual endless calendar with a vintage motif, a great accessory for your workshop. The day of the week and the month can be adjusted daily on the calendar of high-quality cardboard.
Dimensions: 27 x 37 cm


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Back to Support
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Physics Programs » SIMON/DyMESH
What can I do to get past an "Out of Memory" message?
Q: I am trying to run a very detailed SIMON/DyMESH collision event, but the program stops responding about halfway through, with a message indicating "Out of Memory". What can I do to get past this?
A: HVE is currently a 32-bit application which has a limitation of about 2 GB for the active storage of the event data output. The best workarounds are to slightly increase the Output Time Interval, shorten the event Maximum Time, reduce the polygon mesh density of the vehicles or terrain, or turn off the high resolution Radial Spring Tire Model. Try to limit the amount of data you are handling/recording during the event and your event will run to completion.
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Related entries:
- When I start my HVE or HVE-2D program, I see a message that indcates a license file was not found and I am running in Demo Mode. I am sure I have a license. Why am I getting this message?
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- How do you position a non-moving vehicle in an EDSMAC/EDSMAC4 event without getting an "Event Termination: No Vehicle Velocities Assigned," message when you try to execute the event?
- I need to simulate an accident involving a vehicle with a steerable rear axle. How can I change my selected vehicle to have a steerable rear axle?
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86976/76%Last update: 2013-07-17 01:30
Author: EDC
Revision: 1.0


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By JOCELYN NOVECK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Is Big Bird the new Joe the Plumber?
The "Sesame Street" character, its bright yellow fluffiness suddenly evoked by Mitt Romney during Wednesday's debate, was certainly a star of the evening, garnering a wave of support on social networks and countless affectionate tweets.
But other than that, it was a night of few memorable sound bites and few zingers. Instead, the format made it a more detailed, substantive evening than usual, most analysts said. And though not all were ready to declare a knockout winner, it was clear that a sharp Romney performance had given the candidate a much-needed boost and put a more reserved president somewhat on the defensive – but with two upcoming debates to tweak his technique.
The AP asked a group of experts in political communication and body language for their impressions of the evening:
If practice, practice, practice gets you to Carnegie Hall, it can also help you if you're lagging in the presidential polls.
Romney had participated in 19 debates during the primaries, and all that practice showed, said Jerry Shuster, who teaches political communication at the University of Pittsburgh. "It definitely helped him," Shuster said. "He was comfortable, relaxed. It wasn't a knockout punch, but Romney clearly held his own and showed that he could compete on an even field with the president."
The challenger was also helped by expectations that Obama would be the better debater – expectations eagerly fed by the Romney campaign beforehand. "I think people just assumed Obama would be a lot more skilled, a lot more dynamic than Romney, which wasn't really the case," Shuster said.
In Obama's case, his nonverbal cues were less forceful and convincing than those of the challenger, said one body language expert. If you had turned off the sound, said Lillian Glass, you would have seen a forceful Romney expressing passion and enthusiasm with his gestures and posture, and the incumbent looking less animated, said Glass, who works in Los Angeles coaching both politicians and actors in body language.
The difference was apparent not only when the candidates were talking, but when they were listening, she noted – not an unimportant chunk of time, because most of the time, viewers saw both candidates simultaneously on split screens.
"You could see Obama looking down a lot, pursing his lips," said Glass, author of the upcoming "Body Language Advantage." "He also did not look directly at his opponent, as Romney did."
Why did Obama seem more reserved in general? "My guess is Obama's advisers said, `Don't attack. Not presidential," Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, speculated on Twitter.
For another student of body language, the smile was an important barometer of a candidate's ability to appear warm and authentic, and in this case, Obama came out ahead.
"When he smiled – and maybe it didn't happen enough – that smile lit up Obama's whole face, and appeared very genuine," said Karen Studd, who teaches movement analysis at George Mason University in Virginia. She said his passion was especially apparent when he spoke of his 20th wedding anniversary with wife Michelle.
Romney lost on that point, Studd said. "He smiled a lot, but it didn't look very happy – almost a scowl," she said.
On the whole, though, Romney came out ahead because he projected more clarity, and Obama may have been hurt by his tendency to think for a bit before answering a question, Studd said.
"Obama's style is more impactful, less impulsive," she said.
Usually a debate has a couple good laughs, or at least lines you'll remember a long time – like Sen. Lloyd Bentsen's "Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy" to Dan Quayle in the 1988 vice presidential debate. This debate had hardly any, though Obama did get in a dig at Donald Trump when he said sarcastically that according to Romney, Trump would be a small businessman, adding that Trump wouldn't want to think of himself as a small ANYTHING.
Romney also had a fairly amusing reference to his five sons, saying that made him "used to people saying something that's not always true but just keep on repeating it and ultimately hoping I'll believe it."
If there were few funny lines, there were also no real gaffes, as in Al Gore's distracted sigh or George H.W. Bush's infamous glance at his watch.
But Romney did unwittingly unleash countless laughs across cyberspace when he made his surprise reference to Big Bird, saying to PBS's Jim Lehrer, the moderator, that he would cut the government subsidy to the public broadcasting network – even though he was fond of Big Bird.
One thing was clear from the many thousands of tweets speculating on Big Bird's fate: The yellow creature with the high-pitched voice had become the star of the night, rivaling Joe the Plumber from the 2008 campaign.
For political communications professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson, it was the debate's format, not the body language, that was significant – and heartening. "This debate was substantive and informative," said Jamieson, of the University of Pennsylvania. "The differences between the candidates were clear. It focused a lot of attention on a limited number of areas; learning will be high from this debate."
And while she hesitated to come right out and pick a winner, she noted that Romney had "benefited dramatically from the evening." She added, though, that it's always harder for the incumbent, because there are four years of a record to attack, whereas the incumbent has less to work with.
Jamieson, a veteran analyst of debates, also was pleased with the tone of the night.
"There weren't nasty little asides to score points," she said. "It was an extremely respectful and polite evening."
Unless, of course, you're a big fluffy bird that could be out of a job.


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Computerized Telescopes
Computerized Telescopes for Beginners
The Computerized Telescope allows experienced and non-experienced astronomers alike to easily navigate their way through the night sky. Some of the best computerized telescopes for beginners include:
- Celestron NexStar 8 SE
- Meade ETX 90
- Celestron 130 SLT
The innovation of the computerized telescope helped introduce hundreds of thousands of people to the hobby of astronomy. Now, it's easier than ever for beginners to get started. Tour the great beyond with one of our computerized telescopes for sale today!
Built-In GoTo Telescopes Technology
Many of these models feature GoTo technology built into the mount in order to track and locate objects for you. This makes it easy to observe more celestial objects in one night. This is especially helpful if you are observing from a suburban setting, where light pollution may hinder your ability to see stars. However, there is some initial setup involved - the GoTo system will require you to enter date, time, and location information in order for the mount to begin the alignment process. Once the mount is aligned you are ready to go!
These GoTo telescopes many also have a built-in GPS system to make alignment even easier. With a GPS enhanced telescope, there is no need for lengthy data entry, such as date, time, or location. Your GPS-enhanced telescope will do it all for you! Though these computerized telescopes are savvy on their own, it is important to still fine tune the alignment by centering the stars in the view of your eyepiece.