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Dr Leong Ng discusses the controversial issue of Lyme disease and its suppression by Australian authorities.
LYME DISEASE is older than recorded history.
The Swiss "iceman" Ötzi had it, so it is not inconceivable that most of the world may have had the opportunity to contract it later. DNA studies have confirmed the presence of the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi sensulato, in Ötzi's remains.
Those who believe in the scientifically proven continental drift will certainly understand that Lyme, or Lyme-like disease may have existed with Lake Mungo's Mungo Man.
Was the Mungo Man's arthritis due to Lyme or its equivalent, Lyme-like disease? Perhaps his bony remains may give us some answers. Mungo Man also suggests that authorities who wish to distort or bury the truth are eventually discovered — even 50,000 years later.
One armchair view is published in the not-so-independent Medical Journal of Australia. Another contemporary scientific view exists in The Conversation.
Australian Senate Inquiry
In the United States, Raphael B. Stricker and Lorraine Johnson wrote that the concern for an established international epidemic of Lyme disease is serious and that some form of world leadership is needed using international standards (not Australian standards) to manage the disease and continue its research.
Clinical research into therapies is underway, including the use of innovations like stem cell therapies and hyperthermia. This is echoed in the testimony of Dr Richard Horowitz in the recently concluded Senate Inquiry before the Australian Parliament.
Distantly linked are the recent Senate Inquiry on Medical Complaints Process in Australia and the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry — the common themes being "commercial interests" and "bullying".
In my work within Indigenous health centres nationwide, I have seen enough chronic disease casually ascribed by authorities to the "lifestyle" of Indigenous peoples, without asking deeper questions.
It is possible that many people with chronic diseases – especially Indigenous peoples – may be suffering from a chronic form of Lyme disease, which is denied by "experts".
The mystery of Lyme disease
In medical history, syphilis and tuberculosis enjoyed their past reigns as "kings" of the diseases. This was during the pre-antibiotic era; the first penicillin clinical trials only took place during WWII in the UK.
Therefore, the natural history of these diseases are well known and documented, and living sufferers were medical curiosities for teaching and learning purposes. Wartime London was a gold mine for this and many doctors flocked there from all over the world for their postgraduate studies. These included Australian doctors.
Interestingly, organisms from the same family of "spirochaetes" cause also syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis, yaws and Lyme disease.
Lyme-literate health workers
In the United States, the persecution of Lyme-treating health professionals included that of Dr Raphael (Ray) Stricker who treated celebrity novelist Amy Tan for Lyme disease.
Debate has been intense and has reached the highest authorities.
In Canada, the Lyme Disease Bill 2014 was passed and outlines the number of celebrities who have publicly disclosed their Lyme disease, though criticism by the establishment continues.
Back home in Australia, the Senate Inquiry into Lyme and Lyme-Like Disease, was completed just before the double dissolution and shows hope of some open-mindedness.
Why authorities deny that Lyme disease exists in Australia
One or a combination of several conspiracy theories may hold some truth. These are all linked by financial threads and "conflicts of interest".
- Chronic disease is big business for the medical profession and for the pharmaceutical industry. It affects both specialist groups and general practice. The label itself creates shudders for insurance companies. The notion of curing someone with "chronic Lyme" is compassionate – and heroic – but it needs the proof of science. However, it conflicts with commerce icluding the health professions.
- Indeed, it may be a form of psychological false imprisonment. Those who get "rescued" from chronic disease and who may have the good fortune of not entering into the mental health pathway may actually regroup and bite in a class action.
- The livestock-export industry has always enjoyed premium prices. Possible Lyme-disease carrying, tick-tainted animals would not enjoy that premium in export sales in the future.
Does this denial appear to protect or harm the government?
The real question to ask is this: does recognising and treating Lyme disease incur a greater expense than saving taxpayer dollars by denying it?
Denying the existence of Lyme disease appears to protect the government and its coffers, while not denying it opens up a can of worms if hypotheses are proven.
The absence of evidence for a phenomenon does not truly mean that the phenomenon is absent. On the contrary, it may well exist and flawed arguments are touted to justify its suppression.
On the other hand, false evidence confirms and propagates the notion it is alive, and offers some hope and closure to those who are suffering, with scientific truths being relegated to "pseudo-science".
The evidence generated by the recent Senate Inquiry certainly supports the fact that Lyme disease exists in Australia but is "imported". In my view, the question of whether it is imported or native to Australia would be best determined by starting with Mungo Man.
The jury is out and "experts" who argue that it does not exist in the indigenous form are only closing the door on an important practical question, and stifling research and treatment of this condition. Subtle vested interests may also be playing an important part.
Disclosure: During 2016, Dr Ng spent three months as a consultant physician with Dr Geoff Kemp, a GP who diagnosed and managed Lyme disease in Melbourne prior to the recently completed Senate Inquiry.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License
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subset: commoncrawl


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The chiral anomaly is a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon that has a long history dating back to the late 1960s. Surprisingly, it has recently made a macroscopic appearance in condensed matter physics. A brief introduction to the relevant features of this anomaly is given and it is shown that its appearance in condensed matter systems must involve force-free magnetic fields, which may help explain the long current relaxation times in Dirac and Weyl semimetals.
Canadian Journal of Physics: Published on the web 13 March 2017, 10.1139/cjp
The published version is available here:


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This decent, if not forgettable mystery pleasantly revealed The Mad Hatter as the mastermind, armed with mind-control inducing dolls. Seeing the Hatter again is always a treat even if the use of Mayan costumed goons was a tad unconventional.
Twas fun, though I doubt I will have a hankering to revisit this one anytime soon.
Episode Count: 0591
Series Count: (57 of 81)


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Have You Experienced Deja Vu? What Causes Deja-Vu?
RedElf (Elle Fredine) is a photographer, published author, and educator. Life-long learning is key to adding value to life.
Is Déjà Vu Real?
There are those who claim that déjà vu is a psychic phenomenon, closely related to, or an example of Extra Sensory Perception. There are those who hold up scientific evidence to support their theory of a malfunction in the brain's processing of an experience. Which of these answers is correct - what causes déjà vu?
Many people report having experienced déjà vu. Episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes, and take a variety of forms, from feelings of familiarity in an unfamiliar place - somewhere that person has never been - to a conversation of seconds or minutes in length that is heard in the mind a split second before each word is spoken. Each of these experiences has left the same sense of wonder and mystery in its wake.
According to Scientific American:
"Researchers believe that a memory system that includes the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus mediates conscious recollection whereas a memory system that includes the parahippocampal gyrus and its cortical connections mediates feelings of familiarity. Josef Spatt has recently argued that déjà vu experiences occur when the parahippocampal gyrus and associated areas become temporarily activated in the presence of normal functioning in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. This produces a strong feeling of familiarity but without the experience of conscious recollection."
I've Been Here Before...
Did the person really experience a strange/foreign place in another lifetime or in some kind of astral travel? Some would say, "Yes, absolutely."
Others would say, "Possibly, but there might be another explanation."
Almost everyone, though, would agree that the event was fascinating, whatever its origins.
According to a 1963 study by Robert Efron of Boston's Veterans Hospital:
"Déjà vu is caused by dual neurological processing caused by delayed signals. Efron found that the brain's sorting of incoming signals is done in the temporal lobe of the brain's left hemisphere. However, signals enter the temporal lobe twice before processing, once from each hemisphere of the brain, normally with a slight delay of milliseconds between them. Efron proposed that if the two signals were occasionally not synchronized properly, then they would be processed as two separate experiences, with the second seeming to be a re-living of the first."
Anecdotal Accounts of Déjà Vu
What is Déjà Vu?
Déjà vu translated into English is, literally, "already seen." It refers to the feeling you have been in that place before, or have had that exact conversation before.
People who experienced déjà vu have reported that they absolutely knew what they would see or hear next, and then, that was exactly what happened. Some reported instances of knowing absolutely where to find a room, or an object in a house where they had never been before.
I, like many others, have had numerous experiences of déjà vu over the years. Upwards of 70 percent of people world-wide report having experienced some form of déjà vu. A higher number of such incidents occur in those 15 to 25 years old than in any other age group.
A Psychological View of Déjà vu
Is Déjà Vu a Paranormal Event?
Is time somehow out of joint for these souls? Have they actually traveled to these places? Have they had a moment of clairvoyance? Are they prescient? How best can these curious experiences be explained?
Some researchers into the paranormal would argue that these people have experienced the place or event in a past life perhaps, or in an astral travel, when their soul/spirit temporarily left their body, an event of which they are not consciously unaware. Now, when they re-visit that place, the information stored in their subconscious becomes accessible - the knowledge, impressions, and sensations of their previous visit.
There seems to be no way to predict when such an event will occur in most people. The incidents that are reported seem to have happened with equal frequency during both stressful and perfectly serene times.
Déjà vu, Presque vu, Jamais vu
Information Resources
- Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research, Inc
The Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research, is a non-profit scientific and community society founded in 1977. The organisation promotes research and public education into Parapsychological phenomena.
- Koestler Parapsychology Unit
The Koestler Unit is a section of the psychology department at the University of Edinburgh that focuses on parapsychology research, including paranormal experiences, psychic ability, and the "psychology of anomalous experiences."
- IRAAP: Articles by Loyd Auerbach
IRAAP: International organization of independent researchers of UFOs, bigfoot, crop circles, ancient civilizations, paranormal and the anomalous who communicate and share information with other interested researchers and individuals around the world
I've Heard/Seen This Before...
One of the most common types of déjà vu is the kind wherein time seems to disjoint, or split into two streams. Suddenly, you are hearing the words in your head a split second, or even a syllable before they are spoken. Then, just as suddenly, the flow of time seems to amend itself, and the streams of words/syllables merge into normalcy.
This could be due to a perceptual shift in the brain. Some researchers into perception and learning, particularly into how our brains process information, believe that the input (the hearing and seeing of the event or conversation) somehow gets out of synchronization with the processing of the information (what our brain tells us is happening).
In a normal state, you see the lips form the words, you hear the sounds, and almost instantaneously, your brain translates those sensations, those sights and sounds, into words and meaning.
In the case of déjà vu, there is a glitch somewhere in your perception of the input. A slight lag develops, causing you to perceive the "translation" before your brain tells you that you have actually seen and heard the words being spoken - that is, the translation seems to be happening before the information is received.
Even though it may only last for a few seconds, this is what some researchers feel gives you the unshakable feeling that you have already experienced the event that is unfolding, or that you have had this conversation before.
Interestingly, déjà vu has also been associated with temporal-lobe epilepsy, where it is reported to happen immediately before a seizure. People suffering a seizure of this kind sometimes experience déjà vu during the actual seizure activity or in the moments between convulsions.
Déjà Vu In the Media...
What About Prescience?
Prescience, or "pre-knowing" refers to the idea that a person may have the ability to see into the future in some way - that they may, in fact, know what is about to happen because they have already seen the event in a dream or vision.
Prescience, the least commonly experienced form of déjà vu, can also be explained by the perception/processing glitch, where the information is taken in, but not perceived as coming from your physical senses until after your brain has supplied the information seemingly out of thin air - or some subconscious memory.
Prescience is closely linked to another form of pre-knowing, in which the person has knowledge of a place that can only seemingly be explained by their having been there before. According to Swiss researcher and scholar, Arthur Funkhouser, this is an example of what he refers to as déjà visite, or "already visited," such as the experience related by a friend of mine.
I've Been Here Before...
On his first trip abroad, a graduation gift from his parents, who had never been abroad, my friend and his companions were walking down a street in mainland China. It was mid-summer, and rather hot, and my friend said he was suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling he had been there before.
He informed his companions that around the next corner and three houses down was house with a red door-gate. He gave a detailed description of the gate, of the design on the stone wall, and of a tree with beautiful pink blossoms that overhung the roadway.
As they walked up the street, and turned the corner, they found the house he had just described, exactly three from the corner. Their approach revealed that the only discrepancy between his description and what they found was the tree. It was not in bloom. Upon inquiring of their guide, though, they were told that the tree would indeed have such flowers when it bloomed in the spring.
There would seem to be no reasonable explanation for this event. None of the friends had ever been to China. That particular house was not featured in any of the guidebooks they carried or referred to in planning their trip. Nor could they find any pictures or references on any of the web-sites they had visited in making their preparations.
Déjà Vu - A Personal Anecdote
Less spectacular than my friend's experience, but nonetheless puzzling, was an incident that I experienced during a hospital stay.
About to be released after surgery to remove a thyroid adenoma, an encapsulated thyroid growth, I was standing at the sink in my hospital room, gathering up my personal effects. A nurse had just popped in to ask that I wait to leave until the surgeon could talk to me.
As I glanced up in the mirror, wondering why he might want to talk to me, a voice in my head supplied the answer. Inserted whole into my consciousness, a scenario played out - a radio script in which the surgeon entered, asked me to sit down, and explained he had found cancer. At that point, I laughed at my reflection for being overly dramatic, and continued gathering my things.
Several minutes later, just as I finished packing, my surgeon did enter, and in the exact tones, cadence, and wording of my "imagining" asked me to sit down. He touched my shoulder briefly in reassurance, and began explaining that they had found cancer.
For the next few moments, a sense of unreality prevailed as he repeated every word and gesture I had conjured in the mirror. That internal conversation replayed like an echo in my head, while the surgeon's voice spoke the same words aloud, as if he were reading from the script of my imagining. Finally, his words continued beyond my "script" of the event, and reality returned.
Perception or Paranormal?
Is this event explainable by a perceptual glitch? Possibly.
Could something in the nurse's manner or an unusual request from a busy surgeon have triggered a leap to the unwelcome but probable conclusion? We do tend to think the worst in such circumstances.
It is possible that the wording my imagination supplied during my internal conversation in front of the mirror was exactly the wording most commonly used to reassure patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer - possible, but a bit of a stretch.
It is also conceivable that the shock of hearing the word "cancer" could have triggered a perceptual glitch.
The concept of a glitch in perception that affects an event in progress is certainly plausible. It becomes more difficult to apply that theory where exact information has become somehow available in the brain several measurable minutes before the event occurs - such as in the time between my imaginary conversation, and the real conversation with the surgeon.
A perceptual glitch does not adequately explain this event, nor the case of my friend. How was either of our brains able to provide exact information, right down to color, texture, and in my case the exact wording and tone of voice, so far in advance of the actual event?
Once thought to have been caused by the brain making false memories, research by Akira O'Connor at the University of St Andrews, UK, and his team now suggests this is wrong.
As quoted in an article by Jessica Hamzelou:
"His team used MRI to scan the brains of 21 volunteers while they experienced this triggered déjà vu. We might expect that areas of the brain involved in memories, such as the hippocampus, would be active during this phenomenon, but this wasn't the case. O'Connor's team found that the frontal areas of the brain that are involved in decision making were active instead."
While certainly attractive to those who prefer a tidy and reasonable scientific explanation, the perceptual glitch theory has yet to be embraced as a viable cause in every reported case of deja vu, leaving the way open for other less scientific, but nonetheless fascinating theories.
One thing almost all the scientific research agrees on, is that déjà vu appears to happen when two parts of the brain that normally do not "talk to each other' or are not activated at the same time, are suddenly activated - in contact.
But science still has a long way to go, and there ares till more thigns under heaven and earth... and, as the imaginative film writers suggest below - what if it's really aliens?
- Alcock, James. "Déjà Vu", in The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal edited by Gordon Stein (Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 1996)
- Parapsychology: Research on Exceptional Experiences edited by Jane Henry (Routledge, London 2005)
- The Psychology of Déjà Vu by Dr. Vernon Neppe. (Witwatersrand University Press, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1983)
- Three Types of Déjà Vu by Arthur Funkhouser, Ph.D. (Scientific and Medical Network Review, 57:20 - 22, 1995) University of Manitoba
Web Sites:
- Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute (pni.org)
- Body Mind Spirit Directory (bodymindspiritdirectory.org)
Paranormal Studies and Investigations Canada (psican.org)
Comment and Link from Fellow Hubber Sambo Rambo
Check out this article from SamboRambo - another interesting take on the deja-vu phenomenon.
SamboRambo 3 days ago
Great hub! I've had deja-vu's, and maintained a reflective focus during them. But one time I had an outright preview, like you did, which elicited a different reaction. This was not a deja-vu, because I was so amazed, seeing everything happen word-for-word, action-for-action, that all I could do was laugh (as described in the hub).
Sometimes our "gifts" come more to the fore than on most other occasions. One of those gifts is probably clairvoyance. Perhaps I "received" the plans and thoughts of the woman who was planning this clever "trap." The same with you: Your doctor may have been planning - down to the moves - how to break the information to you.
Déjà Vu - As Only Monty Python Could Express It...
© 2011 RedElf
RedElf (author) from Canada on June 24, 2018:
I've read some fascinating articles about the causes - the primary one being a temporary disconnect that makes us seem to be remembering what's actually happening in the present. The theory mostly works, but I still feel there's something else going on.
Mari S Adkins from Lexington on June 21, 2018:
Ha ha. I came down to the comments to post almost exactly what Alem posted. Add to that, I've had deja-vu experiences for as long as I can remember, most if not all of them based on precognitive dreams. (maybe the rest are aliens?) The longest I've gone, that I know of, between dream and reality (?) is almost three years.
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 18, 2018:
That's interesting - I will have to look into that. I had come across the multi-verse theory, but hadn't considered the Matrix. Thanks, Adam.
Alem Belton from New York on October 04, 2017:
I was wondering if I would see "glitch in The Matrix" in here. I did not, but I still enjoyed the read. Many people believe that we may all be in a computer simulation just as the aforementioned movie suggests. Within this theory, Deja Vu would be a glitch in the simulation. Also, some scientist believes there may be alternate parallel universes or "multiverses" similar own. This may connect with the astral theory.
RedElf (author) from Canada on September 23, 2012:
Thanks so much, Laurinzo, and thanks for the sharing. Deja Vu is such an interesting phenomenon. I wonder if it's one of those things we will ever figure out.
LJ Scott from Phoenix, Az. on September 21, 2012:
Very fascinating hub Redelf; I have certainly been experiencing many of these things for years; especially in dreams. I really liked reading this hub, and definitely going to share it with some others.
RedElf (author) from Canada on March 24, 2012:
Isn't it fascinating, how many have experienced this phenomenon! It really makes me wonder sometimes how we can receive such information.
Linda Rogers from Minnesota on March 22, 2012:
Incredibly fascinating hub RedElf and I really liked that you gave us true life experiences of it. I've had many deja vu moments in my life and have even experienced them with my twin sister. We both knew of a place our mother brought us many years ago. We told mom that in the back of this furniture store there use to be a movie theater which turned out to be true after talking to the owner.
RedElf (author) from Canada on February 23, 2012:
Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Lucifer. It's always interesting to hear how many have experiences of deja vu.
Lucifer999 on February 23, 2012:
I also once had such an exp.....
One day i was sitting wid my frnds discussing bout my exams just wen my friend told me bout the imp ques i felt that he had already told me the same thing . I told him that i'm having a déjà vu and a girl is going to fall within a min. The same thing hppnd exactly as i told.
RedElf (author) from Canada on December 31, 2011:
Thanks so much, David. I have always been interested in the science of perception, and in how we learn and retrieve information. There are so many things about our wonderful brains we just don't understand. I find anything to do with perception, as well as extra sensory perception, is fascinating to research.
David Legg 7 from Trout Paradise, Colorado on December 30, 2011:
That is a fascinating hub. I learned some new things that I had neer heard before, particularly about the age range where this is most likely to happen, and the perceptual issues in the brain, and I really appreciate that you took the time to bring together such a well researched presentation on the topic. Thank you so much!
RedElf (author) from Canada on November 30, 2011:
Glad you enjoyed the article, chris. I'm not sure what to tell you. I do believe we should pay attention to our dreams, though, especially if dreams are recurring. Good luck sorting it out.
910chris from North Carolina on November 29, 2011:
Wow, very good read. I have experianced Deja Vu before, but I have noticed that it has been increasing over the last 10 months. It used to be a once every six months type of thing, but lately it has almost become a once a week where it seemed like it always came from dreams I had almost 7-10 years ago. I keep a sleep journel and I have found more than a dozen of my Deja Vu's in my journal. I wish I knew what was going on.
RedElf (author) from Canada on June 15, 2011:
Glad you enjoyed the hub, ruffridyer.
ruffridyer from Dayton, ohio on June 14, 2011:
A friend of mine went to the Deja Vu strip club on his birthday. When I asked how it was he said,"I felt like I'd been there before." haha. An interesting hub.
RedElf (author) from Canada on June 01, 2011:
I have always been interested in deja vu - it is a fascinating area of study. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Karanda!
Karen Wilton from Australia on June 01, 2011:
Fascinating subject and most informative Hub. I experience Deja Vu on a regular basis and it is usually followed by some sort of pleasant event whereas my husband cringes when he gets the sensation as it has always been associated with something tragic following. Who knows?
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 23, 2011:
No worries, SamboRambo - I have snipped out your earlier comment and included it in my hub with a proper link - thanks bunches!
Samuel E. Richardson from Salt Lake City, Utah on April 22, 2011:
sorry, RedElf; I shouldn't have put a "period" after my link. It messes up the system. When you get to the page with the error message, just go to the url window, delete the period, and you'll get there.
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 21, 2011:
That's certainly an interesting take on the event. I have never been 100% sure what exactly caused it to happen, but I must admit to a similar reaction. I must go and read your article now! Thanks so much for commenting.
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 04, 2011:
Thanks so much for stopping by to comment, immortalcoach. Yours is an interesting theory ;D
Thanks so much, Angie Jardine. I find both theories fascinating. Not sure which is most appealing, but both are certainly interesting.
Angie Jardine from Cornwall, land of the eternally youthful mind ... on April 04, 2011:
Thanks for this excellent hub, Red Elf. As everyone else has already pointed out deja vu is an interesting phenomena and anything to do with the mind interests me greatly. Current research is always fascinating even if it is not so exciting as the past life theory...
All the best ...
immortalcoach on April 02, 2011:
As immortals we are co-creating situations, circumstances and events that seem deja~vuie, but really all we are doing is reconnecting with energy that we know and that feels good. Remember what we all want is to feel good. Watch the more you feel good the more you attract things that are deja~vuie. Thanks for a great hub.
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 02, 2011:
Thanks so much, Seeker7! I agree, we have so much more to learn about such things.
viveresperando, thanks so much for stopping by to comment.
viveresperando from A Place Where Nothing Is Real on April 02, 2011:
very interesting, love reading about this topic
Helen Murphy Howell from Fife, Scotland on April 02, 2011:
Fantastic hub. This is one of the subjects that I never get tired of learning more about. I do agree that the scientific theories may cover some examples of deja vu but definitely not all. Really enjoyed this excellent hub.
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 01, 2011:
I felt a similar sense of eeriness at the deja vu experience I have had. It was an intriguing yet unsettling experience. I have always been fascinated to learn more about how deja vu happens.
William F Torpey from South Valley Stream, N.Y. on April 01, 2011:
I've had several deja vu experiences in my life, RedElf, so I found this very interesting. Invariably, these experiences came upon me during a conversation in which I felt certain that the identical experience had occurred before. It was very eerie.
RedElf (author) from Canada on April 01, 2011:
mslizzee, you are so right. There is so much we do not yet understand about our physical world, let alone the world of unseen things.
Sun Pen 50, I, too, am sure that more people would share their experiences in that case. Thanks for stopping by to comment.
Thanks so much for the rate-up and everything, Gals! Deja vu is such an interesting area of exploration, and I must admit I have been fascinated for years!
Friend Hh, I have always had a tendency to kick over the anthill to see what happens :D Sometimes that gets me into trouble, but it often leads to some interesting finds, too.
Hello, hello, from London, UK on April 01, 2011:
There are some unusual happenings and things in this world and I would never challenge them. Being a coward, I leave them well alone.
Susan Hazelton from Northern New York on March 31, 2011:
RedElf, there are so many things that happen that are unexplained. I have had the feeling of Deja Vu. I think it happens to most if not all of us.
I've occassionally had the feeling, when meeting someone for the first time, that I have known them before.
The concept is fascinating. I enjoyed reading your article, and find your possible explinations to be pretty close to what I believe.
Wonderful job. Rated up, awesome, bookmarked, and shared, I know several people who are interested in this subject.
Sun Pen 50 from Srilanka on March 31, 2011:
I think a lot more people than we think have Deja vu experiences in various levels of intensity or clarity and duration. But many ignore or forget these. If this phenomenon is recognized as a common natural thing people will come out with their experiences. Great info and great hub. Thanks for sharing.
elizabeth from Buncombe County, NC on March 31, 2011:
There are things that go on that defy explanation. The longer you live I suppose the more ood incidents you experience. I've had a few that were so odd and wherein I knew exactly what was going to happen in the next few seconds. Interesting.
RedElf (author) from Canada on March 30, 2011:
You are most welcome, Jangaplanet. It is an interesting subject, that's for sure.
Jplanet on March 30, 2011:
This is very interesting info. I always loved reading paranormal books or watching documanaries on the subject.
I have had many of these so called Deja Vu experiences and always let the experience pass me by without any thought to what it means. Though lately i have become much more curious into what truly causes this. Thanks for sharing this...


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We don't come across modified M3 convertibles very often, as the tuning crowd tends to gravitate toward fixed-roof cars. Neither do we see many M3 convertibles in the Northeast, which makes Nick DeClemente's E46 M3 convertible a doubly rare sight. Even if it weren't rare, DeClemente's drop-top M3 would be distinctive: It not only has the usual complement of go-faster parts, it also has some unique styling mods that separate it further from the herd.
When DeClemente decided to lease a new BMW at the end of 2006, the last year of E46 production, he had his heart set on a black E46 M3 coupe but had to settle for a convertible instead.
"I really wanted a coupe more than a convertible, but I couldn't find a black coupe anywhere that was new," says DeClemente. "The M3 convertible was one of the last that were available, as there weren't many around at that time. I had to pick it up in New Hampshire, so I got a one-way rental from Hertz and drove up to Nashua to get it."
DeClemente used the M3 as his daily driver for the entire 28-month lease period, logging around 30,000 miles that included commuting into New York City from his home in Westchester County. He'd planned to return the M3 when the lease ended in April 2009…until he was given an offer he couldn't refuse.
"The dealer ended up giving me an insane deal to buy the M3, and I had been bitten by the convertible bug after driving it for a couple of years," he says.
The car had remained virtually stock but for a muffler replacement throughout the lease period, but once DeClemente owned the car he began to plan some simple upgrades. As so often happens, those simple upgrades turned into a much more substantial makeover.
"At first I swore that I would only do bolt-on upgrades like wheels, full exhaust and headers," he says.
Start simply, if extravagantly
He did indeed start with wheels, but not just any wheels would do.
"The first thing I got were the 360 Forged wheels," says DeClemente. "I had only seen one other set like them, and when I called the company right after I bought the car they told me the wheels were twelve grand. I negotiated the price down so that they were a lot less than that, and they built them as a one-off set for the M3."
The three-piece wheels are produced and hand-assembled at the 360 Forged facilities in Miami. Measuring 9.5 × 19 inches front and 10.5 × 19 inches at the rear and shod with sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (245/35-19 front, 275/30-19 rear), the 360 Forged wheels look quite striking in carbon fiber and aluminum, but they don't leap out as wildly ostentatious to the casual observer.
Once the wheels were on the M3, the more extensive work began.
"By that time, I had started to do some car shows and wanted to make the M3 something unique," he says. "I grew up around guys who were more old school car guys, where form needs to follow function. I wanted to put the M3 together in a way that was maybe a little old school, that's very sorted with a specific and consistent approach. Right now, car culture is so over the top, but I wanted the M3 to be a very drivable and usable car. I wanted it to be a car that you can go out and drive hard without worrying about it."
After the wheels, the suspension was first in line for upgrades. Handling was improved with a Bilstein PSS10 coilover kit with ten settings for compression and rebound damping. The car was also fitted with a Rogue Engineering front anti-roll bar that measures 31mm instead of the stock 26mm, Rogue camber plates and stiffer front control arm/rear trailing arm bushings.
Next, the exhaust system was replaced with an entirely new and less restrictive system, though it took some trial and error.
"I went through a few different exhaust iterations to get it right," says DeClemente. "Right now, it has BimmerWorld headers with jet-hot coating, Rogue Engineering first and second sections and a Dinan rear section. The Dinan rear section is loud, but it's not super-obnoxious and doesn't drone."
The Rogue pipe is designed to get rid of the E46 M3's trademark raspy exhaust sound, as well, so DeClemente's car neither drones nor rasps.
To upgrade the brakes, DeClemente went with a big-brake kit from WP Pro that uses eight-piston front calipers up front and six-piston calipers at the rear, all made from T6061 forged alloy, with 360mm drilled two-piece rotors on all four corners. WP Pro also worked with DeClemente to paint his calipers in a color that will be appreciated by BMW fans.
"By total chance I found WP Pro, who used to make OEM parts for other companies, and they said if I put their brakes on my car they would give me a good deal," says DeClemente. "The calipers were originally going to come in an amber gold color and were anodized, but I was concerned that anodized calipers wouldn't last in New York with salt on the roads. I saw a 2002 in Inka Orange in a magazine and liked the way it looked, so I decided on orange for the calipers. I like that it keeps the color in the BMW family and is kind of a throwback color."
Supercharge for speed
The S54 six-cylinder has proven amenable to performance upgrades over the years, and DeClemente wasn't afraid to do a bit of work under the hood. In 2010, DeClemente bought a Race Marque Systems (RMS) Stage 2 supercharger, which uses a Vortech V2 Si trim blower, then waited two years to put it on.
"I was hemming and hawing," he says. "I did a lot of research and talked to probably two dozen mechanics about it. I worked as a mechanic when I was in college for an old-school European car mechanic, so I was really sensitive to the level of work that was involved. I didn't have a garage at the time, and I'd never done a supercharger kit before; in that tight space, you really need to know what you're doing. I looked around and finally ended up taking it to Rogue Engineering in New Jersey to get it installed."
The RMS kit features an air-to-liquid aftercooler manifold that allows the intake air to be charged even while the car is sitting still, so the car will be more responsive as soon as you get back on the throttle; the kit also features a front-mounted heat exchanger. A heavy-duty bracket made of aircraft-quality aluminum plate mounts the supercharger to the engine to reduce flexing.
Other upgrades to support the supercharger include Bosch 50 lb/hr injectors, a Bosch high-flow fuel pump and eight-rib supercharger and crank pulleys. The intake manifold is painted in the same Inka Orange as the brake calipers, set off nicely by a carbon fiber valve cover from Bimmian.
Engine management is done on the factory ECU, and the end result is 444 hp (at the rear wheels) at 7,500 rpm and 337 lb-ft of torque at 6,200 rpm, which is up substantially from the 333 hp/262 lb-ft of the stock E46 M3 (measured at the crank, prior to the 15% parasitic loss through the drivetrain). To handle the increased power, the car uses a heavy-duty differential gear set whose 4.10:1 ratio in place of the stock 3.62 also improves acceleration.
Subtle and stylish
DeClemente's car still wears its original Jet Black paint, now touched up with black kidney grilles and side vents, upgraded lighting and a carbon fiber exhaust surround. In the cockpit, Inka Orange stitching on the seats, doors, armrest and shifter boot echoes the Inka Orange of the brakes and intake manifold. It wasn't an easy swap: Every stitch was removed and replaced by hand.
Other nice touches include a fat AutoCarbon steering wheel of carbon fiber, leather and Alcantara along with carbon fiber SMG paddles. A custom rear view mirror displays information like supercharger boost and oil pressure. The stereo system was also completely upgraded, the components in the custom finished trunk painted in Inka Orange by T.S.B. in Glen Head, New York.
At first glance, DeClemente's M3 doesn't look much different from stock, but the more you look at it the more you notice all the upgrades and the details. In my opinion, this is the best approach to take with a tuner car, retaining a more or less stock look and character while making meaningful improvements where it counts.
There's no question when you put your foot into the throttle that this car has 100 hp more than the stock M3. It pulls hard and strong, with boost coming on at around 3,800 rpm and great sounds from the exhaust. The handling is buttoned down, but it doesn't deliver a jarring or uncomfortable ride. It took some fine-tuning to get the car where it is today; a retuning by Technica Motorsports in Atlanta has made the car run more smoothly while making it easier to drive in traffic with the SMG transmission, which has held up well with the power increase.
It's clear from a walk-around that DeClemente reached his goal of making the M3 more distinctive. Driving it demonstrates that he also raised the performance level substantially while retaining levels of comfort and usability that make it so nice to drive.
He no longer uses it for commuting but still drives it often enough to have put on more than 20,000 additional miles over the last few years. Some of those miles have been accumulated driving to car shows, and the M3 has won a few awards. DeClemente still has a short to-do list for the car, with a carbon fiber CSL trunk lid and a new paint job possible in the near future, as well as new rod bearings and bolts that will allow the supercharged engine to rev a little higher. All of that would fit in well with what he's done already, but this M3 is fine as-is, too. Well done!


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Corporate training is not for individuals any longer: The entire organization learns and qualifies with in-company training. Team managers create courses to distribute throughout the company. Here are 5 tips for an effective knowledge exchange in a learning organization.
Most of us have difficulties in providing information to the team effectively. Capturing knowledge takes time and always gets postponed to another time. If there are problems or changes however, everyone needs the information quickly and there is no choice but to lean in, explain the details, monitor results and give feedback individually. All of this can be done efficiently nowadays, so employees can gather the information independently in a moment of need. Online training software helps creating courses efficiently and qualifies the team on-demand. Why do many managers hesitate to implement online training for their teams? Basically, 3 prerequisites need to be fulfilled for managers to pass on information conveniently and achieve effective knowledge exchange in a learning organization:
If knowledge is captured easily, it is more likely for a trainer to do this regularly. Many companies choose a platform where material is converted automatically into a course structure. Luckily, technology gets easier every day. Today, everyone can make a movie or create a website. Also, everyone can be a "trainer", without having to stand in front of a class or learn how to handle specific software. By converting a PowerPoint presentation, a lot of effort is reduced, as the software automatically turns the material into a course. Not a complete course, you still want to add video, questions, and of course the participants and maybe co-trainers. But you have an efficient start with the relevant information and quickly transform it into an interactive learning environment, where results can be measured as well.
This article was first published at eLearning Industry, one of the world's leading eLearning networks.
Would you like to know more about the multilingual LMS and its features?
Schedule an appointment with us for a live demo with one of our product consultants. We are happy to show you how you can use Coursepath to create your own online trainings and set up a full fledged academy.
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HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Salisbury University men's soccer team played Penn State University-Harrisburg to a 0-0 tie on Saturday afternoon in Capital Athletic Conference action.
The first half was a defensive battle, with the two teams combining for just five total shots, none of which were on goal. The Lions (12-1-1, 0-1-1 CAC) held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks but were unable to generate any shots off the corners.
Robbie Budd recorded the first shot on goal for either team in the 56th minute, but it went straight into the hands of Penn State Harrisburg goalkeeper Nicholas Guglielmetti.
The Lions had their first opportunity at goal in the 62nd minute off an Ethan Hoover header following a corner kick, but Salisbury goalkeeper Trevor Brookhart was there to corral Hoover's header.
Matt Hawkins had a chance to put the Sea Gulls (8-1-2, 1-0-1 CAC) on the board with just over four minutes remaining in regulation, but his one-timer following a sequence of passes was turned away by Guglielmetti, sending the match to overtime.
Salisbury finished regulation with 10 shots, half of which came on frame, while the Lions recorded six shots, with two coming on goal.
Josh Woozley attempted the only two shots in the first overtime period for the Sea Gulls, but both were saved by Guglielmetti. The Lions were able to get off just one shot, with Hoover's attempt getting blocked.
Despite playing down a man for the final 6:21 due to a red card, Penn State Harrisburg outshot Salisbury 2-1 in the second overtime period, though neither team was able to convert.
The Salisbury defense, led by Trent Hofmeister, Alex Eiben, and Alton Walker, limited the Lions' offense, which came into the game averaging 3.46 goals and 15.8 shots per game, to just nine total shots and three on goal. Brookhart saved all three shots that came his way to record his seventh shutout of the season.
Salisbury returns home to face St. Mary's College of Maryland on Wednesday, October 10 for the first of three straight home matches. The Sea Gulls and Seahawks are scheduled to begin play at 4 p.m.


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LA Phenom Yasiel Puig Signing Autographs (Video)
The 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers season can easily be classified as two distinct and very different episodes, "The Pre Yasiel Puig Era" and "The Yasiel Puig Era." Coming into LA's June 3rd game, with the San Diego Padres, Hollywood's high priced roster had posted a rather underwhelming record of 23-32. 70 games later, the Dodgers now find themselves atop the National league West, after going 50-20, during this 2.5-month stretch of lightening hot baseball. Amazingly, LA has captured 43 of their last 55 ballgames (entering Wednesday).
The Dodgers remarkable resurgence is credited to the dual arrival of Puig and their very talented shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Since June 3, Puig is hitting .352, with 12 HR and 28 RBI, while Ramirez (made season debut on June 4) has posted a .346 BA, with 12 HR and 39 RBI. Ramirez's bat, along with Puig's five-tool burst of energy, simultaneously woke up what had been a dormant, uninspired team.
While Puig's exuberance has led him to make some downright dumb throwing and base running decisions, overall, his impact on LA baseball has been nothing less than monumental. Very rarely has a player lit such an immediate fuse under a franchise, particularly an organization with as many big personalities as the Dodgers. Not bad for a 22-year-old, who defected from Cuba less than two years ago.
With a seven-year/$42 million contract in hand, Puig has quickly embraced the opportunities that come with being famous in America, particularly in Los Angeles. Whether it be hanging with Snoop Lion at the Playboy Mansion, or rolling with LeBron James at a Miami club, the native of Cienfuegos, Cuba has quickly become one of the most talked about athletes in sports. Tuesday's benching, fine and subsequent go-ahead homerun became the latest example of Puig's dynamic way of doing things. What a show this guy has become!
Above is original video of Puig signing autographs (submitted by a tipster), during a mid-June off day in San Diego. Though his English is rather limited, the phenom has repeatedly found the time to mix it up with his many fans, despite what can be described as a somewhat surly relationship with the media. On this day, the effervescent Puig could not have been a cooler customer.


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Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, Palace Resorts' signature property, is the entertainment and family-friendly hub of sunny Cancun. The AAA Four Diamond property recently went through a $100 million renovation that included a Flowrider ® double-wave simulator; The Playroom with multiple rooms for the little guests (an Xbox room, mini runway and spa, etc.); a teens' lounge dubbed Wired; renovated restaurants, and so much more! When it comes to parents, the hotel's 14 restaurants, 11 bars and lounges, and year-round world-class acts like Usher, REO Speedwagon and Kansas are ideal!
But, the best part is that guests who book five nights or more, always get $1,500 resort credit that can be used for spa treatments, special dinners, tours outside of the property, golf, and numerous other activities. The hotel is currently offering a Kids Stay Free Promotion, too. This promotion is valid for children under 12 years of age and for travel between June 1, 2015 and August 31, 2015. During that time, kids stay, eat, and play for free! How can you go wrong?
Ready to take a closer look at this amazing resort in world-famous Cancun? Then take a look at these 10 stunning pictures!
1. Check the View
As you can see, the Moon Palace Golf & Spa resort offers everything you'd expect from a world-class Cancun resort.
2. Enter Form the Front
For a hint as to how luxurious your stay will be, just take a peep at the resort's grand lobby.
3. Hang Ten
One of the coolest additions that the resort has made recently is the Flowrider wave simulator, where you can learn how to surf!
4. Kid Stuff
Even a grown adult might be tempted to spend sometime in the Kid's Club, which offers plenty in the way of entertainment!
5. For The Little Ones
The Kid's Club also features an amazing outdoor space, where the little ones in your party will enjoy playing in the Cancun sun.
6. Sample the Cuisine
The environment of MoMo, one of the resort's signature eateries, is every bit as delicious as the cuisine it serves.
7. A Comfortable Lounge
For a few appetizers and more than a few cocktails, you'll want to head over to the Sky Bar.
8. Boogie Down
If you come with just your special someone, or get manage to escape the kids, you'll definitely want to check out the Noir nightclub!
9. Get the Villa
If you're for accommodations that offer plenty of space for your family and an incredible view, check out the Grand Villas.
10. Stay Like a King
When it comes to luxury accommodations at this already amazing resort, you can't do better than the resplendent King's Suites!


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international blog - send us links + info + comments to : email@example.com
There IS a way we can collectively fight back against environmentally destructive multinational corporations. A coordinated global general strike and boycott, combined with personal preparedness, in sufficient numbers, can cause a great deal of economic disruption. The best tactic? Non-participation. A multi pronged strategy will be most effective:
1. BOYCOTT: All corporate products, beginning with Coke, McDonalds, ADM, and Monsanto. Reduce to eliminate your consumption of gasoline. You can start this now. Lawsuits: The more of their resources are devoted to circular legal action, which is expensive, the more is taken out of their budget without producing anything. File lawsuits of every kind (class action, environmental damage, labor rights).
2. STRIKE: The first week of July 2011. Take your vacation time, sick leave, organize your union to strike at this time. Spend time with family at home! The main thing is: DON'T BUY ANYTHING FOR ONE WEEK. Continue as long as possible, buy the gasoline you will need for a week at least.
3. PREPARE: Learn what wild foods are available to you, identify them, and eat them. Start a garden, organize within your community to become as food self sufficient as possible. Store durable food a little at a time so you have a large supply by July. Plan many crops that will begin to bear by the first week of July.
A permanent boycott will cause price disruption and stock deflation. A coordinated strike will cause specific timed disruption of currency movement (ie it's not coming out of your pocket, and you are not causing any more to be moved or produced), and preparedness to become independent permanently from key industries (industrial agriculture).
The only way to level the playing field with 'the powers that be' is to take their money and make it valueless. Complete abundance causes a market economy to crash! When you have everything you need, what do you need money for? THEY HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS WE BELIEVE IN THEIR MONEY.
Together we can take one more step to bringing the machine to it's knees! Grow your own food! Stop giving them money!
Posted by email@example.com at 9:36 AM
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[Sad] [Dark]
Author: Present Perfect
Description: After a terrible accident in the Everfree Forest, Twilight and company must face life without their shiest friend. But when a mysterious message arrives from Zecora, offering them hope of seeing her again, just what consequences await their attempts to bring her back from the dead?
Fluttershy Goes to Hell
Additional Tags: salamander, funeral, loss, demonic possession, Season 1


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Our Masters students are around mid-way through their placements and here's a visual update from Jessica, who's working at Pandora Germany for the next three months, and Sarah, who's on placement at German cashmere label Henry Christ.
We love Pandora's branding, which is strongly influenced by both its Danish roots and Thai designs. From these photos, it's clear to see that this translates not only to the jewellery, packaging, and retail spaces, but also to their office environment.
The brand Henry Christ is also a very interesting one, where the founders and designers were part of the German TV production, Fashion Hero. Today, only five years after the foundation of the company, their products are available in 17 countries worldwide! Like Pandora, their strong visual identity is evident in the pictures above where their logo, garments, retail and office space are shown.


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Statement on the vandalism of Labulabo Catholic Chapel
AS the leader of all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cotabato I totally codemn the religious vandalism of the Labulabo Catholic Chapel in Shariff Aguak.
This criminal act is an abhorrent desecration of a place of Catholic worship. Religious statues were maliciously destroyed. They were meant to honor Jesus, Mary his mother and San Isidro. Jesus is a great prophet in Islamic belief as well as Lord n Savior in Christian doctrine. The joly Qur'an hold s Mary or Miryam as the most unique of all mothers. San Isidro, one the great holy heroes of the Catholic faith, is the patron Sain of Labulabo Catholics. The destruction of their statues is gravely disrespectful of Catholic beliefs….
Such a crime is most disturbing and provocative. Has the ISIS ideology of destructive religious hatred and intolerance penetrated once peaceful rural areas? Is it an attempt to destroy the harmonious relationships between Muslims and Christians? Is this crime trying to revive the old "Blackshirt-Ilaga" religious war?…
Hoping against hope I pray that this is not so.
I urge our fellow citizens, government officials, and partners in the Bangsamoro peace process to help our security forces to ferret out the individual or group responsible for this heinous sacrilegious crime….
I encourage religious leaders of different faiths to condem any abuse of our respective religions of peace and prevent religious bigotry, hostility snd conflict.
I enjoin our Catholic faithful, Laity, Religious Sisters and Brothers and our Priests to be always alert to the ongoing threats of violent extremism.
Be calm. Despite provocation, follow the Lord's injunction of peace and not revenge….
May the Almighty and Compassionate God protect and bless us and direct our steps to the path of peace. May Mother, the Queen of Peace, be our constant and daily intercessor.
My prayers for everyone, God bless.
+Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop of Cotabato


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Performances run through Sept. 21.
Directed by Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), the cast includes Megan Byrne as Wall, Tony Award nominee Peter Friedman (Ragtime) as Meckel, Frank Harts (A Raisin in the Sun) as Gabe, Marcia Jean Kurtz (Olive and the Bitter Herbs) as Hetchman's Wife, David Margulies (Wonderful Town) as Hetchman and Stephanie Wright Thompson as Voice.
"A young woman (Thompson) moves in with her boyfriend (Harts) expecting domestic bliss, but instead has trouble getting comfortable," press notes state. "Her strange new home seems determined to help out — and soon the walls (Byrne) are talking. They reveal the magical tale of an old hat-maker (Margulies) and his long-suffering wife (Kurtz), who runs away with his favorite hat. This sweet, surreal story bends time and space to redefine our ideas of family, home and true love itself."
The production also features scenic design by Carolyn Mraz, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, costume design by Michael Krass and sound design and original music by Ryan Rumery.
Tickets are available by calling (212) 279-4200 or visiting ticketcentral.com.


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From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstatuestat‧ue /ˈstætʃuː/ ●●○ noun [countable] AVSan image of a person or animal that is made in solid material such as stone or metal and is usually large → sculpture Churchill's statue stands outside the parliament building. A bronze statue was erected in his honour.statue of Statues of Lenin were torn down all across Eastern Europe.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + statuea marble/stone/bronze etc statuea magnificent marble statue of Frederick the Greata life-size statue (=the same size as the person or animal it shows)a life-size bronze statue of a youtha colossal statue (=very large)The north side of the building is dominated by a colossal statue of Bishop Gregory.an equestrian statue (=a statue of someone riding a horse)He presented the city with an equestrian statue of King William.verbsa statue stands somewhereHis statue now stands in the courtyard.carve/sculpt a statueSome of the statues were carved by Quitainer.put up a statue (also erect a statue formal) (=put it in a public place)They put up a statue of him in the main square.They should erect a statue to you for doing that.
Examples from the Corpusstatue• We had a Realtor call one day who said he wanted to buy 100 statues.• Makeup began to whiten his lapels like droppings on a statue.• The committee will try to raise $20,000 to erect a commemorative statue on City Hall's front lawn.• The statue shares space with dioramas, glassed-in scenes of the Capitol in various stages of its construction.• The statue slowly slithered off his body; a grating noise as it hit the floor.• They got away with only two statues and left the rest.• There were statues on pedestals, angels or statesmen, he couldn't tell.• The Williams statue was moved anyway.statue stands• Oastler was a hero of the Yorkshire working classes, and his statue stands in Bradford's Rawson Square with two children.Origin statue (1300-1400) Old French Latin statua, from statuere; → STATUTE


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Several packages have been designed to include even more affordable prices. Plan ahead and contact our staff when you are ready to book!
Whether you are a wedding party, a youth group, or a large family, ask us about special rates. This offer applies to three rooms or more.
Special request only. If you are looking to hit the slopes with a group from January 2 to March 31st, ask us about our weekly and weekend specials.
Enjoy spectacular views of the trees from late September to mid-November. Stay during the weekday (Monday-Thursday), and get $30 off your room per night.
Get 10% off your total booking cost. Please bring your State or County Veterans ID Card. Thank you for your service.
Save on docking fees when you stay three or more nights (waterfront rooms only). Limited dock space available. Call ahead to reserve your slip.
It pays to book early. Save 15% off our best available rates!


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Softball at McDaniel
McDaniel is an institution that is committed to excellence, offering a truly outstanding experience to its student-athletes - academically, personally and athletically. Being an athlete at McDaniel is an opportunity to excel in a highly competitive environment while attaining a nationally recognized personal education. McDaniel has a long tradition outstanding student-athletes. Over the years, the Green Terror has produced NCAA Division III national champions, conference champions - more than a dozen since 2004 alone, All-Americans (nearly 20 since 2004), Academic All-Americans, and conference players of the year (more than a dozen since 2004). As a member of the Centennial Conference, we participate in one the most prestigious and successful athletic conferences in the country. The Centennial Conference, like McDaniel, continues to value excellence in athletics, encourage academic achievement and personal self-discovery. You will not find a more competitive environment anywhere, at any level.
The softball team celebrates its sixth Centennial Conference title.
May 6, 2012


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South Dakota, as one might imagine, has a ton of wide open space. Big cities are far apart, and roads seem to go on forever. But don't think that means there is nothing to see in South Dakota, especially if you prefer to travel on two wheels. There are so many options for road bike riding that you can pretty much just pick a point A and a point B and head out. But if you'd like a more specific suggestion, check out one of these road biking rides in The Mount Rushmore State.
1. Coteau des Prairie Tour
The 93.5-mile Coteau des Prairie, or "Hills of the Prairie," loop travels through the prairie (of course) and the rolling hills of northeastern South Dakota. The ride is scenic, and has several stops at state parks and recreation areas along the way, too. Highlights of this route include Sica Hollow State Park, with its Sioux legends and ghost stories, Fort Sisseton, Roy Lake, and Pickerel Lake. The lake recreation areas are great places to take a break on a hot day or to stop and camp overnight. Because the Coteau des Prairie Tour is a loop, it's possible to only ride a portion of it, or use the whole thing as training for a century ride. Head west on the loop for a 1,200-foot climb just outside Sisseton, or east for a faster, downhill ride. There are only two towns along the tour, so be prepared.
2. Sioux Falls Greenway Trail System
While the entire paved trail system is 40 miles, there are several shorter sections connecting downtown Sioux Falls with the Great Plains Zoo, Falls Park, and other smaller parks and residential neighborhoods. It's a great place for any level of cyclist, including families with children. There are many entry and exit points, making it easy to get on and off, or to use it as easy access to shopping or restaurants. When the trail gets busy it can be crowded, so expect a more leisurely ride with this one.
3. Burning Bluffs Tour
This is another long route that would be great training for a century ride. The Burning Bluffs Tour covers 130 miles along the Missouri River in southeastern South Dakota, and was named after the rare phenomenon in which the shale at North Point Recreation Area ignites and smokes on a hot day (your best chance of seeing this is in July or August). The ride is mostly through prairie, but also goes through Burke Lake, North Point, Randall Creek, and Snake Creek Recreation Areas, with the option to take a side trip to the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the way is smooth sailing along paved rural roads, but there is a 5 to 8 percent grade along the Missouri River watershed in the Snake Creek and North Point areas. Like Coteau des Prairie, this route has few services and spotty cell service, so be prepared.
4. Rapid City to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
When we said you can literally pick any two points, jump on your bike, and go, we meant it. This ride is a perfect example—hop on your bike in Rapid City and then ride down Highway 16 West for 23 miles until you get to Mount Rushmore (make sure to take Highway 16A just before hitting 18 miles). And don't worry—the highway has a wide shoulder for cyclists.
5. Iron Mountain Road to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Iron Mountain Road is another way to get to Mount Rushmore, this time taking Highway 16A East from Custer State Park. It's about 17 miles to Mount Rushmore, climbing up through the forest on "pigtail bridges" that loop over themselves. The road also features wooden bridges and one-lane tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore for a picture-perfect view.
6. Spearfish Canyon National Scenic Byway
Spearfish Canyon, with its steep limestone cliffs and breathtaking falls (look for Roughlock Falls and Bridal Veil Falls), was once only accessible by horseback. Lucky for us, the ancient canyon it now has a scenic byway running through it. The 19-mile road, just outside the town of Spearfish, follows Spearfish Creek through a dense forest that is a sight to behold in the fall when the changing leaves are vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Spearfish Canyon is a popular place for wildlife watching and fishing, as well as rock climbing, and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Black Hills.
7. Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway
Another popular highway ride is this 58-mile loop through the Badlands National Park along the two-lane state road, Highway 240. Consistently mentioned on top 10 scenic byway lists, it's also a popular cycling route, traveling through the some of the most unique landscapes in the United States. There are multicolored spires, cliffs, grasslands, and a variety of wildlife to look for, not to mention almost 30 scenic overlooks. Some of the twisting curves may look familiar, as they have been featured in video games, and look for buffalo along Sage Creek Rim Road (just off the western end of the Badlands Loop Road).
No matter which route you choose, always be sure to have your helmet and extra supplies (tubes, etc.) just in case. The best time to ride in South Dakota is spring, summer, and fall. There are several companies that offer cycling tours, especially to Mount Rushmore, and you can rent bikes in the cities and bigger towns.
Originally written for South Dakota Tourism.


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Want to see inside Michael Jordan's Charlotte pad?
By Kristen Miranda - bio l email
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - When you own an NBA team, you don't want to live too far away from the arena where they play.
When you're Michael Jordan, you can afford to spend a few bucks on an address with style.
It looks like Jordan can check both from his list as he prepares to move into The Trust on North Tryon Street.
Several sources are telling us Jordan has agreed to move into the 7th floor penthouse in the building that sits over Brazilian restaurant Chima.
Right now, the 7th floor is a mess of construction with crews working hard to transform the more than 7,000 square foot space into the perfect pad for the basketball great. However, a quick peek inside showed us it's surrounded by windows with a great view of Time Warner Cable Arena.
"I like it here, my neighbors like it here, I hope he likes it here," said Doug Ehmann.
Ehmann lives on the 5th floor. He says Jordan stopped by his place when he was checking out the building to see what the units look like.
"He was very nice, he said he liked my place. He looked around. Didn't ask too many questions but he was a really nice guy," Ehmann said.
If you ever thought it would be cool to be Michael Jordan's neighbor, for the right price you can be. Ehmann's condo is on the market.


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Apple's are the gem of fall fruits. They can be used in both sweet and savory dishes and add a touch of dimension to any meal. It is important to note that not all apples are created equally so taste each varietal and see which one is best suited for the dish you are preparing. I tend to lean toward more tart apples when making desserts and enjoy an apple with a little more sweetness with foods like pork chops - it is all about balancing flavors. I skipped the traditional apple pie and apple crumble and focused on other ways you can incorporate apples into your cooking. Don't forget about applesauce and homemade cider too other ways to savor this seasonal beauty.
Apple and Beet Spinach Salad
Submitted to Foodista by Kristi Rimkus
Hand Held Five Spice Apple Pies
Recipe from California Almonds
Streusel Apple Muffins
Recipe from Kim's Cravings
Caramel Apple Pie Dessert Cups
Recipe from Tatyana's Everyday Food
Apple Mustard Pork Chops
Photo Credit: Cara
Apple Pie Smoothie
Submitted to Foodista by Munchin with Munchkin
Apple Spice Cookies
Submitted to Foodista by Julie Cecchini
Crab Apple Galette
Recipe from The Adventures of Bob and Shan
Image Sources:


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A Passion for Helping Becomes a Local Legacy
By Allie Robbins
Whether it's reading in the classroom, hitting the whip at Friends Formal or cheering on runners at Special Olympics, I have always had a passion for students with special needs. This passion made me aware of a problem in my community. While our area does a great job of educating and serving students with special needs, there were simply not enough activities for them during the winter. As I looked more into this situation, I realized something needed to be done. Combining my love of students with my experience playing and coaching sports, I started planning a basketball team for students with special needs across the county.
At first, the task seemed daunting. How do I organize volunteers? How do I register students and make the sport fun? Fortunately, I had the support of many leaders in my community through my incredible school [River Ridge High School]. By reaching out to the leaders around me, all of the tasks grew smaller. We had one goal in mind: making a positive impact on the lives of people we care about. With the help of my administrative team, volunteers from my high school and watching lots of NBA TV with my brother, Challenger Basketball was founded.
We had practices on Saturday mornings where players had the opportunity to learn skills and play with their general education peers, all of whom volunteered weekly. The general education student volunteers were energetic and encouraging coaches, teaching new skills and building lasting relationships. Seeing students' joy after making a basket and their parents' peace as they had the opportunity to cheer on their player made all of the planning and early mornings beyond worth it.
When I began this project two seasons ago, I had one goal in mind: create an opportunity for students with special needs to have fun. One of the most important things I'm taking away from this experience is that one person absolutely can make a difference. If we reach out to the people around us and keep a clear focus, we can truly impact our community for good. I would encourage anyone with a project idea to start making contact with the leaders in their school and to never give up the optimism that put the idea in their heart.
Allie is passing on coordination of the program to a high school sophomore, who will lead the program after she graduates.
Youth Recognized for Determination, Giving Back
Ten-year-old Katie Bacon learned the importance of helping others at an early age. Her parents have always encouraged her and her brothers to have some sort of "give back" project at the holidays. In 2010, the children collected 38 coats by going door to door in their neighborhood.
Katie, a fourth-grader at Arnold Mill Elementary School, decided to make this her yearly give-back project and partnered with Cherokee Bank (now Hamilton State Bank) to help with collections. The project has grown since she started. She collected 53 coats in 2013, 172 in 2014 and 500 in 2015.
Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques presented her with an outstanding citizenship award recently.
"It's pretty amazing what she's been able to do, especially for someone her age," Henriques said. In 2014, she was given the Kohl's Caring Kid award for her coat drive. Mom Kimberly says Katie is a determined
girl. "Her success comes from her drive to meet her goals; she just doesn't give up. Every year she blows our mind by making a new number."
Katie's goal for 2016? "I'm not sure, but more than last year!"


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In July of 2012 Mitchell Theatres acquired Starlight Cinema, an eight-plex theatre in Los Lunas, New Mexico, a suburb of Albuquerque. The theatre went through a complete remodel and renovation that was completed in 2013.
The Mitchell Theatres mission is to provide a big city movie theatre experience with small town service and prices. Gary Jacobson and the Starlight Cinema 8 (SL8) staff are dedicated to ensuring that each movie goer enjoys a unique movie going experience. SL8's auditoriums provide a comfortable atmosphere with high back rocker seats, spacious row spacing and stadium seating. SL8 offers with high back rocker seats, spacious row spacing and stadium seating. SL8 offers the latest technology with 100% digital projection, 7.1 Digital Surround sound and 3D.
Your Managment Team
Gary Jacobson - Manager
Brian Mitchell - Owner
Want more information? Please Contact Us.


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Shop…Welcome! (Online only. Not in the CTF office)
Showing 1–12 of 51 results
Colorado Trail Medallion$14.95
Buy one or more of these CT Medallions to enhance your trip. Or commemorate a successful CT adventure or Completion. The hand made medallions are sand cast from recycled aluminum. Hang one on your pack or just about anywhere. They will also look great on your keychain or as a tree ornament!
- hand made
- generously donated to the CTF
- your purchase will help support the CTF mission of trail maintenance
- share the CT logo with others
- great addition to your kit
- immediately recognizable
Each medallion is 1.5in W x 1.75in H, and comes strung with green cord, which is removable.
Scroll for More Info in the Description tab below…
Colorado Trail Guidebook, 9th Edition$26.95
The most up-to-date, official CT Guidebook, it will remain so for the entire 2021 Colorado Trail season.
This book covers the entire Colorado Trail, all 567 miles between Denver and Durango, including Segments 1-28 plus CW01-CW05. This is the first edition Guidebook that covers the 80-mile CT Collegiate West that was added to The Colorado Trail in 2012. This comprehensive book helps you plan your CT excursions, can guide you on the trail, and is particularly well-suited to have either in an automobile or at home. It is your official resource for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and bicycling The Colorado Trail.
Maps in this guidebook show the roads pertinent to the Trail. Travel directions are also provided for each major trail access point. This road coverage is almost essential for the automobile portions of many excursions, including the car trips done by segment travelers as well as the driving done by support people who rendezvous with trail travelers.
The 9th Edition CT Guidebook includes…
- DETAIL – an in-depth chapter for every CT segment (1-28 + CW01-CW05)
- up to date with recent trail reroutes
- mileage & elevation stats
- segment overview
- trailheads and access points
- driving directions and access road info
- mile by mile trail description and highlights
- map of each segment (highlighted CT, milepoints and roads)
- elevation profile for each part of the Trail
- GPS waypoints including segment endpoints (coordinates in UTM)
- resupply towns info
- INCLUDED – chapters on CT heritage, natural history and geology
- BEST RESOURCE – trip planning guide
- BIG PICTURE – end-to-end elevation profiles plus Collegiate East and West (helping with snowpack considerations)
- VISUALS – full-color photographs throughout
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- DETAIL – an in-depth chapter for every CT segment (1-28 + CW01-CW05)
Colorado Trail Databook, 8th Edition$14.95
Pocket-sized including water sources and reliability, the CT Databook is the "CliffsNotes" version of the CT Guidebook. Users like carrying it and referring to it on the Trail.
Databook 8 is New for the 2021 Trail Season, it is lighter and thinner than the waterproof 7th Edition. The 8th Edition of the CT Databook builds on the usefulness of previous editions beginning with an end-to-end refinement of the Trail survey data, leading to mileage changes throughout the Databook. Key features have been corrected, particularly those that pertain to intersections and water sources, and the book has been revised to include all Trail reroutes. Resupply towns information has been rewritten and made current.
The Databook answers your questions, including: How far is the next water source and how reliable is it? How many miles? What elevation? Where can I resupply? Information is presented in an easy-to-understand system of key words, symbols, maps and elevation profiles for each of the Trail segments. CT travelers appreciate using it as they travel the Trail.
Scroll for More Info (Description tab) and Package Deals…
CT 485 Sticker$2.95
CT 485 Oval Sticker
Your waterbottle, car window, laptop, whatever…
…it will look sharp with this custom vinyl sticker commemorating the end-to-end mileage of The Colorado Trail.
Back by popular demand, these are sought after by CT enthusiasts from Completers to Goal Setters. Thanks to Bernard "Gummi Bear" Wolf who simply likes sharing his enthusiasm, this sticker will spark conversations and bring CT fans together.
Great as gifts or for yourself…bring back those special CT memories.
- 4-1/2 inches wide
- 3 inches tall
Hoo-Rag Bandanna
Colorado Trail style and function…yours with the CT logo on rich green.
Like a "Buff," the Hoo-rag can be used in many ways:
- head band (to soak up the sweat)
- neck gaiter (adding warmth and keeping the sun off)
- hat
- hair tie
- handkerchief mask (fend off the dust or the chill)
You can rock the Colorado Trail Hoo-rag over 10 ways. Stretchy and quick to dry, it is made of 100% polyester microfiber. Easy to wear, pack, rinse out, and dry.
For adventure or town! You'll dig this CT wearable…
Long Trails "How to Thru-Hike"$24.95
Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike
The tools to make your dream of a long-distance thru-hike a reality.
Liz "Snorkel" Thomas, former women's speed record holder for the AT and veteran of twenty long trails, gives you the tools to make your long-distance hiking dream a reality. Topics include selecting gear, stocking resupplies, and planning your budget and schedule. Gorgeous photos!
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Colorado Trail Poster Map$10.00
This artful poster map is a great addition to anyone's home. Published in 2013, this handsome map was developed by USGS' premier cartographers using precise Colorado Trail line data against detailed Rocky Mountain landscape. Elevations are represented by a scale of earth-tone colors. Every single mountain and valley really jumps off the map!
- 18″ x 24″
- Shaded relief map
- Highlights 53 of Colorado's famous 14ers
SHIPMENT NOTE: While most orders ship in a single package, your Poster Map will ship in a sturdy mailing tube, separate from any other items. Though all packages typically ship the same day, THE TUBE OFTEN ARRIVES A WEEK AFTER OTHER ITEMS, a delay caused by Post Office processing. Please expect this, and thanks for your patience!
More Info … see Description Tab below.
- Published by The Colorado Trail Foundation
Package Deal : CT Guidebook & Long Trails "How to Thru-Hike"
Save $5.00 on this awesome package!
The Colorado Trail Guidebook and Long Trails, "Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike"…
Get these official books, the newest editions available.
- The Official Colorado Trail Guidebook: A must-have for planning your CT adventure. Perfect to leave with your support person(s) so they can help better, and nearly essential to consult for any automobile trips to and from the CT. It is your official resource for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and bicycling The Colorado Trail.
- Backpacker Long Trails, Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike: This is the best, comprehensive, 'how to' thru-hike book. It is an 'easy read' or can be used as a reference manual. You'll find trail-proven advice on selecting gear, stocking resupplies, and planning your budget and schedule, complete with gorgeous photographs of life on the trail.
Package Deal : Long Trails "How to Thru-Hike" and Voices of The Colorado Trail
Save $5.00 on this awesome package!
"Long Trails, Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike" and "Voices of The Colorado Trail"…
- Backpacker Long Trails, Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike: This is the best, comprehensive, 'how to' thru-hike book. It is an easy read or can be used as a reference manual. You'll find trail-proven advice on selecting gear, stocking resupplies, and planning your budget and schedule, complete with gorgeous photographs of life on the trail.
- Voices of The Colorado Trail: Insightful stories about the experience of hiking The Colorado Trail along with wonderful photographs of both the personalities of trail travelers (all kinds) and the beautiful scenery of the CT. This book has been helpful to those planning their own hikes as well as appreciated by loved ones who, before they read this book, just did not 'get it.'
Custom CT Logo Belt$48.95
Handsome metal buckle with engraved, Colorado Trail logo. Instantly recognizable by CT enthusiasts. The buckle is a beautifully finished, deep silver color and the engraved logo shows in what we call "mountain storm white-out."
The stealth-black layered nylon strap is ultra durable and wears very comfortably. The 40mm size fits belt loops easily. (40mm is just over 1-1/2 inches.) The length handles waist sizes up to 42-inch and, for smaller sizes, is easy to cut to length.
No holes. The belt and buckle utilize a track system that adjusts in increments of 1/4-inch, a much finer adjustment than belts with holes, making it easy to get just right.
Made by Mission Belt exclusively for The Colorado Trail Foundation and Colorado Trail enthusiasts.
Trail Marker$4.95
You've seen 'em on the Trail. They've guided you. A comforting and familiar sight, these Trail Markers bring back fond memories.
3-5/8″ high triangular, 3D, metal "confidence" marker used to sign The Colorado Trail.
Official green CT logo is 'raised' against white double-peaked triangular background. Sharp looking, nice addition in your world.
Voices of The Colorado Trail$24.95
Authored by three-time CT completer David W. Fanning, it offers insightful stories gathered along the trail, about the experience of hiking The Colorado Trail. Featuring wonderful photographs which capture both the personalities of trail travelers (all kinds) and the beautiful scenery of the CT, "Voices of The Colorado Trail" has been helpful to those planning their own hikes. A quick read that easily communicates what a thru-hike is all about, trip planners have often benefited when they've shared this with a loved one who "just doesn't get it."
Scroll for More Info (Description tab) and Package Deals…


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LIVE from the Days of the Dead Atlanta horror convention – Dave, Nicole Gould, and Ryan Cadaver host Needless Things Presents Toy Stories: Plastic Horrors!
From Marx to Mego to McFarlane to Mezco, the Needless Things Irregulars jump around the history of horror toys and discuss their favorites in front of a live Days of the Dead audience. Each of the last six decades has seemed to present innovations and revolutions in the world of horror-based toys, and the panel touches on some of their favorite lines and moments in this special episode brought to you by the Blue Track.
Listen in as Dave, Nicole, Ryan, and audience members share stories of the roots of their horror collections and their favorite spooky toys!
Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week's episode! Let us know what you think!
"Procrastibate" by LeSexoflex.com
Interstitial music provided by The Mystery Men?


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Thanksgiving Day is basically a harvest festival, celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States. It is the time for being with your family and friends, and having holiday meals. Roasted turkeys and pumpkin pie recipes are special dishes of the day. The event has a role in strengthening family ties and establishing a close bonding of love and concern. On this day people convey their warm, heartfelt messages to the person they love and care the most.
Role of Gifts and Cards
Gifts and cards are the best medium to convey your message of thanks and
love. Through card messages, you can convey your emotions and thoughts.
It is an expression of your concern for those who have blessed you and
thank folks for all they have done through the year.
Thanksgiving Gifts
Thanksgiving gifts can be categorised according to the person receiving
the gift. A wide range of gift items can be given for kids, parents,
brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, friends, relatives and grandparents.
You just have to keep the person in mind you are gifting.
Gifts for Kids
For kids, the gift has to be more creative and innovative. Kids
everywhere like gifts with unusual theme and unique wrapping. You could
go for a basket with a combination of various items like chocolate,
cookies, color pencil set, pencil box, tiffin box for school and a
handmade Thanksgiving cartoon card. You can bedeck the basket yourself
with colorful papers and ribbons. Toys are always a good option for
children. You could gift the children craft making books, which have
ideas and methods on making crafts at home. These kind of gifts build
their creative ability. Storybooks are also nice gifts on this occasion.
Gifts for Adults
A large range of gift items is available for adults too. You could gift
your parents are thanksgiving baskets, which contains various items like
assorted cookies, dry fruits, chocolates, wine, etc. Exclusive gift
baskets like bakery gift baskets, fruit gift baskets, gourmet gift
baskets, spa gift baskets, and wine gift baskets are available for
Thanksgiving Day. Music and video CD's and DVD's can also make for good
Thanksgiving gifts.
For Friends
For friends of another sex, flowers are evergreen gifts. Depending on
your budget you could opt for various floral arrangements. You could
also gift aroma candles on a decorative candle stand. For not-so-special
friends, anything according to their interest would do. And if you know
your friends' interest, it would not be tough to choose a gift.


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It's not too late to capitalize on both the chaos & the opportunity that Black Friday Weekend presents. There's no denying that it's the king of all shopping weekends, with no slowing down in sight. Last year, U.S. shoppers spent over $3.34 billion online on Black Friday alone, a 21.6 percent year-over-year increase. On top of that, Cyber Monday is now even bigger than Friday. Last year it was the largest online sales day in history, according to Adobe data: with $3.39 billion in online sales.
However, the tactics small businesses use to stand out need to be more creative than what those big box stores and well-established brands are doing. WIth smaller budgets, lower reach and less brand awareness, it's important to focus on how to break through all of that Black Friday clutter. Below are 6 ways your small business can drive sales, increase reach and give shoppers a great experience this Black Friday Weekend, without breaking your bank.
Don't Advertise
It may sound counter intuitive – if this is the weekend that everyone is shopping and actively looking for things to buy, shouldn't I try to put some money behind my offers? Your target audience, whether it's women between the ages of 18-24 who love beauty products and live in big cities, or middle-aged, high-income moms, you can bet they are being targeted by just about everyone else who is selling something. This causes your cost-per-action to increase dramatically from what it may normally be with an effective social ad campaign. Most marketers plan to increase their ad spend by about 50% during the Black Friday Weekend. If that's not doable with your small business budget, instead try running an ad on the less competitive days – the day before Thanksgiving, or the day after Cyber Monday. Make sure you're using your best creative assets, and include a strong call-to-action (CTA).
Play the Discount Game
Many brands are adamant about not getting stuck in the promotional trap – and for good reason. Once a brand relies too heavily on promotions, they are essentially training their customers to only buy when there is an offer. However, during the Black Friday Weekend I'm afraid there is no escaping the promotions. But what offer should you give to your customers? According to a new report from Retail Me Not, expedited free shipping and discounted gift cards are good, an amount or percent off of a single item or cash back offers are better, but a dollar amount of percent off storewide is best.
Reveal New Products
Apart from steep discounts, there's nothing that gets customers excited like brand new products from their favorite brands or stores. Have something that you're wanting to add to your E-commerce site or display in your store? Save it for Black Friday Weekend! Be sure to utilize a multi-channel approach to lettings your customers know there's something new. Tease the new products on Instagram, host a live stream showing the product details on Facebook, send an email campaign creating excitement, and put it front and center on your website.
Be Giving
While much of the focus during the busy shopping weekend takes place Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, another "holiday" is starting to get more and more buzz: #GivingTuesday. In its sixth year, the holiday is a reminder for both individuals and businesses that giving is better than receiving. Thousands of creative campaigns are launched each year, all with the goal of supporting a local, national or international charity. One campaign idea we love is to donate a percent of your purchases to a charity that aligns with your business's values – encouraging customers to shop while letting them know they're supporting a worthy cause at the same time. Another idea to boost engagement is to have your followers vote on a charity that you'll donate to as a business. For more great campaign ideas, visit the #GivingTuesday website!
Grow Your Email List
While standing out as a small business and competing for sales with bigger brands can be tough during the ultimate shopping weekend, there are other goals you can set for yourself that capitalize on the gifting frenzy. After the big weekend passes and we inch closer to the official holidays, offer to help out those who are still not done with their shopping. Put together a big gift basket filled with great products, then run an email capture giveaway. Simply create a landing page on your website that captures first name, last name & email and promote the giveaway on your social channels, email and on your website homepage. Work back from your last date to ship before Christmas, pull a random name from your new email subscribers and send the lucky winner the gift basket in time for them to have all of their last minute gifts covered!
Embrace Being Small
Created by the Small Business Association, #SmallBusinessSaturday takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year and is a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. You likely have people who are actually LOOKING to #shopsmall that day, so make sure you reward them for it! Come up with a fun offer for the day – perhaps a discount time clock (50% off from 8-9am, 40% 9-10am, 30% 10-11am & 25% off the rest of the day) and be sure to capitalize on hashtags associated with the day for increased visibility if you're an online retailer (#smallbusinesssaturday, #shopsmall, #smallbizsaturday, #supportsmallbusiness, #smallbiz). If you're a brick-and-mortar store, be sure to let all of your followers and email subscribers know in advance what they can expect if they pay you a visit on Saturday!
Regardless of the tactics you use to boost your holiday sales, don't forget a crucial final step: track and evaluate your results. Be sure you have key performance indicators (KPIs) you'll be looking at to tell if your campaign was successful (increased website visits, increased social followers or email sign-ups, increased sales, increased impressions or reach, etc.). Know your benchmarks by checking your KPIs before the campaign is live. Most importantly, remember to put your customer first and try to make them smile!
Plan ahead! If you want to make the most of other upcoming holidays for your business, reach out to Team 624 Communications to help!