text:
On Sunday at 6:36 p.m. the Pemberton RCMP received a call from a group of hikers in the Joffre Lake area after one of the group was injured that afternoon.
The group had hiked in to the backcountry hut on Friday, and on Sunday split into two different groups. One climbed Mt. Matier and the other Mt. Joffre. The group that hiked Mt. Joffre arrived back at the hut, expecting the other pair to be back already. Concerned about their friends they went out to investigate with binoculars. Through the binoculars they saw the woman with the group on her own, signaling that there was an injury.
As there was no phone service, one of the group ran out and headed back to the highway to contact the authorities and Search and Rescue. By 7:30 p.m. a helicopter was in the air, but it was turned back by the weather. Instead, a member of the SAR team hiked up and spent the night with the injured man, who was wearing crampons but slipped on the descent and injured his wrist, back and head.
The next day, September 10, SAR responded with two helicopters, one to long-line the man to a safe area and the other to transfer him to the Whistler Health Care Centre. The male broke his wrist, but his other injuries were more minor.
On Sept 8 RCMP investigated an accident at the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road and Highway 99. Officers suspected the driver of a pickup truck that struck a parked SUV of being impaired after she left the scene of the accident.
According to the reports, the Pemberton RCMP arrived after the ambulance and fire services to find a woman lying on the side of the road beside the pickup truck. The female passenger, who may have been ejected from the vehicle, was taken by ambulance to the Pemberton airport, then taken to Vancouver General Hospital with head and back injuries. The driver of the SUV was transported to the Pemberton clinic for treatment of minor injuries and later released.
The RCMP quickly realized the driver was missing, and because of the blood in the car they were concerned for her well being. They later received a call that the woman had arranged to be picked up by relatives and was being taken to the Pemberton Clinic for treatment, and met her there to issue her with a promise to appear in court at a later date.
The police investigation suggests that the driver of the pickup, a 40-year-old Mt. Currie woman, may have been under the influence of alcohol when she struck the parked car.
Meanwhile an RCMP traffic stop on Lorimer Road just after midnight on Sept. 10 turned into a drug investigation after the RCMP officer at the stop noticed a smell of marijuana. The driver admitted to smoking marijuana after being asked by the police officer, leading to a search of her car. The police found 200 grams of marijuana, 60 grams of magic mushrooms, 24 grams of marijuana butter, a quarter gram of hash, two MDMA (ecstasy) pills, a scale and some Canadian and U.S. cash in a backpack in the vehicle, with identification belonging to the driver.
The RCMP arrested a 22-year-old Whistler woman for possession for the purpose of trafficking, and released her on a promise to appear in court on Nov. 26.
The woman was only one of several impaired drivers nabbed by RCMP this past week.
A 41-year-old Whistler woman received a 90-day suspension and 30-day vehicle impound at 11 p.m. on Sept. 6 after failing the approved screening device. She was originally pulled over for failing to come to a complete stop in Spruce Grove.
At 11:33 p.m. the same night, a sobriety check on Highway 99 at Nicklaus North stopped a vehicle. There was a smell of fresh marijuana, and a search of the vehicle turned up 20 grams of marijuana and pipes. The driver, a 20-year-old Whistler male showing signs of impairment, received a 24 hour driving prohibition, had his car towed and received a ticket for driving without reasonable consideration.
On Sept. 7 at 6:15 p.m. the police received a call regarding an impaired driver from an off-duty officer. The off-duty officer stopped the male on Meadows Road in Pemberton until on-duty police could arrive and perform a sobriety test. A 63-year-old Pemberton male failed the test and received a 90-day suspension and 30-day vehicle impound.


text:
Rather than follow the standard set formula for generating a settlement found in the DMG Perrenland will be carefully designing its settlements to reflect its unique culture. Over time and as the campaign grows we will no doubt redesign significant parts of our world but for now all you need to do is follow the guidelines below.
- RULE NUMBER 1: A settlement is any permanent habitation where the population is greater than 100 people;or is less than 100 but has a special feature or roll in which case it must feature on the official maps of Perrenland. Any proposed settlement must be designed and approved in consultation with the Cartography and Demographic coordinator (C&D CO) Patrick Williamson ua.moc.ron|inejtap#ua.moc.ron|inejtap who will in turn consult with the coordinator/s of the area it is going to be located in. Send him your proposal first. What you need to send to him is the following.
- 1) Determine what part of Perrenland the Settlement is in. Any settlement is going to fall within one of nine possible "design/political" regions listed below*.
- 2) Determine how large the settlement needs to be, unless you are a Canton Coordinator you are restricted to a population size less than 2000.
- 3) Design a plausible reason as to why the settlement exists, include economic, locational, and historical explanations if possible.
- 4) Determine what political make-up the settlement has. This will require some background work and consolation with the (C&D CO) to determine which races/ethnic groups/clans and Septs would best fit the location you have chosen and the overall concept of Perrenland. Remember that for each bit of information you have the triad has three so consultation is vital to stop you from infringing on plot development, remember if you know the plot you can't play the game.
- 5) Generate the main figures of the settlements. Include most of the following persona for each settlement (bearing in mind that at times one person may hold more than one of these positions)
- Hetmann (The mayor and federal representative)
- Clan Graf (The Clan noble that the local clan folk listens to)
- Ober-Constible (Chief of police)
- Uber-Constible (The Chief of Polices deputy)
- OberShoolmann (Main priest of the Old Church)
- UberShoolmann (Secondary priest of the Old Church)
- UberHetmann (4 locals, who with the Hetmann form the elected council of the settlement)
- Warden (The local Parks and Wildlife officer)
- HetArmsmann (A retired professional soldier from the Auszug who receives half pay to lead the local militia called the Landwehr)
- Armsmenn (5 retired veterans 3nd level Fighters or reserve soldiers from the Auszug who form the backbone of local defense can react to trouble quickly and receive a half pay from the Auszug. This means that for a settlement of 100 people there will be at hopefully 17 named NPCs. Each will need at least a name, class and level. Information on their personality and a full stat-block would be an added benefit.
- 6) In Consideration of Perrenesse population variables: Before you proceed any further in the design of your settlement you need to be aware of the following.
- a) Considering that most able bodied Perrenlanders answer the muster for service in the Perrenesse army (The Auszug) when they reach adulthood this means that many local citizens have had an intensive period of military training. The majority of these emerge as 1st level fighters and the skill of these exsoldiers remains until they reach old age. Others learn a craft during their time in the Auszug instead. Thus giving Perrenland a highly skilled body of artisans or Experts. Some join the Aid-Auszugen and emerge as skilled healers (Adepts for the most part). Some become scouts Rogues and Rangers and other join the Shool (Old Church) to fulfill their obligations to the nation. Many of the able bodied young people who do their compulsory military service remain in the Auszug. Others when they muster out move to Mercenary companies or remain in the large urban centres, some go adventuring. Either way most rural settlements and many of the smaller town have many of their younger folk away so never include these absent people in the settlements population figures.
- b) A unit of the Auszug if it is co-located with your settlement is never included in your population figures, but is given its own section in your settlements stat block (see below). The ten thousand or so members of the Auszug are not included in any population figures for settlements or Cantons, they are included only as part of the official figures for Perrenland as a whole.
- c) The population figures for a settlement represent only those who live there permanently.
- d) In addition each noble is entitled to a set number of followers in their entourage which creates a second body of troops loyal to the traditional clan nobility, these are exempt from service in the Auszug. The traditional numbers are set out below. The majority will be young men and women as few continue in this roll past the age of 30. Thus most settlements will have a body of warriors to draw upon as well in times of need.
- Pfalzgraf: A Pfalzgraf or Duke/Prince is entitled to have 100 men under arms, the majority of who are mounted and are warriors. A Pfalzgraf is entitled to order a muster of all the forces of the clan nobility to their Stadt in times of trouble.
- Obstergraf: An Obstergraf or Sept Chief is entitled to have 50 men under arms, the majority of who are mounted and warriors. An Obstergraf is entitled to order a muster of all the forces of a Septs nobility to their Stadt in times of trouble.
- Landgraf: A Landgraf or Count is a noble of the main clan and can have 30 men under arms, the majority who are mounted. They must respond to the call of their Pfalzgraf by presenting themselves and their men-at-arms to the main clan Stadt.
- Freiherr: A Freiherr or baron is a noble of a Sept and may have 10 men under arms, the majority who are mounted. They must respond to the call of either the Pfalzgraf or Obstergraf by presenting themselves and their men under to the appropriate clan Stadt. It is considered to serious breech of traditional law and etiquette for a noble to have more troops under arms than their title allows them. These men under arms are mostly of the Warrior NPC class, although any class is feasible. All Clan and Sept noble are entitled to have a Bard as an additional member of their entourage. Some nobles from remote places especially the Highlander minor nobles will have more barbarians and rangers in their followings than other nobles.
- 7) All NPCs with a level higher than 1st level should be represented in their own section called "other local institutions", a typical example of these would be a Mastercrafts guild, Thieves guild, Landwehr (Militia) etc. Please see the Stat block template below. All NPCs are restricted to a maximum of 6th level without triad approval. Only 25% or less of a settlement' population should be greater than 1st level.
- 8) When determining the remaining 1st level portion of a settlement's population please use the following procedure.
- a) Determine how many people are left by subtracting any of the named NPCs or NPCs who are part of "other local institutions" from the total population. This will give you the remaining population to allocate a class to.
- b) Calculate the number of each class from the following list first, whatever numbers are left after this has been done are all Commoner of 1st level. ROUND ALL FRACTIONS TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER i.e. < 50 becomes zero.
- Adept1 .02%
- Aristocrat .5%
- Barbarian1 1%
- Bard1 .5%
- Cleric1 .5%
- Druid1 .01%
- Expert1 12%
- Fighter1 5%
- Monk1 .01%
- Paladin .01%
- Ranger1 1%
- Rogue1 1%
- Sorcerer1 .01%
- Warrior1 10%
- Wizard1 .01%
- 9) Design the stat block for the settlement using the template below
- 1) Determine what part of Perrenland the Settlement is in. Any settlement is going to fall within one of nine possible "design/political" regions listed below*.
The Village of Skillett
Skillet is a small village of some thirty buildings that supplies the local area with facilities such as an inn, a temple, the constable's goal, market place, blacksmiths, general merchants and several other specialist crafts. Most farmers from the surrounding 10miles use Skillet as a weekly spot to exchange goods, news, and a pot or two of the excellent local ale. Skillet lies on the junction of two highways. The first runs from Krestible to Swartzenbruin the second from Skillet to Exag across the dangerous Mounds of Dawn. Skillet is the first interchange point for horses on the highway from Krestible or the last interchange in the opposite direction. A good number of horses, bullocks, carts and wagons are kept and maintained here by various merchants Houses in the village's corral. Skilled tradesmen are available to repair broken wagons and carts. The level of traffic through the town is fairly constant especially over summer and the locals are kept busy servicing the various needs of the many travelers who stop for a day before moving on. This makes Skillet, despite is small size, a bustling and diverse community. To the passing traveler Skillet presents itself as a bustling small community that takes good care of it guests. Skillet is run by several personalities each trying to keep the peace and maintain the air of hospitality that attracts the passer through.
Skillet (small village)
Conventional; AL NG; 1,000gp limit; Assets 50,000gp; Population 441; Mixed ((human Perrenesse 410 (Rosrijders 74, Hüssen 240, Weisspeer 34, Others 62); halfling 9, elf 2, halfelves 1, dwarf 3, gnome 15, half-orc 1)).
Named NPCs: Hetmann Ritter Ust VanDerbergsen (Weisspeer) Ari7, UberHetmann Arnald Kleistad (Weisspeer) Ari3, UberHetmann Freda Detzagmier (Hussen) Exp2; UberHetmann Oost Grazmier (Hussen) Com 4; OberConstable and UberHetmann Deter Haugrammer (Hüssen) Fgt3; UberConstable Ralf Grunderbreker (Hussen) Fgt2; OberShoolmann Jana Roodhand (Vosser) Clr5 Shrine of Zodal; UberShoolmann Pieter Zandust (Hussen) Wiz 4 Shrine of Rao; HetArmsmann Talgospar Girtaxe (Dwarven Master blacksmith) Fgt1/Exp5; Armsmenn ( Helda, Grazman, Horst, Redolf and Lud ) Fgt3 (Hussen) Other Important Characters: Merchant Giles Tilmouth Exp7; Helga Prith the boarding house proprietor (Hüssen) Exp3, Bartrand Pimm VanDerbergsen's Steward (Weisspeer) Rog1/Exp3; Dom Perinong the Tavern owner (Hüssen) Com3.
Others Local Institutions: Landwehr, Fgt2(10), War2 (19). Thieves Guild, Fgt4Rog1 (1), Rog 2 (2).
Craft Masters Guild, Exp5 (1), Exp4 (2), Exp3 (4), Exp2 (8). Hospice of Zodal, Adept3 (1), Adept2 (2).
Others: Adp1 (1) Ari (1) Bar1 (3) Brd1 (2) Clr1 (2) Com1 (223) Drd1 (0) Exp1 (38) Fgt1 (16) Mnk1 (0) Pal (0) Rng1 (3) Rog1 (3) Sor1 (0) War1 (32) Wiz1 (0)
- Canton coordinators have the general approval of the triad to design a capital of not more than 6001 people and other settlements as per their proposal to the triad. The cities of Schwartzenbruin, Krestible, Traft and Exag are established cites each have their own pre-set population figures.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Parallel Lives was the sixth Big Finish Bernice Summerfield story anthology. It was edited by Simon Guerrier.
Publisher's summary Edit
The Collection has lost one of its own. Someone who made a mistake once, and has never been forgiven for it. Someone whose hard work and need to make amends has been taken for granted. Someone who doesn't fit in.
Clarissa Jones has been head of administration at the Braxiatel Collection for many years. Enough time to really know her way around the place – its security, its weaknesses, its secrets. Knowledge, in fact, of great value to any of the neighbouring powers.
So it's bad news for everyone when she disappears.
The Collection has lost one of its own. Unless Clarissa has taken others with her.
Individual stories Edit
|The Serpent's Tooth
|Rebecca Levene
|Hiding Places
|Stewart Sheargold
|Jason and the Pirates
|Dave Stone
Linking material by Simon Guerrier
References Edit
- Enemies of the Braxiatel Collection include, Nekkistani, Galyari, Warpsmiths of Phaidon, Monan, Grellor, Barampa, Arbivatroocius and Mim.
- Very few people visit the Fallan Nebula.
Notes Edit
This collection contains three novellas, rather than a larger number of short stories.
Continuity Edit
to be added
External links Edit
- Official Parallel Lives page at bigfinish.com
- Parallel Lives at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Discontinuity Guide to: Parallel Lives at The Whoniverse


text:
Posts Tagged 'business website'
One creative way to drive more traffic to your website and encourage interaction with your customers is by integrating your blog into your business website. Rather than solely using a blog or website respectively, using both together can improve the interactivity with your customers.
Interactivity is becoming increasingly important for consumers and their purchase decisions. A business website gives the consumer general information and a professional business presence. A blog allows consumers to see updated and fresh information, testimonials from recent purchasers, and even comments and conversations posted by existing customers.
Search Engine Optimization
Blogs are also great for increasing your search engine optimization, or your visibility online. By posting fresh content on a daily basis you increase your search engine ranking and the ability for people to see you online. Blogs can also drive traffic to your website by providing useful information while also using links and a call to action to direct your readers to your company site.
Personal Touch
Having a blog on a site like WordPress or Blogger will give your company a personality that many other companies don't have. Publishing more personal content rather than pushing sales pitches gives you an advantage over your competitors. Because consumers are seeking more intimate relationships with the online companies they purchase from, a blog can be a great way to establish communication, relationships, and credibility with your consumers.
How To Integrate Your Blog and Website
There are several ways you can integrate your blogging platform and your business website. If you choose to use an existing platform like WordPress or Blogger, make sure to include links on every post you publish that directs your readers back to your website. Also, have links to your blog on the homepage of your business website. This encourages people to learn more about you, your company, your product, and your consumers.
If you wish to have a more seamless integration, consider investing in a content management system that includes a blogging platform. This means that your blog will be an actual page of your website and you wouldn't need to send your customers away from your website in order to connect with them.
Are you the type of person that has a tendency to procrastinate because you secretly love the thrill of getting things done on time? If so, you have probably experienced the stress and urgency of trying to establish some cash flow in your small business.
Cash flow
Cash flow is truly the lifeblood of your small business. Without it, your business will drown even if your income statements say you're making a profit. Cash flow is defined as the relationship between revenue and expenses over a given period of time. Investorwords.com actually calls it "a measure of a company's financial health." Revenue is the money flowing into your business through sales of services or products, and expenses can be just about anything you spend money on to run your business.
Your primary objective as a small business owner is to make enough revenue (consistently) so that the revenue made is greater than expenses paid. This way, you begin to build up an overflow of money coming into your business. You need this overflow so you can have the ability to do anything from taking advantage of new opportunities to covering unexpected emergencies.
In order to avoid a cash flow crisis, use the tips below to build up your cash overflow and enjoy your growing business.
Cash overflow
1. Always receive payment upon delivery
Many small businesses allow customers to enjoy first and pay later. The fact is, if you want to see your cash flow remain consistent and steady, you can't afford to do this. Credit is for banks and large corporations, not your small business. If it's realistic, always ask for a one-time payment in advance of your services. If your product or service is delivered over a period of time, request payment in advance of each delivery. You should offer some sort of discount for paying more up front rather than over a period of time.
2. Pay every bill on time
Nothing but common sense here, you'll save money by avoiding late payment charges and you can often take advantage of payment discounts for early payments.
3. Have a product that makes you money more than once
By creating something that you can sell multiple copies of (like an e-book) can be extremely beneficial and cost effective. Having a business website where you can sell your products is also extremely beneficial and can save you a lot of time, money, and effort by reducing many costs.
The other pages on your business website are just as important as your homepage. In fact, they may require even more attention than your homepage because they are more detailed and specific, rather than giving your customers a generalization of your product and company.
It is important to spend a lot of time and effort on your other pages because according to Entrepreneur.com, almost four out of every 10 visitors to a website enter the site from somewhere other than the homepage. This could be the blog, the about page, or even the sales page. That's why it's so important to make sure every page has an adequate amount of information – and it sells.
Review your web analytics and see what pages people are landing on when they first visit your business website. If it's not your homepage, you have some work to do.
What to have on your interior web pages
According to Entrepreneur.com, there is a short list of absolute necessities to include on your interior pages. These are:
- Company logo and tagline
- Consistent navigation (including search)
- Call to action both above and below the fold (on the page before you scroll down and after)
- Clear, concise, compelling, and grammatically correct copy
- Consistent design and color scheme to establish brand presence, and
- Advertisements to promote featured products, services and special offers
Each page on your business website should clearly state what you offer and why it is beneficial to the consumer. It should guide the visitor to your product sales page with effective calls to action. Pay attention to small details, as they will help you in the long run.
Your business website and its accessibility is critical to your company's online success. If each page doesn't have the care and precision you've dedicated to your homepage, then you've wasted your time. Your business website is there to give a professional, valuable, and rewarding experience to your customers.
There are several things you can do to improve your sales technique. While there are many resources online you can use to teach yourself how to perfect your sales pitch, I have compiled a few tips you can use on your business website to get more sales.
Be a good listener
While we all know that the most important part of a sales conversation is listening to your customers wants and needs, this can be difficult on a business website because it's mostly one-way communication. However, if you have a forum, blog, or Facebook page, you need to act on it. Once you get your customers to tell you what they want, it can open doors to stronger relationships and a better sales pitch.
Find out why
Your landing page should give your overall information, but it should also guide your customers to the pages they really need. Figure out why your customers need your products. Send them to different pages on your website based on their particular needs.
Be a consultant, not a salesman
Only once you've found out enough about your customers wants and needs can you truly develop the perfect sales pitch. Because you are tailoring your sale to what your customer needs as exactly as you can, you become more of a consultant (a partner), rather than a salesman only interested in finalizing a transaction. This way, your customer feels more at ease and has a more pleasant experience when purchasing from your company.
Be proud of your product
Your sales pitch should demonstrate not only your knowledge of your product, but your love for your product. Customers are more likely to buy from someone who is personally testifying to the value of a product. If you have a high-involvement product, you should never feel the need to apologize for the price because you believe the price is worth the benefit your customer will receive from purchasing.
Having a business website can be a huge advantage. However, you can always increase the amount of sales you make if you improve the way you interact with your customers and explain your product.


text:
RV rental pick-up or return is typically not possible directly at airports, city centers (i.e. downtowns) or rail stations; it usually must occur at the rental depot itself. Chiefly for insurance reasons this constraint is more or less an industry standard. The RV rental depot personnel must explain to you in detail how the RV and its equipment function. The setting and facilities of the depot itself make such explanation possible. The pick-up procedure takes nearly one hour and usually involves a video presentation. Ask questions to resolve any doubts you might have about the rental and operation of the motorhome.
In continental Europe it's not standard for the rental companies to offer airport shuttles, and if they do they typically charge for them. In Scandinavia the rental companies typically do offer free transport from and to the airport but they charge for transport from or to city locations or very distant airports. When you rent a RV in the USA or Canada it is quite standard for rental companies to offer free airport transport but only within a small, standard time window. If the rental you are interested in does not include free shuttle transfer, take solace in the fact that if it did it's price would naturally be higher to accommodate that cost, and it's easier to jump in one or another taxi than to track down a particular shuttle.
Most rental companies account for cost according to standard pick-up and return times so that most vehicles can be prepared during regular business hours and delivered to a client on the same day that the vehicle is returned by the previous client. Thus the rental company doesn't lose out on renting that vehicle for that night. This accounting is analogous to that used by the hotel and vacation home rental industries, where the standard is for afternoon check-in (RV pick-up) and morning check-out (RV return). As such, many RV rental companies account by "nights" rather than "days". A non-standard, morning pick-up would thus entail charge for the previous night. And a non-standard, afternoon return would entail charge for that night. Similarly, if a rental depot is closed on Sundays, a Monday morning pick-up might entail charge not only for the preceding Sunday night but also for the preceding Saturday night, this because the vehicle must be prepped on Saturday morning and therefore cannot be rented out on the Saturday and Sunday night.
Carefully inspect the RV's surface. Point out any marks, scratches, etc, to the RV rental depot staff. Take time-stamped photos of the vehicle including the roof, or video tape the inspection, so nothing is missed. The rental depot records any rental RV damage on a damage checklist that you will have to sign.
Examine the RV's interior to be sure it's clean, all appliances function, all cabinets and windows close properly, etc.
Read the insurance documentation provided upon the pick-up occasion by the rental company. The terms and conditions of the insurance are of course subject to change between the time you booked the RV rental and the pick-up occasion. Insurance changes are outside the control of IdeaMerge. Take special note of the geographic domain in which the insurance is effective.
Upon the RV rental pick-up occasion, you must place a security deposit with a valid major credit card in the name of a person who is at the rental depot and traveling in the vehicle. Many motorhome rental companies actually charge that security deposit to the card, refunding it in part or whole within a week or so after the rental return. In contrast, many rental companies simply authorize ("block") the security deposit amount on the card; they only charge the amount or part of it in the event of actual damage. Those who merely authorize are taking more of a risk. Those that actually charge the security deposit are taking less risk yet they do suffer the very considerable merchant credit card transaction fees for both the charge and the (potential) credit. If your security deposit is actually charged and later refunded and if your currency is different than the rental company's currency, you may of course either win or lose in terms of the exchange rate variation between the date of charging and the date of crediting, and you may suffer a foreign transaction fee if your card company does charge such fee (which many car companies pointedly do not charge).
Special tip: If you are traveling abroad to a country that uses a different currency than yours, use for the trip a credit card that does not charge a foreign currency transaction fee nor, more generally, a foreign transaction fee. Many do not but many do. Search the subject on the internet to discover the top cards that charge no such fee. At 1–3%, such fees really add up, and they are totally unneccessary.
At some RV rental depots parking is permitted. You must ask in advance. Space is typically not guaranteed, and you park there at your own risk. Typically rental depot personnel can direct clients to optimal parking solutions nearby the depot. Some RV rental depots allow you to store personal items while you are traveling.
Test drive the motorhome or camper van at and near the rental depot. If you notice anything unusual, especially regarding the clutch, or see any warning lights on the dashboard, notify the rental depot immediately.
Please do not expect to make changes to the RV rental booking when you pick up the RV or while traveling. Such changes might be possible, but that depends on availability.
Make sure all of your requested accessories are included. Check them at the depot to be sure they are in satisfactory condition and tell the staff if you have questions or doubts.
Make sure all vehicle equipment is included and in satisfactory condition, such as the hose, cleaning supplies, etc.
Ask how all features work, especially the awning (if present). You will be charged for damage to a motorhome or camper van feature. Some features, such as the awning and bike rack, are not guaranteed, because the vehicle might be delivered directly from the factory with no time for installation.
Test the GPS unit (if present) to be sure it works correctly. Note: it might be less expensive and more effective for you to buy a GPS navigation device before your trip, load it with the appropriate software, and program it with points of interest. Special navigation software for large vehicles (motorhomes, trucks) is now on the market, from the likes of Magellan and Rand McNally.
Check whether the vehicle manual is in the vehicle and in a language you can understand.
Regarding LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for heating and cooking (alias "camping gaz" or "propane"): Ask the depot for appropriate LPG connectors/adapters for each country you plan to visit, and make sure the motorhome's LPG heating/cooking cylinders are sufficiently full upon pick-up and upon crossing national borders. Many European, Scandinavian, British and Irish rental motorhomes employ LPG cylinders (or bottles) which are meant to be exchanged by the customers rather than refilled by customers or by retail operations, the customer paying only for the LPG. The refilling of such cylinders by retail businesses is prohibited in the UK and in many other countries because it is a dangerous process and one which can easily be performed improperly. Continental exchangeable cylinders are not typically available on the UK or Irish markets; and there is no adapter on the general market which interfaces continental heating and cooking systems to the "Calor" gas exchangeable cylinders standard in the UK and Ireland. So, you might need to bring extra, full exchangeable cylinders if you are crossing to the UK or Ireland for an extended tour. UK and Irish RV rental company's supply the standard Calor gas exchangeable cylinders for travel in the UK and Ireland. When a client is traveling from the UK or Ireland to Europe, the rental company typically supplies the client with continental "Camping Gaz" exchangeable cylinders and/or an adapter that interfaces the Camping Gaz exchangeable cylinders to UK heating and cooking systems. Calor gas cylinders are not available outside the UK. Rgardless of where you are picking up, it is indeed a good practice to ask the depot for appropriate LPG connectors/adapters for each country you plan to visit. The exchangeable cylinders tend to vary by country even within continental Europe. Therefore you might not be able to exchange the cylinders provided by the motorhome rental company. Instead you might need to buy an exchangeable cylinder locally (in which case you'd also have to place a deposit on the exchangeable cylinder, because it remains the property of the gas company.) In such situation an adapter is usually needed to fit the exchangeable cylinder to the vehicle's heating and cooking system. Moreover, you might need a different regulator as well, although this is now typically the case only with pre-year-2004 vehicle models (which are rarely rented). With respect to LPG cylinders that are meant to be refilled by customers or retail operations, various connectors might be needed to re-fill the cylinders because the LPG dispenser nozzles at fuel stations tend to vary from country to country. Three different dispenser connectors used in Europe: the Dutch Bayonet, the Claw or Italian Dish, and the ACME thread. See the following articles.
The RV should be returned with the toilet waste receptacle (e.g. blackwater tank) and the shower/sink waste water tank (greywater tank) empty. Otherwise the rental company reserves the right to charge a waste cleaning fee.
You are obliged to return the vehicle to the scheduled depot or location. There is an hourly charge for late return, and the time window for return is probably far less than 24 hours. Contact the rental depot if you cannot return on time.
The rental depot personnel will thoroughly inspect the RV for any damage. If the damage is not already marked on the damage checklist, you will be held responsible.
The RV should be returned clean inside and be emptied of luggage by the reserved return time. (Typically the motorhome rental company will clean the outside.) If the vehicle is not clean on the inside — i.e. not only emptied of luggage but also with clean floors (vacuumed or thoroughly swept), clean seats, clean appliances, clean bathroom, and generally clean surfaces — the rental company reserves the right to charge a substantial interior cleaning fee. You are not allowed to clean the RV at the rental depot. You will also be responsible for any claim made by a subsequent client because of their pick-up delay.
You must report and turn in to the rental depot any parking, toll-road or other tickets received during your rental. When you rent a RV in Canada, the USA, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, etc, the cost of any associated fine or fines devolves upon you the client, even if you were not directly ticketed for the violation or were otherwise unaware of the violation. Moreover, the rental company might charge you an administration fee for processing each such fine.


text:
I thought I got up early on this morning, then was puzzled that I didn't get to the bus very early. Turns out that Anne and Jori had left later than usual, which fooled me into thinking I was early too! Caught the bus to the airport, then the bus from the airport to the gardens. Keukenhof gardens are incredible. Stunningly beautiful with all the spring flowers including the tulips, the gardens should be on everybody's bucket list! I'm not going to write much - just let you drink in the colours and beauty...
After wandering around the gardens for a couple of hours, I decided to hire a bike to the flower fields as I \really wanted to see them. I was really nervous for two reasons - Firstly, I hadn't ridden a bike for 30 years, and secondly my balance. Having no balance makes me somewhat dangerous on a bike, but I was determined not to let it get in my way.
On my ride, which was really wobbly, the first thing I noticed was the number of tour buses inside the gardens. Where fields of flowers should have been, fields of tour buses were there instead. I've never seen so many tour buses all in one place.
The flower fields were stunning as I thought they would be. The hardest thing about biking was starting off - was very unbalanced and wobbly, but once I got going and into a rhythm I was find. I had one mishap though - my camera blag fell out of the basket and whent down with a crunch. Miraculously it still seems to be working fine!
I rode the bike for about an hour, then headed back home by bus. I'm so glad I went, and today was my only chance due to the fact I was heading away again, and the gardens close the day before I come back.
Jori met me at the flat then we all went to meet Sue, Annes lovely friend from South Africa, and her parents.We met at this amazing restaurant in the middle of the water.


text:
On 21 Dec 2005, at 19:26, Joshua Allen wrote: > I would draw exactly the opposite conclusion from the real-world data. I am not sure what the opposite conclusion is that my arguments help you reach. > However, I don't have any particular bias or religion to boost, so > my opinion may be unanchored. Neither do I. We are both trying to determine where the future is going, and reasonable people can easily and rightly agree to disagree on that, as it is mostly indeterminate. Guessing the future correctly can make a lot of difference in how much money ends up in one's pocket :-) I think at the minimum it is worth considering that SPARQL + an ontology can replace a lot of what the complex SOAP web services are trying to do. And even simplify the RESTful web services supported by Amazon. This is because the Ontology, the query language, and the results are beautifully complimentary and fundamentally tied into the fundamental web archictecture construct: the URI. Henry Story > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Henry Story [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] >> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 10:21 AM >> To: Joshua Allen >> Cc: firstname.lastname@example.com; email@example.com; firstname.lastname@example.com; semantic- >> email@example.com >> Subject: Re: How will the semantic web emerge: SPARQL end point >> and $$€€ >> >> >> On 21 Dec 2005, at 19:08, Joshua Allen wrote: >> >>>> worth looking at this. If I were Barnes and Noble of la FNAC I >>>> would >>>> try this out, before Amazon gets there. >>> >>> This motivation only works if there is credible evidence that >>> Amazon is preparing to launch SPARQL endpoints, though. And even >>> then, only if there is evidence that such endpoints would see broad >>> adoption. >> >> Amazon as you point out below, has published web services, so that is >> a good reason to try to do better. Furthermore those services are >> more difficult to establish as you have to specify the query language >> as well as the xml format. With RDF and SPARQL most of these problems >> are already solved for you in a standard way. So life is a lot >> easier. You have a much more powerful query mechanism, a much cleaner >> semantics. No need to re-invent the wheel. >> >>>> Once more groups get their SPARQL end points out, I forsee that >>>> major >>>> players will wish to standardise on some ontologies to: >>> >>> I believe we have enough specific evidence to counter this >>> prediction already. Amazon has already exposed its business data >>> in a variety of flavors: >> >> Exactly. That proves the point that if you put data on the web that >> has value, people will use it whatever the obstacles are, as long as >> it the obstacles are not bigger than the time required to invest in >> accessing it. Amazon had to use RESTful web services, invent an XML >> format and a query language as at the time they put their service >> online SPARQL did not exist. All of this comes out automatically >> from having a good ontology. The query mechanism is immediately >> defined, and the whole thing is self documenting. >> >> >>> >>> 1) Web services with loose contract (POX over HTTP) >> >> Most successful for complex apps. >> >>> 2) Intermediate format -- RSS using some simple, well-known >>> extensions >> >> most successful for very simple keeping up to date apps. >> >>> 3) Web services using tighter schema (SOAP and WSDL) >> >> Not successful. Too complicated. On the way to extinction. >> >>> Can you guess the relative adoption of each style? This is a >>> pattern we see played out across the industry. >> >> So my point is that SPARQL will replace 1. It is RESTful enough and >> avoid having to invent a query language and an XML format. >> >> Henry Story >> http://bblfish.net/blog/ >Received on Wednesday, 21 December 2005 18:36:25 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 1 March 2016 07:41:49 UTC


text:
The Fat Banker notes from a cheese platter somewhere in NYC: He was one of my all time favs, and in my PhD days, long before I even observed he had graced the covers of Said's "orientalism", a print of his "Pigmallion and Galeta" used to adorn my hallway – until I got rich enough to purchase the original. if you see what I meAn.
A true Tailorite Soof, since his sojourn down to "Egypt" (geddit) whence this orientalist tafsir derives …
And round about them shall go youths never altering in age; when you see them you will think them to be scattered pearls. (76:19)
Hafiz i-Shirazi, Ghazl No. 10 from the Divan of Hafiz
His mop of hair tangled, sweating, laughing and drunk,
Shirt torn, singing poems, flask in hand,
His eyes spoiling for a fight, his lips mouthing "Alas!"
Last night at midnight he came and sat by my pillow.
He bent his head to my ear and said, sadly,
"O, my ancient lover, are you sleeping?"
The seeker to whom they give such a cup at dawn
Is an infidel to love if he will not worship the wine.
O hermit, go and do not quibble with those who drink the dregs,
For on the eve of creation this was all they gave to us.
What he poured in our cup we drank,
Whether the mead of Heaven, or the wine of drunkenness.
The cup's smile and the wine boy's knotted curl
Have broken many vows of chastity, like that of Hafiz.


text:
Lake Tahoe Cabin Rentals – Locating Cabins for Rent Close to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is found along the border of California and Nevada. This large freshwater lake is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains and is one particular of the most wonderful spots to visit in the United States. As an alternative of the standard hotel continue to be, why not deal with your loved ones to a trip they will truly remember with a cabin rental at wonderful Lake Tahoe. Locating the proper holiday vacation cabin rental is easier than you imagine.
Lake Tahoe cabins and holiday vacation rentals appear in all shapes and sizes. Decide on from rustic cabins, small cozy log or cedar cabins, or opt for large deluxe cabins or holiday vacation homes. No matter if you are hunting for a small intimate cabin for two or anything that can accommodate dozens of loved ones users or close friends, the proper cabin is waiting for you.
Surrounded by spectacular mountain landscapes, with around 70 miles of shore line, Lake Tahoe is the ideal placing for your up coming cabin rental. Leasing a cabin presents a fantastic option to an everyday hotel continue to be, and there are cabin rentals that in good shape any spending budget. Exclusive Lake Tahoe cabin rentals and holiday vacation homes give the ideal base for your outside routines. Take pleasure in boating, fishing, climbing, golfing, snowboarding, and several other routines in this wonderful mountain placing.
Below are some top rated assets for getting cabins for rent or holiday vacation home rentals in the Lake Tahoe space. Every single of these web-sites present a broad range of cabin rentals and other lodging.
Tahoe Cabin Rentals – Presents a good range of Lake Tahoe holiday vacation rental homes. Trip lodging is readily available for rent direct from the entrepreneurs so that you can avoid some of the regular rental company expenses. Their web-site enables you to research for Lake Tahoe cabin rentals by distinct parts and addresses South Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe and the higher Lake Tahoe Basin. Their website is: www.TahoeCabinRentals.com.
Tahoe North Rentals – They checklist Lake Tahoe holiday vacation rentals and ski leases along the North Shore and West Shore of Lake Tahoe. Listings involve around eighty distinctive Lake Tahoe holiday vacation rentals that range from secluded mountain getaways to lake entrance luxury homes. Tahoe cabin rentals also involve: pet pleasant holiday vacation rentals and economic climate cabin rentals. Their website is: www.tahoenorthrentals.com
Lodging Lake Tahoe – Locally owned and operated for around thirty decades. They specialize in holiday vacation rentals found in the course of South Lake Tahoe in both of those Nevada and California, in the vicinity of Heavenly Ski Vacation resort. Listings involve ski condos, private holiday vacation homes, cabins, and pet-pleasant homes. Their website is: www.lodginglaketahoe.com
Lake Tahoe is a favorite holiday vacation location for several, and absolutely one particular of the most wonderful parts to hire a cabin. I hope some of these assets aid you locate the ideal cabin rental or holiday vacation rental in Lake Tahoe. Just take the time to develop long lasting memories for you and your little ones. Make your up coming trip more special by renting a cabin – you will be glad that you did!
Are you hunting for more information and facts on Lake Tahoe cabins?
Get more information and facts on cabin rentals here: Lake Tahoe Cabin Rentals


text:
V Dawg's house
Welcome to Vdawg's House we are located in the insane asylum of The Laughter Ward. You can check in but you can never leave! Weekly laughs, videos plain insane humor! Enter at your own risk!
wait for it …
Late Night Munchieseverybody right now after the club lmaoFollow me on IG: https://instagram.com/1infamous9/


text:
Well, here it is, and hardly anyone noticed. Google Panda 4.2 was officially announced as starting to roll out from July 18, 2015, and this one's going to be different. Google said it was going to take weeks to process Panda this time. That's very much different from previous Panda updates as it would simply process sites and pages in a matter of a few days, once all the data centres had caught up.
Now, the process appears to be so slow that the number of sites being impacted in any one day is minimal. It's now difficult to know whether a site's been hit, or recovered, unless closely monitoring the rankings, but, importantly, the traffic. Monitoring rankings is notoriously difficult, and often of little value with "personalisation."
What might cause a Panda hit? In the most part, it's about site content that's too thin, weak, or bad quality, or simply inadequate. This also works if a site has too much content. What, you say, too much! Yes, if the site has lots of bad quality content, aimed at specific keywords, or is automated content, watch out, the Google Panda is about. It's all about content, and quality, although there may be other aspects that play a part. Linking to and from other poor quality Pandalised sites won't help.
What happens when getting hit by Panda? Your weak pages would probably end up in Google's supplemental index, and then they'd never rank, and your traffic would suffer. Now, Panda will affect the whole of the site if there's a quality content issue.
There's no doubt that this long, slow roll-out is part of a plan by Google to hide the updates so that they become sanitised, making it much more difficult to know what's going on, and what changes to make to re-optimise a site.
The simple answer is to add natural, quality content, and grow the site organically. Don't add hundreds, or thousands of pages with thin, copied, or inadequate content, or automated pages that are not natural.
Google's become highly proficient at joining the dots.


text:
Toss pecans with a touch of brown sugar, a sprinkling of cinnamon, an infusion of vanilla and a few zests of orange for a indescribable candied pecans for this salad. The dressing features blueberry pomegranate dressing. Salad greens can be baby field greens, spinach or a mixture of lettuces.
It takes only 1 1/2 to 3 minutes in the microwave for the nuts to caramelize and become toasted.
Stir the pecans often and watch them carefully. If a smell is wafting from the microwave, chances are the pecans are burning in the center. Salvage them by quickly turning them out onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Spray the foil with butter to help the candied pecans to release easily.
Once the pecans are toasted, just add crumble blue cheese, dried cranberries and sliced green onion. The dressing is blended in the blender and is a great contrast with the salty, tangy cheese.
Above, the dressing is drizzled over each salad but it can be tossed with the entire salad to coat everything well.
Blueberry Pomegranate Dressing over Salad Greens, Dried Cranberries and Candied Pecans
8 ozs washed salad greens
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup candied pecans (recipe follows)
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 cup shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup Blueberry Pomegranate Dressing (recipe follows)
Toss dressing with all the ingredients just before serving.
Candied Pecans
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Combine all ingredients in a small glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 to 3 minutes or until pecans are toasted and syrup hardens when tested in cold water. Spoon out onto a foil lined tray that has been coated with cooking spray. When cool, break into pieces and sprinkle over salad.
Blueberry Pomegranate Dressing
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup blueberry pomegranate infused red wine vinegar
1-inch piece of onion
1 cup salad oil
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Combine all ingredients in blender and process until blended, making sure onion is completely pureed. Toss with salad just before serving.


text:
Can we be of assistance?
Call us on 01335 361287
Opening hours 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
FREE UK Exchange & Returns
Can we be of assistance? Call us on 01335 361287
We have such a huge selection of Mens Jackets, that they can be overwhelming. So please sort by size, colour and occasion, or any other filter to help you find exactly what you are looking for. We include all of our suit jackets in the initial list, as it can be great to mix them with jeans. Some of my favorites are the Striped boating blazer, our cruise jacket for men, the Skopes Oslo Suit Jacket and the Brook Taverner Imola suit Jacket.
Happy Hunting! Remember, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call and we will do our best to help.
Leather. Zip Front, Pop Button Cuffs. Breast Pocket. Inner Pockets.
This jacket is ideal to dress up or dress down, team with a smart shirt and jeans for the a smart casual look.
Gents classic blouson in super-soft nappa leather
This Finely crafted, genuine, Detachable Fur Aviator Jacket available in Brown Nappa and Waxy Black Nappa Leather.
Woodland Leather 2 Button Blazer with a single vent and revere collar.
Please Choose Your Shipping Destination
Alternatively, make a note of any items of interest then call: 01335 361287 to place an order.


text:
"A compelling and multi-layered examination of the near-assassination of President Ronald Reagan."
—Lou Cannon, author of President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime
Read an excerpt from Rawhide Down
Praise for Rawhide Down
Reviews and Features for Rawhide Down
A minute-by-minute account of the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary
On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was just seventy days into his first term of office when John Hinckley Jr. opened fire outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, wounding the president, press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent, and a D.C. police officer. For years, few people knew the truth about how close the president came to dying, and no one has ever written a detailed narrative of that harrowing day. Now, drawing on exclusive new interviews and never-before-seen documents, photos, and videos, Del Quentin Wilber tells the electrifying story of a moment when the nation faced a terrifying crisis that it had experienced less than twenty years before, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
With cinematic clarity, we see Secret Service agent Jerry Parr, whose fast reflexes saved the president's life; the brilliant surgeons who operated on Reagan as he was losing half his blood; and the small group of White House officials frantically trying to determine whether the country was under attack. Most especially, we encounter the man code-named "Rawhide," a leader of uncommon grace who inspired affection and awe in everyone who worked with him.
Ronald Reagan was the only serving U.S. president to survive being shot in an assassination attempt.* Rawhide Down is the first true record of the day and events that literally shaped Reagan's presidency and sealed his image in the modern American political firmament.
*There have been many assassination attempts on U.S. presidents, four of which were successful: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. President Theodore Roosevelt was injured in an assassination attempt after leaving office.
Praise for Rawhide Down
"This book is a page-turner from beginning to end and I believe you will learn a lot about an event that came razor-close to changing America forever and certainly altered the presidency of Mr. Reagan. Rich in detail with reporting I have never heard before, Rawhide Down rewards the reader on just about every page. Trust me on this."
—Bill O'Reilly, author of the forthcoming Killing Lincoln: The Assassination that Changed America Forever
""Riveting…a fast-paced book that captures many points of view."
—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"Del Quentin Wilber has written a compelling and multi-layered examination of the near-assassination of President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. As a biographer of Reagan who was at the Washington Hilton Hotel that fateful day, I was fascinated by Wilber's meticulous reconstruction. He properly credits the valor and judgment of the Secret Service agents who saved Reagan's life but also analyzes the security deficiencies that made the assassination attempt possible. Wilber reminds us of how close we were to losing Reagan little more than two months into his presidency. His detailed and readable accounts of the surgeries performed on Reagan and Press Secretary James Brady are of particular historical value."
—Lou Cannon, author of President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime
"The chapters that detail the assassination attempt and its immediate aftermath read like a thriller."
—David Baldacci, The Washington Post
"Rawhide Down is full of spectacular, original reporting."
—Bob Woodward
"The 96 months of Ronald Reagan's presidency changed the nation and the world. Del Quentin Wilber's gripping account of the 'near assassination' of the 40th president shows how close the country—and the world—came to missing more than 93 of those months."
—George F. Will
"Rawhide Down is a stunning work. Del Quentin Wilber, with the world-class reporting skills he honed on the police beat and a fine sense of narrative, has taken a story we thought we knew and rendered it wholly fresh, vibrant, and revealing."
—David Maraniss, author of When Pride Still Mattered
—New York Post
"This intensely researched account yields an almost moment-by-moment account of the crisis."
—New York Daily News
"A fast-paced read that draws well-crafted characters and gives a vivid sense of the history that brought the story's heroes and Hinckley together that day."
—The Washingtonian
"In this eye-opening book of solid journalism, we learn just how close Ronald Reagan, code-named "Rawhide" by the Secret Service, came to being the president with the second shortest time in office."
—Bob Hoover, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"With a reporter's eye for detail and a screenwriter's talent for the cinematic, he invests such immediacy in Rawhide Down that the reader is thrust back 30 years in time. "
—Richmond Times-Dispatch
"A fascinating glimpse of a pivotal moment in history."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"This mesmerizing rendition of the event can be read in one sitting, as Wilber's accuracy and craft provoke rapt interest."
Reviews and Features for Rawhide Down
Ronald Reagan's Close Call – CBS Sunday Morning
'Rawhide Down' Explores Reagan Assassination Attempt (Fox & Friends)
'Rawhide Down' Details Reagan Assassination Attempt (Fox News)
Revisiting The Reagan Shooting In Rawhide Down
Del Quentin Wilber Wilber and Jerry Parr, the head of Reagan's Secret Service detail at the time of the shooting, speak with NPR's Ari Shapiro.
Wall Street Journal interview with Del Quentin Wilber and Secret Service agent Jerry Parr
Revisiting the Reagan Assassination Attempt, 30 Years Later (PBS Newshour)
Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.
CBS Up To The Minute
A Reagan Forum with Del Quentin Wilber – 4/4/11
American Artifacts: Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan (C-SPAN)
Panelists Jerry Parr, Dr. Joseph Giordano, Del Quentin Wilber and Judy Woodruff commemorated the 30th anniversary of the assassination attempt on President Reagan on March 30, 1981 at Newseum in Washington, D.C. (C-Span)
Reconstructing the Day Reagan Fell: Chaos After a President's Shooting. (The New York Times)
Time Magazine features Rawhide Down in their roundup of new books about Ronald Reagan.
National Review interview with Del Quentin Wilber
Secret Service Audio: The Moment Reagan Was Shot (National Journal)
Obama, Reagan, and Presidential Work Ethic (New York Magazine)
The day that changed presidential security forever (CNN)
When the Secret Service Saved Reagan (The Fiscal Times)
Book chronicles attempt on Reagan's life (Sun Herald)
In audio, agents save Reagan (Politico)
Reconstructing history, shot by shot (Journal Sentinel)
BOOK REVIEW: When the president was shot (The Washington Times)
Saving President Reagan (Baltimore Sun)
New book explores Ronald Reagan's shooting (Courier-Journal)
How quick thinking and skill saved Ronald Reagan from assassination (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Book review: 'Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan,' by Del Quentin Wilber (Dallas News)
Publishers Weekly Magazine starred review of Rawhide Down.
30 Years Later, Doctor Remembers Assassination Attempt of President Ronald Reagan: MyFoxDC.com
|Part 1: Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr
|Part 2: Dr. Joe Giordano
Revealing tapes of ride after 1981 Reagan shooting (Washington Post)
Secret Service tape from Reagan attack is released (Forbes)
Secret Service Audio: The Moment Reagan Was Shot (National Journal)
Enhanced Ebook
Rawhide Down is available as an Enhanced Ebook.
Buy the Enhanced Ebook:
Rawhide Down is available as an Ebook.
Buy the ebook:
Rawhide Down is available as an audiobook from Macmillan Audio.
Narrated by Jason Culp Audio Run Time: 8:00
Buy the Audiobook


text:
Having problems with your Nikon D80 Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens ?
After taking a picture, my lcd displaces annoying technical details of the image. pls how can i take it off from the settings
Answers :
On the back of the camera where your right thumb would rest is a four way rocker. After you take a photo press the up or down arrow to rotate through the different data screens of your photo until you come to the blank one with just your photo. It will take only four presses to cycle all screens.
Repair Help & Product Troubleshooting for Nikon D80 Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens
Tips for a great answer:- Provide details, support with references or personal experience .
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box .
- It's 100% free, no registration required.
Suggested Questions/Answers :
After taking a picture, my lcd displaces annoying technical details of the image. pls how can i take it off from the settings
On the back of the camera where your right thumb would rest is a four way rocker. After you take a photo press the up or down arrow to rotate through the different data screens of your photo until you come to the blank one with just your photo. It wi ... Nikon D80 Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens
Lcd blurred I have a canon power shot a80 and when i turn it on and try to take a picture, on the LCD display i see a mixture of colour which is not even letting me see the image of the picture i would like to take. If i look through the lens and take the image, i am still able to view the picture I had taken if i set the camera on the view pictures. The mixture of colours on the LCD only shows when the camera is set on take the picture... and it doesn't even do it always. Thanks.
Canon will fix this camera if it is in the list of ccd defect. Contact canon.com for the Americas, or where you are. Call Service on the web page with the 800 number.http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&am ... Canon PowerShot A80 Digital Camera
My D70 was working normally when I last used it. I left it safely stored at my vacation home for three months, and when I tried to use it today it appeared to take pictures, all functions seemed to be working, but reviewing the pictures I see only a black monitor. It shows a file number, the info shows exposure details but there is no image. I did a re-set to factory spec, put in a fresh battery, tried several memory cards, all with no success. Looking at the memory card on my computer shows the
The shutter in the camera lens is not working, the motor that controls the aperture has failed or the related gears. This device will require a camera specialist to resolve the issue and an estimate recommended. ... Nikon D70s Digital Camera
I'm having problems with the settings on my Canon EOS 400D. When I take pictures in AV mode I can get quality pictures but in TV or M modes the pictures always come out so dark even when taking them outside in daylight. They are not coming back with a completely blank screen as I can see the outlines of the image. Even when I try different settings nothing improves the image.
You need to understand the relationship and teractivity of aperture, shutter speed and iso. In Av mod, you choose the aperture and the camera makes thw shutter speed agjustment, In Tv mode, you set the shutter speed and the camera makes the aperture ... Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi Digital Camera
No image on lcd,if you snap a picture,the picture will be black,camera has set up for a while.it will power up and show functions and set up info on lcd you can set time and date,but no image,flash works,but takes no picture,any ideas?
It is known problem of ccd imager chip failure in Canon A85 camera, Canon offers free of cost ccd imager chip replacement.Click ... Canon PowerShot A85 Digital Camera
Close-up picture Hi! I purchased my camera to take up close-up pictures of handmade greeting cards. The cards are 4" x 5 1/2" with lots of little details. I'd like to show as much detail as possble. I'm not sure what the best setting are? I've tried using the flash, but the whole picture just glares out, the light bounces off of the card and makes a big glare in the center. Without the flash, the picture is too dark. Can you help me figure out the best setting to use? Or, what kind of lighting
Take photo under diffused light from sun inside the room or outdoor. Do not use flash. Try to use macro mode else adjust using manual focus(MF) mode. You will sure get a fantastic exposure.-G.Ganesh, Boisar ... Canon PowerShot S5 IS Digital Camera
My Canon A75 cannot take pictures. Intially, a blurry purplish image would occur when taking a picture, now nothing comes into the image screen, except when the video setting is selected. In that case, a mostly white-purple image is seen.
This sounds like it might be a defective CCD imager. If so, Canon should fix this for you for free, including free shipping both ways. This is regardless of your camera's warranty status. ... Canon PowerShot A75 Digital Camera
I have a canon sd 750 have been using it for 4 months now, but yesterday the screen went black i can see the old picturs i took but cant take any new pictures all the new pictures i take are black the LCD is gone black the lense is moving but no image on the LCD i can see the menu and settings but no image from the lense
OK, SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MEMORY YOU HAD IN THE CAMERA. I WAS HOPING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A SIMPLE PROBLEM FOR YOUR SAKE AND WE COULD GET YOUR CAMERA UP AND RUNNING FOR YOU AGAIN. NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL TO TAKE A LOOK AT ... Canon PowerShot SD750 / IXUS 75 Digital Camera
LCD Display I haven't used my canon for a while - I've just turned it on and though the LCD display works to show pictures I've taken and the settings screen - I can't see anything in it when I take a picture (it's just black) when I press the Disp button it just switches from a black screen to the settings screen - please tell me what I can do so that I can see the image in the LCD before I take the picure. Thanks for your help
As far as I am aware, the 400D doesn't have a live preview mode.What you are describing is perfectly normal and is how 99% of digital SLR cameras behave.Are you sure it used to do this?Matt ... Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi Digital Camera
When i go to take a picture, the image screen shows a pink horizontal line at the top and the rest is grey. I have tried different settings and all are the same. I normally use the auto setting. It will flash when I take a picture, but there is nothing to view.
This sounds like it might be a defective CCD imager. If so, Canon should fix this for you for free worldwide, and may also include free shipping both ways (free shipping varies with countries). This is regardless of your camera's warranty status. ... Canon PowerShot A85 Digital Camera
Yashica ez digital 6032- 6 mp camera.. i got one sparingly used yashica camera... with above spec... which shows trouble when taking stil pictures outdoors... indoor pictures and video indoors n outdoors are fine. but when taking stills outdoor mainly in daylight condtions... resulting pic is over exposed and blured...with white light...i tried adjsting the setting and i have reseted to factory settings... but the same problem remains...pls help me
Yashica ez digital 6032video indoors n outdoors are fine.but when taking stills outdoor mainly in daylight condtions...resulting pic is over exposed and blured...with white light...i triedadjst ... Digital Cameras
Canon Powershot A610 digital camera--LCD screen shows icons, but otherwise is blank--there is no visible movement in the lens when I take a picture without flash--have tried setting it on TV setting and taking a picture, then opening the battery cover for a few seconds after waiting 7 seconds or so, but no images on the LCD except the camera's icons--ideas? probably a stuck shutter, or is it still possibly the CCD sensor even though there's no visible movement in the lens? Ideas? Thanks!
Much more likely that it's a stuck shutter, especially for your model camera. How many tries did you give the fix? Some people stated that it took at least 15 repeated tries before the shutter opened:\015\012\015\012\015\012 ... Canon PowerShot A610 Digital Camera
I purchased a d80 recently and took about 2,000 shots at an outdoor music festival virtually 90% of them came out with poor image quality, i was shooting in "fine" mode and alternated my settings primarily from portrait, auto, P, settings- example i was taking a picture of a trombone player wearing a white shirt and black pants, when you look at the black, it looks like scatter multicolored pixels, like an image taken with a 2 megapixel camera from 500ft away and then enlarged. I was taking the
Hey mcgeedds,\015\012 What you're seeing is probably what is called digital noise. At low levels of light the sensor in the camera that records the image shares data from one pixel to the ones adjacent to it whi ... Digital Cameras
My Canon EOS rebel suddenly won't take pictures in dim light. The flash pops up and blinks and blinks trying to register the image but won't ever autofocus and take the picture. The light has to be very bright for it to take a picture. I have gone through all of the settings and everything seems to be correct. Any thoughts?
To autofocus the sensor needs a fair amount of contrast (light and dark eges) to operate. If you're trying to take a photo in a dim room of a dark colored subject for instance the focus won't lock and the camera won't take the picture. Try switching ... Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i Digital Camera
Canon A560 camera problem - the images are overexposed. I checked the exposure setting, AWB, and all other settings and they are all normal. There is an exposure setting where I can set to + or - 2, but setting it to -2 does not help much. Outdoor photos are almost completely white. There is some detail in black objects. Indoor photos are overexposed. Flash pictures seem OK. The picture on the display is OK. I compared some macro photos taken a few weeks ago with macro photos now. The good photo
... Canon PowerShot A560 Digital Camera
I turn the camera on, the Canon image comes up along with various icons, but there is no picture in the viewer - and when I take a picture I get nothing. It's like the lens remains covered. Is this a setting that is somehow changed? I reset - but no change. I can view pictures on the card, so it's not the display. I can also view settings - just not any picture.
This sounds like it might be a defective CCD imager. If so, Canon should fix this for you for free, including free shipping both ways. This is regardless of your camera's warranty status. ... Canon PowerShot A95 Digital Camera
DPI resolution My pictures are always set at 72 dpi no matter what image setting I use. I have friends with much lesser cameras that take better pictures and their dpi settings range from 230 to 300. HOw can I change this setting?
Menu- camera set up- picture quality- \015\012 try to locate picture size using menu button switch. RAW file is the best but it eats too much memory. ... Canon Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D Body only Digital Camera
I took a picture with the camera, turned it off and set it down. about 20 minutes later I went to take another picture, when I turned it on, it powers up, lens opens, but monitor is black and if you look through viewfinder and take a picture, the image on review is also black. It still allows you to review past taken pictures, but won't show anything in the monitor.
HiThat sounds like the display is turned off for shot preview, see if you can get it turned back on by pressing a disp. button or similar, if that doesn't help then somewhere in the settings or setup of the camere there should be a reset ... Vivitar ViviCam 5385 Digital Camera
My canon powershot a95 display screen does not show an image when I am trying to take a picture. The image that is displayed is black with white lines and varies in the amount of black and white. No matter what setting I turn to, I can not get the image to appear. It had been working fine till a couple of days ago. It has not been dropped. I get the same result when trying to view a picture of a card. Is there any way to reset the camera?
This sounds like it might be a defective CCD imager. If so, Canon should fix this for you for free, including free shipping both ways. This is regardless of your camera's warranty status. ... Canon PowerShot A95 Digital Camera
Why is my olympus e420 taking green tinted photos? I bought a new camera which I received yesterday, and it was until earlier, but has suddenly started taking yellowy/greeny tinted images. I've tried changing the settings, I've changed the camera modes, I reset the settings altogether and even changed lenses and yet the camera still takes tinted pictures, inside and outside. Also, when I switch the camera to live-view mode (shows exactly what the lens sees) it shows pretty much an entire green s
Im having this same problem. I have yet gotten it solved.. have you fixed it yet? ... Olympus E-420 Digital Camera
Pentax E30 Digital Camera: When I take pictures under the sun or even at dusk, the pictures are too bright or pure bright with no image at all. I can only take normal pictures during nighttime. I have tried to change the settings, the white Balance, EV compensation and sensitivity, it still wont' work
Its sound like if the iris motor wont go to the good position its could be the light sensor thats needs to be tested...\012?\012\012hope that give you an idea\012regards Alan ... Pentax Optio E30 Digital Camera
Can i set the resizing image to 640 x480 and all pictures taken will come out at that size or do I have to go in and manually change each one .... on page 142 it discribes doing this to each picture that would take a long time we need to take a lot of pictures and be able to compress and put them in a zip file to email .. do you have any advice on both these subjects
First select the shooting mode you are going to use on the dial to Auto.Press the Func/set button. Use the ring around the Func/set button to scroll down to the bottom line, then scroll across to select "S" (for small). This is the 640*48 ... Canon Powershot SX110 IS Digital Camera 9.0MP
Pink pictures the other day.... I was using my camera and it started showing lines through the image, the image quality was getting worse and worse. I figured needs new batteries. So I put new batteries in it and now it takes pink pictures! How strange my evergreen pictures look in fushia color! I tried and tried for a couple of weeks, I checked all the settings, even took the batteries out and restarted, but still pink! all shades of pink! Here's where it really gets odd, I got my camera
Hi all -- This is a physical problem with the way the lens is seated. I didn't figure this out myself; I was told it by a camera repair shop guy who also owned a 945 and had the same problem. Basicly, you adjust the lens, relative to the body, by d ... HP Photosmart 945 Digital Camera
Screen problems i also have an olympus camera. I just got it about a month ago and my screen is'nt working right. When i turn it on everything is working and shows everything it should but the image view. it iss black and i can take a picture but its jus a black picture when i take it. what should i do to fix this? i have tried taking the battery and memory card out messing with the settings and formats but nothing has worked. What should i do?
... Digital Cameras
The camera powers on fine, although it has a black screen with no image. What type problem is this and is it fixable or not. When I go to look at the pictures I took while the display screen was blacked out the screen remains with no image. I just turned on my camera the other day and I can still acces my menu, I can see the camera details in the corner and even view old pictures but when I turn it on eveything else is black! I can't take any new pictures because of the black screan. Is this fi
I have the same problem i need help fixing it? ... Nikon Coolpix S3 Digital Camera


text:
How To Manifest The Life You Want In 30 Minutes A Day
You're halfway through appetizers at your favorite restaurant when something catches your eye. It's a baby, no more than 3, and he's navigating an iPad with more proficiency than most adults—and totally ignoring his family. You have to laugh. And though you're impressed, there's something not quite right about it. It almost makes you feel sad.
The sadness comes from your projection of the iBaby's future.
He'll spend 90 percent of his waking hours reacting to social media notifications, emails, and text alerts. His wife won't know what a romantic dinner is. Colleagues will feel privileged to get five seconds of uninterrupted eye contact. And the saddest part? His kids will be even worse.
But the iBaby's story isn't so different from the millennial generation. Where do we turn when we're stressed? When we're bored? When we're anxious? Most of us instinctively reach for our pockets and fiddle with a smartphone—almost like Gollum with his "precious." We don't really have moments to reflect because we're constantly responding to some external prompt.
Though the internet has given us incredible jobs and learning opportunities, most of us suffer more than we benefit. But it's not the technology itself—it's our refusal to reflect.
Without reflection, you have no direction.
When all our attention is directed outward (toward the TV, phone, computer, etc.), we don't know what's going on inside ourselves. And that inner knowledge is the key to finding what makes you happy, what makes you sad, what makes you excited, and what makes you fulfilled. Reflection gives you the power to control your life.
Without it, life happens to you rather than because you made choices to bring about a future you desired. You can be the best at your job, make all the money in the world, have the nicest things, and you still won't feel successful. Or you could become so distracted that you can't find the motivation to get off your parents' couch.
That was my story.
Until the age of 24, I was a slave to technology. My first morning movement wasn't a stretch—it was an iPhone reach. Instead of reflecting on my dreams or the interactions or experiences I'd had the day before, I immediately checked Facebook.
My days were wasted on things that made me feel important—but I never actually did anything important. Six years into adulthood, I was no closer to a sense of purpose or fulfillment than I had been as a 6-year-old.
One day I realized that if nothing changed, I'd be living with my mom forever. That thought didn't bother me when I was younger—the future felt far away. But now I was almost a quarter-century old; my friends had houses and families; my little brother was already the manager of a government agency. The future was now, and I was going to be left behind.
Here's how I started.
Though I didn't realize it at the time, reflection was the thing I was avoiding. It scared me. I didn't know myself, and I was terrified of what I might find. I responded to the fear by diving into porn, social media, video games, news, girlfriends—anything that could distract me from me.
But the distractions hadn't gotten me anywhere. I was smart enough to know I couldn't keep doing the same things and expect different results, so I faced the dragon. My own inner self.
After enough research I decided that journaling would be my primary tool to start with. If I could describe my day in detail, then I could see what was and wasn't working over time—thoughts, habits, routines, and so on. By narrating my life, I gave myself the power to change the narrative.
I spent 15 to 30 minutes reflecting on my day every night before bed. I wrote down my thoughts from morning to night. I looked into how those thoughts shaped my actions, and how my actions affected my feelings, and how my feelings determined my day.
Far from the nightmare I had expected, journaling was calming. It put me at ease and made me feel peaceful, empowered, confident.
Journaling was my first success ritual.
Thirty days straight gave me insight into my biggest problems. When I realized that my lack of success was simply a bad habit and not a character trait, my confidence skyrocketed. After three months, I found my first bit of professional success: I got my first full-time writing gig.
Journaling didn't magically help me land good jobs. But through reflection, I discovered all the thoughts and habits that held me back. One session of reflection didn't accomplish much. But after 90 days in a row, the results were astonishing.
I finally had a career. I finally had work I could be proud of. I finally had my own life.
Reflection put a microscope on the little details that were dragging me down. But it also helped me zoom out to see the bigger pieces of success.
I realized that my best friend of 10 years was poison. Despite how much I enjoyed his company, Chad hadn't helped me become a better person. And it was always the same story with him: same dead-end job, same drinks and cigarettes, same relationship problems.
After half a year of journaling, I knew I had to cut Chad off. My time in reflection had helped me figure out that he wasn't helping me grow. The decision wasn't easy. But it was the best choice I've ever made.
Then the impossible happened.
After I let go of the dozens of bad habits and the couple of people that held me back, I started getting freelance clients for a buck a word. I got published on huge websites like mindbodygreen and Entrepreneur magazine. I moved out on my own and experienced the struggle of manhood for the first time.
With all my new experience, I was able to create even more value for my audience. Reflection started a positive feedback loop that continues to take me higher and higher.
I'm not immune to distraction. But whenever I have a bad day, I can always pinpoint the extra time spent on Facebook, or the mindless email checks that kept me from doing the important things. Nightly journaling is a safety net that prevents my mistakes from becoming habits.
I just wish I had started reflecting 10 years earlier.
How can you use reflection to take charge of your life?
No matter where you are today, no matter what you've done, you can take charge of your life with reflection.
First, eliminate distractions. Cut out Facebook, email, toxic people, bad relationships, puttering around, negative thinking, texting, and surfing the internet—anything that keeps you from knowing you better.
Then start a nightly habit of reflection. I recommend journaling because it helps you to stay on task whereas with meditation you can kind of float off into the abyss. Not knocking meditation, but I'd save that for after a few months of journaling.
Write about your entire day, no matter how boring or uninspiring it may be. You have to start somewhere. Journaling is less about what you write down and more about what you learn.
Once you see the toxic thoughts and habits on the page, you'll be able to change them. Then you can cut out even more distractions and low-value habits and replace them with even more things that make you happy and rich.
Continue the practice every night for a month. Then, when you've reached your next level of success, you'll commit to journaling every night for the rest of your life. At least, that's how it happened with me.
Reflection was the magic wand that got me off my parents' couch and into the career I love. It will work for you, too.
Want to know if you should you go Keto? Paleo? Whole 30? Deciding what to eat to feel your best shouldn't be complicated. We've removed the guesswork to give you all the best nutrition tips & tools, all in one place. Ready to kickstart your health journey? We're here to guide you.


text:
I Arrived in Hong Kong to work in my first five-star hotel in Asia in 1988, and was totally blown away, not only by the quality of the staff and services offered. Nonetheless, I thought that the quality of service could only improve as the industry developed and competition for supremacy in service quality standards intensified.
However, in spite of the huge, ever-growing demand for well-trained, experienced professionals to fuel the light speed development of hotels worldwide, I could not have been more wrong.
A lasting solution to the dwindling standards of service is needed; unless we do something now, we risk losing forever the valuable "old" standards. Hospitality is at the core of our industry, and that is what we should keep in mind when we open our doors to weary international travelers who trust their welfare to us during their stay, A clean, safe, friendly, professionally-run home-away-from-home environment – those are the minimum requirements for any international hotel, and what sets one business apart.
I would like to share an experience that I encountered when visiting a five-star hotel; I don't mean to criticize – goodness knows, we all have problems – but I do think that it is time we addressed this important issue. It's a funny story about a serious problem.
After calling the hotel ahead of time to organize my stay, I walked into the lobby after 10pm; I was tired and just wanted to shower and rest. On arriving at the desk, I offered my name and was surprised with the response – "Welcome home, Mr Saxon, we have been expecting you! What a pleasure it is to see you returning – your usual room is ready and your favourite fruits are awaiting your arrival. We have taken the liberty of placing some imported beer in the mini bar for you," said the guy at the front desk, whose name tag proclaimed him as "Raymond".
Now, this was the first time I would be staying in this hotel, so I thought this was rather peculiar – but then, I thought that maybe as I was a hotelier myself, they were taking special care of me.
"Let me escort you upstairs right away," said Raymond, and as he marched on ahead, he signalled the bellboy to carry my large and rather heavy suitcase. I tried to convince them that I was able to carry my own case, but Raymond said, "Carry your own bag?! Absolutely not, we insist on transporting your luggage to your suite for you!"
The rather petite bellboy came running over; he wasn't much bigger than my suitcase and I hoped that he wouldn't get a double hernia trying to help me.
Something else occurred to me at this point and I enquired, "Excuse me, did you say 'suite'?"
"It would be criminal to place a gentleman like your self anywhere other than in one of our finest suites," he replied. At this point, I was very impressed with what was happening and a glimmer of hope was beginning to illuminate my slightly bleak outlook for the short-term industry service standards – this was to be very short-lived, however.
As we entered the elevator, Raymond whispered rather bashfully, "Your usual masseuse will be here in half an hour, Mr Saxon. We had problems locating Ms Fifi this time, as she changed establishments and failed to inform us,"
At that moment, I knew for sure that there was something seriously amiss.
"I think that you have me confused with somebody else – I never organised a massage from Fifi, or anyone else for that matter, and I have never stayed in your hotel before. And to be honest, I only booked a standard room," I said.
I was becoming slightly irritated that he was not listening to me at all. As we exited the elevator on the top floor and sat down at the executive lounge express check-in, I thought I would give revealing my true identity another go.
"I believe that I am being confused with one of your regular and more important guests. This lounge is exquisite, but any second now, you're going to realise I don't actually belong here! I specifically booked a room on the lower floor, as I am scared of heights, you see," I said.
The executive lounge manager looked at his reservation screen and said, "Your PA booked the top floor, sir, with a double bed, for your entire two-week stay". I was only staying for three days, and as my factual input we being ignored yet again. I silently leaned back on the soft leather sofa and wondered what was going to happen next.
I was whisked away to a very large two-bedroom suite with a king-sized bed. There was Champagne in an ice bucket with two gleaming crystal flutes, a large tower of imported fresh fruits and a very large plasma television.
"Will there be anything else you require, Mr Saxon?" offered the very polite chap on his way out.
"Yes, just one thing – I noticed that there is a welcome letter by the huge pile of fruits," I said.
"Yes sir, we always make our VIP guests as welcome as possible – guest recognition is our forte," he replied
"Yes, one thing though …" I rejoined, "Who is Mr Jones?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Mr Jones – the name on the card is Mr Jones."
The poor chap glanced at the card and swallowed deeply, saying, "Let me check on that, sir, and I will get back to you in a second."
Being a hotelier myself, I sat down in an armchair, careful not to mess up the room setting, and watched the news.
Five minutes later, the duty manager arrived in the room to apologise on bended knees for checking me into the wrong room; my name had somehow been listed in the booking system as the managing director of a huge public listed trading company.
"Let me escort you to your room, Mr Saxon," said the manager. As we were leaving, my luggage arrived. The bell staff placed it on the suite floor at my feet and then left.
"Will you require some assistance with your luggage, sir?"
I was astounded, and could not help saying, "You mean that you are not going to insist that you carry it for me?"
The manager went outside and squealed down the corridor to get the bell staff to come back. I was escorted to my "standard" room; however, I was very nicely upgraded to the executive floor, to a room which nonetheless had no fruit, not to mention a lack of Champagne on ice, and just a normal "old-fashioned" box television set.
"I guess that Fifi will not be coming then?" I enquired with a grin.
During the couple of days I stayed there, when entering the executive floor, the security asked me every question possible, CIA-style, to confirm my identity; on a different occasion, I walked past a staff member busy texting on their mobile phone, who didn't even glance up once.
Overall, the hotel was fine and I enjoyed my stay, but I must say that I noticed a disconcerting slow trend in the industry. The days when you used to see the general manager hanging around the lobby for a couple of hours a day, talking to guests and enquiring about their comfort, is slowly disappearing as the industry becomes more focused on the bottom line. It is my belief that as we eventually come full circle, we will remember why we all entered the industry in the first place, and that without our valued customers, there would be no bottom line at all.


text:
It's really happening, everybody. I'm moving to LA. Sometime around the 2nd week of October.
As of about a week from now, I will have lived in Chicago 11 years. In that time, I have never been in the Sears tower. Well, I've been in the lobby of it, but that doesn't really count. So my question to myself is whether I should hold on to that as a small claim to fame, or whether I need to get up there before I leave to consider my Chicago experience complete. I'm leaning towards going, since I don't really think anyone's going to be impressed by my willpower of not going to Chicago's major tourist attraction. If anything, they'll be impressed by my laziness. Unless I make up a good reason, like I'm won't go in the Sears tower because my Sears commercial never aired. And then they'll say that Sears doesn't even occupy that building anymore and that they never knew I even did a Sears commercial and why didn't it air, and then I'll have to try to replicate my ridiculous hairstyle and that's why I should probably just go up the tower.