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Are Fake Instagram Influencers Deceiving Brands?
Subscribe to our industry digest for the latest news, statistics, and trends on influencer marketing!
How Anyone Can Get Paid To Be An Instagram Influencer With $300 (or Less) Overnight
The Instagram influencer market size is currently $1 billion. That figure is set to double by 2019. With brands investing heavily in the influencer marketing space to reach millennial and Gen Z audiences on Instagram, some influencers are taking advantage of this market demand by buying fake followers and engagement to artificially inflate their clout.
While influencers both large and small are suspected of purchasing fake followers and engagement, this practice can be more lucrative and commonplace for smaller, starting, or micro-influencers. To prove whether or not it's possible for accounts with fake followers and engagement to secure brand sponsorship deals, Mediakix created two fictitious Instagram influencer accounts grown completely with bought followers and engagement (likes and comments) and applied to campaigns on popular influencer marketing platforms.
How To Build A Completely Fake Instagram Influencer Account
We created two fake Instagram influencer accounts: 1) a lifestyle and fashion-centric Instagram model and 2) a travel and adventure photographer.
Step 1: Generate Content (or Source Content)
For the first Instagram account, we hired a local model and generated the entire channel's content through a one-day photo shoot. The fake persona behind the account was a fashion and lifestyle influencer and Santa Monica local who went by the username "calibeachgirl310".
While the first Instagram account featured a real subject, we constructed the second Instagram account completely from free stock photos. The fake persona behind the account featured a travel and photography influencer who went by the username "wanderingggirl" sharing mainly landscape photographs from scenic destinations such as Paris, Yosemite, and Maui.
To make the account more personalized, we also included a few photos of "wanderingggirl" herself—we accomplished this by using stock photos of blonde girls that showed only the back of their heads.
Step 2: Purchase Fake Followers
Within a day, we had enough content to build two entirely fake accounts. Next, we posted daily and purchased followers. We started with buying 1,000 followers per day because we were concerned that purchasing too many followers at the onset would result in Instagram flagging the account. However, we quickly found that we were able to buy up to 15,000 followers at a time without encountering any issues.
The pricing for followers ranged from $3-8 per 1,000 followers, depending on the reliability of the service. Websites that sold followers on the lower end of that price range often did not deliver in a timely manner, or sometimes at all, so we switched to more expensive follower providers later in the project. Even at $8 per 1,000 followers, we were able to accumulate over 30,000 followers for the travel account and over 50,000 followers for the fashion account with minimal investment over the course of just two months.
Step 3: Purchase Fake Engagement
Once we had accumulated a few thousand followers for each account, we started buying likes and comments. We paid around 12 cents per comment, and between $4-9 per 1,000 likes. On the lower end of that price range, it took around 24 hours for the likes to appear, whereas, on the higher end of that price range, likes were delivered instantly. For each photo, we purchased 500 to 2,500 likes and 10 to 50 comments.
We scaled up engagement as each page's follower count increased.
Getting Brand Sponsorship Deals On Influencer Marketing Platforms
Many influencer marketing platforms require a minimum number of followers in order to sign up for and partake in brand deals. For this reason, we weren't able to register for certain influencer marketing platforms until each account had 10,000 followers. Once we hit this threshold, we were able to sign the accounts up for a wide range of platforms.
Once we had the accounts on a few platforms, we applied for new campaigns daily. The application process ranged from simply clicking a button to writing a short message to the brand, depending on the platform's requirements.
Results. We secured four paid brand deals total, two for each account. The fashion account secured one deal with a swimsuit company and one with a national food and beverage company.
The travel account secured brand deals with an alcohol brand and the same national food and beverage company. For each campaign, the "influencers" were offered monetary compensation, free product, or both.
Fake Instagram Influencers Are A Problem For The Industry
Due to its efficacy, influencer marketing has become an extremely crowded space on all fronts. On the influencer end, everyday people with follower accounts of 5,000 or more are getting paid by brands — it's not just the Kardashians of the world. Influencers of all sizes know brand dollars are pouring into the space, and in order to compete and secure these sponsorships, influencers are increasingly inflating follower counts and engagement artificially.
Brands and advertisers eager to reach audiences on popular social media channels and seeking quick entry into the influencer marketing space, are turning to platforms, automation and micro-influencers in hopes of making the media buying process more turn-key and easier.
However, akin to the ad fraud that's afflicted display ads, Instagrammers with completely or partially fake followings and/or engagement present advertisers with a unique form of ad fraud that's becoming more and more commonplace and could be siphoning tens of millions of dollars from brands.
Also See Our Posts On:
Instagram Influencer Marketing Is A $1 Billion Industry [INFOGRAPHIC]
Guide: The Pros vs. Cons of Marketing With Micro-Influencers
The 6 Most Popular Types Of Instagram Influencers
August 4, 2017 By Mediakix Team


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Ivan Oliver Listening Musician Award
The Ivan Oliver Listening Award is provided annually to students at the Faculty who specialize in jazz or improvised music. The purpose of the award is to encourage promising students who otherwise for any reason would be unable or would struggle to complete their studies. The award is to be made on the recommendation of the head of the school after consulting with relevant members of staff to a student who has completed at least six months study at the Faculty usually taking into account their examination results or other academic assessments. It may be awarded to a student more than once.
The total value of the scholarship offered will be approximately $400.
Open and closing dates
Applications have closed for 2018 and will reopen in July 2019. Applicants can expect to receive an outcome by the end of October.
Criteria and eligibility
This scholarship is open for award annually to all jazz and improvisation music students enrolled in the Faculty. It may be awarded to a student more than once.
Selection process
Applications will be assessed by the criteria above, in addition to student's previous results attained. The Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant Head of School, will approve the recipients.
Additional requirements
To accept this scholarship, successful recipients are required to write a letter of thanks and provide an artistic biography for the donors or trustees. On occasion recipients will be contacted to provide a progress report.
How to apply
Refer to the Open and Closing Dates section above for the application link. The link will only be visible during the application period.
The application will require personal information, including course and year level, and some questions addressing the selection criteria listed above. You will be required to attach some documents, such as CV and academic transcript and there will be the option to include any support material that gives weight to your application.

subset: commoncrawl


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The multi-studio spaces at Glen Waverley and St Kilda Road allow students to learn from specialist teachers in painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, fibre arts, and visual communication and design.
The visual arts program at Wesley College is designed to develop students' creative skills, critical appreciation and knowledge of artistic techniques and technologies through processes of visual inquiry, studio practice, exhibition and display and in evaluations and reflections of their own art works as well as those of others. The visual arts program also aims to develop students' sense of personal and cultural identity and equips them for lifelong involvement in, and the active appreciation of, the Arts.
The visual arts course for students in Years 7 - 9 offers them the opportunity to sample and explore a wide range of media and materials in both 2D and 3D ART forms. In Year 10 students build on the skills learnt and have the opportunity to continue to develop and express individual approaches to the Visual Arts through a range of courses. All offerings prepare students for related studies within the VCE and IB DP.
Privacy, Disclaimer & Copyright
© 2019
A True Education


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We now have seen numerous companies launching the exercise trackers in India, however most of them are costly apart from a few ones like the favored Xiaomi Mi Band or the YuFit. All of the bands come with Jawbone's colourful app for analyzing statistics and a Good Coach utility that takes collected information and makes exercise, food regimen and sleep suggestions based mostly on it. The Sleep Analytics operate gives a you an on-demand, comprehensive report on the quality of your sleep time, despatched straight to your cell system. Neuroon learns your weekly schedule so as to program the very best sleep & power remedy for you. The Neuroon Masks's Neuroon Sunrise characteristic uses light to simulate the pure sunrise, transitioning you from sleep to wakefulness with out the standard disorientation and grogginess.
It's can actually provide help to wake more refreshed, and with no snooze button there is not any probability to nap however you are nonetheless woken by a traditional audible alarm slightly than a more mild vibration or wake-up light. This devoted sleep tracker actually goes straight on prime of your mattress reasonably than being worn, making it essentially the most non-invasive tracking option in this take a look at.
Sleep Cycle is an iOS app that also watches your sleep habits from your nightstand with a purpose to assist wake you up at the very best time of the morning. We've mentioned it earlier than , a long time in the past, however the app has grown a very good bit since then, and still has a loyal following. Try how he got a greater night's sleep with the help of technology to learn what labored (and what didn't) for him. Beddit offers you coaching tips about methods to enhance your sleep and wellness.Kindly refer user handbook for the instructions.
The ResMed S+ detects the movements of your body to measure your sleep patterns, sensing mild, temperature, noise, motion, and breathing, all from a number of ft away. It tracks the length of your REM cycles, your deep and lightweight sleep, and the number of occasions you get up, then tabulates everything to present you a sleep rating. The ResMed S+ offers some fascinating options, too, like Thoughts Clear, which takes textual content notes or voice memos proper on its app, allowing you to get things off your mind and sleep better. You'll probably be considering Sleep Cycle for the extremely low price of £zero.seventy nine.
Standard trackers, such because the Fitbit Power , include a sleep mode that aims to offer users with some insight into their shuteye, akin to how long they slept, and how many instances they were stressed or awoke. Some trackers go a step further: the Jawbone UP breaks down sleep time into deep and light-weight phases, and the Basis B1 not too long ago launched a new sleep analysis that goals to measure REM sleep along with deep and light-weight sleep levels.


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Salman Rushdie, "The Moor's Last Sigh", page 150
Within days he had moved in; no formal invitation was ever issued, but one way and another he stuck around for thirty-two years. Aurora treated him, at first, like a sort of pet. She unhicked his hairstyle and convinced him to stop trimming his moustache, and, when it grew luxuriant and long, to wax it until it looked like a hairy Cupid's-bow. She got her tailor to run up his outfits for him: broad –striped silk suits and huge floppy bow-ties that convinced le tout Bombay that Aurora Zogoiby's new discovery must be a raving queen (in fact he was a genuine fifty-fifty bisexual, as many young men and women in the Elephanta circle would learn over the years). She was attracted to his huge appetite for information, food, work and above all pleasure….


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Thursday, November 22, 2012
It's...a life drawing post! Some 1 minute things from this week, since I haven't been posting gestures much lately.
Posted by Keelamari at 5:40 PM 2 comments:
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Posted by Keelamari at 11:33 PM No comments:
Labels: character, comics, illustration
Friday, November 02, 2012
Posted by Keelamari at 7:16 PM 1 comment:
Labels: comics, illustration, sketches
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A Worksop teenager damaged a car door mirror after a heavy drinking session and an argument with his girlfriend, a court heard.
Blake Johnstone, 18, of Barn Close, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on 13th March to causing criminal damage.
The court heard that Johnstone was in the street with his partner at around 10.30pm on 25th February 2015 after drinking gin and rum all evening.
The owner of the Peugeot 208 said she was in her home when she heard shouting. She looked outside and saw two people arguing and some 'pushing' had taken place.
Prosecuting, Rosie Wilde, said: "She looked at the car and said it remained undamaged."
"Then she went to bed and could hear shouting and banging. She could see they were back outside her property and could hear items being thrown as if they were being thrown."
"Her husband looked out the window and saw the drivers' side window smashed."
Johnstone was then arrested and he said he could not remember causing the damage but that it 'sounded like something he would do'.
In mitigation, Mark Stocks said: "He entered a guilty plea at an early stage."
"He said that he had been drinking rum and gin all evening and then had an argument with his partner."
"He accepted that he kicked the door but could not remember damaging the mirror."
Johnstone committed the crime whilst subject to a community order which he received in September 2014 for a similar criminal damage offence in which he was also drunk.
The magistrates said: "Clearly this is not the first time that your anger has got the better of you."
"We have reduced your sentence because of your early guilty plea."
The magistrates withdrew a warrant after he arrived late for court. Johnstone said that his lift had not turned up and that he ended up using public transport to get to the hearing.
Johnstone's community order was extended for a further 12-months, with a 30-day activity requirement. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours unpaid work to run concurrent with his remaining 71 hours and must pay £250 compensation.


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OK - the political ground in Alberta is really shifting. The Edmonton Sun has endorsed Stephen Mandel for Mayor. Mandel is the most progressive, proven and capable candidate on the ballot this time. He deserves another term for all the reasons the Sun points out and more. Mandel is the clear, credible, competent and conscientious choice to lead Edmonton for the next three years. For the Sun to recognize this is counter-intuitive given their past positions dramatically opposed to progressive values.
BTW the Calgary Sun has done the same thing. They endorsed Nenshi, the other openly progressive candidate for mayor in Calgary. The political culture of Alberta is not all right wing and reactionary - not any more.
There is a serious disappointment and clear effort at diminishing our democracy in this Edmonton municipal election. The Mandel opposition has come from the well funded Envision Edmonton group who are mostly a one issue group around the closing of the municipal airport. It has been loud and oft-time loutish with orchestrated heckling and booing of Mandel at forums. I have no problem with activist and aggressive citizen engagement. I have encouraged it in this blog for years. What we also need is informed and respectful citizen engagement where we can disagree without being disagreeable. That has not always been the hallmarks of Envision Edmonton. This is not a condemnation of all the responsible, respectful and dedicated volunteers who have done an admirable job of motivating thousands of citizens to their cause.
The Envision Edmonton efforts have failed to gain momentum and has now in a much deserved decline. They has lost the respect and forfeited the trust of Edmontonians looking for integrity, honesty, accountability and transparency in politics. The admittedly unfounded and dirty trick smear campaign against Mandel by Nathan Black, the Envision Edmonton petition manger was a dramatic indication that at least this leader of Envision Edmonton was prepared to resort to Nixonian levels of political dirty tricks. Passion is not a free pass to promote and participate in political corruption.
The fact that Envision Edmonton has stood by Mr. Black shows that they don't understand nor ascribe to the political values of integrity, honesty, accountability and transparency that Edmontonians demand of our political culture. They, like Mr. Black, are now suffering from self inflicted and fatal wounds. This citizen's movement has fallen from grace and now should not be trusted by any reasonable voter in Edmonton.
I support the closure of the municipal airport. I have seen no substantial evidence or proof of Envision Edmonton claims of city council acting undemocratically on the closure issues. They has produced a petition that is too little, too late and contrary to law but pursue the matter in the courts anyway. I also categorically reject the tactics employed by Mr. Black and Envision Edmonton by association since they have stood by him in the face of his admitted breaches of integrity, honestly, accountability and transparency in politics.
I encourage the citizens of Edmonton to send a clear message that we are tired of old-style politics based on personal power or propaganda where self-interested ends justify any means. Reject those candidates who are endorsed by Envision Edmonton on October 18. Send a clear message that we do not want and will not tolerate a Tea Party approach to politics in Edmonton.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
I am interested in progressive politics, citizen participation, real democracy and a full range of public policy issues from an Albertan and Canadian perspective.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Edmonton Sun Endorses Mandel
Posted by Unknown at 10:51 am
3 comments:
- Anonymous4:39 pm
The whole Nathan Black thing has convinced me that Envision Edmonton is correct and the airport should not close. I was going to vote Mandel, but now I'm voting Dorward.ReplyDelete
Anon T 4:39 - You cause me to reflect on Forrest Gump's widsom - "Stupid is as Stupid Does" AND THANK YOU FOR BEING COWARDLY ANONYMOUS -ReplyDelete
Anonymous comments are discouraged. If you have something to say, the rest of us have tl know who you are
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Oakdene Eco Council
Date: 15th Dec 2015 @ 12:28pm
The Eco-Council are elected yearly, just like the School Council, and then we co-opt any former councillors who would like to serve a second term.
We are energy detectives, checking that lights are switched off. We are waste watchers too. Every year we organise a Water Week to educate our school about how we can reduce, reuse and recycle.


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United Kingdom
Managed Infrastructure Services
Fujitsu is offering a wide range of memory solutions for industrial and automotive applications.
Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM) has a long history within Fujitsu, offering an excellent high speed, high endurance and low power Non-volatile memory technology. Based on the knowledge we have collected with FRAM technology, Fujitsu is offering another innovative Non-volatile RAM technology: ReRAM (Resistive Random Access Memory).
Fujitsu is also offering a wide portfolio of DRAM and Flash products from Winbond for the industrial and automotive market. With the good product quality as well as the long term support, we believe to contribute significantly to the daily business of our customers.
Ambiq Micro was founded in 2010 on the notion that extremely low power semiconductors are the key to the future of electronics. Ambiq Micro developed a patented Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT™) platform that dramatically reduces the amount of power consumed by semiconductors. By applying SPOT, Ambiq produces the world's lowest power real-time clock (RTC) and microcontroller (MCU), Apollo.
e-peas semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor supplier and was founded in 2014. The e-peas product strategy is driven by the understanding that extremely-low power is a must-have for the realization of today's and future industrial and IoT applications.
Over the last several years, GaN (Gallium Nitride) semiconductors have emerged as a leading technology enabler for the next wave of compact, energy-efficient power conversion systems – ranging from ultra-small adapters, high-power-density PCs, server and telecom power supplies, to highly efficient PV inverters and motion control systems.
FEEU works closely with MIFS to provide European customers access to the 90nm to 40nm CMOS process technology based on two fabs with 300mm production lines in Japan. The key target is to provide the required flexibility in terms of process targeting and tuning for customers requiring cost-efficient process technologies.
Fujitsu offers complete design and technology solutions, from 180nm to 40nm, for high-speed and ultralow-power applications. The Semiconductor Manufacturing Services group supports customers with a wide range of flexible business models, from full turnkey ASIC to cost-effective COT engagement, to achieve quick time-to-revenue production.
In 2015, Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited transferred its System LSI business to Socionext Inc. The majority of its current product portfolio provided by FEEU was therefore developed while Socionext was still part of Fujitsu Semiconductors. Much of the Socionext product offering deals with media processing focusing on video capture, video processing (encoding, decoding, transcoding) and display management.
Shindengen is a leading company in diodes, offers Products for wide-ranging needs, from AC input section bridge diodes to secondary-side rectifier section high-speed diodes.
Shindengen diodes are distinguished by their high durability, high reliability and ultra-low loss, thanks to the unique design, process and production technologies.
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A hit musical watched by more than 23 million people around the world is back in Sheffield again.
Jersey Boys tells the story of four American lads from the wrong side of the tracks who went on to become Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, one of the biggest-selling bands of all time.
They invented their own unique sound with Frankie's trademark falsetto vocals, were inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and became one of the most successful bands ever in pop history.
Their story began in the 1960s and went on into their revival in the disco years.
With performances of all of their hits, including Beggin', Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like A Man, Let's Hang On (To What We've Got) and December, 1963 (Oh What A Night), Jersey Boys is the true life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
It doesn't pull any punches, looking at the the band's run-ins with the mob and the heartaches they went through, as well as the triumphs and the music.
Darlington-born actor Matt Corner, who stars as Frankie Valli, said that taking on one of the highest singing voices in musical theatre full-time is a dream come true.
"I've been doing two shows a week as the alternate Frankie and luckily I was cast again as the lead, which I was very excited about. It's such a booster for me, career-wise," he said.
"It's never a given that because you play the alternate you'll play the lead. You have to re-audition again.
"It doesn't always happen and I feel very lucky they deemed me worthy of the role," he said.
Original band members Frankie and songwriter Bob Gaudio have played a hands-on role in the musical.
Matt said: "I had a session on Skype with Bob where I sang all the material and I actually met Frankie. I went to see him in his own show in Glasgow.
"It was totally surreal to meet the guy who I live and breathe on stage.
"When I met him I knew I was taking over the lead, so it was perfect timing. He told me all these anecdotes about growing up.
"It's amazing that at 81 he's still singing, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet someone like that.
"He and Bob are very passionate about the show and they feel it's a completely accurate depiction of the story of their lives.
"Bob has written all of the songs, it's his life's work, and he has a big sense of ownership and wants to keep it right."
Jersey Boys continues its run in Sheffield until October 17. Box office: call 0114 249 6000 or go to www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk


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Ramky Launches his Book
Marg Properties CEO, S Ramakrishnan, who was part of Cerebrate 2010 held at Marg Tapovan has launched his personal website and second book, titled "I need growth" More details at www.ramky.orgRead More
Nominate Achievers for Cerebrate Silicon Valley!
The US Editions of Cerebrate are being spearheaded by Rajesh Setty, serial entrepreneur and speaker, who was part of Cerebrate Tapovan last year. First edition was held successfully last year. Second Edition of Cerebrate Silicon Valley is...Read More
Kiruba takes cover page of Hindu Supplement
Cerebrate Chief mentor Kiruba Shankar was featured in the cover of THE HINDU Metro plus weekend this morning and internet has been abuzz with the article since morning… Kiruba Shankar, CEO of Business Blogging...Read More
Future Cerebrate Editions
Cerebrate is an initiative to get the best thinkers and achievers from different fields together for four days of brainstorming and bonding. It's a hybrid between an invite-only event and an unconference. Self-organized, Unstructured,...Read More
Cerebrate Next Edition at The School of Ancient Wisdom
Cerebrate next edition is going to be held at School of Ancient Wisdom in Bengaluru. The Dates: 22nd – 24th October 2010. Here are some photos of The School of Ancient Wisdom taken by...Read More
Cerebrate Silicon Valley is round the corner!
Cerebrate's first edition in the United States, Cerebrate Silicon Valley, is all set to take place this July End, at Mount Madonna. Rajesh Setty, a serial entrepreneur, author and speaker, who was an invited...Read More
Cerebrate Thekkady- First pictures
Cerebrate Thekkady is currently in progress at Club Mahindra Tusker Trails Resort, Thekkady, Kerala Kishi Arora, one of the invitees at Cerebrate have been sharing some pics through twitpic. Copying from there, below are...Read More
Meeting of Jumbos! Cerebrate Thekkady edition
Think of jumbos and highly picturesque Thekkady will come to every one's mind. Come May 19, eleven more will be joining them, 11 giants in their own fields, that's Cerebrate, meeting of achievers. They...Read More
Look whos Attending:Cerebrate Thekkady Invitees list
Look who's attending Cerebrate Thekkady… Here's the impressive list of participants invited for Cerebrate's latest edition at Club Mahindra Tusker Trails, Thekkady, Kerala Dr. Balaji Sampath, Founder CEO, AID India Anusha R Mahesh, CEO,...Read More
Cerebrate Oman at Al Nahda Resort
We got confirmation on Cerebrate Oman's venue and Dates. Cerebrate Oman will take place in the luxurious Al Nahda Resort from 9th June 2010 to 11th June 2010. Al Nahda Resort & Spa enjoys...Read More


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Gerry Connolly Frightened By Elections Outlook
By Greg L | 5 September 2011 | Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County | 7 Comments
I was at an event in Clifton today doing some work for Delegate Tim Hugo. Part of the festivities involved local dignitaries, and Congressman Gerry Connolly was there just long enough to make an appearance and then bolt, as usual. Before Connolly left I saw him pigeon-hole Delegate Hugo and launch into a heated conversation, and Connolly's wild gesticulating drew my attention.
Connolly is very, very concerned about the timetable for Congressional redistricting which is supposed to happen this year but increasingly looks as if it's going to get pushed off into the next legislative session. I find that concern, bordering on near panic rather amusing because it telegraphs a political picture developing that Connolly clearly doesn't like. When Connolly is deeply concerned about his political prospects, that's an awfully encouraging development.
Normally you'd think an incumbent Democrat in Northern Virginia would be just fine with redistricting getting pushed back. Every delay makes it that much harder for an opponent to get their act together to unseat him. If it were possible for redistricting to happen in October 2012, Gerry would be overjoyed. So why is Gerry in such a rush?
If Democrats were relatively confident that they would retain the majority in the Senate of Virginia, a delay also wouldn't be of much concern. Since all three branches of state government have to agree on a redistricting plan, all Connolly needs in order to ensure his district isn't changed a whole lot in a way he doesn't like is for one of those bodies to look after him. With divided government, Gerry has defenders. But if we don't have divided government after the November 2011 elections, then who is going to look after Connolly's interests?
No one. That's about the only likelihood that I would imagine could cause Gerry Connolly to start having a heated conversation with Delegate Hugo about redistricting in the middle of the street in Clifton and waving his arms around like he wants to take flight. Gerry is quite obviously deeply concerned here.
A few months back some rather ridiculous competing proposed congressional redistricting maps got published, and while the big public fight is over lines being drawn in Tidewater, there are plenty of folks upset with both the House and Senate plan to draw the 11th Congressional District. Based on input from the incumbents (always a horrible place to start such a conversation) the idea has been to have the 11th CD hug the 8th District in Arlington and Alexandria and outrageously send out three tendrils that would scoop up Dale City/Dumfries, Centreville, and Reston in order to make the district safer for Connolly. Connolly would be much harder to beat in this district than in his current district and be well on his way to becoming one of those long-term pork-barrelers that are so difficult to dislodge.
With divided government, a crappy deal like that might be the only thing that could get passed. If Republicans take the Senate however then such bad deals to satisfy incumbents aren't required. Gerry could end up running in a district that would look a lot like his current one, one which he barely retained in 2010 against a candidate who couldn't hold his own in a debate against a random member of the Soil & Water Conservation Board, much less an incumbent Congressman. The 2012 outlook is shaping up as a terrible political cycle for Democrats where the top of the ticket has his approval ratings dropping like a stone while the national economic picture continues to look absolutely terrible.
Now having Connolly doing something like the Chicken Dance on Main Street in Clifton starts to make sense. If Democrats lose the Senate, they'll lose control of the congressional redistricting process. If that happens, Connolly's currently narrow swing district could likely swing against him, and Connolly is out of a job. That Connolly evidently thinks this is a rather likely scenario just warms this conservative's heart.
When Connolly is scared, I'm happy. To keep him scared, all of you need to help make sure Miller Baker and Jeff Frederick win in November. Scared isn't enough, though. Gerry Connolly needs to be unemployed. That's when I get really happy.
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7 Comments
VA_Magoo said on 6 Sep 2011 at 8:04 am:
" Gerry Connolly needs to be unemployed. That's when I get really happy."
Now that would put a tingle up my leg!
Harry said on 6 Sep 2011 at 8:13 am:
BTW, the proposed redistricting you describe was informally approved by the House Republicans.
SandMan said on 6 Sep 2011 at 2:40 pm:
Remember this?
Harry said on 6 Sep 2011 at 6:34 pm:
Connolly is a disgrace. 202-225-1492. Know what that is? It's Connolly's phone number. How do I know that? Because in the run up to the unconstitutional Obamacare bill, I was psycho-dialing his office. Every day I called to tell his staff how infuriated I was with the entire thing. One day, a staffer - a low level LA - gets on the phone and says. "Mr. Brooks, I really don't think you're going to change the Congressman's mind and I don't think he's going to change yours, so how about you do us all a favor and leave it at that?"
I must say, it was amusing even if the episode did nothing but pump up my cynicism and also my resolve to get this clown voted out of office.
With the democrat controlled Congress and Obama together bringing cataclysmic destruction to the nation's economy, maybe we won't need redistricting to throw him out.
Come on 2012….
- The other Harry
PWCDiva said on 6 Sep 2011 at 7:09 pm:
Why did GC yell at dumbo hugo (who wrote that first)? Isn't he just a dense tool of the speaker? He has no ability to affect the CD lines except to do the bidding of those more powerful, more intelligent, and without nasty second noses growing on his face(on his nose). yuck!
Anonymous said on 7 Sep 2011 at 11:39 pm:
Mosque Approval in Henrico County Va Followed Federal Intervention
Islam is a political ideology disguised as religion and the U.S. DOJ is assisting in the installation of a foreign government on U.S. soil:
DOJ in bed with Islamic supremacist groups
Georgia: Holder's DOJ intervenes on behalf of another mosque
DOJ files legal brief in support of Tenn. mosque
Anonymous said on 9 Sep 2011 at 3:00 pm:
Connolly needs to be defeated. It has to happen this time.
Leave a Reply
Views: 2604


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Choosing a Wedding Photographer.
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Hello Friends! I'm even later than usual tonight - but I"m still here and posting! Lol My wifi/router deal would not cooperate with my computer all day! Then we were at my son's hockey game all night, but my Hubby finally got things fixed tonight so I'm going to do a very brief post - but I'm here! ;)
Day 1 - The Christmas Tag
Day 2 - Christmas Movies on the Must Watch List
Day 3 - Christmas Wishlist
Day 4 - Christmas Playlist
Day 5 - Pictures and Memories of Christmas Past
Day 6 - Pot Simmer Recipes
Day 7 - Cookies to be Baked (can be a recipe you make every year, or some you want to try)
Day 8 - Favorite Family Christmas Recipe
Day 9 - How do you decorate?
Day 10 - Real Tree or Artificial Tree
Day 11 - Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Day 12 - Quiet Christmas or Family Filled Loud Party Christmas?
Day 13 - Christmas Cards (do you send them, show us your favorites this year, or tells your favorite cards to send whether vintage, or bright and colorful)
Day 14 - Advent Calendar
Day 15 - Christmas Party Food Ideas
Day 16 - Winter Tag
Day 17 - Christmas Wishes
Day 18 - Homemade or Store Bought (What are you giving this year)
Day 19 - Recap of Christmas 2015 in pictures
Day 20 - Christmas Decorations Reveal (show us your tree, your home decor, your mantle, anything you want)
Day 21 - Holiday Family Traditions
Day 22 - Preparing for the big day (show us your wrapping skills, are you making lists, getting the house ready for guests?)
Day 23 - Post whatever you wish
Day 24 - Christmas Eve (Are you opening presents tonight, is this your big celebration, what are you doing)
Day 25 - Christmas Day
I'm joining in with my Friend Sandra from the blog Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for the Blogmas of Christmas this season. You can check her out here and come play along! Here's day 8:


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During a Q&A session with radio personality Blair Garner during the recent Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Toby Keith answered questions about his career in music –and one about his short-lived career as a semi-professional athlete. Here's the second part of a two-part feature on Keith who joins Pamela Anderson to co-host the CMT Flameworthy 2003 Video Music Awards on April 7 in Nashville.
Toby Keith , then known as Toby Keith Covel (his real name), worked in the oil fields after high school graduation. Three years later, the oil boom crashed. "We were all without work," he recalled. "I was picking up construction jobs, stuff like that."
So the 6-foot-5 singer joined the semi-pro football team known as the Oklahoma City Drillers and stayed for two seasons.
"They had scouts come by every day to check out the 300 guys in camp," he said. "They carried a 45-man traveling squad. I made the 45-man traveling team, starting on defensive end, and I was the only guy on the whole team that didn't have previous college experience." Keith laughed, adding, "I went to Honky-Tonk U."
Keith also toured the Southwest in a country band Easy Money from 1984 to 1988. A promising five-song demo led to his solo debut on Mercury Records in 1993. His first hit, "Should've Been a Cowboy" reached No. 1, paving the way for a dozen more Top 10 hits on the label. Still, it was a love-hate relationship punctuated by label shake-ups and disagreements over his image. After releasing a greatest hits album, Keith parted with Mercury in 1999.
In the midst of turning in platinum albums and filming several striking videos for the label, Keith points to one of his songs that got away.
"'Tired' is probably my favorite song I've ever written," said Keith, now 41. The tune appeared on his 1997 album Dream Walkin'. "It's the kind of song that if you're in a songwriting circle with Paul McCartney, Billy Joel or somebody like that, and they passed you the guitar … if Paul just sang 'Let It Be,' I'd sing 'Tired.' I feel that strongly about it. It just may have been too artsy-fartsy for mainstream."
Keith promptly added, "The other one I missed on, that I thought was going to be huge, was 'We Were In Love.' It was a big No. 1 song but it was pretty much just a big radio hit. [Editor's note: On Billboard, it peaked for two weeks at No. 2 in 1997.] It didn't sell a five-gallon bucket of CDs. It was a three- or four-octave vocal performance, and it was the biggest vocal performance I ever did. The guys who wrote it had pitched it all over town and, believe it or not, everybody said they couldn't sing it. It took every note in my repertoire to even hit it. It's a big bad boy, and you don't want to sing it with a cold."
Asked how the record industry has changed in the last 10 years, Keith said, "I think in the old days, artists got more of an opportunity to do their own thing and just be what they are, and live with it. Because you can live with failure, if you give it your best effort, easier than you can by compromising and having so-so success. Because that's the only thing that ever happens in those compromised situations. I think the industry has its thumb on the artists too much."
Keith was to quick to add, "But not me. I have the best of everything at DreamWorks. James Stroud is my [record label] president and my producer. He watched me struggle through my problems at Mercury as a producer. Now he's my president, so he knows not to put those handcuffs on me that we were frustrated with back then. … And when I finally did things my way and busted out, he was there to enjoy that, too. It's taken a lot of handcuffs off all his artists. He lets his artists be what they are."
Like most parents of teenagers, Keith is aware of what's playing on rock radio. But perhaps unlike most parents, he appreciates what he hears, taking a moment to praise the rap artists Snoop Dogg and Eminem.
"A poet is a poet," Keith says. "There's a lot of trash over on that side, and all the cop-killing [lyrics]. Sometimes they don't think much of our music, and we don't talk highly of most of theirs. … You'll get Snoop's lyrics and read them for what they are. He's as fine a poet, a rhymer of words, as there is on the planet. He's that good. He's humorous, he's witty, he's very clever. And lyrically, it's no different than reading Shakespeare or anything else you would read, as long as you take it for what it is. Eminem's another guy out there who's misunderstood on a lot of things he does, but he's really good in his work with what he does. I think for the people that need that, he's really good at that."
Keith also says he's respected by non-country artists as well, noting, "I go to the all-genre awards shows — I don't win 'em but I show up — and there's always P.O.D. or Nickelback coming up to get their picture taken."
Nevertheless, Keith holds the country legends — Willie Nelson , Merle Haggard and Buck Owens — dearest to his heart. He perked up when telling the audience about meeting Merle Haggard for the first time, only a few days earlier.
"I came home from my Boise show … and looked up and Merle Haggard was playing the Oklahoma Center in my hometown," Keith explained. "I just went down there and had about an hour with him before the show. He was everything I wanted him to be. I was thinking, 'Don't let me down, because I want to love ya.' And I went in there, sat down there with him, and he was great."
Keith continued, "He got on stage and I was blown away at how good his voice was. It was just like going back to 1975 as a kid. He sang his butt off and those kind of people — you've got to be that age to do what they've done to be in that position — but they don't exist anymore. He wrote me a nice letter before the CMAs last year and it said, 'Keep knockin' em dead. You boys are rough on 'em. Keep doing it your way. That's the way we like it. Hag.'"
The Nashville audience was also treated to colorful (and long) anecdotes about hanging out on Willie Nelson's bus — as well as the enticing story behind the song Keith wrote called "I'll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again." He also revealed that Nelson is cutting several of his songs, including "Tired," for his own upcoming album and that the 69-year-old Texan was an incredibly good sport during two days of filming the music video "Beer for My Horses," which Keith described as a "mini-movie."
"When you get Willie Nelson's approval and he wants to do projects with you … and I get about two phone calls and a personal hug about two or three times a year from Buck Owens, telling me who's come out to see him, who he wouldn't let into his house. Then he gave me one of those red, white and blue guitars," Keith said. "And I've got Merle Haggard sitting there writing me a letter, saying 'You're doing it your way.' I got those three [artists] in my corner, and I could give a damn what anybody says about me in this business."
Read the first part of this two-part series, Toby Keith Wants to Talk About His Career.


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Graham Reid | | 3 min read
It's a safe bet a number of people knew what they wanted so bought their own Christmas present this past year.
And that a whole bunch of others — maybe people getting it from parents or grandparents — got the same welcome gift:
A copy of the Beatles' 1 CD and DVD collection.
Very lucky people got the expanded 1+ edition which came with two DVDs of film clips.
The Beatles are the gift which keeps on giving, because these digitally enhanced film clips (27 on one and 50 in total over the expanded collection) can still transport you back to a time when they were a culture-changing band delivering one hit single after another.
But they were always about more than hit singles.
Their b-sides and album tracks could be thrillingly innovative (or just dumb fun), and anyone serious about filling in the gaps beyond the 27 British number ones on that CD needs to hear songs like Norwegian Wood, Tomorrow Never Knows, Taxman and many others.
So where to after you've absorbed the hits?
The fully appreciate the excitement of the first phase of the Beatles' remarkable career — the Beatlemania Years – then you need With the Beatles, released in Britain in late 1963 when the screaming was starting in earnest.
From the iconic cover image — those serious faces in half-shadow — and Tony Barrow's useful liner notes, this just looked like a great album.
And the contents – Ringo's lame stab at the minor league Lennon-McCartney original I Wanna Be Your Man excepted — pulled together exciting or inventive originals (It Won't Be Long, Little Child, Hold Me Tight, Not a Second Time) with inspired covers of black American artists (the fairly obscure Please Mr Postman and Devil in Her Heart, Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven, Smokey Robinson's You Really Got a Hold on Me).
George Harrison contributes his monochrome Don't Bother Me and the whole thing goes out with Lennon – as he did with Twist and Shout which closed their previous album Please Please Me – tearing his lungs out on classic Motown rock'n'roll, Money.
None of the songs on With the Beatles are on 1.
Their next album A Hard Day's Night ('64) had 14 firecracker originals and equals With the Beatles (just two songs, Can't Buy Me Love and the title track appear on 1).
Two years later, exhausted by the mayhem and after the patchy Beatles For Sale (a title as cynical as some of its knocked-off covers from Hamburg days), it was entirely possible the Beatles might have called it a day.
A lesser band would have. By '65 American groups were fighting back against the British Invasion the Beatles had lead, Dylan was ablaze, bands out of their homeland (the Stones, Who, Kinks, Small Faces and other) were snapping at their heels and writing more challenging songs . . .
But the Beatles rose to the challenge and with a double-whammy (Harrison said he always though of them as part one and part two) they delivered the groundbreaking Rubber Soul and Revolver, two essential albums.
These 28 songs reach from the crystalline sheen of Nowhere Man and McCartney ballads (Michelle, Here There and Everywhere, For No One) to playfulness (Yellow Submarine), psychedelic rock (She Said) and Lennon's remarkable spiritual trip on Tomorrow Never Knows.
Of them, only Eleanor Rigby (loneliness, death and old people were hardly the stuff of pop) and Yellow Submarine appear on the 1 collection.
So you've ticked off Beatlemania
Beatles and ground-breaking Beatles, where to now?
Some might put their money on the trippy Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from 67 (no tracks on 1) or even the highly polished Abbey Road of 69 (Something and Come Together on 1)
But between those two was the double album (no songs on 1) which is a goldmine of proto-metal (Helter Skelter), oddities (Long Long Long, Revolution 9), rocking humour (Back in the USSR, Glass Onion), acoustic ballads (I Will, Julia) and much more.
Just called The Beatles but known as "The White Album", it fills in even more of what you need to hear.
And dammit, you still don't have Strawberry Fields Forever and I Am the Walrus (which are on the Magical Mystery Tour album).
Lotta Beatles to discover beyond 1.
A band which keeps on giving.
There is a ridiculous amount of Beatles at Elsewhere.


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recordings of a grand piano, undergoing abuse with dry ice on the strings
brilliant idea for an interesting sound!!
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|Traveling Solo: Willow Woman on the Road
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Spanish election to redraw political map?
Local elections this weekend could reveal a groundswell of support from disgruntled voters for newcomers Podemos and Ciudadanos in a huge challenge to Spain's two-party system, potentially ushering in a new era in Spanish politics. Kirsty Basset reports.
This is the party which has shaken Spain's political landscape and wants to take the country to the far left. How anti-austerity Podemos fares in this weekend's municipal and regional elections may give an indication of what will happen in general elections later in the year. And the rhetoric against Mariano Rajoy's ruling government is heating up - Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEADER OF PODEMOS PARTY PABLO IGLESIAS SAYING: "We are going to tell them what they are: thieves, corrupt, scum who have stuck their fingers in the till to destroy public services and hand it to their friends, because that is the problem of corruption." Podemos and fellow political newcomer, centrist party Ciudadanos have flourished in Spain, where despite Prime Minister Rajoy's boasts of an economic recovery, unemployment is still at 24 per cent, and a series of corruption scandals have further alienated voters. Rajoy currently holds an absolute majority in seven of the thirteen regions. But the rise of these new parties threatens to undo his government's achievements. Complutense University professor Nigel Townson says the momentum is part of a larger trend - of Spain's bipartisan system being broken down. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR OF HISTORY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS AT MADRID'S COMPLUTENSE UNIVERSITY NIGEL TOWNSON SAYING: "I think it's because people are utterly disgusted by the magnitude of the corruption we are seeing in Spanish politics, but also by a sense that the governments haven't done enough for ordinary people during the economic crisis." In these final days of the campaign, the result is anyone's guess - 30 to 45 per cent of voters are said to be undecided. And some forecasters are predicting a result so inconclusive that the elections will have to be repeated.


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..Urges them to avoid Undue Publicity
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA – THE Senate, yesterday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent, Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC and other anti- graft agencies to expedite actions in exposing as well as prosecute cases of corruption.
According to the Senate, these agencies should be more professional in carrying out their responsibilities, even as it congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari who was honoured as African Champion on anti-corruption by the African Union(AU).
The Senate has also asked the agencies to avoid what it termed, undue publicity in order not to compromise the strength of evidence that could be presented to secure conviction in judicial proceedings, just as it emphasised that it was the best way to institutionalise the fight against corruption, while make it enduring.
Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a point of Order by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North.
In his presentation, Utazi, said, "the essence of raising this order is to reinstate total support and partnership of the National Assembly to the fight against corruption in Nigeria. As we mark this day may Africa win the fight against corruption so that we can continue on a path of wholesome transformation of the continent.
"We may recall that African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption was adopted on July 11, 2003 in Maputo Mozambique. Consequently, the Executive Council of the African Union designated July 11 of every year as the African Day against Corruption much like the United Nations dedicated Dec. 9 of every year as International Anti-Corruption Day.
"It has estimated that every year about 1trillion dollars is paid in bribes while an estimated 2.6 trillion is stolen annually through Corruption which is an equivalent of more than five per cent of the global GDP."
Senator Utazi who decried that funds traced to corruption in Africa were in the form of fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, bribery, extortion, forgery and embezzlement, said that other forms of corruption were kick backs, tax evasion, public funds diversion, criminal multiple taxation, contract inflation and abandonment, obtaining by false pretence, gratification and criminal patronage.
According to him, favouritism, nepotism and other forms of corruption are so massive that it is better imagined what could have been achieved if the funds are not stolen, adding, "In recognition of the worrisome nature of corruption in Africa as a major hindrance to development and stability in the continent.
"The Assembly of Africa Union in 2017 declared 2018 the African Anti-Corruption under the theme, " Winning the fight against Corruption, a Sustainable path to African transformation.
"The ultimate objective is to have an Africa that is corrupt free, Nigeria that is corrupt free, citizen driven and democratically governed. Corruption is a major problem in Nigeria the poverty and misery it imposes on he citizenry are depressing. Africa is at a critical point to take its rightful place in the comity of nations."
In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who stressed the need for all hands must be on deck to fight corruption.
Ekweremadu who hailed Utazi for coming up with the point of order, said that the fight against corruption must not be selective nor subject to media trial and unnecessary drama.
Ekweremadu said, "Because he came under Order 43, it is not open to debate. We thank Sen. Utazi for bringing this up and for the work himself and his committee is doing to ensure that the fight against corruption remains focused.
"I believe that all of us and every responsible citizen of Africa will continue to support the government of the respective countries to ensure that they have legislations and processes to reduce corruption to the barest minimum."
Ekweremadu who noted that the National Assembly continue to pass laws that would support the fight against corruption, said, "I am happy to announce that the NFIU Bill has been signs into law. So this is a good development to us as a country.
"It is this parliament that passed the law that set up the EFCC, ICPC, and we will continue to do that. We must however make sure it is not a tool for fighting political enemies and we must ensure that the fight is efficient and effective."Related
source: Vanguard


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Whizzing Winter QuarterPosted: 22/04/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: gsb, sloan, stanford | 1 Comment »
Already weeks into the final stretch I was comfortably settling on the fact that I've rushed past the opportunity of writing a reflective summary of Winter quarter (as I did with Summer and Autumn before). Where you lack internal pressure, the will be external one – and as our fabulous Yearbook committee has been recycling those texts in the past they convinced me to not drop the habit this late in the game. So here you go:
Week 33: Network Centrality, Bass Diffusion, SaaS Sales & Data SciencePosted: 21/04/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: analysis, book, data, entrepreneurship, gsb, management, networks, operations, sloan, stanford, startups, vc, video | 3 Comments »
Stanford GSB Sloan Study Notes, Week 3 (33), Spring quarter
Head down in two inches of readings for this week and a fresh flow of first written project deadlines, like a two-degrees-deep analysis of your friends and advisors social graph or a set of regressions to be run on profitability data of a bank who has no clue if there is any connection between the demographics and profitability of their customers.
For a little different entertainment in the Sales Orgs class we are running a simulation game where you need to manage yourself through the pipeline as a sales rep of a medical devices company. Four virtual "years" in four weeks. After a miserable first year (I hit merely about a quarter of my quota – should have read the manual before I tried to just figure the game mechanics out for 2 "quarters") I look forward to the Tuesday class from a much more comfortable position after "year" 2. I guess the hours spent as a teen with Civilization and the likes can sometimes pay off?
GSB hosted a fun networking event this week called "Fewer than 300" – bringing people in from over 30 companies who are about to grow out of their startup phase (but are yet to break 300 employees), but have raised money and shown traction and still are just burning of enthusiasm about what they are doing. Think of the likes of Uber or Nest or Visual.ly. Good people and good conversations.
Covered in this issue:
- Analysing network centrality measures and deriving composite relationships from simple a matrix
- Using Bass diffusion models for new product adoption predictions
- Handling variability in processes (from job shops to continuous flow)
- Economics of selling SaaS subscriptions and merging sales teams after M&A
- More team-first entrepreneurial models
- History of Sloan Program at Stanford
- Data Science learnings from LinkedIn and other Greylock companies
- Guests: Vinod Khosla, Mark Leslie & part of Veritas exec team, Corey Leibow, Eric Botto, George Parker, DJ Patil
Week 32: Brokering, Predictable Variability & Paying for Sales PerformancePosted: 16/04/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: books, gsb, management, networks, operations, sales, sloan, stanford, vc | 1 Comment »
Stanford GSB Sloan Study Notes, Week 2 (32), Spring quarter
The highlight of the week was really non-academic: we got to host the Class of 2014 for the orientation we received in April a year ago. In a proper student timing fashion, when a day before the event you're not sure what will come out and some of the slides getting still edited by the speaker at the time he is being introduced on stage – I think we eventually put on an all right show balancing more serious talk about academics and transitions with some glimpses into the less serious side of life we've had too. (Some videos of the performance of our class' house band The Spillovers are online here).
Personally, it was especially heart-warming to hear from a bunch of incoming Sloans that they have found this blog and some other writing from our class useful when researching about business schools, Stanford and even deciding to join the Sloan format in particular. Frankly, I did not consider this as a goal for ongoing writing throughout the year originally. About a year ago I decided to keep posting rather to keep in touch with friends (especially back in Estonia) as well as from the more generic life philosophy that while you're generating content (such as the class notes) for yourself anyway, you better have a clear reason why you would keep it private if there is any likelihood of someone else potentially benefitting too. So when this actually happens, it is a cherry on top.
Cheers to the 2014-ers and any future GSB colleagues reading this, then!
Covered in this issue:
- Brokerage, trust and reputation in social networks analysis
- Regressions for customer profitability
- Predictable variability in Operations
- Paying sales people well for performance
- Search funds
- Guests from: Jive Software, Sequoia Capital, Brown Robin Capital
East Coast Study TripPosted: 13/04/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: book, economics, economy, gsb, leadership, management, sloan, stanford | Leave a comment »
After a quick 2-day trial hop to visit a few firms like Boeing and Starbucks in Seattle in November, the Sloan Class of 2013 spent a full week of our spring break on East Coast. This time it was less about the particular companies and public organisations we saw, but more about the people, the leaders we met and their learnings and ideas.
All of our hosts had a little theme tip on "resilience" included in their brief (inspired by the Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back book by Andrew Zolli), which some of them chose to focus on and others less so. But most importantly, everyone seemed to just be themselves – which, mind you, can mean something quite different in bluntly direct New York compared to politically polished Washington, D.C.
I certainly appreciated the trust of the open conversations and I am holding back on too detailed notes from the meetings. Yet, just listing the names would be boring too – so let me include just one or two ideas from each. Which, as I am doing this weeks after the actual trip and by heart, are implicitly the concepts or questions that stuck with me – even if the wordings are my interpretation, not direct quotes.
Week 31: Analyzing Social Networks, Marketing Mix and Restaurant OperationsPosted: 08/04/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: analytics, book, gsb, networks, operations, sloan, stanford, startups | Leave a comment »
Stanford GSB Sloan Study Notes, Week 1 (31), Spring quarter
For some weird reason the GBS classes after the Spring break kicked off on… a Thursday. Just 2 days of classes gave a glimpse into what is to come – some very brief notes (and a few good book links) below. Posting anyway, to avoid letting the routine die before I get to finalize the half-finished East Coast study trip report draft sitting in Evernote…
On other news, we are throwing an orientation event for the incoming Class of 2014 already this coming weekend – really feels like yesterday when we were on the receiving end… T-10 weeks. Tick tock.
Covered in this issue:
- Unbelievably profitable bootstrapping of McAfee
- Introduction to Social Network Analysis
- A flashback of statistical regressions, now applied to marketing data
- Operating a Japanese show-restaurant
Spring Quarter CoursesPosted: 05/04/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: gsb, sloan, stanford | Leave a comment »
Here I am, staring into the bittersweet 10-week end sprint, the final Spring quarter of my Stanford year. Coming out of the academically intense Winter quarter you kind of want to replicate the feeling of a whirlwind, yet at the same time leave some space to deal with the inevitable prep for re-entering the real world soon. Here's what lies ahead:
Week 30: Exits, Second Markets, M&A & ThunderlizardsPosted: 16/03/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: finance, gsb, investing, ipo, sloan, stanford, startups, vc | Leave a comment »
Stanford GSB Sloan Study Notes, Week 10 (30), Winter quarter
Originally planning out March I was quite sure that next week will be a complex one, after all, it is still labelled in calendar as the "exam week". In reality, the Winter Quarter pretty much culminated today, with the last Finance class where the entire Sloan class was together in the same lecture. We do have one more core in Spring, but it will be in sections, so between all electives and split schedules, it will be mostly social when we meet from here on.
This week was mostly about delivering papers and presentations. With one team we built a business plan and pitched a crowdsourced service for proofreading and language learning feedback to dyslexics, foreign students and white-collar immigrant workers. With another team, we designed an elaborate proposal for taking a real public company private, shifting their product portfolio for higher exit multiples, levering up the non-existant debt, restructuring operations (yup, the founder's private jet and golf tournaments need to go) and getting out at 10X of our money in 5 years. With third group, we pre-analysed and went through 6 real startup pitches along with a real VC mentor and decided to maybe just to give money to one of them.
Despite of the chaos of trying to schedule ~20 people into these different groups at conflicting times, I really enjoyed actually doing stuff (as opposed to just discussing in class) with my MBA peers. The ease and breakneck speed at which almost anyone in this school can deliver complex quant models and high quality analysis still amazes me. And then you can pull pretty much anyone on stage with a 5 minute heads up to present the outcome with coherent, engaging story line.
I have jus two final exams this quarter, three hours of Entrepreneurial Finance (cap tables, term sheets and anti-dilution math) done last night and Core Finance (WACC, optimal portfolios, options and bonds) to be done next week. Then onto the East Coast study trip and the saddening final 10 weeks here.
Study notes covered in this issue:
- Alternative equity markets filling the IPO gap
- More Exit talk, especially Mergers & Acquisitions
- Real pitches from real startups
- Hunting for the Thunderlizards
- Guests: Barry Silbert of SecondMarket, Peter Currie, Louis Elson from Palamon, Mike Maples of Floodgate
GSB Book Recommendations to John DoerrPosted: 16/03/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: books, gsb, sloan, stanford, vc | 1 Comment »
Last week, John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins was speaking in the View From The Top speaker series at Stanford GSB. (Video is yet to come online, but I shared some notes here.) As part of his speech, John gave his book recommendation to the audience and in return asked the audience to email him 3 book suggestions back.
I got curious and, as I sent in mine, also asked if he would share back what the rest of the school thought. Angela Valles from KPCB was kind enough to do just that (thank you!) and for sake of easier sharing, I dropped the entire thing as it was now to a Goodreads list – open for voting, sharing, reading and other good social things.
It is quite an eclectic selection of things we read and recommend our guests here at the GSB (between MBAs, Sloans, PhD students, faculty and guests of the day), I have to say. Just a few titles were mentioned more than once in first ~200 emails. There is a lot of to-be-expected business bestsellers, but also quite a few fiction titles. And what I like is the balance of seemingly extreme ends: physic lectures meet religious texts, Ayn Rand meets Karl Marx, US history matched with stories from Asia and Europe.
Enjoy: CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL BOOK LIST
Weeks 28-29: Bootstrapping, Europe(?!), Options & Private Equity OperatorsPosted: 11/03/2013 | Author: sten | Filed under: In English | Tags: book, europe, finance, gsb, investing, sloan, stanford, startups, vc, video | Leave a comment »
Stanford GSB Sloan Study Notes, Weeks 8-9 (28-29), Winter quarter
So there: it takes about 28 weeks in Stanford to finally have someone mention Europe in any other context than a semi-joke about Greek macro environment in the short term. And these two weeks suddenly opened the floodgates: there was the first European company case this far, we spent some time on the (quite miserable) comparative venture financing stats between the continents and – most importantly – the rotationally geography-themed Sloan TGIF parties finally turned to the European night (affectionately dubbed as the "Estonia & the Rest of Europe" evening). Relieved with a sigh with my Swedish, Dutch, German, Swiss, French, Italian etc classmates: we have not entirely disappeared from the world map as seen from the West Coast yet, and will keep working on that threat.
Partially supported by the annual Stanford Entrepreneurship Week, the last weeks were super-exciting for the flow of external speakers – there is a separate post summarising those you should not miss. And we did do the Final View presentations of the LOWKeynotes program, including your's truly's 9 minutes on how hard it has been to adjust to somewhat surprisingly lacking digital living infrastructure here, coming from Estonia – videos for which will be online in 1-2 weeks. Stay tuned.
Covered in this issue:
- Bootstrapping, venture debt and swimming against the tide in Europe
- Exit planning and IPOs in venture deals
- Thinking like a limited partner, structuring PE deals, operational turnarounds and the visible future of Private Equity
- Derivatives and options – both financial and real
- Academic research on VC compensation and incentives
- Guests from: The Foundry, Avik Ventures, AngelList, Astia, Makena Capital, TPG, TSG Consumer Partners, Sierra Ventures, YouTube, Trulia, OpenLane, Fayez Sarofim, Accel, Meritech Venture Partners…


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An ACROD Parking Permit can only be used by the permit holder. It must not be loaned or given to any other person.
An ACROD Parking Permit must not be reproduced, photocopied or tampered with in any way.
An ACROD Permit holder may only park in Accessible Parking Bays when the permit holder needs to enter or exit the vehicle.
Please note, permit misuse is illegal and may result in an infringement. The ACROD Parking Program may revoke a permit that has been misused.


text: Uncategorized What you think if this one? Advertisements Share this:ShareTwitterFacebookLinkedInRedditTumblrPinterestEmailPrintLike this:Like Loading... Published by Artist SinGh Artist Singh is a renowned artist, inventor of LatroArt, TV producer, holder of several world records, author of the book "My Experiments with Art", and founder of Artist Singh Academy that provides world's most comprehensive art marketing training and personal development programs for the artists. View all posts by Artist SinGh


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So I have been in a shopping mood but right now it's not for clothes or handbags, it's for fabulous little treasures I can use in my shop or add to my collection.
So the other day I was at Deseret Industries (DI) and I came across this little treasure a completed set. I paid .50 per cup and .75 per plate, PERFECT CONDITION!!!
So I did some research and this is what I found:
Fire King Milk Glass Anniversary Rose Snack Tray Set
|(I found this picture on http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-86950/fire-king-milk-glass-anniversary-rose-snack-tray-set.html)


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Love Cards - A Book Test In Your Wallet
For years the book test has been one of the most powerful effects available to mentalists. Now this classic effect has been brought bang up to date with a version that you can literally carry in your wallet.
A number of 'love cards' are taken out from a wallet and examined by the audience. While the performers back is turned, the spectator thinks of a number between one and ten and takes the card at that number. With a word having been freely selected from the chosen card, they are all returned to the wallet as the performer turns back around to reveal the word that is merely being thought of. As an added kicker, the performer can even reveal the thought of number!
Do you own this product? Write a review.


text: Transit NYC subway upgrades to be millennial-friendly, Cuomo says New countdown clocks will be installed on the No. 7 train on an accelerated timeline, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Jan. 8, 2016. He also said the subway system and buses would get millenial-friendly amenities like phone chargers and Wi-Fi. Photo Credit: Getty Images / Andrew Burton By Rebecca Harshbarger firstname.lastname@example.com Updated January 8, 2016 4:59 PM Print Share fbShare Tweet Email Millennial-friendly amenities will be introduced into the subway system, 30 stations will be redesigned and phone chargers will be installed in train cars and buses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the MTA announced Friday. Wi-Fi will also be installed in all stations by the end of 2016, moving up the timeline by a year, and new countdown clocks on letter lines and the No. 7 will also be installed on an accelerated timeline, they said. Finally, the MetroCard will be replaced by a digital fare system beginning in 2017. They will initial roll it out at transit hubs like Penn Station and Grand Central that have rail-subway connections. It will replace the MetroCard by 2018. "The future is mass transit," Cuomo said in a speech at the Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn, which does not have Wi-Fi or cellphone reception. Cuomo's remarks were geared toward younger passengers that expect the subway to be more modern. He said riders should have a subway system that is reliable, accessible, and comfortable. "I don't want to be a sardine on the train for an hour and a half," he said. "This will be part of the MTA of tomorrow." The originally proposed MTA capital plan, which had not been submitted to a state board yet for approval, called for renovations at 20 stations. It did not include an architectural overhaul of 30 stations, including chargers for tech devices, which is part of the new plan. Buses will also get Wi-Fi and charging devices. The MTA also planned originally to have Wi-Fi in all underground stations by 2017, but officials said Friday it would be speeded up to 2016. Countdown clocks on the No. 7 line will also come this year, and the governor has asked the MTA to see how it can accelerate the installation on other lines. The Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group, said it was concerned about the MTA's capital plan being approved by a state board, as well as funding for Cuomo's transit ideas, and said the source of the $8.3 billion the state has agreed to give the MTA for capital funding hasn't been identified yet. "These are valuable projects, but they need to come with real money to pay for them," said John Raskins, the advocacy group's executive director. "And in order to make it all work, Gov. Cuomo need to bring the MTA capital plan up for approval so the MTA can get started on the work." The MTA chairman, Thomas Prendergast, said the state authority would completely overhaul how it renovates and repairs subway stations. Overhauls will be done through a process called "design-build," where a contractor both designs and builds a project, rather than follows a government-created design. They will also be done in bursts with short-term closures or partial closures of stations to get work done quickly, rather than on weekends and late nights, officials said. "Here in New York, we are stuck behind," Prendergast said. "That ends today." The announcement followed other big transportation ideas pitched by Cuomo this week -- — such as the redesign of Penn Station, spending more than $20 billion on roads upstate and adding a new rail to the LIRR between Floral Park and Hicksville. By Rebecca Harshbarger firstname.lastname@example.com Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comments We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


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It is not uncommon to learn about Dawn's clients via radio, TV or print. A current member of the Jazz Journalist's Association (JJA), her first brush with public relations, promotions and marcomm (marketing / communications) came in 1990. Poised for a career with a German hotel consortium in Berlin, bilingual event marketing was put on hold after a brief two year introduction.
Before beginning DeBlaze & Associates, this errand girl for rhythm worked as director of development for HEC-TV, and a consultant for Verizon Wireless. Now, manager of her own public relations firm, they specialize in media campaigns for the entertainment industry with an emphasis on jazz and its events.
DeBlaze's role oversees a variety of projects with a campaign focus on strategic planning, media relations, market promotions, writing, and event programming. In 2002 her firm began to produce and host a quarterly not-for-profit music event called J.A.M., and plan award-winning entertainment. Responsible for international and nationwide events, Dawn's PR role helped grow a jazz festival attendance by 14,000 to gain national prominence. As editor of a monthly jazz events newsletter, she educates and cultivates music enthusiasts around the globe. Suffice it to say, her tombstone might one day read: "Lobbyist for Jazz and Architect of Words."
A native of St. Louis who has served as Vice-President of Events on the Young Zoo Friends board, Dawn DeBlaze remains active with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Jazz Education Network (JEN), Advancement of Jazz Study & Performance Advisory Council, along with several other industry and community organizations.
Prior to starting DeBlaze & Associates, Dawn interned at Bayer Chemical Company in Germany. Her undergraduate studies include a bachelor's degree in German and a minor in international business from Indiana University.
Select Media Coverage for the Following
Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival (8 years), Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival (5 years), Topeka Jazz Festival (2 years), Finale Music + Dining (2 years), Encore! (1 year), Inaugural J.E.N. Conference, Dr. Lou Fischer, Clark Terry, John Pizzarelli, Diane Schuur, Bobby Caldwell, Jon Faddis, Peter Erskine, "Blue Lou" Marini, Misha Segal, Wayne Bergeron, Paquito D'Rivera, Shelly Berg, Karin Allyson, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Tierney Sutton, Jeff Hamilton, Missouri University Jazz Band, Mike Mainieri, Stanley Jordan, Johnnie Johnson, Fontella Bass, Jim Widner, Bobby Watson, Marilyn Maye, Chris Vadala, Billy Peek, Mike Silverman's Classical Jazz Quartet (a.k.a. Bach to the Future), Erin Bode, Rickey Woodard, B.D. Lenz, Wild Cool & Swingin' featuring Charlie Boehme + Jim Manley, Norman Hedman, Ahmad Alaadeen, Matthew Von Doran, Carolbeth True, Alan Ox, Al Hammerman, Arvell Keithley, Soulard Blues Band, Gumbohead, Steve Schankman, Jeanne Trevor, Jack Furlong, and Tim + Tito Pascoal.


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Author Notes: I love making (and eating!) pie. There's nothing better than a good flaky pastry and a lousy crust just makes me sad. For this recipe I've found that pinching the butter into thin flakes between my fingers is quicker and easier than flattening it with a rolling pin or rubbing it into the flour between my fingers; it's also less of a hassle than having to drag out the food processor and deal with cleaning it later. It's worth it to seek out pastry flour for this recipe. I've made it using all AP flour and it isn't as light and flaky. Cake flour can be used instead of pastry flour in a pinch. Shortening can be used instead of the lard, but the taste won't be the same. If using the dough for a savory pie, omit the sugar.
Recipe adapted from The Los Angeles Times. —sunick
Makes: enough dough for 1 (9- to 10-inch) single-crust pie
cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter
tablespoons ice water, more if necessary
2 1/4
teaspoons cider vinegar
cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4
cups pastry flour
teaspoon salt
tablespoon sugar
cup cold leaf lard
- Cut the stick of butter lengthwise down the middle, then flip it on its side and cut it lengthwise once again so you have 4 long strips. Cut the butter crosswise into 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick slices so you have 4 cubes per slice. Place the butter in the refrigerator or freezer while you prepare the flour mixture for the dough. Combine the ice water and cider vinegar together in a small container. Place this in the refrigerator to keep it cold while the flour mixture is being prepared.
- Whisk together the flours, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl (a wider bowl works better than a narrow, deeper one). Add the lard to the flour and, using a pastry cutter, incorporate it into the flour until the mixture resembles cornmeal.
- Add the butter to the flour. Using your hands, toss the butter with the flour (like tossing a salad), while breaking apart all the slices of butter into the smaller cubes. Working as quickly and lightly as possible, pinch the butter cubes between of your thumb and forefinger to make thin discs. Do this while keeping the butter thickly coated with the flour so it doesn't get soft from the heat of your fingers and prevents the flakes of butter from sticking to each other. Toss the mixture occasionally to find any cubes that still need flattening.
- Drizzle in the ice water mixture, one tablespoon at a time, and toss with a fork until just moistened. Depending on the weather you may not need all of the water or you may require a little more. There will be shaggy clumps of dough but they will all come together later. The dough should be moist throughout but not feel wet when pressed with your finger.
- While rotating the bowl with 1 hand, push the dough between your fingertips and the side of the bowl to gather it into a ball. Turn the dough and any loose crumbs onto a large piece of plastic wrap and squeeze it into a ball by pulling the sides and ends of the plastic tightly together. Flatten the ball into a disc by alternately pounding the top with the heel of your hand and the sides against your work surface. Wrap the disc tightly in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, before rolling out and forming into the crust.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe with a Smarty Pants Trick or Technique


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Full name personalisation is available on most items. This uses computer controlled laser engraving and you can choose from any font. Either choose one from the selection shown or email us with your own choice. You should also state if you would like the name in CAPITALS or Lower Case text. Enter the name in the Order Notes box when you order.Names in large letters running down guitar straps can currently only be done in the font shown in the pictures.
Letter height will be chosen as appropriate for the item.


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Holmes Report 25 Oct 2012 // 11:00PM GMT
We are sure many of you have been reading media coverage concerning Hurricane Sandy, which has been causing destruction in the Caribbean in the past 24 hours and is expected to cause further problems in the North-East United States next week.
We wanted to provide you with the latest and best information we have from both media coverage and our contacts in Miami.
When we planned the Summit for the end of October, our research indicated that "hurricane season" would be over. In other words, the experts can be wrong. Having said that, most of those we have talked to over the past 24 hours expect the impact of Sandy on Miami during the three days of the Summit to be minimal.
The worst of the impact on Miami will occur tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) morning. That is when Sandy is expected to be closest to South Florida. Right now, the only flight cancelations into Miami are those from the Caribbean.
[UPDATE: Now that Sandy has passed Florida, the Miami weather forecast is serene.]
Those of you traveling direct from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America and the Midwest or Western United States for arrival on Monday or Tuesday should not experience any flight problems – although it's probably a good idea to check with your airline.
The best estimates are that Sandy will weaken to a tropical storm before making landfall in New Jersey on Tuesday. This means flight to and from the Washington, DC, New York and Boston area on Tuesday and early Wednesday could be impacted. Again, we recommend that you contact local authorities, airports and airlines to get the most current information.
We are monitoring the situation as best we can, and we will provide you with any additional information if the situation changes. We continue to look forward to seeing you all in Miami next week.


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Tynte St. Two Bed
BOOK any apartment direct with us and receive a 15% DISCOUNT by using promotional code SAVE15. Valid for periods outside other promotions.
BOOK DIRECT for a guaranteed 12:00 noon late checkout. Just let us know you want it when you book.
15% discount on select Adelaide Sightseeing tours by using promo code DRESSCIRCLE when you checkout. Go to our BOOK A TOUR page on this site.
Two Bedroom Apartments
These two bedroom apartments for rent are fully furnished and equipped, located in a small block in North Adelaide.
Master bedroom has a queen-size bed, and second bedrooms are with either a queen-size bed or single beds. Each apartment has either a large balcony or courtyard and have plenty of storage room for cases.
These beautifully presented apartments are located just 5 minutes walk to vibrant O'Connell Street shops, entertainment precinct and close to the Adelaide CBD.
- Undercover secure car park (bookings essential)
- FREE WiFi
- FREE local phone calls
- Weekly cleaning & linen change service
- Welcome first-day amenities starter-pack including: basic toiletries, tea/coffee, milk & sugar, washing machine & dishwasher powder.
Corporate & Long-Term Rates
In addition to our already highly competitive published rates and online booking discount, we offer fantastic rates for guests who need long-term accommodation in excess of 4-weeks.
Corporate customers can also be assured of an individually tailored package that will guarantee your rates for an extended period, and ensure availability when you need it.
Contact us direct for special rates applicable to corporate, and long-term stays of over 4-weeks.
Check Availability
For further information on the accommodation and facilities, and to check availability of the apartments for your visit, go to the BOOK NOW button on this page.
Helpful Information
Whether you are in Adelaide for business or pleasure go to our About Adelaide, News & Events, and Useful Links pages on this site to find things to do, places to see, and other helpful information that will make your stay with us a memorable experience.
The perfect accommodation choice for your visit to Adelaide, South Australia.


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Crew for OWNRy OP session Dec 4
On A wintery Saturday 11 crew members converged from Puget Sound, Bay Area, Sacramento and Oroville for this all day OPS. Local dispatching was done via FRS radios.
We began with orientation at 0930 and then the "serious" fun began. Below Bob is bringing up an Eastbound train from Walla Walla into the Pasco Yard while Tom works fast to ready the pickups
Jim (who came from Seattle area) works the westyard switcher while Portland Yardmaster Andy (from Bay Area) works the east end
Then there are the "non-serious" fun loving playful crew members... had to kick them out around 5 PM...


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NBA star Enes Kanter's passport cancelled by native Turkey
An NBA basketball player from Turkey, Enes Kanter, has been stopped at a Romanian airport, after Turkey cancelled his passport.
Kanter, an Oklahoma City Thunder star, posted a video on Twitter saying this was due to his political views.
He blamed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who he called "a bad, bad man", and a "dictator".
Kanter, who turned 25 on Saturday, was later allowed to fly to London. It is unclear what documents he was using.
"They've been holding us here for hours," Kanter said in his video. "The reason behind it is, of course, my political views."
He posted a similar message in Turkish.
Romanian border police confirmed facts related to Mr Kanter's story, but did not speculate over the reasons.
In a statement - accompanied on social media by a photo of the sports star with police - border officials said he was detained at around 13:00 (12:00 GMT) after arriving on a plane from Frankfurt.
His passport was not valid, having been cancelled by "the issuing state", it said, and they could not allow him to enter Romania. But he was not under arrest.
He left at around 17:00 on a flight bound for London, it said.
When mentioning President Erdogan, Kanter told his audience: "You guys know him by, you know, he has attacked the people in Washington."
He was referring to a controversial clash between protesters and men apparently linked to Mr Erdogan's security detail during the Turkish leader's recent trip to the US.
Kanter is a supporter of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric blamed by the Turkish president for inciting a failed coup in 2016.
Turkey has demanded the preacher, who runs a network of schools in Turkey, be extradited, but the US has said it will only do on the basis of evidence.
In August 2016, Kanter cut ties with his family after his father publicly disowned him in the Turkish press.
Since the failed coup, suspected Gulenist supporters have been purged from jobs in Turkey. Many have been arrested.


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Wildflowers of Edinburgh
Very Common Wildflowers
Uncommon Wildflowers
Rare Wildflowers
Invasive Species
I created this website to show people some of the fascinating wildflowers of Edinburgh and the surrounding area. Whether you're just visiting or you live here I hope you find this site useful. We really are blessed in Scotland to have such an array of wildflowers. I am always expanding this site so more and more species will be included. All species on this website are native unless otherwise specified and are ordered alphabetically by latin name. I hope you enjoy my site!
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Fabiana's strong desire to add more songs in English to her performances, coupled with multiple requests by her American fans led Kleber Jorge, her legendary guitarist, and Mike Shapiro, her legendary drummer, to arrange and produce seven sensational tracks for her first English-language EP. Working closely with the band members, Magic, You'll Never Find, Lovely Day, Rock With You, Ain't Nobody and Close to You joined Lovin' You on the EP all with Brazilian beats infused with percussion, Fabiana's trademark musical style. Her interpretations are soft and delicate and leave you paying close attention to each lyric. The Dim The Lights EP is available at iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon.
"The acceptance of Loving You and Rock With You at my shows confirms that my fans like to hear music in their native language," says Fabiana. "With Dim The Lights I can connect even more with my English-speaking fans and still deliver the musical style that is definitely my own -- Brazilian!"
Traditionally a Latin Jazz artist, Fabiana Passoni's passionate voice and gambit of Brazilian rhythms transcend genres with Dim The Lights. Her live performances are a celebration of Brazilian soul and culture -- rich in percussion and expression with a relentless zeal for life. These "remakes" in bossa nova, baião, and samba complement the rest of her playlist of original songs in Portuguese. Local performances in southern California are planned as well as a late spring/summer tour throughout the United States. Cities and dates will be announced soon.


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Should non-English MPs be prevented from voting on English laws?
Question details
"Broadly speaking, do you agree or disagree with each of the following? ...Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs should be prevented from voting on matters which only affect England."
Survey years
14 January 2015:
survey for Wings Over Scotland
with 1007 respondents,
18 and older.
Further info
End Date Jan 2015 Agree 65% Disagree 35% End Date Jan 2015 Agree 54% Disagree 29% Don't know 17%


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Maple at The Wild Center Tupper Lake, N.Y. - The Wild Center is a place where you can learn. Learn how the unique geography of the Adirondacks was formed, learn about the animals that call this place home and now, for the first time, learn about the art of maple sugaring. During the sugaring season, The Wild Center will be sugaring and have an assortment of demonstrations, activities and events to celebrate all things sweet. Watch how the sweet sap of trees becomes the highlight of a pancake breakfast and learn other ways to use this natural sweetener. On February 25th and March 17th it's all maple all day with maple stories, crafts, and tastings. The Adirondack Museum will share some of the local stories of maple through historical object and pictures from the past. You can also take a maple "tour" with experienced naturalists at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm as they tell the story of maple sugaring through the stages of tapping, processing, and finally getting to the sweet part, maple sugar. Take a closer look at an operational evaporator, catch some running sap and drill your own tap as we explore the local maple sugaring story. Learn how you can sugar at home. Those in Tupper Lake can join a new community maple project, led by The Wild Center and one of the first of its kind in the state. The Wild Center invites community members to tap maple trees in their yards and have it collected by a Wild Center representative on a daily basis during the sugaring season (once the sap begins to flow). Once returned to The Wild Center, the sap will be boiled down into maple syrup. Participating community members will receive 50% of the finished product (pure maple syrup) from the sap they provide. (Generally 40 gallons of sap = 1 gallon of maple syrup = ½ gallon of pure maple syrup to supplier.) Organizations like Sunmount have already agreed to participate in the project. Two informational pancake breakfasts and workshops will be held at The Wild Center to educate the community about the project. The free 'Art of Maple Sugaring Breakfast and Workshop' on February 24th and March 17th will introduce the natural history of maple trees, provide access to the latest in maple information, including the tools you need to tap a tree, collect maple sap and ways to participate in the project. You must pre-register to participate. Registered participants will receive a pancake breakfast, expert-led workshop, and the tools to tap your own sugar maple for the 2012 season, including one bucket and tap. Additional supplies will be available for purchase from The Wild Supply Company. You must attend one workshop on either February 25th or March 17th to be involved in this project. Families are encouraged to attend. Register at www.wildcenter.org/sweet. While Vermont seems to have cornered the market on maple syrup, New York State has an enormous potential to compete. According to a report from The Uihlein Forest for Cornell University, only 0.4% of the potentially tappable maple trees are used for syrup production in Franklin County. If Franklin County made and consumed more locally-produced syrup, the economic impact of the maple industry could increase from $300,000 to more than $4,000,000 annually. "We sometimes forget that we are surrounded by the ultimate renewable resources," said Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center. "Miraculously each year maple trees produce a sweet sap that can be harvested with minor stress on the trees. Its rareness makes it a valuable commodity, unique to the northeast, but exportable around the world. This community project exemplifies how people and nature can thrive together, helping people and the economy during a typically quiet time of year and encourage forest management." For more information visit http://www.wildcenter.org/.
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Contact: Tracey Legat Jolly firstname.lastname@example.com