text:
The Tor Project is Hiring a Developer for OONI!
by art | May 17, 2016
Are you a software engineer passionate about internet freedom and transparency? The Tor Project is hiring a full-time developer to work on OONI!
What's OONI?
The Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) is a free software effort of the Tor Project which aims to detect online censorship and traffic manipulation around the world through the collection of network measurements.
OONI is based on free software tests that are designed to measure:
- Blocking of websites
- Systems responsible for censorship, surveillance and traffic manipulation
- Reachability of Tor, proxies, VPNs, and other systems
Since 2012, OONI has collected more than 9.5 million measurements across 96 countries, all of which are public and provide evidence and data to back up claims of network manipulation.
Why join OONI?
OONI is in a unique position to bring transparency to technical censorship. You can play a key part in keeping the web free and neutral.
By joining the team, you will play an important role not only in paving the road for a better interference detection system, but you will also be responsible for software run by activists around the world. Your work will help reveal unlawful censorship and surveillance around the world and aid the work of human rights defenders.
Becoming an OONI-tarian
As a core OONI developer, you will contribute to some of our active development efforts, including:
- Supporting advocacy groups in remotely controlling measurements from all the OONI probes they operate
- Re-engineering OONI's data processing pipeline to allow for easier analysis
- Improving ooni-probe
- Improving ooni-backend
These tasks will increase the impact of the millions of measurements that OONI is currently hosting, the hundreds of vantage points around the world, and the future of censorship measurement.
Learn more and apply to join the OONI team as a core developer here.
Please note that the comment area below has been archived.
I am so glad you've been
I am so glad you've been able to find the funds to do this!
So many urgent things need to be addressed, but this is certainly one of the most important. I hope this will ultimately help endangered people/journalists everywhere.
Huge item of meta-news, of particular interest to people in Brazil who need to read what the Snowden trove reveals about the cynical and outrageous USG manipulation of political/economic events in their country:
The Intercept Is Broadening Access to the Snowden Archive. Here's Why
Glenn Greenwald
16 May 2016
> From the time we began reporting on the archive provided to us in Hong Kong by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, we sought to fulfill his two principal requests for how the materials should be handled: that they be released in conjunction with careful reporting that puts the documents in context and makes them digestible to the public, and that the welfare and reputations of innocent people be safeguarded. As time has gone on, The Intercept has sought out new ways to get documents from the archive into the hands of the public, consistent with the public interest as originally conceived.
> Today, The Intercept is announcing two innovations in how we report on and publish these materials. Both measures are designed to ensure that reporting on the archive continues in as expeditious and informative a manner as possible, in accordance with the agreements we entered into with our source about how these materials would be disclosed, a framework that he, and we, have publicly described on numerous occasions.
> The first measure involves the publication of large batches of documents.
> ...
> The other innovation is our ability to invite outside journalists, including from foreign media outlets, to work with us to explore the full Snowden archive.
Great example of the kind of news which must not censored by any government, and should be read by people everywhere, because it's that important to their understanding of their personal situation.
Sometimes TorBrowser makes
Sometimes TorBrowser makes connection to 188.8.131.52 without tor.exe.
Check this:
and make TorBrowser better.
> ocsp.digicert.com Forgive
> ocsp.digicert.com
Forgive me if I misunderstood (your post contains few details), but it sounds to me as if you might have noticed an unexpected connection to oscp.digicert.com when you were connecting to another site using Tor Browser, such as https:twitter.com. But if that other site was protected by https, Tor Browser *should* connect to some Certificate Authority site (digicert is one of the biggest) in order to fetch the certificate used to verify that you were connecting to the genuine twitter.com and not an FBI phishing site masquerading as twitter.com.
Tor Browser "should" fetch
Tor Browser "should" fetch by tor.exe but firefox.exe shouldn't connect in clearnet!
Firefox.exe should be blocked in clearnet!
Thanks , thats Great !
Thanks , thats Great !
Tor Browser is really great.
Tor Browser is really great. Pity some sites block the access when they see a "strange" ip address.
These sites don't have to oblige us to not stay anonymous.
Irony strikes again: Tor
Irony strikes again: Tor apparently blocked from indexoncensorship.org
The hardened version of
The hardened version of ooni?
This comment makes no sense on this blog post.
I wonder if we should start enforcing on-topicness of the blog post comments.
I just approved a whole mess of not-really-related-to-ooni-at-all comments below. They sure do distract from the actual blog post topic.
(The counter might be "but this is the only safe way for Tor users to reach you!" -- but that is not true, since adding an off-topic comment to a blog post is not reaching us at all.)
use Linux
use Linux
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About How ISIS Uses The Internet
They talk on Telegram and send viruses to their enemies. BuzzFeed News' Sheera Frenkel looks at how ISIS members and sympathizers around the world use the internet to grow their global network.
Sheera Frenkel
> Here's an example of a conversation on a private ISIS channel on the messaging app Telegram on a recent Sunday afternoon:
> "brother r u use VPN for site?"
> "no brother, that is shit. use tor."
> "tor is creation of CIA. avoid tor."
> "so use vpn?"
> "lol, no there is something else"
> These sorts of exchanges appear daily on Telegram,
If I am reading the article correctly, this snippet was shown to the reporter by Dlishad Othman "a cybersecurity engineer with the ISC Project".
I wish the reporter had pointed out that if this pair of 4 Watt bulbs is a typical example of ISIS recruits, that (non)-governmental(?) entity must not be so cyber-capable after all.
Two more recent Buzzfeed News articles of interest to Tor users:
Manhattan District Attorney Wants To Put An End To Apple's Default Encryption
Law enforcement officials continue to push for a new law that would ban secure communications in the interest of national security.
Hamza Shaban
> ...
> Cyrus Vance, the District Attorney of New York County and one of the most vocal opponents of robust consumer encryption, believes lawmakers shouldn't wait for potential encryption cases to wind their way through the courts. Instead, with urgency, he is lobbying members of Congress to support legislation that would force tech companies to maintain the ability to decrypt the data of their consumers on demand, with a judge's approval.
IOW, Cy Vance Jr seeks to outlaw end-to-end encryption, which would outlaw Tor, GPG, and many other good things. The less dire alternative on offer from the USG: "persuade" vendors to make strong cryptography too hard for ordinary people to use on their personal devices:
Why Google's Encryption Choices Matter
Allo, Google's new messaging app, offers end-to-end encryption — but not by default.
Hamza Shaban
> Default settings matter.
> This truth of consumer technology brings significance to Google's decision, announced Wednesday during its annual I/O developer conference, to offer end-to-end encryption through its new messaging app, Allo. But unlike WhatsApp or Apple's iMessage, if you want the protection it offers you'll have to turn it on.
> Through an optional "incognito" mode, Allo encrypts communications in such a way that not even Google can access the contents of the messages you send. Only intended recipients can read correspondence when its end-to-end encrypted. For the majority of people, built-in settings are the ones most often used. That's why Google's decision to add end-to-end encryption as an option in Allo — but not enable it by default — is disconcerting to some technologists.
Well, here's one tiny bit of
Well, here's one tiny bit of good news (thanks to all Americans who called their senators?):
Feinstein-Burr's bonkers backdoor crypto law is dead in the water
US senators' bill won't make it to the floor of Congress
Kieren McCarthy
27 May 2016
> A proposed piece of US legislation that would have required American tech companies to cripple the encryption in their products is dead in the water. The daft bill was championed by Senators Richard Burr (R‑NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D‑CA) in February following an increasingly rancorous debate over encryption, and at one point it looked likely to make it into law. Just last month, Senator Ron Wyden said he was planning to filibuster it.
But as the reporter points out, privacy advocates cannot rest easy:
> Not that the issue is going to go away for long. Both the FBI and Apple have agreed that with such a significant issue as access to billions of people's data on the table, a few extreme lawsuits is not the best way to find a workable compromise. Pretty much everyone agrees that where the line is drawn – and how it is drawn – is something Congress has to tackle. And tackle in the way that democratic institutions are supposed to do it: through widespread public consultation, the inclusion of all relevant parties, and the considered views of experts. Whether the elections later this year will produce a Congress that is less dysfunctional and so able to get back to the complex business of writing laws, we will have to see.
I say again: the change to
I say again: the change to Rule 41b which will take effect in December unless the US Congress acts, will directly affect Tor users all over the world:
The Government's Hacking Powers Are About to Grow Exponentially
Neema Singh Guliani, ACLU Legislative Counsel
19 May 2016
> Federal agents may soon be able to remotely hack into hundreds or even millions of computers across the country — with a single warrant. And Congress has to act by December 1 to stop this incredible power grab.
> ...
> The rule change would allow the government to obtain a search warrant to remotely hack a computer in cases involving certain internet crimes, or when the location of the computer is being masked electronically (for example, when a person uses a virtual private network or a privacy-protective service like Tor). Judges would be permitted to authorize these searches within and outside their district — as an exception to the general rule that judges may only issues warrants within their jurisdiction. This could allow the government to hack into millions of computers across the country, without proper judicial oversight.
just remember NEVER USE
just remember NEVER USE CLOSED SOURCE OS on "your" property - computer! and remember google apple microsoft are nsa tools!
Who would dare to read the
Who would dare to read the following article except under cover of Tor?
The Pentagon's secret pre-crime program to know your thoughts, predict your future
US military contractors are mining social media to influence your 'cognitive behavior' when you get angry at the state
Nafeez Ahmed
1 Feb 2016
> The US Department of Defense (DoD) wants contractors to mine your social media posts to develop new ways for the US government to infer what you're really thinking and feeling — and to predict what you'll do next.
> Pentagon documents released over the last few months identify ongoing classified research in this area that the federal government plans to expand, by investing millions more dollars.
> The unclassified documents, which call on external scientists, institutions and companies to submit proposals for research projects, not only catalogue how far US military capabilities have come, but also reveal the Pentagon's goals: building the US intelligence community's capacity to forecast population behavior at home and abroad, especially groups involved in political activism.
> ...
Do I detect a sudden chilling sensation?
One more striking example of
One more striking example of why everyone needs to use Tor as much as possible:
Surveillance Chills Speech—As New Studies Show—And Free Association Suffers
Karen Gullo
19 May 2016
> ... Government surveillance has that chilling effect—on our activities, choices and communications—and carries serious consequences. We argue in our lawsuit First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, et al v. NSA that the government's collection of phone records violates the First Amendment rights of our clients—churches and civil and human rights organizations—by discouraging members and constituents from associating and communicating with them for fear of being spied on.
> ...
> The Wikipedia study, to be published in an upcoming issue of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal, found a dramatic fall in monthly traffic to Wikipedia articles about terror groups and their techniques after the June 2013 disclosures of the NSA PRISM surveillance program by whistleblower Edward Snowden. The study looked at 48 Wikipedia articles that contained terrorism-related keywords tracked by the Department of Homeland Security, such as "suicide attack" and "dirty bomb."
> Article views dropped 30 percent after June 2013, which supports "the existence of an immediate and substantial chilling effect," wrote author Jonathon Penney. He also found that monthly views continued to fall, suggesting that the chilling effects of NSA surveillance are long term. The study, he says, has "implications for the health of democratic deliberation among citizens" and the broader health of society.
The correct solution is of course not to stop reading uncensored in order to learn things you need to know for your own safety, but to use Tor.
> These studies provide evidence of what we have long argued—our freedom to read what we choose online and communicate and associate with others privately is profoundly affected by the prospect of the government looking over our shoulder. It's changed our behavior, whether that means not commenting on a Facebook post about terrorism, avoiding a Wikipedia page, or steering clear of certain organizations.
What Cy Vance and James Comey really want is to ensure that governments (or rather their AI governance bots) to make all the big decisions about the lives of individual citizens. God forbid citizens should think for themselves, much less decide how they want their own lives to unfold!
Was following links from
Was following links from this fine piece by two senior ACLU staffers:
Power Loves the Dark
Matthew Harwood, Senior Writer/Editor, ACLU
& Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project
19 May 2016
> In December 2015, the Journal of the American Statistical Association published a study that brought joy to the predictive crime-fighting industry. The study's researchers concluded that a predictive policing algorithm outperformed human analysts in indicating where crime would occur, which in turn led to real crime reductions after officers were dispatched to the flagged areas. Only one problem: five of the seven authors held PredPol stock, and two were co-founders of the company. On its website, PredPol identifies the research as a "UCLA study," but only because PredPol co-founder Jeffery Brantingham is an anthropology professor there.
What critic of "lying with statistics" could resist reading a bit of marketing fluff published (by ASA, even) as an "independent academic study" [sic]? Unfortunately got this response from the third party server:
> client IP is blocked because: More than 100 sessions created in 5 minutes
> Blocked IPs: ***
Censoring PredPol *propadanda*! Houda thunkit?
(BTW, the claimed "100 sessions" figure didn't change to "101" when I tried a second time, so it's probably completely bogus.)
Truly, the USG has gone off
Truly, the USG has gone off the rails:
Developer of Online Anonymity Tool Tor Flees US to Escape FBI 'Harassment'
Mandel Ngan
18 May 2016
> The Federal Bureau of Investigations may be looking to break into Tor, the Internet browser that hides user's locations, by trying to subpoena one of Tor's primary software developers, and instead of complying, she has fled the country.
> The FBI wants the cryptographer, who goes by Isis Agora Lovecruft, to testify in a criminal hacking investigation, but privacy advocates — as well as Lovecruft herself — believe the Bureau will attempt to coerce her into helping them crack the system.
> The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the leading nonprofit organization defending electronic civil liberties, has also taken on the case.
> "The FBI needs to open up and tell Isis what it is they want before she can decide if she will meet with them," EFF Senior Staff Attorney Nate Cardozo told Sputnik. "They've said she isn't under investigation, but there are still too many unanswered questions. Isis has a right to know what's going on instead of playing this strange guessing game as she's pursued by federal agents."
Perilous times indeed.
Off-topic but crypto: GCM
Off-topic but crypto:
GCM Nonce problems
Remember when Medium hosted
Remember when Medium hosted the Sarawak Report, a detailed, sourced, well-researched expose of political corruption in Malaysia?
Predictably, the government blocked access to Medium.com. And they didn't stop there. You can no doubt guess their next move:
Free Speech
Mike Masnick
19 May 2016
> the government [of Malaysia] is now pushing a new law that gives the MCMC much more power to silence criticism online. And a big part of this is removing the intermediary liability protections that service providers have. This is a topic that we've discussed an awful lot -- especially with regards to things like Section 230 of the CDA in the US, which makes websites immune from liability for actions of their users. Many people try to attack these protections, claiming that they're just protecting big companies, but they're actually very much about protecting the public's ability to speak freely -- and the situation in Malaysia is a perfect example.
> Without strong intermediary liability protections, websites will now have very strong incentive to immediately block or take down any content that might displease the government, for fear that leaving it up will lead to legal consequences. This is also why we're so concerned about the recent lawsuits in France claiming that Twitter, Facebook and YouTube didn't take down offensive comments fast enough. Expecting service providers to police and monitor content is a path to widespread censorship.
> In Malaysia, a coalition of civil society/public interest groups are fighting back against this new law, and trying to spread the word about its possible impact.
Damn straight. It's all of them against all of us, and we all need to fight back.
it is cool
it is cool
OT but maybe very good news:
OT but maybe very good news: a big problem (agreed?) for Tails developers is that the PRNG may not be able to gather enough entropy for strong cryptography soon after you boot from a DVD. The following development is clearly big news--- could it possibly help?
Boffins achieve 'breakthrough' in random number generation
New method could make it harder for hackers in the future
Katyanna Quach
18 May 2016
> University of Texas computer science professor David Zuckerman and PhD student Eshan Chattopadhyay have found that a "high-quality" random number could be generated by combining two "low-quality" random sources... The new method makes it harder for hackers, as it requires less computational power to spew out random numbers of higher quality. Their paper has caught the attention of other academics worldwide who have described the research as "pulse-quickening" and "a breakthrough in theoretical computer science."
Academics Make Theoretical Breakthrough in Random Number Generation
Michael Mimoso
May 17, 2016
> Two University of Texas academics have made what some experts believe is a breakthrough in random number generation that could have longstanding implications for cryptography and computer security..."We show that if you have two low-quality random sources—lower quality sources are much easier to come by—two sources that are independent and have no correlations between them, you can combine them in a way to produce a high-quality random number," Zuckerman said. "People have been trying to do this for quite some time. Previous methods required the low-quality sources to be not that low, but more moderately high quality.
> ...
> In fact, academics worldwide have taken notice. Oded Goldreich, a professor of computer science at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, called it a fantastic result. "It would have been great to see any explicit two-source extractor for min-entropy rate below one half, let alone one that beats Bourgain's rate of 0.499," Goldreich said on the Weizmann website. "Handling any constant min-entropy rate would have been a feast (see A Challenge from the mid-1980s), and going beyond that would have justified a night-long party."
(Bourgain is a Fields Medalist, so beating his bound is pretty impressive. Goldreich is a well known expert in academic cryptography.)
The articles link to the paper and a followup paper from another researcher.
just use fortuna based prng.
just use fortuna based prng. whats the problem??
At times, apparent trolling,
At times, apparent trolling, astroturfing, or other malicious manipulations of social media (possibly sponsored by hostile governments) have become a problem in this blog. An interesting new study from Gary King's group at Harvard claims to uncover 488 million posts by (Chinese government sponsored) "fifty centers":
China caught astroturfing social networks
Harvard study blames state groups for 488m comments
Shaun Nichols
20 May 2016
> ... "We estimate that the government fabricates and posts about 488 million social media comments a year. In contrast to prior claims, we show that the Chinese regime's strategy is to avoid arguing with skeptics of the party and the government, and to not even discuss controversial issues," say report authors Gary King, Jennifer Pan, and Margaret Roberts. "We infer that the goal of this massive secretive operation is instead to regularly distract the public and change the subject, as most of the these posts involve cheerleading for China, the revolutionary history of the Communist Party, or other symbols of the regime."
One surprising conclusion:
> ... The researchers believe that the 50 cent Party members are not actually employed full-time to target online discussions, but rather engage in the activities outside of their day-jobs as employees in other government organizations. The findings, the study concludes, contradict previously-held notions that online censorship in China is conducted directly through targeting and removing content that is critical of the state. Rather, the researchers find, the government is using more subtle tactics to undermine those who would criticize its policies. "Distraction is a clever and useful strategy in information control, in that an argument in almost any human discussion is rarely an effective way to put an end to an opposing argument," the researchers note. "Letting an argument die, or changing the subject, usually works much better than picking an argument and getting someone's back up (as new parents recognize fast).
Gary King is the author of the well known R package "Zelig", and has been a tireless champion of Bayesian statistics in the social sciences. One of his earlier papers studied the infamous "hanging chads".
(This comment is not a malicious attempt to "change the subject", and I feel it is not OT in this blog generally, I think, but it is OT in this thread. Wish TP offered a weekly open comment post like Bruce Schneier's "squid" posts.)
WaPo has been running a fine
WaPo has been running a fine series on censorship by the Chinese government, including this:
China's scary lesson to the world: Censoring the Internet works
Simon Denyer
23 May 2016
> ... Far from knocking down the world's largest system of censorship, China in fact is moving ever more confidently in the opposite direction, strengthening the wall's legal foundations, closing breaches and reinforcing its control of the Web behind the wall.
Such stories should help Tor leaders make the case to the US Congress to reject FBI's demands to declare Tor effectively illegal, which could potentially shut down Tor Project unless it can perform an emergency relocation somewhere else--- trouble is, other governments such as Netherlands, Iceland, Norway are moving down the same repressive path. But Tor might have some popular support in Germany and some other EU countries, even if the governments are likely to be susceptible to USG pressure to declare Tor illegal.
It is important to recognize that the government of China is doing openly many things which the USG is doing in great secrecy, such as
o sophisticated manipulations of official media and unofficial social media forums,
o intervening often in the family lives of every schoolchild, to ensure that they become "compliant" adults who do not challenge the government's policies,
o assigning "citizenship scores" to each citizen,
o systematizing discrimination against political dissidents and other "weird" people,
o supercomputer simulation of entire populations for "what if" simulations (if government performs "intervention" #377 on Citizen X, does the elite benefit?).
The fact that unlike the USG, the Chinese government is mostly doing these things openly does not render any of them either wise or just, of course.
Thanks to all Tor people for opposing censorship and promoting access to information and freedom of thought/expression!
Devs who doesn't leave to
Devs who doesn't leave to the FBI huh?
Well, I would like to think
Well, I would like to think we have a lot more requirements than that. :)
Please take some action to
Please take some action to scan tor relays and exits to see if the're run by blacklisted spammers!! I think it may reveal they are taking over! and ruining Tor! Including Krypton and Fire.onion are many blacklisted relays. Thank you. Heads Up!!!
More details please?
More details please? Actually, not here, but for the bad-relays list:
hm and what relay are you
hm and what relay are you running? just want to check...
Do Tor Project Developers
Do Tor Project Developers get the money for their hard work ?
The Tor Network is operated
The Tor Network is operated almost entirely by volunteers around the world, but Tor Project does have a few (less than a dozen?) paid employees, including a core development team. The funding is confusing even for the employees, I gather, but some are paid mostly from money which ultimately comes from sources like Radio Free Asia, which is sort of pro-US propaganda organization (but some would argue, not as nasty as the word "propaganda" makes it sound.) I believe Summer of Code interns at TP are paid by another weirdly conflicted source, Google. I believe that some key Tor assets have full time positions doing closely related pro-privacy work, but from time to time provide patches or essential advice to TP.
I suppose it is more or less inevitable that the people who are paid to defend The People from the Powers that Be are not probably not paid as well as the people who are paid to attack The People. But knowing how incredibly essential their work is to freedom, justice, and democracy no doubt sustains them in the fact of constant harassment from the bad guys.
No doubt someone from TP will correct me if I said anything which is terribly incorrect!
"weirdly conflicted source,
"weirdly conflicted source, Google" no surprise nsa needs to to know what is going on.
Following up on FBI's
Following up on FBI's harrassment of Tor developers, it seems that the Seattle city government also hates privacy--- and the people at Seattle Privacy Coalition who try to defend it:
When A Dark Web Volunteer Gets Raided By The Police
Heard on All Things Considered
Martin Kaste 2010
4 Apr 2016
Judge Who Authorized Police Search of Seattle Privacy Activists Wasn't Told They Operate Tor Network
Ansel Herz
8 Apr 2016
Seattle Suehawks: Smart meter hush-up launched because, er ... terrorism
Security through obscurity, amirite?
Shaun Nichols
25 May 2016
As US court bans smart meter blueprints from public, sysadmin tells of fight for security info
He wanted records – and got sued instead amid terror fears
Shaun Nichols
27 May 2016


text:
BRUSSELS — The European Commission has sent a clear message to telecom operators that they must allow access to their networks and wholesale broadband markets to new operators by fining Telekomunikacja Polska more than €127 million (US$182 million).
Under European Union rules, dominant telcos are required to allow new operators access to their networks. The aim is to increase broadband connectivity and to give consumers a better choice. Building a network from scratch is rarely economically viable, hence the E.U.'s law on access.
"The Commission cannot allow the development of the Internet and of the digital economy to be put at risk by anti-competitive practices. This case shows our determination to ensure that dominant telecom operators do not systematically hinder competitors who can make a real difference in the market to the benefit of consumers and businesses," said Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia.
In Poland, the network is exclusively provided by Telekomunikacja Polska (TP), but the Commission found that it deliberately sought to limit competition in the broadband market by placing obstacles in the way of alternative operators.
From August 2005 until at least October 2009, TP proposed unreasonable conditions, delayed the negotiation processes, rejected orders in an unjustifiable manner and refused to provide reliable and accurate information to alternative operators, said the Commission.
Poland has one of the lowest broadband penetration rates in Europe — in January 2010 it reached only 13 percent, significantly below the E.U. average of 24 percent. Consumers also suffer lower connection speeds with 66 percent of Internet access lines below 2M bps (bits per second).
Telekomunikacja Polska's total revenue in 2010 was €3.9 billion and the fine takes account of the duration and gravity of the infringement. But matters may not end there as individuals or businesses affected by the anticompetitive behavior can also appeal to local courts for damages.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Laws, Regulations and Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2023
Sales And Use Tax Law
Revenue and Taxation Code
Division 2. Other Taxes
Part 1. Sales and Use Taxes
Chapter 4. Exemptions
Article 1. General Exemptions
Section 6380
6380. Space flight property. (a) There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this part the gross receipts from the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, qualified property for use in space flight.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Qualified property" means any of the following:
(A) Tangible personal property that has space flight capability, including, but not limited to, an orbital space facility, space propulsion system, space vehicle, satellite, or space station of any kind, and any component thereof.
(B) Tangible personal property to be placed or used aboard any facility, system, vehicle, satellite, or station described in subparagraph (A), regardless of whether that property is to be ultimately returned to this state for subsequent use, storage, or other consumption.
(C) Fuel of a quality that is not adaptable for use in ordinary motor vehicles, but is produced, sold, and used exclusively for space flight.
(2) "Space flight" means any flight designed for suborbital, orbital, or interplanetary travel by a space vehicle, satellite, space facility, or space station of any kind.
(c) The exemption established by this section shall not be denied by reason of a failure, postponement, or cancellation of a launch of a space vehicle, satellite, space facility, or space station of any kind, or the destruction of any launch vehicle or any component thereof, but the exemption shall not apply to any material that is not intended to be launched into space.
History—Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 881, in effect October 6, 1993, but operative January 1, 1994. Stats. 1998, Ch. 323, in effect August 20, 1998, but operative January 1, 1999, deleted ", and originating at Vandenberg Air Force Base" after "of any kind" in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), and deleted former subdivision (d) which provided a sunset date of January 1, 2004.


text:
Brand Overview
Daltile® Tile
Profile | Website
Daltile is the country's leading manufacturer and distributor of ceramic, porcelain tile & natural stone. Built on a tradition of outstanding design, quality, and service, we set the standard for the entire industry. For over 70 years and counting, we answer the question WHY TILE? with trustworthy tile for floor, wall, and countertop that is proudly made in the USA.


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Tickets for the Sequim Centennial Finale Dinner, to be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Club SEVEN at the 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. 101., are now on sale and can be purchased at: Sequim City Hall, 152 W. Cedar St.; Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St.; and the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center, 1192 E. Washington St. Tickets are available for purchase by cash and check at all locations. They are available by credit card and debit card purchase only at Sequim City Hall.
The ticket cost is $50 per person and includes a buffet style roast prime rib and salmon dinner with roasted potatoes, pasta primavera alfredo, steamed vegetables, salad, birthday cake and a glass of champagne. The price also includes a commemorative champagne flute engraved with the Sequim Centennial logo.
The evening activities begin at 5:00 p.m. with no-host cocktails. Dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m. and the Centennial Finale Program will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The Centennial Finale Dinner concludes a full year of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Sequim. Events included a kick-off dinner, pancake breakfast, 4th of July town picnic, street dance, community art projects and many other community sponsored and supported events.
Tickets for the Centennial Finale Dinner are limited. For questions or more information, contact Barbara Hanna, City of Sequim Communications and Marketing Director at 681-3422 or email@example.com.


text:
This service may vary by region
Ambulatory care clinics are where patients come to have simple procedures (such as IV medications, phlebotomies) that otherwise generally aren't performed in a doctor's or nurse practitioner's office.
Some of the clinics include, but not limited to:
- Pediatric asthma clinic
- Plastics clinic - (to see the plastic surgeon for minor procedures or follow-ups),
- Surgical clinic - (to see surgeon for follow-ups and minor procedures not done in an office and not needing an operating room)
- Colposcopy clinic - (to follow-up and procedures for women with abnormal pap results)
- Ophthalmology clinics - (to see an Ophthalmologist for eye injections and minor procedures)
- Wound clinic - (on the same day as plastics and is run by a wound care nurse)
- Foot clinic - (a trained advance foot care nurse who looks after advanced foot care issues, esp diabetics)
- Family Physician clinic - (for injections/removal of and other minor procedures not done in doctor's offices) a Registered nurse clinic ( for IV injections/infusions such as iron, phlebotomies and such that can be a one time order or a monthly/bimonthly treatment)
*There are also occasionally visiting specialists and groups that come and use our facilities to see area patients to save some travel to the QEII in Halifax, such as consults with a neurologist and IWK interdisciplinary teams.
Contact information
St Martha's Regional Hospital
25 Bay Street
Antigonish, NS B2G 2G4
ph: (902) 867-4500 ext 4476
fax: (902) 867-4705
How do I make an appointment?
The process varies by region
The Ambulatory clinic at St Martha's Regional Hospital is accessed by a referral to one of the specialists who have clinics there, or by a family doctor who books procedures through there. Patients that have booked appointments proceed to registration on the main floor before presenting to the Ambulatory Care area.


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Tavern Rynski Mill overlooking the enchanting Rynskie Lake was completely restored to surprise guests with extraordinary decor and traditional recipes.
A beautiful, charming hotel, at a very high level, amazing decor of rooms, refectory restaurants very moody and atmospheric, offer tasty dishes, personally I was stunned by schrimp soup and a raspberry cake, a delight for the palate. Spa with an small, beautifil pool. The package includes an individual trip with a guide. I recommend a romantic trip for two. P>
Being in Ryn must definitely visit the castle! The hotel there is a very comfortable place. Rooms clean, cleaned every day.
Breakfasts tasty and a very large selection of products. Service nice. Close to the lake, in the summer it is especially beautiful here. P>
Nice hotel, and certainly outstanding in comparison to other hotels. Professional service. Lady in the wellness area which also deals with renting bikes very nice and communicative. Rooms in the hotel I can not judge, but rooms in the house belonging to the whole complex, they are very nice and clean and have a beautiful view of the lake (it may even win with views from the castle itself). p>


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The use of cinnamon to help treat diabetes remains controversial. We know that cinnamon is so good at controlling one's blood sugar that you can cheat on a diabetes test by consuming two teaspoons of cinnamon the night before your glucose tolerance test. That's where they make you drink some sugar water to see how well your body can keep your blood sugar levels under control, and if you eat those two teaspoons right when the test starts or 12 hours before you can significantly blunt the spike. Even a teaspoon a day appears to make a significant difference. A review of the best studies done to date found that the intake of cinnamon by type 2 diabetics or prediabetics does lower their blood glucose significantly. So what's the controversy?
Well, as I described in my video The Safer Cinnamon, cassia cinnamon, also known as Chinese cinnamon (probably what you're getting at the store if it just says "cinnamon") contains a compound called coumarin which may be toxic to the liver at high doses. Originally the concern was mainly for kids during Christmas-time where they might get an above average exposure, but more recently some researchers suggest that kids just sprinkling some cassia cinnamon on their oatmeal a few times a week might exceed the recommended safety limit.
As you can see in my 5-min video Update on Cinnamon for Blood Sugar Control just a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon a few times a week may be too much for little kids, and if they're eating that cinnamon-sprinkled oatmeal more like every day they can bump up against the limit for adults. So a teaspoon a day of cassia cinnamon might be too much for anyone, but can't we just switch from cassia cinnamon to Ceylon cinnamon and get the benefits without the potential risks? Without the risks, yes, but we're no longer so sure about the benefits.
Nearly all of the studies showing blood sugar benefits of cinnamon have been done on cassia. We've just assumed that the same would apply for the safer cinnamon, Ceylon, but only recently was it put to the test. That nice blunting of blood sugars we saw in response to cassia cinnamon disappeared when the researchers tried Ceylon cinnamon instead. In fact, it may actually be the potentially toxic coumarin that was the active ingredient in the cassia cinnamon all along. Thus, sidestepping the toxin by switching may sidestep the benefit.
So should we just give up on going out of our way to add cinnamon to our diet? No, I think it's still a good idea to shoot for a teaspoon a day of Ceylon cinnamon since there are a bunch of other benefits linked to cinnamon besides blood sugar control, not the least of which is it's potent antioxidant content (as I show in my one of my favorite videos Antioxidants in a Pinch). In my Superfood Bargains video, where I rank foods in terms of antioxidants per unit cost, cinnamon comes out as one of the cheapest food sources of antioxidants, beating out cloves and coming in just under purple cabbage. What about the Oxalates in Cinnamon? Not a problem, but the oxalates in too much turmeric may be a concern. As you're making a Healthy Pumpkin Pie with all that cinnamon, don't accidentally add too much nutmeg, though, the subject of my follow-up video Don't Eat Too Much Nutmeg.
Ultimately cinnamon can no longer be considered a safe and effective treatment for diabetes. Either you're using cassia cinnamon, and it's effective, but may not be safe, or you're using Ceylon cinnamon, which is safe, but does not appear effective. Note that even the cassia cinnamon only brought down blood sugars modestly (in other words, only as good as the leading diabetes drug in the world, metformin, sold as Glucophage). So yes, it may work as good as the leading drug, but that's not saying much. The best way to treat diabetes is to attempt to cure it completely, reversing diabetes with a healthy diet. Books I would recommend (in order of publication) are Defeating Diabetes, Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes, and The End of Diabetes.
I talk more about the potential potency of plants in general in Power Plants and more about spices in particular in videos such as:
- Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds
- Saffron for the Treatment of Alzheimer's
- Saffron for the Treatment of PMS
- Garden Variety Anti-Inflammation
Amla Versus Diabetes explores the use of Indian gooseberries as a way to help control blood sugar, though, again, the best way to deal with diabetes is to prevent and treat it with a healthy diet.
-Michael Greger, M.D.
PS: If you haven't yet, you can subscribe to my videos for free by clicking here and watch my full 2012 – 2015 presentations Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death, More than an Apple a Day, From Table to Able, and Food as Medicine.


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Unbelievable but true
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Carbon Trust: Don't Ride a Bicycle
Posted by James Annan at Tuesday, October 12, 2010
3 comments:
- William M. Connolley said...
To be fair, the publicity has made them rethink a bit:
- 13/10/10 3:30 pm
- guthrie said...
WEll that seems to be an H&S fail, don't you think? Don't cycle during work hours because nasty things can happen and we don't want to be accused of failing in our duty. Pah, ridiculous excuse. It sounds like they've spoken to too many lawyers.
- 13/10/10 11:40 pm
- James Annan said...
Hmm...in my experience it is generally not due to any actual lawyers but rather some jobsworth trying to make themselves feel important.
- 14/10/10 10:22 am
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Decatrex 350, Concentrex 10 ML [350mg/1ml]
|Buy Injectable Steroids
|Active Substance
|Nandrolone Decanoate
|Active Life
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|Average Dose
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- Ex Tax: $69.00
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No Airstream…just memories of Marrakech.
Remember back in the day when couples would force other couples to endure the slides of their trip to Europe? Please to sit back relax and enjoy Spain and Marrakech, sans dogs and DWR.
Wally Byam would have been disappointed to learn we left the Airstream at home.
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Enjoy the incredible beauty and charm of traditional wood flooring, but in a practical and affordable way with Pecorino! This Luxury Vinyl Plank offers extraordinary value, especially for first-time homeowners or others looking for a budget-friendly option. It is extremely versatile and 100% waterproof, making it perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-moisture spaces. It is also equipped with a Soft Silence pad to help reduce noise and add comfort that you can feel with every step! The dent resistance and enhanced durability will help it keep up in even the most demanding spaces so you don't have to worry!
The real, rustic visuals featured in this luxury vinyl plank make it perfect for any space! Trends will come and go, but this flooring will stand the test of time.
So if you want a long-lasting and affordable flooring option, Pecorino is the choice for you! Call us today at 507-285-1109 and a member of our team can tell you more! We can even help with designing and installation to make your remodel as easy as possible!
Curious to learn more about the benefits of LVP? Check out our article on the benefits of Luxury Vinyl Flooring!
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Pre-made optional inducible lentiviral particles for expressing human target: h CSF1 (alternative name: RP11-195M16.2, CSF-1, MCSF), with ORF sequence 100% matching to CDS region in NCBI ID: NM_000757. Particles also contains a RFP-Blasticidin dual selection marker.
Full sequence verified target is natively expressed under a tetracycline inducible suCMV promoter (Note: it can also used as regular constitutive high expression, see manual for details). A blasticidin-RFP fusion marker under RSV promoter, allows to sort or select transduced cells for long term expression via RFP signal or via blasticidin antibiotic (Dual markers). RFP signal provides a convenient, realtime monitoring the particles performance. Each particles was validated in lot by lot basis and target expression is guaranteed. Particles were packaged in serum-free solution containing no any human or animal origin components. See product manual for details (.pdf).
Amount: 200ul, at 1 x 107 IFU/ml in serum-free medium.
Cat#: LVP420


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Hornady Custom Grade New Dimension Nitride 3-Die Set with Roll Crimp
Product Information
Titanium Nitride sizing ring means no case lube required!
Easy adjustment for precise sizing, expanding, decapping and bullet seating
Includes 3 Sure-Loc die locking rings
Hornady's CGND sizing dies feature a TiN (Titanium Nitride) coated sizing ring. This ring eliminates case sticking and requires no lubrication. The super hard, smooth coating is used in high-pressure, high-wear tools to reduce abrasion, so it's perfect for resizing pistol brass and won't scratch your cases. Less friction also means less wear on cases, for longer case life. Internal die profiles are also precision machined and polished to a smooth finish that delivers reliable function without case sticking.
The Zip Spindle design on the size die positively locks to eliminate slippage. A series of light threads cut on both the spindle and spindle collet allows incremental adjustments by turning the spindle or you can easily "zip it" up or down for larger movements.
Superior to "ball expanders," the elliptical expander used by Hornady provides extremely smooth neck sizing and significantly reduces friction and case neck stretch. Internal threading prevents it from pulling loose, and the elliptical expander also eliminates the need for a separate expander die for necking-up to the next caliber.
Hornady's seating system holds the bullet, case neck and seating stem in perfect alignment in the sleeve BEFORE the bullet enters the neck of the case. The system includes a floating bullet alignment sleeve, a floating steel seating stem and a built-in crimper for benchrest precision. Bullets are aligned in the sleeve as they enter the die for optimum seating and enhanced accuracy. The built-in crimper gives you the option of crimping without the need for an extra crimp die, saving a station on your press.
Also included, Hornady Sure-Loc lock rings clamp around the entire die applying constant pressure across the threads to hold the ring in place. The locking screw tightens the ring without ever coming into contact with the threads, eliminating possible damage.
Packaged in a plastic storage box with three Sure-Loc Rings. Shellholder sold separately.
Technical Information
Dies Included:
Custom Grade New Dimension Full-Length Sizing Die
Custom Grade New Dimension Case Mouth Expander Die
Custom Grade New Dimension Seater Die with Roll Crimp
Shellholder Included: No


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Project Apps 560 Apps found. category: Project × version: 12.0 ×
Automatically Send Mail To Responsible User if Deadline Of Task is Today
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This apps helps to make project as template and make new project from the Template
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Dr Mike Watkins discusses the pharmacology of sclerotherapy and sclerosants including Fibrovein.
The Vein Clinic is a group of consultant vascular surgeons who specialise in vein treatments.
Our specialists are accredited with The Ireland Medical Council and have a particular interest in venous disease. They offer you private treatment for varicose veins, thread veins and facial veins. Included in our ranks are leading experts on vein problems.Read More »
The most modern methods of diagnosis and management of vein disorders are used in the Vein Clinic.
Our specialists are recognised by private medical insurance companies for the treatment of symptomatic vein problems. For those not insured we offer affordable packages for all our procedures. Cosmetic treatments are offered at competitive rates.Read More »
Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy and RF Ablation are modern treatments for for varicose veins which are performed as outpatient procedures.
These allow you to carry on life as normal; there is little or no discomfort and minimal bruising afterwards.Read More »
Dr Mike Watkins discusses the pharmacology of sclerotherapy and sclerosants including Fibrovein.
Suites 509-510, Q house,
76 Furze Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18
Dublin 01-2937839
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whole wheat pesto pork and squash lasagna, originally uploaded by aarn! +21st May, 2009+.
started a quick sauce by sautéing a medium-sized vidalia onion in a splash of olive oil, then adding salt, pepper, bay leaf, and thyme. after that simmered for a bit, added three cloves or so of chopped garlic, then after the garlic was giving off a nice aroma, deglased the sauce pan with 1c. or so of red wine. when the wine was almost fully reduced, added a quart can (yes, a can, short notice meal here) of peeled plum tomatoes. after the sauce cooked for a bit, a potato masher was used to break down the tomato solids. reduced this sauce for about an hour while the rest of the meal was being prepared.
grated 3/4-lb of low-moisture whole milk mozzarella. mixed together 1-pint of whole milk ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, 1/2-lb of the grated mozzarella, salt and pepper. set aside the remaining 1/4-lb of grated cheese for topping the lasagna.
in a food processor, chopped 1-clove of garlic, 10-15 basil leaves, 2-3T. pine nuts, salt, and drizzled olive oil in until thick and pesto-ish.
grilled quartered zucchini and yellow squash which had been tossed in salt, pepper, and olive oil. also grilled 3/4-in strips of pork sirloin which had been tossed in salt, pepper and olive oil, until only about 50% cooked, then pulled them and tossed in the pesto.
mixed together 1-lb of white whole wheat flour and 5-eggs, adding a little olive oil and salt, and then a splash of water to get it to the desired consistency. tossed this in the refrigerator to firm up for a few minutes, then rolled out into sheets, cutting the sheets to size and layering the lasagna as it was rolled.
in the pans, put a layer of sauce followed by a layer of pasta, then a layer of the ricotta binder, a layer of pasta, a layer of red sauce, maybe a layer of red sauce or ricotta with squash, then a layer of pasta, a layer of pesto pork with the ricotta, a layer of pasta, some sauce, topped with the remaining shredded mozzarella. baked covered in a 350-degree oven for 30-minutes, then broiled until the mozzarella looked nice, and let rest for 15-minutes at room temperature before cutting a plating on some warmed
[notes: made one bread pan and a medium casserole dish of lasagna. this recipe is a spin on a recipe from gilman to caleb. hadn't made it in years. or any lasagna. it was like 80-degrees out yesterday, great day for a winterish baked pasta dinner. pulled off this entire meal, less the actual baking of the lasagna, in one hour. the only reason why this was made with white whole wheat flour was because it was the only flour in the house. whole wheat has its place, it's not in pasta. would have rather used semolina or white all purpose. thinner strips of the pork and squash would have made the overall texture of the dish a little better. but seriously, lasagna always turns into a mess, a really sharp knife helps.]


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CDA Insurance LLC was formed as a company and insurance agency in 2003 as a partnership between the principles of two successful independent insurance agencies (Loewenthal Insurance & InsuranceQuest).
For years Washington residents lacked options in the individual market, and they also lacked independent agencies that were interested in helping clients with the products that were available.
In a very short period of time, CDA Insurance became one of the largest agencies specializing in individual medical insurance plans in Washington.
Since the merger in 2007 CDA Insurance has continued to grow and serve our clients with the products and support that they seek. We have continued to grow by adding Medicare products in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Texas and Utah.
Lowinsure.com was started in Eugene Oregon, by Dann Loewenthal in 1995. Since its inception, it has been a leader in the sales of Health Insurance in Lane and Douglas Counties for many companies. We serve Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Roseburg, Medford, Florence, Coos Bay, Junction City, Corvallis, Albany and all of Oregon.
The services which we supply are free to our clients, we are paid by the companies we represent. So there is never a service charge to you from our agency. So let us take the hassle out of shopping for insurance.
IQ Partners began as the InsuranceQuest.com web site in February, 1998 that was designed and owned by Corey K Pulver. The initial goal of the site was to assist people in Oregon in understanding their health insurance options using technology to make the process easier and more comfortable.
InsuranceQuest.com was an early pioneer in the Online quoting and Online application arena making our first step in the quoting and applications for international medical and international travel insurance helping clients all around the world to research and buy the coverage that they needed.
IQ Partners, LLC (Formerly InsuranceQuest, LLC) was formed in September, 1999 as a licensed Oregon Insurance agency. By this time, InsuranceQuest.com had become an international resource for people seeking health insurance coverage where ever they lived. Today, IQ Partners, LLC is an insurance and Internet consulting firm focused on developing and growing CDA Insurance into a market leader in online insurance sales and delivery.
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This course is intended to introduce students to major issues in Chinese history from ancient times to the Chinese Revolution of 1949, with a specific focus on issues relating to race and ethnicity. In this connection, we investigate three problems:
Readings and lectures will give equal weight to political and social developments, as well as to intellectual, religious, and cultural forces. There are no books or coursepacks for this course; all readings will be available through Canvas.
Course Requirements:
Course assignments will not only include reading primary and secondary literature (entirely in English), but also require students to analyze visual sources.
Class Format:
Both the lecture and discussion sections of this course will be fully compatible for remote online learning.


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Kentucky Democrats Fear Judd May Drag Down Ticket
Actress Ashley Judd's movement toward a Senate run against Minority Leader Mitch McConnell makes Democrats in Washington, D.C., happy.
But back in Kentucky, for many Bluegrass State Democrats, a potential Judd run brings a different feeling: heartburn.
"If she runs, I think that it would be a catastrophe for a lot of downballot races in Kentucky," said Jimmy Cauley, a longtime Kentucky Democratic strategist who doesn't believe Judd can win a general election. Among Democratic state legislators, he said, "there is significant worry about Ashley being on the ballot."
Democrats plugged into the Frankfort, Ky., zeitgeist publicly and privately confirmed those sentiments. The crux of their worry is this: As a celebrity and strong supporter of President Barack Obama, Judd's position at the top of the ticket could nationalize state and local races. They see her losing the Senate contest — an uphill climb for any Democrat — and potentially poisoning the conservative brand of some state Democrats.
For years, the Kentucky Democratic Party has racked up significant successes at the state and local level, from the governor's mansion down the ballot. But in federal elections, Republicans have won victory after victory. In November, Obama lost the state, winning less than 38 percent of the vote.
"I have yet to talk to an elected official in Kentucky — other than [Rep.] John [Yarmuth] — who thinks Ashley should run or thinks she can prevail in this contest," Kentucky Democratic consultant Dale Emmons said.
Yarmuth, Kentucky's sole Democrat in Congress, has been Judd's loudest cheerleader since he first floated her name last year. In an interview with CQ Roll Call this week, he said "she'd be a very strong candidate" and called her "the top prospect" for a McConnell challenge.
But pressed on local Democrats' unease about Judd, Yarmuth shot back.
"Do they have a better idea?" he asked. "Because if they do, they ought to come forward."
Another Democratic worry about Judd is her position against mountaintop removal coal mining, which she has called a "scourge." It remains a divisive issue in the state.
Yarmuth said he understands her "issues" but doesn't think she'll be a downballot drag. "Once people would see her, listen to her passion, listen to her commitment to the Commonwealth, I think she can overcome those potential obstacles," Yarmuth said. He said her support of Obama and her opposition to mountaintop removal coal mining wouldn't hurt her.
Yarmuth and Judd allies note that polling shows a vast majority of Kentucky voters know who she is and that she would begin a matchup within range of McConnell.
Despite the numbers, the specter of a Judd run and Yarmuth's vocal support for her has Democrats such as Cauley fuming.
"If John Yarmuth wants to be highest ranking Democrat in the state of Kentucky, he should keep pushing Ashley Judd," Cauley said. "Because we will lose the Legislature and we will lose the governor's office and he'll be the only one left."
Yarmuth called Cauley's comments "outrageous" and untrue. "We're not going to lose control of Frankfort," the four-term lawmaker said.
But Judd's potential bid comes at a pivotal moment for state Democrats. Republicans already control the state Senate. If the GOP nets six seats in the state House in 2014, the party will take the chamber.
Another reason some Democrats are anxious about a Judd bid? They fear the focus will be on her celebrity, instead of McConnell. Public polls have shown a plurality of Kentuckians view McConnell unfavorably, and national Democrats believe he is vulnerable.
"Any number of Democrats have the ability to mount a credible challenge against him," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Justin Barasky said, "and the longer he continues voting against the people of Kentucky, the more likely it is that a strong candidate will send him packing."
Many names have been floated as potential McConnell challengers — Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is mentioned most often — but few appear to be seriously considering a run.
That's the result of two political realities in the Bluegrass State.
First, Judd's trial balloon has frozen the Democratic field. Any other would-be candidates will probably wait until she makes a decision. Second, local Democrats see two more appealing opportunities to run statewide on the horizon: the open 2015 gubernatorial race and Sen. Rand Paul's 2016 re-election race.
Ambitious Democrats can run in either contest and avoid McConnell's potent opposition-research and fundraising operations. At the end of last year, McConnell had $7.4 million in the bank.
Judd's backers say Democrats who fear her candidacy have it all wrong.
"I know a number of people who are critical of her haven't met her yet," said a prominent Kentucky Democrat who knows Judd. The source said these Democrats have bought into the "narrative of her as doctrinaire liberal."
"But those of us who have met her know she's not going to run an Elizabeth Warren campaign in Kentucky," the source said, referring to Massachusetts' famously progressive senior senator.
Judd might not run with Warren's views, but there are aspects of the Massachusetts Democrat's campaign that she could replicate to her advantage. Judd would galvanize the grass roots, and the race to defeat the top Senate Republican would become a national cause, bringing in big bucks in the process.
She would be "innovative and forward-thinking," said Silas House, a close friend of Judd and a professor at Berea College.
Republicans have already attacked Judd for not being a true Kentuckian. A recent ad by the Republican group American Crossroads used video of her saying, "and it just clicked, Tennessee is home."
But House said he doesn't "know a prouder Kentuckian than Ashley Judd. She's so proud of her roots in eastern Kentucky and throughout her whole career and her life, she's celebrated that in every way."
"The polling shows the immense reservoir of good will she has in the state," said a Democratic source supportive of a potential Judd run. "This isn't a carpetbagger. This is someone who [Kentuckians] believe that they know and they like."
Still, many Kentucky Republicans would celebrate a Judd run and are watching for signs of a decision.
Bluegrass State Democratic legislators are watching too — with caution.
"Ashley Judd is very bright young lady. Lots of talent," said Democratic state Sen. Dennis Parrett, who represents a conservative district. He paused for a long time. "But I'm not sure that she needs to run for U.S. senator."


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Kathy Bates Wanted to Dedicate Her 2014 Emmy to Robin Williams: 'He Was So Kind to Me'
The 2014 Emmys, which aired last night (Aug. 25), struck a somber note with Billy Crystal's touching speech that honored his good friend Robin Williams. As it turns out, Crystal wasn't the only star who wanted to pay tribute to Williams. Emmy-winner Kathy Bates admitted she wanted to dedicate her award to the late star.


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Amazon's revenues slowed in the first quarter as the world's largest Internet retail struggled overseas.
The company reported that margins jumped on lower shipping expenses and the expansion of more profitable new businesses.
It would appear that things are looking up in the US but on the international markets Amazon is not doing so well.
Europe's economies, which have been raped by austerity demands, are harming corporate sales in the region. EBay, Amazon's main rival, also reported disappointing results last week and noted European weakness.
Amazon's revenue rose 22 percent to $16.07 billion, with most of the cash coming from growing sales of digital content, cloud-computing services and gains in its main retail business. However this was a decline from 36 percent growth in the first quarter of last year.
International revenue rose 16 percent in the most-recent quarter, down from a 31 percent growth rate last year.
Amazon CFO Tom Szkutak said Amazon was suffering in the same way that others were.
Amazon has also struggled to grow in China but Szkutak believes that the company is still in "investment mode" in that country so that is nothing to worry about for now.
Total year-over-year unit growth, which measures the number of items Amazon sells, was 30 percent in the first quarter, down from 49 percent in the first quarter of 2012.
Amazon forecast second-quarter revenue of $14.5 billion to $16.2 billion and operating results from break-even to $350 million.
The cocaine nose jobs of Wall Street wanted to see second-quarter revenue of $15.94 billion and operating results of $452 million.
The figures do show that, despite weaker growth and a cautious forecast, Amazon is becoming more profitable.
Amazon is currently building distribution warehouses closer to customers, reducing shipping costs. It has also been charging third-party merchants on its marketplace higher fees for shipping and warehouse storage.


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Matagorda Bulletin. (Matagorda, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 2, Ed. 1, Wednesday, August 9, 1837
Description: Weekly newspaper from the Matagorda, Texas area that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Date: August 9, 1837
Creator: Niles, J. W. J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History


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Incorporated areas only
The LGA Structure covers only incorporated areas of Australia. Incorporated areas are legally designated parts of states and territories over which incorporated local governing bodies have responsibility. The major areas of Australia not administered by incorporated bodies are the northern parts of South Australia, most of the Northern Territory and all of the Australian Capital Territory and the Other Territories.
Note that there is no SD or SSD code for the LGA because LGAs are not part of the Main Structure. This table also shows SLAs which cover unincorporated areas and are therefore not part of the LGA Structure.
Census Collection District (CD)
Statistical Local Area (SLA)
For discussion about these spatial units see Main Structure.
Local Government Area (LGA)
An LGA included in the ASGC LGA Structure is a spatial unit which represents the whole geographical area of responsibility of an incorporated Local Government Council, an Aboriginal or Island Council in Queensland, or a CGC in the Northern Territory.
LGA status
In all states and the Northern Territory each incorporated area has an official status. In this ASGC edition, the various LGA status types currently in use are:
LGA name
In the LGA Structure LGA names are contracted. A suffix also indicates the LGA status.
District Council of Copper Coast Copper Coast (DC)
LGA names are not unique across states and territories (e.g. Campbelltown (C) is duplicated between New South Wales and South Australia). An LGA name will become unique when used in conjunction with a state code, or its LGA code.
For example, the LGA Latrobe (M) has two SLAs.
Yeronga 1648
Zillmere 1653
State/Territory (S/T)
For discussion about this spatial unit see Main Structure.


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The issues | The Recommendation | Toolkit
The governance of public investment is complex because it is a shared responsibility across an increasing number of actors and levels of government. More than two-thirds of public investment is conducted at the sub-national government level in OECD countries, i.e. by states, regions, provinces, and municipalities.
Share of public investment at the sub-national level
The impact of public investment depends to a large extent on HOW governments manage it, and notably how different levels of government involved co-ordinate and develop capacities to design and implement relevant investment projects. Poor investment choices not only waste limited public resources and erode public trust; they also hamper future growth opportunities.
To help countries address governance challenges linked to public investment across levels of government, the OECD has developed a Recommendation to help governments assess the strengths and weaknesses of their public investment capacity in a multi-level governance perspective. It offers valuable le guidance for countries whatever their institutional framework and degree of decentralisation.
Did you know that…
Annual changes in public and private investment (GFCF) in real terms in the OECD (1996-2012)
The Recommendation was adopted in March 2014 as an official OECD instrument.
Effective public investment is important in both good times and bad. Given that public budgets across the OECD are likely to remain tight for some time, all levels of government will have to contribute to doing better with less? This means developing both their individual and collective capacities to deliver more efficient public investment.
The purpose of the principles set out in the Recommendation is to help governments at all levels to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their public investment capacity, a critical shared responsibility across levels of government, and set priorities for improvement. The OECD will further work towards the implementation of these Principles by developing a supporting Toolkit to guide policy-makers and practitioners.
Member states should take steps to ensure that national and sub-national levels of government utilise effectively resources dedicated to public investment in accordance with the following Principles:
A. Co-ordinate public investment across levels of government and policies
1. using an integrated strategy tailored to different places
2. Adopt effective instruments for co-ordinating across national and sub-national levels of government
3. Co-ordinate horizontally among sub-national governments to invest at the relevant scale
B. Strengthen capacities for public investment and promote policy learning at all levels of government
4 .Assess upfront the long-term impacts and risks of public investment
5 .Engage with stakeholders throughout the investment cycle
6. Mobilise private actors and financing institutions to diversify sources of funding and strengthen capacities
7. Reinforce the expertise of public officials and institutions involved in public investment
8. Focus on results and promote learning from experience
C. Ensure proper framework conditions for public investment at all levels of government
9. Develop a fiscal framework adapted to the investment objectives pursued
10. Require sound and transparent financial management at all levels of government
11. Promote transparency and strategic use of public procurement at all levels of government
12. Strive for quality and consistency in regulatory systems across levels of government
Consult the full version of the Principles in English.
Toolkit on Effective Public Investment Across Levels of Government
Why investing together? Public investment is not only a major strategic responsibility for governments but also a shared one: almost two-thirds of public investment is undertaken by sub-national governments and major projects tend to involve more than one government level. In a tight fiscal landscape, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of investment, while maximising its impact on growth outcomes, is paramount. Identifying and addressing the governance bottlenecks that impede smooth co-ordination across levels of government can make a significant contribution towards reaching that end.
This report dissects the relationships different government actors form vertically, across levels of government, and also horizontally, across both sectors and jurisdictions. It helps policy makers to understand more systematically how co-ordination works and why it so often doesn't, as well as shedding light on the mechanisms countries have developed to govern these interactions. In doing so, it addresses another key requisite to organising co-ordination, namely government capacity. Sub-national actors, especially, need to be equipped with the right skills and resources to carry out their responsibilities and to engage with stakeholders, across the public, private and civil society sectors. This report offers a toolkit to policy makers to assess their needs for capacity development.
For further information, please contact:
Related Documents


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"You are the company you keep." Though that old adage is really meant for people, it's applicable to retail brands, too. We're no strangers to brand partnerships.
Target launched its series of designer collaborations in 2009 when it announced its exclusive Alexander McQueen line. Amazon has followed suit eight years later with its Calvin Klein partnership. But brand collaborations happen outside of the fashion apparel industry too — look at Verizon and the National Football League, CoverGirl and its long list of celebrity partners, and Lipton and Food Network star Bobby Flay.
There are many reasons we see so many brands join forces. It helps you amplify your message and reach new audiences, break into a new niche, and create a bigger impression than you would on your own.
Take a look at these seven brand collaborations to find out how the matches were made and what you can learn from their experiences.
Shahla Karimi and Kenneth Cole
Fine jewelry brand Shahla Karimi found success through a brand collaboration with fashion brand Kenneth Cole. The two brands teamed up to create a "fine jewelry capsule collection" inspired by one of Shahla Karimi's existing jewelry collections.
In all aspects, it has been a dream collaboration." — Shahla Karimi
The partnership between the New York City-based jewelry brand and the global fashion house was possible thanks to a chance meeting in 2016.
"Shahla Karimi was part of a retail pop-up at The Oculus," Shahla Karimi, CEO and founder of the company, says. "I crossed paths with the Kenneth Cole team when they stopped by my booth. After the meeting, they approached me for a collaboration."
What You Can Learn
Plan ahead: The timing for the in-store product launch and launch party didn't align as seamlessly as Karimi would have liked.
"One thing I may have done differently is to begin the PR planning strategy sooner to coincide with the product launch," she says. "Although we had a very successful launch party just last week, the product has been in stores for a month."
Even in the early stages of the partnership, get your various teams on board so everyone is on the same page and timeline.
Go global: Many global companies have partnered with smaller-sized retailers, likely because the benefits go both ways. For them, it allows them to penetrate a more intimate community of customers. For Shahla Karimi, it enabled them to reach a huge new audience.
"Aligning with a globally recognized and respected fashion veteran has been invaluable," says Karimi. "The social media cross-promotion and press recognition has given my customers validation and broadened my market greatly."
Communicate and collaborate: Brand collaborations introduce a lot of new players and potential stakeholders. While the extra manpower is great, it also makes communication a bit trickier.
"Communication is key from start to finish," Karimi says. "Having learned from past collaborations with fashion bloggers and influencers, I knew that communication would be a key element to success."
"Creatively, we all approach the world from different angles. Comparatively, your peers may have a more effective way of doing business. There is never a shortage of new things to learn."
Privé Revaux and Various Celebrities
Image: Privé Revaux
Founder and CEO of Privé Revaux David Schottenstein originally set out to achieve one goal: "To disrupt an overpriced eyewear market." He and his VP of celebrity relations, Dave Osokow, wanted to find partners with high visibility and a shared passion to deliver affordable, yet stylish fashions to a broader market.
The New York City-based designer sunglass brand has since partnered with a number of celebrities and celebrity stylists on designing and promoting different product lines. Some of their current collaborators? Singer Jamie Foxx, actresses Hailee Steinfeld, and Ashley Benson, and stylists Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn. "It helped create tremendous awareness that we certainly would not have had otherwise," Schottenstein says.
What You Can Learn
Prepare for new challenges: Adding someone else to the mix can make you more successful, but it also introduces a litany of potential obstacles. "Things in Hollywood don't move as fast as I'm used to," Schottenstein says. "Learning to adapt to that has been a challenge but a great learning experience."
Find the right "big name": Just because a potential partner is widely recognizable doesn't mean it's the right choice for your brand. "Never take someone just because they have a big name," Schottenstein says. "My advice is to always choose amazing partners who are truly passionate about what you are doing."
The in-store meet-and-greets with the celebrity partners have generated lots of buzz, and Jamie Foxx appeared at the New York City flagship store opening in December 2017 — which had many other unaffiliated celebrity appearances as well.
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Build a team: Schottenstein had a team from the beginning, working closely with Osokow to secure strong celebrity business relationships. But these celebrities aren't just faces with big audiences, they've become a part of the team. "They each all truly play an active role in the brand," Schottenstein says.
Denisa Piatti Jewellery and Pico Vela
Pico Vela, a women's knitwear ecommerce retailer, found a partner in Washington, D.C.-based Denisa Piatti Jewellery. The partnership began when Pico Vela was shooting its fall/winter 2017 collection. To add extra flair to the photos, the shots were styled by Denisa Piatti Jewellery.
The partnership grew bigger than a one-time collaboration. Pico Vela's Defying Expectations campaign celebrates women "who are defying expectations in their own ways — in beauty, in life, and in their careers." Pico Vela didn't have to look far to find someone to feature, as they asked Denisa Piatti herself.
Hi 👋🏻 If you're following for the first time, I'm Denisa. I'm so grateful to have you come along on this journey. Ever since I can remember, I loved art. I watched my father work with his hands, transforming ordinary things like branches and found objects into works of art. My passion for detail and process was influenced by my mother, a Pharmacist. As a child, I was mesmerized by my mom mixing chemicals, measuring, and packaging capsules. Their influences are reflected in the pieces, and I'm thrilled to share them with you 💋(📷 by @leahbeilhart of @_behold.her for @picovela 's #defyingexpectations campaign)
What You Can Learn
Turn partnerships into lasting relationships: Stephanie David, founder of marketing agency POPNOD, worked with Pico Vela and Denisa Piatti Jewellery on the partnership.
"It's important to treat a brand collaboration as a long-term relationship rather than a transactional one," she says. This was very much the case here. After the successful initial two partnerships, the brands have worked together on social media giveaways and other initiatives.
Building relationships with other brands will help you uncover even more creative ways to grow together," David says.
Know your similarities: These brands had different products, but similar audiences — bold, unique, and expressive women.
"Even more importantly, the brand philosophies and values aligned very well: All of the pieces are handcrafted in the USA, designed artfully and with, and unafraid to push boundaries," David says.
Set goals: Measurable goals give you and your partner something specific to work towards, and they can help you stay on the same page. "Whether it's increasing social media followers, your mailing list, or conversions, having a clear, agreed-upon goal will help you better measure outcomes and make informed decisions for your next campaign together," David says.
Remember other campaigns and external factors: You and your brand partner might both have marketing campaigns, product launches, or other initiatives underway, not to mention external factors such as market trends or news headlines. If your customers have too many things to keep track of, you risk diluting your message and the effectiveness of your partnership.
"Timing a campaign around a related newsworthy store or holiday can help build momentum for campaign," David says. "However, there is a fine line of not drowning in the noise of other campaigns, so carefullying planning out the timing is important."
Club Tattoo and Multiple Partnerships
Club Tattoo has six retail locations across Nevada and Arizona and has earned its reputation as an upscale leader in the tattoo and piercing industry. A look at the company's beginnings might have indicated success early on, especially considering the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park helped start the business. Today, CEO and founder Sean Dowdell is motivated to continue to grow their global presence.
One way in which Club Tattoo has become widely renowned is through strategic brand partnerships. Another serial collaborator, the retailer has worked on several projects including:
- etnies: In 2007, Club Tattoo worked with the shoe retailer to create custom designs featuring tattoo art for a line of men's and women's shoes — a partnership that kicked off with a press-worthy launch party in New York City
- Bicycle Playing Cards: A partnership that began in 2014, Club Tattoo and the card company have created card decks with tattoo-inspired artwork — a line that has sold more than 300,000 decks and been picked up by big-box retailers like Target, Walmart, and Walgreens
- Boldface Gear: Club Tattoo designed six styles with tattoo art for the customizable backpack company, a newer collaboration that launched in September 2017 and is sold at Club Tattoo's own stores, plus Tilly's, Hot Topic, and other stores
What You Can Learn
Stand out: Club Tattoo has mastered the art of differentiation in their niche.
"Generally, the global brands that have reached out to use want to partner with a world-renowned tattoo and piercing brand," Dowdell says. "We are one of the few in that category." The tattoo and piercing industry isn't exactly synonymous with upscale, but Club Tattoo has worked hard to elevate its brand, services, and products.
Keep it simple: Club Tattoo is typically commissioned to create designs to feature on other retailers' products. It's great, because they've created demand for their high level of creativity and finished product. But they've also learned a few lessons on how to best work in this type of relationship.
"Don't give them too many options," says Dowdell. "It can be confusing for the partner. Our first global collaboration, we over delivered and gave them over 30 designs to choose from. We should have funneled them down to the best 8–10 designs."
Think bigger and longer-term: A recurring theme among these retailers is to think big picture and down the road. "Always push for more, bigger, better, and longer-lasting collaborations," Dowdell says. "It gave Club Tattoo an instant global presence without having a brick-and-mortar location in every market around the world. Our brand awareness grew exponentially with each deal."
jamstik, Woodchuck, and Identity Custom Imaging
jamstik partnered with two local companies, Identity Custom Imaging and Woodchuck USA, to release a special edition jamstik+ Smart Guitar. The partnerships made sense — ICI providing custom graphics for the jamstik+s, Woodchuck providing custom wood designs. "Banking on the idea that Black Friday shoppers would appreciate the chance to own a unique version of our product, we launched two special edition jamstiks and offered a free gift for each Black Friday order," says Matt Cannon, chief growth officer of parent company Zivix.
"We wanted to do something special beyond the standard discounts and coupon codes," says Cannon. "Each partner was helpful in sharing our story for the special edition launches with their audiences and increasing our sales for the holidays. In turn, we gave each of them exposure through email newsletters, social posts, and website banner promotions."
What You Can Learn
Give back: Woodchuck was a great partner because of their "Buy One. Plant One." mission, which means they plant a tree for every product sold. There are many brands that have found success in their commitment to corporate social responsibility, like TOMS, Patagonia, and Pura Vida Bracelets. Having a mission like this makes it easier for customers to rally support and identify with your brand.
Partner with your customers, too: jamstik kicked off the collaboration by polling their customers and digital audience to choose their favorite from a selection of designs for the new product. Once the winners were selected, Identity Custom Imaging and Woodchuck each got to work bringing the designs to life, and jamstik made captured behind-the-scenes videos to share. "This gave us a chance to show our fans that each special edition truly did get the handmade touch," says Cannon.
Enhance existing product lines: If you don't have enough time, the right idea, room in your budget, or some other limitation that prohibits you from launching a new product in partnership, consider upgrades to your existing SKUs. That's exactly what jamstik did.
"Due to product development cycles, we didn't have a new version of our smart guitar this year, so it was even more important that we do something unique," Cannon says. "In the end, we ended up having an even bigger Black Friday sales day than last year — without even launching a new version of our product!"
Look for new partnerships: Share your successful brand collaboration with other potential partners. "After seeing the limited edition products, many of our retail partners have requested that we create special editions exclusively for their retail locations," Cannon says. "We're very likely to pursue this strategy with our brick-and-mortar retailers to sell exclusive editions of our products next year."
Walmart and Buzzfeed
The not-so-traditional partnership between Walmart and media company BuzzFeed was announced recently, and it seems to be another avenue through which Walmart is making its comeback. The partnership is with BuzzFeed's Tasty, which has gained virality for its handy recipe videos. Tasty's recipe videos are now shoppable, allowing users to purchase products from Walmart directly through the video.
What You Can Learn
Think outside the box: Walmart and BuzzFeed is an unlikely partnership on paper, but if you take a step back, it makes perfect sense. The retail giant is making major strides to make its online presence match its brick-and-mortar success. The acquisition of Jet.com was one step, and now Walmart's gotten even more creative by getting involved in videos that are already widely popular and shared on social media.
Identify opportunities created by other brands: Though BuzzFeed's current reign on the Internet is arguably on the decline, we're willing to bet you've caught a glimpse of at least one of their well-known Tasty recipe videos. These videos have amplified because of their shareability.
Walmart could have very easily created its own recipe videos. Instead, it saw the opportunity of the already-viral Tasty videos and figured out a way to get involved.
United By Blue and Multiple Partnerships
"Durable goods" United By Blue was once an apparel retailer, but has since expanded into outdoor gear, home goods, and accessories. The brand is built on a mission to preserve the world's oceans. To help them build awareness and get more customers behind the mission, United By Blue leverages several partnerships with a number of brands. You could say they're a serial collaborator.
Some of the partnerships that United By Blue has had in the past include:
- Chacos, footwear retailer: Created a limited-edition sandal, hat, boardshorts, and T-shirts
- Oru Kayak, kayak retailer: Designed and manufactured 30 custom kayaks, plus a backpack, T-shirt, and hat
- Lonely Whale, ocean conservation organization: Co-hosted Blue Friday, a nationwide initiative to clean up the oceans on Black Friday; also launched a candle and bandana
- Conservation Northwest, environmental conservation organization: Featured the stories of wildlife researchers in United By Blue print catalogs
What You Can Learn
Make it meaningful: United By Blue is very selective about the partners it chooses to work with. Their brand mission is so important to their success, that they only consider brands that share a commitment to conservation, sustainability — as well as delivering a high-quality product. Even if corporate social responsibility isn't a dominant part of your brand identity, you can partner with another brand that does place an emphasis on it.
Remember the community: Becoming involved with your local community, or even creating a community of your own, is a great way to make brand partnerships even more effective and far-reaching. Through the Blue Friday events and other cleanups, United By Blue has been able to strengthen relationships not only with their partners' staff members, but also the local communities in which they serve. United By Blue looks to partner with brands that are already in touch with their community and have established relationships, such as REI, Oru, and Chaco.
Use partnerships as a testing ground: Your product design team can also benefit greatly from brand partnerships. "In a collaboration, we're able to apply our design strategy to different applications that we typically wouldn't do and test," says Brianna Nieman, head of design at United By Blue. "The collaborations are a great experiment, in a way — like finding out our customer base really likes printed backpacks or a brighter color palette."
Analyze the performance of your partnership: A post-mortem is part of United By Blue's process in analyzing the effect of their brand partnerships. "After we wrap a collaboration, collecting and working through feedback is nearly as important as concepting a new collaboration," says Joanna Linton, head of product. They don't view partnerships as success or failures, instead, they're considered learning experiences. From the results, the United By Blue team is able to learn how to pivot and adapt in future collaborations.
FURTHER READING: Learn how to perform post-mortems to improve sales.
Retail Partnerships: How to Move Forward
Every brand partnership is unique, but there are some major themes to take away for your next collaboration:
- Don't be scared to think big
- Choose your partner strategically, and build long-lasting relationships with them
- Set goals
- Analyze the campaign, identify opportunities, and work them into your next campaign
How have your past partnerships gone over? Which other successful brand collaborations have you seen?
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Brand collaborations FAQ
What is brand collaborations?
How do you collab with different brands?
- Reach out to brands directly. Research their contact information and reach out directly with a proposal.
- Utilize influencer networks. Many influencer networks specialize in connecting brands and influencers for potential collaborations.
- Pitch ideas on social media. Let your followers know that you're interested in working with brands and ask for recommendations.
- Attend events. Attend industry events or networking events to meet people and build relationships.
- Connect with brands on social media. Follow brands on social media and comment on their posts to get their attention.
- Participate in brand campaigns. Many brands run campaigns to find influencers to work with, so keep an eye out for these opportunities.