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A new feature you may have seen on Facebook caught our eye this week. A friend posts an article on Facebook and you comment, then… BAM! "Like Page" pops up. Good news for brands!
The image above shows a post that appeared in my newsfeed linking to a SearchEngineLand.com article.
As soon a I commented on this post, the "Like Page" pop-up appears below the article preview. The same thing happens when I Like posts.
This is different from the Page post ads that brands can buy to appear on timelines, which have been the target of some controversy after disappearing in November 2012. Unlike these ads, the Like Button appears on users posts that they have opted to share themselves.
So far Renegade has only seen this on posts of articles by publications that have Facebook Pages. It's a seamless integration of the like button for anyone who engages with the post, friend or not. However, given the coming changes with the News Feed, it's likely this feature will be integrated into all shared page posts and website links (as long as the website has a FB page). In this way it would work much like Google Authorship and search results. It's the perfect way to keep page engagement rising, so make sure you're creating content that people will share.
"How we're all sharing is changing and the news feed needs to evolve with those changes. This is the evolving face of news feed." – Mark Zuckerburg
Facebook revealed it would be rolling out big changes to the News Feed design over the next few weeks. The update aims to simplify the News Feed and minimize clutter for users. The question on our mind is, "What does this mean for brand pages?"
"Everything across the board is going to get this richer, more immersive design," said Julie Zhou, head of design at Facebook.
Pictures now account for half of all News Feed posts, up from 25 percent only a year ago, and with the updated News Feed those images will be more prominent on users' feeds. Brands will have the opportunity to present their messaging with larger visuals. We can also assume that there will be space reserved on the right sidebar for Facebook advertisements, just like they are presented today.
However, users will be able to filter their news feeds by interests and categories of friends on separate tabs. When users want to see new photos or videos their friends are posting, they can simply click on a designated tab similar to how lists are used today. Concerns amongst marketers now arise about how Facebook will handle users that try to filter all their brand pages out of a feed.
All in all, brands and marketers will be challenged with the task of getting fans to actually share and engage with their content to create stories on their own timelines so it appears on their friends' feeds – no matter the interest or category. Brands will need to be in-tune with the conversation their fans have to keep their content trickling into the feed more than ever.
It is likely that brands currently struggling with engagement will see a decrease in their reach, much like the decrease seen in September 2011. Facebook will also likely generate more opportunities for sponsored stories and promoted posts in specific feeds for interests, a la Twitter promoted posts and trends, to counter the negative effects of the changes.
Although Facebook has made marketing easier for brands through their advertising engine, which requires a monetary commitment, their turn to focus on user experience may be the second major slap in the face for brands. The future holds a big challenge for brands to revamp their strategies for the coming changes to the News Feed.
Catharine P. Taylors' take on Media Post
Cara Tarbaj's take on Social Media Today
Seth Fiegerman's take on Mashable
To friend or not to friend—a perpetual social media question. If you work in client service, or have clients in some capacity, you've probably run into this particular dilemma of becoming friends with your clients on Facebook. So, what's appropriate? If you work for a social media agency or in a social media-based role, might it be expected that you become friends with all of your contacts? Or is it better to keep your business all business and your personal, well, personal?
That depends. A better question may be, "Is Facebook really the best way to connect with your clients in the first place?" While Facebook is best for sharing among people you already know, Twitter and LinkedIn encourage you to share information, articles and other thoughts in a public space. These two platforms are natural places where you'd want to conduct conversations with professional contacts and new leads. Since your tweets can reveal as much or as little personal info as you'd like, you can intersperse your content with personal tidbits like photos without also giving access to your Spring Break photo albums from college.
As opposed to a few years ago, most people now are on LinkedIn and check it more often (i.e., not only when they're on the job hunt). More frequent use is even broadening the type of content shared. Rather than always posting industry shop talk, more and more users are occasionally sharing content of personal interest to appear like a real person who's more than his or her career. Like Twitter, LinkedIn allows you to develop your professional image while you conscientiously share certain types of content that convey the real you.
It's also easier and less intimidating to follow clients (or have them follow you) on Twitter and LinkedIn. My Facebook public profile may seem innocuous enough because most of my info is friends-only, but if you're a new friend, I honestly don't know what you might find if you dig deep enough in my profile—that thing is almost 10 years old! I'd rather take our relationship online via Twitter, where my content is fairly ephemeral, or LinkedIn, which started out as my "professional" channel, and then I'll share bits of my personal life with you there.
Being a client services person in the social media world doesn't mean being an open book, but rather using the right networks to connect with your clients and contacts in a meaningful, yet appropriate way. And what do you do if a client friends you? Dawn Mentzer, aka the Insatiable Solopreneur, advises establishing a consistent "Facebook friend policy" for clients—you'll either accept client friend requests, or kindly inform them that while you use Facebook to keep up with family and college friends, you'd love to connect with them on Twitter and LinkedIn (and follow through by connecting with them on these networks).
I'm sure a lot of you have thoughts on connecting with clients on social media, and I'd love to hear them! On what networks do you connect with your clients? Has connecting with clients on social media led to any success stories or cautionary tales?
As you might have guessed, Melissa Komadina works in Account Service at Renegade. Feel free to tweet her or find her on LinkedIn.
Graph Search is officially here! That is, it's available for individual users, but we know that won't stop you, the savvy marketer, from thinking about how you can use it. We know you're ready to take advantage of the next biggest thing since the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.
It's important to note that because Graph Search is connected to a your personal profile, results are ordered by the connections closest to you or by the number of fans of the pages.
Facebook created the dynamic, long-tail, natural language search tool so that users can find people and pages with nearly infinite combinations of variables. For example, you could use Graph Search to find oxymoronic results like "People who like Beer and joined Alcoholics Anonymous" or "Christian Males who like Fifty Shades of Grey," but that's probably only good for a few laughs (or if you're a troll, a few weeks worth of amusement). Putting self-amusement aside, Graph Search has serious implications for your brand.
Now that Graph Search has launched, consider cleaning up your social media policy as soon as possible. The last thing you want anyone to find is that your brand is listed under "Places where people who like Racism work." But how far you go as an employer to tell your employees what they can and cannot like is an ethical issue you'll need to work out in your own company.
The real value of Graph Search lies in its ability to support your marketing research. The easiest and most obvious way to use this functionality is to find out who likes the brand and what their interests are. Search for "People who like [your brand]" and click on "More pages they like" on the right column of the screen to learn more about your fans. After figuring out their common interests in brand page, combine multiple brand pages in your long-tail search to find which brands are similar to both. This can have great insight to complementary brands. Now try selecting "Activities they like" in the right column and you may find a few sponsorship opportunities.
By going through these steps you can find a broad pool of people you can potentially convert into fans based on the brand correlations you found above. You may even include geographical constraints to see where in the world you should concentrate marketing efforts.
Finally, another way to use Graph Search is to research your competitors using the same steps. Where are their fans located? What do they like? Which activities do they do? See, we knew you weren't going to be deterred by the fact that Graph Search is only open to individuals, not brands. You savvy marketer, you!
In his short story "The Aleph," Jorge Luis Borges recalls an experience he had gazing into an aleph. He describes it as "one point in space that contains all other points. The only place on earth where all places are—seen from every angle, each standing clear, without any confusion or blending." This fictional story regards the aleph as a both a gift and a curse because it gives the gazer a chance to see and know everything on earth. That is what social media has developed into today. Through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and countless other sites, we now have the opportunity to see all—to see into people's lives and to see the world like never before. Social media has opened up the unimaginable universe. Like peering into the aleph, checking your newsfeed or your Twitter timeline provides insight into everything in our world, from every angle—simultaneously, infinitely.
The aleph is significant beyond Borges' short story. Its symbol is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is literally a part of the word "alphabet." It is venerated by Kabala and other mystic traditions that put value on an aleph as the pursuit of truth. Like the aleph in these ancient traditions, social media is the means by which we seek truth in modern times. From companies to customers, from artists to fans, from friends to family, and from your PC to mine, we can now paint a more accurate, "truer" picture of the people we interact with via social channels. Social media offers us an endless amount of communication that is continuous and extremely transparent. Through following people, companies, bands, etc. on social media, we can see who their friends are, what interests them, where the have been, where they plan to go, their religious, and political stances and a plethora of other information that we otherwise wouldn't have discovered.
"Aleph Sanctuary" - Mati Klarwein
Thanks to the advances of social media technology and the massive amounts of information these sites are processing, we have transitioned into the age of the "recommendation." There are logarithms, programs and software that can now introduce you to more people, places, and things based on what you already like and your physical location. You can discover when concerts and art festivals are happening in your area, what news is breaking, and what song will go well with your mood for the day. Other sites will recommend vacations spots, restaurants, lawyers, and doctors. Heck, these sites can find you a job or an employee—all out of the comfort of your living room! This age of "recommendation" is giving us options like never before and it is shocking how incredibly accurate the recommendations are.
As our technologies grow and progress, we must accept that our lives are no longer veiled in secrecy. You can be a pessimist and see this as an intrusion on your privacy, but if you are receptive to this information exchange, the possibilities are endless. The more you share, the more people will share with you. The more you follow, the better recommendations you will get and the more useful social media will be for you. So instead of being wary of this connectivity, you could revel in the endless possibilities of this aleph. It will undoubtedly open your world to bigger and brighter things while introducing you to more people and experiences you would have never had an opportunity to access before.
— Jake Annear
"I just don't get it – what's so great about Twitter?"
This is the typical response I receive when my friends notice how much of my time is dedicated to my phone screen, reading tweets from my 500+ followers. What ensues shortly afterwards is back-and-forth dialogue where I argue for the advantages of social networks and then notice I have a new follower a few days later with my friend's name attached to the account.
Convincing your friends to join a social network that you've already fully embraced can be an arduous task; fortunately, I'm battle-tested and willing to share my tactics for making them social media believers as well.
In this three-part series, I will help you to win your friends over and open them up to the world of social media. In part one, I will explain the advantages of the three main networks I believe each individual should join: Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Part two will have advice on finding and engaging an audience that shares your friend's same interests. Finally, the last part in the series will be how your friend can create content that will add value and attract a following.
Most of the confusion that stops my friends from embracing social networking is that they really don't know what each network is. I don't blame them for stopping there - I wouldn't try to go in the kitchen and try to make my grandma's mac-n-cheese if I didn't know how a cheese grater worked. Rather than trying to explain to them how each network works, I instead try to show them the purpose of each. Here is an excellent example using donuts:
However, if they're still confused after seeing this, I've broken down the uses of each the social networks I mentioned earlier.
Twitter gives real-time updates of situations happening in real life. Your friend still doesn't believe you? Go to Twitter and search for "DNC2012" to view the thousands of tweets that inform you who was at the DNC podium and what line from their speech resonated with the audience. If there's anything happening with more 500 people in attendance, there are probably at least a few tweets about it.
But the best part about Twitter that makes it stand out from other social networks is the access. Because it's a public forum, viewable even if you don't have an account, it grants a ton of transparency to thoughts, ideas, whereabouts, and announcements from people you would never meet in real life – and for free.
Let's say that your friend is a fashion designer. They're about to launch a new line but they don't have any exposure within the fashion industry. By tweeting often about the developments of their upcoming line and using the right hashtags, such as #fashion, #fabric and #design, your friend can introduce their products to a relevant audience and possibly even create a demand for them before they've premiered.
You can also consider Twitter's search option a powerful, real-time engine for updates on current events and trends. This helps if your friend likes to research different topics or find out what's happening in a certain area.
Need further help explaining? Instruction AE put together this video to explain Twitter:
Instagram is a photo-sharing community that has exploded onto the scene within the past year and a half. With membership reaching close to 100 million members, Instagram has yet to show any signs of slowing down. Even though you can attach a photo to a tweet on Twitter, Instagram fosters interaction around a photo by allowing users to like and comment on a picture like they would on Facebook. Instagram also allows users to share their pictures across other social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, and through email. Idea Channel even thinks Instagram is the best thing to happen to photography:
Let's go back to your friend, the clothing designer. They have tons of designs but aren't getting exposure for them. Imagine they take a picture of a shirt they've made and instantly someone asks how they can buy it. How did that user find it? Simple: our friend added a hashtag such as '#shirt' or '#fashion' to their picture, which allowed other users searching those hashtags to come across that photo. If the picture is aesthetically pleasing, more than likely it will receive a decent amount of attention. Since Instagram has not yet allowed pictures to be shared, a lot of users screenshot the image and post it on their account while giving credit to the original photographer. That's the end result of exposure via Instagram: a possible sale for your friend.
With 60-80% of jobs coming through personal connections and networking, why not have a social network to lend a helping hand? Voila! Enter LinkedIn to serve that purpose. LinkedIn's power is in connecting people in various professions so that they may collaborate on ideas, projects, and find new positions. A profile on LinkedIn closely resembles a resume, which is advantageous for recruiters who are searching for the person that best fits their needs. Linkedin is different from Facebook because it is viewed as being a strictly professional network.
Your designer friend has experienced some success selling their items and wants to now become an in-house designer for a major fashion label. Using LinkedIn, your friend can search for a label, view any open positions and clearly see if any of their connections work at that company or if someone they know is connected to an employee and asked to be introduced through a simple message. If your friend fears networking events, LinkedIn offers a new way to make connections.
LinkedIn Groups is also a powerful feature for job seekers and professionals who want to network and keep up with their industry. Mostly dedicated to different types of professions, Groups offer insights and resources on their particular industry.
If looking for a job on Linkedin is on your friend's mind, this little tutorial could be useful:
Hopefully by this point your friend has created an account on each of these networks and is ready to learn what they can do to find out where their audience is and how to engage them. I'll discuss how to teach them these next steps in my next post.
-- Sean Clark
Is Facebook going "out with the old?" I realize as I write this, I have my Twitter page open at all times now, when that used to be true for Facebook. I no longer feel the need to check Facebook 50 times a day anymore (it's more like 48 times now, so I'd say that's a pretty significant decrease). The use of my iPhone has also added Instagram and Pinterest accounts to my life, but I didn't really notice this subtle change in my social media habits until a friend let me know that Facebook's stock has dropped significantly and also that "more of [her] friends are deleting their accounts." This phenomenon is due to any number of reasons, including getting hacked, the desire to avoid unnecessary drama caused by certain interactions, and even a desire to spend less time on social media sites. Those who are interested in spending less time on social media chose to quit Facebook rather than other sites because it is the platform on which they seem to waste the most time.
I don't know when a retweet, favorite or Instagram "like" began providing a bigger feeling of accomplishment than a Facebook "like" or comment, but I would rather post my photos to either of these sites and update my Twitter statuses than my Facebook statuses on a regular basis. The way I see it, status updates are what Twitter was made for, so when you create one, you know what you're signing up for and what to expect from the people you follow. The lack of specificity with Facebook often allows for the overuse of its features to the point where I will see uploaded photos of sonograms. I don't know about my fellow Facebookers, but I certainly did not expect to see things like that pop up when I log in to post a funny video to a friend's Timeline. Even as I look at my page now, I see people linking their Pinterest and Twitter updates to Facebook rather than directly posting content.
This demonstrates the use of Facebook as secondary method of promoting yourself, rather than the go-to outlet.
The Twitter vs. Facebook debate is an obvious point of interest in investigating the falling popularity of Facebook. Users of both outlets have weighed in on this, and the resulting consensus of this dispute is the same as the age old Ben Affleck vs. Matt Damon one—there will never be one right answer, and and the two don't mind working together. Matt and Ben share an Oscar, and Facebook and Twitter each has an account on the other's site.
Other social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and numerous blogging sites are also growing in popularity and have singular focuses just like Twitter. The idea that you can post your status to your Twitter, your photos to your Instagram, your plans to Pinterest, and your rants to Tumblr has been embraced by many. Facebook doesn't have just one purpose, and without the unwritten, simple guidelines of the other platforms, people don't quite know anymore just what qualifies as "Facebook appropriate."
As completely reliable as stating "my friend" as a source of the drop in Facebook stock is, I decided I needed to find actual evidence of these shortcomings. Sure enough, CBS posted a report on their site last Tuesday with a lot of stock market jargon that I would need my equity-to-teenager translator to understand. But one thing that I was able to take from this article is that the stock has fallen 43 percent since its initial public offering. This information, combined with an article in the Los Angeles Times indicating that Facebook shares fell 8.1 percent a few weeks ago, support the news that Facebook is on the decline.
Facebook is still the number one social network with hundreds of millions of users worldwide, but with the recent loss of nearly 2 million users, there is no doubt that it as not as strong an influence as it used to be. Users have abandoned their accounts for other platforms, or just don't feel the need to constantly interact with their 1,500 "friends," the majority of whom they barely speak to in real life. This has become somewhat upsetting, as Facebook has been home to so many trends over the years, including games, photo sharing, bumper stickers and—who could forget—poking. I'm obviously not saying that this is the end of Facebook. With its purchase of Instagram and the recent addition of Timeline to provide access to a complete history of activity, Facebook works to remain current with constant updates and adjustments to the site. So, no worries, Facebook won't die off like Pokémon cards and Ferbies, but the present social networking competition is definitely a significant blow to its status at the top.
And now, on a happier note, I will leave you with an example of one particular use for Facebook that I can't see ever going out: posting cute videos of cats on people's walls.
-- Arielle Lewen
"Ted," the big box office hit from "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, has captivated audiences in the theater and beyond. The movie's title refers to its star, Ted: a foul mouthed, womanizing, pot smoking anti-teddy bear whose punch lines could give you a black eye. Watching an iconic childhood toy do things your craziest friend from college wouldn't do is like that eTrade baby talking about personal finance: magical and brilliant in its unfathomable nature. Yet there is something deeper with Ted that makes him so effective. Perhaps it's that he represents the challenge of letting go of things from your past; of learning to take responsibility and be an adult. Or I could be totally off: I haven't seen the movie.
So how do I know so much about Ted or care about what life lessons he embodies? Because of a comprehensive promotional campaign that puts this wonderful, furry little jackass all over the place. The marketers behind "Ted" covered all their bases, making smart social media moves and brand partnerships that all commit the voice and character of Ted to memory.
Ted is on Facebook with 2,027,292 Likes as I write this, and I'm sure there will be more in the next few hours. Ted's Facebook page provides fans with pictures, status updates, and more Ted-related content from other websites that is of interest to anyone who enjoys his humor, regardless of whether or not you have seen the movie. One look at the Facebook page and you know Ted, as every post is loyal to his voice.
@WhatTedSaid currently has 283,524 followers on Twitter, and capitalizes on the one-liners creator Seth MacFarlane is known for. The tweets are just like the Facebook posts in that they're accessible even if you haven't seen the movie, and unabashedly Ted.
The partnership between AXE and "Ted" is brilliant for many reasons. First, the content is hilarious. Ted is a perfect spokesbear for AXE, whose brand voice shares a similar sense of humor. On YouTube, "Ted" trailers immediately follow AXE commercials, which were also written and directed by MacFarlane. The viewer is easily transitioned from one product to the other, a testament to the compatibility of the brand voices.
A consistent brand voice is vital to the success of a social media campaign. The voice of Ted the character is much more entertaining and understandable than the voice of "Ted" the movie would be if it didn't have a character to personify it. While the Facebook page is clearly promoting the movie (users can buy tickets to see "Ted" via the page), users respond to the page's content and the voice of the character in a far more interactive way because it does not feel forced. Because "Ted" has the ability to market itself through its title character, it seems like more of a "friend" on Facebook than a promotional page. The same applies to the Twitter account: because Ted the character is "responsible" for the tweets, there is no unwanted brand pushing or interaction between the movie and fans; it's more personal and thus, more effective. When given the opportunity, a character or avatar is a great way to connect with consumers in a social media campaign.
The success of "Ted" is obviously not solely dependent on its social media campaign or viral web presence, but rather it proves that social media marketing done right can encourage lasting relationships between consumers and a brand. People who have yet to see "Ted" or those who have just left the theater can have a connection with this movie, and more importantly, its bear, beyond the screen.
Do you currently like or follow any movies or characters on Facebook or Twitter? Have you seen "Ted?" Tell us in the comments below!
- ENeisser
Social media allows companies to create interactive, in-the-moment and fun campaigns. Companies are engaging their audience and provoking continued dialogue, while also tying these campaigns back to their products. These companies are raising the bar for what consumers can expect from social media campaigns. Companies are utilizing user-generated interactive games, contests, and promotional events to serve consumers, as well as benefit the company. A contest is no longer just "complete a form" to enter, and even billboards are no longer just wall-based stationary advertisements. Instead, companies are spanning multi-platforms and multi-means to get their message across.
Jell-O creatively designed a campaign that connected Twitter with consumer personal sentiment and relied on a specific hashtag as a vital component to their campaign. The concept of "Pudding Face" was established with the call-to-action, "Get Your Pudding Face On." A billboard located near Times Square, which was called the "Mood Meter" and had a man's face with a changing smile or frown, was set up to connect to Twitter sentiments in real-time. Whenever the mood turned too sad (meaning the percentage of frown tweets were higher than smiles), Jell-O gave away free pudding coupons to tweeters using #PuddingFace. Consumers felt more connected to the Jell-O brand when Jell-O replied to sad tweeters and gave them free pudding to change their frown to a smile.
Other companies use the hashtag to promote a business campaign or idea. For example, American Express started a campaign to drive shoppers to small businesses called "Small Business Saturday." AMEX partnered with Facebook to give the first 10,000 small businesses that registered $100 each in Facebook advertising. The campaign used #SmallBizSaturday on Twitter to remind consumers to shop at local small businesses. Google, Twitter, and FedEx are now among the big businesses that support "Small Business Saturday" and the campaign has acquired over 2.8 million Facebook "Likes" thus far.
Recently launched "Live for Now" global Pepsi campaign utilizes the hashtag, while also calls for consumer action via Twitter. Pepsi, in partnership with Viacom Media Networks, promotes the NOW factor across music and pop culture platforms. Emphasizing the present moment, consumers are encouraged to tweet images with #mtvnow, #countrynow, #playnow, #comedynow to be entered for a chance to win prizes all summer long. Selected consumer tweets are also featured across Viacom's channels and on their websites. Twitter also will share the campaign and the NOW factor through pop-up concerts and free music downloads based on the trending artists of the week.
Other companies are using innovative strategies that include interactive gaming techniques that engage a captive audience. For example, McDonalds in Sweden used social media to create a game called "Pong" that was constructed on a large-screen billboard. Just by using a smartphone and geo-location information (no app required), one's phone could be directly connected to the billboard game. After 30 seconds of successful playing, players win a free coupon for a McDonalds food item of choice. Consumers were then asked to redeem their prize at the nearest McDonalds location. This strategy not only marketed the company, but also brought consumers directly into the restaurant to collect a prize. A simple strategy, free food and a fun game can always be a method to bring in a crowd.
MTV has taken the concept of an interactive game even further. They have recently launched a "Teen Wolf" fan-based game/social experience called "The Hunt." Fans of the series can log into their Facebook accounts and become a member of the show's high school and participate in activities with characters from the show. With the line of reality and fiction blurred, this innovative social media strategy is very impressive. Like McDonalds' "Pong" game, a follow-up strategy is implemented to encourage consumers to keep coming back for more (whether it be to redeem a prize or a personalized email reminding one to continue playing the game). "The Hunt" will be one to keep an eye on to see if other companies will mimic and if it becomes a success.
Whether it is the use of the hashtag or interactive gaming techniques, social media campaigns are becoming more inventive than ever before. Large companies like Pepsi and American Express are catching on, but small businesses can be successful as well. Multi-platform campaigns that use widespread social media tools, such as Twitter and Facebook, can benefit both the consumer and the company: social media at its finest.
What's your favorite interactive social media campaign? Let us know in the comments!
A few weeks ago, I was introduced to Old People Writing on a Restaurant's Facebook Page, a blog compiling screenshots of members of the older generation leaving posts on different restaurant Facebook brand pages. Scrolling through each page gave me a great laugh, but it also made me wonder if this generation really belongs online. We've got Bud posting a photo of his dog to Red Robin's wall; Ian wishing Steak n' Shake good luck in college; Sydney posting about the life of Jesus to Quiznos' wall; Frank asking Jack in the Box to call him; and Debra congratulating Waffle House on a new baby (see below).
My conclusion? The Internet is a powerful tool that everyone should be able to use, and social media outlets are no exception. These folks may not have the hang of it just yet, but the rise of the older generation on social media platforms is undeniable, and it's an important trend to follow.
Source: http://oldpeoplefacebook.tumblr.com
Booming statistics:
According to Pew Internet, social networking activity among Internet users ages 50 and up has nearly doubled in the past year. Additionally, this same age group is growing faster than the younger generation, with Internet users aged 50-64 growing on social media sites by 88% and users aged 65 and up growing 100%. With stats like these, it's hard to ignore such a booming and active demographic.
What's in it for them?
Pew gives us a few reasons as to why social media is so attractive to this age group. First, the older generation finally has the capability to reconnect with past relationships. Back then, it wasn't as easy to look up and reconnect with a high school friend you made forty years back. Second, chronic disease support is easily attainable. With blogs and discussion threads at their fingertips, folks with similar health issues can reach out for help simply and comfortably. Finally, undeniable generation gaps are being bridged online. This older age group isn't much different from any other when it comes to social media. They want to keep up with their grandkids like I keep up with my friends and family. LeadingAge online magazine interviewed a few senior citizens about their social media presence to give us a better understanding of their online benefits. Randy Eilts, a director of public relations for a senior living marketing firm, says that he likes to be among the first to see his granddaughter's prom pictures or photos of his children's Hawaiian vacation. These are opportunities that weren't as available just a few years ago.
What does this mean for businesses?
Reaching out to this age group isn't limited to television, newspaper or radio anymore. Marketers can and should freely jump on the digital bandwagon to get to their not-so-niche market. Older folks are making their appearances on Facebook and Twitter, but there are also social media platforms that cater to them specifically. These sites include Gransnet, a network for grandparents with discussion board covering topics that range from childhood games to difficult daughter-in-laws, and Active Empty Nesters, a site with large font and an emphasis on the joys of being free from the duties of raising a family.
One more for good measure:
How do your parents or grandparents use social media, and exactly how do you feel about it?
-- Jaime Cheng, @Rochambeaux


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25 best horror TV shows ever
Salem's Lot (1979)
Possibly the best ever adaptation of a Stephen King horror novel, by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre director Tobe Hooper, this was strong stuff for TV. It's a slow build, as David Soul investigates an outbreak of vampirism seemingly connected with sinister antiques dealer James Mason. The vampire children scratching at second-storey windows are creepy enough – but then the real villain of the piece is revealed, the ghastly, blue-faced ancient vampire Mr Barlow (Reggie Nalder, Nosferatu incarnate) in a truly jaw-dropping shock sequence.
Quatermass (1953)
The great grand-daddy of TV sci-fi and horror, writer Nigel Kneale terrified a nation who'd bought television sets to watch the Coronation. The first Quatermass story described the test-flight of a British astronaut and his agonizing transformation into a malignant growth; later stories involved formless aliens and ancient Martian insects. Kneale went on to predict modern trends with chilling accuracy in The Stone Tape and The Year of the Sex Olympics – his influence is still being felt, nearly 60 years on.
Kolchak The Night Stalker (1974)
Down-at-heel reporter Carl Kolchak, played by Darren McGavin, first appeared in a highly-rated TV movie-of-the-week chasing a vampire in Las Vegas. Kolchak was later given a series of his own, and this in turn inspired Chris Carter to write The X-Files. Memorable Kolchak monsters included a youth-draining succubus, a Hindu demon, an energy being and an Aztec mummy. Avoid the sexed-up remake Night Stalker with Stuart Townsend, which came and went in 2005.
The Twilight Zone (1959)
The definitive TV anthology series still has a bewitching power, and the legendary stories can evoke a scream or two, whether it's the gremlin on the aircraft wing terrifying William Shatner in Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, the mutant doctors in Eye of the Beholder, or a patriarch's revenge on his money-grubbing family in The Masks. Zone creator Rod Serling returned to TV terror more overtly in his later series Night Gallery with directors including Steven Spielberg.
Being Human (2008)
It sounds like the start of a joke – a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost are sharing a flat – but this series became the best thing BBC3 has done. It was originally conceived without the fantasy elements, then creator Toby Whithouse shuffled his cards, kept the characters believable and likeable, but added plenty of bloody vampire mayhem and the bone-snapping werewolf transformations – Russell Tovey as sad-sack werewolf George suffered for his art. A change of cast introduced fresh blood – sorry – meanwhile a slick American remake is heading off in a different direction.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MEMORANDUM FOR Chief Information Officers
FROM: Suzanne Hilding
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2010 Information Technology Budget Process and Guidance
FY 2010 Information Technology (IT) budget initiatives, including those for infrastructure, are due concurrent with the FY 2010 Secretarial budget submission. Our goal in the IT budget review process is to ensure that proposals include all the elements needed for IT portfolio selection, control, and evaluation:
•basis for investment, including project performance that demonstrates support to strategic goals, the annual performance plan, and e-government initiatives,
•project management,
•risk management,
•security and privacy, and
•enterprise architecture compliance.
Only initiatives that are complete and highly rated in all these areas will be recommended by the Commerce IT Review Board (CITRB) for serious consideration in the FY 2010 budget assessment process. The FY 2010 budget process continues to emphasize linking budget, program planning, IT planning, performance measurement, and acquisition strategies. Therefore, you should include your respective budget, program, IT, and procurement offices in the preparation and review of your operating unit's IT budget proposals.
Secretarial Budget Submission Requirements for IT
For all new IT budget investments, and modifications or enhancements to existing systems above base funding (including telecommunications), use the format in Attachment 2 to provide a brief, high-level summary for submission to the Commerce Office of the CIO concurrent with the Secretarial budget submission. As illustrated by the example in Attachment 3, the high level justification should summarize the business need, current situation, project vision, goal, benefits, and strategic alignment. Describe or quantify what would happen if the initiative is or is not funded. Demonstrate how the initiative contributes to Secretarial priorities, the President's Management Agenda, and other critical Department activities.
IT investment proposals must be a product of your operating unit's capital planning and investment control (CPIC) process. Therefore, as part of your IT budget submission, provide a description of the CPIC portfolio management process used to evaluate and select this year's investments. Submit this IT Portfolio Management Summary along with the budget initiative summaries to Stuart Simon (firstname.lastname@example.com).
One week after the Secretarial budget submission, for all FY 2010 IT budget initiatives, update an Exhibit 300 Capital Asset Plan and Business Case Summary in eCPIC or, for new projects, submit a Project Concept Document (see Attachment 4) to email@example.com. As part of the IT budget review process, a briefing book, including the Exhibit 300s for IT initiatives and operating unit IT Portfolio Management Summaries, will be given to all CITRB members one week in advance of CITRB presentations. When completing the Exhibit 300, be sure to fill in the "DOC Supplemental" questions. During this same period you should also update the Exhibit 300s for all other investments in eCPIC, even if they have no change from the 2009 President's budget baseline.
This year, OMB has requested that federal agencies submit only a "current services" budget in September, along with supporting Exhibit 300s and Exhibit 53. However, the Department also plans to prepare and review a budget that includes new initiatives for possible presentation to the next administration. Consult your budget office to understand what is considered current services. To have exhibits that support these two budgets, we will maintain documentation in eCPIC for both current services and new initiatives. Instructions will be provided under separate cover on how to handle the two sets of documentation in eCPIC.
OMB Budget Submission Requirements
To meet OMB budget submission requirements in early September, Commerce will use eCPIC to collect, generate, and submit IT Exhibit 300s, and the Exhibit 53 (Agency IT Investment Portfolio). To meet this requirement, all IT investments, with or without funding increases, must be updated in eCPIC by August 8 to reflect their current services budget submission. For "Non-major" IT investments use eCPIC's more streamlined "Non-major Business case" format. Guidance on preparing the IT budget submission for infrastructure will be provided under separate cover.
The level of detail entered in the Exhibit 300 should be commensurate with the magnitude of the investment. The Department will review all Exhibit 300s and provide recommendations for strengthening them. Final edits to the Exhibit 300s, in response to Department comments, must be completed by August 29, at which time we will generate the Exhibit 53 for submission to OMB.
Evaluating Exhibit 300 Business Cases
We would like to call your attention to key areas of the Exhibit 300 business case:
•Security and privacy continue to be important factors in the CITRB's review of FY 2010 budget requests. You have a key role in helping to ensure that adequate resources are dedicated to IT security to maintain an acceptable level of risk.
•Enterprise Architecture also requires your attention as we take increased interest in the management and integration of architectures within Commerce and across the Government, with particular emphasis on the elimination of duplication. Answer the architecture questions in the Exhibit 300 completely and carefully. Ensure that your baseline and target architecture documentation includes all current and proposed IT investments.
•Project management, especially establishing and certifying Earned Value Management, is another area that has taken on increased importance. Your business case should verify that the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and Project Manager (PM) have training and certification appropriate to the complexity of the project. In addition, take care to provide complete and accurate cost and schedule performance data.
•As in past years, solid performance measures are a core element in your justification and must be consistent with the performance metrics submitted in the Performance and Accountability Report and in the FY 2010 Secretarial budget submission. Performance measures must follow the format specified in the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) Performance Model and address each of four measurement areas (Mission & Business Results, Customer Results, Processes & Activities, and Technology).
•All IT budget initiatives will be evaluated against the guidance and questions in the Exhibit 300. Accordingly, the quality of your responses is critical. Become familiar with the IT guidance in Section 300 of OMB Circular A-11; it will help you complete your IT investment plan and business case. Detailed instructions for preparing high quality Exhibit 300s are on the OCIO CPIC Web site as well as in the eCPIC Resource Library.
CITRB Reviews
Sponsors of the proposals selected for evaluation before the CITRB should review the following guidance from the OCIO Web site:
Commerce IT Review Board Presentation Tips
Commerce IT Review Board Evaluation Criteria
Commerce IT Review Board Expectations
Briefings to the CITRB will take place in late June. The CITRB will evaluate initiatives and make recommendations to the Office of Budget during the budget review process. Presenters must provide an electronic copy of their briefing slides and resumes of their CO, COR, and PM to Gordon Keller (firstname.lastname@example.com) within one week following the Secretarial budget submission. IT initiatives that are not presented directly to the CITRB may be evaluated by the Office of the CIO, supported by acquisition, budget, and other Department staff offices. Recommendations from this review process will also be provided to the Office of Budget. We will notify project sponsors of the date for their briefings before both of these review boards.
If you have questions regarding the Exhibit 300 or other information in this memorandum, contact Stuart Simon at firstname.lastname@example.com or (202) 482-0275.
cc: Neil Shapiro, Acting, OB
Delia Davis, Acting, OAM
Lisa Casias, OFM
Teresa Coppolino, OFM
Budget Officers
Administrative Officers
Attachment 1 FY 2010 IT Budget Review Schedule
Date |
Activity |
Recipient |
Secretarial budget submission due date |
One page summaries of budget initiatives |
Secretarial budget submission due date |
IT Portfolio Management Summary |
One week after Secretarial budget submission |
Exhibit 300s for budget initiatives |
Complete in eCPIC |
One week after Secretarial budget submission |
Project Concept Documents for proposed new projects |
One week after Secretarial budget submission |
Briefing package materials (slides, resumes of CO, COR and PM) |
One week after Secretarial budget submission |
Update of all current services Exhibit 300s |
Complete in eCPIC |
Late June |
Departmental/OCIO briefings on selected initiatives that will not be reviewed by CITRB. |
Late June |
CITRB briefings |
August 8 |
Update of all current services Exhibit 300s for Department review |
Complete in eCPIC |
August 29 |
Finalize current services Exhibit 300s for OMB |
Complete in eCPIC |
Attachment 2
Commerce Information Technology Review Board
Initiative Summary
Operating Unit: | ||
Office: | ||
Investment Name: | ||
Location in budget (account, sub-activity, line item). (Specify BY amount from each funding source if more than one). | ||
IT Increase and IT Base Amount | ||
Life Cycle Increase |
FY 2010 Increase |
FY 2009 President's Budget |
Project Description and Justification: |
E-mail the completed form to firstname.lastname@example.com
Attachment 3
Commerce Information Technology Review Board
Initiative Summary
Operating Unit: NOAA | ||
Office: NWS | ||
Investment Name: Telecommunications Gateway | ||
Location in budget: Salaries and expenses account $1.0M; Capital account $1.4M | ||
IT Increase and IT Base Amount: | ||
Life Cycle Increase |
FY 2010 Increase |
FY 2009 President's Budget |
+ $20,000,000 |
+ $2,400,000 |
$2,000,000 |
Project Description and Justification: NOAA requests an increase to modernize the NWS Telecommunication Gateway (NWSTG) legacy systems with current operating system, data processing, and communications switching technology. This modernization (first in 5 years) is necessary to prevent obsolescence and manage the exploding volumes of observational and weather forecast and warning information created by the NWS modernization. NWSTG is no longer adequate: 1) Basic message switching process is outdated leading to delays in dissemination of weather watches and warnings. 2) Volume of numerical weather prediction models from NCEP is projected to grow from 10 gigabytes/day to 400 gigabytes/day during FY 2010 due to improvements in model resolutions. Central collection and dissemination of national radar products will grow from 35 GB/day to 300 in FY 2010. 3) NWSTG facility is twelve years old, and cannot be adequately maintained or upgraded. 4) Current NWSTG technology cannot maintain compatibility with US and foreign partners. During FY 2010, the NWS will acquire servers and processors (+$0.4 million); LANs and hubs (+$0.4 million); routers and interfaces (+$0.2 million); gateway switch replacement (+$1.0 million); and operating system software (+0.4 million). |
Attachment 4
Project Concept Document*
The Project Concept Document defines the project's reason for being. It defines a high-level approach, providing critical success factors, a Product Description Statement, and other top-level planning information. The Project Concept Document should define what is to be done, why it is to be done, and what business value it will provide when the project is completed. Where a project concept document is used instead of the Exhibit 300, include the project's life cycle funding profile in the Exhibit 300 Summary of Spending table format.
• The business justification should focus attention on the purpose and impact of the project within both the particular Commerce operating unit and the Department as a whole. The justification should provide the business need, current situation, project vision and goal, benefits, and strategic alignment.
• The proposed solution description should include high-level requirements, assumptions, proposed alternatives, project approach, high-level deliverables, and dependencies on other projects.
• The Product Description Statement is a high-level statement contained within the Project Concept Document, which describes the characteristics of the products or processes to be created by the project. Typically, a Product Description Statement does not have a great deal of detail and will be used as a basis for building progressively more detailed descriptions as the project plan matures.
In addition to the business justification, proposed solution, and product description statement, the Project Concept Document for large, complex projects should identify external interfaces; establish strategic alignment across the portfolio of systems; and describe the impact of the project within the particular Commerce operating unit, the Department as a whole, and outside the Department of Commerce.
* The terms and definitions are derived from project management best practices identified in the Project Management Book of Knowledge
- Questions regarding this section may be directed to the IT Capital Planning & Investment Control Administrator


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Mark Gervacio/Dave Staub Acting Assistant Directors of Street & Automotive Services
Email: Street Telephone: 408-615-3080 Fax: 408-988-0237
OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 7:30A - 4:30P
ADDRESS Street Corporation Yard 1700 Walsh Avenue Santa Clara, CA 95050
The Basics of the Curbside Recycling Program
On February 14, 2012, the City of Santa Clara passed a mandatory recycling ordinance in order to comply with California Assembly Bill 341. Ordinance No. 1894 requires recycling be provided for:
Recology provides recycling services to all residences in the City of Santa Clara. Mission Trail Waste Systems provides recycling services to all commercial businesses generating four cubic yards or more garbage per week.
The City's single-stream curbside recycling program utilizes blue wheeled carts (similar to the black garbage and green Clean Green carts) for single-family residences. 64-gallon carts are available to single-family homes, but residents can obtain larger (95-gallon) or smaller (32 gallon) carts by calling Recology at (408) 970-5100. Multi-family residences have the option to use wheeled carts or front load bins. Residents may begin using the cart for recyclables as soon as it is delivered. Newspapers, mixed papers, corrugated cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans, discharged metal spray paint cans, steel and other kitchen scrap metals, and plastic containers marked #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #7 (NO STYROFOAM) should be placed in the blue cart. Plastic grocery, produce, dry cleaning and bread bags should be bundled together inside a clear plastic bag and placed in the blue cart. Used motor oil (in one-gallon or less screw-top containers), motor oil filters in ziplock plastic bags, and compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL's) in separate ziplock plastic bags should be set on the ground next to the blue cart. A listing of items that can be recycled in the carts or front load bins can be found at "How to Set Your Recyclables Out". Looking to recycle items that aren't included in the City's curbside program? Check out the Center for Development of Recycling's website at http://www.recyclestuff.org/.
Be sure lids on carts are completely closed, and put cart in the gutter (wheels against the curb) next to garbage and Clean Green carts (be sure to leave at least 3 feet of space between each cart) on your regular solid waste collection day. Large cardboard containers that cannot fit in the wheeled carts should be broken down according the the rules in "How to Set Your Recyclables Out" and stacked next to the cart. Questions? Call (408) 970-5100 or (408) 615-2063.
The City of Santa Clara is not responsible for the content of external sites. Thank you for visiting the City of Santa Clara website.


text:
Inventory |
This page shows your linksMisc.bidamount a filtered Ebay search site for English and Non English speakers. Search without all the clutter and junk and bad listings. Precoded searches by catagory cool stuff.
Local ResourcesA talented local sign painter that works for us and as well as the Boston Red Sox
Our web designer. He lives in Gloucester and specializes in database driven and ecommerce web sites for small businesses like us
A long overdue Idea who's time has come, these folks will commercially scan, coalate and print your children's art, school papers etc. then Bind them for you, grandparents, aunts, uncles GREAT!
Art Reference SitesThe Smithsonian's Asian Art Museum Index with Photos on the Web. Thousands of the best examples. Best use of tax dollars I've ever seen. All I can say is GREAT!
A really usefull site for researching Japanese Ceramics. Loads of pages, good index, images...
A good reference image and data site on Japanese Ceramics. Good guide. Lots of Images.
A very fine site displaying great examples of ceramics from China, Japan, Korea and the Middle East.
One of the Gems of the American Museum Landscape, a nice visit online and in person!!
The Greatest Home Grown Museum in the US..PERIOD. The largest China Trade Collection in the World and an amazing collection of American Decorative Art, Maritime Art, Triabl Art and much more.
Articles, Stuff for sale, Interesting Site
A good retail site for begginging collectors, lots of Ship Wreck pieces and Minyao. Its does have a good accumulation of reign and porcelain marks.Amusing, Odd ball discussion board.
Great collection of information and images of the Museums asian Collection from the Yuan to Qing Dynasty. Good info and MORE links!
Featuring outstanding inventory for sale from top antique and art dealers, educational articles on fine and decorative arts, and a calendar listing upcoming antiques shows and fairs.
Peter Combs information on Squido
Some very good illustrations and reference information on Asian and Islamic Art. Go play around from here..
Loads of Links to Museums around the world..another GREAT reference Site. It really is!!
A Squidoo Lens we wrote for fun!
Another Squidoo we wrote for fun..yes we'll keep writing them!
all content © 2013 PL Combs, Gloucester MA.
web design - smallfish-design.com


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Music Feeds, Street Press Australia & Select Music Presents
RUFUS - "Blue EP Tour"
6:00pm, Sun 19th August, 2012
Newport Hotel, WA
This event has passed and sales are now closed
RÜFÜS have been busy in 2012... Sell out shows. Festivals. Supporting Van She, Royksopp and Yuksek. As well as international releases on Kitsuné, Plant and Continental. Now, they're touring a new live show in support of the Blue EP with the stunning Elizabeth Rose supporting at selected shows!
Interview: Dialectrix At Come Together Festival 2013
Interview with Mike Hohnen


text: 1924 - Bromeliads (Garden) - 2008-04-10 (Dimension: 530 x 717 pixels - Counter: 1832) Puya Photographer: Len Colgan Note: Some years ago Rudolf Schulz, the perennial adventurer and seed collector from Australia, was roaming through Peru and he collected seed of a number of Puyas (I think!) of at least three different species. I obtained some seedlings, and one of the species is now in flower. Identification: pending (Click on the picture to enlarge)


text:
Theres nothing good value about a large value pack if the contents lose their freshness and are thrown away before theyre finished.
No wonder 34% of consumers polled said they would pay more for resealability. Which means a resealable pack can add value to your brand as well as offering value for money to your customers.
» Reseal Label
» Resealable Banner Tape
» Peel & Reseal Label -
Packaging is as much a part of your product as any of its ingredients.It affects consumers perceptions, brand impressions and consumption behaviour.
So its hardly surprising that the best way to obtain advantage in an overloaded consumer goods market is through innovation in packaging.
And no-one is more innovative than us.
Counterfeit products such as pharmaceuticals can lead to catastrophic even fatal results. So packaging must work hard to protect the product it contains, the brand owner and the consumer.
From clearly demonstrating tamper evidence to building in sophisticated authentication technologies we can help you to reassure your consumer.
Filtrona Completes Acquisition Of Contego Healthcare
Filtrona plc (Filtrona) has confirmed the completion of the acquisition of Contego Healthcare Limited (Contego) which will now operate as part of its Coated and Security Products (C&SP) Division, which includes Payne, Payne Security and Duraco. The Contego business will be led by Managing Director Gerard Harford, who will report into Alison Evans, Managing Director, C&SP.
>Read the full announcement
Labels Enhance Natural Look for Beauty Range
Our eye-catching no label-look labels are helping to create on-shelf impact appeal for a range of organic Argan Oil beauty products from leading supplier Dr Organic, which are being sold exclusively through Holland & Barrett.
Consumer IQ: Resealability
It is clear that many consumers appreciate the benefits of resealability it can be a significant influence on purchasing decisions against competitive products and some are even prepared to pay a little bit more for the convenience and functionality it delivers


text:
This is a handy way to bind quilts or anything where you are trimming with eyelet lace or any sort of decoration.
Step 1. You will be sewing the eyelet lace onto the back of the quilt. IMPORTANT: The eyelet lace needs to be right side up! Don't dismiss that. Line up the edge of the gathered eyelet lace with the raw edge of the quilt. Stitch down the eyelet lace just along the gathered section.
When are you stitching around the corner, cut a little slit at the gather section (NOT INTO THE LACE) to give the lace some give as you stretch it around the corner.
Once you have made it around the quilt you'll need to connect the lace. This process will require you to leave at least 3″ of eyelet lace unstitched on either side or it will be impossible to work. Simply stitch the two ends together at a section where you can line up the ωωω and stitch to the center of the ω for a seamless effect. Trim off the additional eyelet lace and leave 1/4″ and iron the seam closed to either side. Then continue to stitch the remaining eyelet lace into place.
Step 2. Determine the width you would like your binding to appear on the front of the quilt and double that width, then add 1/2″ that will be sewn in and hid. For the quilt I am sharing, my finished width is 1/2″. That means I needed to cut 1 1/2″ of binding strips.
To connect your strips check out the picture below for the best way to see the technique. Stitch from corner to corner, then trim the excess and leave 1/4″ that you'll iron closed and press to the side. DO NOT CONNECT ALL STRIPS. You only need enough to sew along each side, not attaching the corners. In other words, you'll need four strips total in the length of each side of your quilt with a few inches to spare on all sides.
Step 3. Fold your binding strips in half horizontally and iron them.
Step 4. Place the raw edge of the binding strips along the raw edge of the quilt and gathered eyelet lace. You are still working on the backside of the quilt. You will stitch down the binding 1/4″ in from corner to corner leaving 3″ unstitched on either end. You'll need to connect the corners and need some wiggle room. While you are sewing the binding down it is a very good idea to make sure the eyelet lace is not bunched and laying crooked. I gently tug at it as I make my way along the edge of the quilt.
Step 5. You have made it to the corners…horray! This part is a bit tricky, but you can do it! Trim off the excess binding. Mark the corners where they meet with an erasable fabric pen.
You'll use the marked corners to match up the binding. Then you will stitch from the marker to the corner of the binding.
Before you trim the excess fabric off, make sure the corner fits perfectly. If it doesn't, rip out the thread and try again. Once you have it perfect, cut off the excess fabric leaving 1 /4″, but this time you will iron the seam OPEN. Then simply stitch 1/4″ around the corner. It is helpful to sew with the needle down so it is simple to rotate once you reach the corners. Repeat 3 more times and finish all corners.
Step 6. Pat yourself on the back. You are on the home stretch and this part is easy! Flip the quilt over. You'll now be working on the front. Fold the binding over to the front leaving the eyelet lace to your right. Make sure it isn't tucked under your quilt. You will now stitch along the very edge of the binding, hiding the raw edge of the quilt, gathered eyelet lace, and raw binding.
If you sew with your needle down, making the corners will be a breeze. Depending on the thickness of the material you are working with, you may need to trim out any bulk in your corners. Feel free to do so, but don't get to close to your thread stitches. Keep going along the entire circumference of your quilt.
YOU'RE DONE! Phew, hope you love it! This is a fun way to add decoration to a quilt or any project you may be working on.
NOTE: If you are fuzzy on any part of my directions please feel free to contact me. I'm here to help!


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Kentucky Cities:
May 20 - May 26
Saturday May 25, 2013
This Saturday, May 25 we will have a huge yard sale and outdoor craft show. Spaces are available for $10 per 10' space. Bring tables and a canopy if you need them. Food and cold drinks will be available. Please call right away to reserve your spot. The yard sale and craft show will begin at 9:00. Dixie Treasures 35 Harlan St. Crittenden, KY 41030 859-250-0303


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Move through Fantasy and Reality while watching Asian Drama!
of 2731
Description: Set two years after after "Hotaru no Hikari 2" drama series, Hotaru Amemiya learns that her boss and now husband Seichi Takano has dreamed of vacationing in Rome, Italy like in the movie "Roman Holiday". Hotaru then makes plans to go to Rome for their honeymoon. Rome, Italy prepare ... Hotaru Amemiy and Seichi Takano are coming! (asianwiki.com)


text:
Kiwi Movers provide an outstanding Removal, Storage, Cleaning, Property Maintenance, Handyman, Shipping, Waste Removal and Logistics service across all areas of London - including Chelsea, Fulham, Wandsworth and Twickenham.
We can provide a full range of professional removal services, from Man and Van through to large house moves, with a full range of additional services.
With our dedicated team of professionals, we provide a range of solutions including Pickup & Delivery, Commercial Moves, Labour Hire and Logistics.
"We pride ourselves on delivering Straight Talking, No Bull, professional Removals, Storage and Logistics services."
27th November 2012
Very impressed with your lovely boys; extremely helpful, considerate, polite and very hard working, and kept smiling throughout. Have no qualms in recommending you.
28th November 2012
Thank you very much for your great service - the move went very smoothly.
My compliments,
29th November 2012
Thank you very much. They did a really good job. Guys were friendly and helpful and I will definitely use Kiwi movers in the future if I move again.
Kind regards,
29th November 2012
Brilliant, thanks guys. It was superb.
10th December 2012
I have to say I am amazed at the amount of effort your guys put in so cheerfully for such a sustained period, your guys are quite wonderful.
Thanks and best wishes,
12th December 2012
Many thanks for your and your team's assistance over the past few months. Wishing you a happy Christmas.
Best wishes,
12th December 2012
Thanks for a great service. :)
13th December 2012
Hi there,
I am writing because you may have sent a feedback page for my move on Nov 14th but I have been travelling and can't actually find it. I am just writing to say Adam and Tangy (I believe spelling right) were fabulous, great guys. Just wanted to let you know.
Many thanks!
20th December 2012
Just to let you know that your guys were absolutely amazing - on time, fun, courteous and helpful. I have already recommended them to someone else. So thank you very much for all your excellent organisation.
Best wishes,
21st December 2012
Hi there thank you, they were great.
23rd December 2012
Thanks again for your help moving a bed last week. Very impressive work.
Best wishes,
5th January 2013
Hi there,
Just wanted to say thanks to Richard and Damian for a job well done. Nice guys, and they got the job done efficiently. We'd happily recommend Kiwi Movers to others!
Best regards,
4th January 2013
Thank you so much for helping me move out yesterday!! Your enthusiasm and energy made the entire process far more enjoyable!!!!!!!
Hollie - Facebook
11th January 2013
Thank you so much for all the hard work yesterday.
Many thanks again,
Mr S.
14th January 2013
Thanks so much for our move on Saturday, the guys were great.


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Gwen Stefani in Band Hero avatar argument
Ain't No Doubt about it
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
US ska-pop band No Doubt - best know for its 1996 hit Don't Speak - has become the latest group to throw a hissy fit over the use of its lead singer's likeness in a videogame.
The band agreed to lead singer Gwen Stefani's likeness being used alongside three No Doubt songs included in Activision's videogame Band Hero, but they now object to gamers being able to 'play' Stefani alongside songs from other bands.
No Doubt has allegedly accused Activision of a breach of contract. Activision has said it "believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band", according to a report by the BBC.
The case smacks of a similar argument between Activision and early 1990s grunge rockers Nirvana.
Just last month the band's surviving members – among them Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl – protested that gamers should only be able to use Kurt Cobain's likeness to play Nirvana songs in Guitar Hero 5.
It is believed No Doubt is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction preventing Activision from distributing the game. ®
not that similar (probably)
having worked on some soccer games, what can happen is that most players will have a deal with the organisers say for example the premier league. but more 'famous' individual players will have their own deals this is often why big name players either appear as 'number 7' in fifa it is also why some players have very long contract arguments when signing for new clubs.
Ahh, though having googled' that, I'm stunned that EA have fallen foul of this. Though they don't say in the lawsuit anything about his actual face features, are they just saying that the height and weight are enough to be his 'likeness' ?
I suspect the deal with band-hero' is closer to the medical condition of 'financial myopathy' where the person signing the deal is unable to actually read it because they cannot see past the $$$$$$$$$$. Not probably helped by the number of intermediarys trying to explain the concept.
Don't they read the news?
This sounds very similar to the news earlier this year with EA Sports and the likeness' of NCAA players in their EA Sport NCAA Football game (and other games). The following Google (is there anything else) search will get you the lowdown on the existing suit.


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Stark's sizzling sausages launched with a bang
IT might be a few weeks until bonfire night but one Buckhaven butcher's preparations have already taken off like a rocket.
W. F. Stark, on College Street, has won a silver award, from the Scottish Craft Butchers Federation, for its inventively-themed sausages.
Owner Amos Smith and employee Joe Paterson created 'piri piri Catherine wheels' and 'beef, cheese and onion rocket launchers'.
The butchers came up with the ideas after being invited to capture their customers' imaginations by making products with a Hallowe'en and bonfire theme.
And the sizzling sausages obviously proved to be a real treat when they came before the judges in Dunfermline.
Recipes for their sausages will now be displayed at craft butchers throughout Scotland.
A spokesman for the competition said: "It was really good to see all the great product ideas come forward.
"I think we can look forward to seeing some real innovation in butchers' shops this Hallowe'en and bonfire night."
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Friday 24 May 2013
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west


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Your first hour with any tutor is always 100% refundable!
I am from China and speak Mandarin very fluently. I had taught in college in China for three years. Now I am teaching a bilingual Chinese class at a Chinese School. I am also a teacher for the elderly language exchange program in a senior center. I also a tutor in Chinese, Chemistry at a Public Publish School. In addition, I am tutoring Chinese for several children from age 3 to 12. They and their parents are very satisfied with my work.I love teaching Chinese and enjoy the process of working with students. I love the interaction with students and encourage them to engage in active learning through multi-media and various activities. I understand the difference of each student, their strength and weakness, their level of interest, and adjust my teaching style accordingly.I am a Chemist with PHD degree. I taught Chemistry in a college for three years. I would like to tutor Chemistry too.
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Standard Hourly Fee: $60.00
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Positive Apartment Reviews and Ratings
Don't do it ( over a year ago )Reviewed by: Anonymous
There is things they need work on they call there self redoing the apartment .
Date | Review |
over a year ago | Me and my girlfriend were raped walking to our cars. a group of blacks came at us and literally dragged us over to th... full review >> |
over a year ago | me and my girlfriend along with our child were home invaded at gun point, guns held to our head. All they wanted was ... full review >> |
over a year ago | i would not sugest moving here for the simple fact that its not a good area at all they dont give a **** about what g... full review >> |
over a year ago | This apartment complex is roach infested and full of crime. Two murders just within the first two months we moved in.... full review >> |
Southpark Apartments has 5 reviews.


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Queen of Etsy with Rachael Leigh Cook, Mark-Paul Gosselaar & Tracey Gold
Etsy is run by a maniacal queen named Ellie Harper (Rachael Leigh Cook). After Maggie Chester (Tracey Gold) is attacked by the Queen of Etsy, FBI Agent Michael Peck (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) investigates.
- not sure what this was about, just kept staring at rachel
- RACHEL LEIGH COOK HOT video not funny
- good stuff y'aal. please enjoy this FoD short, a FIFTY SHADES parody... http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/d1667fa67c/hush-party-a-short-film
- I have no idea what this video is referring to but I recognize some of the actors from 90's and early 00's teen movies/series.
- Very cool
- sorry but i didn't understood the idea behind the video . fun videos are available at "http://videobash.com'
- Not funny
- http://fivess.co.uk/write-a-message-on-my-boobs-559.html
- as someone who has sold on etsy before - this is hilarious. I get the references. I love Etsy - but good job!
- I only wanted to see Rachel, it wasn't that funny, but I idd see Rachel so.
- sex
- I get the refereces
- rated R for adult language and violence
- Rachael Leigh Cook: *still* hotter than h.e.l.l.
- Nice Deniro at 2:00. De Niro was an actor's actor. Nobody could bludgeon a man with a baseball bat like De Niro.
- I laughed, I don't know why just that I did.


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Dothan Police Arrest Hospital Patient For Assaulting A Nurse
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: August 1, 2012
On July 31, 2012 the Dothan Police Department responded to a local hospital where a woman was arrested for assaulting a nurse.
Investigators say the patient became disorderly during discharge and struck a nurse, which is a felony charge in the State of Alabama.
Diane Toole, black female, 52 years of age, of Page Street was arrested and charged with Second Degree Assault with a $2,500 bond.


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Broomfield Apartments for Rent
Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield, Colorado is a small city close to Denver and Aurora. With over 44,000 people, Broomfield has been growing. More and more people are moving to the city to enjoy all that Broomfield has to offer, from great shopping to quality schools. Large companies that call Broomfield home include Sun Microsystems, IBM and Level 3 Communications. The technology industry is one of the reasons why Broomfield has been seeing so much growth. Besides that, Broomfield also has a lot to do. Residents enjoy jogging and playing sports at the many area parks and trails. There's also a shopping center called FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield.Apartments in Broomfield
Finding apartments in Broomfield is simple. Everything from one bedrooms to units with more than three bedrooms can be found in Broomfield. Prospective residents will love what some of the apartments in Broomfield have to offer. Amenities such as stainless steel appliances, a swimming pool and gated entries are some examples of what complexes might have. An affordable choice, apartments in Broomfield are comfortable and welcoming. Families might even want to explore houses for rent in Broomfield, especially if they'd like more room and a backyard.Check out some of our other services
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Whether you are looking for new furniture for your new apartment or need your utilities hooked up, ApartmentSearch by CORT is here to help.
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Apartment Life
Whether you're moving yourself or a group of your employees, we can help make the proccess seamless from start to finish.


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Reports published by Mintel International Group Ltd
We currently have 92 market research reports in our database that are published by Mintel International Group Ltd.
Title |
Published |
Price |
Tea is increasingly popular across Europe due to its healthy image. Its appeal has increased among young people as well as older age groups. All types of tea are benefiting from strong NPD and more so... | more... |
July 2010 |
$ 2302.00 |
Baby Food and Drink - Europe - July 2010 Value sales of baby foods and drinks have continued to report positive growth in Europe, supported by added-value products. The market performed well, despite the recession, with parents ready to pay ... | more... |
July 2010 |
$ 2302.00 |
How to browse the market research store
Contact our research specialists
There are many ways to contact a just-drinks research specialist to discuss your individual requirements.
Simply email us, request a call back or call us on:


text: A jacket that keeps you warm, comfortable and lookin' fresh -- the Jordan On Point Jacket. Outfitted with four-way stretch fabric that's treated with Dri-FIT® technology for sweat management and temperature control, front chest media pocket, hand pockets and a printed Jumpman on the front for classic Jordan style and comfort. 100% Dri-FIT® recycled polyester. Imported. |


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Sorry dear followers for the unexplained hiatus!
Spring break came and went for us just last week. And life in general was just happening before it. Which really means, a lot of other ish was happening preventing us from completing our life duties to bookshelvesandlatefees.
But fret not! We are back! And ready to attack! Slowly (but surely!) we will get this blog back up in no time. Thank you for your patience!
ALSO, please pray that we get jobs (: We are both poor and have no money with which to purchase new books ):