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Colloide has a strong base of experience in the energy sector, and particularly within heat recovery and renewable heating.
With our core mechanical, electrical and process engineering skills, and our experience in energy balances and infrastructural projects, we can design and supply systems ranging from energy centres and heat recovery systems for large scale district heating networks through to biomass heating installations on farms.
Our experience includes:
Commercial, financial and regulatory pressures mean that energy is now widely recognised as a valuable and depleting resource. Within this sector we need to be at the cutting edge of technology and anticipate the pressures of the future as well as today. We work with our clients to design and install sustainable systems that optimise energy efficiencies and resource recovery, and make commercial sense.


text: Do you have any questions or comments for our experts at Herb Gordon Nissan? Please fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you soon. In the meantime, browse our new Nissan showroom to learn detailed information regarding each model available on our lot. We look forward to seeing you at our Silver Spring Nissan dealership!

subset: commoncrawl


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Hilary Swank and Jane Lynch co-hosted the inaugural Cause For Paws telethon which aired on Thanksgiving night (27Nov14).
The actresses fronted a two-hour show full of celebrity games and appearances, and handed out prizes to talented pets while urging viewers to adopt from animal shelters.
Pink, Scarlett Johansson and Miranda Lambert were among the stars who appeared in videos introducing dogs up for adoption across America.
Miley Cyrus also took the stage at the Santa Monica, California telethon to stand up for pit bull terriers. The singer explained many pit bulls are discriminated against because potential owners fear they are too violent, and therefore few find a home for life.
Cyrus herself adopted a pit bull, called Mary-Jane.
Other stars who appeared at the telethon included Channing Tatum and his wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Josh Duhamel, Betty White and Rosalyn Sanchez.
The show was taped on 22 November (14).


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Most individuals are appreciative of their mate's accommodating, kind and considerate behaviors. They may thank their partner for the helpful deed or words and feel satisfied that they have appropriately affirmed the mate for his/her efforts. Though these socially gracious words are kind and polite they may be short of being fully expressive of one's gratitude.
The Dictionary definition of gratitude is, "A warm and friendly appreciation of a kindness or a favor received." This definition describes the practical and polite response by the recipient about the caring conduct. The use of this method, though certainly needed in love relationships, falls short of the deeper intimate impact when it fails to include the receiver's rewarding emotional benefits earned by the performed kind deed.
A proper gratitude includes not only an appreciation for the acts performed but also describes the emotional impact it had on the receiver. For example, when a spouse helps the mate with chores, the recipient needs to state the practical benefit by saying, "I really appreciate your help with hanging the drapes. I would not have been able to do so by myself." Then, ADD the emotional significance of this help by stating, "I feel so blessed to have such a capable, willing and helpful partner as you in my life."
The benefit of expressing gratitude bestows kudos not only upon the "helper" but also enriches the person who expresses the gratitude. In the book "Thanks! How the new science of gratitude can make you happier," R.A. Emmons and M.E. McCullough describe their research findings with subjects who were taught to cultivate appreciation for others. They found that "The gratitude group participants experienced fewer symptoms of physical illness than those in either of the other two groups and spent significantly more time exercising (nearly 1.5 hours more per week) than those in the hassled condition.
All people require ongoing validations for maintaining a solid sense of self-esteem. The healing effect to both giver and receiver of gratitude is measurable. When a negative verbal exchange is followed by validation or gratitude, both individuals' self-esteem is re-balanced. Researcher C. Branigan and Associates found that "Positive emotions can undo the cardiovascular after effects of negative emotions." The healing effect to both giver and receiver of gratitude is measurable.
Though gratitude does not consistently require the receiver to reveal his/her emotions, doing so with a positive affirmation creates deep emotional intimacy and physical wellbeing for both partners. Hearing a mate's delight about one's actions warms both partners' hearts and creates greater satisfaction and emotional intimacy.
Use gratitude for emotional bonding:
- Accept that all people relish being affirmed and valued throughout their lives.
- Use words of gratitude to appreciate both the deeds and the essence of the doer.
- Know that intimacy is heightened when both partners share gratitude for actions and value each other's nature and attributes.
- Respond to gratitude with sharing your pleasure about pleasing your mate and your enthusiasm about his/her wonderfulness.
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Bamboo Boracay Resort & Restaurant is located Manggayad in the charming island of Boracay, and is less than a kilometer away from the Cagban Jetty Port, which is the main entrance to the island. The hotel, just a 5-minute ride or a 10-minute walk from the jetty port, is accessible via regular public transport routes.
Bamboo Boracay Resort & Restaurant has facilities, amenities, and services that ensures the comfort and convenience of its guests. The hotel features a restaurant, which specializes in local and international dishes, as well as a nightly buffet dinner.
Each room at the resort is non-smoking, is fully air conditioned, and comes equipped with a TV, and an in-room safety deposit box. The en suite toilet and bathroom has a shower, with hot and cold water. Basic bath essentials, such as towels, toiletries, and hair-drying equipments are also provided for in each room. Additionally, WiFI internet is also accessible from within the hotel's guest rooms, and in public areas around the hotel's premises.
Guests will never run out of things to do in Boracay. Water sporting activities abound such as fly fishing, kayaking, parasailing, helmet diving, and banana boating to name a few. Guests can also rent a boat to visit the various islands the surround Boracay, and for a chance to do diving and snorkelling activities to marvel at the marine ecosystem this side of the Philippines. Bars and restaurants are also in abundance on the island especially at D'Mall, which is about 3km away from the resort.
With its ideal location, comfortable accommodations, and pocket-friendly rates, a truly exciting and memorable vacation in Boracay awaits you.
|Manggayad, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan (Show Map)
|Boracay is accessible by plane and boat through Panay The most convenient way is a flight to Caticlan. The Airport is only a five-minute tricycle ride or a ten-minute walk from the Caticlan Jetty Port Terminal.
Directions & Landmarks
The property is located near Andoks and Paradise Garden in station 3. and 6 blocks away from La Carmela.
Total Number Of Rooms
Restaurant Information
Name of Restaurant: Bamboo Beach Restaurant
Lots of restaurant are outside of the hotel.
Room Facilities
Room Amenities
Hotel Facilities
Disclaimer: It is the responsibility of the hotel chain and/or the individual property to ensure the accuracy of the photos and information displayed. TravelBook.ph is not responsible for any inaccuracies.
I love the roof; it's exactly what we paid for even got it on a discounted rate. It's very spacious, very clean. The food is okay you get what you paid for.3 Things You Love about This Hotel: Beach front, easy to deal staff, good food Room: Quad Aircon Room (With Breakfast) - Quad Aircon Room Stay Date: to
Good location fronting beach, staffs are very accommodating, clean room, however, flooring should be improved.3 Things You Love about This Hotel: Accommodating staffs, value for money, good location Room: Premier Suite (Room Only) - EARLY BIRD PROMO A! - Premier Suite Stay Date: 03/16/2018 to 03/18/2018
I love their because it is located just a few steps along the beach front. So it is easy for us because we are 16 members and most of us are kids. We never had a hard time going back and forth from the hotel. I also like their hotel rooms because they are clean and so comfy.3 Things You Love about This Hotel: Location, cleanliness, value of money Room: Standard Aircon Room (With Breakfast) - Standard Aircon Room Stay Date: to


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MXCV – March 6, 2017
The Equinox Union Vigil is unique event that aims to build a community for those in grief while creating a safe atmosphere to experience it.
"We create a village for tonight, a space to remember the mystery that is life and death," said Sharon Stevens, the organizer of the event.
"It invites us to be open and vulnerable in our community."


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Kissed by a wisp of gentle breeze
Spring flowers swoon in an elegant ballet,
Echoes, the rhythm of a silent stream
Flowing against pebbles, copper and white,
A warm sunlit charm wraps winter shivers,
As an amber glow fills misty milieu ,
Unfolds new morn, yawning 'neath hopeful sky.
Poetry Form - Kwansaba is a non-rhyming form that consists of seven lines of seven words per line and each word can not include more than seven letters unless it's a proper noun. It's based on Kwanzaa, the African American holiday that celebrates seven principles
Poem and photo by Rajlakshmi who blogs at Destiny's Child


text: It doesn't matter whether you're going to spend the weekend at grandma's house or you're heading out for a trip around the world, you want to be comfortable, and you want everyone with you do be comfortable too. That includes even the smallest kids, which often necessitates bringing along their own bedding. In order to […]Continue reading


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Auction & Gala
Please SAVE THE DATE and join us February 9, 2018 for the Christ Episcopal School "Twilight in Venice" Auction and Gala! This event brings together families and faculty from throughout the school for a fun night of eating, drinking, dancing, and raising money to support our students. This year, we will be celebrating in the beautiful ballroom at Maggiano's, where we will enjoy delicious Italian cuisine!
Last year from the auction, CES raised over $88,000, and more than $30,000 to model a lower grade classroom. Your generosity will make a huge difference in the financial success of the Gala, which directly benefits the excellent educational programs at Christ Episcopal School.
Please look for your invitation in the mail toward the end of December! We hope you will join us and bring a friend!
CES "Twilight in Venice" Auction and Gala Survival Guide
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The CES Auction and Gala is on Friday, February 9th. What IS this event?!
The Auction and Gala is our school's largest annual fundraising event! The money raised at the Auction helps offset the costs of educating each child at CES.
Is it true that the tuition we pay does not cover the full cost of our child's education?
Yes, it's true! The money raised at the Auction and Gala helps bridge the gap between expenses covered by tuition and the cost of providing each student an exceptional CES education.
Does the school raise a lot of money through the Auction and Gala?
Yes, thanks to the generosity of our local businesses and CES families! Last year CES raised over $88,000, and raised more than $30,000 to remodel one of the classrooms in the lower school building as part of a long range plan to upgrade all of the academic spaces over the next few years! In years past, money raised at the Gala has helped us get our two school buses, technology upgrades, a full remodel of the art room, and curriculum enhancements.
Is the Gala FUN?!
The gala is a super fun night out! Whether you are a new CES parent, or a long time member of the CES family, it is hands down a great night with old and new friends! And for a good cause!
What does everyone DO at the Gala?
We eat amazing appetizers, dinner, and dessert catered this year by Maggiano's Little Italy, and enjoy an open bar! We get to bid on amazing silent auction items, we have fun with games like 'Heads and Tails", and laugh through the Live Auction as we playfully battle it out with other parents, with the help of a real live auctioneer of course! And then we dance with music provided by a great DJ!
What does it cost for a person to attend, and how do we sign up?
Each CES family will receive a printed invitation in the mail right before Christmas break. There is a card included in the invitation so you can RSVP. It costs $140 per person to attend. And that price includes everything -- food, dancing, and an open bar!
Where does the Auction and Gala take place?
This year it will be held in the ballroom at Maggiano's Restaurant which is on Wisconsin Avenue (on the border between Chevy Chase and Washington, DC). The space is beautiful, the food delicious, and there is valet and garage parking available.
Does the Gala have a theme?
Every year the Gala has a new theme. This year's theme is "Twilight in Venice"
Do the students get to come to the Gala?
No. This is an adult-only party. So parents have to remember to line up their babysitters (like, now)!
What do I wear to this event?
Cocktail attire! Your favorite dresses and ties are perfect! This year, you might even wear something related to Italy! Everyone always has fun dressing up!
Is there assigned seating for the dinner?
No. Everyone gets to spend the evening mingling and moving about.
How will we know what the auction items are?
The "Twilight in Venice" catalog will be sent home in the students' backpacks the week before the event. In the catalog you will find all of the silent and live auction items, the schedule of events for the evening, and great advertisements from businesses supporting our school. Please bring your catalog to the event- it will also serve as your auction paddle!
What types of items are typically auctioned off?
There is something for everyone! There are gift certificates to restaurants all over Montgomery County and DC! There are spa services for people who like to be pampered! Wine and other spirits! There are toys and games! There are tickets to sporting events and other family outings! Amazing trips! You can even buy your child's teacher a day off, win being in the front row at all school performances, have your child be head of school for a day, or name the school driveway! And there are teacher treats! CES Teachers generously donate fun experiences that teacher and student can do together! Of all the auction items, these are children's favorites! Some of the items that sell for the highest prices are the artwork pieces created by each CES class! The works really are priceless! (Find absentee bid sheets for class artwork here.)
How does the school get items to auction off at the Gala?
We have a great Acquisitions Committee that has already been busy contacting businesses near and far. BUT they really need help! The success of the auction depends in part on the items we can acquire. Imagine the amazing auction we will enjoy if every CES family acquires just ONE donated item! Parents who are willing to help should speak with our Acquisitions Chair, CES parent Iany Schneider, for more details on the acquisition process. Donation forms are available HERE. It is super easy to fill one out!
Silent Auction vs. Live Auction?
At the Gala, we have both a silent auction and a live auction. For the silent auction, the items up for auction will be on display for the first two hours of the Gala. Each item will have a piece of paper in front of it, which includes the amount of money people can bid on the item, and a place for you to put your auction number, which will printed on your catalog. List your best bid for the item using this number. Pay attention to when bidding closes. If you aren't watching, you may be outbid on your favorite item! The Live Auction portion of the evening is exactly what you picture with respect to an auction- an auctioneer and fast-paced bidding! This is a very fun part of the evening- the bidding wars are epic! But it is all in good fun! This year, we're adding a special "Best of Live" Raffle, where ONE lucky winner will get to choose an item form the live auction. Click HERE to find out more!
Do I have to buy something at the Auction?
No. You are not required to buy anything at the event. However, all proceeds that are raised at the Auction, benefit CES and the students. The auction team makes sure there are items up for auction at all different price points- low, medium, and high! So just contribute as your heart leads you! At the very least, be sure to come out for a fun night with the CES family!
Do the CES teachers and staff come to the Auction and Gala?
Yes! It would not be an Auction and Gala without the teachers and staff! The school covers the ticket cost for each teacher so that all faculty can attend. When you RSVP, parents do have an opportunity to contribute to the cost of teachers' tickets if they want, which in turn helps the school.
What is the Wine and Whiskey Patron Dinner Party?
The Wine and Whiskey Patron Dinner Party is another fun pre-gala event for CES parents! This year it was held on Friday, January 12th at the home of CES Parents and Justin and Nicole Stone. At the event, Dinner and drinks are served, and the "price of admission" to the party is a bottle of wine or whiskey valued between $30 and $50 (really, with a catered dinner and drinks included, that is a cheap night out!). All bottles of wine and whiskey that are collected at the party are auctioned off at the Gala! It's just a fun opportunity for a night out with new and old CES friends! Check out the list of donations HERE.
What is "Raise the Paddle"?
Raise the Paddle is when, during the live auction, the auctioneer asks everyone to raise their auction paddle to donate at various monetary levels to a specific need the school has identified. Last year, our Raise the Paddle effort went to remodeling a lower school classroom, which is part of a long range plan to upgrade all of the academic spaces over the next few years. With everyone's generous contributions, we raised $30,000 and the second grade students this year are enjoying an amazing new classroom space! Please include the "Raise the Paddle" opportunity in your budget for the Gala evening.
What is "Heads or Tails"?
This is a quick spirited game that will be played during the live auction. A tremendous prize goes to the winner of this year's Heads and Tails game! At a cost of only $20 to play, the winner will receive a beautiful piece of jewelry from Boone and Sons! Join the fun! Plan to play!
If I win something, can I take it home at the end of the evening?
Yes! A majority of items will be available for you to take home! Because we have a great checkout system (thank you CES staff!), you will be able to know quickly and easily if you won, pay for your items, pick them up off the table after checkout and take them home! Isn't instant gratification wonderful sometimes?
Strength in Numbers?
Consider teaming together as a few parents or as an entire class for larger auction items or experiences! Consider buying your teacher a day off! Or naming the school driveway! Trip packages or teacher treat outings! The possibilities are endless, especially when parents pool resources and work together!
Do you need help with set-up and clean-up?
Absolutely! We need as many helpers as possible on the day of the event! Please come to Maggiano's and help whenever you can, even if it is for just 15 minutes! The more volunteers we have, the faster we get everything set up in time to put on our cocktail attire and dancing shoes! You'll get a preview of all of the amazing auction items and those great class baskets! If you are helping with Gala set up, you can leave your child(ren) at CES Extended Day that afternoon for no charge. At the end of the event, please consider lending a hand with clean up. Many hands make light work!
Where is Maggiano's Restaurant exactly?
Maggiano's is located at 5333 Wisconsin Avenue, NW in Washington, DC. Right on the border where Chevy Chase ends and Washington, DC begins. There is a parking garage under the restaurant, street parking, and also valet parking available. Also consider Ubering or taking a taxi!
How do I keep up to date on "all things Gala"?
The school will keep you updated on "all things Gala" in the Cardinal that comes out every Wednesday. Be sure to look for an invitation in your Email box for the Wine and Whiskey Patron Dinner Party, and then in your old fashioned mailbox for the Gala invitation!


text: Hi, As the title suggests I'm getting the System Files are Corrupted error on startup after I hit A on the health warning screen. I saw these threads: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=117615 http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=127510 and I think I have the same problem, although I didn't want to hijack the original poster's thread and I think I came about my corruption in another way. I'm hoping someone can help me identify what the problem is because I just started this. Here's some of the details - System: 3.3u - I bought my wii used. And it came with HBC beta8 with some apps like channel remover, gecko region free, snes emulator - I have a mod chip installed but I don't know which modchip nor does the original owner know. I tried using the error #002 fix for Bleach versus crusade by using Generic Wii Patcher and burning the ISO. I also used regionFrii and wii brickblocker on the ISO This was the link I was referring to: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=123341 I tried running the disc and I would get this error (can't remember the exact message) - An error occured. Please remove disc and restart. I did further reading and I thought the problem would be that i'm using 3.3u and a patched ISO. I should be using 3.2u or use Gecko region free. So I tried loading the game using region free in HBC. The game starts in a black screen with some characters that I can't understand. I try pressing some buttons or connecting a nunchuk but still it doesnt work. I did further research and learned about Gecko OS so I added that to my apps folder and tried running the disc through that and I got the same error. So I looked at the error #002 thread and tried using Gamma002fix_r2 as suggested in the first item. I downloaded the file. Ran the application and I still got the same results - Black screen with a message in characters I don't understand. (similar to when you go to a japanse site and you don't have the font). I turn of the wii and I decide to do further research. I find out i'm using an old version of HBC an figured I'd update. So i download the latest on my sd card and some other apps. When I started my wii I got that error I wasn't even able to do any changes yet! I tried running the maintenance mode but that didn't work. In the other thread I noticed farfromsubtle was autobooting discs and was able to run wads, but I tried researching and couldn't figure out how to do it. The second thread had some users request what titles were installed. I would like to provide that information if it would help but can anyone give me instructions on how to go about it? Any chance this can be fixed? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!


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MILFORD – A 52-year-old Lincoln man was arrested July 12 after he allegedly attempted to run over a Grotto's Pizza Restaurant employee in June, according to police.
On June 27, Jeffrey L. Hatch was at Grotto's located in the 100 block of Silicato Way in Milford consuming food and beverages. After refusing to pay for the items, he removed more unconsumed items , placed them in a carry-out box and left the restaurant.
An employee followed Hatch outside into the parking lot as he got into his vehicle. As the employee stood near the front of Hatch's vehicle, making contact with him about his unpaid bill, Hatch began inching his vehicle forward into the employee's legs. The employee then jumped out of the way of Hatch's vehicle as he suddenly sped forward at a high rate of speed leaving the area.
Hatch was charged with aggravated menacing, reckless endangering in the second degree, theft of services under $1,000, offensive touching and multiple traffic offenses. He was arraigned and released on $2,601 unsecured bond.
The Milford Chronicle is proud to deliver news to the Greater Milford Community. Follow @ChronicleNews37 on Twitter.


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Protection 1 is filled with talent, and not just in our customer service skills. Our employees are gifted artists, gamers, athletes, and more. Today, as part of our 5 Questions with… series, we're talking to Faye Weckle.
Faye is a customer service representative in our Wichita Call Center and a gifted musician heading to Atlanta next week to tryout for The Voice. I changed up a few of the questions to learn more about her upcoming trip.
1. When did you start performing?
I have always been a vocalist. In middle school, I was selected to be part of a quartet and attended State. In 2009, I was the lead singer in a band I started on my own. Our guitarist moved away so I decided to learn to play guitar. I have been playing and singing my songs ever since.
2. What events at P1 have you performed at?
I have played for my training class – they were curious about the 12 string guitar I had to pack on my
back that day, due to having practice after work. I was invited to a perform at the event called "The Evening with the Best" in December 2014. P1 held a talent contest where I submitted a video of myself performing live at a community event held in Oxford Kansas and my video was selected as the winner to play live for everyone at P1.
3. How did you decide to try out for The Voice?
I decided to audition for The Voice last year. I even registered as an artist, but couldn't make the trip. (The cost to drive or fly to the location was just not affordable at the time). My family, my friends, my fans and my followers have finally gotten me motivated. I am ready to tackle this year with a whole new attitude. I'm going to explore all my musical options. I have never auditioned for any kind of music opportunity so for me, this is huge!
4. When is your audition and how can we help?
My official audition date is February 14, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. I have been raising funds for the last 30 days to assist with travel, child care fees, and lodging for the two nights I will be there. Anyone that would like to support me in reaching Atlanta can donate at my site: www.gofundme.com/fayeweckle
5. What is your favorite thing about working at Protection 1?
I love that I get to help people from all over the nation. Plus the atmosphere here makes it nice to come to work. Co-workers are happy, customers are happy, and where else can you play your guitar at work? That makes me happy!
Thanks for the time, Faye, and good luck at your audition! If anyone wants to help Faye out, check out here donation site, here.


text: Script Writing & Storyboard for Chico's Sales Associate Training Video 09/12/2010 The Communicative Edge completes a video script and storyboard for video production of 'The Style Expert's Guide to Making Every Customer Count' for Chico's national sales associates. Approximate Running Time: 22 minutes Chico's FAS, Inc., serves the lifestyle needs of fashion-savvy women with a portfolio currently consisting of four brands: Chico's, White House | Black Market, Soma Intimates, and Boston Proper. The brands are all specialty retailers of private label women's apparel,


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Once embedded on a website or blog, the aggregate count shown to the public are what we tend to check as well; however, there is a lot more great info that we could be using to help us learn more about our audience, how they like to share and what content they find most valuable.
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What I bought – 6 October 2010
"It's like blue light when you touch me," she'd say. "Electric blue light sparking between us." She'd cry softly into my shoulder, tears of passion, because she couldn't get close enough to me. (W. P. Kinsella, from The Iowa Baseball Confederacy)
Avengers Academy #5 ("Fame") by Christos Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (penciler), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Jeromy Cox (colorist), and Joe Caramagna (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Marvel.
Jorge Molina does a good job filling in for Mike McKone on this issue – he's a bit rougher than McKone, but there's nothing wrong with that. I don't know how much Hennessy's inks have an influence, but at least the look of the book is fairly consistent. Of course, Striker uses the wrong hand to make the "loser L" on his forehead, but maybe that was deliberate – he's so dim he doesn't even know how to do that!
Gage focuses on Striker this time around, and it's kind of bold that he actually features sexual abuse where the victim is a boy. I mean, we've seen a lot in superhero comics these days, but Striker's screwed-up childhood somehow feels different, because usually when we have icky sexual stuff in superhero books, it's retconned in and the character has never dealt with it (because it didn't exist) – see Dibny, Sue and Hardy, Felicia. Gage makes Brandon's experiences as a kid part of his personality, and so much that follows colors how he views the world, from his mother telling him to forget what happened because the man can help make him famous (which doesn't work, as the man's advances trigger Brandon's power) to how he treats women – in the funniest scene in the comic, both Finesse and Veil reject him when he comes onto them. Through it all, we're reminded of his horrible upbringing, and it helps make him far more sympathetic than if we didn't know anything about it.
As usual, the weakest part of the book is when Marvel's continuity rears its ugly head. I'm not talking about the stuff with Norman Osborn, because that's been part of the book from the beginning. I'm talking about the casual way they discuss the Wasp's death. I didn't even know Janet was dead, and I'm sure it won't last long, and I also didn't know anything about the villain crushing on her. It's a minor thing and doesn't bother me that much, but I just get annoyed when I find out someone's dead when I didn't know about it, especially in a superhero comic, because we all know she'll be back. But, as Amadeus Cho says in another comic this week, "Wev."
This continues to be a solid superhero series. Gage does a nice job with the characters, and it's kind of neat that he's giving us short little stories within the greater opening, introductory arc. I'll be interested to see what happens in issue #7.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Azteca: Ciudad Paradiso #1 by Enrica Jang (writer), Jhazmine Ruiz (penciler), and Andre Frattino (inker/colorist/letterer). $2.99, 32 pgs, FC, Red Stylo Media.
This is the first of two comics this week that deal with ritualistic murders in Mexico. That's a bit odd.
I received this in the mail this week, with a press release giving me far more information than is contained in this initial issue, which is not the worst idea but which makes it harder to judge this based on what's in the first issue. In this issue, we get a guy in a hoodie (that's him on the cover) slaughtering criminals with an Aztec weapon. Why he's doing this we don't know. Well, I do, but it's not in the issue. Jang does a pretty good job setting things up, as our mysterious killer says only a few words in the entire issue, while the rest of the community of Quetzecan reacts to the murders. We see American tourists (some of whom are accosted by criminals before they're saved by the killer), the regular folk of the town, the criminals, and the politicians, all of whom are affected in some way by the killer. Jang actually does a pretty good job balancing exposition with bloody action, and we get some good twists in the story, especially at the end. Jang's not a great writer, but she is solid, and this is a decent enough first chapter.
Ruiz has a rough, occasionally amateurish style, but the art isn't terrible. The action scenes are bloody but not terribly well choreographed – the killer is ripping the hearts out of his victims, but the hearts seem to appear out of thin air. Ruiz does a better job with the character design – we get a good sense of who these people are, and that allows Ruiz to fool us with the twist at the end. This feels like a foreign resort, too – we get glimpses of the opulence of the resort, and it's contrasted well with the less fancy local sections.
Azteca isn't a great comic, but it's not bad, either. Jang and Ruiz do some interesting things with the story, and the worst part of the book is the transfer to print – the lettering is often fuzzy and Ruiz's lines aren't as crisp as I imagine they are on-line. While the story of a ritualistic serial killer isn't all that original, for the same price as some of the Big Boys' comics, there's no reason not to check it out.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Chaos War #1 (of 5) ("The End is Nigh"/"I Was Legend") by Greg Pak (writer), Fred van Lente (writer), Khoi Pham (penciler, "End"), Reilly Brown (penciler, "Legend"), Tom Palmer (inker, "End"), Terry Pallot (inker, "Legend"), Sunny Gho (colorist, "End"), Val Staples (colorist, "Legend"), and Simon Bowland (letterer). $3.99, 35 pgs, FC, Marvel.
So Marvel revs up another mini-event (not unlike "Shadowland"), and because it's just another continuation of the Pak/van Lente Herc/Amadeus saga, I'm buying it. I shan't buy the various tie-ins, because they're stupid. Apparently they don't work, either, if sales of the Shadowland tie-ins are to be believed. So why do them? That answer lies deep inside the twisted minds of Joey Q and Danny B. Let us not go there!
This is a fairly typical van Lente/Pak Herc/Amadeus joint, which means it's entertaining, fun, full of very good character bits, and just a very good comic. Pak and van Lente have been writing these characters for a while now (almost four years, if I recall correctly), so they know what they're doing. Hercules, back from the other world in which he was trapped for a while, tries to rally the heroes against Amatsu-Mikaboshi, that god of chaos from the Skrull Pantheon story a few years back. He's trying to bring about the destruction of all reality blah blah blah – as people in this comic point out (see below), this has been happening for years, so why should they care? Van Lente and Pak do a nice job showing the cynicism of the Marvel Universe populace, although I wasn't as keen on the other heroes dissing Herc when he tries to rally them. I assume it's in there just to show that Herc has grown up a little and CAN lead a group of heroes, but when Hawkeye – of all people – wonders smugly if counting on Herc to save everyone means they're screwed, it's a little excessive. In this, it's also a fairly typical modern comic – back in the day, everyone would just jump on board, so Herc's condemnation of the various heroes he's gathered feels nice and old-school. I suppose that's the point. I just occasionally wish for the good old days, when the heroes wouldn't have to be shamed into battling a gihugic threat like "King Chaos."
I've been hot and cold on Khoi Pham's art, and in this issue, I'm definitely cold. When last I saw him working on this title, it was quite good. This is kind of a mess, and I don't know why. It seems looser than his work can be, and I don't know if Palmer's inks just aren't suited for him or if Gho's colors don't go well. Either way, while the art isn't terrible, I know Pham can do better. On the other hand, I've seen him do worse, too, so I guess there's that.
So I'm buying this for a while. There are 14 tie-in comics, and I can't even imagine why you would buy them. But I guess Marvel knows what they're doing! I mean, the market is flourishing, right?
One totally Airwolf panel:
The Lone Ranger #24 ("Resolve Part 8") by Brett Matthews (writer), Sergio Cariello (artist), Marcelo Pinto (colorist), and Simon Bowland (letterer). $3.99, 23 pgs, FC, Dynamite Entertainment.
Next issue is the final one of the series, so I don't have much to say about this one. I do have one thing on my mind, however. John confronts Cavendish and gives him a chance to make peace with God (after a nice scene where Cavendish makes John wonder who the real monster is, even though it's pretty clear). Somehow Cavendish produces a sword from inside his jacket and stabs John with it. Exactly how did John not see this? It's not a knife, it's a big-ass sword. I mean, Cariello makes it clear that John is overwhelmed by the stained-glass window of Jeebus, but still – it's not like Cavendish springs on him unawares, he waits a bit before stabbing our hero. Man, John's an idiot. It's a flippin' sword!
Oh well. Next issue – the big finale. I hope it's a good one. This has been such a good series, so I'm keen to see how it goes out.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Madame Xanadu #27 ("Extra-Sensory Part 4: Don't Touch Me There") by Matt Wagner (writer), Celia Calle (artist), and Jared K. Fletcher (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC/Vertigo.
I missed issue #26. That's weird. Usually my shoppe has a few extra copies, but I guess I just missed it. As these are single-issue stories, I don't feel like I missed anything, but I am buying these stories to check out the art, so I'd like to see it. Odd.
Anyway, as I'm buying these for the art, I should write about Calle's work, shouldn't I? I have never seen her stuff before, and it's quite neat. Wagner is setting these stories during the 1960s for some reason, and while Laurenn McCubbin's work on issue #25 suited the more stilted conformist 1960s, Calle's work definitely works well for the kooky, Wonder-Woman-in-a-white-jumpsuit 1960s. She has an almost vertiginous angular style, so the fact that Neon Blue, the main character, is a skinny model works very well. She also does some wonderful things with perspective and camera angle, giving the art a very moddish, almost hallucinogenic feel to it. Calle's art definitely wouldn't work everywhere – it's almost too harsh – but it fits Wagner's story quite well.
As is the case with all these stories, the writing is the weaker of the two components. There's nothing wrong with this issue – Neon Blue is a succubus living in 1960s New York, bored out of her mind because she doesn't find much thrill in sucking out souls anymore, and only Madame Xanadu can stop her! – but because it's a model in 1960s New York, Wagner has a little too much fun filling the book with analogs of actual people. Neon Blue is Nico, and so we get Randy Warsau, Roosevelt Coates (author of Cold-Blooded Death), Subterranean Suede, the Portals (and their god-like lead singer, Ron Jameson) … you get the idea. It's kind of annoying. (As an aside, Jim Morrison's magnetism has always eluded me – I guess, as a heterosexual male, it would. But I mean, the guy sang like a 50-year-old lounge lizard spouting poetry written by a 14-year-old Goth chick – I guess in the Sixties, that was enough to get you laid all the time – and Mazarek's "three notes and a cloud of dust" organ playing just contributed to that. I guess what I'm saying is that The Doors suck. Even "The End" and "L. A. Woman," the two songs by them I like, aren't as deep as people like to pretend they are.) But while Wagner's story isn't great, it's not terrible, either. And he lets Calle show her stuff, which I guess is the point. So there you have it.
These are weird issues, because I wonder if Wagner knew the book was cancelled before he came up with this idea. A series on the ropes won't gain many new readers by doing this, but Wagner may not have cared. "I'm showcasing these artists," he said to himself and to Editor Shelly Bond, "and damn the torpedoes!" Wev again. I like the showcase, even if it may have killed off a struggling series.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Meta 4 #3 (of 5) by Ted McKeever (writer/artist/letterer). $3.50, 22 pgs, BW, Image.
As this is issue #3, there's not much to say about the way McKeever is moving us through the story – you're either on board or not, and while he gives us a little bit more information about what's going on, he also raises some other questions, so we're just along for the ride right now. What continues to amaze with this series is McKeever's art, because he's doing such a nice job contrasting his "usual" style – with more solid lines – with the softer style he's experimenting with, especially when he blends them, which give us hauntingly beautiful images like the panel below. The style adds a touch of dreaminess to McKeever's art, pushing it even further into the surreal than is usual with his art. The softer touches in the art also makes the story a bit more emotionally effective, as McKeever's characters aren't quite as rigidly defined by the solid line he usually employs. Meta 4 is really a stunning piece of comics art, and the fact that the story is still intriguing is just a bonus. I'm fascinated by where McKeever is going with the story, and I'm glad I get to look at the art along the way.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Ryder on the Storm #1 (of 3) by David Hine (writer), Wayne Nichols (artist), Feigian Chong (colorist), Sansan Saw (colorist), Richard Starkings (letterer), and Jimmy Betancourt. $4.99, 52 pgs, FC, Radical Comics.
Radical sent me the preview issue of this, and I enjoyed the set-up, because I dig noir detective stories and when it comes to horror, Hine knows what he's doing. In the preview, we get a brief introduction: a P. I. named Ryder (he refuses to tell his client his first name when she asks) gets a call from a high-class call girl telling him that her companion has killed himself … by drilling eleven holes into his head. So now, in issue #1, Ryder discovers that the victim was the son of journalists who had investigated the city's richest and most powerful family and, of course, disappeared for their trouble. The son was convinced that the world was once ruled by "daemons," and he also became convinced he was possessed by one – hence the suicide. Of course, Ryder gets in a fight with one of these daemons and also discovers that he himself might not quite be human (the cover pretty much gives this away). And away we go!
Hine does a decent job with this premise, even though it's not the most original idea. An old family that made a deal with devils? Ruling a city secretly with a veneer of respectibility? It's been done, but that doesn't make it a bad story. Hine does a nice job with the details – we don't get the name of the city, but it's a weird futuristic retro-noir kind of place, like Los Angeles in Blade Runner. The most intriguing part of the book is where Ryder's client, Katrina, works – it's an S & M club, and Hine does a nice job in only a few pages making it truly disturbing. Details like this make the book more interesting than it should be – and it makes me wonder if Hine will continue on a fairly standard course or make the comic something much darker and dangerous.
As I wrote about Nichols' art in the preview, it's much like the regular "house style" of Radical, in that it looks very digital and airbrushed, but at least you can tell that Nichols has some chops, and the coloring, so often an issue in Radical books, is bright enough that we can see what's going on. It's not my favorite art, but it suffices.
It would be nice if Hine ditched the daemon plot and concentrated on the weirdness of Katrina's club. I'm sure it will play a part, but it's much more interesting than a family making deals with supernatural forces. Oh well.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Scalped #41 ("Unwanted Part Three") by Jason Aaron (writer), R. M. Guéra (artist), Giulia Brusco (colorist), and Steve Wands (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC/Vertigo.
I don't want to shock you, but this is another terrific issue of Scalped. Okay, now you can pick yourself up off the ground, because I know that floored you. Take deep breaths. It will be okay.
Actually, I have one small problem with the issue. In the beginning, Red Crow's mother, pregnant with Lincoln, gives serious consideration to aborting the fetus ("serious" meaning she has the coat hanger poised in prime stabbing position before she chickens out). Then she whimpers, "Why don't you just die?" What could I possibly object to in this scene? Well, it's not quite as bad as calling her unborn child "evil," but it kind of bugs me when it's revealed that a bad dude in life was causing problems even before he came out of the womb. I mean, we don't exactly know why his mom wanted him gone (presumably because she wasn't happy with the father – she has a black eye and a split lip), but this kind of "evil stalking the earth FROM THE WOMB!!!!!" is kind of annoying. I guess I'm reading too much into this. But it still bugged me. Anyway, if his mother, who's fairly far along in the pregnancy in the beginning, hates her child so much, she could just wait until he's born and then strangle him. Or leave him in the Badlands for the wolves. Yes, it's horrific, but she obviously loathed the kid before he was even born, so what's the difference?
I should point out that Guéra's art is amazing, especially when Carol and Dino talk about parents in the semi-darkness of Granny Poor Bear's house. It's great writing, but Guéra's and Brusco's artwork elevates it so much. Very cool stuff. But then, Guéra's art is always stunning, isn't it?
One totally Airwolf panel:
Secret Six #26 ("The Reptile Brain Part Two of Four: Forced Merger") by Gail Simone (writer), Jim Calafiore (artist), Jason Wright (colorist), and Travis Lanham (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, DC.
One thing that bugs me about superhero comics is some of the more ridiculous aspects of it. I know I might get myself in trouble by objecting to some ridiculous things and not others, because I honestly have no problem with superpowers and those sorts of things, but Skartaris bugs the hell out of me. It bugged me when I first read about it and it still bugs me. I guess it's because the very notion of Skartaris – a world on the inside of our planet, remember, where it's never night because the Earth's core (I guess) is the sun, and it never goes down – is so very, very idiotic, and while I could deal with it a bit when Grell wrote Warlord back in the day because it was just a MacGuffin to get a modern man into a prehistoric world, when it starts interacting with the regular DCU, it just shows once again how stupid it is. My question is: Has anyone changed where Skartaris is, or is it still on the inside of the Earth? Our characters get there through some kind of portal, so if it's somehow become an alternate reality, I can deal with that much better than I can with the original version. Especially when Simone brings in the concept of a nuclear strike on U. S. soil, which she does in this issue, and that adds too much realism into the book for me to deal with Skartaris. Man, it's stupid.
Once I get past that, though, it's a typically good issue of Secret Six. It's always fun to see Amanda Waller stymied, even if it's only for a panel, and Simone does a nice job doling out information slowly – we now know about that nuclear strike, but not much else about it – and showing the characters reacting to each other (now that Bane and Jeannette are on a different team which is at odds with the "original" group) as they fight. Who knew Alice could bluff like that, or that Bane was that noble? Well, we knew that Bane was that noble because he's shown it throughout the series, but Simone just adds another layer to his personality. It's very well done.
I'm not one of those people who refuses to buy this book because Jim Calafiore is drawing it, as I actually like Calafiore, but in the back of this issue there's a preview of Nicola Scott's work on Teen Titans. Sigh. Here's hoping she gets back on a book I want to read soon.
One totally Airwolf panel:
S.H.I.E.L.D. #4 ("The Madness, the Star Child, and the Celestial Madonna") by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Dustin Weaver (artist), Christina Strain (colorist), and Todd Klein (letterer). $2.99, 24 pgs, FC, Marvel.
Four issues in, and S.H.I.E.L.D. is still a crazy mess, but unlike some other crazy messes, I don't care. Hickman and Weaver are giving us a story that simply feels more epic and so very suited for comics, so I can forgive the storytelling problems and just go along for the ride. I mean, despite Weaver's astonishing sequence where Leonardo retrieves something (I won't spoil what it is) from the sun, I kept thinking, "How is he not burning to ash instantly?" It's COMICS, man! But still – it's a little goofy. Still, S.H.I.E.L.D. just feels like a better comic than a lot that's out there right now – it could all turn out to be crap, of course, and Hickman might have absolutely nothing to say, but I'm so happy that he's eager to do something like this and just go absolutely nuts that I will stick around. And it's not like the story is bad, it's just a bit sprawling and doesn't feel like it means anything yet. The curse of serial storytelling, I suppose. But dang, it's fun to look at!
One totally Airwolf panel:
Trouble Point #1 ("The Most Dangerous City in the World") by Julian Lawler (writer), Eddy Barrows (penciller), Nelson PM (inker), and Oliver Lee Arce (letterer). $3.50, 24 pgs, BW, Broken Tree Comics.
This is the second comic of the week that deals with ritualistic murders in Mexico. This one is a tiny bit more rooted in reality, as it's ostensibly about the staggering number of killings around Juárez, right across the river from El Paso. The solicitation for the book sounded interesting, and while I'm not the biggest fan of Barrows' work, I knew that at least it would look professional.
It's not the worst book around, but it's not very good. Mainly, it's because Lawler is really trying to pack way too much into this book, and none of it makes too much sense. It begins with, presumably, the ghost of one of the murdered women, who's speaking to someone about the murders but can't reveal too much. Then, we see that she's talking to some dude whose sister appears to be a vampire. They're part of a group that's investigating the murders. The narrator, whose name we don't learn, is in the city with some dude named Cuba, and they happen to stumble into a convenience store robbery. The narrator has some weird power that he can transfer to other people, so he gives the three hostages (a hot blonde woman, an old lady, and the wimpy clerk) a taste and they mop the floor with the bad guys. It turns out the blonde is an FBI agent, who's in town investigating the murders. And she's sleeping with her hunky partner. Anyway, this strange group visits a stereotypical elderly witch-woman, and then apparently sends one of their number to kill the male FBI guy (which is how we know the blonde is sleeping with him). The FBI guy – David – is apparently killed, but the mysterious ghost from the beginning enters his body and takes his soul to Limbo, where he agrees to help him. And a truck driver smuggles something into the U. S. Got all that?
It's a bit of a mess. Lawler doesn't identify the members of the group too well other than giving them facial hair or lack thereof. The vampire sister says that "Matt" and "Leo" are in Juárez, but on the very next page, the narrator begins, and he identifies his companion as "Cuba" and doesn't name himself. So who are these people? Why are they trying to solve the case but killing FBI agents? Why did Lawler name the female FBI agent "Stalin"? (Seriously, she's Agent Stalin. If you are born with the last name of "Stalin," wouldn't you change it? It's only slightly better than having "Hitler" as your last name.) I don't mind some mysteries – the powers, the contents of the truck – because I understand the serial nature of the medium, but it's a bit too opaque for my liking, especially when I have no idea who the people are.
Barrows' art isn't bad, although it's very 1990s, bad haircuts and all. The members of the mysterious group even dress like the X-Men of that decade, with seemingly non-functioning straps on their clothing and a leather bustier on the vampire sister. Barrows also makes everyone look pretty similar, which is frustrating when you're trying to figure out who the people are. His storytelling isn't bad, but the design of the book isn't great.
Trouble Point, like a lot of comics, wants to deal with "serious" issues but can't seem to leave the trappings of a superhero comic behind. There's nothing supernatural about the murders around Juárez. But these creators seem to want there to be, so they can have people with powers and weird ghosts. Too bad.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Unknown Soldier #24 ("Beautiful World Chapter Three") by Joshua Dysart (writer), Alberto Ponticelli (artist), Oscar Celestini (colorist), and Clem Robins (letterer). $2.99, 21 pgs, FC, DC/Vertigo.
In contrast to the previous comic, Unknown Soldier is a comic that deals with serious issues and does it well, if not perfectly. Dysart has always claimed he's writing a kick-ass war comic instead of one that highlights the horrors of the Ugandan war, but that's part of why he's successful at highlighting the horrors of the Ugandan war – by placing Moses Lwanga in the middle of this situation, he's able to show very well how horrible the war is without being too obnoxious about it. In fact, as I've argued, the worst issues of this series ("worst" being a relative term, as none have been too bad) are ones where Dysart addresses the war directly instead of allowing Moses to experience it first-hand – those few issues feel heavy-handed. When Dysart simply follows Moses through his crucible, it's much more effective at showing how terrible the reality of Uganda is.
Of course, that doesn't apply too much to this issue, as we get the "secret history" of the Unknown Soldier (the original one) and what his grand plan for Moses really is. It's not a retcon (I didn't dig through my Showcase volume about the original Soldier, but I don't think Dysart contradicts any of the vague stuff established by Kanigher and Kubert), but more bringing us up to date. It's a nice little story that sets up the final issue pretty well. And the fact that Ponticelli does a very keen job with the soldier pre-Unknown days is neat, too.
Based on what we learn in this issue, I'm sure the ending of this particular chapter is a bit misleading, but we'll see. I will miss the series, however, because it's very good. Darn it.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Whispers in the Walls #3 (of 6) by David Muñoz (writer), Tirso (artist), Javi Montes (colorist), Silvia Villamisar (coloring assistant), and Alex Donoghue (translator). $3.50, 27 pgs, FC, Humanoids.
Muñoz continues to unspool this series nice and slowly, from the beginning of the issue, where the mysterious dude in Prague last issue fights a minotaur, all the way through the end, when Sarah finally meets the dude. As with most good comics, we get enough answers to keep us hooked but not enough to kill interest in the series. Muñoz does a good job keeping the focus on Sarah, so that we know only a little more than she does even though it's obvious that so many others – even, possibly, Marketa, the other girl who is terribly jealous of Sarah – know more than she does. He doesn't leave us in suspense too long, either – we know the people at the orphanage aren't nice, so when one of them is nice to Sarah, it's not long before we find out that he doesn't have her best interests at heart. Of course, when Sarah reaches Prague, it feels like a frying pan/fire situation, so we'll just have to wait and see about that. As seems to be common with European comics because of the difference in format, the issue ends really, really abruptly, but I can't imagine it ended the same place in the original version.
The biggest problem with the book is the coloring, which is really, really dark. Again, I'm not sure if the original was printed on paper that didn't mute the pencil work as much and therefore the coloring was appropriate, but the paper here is slick and un-Vertigo-like (although, to be fair, Unknown Soldier is printed on slick paper, even though Madame Xanadu and Scalped are not), so I don't know if that has much to do with it. All I know is that Tirso's work is quite good, but it's often very difficult to see. It's vexing. I know the mood has to be established, but man, it's annoying.
One totally Airwolf panel:
Young Allies #5 ("Now, Not Tomorrow Part Five: Windows and Walls") by Sean McKeever (writer), David Baldeón (penciler), N. Bowling (inker), Chris Sotomayor (colorist), and Joe Sabino (letterer). $2.99, 22 pgs, FC, Marvel.
I don't want to go all prudish here, but there's a death in this issue that bothered me. Not because I don't enjoy some good carnage in my comics, but, as usual, because of the context. I won't give it away, but the dead person is someone who is more to be pitied, yet McKeever kills this person off rather casually, and I guess it's supposed to establish the new villain (do you capitalize the "the" in "The Superior"?) as bad-ass, it's still somewhat off-putting. Like many of these things, I can't explain it very well, but when I got to that page, after what McKeever had done with the characters in the previous issues and in this particular one, I felt like it was, I don't know, kind of a cop-out. I wasn't sad that Baldeón stopped drawing the made-up person, but I felt like McKeever had plenty of things to do with the character, and the instant the character became interesting, McKeever slaughtered the person. Oh well.
The first arc ends pretty well, especially because this still isn't really a group. They came together for a threat, but McKeever does a nice job giving them the personalities so that a group might be problematic. However, he also shows that they work well together and are able to influence each other (Toro does so with Gravity), so it will be interesting to see how McKeever brings them together again (I mean, it's the name of the book, for crying out loud). McKeever is good at the group dynamic and with the youth of the characters, so we'll see. But I do enjoy the book, so I guess I'm on board for now.
I would like to see McKeever address Angelica and her cancer, because he brings it up here. And I'm not talking about her condition … I'm talking about her wig. She loses it in the battle and she does have hair, it's just short. Far be it from me to give writing advice, but I think a scene where Greg and Angelica discuss why she wears one (I can understand from a vanity standpoint, but it's not like she's bald) and what it means to her, because that could, obliquely, be an interesting conversation about cancer without being so heavy. Anyway, that's my two cents. I'm sure Sean McKeever is going to sit down immediately and write that scene, because I'm so awesome. Either way, the way he brings it up cancer in this issue is pretty well done, and it makes me hopeful for the future when he addresses it (unlike that Firestar special, which didn't make me hopeful at all).
It's kind of neat that both this and Avengers Academy, the first issues of which came out on the same day, both end their first arcs on the same day. Both are solid superhero comics taking different approaches to team books, and I'm impressed with both enough to keep going. Well done, Marvel! Now I'm sure you'll cancel them to launch yet another Deadpool book. THE WORLD NEEDS MORE DEADPOOL COMICS, DAMN IT!!!!!!!
One totally Airwolf panel:
Fluorescent Black by MF Wilson (writer), Nathan Fox (artist), Jeromy Cox (colorist), and Sean Konot (letterer). $24.95, 194 pgs, FC, Heavy Metal Magazine.
The guy at my comics shoppe took a look at this and declared Nathan Fox's art decidedly un-pretty. Sigh. I don't know what to do with him. He has a fairly eclectic palette, but he definitely likes smoother lines and clearer art. But he's crazy, because Fox's art is stunning on this. And it's gigantic, too – this book didn't fit on my scanner, and you'll notice the cover up above doesn't have the credits on it because they were too far down for me to capture them on my scan. I don't know if the comic is any good, but damn, it looks cool.
Ghost Rider by Jason Aaron Omnibus by Jason Aaron (duh!), Roland Boschi (artist), Tan Eng Huat (artist), Tony Moore (artist), Dan Brown (colorist), José Villarrubia (colorist), Dave McCaig (colorist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), and Joe Caramagna (letterer). $49.99, lots of pages, FC, Marvel.
Yes, I will finally catch up on Ghost Rider, so you can all stop bothering me. I read issues #20-23, which begin this collection, but halfway through the Huat stuff, I lost interest. Then everyone kept telling me how well it ended. So I got this. 22 issues for 50 bucks in a nice hardcover? Yeah, I'll take that.
The Outfit by Darwyn Cooke (writer/artist). $24.99, 152 pgs, BluW, IDW.
This is the kind of art the guy at my comics shoppe likes. To be fair, you'd have to be insane not to like Cooke's art. I just hope the writing on this is more like The Man With the Getaway Face than The Hunter.
I'm sure you're digging the baseball playoffs, even though a re-run of Family Ties on Bravo probably gets better ratings. (N. B. I don't think Family Ties runs on Bravo, although I haven't checked.) Let's review:
I thought the St. Petersburg Rays were supposed to be good. Dang, they look awful, from what I've seen.
The Minnesota Twins are probably preparing some kind of Satanic ritual whereby they offer up Francisco Liriano's soul so that they don't have to play the Yankees in the playoffs next year. Man, I hate the Yankees, but they know how to beat the Twins, don't they?
Somewhere in the frozen wastelands of the North, Chad Nevett is wondering what might have happened if the Blue Jays had actually put a good team around Roy Halladay. Damn, he's good. He's so good that I watched the last few innings of his no-hitter without really worrying, because the Reds look like a bunch of Little Leaguers up there. That had to be the least anxious no-hitter in history. Cincinnati couldn't do anything. It looked like they just gave up after the second inning. And as I troll the SBNation for blogs of the Phillies' opponents (which I do), I notice that the comment sections, which are often about how classless Philadelphia fans are, are far more mean-spirited and downright evil than the Phillies' one. I mean, during the no-hitter, the Reds' fans (who were naturally upset that their team sucked so bad) were just ripping everyone they could think of and giving absolutely no credit to Halladay, who of course pitched the entire game while fellating the umpire so he would get every call. Stay classy, Reds' fans.
As much as I hate the Braves, they got absolutely ROBBED last night. They should still be playing that game, and it should be 0-0 in the top of the 63rd inning right about now. Man, the umpires suck. And Tim Lincecum is back to being scary good. I still feel good about the Phillies against either of these teams in the next round because the Giants' offense is so very, very terrible and the Braves aren't very good, but if it's Philadelphia-San Francisco, there are going to be a lot of low-scoring, stomach-churning games, I'll tell you that much.
But let's move on! I'd like to point out that my daughter Norah is quite the artist:
You'll notice a couple of things: She's in the center of the picture, because she is, of course, the center of the universe. Second, if my other daughter's wheelchair looked like that, it would be awesome, because that thing looks like a tank. Third, you'll notice we're all wearing winter clothing, because Norah is obsessed with winter even though she's never seen snow. Fourth, you'll notice we're all looking at her adoringly, which ties into that whole center-of-the-universe thing. Fifth, she's five years old and her faces are still more expressive than Rob Liefeld's. Yeah, I went there.
On a more serious note, I'd like to let you know that my lovely wife, who has polycystic kidney disease, is walking on 17 October to raise money for research and education. If you happen to have a bit of extra cash lying around, check out this link to sponsor her. Look how cute she is! How can you resist her charms????? (I certainly don't want to make anyone feel guilty – we're all friends here! – but I do have a bigger forum here than I do anywhere else, so I hope you forgive this little intrusion into your comics-related area. Now, let's get back to – hey, look! it's Cigar Guy!)
Onward to The Ten Most Recent Songs Played On My iPod (Which Is Always On Shuffle):
1. "No Man's Woman" – Sinéad O'Connor (2000) "I've other work I want to get done"
2. "Free to Decide" – Cranberries (1996) "And I'm not so suicidal after all"
3. "Shadowplay" – Fish (1991) "Maybe I was selfish, maybe I was blind, maybe I was in the wrong and maybe you were right"
4. "Wake Up Time for Freedom" – The Cult (1989) "A flock of vultures spinning round my head left me on the roadside for dead"
5. "Sure Shot" – Beastie Boys (1994) "And everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey"
6. "Rare Ould Times" – Flogging Molly (2002) "My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes"
7. "Wild Side" – Mötley Crüe (1987) "I carry my crucifix under my death list"1
8. "Therapy" – Infectious Grooves (1991) "But when your money's gone you're out of here"
9. "Knowing You, Knowing Me" – ABBA (1976) "Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye"
10. "Harlequin" – Genesis (1971) "Came the night, a mist dissolved the trees"
1 When this came on the ol' iPod, I told Norah it was time to rock out. So she banged her head. Because she's awesome. My wife wishes I wouldn't play my music when the kids are in the car.
Let's get going with some totally random lyrics:
"Now that I got me some Seagram's gin
Everybody got they cups, but they ain't chipped in
Now this types of shit happens all the time
You got to get yours but fool I gotta get mine"
You know, when people won't chip in, it's a perfect situation for Sad Keanu. Does he have to pony up all the cash himself?????
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text:
The vision of HPFC is to be a culturally diverse body of believers, daily walking in victory via the manifested power of God while effecting social change and individual transformation: spiritually, culturally, academically, politically, socially, and economically.
Spiritually, through preaching, teaching, evangelism, and true discipleship via relevant church ministries.
Culturally, by raising the morality in our communities by living our lives as Christ's servants. Practical ministry outgrowth characterized by ministries in the marketplace.
Academically, by educating our children and teens in a Bible-based, academically motivated environment. In addition, raising up a new generation of ministers via a school of ministry.
Politically, by actively pursuing and participating in effecting change in our government through voting, grass roots, and lobbying.
Socially, by assisting individuals to possess their purpose by unlocking their potential and participating in life versus watching life.
Economically, by empowering individuals in the community through entrepreneurship, community activism, and participation.
Building familes while bridging the gap between the Church and the community.


text:
All of our recent editions or Caring Matters are available to read online.
Click here to read the latest edition of Caring Matters. You will find news and updates, events and opportunities for Carers and much more.
If you would like to submit an article, be placed on the mailing list or advertise with Caring Matters, please contact our office on 01452 386283 or email email@example.com.


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The U.S. and Tajikistan will establish an exercise training area at the Tajik Customs facility to prevent the illicit flow of weapons of mass destruction-related materials, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Simon Limage, the assistant secretary for nonproliferation programs with the State Department's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, made the announcement during a speech in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Limage said the U.S. Export Control and Related Border Security program and Tajik Customs were in the final phase of establishing the training area to allow Tajik officials to train on the full-spectrum of detection and inspection scenarios.
Limage praised Tajikistan's efforts in improving counter WMD and nuclear smuggling capabilities.
"Tajikistan has proven an invaluable partner in its efforts to secure its borders from the illicit flow of WMD materials by strengthening both its infrastructure to detect and its capacity to enforce," Limage said. "We remain concerned that nuclear materials may remain available on the black market and could potentially fall into terrorist hands. Therefore, we applaud Tajikistan's work to improve its counter nuclear smuggling capabilities, including by implementing steps identified in the Joint Action Plan to Counter Nuclear Smuggling that our governments signed in November 2011."
Limage said that U.S. President Barack Obama is steadfast in his commitment to eliminate the worldwide threat of nuclear weapons. He said the U.S. and its relationship with Tajikistan will play a key role in creating a world without nuclear weapons.
"Our U.S.-Tajik bilateral nonproliferation partnership will continue to play a critical role in transforming Central Asian into a region as that mitigates these particular security threats," Limage said. "The United States appreciates Tajikistan's continued support on these key issues and we look forward to our two countries' future collaboration."


text:
Welcome to GolfblogspotUK, which is an online community of golfers that provides free golf course reviews, the latest golf news, golf blogs, videos, golf photographs, tee times, scores, results & other golfing services.
The GolfblogspotUK website is owned and run by former tour player, Graham J Gordon, from Scotland, the Home of Golf.
The owner is a golf fanatic who had to retire early from competitive tour play due to a back injury. I wish to share other golfing followers knowledge and my own experiences with the GolfblogspotUK community.
I have been playing the game for over 20 years and have received a great deal of pleasure from the sport. I have met many friends and visited many different places around the world, thanks to playing the great game of golf.
My boys golfing memories include playing for Scotland and GB&I, golfing against and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose.
My junior golf successes include winning the Daily Telegraph UK Junior Championship filmed by Channel 4 in Sea Island, Georgia; reaching the semi final of the Scottish Boys Golf Championship and winning the European Boys Golf Championship.
Boys golf team wise, I was part of a Scottish Boys Golf Team that reached the semi final and final of the European Boys Team Championship in consecutive years.
I was fortunate enough to be educated in Midland College in Texas, USA, and enjoyed my two years of collegiate golf in the USA, where I reached a high of nos 2 in the NJCAA Rankings.
I am very proud to have won a record number of Scottish Golf Union ranking events and been crowned 2003 Scottish Mens Amateur Golf Champion.
I finished 4th in the European Amateur, reached the semi final of the British Amateur and have won amateur golf medallist honours throughout Europe. This included finishing runner-up in the Portuguese Amateur and 3rd in the Chiberta Grand Prix.
The pinnacle of my representative team golf was being part of the 'three-in-a-row' history making 2003 Walker Cup win against the USA at Ganton, England, and 2002 GB&I St Andrews Trophy success versus Europe in Switzerland.
Prior to turning professional I represented Scotland and GB&I with distinction and had a 75% winning record.
After the Walker Cup I immediately secured my European Tour and Challenge Tour playing rights. Whilst I made numerous cuts on tour, I was unable to play aswell as I would have liked prior to being troubled with injury.
I recorded victory in Egypt and led the Challenge Tour Welsh Challenge event with nine holes to go. I finished 3rd and 4th in the PGA Europro Tour Championship.
I was reinstated after three years of being unable to compete and more recently represented Scotland at amateur golf level in South America and South Africa.
You've heard my golfing background and I now look forward to hearing more about your golf and golfing experiences from either visiting www.golfblogspot.co.uk or connecting with us on the social networks at TWITTER and FACEBOOK.
All the best for the golf season and I look forward to welcoming you back to this website and getting feedback on this golf website to help improve this experience to all visitors.
Graham J Gordon, Owner and Webmaster


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Demonstrating a heightened focus on worker misclassification, the New Jersey Department of Labor has entered into a memorandum of cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor with respect to enforcement actions related to independent contractor misclassifications. Agency officials explained the arrangement promotes "coordinated... Read More
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New York Steps Closer to Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Use with Creation of Drafting WorkgroupAugust 8, 2018
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is setting the stage to begin debate over the legalization of marijuana for recreational use during the 2019 Legislative Session. The current marijuana program, restricted to medical marijuana usage, was signed into law in 2014. On August 2, 2018, Governor Cuomo announced the creation of a workgroup to... Read More
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Labor Department Independent Contractors Guidance Targets Home Care, Nursing, Caregiver RegistriesAugust 6, 2018
In its first substantive guidance on independent contractors, the Trump Administration has targeted misclassification in the healthcare industry. The Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2018-4 ("Determining Whether Nurse or Caregiver Registries Are Employers of the Caregiver") on July 13, 2018, to provide... Read More


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text:
Creating the most efficient and effective business systems is not something that can be easily accomplished by one business. Just as there are different skill sets needed to build a rocket ship and the world's best toothbrush, there are also different skills required to architect business systems. Sterling Technology Solutions is pleased to partner with some of the largest, most stable and most powerful technology vendors in the world including Microsoft, Dell, SonicWall and Carbonite.
Dell is one of the largest privately owned multinational computer technology organizations in the world, developing and selling computers, as well as related services and products. For more than thirty years, Dell has been the go-to brand for reliable technology hardware for small- and medium-sized businesses. Dell's customer-centric approach to technology continues to make them one of America's most prized business partners.
Founded in 1975 in a garage by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft has grown to become arguably one of the most powerful software companies in the world. Microsoft's Office suite of software along with their newest Office365 cloud-based offering has cemented their name in the annals of small business productivity. It's hard to imagine doing business without using Microsoft Word to write, or Excel to keep track of costs and tasks. Today, Microsoft has expanded into any number of technologies that are the backbone of the Internet, as well as enterprise-level ERP and CRM solutions.
While SonicWALL is now a part of Dell, this network security and content control business sells a wide range of Internet appliances that can help businesses stay secure without compromising the performance of their network. These highly effective firewalls scale easily, and allow you a high level of support without causing unnecessary server slowdown or heavy loads. The sophisticated firewall solution allows small- and medium-sized businesses to receive enterprise-level threat management support without the price tag normally associated with that level of protection.
Backing up and restoring your systems and files can be one of the most challenging issues in technology that small- and medium-sized businesses are presented with due to the high level of complexity and potential customization. Carbonite allows businesses to quickly and easily back up important emails, documents, music, settings and photos that are a part of the daily flow of work. This cloud-based solution provides flexibility and control for both PC and Mac users.


text:
Film: 21st Century Literacy would like to invite you to an event we are holding for professionals who work with young people in schools or communities in the West Midlands region. The event is for anyone who is interested in learning more about how film can be used to improve literacy and enhance learning and development for children between the ages of three and 19.
The event will run from 10am – 3:30pm on May 12th at the Light House in Wolverhampton, and is being run in conjunction with Screen WM. There will be opportunities to learn and also to network with other professionals and organisations from the region, and will feature speakers from Screen WM, First Light Movies and Media Education Wales, plus talks from education professionals in the region who have had success in using film with young people.
Please visit our event page for more information and to register – http://filmliteracywm.eventbrite.com/ , or email "email@example.com"mailto:email@example.com for more details.


text:
Ed Miliband has had a pretty tough year, getting to grips with being leader of the opposition – surely one of the world's most thankless jobs – but received a bit of a boost to his brand last week, courtesy of everyone's favourite advertising medium (you know which one I'm talking about, right?)
Ed Miliband had been speaking in central London about Labour's plans for the economy – and during the Q&A, Clear Channel's UK CEO asked him what he would say to the nation if he could have his message on a Piccadilly Circus billboard. And a few hours later, this appeared….
Not bad for Miliband's Mili-brand, right?
Got something interesting to share from the world of outdoor? Get in touch with me directly on firstname.lastname@example.com
The OMC Website is at http://www.outdoormediacentre.org.uk/
Follow OMC on twitter @OutdoorMC
Join OMC's LinkedIn group
And see what planners have to say on OMC's YouTube


text:
Twenty years ago today the technology for the World Wide Web (the web) was made available, royalty-free, by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, headquartered in Geneva.
British computer scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a CERN researcher at the time, along with Belgian computer scientist Robert Calilliau, proposed a system to use hypertext "to link and access information of various kinds as a web of nodes in which the user can browse at will," for information sharing between scientists at institutions all over the world.
The wide-spread adoption and rapid growth of the web is credited to its royalty-free availability and the ease of use of its technology.
The web project was developed on Sir Tim's NeXT computer which also served as the world's first web server hosting the world's first web site. In honor of this special occasion the original URL to that first site has been restored after being dormant for many years.
Article by Robert Calilliau.
CERN Project to restore the first web site.
BBC News coverage.
Article by Mark Boulton. Mark Boulton Design designed the new CERN web site.


text:
After four grueling matches, it's come down to this: Chopped will crown its all-star champ, who, in addition to bragging rights, will receive $50,000 for the charity of their choice.
It's been an intense and entertaining competition so far with many chefs underestimating the time limit, unique mystery ingredients and back-to-back challenges. Only four chefs remain: Michael Proietti, Anne Burrell, Nate Appleman and Aaron Sanchez.
Check out the rest of today's news
Both Appleman and Sanchez have competed on The Next Iron Chef, so they're old hands at turning out creative and tasty food under pressure. Burrell was once Mario Batali's sous chef, hosts two Food Network shows and has that intimidating hair. But could former Next Food Network Star Proietti surprise them all and take home the prize?
The Chopped finale airs at 9/8c on Sunday. Check out this exclusive preview:
Who do you think will win?


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The city district government in Lahore announced a reduction in commercial property: conversion fees. The amount will be 10 to 20 percent for any property with a value up to Rs10m. This conversion fee is charged against owners of private residential property who are using that property for commercial purposes.
Lahore's city district government plans to lower the commercialization fees on any property worth less than Rs10 million. They are doing so to raise overall tax revenue. In the past, the city government charged a flat rate of 20 percent to convert a residence to a property for commercial use. Physical remodeling is not necessarily involved in order to facilitate the commercial use.
The changes will be as follows: A reduced fee of five percent when total value of residence is lower than Rs1 million. For properties worth more than Rs1 million, but less than Rs10 million, it will be charged at the rate of 10 percent.
The notification has not been received as of today. However, orders are impending and the city official expects to be notified soon. The amount officials want to collect for commercialization fees in 2012-2023 is Rs300 million, which is higher than amounts received in past years.
Although higher targeted amounts were set for previous years, the full amounts were never collected. Now the Executive District Officer, Masood Tamanna, announced that a revision was needed in that targeted amount. He says that if the fee was more reasonably priced, more people would pay it rather than not coming forward.
Those people who have deliberately avoided paying the fee will now be tracked down and forced to pay. Notices were served on those people residing in the towns of Ravi and Data Gunj Bakhsh who were using their homes for commercial purposes. They said that the commercialization fee was unaffordable. In a few months they will all be tracked down, put in a database and be required to make the payments.
The commercial property: conversion fees will be collected once this information is in place.


text:
So you say you fully comprehend the likely long-term outcome of the twists, turns and deals in a technology and communications revolution that's headed toward 500 cable channels?
Congratulations. You now qualify to be a charter member of the Liars' Club.
With names like Bell Atlantic, Tele-Communications, Liberty Media, QVC Network and Paramount Communications jangling in their heads, perplexed experts are also trying to make sense of the future. Stocks of many firms have gone sky-high despite less-than-clear prospects.
Some perspective is offered by T. Rowe Price, which has started the New Age Media Fund, a closed-end fund traded as a stock on the New York Stock Exchange. It's building a portfolio of logical best bets in this burgeoning revolution.


text:
Do you wear glasses prescription/reading?
Do you have more then one pair?
Do you like glitter?
Do you have a #SpunkySoul?
If you answered yes, to any of these questions, then you may like these eyeglass cases from Spunky Soul.
What makes them different then the ordinary cases?
It would have to be the quality.
It is well thought out. While it comes in pink, silver or blue and has matching cleaning cloths that come with each case. The appearance isn't exactly what has caught my eye. It is the easy open close case. You would also think the glitter would come off on your hands. It doesn't. The glitter is made inside the case, so all you feel is rubber.
This makes it great to go in your purse or wherever else you may carry it.
This is especially great for the thinner type glasses or children's glasses. The case would fit perfectly in a backpack and may help prevent kid's breaking their glasses during gym class or any other time they may take them off throughout the day.
This case is available at Amazon. You can see the listing HERE
disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for a review. All opinions in this post are my own and may differ from yours.


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Five people died Friday night after two small planes collided over a residential neighborhood in northwestern Denver, Colo.
All occupants of both planes were killed, and seven people on the ground were injured after one of the planes, a single engine Cessna, crashed into a home at 3421 Moncrief St.
The impact ruptured and ignited a natural gas line in the house, said a spokesperson for the Denver Police Department. A family was inside the house when the plane hit, but managed to escape before the explosion.
The Cessna narrowly missed a senior citizen's home before striking the house on Moncrief St..
The other plane involved, a twin-engine Piper Cheyenne II, crashed without causing damage or injury on the ground.
The pilot of the Cessna, Jonathan Ross Ladd, was a survivor of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
The National Transportation and Safety Board is investigating the crash.
According to NTSB spokesperson Lauren Peduzzi, one of the planes received " a warning of traffic" a few minutes before the collision. Peduzzi said it was not yet known which of the two planes received the warning or how specific the warning was.
The Salvation Army dispatched two mobile canteens to the crash scenes, and provided meals for emergency workers and residents throughout the weekend.
Related Topics:
News helicopter crashes in Seattle
Plane crashes near Pakse airport, Laos
More links on Air Crashes


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|Message view
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|Jeff Trawick <trawi...@bellsouth.net>
|APR MD5 routines and EBCDIC (or generic translation)
|Tue, 02 May 2000 02:25:01 GMT
I guess I'm missing the history here, but after poking around in the now-in-APR MD5 code and the util_md5.c code I'm confused about the separation of work between ap_md5digest() and ap_MD5Update(). . ap_MD5Update *always* translates ebcdic2ascii() when CHARSET_EBCDIC is defined . The caller ap_md5digest() translates ascii2ebcdic() before calling ap_MD5Update() if the content passed to ap_MD5Update() is to be delivered untranslated to the client Why not avoid the double translation and instead store a translation flag with the MD5 context if translation is to be performed and have ap_MD5Update() et al only translate if the flag is set? Are there some subleties I'm missing that led to the current translation code in ap_MD5Update() and ap_md5digest()? (I start to wonder why ap_MD5Update() should have translation logic at all, but without it there would probably be more code and extra data copies here and there.) Does anybody remember or otherwise have an opinion on this? -- Jeff Trawick | email@example.com | PGP public key at web site: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/9289/ Born in Roswell... married an alien...
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market research
Guest Blog: Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Client When Designing a Survey
We are happy to introduce you to guest blogger, Melissa, another McKinley consultant. Melissa is experienced in all facets of market research from survey design, methodology selection, implementation, and data analysis. Continue reading
Guest Post: Say Buh-Bye to Big Talk about Big Data (Part 1 of 2)
McKinley consultant, Tom Sommers, is back with another guest blog post. Tom shares his insights in this two-part blog series about big-data hype and small data results. Continue reading
Guest Post: Leave the Headache to Bayer – Optimize your Analyses by Starting with Key Issues
We are happy to introduce you to our newest guest blogger, Tom Sommers, a McKinley interim marketing manager with a market research and communications background. Tom has chosen to share a few proactive steps that can help reduce costs when working with a consultant on a market research project. Continue reading


text: What To Expect When You're Expecting an RFP Response by Tom Johnston May 25, 2016 Tags: agency life marketing strategy web design A site redesign project often starts with an RFP. By outlining your project requirements and inviting agencies to put their best foot forward, you expect a stack of responses that meet all of your needs. Instead, you've kicked off a long and exhausting process that is a lot like childbirth. While all of the struggle and strain pays off when your website is finally live, the process often includes a lot of challenges that aren't quite what you were expecting. Why? YOU EXPECT AGENCIES TO JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE You've got a great vision for your website. It's the most exciting project your marketing team has done in years! Every agency in town is going to be beating down your door to bid for it. But on the due date, you're surprised to see just a few responses in your inbox. What went wrong? It's possible that your team has spent too much time on the intricacies of the project and your requirements are so clearly defined that there's no room for expert input. You've named the CMS you want to use, detailed specific integration points and have a full list of features that you must have. By writing so many requirements into your project, you've disqualified most agencies from even participating. Instead of outlining specific requirements, consider taking a broad approach. You're hiring an agency to take advantage of their expertise, so give them the room to develop a solution for you. You might uncover a new approach to your digital marketing strategy that can save your company time and money. YOU EXPECT AN ACCURATE, LOW QUOTE With all of the "free" content management tools on the market, many companies aren't expecting website development to be so expensive. (Don't we all know someone who knows someone who develops websites on the side?) In order for an agency to put together an accurate quote, they need all the details – and without those details, you're going to get a broad range of pricing. Regardless of how thorough your Q&A responses and project description is, a responding agency will always have to make assumptions to provide a proposal from an RFP. There's just no way to get all the information we need without speaking to you directly about your business challenges. This leads to budget padding or adding in hypothetical features that might turn out to be unnecessary in the end. It can also lead to oversights that result in change orders and scope creep down the road, after the initial proposal is signed. (If you think you can eliminate this risk through the RFP process, think again: a recent Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA) report indicates that 38% of agencies report always or often going over budget due to scope changes, while 46% report sometimes going over.) It seems like I'm providing conflicting advice – be too detailed in your RFP and you'll rule out great agencies, but don't provide enough detail and you risk overly-inflated budgets. How can an agency possibly create an accurate quote without knowing exactly what's involved in the project? They can't. But they also can't accurately quote a project without dedicating some serious time to learning about your business, your challenges and your customers. Regardless of the level of detail you provide in your request, you need to expect that the estimate you receive is just that – an estimate – and you'll have to work with the agency to refine it during strategic planning. YOU EXPECT DEEP INSIGHTS INTO YOUR BUSINESS ISSUES It's the day after your RFP deadline and you've got a stack of proposals on your desk. After weeding out those who didn't follow your specific printing and binding instructions (much like Van Halen with their brown M&Ms, you want to ensure your new partner is paying attention), you start wading through the responses. You fully anticipate to be blown away by the thoughtful responses that demonstrate a deep understanding of your unique business challenges, but instead you've got a stack of generic responses that could have been sent to anyone! What gives? As we've discussed, your RFP likely included a set of detailed technical guidelines and requests for features and functionality. If this is what you asked for, a bland response is what you might receive. To get what you expect from the RFP process, consider requesting a proposal to solve your problem rather than a proposal to execute a specific list of tasks. Define the basic criteria for the type of agency and team you want to engage with – for many companies, this comes down to technical ability, experience in the market, execution and price. Bring your short list in for an informal discussion about your needs. After you brainstorm together, ask the agencies to put together a cost estimate and project proposal. You're essentially reversing the order of the written RFP response and the pitch meeting, which allows you to assess chemistry, energy, problem-solving ability and rapport sooner in the process. Comments Blog post currently doesn't have any comments. Leave comment Name: Please enter a name. E-mail: Please enter an e-mail address. Please enter e-mail address in correct format. Your URL: Comments: Please enter some comments. Enter security code: Related Blog Post Four Unspoken Truths About Your Client Relationship Read Blog Post Related Blog Post Actionable Data is Valuable Data Read Blog Post Related Blog Post When Is an Idea More Than Just an Idea? Read Blog Post


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- Calories 133
- Fat 7g
- Sat fat 1g
- Cholesterol 12mg
- Sodium 170mg
- Protein 4g
- Carbohydrate 15g
- Sugar 13g
- Fiber 1g
- Iron 0mg
- Calcium 7mg
Peanut Butter Cookies
Levi Brown
How to Make It
Step 1
Heat oven to 350° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, sugars, eggs, baking soda, and salt until smooth.
Step 2
Shape the dough into balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Using the tines of a fork, flatten each ball, creating a crisscross pattern.
Step 3
Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until puffed and golden, 10 to 12 minutes (the cookies will deflate as they cool). Let cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
WendyFaucett 2013-02-21T18:45:19-05:00
My daughter and I are both gluten intolerant, and we both love cookies. I made these for friends for the holidays. I used crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth, and added a bag of chocolate chips. Everyone I gave them to has asked for the recipe!
funnyshirl 2013-02-17T12:22:26-05:00
These are the worst flourless peanut butter cookies I've ever made. I haven't read the reviews, so I don't know whether others have posted similar comments. The easiest, and best, recipe is 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg. Mix, bake on parchment at 350 for about 8-10 minutes or until set. REALLY good, really simple. The salt and baking soda in this recipe adds a GROSS salty taste, and the mixed sugars changes the texture.
Cebenninger 2012-12-18T06:08:32-05:00
So far one big gooey mess, chilling the batter (can not really call it dough) so I can form some form of a ball. First batch came out very greasy. I bake all the time and will try this again, but so far not impressed.
RonnieG 2012-12-04T08:09:09-05:00
These are exceptional cookies, they are not too sweet. I tossed in some minced apples (minced and dried real well on a paper towel - apples add moisture so be sure to dry them well) and that was an nice surprise on the tongue. My husband is a fussy cookie guy and he loves these.
slickola54 2012-02-01T08:41:32-05:00
These turn out great . I added Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Minis to the middle of the cookies as soon as they came out of the oven . The grandkids just love them .
casagiardino 2012-01-29T07:49:23-05:00
Gluten-free cookies in 30 minutes. http://casa-giardino.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-favorite-treats-dolci-di-noci.html
angeleyes 2012-01-28T16:45:00-05:00
This terific recipe was in a shelter magazine years ago. It is easy to make-especially for someone who is flour or baking-challenged as I am. It is easier to shape the dough if you refrigerate it for a little while. You can also omit the baking soda and the cookies still come out great.
SusanSpangler 2012-01-28T10:40:50-05:00
These are the best cookies I've ever had. They absolutely melt in your mouth. They are so easy to make and perfect for people who can't eat gluten. Thank you Real Simple once again!!
mbexrf 2011-12-23T10:16:01-05:00
These cookies are delicious! They were a perfect addition to my cookie tray, as they offer a gluten free option. Let them cool completely to prevent them from breaking.
ValerieDanvers 2011-12-12T07:53:46-05:00
These are great and so easy to make! I've also made the version with pretzel and toffee pieces. They have been a huge hit this holiday season!