text:
Ray Whitney in big group of UFAs with no contract as camps beckon
There will be no tag days for the unemployed Ray Whitney, Marty Brodeur, Derek Morris, Saku Koivu or Todd Bertuzzi, who have been handsomely compensated in their careers–from $40 million to over $80 million–but they love playing so they are not ready to live large, in retirement.
The unrestricted free-agents all have shoes older than Nate MacKinnon but they want to keep playing. At present, nobody is offering work, however. So Whitney ($41.9 million in earnings), Brodeur ($81.9 mil), Morris ($39.8 mil), Koivu ($53.3 mil) and Bertuzzi ($47 mil) are waiting by their phones, or at least waiting for a text from their agents.
They all have strong to great resumes, but no job with camps opening in two weeks. If they don't get one, they could easily say goodbye and say it's been a terrific ride through a couple of decades, with Brodeur in likely the thorniest position. The winningest goalie of them all, Brodeur (668), still has game (he played 38 games last year in New Jersey, 2,52 avg, three shutouts) but there's only 60 NHL tender spots and it's pretty much a closed-shop. He may have to wait until, say, November as Ilya Bryzgalov did last year when the Edmonton Oilers brought him in to tag-team Devan Dubnyk.
It's that time of year when UFA's who haven't signed in July when the marketplace opens, start to get a little anxious. Bryzgalov is again part of the UFA without work group that also includes the two-story walk-up Douglas Murray, Dustin Penner, Cory Sarich and Colin Fraser, all without contracts. Sarich is getting over a horrific bike/car accident that could have killed him, while Penner is at that point where he's on a year-to-year retainer with NHL clubs who like his talent but know he needs prodding to play hard every night. Fraser has three Stanley Cup rings (two in LA, one in Chicago) and is a solid fourth-line NHL centre but his footspeed or lack of it is a balancing act with his big heart. Murray makes people uncomfortable with his size, but has trouble getting there.
Ex Oilers Ryan Whitney and Ryan Jones are still out there, too, with Whitney still a big tweeter, pumping the tires of a sushi restaurant in suburban Boston Thursday with a photo, but no news of an NHL offer. Same with Jones and Mark Fraser, who played 47 Oiler games on defence last season. They're part of the UFA unwashed and unwanted, too.
Ryan Smyth might have been in the same boat but after talking with his boss Craig MacTavish late in the season, he realized there was no room for him here foir 2014-2015 and bleeding orange and blue didn't want to move anywhere else so retired at 38.
Ray Whitney is 42 and, for the first time since 1997, at loose ends. He accepted a training camp invitation from the Oilers back then when San Jose didn't want him, and he was 25 and has gone on to play another 11oo games since that camp tryout–Florida, Columbus, Detroit, Carolina, Phoenix and Dallas, have skates will travel. But, his phone hasn't rung this summer, even though he can still contribute and never gets out of shape.
"I can't complain. I've had a good career. This might be it, the end of the dream," he laughed.
"I'm not really looking (around). My wife and kids are here in Scottsdale and the kids are in school and they're not going anywhere. If it's not here…it would have to be something pretty good for me to leave," said Whitney. "I'm not too concerned now (he's staying busy). I'm doing some road cycling. I know that's a little scary after what Sarich went through but it's pretty road friendly here. We're renovating our house, too."
The Coyotes are probably a fall-back if their kids on the wing like Henrik Samuelsson, Max Domi and Lucas Lessio can't play now but there's no need to sign him until October. They have no cap problems and can easily fit Whitney in (powerplay, top 9) and they know Phoenix is where he wants to play. "I think they're planning to go with youth, at least in training camp. I still like playing and even if I was there to guide some kids to the next step…"
For now he's skating with Coyotes' players a few days a week, dangling with the puck. "It's shinny hockey. I've always been good at that," he said. He hasn't abandoned the gym. One problem for him: there's nobody to skate with in Phoenix once camps open; this isn't like being in Edmonton with the Golden Bears and the Oil Kings who'd accommodate him. "I always stay in shape. I think if I got two weeks of practices if I signed, I'd be fine."
Ray is past taking a training camp invite as the disturber UFA Daniel Carcillo is doing with Pittsburgh after the New York Rangers decided not to bring him back. Been there done that, years ago. But, as humbling as tryouts are, with no guarantees of work, at least you've got a foot in the door, at camp. "Yeah, it worked in Edmonton," he said.
"It's always a dance…I see both sides of the equation. There's the out of sight out of mind (argument) and the other one is teams always need someone later (injury or kids aren't ready for the NHL)," said agent Steve Bartlett, who handles the affairs for Thomas Vanek, Ryan Callahan and Brian Gionta, among others, and had two of his lesser UFA clients Matt D'Agostini and Derek Smith head off to Europe this summer rather than wait for an NHL look-see or contract.
"In the case of (forward) D'Agostini (Buffalo) and (defenceman) Smith (Calgary), they've gone to Switzerland. The money was good for both; it wasn't peanuts. Plus, D'Agostini saw a player Matthew Lombardi from the same Swiss team come back to the Rangers this summer. Matt was encouraged that if he can have a good year, too, he's not too old and he can come back to the NHL," said Bartlett.
Brodeur, 42, struck out on his own this summer as a free-agent when it was clear that Cory Schneider would be the 60-game starter in New Jersey. There was no 1 and 1a in the Devils' plans and they signed journeyman Scott Clemmensen to back up Schneider.
Brodeur, who'll be in management with the Devils when he eventually quits (maybe Lou Lamoriello will groom him as his GM replacement), is leaving on good terms. But he's in a dicey situation. He's never been less than a starter or a 50-50 situation. He'd like to play one last year on a Stanley Cup threat, but would he like being a 20-25 game guy on one of those teams? He says he'd do it if it was Montreal to caddy for Carey Price, but the Habs don't seem interested. Teams that could conceiveably use him (Chicago, Boston, Detroit) have cap issues. Others like Tampa and Toronto went in other directions this summer, Tampa signing Evgeni Nabokov to back up Ben Bishop, Toronto sticking with James Reimer to partner Jonathan Bernier.
"Brodeur is a tougher one (UFA) for me. Goalies (getting work in a weak marketplace) are tough for me, and then you bring in his age," said Bartlett, who feels the Brodeur situation is somewhat like Tim Thomas last fall. He's a little bit like Thomas, although Brodeur obviously doesn't have the off-ice baggage that Tim carries…Tim eventually found a job (Florida after the season started, then traded to Dallas where he backed up Kari Lehtonen). It's hard for me to comment on somebody else (not a client) but obviously with Brodeur's incredible resume to get to this stage, I'm not sure if it's worth it. But that's not for me to say."


text:
When my husband and I were newly dating, his washing machine broke. If it had been mine, Sears or Lowes would have had a same-day visit and a plea to be at my house the next day with a new one.
But Kevin is a much more cautious consumer than yours truly and has to thoroughly research any major purchase. So for a month, he hand-washed his clothes while he studied consumer reports and reviews on every washing machine known to modern man. He wanted to be 100 percent certain that every dollar of his purchase was 100 percent wisely spent.
I rolled my eyes a lot behind the safety of my cellphone… And happily washed away in my functioning machine. (To clarify, we lived fairly far apart, so my offering to have him bring his laundry to my house wasn't practical).
Now married and in our own home, we are facing an even bigger home-related purchase together: a new roof. We've been in the house less than a year and already fixed six leaks, so when three more sprang—and started seeping through the ceilings during a freak winter storm that spawned torrential downpours and even tornados—we knew it was futile to continue plugging the holes.
Unfortunately, we live in south Florida, where the houses are fair-sized and the roofs are tile. Meaning, they are expensive to replace. Very expensive. As in, "I could lay wood floors in the entire house and resurface the pool and go on a few luxury vacations for this" expensive.
So now we are journeying together through the process of carefully hiring a roofing company and selecting tile.
Except… We can't select the tile.
We have different tastes. They have different prices. Some are available right away, some are not. Do we want flat or barrel? Small barrel or large barrel? A light color or a blend?
Kevin has climbed up and down the ladder placing samples (yes, they are heavy) on the roof, while I've stood at the end of the driveway making a telescope with my hand in a futile attempt to figure out what the whole roof might look like with the tan tile or the multi-color one.
We've driven through new home neighborhoods to see what's current, and taken photos of strangers' homes who have roofs we "kind of" like.
We've already alienated one salesman, who complained that, "I've been messing around with you for a month," and I fear we're starting to wear on the patience of his replacement as well.
It's a big purchase. It has to be a careful one.
But my brain is tired and my impatient self is ready to make a decision. We're down to two samples. I've let Kevin know which one I like, but that I'll abide by his choice.
But he isn't 100 percent certain.
So I wait.
And I've learned the key to waiting even when I don't really want to:
Be willing.
Be willing to wait.
That's it. It came to me today as I felt my anxiety threaten to rise when Kevin told me that he drove by a complete stranger's house and while he was snapping pictures, the owner came out and chatted with him… Then actually gave him a tile sample from a pile in his side yard.
"I don't want a third sample. We have two favorites, 12 more in the garage, and I've picked one. I'm done!" I wanted to cry out.
Be willing to wait.
But I didn't, and I won't. I'll wait. And I realized as I let out a deep breath after listening to his story and going about my day that the only thing I needed to do to cope with the waiting is to be willing.
Waiting for things you want to do is fun; the anticipation makes the reality so much sweeter. Waiting on things that are stressful is, well, stressful! I'm a get-it-done-now kind of girl, so I don't generally wait too long on anything. I don't know where the "patience of a saint" idiom originated, but saints are dead and in heaven and have perfect lives and no agendas, and that description pretty much fits my husband. He can calmly wait on anything until he's good and ready to decide.
So waiting is not my nature. But being willing is something I can do. Something everyone can do. It's part of a grit and grace life!
I'm going to keep telling myself that as I go out in the garage and hide the rest of the samples!
You'll also like Take It Easy—On Your Man, 5 Tips: Making a Change the Right Way, and Our Secret Marriage Code

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The new Linkz Brand Protection solution is part of the BXP Active and Intelligent Packaging Toolbox: click here.
The new Linkz Brand Protection solution is part of the BXP Active and Intelligent Packaging Toolbox: click here.
There are lots of technologies to enable consumers to interact with packaging. So why don't brands use it more widely? And would it be useful for you?
Early November I was at the Active and Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) World Congress in Amsterdam. On display were many amazing technologies to make packaging active and / or intelligent.
Active packaging tries to solve a clear problem: currently one third of all food produced is lost or wasted from farm to fork, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Intelligent packaging that tracks goods is also addressing a clear pain point, just ask any retailer where their goods actually are. Similarly authentication and anti-counterfeiting solutions, with the counterfeit goods market currently around $600 billion/yr, rising to nearly $1 trillion/yr by 2021. These solutions are largely used by retailers and brands themselves.
But when we get to the consumer end it is not so clear where the problem currently lies. Counterfeit formula milk or cosmetics masquerading as that of a trusted brand could be inferior and potentially harmful, and surely consumers would like to check authenticity. FMCG packaging that gives discounts, connects to fun games, useful or exclusive information, what is not to like? Content-wise you are only limited by your imagination because if it is digital you can link your packaging to it.
So why are brands not connecting their packaging en-masse to digital content? At the conference there were some interesting case studies of marketing campaigns using NFC-enabled spirit bottles, yogurt pots linked to games and packs of chocolates allowing you to win heart-stopping experiences, but no evidence that brands are falling over each other to make their packaging interactive for consumers.
Why not? Because there is no consumer demand for it yet.
There are two key reasons. Firstly, consumers are simply not aware that packaging can be interactive. Unless it has a very clear call-to-action consumers don't expect there is more to packaging than meets the eye. Secondly, most importantly, the value consumers get from interacting is not sufficient. In the early days of QR codes in marketing they often linked to desktop sites, unreadable on a mobile phone. Often the company's home page, as if that was the point of engaging with the pack! Augmented Reality (AR) pay-offs are definite improvements, as at first they always surprise, but there isn't always a longer-term value for the consumer. Whilst this may not matter for the marketing campaign, it does matter for the consumer for whom the next purchasing decision is less swayed by another "wow" experience.
In the absence of consumers asking for interactive packaging brands cannot see a clear ROI. To be fair, marketing departments have had a lot of new technologies thrown at them over the past decade. They have to understand rapidly changing consumer buying behaviour, be able to engage with consumers 24/7 and be omni-present in new and old channels. Adding packaging as yet another consumer engagement channel with its own set of technologies may be a bit much.
But here is the crux of the matter. Packaging is a key consumer engagement channel, and quite a cheap one at that. It's already out there, totally under the brand's control. Once consumers have a pack in their hand, they are much more open to the brand's messages, be they in-store or post-purchase. Digital interaction with packaging is much easier to measure than views of TV ads, impressions of Facebook ads, views of billboards. And it allows for a two-way conversation rather than a one-way monologue, as it is much easier for consumers to give feedback to a brand via an interactive pack than via traditional push advertising.
The key to getting consumers to interact with packaging is to offer them real value.
At the congress I ran an "idea hackathon" (or "workshop") with a group of very knowledgable and enthusiastic participants. Together we arrived at a list of what kind of content could be of real value to consumers:
Let's get back to the original question. Is interactive packaging a solution without a problem? No, it is not. Packaging is a key consumer engagement channel and brands that want to win customers have to use it strategically and offer real value.
What real value is depends on the market, the geography, the product, the brand itself. Therefore interactive packaging won't be of strategic use to everybody! In our experience it is useful for your brand if you have
So, do you know what you want your packaging to say? Do you want to test what works for you? Or just understand better what the options are? We can help you find out. After all, that is why we started Linkz.
Part 1 of this 2-part article ("Why use connected packaging and print") was published previously here.
With the spreading of smartphones, QR codes became very popular in marketing and advertising about six years ago. But then it all seemed to come to a grinding halt, at least in the Western world. Why? One of the main reasons is that the experience people got when scanning a QR code was disappointing. The pay-offs were illegible (for example, a desktop site on a mobile screen), not relevant (for example, link to the company's home page instead of detailed product information), out-of-date, hard-to-download (outdoor internet connection was poor in those days), etc. And marketers quickly decided that QR codes were ugly and that the public didn't want them. Big caveat is that in Asia, especially in China, Korea and Japan, QR codes are still popular. This probably has to do with the fact that typing in a URL in their languages is a lot harder than when using the western alphabet. So QR codes are dead. Or are they?
Cadbury "scan for joy" campaign, running since 2011
Anybody who has been to a trade show knows that these places are littered with QR codes. Cadbury has been running their "scan for joy" campaign for years now. And KitKat started a YouTube campaign promoting QR codes on the front of their packaging in spring 2016. Many more complex products (DIY, building trade) carry QR codes to help users. The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) in the US is working on their SmartLabel initiative, planning to add QR codes to packaging, which will deliver standardised expanded information about the product in hand.
These are already present on most retail products. Amazon, Ocado, John Lewis, the NHS Sugar Smart app, they all use the barcodes to deliver extra information to consumers. Retail brands use it to give price and stock information, specialist apps like Sugar Smart give focused information. Dedicated QR & barcode scanning apps use databases to give standardised non-branded information about many retail products, though most are currently restricted to US products.
NHS Sugar Smart app
Not a name that easily trips off the tongue, but digital watermarks have been around for about 20 years. Developed by Digimarc in the US and currently promoted as a quicker way to pass products over the till, invisible digital watermarks are a great way to connect packaging without compromising the aesthetics of a brand.
Apps like Blippar and Aurasma analyse the media to literally recognise a particular image and deliver an augmented reality experience on the smartphone. It is "probabilistic", as opposed to the "deterministic" technology that underlies Digimarc barcodes. But it also means it can deliver a pay-off of the same brand icon irrespective of where it is – on a label, a magazine ad, a bill board.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth beacons are all technologies for wireless communications. They require physical triggers in or on the product, which can be identified by a reader and connected to a pay-off ("what you see when you scan the trigger"). They each have their own advantages and applications.
Ideally you would use a single platform that can recognise many or all of these triggers. For example, the scan.me app is able to scan both barcodes and QR codes. Linkz is a platform that can use all the triggers listed above.
Direct-to-customer communication, that is all very nice – lots of ways to engage with your audience via printed materials, lots of extra value you could offer them. But what do you, the brand, get? This depends on the technology platform used, but most of them offer that all-important insight one way or another: understanding your customers' behaviour and preferences. Some scanning options, like ordinary QR codes, will offer limited insights as by and large you can only measure what traffic you get to the pay-off (usually a website).
Other options, like Linkz, will give you detailed analytics of what was scanned, where and when and by which unique handset. As an example – a small, upcoming novelty drinks company used Linkz to activate its packaging. On the can it had a small call-to-action inviting people to scan and participate in a competition. This was a great way to encourage scanning and resulted in useful insights into the times and days their customers bought their product. They didn't need to stand outside shops to interview customers, they could see it clearly in the data.
Linking your physical product or collateral to digital pay offs also means you can connect your social media campaigns with your products. You can measure which areas or stores are best at running certain campaigns, or what kind of triggers work best in what situation.
Linkz analytics options
With so many different things to scan and with so many possible pay offs it is even more important to manage this channel closely and efficiently. It has to be quick and easy to update campaigns. If needed, you want pay offs to be changeable by the hour, like when you are running a social media campaign to encourage people to buy your product. All technologies mentioned above come with management platforms, some more developed than others. The best way is to choose platforms that allow you to test what works for your customers and that lets you compare campaigns that use different triggers. Now is the time to get involved with consumer scanning and learn how to operate in this field.
You can see why connected packaging and print is taking off: being present along the whole customer journey requires usage of all media channels. Consumers increasingly want to control engagement with brands[1]. Brands need easy implementation and control over what the consumer sees related to their products. Start connecting your packaging and print now.
[1] note the increase in use of adblocking software. It is becoming the norm to interact with customers when they want to.
Nathalie Muller, CEO, Linkz-IM
It is no longer just millennials that tweet, pin, chat, snap and scan. People are using their smartphones to interact with the world around them. Therefore it is important for brands to be present and consistent across more media channels than ever. Connected packaging and print is a powerful new channel. It means that people can use their smartphone to scan a trigger and in return receive digital content, which adds value to the customer experience. Brands are discovering this exciting new channel, which can also help them gain detailed insight into customer behaviour and preferences.
In this 2-part series we will look at
i. Why use connected packaging and print
ii. How to connect and how to manage connected packaging and print
Kitkat connected packaging campaign Spring 2016
The world is moving fast and marketing is moving with it: omnichannel marketing
Since the introduction of the smartphone many media have crossed over or merged. We are constantly connected with friends and family, whether they are next door or many time zones away.
Brands need to make their messages heard and understood in this world with more media channels than ever. What are all these channels?
Source: Gerard Marketing Group
The traditional channels fall into the "Push" (Paid) category, where you use one-way messages to talk to your audience via print, TV, radio and outdoor. "Earned Media" work a bit slower, but have a higher conversion rate. "Owned Media" is where your audience actively engages with you because they want to. Needless to say it has an even higher conversion rate 2.
Which channels you use depends on your products and your audiences. But as you can see from the overview, managing all these channels and ensuring consistency and clarity is no mean feat!
Sometimes the channels are very new and brands find it hard to manage the messages. We all know examples of brands' tweets that went wrong, or QR codes that linked to embarrassing websites. While it's part of trying and learning and therefore definitely important, as marketers you don't have a lot of room for error.
Omni-channel marketing therefore requires two things.
Firstly, a clear customer engagement strategy. Not only using the more traditional channels in the "Push" or "Paid" category, but also using more recent technologies, like social media and websites from the "Pull" category. Ensuring your brand has a holistic view of how you engage with your audience, and a single voice across all the channels.
Secondly, easy tools to manage the delivery of the strategy. With the rise of the new channels (social media, websites, YouTube, etc) there is also the rise of the marketing management systems. The choice is overwhelming and depending on the needs of your brand and audience you may have to try a few.
Let's focus on one of the more recent channels from the "Owned Media" category. Packaging is one of the most powerful channels a brand owns. The problem is that space is often at a premium. Instructions, ingredients, even in different languages if needed, it won't all fit.
With the rise of smartphones and the improvement of the cameras on the phones it has become possible to make packaging digitally connected. This means that the consumer uses the camera on the phone to scan the packaging to obtain additional information. For example, a detailed list of ingredients and nutritional value. Or detailed instructions of how to use the product (e.g. DIY, or pharmaceutical, or motoring). Or detailed information about the product's provenance, whether it is organic, ethically produced, local, etc.
But it doesn't have to be just additional text that doesn't fit on the label, or is hard to read on the instruction manual. It can also take the form of video – very handy for more complex products. And it doesn't have to stop at information. Once the prospect has the product in their hands and is looking at it they are very open to a brand's messages. This is the moment to deliver extra value to them, reasons to prefer your brand over others, because you make them feel valued, or happy, or both!
A study3 revealed that 64% of UK consumers are interested in everyday objects being connected to the internet, with connected packaging that delivers extra consumer value being deemed most appealing.
So what extra could you offer them?
Of course this depends on your products and brand value. If you are Cadbury and your brand value is around "joy" you can add extra joy to your packaging by linking it to amusing videos. If you are RedBull and your value is around "excitement" you can add extra excitement to a can by linking it to your TV channel with lots of terrifying videos of people throwing themselves off mountain tops.
If you are a company that manufactures commercial cleaning products you can add product information sheets in various languages and videos of your training programme to remind people which products can and can't be used in conjunction.
You can help people purchase your product (again), especially useful if you don't sell via supermarkets. Imagine – a customer is running out of their favourite posh chocolates, and all they need to do it scan the barcode, press "buy again", and voila, next day their new stash is delivered!
Premiere Products connected packaging (source: Berkshire Labels)
You can also use your packaging to link to your loyalty scheme. Or to serve up discount vouchers. Or you can make it super-easy for people to share their experience of your product on social media, or get in touch with you with one click.
With some platforms you can connect your packaging and deliver personalised results. Pay-offs tailored to the end-user, so you show them quite how much you value them by delivering truly worthwhile content. 94% of senior-level executives believe delivering personalization is critical or important to reaching customers4 .
A recent "Digital IQ" survey by PwC5 showed that "60% of marketers say they are not effectively delivering personalized customer experiences today". Packaging connecting to personalised content is the perfect solution here.
But it doesn't have to stop at packaging. In fact, brand owners can digitally activate anything printed. Catalogues, till receipts, posters, all collateral can be used. And it doesn't have to be just printed either! Technologies like RFID, NFC or Bluetooth Beacons require physical triggers to be connected to the products, but they are also scannable!
|At home:
|In store:
|Flyer inside product packaging
|Bluetooth beacons
|Existing EAN barcode on product
|Product labels
|Catalogue images
|Shelf edge
|Direct mail
|Point of Sale
|TV or audio trigger
|Barcode on product
|Till receipt
Examples of items scannable by the consumer
For example, if one of your main sales channels is catalogues then linking the catalogue items to their digital representations makes it a tonne easier for people to buy.
In the second part we will look at 'how' you can connect print and packaging.
[1] Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesinsights/2016/06/07/how-leading-brands-are-winning-the-direct-to-customer-conversation/#6a10924d7a4f
[2] "Marketing in an omni-channel world", Susan Gerard, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marketing-omni-channel-world-susan-gerard?trk=prof-post
[3] Mindshare in association with Sharp End http://www.aipia.info/news-Consumers-Embrace-IoT-Packaging-577.php
[4] PwC at http://digital.pwc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/115752-2016-Digital-_-Forbes-Content-Survey_Final2.pdf
[5] http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/advisory/2015-global-digital-iq-survey.html
The key observation is that in the "internet of things" brands need to learn to change and regain control of the connection with the customer. With distributors like Amazon increasingly taking more and more of the retailers' market share, it is the distributors who are learning about, and communicating with, the consumer – not the brand.
With the unstoppable advances in technology the article talks about the possibility of placing sensors and microchips on products. Whilst these have their place, especially on high-end products, Linkz has an easier, cheaper and faster solution – to "activate" the product's EAN/UPC barcode instead.
Take the example of the activ8 nutrition brand. The product's barcode was activated giving the customer timely information and product after-care, in this case, support for their exercise regime. To activate the product took minutes – even after the product was on the shelf or in the consumer's home. This gave activ8 a powerful way to engage with their customers but at minimal cost.
To embrace the technical revolution, manufacturers will need to completely change their cultures, argues the author, employing more IT specialists to crunch data, for example. In the example of Linkz, a full mobile marketing site for a specific product line or SKU can be built by anyone in minutes without the need for programming skills. This gives marketing teams the wealth of behavioural data and insight on the consumer that they need in order to help shape future NPD and marketing strategies.
In the "internet of things" manufacturers and brands will have to grapple with unfamiliar issues as privacy and cyber-security, stresses the author. A recent survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit of 561 executives worldwide suggested just how far the average business is from understanding any of this, with only 19% planning radical changes to harness the potential of smart things. The Safe Harbour ruling on data adds yet another layer of uncertainty.
One thing is clear. If manufacturers fail to embrace the change, they will be left behind as other types of businesses draw ever closer to customers. Linkz changes this paradigm – easily, quickly and at low cost. Contact us to learn how to change the conversation with your customers.
SKU Marketing is the growing trend to talk to and engage with consumers by product (either by its SKU or barcode), or by product range.
Individual products talking to individual consumers where and when they want to engage – in shops, on the go or at home.
How Does it work?
With certain apps (scan the barcode on the left with the Linkz Code Scanner) consumers can scan products to get real time, up to date, relevant multi-media experience. Brand owners set "triggers" on the packaging or label using a variety of options. These can include the UPC/EAN codes already on the product, QR codes (they're making a comeback!) or invisible watermarks.
What are the benefits of SKU Marketing?
Consumers gain real-time relevant information about a product they have a genuine interest in while they have it in their hands. SKU Marketing helps consumers understand the product so they can make informed choices.
For the brand owner, "activating" or diverting barcodes is simple, fast and cheap. More importantly it enables the start of a powerful, direct relationship between a brand and consumer which is normally controlled by the retailer or distributor.
Which brands should use SKU Marketing?
– Do you have a story to tell and your consumers want to hear it? Why you do what you do and what's unique.
– Are your consumers passionate about the cause or activity your product supports and would they like to learn more about it?
– Does your product support sustainability or environmental goals? Tell your consumers in detail what they want to know.
– Is your audience multi-lingual or do you sell into different countries and need local language support? All consumers want to know about your product – give them your story in their language.
If your product and consumer fits one or more the above, you should look into SKU Marketing.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)
Increase CLTV by informing your customers about the benefits of your products and your brand. Consumers buy brands but the product needs to live up to the brand promise – let your products engage the consumer so they can see the story behind the product.
In Summary
SKU Marketing can be as ephemeral as Snapchat or as persistent as your product itself. It's about the right message at the right the moment. An individual message to an interested individual consumer – now, with the product, and your brand, in their hands.
AUTHOR: Ward Parsons, Linkz Product Manager
Some years ago, I was asked by a relation, "Where's all this data stored?" I said her question was not easy to answer. "It's out there in the cloud somewhere. But don't worry, it's safe."
Technically, her data may still be safe. She can call up her photos, her email, from computers all over the planet, and it will be quickly, reliably and correctly delivered to her. We know how to spread data across different stores so a fire or a flood won't lose it. We know how to protect it with fancy mathematics so data errors will be found and fixed. It works well. We can cope with disasters.
But governments? That's a harder problem.
One of the great benefits of the European Union for the private citizen has been quite strong EU law on privacy. This has been particularly driven by the experience of East Germany, where spying by the Stasi on its own citizens was wall-to-Berlin-wall, and universally hated. Now, our data can only be copied with our consent, except in very limited circumstances. Nations in the EU must enact laws to enforce this.
However, it's hard to use data that's stuck down a hole. If I'm in the UK trying to buy a widget from Germany, that can well all be in the EU, but the credit card data might have to go to the US, or maybe the delivery company is US-owned and using US servers to track the package. It makes for an easier life if that data can flow about as needed to deliver the goods. But we still need to maintain EU standards of privacy. So, Safe Harbour was invented, a contractual obligation for US companies to provide EU privacy standards for EU data that they needed to handle.
All very well in theory, but Safe Harbour has been looking increasingly Unsafe. The US legislature passed various laws requiring US companies to hand data over to government agencies like Homeland Security, more-or-less on demand. The US NSA has what seems to be carte blanche to subvert protections like encryption and hoover up enormous amounts of private data. This makes a mockery of Safe Harbour, but the fact has been swept under the carpet for a while, in the interests of good diplomacy and easy trade.
Enter Max Schrems, an Austrian student, and Facebook. He complained to the Irish Data Protection Authority (Facebook's EU HQ is in Ireland) that Facebook was sending his data to the US. The DPA said it was OK, Safe Harbour was adequate. Schrems took the case to court. All the way to the European Court of Justice. The ECJ said that Safe Harbour wasn't automatically OK, and that the DPA must consider the effect of US laws subverting Safe Harbour. It's now apparent that US "security" law makes Safe Harbour unsafe, and we're all just waiting for the DPA to make that formal. The European Court of Justice has stood up for the little man against the giant corporation, against mighty governments, and exposed all this for the sham that it is.
Everyone is scrabbling around for more sticky tape to patch up this data protection mess. One proposal is to have users specifically agree to a contract allowing the data transfer to the US, using "model clauses" and "Binding Corporate Rules" in Ts&Cs. However, one German court has already ruled that this isn't good enough, and if the contract says things like "but the government can take your data and do whatever it wants with it", many people just won't do business. The US government could fix this by changing their law to provide EU standards of privacy for EU citizens – but they won't. The sticky tape isn't sticking.
For EU companies, it makes great sense to keep EU data inside the EU, on hardware on EU soil, run by EU companies. That way, one set of rules, one legal system and one concept of privacy covers everything. It might mean a business has to be more careful in its choices, but it certainly is possible.
For more information about Safe Harbour view the following articles:
Emrys Williams is Linkz Chief Technical Officer and has ensured that all Linkz servers are held within the EU.
Linkz-IM, the intelligent mobile marketing technology, is set to help marketers further enhance the consumer engagement and conversion process with a new SmartLinkz feature, making it more convenient for consumers to get the right content straight away – either via a one-click install of the Linkz app or via the user's browser. The new technology makes it easier for marketers to fully integrate mobile technology with social media and digital marketing campaigns to offer a more seamless brand experience.
Currently consumers are required to download the Linkz app from Google Play or iTunes before being able to see the content they're after. The new functionality means that when consumers receive a SmartLinkz via a tweet, Facebook link, SMS or email they can go straight to the relevant content, only having to click "yes" once to automatically download the Linkz app. This takes away the common hassle when the desired content is not loaded with the app install. By making the process more convenient for the consumer, this increases the likelihood of participation in a special offer and social sharing.
Using the Linkz platform, marketers can simply and quickly set up mobile sites. These are ideal for products requiring frequently changing content such as short-term marketing and advertising promotions. Additional content, voucher downloads, video links and social media access can be added in minutes. A direct link to the finished content can be sent via any digital marketing or social media channel and the SmartLinkz technology automatically installs the app on the user's phone following a one-click acceptance. Linkz technology provides brands with powerful tracking and attribution data such as clicks, links, installs and page views.
Tim Smith, CEO of Linkz said:
"Smart phones have taken over as the main communication device, but brands no longer can rely on banner ads as consumers increasingly embrace ad-blocking software. Linkz helps brands connect with consumers wherever they are, makes it easy to like, share and participate in promotions and helps the consumer conversion journey."
As consumers continue to migrate to smartphones, Linkz is a powerful tool for brand owners and printers to quickly create, manage and analyse interactive mobile campaigns that connect the physical and digital worlds. These are ideal to respond quickly, easily and cost effectively for short-term promotions or events.
Linkz has created a dedicated, interactive mobile marketing campaign for Matthew Parker who runs a leading print consultancy to support his presence at the show. Amongst specialist tips Matthew will be showing printers how easy it is to create interactive marketing campaigns and how to bring print materials to life using Linkz. To find out more pop along to the profitable print relationships stand P35.
The Print Show is an inaugural event celebrating all aspects of the UK print industry, which will be held on 13-15 October at the Birmingham NEC.
For more about The Print Show visit: www.theprintshow.co.uk


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We're not your average architectural firm. At Tinto Architecture, Interiors and You, it's the 'You' part that makes us different.
At the core of every project we undertake a human-centred design approach. Whether it's a commercial building, a retail store, or a house extension, the space will be used by people and that's why we put them at the heart of the process.
Since we began in 2004 our desire has always been to create places and spaces for people that inspire. From our offices in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, the team delivers a range of architectural services for the retail, residential and commercial markets to local, national and international clients.
We believe passionately that our job as architects is to add value to the lives of the people who use the buildings we design. After all, your property is one of the largest investments you will ever make.
We're proud of our team here at Tinto. They're a collection of wonderful, creative, passionate professionals. So whoever you deal with day to day, you can be sure you'll receive a Tinto Design.
One that we can all be proud of, designed with you at the heart of it.
- Richard Tinto
- Ewen Buchan
- Mark Hadfield
- Adam Kelly
- Aileen Dunnett
- Ross Anderson
- Aleksandra (Ola) Fidos
- Nina Cradock
- Jenna Cook
- Alasdair McGill
- Phil Weekes


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There's no question that Oracle is an incredibly successful and well-respected ERP vendor. Unfortunately, as with many ERP system providers, its widespread popularity and use across many industry verticals also raises its risk of being involved in an ERP lawsuit.
To analyze and detail cases involving Oracle ERP software, Panorama's Oracle Expert Witness Testimony service unites our PERFECT Assessment™ Expert Witness Methodology with our broad and deep Oracle implementation and benefits realization experience. As the world's leading independent ERP consulting firm, we are especially equipped to customize our approach to fit either plaintiff or defendant needs. Our services include deep-dive research, written analyses and in-person testimony and depositions.
For our Oracle expert witness engagements, we count on independent ERP consultants with expertise in:
- Agile, E-Business Suite, JDE, PeopleSoft and Siebel
- Procurement, supply chain management, financials and accounting and other key Oracle modules
- Oracle Unified Method
We get to the heart of every case to provide unbiased, expert opinion, and we specialize in helping legal counsel address allegations including:
- Breach of contract
- Oracle failures
- Fraud and misrepresentation during the sales cycle
- Poor project management
- "Off the shelf" Oracle software and capabilities
- Incompetence of project team members
- Poor benefits realization
- Integration issues
- Errors in customization
- Operational disruption or loss alleged to be caused by Oracle
The details we assess include, but are in no way limited to:
- System integrator, VAR and customer roles and responsibilities
- Oracle team skills and competencies, including project management, functional capabilities and technical aptitudes
- Contract review and validation
- Feasibility of Oracle implementation project plans, resourcing and budgets
- Oracle's use of its proprietary User Productivity Kit and business accelerators
- Causes of budget overruns and delays
- Integration and middleware
- Third-party bolt-ons and integration
- Industry functional fit and pre-configurations
Panorama's expert witness services include both written analyses and in-person expert testimony. Read more about our Oracle implementation experience.
Contact us to learn how we can put you and your legal team in the best possible position to initiate or defend against an Oracle lawsuit.
Panorama's Core ERP Services and Offerings
- ERP Selection
- Software as a Service (SaaS) Selection
- ERP Vendor and Contract Negotiations
- IT Strategy
- ERP Implementation
- ERP Implementation Planning
- Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)
- Organizational Change Management
- Business Process Reengineering
- ERP Expert Witness Testimony
- ERP Staffing
- On-Site ERP Training
- ERP Project Recovery


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The start/finish area will be at Oxford University Rugby Club off Iffley Road.
There is no parking at the venue and we advise parking in The Redbridge Park and Ride and taking the short ride to the rugby club.
If you require accomodation Oxford has a wide variety including University college rooms and hotels/guest houses.
Saturday afternoon
We will be open for collection of timing chips and rider numbers from 17:00 to 18:30 at the Event Village.
Sunday Morning
07:30 - 10:15 Arrive at the venue and leave your bike in the secure bike park while you sign in to collect your timing chips and rider numbers. If you need to leave a bag there will be a bag drop available.
When you're ready to go please grab your bike and make your way to the start area where riders will be briefed and released in groups of 20 as follows:
07:30 - 08:30 - 80 milers
08:30 - 09:30 - 50 milers
09:30 - 10:30 - 25 milers
Along the route you will find clear signage, feed stations and first aid support. There will also be medical support on the course to provide assistance if required.
Sunday Afternoon
As you arrive back at the venue be sure to collect your medal before joining your fellow riders for some food and a celebration drink.


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DAAPCamps Scholarships and Financial Aid
A limited number of partial scholarships based on merit are available to those who qualify. To be considered for a scholarship, students should supply the following materials in one packet to be received at DAAP no later than April 1, 2018 (the mailing address for the packet is listed at the top of the Scholarship Cover Form):
In one complete packet (do not send separately or have individual pieces emailed or sent separately by others) include the following:
1 - Scholarship Cover Form (found on the web site under Scholarships)
2 - A letter of recommendation from a school teacher or counselor
3 - A copy of your most recent high school transcript (for scholarship & financial aid only, does not have to be a sealed copy, can be a standard copy)
4 - A 750-word-maximum essay addressing the following prompt:
Please describe how the design of an object, an item of fashion, a building, an interior space, a city, or the presence of a work of art has had a positive/significant impact on you or on people in general.
Please provide a specific example of the design or artwork (such as a famous building, painting, sculpture, or a popular object, fashion design, etc.), describing specifically how that piece supports your thesis statement.
Please provide and discuss only one example.
Please also include in the essay, the topic of the camp you have registered for and how the discipline/major addressed in that camp relates to the inspirational object, building, interior space, city, fashion item or piece of art you have indicated and why attending the camp is important to you.
You may include a singular unique fact about yourself that we should know that makes you an ideal candidate for a DAAPcamp Scholarship.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is set aside for DAAPcampers with demonstrated need. Financial aid is different than a scholarship in that it intends to address financial need. To apply for financial aid, please provide the four items listed above, PLUS a statement of the family's financial need. The statement of financial need is a confidential statement, in letter format, from the student explaining their unique situation. No financial records are required.
Please be advised that all scholarships and financial aid determination decisions are final. Each award amount is determined on a case-by-case basis, as evaluated by the DAAPcamps' Scholarship Panel using student-supplied information. The Scholarship Panel is made up of camp leadership team members, faculty, and DAAP administration.
All received funds are applied directly toward DAAPcamps' tuition only. Of course, applying for a scholarship or financial aid does not guarantee you will receive funds. If you think you will be unable to attend DAAPcamps without financial assistance, please note this in your application forms. Once awards are distributed, if it becomes apparent that you are unable to attend, your deposit will be returned and your award will be redistributed to other students.
If you want to get a head start, click here to download the Scholarship Forms.
Contact DAAPCamps!
Phone: 513-556-2958
Email: email@example.com
Residential DAAPcamps Packing List


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There was a question posted recently on one of the forums that I am part of. Without going into detail it was essentially a question around whether a client should reduce their fee for multiple bookings.
It was interesting to see the responses. Some of them short and to the point. Others long winded with lots of advice.
For me it was a straightforward decision. The person either wanted to do the work or they didn't. If they did then negotiate. If they didn't then decline the invitation to work with the client.
The post got me thinking about the way we all at times over complicate things. Most of the time we have a choice to make. Most of the time we know what the answer is. Yet we still don't make the decision.
Here's the reality. When we take a decision we are taking positive action. The positive action may mean that we get the result we want. As a minimum we get feedback or learning.
Often the reason we don't take the decision is self doubt. We all, to some extent, have that little nagging doubt.
It might be around whether we really can deliver at that next level in our job. It might be around whether we can make the change or improvement that is need in our teams. It might be around whether we can really make better use of the resources at our disposal.
In truth every move forward starts with a decision.
So ask yourself, am is my decision making process over complicated and is it really something more basic that is getting in the way of you deciding and acting.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants build successful careers.
In summary since 2006 I've worked with in excess of 5,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them achieve career success and become better leaders and presenters. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. Articles I've written and posted on EzineArticles have had over 800,000 views. A Udemy course on Presentation Skills has had over 10,000 enrolments. I'm the author of 3 Kindle Books I'm a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator


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We've made some changes to ATEEC.org. If you notice any issues or errors with the site, please submit to webmaster.
Ellen Kabat Lensch - Executive Director of ATEEC and Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development
Ph: 563.336.3331
Contact by Email
Linda H. Baxley - Director of ATEEC
Ph: 563.441.4096
Contact by Email


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Teac a Bloc – November 21st
South Tipperary Rural Arts Group will host the renowned 'Teac a Bloc' production by Des Dillon on Friday, November 21st in St Paul's Community Centre, Clogheen. The show has received rave reviews throughout Ireland and along with Peigí, the trad band 'Rattle the Boards' and a host of puppets promises for a great night of music and fun. The show was a sell out success in Clonmel recently where once again it was a magic blend of humour, visual art and traditional music.
The show commences at 8pm and tickets are €15 for adults and €10 for children. Booking now from Lyn 086 608 6638, Breeda 087 696 7661 and from Maureen Creed's shop in Burncourt.
The picture is the window display currently residing in Carey's Pharmacy, Clogheen – where Maeve Carey is renowned for her window displays that change with the seasons.


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The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the forthcoming pickup truck from Daimler, which will share the same chassis as the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will plug a huge gap in Daimler's portfolio, which is the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, and will compete with the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger at the premium […]Read more
Mercedes-Benz has given the world the first glimpse of their latest addition to the commercial vehicle line-up with the Concept X-Class pickup. With a market launch in late 2017 they intend to sell the pickup in the key markets Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and Australia. Initial indications show a two design variants and it will certainly sit […]Read more


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PITCH FEST for Entrepreneurs
We've teamed up with Chris Miller for Treasurer and his new Alton RISING initiative to host a fun, fast paced elevator pitch competition and networking event featuring the best and brightest entrepreneurs and small business owners!
2018 Partnership Drive
We count on the support of businesses and residents to help us stimulate our local economy and improve our quality of life; please consider investing in your downtown today!
What's Up Downtown
Join us at our quarterly info exchange to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton's historic downtown district!
Mississippi Earthtones Festival
We partner with the Sierra Club to celebrate our river through art, music & conservation every 3rd Saturday in September!
Batman & the Joker visit Downtown Alton!
Check out the hilarious video from our SUPERHERO themed car show
Downtown Alton
All over the country, towns and cities are looking back to their traditional downtowns as a great place to work, play, live and shop! Here in Alton, we are blessed with a unique turn of the century riverfront streetscape that has offered all those options for a long time.
With the completion the new Lincoln Lofts, there are over two dozen residential units downtown, with talk of more to come. Shopping options range from quality lifestyles shops to contemporary fashion. We've always been known as the place to party, and more fun bars and new restaurants are opening up all the time.


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- About Us
- Admissions
- Academics
- Students
- Parents
- Athletics
- Alumni
- News/Calendar
- Giving
The Bishop Guilfoyle Ice Hockey Team is a club team that is made up of students from BG as well as students from other schools across the area. The team has been successful in recent years, by being both a finalist as well as a champion of the Laurel Mountains Hockey League. Students who participate in this club team are able to meet and compete with students from BG as well as other schools on either the JV or Varsity squad. Students are to provide their own gear and their own transportation to games and practices.
The Ice Hockey Team has been gaining popularity among students in recent years, often having a student section at home games at Galactic Ice in Lakemont. Summer programs are also available for students who want to hone their skills.
Contact Mr. Ken Partner for more information at firstname.lastname@example.com


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May 23, 2012 --Spot's Spot and Spa in Northern Liberties is offering discounts on two grooming packages through Groupon.
Pay $19 for a regular package which normally costs $45. You can also opt for the spa dog-grooming packages for $25, and that's a savings of more than half off.
Both packages include:
* a bath
ear cleaning
coat cut and blowout
nail trim
a blueberry facial scrub
The spa grooming package adds a few extras.
You can follow this link to get the deal. If you don't have a Groupon account, you'll need to open one up.


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Sooo beautiful.
Posted by:
carolyn |
February 23, 2010 at 08:43 AM
It's gorgeous & I love it. It's like a painting. Great work.
Posted by:
Ann |
February 23, 2010 at 06:29 PM
Very NICE! I started this with 220 and when I got to the pattern, noticed that it didnt match up! I like what you did and may just do the same! Thanks
Posted by:
Deb |
February 28, 2010 at 08:58 AM
Oh, great hat! Now you need to make the finger moose salute!
Posted by:
Patricia |
February 28, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Love the hat! Very Nordic!
Posted by:
textillian |
February 28, 2010 at 09:58 PM
You are amazing - This is awesome - I bet you could make a really neat scarf with that same pattern (HINT HINT)
Posted by:
Maria |
March 11, 2010 at 06:50 AM
oh i love it! how clever!
Posted by:
opal |
March 16, 2010 at 02:10 AM
Nifty hat, it was sure cold enough this year to own and WEAR a few of those. I need to explore hat patterns and expand the wardrobe.
Posted by:
Patricia |
March 20, 2010 at 08:13 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.


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The Challenge
Young adults are not donating money and people in general are giving less money away. WWF Also has a lot more sections they are focused on but are overshadowed by their animal section. To find a way to make the other sections more noticeable and a way to get the young adults to donate.
The Solution
We found that young adults don't donate because they can't see what they donate to. They also don't want to donate that much money as they need the money at the end of the month.
The Result
An app where we showcase all the sections and where you can choose small projects on each section to donate to. Each project will come with a video where they pitch what they want to use the funds for. Instead of using the word donate we used the word "love". If you love a project you will get weekly video updates until the project is done.
My Role
Lead UX/UI Designer
UX Research
Tools and technologies
Sketch 3
Adobe Photoshop
The Full Story
The Challenge
Young adults don't donate to charity organizations anymore. WWF asked us to find a way where we can get the young adults to donate. They also wanted a way to showcase their other sections and not only their animal section. We had 48 hours to come up with an solution and pitch it to them.
The Solution
After some research we found out that young adults do not donate because they cannot afford paying that sum each month. They also don't trust companies anymore. They say that they can't see how their donation is being used or if their donation even matter. We also found out that they found people approaching them for donation bothersome and would rather just avoid them as they always are on the move to somewhere.
The Result
We made an app where you can donate on a fixed amount 20SEK to one or different projects. We also changed the word donation to love. First you choose which section you want see and then you get projects page for that section. Here are 5-6 projects displayed that WWF are doing at the moment and if you enter one of them you can view a video where they explain why they want you to donate to that project and by doing so you will get weekly updates. The weekly updates will be in a video blog form and will encourage the users decision to the donation.


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Our Partners
Lamar A Conerly
Practice Areas: Business Law, Real Estate, Condominium Law, Construction Law, Commercial Litigation, Contracts, Government Law.
Education: Mississippi State University, College of Business (B.S. Accounting and Pre-Law, 1971) University of Mississippi, College of Law (J. D., 1974)
Honors: Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity (President) Phi Alpha Delta Award (Most Outstanding Law Student) Drennan Scholar Pi Kappa Delta Honorary Debate Society.
Associations: Admitted to Mississippi Bar, 1974; admitted to Florida Bar, 1993; admitted to Practice in the Federal Courts of the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; admitted to Practice before the United States Supreme Court; Florida Bar Association; Mississippi Bar Association;, Federal Bar; Copiah County Bar Association (President 1978, 1981); Mississippi State University National Alumni Association (President 1999-2000); Mississippi State University Alumni Fellow (Distinguished Alumni 2003); Mississippi State University Butler Fellow (2001); Chamber of Commerce, Destin, Florida (Board of Directors 1999-2004; President 2002); Chamber of Commerce, Hazlehurst, Mississippi (President); Honorary Commander 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, 2001; Lions Club (President 1997, 1998); United Methodist Church (Usher 1994 – 2000; Administrative Board); United Way (Board of Directors 2004-2008); American Heart Association (Volunteer); Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (Sponsor); Destin Charity Auction Foundation (President 2006, Chairman 2007-2009).
J Bruce Bowman
Practice Areas: Personal Injury Law, Destin's only Certified Civil Trial Attorney, Civil Litigation, Real Estate and Corporate Transactional Law. Certified Civil Mediator.
Education: Graduated from University of Florida, B.S. Accounting, 1984; Graduated from South Texas College of Law, J.D. 1987
Associations: The Florida Bar (Trial Lawyer's Section; City, County and Local Government Law Section), Texas Bar Association, Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast (Board Secretary, 2003-2004), Guardian Ad Litem for the Second judicial Circuit, Leon County, Florida (volunteer, 2001-2002), Legal Aid Program (volunteer, 1990-2001), Shoreline Church – Legal Society, Leadership Okaloosa 2005, Christian Legal Society.
Hayward Dykes Jr
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Contracts, Construction Law, Local Government Law, Personal Injury, and Business Law.
Education: Florida State University, B.S. Criminology, 1998; The University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. 2001.
Associations: Admitted to Florida Bar 2002; admitted to U.S. Middle District of Florida 2002; admitted to U.S. Northern District of Florida 2006; admitted to Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court 2009; admitted to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals 2010; admitted to U.S. Supreme Court 2011; Former Assistant State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit (2002-2005); Phi Delta Phi 2001; Moot Court Board 2001; Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association, Florida Bar First Circuit Grievance Committee "B" (2012-2015, Chairperson 2014-2015); Florida Municipal Attorneys Association; Destin Forward (2008-2009); Destin Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member (2012-Present); Destin Area Rotary Club (2006-2013); Member Destiny Worship Center (2012 – Present).
Hayward Dykes, Jr. was voted to Florida Trends, Florida Legal Elite Up & Comers for 2010. One of 111 attorneys in the State of Florida voted by their peers in the Legal Elite balloting.


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Chauvet honored I DJ Now as its "Independent Dealer of the Year", Pioneer's DJ brand presented a rare "Dealer of the Year" award to the company, and audio magazine The Music & Sound Retailer awarded I DJ Now with "Best DJ Equipment".
ANAHEIM, Cal (PRWEB) March 03, 2015
During the 2015 National Association of Music Merchants (or NAMM), I DJ Now received three awards for exemplary business practices. The professional lighting company Chauvet honored I DJ Now as its "Independent Dealer of the Year" for the second year in a row, Pioneer's DJ brand presented a rare "Dealer of the Year" award to the company, and audio magazine The Music & Sound Retailer awarded I DJ Now with "Best DJ Equipment" in the Multi-Store Dealer division.
Held from January 22 to 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California, the 15th annual NAMM show was a resounding success for I DJ Now, enabling the New York-based retailer to learn more about the latest audio equipment, lighting effects, DJ controllers, and stage accessories for the upcoming year.
Known throughout the music industry as its preeminent convention, NAMM is a trade-only event that brings music retailers, product manufacturers, and professional musicians together. DJ equipment features heavily in the event, with known brands such as Pioneer and Native Instruments commanding large booths on the show floor. During the show, equipment brands offer training workshops, lectures about industry trends, and product demonstrations to retailers, helping I DJ Now to boost its knowledge base even further. Brand representatives and retailers from more than 99 countries registered to attend the 2015 NAMM show. More information about the event can be found at https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2015.
Currently, I DJ Now carries hundreds of lighting and audio products from Chauvet and Pioneer, including multi-light rigs, LED fixtures, DJ controllers, and professional mixers. The retailer was also proud to represent Chauvet at Mobile Beat Las Vegas, a DJ-focused conference that took place between February 23 to 26.
About I DJ Now:
I DJ Now offers a wide variety of professional-level DJ equipment, such as lighting effects, stage systems, recording interfaces, live sound equipment, and speakers. Founded in 1990, the company has built a reputation for its high-quality equipment, reasonable prices, and exceptional service. Customers have the option to purchase any product at I DJ Now's online store or try its two interactive showrooms in New York. I DJ Now have garnered top ratings from BBB and Biz-Rate, and is also trusted as an Official Authorized Dealer of DJ equipment. For more information about I DJ Now and to see products that are currently available, visit http://www.idjnow.com.


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Act now to save the MediterraneanNorth Sardinia: We are coming to the end of what, as it happens, was designated the Year of the Oceans. It might, I suppose, just as well have been called the Year of the Forests and the forests would have continued to burn, their rapid disappearance from the planet totally disregarded by the governments that signed treaties for their protection. Equally, it could have been the Year of the Atmosphere, and the industrialized countries would continue to pollute the ozone layer and overheat the surface of the earth with their emissions.
All these absurd and painful events can easily lead to pessimism. Fortunately, however, the fact that there are organizations and individuals who devote their efforts to the conservation of the environment, and who insist on deciding collectively what to do with our planet, gives a ray of hope in the midst of so much materialistic blindness.
One late afternoon by the sea in the north of Sardinia I watched the sunset with a group of friends. Suddenly, we heard the unmistakable song of whales coming from the sea. It is an acute sound, startling to those who hear it. I had seen and heard whales before near Greenland, in the Gulf of California, in the Valdes Peninsula, and in the Atlantic mouth of the Straits of Magellan. But that evening in Sardinia was the first time I had heard them in the Mediterranean.
Later that evening I saw a number of them emerging from the waves displaying the majestic movements characteristic of big cetaceans first their rounded heads, then their backs bent over the water, and, finally, their tails lashed the waves or plunged back into them, like gigantic, dark butterflies.
Whales have been found in the Mediterranean since long before the Romans named the Gulf of Genoa's shore the Costa Balenae, or when the town we now know as Portofino was named Portus Delphinii. They were there feeding the imagination and generating wonder, a reminder of the limitations of human existence, the inspiration of legends such as the Leviathan, suggesting a notion of elementary respect for the larger forms of life.
Looking at those whales on the coast of Sardinia that afternoon, I could not help shuddering at the state of the sea they were in. Never in the history of mankind has a sea been so ill-treated as the Mediterranean today. It has been plundered to the near extinction of many species by all possible forms of illegal fishing, its waters polluted by every sort of amateur sailor and people who use the sea for fun pastimes they could just as easily seek in Disneyworld.
Obviously, there is no census of the jetskis or of the criminally fast motorboats that cut through the waters of the Mediterranean every day. We do, however, have endless reports of collisions with dolphins that are torn to pieces by propeller blades, as well as hundreds of testimonies from fishermen who, from their slow ships, powerlessly witness the games of the wealthy as the cetaceans pass in front of their motorboats.
There are two products of human ingenuity that I particularly abhor: the power saw and the outboard motor. Millions of blades tear through the forest or move the waters of the Mediterranean as though the sea were an enormous blender preparing a concoction, not for the idlers in the motorboats, but for the inhabitants of the sea. We know that it is very difficult to legislate against market forces especially when the market concerned is that of irrational leisure. It would be even more difficult to achieve an international law to limit speed, pollution, and the sailing zones of summer pseudo-sailors.
But a first, necessary step towards saving the larger sea creatures from extinction is the creation of a protected sea area, a park where animal life is allowed to develop and procreate. This is particularly urgent in the Mediterranean.
But I am pessimistic when it comes to changing the attitudes of rich holidaymakers. Nevertheless I would like to believe that in the not too distant future some industrialist or banker, instead of giving his teenage son a jetski, will invite him to the place in the north of Sardinia where I saw the whales, and show him the most fascinating of gifts. There that boy, together with the fishermens' children, will marvel at the spectacle of cetaceans moving freely in their protected area.
We still have time to save the whales and the dolphins of the Mediterranean. We still have time to give back to the sea of civilizations a small measure of what we have looted from it.
(773 words)
*Luis Sepulveda is a well-known Chilean writer


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|20 Apr 2011
Help with AMD overdrive? Freeze issues
Hey, new to the forums here (be gentle!).
I've had this AMD Sapphire Radeon HD 4650 1Gb DDR2 for a while, and just recently found out about the AMD overdrive feature.
It was locked, so i decided i would unlock the settings and figure it out for myself. I check it out, and click on the "auto tune" button. About 3 minutes into it, i get a white screen, and it freezes up until after 25 minutes (I let it sit) i decided to restart my computer. After that, it would consistently freeze up anywhere between 30 seconds and 5 minutes after I got to the main desktop screen.
However, when I unchecked the box that said "enable AMD overdrive" the auto tune worked perfectly; It went through all the settings, and the card stayed at a steady 48-55 degrees celcius. The final values were a 715 core clock, and a 545 memory clock (max values are at 800-550, respectively). It initially starts the test out at 300-400 respectively, and without overdrive on, the card stands at 600MHz core-400MHz memory.
EDIT: The Core clocking switches between 600 and 165 MHz. If that matters.
So I guess what I'm asking is, what's causing the freezing, and what can I do about it? During one of the computer seizures, i had the chance to open up task manager, and it clocked my CPU usage at 100%.
What's weird, is that when it's not enabled, the auto tune runs it up almost all the way with no problems. It's when the box is checked, however, that it doesn't last 30 seconds.
EDIT2: Just updated my Bios from 1.9 to I believe 1.11..I'll run the app again and see if the update did anything.
EDIT3: Alright, decided to start from the bottom and go up. Got my core to 670MHz, and my Memory to 515MHz, with the box checked, and no freezing/white/black screens.
^^Anyway I can increase that number? It's wierd that when the box is unchecked it goes much higher. Anyways there's no more freezing/white screens so I'm good on that front.
Sorry to bother anyone with this, if you want to delete this thread go for it; However it could be useful for anyone who needs help with their computer, and when searching (i.e. google) they could stumble on this.
|My System Specs
|23 Apr 2011
Windows 8.1 Pro x64
I don't use Radeon cards, but my guess is it's just not getting enough voltage, so you're seeing freezing/crashing.
|My System Specs
|23 Apr 2011
|My System Specs
|23 Apr 2011
Well my PSU is actually upgraded from what I think was 400 to a 500 watt at 80%...if t makes a difference. Either way, what you both are saying makes sense; the program setting the overdrive above what the PSU can handle.
|My System Specs
|23 Apr 2011
No, the PSU is fine - the 4650 isn't a 'power hungry' card.
Just like the motherboard has a BIOS, so to do video cards.
In the video cards BIOS, there is a voltage limit. When the clock speed of the card exceeds what the cards BIOS specified voltage can handled, problems occur.
AMD Overdrive/Autotune only adjusts the cards clock speed and not the voltages.
On cards with adjustable voltage chips, the voltage can be raised via software. Otherwise a modified BIOS flash is needed. Basically, more voltage=more clock speed.
But with the 4650, it's best to just find the max that the card can handle on the stock voltages. It's better to adjust the sliders in AMD overdrive manually vs using autotune.
|My System Specs
|23 Apr 2011
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
I would agree w.Smarteyeball about the Auto Tune feature.
Ive found little use for it, and it always seems to overshoot. Not worth the effort IMO.
Although I seldom OC my GPUs, I found its best to do similar to what you would when OCing a CPU.
Just to bump the Core up in increments of 5-10, and stress test.
Keep going till artifacts appear, then come back down to last stable clock.
Then work with memory speed in the same manner.
At this point youll have your MAX clocks the card can do.
I would go a step further, and back both Core and MEM down a bit from the MAX, and test again and make sure temps are OK.
Not sure what kind of OCs others with those cards are getting. But, it is possible you have a card that just a bad Overclocker. It happens.
Not that you do, just keep in mind its possible.
|My System Specs
|26 Apr 2011
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Download MSI AfterBurner download from Guru3D.com
It's considered the best Graphics Card Overclocking software out there as far as I'm aware...Not sure how well the stress testing software is though (Kombuster) so I'd be careful about using that to test your card with.
|My System Specs
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A new dimension in product experience.
ORBITVU offers an unbeatable range of product photography devices, including hardware and software.
Take a look at what we offer, or give us a call to discuss your requirements.
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No other similar kits on the market come with a fully integrated software offering advanced editing features for both single packshots and entire series of photos taken from different angles.
Equipped with top-quality drives, they offer multiple solutions to streamlining work with product photography, even as early on as preparing the photo session, through to creating and editing photos or presentations to managing entire sessions, facilitating co-operation with a customer and publishing shots to the internet.
The kits are designed for photographers who are frequently dealing with significant amounts of packshots and 360° work, as well as for those who want to expand their scope of provided photographic services. They are also often used by corporate clients, retailers and e-commerce enterprises that have their own in-house studio (or at least studio lighting system) and who are constantly dealing with products of different sizes that cannot otherwise be photographed using the ORBITVU ALPHASHOT compact photography studios.
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The devices are designed for corporate clients, retailers and e-commerce enterprises that are looking to create high-quality product packshots and presentations without the costly overheads of hiring photographers and studios.


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This document is a teacher's guide that provides activities and questions dealing with themes of activism and protest, Hiroshima bombing, government secrecy, and nuclear weapons. The guide supplements the eyewitness interviews and descriptions from the WGBH production People's Century: "Fallout." Other possible themes include human rights, nuclear accidents, and propaganda.
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Why You Should Investigate Before You Invest
Do you investigate before you invest in something? I remember the first time I invested in something I did no research what so ever and guess what I lost my money.
The Law of Investing is one of the most important laws of money. You should spend as much time studying an investment as you do earning the money you put into the investment.
You work really hard at making money, so why rush into investing your money without doing any research. Investigate all possibilities before making any type of commitment.
Don't Lose Money
If you did your homework and you still have any doubts about a particular investment don't invest yet. Hold on to your money and wait until your gut feeling is usually right.
You want to take risks, but if you have feelings that you may lose money don't part with it. Also if you feel you have enough where you can lose a little, that usually means you could lose a lot. A smart question to ask yourself before investing is, "what could happen if I lost all my money from this investment". Could I handle that? If you can not, don't make the investment in the first place.
Only invest with investors who have a proven track record with their own money. Invest in things you believe in and only take advice from financially successfully people.
3 Steps to Successful Investing
First: Investigate the same amount of time as it took for you to make the money you invest.
Second: Invest in things you truly believe in.
Third: Only take investment advice from a financially successful person who already had success with a investment you are looking at.
Some Useful Laws of Money
I was inspired to write about The Law of Investing when I listened to The 21 Absolute Unbreakable Laws of Money. I highly recommend listening to this audio. Below I listed some other laws I have written to help you with your mindset about money.
Rich Thinking Tip 1 – The Law of Cause and Effect
Rich Thinking Tip 2 – The Law of Belief
Rich Thinking Tip 3 – The Law of Expectation
Rich Thinking Tip 4 – The Law of Attraction
Are You an Investor?
If you are I would love to connect with you. Do you currently invest? Did I miss anything you would like to add? I would love your feedback and I always respond to my comments. Thanks in advance for sharing.
Tom Doherty
"Your income grows as you grow personally and professionally."
Skype: tom–doherty
Phone: 631-241-9623 (text or call)
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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This gallery is the complete set of photographs from the museum exhibit: "Long Ago in a Place Called Vietnam."
Artisit's Statement
It is a truism that war has many faces. This exhibit—Long Ago in a Place Called Vietnam—shows some of those faces: the faces of those who went about their daily lives in a war zone in 1965-1966. Second Lieutenant James Lowell was 22 when he was assigned as leader of an Army photographic team based out of what was then called the city of Saigon. When off duty, he and his camera captured the faces of a changing world, the images of those people who were involved in their day-to-day activities in the streets, market places and military installations in and near this rapidly transforming city.


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Welcome to the nysafcse western south page!
Continue on this page to view our photo gallery and additional information about the events in our region.
Congratulations to the following Western South area teachers for winning 2015 NYSAFCSE state level awards!
Thela Snow- Distinguished Service Award
Sara Hochman- Promising New Professional Award
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text: Udi Manber explains Google Search Quality nitinbadjatia #km May 22, 2008 0 Minutes Image by dfarber via Flickr Last month I pointed to an article at Popular Mechanics in which Udi Manber talked about Google's approach to search integrity. Manber just followed up with a post on the official Google blog regarding the same theme. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading... TaggedGoogleSearch Published by nitinbadjatia View all posts by nitinbadjatia Published May 22, 2008


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You want your event to stand out, be memorable and talked about for the years to come. With expectations high, there is a lot of pressure to be different and do something out of the ordinary to impress those attending. But rest assure — we are experienced in putting on shows that will "wow" audiences of all types.
Surprise your guests with an unexpected performance that will leave them wanting more. They want to be entertained and have an exciting experience they will always remember, and we are committed to giving them exactly that. Our dancers include include go-go dancers and break dancers, and specialty acts including, but not limited to, live lampshade statues, LED dancers, silk dancers, fire breathers, gymnasts, contortionists and much more!
* Themed / custom costumes and choreographed dances of all styles are available. Please contact us if you are looking for any other specialty act or service that you don't see listed.


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Yoga On the Road
One of the things I love the most about traveling is that I take the opportunity to check out different yoga studios. I believe that my practice has become very well rounded because I seek out so many different teachers and styles. Of course my favorites have always been Astanga and intense vinyasa flow as they suit my personality. This weekend I am in the Gaslamp district of San Diego. The incredible studio I practiced in this morning is Infinite Yoga. I took the advanced Improv class.
Here is how studio owner Dana (whom was also my teacher!) describes the class:A challenging & dynamic flowing series with impeccable sequencing and an in-depth weekly focus (hips, backbends, arm balancing, etc.). Combine prep work with the more challenging postures of Primary (1st), Intermediate (2nd), and Advanced A (3rd) Series along with inspiration from Forrest Yoga. Integrate a deeper breath & longer holds, move beyond boundaries and reach new levels in your practice!
Wow! Dana is awesome. She is dynamic, authentic, and beautiful! I rarely sweat in any yoga class unless I am at Bikram or other hot yoga classes. By the time class was over, I was drenched! Gotta love detoxing! This one was very powerful, fast moving, and a perfect blend of poses that left me smiling, grounded and balanced in all the good ways. A few aches and pains I came into class with were miraculously gone as well as I floated out of the door. The wonderful thing is, I am headed back tomorrow for another AM session! If you ever find your way to San Diego and are looking for a fabulous studio check out Inifinite Yoga!


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Half Day Workshops
One Day Workshops
Two Day Workshops
Dates and Events
Bead Blog
Students' Work
About Melanie
Contact Me
Blog Feed
Hubble Love!
Wanting to share in the 'LOVE' that's spreading at #lovebeadlove, the fabulous new blog and brainchild of Marcia DeCoster, I made an L with our daughter Louise in mind. She is going ......
Beaded Bottles Workshop
Beatrice Cuff Workshop
Byzantine Cross Workshop
Ducks & Drakes Bracelet Workshop
Eclectica! Workshop
Fan-tastic Variations
Fantasy Garden Cuff Workshop
Heqet Pendant Workshop
Ice Princess
Isabella Necklace Workshop
Leonora Necklace Workshop
Lorenzo de Medici Bracelet Workshop
Lyra's Jewels
Marie Antoinette Necklace
Masterclass - Hubble Stitch
Pearl Button Lariat Workshop
Posh Premier Bag Workshop
Princess Bracelet
Scintillating Spheres Workshop
Tatiana Bracelet Workshop
The Enchanted Lake Workshop
The Grapevine Workshop
Tsarina Reversible Lariat Workshop
Wirework Urns, Vases and Vessels Workshop


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A Blue and White Timbrado Singing
Aziz Shansab receives his Best Novice award at the 2015 Pacific Region Contest
Josue Corona receives one of the Best Individual awards he won at the 2015 Pacific Region Contest
Jose Carillo wearing his 4 medals at the 2015 Pacific Region Contest
Xitlaly Reynoso receives the Rafael Ortiz Judge's Special Award at the 2015 Pacific Region Contest
Some USTF contests have the custom that the winner one year provides a related bird to be auctioned the following year to help financially support the contest. Here Jeily Reynoso, the 2014 winner, describes the 2015 auction bird she has donated.
The Pacific Region has had the custom of going out to dinner as a group right after the awards are presented. The group grows each year.
The wild canary, Serinus canaria, where it all began
and where many Spanish breeders return for
crossbreeding to add brightness to the song of
their lines
Typical green Spanish Timbrado Song Canary in his
song cage
A white crested timbrado
Patty passes her judge's test in Spain
Patty and Henry Vela check out some of the awards in Spain
A nice view of a judging cabinet in Spain
USTF Multinational Judge Patricia Roberts presenting
an award to Sara Palmer at the 2010 Florida Show
Patty presenting an award to Terry Spreeman
at the 2010 Florida Show
Aliot Gonzalez recieves an award from Judge Patty
Johan Radius and his award with Judge Patty
USTF National Judge Sebastian Vallelunga presents
Bonnie Black an award at the 2010 California Show
Judge Sebastian presents an award to USTF
Pacific Regional Vice-President Tom Machin
at the 2010 California Show
David Rose receives an award from Judge Sebastian
At left, Spanish National Judge Angel Luis Moreno
(aka Randy Wilson), shown here with a trainee
judge in Spain, officiated at USTF Song Contests
in 2004 and 2005
Spanish National Judge, Rafael Ortiz, shown here in his
hometown of Cordoba, Spain, officiated at USTF
Song Contests in 2005 and 2006
Spanish National Judge and COM International Judge
and president of Spain's new FECC song canary federation,
Candido Lorenzo, judged the USTF/SCVCEBC
Timbrado Division on
December 2, 2006
Kim Achziger receiving her awards
from Candido Lorenzo at the 2006
USTF/SCVCEBC Timbrado Division
Kim's Vehicle all packed up for the 2007 Santa Clara Contest
USTF President, Sebastian
Vallelunga, receiving his awards from
Rafael Ortiz at the 2005 USTF/SCVCEBC
Timbrado Division
USTF First Vice President, Gisela Behgooy, receives
an award from Rafael Ortiz in 2006
USTF Past President, Patricia Roberts, receives a crystal
award in 2006
Henry Vela, former USTF Treasurer, shows some
Texas style
Angel Luis Moreno (Randy) presents an award to
Audrey Terrazas in 2005
USTF Eastern Regional Vice-President, Susan Kuhne,
shows off her medals at the Lone Star Contest
in 2007 with Judge Rafael Ortiz
Dorothy Eggars with her medal at the 2007
Lone Star Contest
Copyright 2005 United Spanish Timbrado Fanciers. All rights reserved.


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Distance from Captiva, FL to Pensacola, FL
Driving distance between Captiva, FL and Pensacola, FL is 626.11 miles (or 1,007.63 kilometers). If you drove an average car (using about 3.6 gallons of gas per mile), the gas would cost you around $, since you would need about gallons of fuel.
Leaving from Captiva, FL you would reach Pensacola, FL in about 9 hours 27 mins if you keep an average speed of miles per hour, assuming you don't make any breaks or get stuck in traffic.


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Hot off the heels from their recent smash 'To Another Day' from DJ Vivona ft Miss D, Italian dance label Super Soul Music get set to unleash another dynamite single from co-label boss Jonathan Meyer titled 'Breathe'. 'Breathe' marks the debut release of US native and Rome resident, Billie Jean, who delivers her distinctive, sultry vocals over a lush deep and afrocentric tinged soundtrack that's beautifully crafted by Jonathan. Increasing the heat, the 'Club Mix' gradually builds with its pulsating bass, steamy vocal stabs and driving beats, before launching into a dramatic chorus that's laced with intense piano stabs and explodes into an intense acid workout… Primed to bring the house down!!
A performance that strikes the perfect balance between groove and dance floor energy, a mix of funky and soul music productions that expand from house music to tribal sounds. That's Italy's Jonathan Meyer, talented drummer, DJ and producer. In his long career Jonathan has performed in events such as Tony Humphries & Friends and Cirque du Soleil after-show parties. He began at the age of 6, playing drums in the Evangelical Church where his father was the parson. At first he submerged himself into Rome's blues, soul and jazz scenes. Then in 2000 he made his debut in the world of house music with a performance at the Pasha club in Riccione. During his career, Jonathan has specialised in drumming performances and DJ sets (currently sponsored by X-Drum & Ufip Cymbals) as well as music production, continuously hunting for the best sound. 2003 saw the release of the hugely successful single with Frank'o Moiraghi 'Tribal Experience' (incl. Jesse Garcia Remix), on Tribal Spain Recordings which sold over 10,000 vinyl copies! These amazing results prompted the release of 'Tribal Experience Vol 2' (incl. Phunk Investigation Remix) and 'Tribal Experience Vol 3'.
In 2004 Jonathan remixed Simple Minds' greatest hit 'Alive and Kicking' on Absolutely Records. Versatile in his approach to music, Jonathan also unveiled a downtempo artist album – 'Tribal Funk', featuring 11 tracks beautifully blending tribal, funk and soul sounds. Between 2006 and 2007 'Now That I Found You' (written by Barbara Tucker and sung by Dawn Tallman), 'Afrique' and 'Back In The Days' (ft Sabrinah Johnston) were published on Equal Records, along with Luis Radio's 'The Mood' which starred Jonathan on percussion. Since then Jonathan has written, remixed and released many singles including: 'Sunday Light' & 'Talking Alone' (Purple Music), 'Many Things EP' & 'Can't Hold Back' (Madhouse), Mambito (Tony Records), 'Return To Love' by Dj Vivona & Joi Cardwell (a co-production on King Street Sounds) and of course, his debut release that saw the launch of Super Soul Music – 'Warm Me Up'.
Billie Jean (aka Melanie Gerren) was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She discovered a love for acting, however her curiosity to see the world was huge and she left Los Angeles to travel. Billie Jean now lives in Rome where she has been working in television, theatre and film. She has worked with Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic), Pieraccioni (ll Principe e Il Pirata) and Salvatores (Nirvana) to name a few. Music is B.J.'s new passion, her songs are deep while maintaining a sense of humour – a culmination of human existence, various frustrations, interior dilemmas and realisations, all observed during her travels.
Super Soul Music was born out of a deep friendship and a shared love of House music between DJ Vivona and Jonathan Meyer. DJ Vivona met Jonathan through booking him to play at his club events in Palermo. Jonathan Meyer had began to put the mechanisms in place to launch a record label and invited Luca to join him and the partnership was born. Super Soul Music launched 2012 with 'Warm Me Up' from Jonathan Meyer featuring the vocals of Miss D, including remixes from Terry Hunter, Souldynamic, DJ Vivona, Juan Laya and Houseconverse. This was followed by DJ Vivona ft Miss D with 'To Another Day' which featured mixes from Frankie Feliciano, Jonathan Meyer, N'Dinga Gaba, Jon Cutler, MeyerVivona and Houseconverse. The release also had it's own video, filmed and directed by TigreProd during ADE 2012 >>> http://youtu.be/o0lyLBnMRow.
The single received great acclaim and huge support from the world's dj elite including Quentin Harris, Jask, Richard Earnshaw, Mousse T, Dj Pioneer, Ralf Gum, Jovonn, Manoo and many more.
1 Main Mix
2 Club Mix
3 Radio Main Mix
4 Radio Club Mix
'Breathe' will be released on Traxsource Promo on March 25th / Full release April 15th 2013 on Super Soul Music (Italy).


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THE INTERNET EXPLORERS Poster
Boom, bitch! BOOM! Our brand new poster!
Will be signed by myself and Dan unless you specify you'd rather it wasn't in the note to seller part of the checkout!
Printed on A2 Glossy Poster Paper - will be shipped in a cardboard poster tube.
Note: as this is *technically* a preorder, you will receive the actual item up to/around 4 weeks from the date of purchase.