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"SEO Articles" are a waste of your time & money10 min read
There's a very good chance that at this very moment, someone is handing money over to me to write articles to help them rank higher on Google.
On the surface, their logic is sound: I write tons of articles to increase their chances of ranking for certain keywords and phrases.
For example, a flooring company might pay me to write an article like: 5 Benefits to Using Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Your Home.
The theory here is whenever someone searches for a phrase like, benefits of using engineered hardwood flooring, they'll find my client's site and click on it.
And, for the most part, it works. Website traffic does increase. My clients are happy.
Except, they shouldn't be because, well, I'm taking them for a ride. Here's why.
There's no denying that if you hire a writer – who knows about SEO strategies and keyword research – you will see some increase in traffic to your site. And we all know how exciting an uptick in web traffic is, right?
But there's a problem with that line of thinking, and it comes in two parts:
- The kind of traffic you get from these articles is ridiculously superficial and unqualified
- The articles I'm creating for my clients do nothing to convert strangers into leads or customers
Let's delve into these two problems a bit further.
All web traffic is not created equal
Unless you sell ads on your site, it's time to rethink the SEO article.
One of my favorite questions to ask clients is, Who are your target customers?
I love that question because the answer is almost always the same: Everyone!
In a perfect world, businesses would and could cater to every type of consumer out there. But the only thing that kind of blanket-approach thinking does is water down your messaging and prevent you from ever standing out.
Let's take my flooring example again: 5 Benefits to Using Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Your Home.
That topic, alone, is pretty bland. Sure, it's specific, but it's also all sorts of vanilla and by no means stands out on a search engine results page. I did a quick Google search of that phrase (5 Benefits to Using Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Your Home)and came up with these top results:
Assuming the blog I write for my client even ranks among these existing articles, what would possibly make a person click on that post above all others?
And, to make matters even worse, who's to say that the traffic flooding to my client's site is made up of folks looking to buy flooring?
That's why no good SEO article is written without two things in place:
- Solid keyword research, specific to the type of consumer you're looking to target and their mindset at the time of their search
- Your buyer personas, because you have to know for whom you're writing
Clients who pay me solely to write "articles to rank higher on search engines" never provide me with sufficient keyword research, nor buyer personas. I could do this on my own (and at times I do), but that type of work requires a commitment by the client, as much as by me, to develop and nurture a marketing strategy.
Folks who've been led to believe "SEO articles" are a viable strategy for growth aren't typically ready for that commitment. They want cheap results. Increased web traffic.
Superficial numbers.
Here's what you should do to see actual and valuable results with your blogs and articles.
1. Develop buyer personas.
This includes some market research, interviews of existing customers, and conversations with your staff (especially those who work directly with customers).
For my mythical flooring client, we might create a persona like Subcontractor Calvin.Calvin will have a complete profile, including his salary, family life, pain points, and any objections he'd have to doing business with my client.
2. Conduct extensive keyword research that actually targets your personas and their mindsets
Subcontractor Calvin is going to go through three stages before he makes a purchase:
Awareness – Consideration – Decision
The search terms he uses in Google will vary greatly, depending on what stage he's in.
Let's expand that a bit:
For starters, what's the chances that a subcontractor would even google something like "5 Benefits to Using Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Your Home"?He wouldn't. So we know immediately that writing a blog like that to attract Calvin is a waste of time.
He might search for something like Cheap Options for Engineered Hardwood Flooring. Then he'd likely realize the word cheap isn't all that ideal, so he'll refine his search to Budget-Friendly Options for Engineered Hardwood Flooring.
Knowing this, and knowing who I'm writing for, I might create a blog post like 5 Budget-Friendly Engineered Hardwood Flooring Brands for Subcontractors in an effort to attract Calvin.
Now that's how you stand out on Google's results pages.
The point is, the keyword research I conduct is specific to each persona – like Calvin – and specific to their mindset.
That way, my client isn't paying me to write generic content in the hopes of attracting everyone. They're paying me to target a persona with laser-like precision, and, with that type of focus, they're attracting the type of traffic likely to convert.
Follow the funnel – articles should focus on each stage of the buyer's journey
Once Calvin gets enough information about the different types of engineered hardwood available, he's ready to move on to the next stage in the buyer's funnel: consideration.
In other words, Calvin's ready to start researching and comparing companies like my client. His search terms, and the content he's interested in, are completely different than when his search first began.
That's when branded terms (my client's company name, flooring models, specs) come into play. So do testimonials and case studies.
This is what's missing when a client hires me to write "SEO articles." The content is missing focus. It's lacking in relevancy. It's without any true purpose.
Which leads me to the next problem simple SEO articles pose:
SEO articles do nothing to convert strangers into leads or customers
It's time to start thinking about the bigger picture
Imagine, if you will, Subcontractor Calvin. In fact, let's make that easier for you. Here's Calvin:
Adding photos for your personas really help to keep your content focused.
Now, let's say he goes online to find out about the best engineered hardwood flooring options he can offer to his customers. He comes across the blog I write for my client, 5 Budget-Friendly Engineered Hardwood Flooring for Subcontractors. He clicks on that blog, because the title speaks to him.
He reads the article, which he finds valuable. Now he gets to the end of the article. If my "SEO article" clients had it their way, they'd have a simple line at the end of the post that says something like:
Looking for the the best engineered hardwood flooring?
Contact us today!
Or, my client might even ask for something like this:
Like what you read?
Subscribe to our blog!
Neither of these so-called calls-to-action are worth the space they take on your computer screen.
Here's why:
Issue with the first CTA:
The blog I wrote, 5 Budget-Friendly Engineered Hardwood Flooring for Subcontractors, is designed to attract Calvin during his awareness stage. You're skipping a few steps in the buyer's journey by asking the guy to commit to contacting you.
That's why so many prospects close out of the page once they're done with an article. They got what they came for and have no reason to stick around.
Issue with the second CTA:
Question: how often do you willfully subscribe to a blog just because someone asked? Chances are, it never happens.
Don't ask your readers to subscribe to your blog. Give them something they actually want, which means it's time to start thinking about campaigns and lead magnets.
Creating content around campaigns
If my flooring client hired me to create a campaign for him, rather than just "write articles to help him rank," then here's what I would have done:
Taking my research on personas and keywords, I'd develop a lead magnet that I felt Calvin (my client's target prospect) would value, and that fell in line with my client's goal.
This is something that's a bit more robust or unique than a blog post. Let's go with The Ultimate Contractor's Guide to Helping Your Customers Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring.
In order to get this guide, Calvin's going to have to enter some type of contact information online (phone number, email address, etc.).
The moment he provides his information, he turns from strangerinto lead.
But before all that, I need a way to promote that guide, so that Calvin can find it online. That's where I come up with blog ideas like 5 Budget-Friendly Engineered Hardwood Flooring for Subcontractors, as well as a host of others.
I, of course, also actively promote these posts on social media.
At the bottom of these posts I add a personal and targeted call-to-action, hoping to entice Calvin to the lead magnet. How's this:
Want to Get More Customers for Your Business?
Download The Ultimate Contractor's Guide to Helping Your Customers Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring Today and Start Growing Your Business Instantly.
That "Grab Your Guide Now" button leads to a landing page, where Calvin has to enter his information to get the guide.
Now, while not everyone who reads my client's blog post will download the guide, those who do are probably highly qualified leads who are most likely to become customers one day.
Stop building roads to nowhere
Your audiences are on a journey. When you hire me to write articles to help you rank, all you're asking me to do is build a road to nowhere.
By the time folks like Calvin get to the bottom of your articles, are you offering them anything of value, based on their mindset at that specific time?
If you're not, then these so-called SEO articles you're paying me to write are doing absolutely nothing aside from making you feel good that your web traffic is up.
But web traffic is just the tip of the iceberg. If you actually want true value from your content, it's time to think beyond "traffic."


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Laurie A. Bailie, age 65, passed away Dec. 26, 2017 at her residence in Sonora as a result of heart failure. Laurie was born June 5, 1952, in New York to Matthew Aretsky and Ruth Marion Aretsky.
Laurie was a real people person, and always asked people about themselves and genuinely cared what they had to say. Laurie had a way of making everyone around her feel special and important.
Laurie had two, 22-year marriages. The first was to Bob Bailie, the father of her two daughters, Leah and Rachel.
The second marriage was to Snuffy Herring, going into their 23rd year at the time of her passing.
Laurie was very politically active in Sonora, and was a strong supporter of social justice, and participated in many demonstrations for the homeless, the needy and people less fortunate.
Laurie served as past president of the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Tuolumne County. She volunteered for many years at the Lambert Drop-In Center, and served on the Board of the Motherlode Martin Luther King Jr. Committee.
A Celebration of Life for Laurie Bailie will be held on March 31, Saturday, at 1 p.m., at the Sonora Hills Community Center, on Greenley Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Motherlode Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, at PO Box 254, Tuolumne, CA 95379.

subset: commoncrawl


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The largest island in Halong Bay, Vietnam, Cat Ba Island, Vietnam is home to the Cat Ba National Park. The Cat Ba National Park covers an area of nearly 200 square kilometers. It has both forests and water bodies within its boundaries. The national park is an attraction to the tourists who enjoy hiking. To the east of the island is the Lan Ha Bay. This bay is famous for its excellent beaches and breathtaking scenery. The Cat Ba Island is home to two white sand beaches both located one kilometer from Cat Ba town. They are Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2. These two beaches are interconnected by a seven hundred meters long wooden walkway.
Cat Ba Island, Vietnam is rich in flora and fauna. There are more than 600 different kinds of plants in this island. The wide variety of trees includes Bang, Goi Nep, Sang Le and Kim Giao. The island is filled with animals of rare species like the white headed langurs, deers and macaques. It is home to a number of sea animals like sea turtles, lobsters, coral, oysters and dolphins. All these features have turned Cat Ba Island into one of the major Vietnam popular destinations.
Cat Ba Island, Vietnam: Best time to visit
The best time during the year to visit the Cat Ba Island, Vietnam is October and November. The weather is best during this time of the year. During these two months the island experiences a pleasant weather to enjoy the national park, to walk on the beaches and absorb the stunning beauty of the island. Temperatures drop from December onwards thus having a chilly weather. March and April are wet, and June, July and August are hot with a high percentage of humidity.
Cat Ba Island, Vietnam: Getting there
To get to Cat Ba Island one can travel from Hanoi, Vietnam to Haiphong by train or bus and then to Cat Ba by a boat. One can travel directly to Halong Bay, Vietnam from Hanoi, Vietnam by a chartered helicopter and from there to Cat Ba by boat.
There are a number of agents who arrange for trips to the Cat Ba Island and ensure that your sightseeing in Vietnam is as hassle-free and as enjoyable as possible. Even hotels and cafes in Hanoi, Vietnam too arrange for tours to the island.
October 31, 2008
Cat Ba island Vietnam
Posted by Steve Bruce at 12:02 PM
Labels: Cat Ba island, Cat Ba tours, Vietnam travel


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Procurement constantly seeks opportunities to enhance services and processes so that we can exceed your expections.
Note: For additional Procurement User Resources relative to Valencia College faculty/staff, please refer to the Budget Tab in Atlas.
All contracts are regularly updated and maintained in the Procurement Department.
Contractors doing business with the College, should become familiar with the College's contractual terms and conditions.
Consultant Agreement
Continuing Services Contract
Independent Contractor Agreement (Used for student related activities)
Speaker Agreement
Special Provisions for Grant related Contracts
Insurance Requirements - Valencia has established Minimum Insurance Requirements based on the type of services provided. Click here to view: Insurance Matrix
Awarded Contract List - Updated Awarded Contract List
Rental Car Information:


text: Honda Announce Investment For Rajasthan Plant Production Expansion Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL), has announced that it will invest INR 380 crore in its Tapukara plant in Distt. Alwar, Rajasthan to expand the annual production capacity of the plant from the current 1,20,000 units per annum to 1,80,000 units. adminMarch 27, 2015 News No Comments Read more


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Dear Diary Has Somebody Out There Giving Us a Bad Name
Dear Diary Has Somebody Out There Giving Us a Bad Name
We believe the guy with the fake mullet managed to convince him it is, while acknowledging the recently greater popularity of Freesia. [Fuller]
Molecules of competitiveness. I don't get all of the WWE references in the Best and Worst columns. For example, would this qualify as a bodyslam or a chair to the face:
MSU hit a school record 17 3 pointers against Purdue, including 6 by Gary Harris. In their losses to Nebraska and UM, they hit 14 total out of 47, with Harris going 5 of 20. Apparently, those wrists, shoulders, and ankles were fine on Thursday but that long bus ride between East Lansing and Ann Arbor jostled all the bones out of sorts again.
Chair to the face I'm guessing, since most of the momentum was generated by Izzo's bouncing off the ropes, and bronxblue just put a hard object in the way. Either way it's pretty entertaining.
|Scientists think Morgan and Morris may have cohabitated in ancient Crisler, and may have even interacted.
Creationists claim Jordan Morgan is less than 4,000 years old. The debate rages as ClearEyesFullHeart presented evidence that a Jordan Morgan-like creature was living in Crisler back when it was still called an arena. What appeared to be advice to competitors was found on cuneiform tablets that match Morgan's particular type of swagger. CEFH also suggested that J-Mo-anthropus may have domesticated dogs, and participated in battles against the ancient Greeks.
How bad can we make it? There is a singularly small type of person who sees a sexual assault expulsion and jumps for joy for the hammer with which he can pound a sports rival program on internet message boards. All fanbases have them, all fanbases are embarrassed by them. The best way to manage them is if the thought leaders, i.e. the journalists, maintain a high level of integrity and investigation, focusing on facts, providing context, and discouraging over-speculation. Good journalism is a thousand times better than good P.R.
If you're wondering why it's Sparties, of all roaches, doing most of the scuttling, it's because their media are 30% trolls themselves, 60% too biased to consider fighting the trolls, and the remainder aren't trying all that hard. I removed, at last count 13, fight-back threads this and last week, because there's nothing to be gained by criticizing the journalistic integrity of Mike Valenti or Graham Couch or Eric Thomas, etc. There's a certain type of person you just remove from the message board; if somebody's given him a broadsheet or a highly trafficked url or a 15,000-watt microphone instead, roll your eyes and ignore it.
The least we could hope for is for those without a dog in the fight to not be lazy with the publically available facts. Like how FERPA works (BiSB's fisk of MLive's attempt to get in on the Daily's glory). Or that the Ed Dept.'s involvement began when they used Title IX to tell the university to institute the policy they're reviewing, not last week, and that at last count 24 universities' policies were under investigation, with two more completed and seven more have had recent controversies. Or that a few minutes on the chief complainant's blog raises obvious credibility concerns that he should have to address when interviewed.
The Daily has continued to produce the best reporting on the subject, while the Detroit papers, SI, Huffington Post (to their credit they at least edited their article at the end with suggested corrections), and now Mlive have, while trying to play catch-up on the students, been caught biting at the chum of shock value while burying or ignoring the easy context. Prediction: in 10 years half of the metro-Detroit media will be replaced by former Dailyites and bloggers. Most of those who haven't will cater to Michigan State fans, because roaches are survivors.
Etc. Michigan is 98% to hang a banner. Ron Utah says the position changes are a Hail Mary and this inspires…confidence? Six of eight is a narrative-beater. DCAlum provided his eyewitness account of the MSU lining up fiasco. Goal-by-goal vs. Minnesota was too depressing for me to even read this week. LSA columns on win probability and home versus away stats.
[Jump for the best of the board, and the title reference]


text: Terrilee Whitsed owner of Boutique Reality located around the Gold Coast area. Terrilee was in the midst of building a new website and wanted a video landing page showcasing how beautiful the Gold Coast area is. I had shot tons of stock footage for this project over the course of two moths and we came up with a really amazing video for her new website.


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Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts
SAP MDM software
What SAP master data management basics should data controllers learn?
Data controllers may find themselves without the know-how to update master data once the SAP consultants have gone and the ERP system is live. These essentials will rectify that. Continue Reading
Tackle SAP master data templates in phases for better SAP ERP success
Focusing on SAP master data templates twice before go-live can improve a project's chance of success, writes Jawad Akhtar. Continue Reading
Working with SD and MM data in tables
Working with SD and MM data in tables Continue Reading
Master data look-up tables
Learn about SAP master data look-up tables in this response from Jay Narayanan. Continue Reading
Loading data with the SAP data transfer process (DTP)
Jay Narayanan explains a solution for problems associated with loading data using DTP. Continue Reading
Filling a field in a Z table
In this expert response, Matt Billingham suggests how to complete created fields within an SAP Z table. Continue Reading
The true value of MDM
Master data management has a lot of hype associated with it, but SAP users know this concept isn't exactly new and R/3 already had MDM capabilities. Expert Josh Greenbaum discusses how MDM can be useful but why it's not the failsafe we expected. Continue Reading
Master data flag and text attribute flag
In this expert response, Jay Narayanan defines the master data flag and the text flag within an Info Object and their functions. Continue Reading
Data storage in an SAP table through JCo
Our expert provides instructions for sending data in an SAP file through the Java Connector. Continue Reading
The skinny on MDM from SAP
Read Joshua Greenbaum's expert opinion on SAP's master data management (MDM) and how it plays into business intelligence. Continue Reading
Put a call to an SAP function module for additional customer checks
Application development expert Matt Billingham describes how to put a call to an SAP function module in UPDATE TASK, for additional functionality during a save. Continue Reading
Will business intelligence and SAP BW help automate the downloading process?
Wondering how business intelligence and SAP BW can help automate the downloading process and help with SAP reporting and querying? Krishna Kumar, mySAP solutions expert, will tell you how. Continue Reading
Storing obsolete objects
Master data transaction codes for corresponding message types
Downloading material master data in text file format


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Bob undertook studies in art/architecture at the University of New Mexico which evolved into a career in architecture/design/building. However photography was always his advocation for 40 years and for 7 years now a full time pursuit. Bob's work has been recognized at national photography sites and published in international photography magazines, he's also won numerous photography awards. For 35 years he's endeavored to capture those magical moments of beauty in California and San Diego in particular which offer a bounty of these images. He's delighted to now be able to share them with you.
His website consists of an "Overview" or his main gallery that displays images taken from 11 other distinctive galleries that can be found under "Featured" or "All My Photos" at his website.
I thank you for taking the time to review my work and sincerely appreciates your visit, the galleries are for your enjoyment or purchase.


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Promotional Staff – Self Build and Design Show at Manchester Central
The North West Self Build & Design Show opens its well built and perfectly balanced doors at Manchester Central each year.
If you are a DIY enthusiast or a builder that wants to know what's going on in the world of property conversions, 2 storey extensions or barn conversions then this really is the show to be at.
There will be ample opportunity to talk to the experts with companies promoting their services at the exhibition.
We will of course have some of our exhibition and promotional staff doing there bit to help some of the exhibitors really make the most of their time at the show and we are very much looking forward to slipping into our building clothes and getting amongst it.
If you want to learn more about the event then click here
To find out about hiring our promotional staff to help you at Manchester Central then call us on 0844 800 0071 or simply complete our on line enquiry form.


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Previous Date |
Next Date | Jefferson
Five Cents by Date | Five Cents -
Nickel by Type
PCGS Nos: 4041, 84041, 4182,
84182, 94182
Circulation strikes: 9,796,000
Proofs: 51,386
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 75%
Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None (for
Philadelphia) to the right of the building on the reverse
complete information is available on the CoinFacts
CD-Rom, including:
Recent appearances at auction
Variety information
To purchase the CoinFacts CD-Rom, click
here. To see a sample page of extra information, click
The finest Uncirculated non-Full Step examples graded by PCGS are 31 MS-66's.
The finest Uncirculated Full Step examples graded by PCGS are 2 MS-67's.
The finest Proof examples graded by PCGS are 16 PR-68's.
The finest Proof Cameo examples graded by PCGS are 23 PRCA-67's.
The finest Proof Deep Cameo examples graded by PCGS are 6 PRDC-67's.
Sources and recommended
"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service


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Necken is a tile based roguelike set in the dangerous Swedish forest. Your quest is to find the water spirit Necken, a creature living off of drowning people in the water where he lives, luring them with his beautiful music.
Collect resources, craft your equipment, and battle the creatures trying to stop you from getting to Necken.
- Explore random parts of the forest
- Simplistic tactical combat
- Gotta have that perma death
- Craft your weapons and items, or maybea pickaxe
The game is under development, and features are subject to change.


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Auto Shipping Quotes
When you begin searching for a vehicle transport company, you need to seek information. Shipping can be quite costly, for the service as well as for repairs, if there is any sort of accident. Below are some items to be careful for several days you choose a car shipping company. […]Read more ›


text: I recently developed a habit of watching anime on PSP. Unfortunately most of the episodes are in either MKV or OGM containers with included subtitles (and occasional dual audio) and I just can't figure out a way to batch-convert these files to PSP-friendly H264. Normal converters don't add subtitles and pick whatever audio track they can find first. Couldn't find any tips on this elsewhere (apart manually extracting sub/audio tracks for every single file and later converting them individually). Any ideas?


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020 3445 5150
Ireland - £ (gbp)
Select a country
Select a currency
£502 opinionContact us
A practical retro-chic touch to stall books
Colour shades
These colours are not an option; they specify the different official RAL colours present in the product.
Light ivory #RAL. 1015
Grey brown #RAL. 8019
Material Details
Product Classification
Weight and Dimensions
The PIB guarantee
Delivery via DPD UK
International home delivery
Cost of delivery : £7
This product is not available right now.
To find out more, contact us.
Delivery time: 48-72hrs after shipping
From Xavier
on 16/12/2015
"Very nice product of good quality, original and decorative. Excellent delivery from this store that deserves to be recommended."
From agnes
on 13/12/2015
"Great quality price ratio"
English country house style
The selection of PIB


text: Hello Everyone, Long story short: I'm using the EZ Client to copy GBA ROMs to the microSD card. After that I'm able to flash a game to the memory (NAND, NOR, whatever it is) and play the game. My saves aren't sticking, even though when I power up my DS the EZ Flash firmware writes the save. Also, according to some guides I've read you can run games smaller than 16MB without flashing them. Is this just for the Deluxe model? What is frustrating me is that I can't find any definitive guides on this same exact hardware. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


text:
Contact Information
Address: Priory Mill, Hay Road (called the Struet in town), Brecon, Powys, LD3 7SR (for directions follow link to find us.)
For camping enquiries, please check AVAILABILITY before emailing (but please note that advance emailing is necessary during the busier summer periods as we may not be able to take last minute bookings)
We don't take bookings over the phone at all (sorry!) …. but we do try to respond to emails as speedily as possible, so please feel free to use this method of contact for any queries that you have.
Email: email@example.com
For camping bookings please state dates, number of adults, children (2-11yrs) and dogs (stating breed). We also need to know how many tents and vehicles.


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Although I may be completely biased, Kansas City is the best city to spend the holiday season in. Compare it to more popular holiday destinations such as NYC or Chicago, but without the skyrocketing prices or ridiculous crowds. KC has everything these two cities have, but at more affordable prices and easier access. Let me explain further.
Kansas City transforms from your typical Midwest city to a winter wonderland when the holiday season comes around. Sights and activities for all ages are limitless, making it the perfect place to intake some Christmas cheer. As a Kansas City resident for the last 11 years, I know the best things to do when winter rolls around.This is your guide to a Kansas City Christmas.
Attached to the greeting-card mega company, Hallmark, Crown Center is an entertainment center and shopping center all rolled into one, making it a must-do on your list. My favorite part about this during the holidays is the skating rink. What would winter be without lacing up and gliding (or falling) around? Also located at Crown Center is Kansas City's own Mayor's Christmas tree. This bad boy stands taller than the Christmas tree on the White House lawn. Quite an impressive tree if I do say so myself.
(For more information, visit crowncenter.com/)
Maybe it's because I'm a dancer, or because I've been so many times, but I feel like an essential part of the Christmas season is going the see The Nutcracker. The Kansas City Ballet does an amazing production of it and now that their performances are in the brand new Kauffman Center, it's even better. Even if you're not a big fan of classical ballet please go see their performance, you won't regret it!
(For more information, www.kcballet.org)
You've probably all seen, or heard of, the Country Club Plaza. (If you haven't you need to get out more) Although the Plaza is an amazing and beautiful place throughout the year, it reaches its peak at the holiday season. Every Thanksgiving, the 15-block district lights up as its iconic Christmas lights are turned on for the season. This sight is amazing to see, whether you're there for the ceremonial switch or anytime throughout the season. One of the best ways to see the twinkling lights is from one of the Plaza's horse-drawn carriages. Anyone will feel like royalty touring the beautiful streets of downtown KC. (Fun fact: my parents got engaged on one!) The Country Club Plaza is the primo location for the best shopping and dining in Kansas City. Stop by my favorite popcorn store, Topsy's, for a great big tin of caramel, cheese and buttered popcorn. My mom buys at least two of these every year. Yum. Last on your to-do list at the Plaza is actually located just outside of the Plaza area. Ward Parkway, one of the main streets that leads to the Plaza district, is home to some of the most impressive mansions you'll ever see in your life. When they're lit up during the holidays, they're exquisite. I love driving through these neighborhoods on the way to and from the plaza on dark winters nights, with the snow sparkling on top of all of lights.
(Visit countryclubplaza.com for more info)
Union Station is exactly what it sounds like. Back in the day, Kansas City's Union Station was the thriving center of transportation as trains were coming and going all the time. Although there is much less train-traveling these days (though I highly suggest it if you've never done it before), Union Station has managed to continue to bring in visitors with their ever changing events and their very popular Science City. However, during the holidays, Union Station becomes quite the sight to see. From giant Christmas trees that stretch to the high ceilings, to train sets that weave between replicas of the Kansas City area, to a train kiddos can ride on, and even a Thomas the Train, lit up, waiting for kids to come play. The list goes on and on. No matter what you like, Union Station is the holiday play place for all ages.


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Communication Ideas
So - youve got a BIGmack (or equivalent) - AKA a 'single message device'...
- How often is it used, every day?
- What can you do with a device that only stores one message at a time?
Well loads, actually!
Download this colourful ABC of Single Message Ideas Wall Poster.
It will spice up your wall displays and will remind you and your staff of all the communication needs that you can meet, and all the communication opportunities you can create, with the simplest of AAC devices.
This poster was created by CALL Scotland, in collaboration with Tony Jones of TalkSense.
See Tonys website for more great ideas and words of wisdom about AAC.
- Format: A3 poster
- File size: 0.66Mb
- File type: PDF
- Published: 2014


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As you know, every member of the Nine Months Of team is working hard to raise much-needed funds for the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS). As a charity, PSS currently receives no funding from larger sources (such as the National Lottery) and so the work they do is funded entirely by donations and fundraising campaigns such as this one.
So far the team have raised over £400 and it is still their first month! They have 8 whole months to go to try and reach their £9,000 target (and as many of their challenges include major events at the end of the 9 months we can expect a large number of donations to come in at that time).
But where will all that money go? Why should you consider sponsoring our members and supporting PSS? The easiest way to answer that is to share with you some of the ways in which PSS has used donations over the past year and what their plans are for the future.
The past year
Within the past 12 months, PSS has grown immensely. Volunteer numbers have increased significantly and whilst this means we are able to offer support to more women and their families during a HG pregnancy it also means that the logistics of keeping up-to-date with all the volunteers and matching them with those who have requested support has become much more challenging. Whereas before regional volunteer co-ordinators were able to keep up with the demand, we have now reached a capacity where a national co-ordinator and extensive volunteer database is required.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts throughout the previous year, PSS was able to create a part-time paid role for a co-ordinator who had both experience and passion for building the volunteer network. This was a big move for the charity as they have previously relied entirely on volunteers whose time may sometimes be limited. Having a contracted co-ordinator means that volunteers and those requesting support will always have a main point of contact who can deal with any queries quickly and efficiently. And this in turn has led to even greater numbers of volunteers being registered and trained by the charity, allowing us to continue to meet the demand for support which increases as quickly as knowledge of HG and our charity does.
But we're not just about the personal support. We are also passionate about educating healthcare professionals about pregnancy sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum so that women do not have to fight so hard for the acknowledgement and treatment they need. And to be able to do this we need to have access to research and the opportunities to meet with the healthcare professionals who are faced with the condition on a daily basis. That is why we ran our own research surveys (for women and for healthcare professionals) regarding their experiences of pregnancy sickness and it is why we are holding a national conference this week specifically for healthcare professionals in this field. And neither of these would have been possible without the donations that have been given over the past 12 months.
The future
If you look at the charity's aims, you'll see that there are so many other things that we want to achieve. We'd like to have the ability to fund a 24 hour information line which is answered by a person no matter what time of day it is called. At present we cannot provide this and so our information line is connected to an answering machine and is checked several times each day. It is the best we can do at the moment, but we would love to have the line manned by someone 24 hours a day.
We would also like to conduct further research and connect with far more healthcare professionals than we are currently able to. We are building up connections with consultants, GPs and midwives but we could do so much more if funds were available.
With this in mind, PSS will be attending the Royal College of Midwives' Annual Conference on 13th and 14th November this year. This will be a fantastic opportunity to meet so many midwives who could make a massive difference to the care and experience of women struggling through a pregnancy complicated by severe pregnancy sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum. We are very excited about going. But it is at great cost to the charity (we're talking hundreds of pounds just for the stall, without travel expenses etc added on top). And whilst this is a cost we feel is completely justified in what we will achieve through attending the conference, it is taking a large percentage of the funds we have available to us.
Which is why PSS has just launched a "mini fundraising drive" to raise money specifically towards the cost of attending this conference. The call has gone out on Facebook and now we are asking you via the Nine Months Of blog too. Even if you just have a couple of pounds to spare, we would really appreciate it if you could help us cover the cost of the conference. £1 here and £5 there soon adds up (the last time we ran a fundraising drive like this we covered the cost of our research surveys within one evening!)
If you'd like to donate to this, please do so by visiting the PSS Donate page and add your donation via either PayPal or Virgin JustGiving. This is a standalone request and is not directly linked to the Nine Months Of campaign, so please do not try donating for the conference via the team's BT Donate page.
Obviously, we know that many of you are already supporting the Nine Months Of team and have already donated or are planning to donate during the remaining 8 months of our challenges. And for that we say a big thank you to you all. Your support (via comments, shares on social media and donations) means a lot to us and is helping us work through our doubts and fears and continue working towards our goals. And that is what it is all about!


text: On March 4th, 148 internationally-minded high school students from 22 schools on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island gathered to learn about rising tensions in the South China Sea. Participants engaged in a negotiation simulation based on past conflicts around the Spratly Islands, and took on the roles of diplomats from China, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Japan, and the United States. Experts from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and Pacific Forum CSIS briefed students. The simulation reflected the political situation in Southeast Asia and the difficulty in finding a solution that satisfies all nations.


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Nuts n More Peanut Butter - Salted Caramel Flavour
Salted Caramel is THE on trend flavour and it REALLY lends itself to a peanut butter - quite simply if you're a fan of caramel (and who isn't!) then you NEED to have this Nuts n More Salted Caramel flavour in your life!
Key Benefits
Who is Nuts n More Peanut Butter - Salted Caramel Flavour For?
If you like a salted caramel dessert (or just caramel in general) then this is the perfect healthy sweet treat for you.
When to Use Nuts n More Peanut Butter?
At Echo we generally 'graze' on nuts n more peanut butter through the day but feel free to enjoy yours whenever it suits.
Who Are Nuts n More?
Nuts n More are the original high protein peanut butter company; with a real focus on FUN flavours and NATURAL formulations they are a top brand here at Echo and the "go-to" high protien peanut butter when we want a healthy treat.


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The recent Sally Satel op-ed in Forbes brings home an excellent point about the negative ecigarette ads that attempt to sound a ringing yes to the "are ecigarettes dangerous" question. While ecigarette safety is obviously important, these ads don't really focus on that issue at all. What they do, to some success, is create doubt in the mind of the viewer, meaning smokers that are looking for an alternative to tobacco cigarettes are being mislead.
As Sally says, "news about inaccurate labeling, shoddy counterfeits and poorly made ecigarettes that emit toxins understandably makes some smokers nervous about relinquishing the devil they know." While those are legitimate qualms about safety standards, what the CDC and others do to distract smokers isn't.
If you haven't read any of the writings from Sally Satel, you would be wise to review them. Her thorough understanding of the world of electronic cigarettes has made her a go-to figure for Forbes.com in addressing the are ecigarettes dangerous concerns.
In this latest article, Sally points out the eerily similar approach between Big Tobacco back in its heyday and the current campaign by the CDC. The specific connection is to an internal memo from the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company in 1968 that showed the audaciousness of Big Tobacco. Doubt is our product," is how an executive from the company addressed his peers, continuing on to say, "[It] is the best means of competing with the 'body of fact' that exists in the mind of the public… of establishing a controversy."
The barrage of negative ecigarette ads from the CDC is basically using a similar method with regard to ecigarette safety. If they can create doubt in the mind of the potential user, they won't be as likely to reach for the battery-powered device. Unfortunately, that means a lot of smokers will continue doing what they do, without the opportunity to change their lifestyles completely.
CDC Anti-Vaping Ad Incredibly Misleading
Satel points to a specific ad within the "Tips from Former Smokers" series. It features an ex-smoker by the name of Kristi and quotes her saying, "I started using ecigarettes but kept smoking. Right up until my lung collapsed."
But as Satel explains, "This is deeply misleading. While the CDC may love spending your money to promote their agenda their lies by omissions should leave you somewhat upset.
Kristy's lung, it turns out, collapsed after she stopped using ecigarettes and resumed smoking.
There are no reported cases of ecigarette use resulting in collapsed lungs." Yet negative ecigarette ads like that one can create doubt for smokers about ecigarette safety, essentially using the same strategy that Big Tobacco used to but in reverse.
The same goes for California's Still Blowing Smoke campaign against electronic cigarettes. It makes some off the wall claims like saying ecigarettes are worse than traditional tobacco cigarettes because vapor contains more particles. That's just a not a measure harm. "Particles per se are not a measure of harmfulness – asthma inhalers deliver particles to the lungs," Satel writes. This kind of stuff goes on and on, but nobody looks into the reality behind it. It may not make a firm case against ecigarettes, but it can create enough doubt so as to make any smoker think twice about making the switch.
That's not just a shame; it is also just plain wrong. It really isn't that far away from what those old tobacco executives used to do to confuse the public. Sally Satel is one of the people trying to get the word out to help smokers, and this is another example of her being spot on. "Only 8 percent of all former smokers have converted to vaping. That percentage needs to grow. But agencies such as the CDC and state of California are doing their best to halt the progression, " she writes.
This warped impression of vaping is doing so much harm to a community of millions, so many of which die every year from tobacco-related illnesses. The CDC and others running these types of fear campaigns should be ashamed at themselves. If only we had more Sallys out there, maybe we could drown out those opponents of ecigs that are selling doubt and fear. We'll keep doing what we do and we know the ecigarette revolution will overcome it detractors, as it always has.
Happy Vaping!


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Ready when you need it.
Cold mix asphalt is mixed and applied at lower temperatures than conventional hot mix, making it perfect for the western Canadian environment. Cold mix asphalt can be premixed and stored for months at a time, making it ideal for road repairs and other low-volume uses.
Cold mix asphalt is produced when a special type of emulsified asphalt is mixed with aggregates. The emulsion used reduces the viscosity of the asphalt, making it pliable even at cold temperatures.
Cold mix asphalt also has a number of environmental benefits. Low-temperature mixing reduces fuel consumption and resulting fumes. Production of cold mix asphalt doesn't require high temperatures, therefore, emissions from the production facility are also reduced.
Colasphalt High Residue Emulsion
Colasphalt High Residue Emulsion is a cold mix asphalt ideal for road patches and repairs in almost any temperature. Colasphalt High Residue Emulsion gives you the option of blade laying or paver laying. It's very pliable, even when cold, while still maintaining high float characteristics.
Colasphalt High Residue Emulsion can perform many of the same functions as hot mix asphalt while using a lower volume of product, making it a more efficient way to address pavement repair and maintenance.
Benefits of Colasphalt High Residue Emulsion:
- Retains a very high percentage of asphalt residue
- Retains pliability and high-float properties
- Allows for blade laying or paver laying
Colasphalt Eco Products
Colasphalt's Eco Products provide a more responsible alternative to traditional asphalt products. Our Eco Products present environmentally friendly qualities in their composition, application and results.
In addition to Colasphalt High Residue Emulsion, we carry the following cold mix asphalt products:
Product Design and Consultation
At Colasphalt, we work closely with our clients to ensure they select the best products for each project. For particularly demanding projects where custom products are necessary, we work with our clients to customize or design new ones that meet their needs and specifications.


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Passport application service expands to Berbice
Residents of regions 5 and 6 can now apply for their passports at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, Berbice, from Monday, November 28, 2016.
The Central Immigration and Passport Office listed Mondays and Tuesdays as the days when applications can be made. Passports can be uplifted on the other working days.
However, this process only applies to persons who are already in possession of a machine-readable passport that is either lost, damaged or filled.
First-time applicants will continue to apply at the Georgetown Branch of the Central Immigration and Passport Office.


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Disneyland® Resort Travel Tips
Red Lion Staff's Top Disneyland® Tips
Take the guess work out of packing for your next vacation to Disneyland® and Disney's California Adventure® and enjoy our simple Disneyland® Resort tips. Let us make this process simple for you and your family.
- The Longer You Play the Better the Savings - Enjoy discounted guest room rates the longer your stay. Plus, the daily cost of the park ticket also drops the longer you visit the parks. For more information on ticket prices visit our onsite Disney Desk in the lobby of the hotel or our online Disney Ticket Store.
- Avoid the Crowds - The best time to visit Disneyland® Resort and Disney's California Adventure® is September - December (avoiding major Holidays) and the second week of January - March (except holiday weekends). Consider visiting the park on weekdays, it is a great time to avoid the long lines.
- Save on the Rental Car, Find a Disney Hotel within Walking Distance - The Red Lion Hotel Anaheim Resort is half a mile from the entrance of both the Disneyland® and Disney's California Adventure® Parks. Traveling is easy when you stay at a hotel close to Disneyland®.
- Save on Food for the Entire Family - There are fantastic restaurants through out both parks and Downtown Disney. If you are looking to save some money, our onsite restaurant offers meals through out the day, as well as our 24 Hour Grab and Go snack bar. Get fueled up before you head to the park. The park also allows you to bring snacks into the park for your long day of play.
- Pack Smart - Don't forget the walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat and backpack. This will save you from having to buy last minute items and you will have more time to enjoy the parks.
- Consider A Way To Enjoy Shorter Wait Times - take advantage of FAST PASS, buy a park ticket which includes Magic Morning, Rider Switch Service, and Single Rider Lines. Download free wait time apps. This will help you predict, and avoid, the lines at your favorite park attractions.
- Locate Your Favorite Characters Before you Start Your Adventure - help your children find his or her favorite characters on your next trip. For more details visit City Hall (or any information booths) for specific character times and locations.
Make your hotel reservation today at the Red Lion Hotel Anaheim Resort while using our helpful Disneyland® Resort tips.


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At Almond Grove, we believe that Jesus works in us to change lives through us. We'd love to get to know you better!
Why we exist can best be summed up in the following four words:
bring | build | equip | reach out
We aim to bring people on a journey to meet with Jesus Christ
We want to build people into a vibrant church community
We want to help equip people to live their life to the fullest and
We want to reach out to our community and the nations in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ph: +61 8 8557 7299


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Costa Rica Vacation - Horseback Riding Adventure
- in the Cloud Forest or at Lake Arenal -
every month special full moon tour to the Arenal Volcano lookout
For horseback trekking there is this option: 3 day horseback star ride.
Statement Sabine's Smiling Horses
|Any of the following horseback riding tours are possible in both directions. From Monteverde to La Fortuna or from Arenal Volcano to Monteverde. In the dry season (December to July) you can go via El Castillo or via Rio Chiquito, the old trade trail from the Pacific to the Caribbean side. You will have lake and volcano view along the way as well as you ride in the jungle. Coming down before we follow the path in the farmland we have to cross the river 3 times. No river crossing on the Rio Chiquito route. We recommend a better alternative to this ride.
In the wet season (August to January way up in the mountain) we do not go. The path is even in dry season only reasonable dry. We had too many complains. People and Horses are unnecessarily getting in danger on muddy slippery trails. There is also no other way out of the mountain than by horse or on foot. Serious operators, that have been riding on this trails themselves do not consider this trail as an option.
In any season, weather and children save - may be wet - is the horseback ride Monteverde - Arenal Volcano along Lake Arenal (photo below). You will have lake and volcano view along the way at all times as well as you ride along the jungle. A quick boat transfer brings you to the other side of the lake.
|photo to the right shows Sabine's first time on trail Arenal to Monteverde
|Sabine's Smiling Horses do not ride on these trails for a reason
|make your choice carefully !!!
Depending on interest and experience we offer the 2 hour campesino tour at $ 45 US or day ride for $ 105 US per person.
for more information contact us at email@example.com
or Cell: 506-8385-2424
all photos and web content copyright Sabine Hein, email me, if you want to use them.


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***Baird and Nicolosi are the NEISA Coed Sailors of the Week***
***Steadman and Hutchinson are the NEISA Women's Sailors of the Week***
#1 Yale University won the Fowle Trophy, New England's Team Race Championship, hosted by Connecticut College. The Bulldogs have been slow to start regattas this spring season. At the Fowle, however, they flipped the script on that narrative and, in doing so, proved that they are the best in NEISA in a variety of sailing conditions. Posting a 10-1 record in the round of 12 and a 5-2 record in the round of 8, Yale was the outright winner in a extremely deep field.
Read More >>
#5 Brown University won the Dellenbaugh Women's Trophy decisively in sporty conditions. Leaving nothing to chance, the home team captured the regatta lead after race 4 in A-Division and never looked back. The Brown Bears won by 54 points after 34 total races and left much of the event, arguably the deepest women's interconference seen yet this spring, a race for second place.
***Klinger and Colwell are the NEISA Women's Sailors of the Week***
***Baird and Nicolosi are the NEISA Sailors of the Week***
#5 Yale University won the Friis Team Race, held at Roger Williams University. Last weekend's premier team race event in New England featured the NEISA elite. Despite the depth of talent, two teams were able to pull in front late in the regatta. Both Yale and #1 Roger Williams University separated themselves from the field but drama was not lost as rights to the regatta crown came down to the final race. Yale, for the second straight week, went undefeated in the top-6, final round robin and this time, the elite sailing late stole the regatta from the home team. Yale finished with 12 wins and 2 losses, while Roger Williams finished with 11 wins and 3 losses.
***Anderson and Anderson are the NEISA Sailors of the Week***
***Reineke and McGrath are the NEISA Women's Sailors of the Week***
Last weekend #1 Roger Williams University won the Graham Hall Team Race, hosted by the United State Naval Academy. Once deemed the spring season opener, due to its placement on the college sailing schedule, the Graham Hall remains as the first big-time team race of the season. Today, it serves as a double point-earning regatta for the newly formed Mid Atlantic Team Race League as well as the first opportunity for the best of MAISA, the South Atlantic and New England to get together on the same body of water. Moreover, the Naval Academy runs some of the best regattas on the circuit.
#4 College of Charleston won the Navy Spring Women's regatta. Sailed at the venue of some of the premier regattas on the College Sailing circuit, this was the first inter conference hosted by the United States Naval Academy. Conditions were uncharacteristic of the Severn River and the top women in the nation had to be on their toes throughout the weekend.
***Agerup and De Havenon are the NEISA Women's Sailors of the Week***
***Harding and McBrien are the NEISA Sailors of the Week***


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During our extensive work imbedded in companies while executing, we have been asked several times to provide potential candidates. Sahli & Partner with the help of their extensive network can assist you providing a selection. We do this only in specifics areas such as
- Governmental entities
- IT firms
- only C-level executives
Please see our profile on linkedin for actual searches and positions


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SOURCE: topcreditcardprocessors.com
May 28, 2016 03:00 ET
NAPLES, FL--(Marketwired - May 28, 2016) - The independent authority on payment processors, topcreditcardprocessors.com, has named the top credit card processing services in the payment processing industry for the month of May 2016. Numerous services are put through a meticulous examination of their solutions to ensure only the absolute best competing services are highlighted each month. The rankings are produced by the independent research team through meticulous testing and analysis to establish the top services offering these solutions.
In order to create the best recommendations possible based on the most detailed analysis of credit card processing services the independent research team spends countless hours analyzing industry trends and market research. Each featured service has been judged across five areas of evaluation. The five areas are significant to establishing the comparative performance of the service in relation to major competitors within the industry. To create an even more detailed analysis the independent research team also contacts a minimum of three client references of competing services.
The 50 best credit card processing services for May 2016 are:
1. United Payment Services
2. Credit Card Processing Specialists
3. Cayan
4. Aliant Payment Systems
5. RedFynn
6. Groovv by Total Merchant Services HQ
7. Nova Merchant Services
8. Maverick BankCard, Inc.
9. Harbortouch
10. Yoozy
11. Encore Payment Systems
12. Beacon Payments, LLC
13. TransFirst
14. National Processing
15. Blue Dog Business Services
16. BankCard USA
17. Alacriti
18. CoCard
19. EData Financial Group
20. Priority Payment Systems
21. 1ST Bank Card Services, Inc.
22. Client Solutions Group
23. Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.
24. Network Merchants, Inc
25. On Deck
26. Credit Card Payment Systems
27. Govolution
28. Certified Payment Processing
29. CreditCardProcessing.com
30. Merchant Cash Group
31. MersaTech
32. Intrix Technology, Inc.
33. Leap Payments
34. CyberSource Corp.
35. BluePay Processing
36. PayLeap
37. Meritus Payment Solutions
38. Merchant Express
39. Electronic Payment Systems
40. 360 Payment Solutions, Inc.
41. CardConnect
42. National Bankcard Inc
43. Crescent Processing Company
44. Total Apps
45. Ace Software Solutions
46. C&H Financial Services, Inc.
48. Fattmerchant
50. Acculynk
ABOUT topcreditcardprocessors.com
topcreditcardprocessors.com is a well-known independent authority on merchant services. The central ambition of topcreditcardprocessors.com is to decide and release those individuals or services offering the top credit card processing solutions all over the world. A specialized team of researchers examine thousands of applicants each month who are seeking to be ranked as a top credit card processing product or service by the independent authority.
Those interested in applying for the rankings can visit:
Contact InformationMarc Stephens800-874-24589045 Strada Stell Ct.Naples, FL 34109
Contact InformationMarc Stephens800-874-24589045 Strada Stell Ct.Naples, FL 34109
See all RSS Newsfeeds


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This analysis revealed that there were entire elements of the Theatre's business model that were missing, which influenced an atmosphere of waning loyalty, specifically among subscribers. A few contributing factors were:
Among other things, the scaling process made Theatre Aquarius re-evaluate the $15 day-of-show seats. These became permanent $25 tickets available from the time tickets first went on sale. The new price encouraged newer, more price-sensitive ticket buyers to buy early and save. The Theatre maintained pricing accessibility by converting age-based discounts into a range of accessible prices which were available at every performance and to every ticket buyer, regardless of age.
"We all had a degree of trepidation about removing senior pricing, since 70% of our subscribers self-identified as seniors," Marketing Director Gregg Taylor said. "For us the key was communication. The box office identified subscribers who were most significantly affected and contacted them personally. Through a careful strategy we were able to explain the decision in a way that allowed our base to feel respected and valued."
"With a $20 difference between the new 6-play package and the 5-play package, it made the change seem like such a great value that almost no one said 'no'," Box Office Manager Susan Horridge Nuzum said.
To download a PDF of this case study, complete the form below:
Ticketing Professionals 2017 - March 16-17, 2017; Birmingham, UK
No Boundaries 2017 - March 28-29, 2017; Manchester & Hull, UK
National Alliance of Musical Theaters (NAMT) Spring Conference - March 28-April 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA
Killer Group Sales Campaigns - July 14, 2017; Online
Measuring What Matters: Building my Report Toolkit - August 7, 2017; San Diego, CA
Sales and Service on Steroids - August 7, 2017; San Diego, CA


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Super Stud Building Products is proud to be the nation's only manufacturer to produce all of the necessary components to build an entire freestanding structure. Super Stud manufactures all of the interior and load bearing studs and accessories. DragonBoard® provides the flooring, ceiling and interior walls. Galaxy produces the doors. FRO MAR™ can supply the exterior walls. energex® is able to provide the exterior finish.
Contact a sales rep today to see more ways that Super Stud is able to help you build.


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ABC TEACH is a fantastic website which offers over 49,000 documents and teaching activities available for children pre-k through 8th grade. AbcWorkshop allows students to draw, write, and color abcteach activities on their table or computer. The abctools component of the site has 69 worksheet generators you can use to customize your lessons. PowerPoint units in various subject areas are available.
MUZZY BBC is the #1 language learning course for children. MUZZY has helped millions of children worldwide become bilingual. MUZZY's video story captivates children and immerses them in a new language, mimicking the way they learned to speak their native tongue!
Tired of boring flashcards that don't make the multiplication facts stick?
Want a fun, unconventional way for your student to learn the upper times tables?
Times Tales® is a creative, mnemonic (memory aid) system for students to memorize math facts.
The Learn Math Fast System is a series of seven books written by a homeschooling mom to show you how she taught her son to have college level math by age 16. In 2011, the Learn Math Fast System consisted of just four books, but once homeschoolers tried it out, the requests kept coming in for more books. Kids really seemed to connect with the conversational tone and humor. The explanations given were so helpful that even the parents were learning math right along with their children. The short lessons and worksheets made the kids happy and having the full solutions in the back of each book made mom happy.
History Unboxed provides monthly boxes with ready to use history lesson plans and activity materials. Purchase additional add-on boxes for multiple siblings. You may also choose to purchase the new downloadable lessons.
I am pleased to announce our group buy for Mystery Science. Mystery Science is a fabulous way to get kids interested in science without having to piece together a hands-on curriculum from different sources. This product usually costs $69 per year, or $49 if there is a sale during the year. However, we are fortunate to receive a year of Mystery Science for only $20 plus a $2 processing fee payable to Homeschool Group Buys. This brings the total cost to $22 for a year of Mystery Science.
Jam provides online courses for kids. These courses explore STEM, drawing, Lego creations, cooking, building machines, and more. Kids love learning at their own pace and parents love that courses are both educational and fun.
Bitsbox is BACK, and this time with Food For Thought! Your kids will learn how to code old-school style with this kit. Kit includes one activity book with directions to code 20 apps (apps range from simple to complex) and a pack of 10 trading cards! CLICK HERE to read more and purchase your kits!
Tales2Go is an amazing audiobook subscription service aimed at kids in grades prek-12th. With your super-discounted license in our group buy you and your kids will have access to over 6,000 audiobooks! These are the same high-quality audiobooks you get from the library and buy through more expensive audiobook services!
Chew Pendants for Sensory Seekers – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, and this time with more shape and color choices! Perfect for your sensory seeker (or you!), these chewable pendants are made from 100% food-safe silicone and are provide a safe chew experience!
Bitsbox is back, and funnier than ever! In this Monkey Business box you're kids will laugh their way through creating 30 apps, from beginner to advanced. Designed for ages 7-12, your kid can start with this kit or add it to their other Bitsbox kits! (and yes, due to popular demand, this kit contains trading cards!!)
Bugging Around: Insects is a unit study from KidQuest Adventures that your kids are going to flip for! Designed to be use by those curious about insects, as well as those afraid of them, Bugging Around is a 50 pages full of information, experiments, and activities!
Chew Pendants – Perfect for your sensory seeker, this teardrop chew pendant is made from 100% FDA-approved food-grade silicone and is BPA free. It's safe enough for kids yet inconspicuous for adults to wear.
Who wants to buy a couple pounds of Lego?? Heck yeah, you do! Through this buy you can order Lego in bulk, including bricks, specialty bricks, and small plates. A pound is roughly 200-300 pieces, your kids will be in heaven!
BitsBox Apposaurus Rex – Your child will have fun learning to code apps the old-school way with this fun, dinosaur-themed curriculum! Your kit comes with a high-quality print book with directions to code 18 apps, and 10 trading cards with directions to make 10 mini apps!
Spanish For You is a simple, affordable way to introduce kids in grades 3-8 to conversational and written Spanish. This program was designed by a Spanish teacher and is multi-sensory and suits all learning styles!
The Wild at the Zoo Adventure Pack is an amazing zoo companion workbook! Printed on high-quality paper, and in full color, Wild at the Zoo is truly unique from all other zoo workbooks and worksheets! Wild at the Zoo was designed by a scientist who happens to be a homeschooling dad and includes information for parents as well as activities to do before, during, and after your zoo visit! Designed for all learning styles, Wild at the Zoo will have your kids more excited than ever about a trip to the zoo, nature preserve, or wildlife refuge!
Online learning has never been so vibrant! If your child loves science, this buy is for you! From lesson plans to self-paced e-courses, there is something for every learner from k-12. Details – Buy Closed
Enchanted Learning School Membership.
Back by popular demand! Our first Bitsbox buy was a huge success so we've ordered a second kit, this time the theme is Once Upon a Time. Your kit will include directions and curriculum your child can use independently to create 19 apps and 10 mini apps using old school coding techniques! This is not a drag & drop coding program!


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HARRINGTON PARK, N.J.– Look closely next time you drive down Harriot Avenue in Harrington Park. At the entrance to the triangle around Don Horsey Park is a boulder that was donated by firefighter Steve Hartman.
Engraved on it: "Memories are Created in Harrington Park" – completed for free by new resident Mark Dankiewicz.
The addition at "the gateway to town" was the brainchild of Beautification Committee Chairwoman SueEllen Spillane.
"We wanted to put a beautiful bolder there and engrave it with an announcement of who we are," Spillane told Daily Voice. "People have such tender, beautiful memories of growing up in Harrington Park. I've never seen a town like that before."
The Beautification Committee is trying to raise funds to purchase new signs to replace the ones destroyed or lost during Hurricane Sandy.
"We were a town almost without an identity for six years," Spillane said.
The three-year-old Beautification Committee is also planting gardens and putting up fences through fundraising and sponsorships.
"We're making some serious strides," Spillane said.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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MEET ROCHELLE Ballantyne, who is poised on the edge of becoming the world's first African-American female chess master.
Rochelle, who is best known for appearing in the 2012 documentary Brooklyn Castle, has a USCF rating of 2,062, which puts her in the 99th percentile of American junior players. She needs to reach 2,200 to become a master.
She is currently the only African-American female in the United States who is closest to achieving the chess title of "Master."
During her freshman year (9th grade) at Brooklyn Tech, she won the 2012 All-Girls National Chess Championships.
Rochelle, now 21, began playing at age 8, and soon emerged as a star.
By the time "Brooklyn Castle" filmmakers started following the powerhouse chess program at her school, Williamsburg's I.S. 318, Rochelle, then 13, was the program's best player.
She later received a full scholarship to Stanford University, which she is currently attending.
"My grandmother taught me to play when I was in the third grade. I was really active as a child, and she wanted to find a way to keep me relaxed and get my brain going."
She says her grandmother is the driving force behind her wanting to make history as the first African American chess master.
"After she died, that really affected me, because she was the one person that always had confidence in me. She never pushed me, and she always respected me for who I was. I have to reach that goal for her."


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We are what we THINK!!
In case some of us have a problem with that, let me tell you that there is more truth in that statement than anything else you are likely to hear!
You may be bald, overweight, frankly unattractive, with all manner of physical problems, but that is only what you LOOK LIKE.
It is not WHAT you ARE, or WHO you are!
Look at pop stars, football heroes, or anyone else who manages to attract the attention of the masses. Just think what they would look like walking down the street....would the majority of them look outstanding? .......
I don't think so, BUT because of their various talents they really BELIEVE that they are something special and so THAT is what they ARE, both in their own eyes and everyone else's.
If we wonder whether we have talents that would make us that special, the answer is, of course! We all have something to offer life, but we don't always project our qualities in a way that others notice.
Why not be sincerely inquisitive and spend some few minutes each day just thinking about what is special about you.
We all have gifts of personality and it is up to us to find out what they are....ask someone else to tell you what they are if you cannot come up with anything.........be careful who you ask!!!
In a recent discussion I was having with a young man, I was commenting on the fact that I believe that 95% of the people are around in life out of sheer necessity to keep things turning over, but that the extra 5% are the ones in life who make the difference.
He asked me if I thought he was one of the 5%.............I told him he probably was,..... because he asked the question! So many people wouldn't even be able to associate with the concept that they are different, or be one of the 5%, because that is not what they THINK about themselves.
Don't allow others to evaluate you...value YOURSELF enough to believe that you can make a mark somewhere in life and that you are different.
Love yourself enough to have this positive thought pattern with you at all times and see what life then offers you. A wonderful book called "No Chance Encounter" says that perhaps there is a reason why we meet everyone in our lives, so we should take advantage of that and use every opportunity to find out what the reason is.
Since reading that I have been amazed at what can happen in situations involving the people I have met recently and I do believe that we should take more notice of people who come into our lives and the way we handle them.
Life offers us such a wonderful opportunity to take the best out of every situation, no matter how mundane....we don't have to have exciting lives to value the way we handle every situation.
Look at the most well known types of work in the service industry......I have noticed street cleaners, toilet cleaners, dustbin men, waiters and waitresses, nurses etc. etc. who did their job with such an amazing attitude that they DID make a difference and it was noticeable.
I always compliment people like that and I get great pleasure out of realising that they appreciate being valued.
We can all make a difference , by the way we think about what and who we are!


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In the battle for public opinion, emotions are the big guns. Few better strategies exist than making people feel that your position is the right one. The insight that manipulating the emotions of others can be an effective persuasive strategy is far from new, but in the past few years, research has confirmed it. We know that along with motivating action, emotions can influence our thoughts, decisions, actions, even our memories. Because many of our emotions can be elicited easily and reliably, emotional appeals are among the most efficient forms of persuasion.
This is distressing to those who happen to be on the wrong side of a successful emotional campaign. In the United States, many liberals have become frustrated at the surprisingly effective use of emotional appeals by Republicans over the past decade. They have seen how fear can motivate the passing of national security laws that border on Orwellian or the spreading of misinformation about health-care reform, and how the language of disgust can be used to justify discrimination.
On both sides of such debates, there is suspicion that emotions are playing a dangerous, biasing role in shaping public political judgment. And they are right - a wealth of recent findings are showing us just how much emotions seem to influence judgments in the political and moral domain.
Fear, for instance, is an emotion that motivates concern for safety and leads to heightened perception of risk - very handy when avoiding predators. But while our fear response is not calibrated for the complexities of our modern social world, it continues to influence our judgments. Fear makes individuals more likely to endorse security measures at the expense of other important freedoms, and encourages support for conservative policies in general. One study showed that whenever there were government-issued terror warnings, public support for president George W. Bush spiked.
In a similar vein, disgust - an emotion that protects us from ingesting substances that might make us sick - also appears to play a role in political judgments. Individuals who are easily disgusted in everyday life are more likely to be politically conservative, and are more likely to oppose gay marriage. Making people disgusted in the lab (with a foul smell) also appears to make them more homophobic. Unfortunately, an emotion meant to keep us away from bad food is affecting millions of people politically.
Needless to say, we have good reason to be wary of emotions. But how do we address the problem? One way is to try to take emotions out of the picture entirely. But this is misguided.
For one, it is inconsistent with what we know about human psychology. An emotion-free rational agent (like Spock from Star Trek) is simply not possible. Emotions are such a deep part of our psychology and physiology that when our emotional systems sustain damage, our ability to engage in rational thought suffers as well. And without the motivation that our emotions provide, we would care little about doing anything at all.
And second, we seem to deeply value the presence of certain emotions in others. We care that they feel the right emotions at the right times. When our leaders attempt to be too dispassionate, they run the risk of seeming less than human. This was seen in the 1988 U.S. presidential election, when Michael Dukakis was asked whether he would favour the death penalty if his wife had been raped and murdered. He answered "No," then launched into a defence of his position. Many viewed this moment as the nail in his campaign's coffin. We want our leaders to share our emotions, if only because it signals that they share our priorities. This is why Barack Obama was far more effective as a passionate candidate than he has been as a professorial President.
But there is another strategy that seems equally risky: whole-heartedly embracing the emotional appeal. If the other side uses it, the reasoning goes, we should use it even more.
Along these lines, I've been asked many times how liberals might use disgust in the same way conservatives have. This worries me. For one, such a strategy will simply cause rational people on the other side of the debate to throw their hands up in frustration.
But more importantly, even though we cannot be emotionless creatures, we are capable of rationality. And while it is true that rational people can have deep disagreements, I continue to believe that rational discourse is our best shot at reaching common ground. What we need is passionate deliberation - the sort of engaging participation in political discourse that can make use of emotional appeals to support reasonable arguments. But perhaps I am too optimistic.
David Pizarro is assistant professor of psychology at Cornell University. He speaks tonight at the 2010 Walter Gordon Symposium on Public Policy, co-sponsored by Massey College and the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.


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Fish stocking in Lake Michigan, USA
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Big Reel, April 1988
July 4, 2008 | Blog | No Comments|
Being a sucker for any memorabilia related to the 7th Street Theatre, I made a purchase on eBay of an issue of the Big Reel, Issue No. 167 dated April 15, 1988. The seller stated that there was a one-page article about a Hoquiam theater, and when I emailed him to ask which theater, he replied with "the 7th Street." I HAD to have this. Here is a copy of the article, republished from the July 19, 1987 issue of The Olympian.


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Ex-CIA agent discusses Iranian superpower
Electronic Media Monitoring Service
2009-06-18 22:28:50
SALES, Leigh
Ex-CIA agent discusses Iranian superpower
Broadcast: 18/06/2009
Reporter: Leigh Sales
Former CIA agent Robert Baer is the author of The Devil We Know, dealing with the new Iranian
superpower, joins Lateline.
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Robert Bear is a former CIA agent and expert on the Middle East.
He's also the author of 'The devil we know: dealing with the new Iranian superpower' and
incidentally, he was the inspiration for the character played by George Clooney in the film
I spoke to Robert Bear earlier today.
Mr Bear, you've written that in Iran "nothing is ever as it seems." What do you mean by that?
ROBERT BEAR, FORMER CIA AGENT: Well, I mean, look - look at the opposition leader is now Mir
Hossein Mousavi. He was involved in blowing up the marines in Beirut in October 1983, and he's
still followed this arc. He's an architect and he's taken this arc and he's gone from essentially a
firebrand radical terrorist if you like into a democrat, moderate leading a revolution.
And this is a revolution that's important from the inside. This is not a revolution like Khomeini's
revolution; this is from the inside. And I'm certain that he is simply the spokesman for a group
inside the regime that is taking on Khamenei, the Supreme Leader.
Mousavi would never have done this with without some sort of backing, otherwise he would have ended
up in jail. Now we've seen the former President Rafsanjani supporting him, we've seen once
Khomeini's success, one time successor, Montazeri, Ayatollah Montazeri, supporting him as well.
So what we're seeing is truly a movement from inside the regime and it has little to do with
Ahmadinejad and Mousavi - they are simply the faces of a serious power struggle in Iran.
LEIGH SALES: You mentioned the world "revolution" in your answer. Do you see this as a revolution?
ROBERT BEAR: More as a rebellion, an internal rebellion against misrule, against Ayatollah
Khamenei. Khamenei's legitimacy has been called into question and it could very much if this
continues over the next couple of weeks look like a revolution. And I'll be frank with you, I did
not predict this, and no one did. You know, this is Iran, it is very unpredictable. And the true
experts on Iran didn't predict this at all either.
LEIGH SALES: How do we know, though, that the protests are broadly representative?
ROBERT BEAR: We don't. A lot of the demonstrators supporting Mousavi are coming from North Tehran.
They're well educated, Westernised, they're wealthier than most Iranians. In fact we don't know
until today - and the CIA doesn't know nor does the US Government - who actually won the elections
by count of vote. Maybe they were rigged, maybe they weren't. It's almost impossible to tell
because Iran is such an opaque country.
LEIGH SALES: How much of an element then of wishful thinking is there in the way that the West is
reading what's going on?
ROBERT BEAR: I think it's wishful thinking. I don't - we don't know who Mousavi is. He's got blood
on his hands, if you like. Has he truly made this arc from revolutionary-slash-terrorist to
moderate democrat? We don't know. We don't know who's truly backing him. Perhaps he's just brought
these people into the street only to turn against them at some point. We simply do not know. Even
Iranian exiles are astounded by events in Iran. They didn't predict this. We really don't know what
we're going to get at the end of this rebellion or revolution, whatever you call it.
LEIGH SALES: Many people are saying that these are the biggest demonstrations since 1979 when the
Shah was overthrown. How do you read the comparisons to 1979?
ROBERT BEAR: I think this is an extraordinary movement. I mean, I've watched this revolution since
1979. I was in Iran in '78/79. I saw the demonstrations and the force of what people can do when
they rebel against their government. I think we are facing a similar situation at this point. But
again I emphasise it's the regime that's cracking and is breaking up into pieces, one opposing the
other. It's not just the people. I think it's this election is more of a spark for the division of
this regime.
LEIGH SALES: So I take it then that you would agree with some of the comments by the former US
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger this week, that Iran is at a turning point?
ROBERT BEAR: I think Kissinger's absolutely right, this is a turning point for Iran. I don't think
Iran's ever going to be the same. It could become much worse, it could become an open military
dictatorship or it could be something closer to a former democracy, which we would recognise. This,
Iran will never be the same, this is a historic event.
ROBERT BEAR: The head of Mossad, Israel's intelligent agency, believes he believes the
demonstrations will simply peter out in a week or so. What's your assessment of where things might
go from here?
ROBERT BEAR: If it's simply university students and a couple of people joining them, and it's
Mousavi's constituency, they will be defeated. But I suspect the fact that Rafsanjani is involved
in this, as well as other clerics, that this is more, this is going to last longer; I don't think
it's going to peter out. The fact that there's a partial recount, the regime lost face in this. And
it could continue. I mean, we see today there's more demonstrations. I mean, it should have petered
out a couple of days ago. We are talking about a police state after all, and the fact they've
defied a police state and defied the Supreme Leader tells me that this could last a lot longer than
most people suspect.
LEIGH SALES: How long do you think the Supreme Leader or the Revolutionary Guard will tolerate this
ROBERT BEAR: The problem for the regime now is to really suppress these demonstrations. They would
need to bring out armour in the streets, they would really need to open fire on the crowds and kill
tens of thousands. They are quite aware this is what brought the Shah down, it could make things a
lot worse. But the fact that the Basij which belongs to the Revolutionary Guard was unable to
control this in the first couple of days tells me the Iranians have lost control of this. By all
rights this is a humiliation for Ayatollah Khamenei the Supreme Leader, he should have stopped this
almost immediately and the fact he can't tells me he doesn't know what's going to happen today.
LEIGH SALES: Do you think it was a case of can't, that he couldn't stop it? Or do you think it was
initially that he wouldn't stop, that they chose to allow them to go on for a while?
ROBERT BEAR: Look, they were fairly strict right from the beginning. I mean, they had the riot
police out with all their gear. It started out as fairly small and just grew. And it's the fact
there's crowds in Iran and it's a very rare event, it can get out of control. This happened in '99,
2003, but they very quickly went into the streets, killed some people, and they put an end to this.
But I think the Iranian people are becoming more and more defiant. You know, who knows what they...
Nobody knows where this is going to go, including the regime. I just talked to the State Department
today following this, and they're absolutely bewildered what's happening in Iran, and the Obama
administration does not want this to become a domestic issue, but nobody in the State Department as
of today can predict what's happening.
LEIGH SALES: President Obama has chosen to make only very measured comments on Iran. Why is that?
ROBERT BEAR: I mean, I think the Americans would like to see these democratic forces win at the end
of the day. They would like to see this regime cornered and forced to change, but Barack Obama
knows that if we pick sides in this, that side will be seriously weakened. The Iranians, even the
Democratic ones, even the Liberal ones remember the Mosaddeq coup in 1953 when we changed the Prime
They do not want American interference, nobody does, even including Mousavi and he's just denied
there's any American... So Barack Obama, no matter who he's siding with, does not want to look like
we're taking sides, because it's going to hurt that side.
LEIGH SALES: You've said is few times that Iranian expats and analysts didn't see this coming. Why
did it catch people by surprise?
ROBERT BEAR: It's one of those rare - it's one of those rare events, a black swan if you like, that
rarely just comes along. It's spontaneous, nobody planned these demonstrations and the size. It was
anger, just blew up, and it, you know, it's almost like every 30 years this happens in Iran.
But, you know, people have been predicting there's this movement, that it's prerevolutionary in
Iran, but they couldn't offer any real evidence. Now it's happened, it turns out to be right. It's
like a broken clock, is wrong, you know, it's right twice a day.
LEIGH SALES: What do you read into the ejection of the foreign media in the past 24 to 48 hours or
so? It would seem ominous?
ROBERT BEAR: Oh, I think the administration is on its last, you know, it's desperate to stop this,
and certainly does not want this message - look, the Iranians are trying to project - I mean, I
wrote about this - a unified country which is a hegemon in the Gulf, and now it's this weakness in
the regime which is so unexpected.
This is going to affect Iranian influence through Central Asia, Iraq, Pakistan, and the Gulf. This
is a huge embarrassment for the Iranian regime. This is going to set them back years. Any chance of
Iran capitalising on Iraq has been undercut.
LEIGH SALES: Much of the focus has been on what this means for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership.
But tell me more about how the Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fits into the picture.
ROBERT BEAR: Well, let's just say that Ahmadinejad rigged the elections, or the ministry of
interior did. He could not have done this without the backing of Ayatollah Khamenei. So ultimately
we see in challenging Ahmadinejad, we see a challenge to Khamenei. Ahmadinejad has been described,
and I think this is accurate, as a spokesman for a group of hardliners, including Khamenei, the
Revolutionary Guard, the secret police.
By bringing down Ahmadinejad, they're bringing down Ayatollah Khamenei. I don't think that Khamenei
could survive a re-election. I think the assembly of experts can remove him. We've seen Rafsanjani
who's on the assembly of experts, leads it, will go after Khamenei. This sign of weakness in Iran
is a loss of face, and a loss of legitimacy.
And we have to remember Khamenei is not truly an Ayatollah. He's in fact an impostor. He does not
have the credentials to be really an Ayatollah. He's an insecure man, he has sat in this position
insecurely all these years, and people have called his bluff. And that's what's really scary for
him, and someone's going to.... You know, you could have another Ayatollah come along saying, "I
should be sitting there." Montazeri, for instance, still wants that job. He was the chosen
successor to Khomeini and he says, "I want it now because Khamenei has failed and he's not a real
Ayatollah." This is the kind of power politics that are going on. Or you may just, the whole
Constitution may fall apart. Again we just cannot predict what's going to happen in this country.
LEIGH SALES: The former US president George Bush very famously described Iran as part of the axis
of evil. How do you perceive the threat posed by Iran?
ROBERT BEAR: Iran stopped being a terrorist state in the '90s, the mid '90s. It's fairly stable.
You just look at this release of Saberi, the American journalist that was - the regime let her out
of jail. It wasn't the court, it was Ahmadinejad. You see a fairer, much more reasonable country
since the mid '90s. It certainly wasn't the axis of evil. I mean, the Bush administration called it
that because of Hezbollah, because of this neo-con philosophy that Hezbollah shouldn't exist,
shouldn't be armed, should be removed from any sort of power in Lebanon.
So it was in the context of the Arab/Israeli context that Bush called it the axis of evil.
Certainly Iran has implicitly helped the United States in Iraq. I mean, it's helped - I mean the
State Department has said quietly enough that it's Iran who has lessened the violence in Iraq. We
thanked Iran essentially. And remember, it was Iran who helped us invade Afghanistan in 2001. It
released its allies to the United States in October 2001, and in 2003 it didn't interfere in the
invasion of Iraq, so we were sort of along the same track. But I mean Bush was simply reflecting
the neo-con influence in Washington.
LEIGH SALES: And it's obviously too early to tell how these developments might affect the strategic
threat that Iran poses?
ROBERT BEAR: If this results in a civil war, if it results in a militant Iran or whatever's going
to come out of it, it's going to be bad news. We need in the Middle East a stable Iran. It is
currently, until today, still is the most stable country in the Middle East in terms of a large
military power that you can talk to, that we can get to the capital. Obviously much more than
Pakistan. The last thing we need is an unstable Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. That would just....
It could ignite the whole area in violence that we could not control.
LEIGH SALES: Robert Bear, many thanks for joining us tonight.
ROBERT BEAR: OK. Bye.


text:
This year I thought I'd perfect the way I use my self tan so I got this self-tan kit by Garnier.
It consists of an exfoliating glove and an applicator mitt.
The glove is nothing to write home about. It's the kind of glove you can get for a couple of pennies from any drugstore, often added to some purchases as a freebie. It helps to exfoliate the skin and thus prepare it for the use of self tannner. I prefer sugar scrubs or other, but this is prefect when travelling. Small, weightless and handy. Does its job pretty well.
The mitt, however, is a discovery of the year. It's not the most ergonomically-shaped mitt in the world, I've seen other bloggers use St. Tropez one which seems to fit the shape of a hand much better. This one is a simple pouch with one fleece side, protected from the inside by a sort of plastic lining, which prevents leaking and staining your hands and also reduces the amount of product soaked up by the mitt itself.
I use the mitt to apply my St Tropez mousse and the results are amazing. I just apply a ball of foam onto the mitt and then massage my legs and other parts of body using no particular method of application. I can't explain how this works but I never get any streaks and the tan looks most natural.
The mitt is easy to wash and, being made of synthetic fibres, dries quickly.
The only thing I don't quite like is the shape of the mitt. It kind of slides off my hand and sideways. The other mitts I've seen on offer have a kind of 'lollipop' shape, narrow at the bottom and wide and round at the top and I believe they could be more comfortable to use.
However, I can't really complain for the price I've paid. This thing, or one by another brand, is an indispensable accessory for anyone who uses self tanners. If mine starts showing symptoms of wear and tear I'll probably pick one by Fake Bake or St. Tropez, but for the time being it's perfect!
Disclaimer: I bought the product myself for my personal use and I am not affiliated with any company. I am not paid to do this review and everything I said here is my genuine opinion.