text:
I have stepped (reports of dragging, kicking, and screaming are almost entirely false) into the present century with the purchase of a new phone.
The old phone, which ran on paraffin and started with a crank, had begun to draw stares and laughter from cruel little children. I am not a technology hound, but one has one's small vanities.
Adjustment creeps apace. This is day two. On day one, I mostly stared at it warily while venturing an occasional timid tap at the screen. Imagine the elderly Queen Victoria attempting to enter her Facebook password; it was like that.
With inexpressible relief I got back to knitting, which is also touch sensitive but doesn't suddenly beep or disappear or take your picture if you put a finger wrong.
If you are reading this it means I successfully brought both together. This is my first blog post via phone...and if it goes well, this little gewgaw may allow me to post more often-even when I'm on the road. Here's hoping...
I'm even going to try to put in a picture. Can you see it? Hello? Is this thing on?


text:
Update: Shoot, I forgot to mention Louisville beating Middle Tennessee tonight, just for the record. Last week, I correctly stuck a "7" in front of my prediction of a double-digit point total for the Cardinals. I'm less bullish this week: They'll put up a number in the 60s. Full CFB preview/picks tomorrow.
The new NFL season is here. Two words: Thank god. (This KSK post just about sums it up.)
How can you not love the Opening Night matchup: Colts-Saints. The "finally" team coming off a championship season against a franchise considered the NFL's most historically hapless, but now finds itself as the hot pick to win the NFC and get to the Super Bowl.
For those of you who were paying attention a year ago (or heard me mention it 100 times in January and February), last season I made my Greatest Pick Ever: Predicting the Colts would beat the Bears in the Super Bowl... back in August 2006.
Now, that qualifies me to have one year – the immediate following year – when what I have to say has some credibility (even though we all know that if I got it exactly right a year ago, I won't come close this year).
Still, I wish I could be inspired about this as I was taking the Bears a year ago, but instead I'm sadly rather conventional. Here is my prediction for how the season will play out, through the Super Bowl:
East: Eagles
North: Bears
South: Saints
West: Seahawks
Wild Cards: Vikings, 49ers (Eh, yes: I dis the Cowboys. Probably stupidly.)
NFC Champ: Saints
East: Patriots
North: Steelers
South: Colts
West: Chargers
Wild Cards: Ravens, Broncos
AFC Champ: Patriots
PSA: Don't forget to set your fantasy rosters.
Tonight: Colts-Saints. Chance to see my preseason pick for NFL MVP, Drew Brees, against the NFL's gold standard for QBs. One of the best Opening Games ever, based on a combination of team backstories and potential. I'll have my entire slate of NFL picks tomorrow (sign up for the Daily Quickie Readers Pick 'Em using the link on the right). For now, the pick is:
Saints over Colts.
(Other picks coming Friday.)
More NFL: So who, exactly, is the starting QB in
MLB Steroids: Investigators want to talk to 45 current and former players. Good luck with that, but that's a big number. (h/t: NY Times)
MLB Stud: A-Rod, who seemed like a candidate for a DNP-Injury, but once he was in the lineup, ended up hitting 2 HR... in the same inning.
MLB Stud Team: Braves, who rallied for 3 runs in the 9th to beat/stun the Phillies, in the type of loss that can crush a team with just a month to go in the season and every win mattering.
MLB Dud: Jake Peavy (rarity as a Dud!), who gave up 8 runs to the D'backs.
The Indians swept the Twins... again.
Vernon Wells' HR means that the Red Sox are 6 games up on the Yankees with 22 games to play. Not that the Yankees should be concerned with the division, as opposed to the Wild Card.
As the
In the NL playoff race, the "good" Brewers are back. They clubbed a ton of home runs, have won 2 in a row and are a half-game behind the Cubs in the Central. The NL West might be underrated as a dramatic September storyline, but the NL Central is where the glamour action is.
Which AP pollsters put
NBA: Interesting rule tweak. The league will let refs use instant replay to review flagrant fouls and altercations. Smart.
PGA Playoffs Dud, Cont'd: Tiger and Ernie are joining Phil in dissing the Playoffs. Quite the success story for the PGA!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK (AP) - British actor Jude Law says he'll be taking part in a time-honored American tradition this weekend: Super Bowl Sunday.
"I follow most sports, so of course I'm aware of it and I'll probably watch it, but I live in London and so I don't follow it that closely. It's more than just a game here, though, right? It's like have a party. Have a dip. Drink some beer," said Law.
When asked if he'll be participating in any tailgate parties when the Baltimore Ravens face off against the San Francisco 49ers, Law admitted he had no clue what "tailgating" meant.
"Really? OK. I believe you. I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not even gonna say," he said, laughing.
Luckily his "Side Effects" co-star, Channing Tatum, said he'd teach Law about Americans football traditions. He said he was heading to his New Orleans bar, Saints and Sinners for the weekend and was hoping for a good game.
"I really kind of want Baltimore to pull it out for Ray (Lewis) because it's a sweet story but I really like San Francisco's quarterback and whatnot so I think it's gonna be a really good game," said Tatum.
The actors joined their castmates, including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rooney Mara, at the New York premiere of their psychological thriller "Side Effects" on Thursday. The film opens in U.S. theaters next Friday.
Turns out Law and Tatum have more in common than Steven Soderbergh's latest film: They've both been named People's Sexiest Man Alive.
"Yeah, there's a complete handshake and like a password and whatnot. I can't tell you any of those. I know what your next question is. It's not gonna happen. They come and kill you _ all of them. All of them together come and actually murder you. Yeah, everybody. They come and take you in the night and you disappear if you explain any of those secrets," joked Tatum, the current title holder.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


text:
The exhibit is named the Accent of Fashion, but proves that an accent doesn't have to mean a mere addition, and in this case can be more of an exclamation point. The hats are displayed in four parts -- Adventure, Rococo, Science, and Glamour -- offering a look into how Mr. Jones draws from varied sources for inspiration and sees his art in relation to the world around him. Throughout the room are photographs by the likes of Juergen Teller and Nick Knight and mannequins complete with the full looks of designers like Comme des Garcons and Dior, showing how different creatives have interpreted his work and vice versa. It's easy to see his importance as a figure in fashion right away.
What's more, the hats can be reflective of Stephen Jones himself, brimming with character. He is the Mad Hatter, and a short documentary on Mr. Jones showing in one room of the exhibit allows us to see this correlation between the artist and the art. The clip also helps put into perspective his work in a cultural context, more specifically, punk/DIY roots. I got the feeling watching it that only from starting out by making hats for his school friends could one develop such a clever use of resources (train tickets, Doc Marten soles, Barbies, and shattered mirrors, to name a few).
In the DIY vein, I was asked to cut the ribbon with Mr. Jones, as a blogger and stuff. At first I panicked because I thought they meant my ribbon, the one I wear on my head, but apparently they meant the ribbon for the exhibit! I obviously felt very honored, but the Oscar speech I'd prepared in my African Cats voice was cut off by all the people rushing in. It still felt special to open it with Mr. Jones (who I refer to as that mostly because then I can pretend I'm in a Bob Dylan song) and, as someone with at least an ounce of appreciation for creativity, see the exhibit.


text:
New Job + Solotica Hidrocharme Ice
8:21 PMBeen super busy lately. I started a new job this week (yay!) so I haven't had much time to myself, but I am really excited about the opportunity. The commute is a killer hour but you gotta do what you can, right? It's a graphic design position which is a bit different than what I did in school but so far it's been a lot of hands-on stuff, which I love. It's certainly been a blessing to get to be paid for being creative. :)
I also recently bought another pair of Soloticas in my favorite style, hidrocharme. I really love these. The lens itself has a white color on it which blends with my dark brown eyes to create a lovely light blue color. In real life, indoors, it looks like a light smokey blue-grey but I think the lenses really show off best with flash. Don't they seem to glow and have depth? I was impressed!
I personally think this lens is for those with tanned skin. The blue color tends to wash me out a bit (which I don't mind) but I think on someone with lighter skin it might do worse unless they have heavy eye makeup on. Contrast is a big key. More contrast will almost always look more attractive and light eyes plus faint makeup is a recipe for washed-outness.
In general though, I love how different these look compared to other lenses on the market. Light-colored and natural at the same time! Here's some photos so you can judge for yourself.
no flash:
with flash:
comparison of no lenses vs. lenses:
Alright. I'm super spent but I hope everyone is having a nice weekend! Let me know what you think of the lenses and any music/podcast suggestions for long drives. My current obsession is This American Life. It really makes you think, and in a weird way makes me feel less lonely in a sea of new people.
Love you guys~
52 comments
- AnonymousSeptember 5, 2008 at 7:09 PM
I love those contacts on ya! I can't believe they work so well on brown eyes (I am Korean too and have brown eyes but my vision is so bad that they don't make colored contacts for my strength/astigmatism).
Also I really like your bangs/haircut. If I wanted to get my hair cut like yours what should I tell my hairdresser?
Thanks! - AnonymousSeptember 5, 2008 at 9:29 PM
i have a question for you. I want to order solotica lenses as well but i happened to noticed that the diameter for these are 14.2 mm. I tried acuvue color and they were 14.00 mm. and i had a problem with them being too small and not covering my eyes correctly. 14.5 mm freshlook are perfect for me and doesn't show like the acuvue. so does the solotica with a 14.2 mm. give u any trouble? thanks ^^ and you look gorgeous in those lenses!
ReplyDelete those look great on you jen! with or without flash,they still look fab :) your post makes me want to buy lenses for myself..hahah
ReplyDelete- AnonymousSeptember 6, 2008 at 7:12 AM
i'm a graphic design student, but haven't had any experience on the field itself. did you do internships while in college? also, usually what do they look for in the job or any advise that you can give to help me prepare for my portfolio. Thanks :)
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 6, 2008 at 12:44 PM
If you enjoy This American Life, I would suggest you check out other NPR related podcasts. I would suggest Radiolab, This I Believe and Story Corps. I feel that times passes more quickly when I'm engaged with what I'm listening to rather than just zoning out to music.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 6, 2008 at 3:42 PM
I want to start off by saying congratulations on the new job! Hmm I think the diameter is too big as the the white part of your eye is showing through where the ring is suppose to cover, if that makes at all sense. I prefer the greenish and brown on you. And as for blue, I've always preferred a rather dark and deep blue.
ReplyDelete anonymous 1: aww, that's too bad! I know the Korean company g&g makes circle lenses for astigmatism, but the color choice is limited to black and brown. If you want to get your hair cut like this... I would bring a photo. My hairdresser is korean and I just told her I wanted bangs like ayumi from sugar and lots of layers in the back. hope that helps. :)
lala: no, the soloticas don't give me trouble as far as I know... They do slide around a bit the first couple of times worn, but I do have small irises. The colored part of these lenses runs a little bit big, so I think you should be fine.
miemiemie: thanks girlie! maybe you should! hahaha.
anonymous 2: I had an internship with Hallmark Cards last summer. I highly recommend them, they are a great place to work for. As for advice, practice interviewing and explaining your portfolio to people. Have your teachers help you edit your resume over and over. If you can learn more programs that will help too. I actually graduated with a degree in Industrial Design, so it may be a little different but I'm sure not by too much! Just definitely use the resources on campus because you won't have that once you leave!
anonymous 3: I feel the same way! I used to listen to music more but I feel like I work better when my mind is running. Thanks for the recommendations!
anonymous 4: They are still slipping since they are new, but yeah they are a bit big on me. I don't mind though. I like all my lenses for different reasons. Thanks for the input. :]- AnonymousSeptember 6, 2008 at 9:50 PM
you know i tried the freshlook color contacts, and it was blurry, do all colored contacts make your vision a little blurry, as oppose to the clear ones?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 7, 2008 at 9:42 AM
oh i see.. well i'm still a sophomore..incoming junior hopefully.. i'm studying in a comm college so we don't have much resources about internships.. you have to go find on your own.. but i'm transferring to a univ soon.. did your school arrange you to intern for hallmark? what type of portfolio did you present? more on the traditional types or digital?
ReplyDelete anonymous 5: The blurriness comes from color overlapping your pupil. I don't have that problem at all with soloticas because they have a feathered pupil hole where the color is more translucent near the pupil causing less overlap. Freshlooks have a solid pupil hole so when the opaque color is over your eyes you don't see as clearly. If you want to try soloticas, you should be okay.
Anonymous 3: Honestly, I found them on my own too. You won't have anyone holding your hand to find a job or internship with most schools. If you are interested in a certain place, go to their website and see if they offer internships. I had no connections when I got mine. :P- AnonymousSeptember 7, 2008 at 10:59 AM
wow, the ice's look so awesome! will you someday do a look with blue eyeshadows and see how it turns out?
a graphic design job, interesting. i plan on getting into that later on .. well i haven't finished HS yet lol. WOW! these lenses really ARE natural looking considered for the color! how interesting! i would hope it's available in the U.S....
its my first time bumping into your blog from Miemiemie's blog, and the first thing i thought was that you are amazingly gorgeous! very pretty! :) and i love your makeup as well. nice blog--hope you dont mind that i'm going to link you to my page!- AnonymousSeptember 7, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Hi there, where did u get ur lenses from? Is it possible to get them online? they look awesome on u.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 8, 2008 at 12:04 PM
wow. those lenses look great on you!! I've wanted the hidrocharme mels ever since I saw pictures of you wearing them... and now ice too?? I would love to get them, but ordering from a foreign website and the high prices kind of scares me...
ReplyDelete Congratulations on both the new job and those gorgeous contacts. Work them both, girl! :)
I've been looking for a natural looking light blue contact lens, and it looks like these Hidrocharmes in Ice might be it! I recently tried Natural Touch in baby blue, but wasn't very impressed with the comfort. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, and I have to agree with you that This American Life is a really fantastic broadcast. I occasionally catch it on the radio, and you're right, it's a great way to feel united with the people we share out world with.
Great post!- AnonymousSeptember 9, 2008 at 2:31 PM
U Look like a Korean actress!
Hi ~ i was on google and found
ur blog ~ Lol!Congratulations on
your new job ^^ - AnonymousSeptember 9, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Hi Jen! I have a few questions about your new contacts ! I currently wear Freshlook Pure Hazel, But i want like a color that is like pale blue and grey like your new color, Hidrocharme Ice. I was thinking of getting them on the website Villarure or something, but I was reading the durability part. It says it lasts for 1 year! Isnt that bad because then you have to clean them really well? My contacts only last for 2 weeks but I still dont get how to clean the Soloticas. Do i have to use the ultra sonic cleaner? Because I proablly will buy it since if I clean them normally by rubbing them on my hand with solution, it doesnt clean as well so its not as good. But, how do i know when using the ultrasonic lens cleaner that the contacts are worn out? Do i like mark it for 2 years since you said it lasts longer? Idkkkk D: But yeah, can u help me? You can email me at email@example.com or i can check the posts daily! Thanks so much!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousSeptember 11, 2008 at 2:09 PM
I have to say, you're gorgeous! I enjoy reading your posts very much, and i am learning alot! Thanks.
BTW, I was looking at your photos, and I see that you have like a brown mark on your lips (beauty mark?). Is that what it is, a beauty mark? Because over the past few years, I've noticed a mark on my lips and it has gotten darker. I'm not sure if I got it from tanning or if it's just a beauty mark. I've never seen anyone else with one until I saw your photos, and so I guess it's normal? - AnonymousSeptember 11, 2008 at 8:13 PM
did the antibiotics for your skin upset your stomach at all? is it better than the doxycycline?
ReplyDelete xo-kannie: Yeah, sure I'll do a look with blues with these lenses. I bet it'll bring out the blue color in them. :)
ichigobunnie: I don't mind at all if you link me. Thanks!
anonymous 6: I bought these from a friend, but you can order them online from a few places. If you look at "labels" and click on "solotica" I have a lot of info on how to get these lenses.
...::s o u l e v e r ::...: I never thought natural touch looked very natural and it's more expensive than soloticas... They do have the WOW factor though. Guess since you said they aren't very comfy I'll have to pass on trying them out. I think you should definitely try the ices.
lillian: Annual lenses aren't less hygienic than 2-week lenses but as with anything, you need to take good care of them. They are meant to be worn that long, so it's safe. You don't HAVE to clean them with the ultrasonic cleaner, but I do highly recommend cleaning them with clear care at least once a week. That's the peroxide disinfecting solution. It should help keep them feeling fresh and new. :)
lynn: I call the dot a freckle, but I'm not really sure what it is or where it came from. I got it when I was a junior in high school. It just randomly appeared one day. I thought it was gim (toasted seaweed) stuck to my lip and I tried to scratch it off but it wouldn't! Maybe a blood vessel popped in my lip? I'd say it's fairly normal though. And my husband loves it. Haha~
Stella: The oral antibiotics I took WERE doxycycline. I didn't have a huge problem with them upsetting my stomach unless I had an empty stomach and it was early in the morning. I remember I tried some other type in jr high and I couldn't even swallow those! Bad memories! Just make sure you eat something before you take it, and don't drink milk 3 hours before or 1 hour after taking it because it messes with the effectiveness. Hope that helps!YOUR HAIR! It's absolutely gorgeous! If you don't mind, the next time I go to my hairstylist, I will use your picture as reference. =P The contacts match very well with your hair colour too.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousSeptember 15, 2008 at 8:21 PM
where did u get the contacts?
they r really beatiful!!
r u able to tell the name of them?
and the brand please...
thanx~~! - AnonymousSeptember 19, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Hello Jen:
Congrats on your new job!
Regarding your lenses, they look beautiful on you!...very natural. I purchased the Hydrocor lenses (yay!), but I have a question regarding their maintenance.
How do you clean your lenses? How can I ensure their shelf life? The truth is, I don't really know what solution will be best to use w/ the Solotica lenses.
Can I use any multi-purpose solution, like "Opti-Free," to clean and disenfect the lenses? Do you recomend any other brand?
I noticed that you said to use a peroxide disinfecting solution at least once a week. Sooo, my question to you is...which brand do you use? Do you know if Ciba Vision's "Clear Care"is good...and safe? Additionally, how do you use those type of cleansers?
I know I'm probably overwhealming you and maybe even confusing you a little w/ all these questions, but is just that I have only worn daily contacts before.
So, to wrap it up...Thank you for your posts! They are VERY helpful!
Hope to hear from you soon!
Have a nice day! =) Anonymous 8: I actually did a review on both Clear Care and the Ultrasonic Cleaner previously in this blog. I recommend them both! You can find them under the labels section to the right of the blog. :)
ReplyDelete- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 12:39 AM
You look beautiful! I love reading your blog. I'm Asian with dark brown eyes, and am having a hard time debating between the Hidrocor or Natural Colors in Ocre. Did you experience color bleeding with the Ocre Hidrocors? Colorwise, what would you say is the difference and which one do you prefer? Thanks much!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 7:22 AM
Hey! congrats on the new job! i am trying to go to Art Institute of Houston for graphic design! You look beautiful with those contacts on! And im sure without them too! I do have a question about Soloticas...
i think i have small irises and my natural color is actually like the ice ones you have on, but im very white so i dont think they stand out very much. what would you recommend for really light eyes with (maybe) small irises? I do have dark hair by the way. and i was looking into ordering some circle lens because i like them alot but i heard that they are bad for your eyes. Thank you so much for your help! - AnonymousNovember 8, 2008 at 8:30 AM
wantd 2 order those lovely hidrocor lenses but that viallure website seems to have technical issues for a few weeks now, I've emailed "Ana Paula" for info & have yet to here back, can you fwd your "friend's" info that you ordered your solotica's from to my email - email@example.com
Many thanks - luuuv ur blog - lots of fun!! - AnonymousNovember 20, 2008 at 2:11 PM
hi please tell me how to order hydrocor in ice with plano now power lens. i have spent hours on the veillure and contato websites u referred to, hmph not happening, veillure forces u to register and then says cant register and doesnt give option for plano lens and the other one i dont understand the language, HELP.. my email address is email@example.com...please reply
ReplyDelete Hi, I too have been searching for the solotica hidrocharme. The two sites you suggested don't allow for purchase of nonpower lenses. Do you know how I can go about purchasing them in the US? They are beautiful and I would love to be able to purchase a pair.
Thanks for your help:)Hi Jen, i love your contact lenses ( but I wanna ask where did you order them and how much is it >.< ?) are they comfortable when u wear it because I bought a pair of GEO nudy gray. O.O my eyes were all red for 4 days, I really love the result of u wearing ur new contact lens ( it's so pretty ^^ )
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 28, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Hi Jen, i love your contact lenses ( but I wanna ask where did you order them and how much is it >.< ?) are they comfortable when u wear it because I bought a pair of GEO nudy gray. O.O my eyes were all red for 4 days, I really love the result of u wearing ur new contact lens ( it's so pretty ^^ )
ReplyDelete - AnonymousJanuary 28, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Hi Jen, i love your contact lenses ( but I wanna ask where did you order them and how much is it >.< ?) are they comfortable when u wear it because I bought a pair of GEO nudy gray. O.O my eyes were all red for 4 days, I really love the result of u wearing ur new contact lens ( it's so pretty ^^ )
ReplyDelete Hi Jen! This is Angela from lensaholics. :D
These lenses look amazing on you. So do your mels. I'm planning on getting a pair of the hidrocor mels and NC topazios next. :D I too have the ice lenses and I love them. They do look very gorgeous w/flash.
And you are seriously too pretty! You need to be a model! You're such a doll!Hey Barbie Doll,
Where did you purchase your lenses? I love them -- they are so natural looking!- AnonymousApril 9, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Hi :)
I just wanted to tell you I ordered Natural Colors Ice and Solotica Hidrocor Ice from viallure, and I was really upset with the results. Your dark brown eyes changed so beautifully, and my light brown eyes didn't change much at all. I spent a lot of money on these, and I tried contacting Ana Paula, and she told me that basically these contacts don't change brown eyes, which I know is wrong..because I've seen your pictures! If you have any advice I'd really appreciate it, because I shelled out $230 for 2 pairs, and no change :( - AnonymousApril 19, 2009 at 11:55 AM
hi there..
just wanted to ask where you got the lenses from...im in canada...and would like to order them..but can't find a site that i think might be reliable..
any input would be appreciated...
thanks - AnonymousApril 30, 2009 at 9:07 PM
hi I love your contacts . They r so beautiful they look better than the freshlook. please let me know where to find some. email@example.com thanks
ReplyDelete - JessicaMay 2, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Hello Jen!
I actually just "googled" Asian girl with acuvue 2 gray and came upon your site! I recently got Acuvue 2 colors in gray and it's horrible! It keeps sliding around my eyes and makes me look like I have really crazy eyes. One of my eyes is looking to the left and the other to the right. This is my second day since I've worn it. Will it stop sliding around after I've worn them for a couple more weeks?
Anyways, I love how the gray looks on you though! Very beautiful! - AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Hi How Comfortable are your Soloticas I need to wear them for 6-8 hrs a day 5 days a week I am debating between these and Waicon. Please help there is nothing I can do about how long I am wearing them. I am on Camera that long and need to disguise my eyes thanks
ReplyDelete - AnonymousAugust 24, 2009 at 9:55 PM
hi, i found a website to order these...but it asks for left eye and right eye power? im not sure what that means... or how to measure it (never ordered contacs b4..can ya tell :P ) Any info u could pass on would be great!
Thanks for the post!
Jordana - AnonymousOctober 23, 2009 at 1:12 PM
lol Jordana do you wear prescription? If you have 20/20 vision, which means you can see perfectly clear. Then put 0.0 plain power, for both left and right!Hope that helps
ReplyDelete I think you eyes look awesome! With and without contacts on. Although, I must say, the Hidrocharme Ice looks very nice on your dark brown eyes. I have tan skin and I just ordered the Hidrocor Ice lenses. I can't wait to show them off!
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 20, 2011 at 6:39 PM
I LOVE your contacts! they look so natural on you!!! I was wondering if you could tell me what color and website you ordered them from? thanks :)
ReplyDelete Hi Jen, my name is Dalia and I come from Italy. First of all, I congratulate you on your website, your beauty advices and your nice ideas.It is quite clear that you're a very kind and sweet person. Now I want to ask you if Solotica lenses are sold in Italy. Is it possible to order them from the site www.wrlens.com? Can they send the lenses in Italy as well? Thank you so much. A big hug and good luck with everything. Ciao ciao bellissima:D
ReplyDeleteHey! Your contacts look great on you!
I am looking into getting a pair of Hidrocor Ice, and was wondering do they really lok natural in person?...like can people tell you are wearing colored contacts? Also, naturally my eyes are a blue/green hazel color, not brown at all, I was wondering if you think Ice would be for me?Hello Jen! I need your help because I want to buy these, do you find them comfy enought to wear for 6-8 hours? Do you need drops in the middle maybe?


text:
'Exhaustion' Can Signify A Lot More Than 'Tired'
We may never know all the reasons why Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., has dropped out of sight, but history teaches us that if a public figure is linked to "exhaustion," the word can be code for something more problematic than simply being tired.
Take Democratic Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri — who for a brief moment was George McGovern's running mate in 1972. After the senator revealed that he had been hospitalized for "nervous exhaustion and fatigue," reporters pressed him, and he said he had also received psychiatric treatment and shock therapy for mental illness.
When Democratic Sen. Herman Talmadge of Georgia entered the hospital in 1979 because of "exhaustion," he was also undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse.
So when Jackson's office announced that the congressman was taking a medical leave from his duties because of "exhaustion," there was inevitable speculation about just what type of exhaustion he was experiencing.
Later in the week, Jackson's staff released a revised statement saying the congressman is suffering from a "mood disorder" but gave no specifics beyond that.
So what does that mean?
Saving Face
Calling his condition a mood disorder "doesn't really shed that much more light than the earlier explanation of 'exhaustion,' " says Amy Argetsinger, who co-writes The Washington Post's Reliable Source column with Roxanne Roberts. "And yet, it does have that extra minor degree of specificity and face-saving."
Medically, the diagnosis of mood disorder "covers quite a range of conditions — some severe, some not," says James Walkup, a clinical psychologist at Rutgers University. "Dysthymia is a kind of low-grade, chronic depression — burdensome and unpleasant, but not necessarily very disabling. Major depression can be quite severe, leaving people unable to do even simple everyday tasks."
And because the range is so wide, further questions are raised. The Washington Post, the Associated Press and others have explored the possible meanings of Jackson's diagnosis — including depression or addiction.
Regardless of the actual malady, Walkup says research shows "the public is becoming more accepting of treatment for mood disorders, but it can still be difficult for someone in the public eye."
True, that.
Trying to maintain a public persona while masking a serious private problem must be exhausting.
The Options
Come to think of it, how should public figures deal with private problems?
Rock 'n' rollers, including Kings of Leon and the Vines, have backed out of tours because of exhaustion. Granted, they don't have to appear at congressional hearings.
Demi Moore forsook the cast of the movie Lovelace because of exhaustion. Of course, she doesn't have to answer to constituents.
In any case, says Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, the Jackson situation has been badly handled. "If you're in high office," he says, "you have an obligation to be frank with your constituents who are depending on you for representation.
"Just tell the truth — because it will surely come out eventually anyway. Better to tell the facts in your own way before someone less friendly does it for you. ... If you don't level with people, you will pay the piper sooner or later. The drip-drip-drip of rumors and partial disclosure can be deadly to a political career."
But, Sabato adds, "if you're honest and are having genuine health problems or addictions, your constituents and everyone of goodwill likely will rally to your support. They'll pull for you to recover. It's very human to have problems and weaknesses, and we long ago gave up the idea that elected officials shared any genes with Mother Teresa."
Asked if he can think of a public figure who handled a private problem successfully, Sabato points to the case of Nydia Velazquez. In 1991, a year before her first run for Congress, the New York Democrat attempted suicide. But during the campaign, Sabato says, "she was very frank about what happened and it didn't hurt her — since she won." Velazquez will be running for her 11th term this fall.


text:
Class: "The Energy-Water Nexus"
Instructors: Eric Larson, a research engineer with the Energy Systems Analysis Group of the Princeton Environmental Institute and lecturer in chemical and biological engineering and in mechanical and aerospace engineering; Sankaran Sundaresan, professor of chemical and biological engineering; and Daniel Giammar, the William R. Kenan Jr. Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching in Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment (on leave from Washington University in St. Louis).
Larson, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in mechanical engineering, is internationally known for his engineering, economic and policy-related research on advanced technologies and systems for clean-energy supply and efficient end-use of energy.
Sundaresan, who received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Houston, is currently engaged in research on multiphase flows and water desalination. He has been honored with several teaching awards at Princeton.
Prior to joining the Washington University faculty in 2002, Giammar served as a research associate in geosciences at Princeton. He has served on national committees focused on environmental engineering and in 2006 received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award. Giammar earned his Ph.D. in environmental engineering science from the California Institute of Technology.
Description: At the heart of the course, which was offered for the first time this past fall, is the inextricable link between water and energy — and the challenge in figuring out how to keep that relationship as sustainable as possible.
Larson explains how water is needed for almost any imaginable process used to convert primary energy into useable energy, as well as for the extraction or production of most primary energy sources. On the other hand, energy is required to move water from where it is to where it's needed, as well as to treat water to make it suitable for human uses.
"It's water for energy and energy for water," said Larson. For instance, about half of all the water withdrawn from lakes and rivers and streams in the United States is used to cool power plants. And, he said, in arid locales like California, about 20 percent of all energy is used for treating, heating and moving water.
Lectures throughout the semester focus on this connection between water and energy, and the ways in which their interdependence affects everything from power plant design to climate change. Looking at the matter holistically, students study numerous facets of the energy-water nexus, including regions of the world that suffer from water scarcity, how energy consumption correlates to a country's development, the ever-increasing demand for water on an annual basis, and the ways water plays a critical role in generating electricity.
"The availability of water itself is going to have a significant impact on how to generate electricity in the future," said Sundaresan. "Water shortage will become a growing problem, and since water and energy are intimately related, that's going to affect the way we think about power plant design. Ultimately, you need a lot of energy to produce the water the world needs and you need a lot of water to produce the energy the world needs. We want students to understand that these are coupled problems."
To help transform theory into application, the class is organized into three-person teams each charged with designing a power plant for their final project. The goal is to provide students with a hypothetical situation that encourages them to deal with the myriad issues surrounding the energy-water nexus, such as where the water will come from and how it will be used most efficiently.
"The objective is for the students to gain an overall appreciation for these coupled problems while also taking it to an even deeper level than just lecturers and discussions," said Larson. "We chose to make the course project-focused because we wanted students to analyze the energy-water nexus in a real-world capacity."
Inspiration: The origins of "The Energy-Water Nexus" began with Sundaresan's research on desalination. Since late 2011, Sundaresan, Pablo Debenedetti, the Class of 1950 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science, and Brian Pethica, a senior scientist in the chemical and biological engineering department, have collaborated on desalination using clathrate hydrates. The work, supported by a Princeton University Grand Challenges and Project X grants, could lead to a relatively low-cost and low-energy method of providing drinking water for the world.
"Energy is the big issue today, but water is the next big issue to face the world," said Sundaresan. "There is a sense of urgency about water that has accelerated in recent years, and we wanted to figure out how to create an educational component to our research on desalination. That's where this began."
Sundaresan and Debenedetti helped modify the introductory chemical engineering course taught by Professor Rodney Priestley, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, to include a unit on desalination principles and technologies. After a semester, Sundaresan decided to design a new course and reached out to Larson.
"I was immediately enthusiastic about the idea when he approached me," said Larson. "This is a pressing and fascinating problem that I felt students would be excited to seriously explore."
Learning of Giammar's plans to be on campus, Larson and Sundaresan invited him to join the teaching team. "As an environmental engineer, I jumped at the opportunity to contribute complementary content and perspectives to this course," Giammar said "This unique course can be a model for interdisciplinary engineering education, and I will certainly bring elements of the course back to Washington University."
Financial support was provided by the Siebel Energy Grand Challenges program to develop course materials in the months leading up to the start of the term.
Guest lecturers and power plant tour: The first two-thirds of the semester consists primarily of lectures given by the instructors, with latter weeks including guest lecturers such as Anne Hoskins, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Public Service Enterprise Group and currently visitor-in-residence with the Andlinger Center's Corporate Affiliates Program, Christodoulos Floudas, Princeton's Stephen C. Macaleer '63 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science, and (via video conference) David Allen, a chemical engineering professor and an energy-water expert at the University of Texas.
A particular highlight was a tour of Princeton's Cogeneration Plant, which provides electricity, steam and chilled water to power, heat and cool campus buildings. Plant manager Edward Borer talked to students about the real-world intersection of water and energy and how the facility provides a number of benefits to campus sustainability.
Students say: Senior Christopher Greco, a mechanical and aerospace engineering major: "In a lot of classes you only look at the theoretical side of the science you're studying, but this course forced us to look at the actual real-world choices people have to make when designing power plants and how those choices will affect the long-term sustainability of this intersection of energy and water. I found that particularly fascinating and important."
Senior Madeline Karn, an exchange student from the University of Oxford studying civil engineering: "For me, the best part about this course was the power plant design project. It was less about class lectures and more about working with my group and talking about how to solve all of these problems surrounding the production of energy in relation to water. It's been challenging but also incredibly rewarding and fun."
Junior Lauren Edelman, a chemical and biological engineering major: "Before this I never felt like I was able to understand the perspective of someone actually responsible for designing a power plant. But with this project and the insight of the guest lecturers, I have a totally different perspective. I highly recommend taking this class. It will definitely help me in what I do in the future. Not just theoretically but in a very real and applicable way."


text:
Here are some descriptions of a foul smell that has stunk its way across a huge stretch of Southern California.
PAT STEVENS: Rotting fish, sewage, you know.
JOYCE THATCHER: It smells exactly like somebody's septic system overflowed.
SEAN NEALON: Like an old banana under the seat for, like, a week, and it just turns all black and gooey and, like, something's rotting.
BLOCK: That was Pat Stevens in Banning, California, along with Joyce Thatcher and Sean Nealon in Riverside. The smell appears to have wafted from the Salton Sea, more than 150 miles north and west, up to the San Fernando Valley. So what's causing the big stink?
Jack Crayon is an environmental scientist for California's Department of Fish and Game. And he joins me now from Bermuda Dunes.
Jack, how would you describe the smell?
JACK CRAYON: I'd say a rotten egg smell. You know, one of the major components of this event, and we have several each year, is hydrogen sulfide gas that's being brought up from the bottom of the sea. And that's what you smell when you smell a rotten egg. It's a gas that's created by bacteria in the absence of oxygen.
BLOCK: You say this is not an unusual thing to happened, but the smell seems to be much stronger this year and certainly has gone much, much further.
CRAYON: That's largely a function of weather patterns. When you live down close to the sea - and I'm only about 15 miles away - you'll smell this. The locals are familiar with this. But the prevailing weather patterns usually bring winds from the north, from the L.A. area. We had a couple of storms recently where there were strong winds blowing up from the south. And that's more than likely the mechanism that's bringing this up to people who probably, though, couldn't even point the direction of the Salton Sea.
BLOCK: And what exactly is going on in the Salton Sea that would be causing this smell?
CRAYON: There's too many nutrients, too much of a good thing. And basically it's an ecosystem and that's having indigestion.
At the bottom of the sea there is a lot of organisms - whether it's an algae bloom or fish or duck poop - whatever goes down there will break down, but it's in an oxygen-free zone at the bottom of the sea and it builds up in the water. So water accumulates these gases, like hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. And when you have a wind event that will churn the waters of the sea, it brings these up and releases them. And that's what the smell is all about.
BLOCK: You know, the name Salton Sea is a little misleading because it's an inland lake, right?
CRAYON: Yeah.
BLOCK: It is salty.
CRAYON: Yes.
BLOCK: And I gather that there's been a lot of concern. I was reading a warning that the system is going to experience a catastrophic event because of these excessive nutrients that you're talking about, high salt levels, and the ecosystem basically collapses under an algae bloom.
CRAYON: Yeah. I don't know about catastrophic. It's more like a continual degradation of the values of the sea. There's no outlet, so the sea is becoming increasingly more salty, increasingly more full of nutrients. Sooner or later it's not going to support fish. And that's when you would have what I'd call an ecological catastrophe.
BLOCK: Has there been a big fish die-off this season?
CRAYON: Well, big's a relative term here. I don't think we've had the scale of past large ones with millions of fish. But we see a number of smaller die-offs during some moderate winds, and fish will be killed during that event.
BLOCK: Wait. The wind would precipitate the fish die-off?
CRAYON: Exactly. As the wind blows across the sea - the sea is very shallow now, you have to understand. If you shrunk the Salton Sea to the size of a football field and kept it to scale, it would only be one inch deep. It's very shallow. The winds blow across the sea, they bring up those bottom layers of water, and it releases all those gases through the water that have been collecting for weeks or even months. Those gases strip out the oxygen from the water and that's what kills the fish.
BLOCK: Jack Crayon is an environmental scientist with California's Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Crayon, thank you so much.
CRAYON: Melissa, it was my pleasure. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
OCEAN CITY- Young anglers will get their moment in the
spotlight this weekend when the Ocean City Marlin Club hosts its 6th
Annual Kids Classic Tournament.
Throughout the summer, the big boys and girls get to show
off their fishing skills practically every weekend with one tournament or
another, but the focus during this weekend's 6th Annual Kid's
Classic will clearly be on the younger anglers. The event is open to all
anglers age 19 or younger and will take place in the waters in and around the
resort area from the back bays to the ocean.
With several categories both inshore and offshore, there
will be opportunities for all young anglers participating to get on the
leaderboard. Inshore species targeted this weekend include flounder, mackerel,
trout, taug, seabass and spadefish. Those opting to go offshore will target
tuna, dolphin, wahoo, bonita and even billfish.
Many of the participants fished on the headboat "Judith M"
including children sponsored by the Wish-A-Fish Foundation, a national program
that provides opportunities for kids with special needs, whether they are
suffering from a life-threatening illness or suffer from long-term disability,
to enjoy a day on the water catching fish. All of the profits from this
weekend's tournament will be donated back to the Wish-A-Fish Foundation.
The event gets underway tonight with registration and a
captain's meeting before the action inshore and offshore gets underway tomorrow
and Sunday. Participating boats and anglers will fish one or the two days,
Saturday or Sunday, in the bay or ocean or both and weigh-ins will be held each
fishing day at Sunset Marina in West Ocean City.
Every angler participating will receive an award, but
there will be additional prizes for the top three finishers in the billfish
release category and the heaviest fish category in each targeted species. No
points will be awarded for a boated billfish and sharks are not an eligible
species in the tournament. The entry fee for the Kid's Classic is a flat $200
per boat although the cost for anglers fishing from a head boat or for anglers
without a boat will be $25.
Sunset Marina will host the weigh-ins each fishing day but
most of the tournament activity will be centered at the host Ocean City Marlin
Club. For example, a cookout will be held on Saturday night at the club, while
Sunday's activities include a carnival and awards ceremony complete with
fishing and nautical-themed amusements for the participants. For more
information, contact the Ocean City Marlin Club at (410) 213-1613.


text:
Debt Has No Consequences? Color Me Skeptical
If you found value in this content, please join me in seeking solutions by becoming a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com.
Thank you, Ernie C. ($50), for your magnificently generous pledge to this site -- I am greatly honored by your steadfast support and readership.
Thank you, Branden B. ($50), for your superbly generous contribution to this site -- I am greatly honored by your support and readership.


text:
"Shawn, what the hell are you thinking? It's 2 in the afternoon. Emily is still getting her hair done. Are you going to pace around in your tux for three hours before we go? Idiot."
"If you don't shave that goatee off for today all of the guys are going to hold you down and we'll shave it off for you."
"Hey Denise, can you do me a favour and go to my car and get my Star Wars Soundtrack cd and give it to the DJ?"
"Hey Shannon, can you do me a favour and help arrange a table for the eight extra family members who just showed up after traveling across the entire country to be here today but who also didn't RSVP?"
"I do."
"I do."
"What the hell?? I thought you said we weren't going to do the cake-in-the-face thing."
"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day…."
"I don't want to leave yet. Let's pay the limo driver to stick around for another hour."
And so we did.


text:
The report is now online. Unfortunately, the supplementary information is not yet online.
I think that the Genographic Project has a lot of rewriting to do in their Atlas of the Human Journey given the proposed dates for the major haplogroups. For example, the oft-repeated claim that R1b has something to do with the Cro-Magnons is no longer tenable.
The supplementary material can be found here (pdf).
Genome Research DOI: 10.1101/gr.7172008
New binary polymorphisms reshape and increase resolution of the human Y chromosomal haplogroup tree
Tatiana M. Karafet et al.
Markers on the non-recombining portion of the human Y chromosome continue to have applications in many fields including evolutionary biology, forensics, medical genetics, and genealogical reconstruction. In 2002, the Y Chromosome Consortium published a single parsimony tree showing the relationships among 153 haplogroups based on 243 binary markers and devised a standardized nomenclature system to name lineages nested within this tree. Here we present an extensively revised Y chromosome tree containing 311 distinct haplogroups, including two new major haplogroups (S and T), and incorporating approximately 600 binary markers. We describe major changes in the topology of the parsimony tree and provide names for new and rearranged lineages within the tree following the rules presented by the Y Chromosome Consortium in 2002. Several changes in the tree topology have important implications for studies of human ancestry. We also present demography-independent age estimates for 11 of the major clades in the new Y chromosome tree.
A new Y-chromosome haplogroup tree will be published in Genome Research. Here is the public release:
The Y chromosome retains a remarkable record of human ancestry, since it is passed directly from father to son. In an article published online today in Genome Research (www.genome.org), scientists have utilized recently described genetic variations on the part of the Y chromosome that does not undergo recombination to significantly update and refine the Y chromosome haplogroup tree. The print version of this work will appear in the May issue of Genome Research, accompanied by a special poster of the new tree.
Hammer's group integrated more than 300 new markers into the tree, which allowed the resolution of many features that were not yet discernable, as well as the revision of previous arrangements. "The major lineages within the most common African haplogroup, E, are now all sorted out, with the topology providing new interpretations on the geographical origin of ancient sub-clades," describes Hammer. "When one polymorphism formerly described as unique, but recently shown to have reversed was replaced by recently reported markers, a sub-haplogroup of haplogroup O, the most common in China, was considerably rearranged," explains Fernando Mendez, a co-author of the study.
In addition to improving the resolution of branches, the latest reconstruction of the tree allows estimates of time to the most recent common ancestor of several haplogroups. "The age of [haplogroup] DE is about 65,000 years, just a bit younger than the other major lineage to leave Africa, which is assumed to be about 70,000 years old," says Hammer, describing an example of the fine resolution of age that is now possible. "Haplogroup E is older than previously estimated, originating approximately 50,000 years ago."
Furthermore, Hammer explains that this work has resulted in the addition of two new major haplogroups, S and T, with novel insights into the ancestry of both. "Haplogroup T, the clade that Thomas Jefferson's Y chromosome belongs to, has a Middle Eastern affinity, while haplogroup S is found in Indonesia and Oceania."


text:
Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
What is periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)?
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is characterized by the death or damage and softening of the white matter, the inner part of the brain that transmits information between the nerve cells and the spinal cord, as well as from one part of the brain to another.
Periventricular means around or near the ventricles, the spaces in the brain containing the cerebrospinal fluid
Leuko means white
Malacia means softening
Why is periventricular leukomalacia a concern?
With PVL, the area of damaged brain tissue can affect the nerve cells that control motor movements. As the baby grows, the damaged nerve cells cause the muscles to become spastic, or tight, and resistant to movement. Babies with PVL have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy (a group of disorders that prevent the child from controlling their muscles normally), and may have intellectual or learning difficulties. PVL may occur alone or in addition to intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain).
What causes periventricular leukomalacia?
It is not clear why PVL occurs. This area of the brain is very susceptible to injury, especially in premature babies whose brain tissues are fragile. PVL may happen when the brain receives too little oxygen. However, it is not clear when the trigger for PVL occurs--before, during, or after birth. Most babies who develop PVL are premature, especially those born before 30 weeks gestation. Other factors that may be associated with PVL include early rupture of membranes (amniotic sac) and infection inside the uterus.
What are the symptoms of periventricular leukomalacia?
PVL may not be apparent until later months. Each baby may experience symptoms differently. The most common symptom of PVL is spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy characterized by tight, contracted muscles, especially in the legs. The symptoms of PVL may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your baby's doctor for a diagnosis.
How is periventricular leukomalacia diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for PVL may include:
Cranial ultrasound. A painless test that uses sound waves to view the baby's brain through the fontanelles, the soft openings between the skull bones. With PVL, the ultrasound shows cysts or hollow places in the brain tissue.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test uses a combination of a large magnet, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of internal structures. MRI may show some of the early changes in the brain tissue that occur with PVL.
Treatment for periventricular leukomalacia
There are no treatments for PVL. Management of the problems that can result from PVL will be determined by your baby's doctor based on:
Your baby's gestational age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the condition
Your baby's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the condition
Your opinion or preference
Babies at risk for PVL may need special care after discharge from the hospital. Follow-up may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.


text:
As it turns out, I've had enough of being quite so slovenly. Or perhaps my husband's had enough, I can't remember which came first. We made a pact to organize the damn room together. We took a trip to The Container Store and spent nearly all weekend straightening and cleaning.
I don't know much about organization, but what I have learned comes from The Sewing Studio, where I teach. That place beyond orderly, and I've been picking up tips. Here are the two rules I can tell you so far:
- A system of shelves + containers is key. I got a couple of these shelving units and a bunch of different sized-bins and went to town.
- Every container must be labeled, and everything that's in the container must be listed on the label. No exceptions! No just throwing in a French curve with your pins--unless that is, you change the label to say "Pins/French Curve." You must hold yourself to the standard that the labels have provided.
Beyond those two rules, I'm kind of winging it. I got a little label obsessed and decided that each presser foot I own should have its own drawer.
I am quite proud of my little needle drawers.
I've made sure to give myself a ton of bookshelf space, since I'm a sewing book junkie. I'm also lucky enough to have an industrial coat rack to keep garments on.
I'm using these canvas bins for patterns, divided into separates and dresses, with separate bins for vintage and contemporary.
I'm happy with the progress I've made, but there's still a lot to be done. There's a pile of yet-to-be organized stuff shoved in one corner. Exhibit A:
I will now purge your minds of that unsightly image with this: kitties! My adorable kitties!
But the real point of this post is to ask you, dear readers, if you have any tips for organizing a sewing space. Please share--I need all the help I can get!


text:
Read our reviews
Location & hours
(404) 254-2964
330 Sandy Springs Cir Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Vinyl Buyer's Checklist
is a practical and waterproof option for flooring, especially well suited for mudrooms and bathrooms. Choosing vinyl flooring for your home is a major decision. Actually, it's a series of several decisions. There are so many types and styles of vinyl and so many other aspects to consider, the task can be daunting. Although not exhaustive, this checklist will walk you step by step through the main considerations that will ultimately help lead you to the perfect vinyl flooring for your home.
Your home
When choosing flooring, discuss the following considerations with one of our specialists so he or she can help steer you to the best product for your particular home.
Consider who spends time in your home. Don't forget to include visitors and pets. Since your flooring will likely be down for several years, you may want to consider future children or pets as well.
Taking into account your lifestyle and the daily use of your floors, rank the importance of vinyl's scratch resistance, durability and cleanability.
Consider your environment. Is your space affected by sun exposure or other elements?
Familiarize yourself with the different types of vinyl flooring products and choose which will work best for your project. First, determine if you are interested in sheet vinyl or modular vinyl, often called luxury vinyl tile (LVT).
Some vinyl products can be glued down to the subfloor, while loose lay sheet vinyl and floating LVT sit on top of the subfloor without glue. Glue down is recommended for bathrooms or rooms requiring more than one seam, whereas floating and loose lay are better over poor subfloor conditions.
LVT can be flexible or have a rigid core. In homes with damaged or rough subfloors, rigid LVT may be a better choice, since flexible vinyl can telegraph imperfections.
Look for virgin vinyl, since recycled vinyl may contain toxic substances.
Identify your decorating style and gather samples of existing paint, fabrics and adjacent flooring. Also take photos of existing furniture and cabinets.
Determine your preference for vinyl aesthetics including a variety of tiles, planks, wood and stone looks.
Consider the different types of wearlayers (protective coatings) to determine which is best for your home. Vinyl no-wax for light traffic, urethane for normal to heavy traffic and enhanced urethane for the heaviest traffic.
Measure your space to estimate your square footage. Multiply length times width of each room to equal square footage. To account for waste, add 10% to the total (multiply by 1.10) for a good working estimate.
Figure in vinyl flooring price, installation and additional fees to create a realistic budget and to accurately compare products.
Consider the type of shopping experience you want and then look for a retailer near you. Many stores sell flooring, but independent retailers are flooring experts with an emphasis on customer service.
Before you purchase, read all warranty information carefully to fully understand any requirements.
Although installing vinyl can be a DIY project, talk to your retailer about the benefits of choosing a professional installer. Quality installation can affect the success of your vinyl floor.
Vinyl flooring should be delivered two days ahead of installation to the room(s) where it will be installed for proper acclimation.
Prepare your home for installation. Move everything out of the room(s) and clear a generous path to the room(s), removing all breakables. Ensure subfloors are clean and free of debris.
Read the manufacturer's literature to learn about proper care and maintenance for your new vinyl flooring.
Print checklist
330 Sandy Springs Cir Sandy Springs, GA 30328 |
(404) 254-2964
*Please note that we don't ship materials out of state. Payment for materials is only available through cash or cashier's check.
Copyright © 2024 Great American Floors |
Flooring accounting
& websites


text:
First date mistakes to avoid
First dates can be a lot like dentist appointments: They seem like a good idea when you are making them, but when the time actually comes, you find yourself thinking of a dozen and one ways to get out of them.
This is mostly because first dates can just be so incredibly awkward.
Chances are you barely know the person you are having a first date with, and that means you are both trying to impress each other. But there is a fine line between being on your best behavior and trying to pretend that you're someone you are not.
Many times, the harder you work at dazzling your date, the greater the likelihood that you will completely blow your chances of ever seeing them again.
Here's a look at five first date mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
No. 5: Trying too hard
Trying too hard is one of the worst things you can do on a first date.
It either makes you come across as insecure and awkward, or cocky and obnoxious. And none of these are qualities that are going to have people lining up around the block to go out with you.
It may sound cliched, but just being yourself is the best way to impress. That is, of course, your "better" self. Leave the side of you that picks your nose and sings off-key to Justin Timberlake songs at home.
At the same time, try not to brag, exaggerate, lie or pretend to be someone you're not. Telling your date you're a marine biologist when you're unemployed and living with your parents will only end up in disaster.
Just ask George Costanza. And while you're at it, ask yourself this next question...
No. 4: Assuming too much
Every first date has a point, a goal.
Either you are looking for just a casual good time, or you are hoping the first date will evolve into a second and a third and maybe even a lifetime. One of the quickest ways to blow a first date is to assume that your date is on the same page that you are.
Making sexual overtures to someone who is hoping for a long-term courtship is likely to go over about as well as a 300-pound pole vaulter. In fact, as a general rule, sex should not be a first-date topic, even if it is your ultimate goal.
Talking about sex with a virtual stranger tends to reek of desperation. Of course, that's better than reeking of B.O., but neither are likely to win you any points.
And neither is our next big mistake ...
No. 3: Unpacking your baggage
Everybody has some baggage in his or her past: bad relationships, family turmoil, maybe even some run-ins with the law.
But these are not things you want to plop down on the table the very first time you are on a date with someone. Yes, you want to get to know each other. And yes, you want to be honest about who you are. But too much too soon is going to freak your date out.
Navigating these waters can be tricky if your date keeps asking you questions about your past. But you don't have to lie to avoid making your conversation a virtual garbage dump. You merely need to create an air of mystery by letting your date know that if she wants to find out your deep, dark secrets, she'll will have to go on a few more dates with you.
This will intrigue her instead of sending her running for the door.
And speaking of running for the door ...
No. 2: Having bad hygiene/manners
Nothing turns a potential mate off more than someone who is smelly, unkempt or uncouth.
Showing up for your date fresh out of a session at the gym with no shower is likely to get you the boot before the date even gets off the ground. Forgetting to iron your clothes or comb your hair is not very impressive, either; it sends your date the signal that you really don't care enough about her to bother.
And while you don't have to be a protege of Miss Manners to make a good impression on your date, you don't exactly want to take your cues from Larry the Cable Guy either.
Chewing with your mouth open at dinner or passing gas during a movie are sure ways to guarantee that there is no second date in your future.
And here is one more ...
No. 1: Bringing a sidekick
You may think that it is common sense that when you are going on a date, it is just going to be the two of you.
But you would be surprised at how many people decide to bring their best friend, their brother or their child along on the date with them. Usually there is some last-minute excuse as to why "two's company" has suddenly turned into "three's a crowd."
The friend just showed up and had nowhere to go; the babysitter fell through; we are Siamese twins. OK, the last one is a valid excuse.
But no matter how nervous you are about being alone with this person, bringing a sidekick is only going to make matters worse. If you're worried about your safety, simply meet in a public place.
And just remember, even Batman doesn't bring Robin everywhere he goes.


text:
Ethics Guidelines
The following guidelines are binding on all members of the department. They cover relations between the fieldworker and native speakers of languages under investigation and / or the communities in which those languages are spoken. They do not cover the following aspects that might nonetheless be relevant to the work of the department but which should be covered elsewhere:
- Matters relating to scientific plagiarism and falsification. These are covered by the Max Planck Society's publication Rules of Good Scientific Practice / Rules of Procedure in Cases of Suspected Scientific Misconduct.
- Matters relating to the collection of genetic samples. Where members of the department are involved in the collection of genetic samples, the ethics policies of the Department of Evolutionary Genetics must be followed. Researchers should note, with respect to point 1 below, that additional official permission to collect genetic samples will be needed in many parts of the world, in addition to permission to conduct linguistic work.
- Matters relating to work with children. The policies set out below must be followed as far as possible in relation to work with children, but other ethical issues relating specifically to the status of children must be taken into account, including but not restricted to the need to obtain the consent of their parents / guardian(s).
Members of the department are required to adhere to the highest ethical standards in their research. In particular, they must show respect for the individuals, communities, and cultures with which they work. The following are designed to implement this general recommendation more specifically.
- Members of the department must comply with all legal requirements for the conduct of their research in the relevant area. This includes but is not restricted to obtaining necessary visas, residence permits, and research permits, from both national and local authorities, and complying with requirements on the collection and dissemination of materials.
- Members of the department must ensure that they have the informed consent of the individual(s) and community(ies) concerned to carry out the research in question and to disseminate the results of that research. In this connection, it is essential to note that consent must be informed. In particular, explanation must be given of the uses to which the material will or might be put and of the access that will or might be made available to the material. Under appropriate circumstances, individuals or communities may place restrictions on the use or accessibility of material, and such restrictions must be adhered to. Researchers will often have to rely on their own judgements as to which individuals or communities must be asked for their consent, but such judgements should be formed in a responsible and accountable manner. Researchers should note that informed consent may need to be obtained not only from the source of material (e.g. the narrator of a story) but also from others who are affected by that material (for instance, persons who are mentioned in the story). Under no circumstances should individuals or communities be subjected to coercion to give their consent; researchers will need to be sensitive to local circumstances in this respect.
- The agreement between the researcher and the individuals / communities involved in the research must be documentable, i.e. if a question arises as to the validity of the agreement the researcher must be able to produce evidence of that agreement. In some cultures and circumstances a written agreement will be appropriate, whereas in other cases some form other than a written agreement will be needed.
- Especially given the increasing importance of intellectual and cultural property rights, individuals or communities participating in research should be informed that the institute and the researcher seek the right to store, use, and disseminate (with restrictions where appropriate) the material in question, but do not assert ownership of the intellectual or cultural materials entrusted to the institute or the researcher. When stored and disseminated, such materials should always make due acknowledgement to their authors and performers. Authors / performers should be named explicitly only where their informed consent to this has been obtained; otherwise, an anonymous acknowledgement is appropriate. It is appropriate for the researcher to pay the individuals involved in research for their time and travel and other out-of-pocket expenses. It is not appropriate to make payments that might be construed as payments for the transfer of ownership.
- Members of the department must, wherever possible, ensure that they contribute to the communities in which they work. Exceptions to this policy can only be considered in truly unusual circumstances where implementation of the policy is impossible, and such exceptions require detailed justification and the approval of the department director. Contributions to the community would include but not be restricted to:
- documentation of the language in a way that is accessible to the community, for instance through the preparation of primers or printed or audio-recorded collections of traditional stories;
- development of a writing system for the language;
- training of members of the community in appropriate ways, for instance in text transcription, linguistic analysis, literacy, audio and video recording.


text:
As I Lay Dying Frontman Tim Lambesis Arrested in California Murder-for-Hire Sting
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) - The lead singer of Grammy-nominated heavy metal band As I Lay Dying was arrested Tuesday in Southern California as authorities said he tried to hire an undercover detective to kill his estranged wife.
Tim Lambesis, 32, was arrested at a retail business in Oceanside, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
The statement said detectives received information Thursday that Lambesis had solicited someone to kill his wife, who lives in nearby Encinitas. A task force from several law enforcement agencies quickly launched an investigation that led to the arrest.
The department would give no further details on the investigation.
As I Lay Dying formed in San Diego in 2000 and has released six albums including 2007's "An Ocean Between Us," which reached No. 8 on Billboard's charts. A track from the album was nominated for a Grammy for top metal performance.
It was not clear whether Lambesis had hired an attorney, and a phone message seeking comment left at a number listed in his name was not immediately returned.
According to its website, the band is scheduled to tour the country with several other metal acts starting later this month.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.


text:
Still no jetpacks, but your inner 9-year-old has to be excited about this: NASA is developing a 3D printer that can print "nutritious and flavorful" food during space travel.
The agency says its current space food is "not adequate in nutrition or acceptability through the five-year shelf life required for a mission to Mars, or other long duration missions." So the new printer would combine powders, water, and oil a la carte to create meals that better suit an astronaut's individual tastes and needs, the Washington Post reports.


text:
The wreck of the George the Third depicts the aftermath of the shipwreck in 1835 of the George the Third off the coast of Tasmania. Following a four-month voyage from London and bound for Hobart, the 35-metre convict transport ship entered D'Entrecasteaux Channel on the evening of 12 April 1835. Less than 200 kilometres from its destination, the ship struck submerged rock and in the catastrophe that followed 127 of the 220 convicts on board died.1 Survivors' accounts said the ship's crew fired their weapons at convicts who, in a state of panic, attempted to break from their confines as the vessel went down.
Painted by convict-artist Knut Bull, this image is dominated by a huge sky, with the broken George the Third dwarfed by the expanse. Waves continue to crash over the decks of the ship, while a few figures in the foreground attempt to salvage cargo and supplies. This is a seascape that evokes trepidation and anxiety. The small figures contribute to the feeling of human vulnerability when faced with the extremities of nature.
In 1845 Norwegian-born Knut Bull was tried in London Central Criminal Court for the attempted forgery of a 100-dollar Norwegian bill. He was sentenced to fourteen years transportation and arrived in Norfolk Island in 1846. After nine months Bull was transferred to the Saltwater River probation station in Van Diemen's Land. From 1849 he was permitted to work as an artist in the colony under a certificate of general good conduct and by 1853 had received a conditional pardon. He went on to work as a professional painter and teacher and relocated to New South Wales in 1856.
1 Michael Roe, An Imperial disaster: the wreck of George the Third, Hobart: Blubber Head Press, 2006, p. 12.


text:
>>Ashta >>Bhadkumbe >>Bhilawadi >>Borgaon >>Gotkhindi >>Islampur >>Kavathepiran >>Nagthane >>Palus >>Pundi >>Rtgsho >>Sangli >>Shirala >>Vita >>Walwa
You can find Hutatma Sahakari Bank NEFT, RTGS and IMPS codes in the table alongside. Hutatma Bank NEFT, RTGS and IMPS code is same as IFSC code and used in net banking. For carrying out these transactions we need account details like account number, holder's name as per bank records, type of account and IFSC code. Money can be transferred using any of the three techniques i.e. IMPS, NEFT and RTGS. This Hutatma Bank IFSC code for Shirala branch can be used for various online fund transfers.
Hutatma Bank Shirala IFSC code is an 11 digit code used in online fund transfers. This IFSC code contains 4 Characters that represent Hutatma Sahakari Bank, 5th character is reserved for future use and the last 6 characters represent the Shirala branch code. Hutatma Sahakari Bank has many branches all over the country and physical cheques cannot be transferred anywhere across the country to transfer funds hence internet banking is preferred. The IFSC code HUSB0000008 is used to identify the Hutatma Bank Shirala participating in online transactions via RTGS, IMPS and NEFT systems. You can find the IFSC code for Hutatma Bank Shirala in the table alongside
Hutatma Bank Shirala IFSC code is given on the right side. We have also provided the details like address and contact numbers of Shirala of Hutatma Sahakari Bank with IFSC code. To further simplify your search we have provided a search box, wherein you can type the first four letters of any branch of Hutatma Sahakari Bank that you require. You can find the IFSC code for Hutatma Bank Shirala here along with other details for your online fund transfer. These codes are used for online fund transfer which will simplify your work and save a lot of time.


text:
So it's happened: Your kid wants to text. They have friends, and they want to keep in touch with their friends the modern way. Are you ready to just hand them over to whichever texting app their phone comes with? And do you know about everything that's out there already? It's not just words anymore — now kids can send each other photos and videos. And the universe of emoticons!
Take a deep breath. It's going to be fine. Here are a few things about texting that can help you and your kids navigate the world of safe electronic communications.
First, use an app with parental controls. MouseMail's WebTxT filtering allows kids to send text messages from their email account to any phone from your approved list of contacts. It also scans messages for inappropriate content. The service is a child-friendly introduction to texting — sort of like training wheels before they try out the real thing.
TextFree with voice (Free on iOS & Android ) can be set up for your child to use on their device — but with your email address and password so you can monitor their conversations via the service's website. It comes with a free phone number kids can use if they have access to WiFi but aren't on a phone plan. This app is not designed for children, by the way; it's intended for users age 13 and older, and it includes ads. You'll want to talk about not clicking on those ads before your kid starts using this app.
Another way to stay in the loop on your kids' communication is an app called TxtWatcher (Free on Android via TxtWatcher website; not supported on iOS yet). Install the app on your child's phone, and you can watch and record the messages and pictures being sent. The app will even translate texting terms for you. Personally, this feels intrusive to me. But it's an option for parents who are especially concerned about the kinds of conversations their kids are having.
As long as you've set your child up with a device and texting, it might be a good idea to download iEmergency ICE Pro ($2 iOS; $3.99 Android; $.99 for similar Blackberry app). This app provides emergency personnel access to your child's medical information, like allergies, medications, doctors and whom to contact in case of emergency.
So that's the good; now let's talk about the bad and the ugly. Whichever apps your kids use, you want to select NO geolocator. Refuse requests to allow the app to use your location or enter your zip code. I know that you probably want to know where your kids are, but you don't want predators to know. Avoid apps like Kik Messenger which are not private and which can invade your child's contact list. You may have heard about SnapChat, which allows users to send photos that disappear? Not for the kids. And even more innocent photo apps like Instagram should be used with care since texting apps can access them, and Instagram Direct essentially serves as a photo texting app.
You'll also want to establish some texting etiquette rules. Are there time limits for texting? Is there a nighttime curfew? What about texting during mealtimes or at school? Whatever rules your kids have for texting, make sure you have rules that you respect as well, parents. No texting at the table if your kids aren't allowed to do it. No bullying behavior or harassment allowed.
Keeping an eye on your kids' texting activity in moderation is a good idea, but be careful not to become obsessive with your monitoring. You don't have to track their every communication. Pay attention to their outward behavior and be alert to major red flags before zeroing in on their online and texting activity.


text:
Esteban Loaiza (1-2) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (0-0).
COMMENTS: Yawn. Another 11-run game? Big deal. What's next? Esteban Loaiza. Coors Field. Uh-oh. Think of something positive to say! "Esteban Loaiza exhales carbon dioxide, which plants need to live." Nicely done! Anyway, what the hell was I thinking, predicting a pitchers' duel in Colorado yesterday? Today, expect the opposite. Bombs away! Let's hope Loaiza goes at least five innings and the bullpen can continue its strong work. Meanwhile, De La Rosa comes the Rockies straight from the Royals' triple-A team as a PTBNL from an earlier trade, meaning against the Dodgers he'll be Bantha fodder. Or Cy Young.
Despite the cold weather, Dodger bats stayed hotter than Iron Man ($38 million through Friday). Everybody contributed yesterday—even Andruw Jones had a double (to go with all those Double-Doubles). Russell Martin said play me anywhere, I'll still produce. Don't be surprised if Russell throws a few innings of relief today. Matt Kemp had four RBIs and leads the team with 21. With four RBIs of his own, Rafael Furcal is so hot (.380/.464/.612) he should be black market goods. If, nay, when the Dodgers get to the Rockies' hapless bullpen early again, we may be treated to another RBI cornucopia! A veritable scoring extravaganza! An amazing offensive lollapalooza!


text:
Showcase Listings
Welcome to our page of exclusive properties in North Central Florida. Our featured Ocala-Marion County listings range from single-family homes to luxury residences, vacant commercial, residential and agricultural land, equestrian farms, and more, all are located in and around the famous Horse Capital of the World™. Whatever your budget and property wish list, our experienced REALTORS® can help you find the right listing within your budget. We offer personalized, professional service that accounts for your lifestyle preferences and needs, such as a property with multiple barns or a horse track, a family home in a well-regarded school district, or a prime commercial development opportunity.
Browse listings or contact a Showcase Agent to find your dream home.
Find The Perfect Home in Ocala
Why Ocala?
Located in Marion County, less than two hours from both coasts and Orlando's renowned attractions, Ocala is home to about 56,000 people, many of whom are horse lovers. In Ocala, you'll find a passionate equestrian community, a diverse college student population, and proximity to one of the country's largest retirement communities, The Villages. Nearby, Gainesville is home to the University of Florida and world-class medical care. Ocala residents are united by their love of Marion County, and the enjoyable lifestyle it offers.
In terms of infrastructure, Ocala is conveniently located near several highways and within 100 miles of six different passenger-service airports. In the region itself, there is a nice mix of land zoning including residential, commercial, and agricultural. Today, there are more than 900 equestrian farms, breeding, and training facilities.
Why Choose Showcase?
Our large and experienced team of real estate professionals has decades of experience helping buyers and sellers make the most important decisions of their lives with confidence and peace of mind. When you work with Showcase, you can rest assured that we are fiercely committed to your success, with the local expertise and market insight to make it happen. We are also devoted to the Marion County region and can speak at length about all the things we love here. Besides the featured listings on this page, our real estate services also extend to:
- Cattle farms
- Vacant land
- Horse Farms
- Active adult communities
- Residential listings
- Commercial listings
Contact an Ocala real estate agent to begin discovering Ocala, and to find a home that's right for you.


text:
Diversity card
Available as a postcard and greeting card, this diversity card is blank inside so you can personalise it with a message of your own. All our cards are printed with premium paper with a glossy finish.
Send your cards with free worldwide delivery.
You can send to any country with a functioning postal system.
We print and post your items from the UK, USA, Netherlands and Australia, so delivery times can vary slightly.
On workdays we dispatch our orders within an hour of you creating the order and you can follow the progress on your order history.
What people say about us
It's so easy to send little notes to family to let them know you are thinking of them. I love the easter and Christmas postcards for my granddaughter
I use TouchNote to keep my mum in touch with moments in my life. She doesn't "do" technology, but TouchNote means I can send her the highlights and she just loves receiving her postcards.
So easy to upload photos and send cards. Constantly getting me out of trouble and also adds a personal touch.


text:
On Black Friday, retailers take customization to the next level
| New York
This holiday season, Burger King won't be the only place where you can have it your way.
It used to be enough for stores to promise discounts of up to 70 percent off to lure shoppers during the busy holiday shopping season. But the ease of ordering online and the sluggish economy has created more demanding U.S. consumers who aren't impressed by discounts alone. They want their shopping just like their fast food: not only cheap, but convenient too.
That means they're no longer afraid to walk away from the cashmere sweater with the perfect fit if the store is crowded. They're also unwilling to buy those suede pumps that are just the right shade of blue if they have to pay to get them shipped. And they cringe at the prospect of carrying around a bunch of paper coupons; they'd rather be able to pull them up electronically on their smartphones.
Retailers from discounter Wal-Mart to department-store chain Macy's are doing everything they can to make it easier for this new crop of finicky shoppers to spend their money during the busy holiday shopping season. Several are opening on Thanksgiving Day. Some are offering free layaways and shipping. Many are matching in-store prices with cheaper online deals. And others are allowing shoppers to buy online and pick up their merchandise in stores.
It's the latest effort by stores to court shoppers like Patty Edwards. Four years ago, Edwards, who lives in Bellevue, Wash., bought all of her holiday purchases at online retailer Amazon.com because she thought it was the easiest way to shop. But this year, she plans to shop elsewhere because there are stores are offering more shipping options.
"Now I'm not necessarily tied to Amazon," said Edwards, a retail analyst and principal at investment firm Trutina Financial. "I can go to Nordstrom, Saks or Target and have stuff available to pick up. It's a pretty simple process. That wasn't the case four or five years ago."
The have-it-your-way approach is partly a response by merchants to their fear that shoppers will spend less freely this season over worries about high unemployment and a package of tax increases and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff" that will take effect in January unless Congress passes a budget deal by then. It also comes as the growth of smartphones and tablet computers have made it easier for shoppers to browse and buy with the touch of their fingertips. No need to battle long lines at The Gap when you can just Google what you want.
That puts pressure on brick-and-mortar retailers, which count on the holiday shopping season for up to 40 percent of their annual revenue, to find ways to get shoppers into their physical stores. That's becoming an increasingly difficult feat: The National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, estimates that overall sales in November and December will rise 4.1 percent this year to $586.1 billion, or about flat with last year's growth. Meanwhile, online sales are expected to rise 15 percent to $68.4 billion, according to Forrester Research.
"Retailers have to do a little more to grow sales this year," said Frank Badillo, a senior economist at consultancy Kantar Retail.
This isn't the first time stores have had to up the ante. Big sales and door busters like deeply discounted TVs used to be the hallmark of the winter holiday shopping rush. But stores noticed over the last several years that Americans were cutting back on spending during the economic downturn, so they ramped up their discounting even more.
Shoppers became addicted to the ever bigger sales. And they began fleeing to online retailers, which can offer much cheaper prices than brick-and-mortar stores because they don't have the overhead costs of operating physical locations. Shoppers also began to appreciate something else about online retailers: They offer them the convenience of being able to shop within the comfort of their homes or office cubicles.
To better compete, brick-and-mortar stores figured that they'd have to replicate their online rivals' formula. Shopping in stores needs to be cheap and easy, they figured. So stores began trying new ways to make shopping more convenient last year, such as free shipping and expanded hours. But this holiday season, they've expanded the scope and scale of those incentives to include:
— EXPANDED HOURS FOR SHOPPERS WHO CAN'T WAIT TO HIT THE MALL: Stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving Day known as "Black Friday." It's typically the biggest shopping day of the year. But the Black Friday openings have crept earlier and earlier over the past few years, with retailers such as Macy's Inc. opening stores at midnight. This season, some stores have expanded their hours even more: department-store chain Sears, toy-store chain Toys R Us, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and others are opening on Thanksgiving to grab those who want to shop after their turkey dinner.
"We saw a shift in how customers are shopping last year," says Ron Boire, Sears chief merchandising officer. "Members told us some of them want to stay up late. Others like the idea of getting out early."
— MORE SHIPPING AND RETURN OPTIONS FOR SHOPPERS WHO COVET CONVENIENCE: About 44 percent of retailers are offering free shipping this year, a jump from 12.5 percent last year, said Vicki Cantrell, executive director of Shop.org, the National Retail Federation's digital retail division. And package delivery company UPS, which commissioned a customer service study with research firm comScore, said retailers also are working to make returns easier, by including return labels in packages or providing a link online that customers can use to print labels out. Additionally, some stores, including consumer-electronics retailer Best Buy Co., Toys R Us and Wal-Mart, are offering customers the option of ordering online and then picking up their merchandise in stores.
Danny de Gracia, 32, a political scientist in Honolulu, Hawaii, likes to use stores' "buy online, pick up in store" option to avoid the hassle and crowds in stores. He said it allows him to just run in and grab his purchases. Gracia, who said he plans to spend no more than $1,000 this holiday season, last used the service to buy a Sony digital camera for his father at Best Buy.
"It's easier because when you're in the physical store sometimes you have to stop, ask questions and get assistance," he said. "With stores that offer online shopping you can simply search the site, read up and compare options and then purchase, pick up and leave ... It's an outstanding service that I utilize whenever possible. I wish that it would be available for groceries."
— LAYAWAY PLANS FOR FINANCIALLY-STRAPPED SHOPPERS: Programs that allow customers to pay over a period of weeks have long been used for some holiday shoppers. But typically, shoppers have to pay a fee for these so-called layaways. This year, Wal-Mart lowered the fee it charges customers on its holiday layaway program from $15 to $5. And Sears and discount chain Kmart, both divisions of Sears Holdings Corp., ditched the fee they charge completely. The two stores previously had charged $5 for an 8-week layaway and $10 for 12 weeks.
— PRICE MATCHING FOR SHOPPERS WHO ARE ADDICTED TO DEALS: While small mom-and-pop stores long have offered to match the cheaper prices that customers find online, this year big merchants such as Target and Best Buy have said that they also will do that. The move is an attempt to combat the growth of so-called "showrooming," when customers look at merchandise in stores but buy it cheaper online.
Forrester Research analyst Sucharita Mulpuru said that the online price-matching programs are an attempt by brick-and-mortar stores to keep customers. "The increasing price transparency we're seeing online is something brick-and-mortar stores have to deal with and deal with it directly," she said.
—UPDATED SHOPPING APPS FOR SMARTPHONE-TOTING SHOPPERS: Shopping apps for smartphones and tablets have been around for a few years, but this year retailers are beefing them up. For instance, Macy's is launching a Black Friday portion of its mobile app, which highlights Black Friday specials and other deals not advertised elsewhere. It also will have maps and information about where in each store Black Friday deals can be found.
The shopping apps are an attempt by brick-and-mortar retailers to hook shoppers like Stefanie Scott, 35, in Greenfield, Wis. Scott, who plans to spend $1,000 to $2,000 on gifts this year, starts her holiday shopping ritual by first checking out deals on Facebook.
Then, she brings her smartphone along on shopping trips and uses mobile apps to get discounts once she's in the store. She's also a fan of the "buy online, pick up in store" offers, and recently used one at Best Buy to buy a videogame for her brother-in-law.
"I'm tied to my cellphone," she says. "Coupons and lists get lost in my purse. It's so much easier when I'm shopping to whip out my cellphone and have them scan it. The more I can do on my iPhone I'm all for it."