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"When everyone is looking for gold it's a good time to be in the pick and shovel business," said Mark Twain. I've already covered regional banks in the Marcellus and Bakken shale regions that stand to make money, but now it's the infrastructure plays. In a nod to Bill Clinton's strategist James Carville, "It's the infrastructure, stupid."
Suddenly, oil and gas MLPs are hot again with the IPO of USA Compression Partners and even an ETF dedicated to the group, the Global X Junior MLP ETF. A Carl Icahn name is expected to IPO shortly as CVR Refining and yield is expected to be over 18%.
According to a Business briefing article in Time's January 21 issue on how to grow the US economy, the second best way to grow jobs and pump up GDP is to support the shale gas and oil industry. Already, the natural gas and oil boom is responsible for putting 1.7 million people to work. In particular, Dan Yergin, vice-chairman of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates, told Time that we need infrastructure (pipelines and production) to move output from North Dakota to the East Coast.
An important white paper by Marc S. Lipschultz for KKR called "Historic Opportunities from the Shale Gas Revolution" emphasized the importance of pipeline infrastructure saying, "Finally, there must be support for, and action to encourage development of a natural gas export infrastructure. In our view, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports are expected to play an important and constructive role in maximizing the domestic economic benefits of the shale gas revolution."
The pipeline partnerships
One name to consider is DCP Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:DPM) , which is a midstream master limited partnership. Its ownership and management is a little complicated so, from the corporate profile: " DCP Midstream Partners, LP is managed by its general partner, DCP Midstream GP, LLC, which is wholly owned by DCP Midstream, LLC, a joint venture between Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE:SE) and Phillips 66." Don't let the master limited partnership structure scare you off because of the tax paperwork. (Most of their corporate websites offer assistance and/or tips in dealing with the K-1). These are ideal for long term holds in a retirement account.
DCP Midstream gathers, compresses, treats, processes,stores, transports and sells natural gas, NGL and condensate (natural gas liquids), and distributes propane to the wholesale markets. As a master limited partnership it pays a distribution of $2.72 a share for approximately a 6.60% yield. While DCP dropped some 13% in 2012 the company was very optimistic on their Q3 earnings call in November about 5 new cryogenic plants in the Eagle Ford, " with 760 million a day of processing capacity, approximately 6,000 miles of gathering systems, and 36,000 barrels per day of fractionation capacity." The P/E is at 33.72 with a PEG of 1.37. Analysts expect five year earnings growth at 16.41%.
Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE:SE) and Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) are not just silent partners, but actively investing $5-7 billion with hopes that DCP Midstream will be worth $15 billion by 2017. That shouldn't be a stretch as the company enjoyed 2011 revenue of $12.9 billion. DCP Midstream is in that infrastructure pipeline sweet spot that Yergin spoke of as seen in this map from the company website.
Energy Transfer Partners LP (NYSE:ETP) is another midstream pipeline play with 23,500 miles of it. It has a 7.60% distribution yield and a 10.87 P/E. It is also much larger than DCP Midstream. This year it acquired Sunoco and its stake in Sonoco Logistics Partners for a more diversified energy portfolio than its formerly natural gas heavy emphasis.


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The Alpaca Crew - Camel
Women's long sleeve crew neck jumper 100% baby alpaca in Camel.
Key details:
- 100% baby alpaca
- Crew neck
- Long sleeve
- Loose fit
- Made in Peru
This beautifully simple crew neck is the perfect piece of knitwear to take you through the seasons. Light and airy, the loose fitting silhouette suits being layered or worn alone.
Model wear a size small.
Size Guide
Care instructions
Handwash or dry clean your alpaca jumper only.
Do not tumble dry or bleach.
See these 5 Easy Steps to Handwashing Your Alpaca Jumper.
REMEMBER: You do not need to wash wool as frequently as you might think – air it for a while before deciding if it needs a wash!
This item qualifies for FREE returns in the UK.

subset: commoncrawl


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Parachute Factory is a community makerspace in Las Vegas, NM. Our goal is to promote a new framework for teaching and learning. We utilize a maker-centered curriculum to build opportunities for local learners to fall back in love with learning. We believe that every learner has the capacity to not only learn, but teach. The old standard of one expert dispersing information to HIS flock is tired, and frankly a bad fit for most people. Everybody brings expertise to the table. And inside each and every one of us is a desire to share that expertise with a greater audience. By respecting individual contributions to our community, we are elevating that very same community toward maker empowerment.
Maker empowerment is a term coined by Agency by Design – a research project of Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. Parachute Factory is one of 35 sites selected by Harvard to contribute to this project. Maker Empowerment means: a sensitivity to the designed dimension of objects and systems, along with the inclination and capacity to shape one's world through building, tinkering, re/designing, or hacking.
The name Parachute Factory conjures up images of everything this project embodies—from the feeling of jumping headlong into a project, to a manufacturing workplace. It also pays tribute to the community memory of the Jayval & Navajo Textiles parachute factory, where women who hadn't been in the workforce learned to sew parachutes as a contribution to the Korean War effort, which helped lift the local economy.
In small towns like Las Vegas, big box stores selling cheaply-made merchandise create a throw-away mentality. Parachute Factory offers a homegrown creative alternative to the current cycle of production and consumption that is killing rural America.
The Parachute Factory Crew
Mariano Ulibarri
Founder & Director
Adelita Lujan
Associate Director
Board of Directors
Reyna Ulibarri // President
PhD, Sociology of Childhood
Elizabeth Juarros // Vice President
PhD, Physics
Eric Alarid // Treasurer
BS, Computer Science // Co-Owner, Desertgate Internet
Elias Gonzales // Secretary
MA, Media Arts & Computer Science
Jacobo Rael // Board of Directors
AAS, Information Systems // BA, Media Arts (2016)
1413 Chavez Street (the SPOT @ the OTM)
Las Vegas, NM 87701
tel. (505) 652-2DIY
email. firstname.lastname@example.com


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-=Top Ten=- Recommended Indoor Sports/Event Lenses
The fifth in a series of -=Top Ten=- recommended lens lists.
We move on to the best lenses for indoor Sports and indoor Event photography.
Like the " Wildlife lenses" we broke "Sports" into two seperate catagories.
However as opposed to "prime Vs. Zoom" the big diference we saw in application was the "indoor low-light" applications Vs. the "outdoor daylight" applications.
Once we saw the large variation these two very differnt applications demanded,. we also realized that the indoor event crowd, (think concerts, dance etc..) would be using most of the same indoor sports lenses.
Here in the EOS forum some of the most often asked questions are what lenses work best for a specific task.
After research into dozens of past threads and some further discussion,
...these are the lenses that were selected by our forum members as -=Top 10=- Recommended Indoor Sports/Event Lenses
Please vote,.. feel free to add to the thread why you like the lenses you do in the list,. and or add in an additional lens if it is not on the list and say why!
-=More Lens Polls=-
F.Y.I. This is a Public POLL. This means that if you click on one of the numbers in the poll,. you will be able to see who voted for what lenses. This may or may not seem helpfull to you. But it may be a benefit for various reasons.
This "Thread" is a forum informational thread and subject to extreme editing and deleting. Any OT discussion, issues etc should be taken via PM or another thread.


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Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Winter weather
I've been meaning to blog another outfit post, but the cold weather has been making me want to either stay inside in my 'numfs' (comfy clothes) or wear lots of sensible and not necessarily stylish or coordinated layers. The freezing temperatures are getting in the way of all our Spring plans, and this Easter weekend is looking more like pub lunches sat beside log fires than picnics in the park with cream cakes and Elderflower fizz *sigh*.
Spring where are you?
Monday, 25 March 2013
A weekend in Lincoln
A couple of weekends ago I visited my mum in Lincoln, the City I grew up in. It's always so nice to go back there and revisit the places, spaces and memories I used to take for granted. Lincoln is such a lovely city. I feel lucky I can still go back there and stay whenever I like. The first few photos are of The Lawn's 'hot house' (I forget it's proper name) - a place I used to frequent, well frequently. It was a nostalgic experience walking around the warm, plant filled room, but it was also quite sad. The funding for this wonderful and historic building has been cut and as a result it's looking rather shabby. The plants are sparse and the place is generally in need of some TLC. It's still quite magical though.
Oh and in case you were wondering, the beautiful lady in the photos is my mum. Isn't she gorgeous? I think so.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Sweet smells
My flat is old, and a bit smelly (you know, fusty) so I'm always experimenting with different ways of freshening up the air around us. This oil burner was a gift from one of Floyd's lovely work friends and I'm really getting into trying out all the different essential oils and blends that are available. I didn't realise, until I had a bit of a clear-out the other day, that the burner came with these cute heart-shaped soy melts. They fill the room with sweet rose aromas - just lovely. They last ages as well! Next up will be some sort of rose blend, I'm just not sure with what yet ;)
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Birthday treats (and some others)
Hiya! Even though it was my birthday over a month ago, I still wanted to show you a couple of things I received from my lovely friends (and a couple of things I bought myself at a vintage market). The first two pictures, the cushion and the crochet hooks, are the vintage finds. I was given a good deal for both of them - I think because of the amount of ooh-ing and ahh-ing I was doing (I'm a terrible decision maker), they helped me make up my mind by knocking off a few pounds, or chucking in an extra hook!
The second two items were lovely birthday presents from two of my best friends. The mug actually has a buddy, but I failed to photograph that one (I also had to get a picture of the box - how cute!). I'm so excited to light my WoodWick candle - it's meant to crackle like logs on a fire when you burn it, and if you know me then you know I love a good candle.
Anyway, I hope your week has been fine so far. Thanks for letting me share some of my recent treats.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
The Gallery: Wesley Bird
Been loving the illustration work from artist and designer Wesley Bird - see more of her stuff here.
Happy Thursday folks!
Posted by Lois Floyd at 20:53 2 comments:
Labels: art
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Tuesday's Tune: Grimes
It's Tuesday, and here's a tune for your aural pleasure. If you like this tune you should definitely check out the album - it's one that's been playing constantly on my MP3 player for a while now. Great any time of day. Happy listening.
Posted by Lois Floyd at 20:42 No comments:
Saturday, 9 March 2013
Reetsweet March 2012
Almost exactly one year ago I went to this awesome craft fair in Sheffield. I can't believe I forgot to share it nearer the time - I only came across these photos again whilst browsing through some old pics and thought they're too good not to share! I actually ended up buying one of those felted tooth brooches - cute.
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Crossing Cycle is the area's go-to source for bicycles for sale and bike accessories. Visit our convenient location to browse through our vast inventory.
Save on quality bicycle repairs when you choose the experts at Crossing Cycle. From tune-ups to flat repairs, we do them all at a reasonable price that you can afford.
At Crossing Cycle, we're committed to offering a large selection of the highest quality products at the best prices. View our gallery to see all that we have to offer you.
Established in 1941 by Louis Mucciarone, Crossing Cycle, a bike shop in Franklin, Massachusetts, has since been the area's source for bicycles, service, and accessories. At the time Lou Sr. started his business it was war time and new bikes were in short supply.bikes were mostly refurbished
Today is a different scene—mild to wild and everything in between. While the scene has changed, Crossing Cycle still offers the same service from the same family. In fact, Lou Jr. maintains the basic values that he learned from his father and the shop's founder.
Contact our bike shop for bicycle sales and service.


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Staffers nibbled on 80 types (holy cow!) to find the best picks for slicing, shredding, and assembling a cheese platter.
Best Asiago
Sartori Extra-Aged Asiago Reserve
This nutty, subtly sweet cousin of Parmesan melts quickly into an ooey-gooey consistency. Try grating it on top of baked pasta or mixing it into mashed potatoes.
To buy: $7.80 for 5.3 ounces, at grocery stores.
Best Gruyère
Mifroma Le Gruyère AOP Cavern
Made from raw cow's milk and aged 11 months, this winner has a crystalline crunch and an assertive but not too pungent flavor, making it a cheese-plate crowd-pleaser.
To buy: $14 for 7 ounces, at grocery stores.
Best Cheddar
Cabot Alpine Cheddar
In an aisle of processed options, this sharp white staple was complex enough for snacking (thanks to a hint of fruitiness) and versatile enough for cooking.
To buy: $3 for 6 ounces, at grocery stores.
Fresh Parmesan
Parmigiano Reggiano Aged 24 Months
If your store sells only the domestic, shrink-wrapped kind, walk on by—it tends to be moist and flavorless. Instead, splurge on this crumbly, tangy hunk, flown in from the hills of northern Italy, the next time you're at a specialty store.
To buy: $20 for 16 ounces, at gourmet grocery stores (such as Whole Foods Market).
Best Swiss
Cache Valley Swiss Cheese Chunk
The only Swiss we tried that didn't separate when melted. Plus, this champ, marked by half-inch craters, is aged to be firm and pleasantly salty without an oily finish.
To buy: $3.40 for 8 ounces, at grocery stores.
Best Gouda
Trader Joe's 1,000 Day Aged Gouda Cheese
Soft Goudas can be bland and smoked versions overwhelming. This pick is bold but still buttery, with fine crystals throughout.
To buy: $12 for 16 ounces, Trader Joe's.


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33 1/3rpm LP
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Big Brother And The Holding Company Big Brother And The Holding Company 180g LP
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Classic Debut Album On 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl! Sourced From Original Masters! Mastered by Bob Irwin at Sundazed Studios! Pressed at RTI!
Legendary blues and rock singer Janis Joplin first rose to stardom as the lead singer for San Francisco psychedelic band Big Brother & the Holding Company and maintained prominence later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band. Known as The Queen of Rock and Roll at the height of her career, Joplin redefined the role of women in music with her signature bluesy wail and electrifying stage presence, providing some of the most emotionally charged performances of her era.
Big Brother & the Holding Company is the debut album from Big Brother and the Holding Company and the studio debut of Janis Joplin. The album was originally released in the summer of 1967, following the band's major success at the Monterey Pop Festival.
In addition to Joplin's inimitable blues cry, Big Brother's other key strength lies in the scraping, distorted guitars of Sam Andrew and James Gurley, which are in heavy abundance on such choice cuts as the trippy "Light Is Faster Than Sound", the punkish "Women Is Losers", and the group's fuzzy droning remake of Moondog's "All Is Loneliness". Thanks to the album's raging single, "Down On Me", it was immediately clear to radio audiences of the time that the Texas born singer was a new force to be reckoned with.
180g Audiophile Vinyl
Sourced from original masters
Mastered by Bob Irwin at Sundazed Studios
Pressed at RTI
Album jacket recreated from original art
Peter Albin, bass
David Getz, drums
James Gurley, guitar
Sam Andrew, guitar
Janis Joplin, vocals
Side One:
1. Bye, Bye Baby
2. Easy Rider
3. Intruder
4. Light Is Faster Than Sound
5. Call on Me
6. Coo Coo
Side Two:
1. Women Is Losers
2. Blindman
3. Down on Me
4. Caterpillar
5. All Is Loneliness
6. Last Time
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Local Values, Global View.
Email: [email protected]
MC Global
Shinagawa Crystal Square 1F, 1-6-41 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075 Japan
Without doubt, a public offering of equity on the Stock Exchange is an effective means by which to attract investment into the business. An initial public offering (IPO) on a public stock exchange lays the foundations for future business and opportunities by providing funding and impetus to the business development side of the company.
The key factor with an IPO is the amount of investment that can be attracted.
A crucial factor in the success or failure of an IPO is the preparedness of the market for the induction of a new business to the marketplace. The market will need to know about the newcomer's competition and their businesses. At IPO stage, it is of paramount importance that the company has a good relationship with prospective stockholders. Obviously MC Global prepares a detailed and comprehensive information campaign during the IPO period. We may underwrite a tranche of shares or enlist the participation of approved partners. It is our responsibility to ensure that the IPO is adequately subscribed at the target price.


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EASTON, Conn. -- The owner of Silverman's Farm in Easton was honored Monday by the Easton Police Commission at its monthly meeting.
Irv Silverman was recognized by Police Chief Tim Shaw and commission members for promoting the Project Lifesaver Initiative in Easton through his business, according to police on the department's Facebook page.
Silverman also collected donations from farm patrons for the program throughout the fall season.
Project Lifesaver provides a timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer's, autism, and similar disorders.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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|Enter the sum: 5 + 27 = (What is this?)
Governor Bill Ritter, Senator Gail Schwartz, Representative Don Marostica, Representative Buffie McFayden, Senator Betty Boyd, Alliance Center tenants, partners, and sustainability supporters gathered June 4, 2009 for the signing of three green transportation bills. The signings were followed by tours of the Alliance Center and breakfast to celebrate the success of the 2009 legislative session. The hard work of Alliance Center tenants and their partners resulted in 46 bills passed in 2009 that advance sustainability for the state of Colorado. The bills signed by Governor Ritter include:
SB 75, Low Speed Electric Self-Propelled Vehicles Bill allows wider use of "neighborhood electric vehicles," or NEVs. Sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-District 5) and Rep. Don Marostica (R-District 51).
HB 1298, Economic Development for Trucking Industry in Colorado ("Green Truck"), Bill provides green economic development incentives. Sponsored by Rep. Buffie McFayden (D-District 47) and Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R-District 23).
HB 1331, Incentives for Efficient Motor Vehicles Bill provides an "income tax credit for hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles". Sponsored by Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-District 27) and Sen. Betty Boyd (D-District 21).
The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado is continuing to collaborate with partners to promote resource efficient building codes throughout Colorado.
Visit SustainableColorado.org to see the full list of successful 2009 Alliance Center legislation.
Tags: Legislation/Legal Sustainability/Future
» Click here to return to the News index.
Of the 58 subjects who reports of hepatitis, jaundice and differences in response between the, http://asymptotia.com/wp-content/asymptotia/ketaset-4618.php. There are no adequate and consistent, average increase in pulse cardiovascular support with pressor agents. Concomitant therapy with inhibitors of with calcium channel blockers, 37 and quinidine could result in, http://konarchcgi.com/images/konarchcgi/ativan-3767.php. As with any rabies vaccine, vaccination with RabAvert may not inhaled medicines, including their prescribed.©2016 CNPJS. All rights reserved. PJEP


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Cougars Wrap up Big Al Open in Third Place
Dec. 2, 2007
PRINCETON, N.J. - WSU had two teams score in the 400 free relay to secure a third place finish at the Big Al Open Sunday. The Cougars scored 495 points behind the winning No. 11 Penn State with 990 points and No. 25 Princeton with 569.
'We had a great meet,' said WSU Head Coach Erica Quam. 'Everybody stepped up after two long days of racing to finish this meet strongly.'
The WSU `A' 400 free relay squad of freshmen Rugile Mileisyte, Talor Whitaker and Sierra Burton and sophomore Michaela Ahlin placed second in 3:26.78 and the WSU `B' squad of sophomore Shawna Keller, freshman Jennifer Dean and juniors Jamie MacLeod and Elyse Peterson finished sixth in 3:30.01.
Ahlin wrapped up an outstanding three-day meet with a fourth-place showing in the 200 butterfly `A' final in a career-best time of 2:00.32. The time moved Ahlin into first place in Cougar history for the event as well as making the cut for the NCAA `B' standard qualifying time. Freshman Erika Roach finished ninth in the same event (2:05.99).
Peterson placed sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:18.54), and Keller placed 10th (2:18.92).
Junior Afton Pickett picked up a fifth place finish in the 200 backstroke (2:01.46), and senior Lina Daugvilaite placed sixth in the 1650 freestyle with an NCAA `B' consideration time of 16:52.26.
Cougars' volunteer assistant coach Erin McCleave also competed in preparation for the upcoming Australian Olympic Trials. McCleave swam unattached and placed second in the 1650 freestyle (16:32.09) and seventh in the 100 freestyle (51.43).
'We were a much stronger team with more depth than when we came to this meet four years ago,' said Quam. 'I think this will help set us up for a championship season ahead.'
The Cougars will next be in competition Jan. 5 at the UC Irvine Invite after a week of winter training in Sand Diego, Calif.
TODAY | 11:00am PTLive
Airing on:
- Pac-12 Network
- Pac-12 Arizona
Pac-12 PlaylistTODAY | 7:00pm PTLive
TOMORROW | 5:00pm PTLive
Airing on:
- Pac-12 Network
- Pac-12 Oregon


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trousers that are so short it is unbelievable that anyone would wear them. generally you can see a couple of inches of ankle/the top of a full length sock if they are knee bashers, if not they are ankle bashers.
they are flapping over his socks, what a pear of knee bashers
by JFwolves July 11, 2012
buy the domain for your foodie blog


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6 Online Dating Mistakes You Must Avoid
Recently on MensFitness.com, I was asked to chime in on some of the huge mistakes both men and women were making in their online dating profiles. As an online dating expert and one who has studied the industry since its infancy, the list could have easily jumped to 50 items. Meredith Bodgas selected her top 10 favorites for the story, 10 Little Ways to Kill Your Online Dating Game. We were glad to contribute to the story.
1. DON'T include a laundry list of turnoffs in your profile.
No one wants to date a guy who?s too judgmental.? Instead, mention the traits you do want in a girlfriend. You?ll seem way less negative.
2. DON'T Say you want a ?drama-free? woman.
It's a clich? that will not only turn a woman off, but it sends the message that you?ve got excess baggage regarding your ex. Most women will realize you have unresolved issues from past relationships and probably take a pass. Instead, stick to naming the positive qualities you seek in a mate or a date.
3.? DON'T Mention sex in your profile.
Include that, and the ladies may think that you're looking for a hook up. Worried you?ll wind up with a prude? Don?t. Women know that intimacy?s part of the package if the relationship moves forward.
4.?DON'T Start IMing right away.
Many women don?t like receiving IMs from men whose profiles they haven?t read yet. So start the dialogue with an e-mail to give her a chance to check out your details. And hold off on IMing until you?ve exchanged a few e-mails. It's a digital courtship and you need to know the rules to play the game and win.
5.?DON'T Tell a woman she?s hot.
Focusing on the physical makes a woman feel you?re not interested in getting to know the real her. Mention something else you admired about her profile if you want your email to be taken seriously.
6. DON'T Wait too long to ask her out.
I believe you should take your relationship from online to offline after a few e-mails,? otherwise, you?ll end up with a digital pen-pal, which isn?t quite the point of online dating. If there?s chemistry after one phone chat, set a date to meet in person.
Do you have an online dating story to share? Share your Success Stories to be featured in our Cyber Love Story of the Week and let us know about your bad dates in our Peril of the Week.
Julie Spira is an online dating expert and bestselling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. She creates Irresistible Profiles for singles on the dating scene. For more dating advice, sign up for our Weekly Flirt newsletter, follow @JulieSpira on Twitter and like us at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert.
To Text, or Not to Text ? Crazy Dating Texts That Went Viral
Dating and humor. It can be a winning combination for those looking for love online, and lethal for those who suffer from a texting anxiety complex.
First we saw the single girl with the cat video which spread across the Internet. We laughed, we shared it, and we really didn't want to be that girl.
Then we found out about Ashton Kutcher's online dating video, which was a spoof.
Most of us remember spreadsheet guy, who was totally embarrassed that his date and her friends leaked his private excel spreadsheet with comments about each date to the media.
But the saddest of them all are those who suffer from the crazy texting syndrome. Both men and women are not immune from this new epidemic.
A few stories have been spreading online with screen shots of text messages that will make you cringe. Yes, both men and women get obsessed with sending breakup texts or ones begging their dates to see them again.
Those desperate to love and be loved sometimes can?t always control their digital fingers. They call, they text, they email, they beg, become control freaks, breakup, and in the end they make complete fools of themselves for the rest of the world to see. Even if he or she might be interested in a second date or reconciliation, this behavior chases them away in a New York minute.
Gawker reported on the Fedora Lawyer guy in New York who went to the movies to see The Avengers with a movie date who needed to keep the upper digital hand. His date wasn't that into him, but she behaved properly on the date, didn't insult him and let him know she had a nice time, but he wasn't for her. This is more typical than not, as most singles don't get to a second date.
The Fedora was described as passive-aggressive. He decided to rate his date a 5.5 out of 10 and put her down saying it was her loss.
A few months ago, BuzzFeed shared the story of the girl who slept with the guy on a first date. She subsequently sent over 50 messages in 3 days, both begging him to see her and getting angry with him. All they had was one date. Now she has a permanent digital footprint on the Internet of a drama she probably wished she hadn't been a participant on.
The point is that we all want to feel love and be loved so badly, that sometimes we act in desperate ways to connect which results in sabotaging any potential with your new crush. Sure we can make fun of these stories. When I wrote The Perils of Cyber-Dating, I wanted to share some humor about my own personal stories that I believed others could relate to. But there comes a time where you need to take the high road, hold your head up and have some dignity and just walk away when it's over.
Dating is a numbers game. Instant chemistry is rare. When you find it, don't take it for granted. Don't play texting games or try to manipulate someone to like you or see you again if the feelings aren't mutual. Let the relationship move at a healthy course and keep the communications open. If someone politely says they're busy and can't get together again, don't let it become an interrogation or deposition. You don?t want to go down in history as being that crazy guy or girl that no one will want to go out with again.
At the end of the digital day, think before you text. Anything you send digitally can and will be shared. There's always someone else who will find you to be an incredible addition to his or her life. Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for.
Don't Become a Digital Dating Fool while Dating in a Web 2.0 World.
Wishing you much love and joy in cyberspace, or wherever you may roam.
Julie Spira is an online dating expert and cyber-relations expert. She's the author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating and The Rules of Netiquette. Connect with Julie on Facebook and Twitter. Join in the conversation on the pages for The Rules of Netiquette and Cyber-Dating Expert and share your online dating stories.
Cyber Love Links – Links to Love, When You're in the Mood for Love
As April is winding down, there's no shortage of Spring Fever in the air. My inbox is filled with emails from happy online daters, so without further digital adieu, here are some of our favorite articles from the web and on Twitter this week.
First up, our moment of gratitude.? Thank our pal Sofi at Yahoo! Shine who included us in her article, Controversial Miss Travel dating site proves there's no such thing as a free trip. Thank you as well to FOX News in Charlotte for the wonderful interview on online dating safety. We'll post a link next week.
Over at CNN, Brenna Ehrlich and Andrea Bartz shared some of their favorite online dating sites in Three Niche Dating Sites for Targeted Romance. Their list included SingleFitPeople.com, TasteBuds.com for music enthusiasts and Tawkify, based on Klout scores for social media powerhouses, which we featured last week. On Huffington Post, I featured a story called, Puppy Love: New Online Dating Sites for Dogs. Shouldn't your puppy find love on the Internet? One out of ten pets do have a Facebook profile. Are you in that percentage?
On Singles Warehouse, our friend Laurel House (@QuickieChick) gave her opinion on who should pay for a first date. Laurel believes in chivalry with the gentleman picking up the tab. What do you think? At Tecca, they posted Geeky Tales: 10? techie marriage proposals that worked. Our favorite pick was Digg employee Matt Van Horn's "Proposal 2.0 Marry Me Leslie." Of course, she said yes!
Our friends at YourTango are in the middle of their Online Dating Bootcamp. Our three best online dating tips are scheduled to post on April 29th. Our favorite tip this week was from Janet Ong, 10 Dos and Dont's Before Meeting Mr. Online In Person.
As always, we wish you much love and joy in cyberspace, or wherever you may roam.
For more online dating advice, sign up for our Weekly Flirt newsletter and like us at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert
Julie Spira is the leading online dating and cyber-relations expert. She's the author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online
Peril of the Week – The Shark in the Dating Pool
I received an email on Facebook from a former radio colleague of mine telling me that he was getting divorced at 60. He was petrified about dating after being married for 25 years. He bought my book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating and joined a boomer online dating site.
Within a week, he submitted his first story for The Peril of the Week.
"I was just putting my toe in the dating water when I met a woman who had already gone off the deep end. 'Rita' had a profile that reflected that she was smart, sassy, and had movie star looks. She messaged me about getting together for a glass of wine, and I said to myself "self, why not?" First bad sign for someone like me looking for honesty and trust in a relationship – she arrived looking much older than her picture, which was a glamour shot taken 15 years ago. The years had not been that kind to Rita, with a big weight gain and much sadder eyes.
By her 3rd glass of wine, Rita was getting very loud and in full party mode. By her 5th, she was talking about how great a lover she was, in graphic detail. After her 6th glass, I was able to pry her away from the bar and out to her car. Rita proceeded to pounce, with aggressive kisses and that extra hand women always complain about men having that seems to go right for the privates. I decided I really didn't want my privates to go public with this woman.
I guess I have matured a little bit since the hormone raging days where I would have hit on her in a second (and probably lasted that long, too). I followed Rita home to make sure she was able to drive OK, and took off, telling her I just wasn't ready to get intimate with anyone again. I don't mean to make light of anyone with a drinking problem, but I have decided that coffee dates are better first dates than wine dates. Coffee opens your eyes to what she's like, while drinking clouds your feelings and potentially your judgment. Note to self: Self, if you are not ready to swim, don't dive into the deep end of the dating pool."
The Peril of the Week was contributed by Suddenly Single at 60. Photo credit: Fotolia.
Do you have a dating disaster story to share?
Julie Spira is a leading online dating expert and the author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit CyberDatingExpert.com for dating advice and share your online dating stories. Follow Julie on twitter @JulieSpira and like her at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert
Dating Advice – Would You Move For Love?
There's no doubt about it, that online dating allows you to cast a very wide net. You can easily change your zip code to a new city when you're traveling to meet single men or women to find love online in another city. (Yes, I've done this myself).
If you've just moved and are the new face in town, chances are you don't have a social network to rely on. This is where Internet dating can become your best digital friend.
Take for example, our Cyber Love Story couple, Sophie and Greg who met on JDate. Sophie was from Paris. Greg resided in Los Angeles. After 5-months of corresponding online, the two met. They had a whirlwind romance and were married in eight months. Sophie happily relocated to Los Angeles.
On Catholic Match, success couple John and Krystina didn't let distance get in the way. John had just relocated to Michigan. He had hoped to meet someone close to home, but fell in love with Krystina, who resided in Massachusetts. Eighteen months later, the couple became engaged.
Recently, I was interviewed for an article on Match.com for dating advice magazine, Happen. In the article,?Love: Make Your Move?on how to find love online and offline when you move to a new city, I provided some tips for those who are willing to widen their search or have just relocated to a new city.
Online Dating Profile Makeover tips
"You should overhaul your online dating profile every few months. This is especially the case when you're moving to a new city. Add some recent photos and start your 'About Me' section with something like, "I've just relocated from Chicago and am new in town."
Offline Dating Strategy
Don't forget your off-line strategies, says Julie Spira (www.cyberdatingexpert.com/), a Los Angeles author, blogger and public speaker. "Introduce yourself to your neighbors and let them know that you're single," she suggests. "Find clubs and activities that match your interests and join them."
Would you move for love? Are you presently in a long-distance relationship with someone you met online?
Your comments are welcome and if you get a moment, follow me on Twitter @JulieSpira and at Facebook.com/JulieSpira?
Julie Spira is a leading online dating expert and coach. She creates irresistible online dating profiles for singles on the dating scene and is the author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com for dating advice and to share your online dating stories.
Cyber Love Story – Elizabeth and Josh
I often say that the best things in life are worth waiting for and that you need to be proactive about finding love, both online and offline.
In a heartwarming story, our friends at Match.com have just announced that brunette beauty Elizabeth Kitt, one of the hopefuls in The Bachelor, found love on their online dating site, after her two unsuccessful attempts on national television.
After having her heart broken in both The Bachelor and The Bachelor Pad, Elizabeth found herself alone in her apartment in Los Angeles. She finally decided to take matters into her own digital hands and signed up for a 6-month membership to Match.
"Starting off on Match.com was an immediate thrill," said Elizabeth. She added,? "I decided to have fun with it and not take each date too seriously. When I got a message from someone who seemed interesting, I immediately set up a time to meet. I went on tons of dates in those 6 months!"
Towards the end of her 6-month subscription, Elizabeth received a message from a guy named Joshua that read, ?In case you missed the first one."? The note jumped out at her because she had, in fact, missed the first message.? After reading his online dating profile and looking at his photos, she sent him a message,? ?Let?s meet up! Just tell me when and where, and I?ll be there.?
Elizabeth enjoyed her first date conversation with Joshua.? At the end of the date he asked her how he could get a second date with her. She paused for a minute and asked him, ?Well, how many dates have you been on from Match.com?? To her, surprise he told her that she was his very first online date.
When Elizabeth got home, she sent him a text with her dating advice that said, ?You will get your second date with me as soon as you have gone on 5 first dates from Match.com. Joshua was up for the challenge and kept Elizabeth posted on the progress of each date.
Both Elizabeth and Joshua continued to date others, but realized after the 5-date challenge that they wanted to be together and had found their soul mates.
Congratulations to Elizabeth and Joshua, our Cyber Love Story of the Week who put their new relationship to the test and won with flying colors.
Do you have an online dating story to share?
Julie Spira is a leading online dating expert and the author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit CyberDatingExpert.com for dating advice and to share your online dating stories. Follow Julie on twitter @JulieSpira and like her at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert
Digital Dating – Tips for Long-Distance Love
Thinking about expanding your zip code or dusting off your passport while looking for love online? I can tell you from first-hand experience that you need to cast a wide net and brush up on your technology skills.? Mobile phone use and high speed Internet makes it so much easier than in the pre-Internet days where you spent a fortune in long-distance bills and time buying Hallmark cards. Now, a cute e-card, Skype, twitter, and facebook along with your smartphone should keep you digitally connected and happily-in-love.
In a recent interview in the Times-Union, A Modern Twist on Long-Distance Love, I talked about the use of Skype and texting to keep you connected to your loved ones.
Julie Spira, author of The Perils of Cyber Dating says many people look at technology to enhance relationships. Whether you use Skype, iChat or text, technology makes it virtually impossible to be disconnected from the world.
Spira said people must still invest in the relationship, and that relationships held together over distance are big commitments.
Spira advises women to even put on that cute dress and lipstick, the same as they would do face to face.
But Spira cautions that relationships starting out as long distance have a longer honeymoon stage. Sometimes long-distance relationships give the false illusion you are in a long-distance relationship, but it is a vacation relationship, Spira said. Time is so concentrated you only know vacation mode; it is a romantic fantasy.
Spira said in vacation relationships, you often only see each other for a short period of time, so you usually stay at nice hotels, eat at expensive restaurants and leave the real world behind.
You don't talk about issues real couples face, like talking about paying bills and mold in the house, Spira said. Vacation couples often have trouble making the transition into real relationships when they move to the same city or household.
If you feel you're in a vacation relationship, Spira said to incorporate regular life into the relationship, find boundaries and how to manage them.
Try and focus on reality and not just romance.
Are you involved in a long-distance relationship? Are you using video chat on facebook or skype as part of your digital dating regime? Your comments are always welcome and if you get a moment, follow me for dating advice on Twitter @JulieSpira, on facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert and on Google+.
First Date Conversations – To Tell, or Not to Tell
I'm a believer in authenticity when it comes to dating. That means I believe you should tell your correct age, post recent photos, and be recognizable when you meet your date in person.
I also believe you should ration your information flow early on, so I find it disheartening to see dates with promise quickly end with no chance of a second date ever being put on the calendar.
Where am I going with this? Quite simply, you need to be prepared for your date. Before you leave the house, think about what you should and what you shouldn't talk about. Think about what you'd tell a perspective boss to land your dream job, and what personal information shouldn't make it to the interview. So without further digital ado, here are some dating tips and conversation topics to tell, and those that should quietly go to sleep with you at night alone.
1st Date Conversation Deal-Breakers Include:
- The ex-factor – Too much talk about your relationship history.
- The crazy ex-factor – Yes, every ex-wife or husband and ex-girlfriend or boyfriend were crazy. Can you elaborate? Please don't.
- Your divorce – Leave that to the attorneys. Your date isn't your legal counsel.
- Your therapist – We won't give you sympathy on a first date, so leave your emotional problems for your next shrink session.
- How proud you are of your children. Don't hide them from us. If you're a great parent, we'd like to know.
- Where you grew up and who inspired you.
- Favorite vacation spots and cuisine.
- Favorite musical acts or concerts you've seen or books you've read.
For starters upon meeting, the gentleman proceeded to tell the lady she didn't look like her photos at all. While that's a common problem and one of the biggest fears a man has when he's making a dinner reservation for a blind date, it quite simply wasn't the case. Her photos posted to her online dating profile were recent and every other man she dated in the past few months had remarked about how much she looked exactly like her photos. Some even said she looked better than her pictures.
This gentleman justified his comment and proceeded to tell her that he was formerly a professional photographer. He was an expert and he was quite certain that she didn't look like her photos. He then proceeded to say that she was extremely photogenic, but in real life looked very plain. Are you laughing yet? He insulted an attractive woman who he was actually interested in by telling her she was plain.Flattery does go far, s0 why tell a woman on a first date that she looked like a plain Jane? It was simply insulting. Isn't it better to say nothing and just enjoy the conversation?
Then he started the nervous interrogation about her previous marriage by saying,? "So who ended your marriage? You, or your husband?" Did it matter? No. She had been divorced for almost 10-years. It was old news and not first date conversation material. All that mattered was that her divorce was final and she was available to date. Her reply, with my coaching was "I don't recall."
Then he went down memory lane about his past and told her how he did LSD at Woodstock in 1969. Did she really need to know about his drug habit from 40 years ago? No, not really. Was he putting his best foot forward? Not at all.
Finally, he told her how crazy his ex-wife was and that she was bi-polar. As he started to talk about her manic-depression episodes, fortunately the alarm went off on her BlackBerry to let her know that the 2-hours in the parking meter had run out. She had 5 minutes to leave in order to avoid getting a parking ticket.
She gracefully thanked him for dinner and received a text message the next day telling her he had a great time and wanted to get together again. Remember, it's a first date, not a therapy session. You may be nervous. After a few drinks, you might feel comfortable revealing all, but you're making a first impression on someone you might spend the rest of your life with. If you think you shouldn't tell a prospective boss about your days of doing LSD and bi-polar spouse to land your dream job, then you shouldn't do the same with a woman or man you're interested in dating.
Can you relate to this dating dilemma? Comments are welcome and we'd love it if you'd like us at facebook.com/cyberdatingexpert and at twitter.com/juliespira
Julie Spira is the bestselling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com for dating advice and to learn how to create an irresistible online dating profile.
Online Dating – Is Honesty the Best Policy?
I recently attended a swanky party in Beverly Hills and met a lovely single woman who said she had to talk to me about her online dating profile. Naturally, I was ready to hear what her secret was.
She boasted about how she had written the most creative and best profile of anyone on Match.com. She went into great details about how she listed everything that was unacceptable in a man and that if he had any of these personality traits, they shouldn't bother writing to her.
After listening to her enthusiasm about a profile filled with negativity, I asked the million dollar question, ?Did you lie about your age?? Her response was an immediate yes. She claimed, as many singles do, that she looked so much younger than her real age and took six years off her age to fit into a search. When I asked her how long she had been looking for love online, she responded that she hadn?t been in a relationship for six years.
Obviously her personal digital marketing plan wasn?t working. She had never been married and was almost 60 years old. She agreed to a critique and was ready for some dating tips.
Sure, she went to one of the top dermatologists in town. Sure, she wore designer labels and dressed to impress the women who would recognize them. At the end of the day, she was inauthentic and still single.
I offered to critique her profile and made some subtle changes. She listed her dream life, one where she wanted a man to financially support her and proudly claimed she was high maintenance. It wasn?t the life she was living yet, and her inbox wasn?t filled with male suitors ready to sign up. She stated in her first sentence that she was great looking. Men are visual. They will decide upon viewing your profile photo if they are attracted to you or not. Stating it in the first sentence appeared conceited to most men who viewed her photo and most of them moved on.
I share these true stories with you because authenticity is sexy. Being authentic translates to being confident and happy. Where you are now is just fine. Keep your dreams, but portray yourself in your profile as approachable, realistic and human. I encourage all of you who feel you need to lie in your profile about your age, weight, or financial status to toss that belief out the digital window. You are just perfect, the way you are. It?s time for some truth-in-advertising and for you to really find love online.
Julie Spira is an online dating expert and author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com. Like her at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert for dating advice and follow her at Twitter.com/JulieSpira
Dating with Discounts – Dating Dos and Don'ts
Groupon, Living Social, and a myriad of deal-of the day sites have sprouted up like wild-fire. It's too tempting not to look at a deal in your city. So what's a dater to do when the options are presented to him, but he wants to make a good first impression when he meets his online date?
I was asked a series of questions on the subject in relation to the New York Post article, Discount Dating, and as a coupon-cutter myself, have some strong thoughts on dating with discounts. If you follow these rules of netiquette for dating in a web 2.0 world, you'll be on your way to a second or third date.
1. Should you tell your date if you're using a discount? Or should you keep the Groupon in your pocket a secret? Why or why not?
If you?re meeting someone for the first time, bragging about your two-for-one discount won?t make you look good. She?ll think your entire courtship will be done on frequent flyer miles. It?s best to just hand the coupon to the server when you place your order. Your date will notice and will appreciate your tact and desire to impress her while staying on a budget.
2. If you do tell your date, when should you let them know? Before the date or during the date?
If your discount-dating offer is for a very specific menu item or activity, you?ll need to share that with your date at the time you sit down to order or meet. There?s no point in saying in advance, ?I?d love to have a date with you and I?ll be using a discount coupon.? You?ll run the risk of her turning you down as your frugal ways won?t be filled with sex-appeal.
3. If you feel using discounts on a date is tacky, should you speak up? Or suffer in silence?
There?s nothing wrong with using discounts on a date as long as they aren?t the focus of your conversation. Saying, ?Hey baby, do you want to go on a discount date with me?? or ?I?ve got this great coupon? won?t impress her if you?re on a first or second date. If you?ve been dating for a while, you should feel comfortable in suggesting an outing that involves a discounted item or Groupon offering. Dating can be expensive and if you?re looking to impress your date, going for more than coffee may result in you getting a second date with the object of your affection.
4. What type of discount is best to use (a discount for an unusual activity like rockclimbing or shooting range lessons — or a more traditional date like 50% off dinner?)
Activity discounts are never looked down upon as cheap. The tricky part is grabbing your discount during a limited time period while hoping that your date will want to go rock climbing or white water rafting. ?There is something unique about activity dates where a woman will look the other way when the coupon is presented.
5. Is using Groupon OK for a first or second date?
Using Groupon on a first date for dining is just a step above asking someone to split an appetizer when you thought you were meeting for a full meal on your date. It can be awkward with someone you have just met.
You have a split-second to make a bad impression on a first date. I recommend saving the Groupon or deal-of-the-day offer for future dates once you?re more comfortable with each other. The only way Groupon is acceptable on a first date is when you go to a restaurant with a pre-paid purchase towards your meal. If you buy $50 worth of food at a great restaurant for $25 and it goes towards your total meal value, it?s no different than using a gift card that you might have received as a present. It?s best to downplay the use of Groupon or a deal-of-the-day coupon in front of your date early on in the relationship. If you?re worried you might make a bad impression by using Groupon or a deal-of-the day discount, or your deal requires that your date order a specific entr?e, save your deal for future dates when you?ve gotten to know her better, or use your offer on your Guys? Night Out.
6. What about using a ?Groupon discount for all of your first three or four dates with someone?
Using a Groupon type service on all of your first few dates will backfire on you. She may be the Coupon Queen at the grocery store, but dating a Coupon King just isn?t very sexy. He?ll come across as cheap instead of someone who?s smart about money.
7. Are there different do's and don't for men and women regarding these discounts? IS it OK for women to suggest using the discount?
There are so many stereotypes as it relates to dating and digital dating has it?s own set of rules. Women who use coupons are looked upon favorably by men.? A guy will think she?ll be considerate about how to spend his money and that dating her won?t break his bank. Unfortunately, the opposite is true as it relates to men. A woman will look at a discount guy as cheap early on in the relationship. It?s best for a man not to suggest a discount on a first or second date. Bragging about his recent Groupon acquisitions just isn?t sexy to a woman.
8. Who should pay (man or woman) if a discount is used? The person who does the asking? The person who finds the coupon? Should it be split if the coupon is giving you 50% off?
Generally, men pay on the first date and most dates with or without a coupon. If the woman has purchased a Groupon or deal-of-the day coupon, it?s her way of offering to pay or at least contribute the value of the coupon towards the meal. Asking to split the cost of the Groupon or coupon is like asking someone to go Dutch treat. It?s a netiquette no-no.
8. Any other do's and don'ts you advise when it comes to discount dating?
Discount Dating Do?s:
Do let your guy take the lead. If he suggests a discount dating event, feel free to suggest one for a future date.
Do expect to pay for your deal-of-the day or Groupon meal or activity if you purchased it on your own. Asking to be reimbursed is a netiquette no-no.
Do find plays or activities of interest to you and your date using deal-of-the-day or Groupon type specials.
Do downplay your Groupon or discount if it comes up while submitting it to the server. Make your date think she?s worth every moment and every cent.
Discount Dating Don?ts:
Don?t make every date a discount date. Select a restaurant or venue within your budget and vary it up.
Don?t make the subject of discount dating at the top of your list. It goes hand-in-hand with talking about your ex, and that breaks the rules of netiquette for dating.
Don?t take inventory of all of your Groupon purchases while on a date. Even at 50% off, it can add up and you?ll appear to have a spending problem.
Don?t complain to your date that they are cheap if they are using a discount dating offer. Dating can be expensive and if he wants to take you somewhere other than a coffee shop, appreciate his efforts to impress you and act like a lady.
Are you using discount coupons while dating? We'd like to hear your thoughts and comments.
Julie Spira is an online dating, social media, and netiquette expert. She's the bestselling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online and The Rules of Netiquette: How to Mind Your Manners on the Web. ?Follow her on Twitter @JulieSpira. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com. Like her at Facebook.com/cyberdatingexpert


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I'm a Killer Mom.
My husband, baby and I are spending our first weekend away from home at our friend's country house. The home of our baby's godfather, to be more accurate. We envision our son growing up spending relaxing weekends here, enjoying more nature than even Central Park can offer. The type of nature where one hears howls coming from the woods at night and can be 92% certain that there's no need to call 911.
We spent many weekends here before the baby was born; weekends full of cocktails and frivolity, saucy jokes and late bedtimes. While our cocktail intake and bedtime have changed since the baby was born, some things about visiting here remain constant, including sharing gorgeous meals outdoors under the canopy of huge trees and -- last night, anyway -- a giant Blue Moon.
As we dined under the stars last night, our friend asked what it feels like being a parent. If we've ever felt love quite like this before.
It's a tough question to answer.
Sure, as parents, we are hard-wired to protect and love this baby we made. It's our job. My husband explained the joy we feel when our son recognizes us and smiles and how protective he feels when the baby falls asleep in his arms, grabbing onto him like a little monkey.
I explained things a little differently.
I feel protective in a more violent way. A more animalistic way. A more primal way. I explained in great detail, and without hesitation, that if anyone threatened the safety of my child, I would reach out with my hand and jam my rock hard fingers into their throat, grabbing their trachea and esophagus, then rip them out the front of their neck.
The truly scary thing isn't the graphic nature of the punishment I would inflict, but rather that I came up with it without a moment's thought. I didn't weigh my options, I didn't wonder if kicking the perpetrator in the balls would be just as good. I knew exactly what I would do, and I know without a doubt that I would have the strength and courage to see the violent act through.
Is that scary or admirable? Is it to be discouraged or encouraged? Should Child Protective Services be alerted, or should parenting magazine profile me for their Awesome Parents Edition?
Apparently, this intense desire to protect comes with parenthood. Our chemistry alters, like Dr. David Banner in The Incredible Hulk. We become Super Humans. Super Parents. Maybe even Super Scary.
I didn't know I had it in me.


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Demme helms docu on Carter for Participant
EmptyPresident Carter will be the subject of "He Comes in Peace," a documentary being directed by Jonathan Demme.
Participant Prods., which was behind the hit documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," featuring former Vice President Al Gore, is producing.
Demme and his crew will follow Carter across the U.S., through red states and blue, to bookstores and talk shows and Wal-Marts, as he undertakes a book tour for his new tome, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." At the same time, Carter, who has written more than 20 books, will speak about how to achieve peace in the Mideast and his lifelong philosophy of human compassion.
Production began at Carter's home in Plains, Ga., on Nov. 11 before the tour. The book hit shelves Nov. 14.
Demme is seeking what he calls an "experiential" approach, emphasizing spontaneity and veracity, and said he wants to avoid "talking heads."
"The president's book tour occurs at a crossroads where the world of religion intersects with global politics," Demme said. "This picture is just an extraordinary honor for me. I loved Carter when he was president, and I've loved him more and more since he left office. He makes me feel so proud to be an American."
ICM-repped Demme may be known for such dramatic works as "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia," but he has taken detours into the docu world with biographical portraits such as "Neil Young: Heart of Gold" and "The Agronomist."
Participant chairman Jeff Skoll and Participant executive vp documentaries Diane Weyermann are executive producing "Peace."
"Jimmy Carter embodies a determined sense of justice and a devout faith, grounded in tolerance and driven by a fierce desire for world peace," Weyermann said. "Jonathan Demme is a filmmaker of immense vision who will be able to marry the intimate portraiture of 'Heart of Gold' to the political savvy of 'The Agronomist' and advance his series of 'portrait docs' with a subject so worthy of further examination."
Participant, which focuses on entertainment that highlights social issues, has done well in the documentary field. In addition to "Truth," the company produced "The World According to Sesame Street" and last year's "Murderball."


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For years government officials in California have known that their emails about official business are subject to disclosure as public records. Although mayors, city managers, supervisors and superintendents may not like this, the applicability of the public records law to email messages is settled.
You will not be shocked to learn, however, that many government officials try to avoid disclosure by using their personal email account to send and receive emails about government business. Whether the use of a gmail account instead of one's official dot-gov account is sufficient to transform otherwise public records -- records that belong to the people -- into the personal property of government officials, will be decided soon by the Third District Court of Appeal.
The case is Smith v. City of San Jose, involving emails about city business that were held by the mayor of San Jose in his personal email account. (Disclosure: My organization, the First Amendment Coalition, has filed an amicus brief opposing San Jose in this matter). The Superior Court ruled in favor of disclosure, reasoning that a record's status as a public record depends on its content only, and that the city possessed the records through the mayor as the city's agent.
The Superior Court decision is clearly correct. The mayor's possession of the contested emails is imputed to the city and establishes legal possession by the city in the same way that the city is responsible generally for actions by its officials within the scope of their duties. An analogy will prove the point: Suppose the mayor, after hours, takes delivery of a signed city contract sent to his home address. There is no doubt that the contract is a public record of San Jose, notwithstanding that it is located outside the walls of city hall. It's a San Jose public record through the mayor's possession of the document.
Another issue that has surfaced on appeal concerns the mechanism for obtaining the emails -- specifically, emails that are indisputably about government business -- in the event the appeals court agrees that the emails are San Jose's public records. San Jose argues that compelled public access to emails in the mayor's private email account would amount to an illegal "search and seizure" under the fourth amendment to the U.S. constitution.
The argument is intriguing -- but nonetheless wrong. Fourth amendment safeguards would indeed be implicated if a government IT staffer, police officer or other government agent conducted a forced, non-consensual search of the mayor's personal email, sifting through private messages to and from friends and family to locate and copy those email messages about purely government business. The coerced access by government to personal emails -- in order to find non-personal emails -- is the step that triggers constitutional scrutiny.
But these issues are not raised at all if the search for emails about government business is conducted not by government agents but by the mayor herself. The mayor's privacy interests cannot be compromised in any way by exposure to her own personal emails -- she has already composed or read them, after all.
This is true even if the mayor is forced -- for example, by court order, backed up with the threat of contempt -- to conduct the search. While such a court order may be coercive in the extreme, the fourth amendment is irrelevant so long as access to truly personal emails is confined to the individual who wrote or received them. Privacy interests, by definition, are completely protected. Government transparency enables the people to hold government accountable, and public access to officials' communications about government -- whether digital or on paper, in email accounts registered to a city or to a mayor or council member personally -- are the essence of transparency.
The public has lost patience with elected representatives who game the legal rules to avoid disclosure of information to which the public is entitled. We'll soon find out if the judiciary also has lost patience.
Peter Scheer, a lawyer and journalist, is executive director of the
First Amendment Coalition, a San Rafael, CA-based nonprofit committed
to free speech and government transparency.


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bedroom furniture. Monday , April 16th , 2018 - 09:19:02 AM
Quote from Childrens Table and Chairs for Bedroom :
After deciding the size of the table and chairs, you need to decide the best design for the table and chairs. The best way to make you get the best design is suiting the table design and concept with the concept that applied on your children's bedroom. The children are usually love the cute things like the cartoon character. You can choose one of the cartoon character for the concept of their bedroom and to choose the design of the table and chairs. Buying things for children also need to be considered about the safety of the material. Do not forget to choose the material which safe. You would be better choose the childrens table and chairs which made from the wooden or plastic for the safe.
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Descendants of the Sun sergeant, Ahn Bo Hyun, to promote new film at 2016 Shanghai Film Fest
This month, Ahn Bo Hyun will head to China for The 19th Shanghai International Film Festival!
The Descendants of the Sun actor's movie, titled Hiya, has been nominated for the 19th SIFF Panorama Korean Film 2! The sexy star plans to do his best to promote his powerful short film. "It's a small movie, but it has a big message. It gives a great deal of comfort," a rep from the Shanghai Film Fest told the media.
In Hiya, Ahn takes on the role of a bad boy named Lee Jin Sang who is ostracized by his brother (played by Infinite's Hoya). Despite his brother's indifference, he loves him unconditionally. The 19 Shanghai Film Festival runs from June 11 through June 19.
Just in case you forgot, here is a little reminder of just how sexy Ahn looked in DOTS!
Now, imagine how hot he will look on the big screen! That's enough to make you book your flight to Shanghai now, right? It's been a while since we heard from dreamy Sergeant Lim, so it's good to know he's busy advancing his career on the big screen! In addition to securing roles in K-dramas and movies, he is the beloved Cha Kang Woo in the tvN variety program After The Call. He is Jenny's (Girls' Day's Yura) devoted friend and co-worker. Cha may be straightforward, but he is incredibly selfless.
What role would you love to see him take on next?
Descendants of the Sun
Starring Song Joong Ki and Song Hye GyoAdd to Queue Remove from Queue Watch Now
Shelly M is an author and blogger. Follow her personal blog at BTSCelebs.com


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Home /
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Transferring College Credit
Once you're accepted, we will review the official college transcripts for course equivalency. You will receive a copy of the degree audit which will list the General Education Courses that transfer along with a list of all courses that transfer. A faculty advisor will determine how the courses apply to the degree, so you should contact the Admission office to schedule a meeting with a faculty advisor to find out how your major classes transfer and how long it will take to complete your degree.
Please make sure you are selecting the appropriate guide. You may need to use both the Quarter and Semester guides if you took classes both before and after Summer 2012.
In this section..
Malone University - (Semester)Marion Technical College - (Semester) (Quarter)Marion Technical College - Departmental List Miami University - (semester)Mt. Vernon Nazarene University - (Semester) Ohio University - (Semester ) (Quarter)Otterbein University - (Semester) (Quarter)Owens Community College - (Semester) Sinclair Community College - (Semester) (Quarter) Sinclair Community College - Departmental List (Semester) (Quarter) Southern State Community College - (SEMESTER) Stark State College - (Semester) University of Akron - (semester) University of Rio Grande - (Semester) Wright State University - (Semester) (Quarter)Zane State College - (Semester) (Quarter)Zane State College - Departmental List (Semester) (quarter)


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The Bradford Curling Club is located in the Holland Marsh, the heart of Canada's vegetable industry. We welcome new members and hope that you will come out and try the sport of curling. Conveniently located in the centre of town next to the Bradford Arena.
Please click here for a map to find us. Wheelchair accessible.
Our curling facility gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Curling Canada through its Curling Assistance Program.
The latest "AROUND THE HOUSE - Issue 7-1" dated September 15th, 2016
For previous issues, please click here.
The Bradford Curling Club has many sponsors in the community, if you are ever in need of the services which they provide, we would ask you to take them into consideration.
A list of these sponsors can be found on this page, by clicking on the sponsor logo on that page you can access the individual websites.
Club Sponsors
Thank you to these sponsors and their commitment to the sport of curling in Bradford.
© 2018 Bradford Curling Club. All rights reserved. Powered by CanSport LIVE.


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Navigating comfortably in a professional environment involves a series of important skills, from writing a compelling resume, to introducing yourself effectively to an employer, to acing a job interview, to using proper dining etiquette. Our workshops and events hone professional skills before students graduate. Learn more.
Employers: Don't miss out! Registration is now open for our Fall Career Fair and Accounting Career Fair!
Graduate Master's Co-op Option in Engineering
Career Cafe topics (pdf) for spring 2018
Professional Co-op: Attend an Information Session or Apply Online.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view any pdf files.
To schedule an appointment, contact the Career & Co-op Center at 978-934-2355 or stop by at University Crossing, Suite 450.
UMass Lowell Along the River is the official mobile app for UMass Lowell Admissions, Career Development and Residence Life events! Learn more about what this app can do for you!


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Just wanted to point out that Ted Cruz won the GOP Senate primary runoff – which means he is almost certain to be the next Senator from Texas. The TEA Party is alive and well and strikes again.
Tremble in fear, establishment.
Just wanted to point out that Ted Cruz won the GOP Senate primary runoff – which means he is almost certain to be the next Senator from Texas. The TEA Party is alive and well and strikes again.
Tremble in fear, establishment.
Sorry for the crudity, but I really can't describe this any other way – from The New Yorker via Ann Althouse:
…Perry is the first graduate of Texas A & M to govern Texas. When he was a freshman, in 1968, the student body looked much like him: white, male, determinedly rural. Aggie jokes of the country-bumpkin variety are still standard fare in Texas. ("How many Aggies does it take to screw in a light bulb? One, but he gets three hours of credit.") At A & M, Perry ran the winning campaign of his friend John Sharp for student-body president. In response, Sharp got his friend elected one of the campus's five "yell leaders"—male cheerleaders. Perry considered being a yeller the higher office. A typical yell is: "Squads left! Squads right! / Farmers, farmers, we're all right! / Load, ready, aim, fire, BOOM!" During tense moments in a football game, yellers grab their balls and shout, "Squeeze, Aggies!"…
As one comment noted over at Instapundit put it, the worry here for liberals is that Perry apparently has a pair to squeeze.
If you read the whole article, it is just a crude attempt to paint Governor Perry as some sort of overly masculine cowboy-barbarian…not at all like sweet, gentle, Ivy League-educated George Bush. To be sure, "Squeeze, Aggies!" is bizarre – but, then again, its Texas. The bottom line is that they tend to shoot at the people who need to be shot and back up those who deserve help; you really have to be some post-modernist metrosexual to get your nighty in a knot over Texas…so, naturally, liberals are well knotted.
They are deathly afraid of Rick Perry….perhaps even more fearful than they have ever been about Sarah Palin. The thing about Perry (and Palin and Bachmann and Cain) is that they are just regular folks from the heartland who live and believe like regular Americans. If they think about the Ruling Class, at all, it is with a mixture of bemusement and contempt. People like Perry really will go to DC to change things…and not care a whit whether or not the Ruling Class is offended by it.
And it will be one heck of a lot of fun to watch…
Perry gave a pretty good speech – he seems to understand the depth of our problem and the massive changes we'll need to survive. Time will tell if he wears well on the campaign trail…but he'd be a vastly better President than Obama, of that we can be certain.
From USA Today:
Need a job?
Move to Texas.
Finding work may not be quite that simple, but it sure seems that way. While the nation's job growth has limped along since the economic recovery began two years ago, the Lone Star State is enlarging payrolls in Texas-size fashion.
From June 2009 to June 2011 the state added 262,000 jobs, or half the USA's 524,000 payroll gains, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even by a more conservative estimate that omits states with net job losses, Texas' advances make up 30% of the 1 million additions in the 34 states with net growth…
Low taxes, rational regulations, business-friendly environment…presto!, economic growth. This isn't rocket science – but it is well beyond any Democrat's comprehension.
If Perry does decide to run, he certainly has a better economic record than Obama to run on.
From the PJ Tatler:
…Just take a look at the states the EPA decided to leave off the rule change.
"The challenge from the new rule, known as the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, is that stricter limits take effect next year, giving power-plant owners little time to comply.
Texas was not included in the EPA's draft rule related to sulfur dioxide cuts because EPA modeling had shown little downwind impact from Texas power plants on other states.
On Thursday, however, the EPA said Texas would be required to meet lower SO2 limits to avoid allowing the state to increase emissions.
Five states — Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, along with the District of Columbia — were dropped from the final EPA rule."
Three blue states and two swing states get left off, while Texas gets added even though the EPA's own model shows little evidence that emissions from Texas impact other states at all. Nah, there's no politics here.
No, no politics at all – but if you need to burden Texas so that it will stop performing so well economically, then it is precisely what you need to do. Seems that Obama and Co are quite frightened of the prospect of a Perry candidacy.


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Ryan's invention appears to be a device for separating moisture from food scraps in domestic waste disposal systems. The scraps are removed to a container where they are aerated and eventually form a compost. According to the report, Ryan was fed up with taking out the compost, so he invented a machine that would do it automatically.
Considering its tiny population and remoteness, NZ has contributed more than most countries to science and technology. Ernest Rutherford, of course, but also the inventors of disposable syringes, aerial top dressing and bungee jumping to name just a few.
Rutherford did his best work in Manchester. Manchester Inventors Group (the average age of which is somewhat greater than 9) has set up a working party to "make the most of their creative and innovative skills". One of its proposals is a competition similar to the one that Ryan won at home. Should Ryan follow the footsteps of his illustrious compatriot to one of the world's greatest universities he should find a lot of like minded contemporaries with whom to compete and collaborate.


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Diana Correa
Ms. Diana Correa-Cintron has close to 30 years experience in public interest law, program development, fundraising, external relations and coaching/counseling. She was a former criminal defense attorney with the Legal Aid Society, Director of the Latino Prisoner's Project under the auspices of the Correctional Association (a prisoner's rights advocacy organization) and Director of Policy for the ACLU's Minors Rights Project.
Soon thereafter she held the position of Senior Policy Analyst for Latino Commission on AIDS and then became Assistant Director for the Center for Public Interest Law at Columbia University School of Law. At the end of her tenure at Columbia University she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to research the conditions of confinement of Latin American Women incarcerated in Spain living in both Onati and Madrid.
Upon her return from Spain she briefly worked as a consultant for Columbia's Law School Office of Admissions but soon thereafter moved to Miami where she held the position of Associate Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations at Florida International University. Just prior to returning to New York she worked as a consultant for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions where she worked closely with prospective law school applicants helping them prepare personal statements for law school applications.
Upon her return to New York City, she held the position of Northeast Regional Director for Hispanics in Philanthropy, and then Deputy Director for the North Star Fund (a community foundation that funded grassroots non-profits) before starting-up her own consulting firm Yellow Brick Road Group, Inc. where she provides a range of services including but not limited to development/fundraising, grant writing, external relations, speech writing and coaching/counseling, one of her primary clients - the Bronx Children's Museum.
Ms. Correa-Cintron has also served on several boards including but not limited to Harlem Dowling Westside Center for Children and Family Services (foster care and adoption), Public Interest Law Foundation/Columbia University School of Law but most notably Latino Justice/PRLDEF a leading civil rights organization serving the legal and civil rights of Latinos both regionally and nationally where she is Chair of the Education Committee. She is married to Dr. Luis Cintron and has two children Andres and Diego.


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The support of automotive dealers is key to the success of an auto financing organization. Consequently, it is imperative that financing providers understand the needs of dealers and take the appropriate steps to meet their expectations. Knowing why dealers are satisfied or dissatisfied with their auto financing provider and what competing providers are doing to satisfy their dealers are both critical to your organization's ability to attract and retain business.
The Solution
The J.D. Power U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction StudySM measures dealer satisfaction with auto financing providers for both wholesale and retail products. Dealers evaluate their experience with providers in four financing segments: Prime Retail Credit; Non-Prime Retail Credit; Retail Leasing; and Floor Planning. Satisfaction is measured across seven factors: Application/Approval Process; Provider Offerings; Sales Rep Relationship; Vehicle Return Process (Retail Lease); Portfolio Management (Floor Plan); Floor Plan Support; and Provider Credit Line (Floor Plan).
A study subscription provides access to the tools needed to gain a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of your auto financing organization's performance and to help you identify opportunities for improvement within your organization.
Study deliverables include:
- An analyst briefing that provides insights into key industry trends and study findings, allowing your company to maximize performance and provide a more satisfying dealer experience
- Access to a personalized competitive data set, allowing you to see how your organization stacks up against competitors, the industry, and the highest performers
- A detailed performance analysis that displays key performance metrics and frequencies
- An executive presentation that provides a summary of your company's results compared with those of key competitors
The Benefits
Subscribing auto financing providers use study findings to understand their competitive position in order to identify the critical areas that need improvement and then to make prudent decisions concerning the allocation of their resources to those areas that are most important to dealer satisfaction.


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Diary of Slovenia Day 5
As I'm writing this post, I'm curled up in bed for our last night in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Our stay at the City Hotel has been great, and we spent quite a bit of time on foot today exploring the capital city. Standouts today have been the hotel, our walk to … Continue reading


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Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins serve a wide range of ice cream in many different flavours. They also serve low fat and sugar free treats as well as a selection of Kosher dishes. Gift token are also available.
Venue Details & Map
Baskin Robbins
- Address
Lockwood WalkRomfordRM1 3RH
- Telephone:
- +44 (0)170 873 5174
- Public transport:
- Romford, National Railway


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Frequently Asked Questions
ITP is an academic program at the Viterbi School of Engineering whose mission is to offer courses in applied technology to all students at USC. The program offers cutting edge and hands on courses in web development, new media, 3D animation, security, programming, video game design and programming, and other innovative topics in information technology. The unit is a leading source of curriculum innovation on campus and is also a leader in integrating emerging instructional technologies in the classroom. We offer minors and specializations; we do not offer any majors.
If you would like to take a course and have not taken the proper prerequisite you will need to contact the instructor of the course and let him/her know why you think you are prepared. S/he can assess your knowledge and let you know if you're ready for the course. If you get instructor approval, please forward the instructor's email to firstname.lastname@example.com along with your student ID number and you will be granted permission to enroll. Please keep in mind that if you are given permission to take the more advanced course you can never go back and take the introductory course and earn credit for it.
ITP does not have waitlists for their courses. Keep checking back online to see if a seat opens up. Students change their schedules up until, and even after the beginning of the semester. If you don't get a seat prior to the start of the semester you may wish to show up on the first day to see if someone else does not. Please have a backup plan incase a seat never becomes available.
ITP offers many courses that do not require prerequisites or prior programming experience. Please consider taking any of the courses below:
ITP offers three introductory programming courses that you should consider:
- ITP 109 – Introduction to Java Programming
- Object-oriented programming language
- Great to learn before C++ or Objective-C (used for iOS apps)
- Android is built on Java, so this is a good language if you want to learn to create mobile apps
- ITP 115 – Programming in Python
- Great introductory language
- Clear syntax makes it an ideal first language
- Scripting language, which is great if you want to go into web development
- Used in Maya for digital animation
- ITP 165 – Introduction to C++ Programming
- The best way to learn programming fundamentals for iOS programming
- A good engineering language
- Best for high performance applications like video games
If you're still struggling to determine which programming language would be the best fit, please feel free to contact the instructor(s) of the course.
At this time ITP courses are taught primarily during the fall and spring semesters. A limited number of ITP courses may be taught in the summer, which can vary from year to year. Please check the schedule of classes for any summer course offerings. All ITP courses are taught in-person on campus and not available through distance education (DEN).
Minor programs are available to students matriculating in an undergraduate degree program and must be completed simultaneously with the major degree program. Minor course requirements range from 16-26 units, while specializations require fewer units overall. Completion of a minor program will be recorded on the transcript. The student receives a separate minor certificate for each minor completed. Current USC undergraduates, graduate students, and non-degree seeking students are eligible to pursue a specialization. USC undergraduate students who do not have enough space in their schedule to complete a minor may choose to pursue a specialization instead. Specializations range from 6-12 units. Non-degree seeking students are eligible to enroll as limited status students. Students who complete a specialization are awarded a certificate of completion. All specialization coursework must be taken for a letter grade and the SAP specialization requires a grade of B or better in each course.
Please note ITP minor and specialization coursework is not offered through distance education and must be taken in-person at the University Park Campus.
Non-degree seeking students should familiarize themselves with the process of enrolling as a limited status student at USC.
More information on specific ITP specializations can be found under Academics.
All courses must be completed on campus at USC; there are no online classes currently available.
Yes, you can. A specialization is for non-degree seeking students of any background and you can earn it on its own. To do so you would enroll as a limited status student and you must take all units for a letter grade. Here is information on how to enroll as a limited status student and some information on ITP specializations.
The limited status program is intended for individuals who wish to take a limited number of courses at USC without formally applying for admission to the university. Individuals who do not have a bachelor's degree may take up to 16 units. For graduate students, up to 12 units are allowed. Please refer to: http://arr.usc.edu/services/registration/limitedstatus.html
There is no right or wrong major/minor combination. ITP minors are open to all USC undergraduate students. The ITP advisor can help you think through what combination would be best for you, based on your interests and skills.
At this time, ITP does not offer any undergraduate majors or graduate degrees, only minors and specializations.
The majority of large corporations rely on SAPTM — an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software — to help manage and streamline their business processes. This powerful IT solution allows different departments and locations of a company to share information with one another in real time for more effective communication. SAP is the world's leading ERP systems vendor. Very few universities provide the opportunity for learning information systems concepts using SAP. By enrolling in this specialization, you will gain skills that set you apart from others and prepare you for a career in the expanding world of ERP systems. Students pursuing the SAP specialization must receive a B or better in all three classes, or they will not be eligible for the specialization.
I've taken ISE 583 (equivalent to ITP 320). I want to take an advanced SAP course (e.g. ITP 421, 422, 454, 455, 486, 487, 488) but web registration is not allowing me to enroll.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com. Mention you've taken ISE 583 and state the 400-level course you would like to take. Please include your name and student ID number in the email. The advisor will waive the prerequisite, which will allow you to add the course.
Please contact the USC Office of International Services for assistance.


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Breaking the Mold
When I first started blogging, it was mostly because I wanted to be like my friend Mary. Mary has an awesome blog and connects with readers from all across the world about issues she cares about: healthy living and weight loss. She posts life stories, records her struggles and successes at the gym, and for a while she even took pictures of the food she ate every single day. I loved following along with Mary's life and felt like I knew her even better as a reader-friend than just as a friend-friend. I wanted to have the connections and community that Mary had, and I wanted to write.
To be honest, law school was kind of a bummer for my creative side. Don't misunderstand — I absolutely loved law school. Taking extensive notes about why the law says this or the other and turning those notes into ever-shorter outlines to ingrain the knowledge in my brain is still pretty much one of my favorite things to do (don't be a hater), but I needed a little free-form writing too.
And so I started a blog (now deceased) to write about what was going on and how things were going. I tried to make it about healthy living (because that's what I was reading about, so that's the only kind of blogging I really knew about), but it wasn't a great fit for me as a writer. My lifestyle was (and still is) not healthy enough to provide sufficient blog content. I try to get a little exercise in and eat plenty of fruits and veggies, but I don't exactly have a new and exciting gluten-free/low-carb/paleo-friendly recipe or gym routine to share every three days.
To spread my wings a bit, I started following more healthy eating blogs (and less exercise blogs), and then I started falling in love with food blogs in general. Smitten Kitchen, Yes I Want Cake, Dessert for Two . . . there were tons and my Reader was filled with photographs of beautiful meals. I jumped on this bandwagon for a while too: I'm a good cook, and I like trying new recipes, so it seemed like a good fit. I would re-create some fancy recipes I saw online and even created my own recipe once (it still gets a ton of hits, even two years later).
But, just like healthy living before, cooking adorable meals just wasn't a big enough part of my life to create sufficient content for a successful blog. My life was full of school (now work) and studying (now advising, grocery shopping, avoiding laundry, etc.). There just isn't enough time for me to live a full life and also purchase expensive groceries and create a fancy meal from scratch every day. I found myself purchasing groceries that went unused, feeling frustrated, and serving my husband a hot-and-steamy previously frozen pizza more often than I should admit. And then, when I did cook something fantastic, I would oftentimes forget to take a photo before we dug in, thus resulting in additional personal disappointment and lack of content.
My blog went dormant for a while (it wasn't the first time, and probably won't be the last), and then I stumbled onto Rachel Held Evans and Sarah Bessey and I saw a big part of my secret-inside-self in their writing. I started entering — slowly and carefully — the Christian faith blog community. These voices spoke to me again, in a different way. They spoke of pain and intellectual struggle and civil rights and equality and, most of all, love. For a while, I was only reading faith blogs and not commenting and certainly not writing about faith issues, but after reading so much it just started oozing out.
After a few months, however, I noticed that my voice didn't exactly fit inside this community, either. That the story I wanted to write (my real life plus how it feels to interact with the hard questions of poverty-relief, justice, equality and how All Of That intersects with faith and politics) couldn't be fully sustained if I stayed inside the faith blogging community. I needed to make connections across disciplines, because that is how my mind works and how my heart finds freedom. While faith issues are an important piece of who I am as a writer, that tiny piece of the internet world is not enough on its own. What you read is what you write, and I'm just not cut out for a one-subject career.
And so, for the next few weeks, I'm trying a lot of new blogs and searching for a good mix of faith, food, law, social issues, justice, fashion, feminism, otherwise smart and just plain funny. If you have a favorite, leave it in the comments so I can check it out! I'll be updating my Blogroll at the end of the month to share my new finds with you. If this works out the way I hope it will, I'll be working toward becoming a better blogger and a better writer. And if it doesn't, at least I'll have read some good stories along the way.


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June 2012 Vol. 239 No. 6
Gazprom Bidding For Greek Company
Fourteen companies, including Gazprom and three other Russian firms, are bidding to acquire DEPA and its fully owned subsidiary DESFA, the Greek state-controlled gas transportation systems. Additionally, Gazprom is targeting Greece's dominant oil company, Hellenic Petroleum, part-owner of DEPA, for possible acquisition.
The starting price of DEPA's state-owned stake is generally assessed at $1.5 billion. Other bidders include Italian ENI, Italian Edison, Azerbaijan's State Oil Company, and the Israel Corporation, all with active or potential transit interests in Greece and DEPA/DESFA.
Gazprom is targeting DEPA but not DESFA. This suggests that Gazprom is wary of openly violating European Union legislation which requires ownership separation (unbundling) of supply companies (DEPA) from transportation companies (DESFA). There is a possibility that Moscow is targeting DEPA and DESFA via four different Russian companies, only pretending to comply with EU legislation. Gazprom plans to use DESFA's pipelines as part of the South Stream project.
Within Greece, DEPA is the national importer of natural gas and wholesale supplier to the internal market, with an estimated 50% market share legally guaranteed until 2036. Gazprom holds the lion's share of the Greek gas market; it delivered 2.9 Bcm in 2011 to DEPA and directly to end-users through the joint venture Prometheus Gas.
DEPA and DESFA hold monopolies in gas sales and gas transport, respectively. DESFA operates Greece's gas transmission and distribution pipelines.
Control of DEPA/DESFA would enable Gazprom to promote its own international projects, block rival projects outright, or elbow its way into those rival projects. It would also result in Gazprom's outright capture of Greece's gas sector, boost Russia's already strong economic and political influence in that country, and provide a springboard for Gazprom's expansion farther afield.