text:
Customer Service Tips - Client Communication and Service
September 19, 2006
Client service and client communication are inextricably linked and are each components of the same mission to continually enhance the level at which you and your firm understand, serve and satisfy your clients.
When you communicate with your clients effectively, you are better able to meet or exceed their expectations because you have a clear understanding of their needs. Effective communication specifically asking the right questions and really listening to your clients also helps you to discover and take advantage of opportunities to serve your clients in new ways.
Just as quality communication enhances a CPAs ability to provide outstanding service, providing excellent client service brings opportunities for more effective communication. The more actively you service your clients, the more opportunities you will have to communicate with them. If you rarely visit your clients and only speak when they call you with an occasional question, there will be few opportunities for real communication. Frequent communications, on the other hand, create an ongoing dialogue with your clients, providing you with the opportunity to become more of a partner to them rather than just a service provider.
Listen closely for the subtle and not-so-subtle clues your client may be providing about his or her level of satisfaction with your firm or with other service providers. Picking up on these hints may enable you to revive a relationship that is going sour or generate additional business by addressing the client's needs that are not currently being met to his or her satisfaction.


text:
On the road: Springing into ballet
Spring fever
Spring is when a young man's desire turns to … ballet? The Joffrey Ballet's season concludes with a repertory program of three sensual, neoclassical works in "Spring Desire." Presented in 10 performances, the program heralds the return of Edward Liang's "Age of Innocence" set to the music of Philip Glass and Thomas Newman. Also featured is Jerome Robbins' "In the Night" danced to Frederick Chopin's piano nocturnes.
Wednesday to Sunday, April 25 to May 6, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy. Get a complete performance schedule at joffrey.org. Single tickets range from $25 to $149. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.
Take the 'A' train
Meet more than 70 culinary artisans from around the globe and sample their products at the Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival. The free event features cheesemongers from the British Isles, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia, a potato chip producer from Virginia, and caviar and truffle oil artisans from Italy. Tasty events include a cheese-wrapping contest, an avocado tasting for kids with the Good Food Project, and a Best of the Fest competition with food industry luminaries voting on their favorite featured artisans and products.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton St., Chicago. Free admission and sampling. (312) 575-0306 or www.pastoralartisan.com.
A jewel of a package
Moms can enjoy the "Diamonds are a Mom's Best Friend" package at the JW Marriott Chicago. Moms can explore Chicago's historic Jewelers' Row Diamond District at dimend SCAASI with a personalized VIP shopping experience and special hotel amenities. Available Mother's Day weekend, the package includes: accommodations at the hotel, breakfast for two, in-room flowers, complimentary valet parking and a visit to dimend SCAASI.
Friday to Sunday, May 11-13, at JW Marriott Chicago, 151 W. Adams St., Chicago. Rates begin at $309. Reserve 48 hours in advance at (312) 660-8200 or online at www.jwmarriottchicago.com with the promotional code P91.
Beer, wine, cheese and trees
Combine a visit to the Great Mississippi River Region with samplings of Wisconsin's cheese and beer at the annual Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival in La Crosse, Wis. Enjoy an afternoon of sampling with more than 40 beer, wine and cheese vendors.
2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Oktoberfest grounds on 2nd Street in downtown La Crosse, Wis. Tickets cost $30 in advance, $35 at the door. www.betweenthebluffsbeerfest.com or www.explorelacrosse.com.
A bloomin' weekend
How about an excuse to get out of town and back to nature during the 27th annual Wildflower Foray? The Foray, set in the forests of southern Indiana, is an engaging combination of collecting spring wildflower data and discovering new species in bloom plus bird walks, lake boat trips, nature photography, learning about edible and medicinal plants and nature-themed art and crafts. There also will be hikes and activities in Brown and Monroe counties.
Friday to Sunday, April 27-29. All programs and hikes are free. (800) 753-3255 or fs.usda.gov/detail/hoosier/news-events/?cid=fsbdev3_017504
Jazz it up
Wisconsin's capital city becomes the jazz capital of the Midwest when fans from all over the country converge on Madison, Wis., to hear nonstop jazz at the annual Capital City Jazz Fest. Sponsored by the Madison Jazz Society, this year's event features jazz artists performing a broad range of styles from the San Francisco sound to swing.
7 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 27; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 28; and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at 2969 Cahill Main in Madison, Wis. Single session tickets cost $32 for adults ($35 at the door) and $10 for children 12 to 18, free for kids 11 and younger. Call (608) 850-5400 or www.madisonjazz.com.
Worth the trip
Downtown Helena, Ark., hosts hordes of motorcycles, wall-to-wall music and delicious food during the 12th annual Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally. The three-day event features food and vendors lining historic Cherry Street in downtown Helena, live music at the Cherry Street Pavilion and an escorted bike parade through Helena and West Helena, beginning and ending in the historic downtown district.
Thursday to Sunday, April 26-29, in downtown Helena, Ark. General admission is $15. Registration is $30 for one rider and one bike. www.WildHogMusic.org.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey's utilities have restored electricity to nearly all their customers who lost service during Sandy and the nor'easter.
Restoration work continues for 6,197 homes and businesses statewide Monday.
Public Service Electric & Gas is reporting 278 outages, mainly in Union, Middlesex and Somerset counties. Most were victims of high winds along the Watchung Mountains. PSE&G is a unit of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.
Jersey Central Power & Light has 3,470 customers waiting for service. The majority are in Morris County. JCP&L, a unit of FirstEnergy Corp., says about 30,000 customers on the barrier islands and along the Jersey shore can't be restored due to major damage.
Atlantic City Electric, a unit of Pepco Holdings Inc., has 2,441 outages, mostly in Ocean County.
Orange & Rockland is reporting 8 customers remain without service.


text:
Brandon Hafer creates elegant and functional interactive projects as part of the Daylight design practice. He's been working in photography, graphic design and web design since 1996. Before committing to design full-time, however, Brandon and studied guitar-building and repair, and also toured as a professional musician. He has lived in Alaska and Canada, but is now happy be part of the Portland community. When he's not working, he lives and breathes the local culture through music, design, snowboarding, backpacking, yoga and biking.
What motivates you to succeed in your job?
I've always had a fascination with tinkering, taking things apart, fixing, problem solving, and understanding how things work. Working in design and the internet gives me an endless playground to learn and create.
What is on your work music playlist?
Wye Oak, Junip, and Run On Sentence
When you're not working, you can be found?
Playing music, backpacking, or watching TED talks.


text:
The highest peak of Thailand is high up in the mountains of Doi Inthanon. The peak is situated 2,565m above sea level and is home to two chedis, for the King and Queen of Thailand. Driving to the peak in the Doi Inthanon mountain is a popular destination for expats living in Chiang Mai. It is often missed by tourists being around 2 hour's drive from the city. Despite the drive, it was a must-see on our sightseeing list being the highest mountain in Thailand. So we ventured to the mountain at the weekend, driving through some of the most spectacular scenery we've seen!
Starting off in the centre of Chiang Mai, you head towards Hang Dong and onto the small Thai village of Sanpatong, where there's a huge locals market to explore. It's around an hour until you hit those incredible scenic views but well worth the wait. Paddy fields to your left and farmer's fields to your right, with amazing mountain views all around, it's definitely worth the drive just for those views.
Knowing we still had an hour left of our journey and more driving through the national park, we made a very last minute decision to stay the night in the surrounding area of Doi Inthanon. When I say last minute, I mean driving along the highway at 50 kmph, passing a Tesco Lotus and Lee (my boyfriend) suggests stopping to get some overnight necessities.
With the decision made and a steady 2 hours later you arrive at the entrance to the Doi Inthanon national park. Stop off for some lunch near the first of many waterfalls in the park, you've already begun to see those much anticipated sights. Pass the national park checkpoint, where its 300bht/ adult to get in for foreigners, and head up the mountainous roads to the Doi Inthanon temple at the very top.
Along the way you'll spot signs for various waterfalls, I definitely recommend having a stop at Wachirathan waterfall. Driving on the road leading up to the waterfall, you can see it before you even hear it, which usually isn't the case with waterfalls in Thailand, especially in the rainy season. Anyway, this waterfall was incredible! By far the best waterfall I have ever seen. After taking a while trying to get the perfect photograph, we continued our route to the top of the mountain.
After driving through breath taking scenery, we spot the top of the King's pagoda peeping out from behind the mountains. Breathing a huge sigh of relief that we're near the highest peak in Thailand, you turn around and get an incredible view of the province of Chiang Mai below.
Continuing on route, we finally arrive at the summit of the mountain and the two chedi's built for both the King's and Queen's 60th birthday anniversaries. Find the much needed coffee shop closed, and head up the escalators to view each chedi. There are idyllic gardens you can look around too, and on a not so cloudy day, my guess is you could get a spectacular view of the mountains below at the designated view point.
Noticing the time and turning around, we decided to look for somewhere to stay whilst driving through the clouds. There aren't as many bungalows as we thought there would be, and all the ones we saw were full! We did find a cute little set of huts called Inthanon Eco Huts, but they wanted 800bht for a tiny, and I mean tiny room. Deciding to search outside the park, we headed out. Bear in mind "heading out" means another 40 minute drive through the jungle, with the sky getting darker and darker by the second. We finally found a hotel on booking.com 4km from the entrance to the park, which was just 450bht.
Next day, driving back to Chiang Mai, we spotted a temple we had noticed the day before, Wat Phra That Doi Noi. This temple is situated at the top of a small hill, with steps leading all the way to the top.
Reaching the top, we noticed the temple is under reconstruction, so you get the chance to write your name on one of the roof tiles which is a great little touch for 15bht.
Another amazing view of the mountains all around and its situated overlooking the Ping river. A recommended stop for anyone making the scenic journey to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai.


text: 12 January 2012The NHS in Wales will remove and replace PIP breast implants for all women who have been clinically assessed as needing this surgery. Any patient looking to have their PIP implants on the NHS in Wales removed will need to provide evidence that they are a Welsh resident and registered with a GP in Wales. This announcement was made on Tuesday (10) following an announcement on Friday (6) that women who had PIP implants on the NHS originally would be eligible for removal and replacement if in critical need, and removal only for private patients. It is thought that the number of women in Wales who have been affected is relatively low. Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: �We announced last week that the NHS in Wales will remove PIP implants if, informed by an assessment of clinical need, a woman with her doctor decides that it is right to do so. �We said then that we would replace implants which were put in by the NHS, and today we are going one step further by announcing we will also replace those which were put in privately. �Removing the implants and not replacing them could result in unsightly scarring, loose skin, and potentially the accumulation of fluids, need for drainage, and risk of infection. Putting women through two separate operations also increases unnecessarily the risk of complication.�


text:
Reporting Title IX concerns
The University of Akron's protocol is designed to comply with applicable state and federal law. The University of Akron reserves the right to modify or deviate from this Protocol when, in the sole judgment of the University, circumstances warrant, in order to protect the rights of the involved parties or to comply with the law.
The University of Akron is a community dependent upon trust and respect among its constituent members. The University is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe learning, living, and working environment and an environment that promotes responsibility and respect in matters of sexual conduct.
Sex-based offenses are a violation of trust and respect, are prohibited and will not be tolerated. This applies to academic, educational, co-curricular, athletic, study abroad, residential and off-campus conduct, and other University programs. Sex-based offenses include: criminal offenses, such as rape and sexual assault, domestic and dating violence; and stalking; violations of the University's Code of Student Conduct; and violations of the University's Sexual Harassment Policy.
The University is dedicated to preventing sex-based offenses by providing:
- education and prevention programs that inform the community about the risks and myths that contribute to sex-based offenses;
- providing assistance and support including procedures sensitive to a person who has been the victim of a sex-based offenses; and
- by providing a process for investigation and adjudication that includes appropriate disciplinary sanctions for those who commit sex-based offenses.
This Protocol describes how the University investigates and responds to reports of sex-based offenses and:
- provides guidance for students who have been the victim of a sex-based offense;
- outlines the University's disciplinary response to alleged sex-based offenses; and
- identifies the relevant organizations and individuals within the University responsible for managing this Protocol and programs associated with it.


text:
Horoscope for September 19, 2016
IF IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY your year ahead will be lovely, passionately enthusiastic and rather spendthrift. Luck will roll money your way but you'll find irresistible temptations too much to ignore and may not end up with much surplus. At home you'll want to put changes in place which may not always meet with agreement from those close, so tread lightly and be diplomatic. You'll be determined to attract attention out on the social sign. Persistence will pay off.


text:
Multiple attempts to hijack user accounts have recently been made. Because of this, be especially careful in transactions with members, whether by PM or in the Marketplace. It would also be a very good idea to make sure your password is difficult to crack:
- Not the same as your user name
- At least 8 characters long
- Not a dictionary word (whether in English or anotehr language)
- Not a family member's, or pet's name
- Mixed UPPER and lower case, numbers and special characters
Remember: If you get an email from POTN, as described in the linked thread, it means that the system has stopped someone from trying to log in using your account. It does not mean that you have to change your password using the link provided. You only need to use that link if you were the person who failed, after five attempts, to log in to your account.
If you're using a public computer to visit POTN (or any other site where you need to provide a user name and password), before you walk away from that computer be sure to clear the browser's forms history, browsing history and browser cache, as well as logging out from the site.


text:
I Fell for Le Labo's Santal 33 Just Like the Rest of the World and I Don't Care if That Makes Me a Sucker
I mean, even Justin frickin' BEIBER wears it.
Wanna hear how absolutely disgusting my boyfriend and I are? Of course you do.
We're planning to move in together in a couple months — a new apartment as opposed to one of the respective ones we currently live in alone — and while he's definitely ahead of the curve in terms of stereotypical straight-dude decor taste, we don't see perfectly eye to eye on absolutely everything. So I suggested we keep with a theme we can both get down with: let's decorate as if we live inside an untitled Wes Anderson project.
Keep reading when you stop throwing up.
Honestly, even though it's kind of contrived, it helps set a motif we can stick to and agree on. We won't be copying any sets directly — just drawing from the color schemes and the whimsical mixture of retro kitsch and modern elegance that keeps showing up in Anderson films.
See, I like to think you don't have to choose either kitsch or elegance. I've always appreciated both. So last week, when I received two very different bottles of perfume from two major design houses, it was essentially impossible for me to pick a favorite.
I'm not talking about the scents themselves, mind you — just the bottles.
Prada Fleur D'Oranger — one of the Les Infusions de Prada coming to Saks this spring — is the picture of simple sophistication. The glass cuboid of peachy liquid features the silver Prada emblem and is topped off with a matching, textured cap. Just looking at it makes me feel a couple decades older, in the best possible, most mature, secure-in-my-sense-of-style-because-I'm-finally-past-all-the-bullshit way.
Moschino's new Fresh Couture, on the other hand, is literally a tiny satirical bottle of Windex, complete with aqua-blue liquid. It's adorable and hilarious, and they even sent me the press info on a matching thumb drive.
Both bottles make my brain happy, even though they couldn't be more different. And I'm hoping I can find a similar balance when I start decorating the new place.
Oh, and since you're probably wondering, Fleur D'Oranger features notes of orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, and neroli, while Fresh Couture smells nothing like Windex (you might want to look into Demeter's Clean Windows if that sounds appealing to you) and, instead, layers bergamot, mandarin, ylang ylang, raspberry, peony and osmanthus over a cedar and patchouli base.
Personally, I prefer the Prada scent over the Moschino one, but both bottles can hang out on my dresser for as long as they'd like.
So, m'dears, today I ask:


text:
For those keeping up with the language debate in Planet.Gnome, am linking to Paolo's excellent second follow up on the subject. Paolo is not yet aggregated in Planet.Gnome.
Paolo touches on why the ECMA CLI VM is a better VM to pick and describes his gives his view on the patent risks.
Am getting ready to attend the Novell Brainshare conference in Salt Lake City this coming week. This trip agenda is pretty packed.
Am doing two presentations on Advanced Development with Mono as well as attending plenty of meetings with users, customers and reporters. Am looking forward to demostrate some of the latest developments in Mono and MonoDevelop
Sadly, we are not bringing our SPARC to the show to demostrate it, as it is kind of heavy ;-).
Am doing a talk at a local users group, but I can not find the e-mail with the information for my presentation, so if you know what it is, please mail me the information.
Installed the latest MonoDevelop from CVS. It now comes with integrated Mono Documentation (from MonoDoc) and the Mono Debugger.
Discovered Blogs at MSDN, fascinating stuff on all things .NET related. For those interested in tracking Avalon and XAML, you also should check out Longhorn Blogs.
Posted on 20 Mar 2004


text:
Employment - BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation
July 22, Protected content
BBC Worldwide Americas has posted the following position. To apply for this position, please visit:
Protected content
Digital Ad Sales Development Manager - GS Protected content
The Digital Ad Sales Manager is responsible for working with our industry-leading digital sales team to develop sales propositions, creative custom solutions along with associated collateral, and coordinate/execute custom sales programs. The ideal candidate is a strategic and creative thinker with exceptional communication/design skills. The role will be called on to become an expert in specific advertising categories and therefore must possess outstanding research skills. Conducts market and client research to understand customer needs, deliver insights to product development team and create targeted solutions. Leads the development of media kits, presentations, collateral and sales tools to support ad category specific sales efforts. Develops a broad understanding of all of the assets that the BBC has to bring to customers and develop proactive as well as reactive pitches for clients that combines knowledge of what the BBC has to bring to market with a keen understanding of the marketplace and our clients' place in it. Works with all relevant areas of the organization (product, pricing & inventory, advertising operations, production, etc.) in the development of sales programs, new digital products and unique client-driven solutions that are strategically grounded in the needs of the client. Works with sales team and leadership to manage and monitor sold programs, and conduct post-mortem evaluations of the effectiveness of the program.
The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree with Protected content experience within the online advertising community. Proven understanding of how to translate the long-term business objectives of advertisers into solutions that could be provided by the BBC (qualified candidates will be ready to produce a portfolio of work samples) Excellent communication skills as well as deep proficiency with the software tools of the trade (PowerPoint, Word, etc). Must be able to craft a compelling presentation and then present it effectively and confidently. Category domain experience preferred, preferably within the B2B, Auto and/or Consumer Technology advertising categories) Experience with market research tools and an understanding of how to craft go-to-market positioning. Must thrive in a team-oriented, fast-paced culture. Must come up with big ideas and the courage to voice them. Ad Sales experience a plus.
Protected content
If you are interested and qualified or know someone who is, please email your resume and salary requirements to Protected content .
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. (click here for more details)
If the link is inactive,copy and paste the URL below into your browser:
Protected content
BBC Worldwide Americas Human Resource Department
Phone: Protected content
Fax: Protected content
Protected content


text:
COLUMBIA, MD (RNN) – McDonald's store video in Maryland has captured images of a woman stealing food and cash by climbing into the store through a window.
She first reaches through what looks like a drive-through window to get a drink and then climbs all the way through the window to get a lid for her beverage.
She then grabs a box, and with her pants nearly falling off she manages to hand some food and a box to someone outside. Howard County Maryland police released the video of the Nov. 5 theft.
The woman had a difficult time making it through the window into the store. She was wearing loose-fitting sweat pants and had a purse.
Howard County police have offered a $500 reward for information on the suspect, WUSA reported.
Copyright 2017 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.


text:
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Necktie Apparel
Necktie Apparel is located at 2063 Augusta St, Eugene, OR. This location is in the Laurel Hill neighborhood. This business specializes in Women's Clothing.


text:
I'm sure you've all seen the King of NY tees that J. Money made popular for a minute now. Well now there's something for the ladies too. . . J. Honey. The tees have a similar aesthetic to the guys tees but with a feminine twist. Gotta love the Thelma & Louise tee. You can find them online at Caliroots but we'll keep you posted some US accounts.
Image: Caliroots
Info: Highsnobiety
Similar Posts:
- Eye of the Tiger
- Claw Money Interview on Weekly Drop
- Claw Money Spring 08 Preview
- Round 2: Claw Money X Nike Vandal-Hi
- Dim Mak at Caliroots


text:
AARP The Magazine Announces Winners Of Its 13th Annual Movies For Grownups® Awards
Jan 03, 2014, 05:31 EST
Standout Films for the 50+ Audience Celebrated in the Magazine's February/March 2014 Issue and at Annual Gala in Los Angeles on February 10th
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The epic historical drama 12 Years a Slave has nabbed the title of 2013's Best Movie for Grownups, as voted by the editors of AARP The Magazine. Honoring outstanding writing, acting, and filmmaking with distinct relevance to the 50+ audience, AARP today announced the winners of its 13th annual Movies for Grownups® Awards. Top acting honors go to Judi Dench for the second straight year as "Best Actress" for her outstanding portrayal of the title character in Philomena; Bruce Dern nabs "Best Actor" for his haunting performance in Nebraska; Oprah Winfrey snags "Best Supporting Actress" for her stoic role in Lee Daniels' The Butler; and Chris Cooper earns the title of "Best Supporting Actor" for his intensity in August: Osage County. The recipients of this year's awards will be honored at AARP's annual Movies for Grownups gala, to be held in Los Angeles on February 10th.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO)
"These films and performances represent the best of the best Hollywood has to offer and we're thrilled to see more and more storylines and roles being created to appeal to the 50+ audience," said Bob Love, Editor-in-Chief of AARP The Magazine. "We spent hundreds of hours screening 2013's eligible blockbusters and independent films to recommend to our readers. This season boasted truly remarkable performances by older actors, and powerful stories from writers and directors who are over 50. It's been a landmark year for Movies for Grownups and all of Hollywood, and we applaud the commitment to quality."
The 13th Annual Movies for Grownups® Award winners are as follows:
Best Movie for Grownups: 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Judi Dench, Philomena
Best Actor: Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Best Supporting Actress: Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper, August: Osage County
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Best Screenwriter: Richard Linklater (with Julie Delphy and Ethan Hawke), Before Midnight
Best Grownup Love Story: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Best Comedy: The Way Way Back
Best Intergenerational Movie: Nebraska
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom
Breakthrough Accomplishment: Mary Steenburgen singing in Last Vegas
Best Foreign Film: Renoir
Best Buddy Picture: Last Vegas
Best Time Capsule: American Hustle
Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up: Saving Mr. Banks
Judge's Award for Extraordinary Merit: All Is Lost
Additionally, readers were invited to participate and vote for their pick for "Best Movie for Grownups" online. After thousands of online votes, the 2013 Reader's Choice Award goes to Lee Daniels' The Butler.
For more information on AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards, go online to www.aarp.org/movies. The entire list of award winners will also be featured in the February/March issue of AARP The Magazine, available in homes February 1st.
Movies for Grownups, which now includes weekly reviews and an award-winning radio program, an annual film festival, and year-round coverage in AARP The Magazine and online, was started in 2002 by the editors of AARP The Magazine.
About AARP The Magazine
With more than 35.2 million readers, AARP The Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through health and fitness features, financial guidance, consumer interest information and tips, celebrity interviews, and book and movie reviews. AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is published bimonthly in print and continually online. Learn more at www.aarpmagazine.org.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.


text:
Actor Ryan Phillippe has finally sold his Los Angeles property three years after putting it on the market, taking a loss of $1.5 million in the process.
The Crash star purchased the lavish mansion for $7.2 million in 2008 following his divorce from Reese Witherspoon, but failed to attract interest from buyers when he listed the Hollywood Hills property for sale at $7.5 million in 2010.
The five-bedroom home in a secure, gated community boasts an acre of grounds and includes a swimming pool with underwater speakers, a spa and an outdoor kitchen.
Phillippe has now finally managed to unload the property, which he used to share with ex-girlfriend Abbie Cornish, for $6 million , according to the Los Angeles Times.


text:
My Business Friday is organized by the African Entrepreneurs Hub; A non-profit organization which encourages youth entrepreneurship in Africa.
This week, Abdul Aziz Amankwah speaks at My Business Friday.
Have you ever wondered why some brands have a following? Why their customers never leave them?
If you have and want in on the facts, then join the Speaker this week at #MyBusinessFriday, as the talk on effective Marketing continues. Mr Abdul Aziz Amankwah, Country Manager for EXP Ghana shares the importance of experiential marketing to keeping your customers loyal.
Date: Friday 14th October, 2016.
Time: 5 : 00 pm prompt.
Register your attendance by emailing email@example.com


text:
Venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson was skimming the information packet for his Tesla Motors board of directors meeting last year when he hit pay dirt about page 50. Spotting details for the Model S sedan that the electric-car company had on the drawing boards, he knew he had to have one.
Better yet, he had to have the first one.
"The policy was that only after the car was officially on sale and the price had been set could anybody reserve a Model S," Jurvetson said last month, recalling that board meeting in early 2009. "They were about to open the meeting, so without saying a word I whip out my wallet, where I always keep one check, fill it out for the full price of the car, and then toss it across the table. Everyone was stunned."


text:
Show Summary Details
Quick Reference
(Ἄνται), a group of people in the area north of the Black Sea. According to Jordanes, in the 4th C. the Goths defeated the Antae and murdered their "king" (rex) ...
Subjects: Medieval and Renaissance History (500 to 1500).
Related content in Oxford Index
Reference entries
Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content. Please, subscribe or login to access all content.


text:
It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by my1percent
reply to post by samuel1990
Lol , one very important relationship in my life was with an indigenous person ,Kangeroo taste's really good when cooked properly. Also another friend for over thirty years is indian. That part about refugee is because i recently tried to get some fruit picking work and was told the gov said the work was for reugees only ok so dont get upset 1%edit on 15-2-2013 by my1percent because: no reasonedit on 16-2-2013 by my1percent because: (no reason given)


text:
AssetGraph is an extensible, node.js-based framework for manipulating and optimizing web pages and web applications. It's the core of the third generation of the production builder tool we are using at One.com for some of our web apps.
If you just want to get started with the basics, read Peter Müller - Getting started with Assetgraph.
If you are looking for a prepackaged build system take a look at Assetgraph-builder.
Check out the slides from a presentation of AssetGraph held at the Öresund JavaScript Meetup on June 16th, 2011.
The complete AssetGraph-based build system mentioned in the slides can be found here.
Assets and relations
All web build tools, even those that target very specific problems, have to get a bunch of boring stuff right just to get started, such as loading files from disc, parsing and serializing them, charsets, inlining, finding references to other files, resolution of and updating urls, etc.
The observation that inspired the project is that most of these tasks can be viewed as graph problems, where the nodes are the assets (HTML, CSS, images, JavaScript...) and the edges are the relations between them, e.g. anchor tags, image tags, favorite icons, css background-image properties and so on.
An AssetGraph object is a collection of assets (nodes) and the relations (edges) between them. It's a basic data model that allows you to populate, query, and manipulate the graph at a high level of abstraction. For instance, if you change the url of an asset, all relations pointing at it are automatically updated.
Additionally, each individual asset can be inspected and massaged using a relevant API: DOM for HTML (using jsdom, CSSOM for CSS (using NV's CSSOM module, and an abstract syntax tree for JavaScript (powered by UglifyJS' parser).
AssetGraph represents inline assets the same way as non-inline ones,
so eg. inline scripts, stylesheets, and images specified as
urls are also first-class nodes in the graph. This means that you
don't need to dig into the HTML of the containing asset to manipulate
them. An extreme example would be an Html asset with a conditional
comment with an inline stylesheet with an inline image, which are
modelled as 4 separate assets:

These are some of the supported assets and associated relation types:
<link rel="stylesheet|shortcut icon|alternate">,

background-image: url(...),
@import url(...),
behavior: url(...),
filter: AlphaImageLoader(src='...')
require and
define, CommonJS
INCLUDE syntax for specifying requirements, and homegrown
GETSTATICURL(...) and
GETTEXT(...) syntax for referencing external files
(same as for HTML)
Cache manifest
Entries in the
NETWORK and
FALLBACK sections
- Build an AssetGraph programmatically or load it from disk or a remote server via http.
- Find explicit dependencies between JavaScript and CSS and roll them
out as
<link rel='stylesheet'>tags in your HTML. For now require.js/AMD, the ExtJS 4 syntax and a homegrown
INCLUDEsyntax are supported, but the parsing phase can be adapted to almost any syntax. Support for more script loaders will be added on demand.
- Bundle and inline CSS and JavaScript.
- Create a cache manifest with references to all the assets your web app needs to be usable offline.
- Move all CSS, JavaScript, image assets etc. to a static dir and rename them to md5.extension so the web server can be configured to set a far-future Cache-Control.
- Help getting your static assets on a CDN by allowing you to easily rewrite all references to them.
- Use Graphviz to visualize your dependencies at any step.
- Using the separate assetgraph-sprite
transform: Optimize CSS background images by creating sprite
images. The spriting is guided by a set of custom CSS properties
with a
Make sure you have node.js and npm installed, then run:
$ npm install assetgraph
API documentation
A work in progress. Look here.
Querying the graph
AssetGraph supports a flexible syntax for finding assets and relations
in a populated graph using the
findAssets and
methods. Both methods take a query object as the first argument. Below
are some basic examples.
Get an array containing all assets in the graph:
var allAssets = assetGraph;
Find assets by type:
var htmlAssets = assetGraph;
Find assets by matching a regular expression against the url:
var localImageAssets = assetGraph;
Find assets by predicate function:
var orphanedJavaScriptAssets = assetGraph;
Find all HtmlScript (


text:
SANTIAGO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Chile's state-run copper company Codelco has signed a new collective contract with the professionals' union at its Radomiro Tomic mine, the company said on Thursday.
The agreement, which will last 35 months, includes no salary adjustment, but does give workers a one-time bonus of 6.35 million pesos ($10,140).
"With 86 percent approval, the union voted for the agreements reached in the negotiation process," the firm said in a statement.
A long strike at BHP Billiton's massive Escondida copper mine in Chile earlier this year raised widespread fears that the then-struggling copper companies operating in the nation would face difficulties reaching wage agreements with workers. But copper prices have risen significantly in recent months, which appears to have made negotiations easier in the world's top copper exporter.
Radomiro Tomic produced 318,000 tonnes of copper in 2016.
$1=626.12 pesos Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Phil Berlowitz


text:
Regular expressions are a pain. Jan Goyvaerts' RegEx Reference helps.
In a related tip, the following will eliminate any non-numeric components in a string: ereg_replace("[^0-9]", "", $string) . I guess I'll have to admit that I'd not used the exclusion operator before (the carrot immediately following a square bracket). Now I know.
tags: ereg_replace, exclusion operator, php, regex, regex reference, regular expressions


text:
17, 09, 2014
Naeem Khan
Sophie Theallet
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Name *
Email *
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email
Email Address


text:
Stylish gift bags for low unit prices
We have a wide range of small gift bags and large gift bags at low unit prices. Our selection includes paper bags, cellophane bags, foil bags and organza bags (sheer fabric bags). The bags are available in a range of different colours, patterns and prints with either self-adhesive, drawstring or tape closures.
Our gift bags are made from solid and hard-wearing materials with a high tensile strength, so the present is protected in the best way possible. The bags are quick to pack and easy to close using the closing mechanism they are fitted with, making them a form of packaging that can save you time, and thus costs, in your store. Use them for customers, employees, business partners, a wedding or giveaways.
A gift bag for every purpose
We sell gift bags for all festive periods (Christmas, Easter, New Year, etc.) seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn), occasions (birthdays, christenings, weddings, etc.) and ages (children and adults). For this reason, we have both traditional gift bags in solid colours and gift bags with colourful prints and motifs in lots of different sizes. You can also browse our range of small jewellery bags.
If you are unsure which gift bag is the perfect one for your products, you are more than welcome to contact us. Our consultants have a lot of experience in finding a gift bag that is not just the right size, but which also has the perfect style and look for your company. We will ensure you get beautiful, personalised packaging that leaves a lasting impression.
Gift bags with print
We can design and produce gift bags in many other sizes, shapes and colours than those you can find in our standard range. We can also produce gift bags printed with your logo, so that you can market your company to your customers. So, if you have something specific in mind for your gift bags, you are more than welcome to contact us to find out more about your options. You can also request a no-obligation quote here.
NOTE: You have ordered an item that is not in stock, which may result in a longer delivery time.


text:
$289.99 $246.49
A more modern approach to the classic American heritage penny hand hooked rug, the circles revisited collection incorporates hues of pink, mauve and pastel colors with diamond medallions.
38" x 60"
Temporarily out of stock, but with this order, we have reserved this product for you! As the rugs come in, we will notify you. Please be aware, some rugs may take 8 - 10 weeks for production. We do our best to get them made quickly, and your wait time may be less. Thank you!


text:
Renew Your ACerS Membership Today
It's that time of year again. Renew your ACerS membership today and continue to access essential knowledge in the ceramic materials industry and to network with a community of well-respected, innovative ceramic materials pioneers. Review your exclusive benefits of membership that helps you generate new ideas, save time and save money.
ACerS serves the informational, educational, and professional needs of the global ceramics community. The members comprise a wide variety of individuals and interest groups including engineers, scientists, researchers, manufacturers, plant personnel, educators, students, marketing and sales professionals, and others in related materials disciplines. Renew your membership today!


text:
I first met Everett Watford a few years ago.
There used to be a comic store here in Chicago called The Comic Vault and that's where I first met Everett. My first thought upon meeting him was that this kid was a character. He had that tall and lanky awkwardness that only teenage life could provide. He was baby-faced and friendly, but mostly one of the definite things about Everett is that he knew comics.
For as young as he was, he had a crazy amount of knowledge when it came to comics. Whether it to be other creators, characters or story-lines, he knew a ton. He was helpful, and at times almost too helpful, but it was always great to see someone as young as him so passionate about something.
Working at The Comic Vault he was obviously too young to work for a paycheck, so he was paid in store credit and it didn't matter because Everett would probably spend all his money on comics anyways.
More and more as I got involved into the comic community, creating comics myself, I did more events and showed up to more comic shows and signings. Everett was at all of these events. It was very rare that he didn't show up at something, even the smallest gatherings.
All of the local Chicago creators, some doing small press work and others doing major industry work (Marvel, DC, Image Comics) knew Everett quite well. Ask any of them and they probably have a great story about him.
As I got to know Everett the past couple of years, he began talking about throwing his own comic book convention, inspired from another local "Decapitated" Dan Royer who started his own convention Dan Con. He talked and talked and talked about it and lot of people doubted it would ever happen. As ambitious as Everett was, some thought he was maybe too ambitious, and that the show would never happen.
Upon looking around and figuring out his options as far as financing the show himself, Everett took his cause to the mega popular crowd sourcing site Kickstarter, in which he made over a thousand dollars in support of the show from people all the country.
I think once that happened, a lot of more people took Everett seriously and creators booked tables to sell their comics at the show. News spread here and there about the show, some major comic news sites got wind of it and posted stories about it and that helped a bit.
This past weekend marked for the first-ever VertCon. Attendance was fairly small and even for the lack of air conditioning on a hot summer day, those who did show up bought a lot of comics and supported local creators and the community.
That word: community. That's what's amazing about the comic book scene, we support our friends and colleagues and encourage each other and keep each other on our toes.
Seeing VertCon become a reality and seeing people showing up for it is one of the best examples of the love we share for what we do. We weren't there to make a bunch of money or advance our careers or try and pitch books to companies. We were there to support our friend Everett and to support our community.
Everett loves what he does, and it shows. He has love and ambition and drive for all things comics and that's why we support him. We're lucky to have him. Keep your eye on this kid. Big things are going to happen to him. Just you wait.


text: Carry the Load National was conducting a 1700-mile relay from West Point, N.Y. to Dallas, Texas. The relay started on May 1 and arrived in Dallas at 3:48pm on May 27 just as the 2012 Carry the Load Dallas event begins. The relay is broken into 350 5-mile segments. The mission at Carry the Load is to highlight the meaning of Memorial Day across America ultimately driving attention and steering resources to existing nonprofit organizations already supporting surviving families, veteran families, and veteran organizations. Members of the Company C 39th Brigade Support Battalion out of Lonoke participated in the event. They are Sgt. 1st class Cody Wright of Cabot, Sgt. Jordan Counce of Marked Tree and Cadet Mark Staples of Conway. The Charlie Company Solders completed the segment from Carlisle to Lonoke. (Submitted photo)


text:
Robert Enriquez
SSFF WEST Festival Director
Florida native Robert Enriquez serves as Producer/Owner of Red Baron Picture Corp. Before leaving his home state of Florida Robert was instrumental in developing Projects with Peter Tors of Tors Family Entertainment. (Flipper, New adventures of Flipper, Creatures of the Night, Looking for Trouble). Working in development Robert started in LA under Liz Selzer-Lang and Robert Greenwaid at Robert Greenwald Productions (Steal this Movie, Xanadu, A woman of Independent Means). Under the RED BARON PICTURE CORP. Shingle Robert has completed Feature length films. Like underground classics, DANNY PELVIC & THE THRUSTERS (Audience Award winner South Beach Film Festival) and THE GRIND to the Lions Gate Release of Knock Knock 2. As a Co-producer Robert and Barbara Seymour produced the filmed segment of HBOs THE FREAK -The Lequizamo LegacyFor which John Leguizamo won an Emmy for best comedic performance. As Director Roberts Short Film CASH FOR GOLD has been accepted to several Academy Qualifying Film festivals. It is currently a semi-finalist for the NBC/Universal Shorts Fest. While continuing to produce and Direct Robert has simultaneously been able to run RED BARON MANAGEMENT which has offices in ATL and LA. Representing Writers, Directors, and Talent for Motion Pictures, TV and commercials. RBM clients have worked on projects from all major studios and networks. (The Equalizer, 22 Jump Street, The Social Network, National Treasure, LOST, Greek, Etc, etc, etc) Robert is Currently working with Tony Armer of the Sunscreen Film Festival as its West Coast director and will be celebrating its 3rd year in Los Angeles in 2015. Regarding philanthropic endeavors Robert is the Director Of Marketing and PR for the Association for the Recovery of Children.
Tony Armer
Tony Armer is the Film Commissioner for St. Petersburg Clearwater (Pinellas County) FL. He is the Founder and Former Executive Director of the internationally acclaimed Sunscreen Film Festival. He is also an Award Winning Filmmaker, and has been Producing Film, TV, corporate and digital media content since 1997. The Sunscreen Film Festival held annually in St. Petersburg, FL each Spring and in Los Angeles, CA each fall. The fest was founded in 2005. It was voted one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the Country by Movie Maker Magazine in 2009 and the Best Film Festival in the Tampa Bay area by Tampa Bay Magazine for 2012 and is one of only 23 fests in the country to be sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars) for 2013-2014.
Tony studied communications at the University of Toledo, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Business Management from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL and is finishing an MFA in Motion Pictures and Television from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. He is also currently an adjunct professor at the Art Institute of Tampa and the University of Tampa.
Blair Skinner
SSFF/West Programming Director
Blair Skinner has newly become a Coordinating Producer on the Golden Globe Winning Amazon series Transparent. She just completed production on the FX series The Comedians, in which she was Clearance Coordinator and Asst to Producer Victor Hsu. She spends her free time directing and producing independent projects like her recent short film Eleanora: The Forgotten Princess. You can find more about the project here: theforgottenprincess.com.
Julie Nunis
Executive Director of Community Development
Mrs. Nunis received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Texas at Austin. She continued her studies at The Actors Center in New York, concentrating on Shakespeare, Clown, Voice and Movement. She wrote and performed The Bookies Daughter for web series pioneer producer, Sandy Kayes ONLINEVOICE.COM. Her Associate Producer credits include the indie film, FLAMINGO DREAMS starring Terry Kiser, Richard Moll and Dee Wallace Stone; and a short film called A TANGO FOR JOE, which was the Audience Choice winner of Christopher Coppolas Project Access Hollywood. Her Television and Film career so far has included acting roles giving her the chance to work with directors like Ivan Reitman (JUNIOR) and Lawrence Kasdan (MUMFORD); Television credits include a recurring role on the Lifetime series, STRONG MEDICINE, NYPD Blue, Melrose Place, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a comedic turn in the indie short film THE BLOOD OF THE CROSS, directed by Todd Lubitsch, winner of the Audience Choice Award at the New York Shorts Fest.
As assistant to Broadway Producer, Joan Stein, Mrs. Nunis assisted on Steve Martins PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE (NY, San Francisco & Chicago productions,) RUTHLESS! AIDS Benefit with Bernadette Peters, and Andrea Martins NUDE, NUDE, TOTALLY NUDE among others. A former member of West Coast Ensemble, she learned the ropes of 99-seat theatre in Los Angeles, Co-Producing Ira Levins DEATHTRAP, and Terrence McNallys THE LISBON TRAVIATA as well as garnering the lead role in the controversial play, THE SHROUD by Michael Kassin. Directing credits include A.R. Gurneys Pulitzer Prize nominated play, Love Letters, (in which she cast local celebrities and business owners in Hermosa Beach with all proceeds going to the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation) and her passion for directing original plays was realized when she received the opportunity to direct Cellphone Funeral, by John Trapper and The Ten Year Plan, by Geraldine Athas.
She lives in Hermosa Beach, California with her husband and two daughters.
Ty Leisher
Executive Director of The Bijou Screening Series
Ty Leisher is a writer and director from Los Angeles. He grew up in the shadow of Hollywood and was addicted to telling stories with moving pictures from a very young age. He has had the honor of directing such talented actors and musicians as MTVs Faking It star Michael J Willett, Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, The Voices Erick Macek, Dexter star Dave Baez and Poker Pro Ali Eslami. His 2012 web series, Bullets was heralded as Better than Rounders by Bluff Magazine. Ty was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2015 Sundance Episodic Story Lab for his drama pilot, The Line. Ty is a writer and director of dark crime dramas, sickening thrillers and action comedies.
Dave Deborde
Education Director
Dave DeBorde is an active filmmaker, professor of Cinematic Arts and overall content creator who is involved in a variety of Film and TV projects. One of his more recent efforts is the feature film romantic-dramedy, Old Fashioned, which broke a box office record in its 1st weekend and enjoyed a nation-wide theatrical release. DeBorde is involved in the development of multiple TV shows and recently completed an entire season as showrunner for the new reality series, Soccer Moms. DeBorde is cultivating multiple film projects including, Matryoshka, a Rom-Com slated to be shot in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, 2017. Another interesting project is the historical biopic on Eliezer Ben-Yehuda the controversial "Father of Modern Hebrew," as well as an additional Romantic Comedy, which is a much sought after Latino cross-over for a major studio. Dave lives in Nashville with his Rockstar English professor wife, Alisa, and their 4 hyper creative kids!
Michael Hixon
Advisory Board Member
Since 1996, Michael Hixon has held several positions at The Beach Reporter including entertainment, business and sports editor. He has freelanced for various magazines, newspapers and websites around the country, writing features about the entertainment industry, from Hollywood to Comic-Con International. He is also a contributor to the internet radio station healthylife.net, where he talks about South Bay entertainment. He has a bachelor's degree in newspaper journalism, with a minor in creative writing, from California State University, Long Beach.


text:
Bike Servicing and Repair Price List
Bicycle Servicing
With all of our service charges, any new parts required will be additional in cost. We will give an estimate upon our initial inspection of the bicycle.
Please call us to book your bike in to our workshop. In peak season please expect around a 1 1/2 to a 2 week wait for servicing.
Full Service – £108
Bike stripped back down to the frame and rebuilt, new parts fitted where required
Standard Service – £48
Complete bike check over, any worn out parts replaced, headset/bottom bracket/wheels/brakes/gears/transmission components
Race Check – £25
(Full check/set up of the gears + brakes)
Brake Bleeding – £20
Per brake, including fluid
Repair and fitting
If there is a job not listed that you wish to inquire about, please give us a call on 01902 428407.
Our minimum workshop charge is £5, and prices listed here are only a guide and subject to change.


text:
Past Beckons For Boston Crusaders
On Saturday, June 22, the Crusaders took the field in Akron, Ohio wearing something other than the widely recognized red and black uniforms for the first time in over 50 years.
When the design team discussed the concept of the 2013 production RISE, the color palette was a prime topic. As the meetings continued, the idea of changing the corps uniform to reflect the drab, dystopic atmosphere at the beginning of the show was floated to the team. But how could the corps change such an iconic uniform? The design team went back to the annals of Crusader history to the late 1950s.
Read the rest of the article here.
Posted by News Editor on Friday, July 5th, 2013. Filed under Current News, DCI World.


text:
Does Silk Make You Feel Cold
Saturday, 20 May 2017
No. In fact, silk can keep us warm and cozy although it can feel cool to the touch. Silk can be both warm and cozy or it can cool us down because it can regulate body temperature. For example, silk pajamas will keep you warmer than flannel in the winter. Since silk can retain warmth,
- Published in Silk Properties & Benefits


text:
Wishing Continuum(55er)
Even tide under moonlight, the car wheels on the asphalt passing by the street signs.
She leans on and kisses him, her eyes glistening when he kisses back.
She whispers, "Wish I could freeze this moment forever".
Luminance strengthens, blaring sounds of horn increases and the car comes to a clamoring halt.
Under the truck.


text:
How about Levi Field, Levi Stadium or Levi Strauss Park? Pure speculation, but those are among the Internet domain names the San Francisco jeans maker registered recently. That suggests it's interested in getting into the stadium-naming-rights business.
Levi Strauss isn't saying. "As a part of routine business, we proactively protect our brands and company for future opportunities," said spokeswoman Kris Marubio. "In a modern digital world, this involves proactively managing your online presence, and as such, we've registered several domain names."
It would be a nice fit. Levi Strauss, founded in San Francisco in 1853, a global brand, and still here. Forty-Niners, Gold Rush, prospectors' blue denims sewn by you-know-who. And with $4.6 billion revenue in 2012, the company can probably afford what is certain to be a steep price for the naming rights.
The 49ers aren't saying much either, except that "naming rights for the new stadium has generated significant interest in the marketplace," according to team spokesman Bob Lange. "It is very exciting to be investigating the various opportunities that have been presented."
Which means Levi Strauss, assuming it's in the hunt, would have well-heeled opponents, especially from Silicon Valley. Maybe Apple? ($137 billion cash pile; the trademark Levi's 501s worn at new product rollouts by the late Steve Jobs.) Hewlett-Packard is a 49ers "presenting sponsor," while the venue named Oracle Arena currently hosts the Golden State Warriors.
"It wouldn't be a surprise if a tech company makes a play," said Darren Heitner, a Florida sports attorney. He cited Qualcomm Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers. It cost the eponymous Southern California telecom chip maker $18 million for naming rights to what used to be Jack Murphy Stadium.
Whoever gets to name the 49ers' new stadium will be coughing up considerably more than the $4 million 3Com paid in 1995 to rename Candlestick Park, or the $6 million Monster Cable paid to call it Monster Park in 2004. Perhaps not as much, though, as the $450 million MetLife paid in 2011 to plaster the insurance company's name on the former Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey for 25 years.
"It will be on the high end – multimillions a year," said Heitner, who teaches sports management at Indiana University in Bloomington. "The 49ers are one of those teams that can capitalize on projected future success."
The San Francisco Giants – dare we say the most successful team in U.S. sports these days – are currently locked into a $50 million, 24-year contract with AT&T. The phone company inherited the naming rights from Pacific Bell (remember Pac Bell Park?) before the San Francisco company merged with SBC, both subsequently absorbed by AT&T.
Internet retailer Overstock.com acquired the naming rights to what was the Oakland Coliseum in 2011 in a six-year, $43 million deal. It was part of a rebranding effort by the Salt Lake City company that appears not to have worked out so well. Advertising Age listed the O.co switch among the biggest "marketing muck-ups" of the year, and you'd be hard-pressed to find A's or Raiders fans who refer to their home ground as anything but "the Coliseum."
Interesting to remember that the A's, whose impending move and/or sale has been much bruited, were owned during much of their glory years by Levi Strauss' president, the late, beloved Walter Haas. Given Overstock.com's understandable unhappiness with their deal, some have speculated that Levi Strauss' sports-related dot-com and dot-net acquisitions have the A's mostly in mind.
Or, maybe the Warriors, should they move to the San Francisco waterfront, little more than a stone's throw from Levi's Plaza.
"Levi Strauss purchasing intellectual property is a smart thing to do. It's a sign of things to come," Heitner said.
Andrew S. Ross is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Blog: www.sfgate.com/blogs/bottomline Facebook: sfg.ly/doACKM Twitter: @andrewsross


text:
Murphy's big game shoots Manchester past Marietta in Mideast Regional
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Bryce Murphy's 3.2 inning of scoreless relief helped top-seeded Manchester fend off second-seeded Maritta 10-5 in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional.
With the Pioneers (31-13) threatening in the sixth with two on and one out, coach Rick Espeset turned to Murphy. He didn't allow a run, struck out two batters and surrendered just two hits for his 12th save.
Murphy was also part of a strong offensive effort for the Spartans. Manchester opened the game with three hits and a quick run scored. It tacked on five in the top of the third for a 6-0 advantage. Marietta chipped away, scoring twice in the fourth and fifth innings. Manchester responded with one in the seventh and two in the eighth for their 10-run total.
"The quick start was obviously important for us," Espeset said. "It gave us confidence. We knew coming in we were playing one of the historic programs in DIII, so we had to take advantage of our opportunities."
Murphy had three doubles in a four-hit, three runs scored performance. Fellow senior Corey Marchant had two key doubles and drove in four runs. Sophomore second baseman Trevor Kimm also came up big at the plate with three hits, including a two-run double in the eighth that plated two insurance runs. Sophomore designated player/outfielder Kyle Norris and senior outfielder Austin Rieke added two hits apiece.


text:
Mushroom risotto with thyme
If you like it, save it!
Save and organize all of the stuff you love in one place.Got it!
If you like something…
Click the heart, it's called favoriting. Favorite the stuff you like.Got it!
Author Notes: You should stir the risotto frequently. So it is very important to have all ingredients prepared when you start to cook the rice. Use the other ingredients in your recipe to make the broth. For example, if making a prawn risotto use the shells and heads for flavor. In this risotto I used Paris mushrooms, that are cheaper, to flavor the broth. —Paula | my common table
Serves: 4
grams Paris mushrooms, cut into quarters
cups vegetable broth
tablespoons olive oil
garlic cloves with skin, slightly crushed
grams mixture of crimini and shitake mushrooms, sliced (you can leave the smaller ones whole)
small onion, finely diced
fresh thyme stems, leaves separated
milliliters dry white wine
grams Carnaroli or Arborio rice
grams Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Place the Paris mushrooms and vegetable broth in a saucepan and let it boil for 15 minutes.
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan, on high heat. Add the garlic cloves and a small portion of crimini and shitake mushrooms and saute until golden. If you crowd the pan, the mushrooms will boil in their own liquid and won't turn golden. Repeat until there arent't any more mushrooms, adding a little more olive oil when necessary (I usually do it every two mushroom portions).
- Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan, add the chopped onion, the stems and thyme leaves and let cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent (don't let the onion get golden).
- Add the rice and let cook over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly (you'll notice that the rice becomes more opaque in color). Add the white wine and cook, stirring, until the rice absorbs it.
- Pour 2 ladles of broth through a sieve (to strain). Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice absorbs the broth. Repeat until the rice is cooked but al dente, i.e. the grain is already soft on the outside but still has a little resistance in the center. It will take about 30 minutes, but taste from time to time to check.
- Remove the stems of thyme and add the butter and the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir for 1 minute until slightly thickened and creamy.
- Serve immediately, with the sauteed mushrooms.
More Great Recipes:


text:
By Jim Chiswell
Conducting a feasibility study should be looked at as more than just determining the viability of a specific location or market area. It should also be viewed as a complete process of determining if you really want to be in the self-storage business, and if you are suited for it. The study should end up providing you with a road map to self-storage success or a warning telling you not to select that location.
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines feasibility as "1) capable of being done or carried out; 2) capable of being used or dealt with successfully: suitable; 3) reasonable, likely--synonym: see possible." When you consider this definition, it really captures the essence of doing a feasibility study for a self-storage site. Consideration needs to be given to whether you are capable of completing the project and carrying out all of the steps necessary to successfully develop a facility in today's competitive environment.
You must determine if the site is capable of being used for self-storage or if the obstacles standing in the way can be overcome successfully. And finally, ask the question: Is it likely that you will meet your investment objectives when the project is leased to a stable occupancy?
While some of you are reading this article, there are times that you might be thinking, "What is he talking about? All I need to know is if I can I build the project on this site; the rest of it will take care of itself." I used to think the same way, but I no longer think that is true. Yes, 15 or 20 years ago you may have been able to pick a "C"-grade location, build a project with no thought to design, traffic flow or security, and still get customers.
Today, you must not only look at every aspect of a location, but consider the general and specific market conditions, along with the demographic trends and traffic patterns. The details of the level of market occupancy, relative square-footage size, rental rates and the professionalism of the competition's operation must be reviewed. In addition, you need to look carefully at the potential of competition building on vacant land and converting existing buildings into self-storage business.
Also, something that I ask all of my clients to consider before they make the decision to move forward with a specific site is: What is your exit strategy? If you think about a plan to get out of the business before you get in, it will help you to make sound business judgements about the project you seek to develop. For example, if your goal is to simply flip the site after it has been rezoned for self-storage, you will have a different mindset than if you are building a project to be placed into a trust for your children to operate.
Let's Get Started
Enough introduction, let's get to the meat of conducting a feasibility study. Please keep in mind that you cannot do enough homework. This holds true whether you are a "Do-It-Yourself" person or if you plan to retain an industry professional to conduct the study with you. Notice I said "with" and not "for" you. Your involvement in the process is vital. Any consultant will welcome the opportunity to spend time with you, sharing his knowledge of the industry and involving you directly in conducting the study. Your need for information is critical to making an informed investment decision. Make sure that you ask a lot of questions.
If the self-storage bug has bitten you, get in your car and start driving. Armed with a camera, notepad, the current Yellow Pages and a big cup of coffee, start to find all of the self-storage properties in your marketplace. Chart them on your map and photograph them for future reference. I suggest that you visit each office personally. You can either explain that you are thinking about building a project in the community or be a mystery shopper. The choice is yours. Yes, I know that many owners out there are getting mad about the fact that you are wasting their manager's time, but most of them have forgotten that they did exactly the same thing when they were considering their first project.
Pay special attention to the manager's style and appearance of the office. Note the facility's office and gate hours. Are they charging a security deposit or administrative fee? How much are they? What is the curb appeal of the facility? If you are a man, think about your reaction to each facility from a women's point of view. What would be a woman's reaction? Does the office present an appealing retail appearance or is the only office window a single square of glass in the steel door guarding the entrance from imaginary intruders? If, as a man, you can see and think through the eyes of a potential female customer, your project will be better designed, the construction of your office will be more appealing and the security system you select will have your wife, daughter, mother or girlfriend in mind. Trust me, it really does work that way.
Look for vulnerabilities in the competition. You are looking for that market niche that can set you apart and for other areas of opportunity, such as the lack of available climate-controlled space. It is hard to quantify all of the factors that you should consider. After visiting hundreds of facilities across the United States as I have done over the past 14 years, I have developed a gut-level reaction, as well as a factual reaction, to certain things during a facility-shopping trip.
How Much Competition?
There are several ways to determine the estimated size of the competition. The first is to simply ask the manager. If you learn that a project has 400 units, you can estimate the size of a traditional single-story facility at between 36,000 and 46,000 square feet. I use a range of 90 to 115 square feet as an average unit size. This obviously varies from project to project. A converted building in an urban environment, for example, will usually have a much smaller unit size than a similar rural project.
If a project has no security fencing and gates, you can drive through the property and count the units, estimating the various building sizes and calculating the net-rentable area. If there are interior hallways, remember to deduct the common areas from your calculations. In some jurisdictions, you can also obtain the square footages from the building departments or tax-assessment records.
Back in your office, look at the distribution of the competition on your map. What are the "flying crow" distances from your proposed location and the actual drive-time distances. They are two totally different measurements. During your drive, make sure to pay special attention to natural and man made barriers that prevent a free flow of traffic. A river or interstate can create commuting obstacles that your potential customers will have to navigate. These barriers will usually have a negative impact on the effective population density in your real market area.
Remember to consider what streets your target-market population will use to get to your proposed location. Will they be driving by another new facility that just opened? For most people, self-storage is the same from facility to facility. How you design, build and manage the facility will differentiate you from the rest of the pack.
You need to know what the traffic counts are on the streets that will directly impact the facility. The state highway or city planning departments should have the latest road counts. Also, remember to ask about any upcoming highway projects in the area. There is nothing worse than finding out that the main road serving your market will be under construction for six to nine months after you open your doors.
Don't just consider the street where the facility is to be located. After years of doing feasibility studies and acquisition due-diligence assignments, I am no longer a purist on the minimum traffic counts that are needed to make a project successful. It is possible to be on a dead-end street and still beat the existing competition because of some unique location factors, such as facility visibility from an adjoining street or ease of customer access. It also may be that your dead-end site is in the middle of hundreds of apartments and condos with no competition within five miles. Each location is like a snowflake--no two are ever alike.
One question that can never be left to chance is, "What is going on in the immediate market area?" You need to look at the demographic trends taking place in the area. There are all kinds of "freebie" sources for general demographic information. The area chamber of commerce, real-estate brokerage firms, local newspapers and the communities themselves will have some information. Do yourself a favor: You are about to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an investment; spend the money to purchase specific facts and figures for your location.
For a few hundred dollars you can have the exact data you need to consider. My personal favorite for this type of information is National Decision Systems. Its reports will provide you with all of the historic and trends information that you require. These demographic pages are also useful when approaching your banker. The report is an effective tool in explaining to the bank why self-storage can work on this particular site. It will help to show the lender that you have done your homework and know the market you intend to serve.
With the demographic information in hand, you can now perform the highly overrated "square footage demand calculation." For years, people have made their building decisions based almost solely on the following mathematical formula: Take the population figures for the three- or five-mile radius of the proposed location (corrected for any negative natural barrier impact) and multiply that number by the magical self-storage demand factor. I am currently using 3.5, or 4 square feet per capita in most markets. Some consultants are more comfortable using 1.5 to 2 square feet, while some others are using 4 to 5. The resulting answer gives you a range of anticipated square footage demand.
My tongue-in-cheek explanation of these calculations is because I'm not sure anymore if they really work or if they ever worked. In places like Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta and many other metropolitan areas, the upper limit of this magical demand index figure of so-many-square-feet per person, is constantly being tested. There are so many factors that impact market demand. The ratio of owners to renters in the housing-stock figures, the turnover ratio of people moving into and out of housing units annually and the economic growth in the market will all play a role in determining demand. The number of small businesses and home-based entrepreneurs can impact demand, as can homes without basements, attics and garages. A significant number of military families or students can also affect the demand curve for rental space.
Yes, you need to look at the square-footage demand figures, but they alone do not predict future success. I have seen facilities developed with positive demand factors, only to see the project never reach its full potential because of poor site design coupled with poor property management. Don't be misled into building or not building a project because of this calculation.
How Is It Zoned?
You've mapped your competition. You know the relative levels of unit occupancy and the rental rates other people are charging. You've looked at the traffic counts. But do you know if your site is capable of being used for self-storage? Many of the people that I have talked to over the years say to me "no problem--the owner or the realtor told me that the site is OK to build on." This is the biggest red flag ever. Do not ever take someone else's word on the issue of site suitability when it comes to property zoning. You have to find out for yourself.
Yes, I know that means another trip to the municipal building or city hall. And it may mean dealing with staff people who really don't care what you want to build, but it cannot be avoided. You have to get the facts about the location from the horse's mouth.
Not only if the zoning is OK, but you also need to discover what the attitude is of the local building and code officials concerning the development of another one of "those things" in the community. Find out if there are any potential wetlands problems. Ask the staff for suggestions for a good local engineer. You'll quickly discover that in many communities there are only one or two engineering firms that do the bulk of the work in the city. Don't try to bring in some high-powered, out-of-the-area engineering firm that doesn't know its way around the personalities and political land mines of your area.
A side benefit of your visit is that you can find out if there are other projects in the approval pipeline. It sure would be nice to know if that other piece of dirt you were looking at down the street has just been approved for an 80,000-square-foot project. Also, remember to find out about the sign ordinances. Signage is critical and you want the most you can get from the system.
You will also need to conduct a Phase 1 environmental assessment of the site. Many times you will eat this cost, but lenders will require it to even consider making a mortgage loan package. One point of negotiation with the seller may be that if you pay for the study, the results belong to you and could be made public. However, if the seller pays, the report belongs to him. In either case, eliminating any possible environmental concerns can produce peace of mind if you move forward to a purchase.
Can I Make a Profit?
Let's recap: You have looked at your competition. You've considered the demographic trends. You have done the magical-demand index calculations and the municipal officials have given you the green light on the site's suitability. So what's left? How about finding out if you can actually make a profit building the project. Let me give you the following assumptions in connection with our proposed facility: We are going to build a single-story, 60,000-square-foot net rentable project, which will include 26,500 square feet of climate-controlled space. Approximately 44 percent of the total square footage is in climate-controlled space. There will be 530 units with an average unit size of 113.21 square feet and our average rental rate will be $10.35 per square foot annually.
Operations will generate miscellaneous income of 2 percent of the monthly gross-rental income in late fees, lock sales and the sales of moving-and-storage supplies. In some cases, this extra income will be much higher, but let's use a conservative 2 percent. We will be charging our new tenants a $10 administrative fee at lease inception. Our operational expense load will be $3 per square foot. This will allow us to cover a seven-day-a-week operation in a high property-tax community. Expenses typically run in the 30 percent to 45 percent of total rental income range.
We will have both a 500-square-foot office and a 900-square-foot apartment. The debate about having or not having an apartment on site is an entirely different story. I've assumed a lease-up rate of a net 5 percent per month. Therefore, our project will reach 85 percent occupancy in 17 months. No inflation is projected for the expenses or income for our calculations. (This is obviously not the real world, but it helps in making the example easier to understand.)
Estimated construction costs--including land and working capital--will be $30.43 per square foot. Please keep in mind this is just an example. I can guarantee that your experience will vary--higher or lower--from these examples, depending on your local market conditions, type of construction and site requirements.
Based on the factors above, the project would produce net income (before corporate taxes and any debt service) of $358,086 at the end of year three. This is considered a mature property with a stabilized occupancy of 85 percent. If you had invested all cash into this transaction, you would earn a 16.5 percent cash-on-cash return at the end of the third year. Depending on the amount of money you borrow, fixed operational expenses and your debt level, you will probably be kept in a negative cash position for maybe a year or longer. An internal rate of return can also be calculated from this information for the real math wizards.
At a 10 percent capitalization rate, the project would have a market value of $3,580,860. If the project were sold at the end of the third year, it would produce a gain of $1,754,860 over the original investment. OK, so this is why you want to build a self-storage facility? Now is the time for you to make the value judgment of the risk vs. reward in making the final investment decision.
The painful reality is that many projects will not achieve these results. I have been at many facilities that never have achieved above a 60 percent occupancy. The project, simply, should never have been built. The owner--the one before the bank foreclosed on it--did not do his homework. He got caught up in the allure of the potential rates of return and positive cash flow. He loved the fact that the number of employees necessary to produce that level of income is one of the lowest of any retail business in America. He was not objective in the consideration of the facts. This is especially true when the person already owned the land. He lost sight of all the other negative factors from the feasibility study that should have told him not to build.
It is for that reason that I urge you to do the income and expense calculations last. Make sure the market is not saturated and that it is really practical to buy the site, even if the land is properly zoned. Make sure you really want to be in this business. It is not as easy as it looks. Yes, it can be a great business and hundreds of entrepreneurs, just like you, are enjoying success in our industry every day.
Despite some of the prophets that preach of industry consolidation doom and gloom, there is still time to enter the industry. Not all of the good sites have been taken. Not all of the growth has gone out of the industry. However, it will require more attention to the feasibility study details, more attention to the subtleties of the industry and to how you operate the facility once it is built to ensure success.
Jim Chiswell is the president of Chiswell & Associates of Williamsville, N.Y. Since 1990, his firm has provided feasibility studies, acquisition due diligence, professional witness services and customized manager training for the self-storage industry. In addition to contributing regularly to Inside Self-Storage, he is a frequent speaker at Inside Self-Storage Expos. Mr. Chiswell can be reached at (716) 634-2428 or via e-mail: [email protected].


text:
Build Guide by Bad_4b@eR
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
Thank You!
Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Akali Build
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
this guide is for Akali: The Fist of Shadow
you need many AP and AD in your runes because of her passives.
With these runes you have your two passives from the beginnig what gives you a greate bonus.
When you notice that the beginning runs very good for you, i would buy Mejai´s Soulstealer instead of Hextech Revolver.
Akali is a greate assassin because of her ultimate SHADOW DANCE.
With this spell you can kill everyone who runs away (with ghost, Zilean spell or something else), because you can jump to your target every second.
TWILIGHT SHROUD is a very nice spell to escape, cuz you can go invisible and run away in evera direction.
I hope this guide will help you to play with Aklai


text: Greatness now has a home. CBS has nabbed the ensemble comedy "On the Verge of Greatness" from scribe Tom Gormican and 20th Century Fox TV and 3 Arts.The single-camera project revolves around a group of twentysomething friends. Gormican is writing and will exec produce with Jake Kasdan, who is attached to direct should the project go to pilot. Howard Klein and Oly Obst of 3 Arts are also exec producing. Gormican's pitch piqued the interest of CBS, NBC and ABC. The Eye ponied up a script commitment with a penalty to seal the deal. Gormican has come on strong in his first major stab at TV development. He's also fielding a handful of feature scripts and is a co-producer on Relativity's upcoming Farrelly brothers feature set to bow in April. He's repped by WME and 3 Arts.


text:
Just look at the calendar given below. What a coincident it is. Both the calendars are same. You are agree or not but just look out the new year calendar 2014. Both are same. 1st January 2014 starts from Wednesday and 31st December 2014 ends on the same day Wednesday.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Related Post
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)