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During my visit of the openSUSE Conference 2013 in Thessaloniki, I did a talk about game development with javascript.
Watch the interactive presentation.
During my visit of the openSUSE Conference 2013 in Thessaloniki, I did a talk about game development with javascript.
Watch the interactive presentation.
Hackweek 9 is coming! Check out the nice page we created for that:
During my christmas break I finally found some time to release a project that I started during Hackweek earlier this year:
Geeko Run – A jump and run game framework built completely in javascript and CSS. My work is released under the terms of Creative Commons 3.0, that means it's open source and you are free to use and modify it.
Give it a try:
As you can see, I could need some help with improving the graphics 🙂 So if you would like to help, please contact me or send a pull request on github!
Features of the game:
During the last weeks, we have been busy working on integration of the appstream project into openSUSE tools. Appstream is a cross-desktop initiative that provides APIs and concepts for building a Linux App-Store. We are extending the Ubuntu Software Center to be useable for other Linux distributions, working on Apper to support the additional metadata and enhance our software page with appstream data.
The first step for the webinterface was to rework the search functionality and presentation of applications:
The next step will be the creation of an App-Store containing the applications of the latest release with browsing by category, ratings and comments.
A preview of the app browser is already available here. Please tell us what you think about the new package search and the overall appstream project! Join us on #opensuse-project on freenode, or on email@example.com.
Dropbox is an absolutely great tool to share your data between different computers and mobile devices. Your data is stored in the cloud from where you can publish files and photo albums and work collaboratively on documents. It works very smoothly, has a great performance, and provides client apps for Linux, Windows, Mac, iOs, Android etc., offering 2GB space for free.
That sounds perfect, where's the catch?
You are giving your private data to a U.S. based commercial company, which recently had a credibility issue, some security problems, awkward terms of service changes, and the fact that the government can get access to your data.
ownCloud to the rescue!
This is where ownCloud might be your choice. It is an open source webdav server that can be deployed on your own webspace. It does not yet have all the features and smoothness of Dropbox but it's catching up. The recently released version 3 comes with file-sharing, contacts and calendar syncing, and an online music player.
Installing it is quite easy: Just drop the uncompressed tarball to a standard webspace which provides php. After that you can configure the setup in a browser and are ready to go. This is how you can mount your owncloud directory on a linux workstation:
wdfs http://<your owncloud host>/files/webdav.php /mnt
The package wdfs is included in the openSUSE standard repositories. wdfs can be used as normal user, no root privileges and changing of /etc/fstab is needed. After you have mounted your ownCloud to the system it can be used just like a local filesystem.
Klaas wrote a nice summary of our hackweek's work on ownCloud:
Berlin is a great location for the Linuxtag, it's always nice to come there. Just have a look at the photo: The boosters are getting hip! Nearly the complete boosters team was there to meet, be available at our booth for questions and take part at the talks. With over 10.000 attendees it's the biggest event of this kind, and you can be sure to always meet some well known faces of the openSUSE community there.
On the technical side, there were some interesting talks about virtualization, cross-distribution, kernel and the usage of free software in business environments just to give a few examples.
At our booth, each day we had several workshops where some people came together and could get into specific topics with the help of openSUSE experts. We had sessions from packaging to build service setup, wiki editing and as special workshop we had a handcrafting session ("Bastelstunde") at 17:00 each day. On Wednesday we invited interested people to create their own openSUSE geeko graffiti stencil. We sprayed that one onto some bags, and created some interest while doing this 😉
Google's summer of code 2011 is approaching, and openSUSE.org got accepted as mentoring organization.
So now we are searching for students that would like to hack on one of our proposed projects from May 23rd – August 22nd (fulltime, 40h/week) being payed by Google (5000$ on success). Sounds like a fair deal, doesn't it? 😉
There are even some days left to propose a new project to hack on! In that case we would try to find a suitable mentor from our community to get you started.
There are quite some interesting project proposals on our gsoc2011 wiki page, reaching from build service projects to SUSE Studio tools and distribution specific tools, as well as cross-distribution efforts.
I would like to mentor a student in the OBS Mobile project which will create a nice interface to use the buildservice from your handheld. So if you are skilled in web technologies (jquery-mobile, rails) please apply and get the chance to hack this summer of code on this exciting project!
To get in contact with the openSUSE community please join channel #opensuse-project on freenode, or our project mailinglist at email@example.com and we will help you to get started.
After 8 months of work openSUSE 11.4 has been released last week!
This has been celebrated with release parties all around the world.
As usual, the new release comes with the latest kernel,
LibreOffice, Gnome and KDE packages.
In Nuremberg, we celebrated the release with a party at the Artefakt bar, and had the fabulous Ukulele Insanity playing live.
Althogh the release is considered a very good one by many press and user reviews, I had some small problems after upgrading to it and want to share with you how I solved those:
After suspending and waking up my notebook, the kde networkmanager always deactivated the network. From /var/log/NetworkManager:
NetworkManager[2960]: (wlan0): deactivating device (reason: 2).
NetworkManager[2960]: (wlan0): supplicant interface state: starting -> ready
NetworkManager[2960]: (wlan0): device state change: 2 -> 3 (reason 42)<>
I found out, that for KDE 4.5 or later it is recommended to switch from using KNetworkManager to using the Networkmanagement Plasmoid instead. This is done by:
zypper in plasmoid-networkmanagement and allowing the removal of NetworkManager-kde4
Crypto partitions:
I am using a crypted home partition since a long time, and this was configured in /etc/cryptotab and enabled during boot in /etc/init.d/boot.crypto until the upgrade.
With the recent release this changed to /etc/crypttab and gets enabled in /etc/init.d/boot.crypto-early. To convert it, I changed my old cryptotab entry:
/dev/loop /dev/sda6 /home/tom ext4 twofish256 noatime,acl,user_xattr
cr_sda6 /dev/sda6 none cipher=twofish-cbc-plain,size=256,hash=sha512
in /etc/crypttab and added to /etc/fstab:
/dev/mapper/cr_sda6 /home/tom ext4 noatime,acl,user_xattr
Beeping X:
I think it's highly annoying that X makes a load beep sound when killing it by ctrl+alt+delete. To turn this off, just add a file named /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-disable-beep.conf with this content:
Section "ServerFlags" Option "ZapWarning" "off" EndSection
Iscan – udev rules change
The package iscan (Image Scan) from epson uses a deprecated syntax for it's udev rules so that the
startup log gets spammed with lots of warnings. To fix it just run:
sudo sed -i -e "s:SYSFS:ATTRS:g" /etc/udev/rules.d/60_iscan.rules
Screen resolution:
Somehow it seems the screen of my T60p gets detected incorrectly:
xdpyinfo | grep resolution returns a resolution of 96×96 dots per inch, but for my taste everything gets rendered too small. So I helped myself by running:
xrandr --dpi 120 systemsettings - application appearance - fonts - force 120 dpi
on startup. Although I'm quite sure this is not the elegant way of solving this 😉
My Kde4 Snoopy comic plasmoid is broken since some days… Because the address of the daily comic strip changed. So what should I do? Fix it! 🙂
To repair it on your system, follow these steps in a console:
> cd ~/.kde4/share/apps/plasma/comics/ > unzip -u 92041-snoopy.comic -d snoopy > cd snoopy > wget -O contents/code/main.es http://tinyurl.com/snoopy-plasmoid > zip -r ../92041-snoopy.comic *
Restart your plasmoid and have fun 🙂
*Update 5.3.2011*
I contacted the author, and the comic is fixed now also when installing/updating
in the plasmoid settings.


text:
Lake Level
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Newsletter Signup
Big Lake. Big Fish. Big Fun!
Welcome to Toledo Bend Lake! Named the #1 Bass Lake in the Nation by Bassmaster Magazine two years in a row, Toledo Bend is the largest man-made lake in the Southern United States (185,000 acres) with the best fishing in Louisiana (and the country for that matter). So if you're a sportsman looking for a trophy fish or simply trying to plan a fun family getaway, look no further, Toledo Bend has it all! Chosen location for 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 & 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Product Groups
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The Mannheim-based Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), asks German financial experts every month for their opinions on current economic conditions and the economic outlook for Germany (as well as other major industrial economies). The responses are synthesised into two simple indices that provide a snapshot of how the economy is seen to be performing.
The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment is calculated from the results of the ZEW Financial Market Survey. The ZEW is followed closely as a precursor and predictor of the Ifo Sentiment Survey and as such is followed closely by market participants. The data are available the second week of the month for the preceding month. The survey provides a measure of analysts' view of current economic conditions as well as a gauge of expectations about the coming six months. The latter measure tends to have the larger market impact and reflects the difference between the share of analysts that are optimistic and the share of analysts that are pessimistic. About 350 financial experts take part in the survey.
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- Home
- Government
- City Departments
- Finance
- Budget Priorities
Budget Priorities
Every two years the City conducts a robust community-based effort to review its financial picture and the resources needed to fund key City services. This is done through an inclusive process known as Budgeting by Priorities. Through the City's "Your City Your Choice" campaign community members are invited to evaluate the kinds of programs citizens value most by choosing the top three programs under each of the six City priorities.
- Clean & Green
- Diverse & Connected Community
- Infrastructure
- Responsible Government
- Safety
- Vibrant Economy
Clean & Green
I want to live, learn, work, and play in a clean and green environment
Diverse & Connected Community
I want a sense of community and connection with others.
I want a well-maintained city whose transportation and other infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
Responsible Government
I want a city government that is responsible and responsive to its residents and businesses.
I want to be safe where I live, learn, work, and play.
Vibrant Economy
I want a diverse and vibrant range of businesses and services in Redmond.
Budgeting Process
Requests for Offers
Request for Offers are used as the basis for City departments to develop their budget offers detailing:
- How they propose to contribute to the priority
- How much it will cost
- How success will be measured
All Requests for Offers include an Outcomes Map as well as the Objectives and Outcomes against which the Results Teams rank the offers. The following links show the 2019-2020 Requests for Offers:
Diverse and Connected Community
Benchmark (see also Measure): A measure of results against which an organization compares itself. Typically, the benchmark is the level of results achieved in an organization using an accepted best practice, and other organizations seeking to emulate their results use them as a benchmark.
Benchmarking: The comparison of actual performance achieved against those achieved by an organization using an accepted best practice.
Budget: A composite of strategic decisions made by elected leaders for how to best use resources to achieve the priorities of its citizens.
Budget Instructions: A document provided to Departments as a guide for preparing Offers. The Instructions include how to handle administrative costs, or dedicated funds, how to use the offer template; or other specific instructions to assist the budget office in doing their job of compiling a budget.
Budgeting by Priorities: A process, for creating budgets that focus on achieving specific results with strategies that provide the highest value for the dollar.
Causal Factor: Something that contributes to a priority happening (or prevents it from happening). It should be based on evidence (research, experience, or sound logic). It does not need to be something that government in general - or the jurisdiction - is responsible for, or has control over. The causal factors are presented visually as a "cause and effect map" showing their connection to the priority.
Cause and Effect Map: A visual representation of the pathway to the priority. Using words or images, it helps viewers understand the cause-effect connection between activities, strategies, factors and the Priority. Backed by evidence, it quickly communicates what is known to work in accomplishing the priority. Cause and effect maps are included in Requests for Offers (RFOs).
Citizen Results Team: A group made up of community members to rank offers based on evidence of effectiveness and to recommend the market basket of offers the jurisdiction should buy.
Dashboard: A set of performance indicators describing how success will be measured for each priority.
Demand: The estimated level of need for a service, product, or activity.
Indicator (see also "Measure"): A measure, or a combination of measures, that allows the observer to know whether the priority is being achieved. Dashboard indicators are included in the Request for Offers for each priority.
Crime rate as an indicator of public safety
Average Trip Time as an indicator of mobility
Logic Model: A logic model is a graphical illustration of the theoretical connection between what you actually do (and what you can control) to the desired outcomes you propose to influence. A logic model helps identify relevant performance measures to track progress.
Mandate: A legal requirement that a jurisdiction provide a specific service, sometimes at a specific level.
Market Basket: A group of programs/offers that best meet the outcomes of the priority.
Measure: A numerical expression documenting the quality or quantity of a resource, process or product.
Input Measure: A measure of resources invested, used or spent to
deliver the services, products or activities.
# of dollars expended
# of TREs allocated
Performance Measure: A numerical expression documenting come
aspect of the output or outcomes of an activity, service, process or
program. All of the following are specific kinds of performance measures.
Outcome Measure (aka effectiveness measure): A measure of the
results of an activity in terms of its intended objective.
# of permits issued
# of applications processed
Output Measure: A number of services or products delivered.
# of permits issued
# of applications processed
Quality Measure: A measure of how well the service, product or
activity was delivered, based on characteristics important to the
% of permits processed within 10 days
% of invoices issued without errors
Efficiency Measure: The ratio of output measure to input measure,
generally used to assess the productivity associated with a given
service or activity.
# of permits issued per FTE
# of dollars spent to produce a contract
# of days to produce each permit
Cost-Effectiveness Measure: The ratio of outcome measure to input
% of reduction in teen smoking per $ spent in education
Program Performance Measure (aka Program Indicator): A
performance measure for a specific program.
% of 911 calls responded to within X minutes
% of inmates in GED program who complete their degree
% of residents who participate in a clock-watch program
Offer: A proposal by a Department in response to a Request for Offers indicating what they will do to produce the priority, how much it will cost, and how success will be measured.
Priority: A statement indicating what citizens want from their government. It is written in terms what citizens want or desire.
Purchasing Strategies: A set of actions chosen to achieve a priority. A strategy is based on an understanding of (or assumptions about) the cause- effect connection between specific actions and specific priorities. Strategic means choosing actions from among the options available that will have the greatest or most direct effect on a priority or multiple priorities. Strategies could include actions that the jurisdiction might take directly, as well as actions that the jurisdiction might take to influence the actions taken by others. Purchasing strategies are included in Requests for Offers.
Promote Redmond as a positive place to do business
Provide education and promotion of a green lifestyle
Results Team: A group designated by a jurisdiction to create Requests for Offers, to rank offers based on evidence of effectiveness and to recommend the market basket of offers the jurisdiction should buy.
Request for Offers: Produced by Results Teams for each priority; shows a Results Team's understanding of what is most likely to achieve a priority and how that would be measured; used as basis for departments to make offers. Requests for Offers include a description of the priority sought, the cause and effect map, dashboard indicators, and purchasing strategies.
Offer Ranking: Results Teams' ranking of offers according to best value for the dollar to achieve priorities without regard to mandates or dedicated funds.
Scalability: The process by which departments indicate how much of a result they can produce at various price levels. Sometimes contrasted with "thinning the soup" where reductions in funds are made but no change in service levels.
Strategic Plan: A long range (at least 3-5 years) statement of direction for an organization, which identifies vision, mission, goals and strategies, as well as measures which will show progress made in achieving goals.
Target (see also "Measure"): The desired level for a specific performance measure.
Vision Statement: An inspiring, challenging and meaningful statement that describes the future of the organization as seen through the eyes of the customers, stakeholders, employees, and citizens.


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Dave DiCenso is a Boston-area drummer whose musicality and versatility have garnered him a diverse list of playing credits. He also happens to be a highly-regarded and sought-after educator and has maintained a thriving practice throughout his playing career.
As a child, Dave could be found playing his dad's 60's Slingerlands along with his favorite 45's and albums in the basement of his parents' suburban home. By the age of four, he was asking his dad, Dick DiCenso - a renowned teacher in the Boston area for more than fifty years now - for drum lessons. After holding him off for a year his dad gave him his first lesson. As it turned out, however, Dave proved to be a less-than-ideal student, frequently opting to play along with his Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Kiss records instead of practicing his lessons. Despite his dad's expert tutelage and patience, Dave gave up on lessons after a few years and migrated toward another of his fascinations, guitar. Eventually of course, it came time to choose a career path and, well, we know which one he took...
With a desire to learn more about music and try to make a living at it, Dave reconnected with his father for a couple years' worth of lessons before going to New York City to study privately at the Drummer's Collective. At the Collective he had the privilege of working with more great teachers such as Kim Plainfield, Rod Morgenstein, Zach Danziger, Duduka Fonseca, Pete Zeldman, Frank Malabe, Ricky Sebastian, Bob Weiner, and Frank Katz. From there he went back home and took up with renowned teacher Gary Chaffee for the better part of a year. The rest of his education was "in the field", starting with his first GB gig at fifteen - to which his mom drove and retrieved him.
Since then Dave has worked with bands and artists ranging widely in genre - from hardcore to fusion, prog to r&b, jazz to pop. A partial listing of his credits includes Josh Groban, Steve Morse Band, Cro-Mags, Hiromi, Duran Duran, John Petrucci, Gary Cherone, Suze DeMarchi, Johnny A, Shelter, Two Ton Shoe, Aaron Katz Band, Jess Tardy, Jon Finn Group, Farrenheit, Ultra Blue, Bad Karma, and Mystery Jones. An interesting tidbit - and testament to his musical depth - is that Dave has performed at venues as disparate as the Kennedy Center and the Whisky A GoGo, and has shared stages with artists as dissimilar as Etta James and Slayer.
As mentioned, Dave is also an educator. In addition to being an Associate Professor of Percussion at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, he is an experienced clinician and has been a featured artist at major percussion industry events including the Modern Drummer Festival, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, N.A.M.M., Frankfurt MusikMesse, and the Montreal Drum Festival.
Recently, as well as touring with Josh Groban and teaching at Berklee, Dave has published his second drum set method book Rhythm and Drumming Demystified, which follows up the well-received Universal Rhythms for Drumset, published by Alfred. Also in the works is an online curriculum for which his books will be the basis.


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John Galliano
John Galliano is a groundbreaking fashion designer, acclaimed for his fusion of romantic historicism with extraordinary technical skills and progressive aesthetics. Born in 1960 in Gibraltar, Galliano came to fame through his graduate collection for Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design, 'Les Incroyables', in 1984, which announced the designer's signature strategy of reviving the past whilst heralding in the new. The collection was famously bought in its entirety by Joan Burstein, the owner of Browns boutique in London and displayed in its front windows: an unprecedented and prestigious endorsement. Galliano set up his own label in that year with the immensely successful 'Ludic Games' collection and he enjoyed consistent critical acclaim throughout the decade, championed in particular by fashion editor Anna Wintour, in spite of looming financial pressures.
These were assuaged in 1995, when he was invited to become the designer of ready-to-wear and haute couture Collections for Givenchy, becoming the first Brit to design for the label. This controversial appointment on the part of the LVMH luxury conglomerate that owns Givenchy was compounded when Galliano was appointed as the new designer of LVMH's flagship, traditional fashion brand Christian Dior in 1996, bringing modernity and vigour back to the iconic institution. John Galliano was chief designer of Christian Dior from 1996 until 2011.
Selected Awards
- Designer of the Year, 1997
- Designer of the Year, 1995
- Designer of the Year, 1994
- Designer of the Year, 1987
Photo: Paolo Roversi
- John Galliano features in a project.
- John Galliano creates a fashion film.
- John Galliano creates a fashion film.
- John Galliano creates an interview.


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Newport Beach, CA Banjo Lessons
Looking for private in-home or in-studio Banjo lessons? Our Newport Beach teachers are ready to get you started. Find your teacher today!
Our online tools make booking, managing your schedule and paying for lessons easy and hassle-free.
Easily search and compare teachers in your area, including past student reviews and background checks.
If you're not completely satisfied, we'll help you find a new teacher or refund any unused lesson credits.
Why TakeLessons?
Our teachers have taught
lessons and counting!
Popular Banjo Teachers near Newport Beach, CA
Check out some of our most popular teachers near Newport Beach, CA including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Irvine, Glendale and Burbank.
About Lynn K.Close
View Full Profile
Both Scruggs 3 finger Bluegrass & Frailing/Clawhammer styles are fun & challenging! No experience necessary!
About Lynn
Your relationship with music & your chosen instrument is unique &
will be lifelong. I look forward to sharing your
excitement as we pursue the path to comfort, confidence & the
eventual, inevitable joy you will achieve with your new friend.
*** Lesson Details ***
In a calm, easy going atmosphere you can expect to laugh a bit, as it is called 'playing music', as well as become focused & disciplined to succeed.
You will learn to have an understanding of how to read & play a minimum of 3 songs each month, & will be picking up enough music theory as it applies to your instrument each week to feel confident & inspired to continue on as far as you desire.
We will learn how to
For those wishing to join in the fun of playing bluegrass music, we will start out with technique exercises, scales, basic melodies & accompaniment patterns to prepare you to learn this unique & exciting style of American music. There are many gatherings in the area called 'Pickin' Parties' that I want to get you ready to participate in as soon as is humanly possible.
If you are one of those brave souls undertaking the lovely but challenging fretless instrument, the violin, my main focus is to get you started with the all the necessary basic techniques - holding the instrument & bow correctly, getting the best possible tone & pitch using efficiency & accuracy, mixed with a great deal of ear training & heart.
Specific songs you'd like to learn? Your reward for accomplishing what I deem necessary on whichever instrument you've chosen will be for us to then listen to & analyze your desired piece, & I will then write it out in either tablature or standard notation.
*** Studio Equipment ***
Lesson studio contains music stand, tuner, metronome, & there is easy parking in the well-lit front lot.
*** Travel Equipment ***
The student must have own instrument & be willing to purchase necessary tools as recommended at their first lesson for their instrument & playing level, such as music stand, tuner, pick, book, strap, etc. at a local music store or online.
*** Specialties ***
Bluegrass, Country, Country Rock, Contemporary Christian, Americana, Ragtime Blues Guitar, Fingerstyle, Flatpick, Accompaniment, Ear Training, Theory, Harmony
· Dulcimer · Online
· ·
· Banjo · In studio
Lynn K.
Lynn K.
About Edwin I.Close
View Full Profile
Earl Scruggs 3 finger style
Learning songs
Improvisation soloing
Proper technique
Music analysis
About Edwin
I am a professional teacher/studio musician/performer/producer with over 20 years of private teaching experience and a graduate of the University of Miami Studio Music and Jazz program in 2002 specializing in the guitar.
I am available to teach guitar(acoustic, electric, classical) for all levels, ages, and styles(pop to folk, rock to soul, world to classical) in English, Spanish and Japanese.
Other subjects taught include bass guitar, piano/keyboard, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, harmonium, classical percussion, music theory, composition(all styles from pop to classical), ear training, and studio production/engineering/mixing.
Born in Cali, Colombia on April 1979, I began my musical endeavors studying the piano at the age of 6. Early on I had the opportunit
During 1996-98 I studied jazz guitar at the New World School of the Arts music program under the direction of J.B. Dyas and Dr. Roby George. Upon graduation, I was immediately accepted to the University of Miami jazz guitar program under the direction of Randall Dollahan. It was during this time that I also refined my skills as a classical guitarist and as a composer/arranger. In addition, I began passing my knowledge onto friends and eventually began working as a teacher.
My ability to play almost any genre of music is the fruit of past experience playing with an impressive variety of music groups, including jazz combos, symphony orchestras, Andean world music ensembles, and several rock and pop groups as well. As a studio guitarist I have recorded for various artists including Jaci Velasquez, Carlos Ponce, Alexandre Pires, and Noelia.
*** Lesson Details ***
Now also available to teach online video chat lessons through Skype.
Every one of you is unique and there are many possible paths to reach your goals in music.
With my background and music industry experience, I am able to customize my lessons for you so that you can reach your desired goals. We will take some time to find out where your passion lies in music and I will use my experience and knowledge to create a customized lesson-plan that will allow us to focus on reaching your desired goals and at the same time maintain a well rounded music education.
I find this to be key in making the lessons and your practice sessions very enjoyable, fun and laid back - knowing that everything we practice, play and talk about is in line with your goals as a student.
I will also be playing along with you and demonstrating everything that we're working on - music is meant to be shared and played with others and it is important to have that experience of interaction from early on in your lessons.
So whether it's learning to accompany yourself or others, write songs, read music, understand harmony, solo, or just jam out to your favorite songs, you will be well on your way to reaching your goals within 6 months of my lessons.
Look forward to making music with you!
Want to learn a quick exercise for mastering the fretboard on your guitar? Check out my article on the TakeLessons blog here: http://takelessons.com/blog/guitar-fretboard-chart
*** Studio Equipment ***
Living room w/ grand piano and seating for parents.
Room/studio with professional recording equipment - Logic Pro X recording software, Mackie HR824 Studio Monitors, Miktech C4 Tube Microphone, UA6176 Preamp/compressor, Apogee Duet D/A converter.
*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide my instrument and teaching materials.
Students provide their instrument, music folders.
*** Specialties ***
All styles - pop, rock, classical, jazz, blues, folk, ethnic, latin, soul
· Mandolin · Online
· Ukulele · Online
· Acoustic Guitar · In studio
Edwin I.
Edwin I.
About Richard C.Close
View Full Profile
Lean how to play bluegrass banjo including melody and finger picking. Also "Clawhammer" techniques.
About Richard
*** Lesson Details ***
Students will experience an "original" lesson based on how they learn. Some students benefit most from a visual standpoint reading music or tab while others learn best by an auditory or hearing approach. We will explore what works best for you. Whether its blues, rock jazz o
*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars - Drums - Banjo - Amplifiers - Piano - Accordion - Ukes and other assorted instruments
*** Specialties ***
Depending on student interest, I teach numerous styles (Rock, Blues Jazz improvisation) by reading music or by ear. Some students are more visual while others are auditory learners. Whichever is best for the student.
· Ukulele · In studio
· Guitar · In studio
· Flamenco Guitar · In studio
Richard C.
Richard C.
About Glenn S.Close
View Full Profile
I teach 5 string banjo, and have students learning contemporary songs as well as traditional styles. Soloing and right hand techniques, scales and a variety of styles covered.
About Glenn
I earned a B.A. in Music Composition and an A.A. in music theory, and have worked as a professional musician since graduation. I play in a variety of bands that cover rock, jazz, surf, oldies, and country, and also write and arrange music for those bands as well as writing my own music that can be heard on my own YouTube channel.
The first song I learned to play was "Pipeline." I own and play several acoustic an
*** Lesson Details ***
I'm big on teaching songs and techniques learned through scales and chords, which will enable you to improvise, solo, and write your own music. I can teach either traditional note reading or tablature, and can transcribe your favorite songs and solos. The lessons are fun, with new material to learn and play every week. I hope every time you pick up a guitar, it will be a creative experience!
*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio: front room turned into music studio. recording gear, all instruments listed, additional seating for parents.
Morey's Music: Music store setting, small practice room, additional seating for parents.
*** Specialties ***
I've done it all-like theory, all styles of music.
· Ukulele · In studio
· Ukulele · In studio
· Ukulele · In studio
Glenn S.
Glenn S.
About Ken P.Close
View Full Profile
Get a feel for basic banjo style of playing. Learn how to do rolls, comp chords, traditional songs or even great solos.
About Ken
Not everybody wants to be a rock star though, and there are many aspects to the world of music. During the course of my musical adventure I've played with orchestras, been in rock, bluegrass, reggae, pop and blues bands, classical ensembles and more. I have also had the opportunity to play for celebrities and diploma
I have also become adept at writing, recording and producing music, studying under Frank Wright of the legendary rock band Chicago. If you have an interest in creating and/or recording music I can definitely help you get there! Check out my chill/downtempo instrumental album 'Night Music'.
*** Lesson Details ***
I can teach you about playing several different instruments, how to write, how to record your own music, and how to get your music career off the ground! As a youth, I was largely self-taught so my inspiration was always to have fun. I never had to deal with the 'homework' style of practicing so I've naturally incorporated that approach to my lessons. My goal is to keep you (the student) inspired and having fun. When that happens you will become good at your instrument and feel as though you 'played' your way to success! As your teacher I will also provide almost all of the materials for free and show you great free apps to help you along with your learning and keep costs to a minimum! I know we will have fun together while you learn and I look forward to meeting you!
*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars, piano/keyboard, drums, bass, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and a ProTools recording studio.
*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide the learning materials but I expect the student to have their own instrument, be that a guitar, drum set, etc.
*** Specialties ***
Commercial music is definitely my specialty, but I am also capable of doing various styles such as classical, bluegrass, traditional/folk. Just focus on what you want to learn and I can teach it to you.
· Banjo · In home
· Bass Guitar · In home
· Ukulele · In studio
Ken P.
Ken P.
About Calvin A.Close
View Full Profile
After the first lesson you will be making music, playing songs and you will be on your way to achieving your musical goals with the banjo. Banjo playing requires a knowledge of chords, melody, picking technique as well as knowing songs all of which we will begin to learn in your first lesson.
About Calvin
I have studied, performed and taught music for over 10 years. I hold a B.A. in music from USC. My professional experience as a musician and teacher has led me to many areas of the music business. I've worked as an apprentice to several established film composers and arrangers and have had the opportunity work with Lionel Hampton New York Big Band, Metropole Orchestra, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Clayton Brothers, Rachelle Farrell, Michael Buble, and Charles Aznavour. I play guitar, mandolin, piano,
*** Lesson Details ***
I am extremely patient and firmly believe that anybody can learn to play music.
I try to keep my teaching philosophy simple. We figure out your musical goals and aspirations and carve out a path to achieving them. Along the way I will try to illuminate how the path to attaining your goals and aspirations is best taken at an enjoyable, relaxed pace and with a strong work ethic.
I always prepare for your lessons based on your interests, integrating relevant books and videos, creating handouts tailored to what we are studying in order to maintain clarity.
*** Studio Equipment ***
Guitars, Keyboards, Ukuleles, Microphones, Amplifiers, Recording Equipment
*** Specialties ***
Any style you prefer (Rock, Pop, Folk, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, etc.)
· Ukulele · In home
· Ukulele · In home
· Guitar · In home
Calvin A.
Calvin A.
About Speedy B.Close
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I teach the five string banjo from the beginning, I use the book "Bluegrass Banjo Level One by Edward T Wing. This is a great progressive method for learning banjo. I teach all the right hand picking and left hand fingering techniques for learning to be a great banjo player. You will enjoy this study. Banjo is great fun.
About Speedy
I studied classical violin from Don Samuleson, Professor at Western Washington College during my Junior High and High School years. I also studied from Lamar Barus at Ricks College and Paval Farcus at the University of Redlands and from Leslie String of the Redlands Symphony.
I studied Classical guitar from Seko Sessoko a Brazilian guitar player and Jazz guitar from Studio musicians Howard Roberts, Joe Pass and Horace Hatchett.
I have played violin in the Bellingham Junior High School Orchestra, the Bellingham High School Orchestra, the Ricks College Orchestra, the University of R
I played guitar with the Woody James big band and with the big band and hall of fame orchestra. I've played classical guitar for weddings and dinner parties. I played guitar with the variety band "Sound Investment" and other rock, blues and jazz bands
My theater performance experience includes play violin for Annie, Hello Dolly, Chess, Cinderella and more. I also played guitar in theater performances of Les Miserable, Man of La Mancha, Hairspray, Marvelous Wonderettes, and Catch Me if You Can.
My studio, The Speedy Beers Music Studio is a highly professional studio equipped with computer, recording equipment and video lighting and camera for making highly professional videos.
I teach all styles of music on the guitar and violin including classical, jazz,rock, blues, country, folk and fiddle. I have a strong back ground in applied music theory that works for all instruments.
I have a Bachelors degree from the University of Redlands and I have studied privately from some of the best teachers in the world.
· Guitar · In studio
· Guitar · Online
· Violin · Online
Speedy B.
Speedy B.
About Ronnie B.Close
View Full Profile
Banjo is a beautiful instrument and an ol' Friend. Wether you would like to learn any style, sit on the river and play or make use for composition I will do my best to aid you in you're Journey to learning this sweet instrument.
About Ronnie
· Singing · In home
· Piano · In studio
· Piano · In home
Ronnie B.
Ronnie B.
About Sam B.Close
View Full Profile
Let's play the banjo! I have played bluegrass for over 10 years and picked up the banjo somewhere along the way. It's so much fun! I'd love to spread the joy of banjo. I have taught in middle and high schools for over 4 years and I will use everything I have learned about teaching to make sure that you have fun learning and playing the banjo. Let's get started, already!
About Sam
· Mandolin · In home
· Greek · In studio
I highly recommend him to anyone interested in studying classical languages.
Sam B.
Sam B.
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Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure- Santa Barbara
Urban Adventure Quest
Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Event Details
Turn Santa Barbara into a giant game board with this fun scavenger hunt adventure. Combine the excitement of the Amazing Race with a three-hour city tour.
Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. Start when you want and play at your pace.
Price is per team, not per person. Find details and Redeem your ticket as a Prepaid Code online at www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com.
Have questions about Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure- Santa Barbara? Contact Urban Adventure Quest
When & Where
Cabrillo Blvd. and Garden Street
1 Garden Street
Santa Barbara,
Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Add to my calendar


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Lisa Raymond (born August 10, 1973 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is a professional female tennis player from the United States. On June 12, 2000, she reached the World No. 1 ranking in doubles. Her career high singles ranking was World No. 15 in October 1997.
Earning more than US$7 million in prize money in her career, Raymond has reached the quarterfinals in singles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon. Raymond, who plays right-handed, has wins over Venus Williams, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Monica Seles, and Martina Hingis. She also is one of the few (40) players to win a career Grand Slam in doubles.
Of her four singles titles, two have come at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, Tennessee.


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New location, new eligibility rules.
The 2013 National Scout Jamboree, the first jamboree at the The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, will also be the first to welcome Venturers as participants.
That's right, the jamboree isn't just for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts anymore.
Crew members must have a current BSA membership with a Venturing crew and must have graduated the 8th grade or be at least 14 years of age by the first day of the jamboree, but they can't have reached their 21st birthday by the last day of the jamboree. Here's the full list of qualifications.
Previously, Venturers could serve on staff at national jamborees but weren't eligible participants. That all changes in 2013, meaning the doors to the BSA's signature event just opened a little wider.
So tell your Venturing crew to get ready, because the registration window opens in late spring of this year.


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Practicing mindfulness at work is the catalyst for strengthening relationships with coworkers, boosting your creativity, refreshing your confidence, and lessening your negative self-talk.
Read more
The Mindful Manicurist discusses ways to slow down and be mindful of your eating throughout your day.
From parking our car far, to walking to our favorite lunch spot, we're getting creative in an attempt to walk 10k steps a day.
Studies show walking burns approximately the same amount of calories per mile as running.
We're devoting the month of January to jump-start a fitter lifestyle and we're challenging you to join us!
Join us as we strive to walk 10,000 steps every day in the month of January.
In an attempt to adopt better habits in 2016, we're rounding up a list of attainable nail goals to strive for this year.
Just four days left until the NAILS 10k-a-Day Walking Challenge begins! On January 1, nail techs everywhere will lace up their sneakers and take to the sidewalk (or trail, or mall, or wherever) to jump- start a healthy new year.
Medinail Learning Center (MLC) has launched a series of monthly webinars for nail techs. "Our webinars are designed to enhance the knowledge and success of nail technicians," says Janet McCormick, vice president of educational development for
The Professional Beauty Association's (PBA) Nail Manufacturers Council on Safety (NMC) announced its support for the latest independent, peer-reviewed study demonstrating that UV (ultraviolet) lamps commonly used for hardening gel-polish are safe and do not increase the
Poor acetone. It's a nail product that people love to hate. Whether it's a nail tech who gets burned by the flammable liquid (don't put acetone in the microwave, people!) or a client who feels the
I haven't seen fish pedicures in the news for a while in the U.S., but apparently they are gaining popularity in France. A French agency for occupational health and safety is calling for "strictly regulating" the
We've been talking quite a bit about beauty professional licensing and the threat of deregulation lately. Many of you know my opinion on the subject already, but for the record, I want to say again that
While working on a story for our June issue about caring for nail clients with cancer, I reached out to nonprofit Beauty Bus for a sidebar about volunteer organizations serving this demographic. The Beauty Bus Foundation
An overwhelming majority (94%) of general election voters from across the U.S. overwhelmingly support the required licensing of beauty professionals and feel these licenses protect the public and improve both the quality and safety in the
Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, co-founder and artistic director of OPI Products Inc., will be the honoree at the Delete Blood Cancer Gala. The gala is being held at Cipriani Wall Street on May 1, 2013 to honor those
UPDATED 2/28/13: We have seven Pampered Perch hand/footrests to give away! Leave a comment in our blog comments section along with your city, state, and e-mail address for a chance to win. We will
While working on a feature story about salon ventilation for NAILS Magazine's February issue, I came across several salon owners who are an inspiration to all of us in their installation of proper ventilation systems. Though
Tara O'Keeffe, pharmacist and founder of skincare manufacturer O'Keeffe's Company, says, "Each year, when the temperature and humidity drop, skin becomes easily susceptible to dryness and irritation. The hands and feet become particularly vulnerable, since they're
While working on a nail salon ventilation story for the February issue of NAILS Magazine, I was happy to discover some U.S. cities and counties reward salons for improving their work environments. In King County (home
"UV nail lamps do not appear to significantly increase the lifetime risk of KC [keratinocyte carcinoma]" in consumers, reports a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Authors Alina Markova of Massachusetts General Hospital, the
Want to learn the facts about the controversy surrounding UV nail lamps and products? Are you struggling to answer clients' questions regarding the safety of UV nail services? The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is sponsoring a
OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Labor) recently provided salons with a handy guide called Stay Healthy and Safe While Giving Manicures and Pedicures, but did you know that
Gulfstream showcased two especially neat pedicure spa improvements at Cosmoprof North America.One is this convenient pull-out storage area on its La Lili 5. Handy, right?The other is this upgraded footrest style, which allows you to elevate
Of course it's not a good thing that so many Americans suffer from foot-related maladies, but for pedicurists, it's not entirely a bad thing either. To learn the extent of the problem, the Institute for Preventive Foot
Nonprofit Beauty Bus has been providing free beauty services -- including nails (the #1 requested service), hair, and make-up -- and, along with that pampering, a sense of hope, touch, and normalcy to terminally or chronically
I encourage all of you to download the just-released "Stay Healthy and Safe While Giving Manicures and Pedicures" 20-page booklet created by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration). It contains some helpful information and reminders
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I understand the hesitancy among nail techs (and myself, to be honest, at least until I saw the salon in person) about the in-store experience at the nail salon that just opened inside a Chicago Walgreens.
I just heard there was a story on a local Chicago TV station last night warning about UV gels and skin cancer. And then there was the March article in Good Housekeeping titled "4 Risks of
Evolving from a line of kitchen tools (yes, you guessed it, literally from a microplane citrus zester), Microplane Personal Care offers a huge assortment callus removers. The company has large professional size callus microplanes, small at-home
Founded by reflexologists, Lodaat (an acronym for "Living one day at a time") offers several useful massage tools at its booth. This is a Sujok Ring, which, when rolled along a finger, activates pressure points that can
At least one salon employee must be given the responsibility to carry out environmentally friendly practices at the salon or the initiative will fizzle out, according to a newly released white paper by the National Association
Yay! Indiana Bill to Eliminate Licensing Withdrawn Thanks so much for to all NAILS' Magazine From the Editor readers who told Indiana that we need licensing and to everyone else who helped spread the word and who
I recently uploaded this video to NAILStv that demoed a new towel warmer to enter the U.S. market, and it was even cooler to see it in person at ISSE. Beauty Pro's warmer is so small. It's
Aura-Soma Color Therapy Series / Courtesy of Caesars Palace Do you believe color has the power to affect the body, mind, and spirit? Qua Baths and Spa at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is one of the
I am alarmed by a bill in Indiana's state legislature that would eliminate government licensing and regulation of nail techs. House Bill 1006, authored by David Wolkins, proposes that licensing be completely eliminated for everyone in
The ROB|B OPI Concept Salon in Studio City, Calif., has been awarded a LEED Silver Certification, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. LEED is the nation's preeminent
I heard about a new product that was originally designed by ear, nose, and throat specialists to help asthma and allergy sufferers, but is being "repurposed" for nail salons. It's called NOSK.A tiny personal air filtration
The fish pedicure hasn't been in the news much lately, but it's far from forgotten. The idea of tiny fish nibbling off the dead skin of off human feet seems to spur a visceral reaction in
Up until recently there was little reason to send your clients with fragile, brittle nails to see the doctor. But now there is a brush-on prescription option available to help strengthen nails that are brittle or
Dr. Robert A. Kornfeld says it might not be your fault if one of your clients gets a foot fungus. In an article on AOL Healthy Living titled "Is Your Salon Causing Toenail Fungus," Dr. Kornfeld,
Well, not literally Doug Schoon's brain, but as many of you know Doug has been hosting regular teaching and educational webinars through his website.The instructional slide shows featured up-close and personal pictures of nail chemistry and
The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is putting on a free webinar for salon professionals on navigating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) standards as they apply to salons. The webinar will be led by nail
After more than a decade since its inception, the North American School of Podology (NASP) now has a brand new identity, supported by a new tagline and associated marketing materials, announced founder Katharin von Gavel this
Update 4/15/11: Due to contradicting information available online, we went right to the source, Rep. Dorothy Hukill, regarding if salons and manicurists are included in HB 5005 or not. We heard back today and are thrilled
Many states won't let nail salons use credo blades on clients (they can be dangerous, as you can accidentally cut clients' skin with them), but here's a callus removal alternative that uses a disposable RotoFile Caps
America's Beauty Show 2011 ended Monday afternoon, but we're going to continue sharing some of the new product launches from the show throughout the week. There were a lot of exciting new nail products!Pedi spa manufacturer
At its America's Beauty Show booth, Salon Pure Air has a prototype of a built-in table ventilation system set-up of its award-winning salon ventilation unit. By connecting the flexible hose to a cut-out in a manicure
The photo on the right shows the patient after two CoolBreeze treatments. Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail and nail bed, is the most common of all diseases of the nails in adults, says Dr. Krista
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The 2010 Beauty and the Breast team included (left to right) Kim Simmons, Doug Schoon, Kelly Tofflemoyer, and Marcy Avenson Join Doug Schoon and friends on an amazing journey in the fight to end breast cancer. The
We've written a lot recently about The Beauty Bus Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for terminally or chronically ill individuals and their caregivers with free in-home beauty treatments. That's because
The Beauty Bus Foundation — a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for terminally or chronically ill individuals and their caregivers with free in-home beauty treatments — invites beauty professionals to its Beauty
The New York Times recently reported on the greening of San Francisco's nail salons. In October, the City of San Francisco passed the country's first Healthy Nail Salon Recognition ordinance. In what its backers call "a
The girl-treprenuers of NailEZEE — Ryan, Jordan, and Erin Wolf — recently launched a trio of purple polishes to help fight Alzheimer's. The colors — (from lightest to darkest) Lovie Dovie, Pamper Me Purple, and Power to
Steven A. Napolitano, deputy, LA County supervisor, presented a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the County of Los Angeles to Dr. Murad (left) at a recent charity art auction, acknowledging Dr. Murad's philanthropic contributions at
As an ongoing initiative to help adolescent girls with facial disfigurements, CA Botana donated products from their Doctor D. Schwab, Sea Enzyme, and Ambrosia Aromatherapy lines to the seventh annual Angel Faces Retreat in Encinitas, Calif.,
Some states, like North Carolina, require salons to post their inspection scores where consumers can see them. While I'm not necessarily a proponent of more rules and regulations for the nail industry, I do believe that
Last month, scientists at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) released findings from the largest epidemiologic study of licensed California cosmetologists and nail techs. Despite the workers' ongoing exposure to chemicals in the workplace, the
A Georgian woman was recently charged more for her pedicure because, get this, she was overweight. Michelle Fonville told WSBtv.com that the owners of Natural Nails in DeKalb County, Georgia charged her $5 extra, claiming that
Have you heard rumors that UV lamps are unsafe — that they may even cause cancer? Recently three industry chemists got together to test the claims made in a report by two Texas-based dermatologists that the
Earlier this year, Iowa mandated the autoclaving of certain implements in the salon. As of March, cuticle nippers (along with tweezers and comedone extractors) must be sterilized by steam, dry heat, or other sterilization equipment. The
Well, we've got another scare tactic story in the national media on our hands. And this time I'm not up in arms about the story not having its facts straight. Rather, the story of a woman
On May 8, employees from American International Industries joined the 17th-annual Revlon Run/Walk event, which raises awareness and funds that are crucial to the fight against women's cancers. It was held at the Los Angeles Memorial
Where do you begin once your salon has decided to go green? The Green Spa Network offers these easy-to-implement tips that can help reduce the environmental footprint of your salon. You can start with just a few. •
Tomorrow (May 26) at 9 p.m. Eastern, Linda Bond, the executive director of the International Pedicure Association (IPA) will be teaching a free webinar on "IPA Explained: Just What Is the International Pedicure Association"? The approximately
Salon professionals who have been affected by the recent flooding in Tennessee or tornados in Mississippi can apply for assistance from the PBA | NCA Disaster Relief Fund by filling out the Application for Aid available
The beauty industry is known for contributing to worthy causes, whether its donating flip flops (and many other items) to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti or developing and purchasing pink products whose proceeds help fight breast
In the aftermath of the 7.0 earthquake that shook Haiti on January 12, the beauty industry is living up to its reputation of helping people feel better by organizing a variety of relief efforts. If you
Many of you are probably aware of the segment that ran on "The Dr. Oz Show" in December. (You know who Dr. Oz is…the latest "guru" who was capitulated to fame, fortune, and his own TV
In journalism school, one of the oft-repeated maxims we learned about "what is news?" went as follows: "If the story is 'dog bites man,' it's not news. If the story is 'man bites dog,' it is."
The International Pedicure Association (IPA) hosts online webinars for its members about once a month, and, for the September 30 event, "From the Editors" blog readers can attend the online seminar for free, without purchasing an
Let the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology alleviate some of your apprehension about the salon inspection process by watching the board's interactive webinar "What to Expect During an Inspection: What You Need to Know".
I've met representatives of the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology several times, and I'm pleased that the board members seem genuinely interested in keeping California nail salons from getting fined during inspections. To that end,
The Brookhaven location of Atlanta's Natural Body Spa & Shop has just been awarded Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. The first spa in the Southeast constructed
I just found a professionally-done video by the Washington Department of Licensing of a nail salon inspection. You can watch the six-minute video here. The video is geared toward consumers (advising them of what to look for
Ah, pedicure season. Or is it AAAHHHH, pedicure season? For the most part, I'm sure all of you look forward to the summer months for the natural boost to your pedicure business, but I'm also curious
The recent Swine Flu outbreak has manufacturers of hand sanitizers and implement disinfectants scrambling to reassure the public that their products can effectively combat the H1N1 virus — better known as the swine flu. "The new strain
The International Pedicure Association (IPA) is continuing its mission of educating and providing support for pedicure professionals following the death of its founder, Dr. Dennis Arnold, who passed away in late 2008. "The IPA is currently
I just learned that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Look Good…Feel Better, a free, non-medical, national public service program dedicated to helping women with cancer cope with the appearance-related side effects of the illness
Salvation has arrived for that stubborn client who refuses to let a doctor take a look at that thick, yellow toenail. Woodward Laboratories has just introduced a home test kit to diagnose fungal infection — and
A friend forwarded me an interesting Associated Press article today about church volunteers who offer mini-pedicures (including a soak, pumice, nail trim, scrub, ointment, massage, and polish) to a city's homeless, in order to both head
Each year as the holidays approach (and it feels earlier and earlier every year — I saw Christmas stuff out in September this year!), the pace quickens. Clients are in a hurry (there's shopping to be
This week, the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation launched the Love/Avon Army of Women, a groundbreaking initiative that will partner women with breast cancer researchers to find the key to what causes
By and large nail techs score pretty well in the work-life balance department. You consistently cite flexible scheduling as one of the best perks of the profession and according to our last Big Big Book survey,
The Nail Manufacturers Council (NMC) is a group of nail manufacturers that have come together to help educate techs and salon owners about different issues affecting nail care products and services. The NMC is part of
Have you checked out the newest NAILS blog, Healthy Tech Talk? NAILS editor Hannah Lee (that's me) and a group of committed CND team members are taking to the blogosphere to share their trials and tribulations
Melanoma rates have risen 50% among young women in the United States since 1980, while melanoma rates have remained steady among young men, reported the Los Angeles Times. Researchers theorized that the trend might be related
I have to say I was happily surprised this morning when I logged on to the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and saw how easy it was to navigate.
"We are walking because breast cancer destroys lives," says CND's Doug Schoon, who, along with his teammates, will be participating in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk on Nov. 21-23. "Our team, called 'Beauty and the Breast,'
I just wrote an article about salon safety for our upcoming August issue. While researching it, I found some interesting things that didn't make it into the print edition. The article focuses on the simple, first-step
As a nod to Earth Day, I decided to check out a cool new eco-chic nail salon in Los Angeles: Recess. Only five weeks old, the environmentally-friendly salon boasts that it's in the process of LEED
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Hateful! CD crop (bar one) raises the bile
Charlie Hunter Trio: Friends Seen and Unseen (RopeADope)
G. Love and Special Sauce: The Hustle (Brushfire)
Har Mar Superstar: The Handler (Brushfire)
Have you ever met a supreme hater? I'm sure you have.
They're the type of people who, no matter what the circumstances, can find something to complain about. I've run through lots of social circles in my day, and I must say the most vicious haters are often the biggest music enthusiasts. I'm sure you know (or know someone who knows) a person who considers himself an authority on music, who's an avid collector of albums, but comes across as disliking just about everything he listens to.
This past week, while looking for albums to review, I found myself exhibiting some major hater characteristics. I don't know whether it was the weather or the quality of what I've been listening to. Whatever the case, I've been hating on a lot lately.
First off, I received an advance copy of the new G. Love and Special Sauce album from Brushfire Records. The Hustle is G. Love's first record in three years and, oh, what a disappointment! I don't know what I was expecting when I popped the disk in, but after the first five songs, I had to restrain myself from tossing the disk into the alley outside my window.
G. Love used to be a fun-loving bluesy rap guy who crafted light-hearted tunes for teenagers everywhere. But this new record smells less funky than anything he's put together in the past and lacks any vestige of the craftsmanship that brought him fame. In fact, the songs are so elementary I feel embarrassed for him. By the end of the album, I decided that throwing it out the window was not best. I'm currently using the CD as a tea coaster.
Next I popped in an advance album I received from Brushfire Records. This time it was a new kid on the block, Har Mar Superstar. His album, The Handler, is much more of a pop record. The Handler was produced by John Fields (Pink, Mandy Moore, Lillix) and has received rave reviews from Thrasher, Billboard, and Rolling Stone. One of the mags even calls Har Mar "one of the hottest new R&B sensations since Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson."
Ha! Double Ha! The supreme hater in me came out with a vengeance after having to choke down this album. I wished for ginger ale to chase away the bitter taste of this psuedo-soul cat. To mention his name in the same sentence as Stevie Wonder and MJ should be grounds for firing. Har Mar Superstar reminds me of that kid who always thought he was talented and no one ever had the nerve to tell him he sucked.
Somehow this quack, with his wannabe Prince call-and-response funk jams and silly "look at me, I'm a pimp" banter snagged a budget to make this record. His singing has few redeeming qualities. I'm currently using The Handler as a placemat for my cereal bowl.
By this point, I'm pretty much thinking that I'm a full-fledged hater. Until I randomly come across the new Charlie Hunter Trio album at Plan 9. I've always respected Charlie Hunter. He's a true innovator and prodigy, playing an eight-string guitar that allows him to play bass and guitar simultaneously. To see him perform is truly a treat, especially since some of Cali's finest accompany him on his projects.
His most recent, Friends Seen and Unseen, is a sweet collection of down-tempo jazz tunes that made perfect sunny Sunday music. My one criticism is that Hunter often gets a bit discordant with his solos.
Still, that's a minor criticism for an album this well put together. My suggestion: if you've felt a little bit of hater welling up in your system, make sure you pick up the new Charlie Hunter album.
It's a cure for supreme hater syndrome.


text:
2011-09-19 NBGS • Conf Costs • DNA
Start: 12:04:40
alt: hi daviss
daviss: hello there alt! How are you today
alt: doing fine, you
daviss: I am sports sluggish down today all my Az teams lost well all except the Diamondbacks hello vkn
vkn: Howdy
daviss: How are you today? hello Selma!
vkn: Aging!
Selma: Good afternoon lunch bunchers...
alt: hello vkn and selma
Selma: I agree with you vkn..aging..and faster everyday.. LOL
vkn: Howdy Selma & Alt
daviss: lol me in that group too vkn I can't spell or see it seems lol
alt: wow, a cousin from NJ on the phone ...... man, can he talk whew!!!!!!
vkn: Trying to increase text size
Seventies Soulchild: good afternoon
alt: hello Seventies Soulchild
Seventies Soulchild: What is good all?
vkn: Connections Connections Connections, Alt
alt: connections, they're literally coming out of the wall vkn LOL
Seventies Soulchild: I see that there are more people going online with their genealogy and history.
daviss: I have that problem vkn but fixed it in chat but still small in the forum hello Seventies
Seventies Soulchild: hi davissz lol fat fingered that...
daviss: uh huh lol
Selma: Afternoon seventies...
daviss: I finally saw The Help yesterday.. It was very good
Seventies Soulchild: Hi Selma... ok hi alt, daviss, vkn
alt: hello Ms Selma
Selma: vkn..I see the work that was being done over the weekend went smoothly
alt: I was reviewing my notes from Tony Burrough's presentations' this past Saturday.... the guy is truly amazing in his preparation & presentation.
Selma: Yes, he is very good What was the topic of the presentation
alt: he did about 5 hours Selma. I'll have to send you copies of his handouts.
daviss: How long has he been at it alt?
Selma: Jeez 5 hours.. Well I heard him speak in the early 1990's daviss
alt: 25-30 years daviss
daviss: Was he the only one presenting alt?
alt: yep daviss
daviss: ditto jeez what did he do start at the beginning research and work to last owner and import maps etc etc
alt: nope, it was all geared toward the intermediate to advanced researcher.
Selma: Ok ..great
daviss: interesting alt what was the make-up of the audience alt
alt: one main point he kept stressing was that we too often spend too much time 'collecting information' and not enough time analyzing what we've found and putting it into some type of context.
Selma: I agree
Seventies Soulchild: nice
alt: I see vkn is doing her best to help 'promote' the Summit with registrations being so slow. good job vkn!!!!!
daviss: I guess what I am wanting to know is, where there enough youngsters in the group to perhaps carry on and give presentations themselves
alt: no daviss,,,, average age was probably in the mid-to-late 50's.
Seventies Soulchild: I heard that the Maryland AAGHS has good young speakers.
daviss: well 50 is not bad alt
alt: and then the 'old folks' like me LOL
daviss: Is that Angela's group seventies
Seventies Soulchild: had you all ever considered taking a younger genealogist under you tutelage?? Knowledge just don't pass itself down... Yes daviss hey fierybug08
daviss: afternoon fierybug08
alt: most genealogy societies have an 'outreach program' trying to recruit & train younger folks Seventies Soulchild.
Seventies Soulchild: just posing the question is all.
fierybug08: good afternoon everyone *virtual wave* to Seventies Soulchild daviss alt Selma vkn
alt: Hello fierybug08.... waving back atcha LOL
fierybug08: i went to the MLK Memorial this weekend.
Seventies Soulchild: how was it fierybug08?
alt: Just trying to answer Seventies Soulchild LOL
daviss: breath taking I imagine fierybug08
Selma: We have a number of college students & HS students that come to our meeting when they have assignments..but tend not to come back when they finish..
fierybug08: hmm...I was hoping for more.
Selma: We just tell em we will still be here..when they get ready
daviss: oh really fierybug 08 like what
Selma: Hi fiery
fierybug08: yes...the wall was great. The scriptures from some of his speeches. but the statue of him carved from the stone...didn't capture my heart completely.
Seventies Soulchild: I think he looks south asian
fierybug08: hi Selma. i will be sending you an email later this week about my upcoming trip to the VA Library lol Seventies. His eyes were very distinct.
Seventies Soulchild: Although there are black people everywhere. This is one of those times the artist totally missed the mark. To my personal dismay.
fierybug08: i should post pictures on my Ning profile.
alt: interesting about the features.... wasn't the sculptor of asian ancestry?
fierybug08: yes. Chinese.
Seventies Soulchild: Chinese... lol it was outsourced... lol
daviss: tsc tsc seventies lol
Seventies Soulchild: daviss, I'm trying to be honest here.. lol
fierybug08: look...i'm not mad at who made it, but if you are going to make something...make it right. This man was worth more than just a stone statue. He is all alone. What happened to making a garden like feel. Have him Marching with others something to show that he was about the people. smh
alt: I think he was/is an asian-american and a fraternity brother of MLK..an A Phi A
daviss: did his family approve the work that was done?
Seventies Soulchild: Well I'm saying they spent 120 million... that's the best they could get??? D@mn they picked the wrong time to be cheap.
fierybug08: like I said alt i don't care who you are. Get it right.
daviss: so you were not pleased either seventies :?
alt: they..... being the A Phi A fraternity who raised the money for the monument.
fierybug08: i wonder how are they going to have a ceremony there. the place is very small.
Seventies Soulchild: No. For MANY reasons.
daviss: hmmmm
Seventies Soulchild: We'll talk about it offline. :}
fierybug08: the use of the words along a marble slab in the background was creative, but why didn't they include the statue along side the piece. Me too Seventies. Words cannot describe my disconnect. I am glad I am still young enough to understand and appreciate his contributions.
yatah: hi all
fierybug08: hi yatah
Seventies Soulchild: So I was reading this website about the Hoot family of Wilcox Co. AL
daviss: hello yatah!
Seventies Soulchild: Hi yatah
vkn: We have to raise our voices during the planning stage and not after the fact Fiery
fierybug08: i had no idea about it. i guess that shows how out of touch i have been in the past.
daviss: I was wondering if his family had any input at all
fierybug08: no more excuses for me VKN.
Seventies Soulchild: I read that they got paid to use his image and speech excerpts
daviss: lol @ fierybug08
vkn: I know I failed to speak during the planning though offered the opportunity several times
daviss: The foundation you mean seventies
fierybug08: well...who do i need to call about their library/bookstore.
alt: I don't think so daviss .. I think the monument was conceived, planned and financed thru contributions to the MLK Memorial Fund of A Phi A.
Seventies Soulchild: Yes his foundation.
yatah: oh boy i lost information my family history because i cant found book i put somewhere i have to start over to find being
daviss: oic alt
yatah: write agian
fierybug08: no way yatah.
yatah: yep
vkn: The frat is to be applauded Alt
fierybug08: sorry to hear that.
daviss: I would bet yatah that it is there somewhere in the house. Be patient
alt: I think so too vkn
yatah: i sure i will find any soon
daviss: just take a deep breath and look room by room no need to be a James Carvelle and Panic
AYWalton: Good afternoon, all.
fierybug08: hi AYWalton
Seventies Soulchild: daviss....
AYWalton: howdy alt, daviss, fierybug, Ms. Selma, Hey Soulchile, yatah.
alt: hello AYWalton
fierybug08: Thanks for adding those articles. Lots of interesting stuff to read
vkn: Howdy AYW Did all here see the CFR re the UGRR. Due by end of Sept. It is posted on UGRR forum
alt: no, I haven't read that posting vkn
vkn: It says conference will turn old thoughts on UGRR on its head
daviss: all I was trying to do was say Hi AYWalton and was kicked out
Selma: Her *star power* knocked you out
AYWalton: sorry about that, daviss. Howdy back atcha! puleeze! lol
Selma: LOL
daviss: lol Selma
alt: Kinda late for a CFP and a deadline of 30 sep 2011, huh?
daviss: mabe thats why it will turn heads alt
vkn: I understand that the registrations for Ft Wayne are going slowly
Selma: I am surprised
AYWalton: is that right, vkn? I am also surprised.
vkn: Yes AY
daviss: mabe the economy
AYWalton: Perhaps the small genealogical audience is being split with the two conferences occurring a month apart. and perhaps travel is an issue. I am not sure if they are really doing a heavy marketing campaign, either.
alt: I 'intend' to send in my Conf. registration this week... already have room reservations.
vkn: Well there needs to be an annual calendar
Selma: You mean you haven't sent it in yet alt...LOL
AYWalton: plus many are aware that this is not the IBGS, so perhaps that might be part of it, who knows?
vkn: Well there needs to be an annual calendar so one can make a long range plan
AYWalton: perhaps with a two year span, including calls for papers and such.
alt: nope Selma, for Anita & me it's gonna cost about 1K for conference. room, travel, expenses, etc.
AYWalton: and conferences do cost money, that's for sure.
Selma: I know alt..just joshing...I made my hotel registrations for ASALH, but haven't paid for registration yet...
Seventies Soulchild: wow
alt: that seems to be the procedure Selma ... get a room and then register for the conf. LOL
Selma: Not sure if I will stay for it all, but do want to hear Drusilla speak
Seventies Soulchild: Imagine, alt lives fairly close to the venue. Much closer than I do.
Selma: She speaks at 8:30 AM on thursday
AYWalton: those who have to travel will have travel (train/bus/car--with gas) plus hotel, and conference and meals. It does add up. You could do a 1 day turn around, Selma.
alt: yeah Seventies Soulchild,, I get a break there... we can drive by car to the Conf., saving the cost of airfare.
Selma: I will probably stay Thursday night..
Seventies Soulchild: Well folks lunch hour is over... have a good day.
vkn: Yes Selma not to try and do too much
Selma: No I am not vkn...
alt: plus I'm going to a workshop in Indianapolis on the 8th of Oct to hear Deborah Abbott & J. Mark Lowe.
yatah: hey you can help me one thing 1900 where martha mintz there on list ?
AYWalton: two good speakers.
yatah: one thing ?
AYWalton: Mark Lowe was on the WDYTYA program with Lionel Ritchie.
yatah: i got 1910 on martha mintz
vkn: Yatah you may need to make an appt to chat one on one
alt: yes.. and Debbis & Mark were speakers at the OGS Conf. this past April.
yatah: ok '
Bearnut2: Hi everybody!
daviss: text not showing up
vkn: Alt that is so neat to see your old post appear
alt: Yes vkn, it's amazing how many older posts are being read and responded to on AfriGeneas.
vkn: Cross posted it on Talking and it will be interesting to see what response if any
AYWalton: that is interesting!
Bearnut2: Hi daviss , vkn , alt , Selma, AYWalton, yatah
vkn: Yes it makes the spinning wheel spin alt
alt: I got an email last friday about an FPOC posting dated 2003.
Bearnut2: yeah, it is funny how many old posts are popping up
vkn: Selma Dru explained her presentations at conference and at webinar
alt: Bearnut2, starting to get a little anxious on hearing from 23andme ... sent my sample in 5 weeks ago... course they say to give it 6 weeks.
vkn: so it sounds as though you are in for a treat
daviss: Hello ProfDru!
alt: Hello ProfDru
vkn: Hey Dru was just talking about you
Bearnut2: hmmm, I know I haven't gotten any new cousins in almost 2 weeks alt hopefully they will put out a bunch this week
ProfDru: hello gang good things I hope vkn lol
vkn: only good always lol @ Dru
AYWalton: ProfDru is in da house!
alt: gonna change ProfDru to "techno-mama" and sing a song to her technology poweress!!!!
ProfDru: lol vkn
daviss: what is your hap bearnut2
Bearnut2: daviss--L3d1-5
daviss: not that I know what that means lol lol
ProfDru: techno-mama? alt, that oops, alt, that's funny
Bearnut2: lol daviss
vkn: Luv it "techno mama"
daviss: mabe soon alt, I rec'd mine
alt: well, you're on the 'cutting edge' ProfDru
Bearnut2: what is your hap daviss
daviss: L0a2
Bearnut2: daviss--send me your "nickname" on 23 and I'll send you a sharing invite
daviss: ok will do
Bearnut2: oh thats right--i forgot
ProfDru: gotta run
daviss: later dru
AYWalton: have to run, folks!
daviss: ProfDru in and out like the burger I am hoping to get an answer for a kit for my brother I hope that they are not through with accepting
Bearnut2: Haplogroup: L3d, a subgroup of L3 Age: 30,000 years Region: Northern, Eastern, Southern Africa Populations: Bantu-speakers, African Americans Highlight: L3d has spread throughout Africa during the past few thousand years. wb yatah
Selma: Time for me to run folks...have a great day
yatah: ok davis, you rem why angie keith 's mom differnt name last name ? i found non online
daviss: no yatah I don't remember..sorry
yatah: that allrite
daviss: I need to put in a nickname bearnut2 but I will email and give it to you
alt: I read an intersting article on an AA who had traced her female ancestor's back for 10 generations. interesting that the AA lineage only goes back 3-4 generations and then it becomes her "white' family following an interracial marriage.
daviss: oh my alt, when was this
alt: the article makes it sound like she had traced her AA female lines back 10 generations.
Bearnut2: you don't have to use your real name in the user name box but you'll want to make it so everyone can see your nickname and your user name--both
daviss: ok
Bearnut2: ah alt! I just read that myself last night
yatah: davis, when finish slave in south carolina 1900?
daviss: 1865 yatah not 1900
alt: was your impression the same as mine Bearnut2? AA's for 10 generations???
daviss: slavery ended Texas 1865 before that around 1863 I believe
Bearnut2: yes! alt
daviss: where was this article alt
Bearnut2: so I was very surprised when MOST of the 10 were not AA
alt: it was on a Facebook page daviss I think by BBennett.
daviss: oh ok thx alt
yatah: bec gg grandma used be slave before
daviss: bearnut2 are you on FB oh I see yatah
Bearnut2: extremeancestry.com daviss is her blog
alt: still good research on the 10 generations, no doubt, but somewhat misleading in reference to AA lineage.
Bearnut2: yes daviss--Lisa Landrum
daviss: ok got it got that also Bearnut2
Bearnut2: Her story about her father is really good though
daviss: landrum is the last name of one of my friends
Bearnut2: really daviss? where is this friend from?
daviss: Texas roots
alt: well let me go up here to the 'internet cafe' and see if I can win enough money to pay for the NBGS ... LOL ..... later's y'all
Bearnut2: ahh--as far as I know of, I have no texas roots huh alt?
daviss: She lives now in Chicago but her daughter is a state legislator here
alt: a local casino Bearnut2
daviss: Lisa Landrum Taylor
Bearnut2: ahhh--good luck
daviss: lol good luck alt
Bearnut2: wait--her name is Lisa Landrum Taylor?
daviss: yes
Bearnut2: lol small world!
daviss: lol same as yours
Bearnut2: thats too funny I once was in a store ordering a poster when I told the lady my name she looked at me with surprise and said "No!" I was confused and thought she misunderstood so I started to spell it. She said "Thats NOT your name! "
daviss: was that her name too lol
Bearnut2: I was annoyed and said yes it is! so she called someone else over and they did the same thing. Yep it was her name! She told me and I said "No!" lol
daviss: lol thats funny
Bearnut2: it was--we even had the same middle initial
daviss: wow that is strange what state are your ancestors from
Bearnut2: My Landrums are from Alabama/Georgia
daviss: yatah is your family helping you with your search
Bearnut2: I haven't found the slaveowners yet yatah--are you there?
daviss: yatah may have gotten bumped
Bearnut2: well, I guess I'd better go. What do you have on the agenda Daviss?
daviss: gonna get a nickname and send it to you lol after that look around for mariah lol
Bearnut2: lol allright!
daviss: talk at cha later
Bearnut2: ok you too
daviss: bye yatah


text:
Car Deals
SUV Deals: October 2012
Several automakers are offering their SUVs with incentives and deals in October. We've listed some top SUV deals below to equip shoppers with as much information as possible before they set off in pursuit of their latest family car.
Chevrolet Traverse
Whether you're looking to lease, finance, or buy outright, Chevrolet has a good deal available for you on its 2012 Traverse crossover in October. According to the automaker, shoppers interested in financing a Traverse can get interest rates as low as zero percent for up to 72 months. For buyers who would rather pay in full, the automaker is offering a rebate of up to $2,000 back. And for shoppers looking to lease their next crossover, the Traverse is available with an attractive 24-month term for just $239 per month after $1,699 at lease signing.
Find a Chevrolet Traverse for sale
GMC Yukon
GMC is offering several incentives on its full-size Yukon SUV in October. According to the automaker, shoppers interested in a 2012 Yukon can get interest rates as low as 0.9 percent for up to 60 months on the standard-length Yukon, the Yukon Hybrid, or the extended Yukon XL. GMC is also offering cash back deals for buyers paying in full, with the automaker advertising up to $1,500 cash back on all variants of the SUV. While the same deals aren't available for the 2013 Yukon, GMC is offering some specials on that model including up to $500 cash back and 3.9 percent interest for up to 60 months.
Kia Sportage
The popular Kia Sportage SUV is available with several incentives in October. According to the automaker, shoppers interested in leasing a 2013 Sportage can get a 36-month term with payments as low as $239 after $2,499 at lease signing. For buyers looking to finance their next crossover, Kia is offering interest rates as low as 2.9 percent on its 2013 Sportage. But for shoppers who don't mind a highly similar 2012 model, Kia is advertising rates of just 1.9 percent for up to 60 months. Like nearly all Kia models, the Sportage is also available with $500 cash back for buyers trading in a competitive vehicle or an earlier Kia model.
Mazda CX-9
Mazda's large CX-9 crossover has received tremendous praise from automotive journalists, and through the end of October, it's available with several impressive offers for shoppers looking for a brand new SUV that can carry the entire family. The best deal is for customers looking to finance a CX-9, as Mazda is offering zero percent interest for up to 60 months. That deal puts the crossover ahead of rivals from Toyota and Honda, which typically offer such rates for shorter terms. Mazda is also advertising a special lease deal for the CX-9, touting a 36-month lease with payments from $299 after $2,999 at lease signing.
Nissan Rogue
The compact Nissan Rogue is available with several incentives in October, whether shoppers are looking to lease, finance, or buy the SUV outright. For lease customers, Nissan is offering a 39-month term with payments starting at just $249 after $2,999 at lease signing. Cash buyers can take up to $1,500 in rebates--a figure that jumps to $2,500 back when factoring in Nissan's offer of $1,000 off the Rogue's Special Edition package. And for buyers looking to finance the SUV, Nissan is offering interest rates as low as zero percent for up to 36 months, 0.9 percent for 60 months, or 1.9 percent for 72 months plus up to $500 cash back on all variants of the small crossover.
What it means to you: Many automakers are offering SUV deals in October, giving shoppers on the fence a reason to buy a new vehicle.


text:
Our Office Burned! We need YOUR help
February 13, 2013 – The NCSF office in Baltimore, MD, was destroyed in a fire a few weeks ago. We've lost everything: computer, office supplies and furnishings, tee shirts, and all of our stored printed literature are gone.
Please donate to the NCSF Fire Recovery Fund drive:
Donations are tax deductible! In order to continue helping the BDSM-leather-fetish, swing and polyamory communities, we must re-stock.
We helped hundreds of people in 2012 and thousands of individuals, businesses and groups over the years on an annual budget of less than $75,000.
Our goal is to raise $20,000 to get us back up and running... on our feet, better than ever, more efficient and more streamlined.
Please donate or hold a fundraiser for NCSF.
With the fame of 50 Shades of Grey, our communities are on the cusp of a major social and political breakthrough. You can be a part of it.
Keep us going! NCSF and the NCSF Foundation are the only groups that help kinky people when they need it - and now we need your help.
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF)
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the United States that advances the equal rights of consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual and relationship expression. NCSF advances the rights and advocates for consenting adults in the SM-Leather-Fetish, swing, and polyamory communities. We pursue our vision through direct services, education, advocacy, and outreach in conjunction with our partner organizations to directly benefit these communities.
Media: 917-848-6544
Office: 410-539-4824


text:
Turmoil in Pakistan threatens Obama's new Afghan strategy
WASHINGTON — Less than a month after he unveiled it, President Barack Obama's Afghanistan strategy is in trouble, overtaken by new political turmoil in Pakistan that threatens to distract its bickering leaders from the fight against al Qaida and its Afghan and Pakistani allies.
Washington and Islamabad were already embroiled in a nasty quarrel over U.S. demands that Pakistan "do more" to eliminate Afghan guerrilla and al Qaida sanctuaries on its side of the remote border with Afghanistan.
Resolving the dispute now may have to await the outcome of what could be a long, messy battle for survival by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition against the judiciary, the opposition and the powerful military.
"Everyone's attention in Pakistan will be on the new political order," said Nasim Ashraf, a scholar with the Middle East Institute who served in Pakistan's former military-run regime. Even without the crisis, Pakistani generals were unmoved by American denials that Obama's engagement in Afghanistan is limited, and they still see the Afghan militants as their best tools to stop rival India from enlisting Afghanistan in a plot to "encircle" Pakistan after a U.S withdrawal, many experts believe.
Obama's strategy "can't really deal with Pakistan's core security problem," said Stephen Cohen, a former senior State Department official with the Brookings Institution.
Pakistan's new crisis also threatens to divert its leaders from the U.S.-backed offensive against their own al Qaida-allied insurgents, fueling internal strife that has claimed hundreds of lives and stoked fears about the security of the nation's nuclear weapons.
"At a time when our army is finally fighting Pakistan's enemies . . . the government should be focused on this battle for survival. Instead it is being harassed and distracted," columnist Irfan Hussein wrote Dec. 18 in Dawn, Pakistan's largest English-language daily.
The crisis erupted when a raft of criminal cases were reinstated last week against President Asif Ali Zardari and other Peoples Party leaders after Pakistan's Supreme Court annulled an amnesty law that had shielded thousands of politicians and officials from long-standing corruption charges.
Those targeted included Defense Minister Ahmed Muktar and Interior Minister Rehman Malik, key interlocutors with Washington in the fight against al Qaida and Afghan and Pakistani insurgents.
"The U.S. has no leverage over the course of events politically," said Marvin Weinbaum, a former State Department intelligence analyst with the Middle East Institute.
The upheaval intensified over the weekend, with Zardari and his allies digging in against demands for the government's resignation and proclaiming their determination to fight the criminal charges in court.
In his Dec. 1 speech announcing his new Afghanistan strategy, Obama acknowledged that its success "is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan." He pledged additional resources for Pakistan's hard-pressed security forces on top of $1.5 billion a year in non-military aid aimed at bolstering democratic governance and its crumbling infrastructure, health care and educational systems.
Yet even before Obama spoke, Pakistan made clear there were limits to what it was prepared to do for the United States, whose nine-year presence in Afghanistan is blamed by many Pakistanis for fueling the extremist violence in their country.
The government had for months withheld visas for hundreds of U.S. diplomats, other officials and experts involved in the counter-insurgency and civilian aid efforts.
The army led a public outcry against U.S. legislation authorizing the new non-military aid. It saw the measure as a means to strengthen Zardari at the expense of the army, which has ruled the country for much of its existence and considers national security policy its exclusive domain.
Meanwhile, the army-run Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, the powerful spy agency, was widely seen behind a virulent media campaign that stoked anti-U.S. sentiment by claiming that Pakistan secretly is being flooded by U.S. spies and military contractors in cahoots with some of their own top officials.
Still, Obama turned up the heat on Islamabad to move against al Qaida and its Afghan allies, warning that "we cannot tolerate a safe-haven for terrorists whose location is known and whose intensions are clear."
Army Gen. David Petreaus, the head of U.S. Central Command, and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, followed up with visits to Islamabad amid U.S. news media leaks that the United States would expand drone strikes and take other actions against militant sanctuaries inside Pakistan if Islamabad didn't act.
Washington specifically wants Pakistan's army to follow up an operation against Pakistani Taliban in the South Waziristan tribal area with a drive against the Haqqani Network, the most fearsome Afghan insurgent group, and al Qaida in North Waziristan.
Pakistan, however, refused. There also is growing U.S. pressure on Pakistan to pursue Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar and his top aides, who are said by some U.S. officials to shuttle between their sanctuary in the Baluchistan Province capital of Quetta and Karachi, Pakistan's financial capital and main port.
Many experts said that Obama's approach to Pakistan lacks a political strategy to convince the military command that the Islamic groups it considers its best hedge against growing Indian influence in Afghanistan are a greater threat than India.
Pakistani generals "still want influence in Afghanistan and trust in the approach of supporting non-state actors as a way of maintaining that influence," said a Western analyst based in Pakistan who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely.
The July 2011 deadline that Obama set for the start of a U.S. force withdrawal from Afghanistan strengthened the Pakistani military's conviction _ rooted in the U.S. abandonment of the region following the end of the 1979-89 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan _ that it needs to preserve that option.
Moreover, Pakistani officials believe that a political settlement to the Afghan war can only be achieved with the participation of Omar, the Haqqani Network leaders and other leaders of the Pashtuns, the ethnic group that spans the border and dominates the Afghan insurgency, said Shuja Nawaz, an expert with the Atlantic Council., which promotes international understanding.
"The best scenario is the broad-based reintegration of all of the Pashtun elements," he said.
Another major problem for Obama, he said, is that Pakistani security forces are simply unable to undertake new operations.
Those forces are being over-stretched in the struggle to maintain internal security and from the ongoing South Waziristan offensive and an operation last summer to clear militants from the Swat Valley, 60 miles from Islamabad, he said.
Pakistani forces "have such a huge task ahead of them in fighting the Pakistani Taliban," Nawaz said. "That is their number one priority."
MORE FROM MCCLATCHY Goldman Sachs: Low Road to High Finance
Worried father turned in 5 Americans to Pakistani police
Pakistan: Americans allegedly sought to fight in Afghanistan Pakistani police arrest 5 Americans with alleged terror ties McChrystal: Getting bin Laden key to defeating al Qaida Check out McClatchy's politics blog: Planet Washington (e-mail: jlanday(at)mcclatchydc.com)