text:
Here's a concept that is tough to wrap your head around, but it needs to be addressed.
First, it's important to understand that in traditional publishing (which my friend Barry Eisler calls "Legacy Publishing"), time moves slowly.
When your agent sells you novel, it can take several months to get the contract.
Once you sign the contract, it can be months before you're paid.
Once you turn in the manuscript, it can be months, or even over a year, before your book is published.
The large, inefficient, unwieldy industry that is legacy publishing is painfully slow.
Because it takes so long, there is often a date set for publication. Some call this the sale date, or the release date. For bigger books, all bookstores hold off selling the title until this date arrives, so all retailers have an equal chance to sell it.
Prior to the release date, there's a lot of pre-launch promo that happens. Advertising, pre-orders, interviews, reviews--all of this hype is to build a buzz for the release, so everyone buys it. The more people that buy it during its first week of release, the bigger the book's chances at getting on a bestseller list.
This model usually results in big sales right away, then a trickle down until the sales reach a steady level, or eventually fall to nothing and the book goes out of print. This can take months, or even years, to happen. But it's always the same: start selling strong, then eventually sell very few, as the book is no longer regularly stocked on the bookstore shelves (or if it is stocked, it isn't in the quantities it once was.)
But release dates don't apply to ebooks. There is no reason to delay a release. What took two years for a legacy publisher can be done in two weeks by self-pubbing. Holding off on publishing the book is like letting money slip through your fingers.
It can take up to 18 months after the release date in order to get an accurate count on how well a book sells. That's because publishers often hold back reserves against returns. Since books are returnable for full price, they don't count copies shipped as copies sold, so they don't pay the author for a certain percentage of titles shipped.
You would think that publishers would pay the author on monies received from the retailer, but that would make too much sense, which means legacy publishing doesn't do that.
So the time you finish the book, until the time you get your first accurate royalty statement (and hopefully a royalty check to go with it), is usually around 3 years.
In them meantime, the only money you received for that book is the advance money. And since only 1 out of 5 books actually earns out the advance, that money may be the only money you ever see.
Now let's compare that to self-publishing.
When you write a book you plan on publishing yourself, you don't get an advance. That's a minus, especially if you'd like a large chunk of money upfront.
But that large chunck of money shouldn't be thought of as a payout. It should be thought of as a loan. More specifically, a balloon loan, which costs you more and more money as the years pass.
Self-pubbing doesn't give you money up front. But you make money sooner. And you ultimately make more money.
Scenario #1 - Legacy Publishing
1. Write a book - Takes as long as it takes.
2. Find an agent - Takes weeks to years. (it took me 8 years to land an agent)
3. Find a publisher - Takes weeks to months. (it took me 6 months to sell Afraid)
4. Get the contract - Takes weeks to months (I've heard 3 months from handshake to contract)
5. Get the advance money - Takes weeks to months (usually around 6 weeks)
6. Book is published - Takes 6 to 18 months after contract is signed (Whiskey Sour took 19 months). During this time all of the work is done on the book, editing, proofing, cover design, typesetting, printing, promotion, etc.
7. Get your first accurate royalty statement on how well the book sold (18 months after pub date)
Scenario #2 - Self Publishing
1. Write a book - Takes as long as it takes.
2. Edit, proofread, format, design cover, upload. - Takes one or two weeks.
3. Book is published - Two weeks or less after the book was written.
4. Get your first accurate sales figures - The next day, and every day after that.
5. Get paid - Two months after publication, and once a month after that.
Now, since time=money, which the the better scenario for the writer?
Technically, you get paid faster with self-publishing, though normally the check isn't as big as an advance will be. (I say "normally) because we earned over $5k the first month Draculas was released, and $5k is still the average advance for a debut author.)
Crazy as it sounds, every day your book isn't being sold, is a day lost that you could have been earning money.
The legacy publishing scenario--sell a bunch on the release, then trickle down to nothing--doesn't apply to ebooks. Ebooks often follow a bell curve. Sell a few at first, gain momentum and sell a lot, then gradually decrease in sales until they sell steadily.
In some ebook cases, it is more like a many-humped snake, with sales rising and falling for no discernible reason. I've had ebooks sell really well, then drop a bit for a month, then sell even more the month after that. Instead of the standard bell, the graph looks more like a snake going up a staircase--a wavy line on a gradual overall incline.
That's because ebooks NEVER stop selling. They aren't dependent on coop or shelf space. They don't get remaindered or stripped and returned.
If you look at many of the indies in the current Top 100 Kindle Bestsellers, most took months to get on that list. If they'd been legacy published, they would have been returned before they found their audience.
So, if you have an agent shopping a manuscript around, every day your book isn't for sale is a day you're not getting paid.
But Joe, you may ask, what about multiple book deals? Even if you never earn out your advance, won't you make more money annually because you keep signing contracts with a legacy publisher?
Let's look at the numbers. Imagine you signed a two book deal for $500k, and then signed another two book deal for $500k right afterward. Let's assume each $250k is paid out over a three year period.
A two book deal for $500k, minus agent commission, is $71k per book per year for three years.
This means you're getting $71k per book per year. So how quickly does this accrue?
Year 1: $71K
Year 2: $142K (because you also got paid for book 2 that you turned in)
Year 3: $213K (3rd year for book 1, 2nd year for book 2, 1st year for book 3)
Year 4: $213K (3rd year for book 2, 2nd year for book 3, 1st year for book 4)
Year 5: $213K (same as above)
Year 6: $213K (same as above)
and so on as long as you keep getting contracts.
Now let's look at self pubbing.
Year 1: $53K (based on 1600 sales a month at $3.99--a conservative estimate compared to some of my novels, which sell 2000-4000 a month)
Year 2: $106K (book 1 still earning, plus now book 2)
Year 3: $159K (books 1, 2, 3 all earning)
Year 4: $212K (books 1, 2, 3, 4 all earning)
Year 5: $265K (books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 all earning)
Year 6: $318K (all 6 books earning)
and so on, each year adding $53K.
So in six years, you made $1,065,000 through a traditional publisher.
On your own, you made $1,113,000 by self pubbing.
And each year after 6, you keep accruing.
I'll make $500,000 this year, with six novels, a collaborative novel, and a bunch of short stories, novellas, and collections.
You may make a bit more with a traditional deal the first few years, but then it becomes a very bad deal compared to self-pubbing. Akin to buying life insurance where you keep paying more per month for a diminishing final payoff.
And these numbers don't take into account how quickly you get paid.
Book launches are no longer necessary in self-publishing. In fact, every day the book isn't released, is a day it isn't earning money. And those days can add up, when compared to a legacy publishing schedule.
Let's say you already have an agent, and a completed manuscript.
If it takes six months to sell, you could have earned $26,000 on your own during that time.
If she finds a publisher, you could have made another $9000 in the time it takes to sign the contract and get the advance check.
By the time the book comes out (let's say 12 months later), you could have made another $52,000.
Does that big advance still look as attractive?
On a single book, with a $250k deal, you'd have made $212,500 from the day you finished writing it until you got your first accurate royalty statement, which is 40 months later (could be longer.)
In that same 40 months, you could have made $176,000 on your own. But the money keeps coming in, month after month, year after year.
Assuming you earn out your advance and sell 1600 ebooks a month at $5.99 through legacy pubbing (which is 25% royalties minus Amazon and agent fees, which equals 14.9%) you'll earn $16,700 a year after that.
With self pubbing, you'll continue to earn $53k a year.
See what I mean about a balloon loan or a bad life insurance policy?
At ten years, even if you earn out your advance of $212k you'll wind up earning around $328,000.
In ten years, self-pubbing, that book would have earned $530,000.
Now I'm being VERY broad with the numbers here. They don't include print sales (though I'm now making $100 a day on my self pubbed print books) because it assumea that within five years, print will be a subsidiary right.
It also assumes a $5.99 ebook will sell as many copies as a $3.99 ebook, which it won't. The $3.99 will sell many more.
And it assumes you'll earn out your $212k advance, when likely you won't.
It also assumes you'll sell well. You might not sell well self-pubbing. You might not sell well legacy pubbing, either.
But at least with self-pubbing you have forever to find that audience. An ebook selling poorly for a year is still earning some money. A book looking for an agent or an editor isn't making any money at all. And even if it does find a publisher, by the time it is published, you could have already made a nice bit of money.
And let's face it: very few authors get $250k advances.
Time=money. You can start making money as soon as your book is finished. Or you can spend months to years looking for an agent, selling the book, getting it published, hoping for a big advance, hoping it does well enough to earn out that advance. And even then, if the book earned out a big advance, you'll then be locked into a contract that pays you 14.9% instead of 70%.
That's a bad deal.
Instead of waiting around, crossing your fingers, to ultimately get screwed, self-pubbing is a much faster, and more lucrative, way to go.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
MMA JROTC and Mexico High School Detached JROTC
Missouri Military Academy held its annual Formal Inspection Friday. The Annual Formal Inspection (AFI) is an event cadets prepare for the entire school year. JROTC officials representing the U.S. Army arrived on campus at 8 a.m. to begin the full inspection. The day began with the Battalion Staff briefing, in which the senior cadet leaders brief the inspecting officers about what their responsibilities entail at MMA and recap what they have done in their position throughout the school year. Next the officials inspected the barracks. The commanders and platoon leaders of the companies led an inspection team member up and down each hallway to check the condition of each room and ask the room's occupants a few questions. After that was complete, the Corps of Cadets lined up in the Field House for the In Ranks Inspection. Here the inspection team examined each cadet in formation, checking to make sure uniforms and position were correct. The Battalion Review completed the day's events. During Review, the Battalion Commander, John Dillon '13 of Colorado Springs, Colo. was presented with the McArthur Award, which is given to the cadet who displays exemplary work in academics, leadership, and athletics. At the close of the inspection, once all paperwork is completed by the inspecting officials, MMA will find out if they once again earn the "JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction" status, which it has maintained for decades. Mexico High School Detached ROTC also participated in joint event. MHS JROTC and MMA JROTC conduct two joint classes – one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tech Faculty Members on Slate for AGU Offices, Oct. 25, 2001
SOCORRO, October 25, 2001 -- Two New Mexico Tech faculty members are on the slate of 64 candidates seeking offices on the governing body of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), an international scientific organization whose membership currently exceeds 35,000.
New Mexico Tech hydrology rofessor John L. Wilson II and geophysics professor Richard C. Aster are both listed on the ballot for the organization's upcoming elections, which start on November 2 and end on December 21.
Wilson is vying for the president-elect position of the Hydrology Section of AGU; while Aster is running for secretary of the Seismology Section of AGU.
Wilson, an AGU member since 1974 and an AGU Fellow since 1994, currently serves as chairman of New Mexico Tech's Earth and environmental science department. His research interests include groundwater hydrology, especially fluid flow and transport in porous, fractured, and faulted media, and geologic characterization. He has been a Tech faculty member since 1984.
Aster, an AGU member since 1987, lists earthquake and volcanic seismology and Earth structure as his major research areas of interest. He has been a geophysics professor at New Mexico Tech since 1991, and is also principal investigator for the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL), an international research center located on the Tech campus.
AGU was established in 1919 by the National Research Council as an organizational framework within which geophysicists from throughout the world can create programs and products needed to advance their interdisciplinary science, which is encompassed by the organization's 11 scientific sections.


text:
10 Fascinating Interviews with Legendary Journalist Mike Wallace
Just five months ago, the journalistic community lost 60 Minutes media personality Andy Rooney, and sadly Mike Wallace now joins him. The esteemed CBC reporter had an impressive career that spanned over sixty years, comprised of fascinating interviews with notable headliners. He spent decades asking tough questions, brazenly steering his interviews directly to the heart of the matter and getting answers audiences were dying to know. To share screen time with the legendary journalist could either signify your career's high points, or it's absolute lows. We've taken a look back at some of Wallace's most memorable chats with famous faces. Whether on 60 Minutes, or one of the media giant's earlier programs like The Mike Wallace Interview, these intriguing one-on-ones recall another era of journalism — with figures many of us would grapple at the chance to talk to — and Wallace was one of the best. Hit the jump to find out what the intrepid reporter asked of Malcolm X, Salvador Dalí, Ayn Rand, and others.
Ayn Rand
Mike Wallace got under Ayn Rand's skin when he called her Objectivism movement "Rand-ism" and declared her challenging philosophy — which was still largely unknown in America at that time (1959) — selfish. He goes on to tell the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged author that she talks about love "as if it was a business deal of some kind." She tells him, "Every business deal has to have its own terms and its own kind of currency … you love only those who deserve it." This is also the famous interview where Rand called herself "the most creative thinker alive."


text:
An article published today in the The Wall Street Journal reports that "when it comes to understanding medical information, even the most sophisticated patient may not be smarter than a fifth grader."
Sad news. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that nearly 9 out of 10 American adults are considered health illiterate, lacking the skills needed to manage their health.
The Institute of Medicine defines health literacy as "The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions."
Being health illiterate may affect your ability to fill out complex forms, manage your chronic disease, and understand how to take your meds. And for patients with implantable devices, it includes fully understanding the benefits and risks of device therapy.
Here's an example. A recent survey published by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), revealed that nearly a third of electronic implantable device patients and more than half of their caregivers did not recall being told about the risks of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of implant.
The survey also found that 3 in 10 device
patients have had an MRI despite the risks, and of this group, nearly 20%
reported problems with their electronic implantable device after having had the MRI.
Educate yourself. Limited health literacy amounts to as much as $238 billion a year in unnecessary health care costs. It also leads to poorer health outcomes, and that's definitely something you cannot afford.
The complete Wall Street Journal article can be found here.


text:
Rei Kawakubo...
Rei Kawakubo breaks my heart with the lyricism of her collection. From the crushed metal of last season to Poiret roses and bows and ballooning Venetian sleeves. Garage mechanic poets in carnival printed velvets.
Rei Kawakubo breaks my heart with the lyricism of her collection. From the crushed metal of last season to Poiret roses and bows and ballooning Venetian sleeves. Garage mechanic poets in carnival printed velvets.
Fallen for Iris Van Herpen's luminous descriptions of the spaces between . Tonal drawings . Iridescent prismic magic.
Living in the limelight
Ipads in the changing room...
Gareth Pugh's show in boarded up palais - stucco and chandeliers and heartbreak. A war zone of unrequited love - bare branches scribbled like nerve endings across mourning grey and black. Austere, febrile passionate - just brilliant!
Karl's Lagerfeld store opening. Monochrome rammed with cameras.
Back from snow lagged Prague. Haunted by black Madonnas and wide eyed saints, Kafka's pain, and jagged gravestones in the Jewish cemetery. But climbing up to the castle and finding the Casper Freidrich moonlit painting was a blast.
Sam shaved the back of my hair - I am free - and he's a genius.
Paris. Rainbows for luck. Going to buy everything by the Chromatics.
Autumn. Returned from stormy France to this slanting yellow light. Garden article hanging over my head like a spook. Keep wandering out into the turning rust and chill of the evening to pick blackberries - anything but write. Sometimes the beauty of the day or the slew of stars or the strange magnification of the moonlight makes the idea of not watching unbearable. As if to try and reproduce that feeling would mean missing another intensity.
Made my pilgrimage to the sea. I never thought I would be well enough. I was so happy to lie in the waves. Something about that breaking water, the suddeness and the whiteness in the blue makes me very happy as if every laughing snapshot of my childhood rises and falls in each wave.
Trying to piece together the drift in me. Good to be away in the dry mistral but I miss the green and grey and the old brown river at bottom of the banky field.
My summer of dreaming - film ideas, painting and the novel. My summer of loss - the two grey mares, the ghost cat. My summer of discovery - of guessed connections, of places like home which become stranger and more beautiful, of grey light and rain and the wind in the oaks, of finding that I am recrossing ancient tracks, recognizing everything that I thought I had lost and so finding them again.
Watched De Sica's ' Bicycle Thieves' - how suffering, deprivation, injustice forces the good man's heart to do the thing he knows is evil. What is evil? What is the devil that rides on all our backs alert to that tremor of doubt, ready to dig in its claws as unforgiving as the earth's core. A brilliant, searing film - the light, the sense of the world and of man struggling within it, the shadow of cruelty and the sun after rain. Art transposes the real - but it is not just reality - art sifts and refocuses and sharpens. I also saw Shadow Dancer but here the story was confused even if the light and composition of the film was moving and powerful - Riseborough and Gleeson are brilliant, wrenched and suffering - the corruption and dirt of the policed world never added up in the way it did in Tinker Tailor...Other films - the stunning Les Enfants du Paradis, Arnold's short Wasp and Ramsay's Ratcatcher - all so inspiring. Want to get on with film project with Nick!
Harvest home. Intense relief after the months of deluge.
The barn has never been so full. Now I need to harvest the edit of my novel. Have got lost in the rewrites - a thicket of brambles and thistles.
Nuits Blanches. No sleep in the city of light. Averaging about five hours has left me jagged. Show on 3rd. Wondering if I'll get there.


text:
|Click Here to Login
« Anniversary of 11-M 2004: March 2005 | State Visit from Hungary to Spain: January 31-February 2, 2005 »
Our communities encompass many different hobbies and interests, but each one is built on friendly, intelligent membership.
» More about our Communities
Our Marine websites focus on Cruising and Sailing Vessels, including forums and the largest cruising Wiki project on the web today.
» More about our Marine Communities


text:
Blessed Sixth Patriarch's Day
Post Reply
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Blessed Sixth Patriarch's Day
Today, the 8th March 2014, 8th Day of the 2nd Lunar Month, Upavasatha Day, the Chinese Mahayana Tradition commemorates the Sixth Patriarch of Chán, Dàjiàn Huìnéng
Re: Blessed Sixth Patriarch's Day
"Can you let us know for how many generations the Dharma has been transmitted, from the appearance of the earliest Buddha up to now?" asked the disciples.
"The Buddhas who have appeared in this world are too many to be counted," replied the Patriarch. "But let us start from the last seven Buddhas. They are:--
Of the last Kalpa, the Alamkarakalpa: Buddha Vipassin, Buddha Sikhin, Buddha Vessabhu.
Of the present Kalpa (the Bhadrakalpa): Buddha Kakusundha, Buddha Konagamana, Buddha Kassapa, Buddha Gautama (Sakyamuni).
"From the Buddha Sakyamuni, the Law was transmitted to the:
1st Patriarch Arya Mahakasyapa (It was then in turn transmitted to)
2nd Patriarch Arya Ananda
3rd Patriarch Arya Sanavasa
4th Patriarch Arya Upagupta
5th Patriarch Arya Dhritaka
6th Patriarch Arya Michaka
7th Patriarch Arya Vasumitra
8th Patriarch Arya Buddhanandi
9th Patriarch Arya Buddhamitra
10th Patriarch Arya Parsva
11th Patriarch Arya Punyayasas
12th Patriarch Bodhisattva Asvaghosa
13th Patriarch Arya Kapimala
14th Patriarch Bodhisattva Nagarjuna
15th Patriarch Kanadeva
16th Patriarch Arya Rahulata
17th Patriarch Arya Sanghanandi
18th Patriarch Arya Sangayasas
19th Patriarch Arya Kumarata
20th Patriarch Arya Jayata
21st Patriarch Arya Vasubandhu
22nd Patriarch Arya Manura
23rd Patriarch Arya Haklenayasas
24th Patriarch Arya Sinha
25th Patriarch Arya Vasiastia
26th Patriarch Arya Punyamitra
27th Patriarch Arya Prajnatara
28th Patriarch Arya Bodhidharma (the first Patriarch in China)
29th Patriarch Grand Master Hui Ke
30th Patriarch Grand Master Seng Can
31st Patriarch Grand Master Dao Xin
32nd Patriarch Grand Master Hung Ren
And I am the 33rd Patriarch (i.e.,the 6th Patriarch in China). Thus, by pupillary, the Dharma was handed down from one Patriarch to another.
Hereafter, you men should in turn transmit it to posterity by passing it on from one generation to another, so that the tradition may be maintained.
Text Translation: Dunhuang Version Zongbao / Yuan-Ming Version: 1 2 3 4
Articles: 1 2 3
Re: Blessed Sixth Patriarch's Day
"In the functioning of the Essence of Mind and in conversation with others, outwardly we should free ourselves from attachment to objects, whence come contact with objects; and inwardly, with regard to the teaching of the 'Void,' we should free ourselves from the idea of Nihilism. To believe in the reality of objects or in Nihilism would result in deep-rooted fallacious views or intensified ignorance respectively.
"A bigoted believer in Nihilism blasphemes against the Sutras on the ground that literature (i.e., the Buddhist Scriptures) is unnecessary (for the study of Buddhism).
If that were so, then neither would it be right for us to speak, since speech forms the substance of literature. He would also argue that in the direct method (literally, the straight Path) literature is discarded. But does he appreciate that the two words 'is discarded' are also literature? Upon hearing others speak of Sutras, such a man would criticize the speakers as 'addicted to scriptural authority'. It is bad enough for him to confine this mistaken notion to himself, but in addition, he blasphemes against the Buddhist scriptures. You men should know that it is a serious offence to speak ill of the Sutras, for the consequence is grave indeed!
"He who believes in the reality of outward objects tries to seek the form (from without) by practicing a certain system of doctrine. He may furnish spacious lecture-halls for the discussion of Realism or Nihilism, but such a man will not for numerous Kalpas realize the Essence of Mind.
Chapter X. His Final Instructions
Today, the 27th March 2015, 8th Day of the 2nd Lunar Month, Upavasatha Day, the Chinese Mahayana Tradition commemorates the Sixth Patriarch of Chán, Dàjiàn Huìnéng
Post Reply
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


text:
A Prison of Our Own Making
There are times in our life when we may feel trapped and caught up in circumstances or situations over which we have absolutely no control. Whether it's an unhappy or unhealthy relationship, an addiction, a boring job or a career that's going nowhere, we find ourselves looking for an escape, but somehow can't seem to find a way out, or a path forward.
An individual who is in jail or prison would seem to be the prime example of a person who is powerless and doesn't have the ability to make any choices or decisions to improve their current situation. It's no surprise that there is gang activity, rape, and drug abuse behind bars -- undoubtedly, for some, these seem to be the only choices they have to exert any kind of power or control.
When a person tests positive for HIV, they may often feel a similar sense of loss of power or control, and for those who find out they're positive when they enter a correctional facility, that powerlessness is multiplied. This is a crucial point in their viral life cycle, if you will. The support systems they could have had in place, such as family, friends, other people living with HIV who they can trust, a good doctor who is knowledgeable about HIV and AIDS, and access to quality health care and treatment, can make all the difference in how well a person manages their diagnosis and their health going forward. But there are often times when even more basic needs, such as food, housing, substance abuse and/or mental health treatment, and employment, must first be addressed before someone can even consider treatment.
In March of 2007 I was invited to give a talk on AIDS activism at the Los Angeles County Jail, the largest county jail in the U.S., which has 20,000 inmates at any given time. Housed in the men's tower of the immense twin tower jail is the K-11 unit, where inmates who are gay, bisexual, or transgender can choose to live in a segregated facility (see "The K-11 Unit" in the May/June 2007 issue).
The experience for me was scary, exhilarating, and illuminating, all at once. It certainly quashed any gay prison sex fantasies I may have had, and it was nothing like the homoerotic scenes from the HBO series "Oz." After going through security and walking down what seemed liked endless hallways and locked, barred doors, I found myself standing in a glass control room which was stationed in the center of a large gymnasium-like room, with bunk beds all around, and no privacy whatsoever. The inmates who were in for murder or violent crimes were sectioned off from the rest of the unit, and it was all quite dehumanizing. It makes one wonder what living with the rest of the general population of the jail must be like, to choose to live in K-11.
I did learn a very valuable lesson that day, in that the experience shattered any preconceived notions I had held up until then about individuals who are behind bars. As I spoke to a group of about 50-60 men, I realized that these guys were bright, articulate, and eager to learn about HIV, and they blew me away with their knowledge and their questions. It was obvious that they had made a choice to exert some power over their own set of circumstances, and take control of their future. It gave me hope, and it was an experience I will never forget.
Just like those men in the K-11 unit had taken control of their lives and the situations they found themselves in, so can we all. If you're in an unhealthy relationship, get out. If you are suffering from an addiction, seek help. And if you don't like your job, well, at least you have one. Deal with that situation at work that makes you miserable. Or maybe it's time to think about going back to school so that you can get a job that's more fulfilling. Stand up for yourself, believe in yourself, and make that change, because believe me, no one is going to do it for you. You may just be in a prison of your own making, or you may be behind bars, but remember that you have the power to tear down those internal bars and start building a better life, one in which you are empowered to make healthy and positive choices that are good for you, and good for those you care about. The limits and challenges of living in any kind of prison, be it in our minds, our bodies, or the real thing, are never more powerful than our will to survive.
Take care of yourself, and each other.
Got a comment on this article? Write to us at email@example.com.


text:
Big Lottery Fund financial directions for the National Lottery
The financial directions issued to the Big Lottery Fund to ensure that the lottery funds it distributes are properly managed and controlled.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport sets the policy and financial framework within which the distributing bodies for National Lottery grants operate. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport issues policy and financial directions to the English and UK-wide lottery distributing bodies, apart from the Big Lottery Fund. The Minister for the Cabinet Office issues policy directions to the Big Lottery Fund.
The policy directions set the framework within which the distributing bodies operate. These include considerations relating to:
- who can receive funding
- what the funding can used for
- the conditions the distribution body must meet
The financial directions relate to financial propriety and efficiency. They are designed to secure the proper management and control by a distributing body of the lottery funds available to it.


text:
Dear Tennis Friends,
We are just wrapping up week one of an eight week session. I have several positions to fill in the Fall Singles Season of my flextennis league. I have openings for High A players and High C Players in the Clear Lake area. I also have openings for A and B level players in the Katy area. Have some openings in the Sugarland / Richmond area, too.
Of course, a player of any level or location is welcome to sign up for the fall waiting list. If I can't work you into the schedule rotation of a regular play group in your area I will still try to help you find some matches and will stay in touch with you regarding one day regional events in your area.
This flextennis league was the 'ORIGINAL" flex league in Houston that started back in 2003. Since then there have been many other leagues come and go. I took over coordinating the league from the league's founder who is good friend of mine. I am now in my third season with running flextennis and am committed to great personal customer service and growing tennis in every part of Houston and the surrounding area.
Message me here on tennisopolis or go to http://flextennis.com and sign up for the fall waiting list.
Thanks for your consideration,
Coach Sam Chadwell
Views: 88
Replies to This Discussion
By the way, I also manage the Columbia Lakes Tennis Center in West Columbia and direct the tennis programs for the Alvin Community College Fitness Center in Alvin, and also the City of League City's Parks and Recreation Department.
I am establishing a strong tennis presence all along the gulf coast between Matagorda and Galveston and plan to have a new flextennis.com league established for southern Brazoria and Matagorda counties by spring 2014, too.
In addition to the areas that I am personally associated with I have coaching friends all over town who are helping me grow the game and connect players to each other. Looking forward to helping you get connected in your tennis area! ~Coach Sam
Andres... Thanks for your response. I will put you in touch with some players in the Woodlands area!
~Coach Sam
© 2019 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


text:
GameXplain: "We played Lego City Undercover for an hour! Find out all about how it plays, its usage of the GamePad, and how it stacks up to Lego Batman in our video preview!"
I've been looking forward to this. Good to hear it's similar to Batman.
I love the lego games!
Lego games make crazy :)
day one for me
me too.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


text:
Selena Gomez Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction at Radio Concert in Boston [Video]
Oops! Selena Gomez suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction while performing at the 103.3 AMP Radio Birthday Bash in Boston on Sunday, June 30. She wore a yellow dress and was dancing feverishly when a gust of wind came along and Sel showed a little leg... And perhaps something more, thanks to the slits in the skirt.
How much and what the singer showed is a matter of conjecture and perception.
Sources are reporting that Sel flashed Spanx, which as most of you know are shapewear garments that are meant to smooth, restrict bulges and avoid any sort of pantylines. However, in some images, it doesn't look like underwear. It looks like... skin. That would mean that Gomez went commando while performing.
So either she wore flesh-colored Spanx… Or nothing at all. It's really not clear. All we know is that she was likely not counting on flashing anyone, sans undies or with Spanx.
Sel was filmed performing 'Slow Down' and you can see her struggling with her dress, trying to hold it down and smooth it and as gusts of wind come her way.
She also performed 'Love You Like a Love Song' and can be seen fidgeting with the slits.
Watch Selena Gomez Perform 'Love You Like a Love Song' at Boston Radio Show


text:
Team Badger Funeral March
As the clock struck 12 noon on Tuesday 8th September 2015 in London's Smith Square, home of DEFRA, a hearse rolled into view. It was a 1934 Austin known as JJ; as it circled you could clearly see the two metre long tributes of white chrysanthemums proclaiming Team Badger and #failingbadgercull. Perhaps, most poignantly, the metre square floral cushion simply stating the number 2263
a reference to the number of badgers, pointlessly killed in the cull zones in 2013 and 2014.
Team Badger, the coalition of animal welfare charities committed to stopping the badger culls in England, were gathering. The assembled crowd went to a muted hush as Brian May, legendary guitarist and founder member of Queen finished his press interviews and joined the crowd around the small hearse.
Around a hundred placard bearing supporters left Smith Square in silence, behind a sombre Brian May with the hearse following at a ceremonial pace behind. As they walked the short distance to Old Palace Yard, the symbolical funeral and procession, marched with genuine respect for the deceased, even the London traffic slowed to walking pace as surprised drivers looked out to see a world renowned rock star leading the funeral procession.
After the assembled photographers and journalists had got the pictures and quotes they wanted, the funeral procession joined the several hundred supporters, resplendent in black and white outfits and stunning paper badger masks already at Old Palace Yard.
Brian May took to the steps of George 1V Statue to speak.
He then went on to introduce Angela Smith MP.
Followed by Hilary Jones Director of Ethics at Lush UK.
Before Brian introduced Will Travers OBE from the Born Free Foundation
the crowd were captivated. Every speaker had a unique viewpoint but a consistent message - the Badger cull is scientifically flawed and will never solve the serious issues that farmers face of bTB in cattle, in fact, it will probably make things worse.
Supporting this view, the next speaker was Marc Abraham, known as TV's Marc the Vet.
The crowd really warmed when the ever popular Green Party MP Caroline Lucas took to the stage.
Dr Iain McGill, Veterinarian and leader of Vets and Vet Nurses against the Badger Cull spoke next
, before crowd favourite Pauline Kidner, founder of Secret World Rescue Centre in Somerset, the only organisation to carry out and publish results of autopsies for badgers killed in the zone.
Afterwards, the speakers freely moved around in the crowd with Brian May stopping for countless selfies before finally exiting stage right. The government claim that the culling of badgers is a part of a wider twenty-five-year policy, however, the purpose of the pilot culls in Gloucestershire, Somerset and now Dorset is only to test the effectiveness of free shooting badgers.
The government's handling of these pilot culls has been shambolic. Firstly, they quoted badger population figures that caused the NFU to demand a recount, which the government dutifully backed down and produced the lower figures demanded by the NFU. No culling took place in 2012. In 2013, they had to extend the six-week cull period by a further three weeks as they had fallen below target. Somerset eventually achieved their target by cage-trapping and shooting badgers (they could have been vaccinated just as easily) whilst Gloucestershire still fell dramatically short.
In 2014, with targets reduced still further, the company in Somerset achieved the target by using cage trap and shoot, almost exclusively, raising the costs of every badger killed to around £5500. Once again Gloucestershire missed its target. It is a matter of researched scientific fact, that if you don't reduce the badger population in the agreed cull zones by 70% within the time period, note the RBCT trials, which are still the most recent data available on culling badgers recommended 2 weeks maximum, but the government, in their wisdom (or perhaps weakness in front of the NFU) extended that period to 6 weeks with some back of a fag packet type workings out.
After all these failings, Natural England still decided that the cull companies could have their licences reissued for 2015. How many companies would reward that level of incompetence and failure with a new contract?
In 2015, the targets set by Natural England are low, very low. In Somerset, less than 10 badgers a week, yet already, the chief protagonist and cull tsar - Owen Paterson has made outrageous claims of the success of the trials in previous years, whilst Farming Minister George Eustace appears to be lead, like a bull with a ring through its nose by the NFU. If they say jump, it appears he simply asks how high?
This suggests to most people that the badger culls are not justified on the scientific evidence or animal welfare. They are not helping farmers who have their herds ravaged by disease and are being denied available options.
Could political power be the main driver? The culls are demanded and organised by a small group of large landowners, collectively known as the National Farmers Union (NFU), a body that represents less than 20% of the farming industry, and yet, it appears gets to dictate government policy. The government's failure to stand up to the NFU's demands is perhaps explained by the "countryside vote" that had just enough sway to get a conservative coalition elected at the 2010 election. To put it simply, the NFU want paying back for that and a badger cull seems to be the agreed currency.


text:
Here's a little christmas present for you all: The Original Tuxedo Jass Band playing "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" in the TV studios of Südwestfunk Baden-Baden in autumn 1964. This clip is just a part of the band's appearance that was broadcasted in the series "Jazz gehört und gesehen" (Jazz heard and seen) in 1965.
You will see (and hear!) Joshua "Jack" Willis (tp) Waldren "Frog" Joseph (tb) Joseph "Cornbread" Thomas (cl,vcl) Jeanette Kimball (p) Albert "Papa" French (bj,g) Frank Fields (b) Louis Barbarin (d).
Thanks to the late Otto Flückiger and to Benne Vischer!
(and a happy new year!)


text:
You must be a Premium Member to access product details. If you are not a Premium Member and would like instant access to view product details, you may enroll by clicking on WebStore and select the Premium Membership term that best meets your needs. Once your Premium Membership is processed (usually takes 30-60 seconds), you will have full access to the product evaluations and previews.
If you are already a Premium Member, please login.
Member Login


text:
Let's talk about reviews.
The four main reviewing publications are Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. There are also hundreds of newspapers and magazines, and thousands of websites, that review books. Some reviewers are professional (paid.) Some are semi-professional (not paid but they appear in respectable publications.) Some are simply readers without any writing experience who share their thoughts on Amazon.com or elsewhere.
If you're a writer, you want to be reviewed in as many places as possible. A good review in a respectable publication will lead to three important things: in-house enthusiasm, bookseller and library orders, and sales to fans.
Consider Marcus Sakey, whose novel The Blade Itself recently received a starred review in PW which said, "A brilliant debut and a must-read, filled with unbearable tension." Will that help him sell some books? Of course it will. Do you think that made his publisher happy? Of course it did. It also made Marcus happy, and for three days afterward he was forced to tether himself to a chair to keep from floating away.
Any review is better than no review at all. Whiskey Sour received some good reviews: "The best debut of the year so far." - Chicago Sun Times, and "A fine debut thriller." - Kirkus.
But it also received some less than glowing reviews: "This ill-conceived cross between Carl Hiaasen and Thomas Harris should appeal to less-descriminating suspense fans." - PW.
Bloody Mary also got reamed by PW: "Konrath's predictable sequel is no more original than its predecessor."
Oddly enough, PW's review of Rusty Nail began: "Konrath's third outing to feature Chicago police lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, like its predecessors, Whiskey Sour and Bloody Mary, offers violent thrills peppered with hilarious one-liners."
Even bad reviews can sell books. It's better to be talked about in negative terms than not talked about at all. A review has your name and book title on it. If a person sees your name and title enough, it will stick in their head. You want to stick in their head.
Some writers claim they don't read their reviews, and perhaps they are telling the truth. I read all of my reviews. But I don't listen to any of my reviews. I don't take them to heart. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and all opinions are valid. I'd much rather have someone read me and hate me than never try me at all.
How does one get reviewed? It isn't easy. Reveiwers are bombarded with books. If your book is a lead title, you're a brand author, or there's a lot of buzz about it, you're likelier to be reviewed. Your publisher (or you) sends advanced reading copies to reviewers at least three months ahead of your street date, and you cross your fingers.
I didn't get as many reviews for Rusty Nail than I did for my previous books. This is something I'm going to work on changing for Dirty Martini. My plan is to send out the books myself, signed copies with personalized letters. David Ellis did this with In the Company of Liars, and tripled the number of reviews he normally received.
The hitman anthology I edited, These Guns for Hire, hits the streets today. It just received a glowing review in Booklist, which said: "Readers who aren't keen on stories about paid assassins probably will pass on this collection, but that's their loss. For everyone else, it's a guaranteed hit." Library Journal also commented: "The many pleasures of pulp are here in abundance, befitting on several levels the anthology's subject."
I was happy. My publisher was happy. Hopefully it will help us sell a few.
Amazon.com has allowed reader comments for many years now. But just recently, they have allowed people to comment on comments. If you don't agree with a user review, you can post a rebuttle connected to their review.
I've gotten my share of negative reviews on Amazon, and when I saw that I was now able to reply to some of my critics, I considered it. But what would be the point? Would starting a flame war with some reader on Amazon help me sell books, or make me look like a petty egotist?
So I haven't replied to any comments. I do, however, encourage everyone who has read my books to leave comments on Amazon. We should all do that. I've reviewed several dozen books on Amazon, because it's a simple and effective way to support my peers.
And speaking of supporting your peers, while you're on Amazon pick up my latest Amazon Short collection, A Six Pack of Crime. It's six mystery thriller stories (over 15k words) for only 49 cents. There's a Jack Daniels story, and a Phineas Troutt story (which I consider the best thing I've ever written) and four more crime tales, some funny, some nail-biting.
All the cool kids are doing it. Get yours today.
And after you've read it, feel free to review it. Who knows? You may be hitting me up for a blurb one day...
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Happy New Year everyone! I'm excited to start 2014 and hope to share plenty of colourful posts with all of you. For some reason, I always love seeing images of confetti testing in Times Square ahead of the enormous televised event. While it doesn't have the spectacle (or millions of people) of actual New Year's Eve, there is something rather magical about a smattering of colour raining down on people as they go about their regular lives. Also, I like the idea that people take vibrant confetti this seriously (the test of "airworthiness" occurs every year on December 29 at 11:00 am from the eighth floor windows of the Times Square Alliance office). On NYE, over one ton of confetti is thrown from various buildings in Times Square. Now, how does one get that gig?
(photographs via benjamin chasteen/the epoch times and zimbio)


text:
What I've done is built a simple Gantt chart. What I'd like to do is be able to handle mouse clicks on the Gantt bars. Ideally, I'd like the user to be able to drag the bar back and forth on the horizontal axis but... baby steps for now.
It's trivial get the mouse coordinates from the click event, but is there a way to get GanttPlot to report where the bars are located, so I could get the dataset index, or something?
AxisPlot.ToDataCoords() looks promising, but I have no idea how to how to return my AxisPlots from the plot. Is there a GanttPlot.GetAxis(AXIS_LEFT) that I missed?
Thanks for reading this. I did a search and I didn't find anything but I apologize in advance if this has been answered elsewhere.
Richard W.
Events in wxFreeChart
Talk here about issues with one of the components hosted at wxCode, or suggest features for it.
Post Reply
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: Events in wxFreeChart
I don't know wxFreeChart, but looking at the class hierarchy, GanttPlot derives from AxisPlot and there you find several GetDatasetAxis methods. Maybe these help?
http://wxcode.sourceforge.net/docs/free ... sPlot.html
http://wxcode.sourceforge.net/docs/free ... sPlot.html
Use the source, Luke!
Re: Events in wxFreeChart
I did see those but I couldn't understand why they need a Dataset as a parameter as one has already been passed to the plot. But maybe I don't understand something yet. I'll continue to work on this.
Re: Events in wxFreeChart
Just to give an update, I completely chickened out. Instead of using wxFreeChart, I rolled my own Gantt chart using a grid bag sizer. It's not as pretty, but grabbing events is much easier. It looks like events are on the original developer's todo list, but the last update was some time ago so they might not happen.
I hope somebody else has better luck than me.
I hope somebody else has better luck than me.
Post Reply
4 posts • Page 1 of 1


text:
I'm going to be in a wedding! A bridesmaid to be precise! I don't know much about weddings. The last wedding and reception I attended was when I was like 5. We are lucky I remember that (I don't remember my childhood, much less what I did 3 days ago). Now I am in the wedding! We call it a wedding, but really its a statement of vows, or both. There never was a wedding or exchange of vows, whoops. So it is pretty much a wedding, I guess. How could this be, you ask?!
Did you know in Colorado you can have someone stand in for the other half? That is what my brother and now sister-in-law did. The best part was, the stand in for my sister-in-law was a dude. To be precise my parents best man. How cute?
It is probably important to know why they did this. She was at boot camp. He had already finished and was an officer, in the military. It isn't the best to sleep with your boss, ya know? Especially in the military. They just failed to think of this before she was confined to boot camp. Now the wedding is in February. They aren't much for the planning ahead. Excited none the less. Do you know anyone who has gotten married in this way? Or any good wedding laughs? I'd love to hear them!
Believe it or not, the above story is slightly related to these cookies. I'm mailing them to my sister-in-law, in Texas. Another twist to their little love story: they've spent a lot of time apart. BUT she comes home in 2 1/2 weeks, for good!
These cookies are from the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook. This is a pretty great book. A lot of it is pretty involved but oh so very interesting. Beet-lime white chocolate ganache? Intrigued. Plus I don't live in New York. AKA New York is being brought to me instead.
I've been wanting to make these for a while and a friend recently was nagging me for the recipe. Perfect reason to make them. Plus, I have been all about the sweet, salty and unexpected. Chips and pretzels in your cookie? YUM!
These come out as giant sized cookies. In case you like 'em smaller, take note of that. You only use 1/4 of the graham crust, but I took their suggestion and froze it for later use. I plan to make these for the holidays anyways. Screw traditional cookies, someone else will make them. Another great tip, freeze them for later. The finished product is rich and sweet, with whole pretzel crunch surprises.
Graham Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup milk powder
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup heavy cream
Cookie batter:
2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup graham crust
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
2 teaspoons ground coffee
50g (2 cups) chips
50g mini (1 cup) pretzels
- Combine the butter, sugars, and corn syrup in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream together on medium-high for 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg and vanilla, and beat for 7-8 minutes, until pale and fluffy (almost doubled).
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture. Mix just until the dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute (you don't want to over mix the batter!).
- Still on low speed, add the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, graham crust, oats, and coffee and mix just until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add the potato chips and pretzels and paddle, still on low speed, until just incorporated. Don't overmix or risk breaking too many of the pretzels or potato chips!
- Using a 2 3/4-ounce ice cream scoop (or a 1/3-cup measuring cup), portion out the dough onto a parchment-lined sheet pan. Pat the tops of the cookie dough domes flat. Wrap the sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 week. Do not bake your cookies from room temperature--they will not bake properly (did you see all that butter you put in there!?).
- Heat the oven to 375F.
- Arrange the chilled dough a minimum of 4 inches apart on parchment- or silpat-lined sheet pans (these cookies do spread like crazy, give 'em space. I put 5 per pan). Bake for 18 minutes (I'd check them at about 16 minutes, depending on your oven). The cookies will puff, crackle, and spread. After 18 minutes, they should be very faintly browned on the edges yet still bright yellow in the center. Give them an extra minute or so if that's not the case.
- Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pans before transferring to a plate or an airtight container for storage. At room temp, cookies will keep fresh for 5 days; in the freezer, they will keep for 1 month.
Recipe by Momofuku Milk Bar


text:
Find the 2012 Fantasy Football Projected Stats you need to build a solid roster, right here at The Huddle. As your number one source for fantasy football information, The Huddle's projected stats include a wide range of the important player and league information. As a Huddle member, you'll be able to view the most up-to-date 2012 fantasy football projections and stats, as well as have access to historical player statistics. Find fantasy football picks and stat projections by player or by position, from quarterbacks, to receivers, to IDP. With The Huddle's 2012 fantasy football projections, you'll have all the stats and information you need to come away a winner from this year's draft. Sign up to get access to all of our fantasy football resources.
Eliminate uncertainty and trust our team of experts to provide fantasy football projections you can count on. From draft day and through the season, make your decisions with the help of projected stats and historical player statistics.
No matter what type of league you're competing in, The Huddle puts dependable information at your fingertips. Start by signing up today and discover how fantasy football projections from our experts can give you an unrivaled edge in your league.


text:
GNN – All The News From A2G
Just like you, I am not a big fan of the news. We hardly ever hear of anything positive and some of the stories just seem like bold faced lies. If you want my honest opinion, I think it's a bunch of shit. That all changes today. Keep your browser tuned into According2g.com, where you'll read about all the news from A to G on GNN – The G Noose Netwerk.
Today in the noose:
CHRIS BROWN says he still feels for RHIANNA. He feels like he wants to beat her again and then deny it ever happened.
The United States is trying to extradite ROMAN POLANSKI from Switzerland. Clearly, there's nothing else more pressing in the country than solving a 30 year old crime.
NOKIA sues APPLE. Reports run rampant that pears are looking into litigation with grapes.
COOKIE JOHNSON, wife of basketball legend MAGIC JOHNSON, is introducting a line of jeans for "curvy but fit women." How original. Speaking of MAGIC JOHNSON, ISIAH THOMAS claims to be hurt by a new book that MAGIC wrote. Apparently, ISIAH dropped the tome on his foot and it hurts!
Tennis star CAROLINE WOZNIACKI is being investigated for possibly throwing a tennis match. I wouldn't bet on it.
Football pro CEDRIC BENSON, who was dumped by the Bears after two alcohol related offenses says he has a score to settle with them. He further went on to say, "Meet me at Blake's lounge tonight and I'll drink your ass under the table."
There's a scramble to get the H1N1 vaccine out to the public. A spokesperson said "We're very excited for you to see our release slate for upcoming diseases that we're rolling out for the Christmas season."


text: One of my favorite pastimes while in Dubai & Sharjah is to photograph all the photos and paintings of the various Sheikhs in every single building that you enter. They all vary in scale, medium, and content but all are fascinating. I think we should take this practice up in the states, plastering Obama's photos and paintings behind every single business desk.


text:
1. require - verb
· require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent"
Synonym(s): necessitate, ask, postulate, need, take, involve, call_for, demand
2. require - verb
· consider obligatory; request and expect; "We require our secretary to be on time"; "Aren't we asking too much of these children?"; "I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons"
Hypernym(s): demand
3. require - verb
· make someone do something
Synonym(s): command
Hypernym(s): order, tell, enjoin, say
4. require - verb
· have need of; "This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner"
Hypernym(s): be
The only site you need for word puzzles, home work, anagrams and scrabble games. The best site for two word anagram solutions.
Enter the letters to get anagrams for the word
Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and related words
Enter the word below with '?' to indicate missing letters
Enter the word to find the rhymes
Enter the letters of the beginning, middle or end of the word.
Unscramble.net is the free tool to unscramble letters and words for games like Text Twist, Words with Friends, Scrabble, Word Scraper, and of course the ever popular Jumble newspaper puzzle. It is also great for homework problems that frustrate many parents and students. Unscramble.net provides one and two word unscramble solutions from its extensive 280,000 word list that includes technical, medical and slang words. There is no limit to the number of letters entered for one word unscrambles and the site also provides for rhyming words and dictionary definitions for many of the unscrambled words. Two word unscramble results are provided in two formats for easy comprehension by the user. There is no limit to the number of word combinations provided whether for one or two word unscramble solution sets.
The site is mobile friendly and fully https/tls security compliant. Fast and easy, unscramble.net provides the most accurate and complete word, letter and anagram solutions available. Trust the oldest and most reliable unscramble tool on the net. Word lists are constantly being updated from reliable sources. Android and iOS apps are coming soon.


text:
This new, regular feature on NHLNumbers will share interesting stats-related posts from around the web almost every day.
Welcome to edition number four of the rebooted Number Chains. In this space you will be able to find the best analytical hockey writing from around the internet on a close-to-daily basis. Subject matter will include statistical evaluation, financial analysis, contractual issues, and (sometimes) closely-related tangential works. If you have something you would like to submit for a future edition (your writing or that of someone else) feel free to send it to me via Twitter @JoshL1220 or leave a comment.
Ken Campbell's latest column for The Hockey News delves into an idea ex-NHLPA czar Paul Kelly suggested for bridging the gap between the two sides in the labor struggle. The idea Kelly floated was to expand the league by two teams into fertile markets to grow the pie for everyone.
Not that anybody is asking, since he was kicked to the curb by his own dysfunctional constituents three years ago, but former NHL Players' Association executive director Paul Kelly has some thoughts on what might ease the logjam. And it has to do with expansion, specifically to suburban Toronto (Markham) and Quebec City. As Kelly sees it, making expansion a part of the conversation when it comes to the new collective bargaining agreement could bring both sides closer to realizing their goals.
"If the NHLPA hasn't raised it as a potential part of the solution, then it ought to," Kelly said. "Maybe they've tried and had the door slammed in their face from what we're seeing, but it really makes a great deal of sense."
As Campbell points out in the story, adding two expansion teams would require the NHL and NHLPA to change the definition of Hockey Related Revenue to include expansion fees. It would also require the NHL to annoy the Maple Leafs and Canadiens by putting teams in their backyards, but as Campbell also points out that doesn't seem to be a sticking point with the Islanders moving to the Barclays Center, six miles away from the Rangers. The idea is simple, but also radical at this stage of the negotiations. It's at least interesting to consider.
After the jump the latest from Corey Pronman, Eastern European racists, and even more lockout news.
*Corey Pronman's latest at Hockey Prospectus ponders how we evaluate draft selections. He advocates a process based evaluation versus the tradition results based analysis.
* Bruce Peter at Eyes On The Prize continues the site's reflection on the 2012 season by analzying the Canadiens' first line forwards and seeing how they stack up to the rest of the NHL.
* Broad Street Hockey looks at the ridiculous treatment Wayne Simmonds recently received in the Czech Republic.
* Christopher Botta at The Sporting News posted a story about the never ending reign of Gary Bettman. That might seem melodramatic, but the title of the story actually is "NHL lockout: Gary Bettman is going nowhere-no matter what". So, yeah. Keep booing him, I guess.
* Jeff Z Klein of the New York Times writes that if the NHL were to cancel the Winter Classic…it's dead for the year. The league has no fallback plan to reinstate the game at a later date. (via Kukla's Korner)
* We end today with Nick Kypreos' latest for sportsnet. He writes about the leagues negotiating group where power is consolidated in the hands of three men: Gary Bettman, Jeremy Jacobs, and Bob Batterman.
Now here we are in 2012 and many whispers we heard about Goodenow in 2004 are now being directed toward Bettman. "Old, tired and paranoid" are just some of the descriptions of Bettman these days. Does the commissioner still have a clear head to get the best deal possible for all 30 owners, or is he too bitter and jaded after close to 20 years on the job to think clearly?
Worse is the perception that only three people control all the power and information when it comes to the future of the NHL, that a new deal hinges solely on Bettman, Bob Batterman (lead counsel for the NHL) and Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins owner and chairman of the NHL board). Everyone else is on the outside looking in when it comes to power in the league.
Ask many NHL owners outside of this small circle and if they answer truthfully they'll tell you they know as much of what's going on as you or me. Some teams will also tell you a two- to three-year slope toward 50/50 split works just fine, and to potentially burn the whole village down in an effort to keep fighting for teams like Phoenix and Florida is just plain wrong. Like McCabe and Walker in 2004, many owners' frustration lies in not having their voice heard when it matters most.
As the Red Wings and Jimmy Devellano found out the hard way, it's okay to be seen, just don't be heard. Even if an owner like Detroit's Mike Ilitch wanted to sit in on negotiations with the PA he wouldn't be allowed. That's a tough pill to swallow considering the financial stake he and all owners have in a $3.3 billion operation.
That will do it for today. Again, if you have anything you would like to submit for inclusion don't hesitate to let me know.
Follow Josh and NHLNumbers today.


text:
When seedlings are ready to be planted out, the pots can be placed directly in the soil, minimizing transplant shock.
The pots hold their shape for up to 12 weeks during propagation; once planted, they break down in 3 to 4 weeks, allowing unrestricted root growth while supplementing the soil with natural, nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Pots are 3" square at the top and 2-7/8" deep. Package of 18 pots (three six-cell flats). Approved for organic use by Baystate Organic Certifiers, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, and Quality Certification Services.
Made in USA.


text:
I've been getting requests for a collection or a starting guide to transmog so i thought i would first just post a collection of posts by me and other in the community to get you started making gold from transmog.
Selling Transmog Gear by The Overcut
Transmog Tactics by @marthapie Part 1
Making Even More Gold from Transmog Part 1
Making Even More Gold from Transmog Part 2
Transmog on high pop realm: 100,000g at level 1
Transmog and me by @AudemGold
Rare Chest Mogging Lists by Phat Lewts Gold
Alto's Transmog Shopping Lists Using Auctionator
From the Vault: Importable TSM Transmog Lists v2.0 by Clockwork Riot
Blasted Lands - WoW Gold Rush - Gold Making in 15 Minutes by Clockwork Riot
Scholomance Transmog chest farm by GoldHungary
Wow Roleplay Gear
Any bloggers who have a gold making transmog post? poke me on twitter and i'll add your post to the list
Subscribe to the RSS Feed and join the conversation on Twitter @TheOvercut


text:
Holiday Dog Clothes
NFL Dog Clothing
Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills
Denver Broncos
Cleveland Browns
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons
Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Jets
Detroit Lions
Miami Dolphins
Green Bay Packers
Carolina Panthers
New England Patriots
Oakland Raiders
Washington Redskins
New Orleans Saints
Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers
New York Giants
San Diego Chargers
Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans
Minnesota Vikings
St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals
MLB Dog Clothing
Los Angeles Dodgers
Seattle Mariners
Philadelphia Phillies
San Francisco Giants
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
New York Yankees
Houston Astros
Miami Marlins
New York Mets
Arizona Diamondbacks
Boston Red Sox
Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs
Minnesota Twins
Kansas City Royals
Los Angeles Angels
Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Cleveland Indians
Colorado Rockies
Detroit Tigers
Oakland Athletics
Tampa Bay Rays
Texas Rangers
San Diego Padres
Washington Nationals
Baltimore Orioles
NCAA Dog Clothing
Alabama Crimson Tide
Arkansas Razorbacks
Auburn Tigers
Clemson Tigers
University of South Florida
Illinois Fighting Illini
Florida State Seminoles
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa State Cyclones
Indiana Hoosiers
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas State Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats
Louisville Cardinals
LSU Tigers
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
Michigan State Spartans
Missouri Tigers
Nebraska Corn Huskers
Oregon Ducks
Oregon State Beavers
Ohio State Buckeyes
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Penn State
Purdue University
Texas A&M
Texas Longhorns
Tennessee Vols
Florida Gators
Georgia Bulldogs
University of Michigan
Oklahoma Sooners
USC Trojans
Wisconsin Badgers
West Virginia University
Dog Costumes
Hunter Mfg
Pets First
> Sale Items
Sale Items
This is where you will insert your
for the Sale Items category.
About Us
Contact Us
Shipping & Returns
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
My Account
My Account
Order History
Track Orders
Address Book
Connect With Us
Follow us on social media for updates about the website and events.
Little Paws Boutique
. All Rights Reserved. Designed by


text:
Wild Bobcats Have a Standoff in a Texas Neighborhood [VIDEO]
With the urban sprawl taking over more and more of the landscape, we have more sightings of wild animals making their way into neighborhoods. Check out this video of two bobcats having a misunderstanding in somebody's front yard.
It happened in the Highlands neighborhood in the DFW Metroplex. It's fairly common to see bobcats across the state of Texas, but very rare to see an interaction between two like this, especially in an urban neighborhood.


text:
Ruutu vase 115 x 140 mm
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
Each mouth blown vase is a simplified masterpiece taking seven craftsman and twenty-four hours to produce in the Iittala glass factory. The glass' fluidity and vibrancy create its delicate character. Available in five sizes and seven colours. Winners of the iF and Red Dot awards.
- Care instructions
Ronan and Erwan BouroullecRead more
Brother Ronan (b.1971) and Erwan (b.1976) Bouroullec grew up in Quimper, France. Then they went on to complete their educations at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and at the École des Beaux-Arts in Cergy-Pontoise, respectively.


text: 2 National Parks in 1 tour! GyPSy Guide GPS driving tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton is an excellent way to enjoy a sightseeing trip to explore both national parks. There are 480+ audio points that play automatically, featuring what to see, stories, tips and advice. All the benefits of a guided tour, the freedom to drive yourself. TOUR GUIDE AS YOU DRIVE AROUND YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON If you like driving yourself when you go sightseeing, GyPSy Guide™ tour apps allow you to enjoy a guided tour experience while remaining totally independent. By driving yourself, you'll be able to get from place to place faster, see more things and not be tied to anyone else's schedule. DON'T MISS OUT ON THE BEST SIGHTS AND STORIES The tour apps use your device's location abilities to play the commentary AUTOMATICALLY. All you have to do is drive, listen and decide which places you want to stop at. Our tour guides have created an insightful and entertaining tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We'll recommend the best places to experience and some great locations that most visitors will drive by. There's so much to see and do, GyPSy will help you prioritize what suits you best and make sure you don't miss a thing PLAYS AUTOMATICALLY GyPSy Guide knows where you are and which direction you are heading, and plays commentary automatically about the things you are seeing, plus stories and tips and advice. EXPLORE LIKE A LOCAL It's just like having a local friend to show you around. And that friend just happens to be a professional tour guide. GREAT VALUE The same information you would get on a bus tour or from a guide book, for just a fraction of the price. And you control the itinerary and schedule. WORKS OFFLINE No data, cellular or even wireless network connection needed while touring. Download over Wi-Fi before you tour. Anyone can use them with no need for roaming data – even visiting from another country. DRIVING TOUR ROUTE 2 National Parks and the parkway that connects them. 1) Yellowstone National Park. Arriving from any entrance, the tour will begin 10-15 minutes before you arrive at the Grand Loop Drive - the main road that loops around the park. All of the major attractions of Yellowstone are included, plus many more. 1) Old Faithful and the in 2) The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Area 3) Mammoth Hot Springs 4) West Thumb and the Lake area 5) Tower Fall and Roosevelt area 6) Many wildlife spotting opportunities 2) Grand Teton National Park. As you approach any entrance other entrance, commentary will play. Start from Jackson, Teton Village or Moran. 1) Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake Area 2) Snake River and eastern highway side 3) Colter Bay and north end of park 4) Moose area 5) Moose Wilson Corridor NOTES Download the app on Wi-Fi from your network at home or use any free Wi-Fi network. Because the app is filled with audio commentary and maps, its larger than "normal" apps. Many phone/data networks may block the download because of size - so its important to download over a Wi-Fi network. ++ Continued use of GPS running in the background increases battery usage - we strongly recommend taking a cigarette style (DC outlet) car charger. This is much better than simply plugging into the USB port in a vehicle. ** iPad users - please note that WiFi-only iPads will not activate the commentary automatically. Any iPhone or network-capable iPad (WiFi + Cellular - whether you have a network connection or not) will work just fine. ABOUT US GyPSy Guide™ produce award winning audio tours along scenic drives around the world. Enjoyed by travelers who prefer to set their own pace and itinerary on vacation, but enjoy a fun, informative and educational guided experience. Our goal is to provide a great introduction to the region and perhaps inspire you to learn more and return. None of our apps include paid advertising or placements for benefit.


text:
Local and National News Headlines 1/27
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.8 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of last year. The Commerce Department says Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies built up stockpiles. Consumer spending was up from October through December of 2011, it grew at a 2 percent annual rate, that's up modestly from the third quarter. But growth was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades. For the full year, the economy grew just 1.7 percent, about half as much as 2010.
Stolen Cemetery Vases Recovered
MABANK, TX. - Two suspects are being sought by Van Zandt County authorities following the recovery of 37 vases stolen from a Mabank Cemetery. Warrants have been issued for both suspects who have not been identified at this time. An investigator with the Van Zandt County Sheriff's office received a call from the Eubank Funeral Home in Mabank and was advised that 37 vases had been stolen from the Cedar Creek Cemetery located on highway 198. Through a joint investigation with Mabank police and the Van Zandt County Sheriff's office , law officers were able to locate the stolen vases at a local metal recycling company. The company provided sales receipts indicating that two men on three separate occasions sold the vases.
Store Clerk Attacked During Robbery
TYLER,TX. - Four suspects who held up a Tyler Convenience store are in custody after they were arrested by police in a nearby neighborhood. Public information officer Don Martin said the suspects entered the store on West Gentry Parkway shortly after 11am and jumped the counter attacking the clerk. The clerk suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. The suspects allegedly stole several boxes of cigarettes as they fled the store.
Longview Police Looking for Man Who Robbed Gas Station
LONGVIEW – Longview police are looking for a man who held up the EZ Mart on South High Street. The clerk told police the suspect used the restroom, left the store then returned and robbed the clerk at knife point demanding money from the cash register. When the register would not open, the suspect demanded several packs of cigarettes. He then fled on foot. He is described as a white male about 5-7 to 5-11, has a thin style beard and was wearing a camouflage hat, work boots, blue t-shirt and blue jeans.
Rusk County Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Violations
TYLER,Texas - A Henderson, Texas man has been sentenced to 59 years in federal prison on child pornography charges. 30 year old Enrique Estrada Quintana pleaded guilty in September of 2011 to three counts of production of child pornography. Information presented in court revealed that several computers, cameras, and other forms of digital media were seized from Quintana's house in Henderson. Law officers also found thousands of photos and videos of child pornography. Quintana was indicted by a federal grand jury in Tyler on March 2nd, 2011.
Sports Enthusiast Sentenced for Wire Fraud
TYLER, Texas - A Bullard Man has been sentenced in Federal Court in Tyler on wire fraud charges. 43 year old Eual Brent Hallford who pleaded guilty on January 7th, 2010 was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. According to the indictment, Hallford who was in the business of buying and selling sports memorabilia over the internet maintained various merchant accounts for the purpose of processing credit card payments for merchandise sold. On September 26, 2006 Hallford applied for a credit card merchant account with PowerPay. In attempting to purchase the credit card merchant account to process his credit card sales, he falsified bank statements and faxed them to the credit card processor resulting in a loss of $120,00.
Interstate 20 Goes to 75 MPH
TYLER - Motorists traveling on Interstate 20 from the Kaufman /Van Zandt County line to the Louisiana Border will soon be able to drive 75 mph. The Texas Transportation Commission approved raising the speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph in 60 counties covering more than 1,500 miles of highway in the state. TXDOT public information officer Larry Krantz says until the signs are changed the speed limit remains at 70 mph. The posted speed limit should be in place by May 1.
Young Girl Dies in Wichita Falls
WICHITA FALLS — A 5-year-old Wichita Falls girl is dead after she was found hanging by the neck from a jump rope on a piece of playground equipment. Police found the girl yesterday afternoon after being sent to an apartment complex playground. Authorities found no evidence of foul play and records show she became entangled in her jump rope while playing on the equipment.
Man Executed for San Antonio Murder
HUNTSVILLE — Texas executed convicted killer Rodrigo Hernandez last night. He received a lethal injection for killing Susan Verstegen in San Antonio 18 years ago. DNA showed that Hernandez submitted as a requirement for parole in Michigan linked him to the slaying several years later. He insisted he was innocent.
Automakers on Board with New California Standards
SAN FRANCISCO — Automakers are indicating they'll be on board with California's proposed auto emissions standards, which start kicking in in 2015. The new rules will become increasingly more stringent and will require carmakers to build more electric and hybrid vehicles by 2025. Ford, Chrysler, Nissan and others have offered qualified support.
More Testimony Set Over Political Maps
SAN ANTONIO — The state and minority groups suing over newly-drawn political maps in Texas are due back in a federal courtroom in San Antonio today. At issue is whether an April 3 primary date can be salvaged. A three-judge panel in San Antonio has cautioned that the date will work only if all sides agree on temporary maps by a February 6 deadline.
Carnival Corp. Offers Money to Passengers
ROME — The cruise line whose ship capsized off Italy's Tuscan coast is offering uninjured passengers a little more than $14,000 each for lost belongings and psychological trauma. The unit of Carnival Corp. also says it will reimburse those passengers the full costs of their cruise, travel expenses and medical expenses incurred because of the disaster.