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If it ever does happen, this is how I'd picture it:
One giant room, similar to ComiCon, with a stage and microphones.
Authors sit at tables, which are set up everywhere. For table space at the 3 day conference, authors pay $25 a day.
Attendees get in for free.
Authors bring their own paper books to sell. They can accept cash, or credit cards via PayPal Here.
Authors can bring cardboards stands, giveaways, whatever they'd like to make people come to their tables. I suggest having QR codes on promo material, so attendees can instantly buy ebooks.
Conference fees pay for the room space, advertising, and maps that show where the authors are on a numbered seating chart (also name plates and name tags for authors) and the schedule for the author talks.
Use Autography as the ebook vendor. Each author can autograph and personalize ebooks for anyone who stops by their table and buys one, and the ebook will be sent directly to the buyer's email address. Autography will collect payment then pay writers 70% of the ebook price after the conference.
Any author who wants to appear on the main stage in book room to talk for 15 minutes can, for an additional $50. Authors who want to appear on panels can book a block of time together (for example, 3 authors on stage at the same time would get 45 minutes and it would cost a total of $150).
In addition to the main room, there will be additional side rooms available as needed. If an author (or group of authors) want to appear in a side room to speak, it is $25 for 15 minutes per author.
Author speaking fees include a "we'll be back by" sign for when they are speaking or taking a break.
Joe sez: There are a lot of benefits to a conference as I've described it.
All authors are welcome. You are guaranteed signing time and speaking time as long as you sign up for it.
Fans get in for free, which will allow them to spend more money on books.
All authors can sign for as long as they want to.
All authors can speak for as long as they want to, on whatever topic they choose.
Even if an author has a table every day, and talks every day, the max they'll spend is $175. This is cheaper than most conferences, with a lot more visibility.
These fees pay for the hotel space, advertising, and paper programs for the con (these programs will also be available online, since many people will have tablets). If there is extra money left over, food for the green room.
With no booksellers, authors make 100% of the price they sell their paper books for, and 70% of the signed ebooks they sell through Autography. Authors can also sell whatever they want on their tables, like Cafe Press swag.
Free attendance would encourage walk-ins.
I can envision some sort of self-pub awards going on after hours. Sort of like an Indie Oscars. With a bar, of course.
Legacy authors would be welcome, but would probably need permission from their publishers to sell their legacy titles. I know Autography has deals in place with many big publishers already.
It seems to be doable. And if it got enough buzz and attracted some big authors, I could see it being successful. Money would need to be spent on advertising, and every author who attended would really need to get the message out to their fans.
Also, I want to be clear that I am NOT organizing, running, or will in any way be involved in an event like this. I'm simply musing about what such an event would entail, and maybe someone will run with the idea.
Am I missing anything? What would make you want to attend, both as a writer and as a reader?
Friday, September 12, 2014
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Author Notes: I am reading Thomas McNamee's "Alice Waters and Chez Panisse" these days, and am finding the experience wholly inspiring, with its simple, evocative treatment of food and life. As a baker, the stories around Lindsey Shere, Chez Panisse's first and most celebrated pastry chef, are particularly poignant, and each recipe I come across I feel the urge to make immediately. Peaches are in season, and on a walk through the GreenMarket in Union Square the other day I couldn't resist taking home far more than I could eat, and thus, the perfect opportunity to try this galette. This galette is just lovely – simple, beautiful, and perfect to feature fruit at its freshest and most flavorful. There's nothing overwrought or in-the-way about this tart. It's just about the fruit. Plus, it's easy to adapt to the size you want or the fruit you have, and lends itself to endless variation (berries? apricots? peach and sage? plum and mint?). Stone fruits, though, as Lindsey notes, are ideal. They caramelize beautifully and hold up well to the form. The peaches here practically melted, for a sweet mouthful of late summer with just the perfect touch of crunch from an unassuming crust. A gorgeous tart - perfect especially for those who think fruit is always better as itself. —yclaraquesi
Serves: serves 6 - 8 (easily adaptable)
- Start with a pâte brisée, of whatever size you need for what you're making. I made a largish one for six people, so for this I used one cup of flour, six tablespoons of cold butter, a pinch of salt and a quarter cup of very cold water. (On another occasion, I doubled this recipe and made 6 smaller tarts - easier to transport to the park, and better crust to fruit ratio!) Crumble the butter into the salted flour quickly so as to not warm the butter too much (I prefer to use our hands, though a pastry blender would work well here). Add the water - the dough will come together quickly. Wrap in plastic and chill in the fridge while you prep the fruit, to let the flour relax.
- Wash, dry and slice your fruits. You want the fruit to have substance – too thin and it will melt into an unidentifiable mash – but it should not be so thick that it doesn't cook properly. Depending on the fruit, you may want to peel it. I peeled my peaches (but wouldn't peel plums or apricots.) For this size, I used a quart of fruit.
- Roll the dough out in a circle. You want it very thin, as thin as possible without tearing. Transfer to a buttered baking sheet. Later, you'll have to slide the galette onto a rack to cool. Little galettes are easy to lift, but something of this size risks breaking in the middle, so best to use a baking sheet without ledges if you have one.
- Lindsey suggests placing the baking sheet on top of a pizza stone in the oven, to get the pan extra hot. If you have one, put it in the oven now, as you preheat to 400F. (FYI: I don't have a stone, and had no complaints on crispiness.)
- Make a mixture of equal parts sugar and flour – for this size and amount of fruit I used two tablespoons of each – and spread evenly over the bottom of the galette, out to about two inches from the edge. The mixture is there to absorb and thicken the juices from the fruit. Lindsey notes she sometimes adds a layer of almond paste, or crumbled macarons, which I can only imagine would be even more delicious.
- Add your fruit – in a fancy pattern or just in a natural jumble. And, sprinkle generously with sugar. Here you'll need to judge - my peaches were very sweet, so I only use three tablespoons or so. Tarter fruit, or fruit that becomes tart when cooked, might take more. Or perhaps your taste tends towards sweeter. You might want to test the amount by cooking a tiny bit of your fruit on the stove, and sugaring it to see how much you need.
- Fold the edges of the dough up over the fruit. Brush the edges heavily with water, and sprinkle them heavily with sugar, so it's well-coated. The sugar will caramelize in the oven and give your galette a beautiful toasted sheen (far better than an egg wash, and besides, as the dough has no sugar of its own, it's a necessary layer.)
- Bake your tart for 40 - 50 minutes. It might take more or less, depending on how soft and thin your fruit. I suggest you rotate the tart at 20 minutes, and check it periodically after that. (It's important to rotate, so the galette browns evenly.) The thing to look for is for the fruit to be thoroughly cooked – soft and caramelized – and also, that the juices are boiling in the middle, which indicates the flour's cooked through as well. Watch to make sure the caramel on the crust is not burning! In a pinch, you can cover the galette with foil.
- When it's done, slide immediately onto a rack to cool, or the bottom will get soggy. In the first minute or so, when the juices are still bubbling, use a pastry brush to pick up those juices and glaze any of the fruit that looks dry. After that, the juices will be absorbed by the flour, so be quick! Cool until the juices have firmed up slightly. And voila!

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Santiago Lucero
Executive creative director, Fallon
Last week, my therapist said this to me: "Santi, perhaps you need to stop giving your opinion on everything to everyone. You spend so much time at work saying what is right and what is wrong that you think you have to do the same thing in real life."
A week after that conversation, I receive an invitation to give my opinion on other people's work from across the industry. Is this some kind of a test? Is my therapist behind this?
Whatever, let's do it.
The Territorial Army. I can't just give an opinion on the creativity of this as if it were an ad for sausages or something. It's really hard for me to just say "nicely shot, good endline" when it comes to an ad designed to get young people to join the army. I know this is the TA, so it's a little different, but I still find it tricky that there's no mention of the risks involved in army life. I mean, it's about going to war, working in areas of conflict, risking your life.
Am I wrong or is joining the army, even the TA, fundamentally about that? I just don't feel comfortable about the notion that joining the army is about driving cool trucks, flying expensive helicopters, playing cards at night and doing things you can't tell your relatives about, as if you were some kind of James Bond.
I understand countries need armies, but I would like to "sell" the idea of joining by painting the whole picture.
Jameson. Nice piece of advertising. A well-written story, nicely shot, elegant sense of humour, good joke at the end. I Iike it, but I don't love it, perhaps because I tend to prefer advertising that doesn't look so much like advertising – or maybe it's because I just don't like whiskey…
Sainsbury's. This isn't an easy brief. It would be very easy to be cheesy if you play it too sensitive. And equally easy to make a mistake if you try something brave or new.
So I am in a bit of a dilemma on this one. It tries to be nice and warm. Harmless. No-one will be upset by it. No-one will complain. But, for me, this kind of message deserves to take some risks to make it more memorable, to make people remember the ad and talk about it in order to get more money for the kids.
Marie Curie. I could do a copy-and-paste of what I wrote about the previous one, although this is a much more difficult subject to work on. The reason I'm not doing a copy-and-paste is because I like this. It depressed me, yes, but congratulations to the director – it's not easy to get this kind of performance.
NFU Mutual. I saw this the other day on TV and I found it a bit weird that it was an ad for an insurance company given all the beautifully shot tea-making involved.
That happened because I wasn't paying too much attention and I missed most of the voiceover. This time, I listened more carefully, so I got it, I understood the metaphor, I enjoyed the beautiful preparation of tea – but I still found it a bit weird that it ended up being an ad for an insurance company.
So that's it. As my therapist said: "Santi, you shouldn't give your opinions all the time. Wait till someone asks for them." Well, you did ask…
Paul Lawson
Chief executive, Leo Burnett London
While Britain's political leadership merrily commits our armed forces to a multitude of trouble spots around the world, it's blithely slashing defence spending and laying off 54,000 personnel.
Maybe it thinks the Shoemaker's Elves might be as handy at desert warfare as they are at cobbling. Failing that, thank heavens for the Territorial Army. However, the key challenge has always been how to make the TA seem less like a weekend hobby and more like an authentic part of the armed forces. This campaign delivers beautifully.
Everything about it, from the "live" content idea to the treatment idea to the (smart and cost-efficient) use of ITN as the production partner, nails the comms task. It's left me with a yen to sign up at my local Scout hut.
Marie Curie's new campaign powerfully makes the point that people's last moments should mean as much as their first. It's full of pathos and poignancy, but handles itself with great sensitivity. Not an easy balancing act to get right without a delicate hand on the creative tiller. I'm happy to say that it made me double the amount I put in the Great Daffodil Appeal collection tin in our reception.
Maybe it will buy me an upgrade so I can avoid somebody like that Ben Stiller character in Happy Gilmore nursing me through my final moments. I've always been told that my palate would, one day, become accustomed to the harsh, fiery devil water that is whiskey. Unfortunately, I still can't handle anything rougher than a pina colada.
Mind you, Irish whiskey is meant to be smoother than Scotch, isn't it? But that's a bit like having to choose between getting your throat assaulted with hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. So, Jameson's assertion of "taste above all else" is a bit of a non-starter for me. Mind you, it has tried to entertain me with another of its "tall tales".
This one has all the expensive production values afforded by a generous budget that can be amortised over multiple local markets. But, in the battle to optimise a global brand across different cultures (without going to the marketing expense of bespoke campaigns), this offering feels like it will disappear into the great swirl of similar fare. I've just seen that Domino's is now offering to stuff your pizza crust with a hot dog. So, anything that encourages kids to focus on the "calories out" part of the healthy-living equation has to be applauded.
Sainsbury's latest Active Kids campaign pays tribute to childhood activities, and it does so charmingly. It has even got Ellie Simmonds and David Beckham, making relevant contributions. I'm genuinely pleased to report that Beckham's "storytelling" voice has finally developed beyond the monotone. Mark my words, he'll be doing Shakespeare next.
Launching a new positioning with the line "It's about time" suggests that NFU Mutual will be challenging all of the squalid, profiteering behaviour that so characterises our financial institutions. Unfortunately, the launch ad promises to do nothing more than have a chat with me to really understand what I need. Just like every other faux-matey financial provider.
To distract me from the lack of any compelling, differentiating message, we're treated to an elegantly shot tea-making sequence that acts as a metaphor for the values NFU will bring to the market. Maybe the client fell for the snake oil that's so often sold by our friends in the brand consultancy sector. If that's the case, it was always going to be difficult for the ad agency to stem the madness.


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ALA accreditation
The information presented here is summary information only. If you really want to learn about the accreditation process in-depth follow the links embedded in the text to the Office for Accreditation (OA) web site. The OA site also includes a host of reports, schedules, newsletters, and other documents. The point of this page is to present some of that same information in less formal language (sorry, there will still be a lot of acronyms), and to shed some light on common concerns and misperceptions that students express about the accreditation process.
List of acronyms
Some of these you already know, but you're going to need them if you read any further...
- ALA - American Library Association
- LIS and MLIS - Library & Information Studies and Master's in Library & Information Studies
- OA - the ALA Office for Accreditation
- COA - the ALA Committee on Accreditation
- ERP - External Review Panel
- AP3 - Accreditation Process Policies and Procedures manual
ALA-accreditation Overview
- The purpose of ALA-accreditation is to ensure quality, innovation, and value in LIS education.
- Accreditation is voluntary and nongovernmental.
- ALA accreditiation is a process that combines peer review with self-review by the individual MLIS programs.
- ALA only accredits the first professional degree in library and information studies, which is the Master's degree.
- The ALA Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies provide the basis by which all accreditation decisions are made.
- Earning a master's degree from an ALA-accredited program affords you more career options than other degrees from non ALA-accredited programs. The majority of employers require an ALA-accredited master's for professional positions – no matter what specialty or type of library you are interested in working in.
How it works
ALA has been accrediting library education programs in the U.S. and Canada since 1925. There are currently 56 established ALA-accredited MLIS programs,and a handful of contenders in various stages of the process. The ALA Committee on Accreditation (COA) is the agent by which ALA accredits programs. COA makes accreditation decisions for any given program at the end of a 24 month long review process that includes an onsite visit to the program by appointed reviewers (the ERP). Programs are typically reviewed once every seven years, unless COA determines there is evidence to support additional reviews. Seven years is a long time between reviews, but programs aren't ignored or forgotten until their next review. All programs submit regular written and electronic reports to COA. That's a very brief synopsis. If you really want to know all the ins and outs of the process, you can read through the Accreditation Process Policy and Procedures (AP3) manual (also available in pdf format).
Office for Accreditation
The Office for Accreditation (OA) coordinates and supports the activities of multiple parties in the process of accrediting MLIS programs, including MILS students, faculty and administrators; potential LIS students, professionals and practitioners; program reviewers (ERP), the COA, ALA divisions, other accrediting agencies, and the general public. The Office also publishes the Directory of Institutions Offering ALA-Accredited Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies available in several formats, including a searchable database.
Committee on Accreditation
The Committee on Accreditation (COA) is a standing ALA committee consisting of twelve members appointed by the ALA President-elect. Ten members are ALA members appointed to four-year terms and two members are appointed from the public at large to 2-year terms. One of the ALA members is Canadian to represent those programs. COA appointments are made with an effort to balance the various aspects and specialties in LIS education and the larger profession. The committee rosteris public record and posted on the OA web site.
The Standards
The emphasis throughout the ALA Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library & Information Studies is on programs' continuous self-assessment and planning across six major areas:
- I. Mission, Goals, and Objectives
- II. Curriculum
- III. Faculty
- IV. Students
- V. Administration and Financial Support
- VI. Physical Resources and Facilities
The Standards are designed to preserve the uniqueness of each program while ensuring that all accredited programs meet the same level of educational excellence. It's important to understand that the Standards are indicative, not prescriptive. In other words, the Standards describe essential features that programs must have; they don't impose cookie-cutter requirements that may not be suitable for all programs.
The Committee on Accreditation (COA) of the American Library Association (ALA) is in the process of updating the Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies 1992.
Standards Revision
The Committee on Accreditation (COA) is in the process of updating the Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies 1992.
COA is inviting comment on the proposed updates through an electronic questionnaire and welcomes input from LIS students. You can find a link to the questionnaire and background information about the Standards and related documents on the Office for Accreditation web site.
COA also welcomes students to join in a discussion about the proposed changes at a Town Hall Meeting with ALA's membership during the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 25 from 1:30-3:30; location to be determined.
Comprehensive reviews & site visits
The comprehensive review process lasts approximately two years. During that time, the OA works with the program representatives, COA, and a carefully screened External Review Panel (ERP) to ensure a fair, honest, and collegial review. The 24-month long review process involves many important steps – too many to list here. What follows is a brief summary of a few key steps:
- A site visit is scheduled by the OA and the program. Site visits are typically 2 days, usually mid-November in the fall and mid-April in the spring.
- About 12 months into the review, the program develops a detailed self-study, called a Program Presentation. The purpose of the Program Presentation is to present evidence that the program is meeting the Standards for ALA-accreditation. Program Presentations are usually written by key faculty members and administrators in the program. Quite a few Program Presentations are available online, if you're interested in seeing one.
- After the final draft of the Program Presentation has been submitted, the ERP members conduct a site visit. The ERP acts as the "eyes and ears" of COA, who do not go on visits. The major purpose of the site visit is to allow the ERP to verify what has been presented in the Program Presentation. Towards that end, the ERP members may interview faculty, students, alumnae, and administrators. They may inspect files, look at facilities, or visit classes. The ERP writes a report of their findings based on their observations on-site. The program has an opportunity to read and respond to the report before it is submitted to the COA.
- COA makes an accreditation decision after meeting with the dean of the program and the ERP Chair at the first Midwinter or Annual Conference following the review. The decision is based on evidence found in the Program Presentation, ERP report, program response to the ERP report (if any), program reports, and other relevant documents. Programs are informed of the COA decision in a letter sent shortly after Conference.
The Office for Accreditation posts a current schedule of programs up for review over the next seven year cycle in its web site.
Is your program being reviewed?
- Don't panic. The whole idea behind accreditation is to ensure the quality of your LIS education. A comprehensive review is not intended to be an unpleasant or adversarial experience. No one is "out to get" your program. In fact, most program administrators report they have benefited from the process; gaining valuable knowledge through the opportunity for self-reflection and review by their peers.
- Get involved. Students are encouraged to participate in the activities surrounding comprehensive review site visits. Ask your program administrators about contributing to the process.
- Learn more about the process. Read through the Standards and relevant sections of AP3. Visit the OA web site and familiarize yourself with the materials provided for programs and ERP members.


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HOLLAND - The poetry collection "Losing Season" by retired Hope College English professor Jack Ridl has been named the 2009 "Sports Education Book of the Year" by the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island.
The institute created the annual award in 2008 to recognize exceptional sport-themed books that contribute to the education of youth and adults, and to the American sports culture. The award debuted in 2008 with the selection of "Game On" by Tom Farrey as the inaugural winner of what is now an annual honor.
Dan Doyle, founder and executive director of the Institute for International Sport, said, "Jack Ridl's collection of poems in 'Losing Season' is quite likely the finest single collection of sports poetry ever written. It is a privilege to recognize this extraordinary work, for it perfectly fulfills our objective of honoring a book that has a profound impact on sport as a vehicle to educate."
Published in September by CavanKerry Press, "Losing Season" follows a fictional, small-town high school team and its community in an experience lived out annually for decades across the country. Capturing the perspective of a mix of participants - coach, players, family, fans - and chronicling highs and lows along the way, the individual poems together create a composite view of a year of hope and defeat both on and off the basketball court.
Other recognition for the book has included being featured on National Public Radio's "The Story" with Dick Gordon on Friday, Nov. 20, and having two different poems read by Garrison Keillor on "The Writer's Almanac" on Sunday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Poet Conrad Hilberry has called the volume "unmatched, I believe, anywhere in American poetry."
"I've never seen a poetry book as clearly focused as this one, as though a smart documentary filmmaker had hung around the gym all season filming until we can see and feel every hole and knot in the sad fabric of that failed year," he said. "These poems are so compelling, so varied, so familiar to anyone who has felt the impact of high school sports that they may well introduce a new genre."
Ridl's writing is informed by his perspective growing up as the son of a basketball coach. Through the years he has written dozens of sports-themed poems and essays that have been published broadly. In 2007, he was named one of the 100 most influential sports educators in America, recognized as "sports poet," by the Institute for International Sport.
Divided into four quarters, like a game itself, "Losing Season" traces a cycle of hope and disappointment as lived by the high school team. From the "First Cut" to the "Last Game," the season unfolds with a forced confidence quickly tempered by resignation.
At the center of the drama is the coach himself, who in middle age struggles with the tension between his devotion to his job and his marriage and the widening gap between himself and his daughter. The players themselves - be they Star or Scrub - harbor their own internal quarrels and dreams. A small local coterie clings to the team's miserable season, from the equipment man and bus driver to the town's shop owners and the school's principal, each placing his own misguided optimism in the team's inevitable fate.
"'Losing Season' isn't just a great book of poetry, for it is much more than that," said Richard Jones. "It is more like the Great American Novel we have long hoped would grace our literary landscape."
Ridl was a member of the Hope faculty from 1971 until retiring in 2006. He has continued to stay involved in the life of the college, continuing to teach poetry for several semesters and leading one of the college's week-long Summer Seminars, "Creative Writing: Poetry: Learning from Some Masters," in July. In 2008, he previewed "Losing Season" during the college's "Winter Happening" event in January.
He is the author of several collections of poetry. He has also published more than 300 poems in journals and has work included in numerous anthologies, and has read his work and led workshops at colleges, universities, art colonies and other venues around the country.
"Broken Symmetry" was named one of the two best volumes of poetry published in 2006 by the Society of Midland Authors, and in 2001 his collection "Against Elegies" was chosen by U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins as the winner of the "Letterpress Chapbook Competition" sponsored by the Center for Book Arts of New York City. Ridl's other volumes include "The Same Ghost," "Between," "After School," "Poems from 'The Same Ghost' and 'Between,'" and "Outside the Center Ring."
In addition to his volumes of poetry, Ridl is co-author, with Hope colleague Peter Schakel, of two textbooks, "Approaching Poetry: Perspectives and Responses" (1996) and "Approaching Literature in the 21st Century: Fiction, Poetry, and Drama" (2004). They also co-edited two anthologies.
In 1996, he was chosen Michigan's "Professor of the Year" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The college's graduating class presented him with the "Hope Outstanding Professor Educator" Award in 1976, and the student body elected him recipient of the "Favorite Faculty/Staff Member" Award in 2003. He was chosen by the graduating seniors to be the Commencement speaker in both 1975 and 1986. The college's Visiting Writers Series, which he co-founded in 1982 with his wife Julie Garlinghouse Ridl, was named in his honor in 2006.
WestminsterCollege, from which he holds both his bachelor's and master's degrees, presented him with an "Alumni Citation Award" in September 2005.
Dan Doyle founded the Institute for International Sport in 1986 to foster global friendship and goodwill through sport, culture and education. The institute's mission is to promote and improve relations among nations, particularly in nations experiencing internal conflict; to encourage individual growth and the development of human potential in young scholars throughout the world; to develop global awareness in future world leaders; to use sport and the arts as mediums of peace; to develop a large network of Scholar-Athlete Games graduates who act as peace brokers in their respective communities and countries; to promote ethical behavior, good sportsmanship and good sports parenting on an international basis; to facilitate, among institute alumni, a humanitarian approach in their actions as they develop as leaders; and to provide parents and sports educators with sound ideas they can employ when raising and children who play sports.
The institute's "Sports Education Book of the Year" award debuted in 2008 with the selection of "Game On" by Tom Farrey as the inaugural winner of what is now an annual honor.
More information about the Institute for International Sport may be found at www.internationalsport.com.
"Losing Season" is available for $16 at the college's Hope-Geneva Bookstore, located on the ground level of the DeWittCenter, 141 E. 12th St., as well as at other area booksellers. Copies may also be ordered through the bookstore, which can be called at 800-946-4673 or (616) 395-7833, as well as at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
More information about Ridl and "Losing Season" may be found online at www.ridl.com.


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Masters Collection
Welcome to this section of the management website which is dedicated to the Masters Collection HOA. This space is for the exclusive use of the members of the Homeowners Association and may be updated from time to time. Users can view information made available at their discretion. This is not an official HOA site and it may be removed at management's option.


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Brand New Sealed Retail Box includes free Headset with Microphone
The actual Box can differ from the Picture
Picture is for Illustrative Purpose only
System Requirements
Platform: Windows XP / Vista / 7
Dragon Naturally Speaking Home Version 11.0 speech recognition software lets you interact with your PC just by talking! It understands what you say and how you say it. Speak words and they appear on the screen - three times faster than typing. Tell your PC what to do and it does it. Use your favorite applications to create documents and email, surf the Web, update Facebook, and more. Dragon Home is so fast, easy and fun; you will wonder how you managed without it! Make interacting with your PC easier and faster - Dragon Naturally Speaking Home 11.0 is the fast, fun, and convenient way to interact with your PC - just by talking.
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Nuance Text-to-Speech technology that reads on-screen text in human-sounding synthesized speech
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Up to 99 Percent speech recognition accuracy right out of the box


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Real Estate Association students tour World Trade Center site in New York City
Real Estate Association students tour World Trade Center site in New York City
In April, about 10 Penn State Real Estate Association students visited Silverstein Properties Inc. headquarters in New York City and toured the World Trade Center site. The students were invited by University alumnus Jonathan W. Knipe, senior vice president and general counsel for Silverstein Properties and member of the Smeal College of Business Institute for Real Estate Studies advisory board.
The students started their day at Silverstein Properties' marketing department in the World Trade Center (WTC) Tower 7, where they learned more about the company's progress and future plans for the WTC site.
Renowned construction manager Malcolm Williams led the site tour of WTC Tower 4, which will be a major commercial office space when complete, as well as the future Transportation Hub. The hub will include extensive retail and restaurant space. Throughout the tour, Williams provided students with insight on the complex commercial construction process.
After the site tour, students heard from a panel of Silverstein Properties' senior executives, representing the company's legal, asset management, acquisitions and development, and construction departments.
"We were able to hear about different facets of the industry we weren't already familiar with and think a bit more about where we want to head after we graduate."
-- Henry Fox, risk management major, real estate option
"It was an incredible privilege to be able to tour the World Trade Center site," said Real Estate Association President Henry Fox, a rising senior pursuing real estate in the department of risk management.
Fox said that the highlight of the day for him was talking to various industry professionals and finding out more about their day-to-day jobs.
"The whole day was a real eye-opener to the industry itself," he said. "We were able to hear about different facets of the industry we weren't already familiar with and think a bit more about where we want to head after we graduate."
The day closed with a tour of the 9/11 Memorial.
"Seeing the memorial gave us a chance to reflect on the significance of the new World Trade Center and what it means not only for commercial office space but also for the city of New York," Fox said.
The Real Estate Association, with about 20 active members, serves as a forum for students of all majors to discuss real estate, trends in the market and more. The trip was supported by the Institute for Real Estate Studies, a research center dedicated to fostering discussion and research between academicians and business professionals in the area of real estate and providing a focal point for Penn State Real Estate education.


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Golf fans who aren't able to get out to the U.S. Open – and those whose travel plans were stymied by BART's transbay shutdown – can follow the action through the U.S. Golf Association's redesigned website and mobile apps.
The U.S.G.A. streamed live high-def video of Thursday's opening round on the website and one iPhone and Android apps, including exclusive coverage of the morning's headline group of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.
"This morning was a really big time for us," said Jessica Carroll, the U.S.G.A managing director of information technologies and digital media. "We promoted it extensivly that we had coverage digitally that you couldn't see on TV, so we knew that this was the place to watch Tiger, Bubba and Phil."
Tour sponsor IBM is using the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club to showcase how its cloud computing technology can power such major digital initiatives. The site and apps also include real-time scoring, interactive tracking of the action going on at each hole, an interactive leader board and course map.
The site has video of the top golfers during the first and second rounds and streaming video of selected holes on Saturday and Sunday.
The app also aggregates tweets from golfers and broadcasters. And users are invited to post photos and comments at Facebook.com/usopengolf.
IBM has about 18 people monitoring the technology in two on-site trailers to make sure the load is properly distributed to data servers in other parts of the country. They can also monitor user numbers in real time and which app platforms are being used.
The mobile apps are "designed for the person on the go," said John Kent, a program manager for sponsorship marketing. "That interactivity is intended to deepen the relationship with the fans."
However, fans who are attending the tournament can't access the apps because the golf association bans use of cell phones and mobile devices because they could disrupt play. Fans can't even bring their devices inside the Olympic Club.
Steve Slack of Houston said he would have loved to have the IBM-powered app available to him and said the ban is "a really poorly thought out policy."
"I think they are punishing the vast majority for their inability to control just a few," Slack said while waiting to use one of six public telephones.


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Winter Drift
Winter Drift racing game is a drifting competition that you want to win! In Winter Drift, you must raise money to buy a new professional drifting car and then compete in 5 separate challenges to become the new champion!
Use arrow keys to drive your car and Shift key for car drift.
- advertisement and sponsored links -


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Seibon Carbon Fibre Hood Honda Civic 99-00 2/3/4 Door TS Style
Seibon Carbon Fibre Hoods are carefully hand crafted and meticulously inspected to create some of the highest quality Carbon Fibre Hoods available. Besides true rolled edges, highest quality and most acclaimed clear UV protective coating, Seibon only uses one-piece carbon sheets to construct their Hoods unlike alot of the competition......
Seibon utilises high tech resins in the clear coat to ensure their products last, don't fade and are resiliant to normal road wear and tear. Seibon manufactures their hoods from wet hand laid carbon with frp backing skeleton to ensure structural integrity, competitive price and an item that fits extremely well. Seibon are the aftermarkets most used manufacturer for carbon fibre hoods.
Seibon Carbon is extremely lightweight, strong and is designed to be an O.E fit using all original latches and hinges where applicable and is Grade A+ carbon fibre.
Note: For extra safety, Seibon Carbon Inc advise all hoods to be used in conjunction with race approved hood pins.
Application: Civic 99-00 2/3/4 Door TS style
Click "add to shopping cart" To Buy


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The approval conditions vary depending on the child's age.
- TAP does not allow unaccompanied minors under the age of 5.
- Minors who are not yet 2 years of age must always travel accompanied by an adult. Their adult companion must be at least 18 years old and be able to take care of the minor throughout the journey, including check-in and border and customs formalities;
- Minors aged between 2 and 4 years (inclusive) may be accompanied by another passenger aged between 12 and 15 years provided the procedures of "Unaccompanied Minor" apply to both;
- A passenger aged at least 16 years can accompany a child aged between 5 and 11 years, provided that he/she is declared the companion for the entire journey, including his/her acceptance, check-in and for airport formalities;
- Passengers aged from 5 to 11 years travelling alone are always considered to be Unaccompanied Minors;
- When aged from 12 to 17 years inclusive they may exceptionally be registered as Unaccompanied Minors at the request of their parents or legal guardians;
- A child travelling in a different cabin class to that in which the adult travels is also considered to be an Unaccompanied Minor;
- Waiting list bookings are not accepted;
- When the Unaccompanied Minor booking is requested and confirmed, it is mandatory to provide TAP with the name and contact details (phone number and address) of the people who will be taking the child to the airport and picking him or her up on arrival.


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Aubrey Jones has taken art classes taught by Bettie Saville at the Lenoir County Council on Aging since January.
�I am most fortunate to have gotten to know and learn from Bettie, a wonderful lady and true artist,� Jones said. �The class is made up of very talented people � all of them � and I have profited greatly from my involvement.�
Jones sees some aspects of painting that might apply to writing, one of his passions. He urges anyone with even the slightest interest in broadening personal horizons to attend a class.
The art class for seniors meets from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays at the Skinner Senior Center, 112 E. Blount St. For more information, call 252-527-1545.
AgCarolina grant deadline approaching
Grant applications will be accepted through Oct. 14 for grants to be awarded through AgCarolina Farm Credit�s corporate-giving program, The Fund for Rural North Carolina.
Grants are available up to $5,000 per organization for programs that specifically benefit farmers and rural residents. Grant requests must meet one of the four focus areas: education, environment, technology or the quality of rural life.
AgCarolina Farm Credit is a farmer owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh. The leading provider of credit to farmers in central and Eastern North Carolina has more than $1.2 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to nearly 3,000 North Carolina farmers. Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock and equipment, and other purposes. Credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services and leasing are also available through AgCarolina Farm Credit.
Applications and guideline criteria are available at agcarolina.com, by selecting News, then Community Involvement.
Vampire lecturer to return to library
The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library and Friends of the Library will welcome back acclaimed speaker James Holte, ECU professor, to present a program on vampires at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Schechter Auditorium, 510 N. Queen St.
Holte will discuss the traditional folklore behind vampires and their roots in legend and mythology, while examining the allure of these famous bloodsucking fiends.
Seating is limited so call 252-527-7066, ext. 120 to make reservations.


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Woodman's Pal Classic Model 481 Tool 10-1/2" Blade, Wood Handle, No Sheath
WP481: Woodman's Pal Classic Model 481
Woodman's Pal
A Unique Tool Offering Optimum Performance, Usefulness and Power, Artful Beauty In Its Handiwork and a Proud History In its Design
This blade cuts branches and wood up to 1-1/2" in diameter with a single stroke. Its unique sickle hook slices through stubborn vines and briars and removes unwanted sprout growth at ground level.
The Woodman's Pal is a brush axe/machete that can perform the tasks of many tools including machetes, axes, hatchets, pruning saws, pruning shears, pruning knives, bow saws, loppers, Bowie knives and for certain jobs, even chain saws. It allows you to trim, prune, blaze trails, brush out lines, remove unwanted growth and build duck blinds.
Designed in 1941 in Pennsylvania by Artist and Engineer, Frederick Ehrsam of Victor Tool Company, these unique high quality tools continue to be made right here in Pennsylvania, with only USA made raw materials.
These All-American tools are made of the highest grade American steel and the best American ash wood by dedicated Pennsylvania craftsmen, and those craftsmen's precision and attention to detail are testaments of their commitment to our USA Pride: Build it once Build it right.
Today, the Woodman's Pal is still praised by forest and land managers, surveyors, campers, hikers, hunters, soldiers, handymen, scouts, fishermen, gardeners and any outdoorsman or woman.
- Specially annealed, high carbon steel blade (hardened to Rockwell C47+2).
- Crack and chip proof, even in sub-zero temperatures.
- Convex ground, concave axe blade for extreme strength and superior edge holding capabilities. Cuts wood up to 1-1/2" in diameter with a single stroke.
- 16-1/2"overall length
- 6" ash hardwood handle that's made to fit the user's hand snugly
- 1/8" thick x 10-1/2" high carbon steel blade hardened to Rockwell C47 giving it strength for cutting, keeping its edge and also flexibility in cold weather.
- Nylon wrist strap allows for quick dropping and retrieval when necessary.
- Blade cuts branches and wood up to 1-1/2" in diameter with a single stroke. The unique sickle hook slices through stubborn vines and briars and removes unwanted sprout growth at ground level.
- Chisel sharp sickle hook slices through stubborn vines and briars, and removes unwanted sprout growth at ground level.
- Line of balance runs precisely from the grip through the sickle edge creating a natural momentum for efficient, accurate and comfortable swinging motion.
- Black powder coating prevents rust and corrosion.
- Safety toe, extending one inch up the axe-side of the tool, reduces risk of deflective injuries
- Weight: 23 oz.
- Made in USA
UPC Code: 015089
This product is USA born and raised.
Provides a traditional, natural look and feel to a modern tool. Wood absorbs shock well and is popular in axe handles.
$31.49On Sale: $24.25


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Kutor is a battle-ready Tenkai Trooper fighting relentlessly against the corrupted army of Vilius. Shapeshift from brick to robot and build his armor and shield. Slice into battle unleashing his Tenkai energy sword. And when the battle gets tough, unlock even more Tenkai energy by calling on the combined power of Kutor, Bravenwolf, Tributon and Leinad. Shift and combine each character to create Robofusion and soar into battle as the mighty Prodojet! Build your Tenkai army and discover an entire world of shapeshifting bricks: humanoid, winged, 4-legged, action, titan, power and weapon bricks. Each one contains its own unique shapeshifting power and is compatible with leading construction brands. Collect them all to unleash your Tenkai energy. Recreate epic battles from the Tenkai Knights anime series. Only you can master your Tenkai energy to defeat Vilius and his Corrupted army!
IONIX – the revolutionary line of never before seen construction bricks that change their shape before your eyes! These construction bricks shapeshift and change to become mini figures, action figures, weapons, gear, gadgets and more. What's more, our bricks snap together with other leading construction systems. IONIX – Shapeshift, build, unleash!
By clicking "continue" you'll be leaving the Ionix web site and landing on a retail site. Remember, they have different terms and privacy policies. Hope we see you again soon! KIDS, get your parent's permission before visiting other sites and NEVER share any personal info about yourself — including your full name, address and phone number and let your parent or guardian handle any transaction.Cancel Continue


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'Transformers' Musical Parody Puts Blame Squarely on Michael Bay
First there was the 'Point Break' musical parody, which became an underground hit in Los Angeles, and now there's 'Trans4mers,' which makes fun of Michael Bay and his bloated, insufferable blockbusters.
The musical is the brainchild of a troupe called 30 Minute Musicals. Grace Phipps from 'Vampire Diaries' plays Megan Fox, D.J. Blickenstaff from 'Sean Saves the World' plays Shia LaBeouf and Sean Persaud plays Michael Bay.
In this musical, Phipps is constantly flipping her hair for no good reason -- just like Fox does in the 'Transformers' films! And Bay has two 13-year-old kids as script supervisors making sure the story lives up to its usual juvenile standards.
As Hollywood Reporter notes, the 30 Minute Musicals company started in 2011, and the first show they produced was a goof on 'Showgirls,' always a prime parody target, and musicals about 'Jurassic Park,' 'Top Gun,' 'Hook' and 'Independence Day' soon followed. A parody of 'Back to the Future' is also in the works, which is ironic because an actual 'Back to the Future 'musical is also in production, set to launch in London next year.
So if you hate 'Transformers' and Michael Bay, this could be the musical for you. And we're sure it's like shooting fish in a barrel, because with Bay and 'Transformers,' the jokes just keep writing themselves.


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Owners or Stewards?
Meditation for Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The season of lent is a preparatory period for the celebration of Easter. Easter is the central point around which revolves the message of Christianity. If Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith would be meaningless, irrelevant and purposeless.
We open the season of lent by putting ashes on our heads as the Church admonishes us "Turn away from sin and believe the Gospel". Without God, nothing has value. Without God, we are nothing. With God, everything is beautiful. With God, everything is possible. God has become like us so that we may become like Him.
Who are you? Who are we? Who are we in relation to the material things we have? Who are you relation to your possessions? Who are you in relation to the earth? Who are you in relation to other people? Who are you in relation to the times and seasons and years of your lives? Who are you in relation to your talents and your intelligence?
Are you an owner?
The owner says this money is mine. The owner says this land, this house, this car, this property is mine. The owner says I am free to use all my properties and possessions as I wish. The owner says I can enjoy what I have because I worked hard for them. I have absolute rights over my body and over my properties. I can use my time however I wish. I can waste it. I can use it—my time is mine. I have people I pay for serving me, they are mine. I can dismiss them. I can use them provided I pay them justly according to our contract. Buy Cialis Super Active 20 Mg Pills Over Counter Cialis Super Active 20 Mg Pills Mail Order. Men's Health. Sleeping Aid, Low Prices, Skin Care. I am the boss. I am the owner. I do not need to account to anyone. I am the master my life and I am the captain of the ship of my life.
But you are not an owner! You are only a steward.
My time, my talents and my treasures were entrusted by God to me temporarily. The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord says Psalm 24:1. If what I have is God's and not mine, therefore I must use my material blessings according to the plan of God and not just according my whim and pleasure and comfort. The steward's rights are not absolute. The steward will one day return what has been entrusted to him by the real Owner. Christ died for you. By your baptism, you have become a recipient of the life and love of Christ Himself. The source of our stewardship is our baptism. When we were baptized, God entrusted to us the honor of being His children. "You belong no longer to yourselves. Remember at what price you have been bought and make your body serve the glory of God."(I Cor 6:19). Everything is grace. You have done nothing to merit being a child of God. None of us is self made. When God created us, he looked at us and found us very good.
The ashes on our forehead remind us of the temporariness of all things and all peoples. When we were born, we were born with a twin sister—Sister Death. Death is a sure part of the story of everyone born on earth. Our life is borrowed. Our time is borrowed. At a time we do not know, we will return to ashes from where we came and God will judge us if we had been wise and Nexium Esomeprazole Buy Nexium Nexium online Discount Nexium Cheap Nexium Cheapest Nexium faithful stewards or pretentious and self serving owners.
Do not forget—you our essays writers are not an owner. You are only a steward.
From the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Dagupan City, March 9, 2011
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan


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Eyes & DonBoy (Prod By DramaLive & KC Beatmonster) - Party Hard [Unsigned Hype]
" UFMG / The Pilots Presents Party Hard - @RealEyesMusic & @DonBoyHD (Prod. @DramaLive & @_BeatMonster)" [m]
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Taking a wordpress site from staging subdomain to live
Bajeti $30-250 AUD
I am looking at taking a website that is currently on a staging subdomain to the root environment and making it live.
It is a site migration which will require testing and migration and ensuring all links are functional once in the live environment.
Please only apply if you have migrated from staging to live without any svn or git instances as this site has no versioning or deployment management tools it has been built on.
50 freelancers are bidding on average $117 for this job
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Designed full time for Polo Ralph Lauren, Emmanuel Ungaro, Anne Klein, Geoffrey Beene, Pringle of Scotland, and others. In 2000 went out on my own in order to explore creative possibilities beyond fashion industry. Since then, designed for Jill Stuart, Stetson, Pierrot, and Badgley Mischka. Illustrated for Collectible Barbie by Mattel, Chocheng, Polo Ralph Lauren, and America Retold. Design jewelry collection, which is sold at the Philip Johnson Glass House. Exhibit fine art at The Atlantic Gallery in New York City. Limited edition prints sold through The Portfolio Collection in UK. Facilitate family design festival workshops for the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum. Made in NY seamless collection is in the works to launch in 2016.
BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design
fashion, knitwear, accessories, illustration, art
Design Studio 3


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There's never a bad time to travel, but the summer is a good time to start! Commentator and History Professor Dr. Brian Clardy reflects on the the joys of international travel and recommends Murray State students and staff consider the various programs offered by the university.
The older I get the more I reflect on those things that make life happy and exciting. One of those great life's thrills is the joy of international travel and tourism. Whether it is skulking about the great cathedrals o f Europe, relaxing on a Caribbean beach, or walking along the Badaling Great Wall, the allure of observing human personality, diverse religious observances, and the natural wonders of the planet can be a deeply spiritual experience.
Many years ago, I happened to be in England for a conference at St. Anthony's College Oxford. It was my 37th birthday and it changed the way I viewed the world and issues of faith. After I got out of the cab from London Heathrow airport, the Porter at the college took my bags to my set and called me yet another taxi to take me to Christ Church Cathedral. I sat through the first service, very tired (somewhat hungry), and generally unimpressed; it was a Said Matins service without a lot of music.
I was pensive and agitated, but I needed to stay awake so that my own body could adjust to the new time and new setting. But my gut told me to stay through the next service…..Sung Eucharist. And I followed that sixth sense…and my life and views towards Sacred Music was changed forever. Steven Darlington's Christ Church Cathedral Choir sang some of the most beautiful music I had ever heard. And Canon George Pattison's theologically heavy sermon changed the way that I viewed Sacred Speak. Needless to say, I went back to my room in college on Cloud#9………because I felt as if I had literally been there.
I would recommend an Oxbridge vacation to any would be traveler because it will give them an opportunity to visit the great colleges, cathedrals, bookstores, and novelty shops. It is rich with history, culture, and tradition. And if the tourist is a fan of great British crime dramas like "Inspector Morse" or "Inspector Lewis," there will be an almost immediate connection with the diverse and intricate setting.
Not all of my travels have been so centered on the cerebral. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Montego Bay, Jamaica. And it was a virtual musical and culinary smorgasbord. The wind coming off of the Caribbean Sea tempered the oppressive heat of the August sun. Music ranging from Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Eek a Mouse, and Jimmy Cliff formed a very attractive soundtrack to mornings on the beach and evenings in the dance clubs. The food and wine were PERFECT. And the trip on the Catermerand up the bay to Jimmy Buffet's Restaurant was a once in a lifetime experience, especially when I got over my morbid fear of falling into the sea.
A Caribbean vacation would be ideal for those who enjoy fun and sun. But for those who love interactions with people from every walk of life, enjoy exemplary service, and lush settings, a trip to Jamaica, Barbados, Aruba, or the Bahamas would be very well worth the trip.
Then there was China. The trip that I would never have envisioned embarking upon in my wildest dreams. But I got an email from Murray State's International Office in the early Spring of 2008 notifying me that I had been chosen as part of a delegation to represent the University on a visit with the Peoples' Education Press. That is when the excitement began. Gift purchases for our hosts, visa applications, lectures and readings on proper etiquette, and books on the history of that great civilization only added to the anticipation.
And the night before our trip, I couldn't sleep a wink. I think I watched the musical "Hair" on my kitchen television at 3am right before heading to the motor pool. We got to Nashville and were delayed on the ground…….we were just about to miss our flight from Chicago O'Hare to Beijing's Capital Airport. But as luck and fate would have it, we made it just in time for the 13 hour flight.
Jet lagged, anxious, and unable to speak the language, it was nonetheless exciting to see the people….enjoy the food…….read the English newspapers…..and enjoy the scenery. One of the highlights of the trip for me was to get on my cell phone and call my loved ones from the Great Wall of China…..a truly moving moment in my own life. Tours of cities like Kaifeng, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, and of course Beijing was a dream come true.
Students of diplomacy, connoisseurs of fine dining and cooking, exotic music, and the arts would appreciate a trip to China. It would be a life changing experience and make global exchange a reality.
Murray State University has always been our window to the much larger world. And I would encourage students and faculty to look into great opportunities at international study, travel and enrichment. Racer Nation students have great opportunities to spend a semester taking classes at the University of Regensburg in Germany, another gateway to visiting Europe's finest cities. There are also great venues through the Kentucky Institute of International Studies, and the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad. Reading about these great international destinations in the covers of a book are one thing, but actually visiting these places and studying with our knowledgeable faculty can provide a chance to view the world from a new perspective.
The key to the joys of travel is to view one's self as part of a much larger global schema. And the thrills and excitement from visiting other places, and learning about different cultures is truly a great way to understanding the world, and one's place in it.
Dr. Brian Clardy is an assistant professor of history and Coordinator of Religious Studies at Murray State University. He is also the host of Café Jazz, Thurday nights on WKMS.


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Real Estate Consultant
While Paul's friendly and attentive personality allows his clients to feel reassured, it is his dedication, knowledge and integrity that work together to achieve his clients real estate objectives. Licensed in Florida since 2007, and Maryland since 2001, Paul is also an active member of the National Association of Realtors, Realtors Association of Indian River County, and the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors in Maryland.. This type of versatility and ability has consistently enabled him to exceed his clients' expectations time and time again.
Prior to moving to Florida, Paul founded inSync Design in 1993 and has provided Web Site Development, Search Engine Marketing, and Ecommerce Solutions to both Fortune 500 companies as well as small independent startups. Thru his company Yin and Wack, Paul has developed all of Starfish Real Estate's websites.
Paul has also been directly committed to the positive growth of the local area by coaching and leading numerous competitive travel baseball teams to the USA Baseball Jr. Olympics and the AAU National Championships, with 9 players having played in college.
Many people also know Paul by his music, as he has recorded over 22 albums of music since 1977. If you're curious, check out paulkitchen.com or listen on Amazon, iTunes or Spotify.
Real Estate Services
Whether you are looking for assistance purchasing your first home, for the right investment/business property or for that perfect retirement home to share with your family, Paul provides a comprehensive understanding of all real estate market aspects. If you have a home to sell so you can make your move, Paul can help with that as well. With a publishing and marketing background, Paul Kitchen will provide amazing results for clients that want that extra edge in today's internet savvy marketplace.
By developing a highly focused, knowledgeable and friendly approach to assisting his clients, Paul is the ideal agent to assist you in all of your real estate needs. Give him a call today at .
(301) 589-5051 Email: paul (@) starfishmetro.com


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In the News
Original journalism from the Center's OpenSecrets News
Pro-Israel groups overwhelmingly give to Democrats: Will that change in 2020?
April 9, 2019 | Pro-Israel groups have given more to Democratic candidates than Republicans in every election cycle. Will the trend continue in 2020?
AIPAC doesn't contribute directly to candidates. Which pro-Israel groups do?
February 11, 2019 | AIPAC spends considerable funds lobbying, but does not directly contribute to federal candidates. Which pro-Israel groups gave the most in 2018?
Everything you need to know about where Cory Booker gets his money
February 1, 2019 | Sen Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced his presidential bid on the first day of Black History Month. Take a look into where the profilic fundraiser gets his cash.
Pro-Trump super PAC weighs in on midterms
October 31, 2018 | What does a super PAC founded to elect a republican presidential candidate want with Maxine Waters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
EXCLUSIVE: Robert Mercer backed a secretive group that worked with Facebook, Google to target anti-Muslim ads at swing voters
April 5, 2018 | Most Americans have never heard of the far-right neoconservative dark money nonprofit that ran the ads. It has no employees and it's run out of the offices of a D.C. law firm. More importantly, most voters never saw the ads. And that was by design.
Pro-Israel interests upped contributions, lobbying in 2016
February 15, 2017 | President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began establishing their face-to-face diplomatic relationship with a meeting on February 15th. But the broader ties between the U.S. and Israel date back decades, and have been bolstered by pro–Israel interests that are active political donors and haven't hesitated to press their views on issues affecting the…
Pentagon pick could have deep influence on Trump
November 15, 2016 | Updated Nov. 16. Update Dec. 1. President-elect Donald Trump chose retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis as Secretary of Defense. President-elect Donald Trump has made inflammatory comments about some of the nation's current or possible defense policies. He has hinted at a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, supported use of nuclear weapons, called NATO…
Pence, Kaine share long histories in the fundraising trenches
October 4, 2016 | Though divided ideologically, Indiana's Republican Gov. Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia have traced similar paths through state and federal politics on their way to being nominated for vice president. Both have served in Congress and as governors, and now hope to assume the government's second-from-the-top job. Though they may not discuss it…
Funds gush in deep blue Land of Lincoln as Kirk struggles to hold seat
September 14, 2016 | One-term Sen. Mark Kirk's success or failure in his heated struggle to retain his seat will help determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate come January. No surprise, then, that the race's fundraising totals have soared. The most recent fundraising reports show that Kirk, a Republican, and his opponent, Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth, each had raised more than $10…
Lobbying spending contracts by 10 percent in third quarter
October 27, 2015 | Someone must have called a three-month time out in Washington's influence game during the late summer and early fall. Spending on lobbying was already sluggish this year, but outlays dropped from nearly $822 million between April 1 and June 30 to $738.6 million in the most recent quarter. While the third quarter is typically the slowest of…
Jewish Conservatives Form Infrastructure of Graham's Potential 2016 Donor Base
May 18, 2015 | Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) confirmed Monday on CBS's This Morning that he will be running for president in 2016 in part because he thinks "the world is falling apart." Graham, who is expected to officially launch his campaign on June 1, can take comfort in knowing that there are some major donors who may be…
The Political One Percent of the One Percent in 2014: Mega Donors Fuel Rising Cost of Elections
April 30, 2015 | In the 2014 elections, 31,976 donors — equal to roughly one percent of one percent of the total population of the United States — accounted for an astounding $1.18 billion in disclosed political contributions at the federal level. Those big givers — what we have termed the Political One Percent of the One Percent —…
Friends Helping Friends: Melgen's Contributions Came Early and Often for Menendez
March 9, 2015 | The Justice Department reportedly is on the brink of filing criminal corruption charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) for allegedly pushing the interests of a Florida ophthalmologist in exchange for gifts and contributions. Menendez says he's done nothing wrong, and that Salomon Melgen's generosity over the years was spurred because the two are friends. Friends…
AIPAC Posts Biggest Lobbying Year in 2014 as Netanyahu Goes to Congress
March 2, 2015 | Close to three dozen Democrats will boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, angry that House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) invited the head-of-state without consulting President Obama. The rift is emblematic of the tension between the White House and hard-line supporters of Israel on how to deal…
Interest in Israel: The Money in Politics On Gaza
August 4, 2014 | As the fighting in Gaza escalated over the past few weeks, Congress said and did little, except consider a bi-partisan bill just before recess to replenish aid to Israel's missile defense program. At a time when nearly everything is grounds for noisy partisan rancor, this unusual silence and cooperation indicates general accord on Capitol Hill…
Don't Bet the House: Online Gaming Ban Faces Uncertain Future
May 12, 2014 | Politics has always been partly a game of chance. And when it comes to the politics of gambling policy, where the industry's high-rolling campaign donors are anteing up for a clash over online gaming, it's anybody's guess who the big winners will be. The gaming industry has long had a big presence in Washington.…
Hot Races 2014: In N.C., Outside Groups Work to Oust Wayward GOP Incumbent
May 2, 2014 | A patch of coastal North Carolina might seem like an unusual place to wage a political battle over the future of Israel. But Rep. Walter B. Jones' (R-N.C.) long record of isolationist foreign policy votes has attracted over $1 million in outside spending to his congressional district, where his seat was once considered "extremely safe."In a twist on the…
Ranking the RINOs: Who Does the Tea Party Hate Most?
April 4, 2014 | Outside spending tells us something about the incumbents that tea partiers most want to dump off the side of a boat.
Kerry's Efforts Aside, Pro-Israel Groups More Concerned About Nuclear Iran Than Peace With Palestine
August 2, 2013 | OpenSecrets.org data shows many Pro-Israeli groups' recent lobbying and campaign contributions have gone towards bills addressing Israel's Middle East and Washington concern and their sponsors.
Remembering CREEP, and the High Price of Easy Money
March 11, 2013 | There are similarities between some of the biggest campaign donors of the CREEP era decades ago and those of today.
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 6: Duckworth "Buzziest" House Freshman in Media Hype and Fundraising, One Florida University Beefs Up Lobbying Staff, and More
February 6, 2013 | Rep. Tammy Duckworth was mentioned in the news more in her first month of office than any other House freshman, according to a University of Minnesota study. She also spent more in her campaign than her colleagues in the class of '12.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 7: Chuck Hagel's Distance From Defense, and More
January 7, 2013 | Chuck Hagel, President Obama's pick to take charge of the Defense Department, had little to do with the defense industry when he was in Congress.
Mixed Results for Challengers That Outraised Incumbents
November 7, 2012 | Some winning challengers yesterday had a cash advantage to neutralize the incumbent advantage, though a couple of races where challengers won the fundraising battle are still too close to call.
Hot Race for Nevada Senate Seat: Dean Heller vs. Shelley Berkley
November 2, 2012 | Democratic congresswoman Shelley Berkley tries her luck against Republican incumbent Dean Heller in Nevada's $45 million Senate race.
Backed by Adelson, Republican Pro-Israel Group Targets Obama
October 17, 2012 | With support from casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and a board laden with well-connected luminaries of GOP fundraising, the Republican Jewish Coalition is making a strong push to turn just enough Jews against Obama to deny him re-election.
Debate Prep: Your Guide to the Issues and Who's Invested in Them
October 16, 2012 | Tonight's debate will be closely watched to see whether the president delivers a more energetic performance. But there are other reasons to tune in, including keeping an eye on whether the candidates' responses reflect the positions of their campaign contributors.
Capital Eye Opener, July 30: Romney's Israel Haul, GOP 'Also-Rans' Stiff Small Businesses and More
July 30, 2012 | After a bumpy beginning to his first trip abroad as the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney appears to have weathered the storm set off by his turbulent comments about London's preparation for the Olympic games and landed safely in the court of nearly fifty major donors in Israel.
Culture Wars Skip K Street
May 2, 2012 | Talking heads and culture warriors have been working overtime in 2012 on both sides of the abortion, birth control, religious freedom and gun rights issues. But for all the talk about how much -- or how little -- say the government should have on key social issues, the battles haven't spilled onto K Street. According to OpenSecrets.org data, lobbying on ideological issues was down nearly across the board for the first three months of 2012.
Super PACs Cast Long Shadow Over 2012 Race
March 21, 2012 | New fundraising reports filed this week show a handful of super PACs continue to cast a long shadow over over a volatile 2012 presidential contest, raising and spending millions of dollars on behalf of preferred candidates, and in some cases, propping them up entirely.
OpenSecrets.org Mailbag: Pro-Israel Money, Ethics Inquires and More
June 27, 2011 | Welcome to the latest installment of OpenSecrets.org Mailbag, where we answer your burning questions about the role of money in politics, political influence and the work we do here at OpenSecrets.org.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: Which Industries Are in the Pockets of Both Rand and Ron Paul?
June 13, 2011 | As Father's Day approaches, this week's PolitiQuizz will have you peer into the pockets of the familial Pauls.
Some Anthony Weiner Campaign Donors May be Willing to See Past Congressman's Sex Scandal
June 7, 2011 | Keep the faith or bail out: such is the conundrum Weiner's roster of big-dollar donors faces as the embattled lawmaker fights to keep his political career righted. And in interviews Tuesday with OpenSecrets Blog, several of Weiner's more prominent backers offered varying degrees of support for the politician they had previously helped bankroll.
From Plumbers to Bankers, Anthony Weiner Long Enjoyed Diverse Campaign Cash Support
June 6, 2011 | Weiner's top donors hailed from his home state and belonged to the real estate and law industries, as well as the securities and investment and television and music industries.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: How Much Love Did the Pro-Israel Lobby Give Anthony Weiner?
June 6, 2011 | Although it may seem trivial, pro-Israel groups have donated heavily to embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner's campaign during past election cycles, The Center for Responsive Politics' research indicates.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: The Congressional Money Chase
May 16, 2011 | In politics, money matters. And nobody knows that better than the politicians who spend endless amounts of time and energy trying to raise the endless amounts of cash it takes to run a successful campaign for office.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: The Pro-Israel Lobby's Top Republican
May 10, 2011 | This week marks the 62nd birthday of the state of Israel. So can you answer this question about the pro-Israel lobby's top Republican recipient of campaign cash?
What Unites Pete King and Keith Ellison, D.C. Spy Games and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 7
March 7, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Jane Harman Leaves Congress, Obama Meets the Chamber of Commerce and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 8
February 8, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money and politics.
Political Giants NBC and Comcast Merge, J Street Demands Refund and More in Capital Eye Opener: January 20
January 20, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Lieberman Retires, ChristinePAC Questioned and More in Capital Eye Opener: January 19
January 19, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Tea Party-Loving Republican Senate Candidates Propelled by Cash from Ideological Groups, Small Donors
October 7, 2010 | Thirteen Tea Party-backed Republicans want the U.S. Senate to experience a new brand of political brew after November 2. The question isn't whether they will or won't, but rather, how many of them will be in office? And donations from people making modest campaign contributions appear poised to play an integral role in propelling them into office.
Ahead of Primary, California Democratic Rep. Jane Harman's Anti-war Challenger, Marcy Winograd, Condemns Israeli Military's Use of Force Against Flotilla
June 7, 2010 | California's 36th Congressional District, Democratic candidate Marcy Winograd has made an issue out of AIPAC and the Israeli blockade of Gaza as she challenges incumbent Rep. Jane Harman from her left flank in a Democratic primary.
Congressmen Become Lobbyists, Charlie Rangel Challenged and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 14
April 14, 2010 | More than 125 former congressional personnel, from aides on the banking committees to elected officials, are now working on behalf of financial companies, using their expertise and connections to influence legislation that is meant to regulate the financial industry
Capital Eye Opener: Thursday, December 10
December 10, 2009 | OY VEY! ORRIN HATCH SINGS JEWS PRAISES, BUT JEWS DON'T ALWAYS DIG HIS POLITICS: Sen. Orrin Hatch so loves Jews that the very Mormon politico from decidedly un-Jewish Utah has written a song -- yes, a song -- to help celebrate Hanukkah.
Congressmen Denouncing U.N. Inquiry Receive Handsome Donations from Pro-Israel Lobby
November 5, 2009 | The members of the House who voted in favor of a pro-Israel resolution have received $51,260 more on average from pro-Israel organizations ($81,020 versus $29,770) since 1989 than those who opposed it, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found.
Health Interests, Lobbyists Rank High Among Industries Increasing Campaign Contributions
August 19, 2009 | Political action committees and individuals associated with health industries, each of which are intimately involved in the nation's ongoing health care reform debate, are donating more to federal candidates during the second quarter of 2009 than the first quarter, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.
Washington Lobbying Grew to $3.2 Billion Last Year, Despite Economy
January 29, 2009 | While companies across the board were losing record amounts of money and laying off employees last year, at least one industry seemed to weather the recession: lobbying. Special interests paid Washington lobbyists $3.2 billion in 2008, more than any other year on record and a 13.7 percent increase from 2007, CRP has found. Corporations in the finance, insurance and real estate sector and automotive industry actually slowed or decreased their lobbying spending overall last year, relying instead on trade associations to represent them.
Power Players: New Appropriations Chair Popular with Defense
January 13, 2009 | As the chair of the defense appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has been a popular target for the defense industry's campaign contributions. Capital Eye analyzes the money behind the lawmaker who recently replaced Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chair of the entire Senate Appropriations Committee.
Power Players: Cantor Whips up Support from Finance Sector
January 8, 2009 | A rising star among House Republicans from day one, Cantor will now replace Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri as House minority whip. In this position, Cantor is charged with corralling support among his colleagues for the Republican leadership's proposals. Capital Eye kicks its Power Players series off with a profile of Cantor's fundraising, industry support and personal investments.
The Money Behind Biden
August 23, 2008 | Now that Barack Obama has announced his running mate, reporters will be scrambling to cover every aspect of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.)--his politics, his personal life, what he adds to the Democrats' presidential ticket and what aspects could make him a liability for the party. At the Center for Responsive Politics, we've strung together our own observations about Biden's campaign fundraising and personal finances.
Despite New Rules, Lawmakers Still Airborne
June 18, 2008 | The pace of congressional travel has slowed since new ethics rules went into effect last year, but CRP's update of its travel database shows that some lawmakers are still collecting frequent flier miles on someone else's dime.
Candidates Appear at AIPAC
June 3, 2008 | For an organization that doesn't make campaign contributions, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is remarkably influential in U.S. politics, which explains why the presidential candidates are all speaking this week to 7,000 pro-Israel activists at the organization's annual meeting in Washington.
Congressional Preview
April 7, 2007 | New leadership in the 110th Congress means newfound influence for interests friendly to Democrats By Miranda Blue and Lindsay Renick Mayer January 04, 2007 | With the changing of the guard on Capitol Hill comes a shift in lobbying efforts. In December, the Republican-led 109th Congress closed with a late-night flurry of bills to appease…
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: email@example.com


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Danielly Nobile Photography
I am a natural light photographer in Bellingham and the greater Seattle area. Contact me about capturing your story as a cherished memory!
Meet Danielly
These three words describe me and my photography:
Simple – Personal – Genuine
I am a wife to my John, a mommy to Sariah and Samuel, a photographer always in the making and the daughter of the King. The Lord has been ever faithful to me as I seek his ways. He has blessed me with a wonderful family and friends; I would not be who I am without them.
I have enjoyed capturing beauty for quite a while. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I took every opportunity to take photos of the magnificent mountains, evergreen trees and lively wild flowers. If you have never hiked, I highly encourage you to give it a try!
In 2008, as a soon to be bride, my love for photography began to expand and bloom as I spent quite a bit of my time looking at photographers' engagement and wedding photos. Like every bride, I wanted photographs that captured the special moments. The day I received my wedding photographs back I spent hours looking through every image - reliving every moment. It was during that time of life that I realized I had to pursue photography more seriously.
Soon after graduating from the University of Washington in 2009, I took advantage of my time to learn more about photography. Since then, photography has become a true passion! I love having the opportunity to meet new people on a regular basis to capture the story behind the laughter, the touch, the look and the moment in its entirety. I believe it's the small things in life that make the world a special place, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to capture those details for others.
I currently live in Bellingham and enjoy spending time outside as much as possible; after all, Washington summers are super short! I am regularly available for sessions in the greater Seattle area, and often available to shoot nationwide on location. I would be honored to capture your story as a cherished memory.
~ Danielly Nobile
Danielly Nobile Photography specializes in weddings and portraits in Bellingham and Seattle. | All content copyrighted.|ProPhoto Photographer Blog by NetRivet Websites


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Dr. Lora Van Uffelen, a 2002 Hope College graduate who is now a researcher at the University of Hawaii, will present the address "Exploring the Ocean with Acoustics: Science and Sea Stories" on Friday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. in room 102 of VanderWerf Hall.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Van Uffelen's address will focus on a large-scale oceanographic experiment funded by the Office of Naval Research in the Philippine Sea from 2009 to 2011. One of the objectives of the experiment was to study the oceanography of the Philippine Sea using the method of ocean acoustic tomography, a technique that involves measuring the amount of time it takes for sound signals to travel through the water. She will describe the observational technique in the context of the Philippine Sea experiment, with a focus on the scientific instrumentation that it employs, including deep-water acoustic moorings and autonomous underwater vehicles.
Van Uffelen is an assistant researcher in the Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering at the University of Hawaii. She graduated from Hope with a Bachelor of Science degree with an engineering major, and also holds a doctorate in oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
The presentation is through the seminar series coordinated by the college's department of engineering. VanderWerf Hall is located at 27 Graves Place, between 10th Street and Graves Place (11th Street) and Central and College avenues.


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Veganism is the following of a diet in which refrains from consuming any animal products, including meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, milk, or honey. It is often thought of as a stricter form of vegetarianism. Vegans also try to avoid use of wool, leather, fur, silk, down, and other animal-derived products. The basis of veganism is the idea that killing animals for food is only one part of a wider problem of unfair exploitation, and that keeping animals for eggs, wool etc. is another form of the same exploitation.
These beliefs are refuted by most, as many believe God placed animals on earth for human consumption and to allow us to prosper. This is not supported by scripture, as Genesis clearly states that God gave man plants and every green thing for food (see Genesis 1:29). God only allowed meat eating after the flood,(see Genesis 9:2-3) as all plant life had been wiped out and the environment was not as suited for hardy plant populations as it was before the flood.
In addition, many mistakenly believe it is impossible to supply all the essential nutrients required by the human body entirely through plant products. In actuality, we could supply more nutrients to people through plants than meat, since it take 16 pounds of grain fed to a cow to make 1 pound of beef. Treating animals as if they are common and expendable objects would be disrespectful to the God who gave us dominion over them. Jesus speaks of compassion, and in the New Testament God is stated by Jesus to look after the needs of animals (see Matthew 6:26). If we are to follow God's example, we must treat animal life with respect.
Animal welfare most closely fits with the morality expressed in the Bible. Eating animals is acceptable, but animals are to be treated with compassion.