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The deadly fungal disease responsible for the deaths of millions of bats in the eastern half of the country has made its way to the west coast.
Some of the hardest conservation challenges we face today are threats we cannot see. Disease is one of them.
White-nose syndrome, the fungal disease responsible for decimating bat populations in the eastern United States, recently made its first – and extremely unwelcome – appearance in the Pacific Northwest. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Geological Survey's Wildlife Health Center confirmed the disease in a little brown bat (Myotis Lucifugus) found by hikers near North Bend, not far from Seattle. How the disease jumped all the way across the country remains a mystery, but now that it's here, we must act fast to prevent its spread.
Deadly Disease
White-nose syndrome is caused by a fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans), and is characterized by the fuzzy white growth that often, but not always, appears on the snouts of infected bats. The fungus invades deep tissues of the wings and skin, causing irreparable damage. When the disease strikes in hibernating populations, infected bats rouse prematurely and, unable to find food, waste crucial fat reserves and starve to death. The fungus can also cause death by damaging wings, interfering with the bat's ability to regulate body temperature, disrupting its breathing patterns, and causing dehydration.
Since its first appearance in 2006, the disease is estimated to have killed over six million bats in eastern North America and Canada. If it hits during hibernation, it can kill every single bat in a colony. The disease is spread primarily from bat-to-bat contact, but the animals can also become infected wherever fungal spores are present. People can carry these spores on clothing, shoes, or equipment, which is why it is so important that caves where vulnerable bats may be hibernating are kept off limits if there is even the suspicion of white-nose syndrome in the area. In fact, some experts believe that white-nose syndrome may have been brought to Washington by spelunkers traveling from cave to cave without taking measures to decontaminate their clothing or equipment.
Once the disease is detected, experts must take swift action to prevent its spread. But so far, our knowledge on how to treat or prevent the disease is based on bats that live in the east. Bats here don't typically hibernate in the same kinds of massive colonies as those in the eastern part of the country, so the same practices may not necessarily apply. The fact is, we don't know how the disease will impact bats in the Pacific Northwest. Right now, it's hard to tell how far and how fast the disease will spread.
Bats of the Northwest
There are more than 40 species of bats in the United States, and the Pacific Northwest is home to approximately 18 of them, from the silver-haired bat and the western pipistrelle, to the Townsend's big-eared bat and eight different species of myotis, known as mouse-eared bats. The insects these bats eat and the techniques they use to hunt them vary from species to species. Some, like the western red bat, capture and eat their prey mid-flight. Others, like pallid bats, like to grab crickets and scorpions right off the ground! Spotted bats eat many kinds of insects but prefer moths, while Keen's myotis prefers spiders – each species is slightly different. Our bats also use every kind of habitat found in the Northwest, from desert to forest, trees to caves. Silver-haired bats like older forests and roost under loose bark, while Canyon bats like to roost in cracks of -you guessed it- canyon walls in arid landscapes.
Bats play a critical role in Pacific Northwest ecosystems, as well as in human communities and economies. Bats consume a huge amount of insects every day – including some of the most pernicious agricultural pests. Without this natural pest control, we would have an explosion of moths, beetles, flies and mosquitoes. Experts estimate that little brown myotis can eat 600 mosquitos per hour!
If white-nose syndrome continues to spread unchecked, bats may face an extinction crisis. And the ripple effects will touch all of us. A dramatic drop in bat populations – as seen in the Eastern United States – could lead to an explosion of mosquitos and the diseases they carry. It may make us rely even more heavily on chemicals to control insects, which some researchers worry is actually contributing to outbreaks of fungus. It would also have profound consequences for the health of our forests and crops.
Experts don't yet know which of the Pacific Northwest's bat species are susceptible to white-nose syndrome. In the eastern part of the country where the disease is widespread, seven cave hibernating species are afflicted. Two of these – the Little Brown Bat and Big Brown Bat – are also found in the Pacific Northwest. And the verified fungal infection in a Little Brown Bat seems to confirm that this species is vulnerable here as well. Over half of the other bat species found in the Pacific Northwest, and known to roost or hibernate together, could also be at risk.
Getting Ahead of the Threat
Out east, federal and state agencies have tried to curb the spread of the disease by closing caves and abandoned mines where bats hibernate. They are also issuing decontamination protocols for people who choose to visit the caves. It's unclear whether any caves will be closed in the Pacific Northwest. In Washington, wildlife officials are conducting surveys and taking samples where the infected bat was discovered. Scientists will use the data to determine how many bats may be infected in our region.
To confront the new threat of white-nose syndrome in the Pacific Northwest, we're pressuring the Forest Service to get serious about protecting cave resources – for example, by instituting penalties for people who enter protected or quarantined caves. We will also encourage the Forest Service to create robust guidelines for visitors to caves so they are not unwittingly putting Northwest bats at risk.
There are several things you can do to help. If you think you've seen a bat with white-nose syndrome, contact your state Department of Fish and Wildlife immediately, and do not handle the bat. If you live in Washington, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has set up an online reporting form to help.
To prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, avoid entering areas where bats may be living, including caves and abandoned mines. Likewise, keep your dogs out of areas where bats may be roosting, since they can carry fungal spores to new sites. If you do come into contact with bats or enter an area where bats are roosting, be sure to decontaminate your clothing and equipment immediately. Finally, make sure your elected officials know this issue is important to you, and ask them to support state and federal efforts to confront white-nose syndrome.
Although we don't get to interact with these unique flying mammals often, we would definitely feel the consequences of a world without bats. We need to do whatever we can to keep that from becoming a reality.


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Media Arts & Animation Student Participates in DC Storm Drain Mural
Filed under: Animation & Effects
December 11, 2017
Storm drains are the fast lane for how stormwater reaches the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. However, when [said] drain looks just like a curb, it can be hard to remember that the hole in the road is a direct line to one of DC's most precious natural resources.
The Anacostia Watershed Society made it their duty to restore this connection. They brought in local designers and, for the first time, The Art Institute of Washington put in their bid!
Student Krystle Marsh, who is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree Media Arts & Animation, submitted her #TrashfreeDC design for consideration a few months ago. Recently, Krystle was informed that she was selected as a finalist and her design would be one of many that will cover several storm drains around the Washington, DC area. Krystle's completed design is located at the intersection of Dix Street and Anacostia Avenue NE.
See http://ge.artinstitutes.edu/programoffering/186 for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, salary data, alumni success, and other important info.
Learn more about our programs.Get Brochure
Filed under: Animation & Effects
December 11, 2017community design community

subset: commoncrawl


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Rose Tree Park FREE Summer Concerts, Media, PA - July 18-21, 2019 - Week 6 of 9
Concerts start at 7:30 PM. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Arrive early with a picnic dinner and make and evening of it under the sky! Refreshments and snacks are sold at the park.
This week's line up:
*Thursday 7:30 PM July 18 - Makin Music & The Moonlight Forest Friends
*Friday 7:30 PM July 19 - Lonnie Shields Band
*Saturday 7:30 PM July 20 - Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars
*Sunday 7:30 PM July 21 - Lights Out: Tribute to Frankie Valli
(A few links for more info)
All concerts are scheduled for one time slot only with no rain date.
Cancelled due to rain? Call 610-891-4455 for recorded message.
GPS 1671 N Providence RD, Media, PA 1906
For more information 610-891-4455 or open this link Rose Tree Park
Thanks to the many generous sponsors who make these FREE Concerts possible!
Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors®, SRES®, SFR®
512 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, PA 19064
610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 call/text/email
Contact Us For A Free Consultation
Helping Sellers and Buyers since 2004
Monthly Market Reports Posted Here
365 Things To Do In Delaware County PA


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And so things continue apace. Kev Rowland's first book (volume one of three) is finally out. The Progressive Underground Vol One refutes the popular belief that progressive rock didn't disappear with the advent of punk, and the lack of media support didn't prevent new bands from forming and new music being created, and explains that it just drove it underground. It is hard to imagine these days, with everyone being permanently connected, but there was a time not long ago when communication was by word of mouth and letter. With no coverage by much of the media, it was down to fanzines and independent magazines to spread the word of what was happening within the progressive rock scene, what was being released, and who was worth going to see in concert.
Kev and I (who surprisingly never met back then despite the fact we both lived within a few miles of each other) were both leading lights of the fanzine culture, and so it has been a true delight to work on these books with him..
Regular readers will know that we recently shared the positive news about Corinna's health with you all, and that - at least at the moment - she appears to be cancer free. I am convinced that her condition is a direct result of the good wishes, prayers, and positive vibes from thousands of people around the world. A prayer flag (Lung ta) is a colourful rectangular cloth, often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas. They are used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes.
Find out more:
I believe something similar happens with positive vibes transmitted electronically, and - having used it to such good effect with my dear wife's condition, I want to try it on a larger scale. I am still trying to work out the details, so watch this space.
Blessed be.
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Auburn - Hurting
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
For those of you who are interested in such things, the Gonzo Privacy Policy is here:
And the CFZ Privacy Policy is here:
And, yes,
Our webTV show:
And if you fancy supporting it on Patreon:
And by the way chaps and chappesses, a trip to the Jon Downes megastore may seem to be in order:
Meanwhile I continue to pretend that I am a popstar, because now I have sold eight whole copies of my new album Coldharbour. If I continue at this rate I will get a silver disc sometime at the beginning of the next millenium. Coldharbour, by the way, can be found here: https://jondownes1.bandcamp.com/releases
I think it is really rather good, but then again I would say that wouldn't I?
I do have good news to impart: Lars Thomas' book about the mystery land animals of Scandinavia and the Baltic States has been uploaded, and over at Gonzo the first volume of Kev Rowland's The Progressive Underground is also imminent. And at Fortean Fiction, my latest novel - 'Zen and Xenophobia' - vaguely a sequel to 2015's 'The Song of Panne' - is now available.
! would warn you that if you are of a nervous disposition, or easily offended, you will find parts of my novel both offensive and upsetting. There is sex, violence, drug abuse, occultism, pornography, firearms, politics, religion, and not a little sociology. But there is also love, kindness, faith, and redemption. And it's a cracking good yarn. Or I think so, at any rate. All I would say on the subject before bidding you farewell is Caveat Lector. And I'm not gonna explain what that means, because because if you don't know what that means then you probably shouldn't be reading the book in the first place.
Gonzo Weekly #331/2
We mark the passing of Scott Walker, an extraordinary talent, the likes of whom we shall never see again, Alan goes to the London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle art exhibition, Graham reveals part two of his look at Hawkwind's demicentennial, Jeremy goes to see Bob Mould, Jon muses on gender and reviews a book about London by Barry Miles, Kev looks at the recent tragic events in New Zealand, and there is lots more...
Hail Eris!
And there are radio shows from Mack Maloney and Friday Night Progressive AND Strange Fruit. AND there is a column from Kev Rowland, and one from Tony Klinger and one from C J Stone, and Neil Nixon, Roy Weard, Mr Biffo, and the irrepressible Corinna are on hiatus. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and rock wallabies who've blown a fuse (OK, nothing to do with the relatively small macropods who are having electrical problems, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
This issue features:
political correctness, Keith Flint, Gregg McKella, Dr. Sardonicus Festival, The Planets, Rick Wakeman, Jeff Wayne, Kevin Peek, Patrick Allen, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Marillion, Yoko Ono, Climate Strikes, Richard Freeman, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Canterbury Sans Frontieres, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Scott Walker (born Noel Scott Engel), Wolfgang Meyer, Bernie Tormé (born Bernard Joseph Tormey), Yuya Uchida, David White Tricker (aka David White), Zephire Andre Williams, Richard Anthony Monsour (aka Dick Dale), Yann-Fañch Kemener, Terje Nilsen, Roger Charlery (aka Ranking Roger), New Zealand Mosque Murders, The Fall, Rick Wakeman, The RAZ Band, America, Alan Dearling, Design and Screen Schools' Postgraduate Show; University of the Arts London: London College of Communication, Bob Mould, Jeremy Smith, Kev Rowland, ScienceNV, 3rDegree, Tony Klinger, Mr Biffo, CJ Stone, Hawkwind, Graham Inglis, Jon Downes, Coldharbour Diaries, Martin Springett, Thom the World Poet, Barry Miles, "London Calling"
And the last few issues are:
Issue 331-2 (Scott Walker)
Issue 329-30 (Charlie X)
Issue 327-28 (Hawkwind)
Issue 325-26 (Gonzo)
Issue 323-24 (Irvine Welsh)
Issue 321-22 (Discordianism)
Issue 319-20 (Brix Smith)
Issue 317-18 (Christmas)
Issue 315-16 (Steve Miller)
Issue 313-14 (Hawkwind)
Issue 311-12 (Extinction Rebellion)
Issue 309-10 (Steve Hillage)
Issue 307-8 (Michael Moorcock)
Issue 305-6 (Maartin Allcock)
Issue 303-4 (kOZFEST)
Issue 301-2 (Ringo Starr)
Issue 299-300 (Aretha Franklin)
Issue 298 (Alan in Hungary)
Issue 297 (Shir Ordo)
Issue 295-6 (Robert Berry)
Issue 294 (Bow Wow Wow)
Issue 293 (Stonehenge)
Issue 292 (Rolling Stones)
Issue 291 (Alien Weaponry)
Issue 290 (Frank Zappa)
Issue 289 (Misty in Roots)
Issue 288 (Paula Frazer)
Issue 287 (Boss Goodman)
Issue 286 (Monty Python)
Issue 285 (ELP)
Issue 284 (Strangelove)
Issue 283 (Record Store Day)
Issue 282 (Neil Finn and Fleetwood Mac)
Issue 281 (Carl Palmer)
Issue 280 (Steve Andrews)
All issues from #70 can be downloaded at www.gonzoweekly.com if you prefer. If you have problems downloading, just email me and I will add you to the Gonzo Weekly dropbox. The first 69 issues are archived there as well. Information is power chaps, we have to share it!
You can download the magazine in pdf form HERE:
SPECIAL NOTICE: If you, too, want to unleash the power of your inner rock journalist, and want to join a rapidly growing band of likewise minded weirdos please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com The more the merrier really.
* The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at email@example.com. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello please write to me at email@example.com. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow...
* The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: www.gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk
* We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!
* Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 59 who - together with a Jack Russell called Archie, an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, and two half grown kittens, one totally coincidentally named after one of the Manson Family, purely because she squeaks, puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention Archie and the Cats?


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Taking images with one main tone or colour might sound like an easy challenge but it is actually quite tricky to do it.
As always look at the "frame" and decide what you want to tell and why and then move around that, choosing the right focal length and exposure to achieve the effect you want.
Here are our top 5 to give you some inspiration
1. Robin Ek Inner/Visions
This piece is about the dreams of Robin Ek and how he envisages the world ending. What is interesting is the juxtaposition of a portrait with these lights, taken in portrait form they illustrate looking behind someone which might be – what is ahead of us. The photo of the light is taken with an unfocused lens.
2. Tim Walker
He is just fabulous and a must at looking at his creations. He was a first assistant to Richard Avedon in America. Walker often chooses a monochromatic effect on his images and mainly blue but this series of Marion Cottilard in red are so striking! Walker is a British fashion photographer.
3. Francis Giacobetti
Francis Bacon is an Irish artist who lived in the UK, who's image was taken by Giacobetti. Bacon's work is often seen as violent. "Violence is part of human nature. Even within the most beautiful landscape, in trees, under the leaves the insects are eating each other; violence is part of life." Giacobetti took inspiration from Bacon's work and created his own monochromatic triptych. He uses strong colours.
4. Eliska Kyselkova
Our own trainer at LIoP created this fashion image for a jewellery brand. Eliska is Czech and lives in London. Her style transcends the boundaries of classic fashion photography into her own artistic expression.
5. Luca Tombolini
Tombolini is Italian. He was studying humanistic studies before meeting an influential photographer who taught him large format. Since 2011, he has been photographing on large scale. he is interested in primordial places, looking at ideas like the Self, the Unconscious, and the perceived reality.


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God's Ninth Commandment is do not lie, and the comparison to horsemanship is "timing."
The opposite of lying is crystal clear communication, and the more perfect our timing is the clearer we communicate.
In my previous column, I explained that good horsemanship is good seat and good hands. Good hands is the ability to communicate clearly. Many people blame the headgear on a horse for poor communication when it is usually the "hands." It is basically when to ask for a try and when to reward a try. It is when to be soft and when to be tough, and how much time to allow before increasing or decreasing intensity of the above. Timing involves everything we have done so far in the previous eight Commandments.
The first time I received the clearest message about good hands was from Ray Hunt. Hunt emphasized that it is not what you have in a horse's mouth or on his head that is nearly as important as the "hands" behind the headgear. I thought that was an incredible statement since I had been hearing people making excuses for years about their horse's bridle. People seemed to be constantly changing them, unaware that they themselves were the sinners not the headgear.
That is why I find the gospel of Jesus Christ so practical for everyday use as we see the correlation in other areas of life. We seem to naturally worry about everything else but our own sins. I think it is exciting that my own hands are more important than the bit. The most valuable thing I need, God provided to me at birth: my hands.
I admire John the Baptist. I can see him talking to poor people like this: "So you can't afford a certain gadget – what are you worried about? You have two hands! Get out and learn how to be more skillful with them!"
I can see him talking to rich people like this; "You have so much stuff, it is actually making you its prisoner. Didn't it ever occur to you that all you need is your hands and a rusty $3 snaffle bit?" (horses like the taste of rust).
Pat Parelli once said, "I see what normal people do, and do the opposite and get far better results."
Actually, Jesus said that first in the gospels when he talked about walking the extra mile and washing feet (how about modern day picking up trash?). We naturally think we turn and stop a horse when we pull on the bit, but it is actually when we release the pressure that motivates them to respond. Discomfort motivates a horse or a person to change what they are doing. Comfort tells them they did the right thing. Timing of the release of pressure is extremely critical in getting maneuverability from a horse. When horses or people find comfort in the midst of discomfort, their confidence or self esteem is built up. Think of the joy of seeing the result of sweating through a project that was "completed." Another example would be staying warm on a cold day because our efforts give us a furnace that has us shedding clothes when others are putting more on.
Our timing can never be real good until we can read and feel a horse's thoughts and intentions. The Eighth Commandment has us become a horse, emphasizing sharing mutual time and effort together (this does not mean just going down a trail sightseeing together). This Jesus Christ (God down to earth) example of respect helps our sensitivity so we will be much better with our timing. We have to know when the horse is trying and when they are not. We need to sense laziness versus tiredness, or boredom and sourness. We also need to read fear or disrespect or a combination of both.
The first three Commandments give us tools to comfort when they are doing the right thing, warn, then increase discomfort as they are doing the wrong thing. I explain three ways to ask for a response, and three ways to relax into a holding pattern. The Fourth Commandment is the thinking commandment. We keep the observe/remember/compare process in motion in order to be as objective as possible. We tend to either become pacifists, or insensitive dictators, and we need to sense which way we are drifting. Many times we do not understand that tiredness or laziness is not the issue; it is boredom, and therefore the mind must be stimulated with a change of some sort.
We can see an example of this as we drive a car down a straight stretch of road for a while. As for fear and disrespect, our response and timing may not be right. We naturally stop from our fear of the horse when we should keep going. Fear needs much repetition to in a sense bore the horse on purpose. Disrespect needs the rhythmic language in the Third Commandment.
Just as the third commandment recognizes us thumbing our nose at God, we deal with a horse thumbing his nose at us. It can be subtle, such as ignoring us in not stopping or going when we stop or go, or leaning against our pressure signals. This subtle disrespect can be dealt with by giving warning time before coming in contact with our rhythmic object. But if it is a dangerous act of disrespect such as kicking, striking, or biting, then I follow famous horse trainer John Lyons' example. He explains it this way: "I choose to let them know they almost died for that act." Here is another case where the timing must be good. I can not do much with my fiberglass stick and string (it is kind of like a bee stinging a bear), but the message becomes clear to a horse that their lethal weapons are off limits to my fragile body. I then stroke them gently so we can both recover from the near tragedy! If a horse is lashing out in pure fear, I will hold the stick in range, communicating to them I will not take it away until they stop attacking it and begin to calm.
We live in a time when "positive only reinforcement" seems to be the fashion of the day. If someone can show me the true logic in this, I will try to listen as objectively as possible. That way I will be exercising the Fifth Commandment by listening to feedback from others. I feel I would not be communicated to clearly if only positive stimulus was given. Whereas if I am given both positive and negative consequences, it would be more black and white, and I would learn at least twice as fast.
God designed the wild horse herd with older mares leading up front providing draw (positive cue), and the stallion driving from the rear (negative cue). When we move cattle, we have the chuck wagon up front (positive cue), and drovers behind (negative cue). We use draw to ask (positive) and drive to follow through (negative).
Remember, if we are not striving for crystal clear communication, we are in effect doing the opposite (lying) by default. I have never had a horse hold sternness (negative) against me if we end calm and soft (positive) for the day.
The no lie/timing commandment can be summarized in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (there is a time for every purpose…), also Revelation 21 and 22 (describing Heaven). So much of what we do not like on earth can be described as hazy, cloudy, muddy, murky, or confusing, or deceitful. The terminology describing heaven repeatedly refers to "crystal clear." From this we can get a glimpse of the beauty that will be available in heaven to those who love, serve and depend on our Creator. But one thing for sure is there will be "crystal clear communication," and by then it will be completely positive!
Mike Daniels is a horsemanship trainer and barefoot hoof-trimming specialist from Raymondville, Mo. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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What welding rods for galvanized steel pipe need to be used?
Be aware that welding will vaporize the zinc in the galvanize instantly and breathing the fumes will make you feel sick. You want to limit your exposure and have increased ventilation and breathing protection. Even though you will recover if you are overexposed you won't enjoy the experience.
That said you would use the same welding rod that you would use for the base steel and the same setting and travel speed. Many groups suggest grinding back the galvanize a quarter inch or so. That reduces the fumes produced and may aid visibility. When you finish the welded area will have no galvanic protection and will be subject to corrosion. You will need to apply a protective coating to the area. I would suggest a good inorganic zinc primer. The better ones will last nearly as long as the galvanize itself.


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Are you concerned about your credit? If so, you may want to use a credit monitoring service to keep track of changes to your credit report and credit score. But at the same time, you wouldn't want to do anything to hurt your credit score. And to many people, it is unclear if credit monitoring will
Does Credit Monitoring Affect My Credit Score?
December 7, 2016 Capital One credit cards , Capital One , credit monitoring , credit report , credit score , building credit , credit score effects , CreditWise , monitor credit , soft pull , hard pull , Credit Wise , credit service , Heisenberg Uncertainty , Uncertainty Principle , monitoring service , affecting credit score Jason Steele


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May 15 (Reuters) - World's biggest catering firm Compass Group Plc on Wednesday reported a 6.6% rise in organic revenue for the first half of the year, boosted by new UK defence contract wins and strong performance in its North America business.
Shares of the FTSE 100-listed company were indicated to open 2% higher, according to traders.
Compass, which provides meals for office workers, armed forces and school children in more than 50 countries, increased its outlook for full-year organic revenue growth.
"Following the very strong first half performance we now increase our organic revenue growth guidance for the full year and expect to deliver organic revenue growth and margin progression similar to 2018", the company said.
Compass previously said it expects full-year organic revenue growth to be slightly above the mid-point of its 4% to 6% forecast range.
First-half underlying operating profit rose 5.8% at constant currency to 951 million pounds ($1.23 billion)
$1 = 0.7748 pounds Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Karina Dsouza in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta


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These tough economic times throughout the world have called for athletic teams in all sports, at all levels and in all countries to rethink their fund raising/sponsorship strategies.
The Italian Football League's Lazio Marines, based in the Eternal City, Rome, have come up with a most novel solution to their financial woes.
In red, Catania's Mathieu Cassaghi with a big
block on Larry Atkinson's interception
during the Elephant's 28-21 victory in 2009
over the Lazio Marines in white
The Marines courted a "deep pockets" sponsor from cyberspace. An internet sponsor that is #1 in its field in Italy and is also Europe's #2 distributor of internet adult sex objects, toys and erotic lingerie. Their new sponsor is the one and only MisterSex.it website.
Yes, you can now cheer for the IFL's Mister Sex Lazio Marines!!!
I like the pink Mister Sex on both the jerseys and the helmets.
You can NOT make this stuff up! For more go to:
No reaction yet from Vatican City.


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Episode 18 – Sundog Gazillionaire
For episode eighteen we go back to Pratchett's science fiction beginnings as – in the evening between the two days of the 2019 Speculate festival – author Will Kostakis joins us to talk about the 1976 standalone novel, The Dark Side of the Sun!
Dom Sabalos is about to become Chairman of the planet Widdershins when he is messily assassinated. Well…mostly. When he survives against all odds, he discovers his death had been predicted using probability math. The same science also predicts he will discover Joker's World, the mysterious home of the vanished ancient species thought to have laid the foundation for all intelligent life. Dom sets out to fulfil his destiny with his alien mentor Hrsh-Hgn, his new robot, Isaac, and a strange, lucky creature from his homeworld's swamp.
Filled with references and homages to prominent science fiction authors like Larry Niven, Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert, The Dark Side of the Sun is the first of Pratchett's two early science fiction novels. It features the first appearance of many names and concepts he would later come to reuse in various forms in the Discworld. It's a short, fast-paced book with big ideas – not least Pratchett's own take on the classic sci-fi trope of a vanished, ancient precursor species known only through mysterious artefacts. But does it work? Is this an early sign of genius, or a run-up for someone who needed more time to come into his own? We'd love to hear from you! Use the hashtag #Pratchat18 on social media to join the conversation.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:38:37 — 45.5MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS | More
Don't forget that you can see Liz and Ben at Nullus Anxietas 7, the Australian Discworld Convention, on April 13 and 14! Watch out for our bonus live episode, recorded at the convention, in an upcoming special episode.
Next month it's back to the Discworld as we crank up the volume and rock out with Death! Yes, we'll be reading Soul Music, so get your questions in via social media by mid-April using the hashtag #Pratchat19.


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A panoramic view over the rugged landscape at the south western coast of the Rhinns of Islay, a mile or so south of Lossit Bay (just visible in the distance). Steep cliffs with deep cuts for the waves to rush in dominate the view.
16 thoughts on "Cliffs in the south west Rhinns of Islay"
@islayblog amazing!!


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Alert for all the smartphone users, YouTube has put a constraint on the HDR streaming quality option to 1080p in its YouTube App
Google-owned video streaming giant YouTube has put a control over the HDR streaming quality which it used to offer to the viewer's using YouTube App via smartphones. It has put HDR video quality to 1080p from the prior quality of HDR quality of 1440p. This step was already under the process since when Google recently came up with 2K HDR feature for the mobile apps as per the latest technology news.
There have been too many performance issues raised by the users about the scattered and dropped frames while streaming 1440p videos. However, this issue remained unsolved and adding on to this there were few devices which turned out to be incompatible with the high-quality videos. Even Google's own Pixel 2 is one of the member of the smartphone club which was facing the streaming issues and massive frame drop reports which was a disappointing unusable experience for the users using latest mobile app. Though the limitation put on by YouTube is proving to be effective now, as the quality has been bit degraded so that streaming remains compatible with different smartphones and features.
YouTube the video streaming giant owned by Google has finally come the decision to face-lift its YouTube mobile app and logo is planning to include clean design language and gesture to move the video around giving the utmost performance capabilities which include reverse and fast-forward. These new updates are being added to actively enhance the performance of the playback speed of the video on the mobile application platform.
Videos are capable of changing the shape so that users will be able to get the best viewing experience as per the screen rotation of the user's phone. Reviews on this new update are mixed and do not favor in a majority. There are complaints reported of stumbling videos by the users who no more have the full-screen mode option. There are instances where the video moves directly to the landscape mode or not able to return to the previous resolution which was an option provided earlier as reported in a Reddit thread.
This new feature is still struggling to stream the videos with the proper brightness without draining the battery life. HDR videos have the capability to support the variety of color schemes whereas regular videos lack this ability. Overall display performance is powerfully vibrant and the representation is the delight to an eye. Though Netflix being the Google's YouTube video giant's competitor is showcasing its strong goal to serve the users with the impeccable HDR technology on the mobile phones.
For the Latest Mobile App Trends and Mobile App Reviews, follow MobileAppDaily on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Flipboard
She is a content marketer and has more than five years of experience in IoT, blockchain, Web, and mobile development. In all these years, she closely followed the app development, and now she writes about the existing and the upcoming mobile app technologies. Her essence is more like a ballet dancer.


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Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun. June 6, 2010
Image by Getty Images via @daylife The Doors are Eternal. Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger's interplay is a joy to witness. Great band with Ty Dennis on drums, Phil Chen on bass and Miljenko Matijevic (Steelheart) performing vocals. Follow Ray and Robby at these Web links: Manzarek-Krieger Official Site Facebook Wikipedia


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This is a guest post by my husband Marcel who recently posted a gallery of pictures from his trip to Peru and Panama at CosmicAdventure.
Last weekend our dog child Mulder turned 4. We aren't exactly sure when his birthday is but we estimated it should be sometime in September, so to make things easy we just designated September 19th which is a month before Charlotte's B-day. It's hard to believe that time has gone by so fast from the day we got Mulder from the doggie adoption event when he was just 25 pounds and 3-4 months old.
To celebrate his birthday this year we took him downtown to the Sniff Dog Hotel in Nob Hill. It's a dog boarding facility, but they also have doggie day care and a café. Once your dog passes the dog temperament test (by appointment only) you can bring him in to play for free during happy hour. This is a great deal for all parties involved because your dog gets to play with other dogs in a cool facility while you support the hotel by spending money on beer, coffee, and snacks while watching the doggies play. After playing with a huge Great Dane and many other doggies Mulder walked with us around Nob Hill, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Portland. Finally we got some cow tendons and other goodies at All For Paws for the birthday boy before heading home for dinner and TV time.
The sniff dog hotel, with Mulder in the background playing.
Speaking of that we had our friends Sokbun and Chad over for the football game last weekend and Chad asked me how many words Mulder knew. This is a good question that I never really gave much thought to until that moment. I initially said probably about 20, but after thinking about it is probably more like 40 or 50. Some words he knows so well that we have to spell them out or use abbreviations so he doesn't get confused. For example if we are talking and accidentally say "walk" he will start jumping in circles and run to the door. So we use code and say "W" or just spell it out. For dog park we say "DP", and treat we say "T", unless we are actually going to the dog park or giving him a treat at that moment.
Sometimes Mulder will not recognize certain words if they aren't said in the right tone, or accompanied by the right physical reaction. This is because dogs tend to respond to our physical behaviors and expressions much more than verbal communications. For example if I get out of my chair very quickly Mulder thinks I'm going somewhere and will also get excited. If I calmly put my keys in my pocket but don't give him eye contact he won't get excited, but if I look at him after putting my keys in my pocket his tail will start wagging like crazy. He knows all the queues.
Mulder still surprises us at times like today when I was talking to Charlotte about what we were going to do and I said "where do you want to go?" Mulder, who we thought wasn't even paying attention to us, suddenly jumped up from his bed and started wagging his tail and circling around. We determined that he recognized the phrase "wanna go" as meaning we were going somewhere, because we usually say to him wanna go to the dog park, or petsmart, or where ever. He is one smart doggie!
Here is a list of words and phrases I could think of off the top of my head that Mulder knows. There are certainly many others that I can't think of now, and some that he sort of knows like the names of favorite food types such as banana, chicken, or popcorn. If you have any cool doggie words or tricks let us know.
Commands: No, sit, lay down, jump, shake hands, wait, all done, be nice, go play, play ball, stay, come, quiet, off, this way, over here, leave it, drop it, no barking, no biting, sniffy only, get it (used when we hide a treat from him), catch (used when tossing a treat in the air), let's go, move, watch me.
Common words or phrases he knows: Good boy, sleepytime, human food, human activity, doggie activity, ready, water, doggie (we say when there is another doggie around), wanna go ____
Places: Home, PetSmart, Dog Park, Bethany (local shopping area where we walk sometimes), Home Depot (he is allowed inside so we take him there), office time, TV time, outside, inside.
Favorite words: Treat, Mmmm (used to make his food sound better), walk, ride, dinner, rubby (when we rub his belly or scratch his ears).
Least favorite words: Bath (the mention of this word will send him running), Cat (Mulder does not like cats, squirrels, raccoons, UPS or FedX guys, solicitors, or any other intruders in our yard). However Mulder has determined that birds are a waste of his time so he mostly ignores them.
People he knows: Mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa. We aren't sure how well he remembers other names but he definitely remembers their scent.
A recent trip we made to the southern Oregon Coast.
An older picture, but one of my favorites of Charlotte and Mulder.
Another trip we made this summer out to the coast, who says dogs can't smile?
On that trip we saw a deer at Long Beach in WA. We thought Mulder would think it was a big dog and he did pause for a moment, but he must have smelled venison because after this picture was taken he nearly dislocated my arm when he took off running after it like he tries to do when we see cats. I'm not sure what he thinks he would have done if he had actually caught this deer. The deer was initially frightened and ran, then stopped to look back, and after that arrogantly galloped off at a leisurely pace as if to say "whatever".
Portland is so dog friendly they even put doggie water fountains with the human ones on some trails.
Mulder says yes I am self aware, and darn I look good too!
I'll just lay here and look cute until you take me for a walk.
This is my impression of a human sitting on a chair.
I might be biased here, but Mulder is quite simply the coolest dog around! He is always happy to see us and we are always happy to see him. He brings so much joy, laughter, and love to our lives. Happy Birthday Mulder!


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Nextgov Prime: Evolutions in Cyber Security & Stopping NextGen Insider Threats
September 7, 2014
LLR Operating Partner Gus Hunt, former CTO of the Central Intelligence Agency, will speak on a panel at the Nextgov Prime conference on September 8, 2014.
The panel, titled "Evolutions in Cyber-Security & Stopping Next-Generation Insider Threats" will address questions including: What does security mean in the near future when cyber-security and big data intersect? What is the government's future role in ensuring the privacy of its citizens – and their data – and how it will mitigate a growing number of threats that now include hackers, nation states and other bad actors on the inside?
Nextgov Prime, the leading event committed to furthering the performance of government through improved use of information technology, will be held September 8-9, 2014 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. For the complete agenda, click here.
LLR's Operating Partners are former senior executives with deep operating experience and industry-specific knowledge that can help enhance shareholder value. They are engaged as consultants to assist with various activities including market research, new investment identification, pre-investment business diligence and post-investment value creation for our portfolio companies.


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Since January 2013, I have only truly struggled with the motivation to exercise and eat healthier a few times. Usually the onset of disillusionment has accompanied an injury or setback of some kind, never the lack of results. Conventional wisdom and everything I read says to keep at it and the results will come. I'm not so sure anymore.
I have been known to read too much when it comes to research. I have written of information overload in previous entries. Most of the time I can't make heads or tails of the information I consume. I read Runner's World and Men's Fitness. I spend time on numerous web sites from Men's Health to bodybuilding.com. You would think after four years of better nutrition and consistent exercise, I would be seeing better results. You would think after four years I would understand my body. You would be wrong.
I have been a proponent of what I believe to be a simple truth. The body doesn't need as many calories to subsist as we think it does. That being said, my calorie ceiling, no matter how much I exercise, seems to be pretty low. I have a FitBit Charge HR. I know how much I sleep, I know my heart rate, I know approximately how many calories I burn each day. Either I am lying to myself about how many calories I take in each day (I am horribly inconsistent with MyFitnessPal and logging my food), or my metabolism is much slower than I care to admit.
Actually, what's crazy is the calorie burn estimates from each app you use. The Nike Run Club app says yesterday's run burned 572 cal., while Smashrun says 761 cal. FitBit says 690. According to FitBit, I burned 3,106 cal. yesterday. I know I didn't eat that much, but I guarantee you if I got on the scale this morning, it would have showed an uptick in weight. If that was the case, and knowing that you have to burn more than you take in to lose weight, you'd think I'd have this licked.
To recap – I once weighed 236 pounds. I lost 60 to get to 176. I put four back on and stayed at 180 for several months. I was quite happy at 180 pounds. Then I hurt my back. Even after surgery to repair a herniated disc, I stayed at 180 for some time. This was summer 2015. By January 2017 I have put about 20 pounds back on. November and December 2016 were bad for me. I backed off my running, I exercised three to four days a week instead of five to six, and I ate more holiday comfort food than I should have. Over the summer, I ate more backyard cookout food and drank more beer than I should have. From July on I took on a new hobby – podcasting – to go with blogging and working on my first novel.
Since the first of the year, a bout with the flu not withstanding, I have been back on my game. I have been running more often, especially of late, and I am back to five to six workouts per week. Trusting the process has been my mantra from the beginning and I don't know what that process is anymore. I have forgotten how to do this. I don't even know what to do anymore. I don't know what to eat, how much of it to eat. I don't know what workouts to do. I don't know what not to do either.
I belong to a Facebook group affiliated with Jim Stoppani, an exercise scientist who has his own line of supplements. The group, known as the JYM Army, consists of people of all ages, shapes, and sizes and walks off life. Many post transformation photos. Instead of being inspired to achieve, I am jealous. I'm envious. And worst of all, I'm disgusted with myself. I know what I want. I know what I want to look like; I know how I want to feel. And I just don't know how to do it.
The past few weeks have been frustrating. I have seen a little movement on the scale in the right direction, which is undone quickly. I am in a constant battle with needing to manage my life and wanting to live it. I used to get frustrated when my weight loss efforts stalled. But I never really considered giving up. My eyes were always on the prize. As I drove toward it I always thought the definition would come, the body fat would slough off. I figured I would build the body I always wanted while I did this.
But I think the past two weeks have seen my first real cracks, my first real thoughts of wanting to quit. I see people who have lost weight and gained it back and never go back to diet and exercise. I guess either life got in the way or they just said, "screw it." I don't want to be that person. Yet, despite my best efforts, I gained 20 pounds. And I'm debating being that person.
I lift and I lift and nothing seems to change. My belly fat is back in abundance and my muscles never seem to grow or define. I get a little stronger and I'm probably stronger that I ever have been, but that's not good enough. My battle with the poster on the wall seems to be unwinnable.
I'm 47 years old. The one thing I have figured out about this 1969 rambling wreck is that backing off is the kiss of death. If I don't maintain the five to six days a week of weightlifting and 10-15 miles a week of running, my fitness level goes right down the drain. The worst part about that is getting back to where I was, which gets harder as I get older. It wasn't that long ago when I was able to consistently run 10-minute miles on three- to five-mile runs. I never could maintain than on a six-miler. I'm trudging along at 11-minute miles now. Sure I can turn in a sub 10-minute mile, but I can't maintain that pace. Carrying 20 extra pounds can't be helping. Two years ago I was running four miles in 38 minutes. Now? 44 minutes. I am an ex-smoker but I quit damn near nine years ago. I know that it takes 15 years to undo it, but you'd think my cardio-vascular health would be better than it is. Granted, I have not been able to get my speed back since back surgery.
My new problem is mystery quad pain and tightness I've never had before. I used to suffer from shin splints. Quality running shoes with plenty of cushion solved that. Now I wonder if my new running shoes are causing the quad problem. My new weight bench has a built-in squat rack and I am squatting more weight that I ever have. Maybe that is causing my quad issues. Who the hell knows? We've established that I don't understand my anatomy.
Maybe I'm not sticking to anything long enough to get any real results. Getting enough protein on a daily basis is a constant struggle. I'm good once in awhile. But I forget my discipline and I don't stick to it. I forget to make a shake, or miss the window to drink one. I don't eat enough animal protein during the day because I don't want the calories. The JYM Army and Stoppani tell you screw the calories, it's about losing inches and fat and building muscle. I would say, "yeah, that's great if you're 25," but the are 50-somethings in the group that look like professional bodybuilders. And for me, and my body, eating to fuel muscle growth and workouts is not what works for me. I just put on fat. I never shred.
Maybe it's low testosterone. I have been tested. It is a bit low. Not catastrophically low, but lower than it should be. Maybe that is what's hurting me. I read an article in the March 2017 Men's Fitness that said people with sleep apnea shouldn't take testosterone replacement because it could worsen the symptoms. It's bad enough I thought losing 60 pounds would cure the condition only to find out I am stuck with it for life, only to read that something that would help lose weight, build muscle and provide numerous other benefits could also hasten my demise.
It seems like I am constantly stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think the added weight has not only hurt my running ability, but has also exacerbated my symptoms. Evening fatigue would be the most glaring. I have trouble getting up in the morning. During my last visit with the sleep doc, my CPAP machine was adjusted to help with that.
This week, I'll try something new. I'm hardheaded I guess. I don't know when or how to quit. But I do feel like for the first time since I started four years ago that there's no point to it. That no matter what I do I'll continue to gain weight no matter what I eat or how much I exercise. And that simply won't do.


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Creative Conceptions Fifty Nights of Naughtiness Couples Collection
In Stock
Ready for some erotic surprises and naughty adventures? Yeah, we thought so! Let's play. The Creative Conceptions Fifty Nights of Naughtiness Couples Collection is all about sensual ideas. New thrills and ideas will be introduced into your relationship while maintaining the passionate and loving intimacy that you and your partner already share.
The game includes a sensuous satin tie and ten secret envelopes at each of the five levels of play including Virginal White, Pink, Red, Scarlet and Black. All you have to do is roll the die to find out what shade of naughtiness you will be enjoying tonight. Roll a yellow dice and you have the power to choose from any shade depending on your mood.
Whether you're looking for some sweet and tender romantic moments together, or you're in the mood to add a little spice to the evening, this game will deliver!
Sexy Pairings™ suggestions: Naked Winery 2014 Booty Call Blush, Sex and Mischief Whip and Tickle and LELO Massage Candle Snow Pear and Cedarwood.
Product Reviews


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Corinna Wu
Senior editor, Chemical & Engineering News, Washington, D.C.
Corinna Wu edits news and features for Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly magazine published by the American Chemical Society. C&EN covers all aspects of the molecular sciences and related fields, including research advances, business and policy trends, career issues, and more. Wu spent seven years as a freelancer prior to joining C&EN in 2013. She has a background in materials science and engineering and is a graduate of the science communication program at UC Santa Cruz.


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Source: Tv3network.com
The Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the New Patriotic Party has recommended the suspension of the party's General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
The recommendation was made Thursday in a report to the party's National Executive Committee [NEC] after initial investigations into a petition filed by four unnamed party members against Mr Agyepong.
Mr Agyepong earlier appeared before the Disciplinary Committee.
However, the NEC is yet to meet to deliberate on and decide whether to accept the report of the Disciplinary Committee, sources within the party headquarters revealed to tv3netowrk.com


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This Product Has been Discontinued
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Carlos came down after work to peep out the '85 AJ 1s that just came in, and of course he didn't forget to bring us some goodies as always.
Am I the only person that loves PECAN PIE?!?
muffins for the kids....
Andre the Skidrow Tour Guide stays dropping knowledge on anyone chillin in front of the store, so either give him a $1.00 or spend a lifetime with him telling the story of his life.
andre x andre
Andre trying to enlighten Jorge on how to pick up some hunnies. Jorge told Andre, "All I need is my guns and I'm in the game!"
Rainy Days call for beaters of the day:
Long time friend Paul from La Lemon came down to show us their upcoming Holiday Line. A few pieces I'm super eying, I'm a size LARGE!
EFFIN STEAL OF THE DAY....only @ RIF LA!
Hands down the best Lebron AF1 released, nuff said.
DJ PROTO J came all the way down from North Carolina to finally visit the shop, thanks for swinging down broski.
DJ PROTO J ...pick up your copy anytime!
Being down in Little Tokyo for almost 4 YEARS now made us a lot of friends. The RIF LA Staff went grocery shopping and came out with $50 worth of goodies for only $5.00 :)


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Park Farm Hotel
Norwich, Norfolk, England
This privately-owned hotel was once a Norfolk dairy farm. It is now a popular destination for locals as well as visitors from further afield complete with leisure club and spa. Bedrooms are smart and are good enough value in low season to offer a reasonably-priced, out-of-town base.


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In today's session I help a muddled marketer who is somewhat lost by their customer behaviour.
Our agony wracked listener is bewildered by why prospects sign up for things and then never open the email.
It's an age old problem - although the medium has changed the fickle nature of customer behaviour certainly hasn't.
Prospects and customers are after all, capricious things - out for what they want at the best possible price. That means they'll sign up for anything if they get something for free or at a heavy discount.
That's okay though. Once you accept that customer behaviour is often illogically - sometimes even going against self interest - you can account for that and adjust your approach accordingly.
The reason being that we can't make logical decisions without emotion. Which is a illogical...captain.
So if something doesn't feel right, customer behaviour tells us they'll decide against it - even when it makes total sense.
Listen to episode 5 of the Marketing Agony Aunt to hear Auntie Kenda's diagnosis.
If you have a problem...if no one else can help...and if you can find them... maybe you can contact The A(gony) Team!
Send all your problems predicaments and pickles to email@example.com and we'll do our best to help.
We'll always keep you anonymous unless you expressively say we can use your true identity. All comedy names and beverage suggestions welcome.
If you're interested in joining me on the Agony Aunt Podcast or you'd like to to discuss how we can help you more directly then get in touch and we can chat.
To read a transcript of this episode scroll on down:
Welcome to the Marketing Agony Aunt. I'm your Aunty - Kenda Macdonald. Today we've got an absolute gangbuster of a topic. We're going to be looking at why your prospects and customer behave so weirdly, and sharing how you can plan for behaviour for awesome conversion rates and super effective marketing that leaves no prospect behind.
So come on in and take a seat on the couch - grab a drink if you need some fortification - and let's get agonising.
Now to our letter from our curious agoniser:
Dear Supreme Ninja Overlord,
I'm hoping you can help me with a rather odd problem.
I'm not sure if this is something that is just happening to me, or if it's a weird phenomenon…
I have a few different leadmagnets, and I get good sign up rates and conversions off of them. That's not the issue here. They could always be improved, but they perform well enough.
My question is more around the weird things that prospects tend to do. Why is it that people sign up for something, and then never open emails? I get a 60% open rate on the first email after sign up. What happened to the other 40%?
I also run surveys to my audience, so that I can segment them better and make sure I'm giving them the right help. But I often see that people who have said they want one thing then go and buy another thing.
I find this all really… well, odd.
How am I supposed to market to them the right way if I can't anticipate what they're doing?
And how am I supposed to be segmenting my audience if I can't trust what they say?
Yours confusedly,
A Curious Marketer
Hah! Supreme Ninja Overlord! Hells yeah!!! You know me so well…
Right so, I have a delicious unicorn gin here. Basically it's sloe gin to give it a touch of colour, and then sparkly stuff. It's both gorgeous and yummy - so make sure you have something tasty too and lets get agonising.
Now this letter here was bound to catch my attention - not only with a befitting title of Supreme Ninja Overlord - but because it's full of my favourite things!
Weird stuff and odd happenings! Good ol bizarre human behaviour.
So at Automation Ninjas, where I am the supreme ninja overlord, we specialise in behaviourally intelligent marketing automation.
And while it sounds terribly highbrow and complicated, what that really means is that we're good at helping businesses understand their customers. We help craft and design customer journeys that take real humanness into consideration, and then automate for it.
It's a beautiful marriage between marketing, automation, and behaviour. Is that allowed? Three people in a marriage? There is a blog post in there somewhere- The polygamy of marketing... Anyway, the results are awesome. You could say Epic...
So your letter, dear curious marketer - has hit all the right buttons for me!
Strangely enough - the only thing we can count on when it comes to human behaviour, is that it will be mostly illogical. So for your very first question - is it just you, or is it a phenomenon?
Right let me just stop there - the word phenomenon is really throwing me off! There are so many pop culture references to be made to the movie, LL Cool J and of course the fantabulous Rob Zombie that I am quite overwhelmed.
And before you think I'm super hip, let me just share with you that I am a heavy metal fan and know nothing about other genres of music. I thought LL Cool J was called JJ Cool - and I was so proud of myself - until Mike corrected me. Ahem.
Back to business! Curious Marketer - no. It is not you. This is just humans being human.
A while ago now Antonio Damasio showed that humans can't make logical decisions without emotion. He did this by studying people with damage to the parts of the brain that are responsible for emotion. These people were completely normal and of sound mind before they were struck with disease or had some kind of accident. After that they could not decide between A or B.
Damsio was the first to very clearly show that we rely on emotion to function when it comes to decision making.
Further to that - Daniel Kahneman in his nobel prize winning career, showed us that our brain is only able to function at the level that it does because we use rule sets to help with most of what we do. The brain saves power with rule sets. Those rule sets very often go wrong and we do some very strange things indeed.
And then of course Thaler and Sunstein developed on that and created the field of Information Architecture so that we could better help people make decisions.
So it is most definitely not you! We are not logical in any shape or form.
That can seem a bit daunting, because what's the point of marketing then if you can't predict behaviour?
Ah well. You see we're illogical in some very set ways. That's the cool bit to this.
Since Kahneman and his buddies originally released their research, so much more additional research has been done. There are now literally hundreds of identified cognitive biases.
So taking a quick step back, a cognitive bias is an error in a rule set. So to save time and memory, our brains use rule sets for things we do often. This is how we learn. And they are called heuristics. Because of them we are better than amoebas at most things.
But sometimes that shit goes wrong. And when it does - it's called a cognitive bias.
These are super important for anyone in marketing to understand. I've popped a link to two videos I have done for the Epic Marketing show on these, in the description.
When we understand that humans don't make decisions logically, and make all sorts of mistakes - we can improve our marketing.
Now I don't expect you to go learn all of the different cognitive biases out there- no no.
Although bonus points for commenting your favourite cognitive bias if you have one!
No - all you need to know is that we do make these mistakes. And very broadly all of them fit into 4 areas. Mistakes that happen with regards to:
So the next question becomes, how do you build all of that into your marketing?
Well for number 1, make it easy for people to remember things. Acronyms are the shizniz for this.
When a user needs to take action, so number 2, make it easy. Don't complicate things. This is why you shouldn't have loads of call to actions. Keep it simple.
Number 3 is all about context. In order to understand or make a decision we need context. When we have that we understand meaning. No meaning means no action.
For 4, break the complex down into easy to understand chunks. Use as little information as you can - that doesn't mean always writing like a text or sms, but rather focusing on the relevant information and not over complicating things.
Interestingly with all 4 very rough categories - it's all about being clear, keeping it simple and actionable. So basically everything a good copywriter tells you to do.
But that's not the end of it. No no.
You also need to make sure that you are planning for behaviour.
In our awesome methodology - ARMI, we always plan for behaviour. This is our winning strategy for marketing automation. It's what gets our customers such awesome results.
As a very brief run down, the methodology is as follows - Assessment, Recommendation, Machination and Implementation.
Assessment is all about information. Knowing where you are and making sure you've got all the data. Assessing your position.
Recommendation is all about getting strategic - doing any research, and making suggestions for improvement etc.
Machination is all about the PLAN. It's about getting down into the detail and figuring out how to execute for optimum success.
And then implementation is all about getting shit done. Sticking to the plan you set.
Because next you're going to assess your efforts, recommend improvements, plan for execution and so on in a never ending cycle of awesome.
That's a whole nother conversation to have. But I mention this because it's in Machination that we really plan for specific behaviour.
Knowing your prospects are going to behave batshit crazy helps - because you can put something we call "buckets" in place.
Good marketing affects behaviour towards a specific outcome. That's probably my favourite self quote - you can quote me on that shit.
And that's exactly what the buckets are for.
Most marketing is built in a very linear fashion. I want the prospect to move from A to B then to C, and then we're terrible upset when the prospects comes along and fuck all our shit up with their weirdness.
Good marketing takes that weirdness into consideration.
So here's how you do that.
First you wanna build a flow chart.
Yes ok, I'm a total flow chart freak - but it's for good reason. Only once you've mapped your entire process out, can you start to find the gaps and the holes and the areas in which your prospects are going to go AWOL.
You don't have to get all fancy schmancy with it, a piece of paper will do. But map out the process you want to take your prospect or customer through in its entirety.
Once you've done that, go back and look for gaps and holes.
So holes are the parts of your flowchart that people either can't progress past, or leak out of. These are the points where their behaviour falls into the void.
And this is where your buckets come in and save the day. Buckets are the things you put in place to capture the leaks…
What you're really looking for is areas where you have failed to plan for "if this, then that".
So what I mean here is - when someone does something you want - so what? What happens now? When they don't do something you want them to? Then what?
You go through the process and you look at all the points your peeps could action something and you go, if they do this, then that happens. If they don't go this, then that happens.
To help, you're looking for two things here:
Positive actions are where they haven't quite done the thing you wanted to - so they're not 100% committed - but they're showing you with their behaviour that they are interested.
Negative actions are the absence of behaviour. This is where they haven't done stuff, and they're showing you with their behaviour that something ain't right. Either they're not interested, or if something else is going on in their lives, they're not interested enough.
So let's look at an example of positive behaviour - this could be clicking through to the sales page when you send out an offer, but not buying. They were interested enough to take an action - but they're not committed - don't ignore that - this is your opportunity to help them make a choice. Help them.
And for negative behaviour - let's say they get to the end of a campaign, and they haven't done what you want them to. Why? Is it because they are not interested in your offer? It's your chance to engage them with something else entirely.
So before you do stuff, you're looking at the process and accounting for behaviour. And that's where awesome marketing comes from.
Then while your campaign is live you want to track data and assess - tweak constantly. Always be improving.
Now - that's how I'd recommend you look at the behaviour of your customers. Obviously this is a much longer term strategy to make sure you ALWAYS use.
But here are 2 things you can specifically do for the problems you wrote in about. I'd suggest mapping out the flows, and finding all the gaps, but here's two little things you can do:
Ok phew - that's quite a lot covered! So let's summarise and write back to our curious marketer:
Dear Curious,
Let me assure you, your odd concern is in no way abnormal.
Human behaviour is at its roots - illogical. Your prospects and customer are simply behaving in the way that is completely normal for humans. Super weird.
Let's get that weight lifted and show you how you can combat this.
Firstly, the human brain makes many mistakes when it comes to day to day activities and making decisions. These are called cognitive biases. You can help your customers and prospects avoid some of these biases by making sure that you make it easy for people to remember things. Keep actions clear and simple. Make sure you give clear context for understanding. And always break complicated information up into easy to consume chunks.
Make sure you're always clear, keeping it simple and actionable.
It's also important that we can plan for behaviour.
I prescribe that you map out your marketing processes and campaigns.
Make sure that your marketing isn't linear and that you account for both positive and negative behaviours. Put buckets and systems in place to capture this behaviour and utilise it.
Secondarily, ensure that you are listening to behaviour - and utilising the information that your audience is giving you to segment them and engage them behaviourally.
I suggest you start the mapping process with your leadmagnets and survey process.
Add additional engaging content to your thank you pages so that you get prospects excited about what they have just signed up for.
And remember that humans are illogical, but that doesn't mean we can't plan for their behaviour. Get clever with your marketing with a solid methodology.
I hope you are feeling enlightened, invigorated and excited about your odd audience now.
Your Marketing Agony Aunt - The Supreme Ninja Overlord
What an awesome topic from our curious marketer! Thank you so much for writing in! Getting to speak about behaviour and flowcharts in one session is stupendous amounts of fun.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in today's programme, your friendly ninjas are to hand. Head over to the site, automationninjas.com and grab yourself a FREE marketing assessment.
If you'd like us to take a look at any of your problems - you can pop us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com - we'll keep you completely anonymous (unless you want to share who you are).
You can also contact us on all the social media options in the description. And as a little bonus from us to you, when you implement what you learn and get the successes and wins you're looking for - let us know - and we'll feature you!
If you enjoyed today's session, feel free to subscribe to the show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts from, share with the people you love, leave comments - engage and of course - pop us a nice honest rating and review if you feel so inclined.
Next time on the Marketing Agony Aunt, we're spilling the beans after a very cheeky question from a listener.


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Past Events › 6th Grade Fundraising
Events Search and Views Navigation
December 2014
February 2015
Kellogg Dinner Night Out
Please bring a copy of the flyer sent home in the Friday folder, not valid for online ordering (Download the flyer by clicking the icon above)Find out more »
March 2015
After-School Movie Days! 1:10 – 2:50PM
The 6th Grade Class is hosting after-school movies in the MPR during parent conferences as an AstroCamp Fundraiser. Snack will be served and students will be supervised until 2:50pm. Tickets are $5.00 per student, per afternoon. Movies TBD If you would like to purchase tickets, please fill out the form sent home in the Friday Folder or pick up a new form in the office. Return to school with payment (cash or check) no later than _______________. Checks should…Find out more »
5th Grade Parent Camp Meeting
Parents of current fifth graders need to attend the mandatory Camp Meeting at 6:00PM on 3/25. Parents will become informed of sixth grade activities, including AstroCamp, sixth grade beach party, graduation and dance opportunities. Meeting will be held in the multipurpose room with translation provided. Parents should bring their calendars for planning.Find out more »
April 2015
May 2015
April 2016
Q & A with Jr. High Panel and Principal Rogers
Former Kellogg students who are now in 7th grade serve on a panel with Principal Veronica Rogers to provide Q and A session for current 6th grade students. Join us in the MPR for a 30 minute information session for students and parents.Find out more »
5th Grade Camp Meeting
Mandatory camp meeting for all 5th grade parents. Come and hear what it takes to send our 6th graders to AstroCamp, plan a 6th grade dance, beach party and promotion ceremony.Find out more »
6th Grade Parent Camp Meeting (for current 5th graders)
Current fifth grade parents are expected to either attend the May 20th or May 27th camp meeting to better understanding fundraising opportunities for 6th grade AstroCamp and end of the year activities (beach party, 6th grade dance, graduation).Find out more »


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Meet The Team
Newely Renovated, Remington Park has the perfect space to make your reception, rehearsal dinner or wedding shower amazingly unique and special. Our Executive Culinary Team provides elegant dining and first class service. Complimentary valet parking for all groups during live racing as well as groups of 50+ all year long. Throw a truly classy bachelor or bachelorette party and take home a complimentary commemorative group photo from the winners circle.
Pricing begins at $20 per person inclusive
Wedding features
It's easy to get lost in all the options when it comes to choosing an Oklahoma wedding venue – so we're here to show you four unique venues you might not have thought of. Whether you're looking for the great outdoors or a little art inspiration to accent your day – these four venues put a unique twist on the
Not up to host an extravagant celebration resembling that of a Super Bowl Half Time Show? Rest easy, our sweet, no nonsense brides-to-be! We've got you covered. Don't get us wrong, you know we love a swanky soirée, but today we're here to reassure you that sometimes, less is more. Staying true to your personality as a couple is of
Finding the perfect wedding venue for your special day is no small task. Serving as the foundation of your fabulous festivities, your chosen location must embody your personal style as a couple, appropriately serve the size of your guest list, offer an attentive staff and so much more, all while being conscious of budget. There's truly so much to consider
Finding the perfect venue for your big day can be hard enough without the struggle of accommodating a large number of guests. There's no denying that the friends and family you surround yourself with on your wedding day are a huge part of what make your celebration so memorable. Because of this, you shouldn't be stuck with the stress of
In case you missed them, here are five of our favorite Brides of Oklahoma wedding blogs that we've shared over the past year – ready to inspire any bride. From fashion to venue selections we've got you covered. Click through the links to see each blog in full, and be sure to sign up to have the blog sent to
Finding an a venue that can hold large capacities is quite the undertaking! That's why we've rounded up 11 Oklahoma wedding venues that can accommodate guest lists of 500 or more. Take some time to peruse these large venue spaces as you begin your planning, and visit our Venues page on the site to find more local Oklahoma venues you
What's not to love about Jennifer and Zachary's beautiful Oklahoma wedding from Amanda Watson Photography? The oh-so-talented team at Emerson Events planned this country glam garden ceremony at Coles Garden Wedding and Event Center, following the bride and groom's perfect rehearsal dinner at Remington Park. Birdie Blooms created the sweetest floral arrangements coordinating with the stylish wedding rentals from Marianne's Rentals
March Instagram Recap
It's been a busy month for our team, and we are more than ready to spring forward into warmer weather and beautiful spring weddings! The new season is here and we couldn't be more excited to share what fabulous Oklahoma wedding vendors have up their sleeves! Be sure and follow @bridesofok on Instagram for even more wedding inspiration! From
Fall Oklahoma Wedding at Park House at Myriad Gardens | Katherine + Taylor
Love & Basketball | Jenn + Zac
Azure + Mark


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CVS will make the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone available over the counter and without a prescription in Louisiana and in six other states, the company announced this morning.
Of the seven additional states in which CVS will offer the drug—it already does so in 23 states—Louisiana will be the second to get it. Naloxone will be available here in early June. Other states included in the expansion are New Mexico, Florida, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Deaths as a result of heroin, an opioid, and prescription opioid overdoses have risen dramatically across the U.S. in recent years, a trend that has been seen locally. According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office, 41 deaths related to heroin were investigated last year, an increase of 48% from the 28 deaths investigated in 2014.
Louisiana passed legislation authorizing pharmacies to dispense naloxone, which first responders use to reverse heroin and opioid overdoses, in August.
"Expanding access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone is a critical part of our national strategy to stop the prescription drug and heroin overdose epidemic along with effective prevention, treatment, and enforcement," says Michael Botticelli, director of National Drug Control Policy, in a prepared statement.


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After hitting Europe and the U.K. to close out 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be coming back to the USA and Canada for a long run of 2017 tour dates with openers Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Jack Irons on select dates.
The North American shows are scheduled to begin on January 5 in Texas and wrap up on March 18 in Vancouver. This is already their biggest tour since 2012-2013 and according to their website, more dates will be announced... stay tuned, as we'll be updating this page when more dates are added.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Tour Dates and Tickets Near You
Red Hot Chili Peppers All Tour Dates and Tickets
May 24
Jun 21
If you want great tickets without the headache, check out Zumic's preferred ticket broker: Superstar Tickets. 125% money-back guarantee, and use discount code SHOPCONCERTS for 5% off your purchase.
When do Red Hot Chili Peppers 2017 tour tickets go on sale and what is the presale code?
Tickets for Red Hot Chili Peppers previously announced European shows are currently on sale. Each concert is different, so check the links above for the show you're interested in.
For the newly announced North American dates, fan club presales begin as early as September 20 at noon PT through the RHCP Community. Spotify, Live Nation, LN Mobile App, and local radio / venue presales begin on September 22. The general public on-sale begins as early as September 23, 2016 at 10 AM local time.
Fan club members are advised to go to their profile and select user settings, where your pre-sale password will be under your promo codes section. The Live Nation presale offer code is SPOTLIGHT and the LN Mobile app presale code is COVERT. There are a few other passwords that work for different venues, including RHCP2017, BRIDGE, THEGETAWAY, and SPOTIFYRHCP.
We recommend following Red Hot Chili Peppers on their social media accounts and signing up for their free email newsletter, in addition to signing up for your local venue's email newsletter, to get the most up-to-date information.
Every ticket purchased includes a code that can be used to redeem a copy of The Getaway in physical or digital format. You can also stream the full album for free and read our review here on Zumic.
For more music, news, and tour information about Red Hot Chili Peppers, check out their Zumic artist page.


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I'm on a two-hour break before heading to downtown Houston for our last stop here. Tomorrow is a day off and then we fly to Atlanta. It's hot and humid in Texas. 17 days and I'll be home. That sounds like a long time, but it feels short compared to the 53 day contract that I signed back in April. I miss my family, but the end is near now.
Everyday is different, but also very much the same.


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Glycolic Peels
A glycolic peel is a non-invasive treatment that removes the upper layers of dead and damaged skin and encourages skin cell regeneration. This type of peel provides gentle treatment for fine lines, acne, chronic dry skin and uneven pigmentation.
The glycolic peel solution works by removing the outer layers of skin so that a new, smooth layer of skin is revealed. The action of the chemical solution stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, essential components of healthy, youthful skin.
Good candidates for glycolic peels are patients who have relatively mild skin imperfections and conditions, and who want to rejuvenate and enhance the appearance of their skin without the recovery time of harsher treatments. Glycolic acid peels ( AHA chemical peels) are a safe and effective way to improve the look of sun-damaged skin, and they are helpful in reducing mild acne scars and fine lines. Because these light chemical peels exfoliate the surface of the skin and unclog pores, they are also considered and effective type of chemical peel for acne treatment.
To find out if you're a candidate for a glycolic peel, call us today and schedule an appointment in our Huntington Beach office!
Why Dr. Donald Greco Inc. is the best?
- Free consultations
- State-of-the-art techniques
- Board certified dermatologist on site
- Registered nurse on staff
- Top of the line, gold standard machines
- Individualized care
- Licensed & insured
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- Member of Botox Brilliant Distinction Program


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|Front view
|Back view
|Hole kit
|Patch commemorating the 110th anniversary
|Benzema celebrates his goal against Rayo Vallecano last month.
-Founded: 6 March 1902
-9 European Cups (Last one: 2002); 32 Spanish Leagues (Last one: 2012)
-Biggest rival: FC Barcelona
-Awarded with the recognition of FIFA Club of the 20th century on 23 December 2000.
This is my first personalized shirt, and it couldn't be of any other team than Real Madrid. I didn't choose 12 for any special reason. I think it's the most expensive kit which I have in the collection, adding the customization to the shirt. Cool shirt, though.


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Type 4 "Brest-Litovsk"
TM Brest-Litovsk revives the worship of a renowned tradition of firing the street lamps in the city upon the Bug, formerly known as Brest-Litovsk. The tradition of the street lamps with the burning candles inside dates back as far as XIX century.
TM Brest-Litovsk is a flagship brand on Belarus clear vodka market. The key design feature is an old street lamp – a connecting link between the contemporary Brest and the historic Brest-Litovsk.
The peculiarity of a décor technique employed on a very type of the sealing closure for the TM Brest-Litovsk is a high definition embossed street lamp replica performed on the side surface of the closure aluminum shell.
|Food grade high quality polymers and aluminum
|Bottle neck finish
|Special design neck finish
|Dimensions, mm
|Decoration technologies
|Tamper evidence, NRF system


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Farmstead Telephone Group FTG, -0.54% said George Taylor Jr. has stepped down as chairman of the board after an 18-year tenure. The telecommunications product company named Jean-Marc Stiegemeier as its new chairman, effective May 12. Taylor will remain as an advisor. The stock closed Monday down a nickel at $1.47.
Farmstead Telephone chairman steps down
Quote References
-0.02 -0.54%


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Strawberry Nuggets
Genetic Heritage - Sour Strawberry Kush (Bog Seeds) x 24 Carat F3 - Pink Pheno.
Seed Type: F4 Feminised Automatic
Seed Type: F4 Feminised Automatic
Indica/Sativa - 85/15 Plant size - Short Cycle time - 65-75 days from sprout
Out of stock
Artisanal Strain: Strawberry Nuggets
Genetic Heritage - Sour Strawberry Kush (Bog Seeds) x 24 Carat F3 - Pink Pheno.
Seed Type: F4 Feminised Automatic
Project introduction and Overview:Sour Strawberry Kush: An ode to BOG and Elite Automatics
This is a project that's been a long time in the making; we wanted to make a new strain from scratch using 24 Carat as the autoflower parent. 24 Carat was the first Mephisto project that we completed way back in 2012/2013 so we hold it very close to our hearts. Usually it takes a lot of deliberation, combing through the internet and grow journals, as well as testing and growing out many strains to find our breeding project candidates, but this time we instantly knew where to go for some fire genetics. BOG. For anyone that hasn't grown out any BOG gear, some classic trademarks are dense, dense flowers always coated in sticky white frost with unique aromas to boot. Sour Strawberry Kush stood out immediately as the girl to look to, after all who dislikes strawberries?! Who dislikes Kush? Who dislikes sours? It sounded perfect. When we first developed 24 Carat, whilst still in the regular stage there were 3 distinct phenotypes split by colour, a green (which later became the mainstay for 24 Carat) pink, and purple. The pink pheno held a delicate balance between potency and having an exotic edge to it, so we delved through our MG breeding stock to resurrect the pink regs to use to cross into the Sour Strawberry Kush and begin working from there. At each subsequent generation we've selected for plants with an abundance of resin, subtle pink hues and a delectable skunky strawberry flavour and aroma. Having genetics in common the Sour Strawberry Kush and 24 Carat have blended together exceptionally well and the resulting Strawberry Nuggets is a delight to grow and toke.
Strain behavior and structure:Strawberry Nuggets is a thick, short afghan girl, growing at a good rate, incorporating a fat main stem and hardy branches. She produces thick, green foliage and some of the widest fan leaves from anything we offer, read; dinner plates! She loves to bush and often will end up as wide or wider than she is tall. Strawberry Nuggets does take some maintenance whilst growing to see the best results and yield. As a minimal we would recommend several spells of leaf tucking to encourage the inner shoots to get out of the traps and race away. Due to her thickness, she isn't the easiest to train, but it's definitely possible. Strawberry Nuggets transitions into her flowering cycle quickly so it's imperative that she gets a good start in the best environment. She develops thick white frost from early on and this frost builds and builds as she progresses. The flowers formed have a VERY high density so it's also essential to ensure good airflow and a low humidity level around her from mid-flower onwards. She's good for a low density SOG, we have ran her in house always at 9 plants per light without issue. From our testing, Strawberry Nuggets has several phenotypes that have differing level of colours, you can get pure green through to subtle pink hues then further ranging to pinks and colouration bleeding into the flower leaves, and rarer still we have had pure purple phenotypes emerging at a rate of about 1 in 10. She's a magical little plant to grow, with exotic fruity smells eliminating from her combined with the high quality golf ball-esque flowers. The resulting harvest gives dense nuggetry, super high in bag appeal, aroma, looks, effect and terpenes. This strain ticks a lot of boxes. Plant management is often required to extract the best yields, being a shorter, faster strain she can stunt if not given a good environment in the early growth stages. She's harvest-able from 65 days from sprout in most environments meaning you can have a quick turn around of superb quality meds.
Strain figures and info:Size - 40 to 60cm Structure - Squat and wide Indica/Sativa - 85/15 Cycle Time - 65 to 75 days from sprout Yield - 60 to 90 grams Aroma - Sweet succulent strawberry, with berry undertones and a dank sour skunky edge Taste - Dank berries, sweetness and funk Effect - Medicinal, narcotic predominantly indica 'in da couch' Medicinal Benefits - High medicinal qualities, eases sleep, aches and pains and appetite inducing. Cannabinoids - TBA Extract information - A great little hash plant. Rich in terps, ideal for rosin, live resin and bubble hash.
Write Your Own Review


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While the fashion industry has been making some positive changes in terms of diversity of late, there is still some way to go when it comes to creating fashion fit for all. Hear our expert panelists discuss how fashion can become more inclusive.
Founder of McAnallen and a final year Bachelor of Arts Honours student, Sarah's passion lies in removing the stigma around disability and mobility products through creating a range of luxurious, bold mobility aids. She is launching her first product Ezi-Sock and is currently designing her second product Ezi-Bra. Although not having a disability herself, Sarah's mum, who took a stroke at a young age, has been the inspiration for her products and business.


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My first birthday back in America in two years. The theme: legos and Spider-man. The time in Korea is over, but the PTSD when looking at a birthday cake is long from forgotten.
Tag: birthday
Shanghai Disney: The Sleeping Dragon
I recently went on a trip to Shanghai Disneyland with my co-worker. We went because it was my birthday, and what better way to celebrate your 23rd than by going to Disneyland.
"We're doing Amy's Birthday at 3"
It's not my birthday. My birthday is soon, but because of a work vacation, I got to do the whole work birthday thing today. Here are a few things I learned about celebrating your birthday in the Korean workplace:


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Career Definition for an Equine Scientist
Equine scientists apply their knowledge of the field to improve the welfare of both equine athletes and leisure horses. They may also use their expertise to enhance the relationship between a horse and rider. One of the most common occupations associated with equine science is that of a horse trainer, and the responsibilities of the job go beyond simply teaching a horse to respond to specific commands. A skilled equine scientist might also oversee the diet, breeding and rehabilitation of one or more horses.
|Bachelor's degree
|Job Skills
|Passion for horses, hands-on experience with horses, knowledge of scientific methods and equipment
|Mean Annual Salary (2018)*
|$35,260 (for animal trainers)
|Job Growth (2016-2026)*
|11% (for animal trainers)
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
Aspiring equine scientists must earn at least a bachelor's degree to convert their love of horses into a livelihood. Programs are available at vocational schools and colleges that emphasize agricultural studies. Coursework includes topics in horse anatomy, reproduction and breeding, equine disease and equine rehabilitation. Some equine scientists consider their education to be the first step in achieving a veterinary degree, which requires an additional four years.
Required Skills
A passion for horses and the horse industry are necessary for a successful career in equine science. Previous hands-on experience with horses is also helpful. A comfort with scientific methods and equipment will be advantageous for an equine scientist.
Career and Salary Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), animal trainers who performed tasks like training horses or providing riding lessons earned a mean annual income of $35,260 in May 2018. Jobs for animal care and service workers, who may be responsible for training animals, were expected to grow by 11% from 2016 to 2026, a faster-than-average rate in comparison to all other occupations.
Those who continued their education and became veterinarians received a mean annual income of $105,240 in May 2018. Veterinarian jobs in general were expected to increase by the much-faster-than-average rate of 19% between 2016 and 2026; opportunities in farm animal care may be higher (www.bls.gov).
Alternate Career Options
Similar careers to equine scientists include:
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Veterinary technicians and technologists can assist or execute many of the same tasks performed by veterinarians, including diagnostic lab tests and the administration of serums and vaccinations. They may also maintain and sterilize machines and equipment or provide assistance during surgical procedures. An associate degree in veterinary technology is required to work as a technician; technologists will need a bachelor's degree. As required by individual states, both technicians and technologists must be certified, licensed or registered.
As reported by the BLS, employment opportunities for technicians and technologists are anticipated to increase by 20% between 2016 and 2026, or much faster than average in comparison to other occupations. In May 2018, technicians and technologists received mean annual salaries of $35,560 (www.bls.gov).
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
A bachelor's degree in ecology, wildlife biology and zoology is the minimum educational requirement for obtaining an entry-level position in this field. Higher-level and research positions typically require a master's or doctoral degree. In general, zoologists and wildlife biologists investigate how animals behave and interact with their environments. Research topics can include animal behaviors, characteristics, development and diseases.
Between 2016 and 2026, job opportunities for zoologists and wildlife biologists are projected to increase by an average rate of 8%, according to the BLS. Professionals employed in this field in May 2018 earned mean annual wages of $67,760 (www.bls.gov).