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Stella & Dot redefines women's workplace
Social business model delivers flexibility, striking products for modern women
Walking into Stella & Dot's San Bruno offices, it's clear that this is a company geared toward girlie fun, from the friendly employees to the jar of blue and green candy in the entryway.
Founder and CEO Jessica Herrin and Chief Creative Officer Blythe Harris are admirably camera-ready, yet casual. Both are wearing the company's jewelry; Herrin in layered, delicate pieces, and Harris in a statement bib necklace. They share a comfortable camaraderie, laughing often and nodding while the other is talking, like sisters.
The delight, as they say, is in the details. But while the direct-selling brand is known for "just-us-girls" house parties and versatile, eye-catching accessories, it's quietly building a group of entrepreneurial women who are redefining professional independence.
Stella & Dot is a boutique-style jewelry and accessories company that utilizes independent consultants, whom they term stylists, to sell products directly to consumers through at-home trunk shows and through e-commerce websites. The company has more than 10,000 active stylists worldwide, in countries ranging from Puerto Rico and Canada to the United Kingdom and Germany.
Last year, Stella & Dot's sales were expected to exceed $200 million, and the company was No. 57 in the Inc. 500 list of the 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies. Herrin was named a Top Ten Female CEO by Inc. Magazine, and Harris received the Rising Star Award for Accessories from the Fashion Group International. In November, the company received the ACE Award for Retail Innovation from the Accessories Council.
In other words, this isn't your grandmother's Tupperware party.
"When you talk about a flexible business for women," Herrin says, "you really have to think about what's possible today, and why would that be different, because the woman has changed, technology has changed, consumers have changed. You really have to start from scratch."
In 2003, three months pregnant with her first daughter and working as a senior manager in e-commerce at Dell, she had a vision of solving, as she saw it, the "modern woman's dilemma" - a career that offered a livable wage yet provided the flexibility that a corporate career wouldn't.
She became intrigued with reinventing flexible entrepreneurship, she says, recognizing that women today are fundamentally different than they were 20 or 30 years ago.
Herrin began experimenting with the idea of do-it-yourself jewelry sold through house parties. The serial entrepreneur developed the concept while she was still working on another company she founded at Stanford Business School in 1999: WeddingChannel.com, which was sold to the Knot in 2006. Her new company, called Luxe Jewels, was profitable, though Herrin admittedly was "bootstrapping" it and creating all the designs herself.
It wasn't until 2007, when Herrin brought on Harris, along with Chairman Mike Lohner and sales guru Danielle Redner, that Stella & Dot was officially born. Named after Herrin's and Harris' inspiring grandmothers, Stella & Dot intended to break the mold of at-home businesses, which Herrin felt offered less-than-desirable products in high-pressure sales environments.
The DIY idea had been scrapped. In its place was Harris' expertise and eye for design. A former student and artist in residence at Parsons Paris School of Art and Design, Harris had stints at Cartier, DeBeers and Banana Republic and had earned an MBA from Columbia University.
Herrin envisioned a design-driven product that stylists could be passionate about and proud to share, combined with multichannel selling opportunities. She wanted something that could be sold and shared person-to-person, on the go with an app, on a website featuring video-style tips or by gathering friends to create a social experience.
Direct selling - basically, distributing goods directly to consumers, according to the Direct Selling Association - isn't new. From Tupperware to candles to clothing, women looking for some spare income (and an excuse to socialize), many of them stay-at-home moms, have been organizing trunk shows at the homes of friends and friends of friends for decades.
"I think we really innovated this concept," Herrin says. "We said, what if you just started with a blank piece of paper and designed a business that worked for today's woman? It really was about putting the business into a modern age."
Stella & Dot stylists earn 25 to 30 percent commission on what they sell, and the hostess of the party is offered up to 25 percent of party sales in free jewelry, and up to four items at 50 percent off. The average trunk show earns the stylist between $250 and $300. To get started, stylists buy a starter kit for $199. Many stylists go on to mentor and train sales teams, which generates additional income.
San Francisco's Lindsay Walsh is one example. The mother of three young boys, Walsh had worked in high-tech public relations before taking eight years off to raise her family. She wasn't really looking for a job, and she had never worked in sales, but an article on the company in the San Francisco Business Times intrigued her.
In less than five years, she has become a platinum director, meaning Walsh has about 4,000 women across the United States on her team. In November alone, she estimates they sold more than $2 million in jewelry.
"Our sales teams are growing organically," Walsh explains. "People are coming to the trunk shows, having a great time, loving the product and seeing that it's an opportunity."
Walsh declined to give specifics on her income, but says, "A six-figure income for someone who is pursuing it, and who has had success, is very plausible."
"We have stylists who do this because they want to earn an extra $300 a month, they want to earn $1,000 a month, or they want to earn an extra $1,000 a week," Herrin says. "We have a stylist who just earned over $70,000 last month, and who will earn close to a million dollars this year."
The range is broad, she explains, because there are no sales quotas.
Stella & Dot is a member of the Direct Selling Association and adheres to their code of ethics, which strictly monitors direct-selling businesses to prevent pyramid or recruitment schemes.
"Here we define success as happiness," Herrin says. "If you're happy, then you're succeeding, and you have to decide if that's part time or full time."
"We have a lot of stay-at-home moms, but now we have stylists who are much younger," Walsh says. "We have grandmas, and we have doctors and lawyers, and people who are architects.
"They are smart and motivated and have something to offer, but they can't plug into the traditional workplace right now," she says.
The company also offers a unique excuse to socialize.
"I'm in my early 40s, and women in my demographic - there is no way that we are going to meet a bunch of girlfriends, have a coffee, and go shopping on Chestnut Street," Walsh says.
"But can people pop over to their neighbor's house after dinner, have a glass of wine, and spend that time catching up and buying a necklace? That whole communal experience is a really important part of it."
And while social selling has a proven track record, Stella & Dot has added mobile shopping and social media to the mix. Stylists can have a personal e-commerce website for $99 a year, and product pages are often accompanied by an instructional video featuring Herrin and Harris
"Our store," Herrin says, "is every living room in the world, every mobile device, every computer."
Stella & Dot introduces a new line of accessories with a catalog twice a year, in addition to occasional capsule collections.
Harris, along with her New York design team, has a background working in fine jewelry. She recently relocated to the Bay Area for most of the year, along with the new print development and handbag design teams, making the effort bicoastal.
"Every element is custom done; we work with in-house model makers," Harris says. The piece she is wearing, the limited-edition Virginia Bib Necklace, was made by the same workshop that does work for Lanvin, Prada and Manolo Blahnik.
For Harris, joining Stella & Dot was as much about the mission of the company as it was the chance to design a quality product for the underrepresented midrange accessories market.
In the beginning, it was a small company, and by default, Herrin was the designer. "It was very ugly in the beginning!" she says with a laugh.
The designs are a combination of crowdsourcing and intuitive trend-forecasting.
Before they begin work on the upcoming season, Harris says, "I take a step back and set the vision. My jewelry design director and I travel to Europe twice a year to see vintage dealers and look at art and architecture and, most of all, street style."
"While we get a lot of information from our customers," Herrin says, "it's also about being ahead of trend. There's always a piece that when I first see it, I think it's crazy. And luckily, Blythe has that vision to be far ahead of that."
The pieces are deliberately meant to work for a range of women, both geographically and age-wise. For every piece, Harris asks, "Is it flattering? Is it feminine, versatile, wearable and special?"
Stella & Dot has been photographed on celebrities (Sofia Vergara, Selena Gomez, Katherine Heigl), spotted on TV ("The Bachelorette") and featured in magazines (Vogue, Real Simple). But Harris and Herrin agree that their favorite place to spy a piece of Stella & Dot jewelry is "passing a random person on the street."
Prices range from $16 to $300, and half of the line is less than $50.
"I think we have totally nailed it from a product standpoint," Walsh says. "We have the price-value ratio perfect. It's super-cute, really high-quality, but because of our channel, able to be delivered at an incredible price."
"We want someone to tell you that you look amazing in that jewelry," Herrin says. "We love surprise and delight ... and we want to go beyond your expectations."
For Harris, the potential is as much stylistic as it is empowering. "As a culture, we're not very comfortable accessorizing. India is one of my favorite places to get inspiration," she says, "because everyone is wearing layers of bangles, and it's incredible. Wearing accessories is part of living a bold and joyful life."
"I meet women at trunk shows all the time who say, 'I don't really wear jewelry,' " says Herrin, who, along with Harris, attend at least one trunk show a month.
"And those are the ones I like to help the most, because I'm like, 'That's OK - I'm going to help.' "
Stella & Dot: To see new spring styles, go to www.sfgate.com/style
Stella & Dot spring 2013, starter pieces
For the spring collection, released January 11, the inspirations were twofold. One of the major themes, Harris explains, was a "modern take on a desert road trip," including the hues of a desert landscape. The design team was inspired by traditional Navajo elements, chevron patterns, fringe, mixed metals and more. "You can't help but feel adventurous and daring," Herrin says. The second theme is a nod to both one of the earlier Stella & Dot collections, as well as Harris' own grandmother. "One of the starting points was my grandmother's flower brooches," Harris says, with bold colors and fresh whites. "Imagine what you would wear to a chic, hip garden party," Herrin says.
Not a "jewelry person?" Have no fear. They advise women to start small, experiment with layering and eventually build up to statement piece. Here are some recommendations.
Starter Piece: "A personalized necklace from our charm collection is the perfect everyday piece. Start out with an initial and a birthstone charm and layer over time. Layered bracelets are also an ideal way to start wearing more jewelry." (Charm necklace is about $66.)
Statement necklace: "For this season, I love the Dot Bloom necklace. It is so happy and fresh and works over any color." ($198, available January 11)
"Non-Jewelry" converter: "The Pegasus is a showstopper. It transforms any outfit into a 'wow' and is perfect for day or night. Each piece takes over two days to hand-embroider."($198)
Best day-to-night: "The Zoe Lariat looks effortless and chic over jeans and a T-shirt and has the perfect amount of sparkle and sexiness to take you into evening. It can be worn as a wrap bracelet or a necktie."($98)
Most versatile: "The Gitane Tassel necklace is a great delicate statement that has a removable tassel. It can be worn long, doubled or tripled as an everyday layering necklace." ($69)
"A-ha" moment: "Our Tempest Necklace can be worn with the sparkle on the outside or reversed for an edgier daytime look. It's like transformers for girls!"($198)
Work essentials: "Our new delicate layering styles for Spring (Valor, Maya, Avalon) or our signature link styles (Odette) offer a timeless sculpted look."(All starting at $39, available January 11)
Maghan McDowell is a Burlingame freelance writer. E-mail: email@example.com


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Lewis Field Stadium
The Lewis Field Project began in 1932 when the college bought the buildings and the grandstand of the Golden Belt Fair Association at a sheriff's sale. The area was soon put to other uses when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established a camp on the premises in the fall of 1933. The CCC camp was abandoned after eleven months. Meanwhile, university president, President Rarick had developed a plan to obtain the CCC barracks and use them to house male students. In the summer of 1934, the War Department gave him permission to use them. The barracks provided living quarters for 100 men. In December, 1934, the football stadium was moved to Lewis Field.
The present Lewis Field Stadium was built in 1937 with additions in 1997 and 2001. Lewis Field East and West Stadiums comprise 42,705 gross square feet. The first renovation of Lewis Field Stadium occurred in 1977 when locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands were upgraded and much of the stadium was painted. A three-phase renovation of the Lewis Field Stadium facilities began in the 1990's. Artificial turf was installed on the football field. The cinder track was replaced with an all-weather, eight-lane surface and officially named the Alex Francis Track. New surfaces for runways, pits and pads were installed for field events. One thousand new, chair-back seats were installed in front of the new two-story R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Press Box at the west stadium. New bench seating was installed throughout the rest of the stadium. Track locker rooms were added to west stadium in 2001.
Lewis Field Stadium is named for university president, William A. Lewis who served the university from 1913-1933 and died of a heart attack on October 10, 1933, while still in office.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fiscal Cliff or Not, the Economy is Recovering
By Lipa Roitman Ph.D.
December 27 2012
Like the planes circling the airport in the holding pattern waiting for permission to land, the stock market is waiting for the fiscal cliff outcome. But not all of it. Several important stocks and sectors have been steadily rising last month as if they already know that the future is bright.
The Financials
The Financials have risen in double digits since the November 14 lows. Bank of America BAC is up 28%, Morgan Stanley MS up 19%, Goldman Sachs GS is up 14%.
This rise could have been predicted (see charts below). Will they keep rising? We don't know yet. As of today there is no signal, and the average predictability is falling. The system is waiting for the fiscal cliff resolution.
But before you conclude all is well, please take note of the worrying chart on the Zero Hedge site that shows how the risk of the main banks is rising again. Remember that the crisis of 2007-2008 started in the finance industry. Did they learn a lesson, and which is one? That the banks can rely on the government to save them from their mistakes at the taxpayer's expense? If this is the lesson, then we all need lots of luck.
Here's how you could play BAC:
For more examples
The rest of the economy
OK, the banks have risen. But what about the rest of the economy?
How about the real estate, the make or break indicator of the health of the economy RMZ, DJR? It's up 6%. Home prices rise for 9th straight month. And the basic materials that go in home construction? The basic materials index is up 8%. Copper up 2%, Chemicals CEX index up 9.6%, BASFY chemical company, up 20%, Airlines index XAL up 14%.
Are we that late in the economic cycle that the economy is bound to improve regardless of what the governments do?
What really drives the recovery?
Eventually the car breaks down and needs to be replaced, and so is the plant equipment in the plants still working. That is what drives the economic recovery. Time will tell whether this recent recovery is real. Also, one should realize that the US government does not yet control all the economy. Whether or not we fall from the fiscal cliff, the main effects will be where the government is most invested: the defense (4.9% of GDP), the social services: the welfare (35% of GDP), and the healthcare (15.2% of GDP). The rest of the economy will be only affected "second hand" through higher taxes and health care expenses.
The economy is recovering steadily, as indicated by the rising Real Estate index. We think the effects of further government intervention or dis-intervention in the markets will be limited. We expect next year the S&P500 will be better.
For now you can see how you could have played these markets. More charts here.


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This will be a place for folks to talk about my comic, geek stuff and life in general. Please try to refrain from any hateful posts having to do with race, religion, sexuality, that sort of thing. A lack of tolerance will not be tolerated.
Other than that, though, have at it!


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A new plan to protect the rugged and pristine north shore of the Vineyard is expected to be unveiled next week when four town conservation commissions ask the Martha's Vineyard Commission to nominate a long stretch of coastline as a district of critical planning concern (DCPC).
Named the Wild and Scenic North Shore DCPC, the proposed special planning district runs along the northern coastal edge of four towns, from West Chop to Aquinnah. The MVC is expected to vote on the nomination at a special meeting next Thursday night.
The north shore DCPC will be nominated by the conservation commissions in Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah. The four town conservation commissions voted unanimously to support the proposal.
"There is solid, solid support for this," said West Tisbury conservation commission chairman Judy Crawford.
If the nomination is approved, an automatic building moratorium will go into effect. Not much building is permitted in coastal areas, but the moratorium would include structures like piers, groins and swimming docks.
The boundaries of the proposed district run from the Gay Head Light eastward to the West Chop Light, and include everything from mean low water 100 feet seaward. The district will not impinge on any private property, Mrs. Crawford said.
Special overlay planning districts accompanied by special regulations, DCPCs are permitted by the enabling legislation that created the Martha's Vineyard Commission. There are numerous DCPCs throughout the Vineyard, from roadside districts to coastal areas to places with historic and archeological significance.
Once a nomination is accepted for a DCPC, the commission then sets a date for a public hearing and a vote on whether to designate the district. If the district is designated, a yearlong planning effort then follows. The building moratorium stays in effect until planning work is done and regulations are adopted for the district.
This week the West Tisbury selectmen gave the project their unanimous support.
The move to create some kind of special protection for the north shore grows out of an effort begun several years ago to encourage north shore property owners to adopt a set of voluntary covenants restricting piers and structures on the shoreline. Many residents endorsed the concept, but for a variety of reasons the project was never completed.
Concern about protecting the north shore recently took on new life when West Tisbury resident Steven Rattner pressed his plans to build a permanent pier on the north shore between Paul's Point and Cedar Tree Neck. There are no other piers on that stretch of beach. The Rattner pier plan was reviewed by the MVC as a development of regional impact - and rejected.
"It [does not] seem prudent to the commission to risk irreversible damage to a state-designated barrier beach by having a development such as this permitted," the commission wrote in its decision.
Mr. Rattner appealed the commission decision in a lawsuit.
MVC executive director Charles W. Clifford said yesterday that he expects the commission to accept the nomination for the north shore DCPC.
"I see no reason why the commission wouldn't favorably consider it," he said yesterday.
The group sponsoring the DCPC is expected to meet with all stakeholders on the north shore, including an array of private homeowner associations and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), to enlist their support.
The proposal will include grandfathered protection for fishing rights and also for maintenance of any existing docks in the district. It also envisions protection measures for kelp, mussel and eelgrass beds in what is known as the near-shore ecosystem.
"The important thing is the process of the DCPC that allows for a whole year of discussion and work - it's really the people that define the wording of the regulations," Mrs. Crawford said.
The executive summary for the nomination of the DCPC declares:
"The north shore of Martha's Vineyard, from Aquinnah to Tisbury, comprises one of the last stretches of virtually pristine shoreline anywhere on the East Coast. This remarkable area provides a unique geological, ecological, recreational, educational and scenic resource of inestimable value."
Mrs. Crawford said the statement is an apt summary. "That says in a nutshell what this is about - what we are trying to do is keep it as free as possible of human made structures such as piers and groins," she said.
The four-town cooperative effort is a key theme in the DCPC proposal.
"It rarely happens on this Island that towns cooperate like this to make something that's positive for the Island. This is just golden and there are a lot of people behind it," Mrs. Crawford said.


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Product Description
This sterling silver evil eye pendant is 12mm wide with a light blue glass evil eye bead encased in sterling silver. The evil eye is seen through a 7mm space cut in the center of the pendant and then decorated with a circle of tiny cubic zirconium stones along the outside edge. This evil eye pendant has a basic 4mm wide bale and the back of the pendant is a solid sterling silver surface.
Evil Eye Fact #42
In Greece, evil eye is a fixture that dates back to the 6th century Before Common Era. It has appeared on drinking glasses and vessels for that time period. Grecian thought to cast away the devil eye is through the ceremony of Xemantiasma. This ceremony calls for a healer to silently recite a prayer in secret passed to them by an older relative such as a grandparent of the opposite sex. Custom dictates that if the devil eye is present then both healer and victim will yawn. Then the healer will spit in the air thrice after making the sign of the cross three times.
Evil Eye – A Brief Summary
The evil eye is a belief that a person can harm you, your children, or your belongings simply by looking at them with envy and praising them. Jealousy, envy, or praise can inflict all kinds of misfortune. The penetrating look is believed to cause illness, injury, or death upon its intentional or unintentional target. Most common is the belief that the evil eye can cause things to whither away or dry up -- the loss of crops, drying up of milk in nursing mothers, impotency in men, and illness among children, are all commonly attributed to the evil eye. The belief of the evil eye has no religious boundaries as it coexists with almost every religion from Christianity to Islam. It is in fact mentioned in the Old Testament and a big part of the Jewish folklore as well. Throughout history, the evil eye has affected the lives of many and has shaped many cultures in their beliefs and behavior. Baby clothes and cribs will feature an evil eye pin cars will have an evil eye hanging on the rear-view mirror while homes will have various forms of wall hanging evil eye throughout. Evil eye jewelry is a popular choice where an evil eye bracelet or an evil eye pendant as an accessory might be enough to void off the effects of the evil eye around you. The object is to protect your loved ones or your possessions from the effects of the evil eye. Today, belief in the evil eye is very much alive, especially so in Italy, Greece, Turkey, India, South America, and the Arab world. All these cultures have different names for the Evil Eye from "Mal Ojo" in Spanish to "Baskania" in Greek. Indians call it "Drishtidosham and the Arabs call it"Ayin Harsha". Evil eye is also referred to as the Lucky eye perhaps to emphasize the positive effects of wearing a piece of evil eye jewelry where not only will it protect you from the onlookers but also bring you luck along the way. Regardless of the word or phrase they use to refer to it, one thing is for certain. While there are many who insist the evil eye is nothing more than good old-fashioned superstition, to the believers of the evil eye its powers are nothing to be taken lightly.


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Rice straw is folded and stitched together to construct this cape, which has the functionality and appearance of a thatched roof. The dense layers funnel rain off its surface to keep the wearer dry. People in remote areas of China wear these capes to this day. Notice how bast fibre is used to reinforce the collar.
Asia: East Asia, Japan
Asia: East Asia, Japan, Kyushu Island


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|New Membership
1) I am a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2) I am fourteen years of age or older.
3) I support the aims and principles of the PC (Progressive Canadian) Party.
4) The information supplied is complete and accurate.
5) I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to keep the above information up to date.
By Processing the Transaction I agree to the following:
Click to become a member
If you don't wish to register online, you may download and mail the Application for Membership - * PDF Document
Elections Canada requires that "To maintain its status, a registered or eligible political party must every 3 years provide the names, addresses and declarations of at least 250 electors who are members of the party. The party is required to submit the original declaration to Elections Canada. Faxed or copied declarations are not accepted." 2010 is such a year.
Please click here to download the applicable form. Once filled out, signed and dated please mail to:
PC Party Headquarters,
* Can't open a pdf? Click here to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.


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please let us know...
if you find out more details about the pet restrictions of this property! Thanks!!
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Woodsmere Place
170 Jerry Potts Blvd. West
Pet Restrictions
Subject to Management approval, a non-refundable Pet Deposit of $500 per pet plus $25 per month is required. Maximum 1 pet. Cats and dogs only (dog size must be 15" from their shoulder to the ground.) Breed restrictions are in effect and subject to change. No caged animals or aquariums. A Special Waiver must be completed prior to moving in your pet.
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The "New Year, New Game" efforts from the great folks at Gnome Stew and DriveThruRPG suggests something we should do as gamers anyway – try new games. Though not every game is for everybody, by trying new games, settings, tools, and techniques we can keep ourselves from falling in the ruts we sometimes fall into. And it also gives us the opportunity to glean new ideas we can integrate into our old favorite games or even introduce us to new favorites. (This post was written for the first annual New Year, New Game blog carnival hosted by Gnome Stew as part of the 2012 New Year, New Game challenge.)
A few weeks ago during Family RPG Day at Petries' Family Games, my local game store, my daughters had a chance to play The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men by Annie Rush. It's one of the most inspired RPGs I've seen in a long time, combining actual gingerbread cookies, candy pieces, and a childhood imagination to explore a magical world where cookies come to life for a short time on Christmas Eve and have grand adventures. They played with a couple of adults and a few kids for a total of 5 or 6 players, and the gentleman running the game was a teacher (with plenty of patience for the little ones). Though there was some teamwork and cooperative play, there was also some inter-party aggression, a few challenges here and there, and despite that all the cookies eventually made it to their destinations.
Immediately after that day at Petries', my eldest daughter asked if I would run a game of Gingerbread for her and her friends at her 11th birthday party. Now fast forward to this past weekend when we actually had the party… We had nine kids, ages 6 to 11, with one boy and eight girls attend. And it was crazy.
Though Gingerbread was designed as more of a Christmas-themed game, I managed to come up with a New Years' Eve scenario where the goals were to make it into the box going to the troops overseas, a plate bound for a local teen homeless charity, and the last possible opportunity to make it into the decorations box to go back on the tree next year. For two hours on New Years' Eve (somehow the family was away at someone else's house for a party), this group of nine cookies dealt with obstacles like the Frankencookie in a drawer below the counter where the cookies "wake up," plus the two dogs and a cat scattered around the house. Like our initial exposure to the game, there was an interesting amount of cookie-on-cookie violence between friends. Not sure if the game evokes that or it was just the group of folks we've had play the game!
At any rate, one of my favorite parts of the session was when one cookie fell while climbing the Christmas tree and landed flat on his back on the cat sleeping in the warmth of the lights at the base of the tree. The cat freaked out of course, which was part of the fun. But there was another cookie in the tree, and she asked the Blue Fairy at the top to drop a rope down to save her friend. Instead, since the fairy didn't have a 6 foot rope handy, she worked some magic and convinced the cat to climb back to the top with the cookie clinging for dear life to its back…
You'd think the insanity would stop there, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, as the cat was climbing up, the cookie on top decided to drop a little hot piece of candy onto the head of the cat, which flipped it out again. As the cat entered free fall, the cookie on its back somehow managed to do some ninja moves and survive the fall unscathed. Then with no time to spare, the cookie on top convinced the Blue Fairy to help again – she pulled out a cookie-sized fishing pole, dropped the line, and reeled him up!
I swear that I'm not making this stuff up!
This was but one of the crazy events of the game, but I did my best to roll with the kids' ever-changing minds. Some were more into it than others, but I think they all had a great time. And amazingly everybody made it either into the box, onto the cookie plate, or into history as a new tree decoration. As we got closer and closer to our deadline on time, I wasn't sure everybody was going to make it – yet somehow everybody did (with 0.000001 seconds to spare!).
Who knew that gingerbread cookies would make a great roleplaying game? Yet it turns out to be a great combination of a simple die mechanic (a bunch of d6's does the trick) and a creative idea for a way to get kids using their imaginations. There's nothing better than that. It exposes kids to rolepaying in a friendly, safe way that has nothing to do with D&D, but may lead to different RPGs down the line if they like it and want to try other things. What more could a parent (and a gamer) want? Encouraging safe play and using creativity are must haves when dealing with children.
It's been a long time since I GMed seriously, but I can truly say that I have *NEVER* run a game for nine people. The experience challenged me to come up with creative ways to engage all the kids and keep their attention, and I think I was mostly successful. I haven't heard any complaints yet, but I was definitely exhausted by the time it was over – and it only took two hours!
Lessons learned? First, don't panic as much. So long as I had the rough outline of a plan and could keep the kids' interest for the game, that was really all I had to do. I never even used some of the other story lines I came up with for the session (like a crusading group of sugar cookies intent on beating the gingerbread cookies to the punch!). Second, running a game
about cookies was a kick! Third, sometimes it's good to get out of your comfort zone to learn you CAN do something and enjoy it even though you were dreading it the whole time. 🙂
I definitely encourage all you gamers out there to break out of your comfort zones and try a new game – after all, it is a new year!
(And if you have kids, I'd really encourage you to check out The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men for next holiday season!!)
Related articles
- Local Event: Family RPG Day at Petrie's Family Games (gameknightreviews.com)
- The Gassy Gnoll: Fear is *not* the mind-killer, the little death… (gameknightreviews.com)
- Christmas Spirit Part I: Gingerbread Cookies Day (clairesouchet.wordpress.com)


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The Daily Word in obituaries, horse meat and an ABBA reunion
Roswell horse slaughterhouse set to open in three weeks.
Think of the magical powers.
More bizarre rape trial defenses.
Will Obamacare kill the middle class?
Build your own solar-powered death ray.
ABBA reunion perhaps?
115 Cardinals are locked in a room and they're not coming out until they elect a new pope.


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B.o.B's debut album "The Adventures of Bobby Ray" is available everywhere today. Get your copy at B.o.B's store right now. It's available digitally. Also in vinyl. This is the most-anticipated album release of the year. So don't wait friend.
This thing has Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, Hayley from Paramore, The King T.I., Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, Janelle Monáe, Bruno Mars, Ricco Barrino and Playboy Tre on it. You'd be nuts to not pick up this record. Nuts.
Oh, you'll also be happy to hear B.o.B's new video for the single "Bet I" will be premiering tomorrow on BET's 106 & Park. B.o.B will be doing an exclusive performance of your favorite song, "Nothin' On You." So please tune in. 6pm EST. Got it?
Well - that's it. Welcome to the future and enjoy the adventure.


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wow.....visiting the states and at 6 am in the morning what a nice surprise to find SA 66/4
Also espn showing it live in cricinfo
****.....missed a run out
wow.....visiting the states and at 6 am in the morning what a nice surprise to find SA 66/4
Also espn showing it live in cricinfo
****.....missed a run out
And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW
Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta
not a very good last ball from Ajmal though
God this is ****ing tedious. No wonder it's the curtain raiser.
Too many spinners. Dull. Dull. Dull.
Fmd it's an unmanly pursuit.
WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie
The modern conservative is engaged in one of mans oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - JK Galbraith
"Do you know why I have credibility? Because I don't exude morality." - Bob Hawke
#408. Sixty three not out forever.
Fmd Arthur Mailey will be turning in his grave.
If I want to see slow, flat bowling I'll watch the under 11s tomorrow. Bowl like your balls have dropped ffs, not like some scared prepubescent school boy.
although I am not too happy about pace being back
SA don't need ot be given any pace to work with
Great, sophisticated cricket question - "Who's the biggest hitter here today?"
Rameez wonders how they forgot to nominate Afridi as an option. He forgets its been so long since Afridi launched one that everyone has forgotten how hard he hits them.
Agree with Cribbeh that de Villiers' decision to bat so low was very odd. Wtf is with that?
rank half volley......nice 6....
and now duminy gone
the pitch doesn't look that bad for batting
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SI.com's Thayer Evans cites a law enforcement official who says Belcher was out "partying" on Friday night—and not with Kasandra Perkins:
He had been with a woman in the Power and Light District, an area of bars in downtown Kansas City, according to the official who is familiar with statements made by the woman to police.
Belcher and the woman had become separated at some point and he went to her apartment in a complex in Kansas City, but she wasn't there, the official said. According to two of the woman's neighbors, Belcher was intoxicated and they let him stay in their apartment so he could get some sleep.
Belcher asked the neighbors to wake him by 6:30 a.m. because he had a team meeting to get to, telling them, "I'll get fined if I don't make it."


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We had no sooner told you about the past rock stylings of Curt Schilling when he decided to unleash an epic rant about the Mitchell Report.
Actually, we're not sure something so unfocused can be classified as a "rant." Our favorite thing about Schilling's blog is that he often seems to forget the point of a sentence by the time he gets to the end of it. As for the names on the list, and Lord knows there's no shortage of those, I have feelings very strongly in some cases due to personal history, and opinions in many others. I've played, roomed and lived with some of these guys, and competed and gotten to know others. Wait ... what does that mean?
This stylistic "quirk" doesn't work well when discussing an issue as complicated as the Mitchell Report, which somehow just makes it more perfect. The "news" out of Schilling's post is that he called for Roger Clemens to give back his Cy Young awards. When you read the whole post, we guess he said that, but this was just a few words after saying, "my thought is that Roger will find a way in short order to organize a legal team to guarantee a retraction of the allegations made." Trying to strip a usable quote out of a Schilling blog post is a fool's errand.
That didn't make the post any less enjoyable than all of Schilling's posts. If your eyes are still in your head when you reach the end.
One Player's Take On The Mitchell Report [38 Pitches]


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When she wraps herself in this cozy personalized bath towel, she'll be in her own version of heaven. Not only will she love having a personalized bath towel to call her very own, but this bold and girly hearts and stripes design will be a huge hit as well. This Personalized Bath Towel is available on our soft premium white 100% cotton bath towel, measuring 27" x 50", and is machine washable. Free personalization of any name is included.
Make bath time even more fun by presenting her with a personalized gift like this bold bath towel! The design and embroidered personalization will ensure that this will be her absolute favorite towel. If she loves this design, then she might also love our Custom Printed Hearts and Stripes Pencil Case.


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DuPont Launches DuPont™ Nomex® XF for Aerospace Industry
Sandra K. James302-774-4249E-mail: email@example.com
RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 3, 2013 ─ DuPont today announced the launch of DuPont™ Nomex® XF, a unique solution for flame barrier applications in the aerospace industry, as part of a focus on protecting people. Nomex® XF is a novel material that helps protect aluminum fuselage aircraft by providing a robust, durable and lightweight flame barrier that can help prevent outside fire from penetrating an aircraft cabin, allowing passengers additional time to escape such a hazard. It also can help prevent flame propagation so that aircraft insulation will not spread fire.
"DuPont has a long history of delivering innovations to support the aerospace industry," said Marc Doyle, president, DuPont Protection Technologies. "DuPont™ Kevlar® and Nomex® fiber have been successfully used by the aerospace industry for more than 40 years and Nomex® XF is the latest step in our commitment to protecting commercial aircraft and their passengers. This novel material addresses an important industry need and shows how a collaborative effort can help bring innovative solutions to the market."
Developed in response to customer needs, Nomex® XF was designed for use in commercial aircraft and can be readily incorporated into designs compliant with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 25.853 and 25.856. It is intended for use in applications that require flame resistance up to 1,100 degrees Celsius (2,000 degrees Fahrenheit). The Nomex® XF flame barrier offers flexible, thin and very lightweight protection and can be incorporated into thermal acoustic insulation constructions; it has no flame penetration after 10 minutes exposure, more than doubling the burnthrough time requirements of FAR 25.856(b).
Nomex® fiber has been in thermal protection around the world for more than 40 years and DuPont is a leading provider of lightweight and flame resistant solutions to the global aerospace industry. Honeycomb composites made of Nomex® and Kevlar® can be found in aircraft parts such as flooring panels, interior walls, storage bins, leading and trailing edges on wings, control surfaces, fairings, engine nacelles and many more parts. Their excellent strength-to-weight ratio has provided manufacturers with vital cost-effective benefits such as energy savings, payload increases and has proven to be a leading weight-saving solution for the aerospace industry.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.
# # #
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Kevlar® and Nomex® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.


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Leidy's Scrapple
Enjoy the finest in Pennsylvania Dutch traditional flavors with our unique blend of fresh pork, natural grains and robust spices. Made with roasted cornmeal, Leidy's Scrapple is commonly served at breakfast along side fresh eggs. Leidy's Scrapple can also be eaten plain or is often topped with ketchup, maple syrup or apple butter.
1lb. Leidy's Scrapple - Item # 19288
- Authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe
- Made with real cornmeal
- Premium Seasonings
- Freezes Well
- No MSG
- No binders – no carrageenan, no hydrolyzed vegetable/soy proteins
|Nutritional & Cooking Information
Leidy's Smoked "Daisy" Shoulder Butts
Our Leidy's Smoked "Daisy" Shoulder Butts are tender and flavorful since they are made with only natural the juices. This fully cooked smoked butt pairs perfectly with potatoes and cabbage can easily pass for Eastern European-style corned beef and cabbage with the leftovers saved for homemade soup.
Leidy's Smoked "Daisy" Shoulder Butt (avg 1.5 lbs.) - Item # 39013
- Made with Natural Juices
- Fully Cooked
- Slowly Cured
- No MSG
- Gluten Free
|Nutritional & Cooking Information
Leidy's Pure Lard
Our Leidy's pure lard is excellent to include in your favorite recipe. You can be sure that you will have the flakiest homemade pastries and pies with our pure lard. Best of all, our lard is not hydrogenated and contains no additives.
Leidy's Pure Lard, 14 oz. - Item # 19302
- Resealable package
- Pure Lard, No additives--Not hydrogenated
- Perfect for frying, sauteing or baking
- No MSG
- Gluten Free
- Refrigerate or freeze up to 3 months
|Nutritional & Cooking Information


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It's an unbelievable mess.
One of the local reporters must be just up the road from me; she commented about people specifically abandoning their cars on US-64 in Apex, which is close enough I could hit a golf ball there.
Traffic halts as road conditions worsen in Raleigh
Here are a couple screen-captures of Google Maps traffic I took around 2:50.
Anyone who is in the local area (and can get this - not sure how that could be) and needs refuge around 55 at 64 in Apex, reply and I'll provide detailed guidance.


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Ask John
Ask John - Heineken Cup special
John Griffiths
October 11, 2010
Ronan O'Gara is the leading points-scorer in Heineken Cup history © Getty Images
The highest first-class points scorer, England's South African contingent and successive Grand Slams
Welcome to the latest edition of Ask John where renowned rugby historian John Griffiths will answer any rugby-related query you have!
So, if there's something you've always wanted to know about the game we love but didn't know who to ask, or you think you can stump our expert - then get involved by sending us a question.
In this special edition John answers questions on the Heineken Cup following the opening round of action in this season's tournament.
Which clubs have won the title and how often?
Toulouse, the reigning champions, are the only club to have won the title four times: in 1996, 2003, 2005 and last year. Leicester, Wasps and Munster have done so twice and Brive, Bath, Ulster, Northampton and Leinster once each.
The full list of Heineken Cup winners is as follows:
1995-96 - Toulouse
How many teams have participated in the Heineken Cup?
Fifty-five up to the beginning of this season - Montauban were the last new side to appear in the competition (in 2008).
There are three outfits participating for the first time this season: Racing Metro 92 and Toulon from France and the new Italian franchise, Aironi, representing Lombardy/Emilia Romagna geographically. The main club in that region appeared previously in the Heineken Cup as Viadana, but the new team encompasses players from Parma, Noceto, Reggio Emilia, Colorno, Mantova and Modena.
Only four clubs have been ever-present at the top level: Toulouse, Munster, Ulster and Leinster. Cardiff would have been members of this elite group but withdrew, together with the English clubs, from the 1998-99 competition. No English club participated in the inaugural season, 1995-96.
Toulouse's appearance in last year's final brought their total number of Heineken Cup matches to 110 - one game more than Munster had played. Leicester and Leinster will become the tournament's next centurions when they play their third-round Pool matches in December.
Who set the Heineken Cup's main match records?
The highest points contribution by a player is 37. David Humphreys set the record playing for Ulster against London Wasps in October 2001, scoring a try, a conversion, six penalty goals and four drop-goals in the province's 42-19 win. He is the only player to date who has dropped four goals in a Heineken Cup match.
The former England wing, Tom Beim, set the record for most tries in a match. He crossed five times playing for Gloucester against Roma in October 2000. Llanelli's Matt Cardey equalled Beim's record the following season, crossing against Amatori & Calvisano.
Toulouse registered the highest score and biggest winning margin in the competition, beating Ebbw Vale 108-16 on the opening weekend of the fourth tournament, in September 1998. They also set the record for most tries in a Heineken Cup match that day, crossing 16 times, and Christophe Deylaud landed 11 conversions to create a record that was only beaten once - by Diego Dominguez (with 12 successful conversions) for Stade Français against L'Aquila in October 2000.
Dominguez also set the record for most penalty goals in a match when he landed nine for Stade in the 2001 final against Leicester. Thierry Lacroix kicked nine for Perpignan (also against Leicester) in a Pool match later the same year.
How are the European rankings worked out?
Before 2008, the Heineken Cup Pool seeds were chosen by nation and based on the outcomes of the previous season's English, French, Italian and Magners leagues. As a result, there were often imbalances in the draw.
To remove that flaw and reward consistency in European competition instead, the rankings were revised in 2008 to account for performances over the four previous Heineken Cup seasons.
Clubs were awarded four points for winning their Pool, three for finishing as runners-up, two for coming third and one for ending up at the bottom of their Pool. The quarter-finalists gained another point, semi-finalists a further two and the finalists two more, with the winners adding another two.
So a side that won its Pool and ultimately lifted the Cup achieved a maximum of 11 ranking points. A side that was, say, a losing semi-finalist having come through as one of the best Pool runners-up, would have been given six ranking points - three for finishing up in second place in the Pool, one for reaching the quarters and an extra two for making the semis.
Points were added together from the four previous seasons to produce a ranking.
The top dozen sides in the rankings based on the last four seasons are:
29 - Munster
The rankings don't influence qualification - that still depends on where teams finish in the previous season's domestic tournaments. The top six ranked qualifiers then become the top-seeded teams in each of the six Pools: Munster, allocated to Pool 3 this season; Toulouse (Pool 6); Leinster (Pool 2); Leicester (Pool 5); Biarritz (Pool 4) and Cardiff (Pool 1).
The next six qualifiers in the rankings, beginning with Wasps (but excluding Stade Français, who missed qualifying by finishing eighth in the French Top 14 last season) are then given the second tier placings in each Pool, and so on. The principle extends to the Amlin Challenge Cup where this season Stade Français occupy the top seeding in their Pool.
Who holds the record for most appearances, most points and most tries in Heineken Cup matches?
Up to the beginning of this year's tournament the leading career record holders were:
Most appearances:
John Hayes (Munster) - 93
Most points:
Ronan O'Gara (Munster) - 1138
Most tries:
Vincent Clerc (Toulouse) - 30
What is the highest attendance for a Heineken Cup match?
There were 82,208 at Croke Park for the Munster-Leinster semi-final in 2009. The biggest crowd at a final was the 81,076 who saw the 2007 showdown between Leicester and Wasps at Twickenham, and the best-attended Pool match was the Stade Français-Harlequins game at Stade de France in December 2008 when 76,569 were present to see the visitors win 15-10. All told, more than 10 million spectators have passed through the turnstiles for the 1,056 matches staged to date - an average attendance of just over ten thousand a match.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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Holiday Job Scam Tempts With High Pay
- Details
- Category: Fraud Alerts
- Published: Wednesday, 25 November 2015 07:54
- Hits: 46225
The holiday season will soon be in full swing, and stores are staffing up with temporary employees. Seasonal work can be a great way to make extra money during the holidays, but watch out for fake job scams.
How the Scam Works:
You receive an email that appears to be from the human resources department of a major retailer or a recruitment firm. The email says the company is hiring employees for the holiday season and claims to pay a high hourly wage. And applying is easy. You don't need to go into the store. All you have to do is click the link at the bottom of the message and fill out an online application.
Don't let the message fool you! This email traces back to China, not a corporate office in the United States or Canada. If you click, you may download malware to your device. Or, if you complete the "application," you will be sharing your personal information with scammers and opening yourself up to identity theft.
As the holiday season ramps up, watch out for scams. Busy schedules mean that people may be less vigilant in November and December and can easily fall prey to cons.
How to Spot a Job Scam:
- Don't fall for an overpayment scam. No legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask him/her wire the money elsewhere. This is a common trick used by scammers.
- Some positions are more likely to be scams. Always be wary of work-from-home offers, secret shopper positions, or any job with a generic title, such as caregiver or customer service representative. These positions often don't require special training or licensing, so they appeal to a wide range of applicants. Scammers know this and use these otherwise legitimate titles in their fake ads.
- If a job looks suspicious, search for it online. If the result comes up in other cities with the exact same job post, it is likely a scam. Also, check the real company's job page to make sure the position is posted there.
- Watch out for on-the-spot job offers. You may be an excellent candidate for thejob, but beware of offers made without an interview. A real company will want to talk to a candidate before hiring him or her.
- Look for pay or perks well above similar positions. If similar jobs offer to pay $10/hour and this position pays $20/hour, chances are that there's a catch.
For More Information
To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper (bbb.org/scam). To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker).
____________________The BBB is dedicated to fostering honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers in the U.S. and Canada, instilling consumer confidence and contributing to a trustworthy marketplace for all.


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What are arguments in favour of the petition?
By posting my contribution, I accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of openPetition. Insults, defamations and untrue statements of fact are reported.
What are arguments against the petition?
We submit your petition. Your cause will reach the addressed parliament, will be dealt with and decided.


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Aloha everyone, and how is your day going thus far? Well, I have some pretty neat lessons that will be coming your way and are Halloween related. But first let me upload this lesson that people have been waiting for since I uploaded the finished drawing yesterday on my Facebook page. I received a request from someone that wanted me to make a wolf shaped like a heart so they could draw it for a friend. Before reading the request, I actually attempted this task before on my own. I could never come up with a good way to draw a wolf shaped as a heart, but then I figured it out. I made angel wings that touch and form a heart shape. I was so excited to have come up with a design for a heart shaped wolf. The wolf is actually a wolf pup, and he/she is sleeping. The way that the wolf looks so peaceful makes looking at the drawing so delightful. I hope you enjoy drawing a heart shaped wolf. For me, I have to get out of here to get those Halloween lessons uploaded. Have fun folks and enjoy!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Fresh Bakery
Our bakery department offers many delicious doughnuts, pastries, cakes, cookies, and breads from scratch and baked daily. Our bakers have many years of experience providing our customers with a variety of items for all occasions. Our enthusiastic bakery team is ready to provide you with hand made bakery goods for birthdays, weddings, parties, reunions, holidays, or any other special occasion. Shop Now


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Rhiannon Sparkes, a primary school teacher in Quebec, Canada, set out to build a lesson that would deeply engage her students in the setting and themes of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. By using books and apps on iPad, her Year 6 students tap into their creativity and express their knowledge in the way that best suits their individual learning style.
"Using technology is where the students are most comfortable and most creative. So it's really exciting to help them enjoy classic literature. The potential with iPad is limitless."
Rhiannon Sparkes, Primary School Teacher, Dorset Elementary School, Quebec
Introduce the topic.
iBooks plants the seed for a rewarding learning experience.
Rhiannon's students download a free version of The Secret Garden from the iBooks Store. They start by reading the novel together as a class to get a sense of the plot. This way, each student has the basic context through which to dive deeper into the complex concepts and characters at a pace that best suits their individual skill level.
Rhiannon teaches The Secret Garden in March, the time of year when the snow begins to melt and gardens reappear in Canada.
Active reading on iPad.
Using the iBooks app to read The Secret Garden allows students to highlight key passages, take notes, look up definitions of unfamiliar words, and even listen to the text. Having the book on iPad means Rhiannon is sure every student in her class is able to read at his or her own pace.Learn more about iBooks
"Now that the students have the novel on iPad, they can refer back to the story. In iBooks, they can highlight passages, take notes and look up definitions — as they're reading the text."
Build student understanding.
Learning continues outdoors as students use their iPads to explore the concept of setting.
Rhiannon leads activities that take students out of the classroom to develop their understanding of setting through experimentation.
Capturing the garden's potential.
Rhiannon's students head outside to take photographs using iPad's built-in camera. They focus on the potential for life in the soil and how that contrasts with the bleak gardens after winter. Exploring how their own local gardens are coming to life connects the students directly to the book's themes and characters.Learn more about Camera
Forming a narrative through pictures.
Students choose 15 to 20 of their photos to illustrate the concept of "rebirth", one of the book's key themes. Selected photos must appear to be from the early 20th century — when the novel takes place. Students are careful to leave out modern elements, like cars and buildings, as they edit and assemble their collection of images.Learn more about Photos
Sounding off.
Rhiannon asks students to think about mood within the settings they photographed. Using GarageBand, each composes a piece of music that reflects the mood of the garden as it comes to life, using a collection of instruments to create a score that accompanies their photos in the final project.Learn more about GarageBand
"Set the learning goals, and then let your students run with it. What they bring back to me surprises and astounds me, every time."
Demonstrate learning.
iPad gives students the ability to go beyond a basic book report.
In their final project, students demonstrate their comprehension of the intricate relationship between setting, mood and the novel's themes.
Explain Everything
Crafting a meaningful cover.
Using the Explain Everything app, students design a title page that visually conveys the novel's themes for their final project. Each student creates a unique piece of art that expresses the feelings of growth and rebirth.View Explain Everything in the App Store
A complete presentation.
To illustrate the setting's central role in The Secret Garden, students combine their photos, music and title page into an iMovie montage. Emotional and evocative, the final projects show they've learned a complex topic through creative mediums.Learn more about iMovie
Building worlds and expressing comprehension.
With Minecraft, students draw from the novel's details to build a three-dimensional representation of the story's setting. Rhiannon explains, "In Minecraft, I can actually walk through their understanding of the setting of The Secret Garden. I can see the manor house, the garden and all the elements of setting that they have picked up and put in their re-creation of the garden."View Minecraft in the App Store
"iPad helps make learning accessible to all. The assignment is not just an essay any more — students can use photos, art and their creativity to tell me what they've learned."
Personalise and perfect your lesson.
With the variety of apps, books, podcasts, films and music available through iTunes, designing a customised lesson is easier than you might think. Get started with the apps Rhiannon's class uses or explore other ways to integrate iPad into your classroom.View the Literature collection on iTunes


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Blog theme: A Lesson a Day Keeps the Devil at Bay
In talking with friends about how we
know God is real, I heard many stories conjured up from years before. An event
that happened when Jane was 14 that convinced her God cared or a situation that
Jon got through 8 years ago that wouldn't have been possible without God's
intervention. I know those are big, life-changing lessons, real faith-forming
stones, but what about the daily lessons? The little ones that come more from a
relationship with God than a coming-to-faith event. I know God talks to me
daily, and they are profound mini-lessons on his character or advice for my
life. Unfortunately, those pass right through my short-term memory if I don't
write them down or verbally express them to another person.
I encourage you to take up the challenge too!
Dawn Thiessen
Christianity and Mormonism - Where are they different?
Posted by Dawn Thiessen on Sunday, June 12, 2011, In : Faith
About Me
Wife, mother, teacher, and author -- the glamorous hats I wear. I am also a daughter, sister, aunt and friend and am learning to be a good citizen. To be true to myself and to genuinely love people without an ulterior motive (even if it seems good intentioned).


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Fowkles, Damira
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Trevor Smith at the scene of yesterday's accident at Stanford Merthyr. Picture: Darren Pateman The scene of the crash yesterday.
The scene of the crash yesterday.
WITH one woman trapped and screaming and another trying to help her two injured children in a three-car accident, Trevor Smith did what he thought any caring person would do.
He pulled over and helped where he could.
But the Cardiff man has been left aghast after dozens of drivers manoeuvred around the scene of the nasty accident near Stanford Merthyr yesterday – some even driving over large pieces of debris to continue on their journey.
''What if that was their daughter or grandchildren?'' Mr Smith said. ''I believe in karma and I think these people need to stop and have a bloody good look at themselves.
''They know who they are, and they should be ashamed of themselves.''
Traffic stopped on John Renshaw Drive only when emergency services arrived and began treating five injured people, as members of the Cessnock volunteer rescue squad worked to cut one woman free from the wreckage.
The woman, 55, suffered fractures to a leg and was stabilised by paramedics before being flown by Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter to John Hunter Hospital.
Her Hyundai sedan had been involved in a front-on collision with a utility about 9.50am.
The second car spun into the path of a third car.
Mr Smith said he was about eight cars behind the accident and saw a cloud of dust before realising there had been a significant crash.
He watched as the other cars in front of him drove around the scene and continued on.
More motorists behind him also failed to help out. And he said another female motorist got angry with emergency services when they finally closed the road, stating she was supposed to be picking up some nuts and bolts for her husband.
''I had to stay with the injured woman, she was screaming in agony, and I stood there, I watched on as they just kept driving past,'' Mr Smith said.
''I thought, 'Is someone going to bother to stop and help us out or what?'. I just thought, 'What is going on here?'
''Surely the first reaction should be to stop and help, not driving over the debris and continuing on. I didn't particularly like [being at the scene] but surely there is no other choice but to help.
''If you saw how distraught this woman was, you couldn't do anything but help.''
Inspector Tim Seymour, of Central Hunter police, said although he would encourage people to stop and call for assistance from authorities, it was not uncommon for motorists not to stop at accidents.
''People can be in shock when these things happen; maybe they don't really understand what is going on and they can have personal reasons why they feel they cannot stop,'' Inspector Seymour said.
John Renshaw Drive remained closed for two hours as the wreckage was taken away.
The other female driver, in her 20s, along with her two boys, aged 3 and 2, suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to the John Hunter in a stable condition.
The utility driver, a man aged 60, and his 23-year-old male passenger also suffered minor injuries.
''The message is clear. If you are in an accident, don't expect people to stop and help,'' Mr Smith said. ''If it is anything like this, you will be lucky to get anyone to help out.''


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In stock
Lovely natural looking extra long wig 3/4 wig with wavy curls. 32" inch
Colour is 30/FR - Ginger Red. Extra high strand density. Other colours are available.
Synthetic Fibres - Japanese kanekalon.
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The quality of my pieces is such that you cannot tell the difference between them and real hair!
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hamburgler100 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 69 diseños de 22 diseñadores freelance.
A Logo for a church youth ministry.
Life Revolution Student Ministries
Desired Style:
Target: Teenagers - Edgy - not feminine
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
This is a new logo for "Life Revolution Student Ministries."Â
 It is a youth ministry at Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Our website is http://www.liferev.com.Â
The concept is that our goal is to have God make a change (revolution)  in our life from the inside out.  Another concept is that our lives should revolve around Christ.Â
 I am open to a variety of new ideas. Remember that this is a ministry to high school and middle school students. I do not want a "churchy" logo with sunsets and doves.
I plan on using the logo on a T-Shirt, a large banner, as well as our website. That means I need a simple logo that can go to silk screen easily--or I need two logos, a simple version and a complex version.
 The logo is just for "Life Revolution Student Ministries". Southcliff Baptist Church can be used in fine print under the logo.
 After looking at some of the post, know that I am going for a more "edgy" design.Â
 Also, I am hoping to place a T-shirt order on Friday, which means that I will need to pay for, and recieve the artwork on Friay.
- Stu
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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I just wrote for Broadsheet about a new study that found specific genes associated with determining when puberty begins for girls (and in one case, boys), which throws at least a small monkey wrench into the theory that the Evils of Modern Society (hormones in our food, pesticides, childhood obesity) are messing up little girls, so soon we're gonna have hordes of menstruating toddlers on our hands. That post is pretty much me ranting about how our culture's attitude toward female sexuality is a MUCH bigger problem than a relatively modest decline in the age of menarche over the last 30 years. But over here, I want to discuss the part I didn't have space for.
The Nature Genetics study also provides a clue for why girls who are shorter and fatter tend to get their periods months earlier than classmates.
The genes sit right next to DNA controlling height and weight.
I'm sorry, did they just acknowledge the existence of "DNA controlling height and weight"? Somebody pinch me. Moving right along…
Researcher Dr Anna Murray said: "This study provides the first evidence that common genetic variants influence the time at which women reach sexual maturation.
"Our findings also indicate a genetic basis for the associations between early menstruation and both height and BMI."
*fans self*
Now, of course they've also got the expected caveat in there, way before the quote from Dr. Murray.
However, [the researchers] also accept that the onset of puberty is influenced by factors such as nutrition and exercise, and the effect of a single gene is likely to be relatively small.
In the Broadsheet piece, I also talk about a recent post by Tara Parker-Pope over at Well, in which she points out that there was a much more dramatic drop in the average age of menarche between the mid-19th and 20th centuries, which is widely attributed to improved nutrition and medical care. So yeah, genes are not the only factor at play here. But of course, somewhere around the '70s, "Improved nutrition, yay!" gave way to "We're all eating too goddamned much and too many of the wrong foods," and then that led to panic about fat little girls sprouting pubic hair before they're out of diapers. And everybody sorta forgot about genes, since their existence might mean that living A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE does not give one absolute control over one's body. Perish the thought!
Now, after all these years of hearing that early menarche is associated with both shortness and fatness — ergo, we must put chubby little girls on diets! And, you know, will them to get taller! — someone comes along and shows a genetic link among all three characteristics. You don't say.
From the anecdata files, as I've mentioned before, I was a skinny kid who hit puberty early (noticeable boobs by age 9, first period at age 10), and only then began to put on weight. I didn't have "excess" body fat prior to menarche, but I sure as hell had fat genes and short genes. (At the time, I was pretty tall for my age, but then everyone else kept growing.) So for the very little that my personal experience is worth, this makes a lot more sense to me than the thought that shortness and fatness cause early puberty.
Also, the aforementioned Well post is primarily about a recent Danish study that showed the average age of beginning breast development dropped by a full year over the course of fifteen years — though the average age of menarche didn't drop nearly as quickly. My first thought, naturally, was, "Fuck, it's all gonna be about how Europe is catching up to the U.S. in terms of fatness." But wait, what's this?
Alterations in reproductive hormones and BMI did not explain these marked changes, which suggests that other factors yet to be identified may be involved.
They controlled for BMI and got the same result! Fatness did not cause early breast development! Yippee!
I'm not optimistic that we'll stop hearing about how THE OBESITY CRISIS BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA is pushing younger and younger girls headlong into adulthood any time soon. But at least we've got some evidence that other factors are at play. And since in the U.S., children (not to mention adults) are apparently no longer getting fatter, I will be really curious to see what happens in the next few years. If that plateau holds, and the average age of menarche keeps declining at the same rate (which is not nearly as fast as the hand-wringers would have us believe, mind you), they'll have to find another culprit. I mean, they've already got hormones and pesticides lined up for that — and for all I know, there might even be a noteworthy connection there — but CHILDHOOD! OBESITY! has long been the favorite scapegoat. It would be delightful to see the attention shift to something else. (Of course, that would involve anyone outside the fatosphere actually noticing that childhood obesity is no longer on the rise.)
Anyway, read the Broadsheet post for the rest of what I think about the panic over precocious puberty. Which is not much, generally speaking. Then tell us what you think about all this.


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You've seen the screenshots, the trailers, and the words written about it. It's not hard to see that Journey is a beautiful game.
That's why our video extraordinaire, Chris Person, put together this time-lapse of some of the most beautiful sunsets and scenery in the game.
The two red-robed players look so peaceful against the backdrop of pink sand and a warm-looking sky. Now excuse me while I spend the rest of my day meeting strangers and sand-surfing with them.
- WATCH: Journey is beautiful at all speeds in the video above.
- WATCH: This is as PG a version of Battlefield as you can get.
- PLAY: Waking Mars is our Gaming App of the Day.
- WATCH: PC gamers always boast that the keyboard + mouse combination is better for first-person shooters. This guy has that beat.
Did you see a particularly interesting video on the Internet? Know a friend who puts together awesome video game movies? If you have suggestions for Watch This, Play This, drop me a line at firstname.lastname@example.com and you may just see it featured here the next day.


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David Pacheco
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During a brief conversation recently with a Southern California labor leader, I complained that public employee unions had failed on the pension issue by being too selfish.
Instead of fighting just to protect public employee pensions, they should be pushing legislation to provide the same defined benefit pensions for private workers on the same terms that public workers get.
The labor leader didn't like this. "But we're talking about just that issue," she said.
U.S. & World
She was right. Public employee unions are talking about extending public pension plans to private workers. Emphasis on talking.
The talking point of private pensions has recently become a staple of union statements on pensions. Dave Low, the thoughtful chairman of the labor-backed Californians for Health Care and Retirement Security, wrote recently about the need to extend and protect defined benefit retirements for private workers.
But there's a big "but."
Low's statements – and other labor talk in this area – don't go much beyond talk about the need for someone else (Low suggests corporations) to give everyone a pension.
Too many of these statements feel like political boilerplate – and a way to criticize conservative critics of public pension benefits and to take shots at Wall Street.
Labor would show seriousness in this matter if it were to be specific – and show a willingness to sacrifice a little in the public sector for the benefit of the private sector.
What does that mean?
It means that unions should be proposing specific plans that would protect defined pension benefits for public workers – but reduce the risks and rate of returns to sustainable levels.
These new public pensions would be so safe and conservatively managed that the public pension system could be opened up to private workers.
There could be a number of different ways to do this – and to fund it, but the essential point is that public pensions should be the same as private pensions.
Many folks in labor would see this as a giveback, since public workers would get less. But in fact, this kind of proposal would be a huge victory.
Since most people aren't in public unions, millions of Californians would have greater retirement security – and they would have labor to thank for it. Governments would be in a stronger fiscal position, with less lavish public pensions. (Fiscally healthy government should be a goal of wise public unions).
Defined benefit pensions would be preserved and expanded. Politically, conservative critics of public pensions – who capitalize on private sector envy of public sector pensions – would lose an issue they've used to argue against other public investments and against tax increases.
There's a big victory to be grabbed here. But it will take more than just talk to get there.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Yes, the Marshwood High School football team beat York on the first week of the regular season. But first-year Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko doesn't think that will have much bearing when the teams meet again on Saturday for the Western Maine Class B championship.
"It seems like it was a lifetime ago," Rotsko said. "It was our first game and my first game. It was a long time ago. Through the course of the season, you hope you get better every week, and I'm sure they feel the same way."
No. 1 Marshwood (9-1) will host No. 3 York (8-2) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the championship game, the Hawks' first time in a regional final since losing at Bonny Eagle in the 2007 Western Maine Class A championship.
Marshwood was a 28-12 winner when the teams met on Aug. 31 in South Berwick.
"Having played each other before, it's helpful preparation-wise for both teams," Rotsko said. "They know what we're going to do and we know what they're going to do. You usually end up with lower-scoring games because of that."
Even though the Hawks have already beaten the Wildcats once, Marshwood senior running back Nick Janes knows beating the same team in the championship game won't be easy.
"They're tough," Janes said about York. "They come right at you. They're not going to do anything fancy, they just come at you and smack you."
York has allowed just 14 points in playoff wins over No. 6 Mountain Valley (43-0) and No. 2 Westbrook (21-14).
"They're physical and they like to run the ball inside," Rotsko said about York. "Their quarterback throws the ball very well. You can't just neglect the pass against them. They'll run the ball, and we know that, so we have to find a way to stop them."
York coach Randy Small, in his 16th year leading the Wildcats, said it was fitting that two teams which opened the season against one another will meet again for a title 10 weeks later.
"It was a difficult first game of the season, but with eight teams in the playoffs, you get some second chances and we've been fortunate to get here," Small said. "Marshwood has taken care of business except for one game. After that loss, we never looked down the road (to the playoffs). It just happened to be we play each other for the championship."
Marshwood quarterback Cameron Roll scored on touchdown runs of 1, 57, and 7 yards and finished with 209 yards on the ground in the win over York. Dan Lizotte also ran for a touchdown and 66 yards. As a team, Marshwood rushed for 288 yards in that game.
"They have many weapons on offense," Small said. "They have four great running backs and a great quarterback. Just like every team, we have to be disciplined on defense. We can't watch the game. We know what they're going to do and they probably know what we're going to do. It's just going to come down to execution."
Marshwood has advanced with tournament wins over No. 8 Cape Elizabeth (27-7) and No. 5 Wells (15-13).
"Both teams have changed from the first game of the season," Marshwood senior cornerback Kyle Markham said. "They looked good in the Westbrook game, but we've been out practicing hard all week. We're excited to have come so far. We're going to go out there and give it our best shot and hopefully come out with a 'W.'"
York's only other loss of the season was a 48-34 setback at Westbrook on Oct. 5. The Wildcats avenged that loss in the semifinals, as Sean Kelly ran for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns for York against the Blue Blazes.
Tickets have already gone on sale ($5 adults, $2 students/seniors) with a crowd of up to 5,000 spectators expected to attend. Marshwood is trying not to get too caught up in the hype.
"We don't really think about the fans in the stands," Lizotte said. "We just think about our assignments on the field, our keys and reads and stuff."
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the state championship against the winner of the Eastern Maine Class B championship, which pits No. 1 Mt. Blue (10-0) against No. 6 Waterville (6-4). The state final is next Saturday (Nov. 17) at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
Material from the Portsmouth Herald was used in this report.
Marshwood, York to pick up where they left off in Week 1
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Yes, the Marshwood High School football team beat York on the first week of the regular season. But first-year Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko doesn't think that will have much bearing when the teams meet again on Saturday for the Western Maine Class B championship.


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Reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell played the famed Blue Course at Congressional Country Club for the first time Monday. It was just a look-see practice round, so naturally it wasn't televised.
But, this being the 21st century, it was very much Twitterized.
"Congressional 7574 yards Par 71 US Open set up," he tweeted during his round. "No-one will break par."
Once he was back in the clubhouse, his assessment was just as foreboding.
"I'm hoping I got the wrong tee at 11," he said, describing the 494-yard par 4 with the creek down the right side of the fairway. "I can't really see much positive to say about that golf hole. If you're selling four 4s, I'm think I'm buying."
It's just as well McDowell wasn't around for U.S. Open's previous stops at Congressional because in many ways it's a whole new golf course that, like Twitter, is made for the new generation. The layout will be the second-longest in the championship's history when the event returns to the suburbs of the nation's capital on June 16-19. If all the back tees are used, it will be some 350 yards longer than when Ernie Els won in 1997 and more than 500 yards longer than when Ken Venturi overcame the stifling heat for his legendary 1964 victory.
"We want the U.S. Open to be a rigorous test," U.S. Golf Association Executive Director Mike Davis said at Monday's media day.
Congressional opened in 1924 and has been a favorite of many of the sport's biggest names and some of the nation's most famed politicians, but, like many storied courses across the country, it has needed tinkering to keep up with the times.
--When Els won in '97, the course had a par-3 finish -- a rarity for a major tournament. That hole has since been rebuilt and is now the 10th, while the 18th is a breathtaking 523-yard par 4 that slopes downward toward the water.
--When Tiger Woods' tournament, the AT&T National, was played there a few years back, golfers couldn't stop complaining about the bumpy greens. Steve Stricker said he would tap the ball and it would go "any which way it wants." As a result, all 18 greens were rebuilt in 2009-10 with a kind of hybrid grass that better resists the humidity of the mid-Atlantic summers. Davis said the greens will be set to play "very fast" during the championship.
--There are eight new tee boxes, set way back to increase the yardage. The par-5 ninth can now play up to 636 yards -- and will have worst rough on the course in a gully right in front of the green. Such a layout poses a problem for McDowell, who isn't a particularly long hitter and didn't need to be when he won at Pebble Beach last year.
--There is one concession in favor of the field. The 555-yard sixth hole will play as a par 5 instead of a par 4. Par for the course was 70 in '64 and '97, but this time it's 71.
"Let me repeat that: The USGA is actually making par go up, not down," Davis said.
Overall, though, the course had to be altered to bring its hazards back into play to match the longer game of today. Davis said his goal was to make it so the golfers would be using the same clubs the architect had in mind when the holes were designed nearly a century ago.
The trick is to do it without altering the character and feel of the place. Ben Brundred Jr., co-chairman of Congressional's U.S. Open committee, knew such changes were inevitable when Tom Kite, at age 55, had the lead after three rounds when the Booz Allen Classic was played there in 2005.
"So what are you going to do?" Brundred said. "You've got a 55-year-old guy that's 40 yards longer than he was in his prime. The holes have to change."


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As walking through a great hall of green – aiming for the peak at Pennapiedemonte.
Mountain bike race in Villalfonsina
How the colors of green effect my brain
Forest hiking aiming for the waterfall
The hike to Cascata San Giovanni from Bocca di Valle is a good three hours trip. Add stops for eating and photoshoots, count on four.
Mountain bike race in Villalfonsina
April 26, 2015
fondo, Mountainbike, race
The start of this local race in "our village" Villalfonsina and is 8 k.
Good news! New flights Rome – Pescara
The last added flights runs to/from Rome and as many times as three times a day.
Playful brothers hitting Blockhaus again
March 14, 2015
Cycling, Sport activities
We think they want revenge on last years challenge in the hills of Blockhaus.
Longing for the healthy microbes
Science has now proven than microbes in dirt make you happier. Magic to souls and serotonins levels.
The Trabocchi coast
January 3, 2015
Abruzzo, Adriatic Sea, Nature
We went for a walk today by the national park Riserva Naturale di Punta Aderci.
Christmas in Abruzzo
December 28, 2014
Biking, Having fun
We will get our bikes, get out on the roads. Unless the weather is cruel.
Meeting the beautiful Tiberio family
December 22, 2014
Wine, Wine producer
What a beautiful family! Meeting the Tiberio's
The annual Fara San Martino hike
So – we did it again. – Let's just walk up to the first station. Yeah. Right.
Follow our journey
- How the colors of green effect my brain
- Forest hiking aiming for the waterfall
- Mountain bike race in Villalfonsina
- Good news! New flights Rome – Pescara
- Playful brothers hitting Blockhaus again
- Longing for the healthy microbes
- The Trabocchi coast
- Christmas in Abruzzo
- August 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (1)
- April 2015 (2)
- March 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (1)
- January 2015 (1)
- December 2014 (2)
- July 2014 (1)
- June 2014 (1)
- May 2014 (1)
- April 2014 (1)


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November 23, 2011
Potted Paper Whites Hostess Gift Idea
Potted Paper Whites
hostess gift ideas
Paper Whites are my favorite Holiday flower. It is really a Spring bulb that is grown indoors for the Holidays. When fully grown, they're tall and elegant with white blooms and smell amazing. Instead of a regular pot, I planted the bulb in a decorative bowl. I covered the top of the soil with patches of moss - much more elegant than exposed dirt. To package, I set the bowl down into a cellophane bag and tied it with natural twine. I attached a printed tag to it so she'll know what to expect!
I used this vintage bowl from Anthropology instead of a flower pot. I think this bowl would look great on the breakfast table when it the flower is in bloom. Fill the bowl with potting soil. Oh yes, that is Mr. Darcy's nose... checking out the dirt.
Plant the bulb in the dirt, with the top poking out.
Tear the moss into small pieces that fit around the bulb.
To package, put the bowl into a cellophane bag (you can buy in my online store!) and tie the top with natural twine.
Finally, I made a label and printed it out onto cream cardstock.
Labels: Entertaining, flowers, Holiday, hostess gifts
2 comments:
What a gorgeous gift idea :) It's early Summer here in New Zealand and so unfortuantely I have missed the chance of making some for this year. However I think next year I will get a really large white bowl and put three in for my own coffee table.ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing such a pretty idea.
Where to buy the moss? Wondering if they ship to far away places like North Dakota? Very beautiful idea, thank you!ReplyDelete
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When it comes to cheaper auto insurance, family-friendly four doors are usually your best bet. The humble though still popular Chrysler Town & Country is a sensible car that's fairly cheap to insure. On the other hand, if imported luxury is your preferred mode of transportation, be prepared for hefty insurance premiums to go with all the trappings.
Knee-buckling beauties like the 12-cylinder Mercedes SL65 AMG can set you back a national average of $3,543.81 per year in insurance costs alone, making it the most expensive car in America to insure, according to data from Quadrant Information Services commissioned by Insure.com. Overall, European brands including Mercedes, Porsche, Aston Martin and BMW are the most expensive to safeguard.
"Repairing just one feature after a crash could cost a small fortune," notes Insure.com of the well-stocked BMW 750i which can set you back about $3,280.70 in annual insurance fees.
Meanwhile, American and Japanese non-luxury minivans, SUVs and sedans make up the 10 least expensive cars to insure, according to Quadrant's data. The top four cheapest cars to insure are minivans.
Forbes.com slideshow: The most and least expensive cars to insure
The four-door, six cylinder Chrysler Town & Country LX, for example, costs an national average of $1,091.80 per year to insure. The five-door, four-cylinder Toyota Sienna costs $1,100.66 per year to insure, and a similar Toyota Sienna LE costs about $1,107.70 to insure.
For comparison's sake, Quadrant calculates average annual insurance premiums based on a single 40-year-old male driver with a clean driving record, good credit and who commutes 12 miles to work each day.
The premiums Quadrant comes up with include uninsured motorist coverage with policy limits of $100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident, plus a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. Premium quotes come from six large insurance carriers: State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide.
Of course, your own rates may vary based on your personal situation.
And insurance rates can be much higher in certain states. While one might expect that New York and California would top the list of states with the highest average auto insurance premiums, they don't even make it to the top five.
Michigan, Louisiana and Oklahoma are the top three states with the most expensive average auto insurance premiums, according to Insure.com.
There are a couple of key reasons why Michigan holds the top spot in terms of costly car insurance according to Insure.com spokesman Emmet Pierce. "Michigan is the only state that guarantees unlimited personal injury protection payments to those who are injured in auto accidents," plus the state includes assistance to help people with catastrophic injuries to pay for medical care, Pierce explains.
But brand and price aren't necessarily the only factors that come into play when determining insurance premiums. Age and driving experience of owners are also a factor.
"An inexpensive car can be relatively costly to insure if it appeals to younger, less-experienced drivers who tend to get into more accidents," says Pierce. For instance, a Kia Rio is definitely not considered a luxury car, but at $1,522, the annual insurance premiums aren't much less than that of a Corvette two-door coupe which costs around $1,741 per year on average to insure.
According to Insure.com's report, the popular Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla don't make it to the list of cars that are the least costly to insure. This is largely because they tend to be entry-level vehicles popular among younger drivers who may be more likely to take risks or be distracted by their passengers.
Cars on the list of most commonly-stolen vehicles in the country according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau can also be more expensive to insure than those that aren't on the list. Those particular cars actually tend to be older models that aren't equipped with the sophisticated anti-theft and tracking devices that newer vehicles have.
More from Forbes.com
- 12 warning signs an investment is a scam
- The next wave of green cars
- Anatomy of a solar car
- Navigating your way through traffic
- Coolest apps for your car
© 2012 Forbes.com


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Lost Boy Lyrics
Sitting in motion the notion of pulling away. Setting emotion's erosional ocean to keep you at bay. Time is of the essence a presence to right what's wrong. Knowledge crying lessons unpleasant the method for what you long. Taking over, it's been so long. Moving forward, it's where you belong. Taking over, it's been so long. Moving forward. You look up, and a view. Something's missing, something's so askew. You take in, interpret. Is this a clue? Something at all to do with you? Lost boy, where would you go? Is it where you belong? All eyes all knowing and growing they turn to you. No smiles are showing or glowing, controlling so what did you do? Judgment's now continue as the engine is slowing down. Exit woman with a frown. Dressed in black, in her hands an orchid from the ground. Where will she go? Where the sky's alive, and the wind it blows.