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A video is one of the digital content pillars that is essential for your marketing strategy today.
Video marketing is wide-ranging, but animated videos stand out as an excellent option.
These short and amazing videos are one of the most engaging and effective video formats you use for your business.
An animated video is simple, fast, and convincing. Now, all you need is to find the best-animated video company to help you with your online marketing campaign.
The animation is suitable for advertising products and services that are Tangible products such as clothes, bread, or shoes are more focused on how the product feels tastes or looks.
However, intangible services are less concerned about such things.
If you are offering a more complex service, your target audience will want to know and understand how the process works and how it can help them.
You can explain the workings and procedures through animation.
An animated video company can help you create your explainer video. For abstract information such as statistics or figures, the same option applies.
One of the strengths of an animated explainer video lies is the ability to convey complicated that viewers understand.
Simply put, it is designed to explain things clearly and smoothly.
If you want to get across a tricky, delicate, or complicated idea, animation can express your message into vital and relevant points.
This is the reason why many technological web-based businesses are hiring animated video companies to explain to their customers their valuable offerings, for example, when they need to explain complex cloud-based services.
Animation gives a powerful and persuasive canvas, wherein your business can express your brand. It is quite easy as there are several styles of animated video, including 2D or 3D styles.
Considering that you want to explain what your business is all about, create an animated video that is clean, dynamic, and professional.
When it comes to creating an animated video for your business, it uses a computer screen instead of filming the real world.
The animated video company will have to draw the backgrounds, design the characters, and work on the whole visual style.
The process may be slow at times, but the overall product gives the video content a unique strength.
Impossible does not exist in the world of animation since you can create anything technically. If you want to include flying horses or talking bears in your video content, animation can do them.
Setting aside the complexity and time-consuming parts of video creation, it is possible to make some alterations in your animated explainer video.
Are you thinking of adding some details or removing some scenes?
Do you want to change your CTA at the end of the video?
It is not a problem with animation, compared to reshooting certain scenes in a live action video, which can be costly and long.
From the perspective of digital content marketing, animated explainer videos can be used in all sorts of ways. It will just depend on your creative skills.
These types of videos are generally short, making them easy to upload to various social media platforms. Your followers can view them fast and easy.
Having said that, not every animated video company knows what your target market wants.
Therefore, hiring the right animation company is extremely important. Here are some things to take into consideration if your content to help your business.
Know that not every video production company specializes in creating animation, even less likely motion graphics. Writing the script for the animated video is also a challenge particularly for people who are not experts in this field.
Animation production needs perfection, although it is a learning process. Choose the service provider that can do the style of the animated video you want.
Generally speaking, good and effective explainer videos come from production companies who have many years of experience doing this kind of content.
A company that has made many videos for a long time would be able to separate the clients they can cater to those who do not, based on their experience. The works they have done for start-ups and big firms give them some intense training.
The process of post-production usually requires more attention, which includes matching the volume with the entire visual events and inserting background music.
An inexperienced animated video creator may give you the complete product, but would not deliver a poor job of explaining your brand.
Another important thing is that the video creator should know the difference between an animated explainer video from a commercial.
Explainer videos are mainly for internet marketing, while commercials are made for the purpose of hyping up the audience to be interested in a particular product or service, which is typically shown on billboards and TV.
It is important for startups to pick an animated video company that provides affordable services.
A complete animated explainer video should only be a small percentage of your marketing budget. This should enable you to allocate some of your marketing to other campaigns.
While it is your prerogative to spend as much money as you want in creating the best explainer video, it is not necessary.
When it comes to brand building, you need to stand out from the crowd because video content increases rapidly by the day.
See that you hire an animated video company that makes videos from scratch, in other words, original ones.
The creators should not rely on stock illustrations that are available on the net. The uniqueness of your video will help your viewers understand your brand well.
Animation video makes storytelling visual. Combine a great storyline to distinctive graphics, and the result you get is compelling motion graphics that your audience will love watching and sharing.
The animation production company must respect the vision that their clients want.
This is the first step in making the best-animated explainer video.
Before you sign any contract with a video production studio, you should be sure that they can respond to your queries promptly and will do so.
It is also important if they allow you to participate in every stage of video creation, simply because you know your business better than anyone.
When selecting a reputable animation video company, do not forget one vital element, and that is the voiceover.
Aside from the expertise, experience, and genre specialty, the voice in your video should have a powerful command with the right tone and diction.
The voiceover will bridge the gap and connect you to your audience. Consider the following factors when choosing the voiceover artist:
Keep Animation Style in Mind
Choose the style for your animation video according to your company.
Take into consideration the colors, brand, logo, and your business website.
The video must reflect your chosen character model based on your needs and preferences.
The graphics of your video should have understandable and intelligible drawings. The animated video company should be able to provide animation styles that are contemporary, unique, and appealing.
The demo reel that a production company shows will give you a glimpse of the quality of their work.
Examine the camera movement, animation style, animation quality, soundtrack, and visuals.
Many production studios do reels with several individuals in collaboration.
Find out what their role is in making the video.
You can ask one of the animators to explain who is responsible for each scene in a reel.
Observe color selection, transitions between shots, scene composition, complex scenes, etc.
The best-animated-video company should not be confident in their knowledge and skills.
The whole team must also possess passion and enthusiasm in their work.
Some animators are undoubtedly good at their job but lack the motivation and energy to work.
Some are only in the business to make money. Preferably, pick a video production company that have pleasant and cheerful people without forgetting to be professional at all times.
Asking for a demo reel is an effective way to determine how passionate they are about giving you the best-animated video for your business.
There are many animation studios. But you can make the selection process easier with the help of the tips above. It pays to consider your options in advance seriously.
After all, you want to gain a kind of business relationship with the animated video company that is trustworthy, rewarding, and long-lasting.
Helping Small Business Owners explain what they do using effective video marketing strategies,particularly animation videos. explain your complex solutions, ideas, products and services to your Audience. If you're looking for cost-effective ways to generate leads, sell more products and services in a very noisy marketplace, solutions to get you started in the right direction affordably.


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Preppy Gifts for all occasions.
Proceed to the party and proudly display your southern sass with this "Bless your heart!" Mossy Oak Cup Coozies! Trimmed in pink. Fits most plastic party cups. Neoprene is insulated and machine washable. Cup is included.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Growing US military intervention is linked to escalation of human rights violations
By FIDEL V. AGCAOILI
Chairperson, NDFP Human Rights Committee
The all-out war policy of the Arroyo regime and the escalating human rights violations under Oplan Bantay Laya have been inspired and directed by the US government, especially under the Bush global war of terror and under the operational command of the US commander in the Pacific based in Hawaii.
The US has declared the Philippines the "second front" in the so-called war on terror and has escalated the intervention of US military forces in Philippine affairs under the pretext of "joint military exercises" and "combating terrorists". It has expanded the pretexts for deploying US military forces in Philippine territory, ranging from the oldest pretext of "mutual defense against foreign aggression" to the recent cluster of pretexts: joint military exercises, anti-terrorism, anti-drugs, civic action, disaster relief, anti-epidemic mission, humanitarian mission and so on.


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The state of California, wracked by drought, has 66 million dead trees across its landscape. They've been killed by both the drought itself and by voracious bark beetles, and now they're just sitting there — destined to either decompose, burn in a wildfire, or be incinerated, for safety reasons, by state fire managers before the next blaze comes along.
And it isn't just California. Raging bark beetle infestations, fanned by warmer temperatures and droughts, have also struck forests in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho in recent years. "About 100,000 beetle-kill trees fall every day in Wyoming and northern Colorado, to give you an idea of the order of magnitude," says Erica Belmont, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wyoming.
Belmont is studying an intriguing solution for what to do with all these dangerous dead trees — namely, burn them for energy. In a recent study in Energy Policy, Belmont and colleague Emily Beagle do the math on whether it would make sense to use the timber in existing coal plants, which can be "co-fired" with wood.
In isolation, it probably costs coal plants too much money to go around rounding up dead trees, carting them back, and then burning them — a big endeavor, Belmont explained. But there are sources of possible funds. For instance, the U.S. Forest Service is currently spending considerable money to treat forests and rid them of these dangerous trees — money that, maybe, could be given to the companies that burn them for energy instead, the study suggests.
Moreover, coal plants are facing strong climate regulations, in the form of the pending Clean Power Plan. In this regulatory context, burning trees that are already destined to decompose, catch fire, or be incinerated — and thus, give off greenhouse gases to the atmosphere no matter what — could conceivably supplant some of coal's voluminous emissions.
From The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/09/08/so-many-u-s-trees-have-died-that-some-scientists-want-to-burn-them-instead-of-coal/?utm_term=.18740058af08Tags: bark beetle, bark beetle infestations, bark beetles, beetle kill trees, biomass, burning trees, California, California bark beetles, California dead trees, California drought, California wildfire, Clean Power Plan, climate regulations, co-fired, coal, coal emissions, coal plants, Colorado, dangerous trees, dead trees, drought, droughts, Emily Beagle, Energy Policy, Erica Belmont, fire managers, forest biomass, forest service, greenhouse gases, Idaho, mechanical engineering, Montana, state fire managers, timber, U.S. Forest Service, University Of Wyoming, wildfire, Wood Energy, Wyoming


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Extending The Alcohol Free Zone
Concerns have been raised over the planned extension of the Alcohol Free Zone in Aberystwyth.
At present the enforcement zone covers large areas of the town centre, as well as the majority of Aberystwyth promenade.
The zone was originally introduced to combat a rise in alcohol induced antisocial behaviour in the town, and since its introduction it has had some success.
Although Aberystwyth is a very relaxed town in this respect, the rise in anti social and drunken behaviour was quite rightly causing concern amongst groups of residents, especially those living near the towns vibrant and busy pubs and bars.
Whilst many residents accepted that Aberystwyth's night time economy was a good thing for the town, it was felt that something should be done to improve the situation.
The introduction of the zone and its subsequent enforcement by the Dyfed Powys police has resulted in a drop in night time crime levels, making the town a safer and more enojyable environment during the night, for local residents, students and holiday makers alike.
However, the new extensions would give the police the power to decide who can, and can not enjoy for example, a shared bottle of wine on the beach.
Now we all understand the need to curb anti social public drinking, which reflects badly upon the image of the town. However, is it right that those who may be enjoying a relaxing drink in the evening sun with a friend or partner should be regarded as trouble makers and treated in the same manner? And should the police have the right to make this judgement?
Let us know what you think below….
Reader Feedback
2 Responses to "Extending The Alcohol Free Zone"
The beach is already a part of the alcohol-free zone in Aberystwyth. See the last page on this link for a map: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/utilities/action/act_download.cfm?mediaid=20406
Although I support the zone in general, I'd rather the beach was taken out of it.VA:F [1.9.17_1161]


text: Share: Comments Print November 24, 2010 at 10:46 PM Scouting Cal Posted by Mason Kelley Time for our weekly segment taking a look at UW's opponent. Kind enough this week to answer five questions on Cal is Jonathan Okanes, who covers the Bears for the Bay Area News Group, and whose coverage is also available through the BearsTalk blog. Q: Can you give us an overview of Cal's offense and how it's different now with Brock Mansion at quarterback? A: Cal's passing offense was uninspiring even with Kevin Riley at quarterback. With the inexperienced Brock Mansion now taking snaps, it is even more suspect. Cal opponents can't be scared off by what the Bears are doing through the air these days, and it's not just because of the quarterback change. Cal also isn't getting effective play from its receivers. There have been a handful of dropped passes in recent weeks and the receivers simply aren't that explosive. Running back Shane Vereen (pictured in last year's loss to UW in a John Lok photo) was by far the most dangerous weapon on offense with Riley at quarterback, and he still is. Q: Can you asses why the Cal defense has looked so good at times and, well, not-so-good at others? A: In general, I still think Cal's defense is pretty good. The Stanford game was a snowball effect in which the Bears made some mistakes early and then couldn't recover. And, of course, the offense isn't exactly helping with field position. But Cal has has as many as five, and maybe more, players on defense that should be in NFL camps next fall. Q: What's the deal with Cal's special teams and the kicker who always seems to be missing game-winners? A: Kicker Giorgio Tavecchio really hasn't been that consistent since he got to Cal. Who knows why he is struggling? He and Jeff Tedford insist he's nails in practice. But more than any position on the field, success in practice is probably meaningless for a kicker. Kicking is all about performing under pressure, something Tavecchio hasn't done well this season. As far as other special teams, the one significant note is that punt returner Jeremy Ross is out with a broken finger. He was having a pretty good year. Freshman Keenan Allen is now the punt returner. Q: Is the motivation of a 6-6 record and a bowl game enough for Cal this week after two straight tough, emotional losses to Oregon and Stanford? A: I think so. I think there is a stigma that would be attached to them because Cal has been to a bowl game seven years in a row. Also, Jeff Tedford has never had a losing season and the players would have that stigma as well. Plus, it's the last home game for the seniors. I get the sense that the motivation is still strong. Q: Finally, seems from afar that Cal has hit a little of a lull the last few years under Tedford. Are the faithful down there still keeping the faith? And any reason why the team has had some struggles the last few years? A: There is absolutely a faction of fans that are losing faith in Tedford. There really aren't one or two specific issues responsible for the past few seasons of mediocrity. Each season has had its own story and its own share of problems, which makes it even more maddening for Tedford and the fans. I think one of the problems is Tedford had so much success so early, he didn't learn how to deal with the down times. He basically had Cal in a BCS game (the Rose Bowl controversy with Texas ) three years after taking over a 1-10 team. Two years later, they were on the cusp of a BCS game again. Then came some mediocre seasons. Usually, it works in reverse. A coach takes over a program that needs rebuilding and works his way up to breakthrough seasons. Tedford has been kind of going the other way. Comments


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Vintage & Pre-loved Jewellery
JOAN RIVERS Interchangable Stone Pendant$20.004.2cm (with bale) x 2.7cm.
Each Pendant has 1 x Gold-plated metal casing (signed on the back) with 1 x Stone insert in a selection of colours. All in NEW condition; old stock from collection prior to Joan Rivers' passing.
Amethyst Marble
Red Marble
Jet Black
Postage with Australia : FREE
International Postage Rate : Standard Letter up to 125g


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Nintendo's latest Pokemon video games, Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu and Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee, may have playable demos at E3.
Nintendo launched some new particulars about their E3 plans earlier at present, which confirmed that each Super Smash Bros. and the pair of recent Pokemon video games might be playable on the upcoming gaming convention. While the Pokemon demos are on a primary come, first serve foundation, gamers will want to join the Super Smash Bros. demos prematurely.
Nintendo and the Pokemon Company introduced the brand new Pokemon video games at a press convention final week forward of E3. Pokemon: Let's Go is a free remake of Pokemon Yellow and might be set within the Kanto area. The sport simplifies a lot of Pokemon's core gameplay – catching, coaching, and evolving Pokemon are all a lot easier, impressed by how Pokemon Go dealt with these mechanics within the sport.
Pokemon: Let's Go can even have some very huge "firsts" for the franchise. Not solely is it the primary "main series" Pokemon sport to come back out for a family console, the sport can even characteristic native multiplayer in order that two gamers can catch and battle Pokemon on the identical time.
It stays to be seen how a lot "new" data we'll get in regards to the new Pokemon video games at E3, for the reason that video games have been simply introduced. Although playable demos ought to give us a good suggestion about how the video games will work, we most likely will not get an excessive amount of new Pokemon data at E3, since they have been simply the main focus of their very own huge press convention.
In addition to a Nintendo Direct and their Treehouse: Live displays that includes varied builders and demonstrations of various video games, Nintendo can even host two eSports invitationals, that includes Splatoon and Super Smash Bros. gamers going through off to find out who's one of the best on this planet.
E3's conferences will happen June 9-12th, adopted by a number of days of open showroom flooring for followers. Pokemon: Let's Go comes out on November 16th.


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Help us kick our kegs with a $5 20oz beer available all day! The Bartending team will choose a different keg to kick each week - so come back often to try something new for a great deal!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: August 6Proof's Sunday Sauce
Later Event: August 8Proof Taquería Dinner Specials


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· Hunter walks up on big buck
Kiel Higginbotham of Brandon saw his investment in a draw hunt at Barnett Reservoir pay big dividends when he killed a 255-pound, 8-point on the Madison County side of the spillway. How he killed it is hard to believe. Read the story here, http://www.ms-sportsman.com/details.php?id=3386
Ever wonder why you see so many fishermen bundled up in seemingly every piece of clothes they can find, sitting on the banks of Barnett Reservoir with an array of long surf-casting rods standing in rod holders? It's simple. Some of the best bank-fishing opportunities of the year come on the coldest days. It's a result of shad being caught in the shallows and dying in the cold water. Catfish come in for the easy feast, and opportunistic — and hardy — fishermen come out hoping to get one, too.
· Keep it Clean, Keep it Green & Keep it Safe! Community Fair to be held November 22nd
A Lowe's Community Partners grant will provide funding for the Reservoir's First Community Fair, "Keep it Green, Keep it Clean & Keep it Safe," November 22 at the Reservoir's Community Center on Spillway Road in Brandon from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair is a free event with information on horticultural tips, crime prevention, composting, a plant swap, a native plant walk through the Botanical Gardens, and E-Cycling (electronics recycling provided by Magnolia Data Solutions) and more. Focusing on beautification, Keep the Reservoir Beautiful will be providing free tulip and daffodil bulbs to neighborhoods and churches to help beautify the Reservoir area. For more information visit: www.keeptherezbeautiful.org


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It was sent by a medical doctor - Make sure to read what is in the closing statement AFTER THE POEM.
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,And famine will bring you no fear;Under His Wings your refuge,His faithfulness your shield.
You need not fear the terror of the night,Nor the arrow that flies by day,Though thousands fall about you,Near you it shall not come.
For to His angels He's given a command,To guard you in all of your ways,Upon their hands they will bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
RefrainAnd He will raise you up on eagle's wings,Bear you on the breath of dawn,Make you to shine like the sun,And hold you in the palm of His Hand.And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
I was listening to the radio the other day and heard this song for the first time. It reminded me of how much I miss you and how I still can't believe that you are gone. I love you!Sunny days seem to hurt the mostWear the pain like a heavy coatI feel you everywhere I goSee your smile, I see your faceI hear you laughing in the rainStill can't believe your gone(Chorus:)It ain't fair you died to youngLike a story that had just begunBut death tore the pages all awayGod knows how I miss youAll the hell that I've been throughJust knowing, no one could take your placeSometimes I wonder, who you'd be todayWould you see the worldWould you chase your dreamsSettle down with a familyI wonder what would you name your babiesSomeday's the sky's so blueI feel like I can talk to youAnd I know it might sound crazy(Chorus)Today [3x]Today [3x]Sunny days seem to hurt the mostI wear the pain like a heavy coatThe only thing that gives me hopeIs I know, I'll see you again somedaySomeday, somedayby Kenny Chesney
Dear God,You sent a child to meTo fill my life with joy,And only You knew which was best --A little girl or boy.Somehow I took for granted, Lord,That we would have a lifetime,And I made so many future plansFor that precious child of mine.Enchanted by that Miracle --Caught up in each new day --I guess I didn't hear You, Lord,When You said, "This one can't stay."I trust You, Lord. Thy will; not mine,Yet I can't understandThis sudden loss -- the emptiness --Caused by another's hand.I know my child's an angel nowBut my heart is aching so.I'm sorry I wasn't ready, Lord,To let my baby go.There wasn't time for one last hug;There was no final kiss.Oh God, it's all those special smilesThat I already miss.So Lord, could you do just one thingFor me especially?Please hold my angel close to YouAnd say goodbye for me.Amen


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Celerant Partners With FastBound And FFLGuard To Offer Dealers Safe, Secure, And Compliant Retail Solution
Celerant Technology, a leading provider of innovative retail solutions for both small and enterprise firearm retailers, announced its partnership with FastBound, a leading provider of ATF compliance software for FFL's, and FFLGuard, t he leading legal services and compliance solutions program in the country. Together- Celerant, FastBound and FFLGuard, offer firearm dealers a compliant and straightforward retail solution for point of sale, electronic bound books, electronic 4473 and more.
Whether you are a large dealer operating your firearms business with Stratus Retail, or a smaller dealer using Cumulus Retail, Celerant's new integration with FastBound provides dealers with peace of mind and confidence during inevitable ATF inspections. Backed by FFLGuard, FastBound ensures that your electronic bound books are compliant by staying up to date with all the latest ATF regulation changes. Dealers using Celerant's POS software with FastBound's A&D Software have access to FFLGuard QuickTips™ and a guaranteed legal defense with FFLGuard ATF Protection Plan Plus ™.
"FastBound is honored to work with a firearms industry veteran like Celerant. The great work the Celerant team has done makes our attorney-backed A&D, 4473, and ATF compliance solutions as transparent as possible while staying compliant and it is now available to all FFLs using Celerant's Stratus or Cumulus software. Celerant and FastBound, with legal support from FFLGuard, is huge for dealers. Dealers now have a single source for the absolute best retail software for stores, ranges, online, and mobile, the absolute best and most compliant A&D and 4473 available, and the absolute best legal support from FFLGuard, the #1 Firearms Compliance Program in the Country." said Jason Smith, co-founder and CEO of FastBound.
"The teaming of Celerant, FastBound and FFLGuard truly provides FFLs with the personal touch that the firearms market has been undersold to date when it comes to help with their firearms compliance needs." said Chris Chiafullo, National Coordinating Counsel of FFLGuard. "Having our Celerant, FastBound and FFLGuard #TripleThreat as part of an FFL's day-to-day operation – as an authoritative compliance management tool – assures the FFL that all firearms compliance needs are accurately addressed 24/7 by qualified legal personnel and proven electronic providers. It's the best of everything, all rolled into one solution for an FFL."
As an FFL, with Celerant's new integration to FastBound featuring FFLGuard's Protection Plan Plus, firearm dealers never have to worry about their bound book or 4473 forms being out of compliance. FastBound detects and identifies errors and stops transactions from progressing when necessary, simplifies multiple purchase reports, and much, much more. With an assurance that forms are completed correctly, and without duplication, the result is a dramatic reduction of risk of violations, since the majority of cited violations pertain to the 4473 or multiple purchase reports.
"With our focus on innovative in-store and online retail technology, combined with FastBound's easy-to-use compliance software plus the expertise and legal guidance of FFLGuard– dealers can automate their firearms business with an integrated solution providing comprehensive protection of their FFL and their business, " stated Celerant Technology's CEO and President, Ian Goldman. "It's important for our dealers to proactively eliminate these errors before they occur, as opposed to after the fact when they could put their business in jeopardy."
To learn more about Celerant's retail software and integration with FastBound and FFLGuard, visit: http://www.celerant.com/fastbound-fflguard
About Celerant Technology
Celerant Technology is a retail technology provider offering unparalleled and seamless multi-channel integration to retailers across all industries. Since 1999, Celerant has consistently accelerated business growth and efficiency through unique innovations such as: POS, inventory management, advanced analytics, integrated E-Commerce, mobile applications and back office – to name a few. With an open and collaborative environment, the company focuses on each retailer's specific needs to form genuine, enduring partnerships. Celerant supports firearms merchants with functionality to address their unique needs: e4473, Smartwaiver integration, electronic A&D book, range management, vendor integrations, Gunbroker.com integration and more. Celerant is a preferred vendor of National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and National Rifle Association (NRA). To learn more, visit https://www.celerant.com/retail-industry/firearms/.
About FastBound
Since 2010, FastBound has developed the most compliant attorney-backed A&D, 4473, and ATF compliance solutions available. Thousands of FFLs including dealers, manufacturers, distributors, importers, and pawnbrokers use FastBound to save time, save money, and stay on top of ATF compliance. Visit http://www.fastbound.com for more information.
About FFLGuard
FFLGuard is the #1 Firearms Compliance Program in the country, offered by a collection of firearms lawyers, subject matter experts, and compliance professionals who provide thousands of Federal Firearms Licensees across the country with legal services and compliance services — all with a focus on safeguarding the viability of the client's FFL through both proactive involvement and reactive intervention. For more information on the FFLGuard program, visit https://www.fflguard.com or call 1888FFLGRD1 (1888-335-4731), follow them on Twitter @FFLGuard and review their online videos at http://www.fflguard.tv
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: As required by U.S. Treasury Regulations, we advise you that any tax advice contained in this communication is not intended to be used for, and cannot be used for, the purpose of avoiding penalties under the United States federal tax laws.


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The VIVOphone VoiceKey lets you plug in a regular phone / cordless phone to your computer and use Skype (or VIVOphone) [via] – Link.
At the Skype site they have other ones, but post up what you're using for VoIP too in the comments too – Link.
Send this to a friend


text:
Goldselling a good thing.
Buying ingame objects for rl cash is a touchy subject, but its a thing that many does either as buyers or sellers - they just dont really talk much about it publicly because the subject is generally taboo in the Mmo world.
Originally the arguments for this being a bad thing was immersion. By mixing reallife and games together you miss the original roleplaying possiblities that you had in the Mud's.
However as voice chat, public chats and forums outside the game became the normal thing and the in character / Rp forums basically died away - this effectively stopped the big barriers , and made the r much smaller in mmorpg.
However at the same time lawsuits and possible legal problems began showing their head. If a game company publicly accepts trades of ingame item, then it could be argued that they have a responsability for those items ingame that can be followed to reallife cash.
This is obviously a problem, hence forcing game companies to take a pubilcly and legally proven hard stance against trading ingame items for reallife currency. Generally the game companies wouldnt have a problem with this if it wasnt due to potential legal issues.
But why is so many buying, if its illegal. Even the most law abiding non exploiting people in mmo's would gladly buy ingame gold for the right price and the reason is simple.
Build in mmo's is the time it takes to gather wealth. This is the "stuffing" or the grind to be competetive.
The grey gold gamers that this blog is about finds themselves in trouble when playing the modern mmo's. The problem isnt playerskill, carebearness or suckyness - the problem is time.
In essense a older gamer like me Loves to play mmo's, but we are also competetive and want to be on top of the game.
However we simply dont have the time a teenager, or a student does. We are Fulltime Working people, with families, kids and responsabilites. Competetive gaming is our hobby but we are being forced from this due to the ressource grind.
On the other side you have the kids, they got mad amounts of time. They have no problems in farming what is needed, and often much more than that.
This means we have a supply from the kids, and a demand from the old ones - but they are not allowed to trade.
Instead the kids swim in ressources, and the old ones often drop the game. The old gamers have played for years, so they know excactly how much time they need to spend every week to get the ressources they need to play the endgame. In wow it was the raids, and Darkfall its to get money for gear.
Ive stopped counting the times ive heard someone say "i love the game, but i dont have the time to play competetively, and if i cant do that id rather not play at all"
In World of Warcraft i bought plenty of gold. For example at some point flying mounts was introduced, and you needed this mount to get to a given instance. this mount cost 5000 gold, no way that i could spend all the hours farming 5000 gold just to get access to a horse so i could do a raid that also costs a lot of gold for every raid.
When i played runes of magic, i bought crystals that i traded on the auction house for ingame gold, giving me the needed gold and the timeheavy players a income of crystals.
The Asians got it right !
In the asian mmo's they solve this by selling "crystals" that you pay for rl money. Those crystals can be sold for ingame gold, or convertet to ingame items - but generally not gold.
This is a brilliant solution because this creates a market situation where the young players can get the stuff the costs money for ingame gold, the old players gets ingame gold and the game company gets more money.
I think we will see these solutions more often in the future. Added to this everyone knows that microtransactions is a growing market strategy and by doing it this was the young players will play unhindered , and the old ones will be able to play competetively just for a bit higher cost.
Today the western Mmo's are not there at all, and im not really sure why. Today you can not do any transactions of this kind so instead we have a large amount of chinese farmers doing shady deals selling gold very cheap using a exploited workforce.
Instead of keeping the older gamers money in the market either in the pockets of the game companies or the kids with a lot of time - it instead goes into a ever growing market of chinese gold sweatshops.
This obviously have to end, and the best solution is the crystal method like seen in Runes of Magic.
Added to this ill mention that in a real mmo like Darkfall, where you have full loot then its a totally different and smaller problem because any item i might buy - is a item i will loose then i die.
Instead of hunting people selling or buying ingame items of cash, the game companies should find the best way where they get involved - so all the money from guys like me can go into the hands of the game companies instead of a chinese farmer.
This is still a taboo subject, so odds are i will get flamed bigtime for this entry - but i think its only a matter of time before this will find its way into the western mmo's as well, and in my oppinion it can not happen fast enough.
I know many players in World of Warcraft who have spend way more money on gold and item sellers, than they ever payed to Blizzard during 3-4 years of wow gaming.
Lets keep the money in the mmo community.
/Frank Sinatra


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There was an old family story told that the Dawson family was not originally English, but that John Hughes Dawson's family came to Cornwall from Ireland. There was a family legend that they were descended from an Earl of Portarlington. Portarlington is just west of Dublin, in country Laois, in modern Eire.
The Earl of Portarlington was indeed a John Dawson, who was already the 2nd Viscount Carlow. The title was created in 1785 for him. He had previously represented Portarlington in the Irish House of Commons.
He was the son of William Dawson, who had represented Portarlington and Queen's County in the Irish House of Commons, and had been created Baron Dawson, of Dawson's Court in the Queen's County, in 1770, and Viscount Carlow, in the County of Carlow, in 1776.
All of this information I found in Wikipedia.
Our John Dawson was born in Kent to Richard Dawson, who was also born in Kent, as were the Dawsons for generations before as this family history shows. The first Dawson of this family to come to Kent came from Cumberland, in the 16th century. They seem to have come from a long line of English peasant farmers and agricultural labourers. So it doesn't appear at all that there is any truth to this claim to aristocracy.
The only tiny possible hint is the birth of Richard Dawson (IV), illegitimate son of Richard Dawson (III) and Elizabeth Forbister, in 1763. But children born out of wedlock is a very common occurrence throughout history.
I suspect the story was told by a butler (John Hughes Dawson) to his children, who in turn continued it down to their children, especially once they were living in a small isolated pioneering community on the other side of the world.
More information:
Croft's Peerage website
update: 30 June 2019


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Recommended by 100%
Meghan · Married on 10/07/2018
Made everyone feel gorgeous!
I was really happy to stumble upon Rare Bird Brides website when I was looking to book my Bridal Party Hair and Makeup. I really loved how flawless and natural their brides looked compared to other companies in the San Diego Area. I stalked their Instagram and really loved all photos of the past Brides. I ended up doing my Hair and Makeup trail with Chelsea. She listened to everything I wanted, my concerns and hope I wanted to look as a Bride. I have never gotten professional make up done before so I didn't really know what to expect, but I was very happy with how the trail turned out. Kristin made payments very easy and sent reminders that were very helpful with all the wedding planning craziness. I had a total of 10 people including the 6 Bridesmaids, 3 Moms and myself. My team of Chelsea and Melissa worked so well together and really stuck to the timeline Kristin had put together prior to the Wedding Day. They listened well to what my Bridesmaids wanted and what would work well with their dresses. The Moms loved the airbrush makeup and they all looked 10 year younger. I was really excited how my Bridal look was exactly how Chelsea had done at my Hair and Makeup trail. The Makeup lasted all night, even though all the sweating on the dance floor. I would highly recommend using Rare Bird Brides for your Hair and Make Up on your wedding day!Sent on 11/28/2018
Kristi · Married on 02/25/2017
Beautiful hair and makeup by Kristen! We decided to do hair and makeup for myself, my mom, and my bridesmaids. I did a trial and used that as my engagement photo day. I loved it! When I got home there were a few things I realized and talked it over with Kristen and day of we talked about it again and made the adjustments. I never do makeup so she knew what I was feeling and we went more natural and a little less dramatic but still looked stunning. She wanted me to look camera ready but also feel comfortable for the entire day. The make up stays on but never felt heavy. She is also a genius with hair. Helps her to have an idea but even some of my girls really didn't have any and she just went with what they were thinking and made some beautiful hairstyles. She works fast and stays on a timeline. What a gem to work with. Hair and makeup should be the last thing you should stress about and you won't if you use Rare Bird Bridal and you will look amazing!Sent on 03/01/2017
Liezel · Married on 01/30/2016
Kristen did an amazing job on my hair and makeup for my 1/30/2016 wedding. She also did hair and makeup for a few bridesmaids and my mom and they were all happy with their looks. Kristen is an absolute professional. She made me feel comfortable at my trial and she nailed the hairstyle I wanted on the first try. She was very responsive through email and phone calls. My mom was very concerned with her short hair and had tons of questions about her look. She called Kristen the week of and thankfully Kristen was able to put my mom at ease. She arrived promptly on the day of and even cut my bangs since I didn't get a chance to get a trim. I appreciate that she would check on how I was feeling and made me feel amazing on my big day. I highly recommend Kristen and her team, thank you so much!Sent on 05/23/2016
Tiffany · Married on 11/28/2015
Worth every penny!!! I researched many hair and make-up people. Kristen really was one of the only ones that had close-ups photos on make-up and hair. Other people I researched had beautiful model pictures, but no real close-ups. Kristen had wonderful examples on her website. For make-up I was able to see before and after photos. There were close-ups on wedding hair and work I was able to actually see before putting my deposit down.Sent on 12/22/2015
I was a little hesitate because I found other make-up artists that were a little cheaper. However, I am soooo glad I didn't. You really do get what you pay for. I paid for excellence, and that's exactly what got!.
Make-up and hair was perfect. I had compliments ALL night. Kristen you are wonderful! Thank you for making me feel like a beautiful bride.
Kristin · Married on 10/17/2015
Kristen did my hair and makeup for my October 17th wedding. From the very beginning working with her was amazing. She was super responsive, and I felt like she really listened and understood what I wanted to look like on my big day. The trial with Kristen was amazing. I just brought some photos on my phone and she nailed it on the 1st try.Sent on 11/09/2015
On my wedding day she made me feel extremely beautiful, and has a calming personality that is so wonderful when there's so much going on around you! The weather on the big day was a bit humid, so we debated doing it up instead of down - but ultimately she said she wanted me to be 100% happy with the look. I decided to keep it down, and though some curls came out, I was amazed how well it held up through the event and dancing!
I would highly recommend Kristen to any brides-to-be looking for a hair and makeup artist. Her prices are competitive, she's extremely professional, and above all wildly talented.
Megan · Married on 10/04/2015
Kristen did mine and my mom's hair and makeup for my wedding day. From the start, Kristen was very responsive. She replied to my email inquiry with her rates and availability right away. I had a trial with Kristen and she listened to my vision and made subtle changes until I was totally confident with the look. I told Kristen I wanted a natural look and wanted to feel like myself. She helped me do just that! I love that Kristen does both hair and makeup. On my wedding day, Kristen was prompt, arriving early in fact. Kristen does trials from her home studio in Carlsbad, but travels to you for the day-of. Kristen was professional but friendly and lovely to talk to while she did her work. It was raining and my wedding was outdoors. Kristen was in high spirits and very sweet reassuring me the forecast would clear up for the ceremony. (And it did!) My bridesmaid who was recently married and got ready in my suite while Kristen was at work, regretted not booking Kristen for her wedding! In the end, I loved my wedding day hair and makeup. I felt gorgeous and confident. I have very straight hair and the curls held up through the entire reception (though they did relax some as expected). And the makeup photographed beautifully! I would highly recommend Kristen!Sent on 11/21/2015
Erin · Married on 10/03/2015
I was referred to Kristen at Rare Bird Brides by my wedding coordinator, and she was great! I did a trial with her prior to booking because I have very curly hair and wanted to make sure she could work with it, and I was not disappointed! She listened to exactly what I wanted and did a great job. She was very flexible around working with my schedule and budget as well. Her pricing was also very reasonable for my bridesmaids as well. On the day of the wedding she had an assistant come with her as well, which was a big help. They also came to my home to get ready there which was much appreciated! We all looked absolutely beautiful that day and I would highly recommend Kristen to anyone!Sent on 10/28/2015
Carina · Married on 09/12/2015
Kristen did my hair and make-up for my September 12, 2016 wedding, my engagement shoot, and my boudoir shoot. She is so talented and amazing to work with. I had so many compliments on her work. I would definitely work with her in the future and recommend her!Sent on 03/01/2016
Megan · Married on 08/15/2015
My wedding was 8/15/15 and Kristen of Rare Bird Brides did my hair and make up. I work in the entertainment industry, two of my bridesmaids do as well and my husband works in photography, we are a group with high expectations. Kristen absolutely exceeded our expectations. We had some challenges with other vendors, but never with Kristen, she is prompt, quick to reply, accommodating and friendly. I loved working with her and I absolutely loved the way I looked on my wedding day. It was tremendously hot on the day of our wedding, and all of my guests remarked on how beautiful I looked even through the dance floor sweat. 2am came around and I still looked wedding ready. I would recommend Kristen and Rare Bird Brides to anyone looking for a beauty team. She is outstanding.Sent on 08/19/2015
M · Married on 06/12/2015
I absolutely loved Kristen!Sent on 10/03/2015
She helped me feel beautiful for my June Botanic garden wedding in Encinitas. I was definitely not an easy bride to do hair and makeup for, primarily because I never wear makeup and wanted to look as natural as possible on my wedding day. Kristen was incredibly patient with me and even did two trials to make sure we were on the same page for the wedding. She is so calm and sweet and just has a great energy to be around- I felt comfortable immediately with her! It also helped that she plays super chill music and is fun and interesting to chat with. She's just the type of person you immediately want to become friends with, which makes sitting in her chair for a few hours painless!
On the day of my wedding she nailed the "natural" look. I felt beautiful, and more importantly felt like I looked like myself. She used airbrushing and we decided to go with just a few single lashes to highlight her beautiful eye makeup. Even my mother and now husband who are super-critical of too much makeup were very complimentary of her work! She also did my hair (beachy waves) which was a bit covered by my floral crown, but everything held up for the entire day and night and I was thrilled since my hair is so thin that it usually falls out immediately.
I would recommend her in a heartbeat. She also did hair and makeup for about 7 women from my bridal party (including my mom and aunt) and they were very pleased and they looked great. Her timing for everything was impeccable on the day of, especially considering she did it all herself and even squeezed in some extra makeup for my aunt!
Not to mention that her prices are much more approachable than some other vendors in the area and the quality of her work is outstanding.
Thank you Kristen!
User4918097 · 2+ years ago
I started my search for hair and make-up on Yelp. I found a few places and emailed them for a quote. Kristen got back to me right away and while I waited to hear back from other places, I quickly found out that their prices were much higher, AND she does airbrush make-up which I didn't find at the other places. I looked at the photos on her website and face book and after reading the great reviews on Yelp I decided to go with Rare Bird. I had scheduled my hair and make-up trial and showed her a picture of what I wanted my hair to look like - I have never been to a place that has matched the hair style EXACTLY like the picture- I was blown away. It was stunning. I wanted an updo with curls pinned along the back. Not only did it look amazing but it held all day and into the evening. I tried to put it to the test, running errands, went out to dinner, etc. to see if it would hold up on a busy bride. It finally came down when I took out the bobby pins and washed my hair 9 hours later. My make-up was beautiful. I communicated with her telling her what I liked and didn't like and she made my face look like it was Photoshopped. On my wedding day Kristen arrived on-time (actually a bit early which was nice!) She set up and was so professional and at the same time, fit right in with my family as everyone was running around getting ready. She is so personable and friendly and easy going- it really put me at ease and honestly set the tone for the whole day. Make-up and hair was flawless- and the airbrush make-up, lashes, hair everything stayed until I washed it off 10 hours later. Rare bird was the best decision I made on my wedding day (besides marrying the man of my dreams) Thank you so much for making me feel and look like a beautiful bride!Sent on 04/28/2015
Jennifer · Married on 10/18/2014
Okay, so you're looking for someone to do your hair and make up for your big day. Are you still on the fence wondering if you should spend the extra money to have someone do your hair and make up? I get it. I was the same way. But watching the extra YouTube make up tutorials will not do you justice, let's be honest with ourselves. Do you want to wake up on the day of your wedding worried about someone who does not know what they are doing? No.Sent on 10/29/2014
The questions and hesitation stops here. Kristen at Rare Bird Brides is your answer and solution.
I CANNOT praise Kristen enough. I asked Kristen if she would provide services to myself, sister, mother, and bridesmaid. She promptly sent me a quote and answered my nervous bride questions every time I sent her an inquiry. I was astounded by the beauty of her work in her portfolio. She was there every step of the way before my wedding day!
My wedding was at 11am and I had to be done at 9:30am. Kristen showed up to my hotel at 4:45am to set up and started at 5:00am. That is some dedication right there! Kristen could not have been more professional, friendly, and talented. She listened to each individual person about how they wanted to look and went right into it. Everyone looked flawless. Then when she did my hair and make up she listened to every request I had and delivered!!
Kristen also uses airbrush make up which I HIGHLY recommend. Ladies, it stuck on my face like it was no ones business. It stayed through out the whole day. I did not have to worry about if I was sweating, make up was smearing, etc. I felt like a Disney princess, okay? Who doesn't want that?!
Bottom line, email Kristen and feel like a million dollars. She is the best. So worth it. Thank you Kristen!!
Quynh-An · Married on 08/16/2014
My wedding was on Saturday and Kristen was so amazing that this is one of the first things I've done with my free time. I need to start by saying that I NEVER wear make up. My idea of putting make up on is slapping some lip gloss and walking out the door...and I only do that for special occasions. I'm actually a little intimidated by makeup and have avoided it completely. My only condition to wearing makeup was that I wanted it to look natural and I wanted people to recognize me. Kristen went above and beyond and made me look like a more put together self. I told my husband (I can say that now!) that I felt glamorous but I also still felt like myself and he loved what she did too.Sent on 08/21/2014
I had a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony in the morning that started at 11 am and a reception that began at 5pm so I needed makeup and hair that would last all day! Add the fact that I needed to fit a traditional vietnamese khan dong and switch it later with a feather fascinator I made AND 90 degrees weather. I was a little worried but Kristen reassured me that it would be perfect. At 2 am when I rolled to my hotel room finally after an epic hot day, multiple outfit changes, lots of dancing...my face was still impeccable and looked almost exactly like it did when Kristen walked out of my house at 1030 am. Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting me at ease and making me look like a more fabulous version of myself!
candy · Married on 08/07/2014
I don't think a review is going to do Kristen justice!!Sent on 08/11/2014
First of all, she is probably one of the only vendors that we could find that could/would come to us to do hair and makeup! She was incredible! She showed up on time and went right to work setting up. When she first got started it was just my MOH and myself, she worked quickly yet still took her time to make sure my MOH looked perfect while she explained how everything worked and just had small talk with her!!
When it was my turn to start, my entire family came in the house and it was loud and rambunctious but she kept working and talking to the entire family like we have been friends forever! Once she finished with my makeup, she started on my hair. All I had was a pinterest picture for my hair, she looked it over and got to work! The outcome was WAY MORE then I was expecting!!
I wish I could just post the pictures so everyone could see how amazing it looked along with my makeup, I don't mean to brag but I looked Beautiful!!!!!! If I lived in California, I would call Kristen for any and every special occasion that I went to!!
If you are a bride and are looking for a very professional and caring Hair and Makeup artist, I HIGHLY recommend Kristen from Rare Bird Brides. She was incredible!!!
Thank you again Kristen!!!
User4294951 · 2+ years ago
Kristen is amazing! I had a hiccup with the original person who was supposed to do my hair and had to scramble a bit last minute - Kristen graciously accommodated and worked with me to make my day work though she was already booked for later in the day. I appreciated her flexibility and her ease to work with - I struggled to describe what I wanted for my hair and she took my vague statements and turned it into something I loved!Sent on 08/02/2014
User3585706 · 2+ years ago
Kristen is amazing! I had my trial with her first and was so pleased with the make-up and up-do she did for me, I booked her on the spot, without having trials with any other make-up artists/stylists. She was very professional and very organized the day of my wedding. She and her assistant did hair and makeup for me, my 5 bridesmaids, mother, and mother-in-law. Everyone looked great from the ceremony through the reception. Kristen was also very flexible. When I told her that we had to be out of our hotel room earlier than anticipated, she wasn't phased at all, and finished right on time. I'm going to recommend her to any future brides I know who are getting married in the San Diego area.Sent on 05/13/2014
Kelly · Married on 05/03/2014
Kristen and her assistant were amazing! Everyone looked wonderful for the big day. Kristen was professional, reliable and easy to work with. Her laid back personality made her the perfect fit for our group of girls. I would highly recommend her!Sent on 06/08/2014
Allyson · Married on 03/30/2014
I was very nervous about selecting someone for my hair and makeup because the last thing I wanted was to look back on my wedding photos and think, "Ugh!" Fortunately, I chose Rare Bird Brides, and I will always look fondly on my wedding photos.Sent on 04/07/2014
Kristen did my hair and makeup, and I was extremely pleased with the results. In fact, on my wedding day, I felt she did everything even better than at my trial.
Kristen also assured me that my hair and makeup would hold up all day. She was 100% right. She had completed my hair and makeup about an hour earlier than normal to stay within my photographer's timeline, and by the end of the night, my hair was still curled and my make up didn't need any touch-ups.
All I can say is you can't go wrong with Kristen of Rare Bird Brides. Let her work her magic for you on your special day!
User4030976 · 2+ years ago
Kristen is the best! She and an assistant did my hair and makeup for my wedding on March 22nd, along with 6 bridesmaids, a junior bridesmaid, and two mothers. She was right on time, and finished us all with plenty of time to spare! She is super flexible, even agreeing to do my mother's hair despite it not being part of the timeline initially (my mother decided to use her at the last minute after seeing how amazing everyone else looked thanks to Kristen!!). We all looked amazing and were beyond happy. Kristen was easy to work with from the beginning. She is patient and accomodating, willing to work with me in my annoying bridal indeciseness (we had two hair trials!). She even made me a custom piece for my hair using lace from my wedding dress (she is super talented at that, too!). It was beyond gorgeous and will be a cherished momento for the rest of my life. In the end, I couldn't have asked for a better person to help me look naturally gorgeous on my wedding day. I have received so many compliments on my hair and makeup and it meant so much to feel so beautiful on that day. By far the best day of my life, and Kristen helped make that happen. I highly recommend using her!Sent on 04/11/2014
Erin · Married on 09/14/2013
Kristen was amazing! She took me from indecisive, insecure (and somewhat neurotic) to happy, confident, and totally satisfied with my hair and airbrush makeup! She also did an amazing job on my 4 bridesmaids as well as my mother. One of my bridesmaids has very long, thick hair and said that my wedding was the first time she has had her hair styled in an up do that didn't result in a horrible headache (and she's been a bridesmaid several times). Kristen was patient with me through my trial and even made day of adjustments to make me feel confident and beautiful. I'm a makeup novice and Kristen helped me go out of my comfort zone to make my makeup look amazing for my pictures without making me look too made up. I will definitely be recommending Kristen and Rare Bird Brides to everyone I know!Sent on 04/17/2014
Rachel · Married on 08/26/2012
"I contacted Kristen a week before my wedding. I had spentSent on 09/11/2012
several months and several hundred dollars doing hair trials with
three different stylists. None of them looked good. Some looked awful.
Kristen was so kind and helpful over the phone and I could tell she
really wanted me to be happy on my wedding day. She arranged her
schedule at the last minute to fit me in for a trial. I was having a
hard time explaining what I wanted, not sure that I even knew, but she
immediately suggested a couple of styles that looked great. They were
elegant and classic, yet fun and whimsical. I immediately booked her.
(Her fees are also very reasonable.) Then, the day of the wedding she
made a few minor adjustments to the back and I loved it even more. I
was happy and confident and received so many compliments. I would
recommend Kristen to any bride to be or anyone looking for a new look!
San Diego
Sari · Married on 06/07/2014
Kristen was sooo great! I had a hair/makeup trial and it came out great! She was so organized on the wedding day. Arriving early to my hotel room she got started right away. She was very flexible when we had to add a last minute service on to the timeline. All of us loved our hair and makeup and having Kristen come to us! Thank you Kristen for an awesome job!!!Sent on 06/12/2014
Sari Eriksen
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Everyone's Mad at The Bachelor—So Why Can't They Stop Watching?
"This morning I woke up and I thought about you," Arie Luyendyk, Jr., told Becca Kufrin on Monday night's Bachelor finale. "I thought about our kids together; I thought about us when we're old." But mere minutes later in TV time, and about six weeks later in real life, Arie was already thinking about someone else—runner-up Lauren Burnham—and breaking up with Becca in an agonizing, unedited, post-regular-season scene.
This is, of course, bonkers by regular-people standards, but breaking off an engagement once the tropical tingles wear off is perfectly normal in the bizarro Bachelor universe (also known as a schoolgirl's game of MASH, but with actual people's lives). This isn't even the first time a Bachelor chose one woman, only to renege and choose another (kindly Google Jason Mesnick). But what made Arie and Becca's breakup unusually cruel—even in the context of a show that once shamelessly broadcast suspenseful teasers about whether or not one Bachelor in Paradise contestant sexually assaulted another—is that ABC and Arie chose to blindside Becca on what was supposed to be one of their secret "Happy Couple" weekends, capturing footage that was instead later used to capitalize on her humiliation. In 22 seasons of The Bachelor and 14 seasons of The Bachelorette, this has never happened before.
Yes, The Bachelor/Bachelorette has always been silly and reductive, and by virtue of its premise, usually humiliates at least one person who takes a leave of absence from their murky "account executive" job to be rejected on national TV. And, yes, the contestants actually willingly sign up for this. Schadenfreude is part of the draw for viewers, too, along with unintentional humor, and, logic be damned, the promise of true love. But Monday's finale—and Tuesday's follow-up show, in which Arie proposed to Lauren, who accepted (seriously?!)—was too much for fans. They condemned the callousness of the situation and the apparent lack of empathy for Becca. Even past Bachelors chimed in, with Ben Flajnik (no saint himself), quipping: "This is like watching O.J.'s white Bronco in 1994."
The backlash is so fierce that the question now being raised is: Why are people, specifically feminist women, still watching? I watched the show from its inception and for many years after, but it's begun to strike me as odd that the same women who march in the streets for equality are buying into new lows of manipulating women and reveling in their emotional torment. The particular ugly and underhanded nature of the finale was all but confirmed in ABC executive Robert Mills's interview with Entertainment Tonight, in which he cheered the shock waves—and 22-percent ratings boost—of the finale, saying, "You can't help but feel this thing came out great." Mills was similarly brazen on leaving Becca in the dark about why there were camera crews at what she thought would be a cute postseason hangout, but was actually her fiancé breaking off their engagement.
"I think it was told, basically, we just want to get an interview about how things are going," Mills said. "There's no reason for her to sit and say, 'Oh, my God, a camera's here? He's breaking up with me!' I think that she really just didn't think anything of it.'
Do women viewers really want to support a show that thinks so little of a woman that it would openly gloat about her emotional turmoil? Can we, in good conscience, dump our Ivanka Trump flats, but continue watching this show? Isn't it time to Ryan Seacrest The Bachelor? The show is never going to be a thoughtful episode of In Treatment, but shouldn't its mighty, vocal, female viewership at least threaten to defect—at least attempt to force a little more humanity for its female participants? After all, it is viewers, even in their supposed outrage and hate-watching, who fuel this machine, as USA Today recapper Justin Kirkland wrote this week.
"As many of us hit social media to complain about how grotesque the process was, we were seemingly cosigning along with the franchise's larger goal—gather viewers, create an audience, provide a base for the next season," Kirkland wrote. "One side of The Bachelor's equation depends on the men and women who believe in its process enough to take part in it, but on the other side is us. We cannot condemn the misery of contestants until we stop demanding it."
Or, as preeminent Bachelor franchise tweeter Dana Weiss noted on Tuesday morning: "If we really had principles, like we really gave a shit about other people, then we would stop our sanctimonious tweeting and stop watching this show. But we won't. So, we're all complicit in this dumpster fire. We act so horrified, but we'll watch tonight.'
Indeed, there are no signs as of yet of a Bachelor/Bachelorette boycott (and Bachelor Nation is not a shy bunch, so the world would know about it if there were). It begs the question: Why are fans, even in their disappointment, so loathe to let go? "Because we enjoy watching others' misfortune," Weiss told me. "It's salacious and voyeuristic. I think ABC gave viewers exactly what we've been asking for, and now we're clutching our pearls because it's easier than admitting we were entertained at someone else's expense." After 36 seasons, fans had complained that Arie's go-around was too boring. "Then, they gave us something that wasn't boring; it was exciting and dramatic and unexpected, and then everyone is like, 'Whoa, hold up,'" Weiss said. "Until viewers acknowledge (present company included) that we have asked for, and actually enjoy, this, people will keep watching because they have ABC, and not themselves, to blame."
Incredulously, the same person who was burned by this process and this production is returning to this process and this production. There is already excitement swirling for next season, which has cast Becca as The Bachelorette. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it sure feels like this was part of the master plan all along. At this point, The Bachelor has about as much respect for Becca as it does for its viewers, who are led to believe that all of this wild and windy romantic drama truly happened on its own, and was not in fact engineered by masterful producers. Not only are we investing our time in a show that treats women like garbage, but in one that assumes we're not smart enough to know that it's a puppet show. Becca isn't the only one getting played here; so are we.


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Mobile is too good, but please avoid buying micromax products, service level is "Very Much POOR". My new handset was having front camera (hang) issue, call attending speaker is not working properly, Wifi problem. It was in my hands for 15 days and with Micromax customer service centre from last 1 months. Still hoping that one day I'll get back my handset.
Akanksha, 16 Feb 2013Hi can anyone let me know if canvas 3 and Canvas A116 Hd is same. If no then can any one tellm... more30 june
Wait guys, this phone will be in your palm soon. Being working in Micromax, it would like to advise you to wait till 10th April untill we get a new consignment from the factory.
Is any one bought the Micromax A116 from m2hshop.com? I have booked it on 22nd february. But still waiting for the delivery.
AnonD-128840, 25 Mar 2013Today I have received my a116, super cool phone.Total VFM.Got the free carry case also :)Is the really good? Pls share ur views
Today I have received my a116, super cool phone.Total VFM.Got the free carry case also :)
Hey I wanna purchase dis phone Micromax Canvas A116hd..... M eagerly waiting to use dis phone can any one tell me da store or site wer I can get dis mobile........
Anonymous, 14 Feb 2013if u ever use note. . u will know.. its nothing to do with size.. software features are everyt... moreHey u why will it not provide updates u don't know the value of money when someone wud get so many or more features than note 2 at half the price plz think of the cost i hv had this fone today and i m quite satisfied with it .its user interface and hardware and camera are simply awesome i can shoot videos in hd does note 2 records in hd
Akanksha, 16 Feb 2013Hi can anyone let me know if canvas 3 and Canvas A116 Hd is same. If no then can any one tellm... moreyes, it is the same, a116 canvas hd is the same as canvas 3
battery back is a problem i think.... canvas 2 also has same battery, but 116hd has a hd screen, so it would require more battery backup... mmx why did u leave this option unattended..??? should have atleast 3000mah battery...
redskiin, 18 Feb 2013I have ordered it in the morning around 9am on snapdeal and got it on sat noon. In fact I am t... morewas your order having waiting of 21 business days?
sam the virus , 16 Feb 2013it has a5 processor It has ARM A7 quad core processor, not A5 processor
AnonD-112757, 14 Feb 2013I was eagerly waiting for the launch of MicromaxA116 Canvas , but I found out by 1 AM it was s... moreI have ordered it in the morning around 9am on snapdeal and got it on sat noon. In fact I am typing this comment on Canvas HD.


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A competitive runner friend of mine once told me the the key to speed is distance. So, clearly that applies to kayaking (right???). So as part of the training for Etive River Race, we are trying to get in some distance paddling. And we decided on the speediest option for that distance paddling i.e. sea boats.
Photos: Swans, vista, Chris
Heading out in the sea boats from the bark store on the Upper Hamble at Botley we tanked it down to the Jolly Sailor pub for mid paddle refreshments *cue Howards Way music* . Yes, the jolly sailor was a Sunday night regular the great british population on the BBC…not many shoulderpads in the jolly sailor tonight tho…
Photo: Howards Way; Britains answer to Dynasty
We were treated to local wildlife delights in the form of great blue herons, swans, ducks and even bats- yep the paddle back was mostly dark but thankfully I'd packed a head lamp to help…
Photo: Coming into dock at the Jolly Sailor in Hamble.
Tonight I used the most comfortable stick I've ever paddled with. I believe it was a Werner "Ikelos" (but don't quote me on that). It felt like a had nothing in my hand and it cements my thoughts about Werner being my favourite paddle manufacturer. Anyone want to buy my ATs?


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530 S 66th Ave W Duluth MN United States 55807
We provide individual and business tax preparation and accounting with the personalization that software packages can't. We keep up-to-date with the changing tax laws, as well as your changing life events, such as the birth of a child, a new business, new home, or inheritance. As a tax accounting firm, we adhere to certain ethical standards and codes of professional conduct established by governmental bodies and peer organizations.


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Did you know that it's possible to purchase a 5 pound gummy bear? And that it's equal to 1,400 of the regular sized gummy bears? And that it's gluten free? And that they come in a bunch of different flavors? And that it's 12,600 calories? Well, if you didn't, consider yourself informed!
It's a fun idea to surprise someone with a 5 pound piece of deliciousness like this, especially any candy lover! Dip it in a little bit of chocolate and you've got a party in your tummy. If a special occasion is coming up, be sure to get that certain someone an unforgettable gift that they can share with their whole neighborhood. It's even a cute idea to have one at a child's birthday party and everyone can get a piece of the wonderful gummy flavor. This product is definitely something "different" and unique and no one is used to seeing, so brighten up someone's day by giving them one of the coolest and gummiest things around!
Photos courtesy of http://giantgummybears.com/worldsbiggestgummibear-1-1.aspx & http://inspiringpretty.com/2011/02/11/8-unique-last-minute-valentines-day-gifts-on-the-web/


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Cultural historians have often focused attention on Islam's achievements in architecture, craftsmanship and calligraphy. However, except for poetry scant attention has been given to Islamic culture's contribution to performance art: theatre, music and dance. This is partly because of the perception that Islam has an aversion to these art forms…. Read more"A Glimpse into Performance Art in the Muslim World: A Clash of the Profane and the Sacred"
Tag: Islamic History
How Cervantes Lost His Left Arm
Article appeared in Emel magazine Issue 78 March 2011 reproduced with kind permission The brother of a merchant sailor inspired literature from the Spanish novelist and poet. Tam Hussein explores the story of Cervantes. "The loss of my left arm," quipped Cervantes, "is for the greater glory of my right."… Read more"How Cervantes Lost His Left Arm"
Renaissance Translated
Article appeared in Emel magazine Issue 77, February, 2011. Reproduced by kind permission. Captivating the minds of writers, artists and scientists alike, Tam Hussein explains how the Renaissance emerged from the Islamic world. Any introductory history on the West will tell you that the roots of western cultural dominance lies… Read more"Renaissance Translated"
On Abbasid Poetry
Article appeared in Emel magazine Issue 76 January 2011. Reproduced with kind permission. The first in a collection of pieces delving into Islamic history and its relevance today, Tam Hussein explores the power of poetry in the Abbasid Empire and its subsequent influence on the analysis of the Qur'anic language…. Read more"On Abbasid Poetry"
Ibn Fadlan's Journey to Russia: A Tenth Century Traveller from Baghdad to the Volga River Trans. Richard Frye
Review By Tam Hussein – Reproduced with the kind permission of Emel magazine Issue 67 April 2010. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 Velidi Togan, leader of the Bashkirt Republic, was arrested and condemned to death by Lenin. Togan managed to escape and joined local forces in Central Asia to… Read more"Ibn Fadlan's Journey to Russia: A Tenth Century Traveller from Baghdad to the Volga River Trans. Richard Frye"


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Starting a New Practice
This information is intended to assist those starting a new practice unit.
Restriction on practice as a manager
Rule D2.1 (Restriction on Practice) requires you to have held an unrestricted practising certificate and to have been employed as a fully qualified solicitor for a total of three years, of which at least one year must be immediately prior to starting your practice. The rules are subject to some exceptions and contain power to grant a waiver and such requests will be considered by the Professional Practice (Rules & Waivers) Sub-Committee, but they interpret the rules quite strictly and waivers are not routinely granted.
Guarantee fund contribution
All managers (principals) in private practice must pay the appropriate contribution to the Guarantee Fund. The contribution is not apportioned as the legislation requires it to be paid for each year or part of a year. The year in question is 1 November to 31 October. Payment should be made to the Society's Registrar's Department before you start to practice on your own, if you have not already paid it as a manager of another practice unit in that practice year (see Schedule 3 part 1 of Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980).
Professional indemnity insurance
You must also have professional indemnity insurance under the Master Policy before commencing your own practice (see Rules D1 (Practising Certificate) and B7 (Professional Indemnity Insurance)). You should consider whether the cover under the Master Policy will be sufficient taking into account the nature of the business you intend to carry on.
To obtain a proposal form for the Master Policy contact Lockton.
Once the completed form has been processed by Lockton they will issue the appropriate Certificate of Insurance, and will provide you with a copy which you must then send to the Registrar's Department at the Society. That department will not put your practice unit on the Society's website until they have seen evidence of your insurance cover.
When you set up in practice it is important that you put in place procedures and systems to reduce your risk of claims.
Further information is available in the Journal -
If your practice is to be restricted to criminal court work, you will be able to obtain a substantial discount on the Master Policy premium provided that you provide Lockton with a written undertaking to restrict your practice in this way.
Accounts Rules
All Practice Units, regardless of whether you will be handling clients' money or not, must set up the required books, records and Cashroom procedures that you will need to comply with Rule B6 (Accounts, etc.) before you start your practice.
Although not mandatory, the Society's Financial Compliance Department recommends that you meet with a member of the Financial Compliance Team to discuss the Accounts Rules requirements, and the books and records that require to be held.
Once the practice has consulted the Registrars Department on the necessary set-up costs and procedures, Financial Compliance would be happy to arrange a meeting if still required. The meeting would then discuss how to comply with the Accounts Rules and your general understanding of them.
It would be sensible at an early stage and before you start up in practice to consult an accountant, both for accounting and tax advice and for advice on setting up the appropriate bookkeeping procedures to comply with the Accounts Rules.
You should also decide who will be maintaining the books and records of the practice, and whether the Cashroom function will be carried out in-house, or be outsourced. Financial Compliance can supply the names of some outsourced companies who provide Cashroom services.
A member of the Financial Compliance Team will carry out an inspection of your books and records in terms of the Accounts Rules usually within 6 to 9 months of starting up your practice to make sure that your bookkeeping is satisfactory. The date will be intimated to you in advance.
You will be required to provide the Society with Accounts Certificates in accordance with the Accounts Rules. You may wish to have your accountant help you with the preparation of these certificates but that is not mandatory.
The Accounts Rules also require you to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. You will require to have formal record keeping procedures and maintain internal reporting procedures as well as verifying the identity of every client. Such verification should have regard to the risk of money-laundering in the particular matter. That risk may vary from nil to substantial depending on the type of matter or transaction, the nature of the client's business etc.
Before you start practice contact HMRC to ascertain whether you need to register for VAT. Your accountant will be able to advise on this and should also be able to advise whether it would be desirable to do so even if your projected turnover in your first year would not exceed the VAT threshold. If you decide not to register and you are undertaking legal aid work you should advise SLAB so they do not pay VAT on legal aid fees. If your turnover increases and you do subsequently register for VAT you must immediately advise SLAB so that VAT can be added to the fees payable to you from then on.
Legal aid work
You will require to register for both civil and criminal legal aid (including advice and assistance) and should contact SLAB to do so.
The Society deals with quality assurance in civil matters (see Rule C3 and related items).
Practice Unit Information
You must inform the Society of the commencement of practice and certain other details relating to the practice unit within 7 days of commencement by completing and returning the appropriate form. The form may be downloaded from the Forms and Fees section of the Society's website.
All advertising and other promotional activities of practice units must comply with Rule B3 (Advertising and Promotion). If you are advertising fees please refer to the relevant guidance.
If your firm wishes to undertake mainstream financial business or investment business authorisation is required direct from the Financial Services Authority.
For Incidental Financial Business licensed through the Society see Rule C2 and the related Guidance.
Practice management course
If you have not previously been a manager (principal) in a practice within the last three years before setting up your practice unit you will require to attend the Society's practice management course. The course is held twice a year in June and November and you will receive an automatic invitation from the Society's Update Department. You must attend the course within 12 months of becoming a manager unless you are granted an extension of time by the Society's Registrar.
Data Protection Act
All practice units are required to be registered with the UK Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act: https://ico.org.uk


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I'm starting a new workout routine today. 90 minutes of cardio a week plus a specific full body workout 3 times a week. According to Glamour magazine (where this workout comes from) doing this routine just twice a week will result in a difference in just less than a month. So of course, 3 times a week has to be better.
I really need to get motivated, lose some weight and get in shape. Like most writers, I sit at a desk way too much. Plus, I have a birthday coming up and that's a pretty good motivator!
Okay, gotta move...I really want to drop a size by Nationals. Okay, I want to drop two, but who's counting.
What do you do to workout?
Monday, May 18, 2009
And so it begins...
I'm starting a new workout routine today. 90 minutes of cardio a week plus a specific full body workout 3 times a week. According to Glamour magazine (where this workout comes from) doing this routine just twice a week will result in a difference in just less than a month. So of course, 3 times a week has to be better.
14 comments:
Oh good to read this first thing this morning! I hope you do well today with it!! I try to get on my treadmill at least three times a week but have failed miserably in the past month. And then I lift my weights too. I wish I could afford the gym again cause that kept me really motivated. Keep us posted! You motivated me!ReplyDelete
Sounds great!ReplyDelete
I like to switch things up, but I usually do about twenty minutes cardio at the gym, either with the stairstepper or the bike. Then I go do weights because I don't want to lose any weight or I'll be too skinny. I just need to build some muscle mass.
Magazines are great. I have this thing called a Booty Bootcamp. It's awesome. Seven minutes of moves that always make me sore. LOL
Good luck with your workout! I'm going to the gym this morning too.
Mostly, we walk. There's a pond about four blocks over. We walk there, walk around the pond, and then walk back. The whole circuit takes about a half hour. I've also started doing some low-impact exercises while watching TV. Nothing like leg-lifts during Biggest Loser to wipe away the guilt of being a slug.ReplyDelete
Here's to losing a couple sizes for nationals. You can do it. =o)
I ride my bike and do crunches and pushups. I used to do arm weights, but I heard that Kelly Ripa got those arms by just doing pushups, so I'm going to try it, too.ReplyDelete
I take a body sculpting class once a week--but I think I need to do more than that. I also do the elliptical machines and the walk on a treadmill, like 3 times a week.ReplyDelete
Sitting at the keyboard is murder on my thighs.
When I started writing I realized my booty started growing so I jog about 5 or 6 times a week, usually between 3-5 miles, depending on how motivated I am that day. If it rains I walk on my treadmill and I also ride my bike when I need a change from jogging.ReplyDelete
Good luck w/ your workouts! You can do it :)
I've been working out 30 minutes a day (usually elliptical) five times a week, trying really hard to get it up to an hour a day. A nutritionist recently told me that studies have shown if you want to lose weight, you really have to work out an hour a day. Doesn't all have to be at once, or all in the gym--could be forty minutes on elliptical and a twenty minute walk later. It's hard though.ReplyDelete
I took the easy way out--I became a fitness instructor for my "day" job. That way, I get paid to work out! But my favorite form of a cardio/light toning of all time is Oriental Dance (Belly dancing!)ReplyDelete
I was doing Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, until I was sidetracked by my glasses. I hate my glasses with a passion, I feel fugly and sweaty, and disgusting.ReplyDelete
I thought I was doing all the right stuff -- watching what I ate and hitting the gym for an hour three times a week, but my doc says it-aint-working-honey. Now, it's six days a week at the gym for an hour of cardio. Puff, puff, puff. Not sure if it'll have the desired effect by Nationals, but surely by my son's wedding in November.ReplyDelete
That sounds like a lot of exercise! Lets see, right now I unpack, paint, move furniture and chase a hyper puppy around. I need to get back to working out.ReplyDelete
I bounce on my ball. And you take that anyway you want, honey.
I have two boys so I'm always running. And when I get "my time", I run and do the daily 7. The Marine Corps did my body good so I'm trying to get back to that. So far it's working ;o) Good luck with the workout!ReplyDelete


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Comparing Automobile Insurance Quotes – Essential Factors To Consider
29 Mar
When you start to speak about comparing car insurance quotes from distinct insurance companies, men and women quickly think about obtaining the lowest attainable insurance rates for the car. Although this is one particular of the purposes of comparing quotes, you need to have to recognize that there are a lot a lot more critical variables to consider when comparing quotes. In truth, the least expensive quote may not constantly be the greatest option for your automobile. Here are some eye-opening details that you need to have to know about comparing insurance quotes.
1st of all, realize that you spend car premiums for your own advantage. Most men and women have a very wrong attitude about their premium payments. They spend very grudgingly simply because car insurance is mandated by law in each and every nation. They fail to understand that it is their car insurance payments that are going to cover the expenses when they face any eventuality. Only when men and women face an accident, they wish they had opted for much better coverage for their vehicle.
Therefore, when you evaluate quotes, you need to see which organization supplies the finest coverage for a specified amount of income. The firm that offers you optimum coverage per dollar should be the one you at some point pick. That is why it is by no means advisable to go for the lowest quote. Though you might save some income by paying lower premiums, you would eventually end up bearing most of the cost when your car is involved in an accident.
The variety of coverage you need would depend on a number of diverse factors. Initial of all, the age and condition of the vehicle needs to be taken into consideration. If yours is a brand new automobile with a majority of your month-to-month payments still in the future, then you need to have to go for greatest coverage for your vehicle. You need to have to have protection against accidents, theft, loss, fire, flooding, and all sorts of harm that can possibly occur to an automobile. Obtaining your car comprehensively covered for all types of eventualities would give to a lot of relief even when calamity strikes.
On the other hand, if your car is fairly old or currently damaged, then you most likely require not spend also significantly interest on total coverage. You may well pay just a minimum amount to conform to legal requirements. For that reason, appear for a quote that caters to your certain need. Do not blindly decide on the lowest quote. The policy you pick ought to give the exact type of coverage that your automobile needs based on its age, situation and other relevant parameters.


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Scioto County
Chapter President: Brown, William R
Chapter Vice President: White, Paul
Chapter Secretary: Ross, Dan
Chapter Treasurer: Renn, Garnet N
Chapter Web Master: Bibbey, Melissa R
2017 Chapter Meetings
All meetings are held on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 808 Offnere St., Portsmouth 45662
March 28th
June 27th
September 26th
December 12th
Scioto County Website
Scioto County Quilt Block Story
The Scioto County Chapter of Retired Teachers was founded in July of 1959 by a grou p of sixteen charter members. The small group of Scioto County RTA members grew to 400 in the late 1980s.
Four meeting are held each year at Hillview Retirement Center in Portsmouth.
The Scioto members are highly regarded in the community for their civic participation and volunteerism. Scioto RTA has established a scholarship for a student entering the field of education.
The real success story of Scioto County Chapter RTA is in the willingness of its members to serve and to help it grow.
The Scioto County Chapter RTA meets the fourth Tuesday of March, June, September and December. There is a 30-minute social hour and group singing before the program and business meeting.
Scioto County Chapter RTA members are proud of their teaching profession and enjoy the participation they have with ORTA.


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Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tying Flies.
I wander and wonder when I will wake to find myself alone again. But I don't. We walk towards the river, always towards the water. And he is still there...
...saying, "I think I know how you learn. I will tie one first.....just watch." He pulls close a black folding stool, the kind I used to lug around with my guitar to gig weddings with, and I sit down. I lean in to get a better view, but am careful to keep out of his light. Of course he is right. He knows how I learn. He knows who I am, and how I work. He watches me closely. He observes. I can tell when his eyes are taking notes -- about me -- lining his memory in ink...not chalk that will wash away, or pencil to be erased.
His hands move gracefully, and every step melts to fluidity. I listen. I observe. I look at him. I take notes.
It is my turn. Three of each color. A dozen total. But, practice the finish first, he says, reminding me of how I always used to practice the last lines of music first, bars measured to perfection. The finish must be strong. I tie whip knot, after whip knot, after whip knot. The motion feels good to my fingers...finishing something I have yet to start. Rounded five times, bowing in close...it's a gentlemen of a knot....
I begin to wrap, just as I saw him do, and thread spools off the bobbin. Good...good...now, don't twist the marabou so tight. Yes, much better, and my next fly doesn't look like it has a tumor beneath its tail. If I were a fish, I really wouldn't want to eat a cancerous fly.
He stares at me like I'm a little-green-man, an alien in this new world...in his world. Where did this woman come from!? And why is she sitting at my tying desk? I wonder the same thing. I have watched him here, at this desk, peeking into this world from far away, up a canyon, before I was let in. Over and over and over again I watched his hands, moving mine as puppets.....shadowing. I wanted to be a part of this beautiful thing too. I wanted his hands to show me how. I watched and listened and translated his trade-talking-tongue.
He walks over to the futon. To write, he says. And that is when I know I'm doing ok. He leaves me on my own. With my back turned, I smile. The vise is oiled by his hands, with touches of wear and worn fingerways of travel, and I follow them with mine. After a few minutes, I hear a snore. I keep tying...
I illuminate. Like a monk. The water like a skinned parchment, bare; eddying begs for colors, for words -- in order to be read. And, to glean that which is at the bottom and unseen...come out, I say....tying......
Looking down, there is one hook left. "Pick out any colors you want for the last one," he says, waking from writing. "Can fish see colors?", I ask. "Yes they can." And I sense that he is testing my bug-sensibilities as a fisherman. What will I pick? What I like, or what the fish will. I like buggy colors. My lenses are earth toned.
He smiles, and says, as I take my last fly off the vise and turn around for him to see --- You are a good fisherman...and that is your best one yet...
13 comments:
I really like the second picture.ReplyDelete
You'll blow out your knees, sitting like that.
Upon further review, it's actually the third picture...second picture of actual fly tying.ReplyDelete
I have always wanted to jump in one of Bert's chalk pictures and go on some magical adventure.ReplyDelete
Looks like you did well young Skywalker the force must be with you. And yes we do see through earth toned lenses :-)
Clif - I know. :) But, I have a old habit from a horse riding injury (badly bruised tailbone) and I can never sit squarely. Plus, it makes me taller -- like a booster seat!ReplyDelete
sgb - yes, I have always wanted to dance with penguins!
Tying flies will help make you a better fisherperson. I tip my hat to you.ReplyDelete
I really enjoyed the post. Can't wait to read a post where you were able to fool a fish into taking a fly you tied. Glad I found your blog!ReplyDelete
Sanders - I fooled one yesterday! Post is forthcoming. Very glad to have you reading!ReplyDelete
I thought for a fact I was following you but I guess I wasn't hmm... well even though I knew about your blog and posted comments before, you got a new follower! You look so concentrated on it. I tie sitting on my feet as well. Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the darkside of fly fisingReplyDelete
Dustin's Fly Box - Thank you!!! And I'm glad to have you reading! Ah ha, and you haven't ruined your knees yet, sitting like that!? :) I've definitely crossed a "line" -- last night I tied a pretty mean looking minnow for pike!ReplyDelete
I have noticed it has done that to me on a couple blogs, I always clicked the follow at the upper left so now I need to make sure to follow in the middle of the blog. Haven't ruined my knees yet but after an hour or so I need to standReplyDelete
I began tying my own flies two years into fly fishing, I am currently not only teaching fly fishing for total newbies but I strongly believe that if you catch a fish on a fly that you personally made you are hooked for life. It would be nice to see more of your handmade flies. Nice job.ReplyDelete
Alan - Yes, there is just something addictive about catching on your own fly. It just is so amazing, and really shouldn't work! :) Thanks for your comments, and I am working on some fly posts...studying streamers right now!ReplyDelete
Sometimes I think I get more enjoyment from tying flies than the actual fishing. But then catching something on one I made is a great sense of accomplishment. HA! I fooled another one! hahaReplyDelete