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This has been a record-breaking winter here in the Northeast as well as across much of this country, and my closeness with my music and guitars while being so snowed in has really been a great savior during such times of "cabin fever" and "winter blues!" It makes me also aware that many of you must also be experiencing the same kinds of long days and nights, and that you are realizing that the guitar can be an uplifting and good familiar friend to have!
Music has always been a great healer during tough times, and even though I am doing many recording dates these days, they really only happen when the roads and my driveway are passable! Other than this, I make sure to put in a lot of playing, and to teach myself some new pieces, and to set some new musical goals for myself in the process. I have found that the kinds of emotions that one encounters in tough times such as these can really invoke some new sounds as well as some great new creative ideas.
I would recommend that during this winter, you try to spend a lot of quality time with your instrument, and that you be sure to make as much good out of this time as possible. Be sure to record your spontaneous ideas, save them, critique them and most of all try to improve from them. The time you spend with your guitar will truly pay off, and you'll always remember the times that led to your creative output.
I know that right now, even during my lessons, I am coming up with a literal "flood" of great ideas, especially with the fact that I am doing a new solo album pushing me forward. So, whether or not you have such a project to look forward to or not, be sure to put all of this "indoor" time with your guitar to the best use possible. You can always make "lemonade out of lemons", and this is a perfect opportunity for you to take advantage of it! Beat the "winter blues" right now! Good luck!
This was a question that came up for discussion on my Gibson Chat yesterday, so I figured it would make a good topic. It's related to my "Covers or Originals?" blog, but still different in its basic content. This is because this time, I'm really discussing what it takes to truly make a cover song your "own."
For years, this has always been a love of mine; the art of taking a song I love and turning it into something fresh and new, and most of all, uniquely "mine." I have found that rather than taking apart the original recording of a given song, and painstakingly working out a new version of it, I much more naturally "fall into" the right way for me to play it with very little effort at all. I suppose that this is because the song exists in a part of me where it is very well-preserved, and it is protected as a kind of "memory", that comes out of me in its own musical way. This means that it's almost like a "first take." A way of preserving my first impression of this song, yet a way in which it is "processed" through me. My way of playing these covers I've done, such as When a Man Loves a Woman, I Can't Stop Loving You, Ain't No Sunshine, Unchained Melody and many others is really just a re-playing of how I actually hear and feel the original version. When I play these tunes, I often evoke the background parts, the orchestration, the original arrangements and basically all the parts that make up this musical "tapestry."
Of course, there are times when one must truly "work out" a song and its new arrangement, so as to really and honestly make it "different", but odds are, you'll be able to still find your way simply through making that song and its memory come through you. One other thing to remember is that ALL songs are originals to begin with, and it's very important to take a fresh look at whatever you play, regardless of whether or not it's an "original" of yours. Don't look at covers with disdain……these are the building blocks of truly getting to be a better overall musician, and I would think of it as a real prerequisite to becoming "complete" as a player.
So give everything you love musically a real, true and openly honest evaluation, so as to make it the most "honest" approach when you play, and therefore, honor that "cover" tune!
Sometimes, in many small and large towns alike, it can be a real plus for an aspiring player to work in a music store. It seems that whenever I visit a shop, it's definitely manned by some folks who are in local bands, and who of course, would rather be out playing or recording somewhere, but it's a good job for them! It's a good thing because this job keeps you in and around the music you love, and it can offer you opportunities, in terms of who you may meet, and what you may get to hear!
I have always found most music store workers to fall into two categories: Ones with a negative vibe and attitude, and some workers who are extremely helpful and who have a positive approach towards helping people who come in. We've all been frustrated by workers in any kind of establishment who don't seem to really know about what they are selling, so it really pays for a music shop to have well-informed workers who know what they are truly talking about, and who know how to point you in the right direction. As you learn more and more on the job, it will only make you better as an employee, in addition to you really gaining a great deal of knowledge about your favorite subject; music, of course!
I personally never worked in a music store, per se, but spent enough time in them for sure, and at one point even lived above one, and I always found my time in these wonderful places to be a positive learning experience. I also recommend visiting these shops as often as possible, and if you're away from home and your guitar(s), it's a grat way to keep your "chops" up by grabbing a guitar, and having a "play!" I have done this for years, and often can turn a music shop visit into an impromptu "concert" of sorts! I can recall one time where I picked up a guitar and started playing in Rudy's Music Stop in NYC, and a kid who was watching me was able to literally quote, verbatim, the entire review of my second album from Guitar Player Magazine! That was incredible, and sure enough I was giving a nice little show there, and signing autographs!
Working in a shop can be a great way to showcase your playing ability, and certainly to meet new people who may be interested in helping you in your career. It is also a great place to give lessons, as many music shops offer this service to their local players, and you never know, a lot of them may end up becoming your personal private students in the long run, which of course, will pay a lot better than teaching in the store itself.
So, in the end, I certainly recommend that if you are looking for a job, and are into music, I'd have to say it's a good idea to investigate your local music shops for work. It can be a truly rewarding and memorable time in your musical life!
What I mean by this title is the fact that you should learn to "get out there" and really let yourself be heard if you are truly talented. The problem with many people in the music industry is that many times, their lack of talent has been over-compensated with over-blown egos, and the ability to "talk the talk" more than they can "walk the walk!" Unfortunately, these types are all over the place, and I'm sure you may know someone like this, regardless of the level of the music business you have achieved.
It's really up to you in the long run, in terms of how you handle yourself, but after awhile, you'll see that how you feel about your playing and abilities is really what should dictate how you present yourself to others. I have always believed in "if you've got it, flaunt it" as a way of looking at things, as sometimes, we may actually be the last ones to know how really good we are! It's always a hard thing to know how others really perceive you, but the feedback you can get from really showing your "goods" can prove invaluable, and will make your presentation of yourself far more realistic and honest in the future.
If you're good, and really know it, and can prove it, well then by all means, carry yourself with pride, and let your voice be heard at the right time. In the end, it will always be your playing that will speak for itself, but your belief in yourself is what will get you there in the first place! I was very young when I had already developed a strong sense of my own guitar identity, and even though I still had a long way to go in my "social" skills, I was still compelled to further my career and music by showing off my wares whenever I got the chance. It seemed to always pay off, and certainly had a far greater impact than if I had just continued to practice in my bedroom, wishing that something would happen. I had to make it happen, and as a result, I was recording and touring by the age of 17! The cumulative effect of me doing all this at such a young age made for a great degree of confidence, but also had the other impact of making me far more humble and aware of a whole new set of rules now that I was really thrust into the music industry so quickly. I really wouldn't trade that experience for anything, and I certainly would encourage you to do this also, as much as you can.
Just remember that confidence, like your playing, can come in all shapes and sizes, and the level you are good at should match the level of your confidence. In the end, there will always be someone better and more experienced than you….but the question is, will they be able to match your level of confidence? This is where you can make up extra ground in a hurry for you, and will always pay off good dividends! Best of luck!
I had the pleasure of seeing a friend's band playing in public for what was rally their first ever true performance, ad it was quite an experience that brought back lots of amazing memories for me! It was nice to see how focused the band was, as opposed to being nervous. Certainly, if they were nervous, you really couldn't tell, and they overall, did a great job. One good thing was that even though there were other older and more experienced bands there, the audience was totally receptive to these kids' music and their presentation. It brought back memories for me of my early "battle of the bands" days with my group when I was around 11 to 14 years of age, and I recalled just how thrilling and also innocent those times were. It would scare us a little when there seemed to be much better bands than us at these events, but we always held our own, and were so remarkably good for our tender age that it seemed to make the audiences even pay more attention to us!
It's a wise thing to always try to tape your band's performances so you can critique them later on and learn from your mistakes. This particular show was good because the band, The Overshadowed, really concentrated on making a handful of songs really good for a set of about 30 minutes in length. It showed that they had been well-rehearsed, but not so over-rehearsed as to make the songs seem boring to them. Rather, the music still sounded fresh and spontaneous and the guitar sounds were really terrific!
I've never been one for "stomp boxes" and effects that just "take over" the sound of the guitar, especially too much distortion, but this bands sound that night was dominated by distortion, and truthfully, I could've even heard it louder! Dynamics are also very crucial in today's rock music, and unfortunately, a lot of these big bands these days use that "very quiet to extremely loud" equation that was first introduced during the "Grunge" phase. It's not a bad approach, and it's very audience-oriented, but it would be nice to hear many levels of more subtle "dynamics" in this kind of music in general.
I know a lot of you out there who are reading these blogs and taking my lessons on Gibson are at this particular phase of your musicianship, and are in a big "learning" stage right now. It's a great time to really explore lots of creativity within your band, as well as within your own personal playing. You'll find that both will feed off of each other, and that making it all come together at live performances is certainly the most gratifying and productive way to really improve yourself, as well as your performances. This show brought back many moments that were like that for me when I was growing up, and I felt like I was watching these kids musically grow right in front of my eyes! So get out and play as much as you can, and be sure to check out the competition in a healthy, positive way…it'll all pay off for sure, later on!
There is so much great music out there for you to "dive into" that it's almost impossible to know what to recommend to you, but I will try, and also will give you some thoughts on music listening in general.
First and foremost, I think it's very important to try to get to the "root" of whatever particular bag of music you're into listening to. It didn't take me long when I first fell in love with blues during the
blues boom" of the mid-sixties to start to immediately go back ion time with the blues, and try to seek out all that I could find back in those days. If I was into Mike Bloomfield, before you knew it I was listening to B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Otis Rush, and then sure enough, I went back and back to Son House and Robert Johnson. Instantaneously, it all came together, and my passion for the blues was fueled even more deeply. The same was true about country guitar for me too, as I may have loved the contemporary players at that time such as Clarence White and Zal Yanovsky, but I was then looking into Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Jimmie Rodgers and more who also took me all the way back to country guitar's beginnings.
I would have to strongly recommend this to you, that you find and seek out some of the earlier, "seminal" recording by the masters who came before the great players you are hearing these days. These great players of today had to have gotten into their predecessors as they were learning and falling in love with their styles, and it really behooves you to follow in those footsteps too, if you really want to know what makes your favorite artists really "tick."
I really feel like there's nothing like listening to the "old" stuff, and can anything beat listening to vintage blues, country, jazz and rock n' roll?! I mean, if you wanted to listen to "swing" for example, even though so many players are into that these days, you'd have to listen to original swing music to truly capture the spirit of exactly what it was all about way back in the Big Band era. It's a good general rule to try to always listen to the "real thing" when it comes to true roots-oriented music, as opposed to the "watered-down" approaches we hear these days, where the music is already 3rd or 4th generation!
There was a time when all this music was fresh and groundbreaking, and those are the periods of time we want to really listen to. No doubt there are great players who carry on the tradition, and there are also players who continue to "carry it on" in the improvisational spirit that was intended to begin with. Taking all this in would really give you a much stronger foundation to work with in terms of your own music, and even without knowing it, you'd be acquiring better taste and knowledge that would certainly be applied to your playing.
I basically feel that I am stylistically a combination of just about any music I've ever heard, and that it has all come together to create one unique style. After all, when you are truly self-taught, all of that information must come together in some way so you can decipher and also recycle just what all this music has done for you.
So now with the coming of the New Year, it's good to reflect on just what would really help your playing, and what would help to further inspire you onto new heights. Listen to all those who came before you, and you will certainly be able to reap the rewards!
By far, no matter what you end up learning, or acquiring knowledge about, the most important thing in music is training your ear. And I don't mean just a little, I mean that complete ear recognition and knowledge is the single most important thing you'll ever do! What I had early on, was perfect relative pitch. This means that if I hear an A, I can tell you any other note you may play for me, or I can actually sing the notes off the top of my head, all relative to that original home-base tone. But to take it much, much farther, I can safely say with confidence that I hear every pitch in life, and everything as music! This means that say I'm teaching a lesson to someone, and we're playing in C. Well, then a plane flies overhead, making a sound. Well, I immediately identify that sound as a pitch, or even a "riff" if it consists of more notes, in relation to that key of C we are playing in!
This all means that everything must become music to you, if you really expect to develop your ear to a high level. Just as an artist sees, and a photographer sees, you must hear! I know it's easier said than done for sure, but the one thing I have noticed is that this particular ability of mine actually continues to improve with age and experience, and it seems to unfold in a very natural way.
One way for you to begin this ear training is to play your chord triads, all in groups of three strings at a time, going up and down and around the entire neck. Then I want you to start to identify and most importantly, recognize these tones for what they are. For any of these to be true chords, they must contain a Root, a Fifth and a Third (minor or major). As you move these up the neck, I want you to identify them individually….for example the top three strings of the open E are G#, B and E. This means you say and hear them as "3rd, 5th, root. " The next group up, which is based on the "D" form of E, is now "5th, root, 3rd." The following grouping will also jump around and become "Root, 3rd, 5th." So as you can see, these notes literally keep playing "musical chairs" with each other, and must start to become recognizable tones to you. This is why for example, I can hear a new cluster of notes called a chord I may not even know, and still be able identify precisely what the intervals and inner-relationships are of all those notes relative to each other.
After you have done this, I want you to use other 3-string groupings and do the same kind of ear recognition with the notes, and speak and sound out the actually values of the notes you are hearing. You'll be amazed at how quickly the note recognition will start to take hold for you! More on this subject next time, so for now, enjoy this "ear training" extravaganza!
The fact is, sooner or later, if you're a solo artist or going to work in a band, the idea of having an agent is going to really come into play. The questions will be many when it comes to making this decision, and of course one of them is whether or not you really need one in the first place! Booking yourself can turn into a monumentally big and full-time job, and even though you may find it not too hard in the beginning, the job can really become a "bear!" I think it's good for a band or an artist to get some of that good "foundational" experience before moving on to an agent, even if just to better understand the process. After all, once you do have an agent who's booking you, it's a good idea to know just what that person's job entails, so you don't get screwed by them, and so that you can better understand just what a good, or bad job they might be doing representing you.
The act of trying to book oneself can be a bit demoralizing, as the artist must be the first in line to hear rejections, or to have to explain one's own abilities. I can recall sitting and waiting in the front entrance of The Lone Star Café in NYC, holding 4 albums, a press kit and many other items, just in hopes that the "booking" person there would finally give me a gig. I did eventually get that gig, but not without being told a lot of stupid things such as, "you finally got us", making it feel like they were doing me such a big favor by booking me there! By the end of the night I played there, obnoxious bouncer they had there was actually challenging me to a fight as to whether I'd get the money or not! Let's face it, these are the kinds of things you, as an artist, do NOT want to encounter. On the other hand, you need someone who really believes in you and your music, and who would do all they could to not only book you, but represent you properly, with class, and also with a strong side that can handle adverse situations. And believe me, the adversity is always there, even when you think you've long since passed that period of your career! As they say, "just when you think you've paid your dues, you get another bill!"
The best managers and agents I've ever known are the ones who start out doing it for the love and respect they have for that particular artist…it's like a friend making sure their favorite player/buddy is well taken care of in a totally unselfish way. There's no real school for this kind of thing; only real-life experiences can add up to one becoming a true agent or manager, and it's those hard-learned lessons that make the difference.
When you really get a big career "machine" going, you can have an entire network of people behind you such as a manager, booking agent, publicity agent, radio promo person and more. When it all clicks, it's a wonderful thing, and of course, a good career with good representation can really start to "snowball", giving you years of positive returns! Good luck in the search, but remember, try to do as much as you can in the beginning….you just may have to do it again, maybe in the end!
The concept that artists must change and evolve in order to stay "contemporary", or "current", is really only partly true, but still should be addressed. The reason I say "only part true" is because I have always been a believer in sticking to my guns musically, and not letting trends always "sway" me and my music one way or another. Still, if you expect to be impactful as an artist, and even more so as a sideman, you must, to a certain degree, be able to shift and bend a bit with the times.
This holds true in many ways, and even came to mind recently, when I was playing on a song of daughter Lexie's that is slated to be in a new film. Even though she and I have played together for years and made all kinds of music, this particular album she is making was deliberately shifted more away from my kind of thing to a more contemporary, and even more hard-hitting kind of sound. So naturally, it called for some different kind of guitar playing than I normally do, which for myself, was extremely refreshing! I had to put a different guitar "thinking cap" on, and had to put aside technical skill and complexity for a sound that was much more about simplicity and playing a supportive part just for the song! Not so unusual, since I always play "for the song", but this was just even further into the world of minimalist parts than I normally would venture. Sure enough, it was really just right, and I love listening to it all the time…because it works!
So, the sideman in me or you must be able to shift and adapt so we can always get the sounds a given artist or producer may want, but it's even harder on the artist themselves, because they'd have to be hip and cool and contemporary right from the "get go" just to even begin to make it, and then they must fight to stay contemporary and relevant long into their careers. I saw this with many of the artists I played with such as Phoebe Snow, Paul Simon and others, who seemed to have a real obsession with remaining relevant and current with their styles. Of course, an artist can wait sometimes for years to come out with a new album, and that album can totally shift their music into a whole new direction that will either let down their fans, or even create more new fans without alienating the old! Regardless of how that all turns out, one should never base all their musical moves on what they think their fans or critics may or may not like….if you do that, you'll always stay one step behind the very music and scene that you are struggling to stay a part of in the first place!
Stay true to your music and your tastes, and believe me, if you're really "that good" one day, maybe, just maybe, the music scene will shift to adapt itself to you!
Almost all western and particularly American music is deeply rooted in either Blues, or Blues-related forms, such as Country and Western and early Jazz. My appreciation for where the music I loved came from started at a very young and curious age for sure, and this of course, left and indelible mark on me and my playing. It has also left a permanent mark on how I feel about the guitar and American music in general, and I how I love to pass it on.
About 90% of students who come to me seem to want to have a deeper understanding of the blues and basically all forms of original "rootsy" American music. It seems that even though they may be fairly good general players already, they still feel a need to get "deeper" into where it all really comes from. I t was a funny thing how after the crash of interest in the '80s "hair" bands happened, and interest in heavy metal had mostly waned, that the guys who waned to survive were suddenly calling themselves "blues players", or at least were trying to profess their deep allegiance to blues roots. The problem was that 99% of these musicians thought of their blues roots only as far back as Led Zeppelin or Cream. I hate to break it to them, but this sure ain't the "roots!"
You must always try to go back as far to the sources of the music you like as possible. The tracing of this path can really be quite easy. For example, when I fell in love with The Beatles and then The Stones in the early to mid-'sixties, I quickly discovered that players such as Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins were their forerunners. Then I suddenly realized that folks like T-Bone Walker, B.B King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and others took it back even further. That not being nearly enough, I was quickly introduced to the earliest Blues and Country players such as Son House, Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Blind Blake, Jimmie Rodgers and Maybelle Carter. The fascination just grew and grew, and it's amazing how addicting this early music can become, especially when you realize just how broad the selection is, and how many variations and twists and turns there can be within even one genre! It is so inspiring, that to this day, I still find myself discovering yet more details about the past, and more artists and new songs to uncover! I find that I get all excited again like when I was 15 and 16 years old, when I was first developing this deep love for the "roots."
So, no matter what style you're into, there are the real forerunners you should pay attention to. These people in their own way were so fresh with their ideas and approaches that hearing them is really a glimpse into the origins of certain music forms themselves! So it you're into electric Jazz guitar, don't miss Charlie Christian, if you're into Blues, you must study Robert Johnson and Son House, and if you're into Country picking, you'd really do yourself a disservice to overlook Merle Travis or Mother Maybelle Carter. Without these founders, there'd be nothing to listen to or play today! Have fun in your quest!


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In today's ultra-competitive market—a market where hundreds of millions of Americans hold an estimated buying power of more than $12 trillion—companies can't afford to miss out on any slice of the consumer pie.
Especially not a slice that represents the fastest-growing demographic in the entire country.
As the largest ethnic minority in the U.S., the Hispanic population grew 43 percent in the decade between 2000 and 2010 and now makes up 17 percent of the population, according to The NPD Group, a market research firm. By 2050, the Census Bureau predicts, the group will account for 23 percent of the U.S. population.
Not only are Hispanics changing the demographic makeup of the country, but they are also making a remarkable impact on all aspects of the quick-service business, from marketing and branding to product development, hiring, and more.
"The Hispanic demographic is young, largely family oriented, densely grouped, and extremely fast growing, so it makes sense to focus on them," says Antonio Swad, founder and CEO of Dallas-based Pizza Patrón, which caters to the Hispanic demographic.
A Hispanic haven
It's not just the Hispanic presence in the U.S. that is exploding—their buying power is mounting, too. According to an August 2011 report from global business intelligence firm IBISWorld, Hispanics' buying power is "escalating steeply," estimated to reach $1.6 trillion by 2016. This 48.1 percent growth compares with the overall U.S. population's predicted 27.5 percent growth, to $14.7 trillion total.
Hispanics are also a young demographic, with more than 23 percent of the population under 18 years of age, says Liz Geraghty, vice president of brand marketing for Wendy's. "As a restaurant brand, you really have to engage and connect with this consumer to succeed and to stay relevant," she says.
Quick serves in particular are smart to target this demographic, as Hispanics have proved to be above-average limited-service users. According to NPD, more than 84 percent of Hispanics' restaurant visits are at quick serves, and the average Hispanic consumer visits a limited-service restaurant 155 times each year, compared with the general population's 151 visits.
"Four or five visits more per person per year is quite a bit of volume," says Bonnie Riggs, restaurant industry analyst at NPD. The demographic also tends to use quick serves more for the breakfast daypart and snacking opportunities, and they're above-average combo-meal purchasers, she says.
Because Hispanics were one of the hardest-hit demographics during the recession, they're flocking to quick serves for value and an easy way to feed the entire family, says Julia Gallo-Torres, foodservice category manager at market research firm Mintel. "Hispanics really don't like to go eat out by themselves. They prefer to take their family members," she adds. "They like it when all of them can go, and because of budgets, they really turn to fast food because that's the place where they can get the most for their money."
They're also above-average users of hamburger, chicken, and Asian concepts, Riggs says. "It's the cheaper meals. You can feed a family easier that way," she says. "I think the way to attract them is to understand that family meal deals will be important to them."
The heat factor
Family-sized meal options aren't the only thing Hispanics would like to see on limited-service menus. Because spicy and flavorful foods are a staple of many Hispanic cuisines, Gallo-Torres says, brands would be wise to create more flavorful menu options to draw in these guests.
"And that means more than just throwing hot sauce on a sandwich," she says. "What it means is trying to use ingredients that are familiar to them." Further, she says, brands must develop items that have specific appeal to Hispanics, rather than to a mass audience.
At Pizza Patrón, specialty pizzas are created for the Hispanic consumer on a regular basis, driven either by a Mexican flavor profile or a cultural behavior, says Andrew Gamm, the company's brand director. A recent product, La Choriquezo, was inspired by a well-known Mexican dish of the same name that combines chorizo and cheese and is served with tortillas. Earlier this year, Pizza Patrón also introduced a proprietary pepperoni developed in partnership with Tyson. The product, which features spicy jalapeño chunks and is unique to the brand, capitalizes on the Mexican affinity for foods with heat.
"It doesn't necessarily relate to any dish, other than being spicy, but we're branding this in a way that gets the attention of our core customer," Gamm says. Called La Chingona—which translates roughly to "Badass Pizza"—the product appeals to Hispanic males, saying, "This pizza is so hot and spicy, we dare you to try it," Gamm says. "We're using the colloquial Mexican terminology that they use every day to let them know, 'Hey, we get you. We understand you, and this brand is a place you can feel at home.'"
As far back as 20 years ago, Wendy's was tapping into Hispanics' affinity for spicy foods with its Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Geraghty says.
"That was a really bold move, and even today, our Spicy Chicken over-indexes with that target consumer, as do products that deliver a bolder and a higher level of taste and spice," she says. This demographic also has a craving for fresh produce and high-quality, natural foods, Geraghty says, "so a lot of that is beginning to influence our thinking, as well."
While brands are speaking directly to Hispanics through specially crafted menu items, they're also finding that many of the Hispanic-centric products they create appeal to the general population, too. In the South in particular, Gamm says, Latin and Mexican flavor profiles are becoming more mainstream and in demand. "People are looking for more flavor," he says. "From burger chains to chicken concepts to pizza brands, they're developing products that target these flavors."
Authenticity is also something that Hispanics, as well as the wider population, are starting to insist on when it comes to ethnic and regional cuisines. "The Hispanic community prefers authentic-made products because they have flavor and heat levels that you just don't get from manufactured products," says Jeff Sinelli, creator of Texas-based Burguesa Burger, a Mexican-themed burger brand, as well as sandwich chain Which Wich. "They're also more natural and not filled with [unnecessary] ingredients. It's fresh; it's hand-made; it's made with craftsmanship."
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subset: commoncrawl


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Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor
Designed in the USA • Electrically commutated, high-efficiency DC motor meets low- • energy power requirements • CE approved – order Safety Cover separately • Challenge Port Included • Internal baffling plates and diffuser panel provide uniform air speed across the filter face, ensuring laminar airflow • 1/4 (6 mm) -20 threaded holes in top corners accommodate eyebolts to facilitate installation using suspended guy wires (order eye bolt package separately) • Includes FDA-approved silicone sealant (specify acrylic urethane or other required sealant type when FFU is ordered) • ULPA Filter: 99.999% efficient Ultra-Low Penetration Air, rated at particles 0.12µm diameter • Includes yellow power cord with 4-pin connector for easy installation to Terra cleanrooms and hoods (connector may be removed and replaced with plug for connection to wall outlet) • Sound level is approximately 49 dBA, at average air flow velocity of 90 FPM. ( 0.46 m/s) • Replacement filter (order separately) • Filter includes aluminum frame with anodized aluminum filter face grille; all-stainless steel model available • Removable filter accessible from inside hood/cleanroom for easy replacement or servicing • All filter sales are final; returns of this item cannot be accepted
• Marks & Listings: CE, UL, ULC • Electrical Specifications: 120/240 V, 4.2 A, 2.7 W, 2.7, 2.7 • Dimensions, Product: 23.63" W x 35.63" D x 15" H • Dimensions, Shipping: 53" W x 53" D x 20" H • Weight, Shipping: 53 lb • Package Type: Pallet • Unit of Measure: EA
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|Room-Side Replaceable Smart WhisperFlow™ Fan/Filter Units: Doc. #1788-25
See installation and maintenance instructions, along with specifications, for Terra's low-energy, Room-Side Replaceable ECM Fan/Filter Unit, installed in cleanrooms and hoods.
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This rate is predicted to last until 2015 and probably beyond, according to national wind association Amdee and the Global Wind Energy Council.
The sector connected 773MW to the grid last year, bringing the installed total to 1.29GW - an almost 250% leap on the 519MW reached by the end of 2011. At the close of 2012, more than 700MW were under construction, according to Amdee president Leopoldo Rodriguez. This includes French utility EDF's 164MW Bii Stinu project in Oaxaca. "We are on track for around 2GW by the end of 2013 and close to 3GW by 2015," Rodriguez adds.
"We're talking about the largest growth in wind power projects anywhere in the world," outgoing Mexican president Felipe Calderon said on inaugurating Spanish developer Acciona's 306MW La Ventosa project in Oaxaca, in March 2012. That landmark project brings Acciona's total in Mexico to over 550MW.
Fellow Spanish group Renovalia connected the first 90MW phase of its 228MW Piedra Larga project, near La Ventosa in 2012. Close by, state utility and grid operator CFE and Spanish construction group ACS/EYRA connected their joint 101MW Oaxaca I development. In fact, Spanish developers and turbine makers are behind over 75% of Mexico's cumulative total.
More to come
Meanwhile, around 700MW of grid capacity allocated by CFE between 2009 and 2014 remains to be built. Nearly all of this is in Oaxaca, Mexico's windiest state, where over 98% of its online capacity operates. As part of an additional competition for 300MW, CFE allocated grid permits to Enel in December 2012 for the 101MW La Mata wind development in Ixtepec, west Oaxaca. Over the next five years CFE plans public calls for a further 1.5GW, although developers may also apply for connection separately.
Despite a change in leadership last year, political support for renewable energy looks set to continue. On taking office in December, president Enrique Pena Nieto stressed the government's commitment to the national climate-change law, which came into force in October. In the face of electricity demand predicted to continue its recent growth of around 5% a year for the next ten years, and an 80% dependency on fossil fuels, the climate-change law aims to increase renewable generation from 25% at the end of 2012 to 35% by 2024.
But the real reason behind Mexico's sudden growth spurt is improved turbine technology leading to increased capacity factors, meaning the wind industry can operate largely without price support mechanism.
While earlier wind development did receive special rates for generation through a limited number of contracts with CFE, most of Mexico's recent wind capacity has competed with conventional generators for private power purchase agreements (PPAs) with large industrial power users.
At least 12GW of cumulative wind capacity is viable nationwide to 2020, with little or even no price support mechanism, according to a study by consultants PriceWaterhouseCoopers for Amdee. The figure represents nearly a fifth of the country's entire electricity capacity (62GW).
PPA prices, typically at $68-70/MWh, would be unviably low for many wind markets. This is not the case in windy Mexico, where most operational wind farms in Oaxaca have capacity factors - the proportion of time the turbines operate at full capacity - of 35-40%, compared with around 25% typical in Europe. This can make PPAs viable without price support.
Development beyond Oaxaca
Companies are already developing across states such as Tamaulipas, Baja California, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Veracruz, where winds are "also strong but less gusty", says Rodriguez. He expects the trend to develop outside Oaxaca to intensify this year.
For instance, the Mexican state of Baja California has announced it is finalising a call to tender to build the 50MW Rumorosa II wind project this year. Across the border in the US, the county authorities of San Diego, California, have approved building of a 113-kilometre power line to connect the 156MW Sierra de Juarez wind project in Baja, California.
Distributed development outside Oaxaca will reduce grid congestion, Rodriguez says. Another advantage lies in avoiding the mounting militant land right conflicts between wind companies and indigenous communities in Oaxaca. Blockades and protests have hampered work at nearly all wind plants in the La Ventosa area. Most notable is Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi's 396MW Marenas project in San Dionisio. Building work scheduled to begin last spring has been postponed due to local communities blocking roads.
While projects might be viable without price support, Amdee is calling for it - as part of the energy reform to be hammered out under the climate law - in order to compete better for PPAs with conventional power, especially important for smaller players.


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VH1 has given a big green light to a new TV series, "Celebracadabra".
Stay tuned to the HOME PAGE of this blog for videos and shocking footage that not even VH1 has. We filmed the celebrities on their own terms doing and saying things you won't believe…. you FOUND the underground Celebracadabra page. Own it by simply bookmarking it NOW.
Comedians, pop stars, and film actors learn amazing magic from top pros, then perform and shock others in various venues. From street magic, to a children's birthday parties, to a Vegas stage with showgirls – these celebs now know what "practice" means.
Below, Pussycat Doll Kim Wyatt on location for Celebracadabra wearing an Ellusionist Beanie:
Seven TV, music and film stars study, learn and practice hard so they can battle for the title of "Best Celebrity Magician" and a $100K grand prize when they gather at the famous Magic Castle (the world's most famous club for magicians) and other venues in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and attempt to learn and perform magic tricks and illusions normally left to the professionals.
Celebracadabra celebrities are C. Thomas Howell, comedian ANT, Hal Sparks, Chris Reid (Kid from Kid n' Play), Lisa Ann Walter, Carnie Wilson, Kim Wyatt from The Pussycat Dolls.
Ellusionist sponsors the Series and will provide downloadable magic tricks for people to learn, tie-ins with the VH1 web site, contests, and additional rare pictures, info and footage shot by Ellusionist while on the Celebracadabra set. STAY TUNED TO THIS BLOG, BOOKMARK IT NOW —– NO KIDDING.
Guided by veteran magicians, the competitors face tough crowds and a master panel of judges (including Max Maven, Jeff McBride and Jonathan Levit who also plays host) who determine which celebrities get to advance to the next round and a shot at a $100,000 grand prize provided by the Ellusionist.com Street Magic Training Center.
Executive producers are Michael Hirschorn, Shelly Tatro, Karla Hidalgo and Chris Martin.
Currently, the Series is slated to debut on Sunday April 20 and run 9 weeks. Sunday is VH1's biggest night of the week… Celebracadabra will be hot, filled with drama, magic, comedy and pretty faces. Check it.
Hal Sparks & C. Thomas Howell on location with Ellusionist:


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Working Internationally
Have you ever dreamed of living and working in a foreign country? Make your dream a reality by finding jobs and internships on these sites!
Programs Abroad
- BUNAC - The British Universities North America Club specializes in experiences abroad in the United Kingdom and its territories.
- Council on International Educational Exchange -
- Cultural Vistas - Discover job opportunities overseas to fit your needs and interests.
- iee Passport -
- Go Abroad - An extensive resource for working, studying, and teaching abroad.
- i to i Volunteering - Spend some time doing meaningful work in another country!
- InterExchange - Search for the types of jobs you would like to do while abroad.
- Pro World - Customize your international job search based on program, country, and job category.
- US Department of State - Find information on international programs and the legal process for working in another country.
- World Teach - Teach students in other countries, whether it be English as a foreign language or something else!
Teaching Abroad
International Job Search
Resources and More
- Embassy Worldwide - Directory and database of every nation's embassies and consulates.
Opportunities for People with Disabilities


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By joanmarie
- 1 can crescent rolls
- Flour, for dusting
- 4 tablespoons spicy mustard
- 10 ounces thinly sliced ham
- 10 ounces thinly sliced salami
- 10 ounces bologna
- 12 ounces Monterey Jack, grated
- Liquid food coloring
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 whole cloves
- Toothpicks
- 2 small pimiento-stuffed olives
- 1 (1-inch) strips jarred roasted red peppers
Cooking time 25mins
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Grease the foil and set aside.
Dust a flat surface lightly with flour. Spread out the crescent dough — do not separate. Pinch together the seams so that you have 1 piece of dough. Roll out to make a large rectangle. Make sure the dough is not stuck to the surface at all.
Brush the dough with the mustard, leaving a 1-inch border. Layer the meats down the center of the rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border on either end. You can feel free to use your favorite cold cuts.
Top the meats with the cheese. Fold 1 side of the dough over the filling, lengthwise. Then, fold the other 1/2 over and press the seal the filling inside. Take 1 egg yolk, and beat lightly with a fork. Brush the egg yolk over the top of the dough. The yolk will act as the glue to hold. Fold the dough in 1/2 again lengthwise. Pinch the seam with your fingers to seal. Press the outside of the dough to make sure everything is sealed tight and to make an even thickness for the body of your snake. Taper 1 end of the dough to form a tail shape. Form the other end into a head shape.
Beat the 2 remaining egg yolks together. Transfer to 3 separate small bowls. Add some food coloring to each bowl — whatever colors you like! Using a clean paintbrush, "paint" the snake with the egg yolk/food coloring mixture.
Transfer the snake to the foil lined sheet tray. Form into an "s" shape so it looks like the snake is slithering. Insert 2 cloves into the head to look like nostrils and 2 stuffed olives for eyes. Create a mouth or tongue with the roasted red peppers. Bake the snake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.


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News and Announcements
Ocean View Little League
Norfolk, VA 23503
Online Registration accessible through Links.
Ocean View Little League, Norfolk VA
Ocean View Little League, Norfolk VA
Little League International Announces Name of New Baseball Division
Little League International announced the name of its newest baseball division: The Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division.
The division, the first new program in Little League since 1999, bridges the transition from Little League (46/60) to Junior League Baseball on a full-size field (60/90). It is a league for 11-13 year-olds whose advanced skills permit rules that are closer to conventional baseball, such as leading off bases, pickoff attempts, etc.
In the traditional Little League (Majors) Division, a runner cannot leave the base until the pitched ball reaches the batter, so pickoffs are not part of the game at that level. In addition, Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division games will be played on a field that is not quite as large as a conventional diamond, but bigger than the traditional Little League field.
The Little League International Board of Directors publicly announced the creation of the Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division in its annual spring meeting in May. That decision came after volunteer District Administrators voted overwhelmingly to create a new program for 11-13 year-olds.
For the past three seasons, local Little Leagues around the world have chartered 50/70 Pilot Programs, with experimental rule changes along the way to the vote by District Administrators at the Round Table sessions held at various locations around the world early this year. The name of the new division was developed after Little League International consulted with thousands of volunteers and parents worldwide.
"We want to thank the tens of thousands of volunteers in leagues and districts worldwide that have helped us reach this point," Patrick W. Wilson, Senior Vice President of Operations and Program Development, said. "Their valuable input over the past three years has allowed us to create a way for leagues to offer the game to more players than ever."
At the local level, the Intermediate Baseball Division will draw its players from within the same boundaries as the "parent" league. When there are not enough players within the league boundaries to play a schedule within the league, two or more adjacent leagues of the same district may, under certain circumstances, combine to form a single Intermediate League (with recommendation of the District Administrator and the approval of the Charter Committee). Each unit league maintains its own Intermediate Division Baseball Charter.
A Tournament structure for the Intermediate Baseball Division has been developed, with play ending in a World Series each year. The site for the first Intermediate League Baseball World Series was announced earlier this month as Livermore, Calif., to be played in August 2013.
"We designed the rules for the Intermediate Division to allow for maximum flexibility at the local level," Mr. Wilson said. "For instance, a local league could place all eligible 13-year-olds in the Intermediate Division, and all 11- and 12-year-olds in the Little League Major Baseball Division. Or, it could permit some advanced 11- and 12-year-olds to play in the Intermediate League."
To be eligible for selection to a local league's Intermediate Baseball Division Tournament Team ("All Stars"), a player must be the correct age, and must have participated in at least 60 percent of the local league's regular season Intermediate Division games, with an exception if the player misses games because of school baseball.
In the coming weeks, Little League International's Rules Committee, the Little League Advisory Board, and the Little League International Board of Directors will be meeting to finalize other rules within the new division. Details will be released in mid-November.
Intermediate Baseball field dimensions are, as the name implies, between those of the traditional Little League diamond and a standard baseball diamond. For the Little League Intermediate Baseball Division, there is a pitching distance of 50 feet. The distance between bases is 70 feet. The recommended range of distance, during regular season, from home plate to the outfield fence is 200 to 275 feet.
Two years ago, Little League provided an online tutorial on converting a traditional Little League field (with base paths of 60 feet) to a 50/70 field – so that the field can be used for both divisions, if needed. More than 340 leagues worldwide have chartered the 50/70 Pilot Program in the past three years.
2013 Boundary Map
Players must reside within the Ocean View Little League Bondaries in order to play for OVLL.


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Contrary to popular belief, cooking old-fashioned rolled oats doesn't take that much longer than the quick-cooking or instant varieties. But the big food companies don't want us to know that. They also don't want us to realize how much more expensive the packaged, flavored versions are and the amount of synthetic additives which are unnecessarily added for flavor, texture and appearance.
Cooking real oats takes about five minutes, whereas instant oatmeal takes about two. For the real version, just combine—roughly—equal parts oats and liquid (milk or water) in a pot and stir for about five minutes until the desired consistency is achieved. (For one portion, I use 2/3 cup of oatmeal and 3/4 cup of whole milk; decide for yourself what texture you like.)
Right now you may be thinking, "Wait, that's it? So why am I paying $4.29 for a box (little less than a pound) of flavored Quaker Instant Oatmeal in individual portions when Rob pays $1.49 for a pound of organic rolled oats? And why do I need all the synthetic additives when Rob adds his own unprocessed flavorings: raisins or other dried fruit; fresh banana, blueberry, strawberry; nuts; cinnamon; and maple syrup or honey? Why does Rob's oatmeal taste a million times better than the packaged? Are the three minutes I'm saving really worth it?"
These are legitimate questions that can be asked about many foods offered to us. Try the oatmeal; let me know what you think.
Here's a video to help you make it:


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After spending the better part of an hour lobbying House members on the upcoming school finance and general fiscal matters bill (SB1811), Gov. Perry spoke with reporters gathered outside of the House chamber and said that there was never a deal between his office and the Senate on legislation to overhaul the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency.
"I disagree with [Sen. John Carona's] analysis that the Governor's office had agreed to it," Perry said. "Until, I agree to it, the governor's office isn't an agreed to place and I had not been contacted about it."
Perry continued, "There may have been some people in my shop that were looking at things and saying this was good or this was bad or this was OK, but when they came to me last week and said 'Here's where we are' and I said there's a couple of things in here that I can't accept."
He blamed the breakdown over the previously negotiated deal on the trial lawyers and Steve Mostyn. He said that the trial lawyers had replaced Mostyn as their lead negotiators.
Still, Perry seemed to think that the House, Senate and his office were closing in on a deal, but that no agreement had been reached and they weren't close to any specific terms.
"I will suggest to you that every hour we get closer," Perry said. "It's just difficult negotiations."
He said that he would not accept the 18 percent penalty that is currently provided to consumers who have suffered from significant TWIA delays in processing their claims. Senate and House negotiators have said that the Governor's office wants to zero out that fee and make it much harder for claimants to win damages against the agency.
He said that if the conference produces a bill that he doesn't like there will be a special session to address the matter.
"We're gonna get a good bill and if we don't get a good bill, we will be back here in special session," Perry said.
Listen to audio from the entire gaggle below.


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I have a secret that not many people would suspect of me. I am a closet Å"Trekkie (Star Trek Fan.). I would say Im a closet Trekkie because I have never been to a Star Trek convention but I have been a life long fan of the series. I got hooked… [Continue Reading]
Star Trek Convention Aboard a Cruise Ship
August 16, 2006 by 8 Comments


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Point Deep Clean Foam Scrub
OverViewPoint Deep Clean Scrub Foam 150g
Product Description
When you order from AARIZZ, you will receive a confirmation email.
The total time it takes to receive your order is shown below:
The total delivery time is calculated from the time your order is placed until the time it is delivered to you. Total delivery time is broken down into processing time and shipping time.
Processing time: The time it takes to prepare your item(s) to ship from our warehouse. This includes preparing your items, performing quality checks, and packing for shipment.
Shipping time: The time for your item(s) to tarvel from our warehouse to your destination.
Shipping from your local warehouse is significantly faster. Some charges may apply.
In addition, the transit time depends on where you're located and where your package comes from. If you want to know more information, please contact the customer service. We will settle your problem as soon as possible. Enjoy shopping!


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By HARRIETTE BRAINARD
BRANDON — Residents in the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union likely will decide through a November vote whether to approve a $10 million renovation of the Otter Valley Union High School.
The OVUHS board on Tuesday night reviewed plans for a major renovation and construction project that would help the 46-year-old school meet current educational requirements and fix some ongoing issues.
"The renovation has really nothing to do with the increase or decrease of student population, it all has to do with quality of the school," said board chair Connie Carroll. "The issues we are facing would be apparent regardless of the population."
After discussing plans presented by FNB Architects of Rutland and asking for some additional information, the school board will vote on Oct. 12 on whether to put the plan out for a district-wide vote on Nov. 7.
ADDISON COUNTY — What could be America's largest demonstration calling attention to global warming is scheduled to kick off in Addison County on Labor Day Weekend.
A concerned group of citizens covering the spectrum from farmers, hikers, hunters, birdwatchers, students, businesses, scholars and sugar-makers from across the Champlain Valley have signed up to walk from Ripton to Burlington in a five-day event dubbed "The Road Less Traveled: Vermonters Walking Toward A Clean Energy Future."
Participants will gather at noon Thursday, Aug. 31, at Robert Frost's writing cabin off Route 125 in Ripton. The hope is that by leaving from Frost's cabin, participants will "find strength within Vermont's Yankee heritage, which addressed problems forthrightly and figured out how to solve them," said Will Bates, a recent Middlebury College graduate who organized the walk along with a half dozen other local people.
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Josh recently had a baby boy. (Congratulations!)
He got some sage advice from one of his coworkers. Go read it, really. It's work it.
24 April 2008
Parenting advice
Josh recently had a baby boy. (Congratulations!)
Posted by shadowfax at 2:18 PM
5 comments:
//Josh recently had a baby boy//ReplyDelete
A medical miracle, apparently. How can I say this gently...men don't have babies. He became the father of a baby boy. His wife/partner/surrogate gave birth to a baby boy.
If Josh had the baby, it should be in the newspapers.
This all grows out of the new and loathsome expression: We're pregnant. Only females of our particular species get pregnant. It's a team sport getting pregnant but only one IS pregnant.
A software company (further mentioned as "T-computing") has developed mainly office software, but is now developingReplyDelete
a new computer game. The game is almost in the testing phase and the company expects to finish the development in 6
months. It's now time for preparing to launch this computer game into the market.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Oh, yeah, and there is more to the advice. Our house is over 70 years old. The person giving me the advice had his first drug experiences in that house when his brother lived there. His nephew, in fact, might have had the same room for a nursery.ReplyDelete
Oh bc, get over yourself.ReplyDelete
Thanks for pointing out the advice, Shadowfax, I'll keep it in mind. Haha.


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This question already has an answer here:
I sometimes come across double posts (the exact same question, same user, posted within a short time). An example is this: first, second, posted with a minute or two between them. My reaction was to vote to close the newer of the two questions, while I can see that someone voted to close the older of them. What would be the preferred way here?


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Monday, 16 May 2016
This is a comedy program named "Hakka Hakki". This show is written and directed by famous comedian Daman Rupakathi. Daman Dupakheti have done many comedy show in the past. Comedy program Jhai Kuti jhai was one of the popular show of Daman Dupakheti . This program "Hakka Hakki" is broadcasted in NTV every saturday at 8:30 PM. The main objective of program is to bring change in the society. It is focused in health, education and other more sectors. This program is trying to show how can we change our society. It is focused on how to build the community based on their behavior and respect for each other and Change the attitude, (not leaving our values) and violent behavior we adapted in the political system. Also,Solutions for social problems by examining the root causes of the problem and understanding well and practising democracy, freedom of speech and mutual respect in all fields.
Guide of the month: January 2018
Traveling gives us the opportunity to disconnect from our regular life. You get to forget your problems/issues for a few weeks, it can also help you figure things out that you would not have understood without the distance traveling can give you. We all have crazy schedules, work and a family to take care of, going away alone or with some friends can give you distance and perhaps even make you realize how important these people are for you. Like the saying says: we never know what we have until we lose it.
Another great benefit is the relaxation you get to do. It's nice to live life to its fullest and enjoy a stress free time with yourself. Going on vacation lets us recharge our "batteries" by disconnecting us from our regular life. When we come back we feel invigorated and we are happy to be back in our day to day routine. It's a very good stress remover that has a lot more to give than most people are willing to accept.
Traveling increases our knowledge and widens our perspective. To view new customs, different ways of living is fantastic for the mind. It gives us a new perspective about life and especially our life, it can help us change some of our habits or even create new ones. When I travel I usually make it a point to try new food, some cultures don't have fries in their diet and they are all skinny, others use spices to give taste and not oils or fats. Discovering different values and ways to get by in life is really interesting. You also need to visit exotic new places and discover what this wonderful world has to offer.


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VMware data protection in smaller IT environments using Drobo B800i and Acronis® vmProtect™ 7
Drobo and Acronis vmProtect 7 offer small and medium organizations a powerful backup solution that is fully featured, yet easy to use. The iSCSI SAN operation of the Drobo B800i lends itself to the most powerful backup and replication options and the easiest restore scenarios for VMs. Acronis vmProtect 7 offers deduplication and compression for the most efficient use of disk storage locally or across a WAN and encryption for added security.
This VMware vSphere backup solutions includes robust recovery that is simple and repeatable, lets you choose among application agents vs. agentless, and provides the ability to migrate physical resources to virtual. Acronis is a leading provider of easy-to-use DR and data protection solutions in heterogeneous environments with solutions that are also cost effective. When deployed with Drobo storage, Acronis has the scale and capabilities for medium to enterprise deployments, but also offers a strong solution fit for SMBs.


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If you followed the spring fashion shows, you noticed floral motifs blooming all over the place.
Diane Von Furstenberg used feminine pastels. Peter Som used digital florals in oversaturated, intense pigments. Timo Weiland created watery digital prints that floated down the catwalk.
If you followed the spring fashion shows, you noticed floral motifs blooming all over the place.
Diane Von Furstenberg used feminine pastels. Peter Som used digital florals in oversaturated, intense pigments. Timo Weiland created watery digital prints that floated down the catwalk.
And inspiration from the runway often finds its way into our rooms.
So it's no surprise that in home decor this spring, botanicals are big. You'll find everything from restrained nature motifs to saucy florals, executed in painterly hues, photo prints and pop art graphics.
And while soft goods — bedding, pillows and so on — are where some of the best examples can be found, watch for upholstered furniture, wall coverings and tabletop items featuring botanical prints.
San Francisco interior designer Jennifer Bishop loves incorporating botanical patterns and likes all the modern options.
"This isn't like the past where a botanical garden exploded on your bedspread, drapery and wallpaper," she laughs. "Used as accents, botanicals can become so striking."
Bishop often uses a multicolored print as a launch point for a room's palette. She's a fan of needlework, mentioning Anthropologie's line of sewn lampshades.
She also likes the work of Florida artist Mindy Lighthipe, who makes watercolor, pencil, and pen and ink illustrations of unusual flora, such as exotic plants, insect-
nibbled oak leaves and flowering kale. Lighthipe sells on Etsy.com.
Shrewsbury, Mass., designers Mitali Seth and Lovisa Shergill showed several interesting botanical print pillows at the recent New York International Gift Fair, including an evocative tree graphic.
"Before going to design school, my college major was botany, so nature always creeps into our collection," Shergill says. The "Trees" pillow was inspired by a scene outside their studio window. "The starkness of the branches against gray skies looked almost poetic," Shergill says.
There's a bolster in the line with a pretty oak leaf repeat, and several other pieces with unusual stylized prints.
Fans of contemporary style will also like the work of Chicago designers Robert Segal and Alicia Rosauer, who returned from four years in Finland with a decidedly Scandinavian aesthetic. For their Unison label, they've designed the Larch bedding set, with tree branches draped across duvets and pillowcases in a rich bold plum or a subtle yet striking ash gray.
Pottery Barn offers several feminine options in a spring bedding collection that's marked by restful patterns and calming hues. Cherry blossoms bloom on a set by British artist Rosamund James. The Ravenna line is an Art Nouveau-inspired pattern, Giselle draws from an 18th century English print, and Alessandra was inspired by a 250-year-old, hand-blocked French textile.
If you like your bouquets bold, Annie Selke's vibrant, imaginative designs for soft goods retailer Pine Cone Hill include the Erika bedding collection, which features a broad leafy vine in hothouse hues of fuchsia or persimmon on crisp white.
You can wake up every morning in a French Impressionist painting with Urban Outfitters' Woodland Garden rug, duvet, drapery and shower curtain in a joie de vivre palette of paint-box colors.
Garnet Hill pulls the essence of laid-back Cali sunshine into its Catalina bedding collection, with oversize ice-pop blue and coral blooms on an aqua background.
Jason Berke, Target's bath design manager, says overseas scouting trips inspired the retailer's spring florals, which feature exaggerated-scale prints. "The feminine styles and detailing we encountered had a fun play on scale, and placement," he says.
As Jennifer Bishop points out, "Every room needs some form of life. I love to use plants, but if you've got a brown thumb, a botanic pattern just might be your answer."


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R-E-S-P-E-C-T. It meant something to Aretha Franklin, and it means something to us too.
What does it mean? Well if you're Esurance, respect means looking out for your customers. It means explaining complicated insurance jargon in everyday terms. And it means providing people with a ton of useful, easy-to-find info.
You see … at Esurance, we understand that in the modern world, people don't have time to deal with the complexities of car insurance, and we respect that. That's why we continuously work to make things simpler and smarter.
Whether you're shopping for car insurance or already a customer, we respect your time and your intelligence. And we do our best to give you the information you need. Better yet, we make finding that information easy and intuitive.
And it would seem our efforts are paying off.
Esurance awarded Best in Class for web content
The Customer Respect Group — an international research and consulting firm that focuses on how corporations treat their online customers — recently ranked esurance.com Best in Class for its overall ability to support car insurance consumers.
The study examined 20 leading car insurance websites' capacities to allow consumers to complete common activities associated with claims, coverage, policy updates, quotes, and payments. And guess what? Yours truly ranked the highest — coming out ahead of car insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, and Nationwide.
This is great news not only because we love beating the big guys, but also because it means that our philosophy of respecting our customers has translated to a better website. And a better car insurance experience overall.
Redesigning our blog
Of course, when it comes to great content and a great customer experience, the Esurance blog has its part to play as well. And as you may have noticed, it recently underwent a few changes to make it better suited for its role alongside our top-ranked site.
In keeping with our commitment to respecting your time (and sanity), we've rearranged our content to make it easier for you to find what you're looking for. In addition to the stylish new design, you can now see recent, popular, and related stories — all on one page.
Plus, it's now easier than ever to Like, Pin, Tweet, Follow, Subscribe, Comment, or do whatever else you might want to when you stumble across great content.
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Blogger Chiara Ferragni from The Blonde Salad strikes a pose for Tod's Touch accessory collection for spring/summer 2013 in a beautiful campaign made in the prestigious and dreamy setting of Villa Necchi in Milan. Chiara looks gorgeous and admits that this is once-in-a-lifetime experience. "Wearing the Tod's D-Bag is an experience that has to be framed. It is exactly with this intention that a new project, which I love calling 'My Tod's Experience', was born! Four different looks showing how the Tod's style can satisfy everyone and... Read More


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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed former wrestling entertainment executive Linda McMahon to lead the Small Business Administration.
The vote was 81-19.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says McMahon will "prioritize growing jobs over growing government bureaucracy" and calls that a welcome change from Washington.
It's a really important vote in President Trump's fledgling first term.
Will House Republicans pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — a promise from Trump on the campaign trail — or reject it? (House Speaker Paul D. Ryan rushed to the White House on Friday morning for a last-minute meeting with Trump as both attempted to corral enough votes.)
Trump spent much of the week trying to win support from members of the Freedom Caucus, among the most conservative lawmakers, some of whom are holdouts because they believe the bill does not go far enough.
"After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan!" Trump tweeted Friday.
But even some in conservative media aren't all that thrilled about the bill.
Here are some of Friday's headlines:
Polls: Ryancare even more unpopular than Obamacare and Hillarycare (Breitbart)
So, it's been clear in recent weeks that the right-wing website Breitbart does not like the new healthcare proposal.
The nation's new top telecommunications regulator wants to halt tough Internet privacy rules before they begin taking effect this week, arguing they would unfairly impose tougher requirements on broadband providers than on websites and social networks.
Privacy advocates and a key Senate Democrat vowed Monday to fight the move as well as a separate effort in Congress to overturn the regulations, which were approved in October on a party-line vote by the Federal Communications Commission when it was controlled by Democrats under President Obama.
Following President Trump's inauguration, control of the commission passed to Republicans and Ajit Pai took over as chairman.
President Trump is often loath to accept responsibility when things go wrong, but in the case of Sunday's Oscars broadcast, he made an exception.
As he explained it Monday, it was Hollywood's obsession with attacking him that contributed to the botched best picture announcement, calling the embarrassing episode "sad," of course.
Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has apologized for the mix-up that led Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to announce "La La Land" as the winner of the top Academy Award prize, instead of "Moonlight."
The Trump administration has scaled back its assault on a strict Texas voter identification law that federal courts have ruled discriminated against minorities, portending a shift in how the Justice Department plans to pursue allegations of voter suppression.
The government revealed its decision in court papers filed in federal court Monday, dealing a blow to civil rights advocates who have relied on federal support to help them knock down the controversial Texas statute.
"It's a very concerning signal to American voters about the Department of Justice's commitment to enforcing the Voting Rights Act," said Danielle Lang, deputy director of the voting rights unit of the Campaign Legal Center, which is suing Texas in the case.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes said on Monday he has seen no evidence from the intelligence community that there was contact between Russia and the Trump campaign.
"I want to be very careful, we can't just go on a witch hunt against Americans because they appear in a news story," said Nunes (R-Tulare). "We still don't have any evidence of them talking to Russia."
He said the committee has been briefed on the "highlights" of what the intelligence community has found, but is still collecting evidence.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the
Justice Department's request to pause proceedings in an appeal of President Trump's travel ban.
The court in a filing Monday said its schedule for the government's appeal of a lower court's halt on the travel ban will proceed, with the first brief due to the appeals court on March 10.
In early February, the Justice Department appealed a Seattle-based federal district judge's order blocking enforcement of Trump's executive action. which established a series of immigration and refugee restrictions aimed at preventing potential terrorists from entering the country.
President Trump received some unsolicited advice at dinner with the nation's governors when Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe told him he needs to do a better job explaining his policies regarding deportations.
McAuliffe, a Democrat and chairman of the National Governor's Assn., told the president that there has been a "chilling effect going on" as businesses stay away from his state and as immigrants fear being rounded up.
"If they're not going to be deported, we need to hear that from the president," McAuliffe said, recounting his conversation from the governors' Sunday night dinner with Trump.
President Trump promised the nation's governors Monday that his yet-to-be-revealed replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act would give states greater flexibility and thanked some Republicans in the room who advised him on healthcare.
"It's an unbelievably complex subject," he said. "Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated."
The remark likely surprised state leaders; spending on Medicaid alone was the second-biggest driver of increased state general fund spending, according to the 2016 Fiscal Survey of States conducted by the National Assn. of State Budget Officers.
Philip M. Bilden, President Trump's pick for Navy secretary, withdrew from consideration late Sunday, becoming the second White House nominee to bail on a top Pentagon position due to problems untangling his financial investments.
"After an extensive review process, I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my family's private financial interests," Bilden said in a statement.
He did not detail the issues but he said he "fully" supported "the president's agenda … to modernize and rebuild our Navy and Marine Corps."
President Trump claimed Sunday that the race for Democratic National Committee chairman had been "rigged" -- drawing a quick riposte from Tom Perez, who narrowly won the party's leadership race.
Trump insinuated that Perez's DNC victory on the second ballot at a party conference in Atlanta on Saturday was because Hillary Clinton had backed Perez, a former Labor secretary in the Obama administration who was seen as representing the party's establishment forces.
Clinton did not make a formal endorsement, but Perez's rival, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the party's more liberal wing.


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He looks terrible.I'm all for him like, get him in. Loved Drenthe, loved deulofeu and even liked Atsu a bit. When it comes to largely unproductive yet pacey wingers I'm always happy to indulge curiosity.
Would anyone else take a punt on Adama Traore? Looks like he has the same raw ability as Geri; speed, ability to take players on, but with stamina and fitness. May not turn out to be much, but could be worth a shot?
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Welcome to Mu-43.com—a friendly Micro 4/3 camera & photography discussion forum!If you are thinking of buying a camera or need help with your photos, you will find our forum members full of advice! Click here to join for free!
Great Deal - Olympus E-PL1 with 14-42 LENS Price $449 - is really $499.
Discussion in 'Hot Deals - Find a Great Deal? Share It Here.' started by Satya, Jun 15, 2010.


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Is China's Low-Wage Edge Waning?
China's cost advantages in manufacturing and exports seem to be rapidly waning, according to numerous reports. There's a segment of the electronics market, however, that never really believed China was a bargain to begin with. Key players in the electronics supply chain are among them.
From a strict labor standpoint, China's wages are clearly lower than many other nations'. Any manufacturer heavily dependent on physical labor has a clear advantage. However, as EMS consultant Charlie Barnhart and other analysts report, labor is a small portion of the expenses in electronics manufacturing. Total landed cost is a better measure for supply-chain savings.
Nevertheless, electronics manufacturers perceive a significant price difference between China and the West. Supply chain companies have followed their customers offshore. Component makers have established factories in China and have kept prices low. The procurement market in the Far East has become accustomed to paying less per component unit. This continues to be a big problem for the channel.
Distributors, in particular, make their money on volume component sales. In many cases, a distributor's profit is tied to the per-unit price of the parts they sell. A 25 percent margin on a $5 component is higher than the same margin on a $1 part. (As US companies heard during the recent presidential campaign, "Do the math.") Global manufacturers typically source components in low-price regions, eroding their partners' margins.
As China's wages and currency appreciate, however, OEMs and EMS companies in China are now faced with rising costs. "Annual wage increases between 9% and 35% in China, combined with rising logistics expenses, are leading to higher core supply chain costs in a traditionally low-cost country," research firm Gartner notes in its annual ranking of the "Supply Chain Top 25."
By Western standards, there is room for efficiency in the China supply chain. In the US, OEMs began decades ago to consolidate their supplier base. Engaging multiple suppliers for the same components keeps prices competitive, but supplier management also requires investment by the OEM. Simple transmissions of supply and demand data via EDI are unique to each supplier, so multiple engagements mean multiple costs.
In China, supplier, distributor, and customer relationships are highly fragmented. Broadline distributors, such as Avnet and Arrow, that carry multiple lines of components are the exception in the region. Small and midsized distributor partners in China carry a select group of brands, similar to the manufacturers' rep model in the US and EU. As a result, OEMs have to engage with numerous partners to fulfill a bill of materials (BOM.)
Experience has taught Western companies that managing fewer suppliers cuts down on expense and increases efficiency. However, Western companies are hesitant to impose their practices in China. Business relationships there are based more on tradition than on the bottom line. In a series of articles published on the Website The China Sourcing Blog one author identified only as "Luca" writes:
For many Western companies, the cost savings in China have so far offset wage and transportation expenses. However, that advantage is quickly eroding. Companies in the Far East -- both companies headquartered in the West and those indigenous to China -- are concerned about costs. In their annual "Change in the (Supply) Chain" survey, UPS and IDG report:
Our survey results show that at a regional level, the top priority for Asian high-tech companies has been to reduce total supply chain costs. Given the inability, at least in the short term to medium term, to materially affect demand and sales growth, many companies have focused on successfully preserving their bottom lines with aggressive cost containment and capital preservation efforts.
However, it is encouraging that, in the context of the past two years, Asian high-tech companies have done what they can to keep an eye on the customer/consumer with efforts to improve service levels. It seems clear that these businesses recognize that while competing on cost is not going away anytime soon, they also must be service competitive.
This realization is a big opportunity for electronics distributors. In upcoming blogs, I will look at how the channel has scaled its product and service offerings to align with customer requirements in the Far East.
More Blogs from Barbara Jorgensen
In the midst of the digital revolution, the stakes for electronics distributors trying to safeguard the privacy and security of customers is constantly on the rise.
The idea of tariffs on Mexico has U.S. manufacturers increasingly nervous--and it's showing as manufacturing growth slows month after month after month.
President Trumps tariffs were initially seen as a blunt instrument that would force other countries to drop their trade barriers. Nearly a year into the U.S.-China trade war, tech companies are accepting constant supply uncertainty as the new normal.
The manufacturing industry continues to grow but both trade indices fell into contraction territory for the first time in two years. Manufacturing executives point to the U.S./Mexico border, tariffs, and Brexit as potential long-term concerns.
Following two years of severe component shortages, demand is weakening, and inventories are too high
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Day of @mtvema - Holland. In session in this amazing studio pic.twitter.com/RulyexR9Ap— OneRepublic (@OneRepublic) November 6, 2016
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Ja vim fazer o reconhecimento de área de todo backstage e palco do @mtvema ! Mais tarde rolam perfomances de The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes, Green Day e muito mais! Será transmitido ao vivo pela @mtvbrasil a partir das 17h! E eu mostrando tudo por aqui, no meu snap (HUGOGLOSS), no meu insta stories e do @mtvema #MTVEMA ******* Just took a tour through #MTVEMA backstage and saw the huge stage that will welcome artists like The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes, Green Day and more... Stay tuned for more on my instagram, instagram stories and snapchat (Hugogloss). I'll also take over the @mtvema instagram stories to show you everything!! #MTVEMA
I'd like to thank my mom for always supporting me, my real friends for keeping me sane, Lil' Wayne for igniting my love for music with his classic melody "pussy money weed", my cat for sleeping on my face at night, and @mtvema for having me sit front and centre TONIGHT!! ⚡THIS IS GONNA BE ONE HELL OF A GOOD DAY, KIDS.