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Greetings cyber friends, for the last two weeks I have been a busy little bee. I am newly a freelancer, or what I like to refer to as a hustler.
I have a great freelance gig in the meatpacking district as an assistant fashion designer(cut and sew mostly) with some wonderful ladies and one man.
Also, have somehow managed to trick someone into thinking I am a patternmaker and seamstress. A feat I never thought I could/would accomplish. I just never had the confidence in my skills to man up to making things for someone else, I always found the idea overwhelming.
Now having found the courage I patterned and made 2 muslins and the first sample in real fabric for a size 6.
Below is a sneak peak at the straps.
I am excited about this new accomplishment because it means my college education wasn't a complete waste, and I think the first sample looks pretty darn amazing!
Plus, I met the lovely designer on the streets of midtown when she liked my skirt and wanted a pic, I said ok but dont rip me off it's my design...a very nyc tale...
Back to sewing, I have to start cutting the second real fabric sample...I need to finish it today.


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Cal West Motors
Matt Moran, Chris, Brian or Mike Casey
1977 E 14th St
San Leandro,
I hereby consent to receive text messages from or on behalf of dealer at the mobile phone number I provided above. I understand that I am opting in to receive text messages from dealer or their employees. I include consent to receive phone calls at the mobile phone number I provided. I understand that message and data rates may apply.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stylist and entrepreneur Stephanie Mark says she would have never guessed that by her twenties, she would be at the helm of her own media company.
Called Coveteur, the site is popular with affluent Americans and millennials around the world who invest in luxury lifestyles and has amassed a social following of over three million people across its channels. Think of it like Vogue's younger, indie cousin.
Spend five minutes browsing the site and notice that while it has traditional magazine verticals, like beauty, fashion and wellness, Coveteur's spotlight is on the how-to's and behind-the-scenes looks at style and culture.
Along with cofounder and photographer Jake Rosenberg, Mark styles the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, Bobbi Brown and the Kardashians. But unlike the defunct MTV show "Cribs," Mark pioneered profiles of "the unsung heroes of fashion," the talents you don't see on the red carpet. For instance, she's given the internet an exclusive look at the closets of Beyonce's stylist, Madonna's hat designer, a former member of Andy Warhol's studio and Kanye West's barber.
The project began when Mark was 26 years old, documenting the private homes and closets of celebrities, business leaders and street style icons with two peers about six years ago.
In 2012, Grammy award-winning artist Drake, Toronto-based investor BrandProject and a few friends and family raised $500,000 in Coveteur's one and only round of seed investment.
Coveteur is also bringing on beauty mogul Bobbi Brown, supermodel Cindy Crawford and renowned designer Prabal Gurung as its advisors in growing the company.
In addition to blogging, Coveteur worked on creating branded and native content for big brands a few years before Instagram came around. Their firsts clients included Chanel, Coach and Dior.
Today, the company's main sources of revenue include branded content, video, media and advertising.
Two years ago, Coveteur brought on tech entrepreneur Warren Webster, a former Patch, AOL and Goop executive, as its CEO. The decision marked a significant move for the company, allowing it to move headquarters from Toronto to New York and grow its team to 30 employees.
"Being able to have a vision, bring it to life and also make it profitable not only for yourself for other people as well is very rewarding and surreal," Mark says.
Mark grew up loving fashion and gained a passion for business watching her grandparents work at a store they owned. After getting her undergraduate degree in history and costume design in Canada, Mark moved to New York to study fashion marketing at Parsons, the New School for Design.
She was asked to move back to Toronto for a marketing job but quickly became frustrated with the lack of leadership, feeling "uninspired and unmotivated" as a result of being unable to "sink her teeth into new projects."
"I found frustration in a hierarchy where you're the new one so, therefore, your opinion doesn't matter as much as someone who's been there for five years or 10 years," Mark says. "I still carry that with me and try to make sure that Coveteur is the opposite of that."
It was during this time she met Rosenberg and third co-founder Erin Kleinberg (no longer with Coveteur) on set for a photoshoot.
"We ended up toying with the idea of Coveteur and seeing what we could do online as a passion project because I was so unhappy where I was," says Mark.
The three enjoyed their creative and collaborative work and continued doing side gigs together.
"We honestly didn't launch this with any real business initiatives in mind," Mark says. But after being approached by clients and understanding they could monetize their side gig, they decided to commit to it full time.
One of Mark's notable visits was to Winfrey's Harpo Studios, her studio home of 25 years, for an exclusive final shoot as Winfrey cleaned out her wardrobe ahead of the studio closing.
"It was insane, honestly. It was so surreal. When she came in I was like, 'Am I having an out of body experience?'" Mark says.
Mark says she had no previous connections to many of the big names she interviewed when they started their website. Instead, she praises cold-emailing and networking for helping her make the connections her team started forming in the industry.
"People I would think I would be nervous about, like Reese Witherspoon, I'm not so nervous with. But Arianna Huffington?" Mark says. "Super nervous." That likely has something to do with the fact that Mark says Huffington is a huge inspiration to her and looks up to how she grew the Huffington Post.
As a young business owner, Marks says Huffington has taught her the importance of always getting enough sleep and taking care of yourself.
"Everyone's always go, go, go on their phones 24 hours a day, you can never not respond to an e-mail," Mark says. "But I think hearing someone really successful stress the importance of maybe slowing down a little bit was also really nice."
To this point, Mark adds that "being a girl boss is great," especially with "everyone supporting each other and rallying around that movement." However, she says it's also important to note that it's "not Instagram worthy all the time."
"I think it's easy especially with Instagram and social media for everyone to look like they're living their best life all the time," Mark says. "But running a company and being responsible for people is a big responsibility."
Part of that includes navigating difficult situations, like defining company culture or raising money. Mark says it's equally important to acknowledge your accomplishments along the way as well.
For those looking to turn their own passion projects into their full-time job, Mark says the most important and difficult part is to "just do it and start trying."
"If you just do it, you're already way ahead of everyone else who is still just talking about their idea," she says. "I really think just getting out there and putting the effort into trying is about 80 percent of it all."
Don't miss:
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How communicating your value can inspire your boss to pay you more


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Tim Coomar - Athens, Greece
In 2008 I attended a six-week intensive church planting training course at Redeemer Church Planting Center in Manhattan, New York City. It was a formative experience in numerous ways, helping me to take many ideas that had been floating around in my head and put them in order. I went away confident that I had the tools and training to return to Greece and plant a church. For someone with no formal pastoral experience at the time and no clue what church planting (or who Tim Keller) was before I arrived in New York City, this was no small feat.
Yet, despite the inspiration his preaching and written materials provided, it was not so much Keller directly (we only had one two-hour session with him per week) but chiefly the trainers, who made the training what it was. In particular, I remember John Thomas and Mark Reynolds having that rare combination of being both knowledgeable and accessible, despite having very different styles as trainers and individuals.
Since then, many things have changed. RCPC has morphed into Redeemer City to City, our church plant in Athens has been launched and is now four years old, and Tim Keller has become a household name. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the invaluable input of the City to City trainers behind the scenes. This was pressed home to me yet again during the 'Train the Trainer' course I attended last month where Mark and John, the very same trainers who had trained me initially back in September 2008, came over to Madrid to teach us how to become trainers ourselves. What follows are some very brief reflections on how TTT affected me and what I feel I have gained through the experience:
One of the principles that drives the training is the simple observation that 'you teach how you learn'. Thus, in order for us to learn how to teach, we were once again immersed into that same 'affectively sensitive' educational environment that had proved so helpful for me the first time I was exposed to it in 2008. Having been convinced by the method, this is now how I will seek to teach.
By the end of the training, I felt I had the tools to map out a training course, think like a trainer, and get to where I needed to go. None of these elements were clearly in place in my mind beforehand, even though in Athens we had already been running our own version of an incubator course for two years.
While the general principles regarding how people learn were incredibly helpful, it was clear that the TTT training went further than a bunch of useful secular principles regarding education. The City to City DNA was evident throughout. For example, in terms of educational principles, we were told that the goal of learning was more about behaviour change than just the accumulation of knowledge. Yet, at the same time we were never allowed to forget that since it is the Gospel that brings about this change, 'it' must always remain the chief concern of training. However good a relationship we build with our trainees, nothing can replace the Gospel in its power to affect the change that is required in their lives.
In the end, I realized that becoming a trainer has less to do with mastering and delivering material and more to do with 'being there', 'being there for others' and 'being engaged'. These are all Gospel competencies and demand a certain level of spiritual vitality in the trainer. In other words, in order to train others effectively, I need not only to be a capable church planter but, above all, a godly one. Only then does it cease to become about me and start becoming about building up truly competent church planters for the future.


text: Perfect motorbike roads Indre Østfold is an eldorado for motorcyclists. Here are countless beautiful "motorbike roads" that turn past forests and ponds. Not only right and left but also up and down. Just the way it should be. Take off the main highway - E18 and drive the small roads crossing across the region. You will not regret. It is guaranteed a trip with a lot of driving pleasure and you will experience what Indre Østfold has to offer. Here is amazing scenery with many narrow, winding and challenging roads. Along the way you will find places of country-city charm, where there are cafes and cozy stops. If it gets too warm there are lots of lakes and ponds that you can take a cooling dip in or a picnic at. There are lots of events and museums that you can enyou if you take a stop. Once you've arrived - stay a few days. Here are accommodation options in all categories - from Spa to simple cabins or shelters that are free to use. There are many alternative routes to the major roads like the E6 and E18. Some popular tours are: 1. Halden - Ørje - along the Halden Canal further over Rømskog to Oslo, or over Rødenes, Trøgstad and Oslo. 2. Halden - Strømsfoss - Rakkestad-Askim-then towards Enebakk 3. Oslo - Askim - Skiptvet - Svinndal - Våler - Hobøl Circle K in Rakkestad and Ørje is a popular stop for motorcyclists. Here, many motorcyclists often gather and exchange experiences about tours in the area. Have a really good trip - take time to stop! See us in the tourist information in Ørje by the looks during the summertime.


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Virginia Beach, Virginia: Michael B. Divaris, President of Divaris Real Estate, Inc. (DRE), announced the signing of a lease for office space at the Poole Mahoney Building, located at 4705 Columbus Street, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A health services business signed a lease for 3,091 square feet of office space at the building, which is in close proximity to The Town Center of Virginia Beach. The lease was handled on behalf of the landlord, Racehorse Properties, LLC, by Krista Costa, vice president, in the Virginia Beach office of Divaris Real Estate.
Divaris Real Estate, Inc. is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA with offices in Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond and Roanoke, VA; Charlotte, NC; and Washington, DC. Divaris Real Estate and Divaris Property Management Corp. are divisions of The Divaris Group, an international real estate brokerage and property management company that currently manages and/or leases in excess of 30 million square feet of prime office, retail and industrial space from New Jersey to Florida. Gerald S. Divaris is Chairman of the Board, and Michael B. Divaris is President of Divaris Real Estate, Inc.
Divaris Real Estate is a member of Realty Resources, a national group of independent retail property brokers and managers, covering 91 major markets throughout the U.S. DRE is also the Virginia affiliate for The CORE Network, a national group of office and industrial brokers with affiliates throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Asia and Europe. These organizations represent corporate and institutional clients, tenants and buyers in all aspects of leasing, development, management, sales and acquisitions.


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How to DIY your own Hollywood Mirror for just 500 pesos
One of my greatest splurges in the name of beauty has got to be my Suesh Vanity Case. It cost me more than P10,000 and has the ability to transport my makeup quite easily. It is similar to Liz's case except that mine didn't have the legs to stand on or the power outlets to plug in your styling device. I honestly love it, though I think someone who actually moves around with her makeup collection like a professional MUA will benefit from it more. The only movement mine has seen was to go from the attic down to the second floor during summer time.
The best thing about it is the huge mirror with built-in LED lights. Once you've used a "Hollywood-style" mirror like it, using regular unlighted mirrors for makeup application will leave you wanting. I actually looked around for vanity mirrors that I can mount onto the wall and guess what? They're super expensive!
So today, we bring you good news – we present to you our DIY Hollywood Mirror, Project Vanity style! This creates a light box that gives your face a diffused glow instead of the harsh light coming direct from the LED strips. You'll be able to see your makeup in it much better versus a lamp simply facing you.
What you'll need:
- Mirror (you can choose any size you like)
- USB powered LED Lights (I got mine from CDR-King)
- Power bank/USB power adaptor
- Magic tape/Double-sided tape
- Illustration board (for base mount)
- Box for outer case (make sure it's bigger than your mirror and not more than 5 inches deep)
- Cutting mat, steel ruler, cutting knife, pencil
Step 1: Prep your mirror. In my case, the mirror I used was housed in a frame so I took it out for a more seamless look.
Step 2: Make a base mount for the mirror using illustration board. It should fit snugly lengthwise into your box, but with the same width as the mirror. You can place the mirror right on top as a guide for cutting.
Step 3: Fit the base mount (illustration board with the mirror) inside your box, with the white side of the illustration board facing you. Fix the mirror onto the white side of the base mount using strong double-sided tape. The base mount should be able to stand on its own when placed inside the outer case.
Step 4: Assemble the USB powered LED lights at the back part of the base mount (black side of the illustration board). Secure everything onto the base mount using the double-sided tape and place the back mount assembly inside the outer case box.
Step 5: Turn on the lights and enjoy your DIY Hollywood mirror!
Here I am using the DIY Hollywood mirror! The lighting is perfect for checking imperfections and shade matching. It's also fantastic for lighting selfies and quick makeup videos.
Notice the Project Vanity logo on top? I added that because my recycled box had an extra flap. Cute! You can also use washi tape and decorative stickers to personalize the outer panels of the box.
What I love most about this DIY is that it costs less than P500 for me to make! I just used a mirror I'd found at home and recycled a pan box for the outer case. The only materials I bought were the LED lights from CDR-King, and they were just P200 each. They don't always have it on stock though so you may want to check hardware stores as well.
So are you ready to make your own DIY Hollywood Mirror?


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Skiers and snowshoers find adventure and hospitality deep in the central Maine woods.
By Virginia M. Wright
Photographed by Mark Fleming
We feel like adventurers. Gulf Hagas, this narrow three-mile slate canyon in the Appalachian Trail's fabled 100 Mile Wilderness, is a hidden wonder, accessible only on foot. Only a few thousand people visit each year, and fewer still see it in the dead of winter, when the nearest logging road goes unplowed.
My traveling companions and I have come from the Appalachian Mountain Club's Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins, a two-mile snowshoe alongside the river on a freshly groomed track. Along the way, our guide, AMC senior naturalist Casey Mealey, pointed out landmarks, like rusted wheels and other remnants of the narrow gauge railroad that once hauled logs out of this remote wilderness, and Nelson's Hole, a bend in the river named for the man who broke through the ice there a few years ago. He regaled us with stories about his encounters with brown bears and grizzlies in Alaska, where he led wilderness trips for a year before Maine beckoned him home. But we were all moved to silence after we stepped onto the Rim Trail and tromped our way to the top of Billings Falls. The sky is a brilliant blue, the temperature is in the upper thirties, five inches of newly fallen snow blanket the forest, and we are soaking up a long, unobstructed view of the canyon.


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Advocate Brooke Kelley shares some of artistic inspiration with us this morning:
I am not one for routines, but I do look forward to my morning habits that have formed over time. One morning while I was drinking my cup of coffee I was distracted by one of my succulents that was glowing due to the morning light hitting it oh so perfectly. Part of my morning routine consists of sitting in the peace and quite and refocusing my mind for the day that is ahead. During this thinking time I couldn't take my eyes off of this beautiful piece of nature. The closer and closer I looked the more colors I noticed that were blended within. I felt inspired to take on the challenge of trying to capture this beauty.
This project was pushed to the side time and time again and I was recently able to finish it. As I was putting the final touches on the succulents I started to make some connections. From the time this succulent started to grow on my paper, I too, as an artist began to grow as well. Within this succulent are so many colors and shapes that make it so unique and special. Within each and every one of us are details that make us, us. No one can tell you if it's right or wrong, it is those details about you that make you, you. Unique, set apart, and different from all of the rest of the succulents. It has been so heartwarming to look back and see each leaf that has grown and that has been added to my life since I became an artist. With each new season I am continuing to live, learn and grow.


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- Great goal Ghana. One all, all set up for an exciting last 7-8 minutes.
- On evidence of the first fifteen minutes of this game I think Germany will struggle more against Ghana and USA than they did vs Portugal.
- 1' #GHA 0-1 #USA Dempsey gives the USA an early lead thanks to some nifty footwork an d a tidy finish http://t.co/DtA66G6uw7
- It already is. What a start for the USA. 1-0.
- Fotball VM Brasil 2014: Tippeligaspillere i Brasil VM http://t.co/SBBpswXHeF The 6 players in #fifa2014 who plays their football in Norway
- This has the potential to be a more muscular and exciting game. Ghana vs USA. A Norwegian-based player in each of the squads. #fifa2014
- Must admit I only watched the second half of IRN vs NGR 0-0 draw. Does not look like I missed much, Nigeria were poor. #fifa2014
- ITV spending far too much time on discussing that red card. They are at it again. Move on pls.
- Germans phoning in that second half. GER 4 - POR 0.
- As a one time connoisseur of the dark arts of madness, in my expert opinion, that from Pepe, was supreme, world class madn…
- GER 3 - POR 0 after 45 min. Game over already. Think GHA and USA will be tougher for the Germans to beat. #FIFA2014
- Now we've asked Tony Blair what to do with the Middle-East, let's ask Gary Glitter what we should have done about Jimmy Sa…
- might have been what the kids were playing last night down the rave near East Croydon station. http://t.co/V5miYVsn1e
- a fourth advert: bearded ref sprays pitch w foam, puts whistle back in the can holder by mistake, sprays foam on chin.
- Yellow day-glo football boots against the green grass on a summer afternoon; fireflies.
There's a potential haiku in there, work on it later
- Cows probably sick of the sound of their bells? So cobwells to cowbells.
- IVC 2 - JPN 1. Two goals in 1m38s for IVC. Japanese team less exciting than in previous world cups. #FIFA2014
Tweet from ldnhal
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Proudly serving Porsche owners since 2001
"I just returned from competing in the 2018 NASA National Championships at Circuit of the Americas. For me, this was a dream come true! I suspect it would not have happened, however, without Motor Werks!
I started in the track-car hobby six years ago with a bone stock 2006 Porsche Cayman S. Early on, I met Motor Werks Racing during a Chin Track Days event when I had a small problem with my car. They were super helpful! We took the car to their shop, and they sorted out the issue. That was the start of a six year relationship with Motor Werks.
I absolutely loved the track day hobby, and wanted to grow in the sport. As my skills and competence increased (more than 50 events with Chin), Matthew Forte, would talk to me about changes to the car so that the car's ability and mine progressed at a similar pace. During four years of modifications, (cage, safety equipment, racing seat, wheels and tires, dampers, suspension, track set up, and too many changes to list here), my car became a full fledged race car. It has raced more than 30 races with NASA in the last two years.
I can't say how much I appreciate Danielle's, Matthew's and their crew's efforts, advice, and expertise in helping me and the car progress. They have kept the car in excellent condition with post track inspections and regular maintenance work. Their workmanship and skill is superb!! Their track day support is wonderful! The way they run their shop makes you feel like family.
If you want to track or race a Porsche, this is the group of folks you want on your team!"
Thank you, guys!!!
King Shaw
"I had been driving my Porsche 911 daily driver on the track for a little over a year when I realized that I was starting to get serious about the sport. I decided it was time to get into a purpose built track car so that I would have all the safety features such as a full roll cage, 5 point harness, fire suppression system, etc. Brakes and tires on the 911 were getting expensive so I was also looking for a solution that would be easier on the wallet!
I met Danielle and Matt at Motor Werks Racing and fell in love with their cars. Matt is very passionate about his craft and pours a lot of love into each and every car the team builds. His team is top notch and everyone at Motor Werks Racing always puts the customer first.
Through the build process, Danielle and Matt spent as much time as needed to help me make the right choices on the car and helped me understand why each decision was made along the way. Matt's approach is very practical, building a car that can grow and change with the driver over time. He also did a great job helping me understand that some decisions can be made to save money without sacrificing performance, and some choices are made because we need to put safety first without any compromises.
When the day finally came to get out on the track with my car, the Motor Werks team provided full track-side support. This is really needed since the difference between a new Porsche street car and a purpose built track car is like night and day. I was glad to have Matt and his team assisting me as I was getting acclimated to a new experience. The team always made me feel comfortable and stayed with me as I got assimilated to the car and my driving performance improved.
A year later, the team continues to provide support as needed and continually adjusts the car to open up enhanced levels of performance that matches my capabilities as a driver. I would highly recommend the Motor Werks team to anyone looking to make the move from a high performance street car to a custom built track car."
~Thomas Spahr
Brian Oravetz
If there was a 6th star, I'd press that. This isn't some random shop. This is a race team that's cool enough to tune up your car. Great people, immaculate shop, timely, top notch work. They may focus on Porsche, but hat doesn't mean they try and run the bill up; because they don't. They only do what's necessary, or what you want done. Cannot recommend highly enough.Chris JacobFirst class operation with highly skilled mechanics. Matthew and his staff are extremely knowledgeable, patient and thorough in their work. He and his staff took the time to explain different options when it came to modifying my 944 Turbo. Their rates are good compared to other shops, but their work is top notch!Darin SmithBest performance shop in town!!Brian Landfried Mathew and his team are second to none. The shop is literally spotless and their work is perfection. MWR has built motors and transaxles for me as well as set my car up for road racing. In my opinion their attention to detail and insight concerning alignment, corner balancing has given me an edge over time. I've been a customer for many years and I highly recommend MWR to anyone looking to get the most out of their Porsche...


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Romans 6:4
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Salvation comes first. A person is not made right with God by entering into a pool of water and being baptized. A person is made right when they respond to the Gospel by repenting of their sins, placing their faith and trust in what Jesus has done in his sinless LIFE, his sacrificial DEATH & RESURRECTION. This is what the bible refers to as salvation.
We believe according to scripture, people who have experienced salvation through Jesus, should be baptized as an act of obedience to His command in Matthew 28:19. Baptism is not washing sins away. Baptism is simply an outward expression of what Jesus has done in someones life once they have responded to the Gospel and made Jesus Lord of their life. Though it may be simple, it is powerful. It is a picture of the old sinful person dying and the brand new person being raised to life in Christ.
If you have never been scripturally baptized and are interested in being baptized, or you have questions regarding baptism, simply submit the form below and someone from our staff will be in contact with you.


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Get Crackin'! A familiar saying that I love to say to my kids, but same holds true for us as leaders. Inspiring action to get moving on what matters most is followed by the sense of urgency to make changes. The business world is ever fast and moving. There is no time to waste.
Capability is defined as the extent of someone's ability or power against a standard. Is good enough sometimes good enough for you? Do you find yourself plowing through rather than making a difference? Time to get a quick check; get your head in the game.
Developing the Leader in You
1. SHOW UP – Come ready to play every day.
Problems at home, problems at work; it doesn't matter for a capable leader. No matter how you feel, what you face, or how challenging you expect it to be, show up and show up BIG. Because the fact of the matter is – no one cares what you're going through, especially as a leader. People are counting on you and they expect you to "fit" into the role of leadership and to have those capabilities.
2. KEEP IMPROVING – Consistently ask why and strive for excellence.
I recall coming on board with a major retailer responsible for several million dollars of sales in a metro region. I lead the district to the highest percentage in growth that they had seen in years. But that wasn't something to get comfortable with. I wanted to inspire curiosity in my teams, a need to know why this was happening. What behaviors were different so that we could reflect on them in the future? There was no doubt we would be faced with challenges in our business in the future as many are in an unstable sales environment. This brings to mind a quote that I have used throughout my career in sales:
What does that mean? Coach Shula gave his team 1 day to relish the victory of a win, and the same 1 day to feel disappointment of a loss. Then that was it. For tomorrow is always another day to take you closer to your goals. Reflect. Know why. Learn. Move on.
3. SURPASS EXPECTATIONS – Go the extra mile.
Do the job, and then some, day after day. Mediocrity is not acceptable. No one will ever win any awards or get any positive press by simply maintaining. Ask yourself what is good versus great?
Good is achieving what is expected of you. Maintaining on your job description and hitting your numbers are good. Great is going beyond the norm, taking an extra step, thinking ahead and anticipating. Exceeding. This makes people notice you. Decide to be great.
This is about building trust and inspiring others to follow you. Through your ability to accomplish and do you inspire and build trust. However, capability for a leader isn't necessarily the ability to DO it, but rather the ability to know HOW and WHY. This requires a natural curiosity for your work, your team, your industry. Do your research and learn the ins and outs. Apply it to painting a vision to explain to how and why so your team can do…and EXCEL.
No one stays idle as the journey of leadership is underway. You either move forward, or you move backward. Research who you are, dedicate time and money into your own development. The journey keeps you moving, either way. Move forward, grow, learn be EXTRAORDINARY!


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If you spend hours in front of a personal computer monitor like I do each and every day, then you know how crucial a great monitor is to not only your eye health but your all round production. If you're starting your desktop search, we offer you a handy and simple-to-use desktop computer getting guide that will stroll you through the options available and recommend top-rated desktops based on how you plan to use it. If you want to make it even less difficult, try Amazon's Option desktops – basically decide on how you use your tower or all-in-one, and we'll advise one for you.
For personal computer these days it is advised that you have a challenging drive with 300GB of space so that you have sufficient space for your pc programmes and files such as audio and video files. The a lot more cautious you are with your pc now, the longer it will final in the extended run. Browse the monitor's characteristics to uncover the appropriate one particular suited to your desktop computer's major functions.
Memory comes in the type of stick that attaches to the laptop motherboard by way of memory slots and the memory sticks is created up of many person memory chips that when added up combined to store the storage capacity of the memory stick. HP , Acer and Zoostorm all make wonderful-value desktop computers that are perfect for the property. In the finish, stopping dust buildup inside your pc promotes the overall health of your personal computer and tends to make cleanup each less difficult and faster. Of all the solution categories out there, the prices of desktop computers almost certainly have the widest berth of the bunch.
The quicker the processor is the more rapidly it can process the info it receives and despatches so the more quickly the computer will run. From budget machines to higher-finish PCs you will discover an Asus desktop to suit you. Take a can of compressed air (or an air compressor) and blow the dust off of the components inside the case. For this explanation it is suggested acquiring an SATA II tough drive for your laptop. Do not forget to choose up a wireless or wired personal computer mouse to pair with your new desktop computer. Not all dust buildup can be prevented: cleaning out your laptop at least a couple of instances a year is a very good way to preserve it running.
All-in-one particular desktops are constructed as one particular unit, with the personal computer components packed behind and underneath the monitor. If you use a laptop, do not let your dogs or cats sneak under your laptop for a comfy nap. To find the greatest desktop Computer, Mac, or all-in-1 laptop to match your particular computing needs, it is beneficial to compare features and the available elements. The easiest way you can bear in mind the distinction is the desktop computer SITS on your desk (laptop pc can sit on your lap)! The 1st thing you require to do is to decide exactly what you will be employing the pc for.


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gandhi had it right – india is a country of nonsense.
we made it to texas. had our worst customs experience in dallas. only 5 or so counters open (leaving 23 closed) and the computers went down. but we made it through.
still lots to process from india. i'm really not sure where to begin – i'm guessing those tales will show up in the near future. i also have plenty of pics to share. some with stories. some with out.
i did get sick in india. some viral infection. fever, headache, vomiting, lack of appetite, tired, and then 6 days in it bloomed into a lovely rash and swollen extremities. but i managed to only miss out on one day of activities and that was shopping, so no harm.
now there's jetlag to recover from and a month to prepare for the return journey. that i'll be making alone. well, not completely alone. the kids will be accompanying me. but i'll be the lone adult.


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Laura Kicey's exhibition of colorful cat prints combines her unique take on the zodiac and her passion for all things cat. Kicey is an artist, photographer and all around general crazy cat lady who is known for her popular Olive & Rye social media sites.
Laura Kicey: ZodiaCats will be on view through Sunday, February 26, 2017.


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UNITAR-Yale Environment & Democracy Initiative
Addressing the growing demand for research, teaching and capacity building in the field of democratic environmental governance
Despite the wide interest in the interface of environment and democracy, knowledge gaps remain regarding how variations in democratic institutions, procedures and capacities affect environmental performance and justice in consolidated, consolidating and emerging democracies. The UNITAR/Yale Initiative on Environment & Democracy aims at addressing the growing demand for research, teaching and capacity building in the field of democratic environmental governance. The initiative is a collaboration of UNITAR with the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP).
Objectives of the Initiative include, inter alia:
- to support research on the relationship between democratic institutions, civil society, market entities and environmental quality, with a focus on empirical data generation;
- to inform development of guidance and support capacity development in government and civil society to enhance effective public participation in environmental decision-making; and
- to facilitate information exchange and networking on key issues of environment and democracy.
Activities and events organized through the initiative include:
- 2nd UNITAR-Yale Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy, September 17-19, 2010, Yale University, New Haven
- 1st UNITAR-Yale Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy, May 10–11, 2008, Yale University, New Haven
- Side Event at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting to 15th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-15) New York, 2 March 2007 on "Effective Stakeholder Participation in Reaching Sustainable Development and CSD 15 Goals: Identifying Opportunities and Challenges for Capacity-building in Consolidating Democracies".
- Side Event at the 16th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-16), New York, 13 May 2008 on "Strengthening Effective and Equal Stakeholder Participation: Discussing the outcomes of the UNITAR-Yale Environmental Governance and Democracy Conference".


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Can the Candy Industry Regulate Its Own Advertising?
More than 80% of the candy found on store shelves is not advertised to kids, according to the National Confectioners Association, the industry's trade group and lobbyist.
One big reason for that is the agreement by most of the big candy makers—and, as of last week, several small and mid-sized ones—to refrain from running advertisements targeted toward children. Six companies signed on to the new Children's Confection Advertising Initiative, a pledge to refrain from advertising to children under 12.
The question is, does it make much of a difference in terms of how many candy ads kids see? Critics say probably not. Candy makers aren't adhering to the spirit of the agreement, the critics say, even if they are adhering to its letter.
The CCAI is modeled on the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, which the largest candy makers, along with other big food companies including Pepsico, McDonald's, and Coca-Cola, began joining in 2007. Both the CCAI and the CFBAI are administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which describes them collectively as a "voluntary self-regulation program" that is "designed to shift the mix of foods advertised to children under 12 to encourage healthier dietary choices and healthy lifestyles."
The CCAI is designed for smaller companies that make candy. The bigger candy companies—including Hershey, Mars, Nestlé, and Mondelez—are already part of the CFBAI, where the fees are higher because of the cost of monitoring compliance, according to Maureen Enright, the deputy director of the program for the BBB. The CCAI's first six candy makers are: Ferrara Candy Company (which makes Lemonheads and Jujyfruits), Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Jelly Belly Candy Company, Just Born Quality Confections (which makes Mike & Ike), The Promotion in Motion Companies, and the R.M. Palmer Company.
The idea that "self regulation" is sufficient to keep these companies from advertising to children has come under heavy fire. In September, the journal Appetite published the results of a study concluding that far more children are exposed to ads for candy than were before this initiative was launched. Analysis showed that "children viewed 65% more candy ads on U.S. television in 2011 than in 2007, before CFBAI implementation," according to the study's authors, who work for the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at University of Connecticut.
The authors contended that the candy companies are able to comply with the letter of the agreement—and thus boast that they are responsible advertisers—while repeatedly violating the spirit of it. For instance, the researchers said, while candy makers no longer advertise on TV networks or shows that are aimed narrowly at children, they have shifted their advertising to venues that nonetheless attract large numbers of viewers under 12. The authors concluded that "31% of ads viewed by children for CFBAI non-approved brands appeared on networks with higher-than-average youth audience," including Nick at Nite, ABC Family, and Adult Swim.
In a statement after the Rudd study was released, the BBB's director of the CFBAI program, Elaine Kolish said: "Our six candy company participants voluntarily have pledged to not advertise their confections directly to children in child-directed media, such as Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network." She the study characterized programming as aimed at children based on "subjective" variables, such as whether shows were "fun," "hip," or animated.
The BBB continues to stand by those statements, the program's assistant director, Maureen Enright, told Fortune this week. She said that while the BBB has advised a few companies to make minor adjustments to their marketing to remain in compliance, there have been "no egregious problems." If a company runs afoul if the agreement, she said, there are various methods of censure, and ultimately, "they could be expelled from the program."
Noting the new initiative for smaller companies, Bettina Elias Siegel wrote on her blog The Lunch Tray that the agreements "sound good on paper," but "industry self-regulation of children's food and beverage advertising has had a mixed track record, to say the least." Seigel is an attorney who has devoted herself in recent years to warning about the food industry's efforts to market to children, particularly in schools.
There is one big difference between the larger program aimed at all junk foods and this new one that is narrowly focused on candy: Unlike pizza, greasy burgers and sugary soft drinks, candy is usually a treat as opposed to something that's incorporated into the daily diet. "Candy is a problem, but it's not the biggest problem," said Michele Simon, a public-health lawyer and author who recently launched a trade group to lobby on behalf of companies that make plant-based substitutes for meat and dairy products. "I'm much more concerned about fast-food marketing and soda marketing."
With these six companies joining the CCAI, together with the big candy makers that are part of the CFBAI, a huge portion of the candy industry has now pledged to refrain from marketing to children, especially among those companies that advertise at all. Many of the companies that haven't joined are either tiny or don't aim their products at children. Two relatively large companies that have marketed to kids in the past are conspicuously absent so far: Bazooka Candy Brands (maker of Bazooka Joe gum and other products, which is owned by The Topps Company) and Tootsie Roll Industries.
A spokesperson for Bazooka said the company complies with the BBB's Children's Advertising Review Unit, another "self-regulation" initiative launched in 1974. A more vague set of guidelines, CARU requires that advertisers behave "responsibly," and is focused on commercial messages themselves rather than whether they run on kids' programs or TV networks aimed at children. "Bazooka Candy Brands believes that their strict adherence to the high standards of CARU, which is also part of the Better Business Bureau, achieves the goal of responsible marketing," the spokesperson said in response to a question about why the company hasn't joined CCAI.
A Tootsie Roll spokesperson responded this way to a similar query: "Tootsie Roll is committed to doing the right thing. The new Children's Confection Advertising Initiative calls for participating companies not to advertise directly to children under age 12. Tootsie Roll already had this policy in place, so we saw signing the pledge as redundant."
The National Confectioners Association said all of its members—about 700 companies, many of them tiny—were invited to join, and more might sign on in the future. Said Christopher Gindlesperger the NCA's vice president of public affairs: "This is a first step for us."


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The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair That Changed America | Erik Larson
The Devil in the White City is a novel from 2004 from Erik Larson that details the unbelievable events that took place during the construction and duration of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair). As Chicago and the fair's architects banded together to create the magical "White City", one of the most prolific serial killers the world had ever seen was covertly claiming victims in his "Murder Castle". Holmes used his proximity to the fair to lure his victims into his hotel, and is said to have murdered from 20-200 victims. Most of whom were women.
There's a couple of things that would be worthwhile to know going into this book. First, this book is as much about Daniel Burnham and the creation of World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago as it is about H. H. Holmes. There's a lot of detail surrounding the politics and construction of the fair, but I found that it helped paint a picture of life during the end of the 19th century. It also made me very thankful for modern medicine.
The second item that is worth knowing is that this story is told in a very interesting way. Larson did all of the research on his own, and all of the dialogue are direct quotes from letters and notes from that time period. (He also provides citations in the epilogue, which pleased the academic in me).
So many fun facts were woven into the story (lobbyists vying to have Chicago the host site of this event earned the city the nickname, "The Windy City"; the fair was the first time Shredded Wheat and Cracker Jack had been introduced to the world) and the reader gets to meet famous figures: Elias Disney, Susan B. Anthony, Buffalo Bill Cody, Frank Lloyd Wright, etc. I found myself turning to Google quite often to be sure that the events presented actually happened.
I would have liked to have more pictures of the fair included, but I found that it helped me frame the story to look these things up and use it to create my own visuals. I also would have liked to hear more about the H. H. Holmes and the alleged crimes he committed, but since Larson only included what is presented by multiple sources as fact, I can see why so little is known about Holmes and his many aliases.
I do think this book appealed to me so much because of its connection to Chicago and its architecture. I can take a lot of horror in my novels, and I found the way Larson presented the murders to overall be somewhat mild. This is the book we're reading for the next book club meeting, and I'll be very interested to hear what everyone else thought! Although it's from 2004, I choose it because I'm hoping it will be brought back into popular culture again, as Leonardo DiCaprio is set to play Holmes in the film adaptation (hopefully out in 2017!)
"It was time, he said, to acknowledge the truth: "Chicago has disappointed her enemies and astonished the world".
4 out of 5


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[JURIST] The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] announced Thursday that Vidoje Blagojevic [ICTY case backgrounder, PDF] has requested a new trial. Blagojevic, former commander of the Bratunac Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, claims that he had little access to his defense counsel and was prevented from testifying on his own behalf. AP has more.
The ICTY convicted Blagojevic of complicity in genocide; aiding and abetting the persecutions, killings and forcible transfer of Bosnian Muslims and sentenced Blagojevic to 18 years imprisonment [JURIST report] for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre [BBC timeline; JURIST news archive]. Blagojevic's sentence was reduced to 15 years when the ICTY Appeals Chamber reversed [judgment summary; JURIST report] his conviction of complicity in genocide, holding that Blagojevic should have been acquitted on those charges because he was not aware that the massacre was going to take place.


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Where would we be without the trusty Travel Agent to organise that once in a lifetime holiday we have always promised ourselves? Technology has given us the opportunity to view the world from our living rooms and planted the thought 'travel really could broaden the mind'.
In order to make those dreams come true for your customers there are many hoops you will have had to jump through, not just obtaining your qualifications in the Travel Industry but the important matter of business insurance, public and professional indemnity cover.
Now it's time for Be Wiser to make your dreams come true. Our professional business advisors are here to discuss your insurance requirements for your Travel Agency; cover for your premises, customers and staff.
We have a panel of UK leading insurers to choose from so feel confident you will receive 1st class cover at a competitive price.


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Miami has long been a popular recording destination — and not only for the weather...
I call up Ron Albert's mobile, and I can hear the ocean spray on the other end of the line. Ron, who, with his brother Howard, engineered classics such as 'Layla' and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young records at North Miami's Criteria Studios decades ago, motors his Viking 65-foot cruiser towards shore, and gives me the kind of weather summary that the Miami Visitors & Convention Bureau probably has carved on a rubber stamp: 86 degrees and sunny.
Even today, that climate is still the linchpin of the city's studio community. Of all the recording centres in the US, Miami was always the true 'destination' site: as temperatures chilled elsewhere, Miami's studios heated up. LA is temperate too, but, as Ron likes to point out, working there, as in New York, always meant that the industry suits were liable to drop in on recording sessions, checking up on their investments. "You came to work in Miami because they would leave you alone here," he says.
That kind of autonomy established a pattern that the city's studios followed for decades. Artists, producers, engineers, even entire labels would set up camp at the area's studios. A Palm Beach Post article from 1970 noted that one of the two studios that comprised Criteria Recording at the time was contracted for 40 hours a week by Atlantic records, where Tom Dowd and Ahmet Ertegun churned out hit after hit, contributing to the studio tripling its size.
Miami was a remarkably self-contained place, too. Grover 'Jeep' Harned built his MCI pro-audio empire in the area, where he cobbled together the seminal JH400 mix console, and innovations like VCA automation and tape-machine autolocation.
Uptown, Downtown
Along with a few others, Criteria and the Alberts' Audio Vision studios, which they own in partnership with producer Steve Alaimo, are the base of the 'uptown' part of Miami's musical dichotomy. The downtown part, though, is the one that regularly makes the NY Post's page six. After the resuscitation of Miami's Art Deco South Beach neighbourhood in the 1980s, several studio entrepreneurs felt that SoBe's restored hipness and proliferating club population would make a good fit with music recording. Island Records founder Chris Blackwell started the ball rolling in 1992 with South Beach Studios, opened in the Marlin Hotel (which he also owned). Most recently, Setai studios, located in the South Beach hotel of the same name, opened its doors in the mid '00s.
The 'downtown' part of Miami's studio map also hosted facilities owned by the Bee Gees (Middle Ear), reggae elder statesmen Inner Circle (Circle House), and Gloria Estefan (Crescent Moon). However, the establishment of artist-owned studios that also rented time to outside clients reinforced the commercial studios' strategy of seeking out so-called 'anchor' clients. Mixer Tom Lord-Alge essentially took over South Beach Studios' main mix room, with the Neptunes' Pharrell Williams also making long-term bookings there. At Criteria, Cash Money Records and its artists like Lil Wayne took up semi-residency in that facility, which had been acquired by New York-based Hit Factory Studios in 1999. But relying on long-term clients, which Miami's studios have traditionally done more extensively than other major studio markets, had a down side, which showed itself at around the time of the housing crash. By 2008, while Florida racked up the highest home foreclosure rate in the nation, its studios saw anchor clients pulling back as label budgets collapsed. Audio Vision, which had hosted EMI's publishing division for over a decade, found themselves scrambling when EMI's assets were sold out of receivership last year.
Anchors Away!
"We've seen this before: anchor clients leaving and studios having to find new ones," says Ron Albert. "It's just that this time, there are fewer possible candidates and lower overall budgets to work with." Middle Ear, New River and several other area studios closed in the mid '00s, while South Beach Studios has undergone two ownership changes in that time. The model for some studios has switched to seeking more clients who book shorter time spans, looking, in the colourful words of Joe Galdo, South Beach Studios' general manager, for "fast nickels instead of slow dimes."
The uptown/downtown nature of the studio business there seems to have stabilised itself. Matt Knobel, who runs Setai Recording and who, like many South Floridians, is a transplanted New Yorker, says the South Beach facilities tend to attract a high-end transient pop-music trade: artists who either pass through on tour or who settle in for the season for recording sessions or publisher-funded 'writing camps'. Uptown facilities such as Criteria and Audio Vision, he says, capture much of the market that lives here year-round, including Latino and hip-hop. "Down here, they want to be near the clubs," says Knobel, who designed Setai Recording with Lenny Kravitz and acoustician Ross Alexander. "At Criteria, they get privacy."
Not all of Miami's studio managers and owners might agree with that assessment, but they've been around long enough to have experienced both good times and bad, reflecting the allure that Miami has for music. Joe Galdo has been at South Beach Studios since it opened; Hit Factory Criteria's vice-president Trevor Fletcher played in the studio's hallways as a child while his mother handled the facility's books in the 1960s and '70s. Their facilities still enjoy an acoustical and technological infrastructure that has stood the test of time and, perhaps more strategically, one that's located at the nexus of a North America that is growing more Latino by the month: long-time Miami mastering engineer Mike Fuller says the share of projects coming from Latin America is steadily rising. Like the hotels that line the shore there, Miami's studios await their next 'season', too. And at 86 and sunny, you could do worse.
"No matter what happens," says Galdo, basking in the sun on a January afternoon, "Miami is a good place to be."


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Skip the can – Cozy, comforting, and HEALTHY! When temperatures are down, break out this simple beans, bacon and vegetable soup. Full of high-fiber veggies, a bowlful will keep you satisfied and feeling warm from the inside out. It's super simple and you can double the batch to freeze!
Ingredients list for the vegetable soup
Serves 4:
- 2 strips of bacon, sliced
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups (1l) vegetable or chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon cajun spice blend
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 celery stalk, sliced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 handful green beans, cut 1/2-inch long
- 1/2 cup canned white beans
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
1. In a saucepan or pot over medium heat, fry bacon until golden and fragrant. Set aside and discard half the bacon fat.
2. In the remaining bacon fat, fry the onion and garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add vegetable or chicken stock and cajun spices. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add carrot and green beans and cook for 3 minutes, then add celery and zucchini and cook for 3 minutes more. Finish cooking by adding white beans and tomato, cook 3 minutes then add bacon back to the soup.
4. Adjust seasoning if necessary and divide into bowls. Enjoy hoy with crusty bread!
Note: For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable stock.
bacon, comfort food, fall, gluten free, Paleo Diet, Soup Faves


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Auditions for Sister Act
Performance Dates: February 9,10,11, 16,17,18, 23,24,25
Rehearsals begin in mid-early November
Call Backs will be held Monday October 16th @ 7:00 PM (by invitation only)
Based on the hit Movie, Sister Act is a high energy comedy with a witty script. Deloris, a sassy and headstrong African American singer with great talent and ambition, but very little success, witnesses a murder committed by her gangster boyfriend, Curtis. Police Officer and Deloris' former classmate Eddie, hides her in a convent until she can testify in court. Deloris brings new life to the failing church with her high energy funky gospel, and discovers what it means to be a part of something more meaningful than fame.
Contact director Cheryl Connell at email@example.com with any questions you may have.
- Please prepare 16-32 bar excerpts from two songs – one upbeat, and one ballad from contemporary Broadway musicals – nothing from Sister Act.
- You must provide sheet music. An accompanist is provided, recorded accompaniment will not be allowed.
- Be prepared to do some dance/movement. Wear comfortable clothes and appropriate shoes. This will not be intimidating, and everyone will be considered regardless of skill level in dance. Be prepared to do cold reading from the script.
- Bring a resume and headshot if you have them.
- Be prepared to outline any potential rehearsal conflicts.
Deloris Van Cartier
African American, Age 25 - 35, Alto/mezzo, Vocal range F#5 - E3 Excellent vocals, good movement, comedic timing. Deloris is a talented aspiring performer who sometimes loses sight of the real world in pursuit of her dreams. Her big mouth and sassy demeanor hide the reality that she has no close relationships to bring deeper meaning to her life. After witnessing a murder she hides out in a convent where she discovers the true value of her talent, and what it really means to belong.
Mother Superior
Age 45 - 70, Alto, Vocal range E5 - D
Excellent vocals, minimal movement.
Traditional and firm but fair, Mother Superior is very protective of the nuns in her charge. Only when Deloris, her polar opposite, upsets the rigid order of her world, does Mother Superior learn the depth of her own faith.
Sister Mary Robert
Age 16 to 25, Mezzo soprano, Vocal range A5 - F#3
Excellent vocals, good movement.
Abandoned in the convent as a baby, Mary Robert is innocent, shy and naive, but yearns to find her own path in life. Under the exuberant influence of Deloris she finds her voice in more ways than one.
Sister Mary Patrick
Age 20 to 35, Soprano Vocal range G3 - E6
Excellent vocals, good movement, comedic timing
Excitable, and high energy, with zest for life. Mary Patrick has an innocent, over the top enthusiasm for anything new and different.
Sister Mary Lazarus
Age 40 to 70, Alto, Vocal range B4 - F3
Good vocals, ability to rap, good movement.
Choir leader, Mary Lazarus is tough as nails, easily offended, and more than a little crabby. When she suddenly busts a move and raps she embodies the transformation that Deloris brings to the staid and failing church.
Sister Mary Martin of Tours
Age 40 to 60
Ensemble vocals and moderate movement
Drifting in her own world, she is the master of the non-sequitur, and reacts comedically to things that are not there. In her moments of clarity however, she can save the day.
Sister Mary Theresa
Age 60 or up
Ensemble vocals and moderate movement
Sister Mary Theresa is the oldest of the group, but quick with a witty comeback. She is unexpectedly spry and packs a punch in a pinch.
Age 20 - 35, Mezzo soprano, Vocal range Ab3 - F5
Good vocals and good movement.
One of two back up singer for Deloris, Michelle is lippy but quickly bored and somewhat fickle. Will also be used in ensemble.
Age 20-35, Mezzo soprano, Vocal range Ab3 - F5
good vocals and good movement.
One of two back up singers for Deloris, Tina is not very bright, and believes women should do as they are told. She is quick to lose interest.
Will also be used in ensemble.
Female ensemble roles include:
Nuns, fantasy dancers, hookers, homeless, bar patrons, waitress.
Monsignor O'Hara
Age 45 - 65, Vocal range G4 - E3
No solo singing, but likely to be double cast in ensemble roles requiring good vocals and movement.
The uninspired and bored Monsignor of a failing church, O'Hara finds new life for himself as well as his church when Deloris brings some welcome funky gospel to both.
Age 30 - 45, High Baritone, Vocal range AB4 - A2
Good vocals, minimal movement
A gangster and nightclub owner, Curtis is suave, charming and arrogant, with an undercurrent of brutal violence.
Eddie Souther ("Sweaty Eddie")
Age 25 - 35, cast to coordinate with Deloris. Tenor, Vocal range B4 - Ab2
Good vocals, good movement.
Former high school classmate with a crush on Deloris, Eddie is now Desk Chief at his Philadelphia Police Precinct. His police uniform can't fully hide his gentle nerdish persona, but he longs to be the hero who can win Deloris' heart.
Age 25 - 40, Tenor, Vocal range Eb5 - Bb2
Good vocals, moderate movement, comedic timing and slapstick.
One of Curtis' three henchmen, the three stooges of the 1978 crime world. These characters have real show stealing potential. Overweight, loyal to a fault, and fancying himself quite the ladies' man, Joey is a lovable buffoon.
Hispanic, Age 25 - 40 High tenor, Vocal range F5 - C4
Good vocals, good movement, comedic timing and slapstick
One of Curtis' three henchmen, the three stooges of the 1978 crime world. These characters have real show stealing potential. Speaking almost exclusively in Spanish, Pablo is a hilariously smooth operator.
Age 20 - 35, Tenor, Vocal range Eb5 - Db3
Good vocals, good movement, comedic timing and slapstick.
Curtis's nephew, and employed as one of his three henchmen for that reason only, TJ is an eternal man/boy. He may be dim but he has hilariously strong self esteem and a positive view of the world. TJ is sure to be an audience favorite.
Male Ensemble characters include:
Ernie - Curtis henchman and secret police informant. Also murder victim.
Gay Dancers, Drag Queen mistaken for Deloris, Bar Patrons, Newscaster, Cabbie, Homeless, Police Officer, Alter boys.
Winter shows are a challenge due to holidays and weather uncertainties. Once the cast is assembled we will determine a reasonable rehearsal break for the holidays. Flexibility is crucial as rehearsals may be lost due to storms and will need to be made up. Rehearsals begin November 13th.
Sister Act is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.


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Every state has their crazy antiquated laws that haven't been reviewed since the 19th century or earlier. You could probably name some of your own state's wacky ones right now. But did you know that until recently, Louisiana outlawed oral sex and anal sex? Yup, any of you bad, dirty folks in the Bayou State who got it on Deep Throat or back door style were BREAKING THE LAW. And could have been at risk of being charged with a felony! Yeeesh. That is ... until now! Whew!
The legislation had been on the books since the early 1800s (even before Louisiana was a state!). And if you were found guilty of soliciting those naughty kinds of sex, aka "unnatural carnal copulation" (bahahahahaha), you'd be forced to register as a sex offender -- even having the label branded on your driver's license. Holy porno.
Oh, and FYI, it's obvious the law was racist and sexist (and likely homophobic!). Of those convicted of "the crime" in Louisiana, almost all of them are women and more than three-quarters of them have been black.
I for one am thrilled the southern state finally had a light bulb go off and realized that participating in consensual oral or anal sex shouldn't be considered a crime. It's called variety.
What do you think about the overturning of this law?
Image via Mark Mitchell/Flickr


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Have you ever had a sale that didn't close and you weren't sure why? Chances are you lost the sale because you didn't establish sufficient trust and rapport with your prospect.
Once you have developed trust and rapport you've actually got the hard part behind you and you're probably going to make a sale! For you see, it really doesn't matter how knowledgeable you are about your product or how skilled you might be at closing, unless you have earned your prospects confidence, you are not going to make the sale period.
The bottom line here is that people want to do business with salespeople that they relate to and that they feel understand their needs. Obviously, the challenge and importance of developing trust and rapport will escalate in direct relationship to the price of your product or service. Master the secrets of selling by first building trust and rapport with your prospects:
1. When selling, be mindful of your body language gestures and remember to keep them positive!
Unfold your arms, uncross your legs, show your palms and remember to smile. Develop awareness and sensitivity to your prospect's body language. An effective listener notices all aspects of communication and is aware of voice tone, facial expression, repetitive movements, and muscle tension. Watch for inconsistencies between your prospect's spoken word and their nonverbal communication. Rely on the nonverbal as a much more accurate indicator of intent. By understanding your prospect's body language you will minimize perceived sales pressure and know when it is appropriate to close the sale.
2. Create harmony!
"Matching and Mirroring" your prospect's body language gestures will psychologically cause them to identify with you. The power behind this principle is firmly grounded in the precept that people trust people that they believe are similar to them. Matching and mirroring is an unconscious mimicry by which one person tells another that he is in agreement with their ideas and attitudes. Likewise, studies have shown that when people disagree they subconsciously mismatch their body language gestures. You want to be careful not to be too obvious when you are consciously matching someone because it will be perceived as manipulative if you don't do it naturally. An effective way to begin matching is to subtly nod your head in agreement when your prospect nods their head.
3. Remember to make eye contact and listen with genuine interest.
You are certain to create an unfavorable impression if you give your prospect the idea that you are not fully present in the conversation. Unfortunately, we are often busy game-planning our response instead of truly listening to what is being said. I suggest that you occasionally repeat verbatim what your prospect says especially their key words or phrases. Restating in your own words serves to clarify communication, but you deepen rapport when you use their words.
4. Ask open-ended questions.
During your needs analysis interview, I recommend that you ask open-ended, clarifying questions with who, where, what, when and how. Open-ended questions will require your prospect to give in-depth responses. Become an active listener. While it is important to educate your prospect about your product or service, as a general rule you should listen more than you talk. Keep your attention focused on your prospect and avoid the temptation to interrupt and dominate the conversation. The quickest way to destroy trust and rapport is to interrupt another person while they are speaking. If you do interrupt, minimize the damage by apologizing and ask them to please continue.
5. Dress and act professionally.
While it may seem unfair, we are judged on our appearance. Research indicates that people form a lasting impression of us within the first five minutes. Be personable but not overly familiar. If appropriate, occasionally call your prospect by their first name. The sweetest sound to the human ear is the sound of our own name.
Recommended Books on Secrets of Selling:
- Secrets of Closing the Sale
- Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness
- High Trust Selling: Make More Money in Less Time with Less Stress
- Selling 101: What Every Successful Sales Professional Needs to Know
- The Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships, and a Stronger Bottom Line
About the Author:
Similar Posts:
- How to Build Trust and Rapport Quickly to Increase Sales
- How the Best Leaders Build Trust
- How to Overcome Objections and Close the Sale
- 12-Step Template to Write an Effective Sales Letter
- How to Be an Effective Communicator


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Rachel to debut with Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
After her success with Idamante in Damiano Michieletto's Idomeneo in the 80th opening of the Maggio Musicale with Opera di Firenze, Rachel is back in the UK and will debut with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday 10th May in the Symphony Hall. Rachel will be singing the Vaughan Williams' setting of the Five Tudor Portraits - a group of songs for chorus, baritone and mezzo that illuminate and convey the antics and eccentricities of Elizabethan England. This daring program will be performed under the baton of John Wilson along with Williams' other work; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and Arnold Bax's November Woods. The concert will be broadcast live on BBC 3 at 7.30pm before which Rachel will be giving an interview. More information is available here.


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Photography Model SR-V 75 (B)
Quick Overview
Superior Modern Styling with real woods.
Offered in Black Oak, Espresso and Walnut finishes.
Same price for any finish.
Cable management to hide wires and cables.
High quality safety glass doors and middle shelf with polished edges.
Easy assembly.
We have Photography Stock Models on sale.
These are brand-new stock, never left our Warehouse - on sale for 33% Off !
( FREE Shipping / No U.S. Tax )
US Price: $709.99
Special Price: $479.99
Product Information
When we set out to create the SR Series our design brief was simple: "Design the most visually striking, technically superior credenza on the market today. Create a design that will command your attention when you see it in any home environment." When you look at the SR series... we have succeeded.
The SR Series features premier woods, tasteful grains and classic colors. Available in Black Oak (B), Espresso (E) and Walnut (W) finishes, the SR series can be purchased in 65" or 75" models, and with its extra wide center area space, it will accommodate a full spectrum of audio/video product sizes and center-channels (the 75" model center space is 33.0" [ 838mm ] wide).
Each SR model provides ample ventilation for your valuable audio/video equipment, complete with cleverly positioned gateways to ensure unsightly cables are conveniently tucked away. Soft touch sliding aluminium doors and glass shelves incorporate high grade smooth edged safety glass. If you demand the best and appreciate design excellence for your audio/video system, then the SR series is a must.
Additional Information
|Manfacturer Description
PLATEAU have been offering high value audio video furniture for over 30 years But now they are even better!
New natural wood veneers in gorgeous Black Oak, Espresso, and Walnut really add elegance to their already fine Home Entertainment Furniture.
The SR-V Widescreen TV Stands are the newest addition the to the PLATEAU line and offer a whopping 65 or 75 inches of width for your large screen TV.
Take a look at what PLATEAU'S complete line of TV Stands and Audio Racks can offer you.
|Ships in (days)
Product Dimensions
Overall approx. size: 19"h x 75"w x 22"d.
Inside Shelves have 3 possible shelf positions: Option 1: Middle 6.0" H + Bottom 8.75" H (if no Shelf, 15.25" H)
Option 2: Middle 7.5" H + Bottom 7.5" H (if no Shelf, 15.25" H)
Option 3: Middle 8.75" H + Bottom 6.0" H (if no Shelf, 15.25" H)
Usable Door Shelf Space: 14.5" H x 19.25" W x 18.75" D
Usable Middle Shelf Space: 14.5" H x 33.0" W x 18.75" D
Top / Bottom supports 300 lbs. Wood and Glass Shelves support 70 lbs.
If you are interested in purchasing this product, then please fill out the contact form below, and click Submit.


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(Excuse the meandering at the bottom of this post. I'd like to set up what will be the beginning of an ongoing series of shorter entries.)
To start off, two dangerous and curiosity-laden moments from my childhood:
Summer, circa 1982, and it's shortly after the 4th of July.
I can remember sitting on my bum out in the driveway, melting under the midday sun. No shirt. Just a pair of soccer shorts and tennis shoes. No socks. My legs are spread wide in front of me. In my right hand is a powerful magnifying glass stolen borrowed from my brother (who's legally blind). In front of me on the ground, in the middle of the broken triangle formed by my outstretched legs, is a firecracker.
Black Cat. Not a small one that comes tied to its brethren,en masse, in a red paper wrapper. Not quite "toilet exploding" size, but still big enough to pack a wallop. A good one. The science experiment du jour; Can I light a firework with the heat generated by sunlight focused through a magnifier (and survive)? I already knew the magnifier was lethal to ants. And junebugs. And arm hair.
I can't even remember seeing the fuse ignite and burn down. I only remember silence one moment and a deafening boom the next.I can clearly remember the ringing in my ears. The smell of spent gunpowder. The quickened heart rate. My mom would have killed me had she seen what I was up to.
I clearly remember thinking "Wow! The cause of that fuse's ignition was far too quick and unexpected for me to anticipate" as opposed to "Damn! I'm so lucky my hand didn't get blown off!". To this day, the curiosity is what seems the most palpable.
Story 2:
Move ahead to the Summer of 1985. Once again, I'm seated on the ground. Indoors. In the kitchen.
A string of eight (8!) D-cell batteries are taped together in an attempt to create a powerful source of electricity. Positive to negative. Positive to negative. Positive to negative... eight times over. Attached at one end of the bank of batteries is a length ofwire scavenged from an old extension cord. A similar length is attached to the other. In front of me on the floor, again in the middle of the broken triangle formed by my outstretched legs, is a glass hand grenade (ok... flash bulb) from a vintage Kodak Brownie Hawkeye camera.
"Just how bright will it be when I connect 8 batteries to it? I'll just connect it for a split-second."
I've yet to see anything else as bright as that flash bulb. There was so much current that the bulb's glass partially melted in my hand during in that brief moment that it was connected to the batteries... although I couldn't see what had happened. A bright blue spot remained in my vision for almost 30 minutes. A large burn blister formed on my palm within a few minutes.
My mom never knew.
That's how things were back then. I ran some cold water on it and went to find a bandaid in the hall closet.
"Rub some dirt in it, kid..."
The details about the batteries' brand has faded. Color of the tape holding them together? Gone. The curiosity, however, is still right here.
Where does the curiosity to self-teach and experiement come from? I have a sense that there is a long spectrum regarding the willingness/ability to self-teach. Why do some folks find themselves with seemingly unending curiosity? Why do those folks also tend to be Polymaths?
I feel as though I grew up during a simpler time. A slower time. If you've watched Netflix's newest series, Stranger Things, you'll have a broad picture of my childhood years (minus the alternate dimensions and monsters). Information was not as abundantly available to the general public. No internet. No cell phones. Few computers in homes. If you wanted to learn something outside of formal circles, you had to make it happen on your own.
Go to the library and figure it out. Experiment.
As I try to gauge the trajectory of the second half of my life, I also reflect on the things that have had some small influence on where I am today. A "free range childhood" was a significant factor. Growing up alongside other fiercely competitive self-teachers was probably significant as well. Those simple "Aha!" moments from childhood and adolescence laid a framework that has led to a life of varied pursuits and interests: trumpet playing, architecture, photography, early music, pipe organs/organbuilding, instrument making, computers, and so forth. Much of my education has been formal. Yet, very little of that formal education has escaped a desire to self-teach related disciplines alongside.
These are just little stories. Banal. Possibly silly. Stories that show how curiosity and love-of-learning reared its ugly head during simpler times. Some stories will be from childhood, some from college years. None will likely seem profound.
Cheers, Shelby


text: The Z Loft is a 1,100 sf space in Greenwich Village. The project brings calm back to a once maze like layout by creating a new bedroom and bath as the only two enclosed spaces in a large, open loft. The floors were updated, lighting was installed, walls were refinished, and a massive - though translucent - sliding door was added as a reference to the space's industrial past.


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|DTX-CU-103 Certifying a Category 6A Patch Cord
|DTX-CU-104 Certifying an M12 Patch Cord
|DTX-CU-105 Recover deleted results from a DTX CableAnalyzer
|DTX-CU-201 Diagnosing a Category 6 NEXT failure # 1 (Badly Terminated Permanent Link)
|DTX-CU-202 Diagnosing a Category 6 NEXT failure # 2 (Cable Issue)
|DTX-CU-203 Diagnosing a Category 6 Return Loss failure # 1 (Cable Issue)
|DTX-CU-204 Diagnosing a Category 6 Return Loss failure # 2 (Water in the cable)
|DTX-CU-205 Diagnosing a Category 6 Return Loss failure # 3 (Bad cable)
|DTX-CU-206 Diagnosing a Category 6 Insertion Loss failure # 1 (Lubricant issue)
|DTX-CU-301 "i" next to your Return Loss? It's the 3 dB Rule
|DTX-CU-302 "i" next to your NEXT result? It's the 4 dB Rule
|DTX-CU-303 Short Category 6A links
|DTX-FI-103 Certifying a Duplex LC to LC fiber link
|DTX-FI-104 Certifying a Duplex SC to SC fiber link
|DTX-FI-105 Certifying a Duplex ST to ST fiber link
|DTX-FI-106 Creating a custom fixed loss limit
|DTX-FI-107 Creating a custom connector loss limit
|List of available copper and fiber testing videos


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Blog Archives
Eggspectation (Richmond): Montreal-Based Breakfast Joint
I think I had high "eggspectations" when I first visited this new breakfast eatery that opened up in Richmond late last year. Originally hailing from Montreal, Eggspectation is located in the former Ihop location next to the Accent Inn. But trust me, when you walk inside, it looks nothing like an Ihop.
Read the rest of this entry
Lychee (Hawaii 2018): Breakfast Buffet
We were a bit hesitant to try the breakfast buffet at Lychee, a restaurant located on the 2nd floor of the Alohilani Resort, due to the price tag ($35) but quickly realized that most touristy restaurants inside hotels run around the same price range so we bit the bullet.
Toby's Pub & Grill (North Van): Brunch in North Van
As the name would suggest, Toby's Pub & Grill is a – wait for it – pub and grill joint with locations on Commercial Drive in Vancouver and Main Street in North Vancouver. In this post, I'll be talking about the North Van location which we visited for brunch on a couple of occasions.
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Goofy Cafe & Dine (Hawaii 2017): French Toast and Hawaiian Omelette
I'm always looking for new breakfast spots in Honolulu and one place that has been on my list for a couple of years has been Goofy Cafe & Dine on Ala Moana Blvd. Whenever we pass by this place, it always seems busy so that must be a good thing.
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Hula Grill (Hawaii 2017): Breakfast at the Beach
Breakfast and Hawaii are two of my favourite things… put them together and I'm a very happy camper. Hula Grill is located in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, directly above their popular sister restaurant, Duke's Waikiki.
Read the rest of this entry
Jam Café: Brunch
Brunch in Vancouver can be a religious event for some people… popular restaurants often draw lineups that stretch down the block. While I've never been one to put up with excessively long lineups, I do enjoy me some brunch.
Read the rest of this entry
Chez Meme Baguette Bistro – French Toast Brioche and Baguette Willy
Chez Meme Baguette Bistro is a popular eatery in North Burnaby. True to their name, many of their dishes are accompanied by the tastiest baguettes in the city.
Read the rest of this entry
Fraser Park Restaurant – German Breakfast and French Toast
Breakfast at Fraser Park Restaurant is still quite popular with the place packed during the peak morning hours. We had a hankering for some potato pancakes in late November and were lucky enough to arrive before a large group of other diners. Read the rest of this entry


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First Night Pittsburgh
- December 31, 2017 at 6:00pm
- December 31, 2017 at 11:59pm
City/State/Zip: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
County: Allegheny County
Event Website: Click Here!
Donation Info: Click Here!
Activities begin at 6pm and include nearly fifty indoor and outdoor venues. There will be a vocal competition, a grand parade, and other events. Buttons can be purchased at Giant Eagle, the Box Office at Theater Square, or at the website above. TWO fireworks displays; one at 6pm for the kids, and the main display at midnight.
Note: I am not affiliated with this event, I only list them; if you have a specific question, please use the contact information provided to get in touch with them directly


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eBay Direct Marketing Catalog Concept
eBay asked us to rethink their direct marketing catalog, to create something that showed the true spirit of the eBay experience. Our concept—a series of postcard packs that put you in the moment of discovery. I was copywriter and conceptual developer.
Sanrio Website
When you get to write copy about Hello Kitty, Badtz Maru and Chococat, what else could you ask for?
Google TV Ads
Quick and dirty copywriting for Google TV. It was fun. Sometimes the best projects as a copywriter involve being as creative as possible with tight constraints, such as budget and time.
Lipton Pyramid Tea Website
Lipton Pyramid Tea is a great example of structuring a brand to its target audience. Lipton wanted to attract urbane 20-somethings interested in health and partying. I was website copywriter.
Beaulieu Vineyard Website
I was the Creative Director and copy writer/managing editor on this project. We had three weeks to do this site from concept to runtime, and the client literally handed me a book on BV's history to use for copy. But I like a challenge.
A copywriter's reel
This is my reel


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Black rhinos and white rhinos are actually the same color: gray. The main difference between them is lip shape. more...
September 20 , 1873 : The Panic of 1873 caused the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to shut down. more...
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
Shelf registration is a process which makes it easier for United States-based companies to quickly issue and sell new stock. The system involves filing a single document which then allows stock to be issued at any time in the next two years. There are strict rules which a company must meet to qualify for the system. The system can't be used by companies which haven't yet issued stock or other securities.
A company would most commonly use shelf registration in situations when it expects to issue stock on multiple occasions. Normally, each issue would need to go through a full and lengthy legal process. This can be a particular burden if a company needs to raise money by issuing new stock as it would normally face delays before it was allowed to do so. With a shelf registration, the legal process is completed in advance and the same filing document can be reused whenever needed during the two-year period.
Another advantage of a shelf registration is that it allows the company more flexibility about the timing of a stock issue. This could allow it to take advantage of changes in attitudes among potential investors. For example, medical company stocks may find few buyers in the wake of a widespread scandal over medicine. That could change at a later date if researchers make a breakthrough in treating a major disease. Being able to issue stock without delay could capitalize on this change in the industry which may well make investors temporarily more interested in buying medical stocks.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) introduced shelf registration in 2005. The name is based on the idea that the filing documents wait "on the shelf" until the company decides to issue the stock. This shouldn't be confused with an "off the shelf" company, which is created and put through the legal registration process but doesn't have any real-world activity. Instead this type of company is later sold to people who want a hassle-free way of turning their existing business into a company.
Companies wanting to use shelf registration must be classed as a "well-known seasoned investor". To earn this classification, a firm must either have a $700 million US Dollar (USD) or greater market capitalization, which is the number of shares in the company multiplied by the current stock price, or it must have issued a total of $1 billion USD of certain types of securities in the past three years. The firm must also have met all requirements for SEC filings over the previous year.
A shelf registration is most commonly associated with issues of common stock. It can also be used for preferred stock, which usually offers priority treatment in receiving dividends and has more guarantee of getting some money back if the company is liquidated. The registration can also cover debt securities such as bonds.
Post 1
There are pros and cons to investing in a company with enough market activity to qualify for shelf offerings.
If a company qualifies for shelf registration, it will be experienced with stock and bond offerings and likely has plans for future growth.
However, some investors may be wary of jumping on board unless the intended projects to be financed through the offering are extremely well defined and have an excellent chance of success.
Since markets are extremely sensitive and fickle, it is difficult to predict what yet unknown factors could potentially spell trouble.
Despite the potential risk, a company electing to make a shelf registration is probably a good bet for investment because it must qualify to make these offerings and most likely has had previous success with new projects.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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Sabisha Friedberg explores the notion of levitation through a series of forms, both visual and aural. Drawing upon arcane sciences, contemporary non-linear theory, and ELF/subwoofer culture, the artist presents a personal metaphysical landscape addressing the notions of suspension, tension, and gravitational defiance.
Sexy subwoofer Hair Trick & Slayer Roof Flex Raining Blood Bass Demo
The elements are a combination of interpreted archaic lore, wry manifold coding, and the metaphor of a 'hovering' in acoustic space. Through her installation, Friedberg introduces new and antiquated technologies, reverse processes using analogue and digital sources, and the application of linear calculations imbued with sacred number systems. She references both the esoteric and scientific aspects of telekinesis, with the premise that sound as vibration – beginning with thought – has a "certain power of the unseen."*
Dynamo levitation leans back matrix trick
Presented in triads of a devised language, the texts, visuals and audio works evolve in a phasic manner in both action and form over the course of the exhibition period.
Blowing up some Legacy 10″ subwoofers feat.Big Tiny
*Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine. Written while drinking potions and projecting her double


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Communities ending child marriage in Tanzania
In 2016, the rate of child marriage in the Shinyanga region of Tanzania was 59%. In other words, for every 100 girls below the age of 18, 59 of them were taken from their families and were married too early, often to much older men. These vulnerable young girls quickly became more at risk of teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, and sexually transmitted infections. But we believe that while the reasons behind the practice are deeply entrenched, they can be overcome.
Supporting an integrated network of CBOs
Firelight has been partnering with the Oak Foundation, Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation, and an anonymous donor in supporting a cluster of 12 community-based organizations, which has impacted over 145,000 children, caregivers, and community members, to systematically eliminate child marriage in the Shinyanga region.
At Firelight, we believe that community-based organizations (CBOs) are uniquely positioned to stop child marriage where it starts – in the home and in the community. We also believe that community-based organizations have a major role to play in preventing child marriage in the future – by enabling normative change from the ground up and by presenting the voice of community in national-level conversations.
CBOs vary in their strategies and approaches, yet their work complements one another to result in an integrated network to uphold the rights of children locally, regionally, and nationally. In the Shinyanga cluster, Firelight is also supporting one Lead Partner and one Community Grantmaker for additional mentoring and capacity building of the CBOs. These two organizations have expertise in program implementation and organizational capacity building, as well as grantmaking.
Community Dialogues help identify the root causes
In order to surface community perspectives on the factors that enable and impede children's safety and wellbeing, Firelight supported grantee-partners to engage their communities in a participatory research process - Community Dialogues - that was conducted annually for three years. Using qualitative methodologies such as community mapping, body mapping, and H assessments, organizations allowed both children and adults to share their views on the spaces in which children spend time and on the factors that support and harm them. This process enabled communities to look at root causes of violence against children and the ways in which this violence manifested itself in their communities.
Each year, early marriage and sexual abuse were consistently described – by primary school children, secondary school children, and adults, in multiple communities – as community factors harming children's wellbeing. Community members were also deeply concerned about factors related to child marriage - early sexual debut, early pregnancy, and risky sexual activities.
Developing multifaceted, holistic interventions
Community-based organizations in the region were already in the midst of responding to some of the most urgent child protection issues in their communities but were eager to refine their approaches. Using the data from the Community Dialogues and support from Firelight and the Lead Partner and Community Grantmaker, Firelight grantee-partners developed multifaceted, holistic interventions to actively respond to the root causes of child marriage in their communities. The following elements emerged as key elements of this holistic response:
Skillful parenting and parent support groups - Community facilitators train parents --especially those of children who are at risk of child marriage or who have been rescued from child marriages -- in "skillful parenting," which aims to awaken them to the issues their children face, equips them with the positive skills to care for their children and provide for their basic needs, trains them in child safeguarding, and gives them the tools to report child marriage and violence against children.
Economic strengthening of families - One of the central reasons for child marriage in communities is poverty. Supporting families with the tools to sustain their own income-generating activities, such as raising goats or pigs, allows them to send their girls to school instead of marrying them off.
Child protection system building - Child protection committees made of parents and community members are responsible for measuring and reporting cases of child marriage within their communities. They work with social welfare workers to manage these cases and refer them to the relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities for arbitration.
Teacher and student involvement - Community organizations train teachers and students in being able to recognize the signs of child marriage and report them to relevant authorities. Students also form clubs to teach peers about the importance of sexual and reproductive health, hygiene, and staying in school.
Awareness raising - CBOs actively engage their communities in combatting child marriage. From community members producing dramas and plays that show the negative consequences of child marriage to changing tribal bylaws that forbid children and parents to be involved in child marriage ceremonies, organizations ensure that community members are leading every step of the process.
Government advocacy - Organizations seek out meetings with ward- and district-level officers in order to share learnings and lobby for increased funding for child protection systems.
However, this model is not meant to be restrictive -- organizations are able to add bespoke, creative elements and adapt these approaches in order to respond to the needs of their communities.
"Child marriage is becoming an unacceptable practice"
One grantee-partner, Agape AIDS Control Programme, was eager to share the profound success they have already begun seeing from this approach:
"When we started working with Firelight in 2016, more than 26 girls were rescued during child marriage ceremonies using law enforcement, more than 45 marriages were prevented by our network of community informants, and 33 cases were prevented by children reporting to teachers at school. In 2017, we began to see changes in our community: 20 cases of child marriage were reported or prevented in total. And now, in 2018 thus far, we have seen zero cases of child marriage reported or directly prevented. Children and community members are developing and abiding by the bylaws they develop for their own communities, and child marriage is becoming an unacceptable practice. We have already been asked by the Katavi and Tabora districts, where child marriage is still high, to expand our model to their communities."
While Firelight grantee-partners have only been part of the concerted effort to reduce child marriage in the region, we have already seen them make meaningful, sustainable contributions to these efforts. Grantee-partners have surfaced real data on actual rates of child marriage, engaged families, schools, and communities to look at root causes so they can solve the problem themselves, and worked with the district government to track and address individual cases. But more importantly, communities have already reported real reductions in child marriages and pregnancies and have seen a significant increase in local understanding of the problems of child marriage and in the communities' desire to stop this practice.
For us at Firelight, this is what success looks like. When communities themselves decide to end harmful practices like child marriage and build the environments that support and nurture their children, we will continue to see children who are protected, safe, and happy -- in a way that lasts.


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12-Year-Old Pro-Life Prodigy Gives Moving Speech at Canadian March for Life
OTTAWA, May 21, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Lia, the twelve-year-old girl who made headlines for presenting a pro-life speech in a school speech competition against tremendous opposition from her teachers earlier this year, gave her exceptional oration to the 12,000 strong crowd at the National March For Life in Ottawa, Canada last week.
Lia, who is from Ontario, adapted her speech for the March for Life slightly, adding, "Every day, 115,000 are being put to death through abortion. 115,000. Look around at this great sea of people. This is only about 10,000 people. Every two hours, this amount of children are killed because of abortion."
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.


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An incident a mother committing suicide along with her 5 year old daughter by drinking poison was reported from Balangoda area.
The 28 year old mother died while the child is being treated at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
It was recorded in the CCTV footage that the mother was writing a letter with her daughter opposite the temple situated in the Balangoda town on the (04) morning. And had consumed poison and given poison to her daughter as well.
The area residents have intervened and hospitalized them at the Balangoda Base Hospital.
The mother who died due to consuming poison is a resident of Balangoda –Kahapitiya named Wickramaarachchige Chathurika Gayani. The five year old girl who faced the incident Rishini Prabhasha was transferred to Colombo Lady Ridgeway Hospital from Balangoda base hospital. The hospital director stated that her situation is yet to be stable.
The letter had stated that she has decided to commit suicide along with her daughter on her b'day and not to save them.