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Getting started with Telehealth by SimplePractice
Making the decision to add Telehealth services to your practice may seem daunting—why bother? Well, for one, if you haven't yet dipped your toe in the Telehealth waters, you could quickly find yourself left behind.
Experts predict that the Telehealth industry will reach $9.35 Billion by 2021—a giant increase from just $2.78 Billion in 2016.[1] And, in a recent survey, 20% of respondents said they would change doctors just to be able to access Telehealth services.[2]
But, don't despair. To help make sure you're prepared and empowered to make an informed decision, we've compiled some basic background information and tips about Telehealth.
- Benefits of Telehealth
- 6 steps to prepare for Telehealth
- Getting your clients ready for Telehealth
- Tips for success
- Additional Telehealth resources
Benefits of Telehealth
Here are a few of the research-based benefits to providing Telehealth services:
- Increases access. Approximately 123 million Americans live in an area with limited access to healthcare.[3] Telehealth can play an important role in these communities by increasing accessibility.
- Reduces costs for clients. Nearly all research suggests that Telehealth saves money when compared with traditional approaches to providing care. For clients, this often means lower copays, transportation costs, less time missed from work, and less money spent on child care expenses.
- Reduces cost for providers. In general, adding Telehealth to your practice can increase the efficiency of your office and reduce your overhead costs. Plus, it allows you to see more clients in less time.
- Better work/life balance. In a 2015 survey of clinicians, 79% said offering video appointments promotes a more flexible work-life schedule.[4]
- Same-level client care. No client outcome difference was found between Telehealth appointments and face-to-face office visits.[5]
- Better client experience. Telehealth eliminates the wasted time traveling and sitting in the waiting room.
6 steps to prepare for Telehealth
The following steps will ensure your practice is ready to begin offering Telehealth appointments.
- Know the rules
- Most clinicians can definitely offer Telehealth, but first, it's important to familiarize yourself with your local laws and regulations. These guidelines are updated often so it's a good habit to stay informed.
- Familiarize yourself with whether your state has a parity law covering telemedicine by visiting the American Telemedicine Association's State Policy Center and The Center for Connected Health Policy's (CCHP).
- Visit the Medicare Telehealth Payment Eligibility Analyzer to see what you can expect in terms of reimbursement.
- Most clinicians can definitely offer Telehealth, but first, it's important to familiarize yourself with your local laws and regulations. These guidelines are updated often so it's a good habit to stay informed.
- Make a plan
- Telehealth activities should be designed to complement your standard practices, not complicate or interrupt them. Accordingly, determine how Telehealth will fit within your practice. For example:
- What percentage of your time will you dedicate to Telehealth?
- How will this fit into your current schedule?
- Telehealth activities should be designed to complement your standard practices, not complicate or interrupt them. Accordingly, determine how Telehealth will fit within your practice. For example:
- Prepare your office
- When designing your Telehealth room, pay special attention to furniture placement, lighting, acoustics, and wall color.
- Identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions.
- To keep background noise to a minimum, close any doors and shut any windows. Consider hanging a "do not disturb" sign on the door to avoid interruptions.
- Before each appointment, check what's in the client's field of vision and remove all clutter and unnecessary objects.
Wall color
- If the wall color is too light, the camera lets in less light resulting in darkened faces. If the wall color is too dark, the camera lets in more light making faces look washed out or too light.
- Choose a flat paint color in gray or light blue to avoid any reflection off the wall.
- For lighting, make sure your light source is in front of your face, not behind you.
- Also avoid harsh lighting sources, as well as backlighting from windows or overhead lights.
Eye contact
- External cameras should be mounted so that both participants are looking directly at each other during a video call. If the camera is placed too high above the monitor, you will appear to be looking down at the monitor rather than directly at the client.
- It can also be distracting for clients when the clinician is not consistently maintaining eye contact because they are looking at another screen or taking notes. It's a good practice to be mindful of this and explain to clients when looking away may be necessary.[6]
- When designing your Telehealth room, pay special attention to furniture placement, lighting, acoustics, and wall color.
- Check your technology
- Your device
- While you can use any PC, Mac, or tablet with a high-quality integrated camera, microphone, and speakers, you may want to consider purchasing a new device.
- Newer devices (purchased in the last two years) will be better equipped to provide Telehealth appointments.
- Internet speed
- Test your internet connection speed. For optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.
- Google provides an easy way to test your internet connection directly from the google homepage. Simply search: internet speed test. Click the blue button that says Run Speed Test. If either of your upload or download speeds are less than 2 mbps, your internet connection will not be reliable enough, so you will need to upgrade.
- Use a wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, whenever possible. Wi-Fi will work, but you may experience a lag and interference, which can make your video and audio choppy. Wired internet will give you a much smoother, more consistent experience. If your computer doesn't have an ethernet port, you can purchase an ethernet adapter.
- Your device
- Test the process
- Before your first appointment, it's good practice to do a few a test runs. Ask a friend if you can send them a link to join an appointment and test the video platform. You'll be much more confident and prepared for your first Telehealth appointment if you know what to expect.
- Before your first appointment, it's good practice to do a few a test runs. Ask a friend if you can send them a link to join an appointment and test the video platform. You'll be much more confident and prepared for your first Telehealth appointment if you know what to expect.
- Spread the word
- Promote Telehealth as an option for clients on your website, in your practice newsletter, via email, and on your social media page.
- If clients call to book or reschedule appointments, offer Telehealth as an alternative.
- Ask current clients if they would be interested in trying Telehealth for their next appointment.
- Put up signs in your waiting room to encourage people to ask about using Telehealth.
- As long as you have Online Booking through SimplePractice and the Telehealth feature is integrated, a virtual office option will be available to book. When it comes to marketing Telehealth to your clients, human interaction is key. Make sure you are prepared to promote this feature in all communication channels.
Getting your clients ready for Telehealth
Clients will undoubtedly have questions about Telehealth. Here are some common questions clients may ask with recommended responses:
|Client questions
|Recommended responses
|What is Telehealth?
|"Telehealth allows us to meet through audio and video over the internet."
|How does Telehealth work?
|"You'll be sent a link for the video appointment. Click on it when our appointment is scheduled to start or open it through the Telehealth by SimplePractice app (download free in the app store). You can use the camera and audio on your computer or mobile device."
|Why should I try Telehealth?
|"We are very excited about this new option because it means no waiting and travel time, and you won't have to take time off work or other priorities. Plus, it's 100% HIPAA compliant and secure."
|How much will it cost?
|"Your cost for a video appointment will vary depending on the coverage you have with your insurance provider. Most insurances charge a copayment just like traditional appointments, and it most likely will be the same amount. We can determine your exact coverage and what your copay will be before we schedule an appointment."
Tip: Also check out the Telehealth guide for clients.
Tips for success
- Restart your computer every day (or at least every few days) for it to run as efficiently as possible.
- Close any unnecessary programs and applications on your computer. These take away from resources needed for your computer to run efficiently.
- Install recommended updates only from sources you trust, such as Microsoft and Apple. Keeping software up to date will help ensure the performance and compatibility of your computer.
- Locate the volume control on your device. You may need to adjust the volume or mute/unmute your speakers.
Additional Telehealth resources
- For a video walkthrough, see our Getting Started with Telehealth video
- How do I offer Telehealth appointments?
- Telehealth FAQs
- How to conduct a practice Telehealth session
- How to create your own custom Consent for Telehealth Consultation intake form
- Telehealth FAQs for clients
- Telehealth: Billing Insurance & Getting Paid
- Telehealth resources for your practice
- Healthcare IT Market by Product End User (March 2017). Global Forecast to 2021.
- American Well (2017). Telehealth Index: 2017 Consumer Survey. Available online at http://go.americanwell.com/2017ConsumerSurvey.html.
- Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Designated Health Professional Shortage Areas Statistics: Designated HPSA Quarterly Summary, as of December 31, 2017.
- American Well (2015). Telehealth Index: 2015 Physician Survey. American Well Blog. Available online at http://info.americanwell.com/telehealth-index-2015-consumer-survey.
- Hilty, Ferrer, Parish, Johnston, Callahan & Yellowlees. (2013). The effectiveness of telemental health: A 2013 review. Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 19, 444–454.
- Washington State Telehealth Implementation Guidebook. Available online at


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I tend to be frank and air on the side of honesty. I have thoughts and opinions about everything, and try not to be sorry for them. I value hard work and effort. I am completely turned off by people who live life with an attitude of defeat. Mostly because, I don't think there is anything I can not do. I may have a glimmer of doubt about some things, but never will I let that glimmer become anything but that — a f*cking glimmer.
I have a mouth on me and like to use the f word periodically, I think it has to do with the fact I was never allowed to curse at home or in front of my mother, so I take full advantage when I can.
I don't love often, but when I do I love hard. New year new me.
Welcome to pinkrosesandredwine in 2013!

subset: commoncrawl


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Beijing Zeefer Consulting Ltd. has published a new research report called China Camera Mfg. Industry Profile.
PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 20, 2010 – This report provides key data and concise analyses, presents a comparative analysis on the development of camera mfg. industry in 31 provincial regions and 20 major cities in visualized form of data map. As shown in this report, the major distribution areas for camera mfg. industry are Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanghai. More than 60 above sized enterprises located in Guangdong province with total sales of US$ 4 billion, accounting for 58% over that in China. The report also includes a list of top 20 enterprises in the sector and the comparison on investment environment in top 10 hot regions in China. In addition, the report truly reflects the position of foreign enterprises in this industry across China based on a comprehensive comparison of operating conditions among different enterprise types.
This report is based on Chinese industry classification (Industrial Classification For National Economic Activities, GB/T 4754-2002).
Additionally, by original creation of ZEEFER Industry Distribution Index, the report directly shows the difference in various regions of Mainland China in terms of camera mfg. industry, providing an important reference for investors' selection of target regions to make investment.
In this report, readers will get:
A comprehensive picture on distribution of and difference in performance in regions of Mainland China in terms of the camera mfg. industry;
To figure out the hot regions in China for camera mfg. industry, find out the potential provinces and cities suitable for investment as well as the economic development level and investment environment in these regions;
A clear picture on the overall development, industry size and growth trend of camera mfg. industry across China;
A clear picture on development status of foreign enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and private enterprises in recent years as well as the industry position of the above ownerships;
Present readers with a list of top 20 enterprises inside the industry.
ZEEFER Industry Distribution Index An indicator through aggregate weighted computation based on the three authority statistics of enterprise numbers, sales revenue and profit by region and corporate ownership, and in accordance with the regional distribution of leading enterprises inside the sector. Through horizontal comparison on the camera mfg. industry development in different provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, the ZEEFER Industry Distribution Index is specially designed to truly reflect the conditions of regional distribution for China camera mfg. industry, providing a quantitative, visual and reliable reference for relevant users to make decisions. The ZEEFER Industry Distribution Index adopts a hundred mark system. For a certain region, the higher the score, the higher the distribution concentration in this region and the industry position of the region shall be more important.
Beijing Zeefer Consulting: China Camera Mfg. Industry Profile: http://www.reports-research.com/market-surveys/china-camera-industry-profile-p-111185.html
Beijing Zeefer Consulting: More market data and market reports: http://www.reports-research.com/market-surveys/beijing-zeefer-consulting-ltd.-m-320.html
# # #
markt-studie.de, founded in 2002 has emerged as a leading online portal for market surveys and market research in German speaking areas. Four years later the English language portal reports-research.com was introduced due to the extraordinary success of the portal. Again one year later estudio-mercado.es - the Spanish spoken portal - was founded. The objective of the three portals is to competently and efficiently support consultants and decision makers in management, sales and marketing in the search for worldwide market research. Prospective buyers can look into more than 60,000 market surveys from more than 200 international publishers, current market data for more than 6,000 branches worldwide, 10,000 company profiles as well as a free-of-charge research and recommendation service for individual market research.
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By christian12-05-2017
Last week we were in New York for GCUC USA 2017. GCUC- The Global Coworking Unconference Conference is the biggest coworking conference series in the world.
For the past six years, GCUC has marched hand in hand with the coworking movement all over the world, exploring everything from location and design to branding and community building.
We were more than excited to join GCUC USA as one of the event's sponsors, in the Big Apple. At Clay, we are well aware that access management is different for every business. Whether you are a software or service provider for coworking spaces, a coworking space with a single location or a larger coworking brand with multiple locations; Clay lets you integrate smart lock technology with access control features for a seamless customer experience. We provide 3 different solutions tailored for any coworking business: SALTO Keys as a Service, KS Connect, Clay Locking Platform. Incorporating smart lock technology with access control features removes the pain and the costs involved in running a co-working space. But also, it enables technology and service providers in the coworking ecosystem to enhance their offerings for their customers.
The customer experience in coworking spaces can be improved in many ways, to give a few examples imagine this:
Avoid duplication of work with KS Connect! Any data entered into one of your coworking tools, regarding users, rooms or time frame will automatically be converted to access rules in SALTO KS.
Connect the lock events in your coworking space to your coworking tools and services. By pushing lock events to your coworking tools, you can send customized welcome messages to first timers, automatically invoice extended bookings, grant or deny access to cleaners depending on the usage of rooms and much more!
Meetings can end early, even if that is rare! If the meeting room has been exited before the end of the booking, the cleaning service can enter early and be done. If for some reason nobody used the booked room, then no need for cleaning after all!
Well meetings are more likely to last longer, than end early! You can automatically charge for longer use of a meeting room than booked, based on the meeting room door activity.
Integration options with coworking tool and services include; Space management tools, Team communication tools, Community engagement tools, IT services, Booking/ reservation tools and many more!
GCUC had a very well thought program. The 3-day event featured presentations by Amrit Dhir from Google for Entrepreneurs, Greg Lindsay from the New Cities Foundation, Casper ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Harvard Divinity School, and more. The interesting panels, talks by industry leaders, award ceremony and the day of unconference sessions made the event much more than an ordinary conference.
The first ever Coworky awards was organised to honour the spaces, tools and people that make the coworking industry stronger. Congratulations to Nexudus for winning the 'Best technology to run your space' award! The Nexudus team continues to improve their comprehensive platform with SALTO KS.
Overall, GCUC has been a valuable event for us to meet many coworking space owners in the U.S., but also software and service providers in the industry. Since the show's sole focus was coworking it was great to show all our solutions for this business vertical; SALTO KS, KS Connect and Clay Locking Platform.
Thank you to all of you who made it to the event and visited us! For more information on how Clay can add value to your business, take a look at how Regus improved its customer experience with Clay Locking Platform: www.my-clay.com/cases/regus


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The Natural Rubber Yoga Mat with the Flax Mesh Design is one of the most health and eco-friendly yoga mats available in the market today. It is made of 100% natural rubber (a renewable resource tapped from rubber trees) and is completely non-toxic, biodegradable, and recyclable which makes it the perfect choice for the eco-conscious yogi. This mat is completely free of latex, PVC, or other harmful ozone depleting substances. Waste is minimized during the production process and, when possible, recycled back into the production cycle.
The Natural Rubber Yoga Mat is made with open cell, natural rubber, and has a flax mesh inlay which gives it extra strength, stability, and cushioning. This mat is perfect for vigorous styles of yoga such as Vinyasa or Ashtanga which require maximum comfort, performance, and slip resistance. This mat is 72'' long by 24'' wide and 4mm thick.
Get these mats at an unbeatable price (compared to other similar rubber mats in the market) today!


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One of my favourite Parisian neighbourhoods is 17th arrondissement. It's right in the centre of Paris, a 5 minute walk to Arc de Triomphe, but with a very quiet feel. It's the place I go to relax, and get away from how busy the rest of Paris is. The best hidden gem about this neighbourhood is the market. Open most mornings it sells the freshest flowers, fruit and seafood I have ever tasted. I love taking an early morning stroll through and coming back home with all the groceries in brown paper bags. And making breakfast in my little kitchen, eating on the balcony and watching the sun rise round off over the Parisian rooftops. French romance aside, go, see, eat, great.
Jacket: All Saints


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I was going to write an essay for June about singleness. In my head its title was "What I would tell my single self," a list of advice and anecdotes, thoughts on friendship, living a good life, staying present and doing the next thing. I asked a question on my Facebook page in preparation for writing this essay: "Single friends, what's the most annoying/offensive thing married [people] say to you?" I was hoping their answers would help me erase any "tone deafness" from my writing, but something else happened.
As their comments started to roll in, I couldn't shake this feeling: Our tables, our communities are not a safe place for single men and women. It is a place where they are considered less than because somehow their life and experiences don't matter until marriage. They face criticisms of their dating methods and their appearance. They receive unwanted advice, like their lives are somehow the property of others.
The more I read their responses, I knew I would be writing an essay based on the single years in my 20s. I haven't been single for eight years, a perspective I cannot escape, but I left that conversation on Facebook with a heightened awareness of my own blind spots. These are three (among many) thoughts about how I want to live differently with the single people in my life now.
Beware of assumptions
Single people have struggles, fears, disappointments, and they may have nothing to do with what we think they should be. Don't expect that your single friends are only struggling with not having a relationship, maybe they are struggling with work, frustrated by the weather, trying to decide on a paint colour for their wall. Maybe they aren't struggling at all. Our assumption that somehow at the root of every single person's life is their question about a partner makes them one-dimensional people, interested in one thing only, impacted by one narrative. We miss out on their lives when we interact with them solely on this narrow ground. In the same way, presuming that marriage and family is the only ground from which I can interact with anyone limits me in my relationships. We have more to give each other.
Don't compete
When a single person tells you about the stress in their life, it is not a comment about the lack of stress in yours. My life is not harder because I have a family. My time isn't more valuable because I'm married. When a single friend shares with you their particular issues, don't respond with a story about how much more overwhelmed you are because of your family. Receive their story, acknowledge their difficulty, be present in the conversation and don't make it about your life. Perhaps most importantly, dare to lay down the assumption in your mind that your life as a married person is inherently more difficult or complicated. It is different, but different doesn't mean harder.
Invest in rich friendships
Perhaps the most damaging thing to a friendship with a single person is the assumption that we are further along, more mature, their mentors for a future marriage or their personal matchmakers. No. A good friend is an indispensable part of life, and a person's relationship status has nothing to do with their ability to be a good friend. If we truly believe that as a married person we are somehow wiser or more mature, our relationships with single people will always be imbalanced. (A caveat here, mentoring relationships are an indispensable part of life, I'm grateful for the married women who mentored me in marriage and family life when I was single, but it is a false assumption that as a married woman now, all my relationships with singles are somehow "mentoring" just because I am married.)
Marriage gives me a unique set of circumstances that impact my life. All I need to be able to share that life is trust and a good connection. A single woman has her own unique set of experiences, these experiences make her human, not superior or inferior to anyone else. Friendships are possible between married and single people when our common ground is our humanity and the language is empathy. Of course it will involve conversations about relationships, but we are not confined to this territory. Most singles I know desire meaningful, mutual friendships with married people where life is shared, wine is poured and laughter is abundant.
When it comes to our circumstances, there is often very little we can change. But I can always change the way I see other people, I can choose to make my home a safe place for everyone who enters it, I can choose how I see my single friends, and I can choose how to walk with them. There is more to our lives than the tight boundaries we draw around ourselves and other people. By relegating single people into the narrow confines of loneliness, relationships, or mentoring, we are all missing out on a depth of relationship and community.
What could you do to make your life and your home a safe place for the single people in your community? What assumptions do you need to lay down?


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Dawn E. Havrda, PharmD, BCPS; Beth A. Omundsen, MD; William Bender, MD; Mary Ann Kirkpatrick, PhD
Acknowledgments: The authors thank Estee Graves, PharmD, and Arthur Harralson, PharmD, BCPS for their substantial contributions.
Grant Support: None.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Requests for Reprints: Dawn E. Havrda, PharmD, BCPS, Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy, 1775 North Sector Court, Winchester, VA 22601; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Current Author Addresses: Drs. Havrda and Kirkpatrick: 1775 North Sector Court, Winchester, VA 22601.
Drs. Omundsen and Bender: Amherst Family Practice, 1867 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601.
Low-income Medicare beneficiaries without prescription benefits have high out-of-pocket medication expenses that can discourage adherence to treatment regimens. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 created a temporary drug discount card program and a prescription benefit with low-income provisions to assist with medication expenditures for eligible seniors.
To determine the impact of the new drug discount card and prescription benefit on medication expenditures by low-income Medicare recipients who require pharmaceutical company assistance for obtaining medications.
Retrospective, nonrandomized evaluation.
Family practice physicians' office in northern Virginia.
137 Medicare recipients without prescription coverage who received assistance from pharmaceutical companies for medications.
Patients were stratified into 3 categories according to income, household size, and the federal poverty line (FPL), as defined by the new Medicare act. Participants' long-term oral and inhaled medications, dosages, and instructions for use were obtained. The MMA criteria for low-income provisions were applied for the drug discount program and for the prescription benefit. Medication costs under the new Medicare benefits were compared with those incurred without assistance and with the use of pharmaceutical company programs for the cohort and FPL categories.
In all income categories, medication costs were lower after enrollment in all programs than those of patients without assistance. Compared with pharmaceutical company assistance, Medicare drug discount cards resulted in less savings for all income groups. For the prescription benefit, persons with incomes less than 135% of FPL had the greatest benefit because of low-income subsidies. Persons ineligible for low-income subsidies receiving the standard benefit had a smaller reduction in out-of-pocket costs and variable monthly expenditures; they realized a superior savings with pharmaceutical company assistance programs.
The generalizability of these findings is limited because the authors used a discount pharmacy to determine drug costs for persons receiving no assistance, could not determine asset criteria for the MMA drug benefit low-income subsidy, and used a selected Medicare population.
In a low-income Medicare population without prescription coverage, pharmaceutical company programs offered considerable savings and were superior to the Medicare drug discount cards. For the Medicare prescription plan, the greatest savings was among those eligible for low-income subsidies. Month-to-month medication costs may vary substantially for persons ineligible for such subsidies, and pharmaceutical company assistance may be a better alternative.
Table 1. Overview of Benefits of the Medicare Drug Discount Card Program
Table 2. Overview of Benefits of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Table 3. Patient Characteristics
Table 4. Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket Yearly Medication Expenditures and Savings Compared with No Assistance
Monthly estimated drug expenditures for the Medicare prescription drug benefit for incomes greater than 135% of federal poverty line (FPL).
Table 5. Patient Scenarios and Out-of-Pocket Medication Expenses
Terms of Use
The In the Clinic® slide sets are owned and copyrighted by the American College of Physicians (ACP). All text, graphics, trademarks, and other intellectual property incorporated into the slide sets remain the sole and exclusive property of the ACP. The slide sets may be used only by the person who downloads or purchases them and only for the purpose of presenting them during not-for-profit educational activities. Users may incorporate the entire slide set or selected individual slides into their own teaching presentations but may not alter the content of the slides in any way or remove the ACP copyright notice. Users may make print copies for use as hand-outs for the audience the user is personally addressing but may not otherwise reproduce or distribute the slides by any means or media, including but not limited to sending them as e-mail attachments, posting them on Internet or Intranet sites, publishing them in meeting proceedings, or making them available for sale or distribution in any unauthorized form, without the express written permission of the ACP. Unauthorized use of the In the Clinic slide sets will constitute copyright infringement.
Havrda DE, Omundsen BA, Bender W, et al. Impact of the Medicare Modernization Act on Low-Income Persons. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143:600–608. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-143-8-200510180-00011
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A couple of months ago we visited Glacier's End Arboretum, in Olympia, WA, where we found that we kept wanting to touch the plants! It wasn't just that the shapes and colors were striking; the textures made us feel like we were in a petting-zoo.
The well-textured garden is delightful in all seasons. While we think of texture as a component of how something feels, texture also affects appearance. Texture can be fine or coarse, matte or glossy. The above trio contains a large-leaved (coarse), glossy hellebore, a small-needled (fine) matte fir and a very fine-leaved glossy cotoneaster. Lots to interest, even without the lovely colors!
Eliminating the color does not decrease the textural variation; it actually enhances it, with the fir's needles bristling and the glossy hellebore continuing to shine. Now, what about color variation without different textures?
The colors of the heathers are striking and the fact that they (and the cedar) share the same fine texture does not diminish the loveliness of the planting. However, if you remove the color, you flatten the effect and reduce the impact.
When most of us begin to garden we are attracted first to color and tend to think of garden design and plant selection with color as the sole attribute, usually flower color. As we approach the shortest day of the year and the time when gardens are mostly bereft of flowers, it is a good opportunity to consider how to make our gardens interesting and inviting all year long.
The photo above illustrates the most basic of textural combinations: pairing matte needles with coarse, shiny leaves.
Texture is a continuum. The plants in the above photo are both technically fine-textured, but the Abies has short, stubby whiskers and the pine's needles are wispy threads. The twigs and stems add a tougher grace note. Yes, it's hard to ignore the color, but texture is unwilling to cede the floor completely.
Glacier's End is primarily a conifer garden. Mixing conifers, which generally have needles, thus are fine-textured, with broad leaved, coarsely textured, plants is an easy way to create interesting combinations that are attractive and eye-catching all year round.
Most Cryptomeria (the shrub on the left in the photo above) take on lavender or rusty hues in winter; the two tones of this one match the Corylopsis spicata leaves and stems. We'd like to give a gold star to the garden makers, who not only got the color combination right, but created a marvelous contrast of opposite textures.
You can even create textural variety within one group of plants. For example, pines can have needles that are long or short, bristly or wispy, dense or loose, upright or droopy, even matte or shiny. All affect the way that light and wind interact with and intensify the textures.
Textural differences can be very subtle, and structure, size and orientation play parts as important as color. It also depends on distance. Fine differences such as in the above photo are only apparent when you get close to the plants. Isn't it wonderful that as you approach, the plants become more interesting?
Plants with strappy leaves like Dasylirion, Yucca or Phormiums add coarseness to an otherwise finely-textured combination. The conifers and heathers in the above photo are anchored by the coarser Yucca and, we note, the stone.
Sometimes a single texture can be on display as with the Serbian spruce above. The foliage begs to be touched.
Similarly, without help from others, 'Raywood's Weeping' Arizona cypress provides a virtual explosion of texture, with immature pollen cones lighting up the tips of the branchlets.
A garden's textural highlights vary with the seasons. Most of the plants at Glacier's End are evergreen, but even with deciduous plants you can have texture in winter, when it often comes from bark and stems.
And don't forget hardscape when creating textural contrasts in your garden. Stones add coarseness and heft that offset the fine needles and small leaves of the nearby plants.
We don't want you to forget about color and we don't want you to forgo form and structure. We just want you to add texture to your garden to-do list. Make a New Year's resolution to texturize your garden in 2016!
Glacier's End Arboretum is a private garden in Olympia, WA. It is open by appointment to members of the American Conifer Society (www.conifersociety.org).
Read more about garden texture: Not Another Gardening Blog – Weaving your Garden


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A directory database gets
fragmented as you add, change, and delete objects to your database.
Like any file system–based storage, as the directory database is changed
and updated, fragments of disk space will build up so it needs to be
defragmented on a routine basis to maintain optimal operation. By
default, Active Directory performs an online defragmentation of the
directory database every 12 hours with the garbage collection process,
an automated directory database cleanup, and IT pros should be familiar
with it. However, online defragmentation does not decrease the size of
the NTDS.DIT database file. Instead,
it shuffles the data around for easier access. Depending on how much
fragmentation you actually have in the database, running an offline
defragmentation—which does decrease the size of the database—could have a
significant effect on the overall size of your NTDS.DIT database file.
There is a little
problem associated with defragmenting databases. They have to be taken
offline in order to have the fragments removed and the database resized.
In Windows Server 2008 R2, there is a great feature that allows you to
take the database offline without shutting down the server. It's called
Restartable Active Directory, and it could not be much easier to stop
and start your directory database than this. Figure 4 shows the Services tool and how you can use it to stop the Active Directory service.
Start the Services tool from the Control Panel.
Right-click Active Directory Domain Services, and select Stop.
That's it! Now when you stop
Active Directory Domain Services, any other dependent services will also
be stopped. Keep in mind that while the services are stopped, they
cannot fulfill their assigned role in your network. The really cool
thing about Restartable AD is that while the directory services and its
dependent services are stopped, other services on the local machine are
not. So, perhaps you have a shared printer running on your DC. Print
services still run, and print operations do not stop. Nice!
Now that you have stopped
Active Directory services, it is time to get down to the business of
offline defragmentation of the directory database:
Back up the database.
Open a command prompt, and type NTDSUTIL.
Type ACTIVATE INSTANCE NTDS.
Type FILES, and press Enter.
Type INFO,
and press Enter. This will tell you the current location of the
directory database, its size, and the size of the associated log files.
Write all this down.
Make a folder location that has enough drive space for the directory to be stored.
Type COMPACT TO DRIVE:\DIRECTORY,
and press Enter. The drive and directory are the locations you set up
in step 5. If the drive path contains spaces, put the whole path in
quotation marks, as in "C:\database defrag".
A new defragmented and compacted NTDS.DIT is created in the folder you specified.
Type QUIT, and press Enter.
Type QUIT again, and press Enter to return to the command prompt.
If defragmentation succeeds without errors, follow the NTDSUTIL prompts.
Delete all log files by typing DEL x:\pathtologfiles\*.log where x is the drive letter of your drive.
Overwrite the old NTDS.DIT file with the new one. Remember, you wrote down its location in step 4.
Close the command prompt.
Open the Services tool, and start Active Directory Domain Services.
Defragmenting your directory database using the offline NTDSUTIL
process can significantly reduce the size of your database depending on
how long it has been since your last offline defrag. The hard thing
about offline defrag is that every network is different, so making
recommendations about how often to use the offline defrag process is
somewhat spurious. I recommend you get to know your directory database.
Monitor its size and growth. When you think it is appropriate to
defragment offline, then do it. A pattern will emerge for you, and you
will find yourself using offline defragmentation on a frequency that
works well for your network and your directory database. One of the cool
things about offline defragmentation is that if you should happen to
have an error occur during the defragmentation process, you still have
your original NTDS.DIT database in place and can continue using it with no problems until you can isolate and fix any issues.
Windows Server 2008 R2 not
only allows you to audit changes to Active Directory but also allows you
to see the actual values entered into the directory before the change
was made and after the change is made. It was possible in Windows 2000
Server and Windows Server 2003 to audit directory service access to see
whether a change had been made, but this auditing allowed you to see the
results of the change only, not the "before and after" settings.
In Windows Server 2008 R2, the Audit Directory Service Access setting policy is divided into four subcategories:
Directory Service Access
Directory Service Changes
Directory Service Replication
Detailed Directory Service Replication
When you want to see
changes, you will implement the Directory Service Changes Policy. This
policy will allow you to see the changes made by any security principal
including create, delete, modify, move, or undelete operations. This
policy will record not only the new values but also the original values
in the event of a modify or undelete operation. In the event of a move
operation, the original location of the object will also be logged.
You can enable auditing in
Windows Server 2008 R2 through the use of three mechanisms. First, you
can choose to enable a global audit policy for all the directory service
subcategories mentioned previously. This setting is in the default
domain controller policy on the Domain Controllers OU and is not
enabled by default on Windows Server 2008 R2 DC. Therefore, if you want
to audit directory service changes, you will need to implement this
setting. One item of note is that the ID number for directory service
changes has been updated to 4,662 instead of Windows 2000 Server and
Windows Server 2003's 566 ID designation.
Second, you can also
enable auditing through the use of system access control lists (SACLs).
The SACL of an object determines whether access to an object will or
will not be audited. It determines which operations are to be audited
and for whom. SACLs are controlled by those security administrators who
have rights to the local system. The Administrators group would hold
this right by default. So, it is technically possible to edit the access
control entry (ACE) of an object and remove the auditing requirement of
the object even though Directory Services Changes has been enabled.
Finally, there is also a set of
schema controls that you can use to create exceptions using search flag
properties for what is being audited. For more on schema auditing
exceptions, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731607.
To enable directory services
auditing, you need to use Group Policy. Use the Group Policy Management
Console to make the suggested changes.
Select Start => Administrative Tools => Group Policy Management.
the console tree, double-click the name of the forest, expand Domains,
expand the name of your domain, select Domain Controllers, right-click
Default Domain Controllers Policy, and then click Edit.
Computer Configuration, expand Policies, expand Windows Settings,
expand Security Settings, expand Local Policies, and then click Audit
Policy (see Figure 5).
In the details pane, right-click Audit Directory Service Access, and then click Properties.
Select the Define These Policy Settings check box.
Under Audit These Attempts, select the Success check box, and then click OK.
Although you will most
likely enable auditing using the Group Policy Management Console,
sometimes you may prefer to use the command line. Here are the steps:
Click Start, type cmd in the search box to locate the command prompt, and then right-click and choose Run As Administrator.
Type the following command, and then press Enter:
auditpol /set /subcategory:"directory service changes" /success:enable
SACLs hold the real power in
auditing. They define the permissions and functions for auditing on any
given object or file location. It is possible to configure auditing of
Active Directory on the SACL:
Select Start => Administrative Tools => Active Directory Users And Computers.
Right-click the organizational unit, or any object, for which you want to enable auditing, and then click Properties.
the Security tab, click Advanced, and then click the Auditing tab. (If
you do not see the Security tab, you may need to enable Advanced
Features from the View menu.)
Click Add, and under Enter The Object Name To Select, type Authenticated Users (or any other security principal). Then click OK.
In Apply Onto, click Descendant User Objects (or any other objects).
Under Access, select the Successful check box for Write All properties.
Click OK.
Directory Service Changes auditing can add a powerful tool to your toolbox of management features in Window Server 2008 R2.


text:
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Here, puss-puss! If your cat is a bit snooty about being served dinner on an old saucer, I have just the thing. YBA-turned-commercial titan Tracey Emin has designed this rather fetching 'Docket' bone china bowl for feline fine dining for her new Shoreditch enterprise Emin International Shop. A Christmas present for Tiddles? Price – a whopper £30. Mia-ow!
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text:
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may be improved by dietary changes. But which foods should people choose and which should they avoid?
Ulcerative colitis can cause intense periods of abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. While there is no one diet for people with ulcerative colitis, certain dietary modifications may help manage the condition and avoid flares.
This article explores which foods may trigger ulcerative colitis. It also looks at which foods might be beneficial for people with this form inflammatory bowel disease.
With so many potential dietary triggers, it can be difficult for a person with ulcerative colitis to know what is safe to eat.
As with trigger foods, those that do not aggravate symptoms will vary from person to person. Some of the better choices for someone with ulcerative colitis include:
- Applesauce: This is a good source of nutrients. But similarly to other foods on this list, the high fiber content and fructose may make it less helpful during a flare.
- Salmon: This is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may have health benefits beyond the digestive tract.
- Squash: Many varieties are high in fiber, which may make them a bad choice for some people. However, a lot of people find that squash is well tolerated.
- Avocados: These are rich in nutrients and considered a good food choice for people with ulcerative colitis.
- Some fermented foods: These include yogurts, containing active probiotics. The good bacteria in these can aid digestion.
Some studieshave shown routine use of probiotics can help reduce flares and symptoms.
- Instant oatmeal: If eaten with no flavors added, this is slightly easier to digest than other forms of grains and oats.
- Eggs: These offer a number of nutrients, including omega-3 supplementation. They are typically easy to digest, which makes them good for a diet plan.
- Plenty of fluid: People with conditions like ulcerative colitis may need to drink extra fluid, as diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
Though the cause of ulcerative colitis is not understood completely, doctors are sure food is not a cause of the disease. However, the foods people choose to eat seem to have an impact on the episodes of ulcerative colitis flares.
Some foods are generally good to eat, while others may need to be avoided. Not all people will respond the same way to a food, so diets will vary.
Foods to avoid
There are some foods commonly recognized as trigger foods. These include:
- Caffeine: Although there is not a lot of data on the affect of caffeine on ulcerative colitis symptoms, a 2013 survey of 442 people found that 20 percent of individuals with the condition reported caffeine made symptoms worse. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.
- Dairy products: While not bad for all people with ulcerative colitis, dairy products can trigger symptoms in some. People who are also lactose intolerant should avoid dairy, as the symptoms are similar.
- Alcohol: This may trigger diarrhea in some people.
- Carbonated drinks: Some sodas and beers contain carbonation that can irritate the digestive track and cause gas. Many carbonated beverages also contain sugar, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners, which can be ulcerative colitis triggers.
- High fiber foods: These include dried beans, fruits, whole grains, berries, peas, and legumes. They may increase the number of bowel movements, amount of gas, and abdominal cramping.
- Popcorn: Similarly to other seeds and nuts, this can be difficult to digest.
- Foods that contain sulfur or sulfites: This mineral can cause excess gas production. Some of these foods include beer, wine, almonds, cider, soy, wheat pasta, breads, peanuts, raisins, and cured meats.
- Fatty meat: Fat from meat may not be properly absorbed during a flare, which may make symptoms worse.
- Nuts and seeds: Included are those in nut butters. They may cause abdominal cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. When a person experiences a flare, even small seeds may trigger symptoms.
- Sugar alcohols: These can cause bloating, diarrhea, and gas. Sugar alcohol is in many sugar free gums and candies, some fruit juices, and various ice cream.
- Fructose sugar: This can be poorly absorbed causing increased gas, cramping, and diarrhea. Check the label for things like high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, honey, and molasses, as these all contain fructose.
- Many vegetables: These are often high in fiber, which can be hard to digest, causing bloating, gas, and abdominal cramps. Stringy vegetables like celery are similar. Other gas-producing vegetables include cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. Cooked vegetables are better tolerated than raw.
- Spicy foods: These include buffalo wings, hot sauces, and hot peppers. They may cause diarrhea in many people. For people with ulcerative colitis, hot and spicy foods may trigger or worsen a flare.
- Gluten: This is found in wheat, rye and barley and can sometimes trigger symptoms in ulcerative colitis, Although oats do not contain gluten, they have a similar protein that can cross-react in individuals sensitive to gluten. Oats are also often processed in the same factory space as wheat.
The best approach to determine what foods to eat or avoid is through a food journal.
A daily food journal allows a person with ulcerative colitis to make informed decisions about potentially bad foods. It should be organized so it is easy to read and share with a doctor. Some good things to include are:
- date
- food eaten, including a list of extras added, such as sauces
- time of day food was eaten
- any immediate reactions
- any flares or worsening symptoms
Food journals are particularly helpful when people are looking to add additional food to their diets.
By adding one food at a time and recording it, a person can determine if the food is a good choice or not, by assessing whether symptoms are worsening or staying the same.
Diet plans for people with ulcerative colitis will vary. The best tend to start with a food journal, which shapes the food choices and ideas in the plan.
Diet plans should include the following information:
- Good foods to eat: This will include a list of foods a person knows do not aggravate their symptoms.
- Bad foods to eat: Similarly, a list of foods they know are triggers.
- Properly balanced nutrition: One of the biggest complications for people with ulcerative colitis is inadequate nutrition, due to limited food tolerances or poor choices. People should look for ways to modify foods rather than avoiding them, so the nutritional benefits are not lost. For example, peeling or cooking a fruit or vegetable might make it more tolerable.
- Supplements: Some foods high in nutrients may not be digestible for people. Or a person may lack nutrients. In these cases, they can add supplements to replace nutrients not obtained in their food.
- Meal plans: These should take into account a person's schedule and have built-in snacks. The better planned out a meal is, the more likely someone is to stick to eating foods that do not aggravate their symptoms.
- Review and approval of a doctor or nutritionist: Either professional can give advice on balancing the diet or alternative food choices an individual might not have considered.
- Continue the food journal: Ulcerative colitis can change over time, so it is important to track and record food intake, as part of the diet plan's maintenance.
Good diet plans should be reviewed occasionally to account for any changes in the body's reaction to food. It is important, too, to keep a doctor in the loop about any changes.
There are some pre-made diets and plans available to help people. Some examples include diets that avoid certain fermentable sugars, such as the low FODMAP diet, which are low in residue or low in fiber.
However, diets that are "one size fits all" may not work for all people. It is important for anyone looking to switch diets or follow a pre-made plan, to talk with their doctors or dietitians before starting.
Having a support system that's been there and understands is vital in the fight against ulcerative colitis. IBD Healthline is a free app for people that have faced a UC diagnosis. The app is available on the AppStore and Google Play. Download here: https://go.onelink.me/LOC7/1e0964f1.


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It's 2013 — nearly 10 years after the founding of Flickr and more than a year after Facebook bought Instagram — and yet we still can't seem to find the perfect way to store and share photos.
Well, here comes Linea, a new Seattle startup that just scored $4 million in angel financing from undisclosed investors. The company is led by Rowland Hobbs, a Bellevue High School grad and former Whitman College student who previously founded the branding, design and marketing firm Post+Beam.
We caught up with Hobbs via email to learn more about Linea, and how it plans to differentiate itself from the many other players in the photo sharing place, including Flickr and Instagram. The company, which employs 11, is currently in discussions with investors for a series A financing round. Here's more from our interview with Hobbs:
How do you plan to use the new funds? "Three main areas: building our visual summarization technology with our algorithm team, making our collaborative photo browsing platform available at scale by adding features like publishing and following lines like a social network, and with that social network functionality we plan to build and support a community of photo enthusiasts and photo browsers on web and mobile."
How did you come up with the idea? "George (Dy Jr.) and I were working at Post+Beam, an innovation and communication firm, where George ran user experience and I was a founder. Initially, we were approached by a client to see if we could improve photo sharing in families, but what we found was a deeper problem: Our photo libraries are broken and not equipped to deal with the pace of photography today. We applied our idea of an infinitely scrolling Mosaic called "Lines" to a subset of users, targeting who we considered the central photo organizer inside the family. It started to catch on. As we left our private beta and made Linea more widely available, we reached over 200,000 users, which stretched beyond the original audience. We decided to dedicate ourselves full-time to Linea, and hope to bring our disruptive approach to the slideshow to all those passionate about photography, and those who love to view incredible visual stories."
I see you live in New York City, so why is the company Seattle based? "I'm actually originally from Seattle and my family is still based in Seattle. When we started looking for developers to come on board with Linea I was interested in finding someone who could build the right culture. Jared Phillips and I went to Whitman College together and he has a great track record with creating wonderful startup environments. Once we discovered Corprew Reed, our head of engineering, it was set. We had the right people in Seattle to build out a wonderful team that happened to be in my hometown too (my family is happy about this). It helps that Seattle has a great startup community, but really it came down to having the right people build that team."
What makes you different from other photo sharing apps? "Yes, we certainly do provide functionality to share photos — and collaborate together to tell stories in what we call Lines — but we believe we are tackling a bigger problem: Fixing our broken photo libraries and viewing tools. Let's take the example of Instagram: 10 photos a second were added during Hurricane Sandy for 1.3 million photos. How can you possibly get a story out of that using a slideshow? We have reinvented the photo browsing experience for better story telling. The Linea Mosaic scrolls infinitely, you see the best photos in "hero" positions, and supporting photos around it. Stories emerge. Instead of spending time organizing or becoming a database manager for your photos, your time is spent enjoying your photos."
On why that photo experience matters: "Linea is the only company that is focusing on viewing and visual summarization in one. The result is quick, easy, and beautiful, creating what we consider visual stories on web and mobile. Everyone currently dealing with photos are stuck in a "slideshow metaphor," which creates a bottleneck between the time a series of photos are taken and when they are viewed. The result becomes the standard photo grid, losing any context of a story."
Isn't Flickr addressing some of the issues you are with their new design? "Flickr's redesign is just that, a redesign. While what they've done is put a stronger emphasis on the photos that users are adding to their service and providing fundamental features like increased free storage (Linea provides unlimited storage), nothing has been done to change the visual experience. We don't believe it solves the core problem of viewing all your photos. The Flickr design doesn't translate to an album or a photobook, scale across devices, nor does does it employ visual summarization, it is just employing a design. Linea is incredible design plus visual summarization. Their is a metaphor that needs to be changed, and that is the slideshow. We believe that until you change the slideshow metaphor, which Flickr is still well married to, you can't view, organize, share or print your photos in a one-step, simple, process. Until you apply a layer of smart summarization to their mass quantity of photos, users will be inherently hampered."
How do you plan to scale this, and what's stopping a larger player from rolling out a similar service? "We are building a passionate community of photo enthusiasts. As we move from our currently private network to an inherently open social network (where you can follow, collaborate and view photo story lines), we plan to reach not just private photo sharers, but public user generated content, content distributors and verified publishers. In the future, we plan to make our API publicly available so content creators and app developers too can benefit from intelligent photo framing. Our Mosaic design, templates, and algorithm approach are protected by patents that have issued and some that are just about to issue. However, it is more than just a legal barrier that prevents similar services from replicating Linea. We believe it is a metaphor, or mindset, that has to change to imitate what we've created. Both the visual design and the process of creating intelligent photo data have to work together to create an amazing experience. This combination is what changes thumbnails, slideshows, and album making into a singular and more visual photo browsing experience."
Follow us on Twitter @GeekWire.


text: Every year Heritage BC marks Heritage Week with a poster that is sent throughout the province to libraries, schools, municipal offices and politicians. We encourage everyone in the heritage sector to participate in Heritage Week by organizing an event that showcases local heritage and involves the public. In BC, Heritage Week is the third full week in February.


text:
Life Science » Clinical Applications » Immunology
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Antibody for Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
3810 – Toll like receptors (TLRs) are a family of conserved pathogen recognition receptors that are integral to innate immune responses. Among the 13 TLR members in mammal, TLR3 recognizes viral PAMPs. The role of TLR3 in viral-induced pathology has been extensively studied in the context of gene deficient mice. TLR3 activation following viral infection appears to elicit two major responses:... Read More
Inhibition of HIV Replication by Blocking IL-8 , GRO-alpha, and /or CXCR2 Function
1891 – Medical therapy for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has improved over the last several years. However, many patients still fail to respond to the available pharmacologic agents, due to drug resistance and other factors. In addition, the antivirals currently available are often not well tolerated by patients. The currently available drugs for treating HIV-1... Read More
Monoclonal Antibody UM4D4
0238 – Monoclonal antibody UMCD6


text:
Joe Gator is a Hip-Hop artist from Chicago that is diverse when it comes to being a lyrical genius. This record is a record that I listen to every single day. In this record he talks about mixing designer. Wearing name brands such as;
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text: I can vividly remember your 1st Birthday. As the day drew closer I found myself thinking back over the birth a lot. We spent the day on holiday and made the best of celebrating you becoming 1. When you turned 2 we spent the day visiting family and I felt that it was your best Birthday yet. This year, as you turn 3, we are spending the day with lots of our family and making a celebration of the whole day. This morning we will begin with a special pancake breakfast, with Grandma, before we head over to a little tea party at Nanny & Grandad's house. Auntie Jamie is even making you a wheat, gluten, dairy, soya and coconut free cake. That is no mean feat! I'm really excited for the day ahead but I wanted to start by sharing this post – Daisy, you are 3!


text:
It's been a gruelling but rewarding week so I thought of treating myself to some of my good old favorites from Kimono Ken.
Kimono Ken is a chain of Japanese fusion restaurants that's been around for about a decade. It may be homegrown here in the Philippines but they certainly deliver. (Restaurants in Little Tokyo are on another level, though.)
It's a little heavy on the pocket, but the price is comparable to how food costs in Japan. Taste-wise, the flavors are definitely there. So for today's snapshot of their offerings:
Service is efficient and the staff are cordial. I don't eat out as much as I used to anymore, but Kimono Ken will stay as one of my favorite go-to restaurants if I want a treat. If you like Japanese food and haven't gone to any of their branches, do give it a try!


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The Next 5 Week Challenge Starts Monday, December 9 and ends Sunday, December 29th.
You can find the current challenge subforum here and Rules/FAQ here.
This challenge is a three week all guild holiday challenge!
If this is your first challenge, normally you would set up your challenge thread in the LEVEL 1 SUBFORUM. Since this is the all guild holiday challenge, join us in the Holiday Challenge and post in the Level 1 subforum in the new year. For now, check out the NF Beginner's Guide, as well as the Video Walkthrough of Your First Challenge.
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text:
Thursday, July 17, 2014 - 1:00pm
Healthcare communication and engagement strategies differ from all other types of consumer communication and engagement approaches. In this webinar, WellPoint and Eliza share the solutions and best practices that resulted in a successful member engagement program based on multi-touch, multi-channel outreach.
Topics covered:
- The elements of a successful multi-touch, multi-channel member retention strategy
- How health plans can ensure a consistent message across various departments to preserve and strengthen the brand
- How short- and long-term success of member retention strategies can be measured
Webinar Presenters
Melissa Kubilus
Director of Member Engagement and Outreach
Marc Jeffreys
Senior Vice President of Consumer Markets
Eliza Corporation


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For our family, Valentine's Day has always been a celebration of family love. This is how it was growing up too, so I guess that is why I have always loved Valentine's Day even on those years that I didn't have a special someone to celebrate it with. I always had my family! While I love to do things to help my husband feel special on Valentine's Day, I also love to show my kids how much I love them as well! I made each of my kids a Valentine's Gift to do just that!
First, I got out all of my materials and got these little books ready at the beginning of February. I cut out 14 hearts for the pages of the book and 1 more for the cover, so 15 hearts total for each book. I decorated the cover with some scrapbook paper and their initial.
Then I wrote 14 things that I love about them on each of the books' pages. I then laminated each page and the cover to make it more durable and something that they will hopefully love for a long time. I love having a laminating machine (affiliate link) at home. It has been so handy! Then hole punched each page.
I also decorated a binder clip with scraps of ribbon and ric rac, just to make it even cuter!
Now, I didn't assemble the books just yet. On the first day of February I gave each child the cover page with the binder clip attached and then hid their first page to the book. Each day leading up to Valentine's Day, I hid one page from their book for them to find. After they found their page each day, we just clipped it onto the ring. On Valentine's Day they had a completed book of 14 reasons that I love them and a very special Valentine's gift! 😀
Along with our Valentine's Day Countdown, this 14 reasons I love you Valentine's Gift has made Valentine's Day so much fun!
Of course, these little books don't have to be just for kids! I've made similar things for my husband and he loves it just as much! And you also don't have to do it for quite so long. Even just giving out little notes a few days before Valentine's Day would be a wonderful Valentine's gift.
Have a fabulous day!


text:
The first opportunity I got for a sweater-weather here in Los Angeles, I went for this bright and cozy number from ASOS. Add ankle skinny jeans and animal-print pumps and you have a look that the French would call Trés Cool.
OUTFIT: sweater: ASOS (same here); jeans: H&M (same here); handbag: Fossil (similar here); shoes: Louboutin: (similar here)


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Are you ready for the next GCA ART IN THE PARK EVENT . . .
Nestled between Rough River Lake and Nolin Lake, Leitchfield offers you a chance to get away for a relaxing weekend of fun and enrichment. Experience southern hospitality in a small-town atmosphere while browsing juried fine arts and crafts in a park setting.
We're thrilled to welcome back to the show this year Grayson County's own world-renowned artist and illustrator, Larry Elmore. Stop by to visit with him and the other fine artists offering a variety of media and styles for both the casual and discriminating art lover.
You'll love our new, even more scenic location. We'll still be in City Park, but nestled on a shaded hill above the Pavilion area, with easy access from Wallace Avenue.
Proceeds will benefit the Grayson County Alliance Programs, a charitable organization formed to help Grayson County residents with limited resources.


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Snowboarding and longboarding are the top sports that are played in different parts of the world. These sports have gone through several changes in the past few years. Some changes were made in the rules and regulations of these sports and some changes were made in the shape of the boards that are used for these sports but recently some new changes are made to the materials that are used to manufacture these boards.
The reason why several top companies have made changes to the material is that many customers complained about the quality of material over the past year. Most of the manufacturers thought that is it was just because of the rough use of the board but after an increase in the complaints, they realized that there is definitely something wrong with the material and they decided to conduct several experiments to analyze the quality of the material.
Finally, they realized that the material they were using in the past was not strong enough to bear the weight of an adult. So, some top companies decided to use a different material on their boards. Here are the top materials and surfaces that are now being used for snowboarding and longboarding in 2018.
Bamboo is one of the strongest materials that are used in the production of longboards and snowboards. This is a flexible material and has the ability to bear the weight of a strong adult. The companies ran several experiments on this material to make sure that it may not disappoint them in the future. Now, the complaints have reduced a lot and the users that have bought the boards made with this material are completely satisfied with the performance of this material.
The maple was used in the production of longboards in the past but it failed to provide the expected performance to the customers. So, the companies decided to use the Chinese hardwood maple instead of the regular maple they were using in this past. The beauty of this material is that it provides better performance to the users and it is not even heavy. That's the main reasons due to which most of the customers are buying the longboards made with this material.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is another most popular material that is being used in the production of longboards and snowboards. The flexibility of this material has helped it achieve a higher rank in the industry of longboards and snowboards because flexibility is the most important requirement of the longboarding and snowboarding.


text:
Recent press coverage on "EU's high heel ban for salon staff" and "Barmy EU to ban stylist's ring & heels" are misleading and reports of a new health and safety directive are untrue.
What lies behind the "hair-raising" headlines is an own initiative by salon owners and hairdressers to help better protect the health and safety of all those working in the industry in the EU.
The draft agreement negotiated by Coiffure EU and UNI Europa builds upon existing national best practices and existing regulations in member states. Such as the current HSE guidelines (pdf) on the provision of gloves. It will mean little change for those hairdressers – salon owners and workers – who already follow the law and health and safety guidance.
Scientific evidence shows hairdressers are exposed to a high risk of occupational disease, such as muscular-skeletal disorders and skin diseases in particular. Failure to adequately address health risks lead to increased absenteeism and early retirement from the profession.
The cost of occupational skin diseases in loss of productivity across all sectors exceeds €5bn every year in the EU, according to latest calculations. With the hairdressing profession carrying the highest risk. Medical Reference document (pdf)
Before the agreement becomes law it needs to be approved by the European Commission with the final decision being made by EU government ministers, including the UK, at the Council. The European Parliament will be informed but does not debate the proposal.
See also scientific evidence provided by European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.


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On this week's Popcast, Jon Pareles takes in the 40th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; Ben Ratliff reviews "Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free" by the Brooklyn band Akron/Family; and guitarist Marc Ribot plays two songs in our studio and talks to Ben Sisario. Sia Michel is your host.
Jazzfest, Akron/Family, Marc Ribot and More (mp3)


text:
Healing Touch: Healing touch is an energy therapy in which
practitioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way
to support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. healing
touch is a biofield (magnetic field around the body) therapy that is an energy-based
approach to health and healing.
The goal of healing touch is to restore balance and harmonies in the energy system, placing the client in a position to self heal.
Healing Touch:
One hour session - $50


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Monday, June 28, 2010
Back from Texas' Paper Cowgirl 2010!
Paper Cowgirl was a huge hit! I had such a great time!! I met some fabulous newbies and saw lots of friendly familiar faces too. We crafted, shopped around the huge antique square, ate (cupcakes and frosting shots were my fav!), and then oohed and ahhed over the lovelies during Vendor Night.
Meet and Greet and Swap Night!!
My sweet friend Nancy
Nancy and LaVerne headed up the darling Paper Doll Swap. Aren't they incredible?
Here are some of the fantastic flowers from the Blossom Swap I hosted. We ended up having two Blossom Swaps!
One-to-one swap "Cowgirl Banner and Cuff" created by the talented Kathy. I'll hang the banner in my art studio!
My Digi Art Girl class was a blast! I saw unsure eyes, confused eyes, and then wide set excited "Did I do THAT?!" eyes. I was thrilled!! Thank you ladies for trying something "out of the box" this weekend! Photos of my class will be coming asap. I had a friend take some shots while I was teaching.
Eating at the "Haunted" Catfish Plantation was southern cooking at it's finest. We ate so much incredible fried food...wow!
Joanna and I eating friend pickles, fried sweet potatoes, friend onion rings, fried catfish, friend hushpuppies, french fries....well anything and everything fried!
Artsy Friends Jennifer and Jana enjoying southern cooking!
Shopping and Cupcakes with Carol and Tanya
We shopped Old Town Waxahachie. Here are some of my "finds."
Vendor Night was magical!
Lots of goodies every inch of the convention center.
Here I am in my booth!
This is my sweetie friend Ann Denise. Her booth was amazing!! It was right next to mine...
The one and only "head cowgirl" Cindy Mayfield. She's the one in charge...love her!
Some of the teachers this year...from the left Deb, Joanna, Me, Jennifer B., Ann Denise, and Cindy G. We're waiting for our cupcakes and frosting shots!!
My good friends Carol and Tanya came with me this year to PC. They loved every minute!
Here I am with my other "vendor neighbor," darling Deb and another fun teacher this year, Chantal.
Here are a few of the goodies I purchased Vendor Night...
More later with photos from my Digi Art class!
Posted by mendytexas at 11:13 AM
Friday, June 18, 2010
Vendor Night at Paper Cowgirl
Can't wait for Vendor Night at Paper Cowgirl in just a few days!! Here are a few other things that will be at my booth.
These are a take on my fresh flower corsages.
I got a hold of this "lot" of darling turtles and couldn't wait to play with them...
Some hand dyed tattered "pick-me" roses...ready to pin anywhere!
Bundles of fun Digital Postcards designed by me...
I'll also have a section of fabulous TweetyJill images and goodies along with a fun free make-and-take!
Can't wait for the fun weekend!
Posted by mendytexas at 8:16 AM
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Paper Cowgirl ...Around the Corner!
Yes, Paper Cowgirl is right around the corner! I can't believe it's already June!
I'm so excited about my Digi Girl Class at Paper Cowgirl. If you haven't signed up for the event, you have until Sunday, June 13th!
My "Digi Girls" have just received the first part of their class packets...
Ready for some digi fun!!
I've finished another Paper Cowgirl swap...Paper Dolls. I made them "me," could you tell?
I'm so excited about my Digi Girl Class at Paper Cowgirl. If you haven't signed up for the event, you have until Sunday, June 13th!
My "Digi Girls" have just received the first part of their class packets...
Ready for some digi fun!!
I've finished another Paper Cowgirl swap...Paper Dolls. I made them "me," could you tell?
Posted by mendytexas at 8:20 PM
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Collage "Hanger" Make and Takes
If you are attending the Paper Cowgirl '10 event in June, look for the TweetyJill make and take during Vendor Night! I am so excited to host the incredible make and take project sponsored by the one and only TweetyJill Co. I've been on the TJ design team and have had many things on their blog.
The make and take will be a nice sized canvas "hanger," perfect for haning on your wall or door knob. All papers and photos are from the TweetyJill company. The wonderful project is FREE for those who are attending Paper Cowgirl!!
Here are some sample projects I made using the TJ collage kits that will be at PC on vendor night:
I can't wait to see what the Paper Cowgirls come up with!
Please look for me on Saturday night!
Posted by mendytexas at 7:45 PM
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Ganmon is located on Shikamachi, Ishikawa prefecture. It is one of places to see, generally called "Noto Kongo" with Hatagoiwa, Sekinohana, Yaseno-dangai, and Masuhogaura. Ganmon is a natural sea-cave on the solid rock which was created by the erosion and is sticking out to the ocean. Its dimension is 6m (W) x 15m (H) x 60m (D). This area is a seaside which has many cliffs and interesting rocks to see along 30km. The views from cliffs are beautiful and you can ride on a boat to see the different views from the ocean.
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Why don't you visit this place to feel nature and refresh yourself to hear the sound of waves with seeing beautiful views you never had before?
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Its time for me to introduce you to another trader on the copy trading platform etoro. With over a million members it can be hard to know who the best people to copy trade. So i've been putting together a series of reviews of people who I think are interesting and worth a look.
If you're not ready to copy trade, you can still join eToro for free and use a virtual account to practice copy trading. This way, you'll be able to see if it can be profitable to you under real world trading conditions.
This weeks review is of Algebraiker, a trader from Germany.
Return on Investment
Algebraiker has been trading on Etoro since 2013. The first two years on the platform, he had negative returns. But for the past three years, has managed a pretty significant return. So far in 2017 he is up nearly 15%. Although the two negative years are a bit of a red flag, it could have been due to a dramatically different trading style. Traders do evolve and hopefully get better, and this certainly looks to be the case with Algebraiker.
Investment Style
Most of his investments are in Indicies with a few ongoing investments in stocks as well. But most of the trades are in the Ger30 indicie. So if you're looking for exposure into the German economy, then this could be the trader for you. Indicies tend to be very volatile, and skilled traders are able to profit from this volatility. Following Algebraiker is a great way to learn how to trade these markets.
Looking through his feed, he is quite active and responding to people asking questions, which is always great to see on eToro.
In terms of other stats, he has a risk score of 3 – which is right on the money, an average holding time of just 3 days and makes around 10 trades per week. These are right within the range that I usually look for when evaluating traders. You don't want to copy someone, only to find that they don't make a single trade for months on end.
You can find out more about Algebraiker here


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Treyarch and Activision reveal a new, seriously creepy trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies Chronicles. The undead-focused DLC was officially announced last week for PS4.
A brand new trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies Chronicles offers a glimpse at the remastered maps set to be added to the popular zombie mode in the first-person shooter. The forthcoming DLC adds better-looking versions of eight maps from three previous Call of Duty games (World at War, Black Ops 1 and 2) including Origins, which features a terrifying mech that towers over everything, and the famous Kino der Toten (cinema of the dead), which offers a good zombie killing romp.
Although the trailer does at least clue fans in on what to expect, this look at the updated versions of the map is all too brief. While the target audience of the DLC is surely people who have already played and enjoyed these maps, Activision and Treyarch have attached a $30 price tag to it. As such, anyone buying Zombies Chronicles to experience this content for the first time may need a bit more convincing than this trailer.
In fact, on social media, even some existing fans are hesitant. And this is considering promised extra loot: 20 vials of Liquid Divinium, two new GobbleGums, an "exclusive" Pack-A-Punch weapon camo, a pre-order bonus of a Zombie Chronicles dynamic theme for PS4, and the 8 Days of the Undead community event that is taking place in the run up to its release.
Moreover, the trailer doesn't make it immediately clear why someone should invest in this blast from the past to play a Call of Duty Zombies mode when the upcoming Call of Duty: WW2 also promises Zombies mode gameplay. It's true that little information about WW2's Zombies mode has been officially revealed just yet but the game will feature undead killing along with the World War 2 set campaign that fans have been asking for for a while. So many will ask themselves what need is there to buy Zombies Chronicles and the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 base game (which is required to access the DLC) when the new game could scratch that itch just as well.
With the release of the downloadable content right around the corner on PS4 (with PC and Xbox One released expected around 30 days after), it's unlikely that these questions will be answered before release. Though fans will still be hoping that the DLC gets a pre-release price cut or that Treyarch and Call of Duty: WW2 developer Sledgehammer Games address things anyway.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies Chronicles will be released on May 16 for PS4.


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For instant and authentic communication use Wireless Earpiece and GSM box
There are several variations and configurations with spy cameras, accounting for the several possible uses and applications that you can make use with it.
Spy camera and hidden camera devices have filled the imagination of so many wanting to feel the excitement of doing covert operations themselves, watching every movement of a person or monitoring every activity that goes on in a particular area. Spies, covert operatives, and detectives in the movies and in real life have use miniature spy cameras hidden within their clothing or embedded in an inconspicuous object - in a bid to get photos or footages that will help them catch the bad guys.
Now, you can get that same thrilling action with affordable spy camera devices and gadgets using the latest in digital technologies and coming in all forms and disguises that you've never ever imagined as a place or object that can have a hidden camera inside. From as low as 35 US dollars or lower for camera-only products to as high as 500+ US dollars for a complete spy camera system complete with transmitters and digital video recorders, you can have the same spy gadgetries that only real-life spies can have access to in the past - and the following is your definitive guide.
** Types of Spy Cameras **
A spy camera can be classified into three different types: wired, wireless and all-in-one. The configuration of these cameras will dictate how you can use them for monitoring and surveillance purposes. Each type has its own unique benefits as well as limitations in use. It will only depend on your need and situation.
* Wired
As the term implies, wired spy cameras are characterized by cables connecting the camera device itself with a monitor and recording device. Dome and miniature CCTV cameras are some of the most widely used variations and are great for used in fixed areas with continuous security monitoring requirements. These devices are not good though for mobile use as the presence of connectors and cables will compromise the "hidden" feature of these cameras.
* Wireless
Wireless cameras on the other hand made do without the cables and connectors and instead use radio waves to transmit video feeds and signals to a receiver that is connected to a monitor or a laptop. The greatest advantage of wireless cameras is its high mobility and easy configuration for concealment as you can easily incorporate them as part of another object or clothing and no one would easily suspect them as surveillance cameras.
These spy cameras however, are limited in the transmission distance (approximately 1000 feet max) and is subject to interference just like any radio-wave generating device. Its length of use is also limited as long as there is still enough juice left in the batteries. Aside from that, the allowable frequencies that you can use are limited and would depend on the country, state or region the spy camera will be used in.
* All-in-One
An all-in-one, self-contained, or stand-alone spy camera has a built in digital video recorder or DVR built into the unit. The spy camera can record footages and images as long as the batteries hold out and the recorded information can be retrieved at a later period. This device is great for use when you have limited access on a particular area.
The limitations will be based on the battery life and the size of the flash memory used. Aside from that, should your camera be discovered before you retrieved the recorded footage, your information will already be compromised, unlike the video feeds coming from wireless or wired spy cameras which you can record at an external facility on the fly.
** Applications of Spy Cameras **
There are several possible applications for spy cameras and would depend on your needs and situations. The following are some of the most common uses:
* Espionage - let's leave this to the experts
* Security and Surveillance
* Monitor People and Animals
* Entertainment
** Spy Camera Features **
Spy cameras have gone a long way and are packed with several features only seen in movies before. You can now avail of cameras with night vision and infrared capabilities for all your surveillance and monitoring work done at night or with limited lighting. These cameras can be built-in with audio capabilities to supplement the recorded video images.
Some cameras have timers and will start recording only at a predetermined time and will continue recording depending on the length of time set. In a similar manner, some spy cameras have motion detectors that will start recording only when motion or activity is detected. This can greatly extend your recording time and will record only events when it matters.
With an internet connection and a DVR, you can see what your spy camera is seeing and recording at that particular moment from anywhere across the world. This remote surveillance capability is a good security measure to let you know what's going on in your store or business even while you're away or at home.
** Hardware and Software Requirements **
When choosing a spy camera, it is important to take note of some of the hardware and software requirements that goes along with it. Transmission and recording accessories are some of the most basic and most important so it is necessary that you have these to process your documented footages. Just make sure that the TV system you are using is compatible with the video format in your camera to avoid any incompatibilities later on.
If you're using a computer or a laptop to process images, make sure that you have the proper software that is compatible with your camera so you can get the best results. Aside from, you should be equipped with the proper connectors and cables (wireless or wired) that will serve as interface between your spy camera and computer system.
There are several variations and configurations with spy cameras, accounting for the several possible uses and applications that you can make use with it. As a buyer for personal use, or an entrepreneur planning to sell these merchandisesPsychology Articles, it is important to familiarize yourself with all information about spy cameras - and get the most benefit for your personal use or business.
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1990 Breyer Dealer Catalog: 9' x 11" Glossy Cover
One available. Photo is of actual item.
Inside is in excellent condition. Outside is as shown: Small creases on left side, bottom corner has small crease, may have scratches on cover that don't go all the way through gloss. Photo is intact. Smudges on cover are mainly fingerprints on the gloss and will come off with cleaning.


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The Attributes of God—A New Approach
The Doctrine of God is usually approached using a systematic theology model, i.e. what we know about God from the Bible is classified into a logical system.
What follows is an alternative approach.
Part 4. God's Knowledge
Part four in the series on The Theology of God.
God begins to reveal this attribute very early:
Part 3. God's Justice
Part three in the series on The Theology of God.
Part 2. God's Faithful Love
Part two in the series on The Theology of God.
If Genesis 1:1 begins to reveal God's power, then the second attribute that is revealed is that he is relational.
Part 1. God's Power
The first part of the series on The Theology of God introduces the concept of this way of approaching God's character and attributes, and begins the series by looking at God's self-revelation of his power.
In addition to Genesis 1 & 2, the main texts are:
The Attributes of God—A New Approach: Introduction
Traditional Approach
The Doctrine of God is usually approached using a systematic theology model, i.e. what we know about God from the Bible is classified into a logical system.
Alternative Approach
Holy Spirit Baptism
The subject of Holy Spirit Baptism has been very divisive. Typically people are polarized into two camps:
Is it wrong to Celebrate Christmas?
Many things about Christmas have pagan origins. Does this mean that by participating we are opening ourselves to the occult? What about Christmas trees, yule logs, lights, mistletoe and even the date of December 25?
When we look deeper, huge parts of our culture have pagan origins, from the names of the days of the week, the months, common personal names and place names.
One pagan website points out that
Many people celebrate Halloween, which has much more obvious pagan origins, and some music and new-age practices have explicit connections.
I am going to suggest we can divide these cultural elements into three categories:[read more...]
The Gospel Pt.6 - What do you tell a person do to become a Christian?
The answer to this might seem very easy to some people. The Arminian might respond, "Repeat the words of this simple prayer after me", or "Just ask Jesus into your heart".
Others might say, "If someone is not a Christian, then they are dead in trespasses and sins and so can't do anything".
I believe what Jesus said in John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." But on the other hand Jesus very frequently told people to come to him, implying that this choice was available to them.
We have to maintain the tension between:
The starting point must be that the Holy Spirit is working in a person, even before they are born again (otherwise they would have no spiritual interest). It is possible to resist the Spirit (Acts 7:51) up to a point, but ultimately God can break through any resistance (e.g. Paul's salvation).
The second assumption is that the words of the gospel are like seeds which the Spirit can bring to life. So we don't tell people that they are required to trust in Jesus yet cannot. We tell them to trust him with the confidence that the Spirit is the one who gives power to these words.
The third assumption is that assurance is the work of the Spirit, not our job. So we don't say, "Now you have prayed this prayer, you are a Christian." We say, "keep seeking God until you know you have a new spiritual life within you."
So now back to the question itself—what must a person do? The simple answer is "repent and believe", but this needs some explanation, and raises an important question, "How much do you need to know to become a Christian—is there a minimum?"
I think there are three things you need to know:
Here are my thoughts, taken from an outline of a sermon on: "What does a person do to become a Christian?"
1. Who God is:[read more...]
The Gospel Pt.5 - How do we Preach Repentance Today?
The command to repent is right at the core of the Gospel message preached in the New Testament, but repentance sits very ill with today's self-righteous society. Three possible approaches are:
Unwilling to limit the gospel to the obviously immoral (a), to focus on moralism (b) or to change the Gospel (c), I want to find a way of convicting people of their most important sin—failure to love and acknowledge God as their creator and Lord.
The second target I want to hit is the politically correct pluralism that says: "I am not against your god—he is fine for you. I am not his enemy, I am just neutral in this whole god debate."
The reality is that we are either for God or against him. But how do you convince people of that?
My suggestion is an approach in which we start with what God is doing—He is involved in a cosmic struggle to root out every form of evil and injustice in the universe. Given this situation, not to be on God's side is actually to help his enemies.
This is especially true when you consider that the forces of evil are united by one thing: Denial of God's rights as their Lord.
So if you do not acknowledge God, then you are siding with his enemies[read more...]


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San Franciscans unite to smite alt-right with minefield of doggy shite
'Free speech' demo faces faeces counter-protest
A shit storm awaits a bunch of far-right protestors when they convene in San Francisco this weekend – locals are storing up their doggy do-do and plan to distribute it in the area the protestors are holding the rally.
People of the Rainbow City will heavily pepper Crissy Field and the white beach next to the Golden Gate bridge with the brown stuff ahead of alt-right group Patriot Prayer descending on the place.
A Facebook Group called "Leave your dog poop on Crissy Field" was started by SF resident Tuffy Tuffington, who owns two Patterdale terriers called Bob and Chuck.
"I just had this image of the alt-right people stomping around in the poop," he told The Graun. "It seemed like a little bit of civil disobedience where we didn't have to engage with them face to face."
So far, over a thousand people have said they will drop off their dogs' waste and a further 5,400 have expressed interest in the event.
The poop group's Facebook page states: "Leave a gift for our Alt-Right friends. Take your dog to Crissy Field and let them do their business and be sure not to clean it up!"
But don't worry, the dog toffee won't be given the chance to turn white – as frequently seen on the streets of Britain some decades ago – as the muck will be raked up.
The event page adds: "Watch out for landmines, friends! We can get together on Sunday and clean up the mess and hug each other!"
The dog log dumpers are among a number of folk making preparations for the alt-right visitors, with others preferring to offer up Flowers Against Fascism, and drag queens are hosting a march for equality. ®
Sponsored: From CDO to CEO


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Subscribe to Engineering Impact, the weekly newsletter for managers of software teams.
This week: TDD vs. CDD, Becoming a Manager of Managers, quantifying Radiohead's most depressing song, ways everyone can contribute to team culture.
TDD doesn't work, maybe CDD would
Evgeny Poberezkin, Head of Development at MailOnline, makes a provocative case for Coverage Driven Development.
Becoming a manager of managers
Brian Scanlan, Engineering Manger at Intercom, provides an inside look at his path from a maker, to manager, to a manager of managers—and some lessons learned along the way.
Finding the most depressing Radiohead song (using Spotify and Genius lyrics APIs)
Creep on over and find out which song →
How everyone can contribute to an awesome team culture
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Ben Thompson is a co-founder at GitPrime where he leads design and customer experience. He is a Y Combinator alumni, with a background in product design, branding, and UX design. Follow @thebent on Twitter.
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