text:
Time For You goes Australian
Time For You, the UK's longest established cleaning franchise, has expanded internationally for the first time with a deal to create a master franchisor in Australia.
Father and son, Thomas and Andrew Russell, have signed a deal with Time For You founders Ruth and Freddie Rayner to secure the rights to expand the franchise across Australia.
Freddie explains: "We have been looking for the right opportunity to expand internationally for some time. We felt Australia was the perfect place to start as the franchising as a business model is well regarded there, and the tight regulation means they're professionally run in the same way we run Time For You in the UK. Tom and Andrew already run two successful companies in the haulage sector so they bring a wealth of business experience as well as local knowledge."
Time For You has been trading in the UK since 1997 and has grown into the largest domestic cleaner services franchise with over 120 franchise business owners across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Time For You Franchisees come from a range of backgrounds including housewives, policemen, nurses, factory workers, bank managers, postmen, office workers and even solicitors.
Tom/Andrew comments: "We wanted to expand our business portfolio and were looking for a business that could grow across Australia. Time For You is a proven business model that will give us the opportunity to expand, whilst knowing we have the benefit of Freddie and Ruth's years of experience in the UK. Having been over to meet the British franchise owners and see how they operate we're confident the model will work well in Australia and can't wait to get it off the ground."
The Australian business will follow the same system as the UK, providing the opportunity to run a management franchise which offers an effective service to match the right cleaner to the right client, not always the easiest thing to do! Time For You aims to be a simple business, and is run by many franchisees working part-time from home as there's no stock to manage. There are no royalties to pay, just a flat monthly management fee.
Freddie adds: "We're delighted that 94% of our franchise owners opt to renew at the end of their franchise contract, and take further endorsement from the fact that those that do retire, often pass their business on to their children to run. We wish Tom and Andrew the same success in Australia and look forward to rolling Time For You out to more countries in the future."
Franchise Matching Service
9Round Opens First Gym in Australia
Add 9Round to the list of world-class fitness chains looking to capitalize on Australia's booming fitness sector....
2015 FCA Excellence in Franchising Awards regional categories open!
Following the success of the 2014 FCA Excellence in Franchising Awards, there has never been a better time to enter...
Time For You goes Australian
Time For You, the UK's longest established cleaning franchise, has expanded internationally for the first time with...
Shift8 drives retail franchises
With over 45 franchise systems and 830 quick service retail (QSR) outlets across Australia on its books, Shift8's...
Franchise Council of Australia welcomes new Franchising Code of Conduct
The Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) has welcomed the release of the new Franchising Code of Conduct, set to be...


text:
There are just not a whole lot of truly interesting sounds in country music these days. I recently took a long road trip, listening to radio stations all the way. And I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times a record excited me enough to make me turn up the volume. I have long suspected that the people in Nashville who make country records don't even listen to their own creations. Now I'm just about certain of it.
That said, there are some bright highlights in this week's stack of platters. Jimmy Buffett & Toby Keith, The Band Perry and Randy Travis all have excellent new music. So does the Zac Brown Band, which takes home the Disc of the Day award.
The newcomers today are Cole Swindell, Angie Johnson, Maggie Sajak and our DisCovery Award winners, American Young.
LUKE BRYAN/That's My Kind of Night
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Dallas Davidson/Chris DeStefano; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publishers: Songs of Southside Independent/Out of the Taperoom/External Combustion/EMI Blackwood/Two Chord Georgia/EMI April/Sugar Glider, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol Nashville
-Typical contemporary "country," which is to say banjo slapped on top of a rock-music track with lyrics about partying and a vague hip-hop vibe.
RANDY TRAVIS/Tonight I'm Playin' Possum
Writers: Keith Gattis; Producer: Kyle Lehning; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree/Pioneer Town/BMI; Warner Bros.
-Randy is facing a long recovery right now. While we await his comeback, here is an excellent tribute to the late, great George Jones to warm our country hearts. Needless to say, it is country to the core.
JIMMY BUFFETT & TOBY KEITH/Too Drunk To Karaoke
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: International Dog/Big Yellow Dog/Scamporee/Hammer Arm/Coral Reefer/All About the Music, BMI; Mailboat
-He signs up to sing in the bar, but by the time they call his name, he's blotto. These two sound like they're having a ball with this hilarious, super bouncy, sing-along ditty. A single with a built-in smile. Essential.
ANGIE JOHNSON/Swagger
Writers: Angie Johnson/Josh Leo/Phoenix Mendoza; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/I Can't Stand Your Music/Keeping Music Alive/Cool Vibe, BMI; Sony (track)
-It's a shouted rocker with quasi-metal electric guitar and programmed electronic effects. Catchy, rhythmic and pleasing, but not exactly drawing on any country musical tradition that I am aware of.
THE BAND PERRY/Don't Let Me Be Lonely
Writers: Sarah Buxton/Rodney Clawson/Chris Tompkins; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Big Red Toe/Box Tone/Amarillo Sky/Big Loud Songs/Play Animal/Big Loud Bucks, BMI/ASCAP; Republic Nashville
-Marvelously melodic. It begins softly, then adopts a steadily rocking groove and nice vocal interplay among the three siblings. The audio dynamics ebb and crest throughout the production, which keeps you fully involved. One of this group's finest efforts to date.
AMERICAN YOUNG/Love Is War
Writers: Billy Montana/Kyle Sackley/Jonathan Singleton; Producers: Jon Stone, Justin Niebank & Lee Brice; Publishers: Mike Curb/Dandon Ranch/BMG Platinum/Jam Writers/Sheila Be Right/BMG Gold/We Jam Writers/Glassbean, BMI/ASCAP; Curb
-This male-female duo has a distinctive folky style that features unusual vocal harmony work and spare, striking instrumental accompaniment. The song is a dandy, too. Highly inventive and very, very good.
ZAC BROWN BAND/Sweet Annie
Writers: Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/Coy Bowles/Sonia Leigh/John Pierce; Producers: Keith Stegall & Zac Brown; Publishers: Weimerhound/Lil' Dub/Angelika/Southern Ground/Maudlow, BMI/ASCAP; Southern Ground/Atlantic (track)
-It seems like whenever I get so bored with this format that I could scream, these guys come along to refresh my faith. This lilting ode to a wronged sweetheart is drenched with the group's matchless vocal harmony and laced with delicious dobro notes. Heavenly.
MAGGIE SAJAK/Wild Boy
Writers: Aimee Mayo/Chris Lindsey/Caitlyn Smith/Troy Verges; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: Little Blue Typewriter/BPJ Administration/BMG Gold/Little Vampire/Music of Stage Three/Songs of Cornman/BMG Chrysalis/Songs of Universal/Songs From the Engine Room, ASCAP/BMI; MS
-She has a coy, sexy vocal style. The track has a nice thump. The upbeat song describes a heartbreaker boyfriend imaginatively. I like the whole audio package.
KELLIE PICKLER/Little Bit Gypsy
Writers: Kyle Jacobs/Tammy Kidd Hutton/Fred Wilhelm; Producers: Frank Liddell & Luke Wooten; Publishers: Curb/Jacobsong/Mike Curb/Float/Meaux Mercy/Capitol CMG, ASCAP/BMI; Black River
-I am such a major fan of this gal. This time around, she's bopping along merrily as a wandering free spirit. Frothy and light and buoyant and oh-so listenable.
COLE SWINDELL/Chillin' It
Writers: Cole Swindell/Shane Minor; Producer: Jody Stevens; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Code Six Charles, BMI; Warner Bros.
-Same old, same old. They're cruising on a backwoods road, listening to country radio and lolling around romantically.
Powered by Facebook Comments
About the AuthorRobert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
View Author Profile

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Doug Short has put together this depressing chart comparing three previous bear markets, with the current financial meltdown. Have a look at the grey (1929 and great depression) and blue (today) lines – and you'll see that US markets have now declined about as far and as fast as they did in the 1930s.
If this was the thirties, however, the bottom would still be more than 600 'market days' away…
So will things be as bad again this time? John Carney reckons that the market has now reached 'fair value' but the price declines could "continue for another decade or so, during which stocks will occasionally become truly cheap." Japan's stock market, remember, recently hit its lowest point since 1982 – and has been in decline for almost twenty years.
But I am not making any predictions – unlike the saintlike Warren Buffet who, six weeks or so ago, used the New York Times to urge investors to plough any spare cash into stocks and shares. Major companies would be posting record profits in 5 years, he said – so now was the time to buy:
Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn't. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value. Indeed, the policies that government will follow in its efforts to alleviate the current crisis will probably prove inflationary and therefore accelerate declines in the real value of cash accounts.
Equities will almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade, probably by a substantial degree. Those investors who cling now to cash are betting they can efficiently time their move away from it later. In waiting for the comfort of good news, they are ignoring Wayne Gretzky's advice: "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been."
Buffet is richer – and more revered – than God, so his words carry a lot of weight. Here in the UK, his advice was picked up by tabloids, who passed it on to their less than sophisticated investors. Let's hope that they realise that when the great man says 'long-term' – he really means 'long-term'. They should be prepared for wait for ten years, or perhaps longer, before they cash in.
Also wouldn't it have been a good idea for Buffet to have been a little more upfront about how much money he stands to lose if equities don't recover? Last year, our Warren bet $37bn – yes thirty seven billion dollars – that US and world markets would be higher than they were then in 15-20 years time.
Given that he's 20% or so down at the moment, that seems like a pretty big conflict of interest to me…
(photo under a cc license from flickr user swearinglibrarian)
Update – I was much nicer about Buffet here…


text:
IoT Agenda
Internet of Things (IoT) Strategy
IoT in field services beneficial, but not a priority- Senior Site Editor 15 Jun 2016
Ready to build a B2B IoT product? Four lessons from B2C pioneers- Yeti LLC 15 Jun 2016
Developing digital trust in the IoT era- ForgeRock 07 Jun 2016
A recent survey found IT and field service decision makers believe IoT can bring benefits to the field services industry, but it's not an investment priority.
If your organization is thinking about creating B2B IoT products, learn from the successes and failures of the B2C products that came before it.
New data privacy regulations and company efforts are making strides in establishing digital trust in the era of the internet of things.
Four times when the internet of things isn't the answer- Digital Fly 02 Jun 2016
Complexities of connecting everything: Teams, devices and code- Electric Cloud 02 Jun 2016
Determining when the internet of things isn't the answer is just as critical as knowing when implementing IoT is the right choice.
Learn characteristics of the three teams responsible for developing and delivery IoT software, as well as the strains they put on the IoT delivery chain.


text:
Bertrand Meheut*
Chairman, PMU
Born: 1951
History as a director
- First elected as a director: June 29, 2010
- Re-elected: Twice (2012 and 2016 Annual Shareholders' Meetings)
- Current term expires: 2016 Annual Shareholders' Meeting
- Directorships of other listed companies: Accor SA, Pierre et Vacances Group, Aquarelle.com Group.
A graduate of Ecole des Mines de Paris, Bertrand Meheut spent most of his career with Rhône-Poulenc, serving as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Europe, in charge of corporate services for the "Agro" division, and then successively as Chief Executive Officer of the German subsidiary, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Rhône-Poulenc Agro and Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Europe.
Following the merger of Rhône-Poulenc and Hoechst to form Aventis, Bertrand Meheut was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Aventis CropScience. He joined Canal+ group in 2002 as Managing Director and then Chairman of its Executive Board until 2015. In november 2016, he became Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of SFR Group. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of ACCOR, Pierre et Vacances Group, and AQUARELLE.com Group.
Since 2018, he is Chairman of PMU.


text:
Jessica Hawthorne-Castro is the CEO and owner of Hawthorne Advertising. an award-winning technology-based advertising agency specializing in analytics and accountable brand campaigns. In this episode, we discuss: How she rose from the mail room of a talent agency to the C‑Suite; the #1 mistake managers make regarding goal setting and planning; the hottest trends in advertising and digital marketing; and advice to young professional women aspiring to be in the C‑Suite
Tag: Planning
Seven Myths of Effective Teams
There is a surprising amount of misinformation and assumptions out there about effective teamwork and creating and maintaining an effective team. Leaders who believe these myths can actually hamper team cohesion.
Potential Investment Mistakes Scare 69% of Americans
According to a new survey from Ally Invest, the online trading and automated investing arm of Ally Financial Inc., nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (65%) say they find investing in the stock market to be scary and/or intimidating, up from 61% in a similar survey during the same period last year. Fear is highest among Gen Z and millennial consumers: 69% for those ages 18–23 and 66% for those ages 24–37.
Manage Smarter 43: Goal Setting — Rethink It!
Will Pemble is founder and CEO of Goal Boss, an executive coaching certification and leadership consulting firm. In this episode, we discuss: why most managers fail goal setting for employees, analyzing team performance in sections with custom goal setting for each group and what to say in interviewing job candidates to set goal setting expectations.
Leaders: Are You Asking Team Members Enough Questions
My way or the highway. That is the motto of many old-school leaders who are focused on getting the job done. Failure to encourage questions could indicate negative leadership traits.
How Well Are You Delegating Tasks?
An organized and methodical manager can put order into chaos by delegating tasks. First, they need to develop a vision for what will be done and who will do it.
How Top CEOs Rely on Their Teams to Achieve Success
As a business leader, are you living in a 'constant state of fight or flight?' Scott Eblin uses this phrase to describes leaders who are struggling with their c‑suite role. In fact, Eblin states that 40% of leaders fail to succeed in these roles.
Is Your Management Style Driving Employees to Lie?
All too often in the corporate world, leaders are the victims of BS. Sometimes, employees feed their managers false information because they are under a deadline, says Lila MacLellan.
Have You Established a Culture for Your Project-Based Team?
You want to put your best people on your next team project. But, one of your engineers doesn't work well with your marketing manager. What do you do?
Sales Managers: Here's How to Help Your Reps Achieve Their Boon
If you're a sales manager, you likely had a career-making BOON. Now, it's up to you to help your reps score the same kind of deal.
Practice Prioritizing Every Day for a Winning Plan
One of the biggest challenges for project managers and leaders is accurately prioritizing the work that matters on a daily basis. In your professional development path, consider how you master tasks each day and if you think what you are doing will get you promoted. You don't want to fall into the cycle of deeming every other project, "top priority," do you?
CMOs Under Pressure
A recent survey revealed just how much pressure chief marketing officers are facing.


text:
1-Hour Program
See Credit Details Below
As the definition of biometric information evolves and expands under new legislation, and the collection and use of biometric information by companies grows, the privacy implications continue to mount. Kari M. Rollins, a Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, will break down the privacy implications and risks of collecting, sharing, and protecting biometric information, including:
- The changing legal landscape surrounding the protection of biometric information (CCPA, Six Flags case, etc.)
- The expanding definition of "biometric information"
- Notice and/or consent for the collection of biometric information
- The permissibility of sharing and/or selling biometric information
- The practical process of protecting and securing biometric information


text: He was inducted shortly before his 86th birthday. It was a surprise to many to learn that the editor emeritus of the Akron Beacon Journal, the boss of the Knight newspaper organization, was a sportsman. Not many remember Knight as an end on the 1913 Akron Central High School state football championship team. There are still a few individuals around who can attest to his prowess on the golf course. Six times he won the Portage Country Club's championship - 1929, '32, '34, '35, '36, and '37. However, Knight was honored as owner of Fourth Estate Stable and for his long involvement in thoroughbred horse racing. In its heyday in the late '50s and early '60s, Fourth Estate raced Editorialist, a multiple stakes winner and one of the fastest sprinters in the world; a filly named Times Two, which won in excess of $250,000; War Censor, winner of the 1966 Ohio Derby; and Times Roman. From 1961 to his death this year, Knight was a member of the prestigious Jockey Club, racing's governing body and the highest honor a racing sportsman can attain in any lifetime.


text:
Bodystrong fitness bench barbell rack is removable, gym luxury exercise equipment. Our weight bench is with high-temperature multi-step painting process, moistureproof and anti-rust.This Olympic weight bench is heavy-duty high density steel and comfortable thick cushion.
Based on international advanced design concept, upgrade the structure, adapt to the needs of
various users.
Adopt international advanced production facilities-laser cutting machines, automatic welding
robots, CNC facilities etc, to achieve top standard tooling operations.
Combine chemical treatment process and electrostatic spraying process, ensure perfect appearance.
Main tube thickness: 3mm,combine oval tube thickness: 50*100mm
Exercise arms by using weight plates.
Sitting closely to the back cushion,grasp the weight plates
each side.
Exercise the pectorals and deltoids and keep the stability of
the shoulder joint.
Welcome to buy the quality luxury commercial weight bench j-023 with our factory. Known as one of the professional manufacturers and suppliers in China, we must be your best choice.


text:
My eldest daughter, Lakeisha, got married on the weekend. How awesome is the smile on Lakeisha in the pic? When my wife, Melanie, was pregnant with her 21 years ago, one of the songs on the radio was Butterfly Kisses,… Read More ›
Top Ten Pieces of Advice I Would Give a New Dad.
I am the very proud dad of two daughters:- Lakeisha and Laura. I have also played a dad role in the lives of other young people. I have been a dad now for 21 years. I have had a great… Read More ›
Laura is turning 15. Just a proud dad sharing some photos. (And some musings about dads)
I prepared this blog yesterday on Laura's birthday and then I thought it was probably a little self indulgent…Me as a dad flooding social media with pics of my daughter on her birthday. Melanie (wife) asked where was the blog… Read More ›
My Eldest Daughter Turns 20 Today And I Am Sharing Her Story And Photos Of Her Childhood: Just A Super Personal Blog.
My eldest daughter Lakeisha Deanne Pilt turns 20 today. I am a super proud dad. So I am going to post some of my favourite pics of her over the last 20 years. This blog is ridiculously personal and I… Read More ›
I Have A Bit Of A Coke Collection Happening In My Home Office.
I have a bit of a coke collection in my home office. I thought I would share some pics of it. Let me know what you think? … Read More ›
Top 29 Pieces of Spiritual Advice I Would Give My Daughters.
I have two daughters:- Lakeisha 18 and Laura 13. Both of them love Jesus and serve the local church in various capacities…..As they both come into adulthood, here are some pieces of spiritual advice I would give to both of… Read More ›
My Financial Advice To My 19 Year Old Daughter Lakeisha.
Today is my eldest daughter's birthday. Happy Birthday Lakeisha. As I reflected on the last 19 years and her future it made me reflect on the financial advice I would give her. Some of my blogs are very public. Some… Read More ›


text:
December 2016
Welcome to the last Junior Lawyers Division Update of 2016 and my final update as chair of the JLD.
We opened the year with the Law Society's publication of new guidance on unpaid work experience. It was a fantastic step towards tackling the barriers to social mobility. You may have seen recent calls in the media to outlaw unpaid work experience in all professions, and it's great to see we're ahead of the game in this area.
This year has been momentous in terms of proposed changes to the legal profession, and indeed the landscape in which we practice. With some key changes on the horizon affecting all of our futures, the JLD executive committee has ensured the voices of junior lawyers are heard.
We have had a fantastic level of engagement from our members this year, particularly in relation to the debate around implementing a centralised solicitors' qualifying examination and the training contract requirements (if any) which will run alongside it. Excellent progress has been made in shaping these proposals to ensure there is consistent, high quality education and training without creating further barriers to access in our profession. No doubt this work will continue next year and I encourage you all to get involved.
The above is only a small segment of the work which the JLD has done this year, and so I am excited to release our annual report which provides a more complete account of the work undertaken on your behalf.
Many of our achievements could not have happened without our members so, on behalf of the 2016 JLD executive committee, I would like to thank you for your engagement and support over the year.
I would also like to thank the talented and dedicated 2016 JLD executive committee for their work throughout this year, with particular thanks to outgoing members Brogan Solomon, Jonathan Smith and Ben Fraser who have been fantastic advocates for junior lawyers.
I wish incoming JLD chair Bryan Scant and the 2017 JLD executive committee the best of luck for the coming year, which will no doubt see more changes to the legal profession.
Season's greetings from the JLD, and I wish you every success in the New Year.
Leanne Maund
2015-16 chair, Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society
Social media
Keep up with the latest information in our junior lawyer groups:
JLD benefits
JLD events
Free JLD forum: Helping you secure a training position - 18 February 2017, Cardiff
Free JLD forum: Career development and skills for junior lawyers - 11 March 2017, Sheffield
JLD annual conference and ball - 8 April 2017, London


text:
A group of young carers supported by local charity, Scarborough and Ryedale Carers' Resource, have taken part in a project with Sirius Minerals to learn about life in a large company and the different career pathways available to them.
The secondary school students, who all care for a relative, visited the company's head office and the Woodsmith Mine site over a four-week period where they spoke to staff across a range of disciplines.
The project involved them taking part in practical tasks to help them develop their employability skills, including team work, communication, presenting and problem solving.
"Our young people juggle school with the daily responsibility of caring for loved ones and many have little time to consider their own futures", said Helen Cowton, Activities and Development Worker for the charity.
"Each day can be very challenging for them, which can result in low confidence, so coming to Sirius has been a fantastic experience for them. It's been a great opportunity for them to experience the workplace for the first time, present in front of an audience and learn a host of other transferrable skills".
Scarborough and Ryedale Carers' Resource is a charity covering the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas which provides free and confidential support for unpaid carers. The service also specialises in supporting young carers from the age of eight, who receive appropriate support tailored to their individual needs.
16-year old Thomas Dingley, who cares for and supports his mum both practically and emotionally, took part in the project. He said: "Since coming to Sirius I've become better at communicating with different people and am more confident in speaking. I sometimes struggle to find a balance between caring and school, so every week I've looked forward to the time with Sirius".
"It's also made me think a lot about my future and I've realised that there are more options than I thought", he added.
Sirius has already engaged over 10,000 young people during the last five years through its extensive education outreach programme and has been the headline sponsor of Scarborough Engineering Week since 2013.
Matt Parsons, External Affairs General Manager for Sirius said: "Our project is going to be in operation for a long time, and we want to be a positive part of the community. Helping local young people – and especially young people who may otherwise miss out -- to become aware of their career options and supporting them to achieve their potential is an important part of our work".
If you work for a school, college or charitable organisation and are interested in working with Sirius Minerals, get in touch with us to find out more.Back to news archive


text:
Takahashi TSA-102 main features
The TSA-102 is equipped with an apochromatic objective with ED triplet of 102mm of aperture (F=816mm, F/8), set in a simple barrel. This barrel ensures a good stability of the opto-mechanics chain against the usual constraints of transport and against the important variations of temperature of use. The TSA-102N is proposed with a fixed dew shield while the TSA-102S has a retractable dew shield.
The short tube of the TSA-102 (717mm without the delivered extension tube) facilitates its transport. It allows also the use of many kind of accessory assemblies, especially for those using important length (230mm of backfocus, see the Specifications section). The assemblies of screwed accessories, recommanded by Takahashi, are still possible (see System-charts section). However, the standard 50.8mm adapter universalizes the TSA-102 without option, even if the use of the optional camera angle adjuster (CAA) is highly recommended.
The reading of the system-charts gives a good idea of the sphere of activities of the TSA-102. The addition of the optional field corrector allows imaging at prime focus with the F/8 default focal ratio. The TOA-RD reducer (F/6) gives to it more ease in wide field astrophotography. All the assemblies fulfill the requirements of rigidity and flexibility needed by the new imaging devices, such as the SLR/DSLR or CCD cameras.


text:
The wait is over! HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 is finally out today on Digital HD! This hilarious animated comedy is perfect for the whole family! It had us laughing so hard over the summer and we can't wait to see it on our own TV screen at home! To celebrate one of our favorite movies of 2018 coming to Digital HD this week, we're planning some really Drac-tastic activities, including our very own Spook-tacular Sleepover! You can get in on the fun with your family, too!
Plan your own Spook-tacular Sleepover!
No family sleepover is complete without Spooktacular smoothies! We have an amazingly spooky and slurpalicious smoothie recipe to share, as well as a fun activity for the whole family!
Hotel Transylvania 3 is now available on Digital HD and comes home on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 9th! We have a bunch of spooktacular surprises in store for you surrounding the release of HT3, and we can't wait to share them with you!
Who's your favorite character from HT3?
Be sure to tell us in the comments!


text:
Sign up to our newsletter
Don't worry, we won't give your email to any third parties
and you can unsubscribe at any time.
A URL Scheme is like "http://..." or "ftp://...". Those seem like a very low-level concept that you don't have much control over, but actually, you do! What sounds like an exotic topic is not so exotic at all: we are...


text:
Businesses that create incentives for wellness program participation could see a reduction in their absenteeism rates.
Absenteeism and employee turnover can reduce the efficiency of any office. Many businesses understand that departments need to run at an optimal level to remain competitive, but few firms take the necessary steps to control absenteeism, according to recent survey by ADP Research Institute.
More than half of respondents noted that missing workers reduced productivity, but only 27 percent of large employers sought opportunities to correct the problem. The most common reason given for missed work days was health-related issues. Businesses that create incentives for wellness program participation could see a reduction in their absenteeism rates.
"Although companies are aware of the resulting losses in productivity, many are unwilling or unable to take explicit steps to control absenteeism," said Tim Clifford, president of benefits services and talent management at ADP.
Large companies in particular had problems with missing employees, according to the survey. On average, 3.5 percent of their workers were out each day, compared to 3.2 percent at midsize businesses. The same was true for employee turnover. 1to1 Media reports that the average turnover rate for U.S. call centers is 43 percent, but centers with more than 1,000 agents saw their rates jump to an average of 70 percent annually.
Businesses that take the time to establish employee recognition programs could alter the corporate culture enough to increase staff engagement and reduce absenteeism. These programs can be customized to promote the long-term goals that companies are trying to achieve. They can also be adjusted to more accurately reflect changes in the work environment.
Absenteeism could be caused by illness or high stress levels. Having incentive programs in place to reward employees who join a gym, lose weight or go for routine medical checkups could not only keep staff healthy, but lower insurance costs as well. The potential to reduce health insurance payouts is one of the reasons that wellness programs have become popular. The aging workforce, long hours and increased workloads have made it difficult for businesses in any industry to control healthcare costs. Incentive programs are a simple and effective way for organizations to show value to their workers, keep them healthy and build an engaging office environment.
Whatever the cause for employees missing work, having a fun, energized office culture motivates staff members and makes them look forward to work each day. The right recognition programs allow businesses to create an environment that can lower absenteeism.


text:
FA Bernhardt (FAB)
FA Bernhardt, also known as FAB, is a Bavarian developer of Teletext and subtitling systems. For over 15 years it has been involved in data transmission through video and the development of professional television and cable head-end equipment.
From premises to the south of Munich FAB develops, manufactures and supplies equipment to major broadcasters throughout the world, including ZDF (Germany), France 2/3/5 (Paris), TVE (Madrid), ORF (Vienna), SRG-SSR (Zurich/Geneva/Lugano), RTBF (Brussels), NOS (Hilversum), RTP (Lisbon), TVP (Warsaw) and Canal+ in Spain.
FAB's range of basic products for Teletext comprise: Teletext Editor, a Windows-based program that supports all west, central and east European scripts (including Greek and Cyrillic), editing for Teletext Level 1, 1.5 and 2.5 (excluding bitmaps and palettes, which are covered by the HiLevel Editor) and file formats including TTP, EP1, WSP, BIN and VTX; Teletext Data Generator, which is used for transmission of teletext and its subtitles at EBU B Level 1, 1.5 and 2.5 conforming to ETS standard 300706; Teletext Data Bridge for copying VBI lines from asynchronous composite or SD/HD-SDI signals to transmission composite or SD/HD-SDI signals; Teletext Network Controller, which holds a database of teletext pages that are automatically distributed to Teletext Data Generators whenever the page is altered in that database; and the Teletext Network API programming library that offers features for programmers to create a program for producing teletext pages, write data for them and transfer the finished items over a network to the Teletext Data Generator and Network Controller.
The Subtitling system includes the FAB Media Converter for converting video files in different formats to low bit rate WMV video files that can be used to prepare subtitles; Media Encoder for encoding SDI video, audio and timecode into a low bit rate WMV video file for the preparation of subtitles; Subtitler Standard Edition software program; and Subtitler Professional Edition for recording of subtitles to tape (insertion into SD-SDI & HD-SDI video), DVD add Blu-ray and Digital Cinema (DCIM) export, insertion of open subtitles into WMV files, insertion of DVB and Teletext subtitles into transport stream files and export of bitmap subtitles in different formats.
Visit: Company Website


text:
Product Details:
Our company has gained expertise in the field of supply, wholesale, export, service provider, trade and supply of Digital Control Desk System. These Digital controllers are used for finding temperature and process controller of equipment. These are also used to check flow rate, pressure and much more. For the utmost convenience of the clients, we design and produce the range as per the needs and specifications of the clients. In addition to this, the offered range of Digital control Desk system is suitably checked on varied parameters to maintain its performance throughout the testing process.


text:
What is Harvard referencing?
What do you mean by Harvard Referencing?
In the academic world, references and citations are quite common and there are apparently thousands of different styles in which this can be done during writing academic research papers or term papers. According to the different academic fields and streams, the referencing style preferences and priorities vary. Moreover, different publishing houses have their own preferred citation house styles. The most popular among them is perhaps the Harvard referencing style. It has its origin in 'The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation' that was published sometimes back by the HLRA (Harvard Law Review Association). Today the Harvard referencing style is followed in several fields like Law, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Medicines and so on.
Various important and unique Features of Harvard school of Referencing
There are several basic features that characterize the Harvard school of referencing style that are used extensively by the academic writers for their research essay papers or term papers. These features are as follows:
- The Basics: Special emphasize on mention of the original author's name and date of publication of his work with a repeated mention again in the Bibliography section at the end of the writing in an alphabetical order.
- The Capitals: Only the author's surname or family is required to be capitalized in only the Bibliography part and not in the body of the writing, which again is not compulsory.
- The Punctuations: There is no hard and fast rule to punctuate. The only requirement is to be uniform with one single style of punctuation.
- Italics and underline: While using both Italics and underline at the same time is not necessary, it is advisable to go with the former and use it in case of mentioning the title or name of the information source.
- Multiple Authors: While mentioning more than one author, it is a rule to follow the publication order and separate each author by a semicolon.
- Multiple works: In case of referencing more than one work by the same author, simply follow the date of publication order and then alphabetically.
- Citing an already cited reference: Mention a detail of the writer who has made the particular reference before, in the reference list.
- Quotation: While short quotes can be mentioned inside the body of the writing, longer ones need to be cited separately in a different paragraph.
- Reference list: This reference list comes at the end of each text and are listed alphabetically and then by the date of publication of the particular work.
- Paraphrasing: A paraphrasing, though usually done in the writer's own language, still needs referencing due to the concept or idea. It, however, requires just a mention of the author's name and the year.
- Online or web source referencing: In case of using a web source as reference, it is necessary to mention the author and the year and not the URL or the web page address of the source.
How does the Harvard Referencing work in academic line? Its importance
Referencing is an essential and important part of any academic writing, be it any thesis or research paper, dissertation proposal writing or term paper. It is basically needed to acknowledge and respect the facts, concepts ideas, quotes or any other form of information or image of any other researcher or author that the academic writer has used in his/her entire work. Now the importance of the Harvard referencing in the academic field is manifold since it provides an easy and user friendly way of citation thus both maintain the writer's dignity and easing down his work. While otherwise, the Harvard style offers the usual referencing advantages and requirements, it also adds some sort of distinction to the writer's academic work due to its variation, although slight, in punctuation, abbreviation, capitalization, Italics etc.
The basic functions of Harvard Referencing
The basic function of Harvard style of referencing is same as the function of a general referencing. These are as follows:
- It helps the readers sufficiently to trace the referred work or information without much difficulty
- It provides enough evidence to the readers and others for the academic writer to justify his vast reading and research on a given subject or topic
- The Harvard referencing style also includes a wide range of information referencing rules which leaves practically no chance for any kind of plagiarism
- The 'in text' referencing and the detailed Reference List system (also called the Bibliography) at the end of the academic work, in the Harvard referencing style, helps the readers to understand the writer's point without any huge effort
Examples of Harvard Referencing
One of the most popular and frequently used referencing styles of Staffordshire, the Harvard style of referencing is also commonly called the Author Date referencing style. As the name suggests, it lays emphasis mainly on the name of the creator and the date of publication of the work. A compiled list of a few Harvard referencing style examples is provided below for a better comprehension.
- Newspaper article (No author): Ex – The New York Times 8 December 2010, p. 6
- Website: Ex – New York security Exchange 2007
- Blog: Ex – Godwin 2004
- From a cited source: Ex – Macpherson, cited in Munich 2005
- Web Document: Ex – Department of Industry, Hospitality, Resources and Tourism 2008
- Television program: Ex – Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. (1995). BBC 2, 5 January
- Newspaper article (with author): Ex – Sabo. G. M (2006) " Nationalism and Patriotism" , XYZ Paper, 3 December 2003, p. 18
- Book Chapter: Ex -Strand, J.(1994), " The self awareness", Discovering the Self, London: S.T, p 22 – 31
- Video: Ex-The Anger Management. (1996) Directed by T. F. Moody. Hollywood: HBO Movies
- Journal article: Ex – Somerset, T. J. (1996), "The Human Mind". The British Daily Health Journal, 12 (7), 38 – 47
- Quotation (in text): Ex – Waugh, G. B. (2006: 23)


text:
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are looking to sign a marquee player for 2019, and have set their sights on James Segeyaro, according to The Mole.
The off-contract hooker is yet to sign a new deal with his current team, the Cronulla Sharks, with the Dogs starting to circle.
Segeyaro, 27 years of age, has been at the centre of controversy in recent years, but there's no denying the talent he possesses.
The Sharks have two up and coming hookers in brothers Jayden and Blayke Brailey, therefore suggesting Segeyaro could be forced out of the shire.
The Dogs would benefit greatly from having an experienced hooker such as Segeyaro at the club, as they have struggled to fill the position in recent years.
Michael Lichaa hasn't exactly made the role his own, while halfback Jeremy Marshall-King has been the makeshift hooker over the past few weeks.
Segeyaro could be a great pick up for Canterbury as they look to cement a playing roster for 2019 following salary cap dramas which have plagued a horrid 2018 campaign.


text:
Harrington Finance
Harrington Finance
After 20 years in business, Redline have built up many strong partner relationships with other businesses in the automotive sector, but there are some companies that we don't deal with.
Harrington Finance are a relative newcomer to the car finance market and despite targetting the Redline brand in their advertising campaigns they are not one of our finance partners.
We do not deal with Harrington Finance, so if you do wish to purchase a car from us please note that we will not accept finance via Harrington but we can arrange finance for you through one of our existing finance partners.
Our decision not to deal with them is based on their business ethics which do not correlate with the way in which we like businesses that we deal with to conduct themselves.
You can find out more about our own car finance providers here.


text: As a perfume house with a love for the exotic, Comptoir Sud Pacifique has gifted lovers of unique floral fragrances with the complex, masterful blend that is Jasmin Poudre. This 2013 release boasts a top note combination of piquant green calamus along with the sweetness of osmanthus and fig. After enjoying this scent's opening combination, keen noses will detect a powerful, heady floral mix of rose, iris, ylang-ylang and jasmine in the heart.


text:
Ask-a-Tech Form
Since this is
a free service that we provide to Hartford and Middlesex Counties residents,
the following information is required.
In some cases the question may better be answered with a phone call. Please enter your phone number and check-off the following days or times that would work the best for you.
Select the time you can normally be reached at the above number.
How did you hear of us?
Select OneChurch BulletinExisting CustomerFarmington Woods Newsletter Internet - I was looking for Link Internet - I was looking for a HVAC Company Letter/Postcard in MailNeighborhood Living MagazineReferred by Family/FriendReferred by Manufacturer/BusinessSign on TruckYellow Pages
Click on "Submit" to send us your request and we will respond as soon as possible.


text:
Delve into a maze of more than 600 shops at one of the largest souks in the UAE, and discover a dazzling array of exotic handicrafts.
Popularly known as the Blue Souk, thanks to its beautiful blue tiles, this two-storey souk consists of two long parallel buildings connected by indoor bridges. It is one of Sharjah's most photographed buildings and even features on the UAE five-dirham bank note.
Shops on the ground floor sell modern jewellery, watches and clothing; upstairs there are arts, crafts and curios from the region, as well as stores specialising in handmade Persian carpets and colourful kilims from Afghanistan and Kashmir.
Don't miss the gold and diamond shops, mainly found on the lagoon-side of the souk. Alongside precious stones and exquisite gold, silver and authentic Bedouin jewellery, there are craftsmen who can recreate a design based on a photo or sketch.


text:
Tax Appeal Bill Introduced to Change Filing Deadlines Statewide
Two New Jersey assemblymen have introduced Assembly Bill A-3313 which would make a Monmouth County tax appeal pilot program applicable statewide. The program would permanently modify the timing of the appeal season and filing requirements in an attempt to settle assessment disputes prior to municipalities enacting their annual budgets. Although no feedback has been provided that the pilot program actually accomplished this goal in the one year that the pilot program was active, the law would revise the relevant statutory dates for assessing real property, and then appealing those assessments, in the following ways:
- Notification of Assessment postcards must be sent by the municipality to property owners by November 15 of the pretax year, as opposed to the current deadline of February 1 of the tax year;
- Appeals of assessments to the county tax board must be filed by January 15 of the tax year, instead of the current April 1st deadline;
- The deadline for filing appeals of assessments that exceed $1 million made directly to the Tax Court remains April 1 of the tax year.
What's unclear is why the April 1st deadline remains for appeals filed directly to the Tax Court if the intended goal is to settle disputes before municipal budgets are finalized throughout the summer. As we had previously reported, tax appeal practitioners around New Jersey have questioned whether this program will achieve its intended goals, and are concerned that the implementation of the program on a piecemeal basis may instead complicate the ability of the County Tax Boards and the New Jersey Tax Court to administer and resolve the significant caseload of appeals already pending and which is likely to continue into the future.
A copy of the bill may be found by clicking here. The bill was introduced earlier this summer and has been referred to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, where it awaits review.
For more discussion on this topic, please see the following blog posts:
Legislative Reform For Tax Assessments On The Way?
Senate Passes Tax Appeal Reform for Monmouth County


text:
For more information, call our toll free number (877) 789-9707 or use the contact form on our website.
Our employment attorney law firm is one of California's largest statewide law firm that's dedicated to representing employees in disputes against their employers. Stephen Danz & Associates, based in Los Angeles, California, protects clients from retaliation, discrimination, and harassment involving dismissal, demotion, or denial of accommodation based on age, race, sex, religion, color, sexual orientation, marital status, association, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected classifications. Additionally we represent employees if they have not been paid the proper wages including overtime or minimum wage or given the proper meal breaks. If you believe that you are the victim of discrimination, please contact one of our Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorneys in California to setup a free consultation to discuss this matter with our lawyers. We take cases on a contingency basis and collect no attorney fees unless we win your case.


text:
United States
1-40 of 40 results
Decoy by Duckhorn 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
Case $19.95 per bottle (12) $239.40 per case
Josh says: "The Duckhorn team created this value Sonoma Cab that's pure
Duckhorn in style!" Read More
Duckhorn in style!" Read More
Folie A Deux 2014 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Case $14.95 per bottle (12) $179.40 per case
Josh says: "Folie A Deux 2014 Pinot Noir won Best in Show Red in the North Coast Wine Challenge. Over 1,100 wines were entered but this outstanding wine obtained the top score for red wines w..." Read More
Belle Glos 2017 Pinot Noir Blanc, Oeil De Perdrix, Sonoma
Case $19.95 per bottle (12) $239.40 per case
Josh says: "Lively Pinot Noir Rose from Belle Glos!" Read More
Ferrari Carano 2016 Chardonnay, Tre Terre, Russian River Valley
Josh says: "A Wine Spectator Top 100 Selection and the second of only three California Chards on the list!" Read More
Decoy by Duckhorn 2017 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
Case $19.95 per bottle (12) $239.40 per case
Josh says: "For years now Duckhorn Vineyards has produced a Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend under the Decoy label, and Duckhorn fans have been able to enjoy Duckhorn quality at a great price. Becau..." Read More
Seghesio 2016 Zinfandel, Rockpile, Rockpile
Josh says: "Segehsio's Rockpile Zin is not to be missed." Read More
Folie a Deux 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Case $14.95 per bottle (12) $179.40 per case
Josh says: "Maybe the Best Value Alexander Valley Cab you can buy!!" Read More
Gary Farrell 2016 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Selection
Case $39.95 per bottle (12) $479.40 per case
Josh says: "The Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot is consistently outstanding due to grapes sourced from the best vineyards in the Valley!" Read More
Boen 2016 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Case $24.95 per bottle (12) $299.40 per case
Josh says: "From the Wagner family, lush Russian River Pinot Noir!" Read More
Ridge Vineyards 2016 Lytton Springs Zinfandel Blend, Dry Creek Valley
Josh says: "Ridge Zinfandel blends are a National Treasure! Here's another outstanding selection!!" Read More
Roth Estate 2016 Heritage Red, Sonoma County
Case $22.95 per bottle (12) $275.40 per case
Josh says: "Double Gold from the San Francisco Chronicle for this luscious Sonoma red!" Read More
Ferrari-Carano 2016 Siena, Red Blend, Sonoma County
Josh says: "An original Cal-Ital blend that lives on and continues to deliver!" Read More
Jordan 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Magnum 1.5L
Josh says: "This 95 point wine is one of the most consistently produced in all of California and has become a benchmark for Alexander Valley Cabernet." Read More
Cowan Cellars 2017 Syrah, Bennett Valley, Sonoma
Josh says: "Flash Sale! Stunning Bennett Valley Syrah, Extremely Limited!" Read More
Manzanita Creek 2013 Zinfandel, Harris Kratka Vyd., Alexander Valley
Case $29.95 per bottle (12) $359.40 per case
Josh says: "Another Awesome Zin from Manzanita Creek! Limited!" Read More
Ridge 2017 Geyserville, Alexander Valley
Josh says: "Zinfandel leads the way in this classic blend from Ridge Vineyards!" Read More
Archimedes 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Francis Ford Coppola
Case $69.96 per bottle (12) $839.52 per case
Josh says: "Every vintage of this Coppola Cab proves it belongs in an elite class!" Read More
Chloe Wine Collection 2017 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Case $14.95 per bottle (12) $179.40 per case
Josh says: "Good Value Chard from Sonoma in a buttery style." Read More
Enroute 2017 Pinot Noir, Les Pommiers, Russian River Valley
Josh says: "Lush Pinot Noir from the makers of Far Niente!" Read More
Silver Oak 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
Case $74.95 per bottle (12) $899.40 per case
Josh says: "This is a limited allocation so please don't miss your chance to grab this iconic Cab from a classic vintage." Read More
Katherine Goldschmidt 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Crazy Creek, Alexander Valley
Case $19.95 per bottle (12) $239.40 per case
Josh says: "From a vineyard that Nick Goldschmidt has been farming since 1989, this Cab is a Wine Express favorite." Read More
Jordan 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
Josh says: "Jordan's Cabernet is timeless!!" Read More
Stonestreet 2015 Chardonnay, Upper Barn Vyd., Alexander Valley
Case $89.95 per bottle (12) $1079.40 per case
Josh says: ""delicacy of fruit and a quartz-like transparency that only age and a superb site situated at 1,800 feet can bring to a wine." Limited!!" Read More


text:
US bombs bridge in Mosul used by ISIL.
U.S. forces backing an Iraqi army campaign against Islamic State in Mosul carried out an air strike on a bridge spanning the Tigris river, restricting militant movements between western and eastern parts of the city, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.The mining and booby trapping of the bridges make them of little value to the Iraqi forces, so the bombing of the bridges to deny their use by ISIL makes some sense. What does not make much sense is the UN's claim that bombing the bridges hampers civilian evacuation. I suspect that one of the reasons for the boobytrapping was to make it less likely that civilians would use the bridges as well as to slow the Iraqi advance.
U.S.-trained Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service forces are pushing deeper into east Mosul, the last major city controlled by the Sunni hard-line group in Iraq, while army and police units, Shi'ite militias and Kurdish fighters surround it to the west, south and north.
Militants have steadily retreated into Mosul from outlying areas. The army's early advances have slowed as militants dig in, using the more than 1 million civilians inside the city as a shield, moving through tunnels, and hitting troops with suicide bombers, snipers and mortar fire.
Five bridges span the Tigris that runs through Mosul. They have all been mined and boobytrapped by militants who took over the city two years ago as they swept through northern Iraq and declared a caliphate in parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.
Despite planting the mines, Islamic State fighters have so far been able to continue using those bridges which have not yet been destroyed by air strikes.
Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said on Tuesday an air strike hit the number four bridge, the southernmost, in the past 48 hours.
"This effort impedes Daesh's freedom of movement in Mosul. It inhibits their ability to resupply or reinforce their fighters throughout the city," he said using an Arabic acronym for the militant group.
A month ago, a U.S. air strike destroyed the No. 2 bridge in the center of the city and two weeks later another strike took out the No. 5 bridge to the north.


text:
Productsup provides a SaaS solution for product content integration, optimization and distribution. Our aim is to help brands and retailers to stay agile and be at the forefront of digital transformation.
How Productsup fits into the commerce ecosystem
Create compelling, channel-ready product feeds, without a line of code.
Automatically distribute consistent product data across all ecommerce channels.
Seamlessly integrate diverse product data into your own system.
Product feed management and data syndication has never been easier. Built with the business user in mind, Productsup excels in usability and innovation.
What is the Productsup platform?
Everything from data mapping, optimization and exports to reporting and ROI management.
Special services that simplify and optimize processes
The recent Google Marketing Live event revealed a number of new opportunities for brands and retailers. There are new ad formats, extensions of existing – even old – formats, and plenty of new tools and insights. Yet there was one key takeaway that seems to be making far more headlines than the new advertising opportunities: Google continues to make big changes to take on Amazon. Coming on the heels of a notably poor quarter, and talk about growth deceleration, Google is taking aim in a combination of expected and unexpected ways.
First, the ad formats. New ad formats are always exciting.
That's right. 800 million people you can reach, using clickable image and text ads. The Google Discovery feed spans a number of locations, including the YouTube home feed, the Gmail promotions and social tabs, and the Discover feed (previously called simply "Google Feed"). This new ad will be available to all Google Ads advertisers later this year.
The term "discovery" here isn't being used just because it's an exciting name. It references the fact the a user can discover products and information without having to enter a query. This kind of touchpoint leverages intent data related to a user and then surprises them with products they didn't know they needed.
Visuals are said to be processed 60,000 times faster than text. Maybe that's why many marketers already recognize that the future of ads will rely heavily on image and video. Shoppable ads are just one example of that. But what if your Google Search ads could be visual? Gallery ads do just that, and they're the first Google Search Ad type that includes a visual element.
Plus, these ads feel huge compared to some others. They will include a large, swipable carousel of images that will only be eligible to serve as the top search result in Google, and only on mobile.
Two things are happening with this update. First, there's an exciting, shiny new personalized Google Shopping homepage. This not-so-surprising page is a clear effort to bring together all the information a shopper could want and store it in one, beautiful location. Instead of only being able to search for products, users now get a unique page targeted toward their interests and recent searches. In other words, it creates a small world of options the user may never have considered – which should keep users scrolling and scrolling through images, which seems to be the theme of ecommerce this decade.
Second, this seems to be Google Express' new home. This "rebranding" and complete merge is meant to help Express fit in with the entire ecosystem Google is creating. (Consider the new Discovery ad. Google can serve you query-based ads, unexpected intent-based ads, and even offer you a one-stop-shopping experience!)
Products of current Shopping Actions merchants will be automatically included in the new Google "experience."
How important are visual ads? Important enough that they get two mentions. Google's Showcase Shopping ads are already popular for showing a variety of products associated with the search term. Now Google is expanding this format to Google Images, the Discover feed, and (later this year) YouTube. That means shoppers will be able to buy products within these channels. No clicking to another site required. It will be interesting to see the results from both Images and YouTube as shoppable images and video seem to be prime real estate for advertisers today.
On top of this, this immersive, suggestive, and visual style of shopping (or advertising) may help Google compete with platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.
Digital ads and traditional ads are very, very different at their core. However, in recent years, they have begun to overlap. The five minute commercial break isn't so different from a YouTube bumper video. The large promotion at the bottom of the television screen are much like digital display ads. They're even written similarly.
Google is making that overlap even more powerful by bringing Display ads and Video 360 ads to smart TVs, national TV channels, thousands of local channels, and Google Play Music and Spotify audio ad slots. This program will go live later in the year, giving advertisers the chance to extend their Google ads across so many more touchpoints.
What else did Google Marketing Live tell us? Get a complete summary from Google here.
Get a round up of our latest posts right into your mail box.
You will find our privacy policy here.


text:
In order to achieve financial independence, you need to first understand what your annual expenses are. That's how much money you need to live comfortably every year.
Your annual expenses can include things like housing, transportation, food, utility bills, entertainment, travel and the many other things that make your life … well, your life!
For our family, I've found that number to range between $60,000 and $70,000 per year. That number is after taxes and it doesn't include money for saving and investing.
With lower annual expenses, it would definitely be a lot easier for our family to become financially independent.
If we're using the 4% rule to calculate how much to save to become FI, then we'd need $1,500,000 – $1,750,000. Considering I have around $4,000 in a taxable brokerage account at 37 years old, that's going to take quite a while!Continue reading "How We Decreased our Spending by $20,000 (While Increasing Our Fun by $10,000)"


text:
Posted on behalf of Gloria Hong
Jonah Berger opens his second chapter with an interesting question: which gets brought up in conversations more often, Cheerios or Disney World? Surprisingly enough, we are told that Cheerios is the winner, showing that trigger may be more important than interest for a topic to get more word of mouth. A trigger is anything that stimulates a thought or an idea, and having more frequent thoughts can lead to action, whether it be talking about it or purchasing the thought-associated product.
In fact, he continues to build upon the significance of trigger by claiming that the timing of the trigger is what determines how soon and for how long the topic of interest will get more word of mouth. A product can get popularized immediately because of coincidental events that occur and remind them of the product being sold. For example, customers bought more Mars candy bars in 1996, when NASA launched the Pathfinder to Mars. With the space mission buzzing constantly in the media, people were reminded about the candy bar more often and sales rose accordingly. Fast forward to 2011, On YouTube Rebecca Black's viral song "Friday" received the most attention every Friday.
What helps an idea stick for a longer time is coupling it to things that are constantly on our minds. This was the marketing strategy for Kit Kat, when they launched their "Kit Kat and Coffee" campaign and advertised the chocolate bar as a complement to coffee. With the pick-me-up beverage frequently on our minds throughout the day, we are led to think of Kit Kat more often, and eventually, led to the action of purchasing it.
Employing this concept of trigger, anti-smoking and health-conscious campaigns have also succeeded in selling their message. Most of us can recognize the cowboy depicted as the Marlboro Man, and the anti-smoking organizations have taken advantage of this by advertising an image of the Marlboro man telling another, "Bob, I've got emphysema." By tacking on this dialogue to the familiar advertisement, the anti-smoking campaign has effectively triggered us into thinking of emphysema whenever we see the original poster.
Along these lines then, it makes sense that Cheerios gets more word of mouth than Disney World because the thought of cereal is more likely to be triggered during breakfast time, as shown by data released from Twitter.


text:
Zendesk's Benchmark Snapshot: The impact of COVID-19 on CX
Customer requests are increasingly prone to volatility, putting pressure on support teams as ticket volume fluctuates during the COVID-19 outbreak
Better customer behavior analytics
Customer analytics can tell you what you want to know about your customers, leading to sharper predictions about the future and actionable roadmaps for achieving your desired results
How data improves customer service
Data isn't all schmaltz and talk, and more and more companies are adopting support strategies and CRM solutions where visible big data is fueling growth
Driving revenue with customer analytics
As companies grow, customers suffer. For small and medium-sized businesses, tracking relevant data is crucial to providing the best CX possible
Use your IoT data to create a better customer experience
Paying attention to their IoT data can help companies foster deeper relationships with customers and create better experiences
How support data influences Customer Experience
When customers interact with support agents, they're feeding companies with incredible insights that can transform CX. It affects agent workflow, product roadmaps, and overall customer experience
Using data to amplify the Voice of Customer
Businesses with a VoC program boast higher customer satisfaction, and have a better reputation when it comes to customer experience
What's the difference between real-time analytics and historical analytics?
Customer experience is the bottom line when it comes to decision making. But how do we know we're making the right choice?
Aligning operational metrics with your customer service goals
We identify three customer service goals that companies can measure and the metrics they need to do so
Omnichannel analytics: what the metrics can show you
An omnichannel approach to customer support requires a dedicated strategy, one that will need to be measured for effectiveness
Your customers are important–and so is their data
Security breaches pose real danger to fintech firms and their customers--so when evaluating customer service software, here's what should support leaders look for
5 trends to uncover in your customer service data
A whole lot of data comes out of support interactions. Here are five telltale signs that there's a trend involving your customers and the effectiveness of your customer support.
3 smart solutions to common customer service challenges
While every business is unique, growing businesses that prioritize customer experience often have a few common customer service challenges in common
4 surprising findings on big companies and customer support
Some big companies were born digital; others are just starting to modernize their customer support. New Benchmark research points to best practices for both.
Customer service world cup 2018
Using a key indicator of good customer service—customer satisfaction—we ranked the world's happiest customers by country
The 9 key call center metrics to transform your contact center
There are a few call center metrics that tell a broader story beyond the number. They can even provide details you weren't looking for in the first place
All about average handle time
A customer's time is precious, and so is yours. Average handle time (AHT) can help companies gauge the strength of their call center and phone support. It's a helpful KPI for both individual agents and the overall company.
The data-driven path to building a great help center
Given the importance of great self-service support, which course should companies take to build out theirs? We turned to the Zendesk Benchmark for answers.
Figuring out "what happened?" with descriptive analytics
Not sure what to make of your customer service efforts? There are multiple types of customer analytics that can help customer service teams stay proactive, but for proper preparations and clarity, they'll need descriptive analytics.
Three customer support KPIs you need to track
Everyone uses different metrics to define their goals. So how should you even begin choosing your customer support KPIs?
Tap into the right self-service analytics to measure success
If you're unsure how knowledge management is moving the needle on customer support, let self-service analytics be your guide as you plan for the future
Highlight your team's performance with 7 customer support metrics
By measuring key customer support metrics alongside and against each other, support leaders get a full view into the customer experience
8 Customer service baselines
Setting customer service baselines and then hitting them is essential for delivering on your goal of providing great customer service
How's your first reply time? Not fast enough.
Deceptively simple, vastly important, and full of hidden pitfalls, first reply time is a tricky member of the support metrics family


text:
February 28, 2019
Powerful Annual Reports Part 1: How to create content that people want to read
By Alisa De Backer, Feb 28 / 3 MIN READ Delivering a powerful Annual Report can be challenging. The reality is that coming up with a product that is unique,…read more
February 21, 2019
Battle 'for the soul of Europe'? How to move beyond "manifestos"and "pledges" in political campaigns
By Willy De Backer, Feb 21 In a few months, the EU elections will shake up the Brussels EU bubble. There are many speculations floating around about the potential…read more
February 13, 2019
Separating facts from fiction: 6 tips for better sources in infographics
By Alisa De Backer, Feb 14 The ever-shifting media landscape and the ways we produce and consume information make it incredibly hard to verify how accurate information…read more


text:
Baby - How we Work
1) Call or Email Gemma to reserve the date of your session/s.
2) Its your photographs so before any cameras appear, to get the images you want, we have a chat, exchange ideas and organise the times that best suit your little one , so that on the day its less stressful for you and the family.
3) You will receive your contract covering costs and services in the post – Your photographer is now booked.
4) The Photographer turns up for the shoot. YES WE COME TO YOU!!!!
Within 7-14 working days of your shoot your images will be available to view online in our client log in area.
Copyright Free CD
The copyright free CDs that I provide work out as a better deal than receiving individual prints. Not only do you get the all the edited images, but you can reprint as many times as you want for family and friends for no extra cost, instead of paying the photographer £'x' to get each print. It also means you can print them at a time that is convenient to you, again and again for life. Of course I am always available for help and guidance on printing if needed.


text:
Mar 16, 2020 0
Stunning Black Diamond Stud Earrings in 14k White Gold. Beautifully crafted & suited for all special occasions. Black diamonds have been heat treated to improve their appearance or durability.. All Our Diamond Suppliers Confirm That They Comply With The Kimberley Process To Ensure That Their Diamonds Are Conflict Free. Carat weight listed is the total for both studs.
If you have any question about this specific product please start a LIVE CHAT with our 24hr Support Team (bottom right corner) or email email@example.com.
***[Returning non-defective products]*** Save for certain products that are excluded from this policy (including purchases of underwear, swimwear and earrings), you are entitled to return any purchase concluded on BuyOut, free of charge within 30 days of the product(s) being delivered. ***[Returning Defective Products]*** If within 3 months of delivery of a product, you find that the product is faulty, not commercially acceptable, and unsuitable for the purpose generally intended (or otherwise expressly indicated by BuyOut at time of purchase), or not legally or reasonably durable (based on the circumstances and product type) ("defective"); BuyOut will arrange to collect such product / have it posted back so that it can be inspected by the BuyOut Quality Assurance team. If the product is subsequently found to indeed be defective, you are entitled to either: (a) be fully refunded or (b) have the product replaced at BuyOut's expense (the decision between repairing or replacing being that of BuyOut's depending on availability and other relevant circumstances, and in this regard you acknowledge that Sale/ Outlet products will usually not be replaced). Please the full BuyOut Returns And Refunds Policy on https://buyout.co.za/pages/returns-and-refunds


text:
Basketball fans had mid-major programs to thank for much of the fun in the NCAA tournament.
It was just last spring that Dayton ran through the Big 12, SEC and ACC to reach the Elite Eight, while Gonzaga nearly toppled Tennessee in the Sweet 16. Off an unbeaten regular season that earned national attention -- as well as some from the White House -- Princeton made the most of a questionable seeding decision and gave Maryland a game on the Terps' home court.
And this year might be even better. Even without some familiar names from a season ago, this looks on paper like one of the deepest collection of viable mid-major teams in the past decade.
So let's get to the preseason top 10.
1. Florida Gulf Coast
Last season: 31-3 overall, 14-0 Atlantic Sun, NCAA tournament second round
What they have: Start with a good talent base that has the potential to be truly special if a few things go right. Whitney Knight is the cornerstone, a 6-foot-3 shot-blocker who is listed as a guard, like most of the roster, and led the Atlantic Sun in 3-pointers. The top three scorers are back, as are five of the top six. The rotation might gain Vanderbilt transfer Kady Schrann, if preseason injury concerns don't linger, and Georgia transfer Sydnei McCaskill after Christmas.
Name to remember: Taylor Gradinjan. If most people know anything about Florida Gulf Coast, it's that they shoot 3-pointers. True to form, FGCU ranked ninth nationally in 3-pointers a season ago. But in terms of 3-point efficiency, the past few years were, well, hit and miss. A sophomore by eligibility who is actually in her fourth year, Gradinjan could change that all on her own. Once in the rotation after coming back from multiple ACL tears, she was a 41 percent 3-point shooter.
Best chance to turn heads: Dec. 19 vs. Mississippi State
(Update: Knight is expected to miss several weeks at the start of the season after being diagnosed with a fracture in her left foot, the South Florida newspaper News-Press reported Tuesday after this article was originally published. Although there are opponents who will test a Knight-less team before then, the team's first game of national consequence is Dec. 3 against George Washington.)
2. George Washington
Last season: 29-4 overall, 15-1 Atlantic 10, NCAA tournament first round
What they have: The Department of the Interior. All right, the nickname needs work, but not many programs, mid-major or otherwise, can talk about running out a lineup that goes 6-2, 6-4, 6-5 across the front. Colonials coach Jonathan Tsipis has talked about doing just that at times with All-America candidate Jonquel Jones, Caira Washington and Kelli Prange. The team led the nation in rebounding by a healthy margin a season ago.
Name to remember: Caira Washington. The headlines will go to Jones, and deservedly so, in the case of a player who can do things like put up 24 points and 17 rebounds at Dayton. But to use a comparison to a recent mid-major success, Washington is the Ta'Shia Phillips to Jones' Amber Harris -- not in stature, where Washington gives up inches to Phillips, but certainly in value. The junior forward just can't afford to hit triple digits in fouls this season.
Best chance to turn heads: Nov. 21 at Stanford
3. Princeton
Last season: 31-1 overall, 14-0 Ivy League, NCAA tournament second round
What they have: A really long regular-season winning streak. Beaten in 2014-15 only by Maryland in the postseason (and the NCAA tournament selection committee), Princeton returns four of five starters and its most productive reserve. That the Tigers find themselves third here despite that continuity is because Ivy League player of the year Blake Dietrick turned pro. But Dietrick is also a reminder that players don't stagnate under Courtney Banghart.
Name to remember: Annie Tarakchian. Even Dietrick didn't take that many more shots than the rest of the team's core, so it's not as if any Tiger will ever channel Kobe Bryant. Still, it will be fascinating to see where Tarakchian goes from what was quietly one of the best complementary lines out there: 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals per game and 47 percent 3-point shooting.
Best chance to turn heads: Dec. 18 at Ohio State
4. Chattanooga
Last season: 29-4 overall, 14-0 Southern, NCAA tournament first round
What they have: Chattanooga a season ago was a quintessential mid-major. Smaller than some of the ranked teams it beat, namely Tennessee and Stanford, it nonetheless didn't concede athleticism before it even took the court. It excelled defensively, and it was efficient (it shot 52 percent against Tennessee and turned over the ball just 12 times against Stanford). More relevant to these rankings, almost the entire rotation that produced that returns this season.
Name to remember: Jasmine Joyner. Having just stated that Chattanooga is a quintessential mid-major success, those teams traditionally don't have a game-altering defensive presence in the post. They certainly don't have one who can step out of her league and block eight shots on the road at Notre Dame. The 6-2 junior is a big-time talent by any measure.
Best chance to turn heads: Nov. 23 at Tennessee, Nov. 30 vs. Connecticut, Dec. 28 at Stanford
5. Green Bay
Last season: 28-5 overall, 15-1 Horizon, NCAA tournament first round
What they have: Led by the versatile trio of Tesha Buck, Mehryn Kraker and Kaili Lukan, the Phoenix return 87 percent of the scoring from a team that went 5-2 against major conferences and deserved better than a first-round game against Princeton. They also add one of the most notable mid-major transfers. The catch is that few could be more valuable in scoring 6.7 points per game than former point guard and defensive stopper Megan Lukan.
Name to remember: Ashley Luke. It's always nice to add a transfer who a season ago averaged 19.7 points per game, three points per game more than any player in the successful history of the Green Bay program. It's even better when she knows her way around campus. After transferring from Green Bay to Western Illinois after her freshman year, Luke is back for a final season in Wisconsin.
Best chance to turn heads: Nov. 28 vs. Rutgers
6. Gonzaga
Last season: 26-9 overall, 15-3 West Coast, NCAA tournament Sweet 16
What they have: Let's call it institutional memory. Gonzaga loses stars and still thrives. It even lost Kelly Graves to little ill effect, coming within a whisker of the Elite Eight for Lisa Fortier. So while the Bulldogs lost the leading scorers off that team, Keani Albanez and Sunny Greinacher, they know how to reload. There is still a lot of size, as well as a quality point guard and promising shooters.
Name to remember: Elle Tinkle. Not to suggest it was one-to-one cause and effect, but Gonzaga started to look like its old self a season ago about the time Tinkle hit her stride. Younger sister of former Stanford player Joslyn and daughter of Oregon State men's college basketball coach Wayne, her name stands on its own in Spokane, a rare scorer both reliable from long range and able and willing to get to the free throw line.
Best chance to turn heads: Nov. 15 vs. Stanford
7. Dayton
Last season: 28-7 overall, 14-2 Atlantic 10, NCAA tournament Elite Eight
What they have: Let's get the elephant out of the room with whom they don't have: Andrea Hoover and Ally Malott. Those two combined to average 32.9 points and 14.1 rebounds per game, and even those stats don't do them justice. That still leaves a player who had a double-double and four blocks against Louisville in the Sweet 16 (Jodie Cornelie-Sigmundova) and a lot of backcourt depth.
Name to remember: Kelley Austria. After tearing her ACL midway through the 2013-14 season, Austria came on late a season ago. She averaged 14 points, four rebounds and two steals in the final two games of the A-10 tournament and NCAA games against Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville and Connecticut.
Best chance to turn heads: Jan. 10 vs. George Washington, Feb. 14 at George Washington
8. South Dakota State
Last season: 24-9 overall, 12-4 Summit, NCAA tournament first round
What they have: Defense and rebounding are all but assumed as strengths by this point in the program's development. Last season's team was one of the best at ball control, and enough of the core returns to expect more of the same, especially with distributor Gabrielle Boever back from injury. Several pieces need to be replaced, including leading scorer Megan Waytashek, but an incoming class that includes the Minnesota and South Dakota players of the year intrigues.
Name to remember: Macy Miller. A freshman who comes in and does one or two things well is an asset. The South Dakota high school player of the year once removed, Miller came in a season ago and did a lot of things -- shooting 49 percent from the field, 88 percent on a team-high 135 free throw attempts, leading the team in assists and finishing with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
Best chance to turn heads: Nov. 21 vs. Notre Dame
9. Drexel
Last season: 20-11 overall, 14-4 Colonial, WNIT
What they have: Continuity helps, and Drexel returns its top four scorers from a season ago. Granted, Jamila Thompson was one of Drexel's most productive players without being a point producer. She's gone, but Sarah Curran and Rachel Pearson return as well-rounded, double-digit scorers. Drexel has also gone back to Europe for reinforcements in its freshman class.
Name to remember: Meghan Creighton. As much as Thompson moving on hurts, Creighton returning helps. She played just seven games a season ago before injury ruled her out. She's not likely to score a lot of points, but she's a 3-point threat at point guard who also manages a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.
Best chance to turn heads: Dec. 29 at Syracuse
Last season: 23-9 overall 12-6 West Coast, NCAA tournament first round
What they have: BYU loses Morgan Bailey and her near-automatic double-double, but it still has backcourt depth. Specifically, it still has Lexi Eaton Rydalch. A talented scorer from the outset in Provo, she became a much more efficient one a season ago. Her hot streaks are something to behold. BYU wasn't a good rebounding team even with Bailey, so that's an issue.
Name to remember: Makenzie Morrison Pulsipher. Eaton Rydalch is the first chair and point guard Kylie Maeda is the conductor, but Morrison Pulsipher could make the tune come together if her sublime 3-point touch stretches defenses and opens up room on the court for developing players inside. And she's a more complete offensive player than merely a shooter.
Best chance to turn heads: Dec. 5 vs. Texas A&M (in Hawaii)


text:
The New Dynamics of Ageing Programme is organising a workshop for researchers working on topics concerning ageing and older people and the arts and humanities.
The workshop will feature the progress of NDA projects that have focused on different aspects of ageing and the arts, from theatre and photography to representations of ageing in fiction.
Professor Miriam Bernard, Keele University
Professor Susan Hallam, Institute of Education
Dr. Andrew Newman, Newcastle University
Professor Philip Tew, Brunel University
Dr. Lorna Warren, University of Sheffield
The event will be chaired by Professor Alexandra Carter, Middlesex University, and introduced by Professor Pat Thane, King's College London.
In addition, there will be an overview of research in this emerging field and a commentary from the AHRC. This will be provided by Adam Walker, Strategy and Development Manager at the AHRC.
Specific objectives of the workshop:
This will be a free event.
Please click here to view the flyer for the event and click here to view a programme.
This event is now fully booked.


text:
View Single Post
Major League
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 956
Across the nation, families are settling down for their dinners in front of the television, with FX on as pleasant background noise. There had been a strange, two-hour gap in the TV guide for this evening, but no-one thought much of it, figuring it was a misprint and theyd be treated to reruns of M*A*S*H or Ally McBeal. As the commercial break ended and the clock struck 6pm, the screen went black, before slowly fading in on a scene that made those who recognised it stop in their tracks
Ladies and gentlemen, do not adjust your television sets...
The crowd in attendance went wild. Their tickets had been bought on the premise of a special house show before WCWs big return to pay-per-view this coming Sunday for WCW Big Bang, but now Eric Bischoff was addressing a TV audience? Everyone just figured that they were using Nitro ring aprons because they still had them and wanted to save costs. The cameramen were there in case there was any footage they wanted to show on Sunday, right? Wrong. This was the completely unannounced return of WCW Monday Nitro, on its new home in an early evening slot on FX! They were witnessing history!
Welcome back to WCW Monday Nitro! I know youre all excited for Big Bang this Sunday, but what good is a pay-per-view without a go-home show, am I right?
While the crowd went ballistic, Ric Flairs music hit and the Nature Boy came out to the ring!
Woah there, Bischoff! Last I checked, Im in charge around here! So jog on, pal! Now lets talk Big Bang, shall we? Its time to right some wrongs that happened back in March, starting with the fact that neither man Booker T beat for Championships received a rematch for their respective titles! So, at Big Bang, Booker T will defend the WCW United States Heavyweight title against Rick Steiner, and later in the night, Booker T will defend the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Scott Steiner!
With that announcement, Booker Ts music hit and he came to the ring with his arm in a sling. He grabbed a mic and addressed Flair, face-to-face.
Dawg, I would love to beat both your boys in one night at WCW Big Bang, but as you can see, Im not cleared to compete. I damaged my shoulder and the doc wont let me wrestle for another four weeks. But as soon as Im back, Ill gladly take the so-called Magnificent Seven apart one-by-one, or two in one night, if you insist!
Sorry pal, but to quote a former rival of mine, that doesnt work for me, brother! You see, another rule I want to see enforced in this new WCW, on top of the rematch clauses in peoples contracts being acknowledged, is the 30 day rule, and its already been over 30 days since you defended either of your titles!
Actually, Book, while I hate to agree with Ric Flair about pretty much anything, really, I have to admit that the Big Bang event would be more of a crappy sparkler burning my hand without a World Championship match, so if youre unable to wrestle on the show, Im going to have to ask you give up those titles...
You serious?
Sorry, its nothing personal, Ive got to do whats best for business.
Booker dropped the United States Heavyweight title that was over his good shoulder, then slowly (and one-handedly) unclipped the World Heavyweight Championship belt from around his waist, looked at it for a few seconds, then threw it at the feet of Bischoff, before leaving the ring, dejected.
I never thought Id say this, but great call, Bischoff! Shall I get Rick and Scott out here now, or do you want to have their coronation at the pay-per-view?
Easy, Ric! Were not going to have any coronation! Rick and Scott Steiner will have their opportunity to regain their respective titles, but Ill be hand-picking opponents for them to face at Big Bang for those titles!
With that, Bischoff gathered up the belts that Booker had thrown on the ground, and left Flair fuming in the ring as we cut to a brand new WCW Nitro opening package!
Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay and Bobby Heenan announced the plan for the night: an eight man tournament to crown a brand new WCW Television Champion! The TV title has some new rules:
The Champion must defend the title on every single televised event
If the Champion makes 15 successful title defences, he may choose to vacate the title for an automatic United States Heavyweight Championship match at the next pay-per-view
If the Champion chooses not to take the above opportunity, 5 more successful title defences (for a total of 20) will allow them to vacate the title for a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity at the next pay-per-view
As for the tournament itself, the brackets look as follows:
Jim Duggan gets a spot in the tournament as the most recent former champion, the rest of the field is made up of promising stars of WCW! The accompanying video package showed off the excellent chemistry that Ernest Miller and Miss Jones have together, as well as showing the recent issues Rey Misterio Jr (and WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship partner Billy Kidman) have been having with Elix Skipper and his partner Kid Romeo of late.
WCW Television Championship Tournament 1st Round Match
Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs Jim Duggan
This match was never going to be accused of being match of the year, but it told a story. Chavo was the young, speedy cruiserweight, running rings around Duggan, who is obviously way out of his prime and probably couldnt have kept up with Chavo in his prime anyway. Every time Duggan did manage to get a hold of Chavo, Chavo would take a cheap shot (eye rake, for example) to maintain control over the match, until WCW Cruiserweight Champion Shane Helms came down to ringside! This caught Chavos attention, allowing Duggan just enough time to recover and hit his patented Running Clothesline Tackle for the pin!
In a decent match, Jim Duggan defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. in 6:42 by pinfall with a Running Clotheline Tackle after a distraction from Shane Helms.
Sting cut a backstage promo talking about how good it felt to see WCW saved from the grasp of Vince McMahon, who two months ago seemed to have the whole deal wrapped up to buy out the company. Sting talked about never having wanted to work for the WWF and how WCW is his home. Sting finished by saying he is, was, and will forever be the franchise of WCW. Sting improvised well throughout the segment, you could tell this speech came from the heart, not something that had been written for him.
WCW Television Championship Tournament 1st Round Match
Elix Skipper vs Rey Misterio Jr.
Despite only going just over eight minutes, these two Cruiserweights tried their best to steal the show in this opening round match! Building on their tag team feud (with partners Kid Romeo and Billy Kidman, respectively) over the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championships, this match eventually broke down when both Romeo and Kidman got involved, and Nick Patrick had to throw it out as a draw!
In a bout that had decent wrestling but didn't have much heat, Elix Skipper drew with Rey Misterio Jr. in 8:03 when the match descended into chaos after Billy Kidman and Kid Romeo became involved.
DDP and Kevin Nash, collectively known as The Insiders, cut a backstage promo together, complete with the usual inside lingo and references that the more clued-up fans would appreciate. DDP in particular worked the crowd well, using a line you know, Kev, I wouldnt have minded going to work for Vince so much, at least Id be back home in the Tri-State area more yeah, you people dont know whether to cheer or boo that, do ya? which got an audible laugh from the audience.
WCW Television Championship Tournament 1st Round Match
M.I. Smooth vs Mike Awesome
This match between two very large men served its purpose of giving the crowd a little respite from the high octane action of the previous match and the emotion stirred up in the promos cut by Sting, DDP and Nash. This also served as a point for the commentary team to discuss freshly announced matches for WCW Big Bang: Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs Shane Helms (C) for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and Billy Kidman & Rey Misterio Jr. defending their WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team titles against Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo! The match itself (between Smooth and Awesome) was fairly standard big man fare, until Kanyon came down to ringside and hit Smooth from behind while Nick Patrick was distracted by Awesome, allowing Awesome to hit a very impressive Awesome Bomb for the win!
In a poor match, Mike Awesome defeated M.I. Smooth in 6:27 by pinfall with an Awesome Bomb following interference from Kanyon.
WCW Television Championship Tournament 1st Round Match
Ernest Miller vs Lance Storm
In the best match of the night so far (mostly thanks to Lance Storm, although Miller held up his end of the bargain, too), Storm and Miller worked the crowd to perfection. Millers antics were super popular with the live audience, and Storm makes a great foil for any fun-loving babyface. Eventually, Storms (and his tag partner, Mike Awesomes) rivals, WCW World Tag Team Champions Chuck Palumbo & Sean OHaire, provided the distraction for the finish.
In a decent match, Ernest Miller defeated Lance Storm in 8:06 by pinfall with a Feliner after a distraction from Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire.
As soon as the match was over, Mike Awesome hit the ring and beat down Ernest Miller! It was announced on commentary that, due to the draw between Elix Skipper and Rey Misteri Jr. earlier in the night, Jim Duggan would receive a bye to the final of the tournament, and therefore the semi-final between Awesome and Miller was up next!
WCW Television Championship Tournament Semi-Final
Ernest Miller vs Mike Awesome
Unsurprisingly, Awesome dominated this short match, having both the advantage of the pre-match attack and a freshness advantage as Miller had only just finished his match with Storm a few minutes prior.
In a decent match, Mike Awesome defeated Ernest Miller in 6:06 by pinfall with an Awesome Bomb.
Ric Flair came out to the ring and called Dustin Rhodes out to join him, to which Dustin duly obliged.
Listen, pal dont bother grabbing a microphone, I dont care what you got to say! You just listen to me! I am just about done with dealing with you and your daddy getting involved in my business around here! You have humiliated me, and I wont stand for it! So, tonight Dustin, you will take on my good friend, Road Warrior Animal, and if you lose, youll never work in WCW again! You understand?
Dustin simply nods, not seeming phased by this announcement.
You might look confident, but while youve been out here with me, Ive had dear ol daddy escorted from the arena by security. Youre on your own, pal! Lets see how good you really are!
With that, Flair left the ring and signalled for Animal to come out.
Dustin Rhodes vs Road Warrior Animal
This match was surprisingly good, considering Animals advancing age. The match focused around the story of Dustin looking over his shoulder, expecting the Magnificent Seven to get involved at any point, and eventually his suspicions were confirmed when Jeff Jarrett came down to ringside!
Referee Billy Silverman got caught up in the action, accidentally catching a Clothesline from Animal, at which point Jarrett got in the ring with his guitar! Animal held Dustin in place, Jarrett swung
And Dustin ducked! Jarrett hit Animal right in the head with the guitar, completely shattering it! Dustin hit Jarrett with a Bulldog, then fell on Animal just in time for Billy Silverman to come around and count the three!
In a decent match, Dustin Rhodes defeated Road Warrior Animal in 7:08 by pinfall following botched interference by Jeff Jarrett.
As soon as the bell rang, Totally Buffed (Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger) hit the ring and attacked Rhodes! Jarrett soon recovered and joined the assault, followed eventually by Animal. This was a four-man mugging until Booker Ts music hit! After the initial shock, the four members of the Magnificent Seven in the ring started laughing, cradling their arms like they were in a sling, but their jovial spirit soon subsided when Booker ran out with a lead pipe in hand!
The heels bailed out of the ring as Booker entered and stood over Dustin, who was fortunate to live to fight another day!
WCW Television Championship Tournament Final
Jim Duggan vs Mike Awesome
Despite Duggan having fought one less match tonight, this match told the story of Mike Awesome, being in his prime, simply being too much for Duggan to handle. As such, Awesome dominated the match, until once again Chuck Palumbo and Sean OHaire showed up!
The WCW World Tag Team Champions appearance got Awesomes attention, and for the second time tonight, a distraction allowed Duggan enough time to hit his Running Clothesline Tackle for the pin!
In a decent match, Jim Duggan defeated Mike Awesome in 6:20 by pinfall with a Running Clotheline Tackle after a distraction from Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire. Jim Duggan wins the WCW World Television title.
Ric Flair came out to the stage with Rick and Scott Steiner!
No way, my first Nitro back isnt finishing like that! You idiots might be cheering, but to call Jim Duggan a has-been would imply he ever was worth a dime! Look at the two men next to me, the Steiner Brothers! After WCW Big Bang, these men will once again hold the two biggest singles titles in WCW, so tonight, Ive planned a warm-up match for them, to show you people what real champions look like! Duggan! Get the Hell out of my ring, pal! Get me a referee and the Steiners opponents out here!
Air Raid vs The Steiner Brothers
This match was clearly intended to be a display of dominance for the Steiners, but Air Paris and AJ Styles put up a surprisingly good fight, frustrating the brothers. In the end, the Steiners great natural chemistry coupled with Scott simply being on another level tonight, meant they still picked up the inevitable win, even if it took a little longer than one might have thought.
In a decent match, The Steiner Brothers defeated Air Raid in 7:56 when Scott Steiner defeated Air Paris by submission.
In terms of in-ring work, Scott Steiner was head and shoulders above everyone else.
Last edited by EBEZA : 07-11-2019 at
View Public Profile
Find all posts by EBEZA


text:
Here is a question I have asked in the past Access to Course through Catalog Dashboard.
Our students register through Catalog. The course may not start for another two weeks. We want the students to have access to the course prior to the start.
Catalog does NOT recognize "Restrict students from viewing course before start date" check box in Canvas. Therefore, if students logged into Canvas, they can see the course. This would be fine however....
The email from Catalog drives them to the Catalog dashboard. But, when they arrive, the course is locked because it won't start for 2 weeks. -
They can access the course by going to their name and clicking Canvas under there. However, we are finding this is not intuitive to users.
Any advice?