text:
Boston is a city with a serious beer history. Some may know it for the iconic Sam Adams Boston Lager, which sparked the American craft beer revolution (hooray!), and others have travelled far and wide to make it into Beantown for their infamous St Paddys Day Parade in Southie to celebrate with over one million spectators and a big local Irish population. Then there is the beloved show Cheers, which gave Boston its recognition as a friendly-neighborhood-pub-kind-of-town. And it is, for the most part, unless you are from out of town or wearing a Yankees cap.
Here are the top three Breweries, beers and pubs you don't want to miss on your next trip to Boston. Even if it's just a short business trip, you'll have plenty time to squeeze in our top three!
- Aeronaut Brewing Company (Somerville, MA)
Boston is a city of history, but its people are the ones that make the craft beer industry here so unique. A little rough around the edges, and super sharp, Bostonians are creating some of the best beers around, and the folks at Aeronaut Brewing are no exception! The brewers here are literally bringing their beers to life with their creation of Auronaut Labs. Co-founder and CEO Ben Holmes, took us on a tour of their lab where they have a team of microbiologists that grow their yeast cultures for their beers! This MIT dropout and his group of highly technical and savvy brewers are making some badass brews that are knocking it out of the park (Fenway park, if you must)!
In addition to a tour by the owner himself, the Aliens got our hands on several of their delicious craft brews. We tried their Saison of the Western Ghats, Mass Wheat, A Year with Dr. Nandu, and the Jackdaw London Porter.
This brewery is still young, but we expect to start seeing their name creeping up if they keep brewing beers like this.
Our favorites: A Year With Dr. Nandu and Jackdaw Porter
Tips: A Year With Dr. Nandu was by far the best IPA we had our entire time in Boston, and we drank plenty of them! It's got a ton of flavor, with a hint of tropical fruit and Mosaic hops. We left with a growler and shared cans with our human friends all weekend long! Well done, Aeronaut!
Facebook – Instagram – Twitter
- Trillium Brewing (Boston, MA)
Trillium was a must hit on our list. We've been hearing nothing but rave reviews of this local craft beer blazer and we had to see what all the hype was about. We arrived at their Fort Point location, and to our shock, they did not offer any tastings of the beers here, or at their brewery in Canton, MA. They only sell their bottles and refill growlers. This was a little disappointing at the time, since we arrived thirsty and ready to be impressed. However, the folks here were very knowledgeable and were up for some 'brew talk', plus they allowed us to take this very attractive photo of them with the couple 22oz bottles we chose to take home.
Popping open the bottles at home was similar to opening presents on your birthday, when you were 10. We got the Fort Point Pale Ale Dry Hopped with Enigma Hops and the Congress Street IPA. Both poured a very hazy, almost opaque yellow-orange color with a cream colored head. They were approachable, clean and crisp, but with a unique twist with highly flavorful hops and unique yeast cultures native to New England.
Our favorites: Fort Point Pale Ale (we tried both the small batch Enigma dry hopped and regular, both terrific)
Tips: Their brews are also available on tap all throughout Boston, and at most popular craft brew pubs!
Facebook – Instagram – Twitter
- Night Shift Brewing at Bukowski's Tavern (Boston, MA)
This cash-only pub is right in the heart of Boston, off Boylston Street in the Bay Bay. It's been serving up some of the best local and regional craft brews for the past 14 years and has that quintessential small Boston pub feel. We can only imagine ducking in here on a frigid Boston winter day and watching the glass fog up from inside creating a space that makes you lose all sense of time, place and urgency. We love this pub for its selection of beers, its purposefully boorish Boston vibe (the pictures say it all), and its traditional pub feel. Here we found some of our favorite beers of the trip, from Night Shift Brewing from Everett, MA. Their amazing beers kept popping up everywhere we went (including another hot spot Foundry on Elm in Somerville, MA pictured below).
Our favorites: Night Shift Awake Porter (aged with coffee)
Tips: Get a table in the back, it's warmer there!
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Look at my hat!!!
I got it from Higginstuff, a local artist, for exchange of a pair of socks. WIN KITTY!!!
I also upgraded my Converse this weekend from the classic black and white hightops to the all black hightops. Look at these beauties!! I'm broke but I'm happy!
I also got an Avengers notebook from MudderofCanton. Best weekend EVAR!! ETA: Since apparently I've promised a picture of my notebook, here you go!! Here's a bonus picture of Mudder's Justice League notebook.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
SOUNDTRACK: EFRIM MANUEL MENUCK-Plays "High Gospel" [CST078] (2011).
Efrim Manuel Menuck was a co-founder of Godspeed Your Black Emperor and the main force behind A Silver Mt. Zion. In some ways it seems odd that he would release a solo album, but I guess Silver Mt Zion is enough of a collective for him to want to do his own thing. Efrim has been singing a lot more on Silver Mt Zion records, and I find his voice to walk a fine line between interesting and annoying–well, not so much annoying as inappropriate to the music he makes. For this solo disc, though, there's something different about the music that works well with his voice. There's eight songs on the disc. Some of them are pretty much unlistenable, but others are really enjoyable. The opener "our lady of parc extension and her munificent sorrows" is 7 minutes long and has the kind of epic feel of his previous bands, but there's a lot more keyboard (making cool space sounds). Meanwhile, "a 12-pt. program for keep on keepin' on" is described as a "hauntingly processed field recordings and ominous tape-delayed sound-sculpture." That's true for the first minute or so, but after that it's mostly just an unpleasant cacophony…that lasts nine minutes! And while it's great that it was all done with analogue equipment, that doesn't make it any more listenable.
"august four, year-of-our-lord blues" is a much more enjoyable instrumental, slow vibrated notes, a real western sound. Efrim sings again on "heavy calls & hospital blues" and his angsty, hesitant voice works very well on this piano ballad. "heaven's engine is a dusty ol' bellows " is a 2 minute instrumental/introduction that sounds a lot like the guitar opening from Radiohead's "Electioneering." "kaddish for chesnutt" is a slow, mournful dirge. It's quite moving. It's 7 minutes long, and the length is saved by the second half where the chanted vocals bring the song back from the edge.
"chickadees' roar pt. 2" is mostly feedback noises and squeaks. It's less unpleasant than other instrumentals, but it's not something you'd seek out. Although it does work as an introduction to the closer: "i am no longer a motherless child." After about 2 minutes of dissonant introduction, the group begins singing an uplifting ending hymn.
So this boils down to a self-indulgent solo project, with a few tracks that are among his best. You can stream it here.
[READ: May 22, 2012] "Mrs Blue"
I really enjoyed Joshua Ferris' first novel. So I thought I'd see what else he had written. He has a number stories published but most of them are unavailable for free reading at this time. Thanks to my JSTOR account I was able to read this one from The Iowa Review.
This was pretty confusing story–and since its one of his first, I don't really know what else to compare it to in his work. There's all kinds of disturbing images and as you delve more deeply into the story, the images turn more disturbing but in different ways.
It opens with a youngish boy being seduced by Mrs Blue, a teacher in his school. He warns her about the dangers of unprotected sex and she says that she's the one who convinced the PTA to hire the guy who gave the lecture, so she knows all about it. He's 13 and he keeps telling her he doesn't want to (her locations of choice include under a railroad car and in a burned out building). Each paragraph or so is set off by a star, indicating a new section. So section 2 has the narrator and Gus (friend? brother?) go to the track where Mrs Blue runs laps. Gus walks his dog, Mr Yackley, while the narrator (whose name is Woodrow Williams) talk about Cole Porter and how she's looking for a new "daddy."
The third section introduces a new character, Burke Hapsburg, the man who fell from the sky. He is a superhero who is being chased by Mustafa's mercenary henchmen. At the same time Woodrow's sister (apparently) Cheyne locks herself in her room while his brother Macky locks himself in his own room.
Macky asks Woodrow if he has read the graffiti about Cheyne (it consists of amusing/irreverent puns about Cheyne's pussy (it's my Wailing Wall, it's the Sermon on the Mound, etc).
Later, in 4th period gym (I love the joke that their gym game is Supervisors and Workers, where Mr Karlsbad's favorite kids are the Supervisors, and the less favorite are the Workers (who have to pick up all of the balls that the supervisors throw around). Mrs Blue interrupts the class to pull Woodrow out. He tells Mr Karslbad that his dad has MS. Karlsbad bonds with because his wife has MS, too.
Several times during the story, Woodrow's doorbell rings (his parents are never seen) and everyone ignores it (except Mr Yackley). The kids also have really no food at all, and seem to be on their own entirely. It's also not clear that anything that we've read has really happened at all. There is a scene of confrontation at the end of the story which raises more questions that it resolves. I enjoyed most of the parts of this story, I'm just not sure that I enjoyed it overall.


text:
Use with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 24 drippers
To assist in selecting the most
appropriate Irrigatia controller, we've
devised a simple method to demonstrate
each product's capacity. We call them
'Irrigation Units', or 'IU' for short.
Look for the symbols showing what you can water.
The SOL-C24 connects to the following
Irrigatia Kits:
Drippers: Use for pots, baskets and individual
Seephose: Ideal for short runs in a mixed dripper /
seephose environment, germinating seedlings,
watering plant troughs and
small beds.
Microporous Hose: Ideal for flower beds, raised
beds, vegetable plots, fruit trees and fruit cages.
Save with our special offers
Free UK deliveries on orders over £50
The Vertical Fruit & Veg Garden retails at: £59.95
The Vertical Herb & Flower Garden retails at: £49.95
To buy online or for more information go to www.irrigatia.com
No: 16/055
For information on this press release please contact Graham Paskett or Aroonaa Sharrma at Paskett Public Relations Limited on 00 44 (0)1332 258 335 or email firstname.lastname@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Huntsman signature 1 button cut in an exclusive designed tweed from our partnered 5th generation Yorkshire woollen mill
Your purchase will arrive within 1-2 or 3-5 days depending on your choice of delivery. A confirmation email will be sent once your order has been despatched. Please see full delivery terms here.
This item can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of receipt.
If your order has been sent to a destination within the EU, all sales taxes will be refunded. Outside the EU, customs duties and sales taxes are non-refundable through Huntsman. However, you may be able to recover these by contacting your local customs bureau directly. As this may not be available for all countries, we recommend that you hire a customs broker if you wish to claim back duties on returned merchandise. Please see full returns terms here


text:
The British Way in Warfare: Power and the International System, 1856-1956 : Essays in Honour of David French Hardback
by Professor Keith Neilson
Edited by Professor Greg Kennedy
In his groundbreaking book The British Way in Warfare (Routledge, 1990), David French outlined the skillful combination of maritime, economic and diplomatic power employed by Britain to achieve its international goals.
Almost two decades later, this collection offers a reassessment of French's thesis, using it as a lens through which to explore Britain's relationship with various kinds of power (military and civil) and how this was employed across the globe.
In particular, each essay addresses the ways in which the use of power manifested itself in the maintenance of Britain's place within the international system between 1856 and 1956. Adopting twin methodologies, the collection firstly addresses the broad question of Britain's relationship with other Great Powers and how these influenced the strategies used, before then testing these with specific case studies.
By taking this approach, it is possible to discern which policies were successful and which failed, and whether these remained constant across time and space.
Measuring Britain's strategy against her commercial, imperial, and military competitors (including France, the USA, Italy, Germany, and Russia) allows intriguing conclusions to be drawn about just how an essentially maritime power could compete with much larger - and potentially more powerful - continental rivals. With contributions from an outstanding selection of military scholars, this collection addresses fundamental questions about the intersection of military, economic and diplomatic history, that are as relevant today as they were during the height of Britain's imperial power.
It will prove essential reading, not only for those with an interest in British military history, but for anyone wishing to understand how power - in all its multifaceted guises - can be employed for national advantage on the international stage.
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 358 pages
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication Date: 07/05/2010
- Category: British & Irish history
Also by Professor Keith Neilson | View all


text:
Which washing machine brand?
Bosch washing machines rated
By Matt Stevens
Article 5 of 12
Bosch washing machines are popular. Find out how they score in our reviews and how long they tend to last before developing faults.
Put us to the test
Our Test Labs compare features and prices on a range of products. Try Which? to unlock our reviews. You'll instantly be able to compare our test scores, so you can make sure you don't get stuck with a Don't Buy.
Bosch is part of the BSH Group of companies, which also includes washing machine brands Neff and Siemens. In our latest survey of washing machine owners, 37% of respondents owned a Bosch.
But you won't find a bargain-basement Bosch washing machine, so before you splash out, find out whether it's a brand you can rely on.
In this guide you'll find, at a glance, the key information you need to know about Bosch washing machines before buying one. Discover how Bosch models score in our reviews and how reliable the brand is. We'll also tell you how likely Bosch owners are to recommend the brand and how loyal they are to it. If you'd rather read reviews of individual models, head to our Bosch washing machine reviews.
Every piece of information has been independently researched – we buy the Bosch washing machines we test and carry out our own surveys to find out what owners really think of their machines.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our exclusive ratings and verdicts in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.
|Bosch washing machines overview table
|Number tested in the past three years
|Number of Best Buys
|Average test score
|Brand reliability score
|Customer score (%)
|Typical spend
|Should I buy one?
|Table notes
|The average test score is based on results for models tested between October 2016 and December 2019 that are still currently available. The customer score and brand reliability rating are based on a Which? member survey conducted in October 2019 of 1,511 Bosch owners. The customer score is based on satisfaction and whether members would recommend the brand to a friend, and reliability is based on members' experience of that brand. Table last updated December 2019.
KeyMember Content
How much do Bosch washing machines cost?
Most Bosch washing machines will set you back between £300 and £600, so there should be a model available in your price range. But don't expect to find bargain-basement, budget-priced Bosch machines – it's not that kind of brand. The Bosch Classixx range is the most affordable. Machines from the Advantixx, Logixx and Maxx ranges can cost a bit more. We know from talking to our Which? members that most would pay around £391 for a Bosch washing machine.
If you want to see how Bosch compares with other major washing machine manufacturers, have a look at our guide to the best washing machine brands. You'll be able to compare how reliable and popular different brands are, as well as view our expert verdicts on each brand covered.
Top five best Bosch washing machines
This is an absolutely outstanding built-in washing machine, It does a sensational job of removing stains from clothes and is a worthy Best Buy.
We love pretty much everything about this integrated washing machine. It washes clothes brilliantly and spins them as though its very existence depended on the results. If you're looking for an integrated machine, this Best Buy simply has to be on your shortlist.
This machine is up there with the best washing machines we've tested. It washes brilliantly, it's quick and it's easy to use.
This is indeed a great washing machine and it cleans well, whether you're washing natural or synthetic fabrics. The rinse removes most of the detergent, and follows that up with a good spin, and it's pretty speedy, too. With so many plus points, it's clearly good enough to earn our Best Buy banner.
This is yet another truly outstanding washing machine to add to the brand's growing pantheon of Best Buys. It's superb at shifting stains, it spins water away from clothes like its very existence depends on it and, despite its advanced features, it's among the most easy-to-use machines we've tested.
Bosch washing machine faults
We've analysed the most common faults reported by Bosch washing machine owners in our latest washing machine reliability survey. If their Bosch washing machine is not working properly, the problems that owners report include:
- Machine not spinning
- Filter blocked or broken
- Machine won't drain
Read more about common washing machine problems and how to fix them.
Choosing the best Bosch washing machine
Bosch washing machines have a range of load capacities, including 6kg, 7kg, 8kg, 9kg and 10kg. Most Bosch washing machines are white, but you can buy some models in silver or stainless steel and a few in black.
Each Bosch washing machine falls into one of these ranges:
- the value-added Series 4/Bosch Classixx range
- the mid-level Series 6/Bosch Exxcel range
- the premium Series 8/Bosch Logixx range
- the 'non-core' Bosch Maxx range.
Interesting wash programs to look for on Bosch washing machines include those for allergy sufferers and a hygiene wash.
ActiveWater is Bosch's way of intelligently matching water use to how dirty the load is, and the Bosch SoftSurge drum allows you to wash gently or more vigorously, based on the type of clothes you're washing


text:
|'Siling labuyo'
'Siling labuyo' pepper
|Capsicum frutescens
|'Siling labuyo'
Siling labuyo is a small chili pepper cultivar[1] commonly found in the Philippines. The cultivar name is Tagalog, and literally it translates to "wild chili."[1] Other local names for it include chileng bundok, siling palay, pasitis, pasite (Tagalog), katumbal, kitikot, siling kolikot (Bisaya), silit-diablo (Ilocano), lada, rimorimo (Bicolano), and paktin (Ifugao).[2]
The siling labuyo plant is a perennial with small, tapering fruits, often 2-3, at a node.[3] The fruits of most varieties are red, some are yellow, purple or black. The fruits are very pungent.
In Filipino supermarkets there are now red bird's eye chilies that are commonly labeled as siling labuyo but are actually a chili pepper variety from the species Capsicum annuum[1] that came by way of Taiwan. These are said to pack less heat than the native siling labuyo but are popular with retailers because their color and shape are more consistent and thus beautiful and have a longer shelf life.
The siling labuyo is small but packs quite a lot of heat. At one time it was even listed as the hottest chili in the Guinness Book of World Records but other hotter varieties of chili have since been identified. It measures around 80,000-100,000 Scoville units which is at the lower end of the range for the hotter habanero chili.
Although not as central in Filipino cuisine as bird's eye chilies are in other cuisines of Southeast Asia, it is still an often-used ingredient. The fruit of siling labuyo is popularly used to flavor vinegar to be used as a spicy condiment, while its leaves are usually consumed as a vegetable, such as in the dish Tinola.[4][1]
In medicinal terms, the labuyo fruit was earlier utilized as an herbal plant to ease arthritis, rheumatism, dyspepsia, flatulence, and toothache.[4]
It can also be used as a natural insect repellent or pesticide when mixed with water.[5][6]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capsicum frutescens.


text:
Chelsea Designers
Over the last 12 years, we have worked with many of the leading garden designers at Chelsea. Collaborative we have won numerous gold medals and most of them were lucky enough to win the coveted Best in Show Award.
But more valuable even than the medals that they have won, has been the inspiration and ideas that they have given us about different plants: new ways of combining them and different planting styles. This means we are able to constantly update our range with new varieties and to show you how best to combine them with other plants.
We feel that it is only by working with best and brightest minds in gardening that we can always give you the best choice of plants and with that, endless inspiration. It's why we do Chelsea.
Andy Sturgeon
Andy's garden in 2016 was a popular best in show winner. Full of emotional resonance, the garden was Mediterranean in style. The hard landscaping used windows of cor-ten steel, with raised linear walkways and dry stone walls of limestone. All of which was offset with beautiful planting in a palette of orange, citrus and purple.
Sarah Eberle
Known for her thought-provoking designs, we are delighted to be working with 8 time gold-medal-winning designer Sarah Eberle. For Chelsea Flower Show 2019, Sarah is teaming up with the Forestry Commission to mark the organisations centenary year in style.
Tom Stuart-Smith
Tom's design in 2010 won the best in show award and a gold medal. The garden contrasted strong, elegant, modern frameworth with airy planting, using a predominantly green palette to provide an emphasis on form and texture.
Sarah Price
2018 sees us return to work with Sarah Price at Chelsea having last worked with her in 2012. With an artistic background, Sarah brings an artistic, "painterly" approach to design. Similar to the effect an arresting painting can have on you, her gardens have an incredibly immersive feel.
James Basson
We loved working with James Basson on the Best in Show garden in 2017. It was also a real honour to win the award for the best constructor this year - the first time this award plus Best in Show and gold medal went to the same garden. James makes gardens which celebrate plants in their wild state and for this garden he looked to Malta.
Dan Pearson
Winner of the best in show award in 2015, Dan Pearson's garden for Laurent-Perrier was inspired by the grounds of Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Dales.
Luciano Giubbilei
In 2014 Luciano Giubbilei created a garden for Laurent-Perrier which won a gold medal and the much-coveted best in show. The garden was cool and contemplative in its design, creating an intriguing interplay between natural elements and geometric structure.
Christopher Bradley Hole
Christopher Bradley-Hole's garden in 2013 used the Japanese approach to garden design juxtaposed with a rendition of the English Landscape. Winning a gold medal, the concept recreated geometric field patterns, woodlands and a winding river on a much smaller scale.
Arne Maynard
Arne's gardens always have lovely structural elements, and this was no exception. Winning a gold medal in 2012, he used his signature copper beech, box topiary, hazel and roses. His choice of perennials were designed to create a deliciously scented garden in shades of pink and claret that would delight senses of smell and sight at the same time.
Cleve West
Winning a gold medal and best in show in 2011, this was Cleve's 8th Garden at Chelsea and is loosely inspired by a trip to Libya he made in 2010. The planting was jewel like - the yellows and deep garnets dazzling against the hard landscaping. Everywhere you look there is a plant that is special or unusual.
We've won 27 Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show
Here's a selection of our most recent gardens
Sarah Price
James Basson
Andy Sturgeon
Dan Pearson
Luciano Giubbilei
Christopher Bradley Hole
Arne Maynard
Sarah Price


text:
Hamilton-Wenaham Girls Basketball
We are extremely proud to coach, play, and cheer for Hamilton-Wenham athletic teams. We are members of the HW community and live for Generals sports teams. We are former members of the athletic teams, future members, current members, or never were on a team, but always loved rooting for our hometown. We are the Generals. We believe in Hamilton-Wenham. We cheer LOUD and PROUD, because that is the only way we know how to root for our team. When you play our team, you play against all of us!We are the Generals and you should FEAR THE GENERAL!


text:
Exercises, Nutrition, And More
We create holidays and knowledgeable-led and wildlife group excursions to over 100 places worldwide. Grow to be a professional medical coder in merely four months and save a thousand's of dollars with CGS Billing Service. Some schools and different institutions value $17,000 or extra for coding certification. CGS Billing Companies offers greater courses for $4433.00. This contains tuition, books, and a chance to take the CPC examination twice! In case you are interested by incomes your coding credentials by a well known and respected firm, think about CGS Billing Service. You possibly can earn coding credentials from the AAPC (American Academy of Expert Coders) with a little bit bit steering. Please scroll down this show. Make an appointment proper this second! We shall be completely satisfied to assess your needs.
Emergency drugs – medical specialty involving care for undifferentiated, unscheduled patients with acute sicknesses or injuries that require quick medical attention. Emergency physicians undertake acute investigations and interventions to resuscitate and stabilize sufferers.
The market is swimming in products and services for health and well being, making the competitors for your online business more fierce than ever. Discover ways to decode adverts for merchandise that promise to treatment all the pieces from baldness and cancer to diabetes and dementia, and for companies that say they'll form you up, restore your youthful glow, and switch those abs into a properly-defined six pack.
At the JFK for Life Well being & Fitness Center, we imagine that both a healthy mind and body are essential to wholesome dwelling. That's why we approach well being and health from a medical perspective. While it is essential to deal with those that are ailing, it's equally important to continuously enhance the standard of life for individuals who are healthy.
Our core power will come from our … Read More..


text:
Wibblewobble's blog.
Being reflective...
by, 20-10-2012 at 02:59 PM (2919 Views)
Reflecting on practice is intended to develop the skills of the practitioner and to enhance the learning and development of the children in their care (Open University).
I will confess i have a Reflective Diary. It is separate from my normal work diary. In it i put thoughts about the day. What happened, why do i think it happened and what can i do to improve on this outcome next time.
It may be an activity, i will write down what we have done and how the activity evolved. I may have had a thought about including another resource and as write this thought down i will remember for next time to include this resource.
I also ask myself questions....one at the moment is how do i cater for two children at the same time, one who has global delay and finds large groups too stimulating and the other child who i thrives on large groups-he is gregarious and confident.
We all reflect on our practice. We will do something and then later think "shoot i wish i had done B instead of A".....this is being reflective. But we dont write this down. The answer is do write it down. Write down how you felt when Cs mum asked you to change his hours which would now have you working on the day you have put aside for study. I know when Cs mum asked me I had to say no even though the voice inside said "oh go on....she needs you....you are supposed to be flexible". But there was another voice which was saying "aw come on Wibble....you have taken these kids on cos you will get mondays off to study.....you will end up studying on the weekend.....you need this day...be strong..." so i wrote all this down, how i felt and how i was fighting my concience and putting my life and family first.
When the new EYFS came in i wrote my to do list in the diary....i then wrote about what i had done each day to get myself ready for the changes.
i wrote about how i felt about my two siblings leaving for school and nursery...i wrote about how i felt and why i think i felt like this. I wondered if i could do something to stop feeling so bad about this.....conclusion...NO.
Yes yes yes,,,there are some ramblings in this diary but tbh i like to look back over the weeks and think " oooh i really had to think about that didnt i?"
I dont write in my diary everyday....there are some weeks when i write every day.
As its a reflective diary i have covered it in tinfoil and sticky backed plastic.....well it makes me laugh.
I will reflect now on why childish things make me laugh so much.........
wibble xxxxxxx


text:
Dogs are man's best friend, but be careful using the word 'domesticated' around certain pups. Take Tactical Taz for example. Sure, he's potty trained, great with kids, and well behaved, but he still carries within him the heart of a wild and adventure seeking wolf. Put simply, Tactical Taz is a badass.
Dynamites come in small packages, and it's plain to see that this little fella eats his puppy chow. A staunch American patriot, Taz has sworn an oath to protect the United States of America from all enemies, foreign and domestic. He backs the blue, and is available to help local police with stealth missions no man could dream of completing alone.
Whether he's manning a high powered sniper rifle, patrolling for enemy combatants, or just out looking for bitches, nobody does it quite like Tactical Taz.
Without further ado, this is the Bad Ass Dogs Tactical Taz Edition!
Dog shirts available at RustyButcher.com or on Instagram @rustybutcher
For more Tactical Taz, visit his Instagram @tactical.taz
And check out PatchSquadUSA for Tactical Taz patches!
If your pup looks up to Tactical Taz and also wants to dress like a warrior, go to KiloNinerPets and use Code: TAZ10 for 10% off!


text:
To order images and/or obtain permission to use them commercially, please contact the KSHS Reference Desk at email@example.com or 785-272-8681, ext. 117.
For more information see the Copyright and Permission FAQ.
This is a cabinet card photograph of musician and illustrator Henry Worrall of Topeka, Kansas. Presumably, Worrall sat for this photo in the studio of James Landy in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Worrall formerly lived. The photo was likely taken in the 1870s sometime after 1873. The back of the photograph is inscribed by Landy as follows: "Compliments of your friend J Landy."
Creator: Landy, J. (James)
Date: Between 1870 and 1880
Item Number: 303580
Call Number: B Worrall, Henry *16
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 303580
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Artists
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Musicians
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Photographers
Collections - Photograph
Community Life - Arts and Entertainment - Art - Artists
Community Life - Arts and Entertainment - Music - Musicians
Date - 1870s
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Photograph - Cabinet cards
People - Notable Kansans - Worrall, Henry, 1825-1902
Places - Cities and towns - Topeka
Places - Counties - Shawnee
Places - Other States - Ohio - Cincinnati
Type of Material - Photographs - Format - Cabinet cards


text:
- Store Finder
- Browse Our Store
- Maternity
- Nursery
- On The Move
- Car Seats
Free delivery for online orders over $99 T&C apply
- Clothing & Accessories
- Activity & Playtime
- Activity & Playtime
Baby Jogger Mini/Elite Carry BagBrand:Baby Jogger
Product Code: 1893
Availability: In Stock$140.00Ex Tax: $121.74or 6 weekly interest free payments
from $23.33 with what's this?Quantity: +-
Available Options*
Baby Jogger Carry Bag
Here at Baby On The Move we stock a huge range of baby gear and stroller accessories to help improve the everyday life of you and your baby. The Baby Jogger Carry Bags make traveling with or storing your stroller or jogger as convenient as possible. The Baby Jogger Carry Bags are made with specialised storage compartments to protect your wheels, durable fabric and a sturdy carry strap.
Baby Jogger Carry Bags are model specific. This fits the mini, mini gt and elite buggy range.
- Specialised storage compartments
- Durable fabric
- Sturdy carry strap
Colours available:
- Available in Black only
Ask a QuestionQuestions2Answers2|Expand AllIs this for City Mini GT?Kylie
Do you have a rental option for this bag?We are hiring a city mini from you but need a bag too. We have hired with you before but didn't really like the bag we rented as it was not for the pram and was massive (it needed to be folded in half and secured with a suitcase belt). Thanks ClaireClaire Ellery
- Hi Kylie, Thank you for your enquiry. The Baby Jogger carry bag is suitable to fit the Mini, Mini GT and Elite Buggy range. If you follow the link http://www.babyonthemove.co.nz/store-locations/ this will take you to our on-line store finder. Here you can find contact details for your nearest Baby On The Move store where one of our team experts can help find a suitable solution for a product you may be searching for and assist you with any further questions regarding our range of products available. We hope this has helped with your query.Baby On The Move Team
Showing 1 to 2 of 2 (1 Pages)
- Hi Claire, Thank you for your enquiry. This particular bag is not available for hire, only purchase. However if you speak direct with the team at the Baby On The Move store that you will be hiring your City Mini from, they will be more than happy to help you find a hire solution. If you follow the link http://www.babyonthemove.co.nz/store-locations/ this will take you to our online store finder where you can find contact details for your nearest Baby On The Move Store. Here, one of our expert Car Restraint Technicians can assist in helping you to find the right car seat for you and your child. We hope this has helped with your query.Baby On The Move Team
Write a review and WIN $100Note: HTML is not translated!Bad GoodRelated Products (3)
TO SEE ALL PRODUCTS FROM YOUR FAVOURITE BRAND - CLICK ON ITS LOGO BELOWFollow UsCategories & InformationCategoriesInformationFranchisee Opportunities
Baby On The Move Franchise Opportunity
Whatever your ambitions, the Baby On The Move team can help you realise them. Be it a need for a lifestyle change, flexible working hours, developing a territory, building a franchise business that is all yours or simply to help expectant mothers make the right informed decisions to suit their lifestyle. The Baby On The Move team can help you get there.Copyright © Baby On The Move (2008) Limited, All rights reserved. another slightly different website
- Car Seats
- Nursery
- Maternity


text:
Moneyball and soccer: four years later
Categories: Analytics Perspectives, High-Level Discussions
When I first started the Soccermetrics blog, I wrote a long post on whether the concept of "Moneyball" could be applied to soccer. Two years after that, I wrote a follow-up. Now that we're at the four-year mark of Soccermetrics, it's time to revisit the subject.
In my initial post at Soccermetrics, I posed the question, "Can a 'Moneyball' approach be successful in soccer?" This was my answer at the time:
While I believe that there are some very intriguing questions about the applications of statistics to soccer, in general I think the answer to the original question is no.
Two years later, I revised my answer:
There are some fascinating problems in the sport, and after two years of running this website I see some of the possible applications, including (but not limited to) talent selection, mid-season adjustments, pre-match preparation, and I also see some of the roadblocks, such as the lack of data models suitable for analytics work.
So I would have to amend my earlier "No" to "Not sure".
In the two years since that last post, analytics has expanded across industries and exploded into the public consciousness. It seems that if you read or listen to the broader media, you will find a story on how everything is Moneyball unless it's Big Data, whether it's manufacturing, finance, marketing, or even politics.
Michael Lewis' book jumped from the printed page to the silver screen, winning a number of Oscar nominations in the process and making it easier for everyone running a data analytics company to explain it to their parents, friends, or spouses. I've used the term "Moneyball for soccer" to explain my company to prospective investors and laypeople, and it's very likely that I'll continue to do so for the near future.
That said, I've voiced this opinion before but not on this blog, and it's time for me to say it: I hate the term "Moneyball".
Yes, I am aware that "Moneyball" is a catch-all term for data analytics among the general public. Yet as Ben Alamar states in his excellent post, Moneyball strategies are a subset of analytics but analytics are not equivalent to them. To the extent that we in the soccer analytics community make analytics synonymous with Moneyball, such a juxtaposition limits our thinking about their applications and undercuts our relevance to the soccer industry.
("Big Data" isn't a great catch-all term for the soccer industry, either. It conjures ideas of crunching terabytes of data at a time, when in reality the amount of data that sports teams and other parts of the industry encounter is much smaller. Yet it's still overwhelming, which leads to Bruno Aziza's proposal that "Big Data" be redefined as the situation where a company's data infrastructure can't meet its needs.)
For example, there are undervalued players in every domestic league around the world, as there have been since the start of the modern player transfer system. As more data become available on professional players, it's no surprise that some clubs will incorporate those data into their decision-making. Some players have been purchased on the strength of their match statistics with great success (Shinji Kagawa by Borussia Dortmund), and others have been sold due to declining statistics that didn't indicate a player's true performance (Jaap Stam by Manchester United).
In both decisions, certain in-match statistics such as passes, shots, tackles and clearances are used to evaluate a player's performance level, but which statistics are indicative of a player's performance? More importantly, are they better indicators than random? Aside from the obvious statistics — Lionel Messi's goals, for example — is it realistic to expect in-match statistics to communicate useful information about a player in a game dependent on time, space, and player positions?
Within the last two years there have been attempts to extract higher-level information about player and team performance through network systems analysis. From Sarah Rudd's application of Markov chains to technical/tactical data to Javier López Peña and Hugo Touchette's extension of Luís Amaral's network analysis of soccer matches, researchers are beginning to view individual match events as components within a networked system in order to exploit contextual and spatial information. While these methods have promise, one challenge that these methods face is to develop measures of player effectiveness or impact that are meaningful to an end-user. A second challenge is to enable a dynamic analysis in order to assess changes in player and team performance over a match. A third challenge is to establish whether such results are statistically significant.
Over the next two years, player health performance tracking through GPS technology will assume greater importance. A Norwegian company named ZXY has developed load cells and heart rate monitors to track players in domestic matches there, and adidas' miCoach is set to be used in Major League Soccer matches starting in the spring. In-match tracking depends on FIFA approval of GPS units in international matches, whose current reluctance has been viewed less as a technology issue than a safety issue. Perhaps the experience of the International Rugby Board and the Australian Football League will encourage a national FA to make a proposal to FIFA to change their law. It is the one technology area that FIFA is most likely to approve after the decision on goal-line technology late last year. GPS-based player tracking already exists on the training pitches of major clubs around the world, but in-match health monitoring would for the first time create a dataset of in-match health data that overlays technical/tactical data, enabling connections to be made between the sports scientists and the data analysts.
At the edges of the playing field, analytics are being created to understand the performance of managers and match referees. Tom Markham has received much attention for creating a statistical model for assessing the performance of football club managers throughout the season. Erik van den Berg performed some interesting work on the inefficiencies present in transfer systems in European football. Without divulging names, I am aware of groups who are collecting finely-grained data of referee performance in domestic league matches. These analytics are important because they comprise measures that the economic buyer would use directly.
Everything in analytics comes down to data. I said two years ago that the lack of available data in a format suitable for analysis limits the ability of the soccer analytics community to advance the state-of-the-art. The Performance Analysis department at Manchester City FC sought to address this issue by starting the MCFC Analytics project, which made summary statistical data on the 2011-12 English Premier League available to armchair analysts around the world. I had my own initial thoughts on the dataset, which I've since revised upon a better understanding of MCFC and Opta's intentions, but it does lower the barrier to entry for amateur analysts or curious fans, which ultimately serves the interests of both parties. At the other end of the spectrum, soccer data companies now have close to 15 years of data on matches and players, effectively a generation and a half of players whose performances have been tracked quantitatively. We're now starting to see research into player career history and tracking — the Prozone presentation on player archaeology at Leaders in Performance is one example — but such work remains well behind that of baseball and other sports.
I hope I've been able to demonstrate that football analytics goes much deeper and broader than "Moneyball". More than the quest to find that one metric that identifies over- or under-valued players, analytics are the use of the statistical analysis of data to solve relevant and compelling questions in and surrounding the game, from in-match performance to front-office management to media storytelling and infotainment. So when I reconsider the question, "Can a Moneyball approach be successful in soccer?", I now respond, "You're asking the wrong question!"
The better question is, "Can data analytics become a valuable and indispensable tool in soccer?" I don't know the answer to that question for sure, but we're developing tools and applications to enable analytics across the entire industry and community. If you want to be part of that, join us!


text:
Reviews Of The Best Golf Balance Aids & Training Gear
Golf balance aids and training gear serve to improve a player's body posture, giving it the tuning it needs to separate the player and to increase their level of play. Do take note that balance rods will purposefully force players to shirt their weight on to their legs for support rather than their spine through force of habit. Now the secret behind being able to hit a ball far and accurate enough lies in the shifting of the player's core before and after the swing. That is why these tools are great at improving player's core by aligning it properly for a greater balance and allows players to develop a stance that is dynamically athletic.
|AWS Access Key ID: AKIAI3KEUMGSX6F64C4Q. You are submitting requests too quickly. Please retry your requests at a slower rate.


text:
|30 Sep 2016
Hmm well maybe the machine is just manufactured not to support 7 it is entirely possible I know soem Asus machines cannot have 7 installed on them.
Now it is worry that the fans run fast and the machine is slow it indicates to me at least something wrong with some hardware somewhere. The fan running loud and fast almost always due to high temps on the CPU/ graphics chip.
The slowness could be due to anything really from way too many processes running a the the same time to too many programs being loaded up on power up to an OS that is out of whack.
The other thing that occurred to me too is you say the machine came from a school and I am left wondering if it was an Enterprise OS??
|My System Specs
|01 Oct 2016
Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
Ok not sure what education was and personally I resisted 10 for a long time and now have it on three of my machines and I did find it faster than 7 plus I modified all my desktops to get rid of the apps - an unnecessary feature in my view.
Now I have Googled all sorts of places including the annoying HP support sites and I think it comes back to what georgek linked re that probably the machine is not back compatible to 7.
I suppose one thing you could do is contact HP and ask. Just out of interest I am assuming you bought a new 7 OEM? hopefully the Pro version??
|My System Specs
|06 Oct 2016
I'm not getting much help at HP, so I guess i'll have to bite the bullet and deal with 10
|My System Specs
|06 Oct 2016
W7 home premium 32bit/W7HP 64bit/w10 tp insider ring
YOU CANNOT BUY a GENUINE EDUCATION version from a retailer.
The only way is via a college, and the product activation key is also only available from them, as part of the Dreamspark initiative
What is DreamSpark?
DreamSpark is a Microsoft Program that supports technical education by providing access to Microsoft software for learning, teaching and research purposes. If you are a student, educator or part of an institution you could be missing out on Microsoft software.
Why would I want DreamSpark?
You can download Microsoft software and development tools for no cost. I.e. if you are a student you can get Microsoft software FOR FREE!
A few examples of DreamSpark software:
To look further into how to get DreamSpark or how it could help you..
|My System Specs
|Thread Tools
|Similar help and support threads
How do I know if all my drivers are installed correctly...
maybe one of you can tel me if i provide you with my syste info or something if i have correct bios etc and stuff like that?
Blluetooth Drivers not installing correctly?
Hey everyone, So the intro is what im trying to do and then i will dive into my issues. My car radio needs a firmware update. The only way to do this is to connect a laptop with Bluetooth to it and do a file transfer directly to a folder in the radios memory. Now the problem: I can connect...
|Hardware & Devices
Fresh boot of Windows 7 Home Premium, drivers not installing correctly
As of yesterday, my HP Envy 6z-1000 laptop acquired a hive error. Unable to fix it, I simply installed a clean boot of Windows 7. In doing so, the "Recovery Partition" that comes factory installed on the computer was formatted and I no longer have access to the Recovery options provided by HP. I...
3TB internal HD not installing correctly
I have 3 internal hard drives and am trying to add a 4th. The ones that I have are a 1TB (Boot), a 2TB MBR, and a 3TB MBR. When I try to install the 2nd 3TB one and go into Disk Management to create the partitions, it only shows this 4th HD as being 746.52GB! In fact, I have already returned one to...
|Hardware & Devices
Fonts not installing correctly
I often need to upload and utilize various fonts in my line of work, I recently used the install as shortcut feature from an outside folder that ultimately screwed everything up in the fonts themselves. I have a total of 20 fonts that show up in the folder whereas there used to be 430 something....
|General Discussion
|Our Sites
|Site Links
|About Us
|Find Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 17:22.


text:
Our family LOVES the Discovery Center Museum! (Read about our adventure here.) It's been way too long since we'd last been there, and was particularly excited to here that the museum has a new exhibit.
Up until September 2, the Discovery Center Museum and the Burpee Museum are combining efforts to bring families the fantastic traveling exhibition Treasure! The Hunt Has Just Begun. The science, technology, history, and thrill of treasure hunting are explored in this exhibit that features 5,000 square feet of artifacts, hands-on activities, videos, biographies, and tales from around the world.
Delve into the technology employed by treasure hunters and focus on the people and personalities lured by the promise of prosperity. Be enticed by shipwreck and treasure site artifacts, and learn to use the tools you'd need to find a fortune. Dig for treasure and pan for gold. Operate a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) in a tank of water. Use a metal detector. Use maps, compasses and clues to locate treasure. Learn how to geocache. You can even try your hand at cracking a safe!
Nitty Gritty: Treasure! can be uncovered in the Woodward Exhibit Hall. Admission: $2 for Members; $4 for Public + general Museum admission of $8/person. Parking is free.
Make sure to check out Discovery Center Museum on Facebook!
My readers can get FREE admission to Discovery Center Museum with one paid general admission!
Click here for a coupon: http://www.windycitykidsguide.
com/coupon.php?bid=11022&lid= 13689&dealid=1103®ionid=261


text:
the WILDFLOWER bar
Regular price $7.95
This bar is gorgeous inside and out. Topped with a botanical flower blend and coloured deep navy by natural indigo this bar, scented with clary sage, bergamot and ginger, evokes the warmth and happiness of walking through a mountain field of wildflowers on a beautiful spring day.
All our bars contain a generous amount of both cocoa and shea butter for extra creaminess, leaving your skin feeling smooth and pampered balancing out the coconut oil, which cleanses and adds lots of bubbles.
Looking to get a bunch of soap? Check out our 4, 6, or 12 bundles!
Olea Europaea (Olive Oil), Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Citrus Bergamia (Bergamot) Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Oil, Baphicacanthus Cusia (Nees) Bremek (Indigo) Powder, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Petals, Jasminum Officianale (Jasmine) Flowers, Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Petals, Matricaria Recutita Chamimile (Chamomile) Flowers
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
Canadian orders over $74.99 include free shipping. Orders between $50 and $75 are subject to a flat $4.95 shipping rate. Orders less than $50 are subject to a flat $9.95 shipping rate.
US orders over $49.99 CAD include free shipping. Orders less than $50 CAD are subject to a flat $4.95 CAD shipping rate.
For International orders, when you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
This product is shipped from Canada. The customer is responsible for all duties and/or taxes that may be charged at the border.
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the 'Complete Orders' link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.


text:
I've been dying for something real.
To my future love,
"It's dark because you are trying too hard.
Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly.
Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply.
Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them."Aldous Huxley
I was reading one of my many books some time last year, and I read a story that went something along the lines like this:
It was a story about this couple who had been together for more than 20 years. They were asked all the time why they hadn't gotten married yet. Their response was inspiring, and forever changed my view on marriage and love.
They described that they will at no time ever get married because they never wanted their love to be over. They had watched too many of their friends and family take the next step into marriage, get comfortable, and stop trying. They both explained that because they were not legally bound, at any point, any one of them could walk away, easily. Because of this factor, they worked harder in their relationship every day to keep it alive and happy.
That's exactly what I want. I want to give someone my unconditional love, but at the same time, give him full range of motion and space to exist for himself; not just for me. To accept that one day, our love will fade away , but if it's meant to be, that love will resurface if we have the strength to let it. That strength is realizing and accepting that being in love is always temporary.
I want to be able to recognize that my partner is not responsible for my emotions — or my emotional wellbeing. I am, also, not responsible for his. This means, he must allow me to live and manage my own life experiences, and I must allow him the same. I want him to have space to make mistakes, to be imperfect, and to have space to live his own life that is separate from mine. I want him to want the same for me. I want to love lightly and passionately.
I've been without love for almost 3 years. I am talking about the kind of love where you're with a partner sexually and intimately for a length of time. This is by my own choice. I am not looking for a lifetime of committing myself to another person, at least not yet, and I don't need to. I am my very own person right now, and that is something I love and think is so badass.
I had a talk with my good friend Lily the other day, and we shared very similar thoughts on this subject. She mentioned that she is so happy with where she is now, she can't imagine ruining that, or allowing someone to cloud the experiences she is able to live at this time in her life.
I couldn't agree with her more. It would be so scary letting someone else in right now. I am afraid I am not strong enough (yet) to recognize if change would start to occur. Would I love too hard and start to lose myself?
I have so much ahead of me and such a strong vision for my future, I don't know if I know how to share that with someone yet, while still living for myself.
Moving here to Vietnam, for example, would have never happened if I had committed to a relationship back home. I wouldn't have come out here and met all these wonderful, inspiring people. None of these unbelievable and life changing events would have taken place. In a relationship, I would have felt obligated to ask for permission; I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to honestly do this for myself.
When I do choose to give love again, I want to be with someone, who will allow me to go out and experience life to the fullest still. I want to give him he same. Can we be in a relationship free from jealously? I have no fucking idea, but I really hope so.
The best example I can think of is this:
Let's say you decide to have a spiritual experience and take some LSD with a group of really great friends you met, and you share a strong and passionate (non-sexual) connection with someone of the opposite sex who is not your boyfriend. One of two things happen: you deny this experience and fight your natural feelings out of fear of hurting your boyfriend, or you accept those feelings, share the moment with your friend, and either tell your boyfriend which may cause problems, or you don't tell him and hide this from him. What's right? And who is he (or, if the roles were reversed, who am I) to deny someone an experience of a lifetime they will never get back? That is not his place, nor mine.
What if we could be in a relationship that promoted growth where you didn't have to ask for permission to do things? Where you could share your truest thoughts and feelings without feeling jealous or possessive?
Even writing that is hard for me. I love hard; I am a ride or die. However, can't I be a ride or die AND love lightly instead?
I just
think know if that was me in that example, I would want to share that connection and experience guilt free, and come home to my man and be able to express myself honestly and freely. I also would never want to deny him that experience either, if the tables were turned. I genuinely think I am capable of this providing this kind of love. I understand it is necessary when it comes to being devoted to someone; at least it is in the kind of relationship I yearn for.
In Buddhism there's a term, upadana, which means "clinging," or "taking something up" as in picking up an object. Upadana is encountering something and then wanting to hold on at all costs. By clinging, we initiate suffering — if we don't get the object of desire we suffer; if we do get the object of desire, it will ultimately change or fade away, and we suffer.
We want to defend ourselves against threats to our desire, physical and psychological, and so we cling more tightly. But the tighter we cling, the more desperate our expectations in the impossible: we don't control other living things. And ultimately everything needs to breathe and change.
To release it or "put it down" is the opposite of upadana. It is not non-engagement; on the contrary, you can be fully present and engaged while remaining light. We aren't looking to push away the wholesome aspects of love and affection. We are looking to recognize that "to love" means "to let."
So, I'd rather leave the door wide open for my partner than hold him legally obligated to stay. I don't want to be married, legally. When I kiss him everyday, I want to know he's there because he wants to be. And I want to work for that… I like hard work, after all.
I don't need anybody's permission to commit to them. Just like I don't need a label on my relationship to prove to others it is true love.
Love and being happy means understanding that everything changes, even the love we share for someone, and the love they share for us. People change and grow, and contracts mean very little to the human spirit, and the life we long to experience.
My partner will not be my other half, because he is not a part, he is a person. He will be the person I choose to share my life with, and hopefully, I am the person he chooses to share his with.
With love,


text:
Rainbow and custom gradient effects with your Status.
To set a status, type "$status=Message here" into the chatbox. Do not put a space after the equals sign. To disable your status, type "$status=" into the chatbox.
grad#r#g - Two color gradients beginning with red and ending with green.
r90 - Rotates the gradient 90 degrees clockwise (vertical gradient).
grad#r#g#b#000001#ffffff - In this example 5 colors are used in the following order: red green blue black then white.
Note: These commands are case sensitive.
Few examples are:


text:
India and Germany have set an ambitious target of 20 billion euro bilateral trade turnover by the end of 2012. German economy standing tall in the storm of Eurozone Crisis and also playing an important role in resolving one of the worse financial crisis faced by European countries since the Second World War. The preliminary figure suggest that the bilateral trade between India and Germany has gone past 15.5 billion euro in 2011 and the most interesting fact is the year is yet to conclude.
India and Germany has set the target to achieve 20 billion euro bilateral trade in 2012 as major German company has planned to invest in India.


text:
Sir Herbert
Tangy powdered sherbert, just like when we were kids. All that's missing is a liquorice straw.
Not sure what nicotine strength to select? Click here to check out our handy guide to choosing the right nicotine strength.
|VG Ratio
|70% (what's this?)
|citrus sherbert
|powdery mouth feel
|childhood treats
|Steep Time
|1-3 days (what's this?)
|Contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, natural and artificial flavours, and nicotine. Product is ready to vape, does not require any additional PG, VG, or nicotine.


text:
Happy Easter! Hope everyone had a blessed weekend with friends and family. And also were able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we had in MN. Such a great weekend! I had the best time photographing these Easter portraits a few weeks back! Here are a few of my favorites….
Photography By Kari — Kari McGill — Southeast Minnesota Photographer
Photography by Kari Blog-- Southeastern Minnesota Senior, Children, Newborn, Maternity, Engagement, Family photographer. Updates and recent photoshoots from Photography by Kari. Photography by Kari is located in Spring Valley, MN.


text:
Best Medical Marketing Strategies in 2020
Putting together innovative medical marketing strategies for medical practices can be a daunting and often downright confusing endeavor.
With what seems like endless marketing and advertising channel options and often times contradictory information online about what is the best fit navigating these waters can seem treacherous.
The last thing you want to do is end up making a wrong decision and spending time, money, and valuable resources to find out the initiative was a waste of time and ineffective at growing the practice.
That is why I have put together a list of 12 medical marketing strategies every practice should not do without.
I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment any additional suggestions. These are a few of the best healthcare marketing ideas for 2020.
Table of Contents:
- Medical Website Design
- Social Media
- Business Listings
- Content Marketing Strategy
- Email Marketing
- Review Generation
- Video Marketing
- Before & After photos
- Lead Generation
- Physician Liaison Marketing
- Marketing Management
- Tracking Medical Marketing
1. Fully Responsive Medical Website Design
Today more than ever, potential patients are searching on the web for local physicians and healthcare services.
Improving your patient's experience on your website will significantly increase patient leads and retention.
Your website design should have customized features, fast page speed, be mobile friendly, and interactive.
Most searches are done via mobile or tablet devices, so having a fully responsive medical website design is crucial.
Make sure your website design includes flexible images and website structures.
The practice website should be built for all platforms, so you capture the maximum number of website visitors and not just limited to desktop searches.
Page speed can be the #1 reason for a high bounce rate for your medical or dental website.
Slow website page speed will irritate your online users and deter them from staying on your website.
Websites that are difficult to navigate with slow page speed will give potential patients a negative experience.
A negative experience makes users more likely to leave your dental website to go to a competitor's. It is critical to evaluate and put a plan together to improve website page speed to lower bounce rates and increase lead conversion.
Clearly layout practice treatments and services on the practice homepage.
When patients are visiting your practice website, they should find all your services and treatments easily if your medical practice offers a wide variety of services down select to the main procedures and services that you want to feature.
When deciding on what treatments to promote, think of your ideal audience, key differentiators, and high revenue procedures.
Use lead forms to make it easy for patients to request appointments and to create a call to action for high revenue services.
Lead forms improve website conversion rates and drive new leads for the medical or dental practice.
When designing lead forms on the website, make sure they are simple and accessible. Patients don't want to fill out long and unnecessary forms to schedule an appointment.
Your medical website needs to be built with proper medical SEO and keywords.
To stay competitive and show up in search results, your website design needs to have all the essential keywords and proper SEO structure.
A top performing website will have a solid SEO and keywords at the foundation of the website design.
Search engine optimization will be built page by page for all aspects of the website through image optimization, correct meta descriptions, H tags, page structures, and more.
A medical SEO expert will spend their time building out each page of your practice website and do competitive keyword research to make sure your site is on top in local search results.
2. Social Media Marketing – Find the Best Platforms to Reach Your Patients
Social media marketing is an essential part of great medical marketing strategies and will help you share content and reach your ideal patient base.
Social media for doctors is a massive contributor to driving traffic to your medical or dental practice website and search engine rankings.
Social media will help medical marketing strategies reach a broad audience and can be used as a critical lead generation tool.
Digital marketing can also be used to increase your organic reach to help you get in front of a larger audience more consistently.
Utilize the available analytics tools that social media platforms provide to track your efforts and modify the social media marketing campaigns for your dental practice.
Not all social media platforms are alike, and not all social media is a good fit for your medical practice. Each social media marketing platform is different and created for a specific audience.
Take the time to evaluate the social media profiles that are the best fit for the medical marketing of the practice based on the target audience and the makeup of the audience that each platform targets.
You do not want to waste precious time and energy on profiles that don't reach your audience. Instagram tends to be a great fit for marketing a plastic surgery practice, aesthetics, or dermatology marketing; however, Instagram may not be an excellent fit for urology practice marketing.
Social media marketing for physicians must be:
- Consistent and organized
- Optimized properly
- Interactive
- Regular Posting
- Contain unique images and content for your practice
- Create consistent brand continuity
- Share content that drives patients to your website
3. Business Listings for SEO – Claim, Unify, Optimize
Business listings have a significant impact on local medical SEO for medical marketing strategies.
Your business listings are the business contact information that displays when patients search for you online.
It's important to claim, verify, and optimize your business listings across all platforms.
Uniform business listings across all platforms inform Google that the information displayed about your medical practice is accurate.
The more directories and reviews sites that contain the same business information give Google additional confidence to return your information over a competitor's practice.
Popular business listings platforms are Google, Yelp, and Facebook, but there are multiple smaller listing sites that are important to your reputation.
Google indexes all the listing sites to better collect the information for your medical or dental practice, and uniform listings will ensure higher local search engine optimization.
After your business listings are claimed and updated, it's essential to continually monitor them or duplicated or errors that can arise.
4. Develop a Content Marketing Strategy
Medical SEO or Dental SEO relies on a solid content marketing strategy for your medical website. Content marketing increases your overall website traffic, grows organic search, improves brand awareness, and more.
A great example of a content marketing strategy for a medical practice would be a long-form blog post about a particular service or procedure you perform that lots of patients in the area are searching for.
A common mistake that doctors make is not creating a blog area for their website.
A blog is vital to successful medical marketing strategies and can drive significant traffic to your website and grow your practice.
A medical marketing agency can develop a well-rounded, strategic, thought out content marketing strategy for a dental or medical practice by brainstorming with your practice to create an editorial calendar, SEO keyword research, competitor research, which content is right for your patients, proper distribution channels for the content and more.
A healthcare marketing agency will also supply blogs written by industry professionals to manage the consistent flow, and the doctor approves all blogs.
5. Email marketing – Streamline New Patient Communication
Stay in front of your patients and website visitors with email marketing! Email as part of your medical marketing strategy is a great way to retarget patients or reach new patients that have expressed interest in a particular procedure or treatment.
Utilize email marketing to create touchpoints with your practice website visitors and share new promotions, specials, blog posts, and the latest practice news. Grow your practice patient email list by encouraging website visitors to sign up for a newsletter.
A newsletter will help you share monthly content about your medical practice and keep your practice in front of mind for patients.
6. Review Generation
Patient reviews are one of the top 3 most important local SEO factors when it comes to local search rankings. Studies have shown that 68% of potential patients form an opinion about your medical practice and it's physicians with as little as five reviews.
What does this mean? Patient reviews are an essential way to convert potential patients and a huge reflection of your medical practice reputation.
When it comes to medical marketing strategies generating positive patient reviews needs to be at the top of the list!
The best healthcare marketing agencies will work with your team to generate positive, HIPAA compliant patient reviews and streamline the process.
7. Video Marketing for a Practice
Video testimonials or insights with the doctor can go along way.
Video marketing helps physicians and medical practices reach potential patients and easily market themselves.
Video now receives substantially higher engagement rates than any other type of content, including images and blog posts.
Video marketing is quickly becoming one of the top search ranking signals for medical marketing.
Building a video marketing strategy will help you, as the doctor or dentist promote your practices, talk specifically about medical conditions and your treatment approach and create a know, like and trust relationship with potential patients before they ever walk through the door.
Did you know? YouTube is now the second largest search engine behind Google. Meaning people are turning to video platforms to learn more about practices.
8. Before & Afters for Cosmetic & Aesthetics Procedures
Sharing high quality before and after pictures of actual patient results can be one of the single most important medical marketing strategies, a practice that provides aesthetics services can do.
When it comes to cosmetic surgery and aesthetic marketing before and after photos are an absolute must in the healthcare marketing strategy.
Develop a large before and after gallery showcasing multiple examples of successful patient's before and after for various surgical procedures and age ranges.
If your medical specialty is not cosmetic based consider working with a patient that is willing to share their treatment journey as a case study for your practice.
Many potential patients are continually seeking the best treatments for medical conditions and improving their quality of life.
Sharing successful patient stories and educating your online visitors of your experience and expertise will turn online visitors into real patients.
This can be a highly successful part of your medical marketing strategy if done correctly.
9. Lead Generation – PPC or Facebook Advertising
The digital advertising space is highly competitive but essential for driving leads and generating new patients for high revenue procedures.
Digital advertising has various platforms, but the most popular being, Google Adwords, and Facebook advertising.
These platforms are the heavy hitters when it comes to digital advertising for medical practices. Both PPC and Facebook Ads Manager have their advantages for targeting potential patients.
PPC allows you to target specific keywords in search and present ads to those people in a particular geographical area if you outbid competitors.
Facebook Ads Manager allows you to create highly specific audiences to present ads based on the data Facebook ad pulled from their personal profiles.
Things such as age, geography, employment, interests, places visited, income, etc.
Therefore, you can target only those people that best fit your potential patient base of a specific procedure you are promoting.
Digital advertising has revolutionized the advertising industry with platforms like Facebook and Google Adwords.
Both PPC and Facebook advertising allows you to customize your advertisement to reach your exact potential patient base and provide specific tracking and analytics to gain great insights into the success of the advertising program.
Not only can you customize your medical practice ads but also monitor the ROI.
Analytics will help you adjust the ads to improve results based on data that has been received.
Digital advertising can be interactive and allows potential patients to engage with advertisements making it easier to capture contact information and convert leads.
Not only can you use digital advertising to drive in new leads and conversions, but you can also use it to boost your organic reach.
Adwords and Facebook advertising are huge drivers in converting new patients, growing high revenue procedures, and increasing overall practice revenue.
|Price based on total number of subscribers or estimated traffic
|Pricing fluid and can be based on impressions, clicks, leads, etc.
|Difficult to completely customize Ad target demographic
|Ad is optimized to target your exact audience: Age, sex, income, location
|Nearly impossible to A/B test and reoptimize ad
|Easily run many variations of ad to test: budget, ad copy, graphic, etc.
|Little to no tracking
|Advanced ad tracking and conversion for clicks, calls, emails, etc.
|Return on investment can be difficult to find
|Ad provides analytics to easily measure ROI and gain knowledge of leads
|Ad cannot be adjusted after print without high cost
|Ads quickly revamped and customized
|Fits small, medium and large Advertising budgets
10. Physician Liaison Marketing Program
Physician referrals can be the lifeline of a medical practice, so developing a physician outreach-marketing program is essential for sustaining strong doctor referral relationships.
A successful healthcare marketing strategy will center efforts on expanding your healthcare network and increasing patient growth.
Physician liaison marketing is hiring a representative for your practice to meet with local referring doctors and medical practices to increase patient referrals for the practice.
As the physician relations representative, they extend the bridge of communication between referring doctors and their medical practice.
Physician liaison marketing results in a significant increase in patient referrals and overall practice growth.
Physician liaison marketing is especially an excellent fit for surgeons and specialty medical practices because their patient base is majority referrals from general practitioners.
Other medical and dental practices can significantly benefit from having a physician relations manager to help grow their healthcare network and meet with local physicians.
The Benefits of a Physician Liaison Marketing Program:
- Skilled physician liaison representative to promote the practice
- Connects medical practice and doctors with referring physicians
- Helps introduce new physicians to the healthcare community
- Provides a way to streamline referrals for primary care providers easily
- Accessible point of contact for referring doctors for questions, concerns, or any other needs
- Marketing director for practice
- Increases patient referrals
- Increases high revenue procedures
- Increases overall practice revenue
- Track visits and builds the physician's network
- Provides physician referral analytics
- Evaluates practice growth and creates a marketing strategy
- Easy to track success and ROI
11. Ongoing Marketing Management
Healthcare marketing is constantly changing and involves ongoing management.
Google is continuously indexing for the most qualified information, and doctors need to have constant touch points to build relationships
There isn't a solution where you can "set it up, and they will come."
Medical marketing involves a commitment from the physician or medical practice to invest in a multifaceted long-term plan.
A healthcare marketing professional will help you monitor and constantly optimize your marketing efforts to ensure they are successful.
12. Tracking Medical Marketing Initiatives & Optimizing Successes
Understanding the medical marketing efforts that are most effective for your medical practice requires monitoring the tracking and analytics reports.
Tracking and analytics will give you a fully comprehensive report on the progress of the marketing for your practice.
With tracking and analytics, you can target and re-invest in the marketing efforts that have proven successful.
Establish benchmarks and goals for your healthcare marketing strategy so you can easily measure progress and your return on investment.
A strong medical marketing campaign will be ongoing and continually adjusting to what has been proven to be successful for the practice.
Top Medical Marketing Strategies Wrap Up
Take a hard look at each of these medical marketing strategies and formulate a plan to either implement or update these tactics in your overall healthcare marketing initiatives.
If you do, I think you will be plenty surprised at the amount of new patient growth the practice will experience.
The beauty is that many of these items play directly off each other, and the effectiveness of one greatly contributes to that of another.
As we mentioned in many other articles, whenever you add a new digital marketing campaign to your arsenal test, test and retest one more time to make sure you are properly optimizing all aspects of the campaign.
If you are looking for a healthcare marketing agency to grow your practice, we would love to help! Give us a call 678-250-4757 or fill out our contact form.


text:
I have a 30 year old furnace that still works. Should I get a new one?
It's estimated that 97% of Albertan households heat their homes with natural gas, most commonly with a forced air furnace. Knowing that you are getting the best bang for your buck in heating your house is important to almost everyone in the province. How do you know if you are getting the best deal with your old furnace?
Why do old furnaces last longer than newer ones?
One interesting part of the HVAC and plumbing industry is seeing mechanical systems built in different eras. From refurbished systems in Old Strathcona built in the 1910s, to the 60s era houses of Parkallen and the brand new developments of Windermere and Summerside, we see all sorts of different issues. We would like to address the special case of houses built in 70s and 80s.
Something that surprises many homeowners is that older inefficient furnaces are routinely expected to outlast modern furnaces by a factor of two. Primarily this comes down to the construction of the heat exchanger.
What is a heat exchanger, and what are they made of?
A heat exchanger is a group of metal coils in the airflow of the furnace that is designed to take the heat from the natural gas flame and transfers it to air being blown across it.
Older style furnaces were built with a heavy metal heat exchanger, using materials like cast iron. While these are extremely durable, they are also not particularly efficient.
Newer heat exchangers are made of stainless steel or aluminized steel. Higher efficiency is achieved with the higher thermal conductivity of the materials as well as modern fabrication which can make the walls of the exchanger much thinner. The tradeoff though is a lower lifespan for these high-efficiency heat exchangers.
It is quite common to see old furnaces last 30 or 40 years with proper maintenance. However, they are also quite inefficient, converting only about 60% of the energy used into heat for your home. In comparison, newer furnaces usually will only last 15-25 years with regular maintenance but will convert upwards of 90% of the energy into usable heat.
How much money can I save?
Many houses that we visit that were built between 1970 and 1990 still have their original 60% efficient furnace coming up on the end of its usable life. In many cases, we highly recommend swapping out your old low-efficiency furnace for a high-efficiency furnace for cost reasons alone.
To estimate the amount you spend on heating costs, have a look at your ATCO or Direct Energy natural gas bills from July and August. That should give you an idea of how much you spend on heating your hot water if you use a gas fired hot water tank or on demand heater (and assumes your AC and stove are electric). Extrapolate that over 12 months, subtract that and your delivery charges from your total annual bill, and that should give you an idea on your natural gas heating costs.
Then plug your total into the calculator below
[gravityform id="2″ title="true" description="true" ajax="true"]
For example, if you are spending $1,000/year on your annual natural gas consumption, you can expect to save $348/year on your gas bill alone. Coupled with electrical savings with modern furnace fans and better overall efficiency from multistage or variable speed burners, you can save in excess of $500/year in many cases.
An average low-to-high efficiency furnace conversion with a mid-range modern furnace typically costs between $4,500-$6,000. Even if you would rather finance a new furnace with our easy-financing program, we find that in 2,000 square-foot+ homes, converting from a low-efficiency to a high-efficiency furnace lets you save more on your heating costs than your financing cost, with the added benefit of a more comfortable, quieter, more environmentally friendly furnace.
Do you need some advice about saving on your heating bill in the winter? Leave us a message at (587) 773-2612 and we will get back to you as soon as possible, or call (780) 231-0064 if you need to speak to someone immediately. To schedule an appointment, pick your preferred time on our online booking page.


text:
6 Tips to Reduce Baby Feeding Drama
Baby feeding drama is real. If you're having a tough time feeding your baby solids, here's what you can do about it.
Don't panic
Keep in mind that formula or breast milk is still the major source of nutrition for your baby and that's going to continue until he reaches about nine months. However, don't panic if your baby rejects the food. That's all right. Just keep trying.
Don't pressure your baby
Take care not to force feed your baby. Sooner or later, your baby will give it a try. However, if the seventh month has passed and your baby still rejects solid food, it may be time to consult with your pediatrician, the Yummy Mummy Club says.
Don't stick to the same meals
Introduce a variety of foods to your baby. Order from companies that offer organic baby food delivery in Delaware. That way, you can improve your baby's palate by giving him different textures, flavors and tastes to enjoy.
Don't take it away too soon
When you feed your baby, it's important to take your cue from him. Is he rejecting the food? Give him time to eat. By responding to your child's cues instead of ignoring them, you can help your infant develop good eating habits.
Don't ignore the timing
Time your feedings right. If you've just ordered a new batch from your go-to organic baby food delivery in Delaware, feed your baby new food when he's got lots of energy to spare. If he's tired or fussy, it's best to stick to food he knows.
Don't rush through it
If you're in a hurry to get to the next task, you may be guilty of rushing your baby through the meal. That's bad. It can encourage picky eating or even result in anxiety and mistrust issues when it comes to eating. Take your time. Let your baby decide when he's ready.


text:
The benefits of pet insurance
Pet insurance
If your pet has an accident or serious illness, your veterinary is a privilege and you must take account of the costs of seeing a vet when taking on this responsibility. Pet insurance mainly provides cover for veterinary fees if your pet is injured or becomes ill and is a sensible approach to making sure this does not become a concern. It can give veterinary care that your pet may need.
We support the idea of pet insurance but do not and, under current financial laws, only qualified insurance advisors are allowed to give you advice on specific policies. Individual veterinary practices may be authorised to advise on specific policies but any veterinary surgeon can discuss types of pet insurance policy available. The veterinary profession supports using insurance as a practical route to providing the best modern veterinary care when it is needed.
What are the benefits of taking out pet insurance?
Pet insurance mainly provides cover for veterinary fees if your pet is injured or becomes ill. However, other benefits may include:
- third-party liability cover if your dog injures someone or damages someone else's property;
- paying you the price you paid for your pet if it is lost, stolen, or dies as a result of an injury or an illness before a certain age;
- the cost of advertising a reward for returning your lost or stolen pet, and the cost of the reward itself, if your pet is found
- or recovered, up to a set amount;
- paying the costs of looking after your pet if you have to go into hospital for emergency medical treatment;
- the cost of your holiday if it is cancelled because your pet needs emergency surgery close to the date you were due to leave; and
- the cost of emergency veterinary treatment for your pet if
you take it abroad under the Pet Travel Scheme.
What types of pet insurance policies are available?
considerably, ranging from accident-only policies to lifetimecover policies. You should choose the type of product and the level of cover to meet your needs. For more detailed veterinary surgeon and download the Association of British Insurers 'Pet Insurance Consumer Guide' at www.abi.org.uk
What is not covered?
All policies will have some exclusions, the most common being pre-existing conditions (those your pet has already related to pregnancy or birth, and any routine, preventative or planned treatments (such as vaccinations, paying and so on). Most policies have a medical exclusion period from the start of the policy, often called a 'waiting period,' which often ranges from 10-30 days.
About the BVA
The BVA is the national representative body for the UK veterinary profession. We support our members to fulfil their roles for the benefit of animals and the public. This is one of a series of leaflets for animal owners produced by the BVA, you can find more at www.bva.co.uk/public


text:
Cell phone tips
Cell phones are a popular and convenient way to communicate, but if you're not careful, they can turn into a major expense. Here are steps you can take to help increase your customer satisfaction and reduce your costs:
Consider your carrier
There are a number of major nationwide wireless providers as well as smaller regional carriers. Shop around. Find out what's available in your area. Remember that coverage is a critical factor. Go to www.cellreception.com and type in your zip code to find out which companies have cell phone towers near you, and how many. Look on this site and ask people around you to gauge satisfaction with different carriers. Ask to borrow a friend's cell phone for a day to test the reception for yourself.
Remember: each carrier is equipped to handle certain models of phones; not all phones will work for all carriers. Try to select your carrier before you purchase your phone.
Know your needs
Look at your past phone bills to see how many minutes you have typically used per month. What are your calling patterns during weekdays, nights, and weekends? Do some initial research online to see what features and options are offered, then go to a store to test models in-person. But before you go, consider what features you really need and will use. This will help you to avoid being overwhelmed by choices, pressured by salespeople, or wasting money on needless extras.
Phone buying tips
When you purchase your phone, make sure you receive a battery, charger, and any other accessories you need. If you buy a phone advertised as "refurbished," keep in mind that a factory refurbished phone is likely to be of better quality. Ask how much call time the phone has had. (Cell phones have "lifetime timers" similar to an odometer in a car.) Always ask about the warranty and the seller's return policy.
Shop for a package deal
Shop for a good package deal on cell phone service. Ask service providers questions about the different deals they offer. Before you sign a contract, read it, including the fine print. Make sure you know what's included and the costs, including taxes, fees, and special features like custom ring tones, wallpaper, and games.
Watch out for high fees for text or picture messages and surfing the Internet. These can add up to hundreds of dollars a month! A plan that allows for unlimited usage may be cheaper than paying for each use. Shop for a data plan that meets your needs.
Many carriers offer "family plans" that allow you share minutes and text messages with others. If you're buying a cell phone for your child, ask the provider if you can place a limit on the usage of certain features.
Keep track of your usage
Keep track of your cell phone usage. Some companies let you review your account online or let you phone in for free to get a current accounting. Take advantage of it!
Pay on time
Pay your cell phone bill on time and in full. This is an important step in building and maintaining good credit.
Renew with benefits
Know when your service contract is set to expire. If you renew, be sure to ask if you're eligible for a free phone upgrade or price discounts on new models.


text:
Today, we'll take a cue from Julie Andrews and start at the very beginning: What Is Inbound Marketing?
"Inbound Marketing is the best way to turn strangers into customers and promoters of your business."
That certainly sounds like a good thing. And while it may not tell you much about the specifics of inbound marketing, it does tell you the overarching goal. Turn strangers into customers into promoters. This is known as the inbound methodology, as clearly laid out in this beautiful graphic (also from HubSpot).
Where Did Inbound Marketing Come From?
The inbound marketing methodology developed because traditional marketing simply was not working as well as it used to. The development and spread of internet access and online media meant that consumers were more informed than ever and savvier towards those traditional tactics.
People just didn't want to be interrupted anymore. They wanted to do their research on their timeline. That was the impetus for inbound marketing. Inbound marketing doesn't interrupt consumers and try to sell them something they don't need. Rather, it offers something of value to those consumers and leaves them educated and ready to make smart decisions.
How Does Inbound Marketing Work?
Like any marketing strategy, an inbound marketing strategy starts with a great product or service and a group of dream customers. Most of those customers have no idea what the product or service is. In fact, they might not even know they need it yet. Inbound marketing:
identifies those customers (called personas)
figures out what their challenges are
offers content that helps address those challenges while generating leads
nurtures those leads with more content and offers
turns those leads into customers and ultimately promoters
The inbound marketing cycle is not all that different from what traditional marketing might look like. The difference is that by offering great content online, to your most valuable customer persona, you can collect leads all the time. Your customers-to-be will search for the answer to a question about a problem they have.
For example, if you sell industrial refrigerators, they might be looking for information on how to fix a leak in an industrial refrigerator. And the first thing that pops up is a blog entry you and your team created for just that occasion. The future customer, who may have never heard of your brand before, now knows who you are and maybe they even download your eBook that compares different refrigerator models. But to get that eBook, which is a valuable and relevant resource for them, they have to put in their name and email address. That adds them to your list so that you can send them carefully crafted emails about their specific needs. When the time comes to replace finally that refrigerator - which might be a week or six months from now - your brand will be top of mind because you have continued to provide them with information that they need when they need it.
Of course, inbound marketing is not just eBooks and blog posts. It is all kinds of content and a variety of online channels, too. It includes search engine optimization (SEO), social media posting, webinars, website design, and personalization. We'll be going into the various specifics of inbound marketing in future posts.
How Can I Learn More?
First of all, stay tuned for the rest of our blog series Intro to Inbound. If you want to know more about the fundamentals of inbound marketing right now, watch our free webinar by clicking below.