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Chris Christie Blows Into Tampa
As a strengthening Hurricane Isaac takes aim on The Big Easy, seven years to the day of Katrina's catastrophic devastation, an even bigger bag of wind is set to be unleashed tonight in Tampa as NJ Governor Chris Christie takes the podium as the GOP's Presidential Convention keynote speaker.
For the past week Chris Christie has been the topic du jour of all the news shows. Morning Joe, Good Morning America, News 12 New Jersey and the front pages of the local press have paraded and fawned over the GOP's ascending star as if he were the second coming of Abraham Lincoln.
Journalists ask Christie if he intends to unleash his "fire and brimstone" Jersey hubris during his keynote speech. His tough talking, take no prisoners' attitude seems to be all the rage in Republican Party circles these days. When GMA host George Stephanopoulos asked Christie if he represented the GOP mainstream Christie answered, "I've been to over thirty states since my election as Governor and everyone has welcomed me with open arms. With me you know who you're buying." Indeed Christie's value as a political celebrity is rising. In his brief tenure as Governor he spends a lot of time jetting about the country, politicking for himself and the GOP. He's been out raising funds for his reelection campaign and his coffers are overflowing with out of state money from his well heeled big time 1% contributors. Mr. Christie's discerning buyers know what they are purchasing. His hubris is a nice word for his arrogance and opacity that are the hallmark of the political deals he's cutting for his out of state friends when he arrives back home in the Garden State.
Christie's supporters love his tough talking style but his tough talk is nothing more than the arrogance of power, the political and economic elites employ to cover their back room deals. Christie's tough talk is nothing more than a front to deflect. When a reporter asked Christie about failing water delivery infrastructure and its impact on public health, the tough talking Governor answered "Did I say on topic? Are you stupid? On topic, on topic. Next question," Christie said to the reporter. "Thank you all very much and I'm sorry for the idiot over there." Christie also scored big with anti-union and privatization of education supporters by calling public school teachers, "drug mules". Its a denigration unworthy of a governor and a damaging characterization of professionals working within a systemically challenged public school system.
Yeah Christie's a real bad ass tough guy. When a Navy veteran asked for more details from Christie about the proposed merger between Rutgers Camden and Rowan University, he called the gentleman an idiot and used the power of his pulpit to brow beat and insult the man; who had every right as a citizen and taxpayer to receive a respectful reply to his question. This week Christie is crowing that he finally closed the Rutgers/Rowan deal with the bipartisan help of his lap dog democrat friends; as details concerning the financing and costs of the project remain obscure. It will be left to vigilant citizens to follow the money and see where and how state funds will flow into which private hands.
Yes Christie and his GOP supporters may love his tough talking but I suspect they pay a premium for the Christie brand because he knows when to keep his fat mouth shut. Sure their thankful when Christie refuses to shed any light on his business dealings and political moves. Christie's less then transparent appointments of commissioners to the NJ Highland Commission allowed the governor to pack the oversight board with pro-development interests. The NJ Highlands is a sensitive watershed region for millions of state citizens. In a densely populated state like New Jersey, protection of water resources and environmental conservation should be priorities but out of state El Paso Corp has eminent domain to dramatically expand its pipeline through the ecologically sensitive area to deliver natural gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale deposit. Is this the fruit of Mr. Christie's cross country road show to interested buyers? Christie's short term profit is New Jersey's long term problem.
In another strange case of the bloviating governor going mute is his refusal to provide insights into his interests and practices in a privately run prison halfway house business that regularly receives state funded taxpayer money. Governor Christie, "the entrepreneur" catches a bad case of laryngitis when asked to provide insights into his cashing in on the privatization of the prison system and the rent seeking practice of his company using government funds to provide substandard service.
Yeah they'll be a big wind blowing through Tampa tonight that will rival anything Isaac can throw at New Orleans. Christie will crow about the New Jersey miracle since his governorship began but statistics show that the state is lagging its Mid-Atlantic rivals. Facts and politicians seem to be two mutually exclusive matters so it shouldn't present an obstacle for Christie to say or claim anything the tough talking Jersey Dough-boy claims as truth.
This is particularly true of a fact based, reality challenged Republican Party that believes there is no science to support climate change, the idea that public schools are a liberal conceit, the notion that women rape victims can't get pregnant, progressives are enemies of the state and to preserve the constitution we must withhold the rights of some citizens. If you think that this is an unfair shot at the GOP mindset, did you see the GOP California poster of Chris Christie riding a surfboard? Talk about a problem with the concept of reality.
Music Selection: Beach Boys, Surfin Safari
Risk: truth, transparency, civil discourse, consensus
Puddenhead Wilson and the Jersey Doughboy
When Joe Wilson belched his infamous catcall "lair" during President Obama's address to a joint session of the legislature, he revealed himself to be a poor example of a mature adult. Puddenhead Wilson's emotional outburst may have played well with die hard Obama haters, indeed the next day his campaign war chest swelled by a million dollars; but it also sent a terrible message to America's youth that its acceptable to disrespect your teachers, coaches, police officers or parents if you disagree with what they are saying. The fact that his campaign coffers swelled with contributions as a result of his offense compounded the power of the negative message it sent to youths and to the perpetrator himself. Awarding Puddenhead Wilson for his bad conduct only encourages him to repeat his offensive disrespectful behavior. It also sends a very poor message to America's youth that bad behavior is OK and childish emotional outbursts may in fact find reward from enabling adults.
New Jersey Governor and emerging GOP superstar Chris Cristie, recently revealed himself to be a poor role model for the youth of America when he told a gathering of students that teachers greed was to blame for the lack of supplies and educational resources available for public schools. The Governors injection of politics into his presentation to Trenton students is a bit ironic. In his crusade against the teachers union, Christie has charged educators with using school children as "drug mules" to carry the message about the danger of funding reductions for public education. It would seem that the good Governor Christie needs to deliver a couple of kilos of his own to his adoring fans in the Tea Party and his financial backers in the GOP.
Putting partisan politics aside Christie's message to public school students is extremely damaging. The public schools are under incredible pressure. All social institutions are engulfed in severe challenges and are fully engaged in crisis management mode. America's public schools are not exempted from these pressures. The complex confluence of political, cultural and economic factors plaguing society are acutely manifested and constantly working to undermine the public school system. Governor Christie's political rant to students throws gasoline on a combustible pile of institutional challenges confronting teachers and administrators. Like Puddenhead Wilson, the Jersey Doughboy gives tacit approval and encouragement for students to question the authority and motives of their teachers. Christie has just provided under-performing students a ready made excuse for failure and disruptive malcontents a lit match to throw onto a gasoline soaked pile of kindling encircling our public schools.
Christie's partisanship places the context of his egregious mismanagement of the Race to the Top DOE grant in a new light. Perhaps Christie's $400 million blunder was an intentional action to reduce resources to the public schools to undermine greedy teachers and their gluttonous union. Why would Christie enable the funding of whip cracking greed driven drug mule drivers? And like his killing of the DOT funded ARC tunnel project, Christie enhances his conservative street cred by punching the construction unions in the nose and telling the socialist government in Washington to spend its money elsewhere.
Like Puddenhead Wilson, Christie is cashing in on his actions and is building a nice portfolio of economic and political capital for himself. His remarks about the greedy teachers provide a convenient cover and solemn absolution for the grand practitioners of greed and avarice that have led this country to the brink of fiscal insolvency, cultural destitution and political bankruptcy. Christie's narrative of blaming the needy plays well with large contributors who will be moved to put good 527 Corporation resources at his disposal to underwrite his political rise.
Christie's midterm election barnstorming tour in service to the GOP booked him on a coast to coast tour that even his hero Bruce Springsteen would envy. Though Christie's mojo clearly failed in helping Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina win election, the Jersey Doughboy's political stock has risen so quickly that he felt compelled to send out a few tweets to deny he would run on a ticket with Sarah Palin for president in 2012.
So New Jersey is stuck with the doughy mess of big money winner take all partisan politics of Christie's ideologically driven governorship for at least the next two years. Enjoying popular support for now, Christie's considerable body mass currently displaces enough water to ride the wave of Tea Party conservatism. But if the fickle citizens of New Jersey make a slight left turn off Exit 16E on Thunder Road, Christie's fortunes will drop faster then a lead sinker placed into the rancid brew seeping to perfection in a gaudy Royal Dalton Tea Pot.
You Tube Music Video: Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run (Live Acoustic Version)
Risk: political, labor unions, public education, consensus
Convergence and Innovation Inhibitors: 011110
As we start the second decade of the new millennium, innovation is understood as a critical driver to overcome the economic malaise plaguing the global economy. Economic stasis and political factionalism has made it increasingly evident that faltering economic and social institutions cry out for sweeping reform. These reforms can only be achieved with innovative approaches in policy and practice. Innovation is realized by giving flight to uninhibited thought and the clear application of ideas with decisive action. Though most agree that we badly need reform, we remain at painful odds as to what those reforms should be and how to implement them. The destructive legislative debates on health care and the ugly political theater of town meetings that occurred in the United States over the summer accomplished little in regards to meaningful reform. The exercises only served to drive a deepening wedge into the ability of a democratic culture to form a transformative consensus.
Our society is a complex ecosystem comprised of many competing interests. The classic definition of politics, "the means to decide how limited resources are allocated to disparate interests" is clearly a truism that must be applied if we are to realize the reform that we desperately need. In a post scarcity society that definition may seem a bit crude or antiquated. America's history is marked by a culture of innovation and the incubation of industry. Innovation and its commercial expression in entrepreneurialism is a national asset that tempers the hard edges of stringent allocation or resources and has been the source of our great social wealth. Democracies continually require citizens to arbitrate how competing interests are reconciled and converge. As a self professed democracy the United States must break down the barriers that inhibit innovation by confronting the challenges posed by convergence.
Convergence has been the watch word in the tech industry for the past few years. Convergence aggregates, joins and aligns discreet trends, competencies, technologies and missions to spawn innovation and progress. Masters of business innovation understand that a precondition of convergence is the ability to collaborate. Collaboration requires extended conversations and dialog to understand how competing interests can be reconciled and brought together so that innovation and progress can be achieved. Marketeers invent neologisms like coopetition to brand the idea and lend heft to its thrust. We believe that innovation borne from convergence is the path to rebuild our economy, heal cultural wounds and take a step toward political maturity the United States needs to sustain the great experiment of our democratic republic.
With that in mind we offer a list that outlines the inhibitors to innovation. It is hoped that our nations leaders and people can begin an earnest conversation to address these barriers to growth. Maybe I'm wrong with offering this modest list but I remain willing to discuss it, hopeful that people of good will with a different viewpoint will be open to correct my thinking and contribute to my enlightenment.
1. War: War is inherently wasteful. The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are grievous examples of waste and national distraction that hampers the United States economic recovery. At an Ecumenical Memorial Service held at Yankee Stadium following the 9/11 terror attacks a Buddhist Monk stated that he believed "it was wiser to drop refrigerators on Afghanistan then bombs". Almost a decade later and two wars on I can't help but to think what a meager $100 billion investment in Afghanistan would have returned to the United States tax payers. More importantly it would have shown the world that above all else America values the sanctity and preservation of life. It would have also minimized the rising toll of casualties of both citizens and soldiers. We developed some great bunker buster bombs but we can't figure out a way to stop a suicide bomber with exploding underpants. We succeeded in stirring up a hornets nest of angry insurgents and failed to build innovative pathways to peace with steadfast bridges to secure allies and pacify combatants.
2. Politics: To be sure politics is omnipresent but the politicization of faith institutions and government functions is a great separator of people. When politics infects faith institutions their ability to breach the social divide and join people together is seriously compromised or downright destructive. The Catholic Church's practice of denying the Eucharist to parishioners based on political biases of the communicant places politics at the center of the Lords alter. The recent occurrences of radical Islamists burning down Christian Churches in Malaysia is tragically ironic. The violence, a response to the Christians appropriation of the word Allah as a name for God; is a violent rejection of language convergence of two great faith traditions. It would seem that unity is a threat that God cannot abide and is a growing threat that must be abolished. In the secular world government agencies were instructed to withhold scientific climate change research of the National Science Foundation because it did not conform with the politics of the party in power. The extent of the politicization of the judicial branch of government under the Bush Administration was a seditious move worthy of dictatorships. Innovative application of constitutional law in defense of civil liberties is one of the greatest challenges the war on terror poses to this country. The creation of kangaroo courts to support the politics of the ruling party would undermine our system of justice. It would transform our judiciary into a repressive apparatus of the state, our laws into stale dogmas ill suited to meet the legal challenges of our time and a justice system that is indistinguishable from the justice offered by our opponents.
3. Ideology: Only good ideas need apply. Deng Xiaoping said it best "does it matter if its a communist or capitalist mouse trap. The question is, does it catch mice?" Seeing this as a threat, Mao Zedong unleashed the cultural revolution and routed the capitalist roaders as a threat to the Great Proletarian Revolution. After the death of Mao, Deng would be rehabilitated and play a key role in China's adoption of a market economy and its current ascendancy as a world economic power. In my mind there is a striking resemblance to the debate about heath care. Socialized medicine is bad. Do you want to turn into France? Canadian health care is too expensive. UK heath care system is overloaded and can't cope with demand. These problems would be solved however after the death panels had a chance to meet and decide who shall live and who must walk the plank.
4. Entrenched Commercial Interests: Though we are ardent believers in capitalism as an engine of innovation the dictatorship of ROI, entrenched concentrations of capital and an unwillingness or inability to adopt longer term investment horizons hamper innovation. The failure of the United States automobile industry to develop fuel efficient vehicles is a good example of market intransigence. The development of junk bonds by Michael Milken and Drexel Burnham Lambert dismantled the manufacturing base of the US economy accelerated the countries decline as a net exporter of products creating the foundation of a debtor nation. During the presidency of Jimmy Carter solar panels were installed on the roof of the White House. The succeeding administration had them removed. Imagine where the alternative energy industry would be today had it developed this leading edge idea and capitalized on this first mover advantage.
5. Unbridled free markets: The economic carnage of the banking meltdown is a startling example of the excesses the pursuit of profit will create. The boom in commercial and residential real estate construction created massive stocks of unused inventories that misdirected and wasted enormous resource. The energy and capital expended on these wasteful endeavors misdirected funds and created huge social hazards that requires massive amounts of capital to mitigate. Also worth mention is the development of video gaming. Lots of energy and creativity is being expended on the best techno music to use while your Mafia Avatar bashes open the head of your opponent with a baseball bat. We are not suggesting censorship or a prohibition of video games nor centralized economic planning. Its a compensation and social value issue. Perhaps a communicants denial of participation at the Lord's Table lead them to leave the church and miss the message about social values.
6. Technology: It may seem odd to include technology as an inhibitor to innovation but technology for technology sake may inhibit the development of innovative applications solutions that are not technological in nature. The technorati of the world is transforming technology into a religion. Deprived of its human dimension it can become a dogma that grows in an antagonistic relationship with its human masters. The United States continues to trumpet its technological prowess as the deciding factors in its war in Afghanistan. But that paradigm was explored during the war in Viet Nam where pungi sticks ultimately trumped napalm bombs. The power of an idea and how it connects and motivates people is force that is mightier then the sword.
7. Fundamentalism: The Pharisees once asked Jesus, "is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" Jesus answered that it was always the right time to heal those who are sick. The world recoils in horror at the capacity for destruction fundamentalism regularly visits upon the world. The denial of equal civil rights to LGBT people creates a bifurcated system of citizenship. It is an ugly stain on our democratic heritage. The gravest peril to democracy is the abridgment and denial of civil rights to any group of citizens. Democracy necessitates that all republicans enjoy equal access and rights in order for it to function. The denial of that right based on a fundamentalist reading of religious scriptures makes it particularly abhorrent because civil rights of citizens in a secular democracy is not an issue that is decided by theologians or the adherents to a particular theology.
Tolerance and consensus are both antithetical to the precepts of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism is not the sole province of religion. It has its secular and ideological adherents as well. Fundamentalism is a pillar of dictatorship; either of a political or theocratic nature both are enemies of secular democracy. Secular democracies require tolerance to respect the diverse ideas and competing viewpoints require in the democratic process. Secular democracies require the trust to converse and hash out the best ideas that serve the greatest good. This is only possible if consensus can be achieved. It is how "out of many becomes one". It is the true genius of America. It is a worthy innovation of governance that every freedom loving citizen should jealously guard and consciously pursue.
8. Public Education: The public education system that the United States built is the true arsenal of democracy and the nations source of wealth and its many contributions it has made to the world. Without the vast network of learning institutions built and supported by successive generations of Americans the worlds great experiment in representative democracy would have long ago perished. The public schools sole charter is to create an enlightened citizenship with the skills to discuss, discern and decide in a civil and constructive manner the ever evolving dialectic of a democratic consensus placed at the service of the republic. It is one of the true geniuses of America and remains her enduring strength.
Today public schools are under attack by forces whose agendas are the pursuit of parochial goals that first and foremost seek their enrichment and interests at the expense of the greatest good of the republic. The charter school movement is a trend that threatens the public school system by privatizing some of the systems assets and draining away much needed resource and financial support. It forces public schools to dispense with curriculum offerings like music and arts, sports programs and civic excursions that will convey an understanding of how institutions interact and support the greater social good. This aspect of the educational experience is supplanted by an exacting examination regime that destroys the love of learning. Secular learning is also being threatened through the introduction of theological precepts like creationism into the science curriculum of public schools. Religion and faith are important precepts to offer in a public educational curriculum; however theology that masquerades as science is an ideological stricture that has no place in public schools. These trends are pose great challenges to the public schools mission to form enlightened citizens free to think and free to act in the sole service of liberty and participatory democracy. Innovation and progress is in danger of becoming a secular sin a disease of the soul that needs to be eradicated from the public schools as its threatens to infect the greater body politic.
You Tube Music Video: Louis Armstrong, I Get Ideas
Risk: innovation, convergence, progress, tolerance


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You Have To Come Down From The Moutain
The Madman who became a Messenger
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
Stay & Abide By Jesus
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned."If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
Jonah 2
Jonah praises God for His deliverance. Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God f
rom the fish's belly. And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice." Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly: Jonah is still in the belly of the fish but he knows it is enough that the LORD has heard his cry (You heard my voice). In faith, Jonah knows that he will be delivered. Jonah knew God heard him before the answer came. This shows that Jonah had faith and that God can give us a total peace and assurance that our prayers are answered, even before the actual answer comes.
Follow The Good Shepard
Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Complexity done well...
Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead
|Clwyd Theatr Cymru , New Theatre, Cardiff , March 21, 2002
| It's the second half of Clwyd Theatr Cymru's double bill at the New Theatre and the performance could be deemed as nothing less than sheer brilliance. Of course the existentialist philosophical intellect of Stoppard contributed significantly to this examination of life and the unpredictability of it, but along with the combination of cast, set and superb direction from Terry Hands, the audience were captivated yet just as confused as our leading men; Oliver Ryan as Rosencrantz and Christian Patterson as Guildenstern.
When Stoppard wrote this play he commented that it was not (like most of his other plays) a play for discussion, he simply expected his audiences to take the play on face value and read little into the complex ideas and philosophies that lie within it. From the beginning, we are compelled to ask questions as a tossed coin that lands heads up 92 times in a row challenges our own assumptions concerning the law of probability. Are they in the real world? The play seems to be theatre within theatre, not a radical assumption given that one of Shakespeare's most famous quotes describes the world as a stage!
The play focuses on two minor roles in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' and expands on their story of fate – or maybe chance – or maybe neither. With obvious influences from Wilde, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's rhetorical questions, repetitions, ambiguous statements and witty banter provided the audience with abundant humour and an uncertainty about their own existence on leaving the auditorium. This play is so complex that there seems only two possible ways of performing it; very well or very badly. Clwyd Theatr Cymru most definitely achieved the former with many added layers to Stoppard's original script. A 'must see'.
Reviewed by: Victoria Cooper
This review has been read 9021 times


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text: Would I rather buy a home or own $50,000 of bonds?Author: Marc ProsserLast Updated: February 27, 2015 The Connection Between Interest Rates and Housing PricesI have seen a number of articles recently about the impact of rising mortgage rates on housing prices. Since January, the average interest rate on a 30 year loan has risen dramatically , from 3.41% to 4.37% on a 30 year mortgage, according to Freddie Mac. There have been a few articles suggesting the housing market recovery will be derailed by rising interest rates, which effectively increase the cost of buying a house. However, the chart below which compares mortgage interest rates versus prices, does not support the premise that an inverse relationship exists. Reading the chart, one would come the the conclusion that housing prices are much more impacted by the state of the economy and markets than interest rates. (Hat tip: Calculated Risk)What are the characteristics of a house as an investment?I am going to look at this question from the perspective of buying the place that you intend to make your home. Check out this quick glossary of terms if there are any questions with the verbiage. Buying investment properties or investing in real-estate investment trusts (REITs) may or may not be good investments, however, they have different characteristics than buying a house with a mortgage.Specifically, there are two major benefits which are sometimes overlooked:Owning a home provides a hedge against inflationA mortgage allows you to borrow money at a very low costIf you don't own, your biggest monthly expense is rent!Around 30% of average family income goes toward paying rent. While housing prices can go up or down in value, rents tend to go in one direction – higher. Since 1953, the cost of renting (shelter in CPI lingo) has been slightly negative in only one year. As you can see in the chart below, generally the cost of renting follows very closely overall inflation as measured by CPI. When buying a house with a fixed rate mortgage, you are replacing a variable, but generally rising monthly expense, with a fixed monthly payment.Let's say that you currently pay $3,000 per month in rent and can buy your place for $400,000 per year. You are able to borrow $350,000 for 15 years at an interest rate of 4.2%. Let's assume that inflation for rentals increases on average 2% per year for the next 10 years.Likely Monthly Rent In 10 Years $3,656.98Monthly Mortgage Payment In 10 Years (fixed) $2624.13While the mortgage payment starts out at about $400 less than the rent, the monthly difference increases to over $1,000 in ten years when factoring in a modest degree of inflation. This example may overstate the difference a bit. There are some costs associated with owning a home that do increase over time, like the cost of repairs and maintenance. However, overall owning a home and paying a mortgage does provide a large degree of protection against inflation.A Home Allows You To Borrow Money At A Very Low Cost & Buy An Investment With A Very Good YieldI want to think of buying with a mortgage as two distinct transactions:1) You are purchasing an asset that provides a yield. In fact, you are your own tenant. Building on the example above, the assets costs $400,000 and starts paying $3,000 per month in "interest". The initial yield is 9% ($36K / $400K). The example is providing a yield which is better than you will find in your personal case. In many places, the home price to rent ratio is around 18 or an initial yield of 5.5%. Essentially, this is very close to the yield on long-term, higher rated high yield bonds.2) You are borrowing money at a very low interest rate, both in absolute terms and compared to treasuries. At 4.37% for a 30 year mortgage, you are borrowing money for only 0.66% more in interest than the US government can borrow with a 30 year bond. Without the home as collateral, your borrowing costs would be dramatically higher. Its unlikely that you would be able to borrow money for less than 10%.Borrowing Money at 4.37% To Buy An Asset That Yields 5.5% Equals A Positive Return, Assuming The Value of Your Home Stays Flat or Rises Over TimePlus, you get to hedge your biggest monthly expense against inflation!OK, but what does this have to do with $50,000 worth of bonds?In the example, I mention that you are buying a house for $400,000 and borrowing $350,000. In the example, you have to come up with $50,000 to provide as a down payment for the house. You could cash in bonds, stocks or other investments. Bank are currently requiring down payments between 15 and 20%.


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Textile JewelleryPosted: November 24, 2011 Filed under: crystals, felt, jewellery, necklace, ribbon, textile jewellery, wool Leave a comment
This piece is a lasso style necklace that I made a couple of years ago. It's definitely a very unusual statement piece! I made it using wool, felt, crystal chips and ribbon. I think perhaps I was more adventurous then than I am now?
Hugs, Caz x
Salvaged Roses NecklacePosted: November 22, 2011 Filed under: eco-friendly, felt, flowers, jewellery, necklace, roses, textile jewellery, upcycling 3 Comments
I made this necklace this evening. I named it Salvaged Roses because the main piece is actually a broken cabochon that I've had lying around for ages. It is so pretty I wanted to salvage it somehow & this evening I figured out what I was going to do with it! I have sewn & glued it onto five layers of felt so the backing is very sturdy. Then I've simply slipped it onto a silver ball chain. What do you think?
*Now available here*
*Now available here*
Shop UpdatePosted: November 13, 2011 Filed under: antique brass, Charismagick, charms, felt, jewellery, necklaces, scissors 2 Comments
These two necklaces made it in to my shop today.
I've also added an About Charismagick page & a News & Updates page.
DIY Christmas Felt 'Paper' ChainsPosted: November 12, 2011 Filed under: christmas, crafting, DIY, eco-friendly, felt, green, how to make, paper chains, recycle, tutorial 1 Comment
Remember making paper chains every Christmas when you were a child?
I've come up with a couple of variations for you! Here's the first…
Felt 'Paper' Chains
Cut out felt strips approx 1/2 inch wide & 7″ long. I've made mine in two varying shades of pink as I intend to keep them up in my room but for a festive feel try green, red, silver & white felt.
Once you've cut up what you think is enough strips to start your chain (remember you can always add more) stop cutting!
Get one strip, join the ends with an approximate 1cm overlap and stitch together with either matching or contrasting thread, your choice.
Pick up the next strip and thread through the first strip before stitching the ends together.
The beauty of making this felt Christmas 'paper' chain is that you can pack it away carefully & bring it out year after year!
The alternative paper chain idea I had is to use up old magazines, advertising leaflets (ie from supermarkets) & newspapers to make your paper chains instead of using tissue paper as is traditional. A good way to recycle!
Awesome TutorialsPosted: November 5, 2011 Filed under: felt, Fox, friendship bracelets, garland, how to make, jumper, necklace, tutorial 3 Comments
I thought I'd share some of the fabulous tutorials I've seen dotted around with you in case you haven't spotted them yourself..
This jumper is AMAZING!!! Um, also, this one isn't actually a tutorial but if you pop over to Tiny Owl Knits you can buy the PDF pattern & make your own! If you can knit. Which I can't!
How to sew all those fiddly felt bits without them going wonky over at Future girl!
A cute spool necklace tutorial over at Wild Olive.
Bright colourful friendship bracelets over at HonestlyWTF
Lovely necklace over at Elsie's…
And this gorgeous felt-leaf garland on Instructables.
I'm off work for a week so I might give the friendship bracelets a go… and maybe the leaf garland.
Have a great weekend,
Hugs, Caz x
More pendants…Posted: October 27, 2011 Filed under: cats, felt, jewellery, necklaces, pendants, wool Leave a comment
I'm kind of addicted to making these at the moment! I wanted to try something different with them this time though so initially I had a go at drawing something myself… the cat! simply hand drawn & coloured in with pencils & then I glued the plastic insert in to place. However I then got the urge to play with felt.. so I did! Layered felt with hand stitching & no inserts. Finally I thought it would be fun to glue in some multi-coloured wool that I have.. I quite like the effects, what do you think?
When I finish my Autumn wreath I'll share a photo DIY of it with you although it probably won't be ready until next week now… if only I didn't have to go to work, ha ha!
Just thought I'd share this link with you… a gorgeous feather garland DIY. May have a go myself at some point!
PS. Don't forget my other pendants are available to buy here.
Giveaway!!!! (Closed)Posted: July 14, 2011 Filed under: book giveaway, felt, felting, Lizzie Houghton 5 Comments
That's right folks… I'm giving you the chance to win a copy of 'Creative Felting' by Lizzie Houghton. it is an absolutely gorgeous book, the photographs are beautifully shot, it has various step-by-step instructions & quite a few projects. Check out Lizzie's website here. So… if you fancy having a go & want to get your mitts on this book…
… all you need to do is become a follower (if your not already of course!) & leave me a comment telling me what it is that you love about felt. For me it's the vibrant colours & the texture… what about you?
(This giveaway IS open internationally.CLOSED.)


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Hi guys!
It always feels a bit strange to go back to December in January, but our December favorites mustn't be forgotten! Absolutely not because they are great! As usual, you guys made some awesome and yummy recipes and I made my 5 favs selection 🙂
#1: Mini Mango Pie
I love mango. Oh god I love it! Jhuls from The Not So Creative Cook made mini Mango Pies! Mini, like perfect for one person. That little 😀 That's such a great idea! Instead of making 1 big pie, you make a couple mini ones so you can eat a few and you don't have to find people to share the pie with (as if that would be difficult…) I'm pretty sure I would eat more mini pies than good for me though…
Shinta from Caramel Tinted Life brought us the perfect Christmas cookies 🙂 These Dorie's Linzer Sables are so cute and without a doubt super yummy!
#3: Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
I've never made fudge before but this Peppermint version from This Gal Cooks makes me wonder why on earth I haven't! I absolutely love that picture because it's just gorgeous and it really invites us to dig in xD Too bad technology isn't that far yet to make sharing food through screens possible xD
I don't think this pick needs any explanations. Annie from Annie's Noms made this beautiful yet simple cake and I'm completely in love with it. The perfect Christmas celebration cake for those candy cane lovers 🙂 It's definitely on my 'to try' list for next year ^^.
#5: Glazed Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Peppermint bark
How cool are these Doughnuts! Looking yummy and tasting even better I imagine. Cooking with a Wallflower did a great job on these! Omnomnom.
Can't wait to see what you guys have in store for us this month 😉
Have a delicious day ❤
Find me on:


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Cute, Low Impact Wool Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments by Planar
Photos: Planar.
I have to admit I'm a bit the green grinch of the family: I really can't stand all the mindless consumption over the holidays, and I'm always pushing the buy nothing concept. I don't even have a Christmas tree.
If I did, however, these cute, biodegradable wool felt figures would probably be the ornaments hanging from it instead of plastic shinny balls. More on them and Planar inside.
The decorations are the latest product launched by Planar, a responsible design studio from Buenos Aires that we've featured before.
Respecting the importance of choosing local materials, designers Pablo di Muzio, Lucila Flombaum and Natalia di Muzio work with natural wool felt and patterns that create minimum waste.
The figures are all one material, printed with water based inks (no ink at all would make them even more attractive, but I guess you need to add some cheer).
If you're not so much into baking your ornaments, this is a good alternative. More on Planar and these figures at their website and blog.
More On Having a Green(er) Christmas
Choose a Christmas Tree with Roots (Video)
Woman Has Used the Same Christmas Tree Every Year Since 1928
ShopNothing Helps You Buy Nothing


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We build award winning, intelligent software with best in class support
We create successful digital applications and web services utilising the latest Microsoft technologies. We're experts in complex integration, enterprise scale social platforms and marketing automation. This is underpinned by deep technical expertise in CMS, CRM, database and data analysis.View Projects Get in touch


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1. Cyclone can separate out about 98 % particles which are more than 30u.
2. Cyclone injects the coolant with particles into cone from the rectangle entrance along a tangent line direction by certain pressure. It will do a spiral movement up and down, this makes the liquid produce a vortex, at this time, the solid particles in liquid will be thrown to the inner wall of cone and discharged through the outlet which located at bottom . After the cleaning liquid reaches the cone bottom side, it will arise along the cone axis and drainage from the outlet of cyclone. It has a high separate precision and can separate out about 98 % particles which are more than 30u.
Product Application:
1. Cyclone is mainly used for separating particles in the coolant.
2. It is suitable for separating the particles which are produced from high speed grinding, force grinding, general fine machining emulsion and the low viscosity crude base coolant. The cleaning coolant can enhance the using time of the cutting tool, and improve the parts processing quality.
3. Besides, it also avoids the coolant alteration, extends its using time.
4. Cyclone can be used in parallel, this way increases the flow rate, and it also can be used in series-wound, this way can improve the filtrate accuracy.


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MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Barry dropped a non-conference game to Georgia College, 8-3, Tuesday at Florida Tech.
Barry made a comeback bid late, but when the Bobcats (18-11) tacked on three runs in the ninth, it was too much for the Buccaneers to overcome in the neutral site game between the two South Region teams.
Barry (14-12) stranded eight runners in a game the Bucs pulled within two runs in the eighth, but couldn't overcome the Bobcats' last-inning surge.
Trailing 5-2 in the eighth, the Bucs scored in the eighth when Sheehan Planas walked, advanced on Luis Arrizueta's single through the left side, and later scored after a couple passed balls. That pulled Barry within two.
But the Bobcats scored three insurance runs in the ninth on a double, two walks and a sacrfice fly to put the game away.
The Buccaneers scored their first run in the second on Bryant Elliott's RBI single -- an answer to Georgia College's three runs in the top half of the inning.
Barry starter Corey Witkowski found his rhythm in the third as he began a run of three straight innings retiring Georgia College's hitters in succession. Witkowski, although saddled with the loss, retired 14 straight Bobcats over the middle innings to keep the Bucs within a run into the seventh.
But Barry couldn't deliver the run support Witkowski needed, and he left after giving up five hits, four runs and two walks while striking out three. Georgia College reliever Derek McGowan picked up the win after allowing one unearned run on two hits and three walks in four innings.
Zack Hula earned his third save after coming on in the eighth and working the final two innings.
Elliott went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Michael Slabach was 1 for 3 with a stolen base. Arrizueta was 1 for 4. Planas was 1 for 3 with a stolen base. James Young was 1 for 4 for the Buccaneers, who host Nova Southeastern Friday and Saturday in a return to Sunshine State Conference play at Feinbloom Field in Miami Shores.
Tanner Funk was 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Bobcats. Bryce Williams went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs.
Alex Decker worked 1 2/3 innings in relief for Barry, allowing one run and two hits.


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New Rap Beat Uploaded – "Project Spread"
When you get bitten by this rap beat – "Project Spread" you can be certain that the results have a good chance of being toxic and most definitely contagious.
This synthetic digital creation – "Project Spread" carries a very dark energy and explores the emotions, the fear, the anger, and despair that comes in the aftermath of chaos, destruction and confusion. Is war being openly waged? Is this the new face of population control? What happens next?
"Project Spread" builds the tension and asks the questions within a proprietary Logwood soundscape punctuated by well qualified pauses and static drops. The damage is done.
As always – this Rap Beat will be available as EXCLUSIVE ONLY for a limited time so take a listen and lock it in.
New Rap Beat Uploaded – "Project Spread"


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In the spirit of Back to the Future Day, let's take a look into Dublin's past...
This photo was taken in a Dublin suburb less than two decades ago in 1997, showing nothing but fields and a small supermarket in the background. And yet, you'd hardly know to look at it today that this is the site of one of the largest developments in the city's history.
The photo was shared on Twitter by Jerome Morrow back in January, and it's one that routinely comes back to capture our attention – so we thought we'd share it with you to see if you could guess its location.
Scroll down to find out...
@OldeEire @PhotosOfDublin Site where Dundrum Town Centre stands now. Crazy Prices Sandyford Road in backround 1997 pic.twitter.com/v10OLlWbi5
— Jerome Morrow (@brenn1001) January 15, 2015
The centre opened in March 2005, just eight years after this photo was taken – and it's almost impossible to imagine the area consisting of fields all these years later.


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Editors handpick every product that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.
The 12 Best Makeup Gift Sets for Sale Now
The best value vaults from the best beauty brands.
There was a time when makeup kits evoked one of two things: Visions of 300+ eye shadow sets that you'd buy at the drugstore for $5 when you were 13, or the gift with purchase pouches your mom would bring home from department stores. Today's kits offer insane value, exclusive products, and a way to stock up on all your makeup needs in a single click. Ahead, our 12 favorite makeup kits on the market right now.
Colourpop's latest collaboration with Disney (surprise, surprise) sold out almost on the spot. This 18-piece kit complete with the Princess Thing Palette, all six Lux Lipsticks and Super Shock Shadows, three Ultra Glossy Lips, and two Super Shock Highlighters is a surefire way to guarantee you can be your favorite princess, depending on your mood.
You could go crazy chasing the dragon that is the Anastasia Beverly Hills empire. Or you could invest in this handy little set—which has a $45 value—and contains two limited-edition shades, Bittersweet and Dazed, and the bestselling peachy Hudson.
She didn't get to be Charlotte Tilbury by not knowing how to make celebrity complexions look absolutely incandescent. This kit combines the quenching and luminous eye wand, full coverage foundation, a contouring and highlight wand and a double-sided brush to blend it all in just so—meaning you can kind of get the Tilbury treatment in one go.
So much Naked, so little time. This quad contains the now discontinued Naked, Naked2, Naked3, and Naked4—meaning you quite possibly would never need another neutral eye shadow for the rest of your life. (Also? It's a $50 savings.)
Every single one of the fifteen creamy, satiny Demi Matte lipsticks that made Huda Kattan famous—they cost $20 a piece usually—packaged together in a handy and inspiring box.
Skin Fetish was Pat McGrath Lab's third offering and it sold out pretty much instantly. Now that the highlighting trio is readily available—packaged here with a cream stick highlight, lip balm, and blending brush—doesn't mean its any less covetable.
Here's what you get: 24 shades of Amazonian clay eyeshadow with two blushes, a highlighter, and bronzer (stay with us), a quenching lipstick, mascara, and liquid liner. Here's what you pay: $42. Should I keep going?
There's a reason this little quad has been reviewed a whopping 397 times on Kat's site—and it's not just the packaging alone. The glimmery, shimmery unicorn hues work to cover up, level up in shine up with just a few sweeps.
The Sweet Peach Palette started limited edition, but ya'll loved it so much (and bought so many) it was added to the permanent collection. If you don't own one already, now's the time, packaged here with eyeshadow primer and the bestselling and genius-named Better Than Sex mascara. Or you could everything separately for $93. (Not.)
Down the center of James Charles' Morphe palette are seven super-sized shades—the ones you'll use the most, and mix-and-match liberally. The other 32 tones are a richly pigmented mix of mattes, metallics, shimmers, and creams.
Benefit is known for a lot of things, but brows might be the most illustrious. Here are their five full-size bestselling brow products—two pencils, gel, cream color and powder—in one little trunk.


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Arguably George Bernard Shaw's most profound play, Man and Superman, blends social satire with a fascinating philosophy. Today, the comedy continues to make readers and audiences laugh and think - sometimes simultaneously.
Man and Superman tells the story of two rivals: John Tanner (a wealthy, politically-minded intellectual who values his freedom) and Ann Whitefield (a charming, scheming hypocritical young woman who wants Tanner as a husband). Once Tanner realizes that Miss Whitefield is hunting for a spouse (and that he is the only target), he attempts to flee, only to find out that his attraction to Ann is too overwhelming to escape.
Re-inventing Don Juan
Although many of Shaw's plays were financial successes, not all of the critics admired his work. While many reviewers were intrigued by Shaw's ideas, they did not appreciate his lengthy scenes of dialogue with little-to-no conflict. One such critic, Arthur Bingham Walkley once said that Shaw is "no dramatist at all." In the late 1800s, Walkley suggested that Shaw should write a Don Juan play. Beginning in 1901, Shaw accepted the challenge; in fact, he wrote an extensive albeit sarcastic dedication to Walkley, thanking him for the inspiration.
In the preface of Man and Superman, Shaw discusses the way Don Juan has been portrayed in other works, such as Mozart's opera or Lord Byron's poetry. Traditionally, Don Juan is a pursuer of women, an adulterer, and an unrepentant scoundrel. At the end of Mozart's Don Giovanni, Don Juan is dragged to Hell, leaving Shaw to wonder: What happened to Don Juan's soul? Man and Superman provides an answer to that question. The spirit of Don Juan lives on in the form of Juan's distant-descendant John Tanner. Instead of a pursuer of women, Tanner is a pursuer of truth. Instead of an adulterer, Tanner is a revolutionary. Instead of a scoundrel, Tanner defies social norms and old-fashioned traditions in hopes of leading the way to a better world.
Yet, the theme of seduction - typical in all incarnations of Don Juan stories - is still present. Through each act of the play, the female lead, Ann Whitefield, aggressively pursues her prey. Below is a brief summary of the play.
Man and Superman - Act One
Ann Whitefield's father has passed away. Mr. Whitefield's will indicate that his daughter's guardians shall be two gentlemen:
- Roebuck Ramsden: The steadfast (and rather old-fashioned) friend of the family.
- John Tanner: A controversial author and "Member of the Idle Rich Class"
The problem: Ramsden cannot stand Tanner's morals, and Tanner cannot stand the idea of being Ann's guardian. To complicate things, Tanner's friend Octavius "Tavy" Robinson is head over heels in love with An. He hopes that the new guardianship will improve his chances of winning her heart.
Ann flirts harmlessly whenever she is around Tavy. However, when she is alone with John Tanner (AKA "Jack") her intentions become obvious to the audience. She wants Tanner. Whether she wants him because she loves him, or because she is infatuated with him, or merely because desires his wealth and status is entirely up to the viewer's opinion.
When Tavy's sister Violet enters, a romantic subplot is introduced. Rumor has it that Violet is pregnant and unmarried. Ramsden and Octavius are outraged and ashamed. Tanner congratulates Violet. He believes that she is simply following life's natural impulses, and he approves the instinctive way Violet has pursued her goals despite society's expectations.
Violet can tolerate the moral objections of her friends and family. She cannot, however, abide Tanner's praise. She admits that she is legally married, but that the identity of her groom must remain secret. Act One of Man and Superman concludes with Ramsden and the others apologizing. Jack Tanner is disappointed; he wrongly thought that Violet has shared his moral/philosophical outlook. Instead, realizes the bulk of society is not ready to challenge traditional institutions such as marriage.
The Last Line of Act One
Tanner: You must cower before the wedding ring like the rest of us, Ramsden. The cup of our ignominy is full.


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I was able to receive a recently published book by Jan Myrcik who is the proprietor of a local history museum in Koszecin where a large amount of my ancestors are from. In this book, the topics of war casualties and fatalities from Koszecin are covered. It includes the names of many of the participants of various wars, WWI, WWII, and some others in which villagers from Koszecin took part.
I was able to find many of my relatives listed in this book of 108 pages. The book also includes many letters from the military informing villagers of the loss of the relatives, sons, fathers and so forth who were determined missing and those that had been killed in battle. The book is written in the Polish language and includes the above mentioned letters, many of which were in the German language. It included photos of some of those that were killed or missing. For the Koschentin/Koszecin researcher this book is of great interest.


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As many of you were aware, the Oliver Twins attended the Play Expo in Manchester last weekend.
Video footage from Funstock and Connected Digital World are now available to watch.
- The Oliver Twins at Play Expo - Part 1 - Part 2 -
- Funstock Interview with The Oliver Twins
You can also watch them on the Videos page under Interviews.
The bigger event is still to come on the 24th October - More details and updates on the upcoming event to be mentioned here this weekend.
Videos of the Oliver Twins at Play Expo
A place to post interesting information to the community.
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The Story
Thank you for his visit and read my campaign,
I was chairman of a special developer of social housing for the underprivileged groups / poor, this project is a program to help the poor in order to have a decent place to stay, but with voluntary payments (not determined for the amount of the mortgage).
funding this project through social investors from various countries that we mobilize through the campaign ,, profit system that we run is to provide benefits to investors of 10% /month.by online payment system through PayPal, Neteler, ucash, Skrill, Entropay and WebMoney.
Through this campaign I asked for his support for this project, I am currently working on 1000 units of housing and flats with a total budget of $ 500,000
and has sold 400 units of $ 200,000, if among you all who read kampanyi is willing to join as social investors for my project, in accordance with the rules that we keep it, I will give you an advantage of 10% / month of your contribution to this project for a period of return of contributions staple for 1 year.
I apologize if this campaign is not in its place, but to run this project for its funding I have to do fundraising.
if any of you are willing this project as a social investor and want to get further clarification and clearer please feel free to contact me via emai
I would gladly welcome you as a social investor in my project and your name will we fit on the front page of our website.
Thus a brief description of the purpose of my campaign, I hope we can work well together for a long time.
note : whatever you support this project will be recorded in our database and entitled to a monthly appreciation of our mark of 10% of your participation
Our motto is "Charity AND GET BENEFITS"
Best Regards
Graha Multisarana
From Rudi


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Yes, you read that correctly. A while back I purchased a blacklight flashlight to find dried dog urine in our house. Why? Because when you have two young puppies it's not uncommon to identify the smell of urine but to not be able to find the source…
They've grown a good bit since I originally purchased it and it's less of an issue now. That's not to imply that they don't "go" in the house anymore but it's not as frequent and also less likely that we won't notice.
There was a time, however, when they would frequently sneak off and piss in a corner or under a table and we wouldn't notice it for a while. On wooden floors can be difficulty to see after it has dried.
Does this work? The short is answer is that yes, it does.


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A man suffered major injuries in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed on the 605 Freeway in Baldwin Park. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the motorcycle crash occurred near the 10 Freeway the afternoon of April 3, 2010. The motorcyclist, whom officials identified as a 56-year-old Santa Ana man, apparently veered left and crashed into the center median wall. His arm was severed in the crash and doctors are currently trying to reattach the arm. The injured motorcyclist is expected to survive.
I hope this victim's arm can be successfully reattached and that he hasn't suffered any catastrophic injuries. I wish him the very best for a speedy and full recovery. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics, there were two fatalities and 25 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Baldwin Park, in 2008. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 114 fatalities and 2,934 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2008.
What Caused this Accident?
It is not quite clear in this case what caused this motorcyclist to lose control and crash. Was there a vehicle defect or a mechanical malfunction in the motorcycle that may have caused it to go out of control? Was the motorcycle rider cut off by another rider? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway or was the rider trying to avoid any debris on the roadway?
It is important to determine in such cases whether negligence or wrongdoing was involved. If that was the case, injured victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, hospitalization, cost of surgery or prosthetics, cost of long-term care and other related damages. An experienced Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to better advise victims about their legal rights and options in such injury accident cases. If a dangerous roadway caused this accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Any such claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.


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This book was well written as it went back and forth into these people's lives. It's filled with betrayals between lovers, husband and wives and their children.
Marcella, an Italian beauty, seems to stray from her husband,after having a few miscarriages and he seems to be satisfied with only daughter, Toni.
Marcella falls in love with Cecil McClatchey, a married father of two and a neighbor,who is also a friend to both her and her husband, Anthony. They have an affair, which ends badly.
Cecil's wife is murdered in her own home,and he is guilt ridden thinking they suspect him. Jed,his son and daughter Callie both suffer greatly over the consequences. Jed starts an affair with Marcella after he goes to her for comfort.
It's filled with psychological problems and secrets and consequences. They are two damaged families struggling to free themselves.
All in all -I thought the story was moving and suspenseful and well written.
To enter the giveaway to win a hardcover copy of the book, please leave a comment. Giveaway ends Monday, April 4th at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
Congratulations to our winner: Jen @ What Would Jen Do!
Friday, April 1, 2011
BOOK GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: "The Swimming Pool" by Holly LeCraw
Posted by Tribute Books Mama at 12:32 PM
Labels: betrayals, consequences, damaged families, the swimming pool
8 comments:
Thanks for the review and giveaway!! I would love to win and read!!!ReplyDelete
Casey Hensley
would love to win this book, sounds greatReplyDelete
I would love to read the book. It sounds like you thought it was quite good.ReplyDelete
Please count me in!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for this opportunity!<3ReplyDelete
I would love to win a copy, I have this book wishlisted. Thank you for offering!ReplyDelete
I've heard good things about this one. Sorry I missed the giveaway! :)ReplyDelete
This sounds good! Please enter me!ReplyDelete
mittens0831 at aol dot com
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Site plan
Floor plan level 1
Aquarium Batumi, Georgia - 2nd prize
International Design Competition
Association ATU, Georgia
Aquarium experts
GROUPE COUTANT, La Rochelle, France
Currently, the salt water aquarium of the City of Batumi is located in a classicist building which does not meet the requirements of a public and scientific aquarium anymore. In addition, the building does not have s shark tank as main attraction. Therefore, the existing building should be renovated and expanded, or an entirely new building should be planned. In the neighborhood of the existing aquarium, both an open space between the dunes and the coastal road and a small lake can be chosen for the placement of a new building. The lake is already surrounded by a zoo, a recently erected dolphinarium,
a rental place for pedal boats and a recreational area.
GFA 3.008 sqm
GBV 15.307 cbm
Shark tank 1.280 cbm
Design Concept
A three-story building was developed on an oval footprint, which is divided in half by the shark tank in the center. An escalator leads up from the entrance lobby to the first exhibition area with its smaller and bigger tanks. Passing the big window to the shark tank, the visitors reach the second theme space and continues via escalator to the third exhibition
space. From here, the visitors pass right through the glass tunnel of the shark tank to get back to the entrance lobby.
A restaurant with views across the dunes to the Black Sea, a conference room and secondary rooms were placed on the top floor. The building "swims" in the lake and can be only accessed from the shore by a bridge. The form of the building may remind the visitors of an ark, bringing together precious inhabitants of the oceans. For functional reasons, the building has almost no windows, and it is enveloped by a skin of printed glass panes. This makes it appear in unreal transparency during daytime and as glowing jewel in the reflecting lake at night.


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Dot NL Pricing
|1 Year
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|.NL with hosting
TLD Details
|Edit WHOIS
|ID Protect
|Registration Period
|yes (EPP)
|1 Year
Dot NL Domain Registration
The Netherlands is a small state in Europe, but because of the fact that almost 90% of the population are active WWW users, the state is a preferred market for any vendor that offers goods or services on the net. This is the reason for the popularity of the local domain name extension dot NL. The TLD was the first country-specific extension ever launched and with more than 5 million active registrations, it is currently amongst the most widespread country-specific extensions. With such a domain, you can target not only the Netherlands, but also areas with Dutch-speaking people in the neighboring countries, which means an even larger market for your website. Due to the fact that the local Registry doesn't sell domains directly to end customers, you will have to book your .NL domain through a third-party firm, such as ours. With a .NL domain, you will contact the local population easier and your website will will have a higher position in local search engine results.
We can register your new domain name within one hour or you can transfer your existing domain over to our firm and start administrating it along with your web hosting space. The .NL Registrant and Administrative contact must have valid Dutch information, so if you want to get a dot NL domain name for a local company branch, it will have to be registered on behalf of that branch, not on the mother firm's behalf. The fact that more than 60% of the existing dot NL domains are booked by businesses and organizations speaks for itself.
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From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Following my experiment with the Curried Lentil Rice recipe that I featured here last week, I had leftover rice and lentils that were screaming to be used. Lentils are not an ingredient that I've used a lot in the past, but I'm trying to replace some of the meat in my diet with more planet-friendly choices, so they are appearing more often in the recipes I feature here. I found tonight's recipe on the Whole Food's web site, and because I've had generally good luck with their recipes I thought I'd give it a try. I'm happy to report this reforming carnivore actually liked these patties. They are easy to make and they are a great way to use leftover rice and lentils. I served ours with a shaved kale salad and a loaf of crusty country bread. While the Silver Fox also had a pork chop, he ate two patties, so, it's fair to say they were well received. I did use more salt than the original recipe called for, and the next time I make these I'll double the quantity of walnuts used to prepare the patties. The walnuts add a nice crunch to these gluten-free patties and I think you will enjoy them. Here's how they are made.
Lentil Rice and Walnut Patties...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Whole Food recipes
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small carrot, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped button mushrooms
1/4 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts (I used 1/2 cup)
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (I used 1-1/2 teaspoons)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
2 cups cooked brown or white rice, divided use
1-1/2 cup cooked lentils, or 1 (15-ounce) can lentils, rinsed and drained
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons canola or peanut oil, divided use
1) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, mushrooms, walnuts, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and cayenne and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into a large bowl; transfer to a large bowl.
2) In a food processor, purée 1 cup rice, lentils and egg until smooth. Transfer to bowl with vegetables, add remaining 1 cup rice and stir to combine. Form lentil mixture into 10 to 12 patties, using about 1/4 cup of the mixture to make each one.
3) Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Arrange half of the patties in skillet and cook, flipping once, until golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat process with remaining sunflower oil and patties. Serve hot. Yield: 5 to 6 servings.
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Connecting Ruby on Rails to Salesforce
Salesforce is getting popular with SME and Enterprise markets and companies would love to integrate their custom-built apps with their Salesforce CRM database. You can synchronize data from your database to Salesforce using Salesforce API. Usually organizations are allocated 10,000 API calls per day. If you need more API calls, you can purchase an API calls pack from your Salesforce reseller.
Getting Started
It is a good idea to use a dedicated Salesforce user account to connect to your app and set up appropriate security measures. Databasedotcom gem will parse all fields every time when it connects to Salesforce. If you are using a dedicated user to access the API you can hide the fields that are not in use to reduce bandwidth and sync faster.
- Ruby on Rails 3+
- Salesforce Profession, Ultimate, or Enterprise edition or Salesforce Developer account (available for free).
- Databasedotcom gem
Install and configure the gem
gem 'databasedotcom' to your Gemfile and then run
bundle install.
Enable API Access
- Log in to Salesforce
- Go to the Remote Access setting
- Click New
- Fill in your application details, callback URL can be any URL.
- Save a copy of your Consumer Key and Consumer Secret
Get a security token
You will need to use your security token to access Salesforce API.
If you don't have your Salesforce security token, go to Reset My Security Token in Salesforce setting and press Reset Security Token. Your new security token should be in your email inbox within a minute.
We will set up one YAML files that will store all Salesforce setting. Create a file called
app/config/salesforce.yml and add your Salesforce credentials and Salesforce objects that you want to use in your app. I this example I am using two main objects - Contact and Account. Feel free to add more objects to the list.
client_id: copy and paste your Salesforce Consumer Key
client_secret: copy and paste your Salesforce Consumer Secret
username: email@example.com
password: password
security_token: Jdkra7ZNpJcYEmOaJPvPqBJRW
objects: [Contact, Account]
Now create a Salesforce class in
lib/Salesfoce.rb file that will initialize Salesforce connection, authenticate your app and cache your Salesforce objects schema.
Create an initializer file
config/initializers/sfdc_init.rb that will authenticate Salesforce when your app starts:
Usage Examples
Now when you start your Rails app or console, you have access to your Salesforce database. Some usage examples:


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From elaborate DSLRs, to point-and-shoots, to that crappy thing in my iPhone 3G, all cameras can trace back their lineage back to this simple wooden box.
It's the world's oldest camera, and it's on display at the "The Invention of Photography and the Earliest Photographs" exhibition in Macau.
On display alongside this great great granddaddy of photography are 250 additional pieces of photography history, as well as 180 photos from the same era. It was a simpler, more innocent time, completely free of the megapixel pissing matches that grip the industry today. [Xinhuanet via Engadget]


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Flappy Ship
A downloadable game for Windows
Prepare yourself for classic arcade action! How far can you flap? Glide through a retro space assault course of asteroids, aliens and buildings visually inspired by the likes of Canabalt and Jetpack Joyride.
Packed with exciting features:
- Unlock new ships, each with unique accolades, through different achievements!
- Beat your high score!
- Dodge nefarious robots!
- Collect power-ups!
- Retro graphics and sound effects! (soundtrack coming soon)
- Explore the retro world!
- Challenging game-play for hours of flapping fun!
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $1 USD. You will get access to the following files:
flappy_ship.zip 496 kB


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About DataGenie
DataGenie classifies and addresses CRM data challenges and marketing automation technology data health with detailed visualization. We deep dive to showcase Good, Fair & Bad data status. The real-time enrichment provides you with clean and more reliable enriched data for sales and marketing to generate better ROI and drive revenue.
It helps sales and marketing operations resolve CRM data challenges with Data Health Analysis and Real-time Data Enrichment. Click here to know more.
The Data Visualization tool with real time Enrichment
- CRM Health – DataGenie scrutinizes CRM data quality with detailed visualization of your data which enables you to identify problem areas and keeps you ahead of stale data.
- Data Segmentation – DataGenie segments your Buyer Persona, Job Function and Job Levels for effective campaign strategy
- Data Normalization - Standardize unique field values of your database using our data science technology and data driven technologies
- Duplicate Analysis - Most of times the most engaging leads from your pipeline are actually duplicates. DataGenie analysis identifies duplicate data from your CRM, allowing you to move forward with cleaner data
- Gap Analysis - It analyses the database in your CRM that diverge differently from our data source and offer insights what are the discrepancies. It enables clean data in real time decay in your CRM
- Data Effectiveness – DataGenie enriches your record in real time with new information and fill in the gaps. It enriches your CRM data to your exact specifications to derive better ROI for sales and marketing
Get started with analyzing, cleansing and enrichment of your data
- We provide a complete 360° view into your leads, contacts and accounts which enables CRM health status of your entire database
- A real time cleansing, deduplication, and normalization of your data to maintain an accurate view of your prospects
- Hyper segmentation of your database to match exact specifications to derive more significant, personalized campaigns.
- Drive real time enrichment of your data with new information and fill in missing values.
- Synthesize marketing data from multiple internal and external sources and consolidate this data into a single, comprehensive view of your prospects
How can DataGenie's Quality Quotient help you measure your data quality
Real-time Data Health Analytics and Enrichment for Sales and Marketing CRM database. Improve efficiency and effectiveness of CRM/MAP data


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Remember dialup? It's what I'm using to speak to you now. Broadband switchover to my new home will take 10-14 days and I don't yet have the requisite username or passwords at my new workplace to escape beyond campus. There's nothing worse for a computational biologist than to be offline. It's like being disabled! What's going on in the world?
Incidentally, I'm about to face the challenge of setting up a Linux server inside of a campus-wide VPN. If anyone has been in a similar situation, I'd like your comments as to how you deal with little problems like logging in via ssh from outside.


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6011 Atlanta Hwy Flowery Branch, GA 30542-5302
We proudly serve the entire state of Georgia.
Allsouth Sod Depot, Inc. will help you maintain a gorgeous yard. Let us help with your sod, rocks and mulch.
Save money by learning how to install sod on your own. Get tips on preparation, measuring, and more.
Allsouth Sod Depot, Inc. has been in business for 14 years. Call today for any further questions.


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For anyone who is a student of life and the spectrum of emotions, I suggest the CBS show "Life in Pieces." It is a marvelously crafted set of four short stories (pieces in the musical sense) that describe the triumphs and tragedies of life in the modern age. It never ceases to amaze me how much of life's hubris they can pack into less than thirty minutes (commercial time excluded.) If you haven't given out a shot, try it. You will be generously rewarded.
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Have you ever wondered how a cell phone sends a picture message? I designed an interactive lab unit to help students explore and answer that question. As a graduate student, my concentration was in applications of image processing and communication systems. I was always struck by how simple the concepts in the field are, despite the dense math it takes to fully describe the techniques. My goal was to create a course that exposes students to some of the concepts in play in modern communication systems without requiring high-level mathematics as an entry point to the subject. I had the idea for this course in 2013 when I was hired to teach a one-week, 20-hour, supplemental course to middle school students at the Summer Program in Mathematical Problem Solving. I adapted the original course this fall to use in my high school's Pre-Engineering class.
I'm sharing this project unit in hopes that other teachers might find this project interesting. My code and curriculum materials are below. Teaching this unit effectively will require some basic knowledge of MATLAB. Knowledge of the physics behind acoustic waves and digital images is also a plus. I think this unit can realistically align to standards in a physics, general science, or engineering course. Check out this video to get an overview of the project. Read below for detailed information and resources.
- Curriculum: What's in this project?
- Standards: What are math & science connections?
- Software: How does it work?
- Products: What do students do?
Curriculum: What's in this project?
I've done things slightly different both times I've taught this project unit. In general, the project unit is half traditional content explored through activities, notes, and labs, and the other half is centered around the picture messaging software. Here's a list of topics that are either covered in my existing materials or topics that could be covered in this unit with a bit of extension.
- Communication systems - What's involved in effective communication between machines, humans and devices?
- Binary code - What is binary code? Why is it a good choice for digital representation of information? What are some historical codes that were used for communication purposes?
- Information in digital images - How can we encode information from digital images? How much information is in an image? What is the impact of different parameters (size, colors, resolution) on how much information is in an image?
- Data compression - How can we compress information in images? What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?
- Acoustic wave properties - What are sound waves? What do they look like when analyzed both in the time domain and the frequency domain? What are advantages of different representations of sound?
- Acoustic encoding - What is OFDM and how can we use it to send digital information using sound waves?
- OFDM speed and accuracy - How can we calculate simple metrics to evaluate speed, accuracy, and time to transmit for OFDM systems? What are the tradeoffs between trying to improve one metric over another?
- Receiver challenges - What challenges exist at the receiver? How does the receiver attempt to deal with these challenges? What can we control? What can we not control?
- OFDM detection - How well do different OFDM channels perform in tests? What are factors that interfere with a clear channel to communicate on? How should we set thresholds to decide which bits are 1s and which bits are 0s?
- Probability and error - How should we make sense of variation in test data? What elements of each test should be repeatable? What elements may change with the environment? What causes error in images?
|Picture Messaging Resources and Code: Browse this folder for all of my curriculum materials and source code for the project. Interested in getting this running on your computer? Check out the "Quick Start Guide" in the System Code folder.
Standards: What are math & science connections?
Here's three different situations I can envision where a teacher might integrate this project into their class:
- Middle School Science: This unit could be a great middle school lab unit that focuses on the "Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation" section of the middle school Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Additionally, the focus on testing, data collection, and interpretation of results supports the standards in the "Engineering Design" section of the NGSS.
- High School Algebra 2: This unit could be adapted to be a great platform for learning and studying properties of matrices, probability, and trigonometry. Most of this is abstracted away from students in my current class materials, but this entire unit motivates much of the math contained in the math standards listed below.
- High School Science/Engineering: This unit could be a more rigorous version of the middle school course, offering a deeper focus on the wave physics involved in this system and also more independence and responsibility to design, conduct, and evaluate tests. Students can access this project from a wide range of mathematical backgrounds.
Here's where I see alignment with the current Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) across middle school and high school.
|Middle School Math/Science Standards (CCSSM/NGSS)
|Solve multi-step problems with rational numbers
|Probability and random sampling
|Proportional reasoning and ratios
|Working with small and big numbers; Solving equations
|Properties of waves through mathematical modeling and testing
|Testing; constraints and criteria; data collection and iterative design
|High School Math/Science Standards (CCSSM/NGSS)
|Create and solve equations with real constraints; manipulate equations
|Make sense of parameters in mathematical models; Trigonometric functions
|Conditional probability, statistics, random sampling, and graphing
|Units and conversion; matrix and vector representation and manipulation
|Wave physics; digital transmission and storage of information
|Testing; constraints and criteria; data collection and iterative design
Software: How does it work?
The software included with this project will allow you to work with students to design, test, and run their own picture messaging systems. You'll need a couple things.
First, get a copy of MATLAB of try your hand with one of its open-source siblings (Octave, SciLab, or Sage). My code is written for MATLAB, so you might have to do work to get it compatible with the open source programs. I've found that if you contact a MATLAB sales rep, they are usually very willing to offer a trial for teachers. Also, they practically are giving away site licenses for K-12 schools right now ($500 for a site license where they're usually priced per head). You'll use MATLAB to run the receiver software in this project.
Next, get some type of audio recording software. Audacity is my preferred software and it's free! Audacity has some pretty awesome features. Much of this unit can be taught and demonstrated by simply playing around with audio files in Audacity.
Finally, download the materials above and check out the Quick Start Guide in the "System Code" folder [12/19/2014 - This is not yet complete... coming soon!]. You can run the receiver with some test data I have provided without too much work.
Products: What do students do?
Students engage in learning through participating in their group project and also through individual activies and labs. Here are a few products that students have made in my classes.
The first file shows several project flyers that were created in my high school Pre-Engineering class. These content flyers were a graded part of each group's presentation. The second file is a sample of the final journals that I asked middle school students in the SPMPS program to do at the end of the unit. They journaled each lesson, answering some essential question for the day. These final journals asked students to bring everything together and answer the essential question "how does a cell phone send a picture message?".


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Madison, Wisconsin Ecumenical Ministry
Triangle Community Ministry is an ecumenical
ministry working together with the residents of the Triangle neighborhood
located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin.
Home to approximately 335 people,
the Triangle is the second largest subsidized housing complex in Wisconsin.
Our Mission:
TCM is an ecumenical ministry of
presence in solidarity with the residents of the Triangle Community. The
ministry seeks to make visible the Word by assisting and supporting
residents in their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Employment Opportunity
Triangle Community Ministry Chaplain
The Pastor/Chaplain is responsible for actualizing the mission of the TCM by
being present to and ministering to the spiritual needs of the residents
living in the Triangle neighborhood of public housing in Madison WI. Their
compassionate presence will foster spiritual healing, hope and joy in
Triangle residents, many of whom live with the daily challenges of chronic
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health problems. This is a part
time position based on 24 hours/week.
Click here for a job description.
Applicants should send their resumes to
email@example.com by July 5. Mailing Address: Triangle
Community Ministry, 755 Braxton Place #B101, Madison, WI 53711 (e-mail is
40th Anniversary Celebration
June 30, 2018
Triangle Community Ministry celebrated its 40th Anniversary at the
annual Swing Into Summer BBQ for Triangle residents and friends/supporters
of the ministry. Braving 100+ degree heat, more than 150 people enjoyed
brats, burgers, picnic food, the music of the New Horizons Swing Band, and a
program celebrating TCM's good work. Thanks to all who helped: board
members, resident volunteers, community volunteers, sponsors Oak Bank, Harms
Insurance, Wegner CPA and Thrivent Financial, and other donors including
Bob's Copy Shop, Park St. Pick N Save, Park Street BP and Clasen's Bakery.
Barbara Komoroske, United Way Community Volunteer Award
Barbara Komoroske, far left, was nominated for a United Way Community
Volunteer Award for her many years of service as a board member at Triangle
Community Ministry. She is pictured here after the April 30 banquet honoring
nominees, from left to right, with Ginny Bores, TCM Board President; Deacon
Meg Nielsen, Outreach Development Manager; Rex Link, TCM Board Treasurer;
Jeanette Arthur and Peggy Weber, TCM Board Members.
Triangle Ministry Monday Meals
Triangle Ministry's Weekly Monday Meals are
served in Brittingham Apartments, 755 Braxton Place, in the community dining
room on the first three Mondays of every month from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Thank you for your interest in serving a
Triangle Ministry's Weekly Monday Meal!
Guidelines for Serving Groups:
Click here.
Triangle Monday Meal Calendar 2018:
Click here.
Downtown Kiwanis Club served one of Triangle Ministry's Monday Meals on May
14. TCM is celebrating its 40th anniversary by serving 40 Monday Meals in
2018. Only nine meals slots remain open. To sign up your organization to
serve, see the Guidelines for serving groups and the Monday Meal calendar
a new song
Under the direction of Bea Christensen the newly formed TCM Choir rehearses
every Thursday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Brittingham Community Room. The
choir will perform at special events and memorial services. The choir is
open to all residents. Volunteers may also attend.
Assembling Infant Kits and Hospice Kits
Members of Luther Memorial Church in downtown Madison and residents of the
Triangle teamed up to assemble Infant Kits and Hospice Kits this spring.
Luther Memorial members donated items for the kits during Lent. After Easter
the kit items were brought to the Triangle where residents helped put the
kits together. The kits will be taken to and distributed around the world by
Lutheran World Relief.
Triangle Community Ministry755 Braxton Place, B101, Madison, WI 53715
email@example.com Master:
Triangle Community Ministry
755 Braxton Pace, B101
Madison WI 53715
(608) 257-8517


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The Benefits to your Business
What's one of the big reasons Five Guys is wildly successful? They send mystery shoppers out twice a week to all locations. The brothers who run the operation also constantly visit the restaurants. High standards each and every day ensure the right employees do the right things.
Five Guys knows you need to inspect what you expect.
The number one thing business owners say is, "I just need more customers." Wrong, you need them to return. You can't attract your whole neighborhood to try you, deliver lousy results and expect just getting "more bodies in the door" will work.
Five Guys franchise with over 1,000 locations sees the value in nearly 50,000 shops in a year, shouldn't you? One shop every six months is so random that it reveals little. Why? Because a mystery shop is just a moment in time. You aren't that good if you get 100% and you aren't that bad if you get a 50%. But over time patterns emerge that make managing your customer experience much clearer.
10 Benefits of Mystery Shops:
Monitored and measured service performance
Improves customer retention
Makes employees aware of what is important in
serving customers
Monitors facility conditions
Ensures product/service delivery quality.
Supports promotional programs
Allows for competitive analyses between locations
Identifies training needs and sales opportunities
Ensures positive customer relationships on the front line.
Enforces employee integrity and knowledge.
In order to ensure the best mystery shop feedback, make sure your questions are as detailed as possible. Your shop questions need to be black and white. The employee either did or didn't say, "Good morning, good afternoon or good evening." They either described a product using features (it has) with benefits (to the customer) or they didn't. In addition, you need a narrative so compelling you can actually see the transaction in your store.
Another telling question is, "Would you be willing to drive past a competitor to return to this location based on the service you received today?"
You can try to save money by putting those surveys on your receipts and training your cashiers to "circle the web address and tell them what the prize is" but that's not a true judge of the experience. Those who had a rotten experience will be looking for some compensation and many will quickly checkoff whatever boxes they need to qualify their entry for the prize.
Mystery Shopping Technology
Many companies now utilize geotracking to ensure mystery shoppers are going where they say they're going, and most reports are now submitted via mobile applications, which means they receive shoppers' feedback faster. Inputting information in an app, rather than writing it out or filling out a web form, allows the business owners who hire mystery shoppers to request very specific feedback.
Also, video and audio files of mystery shopper encounters can be stored alongside reports, which further enhance the experience of receiving feedback and gives the business owner an up-close and personal look at customer service.
Fighting online mystery shopper scams
Not all secret shopping companies are the same. Make sure your mystery shoppers are members of the industry association to assure they are reputable. Your mystery shopper should have a keen attention to detail, high standards, and most importantly, experience in the industry.
The online landscape is cluttered with scam mystery shopper companies that promise jobs to inexperienced reviewers, often in exchange for one-time registration fees. To combat these scam services and promote industry training standards for QA specialists, organizations like the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) have formed. The MSPA is a global association dedicated to creating professional standards and ethics throughout the mystery shopping industry, in addition to raising awareness among service providers and business consumers regarding best practices. The MSPA has 450 member companies worldwide and offers business owners free access to a search tool for reputable mystery shopper companies, which can be filtered by need and region.
Bottom line
Online feedback from customers is valuable, but it's not the only way – or even the best way – to find out how your business functions when you're not there. Professional mystery shoppers can provide you with the detailed insight you need to make better process and hiring decisions.


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September 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 – world wide THE STABAT MATER CAN BE FOUND IN ITS ENTIRETY As September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, please recite the Stabat Mater once a day in love & reparation to the Sorrowful and Immacula… Organized by Cathleen | Type: in, reparation
January 7, 2017 to December 24, 2017 – worldwide Father Trincado will be offering all the Masses for the consecration of Russia and for all Crusader Members. January 7, 13 and 24 February 4, 13 and 25 March 4, 13 and 25 April 1, 13 and 22 May 6, 13… Organized by Crusaders of the Immaculate Heart | Type: mass, schedule
September 10, 2017 to September 18, 2017 – world wide Remember, Our Lady of LaSalette, true Mother of Sorrows, the tears which thou did shed for me on Calvary. Be mindful also of the unceasing care which thou does exercise to screen me from th… Organized by Cathleen | Type: in reparation