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Message delivered March 25, 2018, at Crosspoint, North Crestview, to middle and high school students. Message developed from outline from Orange.
Hey guys, I'm Kat, and before I talk to you about important stuff tonight, I want to tell you a few things about me. I don't want to just throw information at you; I want you to know a little bit about who I am, and maybe some of it is relatable to you.
First, the simple stuff. I lived in Evansville, Indiana, for the first 18 years of my life. Evansville is a lot like Crestview, but instead of being an hour from the beach, I was an hour from nothing but corn fields. Also we had a really cool theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana, called Holiday World, and each section of the park was named after a different holiday.
Speaking of holidays, here's another fact about me. My parents got divorced when I was about 10, and once I started to get over the emotions that brings, I realized something very special about children of divorced parents. Guys… we get two of every holiday! It's great! Ok, but honestly, growing up with divorced parents was hard, and it still comes up in my counseling sessions every now and then.
Alright, last fact about me, and I promise we'll get started. Easter in every family looks a little bit different, right? Well in my family, Easter is insane. I don't have much extended family nearby in my hometown, so my parents and siblings and I would pack up on holidays and go over to a friend's house for their family dinners. We went over there for Thanksgiving, 4th of July; you name a holiday, and we were there. But probably the most eventful of the holidays we spent there was Easter, because at their house, they didn't just have an Easter Egg hunt. They had a full contact Easter egg hunt. There would be hundreds of eggs all around the yard, and these eggs didn't just have candy; they had quarters and dollar bills. And all eggs were fair game, even the ones already in someone's basket! Guys, it was intense.
All that is to say, it's Easter time, right? Next week at church we're going to celebrate Easter, and maybe you'll go home and have a full contact Easter egg hunt, or maybe your mom will make you dress up and take pictures with your siblings. I don't know what Easter looks like for you, but when I was in middle school, it was way more about finding those dollar bills in Easter eggs than anything else.
But what's Easter actually about? It's one of those religious holidays that has gotten commercialized over the years. We see the Easter bunny and eggs and candy in stores and it sort of eclipses the real meaning of the holiday.
As it turns out, here's what Easter is about: Jesus died on a cross. God sent his son not only to live with us on earth like we talked about back at Christmastime, but also to die for us, and take on the punishment that we should have received for our sins. Ok, that's a huge concept, but that's not what I want to spend time on today. After Jesus died, he was buried. The put him in a tomb and rolled a big stone in front of the opening and he was dead in there for 3 days.
But guys, get this — then he rose from the dead! And not as a zombie or a ghost. He actually came back to life! And Easter is the day that we celebrate that.
Ok, crazy, I know. Seems totally unbelievable. You're going, Kat, there's no way. But that's what I want to talk about today. And that brings up two really big questions:
Did it really happen?
People don't come back to life, right? That's not a real thing that happens every day. So it's understandable that there would be some disbelief about this fact. There's not any visible proof. Like, no one was wandering around 2,000 years ago to take pictures of the whole thing and upload them to the cloud so we would have proof today. Right? That's not a thing!
Luckily, though, we have eyewitness accounts. We have writings from people who were there, who saw Jesus die on a cross, and then encountered him later when he was alive. Matthew the tax collector wrote about it. Mark the evangelist wrote about it. Luke the doctor wrote about it. And John the fisherman wrote about it. That's four different men with different occupations and different lives, who all wrote about the same thing. Not really a coincidence.
But there are actually non-biblical accounts that the writers of these 4 books are indeed who we think they are, and there are a ton of different copies of these books written in different languages, and there's no way all of these documents could line up their facts if they weren't true.
Again, I could go on about this, but I'll spare you. Basically, a lot of smart people, scholars and historians, have determined that we can believe what these guys have written.
The apostle Paul, who lived around the same time frame, writes this in his letter to the people of Corinth: 'I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. ' 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
That's more than 500 people who saw Jesus after he was very publicly crucified and buried.
Paul wrote a lot of letters to a lot of different churches at the time, and he talked a lot about how important Jesus is in all of them.
Ok, so why does that matter to us? We know it mattered to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, right? And we know it mattered to Paul. But what about us?
Guys, the resurrection means that Jesus is who he says he is. Before he died, he told his disciples that he was going to die, and that he would be back in 3 days. There are so many promises that are made to us in the Bible, and because God followed through on this one, that his son would raise from the dead, we get to believe all of his other promises, too. That's crazy! That's so exciting! All those verses about God having a plan for us and Jesus conquering sin and death and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can believe there's truth in all of those because Jesus raised from the dead!
AND John 3:16 tells us that whoever believes in him — in his promises, in what he says, in the fact that he rose from the dead — will not die, but have eternal life. Guys, just like Jesus rose from the dead, we get a new life when we die too, and all we have to do is believe that Jesus is who he says he is!
Ok, so what's your next step? What does all of this mean for you?
Maybe this is all news to you. Maybe you're like I was at Easter, and you're really just in it for the dollar bills and candy. If that's you, maybe it's time you believe that Jesus is who he says he is. I didn't start believing in him until I was 12, and it was actually on Easter Sunday that I decided to take that step and believe he is who he says he is. I'd heard the stories, but I just didn't get it until then. Guys, Jesus didn't just die for us, he came back to life! And don't take my word for it! Go home and read to book of John in the Bible. Read what these guys tell us about Jesus.
Or maybe you already believe in Jesus, but you need to trust him. Maybe you've been coming to church for a while, and you pray every now and then, but you haven't given Jesus control of your life yet. You're still holding on to your past, your problems, your preferences. Guys, that was me until I was in college. One day I heard a message a lot like this one, and the preacher asked, what part of your life have you not surrendered to Jesus, and I knew right then and there that I needed to give up my own ways and follow him instead. Maybe you need to take a step past believing, and start trusting him to be Lord of your life, to take the lead.
Or maybe you need to live like Jesus. Maybe you believe, and you trust him, but you haven't gone all-in. You're cool with the whole Christianity thing, but you haven't taken the plunge. Maybe your next step is to live a life that screams the truth of God, that shows his love to everyone you encounter.
As we get ready to go to breakout groups, I want you to think about what your next step is. Do you believe that Jesus is who he says he is? Do you trust him to take the lead in your life? Do you live like him?
How would your life be different if you took that next step? What would change?
And then what would it look like if we celebrated Easter all year long? Our God defeated death! That deserves more than just one day a year, right?


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The Broken Window Puts Christian Spin on Teen Drama
- Susan Ellingburg Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- 2013 15 Oct
Author: Christa Kinde
Title: The Broken Window
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Prissie is a fairly typical Christian fourteen-year-old: she goes to school, goes to church, works in the family bakery, and hangs out with angels. Oh wait, that last part may be a little unusual. You see, Prissie can see angels around her—which means she knows the mailman is really an angel, and so is the local park ranger, and so are several other people around town. Among the angels in disguise is Koji, who lives with Prissie's family and appears to everyone else as a normal teen. It's never made clear how he got there or why he's part of Prissie's houseold, which is just one of many reasons why you really do not want to start the Threshold Series with the third installment, The Broken Window.
If you do want to tackle this young adult fantasy series—and there are good reasons why you might—the best place to start is not just book one, but the glossary in the back. Otherwise you're likely to spend much of your reading time as lost as I was trying to keep track of the multitude of characters and what on earth (or heaven) they're up to. (Question: Why do publishers insist on placing helpful information like definitions of unfamiliar terms at the back of the book? Once a reader has puzzled through a story all the way through the end, it's a little late to try and clear up the confusion, don't you think?)
Those issues aside, The Broken Window has a lot to offer, especially for teen readers. Prissie has to deal with a lot of typical teenage issues, like irritating (but maybe secretly OK) boys and mean girls who spread rumors. Friendship, betrayal, and the search for the perfect Christmas gift are all part of the story. There's also one of the sweetest, most natural salvation experiences I've ever seen. I won't spoil the story by naming names, but it's a delight.
The angels themselves are beautiful and come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. I particularly liked the yahavim, little-bitty creatures (kind of Tinkerbell-esque) that don't talk but do make manna, which is apparently the preferred food of angelic beings. The angels' relationships—with each other and human in their care—are a joy. Each has a job to do, and their instant obedience to orders from on high is an example we could all benefit from. So is their confidence that no matter how black things look, their side will win in the end. As they're always telling Prissie, "fear not."
Earlier I called The Broken Window an installment, and that's really what it is. The plot picks up in the middle of the story and comes to more of a stopping place than any kind of resolution. (There's a note on the final page telling us the story concludes in Book 4, so there is an end in sight.) So my recommendation is to start with Book 1 and work your way through. It will be an interesting journey; the peeks into the heavenlies will make you think about how much we don't see about what goes on around us. Those angels are pretty good with advice, too. There are excellent discussion questions included to help drive that advice home, making this series an excellent teen book club or parent/child reading project.
*This Article Published 10/15/2013

subset: commoncrawl


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Social media marketing (SMM) is an industry constantly influx. Just consider some of the changes we've seen this year alone: the introduction of Facebook Timelines, Pinterest taking the internet by storm, revamped LinkedIn and Twitter pages, and the increased demand to quantify social media's ROI (there are even commercials about this now). We're nearly at the halfway point for November, which means 2013 is just around the corner, and based on current trends, here are ten predictions for what 2013 will mean for SMM:
Social Media Marketing Increasingly Becomes an Indispensable Marketing Tool
Many brands already recognize social media as a strategy they can't live without, yet as it melds its way into all aspects of marketing, it's going to become nearly impossible to ignore. At one point, social media was something only relevant to the younger crowd, but now everyone from grandmas to grade schoolers are networking. Thus, businesses can't argue social media doesn't fit their demographic, because it fits virtually all demographics.
With that in mind, how many savvy business owners can continue to ignore a free platform that keeps them in constant contact with their customers? Not to mention, social activity is showing up more and more in search engine results, and brands will recognize how regular social activity can help them grab more spots in search listings.
More Power in the Hands of Consumers
Marketing, in general, has gotten to the point where advertisers are somewhat at the mercy of consumers. In other words, they rely on fans to spread the word about their brand. Advertisements are literally everywhere, and instead of overloading their brains with all the different messages, people have trained themselves to ignore most of the ads. Occasionally something really eye-catching will get someone's attention, but for the most part, friends act as the gatekeepers to advertisements (i.e. if a friend recommends something then it's worth looking at).
This puts a lot of pressure on marketers to deliver something of value so consumers will feel motivated to share it with their friends. As this pressure grows through 2013 and beyond, consumers will reap the rewards as businesses compete to provide greater and greater worth.
Greater Incentives for Recommendations
A side effect of putting more power in the hands of consumers is they will expect more for their participation. The days of simply reminding people to "like" you (or worse, begging) are over. Folks are more conscientious about what they "endorse" and must be really inspired or motivated to hit the like,+1, or retweet button.
So, in addition to having fabulous content, expect to see more emphasis on giveaways, freebies, discounts, contests, and other incentives that entice users to exchange a recommendation for a reward. On the flip side, anticipate seeing a surge of "un-liking" and deselecting "show in newsfeed" for brands that don't deliver.
Social Media Integrates into All Departments
There's virtually no department within a business that can't benefit from social media, and as more companies catch on to this, you'll begin to see SMM shift away from being a single department and evolve into something nearly everyone in the workplace has a hand in.
This means siloed communication systems will fall by the wayside, and everyone from marketers, to sales staff, to customer service representatives will add their expertise to the overall social media campaign. Social media will no longer be thought of as simply a way to socialize with customers but will become a serious business strategy focused on driving communication, engagement, loyalty, and even sales.
Rise in Social Media as Customer Service Tool
Today, many consumers are taking their questions and complaints to a more public forum (social media) as opposed to a customer service hotline or email. This trend will undoubtedly grow as consumers continue to notice how quickly businesses respond to their comments and try to make things "right" (if there's a problem). Again, this gives consumers more power as they know companies are obligated to provide great service since everyone online is "watching."
That said, using social media as a customer service outlet can help businesses too. For instance, if you offer great products and service then having such open communication gives you a chance to show off the good work you've been doing all along. Additionally, it can be a big time saver (cut down on phone calls and emails) since you can respond to multiple customers at the same time.
Social Channels Converge
Instead of competing outright, many social networks are opting to enhance each other and essentially work together. We're already seeing this with Instagram's relationship with Facebook and Twitter, and even the new Myspace allows its users to pull contacts, photos, etc. from their Facebook profile. This movement will undoubtedly grow as most underdog networks aren't up for going head-to-head with social giants, like Facebook.
This is good news for consumers and businesses, as it will make participating in social networks a little bit easier and cut down on cross-channel communication barriers. There will be much less choosing one network over another and greater integration of content and friends.
In addition to converging, each platform will put greater focus on highlighting their particular niche in the social world. For instance, Twitter will identify itself as the "newsroom," YouTube will become a dominant search tool, and Pinterest will be a key shopping resource.
Rise of Visuals
If Pinterest taught us anything in 2012 it's people love images. Although text will always have its place in SMM, to connect with people on a deeper level you have to engage as many of their senses as possible. Pictures and videos make that possible by adding other elements to your pages, such as sight and sound. Any social media manager can tell you posts with graphics and videos get more attention than plain text, and marketers will continue to raise the bar by adding content with better visual interest.
Shift from Paid Ads to Sponsored Content
Recently, Facebook made some changes to its algorithm which lowered the level of exposure non-sponsored content receives. As such, some business pages are seeing as much as a 50% drop in the reach of their posts, and it seems the only remedy is to pay to promote. Obviously, this is a move on Facebook's part to make more money, and unless there's some sort of huge revolt, expect other social networks to follow suit.
Of course, there's always a chance another social network that's more concerned with helping others than it is with monetization will siphon users from Facebook and other sites that become too costly.
Social Media has Greater Influence on SEO
Social content is already appearing more often in search listings and it will only multiply as Google becomes more focused on giving users personalized information. Things like high numbers of social shares and "likes" already boost a page's rank, but because of the combination of social and search (like Google's Search Plus Your World and Google+ Local) user's social connections will have more sway on displayed search results.
More Smartphone Users
You don't need a crystal ball to predict mobile users will expand significantly in 2013. Smartphone use has gone up exponentially since the inception of the device, and nearly every cell phone on the market has internet capabilities.
Of course, going hand-in-hand with mobile devices is social media and sales. For example, on-the-go consumers rely on their devices to give them access to social pages where they read product reviews, ask questions, view a business' fan page, and generally gather information before deciding whether or not to make a purchase. Companies that use mobile-friendly networks will likely see a boost in sales as they make their brand more accessible to consumers.
Also, location-based marketing and other technologies, such as Google Wallet, will continue to drive sales by making it possible for people to find, review, and buy products directly from their devices.
What social media marketing predictions do you have for 2013? Share below.


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O'Dempsey's come good in the second half to secure victory
A dominant second half performance from O'Dempsey's saw them book their place in the quarter-finals of the SFC on Sunday night.
Eddie Kelly's side had looked out of sorts for much of the opening half as they struggled to handle a lively Mountmellick team, but a fortuitous goal before half-time swung the game in their favour.
Mountmellick 'keeper Adam O'Reilly lost possession as he tried ot burst out of the penalty area, and ball fell kindly for Ed Kelly, who supplied the finish. While the teams were still level at half time, the score breathed life into O'Dempsey's and they went on to play some lovely football in the second half.
The decision to move Peter O'Leary out of full-back late in the first half also helped O'Dempsey's, as his pace and direct running was another factor in helping O'Dempsey's to the win here.
When the Killenard men opened up the pitch and started to create space they were a team transformed from the one which laboured for most of the first half, and they will have learnt a lot from the game.
For Mountmellick, their lack of experience told in the end, as the setback of conceding the first goal really knocked their confidence. They showed they can play some nice football though, but they must build on that if they are to progress any further this year.
They can certainly take heart from how they started the game, as they controlled proceedings from the throw in. Darragh Hanlon opened their account with a long range score in the third minute, before he then won a free which Colm Coss pointed.
Mountmellick were on top all over the field during this spell, and Mark Dowling pointed a 45 and Niall Mullen landed a free from distance as they opened up a four point lead.
O'Dempsey's finally opened their account in the ninth minute through Bryan Meredith, and Ed Kelly quickly added another from a tight angle. Mountmellick weren't panicking just yet though, and showed good composure to bounce back and score the next two points, from Karl Donoher and Niall Mullen, to regain their four point lead.
O'Dempsey's introduced Eoin Finlay for the injured Brian Behan and made a number of positional switches too, and slowly they started to take effect. Michael Finlay pointed a free and Conor Meredith added another as they found a bit of form, and then Ed Kelly pounced on O'Reilly's mistake to score their first goal.
That put O'Dempsey's a point up, but a Niall Mullen free sent the teams to the dressing rooms level at 0-7 to 1-4.
Mullen was on target again four minutes into the second half to give Mountmellick the lead, but that would be last time they were ahead. Peter O'Leary responded with a point at the other end, after some last-ditch defending by Mountmellick denied O'Dempsey's a goal.
Barry Kelly and Eoin Finlay pointed within a minute of each other and from then on there was only one team in it, as O'Dempsey's just pulled further ahead.
Brian Nugent added a free before a wonderful move that started with Peter O'Leary catching a ball on their own endline, finished with Eoin Finlay curling over a lovely point at the other end.
Brian Nugent added two more, one from a free, to make it seven points without reply for O'Dempsey's, and they were firmly in control now.
Niall Mullen tapped over a free to break that run, but moments later Míchael Finlay raced clear on goal to fire home O'Dempsey's second goal and secure their place in the last eight.
SCORERS - O'Dempsey's: Míchael Finlay 1-2 (0-1 free), Ed Kelly 1-1, Brian Nugent 0-3 (0-2 frees), Eoin Finlay 0-2, Peter O'Leary, Conor Meredith, Bryan Meredith, Barry Kelly 0-1 each; Mountmellick: Niall Mullen 0-6 (0-5 frees), Colm Coss (free), Mark Dowling (45), Karl Donoher, Darragh Hanlon 0-1 each
O'DEMPSEY'S: Padraig Bannon; Shaun Geoghegan, Peter O'Leary, Richard Whelehan; Tomás Finlay, Robbie Kehoe, JP Kehoe; Brian Behan, Conor Meredith; Bryan Meredith, Stephen O'Leary, Barry Kelly; Míchael Finlay, Ed Kelly, Brian Nugent. Subs: Eoin Finlay for Behan (13 mins - injured), Eoghan O'Hora for JP Kehoe (58 mins), Ciaran Haberlin for Whelehan (60 mins)
MOUNTMELLICK: Adam O'Reilly; Gary Fitzpatrick, Shane Langan, Richard McElwee; Ben Forde, Darren Fitzpatrick, Bernard Rochford; Eoghan George, Colm Coss; Mark Dowling, Niall Mullen, Karl Donoher; Michael Lalor, Darragh Hanlon, Conn Maher. Subs: Ciaran Rochford for Bernard Rochford (40 mins), Mark Grennan for Langan (40 mins), Keith Dunphy for G Fitzpatrick (42 mins).
Referee: Joe Brennan (Crettyard)


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How to buy the best hand blender
Are you looking for the best blender for smoothies? But, finding the right one can be hard and a frustrating task. This is because of the large variety of hand blenders that you can purchase. There are a couple of things that you should consider when you are looking for a hand blender. Things that will ensure that you are going to purchase something that is going to last and that is high quality. These are some tips that you should remember:
Know the different brands
In order to purchase the best blender, you need to make sure that you know as much about the different brands that you can buy. This is the only way that you can know for sure that you aren't just buying any blender, but that you are buying a brand that will last for a long time.
You don't want to have a blender that isn't coming from a great brand that you can trust. Because then you won't have a blender that is going to last you for years. And, you won't be able to blend anything you want for your smoothie.
The features of the hand blender
Different blenders have different features. And, you want to make sure that you are purchasing a blender that has all the features you were looking for.
This is why you should do some research about the different blenders that are known as the best blender for smoothies. You want to have a blender that can do more than just blending food. You should also make sure about the guarantee, the price and the attachments that you are going to get with the blender. This is the only way that you can ensure to purchase something that is giving you value for money. Read more.
The budget that you have for buying the blender
Now that you know as much about the blenders as possible, you need to look at your budget. The more money you have to spend, the better quality you will be able to purchase. Many people are looking for the cheapest possible blender. However, then they are complaining about the quality and the features they've got.
When you are looking for one of the best blenders, you should make sure that you have enough money in your budget to purchase a high-quality blender instead of the cheaper versions. You won't want to look for another blender in just a couple of months again.
Blenders. A large variety that you can choose from. But, there are a couple of things that you should look for, in order to know for sure that you are purchasing the best blender possible. The one mistake that people are making, is to purchase the cheapest possible one. They think that they will be able to save money and still have a great blender that they can use every day. They will soon regret this decision. It is sometimes better to consider buying a more expensive blender and know for sure that you have the best blender for smoothies and for other purposes as well. Click here for more information: https://blenderreviewhub.com/category/best-blenders/
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HBCUs Must Embrace Online Education: Black College Leaders Recognize the Importance of Distance Learning but Remain Hesitant to Take the Online Leap
Smith, Reggie,, III, Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Historically Black colleges and universities have been the cornerstone of education for the African-American community for more than 150 years. These institutions have prepared graduates to compete with the best and brightest minds globally, and I, as a graduate of historically Black Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, stand as a testament to their transformative power. Now is the time for HBCUs to deliver this power via online learning.
With the backing of President Barack Obama, HBCUs have a real opportunity to flourish and contribute to the president's goal of the United States having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. However, many HBCUs find themselves at a crossroads, not only in terms of dwindling enrollment and diminishing endowments but also in the area of technology, especially when it comes to online learning opportunities.
In 2007, the APLU-Sloan National Commission on Online Learning surveyed 42 National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education-member college presidents and chancellors. Of the respondents, slightly more than 84 percent said online education is critical to their long-term strategy. Almost 71 percent see it as a way to attract students from outside the traditional service area, and almost 64 percent tie it to increasing student access. And yet, just 18 percent of the nation's 105 historically Black colleges are online, according to a study from Howard University's Digital Learning Lab. By comparison, 66 percent of the nation's two- and four-year postsecondary institutions offer college-level distance education courses, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The APLU-Sloan report provides some insight into why so many HBCUs aren't making the leap online: Nearly 78 percent of the respondents believe that students need more discipline to succeed in online courses, 70 percent see higher costs to develop online and almost 60 percent find a lack of acceptance of online instruction by faculty.
None of these assumptions should stand in the way. Despite the reluctance on the part of some HBCU leaders to embrace online education, interestingly, the origins of distance learning within the HBCU community can be traced back to the Black College Satellite Network, founded in 1981 by Dr. Mabel P. Phifer and Dr. Walter C. Barwick. Even though the network is no longer around today, it set the stage for HBCUs to provide distance learning globally while providing K-12 programming to students in urban, suburban and rural school districts. …


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Treasurys rallied after a weaker-than-expected manufacturing reportunderscored the outlook for a weaker economy and easier monetary policy.
The Philadelphia Fed's business conditions index read minus 24.0 in February, down from minus 20.9 in January.
The data reinforced the idea that "the economy is in recession," said Eric Green, economist at Countrywide Financial in Calabasas, Calif.
The fourth consecutive decline in an index of future economic activity also provided evidence of a manufacturing recession, said Pierre Ellis, senior economist at Decision Economics in New York. The Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators slipped 0.1 percent in January.
Jane Caron, chief economic strategist at Dwight Asset Management in Burlington, Vt., said the weak Philadelphia Fed reading "encouraged the bid for longer-dated Treasurys and reversed the selling that was seen earlier in the session in the short end of the Treasury curve."
Still, profit-taking on yield curve-steepening trades narrowed the differences between short- and long-term yields.
The difference between 10-year note yields over two-year yields stood at 170 basis points in late morning trade, versus 167 basis points earlier in the day, but down from 175 basis points late Wednesday. The gap had recently stretched to about 190 basis points, the widest since 2004.
The gap between 30- and two-year Treasury yields had narrowed to 246 basis points from 256 late Wednesday.
In late morning trade, the benchmark 10-year note price -- which moves inversely to its yield -- was up 24/32, its yield easing to 3.80 percent from 3.85 percent before the data and 3.89 percent late Wednesday.
Two-year notes rose, erasing early losses. Their yields briefly dipped below 2%.
News that the number of workers applying for jobless aid last week fell to 349,000 from an upwardly revised 358,000 nearly matched economists' expectations and had little market impact.


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In today's exciting post read about the Royal Parks Half Marathon from our gorgeous guest writer and runner Martha McKenzie-Minifie and how the New Zealand Business Women's Network(NZBWN) inspires each other to new levels. Founded by the fantastic and extremely talented Bronwen Horton.
Our special guest blog today is from Martha, we met at a NZBWN event. There is something very special about getting a group of supportive fun loving woman in one place. The New Zealand Business Woman's network does this and so so much more. I have lived in England for the last 8 years but am still very much a kiwi and when is comes to sport well there is only one team I support. The NZBWN Works together to encourage and help each other in many and varied business roles, we utilise our strengths and draw on our unity as strong New Zealand women to develop businesses with the power of the kiwi spirit. New Zealand Business Woman's Network is also excited to announce their running club, find out more here.
Us three ladies Martha, Bronwen and I are all runners and we all agree on one thing your running shoes need to be Asics we all wear different models so pop in to your local Asics store and get your feet measured and tested to get the prefect pair for you.
The Royal Parks Half Marathon:
By Martha McKenzie-Minifie
The highlight of the Royal Parks Half was running back into Hyde Park just before the mile six marker, with hundreds – perhaps thousands – of supporters lining the sides of the course cheering and clapping. A full rainbow of charity flags waving, sun filtering through autumn trees and a samba band playing. It was so uplifting that I got tingles – and, I am sure, picked up the pace spurred on by the crowd.
Royal Parks Half is a 13.1 mile (21km) race that starts and finishes in London's famous Hyde Park. In 2015, the number of runners topped 16,000, so it is a big field. The atmosphere is magic as the event itself raises money for the Royal Parks Foundation and many of the runners also raise money for other charities. I was fortunate enough to get my place through the ballot – my first successful entry, having put my name in for about the last four years.
What I am wearing
Given this is a functional fitness blog, let's look at the important stuff: kit. I am a creature of habit for sportswear and tend to stay loyal when I find something I like. But I am always on the look-out for new favourites.
Starting from the ground and going up from there: I do my road running in Asics (always have)and since 2009 have used the Nimbus model – a neutral shoe that suits my running style. This model was recommended when I had my feet scanned and gait analysed at a flagship Asics store. I am also a devotee of Thorlo running socks, which I have used for at least a decade. Even though they are a bit more expensive than many other socks,they last for years and I have never developed a blister while wearing them.
My shorts are the Lululemon Run: Speed Short. A running club friend recommended these to me about a year ago and I love running in them because of the stretch in the fabric and the comfortable waistband. The length is undeniably short but because they fit well and the fabric moves as you want it to, I feel suitably covered. I only have a plain black pair at the moment but they come in some fabulous prints and colours.
I run in the Shock Absorber Ultimate Run bra but have mixed feelings about it. The support is great (which is most important to me) but it can be very difficult to do up. I have ruined a couple (one after just one use!) by not properly connecting the hook and eyes at the back.
Finally, my red and yellow Ronhill vest is the team kit for Serpentine Running Club. The added bonus with this is the extra cheers from the crowd from people who don't know me but know the club.
Perhaps unusually, I don't run with a watch, though I am tempted to get one to help even out my pacing (more on that to come).
Getting the best out of the Royal Parks Half
Because the Royal Parks Half is such a big event, it is important to:
My race
The Royal Parks was my first distance event since I picked up an injury February last year, so making it to the start line was a bit of a triumph in itself. I had strained my right calf 18 months earlier, a relatively minor injury that subsequently yo-yoed from leg-to-leg and calf-to-Achilles (and back) as I recovered then overcompensated then reinjured.
It meant that I had to be very disciplined in my training – keeping to gradual increases in distance for my long run rather than trying to increase too quickly, too soon. I settled into three runs a week: the long run (stepping up the distance each week), one of speed intervals (again, slowly increasing the number each week) and one chilled-out run of about 5km (3.1 mi), with a day off in between each. My last long run was five days before the race – a bit closer than I would like, but travel intervened – 19km (11.8 mi), close to full race distance. I got a handshake from my physio Tom Dekkers on the Thursday, three days before, so I was good to go.
On the crisp, clear morning, I felt the buzz of racing and took off a bit too quickly. The first half went past famous sights including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Wellington Arch. Conditions were still and dry, as I clocked 10km (6.2mi) in 46:20. Just before the six mile mark there was that spectacular return to Hyde Park, with the remainder, more than half the race, inside Hyde and Kensington Parks. The experience of looping back and around can be a little dizzying, so the mile markers really help keeping track of progress.
I by mile nine, I was feeling the pain of the too-quick start and limited training. My pace dropped (taking 5:27 for the last km) but again the crowd support was a big boost. I crossed the finish line with a big smile in 1:40:26 and have added my glorious, wooden, eco-friendly finisher medal to the collection.
Congratulations to all the Royal Parks 2015 half marathon runners!
Thank you for joining the Once by Alys Team Martha.
We are big fans and look forward to hearing more from you soon.


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We have a school uniform which is practical. Wearing a uniform is compulsory at Brookfield School. Our uniform is supplied by NZ Uniforms and is available from NZ Uniforms located at 94 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga.
Prices (effective 24th January 2017)
Navy Blue Polo Shirt $29.00 1/2 zip Polar Fleece $49.00 Girls Skort $39.00
Boys Cargo Shorts $39.00 Track Pants $39.00 School Hat $15.00
Vest $25.00 Sweatshirt $25.00
Girls have the option of wearing a plain navy blue school skirt or skort.
Navy blue sweatshirt and track pants can be worn in cooler weather. Girls wearing school skirts may wear navy blue or black tights.
In Terms 1 & 4 a navy blue brimmed hat must be worn outside.
We have a special sewing machine that enables us to sew students names on to hats and sweatshirts at a cost of $3 per item. Please see one of our friendly office staff for this service.
NZ Uniforms accepts Cash, Eftpos, Farmers Card, all major Credit Cards and WINZ payments. They also operate a 'Uniform Club' as a way to save for your School Uniform Purchases - ask them for more details.
Store opening hours: 9am to 5pm Weekdays 9am to 1pm Saturdays


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The Great Digital Content Pricing Experiment
With the prevalence of free online content, many readers have become reluctant customers, leaving publishers puzzling over how to monetize their greatest asset. Yet the same technologies (the web, tablet and mobile apps) that have dissolved previous revenue models are opening up new possibilities for publishers to experiment with monetization strategies from soft paywalls to freemium apps. We spoke with a number of such forward-thinking industry players to learn what strategies have worked and what they see as the future of paid digital content.
We start by discussing various approaches to online paywalls, seeking insight from a variety of perspectives, including a magazine editor, a paywall developer, a digital magazine founder and a video advertising service provider. Here's what they're trying out.
Tyler Cabot, Esquire
As the articles editor of Esquire, Tyler Cabot has led a number of the paid content initiatives at the magazine. His team's latest effort is "The Prophet," a long-form article that is available to readers for $1.99.
What led to the creation of "The Prophet" paywall experiment?
I came across TinyPass, who did the paywalls for the "How to Be a Man" stories that Esquire and [publishing nonprofit] Narrative 4 collaborated on. Because I was enjoying what was happening at Narrative 4, I said to [editor-in-chief] David Granger that this would be a pretty interesting way to see if we can put up a paywall at Esquire.
It was a total experiment. We knew that "The Prophet" made sense to sell that way-it took a lot of reporting and money and was a great story-but we had never done anything like this, so we had to ask: how would the paywall function? Would readers question the paywall? How would the story look?
The biggest focus initially was the design. I think you will notice that the story online is a lot cleaner. There are ads at the top but beyond that there are no ads in the story. The idea being, that if you pay for a story on Esquire, it needs to be easy to read, and it had to be that way on iPad, iPhone or online.
Was the experiment a success?
I think it was a loss in terms of revenue from having a paywall versus no paywall, but it was never truly about making a ton of money. It was more about making this experiment to see if it would work and then learn from it so that we could use that information going forward.
What were some lessons you learned?
We learned that when you have a paywall it is harder for people to write about a piece because they have to buy it first. Maybe there needed to be other ways to get a story out there before putting the paywall up so you get more chatter on it.
Also, readers like to see reviews of the story before they buy, like they would buying an ebook. With a paywall there is no natural way to do that. We couldn't do that on the fly-it would have taken a lot of coding-but it may be something we try in the future.
Mark Yackanich, Genesis Media
Mark Yackanich is CEO of Genesis Media, which provides a data-driven paywall service that unlocks content for non-subscribers after they have watched a targeted video ad.
How does your paywall service turn non-subscribers into valuable readers?
If someone is coming to your site through search, they are not coming to you necessarily because you are Smithsonian or Women's Day. They are coming to you because they searched for a term and found an answer on your site. In the case of those individuals, the first time you see them, make them pay for the content by viewing an ad. If they visit a second time, maybe they watch 15 seconds of ads to access five articles. The next time maybe they only receive one article, and maybe on the fourth visit they get a 20% off deal to subscribe to the publication.
What do you think publishers overlook when implementing a paywall?
I think many publishers lose sight of the fact that once you've implemented it you have a completely different set of challenges. We're seeing this with The New York Times. The Times has a group of people dedicated to managing the analytics and audience, managing the paywall and maximizing value, and they're doing it better than anyone else. They've gained new subscribers but it's not simple.
If you are dedicated to implementing a paywall, you will drive subscriptions in the first two months and then plateau. Six months to a year later you will be adding as you lose subscribers. You need to look at customer [engagement] and pricing strategy. Run the analytics and provide customer service while still providing great content. It seems easy but the answer is it is really difficult.
Glenn Fleishman, The Magazine
Glenn Fleishman is the owner and editor-in-chief of The Magazine, a bi-weekly web- and iOS app-based magazine that covers a wide swath of subjects from submarines to the New Deal. It recently softened its paywall to share one free article each issue.
How have you developed your pricing strategy?
We focused entirely on the iOS app to begin with, and that had a single offer: 7-day free trial via the App Store, with a monthly $1.99 subscription price. We later added full access to the web through a single subscription: subscribe in the App Store or via the web and have access to both. More recently, we added a yearly rate ($19.99 per year) after many subscribers asked to not have a monthly charge and wanted to be rewarded for committing that long. We have about a 20:1 ratio of monthly to yearly subscribers now.
How has your paywall changed?
The website originally featured only article previews. Then we switched to a leaky paywall for a few months in which visitors could read one free article a month, and we used a variety of cookies and other tracking to enforce that. However, reports from contributors and others indicated that we would have to do a lot more work to make the leaky portion function. Some people would simply switch browsers or machines, which circumvented the paid subscription.
In July, we swapped over to making a single article of the five or six we run each week free at a fixed URL forever, taking the guesswork out. We also added a list of free articles so those wondering about subscribing could read a number of articles and then see if they wanted more.
Matt Minoff, Selectable Media
Selectable Media provides video advertising services to monetize content and recently worked with Sports Illustrated to grant non-subscribers access to cover stories after choosing a branded experience.
What are the results so far from the SI experiment?
Overall we've seen a very positive trend. These types of things tend to take a little time to habituate the audience. Whenever you introduce a new model, it takes the consumer a few weeks to grasp what's going on and what they're being offered.
How do you think the paywall will evolve in the future?
One of the things we're working on, and publishers are working on this as well, is doing a better job of segmenting consumers and using the data to create a different experience for the user based on who they are and where they are coming from. I think the stage publishers are in right now is a kind of a "dumb" paywall. Everyone sees the same thing. Over time you will be able to use data to better drive conversion rates and better understand who this user is.
The magazine app has drawn conflicting opinions from those in the publishing and tech industries. Some believe magazine apps live in a space overcrowded by other apps and, cut off from the open social stream of the web, suffer from poor discoverability and shareability. Others argue that, when targeted to the correct audience and combined with a greater content strategy, apps can generate healthy revenue for publishers.
We interviewed several industry leaders who are testing out different approaches to the magazine app to find out what works in this ongoing era of experimentation.
Test, Rinse, Repeat
Until recently, The Awl was a web-only publication, featuring free content on politics, news and culture through a New York City lens, and driving revenue through advertisements. Now it is experimenting with a new platform: a weekly subscription-based tablet magazine, The Awl: Weekend Companion, featuring content curated from TheAwl.com.
Co-founder Choire Sicha is comfortable with the ups and downs that come with this kind of experimentation. "We really just dipped our toe into the market early this year," says Sicha, "The revenue in no way competes with our advertising income yet, but it's a nice experiment. It seems like a healthy start and we're interested to see what happens with that subscriber base: if they stick around, if it grows, if we're giving them what they want." Sicha plans to review results of this experiment early next year.
The Weekend Companion is an ideal model for monetizing content, says Sicha "I think a great future model in general is to do a ton of niche publications on the subscription model and see what sticks and what gains a following." For The Awl, at this stage failure is an opportunity to gain data and insight for building a better product.
Apps Can Be Freemium Too
A common criticism of early-era apps is that digital content is needlessly beholden to print-based constraints. Geoff Love, publishing director for the UK-based car magazine evo had this same realization after creating the magazine's first app two years ago. The first iteration catered to evo's traditional readers with what was essentially a digital replica with minimal interactivity and which delivered a finite amount of content in each issue. However, evo's new app, launched this fall, follows a drastically different strategy.
"At first, we focused on our traditional audience," says Love, "which wanted the same conveniently packaged content delivered once a month with a few elements of interactivity. But when we started to ask people with an interest in performance cars who didn't read evo, they were looking for a different experience."
The experience the magazine sought was one more akin to a freemium subscription website than a digital magazine. Access to the entirety of evo's content was a must, which new subscribers proved willing to pay for when the app launched this fall, says Love. "It is too early to say whether we have been successful -- paid subscriptions started in late October -- but with over 25,000 new users of the evo app in the first 2 weeks we are confident this is the way forward."
Apps Are Too Segregated
Although Sicha and Love are finding success with magazine apps, Jon Lund, COO of memit, argues that apps are not sustainable revenue generators. On an app, a magazine is isolated from the powerful sharing mechanisms of the web and is undiscoverable to new readers. What's more, tablet and smartphone users only have the time or interest to regularly engage with a handful of apps.
"For most magazines this will be a dead-end strategy," says Lund, "Even readers who do open your magazine will find the app magazine doesn't give them the relaxing experience the printed versions have. Because the tablet is an internet platform…the reader is tempted by the river of news, beautiful pictures, funny videos, etc."
Lund suggests magazines utilize a web platform so content is more shareable and discoverable, and rely on a combination of ad and freemium revenue streams. "I don't have the perfect formula for creating revenue on the web" says Lund, "But here's my best advice: Advertisement is best for engaged and clearly defined audiences. This goes for print as well as online, for display advertising and for content advertising. Use website analytics to better target these ads to your readers. For the more dedicated readers, offer them access to new material before others, photos in a better quality, and a special engagement with you, your staff and brand. This is what keeps your loyal fans paying."
Many Platforms, One Price
"I think the best model out there is ESPN," says David Renard, founder of mediaIDEAS, a publishing consulting firm. "I think they have 2 million subscribers on ESPN.com, all paying the monthly fee. That subscription gives them access to all the online content, more in-depth content on the apps and the ability to be a part of that community."
Renard emphasizes the multi-platform approach because it caters to readers who don't always read in the same ways, which publishers will find is the majority of their audience. At times, a subscriber may want to read articles quickly on their phone en route to work, while at other times, deep reading is preferred on a tablet or computer. "Those things should not be priced separately," says Renard, "Because if you price each of my interactions on a different medium, then you make me decide again if it is worthwhile to use you. And at some point, I may say no, this is too much."
Different Platforms Require Different Approaches
One price may make multi-platform users happy, but if publishers take the same approach with content they can expect subscriptions to drop, says David Jacobs, CEO and founder of app developer 29th Street Publishing.
From the developer's standpoint, Jacobs thinks each publishing platform should serve a distinct purpose for the user, and that content should reflect that purpose. "If you come from the print world and you want to make a web and tablet offering, then you're going to want it as close to the print product as possible," says Jacobs, "But if you come into this with no philosophical debt or investment to the way these things work, then it is very obvious that there should be one content strategy for the web, a different one for tablet, and a different one for print, and they all should be complimentary to each other."
What publishers need, says Jacobs, is to be flexible. "The point is to meet your audience, wherever they are—and a big part of that is making sure that the right content is at the right place." PE
Related story: 8 Ways to Ensure E-commerce Earns Dollars Without Burning Your Brand
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.


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Our Customers' Reviews
They are nothing short of amazing here at Tuffy. Always treat myself and both my vehicles with respect and true care. Prices are best in town and I do not trust anyone else with my vehicles. Not to mention, Brandon is a personal friend of mine and always makes sure to be professional and STILL give the best care there is to my vehicles!
— Jayme T., Jackson, MI
Took my car in this morning for an oil change. Was very pleased with the professionalism and honesty of the shop and the people who work there. Had other issue with the car and they new exactly what was wrong. Didn't pressure me into fixing the problem...TWO THUMBS UP..
— John S., Jackson, MI
Just had Tuffy install muffler and tail pipe on my 2005 Jeep. They did an excellent job and great service. Really nice and trustworthy people. They did not try to pressure me on anything and I appreciate that very much.
— Leah M., Jackson, MI
I hit a pot hole the other day when my muffler came loose. I took it into Tuffy to have them take a look at it. It was like they told me on the phone, the flange came loose and another part towards the rear had come loose as well. They said it would cost me $75 for repairs and parts and labor. It was just as they said. The service was friendly and fast. Brandon checked it out for me, and the car was done in no time. He also advised me the under the car was in good condition for the year it was (2004). It's nice to know a business in town is just as honest as you would think. I appreciate it Brandon for your honest and friendly help. It drives like a dream.
— Helen B., Jackson, MI
I went to Tuffy in Jackson expecting to wait, and an expensive repair to my young son's car. Tim brought the car inside, checked it out and made a recommendation for the repair that was quick and cost effective. "You only get one chance to make a first impression" Tim and Brandon used their opportunity well. If I need a repair in the future, I know where I'll be going. I also needed a body work estimate, and Tim suggested Bedore's Mid Town Body shop on Francis street! Another great place! Pat at Bedore's had the door's on the car adjusted so they closed and latched properly, and had it all done within a half hour of starting. The nicest surprise......no charge! What a way to win anew customer.
— Barry P., Jackson, MI
I've taken my vehicles to Tuffy for many years and have never had a bad experience. The employees always provide customer service with a smile and they get the work done in a timely manner. I will continue to take my car there. Great job guys.
— Joan W., Jackson, MI
Totally satisfied with my new muffler! I drove in on my lunch hour just to get a price and make an appointment. Instead they took my car right in and had it done in an hour! The guys are so friendly! I will definitely go back to them for future work. Thanks!
— Valerie W., Jackson, MI
As a customer of Dan and his entire staff at Tuffy's, they All are Top Notch and that goes for their work done as well. They go above and beyond to work with a customer on all levels of their services and costs. I can surely attest to that fact. Good service and honesty means a Whole Lot! They won't disappoint!
— Rose Mary T., Jackson, MI
These good people not only give excellent service to the public they also help those in need on a regular basis. And their work is second to none. Thank you...
— thomas e., mulnix, MI
Top notch service!! Dan, Tim, Brandon, & Chris are the consummate professionals. These guys are the real deal! Trustworthy, honest, and up front. I recommend Tuffy to any one who wants and honest and fair deal for their money!
— Rick E., Jackson, MI
Entire Staff 'Top Notch'. No frills, just Honest Prices and Work Well Done. Makes one Feel Good knowing they are here and Truly Care about their customer base.
— Rose Mary T., Jackson, MI
This shop consistently provides polite and timely service. I've learned to trust them explicitly. Found to be an honest shop with fair pricing.
— Dave W., Jackson, MI
Extremely Pleased and Satisfied with Every Aspect of their Work and Charges, 'whenever' they have worked on my car. Every one of them very Professional. You can Trust and be 'Worry Free' when leaving their shop, your vehicle had 'Top Notch' work done! 'Thanks Guys'
— Rose T., Jackson, MI
Treats women respectfully, easy to deal with, great service.
— Annette P., Napoleon, MI
I would highly recommend Tuffy in Jackson. The service is great and they did everything possible to get me back on the road quickly. Only place I will go for service from now on.
— Linda P., Jackson, MI
Ive been a customer for years and always receive excellent service and honest professional advice! I highly recommend their service to anyone.
— Mike S., Jackson, MI
I would highly recommend Tuffy of Jackson. Their customer service is awesome! I have had major and minor service completed several times and they are accommodating and recommend other local businesses for other automotive services.
— Debbie E., Michigan Center, MI
I was in town for the Thanksgiving holiday, and had some trouble with the gas gauge on my car. Dan was wonderful! They looked at the car quickly and efficiently, made sure it was safe to drive and gave me great advice about getting further repairs at home. This is a great garage--excellent, personal, prompt service. Thank you!
— Carol B., Knoxville , TN
I actually had my muffler bracket break off on my lunch hr on my way back to work and they were right down the road, and per a co-workers great testimony as well, I took a chance since I had never been there before, But to my suprise they were able to fix my muffler in a few hrs, and most of all HARD WORKING, Honest, All around good people, I will go there from now on for all of my future repairs.. Thank you again.
— Kim S., Jackson , MI
Thanks for doing a quick, great job...fair and honest to deal with. Will definitely recommend.
— Gary W., Brooklyn, MI
cme - Sep 1, 2009 Thanks Tuffy-men :) Hi I had a problem with a damaged muffler for my generator. Although these folks could not repair it, they did take it apart for me, removing the still-functional exhaust pipe. This while I was treated to a cup of coffee and today's Citizen Patriot to read. Recommended highly.
— Carol E., Jackson, MI
I've been taking my vehicles to Dan and his crew for many years. They've done everything from oil changes, to front end alignments, exhaust work, to a complete axle swap! The service and customer service are top notch. Tuffy of Jackson has earned my repeat business time and time again. I highly recommend them!
— Kevin D., Jackson, MI
I discovered this Tuffy location a little over a year ago and have had friendly service and quality work every time.
— Christopher L., Jackson, MI


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NGCSU Jazz Band
When: 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21
Where: Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega
How much: $12 adults, $6 kids, free for NGSCU students, faculty and staff
More info: 706-864-3759
The North Georgia College & State University Jazz Band is preparing for Monday's performance of current and classic jazz.
The performance is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday at the Holly Theater in Dahlonega.
"The show will be a big band concert with the jazz band. They'll be playing both current sounds as well as classic '40s jazz," said NGCSU Performing Arts Department head Andy David.
"They'll be playing some things like 'Sing, Sing, Sing' and "One O'clock Jump.' It's sort of the soundtrack for World War II," he said.
The band will perform classics from the Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman libraries of the 1940s, alongside new compositions and arrangements from Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and Mongo Santamaria.
The university's jazz combos also will perform. While the jazz band comprises 20 members, the combos are two groups consisting of four players each, according to David.
"It's a great bunch of young people who love jazz and play it well," David said.
"We're all looking forward to getting off campus to play, and having more than just the college community in attendance. We would like to see people from the North Georgia community come out and enjoy a wonderful jazz show," David said.
Tickets for the concert are $12 for adults, $6 for kids and free for NGSCU students, faculty and staff. They can be purchased by visiting the Holly Theater online, by calling the Theater's box office at 706-864-3759 or at the door.


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We are currently looking for a Sound Designer to join our 'Lady's Day' team.
Lady's Day is a comedic short film about a young woman from the early 1840s who on the eve of
her arranged marriage is transported to the present day to watch her true love slip away.
If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact Producer Josephine, email@example.com


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The young prince, Pericles, takes to the high seas on a quest to discover the world. An odyssey adventure of shipwrecks and of love lost and found, this is a journey into adulthood and a celebration of family to enjoy together.
Continuing the successful series of Shakespeare plays for younger audiences, and making its first appearance at the Open Air Theatre since 1939, Pericles is re-imagined for everyone aged six and over.
Event Info:
Reduced price previews: 2 July – 10 July
Final preview performance: 10 July 10:00
Final performance: 23 July
Monday – Friday: 1:30 (gates 1:00)
Saturday: 9:45 (gates 9:15)
Sunday: 10:00 (gates 9:30) & 1:30 (gates 12:30)
Note: No performances on Thursdays. No 1:30 performance on 3 July.


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Rice relapse: Darrell Rice returns to prison
Darrell Rice, convicted of a 1997 attack of a female biker in the Shenandoah National Park and named as a suspect in various other crimes against women, has violated conditions of his release again and has been sent back to prison for nine months, according to the Daily Progress. Rice, pictured here outside the federal courthouse in Charlottesville in 2008, reportedly attempted suicide in July. FILE PHOTO BY JAY KUHLMANN
9 comments
Sha nah nah nah, hey hey hey GOODBYE!!!
Perhaps this time around the "system" will work. Prison is not a friendly place for those who have committed crimes against females.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a democrat to win in Charlottesville.
It is however very important that you claim to be a Democrat.
And even better yet, have a few Democrats swear to it! :)
I guarantee if Rice ran for city council in this freak show town. He would win.
Is he a Democrat ?
That's an awful thing to say tw.
pity he (reportedly) wasnt successful in july's (reported) attempt.
thats an awful thing he did.
How many times do you get to violate the terms of your release before a court will impose the suspended portion of your sentence in full? This has to be the third or fourth time ddr has been back in court for not living up to those agreed on, and in light of his actions, totally reasonable terms. And yet he gets another slap on the wrist. Who actually thinks this nine month stretch is going to rehabilitate him? If he can't control himself when it comes to drug use and pornography, how's he going to react when a female jogger runs by? Having him in jail 30-40% of the time only makes us 30-40% safer.


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This has been a rough week.
Everything has been up in the air, so it has been hard to know just what to do. It was comforting to have Dave and Neti come for a visit. After dinner (unfortunately Miles had to return to work), we sat and read through all of the letters I have received from Gramma over the years. They are a poignant collection of her thoughts. Smatterings of wisdom along with some very sweet, funny ideas - life through her eyes in rural Princeton. She managed to make whatever was around her at the time something to be explored and pondered. We are still waiting to see what any arrangements might be as for a formal rememberance of any kind.
Miles has a full-blown cold. I'm immersed in the tail end of our Church Book. This is a book I volunteered to help with. Some days I don't feel particularly 'Christian' about it, but I must admit, creating it through this difficult time, I think, has kept my mind where it should be. Because we don't have the opportunity to attend any chruch services through the holidays, the words and thoughts in the book have spoken to my heart about what Christmas truly should be. We make a choice to spend the time with our family, rather than attend services at Christmas because our parents, so for us it would be going for ourselves only. We only end up with a few quality days with them in the end so we feel that we should BE JESUS to the family - rather than not be with them to satisfy a desire we have to be around the church family. Though we really miss the church, especially at this most special time, we never regret investing the time into our family. They are wonderful, interesting people and we love them with all our hearts. Mom and Dad make a great effort to build traditions around our tiny family. They are a gift from God to us.
These next few weeks will be filled with all sorts of distractions. Pot-lucks, visits and events but I intend to work very hard in keeping the true meaning in focus. I hope all of you out there have a peace through the next few weeks. Remember, You will never get EVERYTHING done, but if you give it to the Lord, He will enable you to accomplish the things that NEED to get done.


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Hey Gorgeous People, Spring is here and so is my insane obsession for floral prints. Online Shopping is way too relaxing, just sit back and sip your favorite drink and enjoy scrolling to pick your next ensemble. So i recently picked a floral dress (Never fails to impress me! 😛 ) from Jabong which i found is perfect for an evening date. I have been in love with the skater dresses lately as they accentuate the waistline.
Online shopping for women has made lives easier with diversified options available to pick the next ensemble for any occasion. Jabong has lots of cute dresses for every age group and great deals coming up almost every day. You must check out their amazing dresses! So i bought this surreal skater dress during holi sale.
The dress has a round neck and an amazing fall. It's a super comfy dress with right length. I styled this dress with a pair of black pumps. I generally don't feel like accessorizing much with florals as it looks too dolled up. So just wore round full-rim sunglasses and my Espirit watch.
P.S Loving the nature and these beautiful flowers. You may check out the outfit below:
Love Nami ❤


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This powerful new tool, known as the INSIDEOUT II DVD, is changing the way people see the Internet Marketing Industry.
This video is about helping people to see the future of our economy and getting inspired to take action and go inside themselves and spark the Entrepreneur.
This INSIDEOUT II DVD is not about selling and telling, this is about a crystal clear vision of how to use the Carbon Copy PRO, marketing system, and leverage the Internet by learning how to Sell Anything, To Anyone, Anywhere In The World.
If people could grasp the power of the Internet, and know what the future holds, I believe they would drop everything and learn as much as possible right now… What are YOU waiting for?


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BEREA, Ohio -- The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team will hold its annual baseball alumni, friends and parenents weekend on Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28
On Friday, the team will host the alumni and friends golf outing at Pine Hills Golf Club in Hinckley, Ohio. Registration begins that Friday at 10:00 a.m. with a shotgun start an hour later. The $100 registration fee includes a round of golf as well as lunch and a steak dinner. Hole sponsorships and beer cart sponsorships are available for $150 and $500, repsectively. All proceeds from the event benefit the Yellow Jacket baseball team. Please RSVP by September 20.
On Saturday, the team will host a trio of events. At 10:30 a.m., the Alumni Home Run Derby will take place on Fisher Field. Following the homerun derby, the 2020 Yellow Jackets will take on the Alumni in a game slated to begin at 11:15 a.m. The final days event will be a current player/parent and alumni lunch on the field starting at 1:30 p.m.
Click Here for a list of the weekend activities as well a golf outing registration and sponsorship forms.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS, please contact Head Coach Brian Harrison by telephone at 440-826-2182 or email at email@example.com


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Carmen Mantay has been hired as a broker focused on sales and leasing of medical properties, professional office buildings, land and international investments. Carmen will also serve as International Director for the firm.
Carmen was born and raised in Chile but has been a resident of Jacksonville for the past 22 years. She has a degree in Building Construction Management from the University of North Florida and has been a Florida licensed commercial real estate broker for the past seven years with Coldwell Banker Commercial. Carmen is a Board Member of the City of Jacksonville Mayor's Hispanic American Advisory Board. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
"We truly believe Carmen's unique background and experience has all been in preparation for the role she will serve here at NAI Hallmark Partners," said Alex Coley, Co-founder and Principal at NAI Hallmark Partners. "Carmen's high integrity, service minded approach is a perfect cultural match for our firm and her sincere enthusiasm for Jacksonville's international opportunities is a unique asset for our firm."
In her first month with NAI Hallmark Partners, Carmen will be forging strong inroads to Latin America business opportunities. These visits include a peer-sharing trip to the NAI Miami office, attending the NAI Global Latin America regional conference in Nassau, Bahamas and joining the Florida Governor's delegation on a trade mission to Carmen's birthplace Chile. Carmen will also continue to develop her established expertise in real estate training of Hispanic speaking real estate professionals.


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Post doc in epidemiology, Michael O'Rorke
- Scheme: Population Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Awarding committee: Population Research Committee
- Career level: Post doc
- Research area: Cancer epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology
- Year awarded: 2014
- Funding length: 3 years
- Location: Queen's University, Belfast
Career background
After a first degree in physiotherapy from the University of Ulster, Michael did a PhD in the School of Medicine at Queen's University Belfast. He's remained there as a postdoc, and was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2014 from our Population Research Committee, to work on a project exploring the association of beta adrenergic receptor expression and beta-blocker use with breast cancer survival and prognosis.
The application process
How do you decide which grants to apply for?
I target grants for which I'm eligible and which provide the funding/training I need to enhance my knowledge.
What are the most time-consuming steps in submitting a grant?
Developing a concise proposal, identifying potential collaborators and obtaining their approval on the electronic submission.
How do you deal with complex things, like costings and ethical approval?
Seek ethical approval as soon as you know you will receive funding, then negotiate a start date for the award. It's important that you agree your costings for contracted work with collaborators etc. so that you have no surprises later on.
The research
What makes a successful grant?
The best proposals are those that meet the funders objectives, are well thought out, offer value for money, are novel/different, come from a capable/enthusiastic applicant and/or research group and are realistic in their time frame and scale of work.
Getting feedback from colleagues on your research proposal
Proposals are always circulated amongst colleagues to get their input/advice before submission.
Advice and common pitfalls
Try and integrate a training component/visiting fellowship into the grant, particularly if you're interested in obtaining international experience.
Comments from decision panels and reviewers
I've not used my feedback for another grant, but found the five reviewers comments very useful for preparing potential questions/answers for the CRUK interview.
Michael's advice for new applicants
"Try and integrate a training component/visiting fellowship into the grant, particularly if you're interested in obtaining international experience."


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I wish I knew what I knew now when I was 16.
Hello! Hello! Hello!
The excitement that is within me is just a bit too much. You know that feeling you used to get on Christmas day when you woke up to presents? Well, this is just like that, but I know it won't end.
I have always been open to talking about the 'Taboo' topics. I never saw the need of hiding them or keeping them behind closed doors because it affects everybody. Especially in an African context 'The Birds & The Bees' is a no go zone and then people get shocked when 12 year olds get pregnant, what do you expect if you don't educate us?
To kick off this conversation, I just wanted to explain what sex is and what it means to me. I have always seen it as a beautiful thing when done right and I am just here as a Psychologist with sexual experience sharing it with you. Sex should no longer be a taboo topic.
Grab your favourite drink, even though its a Monday morning, it should be 5pm somewhere, and let's have a chat.
I hope you enjoyed the first episode.
If you have any questions do let me know and if you are shy to post it publicly, feel free to message me privately.


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"I cannot seem to get myself to do things. I trudge along. If its the weekend, I slump in front of TV and do nothing all day. Even at work, all I seem to do is stare at my pc screen. My work is suffering as a result too. I cannot think and I feel sad all the time. I just want to crawl under the duvet and stay there."
It sounds like you might be suffering from depression. If you have been feeling like this for a while, I would recommend talking to your GP or going to a counsellor or psychologist. Depression can take over your life.
If it is over a day or two only, you might be suffering from PMT. Eat some chocolates and curly up with a good book. A nice warm bath helps too.
Whatever you do, try to avoid alcohol or you could feel worse.