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Young Jeezy - The Motto (Remix) (Ft. Freddie Gibbs) Lyrics and Video
Artist Freddie Gibbs, Young Jeezy
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'The Motto (Remix)' Lyrics - Young Jeezy (Ft. Freddie Gibbs)
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Here is The Motto (Remix) Lyrics by Young Jeezy Ft. Freddie Gibbs@
back it on up, baby girl, get low
i'mma double your money, better buy you some blow
when the choppers come out, the fuck niggas get low
ask them who they riding with, them real niggas say, "snow"
that's how you feeling, that's how you feeling, that's how you feeling
album just dropped, i should do it by the millions
told my downstairs neighbor i'm bout to buy the whole building
like club amnesia, i'll remove the whole ceiling
while your bitch looking over here like she want something
my partner's so high, looking like he on something
johnson & johnson, got the kitchen full of powder
we ain't playing around here, we take choppers in the shower
one hand on the trigger, other hand on the soap
big gold medallion, call it swag on a rope
shooters on call all day like certs
we at you pussy niggas all day like virgins
k.o.d., we heard you ran out ones
missed the whole club, must have ran out of funds
twos on deck, the ones in the air
blonde laced fronts, ones all in the air
snowing gears, popping bottles like them niggas won something
young going in, ain't even won something
the bitch you got with you so fine, i might tip her
say she work at macy's, got a body like a stripper, what's up?
say she want a photo, you already know though
you only live once, that's the motto, nigga, yolo
we bout it every day, every day, every day
like we sitting on the bench, nigga, we don't really play
every day, every day, fuck what anybody say
can't see em cause the money in the way, real nigga what's up?
gangster gibbs, ho, i'm never scared
flip seven things, go and get a seven series
shorty hit me with that neck when it's necessary
ciroc-ed out, coconut, she on the red berry
panamera photo, but you already know though
couple hundred niggas, corporate thuggin' be the logo
got my chopper from a cuban and my 'caine from a cholo
me and young be the rap game tony and manolo
what's up? nino and g money
i blood with them b's and c's from d-money
a nigga used to fuck with that barely-could-eat money
now i got that massu missa, nobu, phillipe money,what's up?
what you know about that pussy on the peringnon
thug nigga, keep the kush up in his carry-on
birds for the thirty-three, i got my larry on
where the thong at? freddie home; real nigga, what's up?
say she want a photo, you already know though
you only live once, that's the motto, nigga, yolo
we bout it every day, every day, every day
like we sitting on the bench, nigga, we don't really play
can't see em cause the money in the way, real nigga what's up?
This image may be subject to copyright.


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Chicken bento idea
Do you remember creamy red pepper chicken recipe? :-) You can as well use it in bento, which is a great idea when you fancy a heavier, more substantial meal! Here are some pictures I've taken while doing it:
December 15, 2015 by Paul
Hot pork curry
Apart from rice, the other thing that I always buy at the Asian Supermarket is the curry paste. This one is called "Tasty Curry" and is "very hot". It comes also as "medium hot" or "light", but the spicy one is my favorite! :-)
November 20, 2015 by Paul

subset: commoncrawl


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Posts filed under 'andromeda'
WaTunes Releases 1st Annual Dance Compilation on iTunes!
Hey guys, here at WaTunes we always love to bring opportunities to all of our customers. This is why we've decided to release our first compilation project. This project consist of dance music from internationals including DJ Warp, Fusio, and Cristian Paduraru. This compilation also includes songs from yours truly! ^_^
You can pick up your copy today by click on the iTunes link below. We thank the following labels for their courtesy to enable this compilation to be a great success!
– Andromeda Recordings
– DJ Friendly Records
– Dangerbox Recordings
– Z-ONE Records
– DarkGlobe Records
– Elektrax Recordings
So what are you waiting for? Come support our new compilation as we begin to provide more opportunities for submissions for future compilation projects 🙂


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September 1st.......That means this is your last month to be FIVE and SIX is just weeks away my sweet girl! You are head over heels in LOVE with kindergarten and you are killing it! You have started reading and doing addition and you are dying to have homework,lol! You have gotten in trouble a few times because that little mouth of yours likes to run 24/7!
Peace Out 1st Grade!
1 year ago


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Trent Reznor
Blops 2 video goes behind-the-scenes with Trent Reznor
Activision has released a behind-the-scenes video for Black Ops II featuring David Goyer, Trent Reznor and Treyarch.
Trent Reznor headlines
Trent Reznor composing theme music for Black Ops II
Trent Reznor is the composer being the theme music for Black Ops II, according to USA Today. "I have always looked to that franchise as the cutting edge of what seemingly unlimited budgets and full-on not cutting any corners can do in the current day and age," said the Nine Inch Nails frontman. "There is […]
Baldurs Gate: Enhanced Edition not coming to Wii U, says Beamdog boss
Beamdog co-founder Trent Oster has said there won't be a Wii U version of Baldurs Gate: Enhanced Edition, citing past experiences as the reason why.
Thursday Shorts evening edition: Deus Ex music, Crytek SDK, Donations, Sims Royal Wedding fun, more
Some things in life are hard to explain. This post isn't one of them. It's just more shorts. .
Trent Reznor "unlikely" to score music for DOOM 4
Hoping for some Nine Inch Nails-esque music when playing DOOM 4 when it releases this side of the moon? Don't bet on it, champ.
Nine Inch Nails frontman tried to get game published
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has participated in Digg's recent Dialogg feature, revealing details about a game he pitched to publishers.Due to lack of interest, the game never saw the light of day and the response from publishers was "disheartening"."Well, it costs so much to make a game, we're really only interested in sequels […]
Trent Reznor latest
Baldurs Gate: Enhanced Edition not coming to Wii U, says Beamdog boss
Thursday Shorts evening edition: Deus Ex music, Crytek SDK, Donations, Sims Royal Wedding fun, more


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Several people have asked recently how I arrived in San Diego after being born and raised in Texas. It's not a pleasant story but it does have a happy ending, and since I've published it before at other blogging sites, no reason why I should not share with my readership here at WordPress.
On April 15, 1993, I was standing in line at the bank to transfer money from savings to checking so I could write the IRS a big check, probably more than Mitt Romney has ever paid [that's an editorial comment for the political season].
The line was long, and I stood there thinking about the world that might exist outside the borders of the "Great Nation of Texas."
Later that day, I disappeared. I had packed the 1989 Mustang GT with 100 CDs — Beatles, Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Doobie Brothers, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and other groups that I could sing to while rolling on down the highway — and told only one person what I was doing.
Midlife crisis had arrived….
Actually, I had come to the conclusion that I didn't want to live in this world anymore. I was going to drive north to Canada and end it all; too patriotic to do it in the United States. Let Canada deal with a dead body.
I also took $8,000 in cash with me. I didn't want to use credit cards because I didn't want to be tracked, like they do on TV.
When I got to Fargo, North Dakota, I still had $7,800 left. Wow! Maybe I should do a little touring and use up all that cash before offing myself….
I took Interstates 94 and 90 west to Seattle. Still had $7,400 left. Off to Vancouver, thinking that I would spend everything in Canada and then….
As I was sitting in Vancouver's Stanley Park that first morning watching the early morning joggers, one of the male joggers sat down by me and actually asked me how I was doing. I decided to answer honestly. He was shocked. A few minutes later, his jogging buddy caught up with him and sat down too.
The two of them were not only jogging together, but they were a gay couple who lived in San Diego, were originally from Houston, and were vacationing in Vancouver to celebrate their fifth anniversary together. They convinced me to hang out with them for three or four days in Vancouver and explore the gay culture there. After four days, they had convinced me that I could live as an openly gay man in virtually any big city on the West Coast. Off I went….
I got back to Seattle and it was raining. I don't like the rain. If it's going to rain where I live, let it rain while I'm asleep or on vacation elsewhere. Remember that I grew up in Texas with daily afternoon thunderstorms and fall hurricanes. I left for Portland….
The three-hour drive from Seattle to Portland was done in the rain, and it continued raining in Portland. Not for me….
Next big city: Sacramento. Just a smaller version of Houston. Not appealing, especially since 30 miles west was the University of California Davis. UC Davis is the Aggies. My alma mater, Texas A&M University (where yesterday's shooting was and from which Texas Gov. Rick Perry also graduated), is also the Aggies. There was just too much similarity between the Sacramento-Davis and the Houston-College Station areas for me. It was exactly what I was trying to escape. Travel on….
I spent a couple of days in the San Francisco Bay Area and simply did not like it. Everything was a little too weird for a conservative Republican Texan.
My next stop was in Bakersfield, mainly to see an old friend from Texas A&M. He told me what to expect so I was sure I wouldn't be staying, and I didn't.
I had relatives in Los Angeles, and I had been there a couple of times. It was a possibility. I hit Interstate 5 intent on spending a couple of days in Los Angeles. I drove, and drove, and drove. When I finally decided to pull over to see exactly where I was, turns out I was in Oceanside, way past Los Angeles. I figured that was L.A.'s way of saying that it didn't want me.
Last stop: San Diego. If I couldn't find a life in San Diego, I'd simply go across the border to Tijuana and let the Mexican authorities deal with a dead body.
Eleven months earlier I had visited San Diego on my way to visit a friend/former employee/ former roommate who was graduating from the Army's Defense Language Institute in Monterey. I remember thinking then, as I was standing at Torrey Pines Glider Port looking at Blacks Beach 300 feet below, that I would eventually retire to San Diego. Back in the present, I thought it was a real possibility to create a life in San Diego.
The first place I went was to the San Diego's Center for Social Services. It was actually San Diego's Lesbian & Gay Men's Community Center, but Lesbian and Gay were socially stigmatic labels back then [and in some areas of the country, still are]. I started my coming out process at the "Coming Out Support Group" at the Center. I retired for 11 months while working on getting comfortable with myself, with who I am as a person.
Finally I put myself back in the work force as a temp working Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I needed the long weekends to play at the beaches. My first temp job was with a guy creating a company and needing help with all the paper work that is involved in doing that. Unfortunately, he had a mouth on him that would have put my granddad to shame (see I wanted to follow you but, uh, no). I only worked there one day.
My next job was with a telecommunications company building out cell sites to make our cell phones work, first in San Diego, then in Detroit, beginning in April 1994. While I was in Detroit, the company paid me a $1,500 monthly living allowance, an extremely nice salary, car rental, and a trip home to San Diego each month. On my first trip home in May, I met Jim. We've been together ever since, and here I am today.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you're looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that's me!


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We found this great article explaining a little bit more of what we do here as your Chiropractor and Physical Therapist.
We pride ourselves on excellent patient care and all around well being. Please read and call us with any questions you may have!
Physical Therapist, Chiropractor, or Physician: What's the Difference?


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I am 34 years old today. This seems exceedingly old. 35 is completely unacceptable, so I may or may not be posting next year. ;-)
Today has been an AMAZING birthday - so good, in fact, that I doubt it can easily be topped. Today, Prince William and Catherine Middleton decided to get married in honor of my birthday. It was extremely nice of them to consider me on their special day. :-) This wedding was probably a bit too important to me, but nonetheless, it has ranked very high on my list of favorite moments. The reason goes back a long time...30 years, as a matter of fact. One of my first memories is of watching Princess Diana marry Prince Charles. I don't remember how my mama managed to wake me up at 4am, but knowing me, I was probably still awake from the night before. My daddy had a big brown recliner and I can recall perfectly sitting in my mother's lap in that chair when Diana got out of the carriage. I can see the big television in front of us - the kind that looked like a piece of furniture with the wood surround. It was a giant moment for my little 4 year old self. I remember thinking that it was the most unbelievable thing that I had ever seen...a real life princess getting married to her real life prince in all the pomp and circumstance that a little girl could fathom. It made such a huge impact on me and it probably had a lot to do with sharing the moment with my mama in the wee hours of the morning. My sisters would have been only about 5 months old at the time, which would explain why my mom was awake! It was our moment for just the two of us and for some reason, seeing Princess Diana step out of the carriage in a sea of bows stayed with me my whole life. My love of all things British started then and to this day, most of the novels I read take place in the UK. I can get lost in a history book about London. SO, when I found out that Diana's son would get married on my birthday this year, I thought it was clearly meant to be. I have been so excited this week that I could barely contain myself!
I set the DVR to record about 900 hours of programming and then set my alarm this morning for 5:00am. My theory was that I wanted to watch the whole wedding BEFORE watching all the recaps that would inevitably be all over the news all day today. I wanted to really watch it. Once Colin wakes up, he keeps my attention for literally the whole day. I would never be able to watch anything important on television while taking care of him at the same time. Therefore, my decision was easy...I had to get up early to watch the ceremony before the kiddo woke up. Alas, the difference of having a boy vs. a girl. I knew that Colin would not love to share a royal wedding memory with me the way that I did with my mom. ;-) The alarm went off at 5am and I went straight in to make a cup of coffee, grab a blueberry muffin and get in position. I started watching when it was still pitch dark outside, but it worked out perfectly. I got to see the most beautiful ceremony in its entirety and Colin woke up to join me right as the newlyweds were kissing on the balcony in real time. It was SO wonderful!!! Colin padded his way into my bedroom at about 7:30am this morning wearing his car pajamas and carrying his white bear. He looked at the television with his sleepy baby eyes and asked me what I was watching. I explained to him that a prince got married in England. He looked at the screen again and immediately asked me, as only Colin could, "Why are they wearing garbage can lids on their heads?". I laughed out loud and snatched him into bed with me. It was the most perfect start to a birthday in history...at least for me. I headed into the kitchen from there and made toast and bacon for breakfast and indulged in a 3rd cup of coffee. I called my mom and we talked about every last tidbit of the ceremony while I ate. Luckily, Jer went to work to later this afternoon, so he was able to watch Colin while I showered and dressed leisurely. Then I took the kiddo with me to Central Market, where we met a big group of friends for lunch on the patio. We even shared a couple of bottles of wines! Awesome! After lunch, we headed inside the market to pick up stuff for dinner tonight. I stocked up on ingredients for caprese salad (one of our family favs) and a big loaf of rustic bread. Tonight, I plan to lay around with my little family and feast on all things covered in EVOO and balsamic vinegar. I should also mention that grocery shopping with Colin is much more enjoyable after a glass of wine. HA!!
I know that I am a little too nostalgic at times and that the silliest things mean more to me than most people, but at 34 years old, I have come to accept this fact. I am a sappy old fool and proud of it! Wait...change that to "sappy super hot young fool". That sounds way better.
Friday, April 29, 2011
A Royal Birthday
Posted by Chalna at 3:34 PM 2 comments
Labels: birthday
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Lee: Great – McGee: Lights Out
Notes from the Philadelphia-Tampa Bay exhibition in Clearwater: The Rays' dance card wasn't exactly full – no Longoria, Ramirez, Damon, not even Ben Zobrist. But Cliff Lee didn't break a sweat over four innings this afternoon in Cleveland: no walks, two singles, five strikeouts (including two in his last inning)…the Rays are trying to manage expectations but if you had to name the guy who'd lead them in Saves this year, you could do worse than predicting rookie Jake McGee. McGee not only struck out Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez in consecutive at bats in the 5th, but Victorino was so fooled that he lost the bat and it helicoptered fast enough that in the on-deck circle, Ibanez hit the deck and the bat continued twenty rows into the crowd…as mentioned Manny Ramirez wasn't in the house but the Rays are impressed with his apparent revitalization. It's as if somebody got a wake-up call that his career will not last forever and he wants "Manny being Manny" to sound a little more positive than it has the past three seasons…one of the Phillies' two biggest problems was underscored in the second and third innings. They collected six hits and got a wild pick-off throw into centerfield, but scored only three runs, and two of those were on solo homers by Howard and Schneider…To the left -this is not much of a picture of Rays' catcher Nevin Ashley, back in camp for a second straight year and 0-for-2 in relief of Kelly Shoppach in his bid to make it as the back-up receiver – but that's not the point. The point is that he married a woman named Ashley, and she decided to follow tradition and identify herself by her husband's name. She is Ashley Ashley…An image that will disturb Cubs' fans, even though he did start with the Phillies. They had their new AAA manager coach third base today. Fella named Ryne Sandberg:
And greetings from Florida from one of baseball's best minds, and best guys, and somebody who was fortunate enough to visit with him:
3 Comments
Neato! Keep em' coming lad.
Classic Keith Olberman doing what he does best: baseball. A nice departure from the psuedo-suave clean-shaven Keith Olberman found in the world of political punditry. It would be nice to see him on ESPN or in some other sports broadcasting position again.
More like political idiocy.


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Yankees-Red Sox 4: Lester Leaps Out
Nothing broken. Jon Lester left tonights game here with nothing worse than a contusion of the right quad – x-rays at Yankee Stadium negative and hes day-to-day (were all day-…). After Lester had been levelled by Melky Cabreras third-inning line stove – as Sox radio play-by-play man Joe Castiglione had put it in the press box hallway half an inning earlier – our season hangs in the balance in the trainers room.
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Glad it's not broken!
Keith: You have reinforced my sense that there's a correlation between baseball and jazz fan-dom for those of us a little more senior. Lester Leaps Out from Lester Leaps In (see Lester Young ) . Great! Jack Wills (Phlounderin' Phillie Phan)


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What losing a leg in an explosion taught me (Column)
BARCELONA, Spain -- In the first horrific moments after the Boston bombing, with smoke still billowing around the wounded, I know what is going through the minds of the maimed victims.
They are at once conscious and unconscious. They want to scream, but they cannot scream. They want to wake up from a nightmare, but they are awake.
Overcome with a sense of deja vu, I feel my past converge with the future of those wounded spectators.
I lost my leg in a bomb blast. I know the violent shock of a day that begins well and ends with an amputation, the fog of drugs and surgery, the months of painful rehabilitation.
I know the suffering that lies ahead for these people in Boston. And I know the possibilities, too.
For those who lost a limb or more in the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2013, was the day their world changed forever.
Mine changed on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. I had been embedded with the U.S. military for two weeks in southern Afghanistan as a photographer for The Associated Press, and this was to have been my last patrol before going home. It had been a long day in the open desert of Kandahar province and I was whipped, barely awake, in fact, when our eight-wheel armored Stryker vehicle hit a roadside bomb and flipped over, knocking me unconscious.
When I came to, I tried to get up but couldn't; my left foot was hanging by a few tendons. I felt brutal pain, like an electric shock, that began in my leg and swept through the rest of my body. Lying inside the vehicle, I thought of my wife, and willed myself to stay alive.
Eventually, a soldier found me and tied on a tourniquet.
In my years as a photojournalist, I'd taken many pictures of wounded soldiers and victims of suicide bombers. I had covered medical evacuations from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories, and found it odd to suddenly be among those pulled from an inferno and carried on a stretcher -- along with two other soldiers and AP Television News videographer Andi Jatmiko.
They loaded me onto a helicopter next to a soldier who had lost both of his legs and we locked hands as the chopper took off for the provincial capital of Kandahar. The solidarity in that moment is the last thing I remember before waking up in a hospital tent to find my left leg had been amputated below the knee. There was no option to save it, doctors told me. Bone and tissue were destroyed by shrapnel. But fortunately my knee was intact, and that would make a substantial difference in my future mobility, they explained.
That offered little comfort as I lay alone and exhausted in a hospital bed in Afghanistan. I had so many questions about life with just one leg but I preferred sleep to thinking about my uncertain future.
I was a photographer documenting soldiers at war and everyday life for civilians under fire. But before violence grabs you, does anyone really believe he will become one of the dead or wounded? No. Nothing had happened to me on dozens of previous patrols with the military through hostile lands. And while I suspected I was playing a kind of Russian roulette, I also told myself that car accidents happen every day and most people don't stop driving because of that.
For months after the explosion I was tortured by so many "what ifs." What if I had stayed back to pack rather than going on patrol that day? What if I had sat a little bit to the right, would the shrapnel have missed my leg? Or if I had sat to the left, would I have lost both legs like the soldier next to me?
I imagine those in Boston whose bodies were torn up by nails or the blasts have similar thoughts: Why didn't I stand at mile 25, go for water, leave earlier, stay home? I would like to tell them that these questions fade as one begins to accept the reality of losing a limb.
The morphine they gave me to dim the pain of my amputation sapped my energy. I wanted off it so I could start my recuperation with all my strength and walk as soon as possible. I am a Spanish citizen, not American, and was lucky that the AP was able to work bureaucratic miracles to get me admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, one of the world's best rehab hospitals.
I was 40 years old, agile and in good shape from exercise and work as a photographer in rough terrain. I even used to jog in the Afghan capital of Kabul when I lived there. So just a month after the explosion, I threw myself into rehab. Although my wounds were still fresh, I put on my first prosthesis and took my first steps. I was determined.
And I was completely unprepared for the difficulty.
It took tremendous strength to learn to walk again. I needed practice, but practice rubbed my wounds raw. Exercise was essential and exercise produced blisters where the prosthesis was joined to my leg -- more hot pain.
I was frustrated and felt useless on the days I couldn't exercise, waiting for the blisters to drain and heal. Then I would put the prosthesis back on and push myself to my limit until the skin broke again.
In those first days, I could only take a few steps. In the first weeks, it took me an hour to walk a mile. I worked out on a bicycle, on a treadmill and with weights. And month by month, I increased my speed so that finally I could walk the 2 1/2 miles from my rented home to the hospital in 25 minutes.
If those maimed in Boston were to ask me what was harder, the physical or psychological recovery, I would say the two go hand-in-hand.
At first I thought it was enough to recover physically, and that learning to walk and work again would naturally produce a psychological recovery.
I was wrong.
The strength of the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed helped me a great deal. Even though many of their injuries were so much worse than mine, I never heard them complain about pain or withdraw in self-pity.
I lost only the lower half of my left leg and came to understand that important distinction alongside soldiers who had lost a leg up to the hip, both legs, or legs and arms. We shared our daily experiences and hardships, often with humor. When a soldier who had lost both arms and legs teasingly called me "Paper Cut" for my lesser wounds, I called him "Trunk" and we laughed.
The soldiers, and some of my Spanish friends with amputations, also taught me the difference between losing a leg and missing a leg. The missing leg can be replaced with a prosthetic, but a loss is permanent. If you don't confront the feelings of loss -- the fact that your world has changed -- you never fully recover from the amputation.
The support of my family and friends was crucial. My relationship with my wife after the accident changed to a deeper love. I could see that the patients who didn't have as many visitors, as much love and reassurance around them, did not respond to physical therapy as quickly.
And then there was my camera.
The very instrument that had gotten me into this mess, if you will, became my inspiration and part of my salvation. I carried it with me all the time to photograph the recovery of my hospital mates and to test my own. It took a lot of practice to be able to look through the lens and maintain my balance while walking, as I had done before the amputation.
With a prosthetic, you have to watch for bumps and dips in your path because you have no feeling in your false foot. If you take a wrong step, it is easy to fall, and I fell many times before learning to compensate. Running is much harder, as the body struggles to adjust to a prosthetic leg. When I was 15, I ran a marathon. Now, I am running three miles once a week and I am exhausted. My goal is to run again and recapture the runner's high, the feeling of strength that I used to experience.
The new amputees in Boston will discover, as I did, that there is a whole world of prosthetics to choose from. Who would know if you didn't need one? There are feet made for running, walking, climbing, cycling, even for swimming and golfing. But it turns out there's no such thing as an all-terrain prosthesis, so in the end, I accumulated several.
I normally wear a versatile, durable foot, but I also carry a couple of extras in a backpack, one spare foot and a special one for running. I even have one for roller skating, which, after multiple clashes with trees, parked cars and the pavement, is now one of my favorite sports.
In the same way I have always tended to my cameras, I now must care for my prosthetics, making sure they are always in perfect working condition.
Like the amputees in Boston today, 3½ years ago I joined a community to which no one wishes to belong. I have changed over the years, as they will.
For better or worse, I am more vulnerable now. If I were to offer advice, it would be that it's possible to accept help without feeling dependent. I would tell them what I tell myself, "Emilio, you're missing a foot so don't be too hard on yourself, and when someone offers you a seat on the bus, take it."
I would tell them the greatest truth I have learned is that I am a man who had a leg amputated, not an amputee.
I am still a whole person.
I have returned to work as a photojournalist with the AP. I have tried to become a better person, sharing my small successes with all the people who have helped me in critical times. I appreciate that I live in a nice house in Barcelona with my wife, who is pregnant. I am looking forward to becoming a father for the first time.
I know they cannot imagine this in Boston now, but I want them to know that while certainly I miss my leg, I feel very fortunate.


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Each year on Good Friday we listen to the account of the events surrounding Jesus' death: the trial, the boisterous crowd, the journey to Golgotha. The description is clear; Jesus received the death penalty and was executed. Though the cross is a rich symbol of all that God has accomplished in Jesus, don't forget it is (or was) also an instrument of torture and execution. Jesus has once and for all taken away sin by his sacrifice (Heb. 9:26). Just as death is the unrepeatable act that ends a person's life, so Jesus' offering of himself for all is the unrepeatable sacrifice that has once for all achieved redemption. Jesus died for the sins of all.
This scriptural and theological reflection is central to considering the use of the death penalty in the United States. Jesus died for the sins of all—including criminals who commit grievous crimes. The teachings of Christ in the New Testament call us to protect life, practice mercy, and reject vengeance.
Currently, momentum is rising in our country toward elimination of the death penalty. The Catholic Church continues to be a significant influence in this momentum.
Pope Francis and the three popes immediately preceding him have spoken publically against the use of this ultimate penalty for grievous wrongdoing. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched the Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty in 2005. Bishops in Louisiana stood in strong public opposition to the execution of Christopher Sepulvado, which was scheduled for Ash Wednesday. Bishops in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado openly supported their governors' actions when a moratorium was issued.
This witness of our Catholic leaders over several decades clearly states the Catholic position on the death penalty. Is the Catholic community listening and taking this teaching to heart? What evidence is there that some seed has fallen on fertile soil? A 2010 survey by Lake Research Partners found that 24 percent of Catholics supported the death penalty, compared to 33 percent of the general population. Since 2008 one state per year has eliminated the death penalty (New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Illinois, Connecticut, and Maryland). In each of these states 25 to 40 percent of the citizens are Catholic.
The work of dialogue, theological discussion, and education has been carried on by many Catholic grassroots organizations. In the last five years under the leadership of Karen Clifton, Catholic Mobilizing Network has visited every Catholic Conference in the United States providing educational material on this issue in both English and Spanish. Faculty members at Mount St. Mary's University collaborated on the book, Where Justice and Mercy Meet: Catholic Opposition to the Death Penalty. St. Joseph Sister Helen Prejean tells us through her books, movie, theater, and opera that her work with men and women on death row and with victims' families is the work of the gospel of Jesus; it is about love and compassion.
Our Lenten journey ends on Good Friday; we move from death to life. We are gifted with the hope that resurrection brings. May this hope compel us to move from a culture of violence to a culture of life in our society.
For more reflections in our Lenten series, click here.
We at U.S. Catholic want to know how you and your family choose to observe the solemnity of Lent. Take our survey and let us know about your Lenten traditions.
Image: Illustration by Angela Cox


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Supernatural News
Drinking video for Misha's birthday. Some talk about Castiel.
Want to see what other Supernatural fans are hoping for in Season 6? Click here.
Some tidbits about what Sam and Dean have been up to in the time between the end of Season 5 and the beginning of Season 6.
Thomas Kincaid's Christmas Cottage, starring Jared Padalecki, will be out on Blu-ray in November.


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This one looks a lot like Sheeba. Really clever - fun
Our new budget which was presented by the finance minister has upset us because the fuel prices have gone up among other things. This means the prices of all commodities will go up too. In times like these animal transport is a good idea.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
To the Manner Born
This one looks a lot like Sheeba. Really clever - fun
Posted by Amrita at Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Labels: Animal Planet
12 Fertilize my soul:
- Sita said...
You totally crack me up ROFL!!!
- 2 March 2010 at 22:39
- Holly, the Old Western Gal said...
I have laughed myself until my sides hurt at that crazy dog video!!! Amrita where do you find these things???!!!
- 2 March 2010 at 23:16
- Felisol said...
A good laugh makes the life last longer.
Well, you sure have made my life till the nineties!
from Felisol
- 3 March 2010 at 03:17
- Glennis said...
Oh these are funny, I like the idea of riding on a hare, great use for them.
- 3 March 2010 at 04:20
- NAK and The Residents of The Khottage said...
We like the baby potatoes!
We hope Sheeba is feeling better!
Khyra & Khousin Merdie
- 3 March 2010 at 05:25
- Kathryn said...
Sending you hugs from far away!
Thanks for sharing. :)
- 3 March 2010 at 06:38
- David Edward said...
many flower and vegetable seeds are on sale here. is there anything you need or want for next planting season?
- 3 March 2010 at 22:43
- monsoon dreams said...
funny video!wonder who made this!
amrita,thanks for ur comments.ya,i almost stopped blogging,and everything including photography.my lens even got fungus inside!i still cant cope with the loss of my father.mind has become blank and hopeless,sometimes.might take some time to adjust.thanks for ur support during my days of trouble,sister.God be with you.
- 3 March 2010 at 23:11
- madison said...
Hubby ended up not going to celebrate Holi, he went with his sister to her friends birthday party and then after they went to visit with relatives.
- 4 March 2010 at 04:20
- Mel Avila Alarilla said...
I thought at first that I was in another blog that I have to check again the title, lol. Great to express our frustrations through funny cartoons and caricatures. That way we are able to get our message across without harming anybody. Very creative and innovative post. Thanks for this unusual post. God bless you always.
- 4 March 2010 at 05:35
- Joseph Pulikotil said...
Hi Amrita:)
Very interesting post and video.
Increasing fuel prices in an inflatrionary situation was a wrong move. All the prices are going up. Bus owners are planning to go on an indefinite strike for increasing the bus fare.
It is alarming to see the way the prices are going up and I wonder how poor people will make both ends meet. The government seems to be shirking its responsibilty in controlling the prices in the name of development.
Development at what cost? Should it be at the cost of poor people?
Have a nice day Amrita:)
- 4 March 2010 at 09:40
- Amrita said...
Thank you for visiting friends.
Hi David, anything that can grow in the hot and dry weather.
- 4 March 2010 at 18:54


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New Caledonian Crested Gecko, Rhacodactylus ciliatus, walking on wall. Microscopic setae and spatulae on the gecko's feet allow it to walk on almost any surface. Also called Guichenot's Giant Gecko or Eyelash Gecko. Endemic to New Caledonia in the South Pacific, the crested gecko was thought extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994. It is now one of the most commonly kept species of gecko in captivity. .
Click a keyword to see more photos like this one:
adaptation, animal, climbing, Crested gecko, Eyelash Gecko, fauna, gecko, gecko walking on wall, lizard, nature, New Caledonian Crested Gecko, orange, reptile, Rhacodactylus, Rhacodactylus ciliatus, wildlife, yellow
Copyright © Dan Suzio, all rights reserved.
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If, like many of us, you met news of Wayne Rooney putting his gnarled willy inside some attention-seeking tart with a world-weary sigh, today probably hasn't been the most exciting day for football news (although it's made international week slightly more interesting.)
The only comfort The Spoiler has had is in uncovering some of the unintentionally hilarious anecdotes borne of the months-in-the-pipeline scandal:
Brass a la mode (sorry Monica Mint), Jenny Thompson on Wayne's relationship with a certain winking Portugeezer:
The only time he ever mentioned one of the other players was when we were at a party one night and he called Cristiano Ronaldo a 'w***er'.
Wayne and I were standing in the smoking area when Ronaldo walked past, and Wayne muttered 'F***ing w***er' after him.
Poor CR9. Ms. Thompson also tells of an encounter with not-knackered family man and occasional football star, Michael Owen:
We hadn't arranged to meet but Wayne spotted me in the crowd. About half hour later he held my hand in front of everyone and led me away down these stairs.
Michael Owen was looking at him in disgust.
Exceptional. There was even a bit of illumination on modern footballers' strange disregard for their health (why is riding motorbikes banned by football clubs, but not smoking?) and the customary lack of respect for coin:
Five minutes after sex he said he wanted a smoke and got the guy from the desk downstairs to go and get them. He paid him £200 or something ridiculous like that for a packet of Marlboro.
£200?! Wazza must have been a nervous wreck. Perhaps 'Juicy Jenny's services are worth a grand after all.
The final word should be left to Natalie Rooney, Wayne's 20-year-old cousin:
Other footballers have girls begging to have sex with them. He pays for it. Lost all my respect for him now!
Wouldn't you be ashamed? Look how many kids he's a role model to and he does that while his wife's carrying his child. It's disgusting.
Well said, Natalie, well sa…
… oh.
This post, written by Richard Gilzene, is republished with permission from The Spoiler. Go there often if you like soccer stuff.


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The external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) system is based on an optical configuration of the Littrow type. It is a room-temperature, continuous- wave, widely tunable, mode-hop-free, mid-infrared, EC-QCL spectroscopic source. It has a single-mode tuning range of 155 cm-1 (≈8% of the center wavelength) with a maximum power of 11.1 mW and 182 cm-1 (≈15% of the center wavelength), and a maximum power of 50 mW as demonstrated for 5.3 micron and 8.4 micron ECQCLs, respectively. This technology is particularly suitable for high-resolution spectroscopic applications, multi-species trace-gas detection, and spectroscopic measurements of broadband absorbers.
Wavelength tuning of EC-QCL spectroscopic source can be implemented by varying three independent parameters of the laser: (1) the optical length of the gain medium (which, in this case, is equivalent to QCL injection current modulation), (2) the length of the EC (which can be independently varied in the Rice EC-QCL setup), and (3) the angle of beam incidence at the diffraction grating (frequency tuning related directly to angular dispersion of the grating). All three mechanisms of frequency tuning have been demonstrated and are required to obtain a true mode-hop-free laser frequency tuning.
The precise frequency tuning characteristics of the EC-QCL output have been characterized using a variety of diagnostic tools available at Rice University (e.g., a monochromator, FTIR spectrometer, and a Fabry-Perot spectrometer). Spectroscopic results were compared with available databases (such as HITRAN, PNNL, EPA, and NIST). These enable precision verification of complete spectral parameters of the EC-QCL, such as wavelength, tuning range, tuning characteristics, and line width.
The output power of the EC-QCL is determined by the performance of the QC laser chip, its operating conditions, and parameters of the QC laser cavity such as mirror reflectivity or intracavity losses. In order to maximize the output power, an analysis and optimization of the EC laser parameters has been performed. The parameters of the beam emitted from the gain medium, such as divergence angle, beam profile, and astigmatism, have been investigated. The gain medium has been fully characterized before and after each stage of modification. The main modification steps are coating one facet of the gain chip with a high reflectivity mirror and the other facet with an anti-reflection layer. Then the chip is mounted in the ECQCL. The optomechanical design has been reviewed and improved to provide for precise collimation of the strongly divergent beam of the QCL and the tuning diffraction grating.
This work was done by Gerard Wysocki, Robert F. Curl, and Frank K. Tittel of Rice University for Johnson Space Center. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Physical Sciences category.
In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the contractor has elected to retain title to this invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its commercial use should be addressed to:
Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston, TX 77005
Refer to MSC-24486-1, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.


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Try the beautiful Mermaid game, you can decorate your lovely mermaid and make her look attractive with ornaments, accessories and many other options. Take a snap shot after your finished.
Try this very beautiful Dragon and The Princess game, many options to dress up the Princess and also give her Dragon a new look too.
Tangled was a great movie, here are a few images from the movie turned into a numbers games. See if you can Spot the Numbers in the images of the movie Tangled staring Rapunzel.
A Classic Bubble Shooter game with a Butterfly Theme, Aim the arrow to burst the matching butterflys, in order to burst the bubbles you will need at least three of the same Butterflys. Compete with your friends and family in this high score game.


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The American Liver Foundation's mission is to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.
We carry out our mission through education to promote liver health and disease prevention. ALF offers several Community Education Programs on liver health and liver disease that are interactive and age appropriate. These popular programs include: Love Your Liver; Liver Wellness: What Everybody Needs to Know; Viral Hepatitis; and Teens to Twenties: Liver Wellness Guide. Our education programs reached approximately 46,000 people in 2016.
ALF is the leading source of information on liver health and liver disease, through printed education materials and liverfoundation.org, HE123.org and HEPC123.org. A toll-free National Helpline (1-800-GO-LIVER /1-800-465-4837) and 16 divisions across the country provide support to patients, families, caregivers and the general public via phone, email and community outreach. Our National Helpline volume doubled in 2016, handling nearly 12,000 inquiries.
The American Liver Foundation has provided almost $26 million in research funding to over 840 early career investigators. These awards provide critical support to outstanding scientists early in their careers, promoting a new generation of liver disease researchers.
Where the Money Goes
Donations to the American Liver Foundation help to improve the lives of people with liver disease in three areas: advocacy, education/support and research. Every gift makes a difference and helps us to fulfill our mission. We are committed to being the best possible stewards of donated funds and are dedicated to honor donor intent and to practice financial transparency.
For more infomation about the American Liver Foundation and our programs and services, visit www.liverfoundation.org, or contact our national HelpLine at (800) GO-LIVER or email@example.com.


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This weekend the new Tim Burton exhibition opened its doors at LACMA. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents a major retrospective exploring the full range of Tim Burton's creative work, both as a film director and as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer.
"The exhibition brings together over 700 drawings, paintings, photographs, moving-image works, storyboards, puppets, concept artworks, maquettes, costumes, and cinematic ephemera, including art from a number of unrealized and little-known personal projects. Many of these objects come from the artist's own archive, as well as from studio archives and private collections of Burton's collaborators. Hundreds of never-before-exhibited artworks and sketches will be joined by a selection of film posters accompanied by music composed for the exhibition by Burton's longtime collaborator Danny Elfman.
Two large-scale outdoor artworks are also installed on campus: a topiary inspired by Edward Scissorhands (1990), and Balloon Boy, an enormous figure based on an amalgamation of characters that Burton first introduced in his 1997 book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories.â€
The exhibition runs until October 31st, 2011, and looks amazing.


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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese carmaker Toyota is working to improve its hybrid cars and develop electric cars for the future, but an official said on Monday that these vehicles would not help reduce CO2 emissions in China.
"In France, 80 percent of electricity is produced by nuclear stations so if electric cars replace fossil fuel cars then you have a clear reduction in the emission of CO2," said Tatehito Ueda, a managing officer at Toyota Motor Corp.
"But in China they make electricity by burning coal, so China is not the place for electric cars," he told the Nikkei International Automotive Conference in Tokyo.
Toyota has introduced a so-called 'plug-in' hybrid vehicle -- in which the electric part of the engine can be charged up from the electricity network -- in France in partnership with EDF and will introduce this elsewhere as well.
The vehicle is based on its Fuel Cell stack technology, but Ueda said a lot of issues needed to be resolved to make this a mass technology, both in infrastructure and in vehicles.
In the meantime, improved fuel economy through reduced running resistance, or friction, and an improved power train can cut emissions. Software can help make mechanical actions more precise and reduce fuel consumption, he said.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


text: Responsible Choice Posted March 22, 2014 (edited) *** NOTE: I have revised the title of this thread and added relevant tags. The original post is below. *** Just wondering if anyone has been lucky enough to have come across cubes yet. With so little rain so far through summer I'm assuming the wait is till on. If not and I've missed my opportunity...FUCK! The suspense, and reading of various older posts on the topic, is too much now. Cheers. Edited February 26, 2018 by Responsible Choice relevance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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UnNews:Super-powered Chinese soldiers scare the Hell out of everybody
This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-microsecond misinformation.
|UnNews Audio (file info)
|Listen to this story!
19 November 2009
BEIJING, China -- Military professionals across the globe have been thrown into a panic, since the Chinese unveiled their "ultra-soldiers" to the public this morning at a hastily convened press conference. Bred from birth as killing machines, these fearsome men possess powers beyond the ken of most human beings.
Stories about the amazing levels of strength, endurance, speed, and mental acuity have been circulating among the literati of modern warfare. Brigadier Sir Arthur Conan Polyandry of Sussex, England told UnNews, "Individual soldiers with the ability to levitate! This will revolutionize the art of war, and scares the Hell out of potential opponents of China. Bollocks!"
A government source close to President Hu Jintao told UnNews of, "the enormous dedication of these selfless soldiers. That they have advanced the martial traditions of Shaolin and Taoist secrets of alchemy into such a powerful weapon, is truly remarkable."
Our source in the Pentagon said, "the Joint Chiefs are in a panic. This stuff is miles ahead of any black programs we've got in the fire. I think we're all fucked!"
- Tanikwa Joujoule "When Chinese pigs fly" Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2009


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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said Tuesday he will consider changes to the Senate Finance Committee, if that is necessary to advance an offshore wind measure to the full Senate for debate in the upcoming legislative session.
"People have to understand that this is a shared burden for improving planet Earth, and moving our state where a number of other states and European countries are going for the benefit of not just our state but the entire planet," Miller said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Miller, D-Calvert, said he would be reluctant to take the step of changing the committee's membership, but he said he is willing to make the unusual move to have a debate on a measure that has failed to reach the Senate floor the last two years. The Senate president also noted he would not be as inclined to make changes to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to advance a repeal of capital punishment, which is locked up in a close vote in that committee.
The difference, Miller said, is the offshore wind measure has not been debated on the Senate floor.
"I might have to do that in terms of getting out a wind power bill to the floor, because it's been two years now and two years of testimony and two years of hearings, and environmentalists feel that this is an issue that needs to be debated on the floor, as contrasted to the death penalty, where just three years ago we got it to the floor and had extensive debates and it was modified," Miller, D-Calvert, said.
Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, has pushed unsuccessfully for the offshore wind measure in the last two legislative sessions, and he is expected to try again.
A scaled-back version of the bill passed the House of Delegates last year on an 88-47 vote. The bill would have helped develop offshore wind off the coast of Ocean City in as soon as five years.
Miller said he supports offshore wind, with qualifications. The Senate president also said there are a number of factors that need to be considered, such as how much it would cost, where workers would come from, and what parts of the state would benefit. Under last year's offshore wind proposal, residential utility customers would have paid about $1.50 a month.
"We're going to debate this this year," Miller said, referring to the wind proposal. "The death penalty, I'm not certain. I think, probably, if it's not this year, probably next year."
In 2009, when O'Malley led a push to repeal capital punishment, the Senate passed a compromise measure that restricted the death penalty to murder cases with biological evidence such as DNA, videotaped evidence of a murder or a videotaped confession. Maryland has not had an execution since O'Malley became governor in 2007, and Miller noted that capital punishment is rarely used in the state. Maryland has five men on death row.
Miller said he still believes in keeping the death penalty on the books to apply in extreme cases such as mass murderers. As an example, he mentioned sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad, who terrorized the Washington area 10 years ago. Muhammad was executed in Virginia in 2009.
"I just think for mass murderers I think there needs to be a special category for people like that," Miller said. "We don't need to continue to subsidize them, prolong their life."
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said Tuesday he will consider changes to the Senate Finance Committee, if that is necessary to advance an offshore wind measure to the full Senate for debate in the upcoming legislative session.


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See free & cheap NYC events for Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25th (more added later today) and check out our NYC holiday events list.
Today's Events
Wednesday, December 24th & Tuesday, December 30th: Rugelach Making Workshops
Sunday, December 24th: Hot Cider Walking Tour
Wednesday, December 24th: 2014 Washington Sq. Park Christmas Eve Caroling
Wednesday, December 24th: Candlelight Christmas Caroling 2014
Wednesday, December 24th: Christmas Eve Caroling in Gramercy Park 2014
Wednesday, December 24th: Christmas Eve Comedy Show with Todd Barry
Wednesday, December 24th: Heebonism 2014 NYC Xmas Eve Bash with Free Drinks & Chinese Food
Wednesday, December 24th: Rock The Dreidel 2014 + Free
Ending Today
Through Wednesday, December 24th: Grand Central Holiday Fair 2014
Through Wednesday, December 24th: 2014 Union Square Holiday Market
Through Wednesday, December 24th: 2014 Columbus Circle Holiday Market
See more ongoing & upcoming NYC events
Through Summer 2015: Spencer Finch's 'A Certain Slant of Light' Turns The Morgan Into a Calendar Based on the Movement of the Sun
Through Spring 2015: 'Kandinsky Before Abstraction, 1901–1911'
Through Monday, January 19th: 'What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones'
Through Sunday, March 22nd: 'The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec: Prints and Posters'
Through Sunday, January 4th: 'Nam June Paik: Becoming Robot'
Through Monday, January 19th: See the Work of Mac Conner, a 'Mad Men'-Era Illustrator
Through Sunday, February 15th: 'Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe'
Through Saturday, January 3rd: 'Dance & Fashion' Exhibition at FIT
Through Saturday, January 31st: Celebrate 45 Years of 'Sesame Street' with NYPL
Through Sunday, January 11th: 'Barbara Nessim: An Artful Life'
Through Sunday, January 4th: 'Crossing Brooklyn: Art from Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and Beyond'
Through Wednesday, January 7th: 'ZERO: Countdown to Tomorrow, 1950s–60s'
Through Sunday, February 8th: 'Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs' at MoMA
Through Monday, March 23rd: 'Witness at a Crossroads' Showcases Marc Riboud's Post-War Photographs of Asia
Through Sunday, February 1st: 'Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire'
Through Sunday, January 4th: Bryant Park Winter Village Shops 2014
Through Sunday, March 1st: Ice Skating in Bryant Park
Through Sunday, January 25th: 'Treasures from India: Jewels from the Al-Thani Collection'
Through Sunday, March 22nd: 'Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power'
Through December 30th: Central Park Photography Walking Tours
Through Saturday, March 7th: 'Light Cycles' Installation Illuminates the Winter Garden
Through Friday, January 16th: MoMA's Film Department Screens Top Picks from 2014
Through Sunday, January 11th: 'Gingerbread Lane' 2014, the World's Largest Gingerbread Exhibition
Through Friday, January 16th: New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show
Through Sunday, January 4th: Ice Skating in McCarren Park
Through Sunday, November 1st: 'Making Music Modern: Design for Ear and Eye'
Through Saturday, January 17th: 'Afterword' Elaborates on Kara Walker's Domino Sugar Refinery Installation
Through Sunday, February 22nd: 'Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection'
Through Sunday, January 4th: 'Handmade: Artists' Holiday Cards from the Archives of American Art'
Through Sunday, January 11th: See American Museum of Natural History's 2014 Origami Holiday Tree + Demos
Through Sunday, January 11th: See the Original Manuscript of Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'
Through Monday, January 5th: 'Christmas Comes to Old New York' in a Mid-19th Century Home
Through Saturday, January 3rd: 'i found god in myself' Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Ntozake Shange's 'for colored girls'
Through Sunday, January 4th: Holiday Screenings at The Paley Center
Through Sunday, December 28th: Ride Vintage Subway Trains & Buses
Through Wednesday, December 31st: Soup Kitchen 2014: Conversation, Community & Art
Through Saturday, April 25th: 'Faking It: Originals, Copies and Counterfeits' in the Fashion Industry with Garments from Chanel & Yamamoto
Through Sunday, January 4th: Gingerbread Extravaganza 2014
Through Saturday, February 7th: 'Dust, Dialogue and Uncertainty: Slow Knowledge in Design Thinking and Practice'
Through Wednesday, January 7th: Wreath Interpretations 2014
Through Sunday, February 15th: 'Sublime: The Prints of J. M. W. Turner and Thomas Moran'
Through Wednesday, December 31st: Yule Log 2.0
Through Wednesday, December 24th: Santa in Bryant Park
Through Wednesday, December 31st: Discounted Radio City Stage Door Tours
Through Saturday, January 31st: 'Broadway Revealed: Photographs by Stephen Joseph Behind the Theater Curtain'
Wednesdays & Fridays Through December 31st: #DeskBodyRX Yoga
Subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+


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"And I thought Joe Pass had chops. I still remember hearing Pass's Virtuoso album for the first time, wondering how one guy with two hands could play so many parts at once. Now, along comes King, transforming his lone guitar into an even fuller ensemble capable of playing more complicated arrangements…He has no apparent peers..." - Dirk Sutro, former jazz critic for the Los Angeles Times; author of Jazz for Dummies; and host of "The Lounge" on KPBS-FM San Diego.
photographs loading...
"It is amazing, the things he plays on the guitar! Steven has demonstrated a mastery of the individual approach to guitar playing. The guitar/bass voicings he uses are unique and entertaining. Steven King is a very musical guitar player and a joy to listen to."
- Al Hendrickson, master Hollywood session guitarist, the most recorded guitarist in the world from 1947-1980. Al played the famous guitar introduction on the MASH television series.
"It's hard to top Steven King... He knocked us silly with solo acoustic renditions of the Benny Goodman staple 'Sing, Sing, Sing' and Dave Brubeck's odd-meter workout 'Blue Rondo A La Turk'." - Guitar Player Magazine
"Steven King is the only other solo guitarist that knows more songs than I who can perform them fully arranged on the fly with precise execution. If we ever got on stage together we would NOT be stumped!"
- Edgar Cruz, nationally acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist, competed in the 1994 World Fingerstyle Championship with Steven, at Winfield
"Steven King has taken the acoustic guitar to places many guitar players never even thought of. From Jazz to Pop songs new and old, Steven lays out personal renditions with an elegance and flair that is totally 'Steven King' . And the latter part is the best compliment I could give any player. I'm also glad to be called his friend."
-Doyle Dykes, world-acclaimed guitar virtuoso
"I've never heard anyone play bass lines, chords and melodies simultaneously, with such precision, as Steven King. Being the guitarist for the Manhattan Transfer, I'm particularly fond of his MT and other similar jazz repertoire. He's got it all covered..."
-Wayne Johnson, guitarist for the Manhattan Transfer
"...I wrote 33 articles for 'Guitar Player.' I have more than 8,800 jazz guitar recordings and nearly 2000 jazz guitar videos...I feel qualified in saying Steven King is the greatest solo guitarist I've ever seen or heard!!"... -Robert Yelin, music professor and Guitar Player Magazine columnist
Steven King - guitarist and band leader
International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship: 1st place (Winfield '94)
"...If you want to literally hear John and Paul's voices in the guitar strings and again, exquisitely well-played guitar music, ...Steven King..." .-published article "Four Fabulous guitarists play the FAB FOUR!" By James R. Webb [reviewing King's "Beatle-ing" CD series]
actual press accolades:
reviews from fellow guitarists
Acoustic Swing CD only available from Acoustic Music Records in Germany
hire the SWEET MUSIC band
hire Steven King solo guitarist
Steven King CDs
press reviews & accolades
where to come listen to Steven
contact Steven


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Hacking Robotic Arm using Controllino and Cayenne
This tutorial will show you how to take over the controls of the OWI Robotic Arm with the help of an Arduino compatible, open-source PLC called the Controllino MAXI, together with Cayenne (my go-to iOT application for remote connection to my Arduino projects). The Controllino MAXI will provide the physical connections to the OWI robotic arm, and Cayenne will allow me to control the arm via my web browser or via the Cayenne app on my phone.
Parts Required:
Arduino Libraries and IDE
- The Arduino IDE can be used to program the Controllino. You can dowload the Arduino IDE from here: https://www.arduino.cc/en/main/software.
- You will also need to read the Cayenne Ethernet library installation instructions in order to install the Cayenne Ethernet Library.
- The Controllino will connect to the internet via the Ethernet port onboard.
- You do not need the Controllino library for this project, however, if you have a Controllino, you might as well install the library. You can read the Controllino library installation instructions from their GitHub webpage here: https://github.com/CONTROLLINO-PLC/CONTROLLINO_Library.
- You will need to notify the Arduino IDE of the Controllino MAXI board by pasting the supplied URL into the "Additional Boards Manager URLs" in the Arduino IDE.
- This is located under: FILE - PREFERENCES - Additional Boards Manager URLs.
- The URL that you need to paste is in STEP 3 of the Controllino Library installation instructions on their GitHub page.
- The video at the top of this tutorial may help clarify the process.
The code above is very simple, however you will need to create a dashboard of widgets from within your Cayenne account in order to control the OWI robotic Arm from your phone or via the Dashboard webpage.
Setting up Cayenne Dashboard
Once you have created your Cayenne account, you will be presented with a webpage to choose a board to connect to. Controllino is an Arduino compatible PLC, so make sure to follow these instructions for setting up the Controllino in your Cayenne Account.
- Select Arduino from the available list of boards.
- Make sure to install the necessary libraries if your have not done so already.
- Select Arduino MEGA from the avaliable list of Arduino boards
- Select Ethernet Shield W5100
- Copy and paste the Arduino code that pops up on screen into your Arduino IDE and upload to the Controllino.
- Alternatively, copy and paste the code from above, however you will need to insert your Authentication token to get it to work
After you upload the code to the Controllino, and providing it has an ethernet cable connected to the internet router (and has access to the internet), and is powered on, it will connect to your Cayenne Dashboard. You can now add widgets to the dashboard in real time to interact with the Controllino, and without uploading any more code to the open source PLC.
Adding Widgets
We need to add a number of widgets in order to activate the relays on the Controllino. The relavent digital pins that we will need to know about can be found on the Controllino website here: https://controllino.biz/downloads/.
Here is the direct link to the PINOUT file for the Controllino MAXI.
"Armed" with that knowledge, we can now create the widgets which are necessary to control the relays on the Controllino. From within the Cayenne dashboard, please follow these instructions to create a widget:
- Select - ADD NEW
- Select - DEVICE/WIDGET
- Select - ACTUATORS
- Then - RELAY from the dropdown box
- Select - RELAY SWITCH
- Give the widget a descriptive name to differentiate it from the other widgets and a name that is somewhat informative (eg. R0 - Pos)
- I gave the first widget the name "R0 - Pos", because it will connect to Relay R0, and that relay will be connected to the Positive (POS) terminal of the OWI robotic arm.
- Select the device you would like to connect to. Be aware that you can change the name of the device in the settings. If you followed this tutorial, it should have the name "Arduino MEGA", but I changed the name of the device to "Controllino" to be more accurate.
- We will be using a digital pin to control the relay, therefore select "Digital" as the Connectivity option
- For this specific widget, we will be controlling R0, which is activated by digital pin D22 on the Controllino. Therefore select "D22" from the "Pin" dropdown box.
- Choose a "Button" as the widget type
- Choose an icon from the dropdown box that makes sense to you
- Skip Step 1
- Select Step 2: Add actuator
You should now see your new widget on the dashboard. Select the widget to enable or activate that relay. If you do this, and if everything goes to plan, you will see the LED for R0 illuminate on the Controllino. You now have to add the rest of the widgets to the dashboard in order to control the rest of the relays on the Controllino.
Widget Dashboard
Here is a table to show you how I setup my dashboard.
Fritzing diagram
OWI Robotic Arm Pins
Normal OWI Robotic Arm Circuit
The following circuit diagram will show you how the wired control box is normally connected to the OWI Robotic arm. This is the circuit diagram of the OWI robotic arm under normal operating contidtions.
OWI Robotic Arm Circuit when connected to Controllino
The following circuit diagram will show you how the OWI Robotic Arm will be controlled by the relays of the Controllino. This is the circuit diagram of the OWI robotic arm when it is connected to the Controllino.
All connected
The OWI Robotic Arm is connected to a breadboard using the female-to-male jumper wires. Solid core wire is then fed through to the relay terminals of the Controllino. You could just wire it up so that the robotic arm is connected directly to the Controllino, however, I did not have the right connectors for this purpose.
The Controllino is also connected to my internet router via a normal RJ-45 ethernet cable, and is powered by a 12V DC power adapter.
Now that you have all the physical connections made, uploaded the code to the Controllino, and have created your dashboard in Cayenne, you should be able to control your OWI Robotic arm from anywhere in the world. As demonstrated in the video at the start of this tutorial, the robotic arm has quite a bit of give on each of the joints, which makes it difficult to achieve certain tasks that require an element of precision. There goes that idea of being able to perform surgery with this thing !!! At least you can get it to make you a cup of tea, and if you are patient enough, you might even get a grape once in a while.
Thank you to Controllino and Cayenne for making this tutorial possible. If you would like your product featured in my tutorials, please contact me on my contact page.
Visit my ArduinoBasics Google + page.
Follow me on Twitter by looking for ScottC @ArduinoBasics.
I can also be found on Pinterest and Instagram.
Have a look at my videos on my YouTube channel.


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LSU to Add Women's Sand Volleyball in 2014
Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director
BATON ROUGE – Women's Sand Volleyball will become a new varsity sport at LSU beginning in the spring of 2014 it was announced Wednesday by Joe Alleva, vice chancellor and director of athletics.
"Sand volleyball is an emerging and exciting sport that will complement our existing indoor volleyball program and will bolster our women's athletics program," Alleva said. "The addition of sand volleyball will provide more opportunities for female athletes to be a part of LSU Athletics."
Fran Flory, who has served as head coach of the LSU volleyball team since 1998, will also serve as head coach of the sand volleyball program. She has guided the Tigers to 279 victories over her tenure highlighted by a program-record six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2005-10. Flory has coached seven players to AVCA All-American honors during her tenure at LSU. The Tiger sand volleyball team will play and practice in a temporary location for its first year of competition before a permanent facility is constructed on the LSU campus.
"Adding sand volleyball to our department is a great chance for LSU to be a leader in new opportunities for female student-athletes," said Flory. "With our location, climate and local interest in the sport, sand volleyball is an ideal fit for LSU. Our indoor program will benefit from the addition of the sport as well, with additional opportunities for our current players. We are very excited to get started building a championship tradition on the sand."
The addition of sand volleyball will bring the number of varsity sports at LSU to 21. There are currently 11 women's sports at LSU and nine men's sports. Sand volleyball will be the first sport added to LSU's lineup of teams since women's soccer and softball were added in the 1996-97 athletic year.
Women's sand volleyball is a rapidly expanding sport. Only 15 NCAA Division I schools competed in sand volleyball in the spring of 2012, but by the spring of 2013 that number had doubled. Other schools planning to hit the sand in 2014 are Arizona and South Carolina.
Sand volleyball is currently categorized as an "emerging sport" by the NCAA, but when at least 40 schools field varsity teams, it will become fully endorsed by the NCAA and will be classified as a championship sport.
Student-athletes can participate on both the indoor volleyball team and the sand volleyball team, but there will also be student-athletes who are exclusive to each sport. Student-athletes with a scholarship for indoor volleyball can play sand volleyball, but student-athletes with a sand volleyball scholarship cannot participate on the indoor team.
As opposed to the indoor sport which has six players per side during competition, there are just two people per team and no substitutions in sand volleyball. Games are played to 21 in sand volleyball and a match is best of three.
Follow @LSUsandVB on Twitter and Like LSU Sand Volleyball on Facebook now.


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As part of AdvisorOne-ActiFi's Pursuing Practice Excellence research on advisor practice management, on June 13 we gathered four industry leaders to explore the findings of the research. The August 2012 Investment Advisor cover story provided highlights of that conversation, and our three-part series of articles addressed the specific findings from 1) a survey of 954 advisors; 2) an online survey and telephone interviews with 52 executives and consultants from across the industry who run practice management programs, and 3) an analysis of the gaps between the advisor portion of the survey and the industry leaders.
To extend that conversation to advisors' benefit, on AdvisorOne we are providing transcripts of the roundtable, which was moderated by Jamie Green and John Sullivan of Investment Advisor and AdvisorOne, and Spenser Segal and Brian Stimpfl of ActiFi.
The four panelists at the in-person discussion in Chicago were David Patchen of Raymond James, Kim Dellarocca of Pershing, Kirk Hulett of Securities America and Jim Komoszewski of Investment Centers of America.
The focus of this article, from the beginning of the roundtable, is on what the panelists believe are the key roles of sales and marketing in driving an advisory firm's growth, regardless of whether that firm is an RIA or an independent broker-dealer practice.
Jamie Green, Investment Advisor: You're here today as far as a culmination really of the nearly year-long partnership between ActiFi and the Investment Advisor Group. Our intent was to devise a practice management survey, to field it, to analyze it and report on the study that we're calling "Pursuing Practice Excellence," which we humbly believe is a groundbreaking study that goes beyond what many already helpful benchmarking studies provide to the industry.
But we also think practice management is in many ways vaguely understood by all the industry participants. It's often eschewed in favor of one company or one business model. The ways that you measure practice management success varies from company to company and from business model to business model as well. So part of what we wanted to do was have an objective, comprehensive study that looked at advisors, what they say they need, they want and what they're doing; but also survey the key partners of advisors to see what you're working on, what you're providing and to figure out what the gaps are.
Certainly you could be advocates for your own companies and what you're doing, but we determined that you also had the big picture for the industry, and that's part of what we're trying to do here.
Spencer Segal, ActiFi: This is something that we've been thinking about for a couple of years now. We obviously spend all of our time talking about practice management to people, whether they be advisors or institutions, and noticed that there really was no definitive definition of practice management and that this was an area that was moving very quickly. I've been at this about eight years now and have seen the level of commitment that firms have [to practice management] evolve dramatically. I was looking for some data myself as to, first of all, is there definitive data on what practice management is? Is there any information as to what people are offering? There's really nothing.
I still would say we're maybe in the second inning of a nine-inning game. The practice management needs of a purely independent RIA are very different than the practice management needs of a W-2 employee in a bank branch. We wanted to make the study comprehensive so that we could look at the different advisor types similarly; from a financial institution leader to a pure custodian, all the way over to a firm that only has employee advisors. As we extend this to coaches, consultants, people who are on the front lines delivering practice management, there are a lot of lights where we can take this further.
There will be much evolution and if we don't take a snapshot and have objective, hard data to benchmark, we can't measure where it goes. In subsequent studies, we'll be able to reference this data and actually be able to measure how advisors' perceptions have changed.
Brian Stimpfl, ActiFi: Everyone talks about practice management, but so many folks are focused on having programs on practice management. Coming from a background where many of you are now and spending so many years in that environment, I can tell you that I focused on how you show the value proposition of what you're actually spending dollars on and how that translates into success of your clients, of their clients and, of course, success in the enterprise that you're working for. What are those key metrics, those key questions that we want to ask over and over again? I think we don't really know what those are yet.
There's a lot of competition in the industry, but it's just going to make all of us and all of our advisors better if we can find out how to bring them forward, being better practice managers, better business people.
Green: While advisors believe that, yes, practice management is important to the relationship, the definition is broad. One thing we noticed in particular was that the idea of including sales and marketing in a practice management definition made sense. Advisors want practice management advice that's tailored to their needs, but they also want somebody to help them, to whom they are responsible for following through [see separate transcript from the roundtable on coaching]. What are their plans for whether to spend their money and time on sales and marketing or client service? Anything here that was surprising to you? Anything that didn't ring true?
Kirk Hulett, Securities America: If the topic is, "How do you define practice management?" my clarifying question would be, "How do you define sales and marketing?"
When I read that I was of two minds. One, if you define sales and marketing as referral systems, the strategy around marketing for a practice, segmenting clients, branding and what you're objective is, I've always thought that was part of the definition of practice management. {Second] the one area I think that has fallen outside, at least the way we do practice management at our firm, is sales skills. Those skills needed to take on a client, or a prospect I should say, from introduction to close. We don't support that because in the independent broker-dealer world, we're sort of assuming those are the table stakes. We're dealing with veteran advisors, mature practices. We assume they come to the table with those skills. Maybe that's the wrong assumption. Maybe that is actually an area that we can actually deliver more value. What do you mean by sales and marketing?
Segal: We literally put it out there as and let the advisors define it however they chose.
John Sullivan, Investment Advisor: Have you gotten any request from advisors for that kind of help?
Hulett: Sparingly. But when we go in and do our diagnostics in working with advisors or groups of advisors, we certainly will come across the fact that asking for referrals is a challenge. Being proactive at building a network is a challenge. It isn't the structure behind it as much as their interpersonal skills or their competence in being able to do it.
Segal: One of the things we consistently see in more experienced advisors is, relative to sales and marketing, the lack of definition of the sales process. If there are multiple advisors in the practice and they want to use sales pipeline management, they don't have common and clear definitions as to the stages a prospect goes through. There's not much rigor around that and, as to whether those terms exist, they're not commonly shared. So that's a big gap that we tend to see with experienced advisors. It's just not having a clearly defined sales pipeline.
David Patchen, Raymond James Financial Services: One of the great things about practice management, and I think I can speak for the group here, is some of our top advisors really help us drive content, tools and tactics.
In this specific space, two years ago, Carter Financial, which is a very large independent RIA that still has broker-dealer relationships with RJFS in Dallas, asked if we would put together a sales training program for their younger advisors. My initial response was "No". I met with David Lee, who really owns our Practice Intelligence [practice management program] website, and then grabbed a couple of my colleagues, my fellow regional director counterparts. The more we brainstormed around the request, the more we realized that we may be onto something.
So we put together a two-day program that covered many of the things you were mentioning, Kirk: referral strategies, much of the typical or traditional tools and tactics around customary practices, but also a very core component on the actual sales training mindset, tactics and tools. What happened was the senior advisors who participated realized that they had what we later termed prospecting atrophy.
If you look back at what happened in our industry for 20 or 30 years, you ask the question, "How do you grow your business? I grow by referrals, and I don't even ask, because we had a raging bull market that worked." What's happened, as we all know, is we've had 10, 11 challenging years now and there are two categories: There are people who really never had good selling skills, and there are people who had them, but they've atrophied due to lack of practice.
This program eventually morphed into what we call the Zen Advisor Program, and we have done that all over the country. The challenge about sales education is it's not a one-stop endeavor. You've got to have ongoing, continuous, perpetual follow-up in order for it to really have legs.
Kim Dellarocca, Pershing: I would agree with a lot of what you're saying. I think the point that you hit on, Kirk, is that the mature advisors tend to be the ones you're working with but the opportunity around the next generation is really important.
The way that business development was done in the past is changing dramatically. It's much less expensive to develop a training program and to bring advisors through those programs and help them develop those skills than it is to continue to play the recruiting game. So how do you even shift the whole business development process and paradigm? It needs to change as you talk to and relate to a whole new type of investor.
So you've got the [Generations] X and Ys, and the demographic changes that are happening and you also have where wealth is shifting to women, to their heirs, to totally new demographics in terms of Indian Americans, Chinese Americans, money that is coming from abroad, moving it here.
The pool you're selling to is changing, so the process has to change—not just because we have to make sure people follow a process and are systematic in their business development efforts because that's really good for just doing good business; but also who they're talking to is changing. The demographics are changing at a pace that's incredible.
Hulett: Young people don't like the word "sales." They don't want to be salespeople. The Gen Xers, the Millenials or Gen Yers, they don't want to be salespeople. So that's why a big part of what we taught was questioning techniques and tactics: teaching people how to ask better questions rather than teaching them to close someone. That's a concept that young folks just don't have a lot of interest in. They don't want to close anyone; they want to commence something. They want to educate, they want to build relationships.
Dellarocca: And that's in synch with what the investor wants. It's no longer a business of finding the need and filling it. It's not sell, it's listen.
Segal: You're not closing the deal, you're opening a relationship?
Hulett: You can go deeper because you know how to ask the right questions, and you know how to listen actively.
Dellarocca: And replay it back. Women are a great example. If you talk to a woman about the ins and outs of a particular investment product or a lot of risks or those kinds of things, you're going to get the glaze over. You're not going to get the close that you want.
If you talk to her in terms of the benefits for her family, that she won't be a burden on her children or [jeopardize] the security that she desires, you're going to have a much different conversation, a much different relationship—and, by the way, retain those assets that are going away when the male is no longer part of the relationship.
Green: We talked about the veteran advisors. Once upon a time, those advisors were getting sales training when they went to Merrill Lynch and stayed for two years, or they went to the insurance companies or the banks, and now that's not happening. Do we need to have more sales training programs specifically for those younger advisors who aren't getting it elsewhere?
Dellarocca: I think that's what perplexed Kirk, and I agree with him on this definition of sales and marketing. All of us have growth programs. Maybe the essence of growth is finding new clients and developing those relationships. So that's where I got a little bit concerned too. Also, do advisors really understand the drivers of sales and marketing? A driver of sales and marketing isn't just chumming for new prospects or getting in front of a new prospect; it's also what kind of client experience you are creating. Value propositions extend beyond your elevator pitch to, for example, women, who like a lot of eye contact. Does it transcend to that level?
Patchen: I would put these in two categories: lead generation and conversion or acquisition. That's what sales and marketing means to me. And I would tell you that there are inherent challenges, based on the changes that we've seen in the marketplace, around creating leads, generating leads. People are telling me they have less leads today than they have had in the past. Even my top advisors are telling me that when they sit with a prospect, fewer prospects are actually becoming clients.
One of the gaps there is what I've come to term, which they appreciate, premature presentations. If you present too early and lay your cards on the table, we know what the response typically is: "I want to think about it." Your chances of having a successful conversion after you've gone that far down the road are obviously much lower. It goes back to what you were talking about, Kim. If we do a good job really collaboratively designing what the client is looking for, there is never a presentation or a close; it's just an affirmation or confirmation of all that you've agreed upon during the discussions.
Jim Komoszewski, Investment Centers of America: Practice management has become a buzzword in our industry. It's become cliché. The terminology that we use has become cliché to the point where we've watered and saturated everything down.
But one definition I can come up with is most of us are trying to get everybody to look like one practice. We have to take a step back and look at sales trainings. The question we have to ask ourselves is, "Why did we rifle through thousands of new advisors over the last 15 years to have a 70-some-percent failure rate?" And I think it's because we're training them all to look and act and dress and talk like one rep, one advisor.
Now where I've taken things completely different is to treat each and every advisor or each and every practice as if though they're completely unique because they are. So if I take an advisor who's in Iowa; let's just say he's an ex-college athlete, no college degree, a hero in a town of 650. The way he goes through a sales process will clearly be different from the Harvard MBA who moves to Manhattan and opens up a practice. Therefore the process, the sales process, should be completely different. Those two individuals should have a process that plays to their communication style, to their level of expertise.
Where we failed as an industry is training, because we have a huge issue right now of bringing younger advisors on. We have aging advisors and that's just the way it is. I know it takes more work, and I know it takes more effort, and it takes more resources and dedication; but my experience has been that when we meet them at an individual level, if I don't lead with solutions and instead I say, "You know what, Jamie? Let's thoroughly assess your personality, your experience, your passions, your demographics, and let's build the sales process that will be most beneficial to you and your clients." That's the process that I've seen work over the last four or five years in the world of practice management.
Step one has to start with an accurate, thorough assessment of the practice—of the current state of one's practice. Can you imagine going to Mayo Clinic Group and a doctor saying, "Mr. Komoszewski, great to see you. You're about 40 or so, from Minnesota; you should probably take 10 milligrams of this." Well, don't you want to know a little more? Generally speaking in the industry, we are leading with solutions. We have sales training programs for people that we cram through, but we're not even sure what their problems are. So I think step one is to comprehensively assess the current state of their practice including their sales process.
The second thing I want to know is what their goals are. I want to know exactly from an advisor, do you want to grow your practice? Maybe you don't. Maybe you want to trim it down and get more assets from what's already there. I don't know what the answer is. I believe the answer is going to be different every time.
Step three, a critical part of the process, is to create a customized strategy for that individual and their practice. To bridge the gap between where they are today and where they would like to be in one, three, five or 10 years, or whatever that horizon is. I believe that step three for every practice should be completely different. Last year, of 160 practices that I work with, there weren't two curriculums that were the same. Not even close. Last year we had an average annual increase at GDC of 40.9%.
But since 2008 the average GDC increase was 29%. And I believe that, at least in part, that was due to the fact that through that assessment, we hit them right where they needed it. If I have a blanket program with blanket solutions, and I lead with those, a lot of that's just going to filter off. That's part of the problem.
The last point that I'll make on that, and then I've already made up for my silence earlier, is getting advisors to the sales process. I think you would all agree that is half the battle. Getting them through the process and continuing on with it, having them stick with it, that's the other part of the problem.
So when it comes to sales and marketing or the sales training process, I think a lot of firms have failed at bringing them through a process and getting them well-lubed-up for the job. We know that we can get them to things. We know we can get them through training. Getting them through the implementation or execution stage, that's far more difficult; that's where we come in. We've got very highly successful, motivated people.
Stimpfl: What I've heard from folks on this panel is that the demographics are changing, the needs are changing, the markets are changing. So when you look at a program like you described, Jim, where it seems to be a lot more in-depth—there's a lot more assessment, there's a lot more work done, but obviously at the end of that rainbow is a lot greater success than the 70% failure rate that you cited—what do you find are the costs of doing that, and how do you scale that?
Komoszewski: Well, that's a good question. Because of the scalability, I can only deal with so many advisors at one time, but the average advisor that I dealt with last year was about $595,000. So you do the math. If I can grow a $600,000 producer by 40%, that's OK. Here's the other thing: If I do group programs, they're far less effective because it's to the general masses. It's not specifically to their need.
The most important thing for evaluation or an assessment, in my belief, is not even so I can identify and assess what's wrong. That's actually a distant second. The first reason that I created the comprehensive evaluation is so that advisors can see where the shortcomings on their report card are. That will increase awareness to the fact that my overall GPA is 3.8, but I got 4 A's and I got a D. All of a sudden they are asking me to help them because they have increased awareness.
The last thing that most salespeople, especially successful salespeople, want is somebody like me to come in the door and say, "Listen, I'm going to look at your program. We're going to find some things—and I'm going to use a really technical word here—that 'suck' and I'm going to try to fix it for you." It just will not go over well. But when they go online and answer these questions, and then the information gets kicked back to me, I send them the report and just say, "Call me if you'd like to talk." Nobody is judging them, and it puts them in a different ballpark. I believe that's actually the main reason why we do evaluations.
The second thing, is once we identify those, it doesn't matter how important we think they are if they're not willing to allow us to address them. And that's really, really critical. I just moved over to Investment Centers of America, so I got re-assigned across boundaries for the third time here from Jackson. It will be different for me at ICA, but since I've only been here for a week, I'll tell you my experience at NPC. I had four practice management consultants and that's all we did. I ran it like an attorney shop, billable hours. Everybody needed to be on the phone, one-on-one consultations five hours a day, four people or so plus myself, so we're hitting 25 practices a day. Weekly calls, five times a day. We were able to still reach a lot of people and be able to do it that way.
But the bottom line is this: If I have my group program, where let's say the average GDC increase last year was 15% and my one-on-one was 40%, I'd rather have that 40% of 150 practices at $600,000 than a 10% or 12% increase on 100 reps at $100,000 or $150,000.
The other thing about practice management, from my standpoint, is [that it represents] an opportunity to increase revenue. There are three R's I'm concerned with on practice management.
One of them is [revenue] growth, organic growth. It's tough to recruit these days, especially against you guys. I also believe in retention. I believe if I can show an advisor how to grow from $3.8 to $4.5 million [while cutting the work week from] 55 hours a week to 40 hours a week, he's not going to leave that firm without calling and talking to me first. The third thing is from a recruiting standpoint. If I can offer solutions to that magnitude, and they're unique, I believe that I can help to recruit advisors.
I had dinner last night with a bunch of advisors and they said, "You know what, Jim? We've seen all this practice management stuff. We've looked at four or five other firms. It's all the same." And I said "Wait a minute. No, it's not." That's our problem as an industry; they all think it's the same thing, and it's really not.
I would argue that the four of our programs are probably distinctly different from our other counterparts and it has to be that way. But I think mine is actually distinctly different in that I took the risk of doing that one-on-one; really digging in deep, one practice at a time and getting those results. It's not as expensive as somebody might think. It's not as time-consuming as somebody might think. I have the same solutions that we all do in my back pocket. The difference is that I'm just delivering [them] one-on-one, based on the goals that they've set or in the assessment that they've done.
Visit our Pursuing Practice Excellence home page for additional reporting, data and insights into this study.
View our additional transcript on AdvisorOne on the industry leaders' roles in advisor sales and marketing.


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The clashes began on Sunday after Israeli forces launched a surprise raid on the site due to gathered intelligence that a group of Palestinians had blockaded themselves inside the mosque and were organising to prevent Jews from accessing the site.
Al Jazeera English reports that the director of endowments of Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs, Azzam Khatib, said that today saw the worst of the violence which has been taking place at the compound for three days since Sunday.
Khatib said that Israeli police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades as they stormed the compound this morning.
Middle East Eye reported that Israeli snipers were positioned on the rooftops of the compound and that at least 17 Palestinians were injured in this morning's clashes.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir vowed, "to confront any act of aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation or the Israeli settlers against Al-Aqsa Mosque," Al Arabiya News reports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reached out to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to urge the U.N. to respond to Israel's "breach" of al-Aqsa mosque, Middle East Eye reports.
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