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Jan 2, 2011
NXT 2.0 Inventor's Guide
David Perdue and Laurens Valk have done a remarkable job of creating what amounts to a comprehensive NXT 2.0 "missing manual."
In dedicated chapters the book offers some coaching in building basics (how to use gears, for instance) and NXT-G programming. Also, the building and programming instructions for the diverse (and very cool) models included are loaded with helpful information. The authors have clearly worked hard to anticipate what an NXT user wants (and needs) to know, even going so far as to explain the names of the parts—which is very helpful when looking for parts on Bricklink.com. ("L-shaped thingy" doesn't work).
The only thing that could make this book better is printing it in color; but that would have increased the cost significantly, so they've settled for making the best grayscale instructions possible.
It's definitely a "best buy" for the new NXT user.
5 comments:
- Laurens Valk said...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book, Fay.
Unfortunately I haven't yet received a copy of the book, but when I have, I'll do a blog post about my contribution to this book.
- Jan 2, 2011, 8:13:00 PM
- Fay Rhodes said...
Maybe your copies have been grounded along with all those holiday travelers on the East Coast of the U.S.?
In any case, it will be worth the wait. It's a most excellent book!
- Jan 2, 2011, 8:41:00 PM
- Matthias Paul Scholz said...
Sadly, my local book store told me today that the book is not available in Germany yet. :(
- Jan 4, 2011, 7:34:00 PM
- npowley said...
My copy of the book arrived from Amazon today (only 2 days after ordering). The book looks excellent and it appears to have been reprinted to include the ammendments listed on your web site. (minor qty changes in parts lists so not critical anyway).
I have the original NXT robot kit and will update the firmware to the latest spec from the Lego web site but are there any other differences in the brick?
Plus I've ordered an additional touch sensor and already have the colour sensor but I cannot find out if its possible to obtail the tank tracks or coloured balls etc to make the NXT V1.0 parts into a NXT V2.0 kit...the small body panels are not critical I guess but the balls and launcher guides would be handy...
Do you know how I can find these parts or is lego making these only available to the NXT 2.0 set. The lego parts finder web site does not appear to list them either?
Other than that the book looks great and I'm sure me and my daughter (9 years old) will have lots of fun building the models...perhaps with some mods for missing bits!
Well done on a great looking book
- Jan 6, 2011, 10:42:00 PM
- Fay Rhodes said...
There is an unofficial upgrade kit available here:
- Jan 7, 2011, 8:36:00 PM


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One Measure: $0.10/kWh saved in first year
Two Measures: $0.11/kWh saved in first year
Three Measures: $0.12/kWh saved in first year
Comprehensive Measures (4 +): $0.14/kWh saved in first year
Benchmarking/Master Planning: Free to eligible customers
The CitySmart Program is an energy efficiency program designed to provide financial incentives to public sector, K-12 schools, and higher education customers for the installation of a wide range of energy efficiency measures that provide energy savings in eligible facilities. Projects that benefit from this program include prescriptive measures (lighting, HVAC, etc.) as well as complex commercial or projects requiring measurement and verification. Program benefits include information on energy efficiency best practices, program documentation assistance, savings calculations, measurement and verification, and financial incentives. The tiered incentive structure provides an increased incentive for comprehensive projects that incorporate four or more measures. This program also provides benchmarking and energy master planning services for eligible customers at no cost.
Measures must result in estimated energy savings of at least 25,000 kWh.

subset: commoncrawl


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Vendors pay no fees for utilizing the online bidding system. Register or view current bid opportunities and additional purchasing information at the City of Allen Ionwave.
Cooperative Purchasing
The City of Allen promotes the utilization of cooperative purchasing agreements. Cooperative procurement efforts may result when two or more entities combine their requirements to obtain advantages of volume purchases from the same supplier or multiple suppliers using a single IFB (Invitation for Bid) or RFP (Request for Proposal).
Visit the following websites for more purchasing information:


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Your email address is never shared. View privacy Policy.
Circular saw guide is like having a table saw in the field
This ever-useful circular saw guide, also known as the 24" BORA Straight Edge Clamp, attaches to sheets of plywood or multiple 2x4s and serves as a guide for accurate cuts with your hand saw. Locking lever secures clamps into place, while the clamp heads swivel up to 22.5° for angled cuts when needed. Carry it easily from job to job, use it for precision cutting anywhere. Circular saw clamp is ideal for construction, woodworking, cabinet making, door trimming, anywhere you need a straightedge clamp for construction, woodworking or cutting plywood panels for roofing and beyond.
Also available:
BORA Clamp Edge- 24 Inch
Item: 22239


text: Everyone Likes Choice. We sometimes take that philosophy to the extreme by offering hundreds of boards to choose from. Each are unique and there are chess boards that fit virtually any budget.This Walnut veneer chess board is an ideal affordable option to show off your chess pieces. It is a simple, clean chess board design with a black trim and rounded edging.Made in China.


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My Union. My Contract. My Workplace.
Keep up-to-date on news, events and more from ONA.
85 Grenville Street, Suite 400,
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3A2
Tel. (416) 964-8833
, Fax. (416) 964-8864
, Toll-free (800) 387-5580
Ontario Nurses' Association:
Our Union.
Respected. Strong. United.
Committed to members whocare for people.
The Ontario Nurses' Association is a proactive union committed to improving the economic welfare and quality of work-life for our members, to enable them to provide high-quality health care.


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By BRIAN HAWKINS
An young man charged in the May 2010 shooting death of a 25-year-old Starkville man outside a downtown area graduation party is now facing trial on charges of murder and three counts of aggravated assault in the case.
Dennis Thompson, 18, was arraigned on Grand Jury indictments for murder and three aggravated assault counts in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Thompson's bond remains set at $135,000 after Judge Lee Howard had lowered it in November from the initial level of $300,000.
Thompson's next scheduled Circuit Court appearance is May 2.
Thompson is charged in the May 22, 2010, shooting incident outside a Douglas Conner Drive venue that claimed the life of 25-year-old Curtis "C.K." Randle of Starkville saw three others suffer various gunshot wounds.
The shootings in which Thompson is charged took place at 1:11 a.m. Saturday after a graduation party had ended at the 124 Place Special Event Center on Douglas Conner Drive just south of Highway 182.
Thompson is accused of firing shots from a .40-caliber handgun into the crowd of people leaving the graduation party at 124 Place at 1:11 a.m. May 22, but police continue to remain largely silent about the circumstances of the incident.
Municipal Court affidavits charging Thompson with the murder and three aggravated assault counts state that he gave a statement confessing to the shootings to police.
Randle was found by police lying on Highway 182, having been shot in the chest.
One of the two female shooting victims was wounded in the right arm and abdomen, the other was struck in the right thigh. The male shooting victim was wounded in the abdomen.
All required varying levels of treatment at OCH Regional Medical Center.
Thompson turned himself in to police less than three hours after the shootings.
His family members have contended that Thompson fired the handgun to defend himself against an assault from several reported gang members who had been harassing him for the last few years.
His family has said previously Thompson picked up the gun from the ground and began firing it after one of those who were assaulting them. The gun belonged to one of those assaulting Thompson, his family said.
Police Department detectives have not commented publicly on the claims by Thompson's family.
Man's trial postponed in cowbell assault case
The trial of a Mississippi State student from Columbus in the November 2009 assault of another student using a cowbell has been postponed until the spring Circuit Court term.
Brent Morgan Vowell, 24, was to stand trial this week on an aggravated assault charge in an incident in which William Matthew Brasher was injured amid the post-game celebration following MSU's 2009 Egg Bowl win over arch-rival Mississippi.
Vowell's attorneys were granted additional time to investigate the incident, and the trial was rescheduled to the spring court term, which opens in late April.
The incident in which the Brasher, 22, was
assaulted was reported to authorities after he sought medical treatment for his injury, MSU police said.
Brasher suffered a severe head wound after the suspect struck him in the head with a cowbell, said MSU police detectives a few days after the incident.
Vowell and Brasher were in the student section bleachers in the north end zone at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field near the northwest gate, MSU police detectives said.
Brasher had some friends from Ole Miss with him in the stands, and, after MSU won the football game, some verbal sparring occurred with Vowell that turned violent, culminating in Brasher being struck with the cowbell, MSU police detectives said.
Brasher also has a civil lawsuit pending against Vowell in Circuit Court. Brasher is also suing the Southeastern Conference for not enforcing its ban on artificial noisemakers in the incident. MSU is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but court documents state that the university has been served with a claim by Brasher and could be added to the suit if the claim is denied.
Brasher's lawsuit alleges that when Vowell struck him with the cowbell, he was knocked unconscious and suffered a 4-inch laceration that required staples to close the wound.
The assault saw Brasher suffer a "concussion, memory loss, mental and emotional distress and anguish, depression, paranoia, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life and inability to pursue prior educational and professional goals," Circuit Court documents state.


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Tony Schnare, MA
Director of Counselling and Health ServicesInstructor in Counselling PsychologyAssociate Dean of Seminary Student Development
Faculty of Professional Studies and Performing Arts
B.Th. Central Pentecostal College, 1990
MA Briercrest Seminary, 1992
Areas of SpecializationAdult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families, Sexual abuse recovery (male and female), Grief, Professional misconduct involving sexual abuse, Sexual addiction, Same-sex attraction, Marriage and family issues, Anxiety, Depression. Clinical supervision.
Tony thinks of himself as a reformed Maritimer. Having made the cultural transition to the Prairies, Tony has been at Briercrest College and Seminary for 18 years. His front lawn on campus boasts what is perhaps the only replica of the famous Peggy's Cove Lighthouse west of Nova Scotia.
Prior to coming to Caronport, Tony pastored in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. He currently maintains a private counselling practice alongside his responsibilities as Director of Counselling and Health Services, teaching, and participation in the seminary community.
Since graduating with his MA, Tony has continued his academic pursuits toward various levels of clinical and supervisory certifications as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Canadian Certified Counsellor, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
- Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor, American Association For Marriage and Family Therapy
- Certified Member and Approved Supervisor, Professional Association of Canadian Christian Counsellors
- Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, Registry of Marriage and Family Therapists in Canada
- Lifetime member, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Member, Psychological Society of Saskatchewan


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It's a rite of passage for a father and son or a grandfather and grandson to go to the barbershop together for a haircut. They talk sports, laugh and maybe bond a little.
They can get that at SportClips.
"What it's built to do is go back to the old style barbershop for guys," said Crawford "Bear" Henley, who opened the franchise business with his wife, Mitzi, in October.
After a suggestion by their son, Ford Henley, they liked the SportClips concept; their daughter, Jacklyn Henley lends a hand, too, for a true family owned business.
SportClips focuses on just that: sports and haircuts. The shop's décor pulls it together with TVs on sports channels and barbers dressed in sport-inspired uniforms.
The shop offers an MVP experience that includes the cut, hot face towel, massaging shampoo and neck and shoulder massage. Simple, quick cuts are also available.
No appointments are taken and all customers are walk-ins, perfect for a quick military trim or touch up.
LOCATION: 450 E. Racetrack Road N.W., and the corner of Beal Parkway
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays
CORPORATE WEBSITE: www.SportClips.com
Charlie Pachedo is no longer there; he sold Qwik Pack & Ship to Joshua and Jennifer Hoogstra.
"We really loved the previous owner," Jennifer Hoogstra said. "He spent a lot of weeks training us."
It shows. The couple continues to offer the friendly service that marks this long-time business.
"We just moved here from Oklahoma," Hoogstra also said. "My husband is military, and he's retiring." Purchasing this Qwik Pack & Ship franchise gives the couple a post-military career.
They continue to provide all the services that Qwik Pack & Ship has always offered. Using services FedEx, UPS, the U.S. Post Office and Western Union, they can find the best price for their customers.
The couple takes pride in shipping unusual items, especially for tourists and visitors.
"You know when you go someplace and you buy something, you don't always think about how you will get it home," Hoogstra said. She and her husband will find a way as long as the item falls within the shippable standards.
LOCATION: 913 Beal Parkway N.W., Suite A, and the corner of Racetrack Road
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays
WEBSITE: www.qwikpackandshipftwaltonbeach.com


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Tigers Football BIO
2 Trabis Ward
HIGH SCHOOL: Graded out at 79 on ESPNU College Recruiting... Given Honorable Mention FSWA 5A RB....One of the top RB prospects in South Florida... Ran for over 1,000 yards as a junior (232 att. 1,703 yards 21 TDs)...Senior season (204 att. 1288 yards 6.31 yards per carry, 128.8 yards per game)... Scored a total of 66 points (11 TDs)... Caught seven receptions for 98 yards averaging 14 yards per catch and 9.8 yards per game scored one TD reception...Named to first team all-State, all-Region and all-America...Finished high school career with more than 5, 600 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns...
Major: Undecided
Personal: son of Brian Smith...born 08/18/90
Trabis Photos:


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NHRA sportsman drag racing is one of the last places to see musclecars from the heyday dueling it out on 9-inch tires. Over the years, rules have changed for various reasons, but the motivation is the same as it was when Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins and Ronnie Sox battled it out in the 1960s: a battle of wits to decide which of the fleet is faster than the rest. Even today, you see 396 Camaros, 428 'Stangs, and 426 Hemis across the country carrying the front wheels, making 9-second passes at more than 135 mph.
The rules have changed so much that streetability was thrown out the window decades ago. Full racing slicks, open headers, non-functional lights, wheelie bars, and 116-octane racing fuel have taken this sport to a new level.
In the upper reaches of North American civilization, otherwise known as Hanna, Alberta, Canada, resides a man with a need for speed, but no dragstrip for hundreds of miles. So what are your options if you have an NHRA D/Stock Eliminator 409 Bel Air and want to chirp through the gears? You steal some chalk, mark out 1,320 feet on the highway, and drop the hammer. While bouncing around YouTube, I was giddy after coming across Aubrey Bruneau's 409 laying a strip of rubber on a two-lane highway. From all of us hot rodders, we congratulate you, Mr. Bruneau, on having one giant beanbag.
Aubrey's 1962 is equipped with General Motor's original high-horsepower big-block, the 409ci/409hp W-series engine. This full-bodied icon is the fastest stickshift 409 Stocker of all time, with a best run of 11.87 at 116.5 mph in 4,000 feet of adjusted altitude. As per NHRA rules, the engine retains the factory engine block, cylinder heads, stock-lift cam, and intake manifold. Said Aubrey, "I had become tired of the criticism that you can't be competitive in this class with the 409 engine. People whine about the manifold and port design, but I knew I could make it work."
All engine work for this build was completed by Lee Brothers Automotive in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. This included the installation of a stock, machined crankshaft, a custom-grind cam retaining the factory 0.507/0.516 lift, and aftermarket Ross dome pistons creating a compression ratio of 11.6:1. Given the lack of available Carter-AFB aluminum carburetors, NHRA allows racers to run two Edelbrock reproduction carbs sucking 600 cf f airflow apiece.
In 1962, the factory rated this engine at 409 horsepower, but realistic power numbers were said to have been in the mid-400s. With today's advancements in valvetrain technology combined with high-octane fuel and custom headers, actual horsepower for this 409 in Stock Eliminator trim is upwards of 520 at the flywheel. How is it possible to make this much power out of a "stock" engine, you ask? If you were to pose that question to a handful of racers at an NHRA event, you would get more than a handful of answers. In fact, most would make up a bold-faced lie in order to conceal any secrets.
Backing this monster W-block is a Jerico DR4 four-speed manual and a McLeod 10.5-inch Soft-Lok clutch. "The idea of running an automatic is completely laughable," Aubrey says. "When people ask if the car has an automatic transmission, I simply say, 'What's that?'"


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Mississippi State wrapped up its bye week on Saturday and has now started to prepare for this weekend's Southeastern Conference showdown with Kentucky.
It was a good bye week in the mind of MSU head coach Dan Mullen.
"We got a bunch of (production) out of it, and we'll see how it translate into production on the field on Saturday," said Mullen. "There are a lot of things that we got accomplished and hopefully it will translate into some success next Saturday."
One thing a bye normally provides for teams is a chance for players to let their bodies heal and get their strength back, but with the week over, they have a conference opponent to prepare for.
"I hope we are a little bit rested," said Mullen. "It was a chance for a players to get home, see their family and get a little bit of a break. Now we have to come back up and play a critical SEC game on the road."
Kentucky defeating Jacksonville State 38-14 on Saturday, giving them the same 3-4 record as MSU. Both teams will be looking to pick up their first conference win this weekend, but the Wildcats will have the home crowd on their side as the game will be played in Lexington.
"It's always a tough place to play, and it's tough to win on the road in this league," said Mullen. "We are going to have to play at a very high level."
In their win on Saturday, Kentucky's offense put up 445 total offensive yards, but committed two turnovers, which Mullen feels has been the Wildcats biggest problem this season.
"Obviously, they're a good football team," said Mullen. "They've been hurt with some turnovers at times this year, but if they don't turn the ball over, they are a very different football team. That's easy to correct and it looks like they got that fixed during their bye week."
The Wildcats only allowed 112 yards through the air on Saturday, and Mullen is well aware of what their pass defense can do.
"They have a pretty good pass defense efficiency," said Mullen. "They don't give up very many yards with their pass defense and they have some skilled athletes on the back end and they give you a lot of different coverage looks. When you combine all those things together, they are a very efficient defense."
MSU squeaked past Kentucky 24-17 last season in Starkville and Mullen feels it could be a similar matchup this season.
"Kentucky plays us tough every single year," said Mullen. "It usually comes down to the last play of the game and I imagine it's going to be another brawl this year."
With the exception of Tobias Smith, who is out for the season, Mullen said he expects the rest of the team to be ready and available for Saturday's game.


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Session 1: December 14– 15, 2015
Reducing the Financial Impact of Hospital Readmissions and Medical Mistakes
Toxic Behaviors in Healthcare: How Everyday Civility Increases Patient Safety and Team Performance
*Process and Technique of Negotiating
Session 2: December 16– 17, 2015
Conflict Management, Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Cost-Effective Use of Legal Services
Driving Significant Financial Returns: Using Analytics to Improve Your Bottom Line
Hospitals and Integrated Networks of the Future
Positioning Philanthropy as a Key Revenue Resource
Two-Day Seminar Details
Time: 7:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
*Process and Technique of Negotiating
Date: December 14–16, 2015
The tuition fee covers one seminar selected from either Session 1 or Session 2. If you would like to attend two seminars, you will be charged two tuition fees. Due to the timing, you may only register for one seminar from each session.
This cluster is made possible in part by the support of Philips Healthcare, an ACHE Premier Corporate Partner. ACHE would like to thank Philips Healthcare for its commitment to ACHE and helping us advance healthcare management excellence. For more information, please visit www.philips.com/ache
Sponsored by Philips Healthcare
ACHE seminars are unmatched for their emphasis on quality. Before it's offered, each seminar is tested by an audience of your peers—if they aren't satisfied, the seminar isn't presented. Seminars are also evaluated by participants after every offering. This ensures that each seminar continues to meet participants' needs and expectations, as well as ACHE's high standards.
If, for any reason, an ACHE seminar or program does not meet your expectations, please contact the Division of Professional Development within one week of the seminar, and we will issue a full tuition refund or credit toward another ACHE seminar or program.
- To qualify for ACHE Face-to-Face Education credits assigned to a seminar, you must attend the entire seminar.
- Your tuition includes all seminar materials and refreshments. If you have dietary restrictions and require a special meal, please call the Division of Education prior to attending your seminar.
- Dress for all seminar programs is business casual. Room temperatures may vary; we suggest you bring a sweater or jacket.
- ACHE programs are educational in nature. Self-promotion and selling are not permitted. If you have special needs that we can assist you with, please contact the Division of Professional Development prior to the program.


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Book your room at The Paramount Hotel
Get an overview of this hotelDowntown Seattle hotel with restaurant and fitness center
+VIP Access™ Hotel
We carefully hand-picked this hotel based on its dedication to service and excellent guest reviews.
Expedia +gold members receive free room upgrades and +gold and +silver members get other perks upon availability at check-in.See details
Near conventions
This 11-story hotel is one block from the Paramount Theater, Pacific Place shops, or the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, and 3 blocks from Westlake Center.
Asian-fusion dining
The Paramount Hotel's restaurant serves a mix of Asian cuisines, including sushi, dim sum, and Thai noodle dishes; a 24-hour fitness center provides cardio and strength-training equipment.
Wireless Internet
All guestrooms offer complimentary wireless Internet access, 37-inch flat-screen TVs with free HBO, coffeemakers with premium coffee, and complimentary weekday newspapers upon request.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Guests can order room service from The Paramount Hotel's popular Asian-fusion restaurant, which also features a late-night menu and daily happy hours. The single-building hotel offers complimentary wireless Internet access, and a complimentary business center provides printing and high-speed Internet access. The on-site fitness center is open 24 hours.
- Concierge services
- Bar/lounge
- Restaurant
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms
- Business center
- Porter/bellhop
- Express check-out
- Express check-in
- Multilingual staff
- 24-hour front desk
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Total number of rooms - 146
- Number of floors - 11
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Fireplace in lobby
- Elevator/lift
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Free WiFi
Family Friendly Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Refrigerator
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Pay movies
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Room service (limited hours)
- Air conditioning
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free weekday newspaper
- Phone
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Daily housekeeping
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Refrigerator
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
Dragonfish Asian Café - This colorful lobby restaurant serves an eclectic mix of Asian fare, including dim sum, noodle dishes, and sushi samplers. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with late-night dining and daily happy hours.
Nearby Things to Do
The Paramount's 24-hour fitness room provides free weights, strength-training equipment, a stair machine, treadmill, and stationary bike.
The hotel is eight blocks from the Seattle waterfront area, where sailing, parasailing, scenic cruises, and fishing excursions are available (surcharge).
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Sailing nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Parasailing nearby
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible path of travel
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
- Accessibility equipment for the deaf
- Braille or raised signage
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20 per night.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Valet parking fee: USD 41.48 per day (in/out privileges)
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 20 per night


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Today is December 8th and it's the last day to pay nothing for regular shipping on unique items and decor from Design Toscano. Save on regular shipping fees by making all of your holiday purchases from Design Toscano by the end of today. Why wait to buy cute animal garden sculptures when you can pay nothing for regular shipping? Pongo, the Hanging Baby Orangutan Statue is the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates the wonder and beauty of jungle wildlife and amazing wild animals. Not to mention, Pongo also happens to be one of the most adorable animal garden statues. Pair this beautiful little sculpture with other cute animal statues like the Meerkat Gang Sculpture or the incredibly adorable Standing Little Bear Cub Statue.
If the home or office could use better interior decor, browse the Basil Street Gallery to find high quality, unique gifts and decorations. At Basil Street, you will find a host of classy and beautiful decorations, including the elegant French Neoclassical Griffin Pedestal, the modern Dance of Desire Wall Sculpture, and the exquisite Russian Imperial Eagles Faberge Style Enameled Eggs. As with any of the items in the Basil Street Gallery, these quality decorations are meant to add a touch of class and beauty to any room that hosts them.
Pay nothing for regular shipping on any of these and other items from Design Toscano when purchased by today, December 8th.


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- Ecaterina Harling
- London
- United Kingdom
Consultant, MooD International
This conversation is closed.
What is the key to smarter decisions?
My question to the TED community is what is the key to smarter decisions?
As individuals, how can we make smarter decisions in everyday life?
How is this different in business decision making?
Can we help others make a better decision or should this be done out of own will?
Oct 3 2012: First, I think there is a mis-conception that decisions need to be fast and somehow society equates speed and "decisiveness" with being smart. I think perspective is important - allowing a bit of time to pass (unless the decision about running from a bengal tiger that's come loose in the suburbs).
So, the key is about processing impact and thinking through the chain of events that are set off by decisions. We often think of how the decision effects the outcome of the current choice, but try to predict the ripple effect. What choices will be presented as an outcome of this first decision? What/who will be impacted?
Also, really think about the magnitude of the decision and allow for unpredictable outcomes. No matter how carefully you process information, the energy flow and randomness shape what happens next
. .
Oct 3 2012: Well said Michael :)Oct 10 2012: Agreed. Important to consider both what goes in and what comes out of our decision making processOct 2 2012: We can make smarter decisions by being clear about our personal vision, goals and purpose; seeking knowledge and information concerning the issue to be decided; learning from the experiences of those who have made similar decisions; and seeking wise counsel from those whose life and career successes are evident to all.
- 0
Oct 10 2012: I think this also applies in the business environment. A decision could be considered smarter, if it aligns to the organisation's vision, goal and purpose; seeking knowledge from experts and research in the market/industry research concerning the issue to decide; learning from the experience of others- bench marking...
Rick Ryan
Oct 4 2012: I made a post earlier in this thread, but after reading other posts since then, I'd like to add another thought that has been implied by several here.
- +3
The speed at which you make the decision should be directly related to the "cost" of correcting it if it was a "wrong" decision.
I learned this concept when I was young while reading a book written by a "corporate executive" describing his life (I don't remember who it was right now). He said (this is not a firm quote, but paraphrased):
"If your decision is whether to buy Baby Blue or Buffalo Brown coffee cups to hand out to your employees, pick one and make it a fast decision. It won't cost much to buy the other color cups again if you were wrong. And depending on your own salary, it might cost the company more in your salary pay if you take 30 minutes agonizing over it than the cost of the coffee cups. But if your decision might cost the company a few million dollars if you are wrong, that is the decision you want to spend your time on making."
Made perfect sense to me. A decision to buy a Snickers bar vs a Milky Way takes me about 3 seconds (OK, I admit...sometimes I just buy one of each to make it easier). ;-)
. .
Oct 4 2012: 1 second : snickers ;-)
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Oct 4 2012: Woo-Hoo! A doctor who likes Snickers! If I lived near you, you'd be my physician! ;-)Oct 4 2012: Elementary Dr Ryan, rudimentary logic, what is important and what ain't
Oct 4 2012: Might be elementary, but I see and know a lot of people who don't use it.
Oct 4 2012: ExactlyOct 10 2012: I think it might be better to associate a decision to value rather than cost... though it might be slightly harder to measure, I think it would result in less 'wrong' decisionsOct 3 2012: One method of smarter decision is removing human errors. There are several ways to do this.
I like S.T.A.R.
Stop - Take a minute and clear your head and focus
Think - Concentrate on task at hand one step at a time
Act - Perform task
Review - Verify correct actions taken and proper indications of action occure
The last step is the most important.Oct 3 2012: What helps me make smarter decisions in my daily life is the 20/80 rule, which means 20% of what you do creates 80% of your life it can even be a lot less. For example if someone skips breakfast or even just there morning cup of coffee it's going to have an effect on there mood and performance which then can affect other things such as being in a bad mood around there boss in the morning etc. That's why I believe it's so important for us to be kind,compassionate and caring in our daily lives for we are having more of an impact on each other then we could ever imagine.
Rick Ryan
Oct 2 2012: In my opinion...
- +3
Game Theory, Risk Management, and understanding Human Nature and how it applies to both.
We live on a planet with 7 Billion people. The decsion you make will be "smart" only if it results in the outcome you are hoping for. That is not hard to achieve if the other 6,999,999,999 people have no ability to impact the result of your decision. However, there are very few decisions you will make where that is how it works. But, if the decision really ONLY will effect you, with no one else being able to affect the outcome of it, AND your decision will not adversly affect anyone ELSE, then it can be argued (usually) it was a "smart" decision for you to make.
The problem with making decisions that affect groups of people are complicated by the Human Nature issue. Solving "world problems" becomes increasingly difficult as the number of people involved concerning the decision itself AND the results of that decision are considered. The more "players" involved, the more difficult it is to find a solution that will make everybody "happy"...or may even be "fair" concerning everybody for that one decision. Expect dischord and discontent...and maybe even violent reactions...from a least some of them, regardless of what course of action you finally decide to take.
Your question asks about decision making in "everyday life". Every decision is a "daily life" decision, regardless of who is making it or the scope of the decision. World Leaders trying to solve "world problems" are all making "everyday life" decisions.
As for businesses? The decison making is dependant on accepted expectations of the business model. Is it a for-profit business? The decision-makers should be making for-profit decisions. Does it have investors? The decisions should be aimed at maximizing the returns for those investors. Yes, I know that is not a popular concept...but it is the realistic one. Just like anyone looking for the highest interest returning bank account.
Oct 2 2012: Rick,
You touch on an excellent point. While it would be optimal to use reason and leave emotions out of the decision making process, fact is human nature is such that emotions cannot be simply ignored, nor can we pretend that we can rationally suppress them all.
Funny that you mention game theory and risk management... I am a big fan of Kahneman and Tversky and their work on prospect theory, and the process of decision under uncertainty. Any decision process that aspires to be a bit smarter, has to take into account the innate flaws that our own decision making process has embedded.
Epicurus used to say (or so i am told) that in a social environment the best decisions are those that minimize suffering (versus maximizing joy and pleasure, something he was frequently accused of preaching). I tend to like that idea as a guide in my decision making process when the outcome affects more than one individual.
Being aware of our own biases helps, and making the effort of letting go of deep rooted beliefs helps too.
Sometimes i use a quote: good judgement mostly comes from experience, but experience mostly comes from bad judgement.
So we must allow ourselves to try and fail.
Rick Ryan
Oct 2 2012: Andres,
- +4
I like your qoute, "good judgement mostly comes from experience, but experience mostly comes form bad judgement." It is so true.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity."
Most people who survive "crisis" do so because they were prepared for it. They weren't just "lucky". They learned good decision making skills, then used those skills on a daily basis to avoid any "crisis" from occuring to them. For the crisis that they had no control over, they were prepared to weather the storm from it while others just got swallowed up by it.
Oct 10 2012: "Most people who survive "crisis" do so because they were prepared for it." - I like your point on being prepared for a crisis as a result of good decision making skills. I think it is a point very well made. A lot of individuals/ businesses sink because when the crisis occurs, they are swallowed up but its development rather than deciding on how to improve/stop whatever is occurring by carefully implementing decisions.Oct 31 2012: There are two ways you can make smarter decisions, one by sheer luck; you chose the best option with limited knowledge of the consequences of every option available and then it turned out to be the best decision possible. The other is by fully knowing the consequences of each option and then choosing the more suitable. So basically you need better knowledge tools (intelligence), but you also need a very well calibrated system to ponder the pros and cons of every option at hand (experience), because the best knowledge wont give you the best decision possible if you are not able to properly measure the pros and cons. And finally you need to have your priorities sorted (vision) otherwise you may end up making the right decision at the wrong time.
Nov 1 2012: Point very well made. A clear vision, assessing options and understanding the impact.... and an element of luck!
Oct 24 2012: There is much research on 'decision making' and what makes for a 'good' decision. Many books have been written, many classes have been taught, on how to make them. 'The key' to me is not how they are determined, but how they are received and/or implemented. We do not live in a vacuum, so our actions (decisions) are being assimilated into the group. How our decisions effect that group (including our personal world) will reflect whether a decision is a 'smart' one or not - in my opinion.
- +2
Oct 24 2012: Very interesting thoughts. What do you think constitutes leading research in this area?
Oct 25 2012: Oh, guys/gals with PhD's who study this stuff. One has to have credentials to have the credibility to have their work considered "leading research".Oct 22 2012: All the decisions that one make can never be smarter. Only time tells whether the decision taken at some point of time was correct (i.e., smart) or incorrect (i.e., not so smart). When one makes a decision, depending upon one's background, education, experience, knowledge and experience about the matter itself etc. one takes a decision. Thereafter, whether the decision taken was a smart one or not would also depend upon how the developments take place. The so-called non-smart decisions work as lessons of life and help one to make smarter decisions in future.Oct 17 2012: Smart decision simply means that it is an educated decision. Otherwise it can never be a smart decision. An educated decision is always the smartest one. The more you know the subject or object etc.. the smarter the decision. Without all of this, it becomes only a decision.
- 0
Hayder Hafid
Oct 16 2012: Emotional intelligence on the impact of decision-making can possibly be the "key" to smarter decisions. What I mean by this is being in control of the emotions when the time comes to make a decision. Research shows that when you are angry you are more likely to take riskier decisions whereas when you are fearful you will be more cautious.
- +2
One aspect of being emotionally intelligent is having greater awareness over ones feelings. By being aware of these feelings you can ensure that these feelings do not come in the way of a rational decision.
In addition by being more aware, when you are in the final stages of the decision, you will be aware of your confidence, if it is the right decision.
Emotion and rationality need to be balanced in order to ensure an effective decision.
Under emotional intelligence also comes the ability to understand others feelings, so in the scenario of a group decision, an emotionally intelligent individual that can feel another person's emotion will be able to lean towards a decision in all favours.
Wade Crum
Oct 11 2012: Smarter is relative to your own perception of the world around you. It's not important what other's think might be the best decision, ultimately you must choose your own path. Know thyself and act accordingly.
- +2
Business is completely opposite because it is important to know what other people think about your products and services. And you must convince your patrons that they made a smart decision for going with your company.
Rick Ryan
Oct 10 2012: Another thought about decision making. Decisions require both Management and Leadership skills, depending on the type of decision being made.
- +2
A person in a decision-making position has four distinct resources available to them...Equipment, Money, Time, and People.
The first three are limited resources, and they need to be Managed.
The fourth resource...People...can be an unlimited resource depending on what you can get them to accomplish. It's not just the number of people you may have available (as in being "limited"), but whether you can provide them a means to motivate themselves to use their full potential. People are an amazing resource when you can get them self-motivated to achieve something. But this requires that you LEAD people, not Manage them. The failure of many supervisors making decisions about their "people resource" is that they try to Manage them instead of Leading them.
Oct 11 2012: So if we return back to the point of assessing the information we have (made by Colleen earlier in the thread), I think it is fair to say that the start of the journey to smarter decisions would be in assessing the four elements you've outlined before making the decision
Oct 13 2012: Absolutely. And even though I addressed those four resources as applying to a "supervisor of (other) people", it is just as important to realize that I, as an individual, am "the supervisor of myself".
Even when making decisions that may only affect me, I need to evaluate all four of those resources as they apply to myself too before making a "smart" decision. I need to manage the first three resources as they apply to me, but "lead" the fourth resource...myself...because I myself am "a people".Oct 10 2012: I have 2 great answers for this question but I can not decide which to present.
Oct 10 2012: haha! two great answers wouldnt count for much if you have not decided which one to present..
what you have chosen is not a "smarter decision" you gotta learn how to decide man..hehehe..peace! ^^,)
Jasper Chan
Oct 8 2012: In my opinion to make smarter decision is fairly simple. First you must have an open mind. Second you must have the ability to retain the information given. Third, you must look at the information critically. Fourth, follow through with your decision.
- +2
I find making decisions easy but having the discipline to follow through is the hardest. Its not really the "make" the decision that gets me. Its in fact do have the discipline to maintain and stick to my decision.
Oct 10 2012: I think there's a fifth point as well, which was made in several of the thread's comments: assess what is the impact of the decision that has been implementedOct 5 2012: Understanding the long term and short term consequences of the decision.
Barry Palmer
Oct 3 2012: David Campbell: Discipline is remembering what you want.
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This is difficult when faced with choices of alternative goods, whether it is a house, an automobile or your next meal. Decide what you really want before looking at the catalog, the menu, or in the refrigerator; then remember.
JaeHun Shin
Oct 3 2012: I don't think there is smart decision in absolute term because you will know the decision you made was smart after you see how the result of your decison turn out. It depends on every single situation and the decision you concluded as smart at the one situaion might not be smart at the other situation. So, the point that I am trying to make here is we have to develop the ability to distinguish which decision wll be better in certain situation. In order to do that, we should analyze the situation we face considering every possible variables that might affect your decision and find the fittest one.Oct 3 2012: Be informed and thoughtful decision makers. Put the appropriate amount of research time in to big decisions. Understand rewards vs benefits trade-offs. There will always be risk, but we can reduce it with information and thought. The decision to buy a car should be based on needs, resources, and comparative costs. The decision to eat a hamburger or hot dog at lunch is less complex. Spending the same amount of time and thought making the car decision as the lunch decision may lead to unintended consequences such a s living with a lemon, or hunger pains, depending on which way you go.
- +2
As for helping others with decisions, it depends on many variables. How old are they? What is the urgency of the decision? What is your risk by helping? Telling someone to not pet a cobra if they are intending to do so is worthwhile if the person has no knowledge of snakes. Telling someone who to vote for in an election is not allowing them the opportunity to think for themselves.
In mentoring, I try and point out what I consider to be the major considerations in a decision, then let others make their own decisions. In doing so, their decision should at least be more informed.
In parenting, I tried to let the kids make all the decisions they were capable of making at any given age in hopes they would learn how to make good decisions on their own. I only stepped in after bad decisions were made, health or welfare were at stake, or there were factors that could not be considered by a child necessary to make the decision. So far, both of my adult children have made good decisions in general.Oct 3 2012: Well the first step is to make sure what you want or need. After you are sure about what you want or need then the rest of the decision making process "unfolds" by itself.
Oct 10 2012: Interesting. Thinking to the outcome of what I'd like to achieve helps me make decisions too. I think I identify with this.Oct 3 2012: I use to take decisions very fast after when I read the book Blink by Malcolm Gladwell he describes that how the decisions which are taken in small period of time are sometimes better than the well planned ones. He have given the examples of gambling, war games and the movies.
Before reading this book I use to think, think and think but was oftenly unable to start the task so I like to recommend this book to you.
Oct 4 2012: Hello Noveed,
Going around with "thinking" is a cycle we sometimes get "stuck" in when trying to make decisions by putting things in some kind of logical order. I find that at times, what seems logical, is not necessarily the best decision. That's why I feel it is important to listen also to instinct/intuition:>)
Oct 5 2012: Ofcourse colleen without instincts and intuitions making decisions is like one taking decisions without mind and one thing more how can I disagree with my mentor so quite agree with you. :)Oct 3 2012: A good situation analysis could be the key.....
Whether HEAD / HEART / GUT should take the lead in doing so usually is the point of debate which is also evident here.
In everyday life at personal level "HEART / GUT driven decision seems to be smarter ....while in business most tend be more "HEAD" driven while taking decision......but are those all smart ?
Afterall businesses are run by human being who are emotional.....pure HEAD driven decision can sound very smart but until it is implemented / executed nothing will change. It is people who will implement it and they are emotional. So my feeling is a mix of HEART is always good regardless whether it is at business or personal level.
Oct 3 2012: I agree Salim,
I use the same process for all decisions...gather all available information, listen to the head/logic/reason AND the heart/instinct/intuition. Either one may be more pronounced depending on the situation, but I would not deny myself the opportunity to be open to ALL information, when considering any decision:>)
Oct 4 2012: Hi Colleen
Can't agree more about being open always..........
Critical is which button or combination of buttons to be pressed (i.e. Head/Herat/Gut) when / in which situation ....that's my feeling
Have a good day
Oct 4 2012: Dear Salim,
I reflect back to you, your own words at times, and also remind myself...
"Know thyself" is one BIG key to smarter decisions:>)
Good day indeed....you too my friend:>)
Katy Gimma
Oct 3 2012: Taking a breath. Taking a breath can almost stop time for that brief second. And many times, that one extra moment is all you need.Oct 2 2012: Even with all of the facts and many advisors leaders throughout history have made bonehead decisions. Why would we expect to be more likely to make all the right decisions.
- +2
The cure, as in most things, is time. At 70 I make less decisions based on emotions and hormones.
Perhaps the facts that we all make thousands of great decisions everyday is overridden by the one decision that we beat ourselves up over. My advice is to learn from it and grow from it ...
All the best. Bob.
Oct 2 2012: Dear Robert,
You may be right about that "age" thing!!! Sometimes my decisions don't matter any more because I cannot remember them anyway!!! I simply could not resist...please forgive me because I'm old, and I do not remember what I do..........LOL.............LOL..........LOL:>)
Seriously, I suggest that the "bonehead" decisions made by leaders were to serve their own agenda, so they were not very good decisions that served the whole. Learn and grow.....good advice which I agree with Bob:>)Oct 17 2012: Robert I have to wonder if high-powered leaders who make disasterous decisions are really able to get good, true, objective information about the situations they will influence, or if the structure of leadership often evolves in a way that isolates people with great power over large populations from getting unbiased information.
I would hope that, given 21st century technology, leaders of powerful organizations and countries would sometimes abandon the briefing books and pre-digested information served up to them, then just get on the world wide web and see what people outside of their own power structure and experiencing and saying.Oct 2 2012: Hi Ecaterina!
For me personally, the best decisions are made after gathering all available information, pondering, and letting the decision unfold. I study and research information if that is appropriate, and also listen to instinct/intuition.
Often, after gathering information, I ask the question of myself before going to sleep, because I believe our subconscious mind often works things out while we are sleeping. There may be information we are not aware of on a conscious level, so the subconscious helps us out:>)
I see no logical reason to deprive myself of ANY information which might facilitate a good decision, so I remain open minded and open hearted to everything available. As thinking, feeling, evolving humans, we have the ability to sift through information logically AND intuitively when those functions are working together.
We've seen discussions here on TED where folks ask...what is better...logic OR intuition? I see no reason to seperate these valuable sources of information.
Oct 10 2012: Colleen, what I like most in your answer, is that you concentrate on the question at hand. I think a lot of not such smart decisions are made because people's judgement takes them too far away from the original issue/ problem where the decision is required. I think by actually concentrating on the question at hand, one is opened to a structured thinking process (conscious or unconscious) and is enabled to make a smarter decisions.
Oct 16 2012: Thanks for the feedback Ecaterina:>)
I believe that being clear in ourselves and focusing on the question at hand provides a better path to more useful, beneficial decisions. I agree that decisions that are sometimes not so good, are often because of mental/emotional/logical wandering.
Oct 16 2012: Hi dear Colleen you are absolutely right but I am curious that did you regret any of your decision after you made because I really do with almost all of my decision I made like I started a small business after my graduation instead of doing a job although it is running smoothly and according to my expectations but sometimes I think that job may be better than it even it happens to me in my social and personal life like I have a circle of friends around me whom with I feel comfortable but sometimes I think that I must leave them because they are BAD in the views of people whom I want etc. Is it a regret or something else and does it happen to me or almost all human beings??
(you might be feel difficulty to understand what I want to say due to language problems but if you get it please reply me)Oct 17 2012: Hello Noveed:>)
Good question, and it is a factor which often keeps people from moving forward. It is very common to question ourselves and our choices/decisions. An important question is, how much energy do you want to give to something from the past?
Regret means..."to mourn the loss or death of; to miss very much; to be very sorry for; grief or pain tinged with emotions;an expression of distressing emotion; sorrow; disappointment". Personally, I do not see any benefit in carrying that baggage.
I have no regrets. I believe that the life experience is an exploration, so I do not perceive "failures", "mistakes", or spend my time and energy on regret. When we believe, as I do, that the life adventure is an exploration in which we can learn, grow and evolve as human beings, there is no need to spend time and energy on regret.
As I said in a previous comment on this thread, when facing a decision, I seek all available information, listen to my logical mind and intuitive/instinct, ponder the information and make the decision. I feel confident that I have done everything possible at that time to make a good decision. If, at a later date I am aware of more information, I realize that the decision I made was for the purpose of learning, and another stepping stone on the path of life.
Regarding your decision about starting a small business/or doing another job. You say..."sometimes I think that job may be better..." That is not the reality in the present moment, so why give that thought energy? It's a thought...allow it to move through you and spend your energy on what you are doing in the moment.....make any sense?
The past is gone by, and we can use information from the past to learn. The future is not yet a reality, and it is good to have plans and dreams. Being fully engaged in the present moment, and using my energy in the present, is the most desirable for me, because the present moment is the only reality:>)
Gail .
Oct 2 2012: FIRST, FOREMOST, AND LAST: Learn the difference between a rational thought and an emotional reaction.
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We can help those who are willing to learn this, but cannot help those who are not.Oct 31 2012: The 18 tips offered here are worth considering:
Nov 1 2012: Theodore, thanks for sharing. However, I think there are two conflicting points within the list in the article:
"Adopting someone else's perspective helps us make smarter decisions." and "Most people get it wrong when trying to take others' perspectives."
Nov 1 2012: The two points you are asking about are really the same point, I'll explain.
It can be helpful to imagine ourself in the point of view of others to understand why others act as they do and not as we think they should. (Adopting someone else's perspective) But this can be a difficult thing to do so we might avoid doing it, perhaps not do it actively, or we might let a form of conditioned thinking prevent us from fully considering the other. (Most people get it wrong )
There is a saying, Walk a mile in someone else shoes. It means, try and put yourself in another person's situation if you what to understand them. This is what can help us make better decisions.
Jim Moonan
Oct 29 2012: You've asked a key question, the answer of which makes it more or less likely that you will live a full life.
- +1
When it comes to important decisions, your ability to evaluate the consequences of your decision before making it is prerequisite to making good decisions.Oct 25 2012: We cannot focus on making smarter decisions, just take risks and accept theiir consecuences.
Sometimes silliest ideas are the greatest.Oct 25 2012: Smarter decision.
It is simple and yet complex.You need to have wisdom and in order to attain it,you must educate yourself about the effects and the morals that an idea/decision holds,morals meaning the benefit of an idea for all.You need to reflect upon an idea repeatedly and think of the consequences and effects that an idea holds.A great thinker always think morally,for the good of all.Every thought we make affects the world directly and indirectly/law of attraction.
Smarter decision is made of thinking with great unselfishness,and morally.
in order to attain it you must have a clear mind and be in higher state of consciousness.
I suggest meditation.Oct 17 2012: learn from your mistakes.
nothing new about that other than that there is probably an app for it and a buzzword phrase to make it sound like it's a new thing.Oct 16 2012: Prior to reaching any decisions, by first determining exactly what is to be decided, followed by identifying the potential outcome(s) for having reached each alternative decision, and finally, by planning what will follow once the decision has been reached and acted upon. If you misidentify any of that, all else that follows will be of little value.
The requirements are essentially the same for business decisions although the execution of the process does vary for obvious reasons.
"Can we help others make a better decision or should this be done out of our own will?"
That depends on the nature of the decision and certainly on what is at stake should the wrong decision be reached. I recently conducted research with a statistically representative sample of 517 adults between the ages of 18 and 70 living in the US, regarding their attitudes towards "change". The overwhelming majority accept that professional change initiatives (work related) are almost all done with others. However these same people rarely look beyond themselves or very close family when attempting significant personal change. Since "decisions" are at the heart of change, this (to me) dichotomy is why we fail at so much personal change. And because we do we have personal problems which distract from our ability to focus on professional issues while at work.Oct 14 2012: I think long-term expectations of consequences are important. People tend to prefer decisions that could give them shor-term benefits(Even they are well-known about long-term benefits). That short-term benefits are usually smaller ones. And even if the long-term benefits look trivial at present time, they would become bigger and bigger, and finally change enormous things that we couldn't imagine.
This principle could be applied to business environemt too I guess. Additonally, in business decision making, decision maker should focus on the numerical (financial) aspect more than usual decision making situations. They have to measure the fiscal states and find out where the company are on the competitive playing ground. And then they would decide which decision will create future benefits(long-term benefits) more. Even engineers should measure the future value of engineering projects using 'engineering economics methods'.
...conclusion is that we should focus on the long-term benefits.?!
(It's only my opinion..!)
Have a good day :)Oct 13 2012: I believe smart decisions can be made by focusing on what is important. If you have to choose be between one, two or three or more options then you have start the process of elimination and get down to only two choices. This is not always an easy task but is the a good way to make smarter decisions. First you have to look at what benefits your options have.
For tough decisions, like with politics, decisions can be better made when more people work and think together on them. Is it possible for one or two people to make the right decision that could have an effect on thousands or millinos of people? Yes, but would it not also be a good, possibly better idea to have 10 or even 100 people working together, collectively to figure out what the best decision is?
Think of a decision like building a house. Sure one or two people could do it, but it would be a lot better if you had 100 people working on it? As you can see in this analogy, in both situations, the more people the better. Of course this is not always the case, and 1 or two people could be better at making decsions than even 1,000, people. It just depends on who the people are that are trying to build the house or make the best decisions, and what state of mind those people are in, or what capabilities the people have.
If you want to make smart decisions you have to focus, narrow your options to what is the most important, then make a choice of which option will most likely bring you the best possible outcome.
If someone offered you 20 ounces of a beverage that you had to drink as part of a study, what would you choose?
Mountain dew, that has high amounts of sugar, and calories, or gatorade? Which is the smarter choice?Oct 11 2012: for smarter decisions i think we can have quick smarter mind to do so .we can have that access to our mind though which we can quickly decide that should we do.
i want to share a moment with you that my flight officer said that if you are driving a car and our car ran out of gas and what would you do? of course you will park your car in side but if you are flying a fighter and suddenly your fighter became damage at that situation he said you have to quickly decide that are you going to die or you will do some better decision/.
Sabina Varga
Oct 10 2012: There's really no way of knowing if a decision is better than another. You cannot judge it only by the immediate effect. Any decision you take has long term effects as well. Plus, the cost of opportunity applies. Not only can you not judge the "smartness" of your current decision, but once made, all other possible decisions are lost.
- +1
What I'm trying to say is... I don't think there's a way to compare the "smartness" of decisions. You decide what you think it's best at that moment and that's it.
Oct 19 2012: agreed. I find the question lacking in substance/relevance. no offense intended. in fact, may have been a smart marketing effort. :)
more importantly, ask: why do I want to make 'smarter decisions?'
seth log
Oct 9 2012: every day we are making decisions it may be smarter or wiser all of it are risk that we have to face what ever is the result. in business we can do damage control but in our everyday life it is our selves asking for some opinion is fine but end of the day we still have the call what is best for ourselves Prayers and trust in your self is still the best. also do not take for granted our instinct it helps also good day....
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text:
Articles by Mark McGinniss
- When All Else Fails: God's Grace through Trigeminal Neuralgia
A DTS grad suffers with one of the most painful conditions known to humanity. And God is there.
The mission of Dallas Theological Seminary is to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.


text:
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"Beyond the Light" takes us into the universe of the visually impaired through six blind people in Brazil. Their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. In upbeat accounts, they expose the reality of their lives and show that the road to a better life is through education and information. The importance of Louis Braille in this process is crucial and, therefore, Goulart went to France to discover the story of this renowned man who invented a simple and useful writing system, which opened the doors of knowledge to all those who can't see.
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Cast: Ivy Goulart, Minna Taylor, Hilma Falkowski, Stephen Moskovitz, Mike Catapano
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text: I hope they do this whole comedic voice when the whole hardy thoughts comes to and end. it would show how silly it was and would be a good close to the idea. You could have other wrestlers share their thoughts and then come to EY where there are no thoughts. Tara could be thinking of her age, Jesse Godderz could be thinking about himself and his muscles. If James Storm wasn't being pushed as "serious" he could be thinking about beer. then EY could have the sound of crickets in his thoughts.


text:
Prescriber Education Program
What is the Prescriber Education Program?
The Prescriber Education Program (PEP) is a partnership between the Department of Health and the State University of New York (SUNY) Medical and Pharmacy institutions. PEP provides prescribers with an evidence based, non-commercial source of the latest objective information about pharmaceuticals.
What is the goal of the program?
The goal of the program is to optimize the quality of care for New York State Medicaid beneficiaries by providing clinicians with the most current information on best practices in pharmaceuticals and therapeutics. There are two main components to the Prescriber Education program. The first component, the "core curriculum" is accessible to Medicaid clinicians statewide via the training links shown below. The materials found on the training sites were developed by DOH, OMH, and Medicaid's academic partners. The second component of the prescriber program is statewide on-site educational sessions. These sessions take place in clinics and physicians' offices. This component involves a combination of educational materials, phone conversations, and face-to-face visits by academic clinical pharmacists (PharmD's) from SUNY Medical and Pharmacy campuses.
Academic Partners:
Training materials developed or adapted by SUNY will be accessible through a web server at Stony Brook University:
On-line Training Links:
Training for Bronchiolitis:
RSV Bronchiolitis
Training for Diabetes:
Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a New York State Medicaid Clinical Guidance Document
Diabetes Prevention and Management Toolkit
Training for Asthma:
NYS Consensus Asthma Guidelines "Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Management of Adults and Children with Asthma"
Asthma in the Primary Care Practice
Training for Hypertension:
Hypertension in Diverse Populations: a New York State Medicaid Clinical Guidance Document
Training videos and CME courses regarding psychotropic prescribing
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Department of Health (DOH) are now offering Web-based Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses as part of a continuing effort to improve psychotropic prescribing practices. Maximum accreditation is 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credits for the youth course, and 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 credit each for the adult cardiometabolic and for the psychotropic poypharmacy courses.
Training videos and CME courses are available on-line at:
Cardiometablic (Youth): https://psyckesmedicaid.omh.state.ny.us/Common/CardiometabolicYouth.aspx
Cardiometabolic (Adult): https://psyckesmedicaid.omh.state.ny.us/Common/CardiometabolicAdult.aspx
Psychotropic Polypharmacy: https://psyckesmedicaid.omh.state.ny.us/Common/PolypharmacyCME.aspx
Contact InformationProgram Coordinator: Colette Montague:
e-mail: email@example.com
Phone: (716) 645-4804


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Phone: (218) 755-2560
Physical Location: Lower Hobson Union, across from the Bookstore
Mailing Address:
Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Dr. NE, #31
Bemidji, MN 56601
BSU is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
BSU is among a select group of leaders in EPA's Green Power Partnership.
"The Environment is everything that disappears when you close your eyes."
~ SuperForest


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Chairs can be simple, wooden, seats sans frills or they can be regal, sculpted thrones. Both types of chairs were used during Medieval times but only the royalty could afford thrones and chairs that doubled as sculpted works of art. In modern times, the average person can afford to sit in royal splendor at gorgeous Gothic tables. No need to rest in simple uncomfortable chairs when you can lounge in luxury in the beautiful San Lorenzo Renaissance Cross-Frame Chair. Modeled after chairs that were reserved for nobility and other members of the ruling class in medieval Italy, this striking piece of furniture is made of polished hardwood and shows sculpted lion's heads on its arms. Use it as a throne when watching your favorite shows, playing cards, or entertaining guests.
You can treat your guests like royalty with this authentic replica of the Lord Cumberland Throne. This solid, wide cushioned seat is regally carved in the Georgian style and has a comfortable, hand-tacked leather cushion. Since Lord Cumberland needed a chair that was equally fit for both visiting kings and queens, he had one spindle carved in the likeness of a king's head and the other depicting a queen.
Buy these high-quality replicas of antique furniture and Egyptian tables between today and Thursday, October 4th, and get 20% off the regular price!


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Jake's Corner
1/8/14 LiLo's Computer Stolen
Find me on Facebook: Jake Emily Poyet Webb
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Lindsay Lohan claims her computer has been stolen from an airport in China and she's offering up a reward for its safe return. Lohan has been in China during the new year where she was honored with the Sohu Fashion Achievement Award, and was also spotted partying in Shanghai nightclubs. But on Tuesday Lilo revealed that someone stole her computer from the airport, and she is desperate to get it back.
A Photoshop expert claims that KIM KARDASHIAN used Photoshop to manipulate the workout selfies she posted over the weekend. He pointed out supposed evidence that proves she enhanced her butt and shrunk her waist and hips.
When DREW BARRYMORE found out her now-husband Will Kopelman hadn't seen a couple of her movies, she immediately rectified the situation. He says, quote, "She was angry and surprised I hadn't seen 'Grey Gardens' or 'Ever After' and immediately sat me down and had me watch them."
Yesterday on "Ellen", LEONARDO DICAPRIO revealed that he almost got eaten by a gigantic GREAT WHITE SHARK back in 2006. It got stuck in a shark cage with him while he was filming a scene for "Blood Diamond", and it got within a few feet and tried to take a bite out of him.
Blue Ivy Carter turned TWO yesterday . . . and BEYONCÉ and JAY-Z reportedly celebrated by giving her a HORSE. But not just any horse.
MediaTakeOut.com says they bought her a $75,000 horse . . . a, quote, "full-blooded Arabian, suitable for competing in equestrian."
1/7/14 Maxim's Woman of the Year
Find me on Facebook: Jake Emily Poyet Webb
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Rumor has it that NICKI MINAJ is PREGNANT, and LIL WAYNE is the father. They've always claimed their relationship is platonic, and Wayne is engaged to another woman. But Nicki was reportedly seen at a dinner recently with a baby bump, and she was drinking water instead of booze.
The people at "Maxim" magazine have named 38-year-old EVA LONGORIA their Woman of the Year. She says, quote, "It's especially awesome after how long it's been since my first cover." Eva actually had to reschedule her "Maxim" interview because she was getting her MASTERS. She says, quote, "I was like, 'My brain can't jump that fast from a 'Maxim' interview to a thesis!'"
JENNA JAMESON went online to ask her followers to help her track down a guy who was harassing her. She even showed her boobs as incentive. Within an hour, she had the guy's home address, driver's license number, social security number and credit score.
"Forbes" has released its annual "30 Under 30" list of "do-gooders" who are "reinventing the world", and it features a ton of celebrities. There are actually a total of 450 people on the list, in 15 different categories. So among all the inventors and scientists, you'll find MILEY CYRUS, JENNIFER LAWRENCE, JUSTIN BIEBER, RIHANNA, and ONE DIRECTION, to name a few.
1/6/14 Charlie Sheen Married?
Find me on Facebook: Jake Emily Poyet Webb
Monday, January 6, 2014
CHARLIE SHEEN had been nothing but gracious to ASHTON KUTCHER after he took his place on "Two and a Half Men". But that grace period is apparently OVER. Yesterday, Charlie Tweeted a promo picture from the show, featuring Ashton and JON CRYER, along with the following caption: "Hey Jon!!! u r a GENIUS!!! I effin love and MISS YOU old pal! Q; who's your lame sidekick?" And he added the hashtag, "#NiceTryCanonBoy."
Also, Charlie Sheen claims he got married sometime last week. Sheen said Sunday he married his porn star girlfriend, Brett Rossi, while on their trip to Iceland over the New Year.
The rumor mill on the street claims that Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are going through a rocky patch in their marriage, and Nicole has reportedly dropped about 20 pounds in just a few months. She is looking dangerously thin, and friends and family are worried about her.
PAUL WALKER'S "Fast and Furious" character Brian O'Connor won't be killed off in the upcoming 7th installment. Instead, the filmmakers will "retire" the character in a way that gives him a proper send-off and allows the franchise to continue without him. Meanwhile, the newly-released autopsy report spells out the gruesome injuries that killed Paul.
1/3/14 Khloe Preggers?
Find me on Facebook: Jake Emily Poyet Webb
Friday, January 3, 2013
Mariah Carey has started a new holiday tradition. She has been spending her time performing for dictators. RadarOnline reports that just weeks after she raked in $1 million for a performance for the controversial President of Angola, she spent New Year's Eve singing at a party hosted by the Sultan of Brunei, whom CBS News has called one of "the world's enduring dictators."
MediaTakeOut.com is reporting that Khloe Kardashian is pregnant. And while her "people" are denying it, the website says it's all fact. Reportedly, Khloe announced her pregnancy and asked the entire family to keep the news quiet. Khloe's momanger Kris is working on the proper time and place to make the announcement. –Also, Khloe is said to be "pretty sure" it's Lamar Odem's baby, but there is a possibility that rumored boyfriend, Matt Kemp's.
Are Sean Penn and Charlize Theron the newest celeb couple of 2014? Sure looks like it. The two sparked romance rumors over New Year's as they were photographed vacationing together at Sean's home in Hawaii. A witness described the pair as "very close and comfortable together."
1/2/14 James Avery Dies
Find me on Facebook: Jake Emily POyet Webb
Thursday, January 2, 2014
James Avery -- the beloved dad on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" – died Tuesday night at the age of 68. Sources say Avery had undergone open heart surgery and took a turn for the worse Tuesday. Reportedly, his wife, Barbara, had been at his bedside but left for a short period of time and when she came back ... she learned he had just died.
Bar Rafaeli apparently believed she needed some help in the beauty department. The supermodel underwent a "vampire facial," which is apparently all the rage with the rich and famous. Bar shared a picture of herself during the procedure with blood all over her face. The facial involves drawing blood from the arm and separating it into platelet-rich plasma using a centrifuge. That's then combined with Restylane or Juvederm, and injected into the patient's face to stimulate collagen production. It allegedly creates new skin and removes fine lines. Umm….gross!
Tori Spelling continues to put on a happy holiday face despite the cheating rumors surrounding her husband Dean McDermott. Tori tweeted a New Year's Day message and photo to her fans, speaking volumes in just a few words. She wrote, "Happy New Year! Love, The McDermotts", along with a photo on her website that showed her cuddling with her husband and kids.


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Come to Barcelona this February ( From 25th to 28th ) and enjoy The Mobile World Congress 2013, the largest mobile trade show in the world. This year the event will take place at Fira Gran Via, a new and modern venue made for these kinds of events.
The mobile ecosystem is expanding at lightning speed, with endless innovation and new applications for mobile technology. From contactless payments and augmented reality to embedded devices and connected cities – mobile technology is changing the global landscape. The impact mobile phones will have on the world is limitless.
This annual event is the planet's best venue for mobile industry networking, new business opportunities and deal-making. The Mobile World Congress includes a world-class conference featuring visionary keynotes and action-provoking panel discussions; an exhibition with more than 1,500 companies displaying the cutting-edge products and technologies that define the future of mobile; App Planet, the Centre of the Mobile Apps Universe; mPowered Brands, where marketers and agencies can increase their knowledge of mobile marketing; and the annual Global Mobile Awards ceremony , which recognises the most innovative mobile solutions and initiatives from around the world.
During the four-day event, more than 70,000 senior mobile professionals will network and exchange ideas – one of which may further change the landscape of mobile. We invite you to join us in Barcelona for The Mobile World Congress 2013 as we explore the New Mobile Horizon together. For more information visit www.mobileworldcongress.com.


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Many Corvette enthusiasts have been faced with the prospect of restoringthe stainless moldings and trim during a restoration. While stainlesssteel trim and moldings are seldom used on modern cars due to the costof materials, manufacture, and labor, they were often used on earlierCorvettes during a period when the underlying philosophy focused onsubtle styling cues and attention to detail.
The intrinsic value of stainless is in its timeless appearance anddurability. Its beauty comes from the way it refracts light and thecontours of the surfaces around it. But, like all metals, stainlesssteel also oxidizes and is subject to marking from wear and tear overthe years. Restored stainless trim is a thing of beauty that can quicklyremind us of the qualities auto manufacturers of yesteryear wanted us toenjoy.
Stainless steel can deteriorate over time (especially on 40-year-oldCorvettes), but the main advantage to this metal is its resistance torusting, staining, pitting, and exposure. The best we can hope for isthat the trim will simply require buffing, but often there arescratches, dents, or damage, especially if someone has removed themoldings incorrectly.
After assessing the condition of each piece, there are three options ifthey're damaged: replace the molding if reproduction parts areavailable, source original pieces and have them restored by a pro, orrestore and refinish the original parts yourself. There are numerousshops that can restore stainless, but if you like to tackle jobs likethis and the part isn't a total disaster, you can do it yourself. Thefollowing is a recap of what has worked for us; it addresses theprocess, setup, tools, and safety aspects.
Getting Set Up
Several preparation steps will make the job easier, safer, and produce abetter end result. First is setting up a work area. Ask anyone who hasdone polishing work, and they'll tell you it can be an extremely dirtyjob. Try to segregate the work area as much as possible. We set up asmall work area, screened off with plastic curtains, to contain the"fallout" from polishing. Residue from polishing compound and bufferwheels can get into areas you never imagined. Have a sturdy work bench,a vise, and good lighting. A fluorescent light mounted on a moveable armcan position the lighting where you need it.
With the exception of polishing and buffing, much of this work can bedone by hand, but power tools make it much easier. Basic handtoolsinclude: various-shaped files, an assortment of different-gritsandpaper, a rubber sanding block, and a bench vise with soft jaws.Making a few dent-removal tools from hardwood can be a real help. Formachine tools, in addition to the buffer unit, a belt-sanding tool suchas the Multi-Tool can be helpful. A Dremel tool with an assortment ofsanding and polishing bits can also be useful for small areas.
There are a number of alternatives for the buffer unit, ranging fromconverting your bench grinder to a buffer by installing polishing andbuffing wheels, to the purpose-designed units such as those from Baldor.Most companies recommend a unit that will turn 3,600 rpm for stainlesspolishing, but an 1,800-rpm unit should work fine as well. You also haveyour choice of horsepower ratings: 3/4, 1, and 11/2 hp. Thelower-horsepower units should work well for most jobs and areconsiderably less expensive. The larger units have longer spindles andlarger-diameter buffing pads, which can help you get into tight areas.Which one is best for you depends on how much of this work you plan todo and the size of the parts being refinished. Companies such asEastwood offer buffers, buffing wheels, and compounds for this type ofwork.
Having a sturdy stand for the unit is also important, as there must beenough space for the piece you're restoring and the unit has to be heldsecurely in place. Most sources recommend bolting it in place, but ifyou can't do that, making a platform to bolt the stand to should workwell. We use a 1/4-inch diamond plate as a mounting base. Bench-mountingcan work for small pieces, but you usually won't have the access youneed for larger parts.
J&L Industrial Supply (www. jlindustrial.com) and Eastwood(www.eastwoodcompany.com) are two sources for buffers. The Multi-Toolcan be found at Multi-Tool (www.multitool-usa.com) and Van Sant(www.vansantent.com/multitool.htm#belts). This tool can be purchased asan add-on to your bench grinder or as a stand-alone unit that includesthe motor.
Safety Equipment
Metal restoration, particularly the polishing/buffing aspect, requires agreat deal of care for your safety. Eye, hand, and breathing protectionare essential. Use a full-face shield or goggles to protect your eyes.For gloves, we prefer tight-fitting leather ones that provide a goodgrip and help in handling a part, which sometimes becomes hot and oftenhas sharp edges. The respirator should be approved by NIOSH (NationalInstitute for Occupational Safety and Health).
A great deal of concentration is required when using the high-speedbuffer. One slip could injure you or damage the part you're restoring.Always focus on the part and avoid distractions. Companies such asEastwood offer videos, which can be helpful. Also consider wearing oldclothes with long sleeves, or a workshop apron or an old windbreaker, tohelp keep peace in the family. Whatever you wear, make sure nothing isloose, as it could get caught in the buffing wheel.


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Model No. 02 — Collection 001
Customize. Personalize. Play.
The little black dress just met its match — Barbie®! Sleek and sophisticated, each Barbie Basics™ doll wears a stylish little black dress, and features a beloved Barbie face sculpt.
Model No. 02 features the Lara face sculpt, a slinky black mini dress with ¾ sleeves, and layers of luscious brunette locks.
For the adult collector.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.
Collector Photos
Product Quote
The LBD may appear simple at first glance, but its subtle onslaught of seduction, sophistication, and glamour makes it unforgettable.