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TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by blackfish on 2007-06-22
Tags: TheFunded.com Lawyers
The Funded should create a section of the site dedicated to which venture lawyers to use and which to avoid. As the company is paying for both their counsel and the VC's counsel, it would be nice to have a resource to find out what you're in for.
[Comment from TheFunded.com] Not a bad idea. If we get over 50 agreements with this post, we will work to add such a section. [End Comment]PRIVATE: Members Only (309 Characters)
Avoid the Associate!
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-03-31
Tags: Pitching Associate
Do not deal with associates in the early part of your pitching process. Identify at least one key partner to be your conduit into a funding source. Associates are important to have engaged later in a deal cycle. If a partner is not present on the early calls, assume that the fund is doing competitive research in a sector. This is a waste of your time.PRIVATE: Members Only (325 Characters)
Reverse Diligence: Research Your New Boardmember(S)
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-04-02
Tags: Preparation Due Diligence Board
Prior to accepting capitla from any fund that will require board representation, one should be sure to spend some time doing background checks on the new boardmember(s). Find out what industry they came from (finance, technology, consulting etc.), check out the quality of their other portfolio investments, and be sure to interview CEO's of those portfolio companies to find out how the investor has contributed (or not) to the BOD. Chances are that you will be stuck with your boardmembers for some time, and it's good to know who you are getting into bed with prior to making any decisions.PRIVATE: Members Only
Pick the First Investors Really Wisely
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-04-02
Tags: Preparation Targets
Your first investors in the angel round or Series A will set the tone for your business and all of your fundraising going forward in a big way. These investors will be your long-term partners in any future funding event, helping your company secure future rounds, or, in the worst case, sabotaging future rounds through indecision or desire for control. Members, read on...PRIVATE: Members Only (1833 Characters)
Focus on the Business Model, Not the Technology
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-05-09
Tags: Pitching Presentation Model
Too many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of being so enamored with their technology or widget, that they spend 55 minutes on how great their technology platform is, and only the last 5 minutes on how they are going to monetize it. Of course, there are always exceptions, but given time and resources (cash) your technology CAN be duplicated, and if it's a good idea, count on it. You stand a better chance if you split up your pitch into two sections, 1. technology and 2. business model. Take the time to be as much of an enthusiastic expert in your market segment as you are on your technology platform. Bottom line, VC's want to know how you are going to make them rich, period. Miss this vital point, and you immediately lose their interest.PRIVATE: Members Only
Watch Out for Old "Option Plan Reload"
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-04-03
Tags: Negotiation Options
When negotiating your term sheet, pay particular attention to issues around the stock option plan. For a series A deal, you will want to have about 15% of the total (fully diluted) shares available for your management team. This is a clever way that VCs will try to add more shares and dilute existing investors. E.g. by making you reload the pool to, say, 22% they are lowering the price per share as they will fund after the reload. They then avoid dilution later when you want/ need to reload the pool.PRIVATE: Members Only (395 Characters)
Angel Networks
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-07-29
Tags: Pitching Angels
If you are looking at venture funding for your first round, I would suggest that you consider an Angel round first. Why" A friend of mine just got early terms to raise $1 MM for 40% of the company in their first round of funding, and it was a preferred round with all of the standard VC protections. This seems fairly aggressive for a new company with bright prospects.
There are great angel networks throughout the world that will offer MUCH more reasonable terms, and, depending on the investors that you attract, you should be able to secure the necessary advice and counsel on business decisions. You can always save the venture round for later, if needed. Members, read on for some concrete advice...PRIVATE: Members Only (1601 Characters)
Industry Standard
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-05-03
Tags: Negotiation Terms Lawyers
When you hear the comment that this term sheet / shareholder agreement is an industry standard you should be very cautious. There are no standards. The phrase means that there are clauses that even the VC feels a bit uncomfortable presenting (or don't think that you will approve them).PRIVATE: Members Only (155 Characters)
Know the Trends
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-04-02
Tags: Preparation Strategy Trends
Venture capitalists tend to invest around trends in the various investment sectors that they cover, which makes sense from a capital concentration standpoint in a given sector. You may be pitching a business that is not related to the current trends, since the trends change every few months, but it is important to understand them. The partners and associates will be actively researching the trends, so a lot of the questions in a pitch meeting will be influenced by the current trends. Questions that may appear irrelevant to you as an entrepreneur may be influenced by the current sector trends. Be prepared.PRIVATE: Members Only (438 Characters)
Do Not Email Your Pitch and Other Thoughts
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-03-08
Tags: Pitching Materials Email
I raised $40m from top tier VCs 6 years ago and am now raising money again for another startup. While initially rusty, I quickly remembered how much of a game this is. Recently I spoke with 3 first time CEO who are raising money for the first time. Here are my 2 cents on a few items. I'm interested in others thoughts.
1. DO NOT leave or email your presentation. you are only educating them on your category (not your job) and informing your competitors. As CEO of a VC funded firm, I always was emailed the presentation of any competitor. IF they insist on seeing presentation before mtg, then they are not interested. All the top guys know this and thus take notes during the meeting. IF they are not taking notes during your meeting and still ask for prez, then they are not interested. DO send them some material to spark interest - founding team resume, paragraph overview, perhaps article about customer pain.
2. First 10 minutes are most critical. Yes, its very hard to get meeting, but once you have meeting, you need to QUALIFY and CONNECT with the partner in the first 10 minutes. Qualify by finding out how much they know about category and space. Connect with him or her personally (without .ppt on). Resist natural inclination to firehouse .ppt since you only now have 45 minutes. The ONLY purpose of the first meeting is to establish interest to have a follow on meeting. If they don't see enough promise in your team and market opportunity, then they will not fund deal and you need to move on.
3. Beware the "Head fake" to learn. "Yes, yes, this is VERY exciting. We want to do this deal." You get excited, send them your research and customer contacts, and they now have learned everything you learned on your dime. Deal excitement then dies. Instead, given them 1-2 very specific items of homework (perhaps contacts for you on due diligence, MAYBE 1 customer contact late in the process). Be constantly giving them homework and watch their _actions_ and not words.
4. Do not serialize pitches. Schedule as much presentations during same 2-3 weeks to generate excitement and interested. The #1 thing to get these guys to move or to pass is another firm putting down term sheet down or seriously looking at deal.
5. Don't forget - 90% will never say no. Pitch, given them homework, then move on. If they are interested, they will find you. It's in their financial best interest to keep as many deals open as possible (yes, this is incredibly frustrating for CEOs but it's the way it is).
6. Keep raising money until money is WIRED. Plenty of deals going south (yes even at top tier firms) before money is wired. Smile, but only believe money being wired.PRIVATE: Members Only
Avoid Exclusivity
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-09-29
Tags: Negotiation Exclusivity
If a fund asks you to go exclusive in the term sheet - AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE. The usual reasoning by the fund for the exclusivity is the difficulty of due diligence. I have had a venture fund pull out after the company signed a completed set of closing documents, and the company was left high and dry with no other warm prospect. You have no control over the decision making of a fund, and, therefore, you should never sign something that limits your options without compensation.PRIVATE: Members Only
Anatomy of the 5 Page Board Packet
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-04-05
Tags: Operations Board Meetings
So, I have wavered between "War and Peace" and the one page agenda for Board meetings. I stand somewhere in the middle. In my humble opinion, less is more, and here is what I recommend: (1) Agenda Page, (2) Minutes, (3) Dashboard, (4) Budget vs Actual, and (5) Business Discussion Points. Throw a cap table and financial back-up in a couple appendices (and make sure to update your cumulative dividends). Members, read on...PRIVATE: Members Only (569 Characters)
Raising Money Takes Longer Than You Think
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-08-02
Tags: Preparation Strategy Effort
As a CEO I make sure I periodically look back at my 'fuck ups' and learn from them. Theres been a few along the way, some small, a couple a little bigger, so I wanted to share one here.
Raising money took way longer than I expected. The search didn't take too long.. the deal completion tooks months and put enormous strain on our resources. Both financially as we bridged our way to funds and on our time and focus. Raising money is a major distraction from running your day to day business. I estimated 2 months to complete the deal. Its taken almost 5 and stretched us thin as well as pulled my attention away from what I am here for - building the business. I'm lucky, we raised money.. but now I get 80+ hour weeks making up lost ground in business development as well as the backlash of robbing Peter to pay Paul the past couple months.
Lesson: Assume 6 - 9 months to search, obtain and close funding and make sure you have both the financial and human resources to run and grow your business during the deal cycle.PRIVATE: Members Only
Pitching Sucks, Be Strong
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Mr. Smith on 2008-07-27
Tags: Pitching Effort
A lot of new entrepreneurs start pitching venture capitalists or angel groups and rejected over and over again, myself included. Entrepreneurs hear the same criticisms across dozens of meetings, which is discouraging. In some cases, you may even have second thoughts about your business, but, before you reconsider your model, consider what is going on.
First, investors use the same critical reasoning for different businesses in related industries as a way of saying "no" politely. For example, with online advertising businesses, your site is not sticky enough. With subscription business, conversion will be too low.
Second, investors are not operational or modeling experts, so their opinion on your business is worth as much as you pay for it: $0. They are experts at convincing entrepreneurs to give them a large portion of a company and the control for the least amount of money.
Third, investors say "no" many times per day, so they are very good at doing it without revealing the real reasoning. Reasoning rarely has anything to do with a model, but it usually has to do with (a) partner personality matches, (b) firm investment focus, (c) other investments by the firm, (d) sector heat, and (e) control.
In general, a new entrepreneur pitching a business should expect to hear "no" between 30 and 60 times before receiving investment. Each "no" meeting can be an opportunity to get closer to a "yes" by learning which aspects of your pitch generate the confusion, resistance, and questions. With each additional meeting, your pitch should get shorter and better. Don't give up. Be Strong in the face of "Trained Skeptics."PRIVATE: Members Only
Summer Doldrums
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-07-03
Tags: Pitching Summer
It's very hard to close a new venture financing over the summer unless you already have a term sheet. Why" Well, most VC's need to get partner consensus on a deal terms, and your deal will likely be competing with different partner vacation schedules. There are some ways to overcome this. Members, read on.PRIVATE: Members Only (1001 Characters)
Do Not Compromise on Board Selection or Governance
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Mr. Smith on 2008-07-27
Tags: Closing Governance
A lot of CEOs get busy right after closing an investment, leaving Independent Board seats unfilled. It is in the best interest of investors to wait and fill the Independent seats, as the investors get time to evaluate the company performance and nominate loyalists with relevant skills while the CEO is too busy to resist. Meanwhile, it is in the best interest of CEO to fill Independent seats right away with a highly qualified industry expert that will support the Company first and foremost.
Many new and experienced CEOs let the governance slip and make small compromises in governance "to get the deal done" or "get the problem off of your plate." From experience, these compromises WILL come back to haunt you. As many as two thirds of all start-up CEOs get replaced, and this process starts with the governance.
The most substantial job of a Board is to fire and recruit the CEO. A seasoned investor with control of an independent seat will orchestrate a management switch faster than you can blink an eye if the results are disappointing. Here are three things that every funded CEO should be doing: (see private)PRIVATE: Members Only (616 Characters)
The VC Apocalypse: Careful with Your Time
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Doe on 2009-03-08
Tags: Pitching Economy Crisis
Fellow entrepreneurs, most VCs are unable to complete capital calls and, therefore, are unable to make new investments. This includes everyone from name brand funds to small funds, and it does not matter if they recently closed a new fund or not. If you are pitching a venture fund, there are two critical pieces of information that you need to know before wasting time with meetings, diligence, and faux terms:
- First, has the fund made an investment in a company that was not already in the portfolio in 2009, and, if so, which company?
- Second, has the fund completed a successful capital call in 2009?
Is the answer is 'no' to either of these questions or the fund is uncomfortable discussing these matters, then don't bother pitching them and move on. Why? Between the dismal exit history, defecting LPs, worthless secondary markets, and massive position devaluations, venture firms are facing an apocalypse right now. The whole concept of 'venture capital' as an asset class is being re-evaluated by accountants worldwide, and the outcome of that work does not look good for venture capitalists.PRIVATE: Members Only
The "Perfect" Pitch Deck
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Mr. Smith on 2008-10-27
Tags: Preparation Materials
Having done over 150 investor pitches across five companies, a concise and well-organized deck is critical to success. No deck will be "perfect," but here is what I learned.
First, the deck should evolve as you meet with investors and evaluate their reaction to each slide, so use version numbers with the file to avoid confusion when sending the deck around. Next, avoid revealing confidential information, such as pending business deals or secret release features. Finally, make sure that each slide is very concise, using one line of text per bullet and no more than six bullets per slide. If possible, use graphics or a chart instead of text.
The whole deck should take 20 to 30 minutes to get through without questions, assuming that half of the meeting will be questions. The ten slides that you need, in my experience, are:
- 1. Vision: What are you trying to do, and why are you doing it"
2. Market: What is the market you are addressing and the estimated value of this market over the next 5 to 10 years"
3. Team: Who are the key three to five executives (Vision, Operations, Tech, Sales, Marketing), and what are their specific qualifications in the target market"
4. Offering: What is your exact offering" If possible, present a three to five minute pre-recorded video demonstration.
5. Roadmap: Where are you in your offering release cycle and with respect to gaining traction"
6. Deals: What are your major partnerships, relationships, etc." This slide should include various logos.
7. Differentiation: How are you different from your three main competitors" This slide should have a simple table.
8. Stats: What are the basic statistics of your company (Round, Investors, Employees, Location)"
9. Financials: What is your high-level projected P&L for the next two years plus the current and previous year, if available"
10. Capital: How much capital are you raising and what will it be used for"
This type of simple presentation has always worked for me. Please add any other ideas or lessons that have worked for you.PRIVATE: Members Only
I Check This Post to Find Out Who to Avoid!
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by docinventor on 2008-04-11
Tags: TheFunded.com
Of course VCs won't like being rated and held under the microscope- that's their job! I come to "thefunded.com" not to determine the merits of an investor, but instead to see if they are toxic and should be avoieded. This is important information that needs to be posted regardless of how the VCs feel about it. The fact that there is so much "vindictiveness" may be reflective of the malignancy of the industry as a whole and how damaging a lot of VC behavior is to their relationship with entrepreneurs.PRIVATE: Members Only
The Game of Innocence
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by MrJames on 2007-12-10
Tags: Preparation Strategy Venture Business
Aspiring entrepreneurs be warned. Venture capitalists will provide money for your idea, but they often walk away with most of the value, especially if you are not careful. Like an amateur sitting at a table of professionals, the cards are stacked against your success, so be prepared. Know the game.
Here are some anecdotal facts. There are five times as many people working in venture capital as there are CEO's that are funded each year (~16,500 vs ~3,000). The average venture funded CEO is fortunate to make 1/10th to 1/20th the return on exit as the venture capitalists. Just the legal fees on a later stage deal will run $50,000 or more per party involved, and the venture capitalists always flip the bill, directly or indirectly. Who do the lawyers work for again"
No matter how nice, no matter how fair, and no matter how genuine a venture capitalist appears, you are being out-smarted, out-lawyered, and out-maneuvered the second you sit down and ask for money. The first step in winning is to understand their motivations: (1) control, (2) risk, and (3) opportunity, in that order. Let's take a look at all three.
The entirety of a venture investment centers around control, and control takes many forms: control of the board, control of the voting, control of the investment capital, and, most importantly, control of the management. Venture capitalists are "control freaks," and the psychology of control is embedded in nearly every aspect of the deal legal structure. Assume that most financing terms, from Board meeting frequency to protective provisions have some origin in control, and analyze them as such. Ask yourself: in good times and in bad, how do these terms affect my behavior as a CEO" For example, did Google really need to have 14 Board meetings in one year... ever"
Venture capitalists are excellent at managing risk. It is assumed that at most venture investments fail, but approximately one in ten succeed. Following this simplistic logic, a venture capitalist would need to make at least $10 from every $1 invested in a success to recover from the 9 losses. Now, not every deal is a total loss, but a lot are. Complex protections are inevitably put in place. Let's look at a common scenario: a company receives $10 MM for 50% of the stock in a participating preferred with a 2x liquidation preference. The company sells for $25 MM right after the investment. How much does the founding team make" Nothing. The "50%" is legalese.
Venture capitalists are not very good at spotting opportunities, or they might have better odds than 1 in 10. However, they are very good at "managing" opportunities as a result. Here are some examples. Venture capitalists do not say "no" (for risk of losing an opportunity). They postpone meetings until you are achieving success, and they flock around markets with success stories. Ever wonder why a venture capitalist calls you out of the blue asking about your company" It's probably because a competitor is succeeding. Every wonder what "demonstrate traction" actually means" It means a nine figure IPO or liquidity event in your sector. Your dream is just potential, and you will be held on the sidelines until "the time is right" for the venture capitalists to make money.
The irony is that the venture capital behavior is largely a response to other abuses by CEO's. At this point, however, the venture capitalists have gone too far. The opportunities in building a venture funded start-up are gone for the great entrepreneurs. It simply makes more sense to go it alone.
You can quote me without attribution.PRIVATE: Members Only
You Don't Own What You Think: Percentages Lie
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by EZ-stuff on 2008-04-21
Tags: Negotiation Terms Equity
You have a piece of paper or a spreadsheet that shows how much you own of your company, normally called a capitalization table. You may have common stock. You may have options. When you take a venture round, the capitalization table neither represents your ownership nor the allocation of shareholder value. Most of the terms that create the Preferred Stock for venture capitalists chip away at the value of common stock and options, so much so that, after a few rounds of investments, the value of common and options are largely worthless. Let's take a look at why and what can be done.
There are the obvious "big" preferred terms that eat away at shareholder value in most liquidity events, such as promising to re-pay the investment first through a "liquidation preference" and then allowing the venture investors to "participate" in the remaining value allocation. Another classic term is to place founder equity in escrow and force the founder to earn it back over years. Then, there are the slew of other terms that reallocate smaller chunks of value, such as cumulative dividends, redemption rights, ratchets, right of first refusals, and expense reimbursements. Finally, there are the many uncertain outcomes, such as allocating escrow to a preference waterfall, that force last minute negotiations where the preferred shareholders have control in many liquidity situations.
Here are some tips for a management team to retain value AND ownership through the process:
(1) Encourage competitive bidding among interested investors
(2) Raise more money than you need and limit the number of investment rounds to two
(3) Eliminate all secondary terms from term sheets and investment agreements
(4) Control a majority of the board under all circumstances
(5) Insist on executed employment contracts with equity and cash guarantees on liquidity
(6) Add mandatory preferred approval of liquidity offers at pre-defined prices
If other people have tips. add them below. It is about time that the capitlization table represents reality!PRIVATE: Members Only
Confidentiality and Business Plans
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by MedTech Expert on 2008-01-01
Tags: Pitching Busines Plan Confidentiality
Do not count on an NDA to keep your business plan out of the hands of those you would least like to see it. Early in my venture career, I believed, falsely, that this would inhibit VCs from sharing the plan. I learned the truth later, when I ran a VC funded company. My investors and those who wanted to ingratiate themselves to me would send confidential material they received directly to me for review. Some times it was to help advise them on certain technologies, and at other times, it was to provide a heads-up on competitive technologies.
Just assume that whatever you write/present will end up with someone (including large corporations) that you would least like to see it. You are better off posting it on Internet!PRIVATE: Members Only
Investor Due Diligence
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by CEO for a while on 2009-08-10
Guys and Gals,
I'd like to recommend that we entrepreneurs band together to stop an inexcusable practice among VCs. I've done a few startups, sold a few companies, bought a few companies. Been active in the publicly-traded and private arenas. Something that completely irks me about VCs today is that they want entrepreneurs to open their books pre-term sheet (on top of the ridiculous gymnastics we already do to get capital.)
After a pitch, and untold number of follow-up discussions, a VC should be able to put down terms. We should not have to introduce them to any 3rd party (our valued business partners, customers, etc.) because its taxing to them UNTIL there's a term sheet on the table.
A later stage company would never let an investor or buyer in the door unless there's a term sheet. Why should an early stage company abandon this discipline?
My view is that we can make claims pre-term sheet. And if they find our claims to be exaggerated post-term sheet (during diligence), they can walk. It's non-binding anyway.
Thoughts?PRIVATE: Members Only (524 Characters)
The Limited Partner Shuffle: It Affects You...
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Mr. Smith on 2008-12-02
Tags: Venture Business Limited Partners
Investors in venture funds, called limited partners, are pulling out or selling their commitments to provide essential capital to the venture model, causing the "Limited Partner Shuffle." Some experts are quoted as saying as much as 10% of all private equity positions will change hands this year in hasty transactions to generate liquidity, including premium positions by top-tier institutions like Harvard. See below:
What does this mean and why is it relevant to entrepreneurs" A quick overview of venture capital will help to answer these questions.
Venture firms raise money to invest from limited partners (LPs), who are normally endowments, pension funds, insurance companies, and other institutions that manage large amounts of capital. An investment in venture capital is considered a high risk asset class with the potential for high returns. The professional consulting firms that publish guidelines for how limited partners should allocate money across asset classes generally recommend that a small portion go into venture capital, sometimes less than 1%. This small percentage still amounts to many billions of dollars per year being entrusted to venture firms by limited partners, who control trillions of dollars.
Generally speaking, a commitment to invest in a venture fund does not require the limited partner to transfer money until the venture firm makes an investment in a portfolio company. So, a $100 MM venture fund does not have $100 MM sitting in the bank. Instead, as venture firms make successive investments, they collect money from their limited partners and distribute that money to portfolio companies in rounds. To cover operating expenses, the venture firms separately collect approximately 2% of the invested capital as a management fee.
In order to ensure that each limited partner honors their obligation to provide money when needed, which is referred to as a capital call, venture funds implement onerous terms for forfeit or default. The most common default protection is to wipe out any returns from all previous invested capital. This encourages an active secondary market for limited partner positions, since it makes more sense to sell a commitment than to lose the value of the money invested to date.
Fast forward to Q4 2008, and you have the perfect storm of venture capital destruction. First, a relatively large number of limited partners, such as AIG and Lehman Brothers, are facing solvency issues, and they can no longer honor any capital calls to venture capital funds. The large scale dissolution of limited partners is something new.
Second, as the equity and debt markets have collapsed, the allocation of limited partners to venture capital has increased as a percentage. If an LP has $1 billion under management and 1%, or $10 MM, committed to venture capital and if that $1 billion suddenly becomes $500 MM, the allocation schedule of 1% stipulates that the LP now only invest $5 MM into venture capital. Many LPs have charters that strictly govern these percentages, forcing the LP to sell commitments in the secondary market to comply.
Third, many potential buyers in the secondary market have liquidity issues of their own. The purchase of a commitment requires resources to buy the asset, resources to pay for future capital calls, and resources to cover management fees at a time where the future is uncertain. The lack of liquidity and uncertainty has caused a collapse in the secondary market values, with many commitments selling for $.50 on the invested dollar or less. This in turn has encouraged limited partners that might otherwise commit to new positions in venture funds to consider purchasing discounted positions in existing funds.
Lastly, venture capital returns have been hard hit by the downturn, reducing or eliminating the ability of certain funds to get back any of the original invested capital. Portfolio company acquisitions are on hold, and the IPO market is frozen. For many limited partners, investing more money into certain venture firms is literally throwing good money after bad when cash is king.
Most venture firms worldwide are facing problems as a result of this "Limited Partner Shuffle." The best firms are distracted by helping limited partners transfer commitments. Other firms will cease making investments for some period of time, possibly forever. Still other firms will not be able to collect their management fees and go under in the next fews months. Nearly everyone will be fundraising and spending a lot less time with their portfolio companies.
Many entrepreneurs are now pitching firms without a future, wasting invaluable time. These "Walking Dead Funds" are going through the motions until the other shoe drops, forcing them out of business. Other entrepreneurs are counting on investments or participation from funds that have no ability to deliver any capital. Lastly, there are entrepreneurs with soon-to-be-insolvent firms that hold controlling preferred equity positions and Board seats, leaving a potentially deadly vacancy in governance and voting control. How do you sell when your primary shareholder is no longer around to grant approval"
As an entrepreneur in today's market, you need to understand the relative health of the investors that you deal with. Start by asking them directly about their financial resources and the state of their limited partners. Don't hesitate to ask other entrepreneurs and other funds as well. You future may depend on having good information about the solvency of investors that you deal with.
[Please reprint any or all of this post. Entrepreneurs need to know.]PRIVATE: Members Only
VC Funding Decisions are Only 20% on the Merit (80% Seems on Whimsical Basis)
TheFunded.com Advice
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-04
Tags: Closing Criteria
I was surprised to read about a large ( $28M) funding win by a company from the local Sand Hill VC's. Only a few months ago, I was inteviewed by this company for a C-level position and found them to be essentially a big fraud.
As someone who has spent 10+ years in this technology space, their claims about how their product/system works is just not possible. This is not my ego but a matter of science.
My only guess is that VC's felt good about the CEO/founder while playing some golf.
So to what extent is it a true meritocracy to get your startup funded by a VC"


text:
Two more breads from "Flour Water Salt Yeast"
Ken Forkish's "Pain au Levain" and "Overnight Country Brown"
September 2, 2013
I continued my test baking of the formulas in Ken Forkish's Flour Water Salt Yeast last weekend. I baked two new (to me) formulas. One calls for an overnight bulk fermentation and the other for overnight cold retardation of the shaped loaves.
I have yet to bake anything from this book that works according to the prescribed schedule. This is so different from my experience with any other bread baking book, and I still haven't figured out exactly why there is this systematic difference. On the other hand, I do understand what Forkish is after and how he adjusts his formulas to achieve a long fermentation, either in bulk at room temperature or of formed loaves under refrigeration. And, on the third hand, even though it's frustrating to not be able to bake according to the author's intentions, every single bread or pizza I have baked from Forkish's formulas has been outstanding. Except, if the timings are so far off, they are really not his anymore. <sigh>
Forkish's take on pain de campagne is a 10% whole wheat pain au levain, spiked with instant yeast. 20% of the flour is pre-fermented. After an autolyse, the dough is meant to be fermented in bulk for about 5 hours, then divided, shaped and cold retarded for 12-14 hours before baking in a hot oven.
My dough had doubled in 3 1/2 hours, so I shaped it and retarded it overnight at that point.
His Overnight Country Brown contains 30% whole wheat and 12% pre-fermented flour. It is supposed to be bulk fermented at room temperature for 12 to 15 hours (overnight), then divided, shaped and proofed at room temperature for about 4 hours.
My dough had grown 2.5 times in volume and was very gassy after 5 hours. It clearly wasn't going to survive an overnight at room temperature. I shaped a boule at that point and retarded it overnight.
In summary, both doughs fermented much faster than Forkish's procedures called for. They ended up being treated very similarly. I was not surprised, from my previous experience, but I did want to see what kind of bread the very long bulk fermentation would produce. I think the only way I am going to be able to stick with Forkish's times is to radically reduce the levain.
The breads that were produced were quite similar. I would generally expect the bread with more whole grain flour to be more sour, especially with the long bulk fermentation called for, but the much greater amount of levain in the pain de campagne made it significantly more sour than the Country Brown. I would rate the latter as mildly sour and the former as mild to moderately sour. Both breads had a crunchy crust and soft, tender-chewy crumb. The flavor was delicious, especially the boldly baked crust.
Overnight Country Brown and Pain de Campagne from FWSY
Overnight Country Brown crumb
Pain de Campagne
I am delighted with the eating quality of both these breads. They are wonderful. But I sure would like to be able to taste them as Ken Forkish meant them to be. Maybe in Winter when my kitchen temperature runs in the mid-60's (Fahrenheit) I will.

subset: commoncrawl


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PhD in Information Science & EngineeringSri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering
In Mysore
Price on request
Important information
- PhD
- Mysore
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Ask a question and other users will answer you
Course programme
The institute conducts PhD in Information Science & Engineering. The students are assisted by several advanced facilities. The department has well-qualified, experienced and dedicated faculty, supported by workshops. Well-developed library, and highly qualified and experienced faculty are the reason for their being successful. Sophisticated laboratories, library, and highly qualified faculty, are the reason for their success.


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Exhibits and more...
AftermodernisM: Works on Paper
The next in the series that began in June focusing on a group of five contemporary artists, continues with an exploration of the drawing skills and innovations of an even greater number of artists, including those whose work was seen in the summer exhibition. Through Feb. 23. Nassau County Museum of Art, Contemporary Gallery, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. 484-9337 or www.nassaumuseum.org.
Arnold Newman: Luminaries of the Twentieth Century in Art, Politics and Culture
An exhibit of Arnold Newman's photographic portraiture highlighting the innovative minds and personalities that gave rise to the ideas and concepts that have shaped our world. Recognized as the "Father of Environmental Portraiture" and influenced by the school of modernism, Newman's style has changed the photographic portrait. Through Dec. 13. Hofstra University's Emily Lowe Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. 463-5672.
Hans Van de Bovenkamp: In The Present Moment
An exhibition showcasing the renowned artist's black and white drawings and small-scale bronze sculptures. The exhibit provides a glimpse into the artistic processes involved in the creation of Bovenkamp's works. Through Nov. 14. Adelphi University, Performing Arts Center Gallery, 1 South Ave., Garden City. 877-4010 or www.adelphi.edu/artmuseum/exhibitions.
Imao Keinen
A showcase of works by Japanese Ukiyo-E painter Imao Keinen, who specialized in flower and bird prints, known as Kacho-ga. Through Dec. 19. Frank and Gertrude Kaiser Gallery, Molloy College Public Square, Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. 323-3196 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Land of the Rising Sun: Art of Japan
An original exhibition highlighting Japanese works, from the Hofstra University Museum's permanent collections, spanning the 16th through 20th centuries. Works include woodblock prints, hand-painted scrolls, and wood carvings with a focus on artistic traditions of various eras of Japanese culture. Through Feb. 2. Hofstra University's David Filderman Gallery, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, Ninth Floor, South Campus, Hempstead. 463-5672 or www.hofstra.edu/museum.
Peter Max
An in-depth exhibit of works by the famed Pop artist that juxtaposes his mostly black-and-white drawings on paper against many of his larger and more color-saturated works, in a variety of media. Through Feb. 23. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. 484-9337 or www.nassaumuseum.org.
Stan Brodsky: Retrospective
An exhibit tracing the evolution of Stan Brodsky's career, from his early representational works through the minimalist landscapes during his years on Long Island to his Abstract Expressionist works.Through Dec. 1. Heckscher Museum of Art, Main St. and Prime Ave., Huntington. (631) 351-3250 or www.heckscher.org.
Using the Lessons of the Holocaust to Teach Tolerance
A contextualized history that explains the 1920s' increase of intolerance, reduction of human rights, and lack of intervention that enabled the persecution and mass murder of millions of Jews and others. Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, 100 Crescent Beach Rd., Glen Cove. 571-8040 ext. 100 or www.holocaust-nassau.org.
Afternoon Movie
See "Bless Me, Ultima," a drama set in New Mexico during World War II centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman, Friday, Nov. 8, 2:30 p.m.; also "The Green Berets," the John Wayne classic, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. 354-5280.
Friday Film
Watch "Now You See Me," the thriller that pits an elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse the world's greatest illusionists, Friday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m. Rockville Centre Public Library, 221 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre. 766-6257.
Movie Time
See "Bless Me, Ultima," a drama set in New Mexico during World War II centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman, Friday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. Baldwin Public Library, 2385 Grand Ave., Baldwin. 223-6228.
At the Movies
Watch "Now You See Me," the thriller involving four illusionists who pull off a series of daring heists during their performances, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m. Oceanside Library, 30 Davison Ave., Oceanside. 766-2360.
Movie Matinee
Watch "Touchback," the drama about man who looks back 15 years to the injury that ended his career as a promising high school football player. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. Franklin Square Public Library, 19 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square. 488-3444.


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The judicial vacancy crisis
Now that the 112th Senate is returning for its lame-duck session after President Barack Obama captured a second term and Democrats retained a Senate majority, Obama and members of the Senate must capitalize on the rare opportunity for bipartisan cooperation to begin resolving the judicial vacancy crisis. The bench has been laboring with protracted openings for three years and now has 83 vacancies in the 858 appeals and district court judgeships. Therefore, starting with the lame-duck session that began on Tuesday, the president must promptly nominate, and the Senate expeditiously confirm, nominees, so that the courts can deliver justice.
For the past few decades, Republican and Democratic charges, recriminations and paybacks have plagued judicial appointments principally because of divided government. Democrats will control the White House and the Senate over the near term, but the party should keep cooperating with the GOP and limit these corrosive dynamics because the third branch needs its judges.
Story Continued Below
Some critics blamed Obama for recommending insufficient nominees in 2009; however, the administration subsequently quickened the pace. Before making nominations, the White House has robustly pursued the advice and support of Republican and Democratic senators who represent jurisdictions where vacancies arose. Obama has tapped noncontroversial individuals, who are intelligent, ethical, industrious and independent, possess balanced temperament and enhance diversity vis-à-vis ethnicity, gender and ideology.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has quickly scheduled hearings and votes, sending nominees to the floor where they have subsequently languished. For instance, on Sept. 22, the Senate approved two nominees, even though it could felicitously have voted on 19 others, whom the Judiciary panel had reported with minimal opposition. The Senate in fact recessed without acting on any of those excellent nominees because the GOP refused to vote on them.


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S&B Seasonings; A Lifestyle Blog-a-zine!Share the Secret!
Archive for meals
4 New Ways to Eat
November 26, 2007 at 4:44 AM · Filed under awaken your taste, Blogroll, chef, Critiques, Food Trends, Gourmet, healthy, Healthy Living, Recipes, restaurant, Restaurant Trends, share the secret, Uncategorized, whats your secret and tagged: Bento, Bento Box, Box, Cooking, Culinary, food, Food Trends, meals, restaurant
Trendy yet stylish, this dish give your guests a new way to dine. From Lunch to Dinner, Hors d'oeuvres to Appetizers this little Beauty gets the job done. With 4 compartments you can either have 4 completely different entrees or 4 entrees based on a similar theme.
*Going clockwise from top left…
- Smoked Salmon wrapped Crab cake with a Chive Creme Fraiche
- Broiled Grouper with a Tomato & Scallion Rice Pilaf
- Grilled Pepper Beef Skewer served with a Potato & Shiitake Mushroom hash
- 6 Pepper Chicken Breast w/ Angel Hair Pasta & Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Tempura Battered Tuna Loin on Exotic Greens
- Smoked Chicken Sachet w/ dried Cranberries and Brie Cheese
- Corn and Crab fritters with a Plum dipping sauce
- Sausage stuffed Portabella Mushrooms with Spinach & Parmesan cheese
- Grilled Salmon with Ratatouille
- Grilled Mahi-Mahi w/ Cucumber salad
- BBQ Shrimp Skewer with Truffle Mac & Cheese
- Scallops with Bacon in an Asiago Cream sauce in Filo Cups
Finally we have…
- Shrimp Skewer with Avocado, angel Hair pasta, & Boursin Cream sauce.
- Chicken, Spinach, and Feta Cheese, Filo triangles
- Grilled Tuna with a Cucumber and Ginger relish or slaw
- Blackened Mahi-Mahi with a Mango Salsa
This is a completely new way to satisfy virtually every taste in your party, from savory to sweet, and tart to mellow. The only thing you have to worry about these boxes is the count at the end of the night. Serve your guests with traditional chop sticks and watch them fumble around. (LOL) Great ice breaker for the dinner or cocktail tables.
I've checked 3 different sites and the avg cost is $12.50 per box…
A little steep for a one person tray or plate, so I kept digging.
I found a 3-Tier Bento Box (3 boxes) for $13.99 at www.buy4asianlife.com
I know, I know, a lil pricey especially if you want to have 1 box per person and you're having a party for 10 and above ppl. Think out of the (Bento) box though, buy a couple at first and use them as appetizer trays, by the time everyone catches up with your idea you'll be serving them 1 to a person with multiple entrees in each compartment. They'll still be wondering how you did it.
Keep up the great work and don't for get the personalized fortune cookies.
This is your Rude Boii chef signing off; and I'm out!!!


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BILLINGS. MONT — Hunters have killed more wild bison migrating from Yellowstone National Park this year than they have in decades.
Driven by strong participation from American Indians, roughly 250 bison have been killed after leaving Yellowstone for low-elevation winter range in Montana.
Tribal and state officials said Friday the hunt results should provide some relief for the park's burgeoning population of the animals.
That means there's unlikely to be a repeat this year of the wholesale slaughters that have killed thousands of bison over the last two decades in the name of disease control. Officials say a limited slaughter is still possible.
The tribal hunts, conducted under long-standing treaty rights, are expected to continue through the end of March.
State-licensed hunters took 37 bison during a season that ended Feb. 15. The Associated Press


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Plexusby Tom French
Silk Screen Print on Somerset Satin 300gsm handmade paper
Edition of 70
Signed & Numbered by the Artist
55 X 71 cm
Your artwork is a bit bigger than a flamingo
Born in 1982, Tom French grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. Tom began his studies at the Newcastle School of Art and Design and went on to graduate from the Sheffield Institute of Art and Design achieving a first class BA Honours in 2005. His works are predominantly figurative. He carefully combines detailed photorealism with strong elements of abstraction and surrealism, focusing on the reflection of the conscious and subconscious mind.
French's work often treads the fine line between the beautiful and unsettling, combining technically tight, classical charcoal drawings with carefree, loose and ostensibly unfinished abstract forms. By fusing the technical with lively abstraction French brings life and movement to his compositions. His work seamlessly merges the use of academic tradition with contemporary urban realism.
"You can buy Tom French art at the Zero Cool Gallery. We ship limited edition signed graffiti, street art, pop art and conceptualism prints and originals across the globe. Visit 'Buy Artwork' in the main menu to see our current stock of available art."


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The California Energy Commission ruled this week that AES' application for a new Redondo Beach power plant lacks sufficient data in six major areas.
According to CEC representative Sandy Louey, the commission voted 4-0 at its Wednesday meeting to endorse the findings of a staff report that found AES's AFC (application for certification) deficient in the areas of air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, traffic and transportation, transmission system design and waste management.
The panel did not fault AES' application for failing to identify alternate locations for the plant, one of the main complaints listed by the city of Redondo Beach in a letter to the CEC filed Dec. 19. (The city also listed 14 other areas where it maintained data was inadequate, some of which were in agreement with the commission's findings.)
Louey said there is no timeline for AES to submit the supplemental information. Once it is submitted, the commission staff has 30 days to determine if the material addresses the data inadequacies.
She said AES Southland Development Vice President Stephen O'Kane told commissioners that the company hoped to provide the supplemental information by the end of January. Representatives from AES were not immediately available for comment.
AES is applying for a power plant to replace the current facility, which uses an ocean-water cooling system that must be phased out by 2020.
– Paul Silva


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Some of the best new sounds I've lately heard are on the soundtrack of Punch-Drunk Love, a marvelous, mostly unpredictable romantic comedy directed by P. T. Anderson, who also did Magnolia. This movie, like Magnolia, is almost an art film in pop-film guise, or maybe the reverse, a pop film in art-film disguise. I felt almost enchanted as I watched it. Adam Sandler is an inept single guy with a business that sells, absurdly, gag toilet plungers; Emily Watson is the unsure woman who grabs onto him. As their romance slides toward an ending that looks like it has to be happy (in the best Hollywood style), I began to grouse, thinking everything might be wrapped up too neatly, that the suppressed (or maybe not so suppressed) violence in the lovers would be swept under the nearest, classiest rug. But as Watson spoke the film's final line—words that somehow sound both grounded and totally crosseyed—I saw that Anderson was way ahead of me. He'd thought of everything I groused about, and left his lovers shaking on what just might be the edge of a cliff.
Now, there's a soundtrack album, a really nice one, released, appropriately enough, on Nonesuch, which because it's an art label with pop leanings is a perfect match for the movie. But the sounds I loved most were on the actual film soundtrack, though the CD does give some idea of how sound can work in the movie, for instance on the first track, simply called "Overture." For the first 40 seconds, all we hear are sonic scraps—the faintest sound of wind, then unstable soft chittering, later a click, and (among other things) some bells, and a distant empty roar.
These are layered together more or less the way the sounds are in the film, and maybe in fact they are sounds from the film; I don't remember. What I remember best are other collage effects, among them scraps of real-world noise, like the faint chatter of a TV far in the background while something dramatic (and unhinged) unfolds onscreen. The TV voices take the place of music on the soundtrack and in fact replace any formal underscoring. As far as I could see, the TV sounds weren't synchronized in any way with the flow of the scene. They were just there, as they often are in life. I remember a juxtaposition like that in a Czech theater production I saw decades ago. The piece was highly stylized, but was performed in a former storefront with a picture window, so alongside the formality was the random sight of people walking by on the street outside, or stopping to peer in and watch. At one point a goat was tethered on stage, walking (within the limits of the tether) at random, goatwise, while the actors made their solemn, formal moves.
My favorite sonic moment in Punch-Drunk Love comes in a supermarket, when Sandler, searching for products with a special offer on them (don't ask), opens a freezer door to get at the frozen food. All at once we hear a tiny freezer whine, precisely layered on top of silence. This, though, really is a cinematic underscore, building just the right amount of tension into the scene, tension that's if anything screwed even higher because you feel the sound more than you hear it.
There's also music on the soundtrack (by Jon Brion, a songwriter with a fine ear and a deft, wry touch who also has a weird live show that plays Los Angeles clubs,) that sometimes functions very much like random sound. He'll create, for instance, pattering light recurrent drums, heard on the second track of the CD (under the title "Tabla,") blended with electronic beeps and what might be the sound of waves. The drums of course might be electronic as well. For an instant there's a little scrap for flute and strings, which intrudes surprisingly, just as (reversing a more common pattern) jabs of noise would intrude in more melodic music. There's more rhythmic patter on track four, "Hands and Feet," this time higher-pitched, sounding like some of it might be played on a xylophone made of water. In the movie, sounds like these seem to go well with Sandler's jitters.
And finally on the soundtrack there's dialogue that itself has musical rhythm, when Sandler walks away from Watson's door after their first date, cursing himself for his lame goodbye: "Bye-bye…asshole…bye-bye…stupid motherfucker…" Those aren't the words, but they're something like that. Here the acting itself tumbles downward into the background sounds in the film. And in fact, since these words underscore a shot of Sandler, seen distantly from behind, careening down a corridor in the building where Watson lives, they function more like an underscore than like acting. We don't see him speak; we just hear his words, almost as we might hear a voice behind one of the apartment doors he passes.
Brion's music (especially as orchestrated by Thomas Pasatieri) is pretty wonderful. He gave—I assume it was him—the soundtrack CD its own continuity, more or less in the style of the film, but of course with a life and sound all its own. "Overture" sets the tone, and establishes the sense of collage that informs the whole CD. First, as I've said, we hear noises. Then a gentle waltz-time oom-pah, with a wistful three-note melody cloaking it, repeating like waves breaking on a beach. Then an oboe tune, in two waves, with electronic shudders rising beneath the second one. And then strings, rising to a certified Big Tune, a kind of goofy love waltz, though very tender, which melts away without ever finishing. It melts into low-key singing, more background noises, and finally the sound of an orchestra tuning up.
Then of course comes "Tabla," with its rhythmic patter and its ocean waves (which might be there because a key stretch of the film is shot on and near the beach in Hawaii, a prosaic thought).
And then track three ("Punch-Drunk Melody") takes us back to the waltz, though now the music sprouts new ideas, nothing forceful, but still new. Soon it rises once more into the sweet, goofy tune, again with fine, rich strings, and again melting away, this time into almost boneless oom-pahs that mark time quietly, swinging back and forth, finally joined by echoes from one of the melodic wisps at the start of the track. I love the way these are mixed, so they sound like tiny ghosts of violins, making me wonder why classical composers don't use recording studios this way. Why do we almost always write acoustic music, or else music meant to be amplified or altered electronically, but still heard live, and then recorded naturalistically? Why don't we use the art of the studio (available for hardly any money on our own computers), to create pieces directly for recording?
What emerges, as the CD takes shape, is a pattern: alternate tracks of waltz and of other kinds of music and sound, these last being much less structured, and—speaking conventionally, now—much less "musical." Each time the waltz pops up, it evolves, hanging around just a little longer before it melts away. It visits on a tack piano, and way down on track 13, with a Latin beat, and grows to a very peaceful climax, of sorts, on track 14, "Third Floor Hallway" (site of the lovers' first kiss), where the love tune returns in its pristine orchestral dress, and finally plays to a conclusion.
Though the conclusion (typically wistful) comes barely one minute into a track that's three and half minutes long. So what happens in the rest of that time? Oom-pahs, in their now-familiar holding pattern, plus reminiscences of waltz scraps from previous tracks, and then finally another stab at the tune, but this time varied in a way that makes it sound more like a memory than a restatement. The CD never delivers any conventional payoff; it never surges to the kind of full-blooded climax the love tune could easily suggest. For three tracks, in fact, it wanders off into oddball songs, borrowed from elsewhere, in styles ranging from Hawaiian to rockabilly. There's also a song on the next to last track, an almost Beatle-esque Jon Brion tune specially written for the film, which uses some of the waltz wisps. The final track gives us an instrumental remix of one of the borrowed songs, which does finally bring the CD to a full stop on a stable tonic chord—except that this track is full of things that don't quite add up, including (and I really love this) just one quick foreshortened single note of singing, which was sampled from the vocals of the original song, and in fact is all that's left of them. It's also interesting that, early on the CD, the pattern tracks are a lot longer than the melodic ones. Taken as a whole, the CD is a collage (as many individual tracks also are), which again makes it, in spirit at least, a lot like the movie's real soundtrack.
So, why couldn't Punch-Drunk Love be an opera? Or, to put it another way, why aren't new operas as fresh, fun, and contemporary as Punch-Drunk Love? This is a paradox. Here we have a movie that might not be runaway smash-hit, but still has been a success, staying for weeks on the list of top-ten movie grosses. Obviously, lots of people like it, surely more people than go to new operas. But then on the other hand we have new operas, which seem cautious and conventional next to this movie, as if they were afraid of displeasing an audience—even though the movie has a bigger audience than they do.
Which suggests, of course, something we know is true—that opera lives in its own, resoundingly conventional universe. Of course there are things in the opera world that don't fit this universe, starting with the whole range of so-called experimental music theater (Meredith Monk, and the like); plus Regietheater, the modernist (and postmodernist) restagings of familiar opera repertoire, common in Europe but mostly damned in the backward U.S.; plus all sorts of newer European works. But none of this is especially welcome in American opera houses, which is exactly my point. Opera claims to be high art, yadda yadda yadda, then gets outgunned in artistry by popular culture. Another film that teaches this lesson, and more directly than Punch-Drunk Love, is Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge, a music-theater piece that's far more edgy and delightful than anything I've seen at any opera house lately.
But then how would anyone write an opera with music that works like the soundtrack of Punch-Drunk Love? Take that moment in the supermarket, with its tiny freezer whine. You could create something like it on an opera stage. The Adam Sandler character would open the freezer door, just as he does in the movie, and the metallic freezer whine, more felt than heard, could be created electronically, played on a recording, or emulated with canny orchestration. It could come out of silence, as it does in the film, or show up as an uneasy addition to whatever music (or other sound) accompanied the Sandler character as he shopped. Opera always has allowed such things, and in fact subtle sonic shifts are a great delight in an opera score deft enough to allow them.
And certainly the language of new music, as it's evolved in the last hundred years, allows for noise in music—electronics, recordings, anything you want. But most opera composers, with a moment like the supermarket freezer to bring alive, would evoke it with orchestral music in a recognized operatic style. That can be disappointing, as it is, for instance, at the start of Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men. George and Lennie are running away from the cops, so as they come on stage, we hear police sirens far away, a gripping sound. And then Floyd's music starts, and, at least to my ear, the moment dies, since the music is much more predictable than the sirens were. The sirens ought to be the music, or at least the music could take off from the sirens, or weave the sirens into itself, the way Wagner wove offstage horns into the start of the second act of Tristan.
But the supermarket moment, treated in punch-drunk style, has problems in an opera house. You write one moment like this, and surely you'll have to write others, so your work has a consistent sound. Soon your score becomes a collage, including many non-operatic elements, and that has implications for the singing. What kind of vocal style would be appropriate? Probably a collage of vocal styles, none of them, perhaps, conventionally operatic… Or maybe there wouldn't be any singing at all, making the piece opera only because all of it would be entirely shaped by music. So now we have an opera that might not need opera singers, and, for that matter, might not need a normal orchestra. Who's going to stage that? Maybe the Next Wave, or the Lincoln Center Festival, but surely not an opera house!
Which makes me think (though this is a much longer story) that the classical music mainstream isn't a good home for art.


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[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Yo, where the freaks at? Lookin' at me
You wanna see Black? Then jump on it
And to the chumps who think they might want it
I might spot your ride and dump on it
And send a couple of boys to that corner of yours
And role out with a n*gga slumped on it
You see Black fall back son
Me and Shock up in a black Regal no insurance
We like DEA serving warrants
So tell the freaks you know to stop whorin
We gon' grab the mics and get 'em off the wall
So e'rybody in here can stop snorin
Yo where the safe Money unlock it, pull it out your pocket
Ben Banniker Bay with the Al Morrocan
Black Thought on capitals like the sovereign
Girls get your eyes back up out the sockets
Focus, flawless. New York to Europe
To lands where my feet ain't even touch the soil yet
What a movement, the rap solution
It thumps so hard we got 'em world wide usin them
Tracks from Black for satisfaction
The role of captain played by Samuel L. Jackson
Yo ill insanity that's cold and morbid
But when I'm in your orbit you soul absorb it
A real raw n*gga won't fold or forfeit
A thorough bred gonna enforce it
Tariq's where the beats at
And where the people out their seats at
For what? Cause y'all on it
I'm like Aqua man and Brown Hornet
I'm like Imhotep but don't flaunt it
Dog, reintroducing master thespian
Ho-telling-est, elin-est, emceein
f*ck getting money for real, get freedom
Black on the grind from AM to the PM
Splash up crash up the X-5 B.M
Motive entertainment the philly mob we in
Weak hearts, yo we not them
Waddup n*gga T3 n*gga Baatin
When the M-Ill get home we're gonna win
First one to fall cats with no chin
The mic the black hold remain smokin'
And ladies up in the place is wide open
For real you know what I'm talking about
Pull it out your pocket (x3)
You feel this sh*t soon as they throw it on
You feel this joint this is your new favorite song
You at the dancehall, you got it going on
It's time to show it off so throw your hands up
Check it out yo
You feel this sh*t soon as they throw it on
You feel this joint this is your new favorite song
You at the dancehall, you got it going on
It's time to show it off yall n*ggas know whats up
[Verse 2: Black Thought]
Yo here go the rapper of the year, year of the rap
Come from South Philly where the hammers are clapped huh?
Violate and you will answer to Black
You a thug not really there's the answer to that
Lee ya, boxed silly with the hands skill attack
Cancel your check flip, dismantle your trap huh?
Wanna pack can't handle your strap
You a schmuck type, shoot your man in the back
Meanwhile I'm outstanding and I'm outspoken
Wild out take fools out without joking
If I run out of shots I'm going out poking
On a date with sis we going out stroking
And the shot is fantastic
The fantastic is the romantic
And to the freaks in the house if you're ready to bounce
We can go to the flat then get tantric
Yeah. you pronounce the name Tariq, any questions?
Street hip-hop I bring forth the essence
You see us pulling up five deep
With nothing but dimes inside of my jeep
I'm not arguing to get in VIP c*cksucker prick
Suck a di*k I'mma floss for the f*ck of it
Girls say the baw Black be on some other sh*t
n*gga talk like you work for the government
My words worth like Barnes & Noble
Spit hot flames that'll harm your vocal
Spit thought name I'm a bomb your local
Neighborness, for a ten mile radius
Well every ghetto craving this new anthem
My brain unstable and I'm just too handsome
I bang with the best around
Who can test the crown when I finesse the sound
Here come the controller


text:
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text:
- Publish date:
- Updated on
- Year
- 1864
Elizabeth Bacon marries George Custer
Destined to be her husband's most dedicated champion, Elizabeth Bacon marries George Armstrong Custer in Monroe, Michigan.
Shortly after graduating from a Presbyterian college in Monroe, Elizabeth Bacon met the dashing young Captain Custer, who immediately began a vigorous campaign for her hand. Initially, Elizabeth's father disapproved of Custer's courtship, but he changed his mind when Custer won a battlefield appointment to brigadier general and national fame for his fearless tactics fighting for the Union in the Civil War. The couple married on February 9, 1864.
Elizabeth Custer immediately became a strong advocate for her husband. Though she was inexperienced in political and military affairs, she was able to charm important men in Washington, D.C., who used their influence to advance Custer's career. After the Civil War ended, Custer reverted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Elizabeth supported her husband's desire to continue his ascent of the military ladder, and she agreed with his decision to accept duty in the only active remaining conflict: the Plains Indian Wars in the West.
Whatever romantic images Elizabeth might have had of life in the West quickly faded as she faced the grim reality of making a home in a series of isolated western forts. She was alone for weeks or months at a time, contemplating the very real dangers her husband was facing out on the Plains. Nonetheless, Elizabeth continued to support her husband's Western career right up until the dark day when she heard that her worst fears had been realized: Custer had been killed in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876.
When she learned that President Ulysses Grant and others blamed Custer for the massacre at Little Bighorn, Elizabeth was outraged. Determined to redeem his good name, she gave the writer Frederick Whittaker access to her husband's papers. Six months after the disaster at Little Bighorn, Whittaker published a hagiographic biography that absolved Custer of blame and laid the foundation for his future legend.
Elizabeth herself then turned to writing, eventually publishing three books that portrayed Custer not only as an honest and dedicated Cavalry officer, but as a loving husband and devoted family man. Her books also defended the justice of the Indian wars in general. In Elizabeth's version of history, the American soldiers suffered frontier privations in order to protect innocent Anglo settlers, and Native American braves were vicious killers who exploited their wives. Custer, her books claimed, had been a selfless martyr to the cause of American westward expansion.
Reluctant to criticize Custer while his celebrated widow lived, dissenters from Elizabeth's biased view of her husband had to hold their tongues for a very long time. By the time she died in 1933, nearly 60 years after Little Bighorn, most of Custer's contemporary critics were gone. Others soon appeared, though, and a year after her death, Frederic Van de Water published Glory Hunter, a revisionist portrait that painted Custer as a vain and foolish egoist. Since then, Custer's critics have dominated, but Elizabeth's dedication to her husband's memory continues to win him supporters to this day.


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Healthcare Reform Outreach ~ Train Safety ~ Horticulturist Ron Smith ~ Astronaut Karen Nyberg
Monday, July 15 – North Dakota's Community Health Centers are will receive more than $300,000 to help enroll uninsured North Dakotans in the new health coverage options becoming available under the Affordable Care Act. Darrold Bertsch, chief executive officer for Coal Country Community Health Centers is our guest. ~~~ And are doctors being taught about the implications of the Affordable Care Act? More on that from Rhode Island Public Radio health care reporter Kristin Espeland Gourlay. ~~~ As investigators look for what caused last weekend's train crash in Canada, a question is emerging across the border in the U.S.: Could it happen here? Transportation safety officials have warned railroads for years about the types of tanker cars involved in the Lac-Megantic accident. But they are still widely used. ~~~ Horticulturist Ron Smith stops by with some mid-summer gardening tips. ~~~ How does an astronaut wash her hair in space? Well, astronaut Karen Nyberg, a Minnesota native and alumna of UND demonstrates the technique in an online video, and though we can't show you the pictures, we think you'll still enjoy the audio. ~~~ NDSU historian Tom Isern has this week's Plains Folk essay, "Bushman's Companion."


text: The Falcon Contrast Top Sports Socks are an excellent, durable item for your childs sports school wear needs. These Falcon socks have ankle and arch supports making them suitable for all sports. The Falcon Contrast Top Sports Socks are a coordinated product meaning we stock the matching football shirts, polo shirts, long sleeve top, hoodies, shorts and trousers! A cushioned sole means comfort as well as practicality.


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Find hotels in Murfreesboro using the list and search tools below. Explore our guide for inexpensive and discount hotel/motel rates in or near Murfreesboro, NC for your corporate or personal leisure travel. We provide the best Murfreesboro North Carolina hotel/motel rooms. Review the Murfreesboro hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Murfreesboro hotels. Booking 5+ Rooms? Find Murfreesboro Group Hotel Deals
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Zimmerman juror to ABC: He 'got away with murder'
juror in the George Zimmerman
trial says she feels the man who killed
Trayvon Martin "got away with murder."
"George Zimmerman got away with murder,
but you can't get away from God. And at the
end of the day, he's going to have a lot of
questions and answers he has to deal with,"
Juror B29 told ABC, according to an article
posted on the network's website Thursday.
"(But) the law couldn't prove it."
The juror, who used only her first name of
Maddy out of concerns for her safety, told
ABC that she and others on the panel felt
Zimmerman was guilty, but that wasn't
"You can't put the man in jail even though in
our hearts we felt he was guilty," she said.
"But we had to grab our hearts and put it
aside and look at the evidence."
Thursday night, Martin's mother said she was
devastated after hearing the juror's
"It is devastating for my family
to hear the comments from
juror B29, comments which we
already knew in our hearts to
be true. That George
Zimmerman literally got away
with murder," Sybrina Fulton
said in a written statement.
"This new information
challenges our nation once
again to do everything we can
to make sure that this never
happens to another child."
Maddy is the second juror to
speak about the high-profile
case since the six-person, all-
female jury acquitted
Zimmerman earlier this month.
She and other jurors also have
identified themselves by their
numbers from the jury pool.
Opinion: What if both were
Last week the woman known as
Juror B37 told CNN's
"Anderson Cooper 360" that
Zimmerman "didn't do
anything unlawful" and was
"justified" in shooting 17-year-
old Martin last year.
Zimmerman has been out of
the public eye since the jury
found him not guilty of second
degree murder on July 13. His
parents told ABC News last
week that their family has
received an "enormous amount
of death threats."
He fatally shot Martin in the
Sanford, Florida, neighborhood
where Zimmerman and
Martin's father lived in
February 2012. Zimmerman,
who is Hispanic, had a
confrontation with the
unarmed African-American
teen after calling police to
report a suspicious person, and
he said he shot Martin in self-
The case became a flash point
in debates over racial profiling,
and thousands attended vigils
across the country over the
weekend, decrying the verdict.
Martin's father goes to Capitol Hill
Maddy, 36, is Puerto Rican and a mother of
eight children, ABC said. She was the only
minority to deliberate in the case. She told
ABC that the case was never about race to
At the beginning of deliberations, she told
ABC, she wanted to convict Zimmerman of
second-degree murder. But she realized on
the second day of deliberations that there
wasn't enough proof to convict him of murder
or the lesser charge of manslaughter.
"I was the juror that was going to give them
the hung jury. I fought to the end," she said,
according to ABC.
Juror B37 told CNN that the jury was initially
split -- three and three along the line of
guilt. Juror B37 was among those who
believed Zimmerman was not guilty from the
She stressed that she and the other jurors
took their responsibility seriously.
"I don't want people to think that we didn't
think about this, and we didn't care about
Trayvon Martin, because we did. We're very
sad that it happened to him," she said.
Juror B29 told ABC that the decision is still
weighing heavily on her, and she thinks she
owes Martin's parents an apology.
"It's hard for me to sleep, it's hard for me to
eat because I feel I was forcefully included
in Trayvon Martin's death," she told ABC.
"And as I carry him on my back, I'm hurting
as much (as) Trayvon Martin's mother
because there's no way that any mother
should feel that pain."


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Wabash Men Say Intangibles Best Pre-Med Educationby Howard W. Hewitt • April 11, 2005 Share:
Don't underestimate the biology and chemistry education, but it's the intangibles that make the difference for Wabash pre-med students. Todd Vogel '04, in his first year of medical school, and Tony GiaQuinta '05, who gained early acceptance to I.U., believe the little things make a big difference at Wabash College.
"Wabash trains you to be a great doctor," GiaQuinta said. "It does not focus your education just to do well on the (medical school acceptance) test. I don't think the institution you go to really affects how you're going to do on the test.
"Wabash understands that if you're a doctor you're not analyzing patients just on enzymes and biochemical reactions. They know that being a doctor is based on patient relationships and it requires a certain amount of humanity that Wabash really prepares you for. I think that's the heart of being a doctor, to see a patient not as a biological entity but as a human being who is hurting and needs your help to heal them."
Vogel, in his first year of medical school at the West Lafayette campus of the Indiana University School of Medicine, used similar words to describe his Wabash experience.
"Wabash isn't necessarily the best prep school you can go to, what it gives you is more of the intangibles," said Vogel, who won more than a dozen awards as a photojournalist for Wabash's newspaper, The Bachelor , and yearbook, The Wabash. "Wabash makes you really more accepting of different people, different cultures; it's one of the things I really appreciate about Wabash.
"There is a confidence issue more than anything. You're presented problems in upper level science classes and humanities classes that are not so much related to medicine but challenges you to think through a problem. Can you think through the steps? If you can do that you can apply for medical school or anything else. Wabash did an excellent job of doing that for me."
Though both cite the intangibles, the two men agreed the Wabash traditions are what lured them to the Crawfordsville campus.
"It was a liberal arts education which left me with lots of options," said Vogel, a cum laude graduate from the Evansville area. "It was very welcoming. I wanted someone to talk to me on a daily basis not because they were obligated to do so because of their job but because they're interested in knowing who I am."
Vogel looked at many schools before deciding on Wabash. At times in his Mount Vernon Senior High School career he considered photojournalism.
"They are completely separate things," he said. "But do certain things carry over? Yes. There are certain aspects of science that I see now that help me understand how my camera works. And my photography carries over in my observation skills that I can take into medicine."
For GiaQuinta it wasn't a camera but a violin. He's been a member of the college orchestra while staying busy in his fraternity and APO.
"Wabash gave me a great opportunity to keep playing," the Fort Wayne Canterbury High School graduate said. "That wouldn't have happened if I had gone to I.U. Participation is important at Wabash and here you don't have to be a top-notch player to keep doing something like that."
GiaQuinta might not have a stellar future with his violin, but his pre-med credentials impressed I.U. He gained early acceptance in January.
"To be honest I took the test in the fall and technically that should have put me behind because most people take it in the spring," he explained. "I think what I've done at Wabash and what Wabash has done for me by giving me a really supreme education … I just think that together made my application that much stronger and that much more competitive than others."
GiaQuinta's early admission is no fluke for Wabash. The College boasts an 81 percent admissions rate to med school for its undergraduates.
But both men returned to those intangibles as Wabash's greatest asset.
"I'd recommend a liberal arts education to anyone," Vogel said. "Unless someone is very gifted in one area, the music or the arts where you can go somewhere very high-end with a full scholarship and excel at the highest level, I fully believe a liberal arts education is the way to go."
GiaQuinta said when he talks to his friends on other campuses he appreciates his Wabash education even more.
"No where else do you get experiences like Cultures and Tradition class. I'm a biology major and chemistry minor, also a philosophy minor. I also take a wide range of classes. I can argue economics or political science. I'm a guy concentrating on the biological who is just supposed to look at empirical evidence and supposed to be very logical, but my ability to interact with other people might be a little higher caliber because of my Wabash education."
GiaQuinta will be off to med school this fall while Vogel enters his second year. Vogel wants to follow in his father's footsteps and go through medical school, but still isn't sure he'll practice medicine. He hasn't ruled out more education perhaps in history or art.
Hewitt is Wabash College's Director of New Media and Web Editor
In Photos:
Upper right: Vogel has a little fun with sculpture outside of the the Purdue University building where he takes medical classes.
Middle right: GiaQuinta works on an independent study project in Hays Hall.


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Autorobot Finland Oy» Back
» Products and services » Heating equipment » Hot stapler
Autorobot Hot Stapler for Plastic
Quick and easy to use Plastic Hot Stapler for various plastic types.
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» Autorobot Plastic Hot Stapler brochure
Basic equipment
Where to use
Bumpers - Side skirts - Reservoirs and tanks - Headlight tabs - Plastic handles and lugs - Electric boxes and cabinets
With the Plastic hot stapler you can easily repair bumpers, headlight tabs and other plastic materials. The repairing is quick and easy.
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text:
Promote Your Marketing Message With eNewsletters
eNewsletters are inexpensive to produce and publish, and they provide a systematic method to remain visible in front of your customers and prospects.
By Jane & Larry McGrath
Many retailers are changing from print publications to electronic newsletters (eNewsletters)—and for good reason. 'eNewsletters' are inexpensive to produce and publish, and they provide a systematic means for staying in front of your customers and prospects. In fact, no other advertising method allows you to reach such a wide base of people so affordably and so quickly.
But beware: Anybody can send an eNewsletter and the flood of unsolicited commercial email (spam) has made readers wary of marketing attempts. For your eNewsletter to work, it must make a strong initial impression and convince readers that you provide useful, relevant information they need.
In addition, you must distribute your eNewsletter on a regular schedule. You can deliver it once a month, twice a month, or once a week. Of course, the more frequently you send out your newsletter, the more effective it will be. But, the important thing is to be consistent.
At PRI, we use ConstantContact.com . It's affordable and incredibly efficient and effective. As you read this article, think of a ConstantContact.com as the tool for implementing your eNewsletter in a quick and competent fashion.
Format Options
There are four popular types of eNewsletters. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and its own unique software requirements for viewing. They are distributed to readers in two ways: through email or through a website.
Plain-text email newsletter. This is a very simple eNewsletter without color, graphics, or design elements such as multiple columns and varying text styles. But, limited layout doesn't have to mean lousy layout. For example, you can use spaces or lines to separate articles and break articles up into easy-to-absorb paragraphs.
Advantages: Anyone who has an email account can receive and read plain-text e-email newsletters. They are extremely easy to compose and send out. They are also quick for readers to download.
Disadvantages: Because plain-text newsletters are plain, readers may quickly lose interest. You must point readers to a website where they can retrieve non-text (graphics, audio, video) materials. If you decide to use your local email application, you may upset your ISP or crash your system as many email applications can only handle a limited number of addresses on each email.
HTML email newsletter. This eNewsletter is distributed through email, but it looks like an interesting web page.
Advantages: You can incorporate color, photos, graphics and other design elements, such as multiple columns and varying type sizes and styles. HTML eNewsletters look impressive and offer interactivity. They are great for people who will primarily read the newsletter on-screen of their computer.
Disadvantages: Only people who have HTML-capable browsers can view these publications, but we assume everybody has browsers these days. If photos or graphics are included, readers must have an open connection to the Internet while they read the email to see the photos. They may be slow to download, which often deters your audience from reading your message. If using photos, change the image quality to 72 dpi to allow a faster download. All articles must be put on the same page, so a newsletter with several articles must be viewed and printed as one long page.
Web newsletter. This type of eye-catching eNewsletter is hosted on a website rather being distributed by email. Readers can easily click a link in the email body copy, which will bring them directly to the eNewsletter.
Advantages: A web newsletter can be redesigned just like any other web page, with color, photos, graphics and other design elements. It is ideal for onscreen reading. If you get your newsletter listed and indexed on Internet search engines, you will increase website traffic and it's easy to archive back issues.
Disadvantages: It's not as convenient as an email newsletter because readers must go to an Internet site to read it.
PDF newsletter. This type of eNewsletter looks like a traditional print newsletter and can be distributed as an email attachment or posted on an Internet site for people to download.
Advantages: There are few design limitations with this electronic format and it's easy to convert most printed newsletters to a nearly identical electronic PDF publication. This is the best e-format for people who will print the newsletter.
Disadvantages: Readers must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from the Adobe.com website, installed on their computers to view or print a PDF newsletter. PDF files are larger than any other type of eNewsletter files, so they may take a long time to download. In addition, some readers may not be able to receive such large files.
To decide which eNewsletter format is best for you to publish, you'll need to know your target reader's software, Internet and email capabilities. If your readership is varied, you many decide to publish your newsletter in several formats, so that no reader is excluded. The drawback to this option is resources: Do you have the time, staff and money to develop multiple formats?
Your newsletter's primary objective is to improve business. But, no one wants to read a newsletter filled with sales pitches and product promotions—and they won't.
To be effective, it must contain news, thoughtful advice, and knowledgeable opinions with just enough sales information to ensure action. Generally, 80 percent content to 20 percent promotion is a good mix.
While each issue's content is focused on situations your readers think about or deal with every day, it must be written in a way that holds their attention. The last thing you want to do is send out a terrific newsletter, and not get the kind of action you need to grow your business.
In addition to improving sales, in order to be effective, your eNewsletter must help you:
• Expand your customer base
• Demonstrate your knowledge of industry trends
• Introduce and explain new products
• Inform customers/prospects of newsworthy events
• Increase customer loyalty
Your newsletter design should be consistent from issue to issue. Use a simple format with basic elements such as title, date and/or number, contact information, how to subscribe and unsubscribe, copyright statement, and a link to your privacy policy, along with regular features.
Regular features can include:
• Owner column. Comments from you that give the newsletter your personal touch, because no one is more tuned in to what racers need than you. It's your direct line to your target market where you can tell readers things like, "Here's what I think you can expect to see next season."
• Coming events. Keep readers posted on store events such as tech seminars and when you'll have the sales trailer at the track, but don't go overboard or the newsletter will look like an advertisement.
• Racing information. Update readers on how the shop car is running, changes you've made, and plans for the future. Consider including things like race schedules, association meeting times, and rules updates.
• Problem solving. Try a question-and-answer feature with general-interest questions and answers from an appropriate tech consultant or other expert, or just a "this is what I recommend you do for this common problem" feature.
• Product and technical information. Rather than running a product ad, try a "these guys have experienced great success with this approach and product" article. Also, when possible, give readers early access to new product information.
• Customers and testimonials. Your customers can supply a wealth of material. For example, you can do an article series on your best customers and sprinkle short testimonials throughout the newsletter.
• Special offers. Offer subscriber-only discounts, two-for-one deals, or giveaways. Such promotions bump up sales and help to track the impact of the newsletter.
• Employee profiles. These articles present the human side of your business and are a great way to show employees they are valued and important.
• Links. You can include topical links in your articles for readers wanting more information. In addition, run a "check it out" column with links, and brief summaries to sites you think readers will find interesting.
• Light humor. Some retailers add variety with fun elements. For example, create your own version of a David Letterman Top Ten list. Or, ask a trivia questions such as, "Who was the first driver to…?" or "At what track did…?" and give a discount or prize to the first person who sends the correct answer.
Manage Subscribers
You've decided on the format and developed your content. Now, build your subscriber base. Do you want people to subscribe or will you control who gets on the subscription list?
Either way, your newsletter must opt-in, which is permission based. Don't send the newsletter to news groups or user lists promoting it. It's not just bad Internet manners: it's bad business.
If you want an open subscription list, describe the benefits of your eNewsletter on your website and include a "subscribe" button, so visitors can easily register. Or, when ringing up a sale, ask customers if they would like to receive your company's eNewsletter. If they do, log their email address, and add it to the list of subscribers.
Subscribers should find it very easy to unsubscribe. In addition to new laws cracking down on unsolicited and unwanted email, readers who don't want to receive your newsletter get a contact reminder that you're an annoying company.
There are a variety of EDM (Electronic Direct Marketing) management products and providers that can help you manage your list, and handle your unsubscribes and undeliverables. For example, providers like Constant Contact (http://www.constantcontact.com) and Lyris (http://www.lyris.com) can provide software for you to run your opt-in email lists on your own server or host your lists for you from their hosting facility.
The choice of whether to use one of the many do-it-yourself software packages, a web-based service, or traditional list server depends on the degree to which you want to maintain direct control over your list and the amount of time you can spend on managing the process.
Do It Yourself or Outsource?
Creating and sending your eNewsletter in-house has advantages. First, you know better than anyone what needs to be said. In addition, doing it yourself can help you keep your costs low and give you control over the finished product.
However, a poorly written and designed newsletter can result in disaster: readers trash it and lower their opinion of you and your shop.
If you don't have the time, skills and equipment to design, write, distribute and manage subscriptions for an eNewsletter, hire a specialist.
Evaluate It
You write your newsletter to meet your subscriber's needs and address their interests. To determine if you're delivering what they want, ask them. Let readers know that you want their suggestions about how to make your eNewsletter a more valuable resource for them. And, give them an easy way to tell you.
Always email a "thanks for taking the time to contact me" reply. When you implement a reader's idea be sure to give him or her credit. If you don't have an eNewsletter, you are missing out on one of the most cost-effective strategies available for promoting your business. .
eNewsletters are a powerful and affordable method of sending out your marketing message of the moment to your target audience. PRI uses eNewsletters on a monthly basis, essentially combining important messages into one email. The trick is to make it 'must' reading in order to keep the open rate high every eNewsletter. PRI uses ConstantContact.com to create, email and manage its eNewsletters. Click here to get some ideas from past PRI eNewsletters.