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Rick Tigner carries on the legacy of Jackson Family Wines' founder with a focus on lands, brands and people
While many companies would be like a ship without its captain after the loss of its illustrious founder, Jess Jackson, the Jackson Family Enterprises had a very capable successor in Rick Tigner — one who would continue the family-owned winery group's reputation and make mom and dad's favorite chardonnay into the favorite of their millenial children too.
In April 2011, Jess Jackson died of cancer at the age of 81. He was an individual whose vision, perseverance and work ethic helped transform the wine industry.
He started the Kendall-Jackson wine business with the 1974 purchase of an 80-acre pear and walnut orchard in Lakeport, Calif., that he converted to a vineyard. Nearly 40 years later, Jackson Family Wines is among the world's most successful family-owned winery groups, composed of more than 35 individual wineries.
Jackson Family Enterprises is the company that oversees Jackson Family Wines, its global sales organizations and the Kendall-Jackson brand. Tigner was named president of Jackson Family Enterprises a year before Jackson passed away. A 24-year veteran of the alcohol beverage industry, Tigner has held positions at Miller Brewing Co., Gallo, Louis M. Martini and nearly 20 years with Jackson Family Wines.
"When I first became in charge of Jackson Family Wines three years ago, one of my goals was to actually get one team, one dream," Tigner says. "If I can get all 1,200 employees going in the same direction at the same time, how powerful would that be?"
The company, its 1,200 employees and its more than 30 brands of wine, was solely in Tigner's hands, and it was now up to him to keep the operation flourishing.
"Our company mission is to be the best wine company in the world," Tigner says.
Here's how Rick Tigner is taking Jess Jackson's legacy and moving Jackson Family Enterprises forward.
Connect with consumers
In any industry, it is extremely easy to be hands-off with consumers. In the wine industry, many vineyards deal with distributors or trade partners and aren't very tight with the consumer. Tigner says that isn't the case at Jackson Family Wines.
"Innovation comes in different forms and fashions," he says. "In the wine business, what you get is a lot of what I call the 'sea of sameness.' You look at a wine magazine ad and you see a bottle and vineyard, but it can be anybody's bottle and anybody's vineyard. The question is how do you connect with a consumer in different ways?"
Last January, Tigner was featured on the TV show "Undercover Boss." He saw this as a new way for a wine company, especially a family wine company, to go on television and tell people about who the business is as a family, as a company and how it produces its products. The blogosphere gave generally rave review about Tigner's TV appearance.
"The one thing that we're always very, very focused on is quality," he says. "We want to make sure that consumers know that whether it's the Kendall-Jackson brand or the La Crema brand, quality is one of the foundations of our organization."
To tell its consumers about its products, Jackson Family Wines is putting more focus on social media. The company recently hired a digital marketing team to make sure it has a presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
"A lot of companies have pretty pictures," Tigner says. "What we actually want is engaging content … versus the standard picture of a bottle in a Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast magazine."
Being involved in social media is becoming increasingly important, but it isn't enough to just have a Facebook page; you have to engage with your fans and potential customers.
"If you look at Facebook, a lot of brands have Facebook, but the question is do you listen to the people who are on your Facebook page?" he says. "Do you react to how they talk about you on Facebook? We listen, and we learn from that activity. These are our friends and family who actually went online and signed up on our Facebook page, because they're looking for interaction."
Tigner says this interaction can't be boring or constantly the same old thing. You have to be looking for ways to keep your audience involved and engaged.
"The key for us in regard to capturing our consumer is actually listening to them," he says. "We create content that they want to see on video or in photos. We've done a lot of recipes. A lot of people want to talk about food and wine pairings. We have spent hours and hours and hours putting together a recipe program for our website."
Jackson Family Wines has a lot of pages on its website and on its social media because even if a consumer doesn't go to them all, those pages are there and available to them. The same thing goes for YouTube.
"If you go to YouTube and capture that consumer and they see a training video or a wine education video or a food-and-wine program, the next time they go look at your YouTube, you better have new content," he says. "It has to be ongoing engagement, intriguing and informative. If you don't have that, then you'll lose your consumer. Those are things we've done to continually engage the consumer."
What this kind of engagement helps Jackson Family Wines do more than anything is reach a more diverse audience. Many of the company's consumers are baby boomers and social media is helping the brand reach the younger generations.
"We want to keep the baby boomers like myself who've been drinking our brands for a long time," Tigner says. "But we want to capture the millennials. Who is that 25- to 35-year-old out there who has disposable income to buy premium wine? We have to give them the messaging and the content.
"We're going out and making it new and fresh for them so it's not just their mom and dad's favorite chardonnay, but it becomes their favorite chardonnay and then their favorite cabernet or pinot noir."
Educate about your product
The wine industry can be very complex due to the sheer number of wine styles, brands and varietals that make each bottle different. For Jackson Family Wines, it is crucial that its staff and its business partners are knowledgeable about the company's products.
"In our company, we have 1,200 employees," Tigner says. "In our sales team, there are about 400. I would argue we have the best sales team in the world and the best fine wine team."
Tigner makes this argument because the company has four master sommeliers on staff and nine more in training out of a total of 180 in the U.S., who help to educate the sales team.
"They educate our sales teams, our distributors and our internal staff," Tigner says. "We want to make sure everyone who works for our company, whether in IT, marketing or finance, has knowledge about wine and a passion about wine."
Transferring that knowledge outside of the company is the hard part. Jackson Family Wines has to work with its distributors, trade partners and, more recently, directly with consumers to educate them on the products.
"In this business, 20 years ago, manufacturers or wineries like us spent all our time selling our wine to distributors and educating our distributors who then sold to retail stores who then sold to consumers," he says. "About 15 years ago, that was still important, but the next piece was actually us communicating with our trade partners.
"In the last five years, all that is still important, but now we're talking directly to our consumer, whether it's online, in our tasting rooms or our wine club program."
One of the biggest things related to education that Tigner has to keep aligned is the messaging Jackson Family Wines spreads both internally and externally.
"We broke down our strategic initiatives into three simple buckets," he says. "You want to keep it simple so everyone knows what the plan is. Our strategy is lands, brands and people. So that when people want to know what are we working on, you can break it down to land, brands and people, and then we have the initiatives below that."
To aid in keeping this message aligned and helping to push the company forward, Tigner has implemented management meetings.
"In the last three years since I've been put in charge, I've had more senior management team meetings," he says. "We really didn't have those before.
"Every quarter, we bring in the top 50 managers of the company plus outside guests and visitors and we talk about lands, brands and people. We talk about the strategic initiatives. I want to make sure everything we put in place at the beginning of the process is still being worked on."
While his management meetings are a new tradition, there are some things that Tigner wants to maintain, like the company's culture.
"When I first took over being the president, we had a great training program, recruiting program and succession program," he says. "I want to make sure we have that exact same culture. Culture doesn't show up on a P&L, but culture is very, very important to the company."
The culture is something Tigner wants to be identical whether it's the IT, finance, marketing or production departments.
"I want to make sure all our employees are treated similar and fair throughout the entire organization," he says. "I take it upon myself on a regular basis to check in with middle management, lower management, field workers and sales workers because I want to make sure everyone has the right communication and we're all on the same page.
"I spend most of my time making sure the messaging of the organization runs wide and deep."
Just like a generous pour of chardonnay. ?
How to reach: Jackson Family Wines, (707) 544-4000 or www.kj.com
Connect with your consumers using new channels of communication.
Keep your content engaging and new.
Educate internally and externally about your product or service.
Images versus text - which is stronger in the world of social media marketing?
With 88 percent of businesses now active on social media, the social media landscape is becoming more cluttered and more difficult. This means that, for businesses, it is becoming harder and harder to break through the noise and be heard.
In order to penetrate the noise, businesses must deliver the right message to the right person in the right way. Increasingly, the way that people want to receive messages online is visually.
We've heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, and this is true. The brain can process images faster than text. This is why images are breaking through on social networks — because they provide a quicker way for people to comprehend information.
Image-based social networks, such as Pinterest and Instagram, are among the most popular and quickest-growing social networks online. Images are the most liked and commented on content on Facebook and links to images get the most clicks on Twitter. All signs point toward images as the most popular, most shared and most liked content on social networks.
The point is that with so much content on social media, images are increasingly the content that is breaking through and getting results. I realized this trend and recently published a book called "Visual Social Media Marketing" about how brands can take advantage of this and get results.
So, what can you do to take advantage of this trend? Here are three simple steps to start taking advantage of the visual revolution online.
Include images on your website
The visual Web focuses around images, and as your website is shared online, the images from your website are usually the focus of how your website content is shared.
For example, when I post a link to a website on Facebook, the image is shown beside the link to my content. In this example, I'm sharing a link to our report on Google+. The image of the Google+ report is on our website.
Having the image on our website is important to how the link to our website shows up on Facebook. The reality is that if you want to drive traffic to your website from social media, each page on your site should have relevant images that are appropriate for sharing on social networks.
Use images on existing social networks
If you want your business to be successful on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+, images must be a part of your strategy. Consider these statistics:
? Images are the most shared and clicked on content on Twitter.
? Images receive 50 percent more interactions on Facebook.
? Google+ users have uploaded 3.4 billion photos.
? Recruiters spend more time examining a LinkedIn user's picture than actually reviewing the person's qualifications.
These statistics show that if you want to break through on the leading social networks you must have an image strategy. Images are easy to consume and eye-catching, and with all of the content on social networks, images break through and get better results than text updates.
Consider joining Instagram and Pinterest
Instagram and Pinterest are two of the quickest-growing social networks and they can be your way to reach new audiences and get results ahead of your competition. Consider joining these networks and participating in the community to reach your audience in a new and interesting way.
Visual marketing is a trend in social media that you just can't afford to ignore. If you want your business to stay relevant, drive traffic to your website and build shares and likes on social networks, you can't afford to ignore the power of images in achieving these objectives. ?
Krista Neher is the CEO of Boot Camp Digital. She is an international speaker and social media thought-leader, as well as the author of "The Social Media Field Guide," "Visual Social Media Marketing" and "Social Media Marketing: A Strategic Approach."
How reciprocal mentoring can help you bridge generational gaps
Does your company employ a multigenerational workforce? If so, your organization might significantly benefit by adopting a reciprocal mentoring program that leverages talents, skills and knowledge to bridge generational gaps surrounding technology — such as social media — corporate culture and team building.
Given the generational divide, older and younger workers often feel disconnected when it comes to adapting to technology, corporate culture and working as a team.
With reciprocal mentoring, workers across all generations individually and collectively play a pivotal role in creating multigenerational buy-in to the workplace changes that accompany the adoption of technological tools such as social media, cloud computing and text usage that will streamline workflow communication, processes and practices.
Reciprocal mentoring takes the traditional mentoring concept of a seasoned employee guiding a worker's development and transfers it from a one-way relationship to a two-way or team-building relationship in which newer or younger employees also impart their knowledge and guidance.
It can be especially important when it comes to the integration of newer technologies into the pre-existing corporate culture and workflow processes. To create a dynamic program, it's important to understand the intrinsic generational differences within your workforce.
Consider your longtime employees. When someone has been on the job for an extended length of time, they form ideas and habits that have been repeatedly reinforced by experience and success.
When they are introduced to a new tool, piece of information or technology, some might feel threatened because it changes what they know and how they have become used to doing things, and the immediate challenge will be to figure out how they might adapt this new knowledge into their existing work practices.
As you add younger workers, it's important to understand that the Y2K generation, or millennials, have a much different set of motivators from many baby boomer, generation X and generation Y employees.
Millennials thrive in situations that allow them to take ownership of their skills, knowledge and work. Challenge and change are key motivators for most millennials.
A successful reciprocal mentoring program will allow your millennial workers the opportunity to impart their technical savvy, to teach seasoned employees how to leverage and navigate the world of social media and the time-saving and efficiency tools available by leveraging mobile, messaging, text and cloud computing technologies.
In my company, we have taken more of a team-building approach to our reciprocal mentoring. We have set up a schedule of twice-monthly lunch-and-learn events. For these lunch-and-learns, we have put together a calendar of topics that my staff and I feel are of interest and importance to our business. We have tapped every employee, from entry-level to executive, with a topic or series of topics that each will present during one of the events. To keep things organized and to provide structure, we have set up the following outline for each presentation:
? Who is presenting? Give us some of your personal, professional and/or academic background.
? What is the topic you are covering?
? Why is it important to our organization?
? How can it or does it help move our organization forward?
? How and/or when do we put it into practice?
? What are some examples, case studies or best practices surrounding the topic?
During the presentation, we ask the presenter to use presentation tools to provide a show and tell of the topic he or she is covering.
By providing employees a forum to share their skill sets and knowledge, we create an environment where individuals feel they are making a valuable contribution to the entire team. By presenting in a team-like atmosphere, we are fostering individual presentation skills and creating an environment of team support, knowledge-sharing and problem-solving.
Adrienne Lenhoff is president and CEO of Buzzphoria Social Media Marketing and Online Reputation Management, Shazaaam Public Relations and Marketing Communications, and Promo Marketing Team, which conducts product sampling, mobile tours and events. Her companies have been seven times named a 101 Metropolitan Detroit Best and Brightest Company to Work for, a two-time Crain's Detroit Cool Company to Work For and a National Best and Brightest Company to Work For. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @alenhoff.
How to recognize the risks social media pose to your company
Since infiltrating the business world, the use of social media has increased at an incredible rate. Last year, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings caused considerable commotion in the financial community when he announced via Facebook that Netflix had exceeded 1 billion viewing hours in a month for the first time. There was heavy debate as to whether it was appropriate for a high-level executive to divulge material information regarding a public entity's success through social media.
Fast forward one year and the SEC just released a statement in April allowing companies to make announcements through social media outlets provided investors have the ability to gain access to material information at the same time. Clearly, social media has become a mainstream tool for companies and is an issue management must address.
Smart Business spoke with Matthew P. Breuer, J.D., an associate with Cendrowski Corporate Advisors, about how the use of social media can introduce risk to your company.
What are some of the major risks and issues with social media?
Social media pose risks to companies in a variety of ways. Perhaps the biggest risk stems from reputational impact on an organization, which can come from both social media interaction by the company and/or through public discussion about the organization through social media.
The potential damages of posting confidential information is another risk companies must take into account. This can be particularly difficult to prevent because the release of confidential information could be done inadvertently by an employee or by an unknown individual with insider knowledge, which makes it all the more important for a company to manage and document who will have access to key material information. An unauthorized employee speaking on the behalf of the company and libelous statements are other major risks that should not be overlooked. In addition, the risks of social media can trickle down to affect a company even at the level of an individual employee with a risk as simple as decreased employee productivity. Consequently, these risks should all be addressed by management when developing a strategic plan.
Why is social media such a difficult subject for companies to address?
Companies are increasingly using social media, but still have difficulty grasping its changing intricacies, especially as it continues to evolve at a rapid pace and revolutionize marketing and customer interaction. The difficulty of handling the identified risks of social media can also be attributed to the balancing that needs to be done to ensure an organization still reaps the benefits of social media.
Despite all of the risks, social media serves as an excellent channel for marketing contact, increasing company exposure, customer base development, increasing sales activity and as a tool for recruiting. Moreover, using social media can allow a company to gain a better understanding of customer or consumer perception of the company. Developing an approach to utilize the benefits while mitigating the risks of social media is never an easy task.
What can companies do to mitigate risk?
Mitigating the risks associated with social media begins from the top. Management must have a clear and defined social media policy already entrenched within a company. The policy should clearly outline expectations and address social media interaction deemed to be forbidden. This policy is especially imperative in smaller companies. While larger companies may be able to have positions created for this purpose or outsource the responsibilities to outside agencies, smaller companies will have less resources and time to monitor their company's interaction with social media. In addition, management must be aware of any legal ramifications that could arise from the use of social media. Management's strategic plan should also determine the individual(s) who will have access to a company's social media.
Companies may never be able to eliminate all of the risks of using social media, but management having a clearly communicated plan already in place is an effective way to mitigate these risks.
Matthew P. Brewer, J.D., is an associate with Cendrowski Corporate Advisors LLC. Reach him at (866) 717-1607 or email@example.com.
For additional information, visit Cendrowski's website.
Insights Accounting is brought to you by Cendrowski Corporate Advisors LLC.
How two California law changes could affect your business
California passed more than 800 new laws in 2012, and Shane P. Criqui, litigation attorney at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, says, "It's virtually impossible for any business person to keep track."
He says among those of interest to businesses are new laws that govern social media in the context of an employee and employer relationship, and broad legislative changes regarding California LLCs.
"That's why it's important to have a discussion with your counsel and make sure you understand how these laws may affect your business," Criqui says.
Smart Business spoke with Criqui to better understand two of California's law changes.
What is changing regarding social media?
California has added protections for employees using social media to the state's labor code, which establishes privacy protections for individuals and limits what employers can lawfully demand of employees. It helps avoid situations where employers demand private social media passwords and take adverse actions against an employee based on the content of his or her account. The law also applies to job applicants.
Specifically, an employer can't require an employee to disclose username or password information for personal social media accounts; require an employee to access his or her social media accounts in the presence of the employer; or otherwise divulge personal social media information. Further, employers can't discharge, discipline or retaliate against employees for not complying with such requests.
There are, however, exceptions. An employer can go after information on a social media account that's reasonably believed to be relevant to investigations of employee misconduct or a violation of law. Employers also may require employee disclosure of passwords necessary for accessing an employer-issued electronic device.
What constitutes social media?
The definition of social media as it applies to this law is very broad and can include any electronic service, account or content such as videos, photos, blogs, podcasts, text and instant messages, and websites.
Further, while the law applies to accessing 'personal social media,' the term 'personal' is not further defined, which may create ambiguity. For example, an employee's LinkedIn account could be used to promote his or her employer's business but is also 'personal' to the employee.
What changes are coming for limited liability companies?
A 2012 bill that becomes effective Jan. 1, 2014, repeals California's Beverly-Killea Limited Liability Company Act and replaces it with the California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. It will apply to all California LLCs existing on Jan. 1, 2014, and no LLC can opt out.
The new law presumes an LLC is member managed, unless the company's articles of incorporation and operating agreement specifically provide otherwise. In member-managed agreements, all members can act as agents of the LLC, where in manager managed arrangements, it's only the managers.
Other provisions are specific to fiduciary duties. Expressly, the law says managers can't eliminate the duty of loyalty, which a manager typically owes to the LLC along with the duty of care. However, duties of care and loyalty can be modified 'in a written operating agreement with the informed written consent of the members.' For instance, the duty of care can be lowered, although not 'unreasonably reduced.'
The new act also states that while an operating agreement may 'eliminate or limit' a member or manager's liability for monetary damages with respect to a breach of the duty of care, it cannot do so with respect to a breach of the duty of loyalty.
What should affected companies do?
While prior operating agreements will remain in effect after Jan. 1, 2014, the new act will apply to 'acts,' 'transactions' and 'contracts' entered into on or after that date. Accordingly, it makes sense for LLCs to talk with counsel to make sure the new default rules don't change an LLC's understanding of its existing rights and obligations.
Shane P. Criqui is a litigation attorney at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. Reach him at (949) 725-4226 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Legal Affairs is brought to you by Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
How commonly found information can transform your business
In the past 20 years, companies have been generating an increasing amount of data. The growth of social media has also created a massive pool of information that any company can access, mine and use.
"Utilizing big data can help a company uncover the relationships it has with consumers and businesses that perhaps it didn't previously realize it had," says Pervez Delawalla, president and CEO of Net2EZ. "In many ways, that data can help a company gain a better understanding of its clients' needs and formulate its products to win more business."
Smart Business spoke with Delawalla about big data and how to effectively store and utilize it to the benefit of your business.
Where can companies find big data, and how can they use it?
With the advent and proliferation of social media, there is information that companies can collect called 'big data,' which can be used to analyze, in a cost-effective and time-efficient way, the social habits of consumers. This information allows them to devise targeted marketing campaigns and develop products.
Data about consumers is being collected from social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, data about businesses can be collected from sources such as LinkedIn and Foursquare, and there is data contained in emails coming into a company.
Do all companies have access to big data?
In today's world, any company that uses computers has a big data resource or is collecting it without realizing it. For example, most salespeople have a contact database that includes people they've met through work, in their personal lives and through networking. If you are going to meet with the CFO of a potential client company and you learn that someone on your sales team knows that CFO, that is an invaluable personal connection. Knowing about that relationship allows you to bring the person to the meeting and quickly establish a connection.
What challenges come with big data?
Storing big data was traditionally cost prohibitive, which is why only large companies could do it. However, solutions such as new, lower-cost hardware have recently hit the market, which has given smaller companies the ability to have large sets of storage devices to store big data. At the same time, cloud computing allows a company to rent storage on a monthly or short-term basis, meaning more companies can collect, store and mine big data.
Indexing this data so that it can be used to benefit the company is a challenge, but there are plenty of tools available from major software manufacturers that can be used to mine it.
What methods are available to companies to help store this data?
Big data can be stored privately or on servers that host multiple clients. Which option a company chooses depends on how important it is to keep information secure.
Private cloud services give companies a certain amount of secure storage on a server that only belongs to them. The type of data being stored determines which tools are applied to extract it, such as a dashboard through which a company can query or search its data. There are also data feeds that provide ticker updates as data comes in, giving fast access to information.
Public cloud services are available, but are less secure than private services.
How can companies efficiently navigate such large data sets to get the most use out of the information being retained?
It takes some time to understand which data is going to be useful and to learn which tools are available to store and sort it. For example, you could buy and deploy big data-mining tools to start collecting various sets of data from multiple sources, then create a dashboard that puts that information at your fingertips. However, you can't simply keep storing information and expect results. You need to better understand your company's demographics and understand what is going to help your company grow. You have to know your end result and employ the tools necessary to achieve it.
Many companies don't realize what they have beyond their traditional database and that is sometimes where the treasure trove of data exists. Accessing that data will open a world of opportunities.
Pervez Delawalla is president and CEO of Net2EZ. Reach him at (310) 426-6700 or email@example.com.
Insights Technology is brought to you by Net2EZ
Social media: A window to your intellectual property
Social media tools provide an accessible and inexpensive way for businesses to expand their market footprint. But failure to protect and enforce intellectual property rights may quickly turn a great resource into a major headache, whether or not social media is part of a corporate marketing program, says Alexis Dillett Isztwan of Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia LLC.
Together, social media and intellectual property pose internal and external issues. Internally, a business must monitor and control employee use of intellectual property. Given social media's accessibility, problems can arise and grow rapidly. Imagine an employee prematurely tweeting about a new product launch or information never intended for the public. To reduce risk, businesses should establish a written social media policy that:
? Sets clear guidelines for appropriate topics to be posted on any media, including company and employee personal accounts.
? Identifies personnel permitted to post and the posting approval process.
? Addresses use of third-party trademarks or copyrights or names of individuals or competitors.
? Is clearly and regularly communicated and taught through annual training.
Externally, businesses should police unauthorized use of their intellectual property on social media sites. Defamatory comments can take on a life of their own. Businesses must also contend with trademark misuse or infringement, from someone using your trademark as its domain name to assuming your brand identity online, an aggressive practice called "brand-jacking." To combat these challenges, businesses should:
? Monitor social media for use of company trademarks.
? Obtain formal protection for intellectual property, e.g., trademark registrations.
? Avoid overreaction; weigh impact of potential negative backlash online against severity of misuse.
? Consider availing itself of the social media site's enforcement policies.
Alexis Dillett Isztwan, a member at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia LLC, concentrates on intellectual property and technology law.
Natasha Ashton - How to overcome your social media butterflies and make this powerful force work for you
It's no secret that some companies struggle with creating an effective presence on social media. Navigating the tightrope between overt sales messaging and empty musings is tricky; turn your fans and followers off, and they'll abandon your page as fast as they can click "unlike." Inadvertently create a controversy, and, well, the consequences can be ugly (not to mention cached forever, thanks to Google).
The simple fact that most social media is "free" does not mean that we, as business leaders, don't need to invest in a strategy. While we all know what not to do, it's much more difficult to create a road map for what will drive engagement across social media.
At Petplan, we integrate our company culture and brand values into our social media activities at every opportunity.
But we don't just talk about ourselves — we share stories of our fans and family members and invite our community to join in the conversation. We don't just give news updates; we create destinations that are rich with exclusive content that is truly useful to our community members.
With social media, the driving force behind our approach, as it is with everything else we do, is our core value: Pets come first.
Our approach seems to be working, both in terms of driving incremental traffic to our company and also in raising our profile in traditional media. Two months after creating our Pinterest presence, Social Media Delivered, a social media consulting organization, included Petplan on its list of top 20 companies globally using the site.
Content is king
Content is the currency of social media, so you need to make sure that every tweet, post and pin has value. What makes it worthwhile? If the information you are sharing enables your audience to act on your shared values, it's worth posting.
For Petplan, that means delivering content that helps people provide the very best for their four-legged family members. It matters to them, and it matters to us — this synergy drives engagement and earns us those ever-important likes, retweets, shares and pins.
Don't copy, complement
Many businesses make the mistake of putting exactly the same content on all of their social media channels, but this one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn't work.
Each social media site has a distinct character and a unique audience who favors it; if you're not playing to the medium, chances are you're missing the message. Share industry and personnel news on LinkedIn, tweet breaking news and updates, post interesting photos and calls to action on Facebook, and pin your most engaging images related to trending topics on Pinterest.
Think of each channel as another facet of your business's personality and tailor your content to that.
If you want to harness the power of social media, you need to make it easy for your audience to share — and easy for the content to be attributed to you. Optimize all your communication channels to include both "share" and "follow" buttons. Make sure your retweet widgets include your Twitter handle.
Use websites like sharethis.com to integrate social media into the content you produce. It will make your customer experience more meaningful and your social media standing more robust.
A solid social media strategy takes planning, time and a lot of attention, but if you invest the resources in building an effective presence, you'll capture new customers, fans, friends and influencers.
Whatever you do, don't forget the most important piece of the social media puzzle: analytics. Gaining quantifiable data gives you insight into social sharing behavior that will tell you what you're doing right (and wrong!), reveal where improvements can be made and keep you on the path to becoming a brand powerhouse in the future.
Natasha Ashton is the co-CEO and co-founder of Petplan pet insurance and its quarterly glossy pet health magazine, Fetch! — both headquartered in Philadelphia. Originally from the U.K., she holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. She can be reached at email@example.com.
Adrienne Lenhoff: Think before you post
Have you rethought your opinion of someone because of something they've posted on social media? Social media has blurred the line between business and personal acquaintances, with most people having both personal and professional contacts linked to their pages on social platforms such as Facebook.
Social media creates an environment where many of our social filtering inhibitions disappear, and people tend to feel freer in expressing views they would not otherwise express in real-life social and business settings.
We witnessed the best and worst of friends, family, business colleagues and acquaintances during the 2012 presidential election. In the offline world, most of us would refrain from lambasting someone for expressing their opinion. Most of us, however, would not begin verbal attacks against the individual or the candidates.
The election was an eye-opener
The presidential election shed light on the impact that the things we post on social networks has on our relationships with others. Forty-seven percent of respondents to a poll conducted by Mashable had unfriended someone on Facebook because of election-related issues.
Even if you did not actually unfriend someone, think about those you might be avoiding as a result of their comments or whose update settings you've changed to take them out of your active friend feed. Conversely, are your business colleagues or acquaintances taking these same actions against you?
Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project has conducted several surveys about people's use of social networking sites for politics and personal political interaction. Here are some of the findings:
- 60 percent of American adults use either social networking sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, and 66 percent of those social media users, or 39 percent of all American adults, have done at least one social media civic or political engagement activity.
- 22 percent of registered voters shared their presidential vote on social media.
- 22 percent say they avoid making political comments on social media sites for fear of offending others.
- 67 percent of those who blocked, unfriended or hid someone on a social networking site did it to a distant friend or acquaintance.
- 21 percent of those who blocked, unfriended or hid someone on a social networking site did it to a co-worker.
- 16 percent have friended or followed someone because the person shared the user's political views.
When it comes to blocking, unfriending or hiding someone on social media, overpolitical postings are often the reason why. The biggest complaints regarded someone posting too frequently about political subjects, posting something a user disagreed with or found offensive, and arguing about politics with the user or someone they know.
The loss of anonymity
For better or worse, the presidential election opened the floodgates of online bashing and heated arguments. In the early days of online interaction, most sites and media outlets allowed users to identify themselves using pseudonyms or user names rather than their true-life identities. That cloak of anonymity allowed many users to dispose of their inhibitions and interact as they would not otherwise in a real-world setting.
Over the past few years, we've seen a shift from the use of pseudonyms or user handles to sites that now require comments and engagement be tied to social media profiles on Facebook that reveal our real names, along with potentially allowing viewers access to our personal and professional identifying information — including employment information.
When you see someone boldly expressing themselves across social media platforms, it has the repercussion of not only fragmenting relationships but also making you lose respect for ones you have always respected. It puts people in a different light and has the potential to make you rethink who you would want to do business with.
Adrienne Lenhoff is president and CEO of Buzzphoria Social Media Marketing and Online Reputation Management, Shazaaam Public Relations and Marketing Communications, and Promo Marketing Team, which conducts product sampling, mobile tours and events. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @alenhoff.
Can social media profiles be trade secrets of your company?
In the age of social media, it seems everything is transparent. In the case of social media contacts, which can be visible to the public through sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, there are questions as to whether that information can, nonetheless, be deemed a trade secret, and if so, who owns the trade secret.
"It was only a few years ago when businesses began incorporating social media in their marketing strategy," says Yuri Mikulka, chair of the Intellectual Property Department at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. "Now, it's recognized as one of the most powerful marketing and PR tools for companies, whether big or small. In fact, when positioned well, social media data can serve as an important asset of the company, especially for those relying on Web traffic and member lists to generate revenue."
Smart Business spoke with Mikulka about ensuring social media information receives the highest possible protection and remains an asset even when employees leave.
What constitutes a trade secret?
Generally speaking, a trade secret is information that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not readily ascertainable through, proper means by the public. A company can enforce its exclusive right to possess and use such information as long as reasonable measures are employed to keep such information secret.
Can you protect your social media profiles as a viable trade secret?
This emerging area of law was preliminarily addressed in two recent court cases. Christou v. Beatport, LLC centered on ownership of a MySpace list used by a nightclub to promote its events. When an employee opened a competitive venture, the club sued him for misappropriating its MySpace profiles. The employee responded that MySpace is public and cannot constitute a trade secret. The Colorado federal court disagreed, noting that 'Friend- ing' a business or individual grants . . . access to some of one's personal information, information about his or her interests and preferences, and perhaps most importantly for a business, contact information and a built-in means of contact . . . ' and that this information is not necessarily public.
Another case in a California federal court, PhoneDog v. Kravitz, centered on a Twitter account maintained by an employee on behalf of the employer. The departing employee kept the account for his own use but changed its name and erased any reference to his former employer. The employer sued, seeking $340,000 in damages, allegedly based on an industry value of $2.50 per follower. The court rejected the employee's argument that a Twitter follower list cannot constitute a trade secret.
These recent decisions seem to indicate that even if social media profiles are visible online, they can receive trade secret protection — as long as some portion remains inaccessible to the public and employee passwords and login are required to view the information. Nonetheless, because these decisions were issued during early stages of cases, keep an eye out for new cases in your jurisdiction on these issues.
How do you protect social media information as potential trade secrets?
Here's what your company can do:
• Put in place policies, procedures and employee agreements that outline and define acceptable and prohibited use of social media.
• Make it clear in writing that any work-related social media is company property.
• Have employees sign a social media policy. At least one court recognized the importance of the employee's signature in determining whether the company owned social media contacts.
• Get employee buy-in to effectively enforce your policy by providing training and seeking participation to protect the company's confidential information.
• Maintain employees' login and password information to company-related social media, and change it when employees leave.
• Periodically monitor employee online activity because trade secrets lose protection when disclosed. If disclosure is inadvertently made, quickly take down the information.
• Consult an attorney to review your social media policy, agreement and practice.
• Periodically update your policy because law and technology are changing so fast.
Yuri Mikulka is chair of the Intellectual Property Department at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. Reach her at (949) 725-4000 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Legal Affairs is brought to you by Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth


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Get involved at your local Tree Day event
Get Outside and Grow with your community at a National Tree Day event! You could be planting native trees, plants & bush, caring for your local environment by removing weeds, learning about conservation and biodiversity, enjoying a bushwalk, and much more. Each event will have its own page with more details.
To find your nearest event, please enter your postcode and suburb:
What to bring
Each site will tell you what you need to bring and where to meet, but as a general rule wear covered shoes, take along a hat, sunscreen and water in a reusable bottle.
What past attendees say:
"It gives a sense of satisfaction to be able to look back in future years and think I have helped the community."
"It was lovely to see so many people out there, and my kids had a ball. It is great to think I can take them back there when they are older to show them how the trees have grown"
See what other past Tree Day attendees had to say when asked what they enjoyed most.

subset: commoncrawl


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For the price I expected more! It dries well but leaves LINT ALL OVER! Yes, I've washed them--TWICE to see if the lint would stop. No avail. In addition, the towels are not soft! Average towels, save your money!!
I feel the towels are to thin. They did not improve with washand drying. I feel they are a . poor value. I would not recommed them nor do I consider them Egypian quality.
However, you get what you pay for and these towels are not the greatest... Not as soft as I had hoped.
These towels are slightly coarse right out of the bag--a quick wash and they are ultra soft and fluffy. Even better color than we expected (we went with the gold). Very happy with purchase.
Although not as thick as I would like, these towels (after the first wash) seem more than adequate for every day use. I would not present them as guest towels but for me and the family, they are good enough and the price was fair.
I had no problem in washing or pilling as other reviews said. Fine soft absorbent. I don't use dryer sheets or have soft water. Yet they remain soft and absorbent . Good price, color is great.
Great deal for absorbent and soft towels. Will be buying more.
This was a gift for someone and they told me it took several washes before you could use the towels without them leaving you covered in cotton fuzzies. Once they got to the point they no longer left fuzzies, they were great! Very absorbant and lovely colors.
The online description for the towels was 30 x 56. We I received the towels the tag on them said 30 x 54. I decided to measure them before I washed them and the only measured 30 x 53. Size and thickness are the main factors we use when buying towels and these were small and thin. Very disappointing size and quality.
These black towels are very, very, very, very absorbent.
Usually leaves our warehouse in 1-2 business days. *
Items must be returned in new or unused condition and contain all original materials included with the shipment. More details
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** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.


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Campus Life
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Belknap and Catlin
P.O. Box 2000
Superior, WI 54880
ph. 715-394-8244
Campus Life
News and Events Details
Legislative Affairs Director, Hanna Durfee partnered with United Council, Haji Dokhanchi's Political Science class, and enthusiastic campus members to get out the vote and encourage students to exercise their powers as voting citizens.
All students are encouraged to come out and meet their representatives on November 15 during "Meet your Government Night." This event is held to help students understand their resources on campus and within the SGA.
The connections Student Government representatives are making with the student body go a long way, especially in the positive effects it has on their college experience. According to Astin's Theory of Involvement (1995), "students who become actively involved in student government interact frequently with their peers, and this interaction seems to accentuate the changes normally resulting from the college experience."
Astin, A. (1995). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518-529.
Watch for the Campus Life Spotlight every Tuesday in the Staff Digest and online!


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Fort Myers Places
Fort Myers is bustling metropolis with environmental, historical and cultural attractions, a Southwest Florida city where there's always something extraordinary to experience. Known as the "City of Palms" for its scenic, palm-lined streets, Fort Myers is also a tropical town with a laid-back feel and the gateway to several beloved island communities, including Sanibel and Captiva islands.
Downtown Fort Myers, also known as the River District, forms the core of the city and stretches for miles south along the Caloosahatchee River. The Caloosahatchee is part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and flows through Lee County offering many recreational opportunities as well as fabulous waterfront properties.
Some of the most beautiful beaches and resort hotels in the world are within a few miles of downtown Fort Myers. Residents and visitors will also find shopping across the spectrum – high-end outlets, antiques, boutique and shopping malls. Dining and nightlife entertain in the evening, and there's always the chance to watch a spectacular "show" as the sun sets over the Caloosahatchee.
Named for a Civil War-era army colonel, Fort Myers' history parallels that of Florida itself. Indigenous peoples inhabited the area's nearby islands. Later, pioneers settled the pine flatwoods, and cattle drivers escorted their charges down what is now McGregor Boulevard to ships docked at Punta Rassa. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford put the town on the proverbial map when they chose the City of Palms as their winter getaways.
In addition to historical attractions, Fort Myers offers opportunities to enjoy an array of performing arts, golfing, museums, a planetarium and more. Natural wonders abound as well, such as ecological parks, miles of sandy beaches and abundant wildlife.
Fort Myers is the destination of choice for homebuyers with a passion for the pursuit of paradise.


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The Lobby Bar at the Ace Hotel New York
Manhattan – NoMad
The Lobby Bar at the Ace Hotel New York
Ace Hotel, 20 W 29th St at Broadway
Manhattan, NY
- phone: 212-679-2222
- website: timeout.com
- get directions
Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield, who operate the Ace's sceney Breslin restaurant, also have a hand in running this massive lobby bar. Among the many great beers, don't miss the proprietary Breslin Aberdeen by Sixpoint Craft Ales, a pleasingly acidic, hand-pumped, cask-conditioned ale. We also fell hard for the Breslin Bloody Mary, a version that gives horseradish-spiked organic tomato juice and vodka a crowning garnish of pickled vegetables and smoked okra. Bloomfield's bar snacks--"thrice-cooked chips" (some of the best thick-cut fries you can find) and a grilled three-cheese sandwich--make ideal companions to the drinks.
- admission price:
- Average drink: $9


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Wooden Baker's Racks
Wooden baker's rack gives everything a place of its own! From bath must-haves to kitchen appliances to office essentials, this solid hardwood baker's rack keeps everything stylishly organized. Smartly designed in your choice of 22"-wide or a slim 12"-wide for tight spaces. Stain-resistant lacquer finish. Simple assembly. ( 56-1/2"H x 10-1/8" D)($10) Additional Shipping
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In this Jan. 29, 2013 file photo, Carmel's Chris Duff drives on Lakes' TJ Edwards (left). | File
Article Extras
Updated: March 2, 2013 6:43AM
They've played in the shadow of North Chicago all season.
But this might be the week the Lakes Eagles step out on their own and claim at least a share of the Class 3A boys basketball spotlight in Lake County.
The first step was taken on Tuesday, a solid 46-40 win over host Carmel in a game in which an 11-0 run turned a 36-35 deficit into a sure victory.
Now comes Friday night ... a home game against North Chicago (22-1), with first place in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division at stake.
Lakes (17-6) already has lost badly twice to North Chicago, and will play them Friday and most likely in the Class 3A sectional finals at Antioch as part of March Madness.
At some point, the Eagles need to make a statement against the Warhawks akin to what they said with Tuesday's win over a good Carmel (8-12) squad.
"It's a big game Friday," said Lakes forward Jake Kohler (game-high 13 points and five rebounds). "We put that up on the board in the locker room after the game. We're looking forward to playing North Chicago."
On Tuesday, Lakes looked good every place but at the foul line. For the game, Lakes was 5-of-14 from the stripe and Carmel was 6-of-16.
That''s 11-for-30 from two good squads.
"We knew coming in it would a tough physical game," said Lakes coach Chris Snyder. "That's what Carmel is used to playing in their conference. It was good to see our guys respond well to it."
Lake scored the game's first seven points and was up 12-2 early. Carmel took its first lead at 20-18, and Lakes was up 22-20 at halftime and 32-30 after three quarters.
Carmel took a 36-35 lead with 4:23 to play, but Lakes scored the next 11 points.
T.J. Edwards' putback made it 37-36 and Kohler's three-point bomb with 2:57 left made it 40-36. After a Carmel turnover, Edwards' driving layup made it 42-36 and a charging call cost Carmel yet another possession.
The last four points of the run were scored by Justin Bergeron (10 points, five rebounds).
"I wasn't worried too much about the start. A lot of things can happen in 30 minutes of basketball," said Carmel coach Tim Bowen. "I figured we would battle back and make it close. It was just a non-stop barrage of turnovers, and even then we were able to hang in there and keep it close. We battled, so I was pretty proud of them for that.
"We just have to do a better job taking care of the ball."
Next up for Carmel is an East Suburban Catholic Conference game on Friday against state-power Notre Dame.
Edwards and Andrew Spencer each scored eight points for Lakes.
Carmel got 11 points and 15 rebounds from senior Cullen Barr, but the 6-6 forward was 3-for-10 from the foul line. Nickai Poyser added seven points.
"It's getting close to that time of year," said Lakes' Snyder about this match between possible Antioch Sectional opponents. "Seeding is next week. Any time you go against somebody in your sectional and come out with a win, it's a good thing."


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We found 5 additional articles filed under humanitarian. They're listed below, most recent first.
- Women as Peacemakers, Women as Decision Makers
10/12/2010 -- From Oct. 18-29, the United Nations and women's and civil society organizations will celebrate 10 years of UNSCR 1325.
- Pakistan Flood Update from Women's Division Partners
09/10/2010 -- Faith and funding partners of United Methodist Women in Pakistan report that recent flooding in Pakistan has hit the poorest of the poor and has further deepened poverty among those living at the lowest economic level.
- Update: The Beauty and Courage of Sudan
05/11/2010 -- In the months since publication of the geographic study, The Beauty and Courage of Sudan, flickers of hope have enlivened Sudan's dream of peace.
- Women's Division President: 'Ask What You Can Do for Mission'
04/14/2010 -- In the wake of major earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, and continued suffering of immigrants, Women's Division President Inelda Z. González urged United Methodist Women members to redouble their outreach to neighbors in need in her address to directors at t...
- Women's Division Head Calls Hope Key to Future
04/27/2009 -- Hope is what the world needs, what United Methodist Women offers and what will drive the organization into a vibrant future in Christ's mission, Women's Division chief officer Harriett Jane Olson told division directors meeting in Stamford, Conn., April 2...
Return to the original article.


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Blanchard Public Library
Finding Love in All the Right Places
February is the month of love, so here are some suggestions:
Fall in love with reading. Find a new author to love. Share the Love - Read with a child. Love your Library! There are hundreds of books in the Blanchard Public Library waiting to be your next best read. Here are a few to help with the adventure.
A little romance? Get swept away with Scarlett and Rhett, lust for true love with Florentino in Love in the Time of Cholera, or suffer the pangs of want with Jane Eyre. A grand escape? Hit the high seas aboard Gulliver's several ships, slide down the rabbit hole alongside Alice, or shoot into the fantastic beyond with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Some thrilling chills? Let The Turn of the Screw haunt your dreams, attend the prom with Carrie, or go off the deep end in American Psycho.
Bound to Please: an extraordinary one-volume literary education
A totalitarian regime has ordered all books to be destroyed, but one of the book burners suddenly realizes their merit.
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading
Here are hundreds of easy and inventive ideas, innovative projects, creative activities, and inspiring suggestions that have been shared, tried, and proven with children from birth through eighth grade. This five-hundred-page volume is brimming with themes for superlative storytimes and book-based birthday parties, ideas for mad-scientist experiments and half-pint cooking adventures, stories for reluctant readers and book groups for boys, step-by-step instructions for book parades, book-related crafts, storytelling festivals, literature-based radio broadcasts, readers' theater, and more. There are book lists galore, with subject-driven reading recommendations for science, math, cooking, nature, adventure, music, weather, gardening, sports, mythology, poetry, history, biography, fiction, and fairy tales. Codell's creative thinking and infectious enthusiasm will empower even the busiest parents and children to include literature in their lives.
What to Read When: the books and stories to read with your child and all the best times to read them
Award-winning educator Allyn offers parents and caregivers essential advice on choosing appropriate titles for their children--taking into account a child's age, attention ability, gender, and interests--along with techniques for reading aloud effectively.


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FAIRMONT - Sherry Schomberg and Meldon Elmore announce their engagement and upcoming marriage.
Parents of the couple are Anna and Marlin Miller of Fairmont, and Margie and Maurice Elmore of Blue Earth.
Sherry works at Parker-Oaks, Winnebago.
Article Photos
Meldon is self-employed.
A private July 17 wedding is planned in Blue Earth.


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616 Hiawatha Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
Phone 630-653-0755
Fax 630-653-6809
Email: email@example.com
Mon. - Thurs. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Holidays and Closings
Event Information
|Open Late for Finals
Event Type: Adult Services
Date: 5/28/2013
Start Time: 9:00 PM
End Time: 11:00 PM
The Library will again be open late for high school students studying for final exams. Students are welcome to study in the Library until 11:00 p.m. The Library will provide access to group study space, computers, and free Wi-Fi. Refreshments will be served. On the days the Library is open late, students must arrive before 9 p.m. and will not be allowed to re-enter the building once they have left. For more information please contact the Library at 630-653-0755.
Contact: Adult Services Department
Contact Number: 630-344-6123


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(Los Angeles)
Caribbean & Central America Cruises
(Mexican Riviera Cruise)
Soothing seas, clear skies and warm tropical breezes make the golden Mexican Riviera a haven for sun worshippers. A Mexico cruise makes it that much more simple to experience it all; each port of call has its own unique personality and charm. From lively towns to sleepy fishing villages, you'll experience the best of Mexico's west coast on this luxurious voyage of the Mexican Riviera. The cobbled streets of Puerto Vallarta's Malécon are ideal for a relaxing stroll, while the sandy beaches and the whale-watching opportunities off Cabo San Lucas are bound to delight. Explore Ensenada, beckoning visitors with its ideal Mediterranean climate and friendly atmosphere. Escape the ordinary with a cruise of the Mexican Riviera. Includes Los Angeles accommodation, private tours & transfers.
Cruise Departure Dates:
2014: Feb 1,8,15,22, Apr 12, Nov 15,22,29, Dec 6,13,20,27
2015: Feb 14,21,28, Mar 7,14,28, Apr 11
Take a private airport transfer in Los Angeles with a private vehicle and driver.
Sofitel Los Angeles Hotel (4.5*) is located on the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard, directly across from the Beverly Center shopping plaza. The hotel shares the boulevard with prestigious Beverly Hills addresses, celebrity-frequented cafés and trend-setting nightclubs. The Sofitel Los Angeles provides 295 guestrooms and 28 suites, all feature state-of-the-art technology - including high-definition TV and WiFi Internet. Their restaurants and bars provide the perfect setting for relaxing and socializing and offer refined French cuisine with the latest in fusion dishes from around the world. LeSpa at Sofitel LA offers face and body treatments inspired by the local environment, Decléor, and Carita.
Spend half of the day in the company of an Expert Guide and vehicle with driver as you are shown the highlights of this great city! Enjoy the different sights of downtown Los Angeles, such as the Dorothy Chandelier Theater where the Oscars are granted and Olvera Street. Continue to Hollywood Hills through the famous Hollywood blvd. where the Chinese Theater is located. Brief stop at the Chinese theater and then continue through the Sunset blvd. passing through the Sunset Plaza and entering Beverly Hills where the passengers will be shown the house of different Hollywood stars. Continue to Rodeo drive where you will be given time for lunch (not included) and shopping.
The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs. You will have the unique opportunity to combine culture and entertainment with private transportation for the entire day, transfers from and to your hotel, a memorable visit to the Getty Museum, lunch at "Bon Apetit" restaurant, and shopping on fashionable Rodeo Drive! Your day includes round trip private transfers to and from your hotel, museum admission (beverages not included), lunch and shopping trip.
Welcome aboard! Take some time to get settled in to your stateroom, and explore the facilities of your cruiseliner. Tonight's welcome dinner will offer an opportunity to meet some of your fellow cruisemates.
Port charges are included in your itinerary pricing.
Sapphire Princess was built in Japan and completed in 2004, fitted with over 700 balconies from which passengers can step out and enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze. Warm, welcoming crewmembers enhance your experience onboard, from your friendly stateroom steward's attentive service, to white-gloved waiters adorning your plate with freshly-baked pastries during Afternoon Tea, to sommeliers recommending the perfect wine to accompany your dish.
Today is your first full day spent at sea, cruising southbound to the west coast of Mexico. Get pampered from head to toe for an hour of bliss or the entire day, or spend some time limbering up with a personal traininer in a world-class floating gym, all at the Lotus Spa & Fitness centre on board.
Today you will continue sailing toward your first port-of-call, Puerto Vallarta. Enjoy some of your ship's sizzling hot spots, such as the Grand Casino, Movies Under The Stars outdoor theatre, Skywalkers Nightclub and the Explorers Lounge. There's no shortage of excitement on board.
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city and port situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas, and was once named as La ciudad más amigable del mundo (The Friendliest City in the World). Tourism has become a major economic activity for Puero Vallarta because of the appealing warm climate, scenery, tropical beaches, and rich cultural history.
Cabo San Lucas is a city and seaport at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. Cabo is known for its sandy beaches, world-class scuba diving locations, balnearios, the distinctive sea arch El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, and abundant marine life, including birthing whales in the winter, and a large marlin sportfishing industry. The distinctive El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is the city's most notable landmark.
Today is your last full day spent at sea, as you cruise northwest on the return route to Los Angeles, stopping at Ensenada tomorrow. Whether you're in the mood for a cozy space to sip cocktails with someone special, or a swanky place to savor a cigar and spend time with new cruise friends, your cruise ship provides it all, with a multitude of bars and lounges.
Ensenada, or Port of Ensenada, is the third-largest city in the Mexican state of Baja California. It is located 116 km south of Tijuana. Ensenada is locally referred as La Bella Cenicienta del Pacífico (The Cinderella of the Pacific).
After breakfast this morning, you'll bid farewell to your fellow cruisemates and disembark from your ship, as your cruise journey has concluded.
Stay in the know: Subscribe to our newsletter to have our hand-picked trips & specials delivered to you!
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June 23, 2011
Outdoor Corner
by Chris Feeney
Isn't it just a given that parents had it tougher than their kids? I didn't have to walk to school, let alone go up hill both ways while packing baked potatoes to keep my hands warm, faced with the knowledge that I could either eat lunch or have cold hands on the walk back home after school.
Now my kids seem to be basking in their inheritance of the ease of the next generation, and it's about to kill dad. Is it just me, or do kids nowadays have way more to do? I have to keep two calendars, cover the refrigerator in reminders and leave a trail of notes like bread crumbs leading Hansel and Gretel to my kids' next appointment. I'm going to have to buy a larger memory card for my cell phone so it can store all of my calendar entries.
One of my favorite quotes is "People are seldom too busy to stop and tell you how busy they are." Guess that fits this column pretty well.
Between the softball, swim meets, band practice, basketball camps, youth groups and birthday parties there is barely a second to catch your breath. Maybe my memory is fading (I am nearing 40) but I just do not recall being half as involved during my childhood? That's not to say we were inactive. As a matter of fact, even with all of the activities, my kids still are more sedentary than we kids of the 70s. I just don't recall all of the scheduled activities. I played Little League, but that was pretty much the lone commitment I had before getting into high school.
I need to ask mom and dad if I was sheltered, disinterested or if they simply didn't have all the opportunities available to today's kids? Maybe they were just smarter than I am, being quick to dispatch brochures, flyers or other invites to participate. We have ways to filter e-mail and prevent phone solicitors, I need to come up with a way to screen requests for my kids to join just one more thing. Somehow they have that impeccable timing, where the one day of the month they do a chore and go get the mail from the mailbox, is the one day there are 19 pieces of propaganda to fill the few remaining seconds of our free time.
I never imagined being ready for my daughter to get her driver's license. Apparently the fear of her driving skills is outweighed by the desire to quit my second job as a chauffeur.
As I was driving to Lancaster Wednesday night for Katie's ball game, I had to avoid a silver/gray Ford pickup that was crowding the center line. In the process of avoiding being side-wiped I caught a glimpse of the other driver, a stunning gentleman with red hair. That's when I realized I had met myself coming and going.
That wasn't too far from the truth. Just moments after arriving, late, for our game at the Lancaster ball park, we noticed there were no other purple jerseys warming up. A quick call corrected our schedule snafu, reminding us we played a home game in Memphis, not Lancaster. I'm curious to know if we had only glanced at the field as we passed by if we would have seen our team and corrected the mistake before we sped out of town?
Fortunately the early game ran a little over, so we got back in time for the start of the contest. I didn't even get a chance to try out what I figured was a perfect excuse for an unsuspecting law officer that may have seen the identical speeding trucks heading in opposite directions. I was just hoping he or she had active kids.


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Fuego Element Grill Griddle Plate
- Summary
This accessory griddle allows you to cook fajitas, quesadillas, stir-fries and breakfast foods on your Fuego Element outdoor grill.
- Designed for use with the Fuego Element gas grill.
- Cast-iron griddle plate is ideal for outdoor sautéing, stir-frying and frying.
- It is recommended to season the griddle with vegetable oil before cooking.
- 20" diam.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 20" diam.
- Made in China.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item is shipped from our warehouse by UPS to arrive within five business days of our receiving your order.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Rush Delivery
For an additional charge of $15 per address, we can rush delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Return Policy
At Williams-Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. If, within 30 days, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please return the item for an exchange or refund of the merchandise value. View Full Return Policy.


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With an antiqued finish, sterling silver and Black Hills Gold, this Cross Necklace has a unique look you'll love! Comes with an 18" sterling silver chain.
Founded in 1977, Black Hills Gold by Coleman® has become world's largest producer and supplier of Black Hills Gold Jewelry! Known for attractive, unique designs that make for memorable gifts.
Perfect stocking stuffer, or birthday surprise! Buy ONLINE Now!
Please Note: This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add it to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
Black Hills Gold by Coleman® SterlingSilver Antiqued Cross 18" Necklace
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You are browsing the archives of "doj."
Does the government need a search warrant, requiring a showing of probable cause, in order to read your email—as it would if it wanted to read a physical letter? Not if the email has been "in electronic storage" for more than 180 days, under the 1986 Stored Communications Act (18 U.S.C. Section 2703). The Stored [...]
Copyright © 2014 Columbia Science and Technology Law Review.


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Avery® Permanent Glue Stic 191Product Number: 00191
Stick in there like a champ with this Glue Stic. Its permanent adhesive securely fastens paper, cardboard, photographs and more for great crafting, scrapbooking and other projects. Simply lift the cap and twist the base for easy application. The photo-safe formula is acid free and won't harm precious materials, and the adhesive washes easily out of clothing. Plus, they're ACMI certified, and conform to ASTM D 4236.The large size lets you apply glue to a larger surface area. This is one tool you'll be happy to see stick around.
Product Description:


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proprietaryPrivately owned and controlled. In the computer industry, proprietary is the opposite of open. A proprietary design or technique is one that is owned by a company. It also implies that the company has not divulged specifications that would allow other companies to duplicate the product.
Increasingly, proprietary architectures are seen as a disadvantage. Consumers prefer open and standardized architectures, which allow them to mix and match products from different manufacturers.
If hackers get their hands on your company's data, they can wreak havoc on customer relationships and cause tremendous damage to your brand and... Read More »Windows XP: Move Along, There's Nothing to See Here
After more than 12 years of holding the title of most popular operating system in the world, Windows XP is taking center stage for its final... Read More »Report: The Role of Big Data in the Marketing Industry
According to a new study from Infogroup Targeting Solutions, we can expect to see companies spend heavily on big data marketing initiatives in... Read More »
Creating desktop shortcuts to a websites is useful. When you double-click the icon from your desktop it automatically launches the browser and... Read More »Flash Data Storage Vendor Trends
Although it is almost impossible to keep up with the pace of ongoing product releases, here are three recent highlights in the flash data storage... Read More »15 Important Big Data Facts for IT Professionals
Keeping track of big data trends, research and statistics gives IT professionals a solid foundation to plan big data projects. Here are 15... Read More »
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655 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA | Directions 9410737.784445 -122.397948
Mon-Thu 10:30am-9:30pm;
Fri-Sun 10am-9:30pm
Neighborhoods: Central East, South Beach
Awesome Chinese Food! – A Giant win, a giant appetite, and here we are at Canton Seafood and Dim Sum House! Oh, Lord, the Dim Sum are great! I love this restaurant, will be coming back for more!!
best Dim Sum I ever ate – My husband and son ate here after a Giant game and what a hit!! We ordered Dim Sum and everything was greate. They LOVE Giants fan so stop by before or after the game. I will go again when I'm in SF and prices are good. Best service I've ever received, keep up the good job!!
Best seafood around! – They have the best seafood around! The scallops are the so delicious that you almost want to take the chef home with you! My husband loves the clay pot, and the kids order the combination platter every time we go. It's a great place to sit down and really have a nice dinner without having to worry about cleaning up afterwards! The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food that you get. I highly recommend this place!
Yum Yum Dim Sum! – I went here for the first time with bunch of my colleagues today. The Dim Sum was great! many selections and good tasting. The service was prompt and professional as well. Huge dining room with lots of space. Try it.....
Delicious Dim Sum! – Love this place. Always consistently delicious. Excellent Dim Sum at affordable prices and conveniently located in the city. Staff is very warm and friendly and I don't feel over-whelmed with choices like at I do at other Dis Sum restaurants.
I tried the mango and coconut pudding for the first time today and I'm still thinking about it.
Delicious and Dim Sum All day! – I've been to Canton several times and I love it. They always have the freshest, fastest Dim Sum and it's huge so even if there is a wait it is never very long. It's a great atmosphere and good service. They are a longtime Chinese restaurant that deserves all the good reviews!
Cheap and Delicious! – The restaurant is easily accessible by bus (if you're a tourist, like I was) and it's just a block away from the Museum of Modern Art (if you're interested).
Even though it was rather quiet, and there were only a few dim sum carts moving around (I was there on a weekday afternoon), the dim sum were all so delicious and fresh! I loved everything I ate, especially the Char Siew Bao (Cha Shao Bao). So good! The servers and manager were very friendly and attentive, so that was a big plus.
Best of all, the dim sum was extremely low-priced. Most of the choices are below $3, but make sure to ask before eating them if you're unsure.
You'll love it here.
best dim sum – I ate there yesterday and I totally fell in love with the dim sum it's so delicious!!! I can't wait to go back there. :)
Best Dim Sum ever. – Just ate here today, Best dim sum I have ever had. Canton is better than the award winning Yank Sing across the city.
Fresh Dim Sum, quick service – Come early as the restaurant fills up quickly for lunch around noon. Most of the dim sum items presented were shrimp or seafood filled. Several dim sum carts are in constant rotation throughout the dining room and include vegetarian and some meat items. The ladies "running" the carts simply open each dish up for you to peruse and you point and eat. Priced very well, this is definitely a place to get authentic dum sum dishes for a great price.
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Gale Holland, Los Angeles Times
November 9, 2012
Thanksgiving was fast approaching, and the holiday blockbusters were about to start. But I still hadn't seen any of the big fall movies. How was I ever going to catch up?
If I failed to make up the deficit, I wouldn't be able to outguess Roger Ebert in those Academy Awards sweepstakes. Or talk to my industry friends, who, come to think of it, are pretty much all schoolteachers or Trader Joe's cashiers by now. Would I even be allowed into an Oscar party?
So I went on a movie marathon. Seven films. One day. Sixteen hours.
The marathon started at the Sherman Oaks Galleria just after 9 a.m., before the elevator — but not the elevator music — was turned on. I left the ArcLight Hollywood well after midnight, waving goodbye to the cleanup crew.
Thanks to multiplexes, I had to drive across town only once. I tried taking brisk walks up and down the theater hallway, but by the end, various parts of my body were killing me.I survived on a chicken sausage on baguette with zingy mustard sauce, three Diet Cokes and a small tub of popcorn, no butter. I methodically worked the popcorn down to the last 10 handfuls before I felt too sick to go on.
It was pretty fun, but I was a wreck the next day, I'm not sure why. My sleep was broken by disturbing images: Joaquin Phoenix's tortured face. Keira Knightley impersonating Anna Karenina in a preview, which I sat through five times.
I know I'm not the only one who missed the entire fall slate, but don't attempt Xtreme viewing at home! I boiled it down so you don't have to. As an extra bonus for busy readers, it's all in handy verse:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt picks up his blunderbuss
To blow away his future self — Bruce Willis in a truss.
Bruce escapes. A demon child lets out an awful scream.
A field of cane goes up in smoke, and Looper is a dream.
College a cappella groups and barfing girls galore:
A Pitch Perfect concept for a film that's sure to soar.
Sadly, girls run out of horrid pop songs to perform.
Time to watch "The Breakfast Club" and weep inside your dorm.
Mark O'Brien lives in Berkeley in an iron lung.
William Macy is a priest who thinks sex can be fun.
Helen Hunt takes off her clothes to show poor Mark the way;
Pilates Pilates Pilates Sessions help to save the day.
Chris Walken has an illness that ends A Late Quartet
Philip Seymour Hoffman wants the top spot in the set.
His wife objects, and he sneaks off to share a dancer's bed.
Out by midnight with your stuff, Catherine Keener said.
Ben Affleck in bad facial hair fakes a sci-fi show
To save American hostages from the Iranian foe.
The CIA and Hollywood are brought in on the ruse.
In Argo, it's a contest: Which one is more obtuse?
The guys behind "The Matrix" take us on a space/time trip:
Halle Berry, fabricants, a stowaway on a ship;
Tom Hanks talks pidgin English in a leather snood.
Cloud Atlas is the name, but why? No one knows that, dude.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is The Master of a cult.
Joaquin Phoenix drinks and brawls, scarcely an adult.
Joaquin keeps faith with Philip until from grace he falls.
Amy Adams as a cult mom is one scary doll.
So it's all yours. You are locked and loaded for the latest Oscar gossip. Amaze your friends and confound your enemies! Don't laugh, it's only Hollywood.
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times


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Group marshals support for park status at monument
The Colorado National Monument Association would like nothing more than to become the Colorado Canyons National Park Association. The volunteer association that supports the National Park…
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text: Cattlemen Hopeful for Vilsack Visit to Japan Secretary is laying groundwork for future negotiations. Published on: Apr 7, 2010 Tweet Post to Your Wall. Email Story RSS Permalink Print U.S. cattlemen are hopeful Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack's visit to Japan this week will be the first step in further opening that market to U.S. beef. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Chief Economist Gregg Doud says while they don't expect any major movement on the issue, Vilsack is laying important groundwork with the new political party and their ag minister. "It's a new regime, a new group; we have to get to know them and they have to get to know us," Doud said. "We have to get a feel for how they're going to run the country and they've indicated they are going to run Japan very, very differently than it's ever been run before. Political appointees are going to be much more in charge of these political decisions than the bureaucrats and the bureaucracy, which is the way it's always been done. So there is a comfort level that has to be established before we can move forward." Doud says they're encouraged the new Japanese administration has shown a willingness to talk, but says it may be unrealistic to expect Japan to move beef restrictions from 20 to 30 months of age yet this calendar year. "That's a question that I press our government with all the time and the answer is we really don't know," Doud said. "I think from the assessment of everything I've heard, the answer is because they don't know, I don't think Japan knows. Right now what is on their mind is this big election that they have in July and once we get past that we'll better be able to answer that question." Doud says while Japan isn't following OIE standards, NCBA agrees with the Secretary's approach to the negotiation process and believe politics must be put aside. Vilsack has been critical of the previous Administration's all or nothing approach to negotiations with Japanese officials on beef trade.


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A Wyoming Dude Ranch Offering Outstanding Horseback Riding at The Bitterroot Ranch
"The Bitterroot Ranch is "dude ranch extraordinaire" as described by Patricia Schultz the author of "1,000 Places to See before You Die" .
The Bitterroot Ranch offers some of the best and most diverse horseback riding in North America near Dubois, Wyoming. The Shoshone National Forest borders the ranch and Yellowstone National Park is just fifty miles away across unspoiled, mountainous wilderness. Enjoy constantly changing vistas with the Wind River and Absaroka mountains always in sight.
The Bitterroot Ranch has a broad range of horseback riding activities at the ranch includes riding lessons with certified instructors to the intermediate level, a cross country jumping course for experienced riders, team sorting, herding cows on the grazing allotment in the national forest, cattle drives, roundups, and pack trips. Wyoming trail rides include cantering on open plains, winding through pine and aspen forests, clambering up rocky gorges and crossing rushing streams that pour out of the mountains. Antelope, mule deer, elk, coyotes, and the occasional bear can be spotted. The Bitterroot Ranch hosts training clinics with world renowned clinicians Linda Tellington-Jones and Anna Twinney and horseback riding clinics with Donna Snyder-Smith and Sue Falkner-March. Few other dude ranches share our philosophies and passion for horseback riding.
"The Bitterroot has done an outstanding job of creating a unique riding program with great horses in a truly beautiful location." -- David Vogt, Arkansas
A Working Cattle Ranch
The Bitterroot is a working ranch and during your vacation you will have opportunities to help drive cattle, which graze in high mountain meadows during the summer. You can hone your skills during the weekly team sorting competition. Working cattle on horseback can give new meaning to the partnership between horse and rider, adding another dimension to your riding holiday. We are especially proud of our home bred Arabian horses and we also have sheep, llamas, poultry, dogs, cats and an extensive vegetable garden, contributing to a feeling of self-sufficiency.
"The complex life at the Bitterroot wove a rich web for me to hone my riding skills, keeping my interest and challenging me but never threatening me." -- Pam White, Massachusetts
Ranch Accommodations with Ranch Raised Cuisine
Bitterroot Ranch has been run by the Fox Family for over forty years. Guests stay in comfortable, log cabin accommodations located along the river for maximum privacy and spectacular views of the surrounding Wyoming Rocky Mountains. The invigorating air and a day in the saddle will whet your appetite for the delicious food and wine served, including ranch raised beef, lamb and salads. The Foxes join guests at meals in the main lodge and often lead rides which contributes to a convivial family atmosphere at the ranch.
Visit our slideshow below


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BOISE -- Boise State coach Chris Petersen says running back Malcolm Johnson will miss the entire season after tearing an ACL during no-contact drills.
Johnson was having a strong fall camp and was poised to be the No. 3 running back for the Broncos, behind Doug Martin and D.J. Harper. Johnson, who returned to the team after being declared academically ineligible last year, also was expected to play a big role on special teams.
Petersen says the injury is the only significant injury setback as the No. 5 Broncos prepare for Saturday's season opener against No. 19 Georgia.
Petersen says it's disappointing because Johnson returned to campus in great shape and with a great attitude.
The loss could open the door for more playing time for freshman Jay Ajayi.


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Trailer: "Songs from the Labyrinth - Dowland Anniversary Edition"
StingÆs Songs from the Labyrinth Dowland Anniversary Edition
to be released August 16
Deutsche Grammophon celebrates the 450th anniversary of John DowlandÆs birth with a Dowland Anniversary Edition of StingÆs critically acclaimed album with Edin Karamazov, Songs from the Labyrinth, complete with bonus tracks and a DVD, The Journey and the Labyrinth, on August 16, 2013 (US release: October 1).
Songs from the Labyrinth was StingÆs debut album with the Yellow Label and premiered at the top of the classical charts. It went on to become the best-selling classical album of 2006, according to Billboard MagazineÆs year-end chart. Now for the first time it is presented together with all of the audio recordings and video material in a single package. The CD is comprised of the original album along with live versions of several songs performed at the 2007 St LukeÆs concert in London, plus celebrated renditions of ōFields Of Goldö, ōMessage In A Bottleö and ōHellhound On My Trailö.
The DVD, The Journey and the Labyrinth, is an original television special, weaving performances, interviews, historical information and readings of DowlandÆs personal correspondence that serve as a soundtrack to the composerÆs life. It also includes live material from St LukeÆs Church in London, where Sting performed selections from the original album, as well as adaptations of many of his most enduring hits, a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals, and a solo performance from Edin Karamazov.
Sting said: ōDowland, for me, is the music of self-reflection . . . I feel there is an intimacy to this music and I can do something thatÆs really me ¢ and still, I hope, respect the music.ö
Audiences and critics alike praised Songs from the Labyrinth.
ōFor once, we can say that this is not only the most intriguing classical disc of the year, but a vitally important musical release, crossing all boundaries, even time itself.ö ¢ Fanfare.
ō . . . one of the refreshing things about this CD is the complete lack of classical or æearly musicÆ fustiness.ö ¢ The Daily Telegraph.
The Dowland Anniversary Edition of Songs from the Labyrinth is available August 16, 2013 on Deutsche Grammophon.


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OK I know that this is a basic question. I have variables defined in the Root directory of the flash file so that the If statement in the root directory can use them. However there are goto-statements in the movie clip right under the Root directory that also uses the same variables. How do I define the variables so that act like 'global variables'? I mean I want to define the variables so that the code in the movie clip will use them along with the code in the root directory.
What you mean under "root directory". Is it the main timeline? If it is and you have a variable named 'test' in it you may use MovieClip( this.root ).test to get the value.
something like this in main timeline;
var test: uint = 34;
and this in timeline of movieclip added into stage;
trace( MovieClip( this.root ).test )
will trace '34' in the output.
So that will bring the defined varables from the Main timeline into the movieclip. There for the code in the Movieclip can use the varibles with out having to redefine them in the movieclip. Correct?
In short words - "Yes"
Ok I tried that to no avail. This is how my file is set up
Root->Animation->Action script
stop(); var Home; var Roster;
function mouseDownHandlerHome(event:MouseEvent){Content.gotoAndStop(Home);
function mouseDownHandlerEnlist(event:MouseEvent){ navigateToURL(new URLRequest("https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=psvc5aYhLuFoImejmLioWew&h l=en"));}
function mouseDownHandlerRoster(event:MouseEvent){Content.gotoAndStop(Roster); }
topmenu.home.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDownHandlerHome);
topmenu.Enlist.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDownHandlerEnlist);
topmenu.Roster.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, mouseDownHandlerRoster);
Home(movieclip)-> Action Script
Home=1; Roster=3;
var xmlholder:URLLoader=new URLLoader(new URLRequest("Home.xml"));
->Roster (which has similar code)
As you can see I have a variable in the root timeline that I am defining in the embeded Movieclip. So if there is an easy way to do a global variable or something please tell me.
NOTE: I have looked it up and people say that I would have to use a package to define a new class and then import it. This is a problem because I am too green to know how to do that. So if that is the only way to do it, please explain the process in small simple words.
Thanks in advance.