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tag:econsultancy.com,2008:/topics/customer-experience Latest Customer Experience content from Econsultancy 2016-07-21T11:30:00+01:00 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:Report/3008 2016-07-21T11:30:00+01:00 2016-07-21T11:30:00+01:00 Internet Statistics Compendium Econsultancy
Econsultancy's Internet Statistics Compendium is a collection of the most recent statistics and market data publicly available on online marketing, ecommerce, the internet and related digital media.

The compendium is available as 11 main reports (in addition to a B2B report) across the following topics:

Advertising

Content

Customer Experience

Data and Analytics

Demographics and Technology Adoption

Ecommerce

Email and eCRM

Mobile

Search

Social

Strategy and Operations

B2B

Updated monthly, each document is a comprehensive compilation of internet, statistics and online market research with data, facts, charts and figures.The reports have been collated from information available to the public, which we have aggregated together in one place to help you quickly find the internet statistics you need, to help make your pitch or internal report up to date.

There are all sorts of internet statistics which you can slot into your next presentation, report or client pitch.

Those looking for B2B-specific data should consult our B2B Internet Statistics Compendium.

 Regions covered in each document (where available) are:

Global

UK

North America

Asia

Australia and New Zealand

Europe

Latin America

MENA

A sample of the Internet Statistics Compendium is available for free, with various statistics included and a full table of contents, to show you what you're missing.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:Report/4200 2016-07-21T11:05:00+01:00 2016-07-21T11:05:00+01:00 Measurement and Analytics Report 2016
Overview

Never have marketers, analysts and ecommerce professionals had more data to work with as part of their ongoing efforts to improve business and organisational performance.

At the same time, the growing challenge for individuals and organisations alike has been to avoid being overwhelmed by proliferating sources of data and metrics across a burgeoning number of marketing channels and technology platforms.

The Measurement and Analytics Report 2016, produced by Econsultancy in partnership with analytics consultancy Lynchpin for the ninth year running, looks at how organisations are using data strategically and tactically to generate insights and to improve business performance.

The research, based on a survey of almost 1,000 digital professionals, also focuses on the important role for data and analytics in supporting their attempts to build a competitive advantage by becoming more customer-centric.

What you'll learn from this research

Understand how analytics can help to meet financial goals and what the most common growth and profit-related requirements are.

Discover how organisations are using data and analytics to build a competitive advantage by becoming more customer-centric.

Benchmark the make-up of your analytics or data team and investment plans against those of your peers.

Find out where the biggest analytics skills gaps are and what the most common challenges related to deploying tools and technologies organisations face.

Key findings from the report

The vast majority (84%) of marketers agree that their understanding of the customer is increasing over time, and 64% say that they are using data-driven customer insights to adapt their marketing strategies and influence business decisions.

Despite the increasing importance of data, the proportion of analytics data used to drive decision-making within the organisation dropped by seven percentage points compared to last year's survey.

While 77% of marketers believe digital analytics important to their company's digital transformation, fewer than one in five consider digital reporting to have a 'very influential' role in supporting business decisions.

Features of the report

Based on a survey of almost 1,000 digital business professionals, this report also aims to cut through the noise to understand how companies are using measurement and analytics to boost revenue and profit growth, while also looking at the types of technology and data which are used to meet these ends.

Download a copy of the report to learn more.

A free sample is available for those who want more detail about what is in the report.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68079 2016-07-15T13:15:43+01:00 2016-07-15T13:15:43+01:00 10 notable digital marketing stats of the week Nikki Gilliland
Now, let's crack on.

Amazon receives 81.6m visitors on Amazon Prime Day

It's been criticised for its lacklustre algorithm, but in terms of traffic, Amazon Prime Day has been confirmed as a success for the retailer.

Despite visits from mobile and desktop falling 6% from last year, Amazon.com still received 81.6m visits on Prime Day 2016.

According to data from Hitwise, a division of connexity, this means it has been the most successful online shopping event since Cyber Monday, Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day of 2015.

Pokemon Go surpasses Candy Crush with highest number of US daily users

With 15m downloads, and currently just under 21m daily active users, Pokemon Go is now the biggest mobile game in US history.

It's only just out in the UK, however data from BoomApp has revealed that over 3% of UK android users had already downloaded the game ahead of its release.

Which means, you can probably expect more Pokemon related stats next week…

Millennials are a key demographic for energy providers

According to research by Accenture, millennials will drive much of the future value for energy providers, with 24% being classed as early adopters.

However, despite this, the demographic is also the most demanding.

81% of millennials say they would be discouraged from signing up to additional products or services if the company did not offer a seamless digital experience.

APAC overtakes US as world's biggest digital ad market

Research from Strategy Analytics has found that Asia-Pacific is set to overtake North America for digital ad spend in 2016.

While the latter will rise 9.6% to $59.5bn, APAC is predicted to rise 18.2% to $59.7bn.

What's more, APAC's spend per person is relatively low in comparison to the saturated markets in the west, meaning there is huge potential for growth.

UK population saving 51.4m hours per month thanks to disruptive apps

Opinium has discovered that apps and online tools are saving consumers a collective 51.5m hours over the course of each month.

With convenience and time saving being cited as the most important advantage of an app (even over saving money), customer loyalty is up for grabs.

68% of survey respondents said that would have no qualms about switching from traditional brands when given the option.

Consumer goods firms unprepared for new data regulation

Capgemini Consulting has revealed that companies risk facing fines of up to $151 billion, by failing to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulation.

While the legislation has been created by the European Union, anyone that holds data within Europe or offers services to EU citizens will be affected.

With 90% of consumer-facing companies experiencing customer data breaches, many are failing to put safeguards in place.

One in four name Amazon their favourite brand

In a survey of 1,000 consumers, the DMA found that one in four people named Amazon as their favourite brand.

High street favourites John Lewis and Marks & Spencer were next in line.

With just three out of the top twenty being online brands (ASOS, eBay and Amazon), the physical shopping experience is clearly still in favour.

Live TV viewing drops 6% in two years

Ofcom's Annual Research Report has revealed that fewer young people are watching live television than ever before.

From 2014 to 2016, the total viewing time of live TV among young adults dropped from 69% to 63%

With one-third of all viewing among 16 to 24 year olds occuring via on-demand services, platforms like Amazon and Netflix have seen a surge.

YouTube pays $2bn to content owners

A statement from Google has revealed that YouTube has generated over $2bn for content owners from its Content ID management system.

Over 90% of Content ID claims result in monetisation, and the music industry in particular chooses to monetise 95% of claims.

With even more efforts to combat copyright infringment, Google has in turn created a whole new revenue stream for companies.

Apple overtaken by local brands in China

Apple's iPhone is no longer one of the top smartphones in China, having been overtaken by local brands like Huawei, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi.

The iPhone has dropped to the fifth most popular, although it remains the biggest non-Chinese brand.

Huawei, a brand with a lower price point, has seen its market share rise to 17%, while Apple's has dropped to 10.8%.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68073 2016-07-15T10:09:08+01:00 2016-07-15T10:09:08+01:00 How marketers can use new tech to deliver meaningful brand experiences Nikki Gilliland
And to truly connect, this experience must be meaningful.

That's easier said than done, so here's a look at five ways in which the report suggests brands can create meaningful experiences.

Use technology to drive emotion

Most consumers crave experiences that connect on an emotional level.

For brands, this means using technology in more creative ways.

With their ability to transport users from reality into an entirely different world, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) are the most obvious tools to use.

However, it can only work if the technology and content work in unison.

If it allows the user to connect with an idea or other person (as opposed to isolating them from the world) then it moves from an immersive experience into an empathetic experience – one that's driven by emotion, regardless of the channel or platform.

Another way brands can promote empathy and emotion is through social good.

One example of this is Lush, a cosmetics retailer that runs charitable campaigns and supports grass-roots organisations.

By giving the consumer a meaningful reason to buy, it also provides them with a very good reason to come back.

Creating new and unexpected experiences

Is there such a thing as too much personalisation?

Some say there is, with tailored recommendations and highly curated feeds taking away the element of surprise (a key factor for a meaningful experience).

So what's the answer?

To ensure that human, one-to-one creativity works in conjunction with technology to create a contextual experience for the consumer.

A good example of this is when brands only work with influencers when there is benefit for all parties involved.

If there is a lack of natural affinity, not only will it harm the reputation of those involved, but it will also alienate the audience.

Providing a value exchange

When it comes to technology, privacy and data protection is a hot topic.

However, a new conversation has recently started in relation to technology actually creating or aiding moments of privacy.

As we've seen from the growing popularity of ad blockers, consumers are increasingly keen to take control over their own digital worlds.

Input from brands is often seen as an intrusion or unwelcome distraction – unless there is an exchange of value.

And where does the value lie? Again, the report suggests it's in that meaningful experience.

Whether it's help to get fit or map out a journey, so long as brands provide something of value (as well as complete transparency), consumers are likely to accept their data being taken in exchange.

Offer practical and progressive experiences

With 54% of people citing that a good digital experience seamlessly integrates into their own lives, experiences don't only need to be emotional to be meaningful, but helpful and practical too.

If an experience helps a user progress some way, they are automatically going to want to use it again.

With machine learning and artificial intelligence constantly evolving, brands need to learn how to interpret and use data for the benefit of the consumer.

Provide a connected experience both on and offline

While consumers value technology-enabled interactions, 64% of people said they prefer engaging with a human being.

In line with this, we've already seen many brands attempt to blend the physical and digital worlds, using both to deliver inspiration and discovery.

While ecommerce companies are most obviously suited to this, other industries can still take heed by focusing on a seamless experience across all touchpoints.

 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:Report/4189 2016-07-13T10:25:00+01:00 2016-07-13T10:25:00+01:00 Digital Intelligence Briefing: Taking Advantage of the Mobile Opportunity
The Taking Advantage of the Mobile Opportunity report, produced by Econsultancy in association with Adobe, examines the extent to which marketers have embraced mobile marketing, and how organisations are approaching and implementing mobile strategies.

The third annual iteration of our mobile research – part of the Digital Intelligence Briefing series that Econsultancy publishes in partnership with Adobe – revealed that marketers recognise both the outsized role of mobile and the challenge of providing a great experience when there is no margin for error.

More than 4,000 marketers and digital professionals took part in this year's survey, giving us a great glimpse into how organisations are approaching and implementing mobile strategies across all channels.

Findings include:

The proportion of organisations describing themselves as 'mobile-first' has more than doubled in the last two years, with those based in North America leading the way.

Companies are continuing to invest in their mobile capabilities, with 60% increasing their 2016 spending and only a tiny fraction moving away from their mobile investments.

The average proportion of ecommerce revenues being transacted on mobile devices has increased by 75% since 2014, reaching 28% this year.

Nearly three in five (57%) organisations are aware of the different technologies available to support their mobile strategies.

Mobile is considered to be extremely important for customer experience - exceeding the importance of the desktop site.

Econsultancy's Digital Intelligence Briefings, sponsored by Adobe, look at some of the most important trends affecting the marketing landscape. You can access the other reports in this series here.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68054 2016-07-12T11:55:00+01:00 2016-07-12T11:55:00+01:00 Pat Symonds, CTO of Williams, on why VR will shape the future fan experience of F1 Nikki Gilliland
On a recent trip to Silverstone, I sat down with Pat to get his views on the topics of data and tech within the sport.

Surprisingly, he wasn't too precious about data being the property of those behind the scenes of Williams.

At the moment, we have the data… We're the ones looking at it as the drivers go around the track.

A lot of it is too sophisticated or complex to be easily understood, but as faster data transmission happens, I think it'll be completely natural for fans to gain access - to log on to a car and see everything that's going on.

Accessing data might be an exciting prospect for an existing and dedicated audience – but what about enticing new fans to Formula One?

Could gaming be the next step?

Even further, the ultimate will be having a virtual race where you can compete with the guys at Silverstone. To my mind, that scenario is not that far away.

We use simulators to develop our cars, and while they cost millions at the moment… home simulators are definitely coming.

In a few years, the average games machine will be a VR machine.

Pat's passion for technology is evident. However, with a lot of criticism about tech taking away from the sport, i.e. reducing the influence of the driver on a race, I also asked – is there such a thing as too much technology?

Apparently, the answer all depends on how you view Formula One.

Is it a business, a sport, or merely entertainment?

In my view, Formula One's most important function is as entertainment. And people are entertained in different ways. Some, like me, love technology.

I think it's what gives cars their incredible performance… We need to recognise that technology has set the bar for Formula One.

But of course, balance is key, and we mustn't do it for the sake of it. The pit-stop is amazing for fans, but it shouldn't be the only reason to watch.

Interestingly enough, one thing Pat agreed on was that Formula One (and Silverstone specifically) is far too exclusive.

From getting tickets to even getting into the grounds, it's all a bit too 'VIP'.

For those watching, it's worlds away from the weekly ritual of supporting a football or rugby team.

Formula One needs to be visual, simple, short. I don't know why we race for 300km, that's way too long.

If we could get it over within 45 minutes, that'd be optimum. Like a football game – fans don't want to wait around when they could be enjoying a pie and a pint.

We've tried to be too exclusive… It's not easy to get into Silverstone and that's a great shame. Not just physically, but in a virtual sense.

Having recently teamed up with Sky to produce a number of videos, it appears Williams is already trying to enter virtual territory.

While some argue that 360-degree videos are rather basic, and still worlds away from the fully immersive style of virtual reality, it does back up Pat's desire to bring the fans closer.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68055 2016-07-12T11:14:47+01:00 2016-07-12T11:14:47+01:00 How Dyson is bringing technology to life in its new London flagship store Nikki Gilliland
The brand's very first brick-and-mortar store to open in the UK, it is a conceptual space designed to offer consumers a 'hands on' shopping experience.

Similarly, it's yet another example of retail stores bridging the gap between the digital and physical experience. (Note I did not say 'phygital'… that ever-so-divisive word).

But is it a gimmick, or is it really a rather lovely way to purchase a vacuum cleaner?

Here's a run-down of what the store has got to offer.

Customer-centric experience

As well as some fancy technology, the first thing that strikes you when walking into the Dyson store is a number of rather important-looking people standing around.

These are Dyson 'experts' – people that are not just employed to sell you a product, but to offer demonstrations and speak in-depth about the science behind them.

For the average shopper, i.e. the kind of person who might pop in to have a browse out of curiosity or mild interest, this presence could prove slightly off-putting. After all, there's nothing worse than feeling out-of-place in a shop.

But on the other hand, for anyone actually interested in purchasing a Dyson product, it certainly signals a focus on meeting the customer's needs.

With instant and one-to-one interaction, it brings to mind the sort of service (and attention) that you get in a car showroom – something that's obviously lacking in the world of ecommerce.

Integrating digital

Whether or not you're determined to buy a Dyson product, the demonstration aspect of the store is hard to resist.

Whether it's an air-purifier or a cordless-vacuum, staff are ready and waiting to give demonstrations – even allowing you to choose between the type of dust or dirt you'd like to hoover up.

When it comes to giving the customer a comprehensive overview of a product, it certainly beats any 360-degree video you might come across online.

But if you like that sort of thing, you won't be disappointed with a lack of digital integration - the store is covered in screens, further emphasising its high-tech nature.

Try before you buy

While the ground floor is exciting, I was most impressed by the Supersonic salon – a mock-up hair salon on the first floor that offers visitors the chance to test-drive the brand new Dyson hairdryer.

With an appointment booking system on Eventbrite, it is the gimmickiest part of the store. And yet, it's undeniably smart.

If you're serious about spending almost £300 on a hairdryer, why on earth wouldn't you want to take the time to test it out?

What's more, you're probably rather curious to learn why it costs so much – which means hearing about the complex engineering behind each product will be music to your ears.

In conclusion

With its slick design and hand-on approach, the new Dyson flagship sort of feels like the Apple store, but a bit fancier and more educational.

Located just across the road from Selfridges (where another creative shopping space has also just launched), it's certainly worth a visit if you're on the look-out for a new Dyson.

But even if you're not, it might be worth popping in for a nosey anyway...

By focusing on how products work as well as what they do, it provides a far more interesting experience than the majority of its neighbouring stores.

And just finally, it's worth noting that Dyson hasn't installed any self-serve kiosks or touchscreens, which had threatened to be one of the big retail trends of recent years.

Maybe retailers have realised that most people don't want to go in-store to browse products on an iPad?

For more on this topic, see:

What's now & next for digital technology in retail stores?

In-store tech: the screen in the corner that nobody wants to use

Starbucks' new London digital concept store puts focus on customer experience

 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68024 2016-07-05T14:26:11+01:00 2016-07-05T14:26:11+01:00 GSK migraine simulator demonstrates AR/VR potential for healthcare marketing Patricio Robles
According to GSK, which manufactures Excedrin Migraine medication, more than 36m people in the US alone suffer from migraine headaches, but those who don't often struggle to understand just how debilitating they can be.

So the pharma giant turned to AR and built what it says is the world's first migraine simulator in an effort to help non-sufferers understand that a migraine is more than "just a headache."

The AR headset gives non-migraine sufferers the ability to experience common migraine symptoms, such as visual distortions and sensitivity to light or aura.

As part of GSK's The Migraine Experience campaign, migraine sufferers were given the opportunity to invite a friend, family member or co-worker to use the migraine simulator to walk a day in their shoes.

The results were impressive...

Thanks to the power of the technology, the non-sufferers were able to see what the migraine sufferer actually goes through - leading to some amazing moments.

Across the board, non-sufferers reacted with feelings of shock and surprise ('I can't believe you function like that!'), quickly turning to true empathy ('I'm so sorry you go through this.' 'I'll never doubt you again.')

Those reactions were captured on camera, making for high-impact video.

One of the videos has racked up more than half a million views on YouTube, and according to FiercePharma's Beth Snyder Bulik, more than 11m views on Facebook.

All told, Bulik says The Migraine Experience videos have been viewed close to 20m times and generated more than 285,000 social engagements.

For its work, which took a year to put together, GSK received three awards at the Cannes Lions Health show.

Storytelling at its best

Healthcare marketers face many difficulties, but they also have some of the greatest opportunities to tell powerful stories.

Indeed, storytelling could be one of the keys for pharma companies looking to get consumers back on side.

GSK's Migraine Experience is a great example of the type of storytelling that pharma marketers sorely need to embrace.

While not perfect in a comprehensive sense, it's still capable of being compelling: individuals suffering from a difficult condition are able to physically share with the people around them a part of what they experience thanks to a clever application of technology.

Most importantly, the focus of the creative is not a pill, and there are no silly scenes of people walking in a forest while a voice says, "Ask your doctor if..."

But The Migraine Experience doesn't just demonstrate how pharma brands can tell better stories; it also demonstrates how technology is changing the way marketers can tell stories.

While GSK obviously can't widely distribute the AR headsets it built for The Migraine Experience, it has built iOS and Android apps that can be used with viewers like Google Cardboard to provide a similar experience.

With this app, GSK is making it possible for large numbers of people who don't get migraines to walk a mile in the shoes of a migraine sufferer – a new way to tell a story through simulated first-hand experience.

It's not hard to imagine that there are other conditions for which AR and VR could be similarly applied, or to imagine a future in which AR and VR apps help individuals do some initial self-diagnosis when confronted with symptoms that they're unsure of.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68023 2016-07-04T14:34:27+01:00 2016-07-04T14:34:27+01:00 Think retail: How brands are targeting the 'phygital' generation Nikki Gilliland
In case you're wondering, 'phygital' (a buzzword if ever there was one) denotes a new type of shopping experience.

As Chris Sanderson from the Future Laboratory explained – it combines the physical and digital worlds for an experience that is full "immediacy, immersion and interaction".

Here are a few examples of how some brands are already delivering it.

Re-thinking location

Despite the assumption that the consumer only lives online, in-store shopping remains just as popular as ever.

The challenge for retailers is providing consumers with a store that's relevant – a place that means something to the people who are likely to live and shop nearby.

A great example of a brand re-thinking what stores mean to shoppers is Nike.

With its Brooklyn-based Community Store, the sports retailer aimed to create a space that fosters community spirit and promotes the unifying power of sport.

By employing 80% of its staff from the surrounding neighbourhood and supporting local non-profit organisations, it has become an integral part of the community – far from a faceless brand.

This also shows that achieving a greater understanding of consumers doesn't just mean working out what products they want to buy.

Promoting point-of-view

Retailers are no longer accepting that the consumer is always right.

A bold statement, I know. But as brands start to focus more on core values and beliefs, many are now promoting a unique point of view in order to generate loyalty, instead of simply pandering to the general consumer.

Take Rei for example. Last year, the outdoor apparel company chose to boycott Black Friday with its bold #optoutside campaign.

By refusing to slash prices, not only did Rei emphasise its position as a voice of authority, but it also managed to promote consumer choice (when every other retailer was pushing the inevitable sale) as well as conveniently highlight its core marketing message of living life outdoors.

Targeting emotions

The aim for retailers in future is not just to pre-empt purchase behaviour, but to predict the emotions that drive consumers to buy.

This type of 'mood retail' is not only determined by data or tools such as Google's Customer Match for Shopping. We've also seen certain brands using mood as a marketing tool.

Last year, women's retailer Finery launched a microsite that matched products with the customer's mood.

By using emotions to drive product choices, the site not only gave users a more immersive and intuitive shopping experience, but it also closed the gap on the physical and digital experience.

So...

Before we do dismiss 'phygital' as yet another buzzword, it's evident that consumers are increasingly desiring the best of both worlds.

The challenge for brands is knowing how to effectively combine the two.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/67987 2016-06-30T10:49:13+01:00 2016-06-30T10:49:13+01:00 Home sweet home: Why Houzz is worthy of the 'best app' award Nikki Gilliland
Now with over 40m homeowners in its community, it has morphed into a resource for both professionals and those merely looking for interior inspiration.

As well as enabling builders, landscapers and the like to advertise services, it allows users to collect ideas and shop items.

It's obviously an appealing idea, but what makes it the 'best app' out there?

I decided to find out.

(FYI: I am an iPhone user, so I downloaded the iOS version... It's basically the same!)

Login and homepage

Signing up to Houzz is incredibly simple. With the option to use a Facebook login or sign up via email, I chose the latter.

The automatic '@hotmail' or '@gmail' form filler is a handy little feature, and an early indication of the app's strong focus on UX.

Like most app homepages, Houzz offers an introductory guide when you first sign in.

This is not unusual, but with the brand's multi-faceted nature potentially resulting in some confusion (Is it like Pinterest - or is it like Gumtree?) - the extra clarification is useful.

On first impressions, the homepage is slick and well-designed.

Mainly showcasing a mix of editorial 'Stories' and photos, it is incredibly pleasing to the eye, and a heavy focus on high-quality imagery is immediately obvious.

Its 'find local professionals' section at the top is also effective in highlighting the app's functions (rather than just its attractive photography).

Navigation

With five separate sections, the various features are fairly straightforward to get to grips with.

Separated into Home, Photos, Products, Find Pros and Latest – each tab has a distinct focus.

Instead of sticking to the homepage, Houzz's specific verticals might mean that users are likely to navigate straight to the section they are interested in.

Whether scrolling through endless photos or searching for someone to paint the living room, good search and filtering functions means it's very easy to find your way around.

Inspiration

As someone who enjoys interior design, I found the Photos section the most appealing to browse.

With 24 categories in total, it allowed me to filter by a wide variety of options – ranging from contemporary style to specific wall colour.

The best part is that the majority of the images are shoppable, including clickable links to provide the user with more information on the product as well as the option to buy.

Even if the user is unsure what products to look for (and is less inclined to use the products tab), it will still provide endless amounts of inspiration.

But more than that, it will help them remember, as the additional 'Ideabooks' feature enables users to collect and organise the images they want to save.

While this part of the app is very similar to Pinterest, the fact that ideabooks can be linked to profiles means that it takes personalisation one step further - and is very helpful for building trust.

The 'Stories' section includes a wealth of articles for design fans to enjoy.

Although some of the links to interior design are a little tenuous (using 'Devil Wears Prada' as an example of home design seems a bit random...), the wide range of categories show a large focus on quality content.

This section is basically the same as the main website, but its user-friendly design definitely encourages readers to consume content on-the-go.

Alongside inspirational articles, I was quite impressed to discover the 'Ask a question' feature – a discussion section that allows fellow users to offer tips and advice on whatever topic is posed.

While the editorial team certainly provides help and inspiration, this feature is likely to be far more accessible for people in the midst of renovation – and certainly a reason for users to return after an initial browse.

Lastly, the two functions that undoubtedly contributed to Houzz's win at the Google Play awards - 'Sketch' and 'View in my Room'.

Part of the app's most recent update, these features allow the user to insert Houzz products into photos as well as annotate them with comments and stickers.

Personally, I found Sketch to be a little fiddly, as it's not immediately obvious how to use it. (It's pretty similar to Paint.)

That being said, for people who are serious about interior design, its interactive nature and collaborative potential is unlike anything I've seen on an app before.

Likewise, with its VR-style functionality, 'View in My Room' is equally impressive.

Products & professional help

The 'Product' section of the app is probably the one I would use the least, mainly because it's probably easier to shop online while hunting for something specific.

However, that's not to say it isn't useful – and it's definitely convenient in terms of collating information.

One thing that sadly lets it down is that it doesn't appear to be up-to-date. While clicking through to retailer sites, I came across quite a few items that 'couldn't be found' or were seemingly out of stock.

On the other hand, the 'Find a Pro' section is incredibly useful on all counts.

It lists multiple categories of industry professionals, including in-depth information such as business descriptions, typical job costs, contact details and reviews.

While some people might be sceptical about finding professional services via an app, the way Houzz promotes each service from an individual perspective - not just a faceless company - naturally promotes authority and encourages trust.

Conclusion…

Like anything award winning, I had high expectations for the Houzz app. All in all, it didn't disappoint.

Anyone who has ever moved house or redecorated knows that it can be an all-consuming experience.

By bridging the gap between industry professionals and homeowners, Houzz cleverly provides a platform for both sides of the coin.

The app's quality design is certainly part of the reason it has been so well-received (if you only ever use Pinterest to look at houses, it's well worth making the switch).

However, the app's functionality and community aspect is what really impresses. Highly interactive and addictive, it is a pleasure to use.


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1604 Brown Street
Carson City, Nevada, 89701
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Some errands can be accomplished on foot.
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2 teens nabbed in massive Millbrae Community Center blaze
Monthly Archive for April, 2010
Friday Finds on Etsy: Vintage Fabrics
I've been searching for vintage fabrics to make into pillow cases and throw pillows. The colors and patterns in the 60s and 70s really appeal to me. Here are my favorites. Red, white, and blue — my …
Wine storage ideas
A friend of mine who lives in wine country understandably has a nice stock of bottles stashed away. But she's looking for some interesting ideas for storing them without resorting to a wine fridge …
Design and make your own shower curtain
There's no shortage of choices out there when it comes to shower curtains — everything from the no-frills drugstore variety to the upscale silk ones for ultimate luxury. But my favorite ones are …
Skateboards reincarnated
A while ago, I wrote a post about clever shelving ideas made from disused skis, snowboards, and skateboards. Those were fun and utilitarian. The ones I just came across today are strictly art for …
Kukunest's beautiful bedding for kids
Today, I'd like to spotlight a local designer of children's bedding called Kukunest. The Oakland-based company is run out of the home of owners Teri Dimalanta and Laura Mameesh, who design the …
Friday Finds on Etsy: Globes
Extending the celebration of Earth Day one more day, here's a roundup of the best globes on Etsy. A traditional, vintage globe. etsy Globe book-ends. Etsy Sweet 1950s globe bank. Etsy This one lights …
Earth Day: Extending the lifecycle of stuff
I've been involved in a project with the Environmental Protection Agency for the past couple of months that has made me hyper-conscious of how things are made and disposed. Every step of the process …
Molly Hatch ceramics at Lola Home
I've been admiring Molly Hatch's floral ceramics online for a while, and now I get to see it in all its three-dimension glory. Berkeley-based Lola Home, one of my favorite design shops in the Bay …
Creative garden markers
We just finished planting our seeds before this week's rain, and my husband neatly made the markers. Once they grow, it'll be obvious, but in the meantime, we have our indicators to help us delineate …
A new life for old things
The people of Curbly have done it again. The DIY Design Community website has released its second book, this one called Make It! Secondhand Chic. As with the blog, the book describes with clear, …


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Aquarium blames flooding on curious octopus
Published: Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 10:16 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 10:17 p.m.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) Staff at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium in California say the trickster who flooded their offices with sea water was armed. Eight-armed, to be exact.
They blame the soaking they discovered Tuesday morning on the aquarium's resident two-spotted octopus, a tiny female known for being curious and gregarious with visitors. The octopus apparently tugged on a valve and that allowed hundreds of gallons of water to overflow its tank.
Aquarium spokeswoman Randi Parent says no sea life was harmed by the flood, but the brand new, ecologically designed floors might be damaged by the water.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
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Read highlights of Krista's interview with mention of cultivation of mind, ethical motivation, and consciousness and more.
On the Blog
Featured Commentary
After arriving in the U.S. in the 1930s, Albert Einstein witnessed the inequities and injustices done to black Americans. Read his little-known essay from 1946 about the "deeply entrenched evil" as he saw it then, and that pervades this country today.
On the Blog
When the rapper Shyne's conversion is profiled, is Orthodox Judaism is used as just a hook?
The symphony, Henryk Gorecki wrote in 1976, is centered on three texts — including a prayer inscribed by a teenager on a cell wall of a Gestapo headquarters — which the composer turned into haunting laments, backed by simple, slowly churning surges of beautiful music.
Good gosh this is beautiful. Ganesha and Buddha. Grass and lotus flowers. Mountains and sea.
(Thank you, Stephan Kot!)
This year, Lincoln Center announced that its fall festival for the first time would be produced around a unifying concept: that of "spiritual expression and the illumination of our large, interior universes," according to Jane S. Moss, Lincoln Center's Vice President of Programming. The series, dubbed the White Light Festival, began October 28th and includes an array of musical experiences and tastes, ranging from Brahms' requiem to Meredith Monk, to the Tallis Scholars, and from Antony and the Johnsons to the Latvian National Choir.
Read the Twitterscript gems from Krista's October 15, 2010 interview with Chief Rabbi Sacks.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution etched on the doors going into the Mass Media building at Western Kentucky University. (photo: Alan Hudson/Flickr)
The crescent-topped dome of Masjid An-Nasr peeks through trees of a residential neighborhood in Oklahoma City. (photo: Andrew Shockley/Flickr)
Hailing from Canada, where referendums are few and far between, I'm fascinated by some of the questions on the U.S. ballots. This year I was particularly interested in Oklahoma ballot measure 755 [bold emphasis mine]:
Our own civil conversation about our editorial content.
"Finding happiness doesn't necessarily follow from pursuing it. Sometimes the deepest happiness comes when you're least expecting it."
I love these lines by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks from our show "Pursuing Happiness." They remind me that happiness can sometimes sprout in our lives serendipitously, without Sisyphean effort.
A complex gender question for the Buddhist tradition.
Are churches culpable for contributing to suicides of gay and lesbian youth? A survey from Public Religion Research says most Americans think so, to some degree.
On October 17, 2010, Krista led a lively conversation with four dynamic religious leaders: the His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr on "Understanding and Promoting Happiness in Today's Society."
We talk about torture in the abstract, but do we consider the actual acts of torture and the violence that they are?


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This story was written by David Kaplan.
CanWest, Canada's largest newspaper publisher, is facing possible default on $300 million (Canadian; $241 million USD) unless it can get its lenders to relax the terms on a debt payment due today, NYT reports. If it can't, the Winnipeg, Manitoba-based company, which also owns the Global Television Network and reaches about 95 percent of that country's English-speaking population, could face bankruptcy.
In general, the newspaper business in Canada hasn't been suffering as much as in the U.S. But like its publishing counterparts to the south, debt stemming from its newspaper purchases nine years ago are the source of CanWest's current crisis. The company was started in 1974 by the late Israel Asper and his family still controls CanWest. Observers believe that unless they get a reprieve from creditors, the Aspers, could lose control of their companysomething observers consider likely even if the company gets a break on today's payment.
By David Kaplan
CanWest Teeters On Default; A ReorgAnd Asper's Loss Of ControlIncreasingly Likely


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Tactical flashlights Type, size and ANST FL1 Standards
A number of things come into play when searching for a tactical flashlight. With so many available, sometimes it may be hard to know the best flashlight to get especially if you don't know the basic features of a flashlight or the types out there.
Let's have a look at the different types of tactical flashlights:
- Handheld flashlights which like the name suggests are easy to carry by hand. These tend to be small in size.
- Headlamp flashlights which are worn over the head while leaving the hands free. These are great for things such as hiking or camping.
- Weapons lights which are specifically designed to be mounted onto a long gun or pistol.
If you read different tactical LED flashlight reviews, you will come to realize that there a number of tactical flashlight sizes out there from the small to the big.
Let's have a look at the different sizes:
- Micro flashlights which are under two inches and normally make use of button cell batteries.
- Mini flashlights are between 2-3 inches and can include the use of AA or AAA batteries.
- Small flashlights which are under 4 inches in length which are not only great at giving off great light but can be used as a striking.
- Medium Flashlights fall between 4 and 6 inches and can utilize high-end LED bulbs since they can run on two batteries. Besides boosting of high lumens, such flashlights are also great as self-dense tools.
- Large flashlights which are over 6 inches in length and are not only great weapons to have but are able to give off large amounts of Lumens.
ANSI FL1 Standards
Torch producers have to adhere to ANSI FL1 standards in the products they produce. In order to find the best tactical flashlight for your use it is important to equip yourself with knowledge of the ANSI FL1 standards that are followed.
- Light Output which indicate the total amount of light coming out of the front of the flashlight.
- Run time which is the amount of time needed for light to reach at least 10% of its initial output.
- Beam distance which is the measurement in meters of the distance at which the intensity of the beam arrives at 0.25 lux.
- Peak Beam Intensity which is the brightest point in the beam and is measured in Candela.
- Impact Resistance which is used to indicate the height that the flashlight can be dropped to concrete and still remain working without any visible cracks or breakage. Impact resistance is measured in meters.
- Water resistances which are the levels of water that the flashlight can be introduced to and still remain working.
Now that you know some of the most important aspects of buying a flashlight you should be in a great position to find one that suits your needs. Remember, besides being used for light purposes, tactical flashlights can also be used as self-defense tools and for those moments when you find yourself in an emergency or need to survive (think natural disasters).
Understanding the digital camera for quality photos
The Aperture
With the Aperture either dimension is added to a photograph by blurring the background or everything is magically brought into focus. You may be wondering what the Aperture is. Well, it is a hole within a lens, which hole enables light to travel into the camera body.
In photography, the Aperture's size does directly impact the depth of field (the area of the image that appears sharp). It is important to note that each lens does tend to have a different minimum and maximum aperture. In addition, lenses with large apertures are most suitable for low light photography.
The Shutter Speed
The Shutter speed is in charge of generating striking effects by either blurring motion or
freezing action. Shutter speed which is also known as exposure time can either be fast or slow.
The exposure time refers to the amount of time in which the camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera's sensor.
As you photography, a faster shutter speed is ideal for freeing motion if you wish to get sharp or crisp images. A slower shutter speed on the other hand is ideal creating the blurring motion effect.
As you try to understand the shutter speed, it is important to note that unless you are making use of a tripod, the minimum shutter speed should ideally not be less than the focal length.
The ISO
ISO refers to the level of sensitivity of your camera to available light. A higher ISO number tends to increase the sensitivity of the camera sensor while a lower ISO number tends to lessen the sensitivity to light. In case you are looking for an image with little or no noise then you need to ensure that the ISO is low. The same applies for when you are taking photos outside on a sunny day either early in the morning or at sunset. In case you are taking photos during a dark, dull or cloudy day then you will need to increase the ISO. It is important to note that an increase in ISO may result in an introduction of noise or grain in the images. This however can be dealt with via the computer.
The White Balance
The importance of white balance while taking photos is to help your camera show images as close as possible to what your eyes see as you take the photo. For most DSLR cameras there are a number of options for attaining the right white balance for your photography.
You can set it to auto where it is up to the camera to decide on the best option for the given photo-shooting situation. Other options include; Tungsten which helps cool down the colors in the photo; Cloudy which helps warm things up; Fluorescent which also warms up the shot by compensating for the cool light of a fluorescent light; shade also warms things up especially when shooting in direct sunlight.
It is also possible to set custom white balance by use of an ExpoDisv, a gray card, white printer paper or simply having the person to be photographed wear a white shirt.
The above are the basic things you need to understand on your digital camera.
About The Author
Jeremy is the marketing manager over at Celebrity Photo Booth, a photo booth rental business in Toronto. He's been in the industry for years and loves bringing life to various events. In his spare time, he also loves taking pictures with his camera and sharing his knowledge with others online. To learn more, check out celebrityphotobooth.ca.
Making a Solar Swimming Pool Heater
A solar pool heater allows a person to use their swimming pool during any time in the day. One can use the pool in cold evening or morning, spring or autumn regardless of the weather. There are also various other types of pool heating methods which are quite efficient with the best pool heaters, however, solar pool heating is a great option to save you a lot of money.
Solar heating is cheap and reliefs the worry of greenhouse emissions. To evade the cost of buying a commercial heater that goes to about 1500 dollars, you may take the option of creating one at your home. The homemade solar pool heater is less expensive than a pre-manufactured one. But in case your plan is to buy a new one, visit this website to find the reviews about the best pool heater.
There are numerous online clear instructions and guidelines on how to build a homemade solar pool heating system. The necessary items you need in any online guide are listed below.
- Clear diagrams.
- List of materials.
- Steps to be followed.
- Where to obtain materials.
- Troubleshooting instructions.
How a solar pool heater functions
A pool heater functions on what you call a solar principle. The swimming pool water flows via some tubes suspended in reflectors. These tubes require protection against wind chill using a polyethene sheet. You may choose to make some reflectors from storm water pipes that have been covered with chrome paint for reflection purposes, or purchase readymade reflectors.
You will require a little pump for circulating water within your pool. This pump has the capacity to circulate about a hundred and twenty gallons every hour and also raise it at least 1.5 meters high. These reflectors and tubes combine to form a solar panel. The recommended size of a solar panel is 3.5 by 1.4 meters for your home pool.
Your panel should be put in a position that allows full exposure to sun rays particularly at midday. You can place it vertically along your fence or horizontally on your roof. This heater can be very effective if used alongside a solar blanket. They are mainly made from polythene and serve the purpose of providing passive solar heat and prevent evaporation. They do cover the swimming pool maintain the preferred water temperature. They can be transparent or translucent to enable penetration of sun rays. You can get solar blankets from shops dealing in pool supplies, or you can make your own at home.
A solar heating system for your pool will help you reduce your electricity bill since you will utilize energy from the sun. Eventually, your family and you will have the chance to enjoy your swimming in warm water. You will also find that such a system is cost effective.
Tips To Get Home Improvement Done On a Budget
Home improvement requires changing a number of things in order to make the house to look unique and different from earlier appearance. However, home improvement should not be something that exhausts all your cash so to gain a look that resembles dream homes in magazines. Improving a home with limited budget is quite interesting because it enables you to know about some small changes that will create a major difference. During home renovations, simple things like fresh coat of paint or adding some artworks is a practical option. Some of the things to do for affordable improvement your home are:
List down the requirements
Upgrading a home within a budget can be tough when you do not want it to exceed limit. When you first list down the requirements, it helps you to know what to use for improvement at a cheaper a cost. You can for instance use wallpapers or paints to makeover the rooms in place of more expensive mirrors and accessories.
Choose decorations wisely
Do not go for any decoration that you find at the store as you might end up buying something expensive whereas it plays the same role as something cheaper. It is essential that you stick to a list of decorations you want for your house. You can consider decorating a few rooms at a time if you cannot afford the cost of upgrading the entire house. Set a reasonable time limit for home improvement project in order to complete all rooms within required time.
Revamp your kitchen
A house revamp is not complete without renovating the kitchen. You can opt to go for a new theme although this will incur a huge cost. Think about something that does not cost much yet will make the kitchen to have a brand new look. Things such as changing skin of kitchen cabinets and an absolute clean up are cheaper than replacement. You can even go further and repaint the cabinets.
Modify the bathroom
Once you are done with the kitchen, consider as this is a section of the home where guests are likely to visit. Start by cleaning the bathroom up thoroughly to give it a sparkling look. You should also repair any broken tiles or worn our pipes before you modify it with accessories.
When you complete the repairs, paint the bathroom in blue or aqua to create soothing feel. Changing bathroom accessories such as basins or bathtubs might be costly when you are on limited budget. You can instead consider changing little things such as mirrors, towel and tissues sets.
In addition to above simple home improvement tips, you can consider making bigger changes that last for a longer period of time. Professional home builders can help with guidelines on how to make changes within your home.
Are You Looking for a Mortgage With Bad Credit?
Applying for a mortgage loan can be tricky in the sense that you need to have everything planned out prior to availing of the cash financing. Careful planning could lead to wise decision, and could save you from encountering unwanted risks on your future financial stability.
This statement holds the same when it comes to equity release mortgages, and other financial schemes that are available in the market today. The best way to do this is by getting expert financial as well as legal advice, and choosing the right financial institution when availing of the needed capital.
Many retirees believe that when one avails of equity release, they are required to move out of their homes after getting the total agreed amount of the cash loans. This is not true! As long as the retirees are living, they can enjoy the comfort of their own home or real estate, while making use of the investment made possible by the equity release funding to answer their monthly expenditures. It doesn't affect their credit score either.
Some reports have been showing that retirees believe that upon eventuality of their demise, their sons and daughters, or immediate relatives will be made responsible for the repayment of the equity release cash. This is also not correct. The scheme works in such a way that the property itself is funding the loans. This means that if the retirees passed away or decide to leave their home in search of a new one, repayment will be fully paid based on the value of the property. The surviving children or relatives of the retirees will not be burdened by any repayments since the property paid for itself. For more information, you may consult a real estate agent or visit Tweak630score about mortgages.
Buy to let mortgage on the other hand gives an option to purchase real estate in the private rented sector of society, and then lease them out to tenants for it to generate earnings. The total cash amount that can be availed, including the interest rates for repayments can be a little bit higher. This will depend on the percentage of risk as assessed by the financial institutions granting the loans, as they calculate the profitability of the purchased property.
Take time to consult with the financial investment experts before deciding to avail of these programs. Knowing the real facts behind them will give you better insight in making a perhaps your most important decision for your future financial stability.
Millions of people are having a bad 630 credit score and a lot more are following them each day. You might be one of the millions of people who are struggling with bad 630 credit score. The reason for having a bad credit point is that some borrowers get behind in mortgage payments. Your credit score will definitely drop and you will need a refinance guide to refinance your mortgage to avoid foreclosure. However, you don't need to worry if you are involved in this situation because you can still get refinance loans even with low credit score.
There are lots of lenders and banks which are very much willing to deal with any kind of secured loans other than mortgages. You might look for a lender that specializes in secured loans one by one. In this situation, the best thing, when you are searching for a lending personnel or banks, you do not need to exert much effort in order to look for them. There are yellow pages, news papers and the most reliable, the internet, which are great sources to start looking for them. For instance, there are also lots of lending personnels whose names are listed in any places and when you search for one of them, you will directly receive so many offers which came from other similar lenders. In case you have experienced this, do not sign up immediately for the first one that you have encountered. You have to look around anywhere for the best rates as well as best offers. You can compare the annual percentage rate and the charges before you will decide whose lender to choose which would be the best.
That is what most borrowers tend to do, they shop around. Be aware that you must understand clearly the loan that you are getting into and the importance and consequences of that loan. Bear in mind that it is not impossible to do refinancing with average 630 credit score, however it is challenging. Just do as what experts say, don't rush to get the first loan that you think you might need. Encounter many options and research about them carefully in order to make sure that you deal with a reliable and reputable lender or bank.
The Basic Concepts of Bookkeeping
If bookkeeping is done in the correct way, it gives a business owner a perfect view of how the business is doing. Bookkeeping is also a convenient way of providing useful financial records. Financial records are important because they tell so much about the success of a business. They tell if the business strategies being applied are working and will therefore guide on the course of action to be taken. At the end of the year the records will clearly show a business owner if the goals of the business were achieved.
Bookkeeping is an efficient managerial system. It helps managing assets and testing new strategies. A wise business owner will take ample time to set up a working online bookkeeping system with the help of an accountant. Employing an accountant is not a waste of resources as many people tend to think.
It is important to choose a good accounting system for a business. Generally, there are two systems of accounting; cash-basis accounting and accrual accounting. The difference between the two systems is simple, the time of recording purchases and sales in a program or book. For a cash based accounts system records are put down after the cash is exchanged. A purchase will be recorded after the supplier is paid. For the accrual system of accounts records are put down once the transaction is complete, i.e. after the goods or services are delivered. For this system, you not only record purchases but also debt in a record called Accounts Payable.
In bookkeeping it is important for the concept of assets and liabilities and equity has to be understood. Businesses has to keep these three (assets, liabilities and equity) in balance. Assets are all those things a business owns like machines, vehicles, cash, inventory and buildings. Liabilities on the other hand refer to what the business owes others like bank loans, credit card expenses and supplier bills. Equity refers to claims that shareholders have on assets based on the percentage of ownership of the company. The relationship between the three concepts can be represented in a mathematical equation;
Assets= Liabilities + Equity.
In bookkeeping, there is what is referred to as debit and credit. They are very important as far as books of accounts are concerned. The common notion, according to people with little knowledge of accounts, is that debit refers to deductions to an account. There is a little truth in this. Another belief is that credits refer to additions to an account. These additions come in the form of corrections and refunds. In the field of accounts and bookkeeping these two terms are quite different. Bookkeeping involves a technique called double entry. For every transaction two entries are made, debit and credit. Whether the entry adds money or subtracts the money.
Saline Vs Silicone Breast Implants
When a woman considers getting an implant on the breast, the very first thing that she will need to worry about is the type of implants to be used. There are two types of breast implants – silicone and saline implants. These are gel-filled implants, which are very commonly used and pose very less harm to the human body.
Apart from the fact that the breast implants are in an outer silicone shell, there are many other differences to this. With the implants there is a huge difference in the material that is filled in the implants and the consistency in which it is available. One should be completely aware of all the factors and how it works before making decision. Both these has equal number of risks that is associated with it which needs to be considered before making a decision.
When a woman is considering the saline for the implants, the very first thing that they should be aware about it is that it is filled with sterile salt water. Initially these are inserted empty and then they are filled after placing it in position. These implants are available for women who are at least 18 years of age and for women at any age for breast reconstruction.
Another option for the breast implants are the silicone implants. These implants are pre-filled with the silicone gel. This is a thick, sticky fluid this very closely represents the human fat. Most of the women feel that the silicone breasts look and even feel like natural breasts. This is available for women are over 22 years of age.
When a saline implant is ruptured in the body, this will deflate while changing the shape and size of the breasts. This being saline water is absorbed by the body and causes no harm for the body. The outer shell will need to be removed. This is done by a surgery, there is also an option where a new implant can be placed at the same time.
For a silicone implant when it ruptures, the woman might not be able to notice it immediately. This gel is not absorbed and remains in the fibrous tissue of the implant. There are no systematic and any long term health problems. This will mean that it will need to be removed by a surgery.
There are many risks that are related to this procedure. One of the things that will happen is the occurrence of scar tissue which will distort the shape of the implant. Pain in the breast and infection are a few of the side effects of the surgery. There can be changes on the breast sensation which is usually only temporary. There is also a very high risk of leakage or rupture of the implant. Correcting these complications will require additional surgery, resulting in replacing or removing the breast implants. So it's highly recommended to ensure you have the procedure done at a reputable clinic such as Breast Implants Edmonton to ensure that you limit the risks of complications.
Urgent Care: A Source of Affordable Health Care
As the cost of insurance steadily increases, urgent care clinics and walk-in clinics have become increasingly popular among people who need prompt medical assistance. This medical assistance may be related to an illness or injury, and patients typically seek it out when their primary doctor is unavailable.
Clinics, such as the Urgent Care Bakersfield clinic provide patients with medical assistance that is similar to the assistance a primary care doctor provides. These clinics, however, have longer hours and accept walk-in patients on a flexible basis. Sometimes, it is not possible to wait for an appointment. The majority of these clinics offer a broad array of medical services. Common services include x-ray examinations, treatment for minor injuries, cold treatment, prescription refills and other minor injuries or illnesses. Patients tend to consider urgent care centers very convenient due to the flexible scheduling and extended hours. The majority of clinics are open until late evening, and some even offer 24 hour assistance. A lot of people prefer urgent care clinics because of their affordable rates. Treatment through urgent care is less expensive than ER treatment. This is especially true when a patient does not have health insurance.
From testing services to treatment for a persistent cold, you can easily find top notch care for competitive rates by visiting an urgent care or walk in clinic. When you go online and search for an urgent care clinic you are often presented with patient reviews and positive feedback. You will often find that doctors, nurses and other staff members are courteous, professional and accommodating. They aim to give you the highest level of medical assistance.
Ensure that you only receive high quality medical care. Find a qualified and reputable walk in clinic in your area and do not settle for less. You can easily do so by reading patient reviews that come up in search engine results. These patient reviews give you insight from former patients. You may also be able to find out through these reviews what type of specific services a clinic provides.
Even in urgent cases, make sure to do your research before deciding on a walk in clinic. Even though there are a lot of benefits for an urgent care clinic, it's still a pretty good idea to make sure that you do your research beforehand because it will pay off in the long run. You should know without a doubt that you will get assistance from a trained, professional and certified staff. Explore the website and Internet reviews of a clinic to ensure that you can get exactly the type of assistance you need. If you need treatment for an injury, double check to see if the clinic offers specific services like x-rays and diagnostic testing. This will save you time when you need specific treatment for an injury. With just a bit of online research, you can easily find a high-quality walk in clinic in your local area.


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Sequel to Ok Cupid. After Emmett and Kira find each other they decide to bring their families together. Who would have guessed that the meeting would produce such results? Jasper finds himself drawn to a special woman who could "spell" danger for them all. AU, non-canon.
Warning: This story will contain elements of BDSM, D/s, various fetishes, F/F
Jasper's hand closes around hers, sending a wave of calm rippling around her, and for a moment she can't tell if he just did that, or if it was ten years ago, or if he's about to, the decision only just crystallizing in his mind.
Reality is a very fluid thing when one does not live entirely in the present.
A stolen moment between Alice and Jasper, canon, one-shot.
Banner made by the lovely FrozenSoldier :D
Playboy Edward Cullen owns the most notorious and prestigious strip joint in the whole of New York: Violet. When Edward's left one girl short, he begins his search for the next dancer. Who he meets on his search is not only the best dancer he has ever come across, but also a contender for his heart. Can someone finally tame this bad boy?
ExB Rated for drugs, language and sex from the very start.
Set after Breaking Dawn. "I think things are going to be kind of boring now, aren't they?" That hope is shattered as the Cullens' world is turned upsidedown. Will they find their happily ever after, even if it's not what they imagined it would be?
When Edward Cullen wakes up late for work and hungover, he knows he's in for a terrible day. It just gets worse, with bosses yelling and rain pouring down...right up until he finds his way home. One-shot written for the Support Stacie Auction. Slash, OOC.
One-shot continuation of Innocence in Sin with a little more nature loving and lot more dirty deeds on the cool, steel hood. AU/AH/Holy-OOC. RATED M for language and a big citrus basket.
Written for and second place winner of The TwiGirl's Next Door Will You Marry Me Contest
After years together and a song that seems destined to define their relationship, Jasper finally gathers the courage (with a little help from his sister) to ask Bella to be his forever. Will she say yes or will they have the wedding bell blues for life?
In All of Me, Bella chooses to be Edward's 24/7 consensual slave, serving his needs in a way that fulfills her own. And while some days are hard, there are some that are very, very good.
When Edward's good friend Jasper comes to visit, he is surprised by their lifestyle, but undeniably intrigued. And when he's invited to share in the fun, they all have an experience to remember.
This is an alternative reality smuttake from All of Me, set during Chapter 14. It features a Jasper/Bella/Edward pairing. No slash.
WARNING: This story contains graphic language, graphic sexual situations and BDSM. Please read with caution.
What if the fight with the newborns had gone differently? Starts in Eclipse when Jacob comes back with Edward after finding out about their engagement. Goes AU after Jacob and Bella tell each other they love one another. Loyalties will be tested. How will the aftermath affect Bela and Edward? Canon coupes, some OOC behavior.
In the tarot the butterfly represents change. In his arms the butterfly represents love. Jasper finally captures what he's been after but what happens when the crystal ball shatters?
AH Jasper x Alice Romance/Angst
Drama seemed impossible in the inconsiquential town of Forks, but when Alice and Edward Cullen arrive, it's almost inevitable. Secrets revealed, hearts crushed, and a heap-load of punches thrown. Will Bella and crew ever be the same again? All Human. B/E E/R A/J
The year is 1947, and some boys are still coming home from the war.
On the outside Jasper Whitlock is a high school jock at the top of the school social hierarchy. Nobody knows that he is secretly gay and in love with the not-so-popular Edward Cullen, who is 'out' and proud of it. JxE SLASH with future lemons.
SSA story. Slash. If your love was dying, how far would you go to help them? Edward is faced with just that choice as he watches Jasper wither away from cancer. Warning: this story deals with cancer, assisted suicide, and death. Trust me. Please read.
Bella finds out she has a twin sister – Angel - who was kidnapped at birth by Nathan Fischer, a real werewolf, not a transform as the Quileuttes from La Push. This is a different ending to the story of Stephanie Meyer. New characters will be added soon.
Jacob imprints on Angel - the lost sister of Bella - their marriage is inevitable, but before it occurs Angel gets pregnant and so was born the little Nate Black, a unique and special baby, with intriguing features caused by unusual circumstances that marked his birth.
Bella finds out she has a twin sister – Angel - who was kidnapped at birth by Nathan Fischer, a real werewolf, not a transform as the Quileuttes from La Push. This is a different ending to the story of Stephanie Meyer. New characters will be added soon.
Jacob imprints on Angel - the lost sister of Bella - their marriage is inevitable, but before it occurs Angel gets pregnant and so was born the little Nate Black, a unique and special baby, with intriguing features caused by unusual circumstances that marked his birth.
"Looking back on the situation, I should have taken it as a sign that the first thing I noticed was the woman in the doorway, not the gun she had pointed at my head." AH/OOC
Banner made by MarianneNorthmanCullen
Unexpectedly thrust into a dangerous situation, will Edward risk his family's secrecy to ensure Bella's safety?
Sister Mary Alice, a nun, begs Father Whitlock for forgiveness after she fantasizes about sex. My entry for the Best Domination Ever Contest. OOC DARK THEMES, TABOO TOPIC. AxJ.
Edward is unfaithful for a reason that he has no control over, and only Jasper is there to pick up the pieces of Bella's tattered heart. When a close call with werewolves drives the vampires of Forks to a rash decision, Bella is the one who suffers the consequences. Bella/Jasper
Absolution [noun] - The setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty.
Bella has lost the will to live without Edward, and she makes a drastic decision that becomes the catalyst behind a series of thrilling and terrifying events that will cause both hers and Edward's world as they know it to be turned on end.
In the midst of all of this, can they find it within themselves to absolve their mistakes and maybe become more than they ever thought they could be?
Overweight and underappreciated, Bella has stalled at life. When the chance arises to compete on America's favorite weight loss game show, will she take the opportunity to change her life and find love in the process? *EXPANSION OF THE ONE-SHOT*
"We're family. We stick together - family is an inseparable thing." When a new dog arrives at the Little Paws Animal Shelter. She receives more then just a human family. Crackfic. Fluff.This Story was has ended incomplete. Sorry to all readers.
Bella Swan has been through a lot this past year since the death of her best friend, Jacob Black. After meeting Edward Cullen she decides now is the time for new beginnings, a little heat and a lot of fun! Will she allow him into her heart or just her bedroom? Rated M for Edward Cullen.
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And to Stacey- I love you for this!!! You are my Soul Sister!! LOVES!!
Edward is in love with a woman that isn't good for him. Some might think he chose this life, but what if he hadn't? Higher powers could be at play, drawing him in, making him unable to ignore the call of the Siren.
Chromaticity: the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength and its purity. Edward finds that compartmentalizing his life in shades of color doesn't make it any easier to live. Slash/AH. Winner of the Twislash Unveiled Anonymous Slash contest.
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All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the intellectual property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.


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We report on an effective way of using a patterned ground shield (PGS) to enhance the Q factor of on-chip spiral inductors. We fabricated PGS inductors using both 0.18 μm and 0.35 μm CMOS processes, with M1 and poly strip PGSs, respectively. The strip width and spacing of the PGSs are Wg=0.8 μm and Sg=0.45 μm, with metal thicknesses of tp={0.54,0.2} μm in the 0.18 μm process, and tp={0.6,0.3} μm in the 0.35 μm process. The separation distance D between PGS and top metal layer is different in both processes. We found that the Q factor degradation of inductors at high temperatures can be effectively compensated by using PGS. Among all geometric parameters of a PGS in the 0.18 μm process, the parameter D is the critical factor for the shielding effectiveness, and M1 PGS is much more efficient than poly strip PGS in improving the inductor performance over the temperature range of 298 K to 358 K. However, in the 0.35 μm process the latter is better than the former.


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Below are some commonly asked questions regarding annexation. This section will be updated on a regular basis so please check back often.
Why does the city need an annexation policy?
I already receive services from the county. Why would I want to be annexed?
How will residents of a proposed annexation area be financially impacted?
Which area will be annexed next?


text:
There is a strong correlation between sneakers freakers and Mac users. For the most die-hard of enthusiasts-- Apple sneakers, circa 199?. Redlightrunner, the Mac gear resellers, have a couple pairs . They're pretty ugly, but you'll be showing your loyalty and no one else will have them.
Creative Recreation Fall 2007
by Tim Yu
Until now Creative Recreation's busy line of sneakers available in dizzying numbers of colorways hasn't quite appealed to my taste for subtler, clean-cut shoes. But their new Fall 2007 collection swayed my opinion. The Rocco, Colombo and...
MacBook Pro Packaging
by Josh Rubin
MacBook Pro deliveries started happening in the last few days—I got mine yesterday. In between data migration and device lust, I couldn't help but admire the packaging. Some have noted how slim and minimal the box is, while others have...
Hacking the Pepsi iTunes Giveaway
by Josh Spear
iTunes songs, and yep--the hack introduced by Macmerc.com during last year's contest still works like a charm. I don't drink Pepsi, but if you do please help yourself to a winning bottle and a free song ahead of the competition on me. Pepsi says...
Ace Lace
by Josh Rubin
Ace Lace is an innovation in sneaker lacing created by Anna Freed. The patent pending solution laces shoes in a second and provides equalized tension for better support. It also makes for a pretty neat lacing pattern. There's a prototype pair...
Japanese Reebok Swat and Fury
by Josh Rubin
Reebok has released these two Fall flavored beauties in the Japanese market. The Pump Fury (left) is the regular Pump Fury, but in a khaki colorway. The Swat (right) has a velcro closure instead of the regular laced up version. Any minute now, you...
Shalgo iBook Cover
by Ami Kealoha
From the frontlines of the Pool tradeshow, Shalgo's harlequin patterned iBook cover brings the kind of playfulness that the LA-based company is becoming known for to Apple's own Zen aesthetic of renown. According to our informant, the outfit...
New Apple Displays
by Josh Rubin
Months after releasing the new G5, Apple has finally created a matching update to their display line. The 20, 23, and 30 inch wide format displays all boast a minimalist design with aluminum casing. Additional features like integrated USB and Fire...
Apple Macintosh 20th Anniversary
by Josh Rubin
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Apple Macintosh. We're all wondering whether there will be a special Mac released sometime soon to commemorate Apple's achievement...
AirPort Express and AirTunes
by Josh Rubin
Apple has just announced the AirPort Express pocket size WiFi base station. For the traveller, AirPort Express will free you from the uncomfortable hotel room desk that houses the oh so short ethernet cable. For the rest of us, it will (when used...
App.itize.us: Inventive iPhone Apps
by Josh Rubin
A "painstakingly curated presentation of the best produced and designed iPhone applications," App.itize.us makes a clever guide to the games, maps and more esoteric apps out there. They did such a good job that narrowing their list to our...
Thomas Pink Commuter Tie
by SummerSeventySix
Don't imagine we're going crazy for neckwear or anything, after posting about skull ties only a few days ago - but this needs to be seen, if only because it's an outrageous example of getting on the iPod bandwagon. Created by British...
Nike x Apple = Nike Plus
by Evan Orensten
Mark Parker and Steve Jobs, CEOs of Nike and Apple, announced the first collaboration between the two companies. Eighteen months in the making, Nike Plus is the first of many (we hope) products from these two much-admired consumer product brands...
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IEEE membership options for an individual and IEEE Xplore subscriptions for an organization offer the most affordable access to essential journal articles, conference papers, standards,
eBooks, and eLearning courses.
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In this paper, we present a self-powered wireless sensor system for structural health monitoring of highway bridges. The system consists of an energy harvesting material, power conditioning circuitry, a sensor, an analog-to-digital converter, and a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting material is a recently discovered NiMnCoIn magnetic shape memory alloy (MSMA), which converts mechanical vibrations first into a magnetization change and then, with assistance from a pick-up coil, into an alternating current (ac) output. The ac output of the MSMA is converted to a direct current (dc) voltage for powering a sensor and circuitry. Measurement results from a self-powered rectifier (SPR) and a six-bit successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC) are presented, and implementation considerations are presented for the sensor and wireless transmitter. The SPR produces dc output voltages larger than 700 mV for loads larger than 100 kΩ with peak input amplitudes >;400 mVpk. A four-stage rectifier-multiplier is also implemented utilizing the proposed SPR as the first stage. The implemented SAR ADC is functional with a 0.9-V dc supply voltage (Vdd) and achieves an improved performance with a Vdd of 1.8 V, where the SAR ADC achieves a measured integral nonlinearity and differential nonlinearity of +1.2/-1.9 least significant bit and +1.3/-0.99 LSB, respectively. The SPR and SAR ADC are fabricated in a standard 0.5-μm CMOS process. The proposed sensor system can be fully optimized due to co-design capabilities. The lack of batteries makes this system ideal for deployment in bridge monitoring systems.
A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.© Copyright 2016 IEEE - All rights reserved. Use of this web site signifies your agreement to the terms and conditions.


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Hi everybody,
I downloaded free events manager 22.214.171.124 and install it to my wordpress 3.4.
I go to settings and set this manager.I view and edit a page and i set display booking form for use.
But if I look to page.Form is not visible.
Why?I am doing something wrong?
thank´s u all for your help


text:
Avocados with Cream Cheese
|Cream cheese
|3 Ounce (1 Package)
|Chopped walnuts
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs)
|To Taste
|To Taste
|Walnut halves
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs) (For Garnish)
|Shredded lettuce
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs) (For Garnish)
|Chopped parsley
|1 Tablespoon (For Garnish)
1) Preheat oven to temperature of 375 degrees.
2) Mix together the cream cheese and walnuts in a bowl. Season to taste with pepper and salt.
3) Slice the avocado in half and take out the seeds.
4) With the cream cheese mixture, fill each avocado cavity.
5) Press the avocado halves together and wrap each on in a piece of foil.
6) Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes.
7) Unwrap the baked avocados and separate the halves. On beds of shredded lettuce, place on a decorative serving plate, put the freshly baked preparation and garnish with walnut halves and chopped parsley. Serve right away.
Recipe Summary
Rate It
Nutrition Rank
Nutrition Facts
Serving size
Calories 336 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32 g48.6%
Saturated Fat 7.1 g35.6%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 23.4 mg7.8%
Sodium 181.2 mg7.5%
Total Carbohydrates 12 g4.1%
Dietary Fiber 8.6 g34.3%
Sugars 1.7 g
Protein 6 g11.7%
Vitamin A 37% Vitamin C 30.6%
Calcium 5.5% Iron 8.1%
*Based on a 2000 Calorie diet


text:
Hi there... Top noob here :-)
I did this:
Go to Plugins option panel named "Bainternet User Ranks" under options.
Setup your Titles and Points levels and maybe other settings.
I ticked Insert Automagically?
All I am seeing is MY info:
Posting Genius
On the top of EVERY page. Everyone can see it !! Nothing appears beside any comments or posts..
You are dealing with a nerd so in plain English: What am I not doing?


text:
I have two site collections (A and B) belonging to the same content database. Inside site collection A there is a list "List1".. now i want to have the same list in the site collection B such - if there are any changes made to the list 1 in site collection A the same changes should b reflected in list1 inside site collection B - is this possible?
You can do it many ways:
Steps 2 & 3 will give control to users for manually syncying at anytime
What kind of changes are we talking about?
If by changes you mean syncing of items, then you can simply write Item Receivers on List A for the
Here is a comprehensive guide on writing event receivers:


text:
Samsung Ordered to Pay Apple Another $290 Million
A federal court jury in San Jose, Calif., has ordered Samsung Electronics to pay Apple $290 million for infringing on Apple patents covering the iPhone, according to multiple media reports.
The verdict Wednesday came in the retrial for a portion of the original $1.05 billion damage award.
Read the WSJ story here.


text:
Korben Dallas Blaster WIP by MorgzArtWatch
©2012-2016 MorgzArt
Modelled this for my Korben character while watching Blade Runner and Sky Blue.
Such an awesome Sci-Fi night!
Software - Maya 2012.
Such an awesome Sci-Fi night!
Software - Maya 2012.
Any chances we can print this?
Cool And you can't go wrong with 5th element and Blade Runner!
any chance of workflow/tutorial type video for this? : o I know net if full of 3D tutorials but it's still always nice to find more talented hardsurface modelers.
This is looking good man .
This is awesome!


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Nelson County Gazette
Posted in the Bardstown Forum
1 - 20 of 21 Comments Last updated Mar 31, 2013
#1 Jun 10, 2012
I clicked on Nelson County Gazette and it said site has been suspended.
#2 Jun 10, 2012
Yeah, supposedly it's an issue with the host company server.
I say BS to that - it's been down since Thursday.
Probably financial dispute.
#3 Jun 10, 2012
Did you read the clue that was posted where the Gazette's website used to be?
"Something's not quite right here!"
Sorta' tells the whole story, in and of itself.
Did you read the "Lisa Tolliver" thread? Did you read the "Mark Hicks" thread? Like The Gazette, they were the two other prominent local names in the news media biz...with threads of interest, suddenly popping up.
The thing they're all known to have had in common?
They were all named as persons, somehow involved, in a political censorship "sting" operation that this election officer successfully pulled off.
Jimmy was named as...someone...involved in a "Corn-Brained Cornbread Kain'tuckee Conspiracy to Censor the Hail Out of a Sworn State Election Officer".
It's all written up and attached to an Election Officer's Sheriff's Report that has been submitted...by Law...to the State of Kentucky...on this past election's night.
Embarrassingly, Official acknowledgement, and disclosure, by the State, is about to be formally known.
Since that report began its way thru the government pipeline...
Mark Hicks has been 'let go'...with speculation being that he was acting as a news leak...possibly in an attempt to break a State-wide News Media Blackout, on the story of a censored Election Officer.
Lisa Tolliver, somehow got a job with the State's notoriously corrupt Transportation Cabinet...conveniently getting her out of town.
You say 'The Gazette' has gone offline...maybe Jimmy fo' got to pay the bill.
Give you an even money bet that Jamie Sizemore, The Publisher of The Kentucky Standard and President of The Kentucky Press Association is...outta' town on an extended vacation!
...and, even if she's not. She ain't talkin'! Maybe you should just ask Senator Jimmy Higdon.
He knows. He knows! But he ain't talkin' neither!
'The Corn-Brained Cornbread Kain'tuckee Conspiracy'.
Read The Book. See The Movie.
#4 Jun 10, 2012
Jeez, I liked the Gazette to get the highlite news. I don't read the Standard and I will not listen to WBRD.
Don't know anything about a "Conspiracy", but, like everything else, "mist ist mist."
#5 Jul 9, 2012
I checked today at work and it up and up to date. Just checked it now and it has the banner still up.
#6 Jul 10, 2012
I tried to bring it up a while ago and a big red x popped up saying WHOA! Are you sure you want to go there? So I didn't. I always looked at their site, so I was skeptical about trying it again.I did enjoy the site though. Hope it gets fixed.
#7 Jul 10, 2012
And now they do not publish the jail logs....I wonder why?? Something to hide, possibly?
#8 Jul 10, 2012
I was just at the Gazette. I didnt get any messages at all..it is working fine.
United States
#9 Jul 12, 2012
Awsome sight
#11 Aug 6, 2012
sight should be taken off he only reports what he thinks he wants. a good reporter should report everything no matter what. Well if you run ads with him your good
#12 Aug 6, 2012
I think Mr. Brooks does a good job and I appreciate the jail logs...I miss them when they are not there. The Ky. Standard doesn't publish them any more. Also, makes me wonder if he sleeps at all because some of the items are written at 3:00 AM! I learn most of the recent happenings on the Gazette...before any place else.
#13 Aug 6, 2012
Jail logs you looking for family? well I can see that you can not see the quote for the day is ( when you stare at a lion in the mouth all you can see is the meal he had before you DUMB AS
#14 Aug 6, 2012
that made no sense....
#15 Aug 6, 2012
He stares at the Lion's ass
#16 Aug 6, 2012
Then start your own news site then and don't worry aout his.
#17 Aug 6, 2012
If you dont understand you dont see outside box look he slective on what he writes. HE miss printed information on my family my uncle didnot go to jail he helped to solve a case. he does not get his facts right he copies the ky SLANDAR
#18 Aug 6, 2012
LMAO...2 in ur eye Orion
#19 Mar 29, 2013
What happend on Kennedy st in Bardstown on the 3/26/13
#20 Mar 29, 2013
Anyone talkin' about Nelson Co. Judge-Executive Dean Watts and a home builders/health dept. BRAC SCANDAL, yet on the streets of Bardstown?
#21 Mar 31, 2013
Nope, cause nothing happen and nothing will happen to Dean. He crushed you many times, and will continue to do so.
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LAW 101 T60 Class Dates & Times
|Date Range
Course Description
Philosophy and history of law; legal decision making; the American judicial system; business organizations; civil procedure; role of legal assistants; and ethical and professional standards. F
Not part of a TN Transfer Pathway.
Effective 2016 Fall Semester, LAW 101 will be inactivated.
Bookstores are located on the Roane County campus and the Oak Ridge campus, and both have an online store.
Registration Information
In order to register for courses, you'll use the course's CRN (course reference number). See the Web Registration Directions for details.
Contact Information
Do you have a question about this course?
Contact this course's academic department. Be sure to mention the course number: LAW 101 T60


text:
SALT LAKE CITY -- Could you read the dainty figure skater's lips? Did you see the outrage spill out of Jamie Sale's mouth in two bitter, truck-driver syllables, as she spoke for herself, for her wronged country and for so many of the appalled watching this mess from home? The results came up, bringing shock and then boos with them, and soon the made-up face of this dissolving ice princess would be streaked by tears. But first would come the rage, in a rat-a-tat burst.
"Bull(expletive)," she spit.
So much for this sport's beauty and grace. Sale had left all hers on the ice, where it had been betrayed, but her caught-on-camera summation was, much like her routine, perfect. Metaphorically, a bull might as well have waddled onto the clean, white ice and dropped a mountainous stain on this entire sport, swallowing the artistic genius of the Canadian Sale and her partner David Pelletier in the subsequent stink.
One of the bottom-line beauties of most sports is that the scoreboard isn't supposed to be subjective, isn't supposed to be polluted by the politics and corruption and unfairness that taints so much of the world surrounding it. But skating, which awards points for smiles and costumes, is vastly different, a beauty pageant on ice, superficiality and subjectivity on skates. In sports, beauty is never supposed to be in the eye of the beholder. It's supposed to be forever framed by lights on that scoreboard.
And so five judges stole a gold medal from the Canadian pair Tuesday night and gave it to the Russian dynasty instead, gave it based on reputation instead of reality, and in so doing they took four years of the Canadian pair's work and want and will and discarded it like so much toilet paper.
Was it politics or incompetence?
"Yes," NBC broadcaster Sandra Bezic said through a laugh Wednesday.
Bezic is Canadian, but she's right when she adds: "I've never seen a competition judged this way, and I've been in figure skating a long time. This was the worst. The overall feeling in the entire building, except for five people, is that Jamie and David were the best."
Even in this sport, where the margin can be thinner than even the eighth-of-an-inch blade on which the participants land, the winner was that obvious to the eye. Forget all the fractions given for presentation and technical excellence. You don't have to know a toe loop from a Hula-Hoop to know that the Russians stumbled a few times while the Canadians didn't at all. And yet, absurdly, three judges voted a tie between the Russians and Canadians in the technical part. If these judges had watched the Rams-Patriots Super Bowl, they would have voted the Miami Dolphins the winner.
Sale and Pelletier knew what they had done, or what they thought they had done, anyway. When they were done with their routine, backing away from each other, Pelletier fell to his knees and kissed the ice while Sale covered her open mouth, completely awed. It was not unlike the reaction you might get from two people who had just seen God.
The roars in the building, and the subsequent uproar, were such that the International Skating Union, in a rather unusual move Wednesday, launched an investigation "following certain reactions received by the public and media ... and also to respect the public opinion," according to ISU General Secretary Fredi Schmid.
Ice skating, so very pompous, does not like to explain itself, at all. The judges, in fact, live in a world that feels like a communist dictatorship, never having to explain their omnipotent decisions to the public. Pelletier chose to work in this world, so he said with resignation that "if I didn't want this to happen to me, I'd have gone down hills on skis."
Among other things, the ISU will look into allegations that the swing vote that won it for Russia was given by France in exchange for ice-dancing favors to be named later. (It makes me feel dirty, writing that sentence, and not very masculine, either.) In other words, the French judge might have voted for Russia so that the Russians will vote for the French in ice-dancing. Charming, huh? Who is running this production? Don King? Corruption is such a fundamental part of these Games that bribery ought to be a medal event in 2006.
"This was a no-brainer," NBC announcer Scott Hamilton said Wednesday. "I was shocked. They skated without flaw. I don't understand it. I can't find a reason this happened."
Here's one: The Russians had won the gold in this event for four straight unblemished decades. They were SUPPOSED to win and, according to exasperated skaters, sometimes judges in this sport, barring a fall, will vote on what a pair would have done nine out of 10 times instead of what it did right before their eyes.
The favorite has the advantage when judges are involved, as we've seen in boxing, where the champ gets the benefit of the doubt, but if we were to extend this absurd reasoning, we would have made the Yankees champions over the Diamondbacks despite that ninth-inning stumble in Game 7 (that wouldn't have happened nine of 10 times to Mariano Rivera!) and we never even let the Patriots play the Rams.
While we're at it, why don't we just give the Russians the 2006 gold, too, and let them save the plane fare to Italy? That wouldn't be any more unjust than what we witnessed Tuesday, when this elegant sport suddenly felt as cold as the ice on which it was displayed.
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As Immigrants Move In, Americans Move Up
Published on Mon, Aug 24, 2009
A perceived weakness of the liberal argument on immigration is over-reliance on the concept of compassion. The perception is reinforced in part by reality, as liberals commonly call upon people to remember the importance of basic human solidarity and concern for others in the debate over immigration.
Published in the WireTap Magazine | Read Article
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This is your chance to take a stand and help us fight for immigration laws that respect fundamental constitutional principles of fairness and reflect our proud history as a nation of immigrants. Please support us today.
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