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Hey, Mancini, why don't you quit while you're behind?
I'll give Roberto Mancini credit. The Manchester City scarf model is surrounded by math majors who look at the Premier League table and ask, "Why don't you quit while you're behind?" Yet he isn't about to back away from a fight.
The defending champions started the day a Real Madrid-like 15 points behind their vengeful neighbors Manchester United, in a contest that is rapidly becoming more jest than joust. Those budding numerologists in baby blue could hardly blame Mancini if he were to take his Gucci-clad foot off the accelerator and cruise to a comfortable second place finish. There's no disgrace in settling for runner-up to United in The Greatest League In The World, especially if it meant City could focus their energies on winning another FA Cup to mask the car wreck that was its Champions League humbling.
- Curtis: Man City find swagger
- Video: Mancini focused on improving
- Video: Rafa Benitez on match's turning point
- Lythell: Listless Blues
And best of all, the gulf at the top of the standings would allow Mancini to request another $100 million in the transfer kitty to wildly overpay for marginal French and Bosnian players next season.
Instead, Mancini continues to act like one of those bleary-eyed soldiers who wandered out of the jungle ready for battle, unaware World War II had ended 20 years before.
Perhaps that's because the Italian remembers what happened on May 13, 2012, when everyone declared City's title dreams dead and buried after 90 minutes had elapsed in the season's final game. And he also knows that Sir Alex Ferguson and his band of brothers still vividly recall the gut-wrenching sight of Sergio Aguero scoring the goal that tore the trophy out of Manchester United's hands with 110 seconds left in extra time.
So Mancini stubbornly refuses to wave the white silk handkerchief in his breast pocket despite the fact that for City to pip United again to the title, the Sky Blues would have to take all 33 points on offer while United contrived to drop 12.
"We can't think it is finished with 11 games to go," Mancini defiantly told the English press after City valiantly outfought and outwitted Chelsea 2-0 at the Etihad on Sunday. "For us now, it's not important to look at the table. Maybe we look in one month or 40 days."
As commendable as Mancini's over-my-handsome-corpse-attitude is, it looks increasingly likely that it will take a divine act to deny United their 20th league crown. Or a long-term injury to their most important player. If there was any comfort for City fans to derive from their crosstown rival's businesslike 2-0 dismantling of QPR on Saturday, it was the sight of Robin van Persie injuring his hip and hobbling off in the 41st minute.
The Dutchman had apparently tripped over a cameraman who was perched dangerously close to QPR's goal. The identity of the shutter snapper has not been revealed, but United authorities are looking into reports that he had long black hair, spoke Italian, and wore a blue and white cashmere wrap around his neck.
In a refreshingly candid interview with the Guardian over the weekend, Mancini admitted that he is still grieving over the one Arsenal player who got away from the avaricious clutches of Sheikh Mansour.
"Van Persie is the difference [between first and second]," Mancini said. " We are missing 10 to 15 goals [this season]. We score those goals and it's worth another eight or nine points. And Van Persie is a United player."
And Samir Nasri is a City player. The weasel, finally getting his just desserts, has so impressed Mancini with his talent and attitude that he kept the Frenchman on the bench until the 90th minute. Perhaps Mancini was hoping that his waste of $25 million in the No. 8 shirt would pull a Carlos Tevez and refuse to enter the game at such a humiliatingly late juncture, but as the Gauls are historically wont to do, there was no such resistance forthcoming.
By then, chants of "Man-chee-nee" were echoing around the Etihad, and John Terry, wearing a hot pink warm-up bib under his Chelsea jacket, was sitting forlornly on the sidelines, wondering how long it would take this time before he could convince Roman Abramovich to change the modifier in Rafa Benitez's job description from "interim" manager to "former." For once, almost every Chelsea fan on the planet agrees with the Blues captain.
Even by Benitez's gruesome standards, this was an abject performance from the European champions, who looked listless and disjointed from the opening whistle. The only glimmer of hope occurred seven minutes into the second half, when Demba Ba was brought down in the penalty area by Joe Hart's lunging challenge and Chelsea were awarded a penalty. Frank Lampard, whose resurgent form has generated talk of a new contract, hit the ball low and hard toward the left corner, only for Hart to guess correctly and make a sprawling, fingertip save. To take nothing away from his goal-keeping heroics, England's No. 1 keeper has probably seen Lampard take a penalty or 300 in Three Lions training sessions. Did it ever occur to Benitez that perhaps a different player, such as Juan Mata, would give Chelsea better odds of converting the spot kick? On the bright side, Lamps, few MLS goalies would have made that save.
At the Football Factory, my beer-soaked home-away-from-home, the boisterous throng of Chelsea supporters ("We're the New York Blues and we're full of booze" they had chanted moments before) grew decidedly agitated.
"We'll never win anything with Benitez," hissed Matt Eison of Greenville, S.C., who was on his fifth pint by 10 a.m. "This team has enough attacking talent to compete at the highest level, but we need the Special One to instill the defensive discipline to make us champions again."
Until that happens -- and Mourinho could just as easily wind up at Man City -- you would think that Terry would be the man to provide steel and shape to Chelsea's back four. But fearing that Terry might not be at full strength given his exertions midweek against Sparta Prague in the Europa League, Benitez chose David Luiz to partner with Gary Cahill at the heart of his defense. Luiz has shown promise this season when Benitez moved him up to midfield, but the player's slipshod distribution and positional wanderlust at the back made him easy prey for the darting runs of David Silva and Aguero.
The Sky Blues haven't been the swashbuckling, goal-scoring machine they were last season in part because Silva, their sublime string-puller, has been strangely subdued. But the Spaniard was back to his old silky self on Sunday, slicing apart Chelsea with his eye-of-the-needle passes and no-look flicks. Only several last-ditch tackles by Cahill kept City off the board in the first half but, ironically, the former Bolton defender was an unwitting accessory to the opening goal in the 63rd minute.
Silva managed to wriggle to the end line and cut the ball back to Yaya Toure on the left side of the box. The long-limbed Ivorian, who had been overrunning Chelsea's midfield all afternoon, glided past Lampard and John Mikel Obi before opening up his body to curl the ball off Cahill's heel and into the far corner.
Chelsea simply had no one to match Toure's driving force, and it didn't help that the usually dynamic midfield duo of Mata and Eden Hazard looked as weary as Lindsay Lohan's personal publicists.
Groping for answers, Benitez relied on last year's Champions League hero, Ramires, to ignite the Blues counterattack, but with his ball-peen hammer touch, he sometimes looks less Brazilian than Scandinavian.
With 20 minutes left and the Blues still trailing 1-0, Fox's newly minted Voice of Soccer Gus Johnson asked his fellow commentator Lee Dixon, the former Arsenal defender, "What does Chelsea need to do?"
"They need to score, Sparky," bellowed a Blues fan from the back of the bar in a rare moment of mirth. But there were no chortles 10 minutes later when Benitez played his last card and it turned out to be The Joker, Fernando (one goal in his past 14 games) Torres. "You know what that means," said Matt, the Chelsea fan from South Carolina. "He's throwing in the towel."
If it's any consolation to Man City fans, Roberto Mancini will never throw in his scarf.


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While relationships at work can be complicated, sometimes they just happen. Maybe you met your latest squeeze at the office, or recently started a business with your significant other. Perhaps your current company has THE perfect job opening for him. Whatever the scenario, at some point, you may face the challenge of working with your man.
But is it a good idea? Some couples make a great professional team. My parents have been in business together for more than 30 years, and it's been successful since day one. My husband and I, however, choose not to work together even though we are in a similar field. We are completely supportive of each other's careers, but we like to have our professional space and keep our life together outside the office.
Before you embark on that big journey of working alongside the man you also sleep next to, ask yourself (and him) a few questions.
Are you competitive with one another? Depending on the couple, this can be bad or good. Some couples may find that competition with each other fuels them to do better, while others will feel that competition – especially from a significant other – is mean-spirited, and may lead to conflicts in the relationship. If one or both of you is at all threatened by the other's presence in the boardroom, you're better off not working together.
Can you accept professional criticism from each other? Whether it's positive feedback or trying-to-be-helpful critiques, if you work closely with someone you're involved with, you face the fact that they may give professional feedback from time-to-time. Your work self may be different from your after-work self. Do you want to hear a "good job!" from him, or will it feel forced? Will he want to hear a critique coming from you, or will it come across the wrong way? This stuff matters, so talk it out and be honest about whether you want (or can handle) that level of professional closeness.
Will you be able to put aside personal issues at work? The office is not a time for you two to solve issues from home or plan your weekend schedule. It's also not a time to hold a grudge from this morning's fight or make lovey-dovey faces at each other if you had a romantic evening the night before. If you can't keep it professional when you're side-by-side, becoming co-workers may not be for you.
Do you need your own space to succeed professionally? This is your career. It is the one thing that is solely yours, and sometimes a woman just wants to keep it that way. If you prefer to remain independent and have a career to call your own, more power to you. Some couples don't see it that way. They thrive off of each other's mutual success in the same environment. If you can be that couple, then seize the opportunity. Additionally, having a significant other see all your ups, downs, triumphs and mistakes at work is daunting. It may be a professional environment, but your work is likely personal to you because it's such a big part of who you are. You have to decide if you want to reveal that much of your life to him, and he to you.
Bottom line? Some couples can reach "power couple" status within the walls of the same office, while others need to maintain a separate professional identity to keep the relationship thriving. There is no right or wrong way to do it, but make sure to have a detailed discussion about whether or not it's a good idea should the occasion present itself.
If you're searching for a job, here's something you already know: it sucks. There's nothing fun about going through hundreds of job listings, tailoring your resume to each one and firing it off into the abyss, not knowing if it's ever even going to be viewed by a recruiter. Looking for employment is a job in itself, and it sucks up time, energy, patience, and probably a lot of your sanity.
I was just like you. Applying to every job that even remotely related to my skillset and going months without so much as a "you're useless" email in response. I had basically the same framework for a resume my entire time job hunting, but I only started getting hits for interviews in the past few months. So what changed? After a lot of trial and error, and rewriting my resume every single time I sent it out, I finally got it to a good place…started getting calls for interviews — a victory in itself in the overcrowded job market — and just recently accepted a job offer (hurray!). I spent a year tirelessly searching for a new opportunity, and if there's some sort of instant, miracle advice to land the perfect job, I certainly don't know it. But what I can tell you is that there definitely are some ways to get yourself noticed. Here's how I got there:
Do NOT just make up one standard resume and send it out for every job. A generic resume that can apply to all sorts of jobs is not going to convince anyone that you're a good fit for the job in question. You need to put in that time to read the job description and illustrate how your skills apply to it. Be specific. You should go so far as taking keywords in the description and literally putting them in your resume. Recruiters get hundreds upon hundreds of applicants for each job listing. Their eyes are going to skim over each application and look for the most critical skills. Anything that doesn't have them? Trash!
I added a line at the very top of my resume that specifically mentioned the job I was applying to, and then listed several sentences underneath it about how I am that person. It doesn't matter that my current job is something different; I can be that person you're looking for and here are x, y, z reasons why. Your first sentence should be compelling and confident. For example, mine is: "Driven, efficient and customer service-oriented marketing professional with experience managing the social media presence of an online magazine." I was mostly applying for jobs in marketing or social media related fields. This opening sentence flat out states exactly who I am and what I do. When I changed this sentence from what it was before, suddenly I started getting calls.
There's a reason networking gets mentioned all the time. The more people that you talk to and let know that you're looking for new opportunities, the more likely someone might actually refer you somewhere. Bring it up to everyone you talk to. Seriously! If you work in a big company, take advantage of it and try to set up informational interviews with people in fields you are interested in. Most execs are more than happy to talk about what they do and how they got there. You'll get valuable insight, and they might also keep you in mind should something open up in their department. It's good to have friends in high places, y'all.
Google is a beautiful thing: it makes finding things ridiculously easy. This can also come back to bite you in the arse. I Googled myself not long ago and was shocked to see that an essay I wrote in 6TH GRADE is actually online somewhere. When an employer Googles me, they get to read "What The American Flag Means To Me" by a 12 year old version of myself. Lucky them. My point is, you need to know what is out there about yourself. If you have a public Facebook or Twitter page, you'd better believe that you're going to be judged by it. Either protect your accounts, or make sure that you don't have anything up that might raise eyebrows.
You have talents and skills — show them off! Buy your own website under your full name and think about starting a blog. You don't need to be considered an "expert" to do this. You can write or tweet about your thoughts on things relevant to your field. It will make you appear more credible and competent. If writing really isn't your thing, you can also just buy some webspace and post your bio/resume on it. That way if people Google you (and they will), it will be one of the first things they see. It's worth the investment of your time, and it's really not as hard as you may think.
And there you have it! None of these are magic keys to a new job, but if you utilize all of them, you're definitely going to increase your chances of meeting your goals.
Let me know if I missed any great tips that have helped you. And happy hunting!
An interview is essential not just for the employer, but for you, the candidate. Just because you may be in need of a job doesn't mean every open position is right for you. The interview process is your opportunity to find out if a position at a particular company makes sense for you and your career goals.
The key to finding the right career fit is to ask intelligent questions that require the interviewer to provide you with more information than you can find in the job description or on their company website.
Just as Forbes.com cites that there are only three real questions that matter to recruiters and interviewers, I believe that there are only three real questions that matter to the person being interviewed. Here are three essential questions every Made Woman should ask when she's in the hot seat:
When preparing for an interview, plan on asking these three questions (or something similar, depending on what's most important to you!) of the interviewer. The most surefire way to land your dream job is to interview the employer as they go through the process of interviewing you. So think up those need-to-knows, relax during the interview and dazzle the employer with thoughtful, savvy questions.
"How do you know that it's your purpose? It feels like you're supposed to be there… you feel most like yourself." -Oprah
You're a Made Woman. You've got the perfect career, a great set of friends and an impressive social calendar. You know what you want and how to get it. You've got it all together, right?
Or maybe not… Maybe you've been working in a career that makes you feel lukewarm or you have an idea of what you want to do but are not sure how to get there. You're feeling a little underwhelmed and, dare I say it, stuck. You've done all of the things you're supposed to do – go to school, get a good job, buy a nice car – but you still feel like something is missing. You're living a great life, but maybe you feel like you're living someone else's life.
I've been there.
I'm a firm believer that we all have unique talents and strengths to bring to the world. We have specific passions that totally light up our worlds. But all too often we shove those passions deep down inside and venture out on careers and lives that are less than fulfilling.
What makes finding your passion so tough is that it doesn't always fully reveal itself to you. Your passion may come to you in glimpses. A feeling of contentment as you stroke a paint brush across a canvas. That wave of calm that washes over you when you help someone understand a complex problem. The feeling of complete you-ness as you rally your peers to a cause. I call these glimpses your "times of ecstatic engagement." Those times in your life that reflect your very best, the very happiest you when you feel most peaceful and like yourself. It's truly amazing when it hits you.
The first important question to ask yourself when on the hunt for your passion is: When was the last time I felt most alive?
Think back on your life. When was the last time you felt like your most turned-on, alive self? What were you doing during that moment? Is there a way for you to manifest that feeling in your everyday life?
Here are four more important questions to ask yourself in order to start digging deeper into what makes you tick.
1. What do you want your life to stand for? When you're 95 years old and looking back on your long life, what would you be most proud that you accomplished?
2. What are your core values? We all have values that are unshakable. They are our absolute deal breakers. For example, freedom, fulfillment, and creativity are extremely important to me. If those things are not present in an opportunity, I don't even consider it.
3. What would you do if you could not fail? Imagine money, time and resources are not a concern. You will absolutely succeed at what you set out to do. What would it be?
4. What are you ah-mazing at? We are all incredible at something. What do you bring to the table? What do people thank you for the most?
Thinking through these five questions will give you a good glimpse into the life you want to create for yourself. You now have a list of possibilities of what truly drives you. You've probably noticed some reoccurring themes or ideas on your list. Take the time to narrow your list down and start thinking about how you can start creating your most ideal life.
Lastly, you'll also want to pinpoint the situations that don't light you up. If you are stuck in a situation that is just not you, study it. Figure out precisely what is making you uncomfortable. Sit with that discomfort until you can clearly articulate what is causing you to feel that way. Knowing what rubs you the wrong way will help immeasurably on your journey to discover your passion. It is just as important to know what you hate as it is to know what you absolutely love.
Don't focus on not having it all figured out just yet. The most important thing is that you're taking the steps to get there. And that's what makes you a Made Woman in my book.
This article was part of our series "30 Days of Made: Love Yourself". Each day we released updates of videos, poetry, images, and original content, all based on the theme of loving yourself. Click the link to read more! !
Ahhhh, the Juris Doctorate degree. So prestigious, so desired. Maybe you have dreamed of getting that degree since you were a child. Maybe you are considering law school because of the potential earnings. At a good firm, (in which you will be working most of your life) you stand to make 6 figures. You can buy all the things you dreamed of having, pay off some loans and you get to be the person in the cocktail party that says, "I'm an attorney". But, what you may not know is that the law school landscape is rapidly changing and becoming what many in the legal field are calling "oversaturated". In the New York Times' article, Is Law School A Losing Game? they discuss the declining number of legal firms, inflated projections of post-graduate salaries, and even went as far to say that the "Juris Doctorate degree is the new B.A". Ouch. Whatever reasons you have, law school is not for everyone who applies, and dare I say it: not for everyone who is fortunate enough to be accepted into a law school.
As someone who went through the dreaded 1L year (1L=first year of law school), I saw plenty of people leave after their first year: I was one of them. After graduating USC faster than expected (3 ½ years), I was like most college graduates: No job, broke, and up to my neck in school loan debt. I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself. Then I had an epiphany: Apply to law school. I thought, "I like to argue, and hey, what else am I going to do?" So, I began the process of applying and to my surprise: I was accepted to a pretty decent law school.
Everything isn't for everyone, and law school is no exception. Even for the most intelligent, most dedicated person, law school is by no means "easy". It's the type of professional program that commands every single moment of your life for 3 years. From studying, to networking, to reading, to writing and reading some more--law school becomes your life. If you are not comfortable with the idea of law school becoming your main priority for 3 years, law school is not for you. During your first year of law school, your schedule is handed to you. You are literally being told what to do and when to do it for at least one year.
Above all other things, law school really is not for the person who has unfulfilled dreams outside of law. When a person comes to law school with unfulfilled dreams, the result can be devastating to a person's spirit. It is such an isolating experience and if a person is not fully invested law school and committed to practicing law, their mind can drift to the "what ifs" of life. Law school is not a supportive environment when one lacks focus; in fact, the environment can become downright hostile.
If you're anything like me, you've probably picked up some kind of self-help book and read about other people "finding themselves" and "the journey". I can say one thing for sure: everyone's journey is different. We all would love to have some money in the bank, but from personal experience, being a Made Woman is about doing what you love. If you love law and are prepared for the task at hand, DO IT. If you don't, it is okay to say hey, this isn't for me. Have faith that the money will come even if you don't cart a briefcase to court. Find a path that is uniquely your own and you will be so fulfilled that money will just be the icing on the cake: not the only reward for all of your hard work.
When I met up with Lisa Marie Todd at her West LA jewelry studio, I thought I'd be sitting down with a former In Living Color fly girl turned jewelry designer. How cool to sit down with someone I grew up watching on one of the most iconic shows of our time? What I didn't know was that I'd be interviewing a true business mogul. In addition to her Marie Todd jewelry line, she has multiple real estate ventures in the works, a production company and Marie Todd candle lines. And she even has plans to expand the Marie Todd brand to include fragrance and body product lines. I'm still trying to figure out when this woman sleeps!
With her insane schedule, you would think I'd have to rush through a short list of pre-approved questions, or be squeezed into a short window of time. On the contrary. Our conversation felt more like a (#Made) big sister putting her little sis up on game. I learned a lot from our chat and I hope you do too:
Lindsey Day: Tell me a bit about your background.
Lisa Marie Todd: I was born in Palo Alto. I went to the University of Santa Clara. Then I moved down here and had a number of jobs [laughs]. My major was Communications. So I came down here and worked at a television production company for a while, worked at an ad agency. And then ran into a friend in San Francisco who used to be my dance partner and he says, "Why aren't you performing anymore?" I said, "oh, I'm working and doing this...." and he said, "no. you need to get back into it." So I got back into it and started working, and started doing commercials, started doing some acting, and then In Living Color came along.
LD: How long were you with In Living Color?
LMT: From the pilot through two seasons, so a good two years and change. That was a great experience.
LD: You worked with J. Lo? I'm sure people ask all the time....
LMT: I worked with Jennifer, she was wonderful. It was an interesting time, because the sketch comedy was amazing. Keenan was amazing. And it still holds up. I don't think we knew what we were a part of when we were doing it, because I kind of went to work and went home, but it's kinda cool to look back at it. It was a great experience.
LD: How did you go from that to making jewelry?
LMT: I was looking for something to do that was creative, and I had always worked with my hands. I picked up a book one day on jewelry-making and I'm going through it and I'm like God, that's really cool, so I found a class. And it just became a passion, and a passion turned into a hobby, and a hobby turned into a business and so, that's where I am now.
LD: That's a huge step to go from a hobby to a full-on business...
LMT: Yeah, I just had a passion for it, and I felt that my daughter [who is now 15 ½] was at a certain age and I could push it. And there had been experiences in my life that...I'll say "great losses," that--you realize if you want to do something you'd better do it, because you may not be here anymore. And so, that really put a fire underneath me. And seriously, like 2009 I just said listen, if I'm going to do it let me do it.
LD: That's something I think a lot of readers can relate to, including myself!
LMT: That period between 26 and 28 is reevaluation time. And you'll start weeding people out and you'll start...feeling what you really want and what you don't want. We usually know what we don't want, but we don't always know what we want. I completely remember that. It happens again, I hate to tell you [laughs], but it's better, because you have a bit more perspective.
LD: What inspires you and your design?
LMT: I find inspiration in everything. I'll literally walk around with my iPhone and see a shadow and go, I may do something with that!
LD: What type of woman is Marie Todd Jewelry made for?
LMT: She's a modern woman, independent, strong. She has a strong sense of herself. I try to start with a big picture--some women don't like big jewelry, maybe big things overwhelm them. Other women want to be seen when they walk in a room. I take one design and mold it. Sometimes we have moods. You may want to be quiet, and you just want that little earring, or necklace, that little touch. Sometimes you're going out and you want to make a statement. So I keep all of those things in mind.
LD: I'd imagine that it'd be challenging to learn the ins and outs of the jewelry business.
LMT: I'm learning as I go and it's a great journey. I've been fortunate to meet a lot of people along the way who have been in the business and want to give information. There are a lot of people who have directed me: "you need this, go see this person, do that, go call this person." Early on I worked with a woman from Thailand and I said to her, "gosh, it's so refreshing to meet somebody that wants to tell someone something and isn't scared you're going to go off and steal their ideas or something." And she said, "what you make, someone else will like and they won't like my stuff--and vice versa. The way I look at it, there's food for all." And that always stuck with me; that we're our own competition. We should look at what other people are doing just to know what the market is, but it's us against us. Yourself against yourself. Even now, if I can help somebody or guide them, I do.
LD: What makes your line different?
LMT: I certainly think my jewelry is modern and timeless, and something you can put away and come back to--you want those kind of pieces. I think it's affordable. It's not super inexpensive but it's not outrageous, so most people can afford to have it. I like that. I get sometimes that people say it looks more expensive than what it costs, which is good; the value of it. So I would say those things are huge selling points. And there's a lot of love that goes into it, and energy.
LD: What's your favorite piece and why?
LMT: I love the Paisley collection. I remember designing it, and it's kind of Indian, kind of Moroccan. I wear those a lot. It just feels good. It was fun when i was playing around and designing it, and people tend to gravitate to it. And it's different, you know, it has many influences and I love all that. At heart I'm kind of a hippie chick [laughs], being from the San Francisco Bay area.
LD: Tell me more about your candle line.
LMT: I started off with one candle, but since then I've created eight fragrances, and I have a men's candle line that's coming which is really fun. There are three of the original scents that men just loved and I was like, "hmm, men need candles too." I want a woman to buy it for a man to share it with him. And I want men to buy it because he wants that ambiance for his woman. They're very masculine--there's nothing floral or anything about them. They've got some punch to them without being offensive. That's my thing: when people smell them I say okay, do ANY of these fragrances offend you. And I have yet to have anybody say yes [laughs].
LD: Busy woman. What else do you have in the works??
LMT: Ultimately, [Marie Todd] is going to be a lifestyle brand, so I'm trying to create products that I love personally, that I want to share. So, I love candles. I love lotions and potions so I'm working on a fragrance and body product line right now. So I'm taking baby steps. I'm not making a ton of it, but baby steps to build the awareness, and I'm blessed that I can do all this stuff.
LD: Is Marie Todd your first entrepreneurial venture?
LMT: No, I have real estate things I do, I have a production company now that we did a pilot with, so that's another area that's bubbling right now. There's a film I'm working on now that I had a meeting about, it's based on a short story. It might be controversial but, oh well. I just feel like why not. If there are things you want to do and try, try them. If it doesn't work you can try it a different way but at least you tried doing it.
LD: What is your business philosophy?
LMT: A. being flexible. you have to be flexible because stuff isn't always going to work out. I've learned how to think on my feet, and if something's not working I'm not the type of person to go well that's so and so's fault or to stay on that. It's about, "how do we fix it?" Nothing irritates me more than someone saying, "well, he did that!" I''m just like, "I don't hear you, I don't care--fix it." Then, after the fact if you want to go talk to them about it then go ahead. Let's fix it and move on. We can't stay there.
Also, making time for yourself and your family and the business, finding that balance. It's a struggle. I have a teenage daughter and this is probably the time she needs me more than anything else these next few years. Not that she didn't need me before, but it's different now. And I'm just very aware of that and I enjoy spending my time with her. And if I'm working here and it's getting overwhelming, I'll go walk and I'll see a cute dog or something. You know, you just trick your mind out of what's going on and you do come back better. Taking that 10, 15 minutes to get out of your head is important.
LD: What advice do you have for young up-and-coming women on pursuing their dreams?
LMT: Research what you're doing before you do it. Don't just jump in. If you can work in the industry, fine. If not, who cares? I didn't work in jewelry before but I think certainly researching and talking to people. At the gut level if you think you should be doing it or you should try it ,just do it. Don't even think twice. Don't listen to people saying, "Oh, you can't do that, oh the economy's bad." Go do it. Because you don't know where it's going to take you. And on the journey you may think you're going from a to b but it goes a, z, p...[laughs], back and forth. Maybe you start off thinking that's what you're going to do but you meet something or someone or see something.... Just know you'll end up where you're supposed to be. So just start. Don't sit back and wish and hope. Wishing and hoping doesn't make anything happen. Just start. Just go. See what happens. Because it's a fun journey, I gotta tell ya.
Imagine your favorite boss sitting you down in her office, leaning over her desk, and giving it to you straight. This is what reading Basic Back: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) felt like. Former head of Hearst magazines, Cathie Black, shares personal anecdotes, thoughtful analyses and priceless advice. And what better woman is there to take advice from? Not only is Cathie Black married and a mother of two, but she was also the first female publisher of a weekly consumer magazine, has been a president and CEO, and has helped launch the O, the Oprah Magazine... all while practicing philanthropy.
This book doesn't just revel in Cathie's many accomplishments or tell her life story. Instead, it focuses on detailing her career, from her time working in ad sales, to working with Gloria Steinem, to eventually winding up at Hearst; with tales of her hard work, wins, and losses in between. With case studies and chapters covering everything from leadership, fear, risk, and the future of women in business, Cathie helps us realize our goals in the professional world while reminding us that a truly fulfilling life is the 360 degree life (an all-encompassing one).
As someone who usually enjoys fiction or creative nonfiction, this business-oriented, advice-giving read was one I surprisingly couldn't put down. Just like we all need black basics in our closet, we need this book in our collection. So many of the pointers it includes will stay with me for the entirety of my career--I even keep it in my desk at work. Every time I look up from a marked page, I feel empowered and more motivated than ever before. Cathie reminds us that success is out there for the taking, and no matter who you are or where you come from, it can be yours -- so long as you're willing to earn it. Thanks Cathie, for setting the bar high and giving it to us straight!
Read an excerpt of Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) here!
You never know, this may be the year that you land that once-in-a-lifetime job you've been waiting on for far too long! So, are you prepared to get that call from a top company that wants to add you to their employment roster? Would you know how to dress-to-impress for the interview or how to best answer an interviewer's questions so that you stand out amongst the competition? As a Talent Acquisition Manager (a swanky title for Recruiter) at one of the leading entertainment companies in the world, I want you to do your best during an interview so that you can sign that coveted offer letter and secure the job of your dreams. Here are a few tips that are sure to increase your chances of sealing the deal:
Tip #1
Girlfriend, those stilettos, jeggings, noisy charm bracelets and dangling earrings might have looked fabulous at the Summer Soiree, but be sure to leave them in your closet for the next night out on the town. For an interview, you want to have a basic, conservative look--the less flagrant distractions, the better. An interviewer should be more attracted to your bright eyes, welcoming smile and confident persona than to your wardrobe.
Tip #2
Please avoid looking at your resume and reading from it during your interview. The first step to impressing the interviewer is to know on-demand all of your experience. You shouldn't have to glance at the paper in front of you to explain the depth of your professional fabulousness.
Tip #3
Never speak negatively about your current or previous employer. It's just like going on a blind date--the last thing that your date wants to hear is all about the disastrous last relationship that temporarily drove you insane.
Tip #4
We have all had that interview where you really vibe and connect with the interviewer. Remember, even if you establish a commonality to break the ice, he or she is not your friend and you are still in the hot seat. You want a job from this person, so always maintain a high level of respect and professionalism.
Tip #5
Be able to recognize the job that you are ready for today. Sure, your mama thinks that you are the smartest person in the world, but landing the right job has less to do with smarts and more to do with progressive experience. True, you may have what it takes to learn the VP level job, but the current skillset on your resume reflects that you are assistant level. While it is great that you are ambitious and trainable, an employer is looking to hire someone who requires the least amount of training and is experienced enough to walk onto the job and do it. Don't be discouraged; instead, get in on the level for which you currently qualify, put your best foot forward and rock it straight to the top, girl! A good boss will recognize your potential, and if you're patient and demonstrate a tremendous work ethic, growth opportunities are inevitable.
In this economy, getting a job is not an easy task. Still, when an opportunity does come knocking, if you abide by these tips, you will be better prepared to seize it. Here's to a brand new outlook and to landing that brand new gig!
They are out there. Prowling the job boards. Stalking Monster.com. Attacking any job opening they see. They are job hunters, and they need all the help they can get. That's why we decided to make our very first "30 Days of Made" a Career Edition. We want to give those hopeful hunters out there an edge in their search.
We also made this week's issue an essential how-to guide for snagging the perfect job. From an HR specialist's pointers on beefing up your resume, acing the interview and secrets to breaking into the beauty industry to daily job search tips on Facebook and Twitter--we have you covered. Plus, check out our interview with the newly appointed FOX News affiliate reporter Maya Holmes and get insight into what it takes to get a job in this economy.
Don't get depressed on your job hunt. We know searching for jobs can get tiresome. But we are in this together. The hunt is on.
Stay Made,
Serena Watson
Editor-In- Chief
Made Woman Magazine
In previous months, our "Made Woman of the Month" picks have spotlighted established entrepreneurs--women who have come up over time and made their mark in their industry. But what about those of us who are just starting? Shouldn't the new chicks on the block get some recognition? We think so! This month, we decided to put out a call for a MW who had recently received a promotion or job offer. After searching high and low, we chose a young lady with a great story.
This month our "Made Woman of the Month" is… Maya Holmes! This 25 year old Sacramento native recently secured a job at FOX 21 News at KQDS-TV. In fact, she has only been working there a week. We wanted to honor her achievement and highlight a young woman taking the next step in her career. Congrats Maya!
Maya is working for FOX 21 News as an On Air General Assignment Reporter. She works with a news team, reporting on everything from an Applefest to the mayor creating jobs. She reports live from the studio and on location in front of thousands of people and works under tight deadlines. Maya says that she loves her job and has "learned more in one week at the news station than [she] did in four years of college." Gotta love that on-the-job training. Maya is not only #winning, she is also pretty fearless - having left her home, family, and friends in sunny California for Duluth, Minnesota. She didn't let starting over in a new place stop her from nabbing her dream job. Her success is owed to her vision, persistence, and drive. Maya says "I have always felt my destiny was to be an On-Air Reporter. It feels really good and unreal at the same time." I'm sure being on your momma's DVR will have that effect.
Maya's success is even more noteworthy in light of the depressed (and depressing) job market in the U.S. With lay-offs, unemployment and cutbacks, most "career paths" are starting to look like battlefields. According to Maya, securing her new job wasn't easy. She says that she was "actively and faithfully applying for three and a half months." Before this position with FOX, she was freelancing. To get the reporter job Maya sent in her cover letter, resume, and reel to Fox. She then had an over the phone interview. The process may have been intense, but Maya offers these words of wisdom to other job hunters: "I think consistency is key. Treat a job hunt like it's a job. Get up early and apply every single day to as many places as you can. It's exhausting, hard, frustrating and all other types of ugly feelings, but it's necessary and will pay off big time." Job seekers and up-and-comers hunting for their dream job should gain hope from Maya's story. Much can be achieved by just going for it. Maya knows this make-it-happen attitude is what has helped her in the past. She says "if you want a particular position, go for it! Who cares if you're not "qualified" (but be realistic). For some employers it's more about character, chemistry and determination than just experience."
It hard out there for everyone right now looking for a job. Even Made Women. But when you see one of us, like Maya, take those oh, so important steps toward the future they always envisioned for themselves, you must believe her win is your win. So whether you are on your 20th day of job hunting or your second year, remember this:
"Don't fret, obsess and assassinate your character or experience over jobs you don't get. If the job was for you, you would have gotten it. There were some jobs I really wanted and did not get. When time passes, you look back and realize working there would have been a big mistake and the path you're on now is where you need to be. "- Maya Holmes, FOX 21 Reporter, and Made Woman.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Quality European Beechwood safety gate featuring quick release fittings
Order today for Monday delivery
The Babydan MultiDan Beechwood Baby Gate is ideal for all openings ranging from the small (64cm) to the extra wide (106cm). This safety gate has a special double locking feature and opens in both directions. This is a no trip fixed gate that comes supplied with screws and a wall template for easy installation. The quick release mechanism allows the gate to be removed should you wish to keep it out of sight when toddlers are not around! The Mulitidan Beechwood gate also features stop pins allowing the gate to be fitted at the top of stairs.
Bought two of these for top and bottom of stairs. The wood colour is great and fits in with our staircase. Much nicer looking than the bulky white pressure gates we had previously. It is easy to open and close however the little nobble that stops it opening the wrong way ceased being useful after a few days and the gate doesnt always slot in as easily now as it can go past the slots. The only other thing to note is not to rely on the templates. We installed them by offering them up to the wall and drawing through the holes, as the templates werent working for us. Overall a good product but some improvements could be made.
I actually bought these for my Newfoundland dog- he was able to open the previous plastic handled ones I had, but these gates are ace, there's no way he'll be getting through these! I'm also expecting my first baby soon and they'll be just as useful for further on down the line when baby is more mobile! They were reasonably simple to fit and are well made. Very happy with delivery too.
We bought two of the beech wood versions because the wood looks better than white or black metal. It took me less than an hour to install and all the screws and templates for positioning the hinge/lock hardware on the door frames makes this very easy. All that is needed is a screwdriver, brad awl and tape to hold the templates and away you go. The materials for the gate are very good quality and well put together. The hinge/lock mounts are plastic and seem strong enough for the job. The lock mechanism will present a challenge to any mini-Houdini in your household. When not required then the gate can be removed in under 30 seconds leaving the doorway/stairway wide open. Refitting is again less than 30-secs and your little explorer is once more secure. Opening the gate is very easy for adults just by pushing on the security catch and lifting the gate from is secure position into it's opening position.
As Grandparents we want the peace of mind of secure gates to protect re stairs, but we don't want to be battling a stair gate when our grandchildren are not here! This is the perfect solution as it can be taken out of small fixing points to be brought back and easily snapped into place when they next visit. Feels strong, secure and safe. Delighted with the two that we purchased.
Fairly simple to fit. Works well and the single hand operation is easy enough for when carry with the other. Nice not to have the floor rail, that other gates have as they hurt if trodden on. A much safer product and doesn't reduce the width of access as other "friction" style gates can do.
These are exclusive customer reviews unless otherwise stated. Specifications of goods are subject to change.
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This product is available as a pre-order. This means that we do not currently have the item in stock but we are expecting it shortly. You can place an order for this product now your expected shipping date will be 18-08-2011
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text:
March 5th, 2009
BEIJING, China - When the National People's Congress met in Beijing last year, the mood was cheerful and the recurrent theme was the Summer Olympics and rapid economic growth.
Colourful costumes on display at the congress.
This time, the mood is somber and the theme is "jobs, jobs, jobs."
Inside the cavernous Great Hall of the People, Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a two-hour "government work report."Much like a state-of the-nation speech that the Chinese premier delivers to the parliament every year, Wen focused on domestic issues, outlining China's plans to get its economy back on track in the face of the global economic crisis.
The more than 3,000 delegates listened intently, following Premier Wen reading through the 52-page text. A few delegates took notes keenly. Others listened expressionless.
There was a ripple of applause when he declared that China will ensure that "schools are the safest place for our children" - an obvious reference to the defective school buildings which collapsed during the Sichuan earthquake last May.
Midway through Wen's speech, some of the delegates sneaked out of the meeting hall to drink tea or chat with fellow delegates in the hallways. There I met Lai Baorong, a Taoist priest from China's hinterland. I snapped pictures of delegates representing the military and ethnic minorities clad in colorful costumes. Our TV crew interviewed Li Haiyan, who of the delegates who represented the migrant workers. "We hope to expand training for migrant workers to help ensure employment and social stability."
China says over 25 million migrant workers have lost jobs because many factories, especially those export-oriented enterprises, have closed down. "I've put in a proposal on this," she says, "but Premier Wen has already thought about it and it's in his government report." Li, who hails from the mostly rural Henan province, says "the Premier's report has given us the confidence and determination to defeat the financial crisis."
Prowling the corridors of the Great Hall of the People, I saw a few familiar faces among the 3,000 NPC delegates. Wang Hongju, mayor of Chongqing, China's biggest municipality in southwestern Sichuan Province, arrived early for the opening session. I spotted Yang Yuanqing walking away with a coterie of assistants and admirers. Yang, the newly appointed CEO of Lenovo, is overseeing a major revamp of the blue-chip computer company challenged by a tough business climate.
I did not get a chance to interview Yang, but I encountered another high-profile entrepeneur fielding questions from a clump of journalists. "The bigger your company's scale, the better you can cope with business challenges," Liu Yonghao said, in reply to a question. "Smaller businesses find it more difficult to get loans and investments in hard times." Liu, one of the richest entrepeneurs in China, chairs the Hope Group, a conglomerate engaged in the agro-business, scientific research, trade, real estate and tourism.
I tried an "ambush" interview with another prominent face. Zhang Yin, affectionately known in China as the "Queen of Trash," became one of the richest woman in the world by collecting paper for recycling. Her publicly listed company has dominated the world's paper trade, so I asked how's business. "We're doing okay," said curtly, smiling, after I introduced myself as a CNN journalist. She promptly walked away and that was all I could get from one of the richest women in the world. I wonder if she still is?
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Campground Search
206886 User submitted reviews online!!
Location :
Davenport, Florida
Themeworld RV Resort
[ 7/10 ]
This park is right off Interstate 4 so there is some road noise but it not bad. If you're a big rig like us, 40 ft class A with toad, know that this is an older park with narrow paved roads that can get a little tight around the turns but is doable. The longer you are the harder it will be to level because the paved pull-through sites are all nose up. Each site has a small concrete slab with a picnic table on it that is located toward the back of each campsite, not ideal for a class A, next to your neighbor's sewer hookup, so your picnic table sits only a few feet away from it. No fire rings. Most pull-throughs are wide enough for a big rig with 4 slides and awning but may not be long enough if you're 40 ft+ with a toad. There are a few large trees in the park but plenty of open sky for your satellite. We did notice a problem with dogs off lead and cats being let out to roam around, so lookout for dog poo and cats spraying your tires. Bathrooms and laundry were clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful.
Port Richey, Florida
Sundance Lakes RV Resort
[ 8/10 ]
Don't let the construction on US 19 stop you from turning into this adult RV park. It's large and once inside you hear very little to no road noise. We called around looking for an RV park in the area that had full hookups for our 40ft class A with 4 slides and toad for a weekend in February, and they were the only ones that said they had room. They showed us a level back in (no pull throughs in the park) grass site with a concrete patio, no fire ring or picnic table, but long and wide enough that we had no problem settling in. The ground is soft so pads are a must. The road through the park is paved with no sharp turns or close trees to make it difficult for big rigs. Few large trees to obstruct the satellite dish. Bathrooms and laundry were clean as were the grounds. Even the many seasonal and long term guest sites were kept clean and tidy. We only paid $30 a night with our Good Sams discount; all the other parks we called were charging $50 or more.
Henderson Harbor, New York
1000 Islands / Association Island KOA
[ 10/10 ]
If you're traveling down Interstate 81 and need a stop, or if you're looking for a destination, this is a wonderful place to stay. This large gated park is on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Ontario complete with its own marina. This is a great place if you're a Class A of any size because the water front lots that surround the park are all pull-ins so your windshield looks out over the water, beautiful! The park has two sides, sunrise and sunset, both are equally nice. The road around the grounds is hard packed gravel with no sharp turns or close trees and easy in and out level gravel sites. Trees line the waters edge and some are scattered thru out the park but few will block your satellite dish. A farm house was converted into bathrooms, showers, laundry, TV room, game room, and play room, all clean and well maintained. Sprint phone and 3G worked well. Free park WI-FI was slow and limited, but you can pay a small fee for faster Internet. Staff was friendly and helpful. We pulled our 40ft Class A with 4 slides into a lake front spot that had lots of room to spread out in and enjoy the water just remember, you're on lake Ontario, so never leave your awning out unattended. The park also has a lot of rec facilities and hosts functions.
Wilmington, New York
Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn KOA
[ 9/10 ]
The drive to this park in a big rig is very doable and it is a great location for exploring the Adirondacks. Within the park are 4 long rows of 50 amp full hookup with cable sites that will accommodate large rigs, some are gravel most are dirt, but all look level. We were given a site on row C, which faces the tent and cabin area. This row is nice for a class A because you're not looking right at another RV, but into a wooded area and if you are really lucky you might even get a spot of sky for your satellite dish. but the whole park is very wooded so don't be disappointed. The road around the park is hard packed gravel with some large pines close to the edge, but nothing that can't be easily navigated in a 40 ft class A or 40ft 5th wheel. Sprint does not provide service in this area, but the free park WI-FI worked just fine from our campsite. Bathrooms are well maintained and staff was friendly and accommodating. This park sits next to the Ausable River and there are walking trails that go a beautiful flume waterfall, a must if you stay here.
Randolph Center, Vermont
Lake Champagne Campground
[ 10/10 ]
If you like wide open spaces this is the park for you. Don't let the short bad section of SR66 keep you from enjoying this farm turned RV park, it is worth the stop. Most campsites sit looking out into a large grass field that is kept mowed. There are some large trees scattered about the field and between the sites. The gravel road coming into the park is hard packed, smooth and sites are mostly level grass, but some may prove challenging with the slope of the hillside. If you're a big class A with toad you should unhook at the office as you might be driving over a slight slope to get to your campsite that has a picnic table and fire ring. There is lots of open sky so no problem getting a satellite signal. Sprint has no service in the area, but the free campground WI-FI worked well. Bathrooms at the office were clean, but the bathhouse and laundry at the lake are in an open style building and are very buggy. There is a swimming area at the lake, but no life guards. This park is very quiet and there is no road noise. Seasonal campers keep their sites clear of a lot of garbage which gives the park a clean look. Owners are very friendly and helpful.
Twin Mountain, New Hampshire
Twin Mountain KOA
[ 8/10 ]
Most big rig drivers will go straight for the pull-thrus in a campground, but they are not always the most desirable spots. There are two rows of 30/50amp full hookup pull-thrus in this park, some longer than others, but all are side by side shared pedestal. They are parallel to Route 115, so the road noise, especially trucks using the engine brakes, will be constant. They are mostly treed with lots of shade so getting a satellite view may be difficult. The road around these campsites is hard packed gravel and so are the sites with easy in and out. These spots would be fine for an overnight or for the driver that hates backing in. But the best campsites are at the top of the hill. A narrow gravel road past the office goes up onto a forested ledge with huge boulders. There are 5 level full hook-up back-ins that face east to a clear sky and each site is separated from the others by tall trees and huge boulders. We backed our 40ft class A with 4 slides in to the shady site 81 and got DirecTV and privacy. There was a fire pit, picnic table and room for the awning and chairs. We didn't get any road noise up there. The bathrooms and laundry were clean and well maintained. The front office staff was friendly and helpful. The grounds were nicely groomed and the staff raked each site as the RV's left. No Sprint service in this area and the park Wi-Fi works best near the office, but gets slower and less reliable as you get further away. This park is worth the stop, even if you can't get a spot up the hill.
Hanover, Maine
Stony Brook Recreation and Camping
[ 7/10 ]
The road into this park looks in bad shape, but take it slow and you shouldn't have any trouble getting your big rig in. We eased our 40ft class A with toad over the ruts, up the hill and into a long level 50amp full hookup pull thru that had plenty of room on each side for our 4 slides. There are no shade trees in the lower area, but that just makes it easy to get a satellite signal. Sprint phone service is not in the area, and we could not get the parks free WI-FI to work. Showers, toilets and laundry all were clean and well kept. The staff is friendly. There is some road noise, but it won't keep you up at night.
Medway, Maine
Katahdin Shadows Campground
[ 8/10 ]
When you enter this park the parking area to register is on the side of a steep hill. Big rigs should pull up to the left side of the flag poles and park there to avoid the steep tight turns in front of the office. The road around the campground is gravel, well maintained, but can be tight in areas if you're a 40ft class A with toad. A lot of the park is filled with long term and seasonal quests, many with permanent porches, sheds and satellite dishes nailed to trees. This makes the place look more like a travel trailer park than a campground. There are only 6 shaded 30/50amp shared pedestal full-hookup pull thru sites for large rigs, everything else is back-in. If you want some shade and are willing to maneuver into a site, you might fit into one on the hill but it is very treed so getting a satellite view will be a problem. Some of the power pedestals may be out of reach for your power cord up there, if so, ask the office for an extension if you don't have one. The staff is very helpful and will loan you a 30 amp cord to use. If you don't need sewer and want an easy back-in with open skies stay in Violette's field, a water and electric only level grass yard. You will have plenty of room to maneuver a big rig into place without any obstacles. The bathroom, showers and laundry are all clean and well maintained. Sprint has no service in the area. The free park WI-FI worked fine near the office, but got slower the further away you were.
Houlton, Maine
My Brother's Place Campground
[ 8/10 ]
This is a very pretty big rig park with lots of grass and some shade trees. The paved road going into the park is narrow but very smooth. The campsites have a gravel pad that is covered by grass and hard to see, so do your best to stay on it. If it has been raining the ground here is very soft and trying to cut a corner getting in or out of your site with a big rig can put you in the mud and possibly stuck. The 50 amp full hookup pull-through sites are very long but not quite level, so a little positioning may be required. If you need a southerly view for your satellite ask when checking in as some sites have large trees near them. Bathrooms are old but clean. Sprint has no coverage in the area. The park provides Wi-Fi for a reasonable fee and it worked well. The owners are friendly and keep the park looking great.
Durham, Maine
Freeport / Durham KOA
[ 7/10 ]
This park has a large field for recreation in the center, and the campsites are all around it giving the park a nice open feeling. The big rig 50amp full hookups--there are only 16--are all together on one side of the park, and they are very easy to get in and out of. Length and width are good and the hard packed gravel is level. Only small trees are in this area so getting a view for your satellite is no problem. If you do want shade, the other side of the park was bordered by mostly water/electric 30amp in tall trees that would accommodate large rigs. Bathrooms, showers, laundry and pool were all clean and well cared for. The park grounds were also very clean, no trash or dog poo. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The park is a good way off the interstate, but the lack of road noise and the great night skies make up for the drive into town for supplies. The 50 amp power was not steady and was rejected by our onboard surge protector so we used the 30 amp instead. The only downsides to this park were the very poor Sprint phone and 3G reception, and we were unable to connect to the park's Wi-Fi. As of our stay at the end of July they have repaired the road ruts and trimmed the branches. There were no uneven surfaces at the entrance when we arrived. We drove our 40ft Class A (12ft 5 inches tall) down the entrance road without hitting any branches.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Sandy Pond Campground
[ 7/10 ]
The road leading to this park is narrow, winding with low hanging branches, so take it slow. There are also some ruts and potholes that you may want to steer around. We drove our 40ft class A with toad down this road and by being careful we had no problem with it. The park has well maintained hard packed gravel streets with grass sites that will require some tight turns to get to them. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and was bordered with shrubs or trees. The 50 amp full hook-up pull-through sites had no overhanging trees to block your satellite dish. Sprint 3G phone and WI-FI hot spot worked well. Bathrooms were old, in need of a remodel and not very clean. There were three dumpsters right next to the horseshoe pits that did smell. There is a swimming area at Sandy Pond that can be accessed by a short hiking trail. The water is clear and cool. Staff was very friendly and helpful. This is a quiet park with no road noise.
East Lyme, Connecticut
Aces High RV Park
[ 9/10 ]
This big rig friendly park has hard gravel roads leading to level gravel/grass sites. There are no sharp turns or low branches in this park, making it easy to get to any campsite. The trees do cast some shade, but none should affect your satellite reception. Most pull-through sites are very long and wide, we had plenty of room setting up our 40ft class A with 4 slides and awning in a 50 amp full hookup spot. There was also lots of room left for parking our toad as well. Our sprint 3G phone and hotspot worked well. Bathrooms, showers (coin operated) and laundry were clean as well as the pool and pond swimming area. Long term residents' sites were also kept tidy. This is a very quiet park with no road noise. There is a prox card security gate at the entrance.
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA
[ 8/10 ]
When coming in from US209 on Hollow Rd there are two paved driveways at the park entrance, take the first one, the second is a private drive that doesn't connect to the park. You will find ongoing renovations and landscaping when you enter so big rigs use caution. Office staff was friendly and helpful. We eased our 40ft Class A past the office on a hard packed gravel road to one of the 50amp/water pull-thru sites that was level gravel with grass, picnic table and fire ring. The site was a good sized and we had no problems with our 4 slides and awning. Medium trees are scattered through out the 50amp/water sites but few are big enough to interfere with your satellite. Sprint 3G phone and hot spot all worked well. The bathrooms were clean. There are very few full hookups in this park and all are back-ins, most of the park is 30amp/water. There are two dump stations in the park, big rigs use the one in the back. They also have a pump out service for longer term stays. We had no trouble with our rig, Jeep in tow getting to the back dump station and out of the park, but go slow as there are close trees on the road and some are leaning. We were only there for a quick overnight stop and didn't explore the parks amenities so we cannot comment on them.
Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Big Timber Lake Family Camping Resort
[ 8/10 ]
This campground is in a good location to explore Cape May but, because of the tight turns and overhanging trees, this would be a difficult park for new big rig drivers. The entry way into the park is narrow with a brick pillar on each side so swing wide with your big rig when going in. Our 40ft Class A was fine on all roads leading to the park so you can avoid the tolls on the New Jersey turnpike. It is a large campground but only about half the sites are available to RVers for rent and the rest are occupied by permanent travel trailers. Of those sites to rent, two thirds are full hookups and the rest are power and water sites only. The roads in the park are hard packed gravel and the sites are level grass and gravel with a nice space for your table, chairs and fire ring. The trees are great for shade but make it nearly impossible to get your satellite to work. Sprint phone barely showed a bar and our hot spot was like dial-up at best. Bathrooms are large and clean but the showers were coin operated. Laundry room, pavilion, office and pool were all clean and well maintained. Staff was friendly and helpful. There are a multitude of planned activities and there is a snack bar near the pool that serves fast food and ice cream.
Petersburg, Virginia
Picture Lake Campground
[ 3/10 ]
Lots of renovations are going on in this campground, but few seem to be finished and none are finished well. The paved road around the park is filled with potholes, cracks and then turns into a rough gravel road. There are speed bumps at extreme angles across the road that jars your rig as you cross them even at low speed. A few gravel sites are level but most are uneven with washouts going thru them. They are putting in new 50amp power stands in some sites but the water presser is very low and has a lot of iron in it. Our site had water and power on one side at the limit of our cable and hose and the sewer on the other side at the limit of that hose. When our neighbor dumped sewer it bubbled up from our connection. The bathrooms and showers are sorta clean but only partially refurbished. The laundry room is new, yet not finished. Wi-Fi is very weak. The pool looks to be the only amenity that is finished but needs more daily attention. The pool is open to the public and was always crowded. Parking for them was along the main street which stayed lined with cars. Long term RVers fill most of the park with old dilapidated travel trailers and 5th wheels. Many have accumulated junk around their sites and they have built wooden porches and walkways. You're not given a brochure when you check in with information or rules about the park which accounts for the off lead dogs running around and owners not picking up after them. Golf carts are driven through the park by small children without any adult supervision. People walk and drive through your site at all hours. There is little attention paid to cleaning up trash, cigarette butts or maintaining any landscaping around the camp sites. We will not stay here again
Linwood, North Carolina
Cross Winds Family Campground
[ 10/10 ]
The I-85 construction including the exits, makes going to this park's website for directions a must. Do not trust your GPS! The gravel road in the park is hard packed and level as well as the front pull-through sites which are quite long and wide. We had no problem leveling, setting up our 40ft Class A with 4 slides and awning. There was plenty of room for our toad to stay hooked up since we were only staying one night. There are no shade trees in this area which makes setting up your satellite easy. Along with the 50amp full hookups, you get a picnic table and fire ring. Bathroom, laundry and pool were all very clean and well maintained. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Sprint phone, hotspot and 3G worked well, did not use the park WiFi. Even though it is right off 85, there is no road noise. We would stay here again.
Marion, North Carolina
Mountain View RV Park
[ 7/10 ]
This park is in a large open field with a gravel road leading to a few sites. The gravel parking pads are narrow and not very level. There are no fire rings at the sites and only a few scattered wooden picnic tables. There is a covered pavilion and small playground set in the center of the field. We got our 40ft Class A leveled with some difficulty using our jack pads. Getting a satellite view was no problem as the only trees are the ones that surround the field. This is one of the few RV parks in the area where you can get Sprint phone and 3G service. Bathroom and showers are OK but not cleaned daily. There is also a coin washer/dryer. The owner is friendly, helpful and has lots of local knowledge about the area. He does have a rule of no drugs, alcohol, or firearms allowed in the park and he doesn't take credit cards for payment. There is no road noise and the park is very quiet except when the train comes by. The tracks run along one side of the park and when the train passes the engineer blows the horn, sometimes often and long.
Royston, Georgia
Victoria Bryant State Park
[ 9/10 ]
This is a big rig friendly park with large level campsites and roads with no sharp turns. Bathrooms and showers were clean, and the park well kept. Phone, hotspot and 3G all worked fine. Satellite was hard to get because of all the trees, but sites #12 and 13 will work with a portable dish. If you don't need satellite, site #9 is great for a large class A. Pull straight in and your dash with look out into the woods, a wonderful view.
Fort Pierce, Florida
Treasure Coast RV Park & Campground
[ 10/10 ]
This is one of the best RV parks we have stayed in while in Florida. Everything in this park is clean and well maintained. The staff is great and very helpful. They offer a lot of activities for many different interest. Even though snowbirds winter here, it does not look like a trailer park as other RV parks in Florida do during the winter. The sites are kept tidy with no sheds or junk accumulating around them. All sites are on level concrete pads with a picnic table and plenty of room for your toad. There are small trees but nothing large enough to block your roof mounted satellite dish. Free Internet worked fine as did our sprint 3G phones. Big rig access was good with no tight turns for even the largest rigs. Diesel truck stops as well as a Home Depot, Walmart, and Cracker Barrel are all close by. We stayed here in our 40 ft with 4 slides and did not feel squeezed in, we will definitely come back.
St. Petersburg, Florida
St Petersburg / Madeira Beach KOA
[ 5/10 ]
This is a very active KOA with something going on every day. You also have the Pinellas bike trail right out front and a long bayou out back for fishing and kayaking. Although they have sites for big rigs you may find getting in a bit tricky, lots of trees shade almost every camp site, some with cement pads but most are just sand and grass which can make it challenging to get leveled. The interior roads are narrow and you may have to navigate some tight turns for a 40ft class A. Finding a patch of sky for a roof mounted satellite to get through can be difficult too. Sites are not very large especially if you have 4 slides and also want to put out your awning. Sprint and 3G worked well, but you will have to pay for WiFi. Bathrooms, hot tubs, pool, laundry and rec room were all clean and well kept. You will notice more than half the park is full of permanent snow birds, they call it the 5/7 scheme. They live here for 5 months, and then the park lets them store their rig on the same site for the 7 months it is unoccupied. This makes parts of the park look more like a mobile home park than a campground. The sites become littered with sheds, sunrooms and potted plants and there are scattered unused antennas and satellite dishes. The prices are much higher in the winter, 97 dollars a night.
Kemah, Texas
Marina Bay RV Resort
[ 10/10 ]
This will be our third stay at the park and every time we come we find it clean, well kept, with nice amenities. The owner and staff are very hard working people who take pride in their park and yes they did build it. We have always found them friendly and helpful.
El Paso, Texas
Mission RV Park
[ 7/10 ]
If you just cannot make it past El Paso without stopping for the night, and you really should try, this park is fine for an over nighter. It sits right off I-10 on the east side of town, but construction can make it challenging to get in and out. There are lots of full timers but the short term sites have their own rows, and there was plenty of space for our 40fter and tow. The laundry, bathrooms and indoor pool were clean. Staff was friendly as were the full timers. We couldn't get the free Wi-Fi to work. There is road noise from I-10 itself and the construction that is going on. What I liked about the park was the separation of dog owner sites that were at the East end of the park. The sites at the west end of the park were dog free. So no yapping when owners left their dogs outside or alone inside. And no side stepping landmines or scraping dog waste off my shoes.
Grants, New Mexico
Grants / Cibola Sands KOA
[ 6/10 ]
Forty three dollars for a 30 amp gravel site with no picnic table is a little much even with the free cereal and doughnuts in the mornings. This seasonal park is looking rather run down and is in need of a makeover. It is far enough off the highway to eliminate road noise and only a far off train horn could be heard. Staff was friendly and helpful, bathrooms were clean yet shabby. We would probably pass them by next time we our on hwy 40.
Fruitland, Idaho
Neat Retreat RV Park
[ 8/10 ]
This park like others that are in a downtown area is one half trailer park, one half rv park, boardered by a major hwy on one side and train tracks on the other. Except for the distance train horns this park is very quiet and very clean. The rv sites are shaded by large pines and there is a nice size grass yard between each. The sites you may not want are the ones that sit next to mobile homes, your front door opens right into their porch. We stayed twice and because of our roof mounted satellite dish, there were only a few spots with a southern exposure. In site 45 we were able to shoot over the roof of the mobile home and in site 54 we hooked up backwards and shot thru a gap the trees. WiFi didnt work in site 45 but worked great in site 54. laundry and restrooms were clean, staff was helpful.
Kamiah, Idaho
Long Camp RV Park
[ 8/10 ]
This park was clean, tidy, with a very friendly staff.The sites up front are 50 amp with plenty of room for big rigs. The sites on the river are 30 amp and made for smaller rigs but we had no trouble putting our 40 foot Class A there. You just have to be careful of the sewer connections, some are in the middle of the sites. Bathrooms and laundry are clean. Wi-Fi is only at the office. We had no trouble getting satellite TV, but had no Sprint phone coverage. Road is hard packed gravel as are the level sites. Lots of tent camping under the trees near the river. We would camp here again
Blaine, Washington
Thousand Trails - Birch Bay
[ 8/10 ]
We have been members of Thousand Trails for less than a year and have been to many of the parks. The overall quality of the parks is poor and we have been very disappointed. This park is the exception, though. It is the best Thousand Trails park we have been to. The sites in phase I are huge and you sit back to back with your neighbor. There aren't any trees, but you wont have any problems getting a satellite TV signal or putting your awning out. The park is clean and well kept. The only negative is that some of the older Thousand Trails members that we met weren't very nice.
Tillamook, Oregon
Port of Tillamook RV Park
[ 9/10 ]
This is a great place to boondock. We stayed in our 40 ft class A with no problems. Gravel road and the sites were level. Had lots of room to spread out in the grass, and much less road noise than the other RV parks. You'll find a picnic table and fire ring at the sites, and clean flush toilets at the pay booth. Paying your $10 is on the honor system when you come in, but there is camp host to help you out. Across the street is a fire wood stand that has the best deal in town. 5 or 10 dollars, again the honor system, will get you a big bundle of dry wood with kindling to put in your fire ring for the night. Enjoy!
Tillamook, Oregon
Pacific Campground & RV Park
[ 6/10 ]
This is an older park and it shows. Price reflects Good Sam discount. Park was clean but needs attention. Lots of road noise. Gravel roads and sites. Green areas and tent sites were well cared for. Fine for an overnight stop only, but if you don't mind boondocking for a night go to the airport park.
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As I'm sure many of you have noticed, there are certain products that pretty much every online store sells at the exact same price. Despite what some may think, we do not all get together and conspire on prices. Most manufacturers in the billiards industry have what are commonly referred to as Minimum Advertised Pricing policies or MAP for short.
In essence, manufacturers tell retailers that they can only advertise certain products at specific minimum prices. For example, if you look at the Predator IKON series, you'll notice that every IKON is priced at 15% off MSRP, down to the penny.
At the time of this writing, we have the IKON 2 priced at $551.65, which is exactly 15% off the MSRP of $649.00. If you shop around, you'll likely find that every authorized dealer has the same pool cue priced no lower than $551.65 as well (the key word here is authorized, as I'm sure there are some unauthorized, unscrupulous dealers that violate MAP).
Another example of this is with Aramith products. Recently, Aramith instituted a 20% MAP policy, so all Aramith pool balls are now priced at 20% off down to the penny.
As retailers, we are required to follow these policies as a condition of selling a manufacturer's products. If we habitually advertise Aramith products under MAP, we will be cut off and won't be able to carry those products any more.
The concept of MAP is not exclusive to the billiards industry. Almost every industry has manufacturers that enforce MAP policies. When I worked in the toy business, Disney, Mattel and pretty much every other manufacturer I worked with had MAP policies in place. Same went for the video game business when I was doing that. We would get a list of prices from companies like Activision and Electronic Arts telling us what our minimum advertised prices would be.
This is a policy that isn't always popular with retailers and customers, as it limits the amount a product can be discounted. That being said, it is a standard part of retail and is beyond our control. Having worked on both sides (as I worked for a supplement manufacturer in a previous life), I personally understand all the pros and cons of this sort of program. I personally don't have any issues with it, but can understand why others might.
So now you know why pool cues are always marked at 20% off. And as GI Joe said, knowing is half the battle.Google+
3 Responses to A Brief Introduction to Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP)
that is unless you're walmart and you can make your own MAP.
i actually read about the vlasic & walmart thing a long time ago, but in a different magazine. (business week, time, i can't remember.) in fact, i was thinking about vlasic vs. walmart when i wrote the first comment. how weird!!!


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Dec 15, 2009
As texting has become a centerpiece in teen social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly concerned about the role of cell phones in the sexual lives of teens and young adults. A new survey from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project found that 4% of cell-owning teens ages 12-17 say they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via text messaging, a practice also known as "sexting"; 15% say they have received such images of someone they know via text message.
Focus group findings show that sexting occurs most often in one of three scenarios:
1. Exchanges of images solely between two romantic partners
2. Exchanges between partners that are then shared outside the relationship
3. Exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but where often one person hopes to be.
"Teens explained to us how sexually suggestive images have become a form of relationship currency," said Amanda Lenhart, Senior Research Specialist and author of the report. "These images are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity, or as a way of starting or maintaining a relationship with a significant other. And they are also passed along to friends for their entertainment value, as a joke or for fun."
Read the full report Teens and Sexting on the Pew Internet & American Life Project's Web site.
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Intel has posted a firmware update for the Intel® SSD 320 Series (firmware 4PC10362) which addresses the Bad Context 13x Error being discussed on the Communities site and elsewhere. You can download the new firmware here:
Also posted at this link are Read Me, Release Notes, and SSD Firmware Update Tool Guidelines which provide detailed firmware update instructions and other relevant information such as the most current firmware revision available.
What should I do if I have not experienced this issue?
In order to provide the best user experience, Intel always recommends users download and install the latest firmware. As with any storage device, Intel recommends users frequently back up their data and periodically check for firmware updates. The Intel® SSD Toolbox provides a host of utilities to monitor your SSD, including displaying detailed information such as the currently installed firmware revision.
What should I do if I have already experienced this issue?
If you have already experienced a drive failure or encounter this problem before the firmware update was released, please contact your Intel representative or Intel customer support (via web: www.intel.com or phone: www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone) for an SSD replacement. An alternative option is to use the Intel ® SSD Toolbox or similar tools to perform a secure erase in order to restore the SSD to an operational state; all data will be erased. After secure erase, update your SSD with the new firmware. The firmware update will not recover user data.
For users unfamiliar with the issue, an Intel SSD 320 Series drive may exhibit a drive capacity of 8MB and an electronic serial # field containing a message of "BAD_CTX 0000013x" caused by an unexpected power loss under specific conditions. Once this error occurs, no data on the SSD can be accessed and the user cannot write to or read from the SSD.
NVM Solutions Group
Thanks Alan, will give it a shot.
Thanks. Installed successfully, the only issue is that running the firmware update again from the CD does not validate the firmware but instead gives an exception error while checking for valid drives. However, since SSD toolbox gives the updated firmware number, I'm not particularly worried about it.
I applied it to my 120gb 320 series with no issue. I didn't verify the firmware level with the flash utility afterwards. I used a windows utility to verify the firmware level, all looks well.
Thanks again.
Update went fine... 320 series 120Gb version
AS ssd score droped a bit from 381 to 368.. duno if its firmware related or data/usage drop in performance..
but anvil storage test score is same as with old firmware wich is done recently so its not firmware releted
Are there any plans to release firmware for the old generations too?
I ask you, because Bad Context 13x Error is also can be found on the G1/G2 drives, I don't know is it related to power losses, but it's fact. Maybe you can provide us more information about this error and why it can appear? I am sure that not only firmware bug can cause that.
Hi Alan,
I have a 2011 MacBook Pro 15inch with the 320 Series 120GB Drive that has the same Bad Context 13x Error. I do not have access to a PC. I download the latest firmware, created a bootable CD from the ISO using the instructions found in the PDF, and booted off it.
It found the Intel SSD (Model # Intel SSDSA2CW120G3) and told me the serial number is (BAD_CTX 000001) and the current firmware is: 4PC10302. I proceed to answer Yes to all the questions, and it said that the firmware was being applied and that I should wait 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
About 20 seconds into this step, it failed to update the firmware. It displayed the "Intel SATA SSD Firmware update did not completed" screen, asking me to try to Disable the Drive Password protection in the BIOS and try again. It also asked me to Enable SMART in the BIOS, and finaly it told me to enable Legacy IDE mode in the BIOS.
None of the three things are possible in the MacBook Pro, so what are my options here? I rather not RMA the drive since I was hoping the firmware would restore access to the SSD so I can get my files off of it. I do have a old backup, but it's about 1 week prior to the Error, and if possible I rather not loose all that work if I can help it
Any suggestions?
I even tried to download the firmware again on a different Macbook Pro, and burned a second CD from the ISO, and exactly the same problems.
I'm hoping you have some suggestions.
Zubin Anary
from previous update regarding the issue, i think you need to make your SSD back to operational state before you update the firmware
and maybe thats why the firmware update failed
"What should I do if I have experienced this issue?
If you have already experienced a drive failure or encounter this problem before the firmware update is released, please contact your Intel representative or Intel customer support (via web: www.intel.com or phone:www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone) for an SSD replacement. An alternative option is to use the Intel ® SSD Toolbox or similar tools to perform a secure erase in order to restore the SSD to an operational state; all data will be erased. After secure erase, update your SSD with the upcoming firmware. The pending firmware update will not recover user data. "
cmiiw, but afaik there no Intel SSD toolbox for mac yet, so you need to use bootcamp or other secure erase tools that works on osx
other than that, i think RMA the drive is the only way
Great that the fix is available, greater still if there were an Apple Mac compatible version (also of the other SSD tools)!
Colin wrote:
Great that the fix is available, greater still if there were an Apple Mac compatible version (also of the other SSD tools)!
Aha, the download says that it's only for Windows, but the instructions have an explicit section for Macs...
Since this is FreeDos, can I boot with a system that has 8GB ram installed?
What's the point? 8GB ram or 800 FREEDOS don't care . It will use only as much as needed.There is no maximum requirements, only minimal.
Anyway I have absolutely no problems running freedos with 16GB RAM installed.
Will there be a separate update for OEM versions of the SSD 320 or do we have to contact our OEM after some period of time? I was frustrated to find that the firmware update utility wouldn't run on my Lenovo / Intel SSD because it said the firmware version on the SSD already had the fix.
Thank you very much, Intel. Even in 2011 we have to use DOS, CDROMS and switch to IDE in BIOS to flash your SSDs. That is SO tommorow.
Seems to be successful with my MacBook Pro 15 2010


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WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Co-host Ukraine plays France in Donetsk, Ukraine, in their second Group D match at the European Championship.
Here is a running account of Friday's action. All times are local to Poland.
1800: And we're off. There was a huge roar from the crowd as the French kicked off. It really is pouring down out there.
1756: It's raining in Donetsk as the players sing the national anthems. Bjorn Kuipers of the Netherlands is the referee for the match.
1748: Ukraine is unchanged so veteran striker Andriy Shevchenko starts on his own again up front after his double in the 2-1 win over Sweden in their first game. He is retiring from international football after the tournament so there aren't many more chances to see the former AC Milan and Chelsea player on this stage.
1743:(at)jeromepugmire French paradox: 22 games unbeaten;8 games without a win at a major tournament. Both trends could still continue with a draw. (via Twitter)
1738: France coach Laurent Blanc has made two changes, dropping defender Patrice Evra and midfielder Florent Malouda for Gael Clichy and Jeremy Menez. Evra losing his place is a surprising one - he captained Manchester United for the second half of this season and was France captain at the 2010 World Cup. Ukraine will qualify for the quarterfinals with a win at the Donbass Arena.
1730: Here are the lineups for Ukraine vs. France:
Ukraine: Andriy Pyatov, Yevhen Selin, Oleh Gusev, Taras Michalik, Yevhen Khacheridi, Anatoliy Tymoshcuk, Andriy Voronin, Yevhen Konoplyanka, Serhiy Nazarenko, Andriy Yarmolenko, Andriy Shevchenko.
France: Hugo Lloris, Mathieu Debuchy, Adil Rami, Philippe Mexes, Gael Clichy, Yohan Cabaye, Alou Diarra, Franck Ribery, Samir Nasri, Jeremy Menez, Karim Benzema.
Ukraine: Maxym Koval, Oleksandr Goryainov, Olexandr Kucher, Denys Garmash, Olexandr Aliyev, Vyacheslav Shevchuk, Ruslan Rotan, Artem Milevsky, Yevhen Seleznyov, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Bohdan Butko, Marko Devic.
France: Steve Mandanda, Cedric Carrasso, Patrice Evra, Mathieu Valbuena, Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Anthony Reveillere, Florent Malouda, Yann M'Vila, Marvin Martin, Hatem Ben Arfa, Laurent Koscielny.