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SpaBreaks.com Voucher Codes
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Save Upwards Of 40+% On Last-Second Spa Offers @ Spabreaks.com
Discounts Didn't Work? Win A Free $50 Amazon Gift Card Here
Shopping Tips:
• Every single one of the Spa Breaks packages you'll have the chance to buy through this service are discounted heavily. But that doesn't mean that there aren't special deals and offers that make these discounts even better. The homepage is the best place to find these bigger offers.
• Those that sign up for the free Spa Breaks email list are going to get £5 off of their first booking, as well as exclusive coupon codes and limited time offers available nowhere else.
• Last Minute offers are even more heavily discounted than any of the other special offers available through this platform, though they are somewhat limited in nature.
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People that would love nothing more than to have the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of rest and relaxation at the hands of professionals that know how to help people unwind are going to want to look into all of the services provided by Spa Breaks. This online booking service is individual's in Europe the opportunity to find spas in their local area that offer booking services at deeply discounted prices, but it also provides individuals with the chance to find last-minute appointments for a spur of the moment kind of session. Deals and packages are available from this service that can represent discounts good for up to 30% off of traditional prices as well.


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Czech Republic-based Avast issued an update late on Wednesday to its antivirus software that mistakenly flagged hundreds of innocent files as a Trojan. It fixed the situation five and a half hours later.
Falsely labeled as malware were programs from Adobe, Realtek, sound card drivers, and various media players, among others, according to a blog post on the Avast Support Center.
The errant update had been issued around 12:15 a.m. GMT. A new update was issued at 5:50 a.m. GMT that corrected the problem. Customers who did not use their computers between that time will most likely not be impacted, the company said.
The software was identifying the good files as the Win32:Delf-MZG Trojan, according to Avast.
Avast, based in Prague, did not respond to an e-mail late on Wednesday seeking comment.
False positives happen in the industry. In July, Computer Associates' antivirus software was falsely tagging a Windows XP system file as a virus, and last year AVG falsely identified a file from security provider ZoneAlarm as a virus.

subset: commoncrawl


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Foie gras ban in jeopardy, activists say
Animal-rights activists and other goose lovers think a state senator is laying tracks to repeal the state's foie gras ban - a suspicion she's doing little to dispel.
State Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, whose district includes foodie-friendly Sonoma and Napa counties, has introduced a bill that, in its current form, would require the state Department of Food and Agriculture to retool animal-welfare standards.
But Jennifer Fearing, state director of the Humane Society of the United States, said that "our hunch is that she intends to amend the bill" to overturn the state's ban on fattened goose and duck liver produced by force-feeding the birds.
Wolk's chief of staff, Craig Reynolds, said his boss hasn't made that call, but that "it's possible she could carry legislation that would further the possibility of humanely produced foie gras being produced and sold in California."
Reynolds said it was no secret that Wolk disagreed with the ban.
"She hasn't been shy about saying that," Reynolds said.
Former state Senate President Pro Tem and Democratic Party Chairman John Burton, who was behind the original ban, said any attempt to toss it would amount to "bull."
"This bill was signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, not some posey-plucker," Burton said.
Skim Milk: Hoping to avoid a ballot bloodbath and save face all around, some factions in the fight over renaming San Francisco's airport after Harvey Milk are looking around for a compromise.
"I still think that Harvey is deserving of the honor and that it would be a fitting statement, but I've always said I'm open to ideas," said Supervisor David Campos, who floated the idea of rechristening San Francisco International Airport in honor of the slain gay icon and caused a minor tsunami at City Hall.
Five supervisors, including Campos, quickly signed on to a plan to put the idea before the voters, one short of what's needed. However, a poll by the Chamber of Commerce showed the public far less enthusiastic.
Among those who weren't keen on the idea were the airport commissioners, whom Campos had not consulted before going public with his proposal. Commission President Larry Mazzola is putting together a panel to study the renaming, but said, "At this point, I don't think we should name the airport for anyone."
He added, however, that parts of the airport, such as a terminal, could be named after Milk or someone else.
"I knew Harvey," Mazzola said. "He was good guy."
Rough ride: City plans to eliminate parking spaces on Polk Street to make room for bike lanes hit a big political pothole Monday night when neighborhood residents and businesses turned out in force against the idea.
At issue: the estimated 150 parking spaces that would be lost.
Many in the overflow crowd of more than 300 people who turned up at the Old First Church on Sacramento Street said they supported biking, but most were dead set against losing the parking.
As a result, Muni Chief Ed Reiskin said he was going back to the drawing board - a place where big dreams and misbegotten schemes alike have a way of dying.
Pigeon problem: Keeping pigeons from nesting inside stations has turned into a $2 million nuisance for BART.
The pigeons have been a particular problem at the Daly City, 16th Street-Mission and other stations. In the past couple of years, BART has spent $1 million at those stations and six others to cover crevices where the birds roost and to lay down spike strips along just about every bare ledge in sight.
"But now we're noticing new areas with pigeons," said BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost.
Tougher yet for BART, "They've learned to adapt and sit right on the stakes," Trost said.
Sure enough: We found one bird laying eggs on a spike-covered rafter at the Balboa Park Station.
BART is now spending another $1 million to combat pigeons at five East Bay stations.
Incidentally, these aren't the only birds giving BART fits. Crews building the new Warm Springs/South Fremont Station are having to tunnel around a protected bird habitat, costing the agency an extra $5 million.
San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


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This year's garden is New Orleans themed. Jazz was born in New Orleans over 100 years ago and in its 11th garden for The Great Big Home and Garden Show, Auburn students from the Landscape, Construction, and Welding programs have teamed up to present a French Quarter Courtyard that would be commonly experienced by visitors to this southern port city. Jazz roots can be found in musical traditions of Africa and Europe. As in the blending of these musical traditions, courtyards in New Orleans blend a variety of color, texture, and architectural principles into a unique and elegant environment that welcomes visitors to sit down and "experience" the Big Easy.
Stop out and see our garden at the IX Center Feb. 2-11. Click here and enter promo code AUBURN to save on tickets.


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Book Fest Exposes Climate Change Deniers and a World Without Fish
Environmental books on sale at the LA Times Festival of Books. Photos by RCruger.
Among the nonfiction panels at the recent LA Times' Festival of Books, it was encouraging to find three focused on environmental issues. They featured authors of compelling books, from Merchants of Doubt, about the hidden agenda of scientific climate change deniers, to Climatopolis, a economic guide to adapting to global warming. You can watch the panels on Inconvenient Truths and Boiling Point on C-Span Book Fest coverage. Here's the rundown: On the "Inconvenient Truths" panel, historian Naomi Oreskes, co-author of Merchants of Doubt, out in paperback this month, revealed the political connections of a group of influential scientists who have intentionally misled the public about the facts on global warming to advance a political agenda that's funded by industry. The well-documented book, co-written with science writer Erik Conway, affiliated with CalTech, follows the group's campaigns from DDT and acid rain to the hole in the ozone and climate change.
Oreskes, a professor of history and science studies at UC/San Diego, calls out Robert Jastrow, Frederick Seitz and S. Fred Singer of the Marshall Institute for denying scientific research without any evidence from their own studies. These are the same people who said cigarettes were 'safe,' while partnered with tobacco and chemical corporations.The book also questions journalists who repeat the unproven claims without looking at the credibility of their sources.
Seth Mnookin, Naomi Oreskes and Timothy Ferris sign books after LATimes book fest panel.
Other authors on the panel included Seth Mnookin, author of The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear who spoke about vaccinations and autism, and Timothy Ferris who wrote, The Science of Liberty: Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature for a lively discussion about ideology and absolute truths.
On the "Boiling Point: Climate, Population & Environment" panel, questions were directed by Margot Roosevelt who writes Greenspace in the LA Times and environmental writer Judith Lewis.
The Boiling Point panel discuss adapting to climate change.
Laurence C. Smith, a UCLA professor of Geography and author of The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization's Northern Future, spoke of his research and computer model projections, based on human population growth and migration, globalization, demand for control over natural resources from photosynthesis to bee pollination; and climate change. Smith's book describes how wildlife and plants are moving northward towards the warming arctic, how Northern countries will figure dominantly in the future, as well as native populations in these regions. The bad news is permafrost is a wild card.
Matthew E. Kahn, also a UCLA professor is with its Institute of the Environment, Department of Economics, and Department of Public Policy. The author of Climatopolis: How our cities will thrive in a hotter future, says there's no stopping climate change. The question now is how to adapt. Speaking from an economics perspective, he argues that rising temperatures will transform life in the future's cities, from New York to Mumbai.
Kahn entertained the audience with provocative arguments, like "If enough people are scared, demand will create supply." He's pragmatic, stating that we're just not reducing GHG sufficiently to curb global warming and supporting $10/gallon gas as an impetus to purchase alternative- fuel vehicles. If we see the iceberg ahead, he believes, we can prepare for it. Trouble is, of course, the icebergs are melting. For cynics, naysayers and those who claim green endeavors are bad for the economy, Kahn offers a strong rebuttal.
Also on the panel was Mark Kurlansky who just published A World Without Fish: How Kids Can Save the Oceans, a graphic novel that describes how tuna, salmon and swordfish could disappear within 50 years, leaving oceans teeming with jellyfish, as seabirds disappear, then reptiles and mammals. A proponent of regulating fisheries, he covers the effects of industrialized fishing and how bottom-dragging nets are turning the ocean floor into a desert.
Fagan, Flannery and Solomon on Essential Ecosystems panel
The third panel, "Essential Ecosystems," was scheduled at overlapping times, so I missed much of it. Featuring Tim Flannery, chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council and a professor at Sydney's Macquarie University, Brian Fagan author of The Great Warming, The Long Summer How Climate Changed Civilization, and Stephen Solomon who wrote Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization, and considers water the new oil, which I wrote of previously in Treehugger with "Is Water Underpriced?"
For readers and book fans on the University of Southern California campus, Ben & Jerry's was on hand passing out new ice cream flavors, Volun-Tiramisu and Berry Voluntary. It's part of a summer initiative to foster local volunteerism. Scoop It Forward, matches volunteer opportunities in your local community for a free pint coupon.
More on green books:
Introducing BookHugger, The Green Book Club Powered by Island Press and Treehugger
7 Must-Read New Books for Sustainable Eating
Al Gore Launches Interactive Digital Book App About Climate Crisis (Interview)
Join BookHugger in Reading Hope Is an Imperative and Get 30% Off Cover Price


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Style Fusion
By Zlata Kozul Naumovski | Photo: by Tony Soluri | April 3, 2018
Sumptuous fabrics soften crisp lines of modern architecture, merging two different design tastes into one cohesive look.
It's a story familiar to many young couples in Chicago: buy a dated '80s home in Lincoln Park—complete with a glass-block wall—for their family of two young children, with a third on the way, and a dog. He loves modern style, while she's more of a traditionalist. With dreams of cozy nights and raucous play dates dancing in their heads, what's a duo facing a daunting renovation to do?
Enter Kevin Toukoumidis of dSPACE Studio and Tracy Hickman of Hickman Design Associates, who took this narrow structure to new heights—literally. Toukoumidis added a third floor, giving the couple a spacious master suite, and replaced the glass block dominating one exterior wall with a smooth sheet of glass. Ceilings were raised; a floating staircase of steel and walnut was built; and visions of a warm family home started to take shape.
"The husband likes more midcentury and modern, and the wife wanted something more transitional and soft," Hickman says. She worked closely with her clients to choose fabrics and furnishings that would complement the architecture while warming up the space and still satisfying their disparate design tastes.
To that end, Hickman deployed natural wools, shearlings, linens and leathers throughout the home, giving a nod to the midcentury vibe while softening the crisp lines of the architecture and adding some pattern for interest.
"It was more about texture and layers and subtle tones," explains the designer.
In the long and rectangular living room, she swathed a 13-foot custom sofa in a charcoal wool cashmere, countering the straight lines with a pair of curved chairs for a relaxed look. Accented by walnut cabinets with a clever sliding panel to conceal the television, the room appeals to both husband and wife.
A banquette in the kitchen is covered in a durable outdoor Perennials fabric. Behind it, Hickman upholstered a wall flanked by glass with leather panels to "give some softness to the space," she says. A live-edge walnut table can handle anything the kids throw at it, as can the dining chair seats, which Hickman audaciously furnished in a white outdoor velvet.
Though stair treads are bare, the three-story glass wall is draped with a sheer metallic fabric, which is motorized for flexibility. "It gives a little opacity so you don't have to look at brick walls," Hickman says. "It shields you a little bit from the hard lines."
Layers of alpaca and linen create an intimate master bedroom. The adjacent man cave—complete with a wet bar—includes a natural hair-on-hide chest that doubles as a coffee table, and a blue sofa with a leather seat and double boucle cushions.
Throughout the home, the wife notes the fabric selection, mixture of textures and furniture design that helped mitigate the stark, modern architecture. The only thing missing? "I wish we had a yard, but it's the city," she says. "We live seven houses away from a park." In other words, their vision is perfectly complete.


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FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, STATEN ISLAND DENTIST DR. FRED HECHT has served patients with comfortable dental care built to last. He holds patient comfort in high regard, and as a result he became a certified sedation dentist offering laughing gas, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation at Staten Island Dental Care. He has also studied after receiving his dental degree to become a cosmetic dentist to bring beautiful smiles to his patients. As a graduate of the Pankey Center and the Kois Center, he has studied advanced procedures in many facets of dentistry. Dr. Hecht also enjoys being a part of The Flying Doctors, and he participates in missionary trips to improve oral health worldwide.
University of Bridgeport, Connecticut– B.A. 1969
University of Pennsylvania– D.M.D. 1973
New York University – The Dental Implant Program
Member of Associations
- ADA– American Dental Association
- Second District Dental Society
- Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- Lifetime Qualified Member- Crown Council
- Fellow Academy of General dentistry
- Member of International Congress of Oral Implantology
- Over 3,000+ hours of Continued Education to date
- Certified Member of N.Y. State I.V. Conscious sedation(member no. 3970547)
- Graduate of The Pankey Institute– Level IV Training
- Graduate of The Kois Center
- Two years in the U.S. Air Force (Captain in the dental core)


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More posts
- Deep ruby red. Leather and dark fruit. Hint of cedar and mocha. Great bottom tier cab from a classic producer.
- An all time favorite. Slightly fruity/berry. Ruby red. Not too much tannins. Great with spicy meat dishes, cheese and on its own :)
- Beautiful ruby red, almost purple in color. Nose of vanilla, oak, blueberry, licorice, crushed stone. Smooth on the palate, though more tannic than the 08. Plum, tannic is very grippy and a bit overpowering, light strawberry. Evolved with some Smokey finish. Yet still very tannic. Nice structure, lacking the balance it seems from the 08. Later with graphite, slight leather. Great nose.
- Deep violet-ruby-red. Blends cherries, prunes, tobacco, and roasted coffee. From Chile, South America 90 points
- Ruby Red. Nice black currant sweetness with a spice on the back end.


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Light TV munchies
Crudités and yogurt dip
What you get
About four servings of veggies, plus vitamins A and C, which help your immune system fight against germs
How to make it
Prepare four of each of the following: broccoli florets, carrot sticks, celery sticks and sliced bell pepper strips. To make the dip: Combine 3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt with 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro and 1/2 tsp each chili powder and garlic powder.
Spicy edamame
What you get
Iron, a nutrient that's crucial in promoting healthy blood cells
How to make it
Boil 3/4 cup preshelled edamame in a small saucepan for 5 minutes. Drain. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp chili powder (or garlic salt); toss to coat.
Sweet maple popcorn
What you get
Fiber, a waist-whittling wonder that's also good for your ticker
How to make it
Drizzle 5 tsp pure maple syrup over 1 3/4 cups hot air–popped popcorn. (If popcorn is hot, syrup will melt and distribute more easily.) Sprinkle with salt, if desired.
Chocolate-yogurt pops
What you get
Protein, key for building muscles, as well as calcium, which helps maintain strong bones
How to make it
In a blender, puree 1 1/2 cups lowfat vanilla yogurt, 1/3 cup cold water, 2 packets sweetened cocoa powder mix and 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder. Pour into four 4-ounce ice-pop molds. Freeze 4 hours.


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Mastering Motivation/
Dear Dr. Darcy:
I am a little stuck in life lately. I have dreams, but I don't take the steps necessary to make them a reality. I feel like I lack motivation or maybe I'm just lazy. I've been in the same job for 2 years and it was only supposed to be a temp job but it got easy to just stay. This temp job takes up most of my time and so I'm not pursuing my dream job which is to be a dancer. Do you think therapy would help?
You aren't lazy. No one's lazy. When people have goals that they aren't meeting, it's usually because they lack good enough reasons to take the action necessary to reach their goals.
The reasons you have for reaching a goal are the driving force behind taking the action necessary to reach a goal. It's what fuels you to take consistent steps in the direction of your goal. If you lack reasons, you'll lack motivation to follow through, because let's face it: Taking action becomes arduous over time. But great reasons can push someone through the pain in the ass process of taking action.
I like to think of reasons as coming in two forms: Carrots and Sticks. Carrots are reasons that involve gaining pleasure. For example, if your goal was to lose weight, a carrotreason might sound like, "I want to feel what it's like to walk in a room knowing that all eyes are on me because I look so good." Sticks are reasons that involve avoiding pain, and an example might sound like, "I never want to feel self-conscious when I walk into a room again!" I suggest you make yourself a list of 20 compelling reasons why you must reach your goal. Make 10 reasons carrot reasons and make 10 stick reasons. The next time you find yourself feeling unmotivated to take action pull out the list and tap into the passion of those reasons for fuel.
In terms of whether or not therapy would be beneficial, I'll say this (and it's a first for me): Get yourself a kick ass coach. You need someone who can help you take action, and good coaches do just that. One of my go-to coaches is named Billy Sparkle (linked to here). Check him out and see if he can't help you close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Writer's Stats: Female, lesbian.


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Research Foundations
Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8
Published under the aegis of the What Works Clearing House
This report provides educators with, "specific, evidence-based recommendations that address the challenge of improving mathematical problem solving." Exemplars differentiated problem-solving tasks, rubrics and anchor papers provide support for many of the findings presented in this report.
Download a complete copy of the report here.


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Internal Family Systems
Would you like more Power, Love & Presence in your life?
I can help.
Internal Family Systems is a profound model and method of healing and awakening. As it happens, it coincides and complements the model I have been developing for some years on Power, Love, & Presence.
Hi, I'm Eric. I'd love to help you to transform how you see, feel, and live your life. Whether you would like to feel more present and powerful at work, create more fulfilling relationships, express yourself more freely, or find and deepen your path in life, I can help you clear the obstacles to your best self and your best life.
Discovering how to live at the edge of your comfort zone, and learning how to dance with the pain, wonder, fear and joy that life brings is not for everyone. If you feel in your gut that there is more to life than what you are experiencing now, and you are willing to commit the time and resources it takes to have it, then I can guide you on your journey.
Trauma can have invisible effects on our lives. Depression, ADHD, relationship and intimacy difficulties, some syndromes, physical and emotional ailments all can have a source in unresolved trauma that occurred at any point in our lives. Assessing this and focusing on resolving trauma is essential to making progress in personal growth.
Motivation and discipline are fundamental to transformation. If we are not motivated, or if we do not have the discipline to follow through on our motivation, we must address this. If our motivation is low, it is extremely helpful to learn what helps us be more motivated and disciplined to transform ourselves.
Our ability to be present with sensations, emotions, situations, and other people as they are is a skill that is essential if we are to grow. If we are not present to reality as it is, we are helpless to change it. Learning to be present with What Is, and to accept it, is a skill that meditation teachers have been teaching for millennia and is a fertile practice ground.
Power is a skill that shows up in our power to choose, to be disciplined with our impulses and reactions, and to set boundaries with others. This is essential to regulate our nervous systems, and to feel safe in the world and with other people.
Love is perhaps the most important to us as creatures that crave and thrive on bonding. However, we must learn first to love ourselves before we can love another. Through presence and power, we can learn to create a bubble of safety and self-love, and to recognize that most of our dissatisfaction in our relationships derives from trying to make our partners fill the needs that, in reality, we need to fill for ourselves.
"Eric's work is it. I have been seeking for years, and now I have the tools I need to breathe where I couldn't before.
Eric's work gets to the root. I consider myself a savvy guy in the world of growth and living well, living consciously. But I have continued to struggle, especially in relationship. I have sought all sorts of help from other therapists, men's groups, spiritual work, body based somatic and nervous system work… I have been around.
With the latest work I have been doing with Eric, I feel like there is nothing else I need."
Skeet, San Diego, CA
"As a survivor of stage IIIB breast cancer, I had the imperative need for regaining confidence in my body and life force. Working with Eric helped me to reconnect to a calmer more relaxed place within. His hands and voice were a stabilizing force which allowed me to rest and relax. He has a way of patiently listening and intuiting what my body and mind need to feel more peace and wholeness. I am very grateful for his healing energy and caring disposition. I would highly recommend him for anyone who needs comfort and healing in their life."
Margaret V., La Jolla, CA
"Working with Eric was a transformational experience for me. I felt totally safe in the environment he created and trusted his integrity and intention. During my sessions I was able to move deeper through places in my psyche that I was still resisting. His skill, curiosity and interest in my exploration gently encouraged me to open to previously unknown inner territory. The experience and energetic movement created changes that continue to have an impact on me in my life. I am looking forward to my next session!"
Teri T., San Diego, CA
"Eric creates such a feeling of safety and trust, I've been able to open up feelings and parts of my personality which I have longed to feel, and access parts of myself that have been locked up for years."
Robert V., San Diego
"Eric saved my life. After years of work with ADHD and PTSD, Eric had me on my feet and running within a matter of weeks. His kind heart and keen intuition combined with such a gentle bedside manner made it easy to allow him into my life where others had failed. Within my first sessions I was getting results, I felt free and empowered to accomplish what seemed so overwhelming for most of my life. I feel balanced and am no longer operating in reaction mode. It has even drawn the attention of those around me, they tell me how happy I look all the time."
Chris H., San Diego, CA
"Eric helped me transform my 'dark night of the soul' into a source of power, joy and ease in my life. The work we have done together has permanently released the obstacles to having an epic relationship with my beloved, and I am forever changed, and grateful."
Dawn G., San Diego, CA
Learn More About Yourself Now with a Free Personality Quiz!
I have developed a unique and insightful Personality Quiz that helps you to:
- Understand where you are in your life now
- See where you may be blocked to intimacy and fulfilling romance
- Get a sense of how strong your motivation is to grow
- See how much your life is affected by underlying trauma
- Point you in the direction where you most need to focus your personal growth work
- Discover how strong your skills of being Present, Powerful, and Loving are
You will also get some suggestions on how to improve in all of these areas.
The quiz takes less than ten minutes to complete, and you will automatically be added to my mailing list (which you can unsubscribe from anytime!)
It takes about 7 minutes.


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Recently thrifted this white, square Spartus Clock. It reminds me of something the super minimal brand, MUJI would make. I found a yellow Spartus a few months back but I think I like this newer one more, even though it's not yellow. Shocking, I know.
So, one of my recurring New Year's resolution is to be on time for everything. Unless you're on a vacation, then by all means, get lost and forget all about it, until the day of your departure, of course. Otherwise, it's good to keep track of time.
My plan of actions or sub-resolutions are: 1) find a hundred clocks for my home, maybe not as many as Hilda Grahnat's clock collection 2) wear a watch regularly because the cellphone is not reliable since I'm also terrible at charging it 3) get ready sooner to avoid running around like a headless chicken, and most importantly, 4) gotta tell myself to actually arrive at the meetup time, say, 7 o'clock instead of leaving the house at 7. Whether it's meeting up with friends or catching a flight, or going to see Kylie live in May(yes!), I never wanna be late, unless it's totally out of my control. It's not as serious as it sounds but it happens from time to time, like having a bad hair day, and it's not cool with me. I'm sure I'm not alone on this, right?


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Updated Paper-2 Ebook(Report Writing,Counter Argument,Precis) For UPSC CAPF AC Exam 2018
This ebook includes a complete package of material which would help students to crack their UPSC CAPF AC 2018.The motto of this ebook is to provide important material and stuff collectively require for Paper-2.The race of being unique is the trait of officer.
To accomplish aspirant dreams we have come up with collection of data enduring good score for the candidate.
Topic Covered:
a) Essay
b)Report Writing
c)Counter Argument
d)Precis Writing


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This beautiful woman
This beautiful soul
Words can't explain, but I'll try
This girl has been there in and out of season no lie.
She tells me the truth and hugs me if it hurts.
She tells me when I'm wrong and gives Godly advice on how to make it right.
She sits on the phone with me for hours at a time.
She is reliable and I can depend on her.
She shows up and I never have to ask.
She knows how I'm feeling; she can see through me like glass.
She assures me that she's here forever and no matter what happens our curlship will last.
She knows all of my secrets and loves me so much.
She encourages me to follow my dreams.
She helps me to be better.
She inspires me to be different and be my own unique trendsetter.
This beautiful woman
This beautiful soul
The love I have for her has no end; I love her endlessly, my Curlfriend!
Tag your Curlfriends.
Written By: Marquisha Applewhite


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I was updating a couple of plugins in this WordPress site, which I usually do when I get update notifications with no issues. This time however the message in the screenshot below appeared and would not go away.
To fix this, you need to rename or delete the .maintenance file.
Login to cPanel and click on File Manager
Click on the public_html directory
The file is hidden (it's preceded with a .), so to view hidden files click on Settings on the top right of the page.
Check the Show hidden files box and click save
You will now see the .maintenance file, rename or delete it and you should be able to access your site again.


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Lara & Stelios Wedding
This wedding is one of my favourite shoot last year. I was captivated with the church architectural design. It wasView full post »
Khanh & Ben Wedding
I'm excited to present my first blog this year. We love story telling and capturing those memories. Enjoy the fullView full post »
Claire & Sam Wedding Preview
This place always give me chills. I call it the 'magical forest' that surrounded by pine trees & oldView full post »
Bernadette & Wayne Wedding Preview
There are days when I feel especially moved by the wedding that I shoot. The days I actually feel my heart skip aView full post »
Janice & Azlan Highlight video
When Azlan and Janice asked if we could travel to Perth to shoot their wedding day, we jumped at theView full post »
Destination Wedding 2016-2017
For more info regarding Destination photoshoot email us and we would love to hear from you.View full post »
Annie & Hieu Wedding sneakpeek
We started 2016 with these awesome sneak peek from Annie & Hieu's Wedding. Congratulations to you both weView full post »
WedAward Fifth Collection Winners
We are so blessed to pick up another award fifth collection winners from Wedaward international wedding photographyView full post »
Emmanuel & Yean Yee – Love session
This set gonna be very special for Emmanuel and Yean yee.Best wishes and Congratulation to our 2nd shooter EmmanuelView full post »
Rhiannon & John Wedding Preview
This is one of a very special wedding that we are able to document last weekend. Lots of joy and memories shared onView full post »
Ben & Ellia Wedding
My favourite of this wonderful Wedding. Congrats to you my buddy Ben and your beautiful wife Ellia. I am lookingView full post »
Denrose & Phong Wedding Sneakpeek
Denrose & Phong Wedding photo session at Austin & Austin – SneakpeekView full post »
Natalie & Jake Love Session
This special set is featured on Australia Most Loved weddingView full post »
Kilva & Lo Love Session
Couple from Hong Kong decided to have their love story capture in Adelaide. Sneakpeak of their set.View full post »
Vanessa & Graeme Wedding
Full post of how We document a wedding and their Album.View full post »
Wei yan & Jen Wedding Preview
Congrats Wei Yan & Jen. Working with you both was such a joy.. All i can say is this is an amazing set.View full post »
Victoria & James – Wedding Preview
Victoria & James - Wedding PreviewView full post »
Hong Kong – Destination Love session
We are going to Hong Kong on June 2015. For more information pls send to firstname.lastname@example.com 2 slotsView full post »
Soo Ann & Adrian Pre-Wedding set
Soo Ann & Adrian Pre-Wedding setI know this set is way overdue. Captured last Autumn in Adelaide hills. Since Soo AnnView full post »
Susannah & Abe Coriole Winery Wedding Sneak peek
Same day Edit version ( stay tune for the full highlight version )View full post »
Tim & Cat Wedding Sneakpeek
I am half way there finishing this set. It will be some how of a special wedding that we can't wait to share.View full post »
Susannah & Abe Engagement Preview
Susannah & Abe Engagement Susannah & Abe Engagement Slideshow from jnvphotography on Vimeo.View full post »


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Laurel Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration Law Firm
Putting a plan in place for your family to manage things if you become disabled or at your death is an important act of love..
Unfortunately, all too often, people postpone planning for too long, or take insufficient steps to protect those they care most about, and instead leave them a series of tragic unintended consequences.
Since 1995, we have limited our practice to helping clients address these important concerns with carefully crafted estate plans.
We strive to help families go through these difficult life events with graceful transitions that preserve relationships, foster family harmony and provide wise stewardship.
We have assisted thousands of clients with creating Wills and Living Trusts, along with Health Care documents and Powers of Attorney.
We now spend a significant portion of our time assisting our clients' families implement their plans when needed. We focus on the administration of trusts and estates.
If you want the peace that comes with taking appropriate action, we would be glad to meet with you and discuss how we can work together. You can book a free, 15 minute phone call with me here.


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Going It Alone: A Letter to the Solo Traveling Exploress
Dear Exploress,
In your life there are going to be people who tell you what you "should" do. In most cases, it won't be with negative intentions or purposeful neglect to your feelings. But, hands placed on your shoulders, concern built in their eyes - they will try. If and when these people find you, I want to give you one piece of advice:
Listen to them.
Listen, ponder, wonder and question every word that spills out of their unassuming mouths - riverbanks trying to contain the flow of your own untamable ambitions. Think about their words. Gnaw on them again and again until you truly understand the marrow of what it means to make your own decision. Then, throw them out. For they are of no further use to you.
As you plan and scheme and chart the direction of your own decision making, remember the words of those who doubted you. Remember the people who told you that you couldn't or shouldn't; every person who tried to pour into your mind their own doubts and limitations. And as you think on these, also remember that you are a conqueror, more than able, and born to be set apart.
Then, take a step. Fall with the freedom of knowing you have weighted the reasons, excuses and deliberations; and they have been found wanting. Walk forward and be guided by the northern star of your own intellect and courage. For, remember, castles are seldom built by staying in our own valleys; dare to dream of venturing to the highest hills.
Remember who you are: a woman fully competent, fully capable and stubborn to a fault. Plan. Plan like you've never planned before. Spend every minute researching the world you're about to travel into, so that when you step outside your front door you can throw the guidebook to the side, and enjoy your experiences fully.
Make friends with everyone. And I mean everyone. Bus drivers, taxi drivers, hotel staff, baristas, post office workers, random people you meet in museums and that mom with a stroller at the bus stop. Keep your ears open, your mind clear and your possibilities endless.
Experience the culture. Don't ever block yourself off in the comfort of a hotel room or the emptiness of an American chain restaurant. Eat the local food (I don't care how gross it sounds), go dancing - always go dancing, look for events in local papers and billboards. No matter how tired you are, remember: You only need 8 hours of sleep, and you have a TV at home. Get outside! Parks, museums, art galleries - go.
Write down everything and send yourself (home) postcards with notes of encouragement. Remember, you won't be here forever, but the memories will. Remind yourself of your accomplishments, so when you're feeling lost a week after getting back, you have a piece of mail to remind you that it was only one passport stamp, and there are many more adventures to come.
And last? Stop making excuses.
If you have the ability to hold a job, you have the ability to save money. If you have the ability to save money, no matter how long it takes, you have the ability to buy a ticket to somewhere and go on an adventure. Be smart with your traveling. Challenge yourself to save as much money beforehand so you don't have to worry about it when you're exploring.
You are a woman, not incapable. You are an Exploress, not unable. You have intellect, an open mind and a heart that loves - use them. And while you're standing there, looking at something more beautiful than you could have imagined, meeting people who open your mind to more than you could have grasped before – breathe; deeply and slowly. Remind yourself, "In this moment, I am happy." And then, as you start to walk toward the beauty that's before you, remember all those people who told you it couldn't be done - and smile.


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January is finally over, and Spring is just around the corner. Check out the fantastic activities on offer to make the most of the end of winter.
Get back outside with our Spring gardening projects
Get your singing voice in gear with Crystal Palace Transition Town Choir
Come on down to our open platform night and hear what's going on in our Transition Town
Hear the latest update from the Library of Things
Learn how we can reduce plastic use
Swap knowledge and skills locally
Celebrate our success in bringing a new cinema to Crystal Palace!
Find out what our friends are up to this month
Read on for more info and keep an eye on our facebook group for up to date info and new events.
Crystal Palace Transition Town projects
Latest Update from Crystal Palace Transition Town Choir!
After a very busy Christmas which included singing at a Festive Winter Voices concert for Sydenham Arts and our Annual Christmas Busk at the Food Market, CPTT have got off to a singing start to the New Year.
This half term we are working on a special set of songs for a concert for St Christopher's Hospice Compassionate Neighbours on 17th February 5-7.30pm at Gipsy Hill, Christchurch which is also #RandomActsofKindnessDay
All welcome to join our choir and enjoy songful warmth and friendliness with 7 local choirs at this special event
Or if you just want to come along and listen, the concert is £4 to attend and you can bring a Neighbour for free – more info here
We rehearse term-time on Wednesdays 7-8.30pm at The Paxton Centre (no session during half term Weds 14th)
Contribution £7/ £5 concs drop in or half term/full term block booking available (works out at £1 less per session)
Info here https://www.therosewindow.org/crystal-palace-transition-town-choir
Contact Katie Rose – email@example.com
The Edible Garden
We'll be getting started on Spring planting in the Edible Garden this month – time to look ahead to broad beans, tomatoes and more summer delicacies. Come and join us on Saturday mornings – no gardening experience needed. This month we're meeting on Saturday February 10 and Saturday February 24, from 10.30am till about noon. The Edible Garden is in the corner of Westow Park – see the map here: http://www.crystalpalacetransition.org.uk/edible-garden.html
For more information, email Anna at email@example.com.
Best wishes,
St Johns Meadow Garden
The St Johns Meadow garden has done well to come back from being behind hoardings. The garden was closed off for sometime while the St Johns Church sorted out the subsidence from the Cherry trees undermining the walls. It was touch and go for the church for a while, but now the hoardings are down and the garden was worked on for some months last year. We grew potatoes, tomatoes, saffron (this last not very successfully, as we only had one flower!). We also now have an extra bit ground dug over and hopefully some more fruit trees in that area to go with the lovely little plum tree, already there.
We could with a few more volunteers – come and help us grow fruit and vegetables, that you can help harvest and take home. There is nothing like the taste of home grown veggies.
Contact Helen Buckland at email@example.com
Park Night!
Thursday 22nd Feb
7 – 9.30 pm
The Paxton Centre
52 Anerley Hill
Free – all welcome without booking
In an exciting new development, and a departure from our normal Green Drinks model, we will be running an open platform night on Thursday 22nd February to promote some of the great groups based in Crystal Palace Park. This facilitated evening will give you a change to learn more about the amazing activities going on in the park in an informal setting. Friends of Crystal Palace Park and several other park groups will be present. Supported by Crystal Palace Park Community Projects Fund from Bromley Council.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com for more info or join the facebook event here https://www.facebook.com/events/326050597888589/
Crystal Palace Library of Things
Upper Norwood Library Hub
39 Westow Hill
Crystal Palace
This exciting initiative, where people will be able to borrow things they need at affordable rates will be launching this Spring. It's now developed into an exciting three-way partnership between Crystal Palace Transition Town, The Library of Things and Upper Norwood Library Hub ! We have been planning practical and marketing steps and you'll be hearing a lot more soon !
As well as the borrowing offer CP Library of Things will offer a range of skill-share events to tie in with the borrowing, including these 2 great events in February:
Repair Cafe
Sunday 25th February
Crystal Palace Library of Things
Upper Norwood Library Hub
39 Westow Hill
Crystal Palace
Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they're all about repairing things together ! We're going to bring one to Crystal Palace with your help! Together with fixers we can start making the repairs to broken items. You can bring along one item you'd like repaired and let's see if we can fix it together! If we can't sort it on the day, we might be able to help you order the missing part.
As this is our first event we are inviting fixers and enthusiastic volunteers to come together beforehand to help make it happen. Join our new facebook group Crystal Palace Fixers to get involved https://www.facebook.com/groups/177745732824307/
or email Alys: firstname.lastname@example.com to join in, – see you on the 25th !
February Mending Meet-up
Wed 28th Feb, 7-9pm
Crystal Palace Library of Things
Upper Norwood Library Hub
39 Westow Hill
Crystal Palace
FREE but book a place on eventbrite : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/february-mending-meet-up-tickets-42526392585
Got seams that are fraying? Holey socks? Trousers that need taking up? Come along to this informal mending meet-up and learn sewing tricks and tips from each other. Whether you're a seasoned stitcher or a complete beginner, you're welcome to join. If you can't make it for the whole session, feel free to drop in when you can! What people have said about mending meet-up:
"Thank you for such a riveting night last night! I truly enjoyed the mending session. I couldn't have dreamed that switching a hole and sewing buttons on a cardigan I haven't worn for years could be such fun! Thank you for creating such a warm and wonderful environment. Can't believe I'm on my way to mending all those items at the bottom of my wardrobe which haven't seen daylight for ages…"
What to bring:
+ your clothes in need of mending
+ any spare needles and thread you have
+ a bottle of something or some snacks for our shared table
We'll provide the space, music and our 2 sewing machines for any bigger jobs.
Thanks to members Suze and Rachel for initiating and organising!
Some Exciting Local Initiatives !
Crystal Palace Skills Swap
Crystal Palace Skills Swap Shop is a facebook group set up by local woman Roupa Jetto to encourage sharing and swapping of knowledge, experience and skills ! Why not join and get involved !
Plastic-free Crystal Palace
Matt McDowall has set off an exciting high energy discussion about reducing our use of plastic in Crystal Palace. Although in early stages, it looks like a campaign might be stirring! Check out the thread on Crystal Palace Local:
If you're not on facebook we'll keep you posted about any developments in our next newsletter!
And finally . . .
A new cinema for Crystal Palace!
We have to congratulate " Picture Palace – Cinema For Crystal Palace" on their amazing success with the news that a cinema is coming to 25 Church Road after their long and challenging campaign -going since 2009 ! A great example of people power. Well done to everyone who supported it in anyway, and a big shout out to our very own steering group member Annabel Sidney for all the time and energy she has put in ! You can read more in News From Crystal Palace:
News from our local friends
Packed schedule at the Paxton Centre
February is going to be fabulous at The Paxton Centre! We have a full programme this month of creative courses and workshops for Adults and with half term approaching lots going on for the younger ones and teenagers. And with love in the air we have lots of lovely art, craft and cards on sale for you to say it with a handmade gift!
Our February launch Night this month is on Fri 2nd. Come and meet the makers and see the beautiful art and crafts on sale and display plus enjoy a drink or bite to eat at our café & bar!
Community Meet ups
Wed 14th – Meet Date Create 7pm – 11pm
Valentine Day social evening for singles with a fun speed sketching activity.
Thu 22nd – Crystal Palace Transition Towns Green Drinks 7pm – 11pm
This month we have groups coming from Crystal Palace Park to talk about the projects going on and how you can get involved.
Workshops & Courses
Sun 10th Mandala Valentines gift making 2pm – 4.30pm
Mandala art drawing to create a personalised design
Sun 18th Art of the Mind 11am – 1pm
Expressive arts to boost the creative mind.
Mon 19th Introduction to Pottery for Beginners
6 week course exploring many pottery techniques to create your own pottery.
Tue 20th Pottery for All
6 week mixed ability course for beginners and those developing their knowledge.
Sun 25th Screen Printing Workshop
Print your unique design on to a tote bag or tea towel and learn a new skill.
Every Wed 7pm – 8.30pm CP Transition Town Choir
everyone and all voices welcome.
Every Sat 10am – 12pm Adult Art Club
Start your weekend the creative way!
Half Term Events
Mon 12th Workshops suitable for 11yr to 16 yr olds
Young Film Makers 11am – 1pm
Drumming and Beat making 2pm – 3pm
Tue 13th to Fri 16th Kids Art Club suitable for 5yr to 11yr olds
Themes include pottery, textiles and cookery craft.
For more info and booking on all this visit our website
Keep up with all our news on our social media pages Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
To get involved at our community arts hub email firstname.lastname@example.com
Crystal Scientifique (a monthly science evening)
Antenna Cafe, Haynes Lane (entrance at the top of Bedwardine Road)
8pm Tuesdays
Free entry, cash bar, no need to book.
Find Crystal Scientifique on Facebook and Twitter
Interested in speaking at a future event? Contact firstname.lastname@example.com
Croydon Bicycle Theatre
Get on your bike with this local group's great activities this month.
Women's Day Ride
Thursday, 8 March 2018
We will be joining the global call for gender parity and highlighting the role safe space for cycling has in securing equal economic rights for women.
The rally ride will be a ten mile loop of Croydon's proposed protected cycle track, linking the town centre with Coulsdon in the south. As we will be riding in the dark, we will adorn our bikes with lights and will be bringing a party playlist of special selected #IWD2018 tunes to make sure our message is heard loud and clear.
And our #vote100 event in a couple of weeks at the David Lean Cinema
Up the Women! Celebrating Women's Suffrage Centenary
David Lean Cinema at Croydon Clocktower, 9 Katherine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX
Wednesday, 7 February 2018
Join us for a special event as part of the capital's Women's Suffrage Centenary celebrations.
Both are free, please do spread the word!
Best wishes from Crystal Palace Transition Town


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Newport Performing Arts Center Theater Expansion
YGH is working with the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts on conceptual design for an expansion of the Black Box Theater at the Newport Performing Arts Center. The project marks the final phase in a multi-year effort to expand and renovate this important center for the arts on the Oregon Coast. YGH is presently facilitating a series of stakeholder workshops to develop a series of design options.


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We are always striving to boost conversion rates and encourage users to engage more.
Forward-looking businesses are using social login, also known as social sign-on, to do just that.
For the uninitiated, social login allows users to access websites using their existing social account IDs – such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
Not only can it enhance the user's experience on your site – no need to fill out a registration form or remember yet more passwords – it also allows marketers to gather more accurate data, including verified email addresses, age, gender, relationship status and interests.
If you are considering including social login in your marketing strategy, take a look at my top nine things every marketer should know about it.
1. 86% of Users Report Being Bothered By Having To Create New Accounts On Websites
According to research compiled by WebHostingBuzz, requiring users to enter email addresses, names and other data – and remember yet another set of usernames and passwords – puts them off and you might actually be driving them to other sites that don't insist on traditional registration alone. Even at checkout stage.
Screen shot from: SportChek
SportChek's data fields are far from atypical but users are increasingly disenchanted with these time-consuming forms.
In fact, 54% of users said they may actually leave a website and go to another rather than complete an individual registration form, according to a 2012 survey conducted by Blue Research.
One of the many things I've learned about users' online behaviour here at LoginRadius is that the younger demographic not only expect a seamless web experience, they know full well it's available and are irritated if websites don't offer that.
Estimates as to the average number of passwords users currently have to remember vary from around 7 to 30, but we can assume so-called 'password fatigue' will only get worse.
Of course, I'm a total social login fan, but at least offering your users a choice between filling out a registration form and signing up using their social account IDs seems like straightforward business sense.
There is much more to say about registration processes than I have space for in this article, but you can read more here: Why user registration sucks and how it hurts your business.
2. 77% of Users Believe Social Login Is A Good Registration Solution…
… and should be offered by any website, according to the same aggregated research published by WebHostingBuzz.
The number of visitors directly correlates to revenue – whatever business you are in.
Whether you make money through sales or ads, you ALWAYS need more user engagement on your website.
On top of that, if your registration process might actually be driving users to other websites, it would be wise to do what you can to stop people heading to your competitors.
Let me be straight, I'm in no way claiming that every user wants to sign-on with their social account IDs. We know that older users, in particular, are more cautious about the information they share and are less likely to opt to use social sign-on.
Take a look at the chart below:
Some companies have found that while social login dramatically reduced the number of failed login attempts and password reset requests, take up wasn't as high as expected.
MailChimp, the B2B subscriber email management service, recorded a 66% drop in failed logins after introducing social login. Impressive, but given only 3.4% of their users signed in using social login they decided to tweak their traditional registration form and remove their social login buttons.
While MailChimp found 3.4% disappointing, others felt very differently, noting that achieving 3.4% within a single month was pretty good going.
On the other hand, Easytobook, a B2C company, had 1.5 million monthly unique visitors but low engagement. They knew they had to simplify the registration process.
After implementing social login, they reported a 68% increase in user engagement because they were able to understand and interact with their users.
It seems that B2C companies might benefit far more from social login than B2Bbut even that seems to depend on a company's expectations.
I'd still say that with so many users stating social login is their preference, giving them the choice to either complete a registration form or use their existing social account IDs is far more likely to result in enhanced user engagement.
3. 92% of Users Will Leave A Site Instead Of Resetting or Recovering Login Info
Not only that, but according to a poll by Blue Research, 1/3 of people say they leave frequently when forgetting.
People visit your site because you are offering something they are interested in. Why make it harder for them to come back to you by asking them to remember yet another password?
Offering social login itself won't automatically increase conversion rates – you need to provide the products and services your target audience want too – but it does make it easier for the growing number of social login fans to come back to your site.
So, combined with the right product and services, social login can help users become loyal and habitual users, in turn boosting your customer lifetime value (LTV).
Be warned, however, that social login might not be an ideal choice for all businesses.
Some e-commerce websites might decide against offering social login if their target audience is aged 55 or older – these users are much less likely to have social accounts.
The same goes for businesses operating primarily in countries where social networks are blocked, such as China or Cuba.
And finally, if you only want to offer guest checkout or use third-party checkout – and you aren't interested in collecting user data – social login might not be a good fit for your business.
4. 88% of Users Admit to Entering Incomplete or Incorrect Data on Registration Forms
In that same survey by Blue, it was found not only do an alarming majority of users enter the wrong data.
This is troubling, because in a 2013 study by Harris Interactive & Janrain, it was found that 74% of users get frustrated when the website displays content that has nothing to do with their interests. How can you personalize your marketing & create a better experience, when the data users give you is junky?
When users sign up via a social account, businesses access information already on their social profiles, such as gender, age, relationship status, interests, and the others seen below:
Businesses using traditional registration processes rely entirely on the data obtained from their own forms and know they are pushing their luck if they ask for more than five data points.
Tests conducted by web development firm Imaginary Landscape showed websites that require users to enter a large amount of data lost out in terms of conversions.
I broke down the stats and found websites decrease conversion by 17% for each required data point.
Source: Imagescape
Of those users who do bother to sign up, the majority are likely to skip fields or falsify information.
Naturally, companies have tried a number of ways to validate user data, including email verification processes that require users to open their email and click on yet another link.
Programs that automatically detect irregular email addresses or incomplete dates of birth are popular and can stem the flow of falsified data, but these are time-consuming and irksome processes that don't stop consumers voting with the escape key and heading for a competitor if they can.
Getting quality user data is essential for any online business, and offering social login alongside a registration form gives you access to verified email addresses and more than200 verified data points for each user. Without irritating the user.
It is important to note, however, that because of the large quantities of information shared through online social networks, data describing user behaviour is only as good as the methods used to collate and interpret it.
For an in-depth analysis of how to optimize users' social data, take a look at Computational Social Networks published by Springer Link.
Others are fully sold on the value of users' social data to marketers, including entrepreneur Higinio Maycotte.
"If login data is gold, social login data is platinum," he says.Source: Big Data Startups
"In the current digital age where social reigns there is simply no gain digging out your own gold fleck amongst the gold mines that are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google and so on. Instead, you're better off joining forces via social login."
5. 100% of The Blue Research Poll Participants Reported Receiving Irrelevant Information & Promotions
Hardly a surprise. We have all been directed to content we simply aren't interested in.
Who hasn't received endless invitations to buy men's suits, despite being a woman? Or been offered a discounted bikini wax, despite belonging to an age group unlikely to be concerned with this type of beauty treatment?
Social login gives you access to much more information about your consumer base, allowing you to filter content according to their demographic, specific interests and personal circumstances. Basically, it allows you to personalize the user experience.
In turn, most users will be more engaged with your brand and products becauses they know you offer the things they want. Hooking users with appropriate content will see them spending much more time on your site.
That said, it would be foolish to suggest that absolutely everyone enjoys such a high level of personalization. Frankly, some find it plain creepy. Remember, though, that they are probably the type of user who is less likely to sign up with social login anyhow.
Offering a choice of sign-up options means giving consumers control over how they want to engage with you.
6. 78% of People Say They'll Post Messages to Their Social Network About Products & Services They Like
If you've managed to increase your sign-up and return visit rates, you now need to engage with users and encourage them to like and share your content.
Social sharing means you can access a wider audience because users love sharing content online.
However, just as any marketing campaign needs to be properly thought out so it doesn't backfire, website owners need to think carefully about what they are sharing and how they are sharing.
Take the infamous American Apparel campaign offering 30% off to customers living in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy "in case you are bored during the storm". Users quickly took to Twitter and other social networks and roundly criticized the ad.
For more social media marketing don'ts, check out Mashable's 11 Biggest Social Media Disasters of 2012.
Making your site social allows your users to easily share your content, products and promote your brand – just make sure you do it well and think through any possible, unintended consequences.
Still, the fact remains that Facebook 'like' and 'share' buttons alone are viewed more than 22bn times daily across more than 7.5m websites.
With that sort of reach combined with the ability to segment users, you have to ask yourself if you can afford to ignore social sharing.
7. Better Data Means (Potentially) Better Marketing Decisions
"The holy grail of marketing is to proactively pounce upon every individual customer opportunity by predicting beforehand who will respond and to preemptively intervene each customer loss by predicting who will defect,"
Dr Eric Siegel, author of Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie or Die
Knowing who your users are means knowing what they do and don't want. More detailed and reliable data allows you to tailor your business model, monitor trends and measure how they might impact future demand.
Perhaps more importantly though, Social login can help you to eliminate the excuse of "we don't have enough data to know for sure."
In two separate studies conducted by Pivot, it was found that most companies haven't even asked what their social customers wanted.
This of course is a major contributing factor for very wide perception gap; social marketers think they know what customers want, but are pretty far off.
With social login however, you could create feedback loops to conduct your own surveys (like the one shown above) or collect testimonials, and use the social network ad platforms to target registered users & buyers in the places they're already online.
Going social improves the quantity and quality of data your marketing team receives, enabling you to make more informed decisions about everything your business does – including marketing & customer retention strategies.
8. 82% Of Users Said They'd Consider Trying A New Product If Someone In Their Social Network Recommended It.
This data from the Blue research study reflects other research we cited in the "Why You Should Be Investing Testimonials" article.
Nothing beats word-of-mouth recommendations. Not only do you lower your costs to acquire customers (CAC), it also increases your return on investment (ROI).
Getting to know your users and having them share your brand with their networks is a marketers dream.
Social login allows you to go one step further. With integrated friend invite, users don't simply endorse your brand and products but can actively invite their friends to engage with your site and content.
The number of potential referrals far surpasses anything marketing teams could manage alone, with users far more likely to check something out if one of their friend's has shared it.
However, be aware that any slips in customer service or problems with products can also go viral. Remember how United Airlines came in for a roasting after initially failing to compensate a passenger whose guitar was broken during a flight?
The 'united breaks guitars' video on YouTube went viral, and not in a good way for United Airlines. They eventually offered some compensation, but this served as a cautionary tale for all businesses who've yet to understand the power 'going viral' also gives consumers.
But overall, making it easier to go viral by installing social login and sharing should see you get so much more out of your marketing efforts.
For some pointers on how to predict whether you'll go viral, read Roger Wu's blog about the very same subject on Forbes.
9. The Next Generation Of Social Engagement
Source: Socialnomics
Adapt or die, so goes the old adage. The world – and internet technology in particular – is evolving so quickly your competition will overtake you and win the race if you don't stay at the cutting edge.
Just look at Blackberry and Nokia. Once absolute market leaders, they have been outperformed by competitors who saw where the mobile market was heading and understood that customer expectations were changing.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Of course, there's a lot of discussion around the 'is social media a fad' question and it has its fair share of detractors.
Some marketers, including Pratik Dholakiya, founder of The 20 Media, point to falling user rates in many developed economies, including the US and the UK, as a key indicator that social media is 'on the way out'… well, sort of.
While acknowledging social media user rates continue to rise in developing economies, Dholakiya believes that privacy concerns and user discomfort with being so visible will eventually drive social media's popularity down.
Dholakiya does not, however, suggest abandoning social media marketing altogether, stressing that it is a niche business and marketers had better use it as such (see my points 5, 6 and 7 above).
"You can segment your audience by interests and commercial intent. Let's put the focus back on niches. Stop trying to appeal to everybody with the same message. Go where you audience is." Pratik Dholakiya
The lesson here is that you need a clear social media marketing strategy that does more than rely on headlines, and also can distinguish registered users, repeat visitors, and people whose "interest" profiles are similar to your existing customers.
Social login in combination with social ad solutions like Facebook custom audiences, Facebook Retargeting & Interest targeting allow you to deliver more personalized experiences over the social networks.
In theory, you can also use social login data to promote upsales & cross sells in the social feeds based on existing purchases, but that's a conversation for another time ;-)
If you've been on the fence about introducing social login for your eCommerce site, hopefully this has given you enough to consider.
Of course, I'm an established fan, so I'm keen to spread the word and get some feedback from users and website owners alike.
If you have any questions or want to agree/disagree with me, ask me anything you'd like in the comments below.


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Penthouse Apartment
Apartment Area: 280 sq.m
Luxury fully furnished Apartment
Featuring: living room, dining room, kitchen; master suite with closet & private bathroom; 4 guest bedrooms, 2 guest bathrooms, study, balconies
Monthly Rental: from RMB 39,900
Leasing inquiries: please feel free to contact our Sales Department for details.
Exclusive visits of our properties: please feel free to contact our Sales Department for assistance.
Sales Department Hotline:
Tel: (86-21) 62628118
E-mail: email@example.com


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Our dishonorable Home Minister Bam Dev seems to live in a bubble and has no clue on how to maintain law and order in this land of ours. Why do we have the most incompetent people heading our government ministries? Our politicians only know how to spew venom and blame others instead of talking less and doing more and taking responsibility for their failures.
Why do only lazy bums and con artists want to be politicians in this country? Well, because it's easy money if you do get into power and if even if you don't, you can work out deals with the government to send some funds your way. Yes, our politicians find common ground only when they get to share the loot.
Why can't our political parties send competent folks who can lead instead of clueless clowns who only know how to loot the state funds so that the party and its cadres enjoy the loot while the common citizens get the boot?
It's been more than twenty five years since our clowns showed up and promised us a better future. And it seems that we will have to wait another two decades or more for peace and stability in this land.
This is not the first time that our clown is heading the Home Ministry but he seems to have other priorities like how to plan for lucrative postings and promotions of officers and then extort from them. And on top of that, find ways to get new stuff for the security personnel that they don't really need so that you can fudge the bill and pocket some commission.
When our top government positions are for sale then you can't really expect the person who paid for the post to do his or her job well. After all, the highest bidder will have to recoup his or her investment? And it's the common citizens who will pay for it.
You can teach an old dog new tricks. Yes, it's possible. I have a dog and I have taught him to lay down and act like he is having a seizure whenever he wants to get out of the house and join his local stray friends in the neighborhood.
But our old politicians don't want to learn new stuff. The world has changed since Bam Dev first showed up in Kathmandu with a few shirts and not even a Rupee in his pocket. And like most of the politicians then, he also seems to have done much better than the rest of the country.
While, millions of our able-bodied young folks are being exploited for a few more Dinars and Ringgits, our politicians have made millions of Rupees for themselves as they take the country down the drain.
Bam Dev thinks like a Shree Tin. He acts as if he owns this country and the citizens are nothing but nuisance. He drives around in a luxury vehicle, surrounded by armed security personnel. He is fully secured and does not have to worry about bandas. He gets freebies from the state and would rather offer more freebies to his band of thieves rather than provide security to the common citizens.
He should have been the first person to visit Tikapur. I guess our politicians are angry when mundrey gundas get killed but do not feel that pain when police personnel are lynched.Well, it took our security heads four days to finally have the courage to visit Ground Zero and take stock of the situation there.
Bam Dev tells us that the attack on security personnel was pre-planned. Then that means that our security forces failed miserably to prepare for such attacks. It was an intelligence failure and we have no one but the Home Ministry to blame.
Yes, our Home Minister, the Home Secretary and all security chiefs should apologize for not doing enough to prevent the loss of lives of our security personnel as well as the protesters. I think the top civil servants in our Home Ministry and Bam Dev as well must resign and apologize to the families of the police personnel killed in Tikapur. But of course, that's not going to happen.
Why do we need the Armed Police Force if they just want to be mute spectators while thousands of protesters surround police personnel and attack them with slingshots, spades and axes? Sending our Nepal Army to the riot zones is not the solution.
Our Nepal Police must be better equipped with resources to prevent such incidents in the future. The role of the army is to protect us from foreign invasion. Well, we know we really can't fight our dumpling and dosa chimekis but at least protect our borders and national parks from bideshi criminals and ghaerlu poachers. But don't use the army against our own brothers and sisters. This is not just right.
If the Armed Police Force can't do their job then it's about time to disband them. Why do we have to pay their salaries so that they can protect foreign embassies, INGOs and our incompetent corrupt clowns?
Yes, our security personnel did their best even without adequate resources to carry out the rescue works during the earthquakes. Maybe, we should just transform the Armed Police Force into a Disaster Management Force. Give them helmets and resources to help our folks during natural disasters instead.
It's not only Bam Dev but our top leaders of our political parties should take responsibility for the fire burning in Kaliali and other parts of the country. It's been weeks and our Terai area is suffering from bandas and violence.
Our government doesn't seem to care. If you really must deploy the army, then let them protect our highways, so that there will not be shortages of essential goods in the country instead of asking them to shoot our own people.
The problem in this country is not with its people. We have been surviving so far without any help from the government regardless of shortages, load shedding, bandas and what not. It's our politicians who need such violence and nataks for their own survival. But one day, the chicken will come home to roost.
Today, our police personnel and protesters have lost their lives so that our politicians can strike deals with each other on how to share the loot. Let us not kill each other for things that really don't matter to us. We are all brothers and sisters. We all need to learn to help each other and live peacefully together.
Our politicians are parasites, they will suck our bloods and hang us dry when their self interests are fulfilled. It's sad that a bunch of politicians can take this hostage while we the silent majority can't do nothing but only shake our heads in disbelief.
Our politicians should be held accountable for all this mess. We used the ballots in the hopes that these leeches would do something good for this country and our politicians think they can clean up the mess with bullets. I guess it's about time to show these buffoons the door.
Guffadi is a grumpy old man who blogs at guffadi.blogspot.com. You may contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Article 2987 of 17006 articles posted under "Courtesy and Professionalism, CSX Style"
Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years
Posted: 09 May 2018
system notice 135
Csx has their panties twisted about crew unavailability. Better stay
marked up on Mother's day and Memorial day or it may be a repeat of
Christmas and New Year's Day. SN135 addresses Mother's day and
Memorial day specifically. They're complaining of misuse of missed
calls LOL, delayed mark ups following displacement and of course their
go to FMLA. SN 135 states If the company believes that an employee's
mark off or unavailability was improper, the employee will be
immediately charged and disciplined, UP TO INCLUDING TERMINATION.
Sounds like Moody Law firm will have some new clients.


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A study from Padua, Italy shows that people over 60 who have low blood levels of vitamin D are at high risk for weak muscles and disability.
Lack of vitamin D interferes with your ability to kill germs and increases your chances of developing certain cancers such as prostate cancer. You get vitamin D in liver, kidney and eggs, but doctors tell you to limit these foods because they are rich sources of cholesterol. Most people meet their needs for vitamin D from sunlight, but doctors tell you that excessive exposure to sunlight causes skin cancer and wrinkling. This study shows that all older people should get a blood test for vitamin D and those with low levels should eat fatty fish, take vitamin D supplements, or expose a few inches of skin to sunlight for ten minutes a day.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 57:M7-M11 (2002) Relation Between Vitamin D, Physical Performance, and Disability in Elderly Persons. Mauro Zambonia, Elena Zoicoaa Cattedra di Geriatria, Universitàà di Verona, Verona, Italy
FREE - You can read The Good Food Book on your computer. It will help you to lose weight, lower cholesterol or high blood pressure, control diabetes, or just eat more healthfully.Read more


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Sergio Balli, Chiropractor Co-Owner
Dr. Sergio Balli earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic where he graduated Cum Laude. He uses the most current techniques to treat many conditions including neck pain, back pain, headaches, TMJ, disc bulge, disc herniation, spinal degeneration, scoliosis, carpal tunnel, and sports related injuries. Dr. Balli provides treatment plans and wellness care for all ages pediatric to geriatric.
A native of Fresno, Dr. Balli received his Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from California State University, Fresno. He is a member of Pi Tau Delta Chiropractic Honor Society.
Dr. Balli enjoys volunteering his time as the football team chiropractor for his amamader Sanger High School. He has volunteered his services internationally setting up a chiropractic clinic in Budapest, Hungary. In his spare time Dr. Balli enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.


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Trust Never Goes Out of Style, Says New Research
Trust is the foundation for any healthy relationship. So why is it so challenging for businesses to establish this fundamental virtue with customers?
According to Accenture's newest global study, "Put Your Trust in Hyper-Relevance," only 22 percent of customers worldwide said they shop with companies that have a deep understanding of their needs, preferences, and past interactions. But on the other hand, 40 percent of shoppers feel creeped out when technology anticipates their needs too well, and 43 percent are worried that businesses may in fact know too much about them and their families.
"U.S. consumers are facing a conundrum when it comes to customer experience," said Robert Wollan, senior managing director of Accenture Strategy. "They're demanding tailored, more relevant brand experiences…and they get frustrated when companies don't deliver the experiences they crave. Yet, with the rise of identity theft and high-visibility consumer hacking, they're concerned about giving away too much personal information—the exact info brands need to deliver these experiences in the first place."
This is where trust comes in. People want to know how their personal data is being applied, if it is safe, and what they will get in return for sharing information. If they don't trust a brand to handle their information, they won't share it, and may instead move to companies they do trust.
The report found that lack of trust cost companies around $765 billion last year, due in part to 41 percent of customers who said they switched companies due to lack of trust. That is where this idea of "value exchange" comes in. Wollan said he believes that customers are willing to share personal data with companies, but only if the brand gives them something of perceived value in return. The study found that 58 percent of consumers would switch half or more of their spending to a provider that excels at personalizing experiences without compromising trust.
Across the globe the study found that 87 percent of consumers believe it is critical that companies safeguard private information. Yet 73 percent said not being able to trust a company with the personal information is a top source of frustration. There is a need for companies to be accountable with the information they gather.
"The concept of a 'value exchange' is still new to many companies, particularly those who have always just expected customers to hand over their personal data without anything in return," Wollan said. "Those days are over. Even companies who incentivize customers to share data (i.e. through surveys etc.) have not necessarily emphasized why they need it and what they plan to do with it. Customer expectations have risen, and if companies don't deliver value-added services or experiences, they will get left behind."
Tech and trust, a perfect union
To prevent this, Wollan recommended three ways companies can pivot hyper-relevance and establish trust:
- Look to the future: It's not about the traditional customer journey anymore. To distinguish yourself prioritize in areas where real time data can add value in unexpected places. For example, what offers can you give a customer who misses their flight? Or how can you reward special moments like promotions? It's about taking specific data and making unique personalized moments.
- Out with the old: Companies that practice hyper-relevancy don't need to rely on descriptive analytics anymore. Instead focusing on predictive analytics creates a clearer picture of the customer journey and specific points you can zoom in on to help them. Along with this, make it clear that their data is in safe hands. Ensuring that they are in control of their personal information and eliminate duplicate requests to get their information.
- It's always about trust: Brands that understand data need to also understand that trust is one of the greatest growth enablers. Make sure that you fulfil the experiences that you promised customers in return for their personal data. Create a cross-functional governance structure to measure out the effectiveness of your hyper-relevant findings.
The initiative is out there, the report found that 73 percent of CEOs understand that their brand needs to be meaningful to consumers. Now it'll be a matter of putting good intentions into actual practice.
"Organizations that are extraordinarily pre-emptive and responsive to changing customer needs – there is huge growth potential ahead of them," Wollan said. "But it cannot be realized unless they earn digital trust. We expect to see companies begin to drift to one edge of the spectrum or the other from this – those that lose customers at an alarming rate, and those that become the beacon for customers and benefit most from the Switching Economy [customers switching brands due to dissatisfaction]. There's $756 billion at stake in the U.S. alone, so it is worth the focus."


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Atul Gawande, the acclaimed Boston surgeon/author who writes often on medicine for The New Yorker, was interviewed last month by the Times of India (via KevinMD):
Q: What are the best ways to tackle medical malpractice in public health?
Rule 1: Don't do it the way it's done in the US. It's a disaster. Rule 2: If compensating for malpractice is deemed a priority, then a public fund should be established for people who have rare but serious complications from medical care due to error. Rule 3: Perfection is not possible in medicine, but our responsibility in medicine is to tell the truth about error, to measure occurrence, and to constantly work to reduce it.


text: Several suicide bombers attacked a hotel popular with foreigners in Kabul, the Afghan capital [AFP] The first blast occurred at about 06:45 local time, near the Kabul City Centre, Kabul's largest shopping centre located in the city's main commercial district, that includes the Safi Landmark Hotel.That was followed by two smaller explosions. "I saw foreigners crying and shouting ... It was a very bad situation inside" Najibullah, hotel worker Sporadic gunfire was heard in the area as ambulances raced to the scene and grey smoke billowed into the air. Police say at least two police officers were among those killed in the blasts. The Reuters news agency quoted Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, as saying "holy warriors" had "managed to attack in the heart of Kabul city once again". He said at least five Taliban fighters launched the attack, including two suicide bombers who detonated explosives-packed vests near the hotel and a shopping mall, Reuters reported.'Crying and shouting'Witnesses said people in pyjamas were led from the Park Resident hotel and taken away in ambulances. Friday's attack came as US, Afghan and Nato forces push ahead with Operation Moshtarak Najibullah, a 25-year-old hotel worker, said he ran out of the hotel when he heard the first explosion. He said he saw two suicide bombers on the site. "I saw foreigners were crying and shouting," he said."It was a very bad situation inside. God helped me; otherwise I would be dead. I saw one suicide bomber blowing himself up on the first floor of the hotel."The Park Residence was previously attacked in mid-2005, when a suicide bomber struck the hotel's internet cafe.Dr Subodh Sanjivpaul told The Associated Press news agency that he was trapped in his bathroom for three hours inside one of the small hotels where he lived with other Indian doctors. "Today's suicide attack took place in our residential complex," he said as his wounded foot was bandaged. "When I was coming out, I found two or three dead bodies. When firing was going on, the first car bomb exploded and the full roof came on my head."Indians 'targeted'Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, called Friday's assault a "terrorist attack against Indian citizens", who were working to help rebuild Afghanistan. In depth Operation Moshtarak at a glance Gallery: Operation Moshtarak Video: Interview with US commander in Helmand Video: Taliban fighter says Nato losing Afghan support Video: Civilians flee Marjah fighting Focus: To win over Afghans, US must listen Timeline: Afghanistan in crisis SM Krishna, India's foreign minister, described the attacks as "barbaric" and a matter of "deep concern". "These are the handiwork of those who are desperate to undermine the friendship between India and Afghanistan,'' he said in a statement. The Indian Embassy in Kabul has been the target of two major attacks, one in July 2008 that killed more than 60 people and another last October that killed 17 people. Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, Hoda Abdel-Hamid, said that the attack was a message from the Taliban that it would continue its activities despite a major offensive against it in Helmand province. "There is a concern that as the Nato push against the Taliban goes on, these types of attacks will increase as a result."The Taliban is showing that they too are very strong-willed and that they will attack anywhere and anytime they want. "An attack like this one sends a message that no one is really safe, that even a city like Kabul, with heavy security, is not safe from the conflict anymore," she said.She said that since Operation Moshtarakbegan 12 days ago, Kabul has been largely safe although attacks have occurred elsewherein Afghanistan.Nato 'outrage'Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary-general, expressed outrage over the dawn assault."I strongly condemn the terrorist attack which took place this morning in Kabul," Rasmussen said in a statement."Once again, the enemies of Afghanistan have killed innocent civilians, Afghans and international workers alike."After 12 days of fighting, Brigadier General Larry Nicholson, commander of US marines in southern Afghanistan, had welcomed Thursday's flag-hoisting in Marjahas "a new beginning" as Afghan government authority was restored.Afghans "believe there is a fresh start for Marjah under the government of Afghanistan", he said as the country's flag was hoisted by the governor of Helmand province in front of several hundred residents.Humanitarian groups have said residents are facing deteriorating conditions as food, medicine and other supplies run dangerously low and innumerable Taliban-planted bombs make movement in and out of Marjah perilous. SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies


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(Photo Credit: Maury Phillips/Getty Images)
Did Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina and Nick Gordon tie the knot already?
Rumors started swirling that the two got married after Bobbi addressed Nick as her husband onTwitter on Wednesday (November 6th) .
She wrote, "Well off to sleep with my hubby @nickgordon. Prayers before bedtime. God bless you all, till next time chaps."
A rep for Bobbi told E! Online that Bobbi and Nick didn't get married yet, but they are still engaged.
Also On Majic 102.1:


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SUNY Open Educational Resources: Improving Faculty Discovery and Adoption
Principal Investigator:
Mark McBride, Monroe Community College
Monroe Community College (MCC) proposes a IITG project to design and deploy a library service model to increase faculty participation in SUNY Open Educational Resources (OER) and improve OER adoption system- wide. The purpose of the project is to build on the traditional strengths of SUNY campus libraries by supporting faculty in OER discovery and adoption. The new service model will give faculty access to discovery tools through SUNY Affordable Learning Solutions and Lumen Learning; modularize and improve interoperability and multimedia in the collection of existing Open SUNY textbooks; and embed assessments in OER courses. Project outcomes will increase OER adoption, improve OER alignment with course learning outcomes; and increase student completion and success in OER courses. The project will address priorities identified by SUNY partners: University of Buffalo, Colleges at Geneseo, Brockport, Buffalo, Suffolk, Environmental Science and Forestry, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and industry partner Lumen Learning.
Co-PI's and Key Partners:
Alison Brown, Editor and Production Manager, SUNY Geneseo
Sam Abramovich, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education, University at Buffalo
Reports and Resources:


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They don't get it.
A Moraga principal who failed to report student complaints about a molesting teacher remains on the job months after the superintendent learns of the inaction.
In another case, faculty turn out in support of an abusive teacher after a former student bravely comes forward to report that the instructor had repeatedly raped her.
The cases originate from the 1990s. But, as fallout continued during the past year, district officials and teachers adopted the same circle-the-wagon mentality that enabled the abuses.
It's deplorable. We teach children that they must own up to mistakes and apologize to those they have wronged. However, there's no sign of that from the Moraga School District.
As Bay Area News Group reporters Matthias Gafni and Malaika Fraley detailed last week in this paper, the two abuse cases were appalling.
Case 1: In 1994, a high school student complained that teacher Dan Witters, after driving her home four years earlier, had kissed her on the mouth and placed his hand on her chest inside her shirt.
Principal Bill Walters never told authorities about the complaint letter as required by law. When he talked with Witters, he provided him a copy, including the girl's identity. Eventually, six girls came forward. Witters committed suicide in 1996.
Case 2: PE teacher and sports coach Julie Correa started raping one of her students when the girl was 14. The abuse continued for nearly four years.
In 2010, the victim, Kristen Lewis Cunnane, told police. Then, in a series of recorded phone conversations, she elicited a confession from her former teacher. Correa pleaded no contest and is serving an eight-year sentence.
How did the district respond?
Superintendent Bruce Burns says he learned about the first case when the reporters submitted a records request in December. Walters soon announced he would retire when the school year ends. He should have been fired immediately. The statute of limitations will protect him from possible criminal prosecution for failing to report the abuse.
As for the second case, when Correa appeared in court in August, more than 20 current and former Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School staff members showed up to support her bail request.
Think about it. Prosecutors had concluded that there was enough evidence to file 23 criminal counts, most involving forced sex. At that same hearing, Correa's attorney admitted that the sex with a 14-year-old occurred but, in an attempt to fend off the more serious charges, claimed that it was consensual. (Correa's eventual plea acknowledged that it was not.)
Yet staff members stood with the abuser. What message did that send to the victim, or any student who has been abused and might consider coming forward in the future? At least three Correa supporters — Jerry Gruen, John Tsubota and Patti Forster — are current teachers. They didn't respond to my request for comment.
Cunnane's husband, Scott, a Contra Costa prosecutor, urged Burns to alert parents so they could judge whether they wanted those three teachers instructing their children.
Burns refused. As he wrote to me, "The district does not track the conduct of its employees when they are on their own time, and does not have a practice or policy of alerting parents to the conduct of employees during such times."
Meanwhile, Burns sent out an email to parents this week telling them that the newspaper is to be commended for its inquiry and that "the district worked cooperatively with the Bay Area News Group to provide the requested information in a timely fashion while ensuring that we complied with all applicable laws."
It's nice spin, but simply not so. Burns flatly denied the newspaper's records request. Only after our attorney fired off a blistering legal analysis did the stonewalling end and the district cooperate.
As for Burns' bosses, four school board members remain mum, referring all calls to the fifth, trustee Dennis Kelleher, who simply echoes support of Burns' comments.
Trustees are individually elected and accountable. Hiding behind one is unacceptable. Any board member unwilling to discuss such serious issues should resign. The trustees are Kelleher, Dexter Louie, Charles MacNulty, Kym Leserman and Kathy Ranstrom.
Apparently, they've forgotten for whom they work. Voters should not.
Daniel Borenstein is a staff columnist and editorial writer. Contact him at 925-943-8248 or email@example.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/borensteindan.


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Updates from the Futures of Entertainment Over at the C3 Site Throughout the Conference/
Today and tomorrow is The Futures of Entertainment Conference, co-sponsored by C3 and the Comparative Media Studies Department here at MIT. Since seating is limited and registration closed almost a month in advance, the C3 team will be providing updates throughout the two days of the conference over on the C3 blog in hopes of including readers in the discussion. You can access the C3 blog's main page here. Check back throughout the day today and tomorrow over at C3's site for updates, and look through the program for the conference here.