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Hello, Friends.
Just a quick note to remind you that bids for the Complete Auction Package must be submitted by tonight, Monday December 4 at 12midnight ET. Please note this deadline is ONLY for those who want to bid on the entire contents of the auction. (If that package is purchased, the auction will then be closed.)
The deadline for bids on the other two large packages, the Writing is Fun Workshop Package and the Christian Writer's Den Package, must be submitted by Tuesday, December 5 at 12 midnight ET. If one or both of those packages are purchased, the auction will then consist of only the items that WERE NOT included in the package(s) that were sold.
The final deadline for the remaining items in the auction is Thursday, December 7 at 5pm ET. Please remember that you can go ahead and bid now on the individual lots. If the large packages aren't sold, your bids on the individual lots will then be active and bidding will continue on those items.
If you haven't already, please be sure to read the complete instructions before bidding. It'll make the process much easier! Here are the updated instructions.
Remember, there's no bid too small to start your bid. Also be sure to contact me if you need to discuss a longer payment window for the larger packages.
Please feel free to email me at firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions. I'm happy to discuss anything!
Wow! Oh, how you have blessed me with your words of encouragement and validation at the news of my retirement. You make me feel so loved! I've been reminded again why it was so difficult to announce the move into my new season of life.
But as many of you have said, seasons do change, and those orders to stop and rest are as much a part of His plan as are the original marching orders to go and do. Your words have brought me a new level of peace and confirmation. Thank you.
And thank you to those who have already shared the auction with others. I'm confident there are writers and speakers out there who could benefit from this opportunity. I appreciate you taking the time to help them hear about it.
When you share, would you please use this updated page instead of the original one?
As I mentioned in the initial post, I expected there would be some necessary clarifications after announcing the auction. And there are. First of all, in order to make the offered items easier to locate, today I'm reposting the available items/packages here on this page, along with any current bids on them.
Also, as questions came up yesterday, I added a few explanations into the original post. For that reason, I've reposted all the instructions at the bottom of this post. But if you'd rather just read the clarifications, here is a summary of the explanations/added info:
1. To make it easier to follow the auction, this update post will now become the current auction site. I will continue to monitor the original site and will move any bids over to this post if they're placed on the original page.
2. A question has come up about a longer payment window for the larger packages. That is certainly something that can be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Simply email me at vondaskelton (@) gmail (dot) com and we can discuss possible options.
3. All items will be transferred with a simple contract.
4. I've added more detail to some of the item descriptions. They are listed in the items offered in the comments.
5. Please note that items/comments with longer descriptions may be abbreviated with a clickable SEE MORE note at the bottom. Be sure to look for the note on longer posts and click in order to see all the information.
6. There are 10 auction offerings, but with so many comments, you may not see all of them if you don't watch for and click the LOAD MORE COMMENTS bar as you scroll down. Be sure to click on that note or you will miss out on items that are included in the auction.
7. To place a bid, you must hit REPLY to the specific item I've posted. Follow up questions must also stay in the thread under each item.
8. When you place a bid and I respond with APPROVED, that simply means your bid is noted and recorded. Others may continue placing bids on those items until the posted deadline.
9. Please note that there are three separate deadlines. This is necessary because some of the items are listed both individually and in the larger packages. This allows the purchase of a package to be complete as advertised and associated items will then be removed from the auction.
10. If a package is not sold by its deadline, the package will be removed from the auction and all associated items and their bids will then be active.
11. Bidding is open for all items until their deadline, whether a single item, small package, or large package. You do not have to wait to see if a package sells before bidding on items that are also part of a package. (Clear as mud?)
12. The deadline for the Complete Package of all items listed in the auction is Monday, December 4 at midnight ET.Â
13. Â The deadline for the Writing is Fun Workshops Package and the Christian Writer's Den Package is Tuesday, December 5 at midnight ET.Â
14. The deadline for all other items is Thursday, December 7 at 5pm ET.
And if you haven't read the full instructions below, please do so before bidding. It'll make the process much easier.
General instructions:
1. The auction is open to all writers and speakers. It's always more fun with more participation, so please feel free to share the Auction post with any writers, speakers, and groups you know.
2. Remember that while some items are appropriate for writers of any level, others are best suited for experienced, published writers and speakers. Be sure to read recommendations before bidding. If nothing specific is mentioned, the item or package is appropriate for anyone.
3. The auction will be online only and will be held here at the Christian Writer's Den blog.  It will close December 7 at 5pmET.
4. If you're not already a registered commenter at the Christian Writer's Den, you'll need to register. There is no charge to participate and you will not be automatically added as a follower.
How to bid:
5. Each item/package will be listed separately in the comment section of the Auction Blog post. You may place a bid by hitting REPLY directly under the specific item/package you want to bid on. Please do not try to bid by placing a general comment or by replying to other bids or other comments.
6. A bid is only approved if it is written as a REPLY under a specific item/package.
7. I will reply to your bid by stating APPROVED. That simply means I see your bid and have noted it in my records. It does not mean you have won the item. The winner will be the highest bidder at the deadline.
8. Bids will be accepted in the order of posting.
9. General questions that will be of interest to all participants may be posted in the general comments.
10. If you don't mind using your name to bid publicly, simply post your bid as a REPLY to the specific item or package you're bidding on.
11. I'll be at the computer continuously from 9amET to 12midnightET each day except Sunday. You're free to bid on Sunday if you would like, but bids will not be marked as APPROVED until Monday morning.
Anonymous bids:
12. If you'd rather make an anonymous bid, simply email me at vondaskelton (@) gmail (dot) com with your real name, your preferred bidding name, the item you're bidding on, and the amount of your bid. I'll post it for you publicly using your bidding name and the time of your email. Please note that other bids may come in between the time you email your bid and when I note it and post it for you.
13. If you must make an anonymous bid during the night hours, it will be added when I get back to the computer the next morning.
Packages vs individual items:
14. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some items are also offered as part of a package. The packages will be offered for a limited time, as noted in the post. You may go ahead and bid on individual items while the package bidding is still active.
15. You may bid on individual items and packages from the beginning; however, an acceptable package sale will eliminate the possibility of individual sales of items included in the package.
Reserve minimum bid:
16. ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: A reserve is placed on the three major packages: The Complete Package of all items in the auction; The Writing is Fun Workshop Package; and The Christian Writer's Den Package. This means that if the highest bid doesn't meet the undisclosed minimum amount set prior to the auction, the package will be withdrawn from the auction and will not be sold as a package. Any bidder who has placed a bid on these larger packages but does not meet the reserve will be contacted with more information prior the deadline.
17. If the package isn't sold, the bids for individual items will be put into effect at that time and bidding will continue until the end of the auction. If the package sells, the associated individual items will be withdrawn and those bids will be cancelled.
18. If you place a bid, you are verifying that you are prepared to fulfill the commitment of your bid, should you win it.
19. At the end of the auction, the winner of each item/package will receive a Request for Payment through PayPal and will be responsible for completing the sale at the bid price within 24 hours. With PayPal, you can pay by credit card or through a PayPal account. (See added item, #20 below.)
20. A question has come up about the option of a longer payment window for the bigger packages. That is certainly something that can be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Simply email me at firstname.lastname@example.com and we can discuss it. Thank you.
21. All items/packages will be transferred with a simple contract.
Ready to join the fun?
Thank you again for your interest in this auction. I hope my years of work will bring a financial blessing to those who participate, making your writing journey more productive and easier to navigate.
After all, the goal of the Christian Writer's Den has always been to encourage and celebrate writers and speakers!
With love and appreciation,
Hello, friends. My goodness, we haven't talked in a long time. A lot has happened since my last post almost a year ago, and today holds one of the biggest announcements of my life. I hope you'll take a few minutes to see what's going on and what it could mean for you and your writing and speaking journey!
It's with lots of excitement and a little sadness that I announce my retirement at the end of this year. I'm excited for more time with my sweet hubby and family, but wow, I know I'm going to miss you—my writer/speaker family. After all, many of us grew up as writers and speakers together!
Some of you know that Gary and I have been caregiving for several years, and believe me, we wouldn't take back those years for anything. It's been an honor and a joy to care for those we love. But after much prayer and seeking wisdom from professionals I respect, I recognize it's time for me to transition into a (hopefully) simpler life.
Although ministry seasons change, we know that ministry never ends for those of us who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. I'm confident that I'll honor Him best by honoring by family.
Yes, there's a little sadness with this announcement, but I'm thrilled to share the opportunity this could mean for you. After talking with several wise friends, I see that my change in season could be a positive change for you and your ministry as well, helping you move forward in your own call to write and speak.
As I looked back on my own journey, I realized that I've been doing this writing and
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
speaking thing for quite a while now. I started speaking in 1997 and although I wrote my first book in 1993, I wasn't published until 2002. That's over 20 years of writing, speaking, encouraging, and making others laugh. That's 20 years of classes, keynotes, workshops, school programs, blog posts, challenges, domain names, and endless ideas. I would love to see those creations bolster the writing and speaking careers of others, like you!
How will that happen, you ask? We're going do it with a Christian Writer's Den Auction of Speaking and Writing Resources . . . and you're invited to join in! These resources of writing and speaking programs, domain names, rights to become the seller of my downloadable workshops, blog content, and much more will be offered to writers and speakers. All who are interested may participate through the online auction, right here at the Christian Writer's Den.
General instructions:
The auction is being announced today and will be immediately open for bids. Here's how it'll work:
1. The auction is open to all writers and speakers. It's always more fun with more participation, so please feel free to share the Auction post with any writers, speakers, and groups you know.
2. Remember that while some items are appropriate for writers of any level, others are best suited for experienced, published writers and speakers. Be sure to read recommendations before bidding. If nothing specific is mentioned, the item or package is appropriate for anyone.
3. The auction will be online only and will be held here at the Christian Writer's Den blog, on the post dated December 1, 2017. It will close December 7 at 5pmET.
4. If you're not already a registered commenter at the Christian Writer's Den, you'll need to register. There is no charge to participate and you will not be automatically added as a follower.
How to bid:
5. Each item/package will be listed separately in the comment section of the Auction Blog post. You may place a bid by hitting REPLY directly under the specific item/package you want to bid on. Please do not try to bid by placing a general comment or by replying to other bids or other comments.
6. A bid is only approved if it is written as a REPLY under a specific item/package.
7. I will reply to your bid by stating APPROVED. That simply means I see your bid and have noted it in my records.
8. Bids will be accepted in the order of posting.
9. General questions that will be of interest to all participants may be posted in the general comments.
10. If you don't mind using your name to bid publicly, simply post your bid as a REPLY to the specific item or package you're bidding on.
11. I'll be at the computer continuously from 9amET to 12midnightET each day except Sunday. You're free to bid on Sunday if you would like, but bids will not be marked as APPROVED until Monday morning.
Anonymous bids:
12. If you'd rather make an anonymous bid, simply email me (email@example.com) with your real name, your preferred bidding name, the item you're bidding on, and the amount of your bid. I'll post it for you publicly using your bidding name and the time of your email. Please note that other bids may come in between the time you email your bid and when I note it and post it for you.
13. If you must make an anonymous bid during the night hours, it will be added when I get back to the computer the next morning.
Packages vs individual items:
14. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some items are also offered as part of a package. The packages will be offered for a limited time, as noted in the post. You may go ahead and bid on individual items while the package bidding is still active.
15. You may bid on individual items and packages from the beginning; however, an acceptable package sale will eliminate the possibility of individual sales of items included in the package.
Reserve minimum bid:
16. ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: A reserve is placed on the three major packages: The Complete Package of all items in the auction; The Writing is Fun Workshop Package; and The Christian Writer's Den Package. This means that if the highest bid doesn't meet the undisclosed minimum amount set prior to the auction, the package will be withdrawn from the auction and will not be sold as a package.
17. If the package isn't sold, the bids for individual items will be put into effect at that time and bidding will continue until the end of the auction. If the package sells, the associated individual items will be withdrawn and those bids will be cancelled.
18. If you place a bid, you are verifying that you are prepared to fulfill the commitment of your bid, should you win it.
19. At the end of the auction, the winner of each item/package will receive a Request for Payment through PayPal and will be responsible for completing the sale at the bid price within 24 hours. With PayPal, you can pay by credit card or through a PayPal account. (See added item, #20 below.)
20. A question has come up about the option of a longer payment window for the bigger packages. That is certainly something that can be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Simply email me at firstname.lastname@example.com and we can discuss it. Thank you.
All items/packages will be transferred with a simple contract.
Thank you for hanging out with me as we muddled through the details. I'm sure there'll be a few bumps along the way as we get started, so I'm asking now for your grace!
I hope you'll prayerfully consider participating in this opportunity. What a joy it'd be for my work to continue to help writers and speakers succeed! After all, the goal of the Christian Writer's Den has always been to encourage and celebrate writers and speakers.
I continue to pray the Lord's blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Friends, what an honor it is to introduce Angie Martin to you today. Angie and I met at a writer's conference and I was immediately impressed with her work. My goodness, just wait until you see what she has available for you and the children in your family!
Are you like me and hesitant to add another secular focus to the Christmas season? Then you're exactly the kind of person who needs to meet Angie Martin and get to know her materials! Be sure to read her bio below, but for now, just trust me that this is something you want for kids in your realm of influence.
Be sure to leave a comment for Angie and you'll be in the drawing for a free book! Don't forget to check back next week to see if you're the winner.
Okay, let's get started. Angie, I'm going to state the obvious. It's September, not December. Why are we talking about a children's Christmas storybook now?
Operation Birthday Celebration—A Journey to the Manger is a storybook with interactive features. Jesse, a shepherd-drummer boy, and his feisty lamb, Bongo, are part of a drummer squad whisked away by the desert wind from Bethlehem on a special Christmas adventure—leading families to the manger and the true meaning of the season. These adorable characters must be hand-crafted to "come to life" in time for their visit in December. Now is the perfect time to order! The storybook comes with instructions for crafting the character dolls (which could be as easy as repurposing dolls already available). An "Assignment Manual" suggests activities and teaching moments for twenty-five days, ending with a birthday celebration for baby Jesus. Because each book is personalized with the child's (or children's) name, city and state, deadline for ordering books is November 16 to ensure delivery by December 1.
This is such a great idea! What inspired you to write such a book?
The idea for Operation Birthday Celebration came during a conversation with my daughter. She and her husband had decided not to facilitate the Santa fantasy in their home, rather focusing on the birth of Jesus. Many of her mommy-friends posted on social media about family fun involving a popular secular children's book and activities featuring a magical elf. Feeling sad that her two young sons were missing out, she said, "Mom, it's just not fair!" She vented a frustration of many Christians living in a media-saturated world with strong secular influences. They've bought into the misconception that the "world" has captured the corner market on entertainment and believers are missing out. I wanted my grandsons to enjoy the holiday fun, but my main motivation for the book was to affirm our identity as children of God. He's the Master Creator and since we're created in His image, He endows us with the gift of creativity. We should be setting the standard for entertainment! I felt commissioned to create a faith-based alternative to that popular elf. What a surprise that God allowed me not only to write the story but also to illustrate the book!
Why do you think Operation Birthday Celebration is a better choice for Christian families?
Christian parents want creative resources that capture a child's imagination and fuel curiosity while staying true to biblical teaching. Operation Birthday Celebration is entertaining while supporting Christian values and doctrine. Children enjoy the characters Jesse and Bongo as they learn about the birth of Jesus. Crafts and service projects help grow their faith and love for God's Word. Although the book is designed for ages three to nine, older siblings can join the fun by crafting the Jesse and Bongo dolls and leading the daily adventures for the younger ones. Grandparents also love participating.
What's in store for Jesse and Bongo in the future?
Initially, I conceived the story and characters as a gift to my grandsons. But writing colleagues believed Jesse and Bongo would be welcome in many more homes and encouraged me to consider a wider audience. I introduced the book and characters to a dozen test families, whose enthusiasm confirmed the book's appeal and purpose. Through social media they connected and shared holiday excitement and fun. God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine—and Operation Birthday Celebration is making its public debut! Besides enriching family life during the Christmas season, this innovative educational tool is useful for children's ministry leaders, Sunday School teachers, Christian pre-school and elementary school teachers, childcare providers, and the Christian home-school community. Anyone involved with the developmental growth of young children will appreciate this creative approach that brings Scripture to life and presents on a child's level such concepts as sin, a need for a Savior, God's grace, and the perfect gift of His Son Jesus. Wondering what's next for Jesse and Bongo? New adventures are on the drawing board!
This is exciting, Angie! Where can we get Operation Birthday Celebration?
Please visit www.JesseAndBongo.com. A little drummer boy and his spirited lamb are eager to make friends with you!
Oh, Angie, what a joy to hear more about your interactive book and products. And although my grandkids are teenagers and have outgrown such a gift, I know of other little ones who would love to have their own adventures with Jesse and Bongo! Thank you for working so hard to help parents teach their little ones the true meaning of Christmas!
And friends, remember to leave a comment and then come back next week to see if you're the winner. What an awesome gift for the kids on your Christmas list this year!
Grace and peace,
Sweet friends, first of all, I need to ask for your prayers. My 83yo mother took a nasty fall on Sunday and is still in ICU. Praise God, nothing is life-threatening right now, but she had a deep gash to her forehead, which was repaired Sunday in the ER. But the bad part is she has broken multiple bones, including her arm, shoulder, multiple ribs, and her kneecap. She's in a lot of pain and has surgery scheduled (again–this is the 4th date we've been given!) for Wednesday. Christian Communicators Conference begins tomorrow and I'm not going to be able to be there, at least not now. I'm praying I'll be able to get up there later in the week.
Please pray for relief of pain, successful surgery, and that she'll be able to get into a good rehab facility. She's expected to be in rehab 3 months. Praise God, none of this has taken our Lord by surprise and He's still in control! Now let's get to this exciting interview with author and editor Susan Baganz!
Friends, if you've ever wondered how anyone can write a gazillion words a month and create multiple books a year, well, here's your chance to find out. Prolific writer, Susan Baganz, is with us today to share her story about writing stories!
And if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Susan's latest book, Feta & Freeways, simply leave a comment for Susan here and you'll be in the drawing!
Let's get started! Welcome to the Christian Writer's Den, Susan. We've all seen you post significant word counts over the past few years on this blog for the MoGo7000 Challenge. So inquiring minds want to know, how much and how often do you really write?
I'm an author but I'm also an Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group so I juggle my writing with my editing for others. I can't write every day but when I do, I do it quickly and obsessively. I'm a panster. I start with a concept and inciting incident and my characters take me on a journey. On a rare day I can pen 5,000-10,000 words (the next might be 161!). I write every year in November for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org), and "won" seven years in a row. I've written two to three novels/novellas a year for some time now, completing 16 manuscripts in six years. As of this date five have been published and eight more are contracted.
That's unbelievable! Don't you ever get writer's block?
I don't call it writer's block. I call it a wall of fear. With every novel I hit a point in the story where I think the story is crap and I've written myself into a corner. I pray. I go to bed. The next morning, I force myself to write. I cannot remember where that spot was in any of my stories. Fear is a writer's biggest enemy.
I totally agree! What's been your biggest surprise in writing?
I love my stories and characters but when revisions come I'm always amazed at the mistakes I made. Editing is a humbling process. I write romances but what surprised me most is that men love my stories. I'm grateful for the unexpected audience.
You've written a series of contemporary romance novels of which Feta & Freeways is the third book. What ties these novels together?
I wrote the first book, Pesto & Potholes, to show not only the story but the importance of being involved in a church. The opportunity to worship, be taught, engage in fellowship with other believers along with encouragement and accountability—is a key part of our faith in Christ.
All stories are set against the backdrop of a fictional church, Orchard Hill. Renata and Tony were the subject of Pesto & Potholes and Stephanie was Renata's roommate and became the subject of Salsa & Speed Bumps. At the end of that novel we meet Tia who becomes a friend of Stephanie's. Tia appears in book 3, Feta & Freeways. Niko and Tia feature there along with Niko's cousin Johnny who then becomes the feature of book 4, Root Beer & Road Blocks. There are several more fun titles and great characters in the series to come!
Those are fun titles, how did you come up with them?
I originally wanted to show, in Pesto & Potholes, the concept of potholes. The difficulty of overcoming challenges through perseverance. That even with faith, emotional growth is often a rocky trajectory. Pesto had Antonio, a single Italian chef, and it's a favorite sauce in our family. A funny combo of food with a road-related theme became a fun way to set the stories apart.
When someone dared me to write book two and title it Salsa & Speed Bumps the challenge was on to continue to use road themes to illustrate growth through emotional challenges but in the context of a body of believers.
When I got my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School I never dreamed I would be using my education and training to illustrate God's love and the power evidenced in the Body of Christ, through fiction. The reality is that our faith is dynamic and thrives in community. We cannot grow spiritually without also growing emotionally. Personally I can't imagine facing the trials of this life without God and the support of a community of believers. My characters live those truths.
Yes, I can attest to the fact that characters can help us and others face lies and live truth. What an honor to create evidence of the Lord and His Light!Â
Thank you for being here with us today, Susan. And CWD friends, thank you for stopping by. If you'd like to have a chance to win a free copy of Feta & Freeways, simply leave a comment for Susan and you'll be in the drawing. Be sure to return next week to see if you're the winner!
BIO: Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits, and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group, specializing in bringing great romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.
Susan speaks, teaches, and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and serves on the board of the southeast chapter. Her favorite pastimes are lazy…snuggling with her dog while reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.
You can learn more by following her blog www.susanbaganz.com, her Twitter feed @susanbaganz or her fan page, www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz. Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/silygoos
1. Today's Christian Living writer's guidelines.
2. Charleston Style & Design submission guidelines.
3. Call for anthology submissions: The Binge-Watching Cure. Word counts vary from 100-25,000. Deadline December December 31, 2016.
4. Cricket Media submission guidelines for their 11 magazines for kids!
5. Real Simple Magazine's 9th Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest. Deadline September 19, 2016.
6.  Bethany House Life Changing Miracles guidelines. Deadline "a couple more weeks" per editor. You can follow Jim Bell Compilations on Facebook for announcements and call-outs.
7. Call Out for Chistian Quotes from Your Books
8. Connecticut Magazine submission guidelines
9. Guide Christian Story Magazine for 10-14yo guidelines here
10. Small Farm Today magazine is dedicated to preserving and promoting small farming, rural living, community and agri-preneurship. Writing guidelines here.
11. I Love Cats Magazine writers and photographers guidelines.
12. Relate Magazine: To inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Topics include design, entertainment, the future in terms of college and jobs, beauty, faith, life, quizzes. Average article is between 300-450 words in length. Sidebar information is also encouraged, as well as graphics, including illustrations, and photographs. Online. See Relevant Magazine writer's guidelines at bottom of the page here.
Well, that should keep you busy for a while!
1. Atlanta Christian Writers Conference: August 18-20, 2016, Marietta, GA
2. Christian Communicators Conference: August 24-28, 2016 The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, Asheville, NC.
3. American Christian Fiction Writers: August 25-28, 2016, Nashville, TN
4. Maranatha Christian Writers Conference: September 29-October 1, 2016, Norton Shores, MI
5. Breathe Christian Writers Conference: October 7-8, 2016, Grand Rapids, MI
6. Blue Ridge Christian Novelist Retreat: October 16-20, 2016, Ridgecrest, NC
7. Heart of American Christian Writers Network Conference: October 20-22, 2016, Kansas City
8. Classeminars Writers Contreat: November 10-12, 2016, Albuquerque, NM
9. Asheville Christian Writers Conference (AKA Writers Advance Boot Camp): February 17-19, 2017, The Cove, Asheville, NC (I'll see you there!)
10. Carolina Christian Writers Conference: March 10-11, 2017, Spartanburg, SC
11. Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference: March 22-25, 2017, Andalusia, AL
12. Write2Ignite Conference for Writers of Children's Literature: March 24-25, 2017, Tigerville, SC
13. Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference:Â April 7-11, 2017, Mount Hermon, CA
14. Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference: May 21-15, 2017, Ridgecrest, NC
So there you are, opportunities, contests, and conferences for writers. What's stopping you from succeeding?
Happy writing!
Several years ago, I had a one-day job at the Cherokee Indian Museum where I also took the time to learn about my own Cherokee heritage. After that visit, I knew I wanted to go back, take our younger grandchildren, and learn more together. A few weeks later, we did. It was an amazing experience.
But on my way home that day, I realized I did more than simply learn dates and historical events. I began to write about it, at least in my mind.
Isn't that the way we writers are? We go on a simple vacation or go shopping or read a current event and before we know it, we're contemplating characters, mapping out plots, scouting locations, capturing events, and creating a world inside our heads.
In As You Like It, William Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players . . . ." Today I realize how true that statement is.
Little did I know those events in life would prepare a stage for my characters–-real or imagined–-to enter and exit. After all, I didn't set out to find locations for children's books. I simply found myself there . . . and the characters and their stories began.
Now I'm already looking forward to doing something with these nuggets of Cherokee ideas, even though it won't be right now. After all, I went to Tybee Island in 1961, but it was well over 30 years later that I began to write about it.
I have a feeling I'm not alone in this phenomenon. What about you? Have you experienced anything similar? If so, would you share it with us here at The Christian Writers Den? It could be fun to see where our stories–-whether published or not, whether written or not–-originated.
Okay, friends, it's time for us to celebrate YOU and celebrate EACH OTHER! After all, that's the goal of The Christian Writer's Den–-to encourage and instruct writers.
In order to do that, I need to hear from you. It doesn't matter how small it may seem to you or how recently it's been, every step forward is a step that leads to the next one.
So I want to know what you've been up to. Have you had something exciting happen recently in your writing or speaking life? Maybe you've had an article published, signed a book contract, released a new book, got an agent, or started a new blog. If so, we want to hear from you. Everybody's welcome to share.
It's really simple, but I do ask that you contact me with the info in this format and order ONLY:
**Your name
**Your state in two-letter abbreviation
**Link to your website or blog
**Your good news
**Link to your good news, if online (online bookstore, online article, etc)
I can't wait for us to celebrate with you!
If you wrote at least 7000 new words on a book project in July, you can receive an entry in the drawing for the 2016 MoGo7000 $100 cash prize! It's open to everyone who qualifies.
To report your July results, please leave a comment below with your total new words written on a book project in July. (Please do not send your totals by email or through the Contact page. Totals must be left as a comment here by next Sunday).Â
If you missed out on last year's money-winning writing challenge, don't worry, the 2016 Challenge continues! Here are the MoGo7000 Challenge rules. All you have to do is write at least 7000 NEW words on a book project in any month and you'll receive an entry into the end-of-the-year drawing for $100.
Each month that you qualify with 7000 new words, your name goes in the "hat" for the drawing. Reach the goal one month and you'll have one entry. Just starting out? Don't worry! Meet it the next 5 months and you'll have 5 entries!
So what are you waiting for? Get started now and you could have and extra $100 next year. And it doesn't cost you a cent.
Congratulations, Kristi! To claim your free book, simply contact me with your snail mail address and Cheryl will get your book right out to you!
And for those who didn't win, you can get your own copy of Mother of the Bride with this direct Amazon link.
Well, that does it for another Tuesday. Don't forget to share your insights about finding your stories from life!
I'd love to hear from you!
Happy writing…
What a delightful friend and her book to share with you today! Cheryl and I first met online and then finally met in person when I was teaching at the North Texas Christian Writers Conference many years ago, where I heard about this idea for a book! She has to be one of Blue Mountain Arts' favorite writers with publications in their greeting cards, gift books, and calendar lines and has also contributed to compilations and had many magazine articles published. But her most exciting publication is her new book, Mother of the Bride–Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride, a book I certainly could have used when my own daughters were getting married many years ago.
If you'd like the opportunity to win a copy of Cheryl's book, simply leave a comment for Cheryl and your name will be in the drawing. Be sure to return next Tuesday to see if you're the winner. Now let's get started!
Welcome, Cheryl! First of all, would you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My husband and I have lived in Kansas our entire lives. We have two beautiful daughters who gave us two terrific sons-in-law. Last year our older daughter and her husband became parents, making us grandparents for the first time—to twins! But it gets even better. Our other daughter is having twins this year! We feel so incredibly blessed because both sets of babies are miracle stories. I will definitely need my vitamins while trying to market my first book and help with all these grandbabies!
Two sets of twin grandbabies? Wow, you'll certainly have lots to write about! I know you've been writing for many years, but have you always been a writer?Â
No, but in school I seemed to have a natural aptitude for writing and ended up becoming an English teacher for a short time before starting our family. After that, my writing consisted of an annual poem in our Christmas cards, but about twenty years ago I decided to pursue writing for publication and have been writing ever since on a part-time basis.
Why did you write Mother of the Bride—Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride?
After being a mother of the bride myself, I realized how much mothers of the bride need refreshment and help and that they could benefit from a nurturing voice in their lives. Not only did I want to encourage and help other women taking on this role, but I knew the approach I had in mind would fit in perfectly with my Refreshing Spirits, Nourishing Souls brand.
I'm hoping and praying this book will make its way into the hands of mothers of the bride for years to come. And hopefully as people discover my book, they'll make it their go-to gift for MOBs they know!
How will mothers of the bride benefit from your book?
They'll be refreshed and nurtured as they take time for themselves—time to be encouraged, to gain helpful insight and practical tips, and to enjoy the feminine beauty of a book designed just for them. In the book I share relevant quotes and Scriptures, personal stories, nuggets of wisdom, simple suggestions for personal pampering, journaling opportunities, communication aids, and also practical tips for wedding planning.
What have you learned on a spiritual level through your book publication journey?
I've learned to trust that God's plan for me and my writing is best. It's so easy to fall into the comparison trap and wish that I'd started writing sooner or worked at everything faster. Instead, I have to trust that I'm exactly where God wants me to be right now and that my earlier years unfolded according to his plan, too.
My trust-in-God muscles got a major workout when my first contract for this book fell through a couple of years ago. The publisher had to withdraw their new contract offers because of a financial crisis, and mine was among them. You can imagine how disappointed I was. I really had to put feet to my faith and continue trusting God. Of course, He proved totally trustworthy. The publisher God eventually provided—BroadStreet Publishing—has been able to fulfill the vision for my book in ways that the other publisher could not. Yes, God's plan and timing are always best.
If you could start your writing career over, what's one thing you'd do differently?
I'd connect with other writers much sooner. Since there isn't a serious writers group in my small town, I was a lone ranger writer for over ten years. When I realized how important writers groups could be, I started traveling seventy-five miles one-way to attend the monthly Fellowship of Christian Writers meetings in Tulsa, OK. The instruction, inspiration, and camaraderie I've found there have been invaluable. I'd also start attending writers conferences sooner.
What could you say to encourage other writers hoping for book publication?
Go after the dream God has given you, regardless of your age or personal situation. But remember, seeking book publication is not for the faint of heart. My advice is to put on your work boots and just keep taking one step after another. With unwavering perseverance and God's help, it can happen!
Thank you for being with us today, Cheryl. I know our friends are going to be encouraged by your words! And friends, be sure to leave a comment for Cheryl and you'll be in the drawing for a free book!
Bio: Cheryl Barker is the author of Mother of the Bride—Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride. She's also written for compilation books, magazines, other publications, and for Blue Mountain Arts greeting cards, gift books, and calendars. Her heart's desire is to refresh spirits and nourish souls. Cheryl loves to spend time with her family, enjoy friends, take photos, and indulge in daily doses of chocolate.
Here's where you can connect with Cheryl:
Cheryl's website – cherylbarker.net
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CherylBarkerWriter/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cherylkbarker/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cherylkbarker/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylbarker/
You've just completed the Great American Novel. You've done everything you've been told to do. You've created compelling characters and plopped them right smack in the middle of emotional/physical conflict. You've engaged the reader with your perfectly executed plot and subplots. You've edited and proofed and allowed your baby to be critiqued by your writer's group.
Now it's time to share the pictures and see if anyone wants to hold her. So you register for another writers conference where editors, agents, critiquers, and contest judges may ask for a synopsis.
A what?
Although you'll find varying guidelines depending on the organization, here are 8 tips to creating a great synopsis:
1.   The synopsis is a summary of the plot of your book that gives the reader a chance to see if it warrants a closer look.
2.   It's often limited to 1-3 pages, but in a few cases, the page limit is much higher. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the organization you're submitting to.
3.   It's usually single-spaced with an extra space between paragraphs and 1-inch margins on all sides.
4.   Print it in black ink, on white paper, using a standard font (Times New Roman is most often used).
5.   It is written in present tense, third person.
6.   The synopsis must tell the ending of the story, even if the book is a mystery, thriller, or suspense novel. This is not the time to leave the editor/agent/judge/critiquer hanging and hope he or she will beg you to tell the ending. I've actually read a synopsis where the writer said something like, "I can't give away the ending because it's so unusual, but believe me, it's a real twist!" Hmmm. Not a good idea.
7.   You can't cover all the points of the book, but you'll want to include the major plots points that move the story along to a satisfactory ending.
8.   Give enough detail that the reader is engaged, but–with a limit of 2-3 pages–you'll have to carefully decide what earns a place in the synopsis.
So, there you have it–8 tips to writing a synopsis. Remember, it's the short and the sweet of your story!
FreeDigitalPhotos/Iosphere www.FreeDigitalPhotos.com
These CWD writers are doing the work, and finding success. Let's celebrate with them!
1. Cheryl Barker (KS): My book Mother of the Bride: Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride was officially released by BroadStreet Publishing on July 1st.
2. Sandy Quandt (TX): Sandy has THREE things to share this month! 1)1st place award in the unpublished Children's Lit at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference; 2)Contracted to write 20 devotions for Worthy Inspire's Seeing God in Nature devotional; and 3)Article on "How to Write a Devotion" published on WOW! Women on Writing.
Books and articles and awards, oh my! Congrats, Cheryl and Sandy. We're proud of you!
And friends, if you didn't find your name on this list, be sure to check back next week where I'll have a collection of opportunities just for you!
#15: Susan Baganz – 11,114 words
#16: Amanda Everett – 7,019 words
Congratulations, Susan and Amanda! And friends, if you'd like an opportunity to win $100, just check out the MoGo700 Challenge guidelines here. It's all free!
Well, that's does it for today. I hope you've learned something and been inspired to keep writing. After all, writing isn't a race to the finish line. The finish line is whenever we pass into glory. And the only way to lose at writing is to quit.
Keep writing!
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Now you can have your own affordable writer's conference in the comfort of your own home and on your own schedule! Just visit Vonda's Writing Workshop and you'll be able to take your writing to the next level–and beyond!
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At the end of the function, I was a lil bit down. So do Fikri. First and foremost, my session to perform was cancelled due to the insufficient time. I practice for the song for days and in the end, it was cancelled. Eventhough I frustrated, I just seems to be happy because I don't want to express my feeling to my friends. They were the committee and they have the right to cancel it. One more thing that I learnt is that, if I wanna perform, don't do it with committee. They were just too busy with their job.
Second, I was down because the girl that I adore, eventhough she wore a beautiful yellow dress, she don't even speak to me. I planned earlier to have our picture taken at this event, because its the last event that we're going to get through together. After this, I'm afraid that we will be separated and I am no longer can be with her anymore. When the event ended, I saw that she was heading outside of the ballroom. I thought she just wanted to go to the washroom or take some pictures outside.
I just let her go. I was depressed and of course I felt jealous to see all the students having pictures with the one they like. One thing for sure is that, in my mind, the song 'Because I'm A Girl-KISS' is the perfect song to describe how I feel. Then, I took Ereenas' pictures with her boyfriend. I also asked her to talk to the girl that I adore, so that she will agree to let me take a picture of hers.
Since, she was not around anymore, I really down and frustrated. Fikri was down as he told me that, he don't take a lot of pictures with the committees as he used to. I dunno why does he feeling down. After that, I took my car and return to college with Farhat and Fikri. As we arrived at our college, the security guard asked us to put the car outside and that's make me think. Since I don't enjoy the dinner, I guess we could have some supper at any food stall in SS14.
Then, we return back to college and I park my car at the mosque compound and we enter the gate easily because there was a qiamulail. Its is one of the session for Sciences students in LeadTrain. So, the gate was opened and the security guard wasn't there. Hehe… its quite funny when the leadtrain commitees looking at us while other students were heading to the mosque, and we were just from the mosque to college..

subset: commoncrawl


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Explore Maui's Greenways meets at Honokowai Marketplace on Saturday, May 11th. The event is a part of Maui Bicycling League's guided tour series. Led by trained ride leaders, the event is intended for intermediate and advance riders, and limited to 30 participants. This month's sponsors are Ridesmart Maui and Boss Frogs. Go online for more information and to register. 8:30am. Honokowai Marketplace, (3350 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina); mauibike.org
photo courtesy of Flickr/Zachary Long
For more up to the date events go to mauitime.com/events


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- Home>
- Consumer Electronics>
- Mini Cameras & Photos>
- Tripod & Accessories>
- Battery Charging Dock with Storage Case for Gopro 5
Battery Charging Dock with Storage Case for Gopro 5 - Black
Estimated Delivery Time:34 - 60 days
Product Introduction
The Battery Charging Dock can charge 3 pieces GoPro 5 at the same time. It can also be used as a storage box. You can tell the charging status according to the light.
Size: 4.6*4.6*4.3cm
Port: Type C
Color: Black
Weight: 86g
• Storage Box Combines With GOPRO HERO5 Charger
• Can Charge 3 GoPro HERO5 the Same Time
• High-Quality Battery
• Red or Green Light to indicate Charging Status
• 1 x Battery Charging Box for Gopro 5
• It doesn't come with USB cable, you need to buy separately.
• It shows Red light while charging and Greenlight after finish charging.
- 01
Start group buy
- 02
Invite friends to join
- 03
Number achieved
- 04
1. Presale items are available for group buy; but they will be shipped out when we have them in stock if group buy succeed.
2. Some products like Joyetech, Eleaf, Wismec brands, Flash Sale devices, and items priced at more than $300, are excluded for group buy.
3. The entrance for starting a group buy has been set up in every product page; Invitees can only join in the group buy via a specified link with the inviter's unique ID.
4. Once joining in the group buying, you can not quit in the midway; you can not cancel your order if the group buy succeeds; if no quality problem, we don't support refund for group buy items.
5. One shopper can only have at most five ongoing groups. When one group ends, he/she can start a new group.
6. Once a group buying starts, the price won't be changed before it's closed. Invitees enjoy free shipping when orders over $20, while inviters only pay $0.1, no ship fee.
7. The number of participants for a group depends on the value of specific item.
8. Once any cheating means found, we have the right to disqualify the participant from the group buy activity. The right to interpret belongs to Buybest.


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Special Olympics Forsyth County is a year-round sports training and competition program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Our program is the 3rd largest Special Olympics program in the state, with more than 1,800 athletes training and competing in 15 different sports. Throughout the season, athletes grow by demonstrating courage, experiencing joy, engaging in new friendships, and enhancing their skills.
There is no charge for athletes to train and compete in Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Forsyth County offers sports training in the Fall and Spring. Athletes have the opportunity to attend Special Olympics North Carolina State Games throughout the year. For updated sports schedules, please email Carlie Pudney or call 336-727-2425.
If you or your athlete is 8 years or older, please download and fill out the Medical Form (PDF). If your athlete is 7 years or younger, please download and fill out the Young Athletes Form (PDF) and return the completed form via:
Check back to see when the 2020 Polar Plunge will take place! Join Special Olympics Forsyth County and help us raise money for Special Olympics! Review the Polar Plunge website for more information and learn how to donate to the cause.


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OSS/BSS User Group Highlights
This week we have been in Paris for the 2017 OSS/BSS User Group, where our community of Ericsson customers using Ericsson OSS & BSS solutions share their successes and learnings.
Highlights from day one
Day one of our OSS/BSS User Group began with a warm welcome from our chairmen, Ziad Belhadi and Oliver Stanojevic. It followed by leading analysts from IDC who shared their views on this year's theme: digital transformation. topic covering drivers, steps, challenges, and how to leverage digital technology to enable new business models, drive revenue growth, and monetize technology investments.
The morning had many highlights, including:
- The event was hosted by Laurent Lebouchie—VP, IT Architecture, Enablers and Security, Orange Group—who shared Orange Group's experiences and drivers of digital transformation.
- The top global operator—Vimpelcom's Oleksiy Reshetnyak, Head of Digital Transformation—shared practical insights on their digital BSS transformation strategy and the new Ericsson Revenue Manager.
The day continued with more deep-dive sessions and discussions that focused on our products, including Ericsson Charging and Billing in One, Ericsson Revenue Manager, Ericsson Catalog Manager, and Ericsson Expert Analytics.
These sessions also included valuable market trend insight, such as how to capture digital service opportunities. As enterprises are becoming more digitalized, making use of cloud, IoT, and 5G, enterprise digital services offer a significant potential for operators to capture new revenue. For operators that aim to become service enablers or service creators, the only way to go will be together with partners and through different ecosystems. That requires openness in ways of working and enabling solutions and platforms that let you easily partner with third parties by securely exposing assets and APIs to various players in the ecosystem.
We also enjoyed an amazing demo on how superior interactions with customers can be enabled by the latest digital front-end solution from Ericsson, and the day ended with a very enlightening presentation exploring how to leverage location intelligence to monetize new revenue streams, plan your network using new insights from analytics, IoT analytics, and how to leverage granular sub-cell location insights.
Highlights from day two
The second day of the Ericsson OSS/BSS User Group conference was a great success, full of experience sharing.
It started with Andre Gualda, Senior Adviser at Ericsson Consumer Lab, who shared insights about the digital expectations of digital consumers and how to succeed in the new era. This was followed by a panel discussion on digital operation transformation and how to deal with reality.
The day continued with deep-dive sessions and an operator sharing session about revenue management, customer experience, and service management.
In service management, for example, lean and agile was a red thread through the track because business is getting more multi-sided and complex. The business and technology evolution has implications and new requirements for the IT landscape. Everyone wants simplified, rational, automated, and responsive processes and organizations. Few know how to disentangle the rigid, tightly knitted legacy IT landscape to create a configurable and automated platform that enables agile, speedy, and flexible bi-modal operations that are a combination of physical and virtual functions—including legacy functions as well as cloud-native, cloud optimized functions.
It is not a question of making old processes digital; it is about rethinking the entire operating model. On this topic, Verizon's Viraj Parekh, Director of Managed Services and SDN/NFV, shared how they are operationalizing virtual enterprise services at scale and their experience with Ericsson Dynamic Orchestration.
We also discussed how to create an engaging customer experience. Driven by the astonishing growth and proliferation of services that are built from the experience perspective, customers now demand a good customer experience from every company. A true digital service provider puts customer and digital first to ensure an exceptional customer experience that is convenient, relevant, and reliable across all devices, at any location, and across all customer touch points.
The OSS/BSS User Group conference came to an exciting end with Jan Karlsson, VP and Head of Digital BSS, sharing information about the future of Ericsson OSS/BSS, followed by the chairmen wrapping up the event through a key take-away message.
Thanks to everyone who joined us here in Paris. Our conversations provided an open atmosphere to network with peers and meet the Ericsson product experts in person. See you next year!
Learn more about Digital Business Support.


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I have my personal 1password account, and my work 1password account. i have both accounts activated in 1Password X and at some point they will be locked. Unlocking in 1Password X only ever unlocks my personal account. there appears to be absolutely no way of unlocking the second account. it sits there in the accounts view with the word (locked) next to it. with no ability to unlock
of course it should unlock with the first account like every other 1password app does. but at the very least there should be a way of unlocking it when i need it. as of right now there appears to be absolutely no way of unlocking a second account
1Password Version: Not Provided
Extension Version: 1.6.0
OS Version: windows 10
Sync Type: Not Provided
Good morning, @gord! 👋
I'm sorry we didn't make it easier to understand how 1Password X handles multiple accounts. Improving this is something we're looking at addressing in a future update.
Anyway, the answers you seek are in this thread: Signing into multiple 1Password Team accounts on 1 Password X.
Please give that a gander and let us know if you have any further questions.
Take care,


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.Outfit Details from Feature Post.
Photos courtesy of the lovely Danielle Hampton
Dress: Anthropologie
Shoes: Anthropologie
I wore this outfit for our amazing ladies' night while I was back home in Prescott, AZ. I had the absolute best time and I will be compiling a post (that will most likely be split into two parts) to barrage all you lovelies out there with a montage of photos!
Have a wonderful day! xoxo
Labels: Anthropologie, Dress, Girls Night
8 comments:
love Anthropologie! thanks for sharing. you have the cutest styleReplyDelete
<3 a nearby texan
So happy to find your blog. You're so beautiful!! Hope to keep in touch through here at least! Love you,ReplyDelete
Aw! Hi Rachel!! Your blog is adorable! Little housewife extraordinaire!ReplyDelete
Uh! I love those SHOES!!!ReplyDelete
I found your blog from Danielle's, and just wanted to say I really liked your post! I enjoyed your writing style and tattoo tips very much. I've been thinking about getting a tattoo so your post was extremely helpful!ReplyDelete
Yay! Hi, ladies! <3ReplyDelete
LoVE LOVE LOVE this dress...but then again I love pretty much everything at Anthropologie. I used to work there and every paycheck went straight back to them.ReplyDelete
I am 100% in love with your beautiful dress!<3ReplyDelete
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Economic Report:
SOCORRO, N.M. - In today's economic turmoil, the smartest investment for New Mexico could be in conserving and restoring the state's natural resources. That's the finding of a study being released today that looks at the economic benefits of southern New Mexico's natural assets.
Chris Mehl is with Headwaters Economics, which produced the report, and he says those assets help generate billions of tourism dollars for the state each year. Over the longer term, he adds, they're also attractive to more than just visitors.
"[The area is attractive] to businesses, entrepreneurs, new companies and also retirees who are going to move to southern New Mexico for quality of life reasons. So, they have return on investment twice over, so to speak."
Wolf Watchers at Yellowstone National Park – courtesy of NPS
Mehl thinks using state dollars to invest in conservation and restoration is also smart because it's likely to be matched with federal dollars to create jobs, improve water quality and allow other short-term benefits as well. He says New Mexico's fish, wildlife, and habitats contribute $3.8 billion to the state's economy annually, through hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.
The report was commissioned by Audubon New Mexico, where Executive Director Karyn Stockdale hopes the findings are taken into consideration as future budget decisions are made.
"Even when the decision-makers have tough choices in the budget and where they're going to cut, what we're hoping is that this really demonstrates that the conservation and restoration projects really pay large dividends, now and into the future."
Stockdale notes the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge alone brings in $13.7 million annually from non-locals, along with $4.3 million in regional tax revenue.
"We love southern New Mexico for all the incredible birds and birding areas."
The report is at www.headwaterseconomics.org/NMnaturalassets.
This article was published by the Public News Service on August 26, 2010.


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Vanity Fair called it "a serene beauty oasis," and that just about sums it up. Bluemercury is nirvana for the well-heeled cosmetics junkie: a chain of shops where you can get beauty advice and copious samples, have your eyebrows waxed, and buy anything from a $14 lip gloss to a $2,000 jar of moisturizer. You can even bring your dog along; there's often a water bowl in the entryway. "We are a mom-and-pop business—super high service," says cofounder Barry Beck '90. "That's how we're changing the cosmetics world. People trust us. We'd rather have you leave with a free sample than ever get the wrong product."
Beck is giving a tour of the company's original location, on M Street in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood. Since buying a floundering cosmetics shop in 1999 and rebranding it, Beck and his wife and business partner, Marla, have expanded to nearly four dozen locations including three in Manhattan, seven in the greater D.C. area, and eleven in New Jersey. (The firm's investors include Artal, the parent company of Weight Watchers.) His long-term plan: expand to 300 stores, take the company public, and go international. "We're a neighborhood-friendly family business—that's the feel," says Beck. "Our model is hard to replicate, and I worry about that as the business grows. I think about it every day. I'm a worrier."
Bluemercury has garnered glowing write-ups in a slew of beauty magazines, not to mention lifestyle publications like Real Simple and O. (The latter, which called it "a trendy spa-cum-boutique," praised the $130 purifying facial, among its most popular treatments.) Its D.C. shops have attracted their share of boldface names, including the Bush daughters and Chelsea Clinton. Among his celebrity customers, Beck counts Nicole Kidman, John Travolta, Madonna, and members of Aerosmith. He once shut down a store for Rod Stewart. When Anna Nicole Smith was in town—back when her inheritance case was before the U.S. Supreme Court—she'd come in for facials, taking her limo a block from the Four Seasons. "Opening new stores, introducing new customers to Bluemercury, and just being in the fashion industry in general is a lot of fun," says Beck. "Talking to customers is the best—showing them products, giving them samples. It's so much fun, I don't feel like I'm working."
And to think: he got his professional start in janitorial management.
An ILR major, Beck was still an undergrad when he and his brother founded a business providing maintenance services to chain stores. Eventually, he says, they built it into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, but he was miserable. "We were solving people's problems every day," he says. "Starbucks; Bed, Bath, and Beyond—these companies were calling saying, 'Our roof is leaking and our toilets are overflowing and we're locked out of our store in Alaska.' But I hated the business." With an eye toward selling the firm, he met with a group of investment bankers in D.C. "In this meeting there was a girl, and her name was Marla," he recalls. "And I was smitten." Then a McKinsey consultant, the woman in question had an economics degree from Berkeley and a Harvard MBA. They married, became business partners—she serving as the management guru, he the self-described "crazy entrepreneur"—and set their sights on launching an online cosmetics company. But it was a bust, partly because it didn't fit into the traditional supply chain; back then, high-end make-up lines were carried almost exclusively in department stores. Scrambling to fill orders, they wound up buying stock from a little shop on M Street, which carried the Kiehl's brand of luxury skin-care products—and eventually decided to purchase the store, becoming an early entrant in the "bricks and clicks" model of retailing.
Three months after they christened Bluemercury, though, a Sephora opened two doors down. "They were building tombstones outside this store," Beck jokes of the threat posed by the popular international chain, known for its casual, "grab and go" outlets where shoppers can test cosmetics from dozens of brands. But the Becks gambled that there was room in the market for their model. "People said, 'Barry, the problem with you is that you're not from the industry. You don't know how things are done,' " he recalls. "But in the end, that was a good thing for us." To illustrate their market niche, he cites the time his mother went shopping for Bobbi Brown cosmetics in a department store, only to be told that the line's saleswoman was at lunch and no one else could help her. Bluemercury would offer one-stop access to numerous brands, as Sephora does, but with the personalized service and expertise of the traditional make-up counter. "We only hire beauty junkies—people that love the products," he notes, "and all our employees are full time."
In 2012, the company became a cosmetics producer as well as a vendor, launching its own skin-care line. The brand, whose ethos is using natural ingredients that have scientifically proven benefits, like Vitamin C, is dubbed M-61. Asked to explain the name—and not for the first time, or maybe the thousandth—he says that it's after the galaxy. "You could spend your life doing focus groups," Beck says with a sigh. " 'I like it,' 'I don't like it,' 'It sounds like a gun.'" The couple faced similar doubters when they dubbed the business Bluemercury, intended to pair Marla Beck's favorite color with a sense of speed and dynamism. "Early investors hated the name," Beck recalls. "They asked, 'What does it mean?' And I said, 'Well—what does Starbucks mean?' "


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The Mail on Sunday claimed that before the war on Iraq, Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, had warned Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, in a 13-page letter that it was questionable whether Britain could legally attack Iraq under UN Resolution 1441. A nine-paragraph summary of the Attorney General's advice, containing no such caveat, was later published by the government, but it has refused to publish any fuller advice. Mr Michael Howard, the leader of the Conservative party, said that Mr Blair had 'told lies to win elections. And he's only taken a stand on one thing in the last eight years — taking Britain to war. And he couldn't even tell the truth about that.' Mr Brian Sedgemore, who first became a Labour MP in 1974, defected to the Liberal Democrats and urged voters to give Tony Blair 'a bloody nose' on polling day; Lord Kinnock, a former leader of the Labour party, said that, for fellow MPs, Mr Sedgemore's remarks would be 'a lance right through the spine'. The Royal College of Nursing said in a report that there were 20,588 new entrants to nursing in 2004, but 35,000 home-trained nurses had retired or left, while 12,700 overseas nurses joined the register. Sir John Mills, the actor, died, aged 97. A High Court judge refused an injunction to prevent publication in the News of the World of claims by Miss Abbie Gibson, who had worked as a nanny for Mr and Mrs David Beckham, about strains in their marriage and of a relationship between the footballer and his wife's former beautician. AQA, one of the three main GCSE examination boards, is to scan 500,000 papers and email them for marking in India, where examiners command much lower payments. A window fell from the 28th floor of the 'Gherkin' building in St Mary Axe in the City of London. A man gardening at Cringleford, near Norwich, unearthed a cache of 135 Bronze Age spear heads, sword parts, tools and ingots.
Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen, pleaded guilty in Washington DC to six charges of conspiring with the terrorists who carried out the September 11 attacks in the United States; he said he had been trained to carry out a separate attack on the White House. 'I expect leniency,' he said, but the federal court reminded his lawyer that four of the charges carried the death penalty. Imad Yarkas, suspected of being the leader of al-Qa'eda in Spain, denied being a follower of Osama bin Laden during his trial in Madrid on charges of helping to organise the September 11 attacks in the United States. The formation of a government in Iraq continues to be delayed 12 weeks after the country's elections. A double car-bombing killed 17 and wounded 31 outside an ice-cream parlour in a Shiite district of Baghdad, two days after a suicide car-bombing at a Shiite mosque in the city killed nine and wounded 26. At least 94 were killed and 400 injured when a seven-carriage commuter train carrying 588 people was derailed and smashed into a block of flats at Amagasaki, 250 miles west of Tokyo. Mr Jiri Paroubek, a Social Democrat, became Prime Minister of the Czech Republic after Mr Stanislav Gross, of the same party, resigned in the wake of a scandal about his finances. The last Syrian troops were reported to have withdrawn from Lebanon. Iran was considering a bid for the failed British car makers MG Rover, according to Eshaq Jahangiri, the minister for information and mines. The federal government in Mexico removed Mr Andres Lopez Obrador from office as mayor of Mexico City, but he refused to go; he leads the opinion polls among candidates for the presidential elections next year. Pope Benedict XVI met Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Muslim leaders after saying at his inauguration that he wanted the Catholic Church to continue 'building bridges of friendship' with other religions.


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AHS building vandalized overnight
April 25, 2019880 Views
When students arrived to school today, the first thing that they saw was security surrounding nearly every entrance as they attempted to cover up vandalized exterior walls, doors, and windows.Paint was used to draw phalluses, derogatory terms, and even a swastika around the back of the building. Additionally, there were remarks directed at certain administrators and teachers. "The suspects targeted the jock lobby, the loading dock between the gym and the cafeteria. There was drawings near four other entrances, three trailers, and the modulars. They even painted things on my parking space," Student Resource Officer David Curcio said. The security team watched security camera footage of the suspects and determined that there were three suspects. The vandalism was done between 1:45 A.M. and 2:30 A.M. "They were wearing black clothing. Two of them had jeans on with black sweatshirts, and one was wearing Adidas track pants. They all had their faces covered, so it's hard to determine who they are," Curcio said. There is a possibility that the vandalism here might be connected to other similar situations at other schools in the area. "We're not sure as to the motive and why they targeted Annandale, but that this did happen at Edison ten days ago. Some of the painting and the writing look similar, and one of the suspect was wearing a distinctive hoodie at both crimes. We're thinking they could be linked because of that," Curcio said. While students were shocked to see references to terror organizations and gangs, security believes that there is no connection and that the symbols were used as a red herring. "We don't believe or have any information to support that it was done by a hate group, or that the vandalism was done by neo-Nazis or white supremacists. There was a reference to the Eastside Crips, too, so I think that maybe they were trying to throw a lot of derogatory and nasty stuff out there to deflect from who they are," Curcio said. Because of this, it is believed that the drawings were placed around the school as a way to stage a spectacle or to retaliate against the school administration. "They were meant to alarm the community here and to cause exactly what it did — students taking pictures and talking about it. It's probably disgruntled current or former student who dealt with the administrators that the attacks were directed towards," Curcio said. As of now, the security team at plans on turning over information regarding the vandalism to the county police. "This case and the main investigative responsibility will be turned over to the detectives at the West Springfield Station. We may consult with the Gang Unit because of the white supremacy and gang overtones. We will also reach out to the detective working at Edison," Curcio said. Other police officers and schools in the area will also receive footage of the crime in the hopes that someone else might have information regarding the suspects' identity. "We have the video and we are going to circulate the video to other officers in the area. The school will also send the pictures to other schools and other administrators to see if they might recognize the suspects," Curcio said. As of now, any footage and pictures from the security cameras are not available to the public, as the investigation is still ongoing. The paintings have been painted over.
Senior Suad Mohamed is currently the Co-Editor in Chief and this is her fourth year on staff. Last year, she was the In-Depth Editor. Besides The A-Blast,...


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Okay! Summer is just around the corner so bring on the season's blockbusters. But before those come out, we have 'Baywatch'. I'll preface this review by saying that I am a movie fan and so even when a movie is bad, it's never all bad. That being said, 'Baywatch' is still a decent "bad movie." I would also say that I'll keep my review spoiler free, but unless you are expecting an awesome action film, then it's hard to spoil this one at all. There is action, there are explosions, there is comedy and some fun to be had, sure. But overall, I think this is one you may want to hold off on seeing until it hits Netflix or Redbox. The cast are all great at their parts and the movie does a fine job of never taking itself too seriously which was its main saving grace. No matter the role, Dwayne Johnson always seems to have fun on camera and that oozes through the screen making it nearly impossible to hate any movie in which he appears. That holds true here as he takes on the role of Mitch Buchannon (originally played by David Hasselhoff in the TV series) who is the lead lifeguard of Baywatch and maybe takes his role as the bay's protector a little too seriously.
Joining him are Ilfenesh Hadera as Stephanie Holden (played by Alexandra Paul on the series for those keeping track at home), who is sadly under utilized in the film, and Kelly Rohrbach as CJ Parker (played by Pamela Anderson in the series). They have 3 openings for new trainees on the team and one of those new trainees is disgraced Olympic Swimming star Matt Brody. Zac Effron channels his inner douche to a tee as he takes on this role and his interactions with Dwayne Johnson's character provide equal parts comical and "buddy cop"-esque. Several laughs also come from Jon Bass's character of Ronnie Greenbaum as the tech kid with gumption and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's portrayal of Police Sgt. Ellerbee who continually has to remind the gang that they aren't actual law enforcement agents. Rounding out the cast is Priyanka Chopra who you can tell is doing her best to have fun with her role as an over-the-top and not very well written villain looking to buy up all of the property on the bay and start selling drugs out of her lavish club.
All of that being said, the overall movie is predictable yet still fun. The jokes along with the copious amounts of skin (but hey… it's 'Baywatch') and use of the "F-bomb" (I'm no prude, but it's needlessly overused) seem mostly designed to be appreciated by the age 12 – 24 male audience but that's not to say it isn't a fun movie to watch. For those who enjoyed the TV series, there are some enjoyable cameos by both "The Hoff" and Pamela Anderson as well as some clever nods to the show. But if you're looking for a movie to see this weekend, I'd recommend holding off on this one unless you've already seen everything else currently in theaters. On a scale of 1 – 10, I'd have to sadly give 'Baywatch' a very middling 5.


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Jan G commented 2019-08-28 22:00:30 -0400
Good luck Jessica. Give our best and our prayers to Tommy and tell him to stay still for the next two weeks. Will watch for your feedback.
As promised, today I will be heading back to London to visit Tommy Robinson in Belmarsh Prison to report back on how he's being treated by the UK authorities.
Ezra and I have made a total of three trips and we'll keep visiting until Tommy is released in about three weeks.
After Tommy was initially jailed for contempt of court, he was moved to a prison full of radical Muslim inmates responsible for his meals and he lost 40lbs during his stay.
So far, Tommy has been treated better. And we want it to stay that way, by keeping an eye on him and reporting on his condition to the world.
For ALL of our reports on Tommy's prison stay after being convicted of journalism, and to help chip in to pay for these check-ups, please visit PrisonReports.com!


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Your consumption choices:
In our day to day busy lives, we need to pay special attention to our eating choices and how it may effect our heathful growth and sustainability , imagine the major inpact specific choices of food with chemicals or ingredient's we don't know of, can have on our lives. In today's trends, it seems there is more and more (cancers - diseases - nutrition issues ) that may be avoided. This behaviour in food choices, can be changed with simple (20) minute natural food preparation and cooking practices, by purchasing your produce - meat's - dairy - grains, from trusted farm raised farmer's market's, to bring you the best sustainable fresh food's , you can cook in your home. Light cooking practices, with many vegetables, help's to ensure the most valuable nutrient's are still locked in, to receive the best value out of your purchase and healthful growth.
In terms of natural vegetables found in our food market's, why don't we pay special attention to purchasing local sustainable produce at the right price. Purchases as this, is a win win, where the farmer would benefit to continue to keep farming in our Canadian market's, and your getting trusted farm raised produce you can put into your healthful created dishes. Light cooking of most ingredient's is key, to retain healthful benefits we consume, receiving our daily nutrient's and the best possible flavour and taste to specific dishes you desire.


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Feb KRG
05 Feb 2020
Feb Baghad
05 Feb 2020
read more »
Almoudawi pharmaceuticals was founded in 2013 with the synergy of two groups that have more than 50 years experience in the medical and pharmaceutical fields.
read more »
Almoudawi has three warehouses strategically located in Baghdad, Basra and northern Iraq with distributors covering 18 governorates across Iraq. Our Demand Department with its advanced forecasting system allows for continuous in-market supply.


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Dream Inn Dubai Apartments - City Walk
United Arab Emirates, Dubai
TripAdvisor Traveller rating:
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Hotel Only pp per night
Our luxurious and well-equipped 4-bedroom apartment is comprised of 3 main bedrooms and 1 kids bedroom, which overlooks the busy streets of Jumeirah. With a complete 360-degree outlook, our guests can enjoy their ultimate weekend getaway with easy access to Sheikh Zayed Road as well as The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Water Canal and its neighboring cafes, restaurants, salons, pharmacies, and grocery stores. Our spacious 4-bedroom apartment, which can accommodate up to 8 people, is elegantly decorated with fiery color palettes and fully equipped with high quality fittings and furnishings that offer our guests a luxurious and relaxing stay. Our 3 main bedrooms contain double beds that can accommodate up to 6 people in total, and 1 kids room which contains a modern bunk bed to double the fun!
Facilities View all
Wifi / Internet access
Air Conditioning
Disabled Facilities
Satelite TV
Kids play area
Baby Sitting Service
Fitness Centre
Resort Essential Information
Currency Dirham
Language Arabic
Time Zone GMT+04:00
Avg. Flight Time 7 hours
Peak Travel November-April
Price of a pint £8.00


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Why do hackers target your company's data? Well, some do it for fun, and some do it to make a social or political point. But as you've probably guessed, most are in it for the money.
With the WannaCry attack alone netting the perpetrators £108,000 in Bitcoin, hacking is big business. That's why, if it were ever true, the popular image of a geeky loner working from a dingy basement bedroom certainly isn't anymore. Cybercrime is often conducted on a large scale by organised criminal gangs.
You don't even need to be a decent coder to be a hacker. Basic hacking tools are available to buy for a few pounds on the dark web. These tools won't get you past the heavily defended gateways of a large corporate network, but they might give you access to the credit card details of the customers of a vulnerable small business.
And in a worrying trend, major ransomware developers have started to create affiliate schemes, which means they provide more sophisticated hacking tools to wannabe hackers in return for a percentage of their profits.
If this all sounds deeply worrying, the good news is that most hackers focusing on small businesses are still looking for easy wins. Make your business a hard nut to crack and they will just move on. With that in mind, here are three of the most common cyber attacks threatening your business today, and what can be done to guard against them.
For hackers, phishing attacks are easy and cheap. For small businesses, they can be deeply damaging. In most cases, phishing attacks start with an email that purports to come from a legitimate business, and sometimes mimics the branding of that company in convincing detail.
The email will often urge victims to take immediate action to remedy a problem. In many cases, clicking on a link will take you to a sign-in page that looks entirely legitimate. But entering your details gives a criminal all the information he needs to commit identity theft and fraud.
Phishing is incredibly common: the latest Hiscox cyber readiness report finds that 32% of all data breaches involve it in some form, and companies are three times as likely to suffer a data breach through activities like phishing than through a technical vulnerability.
There are different types of phishing – deceptive phishing involves the kind of mimicry cited above, while spear phishing is a highly personalised attack that uses details like someone's name and position to hoodwink them into giving away sensitive information.
The main defence against phishing is vigilance. Red flags to look out for include an email address with misspellings or strange characters, and an insistence on immediate action – whether that's confirming details or clicking on an attachment. If you or your staff have any doubt about the legitimacy of an email or web page, contact the company concerned directly to see if it is real.
Another reason to guard against phishing is the part it plays in many ransomware attacks. Clicking a link or opening an attachment in an email can allow ransomware to install itself on a computer, and from there to spread to other devices on your network. Typically, the malicious code then locks you out of your files or systems until a ransom has been paid, usually in bitcoin or another virtual currency.
Ransomware attacks have increased by 97% in the last two years, with the average ransom demand over £800. The first defence against it is to know and heed the red flags for phishing mentioned above. But ransomware can also infect your network through other means, so install security software, patch and update all operating systems and applications, and back up your business-critical files regularly to the cloud or a portable drive.
SQL injection
This common hacking technique lets criminals view, modify and delete the data in an infected database. If that data includes sensitive company information or customer details, the hack constitutes a severe data breach.
SQL injections can be quite technical, but in layman's terms involve manipulating a login form to gain access to a database or application. SQL injections have been around for a long time, so the first line of defence against them is to operate modern, trusted technology and keep it updated and patched.
After that, use input validation for all user-submitted data, limit the privileges that you assign to accounts and encrypt or hash passwords and other confidential information. SQL injections are still a threat, but a reduction in the number of successful attacks in recent years shows that, by following basic security rules, small businesses can do a lot to protect themselves online.
No matter how vigilant you are, protecting your business with cyber insurance will give you the reassurance that should the worst happen and hackers strike, your business can get back up and running quickly, and any loss of income or costs incurred are covered.
Basic security measures can help reduce the chances of your business falling victim to cybercrime, but they can't take it away completely. Hackers are always looking for new vulnerabilities. That's why a growing number of small businesses are investing in cyber insurance, so they are covered if the worst happens. Hiscox CyberClear cyber insurance has recently been rated the most comprehensive cyber insurance policy for small businesses. Find out more about Hiscox Insurance for small businesses.
Read more: The cutting-edge disruptive technologies shaping our future


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Ex-Coronation Street star Alison King, who played fan favourite Carla Connor for ten years, found filming her role in the upcoming Coronation Street Tour unusual, to say the least.
The soap's new attraction, which opens at the SECC in Glasgow on August 27, features a 'virtual reality' welcome from King.
As part of the tour, visitors will take a walk down memory lane, reliving memorable storylines and seeing official sets, props, memorabilia and even the famous cobble stones. They can even get a souvenir picture behind the bar at the famous Rovers Return.
King has spoken to Digital Spy about the experience of recording her segment and mentioned it was very different to filming for the soap itself.
"I was filming on the street and it was quite weird for me as I was actually looking into the camera as opposed to trying to avoid it," she said. "It was peeing down with rain, as it often does in Manchester.
"It was not what I'm used to but it was really good and nice to be involved because I know it means a lot to people and the original tour was so successful. It is carrying it on and it means they can step through Corrie rather than it being in there living room.
"We are [collating] lots of memorabilia, props, costume and sets and it means fans can see that and be involved. It makes them feel part of it as opposed to just watching it."
However, having recently left the show in May, King also added that it was bizarre returning to the familiar set: "It is surreal because is the original set and I know how many scenes I've filmed in there. But as an actress, no matter how long you have off, being back on set you still feel like you've never left.
"This is obviously a bit different because I'm being Ali and not Carla. I keep looking round for them to shout action. It has been my home for 10 years so I am quite at home being on set."
Tours will run daily from 10am and tickets for the Glasgow dates (August 27 - January 1) and are currently on sale here. Dates for Belfast will be announced in due course.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers and news


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Death at SeaWorld - A Conversation with Author David Kirby
Earth Island Institute's New Leaders Initiative
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (PDT)
Event Details
Seating is on first come, first serve basis - so please come early to get a seat!
Earth Island Institute's International Marine Mammal Project and St. Martin's Press present:
Death at Sea World: A Conversation with David Kirby
With Rose Aguilar, host of KALW's Your Call
and Mark Berman, as seen in Keiko: The Untold Story
Don't miss author David Kirby, making a special apperance in the Bay Area, to speak about his forthcoming book which explores the truth behind dolphin and whale captivity. Happening on July 25th in San Francisco, this exciting event will provide insight into the dark side of facilities like SeaWorld.
About the book:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Evidence of Harm and Animal Factory comes DEATH AT SEAWORLD (St. Martin's Press; July 17, 2012; Hardcover) a groundbreaking scientific thriller that exposes the dark side of SeaWorld, America's most beloved marine mammal park. From the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, to other, less-publicized violent incidents, journalist David Kirby puts these brutal human-on-animal attacks in context and explores the controversial and even lethal ramifications of keeping killer whales in captivity.
DEATH AT SEAWORLD introduces the real people taking part in this debate, from former trainers turned animal rights activists to the men and women that champion SeaWorld and the captivity of whales. Kirby follows the story of marine biologist and animal advocate Naomi Rose at the Humane Society of the US, whose warnings against keeping killer whales in captivity fell on deaf ears. He also covers the media backlash, the eyewitnesses who come forward to challenge SeaWorld's glossy image, and the groundbreaking OSHA case that may spell the end of having trainers in the water with the ocean's top predators.
Kirby also introduces the reader to various killer whales, also known as orcas, (who are actually the world's largest dolphins) and how they rarely, if ever, harm humans in the wild and are among the smartest animals in the world.
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to hear the story from the author himself!
Parking available at http://www.fifthandmission.com/
To donate to the International Marine Mammal Project, click here.
ACS San Francisco Chapter
When & Where
The Hub SOMA
925 Mission Street
San Francisco,
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (PDT)
Add to my calendar
Earth Island Institute's New Leaders Initiative
The New Leaders Initiative (NLI) grows environmental leadership by raising the profile of young emerging environmental leaders in North America, celebrating their achievements, and providing them with the skills, resources, and relationships to lead effective campaigns and projects. NLI honors the legacy of David Brower - firebrand environmentalist, community activist, and founder of Earth Island Institute.
NLI is home to the Brower Youth Awards, the premier North American awards honoring bold young environmental leaders. Since 2000, the Brower Youth Awards has recognized 61 exceptional leaders with a cash prize, a high-energy week of activities in San Francisco, and ongoing leadership support. NLI also offers mentoring and project sponsorship to rising young leaders.