text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40924108006191984102014-08-31T22:27:31.206-07:00The MBA Roller CoasterA chronicle of my journey to an MBA degree - hopefully at the best school in the world!Abhishek email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-33501292115736766502012-03-12T05:38:00.000-07:002012-03-12T05:39:09.421-07:00True worth of Kellogg: Networking
In this post, I will talk about what I consider to be the most important feature of a Kellogg MBA: Networking opportunities.

According to me, the most important goal of an MBA education is to network feverishly and get to know as many people as possible. Now, when I say networking, I mean it in the genuine sense and not acquiring contacts for the sole purpose of using them. Genuine networking happens when you are truly interested in getting to know the opposite person and looking for ways to help him/her out regardless of personal benefit. Such networking helps in not only professional enrichment but also personal enrichment.

That being said, I can safely claim that Kellogg provides the biggest opportunity to network through it's heavy emphasis on teamwork. I don't know whether this was by design or chance but even in the worst case scenario you will graduate from Kellogg knowing at least 200 (yes, two hundred) students (and this is a conservative estimate). Let's see how this number came about:

1. KWEST (Kellogg worldwide experience and service trip) - These trips are led by 2nd year students and take the incoming students to several parts of the world. New students sign up in advance for their choice of destination. Each group is normally composed of 25-30 students and the most striking feature of the trip is that no one is supposed to ask about the backgrounds of other students during the trip. At the end of the trip, everyone is supposed to guess about the other participants. In addition, the trips are usually very intense and this results in bonding amongst the students.

Conclusion: You end the trip and start your Kellogg experience with 30 lifelong friends.
Tally: 30

2. Teamwork - You are supposed to work with different teammates for each course. In total there are 24 courses which you must take up, each requiring 5 persons in a teams; therefore you work with 120 different students during the two years.

Conclusion: You get to know 120 students up close.
Tally: 30+120 = 150

3. GIM (Global initiatives in Management) - This is a course in which you are required to study a target country during the quarter and then visit them for 10 days as part of the coursework. Usually a GIM group consists of 30-35 students.

Conclusions: 24x7 with 15 people for 10 days brings you very close to them.
Tally: 150 + 35 = 185

4. Career Treks - Several treks are organized by Kellogg, e.g. Entrepreneurship Trek, VC Trek, etc. which takes interested students to several parts of US and the world where they interact with related companies and hob nob with domain experts. The groups usually consist of 10-15 students.

Conclusion: You know what I am getting at.
Tally: 185 + 15 = 200

This is not even taking into account the numerous clubs you will be part of, which will take the minimum tally to 250. And if you are full of energy and a networking maniac, you are looking at 500+ connections in two years alone. Now, where else will get this?

Kellogg really undersells itself.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-80992011018096266042012-02-29T01:55:00.001-08:002012-03-06T20:10:42.082-08:00Misconceptions about Kellogg - International student loan
Disclaimer: I have obviously become a diehard Kellogg fan. Henceforth all my posts will concentrate around Kellogg. However, all such posts will be strictly about Kellogg and will in no way be meant to disparage or spread false information about other schools. I haven't visited other schools nor will I be doing an MBA from other schools so I simply don't have the right to comment about it. All schools have their pros and cons and there is really no distinguishing between them. It's all about the fit ;).

Aside: Please refer the official Kellogg students blog at http://kelloggmbastudents.wordpress.com for more inside school

I hope my previous post busted some of the myths about Kellogg especially in regard to resources it provides for Entrepreneurship. In this post I will attempt to clear the air over another issue:

International Student Loan
For international students, while applying, one big question is whether they will be able to avail student loans in the US without the need for a US co-signor. The reasons for this are:

1. Normally, an international student requires a US co-signor in order to obtain a loan in the US.
2. Loans in the US are much cheaper than in the home countries of most international students.

Most top schools loudly claim that they provide international student loans without the need for a US co-signor; and they do! To estimate how important this is, note the recent developments in Wharton where such a loan arrangement was withdrawn with the old provider and Wharton scrambled to arrange this with another provider. Read about it here and here.

Now, coming to the point, as with other things (it beats me why) Kellogg seems to not toot it's horn very well in this area. There is a big misconception about Kellogg that such loans do not exist for international students; but they do! Here's a comprehensive official link about the exact loan facility available to international students: Kellogg NU Loan. This loan is available to all international students and the process is quite simple. The only minor downside to the loan is that the interest rate is 7.5% - which I find quite expensive. With a US co-signor the rate comes down to somewhere between 4-5% which is nothing compared to the 9-12% interest that an Indian has to bear for student loans.

So, in summary, international students can apply to Kellogg without too much concern about loan taking ability. If you have any questions, let me know.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-39203721185281130552012-02-25T02:11:00.002-08:002012-03-06T20:10:33.584-08:00Day at Kellogg
Wow! It's been really long. Sorry about that - I was busy regaining normalcy after the gruel of the MBA application process.

So to summarize I was admitted to Kellogg in R1 and did not really make it to the rest which I think was for the better. To be frank, I was not too pumped about Kellogg when I got the admit. Therefore, I decided to go for the admit weekend (Day at Kellogg) to check out the school and make sure it's the right place for me. The time and effort to make the journey between Bangalore and Chicago just for 4 days was well worth it.

My good friend Cheetarah has already given an excellent account of the madness that was DAK here. I will attempt to add to this - my observations and experience.

Dean Sally Blount

She gave the opening speech and it was absolutely rocking. She is very dynamic lady and the "Think Bravely" campaign could not have but come from her. She has a strong vision about the future of Kellogg and is determined to raise the profile of Kellogg again.

One could attend Kellogg just for her visionary zeal.

Student Body

I found the student body to be super friendly and very down to earth. Of course, I am sure that due to DAK this was up a notch, but I can safely say that this is the usual at Kellogg. Everyone was eager to help out and to answer any questions that we may have had to help us make our decision. I was amazed by the all pervasive "pay it forward" attitude right from the professors to the administration to the students.

One other thing which I found amazing (and a bit suspicious) was that nobody had anything negative to say about Kellogg. I met several current students and when I asked them, "What are the negatives about Kellogg?", they would look at me blankly and muster up (at best), "The fact that there are soooo many things to do at Kellogg and one cannot find enough time to do it." Now, this could be self-delusion or a fact - and one cannot find out till matriculation! So for now I would like to believe that there is really no negative about Kellogg.

Administration

The admin is also super supportive. I came away from DAK with contact details of several relevant admin members and each one of them was eager to help out. Over the past couple of weeks I have been in touch with them and their responses are always timely and without a hint of irritation at questions which are probably being asked for the zillionth time. Kudos to those folks.

Professors

I was able to attend only 1 mini class and the professor was pretty good. Although to be fair, one cannot conclude too much in such a short time. I did speak to a current student who is also a fellow wolverine and he said the professors are top notch without doubt.

I also had the good fortune of listening to the closing remarks of a professor in the Management & Strategy department. I was extremely impressed by his talk and decided to follow up with questions. To my surprise not only did he respond but also asked me to call to discuss. Now, how many professors do that ?!

Entrepreneurship

This is definitely the hidden gem at Kellogg. Since my short-long term focus has been Entrepreneurship, I was very concerned whether Kellogg had the resources to back up my goals. The answer was a resounding YES. Kellogg has several courses, initiatives, and professors which/who support you to the hilt in starting up. Courses like NUVenture, initiatives like Entrepreneur Trek, and professors like Sawhney are there just to support you in this journey. Sure, it may not compare to a Stanford in that it does not have an environment which will inspire you to startup, but it sure has the resources and zeal to back you up if you want to.

Incidentally, Chicago is coming up really fast in terms of Entrepreneurship.

General

- Kellogg is definitely a student-led and student-run school. It seems like a place where, if you have an idea or initiative the entire school will support you and cheer you while you make it a reality. Impressed.

- The big negative about Kellogg is the facility. It's just one building and not very impressive. However, the student body and professors more than make up for it. And I pity the fool who rejects Kellogg just because of its facilities.

- Housing options are pretty good although on the steep side.

- Evanston downtown is quite vibrant and most houses are located in/near the downtown.

- Chicago is a good 40-60 minutes away by train.

In the end I was happy that I went to DAK because I got all my questions answered and came away satisfied on all the important fronts. Deposit was put down as soon as I landed in Bangalore.

Now, to mull the course of action for the next 5 months and wait for the exciting journey that is Kellogg.

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-44607835950098027482011-12-16T20:47:00.000-08:002011-12-16T20:47:41.614-08:00Kellogg Kellogg
As you might have guessed from the post title, I am in !

The news came via an unexpected mail on tuesday morning - unexpected, because everyone was expecting it to start from 14th. No complaints though! :)

Kellogg is an absolutely fabulous school and I am simply in love with it, its culture, and the student spirit. Not a big fan of the Chicago climate though :(.

Eagerly waiting for my welcome packet to arrive. Meanwhile, I am also waiting for my Wharton decision which is on the 20th. 50-50 chance there as the interview was just so-so.

Yay!
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-75526072051742722632011-11-22T02:37:00.001-08:002011-11-22T03:41:36.546-08:00A True Roller Coaster Ride !
Boy, it's been long!

When I had named my blog "MBA Roller Coaster", I didn't realize how true it would be. I haven't blogged for a long time now and it's because my head has been spinning with all the craziness that's been happening around. No one tells you that the toughest part of the MBA application is the waiting. Yes, it's not the GMAT, it's not the applications themselves, but the interminable waiting that occurs between submitting applications and interview calls, between interview calls and final admits. The wait and uncertainty just drives you crazy - almost insane.

First, my story till now:

HBS:
After three anxious wednesdays waiting for a HBS call, I was finally denied admission at HBS. I was quite taken aback as I was quite confident about at least an interview call from HBS. I cannot fathom the reasons for this but it could range from my agribusiness background to quality of recommendations (over which I had little control). But who knows!

Anyway the blow was too much and it took me sometime to recover from it. I seriously started doubting myself and wondered whether I had overestimated my profile and my chances at these schools.

Wharton:
Wharton came to my rescue and invited me to interview. Suddenly, the world was a better place! The interview went quite alright but could have been better - you can never tell in these things. I just have to wait till the decision date.

Kellogg:
This was a whole difference dance form. My interview requirement was "waived" which led to frantic research about what it meant. It turned out that this was quite normal with international - especially India - applicants and there was nothing to worry about. At the same time, however, you cannot be admitted without an interview. What this meant was that they would conduct an interview later anyway if they found your application worthy - geez !. Of course, the past weeks had been spent in anxiety waiting for that elusive mail. Nights were disturbed, and days were troubled - concentrating on work was like having to climb mount everest. Shame on me.

Nonetheless, yesterday I got it - yes, I got the invite from Kellogg for a telephonic interview - and my joy knew no bounds. I am ecstatic, because what this means is that they found my application worthy enough for an interview - that's a good sign, right? Let's see how that goes.

Stanford:
Stan, oh, Stan! How I pine for thee. Stanford has been literally teasing its applicants with a tiny number of invites everyday. I haven't got one, and of course I want one, but they won't give me none. Of course, there's still time to go and I could still get it but chances seem slim. In any case as poetsandquants points out: the chances of Indians at top business schools are pretty slim to start with anyway - like 1-2% ! That's ok. We Indians are used to those kind of odds. Ask anyone taking IIT-JEE or IIM-CAT.

--
So, that's the story till now and as you can see it's been a true emotional roller-coaster ride. I hope the ride ends soon.

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-75886510172475027212011-10-10T05:01:00.000-07:002011-11-26T18:41:04.965-08:00Clearadmit "Kellogg" Guide Review
Disclosure: I was asked to review this guide by Clearadmit but my views are unbiased and without influence.

I have just finished reading Clearadmit's guide for Kellogg school and I have to say that I am blown away.

I had always read that such guides are just a summary of what can be found on the website. While this guide largely conforms to this assertion, it gives you some nuggets of information which are more than worth the price of the guide. The guide goes into extreme details on every aspect of the school, its history, its culture, its curriculum, and more.

As Sanket said, the absolute USP of the guide is the various comparisons that the guide throws up. E.g. a graph of the percentage of international students at various top schools or a graph on the number of students accepted by each school. Of course, you can get this information online; however, if you are applying to 5-6 schools then keeping track of each school's data and comparison can be a daunting task. Clearadmit distills all the information into simple to read and easy to absorb graphs.

Since starting the MBA jounrye, I have always liked Clearadmit because of their clean website which shows to me that the people behind it have clean and simple thinking. This is again reflected in the guide which has a very clean design and is neatly organized. One is able to read through it quickly and locate relevant sections in a jiffy.

I would highly recommend Clearadmit's guides if you are looking for information on schools in a clear and concise form.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-63087554105157692472011-09-30T05:28:00.000-07:002011-10-01T21:44:37.852-07:00Life has been taken over.
I am surprised I haven't written about this before - How the MBA application process takes over your life.

Since I started preparing for GMAT, my life has essentially been taken over. All I do is live and breathe the essays, the application forms, and the forums. All I talk about is my application strategy, the deadlines, and my apprehensions. My friends and especially my wife are on the verge of a breakdown due to the incessant MBA chatter, half of which they do not understand.

Is this good?

On the surface, it appears that this kind of obsession is very unhealthy. Really? An MBA degree is all that matters to you? You are ready to let something so silly start defining you and dictating to you. I agree to most of this but deep down somewhere I am ok with the obsession. It's almost a good thing. It means that I am truly passionate about this next step of my life and believe that it will catapult me in terms of knowledge and thinking. Or will it?

While there are several reasons for doing an MBA, one of the most important reasons for me is the sheer exposure to ideas and talent that you get at the top business schools. I have always found that the best way to elevate yourself is by surrounding yourself with people who are far better than you. This is what I want to do at a Harvard or a Stanford - surround myself with geniuses and hope that some of the genius will rub off on me. ;).

The top B-Schools also serve to catapult you by putting you in direct contact with the who's who of the world and instantly giving you a much larger canvas to play with. I sincerely believe that the big things done in the world are really no big deal in the end. Coming up with grand ideas is easy but if you don't have the right resources in terms of people and connections, you will rarely be able to achieve what you set out to do. An MBA degree at a top schools puts the resources of the world at your disposal and says, "Now, show me what you can do. Don't just talk, Do." In a way this is scary. All your life you can brag about how great you are and what amazing ideas you have but you can always make an excuse about why you never did anything with those ideas. Can you really do that after H/S or W or K or ..? Can you really say you were not given the opportunity. Boy, you better step upto the plate and prove your mettle. It is your last tangible change at stratospheric success; your last chance to impact the world and leave it a better place.

Well, that's what I think at least. Ciao.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-59609189444554045432011-09-29T03:10:00.000-07:002011-09-29T03:10:26.270-07:00Submitted.
So, I managed to submit two of my applications yesterday. I will leave it to you to guess which two ;). To me personally, it represents a big milestone as it involved pulling together a myriad of components, essays being the toughest of all. I believe that I have put in a strong application especially since I put in a lot of work in the essays which was one of the only components under my control.

One of my recommenders is yet to submit but I am not too worried about it.

In the end, I really believe that you should give about 15 days per school application. This is only after you have managed to shortlist your schools. Of course, essays of subsequent schools take a little less time because you can reuse the core parts of your earlier essays - thats a relief !

My plan was to submit a day or two before the deadlines but I submitted quite early and it gives me the confidence to take a shot at a 4th school. I have already started its essays, so it looks like I am going to be applying to 4 schools after all in Round 1.

Of course, now I have to wait for the interview calls. I am a little worried about them since my career has been such that I haven't faced too many interviews. I have interviewed many but very few people have had the fortune to interview me ;). This means that I have to prepare extra hard for interviews and keep my sarci (sarcastic) quotient down. Pretty tough to do.

Anyway, that bridge shall be crossed when I arrive upon it.

Till then, best of luck to fellow applicants. Keep your head down and keep going.

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-31574562535756381012011-09-18T21:57:00.000-07:002011-09-19T04:45:55.988-07:00Let Go.
Seriously, just two weeks to go!

Essays - Content all in place; trim and polish remain.

Recommendations - Dragging along; Not quite happy with them.
Resume - Almost done.

Forms - Half - Filled

Transcripts - All uploaded

GMAT - Taken & Reported

As deadlines approach at a frightening speed, my anxiousness levels are reaching a new high. Usually I am a last-minute kind of guy; I find that I work wonderfully under pressure and my productivity is atleast at 200% than normal. In most cases this has worked, but I have always felt that I cannot really let this become my strategy - "Eh, no issues, I will finish this 20 hour job in the last 1 hour". So, B-School being a long time dream, I decided not to risk it this time and have been ahead of schedule.

However, this brings other anxious factors into play - "Am I being too fast?, Maybe my essays are not good enough? If they were, how could I have finished them so early? I must be doing something wrong, right?" :(. I think I was much better off doing last-minute stuff. Atleast that way you would be anxious in a compressed amount of time than worry forever.

My biggest worry is that I will overdo the essay. Revise infinitely and kill the essay. I need to let go at some point of time. I need to accept that I have done the best I can and just hit the submit button.

Sigh, only if it were that easy.

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-22795970452807310352011-09-16T19:36:00.000-07:002011-09-16T19:36:53.819-07:00Kellogg Info Session and 2 weeks to go !
I attended the Kellogg information session and it was simply outstanding. I have come to believe firmly that these sessions are important not just to glean unique points about the school but also form an opinion on whether it is a good fit. E.g. I came to the firm conclusion that Chicago Booth is a not a fit for me given its lack of community and focus on research.

The session was hosted by the Director of Admissions and four alumni. What struck me was the down to earth nature of all folks and an evident sense of genuineness. The alumni had all graduated around 2003-04 and even after all these years there was a certain excitement in their voice which was just contagious. The director too was very open and genuine. If this is what Kellogg is really like, then wow! In essence, I came away seeing myself as a perfect fit and now have a strong desire to apply there.

--

Just two weeks to go for the first round of deadlines. Maybe its just me, but you can almost feel the excitement in the air and connect with thousands of other applicants who are vying for the coveted spots.

I hope to see myself and some of you at those schools next year. Best of luck !

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-41807870187585596542011-09-07T01:15:00.000-07:002011-09-08T03:38:55.808-07:00Updates!
Essays
I have been writing and re-writing my essays, discarding multiple drafts, and pruning my essays to the hilt. Given my disinclination to essay writing, I always thought writing 600 words would be a tall order - How would I fill so much space? Now, the problem is the reverse and I am struggling to fit my life into the tiny canvas provided by the various schools.

Some thoughts
1. Critical readers: Make sure you identify people who can review your essays and give you critical honest feedback. Of course, preferably, such people should have been to business schools or should know the essay process thoroughly; But if you don't have access to such people identify intelligent and well-meaning friends.

I am lucky to have graduated from a school in India where my friends are not just critical but brutal. From the very first year of college, we have destroyed each other at every given chance only to see everyone emerge as better persons. So, I don't have a problem in the department of recruiting "critical" readers; I hope you don't have any problem too.

2. Making every word count: Never will you have to make each word count as in your business school essays. The canvas being so tiny, not just each stroke bu each pixel matters. Fluff words have no place. If you think you are having to resort to fluff to fill up space, go back to the drawing board and introspect further. Redundancies are completely forbidden.

3. Personalization: It is important that a majority of the sentences that you use be "personalized"; This means that every sentence should be such that only you could have written it and no one else - Generalizations if necessary must be back up evidence.

4. Outline: Make sure you write an outline before starting an essay. My steps have been as follows:

 a. Introspect and write down all possible events, anecdotes, thoughs on an essay. Then choose the best.
 b. Create an outline of the essay - 3-4 lines per paragraph
 c. Expand on the outline in a brief manner to capture essential thoughts.
 d. Write your heart our for each outline
 e. Prune ruthlessly
 f. Adjust for style and grammer
 g. Finalize and send for review.
 h. Repeat from step a or b or ... or f as per review.

Fourth School
I have decided to drop the idea of applying to a fourth school in Round 1. I do have time but it will be a little tight as I have not started working on my 3rd priority school yet whose deadline is first week of October.

It just does not make sense to turn in a half-hearted application. I am not completely "into" my fourth school and onwards whereas I am right now passionate about the first three schools. Therefore, I am going to put my heart and soul into the first three and worry about others later.

Recommenders

I have not been managing my recommenders too well till now. I did recruit them quite early and got them invested in this process and provided them with general tips, samples, essays, etc. I feel I will need to be more proactive and get the recommendations finished in time.

The need to proactively manage recommenders is another reason why I am dropping the fourth school.

---------
Whew, that was a lot. Cheers to all !

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-29519783801076425192011-08-27T20:42:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:31:37.586-07:00Stanford Info Session At Bangalore
I was lucky enough to attend an info session by Stanford yesterday at Bangalore.Although, I had expected better organization of the event, it didn't really matter in the end.

An associate director of admissions along with 3 current students (surprising, this) were kind enough to answer our questions and give a brief on Stanford, its culture and DNA. I must say the session was eye-opening in some areas and is making me change my "Why Stanford" essay comprehensively. I highly recommend that folks visit the target schools or atleast attend the information sessions to get a feel for what the schools really stand for - beyond the platitudes. I wish I was able to visit my target schools but I will have to make do with what I have.

My only hope is that I get admitted into all the schools I am applying to and then go to their admit weekends and decide. :D.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-24547661610787190722011-08-26T05:09:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:30:47.973-07:00What's happening?
It has been very quiet on the blogging front. No updates on the regular blogs I have been following and no updates on mine either. I am going to go ahead and assume that everyone is busy either with last minute GMAT preps, brainstorming essay content or actually writing the essays!

The deadlines for R1 are getting closer and my excitement is increasing every day. I can't wait for the day when I actually hit the submit buttons for my favorite schools :). Of course, there will be some way to go even after that but the applications represent the pulling together of various components and is a big milestone to have completed.

My essays are well under way and in fact today I completed the first drafts for two schools. They are still some way from being submit-ready but I am quite happy with the content overall; they just need some more trimming and polishing. However, I am anxious whether I am going too fast - one essay per day on an average; if I am royally screwing up the essays then I hope I catch myself during my review weeks. Of course, it helps that I have always been an introspective person and had an easy time "data-mining" my life. Do not even think of starting the essays unless you have done this.

The best advice I can "retweet" at this point is to take up one school at a time and completely immerse yourself in it for 7-10 days. Not even opening the website of another school or reading about one. Live and breathe only that school for that period and behave as if you have actually gotten in! :)

So, to restate, my essay strategy is:
For every schools
A. 2 Days for intensive research
B. 7 Days for completing essays to a 95% level (It should be in a stage where if for some reason you had to submit in a seconds notice, you could)
C. Go to next school
D. After all schools, come back and give 5-7 days to each school completely reviewing the entire application.

Best of luck to all fellow applicants!

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-59910823174960559082011-08-12T01:09:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:30:54.660-07:00GMAT Strategy
I have been meaning to write this for a while now and I also owe it to some people.

Step 1 - Diagnostic Test
Before doing anything, take the diagnostic test. I know that most people say this, but I digress as follows:

If you have been out of touch with academics for some years now (which I suspect is the case with most people) practice 20 problems from each section with some light revision of the concepts. Take the test after you have completed all the problems. This way, your diagnostic test will give you a true "diagnostic" score and tell you where you truly stand before preparations start full swing. My theory is that if you take the diagnostic test straight off the bat you might get an unusually low score because you didn't remember some silly concept which could be obtained by simply glancing at it.

So my advise would be as above when it comes to diagnostic tests so you are not stressed unnecessarily.

Once you take the diagnostic test, you know where you stand and then you can determine how many weeks of prep is necessary. I got a 690 on my diagnostic and after 8 weeks of prep my score was 770.

It is silly to get hung up on just the score. You must make sure you analyze the test thoroughly to identify you area of weak points. If possible, record them in the GMAT scoring sheet freely available on www.beatthegmat.com, www.testmagic.com or www.gmatclub.com. Also make sure you record whether wrong answers were due to silly errors or concept errors.

Step 2 - Books & Resources
Upon taking the diagnostic test and identifying the weak areas, buy the books which you need. I used the following books:

Quants
OG12
Manhattan Series
Kaplan
OG Quant Review

Verbal
OG12
Manhattan SC, CR Guide
Kaplan
OG Verbal Review

I really recommend MGMAT guides for all the sections. Its effectiveness in the SC section is well known but I found that for the Quant section too it is of immense help. It really drives in the concepts in a simple, GMAT focused way. In order to do well in Quants it is a must that you are fundamental concepts are rock solid before you start practicing like crazy. See my more detailed post here.

OG12 is of course great for practice. So is Kaplan. OG Quant guide is very simple and not worth wasting money on. OG Verbal guide in contrast has good questions to practice with.

Besides books, there are several online resources:

Beat The GMAT Questions
Test Magic Questions

However, I did not use the online resources except the occasional snippet of information.

Step 3 - Study Schedule
After buying the books and identifying the resources, set up a schedule for yourself.

Oh, meanwhile, please do set a test date for motivation. Without a test date you are doomed. Period.

The most popular strategy seems to be to spend 2 weeks on a weak section, 1 week on strong section etc. I beg to differ. I believe the better strategy is:

0. Start cycle
1. Pick up a section (not completed in this cycle)
2. Run through the concepts
3. Practice problems (partial set if you want to)
4. Identify weak areas
5. Go to step 1 with another section (if all sections not completed else go to Step 6)
6. Take a test and analyze
7. Go to step 0.

Yes, there are several gaping holes in the "algorithm" but you get the idea. My first cycle lasteed about 30 days (6 days for each section). 2nd cycle lasted 15 days, 3rd - 9 days and last - 5 days. All approximations. This way you can go on identifying weak areas and strong areas and keep allocating time and resources accordingly. It makes for a more targeted and efficient preparation.

The length of each cycle can expand and contract based on the need to catch up on concepts etc.

Go through the MGMAT SC book at least 2 times and make sure you do the advanced section - It seems tough at first but you warm up to it.

Step 4 - Take the test
And finally take the test. Make sure you rest well before the test. I don't know if it is ok to not practice one day before the exam or not but make sure you rest well. See my debrief for better understanding,

I know this is not a lot of advice; However, there is tons of good advice out there on usual things and I want to contribute in a way which will add to everything else.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-7634625060705921912011-08-11T18:12:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:31:27.672-07:00Applications started
So I have been silent for some time now. The last one week has been all about resume writing, frantic research to finalize a 4th school and for the last 2 days, research on the 1st school for which I will write essays.

My schedule is:
10 Days for each school - 2 days for research and 8 days for essay writing

Once I am finished, I will have about 5-6 days for each school to review, revise and submit the final applications.

I am really getting the jitters now - more than for GMAT. For some reason, essay writing has always given me the jitters even though some people say that I have a natural flair for writing. What is also making me anxious is that I am finally applying to my dream schools and this is my only chance - I am not the types who believe in second tries. Once done, once rejected, move on.

I have been dreaming about an MBA from a top school for almost 7-8 years now. I did not even write CAT for IIMs (while all my friends did and got in) because I knew that I wanted this path.

Time is flying really fast. Wish me best of luck.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-6896039041229823182011-08-04T08:28:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:27:55.844-07:00"Debrief" - 770 (Q51, V44)
Always found the term funny used in this context.

This post is to simply to recount my experience this morning with the GMAT.

I had a an early morning appointment at 8:30 AM. The test center was far so I left @ 7:00 AM to reach at 8:00 AM. Unfortunately, I had a restlessness night and did not sleep too well - don't know why. The effects were going to manifest themselves later. The center was closed even at 8 AM and almost all the test takers were already present. The proctors arrived soon enough and let each one of us in one after another with the usual routine.

I settled down at my desk and went through all the tutorials, selected my schools etc. Then came the AWA Argument prompt. The prompt was easy and I was able to comfortably finish it. The keyboard, however, was not up to the mark and slowed my typing down; No worries though. Next was the issue prompt. It seemed easy enough and I started typing after noting down the possible reasons. When I completed my 2nd para it struck me that I had misinterpreted the prompt and was writing in a completely different direct. For e.g., if the prompt was "X is causing Y and Z", I misinterpreted it as "Y and Z are happening; Is it harmful or not?" when it really meant "X is causing Y and Z; Yes or No?" - Sheesh!. By the time I realized this, I had 17 minutes left on the clock - panic ensued. All my points were shot; I had to rework the first paragraph; Rework the 2nd paragraph and quickly write the rest. I managed to finish everything in time but it still felt short of a great essay. Of course, by itself the AWA doesn't mean much but what is important is its aftereffects.

The AWA left me in a frazzled state of mind. This coupled with a lack of sleep the previous night meant that I was not in the best of mental conditions. Its effects were evident as soon as I started my Quant section. The first question was a simple algebraic one but I took 5 minutes to complete it. Normally I would have done this in 0.5 minutes, not 5 minutes. I made one silly mistake after another. The second question was quite tough and I took another 5 minutes on it. I was now really panicking. The two questions really shook me up and I concentrated much harder on the next questions. However my game picked up only after the 15th question or so. I think I pretty much answered every question correct after that. Towards the end the questions were easy and I really wondered whether I had messed up resulting in easy questions. In the end, ironically enough, I finished my Quant section with 17 minutes left. The irony was killing.

I was still shaken and believed that I had messed it up. I knew that this will affect my Verbal section adversely so decided to calm myself down in the extra time. I told myself that it is not the end of the world and even I did screw up the Quant section I must make it up in the Verbal section; I simply could not afford to take the test another time or live with a low score. I calmed myself took the break and came back ready to attack the Verbal section. I started off quite well until I was hit with the first RC. It was a short and tough RC. Managed to finish it and move on. Overall I did well and finished just in time.

It was time for the experimental section. I was curious to see what it would be like. The questions were refreshing and section quite interesting overall. The takers of the new format will have a good time ;). There were 12 questions to be answered in 30 minutes. I did 6 of them seriously and then started giving up. I was anxious to see my scores. I guessed the rest and moved on. Quickly chose to report my score and just get it over with. Was overjoyed and surprised at the score !

Even though I got a high score, I was shaken by how much effect the lack of sleep had on my state of mind and performance. It could have really messed up my score. I think what saved me was the huge amount of practice I had put in and the fact that I am used to taking tests with little sleep. In my undergraduate days, I had taken tests with no sleep the night before !

Key lessons:

1. Getting good sleep the night before is critical. Do what you need to but get good sleep.

2. Ready the AWA prompts carefully.

3. Practice a lot. Even if you have become good at answering well, practice. It will do you a world of good during the test when faced with stressful situations. The practice will kick in and take over. You will be on autopilot the rest of the way.

4. Even when faced with tough questions, move on with determination. GMAT will reward you for this.

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-17949836959174556652011-08-04T03:24:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:28:05.226-07:00770 (Q51, V44) - Woohoo !
So finally I took the GMAT test and managed to score:

770 (Q51, V44)

And man was I excited. Though to start with I was expecting a score like this, I was not so sure when the "Analysis of an Issue" part in AWA left me shaky [more about this later] which then spilled over into my quant section. I took 10 minutes for my first 2 questions! - My God! 10 Minutes ! - and they were easy questions. I just kept making one silly mistake after another. As you can imagine I was completely shaken by this. The next few questions continued to be tough and a dread was all over me. Nonetheless I trudged on and really really focused on the last 20-25 questions and made sure I got them correct [Note: When you have practiced long enough and hard enough, the practice shows in such stress situations]. The irony of it all - I finished my Quant section with 17 minutes to spare - yes, 17 minutes. I wisely used the 17 minutes to calm myself down and tell myself that this was not the end of the world and I should not let the iffy performance in Quants get to me and ruin my Verbal section. After calming myself sufficiently, I took my break - drank water etc. and came back composed. RCs were quite tough; SC was a breeze and CR pretty good. Managed to finish the verbal with 1 minute to spare.

Then took the experimental section. Did 6 out of 12 seriously and then the anxiousness to see the score took over resulting in quick guessing of the rest of the questions. Saw the score and was overjoyed !

Quite a few lessons from the test. Of course, the lessons don't matter now since the score is sealed; Nonetheless, if they help you, I will be glad. More in a later post.

Just the apps left now; Just the essays; Just the recos; Just the resume; Just these and I am through. Sigh !

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-64679721555743478912011-07-31T07:32:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:28:39.417-07:00Veritas Test & GMAT Prep 2; A bit more about timing; 4 Days to go !
I took the Veritas free test yesterday:

30/07 Veritas 1; 700 (Q51, V38)

And a GMAT Prep test this morning:

31/07 GMAT Prep 2; 770 (Q50, V45)

Veritas Test

The Quant section was really easy. Straightforward questions. I was able to breeze through with 30 minutes left on the clock!

The verbal section was easy except for the RCs. My score was markedly low due to an abysmal performace in RC. The answers were too subtle as they are in the CR section of MGMAT.

GMAT Prep

Disappointed with my Quant performance and quite happy with the Verbal. However, I was happy that the test gave me a chance to identify my still weak area in Quants - Inequalities.

The whole point of these tests is to give you a chance to identify weak areas and work on them. I see no point in giving a Veritas or a Kaplan test if the Quant section is too easy to yield any worthwhile analysis or the Verbal section is way too obscure. It doesn't matter if you get high or low scores in these tests as long as the questions are a true indicator of the level of difficulty on the actual GMAT and help in analysis.

Therefore, I have decided not to give any more practice tests of Kaplan, Veritas, Master GMAT and PR. I think they are just a wastage of time (which is valuable now). I will run the next 2-3 days based on the analysis of the test this morning. Work on the weak areas in quants and brush up on concepts in the verbal section.

Maybe, just maybe, I will take another test of either GMATPrep or MGMAT. I have taken 4 tests already on the GMATPrep and it may have run out of new questions for me, but instead of using it as a score indicator, I will use it for further analysis.

Btw, when you buy MGMAT books, they give you access to some online resources, 6 practice tests and also a question bank specific to the book purchase. I attempted a couple of theses question banks today and they are really good.

Timing

It is just not good enough that you are able to complete all questions in the quant section in the practice tests in time. You have to be so good that you are able to finish them with at least 5-10 minutes to spare. Why? You ask. Well, because during the practice tests each question is not do or die. Even if you are faced with a hard question, you attempt it reasonably well and then move on if not cracked; Or with medium level questions, you move on even if you are just 80% sure. However on the actual GMAT there is no way you will be able to move on at just 80%; You will tend to double check and triple check so you are 110% sure. This means you will take at least 10% extra time on each question. This roughly works out to 7.5 minutes (10% of 75 minutes) extra needed. Therefore, in the practice tests you must be able to finish 5-10 minutes to spare. This can only come with a lot of practice.

I attempted all the questions on the OG twice. The first time around the accuracy rate was 70-90% depending on the section and I used to take 1.5 - 3.0 minutes (Avg. 2.0 min) on each question. The second time around the accuracy improved to 80 - 95% but more importantly the range of my times were 0.5 - 2.5 minutes (Avg. 0.75 min) !

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-15534012512956647122011-07-29T22:34:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:28:46.756-07:00Why not Europe?
I am on a roll today eh?

Well, given my background and current business (which involves a lot of Europe), I am asked often - Why not European schools?

In the beginning of this process, I was heavily inclined towards LBS and Insead. LBS because it is in a big-big city and a great school and in Europe. INSEAD, because I hear the alumni network is amazing and the short experience surprisingly satisfactory. I dropped both of them from my R1 selection. Why?

First some background
I am an entrepreneur at heart. Come what may, I know that one day I will start my own company and rock the world. Also, I am a techie at heart. Although I have been in the "Agri" business for 4 years now, at every given opportunity I have dabbled in tech.

The one big drawback of European B Schools is that they are just B Schools - stand alone B Schools. This means that you have no opportunities to interact with students of other schools and no chance to attend classes from other schools. The US univs kill in these aspects. In most of the univs, you have a chance to interact with students from Medicine, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Music, and even Archeology! You are also given the freedom to attend classes in any of these schools and more if you like. This allows for immense opportunities in cross collaboration and cross thinking. I find this just amazing. This kind of setting is ideal for an entrep.!

The above lends itself naturally to the second point that if you want to do so much while in business schools you need 2 years (1 yr 8 months to be precise). You cannot possibly think of achieving so much in a short 1 year or 10 months (INSEAD)!

Therefore, not Europe.

Europe is ideal if you are in a set career path and want to return to the same after B School. In this case, just go for INSEAD with eyes closed !

Also, Europe is ideal if you are traveloholic ! I dream of a Utopia in which you could study in US and work in Europe.

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-79789208375581123802011-07-29T22:22:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:28:58.343-07:00School Selection - Updated
I have decided to apply to 4 schools in the 1st round:

1) Harvard
Pros: Strong GM program; Harvard !; Best minds
Cons: Undue reliance on case method; An aura of arrogance surrounding the school and alumni; Alumni fragmented.

2) Stanford (Dream School !)
Pros: Strong GM program; West coast; Best minds; Silicon valley; Small class; Intimate environment; Strong alumni network willing to help
Cons: Young class (I am 28 now)

3) Wharton
Pros: Reliant on Quants; Big City School; Innovative mindset; Stress on team work; More international student body.
Cons: Large class size; Inclination towards finance.

4) Kellogg/ Booth / MIT / Haas
Kellogg
Pros: Stress on teamwork; Strong alumni network willing to help; Stress on GM and Marketing; Like their approach; Big City school combined with small city environ (evanston);
Cons: Chicago (Brr...); Low in rankins sometime

Booth
Pros: Good ranks; Strong in quants; Entrepreneurship focused
Cons: Why is it never in the news?!; A comment from someone: "Booth alums seem, well... too ordinary"; Chicago (Brrr....)

Haas
Pros: West coast; Entrep. focused; Innovative mindset
Cons: Rankings?

MIT
Pros: Stress on teamwork; Close to Harvard Kennedy School
Cons: Poor cousin of Harvard?

So for the 4th school I am still confused. I am inclined heavily towards Kellogg but it will take more research and some help from Sanket to decide finally.

What is with the Chicago (Brr...)?. Well, if you have read my first posts, I did my masters in UMich, Ann Arbor and it was a damn cold place. People say it doesn't matter but it does. The problem of cold was aggravated by the fact that Engineers were isolated in the North campus which has no life and is full of nerds unlike Central campus which is also the downtown and is happening. It kills you, believe me.

Of course, Chicago or Boston or Philly should not be so bad as they are big cities with a lot happening. Although, Evanston a bit away from Chicago is eerily similar to Ann Arbor, North Campus a little away from central campus. Am I being silly? I believe not.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-92054535593011743112011-07-29T22:08:00.001-07:002011-09-07T01:29:25.651-07:00Kaplan / MGMAT Practice Tests; 5 Days to go !
So, I have just 5 days to go before I take the GMAT on 4th of August. Although, I am fairly confident about a good score, my strategy for the next 5 days has gone off track.

MGMAT:
I had planned to take MGMAT practice tests a second time around along with GMAT Prep giving me a total of 7 tests to work on. I took a MGMAT test (1st retake) on 28/07 and the score was:

28/07 MGMAT 7; 770 (Q50, V45)

Now, at first glance it seems like a great score and something I should be elated thats not the case because of two reasons:

1) The test was too easy. I had seen most of the questions on earlier tests and in the verbal section, I was answering questions without even reading all the options! This means, of course, that the questions pool in MGMAT, although of very high quality, is very low in number. This also confirms my analysis of my 6th MGMAT test and its seeming inability to throw harder questions at me.

2) I got a Q50 inspite of getting questions already seen earlier plus I ran out of time again.

Key Takeaways:
1. Make sure you save atleast one MGMAT test for the last along with GMAT Prep test. A MGMAT test is as valuable a resource as the prep test.

Kaplan:

The surprise on the MGMAT retake (no new questions) threw me off track: I didn't know which tests to give to assess my weak points and/or keep me in shape.

I had the following tests at my disposal:
PR Free Test
Master GMAT Free Test
Veritas Free Test
Kaplan Tests - 6

I had consistently read on all forums that Kaplan tests are out of sync with the actual GMAT and scores are very low. I figured that the tests must be hard and therefore will give me more room to improve. With this assumption, I took the test this morning and another surprise was in store - Kaplan was way too easy ! I finished both sections with 40 minutes to spare! And my scores:

30/07 Kaplan 1; 700 (Q47, V40)

In the Quant section, I got 36 on 37 correct and still got a Q47 ! The questions were so easy that missing even 1 questions pulled down my score.

I always read that the Kaplan tests are poor score predictors but nowhere did I read that the questions are easy. Correct me if I am missing something !

Now, this means that I can't use my Kaplan tests for effective practice ! Any suggestions ?

I used this to estimate my score (780) based on the Kaplan scores:
http://gmatclub.com/gmat-score-calculator/

5 Days to Go:

So, I have 5 days to go and my plan was:

6 Practice Tests
AWA practice
Concept revisions with focus on weak areas.

I guess I will just go on with Kaplan and get whatever practice I can; Also hope that PR, Veritas etc. have decent tests; Perhaps, take one MGMAT test after all.
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-53668435906689663462011-07-29T22:08:00.000-07:002011-09-07T01:29:38.400-07:00MGMAT 6 and some weirdness
I am little late in putting this up.

Took my last MGMAT test on 27/07 and scores were:
27/07 MGMAT 6; 740 (Q51, V40)

Even though this is not a score I was expecting I am really happy with the effort. In the Quant section, I got just 2 questions wrong out of 37 ! In the verbal section, I was a bit perplexed by the low score because of this:

If you notice, I got a lot of of them correct; Especially in the last part most are correct. What is surprising is that all questions thrown at me were in the 600-700 category. This is weird because going by past MGMAT analysis, if I am getting several correct in a row, it should throw 700-800 questions at me to give me a chance to up the percentile. However, you will notice that inspite of getting 8 correct (31-37) in row it still keeps giving me 600-700 questions.

One can only conclude from the above that MGMAT has run out of tough questions by now and therefore is simply unable to give me tough questions ! Something they should look into.

I sort of noticed this in the 5th test also but ignored it. This time around the notion is reinforce. What say you guys?
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-66929241712083444272011-07-23T05:13:00.000-07:002011-07-23T22:21:55.306-07:00Some tips on test taking
Some points on test-taking strategies:

1. Scratch-pad
I have been dividing the "scratch-pad" into two equally spaced columns. When using it without columns, I was wasting a lot of space. In the method with two columns, I am able to use space efficiently and have been able to contain all my Quant workings within 5 sides. I consider this important since exceeding 6 sides would mean requesting for another pad and this would waste valuable time.

[I read about this on someone's blog and I forget whose, so if anyone knows, please put it in the comment box so I can give credit where due.]

2. Verbal Grid
For verbal I have been drawing a Nx5 grid to strike off wrong answers.

A B C D E
X X X O X
X X O X X

This really helps in eliminating confusing choices, and focuses the efforts. I have found this to be especially useful in the SC section.

3. The 1.5/3 minute rule
I don't believe in the 2 minute rule. If it was upto me, I would follow a 1.5 (1 min 30 sec) rule for the first 2/3 of the questions. This does not mean, of course, that you unnecessarily hurry up but just that you keep yourself "tight" during the first 2/3 in terms of time. In my case, I struggle during the first few questions so I waste more time than intended but I pick up in questions down the line.

I advise this because I think it is vital to perform well in the last 10 questions. They make all the difference. Even if you have correctly answered 34 questions correctly out of 37 in Quant but incorrectly answer last 3 questions due to lack of time, you are done in. Also, in the actual GMAT, the level of questions get tougher and tougher so better to reserve 2.5-3 minutes per question for the last few questions. This will also help in getting the pressure off and fighting fatigue.

I do have a theory about the best prep strategy but I will put that down once my score has justified the validity of my lectures!
Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-59033806087320408752011-07-23T04:58:00.000-07:002011-07-25T03:44:00.603-07:00Another Test - More Discoveries

Gave another test this morning and a result of overconfidence was this:

23/07 MGMAT 5; 730 (Q49, V41) !

The reason for the poor score on Quant was disregard for time in the first 25 questions. My first 25 questions, were all correct [99% till then] but after the 25th when I realized I was running out of time, I hurried on some questions and got some easy ones wrong and the last one went unattempted ! However I am glad that I was not frazzled by any question and was able to handle them pretty easily. I just have to manage my time a bit more and follow my own advise (see next post).

Now, on the verbal section it was a completely different story. I got 9 out of 14 CR questions wrong ! This is even more ironic considering that I have been studying for CR from MGMAT the past 3 days. I read in some forums that MGMAT CR questions are especially tough and the answers differ in a very subtle manner. I really feel that this is the case and the CR questions on MGMAT are not similar to the ones appearing on the actual gmat at all. Further proof of this is gleaned from my 93% strike rate on CR questions in the GMAT verbal section. So I am not especially worried. However, I put this up so future test takers can keep this in mind during their preps. [See screenshot of my verbal below; My percentile was down to 1 by the 4th questions!!]

Thankfully my SC has improved drastically; I answered only one SC question wrong. So my big weakness during the start of the prep has become my strong point; go figure!

Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092410800619198410.post-27369404134126874142011-07-16T22:15:00.000-07:002011-07-16T22:15:20.851-07:00New MGMAT Scores1I had taken another MGMAT test on 12/07 but didn't get the time to put up the scores. I took a test today too and therefore here are the two results:

12/07 MGMAT 3: 720 (Q49, V39)
16/07 MGMAT 4: 770 (Q51, V44)

You may notice that within a gap of 4 days the score has jumped by 50 points. Well, the jump vindicates my theory about knowing your quant fundamentals inside out and going into the verbal section with a positive frame of mind. Since taking the test on 12/07, I bought 3 MGMAT guides - Geometry, Equations and Word translations. I managed to finish all 3 guides by last night. The guides really helped in driving a lot of the fundamentals and corollaries.

I took the test with a very confident mindset. The quant section was tough as usual and I did struggle in a couple of questions but I largely came away satisfied. Later analysis showed that I got almost 8 questions wrong but it still left me with a Q51. However the larger effect of coming away satisfied with the quant section was that I was relaxed and positive about the verbal section. This resulted in the highest score I have receive till now in Verbal - V44. Analysis showed that I got many questions wrong (equally spread in the 3 subsections) but the happy news is that I still have more than 2 weeks to my test, so there is plenty of time to improve my verbal even further.

I have reset my target score to 780-790; Maybe even 800 ;). Let's see.Abhishek Gutgutiahttps://email@example.com


text:
Sign up for Yardbarker's daily Top 10 newsletter, the Morning Bark! Customize to get news on your favorite sports and teams.
UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall Live Results
Card Weight Class Red Corner Blue Corner Round Time Method Notes Facebook Welterweight Sean Pierson def. Jake Hecht 3 5:00 Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) Facebook Lightweight Henry Martinez def. Bernardo Magalhaes 3 5:00 Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) Fuel TV Middleweight Buddy Roberts def. Caio Magalhaes 3 5:00 Decision (unanimous...
UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall recaps
PRELIMINARY BOUTS Henry Martinez vs Bernardo Magalhaes Round 1 Magalhaes is stuff on an early takedown attempt. Martinez comes forward but thus far, has been met by good counter striking of Magalhaes. Martinez stalks his opponent around the cage. After several minutes of solid striking exchanges, Magalhaes gets a takedown that almost leads to a leg lock submission. Martinez...
Via Fox Sports
June 08, 2012 | Discuss
UFC (ON FX) JOHNSON vs McCALL Weigh In Live Video
Official fight card[106][107] Card Weight Class Red Corner Blue Corner Round Time Method Notes Facebook Welterweight Jake Hecht vs Sean Pierson Facebook Lightweight Henry Martinez vs Bernardo Magalhaes Fuel TV Light Heavyweight Buddy Roberts vs Caio Magalhaes Fuel TV Lightweight Tim Means vs Justin Salas Fuel TV Bantamweight Dustin Pague vs Jared Papazian Fuel [...]
Lopez Out, Martinez Steps in to Face Riddle at UFC 143
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- While eating dinner last Thursday night, Henry Martinez received the phone call of a lifetime.
Boxing News
Delivered to your inbox
You'll also receive Yardbarker's daily Top 10, featuring the best sports stories from around the web. Customize your newsletter to get articles on your favorite sports and teams. And the best part? It's free!
Follow us on Twitter

subset: commoncrawl


text:
GalleryBarbara Mikulski Back to Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Mikulski is ranked on:
- #56of 56
All U.S. Senators from MarylandAug 26 2014
List of Maryland senators, with plenty of pictures and photos. List includes current MD senators and all ...more
- #47of 100
Rank the Current U.S. Senatorsvote on it! Aug 22 2014


text:
n this aerial photograph, a supply vessel moves near an oil rig damaged by an explosion and fire Friday in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La. Four people were transported to a hospital with critical burns and two were missing.
The Big Day 2014
Flat Stanley Contest
Win an iPad mini from Tri-Town Foods
Have Paula Broadwell and company damaged U.S. national security efforts?
No current items found


text:
Best Western Eureka Inn
No availability found through our partners. Please contact the business directly or check some of our recommended alternatives.
Travel Blogs from Eureka Springs
Pea Ridge NMP
... 1 National Battlefield Site (correction) 1 Parkway 1 National River 1 National Military Park *Apparently the official type of designation of the battlefields is dependent upon what kind of mood Congress is in at the time of the naming. According to both a park ranger and Wikipedia there really is no rhyme or reason to why some are "Battlefields," some are "Battlefield Parks," and some are "Military Parks." Brices Cross Roads is apparently the only one that is a "Battlefield ...
Still in Eureka Springs
... in the house. The outside walls she covered in stones and built rock ornaments outside with stones, rocks, crystals. There is also a huge perennial garden outside too.
Supper was a Chicken Curry wrap with a side salad. Nothing to write home about but I devoured the salad. My body must be telling me something.
Leaving tomorrow but have not decided where (too many choices)
Road Trip
... time I have scraped my footpeg is going up Pikes Peak in Colorado. I had so my fun...55 mph road with 15 & 25 mph curves. The yellow signs are recommended speeds aren't they? when I am running the curves all my focus is on the curve - where I am on the road, where the road is going, am I going fast enough and then when I am through it and setting up for the next currve I check on how I did it, could I have done better. I ...
No Churches today :-)
... I am sure you will be pleased.
First thing I did after unloading the bike is plan the next two days and then take a well deserved nap! The outcome was being refreshed and ready to explore the town. Downtown is a tourist trap like any other town in the US selling exactly the same merchandise. I have uploaded the pics from my walkabout ...
Headed to Santo Domingo
It is 6:30 am (5:30 am Arkansas time) and we are at the gate preparing for board the last leg of our flight. We are excited and ready for what God has planned for us. We had about 3 hours of sleep so we are pretty tired this morning. However, it is amazing what a little food can do to perk a group up. Our flight is about 4 hours ...


text:
No Expedia Cancellation Fee
Book, change, or cancel almost any hotel without paying an Expedia fee.
3.3 out of 5 (20 reviews)
Book, change, or cancel almost any hotel without paying an Expedia fee.
Save $25 on your first mobile app hotel booking
Send a download link and coupon code to your mobile device.
By providing your number, you agree to receive a one-time automated text message with a link to get the app. Our app offers promotions and booking services. No purchase necessary. Standard text message rates may apply. Terms and Conditions
Part of the Kansas City metro area, Independence is Missouri's fourth-largest city with 115,000 residents. Harry S. Truman, the 33rd U.S. president, grew up here. Visitors can tour both the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence.


text:
Round bread braid.Double strand,twisted.
The right hand side insert shows the braided dough and the main picture represents the baked bread.
From: "The Art of Braiding Bread"
Anything too geeky to post about elsewhere.
The right hand side insert shows the braided dough and the main picture represents the baked bread.
From: "The Art of Braiding Bread"
Hey all
so i set out to start my very own sourdough culture 3 days ago and i have a question. now prior to doing this i did a lot of research and guides on how to do this. but now im concerned that its a dead starter. This is why.
i took the advice of a guide i found here on fresh loaf and wanted to follow it to a Que so i did...but after my first 24 hours my starter was already bubbling. i decided to wait it out and feed it every 24 hours for the first 5 or so days as per the guide.
The right hand side insert shows the braided dough and the main picture represents the baked bread.
From "The Art of Baking Bread"
I have had my starter for approximately 1 year. Started it in Maryland and recently (last week) brought it to S. Cal. to care for it on my extended trip. Shipped it with my baggage. Fed it my normal 50-50 bread/wheat mixture, of which I brought a small amount with me. Bought KA bread and KA whole wheat in S. Cal. for additional flour supply. I have been feeding about three times/day, although one day I fed only once.
The preferment for this loaf contained 100% of the water and yeast, as well as 1/4 of the total salt. The malt extracts contained in the malted milk powder supplied the necessary diastatic action to sustain the yeast during the long preferment stage. Here is the formula:
70% Whole Wheat Flour
70% Water
5% Malted Milk Powder
2% Vital Wheat Gluten
0.6% Instant Dry Yeast
0.5% Salt
0.18% Soy Lecithin Granules
The photo below shows the sponge after 8 hours of fermentation.
I admit I'm fairly new to bread-making, but I've having a problem with my baguettes, in that after scoring them, they go in the oven, and when they come out the score marks have pretty much gone. They never lift upwards to form nice ears, they just get "filled in" by dough rising from inside the slash. I've tried various angles and depths, and never gotten it to work. Does anyone have some tips? I've watched videos and read articles about the subject, but can never seem to get a good result. I also have the problem to a lesser degree on other non-baguette shaped breads.


text:
Average customer review: Average customer review 9 out of 10 (381 reviews) Add your review
Only: £49.99
Product Description
Stronger, quieter and more powerful than ever before, the Lovehoney Deluxe Magic Wand is the ultimate Magic Wand massager. Get endless power at the slide of a finger, from a gentle flutter to intense climactic heights.
The Lovehoney Deluxe Magic Wand is a new and improved UK version of the Hitachi Magic Wand Vibrator. Whether you seek soothing strokes, deep-tissue massage or a totally satisfying climax, this wand massager delivers the powerful pleasure you need. Roll your finger across the simple scroll wheel to control the vibration intensity with ease.
A popular couples' toy, this massager vibrator's wide head and flexible neck offers incredible sensations wherever you choose to use it - focus on the clitoris, anus or perineum to add variety to your pleasure.
Apply a good squeeze of water-based lube to the head of your wand vibe for enhanced sensations.
Key Features:
- Lovehoney Deluxe Magic Wand is a new and improved UK version of the Hitachi Magic Wand Vibrator
- Incredibly powerful vibration speeds to explore during intimate stimulation and sensual massages
- Easy to use scroll wheel operates wide range of vibrations
- Perfect for solo use or shared intimate play and massage
- UK plug with lengthy 1.8 metre cable for versatile use
- CE certified; voltage: ~250V
How it measures up
- Length: 13 inches
- Circumference: 7.5 inches
- Base diameter: 2.4
How it feels
- Material: Plastic
- Flexibility: Flexible
- Waterproof: No
- Contains latex: No
- Contains phthalates: No
Power and speed
- Controller Type: Built in - scroll wheel
- Vibration speed: Multiple speeds
- Power Type: Mains powered
Product Videos
Buyer's Guide: Powerful Vibrators Explained
To watch videos, you need Version 9 or greater of the Flash Player. Click here to see which Flash Version you have. If you have Version 8 or less, get the latest Flash Player here".
Annabelle Knight runs through a few of our best selling powerful vibrators and explains what you should look out for when choosing a powerful vibrator for you. Read more: Top 10 Most Powerful Vibrators
Buyer's Guide: Magic Wands Compared
To watch videos, you need Version 9 or greater of the Flash Player. Click here to see which Flash Version you have. If you have Version 8 or less, get the latest Flash Player here".
The Lovehoney Magic Wand Deluxe is one of the most popular, and powerful vibrators available. Annabelle Knight explains the differences between this and the Hitachi, helping you to make the right choice when choosing a mains powered sex toy. Read more: Which is the Best Magic Wand Vibrator?
Vanessa's Review of the Lovehoney Deluxe Magic Wand
To watch videos, you need Version 9 or greater of the Flash Player. Click here to see which Flash Version you have. If you have Version 8 or less, get the latest Flash Player here".
Vanessa Pelz-Sharpe independently reviewed the Lovehoney Magic Wand for The Flick and loved it a lot!
Lovehoney Mains Powered Deluxe Magic Wand Vibrator
To watch videos, you need Version 9 or greater of the Flash Player. Click here to see which Flash Version you have. If you have Version 8 or less, get the latest Flash Player here".
Lovehoney TV Annabelle explains the Lovehoney Magic Wand Deluxe, one of the most popular (and most powerful) magic wand vibrators available.
Buyer's Guides
Buy the best magic wand vibrator for you and learn how to get the most out of your new vibe with our sex toy guides.
Sex Toys Guides > Vibrators Guides > Which is the Best Magic Wand Vibrator?
Sex Toys Guides > Vibrators Guides > How to Choose Magic Wand Attachments
Sex Toys Guides > Vibrators Guides > Beginner's Guide to Vibrators
Sex Toys Guides > Vibrators Guides > How to Choose the Perfect Vibrator
Sex Toys Guides > How to Clean Sex Toys
Sex Toys Guides > How to Store Sex Toys
Explore more from our collections…
Customer Reviews
Lovehoney Mains Powered Deluxe Magic Wand Vibrator 9 out of 10 (381 reviews) Write your own reviewOrder by:
- Newest
- Most helpful
- Rating
Reviewed: 29 August 2014 by rag, a Straight Going Steady Male
I'm writing this on behalf of my girlfriend and what I saw her experience as she's a bit shy.
My girlfriend seemed to be losing a bit of sex drive lately, so I went on LH website to look for something to get it going again. I'd sort of heard of magic wands but wasn't sure what they do, apart from the obvious,. I started reading the reviews and was getting turned on just by them! I was working away and decided to order one as a surprise for my girlfriend so it would be there when I got home. I could not wait to get home!
I opened package and my girlfriend looked a bit puzzled. I explained what it was and she looked a bit worried. She has a few toys, ranging from bullet to rabbit, and enjoys them but was not sure what to do with this. So I had to help, of course.
It is a well made product and it's very easy to control with the rotating wheel. I started slowly and she was moaning instantly. Bearing in mind she has never been very vocal with any toy, I started to build up the speed and it got a bit much as it is very powerful!
She took over, turned it down and reached orgasm very quickly, nearly breaking my arm forcing her head back into settee.
We started having sex still using wand on each other. It was amazing. She climaxed again very quickl,y throwing herself around.
We did the same again and after her third massive orgasm inside 10 minutes she could barely move. After 5 minutes rest we decided to go upstairs but her legs were quivering so much she could not make it. So I plugged it in again at bottom of stairs and she was left in a quivering mess without getting anywhere close to full power or the bedroom.
It still hasn't made it to the bedroom but we both cannot wait for her to get home tonight to see what sort of state she ends up in!
She has squirted a little before during oral but I'm expecting this to be the toy to make her gush. After trying this and seeing the results, I can't understand why everybody who has heard of them doesn't have one! If you need a new toy, this is the one, so stop messing about and buy it. You won't be disappointed, promise.
- Pros
- Everything! And the state it left my girlfriend in.
- Cons
- Surely a trick question?
- Bottom line
- After only one night I can see it's orgasms on tap. Both very happy!
- Was this review helpful to you? Yes
Oh my god
Reviewed: 26 August 2014 by Lydia 1992, a Bisexual Engaged Female
My partner surprised me with this last Christmas as a Naughty Santa present.
When I first saw it I just thought seriously? This big clumpy thing is going to help me orgasm? But, oh my god, it is amazing. It's extremely powerful and at times completely overwhelming.
The only time I've orgasmed to a point I'm so tired, it's worn my body out and I can't move, is using this.
It gets quite warm quickly, but I think that adds to part of your experience, though I'd prefer it cool.
- Pros
- Everything!
- Cons
- How warm it gets.
- Bottom line
- A brilliant product for the more seasoned toy user.
- Was this review helpful to you? Yes
Fight the power
Reviewed: 22 August 2014 by el_topo, a Straight Married Male
I wanted something powerful, and boy was I not disappointed. We've drawer full of vibrators and toys, but wanted to up the ante. After seeing the Hitachi put to use in various settings, I started to search them out. Unfortunately, they don't appear to be available in the UK, at least not with safe electricals. Then I stumbled across this little beast, and the rest is knee-trembling history...
Unbeknownst to me, my wife had a little solo play with it whilst I was at work. The spring in her step when I returned should have alerted me to the fact that something was up. We didn't try it together until a few days later... We set aside some time, downed some fizzy to get over any wariness and plunged in. We started by using it as a 'massager' (what a great euphemism!). We didn't get to full power, but really didn't need to. The cable got in the way a bit, but we worked our way around that. We ended up on our knees with the Magic Wand between my wife's legs. I left her in control of speeds and we were soon trembling in tune with the motor!
I recently had a little play myself. My advice would be to apply plenty of lube to wherever you're using it, rather than to the Wand itself. It's got a huge amount of power, so you need to work yourself up slowly. The spin wheel is great for getting the speed that you're after and leaves you in total control. It's got a good heft to it and it feels like you have a lot of power in your hands. God, I love it!
Because we've got kids down the hall and we're a bit self-conscious, it really doesn't get used as much as it should. We haven't tried the extra attachment that came with it, but it looks very promising. It lives in the weekend bag and comes away with us for naughty breaks. It's a special toy for very special occasions.
I would thoroughly recommend it - enjoy!
- Pros
- Good powerful throb with easy to control settings.
- Cons
- A little self-conscious about the noise (although it's really not that noisy!).
- Bottom line
- An absolute monster of a toy. In a VERY good way.
- 1 person found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes
Oh my god
Reviewed: 17 August 2014 by whiplashxxx
I had wanted a wand for a while, but was sceptical about paying the price for one.
Then upon getting divorced and not liking the idea of one night stands, I had to find myself a "playtoy". And ohhhh! My god! Am I pleased I chose this wand! Wow wow wow!
I cannot get enough of it. I'm now dating a guy who used my "power tool" on me at full speed. The pleasurable, actual screams that came from me where 1000 decibels, haha.
I would so recommend having a wand aka "power tool". Forget rabbits and other battery powered sex toys. Yes, they do the job, but not even close to how this wand makes you feel.
- Pros
- The powerful vibrations are like nothing I'd ever felt before.
- Cons
- It's fiddly to clean in the ridges, but can be done.
- Bottom line
- No other toy comes close to this wand!
- Was this review helpful to you? Yes
Order by:
Guaranteed O
Reviewed: 14 August 2014 by PenelopePussycat
I bought this vibrator a while ago and have only just got round to reviewing it.
The vibrations are very powerful, so much so that I can't tolerate direct contact on my clit when it's going full throttle. My G-spot needs quite a lot of stimulation so full speed works really well with the G-spot attachment.
This is the only toy that's ever given me an orgasm without clit stimulation. The machine itself is larger than you would think and it's not as quiet as some vibrators, but to be honest it works so well that none of that puts me off using it.
- Pros
- Powerful vibrations. Fabulous G-spot stimulation and fantastic orgasms.
- Cons
- Little bit loud. Mains cable not quite long enough.
- Bottom line
- Love it. Well worth the money.
- Was this review helpful to you? Yes
- Newest
- Most helpful
- Rating
1 to 5 of 381 | next
Return to main Lovehoney Mains Powered Deluxe Magic Wand Vibrator page


text:
Choose your preferred language. We speak English and 41 other languages.
Most often used by people in the United States
All languages
Added to your selected list(s)
Removed from your selected list(s)
Saved to list
Save to a list
Holiday Inn Express Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
Holiday Inn Express Hemel Hempstead
Stationers Place, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9RH – Show map
Get instant confirmation with FREE cancellation on most rooms!
6 Reasons to Choose Holiday Inn Express Hemel Hempstead
Low rates
No booking fees • Save money! Best price guarantee — enter dates to see these prices!
11 properties in Hemel Hempstead
Including hotels, apartments, villas and more.
248 verified reviews
We verify all reviews from guests who have stayed at Holiday Inn Express Hemel Hempstead. Find out more.
We speak your language
Holiday Inn Express Hemel Hempstead's staff speak: Polish, Italian, French, Spanish, English
Booking is safe
When you book with us your details are protected by a secure connection.
Golf Course (within 2 miles)
Food & Drink
Restaurant, Bar
WiFi is available in all areas and charges apply.
Free! Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not possible).
Vending Machine (drinks), Vending Machine (snacks), 24-Hour Front Desk, Baggage Storage, Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Business Center, Fax/Photocopying
Safe, Non-smoking Rooms, Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Heating, Air Conditioning
Languages spoken
Polish, Italian, French, Spanish, English
From 2:00 PM
Until 12:00 PM
My viewed hotels
Holiday Inn Hemel Hempstead M1, Jct. 8In an excellent location on the A414 road, close to the M1 highway (exit 8) and easily accessible from the M25 and M1 highways, this hotel has high-speed internet throughout.
Score from 187 reviews Very good - 8.5/10
Clarion Collection Hotel St AlbansRetaining many Edwardian features but totally redesigned for the modern era, this hotel offers a good combination of value and quality in the heart of St. Albans.
Score from 417 reviews Very good - 8.5/10
Boxmoor Lodge HotelDating back from the 17th-century and located a 5 minute walk from Hemel Hempstead Train Station, this family-run hotel offers free parking, free Wi-Fi and an award-winning restaurant.
Score from 209 reviews Very good - 8.4/10
Premier Inn Kings LangleyThis Premier Inn has free parking and family-friendly rooms, close to highways M25 and M1. Kings Langley Train Station is one mile away, which is less than 30 minutes from London Euston Train Station....
Score from 401 reviews Very good - 8.5/10
We've negotiated with thousands of hotels to get the very best deals. We call them Secret Deals and they only last for a limited time.
You can get these deals for free by subscribing to our newsletters. You can even choose your favorite destinations to receive personalized deals.
Get started now by entering your email address. We'll instantly send you a link to our Deal Finder!
Don't worry – your email address is safe with us. We'll never share your private information and you can unsubscribe at any time.


text:
A collection of news and information related to Lehigh University published by this site and its partners.
Top Lehigh University Articles
Displaying items 1-11
Liberty and Lehigh product McBride hits first career grand slam to help Rockies beat Royals
Lower Saucon economic group recommends landfill expansionStory | Aug 22, 2014A Lower Saucon Township economic development group sees garbage as commerce and made a recommendation to township council that it approve a zoning change to allow a township landfill to expand. The recommendation was made by the Lower Saucon Township...
Upcoming business events in the Lehigh ValleyStory | Aug 22, 2014MONDAYAUG. 25 GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting 10-11 a.m. at Springleaf Financial, 4680 Broadway, Allentown. Another grand opening will be held 5-7 p.m. at The Bayou, 702 Hawthorne Road, Bethlehem....
Police: Lehigh University student tried to grab cop's gunStory | Aug 21, 2014 | 6:41 PMA Lehigh University student trying to start a fight in a crowd struggled with police and tried to take an officer's gun early Thursday, Bethlehem police said. Jeremy Kaye, 21, of North Brunswick, N.J., was arrested and is free after posting $10,000 bail....
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks newest PPL Center tenant
Hires and promotions at Lehigh Valley businessesStory | Aug 21, 2014 | 10:27 AMJOHN ARRINGTON has been selected as the executive vice president and Nittany Region president of National Penn Bancshares Inc. He will serve on different operating committees and is responsible for executive management in Centre County, such as...
Michael E. Faccinetto: Public education beneficial for the common good
Final weeks to see Da Vinci's 'Space' exhibitStory | Aug 20, 2014 | 6:49 PMThere are two weeks left to check out rocks from the moon and Mars and to walk through a lunar base camp at the Da Vinci Science Center exhibit "Space: A Journey to Our Future." The exhibition, presented in collaboration with NASA, also features a...
Bethlehem's McBride back with the Rockies
U.S. has responsibility to people in needStory | Aug 20, 2014 | 2:55 PMI write in response to a Your View in Sunday's paper that attacks Social Security. Social Security was not "sold" as a forced savings program but as insurance to provide senior citizens with security and dignity in their old age. It protects seniors...
Mo'ne Davis makes Sports Illustrated cover


text:
By Jim Wallace - bio | emailJuly 18, 2008
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - A woman working at a produce store was slapped in the face and robbed Thursday.
The clerk at Jack Daniel's Garden Patch on Philema Road said two men told her to give them the money, then one of then slapped her.
She said they took $120 and left in a Chevrolet. The woman told police she'd seen the men before, but didn't know their names.
If you have any information, call Dougherty County Police at 229-430-6600.
P.O. Box 3130
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 446-1010
FCC Public File
(229) 446-4005
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
Evan Sanford
2008 Game-by-Game Stats
Summer 2008:
2008 Season (Redshirt Junior):
2007 Season (Redshirt Sophomore):
2006 Season (Redshirt Freshman):
2005 Season (Freshman):
High School: Named team's most valuable pitcher two straight years at Walsh Jesuit High ... tabbed team MVP of state championship squad as a senior ... twice named all-conference, including a first team accolade as a junior ... named to Akron Beacon Journal All-Area first team during junior season ... member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Born March 5, 1986 ... son of Jim and Lauren Sanford.
Academic Major: Finance.
Honors: BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team (2006), Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2005), Team Scholar-Athlete of the Quarter (Winter 2006, Spring 2006, Fall 2006), Topcat Scholar (2005-06-07), Bearcat Scholar (2005-06).
Sanford's Career Statistics
Women's Sports Basketball Cross Country Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field Volleyball
Inside Athletics Online Store Auctions Ticket Sales Recruits Facilities Camps Traditions Staff Directory Contact Us


text:
With all the different success stories other franchises have had in hiring former players to coach their team it's high time the Wolves consider doing likewise. When you hear the names Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, and Larry Bird uttered out of your friend's mouth for instance the first thing you think of is "great coach." Indeed, some of them have won multiple championships as coaches. But what people often forget is these great men, perhaps even legendary men, started off as players first. When Byron Scott first picked up a basketball at the tender age of 8 he most likely didn't think he had a shot at the NBA, much less being wildly successful. Then he made it and retired, and most likely didn't think he had a shot at being a wildly successful coach. Then he made two straight finals and coached the New Orleans Pelicans to their most successful season win total ever. That's a lot of feathers to have in anyone's cap, but the point is these former players-coaches are the perfect hybrid of basketball excellence you can't acquire never holding the rock in your hands in a pivotal game 7 with the shot clock running down and the steam of the arena dripping down your neck. Now, with big names like Jason Kidd and Derek Fisher getting hired in the Big Apple and finding success it's time the Wolves took a page out of the Big Apple playbook. To that end, I recommend the Wolves be even more innovative and hire a former Wolves player. These are the three most appropriate candidates.
Tom 'Googs' Gugliotta: You want to look up the definition of exceeding initial expectations, you then go forth and do so in your Webster and lo and behold there is a picture of the 'Googs' smiling at you behind his bangs. If anyone could get Love to stick around while simultaneously giving him advice on how to bang hard down low it's this guy.
Joe Smith: The consummate veteran. Smith played for thirteen different teams throughout his seemingly too short career and for good reason: the man was coveted by everyone. It stands to reason the same infectious persona would spill over into the realm of coaching like it did for Jason Kidd.
Oliver Miller: You want respect, you better walk tall and carry a big stick. No one understood that better than the larger than life Oliver Miller, who despite tipping the scales at a massive 375 pounds always saw life as an opportunity to such in his gut and strut. What's more, he was better than people thought, pouring in 5.3 WS and an 18 PER his second year in the league. Big Ollie would set the tone immediately with his girth, and if that didn't work and someone like JJ still got out of line, he served a year in prison for pistol whipping his girlfriend's brother so he's got the whole street 'cred' thing as well.
In conclusion, it's not always about intelligence and x's and o's. The great former player coaches proved that, hell, look at Jerry Sloan. The Wolves are sitting on a gold mine of former alumni that would look great in a pinstriped suit with a clipboard in hand prowling the sidelines. Instead of hiring himself, Flip should have thought to hire out of the Timberwolves fraternity/family tree.


text:
German. 93 members
At these pictures i can see different parts of the body. I can see a mouth, teeth, an ear, eyes..
On the first picture it is 25 to 8, on the second one it is 25 past 6 and at the third picture it is a quarter to
At one of these photographs i can see a dessert, which seems to be very delicious.
At these picture i can see: mushrooms, asparagus and a lettuce.
My favourite food are definitely straweberrys.


text:
Tag Archives: los angeles
Los Angeles Aug. 31!
Surprise Los Angeles! We're playing Aug. 31 at Los Globos! Tickets: http://ticketf.ly/1uywAK0
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2014, band, burger, hardcore, keith morris, live, los angeles, los globos, off!, punk, rock, wasted years
Live Amoeba in-store footage
Watch live footage from our record release in-store at Amoeba Hollywood back in April: http://bit.ly/1qTkObV
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2014, album, amoeba, band, digital, hardcore, hollywood, in-store, keith morris, live, los angeles, noisey, off!, punk, rock, us, usa, vice, wasted years
Last Call with Carson Daly May 1
Tune in to Last Call with Carson Daly on May 1st and watch a few songs from our LA Roxy show (1:35/12:35C)
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2014, band, carson, keith morris, LA, last call, live, los angeles, off!, punk, rock, roxy, wasted years
Amoeba Hollywood in-store April 8
Los Angeles, come celebrate the release of 'Wasted Years' on April 8 with a special Amoeba Hollywood in-store performance! http://bit.ly/1eG5oAx
Los Angeles Feb. 8!
Friday, February 8 at Fonda Theatre! Big Business added to the show! Get your tickets HERE! All ages!
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2013, 8, 8th, all ages, amoeba, bad antics, band, big business, dimitri coats, feb, february, flyer, fonda, fyf, goldenvoice, hardcore, hollywood, jack gregory, keith morris, kxlu, live, los angeles, mario rubalcaba, negative approach, off!, poster, punk, rock, steven mcdonald, tickets, tour, us, usa
LA party in August!
We're playing this year's Power of the Riff Festival in Los Angeles on August 11 at The Echoplex. More bands TBA! http://www.thepoweroftheriff.com/
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2012, august, band, dr. know, echoplex, hardcore, keith morris, LA, live, los angeles, off!, power of the riff, punk, repulsion, rock, sunn O))), west


text:
This is when you know you've made the right decision on your florist….
Top image: gorgeous arrangement made by Seaport Flowers for me
Bottom image: my favorite ring pillow design
It's like they know me or something…hehe.
[images by Brooklyn Bride]
Jenny Yoo fashion show
Mention Brooklyn Bride when you RSVP and get free admission!
Minted Save the Date giveaway!
I think everyone by now is pretty familiar with Minted….if not, where have you been?? They're a great site where you can get pretty much anything paper-related for your wedding by some of the nations top designers…all from the comfort of your home! They've been kind enough to let me give away set of 25 save the date cards to 2 lucky ladies (or gents)! Just leave a comment below with your favorite save the date from their site….winners announced on Friday!
[images from Minted]
Number mugs
I thought these numbered mugs by Christopher Jagmin would be cute as table numbers filled with posies for a small informal wedding….they only go up to the number 8, so you might have to double up if you have more than 8 tables.
[image from Unicahome]
Bridal Emergency Kit winners!
I have never read so many amazingly different cleaning tips! I'm definitely going to try some of these next time Chad spills wine on the sofa. If you're listed below, congrats! Please email me [brooklynbride {at} gmail {dot} com] your name and address so that you can receive your bridal emergency kit from Hallak Cleaners.
#7 – Lori
#44 – Moeblis
#56 – (bride.)
#71 – Erin
Thanks to everyone who entered! On Monday I've got a new contest that will be perfect for all you newly engaged couples…..
Upcoming Events
There are currently no upcoming events scheduled. Check for new events soon.
Browse previous events.


text:
LG TONE ULTRA™. Premium Sound. Exceptional Design.
LG TONE ULTRA™ Wireless Stereo Headset
- JBL® Signature Sound
- Ambient Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- 3D NeckBehind™ (Around-The-Neck Wearing Style with Body-Contoured Fit) Design
- Google Voice™ Actions Integration
$9999Suggested Price
Rated 3.8 out of 5 by 12 reviewers.
Rated 2 out of 5 by mitch3213 LG Electronics Tone Ultra (HBS-800) Bluetooth I have had 2 of these headsets in two weeks first on August 1st. and the second on August 6th. The first one when I would receive or make a call the mic did not allow the person on the other end to hear me. This would happen even in the middle of a call. I sent it back to Amazon and the second headset people on the receiving end of my calls say that my voice sounds like I am under water plus the USB plug-in on the headset does not hold the plug, the plug falls out. I have to wiggle the plug to get it to charge and if it moves it disconnects. August 17, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by JayKay Mutes when I on a Call I have owned several LG Headsets before and loved them. This one doesn't work as well as the others. The isn't better than the HB 700 version. July 16, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by MaRcos Exactly what I needed I work in a business casual attire environment and I love the fact that I can hide under my dress shirt and still be able to be pull the ear bud out to answer calls and tuck it back in when not needed. July 14, 2014
Rated 2 out of 5 by Cream_and_Crimson DISSAPPOINTING PURCHASE Positives - Good sound for music, podcasts and phone calls - Bluetooth connection works well Negatives - The maximum volume is too low for noisy situations like mowing the lawn. - The magnetic holders for the earbuds are awful. They are on the underside of the headphones and constantly fall out. - The Ambient Noise Cancellation (ANC) is non-existent. - The body contoured fit is uncomfortable compared to the HBS 700 model. - The on/off switch is poorly placed on the inside of the headset next to the neck. - Side control switches are too flush to the body to feel easily. - Its too expensive compared to previous models. - Battery life is much lower than in previous models. - It seems like a victory of design form over function. My previous headset, the LG HBS 700, served me well for two years with heavy use. I thought this model would be even better but if I had it to do over again I would buy the LG HBS 700 or LG HBS 730 instead. July 8, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by EdVanHalen Great Headset I have an HTC DNA (Thank GOD I don't have an IPHONE), and this headset married right up to my phone, didn't squelch any of my notifications, and works like a charm. I highly recommend this head set to folks who have Android phones. It's an awesome headset. June 16, 2014
Rated 1 out of 5 by joeminor55 NEEDS WORK! Poor design. Earbuds will not stay in magnetic holders (a simple retractable cord design would have solved that). Also buyer beware: iPhone OS users will NOT be able to get text/SMS message alerts on phone - message alerts (beeps, sounds) will route to the EARBUDS, meaning you will have to have ear buds IN YOUR EAR to hear alerts (meaning.....unless you are constantly looking at your phone OR have earbuds in ear, you will NOT be aware of incoming texts). That alone is a MAJOR flaw... Music sound quality is truly premium and equiavalent to my best bluetooth stereo headsets. June 11, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by RebelTrucker Best I've Owned Yet I drive truck for a living and on the phone quite a bit to run my business and love the sound quality, how light it is, easy to use. Great for a bluetooth and a headset to listen to music. June 25, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by Datenshi LG Tone Ultra I had the Tone 730 and it was great for the iphone. When i got an android, not so much. So i upgraded to the Ultra and it now works with the android. However, the battery life has dramatically gone down. Won't even last 9 hours now where it used to last almost two days. The sound and functionality of it are amazing. The bluetooth capability with the phone works amazingly well along with the ease of listening to music or books. A must for all active peoople. But i would get the 730 over this if you have an iphone. May 9, 2014
Design, features and specifications subject to change without notice. Screen images simulated and/or dramatized. Some features in videos may not be available on all models. Please refer to the TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS tab for a complete list of features by model.
Design, features and specifications subject to change without notice.