text:
The New York Times Magazine has a story, which is only slightly condescending, about Amanda Hocking, the twenty-something self-publishing phenom whose paranormal romance/fantasies have earned her over $2 million. Ms. Hocking recently signed a seven-figure deal with St. Martin's Press. While stories like hers should do something to lift the stigma of self-publishing in the digital age, they are countered by other reports, such as the recent Reuter's piece about counterfeit books being sold cheap on Kindle.
The truth is there probably never was a stigma for the mostly young readers of Ms. Hocking's work. They saw stories they were interested in and tried her books. They didn't avoid her work because it lacked a familiar imprint or because it wasn't pre-certified by Publisher's Weekly.
Within some genres, self-published books are selling well. In thrillers, two of the top ten books at the Kindle Store US are self-published. Both have the advantage of selling cheap — 99 cents compared to up to $12.99 for some of their competitors, which may be even more expensive than paperback versions. Romance, mystery and other genres have all been invaded by these upstarts. While the Kindle Store is only one store, its scope is huge with e-books now outselling paperbacks on Amazon, which through its Kindle app, controls 75% of the e-book market.
Things are different when it comes to literary fiction. Or perhaps I shouldn't use the term "literary fiction." Writers can classify their own works as "literary," and a couple of self-published 99 cent novels identified as such have slipped into the top 20 on Kindle. Both, however, also fall into other categories with wider appeal. Maybe the term I'm looking for is "serious fiction." The kind of books read by people who take reading seriously. You know who I mean — people who LOVE books, pride themselves on actually having made their way through at least some of Joyce and Woolf, fans of all the Jonathans (Letham, Franzen, and Safron Foer), Paul Auster, David Foster Wallace, and anyone published in The New Yorker with the exception of Stephen King. Those readers may read books from respectable independent houses or even obscure zines put out by writers and editors they've heard of, but 99.9% won't even look at self-published work from the Kindleverse.
Months ago I suggested to a friend, a serious intellectual type and avid reader, that she look at a book I thought was not only good, but might even be important. It was a historical novel, set mostly in London in 1963, with some back-story in the war and post-war years, references to mods and teddy-boys, jazz and The Beatles, as well as to the Cuban missile crisis and the Profumo scandal. Her reply when she realized that the work did not have the approbation of a publishing house major or even minor was, "I don't have enough time to read published books."
I didn't buy this explanation. My theory is that while readers of genre fiction are simply looking for stories that keep them turning pages, "serious readers," have another agenda. Heaven forbid they should like something that hasn't been vetted by publishers and critics, only to be told later that it's derivative or not as good as they thought. It would be like buying a blank canvas, and then finding out it was just a blank canvas and not an accepted example of minimalism. It's not that they lack the time to read self-published books, they don't even want to be seen with them.
The book, I was recommending was Larry Harrison's Glimpses of a Floating World. Although I never convinced my friend, I'm pleased to say I got my book club to look at it.
This was only our third club meeting. The previous selections were Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, and The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany. I was thrilled that the club had taken my suggestion of Glimpses.. (Full disclosure: The author is fellow member of the Year 0 Writers group, and a facebook friend. We first "met" on a writer's site, where we admired each other's work. We have never met in the non-virtual world.)
I didn't take a poll, but I don't believe anyone in the club had ever purchased or read a self-published book before.
So, how did it go?
As with previous selections, opinions varied. One reader complained that she didn't find any of the characters sympathetic and didn't see much change or growth in the protagonist, Ronnie. It was also clear that she was not predisposed to read a book about a seventeen-year-old heroin addict. Others pointed out that as long as he remained a junkie, showing growth would have been unrealistic, but there were "glimpses" of his capacity to care for others and by the end his thinking had evolved at least to the point where he understood his addiction to be a dead-end. There was general agreement that the character was well drawn. He acted like the adolescent he was — intelligent, but immature, in some ways even gullible. Everyone thought that Ronnie's father, Freddy was just an awful human being. A couple questioned the idea of his professional rise with the police. This led to discussion about "successful" people whose lives were a mess, and the nature of corruption and who rises to power within a corrupt system. A few weren't satisfied with the ending — finding it "contrived" or "overkill," but I was not the only voice in the room who had a different take.
The point is, the book was taken as seriously as any other book. Everyone thought the writing was high quality and professional. . No one complained about proofreading, formatting, editing inconsistencies or any of the other issues often associated with self-published books. All found it a gripping read.
As with any discussion on any good book, there were disagreements and tangents. We veered off into talking about British films set in that period that also dealt with social taboos, A Taste of Honey, Victim, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.
So back to the question I asked before: How did it go? The short answer is: It was "normal." We were able to discuss the book and not the fact that it wasn't traditionally published. It was not unlike going to a same-sex wedding and realizing it isn't that different from any other wedding.
There was no pre or post-club survey, but maybe the members of the club will now be more inclined to read untraditionally published works. I hope so.
And just to encourage any "serious readers" who have not yet taken the plunge, here's a trailer for Glimpses:
Tags: book club selections, Glimpese of a Floating World, Kindle, Larry Harrison, self-publishing, self-publishing stigma, Year 0
15 Responses to "Self-Published At the Book Club"
Neil Schiller says:
That's really interesting Marion. You know already I've read and really liked Glimpses…, but it's good to hear readers are willing to try self-published literary work (I will call it literary, just for wont of a better term I guess) and willing to discuss it in terms of its merit, and not just in terms of its ISBN. It often feels like the only people willing to give these things a go are other people self-publishing in the same area. My sales figures tell me SOME non-writers must be reading it, but in the main it's the writers I seem to be hearing from and interacting with.
You're absolutely right about genre fiction. Dan is a case in point I think – put some great 'literary' stuff out and achieve minimum sales; put out a thriller and suddenly it all takes off. And I have been pondering about why that is. On the one hand, it's hardly suprising as the kindle market is really just a reflection of the paperback market. The people who bought a kindle first up are prolific readers – most prolific readers consume a lot of genre fiction – if you consume a lot of genre fiction you inevitably get drawn to thrillers because of the enormous catalogue. But I think you have something in your assessment. Genre readers are more willing to try unknowns as they'll have been trying unknowns and lesser knowns for years. Literary fiction readers tend to like to have the greats pointed out to them. They do look for consensus, something that won't disrupt the kudos of being well read. Obviously I'm generalising, but having spent some time in academia for instance, you wouldn't believe the trouble I have in convincing some that Bukowski and Brautigan and Kesey are literary fiction, never mind Larry or Dan or yourself. Get onto a prize shortlist or a review show and you might find yourself in the club, otherwise you're howling at a locked gate in some ways.
Marion says:
Ha! Funny you mentioned, Dan (Holloway — author of the UK bestseller, The Company of Fellows as well as a couple of more "literary" works that haven't taken off and the founder of Year 0) I was definitely thinking of him when I wrote about thrillers above and was planning to do a blog post looking at the success of his book and what sells in general on Kindle. I haven't actually read The Company of Fellows Yet, and it doesn't look formulaic to me from what I've skimmed so far, but a lot of the successful Kindle thrillers do seem to share some common elements. I am half tempted to quit my day job and start writing short thrillers with a lot cliff hanging suspense, serial killers, hero in danger at every turn, etc. Except for one thing. I'm sure I'd screw it up with some point of view shifts, literary or other cultural references, etc. etc.
Craig says:
OK Full disclosure, I am Mr. Marion Stein.
I loved Glimpses of a Floating World, thought it was one of the best books about drugs and addiction I've read. Beats Burroughs.
Glad to see that self-publishing is getting respect.
It is an interesting paradox. As a layperson, not a writer, what do I want from the publishing industry? Well, I suppose I want them to do the work of sorting the wheat from the chaff on the slushpile, and then present that wheat to me in freshly baked literary bread. But that gives the industry an enormous amount of power.
If the industry thinks of me, the customer, with contempt, then they will assume that all I want is crappy white bread chock-a-block with high fructose corn syrup. So that is what they'll give me. It is Tom Clancy vs. the Vampires, Skinny Nanny Shops for the Da Vinci Code, or something similar, and I turn to my library or seek out from overseas or from "little" publishers my bread that I so want.
Now with self-publishing, I am no longer obligated to just accept the wonder bread that is pushed at me. It is true though, that I no longer have people to rely on that will make sure the literary bread I do eat is not adulterated with sawdust or something.
So it is like food, people who need a healthy dose of literature are both repelled by McBook and yet, are a little wary of entrusting their literary digestive systems to who knows what?
With the rise of electronic publishing and e-readers, this trend will continue. The cost of both consuming and publishing is low, so the bar to both is low. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
The self-same rise of e-books, e-publishing, intelligent platforms that will respond to my "likes" by showing me related content, and social networking has fostered the rise of, let's say, social criticism. It almost becomes some self-organizing cellular automaton where my artisanal wheat, or quinoa, or whatever – my personal wheat-Jesus, is easier to find and to select from the slushpile, and the cost of making a mistake is less.
Eli Pariser writes on the filter bubble that this process will wall us all off into worlds where what we see on-line no longer challenges us and we are like narcissus gazing at our own reflection. True, and this is certainly dangerous in the realm of public policy, human relations, economics, and politics, but frankly, in terms of art – it has *always* been like this, only now it is easier. This is going to happen anyway, but at least with self-publishing it is more democratic, the little guy can get a chance to sell his or her artisanal bread and the only place to sell it is no longer the huge supermarket.
Marion says:
Nicely put, sir!
I think there's also a big lesson learned for publishing around Amanda Hocking. They really are CLUELESS. Her work very clearly resonates with a lot of readers that literary agents couldn't even imagine existed. For the most, agents are people choosing books that interest them or books that they know their editor friends are interested in. I don't know what actual market research is being done by publishers or agents, but they are missing huge groups of people. It's not just niche groups that may find their needs satisfied, but sometimes huge groups.
Kerry Smyth says:
Maybe I'm just completely naive but as a lay person who just genuinely loves reading, I have absolutely no qualms about how a book is published – if I stumble across it in a second-hand bookstore or online and it sounds interesting, I'll give it a go! Hard to believe the snobbery that exists.
Marion says:
Interesting, Kerry. I'm wondering how you even found this site? But I don't know that the snobbery extends to what one finds at a second-hand bookstore. The books there, after all, were "published." While Larry's book, for instance is available in paperback. It's unlikely to wind up at too many bookstores — second hand or otherwise, because it's a print-on-demand book from Lulu and most stores won't stock them new. With so few in circulation, it's unlikely you'd find them used either. I don't have stats to go on, only conversations with people I know and what I see people saying online. It just seems to me that a lot of "serious fiction" may not use e-readers (understandable), wouldn't consider ordering a self-published book online, and would be very skeptical about the quality of any self-published book unless they'd read the author before.
I'm very curious: What kind of books do you love to read? Do you own an e-book reading device? Do you buy self-published books with it? If not, do you buy paperbacks online, and have you ever bought a self-published book (or one you suspected was self-published_)?
Kerry Smyth says:
I'm the reader of Loisaida who recently contacted you to offer my praise of the novel! You pointed me in the direction of this blog, and also made several reading recommendations to me, several of which I've purchased on my Kindle (so yes, I do own an e-reader, to answer that question!).
I read all types of books, anything that catches my attention, sometimes by authors well-known by the general public, from friend or online recommendations, or sometimes (as was the case with Loisaida) books that I stumble across completely by accident. To be completely honest, I did not even realise Loisaida was self-published until I finished it and subsequently contacted you. I am probably quite ignorant on this subject, but such details do not interest me – I read books that capture my interest for whatever reason, and regardless of author or method of publishment!
Marion says:
Duh! Oh THAT Kerry Smith! Of course.
Dan Holloway says:
Marion I hope I've arrived in time to take part in the discussion. I'll be back for the literary part, but first Amanda Hocking. I reviewed Hollowland at the start of the month for Words With Jam magazine. I absolutely loved it. I also think Amanda is a 24-carat lovely AND brilliant person.
The publishing industry has got itself into an inevitable piece of bad logic. They want books with a proven market. But this excludes new markets altogether because books that would appeal to them will never get published – because there's no proven market. So the fight remains about how to divvy up the existing market and there will never be seismic shifts. One thing digital self-publishing will be invaluable for is proving new markets.
Marion says:
It's never too late (especially for you). Feel free to comment on even older posts!
It's funny, I never read Amanda Hocking's work. My assumption was that even if well-written, it was too much into Twilight territory, but your opinion counts with me. I may be forced to give it a look.
But I think we're in agreement, that the publishing industry continues to be out of step. They remain reactive (to what's sold in the past) and not proactive.
The good news of course is that people are still reading, still buying books (even if they are electronic), talking about books, and still finding new authors to love.
Oy! Love your writing… at least your editorial style of writing. Just found you so I haven't bought anything. (Yeah, I know – for you!)
I've been reading some of your blog posts to my 28 yr old daughter who also finds them amusing. She suspects that you might drink a lot of coffee? ;-D
Re: the dying bookstores… Actually this has been going on for a long time. I had several hall-way discussions with publishers at a WorldCon (SF) in Toronno after the publication of my first commercially published short SF story. (SPACE Inc, DAW Books 2002, edited by Julie Czerneda – my story was "Riggers" – yes – the antho won a Canadian Aurora Award. )
The story from the publishers and editors was "It's a Tough World Out There!" I suggested that it didn't have to be if they'd just change their business model. (I'm a former Accountant)
See – the way things work is the story/book gets accepted by the publisher, who spends a boat load of money hiring the cover art, editing the book, printing the book, promoting the book, which they then send out to book stores for FREE!!! The book store's account at the publisher gets debited for the order – but no money is paid.
The book stores get the box of books from the publisher, and they do or don't put the books on the shelves. After a specified period of time, the unsold books get "stripped" (they RIP the covers off of them) and the covers get sent back to the publishers for "CREDIT" – EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT HAVE PAID FOR THE BOOKS!!! So with all that money having been paid out, and not ONE DIME coming in yet.
Was it "Chapters" or Books-a-Million maybe, that via this process stayed in business over a year on the publishers' dimes AFTER they went bankrupt? One former clerk told me that they'd get the books in and not even open the boxes until it was time to strip the books. They just recycled their credits over and over.
So if you're a book store – what penalty is there for ordering books that you don't think will sell? If you're a publisher, you run up HUGE costs of doing business – and may not sell a single book, AND you don't get the merchandise back either! So the editors have to be VERY CAREFUL that EVERY TITLE they approve and promote to management SELLS BIG and does so FAST!!! (So they've become timid as church mice on Sunday.)
I asked a publisher why they did "business" in this insane way and he said, "Well… we've kind of always done it that way." When I suggested that it was maybe time to change – he said, "We'd get killed by the other publishers when the book stores refused to order from us."
So you have a dysfunctional industry where no one has the intestinal fortitude to make NEEDED changes – which points up (finally) WHY your books don't get bought by the publishers. They are afraid to take a chance on an "unknown" writer. So no matter HOW good the book is, they'll instead order 25,000 more copies of Star Wars V I in 17 different covers because that's SAFE!
So As Jeff Bezos pauses to sharpen his headsman's ax to continue the process of beheading the print publishing industry – I sit here shaking my head in wonder. Facing certain death, the dead tree industry STILL can't bring itself to make needed changes to their industry – and it is literally killing them.
Meanwhile – back at the keyboard – I'm getting ready to figure out how to submit a couple of novellas to Amazon – since it seems no one else wants them.
Marion says:
Thanks for reviving the discussion, Michael. Love your line about "it doesn't have to be." Glad you and your daughter are enjoying the posts. I do drink a lot of coffee, but mostly when I wind up taking an all-nighter working on deadline for my "real" grantwriting gig. This happens frequently because I waste too much of every day in cyberspace. And congrats on the prize for the anthology!
Just to be clear – *I* didn't win the prize – the ANTHOLOGY did, and being totally honest here I'm pretty sure that my little story wasn't what put it over the top. (There wee some FIRST RATE stories in it by top of the line authors… and I mean that as in they are really GOOD!!!) My favorite story in the book was "I Knew A Guy Once" by Tanya Huff.
As to owning an e-reader – I used to have a PDA, back in the cave days of e-reading. I picked up a few books from Project Guttenberg, but a PDA in the pocket says I'm out and about and don't have time to read.
My Boss, aka The Empress, has a Kindle that I bought her for her birthday and she uses it a LOT! My beef with Kindle and amazon is that she buys an e-book, and downloads it, and if I had a Kindle I'd have to pay for the same book again if I wanted to read it on my Kindle – which fact has kept me from buying a 2nd Kindle and a LOT of e-books. I'm sure the reason they don't allow that is to control pirating – but if the book is downloaded to an account, it should be able to be re-downloaded through the same account – with a maximum of say 3 or 5 downloads. Bet they'd sell a LOT more Kindles that way!
Marion says:
I think the issue is they don't make that much money from the Kindle devices. They make money from selling massive amounts of content. Kindle did recently start a lending program where you can lend to another account. But the publishers have to agree that the books are loanable and they are not always willing to do that, especially with new releases. There's also a more awkward way of transferring the registration or sharing an account. When I first got my Kindle I took the trial NY TImes subscription. I liked reading it on the Kindle, but there was no way to share it with my better-half — not on a kindle, not even on the computer with Kindle app. As we had a long-standing discount subscription, it made more sense for us to continue getting the dead tree version. Besides the dog is getting is old…
Roger on the old dog… we have an ooooold border collie named Nellie – she was a hard working dog in her prime!!! (Sheep, cattle, one time 28 deer, and us and the kids. ;-D) She sometimes loses "control" and so sometimes she leaves us "presents" which we refer to as "Nellie Nuggets" ;-D
She can barely get around, but continues to try to "herd" us. She was a stitch to watch when hunters would stop to ask permission to hunt. I'd go outside to talk to them, and Nellie would come over, and at first just hang around, and then she'd start a slow circle around the "herd" of people. Then she'd slowly cut between me and the hunters… just a leetle bit close to the hunters – and they'd be talking and just absently step back a half step. And Nellie would be slowly circling, and cut in again… When she had us separated by about 3 or 4 feet, she'd start putting the herd back together – cutting just a weee bit close to the back of the hunter's legs and he'd move forward just a bit… etc… until he was back to where he'd started – and would have NO clue he'd just been cut out and put back. The kids would sit in the house watching through the windows and laughing at the whole thing. ;-D
BTW – My wife has a Kindle – and I suggested that she download your book/story "The Death Trip". I read the "sample" and it sounds interesting – and at the moment it's FREE!!!


text:
It's almost impossible to predict what Alex Anthopoulos is going to do with his roster at any given moment. It seems like all his moves come out of completely nowhere. However, I'd be willing to bet almost anything that he's going to sign a proven closer this Winter. That may or may not be a good thing. I'm not a huge fan of the "closer" concept. That being said, 60-70 innings of good pitching can't be a bad thing. And if they're going to spend money on a closer, this might be a good year to do so.
The depth of high quality relievers is incredible this offseason. Also, the Yankees are set, I'd be surprised if the Red Sox would overpay a closer this year, and I doubt there are that many other teams willing to break the bank on a closer. That could lead to some pretty good deals this Winter. The Jays themselves have a number of good low cost relievers (Janssen, Carreno, Litsch, Perez, Villanueva, Cecil?). They could afford to add one or two elite arms to anchor the bullpen.
Below is the list of FA relievers, according to Cot's. I bolded those that could potentially "close" out games.
Relief Pitchers
Danys Baez PHI
Miguel Batista STL
Heath Bell SD
Blaine Boyer
Jonathan Broxton LAD
Shawn Camp TOR
Matt Capps MIN
Todd Coffey MIL
Clay Condrey MIN
Francisco Cordero CIN *
Lance Cormier TB
Juan Cruz TB
Octavio Dotel STL *
Kyle Farnsworth TB *
Randy Flores NYY
Frank Francisco TOR
Ryan Franklin STL
Chad Gaudin WAS
Mike Gonzalez TEX
John Grabow CHC
LaTroy Hawkins MIL
Brad Lidge PHI *
Scott Linebrink ATL
Javier Lopez SF
Ryan Madson PHI
Damaso Marte NYY *
Sergio Mitre NYY
Joe Nathan MIN *
Hideki Okajima BOS
Darren Oliver TEX
Jonathan Papelbon BOS
Joel Peralta TB
Chad Qualls SD *
Jon Rauch TOR *
Chris Ray TEX
Dennys Reyes BOS
Arthur Rhodes TEX *
Fernando Rodney LAA
Francisco Rodriguez MIL
George Sherrill ATL
Rafael Soriano NYY (may opt out)
Brian Tallet TOR
Koji Uehara TEX *
Jose Valverde DET
Tyler Walker WAS
Kerry Wood CHC
Jamey Wright SEA
Michael Wuertz OAK
Joel Zumaya DET
There are also some decent trade options out there, but why bother giving up something in a trade, with a market like this. A few unrelated observations: I can't remember if Shawn Camp reached type B status, but even if he did, I can't see him being offered arbitration. I'm also looking forward to seeing what the Rays are going to do. They are losing quite a few quality relievers.
Now discuss...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
On The Show Today
Jan 23 2013
On the Show Today for January 23rd
Broadcasting live from the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, NV
NELSON FREEMAN - SafariClub.org
How Obama's gun control proposals effect hunters
Nelson Freeman is the Director of Communications and Government Affairs for Safari Club International.
REP. DON YOUNG (AK - AT LARGE) - DonYoung.House.Gov
How Obama's gun control proposals effect rural America
Congressman Don Young was re-elected to the 113th Congress in 2012 to serve his 21st term as Alaska's only Representative to the United States House of Representatives. First sworn in as a freshman to the 93rd Congress after winning a special election on March 6, 1973, Congressman Young is today the 2nd ranking Republican member and the 5th ranking overall member of the House of Representatives.
Col. Boddington discusses his experiences with firearms recreationally as a hunter and profesionally as a Marine.
Col. Craig Boddington is a professional hunter, author, and Marine.
ADAM LANKFORD - AdamLankford.com
"THE MYTH OF MARTYRDOM: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers" is out now.
Adam Lankford is a criminal justice professor at The University of Alabama.
PAUL BARRETT - GlockTheBook.com
The history of America's most popular firearm
Paul M. Barrett is the author of two earlier acclaimed books: American Islam: The Struggle for the Soul of a Religion and The Good Black: A True Story of Race in America. He is Assistant Managing Editor of Bloomberg Businessweek magazine and writes for The Sunday New York Times Book Review.


text:
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. As hot weather approaches, health officials are advising residents to take precautions against disease carrying mosquitoes and ticks.
Mosquitoes left in the wake of the April floods are a nuisance but they are not the ones with which to be concerned.
The mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus are house mosquitoes. They breed in stagnant pools of water.
Homeowners are advised to remove catch basins and any pools of water.
"Removing sources of stagnant shallow water near your home like rain gutters, flower pots, sometimes bird feeds that if it's there for more than a week it needs to be discarded. And also wearing the mosquito repellent with DEET at dawn and dusk hours because that's when that type of mosquito is the most active," said Kera Simon Brosette of the McLean County Health Department.
The Health Department has mosquito traps set up throughout the county so they can test the bugs they catch.
The Department will also take any dead birds for testing.


text:
Out with the gold. In with the you.
Jake and Amir
Practice what you speech.
No sleeves till Brooklyn.
Pitches get stitches.
Accept the smoke, that's it.
The host with the most posts.
I have 99 computer problems. And this bitch is one.
Don't put words in my mouth.
Let the body hit the floor.
Give red, to make green.
Talk like no one's listening.
The customer's always wrong.
Aardvarks are the best. Alphabetically.
Don't question my answers.
Don't flush your dreams away.
The boy who cried weiner.
My brackets cause rackets.
Lines are signs of sublime times.
Chin up, with your cock out.
You gotta make dough to make a little dough.
Out with the old and in with the you.
Gratuity is gratuitous.
Fake holiday. Real emotion.
Y'all wanna floss with us?
Stuck in the middle lane with you.
Be careful what you never wished for. Cows.
If you can't stand the hot, stay out of the tub.
I don't have a hidden agenda.
Our friendship is taking off.
We must be tripping.


text:
Celebrate the New Year with spectacular entertainment at City of Dreams! Be thrilled by the record-breaking water extravaganza The House of Dancing Water or embark with TABOO on a journey to arouse your secret fantasies.
The House of Dancing Water Hotel Packages
C Reserve ─ from HK$1,398
B Reserve ─ from HK$1,678
A Reserve ─ from HK$1,958
TABOO Hotel Packages
B Reserve ─ from HK$1,600
A Reserve ─ from HK$1,920
• One night in a Standard King Room at Hard Rock Hotel
• 2 tickets to The House of Dancing Water or TABOO
• 2 tickets to the Dragon's Treasure show
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
Terms and Conditions
1. Promotion is valid from 20 to 30 January 2014.
2. All rates and surcharges are subject to a 10% service charge and 5% government tax.
3. A surcharge of HK$250 per room per night applies for Double Queen Rooms. A surcharge of HK$500 applies for any extra bed.
4. The House of Dancing Water is only available from Thursday to Monday; TABOO is only available from Tuesday to Saturday. Guests must be 18 years of age or above to attend the TABOO show.
5. No cancellation or amendment is allowed after booking confirmation. Full prepayment amount will be forfeited for any amendment, cancellation or failure to check-in on the confirmed stay date.
6. Full package amount will be charged to the authorized credit card provided upon booking confirmation.
7. Packages are subject to availability and blackout dates apply.
8. Additional tickets to The House of Dancing Water or TABOO are based on the full fare.
9. Melco Crown (COD) Hotels Limited reserves the right of final decision on the amendments and interpretation of these terms and conditions (including the use, suspension and cancellation of this promotion).
10. The English version of these Terms and Conditions shall prevail whenever there is a discrepancy between the English and the Chinese versions.
11. Other terms and conditions apply (and will be provided upon request).


text: The Original, and still the greatest! Our 25th consecutive year of bringing the best-of-the-best in Classic tractors from around the nation! Full color throughout including new color detail shots on the monthly grid. Added bonus – a free poster recapping some of John's favorite tractors and memories from past edition calendars.


text:
Blog Posts to Read for January 10, 2013
Writing by Nick Stamoulis in SEO News
Below you will find our favorite blog posts that are related to SEO, search engine marketing and social media marketing from this past week. Please feel free to visit each, we hope you find them as helpful as we do!
How Businesses Can Avoid SEO Consultant Remorse
Business owners can find themselves overwhelmed by many suggestions an SEO consultant makes. Ideas without Execution are Hallucinations!
5 Super-Basic Writing Tips to Help You Be a Better Web Copywriter
Learn five basic writing tips to improve your web copywriting and all the writing you do, including starting with an outline and getting a peer reviewer.
5 Inbound Lead Generation Lessons in Building Trust with Your Website
Here are a few lessons from our client, "Dave Smith Consulting," on how to get more inbound sales leads by building trust with your website.
The CEO's Social Media Strategy: Ignore It [Infographic]
A new study finds that many smaller companies and business-to-business firms really don't care a lot of about social media. And plenty of chief executives remain unconvinced as well.
Hug That Long-Tail
Ultimately, the short-tail gets you noticed, but the long-tail will usually get the conversion. So hug that long-tail people!
Scroogled: The SEO Benefits of Bad-Mouthing a Competitor
Is calling out your competitor a tactic that can payoff? Increased links, traffic and brand mentions says yes.
The Google Link Disavow Tool – Pros and Cons
Not too long ago Google introduced their long anticipated Link Disavow Tool. A lot has been said on the web about this tool, what it does and who needs to use it.
Get Email Opens By Being Helpful
As we kick off the beginning of 2013, why not use this as an opportunity to prove to subscribers that you have their best interests in mind and that your content can be useful?
How to Create an Agile Content Marketing Strategy (and Stay Sane Doing It)
What exactly is agile content? It's the kind of content we should all be creating.
Cutting Time Without Cutting Corners – Social Media Efficiency
Here are some of the ways that companies have cut time with their social media efforts without cutting corners and impacting results.
These were our favorite SEO, SEM and Social Media blog posts this week. Check back next week for more top posts!


text:
Well, initially, I was pretty pissed. Firing a first year coach who just missed the playoffs with a depleted roster and a terrible defense? Another coach fired? Bringing in a Packer? Since the press conference I have to say, I'm not as angry. I liked Hue Jackson. He was a strong willed personality and given time I think he could have at least taken us to the AFC championship game. I liked most of his play calls and his trust in his play makers. Did he make mistakes, hell yes. Such are the mistakes that many rookie coaches make. Still, for whatever reason he rubbed many in the Nation the wrong way, in one short year. So where do we stand now? More after the jump.
The defense requires a ton of change. From coaching to players, things need to change. McKenzie needs to pick the right coach to start his era. Not just for the sake of his job, but for the sake of the franchise. If we fire another coach for going 7-9 or 8-8 then we will never make progress. The right coach will bring in the right coordinators and the right personnel to fix this. Moss and Gruden are prominent rumors, but none of us will know until they announce it. This is a significant part of bringing change. It is easy to fire people for previous results, it is not easy to hire someone who can/will bring success.
If he brings in the right coach, whom ever that is, success could happen. Our team is on the verge in my opinion. Offensively at least. However our schedule is tough next year and the AFC West will have gotten better. The Chargers, even with Turner, will still be the favorite again. Tebow will have gotten better and the Chiefs will have their running backs back. It will not be a cake walk.
I would prefer a proven coach. I wouldn't mind Gruden, as he is still very popular here and seems to work well with QB's. Cowher seems unrealistic, and so does Dungy, but I wouldn't say no if they came :P I was also kind of hoping Jimmy Johnson would get out of the booth and come coach us but that too seems ridiculous. In the end, it may very well be Winston Moss. He may be the answer, but then again so was Hue. If we do get Moss, then I can only hope we don't regress. If he is given time I bet he could succeed. Then again, this is the Raiders and if you don't win 9 games your job is in jeopardy. No excuses.
I will remain optimistic and excited for the next year. The NFL is always changing and every year teams have a chance to win it all. I just hope all of you are patient. The year may seem kind of long next year. In one short year a lot of you turned on Hue after the Patriots game. Many turned on Palmer after his first game. It is the fickle fan in us all. Hopefully we all stay united in supporting McKenzie and whom ever he hires to coach this dysfunctional team. Hopefully we remain patient with the coaching staff and fully blame the players more next year. The future is pretty bright, more so than I would have thought. Who will be the right coach Raider Nation?


text:
Next Media Animation puts its spin on what it calls the "fishy" Manti Te'o story.
Posted at 02:52 AM in Notre Dame | Permalink
Comments (0)
Outsports, which bills itself as the "the broadest, deepest, most informative and most entertaining gay sports community" on the Internet, is asking the question, "Is Manti Te'o gay?"
"We've seen rumors and heard stories about countless athletes in the past. But not since Troy Aikman have I been bombarded on email, text, Twitter and phone calls about the sexual orientation of any athlete the way I was [Wednesday] about Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o," writes Cyd Zeigler Jr., president of Outsports, which was founded in 2000.
"I've heard from sports writers, fans of Outsports, leaders in the gay-sports world, and even old high school friends, in the last six hours all wondering, 'Is Te'o going to be the first openly gay NFL player?' "
The answer?
Continue reading "Outsports Asks, 'Is Manti Te'o Gay?'" »
Posted at 12:46 AM in Notre Dame | Permalink
Comments (5)
How is the betting public viewing Brian Kelly's third season at Notre Dame? If early wagering on win totals is a judge, bettors think Kelly and his Fighting Irish will be in for a long 2012.
The offshore sportsbook 5Dimes has put an over/under win total of 8.5 on Notre Dame, with heavy juice (minus-210) applied to the under. Each of Kelly's first two teams finished 8-5.
The excellent site Beyond The Bets notes that 5Dimes' policy is to adjust the juice instead of win totals as bets are made.
Continue reading "Win Totals: Bettors Throwing Notre Dame for a Loss" »
Posted at 03:46 AM in Gambling, Notre Dame | Permalink
Comments (0)
Greg Laughlin started his Saturday in Pittsburgh, where he saw the Panthers take on Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish ralled for a 15-12 victory to even their record at 2-2.
There are more photos after the jump and you can view Greg's full gallery by clicking here.
Continue reading "Notre Dame Has Finishing Touch Against Pittsburgh" »
Posted at 08:50 AM in Notre Dame, Pittsburgh | Permalink
Comments (0)
Notre Dame ended 2010 with a flourish but the momentum failed to carry over to last Saturday, when the Fighting Irish lost to South Florida, 23-20. Now Brian Kelly has a quarterback controversy, with Game 1 starter Dayne Crist struggling against the Bulls and backup Tommy Rees igniting the offense in the second half. Next up are games at Michigan and at home against Michigan State.
Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Kali.
Poster Approval Rating: Notre Dame
Posted at 10:18 AM in 2011 Poster Schedules, Notre Dame | Permalink
Comments (0)
Notre Dame made an initial "termination payment" of more than $6.6 million to Charile Weis when it fired him as coach in 2009, according to tax documents obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
Weis, who was 35-27 in five seasons as coach, will continue to be cut smaller checks until December 2015, so the full scope of his separation agreement won't be known until then.
"Termination payment of $6,638,403 was made during the reporting period to Charles J. Weis under a separation agreement that includes much smaller annual payments through December, 2015," according to the documents.
Weis is currently Florida's offensive coordinator, a job that will pay him $2.62 million over three years. Combined with his Notre Dame severance, Weis is no doubt the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the land.
The good news for Notre Dame is that Tyrone Willingham, the coach Weis replaced, apparently is off the books. Willingham received $650,000 for his "separation agreement" that included payments through December 2009.
Posted at 12:15 AM in Florida, Notre Dame | Permalink
Comments (0)


text:
(02/15/13) - Flushing Township will welcome back three former police
A year ago, the township board got rid of the police department in a money-saving move. Since then, the Genesee County Sheriff's Department has been patrolling the area.
Three weeks ago, an arbitrator awarded the officers their jobs back, after they sued the township, saying the board violated their contracts.
The officers aren't back on the job just yet. In fact, full reinstatement might still be weeks away. Those who live here fear they won't be able to afford a police force.
"The cost of bringing it back, what will it be to the taxpayers?" said Barbara Vantol, of Flushing Township.
That's the question a lot of people are asking in Flushing Township since an arbitrator awarded three former police officers their jobs back. Vantol has lived in the community for 26 years.
"Not that they shouldn't have their jobs back, we need to do something fair for the officers and to the taxpayers. We're the ones who are suffering," she said.
It's a busy Friday at Ultimate Visions hair salon. Owner Merlene Keesler lives and works in the township. Since the small police force was eliminated last year, the Genesee County sheriff's department has provided protection.
"It should have never been done in the first place and now that it has, we will have to come out of a big hole to get back where we were," she said. "I'm totally satisfied with the sheriff's department but it's only fair to the people who had their jobs to be allowed to come to their jobs."
"I agree with Merlene, the Sheriff's department is doing a good job, but I also know that I don't like my tax dollars paying two police departments," Vantol said.
When the department was disbanded, patrol cars, radios, computers and other police equipment were sold off. Lloyd Whetstone represents the officers who were let go. Whetstone says they're working with township officials to re-acquire gear and bring the force back into operation.
"They're ready to come back. We will look at lot of different things with the township, to make it right, make it right with the public, we need the public support obviously," said Lloyd Whetstone, Police Labor Council.
Whetstone says the township has money from the millage to pay for the officers.
He says they're paying more right now for coverage from the sheriff's department than they would if they had their own department.
ABC12 Main Station
Mailing Address:
About Us
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 WorldNow and WJRT. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.


text:
Kamal al-din (or Shams al-Din Mohammad) known by his pen name Vahshi Bafghi was a Persian poet of the Safavid period. Vahshi was born in the agricultural town of Bafq, southeast of Yazd.Vahshi was educated in the town of Yazd before moving to Kashan which was a center of literary activity in the Safavid period. He worked as a school teacher before his poetry attracted the attention of the regional governors. From then on his career was one of serving the courts of various regional governors as well as Safavid Rulers.Work:1)Vahshi's, Farhad and Shirin, a Persian folklore and romantic story of Sassanid Iran is written in the meter of the Persian poet Nizami's romantic epic Farhad and Shirin. Although the work was left unfinished at the time of Vahshi's death, with the introduction and barely 500 verses of the story completed, it has been recognized as one of the poets most famous masterpieces. Approximately a hundred manuscripts of this famous Persian epic from Vahshi has been catalogued around the world. Two poets from Shiraz, Wesal and Saber, took on the task of completing Vahshi's poem in the 19th century.2)Awhadi, the literary executor of Vahshi gathered some 9,000 verses of Vahshi's poetry after his death. They include various Persian forms including Ghazal, Qasida and panegyrics to patrons as well praises of the saints of Shia Islam.Death:Vahshi according to one account was said to have died in 1583 at the age of 52 in Yazd. He was buried in this city.**reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahshi_Bafqi
No comments yet.


text:
Via: PCWorld | News Archive | Tags: Asus, Android, Mobile, Transformer
I'd consider it, if the bootloader wasn't locked. It sounds like jailbreaking the original version and putting Linux on it works - but can be a pain in the neck. I'd buy a Vivaldi instead, if only it was larger and had better specs.
Hmm seems like tablet + dock is the new netbook.
I love the idea of a tablet/keyboard as a notebook replacement. I still don't know what I'm going to do when my current laptop craps out. Ultrabooks are ultra sexy but so does the transformer prime. If you only surf the web, edit ms docs, and email the transformer prime is perfect. Hopefully by the time I'm ready to buy they will have a better screen on them, the ipad3's is killer.
I've been thinking much the same thing, but I'm wondering if we might even take it further by skipping a generation and forgetting the tablet. How about a phone that runs Android, but can be plugged into a doc and run a full-featured OS?
That dock is so inexpensive, you could put them all over and carry your computer with you everywhere.
That is an interesting idea 3vi1; I like the idea of having a doc at work and home for transporting my pad to avoid the weight making my shoulder hurt. This one is for my son though, and priced better than the Prime, it is more his "size." He has been asking for a tablet for forever, and he is wearing out his iPhone watching TV on it. We use the Dish Remote Access App my employer, DISH, put out for watching TV on our iOS and Android devices. He is as busy as I am and this way he watches his shows away from home. This will be the best Birthday gift I can think of; I can't wait to see the look on his face.
Thank you to share.I wish you happiness forever
|HotHardware's Summer Gaming System...
|Microsoft Employees 'Suggested...
|Rise Of The Tomb Raider An Xbox...
|ASUS ROG SWIFT PG278Q G-SYNC Monitor...
|Windows 8.1 Update Crippling PCs With...
|Snowden's WIRED Cover Story Depicts An...
|Official Destiny Gameplay Trailer: Venus...


text:
This album is staggeringly good, expressing all the elements that a True Black Metal album should have. The ethereal melodies draw you into unknown thoughts and emotions, turning into a truly alien style of music. You won't find any Marduk-style self-deluding foolishness on this album. Just entrancing, atmospheric, underworld-like songs laden with tortured vocals and soaring guitars. The drums and vocals are carried throughout the album with cavernous reverb, obscuring the words most of the time but contributing to the feel of the album.
Being Xasthur worshipper, it is interesting to hear the enigmatic genius known as Malific contribute in a group effort. Everything that Malific touches turns to black flame and ashes.
Don't buy this album if you don't understand underground Black Metal. This is an expression of Void, not speed-metal draped in juvenile ideas of Satanism. One only needs to listen to songs like "White Fire Beneath Black Text" or "Winter Before" to hear it.


text:
October 18, 2006by David Fuller
Donalsonville -- A Seminole County man is indicted for the murder of his brother. Fifty-one-year-old Gary Cottles faces felony and malice murder charges in the May 2nd shooting of his brother, 44-year-old Terry Cottles, at their father's house.
The brothers were living with their father, Frank. Gary Cottles was recovering from quadruple bypass surgery. They were outside on a deck when an argument began, and ended, investigators say, when Gary shot Terry once in the chest with a .45-caliber pistol.
Cottles is also charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. His arraignment is scheduled for October 30th in Seminole County Superior Court.
Feedback: firstname.lastname@example.com?subject=SeminoleBrotherIndicted/DF
P.O. Box 3130
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 446-1010
FCC Public File
(229) 446-4005
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
They called me and the first things they asked for were my date of birth and social security number...scam! I hung up right away.
(800) 242-6813 | +1 8002426813 Phone Number Reports
+1 800-242-6813 Phone Call Reports
Called three times, ten minutes apart. I answered on third call, usually don't answer unidentified calls. They asked for me by name, said they were "medicredit" and I owed ... then line started beeping repeatedly and I hung up. I don't owe anybody any money. This is a scam. I called the number back, company never identified by name. I've paid all my medical bills on time. Don't send them money without documentation that you've checked against your own records!
The company is medicredit. They're a collection agency. I just received a call from them, didn't answer, checked the number and called back. The lady I spoke to was polite and helpful. She explained what I owed and to whom. To my knowledge I've paid all my bills so I asked for paper copies of whatever they think is outstanding to check against my own records. I'm assured they are on the way now. Here's the thing, as much as I hate the US healthcare system, you have to pay your bills. Don't ignore calls from this number. If they are chasing money you don't really owe you're going to have to take that up with whoever passed them your details. Unfortunately America doesn't have a single-payer healthcare system, so if you got medical treatment, you have to pay for it.
This was from a collection agency; I've been working with them over the past seven months due to lost paperwork from a hospital stay, but today was the first time they called *me*. Every interaction I've had with their agents has always been pleasant and non-confrontational- perhaps mine is a rare exception, but I've never tried to weasel out of paying my bill.
I spoke with them the other day and then they called 9 other times that day. All calls were 10 minutes apart.
CMRE began calling weeks ago. they've bumped it up to 3 times per day. yesterday they called me about 10:30, then again less than 1-hour later. They called again later that same afternoon. I had to go to some trouble to find out where this was coming from. I don't answer calls that don't offer a name on my caller ID. And I sure don't call numbers at the 'request' of a computer who won't even identify who it is. Are they challenged in some way?
said "important business call" don't know how they got my #.
call at all hrs of day


text:
So much for hopes that Feingold would run for office any time soon...
Via the U.S. State Department site, the press briefing announcement regarding Russ Feingold as the new Great Lakes Special Representative:
...I wanted to be able to focus personally on an important addition to our team here at the State Department; an individual who is going to provide, I believe, a very important focus on a long-troubled region.
As everybody here knows, the suffering in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to trouble all of us greatly. We are convinced that we have to help the parties find a path to a lasting peace, to a permanent cessation of hostilities, and to the disarmament and demobilization of M23, accountability for human rights abuses, and finally, a breaking down of the barriers that are standing between humanitarian aid and the civilians who need it.
For the President and for me, this is a high-level priority and it needs to be met with high-level leadership. And that's why today, I'm pleased to announce the appointment of my former colleague in the United States Senate, Russ Feingold, as the new United States Special Representative for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Russ and I served together in the Senate for some 18 years. I have a lot of respect for a lot of qualities of Russ – his intellect, his courage, his passion – but with respect to this mission, chief among those qualities that are important right now is his expertise on Africa. In the Senate, when Russ Feingold addressed the issues of Africa, the Senate listened. He chaired the Africa subcommittee when I was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and I think my predecessor as chairman, the Vice President Joe Biden, would agree with me that Russ Feingold was the Senate's leading advocate and expert on Africa. I'm very grateful that he has agreed to come back to government and to apply the expertise that he gained those years for the Obama Administration and for the State Department.
Russ will be coordinating with me and with the Bureau of African Affairs to shape our strategy on the many challenges in the region – cross-border security; political, economic, and social assistance issues; and many other issues. I mentioned some of them earlier – M23, the violence, the need to build confidence and capacity in the region. He will also work very closely with the United Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Mary Robinson, and he will work specifically to ensure the prompt and full implementation of the UN's Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework.
With PBO's ears and now this guy, I'm sensing a "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" vibe in the Obama cabinet.
(CNN) – President Barack Obama will tap Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday to become his next transportation secretary, a White House official with knowledge of his decision said Sunday.
If confirmed by the Senate, Foxx would replace Ray LaHood, who said in January he wouldn't serve a second term. Foxx, first elected mayor in 2009, helped lead last summer's Democratic National Convention in the Queen City.
He also championed the completion of an additional runway at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, though Foxx doesn't have any specific experience as a transportation executive.
Foxx will be the first African-American Cabinet nominee of Obama's second term. Currently, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is the only African-American to lead a Cabinet agency.
Poor Barney. Cowan sounds like a good candidate, and I'm sure Patrick wants him to run in the special. Cartoon via.
William "Mo" Cowan is Governor Deval Patrick's choice to serve as the interim US senator until the successor to John F. Kerry is chosen by the voters June 25, according to a source in the governor's office.
This week, Kerry formally resigned from the US Senate seat he held for 29 years and was also confirmed as the nation's secretary of state by his Senate colleagues in an 94 to 3 vote.
Cowan is a North Carolina native and Duke University graduate who came to Boston to attend Northeastern University Law School in the early 1990s - and never left the region. One of the city's leading African-American lawyers, Cowan is a former partner in the politically connected law firm of Mintz Levin.
Cowan will become the first African-American to represent Massachusetts in the Senate since Edward Brooke held the seat as a Republican from 1966 to 1978.
Well this sucks. Another white guy, totally ignoring Inouye's last wishes. Sounds promising, but still not a woman.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz was selected today to fill the US Senate vacancy created by the recent passing of US Senator Daniel Inouye.
The announcement was made by Governor Neil Abercrombie during a press conference this afternoon.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz was inaugurated to his current post on Dec. 6, 2010. In addition to his responsibilities as deputy to Governor Neil Abercrombie, Schatz is also currently tasked with helping to lead the state's clean energy efforts and Asia-Pacific relations.
Schatz is credited with launching the Hawai'i Fair Share Initiative, which seeks more private and public investment in Hawai'i.
Before being elected lieutenant governor, he served for eight years as the CEO of Helping Hands Hawai'i, one of Hawaii's largest non-profit community social services organizations.
Commenters: We have guidelines for comments. Please read them here. Thanks!
The Political Carnival T-Shirt
Modeled by @suzannegypsy
Suzanne Kulperger
Donate to The Political Carnival
Have you watched
a Blunt today?
Lt. Col Barry Wingard is the lawyer for Gitmo detainee Fayiz Al-Kandari. For their ongoing story + related topics, please click on the link below:
Kuwaiti Citizen Detained at Guantanamo since 2002
Translate The Political Carnival via Google
The Political Carnival is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Photographs on The Political Carnival site (please read):
Photographs from other sources sometimes appear on TPC for humorous or illustrative purposes. As it is not our intention to use these images in any inappropriate manner or to infringe upon any rights held by others, anyone holding legal rights in the use of these images who wishes to have them taken down please contact us immediately requesting such removal, with which we will comply promptly.
Donate to The Political Carnival


text:
(pictured above: entering the port city of Nassau in the Bahamas)
Seems as though when I speak to people about cruises, it is a 50/50 split when it comes to loving and hating. Those who love cruising seem to all love it for the same reason… those who hate cruising, also seem to hate it for the same reason. And if you have been on a cruise and had a chance to experience it for yourself, then I will respect your opinion completely. For those who have never been on one but have written them off because they think they may not like certain aspects of the industry are the ones I have the most trouble with. Let me say this.. If I would not have taken my first cruise back in 2003, which was a quick trip from Port Canaveral, Florida to Nassau in the Bahamas and Coco Cay, which is one of Royal Caribbean's private islands, I would not have the respect, passion and undying love for the islands that I do today.
I speak to so many people who spend countless hours trying to figure out which island they want to take their vacation to and what it all boils down to is this. You can scour the internet for days upon weeks trying to decide which island to visit but unless you see them for yourself first-hand, you just won't get it right. This is where one of the beauties of cruising comes in to play. Typically on a 7 day cruise you get 4 destinations and 3 days at sea. This means 4 completely different islands in one week span. Many will say this is the idea that they dislike the most about cruising, that you get to an island and by 6 p.m. that evening, must be back on the ship. I try to encourage people to look at it this way. What if you decided on Jamaica for a week long vacation and within two days of being there, just were not thrilled with your decision? Guess what? You are stuck there for the week. What a cruise does is allow you to step foot on to multiple islands in either the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico or more and get a taste of each destination. Some days you might be thrilled to be getting back on the ship.. other days you might be standing in that line getting ready to swipe your card and be looking back with a tear in your eye. Either way, the time there is enough to give you a feel for where you would like to come back and stay for that week vacation the next time you are able to.
If you have never cruised before, I highly recommend it for more reasons than I can sit and write here this morning. Maybe you have been and loved it… maybe you have been and never want to go back. The whole experience is one that is very dear to me and is one that 10 cruises later, still occupies a portion of my heart. If you are considering a cruise, please message me with any questions you might have. If you have been, do tell… did you love it? Did you hate it? And why?


text:
SIZE 1 oz
Sorry, this product is no longer available for purchase.
Sugar cane, coconut milk, vanilla orchid and white musk crushed and distilled to perfection.
All orders shipped complete, when all merchandise is in-stock; no partial orders shipped. You will not be charged until your order is shipped.
FREE standard shipping within the contiguous U.S. on orders of $75.00+.
Standard - UPS Mail Innovations - 2 to 7 days: $5.95
UPS 2 Day - $16.95 (Order by Noon Pacific Time)
UPS Next Day - $25.95 (Order by Noon Pacific Time)
USPS Priority Mail - 1 to 3 days: $9.95
APO/FBO Addresses: b-glowing proudly ships to our military. Please specify USPS during check out.
Please see Customer Service-Shipping for more information.
Welcome to an uncommon place: Tokyo Milk. You'll find brilliantly paired fragrance notes found in the Parfumerie Curiosite and you will find no end to the delightful surprises hidden within. Step through the looking glass into the world of Tokyo Milk and discover our delightfully scented Tokyo Milk perfumes, candles, lip balms, & bath products.
Love the smell of this perfume, My Hubby bought it for me on Mother's Day, at a gift shop , while at a layover in the Seattle Airport..Reminds me of another perfume that I have called Indulge, by Cake Beauty..almost exactly the same scent..Sweet, but only lasts about 2 hrs Just purchased #6 (Dead Sexy) by Tokyomilk, as I also smelled it while in the Gift shop, and could not decide which one I liked the best...


text:
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Jackson Police are hoping you can help identify two suspects who robbed the Pizza Hut on Bailey Ave. at gunpoint Friday.
Surveillance video shows two males walk into the restaurant.
A guy in front wearing the white shirt has his right arm in a sling.
The second suspect who has on the red shirt and baseball cap, walks over to a customer, pulls out a handgun and takes her handbag.
Both men make their way behind the counter and force an employee to open the cash register.
Suspect number one proceeds to empty the drawer.
Short time later, the store employee appears to have words with the robbers and the second suspect points the gun directly at him.
If you recognize these robbery suspects, you are asked to call the Jackson Police Dept. at 601-960-1234.
©2010 WLBT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
715 South Jefferson Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
(601) 948-3333
WLBT FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning
WDBD FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
Although it isn't anything we haven't already heard this weekend, it gives specifics on the deal. I would assume this means that Malkin would be close to signing the extension shortly after July 1st since they are not allowed to due so prior to this date according to the NHL collective bargaining agreement; and Malkin himself said, "he expects the extension will be signed 'soon' after that date," in a Rob Rossi article.
And it continues to be made clear that Malkin wants to STAY in Pittsburgh!
"He came here for a reason," Shero said. "He came to the National Hockey LeagueThe deal is said to be for 5-6 years at $8.5 million per year.
to play in Pittsburgh."
"He wants to stay in Pittsburgh," said J.P. Barry, his agent. "He wants them toIt seems as though Malkin and I are on the same page at least (but I think Malkin is in a better position to have action taken on what he believes is best for the team!). So somehow I feel like Malkin will act on my behalf in the interest of the team (don't I WISH!)!
keep as many players as they can, so we're working on a term and a structure
that will hopefully do that."


text:
So, I've decided I need to go back to weighing myself once a week!
Last Saturday I weighed in at 172.4 and Wednesday I was 171.6 and it seriously bummed me out, like I really thought I was going to be in another plateau because I was working so hard and eating nearly perfect. So, I rested yesterday and didn't eat as well as I normally do, because I was just bummed with myself. :lol:
BUT! This morning I weighed 169.9!!!! :D
I'm 10lb from my goal with what I wanted to be when Seth got back, which I know realistically isn't possible anymore. BUT I'm only 5lb away from my other goal (being 164.5 when I got pregnant with Kenz!) and I think that is definitely still possible to accomplish before he gets home. :D
Just registered for that Color Run on June 1st! Which means I have to do it now. :lol:
Quoting aℓyssa
I drug my SO and DD out this morning to run a mile on our local track. I only improved my time by a couple of seconds but at least I ran and got out this morning to do something.
I am really struggling with shin splints they have been killing me the past few days and really affecting my workout. Anyone else have shin splints. I am not sure if I should just push through or if thats causing more damage.
Quoting ♥Lexies Mommy:" I drug my SO and DD out this morning to run a mile on our local track. I only improved my time by a couple ... [snip!] ... my workout. Anyone else have shin splints. I am not sure if I should just push through or if thats causing more damage."
I get shin splints really bad when I'm running too... so then I just kinda give up. :oops: Hopefully someone else has better advice, lol!
But great job for getting out there this morning!!
Quoting aℓyssa
Quoting ♥Lexies Mommy:" Hahaha thank you. I would love if you could share what you do during the week/eating wise looks like ... [snip!] ... week/eating wise looks like whatever your doing is working for you and I would love some more ideas if you dont mind sharing."
My eating is super bland and boring. :lol:
I do a green smoothie for breakfast every morning, basically any fruit(fresh or frozen) I have laying around mixed with spinach/spring mix. I like to add natural peanut butter to it to for some protein/fiber and a better flavor. :)
Then the rest of my day is literally snacking. I eat in season fresh fruit (blackberries/cherries/blueberries right now) and then veggies like carrots, green peppers, cucumbers. And I have a greek yogurt almost every day, sometimes I'll mix in some granola or flax seed with it.
Then dinner, I seriously suck at. I never have time to actually cook a meal, so it's typically a lean pocket.. or a chicken breast with cooked veggies. Sometimes I'll get the energy to make a wrap or sandwich. :lol:
And I always make sure I drink a crap ton of water throughout the day!
Other good snacks are almonds and dark chocolate!
I weighed in at 214 today! I also reached a mini goal of mine. My size 16 jeans now button up. Still feel too tight but a few weeks ago I couldnt get them to button at all :oops: Its really not where I want to be, but its making progress! Im a long way from getting my 32s to fit but if I keep it up there might be hope they will fit by the summer!
Quoting aℓyssa
Quoting ♥Love♥:" I weighed in at 215 today!! I thought with how I had been eating this week (ok but not as good as I had ... [snip!] ... to keep going! Start weight with Alli: 220 Pounds lost since Alli: 5lbs Im 15 pounds away from my goal! How are yall doing?"
Omg awesome!! Alli is on sale at my walgreens here, $10 off.
Quoting aℓyssa
Quoting ♥Lexies Mommy:" Thats awesome such a great loss you are doing amazing!!! And I agree with weighing yourself only once ... [snip!] ... a week. Its really hard to not want to step on that scale and I have been going a little overboard with weighing myself too. "
I weigh myself like every day, I can't help it lol
Low calorie diet is working. Weighed in at 178.1 today, thank goodness.. Posted progress pics in PT only. They are sad lol.
Quoting ♥Love♥:" I weighed in at 214 today! I also reached a mini goal of mine. My size 16 jeans now button up. Still ... [snip!] ... making progress! Im a long way from getting my 32s to fit but if I keep it up there might be hope they will fit by the summer!"
YAY! That's awesome. :D It seems your weight is really coming off now! That's another pound down in just a couple days!
Quoting ~*~ Nichole ~*~:" Yeah I'm just dealing with it so far.. Nursing her for as long as I can. I'm not sure if it will help ... [snip!] ... sure if it will help with weight loss, I know last time I took it I didn't feel like it made my appetite worse so that's good.."
Well you know we're here for you if you need anything at all! <3


text:
CENT 110 - Introduction To Information Systems (3)
- Prerequisite: ENG 22/60 or ESL 23, OR Placement in ENG 100; "C" or higher in MATH 25, OR Placement in MATH 103 or MATH 135 or higher; and ICS 100 or ICS 101
This course provides an overview of Information Technology and introduces Internet resources and the fundamental concepts and skills of software development. Topics related to Internet resources include terminology, file formats, naming conventions, and current issues related to the Internet. Students will also learn basic programming skills and software development including discussion of compilers, interpreters, clients and servers, naming issues, programming languages and syntax. Another course may be substituted if ICS 111 has already been completed. Cross-listed as ICS 110.
2 hrs. lect.; 3 hrs. lab. per week
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of CENT 110, the student will be able to:
- Describe occupational areas related to Information Technology.
- Use proper terminology to describe the Internet and explain how it works.
- Use a search engine to perform on-line research.
- Create a Web site on a local or remote server.
- Create Web pages by writing HTML code with a simple text editor.
- Insert hyperlinks into a Web page.
- Manage Web page files and folders including the assignment of permission codes.
- Write simple programs that use input, output, selection statements, and repetition statements.
- Explain the steps involved in the programming process.
- Solve simple problems and express those solutions as algorithms.
- Write, test, and debug elementary programs.
- Describe how programming relates to their careers.
- Accreditation
- Administration
- Mission Statement
- College Catalog
- Campus Map
- College Policies
- Annual Reports
- Campus Facts
- Freshman
- International Students
- Non-Credit Students
- Off Campus/Military Students
- Returning Students
- Transfer Students
- Financial Aid
- Bookstore
- Records Office
- Testing and Tutoring
- Health Office
- Native Hawaiian Center
- Writing Center


text:
Ask others: ACM DL/Guide - - CSB - MetaPress - Google - Bing - Yahoo
|Mihaela Pop, Maxime Sermesant, Garry Liu, Jatin Relan, Tommaso Mansi, Alan Soong, Jean-Marc Peyrat, Michael V. Truong, Paul Fefer, Elliot R. McVeigh, Herve Delingette, Alexander Dick, Nicholas Ayache, Graham A. Wright: Construction of 3D MR image-based computer models of pathologic hearts, augmented with histology and optical fluorescence imaging to characterize action potential propagation. Medical Image Analysis 16(2): 505-523 (2012)
|Mihaela Pop, Maxime Sermesant, Tommaso Mansi, Eugene Crystal, Jay Detsky, Yuesong Yang, Paul Fefer, Elliot R. McVeigh, Alexander Dick, Nicholas Ayache, Graham A. Wright: Characterization of Post-infarct Scars in a Porcine Model - A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study. FIMH 2009: 1-10
|Mihaela Pop, Maxime Sermesant, Damien Lepiller, Michael V. Truong, Elliot R. McVeigh, Eugene Crystal, Alexander Dick, Herve Delingette, Nicholas Ayache, Graham A. Wright: Fusion of optical imaging and MRI for the evaluation and adjustment of macroscopic models of cardiac electrophysiology: A feasibility study. Medical Image Analysis 13(2): 370-380 (2009)
Selection of 3 from 35 records - Elliot R. McVeigh has 102 coauthorsLast update 2012-09-10 CET by the DBLP Team — Content released under the ODC-BY 1.0 license — See also our legal information page


text:
Pond FiltersProper filtration is extremely important for a successful pond and that's why we only carry the best from manufacturers such as Danner, Aqua UV, and Tetrapond!
Danner Pondmaster 2000 12 inch x 24 inch Mechanical Filter12" x 24" filter box with locking handle Polyester and biological foam inserts (suitable to hold other biological media) Connects to intake side of pump Complete with 1" I.D. tubing and fittings Connect more than o...ONLY$77.70
Danner Pondmaster Mechanical FilterFiltration is one of the essential techniques a true aquarium hobbyist should master. This can be chemical filtration, which involves removal of pollutants such as phosphates, ammonia, nitrate and heavy metals through media or act...FROM ONLY$43.92


text:
Temperatures are unusually warm for January today, but the mild air won't stick around for long. A series of cold fronts will arrive.
Click here to read the full story.
© 2012 WTVQ-TV, LLC | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | FCC Compliance | Employment | Advertise on ABC36 | Contact Us
WTVQ.com supports children's privacy rights. All persons under the age of 13 MUST have parental permission to use this website and direct parental supervision is strongly recommended.


text:
The Meteor Destroying a City Job Interview TV Prank Commercial
Wednesday, September 4, 2013 | funny, funny meteor tv prank, lol, meteor commercial, meteor prank, video
You finally get that interview for the job working in the big city. You sit down, start talking and immediately the room starts to shake. On the fake TV behind you... all you see is DOOM. \m/
Even though LG made this as an ad to sell their Ultra HD TVs and these are probably actors, I certainly do enjoy this level of morbid creativity.


text:
When diagnosed with cancer, many people turn to alternative cancer therapies to help themselves. For example, you might decide to see an acupuncturist or a naturopathic doctor (ND). You might want to take dietary supplements or herbs. Many of these options can be part of your cancer care. But one of the most important things you can do is to discuss this with your medical team first.
Considering Alternative Cancer Therapies
Alternative cancer therapies can go by several names. You may hear these approaches referred to as complementary and alternative medicine, CAM, alternative medicine, or integrative medicine.
Certain alternative cancer therapies can be used at the same time as conventional cancer care. Some may even help you get through cancer treatment with fewer side effects. Acupuncture, for example, has been shown to lessen the nausea and vomiting associated with some types of chemotherapy. Some cancer centers even offer this and similar services on site.
Other alternative therapy approaches may not work safely with regular cancer treatment. And for others, we just don't have enough information to know if they are safe to take during cancer treatment.
Helpful, Harmful, or Neutral?
Dietary supplements are a good example of something that may help, harm, or be neutral when used at the same time as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It all depends on the type of supplement, the type of cancer, the type of treatment you are getting, and other medical conditions you have.
Natural Alternative Cancer Therapies Not Always Safer
It's a common belief that if something is "natural," such as an herb or a vitamin, it must be safe. Even if an alternative cancer therapy is 100% natural, it can cause problems with your regular cancer treatments. There are a couple of potential problems that can occur when alternative cancer therapies interact with other cancer medicines.
It's possible that an alternative cancer therapy will make your cancer treatments more toxic to you. This can worsen side effects and make you very ill. Another possibility is that a dietary supplement may decrease your cancer treatment effectiveness. You may not get the full benefits of your cancer treatments.
What About Regulation of Alternative Cancer Therapies?
Also remember that many alternative medicines, therapies, and supplements are not very closely regulated. This means there is little quality control over them. There may be no way to verify claims being made about alternative cancer therapies, procedures, and products. You may not get what you pay for. More concerning, a contaminated product or therapy could make you sick.
This is why it is so important to keep your medical team informed about any type of cancer care you are considering doing on your own. They can help you determine if these treatments are safe for you.
Discussing Alternative Cancer Therapies with Your Doctor
Many people are afraid to tell their doctor about alternative cancer therapies. They fear their doctor will judge them unfavorably for wanting to try other approaches to cancer care. But if you decide to use any type of alternative medicine, make sure your medical team knows this.
The reality is that many doctors are supportive of the use of alternative therapies and encourage your honesty, which only helps them provide the best care for you. If you do find yourself in the care of a less open-minded physician, try saying something like the following:
"I recognize that you have concerns about my use of X, Y, or Z therapies, but without specific research supporting your concerns, I do plan to use them. You can note that you've discussed your concerns with me in the medical chart. Please note that I am using X, Y, and Z therapies in my chart too, so that we are all on the same page.
If you notice that I develop any unusual side effects during treatment and you are concerned that they may be due to my use of X, Y, or Z, please let me know. We can revisit the issue. If you learn of any research suggesting X, Y, or Z should not be used at the same time as my regular cancer therapies, please let me know."
It's much better that your medical team is informed about alternative cancer therapies you are planning to try. It might feel hard to have this conversation with your doctor, but in the end, you'll get safer, more effective medical care.
National Cancer Institute. Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Guide for People with Cancer. Accessed July 18, 2010. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/CAM
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Cancer and CAM. Accessed July 18, 2010. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/cancer/camcancer.htm


text:
by Louis Ojeda Jr.
FORT LEE, Va. - The Defense Commissary Agency says military stores across the country do not carry the millions of recalled eggs.
Although the commissaries may carry some of the brands mentioned in the recall, such as Hillandale and Sunshine, officials say those linked to salmonella contamination are not being sold.
On Wednesday, the Wright County Egg recall was expanded to 380 million eggs sold in cartons of six, 12, or 18 eggs.
The eggs were distributed around the country and packaged under the names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp.
The 13 brands affected by the recall have the following product codes:
News Channel 25 KXXV-TV
P.O. Box 2522
Waco, TX 76702
Phone Numbers:
Main: 254-754-2525
Tip Line: 254-757-2525
Contact Us
KXXV Employment Opportunites
FCC Filings
Advertise on KXXV


text:
Posts Tagged 'Staff'
Dollars and sense
Posted in Beyond Campus on November 11, 2011
Director of Financial Aid Nancy Hoover is back from Capitol Hill where she continued her work to help students here and across the country.
Full Story » Comments Off
A few thoughts on Wikipedia
Posted in Voices of Denison on December 8, 2010
With Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales visiting campus, Library Director Scottie Cochrane weighs in on the collaborative encyclopedia's place in an academic environment.
- Into the swing of things Aug. 29, 2014
- Marvelous night for a moondance July 14, 2014
- Tying the knot July 29, 2014
- Storytellers June 27, 2014
- A summer in Senegal July 2, 2014


text:
Remember Me
Sunday Worship: 9:00am
Fellowship Time and Coffee Hour : 10:00am
Bible Study 10:15-11:00am Sunday School 10:15-11:00am
Midweek Worship: 7:00pm Thursdays (June, July, August)
Corey, Jovita, Pastor Jonathan Nack and Hannah
Overview: With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus the Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone


text:
Indoor Track & Field: Ducks win fifth title in a row
Current Playlist
Related Videos
Indoor Track & Field: Ducks win fifth title in a row2:09
Oregon's Phyllis Francis edged out Texas' Ashley Spencer by two hundredths of a second to clinch the Ducks' fifth Indoor Track & Field Championship in a row
Ducks win fourth title in a row2:03Oregon overcame early-leader Kansas to win its fourth consecutive indoor national championship by 12 points. The Ducks had the top finish in the 4x400 meter relay in 3:30.22.
2013 DI Indoor Track & Field: Day 11:24We wrap up Day 1 of the Men's and Women's DI Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Theisen leads Oregon to title1:31Oregon's Brianne Theisen became the second athlete to win three-consecutive national pentathalon titles. Her performance led the Ducks to their third NCAA championship in a row.
All Access: Aggies Support1:34Olivia Ekpone and her teammates went to Ellis Field to cheer on the Texas A&M women's soccer team in their 1-0 overtime victory over Utah in the first round of the NCAA Championship.
2014 DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships: Texas A&M wins women's title2:41Texas A&M's Kamaria Brown won the women's 200-meter dash by seven-thousandths of a second against Oregon's Jenna Prandini as the Aggies won the 2014 DI Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship with a team score of 75 points.
2014 DII Baseball Game 15: Colorado Mesa vs. Southern Indiana - Full Replay3:43:20Watch the full event replay of the title game match-up between Colorado Mesa and Southern Indiana at the 2014 DII Baseball Championship.
Christina Hamilton: The pitcher behind the glasses2:10Christina Hamilton's glasses have made her an internet sensation, but behind the spectacles you'll find a talented pitcher whose eyewear has brought together the Louisiana-Lafayette community.
High Five:2:03
Coolest baseball venuesHere's a look at the top five must-see college ballparks from across the country.
Indoor Track & Field: Ducks win second title2:09Edward Cheserek swept both distance races as the Oregon Ducks won their second Indoor Track & Field Championship in school history.
Gamechanger: Oregon downs UCLA in 2OT1:04Oregon pulled out a wild one against UCLA 87-83 in double overtime. Joseph Young went off for the Ducks, dropping 26 points on the Bruins.
Gamechanger: UCLA escapes Oregon1:02Jordan Adams had a team-high 19 points as UCLA won a tight contest over Oregon, 70-68. Joseph Young scored a game-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough to keep Oregon from dropping the sixth of its last seven conference games.
High Five: Wild and Crazy Courts1:33More and more traditional hardwoods are being replaced with bigger, bolder designs in college basketball. Love it or hate it, take a look at the top five wildest courts in the game.
Three Point Play: Big and better2:54Which of the Big Ten's three teams inside the top 5 has what it takes to win the conference? Three Point Play breaks it down and looks at the Oregon Ducks' chances of winning the Pac-12.
Gamechangers: Dotson's dunk propels the Ducks0:57Damyean Dotson stole an in-bounds pass attempt in overtime and dunked home the break-away basket with .6 seconds left to give Oregon a 70-68 victory over the Utes. Oregon starts the season 13-0, its best start since 2006-2007
Alamo Bowl: Oregon soars over Texas0:48Oregon dominated Texas, 30-7, in the Alamo Bowl. Oregon's Marcus Mariota threw for 253 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 133 yards.
Gamechanger: Oregon - Oregon State0:42Oregon defeated Oregon State in the Civil War 36-35 behind a career day from wide receiver Josh Huff. Huff finished with nine catches for 186 yards and three scores. Sean Mannion threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns for the Beavers.
Gamechangers: Carey leads Arizona past Oregon0:36Ka'Deem Carey set the school record for career rushing yardage and total touchdowns as the Arizona Wildcats upset the Oregon Ducks 42-16. Carey finished with 206 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries.