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Shop Our Family of Brands
Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and while it's the perfect time to show that special someone in your life exactly how much you care, it's also a great occasion to celebrate friendships too. That's why alongside our many gorgeous and romantic Valentine gifts, you'll also find a whole host of festive and fun Valentine's gifts that are simply perfect for giving a friends, children and other family members a delicious and entirely decadent Valentine treat.
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Illustration by H. Douglas Pratt
This common summer hummingbird of the Northwest is the western species most often found in the East (in fall and winter). Note that all except (most) adult male Rufous are rarely separable in the field from Allen's Hummingbird, so many observations are best termed "rufous/Allen's." In dive display (also given in migration, and by immatures) male climbs to a start point, then dives with a slanted J-form trajectory, typically followed by a short, horizontal fluttering flight before climbing to repeat the dive. Monotypic. Length 3.2–3.7" (8–9 cm); bill 15–19 mm.
Identification Adult males often detected by wing buzz, which, like other Selasphorus, is produced only in direct flight, not when hovering. Adult male: flame orange gorget; rufous back often has some green spotting, can be solidly green. Adult female: throat whitish with lines of bronzy-green flecks strongest at corners, and typically a central splotch of red. Immature male: resembles adult female but upperparts fresher in fall, with fine buff tips; throat usually flecked fairly heavily, and with red spots. Rectrices average narrower and with more rufous at bases, and white tips to outer rectrices narrower. Complete molt in winter produces plumage like adult male. Immature female: resembles adult female but upperparts fresher in fall, with fine buff tips; rectrices average broader; throat evenly flecked and with no (rarely a few) red spots.
Similar Species Female and immature Allen's hummingbird safely distinguished only in the hand by narrower outer rectrices relative to age and sex. Adult male Allen's has green back (like very small percentage of Rufous). Male Allen's display dives are U-shaped, not J-shaped, and can be given by immatures in fall and winter. Females of resident southern California subspecies of Allen's have paler and strongly green-mottled flanks, unlike the rufous. See female and immature Broad-tailed.
Voice Call: a fairly hard ticking or clicking tik or chik, often doubled or trebled, ch-tik or ch-ti-tik. Alarm call: a slightly squeaky buzz, tssiur or tsirr, and squeaky chippering in interactions. Adult male's wing buzz often draws attention; stuttering ch-ch-ch-ch-chi at pullout of dive is diagnostic. Immature males make species-specific dives without the sound effects.
Status & Distribution Breeding: northwestern North America. Common (March–July) in open woodlands and parks. Migration: mainly late February–early May, late June–September. Rare (mainly July–November) in the East. Winter: Mexico. Rare (mainly October–March) in the Southeast and southern California.
—From the National Geographic book Complete Birds of North America, 2006
Bird Features
Backyard Birding Central
Want to learn more about our feathered friends of the sky? Visit our Backyard Birding site for facts, photos, videos, and more.
What's That Bird?
Identify your backyard visitors in a flash! Just answer four simple questions to search our database of 150 backyard birds common to Canada and the U.S.
Bird News
Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?
Seemingly freak bird die-offs in Arkansas and elsewhere are making headlines. But is it just hype? And what causes airborne die-offs?
Photos: Bizarre Arkansas Bird Die-Off
Birds were falling from the sky and fish were found floating dead en masse in two recent but unrelated Arkansas die-offs, experts say.
Birds A-Z
- Acorn Woodpecker
- American Crow
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- Anna's Hummingbird
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- Blue Jay
- Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
- Brewer's Blackbird
- Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
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- Bronzed Cowbird
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- Bushtit
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- California Quail
- California Towhee
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- Carolina Wren
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- Cassin's Kingbird
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- Chimney Swift
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- Eurasian Collared-Dove
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- Golden-Crowned Sparrow
- Gray Catbird
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Great Horned Owl
- Great-Tailed Grackle
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Harris's Sparrow
- Hermit Thrush
- Herring Gull
- Hooded Oriole
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- Inca Dove
- Indigo Bunting
- Killdeer
- Ladder-Backed Woodpecker
- Lark Sparrow
- Lesser Goldfinch
- Lesser Nighthawk
- Mallard
- Mississippi Kite
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- Mourning Dove
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- Northern Flicker
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- Orange-Crowned Warbler
- Orchard Oriole
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Pine Siskin
- Pine Warbler
- Purple Finch
- Purple Martin
- Red-Bellied Woodpecker
- Red-Breasted Nuthatch
- Red-Breasted Sapsucker
- Red-Eyed Vireo
- Red-Naped Sapsucker
- Red-Shouldered Hawk
- Red-Tailed Hawk
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Ring-Billed Gull
- Rock Pigeon
- Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
- Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Say's Phoebe
- Scarlet Tanager
- Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
- Sharp-Shinned Hawk
- Song Sparrow
- Spotted Towhee
- Steller's Jay
- Summer Tanager
- Swainson's Thrush
- Tree Swallow
- Tufted Titmouse
- Turkey Vulture
- Varied Thrush
- Verdin
- Violet-Green Swallow
- Warbling Vireo
- Western Bluebird
- Western Kingbird
- Western Meadowlark
- Western Scrub-Jay
- Western Tanager
- Western Wood-Pewee
- White-Breasted Nuthatch
- White-Crowned Sparrow
- White-Throated Sparrow
- White-Winged Dove
- Wood Thrush
- Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
- Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
- Yellow-Rumped Warbler
- Yellow-Throated Vireo
Bird Books
National Geographic Magazine
Bowerbirds Gallery
To woo a "Mary," bowerbirds decorate with shells, cans, even pink paper clips.
Counting Cranes
How many whooping cranes are there? Not enough. See photos of these birds in action.


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Art Week$$
Jewish Children's Museum
792 Eastern Parkway, New York NY 11213
View Map
- Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Phone: 7184670600
- Email: email@example.com
- Website: http://www.jcm.museum
Get your creative juices flowing!
Try out a number of different creative art-forms being showcased at the Jewish Children�s Museum during Art Week.
Experiment with Japanese Marble art � Suminagashi - through workshops, and create your own stained glass window panel. Kids will be invited to contribute to a collective mural which will be donated to Maria Fareri Children�s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.
Also featuring Artists in Action on December 25, a unique opportunity for kids to watch artists creating their masterpieces, and try some new skills too! Some of the featured artists include Encaustic art by Rena Bareno, Toothpick artist Nelson Pantoja and Papercutting by Dena Levie.
Sundays: 10am-5:30pm
Monday � Thursday: 10am-4pm
Dec 25 & Jan 1: 10am-5pm


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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Mademoiselle Magic Stuffing
Every Thanksgiving for the past 25 years, I have been pulling out of the recipe file, a now tattered three pages ripped from the November 1984 issue of Mademoiselle magazine containing my favorite stuffing recipe.
The lovely and wistful girl in the picture stands in her swell New York single gal kitchen, the Thanksgiving Day Parade is on her (prehistoric rabbit-eared) television. She gazes over a beautifully garnished Thanksgiving spread and arranges seasonal flowers while chatting on her corded phone with her startlingly handsome French boyfriend, Guy. (Pronounced "gee.") She has stem wear for 16, sweet serving dishes, a horn handled carving set and an Agnes B. checked blouse. She is an eighties Thanksgiving goddess.
I know that my 20 year-old self was secretly hoping that executing the recipes on these pages might cause some of her perfect life (I know she's just a model, but still) to rub off on me. That Mademoiselle magic never did work itself on the details of my life, (and I have the photos to prove it) but the stuffing recipe has been a consolation prize that keeps on giving. It is easy and wonderful and always a big hit.
The Recipe For The Stuffing You Should Be Eating On Thursday
8-oz bag Pepperidge Farm Dry Herb Stuffing Mix (I'm pretty sure this hasn't existed for many years. Any 8-oz bag of any seasoned stuffing mix will work.)
1-1/2 cups chopped, dried apricots
1 cup water
8 Tbs. butter
½ cup currants
2 stalks celery, diced
1 small onion, minced
1 egg, beaten
First, insert Purple Rain into the cassette player. Then, in a large bowl, toss together stuffing mix and apricots. In a small saucepan, combine water, 6 Tbs. butter and currants. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower and simmer until butter melts. Add to stuffing mixture, toss well. In a medium skillet, melt remaining 2 Tbs. butter. Lightly sauté celery and onion; add to stuffing mixture and mix well. Stir in egg.
Makes enough to stuff a 12 pound turkey. Extra stuffing can be placed in a baking pan and baked for 30 mins. At 350. For moist stuffing, cover pan with foil. For a crustier stuffing, leave pan uncovered. Apply more mousse to your perm and pour yourself a frosty glass of Tab.
13 comments:
This looks great, but can I have Fresca or perhaps a glass of New Coke?ReplyDelete
This is absolutely awesome. Tab. I love it!!!ReplyDelete
Can my legwarmers double as pot holders?ReplyDelete
This is the most awesome blog post I have read or will read all day.ReplyDelete
Unless someone has pages from an old "Dynomite" magazine laying around. Then you are in for a run for your money!
My husband put me in charge of googling a stuffing recipe, since this is our first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner. I will not even look on the internet, I will use this recipe. Thanks for saving me the trouble, and I'll let you know how it turns out.ReplyDelete
BTW, thanks for your comment...it helps a lot. :)
I had that haircut.ReplyDelete
May your stuffing work out better than shoulder pads in the 80s.Replies
LOL! Gawd. Shoulder Pads. How long did that last? Can't believe we actually had control of it too, inserting them or not. Too funny.Delete
Coupon no longer valid made me laugh out loud (not to be confused with "LOL").ReplyDelete
I wrote down all the ingredients. The next step is actually making it out to the grocery store.
Sidenote that kind of embarrasses me for some reason: I was Alice's age in November 1984.
I still love Tab and can happily find it at my local grocery store. Now I am just afraid of the saccahrin . .ReplyDelete
Yum. Totally going to try this. Stuffing to the max!ReplyDelete
I thought that was a picture of you! I love that you kept the same Magazine page all these years.. I have so many torn out recipes from the 80's and 90's that I dig out of various cook books every year then peel away the sticky pages and remember the first time I attempted to duplicate the deliciousness. Happy Turkey Day!!ReplyDelete
xo Laura & Maggie
I bought Pepperidge Farm dry herb stuffing mix yesterday. I use it for many things. Especially stuffing.ReplyDelete
love this!!! reminds me of how i looked at magazine articles differently at that age (especially of single women entertaining or travelling!). i think i am going to cook this for sure.....ReplyDelete


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BJ League page help: Odds Portal lists all upcoming BJ League basketball matches played in Japan. "B's" column indicates number of bookmakers offering BJ League betting odds on a specific basketball match. Columns 1, X and 2 serve for average/biggest BJ League betting odds offered on home team to win, draw and away team to win the BJ League match. The top line of upcoming matches table (Basketball - Japan - BJ League) lets you click-through to higher categories of Odds Portal betting odds comparison service.
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Tera Paisley Crib Fitted Sheet
reg. price $19 sale $9.99
- Overview
An array of pretty paisleys and fun florals make this colorful sheeting a favorite. It is made of printed organic cotton and can be paired with a variety of bedding for a mix-and-match designer look.
- Pure organic cotton percale.
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- Machine wash.
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- View our nursery bedding safety tips.
- Made of 100% cotton percale. A percale weave is noticeably denser and wears well over time.
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Fitted Crib Sheet
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- Shipping Info
Please allow 5-7 business days for delivery. Delivery estimate includes monogrammed and gift-wrapped items.
To confirm delivery time frames in your area, please call 800.993.4923.


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"Stylized Portrait Illustration" for MacUser Magazine UK.
I ♥ Design
I'm thankful for what I get to do for a living. I really enjoy it, and I have a lot of fun creating and working with my clients and other design firms. I have nothing to complain about in terms of my day to day job, I love.
That said, I've always been one to speak my mind be it good or bad and I'd like to think I'm fair more times than not. Over the last several months I've been thinking through a lot of issues related to the state of our industry in respect to both design and illustration and the end result is this post.
It's a good mix of hard truth, seasoned with just enough sarcasm to hopefully make it fun to read while staying informative. But I'm sure some with disagree with my assessment and that's what comments are for.
I a designer of the United States, in order to form a more perfect creative process, establish drawing, insure design tranquility, provide excellent art, promote conceptual welfare, and secure the blessings of creative liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this blog post for the designers of the United States of America.
Design Needs Drawing
MacUser Magazine UK approached me about writing a tutorial for their publication that utilized the same creative methods I used to create my Billy Mays artwork. I was excited to do this because I'm a diehard MAC user myself and this type of project is just fun to work on so I said "Sure."
Before I got started the editor asked "Is there a way to replace the drawing part of the tutorial with some form of computer method instead?" He suggested the possibility of auto-tracing part of the photo. And there's the rub.
A seemingly nonchalant decision to purposely divorce drawing from the design process.
"Sure, no problem I'll remove drawing from my process. And what the hell, while I'm at it I'll remove breathing from my living process too! Because after all that makes about as much sense."
The dumbing down of creativity is a serious pet peeve for me. Those who want to bake it down so it's not too demanding of the individual and caters to the lowest common creative denominator are just facilitating pablum sucking design noobs who think the computer is the wellspring of their creativity.
"You can lead a designer to a computer, but you can't make them draw."
The Dynamic Duo!
Ebony and Ivory, Analog and Digital
The fundamental problem with so many tutorials (creative processes) online today is they are merely geared for what I would call a "Tooler." Someone who doesn't necessarily want to improve their drawing skills, but thinks if they learn the latest software version, or some new pull-down menu effect, or run a filter in a certain way, or mimic some other type of convoluted Fibernachesque computer process they'll be able to skirt having to actually draw something.
Maybe it's just fear of failure? I'm sure that is part of it to some degree but any creative process that avoids risk is at best a flawed one. Approaching a creative solution from the mindset of "Playing it Safe" is just nothing more than choosing mere expediency. Too many designers look for the easy way out when it comes to a creative process and that is problematic to their creative growth. Instead of bolstering a core skill like drawing they pursue a path of least creative resistance and the end result is a Tooler.
I told the editor "Sorry but my process is both analog and digital. One is not independent of the other. I think that is a good thing to show." Nothing I do is fully digital, nor is it fully analog, I'm constantly going back and forth through out the creative process.
The editor eventually agreed to let me keep it the way I wanted (I wouldn't have done it otherwise) and I proceeded. Compared to my tutorials at IllustrationClass.com this one was going to be an abridged version that had to fit on a two page spread in the magazine.
Creativity via tools equals "iSuck."
The Dispensation of Toolers
Early in my career (pre-computer) people would ask me what I did for a living and I'd say "I'm a graphic designer." and the usual response was something like "You get paid to draw? I can't draw a stick figure...." and they'd proceed to admire, recognize and clearly associate my core skill and craft with what I did for a living.
But now (post-computer) when I tell people what I do the normal response tends to be something like this "That's cool. I have a computer too. I printed some ink jet business cards for..." and they proceed to associate what they do on a hack PC in their spare time using Microsoft Paint, prefab templates, Comic Sans font, and clip-art with what I do as a professional for a living. Gone is the appreciation or even recognition of a skill or craft I possess to do my job. For the most part they don't view themselves as lacking any core ability because the computer in their mind has replaced the skill and craft they once associated with my ability.
Our industry is now inundated with Toolers, who reinforce this poor public perception for what we do. They don't take skill and craft seriously and in essence one could argue they are glorified amateurs who just know more about the software than the general public. Mom and Pop see what they produce and say to themselves "Hey, I can do that too." And thus the Tooler dispensation was born.
Compound this new dispensation with the fact so many designers whore themselves via sites like www.Crowdspring.com, and art schools are flooding the landscape with software savvy, marketing clueless, concept weak, drawing inept students at the tune of about 16,000 every six months (Stats from 2001) and you see the not so pretty big picture that is the future of the design industry.
As for me and my creative convictions I refuse to celebrate mediocrity. But I digress.
How to Recognize a Zombie Designer
When ever I look at design there are "5" specific attributes I look for when I critique it.
1. Is there a core concept?
Great designers should be great thinkers.
2. Is the style appropriate?
It's commercial art, not fine art.
3. Is the art well executed and precise?
Quality craftsmanship is a must.
4. Is it unique?
Don't be a drop in the sea of marginal prefab design.
5. Is it inspiring?
Does it contain a clever visual twist or metaphor?
How these attributes break down for me.
Great Design
Contains all five attributes but is very rare.
Good Design
Must contain 1, 2 and 3. Most often 4 too.
Marginal Design
Only contains two attributes, fails the rest.
Bad Design
Most manage to avoid all five attributes.
I realize not all clients need high-concept solutions so that much isn't ironclad in my critique, it needs to be balanced appropriately for each client and I go over all of that here.
A Tooler however dwells in the realm of "Marginally Bad" and only enters "Good" by accident or by deriving or copying another persons work. Because of this modus operandi and the current trend with prefab design methods, our industry has legions of zombie designers that choose to feed off the corpse of incurious creativity.
Know your Tooler: Computer, check. Turtleneck, check. Thick framed glasses, check. Flawed creative process, check.
The Creative Industrial Complex
Toolers are more than willing to do work for sweat shop pay grade sites like Crowdspring.com, iStockPhoto.com or logoworks.com? Their actions facilitate a growing problem being pimped by multi-national corporations like Getty and HP, who wish to turn the design industry into a mere fast-food commodity revenue stream, or as I like to call it "The Creative Industrial Complex." Makes me wonder if HP's new logo was done by their own logoworks.com for a mere $299, or if a big agency did it for a lot more? Either way it's still a piece of crap.
Mark my words, it's just a matter of time before you see a "LogoMaker" or "InstaLogo" kiosk in Office Depot stores that allows Joe Consumer to design their own logo or business cards etc. Think about it, they have the computer end covered being HP and the design side would be facilitated by the Toolers. So this business model is possible because of designers willing to create the low grade content this type of system depends and thrives on.
And to further complicate the matter and confuse the general publics perception of what we do you have so-called industry leaders like Paula Scher creating prefab design templates for the owners of Logoworks.com.
Which brings up the obvious question "Would Paula design a logo for $299?"
Toolers are to these sites, what a moth is to a bug zapper. But to see talented designers cater to this problematic formula albeit sincere, are sincerely wrong.
Fast Food Design.
Big agencies like Pentagram, Landor, Wieden Kennedy, Leo Burnett and others for the most part don't care about these issues, they think it's below them. They're too busy working for million dollar multi-national clients like HP. But the vast majority of the design being done in our industry isn't by big agencies for multi-national corporations, it's being done by boutique firms and designers like you and me creating for small business owners.
So Toolers whoring their design through sites like Crowdspring.com, iStockPhoto.com and Logoworks.com effects everyone including the big agencies whether they want to admit it or not.
Most of the major design publications have avoided any in depth and honest debate on this topic. Sure there have been a few sidebar articles but never once has any publication done a full-blown expose on this topic. And no surprise, just look at thier advertising and you'll see why. It caters to Toolers. At least the AIGA has attempted to address it in a general sense but they never bother to get too specific and name names, that is what blogging is for I guess?
The fast food design generation is here. So, would you like fries with that design? How about super-sizing your logo perhaps?
Toolers are creative comrades.
Creative Communism
As I thought about what the editor had asked me to do, I started to think to myself "This isn't like you're drawing from thin air? You're just drawing from reference, so why try to short cut it by auto-tracing? It'll just look like crap and you'll never get it to be as well thought out or precise as you do from drawing it. Besides what they liked wasn't created by avoiding drawing."
It's like someone enjoying a wonderful meal at a nice restaurant, appreciating the eloquent cuisine of a gifted chef and asking for the recipe. The chef writes it down and they look at it and ask him to replace ingredients because it'll be too hard for them to cook. Of course this is an absurd request and if granted it certainly won't taste like what they enjoyed to begin with. It's not just the change in ingredients, it's also the lack of skill and craft involved in cooking those ingredients. (All analogies fail at some point, but you get my drift)
Creativity is all about exploring. If you don't fail, that means you're not trying hard enough. Some however seem to think a process shouldn't involve any risk? When sharing a process like my tutorial there is a mindset that thinks it should enable everyone to do it via some method that doesn't require any learned skill, just the knowledge of what to click next. I'd call that creative communism, red art if you will.
"If you view my tutorial and you determine that you can't do the drawing part too well, than the tutorial has taught you something. You need to improve on your drawing skills. That is what growing as a designer is all about."
Download "Stylized Portrait Illustration" PDF below.
Anyone Can Improve Their Drawing
I think drawing is very important as a designer. Whether or not you ever want to be a full-blown illustrator or not isn't the point. Improving your drawing skills will make you a better designer period the end. You'll be able to take the intangible idea in your head and flesh it out on paper, it's that simple.
In the following video Milton Glaser discusses the importance of drawing.
MILTON GLASER DRAWS & LECTURES from C. Coy on Vimeo.
When I spoke at the HOW Design Conference in Boston (I've updated my presentation since HOW) I made the following statement concerning the creative process:
"Our industry may be digitally driven but ideas are still best developed in analog form."
That'll never change no matter how advanced our technology gets. So step away from your computer, grab a pencil (It's that yellow thing not tethered to a keyboard), start drawing, stop whining, take some creative risks and see where it leads you.
In other words "Don't be a Tooler!"
Download Tutorial PDF
"Stylized Portrait Illustration" PDF Tutorial
IllustrationClass.com Tutorial Post
PS: If you'd like me to present my step by step creative process presentation called "Illustrative Design" at your design event, AIGA group, AdFed group, Design School or program just contact me and we'll talk. (See top right side bar)


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Medical Terminology
The healthcare market is experiencing a rapid growth in variety of individuals employed, and the rate is expected to continue to rise in the near future. There are new positions being filled every day. You don't have to go to med school and become a physician to work in the healthcare market. There is a continued need for qualified experts to meet all kinds of demands for the sick and injured. To be able to offer consistent, efficient appropriate care, all of these experts need to be able to comprehend one another. They all must understand the same healthcare terminology.
Doctors must be able to connect with other physicians, nurses, and staff about a patient's situation. Using healthcare terminology allows a physician to do so without confusion, as all healthcare personnel understand the same rules and practices to describe one's whole body, its areas, and conditions that impact them.
There is a basic structure to all healthcare terminology that involves root words, prefixes, and suffixes. This allows all physicians to determine the significance of a phrase if they are unsure of what is being described. There are also dictionaries of healthcare terminology that may be discussed for more specific meanings, or if the significance of a phrase is still unclear once it has been broken down into its component areas.
If a physician or other healthcare appropriate care worker describes a individual as having kidney failing, for example, it is recognized by most physicians thathealthcare terminology
Health Care and Medicine
Health proper care is a economic downturn free market. The world medical care market is producing the most of tasks during the economic meltdown. The average job creation in this industry is three to four people per medical center bed. The market currently creates about 1.5 thousand to two thousand tasks every year. It has predicted that this momentum will be maintained for the next 15 years. Recession had not hit medical care market in any way. Medical proper care market is developing many people of tasks in both wellness proper care and medical care fields. Thirty five percent of employees are in other medical care functions such as management, control, marketing and IT experts. Today the market requires medical care transcriptionist, medical care equipment market, and pharmaceutical market to manage medical center systems.
A decade ago, most medical centers were run by doctor-entrepreneurs, who treated sufferers and also performed control roles. But now the market has converted experts. There is an expert for each job role. So many tasks are being created in the market because it has converted professional. First, for example the physician who owns a nursing home or medical center no longer looks after the management. New age medical centers have adopted the latest control experts. The need for such a department was not visualized earlier. But as medical care industry turn professional they are being run like organizations. Second, the growth is being spurred by greater corporate presence in the industry. Newmedical care, medical care market
Herbal Health Care
In order to get rid of the pain or enhance the living thing individuals have turned to characteristics for solutions. This practice, of seeking the best plants that will help the body get more powerful and fight any kind disease, schedules from olden days, when individuals discovered a lot of organic herbs with strong healing qualities. The Sumerians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Chinese suppliers and the Hebrews have all used organic natural herbs in the cure of the illnesses which they were faced with.
As time approved by, individuals didn't remember about the positive results of the 100 % organic components and select instead the medications recommended by the contemporary doctors. Yet, the propensity of going back to characteristics and use at maximum its items is increased.
People are recognizing that the characteristics has more to offer to those willing to try supporting and alternative drugs. Following the newly set pattern of going natural, individuals choose their drugs according to their credo that there is nothing better than using items depending on organic herbs and other such 100 % organic components.
Following the same pattern, a lot of organizations have started to generate medications, alimentary providers and cosmetics centered completely on organic herbs or from organic herbs along with other ingredients, usually of organic source too. Usually, the organizations sell their product as being the contemporary form of the historical drugs. Relationships with different societies and way of life are sometimes invoked, such asorganic herbs, organic natural herbs


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New Arrivals
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Graphic Ring Belt
A genuine leather belt centered with a shiny metal ring.
- Leather and metal.
- Imported.
We're so sorry: this item sold out sooner than expected. For an equally chic substitute, please call our Personal Service Associates at 1.888.855.4986. Or click on Chico's Chat below for immediate assistance.


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To find a doctor, call 800-667-5356 or click below:
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| Causes
| Risk Factors
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| Diagnosis
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| Prevention
Psittacosis is an infection that is passed to humans from birds. It may cause a variety of flu-like symptoms.
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
Psittacosis is caused by a specific bacteria. The bacteria is passed from a sick bird. People may come in contact with the bacteria when they inhale the dust of dried bird droppings from the sick birds. The bacteria can also pass when a person touches his or her mouth to the beak of an infected bird. Even minor contact with sick birds can lead to psittacosis. The bacteria can pass from one person to another, but it is rare.
Handling a pet bird increases the risk of psittacosis. Some infected birds have symptoms, such as losing feathers, runny eyes, a change in eating habits, and diarrhea. Other birds may appear well, but can still spread the infection to humans.
Certain occupations also increase the risk of this infection including:
Birds most often associated with psittacosis infection in people, include:
Psittacosis may cause:
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. To look for signs of infection, your doctor may order:
Psittacosis is treated with antibiotics.
Some infection can cause severe breathing problems that will require hospitalization. Oxygen will be given to help your breathing. IV antibiotics will also be given to help speed medication throughout the body.
To help reduce your chance of getting psittacosis:
Last reviewed September 2013 by Michael Woods, MD
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Dwyer Instruments' Series PFT Paddlewheel Flow Sensor
- Category: Measurement & Sensing
- Product Type: Flow
- Manufacturer: Dwyer Instruments
The Series PFT paddlewheel flow sensor monitors liquid flow in 11/2-in. to 40-in. pipes. Insertion design allows one model to be used for the full, pipe-size capability. Non-magnetic operation using inductive sensing allows for low-flow sensing and is not affected by magnetic material in the flow. Series PFT comes in brass or 316 SS versions for different media compatibility.


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blinc Mascara
blinc Mascara
blinc Mascara
blinc Mascara Products
Additional blinc Mascara Information
You may have given up on traditional mascara because of the constant battle to keep it on your lashes. Many formulas are susceptible to smudging, running and flaking. And while many women turn to waterproof options in order to prevent issues, it can be difficult when it's time to take the mascara off. Rubbing and tugging at the eyes can cause damage to the lashes and surrounding skin. blinc Mascara offers a very unique formula which stays on until you decide it's time to take it off. The application process is just as easy as the removal process. The formula does not succumb to any of the problems of traditional cosmetics and with light pressure and warm water, the mascara easily slips off.
blinc Mascara Black creates tubes around your lashes that adhere well and hold on until the end of the day when you're ready to remove your makeup. These tubes do not smudge, run or flake. You can even work out and cry during a romantic film without any worries of losing your face. The mascara gives you long and lushes lashes that last and last throughout the day. To remove, just apply warm water and gentle pressure to your eyelashes. You'll be amazed at how easily the mascara comes off. Also be sure to check out blinc Mascara Medium Brown, ideal for fairer skin and hair types.
blinc Lash Primer is ideal for those with extra fine lashes, those who want conditioning and those who want the fullest looking lashes possible. This product builds on your lashes in addition to enhancing them. The primer gives you amazing length and thickness plus nourishing conditioners to encourage health and strength.


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The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Instructional Management and Leadership degree program is designed to meet the needs and interests of working professionals such as teachers, administrators, college faculty, and corporate training professionals who wish to become better managers and leaders of the instructional process and/or seek to pursue teaching positions in higher education.
Highlights the program include:
- Eighteen credits of coursework with a dual focus in instructional management and leadership
- Twelve credits of research courses to prepare you for the dissertation, the culminating project of the program
- A time plan to meet the needs of working professionals
The program has a strong base in educational research while providing practical applications to issues and problems. A strong emphasis is placed on how educational and corporate leaders direct and manage research in order to bring resolve to important matters that affect students, clients, teachers and the community.
A major strength of the program is the developmental progression of research courses which provides the skills needed to complete the coursework and dissertation in just three years.
Click here for more information about the format of the Ph.D. in Instructional Management and Leadership, and click here for the admissions requirements.
This three-year program is only offered at the Moon Township location.


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This hotel occupies a great location close to Portsmouth seafront and near the Gunwharf Quays Shopping Centre. Restricted, complimentary parking is available on a first-come-first-served basis at the ...More about Holiday Inn Portsmouth
This very friendly family-run property is located in a quiet area between the town centre and cliff top. Dating back to 1870, St Georges House retains much of its period charm and style. Bedrooms vary...More about St Georges House
Located in the quiet and tranquil area of Seaview, the hotel is just a short walk from the seafront, and there are views from the front terrace, especially enjoyable in the summer months. Bedrooms are...More about The Seaview Hotel & Restaurant
Located right in the heart of Shanklin Old Village, The Birkdale offers spacious and stylishly decorated accommodation, well equipped and with well-stocked beverage trays, digital TV and free WiFi acc...More about The Birkdale
Set in a pleasant residential area of Sandown, with all main amenities within walking distance, Sandhill is a great base for exploring the island. Guests have use of a TV lounge and a sun lounge, and ...More about The Sandhill


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Home » News » Animals
Bald eagle family takes up residence in Manchester
An American bald eagle and one of its eaglets are nesting along the Merrimack River in Manchester. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)
Senior Biologist Chris Martin of the New Hampshire Audubon Society uses a telescope to view an American bald eagle nest along the Merrimack River in Manchester on Friday. DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER
Easy access to food.
And a perch that offers a bird's eye view of the downtown.
Such is the home for two of the newest residents of the Queen City - a pair of baby American bald eagles that hatched early last month and are being raised in a nest along the Merrimack River.
The eaglets are the first to be born in Manchester in decades and represent the continuing success of the restoration of the bald eagle, said Christian Martin, a raptor biologist with the New Hampshire Audubon Society.
Martin brought a New Hampshire Union Leader reporter and photographer to a viewing area of the nest with the understanding it would not be pinpointed. Seclusion is needed to prevent distractions and human disturbances to the adults who are tending the eaglets, he said.
The nest is located about 90 feet up a white pine tree. During the visit Friday, one adult sat on the nest and glared at the human visitors, who spied the birds with binoculars and telephoto lenses about 500 feet from the nest.
Most of the time, the gray fuzz of the eaglets lay at the bottom of the nest, resembling little more than an accumulation of dust. But occasionally, a wing would poke out awkwardly. At other times, a long neck, more fitting for an ostrich, would stretch up, a beak at its crown.
"They look like fuzzy aliens," said Peter Gray, a Bedford resident and Audubon volunteer who first observed and photographed the eaglets on April 20.
"I definitely had goose bumps," Gray said. "I watched my two kids being born, and I didn't have the same feeling."
Gray disguises himself in camouflage and will sit motionless for an hour while observing the birds.
He has seen the hunting eagle bring fish to the nest, he said. He has seen the parent feed the young. He has seen the other adult circle and land on a protective perch nearby.
"Even the chicks know I'm there. They look right at me," he said.
Until two weeks ago, the pair was the only breeding pair on the Merrimack River in New Hampshire, Martin said. But last week, volunteers spotted a nest with eaglets in Nashua, he said.
The nests exemplify the mounting success of the Audubon Society's eagle restoration efforts in New Hampshire, an effort funded in part by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
Last year, volunteers counted 35 "territorial pairs" of bald eagles in the Granite State and 28 nests. That was a 30 percent increase from the previous year. A count for this year isn't complete, Martin said.
Bald eagles are not new to Manchester. They favor the open river for hunting and roosting during winter months. And on opening night for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats this year, an eagle flew over the right-field fence at Northeast Delta Dental stadium.
But establishing a nest took more than a decade of effort.
The first Manchester nest was detected in 2001, forcing transportation engineers to redraw the path for the Manchester airport access road, now known as Raymond Wieczorek Drive.
No eagles were ever born of that nest, which was eventually abandoned, Martin said. But as part of the road project, the state paid to have a man-made nest built on the tree the eagles now occupy. That was in 2006.
Three years later, eagles built their own nest about 5 feet higher, apparently pillaging the material from the man-made nest. Yet, no eagles occupied the nest until the spring of 2011, when a pair of adult eagles were spotted there.
The following winter, they were incubating eggs, but the pair abandoned the nest at hatch time. Then on April 20, Gray discovered the eaglets. Martin said they probably hatched about April 1.
Martin said the eaglets will probably make their first flights in early July. They will hang around the nest until late in the year, and by the winter they will drift away or be chased off.
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Elves, puppies and childrenREADER COMMENTS: 0
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Murder suspect fit for trial?READER COMMENTS: 0
Murder suspect fit for trial?
Pipeline push gets a second wind
'Interview' buzz spreads to NH
Pipeline push gets a second wind
Murder suspect fit for trial?
'Interview' buzz spreads to NH


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Class Signup
Back to TechShop DC-Arlington Class Catalog
LAS203: Laser Engraver Rotary Attachment SBU - ULS
Class Number 1088-52321
Learn how to use the laser cutter's rotary attachment in this Safety and Basic Use (SBU) class. The rotary attachment allows laser etching on cylindrical objects such as wine glasses, beer mugs, flashlights, bottles, and even drumsticks. Imagine the possibilities!
Project: Etch a design into a drinking glass
Prerequisite(s): LAS101 Laser Cutting and Etching SBU
Equipment access: Laser engraver rotary attachment
Minimum age: 12 years
Supervision requirements: During class, all 12- to 15-year-old students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also enrolled in the class.
When using the laser engraver rotary attachment outside of class time, 12- to 15-year-old members must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian who has passed the SBU.
Safety: Closed-toed shoes are mandatory.
Passing this class is a requirement to use this equipment at TechShop
|TechShop Location:
|TechShop DC-Arlington
|Room / Area:
|Laser Cutter Studio
|Mike Petrick
|Class Date:
|Thursday, Aug 28, 2014
|Start Time:
|Class Length:
|2 Hours
|Member Price:
|$60.00 Note: Active membership badge required at class check in.
|Non-member Price:
|Lab Fee:
|Age Range:
|12 and Up (Contact the store to register students under 13.)
|Must Attend with Parent:
|12 through 15
|Min. Students:
|Max Students:
|Current Students:
|Seats Left:
|Monday, 12/29/2014
|Laser Engraver Rotary Attachment SBU - ULS


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You've got your new computer, printer and external hard drive, now let Solution Station get you up and running and connected to the Internet. Not only can we get you hooked up, we can also transfer your music, important documents and pictures from your old computer.
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Qwest DSL
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Everything about Qwest and now ... I cannot even email someone there, wow, what a shocker !
Posted by
Dear Quest,
Recently My internet was shut off for non payment.
I called to see if there were payment plans avail but there were not.
I begged to at least have phone service as I had sent in enough to cover that at least.
They left my telephone on. (Uhm because I sent $75 a week prior)
Later I called back to humbly beg and ask for some type of help as much of my University homework is done online as well as my banking and other business (items for sale, my only income) My daughter has online work as well.
Nothing could be done and no one was able to help me. Finally my mother helped she had the credit card and I scrambled to find some money and paid the entire bill - I owe her now. Either way
The internet was restored. I was able to use it for approx. One day.
I was behind in my homework and business dealings online (due to the original problem, but able to catch up IF Qwest restored service like they said they would)
BUT... the next day, the Internet was shut off again ! For non payment!!??
I called quest only to be linked to some guy in the Philippines. I could not understand him. Nor do I understand why if you want our American dollars to pay for your American business, you would outsource to some poor sap that can hardly communicate with your customers. It is a slap in the face as I see it. Especially after your automated system repeatedly tells me what a valued customer I am or when one of your representatives tell me 'we appreciate your 7 years of loyal service' (considering they keep shutting me off) EVEN after I begged borrowed and stole to PAY YOU and you had no other options for me - a struggling single mom, going to college, trying to save my aunts home, mortgage and taxes (as I live here) etc...
It seems arrogant and thoughtless, redundant even to have an automated system continually tell me that I can 'easily go to the wonderful web site to fix any quest issues', WHEN IN FACT THAT is the reason I am calling to start with.
So I finally call back, but this time I get smart. Instead of pushing 5 for tech support or help, I push #1 (purchasing ordering new products and services) Knowing that if there is money involved (incoming accounts rec) Someone WILL answer and it will be someone who speaks English.
So I do get some decent help (again the good help seems to come from Logan Utah) I am not partial by the way, I don't particularly love Utah, but your call center up there in Logan - ROCKS and I am sure it has nothing to do with you or quest.
Either way he tells me that there is a problem with my account for non payment. I tell him that even though I have used the library, computers at school etc ... I paid for the Internet and was depending on it for several reasons, DEADLINES FOR DESPERATELY needed scholarships and entries that I CANNOT MISS...but now have, as I waited all night hoping they would turn it back on as promised.
You see .... there was NOT or at least no longer a problem with my account, it was indeed PAID.
The problem was on your end, it seems 4000 people were referred to collections today and no one knows why or how, but several reps told me after several calls that I made to them - that my account should be fine and it will be restored soon. 2 - 24 hours. But that 24 hours would be almost out of the question and not to worry.
1. don't try to sell someone something if their account is supposedly in default ????
or if they are having serious issues with services, there has got to be some discrestion don't you think?
2. I see that if you are tech a non paying customer (on your comp records at least) one will be sent to another country for crappy service.
3. and don't it just beat all hell that you would continually suggest using the web, OVER and OVER again when the majority of people are trying to call and get help with just that?
4. another thing, your automated system sucks. I am a mom with kids and dogs and TV's going, homework and cars that pass by on the street, so if or when I breath deep, or the automated phone system hears the neighbors dog bark it gets the wrong message and forwards to wrong departments, starts the menu all over again or simply hangs up on the person. can you imagine how frustrating that is on call 5 or 6 and you are really trying to get someone before 5pm, or you have already been patient for 30 minutes and heard enough 'buy Qwest, buy big, buy now, go to the website, we value you, so buy Qwest and buy it now, bla bla bla".
5. Of this crazy stressful insane and sad week, I have spent approx 6 hours wrestling with your company, your automated system, your reps and their fake apologies and AND their suggestive selling as well as reps that I cannot even understand, nor do they understand our language and slang - not even some of your own terms. I think you owe me, really ! I think you owe me a paycheck and one for damages as well.
One of your reps offered me free 'faster' Internet service for ONE MONTH. That was funny to me - there is nothing free with you people, heck even what I paid for I can't get today and I know ... oh boy do I know ... that if I DID accept that offer and was unable to CANCEL it at the right time (you know ... between 3 and 3:10, on Sunday) I would end up paying for it one way or another.
6. On top of that, even though I used other computers and recourses, I missed out on several thousands of dollars for scholarships, awards and the like because I was dumb enough to believe quest, to believe that when I paid you good American cash money that when I got home I could finish my much needed requirements for school and the scholarships/awards.
The bill was paid on or about the 28th of this month, and today, this morning, the 31st it worked so why would I even imagine it wouldn't (that it would be sent to collections AGAIN and shut off) be able to use the same Internet 3 hours later ? Losing all of those potential opportunities and monies???
You are so out of touch with reality, so out of touch with your actual customers and the view from this end of the business transaction. You are greedy or too busy or something. You must be listening to 'advisors' and statistics and advertisement agencies all of whom are out of touch as well.
Just the thought of calling quest for help is overwhelming and a pain in my ass !!
You are probably losing so much money for the transfers, the outsourcing that we Americans will refuse thus calling quest again several times that day and adding to the workload of others etc ....
It probably takes 7 outsourced employees to do the job of one American - really !! so in effect you are losing far more than you think in my opinion. Just no one is telling you that because they are profiting off of you somehow.
*Don't tell people they are 'valued' if you will not work with them on a payment plan.
*Don't thank them for their loyalty before during or after you are denying them service they have paid good money for.
*don't use the same 'sell sell sell ' recorded message on your damn automated 'on hold' recordings - it really doesn't help, it makes people desensitized and angry. I have a few better Ideas that would double your profit in 2 years.
By the way, have you ever heard the ''Xerox, Bill Gates Microsoft'' story? I am sure you have, you haven't heard though that my grandmother worked for Xerox in those days (one of the first female tech's) anyway, she was a direct witness - rather primary source of information concerning that terrible mess. I just wonder how many up and coming people you are really patronizing and irritating with your spearmit-ment.
I have lost much due to you and your company this week, even AFTER I busted my butt to make sure the money was in your pocket and I was doing what was required of me. I don't have any other place to go in order to get my work done, apply at these deadlines, submit the required things AND I spent most of my time on the phone with your people (scratch that) with your computer systems and foreigners as well as your automated system and 'on hold' message.......
So it is about 10:00 pm and I am watching a lot opportunities go down the drain - I cannot even send this to you (It is in word pad and I will send it via email when - IF my Internet is restored)
My problems are monumental, just in general and I cannot believe this is happening.
Cut to this morning... Feb. !st, Still no internet and I had to call AGAIN, and be on hold, AND talk to the financial dept AND be apologized to as well as have someone try to SELL ME SOMETHING AGAIN !! Making me late for school. Is there no common sense in your company? Do you skip that part when you are training them to sell sell sell, apologize, 'understand' sell sell sell? AGAIN I am told there was yet another mistake and that she would make sure it was turned on today, I come home at 1:00 and yes, it was on, but not after missing several homework assignments, only after my bank account gets in trouble as I could not manage it from the online account I set up. Only after my daughter missed a few of her home work assignments and we both missed deadlines. Most extremely important as I NEED the grants for college (I live below the poverty level and what I did have for gas money and school needs, was sent to your pocket - (I get that, I really do, business is business right?
So let it be that, business and keep the financial and social advise to those experts, I don't need your reps telling me to borrow money or take out loans, first of all : Uhm like it was a news flash to me that borrowing was possible, second it's none of their damn business and three, if it is obvious I cannot pay bills, do you suppose it should be the advice of your Christian based company to tell me to go into more debt? Or ..... the worse and later, try to sell me something after 4 days (2 weeks actually) of not being able to get the basic services from your company that I ordered in the first place ... having them shut off for non payment twice, after the bill was paid.
Yes there are 'glitches' in the system, in life for that matter so you may want to just blow this whole incident off and blame the glitch, but meanwhile, what unfolded while trying to fix the glitch should be your major concern...........
Long story short - You guys really aren't paying attention and your technical stuff it is only costing you money, your scripts are bull and unwillingness to work with people in hard times will be remembered for eons.
I write for a local paper, a good one and I am moving up in the 'world' :)
getting my degree and I have written in the past about charity, forgiving of debts, good companies that help the community, where and how to contribute, who to pay attention to etc ......
I am just a 'little head' on the totem pole right now, a single broke mom going to school and still succeeding (even though I had to deal with you all week)
I thought some of you might like to actually know the real statistics, the real story and how it sounds on 'our' end, the customer, and what your lack of actual business sense is doing to so many people.
Is someone playing games?
Patty Musgrove
Resolution Update 02/04/2011:
well it seems enough people at quest have read this and addressed it. so I say it is resolved. but I don't know how to find the 'contact us' or 'talktous at quest' whatever - another hour or so of my time .... so, and ... yes ,my account is challenging (rocky history) always struggling to pay the bill .... at least I was heard. I complain (not for ego sake) but because I assume companies want to know where there are issues. Some of the answers I have heard are just more 'lip service' some are excuses like - 'well if you press #1 you will get the wrong dept." and I am like : well DUH... did you not see my whole entire point? the small business dept at quest was very helpful :) very helpful. He seems to be a smart guy and really actually did something that helped ME.
so yes... I guess it is resolved .
PS The people/reps in the Logan Ut office ROCK ! They are sincere, courteous, and get things done without 'ego' games or taking a call personal (yes, omg some call centers do that... use customer irritation as a way to get their rocks off for the day) but Logan rocks :)
Company Response 02/04/2011:
Dear Patty,
Please accept my sincerest apologies and I want to let you know we do appreciate your patronage. Although with out your account information it is challenging to comment on your specific situation and I would LOVE the opportunity to address it and get a fix in our process that obviously failed you in your time of need. If you will email me at firstname.lastname@example.com "Attention Rich" in the subject line, I will contact you directly and review all the details personally for full resolve if you are willing to do so. As a company obviously we want to grow our business but recognize that nothing is perfect and there is always room for growth, thank you for bringing your situation our attention so that we can do so.
Rich @TalkToQwest
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Qwest Sucks....Sucks Hard
Posted by
I ordered Qwest WIFI service for a small apartment complex that I manage - was told that all they could do was 3 megs @ $90 per month. I agreed to that - no worries.
Got the bill - they tapped me for $372.65.
Here's how it broke down:
Qwest Installation charge + Qest Office Basic (whatever that is): $149.99
Service charge for First Jack (wtf?...): $110.00
Broadband BUS 3m/640k: $9.99
Charge for service not previously billed: $8.50
Charge for service not previously billed (again!): $0.53
Qwest Broadband: $93.00
Taxes: $0.64
I called them up. I explained that I had not been quoted anywhere close to $279 just for the friggin' install. Mr. Useless (name changed to protect the idiot) explained in so many words that I could either pay my bill...or pay my bill, and go away.
I just got a quote from a competing company - $25 install.
Qwest.com: You got me. You got me good you [bleepers]. But one good lick is all you're going to get. I'm canceling your sorry arses before the next bill comes due. If you're thinking of buying anything from Qwest, do some homework. You can get a better product for less elsewhere. I learned that just a little too late.
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Stay Away From Qwest!!!!
Posted by
We have been a customer of Qwest since 2007. When we first moved into our apartment we were told we had to use Qwest. No big deal, right? Wow, if I would have known how horrible it would be to deal with Qwest there is no way I would have signed a lease to move in the first place. They are absolutely unresponsive, rude and terrible. To begin, we first used Qwest internet in our home office. The internet was constantly down, and it would take forever to get someone on the phone, and if you could sit through the 20-30 minute wait you would typically get transferred around to several representatives that "were sorry for any inconvenience" but couldn't help you with any solutions.
Further, we also bundled my business phone line through Qwest. Since then we have discontinued the phone service because of the terrible representatives. We continuously had billing errors. And when I did finally disconnect the service, they tried billing me twice. Thank goodness I kept good notes.
They also decided in 2009 to provide our complex with a "complimentary internet upgrade", but what they didn't tell us was that it would take 5 visits to get it right, and that you didn't have a choice. Our internet was down for several days, which they said they would reimburse us for (still haven't seen that credit), and I had to take 2 days off of work to sit at home for a 4 hour period waiting for them to show up. The first appointment of which they showed up an hour and a half late to, but tried to justify by saying "they were with other customers".
Not too long ago my husband bought at HD TV. Since we utilized Direct TV for our television services this wasn't an issue. Come to find out that for HD TV there were centralized dishes around our apartment community that we had to use. Oh no, call Qwest for TV too. Well, unfortunately we didn't have a choice and now our TV is through Qwest as well. We had never before had a problem with Direct TV, until now. Qwest yesterday provided our complex with a "complimentary upgrade" and needless to say our TV isn't working today and the quickest they can get someone out is on Tuesday of next week, and we have to be home between 8-12. So once again I get to take time off of work so Qwest can fix another problem. The first representative I spoke with this morning was rude, wouldn't give her name, and hung up on me. I spoke with our leasing office who also called Qwest and told me that she fared no better. She was also a product of the Qwest solution of "I don't know what to do and I don't want to deal with this, even if it is my job, so I will just hang up on you".
I called back a second time and spoke with a gentleman, Curtis, who was pleasant and put me in touch with his manager Tony. Tony assured me he would look into it and would get back to me. He did call back to say that they had to switch out the boxes at our home (which we have had less than 2 months), but he didn't know when they would be doing that and that he would call me back later. However, it has now been 3 hrs without a call back. Tony has left for the day, and there is no manager on duty. I spoke with another rep, Jeff T. in Boise, ID who was absolutely worthless, and kept trying to tell me my problem was with Qwest not with him and not to take it out on him. Someone really should explain to him that he works for Qwest and is a representative and all the customer is asking for is solutions. I didn't raise my voice, but did repetitively ask "what they were going to do to make this right" and all he kept telling me was that he wasn't authorized to do anything, and there was no one working at that time that was authorized. Fortunately, we are moving into a house in less than a month. There is no way I will use Qwest for internet, phone or TV. I can't wait to go back to cox for internet and phone service and Direct TV for TV. I can't wait to get away from this terrible company, with their terrible customer service. If you have a choice... stay away from this company. They will give you nothing but headaches, and cost you money.
Thanks for letting me vent.
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What's Going On Here?
Posted by
LOGAN, UTAH -- Here is a copy of the email messages between me and Qwest and I wonder why it has esclated this far.
RE: Qwest.com Customer Support (Phone)
From: ****** ****** (******firstname.lastname@example.com)
Sent: Fri 5/22/09 1:25 AM
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Thank you for your prompt reply of only waiting ten days before providing contact of any sort. A Qwest technician already came to my apartment complex and repaired whatever was wrong by fixing something in the box outside of the building.
If an email address is email@example.com then you should be able to figure out that the person's name is John Doe and if your system will not allow you to find a phone number and other contact information by referencing a name then Qwest is in more trouble than I thought. If you are to thick to figure this out then you shouldn't be working in customer service and if you're just being obnoxious through procrastination then you shouldn't be working in customer service either. Maybe another career might fit better. Can you say "Do you want fries with that"?
> From: firstname.lastname@example.com
> To: ******firstname.lastname@example.com
> Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 14:25:38 -0500
> Subject: RE: Qwest.com Customer Support (Phone)
> ******
> Thank you for your recent e-mail inquiry to Qwest. I apologize for the delay in responding to your e-mail. Please provide your telephone number plus the 3 digit customer code and I will be glad to help you.
> Sue
> Qwest Customer Care
> Consumer Markets
> www.Qwest.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ****** ******[mailto:******email@example.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 4:41 PM
> To: Qwest Support
> Subject: Qwest.com Customer Support (Phone)
> ----------------------------------------
> First Name: ******
> Last Name: ******
> Primary Phone Number: --
> Am I a Qwest Customer? Yes
> 3 Digit Qwest Account Number:
> E-Mail Address: ******firstname.lastname@example.com
> Contact Preference: Phone
> Description: 5/11/2009
> Customer service representative:
> Last Friday night I noticed my internet connection was slow and my land line telephone had static so today I called the customer service department for Qwest and it turned out to be a real headache.
> Getting past the automatic phone reception system, the static on the phone lines, giving your representative the wrong number, being transferred and put on hold numerous times, and finally being disconnected when I was trying to talk with a representative who had a strong accent was a little too much for me. I called back on my T Mobile cell (which has always worked fine) and was transferred again until I talked with someone at the ****** office.
> Now I could be wrong because of the communication difficulty but think I was told that an eighty-five dollar fee is applied if the technician has to come into my apartment for repair. That's understandable but think I was also told that it couldn't be determined if that fee would be assessed or not at the time the request was made. What I don't understand is why a check can't be done to your equipment outside at your expense without charging me. I had this same problem before and it was repaired by Qwest without charging me. After asking to have my telephone disconnected I was told that would increase my internet service bill by five dollars a month because of a discount. Great discount! It's more of a customer service return guarantee for you than a discount for me.
> I'm not responsible for the phone bill now so the least expensive and best option for me is not to use Qwest except for contracted internet service. I'll be ending my telephone and internet service as soon as my contract expires and referring everyone to any company but Qwest. T Mobile has been good for me so I think I'll refer everyone to them.
> Land lines are becoming dinosaurs and soon will be extinct as will your
> business with me and probably many other current Qwest customers.
> I hope your day is as bad as mine has been.
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Shocking Experience
Posted by
More than disgusted!
TUCSON, ARIZONA -- I have encountered a similar shocking experience with the Qwest service as the writer of another review!
After I had ordered a bundle for HD TV, Internet and Phone service from Direct TV (who had no problem with my request!), I had to call Qwest to inform them of the installation date - Qwest had to come for the internet part of the bundle. I already had Qwest telephone service but, with the bundle, my cost would not have been as much.
All I was seeking was an alternative service to replace the expensive Comcast that I was signed up with.
When I called Qwest, the associate told me that Qwest could offer me the same package at a lower cost. I was told that it was because Qwest had better promotions than Direct TV and therefor I should order the package from Qwest. This meant that I had to cancel the order with Direct TV (will not get into that conversation!!!!!!!!!) and needless to say, they wanted to convince me to stay with their order. After a conversation of almost 90 minutes, the associate cancelled my order.
When the technician arrived, he walked in with a problem. Only 4 receivers instead of 5 like my order was! I had to call Qwest to check their order but, the phone number that was left on my message, was not the right number. I had to talk to the Business Office. They could not talk to me for at least another 30 minutes because of other customers who was calling in! (most probably more complaints!) The request to me from Qwest "please call back in at least 30 minutes!" How ridiculous to have the Technician hang around for 30 minutes!????
In the meantime, Mr Tech called Direct TV and they were kind enough to let me have the fifth receiver installed for free. Mr Tech could proceed.
After 4 hours of installations, he explained to me how to operate the remotes. I asked hom about the extra sport channel that I ordered and, (was I surprised?) it was not on the order! Another Qwest mistake. Also, the sport channel that the Qwest associate recommended (with rugby and cricket, that is why I want it!) did not have either of the two sports! He told me what to order.
I asked him about the internet service and he said that UPS or FedEx would most probably deliver a modem within the next day or two. However, my gut feeling told me to call Qwest and check with them what the next step would be to have the internet service in place so that I could cancel Comcast. Again, first call was to the wrong phone number (provided by Qwest!) and eventually I spoke to the next "wrong" associate/department for my inquiry. He did however tell me that there was no order for internet service on my phone number! (another Qwest mistake!!!!) He got the Business Office on the phone who then told me that internet service was not available at all!!!!!!! This was what she said: "How do you expect us to give you a service that we do not have and does not exist?" I told her that it did exist a week ago when I spoke to an associate who gave me a confirmation number for the order of all three services! At this stage the Qwest problem was made my problem because now, I was the one that was stuck with a 24 month contract with Direct TV without internet service - this I had to get from Comcast and then, my monthly cost for the three services, would have been more than my cost with Comcast! After another conversation of at least 30 minutes, I was put on hold while she was going to find out if they could find a solution. In that time (waiting) I had time to take a shower, get dressed and do my make-up!!!! I was still listening to the advertisement recording! She eventually came back and suggested that they would (mind you!!! the voice tone made it sound like a favor!!!) ask Direct TV to remove the equipment without any cancellation cost to me!!!!
Before I could ask her to please call me back with the rest of the information, she put me back on hold and that is exactly where I was when I had to leave for my appointment. In total my hours spent on telephone conversations amounts up to at least 5 hours and the installation this morning was from 11am until 3pm.
Please just take a hint from my experience and be extremely careful when you deal with sales people that work for companies without being fully informed about what they can offer potential customers. I have had it! Enough is enough! I will definitely change my telephone provider. I would be surprised if I end up without any cost for the disastrous incident!
Seems as though, "The customer is ALWAYS WRONG" is the motto!
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Anonymous on 03/27/2009:
I guess Comcast is not so bad after all, huh?
Starlord on 03/27/2009:
I agree, Ken. I don't know why, but we cannot get either Qwest/Direct or Dish Network where we live in Washington, so we signed up with Comcast. We are very happy with the TV/phone/internet service, especially having been ripped off by Qwest in Arizona to the tune of $500 for a paperweight in the shape of a mobile phone. I wouldn't walk across the street to spit on Qwest if it were on fire.
madconsumer on 03/27/2009:
ken and star, both helpful answers.
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Promised, Billed, And No Delivery... Qwest And Follow Through...
Posted by
GRANTS PASS, OREGON -- I live in an geographic area with limited to no cell phone reception to my home... And the only DSL carrier and landline provider in the area is Qwest...
About two months ago, in response to advertisements to save money via bundling services, I made my first mistake: I called Qwest to ask about their bundled services. And, I ended up bundling, supposedly getting three features bundled -- saving me money, of course -- plus 300 minutes free long distance per month -- and we canceled my out-of-state long distance carrier while we were at it (me being assured multiple times by the person doing that, that I needed to do nothing further -- he did ALL the canceling). Well, not much really happened after that phone call... Caller ID, a new bundled feature, never worked. The old long distance company continued to bill me. I continued to be billed by Qwest for in-state long distance. I am not sure if the over-all cost of my phone bill was reduced at all...
In the meantime, thinking positive, I called Qwest to get the caller ID working. Well, again, supposedly someone worked on that but not successfully. Qwest blamed the lack of caller ID on my equipment -- some of it new within the last year, having and certainly capable of caller ID... ( i.e. good equipment from a reliable company).
Having not learned my lesson, I decided to complain to a Qwest customer service representative who, again, tried to save me money by making some changes to, this time, my internet service. To my complete satisfaction, the next bill from Qwest was lower but not for long: This month the bill doubled...
Again, thinking this matter could be fixed, I immediately called Qwest. The representative I spoke with tried to fix things -- I think. I'm not sure. I was having grave doubts about Qwest by this time. After being placed on hold for the third time while she tried to "dot all my 'I's, and cross all my 't's", I disconnected the call. This woman was beginning to sound like the first woman with whom I spoke -- the one who bundled the first set of services two months ago with little result. Who knew what I would really get and how much I would be charged this time around? I wasn't going to chance it.
After hanging up and (a) considering the situation for some time, (b) getting connected to Qwest Internet service where I could study my bill and change services myself if need be, (c) investigating other possible phone and fast speed Internet carriers in my area (no solid options there), and (d) finally finding this site and learning that, indeed, I am not alone, I realized I was being charged for a change in Internet service THAT I NEVER GOT. And what's new with that... I didn't get the other promised services either; however, I also didn't get a big bill paying for services that didn't exist unlike this time.
So this morning, I phoned Qwest. When the automated service answered my call, I relentlessly pushed 000000s until I was put through to an actual person. When that person wanted to assist me, I gave him no information despite his persistence other than "Connect me to the billing department." Of course, he did not transfer me to the billing department -- I expected this boggled response.... after-all this was Qwest where boggling is standard practice and the customer never gets what she wants. I KNEW what I was dealing with: Perfection in service is NOT what they are building their reputations on...
But, the next person did connect me to the billing department. I explained my case to the billing department. I was being charged (since Nov. 1) for a service I had not received. The billing representative looked. He saw. And he actually verified that "she" had, indeed, disconnected one set of services but never connected the new services (par for Qwest), that I was being charged for a change that had never happened and, in fact, I should not have been charged for even if it had happened... So, the billing representative indicated that he would credit my account, change things back, not charge me next month, and even save me some money ongoing every month, AND give me some confirmation numbers that, indeed, these changes were taking place.
Well, of course, promises are promises... And we all know Qwest. Promises are their stock in trade; it's follow through that's iffy.... well, maybe even.... rare. So its wait and see for me (and I will check out my account on the internet, too, to see if any changes were made.... charges dropped, etc., etc.) before I know what actually took place this morning. Perhaps I will actually pay Qwest less and get at least what I used to get before I bundled... and got nothing, anyway. In the meantime, there may be hope coming in the form of a new broadband service to my area... connecting phone and internet... And perhaps I can finally bail on Qwest... I know the technology is out there... I am dreaming of one of those small satellite dishes attached to the house with a flow of signals connecting me to the internet.... talking through the computer... I know this can be done... It's out there somewhere... and for a reasonable price!
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Wrongfully turned longtime customer's account over to collections agency.
Posted by
OMAHA, NEBRASKA -- To Whom It May Concern,
I cancelled DSL service with Qwest in February 2011. At the time that I cancelled, I was told that I would not have to return the modem because I had purchased it. This made sense to me, as I had easily paid for value of the modem several times over during the many years I was a Qwest DSL customer.
However, a couple of weeks after I cancelled my service, Qwest sent me UPS shipping labels to return the modem. I dropped off the modem at UPS on March 28, 2011. I have delivery confirmation from UPS that states that the package was delivered to Pueblo, CO April 4, 2011 at 1:34 PM and signed by DOUGLAS.
On May 13, 2011 Afni sent me a letter stating that they were a debt collector attempting to collect a debt on behalf of Qwest. When I called Afni to discuss the letter, I was told that the debt was owed for the modem mentioned above. I told Afni that I would like to dispute the debt and provided them with the UPS tracking number, which shows proof of delivery.
I received another latter from Afni May 24, 2011; which stated that Afni had verified the debt was valid, and intends to continue to pursue collection of the debt.
On May 24, 2011 I contacted Qwest customer service and talked to someone who gave me the ID KLMason. She told me that she worked in Qwest Billing, and that she could not find a record of the returned modem; and that there was nothing else she could do.
I am finding that in every detail in this matter, Qwest has shown poor customer service ability. From telling me that I would not have to return the modem, to turning the account over to a collections agency to denying that they had received the modem, despite the clear UPS paper trail from me to the Qwest facility in Colorado; it is difficult to find anything that is not disappointing about Qwest in this matter.
I have begun to pursue legal options with Afni. The federal government is very clear about what those options are. It seems that I could pay the amount requested, but I returned the modem and I believe the facts are clear in the matter. I would have no reason to lie under oath regarding such a thing, particularly because Qwest sent me shipping labels; but also because the modem is essentially worthless, not only to me, but also in the general sense the value of the device in question in year 2011. The federal government has various mechanism in place to protect honest consumers like myself from being harmed in circumstances such as this.
Name Removed
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Alain on 06/20/2011:
A lawyer might be interested in helping you with this. Contact one for a free consultation and see what they say.
Rebecca on 07/12/2011:
Qwest has tried to get a $200 ETF out of me for internet service. I objected
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High Speed Internet???
Posted by
The ad on TV says that Qwest has 'Heavy Duty, High Speed Internet Service'. Not true! I have had their so-called Heavy Duty, High Speed Internet Service since just before Christmas(2010) and I have to say that there is nothing Heavy Duty OR High Speed about it. It's much slower than the Comcast service I gave up due to high price. It has been freezing-up several times a day for nearly a month and when I call to complain I get the run-around, left on hold or hung-up on. They have burned a bridge with me.
I won't continue with their service since its perfectly clear they don't care about their customers.
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Skye on 04/08/2011:
We love our high speed DSL from Qwest. Since you don't like it, or think it's fast enough, change to another provider. That's the great thing about Qwest, you are not locked into any contracts.
trmn8r on 04/08/2011:
Which level of DSL do you have? The lowest DSL speeds (which I have) don't compare with cable, I believe.
It sounds like your main complaint is poor customer service - from your description they haven't been able to help you figure out this freezing problem. That's a shame. Good luck wherever you end up.
Qwest on 04/14/2011:
Hello this is Steph from Qwest, I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you've had when calling in and your speed issues. Please email me at email@example.com with your billing phone number, billing address and best contact number. Thank you
Stephanie Lake
Manager, Talk To Qwest Team
"At Qwest your account information is confidential and protected by law, so I need your permission to access the account."
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How To Get Screwed By Qwest 101
Posted by
I've been with Qwest for 6 years and more or less had no problems with them until I decided to order a high speed Internet. I place an order online on March 9th and purchase supplemental equipment with that which I pay for on the say day with my credit card. A week later my modem is not there. I call QWEST, they tell me there was internal error, we apologize and all, you will get it in 3 days. OK, deep breath... Tree days later, no modem, call again, a lot of sorries, this time will send for sure - expect in three days... Double deep breath, ooooookk... Three days later, my goodness! it's still not there - well by now I am ready to sue the whole Oregon - they promised this time to send it on the same day and expect it the next day. Well, the big news - IT WASN'T THEIR NEXT DAY BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER SENT!!! Finally, it took like 5 representatives, multiple calls back and forth and emails, it got there 20 days later. And 5 days later showed up a bill that haD charges on it for the equipment I already paid for online like 25 days ago. I call yet another representative and he tells me basically I will be charged twice but refunded once, half the price. And, he hung up on me.
I talked to another representative and asked for the manager - she assured me she can help me - sounded like she did, but hey! - I haven't seen the changed bill yet. How many people and days did it take for the company to send me one little modem?
Who does business like that I wonder? Chicken house has more order than that! And to think that I waste my money and time on business like that!
What gets me the most is when they screw me over like that repeatedly and then have the guts to ask me if I want to buy TV and cellular services from them. To that I say, 'ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!'
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Starlord on 04/06/2011:
I have a Master's in Getting Screwed by Qwest. Because I was a 'good customer,' I was offered a special deal on a cell phone from Qwest once. On receipt, I tried to activate the phone according to the directions that came with it. I called the Qwest number and told them the phone did not work, and wanted an RA number to return it for exchange. They fiddled and farted around and never sent me an RA number, finally telling me the phone was mine, and if I did not pay for it, they would turn off my home service. So I ended up paying $500 for the world's most expensive paperweight, and the only thing I got every time I tried to use it was a recording that I was "not authorized to use the Alltel network." I found out too late to get in on the suit against Qwest Mobile by the Arizona Attorney General. We finally ended up donating the phone to a program that sends cell phones to military personnel.
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Qwest doesn't deliver, accept for early termination fees
Posted by
I had had telephone service with Quest for 19 years. I would think I would be exempt from any early termination fees. Then I changed my service and eventually deleted the telephone altogether and used only their Internet services, but every time I asked for a change on my services they set themselves up a whole new contract, which would make me eligible for an early termination fee. So I got wise, and on that last change I told them I would pay more per month so I would not have the early termination fee.
I had a whole lot of trouble with their signal for Internet. I was knocked off at times or had very low signal almost all of the time. I called many times and talked to their tech support. Each time I called it took an hour or so, at least. They would often do something on their end which bumped my signal up for the rest of that day, then the next day it would be down again. I was calling day after day. They sent a tech out to check the computer and lines 3 times, and none of those times corrected the problem. Then they told me my modem was now old in comparison to the new technology they were using so talked me into purchasing a new modem, for around a hundred dollars or so. That didn't do it either. I was fed up and by then we were planning on moving. So I disconnected the service, and what to my amazement - an early termination fee appeared on my bill. I called and they told me that when they set up a new contract for the Internet line they did set me up to pay the full amount without the contract, but he second time I called tech support I was set up for the lower amount and the contract took effect. I did not know about this, and now that I have moved and am living with someone else, and have no need of their services they are billing me, after 19 years of service, for an early termination fee and it has gone to collections.
And considering their billing- don't even get me started. I had to call them every month for mistakes they made.
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trmn8r on 02/20/2011:
You say that you "got wise". Do you feel it is wise to let a bill go to collections?
Anonymous on 02/21/2011:
Trm-I guess these days we should just let companies screw us over, and just take it and pay the bill? Id fight it too.
Qwest on 02/21/2011:
I will look into this early termination fee issue for you if you email me your Qwest account number.
Corey Tidwell
Talk To Qwest Team
email@example.com Attn. Corey
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