text:
Fuel throughout
the World has become very expensive and therefore
customers are looking for different ways of saving
money on fuel. Unfortunately most car hire
company's fuel policy in Spain is to pay for a
full tank of fuel and return empty.
Returning a car
empty is very hard to do and for anyone using a car
for less than two weeks will find it very difficult
to use a full tank of fuel especially if it is a
diesel car.
We understand
the importance of saving money on fuel and with
Econorent (when choosing full to full option) we have
a company where you can return your car full of fuel
and you will receive a full refund (a credit card
swipe will be taken just in case you are unable to
return the car full of fuel).
Whether it be 3
days or 33 days the same policy applies, we now have
a large amount of our house owners that travel into
Alicante Airport that use Econorent and the fact that
they keep coming back and re-booking their car hire
means the system works.
With Al Andalus
we can offer a full to full fuel policy at Alicante,
Murcia and Almeria Airports.
Solmar have
locations at Gerona, Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia,
Murcia, Santiago, Torrevieja, Denia, Moraira, Murcia
Downtown and Javea where you can pick up and return
the car full of fuel if you add €40 Euros on to
your final rental charge.
We are now
working with Malagacar where you pay for half a tank
of fuel and return empty saving you money when
travelling to Malaga Airport
We also work
with Dickmanns that offer a half full to empty fuel
policy or full to full fuel policy (depending on the
car you choose) at Alicante, Murcia and Valencia
Airports which helps to save money too.
We have also
just added Automotive Cars where you can return the
car with the same quantity of fuel as received IF IT
IS FOR 6 DAYS OR LESS and they are at Palma
If you require
any further information on Econorent's,
Dickmann's, Concord, Automotive's or
Malagacar's fuel policy or have any other
questions regarding car hire please do not hesitate
to contact us on:
Please Click
a free upgrade when you book car hire for 28 days or
is the weather in Alicante at present why not click
on the logo below and see what the weather is like
where you are travelling!


text:
A total of $550,000 has been contributed by the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation to the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation, the Kansas Dental Association's (KDA) giving arm, to assist in funding the Kansas Initiative for New Dentists program. The KIND program focuses on bringing dental care to sparsely populated areas of Kansas. The program, which designates areas of the state as "dental deserts," offers loan repayments and grants to attract dentists to these key areas. In addition to providing financial support for these future dentists, the KIND program works with local communities to determine other opportunities for support to make recruitment efforts successful. The 2013 scholarship recipients are Nathan Schmidt who would like to practice in Wallace County, Brittany Owens who would like to practice in Marion County and Taylor Allen-Merklein who would like to practice in Doniphan County.
"The KDA is pleased with our partnership with the Foundation on the KIND program as we work hand-in-hand in encouraging new dentists to practice in Kansas and ultimately help solve dental access issues in rural Kansas," said Keven Robertson, Executive Director, KDA.
The DDKS Foundation plans to bring their contribution total to one million dollars in 2014.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
United Kingdom
10 Fenchurch Street
EC3M 3BE London
Fax +44 20 3206 1701
Managing Director:
Stuart Hill
10 Fenchurch Street
EC3M 3BE London
Fax +44 20 7015-4001
Chief Executive Officer:
Nick Parr
Life & Health Reinsurance
Hannover Re UK Life Branch
10 Fenchurch Street
EC3M 3BE London
Fax +44 20 3206 1701
Managing Director:
Stuart Hill
Hannover Re UK Life Branch has built an enviable position as one of Britain's leading life and health reassurers. Our extensive range of products and services are offered to clients in the UK, Ireland and offshore centres such as the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
We're somewhat different:
By building stable long-term client partnerships, we strive to offer excellence, efficiency and innovation. We listen to our clients' needs and aim to deliver the most effective tailored solutions to them. By its very nature, life reassurance relationships are based on trust and reliability and so we endeavour to remain open and transparent in our communications. We believe this makes us innovative and somewhat different.
Hannover Re UK Life Branch offers reassurance solutions across the spectrum of life and healthcare. In order to provide the highest level of service we aim to build long-term relationships with our clients. This means clients can be sure of receiving individual attention with access to the widest range of information and resources. The size, knowledge and international connections of Hannover Re provide the support to make this possible.
Our product range consists of:
- Individual life and disability cover - including critical illness and income protection
- Group life, disability and critical illness cover
- Impaired annuity reassurance
- Annuity administration and reassurance
- Financial reassurance - including deficit account financing and block assumption transactions
Our ongoing commitment to research, product development and marketing will, we believe, continue to expand the company year on year. As always, our philosophy remains to grow our business through profitable partnerships with our clients.
Property & Casualty Reinsurance
International Insurance Company of Hannover SE
10 Fenchurch Street
EC3M 3BE London
Fax +44 20 7015-4001
Chief Executive Officer:
Nick Parr
- Inter Hannover provides the group with the possibility to write insurance business in addition to its main reinsurance activities
- Inter Hannover can write business within the EU on a freedom of service basis or though branch offices (Sweden, Italy, Australia and Canada). Inter Hannover holds a variety of licences outside the EU
- Together with the group direct and facultative business centre the company underwrites multinational property, on and offshore energy, liability, personal accident and space
- In cooperation with Hannover Re's aviation and marine underwriting centres Inter Hannover writes direct business in these classes through its Scandinavian branch office
- On smaller risks with a good profit potential Inter Hannover delegates underwriting authorities to agencies or brokers. This somewhat complex business structure is strictly controlled by expert staff and rigid guidelines
- Please find more information here:


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Burton v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.(Personal Injury US Dist. Ct. KS 1994 Pltf Paid) Citation: 884 F.Supp. 1515 (10 Mar 1995); 203 F.R.D. 636 (1 Nov 2001 regarding supplemental expert disclosures); 181 F.Supp.2d 1256 (8 Jan 2002 regarding motion for summary judgment); 208 F.Supp.2d 1187 (9 May 2002 denying new trial); 205 F.Supp.2d 1253 (21 Jun 2002 setting punitive damage amount); 397 F.3d 906 (9 Feb 2005); 395 F.Supp.2d 1065 (20 Oct 2005 regarding costs)
This individual personal injury suit was filed by David and Ora Burton against R.J. Reynolds and the American Tobacco Co. on May 25, 1994.
The plaintiffs alleged that cigarettes caused David Burton's peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and addiction. Mr. Burton smoked Camel and Lucky Strike cigarettes for 43 years beginning around 1950. In 1993, he was diagnosed with PVD, which resulted in the loss of his legs later that year. The plaintiffs claimed design defect, failure to warn, negligent testing and research, fraudulent concealment, breach of express warranty, and conspiracy. The plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages.
The defendants argued that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations, as well as asserting the defense of common knowledge.
The case was heard in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (Case No. 94-2202-JWL)before the Honorable John W. Lungstrum. March 10, 1995, the judge (884 F.Supp. 1515) granted a partial summary judgment for the defendants on the claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of express warranty, as well as post-1969 failure to warn (as preempted by the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act). On February 22, 2002, a verdict was returned in favor of the defendant on the claims of design defect and conspiracy, but for the plaintiffs for failure to warn, negligent testing and research, and fraudulent concealment. The jury award consisted of $198,400 in compensatory damages. The judge imposed $15 million in punitive damages against R.J. Reynolds on June 21, 2002. The defendant appealed.
The United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit (397 F.3d 906) reversed the verdict for fraudulent concealment and all punitive damages and affirmed the verdict for the failure to warn claim, failure to test, and all compensensatory damages on February 9, 2005. The court found that state law did not recognize fruadulent concealment when brought by an ordinary consumer because there was no fiduciary duty to disclose information. Because the punitive damage award was based entirely on the fraudulent concealment claim, the court reversed it as well. The plaintiffs' claim of negligent failure to warn was not barred by the statute of limitations and were supported by sufficient evidence. Mr. Burton's PVD and addiction were not discoverable until he was diagnosed and tried to quit smoking while in the hospital. The two year statute of limitations was counted from the first date the injury was "reasonably ascertainable".
A final judgment was ordered in favor of the plaintiff for $196,416, and issued on May 17, 2005. The judge awarded costs of $31,784 to the plaintiff on January 6, 2006.
The plaintiff was paid $198,000.


text:
And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
This countryside-inspired piece features a 25 mm glass orb bead that has been filled with a small bundle of dried baby's breath and sealed with two vintage brass bead cap findings. Romantic and rustic, the glass orb hangs from a 22'' antique copper chain.
Shipping: This product ships from the maker within 5 days, via USPS
Returns: If you're not happy with this item for any reason, you may return it for a full refund within 30 days.


text:
The Top 9 Truths About Adding Twitter Followers
Without a doubt, one of the questions I am asked the most is, "How did you get so many Twitter followers?". It's almost like they think there was some magical trick I used to instantly add 23,000 followers. So, the last time someone asked me this I got off the phone and really gave it some thought.
So, how did I do it? I will definitely say that Twitter became my social media passion. One big truth many don't share is that it takes time and effort. I put every minute I had available into building my Twitter following and reputation. And, I'm talking a LOT of minutes.
Here's the top 9 truths I would offer you to help grow your community (I will leave tip number 10 to you, the Reader, to share in the comments section):
1. Your Bio Is Your Favorite Picture - Think of your bio as the one picture of yourself that you really like. The one that makes you do a double take to make sure it's you…and yep, it is! Your bio should describe what you do, who you are and what you offer. Be specific where you can but also add your personality to your bio. If you're dull and sound like a textbook you will attract dull and textbook. You want people that are active and talkative…you know…SOCIAL. (I have re-written my bio at least 20 times and probably about time I spruced it up again)
2. Keywords Are Your Seeds - You plant the "keyword seeds" in your bio and tweets by using industry related words and search terms that will bring your market to you. Tweets are indexed by both Google and Twitter's trending engine. As in any SEO, you want to use the keywords naturally in a sentence.
3. Boring Backgrounds Are Bad – Get a custom background for your profile or at least a picture up as soon as possible. I won't usually even follow someone that still has the Twitter bird as their profile image. You can find free Twitter backgrounds with a simple Google search…you don't have to get fancy. But, if you've got the extra couple bucks or know how to create your own background, it's a great way to create a recognizable brand.
4. Follow, Follow, Follow - I've found that not everyone will tell you this, but it is important to follow as many people as Twitter limits allow… especially in the beginning stages of building your following. Follow wisely, though. Do your research to find those that are both in your network niche, but also think about those outside your network that may benefit from your products or your expertise. Use Twitter directories, Twitter advanced search, and industry hashtags of events to promote yourself, find your market and gain followers.
5. Follow Industry Leaders and Get Them To Follow You – Follow people in your niche who have universally recommended expertise. Look for industry leaders who you can engage with and encourage them to follow you. Please don't be annoying as hell and start spamming them with DM requests. Be engaging to be engaged with. When someone with a lot of followers follows you, the aggregate traffic can be huge.
6. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) - Make it obviously easy to find and follow you. If you have a blog or other site, be sure to let your visitors know how to find and follow you on Twitter. Make it easy for them by having Twitter "add me" buttons in strategic places on your site. Don't be afraid to ask people to follow you in your content. If you talk about Twitter in an article, include a little "I love Twitter too! Follow me @MarketLikeAChik for more tips & some fun!" It's simple and fast, and most people who like your site will follow you on Twitter if you make it easy for them.
7. I'm Here Too!- Wherever you have a social profile set up…Facebook, FriendFeed, LinkedIn… you should connect and cross promote your other profiles. Most are set up to easily link your Twitter profile. It not only saves you time, but boosts your overall member rate on both sites.
8. She's Got Big Balls – I'm borrowing from AC/DC's song, but the term just fits. Do not be a wall flower. Be the person that is first to give an opinion, break industry news, or take sides in a controversial conversation. Watch for what's trending and ride the wave by tweeting articles or commenting about the subject. Put your own spin on it, don't be a monkey. Be entertaining and informative, engage with people, ask for opinions on trending topics. If you don't know what to talk about check this article out for some Twitter conversation starters.
9. Provide Useful, Relevant and Digestible Information – All of the other 8 tips listed above will only get you so far. People are busy. When you provide something that saves time or solves a problem you become valuable to them. They want to know what other tips you can give to help them in other areas. Have you ever done a search on how to do or fix something only to find page after page of confusing and contradicting answers? People are looking for quick answers and easy to follow instruction. Give that to your community on a consistent basis and talk to your followers…you will not only increase your following but you will build a loyal community of your own.
Ask me questions. I know there is more that you want to know and a lot I didn't cover here, so go ahead and post your question in the comments below. Or, share a tip of your own that's helped you grow your Twitter base.
To Your Success,
Live Social Media Marketing Events: Are You Attending or Intending?
Social media marketing events are happening all around us and with every one there are new opportunities waiting to be had. However, without setting your intentions before attending, your mind doesn't know what to be on the look out for and you will miss golden opportunities right in front of you.
When I say "intention", I mean much more than just a casual "when I get there I'm hoping to meet so-and-so". Intentions are when your thoughts, desires, and focus are all in harmony. Be clear (focus) on your business objectives (dreams) and your thoughts will line up to start noticing opportunities. They will be attracted to you. (Be sure to check out Hardwiring Your Brain for Marketing Success!)
Intentions are important in any area of your marketing success, but especially when attending live events because things are constantly moving and changing. Your chance to talk or network face to face with a top influencer can be a fleeting moment that you may never see again.
Below are 8 intentions to get you started, but take the time to put some thought into them and make them your own. Really dig in and you'll be amazed at how opportunities just appear because your thoughts are focused on finding them.
1. Make a list of questions
Before you go to the event sit down and think about your business goals. You should already know what you intend to accomplish and have a plan on how to get there. If you're really working towards your goals and you're growing, chances are you will have hit a few forks in the road or may need a little advice from someone more experienced.
Write those questions down that you've been holding in the back of your head that've been keeping you from taking your business to the next level. Sometimes you don't even know what it is that's holding you back….thinking about it will bring to the surface what the real reason is. Once you know what it is, think about questions you might ask and who might be the most qualified to answer. Seek out those experts while you're there.
2. Plan A Mini-Interview With Your Top Picks
These questions are different than the ones you prepared in step one. Those questions focused on you and your specific business ideas or roadblocks you're experiencing. These are about the Speaker and their business success. You might even consider video taping and posting to your blog as a mini-interview.
Write down who you want to meet while you're at the event and make a list of all the questions you want to ask them. If you know someone you admire or respect in your industry is going to be there write their name and some specific questions about their success like, "What are the thee most crucial things you did that got you to where you are today?" Or, "If you were starting all over again what advice would you give yourself?"
3. Research The Event Speakers
Many times you may attend an event that has well known Keynote Speakers, but you may not be familiar with some of the workshop Speakers or Presenters. Before you go to the event do your homework and find out everything you can about the Speakers: what their latest project is, what's their specific niche in the industry, who do they associate with, what are some of the latest conversations they've been having?
The best place to start is their blog's "About Me" page to get some background information, then browse the rest of their blog to see what kind of content they are putting out. Check their Twitter conversations and blog commenting. You can check Disqus or Backtype to see what comments they have left on other blogs. Get a feel for what they are all about and where their attention is right now so you have something pertinent to talk about.
Once you get to know each of the Speakers better you may find that, while it's great to meet the big dogs, one of the other Presenters may be someone more in line with your business desires. Be prepared when you go….have set intentions.
4. Buddy Up
Find a live event buddy and hold each other accountable. You may not be able to attend all the workshops at the live event but if you have a buddy you can split up and agree to share notes after the event. How many times have you taken tons of notes and then gone home to set them on a shelf to never look at them again? Use the buddy strategy to hold each other accountable to actually do something with your notes.
When the event is over meet with your buddy before you part ways to debrief and set your intentions on what you're each going to implement, Write down the action steps for when you get home. Set an appointment to meet with your event buddy no more than 3 days after the event. Don't let the inspiration fade. Then agree to have accountability chats once a week to see if you you're completing your action steps.
This may morph into a partnership or a joint venture. So make sure you find a good buddy!
5. Craft your brand
When you go to a live event you need to brand yourself just like you would online. Have your 3 minute elevator speech memorized so when you meet someone you can quickly share. Your intentions should shine through and your brand should be easily understood. Boil it down to three things:
- Who you are
- What you do
- Why you are here
For example, if I was going to a live blogging event I may say something like, "My name is Coree Silvera from Market Like A Chick. I share principles behind marketing with social media and event community management. I'm here to stay on top of the latest trends in social media and to meet other people in the industry."
I tell those I meet enough about me so that they can ask some specific questions, like what is event community management, or how did you get started. Then you can have a meaningful conversation instead of, "Where are you from?" Or, "Man, it's hot/cold!"
6. Have Business Cards
Give yourself a few weeks ahead of time to order just in case. Make sure you have your contact information on the front and your brand's tag line on the back. Or, if you're an affiliate marketer, you can put the URL to your top three affiliate links. You might also print a special discount on product/services on the back of the card to encourage them to look further.
Be sure to include your social networking user names so it's easy to find you. One of the most annoying things is to go to a social media marketing event and get a business card without the person's social media info. At least include your Twitter name.
Remember the goal is not how many cards you give out but how many you get so YOU can follow up with them. If they don't have a card write down their info so you can follow up with them. Or, if you are really smart, one of the best ways to exchange social media information instantly is with a Poken! They are neat little gadgets that just take a click of a button to sync each others info onto a USB stick and save to your computer.
7. Stay Organized
As you get those questions you wrote down answered, cross them off your list and make a note of where to find the answer in your notes. Many times the Speaker may answer your question in their presentation so cross it off & make a new question that is more in depth. Whatever questions are left over you can then seek out the proper people to answer them.
Find a system that works for you while taking your notes. Maybe you want to bring a divided notebook for each topic or each workshop. At the very least remember to write the date, name of event, name of workshop, Speaker and the Speaker's Twitter handle. It only takes a second or two and will save you time later when you're looking for that tip you heard while you were at the event.
8. Go Early, Stay Late
Some of the best time to network is before and after the event. I know several people that don't even go to the workshops, but pay to be there just for the networking and hang out in the exhibitor area the whole time. Personally, I want to go to the workshops and learn something new to share with my readers or to enhance my service. So, I don't have time to network in between workshops.
You've probably traveled far and paid a lot of money to come to the event so make the most out of it. Get to the event early and stay late if you can. By doing this you will have a better chance of catching a moment to chat with some of the Speakers. Your time there is valuable there so make the most of it!
Being clear about what your business intentions are and why you are going to the event will make it much more meaningful and you'll come away with fresh ideas, contacts, and action steps. This is the difference between merely "attending" an event or "intending" to seize every opportunity at an event. Your time and money are valuable, go with purpose!
What's your best tip to get the most out of a live social media event? Have you ever gone to an event without any clear purpose of what you wanted to get out of it? How can you line up your intentions with the next event you're planning on attending? Share any stories of how you used an event to create a new joint venture, move past a roadblock, or how you may have missed an opportunity because you weren't prepared.
To Your Success,
Social Bookmarking For Backlinks
A common misconception of newcomers to social bookmarking is that all posts you bookmark receive a backlink to the original source. While the link used on a bookmarking site may provide traffic it does not necessarily mean that the link is a "DoFollow" link providing any SEO benefit to the source.
To receive the SEO benefit along with the traffic you must use social bookmarking sites that have a DoFollow policy.
If you're not familiar with how social bookmarking works, check out the series I posted on Social Bookmarking 101: What Is It and How Does It Work. The basic idea behind social bookmarking is the ability to store, index and search all of your favorite articles you've found while searching the web.
Like any new skill you're learning when marketing with social media, once you get the basics down you can begin learning learning new ways to use them to benefit yourself. If you are a blog owner one of your biggest tasks is building quality backlinks to your blog to improve your search engine ranking.
Most social bookmarking networks will require you to register, then once you have, you are able to submit links to those networks. If you are selective about using DoFollow bookmarking networks then those links will be DoFollow links back to your site.
Spend some time creating profiles on DoFollow social bookmarking sites. What I would suggest is creating a short template to save time. Since some of the networks will allow backlinks from your profile description, use your keywords as your anchor text. For instance, if you are aiming to have your site ranked for content marketing, in your profile description word it so you are hotlinking your keyword phrase "content marketing" and not just your blog title. I chose several of my most popular articles to link back to when writing my descriptions.
You might want to even create two templates…one html ready with your links and one without. Not all networks will allow links from your profile and some will require you to use your own html tags. ("a href"). So, be prepared and make it easier for yourself.
Once you have your profiles created remember to now use those sites to begin submitting your articles and reap the benefits of your work. Do keep in mind that some networks do not take kindly when you link ONLY to your own site, so be kind and remember to bookmark other interesting articles from other sites.
The best list of DoFollow social bookmarking sites I have found was put together on DoFollow.Info where you can also find some other great resources on DoFollow techniques. This list give descriptions of the networks and where you will find the DoFollow linking. I suggest bookmarking this page because you may not make it through all of the sites in one sitting.
Good luck in your social bookmarking for backlinks strategy. If you have any other tips, comments or questions please share them below. All your feedback is appreciated and we learn from one another.
To Your Success,
Conquering Twitterbutt – How To Lose Your Twitter Love Handles
Oh my, how we love Twitter. We love Twitter so much that we sit on our soft behinds in front of the computer for hours on end tweeting the latest articles, talking with our Twitter friends, and building our online relationships. In return we are rewarded with new business, new friends, and new junk in our trunk.
I'm not sayin this is you… but many of us are suffering with what I call Twitterbutt.
If you're a Twitter addict like most of us social media people are, chances are that you can log in to Twitter at 8am to start your day and the next time you notice what time it is it's past 1pm when you can no longer stand the grumbling in your stomach. You just sat there in one spot with your butt glued to the chair (or couch) for 5 hours.
So, what do we do? Well, we get up and feed our hungry bellies, right? While we're snacking we sit back down in front of the computer to "just check in" on Twitter. We engage and talk and become engrossed in our Twittering until we suddenly realize we can't see the keyboard anymore because it's 7pm and it's completely dark in the room.
Okay…this explains WHY we are rocking our new Twitterbutt handle, but how do we get rid of the extra poundage and still stay engaged?
I became fed up a few months ago and decided to change my sedentary lifestyle before I became a permanent fixture in front of my computer. Since I've begun practicing these few changes I've lost a little over 15 lbs. Not a huge amount, but I can't tell you how much better I feel when I am going up the stairs and being able to play with my kids without crumbling to the ground in a massive lump of sweaty, hyperventilating, sad sight.
How to Conquer Your Twitterbutt
1. Set a schedule
Social media marketing doesn't take all day in front of the computer. It really doesn't. Start your morning by going through your RSS Reader for the best posts to Tweet and throw out a few links. Save a few and use Hootsuite or another program to schedule others at later times during the day. (Noon to 3pm is busiest). Spend 30 minutes engaging on Twitter, thanking your followers for retweets, asking questions, and paying it forward.
This whole process should take no longer than one hour. Do this twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. In between those times, turn off your Twitter platform so you are not tempted.
2. Get Your Butt Up and Move
Don't just say you're going to do it. Do it. Schedule it in. Just get up and do it.
I started a MeetUp group to help me stay committed because I know I am a flake when it comes to exercise. If I tell myself I'm going to exercise my mind and body fight it all day. Rather, I tell myself it's time to go on my walk with my new friends. We made this a regular habit at regular spots in our local parks and trails. We started at 1 mile and have worked up to a faster pace and walking 3 miles.
I also schedule other fun stuff like volleyball, Zumba, Badminton or just throwing the football or frisbee around for 30 min. Again, I schedule it. It may not be easy to break your Twitter habit, but it does get easier.
3. Take Breaks
Go ahead, do it….set the mouse down. Walk away. I know you can do it.
Go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Feel your energy start to return as you get your mind off the computer screen. These breaks will remind you that you love to be active outside of your Twitter world too. You need these little boosts not only for encouraging more activity but they are also great to find inspiration for new blog posts or those witty Tweets you are so famous for.
4. Track What You Eat
Are you a snacker? Or are you like me and just don't eat at all until 8pm rolls around and then you splurge? Either way, start tracking what your eating habits are and the nutrition your giving your body.
There are several social networks such as SparkPeople or MyFitnessPal that will help you track meals, nutrition and exercise. I recently signed up for SparkPeople and have been using their online tools to enter my meals and track my goals. Some of my goals are to eat 30-40 grams of fiber and around 1400 calories per day. Yours may be different, but you can set those up and the sites are great at providing nutritional pointers.
5. Exercise At Your Desk
Right now are you sitting straight up with your belly muscles pulled in? Are you breathing deeply to expand your lungs or are you taking short breaths? Just become aware of these things and begin to notice when you are slouching.
Just contracting your stomach muscles, releasing and contracting again while sitting at your desk is a modified crunch. There are other exercises you can do while at your desk as well. This blurb was taken from WebMD.com and has some great ideas to get more exercise in when you work at your desk all day:
"We are made to move, not sit at a desk 12 hours a day," says Joan Price, author of The Anytime, Anywhere Exercise Book. "As ergonomic as your desk or chair may be, sitting produces back pains, headaches, and listlessness. You become less productive."
Twitter rocks but with summer nearly here, don't you want your glutumus maximus to rock even more?? Get rid of the Twitterbutt and get your groove on with all of us!
What tips do you have for getting rid of Twitterbutt? How have you fit exercise into your social media filled day? Share them in the comments below for all to learn.
To Your Success,
Add This Publicity Tip To Your PR Toolbox For Instant Results
This is part three in a 3 part series on the "3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture" from Guest Blogger, RuthAnn Bowen, PR extraordinaire and Founder of PR firm The Bowen Agency Public Relations. The first step was "Embracing Your Difference"; the second step was "Tell Your Story".
This blog post explores the third:
3. Be Nice
If you were anticipating a big insider PR secret for the third necessity to publicity success, this is it. Be nice.
It's not flashy. It's simple, common sense. But you'd be amazed at how often nice is missing from the world of media.
It's a simple rule of thumb that has served me well in my publicity career. It doesn't matter if I'm working with an intern reporter or the producer of a national TV show or these days, a blogger. They are all people and deserve respect.
I've seen my share of publicists with pompous and entitlement attitudes. And quite frankly, I don't want to be around them, so why would someone in the media? In a follow up call I made to a newspaper reporter several years ago, this was the response I got: "These calls from you people make my job so difficult."
So how do you handle a response like that? Be nice. Be polite. Do your job without the attitude.
Out of the three requirements to publicity success this one would seem the easiest to brush off. Don't.
Nice is powerful. And it's a must-have for long-term publicity success.
This is obviously not an exhaustive list so please leave your thoughts or additions in the comments below! What tips have you used to get your foot through the door with publicists or journalists?
This is the third installment of "3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture" by RuthAnn Bowen of The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Ms. Bowen is a thirteen-year veteran of publicity having worked in the entertainment industry in Nashville, TN and owning her PR firm The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Contact her with your PR question at firstname.lastname@example.com
or follow her on Twitter @thebowenagency
Picture credit: Pictr 30D
Are You Telling Your Story? Your Publicity Depends On It
Everyone has a story. And when it comes right down to it publicity is all about telling your business story. It's also about keeping your fairytale from becoming a nightmare. This is part two in a 3 part series on the "3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture" from Guest Blogger, RuthAnn Bowen, PR extraordinaire and Founder of PR firm The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Come back tomorrow for part three!
The first installment of this blog post discussed the requirement of "Embracing Your Difference". Here's the second requirement:
2. Tell Your Story
Believe it or not, we all learned back in junior high the elements for telling a story: Who, what, where, when, why, and how. Here's how to use these same guidelines for business storytelling and publicity success:
1. Who
Ultimately, you are the one who can tell your story best. If you aren't the best storyteller find a publicist who understands brand storytelling. Make sure whomever you hire understands your story and can partner with you to tell your business story effectively. They should also have the same passion for telling it.
2. What
Figure out your brand message. What do you want consumers/clients/customers to know about your product or service? This ties into what makes you unique. Figure it out, put it in writing and begin telling your audience.
3. Where
There are a lot of media outlets out there to promote your brand story. Let's split where to use your business storytelling between traditional and new or social media:
Traditional media:
- Radio
- Newspapers
- Magazines, etc.
Social media:
- Your website
- Blog
- YouTube, etc.
Do your research. What publications, websites, blogs, does your audience frequent? Which reporters/journalists/bloggers cover your topic? What are people saying about your industry? Target the ones who cover your specific product or service. Join the on-line conversation.
(One caveat: Please, don't send out mass e-mails! This is a huge publicity pet peeve of the media's–and mine. Don't send your cat food press release to the automotive reporter. It's not going to get covered. Period).
4. When
Timing is a key factor when working with the media. From the time of day you call to the time of year your story runs, timing is to PR what location is to real estate.
5. How
There are specific PR tools to get your brand story out. Coree's article on 6 PR Tips to Writing Publicity Friendly Content provides a good go-to list to check out. For help on putting your business story together, Engage365 has a tremendous article from Ian McGonnigal on Storytelling in Social Media and Events.
Everyone loves to hear a good story. So tell them yours! Earning the media's attention in the right way could be the beginning to your publicity happily ever after.
Our next post explores a surprising requirement. Don't miss it!
How have you used storytelling to promote your business? Do you have your own story prepared and ready to share? Have you ever used a third party story in your publicity campaign? How and how well did it work for you? Please leave us a comment below and share!
This is the second installment of "3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture" by RuthAnn Bowen of The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Ms. Bowen is a thirteen-year veteran of publicity having worked in the entertainment industry in Nashville, TN and owning her PR firm The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Contact her with your PR question at firstname.lastname@example.com{ 15 Comments }
3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture
This is the first in a 3 part series on the "3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture" from Guest Blogger, RuthAnn Bowen, PR extraordinaire and Founder of PR firm The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Come back tomorrow for part two!
Throughout my career as a publicist I've learned a few things. Here are two:
- 1. Publicity is often misunderstood
- 2. Publicity success is often misunderstood
If you want to see a publicist get on their soapbox just use the words "publicity" and "advertising" interchangeably. Publicity is not advertising.
Advertising is time and space you purchase. Publicity is time and space you don't purchase. I know that's a pretty simple explanation, but it really is that straightforward.
Publicity success, however, is entirely different. Publicity success is not necessarily being on Oprah. Publicity success is not something that happens overnight. The definition of publicity success for one business is not the same for another.
I have found there are three characteristics that can help shape and define publicity success no matter what your venture. There are others but I believe these three are the most important. (And please contact me at email@example.com with any you'd like to add to the list!) In this blog post we'll explore the first one.
1. Embrace Being Different
When it comes to publicity, conformity doesn't work. The media continually scan the horizon for captivating stories which means run-of-the-mill isn't going to cut it. So what makes your story unique?
Do you:
- Have a distinctive product or service?
- Have an unusual story?
Let's start with a distinctive product or service. This automatically gives your story a natural separation from all the others in your industry. That's good. Utilize it. Capitalize on it. Make sure everyone you know and talk to understands what the difference is and that you're communicating the difference effectively.
You can own the next best wheel invention with state-of-the-art, improved technology and performance. But if you're not communicating these differences in a way that people or the media can understand them, you might as well have the original wheel.
If you don't have a unique product or service, don't despair. You can still gain quite a bit of media coverage. And I'd say 95% of publicity comes from this aspect. Simply look for a unique angle or pitch that might gain media's attention.
Here are some ideas to consider:
1. Timing
Is there a certain time of year that demand for your product or service increases that the media might not be aware of?
For example, we all know that accounting and the April 15 tax season go together, but perhaps you have a unique product or idea helping businesses remember to pay their quarterly taxes. Pitch this idea to a reporter at the end of any quarter during the year. (And if you actually offered to pay the tax? Well, let's just say that would be a very unique twist!)
2. Holiday
Can your product or service be tied into a certain off-peak holiday during the year? Think Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, International Day of Peace (September 21 for those of you who weren't sure), Grandparents Day? You get the picture.
3. Personal story
Did your business or product idea grow from an unusual situation? Did you take over the family company and change its direction with success, increase revenue, upgrade all the equipment? Did you start your career on one path and end up on another that became more successful? Did your hobby turn into a business?
4. Location
Where is your business located?
- Are you a start-up but struck the real-estate lottery and are located in a posh section of town?
- Did you choose your location for green reasons?
- Or did you find the best place ever but had to renovate it all by yourself because of budget constraints?
Granted, this type of coverage may not get your product covered necessarily, but it will get your business name some ink.
5. Unique consumer trend
Nobody knows your consumers the way you do and it's up to you (or your publicist) to notify the media.
If you notice all of a sudden there's an uptick in grandmothers buying your high-end fashion purses originally designed for teenagers, alert the media. If there's any unique demographic you weren't anticipating interested in your product/service, alert the media. Who knows, yours could be the start of a worldwide phenomenon in that particular demographic.
Any publicist worth their salt will tell you that if you don't have a unique angle or twist to what you do, your story falls flat. So go ahead and celebrate your differences! It's your first step towards publicity success.
Next post, "Tell Your Story". Because it does no good to have a compelling story and then keep it to yourself.
This is the first installment of "3 Steps To Achieve Publicity Success In Any Venture" by RuthAnn Bowen of The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Ms. Bowen is a thirteen-year veteran of publicity having worked in the entertainment industry in Nashville, TN and owning her PR firm The Bowen Agency Public Relations. Contact her with your PR question at firstname.lastname@example.com
or follow her on Twitter @thebowenagency
CommentLuv vs Disqus – Which Blog Commenting System Is Better?
I am considering switching my commenting system back to CommentLuv and am weighing the features and benefits to decide if it's a better choice than Disqus. I've done a quick review of both the CommentLuv and Disqus commenting platforms to help make a qualified decision on which should be used on my blog and I would appreciate any feedback from you on your experiences or opinions on either.
First of all I guess we have to ask ourselves what is so important about blog commenting in the first place.
Why Comment?
There are quite a few reasons to comment on blogs, such as deeper interaction with other bloggers, promoting yourself as an authority on a topic, and SEO benefits by building incoming links to your own blog. All bloggers want more comments on their blogs. It's a sign of appreciation and like shaking an outstretched hand, which is what I said on Jeff Machado's article discussing why commenting on blogs will always dominate being active on Twitter.
Jeff said it perfectly here:
Commenting on blogs, on the other hand, allow for streamlined dialogue on a focused topic. You don't have to worry about anyone telling you you're Tweeting too much and clogging up their Twitter stream. You can go back and forth and genuinely have a conversation with the blogger whose post you found compelling enough to comment on. Every blog post is an invitation to delve deeper into the topic while a Retweet is just a recognition that the topic exists.
So, you can see commenting is the lifeblood of a blog and therefore the commenting system is pretty important. But, which one is best?
Pros of CommentLuv and Disqus
Both systems have their loyal followers and obvious benefits. I began my blog with CommentLuv but switched to Disqus after having some technical difficulties. Now that I've had Disqus a while I've also had a few gliches, so go figure. Here's my take on the two:
CommentLuv Plugin
- CommentLuv isits the site of the comment author while they type their comment and retrieve a selection of their last blog post and includes it at the bottom of their comment when they click submit. This is great publicity for your blog, showing not just your blog title, but what you're writing about.
- It has a great community that is very supportive. Many of the CommentLuv users will band together to comment on each other's blogs. There is even a list of 132 CommenLuv Blogs by niche that was put together to promote comments. I don't see that so much with Disqus.
- Because many of the CommentLuv users also have a "do follow" policy on their comment links the comment author may receive a little link love for their blog. I also have a "do follow" policy here, but I use the WordPress plugin NoFollow Free which gives the "do follow" link only after leaving 3 comments. This eliminates link juice going to spammers.
- In addition to the CommentLuv plugin they also have the option of adding KeywordLuv to your commenting. This allows the comment author to use their keywords as anchor text with their name when commenting. Even more SEO benefit.
Disqus Comment Management
- Disqus allows you to track peoples comments across the blogosphere. You can see what the commenters here are saying on other blogs and which blogs they are most active on.
- You can "rate" other commenters which will move their comments move to the top of the discussion. This is great if you comment a lot and people like your input because it makes you more of an authority voice.
- You can log into your own Disqus profile to track where you've been commenting. Ever commented on a blog then wanted to go back and check it again but forgot where it was? Maybe it's just me, but I am all over the place and sometimes I forget to bookmark or realize later that I want to quote the article. I used this today to find Jeff's article.
- Automatically threads your comments for you. I am not sure if CommentLuv does that or not. From what I remember, I had to add a threaded comments plugin when I had CommentLuv installed. I like a clean and flowing conversation.
- Allows you to share your comment on Twitter or Facebook. I do a lot of marketing with social media and love the benefits of word of mouth. Disqus automatically adds the share feature to easily click and tweet your comment.
Downside of CommentLuv or Disqus
There are only a couple things that I'd consider a downside of either commenting system, but off the top of my head here's what I've got:
- CommentLuv is a little more difficult to install and get running. For instance, if I wanted to add the feature that shows the Twitter username for a commenter I would have to tweak some coding inside my theme to have it work. Yuk…me no likey coding.
- Disqus has more hoops to jump through for a first time commenter to leave a comment. You have to register, create a profile, and/or add your blog URL in order for your name or blog to be linked to. If you just register but don't add the rest of your information, when someone clicks on your name they are taken to your Disqus profile where all they see are the other comments you have left. If you want to attract more blog comments you want it to be simple.
And, I guess my biggest hesitation to revert back to CommentLuv is that I'm not sure what will happen with all the comments I have on my blog right now. I definitely don't want to lose them. Comments are content to your blog, so relevant comments can add more keywords for Google to crawl and understand what your blog is about.
Wait…I take my earlier statement back.
The BIGGEST hesitation for me to revert back to CommentLuv is that it calls for me to do some coding. If someone can convince me that it will be super easy it may be all it takes for me to switch. Maybe not.
Will you help me? Please leave your comments and opinions on your experience with either commenting system. Which do you prefer and why?
To Your Success,
7 Cross Promotion Ideas To Boost Traffic and Sales
Promoting your online business almost always depends on others. When just starting out, family and friends get the ball rolling and once you have a few customers you depend on their word of mouth. Cross promotion uses word of mouth and partner visibility to boost your sales, credibility and brand.
In a nutshell, cross promotional marketing is working with other businesses both large and small to draw attention to your products or services.
Cross promotion is different from affiliate marketing in that it is an agreement that is mutually beneficial to both people in the same way. With affiliate marketing, the affiliate gets a percentage of the pie based on an agreed upon amount. With cross promotion, both partners are looking to receive the same amount of compensation.
Why Cross Promote?
The easy answer here is that you want to increase traffic to your website or blog, establish yourself as an authority, and to increase sales. That is the goal of business, after all.
Another reason is to increase your visibility among your business peers. When you partner with a bigger more well known business or blogger (Mike Stelzner calls them Firestarters), you increase your credibility. Keep in mind what you have to offer. The top marketers, influencers and large businesses won't waste much time with someone who doesn't bring something valuable to the table.
Types of Cross Promotion
So what does cross promotion look like? The agreement between similar businesses to help one another in their advertising and promo forms a network with new business people and also a way to increase profits for both of you.
Here are a few ideas for cross promotion to get the ball rolling:
1. Advertisement: Banner or Link Exchange
You can post advertisement links or banners on each other's sites. Look for people or businesses that share similarities with yours or are at least interesting to each other's site visitors. For instance, if you sell party supplies, partnering with a party planner makes good business sense. Your goal is to be relevant.
If you don't have a banner, you can get one pretty cheap at $20 Banners. Depending on what design you choose, they really do start at just$20. This gives customers a chance to check you out in a glance so be creative.
Don't use those free or cheap link exchange services! You want to build relationships with other site owners and you should be careful about the credibility of those other sites. Don't hook yourself up into a "bad neighborhood"
2. Guest Blogging
Write website content and blog for each other. This is something that does take a little bit of your time but the rewards are great. By contributing to a blog in your same niche you're establishing yourself as an expert in that field as well as building links back to your site.
Most website owners allow 1 or 2 "do follow" links within the text and a bio with links so the visitors can click on it for more information.
Share each other's audiences and tap into one another's insight. It's a win for everyone if done well.
3. Link It Up
When you are active in the blogging community you are consistently reading other articles and are aware of the topics. Keep those in mind when you are writing your own articles and link back to them.
Rather than leaving a long comment on a blog post, create an article around it and link back to their post. You'll add content to your own blog and you'll be offering a little link love at the same time.
4. Comment Club
Another smart idea is to form a group of bloggers in your niche that will agree to leave comments on each other's articles. Honestly, I think this should be something we are all reciprocating without forming a club, but it may give us the motivation to kick it up a notch.
It's like having an exercise partner. You both want to get fit, but sometimes without that accountability of knowing someone is waiting on you it's way to easy to put it off. Having a group of commenters will keep you accountable and actively involved.
5. Blog or Product Reviews
You see the big guys promoting one another all the time. You always know when there is a new marketing or affilate product launch coming up when you see the same information coming from a group of people. They have their own clubs they have created, so you know it works to create a mass viral effect.
You see John Chow, Jeremy Schoemaker, Yaro Starak & Zac Johnson cross promote. Or, Michael Stelzner, Mari Smith, Denise Wakeman and Chris Garret together. Recently we've seen Brian Clark, Chris Brogan and Sonia Simone form their alliances. They all understand this concept.
6. Blog Rolls
Blog Rolls provide your readers and Google a way of figuring out what you're all about by who you read and look up to.
Much like link exchanges, but blog rolls have a more prominent place than an advertising text link and show your visitors that you recommend this other person rather than took money from them to gain that spot.
7. Bookmarking Buddies
Digg, Delicious and StumbleUpon are great ways to get traffic to your site…IF they are being bookmarked. Without an active base of friends or subscribers it's nearly impossible to make it to the front page of a bookmarking site. There are certain guidelines you must follow in bookmarking etiquette to keep from looking spammy, so don't go overboard.
StumbleUpon and Digg both offer "do follow" links to your post, I believe. Delicious doesn't have "do follow", but they still provide traffic. I use Delicious to bookmark those sites I want to have on hand as a reference because it's simple.
For a better understanding of how it all works, I have an earlier series of articles I'd recommend called Bookmarking 101.
I'm sure there are plenty of other creative ways to cross promote that I may have missed. What have you found to work well? What new ways can you think of to share here? Leave your comments below to get some feedback.
To Your Success,
P.S. ~~> I am always on the lookout for ways to cross promote and help one another. If you'd like to band together with me and others in my niche, drop me a line with your idea and we can discuss the opportunities! You can use my Contact form or direct email: coree[at]marketlikeachick[dot] com.{ 13 Comments }
36 Twitter Resources: Advanced Twitter Search for Business
Whether you decide to engage in social networking as a marketing strategy or not, Twitter has become a powerful tool to search and monitor your brand, your competitors, and for lead generation. Beyond the basic search on the Twitter home page you can use advanced search techniques to produce targeted information not easily found in a normal Google search.
Want to know who's talking about buying a new TV in Seattle? How about people discussing the terrible customer service they received from one of your competitors? Are you a journalist that needs case studies to report on? Whatever you're looking for, chances are you can find the answer in real time and target that information for whatever area you like.
Below I've put together some of the best resources on using Twitter as a powerful tool to build and monitor your business:
Twitter Tools To Have On Hand
- 1. Mozilla Firefox Plugin for Twitter
- 2. Greasemonkey Script for Twitter Search in Sidebar
- 3. Twitter Search Operators
Articles for Improving Twitter Search Skills
- 4. 7 "Secret" Ways to Use Twitter Search – Twitip
- 5. HOW TO: Use Twitter's Advanced Search Features – Mashable
- 6. Using Twitter Search for Business – Chris Brogan
- 7. 15 Fascinating Ways to Track Twitter Trends – Mashable
- 8. Generating Quality Marketing Leads With Google Alerts and Twitter – Adam Green, "Mr. Google Alerts"
- 9. How to Use Twitter to Grow Your Business – Copyblogger
- 10. Using Twitter Search to Boost Local Business – Mediafunnel
- 11. Twitter Tips: How to Search Twitter Smarter – CIO.com
- 12. Take Advantage of Twitter Search Operators – Web Worker Daily
- 13. It's Time to Start Thinking of Twitter as a Search Engine – TechCrunch
- 14. How To Use Twitter for Customer Service - Sitepoint
Twitter Research and Monitoring Tools
- 15. TwitterGradr – Hubspot's tool for finding "elite" Tweeters based on location and influence.
- 16. Monitter – Lets you "monitter" the Twitter world for a set of keywords and watch what people are saying in a grid layout.
- 17. TweetStats – Graphs out Twitter habits based on how often, what time of day, and @ replies for you or any user.
- 18. TweetBeep – Great for online reputation management, catching all your @replies and @mentions, finding job/networking opportunities.
- 19. Twitscoop – Full feature Twitter web client with search, trends, and real time buzz.
- 2. What The Hashtag -The user-editable encyclopedia for hashtags found on Twitter, allows print outs of hashtag transcriptions, Greasemonkey script adds, and Firefox add on. Track popular and trending hashtags.
- 21. Hashtag.org – Tracks the frequency that a hashtag is used on Twitter and provides details about the hashtag
Twitter Directories
- 22. WeFollow
- 23. Twellow
- 24. TwitterCounter
- 25. TwitterHolic
- 26. Twibs – Directory of businesses on Twitter
- 27. Just Tweet It
- 28. Tracking Twitter – A real-time listing of the top media, entertainment, and consumer product feeds on Twitter.
Geolocation Twitter Tools
- 29. GeoFollow – Large location based Twitter Directory, find and follow by city, state, zip or tags.
- 30. Trendsmap – Real-time mapping of Twitter trends across the world.
- 31. LocaFollow – Search by location & follow (allows bulk follow) LocaFollowis powered by Google so results are shown in the same order that Google shows it. Those Twitter pages that are better SEO optimized will appear on the top.
- 32. TPS – the Tweet Positioning System, is a geo-location filter for conversations and mentions on Twitter.
- 33. GeoTwitTrends – Shows real-time trending topics happening in specific places.
- 34. GeoChirp – Set the location and then search for tweets based on keywords. All results from that location would be displayed.
- 35. Twittori – Allows you to follow places in a similar way than you are used to following users on Twitter as well as attach your tweets to a specific location.
- 36. TweetMondo - Shows Twitter users that have either registered in Tweetmondo.com or were crawled by their crawler and filtered by location.
Twitter's advanced search is a business owner's best friend if you just take the time to use it. Be sure to bookmark this post for future reference to come back to!
What did I miss? Do you have a Twitter search tip or resource to add to the list? Share below in the comments.
To Your Success,


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Quoted from Emster
"the online protocols might also help you get started." Where online might I find these protocols? Is it on this website?
Quoted from christaalyssaA+
Emster - Yams for us is definitely going to give you pain. I was put on a wild yam supplement when I was a young teenager and started feeling MS like symptoms. When my bottle of them ran out I forgot to get more. It was supposed to help me with my hormonal imbalances. Anyways... I've now looking back realized how important following your BTD to the letter is very important. I highly recommend the very very best progesterone that I've personally found and use. Google Dr. Lee Progesterone. His is the best! I feel great on it and if I wasn't breastfeeding currently I'd still be using it as my body does need it. But of course if I did use it right now my milk would stop. So go check it out from one A to another! I hope this helps.
Quoted from Lola


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There are a number of reasons to be concerned about China's energy situation and, specifically, its need to meet the growing demand for additional sources of energy in light of the expanding economy.
Protecting the global environment: China's large-scale emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other pollutants degrade global air quality and climate stability. Taking action now, ahead of the steep growth curve, provides a unique opportunity to provide new directions for meeting energy needs that will have less impacts on the environment.
Improving global access to energy-efficient products: Implementing demand side management policies and programs will build a market in China for energy-efficient products (such as household appliances, commercial heating and cooling units, and industrial motors), This development will result in greater access, and reduced prices, for such products worldwide, meaning global reductions in energy consumption and environmental damage.
Increasing energy reliability: Energy shortages have interrupted industrial and commercial operations throughout China. It is in the best interest of anyone with current or potential business in China to support efforts to improve reliability of energy supplies and reduce the likelihood of blackouts.
Furthermore, US-based utilities, industries, and government agencies have been leaders in developing programs and policies to improve energy efficiency and to provide incentives to industrial, commercial and residential users to minimize energy consumption. As global citizens, we should endeavor to share our knowledge and experience and, in particular, help China adapt these policies and programs as its economy expands.
China is one of the most promising areas in the world for significant advances in energy and environmental policies, with resultant global benefits. In fact, if China were to meet just 1/10 of its incremental electricity requirements with efficiency measures, it can avoid an average of 262 million metric tons/year of carbon emissions over the next five years. One-tenth is a modest goal given China's ambitions in this area, and the fact that since 1975 California has been able meet over 40% of its electricity needs using efficiency measures.


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Mountview Farmstay B&B Accommodation
816/2 Tuhikaramea Road, RD 10 Hamilton
Quality Farmstay property only 2 klms from the City Boundary, 2 sunny Queen rooms one with Ensuite, the other and the twin room with seperate bathroom facilities. Plus big deck for guest usage. Warm sunny home and good beds. Walk with our Appaloosa Horses, we were the oldest Stud in New Zealand, refer www.appaloosastud.co.nz for more information. Meet our two cats, Tiger and Jacko and lovely big hunterway working dog Queen. The house has big windows so that you can enjoy the 360 degree views, and lovely quiet area 200 metres from the road. Childrens price can be negotiated, Prices include breakfast, Evening meals available on request for $15 per adult.
|Copyright © 2004 - 2014 Blue Castle Ltd


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StyleWatch SpecialThe Coachella Style Awards
Who had the tiniest cutoffs? Which celebs tied for most revealing top? And what beauty look takes home top honors? We crown – excuse us, floral crown – the winners from the music fest
Credit: Dome/Jones/Pacific Coast News
Updated: Monday Apr 14, 2014 | 02:00 PM EDT By: Zoë Ruderman
More from PEOPLE


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GNOME 3 Delayed Until 2011
If you're looking forward to the next desktop environment, you'll have to wait until March.
Members of the GNOME project gathered at the GUADEC conference in the Netherlands this week where they announced that GNOME 3, the next iteration of the popular open source desktop environment would be delayed until March 2011.
This delays the project by a year, as it's original release was schedule for March 2010. That launch was then pushed back to September 2010, but now, the GNOME project will now issue another incremental update in September.
"GNOME is driven by its goals to provide a quality free software desktop, and we feel that our users and downstream community are better served by holding the GNOME 3.0 release until March 2011," the GNOME project said via an official statement.
Still much progress has been made in the desktop environment, which will introduce a new user interface built on JavaScript and the Clutter framework. Users can download early versions of the Shell package from Launchpad.
Gnome 3: Worth to waitGnome 3 is really worth to wait it is easier to use and ranking them on familiarity for existing GNOME users, performance, good features, extensibility, and compatibility. The principle of "everybody trying to deliver everything and anything to anyone" should be abandoned. No need to spend resources on that when the audience is desktop users because i have searched other people using Gnome 3 now and others that prefer another like Time is better spent improving the parts that matters for desktop users. But Application is not about "Learning". What user really Need, is something that Works as the best as there can be. If you just want to look it better or newer just change the Graphic. Do i make sense?
My Blog : Colonne salle-de-bain
Issue 170/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
TGXf Project Warns of File Transfer through Screen Pixels
Weird data transfer technique avoids all standard security measures.
Industry Giants Announce a Fix for the Password Mess
FIDO alliance declares the beginning of the end for old-style login authentication.
Poll: Vote for the Best Open Source Software for Photographers
The Linux New Media Awards have honored the most significant products, projects, people, and organizations for open source/Linux every year since 2000.
Debian Gets Forked
Legendary Uber-distro splits over the systemd controversy.
Linux Mint Project Releases Mint 17.1
New LTS version offers many refinements for the Cinnamon and Mate desktops and significant improvement under the hood.
CeBIT Open Source Forum Call for Papers
One of CeBIT's most successful forums returns in 2015.
TOR Network Isn't So Anonymous
A new study says it is possible to unmask 81% of TOR users.
.NET Goes Open Source
Redmond joins the revolution by turning the .NET Core Runtime into a GitHub project.
Drupal Advisory Unleashes a Torrent of Attacks
Users only had 7 hours to update before the intrusions started.
HTML5 Gets Promoted to a Standard
It's official: The new web arrives


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Animal Planet's PUPPY BOWL X
Multiple Dates & Times
All Ages
- Get Tickets
- Details
Event Stats
All Ages
Event Description
This is a free event, however, visitors must have a ticket to enter. There is a $1 service fee per ticket for reserving online. Limit 4 tickets per order.
Tickets are valid for entry into the exhibition within a 30 minute window beginning at the time printed on the ticket. If you miss your scheduled time, we will make every effort to accomodate you at the next available time slot.
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet is bringing the PUPPY BOWL EXPERIENCE to New York City! Join the cutest (and FREE!) celebration the whole week leading up to the big game. There will be puppy tailgating activities for everyone and chances to win exclusive Puppy Bowl X gear!
Tour the experience and relive past Puppy Bowls as you take a walk through the Hall of Fame, sit in the stands and watch live puppy action on the replica-field, play games at the tail-gate area, or get a doggie smooch at the kissing booth. You can even snuggle some furry friends and maybe find a new family member at daily on-site adoption events, in partnership with ASPCA. And much more!


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Army style at Paris Fashion Week
Camilla and Marc camo print takes to Paris Fashion Week. When I saw these pieces in the lookbook, I knew I had to wear it in its entirety. I find it humorous that I only got the odd strange stare whilst wearing this kit here in Paris whereas if it were Melbourne, I could imagine people doing the 'coo coo' finger spin beside their temple at me. Funny that! Could Paris be my safe place to express my fashion? I would say hell yes!
Love a little 'camo' appearance by our fav Aussie Candice Lake xo
Jacket, top and pants: Camilla and Marc, Shoes: Isabel Marant, Hat: Asos, Bag: Chanel, Cuff: Hermes, Ring: YSL
Photographer: Georgie Dempsey


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NOTICE : Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 - Holiday office closures. Click for details.
RI Police Departments on the Web
Law enforcement agencies across the state have taken advantage of the various resources offered through the internet. The sites listed are but a few of those in the Rhode Island area.
Campus Police Agencies
Campus Security Departments
- Bryant University
- Johnson & Wales University
- Providence College
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Roger Williams University


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Our great country was founded on laws which must be enforced, but in todays times the laws that are on the books are just writing on paper that have no meaning to our elected officials. Immigration is out of control and all the illegals know that they can get away with almost anything. Our president is a oil barron getting filthy rich while he is in office, he believes the illegal immigrants should not be bothered that they are doing jobs no body else wants. Thats a bunch of crap, those jobs were filled before the rampant illegals came in and undercut the pay scale. The company's are hiring them at lower wages and making the companies more profit, then they get together and move 10 in a single family residence and rent for them is minimal monies and then they send most of their pay back to their native land for their families, taking the money out of the US economy.
The politicians need to be replaced and the companies that hire illegal immigrants should have their business license pulled and shut down. Talk about spitting in the face of the great founders of our country, I am sure this is not the way it was meant to be in the eyes of our founders. As for the ones that are here Legally, My hat is off to you and welcome to the United States Of America!


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Wildcats Edged By Temple, 7-6
Sciacca had three runs batted in for Villanova
Beermann Homers Twice But Wildcats Fall To Delaware, 8-3, in Championship Game
Freshman first baseman hits first two home runs by Villanova hitter at Citizens Bank Park
Courter Pitches Wildcats Past La Salle, 3-1
Sophomore pitcher goes 8 1/3 innings for first career win
Production with Two Outs the Difference in Wildcats 4-0 Loss to Cornell
All four runs in game scored with two outs; Villanova was limited to three hits
Pitching Strong But Wildcats Fall 1-0 to University of the Sciences
Unearned run in top of the third inning was only tally of the game
Baseball vs. NYIT
Villanova defeated NYIT by a final score of 14-3 at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth on Friday, March 16.
On Courter: Did good things when given a chance to start last season ... Will compete for a starting role and can also be a long reliever in emergency situations ... Has shown steady improvement in his first two years on the team and is poised to continue increasing his role.
Career: Has pitched in 23 games with four starts and is 1-1 with one save and a 4.45 ERA in 56 2/3 innings ... Allowed 57 hits and 29 runs (28 earned) while walking 20 and striking out 27 ... Opponents are hitting .269 against him and he has not given up a home run to 246 batters faced.
2013: Steady member of the pitching staff who was used in long relief and as a spot starter ... Appeared in 15 games with four starts and went 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA over 46 1/3 innings pitched ... Allowed 49 hits and 25 runs (24 earned) with 13 walks and 21 strikeouts ... Faced 246 batters and did not allow a home run ... Opponents hit .280 against him ... Had a 3.58 ERA spanning 27 2/3 innings in his four starts ... That included pitching into the ninth inning to earn a 3-1 win over La Salle in which he allowed just five hits and no earned runs in 8 1/3 innings, while walking two and striking out three ... Yielded two earned runs on seven hits in six innings against Saint Peter's ... Struck out a career-high four batters in seven innings against Temple ... Had relief stints of four innings against both Northeastern and Cornell ... In those two outings combined to allow just four hits and one earned run over the eight innings while walking one and striking out two ... In a stretch of 10 appearances from March 13 through May 11 (seven relief appearances, three starts) combined to allow just seven earned runs over 32 2/3 innings (1.93 ERA); BIG EAST: Made three relief appearances against conference opponents and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two ... Opposing batters went 1-for-9 (.111) against him ... Pitched a scoreless inning with one hit allowed at Cincinnati ... Recorded two outs against Louisville ... Logged 1 2/3 innings and struck out two in the second game of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh.
2012: Pitched in eight games out of the bullpen and compiled a 3.48 ERA with one save in 10 1/3 innings of work ... Allowed just eight hits and held opponents to a .216 average against him ... Allowed four earned runs and walked seven while striking out six ... Earned a save in his collegiate pitching debut when he pitched two scoreless innings in a win over University of the Sciences ... Did not allow a run in six of his eight appearances ... Pitched 1 1/3 innings and retired all four batters he faced in a win over Temple ... His collegiate debut came as a pinch hitter in a win over Chicago State, when he had a double and an RBI in his first career at-bat; BIG EAST: Pitched in three games against conference opponents and allowed two earned runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings ... Walked five and struck out two.
Archbishop Wood High School: Received three varsity letters in baseball and compiled 17 career victories on the mound ... As a senior was named first team All-Philadelphia, first team All-Montgomery County, first team All-Bucks County and first team All-Catholic League ... Three-year member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born 9/25/92 in Maple Glen, Pa. ... Younger of two children of Joseph and Kathryn Courter ... Has an older sister, Becca (21) ... Father played football and was a wide receiver at Bloomsburg ... Majoring in Communication.
BIG EAST All-Academic Team 2011-12, 2012-13
Innings Pitched 8.1 4/3/13 - La Salle Strikeouts 4 4/30/13 - Temple Batters Faced 34 4/30/13 - Temple
Official Store


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Game Based Learning
What is game based learning (GBL)? How is it useful for educators and students?Resources to create your own GBL and preexisting examples.
Material Type: Collection
Technical Format: HTML/Text
Date Added to MERLOT: March 24, 2013
Date Modified in MERLOT: March 28, 2014
Submitter: Priscila Fojan
Keywords: gbl, game based learning, computer education, technology education
Reviewed by members of Editorial board for inclusion in MERLOT.Editor Review (not reviewed)
- User Rating (not rated)
- Comments (none)
- Learning Exercises (none)
- Personal Collections (none)
- Accessibility Info (none)
Primary Audience: College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional
Mobile Compatibility: Not specified at this time
Language: English
Cost Involved: no
Source Code Available: unsure
Accessiblity Information Available: unsure
Copyright: unsure
Creative Commons: no
Browse in Categories
Discussion for Game Based Learning
Log in to participate in the discussions or Register if you are not already a MERLOT member.


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The visibility of the hood is great, the angle of view is wide and the edges of the fabric are not within the vision. The fabric is soft and gentle on skin contact, causing no irritation at first contact. The format is anatomical, and the tissue is elastic and is very comfortable to wear, not too pressing ... Read more
- Great neck coverage - Mouth opening (with a small net) is usefull for easy breathing - Ideal for cold weathers - Great head protection for airsoft & paintball - For hot temperatures, will be a hell to use. It seems is somewhat waterproof in case of light rain, I didn't test it yet. I bought for head ... Read more


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A group of young teenagers from a working class estate are out to prove themselves as gangsters.
"Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect."
- Samuel Johnson
Pretty much explained when you crack this puppy open
Beware the wiseguy having his morning coffee.
Everyone is special . . . not in a retarded way . . .
An Ivy League educated high-end escort tries to negotiate friendship and love while being paid $25,000 a gig.
Quentin, a self proclaimed writer working in a video store gets the chance of a lifetime.
It's tough being a Junkie off the nod.
A student travels to Ireland to recover stolen family secret that affects everyone on the planet...
Nathaniel films himself getting outside of himself to get outside himself.
Meet Doug. He lives with himself, not by himself, with himself.
A tragic accident at a 4 Way stop signal reveals deeper ties among strangers.
A gorgeous but self-obsessed Los Angeles man prepares for a date with a woman he met online.
When the wind blows, you better run.
Be careful who you confide in. Sometimes your best friend can be your worst enemy.
A 10 year old boy lives after the apocolypse


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See who deserves a pile of presents and who should get nothing but coal on Christmas morning!
(21 Photos)
Parry Ernsberger
Dec 17, 2012 at 8:35PM
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince Harry has earned his reputation as the naughty Prince (remember that Nazi costume?), but he really outdid himself this summer when photos surfaced of his crown jewels. While visiting Las Vegas in August, Harry took it all off during a game of strip billiards in his VIP suite. "He didn't do anything unlawful," the palace proclaimed in a surprising defense. The Prince, who's third in line for the throne, proceeded to lay low after the scandal and has been seen fully clothed ever since. Because he's so cute, we can forgive his naked slip-up -- we're just not sure Santa will.
Yummy recipes, DIY projects, home decor, fashion and more curated by iVillage staffers.
The very dirty truth about fashion internships... DUN DUN @srslytheshow http://t.co/wfewf
Behind-the-scenes pics from iVillage.


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The Summer Program is designed to ensure our students learn in a relaxed environment and are kept busy with a full social program.
Accommodation is with host families (that have been personally visited and approved) and the average age range is 11-17 years old.
The program is focused on preparation for the Trinity College London Exam held at the end of the course.
The courses take place during July and August each year.
20 lessons per week Full board homestay accommodation All transport to and from school everyday if necessaryAfternoon activities every day from Monday to Friday.Half day excursion each week.One evening disco per week (usually Friday and includes Karaoke)as well as tuition in Irish dancing by a dance teacher.Full day excursion every SaturdayUse of course books and materialsEnd of course report and certificateExam entrance fee if applicable (Trinity College London exam is held at the end of the month)Airport pickup/ return.
Course Information 2014 (Note that 3 or 4 Week Options are available
Course dates Friday 27th June to Friday 25th July 2014 (subject to confirmation)
Arrival days: Friday / Saturday or Sunday - we fit to your schedule...
Pricing Contact us for Individual or group pricing..............
All ready for sufing on Achill island. Come join us for fun and excitement on the summer program.
Ireland West School
Junior Summer Exam Program
We strive to ensure our courses use the most up-to- date materials and teaching techniques. We use a combination of classroom based activities and computer aided learning. All our teachers are qualified and experienced EFL teachers.......


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Top Ghost Hunting Apps 2012
Too old for trick or treat? Why not spend this Halloween ghost hunting! Bypass those amusement parks and theatrical attractions and check out your city's haunted hospitals, homes, and cemeteries. You can download all the equipment you need right to your mobile phone, including an app that will pinpoint the hottest haunt spots, each guaranteed to send shivers up your spine.
Before setting out on your first ghost hunt, you need to arm yourself with the latest equipment. You could spend thousands of dollars on EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recorders, EMF (electromagnetic field) meters, and full-spectrum cameras… or you can download a mobile phone app that does it all.
Ghost Hunter Pro
Price: $3.99
Download: Ghost Hunter Pro for iPhone
Tapfuze has combined EVP, EMF, and video recording into one app, so you'll always have what you need in the palm of your hand. The navigation screens are big and basic, making them easy to use in the dim recesses of a haunted house.
Use the EMF reader to tell you when ghosts are at hand, then switch to EVP mode and start recording. The app allows you to label and save your recordings then export them via iTunes file sharing. Video recording is as easy as double-tapping the screen. Note that in order to access all of the features, your phone must meet the stated requirements, so be sure to review them before downloading.
Ghost Detector Pro
Price: Free, $0.99 to remove ads
Download: Ghost Detector Pro
In spite of the name, iTalk to the Dead is more about detecting ghosts than actually communicating with them. The app has four variables that you can adjust while using your phone's camera to scan an area: EMF, EVP, gain, and spectrum, which allows you to view the world through green-, red-, or blue-tinted glasses. Once activated, the app plays a continuous stream of sci-fi beeps that are interrupted by static and hushed whispers. Could be ghosts trying to make contact… or just a programmed effect designed to creep and annoy.
The big downside to this app is the abundance of ads, some of which are so close to the buttons you can't help but click them. Pay $0.99 and you can send those ads back to the netherworld where they belong.
Price: .99
Download: Ghost Radar for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, and Windows 7
Ghost Radar is designed not only to pick up paranormal activity, but to translate that activity into meaningful speech. It does this by measuring and interpreting anomalous changes in the quantum flux. Spud Pickles, the creators of the app, say that its method beats EMF because electromagnetic fields are all over the place, so conventional equipment can be fooled into thinking it's supernatural when it's not.
The app consists of a radar screen with a scattering of ever-changing numbers and letters all around. In the center of the field is a sweeping radar arm. When an anomaly is detected, it shows up as a color-coded blip on the screen. A red dot means the signal is strong, while blue means the entity is fading.
We tested the app in our own haunted home with interesting results. As predicted in the instructions, the device shouted out several words within the first minute of being activated: "breakfast," "along," "French," "May," and "Dad." They say this is the app adjusting to the noise in the room. After that, the app went silent for five minutes. Then we tried an EVP session, where you ask questions of the spirits and try to evoke an emotional response. We asked the spirits what they wanted to say to the non-believers in the room. The spirits responded with one word: "Run."
Come out, come out, wherever you are
Now that you're all dressed up, it's time to find a place to go. Here are a couple of apps that will point you in the right direction.
Ghost Hunters Haunted House Finder
Price: $.99
Download: Ghost Hunters Haunted House Finder for iPhone
This app is a companion to the Ghost Hunters series on Syfy. Though it's called the Haunted House Finder, it also locates haunted restaurants, hotels, museums, exhibits, and other types of locations. Let the app show you the nearest haunts based on your GPS location or use the map to choose your own. You can also search by type or scroll through a list of top picks according to user reviews.
Choose a location and you're presented with the address, phone number, website, and any entry fee. Expand the listing for a short history of the site, including reported paranormal activity. Below that, you'll find out more about what happened when the Ghost Hunters conducted its investigation.
The app is clear and easy to navigate, but since it only lists spots that have been visited by the Ghost Hunters, it contains only the most well-known hot spots.
More Ghost Hunting Help
Ghost Hunting Software: The PLAN
The Paranormal Log & Analysis Notebook helps you easily track investigations, manage evidence and print full reports.


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The annihilation of localApril 23,2014Educations experts and policymakers have spent four decades leading schools astray, promoting one ill-conceived pipe dream theory and practice after another.
From whole language, portfolios and obsessive standardized testing to No Child Left Behind and the Common Core, weve squandered two generations in thrall to bad ideas.
Each time things end in disaster, we turn again to the same experts and policymakers to save us. To promote their latest recycled scheme, these experts are fond of intoning that if you always do what youve always done, youll always get what youve always gotten. Its time we realized, even if they dont, that theyre talking about themselves.
Vermonters are now facing a move in our Legislature, endorsed by the states education bureaucracy, to consolidate our local schools into expanded districts. Some of us, thinking that consolidation would bring greater efficiency and therefore lower costs, may at first suppose there might be some fiscal merit in the proposal.
There isnt.
Even the bills supporters now generally concede theres little likelihood of savings and considerable probability that consolidation will increase the cost of public education. Thats because for every imagined economy of scale, at least as many inefficiencies arise owing to the greater distance of the new district bureaucracies from the classrooms where education happens.
While the bill does replace existing supervisory union superintendents with fewer uber-superintendents, anyone who thinks those expanded district superintendents wont be hiring a corps of assistant superintendents has never met a superintendent. In addition, the bill and its sponsors dont begin to account for the significant costs involved in leveling teachers salaries and equalizing tax rates.
With that reality in mind, the reality that consolidation wont save money, can we please stop citing the defeat of a fraction of the states school budgets as a justification for this bill?
Even more crucially, the bill does more than reshuffle supervisory unions. It eliminates local school boards.
Read that again.
It eliminates local school boards.
Eliminating those boards eliminates your power to control your local school. This means that you can be outvoted at the polls by residents from other towns regarding the districts school budget and your taxes and that your towns representative on the expanded board can be outvoted at meetings by representatives from the other towns in your new district. In short, the board members from other towns can vote to do anything they want in and with your towns school, including close it if they decide it will save the expanded district money.
The bills advocates insist it somehow protects small local schools. This is an illogical argument at best and a cynical deceit at worst.
With the bill financially all but indefensible, proponents now cite equity as its prime justification. While equity formerly meant the ability to spend money on school programs, which is why we relegislated our school tax system via Act 60 and Act 68, supporters now assert that equity means the quality and variety of educational opportunities available to students throughout the state. In other words, not only must the students in your school have access to the same amount of money, but the teachers, parents and residents in your town must decide to do the same things with that money as all other schools.
Advocates of the bill will doubtless claim Im overstating their intention. But if thats not what they mean, then their definition of equity and their justification of larger districts make no sense. The logical extension of their species of equity is that Vermont should be redefined as one large statewide school district.
Most proponents will deny thats what they have in mind. But if they mean what they say, thats what they logically should have in mind.
Im sure it will occur to them sooner or later.
Will the Legislature next contrive to eliminate select boards? Will road equity next be required of towns when it comes to asphalt and gravel? Shouldnt vital services such as police and fire protection be as equitably available as education? At least for our schools, voluntary cooperation is insufficient to satisfy the Legislature. Which town prerogative and service will fall next?
Proponents maintain that we must redefine local. They contend that just as neighborhoods once gave way to towns as our standard of local, so must we now abandon individual towns in favor of combinations of towns, that those expanded districts are our new local. Several flaws invalidate that argument. When we combined our hamlet schools, our towns already existed, and they were composed of our neighbors. Our towns werent artificially formulated and imposed to replace our neighborhoods.
Supporters nebulously claim the bill is about whats good for kids. The state Board of Education, in a typically meaningless flight of rhetoric, declares the bill will enable all students to thrive and prosper. No one is against children thriving and prospering. The question is who gets to decide whats good for your kids, what thriving and prospering look like for your children. This bill says its not up to towns, and its not up to parents. In place of towns and parents the Legislature would insert itself and its new mandated, expanded districts.
That arrogance is unconscionable.
The Legislatures blindness to the decades of follies and failures spawned by the Agency of Education and our states education bureaucrats, and its willingness to again trust the recommendations of those bureaucrats and to place consolidation in the hands of an agency design team, is appalling.
The Legislatures silence in the face of self-serving complaints that local governance of schools is too inconvenient and time-consuming is a dereliction and a disappointment.
A pernicious fault in public education is that too many decisions are already made by authorities too far removed from schools, classrooms, and students. This bill only extends that distance.
In a bid to garner support, some legislators have proposed permitting limited school choice within the expanded districts. Im not opposed to school choice.
But we need to remember, as we stand on the brink of tearing down our home-based system of schools, that the school choice that matters to most of us is the choice we exercise through our local boards to make our childrens schools what we want them to be.
Thats something none of us should be willing to lose or be compelled to surrender.
Peter Berger teaches English at Weathersfield School. Poor Elijah would be pleased to answer letters addressed to him in care of the editor.MORE IN CommentaryVladimir Putin is caught between a rock and a hard place and his response has been to portray the... Full StoryThe sit-ins, die-ins, marches and other demonstrations sparked by the tragic deaths of Michael... Full StoryMaybe Im just projecting, but Christmas seemed unusually subdued this year. Full Story
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702508936667404812.post7727749925335037118..comments2014-12-19T07:58:15.096-05:00Comments on RPG Blog II: D&D Rules Variants: The Perrin ConventionsZachary Houghtonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702508936667404812.post-57923865241452771462010-03-26T11:56:35.503-04:002010-03-26T11:56:35.503-04:00The Wikipedia page on Steve Perrin has a link to W...The Wikipedia page on Steve Perrin has a link to Word document containing these. Here's a direct link to the file:

The Perrin Conventions.Matthew W. Schmeerhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702508936667404812.post-36062109901898792662010-03-24T18:34:57.851-04:002010-03-24T18:34:57.851-04:00Cool. Forgot to mention, they're available fr...Cool.

Forgot to mention, they're available from Chaosium in PDF in All the Worlds' Monsters Vol. 2, at DrivethruRPG/RPGNow. Kudos to Chaosium for making them available again, and Foster spotted them from the preview.

So if you like them, please consider thanking Chaosium by a purchase.Gibbering Ghoulhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702508936667404812.post-28004592229671302012010-03-24T05:13:41.700-04:002010-03-24T05:13:41.700-04:00Are you kidding? If one looks closely, you will se...Are you kidding? If one looks closely, you will see that the principles he put forward are the verbose version of the basics of 3rd Edition D&D combat.

I found these about a year ago and was totally blown away. Also, I VERY much regret not seeing them 20 YEARS ago when we were playing 1 minute chaos rounds in 1e AD&D.king_grifhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702508936667404812.post-77795774894176034452010-03-23T17:50:45.613-04:002010-03-23T17:50:45.613-04:00They work nice...in Runequest. Also bits were in o...They work nice...in Runequest. Also bits were in or inspired bits of Holmes Basic (dex init order etc.) and were fine there, but then that was my intro to D&D. I don't think I'd use them whole in D&D though.

There's a basic PDF version of Foster's transcript here:
http://www.box.net/shared/fuj3cuzbibGibbering Ghoulhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com