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Dun and Bradstreet: Driving Efficiency by Balancing SEO with Paid Search
- Over 300% increase in Paid Search ROI
- 28% increase in new site registration
Conclusion: The Importance of Paid/Organic CoordinationWhile Paid and Organic Search operate independently—each calling for its own unique solutions and unique goals—neither exists in a vacuum. Capturing the full opportunity of both requires locating the nexus points between them. This Paid/Organic coordination is the outgrowth of a larger Did-it Search philosophy. Did-it realizes that developing the most powerful Search solutions relies on working within a campaign's larger context. That context begins at the search engine results page; but it goes much further: into website deeper pages, the client's offline business, and even into market forces beyond the client's immediate business sphere.By integrating that larger context within campaigns, Did-it is able to capitalize on hidden Paid Search opportunity, and to craft solutions geared around the client's complete business.
Cingular overcomes one-size-fits-all strategy
For the second half of 2004, Cingular Wireless, a client of Did-it.com, stipulated a specific average cost per order (CPO) for Web site orders that took place through search.The main search marketing expense is the click-through, so a campaign's CPO is mainly the combination of the cost-per-click spent on keywords and the frequency with which a search marketer advertises on any term. Cingular specified an average CPO for the whole campaign, but gave Did-it free rein as to how to meet that average.One option was to spend an equal amount across all keywords. A second option was to vary the spend for different keywords. For the latter option, the question remained as to what type of differentiated CPO strategy would work best.At the same time, the right software determined the possibility of a more differentiated strategy. A more specialized strategy would require software that could be customized easily to every new client. Without thoroughly flexible software, a one-size-fits-all solution would become the only option, and the "best strategy" question would be moot.Solution and Results Did-it found that some keywords converted well with minimal investment while other conversion-powerful keywords needed higher spend to achieve results. "Cingular," "cingular wireless" and "cingular.com," for instance, all converted easily. "Cellular phones," "cellular" and "wireless phone" were conversion-powerful keywords requiring more effort. This suggested that a differentiated strategy would work best.Did-it created a multitiered CPO solution based around ease of keyword conversion and the ROI that a keyword would yield. The result was a bidding strategy through which keywords that offered low-hanging fruit got less spend; high-yield, high-hanging fruit got more.Maestro, Did-it's proprietary bidding platform, was programmed accordingly. A below-average target CPO was set for low-hanging fruit. Target CPO for high-hanging fruit keywords was programmed at as much as 60 percent above the campaign average. This strategy let Did-it exceed its campaign target by 20 percent, creating thousands more orders for Cingular than anticipated. In the course of its relationship with Did-it.com, Cingular's search-driven Web site orders have doubled.Emphasize Each Unique Element The best search marketing campaigns are those that recognize the full diversity of all campaign elements. Uniform solutions can achieve ROI, but in emphasizing each unique element marketers can take full advantage of every opportunity that a campaign offers.Diversification requires a high level of customization. Customization, in turn, requires bidding software that can be adapted readily to the new opportunities that every campaign presents. This software/strategy combination yields the best-tailored search campaigns.
Coach: Luxury Meets Opportunity
ChallengeAs a designer and producer of high-end goods and accessories, Coach has had more than half a century of experience crafting items that impress—and inspire. In 2003 however, Coach found itself less than inspired by the mediocre returns its SEM strategy of affiliate- driven search ads had provided. The luxury manufacturer wanted stronger ROI, a lower Cost per Order (CPO), and a more effective way of executing paid search tactics in time for their peak months during the holiday season.SolutionFrom October to January, Did-it used its industry-leading automated bidding platform Maestro to learn not only which branded terms were leading to sales for Coach, but also which ads, which landing pages and which generic keywords gave Coach the best grip on their market. Through creative holiday testing, changes in ad copy, advanced customized tracking and a controlled bidding strategy that put real-time value on orders, Did-it was able to optimize the client's paid search campaign by the end of November.ResultsCoach has always been a player in luxury, and its online sales were never slow. But that wasn't enough. They wanted to crush their competition in Search by increasing revenue without wasteful spending—and they wanted it fast. Did-it lived up to its reputation by driving down CPO 87% within one month, raising conversion rates 481%, and capturing a greater portion of market share for its client at a proportionally lower cost. This meant a 632% increased ROI, and a satisfied partnership on all sides. With the expert help of Did-it.com, in only three months Coach had it "in the bag."What's in a name, if the right people can't find you? Coach realized their old approach to SEM wasn't pulling its weight and enlisted Did-it.com to find a more tenacious strategy. By putting emphasis on search terms that increased revenue, tweaking copy and tracking landing pages, Did-it cut costs as a satisfied client saw its bags fill with cash.
Associated Bag Company: Searching Outside the Box
ChallengeAs a wholesale distributor of packing materials, Associated Bag Company has helped its clients ship goods for over sixty years. Warehouses, catalogs and a reputation for service carried the company far—but in 2003, the online age demanded more.Associated was running an in-house Search Engine Marketing (SEM) campaign with no object other than to increase rank and prominence. Bidding on keywords regardless of whether their visibility led to purchases was siphoning thousands of dollars every week; and the wholesaler realized that a lower Cost per Acquisition would be necessary in order to sustain a healthy online presence.SolutionNoting that that the optimal CPO for a repeat buyer was less than what was being levied, Did-it.com moved to eliminate wasteful spending practices. Using Maestro, Did-it's proprietary bidding platform, experts were able to support keywords boasting high conversion rates while simultaneously cutting off more sluggish performers.Critical changes were then implemented to landing pages with the aim of not only increasing the number of inbound clicks coming through the site, but also of boosting their value by enhancing the likelihood of subsequent sales.ResultAt the end of one month Did-it.com had reached the client's goal of a more reasonable Cost per Order and ahigher conversion rate. Comparing the first full week of Did-it's involvement in June with the same period in July, Associated spent 52% less on SEM, while reaping a 1900% increase in order volume and achieving a 98% lower CPO.Today Associated Bag continues its lucrative partnership on a more extensive scale. In the first weeks of January 2005, the distributor saw its ROI soar by 74% as search costs maintained their steady decline. Just one more client with results signed, sealed and delivered by Did-it.Getting from Point A to Point B can be a daunting process for businesses that rely on the internet to serve their clients. For Associated Bag, finding the right SEM strategy meant finding a firm that could tailor its insight to both the company and its customers. Did-it provided not only a greater quantity of visitors, but a better quality of business. That's searching "outside the box."
Landing Page Case Study: Baker College Online
Didit's creative team delivers results for users driven through paid search. We look to identify the best User Experience (UX) practices to discover opportunities for improving leads from landing pages.The Client: Baker College offers users 40 Career Programs for students to take online.The Audit:
- The original page design contained too much generic copy and even a video didn't provide the proper engagement for visiting users.
- The form was extremely long and the call-to-action (CTA) was placed well below the fold.
- The tabbed navigation duplicated site content and often took users off the page and away from a conversion.
The Solution: Targeted Landing Page Design
- Several pages were developed targeting popular courses according to keyword research.
- Copy is divided into easy to read, scanable sections and bulleted points.
- Visual appeals to the target audience and directs users to a simple form.
- Call-to-action stands out on the page.
Maps Case Study: Corel
- 111% increase in spend
- 144% increase in revenue
- 16% increase in ROI
- 135% increase in sales
- 204% increase in free trial sign ups
By concentrating efforts in higher converting geographic locations, the conversion rate increased by 15%Follow UpIn more recent reports, 2 months following initial launch, the spend, revenue, and sales are still maintaining the increased levels and Corel has given approval for the expansion of Maps to additional product lines. "Corel continues to see increased success metrics as we utilize the audience targeting platform of MAPS to assist our overall search strategy." – Derek Tucker, Global Marketing Manager
Client Testimonial – Corel
"Partnering with Didit has increased PPC revenue 68% (CAGR) over the last three years. We're now able to run multi-platform ad campaigns as Didit's full service model allowed us to have comparison-shopping-engines, Google Product-listing-ads and and Google Shopping campaigns run holistically alongside our PPC and display programs.There have been many additional benefits. For example, time spent maintaining and bidding on individual CSE listings has been dramatically reduced while raising revenue through Didit's effective use of Inceptor's daily bid management system. Set-up was also easy as Didit managed all technical aspects of setting up new CSE and PLA campaigns, including the need to write Regex expressions and other programming to optimize feed data.Overall, we have found that the alignment of CSEs, PLAs, Google Shopping, with PPC and Display has made our campaigns more profitable, easier to deploy, and less expensive to maintain. A fantastic result when you consider how easy it was to move to this new system."
- Derek Tucker, Global Marketing Manager – eCommerce
Client Testimonial – Check N' Go
Didit backs up their promises with performance. Check 'n Go has collaborated with them on a number of complicated and crucially important marketing campaigns, and they've consistently delivered results.In March 2010, we hired Didit to take our search marketing to the next level. Check 'n Go is a national company providing payday loans online, personal installment loans, cash advances, and check cashing to customers in the US, so we needed an SEM company with the tools and experience to manage integrated marketing campaigns with various moving parts. Didit's marketing savvy and technological prowess made them the obvious choice.Didit's team easily stepped into our marketing situation and aligned their goals with our business objectives. They were prepared from their very first day on the job without any tug-of-war over scope or priorities. They've seamlessly executed our campaign without asking us to connect the dots for them.One thing that really impressed us about Didit's approach was that they didn't bring preconceived ideas to our projects. They didn't try to fit Check 'n Go into a one-size-fits-all search marketing template. Instead, they researched our cash advance vertical and customer demographics so they could focus on our buyer targets from the get-go.Didit has been able to manage every aspect of our campaigns, from designing eye-catching landing pages; to overseeing our paid search accounts for Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google; to setting up automated optimization solutions.They've consistently met our expectations from a cost per funded loan basis, while also making incremental, manual improvements to our campaign. Prior to adopting their services, we struggled to optimize the channel based on our business goals, which change on a state-by-state basis. Didit devised a search formula to entice the most click-throughs in a way that gets more efficient with each iteration. Their software and team continually tweaked our results, finding better and better ways to increase volume while reducing the advertising cost per acquisition (CPA). Their software platform and manual improvements allowed us to optimize our campaigns based on the CPA, leading to successively higher monthly volumes.Didit also excels at client communication and follow-up. They welcome feedback and use it to the client's advantage. We meet with their team frequently, and at every meeting they provide us with constructive and practicable feedback on what we could and should do to extend the improvements we've been making. They also update us with reports showing outlays and CPA.Didit has also run a/b tests to find out which landing pages produce the best results. This constant attention to, and monitoring of, our CPA has given us the ability to make steady improvements in our transaction volumes while lowering the CPA – two metrics that are vitally important to us. In addition, our ROI has significantly increased in the paid search channel.Since they work closely with Google, Yahoo, and MSN, Didit has been able to give us an unexpected edge over our competitors. We've experienced the highest ROI for paid search since opening the PPC channel in 2005.Working with Didit has made Check 'n Go much more efficient internet marketers. They are ruthless about performance, and they don't leave anything to chance. We're getting more transactions, and each online installment loan we add is giving us a better return on our investment. That's how we define success. When it comes to meeting our search marketing goals, Didit has definitely "done it" for us.
- Jean-Marx Mantilla, Interactive Marketing Director
Bio:Jean-Marx Mantilla leads the eCommerce team in his role as the Director of Interactive Marketing and currently reports to Doug Clark, Axcess Financial's COO. Through Jean-Marx's leadership and oversight of online marketing and ecommerce strategies, Check 'n Go Online's revenue continues to grow every year. He has more than a dozen years of experience in the eBusiness and technology management fields, where he specialized in digital marketing and eCommerce.Jean-Marx career in the eBusiness sector is notable for its many accomplishments. He launched first-generation ecommerce websites for Victoria's Secret and Burton Snowboards. He served as consultant to numerous Fortune 500 companies as an Information Architect at US/Web CKS. And he led marketing and conversion campaigns as eCommerce Director for the internet retail start-up eJewelry.com.Prior to coming to Axcess Financial, Jean-Marx was VP of eCommerce Strategy at JPMorgan Chase. He's a graduate of The Ohio State University.
Client Testimonials – various clients
"The best thing about working with the Inceptor/Didit team is their ability to adapt to changing market conditions."
Larry Davis, VP of Marketing for Ross-Simons
"They have made the organic online marketing channel a low-cost acquisition channel for us. We have been able to turn it around (from before) and drive costs down. It is of high importance for us to have them onboard."
- Sr. eCommerce Strategy Manager, Fortune 500 Financial Services Company
"I would never recommend them to another company like mine. I want to maintain the competitive advantage I get from working with them!"
eCommerce Client – Home Furnishings
"Inceptor brings to the table a broader view of the marketplace. Working with a vendor that can bring us larger marketing trends is very useful to us because we are very myopic. Their role is very important. They do the actual bidding and management of our campaign, plus they serve a technical and advisory role to our business."
eCommerce Client – Sporting Goods and Apparel
"Our SEO account person is very quick to respond, well-versed in search engines, and sets expectations very well, which is what I need. They are not promising the world and then not delivering. That is what makes this a good relationship."
Sr. eCommerce Strategy Manager, Fortune 500 Financial Services Company
"From my experience working with Inceptor/Didit, they are looking for ways to improve our PPC account and bring best practices. They are always looking after our business goals on a day in and day out basis."
Client – B2B Services
"They handle everything. They launch it, do automatic feeds, and there is little involvement required on my part."
eCommerce Client – Home Decor
"We have been able to identify pockets of underdeveloped search terms to minimize our cost per click. Our team is not afraid to push back and share new ideas. It's a pleasure working with Inceptor/Didit."
Larry Davis, VP of Marketing for Ross-Simons
"I think the main thing they have really helped us is to keep our marketing dollars in front of us. Pay per click is very expensive. The cost of marketing was difficult to determine what makes money and what doesn't. They have helped us to be more effective in spending our marketing dollars."
eCommerce Client – Healthy Home Products
"Inceptor/Didit understands it is about the business results, not just the eyeballs you get to your site. That is what sets them apart."
Sr. eCommerce Strategy Manager, Fortune 500 Financial Services Company
"They are very knowledgeable about bringing best practices into what we are doing. They have brought tools to bear to help us understand our keyword campaigns at a granular level."
Client – Sanitation Service Industry
"There is a responsiveness and accountability working with them. They did exactly what they promised. If I need to reach my account manager, bam, he is there. They watch my campaigns closely. They keep me informed and they have had good results – return on investment."
eCommerce Client – Lighting and Architectural Products
Client Testimonial – Kaz USA
"Our company has been in business since 1926, and we have locations in 67 countries around the world. Our headquarters is just west of Boston in Southborough, Massachusetts. We do conception, manufacturing, and sales of products for Vicks, Honeywell, and Braun.We've been working with Inceptor for about 18 months. Inceptor/Didit built our accounts from scratch, and manages our Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click, and Comparison Shopping Engine feeds. We selected them because they seemed to be knowledgeable, honorable, personable, and intelligent. All of these assumptions have turned out to be correct.Prior to 2009, we didn't really have a direct-to-consumer business to speak of. Since we hired Inceptor/Didit, they've been an integral part of our journey from nothing to exciting. There has been significant growth in our business, and Inceptor/Didit has played a major role in that. We track our ROI, and while it varies from month to month, it's typically 4 to 5 times our investment.The most important thing to me personally has been Inceptor/Didit's ability to anticipate the next thing and remain flexible. I'm running a relatively new business within a larger business that expects big things from me. This makes me have to do things quickly and with more agility than is usually necessary, and Inceptor/Didit has been able to accommodate that.Inceptor/Didit is incredibly attentive to my needs. Many vendors send you a few emails and an invoice every month, but I'm in contact with Inceptor/Didit three to five times a week, depending on what is going on. Deadlines don't constantly slide and fly by unmentioned like with many other vendors. They can accommodate my schedule and are always around for meetings when I need them.I would definitely select Inceptor/Didit again, and in fact, I have. We've signed four contracts with them at this point. I can tell other business owners that you'll do better with Didit, and that they really have your best interests at heart."Fred Hosley, Web Manager Kaz USA, Inc. Southborough, Mass.
Kaz USA: Integrated Approach to SEM Services
Few agencies can demonstrate the concrete effects that a fully integrated search marketing program delivers for a client's business and overall revenue contribution. Working hand-in-hand with our client, Kaz USA, we were able to create a highly successful, proactive campaign leveraging the synergy between Pay Per Click (PPC), Comparison Shopping Engines (CSE), and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Data/learnings were passed from the CSE and SEO teams to the PPC team and the client. Close monitoring, good cross-team communication, flexibility, and quick action on identified opportunities are essential for maximizing revenue and return. The improved visibility across all three channels led to an increase in sales from both the CSEs and organic search.
- More than 3000% increase in unit sales (client estimates it would have increased 5,000% or more if they had been fully stocked)
- Category "Fans" more than doubled the percent of revenue contribution
- Organic traffic was up 600% and delivered a 35% conversion rate
- After the PPC campaign was launched, we saw a 36% increase in average weekly sales of the unit in the CSEs
Site wide results:
- Sales are up 60%+ YTD
- For the month of August 2010, ROI was 4.6X and conversion rate 5.2%
- YTD ROI meets the goal of 4x and is expected to be significantly higher through the 2010 winter and holiday season
- Significant organic growth year over year. Google visits are up 246% and revenue increased 1,805%. Visits on Bing grew 1,218% with a 2,749% growth in revenue
CSE Program Improves Apparel Retailer's PPC ROI by 17%
- CSE advertising programs require product "data feeds" to keep the shopping engines up-to-date. Our client was already providing a daily product feed for processing and submission to the CSEs. So we used this daily CSE data feed to automatically identify when product-specific bids needed to be paused/eliminated in the CSE and PPC programs due to product unavailability.
- The Inceptor team understood that determining "availability" in the apparel industry presents a unique dilemma. The problem goes beyond simply identifying those items that are totally out-of-stock. For bidding purposes, availability also requires having a sufficient variety of sizes in stock. For example, if only size 5 of a specific model of shoe is in stock, a click on a PPC ad for that product is unlikely to convert.
- In addition, retailers often discount the price on last season's products, especially those with limited size or color availability. If these bargains are included in the feed to the CSEs, the listings are even more likely to generate many clicks, but very few conversions.
- The Inceptor CSE team developed a specialized algorithm to determine what combination of sizes is "sufficient" enough to warrant any ongoing spending on clicks, both PPC and CSE.
- Another complexity involves the effect of inventory changes on optimization for entire categories of products. So the team enhanced its in-house-developed link checking tool to verify not only that all landing pages in the paid search campaigns are still active, but also to identify cases where a keyword represents an entire class of products that should be considered "unavailable" for bidding purposes.
The positive impact of this automation project improved efficiency in both time and money. The time previously devoted to troubleshooting inventory issues was re-allocated to expanding and optimizing the account. And, by eliminating thousands of unnecessary clicks on low inventory/out of stock products, the saved budget was re-assigned to higher converting areas within the account.ResultsA preliminary test of the newly developed technology was performed in late Q3 and the full program was rolled out in time for the busy Q4 holiday season.During the test period in the relatively slow early fall season, the retailer benefited from exceptional PPC savings, while continuing to maintain revenue at current levels. A comparison of the key metrics 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the new technology was initially implemented shows:
- Cost of Marketing (Spend/Revenue) decreased by 18%
- Average Weekly Spend decreased by 14%
- Average Weekly Cost per Sale fell by 10%
- Average Weekly Revenue increased by 1%
To ensure we obtain the best possible results, the availability determination algorithm and link checking technology is continually tweaked based on ongoing results as well as new insights into the apparel sizing/availability dilemma. During Q4, the campaigns were diligently optimized and re-optimized and savings were re-applied to expand the scope of the campaigns. As a result, the year over year results for Q4 were outstanding:
- Revenue increased by 46%
- Cost of Marketing decreased by 17%
- Spending increased only 21%
Many agencies promote a fully integrated paid search offering but few can demonstrate the concrete effects on a large scale client's business and overall revenue contribution. Working hand-in-hand with our client, we were able to create a highly successful, proactive campaign leveraging the synergy between CSE and PPC programs.
Ross Simons Increases Revenue and ROI
- Average CPC decreased by 31%
- Qualified Search impressions increased by 26%
- 10% revenue growth while ROI increased by 124%
Larry Davis, VP of Marketing for Ross-Simons summarizes the Inceptor relationship as follows: "The best thing about working with Inceptor is their ability to adapt to changing market conditions and fickle search results. We have been able to identify pockets of underdeveloped search terms and words and minimize our cost-per-click. We are most happy with our team and their commitment to Ross-Simons. They aren't afraid to push back and share new ideas. It's a pleasure working with Inceptor."
Advanced SEO Tactics Put National HR Firm on the Map
Apparel Retailer Ups Revenue 35% due to Optimized Navigation
Didit Doubled Online Retailer's Revenue
Keyword & Account ROI Increased via Brand Match Type Management
Maximizing Conversions by Running Competitive Sites
- Partner sites that fall under the umbrella of the main company
- Micro-sites to promote different areas of the business
- Promotional sites to target specific products or audiences within the company's vertical
The challenge with all three is to increase conversions even as the competitive nature of the multiple sites threatens to raise the cost per click (CPC).SituationA client in a highly competitive financial vertical planned to launch two micro-sites in addition to its main website. Although each of the sites varied only slightly in messaging, the intent was to raise overall conversions by appearing in more places on the first page of paid search results for the same keywords. In effect, they wanted to take these spaces away from some of their deep-pocket competitors.ChallengesWhile each site had its own unique purpose, the keyword lists for all three were exactly the same. This created a risk of driving up CPCs for the original site. In addition, the duplicate sites and keyword lists raised the potential for conflict with Google's editorial guidelines for duplicate/mirror sites.
SolutionInceptor advised the client against launching all three sites at once; instead we together decided to benchmark the original site for three months, optimize the account and use the data collected to create a plan for launching the additional sites.During the three month test, Didit worked with Google to gain approval to add the first micro-site. After the data from the initial launch was analyzed, the site was activated using the same keyword list, but with CPCs set around 30% lower than the main site. This was to ensure that there would be no direct competition among sites.After six months of running the original site and the first micro-site with the exact same keyword lists, and finding higher overall conversions, the second micro-site was launched. Originally, it was expected that it would rank lower than the first two sites, but this quickly changed when the conversion rate of the second micro-site nearly doubled that of the first. ResultsManaging an account with three sites all competing for the same keywords seemed, at least initially, to be a risky idea, but with careful planning and optimization, the strategy proved sound.
- Adding the first micro-site increased average monthly clicks by 68% while average spend increased by only 60%
- Adding the second micro-site only increased average monthly spend by 4%
- Average monthly conversions increased by a total of 114% after the second micro-site was launched
Content campaign raised brand awareness and drove 300% ROI increase
The optimization performed by Google drove a 1200% increase in traffic but at a return of less than 100%. After our second round of optimizations, the ROI improved upon the Google optimization by over 300%. In addition, the revenue remained consistent and traffic increased by 380% over the initial launch period.
New CSE program drives significant revenue and ROI
Integrated PPC-SEO Services Improve Lead Generation for a Biotechnology Firm
- While PPC ads may go offline due to budget constraints, organic results are available to searchers at all times. On the other hand, if organic results slip due to an algorithm change, PPC can temporarily ramp up to fill the void.
- Using PPC with well-targeted ad copy for both branded terms and some well-chosen general keywords (along with adequate negative keywords to maintain relevance) helped to attract cost-effective clicks.
- SEO techniques helped overcome the challenge encountered when Google does not display paid ads for infrequently searched, very specific keywords with a low CTR.
- Appearing in both paid and organic search results on the same page helped to boost the total click through rate.
RESULTSThe number of organic visits from non-branded search terms improved by 75% year over year. The top traffic-driving organic terms are specific technical terms, such as "ecori" and "xhoi." Meanwhile, as a result of the first six month's of Inceptor's PPC campaign restructuring and optimization efforts, the paid search Click through Rate improved by 1594% while the number of impressions dropped by 80%. The well-targeted ads and better CTR improved the Google Quality Score and led to a 39% drop in CPCs and an improvement in average position from 2.7 to 2.1. The top performing non-brand PPC keywords include relatively general terms such as "enzyme," and "gene expression," as well as some more specific terms like "DH5."The CMS implementation is close to completion and the redesign project is still in progress, so the full impact of applying SEO principles is yet to be realized and fully measured. And the PPC program is just getting underway, with improvements anticipated as additional optimization, Sitelinks, and testing techniques are implemented.Applying paid and organic search to the types of terms for which they are each best suited allows the client to reach the broad spectrum of biotech researchers, whether they are looking for a specific product, technical reference information about certain enzymes, or simply for a reputable source of enzyme products.


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A portrait with fluidity | Preserving Zidane's day of work on 'the green of the field'
The trailer from Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. The reference to cinema showings relates to the UK. At present, the film has received screenings in Columbus, Ohio; Minneapolis; and Park City, Utah, as part of the Sundance Film Festival in January. The film is not currently listed on the Sundance Channel schedule.
For art-house and football film buffs in the United States, viewings of 2006 Cannes Film Festival entry Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait likely will be a private or slightly illicit affair.
Our copy arrived this week from the UK, where it was released to DVD on Jan 29. The disc comes encoded for Region 2, and we lack a multi-region DVD player; therefore, we had to view the film on a desktop computer screen. But the experience was no less intense than a cinematic viewing and, perhaps, accentuated the intimacy that filmmakers intended in training 17 cameras on Zinédine Zidane over an entire Real Madrid match versus Villareal in late April 2005.
Given the paucity of festival appearances for the movie stateside and as yet unformed plans for distribution, any larger-scale screenings will have to be undertaken with the heinous benefit of DVD conversion software. We do not advocate going this route, but we're not going to condemn anyone wishing to share the experience with friends.
Goya's self-portrait in India ink and wash (ca. 1800), at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, offers—perhaps à la Zidane (but with more hair)—"something of the Romantic sensation of the wildness of genius and the potency of the creative imagination," according to Sarah Symmons in Goya (Phaidon, 1998).
In approaching the film, one must keep in mind that the last word in the English-language title, "portrait," bears more importance than one might think. (At Cannes, where the film was an out-of-competition entry, it screened as Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle.) In a bit of serendipity considering the intent of filmmakers Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, the film crew was able to gain access to the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid on the morning of the game. There they studied portraiture by Spanish masters Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya along with work by the Dutch proto-surrealist Hieronymus Bosch.
For the 21st-century style of portraiture that they were attempting, the brushstrokes from earlier practitioners, albeit in a different medium, had to suffice in the absence of a storyboard and with few cinematic examples to which to turn for guidance. The directors do allude, from the art world, to 13 Most Beautiful Women by Andy Warhol (1964) and to Garrincha: Alegria do povo (Garrincha: Hero of the Jungle) (1962), from football, in plotting their influences. Parreno and Gordon, at the conceptual stage, showed Zidane portions of the Garrincha film in order to communicate their intent.
Parreno describes his film as setting out to capture the movie "in your head," the pastiche of images created, for example, when traveling by bus or car and the scenes coalesce into one mesmerizing blur. Further, both directors, as well as Zidane, narrate the youthful experience of wishing to view their footballing heroes from as close to the TV screen as possible, replicated in the film during opening and closing sequences when Zidane's form is lost amid a field of pixels. For Zidane, the draw was the announcer's voice as well as the images of a personal hero, Uruguay and Olympique Marseille forward Enzo Francescoli.
As to the choice of the film's subject, Zidane's "Sphinx-like character," according to Gordon, made him appealing, as well as distinctive facial features: tonsured head, strong nose, olive eyes and, during games, a darkened visage that make him a figure of potential menace. From the view of cinematographer Darius Khondji, the dark regions around Zidane's deep-set eyes bring to mind the brooding black-and-white cinema of French director Robert Bresson. "At other times," says Khondji, Zidane's attitude "was very epic, like John Ford's westerns."
Pardoxically, though, and partly a result of the complex findings that such a studied portrait puts on offer, Zidane emerges as a solitary, vulnerable figure. Again Khondji, speaking in one of the DVD's supplemental features, provides the telling remarks:
When the focus was on Zidane, with all these cameras pointed at him, he was very fragile. He was really like a thin film, or a leaf. It was very unusual. He really traveled from one space to another, from a sort of blurry space, almost fluid like water, to a very clear, sharp image. And the result was something very beautiful which represented Zidane's own fragility.
Khondji's metaphor of fluidity cues the observation that Gordon and Parreno's film exists, in part, as a meditation on bodily fluids. Zidane's production in this respect is extraordinary. Like drips of condensation from greenhouse plants, perspiration travels over the narrow channel in Zidane's chin and falls to earth at regular intervals, as if metered. In the second half, he must dispense the fluid buildup by continually raking both hands over his cropped head. Throughout, he whistles spit from his mouth to accompany a general attitude of irritation. For most of the 90 minutes, the game is a struggle. Zidane admits in a DVD feature that this was not one of his masterful performances, but the game is one in which "everything happened."
The tight focus from the retinue of high-definition and Super 35mm lenses, two of the cameras having been requisitioned by the U.S. Army for surveillance, confirms the realization that the game, to Zidane, represents work. It is not play. When a smile crosses Zidane's face, at wild gesticulations and a comment from left back Roberto Carlos, the brooding lifts briefly. Yet when Zidane saw the film, Gordon recalls that the moment of lightness was "the only thing in the film he didn't like. Zidane hated it because it showed that he wasn't concentrating on the game" (Tom Dart, "Portrait of the Artist as an Angry Young Man," The Times, 4 Sept 06).
The cover of the Sept 06 Artforum: "[A] major part of the conceptual brilliance of Zidane consists in the fact that its protagonist's sustained feat of absorption is depicted as taking place before an audience of eighty thousand spectators, with millions more watching via TV," writes art historian Michael Fried.
For all the transfixing images that the film blends to create its portrait, as significant is the mixing of recorded match-day sounds with the synthesized tracks from Glasgow band Mogwaï. Audio engineers manipulate the input at their disposal. During some sequences, they favor the bass drums of the ultra groups behind the goalposts; at other moments, to heighten aspects of Zidane's isolation, they filter out stadium noise. We are left listening to the scratches of Zidane's cleats, his pants and sighs: sounds of worry. Once, a dog's bark echoes clearly as Zidane lopes near the touchline at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. "You can almost decide for youself what you want to hear," says Zidane within a subtext broadcast occasionally at the bottom of the screen.
You are never alone. I can hear someone shift around in their chair. I can hear someone coughing. I can hear someone whisper in the ear of the person next to them. I can imagine that I can hear the ticking of a watch.
This is the paradox to which Khondji alludes above. Some 80,000 spectators hold Zidane in embrace, but the sense is of solitude. With the familiar sounds gone, it is as if Zidane walks through a graveyard. "The silence of portraiture is very important," says Gordon. In the collaborative squabbles with Parreno, in fact, Gordon says that he argued for more silent periods. One can imagine the naive Zidane of boyhood, perhaps, fantasizing about himself on this floating green surface—Zidane says that in retirement he will especially miss "the green of the field" (le carré vert)—but the terrifying sounds of collisions and insult shatter the reverie. The game with Villareal, characterized with irony as a "walk in the park," is anything but.
The film's halftime montage, referred to cryptically as the "Pink Flamingoes" segment, places the match of 23 Apr 05 in the context of other news from the day. Some items are portentous, such as deaths from a car bomb in Najaf, Iraq; some quizzical—a marathon reading of Cervantes at Drew University in New Jersey; and others ephemeral: announcement of the fleeting glimpse of an ivory-billed woodpecker, long believed extinct, in Arkansas swampland.
We return to the match. Which is more real, in the end: (1) the unknowable Zidane, who Gordon says ceases to exist, as a practical matter, following his 90 minutes of labor, or (2) these events of a day now lost to the blur of time and of which, more than likely, we have also had no direct experience? Since Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait will endure as museum piece and historical record, this memory on film, as with portraits dangling silently in galleries worldwide, might have the last word.
But, for now, the debate has been joined by highbrow critics, such as a voice at the London Review of Books: "[T]he galáctico, like any modern celebrity, is available to us only through his mediation, and the more pervasive his image, the more frustratedly we recognise that he remains finally opaque, unreachable" (Paul Myerscough, "Short Cuts," 5 Oct 06).
And on a seemingly more plebeian level, within a discussion thread at the Internet Movie Database, one writer casts Zidane as Platonic form: an abstraction that might yet be accessible via the artist's or filmmaker's creation. Another demurs: "[A]re you suggesting that Zidane is the form of [a] footballer? According to Plato, his forms do not exist on this plane."
As we contemplate these ideas, enticing yet just beyond reach, another voice charges into the discussion-board fray: "Alright fellas, it's soccer. I'd like to hear the Mogwai tracks though."
Hundreds of filmgoers formed an aesthetically pleasing elliptically shaped line outside the circular concrete form of the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington before a screening on Apr 19. David Keyes of Culture of Soccer was shut out of the event, but includes a photo of the line of "ordinary Joes and Jills," in the Washington Post's description (Blake Gopnik, "To Hirshhorn Filmgoers, One-Man Act Is All on Pitch," Apr 24). Gopnik writes:
Instead of the usual artsies—students dressed in hipster gear, business-suited collectors and art-world veterans in black—the audience seemed mostly to be soccer buffs. There were sporty young couples out on dates, families with kids in soccer shirts, groups of close-cropped guys who looked as though they might have spent more time on the soccer pitch than in museums. … (The Hirshhorn security guards e-mailed the organizers after the show, asking about the crowd. They said how nice they were, compared with the usual audience.)


text:
1. Eternal Love, your grace we praise
Which shapes and comforts all our days,
Evolves the world we know.
Let worship, symbols come of age
To help us read beneath the page
And test the status quo!
2. Renewing Love, in Jesus met
Defying limitation yet
Particular in all;
Confronting still the edifice
Of ignorance and prejudice,
Responding to our call.
3. But still your truth we faintly see
Though Church and Scripture guarantee
To point us on our way.
A darkened mirror blurs our sight
While false ideas obscure the light
And spurn the shining ray.
4. Thanks be for scholars, prophets too
Who lead the quest for insights new
As old convictions fade.
May we in faith by Spirit led
In Jesus' footsteps bravely tread
And never be afraid!
© David Stevenson 2010
Suggested tune: Manna by J G Schicht (1753-1823)


text:
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Despite constant changes in legislation and the additions of new regulations, the insurance industry strives to be a consistent resource for business owners and individuals alike. Recently, insurance executives across the state met at the Las Vegas offices of City National Bank to discuss the challenges in their industry. Connie Brennan, publisher of Nevada Business… [More…]
Industry Focus: Insurance
Filed Under: Industry Focus Tagged With: Branch-Hernandez & Associates, Capstone Brokerage, City National Bank, Connie Brennan, Cragin & Pike, David Dahan, E-Mod, Gary Daryanani, GLB Insurance Group of Nevada, Gregory Pike, Joe Hernandez, Justin Manning, L/P Insurance Services, Larry Harrison, Las Vegas business, Las Vegas healthcare, Mary Thompson, Medicaid, National Healthcare Access, Nevada business, Nevada Business Magazine, Nevada healthcare, Nevada Insurance Division, Orgill/Singer & Associates, Professional Employer Organizations, Ramon Perez, Reno business, Reno healthcare, Russell Swain, Sage Insurance Services, Scott Kipper, Swarts Manning & Associates, The National Association of Health Underwriters, The National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers, The Terrorism Risk and Insurance Act, Thomas Burns, Young Agents Association of Health Underwriters


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Click Here For Your Ross Park Monthly Results
Ross Park Monthly
2 Rounds of 18 Holes (Playing 9 Holes 4 Times)
Maximum 50 Entrants
Sponsored by the Portneuf Valley Disc Golf Club (they will also be onsite for disc and merchandise sales, club members get extra discounts)
Professional $20
Advanced $15
Intermediate $10
Women $10
Registration is from 9:00am – 9:45am
Play starts at 10:00am
Lunch break in between rounds
Prizes will be paid out in cash to the Pro and Advanced Divison.
Prizes will be paid out in PVDGC bucks to the Intermediate and Women's Division.
PVDGC bucks can be used to purchase merchandise at club price from the club.
4 Closest To The Pin Contests ($1.00 each, winner gets cash back)
Ace Pot ($1.00). First Ace gets the cash back, if no winner the money will carry over to the next event.
PVDGC Competitive Director Brandon Merzlock at email@example.com or 208-406-4451.
Events v1.2 Copyright © 2003-2004 by Eric Lamette, Dave McDonell


text:
Monday - Friday, 6-9 a.m.
Host Tom Temin brings you the latest news affecting the federal community each weekday morning, featuring interviews with top government executives and contractors. Listen live from 6 to 9 a.m. or download archived interviews below.
Stories from Oct 10th, 2012
Intelligence community employees to gain whistleblower protections
Wednesday - 10/10/2012, 09:03pm EDT
Collins wants to know why VA conference planners received bonuses
Wednesday - 10/10/2012, 07:09pm EDT
DoD, State implement only fraction of wartime contracting recommendations
Thursday - 08/02/2012, 07:27pm EDT
White House misses deadline to deliver sequestration report, says plan coming next week
Friday - 09/07/2012, 03:19pm EDT
House committees demand transparency, 'insight' into sequestration
Wednesday - 06/27/2012, 09:40pm EDT
Agencies finally figuring out how HSPD-12 cards can improve security
Thursday - 10/11/2012, 06:01am EDT


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We Are Happy To Serve You Ceramic Cup
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I got so excited when I pulled the cup out of the box because now I have one just like the rest I see in the many t.v. shows! I currently have it placed high on a shelf, so whoever passes by can see it. I did quite a bit of research before finally purchasing the infamous cup. I assumed it was for display purposes only, which is why I bought it, but I didn't know the cup was also being used to drink out of. If it was my intention to use the cup everyday, I preferred it came with a lid.
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These were the sentiments of Fortune I. Ojeah, the keynote speaker at the founder's day program for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., held Sunday at St. Matthews A.M.E. church in Greenville.
Both the Greenville and Cleveland alumni chapters of the fraternity celebrated the 102nd anniversary of the organization.
The theme of the celebration was "Making a Difference One Community at a Time."
Ojeah, the fraternity's junior vice polemarch of the Southwestern Province, broke down the theme of the program in two parts: what is a community and who is the difference maker.
"When we refer to the community, we are referring to ourselves. Your community is you. That boy, that girl, that brother, that sister, sitting beside you is your neighbor and that is your community," said Ojeah.
"When your community is crying, you are crying. When your community is hurting, you are hurting. When your community is winning, you are winning.
"When my favorite basketball player LeBron James won his first championship, he did not win it alone. It took the help of his teammates, who are his community. When he is playing well, his teammates are playing well. Brothers let's strive to reach our community by showing love," said Ojeah.
Ojeah, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, said his father told him a story about a man who tried to change his community but failed many times.
"There was this man who tried to change his world, his generation for so many years and finally gave up. He figured out that he could not change his generation but he can change his community. Unfortunately, he could not, so he tried to save his family and still failed.
"I tried to change my world. I have tried to change my community. I have tried to change my family. I have failed, so I am going to try and change myself. The change I am looking for is inside of me," said Ojeah.
Ojeah closed with wise words from William Arthur Ward.
"Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work."
Ojeah is currently a student at Mississippi Valley State University, where he is majoring in biology and chemistry.
He is a spring 2012 initiate of the Zeta Zeta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Ojeah is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Kappa Mu and Alpha Chi Honors Society, Men's College, Premedical Club, and the Mississippi Valley Ambassadors.


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48 Hour Film Project Fall Shootout
Twenty-four city-winning teams participated in the 48 Hour Film Project Fall Shootout on the weekend of November 3-5, 2006. They received the character, prop, line of dialogue, and genre for their films by email Friday at 7pm local time and had until the post office closes on Monday to send us their film. Read more about their experiences...
The Envelope Please
First, hearty congratulations to each and every team for your films, whether you won your city competition or not. The most difficult part of the 48 Hour Film Project is choosing the award winners. There are so many great films to choose from; and you should be proud of your accomplishments.
Without further ado...
Top 10 Films in the Fall Shootout
Each team will have two representatives flown to Boston for a screening and party weekend.
Film Name | Team Name | City |
"Toast" | GlassEye Productions | Boston |
"Plugged" | Magnetoscope Pictures | Cincinnati |
"72 Ounces" | Garceworks | Denver |
"All Kinds of Evil" | Rockets GO! Productions | Little Rock |
"El Shaket" | Afafas | Miami |
"Tipparinos" | Vaughn Juares | Minneapolis |
"Shush" | Anonymous | Nashville |
"Whacked" | Sputnik | Portland, ME |
"The Music Is In The Beer" | Genesis Films | San Diego |
"When You Grow Up" | Milk | Seattle |
And the winner is...
Best Use of the Boston Beer Product
Magnetoscope Pictures from Cincinnati for "Plugged"
Best Film of the Fall Shootout
Vaughn Juares from Minneapolis for "Tipparinos"


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Community News (V11-I45)
November 1, 2009 by TMO
Kentucky Christians, Muslims unite to knock out crime
LOUISVILLE–Muslim and Christian leaders in Louisville and Lexington are putting up a united front against crime in the two cities.
The group held a meeting on Tuesday night aimed at "stopping the killing and accept responsibility."
One minister said that starts with every resident accepting responsibility for the condition of the community and working together to make a positive impact.
He said it's important to hold everyone accountable including politicians and average citizens.
The group hopes to start a plan called "manhood training," which seeks to reach out to drug dealers and gang members.
Decision on Naperville mosque delayed
NAPERVILLE, IL–The DuPage County Board has delayed its decision on the Irshad Learning Center for two weeks. The latter had requested for a conditional use permit on unincorporated land.
The mosque project has been delayed ever since was placed before the county last year. It was turned down twice by the Zoning Board of Appeal. It was then approved in a unanimous decision by the board's development committee last week.
According to committee chairman Tony Michelassi, District 5 representative from Aurora, the legal counsel wants any permit issued by the county to specify that the center would be allowed to use only the structures that already exist on the three-acre parcel. Without that limitation spelled out, the center could add on as it wishes.
The County Board's next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 on the third floor of the Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building, 421 County Farm Road, Wheaton.
Lodi parents concerned about food choices
LODI, CA –Parents of children at Lodi's Heritage Primary Elementary have voiced their concerns over the menu choices at the school. They have asked the school authorities to allow them to accompany their children to the state-operated pre-school program so that they can help their children avoid haram foods.
The parent's request was made to the Lodi Unified school board meeting.
According to Lodi News 12 percent of the school's population is Muslim. At present the school doesn't have any halal meat options on its menu.
The school authorities say that they are working on resolving this issue as soon as possible.
Journalist Alison Weir visits University of Michigan-Flint
FLINT, MI–Journalist Alison Weir, who is also the creator of ifAmericansknew.org, gave a presentation on the plight of Palestinians at the University of Michigan-Flint campus. The event was hosted by the Muslim Students Association, reported the Michigan Times.
"MSA's focus in this event was to educate students about the Palestine-Israel conflict as well as the media's skewed approach to the issue," said Leila Tarakji, senior honors biology and English major and president of MSA. "We encourage our members as well as all students on campus to be aware of injustices that take place both domestically and internationally. We also urge students to seek more information and draw their own conclusions as opposed to absorbing the media without reservation."
If AmericansKnew.org is advertised as an educational tool for people who want to go beyond the headlines.
California Muslims join rally against Neo-Nazis
ANAHEIM, CA–The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA), along with members of the Riverside Muslim community, joined a rally on Saturday against neo-Nazis who had gathered to protest undocumented day laborers.
The organizers of the counter-protest said more than 600 members of diverse faiths and backgrounds joined the rally to speak out against the hatred and bigotry espoused by the neo-Nazis.
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, who attended the rally with his children, said:
"It's important for all Americans — whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Asian,, African-American, or other — to strongly and vehemently speak out against the hatred and bigotry of those who seek to dehumanize others.
"I brought my teenage children with me to the counter-protest to make sure they never take for granted the sacrifices of early civil rights activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Cesar Chavez.
"With the continued economic downturn, anti-immigrant and racist groups are increasingly promoting anti-immigrant sentiment by unfairly blaming immigrants — documented or otherwise — for 'stealing' American jobs.
"CAIR-LA rejects such scapegoating and calls for immigration reforms that preserve the dignity and respect of immigrants and their families.


text:
LaForge, who officially took the reigns Monday, got up and danced too.
Not a typical second day on the job for a new university president.
"I came through Delta State as a Statesmen," said LaForge. "It was kind of interesting to have (the Fighting Okra) come along.
"Yes I'm a Statesmen, but I'm now an Okra."
Students were pleased to hear the commitment from LaForge at Tuesday's open forum as he listened to student body concerns and provided a brief outlook into his transition.
"I want to hear what you have to say — I want to hear your perspectives," said LaForge. "This is your campus.
"You are the most important reasons we are here."
Students came prepared with questions about a number of topics — ranging from campus parking and security, what changes should be expected, budget questions, campus construction, library hours, international and exchange students and how to increase programs and enrollment.
"The goal is to make this a seamless transition," said LaForge. "This starts with me accepting all members of Dr. Hilpert's cabinet."
LaForge praised John Hilpert for his 10 years as president and said it would be an honor to follow in his place.
LaForge provided concise bullet-point initiatives, saying he would focus on increasing the size of the student body, improve financial and business aspects and work to bring more speakers and conferences to campus.
Only just beginning his new role, he said upcoming budget meetings would provide him with a better understanding of where funding could be best put to use.
Above all, delivering quality education will remain a priority.
"This is not just a place, but a concept of providing an opportunity for you to learn and have fun," said LaForge.
"We are serious about your education here."
Increasing visibility will also be a focus, through education and athletics, but also through partnerships with local businesses, donors, media and governments.
LaForge also mentioned plans to create an international Blues conference on campus, claiming the university is the academic center-point for the birthplace of American music.
Lastly, he discussed bringing civil right leaders to DSU because it's "important to celebrate the diversity we all enjoy."
Student Government Association president Alanna Ferguson, one of the event organizers, was pleased with the turnout and LaForge's answers.
"This was a really good opportunity for the students to sit down and have a normal discussion to voice their opinions," said Ferguson. "He's not going to be able to fix every problem right away, but it's good that he's aware of them."
Sports management graduate student Chad Steen, deeply involved with recreation activities at DSU, said he's looking forward to LaForge's dedication to health and fitness.
LaForge is a longtime runner who said advocating for a healthy campus would also be a focal point.
"I think it's exciting for the university," said Steen. "I hope that he commits to our health, physical education and recreation programs and leads by example."
The changeover is underway and LaForge said he expects a thrilling ride ahead.
"My door is always open to you," LaForge said to the students. "Know that it's a two-way street."


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Cars > Retta_Girl's Garage
About Retta_Girl's Garage
About me and my passion for cars
wow ummm let me think... this is an easy one to answer
When I was lil I always had to be outside while my pap would work on his Ford Vans. Even if it was just to check the oil with him. From there I started going to car shows with him and my uncle. I then wanted to be a mechanic but my mother insisted on me taking business courses from there. I taught myself everything I know about cars.
My first car
1987 Dodge Charger
I owned her for a month and then got Tboned by a blazer.
My dream car
a 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car
- Type of racing: All types are awesome to me
- Driver: Kyle and Richard Petty
- Driving song: Drive with me by Steven Percey
- Car movie: Gone in 60 seconds
- Car book: Mustang
- Car magazine: Mustangs and Fast Fords
— Profile last updated: Dec 30, 2007
Retta_Girl's Groups 1 – 3 of 4
Enthusiast Groups
Beretta Central Enthusiast
We as Beretta owners, are a strange brew. We love our cars and would do anything to keep them. I want everyone to know this is intended to be a place where you can find diagrams needed advice on repair and also a place to have fun, so enjoy ask a question. but dont be a butt. or your perma-banned...
Pennsylvania, United States
Chevy Beretta Maniacs Enthusiast
This group is comprised of Chevrolet Beretta and Corsica enthusiasts. We all share a passion for your automobiles and it shows. Our member's cars are either a work of art, or a work in progress. Many of them will tell you a car is never finished, and some will settle for stock. Either was we all...
Colorado, United States
RC Car Enthusiast Enthusiast
Hi, I would like to welcome one and all to a New and Exciting Group, RC Car Enthusiast! Be it Electric or Nitro, Dirt or On Road Oval Racers, Road Course Racers,off-Roaders or Monster Truck Racers, even Rock Crawlers please feel free and join up and share your story, your set ups or just...
West Virginia, United States
Retta_Girl's Garage Comments 1 – 3 of 4
Log in to post comments.
Read comments on Retta_Girl's garage (4)
- Mar 24, 2008 at 1:33 pm
- you have a nice garage
- Nov 1, 2007 at 7:30 pm
- Het Retta Girl thanks for the friends add,take care. J.
- Oct 28, 2007 at 11:07 am
- Hi Retta girl,very nice beretta you got there it's super straight,like your geo too ,it's like a combo of camaro-beretta in little package,cameretta??
Cars > Retta_Girl's Garage


text:
Logo & Identity
Strategic Planning
Social Media
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Marketing is more than just creating ads and sending out press releases. It is a strategic process of executing a series of important elements: creative, advertising, strategic marketing, public relations, planning & research.
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Facebook Applications
Online Newsletters
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Concession Promotions
Turning Point- A non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence needed to revamp thier image with new logo for both the organization and the Second Chance retail shops. Arc Brand answers the call with a complete overhaul of the brand and signature printed pieces.
Classic & freshed menu boards for Retriever Software Inc (Retriever Media) and for Barry Cinemas in Wyoming.
This classic blue themed board was customized for Barry Cinemas as part of the POS and Menu Board package from Retriever Software.
EFA Partners secures digital conversion and new theatre site funding for clients. Arc Brand's communications team spreads the news through strategic public relations efforts.
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White Haven Mysteries
After waking up in an abandoned building, you find that you've been drugged and cannot remember who you are! Find the antidote before it's too late in White Haven Mysteries! As a mysterious man taunts you with his experiments, you must use your wits to figure out your identity and figure out where you are. Find Hidden Objects in chilling scenes, pick apart puzzles, and make it to safety in White Haven Mysteries!
- Escape from White Haven
- Scour Hidden Object scenes
- For a more in depth experience, check out the Collector's Edition
- Get the Strategy Guide!
- Check out our Blog Walkthrough
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- OS: Windows XP/Vista/Win7/8
- CPU: 2.5 GHz
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The Big Fish Guarantee:
- Quality tested and virus free.
- No ads, no adware, no spyware.


text:
Roberto Cavalli
- For the day, take inspiration from the original festival-goers of the Seventies by keeping the look laid back with loose-fitting crochet and easy hanging fringing, as seen at Gucci, Elie Tahari and Roberto Cavalli.
- As evening sets in, go for Studio 54 glamour with shorts in luxe fabrics and a flower in your hair, as seen at Dior, Rodarte and Marc Jacobs.
- Now is the time to let go of your staple denim cut offs and follow the lead of D&G and Stella McCartney by embracing floral and fruity prints.
- Stick with the vintage feel when it comes to your eyewear; seek out oversized specs at MaxMara and the colourful offerings of Prada and Fendi.
- Manage your hair with a plaited up-dos - à la Erdem and Ungaro - while hats and headscarves at Marc Jacobs, Prada, Missoni, Ferragamo and Etro engulfed the catwalk providing countless cover up options.
Photo By GoRunway/indigital


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1. Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, Los Cabos
Score: 94.44
On the Sea of Cortés, a luxe Cabo compound (kids are allowed in villas only) with an expanded spa. Doubles from $675.
2. Barceló Maya Beach, Riviera Maya
Score: 89.41
Five hotels on a white-sand beach, plus more than 37,000 square feet of pools and water-park features. Doubles from $314, all-inclusive.
3. Ritz-Carlton, Cancún
Score: 89.38
Refined Atlantic-facing rooms, and all-inclusive meals and snacks for the 12-and-under set for just $39 a day. Doubles from $469.
4. Four Seasons Hotel México, Mexico City
Score: 89.33
Central location and the city's largest standard rooms; borrow a retro urban cruiser bike by Paul Frank. Doubles from $415.
5. Meliá Cabo Real All-Inclusive Beach & Golf Resort, Los Cabos
Score: 88.57
For clans looking to laze around a lagoon-like pool but who still want some on-site action (a rock-climbing wall and a zipline across a white-sand beach). Doubles from $400, all-inclusive.
Central + South America
1. Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Peru
Score: 91.25
The only hotel adjacent to the ruins, with guided treks to hot springs and hidden jungle temples. Doubles from $1,022.
1. Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt, Buenos Aires
Score: 91.25
A 1930's-era palace evoking a bygone Buenos Aires, from chandeliers in guest rooms to tango lessons in a boiserie-paneled salon. Doubles from $505.
3. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa, Bariloche, Argentina
Score: 90.44
Classic lodge in the midst of mountains and lakes in Patagonia's Nahuel Huapi National Park. Doubles from $396, including breakfast and some activities.
4. Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica
Score: 90.35
Central America's largest pool and a kids' club with a 10-hour itinerary that includes water polo. Doubles from $289.
5. Paradisus Playa Conchal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Score: 90.00
All-suite beach hideaway with a golf course on the northern Pacific coast. From $319 per person, all-inclusive.


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An alpine binding provides the connection between your boots and your skis. An alpine binding is the most common type of ski binding, and the sort that you'll see most often at a resort. When shopping for a binding, you'll want to primarily consider the max DIN setting you need based on your weight and ability, and then the width of your skis relative to the width of the binding and its brakes. Other features that you'll want to consider include housing material (plastic or metal), toe height adjustability, and whether you want a strictly alpine or alpine/AT touring binding.
Ski width determines the width of the binding brake and mounting platform you need. A wide binding should be mounted to a wide ski, and a wide ski requires a wide brake. Most binding manufacturers offer a wide brake option, some of which go as wide as 130mm to accommodate mega-fat powder skis.
DIN Setting:
A binding's DIN setting indicates how easily it allows your boot to release from your binding during a crash or otherwise. Your weight and ability level determine your DIN setting. DIN can be adjusted from as low as (.5) to as high as (20+), although the specific range depends on the binding.
Alpine Touring:
Some alpine bindings can be switched between a free-heel 'climb' mode and locked heel 'ski' mode. This versatile type of binding is more mechanically involved than a dedicated alpine binding, but it can serve double-duty at the resort or in the backcountry.


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Sam Gary Branch Library Grand Opening Celebration
This event has already happened. Try a search for similar upcoming events.
Come see the new Sam Gary Branch Library. The grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony will include remarks by city dignitaries and family-friendly entertainment.
9 a.m. — Branch Opens
9:45 a.m. — Music performance by Jonny 5 of Flobots
10 a.m. — Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting and remarks by Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Councilman Herndon and other City and Library leaders
10:40 a.m. — Music performance by Jonny 5 of Flobots
11 a.m. — Reception in the Community Room with refreshments
1 p.m. — Ann Lincoln: Juggling, magic, comedy and more!
3 p.m. — HawkQuest: Birds of Prey
5 p.m. — Branch Closes
Throughout the Day — Family crafts including button making, paper airplanes and puppets


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Park-it Management
221 Thompson St., New York, NY 10012
Wed, Jan 28, 2015 from 4am to 7am
Special online rate!
A $10 charge for regular over-sized vehicles will apply. Exceptionally large full-size vehicles will be charged a higher fee.
Amenities Included:
Upon arrival, please show the ParkWhiz parking pass to the attendant for validation.
Monthly Parking
Amenities Included:
Description: This is for one month of parking for new customers only at this 24/7 attended garage. Additional charges for luxury/exotic cars as well as over-size and special handling fees will apply. Please call or email ParkWhiz at (888) 472-7594 and firstname.lastname@example.com.
Redemption instructions: After purchasing, print your monthly parking receipt from the ParkWhiz confirmation email and present it to the on-site attendant on your start date. You will be asked to fill out paperwork in exchange for your access pass. Contact information will be provided after you purchase a spot.
163 People Recommend Parking Here
98 Left Comments
This commercial garage abuts a large brick building. It is within walking distance to NYU and Washington Square Park.
*Note: A $10.00 oversize vehicle charge will apply.
Vehicle height restriction: 72 inches
This location is a commercial parking garage.
Nearby destinations: Barrow Street Theatre, Soto, New Studio on Broadway: Music Theatre and Acting, New York University Campus, 9th St PATH Station.
Upon turning left on the corner of W 3rd St. and Thompson, continue 200 ft and the entrance will be on your right. The entrance is adjacent to the Enterprise Rent-A-Car and is located beneath a large " Park 24hrs" sign.
*Note: A $10.00 oversize vehicle charge will apply.


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Featuring 44 Apartments for Rent in Dallas, Texas
Spotlight Apartments
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Colleges Near Dallas, TX
- AIMS Academy, TX
- Amberton University, TX
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- Central Texas Commercial College, TX
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- Dallas Baptist University, TX
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The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
Our Partners
Al Akhbar - Lebanon
Al Masry Al Youm - Egypt
Asia Sentinel - Hong Kong
Bivol - Bulgaria
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Malaysia Today - Malaysia
McClatchy - United States
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Philip Dorling - Fairfax media contributor - Australia
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Rolling Stone - United States
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Community resources
courage is contagious
The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
[OS] INDONESIA/US/AUSTRALIA/CHINA/MIL - Indonesia warns of 'distrust' over US troop deal
Released on 2012-10-12 10:00 GMT
Email-ID | 4947681 |
Date | 2011-11-17 04:16:56 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | firstname.lastname@example.com |
List-Name | firstname.lastname@example.com |
Indonesia warns of 'distrust' over US troop deal
(AFP) - 3 hours ago
CANBERRA - Indonesia echoed Chinese concerns about a US military build-up
in northern Australia Thursday, with Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa
warning it could create tension and mistrust.
The plan to post up to 2,500 Marines in the Northern Territory from
mid-2012 was unveiled Wednesday during a lightning visit to Canberra by US
President Barack Obama, who said it was a "commitment to the entire Asia
Pacific region."
But it drew criticism from China, widely seen as the target of the move,
with the foreign ministry questioning whether it was appropriate or "in
the interest of countries in this region."
Natalegawa also expressed concern about the plan, which will see expanded
access for US military aircraft as well as the troop boost in northern
Australia, an area right on Indonesia's doorstep.
"What I would hate to see is if such developments were to provoke a
reaction and counter-reaction precisely to create that vicious circle of
tensions and mistrust or distrust," Natalegawa said on the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation.
"That's why it's very important when a decision of this type is taken
there is transparency of what the scenario being envisaged is and there is
no misunderstanding as a result."
Obama said the notion that the United States was afraid of or trying to
edge out China was "mistaken" but stressed during his remarks on the
Australian military boost that the Asian powerhouse would have to "play by
the rules."
"I've said repeatedly and I'll say again today that we welcome a rising,
peaceful China," he said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister
Julia Gillard on Wednesday.
"The main message that I have said not only publicly but privately to the
Chinese is that with their rise comes increased responsibilities. It's
important for them to play by the rules of the road.
"There's going to be times where they're not and we will send a clear
message to them that they need to be on track in terms of accepting the
rules and responsibilities that come with being a world power."
The Australian troop boost is seen as a clear statement by Washington that
it intends to stand up for its interests in the region.
The US has viewed with concern China's growing assertiveness in the region
on territorial disputes, as have many of the Asian powerhouse's
Clint Richards
Global Monitor
cell: 81 080 4477 5316
office: 512 744 4300 ex:40841


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Our Featured Columbus, OH Partner:
Go East, Young Dog - Columbus Extention
Dog adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog and you'll have a friend for life! Contact us, or contact another local humane society, animal shelter or SPCA.
Located in Arkansas. We transport dogs to your area post adoption. Columbus, OH 43207 |
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Go East, Young Dog was organized two years ago as a potential solution to the problem of too many dogs and not enough good homes in our rural Arkansas communities. While we are working on public education regarding responsible pet ownership, too may pet owners here lack the consciousness and/or resources to have their pets spayed or neutered, and there seems no end to the number of unwanted pets and litters of puppies that show up at our doorWe have taken over the animal control facility of the city of Berryville, where in the past dogs and cats brought in by animal control were routinely euthanized after 5 days. We take in, care for and adopt out all the city's excess animals now, as well as many from neighboring towns and the surrounding rural area. There is a Humane Society in the county but their shelter is always at capacity and the wait to get an animal in there can be months, and most are turned away for lack of space. Through our efforts, and those of others working in dog rescue, we have virtually eliminated euthanasia in the county.
Our kennel houses from 60 -80 dogs and we have others in our care in foster homes. We have adopted out about 500 dogs over the past two years.
Go East, Young Dog is an IRS recognized non-profit that can accept tax deductible donations. Adoption fees cover most standard vet costs, transportation, and some of our operating costs. We are dependent on fundraising to cover additional veterinary costs we frequently incur, and the costs of running the kennel and improving the facility to make it more comfortable for the dogs while they are in our care. Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Donate to Our Rescue Group...
Come Meet our Pets:
Best way to see our pets is online. Our facility can be visited by appointment. We do not have the staff to maintain regular visitor hours. Volunteers are always needed and welcomedOur Adoption Process:
Potential adopters must return to us a completed application (email email@example.com for application). Following application, a phone interview is conducted and references are checked. If all checks out and it seems like a good match, a simple adoption contract is executed which specifies that the dog be returned to our care if things don't work out well. We have foster families throughout the northeast to take in the dog in such cases.Adoption fees range from $350 to $450, depending on the dog, though lower fees are negotiated for more difficult to adopt dogs. Our rescue relies adoption fees to cover costs and keep the rescue operating. All dogs adopted are healthy, parasite free, spay/neutered and current on vaccinations. Fee covers spay/neuter, age appropriate shots and worming, health certificate, transportation and helps offset the costs of operation our 60-80 dog rescue kennel and adoption program.


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Tales of the Gun: U.S. Guns of World War II DVD
Sale Price: $9.60
List Price: $24.95
You Save: 62% off
To Order by Phone Call 1-800-933-6249
- Additional Details
- Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Rating: Not Rated
- Number of Discs: 1
- Run Time: 50 Minutes
- Region: Region 1
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Language: English
- Studio: History Channel
- DVD Release Date: August 22, 1999
For the most part, they weren't revolutionary, but evolutionary. In an age when the horrors of war prompted extraordinary advances in weapons technology, the infantrymen who fought under the Stars and Stripes in World War II brandished rifles and sidearms that, for the most part, had been designed decades before.
But they worked. In all weather, from frozen fights in wintry Northern Europe to the steamy jungles of the Philippines, the U.S. GUNS OF WORLD WAR II proved their worth.
This authoritative film documents the origins, evolution and deployment of the firearms that preserved freedom. Go inside some of the world's foremost gun collections for an up-close look at authentic WWII weapons, and extensive combat footage shows them in action. Experts detail the refinements that made the American weapons into the most rugged and dependable ever built, while veterans recall the battles where they blasted their way into history.
TALES OF THE GUN blows away any preconceptions you've had as it takes dead aim at the origins, technology, design and use of the most significant firearms in history.


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• Mixed metal link bracelet of bronze, sterling silver and brass
• Alternating polished, rope textured with carved Western swirl oval links
• Average bracelet measures 7-1/4" long; large bracelet measures 8" long with a lobster claw clasp
• Designed and crafted in America
A tribute to both traditional and modern design, this mixed metal bracelet combines classic motifs and contemporary shapes inspired by Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Crafted from separate sterling silver, copper and brass oval links, the bracelet features twisted rope designs in oval shapes that lend it bold sophistication. Perfectly suited to any chic wardrobe combination, this versatile bracelet is a beautiful complement that can be worn whenever the mood strikes.
Learn more about our jewelry
Carolyn Pollack brings you Santa Fe's version of Rodeo Drive. Canyon Road captures the essence of Santa Fe's style - sophisticated, bold and elegant. Textured Western detailing in sterling silver and brass glows with the moonlit magic of mother of pearl.
Like all fine jewelry, Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Jewelry should be handled carefully. Store jewelry in a plastic bag, dry and wrapped in tissue paper, when not being worn or displayed. Clean sterling silver with a silver polishing cloth when necessary, but never subject to chlorine, silver dips, chemical solutions or ultrasonic cleaners, as these substances can cause the genuine gemstones to discolor. Never wear jewelry in a swimming pool.


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Rob Zombie headlines Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival
By Jessi Virtusio Gig of the email@example.com Twitter: @JessiVirtusio July 25, 2013 4:16PM
♦ 1 p.m. July 27
♦ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park, (708) 614-1616
♦ Tickets, $31.50-$85.50
♦ (800) 745-3000; livenation.com
Article Extras
Related Stories
Updated: August 27, 2013 6:08AM
One would have a tough time finding someone who fits the meaning of the word "overachiever" better than Rob Zombie.
He is busy promoting his fifth solo album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor," the first release on his new label, Zodiac Swan through T-Boy Records/Universal Music Enterprises.
"I love the new record. It's one of my favorite records in a long time," he said. "At certain times you feel more inspired and this one's a keeper, so this is probably the most exciting one I've done for myself in many many years."
The man who first gained fame in the 1990s as the front man of metal band White Zombie with hits like "Thunder Kiss '65" and "More Human than Human" has been a bigger force since going solo in 1998 when the group officially disbanded.
With chart toppers such as "Dragula," "Living Dead Girl," "Feel So Numb" and "Foxy Foxy," Zombie cemented his spot as a rock icon.
Zombie's visual style has been captured in the music videos and films he's directed. His 2012 horror flick, "The Lords of Salem," is set to be released on Blu-ray in September.
He's also been busy prepping Rob Zombie's Great American Nightmare for Oct. 10-Nov. 2 in Pomona, Calif. If the mix of amped-up haunted houses, musical entertainment and other attractions is successful, Zombie hopes to take the show on the road.
But his current focus is closing each night of Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival as the main stage headliner.
"It's a blast. It's really a great tour. It's a lot of great bands. It's a really cool feel. I really like how they run the show," Zombie said. "It's a great day of so much stuff. There really is a lot of bang for your buck to get all these bands in one place. If you're a fan of that stuff, you're never going to get the value for your dollar anywhere but this event."
Known for tons of production, he said he lives for stunning the audience live.
"It's pretty overwhelming sometimes. I look out at the crowd and the looks on their faces, it looks like they're hypnotized," Zombie said.
"You see their eyes. They are trying to take it all in. You are just visually assaulting them so much that it's hilarious but it's good. I want the curtain to drop and people to go, 'Whoa!' "
Zombie has been wowed by one of his fellow main stage performers. "I always like watching Mastodon. I like those guys. They have a really unique sound," he said of the Atlanta metal and rock band.
The main stage also features Los Angeles heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch, which Zombie called "great." "Everyone is different from each other on the main stage, which is what I like — a little something for everyone," Zombie said.
For someone who has sold more than 15 million albums and been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, Zombie is refreshingly not full of himself.
The vocalist with the signature sound said the fans are what make or break a concert for him.
"The show is only as good as the crowd. We do whatever we can to always make every show great," he said.
"When the crowd is great, that is the difference. That makes all the difference in the world. That's when you can play a song for 3,000 times and feel like it's the first time."
Amon Amarth
To those who think the 1990s Swedish melodic death metal scene is dead, Amon Amarth proves the genre has lots of life.
Opening Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival's main stage is tough. Fans have to rush from the parking lot side stages to reserved seating, but it will be worth it to see this Metal Blade Records group's set.
Vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and John Soderberg, bassist Ted Lundstrom and drummer Fredrik Andersson are touring behind their ninth album, "Deceiver of the Gods."
Hopefully Mayhem will bring Amon Amarth the recognition the band deserves.
Machine Head
When it comes to heavy, you can't go wrong with metal and thrash band Machine Head. Formed in 1991, the Oakland, Calif., group features lead vocalist and guitarist Robb Flynn, lead guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist Jared MacEachern who joined the band in late June, and drummer Dave McClain.
It's only fitting that Machine Head headline the Jagermeister Mobile Stage as one of the fun aspects of the band's past shows has been Flynn throwing shots to audience members with remarkable accuracy. With Mayhem being more of an all-ages gig, the focus will still be on fun but more in a headbanging way.
Still touring behind its 2011 album, "Unto the Locust," Machine Head is writing material for its eighth album, which the Roadrunner Records band could begin tracking before the end of 2013.
Children Of Bodom
One of my absolute favorite live bands, Children of Bodom never fail to disappoint.
Since 1993, this Finnish melodic death metal act has been stunning with the fretwork of guitarist and vocalist Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho. It's also a treat whenever Laiho and keyboardist Janne Warman trade off in musical duels.
The Nuclear Blast band is rounded out by guitarist Roope Latvala, bassist Henkka Blacksmith and drummer Jaska Raatikainen.
Having released its eighth studio album, "Halo of Blood," in June, Children of Bodom will hopefully have time as headliners of the Musicians Institute Stage to play some new material as well as old favorites.
Once riffs for "Hate Crew Deathroll" and "Are You Dead Yet?" hit, you can bet fans will be moshing it up in the pit.
Born Of Osiris
It's great when the local scene is represented on a large tour like Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, so congratulations to metal and Djent band Born of Osiris, which formed in 2003 in Chicago, for landing a side stage slot. Don't miss the Sumerian Records act consisting of vocalist Ronnie Canizaro, guitarist Lee McKinney, keyboardist Joe Buras, bassist David Darocha and drummer Cameron Losch.
Established in 2009, this Highland Park, Calif., melodic death and thrash group is led by Jill Janus, who has a four-octave range and toured Europe as a teenage opera singer. Touring behind its sophomore album, "Starbound Beast," the Napalm Records act includes guitarists Blake Meahl and Anthony Crocamo, bassist Ian Alden and drummer Carl Wierzbicky.
Jessi Virtusio blogs about everything you need to know about First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre at blogs.southtownstar.com/fmba, where you can read more about Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.


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ACParadise Network:
American Cosplay Paradise
American Cosplay Experience
American Cosplay Snapshots
1st of all, Many thanks to Lionboogy of Usagichan Company Search and Rescue for the Celestial Upgrade.
Hi everyone, My name is Charie (like the wine), but my family calls me Cha. I'm an analytical chemist having fun with her interests and hobbies.
I've been cosplaying and making my own costumes since 2003. I am known as the "Littlest Sweatshop" with lightning-fast Cosplay Fairy powers. I'm painfully and naturally shy, but I love making new friends, doing group cosplay, and sharing tips and techniques.
Follow me on my Facebook here: Cherry Tea Girl's page
Also a proud member of the cosplay dance troupe: Angel Hearts
Next Convention Appearance: Animation On Display 2015
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- +Itsuka says, "The progression of what you've started off with and what you have now is inspiring. Good job! :D"
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