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When Your Consumers Talk, Listen
Posted on August 5th 2014
The age of unidirectional marketing is over. With the advent of widespread social media use has come a feedback loop in which brands and consumers can easily communicate.
The social media space has empowered consumers with an ability to discuss and contribute to a product's image on one of the world's most public platforms. Yet the two-way communication stream created by social media also presents brands with an opportunity to easily listen to and understand their consumers.
As a result, social media has closed the distance between brands, products and consumers that exists in traditional media.
But marketing teams, having pushed out unidirectional slogans, advertisements and campaigns for the last few generations, are often struggling to learn how to listen and learn from feedback.
First off, consumers are constantly communicating their interests online. For example, let's take a look at the figure below, taken from Brandwatch's latest Food & Beverage report, which shows the nature of tweets directly mentioning an intention to eat healthier.
Over the last year, 316,000 tweets have stated a direct intention to eat healthy. However, as is often the case in social media data, those mentions do not all carry the same meaning. Breaking the conversations into smaller sub-categories reveals the true nature of these discussions.
For example, the 12% of conversation focused on body image indicates that a significant number of people saying they want to eat healthy as a means to look healthier. Furthermore, the 16% of conversation discussing temptations foods outlines consumers' difficulty in maintaining healthy eating habits in a market inundated with pizza, ice cream, cake and other temptations.
For brands, digging deeper into consumers' conversations is vital to gleaning better insights on how consumers really feel about a product or topic. Measuring the volume of a brand only tells a fraction of the picture. Separating the conversation into competing categories or ideas draws out the nuances characteristic of everyday conversations.
Too often do social media analysts forget the "social" in social data. The volume of brand mentions is not enough to understand the thousands of unique people and opinions behind them.
Identifying the underlying themes of conversations, brands can know what is really driving purchases and can market their products accordingly.
Analyzing the specific language that consumers use to discuss a product sheds light on how different marketing strategies are able to successfully capture specific interest groups.
Take for example the growing market around snack bars. Clif Bar, Kind Bar and Larabar draw chatter as energy-providing, healthy and gluten-free options respectively. The consumer conversations around snack bars are indicative of effective marketing strategies targeting niche interest groups.
As the health trend proliferates the food & beverage market and consumers develop a wider palette of specialized tastes and preferences, the opportunities for brands to supply the niche demands abound.
The dawn of social media, like all forms of communication before it, has promised to shrink the world and bring people closer together.
Consumers are now empowered to demand more transparency and accountability from brands than ever before. They are sharing ideas and spreading trends at a dizzying rate. They are developing more complex or specialized interests and preferences. They are trying new options.
For brands, closer communication has granted an opportunity to better understand consumers' specific preferences and interests. A chance to identify and connect with their customers on a much more honest and intimate level.
Changes will favor the agile. Now the onus is on brands to adapt to a new arena.
Very nice post James. Being part of the InTouch team and working closely with a number of SME's it is staggering to see how many companies forget the social part of social media. As you mention, it is not just about pushing content, but more about engaging, listening, replying. As a tutor of mine used to say, the key to any successful marketing strategy is active listening. Social media is gerat about observing patterns, eemerging trends and the general attitude towards a product, brand or idea. So make full use of it! I loved your article!
Hi James,
This is a great article. I would love to reprint this and use it in my company's Sales Memo this month. What is your policy on reprinting? Please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Thanks!
Lenza Jolley


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Industry veteran launches new business
Posted onBob Saxon, a veteran of the large-yacht industry, has launched Bob Saxon Consultancy.
The Bob Saxon Consultancy offers an array of services for the marine industry, including marine service and yacht business plans; corporate and yacht marketing strategies; charter marketing strategies and positioning; marine market branding; and yacht operational and administrative overviews.
The company will also offer yacht ownership consulting, operating efficiencies, sales strategies, and owner liaison, representative and agent.
Throughout his career Saxon has worked with 3,000 owners on a broad number of yachts and a diverse array of projects. He has held a series of senior executive positions in the large-yacht sector, recently serving as president of Camper & Nicholsons USA.
He also was president of the Sacks Group and vice president of Whittemore & Williams.
Saxon is the founding president of the International Superyacht Society, an industry trade group that supports the global superyacht industry. He is a licensed broker-manager with Florida Yacht Brokers Association and a leading industry spokesman and advocate.
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Flooding in Niger leaves 28 dead
Comment on this storyNiamey -
Twenty-eight people have been killed and more than 51 000 affected by flooding in Niger after heavy rains in June inundated swathes of the impoverished nation, the United Nations said on Thursday.
The weather has destroyed more than 4 500 homes and more than 100 hectares of fields and gardens, according to data from the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Niamey.
The figures are sharply higher than the last UN estimates on August 12, which said 12 people had died and 27 000 had been affected by the flooding.
Floods are an annual problem in Niger as seasonal rains often cause streams and rivers to burst their banks, sweeping away homes and destroying crops.
Niger ranks at the bottom of the United Nations' Human Development Index, with more than 60 percent of the population living below the poverty line.
Most of the country has been hit by the floods, with the exception of the eastern desert region, home to more than 80 000 refugees who have fled violence in neighbouring Nigeria.
The government launched an appeal for aid in mid-August for those affected by the rising waters.
In 2012, floods in Niger killed dozens of people and affected 500 000 more, causing an estimated 148 million euros of damage, according to official figures. - Sapa-AFP
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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.
Re: G3 - US/LIBYA-Obama: 'Gadhafi will ultimately step down'
Released on 2012-10-18 17:00 GMT
Email-ID | 1152545 |
Date | 2011-03-30 01:21:34 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | email@example.com |
up the no-fly zone," he said, but "we're not taking anything off the table
at this point."
"One of the questions that we want to answer is do we start getting to a
stage where Gadhafi's forces are sufficiently degraded where it may not be
necessary to arm opposition groups," he said.
The U.S. would really, really, reaaaally like to avoid arming the
opposition. If it can. But it might do so, if it must.
On 3/29/11 6:11 PM, Reginald Thompson wrote:
Obama: 'Gadhafi will ultimately step down'
President Barack Obama predicted Tuesday that continued military and
diplomatic pressure will force Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to
"ultimately step down."
In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams a day after
he addressed the nation to explain his Libya policy , Obama refused to
rule out providing direct U.S. military assistance to the rebels
fighting Gadhafi's government. But he said that was unlikely and that
his comments shouldn't be interpreted as signaling wider U.S.
intervention in the region.
"Gadhafi's been greatly weakened," Obama said. "He does not have control
over most of Libya at this point, and so for us to continue to apply
this pressure, I think, will allow us the space and the time to forge
the kind of political solution that's necessary." Obama said that nine
days into the U.S. action in Libya, "The degree to which we've degraded
Gadhafi's forces ... has been significant."
His comments came after U.S. ships and submarines were reported to have
fired cruise missiles at Libyan missile facilities in and around Tripoli
"Our primary military goal is to protect civilian populations and to set
up the no-fly zone," he said, but "we're not taking anything off the
table at this point."
"One of the questions that we want to answer is do we start getting to a
stage where Gadhafi's forces are sufficiently degraded where it may not
be necessary to arm opposition groups," he said.
Asked whether the U.S. could take that step, Obama said: "I'm not ruling
it out, but I'm not ruling it in. We're still making an assessment
partly about what Gadhafi's forces are going to be doing."
Gadhafi 'back on his heels'
The president appeared to go further in discussing direct military
assistance than did diplomats from 40 countries who met Tuesday in
London to discuss Libya's future. British Foreign Secretary William
Hague said the possibility of arming the rebels did not come up at the
meeting, which was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Like the allies at the London meeting, Obama made it clear in the
interview that "our primary strategic goal is for Gadhafi to step down
so the Libyan people have an opportunity to live a decent life."
"At this point, in addition to maintaining a no-fly zone protecting
civilian populations, we also have political tools, diplomatic tools,
sanctions freezing his assets aEUR" all of which continue to tighten the
noose," he said. "And so our expectation is that as we continue to
supply steady pressure, not only militarily but also through these other
means, that Gadhafi will ultimately step down."
The president said he was reluctant to get involved in Libya because of
lessons learned from the U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, each of
which he said "weighs heavily on making these decisions." But he
maintained that the uprising in Libya was "a unique circumstance" where
the U.S. could "save a lot of lives."
"We had an international mandate to do it and an international coalition
that was prepared to share the burdens," he said, and "what we've ...
done is put Gadhafi back on his heels."
Obama acknowledged that the U.S. intervention had raised international
concerns that the door had been opened for American forces to take
action in other regional hot spots, like Syria, Bahrain, Sudan, Yemen
and the Ivory Coast.
But Obama said "there are a whole range of tools available" to work out
those problems.
He added: "It's my job as president to make those decisions based on all
the consequences, understanding that we have some experience here in
trying to impose our will in places like Iraq, and I think the American
people understand a cost of that."
Reginald Thompson
Cell: (011) 504 8990-7741


text:
| Email | Full Article (TrendHunter.com/id/109506) |
We've featured the Lily Aldridge Victoria's Secret spread for the brand's bridal collection, but now you can check out the commercial that was shot for the undergarments entitled Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Bride.
As expected, the Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Bride ad is sexy, sultry and definitely hot. The video debuts a variety of lingerie that will be a part of the brand's bridal collection. The beautiful Lily Aldridge is the model for the clip as she dances and smiles happily at the camera that'll make anyone's heart melt. It ends with her saying the words "I do" in keeping with the commercial's wedding theme. At that point, you probably caught yourself saying "I do" back to her—I mean, who wouldn't?


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Vocal Chorus "Saint James Infirmary Blues" sung by Cab Calloway (as Koko), a cute song about identifying the body of a dead, cocaine-addicted prostitute in the morgue. Strong stuff for the thirties. The scene was rotoscoped to Cab's dancing, while eerie scenes pass by in the background. This cartoon remains unsurpassed in its Dali-esque imagery, and literally must be seen to be believed.
The only recording of Cab Calloway and his Orchestra performing "Stoppin' the Traffic" may be in this cartoon.
In 1994, Snow-White was one of 25 films added by the Library of Congress' National Film Preservation Board to the National Film Registry.
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This page has been viewed 20 times this month, and 4919 times total.
>Fleischer Studios
- Fleischer Studios
- Animated Characters: Betty Boop, Koko the Clown, Bimbo, Wicked Stepmother Queen, Seven Dwarfs.
- Originally Released in 1933.
- Production Number: FL3309
- Running Time: 6:30 minutes.
- Black & White
Cartoon Production Information:
Traditional, Hand-drawn Animation.
Submit Additional Information:
Do you have anything to add to this page? Have we made any mistakes... or do you ahve any additional information about Snow-White? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please send us a quick note with your additions or corrections to this page, and we will make the corrections as soon as possible!
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Below are comments about this cartoon submitted by people who have seen this show. Take a look and see what others have said about Snow-White. We want to know what you think, too!! Feel free to share your own opinion- we do want to hear from you! You can add your own comments here.
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One of the most overlooked aspects of this cartoon is the backgrounds behind the dancing Koko. Example: The skeleton card game in the background. Owing to the morbid economic times in the early 1930's, cartoons like these, because of the musical content... (read more)
1 of 7 people found this comment useful
Comments By:
This is probably one of the most astonishing cartoons on all history. The beginning and the end are typical of the animation of the time, with the wacky touch of the cartoons of the period, but the scene where Koko the clown is transformed into a ghost by... (read more)
2 of 8 people found this comment useful
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I remember this cartoon from my childhood. It is by far the best cartoon story I have ever experienced. Seeing is believing.
2 of 8 people found this comment useful


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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 December 2014 19:51 )
Churches on the Front Lines of Ebola Crisis
The following is an account of
CCIH Board Vice President Dr. Anne Peterson's trip to Liberia and Sierra Leone to evaluate FBOs and the Ebola outbreak on behalf of World Vision in October.
When CCIH Board Vice President Anne Peterson stood in a church in Liberia in late October surrounded by children, she had to resist the urge to touch their hands in greeting, which she found difficult.
Peterson was in Liberia and Sierra Leone conducting an assessment for
World Vision
of faith-based organizations: what were they doing, what could they be doing and how could they be better integrated with the U.S. government Ebola response?
(Peterson is shown to the far right with Pastor Alfred Yambusa who pastors a small evangelical church in Freetown, Sierra Leone, along with two women from the congregation.)
As of the beginning of December, there have been more than
17,200 Ebola cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone
, with more than 6,100 deaths.
"The Ebola virus has drastically changed life for those living in Liberia and Sierra Leone. We have witnessed huge behavior change in a very short period," explained Peterson. "Everyday life is profoundly different, with no greetings or touching. Businesses are closed, school is not in session and half of children are kept at home without school or social outlet. The usual gregarious and joyful African spirit I have experienced here in the past is not gone but is dampened by the ever present specter of Ebola."
Peterson also observed more rigorous anti-infection controls practiced on a broad scale in Liberia, but saw less coordination among the faith community. The reverse was true in Sierra Leone, where she observed fewer community level infection control practices but witnessed more action and greater coordination among the faith community. The Inter-religious council led by the United Methodist Church which was instrumental in bringing peace during the civil war in Sierra Leone in the 1990s is reactivating to fight Ebola.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 December 2014 13:48 )
Read more...
Christians and Immunization
Reports of religious objections to vaccinations can paint a picture that faith communities are opposed to immunization. In this new video produced by CCIH, Dr. Richard Lane of Liberty University examines this trend of religious objections and misperceptions and discusses how faith communities are helping protect the lives of children with vaccines.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 November 2014 16:42 )
Reports from the FBO Ebola Response
Faith-based organizations have been on the front lines responding to the Ebola outbreak from its early days, providing care to patients, working to prevent the spread of the virus and partnering with churches to educate pastors and communities about the disease and dispel myths. CCIH is working to help faith-based organizations share information, challenges and requests for help in the Ebola response, including establishing an
Ebola section
under Resources on the CCIH website and an
Ebola listserv
In this article, CCIH members share a sample of their work responding to the Ebola outbreak.
Photo: Health staff at the ELWA1 Ebola Unit. Courtesy of SIM USA.
See the full article
Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2014 19:31 )
Executive Director Transition
Ray Martin, who is stepping down after 14 years as CCIH Executive Director shares his thoughts on the organization's evolution, its current state, and his plans for the future. As of September 1, 2014, Ray assumes the title of Executive Director Emeritus for CCIH and will remain involved with the organization.
Reflections on Two Decades with CCIH
by Ray Martin, CCIH Executive Director Emeritus
I would never have dreamed in 1994 when I accepted Frank Baer's invitation to go to a CCIH conference that I would eventually serve on the CCIH Board for 18 years, the last 14 as Executive Director. Encountering this fledgling community of Christian global health professionals was a life-changing experience for me.
But as Greek philosopher Heraclitus said around 500 BC, "The only thing that is constant is change." I am now stepping down, figuring that in my mid-70s it is time for others to take on the leadership of CCIH. I do plan to remain active with CCIH, however, but in a different and less intense role, working with my interim successor Garrett Grigsby, the CCIH staff and board, and all of you as members in our shared mission of "promoting global health and wholeness from a Christian perspective."
Last Updated ( Monday, 15 September 2014 23:47 )
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But it has yet to be truly challenged, say most of the reporters I spoke to. "It's a gamble when you have a strategy like this," says Myers. "Right now it's working for him because he only has one thing he's doing and that's the state budget problems. It's hard to know how that's going to work when multiple things are happening at multiple times." Halper helps paint such a situation: "Frankly, if we have a major earthquake at the same time as we're trying to have a special election to get tax increases extended, and then something else happens, like a fire, any administration is going to be hard-pressed to handle it, even the last one with its press operation of seventeen. I don't see how these three people get all the information coordinated and out."
Deputy Press Secretary Elizabeth Ashford says her team is already handling a tough news cycle spinning with big-ticket events. "I think the press sees our world through the lens of what they're writing about on any given day," she says. The budget crisis drags on and draws focus, true, but the tsunami that followed this month's earthquake in Japan did more than $40 million worth of damage to the California coastline, and the administration has been sending resources to Japan as well as coordinating diplomatic outreach. Plus, adds Ashford, there is the busywork that comes with any new administration—one of the most labor-intensive and complicated phases of any governorship.
When I ask Duran about the prospect of a more tumultuous news cycle, he is more cavalier than his deputy. In fact, he sounds a little like his boss. "We can do anything," he says. And he's happy to act like the boss too: one of Duran's first moves was to implement cuts of his own, cancelling a subscription to a morning news clips service that had cost the office over $200,000 a year. "Whatever the governor has to deal with is what we have to deal with."
Surely though he'd call in some extra hands help in the office should multiple stories explode? "No," he says, echoing again like the folksy new throwback governor. "I would bring a blanket."


text:
September 21, 2013
I have a grand parents pass that we use on a regular basis. My grandkids love the zip lining for even the smaller ones and the splash pad as well as the animals. I got one for my daughter so that she could take the kids during the summer and on weekends and they never get tired of going. It has grown so much over the years and I am proud of being a member.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Make it even bigger.
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A lot
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text:
I normally read there , and here, almost every day.
(I rarely post anywhere - need to get riled up or really interested first.)
I've noticed that packing has been much more stable for the past month or so, and the worst of the stupidity seemed to have faded away also.
Now, I can't get in, and can't get a ping to work either.
Anyone know what's up?
I figured someone must have been there about the time it fell off.


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04.01.09 - by James Slater - According to The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the paper of the city most associated with the big fights these days, there may be some pretty lean times ahead for Las Vegas in 2009. After having had a great year financially in 2008 - a year that saw the state take only a fraction less revenue from boxing than it did in 2007 - 2009 looks set to be something of a letdown for Nevada, according to the news article.. This is bad news. Commonly referred to as "Fight Town," Vegas is seen as a measuring stick of the sport's success and prosperity. But The Journal says there may well be fewer big fights in Vegas in 2009, due to a number of the big hotels being more selective about the big fights they take because of the slumping economy. Most shockingly in the article, is the suggested possibility that the May 2nd super-fight between Manny Pacquaio and Ricky Hatton - originally seen as the first big boxing show headed for Vegas in '09 - could wind up being held in mega-rich Dubai, where the money is sufficient to even outbid "Fight Town." 2008 started off well and finished off well for Nevada, however, as executive director of the Nevada athletic commission said in speaking to The Journal. "In terms of generating revenue, we've had two of the biggest years in history with boxing the last two years," Keith Kizer revealed. "We had a big fight just about every month in 2008." The Journal then listed some of the year's bigger bouts: there was Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor II in February, Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez II in March, Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins in April, to start the year - and then the massive Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya bout to bring '08 to a close. The Journal reports that the December 6th bout generated the staggering live gate amount of $14, 380,300. Kizer then spoke about how 2009 looks set to be different- meaning far less profitable due to the hotels being more picky. "We have no control over that part of it," Kizer said. "It's up to the hotels to determine which fights are worth bringing to town. To be honest, I don't know how many big boxing cards we can expect this coming year. Or anywhere, for that matter." The paper went on to say how Nevada has already lost one big fight, in Antonio Margarito-Shane Mosley, set for January, but now taking place in Los Angeles. Then came the reporting of the talk that says Pacquiao-Hatton may even take place in Dubai! 2009 could well be a different kind of year for boxing.
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ECE and DLI&E Still Accepting Applications for Fall 2015 January 28, 2015 The Fall 2015 EPC Department Electronic Application is Currently Available for Early Childhood Education and Development, Learning, Instruction and Evaluation.Deadline April 3, 2015.Marriage and Family Therapy, School Counseling, School Psychology, College Counseling and Student Services are no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2015 Semester.To apply to the EPC department for one of the above open programs, please use our online application. Read more
EPC Fall 2015 Admission & Application Information November 5, 2014 The Fall 2015 EPC Department Electronic Application is currently available.Please note that the department will not be accepting application packets until December 8th. The Early Bird Deadline is December 8, 2014- December 22, 2014. The application deadline is January 9, 2015. Read more
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The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories and warnings for eleven Western North Carolina counties, effective from Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m., to Saturday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. Follow #avlsnomg for updates as conditions progress.
Tag: Western North Carolina
Showing 1-21 of 52 results
Western North Carolina Alliance membership approves merger with ECO, J-MCA
Members of the Western North Carolina Alliance showed overwhelming support for a proposed merger with the Environmental and Conservation Organization and the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance on Monday, May 12, in an overwhelming 177-to-2-vote.
Breaking the code: Gender stereotypes hinder women in tech fields
In 2011, women held 57 percent of all professional positions in the country but only 25 percent of technology jobs, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Does the Asheville area buck the trend? (Photo by Caitlin Byrd)
With a banjo on his knee: One local instrument-maker's search for perfection
As with most artists and artisans, both the product and the method are tools for self-discovery: Jim Huskins has been making banjos since the early 1970s, and he shares with Xpress a little of what he's learned.
Why did the peacock cross the road? The turkeys showed him the way
You never know what you might see in the Asheville environs. Here, local writer and teacher Mark Puckett shares this vignette about an October encounter with a peacock.
Blind Pig's 'Underbelly' food journal wins honors at 2013 Midwest Publishing Awards Show
Good food isn't all Mike Moore has been cooking up in the kitchens of Seven Sows and the Blind Pig supper club.
Mexican Consulate plans Saturday, Oct. 19, Asheville visit to aid immigrants
For the past three years, the Consulate General of Mexico has brought its Raleigh, N.C., office to Asheville so that Western North Carolina's more than 24,000 immigrants can get help with a variety of legal and logistical needs.
Hendo rehab: Hendersonville ribbon-cutting marks upgraded Main Street design
Hendersonville residents and officials gathered Friday afternoon, Oct. 11, to celebrate the completion of a streetscape they hope will make their downtown a vibrant local destination.
WNC Vote Tracker launches website about local legislation
A partnership of local nonprofits has teamed up to create the Western North Carolina Vote Tracker.
A tiger of a mosquito: Summer heat rain bring mosquitoes to Buncombe
Thanks to the increase in rainfall this year — leading to wet, saturated conditions perfect for mosquito breeding — the community may need to take extra precautions to avoid them, say local health officials.
N.C. Senate bill may dissolve AdvantageWest, Citizen-Times reports
Part of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's plans to turn the Department of Commerce into a public-private partnership that would be run like a business, Senate Bill 127 would mandate the dissolution of regional organizations like AdvantageWest and strip it of state funding. It passed a second reading in the Senate Monday night, May 13, by a 31-17 vote.a
Citizens organize to fight power-plant proposal in Transylvania County
"Transylvania County could become home to a bio/renewable diesel fuel plant, the first of its kind in Western North Carolina," the Hendersonville Times-News reported on April 3. Local residents have organized a campaign to fight the proposal, noting that a facility that generates power by burning MSW (municipal solid waste) could turn mar an otherwise pristine valley near Brevard, possibly diminish air and water quality and bring unwanted industrial traffic to the valley.
Eyes on ozone: Land-of-Sky launches annual ozone season
With today's sunshine and warmer weather, ozone season — and local forecasts — begin in Western North Carolina.
Western Carolina University's trail system now open
Nearly 7 miles of Western Carolina University trails are now open for bikers, hikers and runners. About 100 people celebrated on Feb. 23. (photo courtesy of WCU)
Stunning sunset: Another day in Western North Carolina's winter weather
Timing is everything, especially when weather conditions change as quickly as they do in the mountains. Tuesday morning, Feb. 19, brought huge fluffy snowflakes to the higher elevations, quickly adding up to a couple of inches of snow. The whiplash of a day ended with a stunning sunset that was enhanced by concentric halos around the setting sun.
Got broadband? If not, local nonprofit MAIN wants you to map it
Although broadband or high-speed Internet access is fairly common in Asheville, many Western North Carolinians can't get it if they wanted to, largely because the infrastructure doesn't exist. Thanks to a grant, MAIN has a mapping tool that could help get access to the nearly 48,000 WNC residents who are missing out on the digital revolution.
Ice, then fire. Be prepared for the clash of the Titans (and a High Wind Warning)
Last week's ice-and-sleet storm left a mess in several counties across Western North Carolina. The complex temperature structure in the atmosphere resulted in a thick coating of ice in some areas, but produced just rain in others. Now, after several days of spring-like temperatures, spring-like thunderstorms will impact the region on Wednesday, Jan. 30. A High Wind Warning has been issued by the NWS.
What will 2013 bring?
Weather conditions in our region so far this year have been described as "mild" — with average temperatures at Asheville Regional Airport running slightly above normal for all but three days since the start of the New Year. And, while it's hard to find too many folks who complain about mild temperatures in January, it does force the question: How will the weather of 2013 compare to that of 2012?
Small-business snapshot
Four years after the economic collapse we've dubbed the Great Recession, how is the Western North Carolina economy doing? Mountain BizWorks checked in with some local Chamber of Commerce directors to get their big-picture take on the past year and their predictions for 2013.
My, how things change: The weather
One of the most amazing things about living in Western North Carolina is the ability to watch the Earth system move through its annual climate cycles. That is especially true for those of us who have moved here from other regions, especially those that, perhaps, do not progress through these cycles in such grand fashion.
The images below highlight how fast the changes occur in our mountains. Frozen Knob is a mountain in Madison County that shows great color each fall. Color had just started to appear on the mountain on October 11th, but by this week, the greens are giving way to the yellows, oranges and rusts of fall.
Campaign calendar: Forums, forums and more forums
'Tis election season, and local organizations want voters to be informed. Here's a list of upcoming forums and such for the week ahead.


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Jacket – Burda 10/2010 (113/114) plus I've been inspired by V8146 (a petite jacket)
Skirt – Burda 08/2010 (127, resized)
I've used boiled wool for the jacket and cotton velvet for the skirt.
May 19, 2011, 05.03 AMby noiresque
How cute are you! It looks so retro, without being costumey. Very fresh.
Feb 17, 2011, 08.56 PMby sandrasews
Gorgeous! Great colour, fab styling, cute bow!
Dec 8, 2010, 12.16 PMby elegantmusings
Utterly fantastic! I just adore the bow at the back of the jacket—so, so cute! :)
Nov 19, 2010, 11.18 PMby qoflev
Love the whole look, it's perfect!
Nov 18, 2010, 03.21 PMby sewgurlwmu
I love everything you make! You are too too cute :)
Nov 18, 2010, 03.26 PMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, sewgurlwmu! :)
Nov 17, 2010, 04.45 PMby Natasha Venzke
That bow is so incredibly cute!
Nov 17, 2010, 06.42 PMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, Natasha!
Nov 17, 2010, 03.42 PMby cantare
Hello jacket! Tres chic! The color is superb.
Nov 17, 2010, 04.35 PMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, Cantare! :)
Nov 16, 2010, 07.49 AMby libbysharf
So cute!! I want to make it too now :-) How much cm did you shorten it?
Nov 16, 2010, 11.12 AMby kokuryu
Thank you so much!
The magazine offers two versions of the same pattern. 113 – a jacket (the back length: 52 cm/20,5 in), 114 – a long coat.
Nov 16, 2010, 06.04 AMby rubyslippers86
colour is gorgeous, beautifully made and it looks great on you :-)
Nov 16, 2010, 11.05 AMby kokuryu
Thank you for your kind words, ruby_slippers86! :)
Nov 16, 2010, 02.38 AMby Makeda Haberdasheress
Gorgeous Outfit! and I'm very impressed with your sleeves.
Nov 16, 2010, 11.05 AMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, sunflowerblack! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 11.55 PMby olystyrene
Absolutely adorable! I just looove that cropped coat!
Nov 15, 2010, 09.29 PMby gretch
Seriously this is too cute!!!
Nov 15, 2010, 10.05 PMby kokuryu
Thank you very much, Gretch! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 08.18 PMby carolinam
love love it! you make wonderful cothes.
Nov 15, 2010, 08.19 PMby kokuryu
Thank you very much, CarolinaM! :D
Nov 15, 2010, 05.45 PMby jeleena
This is Great!! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 05.47 PMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, jeleena!
Nov 15, 2010, 05.45 PMby sunnilj9
So so so darling! I simply love the entire ensemble! I love the color of that jacket. So sweet! The bow in the back is just to die for and the skirt….great fabric with a little bit of a foxy twist. Love it!
Nov 15, 2010, 05.47 PMby kokuryu
Thank you for your kind words, sunnilj9! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 05.01 PMby amibambini
So sweet! And you have totally nailed your 50's photo pose, love it.
Nov 15, 2010, 05.44 PMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, AmiBambini! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 03.21 PMby apfelbluete
Very cute! The jacket is awarded to you! The bow is so sweet!!!! You have chosen very nice color. Great job!
Nov 15, 2010, 03.24 PMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, Apfelbluete! Your words mean a lot to me :).
Nov 15, 2010, 12.04 PMby nettevivante
This combination is beautiful and your color choice is marvellous as always!
Nov 15, 2010, 12.12 PMby kokuryu
Thank you very much, catchannette! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 11.52 AMby lizajane09
I love this, especially what you have done with the coat. Very cute!
Nov 15, 2010, 11.53 AMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, LizaJane09! :)
Nov 15, 2010, 10.34 AMby gillthecat
more than lovely super duper cute
Nov 15, 2010, 10.35 AMby kokuryu
Thank you so much, gillthecat! I'm glad you like it :D.
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Vacation planned for the winter? Sew up these style to take away with you and also get 20% off!
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Make your Valentine's Day Extra Special, by Making your own Date Night Attire! There is still time..
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this wiki
Welcome To The Angry Birds Animation Wiki!
Welcome To The Angry Birds Animation Wiki! Here you can learn more about Angry Birds Toons, the hit series based on the popular app. Full episodes, characters, and trivia will be available on the episode pages. The second and third series', Piggy Tales and Angry Birds Stella, are also being added to the wiki. You can help by adding pages, picture, or information regarding the episodes. Enjoy the wiki!
Did You Know? | |
Season 2 of Angry Birds Toons will begin in Fall 2014. | |
Angry Birds Stella will begin in November 2014. |


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Serious gamers know just how time-consuming gaming is, often making it difficult to do anything besides working (only to buy more games) and playing the games themselves. Even so, gamers usually do still manage to have lives outside of the console; these cakes are some of the amazing creations born as a result.... READ ON
Those of you who grew up playing the Atari, Sega Genesis, Nintendo and Super Nintendo will want to check out the treasure trove of 80s and early-90s video game advertisements at Damn Cool Pictures. Among the hilariously dated, nostalgia-packed ads is one for this ridiculous game – which was apparently developed and never... READ ON
Tonight on The Late Movies, an important historical document of the early 1990s: Nintendo Preview Music Jam. Although there are only three volumes online, they give us three hours of video game AND hip hop nostalgia, rolled into a nice package. What's going on here? Basically, it's somebody playing Nintendo games while a professionally mixed hip hop soundtrack grooves on in the background. These videos were available on VHS in 1991, and I distinctly remember seeing one of them in middle school.... READ ON
In this analysis, usability expert Charles Mauro dissects the wildly successful game Angry Birds in order to explain why it's so engaging -- what factors in the game affect human cognition so that we'll spend hours flinging virtual birds at virtual pigs? I love Mauro's dry explanation of the game's premise: ... For those who don't have a clue what Angry Birds is all about, here is a quick synopsis. The game involves employing a sling shot to propel small cannonball-shaped birds with really bad... READ ON
Why They Made This Crazy Movie Released in 1989, The Wizard was a major motion picture that doubled as a promotional vehicle for Nintendo products. It's quite likely the only motion picture to require a "Power Glove Consultant" (for the record, this consultant is named only as "Novak" in the credits), and the movie is crammed full of product placement -- primarily for the Nintendo Entertainment System and its games, but also for a bevy of partner brands, including Hostess (a major plot point involves... READ ON
Modifications to your standard computer chassis, or console cases as they're called in the video game industry, has been elevated to an artform. But don't take my word for it. Check out the 18 images below! Be sure to tell us which is your favorite in the comments. And if you've modded out your own console, include a link so we can all see... READ ON
Video games often feature dumb premises: plumbers must save a princess from a dragon/turtle monster? What's going on there?! But what happens when video games are based on great works of literature, music, film, and theater -- does great art make a great game? Read on for some of our favorites. 1. The Great Gatsby: Based on a... READ ON
Have you ever wondered what a Twin Peaks video game would look like? Apparently there were plans for a Nintendo game that never made it off the ground. Now coder/musician Jak Locke has created a sort of Atari 2600/NES-ish game based on the last episode of the show. Spoilers abound, of course! Plus, the game seems to lack much of a coherent plot or sensible gameplay. And it's extremely slow to get started (not so different from the show); not much happens until around 1 minute into the video below.... READ ON
Here's a video game (a sort of ultra-simplified Super Mario Bros) made using paper, some motorized rollers, a speaker, a knob, a cardboard box, and an intriguing little circuit board thingy called a Teagueduino. It's a little hard to explain what this is and why it's awesome, so just watch the video -- and stick around for the second half, in which the creators take it apart to show you how it works. Fun, but probably not much replayability. Video Game in a Box from adam kumpf on Vimeo. If you want... READ ON
So I'll go ahead and assume you're aware of King of Kong, the videogame documentary that chronicles an epic struggle to dominate the game of Donkey Kong. Kong was a surprising movie mainly because it was supremely interesting to non-nerds, even though its subject was nominally a video game -- and who wants to watch a movie about a video game, much less a super-old video game? Well, the short answer is of course that the film was about people who play video games, and these days, that category extends to... READ ON
France's last execution via guillotine was in 1977.


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Ed Sheeran
Q&A: GRAMMYs Exec Producer Ken Ehrlich On Big Surprises & Beatles
GRAMMYs exec producer Ken Ehrlich on how Kendrick suggested a collabo with Imagine Dragons and what goes into getting Beatles together.
A+ For Elton John and Ed Sheeran
Elton John and Ed Sheeran went back to basics for their performance at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
Everyone Thinks fun. Will Sweep The GRAMMYs
fun. are nominated for six GRAMMY Awards, including Album of the Year, Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year and Best New Artist
Worst Dressed Ed Sheeran Will Don Tux At GRAMMYs
"I didn't expect it this year," Ed Sheeran said of his GRAMMY nomination for Song of the Year. "I was a little bit surprised to begin with and then elated."
Elton John Lands Ed Sheeran A Spot On GRAMMYs
Ed Sheeran will perform a duet with Elton John during Sunday's 55th GRAMMY Awards and he revealed how it all unfolded.
Ed Sheeran Is Having GRAMMY Nightmares
"I keep having dreams about the GRAMMYs and they always end up badly," Ed Sheeran confessed. It's every artist's dream to be nominated for a GRAMMY and to perform on the GRAMMY stage but for Ed, […]
Elton John, The Lumineers, Ed Sheeran And Jack White Added To GRAMMY Line-Up
With this year's star-studded 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards already boasting an all-star line-up of performers including fun., the Black Keys and Mumford and Sons, it has been announced that rockers Jack White, the Lumineers and […]
REWIND: You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band
Among the big GRAMMY nominees this year there's one stand out: the fiddle. Or the violin if you're not feeling all that country. From Album of the Year nominees Mumford & Sons, fun. and Jack […]
Celebrate The 2013 GRAMMY Nominees With Upcoming Album
Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and the guys of fun. are all teaming up for a brand new GRAMMY compilation album. In honor of the upcoming awards show the Recording Academy is releasing a 22-track record […]
Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Thanks Ed Sheeran For Olympics Performance
In an email to Sheeran, Nick Mason wrote: "Hi Ed, Really great experience, many thanks for a great performance. And a great day out! Following a bit of post show stuff with some of the PF fans getting outraged at people not realising the song was not your new release, I just wanted to go on record to suggest they chill on this.


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Shumlin: Rail safety something to 'look at'July 19,2013MONTPELIER-Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says that following the rail disaster in Quebec, the state's tracking of what travels through Vermont by train is "certainly something we should look at."
Vermont currently has no routine inspections for tracks, leaving that to the Federal Railroad Administration. It also does not track the type of cargo that is shipped through the state.
Questions about rail safety have come to the fore since a July 6 accident in which a train carrying oil derailed and barreled into the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec. At least five of the train's cars exploded and officials say 50 people were killed.
Shumlin says rail is important to Vermont's economy, but the state has a duty to ensure public safety.MORE IN Vermont NewsMONTPELIER Gov. Full StoryWhile they weren't happy about doing it, the City Council in Montpelier voted against allowing... Full StoryMONTPELIER Gov. Full Story -
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- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 971 AD, Southern Han war elephant corps defeated by Song Dynasty troops bowmen; in 1870, Montana, Marias massacre, U.S. kills 173 Native Americans; in 1941, Charles Lindbergh recommends neutrality pact with Nazis.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Bryanna Allen reports Castleton Downtown hosts open house, fire in Springfield leaves family without a roof of their own, suspected Bosnian war criminal trial goes to jury, Brent Curtis reports Rutland Town budget set to rise.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Bill in Legislature proposes naming beagle Vermont state dog; Associated Press looks back at year in opiate abuse; Shapiro's in Brandon soon to close after 75 years; probe shows illegal online gun sales booming.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1861, JEFFERSON DAVIS resigns from the U.S. Senate to become president of the Confederate States of America, in 1908, NYC passes law forbidding women from smoking in public; in 1968, B-52 crashes, loses H-bomb.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Aldermen debate request for $75K from Zamias Fund for Wonderfeet museum, Bryanna Allen covers CSC Spring Convocation, proponents of sugary drinks tax meet press at State House, Neal Goswami reports revenue forecast for state.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Oil prices continue to drop, good news for Vermonters who heat their homes with the stuff; Pawlet man still missing after one year, icy road make driving and walking sketchy propositions, funding for B&G Clubs announced.


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Shady Bridge Farm
Great raw honey and goatmilk soap
By: Brett MC (Feb 22, 2012)
We all benefit from local raw honey and that is what they offer, along with other honey products. Their goatmilk soap I know is also very well liked. Great to do business with!
Comments on this Review:
No comments posted...


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Bon Appétit | January 2006
by Elizabeth Falkner
This was surprisingly easy to make and so delicious! Like green tea ice cream, the taste was very subtle but distinctive. We loved it! I couldn't find fromage blanc so I used mascarpone instead. Yummy!
28 reasons why doughnuts (and doughnut holes)baked or fried, glazed or dustedare perfect morning, noon, and night
plus: everything you need to know about making doughnuts at home ›
Get the inside dish on 10 restaurants Parisians don't want you to know about
plus: Over 1,300 recipes à la Française to cook at home ›


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Channel 6 News - Search Results
Halacy rejects plea offer
ALBANY -- John Halacy rejected a plea deal in Albany County court on Thursday morning.
Halacy was charged in connection with a burglary that happened on Thanksgiving Day. He was offered a plea deal that would have landed him 5 years in prison. However, he turned down the offer, taking his chances with a trial. He could face 15 years in prison if convicted.
Halacy was previously accused of rape in Rensselaer County, when the case fell apart because of a high-profile blunder. He escaped those charges because of a technicality.


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MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Low: 32. Winds: Northwest 10-15 mph.
TUESDAY: Partly Sunny. High: 39. Winds: North 10-15 mph.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly Sunny. High: 46. Winds: South 5-10 ...
more »Search Results
Effingham County Swarming With Beekeepers
It is a hobby with sweet rewards and the occasional sting. At a time when bees are dying off, beekeeping is swarming Effingham County.
The Crossroads Beekeepers started with about eight people. Three years later they have more than a hundred members.
Some craft wooden beehive homes so bees can make it through the winter, some bottle and sell honey, others just really like bees. And who can blame them?
Experts say they can help us build our immune systems, grow more food and add the beauty of flowers to the world.
"Albert Einstein even said that you take away the bees and the world would completely stop," Crossroads Beekeepers member Terry Hopper said.
Based on that philosophy, the members of Crossroads Beekeepers keep the world spinning.
"We have about 115 people that are here learning all about beekeeping," Crossroads Beekeepers President Larry Quicksall said.
And the "new-bees" are a-buzz.about experts like Ryan Spencer. Spencer said he got involved with beekeeping because he likes honey. Now, he has plenty of it. He showed us how to get that sweet, gooey, treat.
"You have to take it out of the hives, in the frames," he said. "You gotta cut those cappings off. I use a hot knife. And then we put it in this extractor and we spin it. And then it drips down and then we filter it and bottle it."
Turning honey into money. Jason Weaver is in the "bee-biz" too. He makes beehive homes for beekeepers in the area.
"Out of wood," Weaver said. "Just another phase of woodworking."
It's another way of creating buzz.
"They're really not something to be afraid of, but they're our friends and they're here to help us in pollinating flowers and making a lot of great things here for us," Hopper said.
So busy as, well, bees, they keep working to make a way for these fascinating insects who are in danger.
"They've heard about the plight of bees, they've heard that a lot of bees have been dying off and they want to do their part to help," Quicksall said.
For more information on the Crossroads Beekeepers: http://crossroadsbeekeepers.blogspot.com/


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For Illinois school districts, all eyes are on Springfield as legislators try to hash out a budget before May 31.
Last-minute jockeying has many districts like Indian Prairie School District 204 watching and waiting.
Jay Strang, District 204 assistant superintendent of business, said finalizing the district's budget becomes a challenge because it is difficult to forecast revenues from the state because "Springfield is chaotic."
"By state statute, they have until May 31," Strang said. "It's a waiting game… this is how we function in the state."
With all energy in Springfield directed toward working out the budget before the May 31 deadline, a plan to reform the state's education funding system likely will be put off until the fall as school districts weigh whether to support the measure or oppose it.
Introduced in April by state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, along with state Sen. Michael Noland, D–Elgin, and senators from Chicago, Grayslake and Peoria, the legislation is the product of an Education Funding Advisory Committee, which was charged with proposing a better way to fund the education system.
Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 16, known as the School Funding Reform Act of 2014, creates a formula that is to provide an equitable means to distribute education funds to Illinois school districts. Districts would receive a basic level based on the value of property in the district and additional funding would be provided for: low income students; English language learners; special and gifted education; summer school; special education, vocational and regular transportation; Career Pathways career development programs; and students taking AP/dual credit courses.
The reform would be a boon for school districts like Aurora West 129, Aurora East 131, Elgin U46 and Carpentersville District 300.
According to May 6 figures provided by the Illinois State Board of Education, Aurora 129 and 131 could see a gain in state aid of $12,258,850 and $15,828,563, respectively. For Elgin U46 and District 300, ISBE figures show increases in aid of $25.3 million and $2 million, respectively.
School districts like Indian Prairie 204, Naperville 203, Yorkville 115 and districts in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles come up on the short end of the stick.
Indian Prairie would lose $9.6 million and Naperville 203 would lose $9.4 million, based on ISBE calculations. Also decreased revenues could total $1.3 million for Yorkville 115, nearly $4 million for Batavia 101 and Geneva 304, and nearly $8 million for St. Charles 303.
Small districts like Central District 301 and Hinkley-Big Rock 429 could lose upwards of 85 percent of their state funding levels. ISBE figures show District 301, which received $3.2 million in state aid in 2013, would only get $813,202 under the reform while District 429, which received $861,415 in 2013, would get $126,242.
District like Oswego 308 would see only a slight decrease of $151,869, according to the ISBE figures.
While most districts are holding off taking a stand, the numbers are particularly troublesome to Indian Prairie School District 204 leaders who estimate the $9.6 million loss roughly equates to 170 staff members.
Both Indian Prairie School Board members Michael Raczak and Benjamin White said the funding issue might encourage school districts to expand student eligibility into programs that would generate revenue.
White said he would not want to push kids into programs that they didn't need, and Raczak warned such a move would not be considered best practices for a district.
To get the 2014 budget process moving in District 204, Strang is forecasting spending totals of $301.5 million with revenues of $299.6 million. Figures will be adjusted up or down, depending on how much is allocated in the state's budget.
Of the anticipated $299.6 million in revenues, the majority, about $249.7 million, comes from local property taxes and $10 million from federal aid. The remaining $39.8 million is what Strang is counting on the state to provide, which is slightly higher than the $38.8 million received in 2013.
Tags: Education Funding Advisory, Illinois State Board of Education, Indian Prairie School District 204, Naperville School District 203, school budget


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Matt Cain stood off to the side, a wide grin on his face. Across the clubhouse, players sprayed champagne at each other and Tim Hudson prepared to give a short but sweet speech.
Cain hasn't thrown a pitch this postseason, and for that matter, Angel Pagan hasn't had an at-bat. He's in Puerto Rico, rehabbing from back surgery, and yet the Giants are going back to the World Series. Of all the improbable things that have happened this month, this ranks up there. The Giants will try to win a title without a longtime ace who helped drag them to two of them and a leadoff hitter who has repeatedly watched the lineup fall apart when his body does. Could Cain have ever pictured this happening when surgeons cut into his elbow?
"Yeah, for sure," he said, waving off the question. "One hundred percent, with what they did. Guys stepped up — Peavy came over and stepped up and Petit stepped in. Blanco has been unbelievable, man. Guys put it behind them and they knew what they had to do. They snuck in and went to Pittsburgh and Bum shut it down, and the guys just ran with it."
They're running all the way to World Series for the third time in five years.
"It's Giants baseball, you know," Michael Morse said. "It's an even year." Continue Reading


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Are You Fit to be Someone's Husband or Wife?
Do not allow your love for triple cheeseburgers and hot fudge sundaes prevent you from meeting the woman of your dreams.
Okay, that is it.
Never been married? So. You might not have met the "right" person for you yet.
Do not have any kids? So. Maybe you have not met the right man or woman who you would trust raising your children.
The two things above should not cause you to be perceived as a "red flag," but there should never be a time in your life where you do not concentrate on self-improvement. Constant self-improvement is the key to a better love life, sex life, and overall social life.


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Your Cat, Your Life
The Scoop
Cat News, Politics
Meow-Out-Loud Humor
Cat Chic
Gear and Glam
Your cat loves a clean toilet -- don't we all? Catster's singing Cat Lady, Sarah Donner, explains why.
Cat Breeds
Foods & Treats
Health & Care
Behavior & Training
Cats & Cleaning
Cat of the Day
13-year-old Female
Photo Comments (2)
"Thank you so much ~Tundra, Rory, Manytoes, & Lynzee~ for the beautiful picture!"
Photo Comments
"Shelby is selected Diary of the Day. Thank you Lady for this picture!"
"Fighting to stay awake...my new birthday bed is so comfy!"
Photo Comments (1)
"Eyes WIDE open!"
"Gathered around the catnip plant"
"Watching CatSitter II on the TV!"
"Soaking up the sun!"
"My favorite show is on tv!!!"
"Daisy, you're my buddy!!!!"
"Look, twins!!!"
Thank you Catster for bestowing the honor of being today's Diary of the Day recipient. Shelby looks beautiful there! It's bittersweet to lose her yesterday but celebrate her life today with all the condolences and the concats on being a DDP today. Thank you to all for the gifts, the pmails and the pictures of Shelby's selection today. I really appreciate it!!! Shelby was my baby and I'm grateful to have a place to cherish her for all the world to see. Thank you so much Catster for giving us this honor today! You have no idea what it means to me and I am grateful to have my little girl selected!
Shelby's passing was so fast. Thinking back through the day, the signs were there but because I am doting on Silly all day, another dying kitty, I didn't pay attention to the signs. Shelby had a healthy appetite which was no different today. She loved wet food and would cry for it when she wanted it. She spent a good portion of the day on top of the cat trees/towers I have in the bedroom. So, I put the food and water up on the cat tree for her so she wouldn't have to jump down. I had her declawed when she was a kitten (you can read about my stupidity in her bio) so she had problems getting up on things. She was growing weak with age so that didn't help her any either. I watched her stumble a few times trying to get up on things today which was the reason I put the food and water on the cat tree. She had a runny nose today so I had to fight her to wipe her nose. As soon as I did, she'd go back to the food dish and eat some more food. She loved food, even my food, and would literally fight me to get at my food. She made me laugh. Throughout the day, Shelby laid down on her side and put her head down on several occasions...that's not like her. She stretched out and laid her head down which she never does. I took a few pictures. I found her in the tunnel of the corner cat tree, then she moved to the cat bed on top of the fridge in my room, then when I was getting ready for bed, she moved to the top of the stacked dog kennels I keep set up for the cats in my room. All those places were unusual for her to hang out on because she usually slept on my bed. I just figured she wanted something different and didn't think much of it. I shut the TV off at 12:30 am and dozed a little but because I'm keeping an eye on Silly, I kept waking up to check on him. At 1:06am, I heard Shelby gurgling on top of the dog kennels. I turn the light on and look over at her, her head is partially hanging over the top of the dog kennel, she's drooling and trying to inhale at the same time. Her pupils are wide open. I grab her and wipe her mouth but I knew it was too late. She was leaving me. All I could do was hold her and tell her I loved her. She took her last breath 4 minutes later at 1:10am. My Shelby girl was gone. It was so quick and I don't think she felt any pain. She was fine at 12:30 and 40 minutes later she was gone. I'm sorry that I didn't dote on her but I didn't know she would be leaving me. I'm glad she was in my bedroom and I got to hold her while she took her last breath. I've had her almost 12 years which is longer than I've had any animal but it isn't long enough. I have so many memories of Shelby and I hope I never forget them. I hope Catster stays around so I can see her page as well as my other furbabies that have gone before her. I'm in shock that she's gone. Silly is still hanging on but I have a feeling I'll be losing him before the day is gone. I can't imagine losing 2 babies on the same day. Squirt just had his 2 year bridge anniversary yesterday, I lost a cat named Simba last Saturday, now I lose Shelby and fixing to lose Silly. There must be something with the letter "S" in my life right now and I hate it. God Speed sweet Shelby. May you rest in peace my precious girl. I didn't have any time to say goodbye to you or anything else that I wanted you to hear but I did tell you that I love you before you took your last breath. I hope your spirit stays with me and I hope you wait with the others at the Rainbow Bridge for me. One day it will be my time to cross that bridge and I hope I am eternally reunited with you and all my babies when that day comes. Fly free my Shelby Girl. Until we meet again...I love you with all of my heart and soul sweet Shelby. I miss you already! I love you and will always love you Shelby Girl!!! You were my girl!
Woohoo! Party at our house today!!! We have 3 birthday kitties in our house today and Tanner has a birthday on Monday! That's a lot of birthdays!!! So, like usual, mom's working right now and left us to fend for ourselves. Whatever will we do all day? Mom wonders because when she leaves the house in the morning to go to work, it's NEVER in the same shape or condition when she comes home after work. I'm not sure what happens, but mom thinks a tornado went thru here some days. What's a tornado? Are we tornadoes? That has to be something good, right? Then there's the mutt... Mom compares the dog to a bull in a china shop. She says that she should register the dog's tail as a lethal weapon. One swipe of the tail takes out everything in it's path. Can you imagine what happens when the dog gets excited? That tail starts going a mile a minute and we all scatter and take cover. Mom laughs because she's never seen 11 cats depart so quickly. That laugh is short-lived because the dog always knocks something over and mom starts yelling. Oh well. Better the mutt than me!!! Well, we'll just have to wait and see what's in store for us later. I'm sure there's presents, Fancy Feast for all, catnip and the laser light. We might even get to play with those catnip bubbles. Oh yeah...I can't forget that flashy thing mom points in our faces that blinds us all the time. Mom calls it a camera...I call it blackmail! I guess I'm going to take a birthday cat nap shortly. I have to rest up for the celebration later. Happy Birthday to all the birthday kitties on Catster today! Happy Birthday to me (of course), Princess and Simon too. We turned 5 today!!!


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Citroen's C-Cactus (so named because it is "low on consumption, like the plant it is named after") is a diesel hybrid that, in a typically French manner, attempts to be the best of both worlds. Citroen claims the car is both simple and technologically complex, as well as being a paragon of both driving efficiency and sporting dynamism. We say it looks awfully weird. The French company currently has no plans for C-Cactus production, but the car's interior and exterior styling cues will likely carry over to future Citroens. Ouch.
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text: News Celebrating A Classic 01 August 2014 Serena Hood An original knot bag Vogue's executive fashion editor Serena Hood headed to St Tropez to get to grips with Bottega Veneta's famed Knot bag. Here, she reports back.A YEAR ago today I turned 30 and opened my birthday gift from my aunt. Renowned for her impeccable taste, I was anxious to see what she'd chosen for this milestone. The card read: "A classic you can hold onto forever," and she was right, inside the wrapping was a beautiful black satin Bottega Veneta knot clutch bag.Fast forward 364 days and I find myself in St Tropez celebrating "The Knot" - a retrospective to mark the journey of this bag since its inception in 1978. Today, creative director Tomas Maier offers more than 300 versions, including one made out of 18-carat gold with diamond-encrusted knots, if you have €70,000 to spare. Solid 18ct gold knot bag with diamonds View from l'Ermitage Hotel Let's be clear that this was not an ordinary in-store affair, it was two days of festivities in the French Riviera's most famous port. Beach attire for lunch at Club 55 was printed and colourful and, in between courses of crudités and sole meunière, guests including Arizona Muse, Mary Charteris and actress Daisy Bates raced to the beach shop, some stopped in up to three times to get their fix of beach bags and sarongs. Caroline Issa and Hanneli Mustaparta at lunch at Club 55 Tallulah Harlech, Mary Charteris and Arizona Muse Sophia Hesketh playing boules View at dinner Back at André Saraiva's Hotel Ermitage, Tallulah Harlech and Sophia Hesketh played a game of boules before we all sat down to a candlelit dinner on the terrace watching the sunset over the sea. Related Gallery Classics