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What Every Parent Should Know About the Growing Trend of Slut-Shaming
Written on February 17, 2015 at 12:02 pm , by Family Circle
Leora Tanenbaum, author of the newly released I Am Not a Slut: Slut-Shaming in the Age of the Internet, sheds light on some dark and dangerous behavior. By APRIL MCFADDEN
While boys are often encouraged to explore their sexuality, girls must usually toe the tricky line between being alluring but not lewd. These days that sexual double standard is more difficult than ever to navigate. In this Q&A with Family Circle, author Leora Tanenbaum, who coined the term "slut-bashing" back in the 90s, helps us understand the struggles girls encounter today and explains how every parent can more responsibly raise a kid in the Internet age.
You break down the difference between slut-bashing and slut-shaming in your book. Why is it important for parents to know the difference?
Because the effects of each get played out differently. Slut-shaming isn't necessarily repeated—it could be a one-time thing and the intent may not even be negative. I haven't met any female in the United States under the age of 25 who has not been called a "slut" or a "ho" in some context, usually more than once. But slut-bashing is a very specific form of harassment that takes place over time and the intent is to hurt. Slut-bashing makes life horrible for a girl. What they have in common is that regardless of the intent, at the end of the day female sexuality is being policed and the sexual double standard is being reinforced and hammered in. We need to pay attention to both experiences.
How can parents allow their daughters to experiment with femininity without letting them fall into harmful categories?
You don't ever want to tell her or make her feel that she is a slut. You want her to feel good about her body, her sexuality and her clothing choices. If you strongly believe that her clothing is inappropriate for her age or for the occasion, you need to talk with her about it. Say something supportive that gives her space like, "Wow! You look fantastic in that outfit, but there are so many people out there that aren't as enlightened as we are about girls revealing their bodies. And unfortunately there are people who may treat you like a sexual object if you wear that outfit."
What critical lessons should parents teach their sons about this?
Talk about consent with your children, boys and girls, and explain that consent is never present unless it has been verbally communicated. I think that's really essential. It's probably the most important thing many parents aren't doing that we should be doing that better. It's never ever too soon to talk about sexual consent.
What is your opinion about the recent campus sexual assault movement, including It's On Us, Know Your IX and Carry That Weight?
I feel invigorated by the movement. It ties into this culture of slut-shaming where so many people—including women—believe that it's acceptable to have sex with a girl even if she hasn't actually said yes. They think, "Well, because she's a 'slut' or a 'ho' it doesn't matter what she says." And this is certainly true in high schools too.
What can parents learn from stories like Jada's from the #IAmJada campaign?
I do find those individual examples of girls talking back and raising awareness really great, but they're kids and that should not be their responsibility. That should be our responsibility. We need to be the ones orchestrating that and helping the young people in our lives.
What is the most shocking thing you discovered while writing I Am Not a Slut?
How people hate the "slut" so much—even if she's somebody they don't know—that they will tell her she should kill herself or that she shouldn't be alive.
What is one thing you would ask parents to change when it comes to slut-shaming?
Never, ever use words like "slut" or "ho," even in a lighthearted or joking way. Just never use them, because our kids look to us as role models and if we make it acceptable then it becomes acceptable to them.
Leora Tanenbaum is the author of the newly released I Am Not a Slut: Slut-Shaming in the Age of the Internet. She is also senior writer and editor at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and a mom of two boys.
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster, Parenting Teens & Tweens, School, The Sex Talk | Tags:
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Happy #GivingTuesday
Written on December 2, 2014 at 2:19 pm , by Danielle Blundell
You've made it through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But have you heard of #GivingTuesday, the global day dedicated to giving back? In December 2012, #GivingTuesday was founded by New York's 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation to bring families, businesses, community centers and students around the world together in celebrating generosity and giving. Today, December 2, 2014, marks its third annual observance, and it's not too late to get involved. Helping those less fortunate is a great idea to focus on at the start of a month full of gift giving, family celebrations and winter fun. So today, find a way to do something small for someone else—as a family, with friends or with others in your community. For a list of #GivingTuesday movements in your neighborhood, click here.
And if you want to add a little do-gooding to your holiday shopping and donating this season, check out our tech-savvy friends getting into the giving spirit today. Microsoft is offering store customers a free $10 donation card to #YouthSpark on GlobalGiving with any purchase (while supplies last). They'll also match today's contributions (up to $350,000) to #YouthSpark on GlobalGiving, which supports organizations providing critical technology skills and resources to youth around the world.
Also, starting today and running through December 31, PayPal's launching a holiday giving campaign to match 1% of each donation made at www.paypal-donations.com. Consumers can choose one of thousands of U.S. 501(c)(3) charities, with 100% of every donation reaching each cause.
How will you give back today? Remember to hashtag all photos and posts with #GivingTuesday.
Categories: Family & Technology, Holidays & Entertaining, Momster | Tags:
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Save Money on Eyeglasses
Written on October 15, 2014 at 3:49 pm , by Christina Tynan-Wood
Right after my son Cole got his driver's license, he realized glasses were a must if he wanted to drive after dark. Dutifully, I took him to the eye doctor, and an hour later, he had picked out great-looking frames. Unfortunately, I was down hundreds of dollars. Next time, buying online will be a no-brainer. Should anyone in your family need glasses or contact lenses, take advantage of my research.
Warby Parker: If you question the whole buying-without-trying thing, Warby Parker's Home Try-On kit is the answer. Choose any five pairs of the company's fun, fashion-forward frames and they'll ship them to you—free—in an easy-to-return postage-paid package. If something appeals to you, just upload a prescription and order your specs. Most eyeglasses run $95 per pair. (Progressives cost more.) Plus, through the Buy A Pair, Give A Pair program, glasses are donated to people in need (a million pairs and counting). warbyparker.com
EyeBuyDirect: This site boasts a surprisingly large selection of eyeglasses under $10—from there, you add prescription lenses, special coatings for computer and gaming use and other options. (Also worth noting: There are over 200 frames specifically made for kids.) The nifty EyeTry tool allows you to upload a photo, then virtually play around with and compare frames ad infinitum. eyebuydirect.com
Goggles4U.com: Among the many basic frames are various chichi designer options (hello, Calvin Klein, Nicole Miller, Versace) and any kind of lens you could want: distance, reading, bifocal and progressive. You can get a pair of prescription glasses delivered for under $15—at that price, consider stocking up to soften the blow against seemingly inevitable loss or breakage . goggles4U.com
Glasses.com: When only big-name frames will do, there's a huge selection of more than 90 well-known brands. Ray-Ban, Oakley, Smith Optics and similar high-end picks still don't come cheap, but thanks to the Unbeatable Price Guarantee, you're sure to pay less for them here than anywhere else. With many glasses, you pay only for the frames— prescription lenses are on the house. glassses.com
ReadingGlasses.com For anyone who's struggling to see fine print, this site is the clear choice. Shop more than 50 brands that range in magnification from +0.75 to +4.00. readingglasses.com
Vision Direct The more you buy, the more you save at this virtual superstore for contacts, owned by Walgreens. Bonus: You automatically get a 5% discount on most products every time you shop. Best-known brands include Acuvue, PureVision, Dailies and SofLens. visiondirect.com
Categories: Family & Technology | Tags: buying glasses online, cheap glasses, eyeglass websites, how to save money on eyeglasses, save money on, save money on glasses
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Keep Your Naked Selfie Covered
Written on September 12, 2014 at 5:00 am , by Janet Taylor
We're used to hearing celebrities bare all in interviews and watching them bare all on movie screens. But this month, when news broke of hackers using the iCloud to leak nude photos of stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton, many were shocked. How did the hackers pull it off? What other information could be hacked into? Who's at risk? Aside from the obvious concerns about such a privacy breach, however, another issue loomed. Why take a naked photo?
Maybe it's because I don't even like to pose for, much less share, a photo of myself in a bathing suit sans cover-up. So I can't help but wonder why folks want naked selfies.
One group worth approaching to answer that question: teenagers. Most teens sext to maintain or ignite a relationship, or are pressured into the behavior. A recent study indicated that more than 50% of college students sent sexually explicit texts—with or without photos—as minors. (About a quarter admitted to sending sexually explicit photographs.) These numbers would indicate that among young people sexting is increasing in prevalence. In fact, it has tripled or quadrupled in some ages and categories of teens over the past five years. Boys and girls sext at the same rate, but boys forward more.
As moms and dads, we need to shift our focus to parenting in the digital age. We need to talk to our children and teens about sending pictures, receiving pictures and passing them on. We need to tell them that not everyone is doing it and cyberspace does not have a button for forgiveness. Images that are deleted can be retrieved, and pictures that are sent can be passed along.
The message to our children and teens should be clear and consistent. Do not ever post or send a naked or half-naked selfie to anyone. Ever. They should delete images that are sent to them and not forward them. I want to remind young people that there are many ways to feel good about yourself: practice kindness to others, volunteer in schools and communities, simply contribute to the common good. But keep your naked selfie covered.
Have you talked to your child about sexting? Do you think your son or daughter would ever do it? Post a comment and tell me.
Janet Taylor, MD, MPH, a mother of four, is a psychiatrist in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @drjanet. Read more of her posts here.
Got a question for Dr. Janet? Email her at email@example.com.
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster, On My Mind, Parenting Teens & Tweens, The Sex Talk | Tags: celebrity photos hacked, dr. janet, internet, Janet Taylor, Jennifer Lawrence nude photos, naked selfies and teens, photos, Selfie, sexting, social media, teens sexting
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Surviving a Cross-Country Road Trip with the Husband, Two Quarrelsome Teens and a Dog
Written on August 5, 2014 at 12:18 pm , by Christina Tynan-Wood
"We could pull a Thelma and Louise right here, Mom." Ava (15) was pointing to the precipice falling away into oblivion before our car.
"I was about to say that!" I answered.
We were climbing into the mountains on our way out of Death Valley, six days into our own epic, life-changing road trip, and relocating from North Carolina to California. Everyone—well, mostly my teenagers—had expressed no small amount of anxiety about our ability to get along in a car for that long. When informed that we planned to drive cross-country with two quarrelsome teens and 60 pounds of stubborn canine anxiety, a few people had suggested that our chances of ending in mayhem and bloodshed were high.
At least one of the trip's detractors was in the car with us. "I'm dreading this," Cole (17) had said the night before our departure. "Ten days in a car with my family. What could be worse?"
I didn't voice my fears but I certainly had them. My kids are so skilled at bickering they could have coached Liz Taylor and Richard Burton for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. My husband, Dan, and I had just packed all our earthly belongings into a moving container, a herculean effort that had left us teetering close to Taylor-and-Burton territory ourselves. I'm aware that moving has a stress quotient that's right up there with divorce. Was I crazy to think that throwing this road trip on top of the move wouldn't cause one to lead to the other?
"Maybe we'll have fun," the Pollyanna voice in my head ventured.
So I overprepared. I made sure everyone had a working smartphone with data, a tablet and headphones. I made sure the kids downloaded books, movies and music to those devices before we left in case we found ourselves without cell service or Wi-Fi. GM had loaned me a Buick Enclave for the journey as part of its Buick Bucket List campaign. It sports plenty of charging ports, video monitors and space as well as some serious creature comforts, such as heated and cooled seats. The dog would have the third row and each teen a monitor. We were not planning on suffering. Since this particular car does not sport a Wi-Fi connection (though most cars with OnStar will in the future), we packed a NetGear Mingle so that everyone could get online with their laptops and tablets. When another famously quarrelsome couple (Sir Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke) went searching for the source of the Nile, preparation was essential. I told myself the same was true for us. Preparation didn't guarantee success—certainly not for Burton and Speke—but the lack of it could mean certain failure.
And here we were, six days later, staring into a (stunningly beautiful) abyss.
We'd had to make a few compromises for the dog, but not many. We were able to find beds, TV and free Wi-Fi in places that let our pet stay with us at every stop. It was pretty easy. We simply limited ourselves to two hotel chains and used the Hotels Tonight app, when possible, to secure rooms at a bargain price. La Quinta hotels are always pet-friendly but, from afar and with only a smartphone, it's hard to tell the difference between the nice properties and the sketchy ones. Best Westerns usually accept pets and are sometimes (I'm talking about you, Best Western near Zion) exceptionally pleasant. We also like KOA's Deluxe cabins because they're as nice as hotel rooms and often pet-friendly, plus they offer more space, including a kitchenette and a separate room for the kids. So, with almost no advance planning, we did fine on accommodations.
We also survived vast deserts that lacked not only water but cell service. We were traveling with our phones on an AT&T plan, a Nokia 2520 tablet with 4G on Verizon, and the Mingle on Sprint's networks. I now know for certain that all claims by cell companies that they have connected the entire world do not include vast stretches of American mountains, plains and desert. But it didn't matter. By the time we got past Oklahoma, the need to always be connected had drifted away, along with most of the worries that we wouldn't get along.
When we got to the New Mexico desert, Cole grabbed the Bluetooth connection to the Enclave's sound system so that we could all enjoy that landscape to the sound tracks to Sergio Leone spaghetti Westerns like A Fistful of Dollars. "Is that atmospheric or what?" he asked as we drove over a bridge with desert as far as the eye could see while a train passed beneath us, Ennio Morricone's music playing full blast.
We survived my husband's disastrous attempts at hula hoop in Santa Fe, blistering (115 degrees!) heat in Death Valley, our own bad singing and some terrible food. As a family, we are stronger for it.
It turns out this crazy road trip was an excellent idea. My bickering kids got into only a few scrapes. My husband and I have a blast together when we aren't working so hard. Our post-move aches and pains were soothed by repeatedly alternating the car's seats between heated and chilled. We saw a dozen places—Monument Valley, Zion National Park, Death Valley and Memphis among them—that were on my bucket list. And we witnessed a few things that none of us expected or really hoped to see, including the Area 51 Alien Brothel (or the gas station portion of it, anyway) and the Continental Divide fireworks and souvenir store.
As we crested that hill with Death Valley below and only my sane driving decisions keeping us from Thelma-and-Louise oblivion, Ava was not suggesting that we end it all in an apocalyptic blaze. She was demonstrating that we were enjoying each other's company.
"See," she answered. "I can read your mind. Love you, Mom!" She smiled at me in the rearview. "Who knows you better than anyone?"
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags: #buickbucketlist
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Opening Minds with Skype in the Classroom
Written on July 9, 2014 at 8:00 am , by Christina Tynan-Wood
Sometimes I'm stunned by the myopic viewpoints my daughter encounters in school, and so is she. I've gone to a lot of trouble to help both my kids see past their own small world to understand global issues. We travel as much as we can. We watch programming from other cultures. We read. And we explore the Internet with an eye to the larger, diverse world.
My daughter has described in-class worldviews that are so insular—limited by teachers' less-expansive experiences—that I'm frustrated. Although I know there are simple technical tools that can transcend those limitations, most teachers look at me with annoyance if I suggest them. I realize that teachers have concerns and time constraints I know nothing about. But I recently sat in on a demonstration at a Skype in the classroom event in New York where teachers from remote, rural and deeply impoverished areas were—for free and using equipment they already have—exposing their students to cultures from all over the globe. Why aren't my daughter's teachers doing this?
These teachers—from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kenya—don't have any special grants or more time or equipment than anyone else. In fact, they probably have less than most. They just said yes. Then they clicked, chose an expert or classroom to connect with, installed Skype (free) and set up a laptop in their classrooms. That opened up the world for their students, changed the way they teach, and inspired the kids in their classrooms and, often, in classrooms on the other side of the world. Some did group projects with students in other countries, some played 20 questions with kids from a completely different culture, and some connected with thought leaders who let the students ask them questions. All the speakers are invited by Microsoft (and vetted), the connections are teacher-to-teacher so it's safe for everyone, and there is no cost. Why aren't my daughter's teachers doing this?
If the answer is "We don't have the resources," I'd like to point out that Jairus Makambi, director of the The Cheery Children Education Centre in the heart of the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, has almost nothing. Kibera is home to about 1.5 million people; it's one of the largest, poorest slums in the world. But Makambi's students have had the opportunity to Skype with 70 schools from 30 different countries using only a laptop and a dicey Internet connection. It has opened the eyes of those children to a world beyond the abject poverty they live in and allowed teachers around the globe to help Makambi teach subjects he has neither the materials nor the knowledge to take on. "This experience is phenomenal," says Makambi. "It is promoting global integration and appreciation of cultures that transcends the trivialities of race while inculcating in our students the spirit of global citizenry that is essential in this rapidly globalizing world."
Why aren't my daughter's teachers doing this?
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags: Christina Tynan-Wood, education, family and, technology
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10 Road-Tested Travel Apps
Written on July 8, 2014 at 10:15 am , by Christina Tynan-Wood
When our kids were little, my husband Dan and I planned road trips with an attention to detail that likely rivaled General Eisenhower's strategy to invade Normandy. Not anymore—these days, we hit the highway at the drop of a hat like a pair of carefree teenagers, with our own teens (17 and 15) in tow.
A smartphone and the right apps at our fingertips means there's very little we can't tackle as we go. Case in point, our annual climb to the top of the Great Smoky Mountains. A few years ago, we would have started booking rooms weeks in advance. This summer we mapped and reserved almost nothing ahead of time—yet spent less money than ever.
A few days before we left, I bid on a rental car at Priceline.com. (For this getaway, we rent a vehicle substantially bigger than our family car to gain more legroom and space for gear.) Bidding is fast, easy and nets the best price, provided you bid low. That same night, I plotted our driving route using Google Maps and shared the result with my family, so everyone had the info on their phones. Then, on D-day, we just loaded up our bags and got going. Apps bridged the gaps when we needed food, gas or the closest clean bathroom. And when it was time to settle in for the night, booking a room at the last minute was simple and inexpensive— meaning we could rest easy.
What to Download
Create a page on your smartphone and group these mostly free apps together for easy access.
Last Minute Travel Deals (iOS, Android) : Provides access to broker's prices and last- minute bargains for flights and hotel rooms.
HotelTonight (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): Incredible prices on hotels near where you are or will be. Here's the catch—although you can scout options beforehand, booking is same-day-only for up to five nights. Embrace the spontaneity to snag awesome deals.
Waze (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) : When traffic suddenly comes to a halt, Waze can provide insight as to why—it tracks the speed of all nearby smartphone- toting drivers so you can see real-time driving patterns. Often a user posts the reason for the delay, as in, Three-car accident just before Exit Such-and-Such.
Yelp (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): Hungry? This app finds nearby food options and shares other diners' feedback. Just tap the screen for precise directions to your chosen pit stop.
Eventseeker (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): A source for concerts, museums and other attractions near your location.
Priceline (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): Instead of going to the trouble of shopping around, just bid what you can afford on hotels, flights and rental cars.
Google Maps (iOS, Android): A comprehensive navigational tool, including turn-by-turn directions, that incorporates rerouting when needed based on up-to-the-minute traffic info.
ChargePoint (iOS, Android): If you drive an electric vehicle, you'll want to reserve at a free charging station along your route. (For obvious reasons, it's best not to leave this to chance!)
SpotHero (iOS, Android): Skip the circling and reserve parking at discounts of up to 50% in New York, Boston, Chicago and other select cities.
Parkopedia Parking (iOS, Android, Windows Phone): Once you've arrived, park like a local by accessing this app's crowdsourced database on available nearby options.
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags:
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Turn Off to Turn On: Make Time to Really Connect
Written on July 8, 2014 at 9:38 am , by Janet Taylor
Truly connecting with your spouse, your kids or even a coworker isn't a high-speed endeavor. Meaningful relationships can't be jump-started by hitting send, condensed into 140 characters or easily deleted. They're about a lingering glance, a tight hug or a pat on the back.
Unfortunately, high touch is being taken over by high tech. I've painfully witnessed couples more engrossed in their smartphones than in each other, fathers reacting faster to the ping of a text message than to their kids yelling "Dad!" and moms spending more time uploading family photos to Facebook than letting their kids download with them.
I know, I know, your teen is probably so obsessed with her Instagram account that she's not paying attention to you either. But it's hard to ask a teen to turn off a smartphone when you're not paying attention yourself. My suggestion: Aim for as much real face time as you can. Create mini media blackouts by using a basket to collect electronics for a distraction-free dinner or having a family night devoted to offline entertainment like board games. Most important, teach your children when to pick up the telephone to reach out to someone by modeling that behavior. Our kids need to develop the keys to love and trust that come from a human touch-not a touchscreen.
Janet Taylor, MD, MPH, a mother of four, is a psychiatrist in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @drjanet. Read more of her posts here.
Got a question for Dr. Janet? Email her at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Categories: Family & Technology, On My Mind, Parenting Teens & Tweens | Tags: Dr. Janet Taylor, family and technology, Parenting Teens & Tweens
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5 Geeky Ways to Get Rid of Clutter
Written on June 25, 2014 at 11:00 am , by Christina Tynan-Wood
I am in the process of moving. I'm excited about my new house, but the move also has me jumpy. Every time I open a closet, I slam it shut in fear. Out-of-date gadgets, clothes that don't fit, shoes that were a bad idea and broken purses stare back, accusing me of procrastination. They are right. I don't know where the time in this house went, but I clearly didn't spend enough of it disposing of crap I no longer want or need.
I'm not alone. According a new Intel survey, almost half of Americans (47%) keep outdated tech devices long after they are useful. And according to a recent "spring cleaning" survey by used electronics marketplace uSell.com, 68% of U.S. residents suffer from "compulsive gadget hoarding."
We don't keep this stuff because we love it and hate to part with it. We keep it because it's too much trouble to get rid of it, we have sensitive data on old devices that we can't be bothered to fetch, and we'd rather clean a toilet than wipe those devices clean of that info. It's the same thing with the worn-out handbags, shoes that looked sexy in the catalog but not so much on a closet shelf, and kitchen gadgets that haven't been used since the term "gluten" became synonymous with evil.
But reckoning day is here. At least for me. According to Nik Raman, chief operating officer of uSell.com, the trick to getting past my fear of this overwhelming chore is to focus on one item at a time. And I knew just the item. My husband has been hauling around a suitcase-size backgammon board since we met. Inspired by a survey from moving marketing company Our Town America that found that one in three movers admitted to "accidentally losing" a significant other's prized possession, I started my donation box with the backgammon board. That felt good. Next, since money is a great motivator, I decided to focus on getting rid of junk that someone would pay money for. I started this project three weeks ago. Today my house is nearly Spartan and my wallet fat with cash. I can't understand why I held on to that stuff for so long. I had a good time getting rid of it and I'll have a good time spending this cash.
Here are my top 5 strategies for getting rid of junk—and turning some of it into cash or nice new things.
I had some kitchen appliances that I hadn't used in ages which are popular on eBay and not prohibitively expensive to ship. I spread them out on my counter, snapped photos with my smartphone and, with a few taps on my phone, listed them on eBay. Then I put the appliances back in the cupboard. A week and a trip to FedEx later, I was not only $100 richer, with room in my cupboards, but I was also getting happy notes from people who were enjoying those neglected appliances. Fun!
I kept a couch I wanted to replace for two years because it was too much trouble to get rid of. I'd called the Salvation Army, but they wouldn't take it since it had a small tear in the seat. This, however, is what Craigslist is for. Using the cPro Craigslist app (Apple App Store or Google Play), I took a few pictures of the couch, listed it as "Free" and waited. Within a day, someone took it away in a truck, thrilled to have a beater for the playroom that his kids could jump on. That went so well that I walked through my house snapping pictures of all the furniture I don't want to move and adding prices and clever descriptions. Every few days, someone shows up, hands me cash, chats for a bit and happily carries off my detritus.
My son went on a phone-dropping spree, which resulted in a useless smartphone sitting on my desk. He had priced replacing the screen and found out it was cheaper to replace the phone. But used marketplace Glyde claimed that it could sell even a broken smartphone. I entered the model and was honest about its shattered screen. A few minutes later, the phone sold for $45. A few days later, a shipping box showed up in the mail and I dropped the phone in and sent it off.
Next stop, my closet. It was crammed with clothes that haven't fit me since I lost those pounds I don't want back. Some of them were nice labels, though, so I requested a shipping bag from LikeTwice.com. This site buys clean, quality clothing and resells it online. I filled the bag with clean clothes in good shape and dropped it off at the post office. A week later, the site told me I had money to spend. When I get to my new house, I'll order a few new things that fit.
I had a used smartphone that was too old—or perhaps too obscure a brand?— for Glyde or uSell.com. On Amazon, I clicked "Have one to sell?" after looking up the model. I didn't even have to take a picture. I just typed in its condition and the price I wanted for it. It sold within the hour.
Christina Tynan-Wood has been covering technology since the dawn of the Internet and currently writes the Family Tech column for Family Circle. You can find more advice about buying and using technology at GeekGirlfriends.com.
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags: Christina Tynan-Wood, family and technology
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Use Twitter to Get Quality Customer Service
Written on June 10, 2014 at 7:00 am , by Christina Tynan-Wood
There I was at the airport, in a long line of jet-lagged travelers that was devolving into an angry mob before my eyes. All outbound flights had been grounded by weather, so none of us were going anywhere in the near future—and the customer service reps were starting to come unglued. I called my husband, Dan, to warn him I was stuck before dialing United Airlines to try to bypass the chaos and rebook my flight home. Dan hit Twitter. While I waited on hold, he engaged in a productive back-and-forth with @united, learning that my best option was to book a hotel and accept a voucher for a future flight. Dan texted me this update and I snagged a room lightning-fast, before they were all gone.
Using Twitter to get quick, courteous customer service is one of the best reasons to maintain an account on the social media site. Because these interactions unfold in a public forum, companies know their reputation is always on the line. Therefore, they tend to staff their Twitter accounts with reps trained to listen attentively and resolve issues on the double. Lately, I've been seeing more and more users Tweet complaints and get results—even possibly incite change.
For instance, I watched a Safeway (@Safeway) customer post that an advertised sale price was no longer ringing up at her local store and get a reply the next morning honoring the lower price. A Chico's (@Chicos) shopper who complained that shipping to Canada cost too much was promised that the policy would be reviewed. A Whole Foods (@WholeFoods) customer who expressed distaste for her store's plastic take-out containers was informed that packaging decisions are made by local management. Of course, people also visit the Twittersphere to praise products and businesses (which is a nice thing to do). But more often, it's the best way to circumvent lengthy hold times. Case in point: When General Motors (@GM) recalled cars because of a faulty ignition switch earlier this year, one woman bypassed phone support by Tweeting instead, and her problem was soon addressed. Bottom line: These days, if you have something to say to a company, Twitter is the smartest place to do so.
Speak Up!
Twitter communications director Rachael Horwitz sums it up perfectly: "Twitter is public, so brands are listening." Keep her advice in mind when you try Tweeting for service satisfaction.
• Address the right audience. You post a Tweet to a company by using their Twitter handle, which always starts with @. To find the correct handle, type the name in the search field on the home page.
• Be concise. Remember that you only have 140 characters to get your message across. Composing a Tweet is the modern equivalent of sending a telegram. Skip any unnecessary preamble. Include only key details.
• Follow along. While Tweets are public, there is an option to continue a conversation privately within the Twitter platform, through the Direct Message (DM) function. In order to do so, both parties must be following each other. If a company's customer service rep asks you to follow them, this is likely why. (It's often a good sign.)
• Don't wear egg on your face. If you set up a new Twitter account, be aware that the default icon is an egg, which displays in your profile and Tweets. To avoid screaming newbie, change that icon right away. "It doesn't really matter whether you have a lot of followers," says Horwitz. "But companies are more inclined to take tweets seriously from someone who seems engaged with Twitter. So you should create a profile to convey that."
Christina Tynan-Wood has been covering technology since the dawn of the Internet and currently writes the Family Tech column for Family Circle. You can find more advice about buying and using technology at GeekGirlfriends.com.
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags:
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A Grassroots Effort to Bring Computer Science to Your Teen's School
Written on May 22, 2014 at 11:18 am , by Christina Tynan-Wood
Family Circle editor Jonna Gallo and I were on a whirlwind tour of the Microsoft campus. As it happened, there was also a field trip under way: Busloads of high school students who had learned programming through Microsoft's TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) program, were enjoying a full day of activities.
The TEALS program, which puts Microsoft computer scientists and engineers in high schools across the U.S. to teach computer science, started with just a few volunteers. It's been growing rapidly, nearly doubling in size this school year, offering classes in 70 schools in 12 states to more than 3,000 students.
"Do you want to look in on the YouthSpark app-building competition?" Lindsey, our handler, asked. "Sure!" Jonna and I agreed. I imagined we'd be lurking in the back of a computer lab while students worked quietly and teachers helped. What we walked in on was more like a rock festival.
The room was vast and crammed with over 1,000 students settled into friendly clumps on the carpeted floor with phones, tablets and computers. A speaker stood in front of a projector announcing coding challenges. And the kids were having a blast. They knew what they were doing and they were in it to win, laughing, cheering and pumped up by the throbbing music.
"Do you want to talk to one of the students?" Lindsey shouted over the din. I didn't want to be responsible for any of these kids missing a solve—and a chance to win prizes (which included Xbox One gaming consoles). But somehow I found myself chatting with Justin Austin, a senior from Kentucky. He had enrolled in a TEALS class at his high school. That class came about almost by chance, when a Microsoft engineer on a rock-climbing trip found herself chatting with a local school-board member. There was no one in the county who could teach computer programming. But these days you don't actually have to be in the room to teach, so a Skype intro to computer science class was born. Justin loved it and wanted more. With only six other students, he signed up for an advanced class, also via Skype from Microsoft. That's how he came to be coding his way (if these reporters would stop distracting him) into the possibility of some sweet prizes. It's also a big part of how he got a full ride to the University of Pennsylvania to study computer science.
There may be some debate about the value of teaching computer science in kindergarten, but there's no doubt it should be offered in high school. Yet in many school districts it's considered an elective rather than a core subject. That means guidance counselors don't encourage students to take it, and students who are trying to get mandatory classes under their belt don't enroll. This has to change at a legislative level. And many states are working on it.
Meanwhile, though, at least the remote approach taken by Justin's school gives kids access to computer science education. It's a grassroots effort, but those can be very effective once they get traction. If you'd rather not wait for a vacationing engineer to bring computer science to your school, contact the TEALS program directly at email@example.com.
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags: education, family and technology
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11 Spring Cleaning Tips from the Geeks at Google
Written on May 14, 2014 at 12:00 pm , by Christina Tynan-Wood
In my job, I get to ask some of the biggest geeks in the world to explain the tools and features they build into the consumer electronics we all use. This helps me stay just an inch or two ahead of my teenagers when it comes to knowing how to use a smartphone, tablet or smart TV. After speaking to someone at Google, I introduced them—and my husband—to Google Now. It was on their phones, but they didn't know about it. Since then, that app has become part of most conversations in our house.
Example: "Do you think that actor is an actual hillbilly?" my husband asks while we are watching Justified. "No, I think he's a good actor," I reply. Then I ask my Android phone, which can access Google Now via voice, "Okay, Google, who plays Dewey Crow in Justified?"
The answer: Damon Herriman, an Australian. We are extra impressed with his southern accent.
Another example: "Mom! I need to go to the mall now!" my daughter announces, bursting into the room at 8:45 p.m. "Okay, Google," I say to my phone, "what time does the mall close?" I hold the phone up to show that her timing makes this impossible. She leaves quietly. And so it goes, throughout the day. Answers, instantly. We all do it. What did we do before?
This app also knows where we are, where we tend to go, what we are planning to do next and offers helpful on-screen info at the time of day or night you most need it: weather, traffic, transit, appointments, flight and hotel details, package shipment information, news articles, TV show reminders and more. It shows places and events nearby, interesting photo spots in case you'd like to check them out, and more. You don't need an Android phone to use it. It's free and available on both iPhone and Android (look for the Google Search app), though not all phones let you speak your questions so easily.
In keeping with the theme of making life convenient, I also asked my geeks at Google for their best advice on uncluttering your Gmail—the buildup of inbox messages can be overwhelming. (As you can tell, I like Google products.) Here's what they came up with:
Gmail Tips from the Geeks
1. NEVER SEND AN ACCIDENTAL EMAIL AGAIN. "Even the best of us sometimes type someone's name wrong or forget to include an important detail in an email. Undo Send is basically an email mulligan. I set mine to 30 seconds to make sure I have plenty of time to change my mind!" —Alex Gawley, product manager on Gmail
2. MUTE GROUP EMAILS. We've all been on an email thread that just keeps popping up (for example, your coworker just shared photos of her new baby and everyone keeps hitting "Reply all" to say "Congrats!"). You can mute the thread by clicking the drop-down arrow at the top of the thread and selecting "Mute." Don't worry—muting doesn't delete, it simply automatically archives the message for you.
3. STOP EMAILING YOURSELF TO-DO LISTS. Be honest: A lot of the emails cluttering your inbox are from yourself, with subject lines like "Remember to turn on dishwasher" and "Buy birthday card for Jackie." Instead of adding to your unread count, create a task list that appears as a minimizable window in your inbox. Simply click on "Mail" (right above the "Compose" button) and select "Tasks" to get started. Once you've created a list, you can email it by clicking the "Actions" button.
4. SKIP YOUR INBOX. Keep your Gmail spic-and-span by setting certain emails to automatically skip your inbox and/or go directly to an appropriate folder. For example, you can set any emails from say, your alma mater, to automatically go into your "Alma Mater" folder, where you can read them when you have time. Go to "Settings," "Filters," "Create new filter." After filling in your filter details, hit "Create filter with this search" and mark "Skip the inbox."
5. MOVE YOUR CHAT BOX. Did you know you can move your chat box to the right side of your inbox? To enable right side chat, go to "Settings," "Labs," "Right side chat" and hit "Enable."
6. CREATE A CALENDAR EVENT RIGHT FROM AN EMAIL. The next time someone emails you about meeting for coffee, you may notice that the day or date in the email is lightly underlined. Click it to create an event in Google Calendar with the relevant details pre-filled. It will even link back to the original email in case you need it for context later.
7. CHECK INTO YOUR FLIGHT FROM GMAIL. Instead of opening emails and digging through them for important information, use Gmail's quick action buttons to check into your flight, rate a restaurant, go straight to a doc and more. You'll notice an "RSVP" or "WATCH VIDEO" or "OPEN FILE" when appropriate—just click!
8. DON'T STRESS IF YOU FORGET TO SIGN OUT. While you should always sign out of your Gmail account when accessing it on a public computer, if you ever forget, Gmail has got you covered. You can click "Sign out all other sessions" to sign out anywhere else you are logged into your account.
9. DE-CLUTTER WITHOUT DELETING. "It seems like a simple thing, but a lot of people never fully embrace the power of the 'Archive' button. I never file away or delete anything: I just hit 'Archive.' If I need to look something up, Search in Gmail always gets me what I need." —Phil Sharp, product manager on Gmail
10. UNSUBSCRIBE TO UNWANTED EMAILS. "Every time you report spam, Gmail's spam filter adapts to your definition of unwanted mail and does a better job of catching similar types of messages in the future for you. Plus Gmail will ask you if you want it to unsubscribe you at the same time. Two birds, one stone! So put that 'Report spam' button to good use!" —Vijay Eranti, engineer on Gmail's spam team
11. LOOK AT CUTENESS ALL DAY. "I use Custom Themes to set my Gmail background to a photo of my teammate's newborn Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Every day, I get to enjoy reading, writing and checking emails while staring into adorable puppy eyes." —Anissa Mak, product marketing for Gmail
Categories: Family & Technology, Momster | Tags: family and technology, springcleaning
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Event Name
- OR - Select an option belowIsland Jack's in West Palm Beach is equal parts biker bar and tropical escape. The standalone building is surrounded by large palm trees, with designated motorcycle parking up front: perfect for "Bike Night Wednesdays." Just beyond the wooden doors, made to look like a ship's deck, is a bar and dining area. Pool tables and videogames take up space in one corner. In addition to happy hour, nightly drink specials mean you'll never drop more than a couple of bucks for a cold beverage.

subset: commoncrawl


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Forestry and Timber
We monitor the state of forests in the region, help in developing evidence-based policies for sustainable forest management, communicate about the many products and ecosystem services provided to society and assist countries to monitor and manage forests
About Forestry and Timber
We work with countries of our region as well as forest stakeholders—from forest owners, to businesses, to environmental NGOs—to address challenges related to sustainable forest management. We do this through organizing meetings to agree upon action to be taken, gathering of experts on specific challenges, events to raise awareness on specific forest-related issues, and by compiling and analysing data and sharing this knowledge through publications and other communication material.
Recent News
20 November 2014
18 November 2014
UNDA Project on Sustainable Forest Management for Greener Economies in the Caucasus and Central Asia
Устойчивое управление лесами для «зеленой» экономики на Кавказе и в Центральной Азии


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Chef Allen Susser: A Q&A on Flavors of Fort Lauderdale, GMOs, and Robot Fish
Which chefs?
José Andrés, Rick Moonen, Jeffrey Buben, Michel Richard, Larry Forgione: a lot of big name chefs. They were the leaders of the pack. We're on second and third generation chefs now.
We hear a lot of negative press on aquaculture. Which fish farms are doing it well?
A company that started probably 7 or 8 years ago, growing sturgeon, and sturgeon yields caviar. That's also something totally endangered, the sturgeons of the world. That came under CITES--international trade organization that banned the catch of beluga sturgeon. With the break up of the soviet union, all of a sudden, all of the countries surrounding the Caspian sea and the Black sea where all of those caviar and sturgeons families come from had a black market hey day. Practically wiped out the species. I've seen this go on. Now most of the caviar we get is farm-raised. Farms in California, China, Uruguay, Central America. There are farms in Florida raising fish sustainably, responsibly--raising caviar, raising cobia. Cobia is a beautiful fish that does very well in captivity, as long as they aren't overcrowding them. Tilapia, a flavorless fish, which I'm not a fan of that probably most people extent of farm-raised except for the salmon. They got way over their head with the salmon and killed the market for a long time--it still is a problem. The difference between $3 fish and $11 or 12 if not more for wild salmon. There are good examples and bad examples out there.
One more question, for now, are you feeling concerned about any other food related issues?
Yeah, we're still not convinced about genetically modified fruits and vegetables. Don't ask me why we're not, but we don't have as much money as some of those bigger corporations. They put more money where it's needed in order to throw their weight around. Genetically modified foods I just don't get. I think, like 90%, of the corn being grown has been genetically modified by now. It goes into processed food, cattle feed--although there is some grass-fed out there--feed for pork and other animals, feed for fish, gas production with ethanol. Do we really know what the long term effect of this is? The thing is you lose the more flavorful varieties, because the idea is to grow heartier elements. Meanwhile, it's sort of like making robot food. You're controlling too much. There're things that are meant to be in nature and you shouldn't touch it. That's why we like heirloom tomatoes. That's why we like varieties of fish. Say you come up with a robot fish that can feed everybody, but then you have one fish. Why cook? Why eat? I have trouble with that still. That's why we're going back to the small farmers--the local--even more so than organic. Organic is strong, but local is almost more important; because local farmers are keeping the economy close to the source. They are not going to be using as much chemical--even if they are using some. They won't be using as much free-flowing chemicals as the monster corporations. Organic from California or Europe sounds good, but carbon footprint-wise, I don't see the benefit.
Okay, you brought up another point. Do you think California's Prop. 37 is going to pass? You know the bill requiring mandatory labeling.
California is strange. You would think they would be advanced enough to watch out for their people. Politics today. I don't know where people's heads are at. I think what happens just like here in FL, we have like seven or nine amendments to our constitution this year. A--who cares? Most people should care. We don't. We don't have time to care. Meanwhile, the constitution is going to change one way or another and it's kind of ridiculous, because all we're hearing about is the fight for president There are a couple people bringing it up, I'm not saying nobody, and I'm guilty as anybody. It's weird. Thing is you can't do everything everywhere. You can try to get involved, but there's limits to what we can be involved in. And that's the good and the bad of it. There's not one clear direction that everyone wants to go and there shouldn't be. That's why diversity is great. There're different things that are important to different people. I do think that we get the wool pulled over our eyes way too often. Why didn't we allow it until it was tested? They didn't test it well before it was released. Someone had their hand in the till real early to allow that into our farm bills ten, twenty years ago.
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Petroplast Vinora AG
Integration of a new extrusion plant with a hygiene cell
The Petroplast Vinora group extrude, print and refine plastic films. A new master plan was realized for their Jona site.
The production and building facilities were expanded and renovated in 3 stages. As a first step, a 3-layer extruder was integrated with an autonomous raw material feeder and then a 7-layer extruder with an autonomous raw material feeder. The third step was to confine both systems into a hygiene cell with an existing facility in order to produce under clean conditions for medical technology and the food industry.
IE services
General planner for:
- Integration of 3-layer extruder
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- Integration hygiene cell
Contact person IE Plast Engineering
Percy Limacher | Project Manager


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''Yes... I am evil'', this is what I replied to everyone.
I guess this is true...
This is true because I don't feel anything.
I used to feel things, but I don't remeber how to feel those things again.
It's like if I was dead and alive at the same time... I mean, dead inside while I still breath.
This is true because my heart is now in a coffin which is won't ever be broken.
My hard is hard as stone and as cold as ice.
This is true because I fake smiles everyday and you believe them.
I tell lies so you won't get too much closer and you believe them.
I pretend things you always believe.
I am better than the devil in this game of lies.
This is true because I cut my skin.
I stop and then I start again as if it was the deepest drug ever.
I guess it is, but you'll have to see my scars to understand.
One thing to make you guess, I should be dead by now, but I still breath.
This is true because I am dead, but I still human and alive.
Yes, I breath, I speak, I think, I move as I always did.
Yes, I don't eat no more, I don't sleep anymore, I don't feel a thing.
I am a monster.
I am a fallen angel.
I was broken, but I am a walking dead...
I got repaired by myself so no one will break me.
I was human, I am not no more.
No... I am evil.
I am not ashamed of looking this way. No... Because it makes you scared.
By your fear, you feed me.
By your tears, you make me smile.
When you bleed, I am inside you.
But everywhere else, I look human.
This is true because I am here while I am the devil inside your head.
I made a mess inside me so I do with you.
Yes... I am evil.
Do you see? Or did I make you blind?
Can you scream and hear it? or did I make you dumb and deaf?
Can you feel something? or did I make you as me?
Now understand, yes... I am evil.


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Two Free Passes to MRUShift Digital Marketing Conference – Calgary!
Have you heard of MRUShift (Mount Royal University Social Media Shift) ? It is the first of it's kind in Calgary. Put on by Mount Royal University, the one day conference that is focused on online marketing is likely to be one of the best to hit Calgary.
Watch for a blog post coming soon on speakers and why you should attend.
But right now I am trying to give away some free passes!!!!
I have two to give away:
- One pass to anyone that works or volunteers in a non-profit organization – cause you guys rock and you are changing the world !
- And one pass to ANYONE else that wants to rock this conference – cause you are likely awesome too
All you have to do to enter is scribble #MRUShift somewhere – on your cheek (face cheek!), fridge, food, wall, floor etc. Then snap a picture of it, and Tweet it (make sure to use the #MRUShift hashtag and tag me @sbkelsick), Facebook it (be sure to tag me: Shannon Bowen-Kelsick) or email it to me and I will share it.
Sound like fun?! Contest ends June 17th. Winners announced June 18th on this blog.
Enter as many times as you like!
Thank you to Mount Royal for the passes.
PS – please don't harm our enviro, your body, or any innocent animals in the response to this context LOL!
Read MoreWhy Blog? Merry's Answer: Meeting People
I asked the blogging community – Why Blog? Here is what Merry Kuchle of Merry with Children had to say.
Merry lives in Calgary, Alberta. She blogs about family life, and she includes some really beautiful pictures in her posts, as well as GREAT ideas for parents – like taking nice pictures of your kids artwork instead of keeping it all. Enjoy.
What kind of a blog do you have?
Merry With Children is a personal blog about my family, my daily life and family friendly cooking. When I first started out I posted tons of pictures along with anecdotes about my new life in Canada with my husband and step children. I have moved away from talking about them as much because they are getting older and I would never want to embarrass them. My four year old, Evan, is still fair game though! I also post the occasional product review but reviews are definitely not the focus of my blog.
How long have you been blogging for?
I started blogging in January of 2006. Back in the early days I was a very sporadic blogger and I mostly posted for the benefit of my family and friends that live in the United States. Since then I have tried to become a more consistent blogger and I have readers outside of my "in real life" social circle.
How often do you think one should blog?
It really depends on what your goals are. I think that bloggers who blog consistently are more successful than sporadic bloggers. If your readers check back and see that you haven't blogged in a week or two, they often won't check back as frequently after that. If you blog every day or every other day, readers develop a routine around checking your blog.
What have been the rewards of blogging?
The single biggest reward has been the people I have met through blogging and social media. After blogging for a few years, I started using Twitter as well. Through these two platforms I have met many wonderful, like minded people that I would probably have never met otherwise. It has definitely been a big help in developing friendships in Calgary since I moved here 7 years ago.
Why might you recommend blogging to someone?
For businesses, I often recommend blogging as a way to put a personal "face" on your corporation. As a consumer, I love to be able to see the humanity behind the brand. For individuals, I recommend blogging as a "virtual scrapbook". Though I realize that blogs as scrapbooks are sometimes not that interesting to readers, they rarely stay that way for long. Bloggers get used to blogging and find their voice. Usually the rest is history.
Do think that blogs can be beneficial for developing business?
Yes, definitely. As long as you have a strong writer and blog about relevant, relatable items, I think it can be definitely beneficial.
What blogging platform(s) do you use and would you recommend (WordPress, Blogger, etc. Do you use free or premium templates or design your own?
I started out my blog on Blogger. I would recommend it for beginner bloggers that aren't really sure about blogging long term. It is easy to learn and investment is low. I moved to self hosted WordPress a few months ago and I have been very happy with it so far. The cost of self hosting and increased complexity definitely make WordPress a more investment intensive option. Since I also work full time in Sales, I did not have time to deal with all the complexities of moving my blog from blogger to WordPress. I hired someone to handle the move and design a new blog template and banner for me. There are a few technical things that I still need to fix but overall I am very happy with my current platform and template.
Where do you see your blog going in the future or what goals do you hope to achieve with your blog in the future?
I would love to increase my readership going forward. I think that tweaks I have made in my blogging frequency and content are helping me move towards that goal. Since my blog is not a full time venture, I try to stay realistic with my goals. Goals regarding blog monetization require much more time than I currently have to devote to my blog. Overall, I am happy with my little blog and I am true to myself and my family and in the end that is what is most important to me.
Thank you to Merry for taking the time – she is an uber busy lady, with a beautiful blog: www.merrywithchildren.com and check out Merry on Twitter @merry120.
Read MoreJust Click Publish! Stop Over Proofing Your Blog Posts
This blog post was inspired by Mitch Joel's podcast #241 with Valeria Maltoni (who writes a fabulous marketing blog called Conversation Agent).
Mitch and Valeria both blog 6-7 times a week consistently. Mitch explains that many people believe that blogging is really, really hard and that it's difficult to come up with topics every single day, "but when you are living and breathing in something that you love, I am actually really challenged ….to decide what I am going to blog about." Mitch talks about the fast speed in which he writes, that he "pounds it out" and "thats how I feel".
So many bloggers or potential bloggers I spend time with seem to struggle hitting the publish button on their blogs. Many bloggers I know spend so much time perfecting their post, that their blog suffers. The time and effort that goes into writing and pushing that publish button is overwhelming and practically holds them hostage.
I joke with new bloggers that they shouldn't spend endless hours perfecting their first posts because it is likely that a new blogger's posts are not going to get very many views! I believe that a new blogger's first 5-10 posts should be well written and thought provoking, but they should be quick, and it is more important to get used to hitting that publish button than it is to write an eloquent post.
It reminds me of writing an important email that is going to a large group of people. We often write it, proof it, reread it, reproof it, get a peer to read it, then finally when we hit that send button it is a relief, but how much time did we waste in the hesitation of clicking send? Sure the email may be perfectly written, but did it still convey the exact same message as the first draft did? Could we have sent it out after proofing the email twice instead of eleven times?
Hitting the publish button on your blog can be very liberating and we should all feel a sense of accomplishment everytime we publish a piece of content, it's a big deal. To help you actually hit that publish button more often you can set some writing guidlines that can help in the writing process.
For example a guideline could be that once you write a draft post you will publish it within one day, or that you will write AND publish a post in one sitting. There should be some passion and hopefully some speed or urgency behind your writing, as Mitch Joel of Six Pixels often talks about, "punch it out".
Yes I believe in proofing your posts, but not so much that it inhibits the writing and publishing process. Proof your article, but have fun clicking that publish button (maybe a bit earlier than you would normally). Then move onto your next article!
And heck, you can always go and edit the article if you made any major mistakes…happy publishing!
Read More
My Five Favorite Digital Marketing Blog Posts (from Feb 2011)
Here are some of my fav blog posts from the past few weeks, hope you enjoy them too:
- Thought provoking: Could Your Small Business Benefit From Two Websites by The GlueEd Marketing Blog
- Nice video post, nice clear message: Engagement Over Reach (Death to Traditional Media!) by Ernest Barbaric
- Love the analytic and measurable results: Email Links Are Meaningless by Mike McCready
- I like the message in this post, I agree that successful blogs can have opinions ('mean' or not) blended with facts, I personally find them more interesting: Is Mean Blogging the Writing of the Future? by Liz Strauss
- And to lighten up and have some laughs, oh – and also because I didn't really know what a social media douchebag was, this helped clarify LOL: A Quick But Important Primer on Becoming a Douchebag by Julien Smith
Like the mug? Of course… it's for sale.
Read MoreContent Marketing – Start a Blog?
I was inspired to write this article while I was listening to a Copyblogger podcast with Robert Bruce and Copyblogger founder Brian Clark (weekly podcasts can be found for free on iTunes) – highly suggested!
Copyblogger is a website (podcast etc.) that teaches us how content marketing works. Something Brian said that is very simple but summarizes content marketing is "Give away valuable content and sell something related."
As my readers know I am very passionate about blogging. I am a walking blogging billboard. I need to start keeping track of my 'conversion rate' – the statistics of my friends and family that were not bloggers, and now are! My friends that are setting up blogs are either understanding the rewards of blogging, or just sick of me talking about blogs so they set one up to shush me. Either way I am happy with the outcome.
Create a coffee bean blog and sell travel mugs. Create a music blog and sell rock band tshirts. Create a photo blog and sell frames. If you pick something that you are passionate about you can make it work.
The market is not saturated. I am a prime example – there are soooo many marketing bloggers, but yet I have carved out my niche and am benefitting greatly because of my blog. Telling me that you won't start your blog on politics because there are so many out there already is like saying "why learn – there are already enough smart people out there". The potential of blogging, and establishing yourself as an online resource is very exciting and has such huge (and proven!) success.
I recommend signing up for Copybloggers newsletter – http://www.copyblogger.com/ (enter your email address in top right hand corner).
Get inspired to blog today!
Read MorePresentation Notes – Why Blog?
Here is a summary of resources and highlights from my presentation to the Calgary SEO Meetingup group on January 27th :
Extra info added on Jan 28th:
- @zoomjer - Edmonton Real Estate Agent with a love for bacon (re: personal branding success)
- www.sxc.hu – a resource for free pictures for your blog
- Flickr Creative Commons – more free pictures for your blog
Mitch Joel's "Blogging and Podcasting as Business Model" blog post. Mitch talks about:
- Paid content (direct). The content is valuable and people are willing to pay for it. Examples:
- Advertising supported (direct). The content is freely distributed, but it is packaged with advertising.
- Thought leadership (indirect). There is no advertising or "sales pitch" in the content, but the hopes are that the content creates the desire to want to work with the content producer.
Chris Brogan's $10 month subscription for weekly Blog Topics and writing tips.
Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists Blog
Blogger Story – Susanna Lau of Style Bubble
Blogging Resources:
Examples of successful bloggers:
- Satoralist – photo blogger – wildly sucessful
- Dooce – Heather Armstrong – she earns an$40K / month from her blog
- From Wikipedia: In 2002, Armstrong ignited a fierce debate about privacy issues when she was allegedly fired from her job as a web designer and graphic artist because she had written satirical accounts of her experiences at a dot-com startup on her personal blog, dooce.com.[5] She did not challenge her termination and has refrained from identifying her place of employment in interviews.
- Armstrong warns her fellow bloggers: I started this website in February 2001. A year later I was fired from my job for this website because I had written stories that included people in my workplace. My advice to you is BE YE NOT SO STUPID.
- Miss604 - Rebecca Bollwit – blogging since 2004 and podcasting since 2005, in 2008 she started Sixty4media a social media consulting firm where she develops wordpress website
Sites that have Apps that could inspire blogging content:
- Instapaper – Save interesting web pages for reading later
- Mashable – social media news and web tips
- 'Social Media, an Hour a Day' by Dan Evans
- 'Content Rules' by CC Chapman and Ann Hadley (MarketingProfs)
- 'Six Pixels of Separation' by Mitch Joel, Also download his Podcasts via iTunes
- 'Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith
- 'Crush It' by Gary Vaynerchuk, and my fav Gary Vaynerchuk Video: click to play
- 'Made to Stick' by Chip Heath (not social media but still worthwhile)
How to connect with me:
- Twitter (@sbkelsick)
- sbk MARKETING Website
Why Blog Worksheet:
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EXCLUSIVE: American Idol Champ Lee DeWyze Debuts New Single "Sweet Serendipity" [AUDIO]
It's been five months since Lee DeWyze beat out Crystal Bowersox to win season nine of "American Idol" and in that time, the former paint salesman's life has become drastically different. Soon after the finale, DeWyze joined the nine runners up and hit the road for the "American Idols Live" tour, hitting 49 cities across the country. Since then, DeWyze has been busy in the studio, working on his debut album "Live It Up".
Now, we finally get to hear the first single from the Idol alum, "Sweet Serendipity", a song he says is about "…running into good luck by accident."
LISTEN | Lee DeWyze – "Sweet Serendipity"
Read the lyrics and see Lee's album cover after the jump!


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Moviehouse One, our grand downstairs theatre, seats 440 people. The theatre features state-of-the-art film projection as well as a large stage ideal for panel discussions, Q&A's, and live performances.
Moviehouse Two used to be the balcony when the Coolidge was a one-theatre house. It is now a medium-size, 217-seat theatre featuring state-of-the-art film projection and audio, as well as a small stage ideal for director q&a's, small performances and group discussions.
The GoldScreen seats 14 in our plush deluxe seats and features high-definition digital projection
The Video Screening Room seats 45 and features high-definition digital projection.
Artbarn presents: Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.
Sunday, June 1
1hr 00mins
Artbarn presents Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr: The Emmy Award-winning Saturday morning cartoon series and pop culture phenomenon is now the basis for one of the most fun musicals ever to hit the stage, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR.
Featuring the hit songs from the 70's and 80's, the show follows the story of a new teacher getting ready for his first day. Join us for this fast paced musical review of grammar, math, history and science lessons taught the Schoolhouse Rock way, through amazingly catchy songs. Running time is around 50 minutes. Appropriate for all audiences.


text:
Chicago: Brummel Park Food Truck Fest Exhibits Evanston's South Side in a Delicious Way
The promise of four food trucks and live music drove Evanstonians and some Chicagoans to flock to Brummel Park on Evanston's south side for a relaxing evening.
He lives in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, works in downtown Evanston, and yet there he was, meeting friends and enjoying a few tacos at the Food Truck Fest & Live Music event held Thursday evening at Brummel Park near the intersection of Brummel Street and Elmwood Avenue.
"It was delicious," Chen said. "It felt pretty up to restaurant quality. If they stop by my building where I work, I'll definitely come out and have my lunch there."
Ald. Ann Rainey (8th Ward) said the purpose of the event was to draw people like Chen, individuals who may live or work in or around Evanston, into a side of the city they may have not seen before.
"I've talked to numerous people tonight who have said, 'what is this?' Meaning, what is this park? What is this neighborhood?'" said Rainey, who enjoyed some fries and tamales. "And I tell them, 'this is Brummel Park, this is South Evanston, this is the great 8th Ward.'…We are having this event to bring attention to a great neighborhood."
Four food trucks showed to feed the hungry droves.
As expected, Evanston's first-and-only food truck, HummingBird Kitchen, was there serving a grass-fed burger, a BBQ chicken sandwich and Italian fries.
Another truck, Taquero Fusion, shelled out tacos which blended Latin American flavors, an idea born after the owner's Mexican friend married a Puerto Rican girl, resulting in some interesting concoctions at family gatherings. Thursday, the truck served a special BBQ pork taco alongside its standard season steak, Puerto Rican style chicken and veggie offerings.
Tamalli Space Charros, Chicago Magazine's 2011 pick for best Chicago food truck, sold six varieties of tamales, ranging from roasted beets to flank steak, all served in a space ship themed truck by co-owners disguised in Mexican wrestling masks.
And the Sweet Ride truck, which advertises itself as Chicago's mobile bakery, offered desert to the crowd, serving four kinds of cupcakes, sugar cookie and banana pudding.
HummingBird Kitchen was the only truck to be cooking on board, as it was the only Evanston-based food truck in attendance. The license for on-board preparation is granted by the municipality the food truck operates from, and while last September the City of Evanston passed an ordinance allowing food to be cooked on board trucks, such preparation is still illegal for Chicago-based trucks.
Taquero Fusion and Tamalli Space Charros both cook ahead of time from the same rented kitchen in Chicago.
Tamalli Space Charros co-founder Manny Hernandez said it was the first time he has brought his truck up to Evanston, but that the way his tamales were selling, he would be excited to come back soon.
"It's overwhelming," Hernandez said. "We're going to be out [of food] soon…We'll be back to Evanston."
Expo '76, a Chicago-based band, played at the festival, as well, covering a diverse list of oldies.
Evanston was host to another food truck festival on June 26 at Grey Park at the intersection of Main Street and Ridge Avenue.
Short URL: http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=18355


text:
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One page of directions for making a pair of stilts and walking on them, plus two Skill Sharpeners on comprehension (interpreting graphic information) and vocabulary (antonyms).
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text: What the FDA says is not always correct afterward. You can't track if a human died of cancer after years of using a toothpaste with some chemicals in it which are approved by the FDA. It's logical that a body can't go on forever. Living food for living people. Not chemicals for living people.


text:
Sex Differences in Attraction to Familiar and Unfamiliar Opposite-Sex Faces: Men Prefer Novelty and Women Prefer Familiarity
- Anthony C. Little,
- Lisa M. DeBruine,
- Benedict C. Jones
- … show all 3 hide
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Get AccessAbstract
Familiarity is attractive in many types of stimuli and exposure generally increases feelings of liking. However, men desire a greater number of sexual partners than women, suggesting a preference for novelty. We examined sex differences in preferences for familiarity. In Study 1 (N = 83 women, 63 men), we exposed individuals to faces twice and found that faces were judged as more attractive on the second rating, reflecting attraction to familiar faces, with the exception that men's ratings of female faces decreased on the second rating, demonstrating attraction to novelty. In Studies 2 (N = 42 women, 28 men) and 3 (N = 51 women, 25 men), exposure particularly decreased men's ratings of women's attractiveness for short-term relationships and their sexiness. In Study 4 (N = 64 women, 50 men), women's attraction to faces was positively related to self-rated similarity to their current partner's face, while the effect was significantly weaker for men. Potentially, men's attraction to novelty may reflect an adaptation promoting the acquisition of a high number of sexual partners.
- Benson, P. J., & Perrett, D. I. (1993). Extracting prototypical facial images from exemplars. Perception, 22, 257–262. CrossRef
- Berlyne, D. E. (1960). Conflict, arousal, and curiosity. New York: McGraw Hill. CrossRef
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- Bornstein, R. F. (1989). Exposure and effect: Overview and meta-analysis of research 1968–1987. Psychological Bulletin, 106, 265–289. CrossRef
- Buckingham, G., DeBruine, L. M., Little, A. C., Welling, L. L. M., Conway, C. A., Tiddeman, B. P., & Jones, B. C. (2006). Visual adaptation to masculine and feminine faces influences generalized preferences and perceptions of trustworthiness. Evolution and Human Behavior, 27, 381–389. CrossRef
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- DeBruine, L. M., Jones, B. C., Unger, L., Little, A. C., & Feinberg, D. R. (2007). Dissociating averageness and attractiveness: Attractive faces are not always average. Journal of Experimental Psychology-Human Perception and Performance, 33, 1420–1430. CrossRef
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- Langlois, J. H., & Roggman, L. A. (1990). Attractive faces are only average. Psychological Science, 1, 115–121. CrossRef
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- Little, A. C., & Hancock, P. J. B. (2002). The role of masculinity and distinctiveness in judgments of human male facial attractiveness. British Journal of Psychology, 93, 451–464. CrossRef
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- Title
- Sex Differences in Attraction to Familiar and Unfamiliar Opposite-Sex Faces: Men Prefer Novelty and Women Prefer Familiarity
- Journal
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Volume 43, Issue 5 , pp 973-981
- Cover Date
- 2014-07-01
- 10.1007/s10508-013-0120-2
- Print ISSN
- 0004-0002
- Online ISSN
- 1573-2800
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Additional Links
- Topics
- Keywords
- Attractiveness
- Face processing
- Familiarity
- Preference
- Novelty
- Sex differences
- Industry Sectors
- Authors
- Anthony C. Little (1)
- Lisa M. DeBruine (2)
- Benedict C. Jones (2)
- Author Affiliations
- 1. School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
- 2. Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK


text:
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text:
Diary of a Foodie
Diary of a Foodie: Season One: Italy: Home Cooking
Makes12 crisps
- Active Time:15 min
- Start to Finish:30 min
January 2007
- 1 (3-ounce) piece Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Special equipment:
a nonstick baking sheet liner, such as Silpat
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with nonstick liner. Using largest holes on a box grater, coarsely shred enough cheese to measure 1 cup.
Stir together cheese, flour, and pepper in a small bowl. Arrange tablespoons of cheese mixture 4 inches apart on baking sheet, stirring mixture after each tablespoon to keep flour evenly distributed. Flatten each mound slightly with a metal spatula to form a 3-inch round.
Bake fricos until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack for 2 minutes, then carefully transfer crisps (they are very delicate) with metal spatula to rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture to make more fricos.
Cooks' note: Fricos can be kept, layered between sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.
- Keywords
- diary of a foodie,
- cheese,
- starter
More Diary of a Foodie
- Chiles en Nogada con Salsa de Chocolate (Stuffed Poblanos with Nut Sauce and Chocolate-Pomegranate Molasses Drizzle)
- Easy Seafood Paella
- Gazpacho
- Chile and Bell Pepper Frittata
- Pollo Alla Cacciatora con Peperoni (Hunter's-Style Chicken with Peppers)
- Porcini and Honey Ice Cream
- View All Diary of a Foodie


text:
Congratulations Hines Ward
Congrats to Hines Ward on passing John Stallworth on the all-time team receptions list. If anyone deserves it, it is Hines. Glad to have him in the black and gold and here's to many more years of it!
Record Breaking Catch http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...grinPJ_450.jpg |
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
Wow, Prosdo. I can`t believe we all forgot about that? I`m ashamed! LOL
Without a doubt! Props to you Hines! You are one of a kind! |
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
I agree Congrats Hines. More to come thats for sure. That freakin guy is always smilin! Not to many guys in the NFL with a personality like Hines.
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
Hell yeah Hines!
I think he seriously has a shot at 1,000 catches in his career. |
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
Congratulations Hines!!!
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
Hines Ward:
Q: When you were a rookie returning kicks, did you ever imagine setting the all time Steelers? reception record? A: Never. Orpheus Roye, who played here before and was a year ahead of me ? when I broke the record, he was the first one who came up to me and said, ?Whoever would?ve thought, the guy who played special teams ? a flyer, a gunner ? would become the all-time reception leader.? It meant so much for me personally, because considering everything that I?ve been through, like being a third-round pick, overcoming two first-rounders drafted in front of me, playing on a predominantly run-oriented team, having all the nay-sayers doubt me ? saying I?m not this tall, or I?m not this fast?I kept working my tail off to put myself in this position. But I never would?ve thought of me breaking the record, especially in only my eighth year. In front of my family, my fans, on national tv, against the Cleveland Browns ? it?s always good when you can beat Cleveland. The whole city seems to run well on Monday. This was the way I wanted it ? win, get the record ? it was a perfect night. Q: Of all of (John) Stallworth?s records, which one means the most to you? A: They all mean a great deal to me, but just having my name mentioned with (Lynn) Swann and Stallworth ? these guys are Hall of Famers that I respected. There?s always going to be comparisons between me and Swann and Stallworth, but for me, I don?t really care for comparison. I just want to be in the same class. And when you mention those guys, you think of true class off the field, so just having my name mentioned with those guys is a big honor. So when you think Pittsburgh receivers, you think Swann and Stallworth and now you add Hines to that list ? so it?s a great night. Q: Did you have a (reception) counter in your head as the game went on? A: No question. The touchdown, I couldn?t really see the replay. McCutcheon made a great play, the ball was kind of underthrown, so I tried to tip it back to myself. I don?t know if I got in our out ? I really wanted that one, because that would?ve tied the record. This week, I knew we were going to get some opportunities the way their defense plays they?d try to stop the run. As wide receivers, we got frustrated a little in Green Bay because we didn?t get opportunities. This week, all the wideouts came up big and made plays. |
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
I was there last nite.. let me tell you to see Hines make that history making catch was just unreal, the fans and the entire stadium went absolutely crazy!!! But Hines, being the team player he is and being everything TO is not..just tossed the ball to the sidelines and they went back and ran the next play.
Hines is the ultimate player, ultimate team mate, and the best damn all around WR in the game PERIOD. !!!! Congrats to you Hines, it is so well deserved! |
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
Even after Hines Ward's rookie season in 1998, the Pittsburgh Steelers felt their need for a star receiver was so great they drafted Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burress on the first round each of the next two years.
Not certain if Ward could be a starter after playing part of his college career at Georgia as a quarterback, the Steelers used Ward in a variety of roles. He was a wingman on special teams, racing downfield to be the first in line to make a tackle or throw a block. On offense, he was used mostly as a blocker in the running game, and he caught only 16 passes as a rookie. But as they spent more time with Ward, coach Bill Cowher and his staff couldn't help but notice the extra time he spent taking passes from any quarterback who would throw to him, the passion and effort he brought while undertaking some of the most thankless jobs on a football field. They also saw something else: Ward played without ego or concern that his throw-his-body-around approach might lead to an injury that would end his career before he proved he could catch passes in the NFL. They also saw him repeatedly anger defensive backs unaccustomed to having a receiver block them with the ferocity of a tight end or fullback. Now, long after Ward became not only a starter but also one of the NFL's most reliable receivers, any list of the best pass catchers in Steelers history must contain at least three names: John Stallworth, Lynn Swann and, yes, Hines Ward. Cowher remembers telling Ward how he would be needed to play special teams as a rookie, when veteran receivers Courtney Hawkins, Charles Johnson and Will Blackwell were ahead of him. "He's caught a lot of passes and I've been here for every one," Cowher said. "No one appreciates it more than myself - not just his catching but what he brings to the game and the way he approaches the game and what he stands for. He's the complete football player." link........ http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centr...l/13165370.htm |
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
Congrats Hines. All records in receving are made for Hines to break
Re: Congratulations Hines Ward
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Page 3 of 4
The Award Committee shall judge the relative merits of the candidates with regards to the following:
- Excellence in administration, at the national or local level, identifying and documenting substantial changes in terms of improvements in the management of health systems and services and health conditions at the national and in the Region of the Americas.
- Experience in teaching and research with a positive impact on public health activities at the national and/or international level, according to the testimony of peers, professional associations, academic and research institutions that confirm the importance of the candidate's contribution to the development of leadership in health, will also be an asset.This information should be included in the supporting documentation.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 December 2012 07:04