text:
Author Archives
James Hardy's Top 5s from 2011
12.23.2011 //
Instagram pop page mainstay, freedom roller, rookie Real yeti pro, and all around solid son of a gun, James Hardy picks his top 5s from this year for us, Skateboarder Magazine.
5Boro Flow Trash Friday with Stan Karbine
12.23.2011 //
Cory and Bryce RVCA Video
12.22.2011 //
Epicly Laterd Menace Part 4
12.22.2011 //
Episode 4 of the Epicly Later'd Menace series heads to Rhode Island to catch up and pick the brain of Eric Pupecki.
Vans Adventures with Christmas
12.22.2011 //
Off the Wall TV from Vans returns with the first annual Christmas Special in where else but Jersey?
Product Toss: 5Boro Join or Die
12.21.2011 //
5 Boro's new video Join or Die is coming soon. Enter for your chance at winning a Join or Die prize pack right here.


text:
Saturday, December 3, 2005
© Copyright 2015 Clayton News Daily
By Ed BrockIn 2001, Gwen Jeffcoat found herself in a job she hated while trying to support her two daughters. It was at that time Jeffcoat learned that she was suffering from breast cancer, and suddenly her outlook on life changed. "There's something about being diagnosed with cancer that makes you reevaluate your life," Jeffcoat said Friday after speaking at the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) annual legislative breakfast. "I started setting goals to make my life better." Jeffcoat went to DFCS and applied for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, something she had never done before. With that financial assistance, she was able to go back to school and get training for a better job while receiving treatment for her cancer. She now works for the Georgia Department of Labor, and has two more years to go to get her bachelor's degree in business from Clayton State University. "I am grateful that there was a program to help me pick myself back up," Jeffcoat said. Clayton County DFCS Director Cathy Ratti conciders Jeffcoat as one of the department's success stories during a breakfast whose audience included Clayton County Commissioners Virginia Gray, Carl Rhodenizer and Wole Ralph, State Reps. Ron Dodson, D-Lake City, and State Sen. Valencia Seay, D-Riverdale, among others. The breakfast gave elected officials a chance to learn the progress Clayton County DFCS has made in the last year. They included, in Clayton County, an average of 1,593 households a year receive TANF benefits and annually $4,205,290 in TANF benefits are paid out. A total of 11,152 households per month are receiving foodstamps, with $35,181,443 in annual foodstamp benefits being paid. Ratti also said the department received 2,577 referrals to Child Protective Services and performed 1,677 investigations during fiscal year 2005. They also had 476 diversion cases in which the person under investigation was referred to some other program for help. "We can now talk to parents and not label them off the bat as abusers," Ratti said. She also said that DFCS has been placing an emphasis on placing children who have been removed from their homes with relatives. Margaret Price, the office's new support person for grandparents and other relatives who are raising their grandchildren, is in charge of informing and educating the client about the resources they might qualify for. Melba Richards-Garcia also spoke about the DFCS Independent Living Program that helps foster children between the ages of 14 and 21 make the transition into adult life. To report child abuse to DFCS call (770) 603-4602. To report elder abuse call (404) 657-5250. To make a donation, volunteer for DFCS or for more information on DFCS services call (770) 473-2492.
More like this story
- DFCS stresses welfare diversion ( December 2, 2004 )
- DFCS needs foster parents ( April 7, 2004 )
- New DHR commissioner inspiring new hope ( July 31, 2004 )
- Youth Program aimed at getting foster children back in school ( September 17, 2007 )
- Black named DFCS employee of the year ( March 20, 2009 )

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) encounter a priest (Billy Connolly) with psychic visions when they reunite to solve a baffling missing-persons case.
This summer's surprise blockbuster Wanted, starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, headlines this week's robust crop of new DVD releases. Also debuting on DVD today: Disney's fantasy epic The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, based on the second chapter of C.S. Lewis' acclaimed book series; the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly buddy comedy Step Brothers; Ice Cube's inspirational sports movie The Longshots; and the summer sci-fi flop The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
REELZ isn't just a great place for movie reviews and celebrity news, we also have a great slate of original programming.
Choose one of our shows below to learn more!


text:
Todd R. Dickey
Senior Vice President, Administration
Todd R. Dickey was appointed senior vice president for administration in April 2005. In this capacity, he provides strategic oversight of key administrative departments and works closely with the Provost and with schools and academic departments to support the academic mission.
Reporting directly to the president, Dickey oversees support functions and services that include public safety, human resources, legal counsel, campus master planning, real estate development projects, real estate acquisitions and leasing, student housing, campus dining services, parking and transportation, the Radisson Hotel, the USC bookstores, institutional compliance, internal audit, athletics compliance, child care, environmental health and safety, risk management, and fire safety and emergency planning. In addition, Dickey oversees the operations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena.
From 2001 to 2005, Dickey served as vice president, general counsel and secretary of the university. This position included oversight of the Office of the Treasurer (endowment and asset management, liability management and cash management functions), and the Office of the Comptroller (financial accounting, financial reporting, budget performance monitoring, and adequacy of university internal controls).
From 1998 to 2008, Dickey served as USC's general counsel overseeing all legal matters and legal representation for the university. He began his career at USC in 1996 as university counsel in the Office of the General Counsel. For two years before joining the university, Dickey was an associate at the law firm of Latham & Watkins. Prior to that, he clerked for the Honorable Ronald S. W. Lew, U.S. District Court judge for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. And prior to law school, Dickey served as a legislative aide to the U.S. Representative Glenn Anderson in Washington, D.C., as well as a fundraiser for the University of California, Irvine.
Dickey is a member of the USC Health System Board and has served on the board of directors of the Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. He also is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the Council on Governmental Relations, the California State Bar, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
Dickey earned his B.A. degree in political science from the University of California, Irvine, and his J.D. degree from the USC Gould School of Law, where he graduated Order of the Coif (top 10% of class) and was executive notes editor of the law review.
Senior Staff
Carol Mauch Amir
General Counsel and Secretary of the University
David M. Roberts
Vice President, Athletic Compliance
Laura LaCorte
Associate Senior Vice President, Compliance
Howard Levy
Associate Senior Vice President, Audit Services
Janis McEldowney
Associate Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Daniel R. Stimmler
Associate Senior Vice President, Auxiliary Services and Chief Operating Officer of
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena
Laurie Stone
Associate Senior Vice President, Real Estate and Asset Management
David W. Wright
Associate Senior Vice President, Administrative Operations
Last Updated: 03/31/14


text:
— Posted by Mimi on November 4, 2010
Park City Mountain Resort continually strives to be an environmental leader in the community. Each year as we think about improvements, we take into account how we can offset our energy uses and reduce our carbon footprint. The new lights and snowmaking systems that are in place for the 10/11 winter season are a big part of this ongoing initiative. This past year we introduced the Eco Zone, located in the Resort plaza, designed to educate our guests on what we have done as well as what you can do for climate protection, energy savings, and waste reduction.
This year we have been awarded Utah's Green Business Award for workplace initiatives by Utah Business magazine. This award was given for "practices at the workplace that engage employees and clients to act green. Companies that provide employees with an eco-friendly workplace by adopting energy efficient technologies and industry leading practicies."
Here are just a few of the highlights from Utah Business magazine's article on Park City Mountain Resort:
It is an honor to be recognized alongside these champions in environmental sustainability. I applaud Utah Business magazine for hosting a luncheon to honor these companies that was not only informative, but also inspiring.
To read more about the Green Business Awards, pick up a copy of Utah Business Magazine's October issue. Are you doing something to save the environment? Let us know in the comment section below. Remember that Green initiatives help keep the slopes white!
Official news and announcements from Park City Mountain Resort.
Samantha is new to Utah, joining the Park City Mountain Resort team in 2011 as the Marketing Coordinator.
When he's not up on the mountain checking on the cams, Eric is managing the interactive marketing for Park City Mountain Resort.
Dave has worked in the ski and snowboard industry since 2000 and joined the PCMR team in the spring of 2014.
Park City Mountain Resort
1345 Lowell Ave
PO Box 39
Park City, UT 84060
(435) 649–8111
© Park City Mountain Resort
Get snow reports, I Ride Park City updates and more by signing up for our newsletters.Sign Up
In Partnership With


text:
Hard as it is to believe, in just a few short months this chair will be occupied and hundreds of sun bathers will flock this town beach at Silver Lake in Wilmington. SUN/DAVID H. BROW
Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.) Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.
Phoenix firefighters pull man out of chimney
PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix firefighters have rescued a man who became stuck after trying to re-enter a house through the chimney. Full Story
(Mark Kennedy/AP)
Rock opera 'Deep Love' takes the long road to NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — There's not much to do in eastern Idaho in the winter. It's freezing, windy and depressing. Full Story
(Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
Did Tiger Woods cheat with Amanda Dufner?
Lindsey Vonn reportedly caught golfer with his competitor's ex-wife, which is likely why they aren't dating anymore.


text:
ST. PETERSBURG — Recent polls have provided a confusing picture on whether the Greenlight Pinellas mass transit plan will win the backing of voters in November.
Surveys conducted this year show strong support among residents for better transit but suggest that the support wavers when residents are asked whether they are willing to pay for more buses and light rail. One recent StPetePolls survey found only 41 percent of 1,679 registered voters were willing to pay more in taxes to fund better transit.
But in their pitch to potential campaign donors, leaders of Friends of Greenlight are offering a far rosier picture of the referendum's outcome.
The political committee that is expected to raise more than $1 million to back the Greenlight plan reported to members of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and other local companies that support for Greenlight is at 58 percent "after informing voters on a number of messages."
Its memo to potential supporters states the Greenlight Pinellas campaign and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, which operates county buses, are well liked among voters who have heard of them.
Another claim is the Greenlight plan has a majority of support in all regions of the county, even in North Pinellas, which would see improved bus service but not benefit from the proposed 24-mile light-rail line linking Clearwater and St. Petersburg.
But those claims are questioned by some observers, including Darryl Paulson, professor emeritus of government and Florida politics at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
"It defies logic that it could be that much in front," Paulson said. "They talk about majority support in both south county, mid-county and North Pinellas. I have a difficult time believing they have support in North Pinellas."
The advocacy campaign has raised roughly $67,000 in only a few weeks including a $50,000 donation from Duke Energy, whose state president, Alex Glenn, chairs the campaign's fundraising committee. Campaign leaders are promising another major announcement Friday.
"A modern, 21st century transit system is critical to the overall economic success of the Bay Area and an improved quality of life for all residents who call Tampa Bay home," Duke spokeswoman Nicole LeBeau said in an email Wednesday. "Duke Energy has been supportive of this economic effort as well as other like efforts through our involvement in the Tampa Bay Partnership and various chamber activities."
The numbers in Greenlight's memo are based on a private poll conducted in February by SGS, a political consultant firm based in Gainesville. The company polled 409 county residents. The poll's margin of error was 4.9 percent.
Yes for Greenlight campaign manager Joe Farrell said SGS's poll is proof that most voters will back Greenlight once they hear more information about it. The group has not released the script used for the telephone poll nor a breakdown of respondents.
"It's done by a firm that has good name recognition," Farrell said. "I'm happy with the way the work was done."
North Pinellas is seen as a potential weak area for Greenlight, with many older residents and a higher number of Republican voters.
Farrell said he stands by the data from the SGS poll and that improved services such as Bus Rapid Transit and a doubling of current bus services will win over many residents in that part of the county.
"When they see the benefit they get from increased bus service, the BRT, the lowering of property taxes and a fairer tax system that comes out of this, more and more voters in North County will be in favor of this," Farrell said.
But local pollster Matt Florell, who owns StPetePolls, said SGS's sample size is too small to allow a scientific analysis of separate parts of the county.
"You can take the county as a whole, but you can't drill it down," Florell said.
He said his polls have showed that beginning a survey with general questions about support for transit will likely boost results in favor of Greenlight, but he warned that may not be repeated when residents actually vote Nov. 4.
"The ballot is not going to have leading questions," he said. "That will have a negative impact."
Paulson said local polling increasingly has become unreliable because of the increasing number of people who only have mobile telephones. Many of those people are not polled because of federal restrictions.
He said the key for Greenlight will be to mirror Pinellas County's success at getting voters to back the Penny for Pinellas campaigns.
"They had a lot of money and they used it effectively by convincing people there was something in Penny for Pinellas for everyone," Paulson said. "There is a core support out there — they have to convince people it's at a reasonable cost and will produce reasonable results, which is good ridership."


text:
Photo by Romulo Yanes
YIELD: Makes 6 (main course) servings
ACTIVE TIME: 45 min
TOTAL TIME: 1 hr
Make crespelle:
Blend together eggs, water, flour, and salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in tarragon.
Lightly brush a 10-inch nonstick skillet with melted butter and heat over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into skillet, tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom, then pour excess batter back into bowl. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crespella.) Cook until just set and underside is lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then invert crespella onto a clean kitchen towel in one layer to cool. (It will be cooked on one side only.) Make 5 more crespelle with remaining batter in same manner, brushing skillet with butter as needed and transferring to towel as cooked, arranging them in one layer.
Make sauce:
Heat butter in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat until foam subsides. Add flour and cook, whisking, 2 minutes. Add clam juice and water in a slow stream, whisking, then bring to a boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in cream, zest, and pepper, then remove from heat.
Assemble cannelloni:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 13- by 9-inch or other 3-quart glass or ceramic baking dish and spread half of sauce in dish.
Stir together butter (2 tablespoons), shallot, salt, and pepper and spread 1 teaspoon on top of each fillet.
Put 1 crespella, pale side down, on a work surface, then place 1 salmon fillet, buttered side down, in center of crespella and fold crespella around salmon, leaving ends open. Transfer to baking dish, arranging, seam side down, in sauce. Make 5 more cannelloni with remaining salmon and crespelle in same manner, arranging in baking dish. Spoon remaining sauce over cannelloni.
Bake until salmon is just cooked through and sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.


text:
Teen Mom
Why Did Police Search Kailyn Lowry's Property in the Middle of the Night?
Sound the alarm bells, something sketchy is going on in Teen Mom Valley!
Kailyn Lowry and her fiance, Javi Marroquin, live with Kailyn's son in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, — a safe community with a relatively low crime rate. But things got real for this happy family in the wee hours of October 25, when they called the police to investigate their property!
"Nothing like calling 911 & having 4 cops search our property at 2 am because weird s— been happening," Kailyn tweeted. "#freakedout."
Whoa there! Is someone harassing Kail and her family? This gal hasn't followed up on her disturbing tweet, but we're keeping our Uggs crossed that everything is safe and sound in her house.
Then again, it is Halloween. And if there's one thing we've learned from Hocus Pocus it's that Sarah Jessica Parker loves nothing more than trolling small towns at the witching hour.
Source: Twitter
Wanna chat with fellow Teen Mom fans? Join the discussion on our Teen Mom Facebook page!
Follow @TeenMomWetpaint on Twitter
More About Teen Mom
Teen Mom News
Teen Mom 2 News
Teen Mom 3 News


text:
Chapter 1, "As a Kid I was the Youngest"
1. What is the youngest child in a family?
(a) A brooder.
(b) A thinker.
(c) A whiner.
(d) A jokemaker.
2. How much older is Kurt's sister than he?
(a) Three years.
(b) Four years.
(c) Five years.
(d) Six months.
3. How much older is Kurt's brother than he is?
(a) Twelve years.
(b) Nine years.
(c) Three years.
(d) Six years.
4. What was Kurt to older people at the dinner table when he was very young?
(a) Interesting.
(b) Boring.
(c) Intriguing.
(d) Annoying.
5. What was the only way Kurt could get into an adult conversation when he was young?
(a) By saying something really funny.
(b) By constantly interrupting.
(c) By speaking loudly and quickly.
(d) By breaking something or doing something naughty.
6. During what time period did Kurt grow up?
(a) The Flower Power Decade.
(b) The Roaring Twenties.
(c) The Great War.
(d) The Great Depression.
7. What was there a large number of on the radio?
(a) Talented voice actors.
(b) Top comedians.
(c) Commercials.
(d) Brilliant newscasters.
(read all 180 Multiple Choice Questions and Answers)
This section contains 3,071 words
(approx. 11 pages at 300 words per page)


text:
Whoever is behind this idea of interviewing coaches dugouts during MLB playoff games is really onto something. These interviews with the managers, including Jim Leyland, Ron Gardenhire, and Ken Macha, have really been insightful and entertaining. I know many of these gimmicks have flopped before, including but not limited to, the historically atrocious idea of the "floor cam," but I have a feeling this one is different. I don't want to see up the shorts of a bunch of NBA players. I do however, want to hear the thoughts of coaches on the sidelines during the middle of games.
Yes the halftime reports at the NFL games are decent, but let's face it: it's just the same rehashed BS over and over again. I'm not pushing for the removal of sideline reports, no they bring far too much to the table. Without the sideline reporters we wouldn't have drunk former players asking for kisses, or get up to date injury reports.
What we need is more direct interviews with the coaches. Have the headset always at the ready to catch necessary sound clips. The interviews are always entertaining and offer much insight, but just imagine the possibilities. The awkwardness during an interview with Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons after he challenged Shea Hillenbrand to a fight would have been priceless. It would have been even better after he did fight pitcher Ted Lilly. And think of the tangle managers would be in as they try to dodge questions about why their pitcher and catcher brawled in the dugout.
And we're not stopping at baseball, no, we're talking all the major sports. Imagine interviewing Larry Brown last year as he sat on the bench and watched in horror as there was nothing he could do to help his struggling Knicks team. Now think about how much better it would be to interview Isiah Thomas this year as the Knicks struggle to an even worse finish. "So Isiah explain to us again how you got your team the highest payroll in the league, no draft picks, and still managed to finish with only 23 wins." Just the thought is wonderful.
Then again, there are some coaches who might be better off without the interview. I think any attempt to interview Art Shell would wind up with dead air, since, as far as I can tell, he is completely unaware when a game is being played. But even that would be hilarious, and these bad interviews would certainly be offset with great ones. So let's make a push for this to happen , I want more awkward managerial interview moments, and less of the pre-planned responses. I want good entertainment from my sports.


text:
Designer Interview: Speaking with Shawn of Shawnimals
Designer Interview: Speaking with Shawn of Shawnimals
Shawn "Shawnimal" Smith, the visionary behind Shawnimals, began to develop his distinctive style of art as a kid obsessed with cartoons, comics, video games, and drawing pictures. Not satisfied with simply drawing his favorite cartoon and comic book characters, he felt compelled to create his own, inspired by all that he loved.
Shawnimals products run the gamut including plush toys, collectible vinyl, apparel, lifestyle accessories, mobile games, video games, comics and much more.
Smith's interest in toys and video game culture eventually landed him a job at popular US gaming magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly as a game reviewer and gadget editor but, naturally, his love for art and design led him back to school where he earned his BFA in Painting.
Smith also maintains an active studio practice creating drawings, paintings, sculpture and collage that have been featured in galleries and exhibitions all over the world. Drawing influence from a variety of pop-cultural movements like cartoons and video games, the artwork of Shawn Smith can be described as endearing, and humorous while maintaining a simple quality that makes it universally relatable. He agreed to speak with me and share some insight into his life as a toy designer and artist and how he came into his current success.
Where did you grow up?
Joliet, IL about an hour southwest of Chicago.
What did your parents do for a living?
My mom worked in the insurance industry doing data entry and some kind of customer service. My dad had several different jobs, some in local government and insurance.
That's pretty far removed from the creative world, what was the first sign, or when did you decide you were going to be in the creative field?
True. Although, I remember my dad showing me drawings he did when he was younger, which were really fantastic. He was also a singer prior to his career, and played with big bands. So I think the creative spirit came from him. I have four brothers and one sister, and several of my brothers drew comics for fun, and are creative thinkers in general (although not professionally).
Almost every designer I have interviewed had a brother into comics... any comics stand out in your mind?
I was just thinking about comics recently. There are the usual suspects which I loved like Punisher, Wolverine and McFarlane's Spiderman. But more than those, there are a couple gems that were pretty influential to me. A small series called The Last American and another short-lived series called Trencher.
Of course, can't forget Maxx, the Tick and early TMNT..
I remember Trencher. From Image, right? A short-lived book, but I remember feeling sorry for the guy who had to color those books with all the line weight and so much detail.
Yeah, an Image off-shoot or some affiliation. Those details are exactly what got me excited about that book visually.
It's funny how often Todd McFarlane's name comes up as well, as well as TMNT.
Yeah, McFarlane's style is so crazy and overblown now, but then it made a huge impact. And those early TMNT books are just straight up cool.
What about Geoff Darrow are you a fan of his? He is known for his detail. I always thought of Keith Griffen as a stylized version of Darrow?
Ah, yeah. Now that you show me, I have seen his work before and enjoyed it. Didn't realize who it was though, so can't say I'm a straight up fan.
So what was your first step into the visual communication field?
Grade school art projects. I drew this cave with an opening and tracks going into it (no doubt inspired by Temple of Doom) and then did a mine cart with a dude inside on a separate sheet. Cut that out with a long piece of paper attached to it, then made a slit in the cave entrance. Put the "handle" of that cart through it, and could make the cart go into the cave on the tracks! Teacher loved it, made it a project, loved that feeling.
So did you go to college for design?
No, I went to junior college for two years, landed a job as a reviewer at Electronic Gaming Monthly, and took some time off. I went back to college in 2001, where I received my BFA in painting in 2003.
Interesting, after seeing the game industry and how regimented the creative industry is, why painting, why not design?
I do love design, but I also love getting my hands dirty. Fine art — especially at that time in my life — just made sense. I didn't want to go get another job, I wanted to go to school. Design just didn't feel like the right move. It felt like getting another job. I wanted freedom.
So what stood out about the painting degree? Any philosophies stand out? anyone really make a difference in your education?
I had been painting for a number of years prior to making the leap, so it seemed like a natural progression. Once I went back to school, the real reasons revealed themselves: Direct manipulation of color and texture, and developing / understanding my conceptual basis (what was driving my body of work?).
Jim Mai at Illinois State University made the biggest difference, not to mention Shona MacDonald, and Steve Sherrell at Joliet Junior College before that.
What did they drive home for you?
Coupling formal considerations with a strong conceptual basis. Ask a lot of questions to truly, fully understand your work, and then, somehow, back out of all that and let the work stand on its own. I suppose it's about confidence through the trial of making and understanding.
So you get a degree in painting. Then what, what's next, still reviewing video games at this point?
Not so much, except for a bit of freelance. During my time at ISU, I started making these things which would eventually become Shawnimals. It didn't hurt that I was in the middle of Illinois in a college town where the cost of living was insanely low.
So lets talk about shawnimals. When did that idea really manifest itself?
It's been gradual with plateaus, so let's start toward the beginning. First there was making stuff that people seemed to like, so I made a website to show them off. Then there was our first press with Daily Candy in Dec. of 2002 which exposed it to a wider audience (400+ emails overnight). Then there was moving to Chicago and realizing there was this designer toy thing happening. Then stores, then press, then focusing on it as a business and going full time. After that, Nintendo DS, factory-made product, iPhone game, and so on and so on... That, of course, is the condensed version.
Wow, that makes it sound like it happened very fast. Did you have a "normal" job during that evolution?
No, not really. Freelance illustration, little web site jobs, a bit of writing for the game industry but not really much at all. And then Shawnimals. In 2005 my wife Jen and I just looked at each other and asked, "What the hell are we doing?" We had received press in Entertainment Weekly, Spin, New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times and others that year, and we realized we needed to focus on it or we'd always be spinning our wheels.
So, how does Ninjatown fit in to the picture?
As we were creating characters and populating the lands in our world, we realized that those lands were more or less brands. Ninjatown had been the first of these lands we focused on with regard to development, and we quickly realized it could be a brand on its own. We think of it now as a gateway to the rest of the Shawnimals world, which is perfect because they're also the protectors of all of Shawnimaland.
People can come to Ninjatown and say, "Hey! Cool! Ninjas!" and only play the iPhone game. Others know the DS and get into the characters and the story. Others are hardcore fans that know EVERYTHING about Ninjatown, and we love it. All of these types are awesome though, because it illustrates the appeal of Ninjatown.
Whats the concept of Shawnimaland? Where does it come from creatively?
Shawnimaland was born out of necessity and a general desire to make maps. I did this as a kid for army guys and robot wars or whatever. The necessity part was an attempt to make sense of the characters we were creating. We made a lot of blobs and Splugs. Oh, those should go into a bog-like place. Blob Bog was born. We made a lot of ninjas, so we should make a place for them. Ninjatown. And so on down the line. We then came up with a map that mimicked the U.S. generally, and Shawnimaland was born.
It gives perspective. These characters are designs, but they're also characters and they live somewhere. Or perhaps rather than perspective, Shawnimaland provides context.
Give me a sense of your creative process? You mentioned you did some editorial work, and website design in the beginning. Do you have a standard process, something that leads the idea to the completion of the project?
The concept phase is nebulous at times. Probably better that that part isn't formulaic. Concepts can come from anything really. But after something is hit on, then it enters our usual process. An initial sketch that feels sticky is discussed internally. If people are feeling it, we refine and talk colors, story / context, what kind of product(s), etc. We do two basic versions of the character with regard to illustrations: A static "front" view and a more dynamic action view. Take Ninja of the Month for instance. We can then use those illustrations in a variety of ways. Of course, we create other assets as needed, but these things help establish solid guidelines for a particular character. Then we move onto the product side, which has its own steps depending on the intended result.
What is the best thing about the designer toy industry? And whats the worst?
Best is freedom to put the emphasis on what you want to do creatively, rather than on the bottom line. The worst is it's small, and if you want to build a company that can sustain itself, it can be extremely tricky. However, it can't really be both, can it? We realized it's not all or nothing, its more nuanced than that, and, in fact, we live in a time when we can be big and small, as long as we're clear with our fans about what's what.
Any advice to anyone thinking about getting into the designer toy business?
Make something you're truly passionate about, tell people about it and try to sell it to those people. Whether it's plush, resin-cast toys, or something else entirely, it's so much easier than it used to be to do this stuff. Doesn't mean you'll succeed, of course, but you might as well if you can afford to give it a shot. If after that point you feel like it has traction, then do the due diligence and figure out how best to start a business for real. As in within the legal boundaries of our world. 37signals has a great book called REWORK, and, besides reading that, talk to people who are smarter than you about business and ask a lot of questions. And then most of all, be OK with not succeeding. There are so many things you could do, just try a lot of them.
What role did the web play in shawnimals success?
We were in the middle of Illinois. Normal, Illinois to be exact. I made a basic web site, used Paypal "buy now" buttons and s***** code. But the info and items were there 24-7. Word spread, and orders came in. I used Stamps.com to ship stuff with free boxes and tape from USPS. Now you can streamline most or all of that. Big Cartel, Shopify, Etsy, Big Commerce, etc. and integrated shipping solutions like Endicia. Integrated accounting solutions like Less Accounting. Integrated fulfillment solutions like ShipWire. Integrated e-newsletter solutions like MailChimp. Easy payment processing with Square or Braintree. Any sized company, for relatively little money. It's kind of insane really. And that's just the e-commerce side. You have Facebook, Twitter, YouTube / vimeo, and tons more for marketing and PR. Doesn't mean you can just s*** something out and think it'll work, but some major hurdles have been totally equalized.
What about social media, how has that helped your business, do you even need a marketing budget with the Internet the way it is?
Not yet. We do want to try our hand at a larger campaign at some point, but for our size, the money spent can be recouped that easily. So if we have 3,000 pieces of inventory, do we spend $5,000 to do a realitively big push? Doesn't compute. We're just not there yet. Social media levels the playing field. And besides, we're dealing with an enthusiast audience. They know the marketing tricks. They want to talk to us about what we make, and we're flattered so we talk back.
Do you have a favorite character you have designed, much like Mickey Mouse is the flagship of the Disney characters, who's your Mickey Mouse?
Wee Ninja for sure. It couldn't be simpler and still read as a ninja, yet it's provided us so much of a creative outlet. Not to mention the DS game and such.
Getting a nintendo game seems like a HUGE accomplishment, how did that go down?
I am friends with pals in the industry, including some that were starting a production company. Pickle King Productions knew Jeremy Pope from Cashmere, and then SouthPeak Games was looking for new IP. Connections were made, ideas were pitched, and a game deal came from it. We then hooked up with Venan, and the rest is history. We then went on to do the iPhone game with Venan as well.
Fantastic, it's a really colorful, well thought out world, when it comes to branding do you do all that yourself, or did you bring in a design firm or creative agency for help?
Thank you. We do all of the creative in house. We have the good fortune of having a great team, with a lot of unencumbered thinkers. Not to mention my insane brain. It's a great combination of our respective talents.
That's great. What's the future for Shawnimals? Anything you can tell us?
Video games (whether console or mobile) make a lot of sense, since it's such a powerful medium for story-telling and character interaction. We are also doing more with apps in general, specifically a killer Ninjatown avatar creator. Beyond the interactive side, animation is a no-brainer. How and with whom we do that specifically? That is not yet written.
Oh, and lots of toys and other character-branded goods.
Can you leave us with your favorite quote about the creative world?
Let's go with "Less is More."
Thanks Shawn!
Shawnimals is a character design studio that believes in the power of unbridled, astonishing, ridiculous joy. Each Shawnimal comes with its own story that starts in the Shawnimaland universe, but is then given over to you to continue each unique creature's adventure in your own universe. Their huggable friends appear as designer toys, lifestyle accessories, apparel, comic books, video games, and as anything that fosters companionship, and they believe that "the best artistic experiences are participatory and affordable, and that – with an open heart – friendship can happen between you and just about anything. Even facial hair. "
Some other hand-picked posts you might enjoy on our Design Blog:
Polish Tourism Campaign with Custom Vinyl Toys
Cut Paper Illustrations and Characters by Brian Gubicza
Designer Interview: Eric Torres (Part II)
- 1751 reads


text:
Arusha — Although it is meant to make it faster to clear goods and reduce on the cost of doing business, members of the East African Business Council (EABC) will have to wait longer than expected for the region to attain a single customs territory.
A high level task force has been formed on the single customs territory and is expected to submit a report to the 14th Heads of State Summit by November this year about one and half-month to come.
However the major deliverable in the report by the task force is to develop pre-conditions' for the destination model of clearance of goods where assessment and collection of revenue is done at a first point of entry.
But this is not all for the full implementation of a single customs territory under the Customs Union protocol.
A report presented by the EABC consultant working with Nairobi based Ameyogutoetole and Company Advocates Mr. Dan Ameyo said while implementation of the Protocol and its annexes has been steady over the transitional period, a single customs Territory in a fully fledged customs union has not been attained due to lack of strong institutional and legal framework.
He says people of East Africa should start thinking as a region and not country since it is crucial to the attainment of a single customs territory, and is going to be crucial to the success or failure of the EAC Customs Union.
Ameyo notes regional integration is a deeply political process and the implementation of a single customs territory has important political aspects.
"Regional integration in general and the realization of a single customs territory in particular, will be achieved when the states and the elected leaders show leadership often against fierce domestic resistance," he stressed at a two day regional private sector consultative workshop on attainment of single customs territory organised by the East African Business Council (EABC) held last week at East Africa hotel in Arusha, Tanzania.
The objective of the meeting was to sensitize the business community and consolidate their views on the attainment of the singe customs territory with a view of providing input to the on-going preparatory meetings of the high level task force on the territory at the New Arusha hotel in Arusha, Tanzania.
The task force that was launched by the EAC on September 3, is expected to provide a progressive report on the territory for submission to the 14th Ordinary Heads of State Summit to be held in November this year.
Ameyo criticized the multi-membership of the EAC partner states saying that it is to dilute the common external tariff.
He explained Burundi is a member of COMESA, COMESA FTA, EAC, and ECCAS, Kenya is a member of COMESA, COMESA FTA, EAC and IGAD, Rwanda is a member of COMESA, COMESA FTA, EAC and ECCAS, Tanzania is a member of SADC, EAC while Uganda is a member of COMESA, EAC and IGAD.
"Implications of this membership is that it is costly to organizations and members in terms of financial and human resources, it breeds conflicts in jurisdiction and policies and results into legal uncertainties where more than one agreement applies," he said.
Ameyo observed it is technically and legally impossible for a country to apply two different common external tariffs (CETs) and therefore be a member of two customs Unions.
"Whenever one member of the Customs Union negotiates a trading arrangement with another country, the whole group must bear the costs of administering several trades within the same Customs Union," he said adding that members of the various groupings must maintain border posts to enforce rules of origin meant to prevent preferential trade from entering the countries that are not party to the agreement.
He noted free circulation of goods in a single customs territory presupposes a revenue collection system that ensures reconciliation and accountability to enable goods to move from one place to the other.
Others include cessation of rules of origin, minimal or removal of internal border controls, improved information technology interconnectivity and exchange of information between agencies involved in clearance of goods and collection of taxes;
Partner states also have to shift the domestic taxation on imports at the time of entry of goods to the point of sale in the importing state and that strict bond controls are uncalled for among others.
Ameyo warned that possible disadvantages difficulty in collection of domestic taxes on cross border trade, encourage dumping and other unfair trade practices and that goods may be declared to be consumed at the destination but end up being introduced to the domestic markets of other countries;
He added free circulation could also overload capacities of partner states with sea ports as they would be required to clear the bulk of goods entering the Customs Union leading to the loss of import revenues.
He advised that partner states must have inter-connectivity of customs systems in the region to facilitate seamless flow of information between customs stations and standardize data structures.
However President of the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA) Mr. John Bosco Rasagara said Dar and Mombasa ports are facing congestion and continuous internet break downs especially at the Kenya and Tanzania revenue authorities which limits both business and consumption.
"As such the notion of a single entry is akin to a flickering light that needs efforts to illuminate," he said.
Mr. Ameyo explained partner states need to put in place payment systems to manage transfers of revenues between states and an independent audit system for early detection of deviations to the protocol
He advised that partner states must have laws to authorize acceptance of electronic information as evidence for transactions, a centralized bond guarantee system and operational single window borders including a centralized customs administration.
Mr. Rusagara added customs revenue collection by member states remains decentralized and no attempt whatsoever is in place to institute a centralized system.
Mr. Ameyo also identified the main sources of non-tariff barriers in intra-regional trade to include disharmonized laws governing trade, non customs state agencies involved in clearance of goods, absence of a mechanism to harmonize laws and lack of an institution to sanction partner states over NTBs outside the court.
"The future success of EAC single customs territory can only be guaranteed if the region has got institutions that protect integration vision, and able to drive the territory even when political will-power fails nationally," he noted.
He advised that EAC implements the remaining aspects of the protocol so as to realism the gains of a fully fledged Customs Union
"The three regional economic communities negotiate applicable rules of origin to govern trade between them and that the negotiated rules are applicable on first entry of goods into the Customs Union," he said. He said that in the short run, partner states continue assessing their own revenue but goods be released only once at the time of first entry into the customs union and that pooling of revenue be stayed at the moment.
Considering the current level of integration EAC, the region harmonizes domestic taxes on goods through adopting common domestic laws, procedures, codes structures and definitions, incentive regimes, minimum and maximum tax rates in the short run with a view to adopting common rates in the long run.
Domestic taxes on goods such as excise and VAT be in the case of imported goods, collected on first entry of goods into the customs territory and in the case of goods transferred from a partner state to another, be remitted prior to those goods being released while collection of withholding tax at the port of importation is ceased.
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) policy director Moses Ogwal proposed that the EABC should draw up an implementation plan for solving the identified problems hindering the attainment of the territory.
Programme Officer at the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation Shem Mecheo appealed to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to put in place punitive measures and a time frame for the removal of non-tariff barriers by the partner states.
However Uganda chairman for the non-tariff barrier's committee Kassim Omar raised the issue of employment saying that some people will lose jobs when a single clearance of goods is implemented.
"How do we address unemployment, in addition more non-tariff barriers are being experienced at ports of entry at Mombasa where four years ago there were only four charges but have been increased to 19 arbitrary charges," he said.
"Have the respective member states addressed the avalanche of layoffs of labour and revenue collection, the ICD's, customs bonded ware houses that risk sudden closure," asked Mr. Rusagara who is also the chief executive officer of INTRA SPEED based in Kigali, Rwanda.
A consultant for Rwanda Private Sector Federation Mr. John Bosco Kanyagoga added Mombasa and Dar ports are still treated as national ports despite the integration agenda.


text:
Midwest horse fair
Who is planning on going to the horse fair next weekend...?
Posted via Mobile Device
I'm totally going. Can't wait to see my favorite guy (Fandango... I love that horse). :-)
I'm going and SO excited! I've been counting down the days for over a month. Got all my tickets, and off work, can NOT wait. I can't wait to shop (long list of needed things for show season!) check out my favorite arabs (especially Snort n Blow) watch liberty, and of course all the great clinics! I'm going all three days (like every year) and am also super pumped for the rodeo and grand prix jumping.
can you tell i'm excited?!? Midwest is literally my favorite time of the year, even better than my birthday =]
(my poor boyfriend.. Saturday is his birthday, and he's spending the whole weekend up there with me! gotta love him)
I was supposed to go...been counting down since day 172. But last week I found out that I can't go anymore unless I hitch-hike there and quit my job. I'm seriously considering both, I love MHF.
Heck yes! Can't wait!!
|All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:17 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0


text:
The X Factor
Britney Spears vs. Demi Lovato: Which New X Factor Judge Are You Most Excited For?
The X Factor is now poppin' with pop stars.
FOX announced earlier this week that Britney Spears and Demi Lovato have officially signed on as judges for the singing competition's second season. Both gals are thrilled to join the show — but which successful singer are you most thrilled to see in action?
While Brit Brit is sure to say some wacky $#*! (and let's be honest, she's Britney, bitch), Demi has a lot of wisdom to offer her stable of potential stars — and we know she's not afraid to air her past demons. Thanks to her, The X Factor is gonna get inspirational this fall.
Their paychecks are massively uneven (Britney's reportedly pulling in $15 million to Demi's $1 million), but does that reflect a similar disparity in their popularity? You tell us!
Fall in Like with us! For the latest from Wetpaint Entertainment, Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Wetpaint, or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/WetpaintTV.


text:
Machu Picchu
From wiki.travel.com
Machu Picchu [1] is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes of Peru. Located at 2,430 metres (8,000 ft), this UNESCO World Heritage site is often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire, and is one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world — a visit to Peru would not be complete without it.
These remarkable ruins were only rediscovered in 1911 by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Perched dramatically 1000 ft above the Urubamba river, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also the end point of the most popular hike in South America, the Inca Trail.
The story of Machu Picchu is quite a remarkable one; it is still unknown exactly what the site was in terms of its place in Inca life. Current researchers tend to believe that Machu Picchu was a country resort for elite Incans. At any given time, there were not more than 750 people living at Machu Picchu, with far fewer than that during the rainy season. The Incas started building it around AD 1430 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
One thing that is clear is that it was a remarkably well hidden place, and well protected. Located far up in the mountains of Peru, visitors had to travel up long valleys littered with Inca check points and watch towers. Remarkably, the Spanish conquistadors missed the site, and Bingham only located the site by chance. On a wet day in 1911, he traveled up the slopes with a few companions from his expedition. On meeting local peasants, they told him about ancient ruins that covered the area. To Bingham's amazement, he had found the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century.
Flora and fauna
Get in
Visitors to Machu Picchu typically leave from Cuzco, either on a day trip, or overnighting in Aguas Calientes, which allows you to visit the park early or late in the day and avoid the worst of the crowds, and on sunny days, gives you a nice window of reprieve from the beating sun. Don't forget sunblock.
There are 3 ways to reach the ruins themselves: arrive on foot via the multiple day Inca Trail trek, or walking or taking a bus from Aguas Calientes.
If arriving from Aguas Calientes, prepare to spend a lot of time waiting in lines throughout the day.... you'll be in line for the bus, which drops you off at the end of the often long line at the entrance. You'll queue up again if interested in scaling up Wayna Picchu or the Temple of the Moon, and then just when you thought it was all over, you'll be in line for a bus back down to town which, even in low season, can be as much as a couple of hours wait. This is when you may want to reassess how much energy you have left, and maybe start walking back down.
- Repairs to the train service that took place in early 2010 have now completed, and there should not be any issues on the rail road to Machu Picchu. It is also possible to get to Aguas Calientes by traveling through Santa Maria and Santa Teresa. This alternate route involves walking (1 or 3 hours) and crossing a river in an "oroya", a basket riding over a cable to the other side.
By bus
From Aguas Calientes frequent buses leave to the ruins (US$7 each way) starting at 5:30am. There's often a queue, so if you're intent on being on the first bus up, you should arrive at least 90 minutes early. The journey takes around 1/2 hour to slowly wind around the switchbacks and up to the park.
By foot
Hiking the Inca Trail is a great way to arrive as you first see the city through the Sun Gate (instead of arriving from below as you do from Aguas Calientes). Both the four-day and two-day hikes are controlled by the government. Travelers should be fit enough to walk for days and sleep in tents.
From Aguas Calientes it is also possible to walk along a similar 8 km route that the buses run, which will take about 1-2 hours up, and around an hour back down. This route is mainly stairs, connecting the switchbacks that the buses take. It is a strenuous and long hike but is very rewarding, recommended to start around 4 a.m. to make it to the top before sunrise. The descent is fairly easy, just take care when the steps are wet. Keep alert for the bus drivers that rarely brake for pedestrians.
Visiting Machu Picchu isn't cheap. The entrance fee is currently S/128.00 and rising steadily; students with an ISIC card pay S/61. With the train ticket to Aguas Calientes at US$98 return and a night's accommodation it easily adds up to over US$200.
Be sure to bring your passport, as it may be requested upon entry and, more importantly, there's a popular stamp booth as you exit where you can prove to your friends you've been there.
Only small packs are allowed in the park (no more than 20 litres), but there is a luggage storage at the entrance mostly used by Inca Trailers. If your pack is checked, any food you carry may be confiscated.
Get around
There are no vehicles of any kind in the park, bring some comfortable walking shoes, especially if you plan to do any of the hikes such as Wayna Picchu. No walking sticks are allowed. The main ruins are fairly compact and easily walkable.
Take your time walking around the site, there are many places to see and explore. Although it is not necessary, taking a guided tour does provide a deeper insight into the ancient city, its uses, and information on the geography of it. Keep in mind that relatively little is known about the history and uses of the ruins, and some of the stories told by the guides is based on little more than imaginative hearsay.
- Sun Gate (Inti Punku) – if you've just arrived via the Inka Trail, this will be your first experience of the ruins. Others can backtrack from the ruins along the trail and up the hill. From here you can see back down each valley offering excellent views. It's a fairly strenuous hike (probably 1-1.5 hours each way) but well worth it. If you catch the first bus from Aguas Calientes and head straight here you may be able to reach it in time for sun to peak over the mountain and through the gate.
- Temple of the Sun – Near the summit of the main city, the stonework on the temple is incredible. Look closely and you will see that there are a variety of stone walls throughout the city. Most are rough stones held together with mud, the common stone walls found throughout the world. But many buildings or parts of buildings are done with the more distinctive and impressive closely-fit stonework. The temple is the absolute pinnacle of this technology. Observe it from the side, descending the stone staircase in the main plaza.
- Intihuatana – A stone carved so that on certain days, at dawn, the sun makes a certain shadow, thus working as a sun dial. From Quechua: Inti = sun, huatana = to take, grab: thus grabing (measuring) the sun. (pronounce 'intiwatana')
- Temple of the Three Windows –
- Main Temple –
- Temple of the Condor – The tour guides will try to tell you that this was a temple, but look closely: between the wings of the condor is a chamber with grooves cut in the stone to secure manacles, a walkway behind where a torturer may walk to whip the prisoner's backs, and a scary looking pit to let the blood of prisoners drain. Clearly the condor was a symbol of cruel justice, but a sanitized version is told for the benefit of middle-aged tourists and their children.
If you got some energy in you, there's a few great hikes involving a bit of legwork. Do make sure that you've taken the time to acclimatize to the elevation either in Cuzco or Aguas Calientes for a couple days before exterting yourself to much, especially on Wayna Picchu.
- Wayna Picchu Towering above the north end Machu Picchu is this steep mountain, often the backdrop to many photos of the ruins. It looks a bit daunting from below, but while steep, it's not an unusually difficult ascent, and most reasonably fit persons shouldn't have a problem. Stone steps are laid along most of the path, and in the steeper sections steel cables provide a supporting handrail. That said, expect to be out of breath, and take care in the steeper portions, especially when wet, as it can become dangerous quickly. There's a tiny cave near the top that must be passed through, and is quite low and tight of a squeeze. Take care at the peak, it can be somewhat precarious, and those afraid of heights may want to hang out just below.

 The entire walk is through beautiful landscape, and the views from the top are stunning, including birds eye views over the whole site. There's also a few ruins near the top. If visiting these ruins, you'll see a second way to start making your descent down the mountain, along some very steep and shallow steps.... these steps are a bit dangerous if wet, but the hike may be well worthwhile. This hike is one of your best bets for getting away from Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu crowds.

 Access to Wayna Picchu is limited to 400 visitors per day. You must sign in at the entrance gate, and take note of your number, as you're required to sign out upon your return. The first 200 numbers are released at 7:00am, and are often gone in less than an hour on busier days. The second 200 are available at 10:00am. All visitors must arrive back at the checkpoint before 4:00pm. Get here early if you're intent on climbing it, and note that large tour groups are able to reserve numbers and jump the queue, so don't be miffed when you're in line and a guide saunters past with 20 people in tow.
- If you have some time at hand, or long for a sparkle of solitude, you can also walk to the Moon Temple (Templo de la Luna) and the Great Cave (Gran Caverne). It's a long walk and adventurous hike involving several ladders. Some may find that the sites aren't really rewarding, but unexpected wildlife can be seen (wild spectacled bears have been reported). This hike is also quite interesting because partway through you leave behind the mountain terrain and enter a more conventional forest. The caves can be reached either by hiking down the trail from the peak of Waynapicchu (which includes some semi-harrowing but fun near-vertical descents) or by the split from the main Waynapicchu trail (look for the sign that says Gran Carvern). Remember that it is much easier to descend from Waynapicchu than to ascend from these temples. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for this long hike. The hike from the summit to the caves and back to the checkpoint takes about two more hours.
Officially, you are not allowed to bring any food or water bottles into the park, and must check these in at the luggage storage at the entrance. In practice, however, bags are rarely searched, and most people have no problem getting a small bottle of water and some snacks in with them, which you'll definitely want, especially if you're planning to stray from the central set of ruins. Buy these beforehand, as they're much more expensive at the site itself. Don't even think of leaving a shred of trash behind you.
The concession stand near the entrance of the site is pitiful in its offerings and gets very busy at lunchtime. Once in the site, it's not possible to buy food or drinks.
- Tinkuy Buffet Restaurant Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge +51 84 21 1039/38 http://machupicchu.orient-express.com 11:30AM-3:00PM US$33, S/.96.00A casual and very expensive lunch buffet. The food is decent, and it's very popular at lunch time.
- Tampu Restaurant Bar Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge 5:30AM-9:00AM, Noon-3:00PM, 6:30PM-9:30PM Open to hotel guests only, also high prices.
Due to the fact that this is a protected park, further construction in the area is nearly impossible. Thus, there is currently only one very expensive hotel at the site itself. Almost everyone who wants to overnight near Machu Picchu books a hotel in nearby Aguas Calientes.
- Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge +51 84 21 1039/38 firstname.lastname@example.com http://machupicchu.orient-express.com US$800+ in high season, US$400+ in low seasonThis superbly over-priced hotel is the only option for sleeping at the park. There are two equally expensive restaurants on site, and 2 suites that have partial views of the ruins. It's located just outside the ticket booth.
Get out
Related Information
A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. Additional modifications may have been made by users at TRAVEL.COM [2].
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.


text:
How do you apply your lip products?
How do you apply your lip products? What do you use to apply your lipstick, gloss, etc.?
I apply lipstick straight of the tube 9/10 times, and I use disposable lipgloss applicators for gloss (they're recyclable!).
Thanks to Crystal for today's question! Got a question idea? Submit yours here.
Product & Review FAQ
Where can I buy disposable lipgloss wands?
I get mine from Amazon: 'Disposable Flocked Lip Gloss Applicators 50pcs.' by Makeup Artist Shop for $8.00 http://amzn.to/dgZefj. They're not the nicest applicator - any included applicator is smoother/softer - but as I often am just reviewing a gloss for the blog, I'll use a separate applicator instead, so I can pass along the product to friends/family or keep it and not worry about my germs swirling around in there!
Why do you use a separate applicator?
Products go bad because of bacteria (from what I understand--I am no scientist!), and bacteria like warm, moist places. My bathroom isn't used, so it doesn't too warm, but it's about 70ish degrees since that's the temperature I keep my apartment at. (This is why some people store lipsticks/glosses in the fridge!) By using a separate applicator, I'm not putting anything into the gloss, just taking it out. My theory is this should make the gloss last longer and keep it "clean" or "fresher."
Can I use something else other than lipgloss wands?
I've used wooden coffee stirrers (you can buy massive quantities at bulk stores like Smart & Final, Costco, etc.), which do the job but don't feel so lovely on lips! You could also use a lip brush, just make sure to get the amount of gloss you need out before you apply it.
Why do you do this? Should I being do this?
I do it because I have a lot of lipgloss. I had a lot before the blog, and I do love me some lipgloss, but the nature of blogging is constant accumulation of the new. There are a lot of products that I just test and wear once or twice, then review, I feel like it must be cleaner/more sanitary to use a separate applicator and never double-dip. This way it shouldn't turn quickly (if I keep it), or I can pass it along to friends/family. I don't think it's necessary for most people!
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the FAQ section (above) for information about purchasing, price, dupes, and the like. If you have general feedback or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.


text:
Teen Mom
Jenelle Evans and Courtland Rogers Back Together Again!
Well, that was fast! If you blinked, you may have missed the news that Jenelle Evans and husband Courtland Rogers broke up over the weekend. But don't worry — it sounds like they're working it out after all! Today, Courtland says it was all a big misunderstanding. "For the record I never broke up with Jenelle we took a day break with our families to enjoy time with them I love her with all my heart," Courtland tweeted on January 1.
While that doesn't really match up with what the couple said yesterday, we're relieved that they're trying to keep it together. Meanwhile, Jenelle hasn't tweeted again since her last post claiming she was deactivating her Twitter account. We'd definitely miss her tweets, but on the other hand, not carrying out their arguments in such a public manner might just be the healthiest thing for them!
Source: Courtland Rogers' Twitter


text:
Hotels in 40231 - Louisville KY
Only hotels in 40231 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Louisville, KY for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 40231 hotels and motels so you can review the Louisville hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Jefferson county and area code 502 are also listed.
40231 Hotels & Accommodations
Next: Show All Available 40231 Hotels with Pricing >


text:
Don't Give into Your Feelings
If we could over come our feelings can you image….
Feelings can get us into a lot of trouble. We think freedom is doing
what we want when we want. The Lord showed me different.
He told me that the freedom comes in the doing; doing what you're
suppose to do when you're suppose to do it. Then you receive a sense
of accomplishment because doing whats right is always better than
procrastinating. The enemy loves nothing better than to keep you
I use to tell my children when they were growing up "don't do what you
feel like doing do what you're suppose to do."
Practical application:
Pray about 6 things that you would like to accomplish tomorrow and
stick to your list.
Don't make your list the same day you want to do these things you'll
find your "feeling" will get in the way.
Marilyn Brooks
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Most mothers would agree that their sleep habits are a lot different than they were before having children. Lazy weekend mornings are a thing of the past and most find fewer hours to catch some shut-eye during the week, too. Sonia Cannon, of Jackson, can relate. Erin, her 7-year-old daughter, takes up most of her time in the evenings. "During the school year, after helping Erin with homework, preparing dinner and putting her to bed, I feel like my night has just begun for relaxation," says Cannon. "Sleep is the last thing on my mind." Moms are not alone. According to recent studies, Americans in general are getting less sleep than ever before. Up to one-third of Americans have symptoms of insomnia; sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are also common. Most untreated sleep disorders are associated with high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and psychiatric problems. "Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep per night," says Dr. Michael Rack, medical director for Somnus Sleep Clinic in Flowood. "That doesn't change. Once we reach adulthood, our sleep needs remain the same." Rack says that one hot topic in the news lately is the relationship between sleep and obesity. "Sleep deprivation defined as less than six hours of sleep per night, has been linked to weight gain," adds Rack. Many moms have accepted lack of sleep as a fact of life. So how do you know if you have a real problem? Dr. Alp Baran, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, says that sleep disorders are more common than we think. "I tell people all the time that snoring is not normal," he says. "If you snore, see your doctor for treatment." Sleeping longer on weekends can be another sign of a possible problem. A mother of two teenagers and two college kids, Teresa Adams, of Madison, runs a busy household, volunteers at church and juggles graduate school every day. "I don't get much sleep and my body is used to it now. I know it's not a healthy lifestyle," she says. Cannon says, "I have to make sure all of my daughter's needs are met on a daily basis even if I'm tired from a long day at work." Both women admit that a cup of coffee is often the only way they can jump-start the day. It can be quite a challenge to find time for those much-lauded eight hours between careers, carpool and mealtimes. Rack says set a sleep schedule and stick to it. "Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends, is important." Both Baran and Rack agree that avoiding caffeine and alcohol late in the day, forgoing a heavy meal or strenuous exercise before bedtime, and banishing the television from the bedroom can also help women get to sleep faster and more restfully. Rack does note, however, that exercise earlier in the day can actually contribute to a good night's rest. Additionally, Baran reminds moms that getting kids into a good bedtime routine will help moms rest easier. Rack and Baran also suggest that married couples ask their partners what they are doing during the night — snoring, tooth grinding, etc. "Share this information with your doctor to help him/her get to the root of the problem," Rack adds. Most sleep disorders can be easily treated with medication, counseling, behavioral therapy or a combination of treatments. So rest easy!
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Mothers and Sleep
Posted by Michael Rack, MD at 6:02 AM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Unfortunately, there is limited scientific data on the subject of interstitial cystitis (IC) and pregnancy. In 1989, an ICA study surveying 48 IC patients representing 78 pregnancies, yielded valuable data on the effects of pregnancy on IC. Participants rated the severity of their IC pain, frequency, urgency, and pressure symptoms before pregnancy, during each trimester, and after delivery. Findings were divided into groups having mild, moderate, or severe IC symptoms before pregnancy:
Urinary frequency, bacterial bladder infections, and constipation are common complaints for any pregnant woman, and they can be even more difficult for pregnant IC patients. Although your frequency will increase, don't cut back on fluids because staying hydrated is critical. Bacterial bladder infections can be confused with IC symptoms, so a urinalysis at every prenatal visit is helpful. Avoiding constipation is important because it can contribute to IC flares.
For ways to alleviate constipation during pregnancy, check out the ICA's free constipation fact sheet.
The first clue to a genetic link was published in 2001 with a report of a Bulgarian family with many members with IC. A survey of US IC patients indicated that 1.5 percent of family members had confirmed IC and another 12 percent possible IC. Further research in Bulgaria and the United States turned up more families where the genetic predisposition looked strong.
Although there are families where the genetic predisposition seems high, research from the largest twin registry in the world shows that when one identical twin had IC, by far, the other twin did not. The research indicates that environmental influences play a much bigger role than genetic ones in susceptibility to IC.
Learn more about how pregnancy affects IC, genetic risks, and much more in our Winter 2011 issue of the ICA Update.
Based on limited evidence collected to date, infertility does not appear to affect IC patients any more than women in general. Conception may be more difficult to achieve; however. Those who limit their sexual activity because of painful sex may be able to time intercourse to the most fertile days of their menstrual cycle. Books on fertility awareness can be helpful and ovulation prediction kits are widely available at pharmacies.
There are also many ways to decrease pain and increase your enjoyment of sex. Learn more about sex and IC on our intimacy page and from our interview with sexual medicine specialist Susan Kellogg-Spadt, PhD, CRNP, in the Winter 2009 issue of the ICA Update.
Planning ahead for your pregnancy will let you:
Some IC patients prefer minimal prenatal testing and a low-intervention birth, while others may feel more comfortable with a more highly managed pregnancy and birth. This decision is a matter of personal choice and an important factor to consider when you are making your plan.
Communication among the members of your healthcare team is especially important. Make it a point to ensure that all of your doctors and other healthcare providers are in touch with each other. If your health insurance plan offers limited choice in prenatal care providers, you may need to educate your assigned providers about IC and pelvic pain.
Today, many doctors advise women to discontinue all but the safest medicines during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Some IC patients can control their symptoms with nondrug approaches such as diet, other self-help techniques, and physical therapy. Others may be able to use medicines that have minimal effects throughout the body, such as nonalkalinized anesthetic bladder instillations or topical medications. But some patients need to continue stronger medicines.
If your doctors are not comfortable managing these medicines during your pregnancy, consider working with a perinatologist. Perinatology is a subspecialty of obstetrics focused on high-risk pregnancies. That doesn't mean your baby is in danger. An important part of this practice is caring for pregnant women who have special medical risks and challenges. Perinatologists are trained in managing riskier medications and treatments during pregnancy. A perinatologist and your OB or primary care doctor may work together, with the perinatologist consulting as needed or regularly, or you and your doctors may decide to have the perinatologist take over your obstetric care.
Learn about the risks of the most commonly used IC and pain medications and much more in our Winter 2011 issue of the ICA Update.
Read more about how opioids and Topamax are linked to some birth defects.
Numerous studies indicate that proper nutrition is vital both before and during pregnancy. If you have not already done so, try to identify foods, beverages, and supplements that are irritating to your bladder before you conceive so you can eat a healthy, balanced diet and take the prenatal supplements you and your developing baby need.
You'll need some supplements because your diet just can't supply enough of certain nutrients that are essential for your baby, especially folic acid (folate), iron, and calcium.
If multivitamins bother your IC, consider taking these essential nutrients as individual supplements. Folate is critical, and diet cannot supply enough, so if folate is bothersome, try taking no more than the recommended amount, testing different brands, and splitting up the dose over the day. Iron may be constipating, but some forms may be less so. If you can't find one that isn't, consider having your iron levels tested regularly and take iron when your levels are getting low. Vegetarians also need to take B12 because only animal products contain it.
Researchers are finding that some other supplements may also be critical in pregnancy. You can learn about these and much more about nutrition and self care in pregnancy in our Winter 2011 issue of the ICA Update.
Hydration is also essential during pregnancy. Don't cut your water intake to lessen your frequency. In pregnancy, your blood volume increases two to three times what it is normally, so you need fluids for that. Being dehydrated can cause premature contractions. It can also lead to levels of amniotic fluid that are too low, called oligohydramnios, which can be dangerous for you and your baby, increasing the risk of deformities and premature labor.
Along with diet, a variety of nondrug options may help you remain medication free, including meditation and relaxation, IC and pregnancy-friendly exercise, and physical therapy.
During pregnancy, there's a lot of weight on your bladder and pelvis. In addition, pregnancy hormones actually loosen ligaments, so joint and bone problems, especially with the pubic bone, can become a source of pain.
These are reasons why it's wise to move away from weight-bearing exercise, such as high-impact aerobics, and use exercise that doesn't put stress your pelvic area and your joints, such as yoga. In yoga, positions that spread your feet far apart may be too stressful, whereas those that take pressure off your pelvis can be helpful.
Physical therapy for the pelvic floor and your physical therapist's advice on exercise, pregnancy belts, alternative birth positions, and postpartum pelvic health can be very helpful. Although some OBs may be concerned about pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy, if you have been getting physical therapy with a knowledgeable PT and it has been successful, it can be safe and helpful during pregnancy.
Learn more about physical therapy and fitness during pregnancy in our Winter 2011 issue of the ICA Update.
A birth plan is a document that you and your partner can write during your pregnancy that lists your preferences for the childbirth process.
Birth plan worksheets are widely available on the internet. With these, you typically specify your wishes, such as:
Because you have special needs as an IC patient, you may also want to have your treatment preferences—and your providers' contact information and supporting letters—available to take with you in case of emergency. For example, you may want to be sure ultrasounds are done with a transvaginal transducer, which doesn't require your bladder to be full, or in an emergency, to be filled through a catheter. You may also want to specify that you need a child-size catheter if one becomes necessary for any reason.
These plans and documents are helpful because, during labor or an emergency, you may not always have time or the ability to discuss your wishes, and your usual provider might not be available.
IC patients reported that their pregnancies with IC were as successful as the pregnancies they had gone through before IC. Approximately one-third of the survey respondents delivered vaginally without anesthesia, while fewer than one-third delivered vaginally with anesthesia. Another one-third delivered by C-section. The type of delivery did not affect IC symptoms for these patients.
Each type of delivery has its pros and cons for IC patients:
These are issues of special importance to IC patients—discuss them thoroughly with your healthcare providers. And get them talking to each other! Be prepared for a last-minute change in delivery plans and discuss any concerns with your doctor ahead of time.
If you use opioids during pregnancy, your newborn may need to be carefully weaned from them. That may mean an extended stay for him or her in the hospital while specialists look for signs of withdrawal and then monitor the baby as they administer tiny and gradually decreasing doses to help keep him or her comfortable.
Plan ahead for this possibility by talking to your OB, perinatologist, the hospital's neonatologist, and lactation consultant (if you breastfeed) well in advance of birth. Even before you get pregnant isn't too early to talk to these specialists.
Learn more about opioids during pregnancy and opioid weaning for your newborn in our Winter 2011 issue of the ICA Update.
Breastfeeding has significant nutritional, psychological, and immunological advantages for you and your baby.
When you have IC, there are added considerations.
Revised September 16, 2014
Copyright 2014 Interstitial Cystitis Association


text:
Your Host and Joint Base Mission Partners
Arrival on Base
Charleston International Airport serves the Tri-County area and is adjacent to Joint Base Charleston. In fact, the base and airport share runways.
There are no military shuttles or mass transit services from the airport to the base.
Rental cars are available on-site. ...
Family Resources
Air Base................................... 843-963-4366
1654 E. Jackson Drive, Building 227
Joint Base Charleston, SC 29404
Weapons Station..................... 843-794-7408
Von Steuben Street, Building 1693
Joint Base Charleston – ...
Recreation and Attractions
Framing & Engraving
100 Scarpon Lane, Building 647
JB Charleston, SC 29404........... 843-963-4936 ...


text:
The Central Intelligence Agency has a lot of technology challenges, but its biggest one is adapting to a wireless world.
The agency's chief technical officer, Gus Hunt, spoke at the AppNation conference yesterday in San Francisco -- a rare public appearance for members of the intelligence service. Hunt became the CTO about four years ago, and began by defining several key technology goals.
Number one: secure mobility.
Today, Hunt said, the devices used by analysts at work are 99.9% wireline-connected computers, and only 0.1% mobile devices. (Mostly BlackBerries and older custom devices, according to another source who spoke on background.)
But Hunt knows the world is moving wireless. "We recognize it's a mobile world out there. It's the inevitable outcome of everything that's happening. I believe [in a few years] you won't be able to buy an ethernet-connected device of any kind." He continued, "But I'll tell you, wireless is not secure."
Today, he said, analysts who use mobile devices for work have two devices: one for classified work, and another unclassified one for everything else. Eventually, Hunt said, the CIA would like to get rid of these dual devices, but it's a long way off. "We're trying very intently and very acutely and pushing this space very, very hard. But trying to address mobile security is just a tough one."
Another tech priority for the agency is creating micro-apps or applets that perform very specific functions, then allowing analysts to mash them up into larger apps based on their own needs. Then, analysts are encouraged to put these mash-ups back into the common repository. Here, the agency is encouraging "self composed outcomes by users, as opposed to us doing the hard thing, which is to figure out what user wants to do. That's always been a compromise."
Private-sector companies are starting to do similar things. For instance, Clif Triplett, the CIO of oilfield services company Baker-Hughes, recently spoke about the rise of micro-apps at a CIO Perspectives forum in Houston TX.
Hunt also listed four other tech priorities for the agency.
- Data analytics: "we have an enormous amount of data coming in and out" of the CIA. A big challenge is deriving value from that data.
- Security as a service: the CIA does not want vendors to build security into their products because "every time you do it, you do it differently. What we want is a set of security services, uniform and consistent across our entire boundary, with apps and services and widgets above them."
- Data computation as a service: this is not about creating a single repository for data -- "it remains distributed. It's about us bringing to bear high power compute engines, [such as] MapReduce and Cassandra and hBase .... All analytics above want to consume a common compute down below."
- Massive computational infrastructure. The agency is moving to a private cloud infrastructure, wants to spend as little time as possible managing it. "We're in the middle of an acquisition, we'll forklift into our boundary a complete instantiation of a commercial cloud instance ... We'll pick up whole copy of it, put it behind our fenceline with guards and guns, and have somebody run it for us."
Hunt also talked a little bit about the war to recruit good technical talent -- a particular challenge for a government agency with tight budgets. "We don't have the pay scale that some of you are willing to offer these really smart kids coming out of school. We're not really competitive there. But we're extraordinarily competitive in terms of doing challenging work."


text:
Full text of Tourette Syndrome 1st ed. (2006) Editor: Walkup, John T.; Mink, Jonathan W.; Hollenbeck, Peter J. is available through Books@Ovid
For USC users only. Requires USC network connection. Allows limited number of simultaneous connections.
©2009 Norris Medical Library 2003
Zonal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9130 (323)
442-1116 email@example.com


text:
An occasional piece on the trashy movies I like to watch. Over the weekend I watched two movies that must be the precursors to the Hunger Games (a popular book trilogy and now a new movie for those not in the know.) The movies I watched come in a fancy "book" format containing four DVDs. The first is the director's cut of Battle Royal, a brutal Japanese movie from about 2000. It tells the story, apparently derived from a Japanese book, of a class of highschool freshmen taken to a deserted island and made to fight each other to the death. The third DVD is the sequel: Battle Royale II: Requiem, an even more brutal movie of another class taken to the same island and forced to fight to the death.
This genre of the brutality of the young begun as far as I am concerned with the book we all read as students in the 1960s Lord of the Flies. It tells of a bunch of boys marooned on an island who revert to primordial savagery. Now we have the Hunger Games which tells of a post-America where kids chosen by lottery are forced to fight to the death in an arena for the entertainment of a spoilt Capital city. Scary stuff, particularly when you watch the fundamental right defining the right and what is right.
The two Battle Royale movies are brutal in the extreme with each death lovingly portrayed. The knife in the forehead, the explosion of the necklace blowing off a head, the arrow slowly penetrating a dying body, the guns and scythes cutting and destroying life. You see every detail of the human fear as the reality of death overtakes the student.
I have not yet seen the movie of the Hunger Games—-later this week—but the books are no different, glorying in the horror and fascination of impending death.
I wonder why we read this, why we watch it, why we write about it? Are we no different, no better than the Roman mob at the games where people died for their entertainment and pleasure? Are we simply bored and this stimulates us? Do we do it to probe into the worst that humans can do? To understand why Syria kills with abandon as Russi supports them? And people write glowing reports of investing in Russian mining. Or Canadians flit off to Cuba to enjoy the beauty of the people in an institutionalize prison?
I confess to being clueless. I cannot find the answer in myself or in the writing of this posting. I studied The Lord of the Flies with grim determination—it was South Africa under apartheid and we wondered at the liberal university if this gave insight into the government we hated.
I read the three books of the Hunger Games with avidity. It is well written; it is entertaining; it is intriguing; it is a warning to fight those who think they know best and want to exercise unfettered power; that is what I told myself. But the fascination was deeper and more scary.
Thus too in watching the DVDs of Battle Royale. No culture excuse; no deep understanding; just visceral gut feeling; disgust; hatred; and fear of a society that gives rise to such horrors and the fact that there are just too many of them for this to be a passing fad, an aberration, a deviation.
Please give me your insight.