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4 Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Local TV News Reporters
This post was initially published on BostInnovation on July 28, 2011. To read the original post there, click here. Today – thanks to social media, smartphones and other new digital communications platforms and tools – what the savviest of consumers are asking of their favorite brands is almost as much as they'd expect from
The Importance of LinkedIn Recommendations
Given my outgoing personality, my obsession with the latest news and the fact that I've always been an early adopter of new communications tools, it's no surprise that I've been enamored with social media from the get-go. I can't tell you how excited I was to launch my own blog in early 2004, where I've written nearly
10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter, Parts 1-10
If you've been reading this blog for the last few months, you know I've been writing a series of posts on copywriting. Similar to the approach I took with my series on social media, I've looked at copywriting from a 30,000-foot level, focusing on the principles you need to be mindful of if you want to
10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media, Parts 1-10
If you've been reading my blog for a while, you already know about the "10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media" series of posts I started writing on January 13 of this year and recently concluded on April 5. But what you wouldn't know is how much I've been looking forward to stringing these posts together into one
The Importance of Character in Social Media
By now, most people involved in marketing, advertising and PR have put aside any skepticism they may have had about social media and are using such online communications vehicles as blogs, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to reach out to and engage with others. They're finally realizing that – as I've said before here on this
How to Plan a Social Media Strategy in 12 Steps
Unless you're a popular celebrity or a big, iconic brand, a lot has got to come together in order for you to succeed on social media. Not only do you need to have an engaged, loyal audience and something valuable to offer them, you need to be able to maintain a strong social presence by sharing timely, relevant content on a non-stop basis.
There's no rest for the weary on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and other such online communication channels.
If you make the development of a solid strategy a top priority, however, everything else should fall into place. A comprehensive strategic plan articulates the action you're going to take during the course of your campaign. It explains the who, what, where, when, how and why of what you're going to do on social media.
No one plan fits all, of course, but to not have one carved out from the outset is like attempting to walk across a high wire without a safety net below. Proceed at your own risk.
So to minimize the chance of falling short of your expectations, here are a number of steps you can take to put together your own social media strategy, one that you and your colleagues can follow with the utmost confidence.
1. Establish a team.
Such a broad range of skills are required to succeed in social media that it only makes sense, budget permitting, to have a handful of collaborative, cross-functional stakeholders on the case. Marketing. Sales. Creative. Analytics. The more representation you have from all corners of the company, the better.
2. Agree on your objectives.
Are you using social media for thought leadership? Branding? PR? SEO? Or do you intend to increase sales? Develop a list of goals you want to achieve and an accompanying timeline. Make sure every member of your team is on the same page from the get-go, including how you're going to define success down the road.
3. Understand your audience.
In direct marketing, it's understood that a bad offer to a good list works better than a good offer to bad list. Same in social media. If you're not connecting with your constituency, you're wasting your time. Know what makes your customers and prospects tick. The last thing you want is to have your tweets, updates and messages falling on apathetic ears.
4. Research the influencers.
It's one thing to have a large quantity of fans, followers and friends. It's quite another to have a quality audience, a select number of people who have the clout to help spread the word on your behalf to their own respective networks. Identify those who wield the greatest influence in your space and forge mutually beneficial relationships with them.
5. Study the competition.
Something too few brands take advantage of is the opportunity to monitor what others are doing on social media, especially those in similar circles. Don't hesitate to examine the behavior of those who are trying to attract the same customers. What are they doing better than you? What can you learn from their strategies and tactics?
6. Develop your content.
Tap into a library of continuously refreshed content to flaunt not just your knowledge, expertise and unique sales proposition, but your personality as well. Work off a creative brief. Leverage all pertinent assets. Show off your brand in words and pictures. Today, every company is a publishing company.
7. Consider paid activity.
If you're lucky, it may happen, but you can't bank on even your best content to go viral. There's just too much competition for eyeballs, not to mention the fact that social media algorithms aren't working in your favor. Sometimes you have to put your money where your posts are and turn your owned media into paid.
8. Identify your channels.
Don't think you have to be on every single channel to be successful. Don't fall prey to the fear of missing out (FOMO) and spread yourself too thin. Establish a presence where your content has the best chance of being seen. If that's on half a dozen properties or more, fine. But if your audience is only found on Facebook and Twitter, don't lollygag elsewhere.
9. Choose your tools.
While there's a seemingly infinite array of tools at your disposal that will not only support, but amplify your social media efforts, it isn't always easy to differentiate between them. There are tools for everything from curation, publishing and editing to listening, monitoring and measurement. There are tools to help you attract more followers and tools to help you create compelling graphics. Deciding which ones to use is an ongoing chore in and of itself.
10. Deploy your tactics.
Planning is one thing. Execution is another. This is where the rubber meets the road. Don't take your foot off the pedal. Share a strategically sound mix of quality, relevant content – some of it promotional, much more of it conversational. Take advantage of real-time engagement opportunities and respond to others promptly, all the while keeping the human side of your brand front and center.
11. Monitor your activity.
If you expect to succeed in social media, you can't just set it and forget it. You need to immerse yourself in the scene as often as possible. Pay close attention to your audience's reactions. Are they commenting on your content? Do they like it? Do they share it? Thank loyal constituents for their interest and time.
12. Measure the results.
When all is said and done, the bottom line is what counts. Are you realizing your goals? Is the ROI acceptable? Have you seen an uptick in connections, engagement, chatter, traffic, leads and sales? If not, make adjustments. Test and learn well. Fine-tune your strategy until the results not just meet, but exceed expectations.
Note: This post, "How to Plan a Social Media Strategy in 12 Steps," was originally published on ClickZ on October 7, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on October 15, 2014 here.
10 Ways for Health Clubs to Flex Their Social Media Muscles
More than 50 million people belong to over 30,000 health clubs in the United States. They join these clubs to get in shape and stay healthy, to play sports and socialize, to pass the time and relax. When they're working out, they're essentially a captive audience to club owners and staff, there primarily for the exercise, of course, but in the right place and mood for chitchat and conversation.
What about all the time when they're not at the gym? How do health clubs stay in touch with their customers when they're not on the premises? How do they keep them coming back for more action and fun? How do they ensure that they're not both out of sight and out of mind?
Enter social media. Just as they're willing to make a commitment to a membership, many people are glad to cozy up to the clubs they belong to on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like. After all, as fans and followers, they feel a special bond to their third place, their destination of choice if they're not at home or the office.
Today, health clubs, fitness centers and gyms are using social media in a variety of ways to not only attract the attention of prospective members, but to remain engaged with their existing customers. Here are 10 different ways they're flexing their muscles on these online communication channels – and how your facility can, too.
1. Contests. Almost everyone is up for a challenge or competition, especially those who are already motivated enough to work out on a regular basis. Put a prize up for grabs and watch your engagement rates soar. Encourage participation. Ask for fan input. Show people how much you appreciate hearing from them by rewarding them for their feedback.
Example: Wellbridge Athletic Club – Harvard Square on Facebook
2. Inspirational Images. The goal of any post on social media should be to appeal to the audience's interests. If you can strike common ground with your customers and prospects, you can earn their trust. After all, like minds stick together. Memes. Graphics. Visuals. Add a few words of inspiration to a strong image of any kind and you're in your audience's wheelhouse. You have a chance of going viral.
Example: The Bar Method Miami on Instagram
3. Tips. A hard sell doesn't work on social media. People don't want to be promoted to by your account. They want to be informed, entertained and educated. They want your knowledge, expertise and advice. Share everything you know about injury prevention, weight lifting, cardio exercises, running, stretching, nutrition and more. Treat your fans and followers to a ton of terrific tips.
Follow Fitness Formula Clubs's board Fitness Tips on Pinterest.
Example: Fitness Formula Clubs on Pinterest
4. Recipes. Food plays well on social media for a variety of reasons, but mainly because it's such a universal pleasure. Who doesn't like to eat? Pictures of food can be particularly colorful as well, so they stand out in a cluttered news feed. Healthy eating? Now that's the perfect combo for this particular audience, people who can certainly appreciate good food, but who know that food that's good for you…well, that's even better.
5. Profiles. With so many clubs competing for attention, sometimes the best differentiator are the employees behind the scenes. Showcase the human side of your brand. Put those who work for you front and center. Introduce them. Interview them. Include them prominently in your social media stream. Remember that people do business with people, not brand names and corporate logos.
Example: Youfit Health Clubs on Instagram
6. Polls. Do you ask your social media audience for feedback? When's the last time you asked them a question of any kind? If you show an interest in what those on the receiving end of your communications have to say, not only will you boost the level of engagement you have with them, but you may even receive feedback that you can actually use to make your business better.
Example: Balance Health Clubs on Facebook
7. Promotional Offers. While there should be far less promotional content in your social media stream than informational, educational and other types, that doesn't mean you can't tout your products and services on a regular basis. At least 10% of your content should be driving traffic to your business, maybe more, depending on your audience's receptivity to such offers. Test for yourself. Incorporate discounts and deals into your messaging and see what sticks best.
Get to the gym and join us for a free workout. Then enjoy the rest of your weekend! #weekendworkouts #realresults pic.twitter.com/BWtmWcelxg
— Commonwealth Sports (@CommSportsClub) August 9, 2014
Example: Commonwealth Sports Club on Twitter
8. Customer Service. Using social media to answer customers' questions and keep one step ahead of their requests for support is a great use of these channels. As opposed to a phone call or live chat, it's often a quicker and easier way to put out a fire. Prepopulate your streams with answers to FAQs. Enlist a variety of listening tools – such as Radian6 <
Example: Waverly Oaks Athletic Club on Facebook
9. News and Information. Think of yourself as a publisher or broadcaster with each social media channel representing a near instantaneous way for you to get the word out about what's going at your club. Hosting a road race on the weekend? Talk about it. Changing your hours of operation for the big holiday break? Announce them. Hiring a new fitness instructor? Introduce her. Don't be shy with your updates. Stay top-of-mind with your constituents.
Example: NY Health & Racquet Club on Facebook
10. Philanthropy. Your facility may be involved in a number of different fundraising campaigns already, but you may not be publicizing such benevolence. Are you connecting with those local nonprofits that have a social media presence themselves? Are you leveraging online fundraising sites such as Firstgiving, Crowdrise and Fundly to raise money among your network? Don't hesitate to announce your cause marketing efforts to your social media connections. Doing well by doing good is the best of two worlds.
The Atlantic Club in Manasquan has over 200 participate in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: http://t.co/pJk9OyJuMV via @YouTube
— The Atlantic Club (@theatlanticclub) August 18, 2014
Example: The Atlantic Club on Twitter
Note: This post, "10 Ways for Health Clubs to Flex Their Social Media Muscles," was originally published on ClickZ on September 9, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on September 16, 2014 here.
10 Questions to Ask Your Social Media Audience
Engagement rate. It's one of the most important metrics in social media. After all, you could have a boatload of fans and followers, but if only a few of them are engaging with your content, they're worth next to nothing to your brand.
What you want from your social media audience is a lot of positive chatter and buzz. You want likes, shares, comments, mentions, retweets and replies. The more interaction between you and your constituents, the greater the chances are of them doing business with you in the long run.
Of course, there are many different communications strategies and tactics for capturing people's attention and triggering a response of some kind. You can make a lot of noise and be interruptive. You can get creative and stand out among the clutter. You can pay to play and put yourself in front of more eyeballs. But as any sales and marketing pro would tell you, probably one of the easiest and most obvious methods of engaging others is to show an interest in what they have to say by asking them to share their opinions with you.
Here are 10 good questions you can ask your connections in the world of social media, each of which promises to go a long way toward increasing your engagement rates across the board.
1. How was our performance?
It's one of the best questions any brand can ask its customers, clients or guests. It shows you value their patronage and welcome their feedback. Thank them for their support. Ask if you've met their expectations. If they have anything negative to say, you'll have the chance to turn things around. Any praise you receive is akin to a testimonial that could help you bring in more business.
@cargillcreative Thanks for checking in! How was your night?
— The Harp (@TheHarpBoston) July 22, 2014
Example: The Harp Boston
2. How can we help?
Wondering what to say in that next tweet? Ask your audience how you can be of service to them. They'll appreciate the random words of kindness. Pay close attention to any legitimate criticism, though. After all, according to a recent Lithium Technologies study which you can read about here, over 70% of consumers expect brands to respond to their complaints on Twitter within an hour. So don't hesitate to be proactive on social media. Make yourself available – even on short notice – to your customers and prospects. Respect the immediacy of these channels.
Good morning!! How's your morning so far? Can I do anything to help get you goin? 407-919-1019 @DustinKross http://t.co/nHgqPXGe6g
— 101.9 AMP Radio (@1019ampradio) July 23, 2014
Example: 101.9 AMP Radio
3. Who wants to win a prize?
Contests. Sweepstakes. Giveaways. Provide people with a chance to win something and you'll get their attention. It doesn't have to be an expensive prize, either. You'd be surprised how much demand there is for even the simplest swag, trinkets and tchotchkes. A free t-shirt is like a carrot on the end of a stick. It's incentive to take action.
Want a custom bobblehead of YOU on the @MikeandMike set? Here's your chance!
Bid now in support of @TheVFoundation: http://t.co/6QOwN5Yhgh
— ESPN (@espn) July 15, 2014
Example: ESPN
4. What do you think?
Many people relish the opportunity to express themselves in public. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. It's human nature. Take advantage of this urge to rant, rave, gloat and glorify by taking a poll of your audience. Ask them anything. They'll appreciate the fact that you care more about their thoughts and interests than your own self-gain. They'll be glad to have the forum.
Example: Mohegan Sun
5. Did you know?
Another way to elicit a response from someone is to pique their curiosity. Challenge them with a question they'll feel compelled to answer. Tease them with a piece of trivia that'll make them think twice. Tie the content back to your brand and even better. Any new knowledge you can impart to your audience is bound to be appreciated.
Example: Hewlett-Packard
6. Have you seen this yet?
A question such as this is best accompanied by a photo. You're giving readers a peak behind the scenes, suggesting that they really don't know what they're missing until they've not only seen, but actually tried what you have to offer.
Example: Eagle Mountain House
7. How do you use us?
Crowdsourcing is a way to not only get some constructive feedback on your products and services, but a mass of nice content as well. Consumers are flattered when brands repurpose their pictures and messages. It's a mutually beneficial scenario.
Follow L.L.Bean's board Your L.L.Bean Selfies on Pinterest.
Example: L.L. Bean
8. Are you watching?
More and more people aren't content to merely watch a TV program or live streaming event. They're compelled to use a second screen – their tablet, smartphone or computer – to simultaneously take in the social media chatter about what they're watching. This is a chance for you to engage with some of your most passionate fans while they're especially excited about your programming. Don't miss the opportunity.
RT If you're tuning into the LIVE eviction episode right NOW! #BB16
— Big Brother on CBS! (@CBSBigBrother) August 1, 2014
Example: Big Brother on CBS!
9. What's your favorite book?
Pick a universally popular topic and pop the question. It's that easy. USA TODAY's example below is just one idea. Ideally, your question will be associated with your brand attributes. But if your goal is to simply engage with your connections, any topic will do. Books. Movies. Music. Sports. You name it, they'll respond to it – hopefully.
What's your favorite book? pic.twitter.com/Ql6D0IcBvf
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 1, 2014
Example: USA TODAY
10. What motivates you?
Getting personal with your audience – especially if you're talking about their interests, not yours – can lead them to open themselves up to you. Think like a good psychologist. Your job is to learn more about those on the receiving end without appearing cheesy or contrived. Asking them what motivates them is one way to increase engagement.
Example: Jazzercise Inc
Note: This post, "10 Questions to Ask Your Social Media Audience," was originally published on ClickZ on August 12, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on August 19, 2014 here.
10 Reasons Why You Should Use Vine to Build Your Brand
If your bandwidth is limited, the best social networks on which to set up shop and share are probably going to be sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest, four of the most popular players in the field today.
But if time is not an issue and you really want to make a splash in the social media waters, you should try making videos with the mobile app, Vine.
Sure, with more than one billion unique users visiting the site each month, your potential audience on YouTube is going to be gargantuan. And with over 150 million monthly active users on Instagram, you'd be hard pressed not to experiment there as well, even if your videos can only be up to 15 seconds in length.
If you want to socialize with all the cool kids, however, you can't overlook Vine, where more than 40 million registered users are telling their stories in short, continuously looping six-second videos.
Vine is much more than a shiny, new social toy. It's got a lot more going for it than novelty. Vine presents brands with an innovative, surprisingly powerful way to take advantage of the fact that visual content performs well on social media. If you ask me, there are many reasons why you should use Vine to build your brand. Here are my top 10…
1. It's easy to use. I'm not going to tell you that anyone can create a masterpiece in six seconds, but I will say that you don't have to be a cinematographer to record a decent video on Vine. All you need to do is hold your finger on the screen to record and take it off to pause. It's that simple. You can record straight through uninterrupted or use the stop-motion feature to shoot your own impressively animated shorts.
Example: Samsung Mobile US
2. It's quick to digest. With such a glut of commercial messages competing for your audience's attention, a succinct visual message that can be quickly scanned on the go is about as convenient as it gets for them. It's mobile. It's social. It requires next to no effort at all to experience and enjoy.
Example: Trident Gum
3. It's spur of the moment. The simplicity of Vine makes it possible for you to capture news as it's happening without any preparation whatsoever. It's ideal during live events or when you want to involve others in the action and share an exciting firsthand experience not just on the channel itself, but on Twitter, Facebook and even your own blog.
Example: Boston Red Sox
4. It's convenient. A free mobile app, Vine goes wherever you go as long as you have your smartphone. All it takes is six seconds. Then press share. Vine is the power of real-time – not to mention real simple – videography in the palm of your hand.
Example: American Air
5. It's instructional. Many users have already discovered what a great platform Vine is for show and tell. From cooking to card tricks, gardening to bartending, they're sharing their secrets for doing what they do best, positioning themselves as thought leaders, valuable resources and brands consumers can trust.
Example: Sephora
6. It's entertaining. No question about it, brands and average users alike are experimenting with Vine, recording everything from comedy routines to sports highlights, reality shows to pop culture news, puppetry to live action shorts. They're showing off their lighter sides and amusing their fans in these GIF-like videos with sound.
Example: Oreo Cookie
7. It's engaging. If you think Vine is simply a broadcast channel, think again. From liking to commenting to revining, there's plenty of back and forth among users of this app. One brand, Nissan, even went so far as to incorporate Vine footage created by fans into an ad campaign for its 2014 Versa Note.
Example: Nissan USA
8. It's a creative medium. Vine brings out a little Steven Spielberg in all of us. Because you have such a short time on Vine to get your message across, you may find yourself being particularly resourceful and imaginative. Simplicity plays well, but some of the most successful videos on Vine are ones that are thought out in advance, choreographed, scripted and cast like they're Hollywood films.
Example: Klondike
9. It's promotional. As offbeat and quirky as it may seem to the uninitiated, Vine is actually an ideal channel in which to conduct business. Win your followers over with enough genuinely interesting looping video clips and you've earned their loyalty. Run contests. Show off your team. Take viewers behind the scenes of your work place. Include as much sizzle as steak in your Vines. Don't hesitate to turn up the marketing heat.
Example: Taco Bell
10. It's measurable. Not only do you see how many times people have liked your Vines, you can now get a count of how many times each of them has looped as well. Along with comments and revines, these two metrics provide you with a fairly good gauge for your clips' popularity.
Example: MTV
Note: This post, "10 Reasons Why You Should Use Vine to Build Your Brand," was originally published on ClickZ on July 15, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on July 22, 2014 here.
10 Ways to Build a Social Media Audience
In direct marketing, it's long been said that a bad offer to a good list will perform better than a good offer to a bad list. The point being that without a decent audience, you may as well forget about it. You may have a great product or service, but unless you have a long list of people who are at least prospective customers, even the best marketing efforts in the world probably won't be able to sell it.
That's how it is in social media, too. You can spend a ton of time and money in creating content that absolutely rocks, but if you aren't reaching enough people, your efforts will be in vain and you won't have a chance of going viral. You'll be like the proverbial tree that falls in the middle of the woods with nobody around to hear it. The return on your investment won't be anywhere near satisfactory. You'll be left wondering why you're hearing nothing but crickets while your competitors are hearing the sound of the cash register going "cha-ching."
Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to accumulate a large enough number of followers and fans to make all your activity on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and the like worth it. Here are 10 ways for brands to build a social media audience that is loyal, engaged, and responsive.
1. Point People in the Right Direction.
Unless you're a celebrity or are lucky enough to have an iconic brand name, you can disregard the notion that if you build it, they will come. People won't even know you exist on social media unless you point them in the right direction. Wherever possible – on the wall, in the lobby, on the counter – use signage offline to drive your constituents online.
This sign in the window of the Vineyard Vines store at The Shops at the Prudential Center in Boston draws attention to their presence on Facebook and Twitter.
2. Shout It Out Loud.
Anyone in your organization who's on the speaking circuit should be incorporating into their presentations the fact that your business has a social address. They should strike while the iron's hot. Caught up in the moment, a live audience has an urge to connect with whomever is on stage. Tell them where your brand lives on social media and invite them to join you there.
3. Arm the Troops.
Divide and conquer. There's strength in numbers. Identify those employees who have strong social followings themselves and encourage them to passively recruit on behalf of your organization. Provide them with talking points. Reward them for their thought leadership. The more employees you have spreading the word about your brand's social activities among their own personal networks, the quicker you'll grow your audience.
4. Drop Names.
Why would you even thinking about mentioning someone else in your own content stream? Well, for starters, it's simply good form, especially when you're citing the author of a third-party article that you've chosen to share. Tagging others is also a good way to pique curiosity, attract new followers, and trigger mutually beneficial engagement.
This tweet from the Boston Park Plaza hotel includes several Twitter handles and one hashtag.
5. Showcase Your Social Streams.
Get much more mileage out of your activity on social media by embedding this content elsewhere. There are numerous widgets available from either third parties or directly from channels such as Twitter, Facebook, and even Pinterest that make it possible for you to export your timelines and display them somewhere on your website. Not only does this put your content in front of a broader audience, it increases the likelihood of establishing more lasting social connections among your constituency as well.
The homepage of the Whole Foods Market website includes some of the supermarket chain's social media feeds.
6. Put Others First.
Don't be a brand that only talks about itself. You know the ones. They spend far too much time being promotional as opposed to social. No one is saying you can't toot your own horn on Twitter, Facebook, and the like. I am saying, though, that one of the best ways to attract new fans, followers, and business in general is to be known for helping others in as many ways as possible. Your turn will come.
This tweet from Sullivan Tire provides followers with a good tip about checking their tires' air pressure.
7. Make a Ridiculously Good First Impression.
Are your profile and cover images the right size? Have you written a clear and convincing description of your business that's infused with keywords and hashtags? Did you link back to your website and other social properties? Is your logo featured prominently? Do you respond promptly to questions, comments, and mentions? Do you thank those who share your content with their own constituents? Are you the host with the most gratitude for his or her fans, followers, customers, and prospects?
8. Host a Chat.
Build a faithful community of like-minded followers and fans by interviewing popular guests on both Twitter and Facebook. Like a talk show or panel discussion, a chat is simply two or more people talking about a topic of broad appeal. Promote the event in advance. Use a strong hashtag. Take questions from your audience. Employ an experienced moderator. Become known for bringing people together for education and entertainment at your expense, not theirs. You'll be the center of attention.
This post on The Today Show's Facebook page promotes a live chat with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
9. Give Something Away.
People practically come out of the woodwork to participate in contests. But while offering something for nothing is almost a surefire way to attract a large following, the prizes you're offering should be aligned with your brand attributes. This helps increase the likelihood that any new connections are qualified prospects, not those who are only in it for the swag.
In this Instagram contest by Will Leather Goods, participants can win two bags of their choice from the brand's website.
10. Pay to Play.
Last but certainly not least, there's paid media. In fact, many brands find that allocating a good portion of their marketing dollars for advertising on social media is a necessity, not an option, if they want a bigger audience. With so much competition for eyeballs and engagement, promoting your content and accounts to prospective new followers and fans is a smart way to stand out among the clutter and win over the masses.
This sponsored Facebook post by Coastal.com includes an offer to "get your first pair of glasses free" as well as an invitation to like their page.
Note: This post, "10 Ways to Build a Social Media Audience," was originally published on ClickZ on June 17, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on June 25, 2014 here.
17 Vine Videos of 125 Places to Get a Bite to Eat in the Boston Area
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to explore the nooks and crannies of Boston with my wife, Barbara. Walking around town is one of our favorite things to do together.
My friends and family also know how much I love social media. Using the Internet to connect and communicate with others has been a passion of mine long before it became a thing for practically everyone.
Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. You name it, I'm on it. And that includes Vine, an app which allows its 40 million users to easily record six-second looping videos and share them with the world.
How do I use Vine along the course of my travels? In a number of different ways, all of which you'll be able to see if you take a look at my account here. This (below) is just one way I use Vine, taking a few seconds here and there to capture some footage of the countless restaurants and food spots that dot our city's streets. Which place is your favorite? Take a look…
10 Types of Visuals to Boost Your Social Media Engagement
As a writer by trade, it's not easy for me to utter these words, but I'm not going to lie: On social media, a picture is worth a thousand words.
It's true. Content may be king, but visuals rule. All the latest studies and statistics suggest that images on social media command more attention than text alone.
If you want more likes, comments, shares, retweets, and clicks, you want to include pictures with your social media posts. You want to be more visual.
As Carla Gates says here on her 3 to 5 Marketing Blog…
"Images used in your social media (and by definition, your blog content) are far more attention-grabbing than text or plain old links, more likely to be shared, evoke emotional reactions in viewers (and emotion SELLS), and can portray a lot of information quickly and more efficiently than text."
Not to mention the fact that both Facebook and Twitter have redesigned their platforms recently to place much more emphasis on images. So you really have no excuse whatsoever not to be going picture crazy on social media right about now.
Chalk it up to the Pinterest effect.
In the process of optimizing your social media presence with visuals, of course, you need to be mindful of choosing the right sizes and dimensions. Other than those specifications, though, you actually have a lot of great options. For example…
1. The Product Shot. Every business and brand has a product to display. Whether you're selling ice cream or insurance, software or footwear, you have something tangible to exhibit in your social media stream. Don't just talk about what it is you have to offer your audience. Show it off in pictures. The more, the better.
Example: Best Buy on Facebook
2. The Team Picture. Did you play organized sports growing up? How many team pictures do you have from back in the day? That's the idea here. Only, don't feel you have to wait for a special occasion. Take pictures of your colleagues on a regular basis and share them with your audience. People do business with people, so do everything you can to humanize your brand.
Example: American Idol on Twitter
3. The Spotlight on Your Fans. Everybody likes attention, especially from someone they look up to and admire. Shine the spotlight on your followers and fans. Give their photos a much bigger stage by repurposing them on your own social channels. Retweet them. Tag them. Make it all about them, not you. Give them their 15 minutes of fame and they'll give you more loyalty in return.
Example: Boston Red Sox on Twitter
4. The Peek Behind the Scenes. Provide your constituents with something they can't get anywhere else, whether it's exclusive photos, a big reveal, or something they wouldn't see otherwise. Take them backstage. Invite them into your inner sanctum. Show them how your products are built. Give them a look at what goes on behind closed doors. You get the picture.
Example: Downton Abbey on Pinterest
5. The Action Shot. While a team picture may be posed, your action shots are of you and your fellow team members actually doing what you do best. It's doesn't matter whether you're speaking at a podium, swinging a baseball bat, or sitting in front of a computer writing the great American novel, it's still a performance. Capture your people in the act of doing their jobs and share it with your audience.
Example: U2 on Instagram
6. The Graphic. Creating your own visuals from scratch is a great way to add variety to your stream and call more attention to your posts. Use PowerPoint, Photoshop, PicMonkey, and other such tools to add special effects and text to the images you share. You could even go so far as to create your own infographics. A combination of data, words, and pictures is one of the best ways to increase your engagement and reach on social media.
Example: Nordstrom on Facebook
7. The Spontaneous Shot. One of the best benefits of using social media for marketing is the power it gives you to connect with your constituents in real time. Capitalize on the extemporaneous nature of these channels by sharing impromptu, candid shots of you and your team in the moment. What's happening now is far more credible and commanding on social media than old news or posed pictures.
Example: MTV on Facebook
8. The Moving Picture. No, I didn't forget about video. In fact, most businesses and brands consider it a must-have ingredient in their content marketing mix. YouTube, Vine, Instagram – each of these channels presents an abundance of opportunities for creating original footage which can eventually be cross-promoted across the social landscape. Don't worry about going viral. Worry about one watch at a time. If people like it, they will share it. And you'll have a hit on your hands.
Example: Maxwell House on Twitter
9. The Collage. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a small handful of them is, well, perhaps priceless. Take advantage of Twitter's new mobile feature and upload up to four photos in a single tweet. Or you can use one of many good photo-editing tools available – such as the aforementioned PicMonkey – to cobble together the quintessential collage.
Example: General Electric on Twitter
10. The Selfie. Last, but certainly not least, there's the type of visual made famous by Ellen DeGeneres at this year's Oscars ceremony and most recently Boston Red Sox superstar David Ortiz at the White House. There's the selfie. Thanks to these two celebrities, the ubiquity of the front-facing camera on smartphones, and people's seemingly insatiable desire for attention, the selfie is an incredibly hot trend you don't want to ignore.
Example: The Today Show on Instagram
Note: This post, "10 Types of Visuals to Boost Your Social Media Engagement," was originally published on ClickZ on April 22, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on April 30, 2014 here.
Smile, You're on Social Media
When Ellen DeGeneres pulled together some of Hollywood's biggest superstars for a group shot at the Oscars this year, it may have been a moment of spontaneous fun, but the resultant tweet of this selfie will go down in social media history.
Having been retweeted over 3.4 million times at last count, this one epic tweet from @TheEllenShow easily surpassed a tweet of President Barack Obama's as the most retweeted ever.
Statistics aside, this tweet served to underscore a point that social media practitioners like me have been preaching to businesses and brands for a long time. Lighten up.
You heard me. Take your work, not yourself, seriously. If the likes of Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey can strike a pose for a rather silly selfie at their industry's most prestigious awards ceremony, you can afford to let your hair down every once in a while, too.
In fact, if you really want to be a success on social media, you can't afford not to be extemporaneous and extroverted, transparent and true to whom you are in real life, not just your corporate persona. Anything less and you'll get lost in the clutter, overlooked and ignored for your self-promotional messages, business jargon and corporate speak.
It's the importance of the social in social media that far too many marketers, especially those in the B2B sector, still underestimate. Like trying to force a square peg into a round hole, they're trying to repurpose the same strategies and tactics that may be working just fine on other channels. They're trying too hard.
Those who get social media know that it's far easier to simply be themselves on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like. It's far more effective, too. They know enough to be more impromptu than contrived, more conversational than scripted. They know that anything they can do to reveal their authentic selves will pay off more often than not.
That's not to say they don't have a solid social media plan in place, a plan steeped in the best practices and strategies associated with marketing and social commerce. Before doing anything, they do everything they can to learn the makeup of their audience, assess their competition, create new content, brainstorm ideas and identify the channels on which they'll be promoting their products and services.
But not only does this plan include a comprehensive editorial calendar for sharing news, information and offers, it includes plenty of opportunities for real-time marketing and constituent engagement. It includes a mandate to be as candid as possible and to put a big smile on the brand.
After all, like any good sales person knows, people want to do business with someone they like and trust, someone who's down to earth and who has a good sense of humor. Don't be the brand who hides behind a logo and pretends to be omnipotent. Be humble, open-minded and responsive to your audience's needs.
For instance, take a look at how much fun JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) has on Twitter. Despite being at the beck and call of a demanding public, they couldn't be any more chipper, convivial and conversational on this channel. Cracking jokes, singing people's praises and extending warm wishes to one and all, they're as warm and welcoming an account as you'll find on Twitter.
Then there's Constant Contact on Facebook. Not only do they go out of their way to provide a wealth of educational resources to their audience, they do so with pleasure. So much of what they share is informational and inspirational. So much of what they say is helpful and cheerful.
Finally, there's Marketing Profs on Instagram, a feed that "celebrates all things marketing." Check it out. You'll see a nice collection of photos from their many special events, conferences and activities, including a handful of great people shots, too. And they always look like they're having fun.
What about you? Are you having a good time on social media? Are you smiling on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like? Are you ready for your prime-time selfie?
Note: This post, "Smile, You're on Social Media," was originally published on ClickZ on March 25, 2014 here and on the Overdrive Interactive blog on April 3, 2014 here.


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Lynch, Thomas, Jr. (1749–1779), an American planter and patriot. He was a member of the Second Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Lynch was born in Berkeley County, South Carolina. He attended Cambridge University in England and studied law in London. Lynch was a member of the first South Carolina state assembly in 1776 and was a captain of the state militia. He sailed for France and was lost at sea in 1779.
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President Jefferson sent a couple of his representatives over to France to buy the city of New Orleans. What he got was the Louisiana Purchase, a patch of land that nearly doubled the size of the young nation.
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Henry, Patrick (1736-1799), a United States orator and statesman. He was one of the first American patriots to speak out against taxation by Britain.

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- keyboards formed Breckerville in 2102, to perform for a Jazz Education Series.
The band performs arrangements based on the original compositions of Randy & Michael Brecker -The Brecker Brothers Band, Mike Mainieri of Steps Ahead as well as original compositions by Breckerville. The incredible talent and versatility of the musicians of the era, collectively transcended the boundaries of Jazz music forever. Breckerville continues to push the musical boundaries by embellishing on the complex improvisational, rhythmic, and harmonic writings through live performances.
Breckerville brings the music of this Era in American Jazz , to a new generation of listener !
Brief Timeline of the Music :
The Brecker Brothers Band was formed in the early 1970's. Randy Brecker added his brother Michael to secure the bands first record deal, Randy and Michael performed sensationally together, and collaborated on a huge repertoire of music until Michael Brecker left the music world, after a heroic battle with Leukemia in 2007.
Steps Ahead formed in 1979 by vibraphonist & composer Mike Mainieri to perform at the Brecker's club "Seventh Avenue South" located in the West Village of NYC. (
The picture above shows the building today)
. The orginal lineup was Mike Mainieri-vibes, Michael Brecker-tenor saxophone, Steve Gadd-drums, Don Grolnick-piano, Eddie Gomez-bass, and Kazumi Watanabe -guitar.
Steps Ahead and The Brecker Brothers Tribute under the leadership of Randy Brecker continue to perform worldwide, and the bands have featured a world-class line up of musicians including: Richie Morales, Peter Erskine, Rodney Holmes, Dennis Chambers, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl (Drums) George Whitty, Jim Beard, Warren Bernhardt, Elaine Elias (Piano) Mike Stern, Steve Kahn, Dean Brown (Guitar) Neil Jason, James Genus, Will Lee, Richard Bona, Victor Bailey,Tony Levin (bass).


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The lawsuit comes a year after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the proposal of AES Sparrows Point LNG to build the terminal on the site of the former Sparrows Point shipyard.
The lawsuit comes a year after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the proposal of AES Sparrows Point LNG to build the terminal on the site of the former Sparrows Point shipyard.
"We are asking the court to look at the entire record and see the error of FERC's decision, which was arbitrary and capricious," Washington attorney Bart S. Fisher said. "We are basically suing FERC and asking it to reverse its decision."
Representatives of AES, headquartered in Arlington, Va., could not be reached for comment on Friday.
FERC approved plans for the terminal and an 88-mile pipeline to Pennsylvania, provided that AES meets 169 conditions. The company has yet to fulfill most of them.
Nearly a dozen government, business and community groups, including the state of Maryland and Baltimore County, filed appeals of the FERC decision. The five-member panel declined to hear any of the appeals. The lawsuit Friday, filed by the community group LNG Opposition Team, is also asking the appeals court to review that FERC action.
Fisher said a reversal of the approval would "drive the final stake" into a project that has drawn strong opposition from government officials and neighborhood groups. Among the few supporters are area labor unions that are eager for the jobs the project would create.
"We will remake the same arguments" against the proposal, Fisher said. "It will have adverse environmental impacts and it will increase the threat of terrorism. It will also pose a direct threat to the safety of those who live near it."
He said he expects Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Baltimore County to pursue similar appeals, but neither was able to confirm that Friday.
Among the conditions AES must meet is receiving a water-quality permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment. MDE has denied approval of the company's plan to dredge the Baltimore harbor to depths that could handle the large LNG tankers, saying that it would remove significant amounts of contaminated sediment and create a dead zone by depleting oxygen vital to aquatic life. AES has also not submitted a plan for disposal of the sediment.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., upheld MDE's denial of the permit in December. That same court denied AES' petition for a rehearing on the water quality issue last week.
"This is all good news," said Guido Guarnaccia, a founding member of the LNG Opposition Team. "We have had two strikes against AES, and with a third one, we can tell this company to take a hike. Our whole community is rejoicing."
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Zen Garden
great colors, shadows
very nice
Very simple . . . very zen. Makes me want to visit a zen garden.
Fantastic photo.
Great! I love it.
Just thought you'd appreciate knowing that I've blogged it here...
Thanks for making it ccl!
i think this image would be perfect for this new group called Serene!
Ciao, sono amministratore di un gruppo chiamato ~ Serene ~. Ci farebbe piacere aggiungere l'elemento al gruppo.
Very nice! Thank you for this =)
Ciao, sono amministratore di un gruppo chiamato esoteric-photos. Ci farebbe piacere aggiungere l'elemento al gruppo.
Ciao, sono amministratore di un gruppo chiamato Deep Stuff - Inspirational Photos. Ci farebbe piacere aggiungere l'elemento al gruppo.
Thanks so much for sharing this photo. I made a print and it looks just right on my bedroom wall!
Blogged here, thanks! notbuying.blogspot.com/2008/05/zen-tv.html
Wonderful picture.
This wonderful photo was seen in
Wow, I love it!!! wonderful picture.
a few comments about using images from flickr.
I'd like to remark here that because it's easy to find this or other images in high resolution on the web, it doesn't mean people can steal it or use it for free!
it's still a copyrighted image, and it's embarassing how many people used this image from this author without respecting at all the attached Creative Commons license:
AttributionNoncommercialNo Derivative Works Some rights reserved
PRFL!!! (PLEASE read the F***G license) before using Creative commons images you find on the web for personal or even commercial products.
Please be at least not so dumb to use it in commercial products if the license says "NO COMMERCIAL", like the man who is selling a book on amazon with this image as front cover! or the guy who used to sell (NOT ANYMORE ;-) a commercial audio-CD with the very same image as cover.
What didn't this guy understand in the license terms "NON COMMERCIAL" ?
The author has been kind enough to let people use this image under creative commons, and I know she is happy with people using it under the license terms, even happier when people leaves a comment thanking her and posting a link to the place on the web where they used the image.
So please: be nice to CC authors, or you won't have many of them in the future.
furthermore... if images like this one are under ©opyright, it's not a great idea to use'em commercially, maybe as cover of books... (you know who you are Mark!).
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Some men admire republics, because orators flourish there most, and are the greatest enemies of tyranny; but my opinion is, that one tyrant is better than a hundred. Besides, these orators inflame the people, whose anger is really but a short fit of madness. Ira furor brevis ist. After which laws are like cobwebs which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.
–Jonathan Swift, "A Critical Essay Upon the Faculties of the Mind" (1707), in: The Collected Works of Jonathan Swift, vol. 5, p. 555 (Derby & Jackson ed., 1861).
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From the April 2015 issue
Six Questions — October 18, 2014, 8:00 pm
Nathaniel Raymond on CIA interrogation techniques.
No Comment, Six Questions — June 4, 2014, 8:00 am
Mark Denbeaux on the NCIS cover-up of three "suicides" at Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp
Estimated cost of the environmental damage caused each year by the world's 3,000 largest companies:
Richard Mattison, Trucost (London)
Two thirds of U.S. teenagers experience uncontrollable rage.
Beekeepers began extracting 1 million honeybees living beneath the siding of a house in New York State.
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"Shelby is waiting for something. He himself does not know what it is. When it comes he will either go back into the world from which he came, or sink out of sight in the morass of alcoholism or despair that has engulfed other vagrants."


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Vanessa Bayer's 'Friends' Impressions Are Without A Doubt The Best Thing You'll See All Day
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Make a difference on Mandela Day in Cape Town
Rob PetersMandela Day 2015 on July 18 marks what would-have been our beloved Tata Madiba's 97th birthday and it's the ideal opportunity to follow this great man's example by channelling your inner charitable spirit. Here are 10 ways you can get involved in the Mother City.
@lovecapetown twitter talksWe love hearing about Cape Town from those who are here, who have been here and want to be here. It is for this reason that we occasionally host a twitter chat and we want YOU to get involved! Here's how.
Theatre review: Mpinga MorningsMpinga Mornings is a one-person play told from the perspective of three Rhodesian-born (now Zimbabwe) characters – a farmer's wife, her daughter and their domestic worker. It spans the time from around the start of the Rhodesian Bush War to the land grabs and beyond and shows the different ways in which each character was affected by these events.
Travel like a local in Langa
Rob PetersWe are always on the lookout for authentic experiences. The word 'authentic' obviously means different things to different people, but I recently found a real authenticity on a tour of Langa.
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Cape Town welcomes #MeetSouthAfrica travel bloggers
Bloggers love South Africa – we know this from our #LoveCapeTown campaign. This campaign saw us bringing four international travel bloggers (@traveldudes @velvetescape @landlopers and @wildjunket) to Cape Town in July 2012 during a social media drive in which Capetonians interacted with the bloggers and their followers, telling the stories of Cape Town and her people.
Ready, steady, go… World Design Capital 2014 in Cape Town
The first call for projects to highlight Cape Town during World Design Capital 2014 is out. The Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Patricia de Lille, officially opened the call for World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 submissions at the Design Indaba Expo on Thursday 28 February, 2013.
Design Indaba inspires Cape Town
A comment from a visitor to the Design Indaba, on what makes Cape Town a great design city. Photo courtesy Ingrid Sinclair Hailed by thought leaders like Michael Wolff and Dana Arnett as the top international design conference in the world, Design Indaba has captured the city this week – the energy was palpable as delegates from all corners of the globe were welcomed into Cape Town's creative heart. Not only was the city's beauty and fabulous weather celebrated by speakers from abroad, but our people also clearly left an impression. Tim Beard of Bibliothèque, one of the UK's top design agencies, said, "The warm hospitality of Cape Town is unsurpassed"


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Man sentenced to 60 years for killing 3-year-old Cape Coral boy
CAPE CORAL - A man convicted in the death of 3-year-old Cape Coral boy Zahid Jones was sentenced to 60 years behind bars in a Lee County courtroom Monday.
Kashon Scott, 31, was found guilty in September of aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse in the 2007 death of Zahid. Lee County Circuit Judge Mark Steinbeck sentenced Scott to two consecutive terms of 30 years each in state prison, with 518 days credited for time served Monday afternoon.
Scott was accused, along with Zahid's mother, Nicole Brewington, of causing Zahid's death. Scott abused Zahid and caused a trauma to his abdomen that caused him to die from the injury several days later, the state argued during his trial.
A Lee County jury did not find Scott guilty of the highest charge that prosecutors filed against him: first-degree felony murder. Aggravated manslaughter is a lesser included crime in that charge.
Scott plead to his own defense Monday, speaking to Zahid's family and friends who filled much of the courtroom gallery.
"To the family, I would like to say I feel your pain," Scott spoke into a podium microphone, facing the judge. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but you have no idea what it feels like for me to stand here accused of something I did not do. From day one, I've claimed my innocence."
A friend of Janice Jones, Zahid's grandmother, urged Steinbeck not to go easy on Scott.
"My life is not the same; I am constantly thinking of Zahid," said Maltoria Chancey, Jones' friend, choking back tears as she addressed the judge. "It's something that you can't describe. I feel Kashon Scott should be sentenced to the full extent of the law." Scott received the maximum penalty for the crimes of which he is accused, despite Scott's and his attorneys' efforts to plead a lesser sentence from Steinbeck.
"I'm very pleased that we got the maximum sentence after a long trial," said Francine Donnarummo, lead attorney for the State Attorney's Office, after Scott's sentencing. "I think it was very appropriate."
Michael Reiter, lead council for Scott's defense, said he plans to appeal the decision.
"I think (the maximum sentence) is absurd given the type of case that this was," Reiter said.
Reiter argued Scott was not the primary caretaker of Zahid and his siblings Jack and Jessica Nash, that Nicole Brewington was, and the charges Scott was convicted of didn't prove he caused the "fatal blow" that eventually killed Zahid.
Steinbeck told the courtroom he considered arguments from both the defense and prosecutors in determining his verdict.
Brewington is accused of aggravated manslaughter of a child in Zahid's death and is scheduled to begin trial Jan. 5.
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Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm, full-time position will work 40 hours per week.
Purpose: Schedules home visits for nursing, therapy, home heath aide, HCBS, and homemaker services for patients. Monitors/ensures appropriate visit frequency and timeliness as well as the presence of related orders. Adjusts schedule according to patient need and availability and caseload of staff. Communicates schedule changes to patients and staff.
Report To: Supervisor, Clinical
Supervisory Responsibility: Guidance: The job requires the provision of occasional guidance and training to others. The job does not have formal or official supervisory responsibilities.
Materials Responsibility: Very Limited. Work requires very limited responsibility for material resources. Examples of resources could include personal work materials, supplies or equipment, or very small amounts of cash. The employee has a very limited or indirect amount of control over these resources. Although human error might require the repair or replacement of materials, usually the cost of correcting these errors is minor. The variety and volume of resources is also very limited. Problems associated with material resources are very uncomplicated.
Key Relationship: Co-workers/Health System Employees, Outside Agencies/Other Health Care Providers, Patients, Families, and Significant Others.
Education: High school graduation or equivalent
Field Of Study: N/A
Licensure/Registration: N/A
Experience: More than 1 year experience required.
Interpersonal Skills: Interaction is with a variety of people inside or outside the organization. Communications are often difficult or stressful in nature. Contact with others involves complex, detailed and often sensitive topics. The job requires a high degree of interpersonal skills to deal with a range of complicated problem situations. Interactions involve gaining the agreement of others.
Physical Demands: Low Intensity: Work requires a light or low amount of physical exertion. The job requirements for manual dexterity or physical manipulation are limited. The need for physical stamina and endurance is of minimal or low significance. The degree of physical strain produced on the job is somewhat taxing, but does not usually produce fatigue and require periods of rest. Freedom of movement exists, and the job does not confine the employee to a prescribed body posture. Body movement usually involves sitting and intermittent walking. The position exceeds these low intensity demands rarely, 10% of the time or less.
Working Conditions: There are little or no adverse environmental conditions to consider.
Possible Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens: None


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Kevin Gordon played live from WCBE's Studio A on April 12th, 2013. Check out the great performance and interview again!
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Bulgarian FC President Arrested in Greece over Cigarette Smuggling in UK
The news was spread by Bulgaria's Ambassador in Athens Andrey Karaslavov.
The detention came after the authorities in London issued a European writ of arrest and extradition of the sport boss.
The British police seized a huge cigarette consignment in London about a month ago as it was sent by a company, part of whose shares were owned by the arrestee.
As the police detained Hadzhiivanov in the northern part of Greece, the case is now being handled to the Bulgarian consul in the city of Thessalonike.
- » Police in Brussels Intercept Ecstasy Import Scheme from Bulgaria
- » Ex Bulgarian Public Official Gets 2 Years in Jail for Leaking Wiretapping Data
- » Bulgarian Court Increases Prison Sentence of Pazardzhik Imam over Preaching Radical Islam
- » Bulgaria Police Detain 35 Migrants in Downtown Sofia
- » Bulgaria Seizes 5.6 Kg Heroin at Border with Turkey
- » Bulgarians Arrested in UK over Drug Trafficking
"It poisons the whole economy, creates a class of rich nono's, while the rest of the society has to survive with peanuts. "
You forgot to mention that this is heats up inflation and worsen the trade deficit, as there is no production nor value added behind that money. So the poor Bulgarians get hit twice fold, while the "biznes"men order the next black Jeepowe...
The sad thing in this story is that the Bulgarian authorities are totaly absent in this case. The EU arrest order was issued in the UK, the arrest took place in Greece. That man should have stayed in BG, he was safe there.....
Off course they know in Sofia that there is an enourmous black market in cigarettes, creating millions in criminal money, that is laundried through all possibles ways, from real estate, black salaries, through ... sportsclubs! It poisons the whole economy, creates a class of rich nono's, while the rest of the society has to survive with peanuts.
This story makes it also clear how deep these authorities are corrupted. Apparantly the prosecutors where not informed about the EU arrest order! A very easy way to get away with it. But what can you expect, if even the president's election campain is sponsored by this type of creatures. Criminals remain safe in BG. Unfortunatly, this time there were the Greeks....
Ausdiva, your comment is inpolite and stupid; It is of no help to your country, on the countrary.
Clearly you are a mutrachka (it rhimes with prostachka). Next you will be telling me that the mutra has a few university degrees from reputable universities (all paid for, cash and carry). Why are you defending a criminal like that mutra? He is a greedy, dishonest criminal bastard. Piss off with your stupidity.
Dear imsoobored, if you are so bored perhaps you should go and maw some lawns or wash some cars yourself… As this is clearly what you do for a living. Calling someone a �dumb f*ck' without knowing them is quite ignorant of you, as I have actually met the Koce on a few occasions and can tell you that he is intelligent, well educated, bright and has more personality that you could ever wish for! Another thing, just because people like you can't make it in Bulgaria and have chosen to leave, there is no need to be nasty to people who are smart enough and able to make �decent money' in Bulgaria! And for your information, not everyone making a decent living in BG is a criminal!
Of course this guy is a mutra, how do you think a dumb f*ck like him can get any "decent money" if not by criminal activity? If he was here in the US, he would be mowing my lawn or washing my car. But it seems in Bulgaria there are endless opportunities for criminals to make "decent money".
Kotze Matza is a notorious mutra, don't be fooled by the suit and tie.


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Tootoo was expendable and unused in the playoffs this year. I thought the guys played a nice physical series with him out of the lineup this year and can do the same next.
If we are to get tougher move some old bodies and bring Bickell/Clarkson types in to bang near the net.
If you thought Detroit played "a nice physical series with him out of the lineup", then you need to get those prescriptions checked. I think I saw Abdelkader deliver a few big checks, but outside of him, nothing. Tootoo should have played in the playoffs, and will be a valuable asset next season. It's hard to win playing soft hockey, especially in the East, as much as Holland would have you believe otherwise. It's a physical game. Detroit would be wise to try and find that balance they had in the 90's, like Chicago has now.
Bickell is going to demand more money than he's worth, and I don't see Holland going after Clarkson, as much as I would like to see him in a Wings uniform next season. I hope I'm wrong, but this is Holland we're talking about...
- GMRwings1983 likes this


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What a weekend! Fresh off the plane from AJ and Kaiti's Las Vegas wedding this past Saturday, and couldn't wait to get to editing the pics. 72 more words
Tags » Jennifer Hodges
Kynlee's First Christmas
This adorable little 6 month old (and my twins' BFF) is about to celebrate her very first Christmas, so I was thrilled to get some photos of her and her gorgeous family…as well as a few lifestyle shots of their daily routine. 21 more words
Autumn Family Shoot
OK – How sweet is that little face? Tonight I got to spend the evening with this darling two year old and her sweet parents. How pretty are those ringlets and blue eyes?! 17 more words


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PBS NewsHour | Tuesday, August 16, 2011 | PBS
Duration: 54:35 (Full Program)
Program: PBS NewsHour #10133
Broadcast Date: Aug. 16, 2011
Tonight on the program, we look at how Europe's economic woes could affect both the U.S. and the global economy. Also, the latest uptick in violence in Iraq sparks new fears of instability and we get a report from Japan five months after the tsunami. Finally, Paul Solman examines the growing income inequality gap and we discuss Google's bid to buy Motorola.Tags:
PBS NewsHour | Why Attacks on... (#10533)
Why Violent Attacks on Humanitarian Workers Are on the Rise in Pakistan 04:54
PBS NewsHour | Sandy Recovery... (#10530)
Sandy Recovery Continues at Slow Pace as People Wait for FEMA Relief 12:43
PBS NewsHour | News Wrap: U.S.... (#10530)
News Wrap: U.S. and World Welcomes 2013 with New Year Celebrations 02:33
PBS NewsHour | Shields and... (#10528)
Shields and Brooks on the 'Fiscal Cliff' Precipice, Remembering Gen. Schwarzkopf 12:19
PBS NewsHour | Revisiting... (#10528)
Interview with Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of "Operation Desert Shield" in 1990. 02:35
PBS NewsHour | Spate of Attacks... (#10524)
Spate of Christmas Eve Attacks Recharge National Conversation on Gun Violence 02:02
PBS NewsHour | Northern Mali... (#10541)
Northern Mali Faces Political, Economic Crisis as Islamists Gain More Control 07:42
PBS NewsHour | Obama Steers... (#10541)
Obama Steers Second Term Agenda Towards Government Debt, Gun Violence 12:22
PBS NewsHour | Fundraising... (#10541)
Fundraising Rules Change for 2013 Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies 08:40
PBS NewsHour | Web Innovator,... (#10541)
Internet Innovator and Activist Aaron Swartz, 26, Faced Legal Trouble 06:13
PBS NewsHour | FAA Acts After... (#10540)
With Increasing Number of Boeing 787's Electrical Problems, FAA Compelled to Act 05:42
PBS NewsHour | Shields and Brooks... (#10540)
Shields and Brooks Discuss U.S. Mission in Afghanistan, Cabinet Nominations 11:41
PBS NewsHour | Glimpsing Gadgets,... (#10540)
Glimpsing Gadgets, Cutting Edge Technology at Consumer Electronics Show 06:55
PBS NewsHour | Shields, Brooks on... (#10540)
Shields, Brooks on Trillion Dollar Coins, 'Zero Dark Thirty,' Hall of Fame Woes 06:39
PBS NewsHour | U.S. Military to... (#10540)
After Talks With Afghan Leader, U.S. Military to Expedite Shift to Support Role 09:22
PBS NewsHour | Robots Play Part... (#10538)
Talking Robots Play Part in Therapeutic Treatment for People With Special Needs 09:01
PBS NewsHour | Hall of Shame:... (#10538)
Baseball Hall of Shame: Players Tied to Steroid Use Denied Honors 05:13
PBS NewsHour | Weighing... (#10538)
Anticipating Withdrawal, Weighing Options for U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan 08:09
PBS NewsHour | High Court... (#10538)
High Court Examines Whether the Police Need a Warrant to Test Blood Alcohol 06:33
- Watch more video from this program
Post Date: August 17, 2011


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SAVAGES Writer Don Winslow Honored with 2012 Raymond Chandler Award
According to Deadline.com, Savages author Don Winslow has been honored with the Raymond Chandler Award, to be presented this December at the Courmayeur Noir Festival 2012.
"I have always been convinced that there is a strong interplay between noir and cinema," Winslow said, "and personally I think that my writing has been heavily influenced by the big screen unconsciously because I grew up with the films, because they have been consciously contaminated by the work of directors like Truffaut, Fellini and Woo. Films like Eight and a Half and La Strada encouraged me to take risks with the creative structure of my novels, especially Savages."
Read the original report here.
Oliver Stone directs the film adaptation of Winslow's Savages, which was voted one of the ten best books of 2010 by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times and publications around the world. Winslow's other celebrated novels include The Power of the Dog, The Winter of Frankie Machine, California Fire and Life, Death and Life of Bobby Z, The Kings Of Cool and the Neal Carey and Boone Daniels series.
Past Raymond Chandler Award winners include John le Carre, John Grisham and Michael Connelly.
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When you think of burlesque, you often think of the cheesy version that's become super-mainstream. But when you think about burlesque at the Harvard and Stone, you need to push that mainstream vision right out of your head.
While a band of gruff looking blokes plays rock jams, you might see some ridiculously hot girls dancing on the bar or on scaffolding in this dimly lit place – but instead of being all tassels and giggles, they'll be in tied-up flannel shirts, ripped stockings and bandannas. In short, the burlesque dancers here are hot and not to be messed with.
Dancers aside, the Harvard and Stone is a pretty cool spot – it's full of a mixture of preppies and hairy hipsters, and they'll just as happily serve you a pint as they will mix you a martini.
But, can we get back to the dancers now?
The Harvard and Stone is at 5221 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles.


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Updated 10/08/2013
The most refined place in Bairro Alto to start off your evening (or perhaps end it) is the relaxed Solar do Vinho do Porto. It's in a formidable old building where you can sink into an armchair and sample port wines from a list of several hundred. You can also buy bottles to take away.
Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara 45, Lisbon, 1250-237, Portugal
Website: www.ivdp.pt.
Updated 10/08/2013
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The Balt Windsurfer, Model 44162 (Gray) is a compact and affordable station for all your equipment. Well-named because it can be easily moved from room to room, this unit can handle anything. Durable, sleek and stylish, this station will fit well in a school, office or factory.
- Two shelves keep everything within reach
- Holds a monitor, keyboard, CPU and printer in less floor space
- Keyboard platform pulls out, and includes a slide-out mouse platform for right- or left-handed use
- Adjustable CPU holder can hold even larger CPUs securely
- Security rail safeguards equipment
- Sturdy steel construction with gray powder-coated finish
- Includes four 1.5" casters (2 locking) for mobility


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The changing face of the Appleton
Published: Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 27, 2005 at 11:24 a.m.
Many positive changes are taking place at The Appleton Museum of Art. With the help of our parent organization CFCC, the Museum is moving forward with renewed vigor. Some of these changes are obvious, others are not. Most obvious will be the transformation in the interior of the building. Renovations help spruce up the museum and provide new life. Gallery spaces have been augmented and collections moved.
Last fall, with the installation of the horse sculptures by American artist Deborah Butterfield, some of the 19th century European collections of the museum were moved to the original building, but most were placed in storage. When the Butterfield exhibit left town just after the first of the year, the buzz of activity began. Our talented facilities staff created a new look to the Edith-Marie Appleton wing, and it now awaits its first exhibit as a transformed space.
From April 23 - July 3, the museum will host "Alvar: A Retrospective." This contemporary artist Su-ol Mu-os-Ramos Alvar is a native of the Catalonian region of Northern Spain. This exhibit - a collaborative project between the Appleton Museum and Nuance Galleries in Tampa, Florida - spans three decades of his work (mid-1970s - present) and illustrates the variety of his media and subject matter. Painting, sculpture and not so typical lithographic prints demonstrate the range of his skill. Alvar's subjects and themes range from allegories and personifications, to landscapes and still-lifes, as well as work that illustrate music, literature, and the senses.
Alvar speaks of his own work in terms of it reflecting the world, as well as his personal origins. He has endeavored to address the passions that he believes are universal in the human community, and at the same time, he expresses the sensibility of his own culture, that of Catatonia, in northern Spain.
With this official acknowledgment of his importance to the history of Catalan art, Alvar assumes a well-earned place among the regions other 20th-century greats: Pablo Picasso, Isidre Nonell, Salavor Dal', Joan Mir-, Antoni T^pies and Antoni ClavZ.
Alvar was born in 1935 in the coastal fishing village of Montgat on the outskirts of Barcelona. He attended the prestigious Sant Jordi Art School in Barcelona, and by 18 he won a significant prize, the "Alhambra de Granada," which provided him with a scholarship allowing him to travel and paint throughout Spain. As a result of another competition, the Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona added Alvar's work to their permanent collection.
By the age of 22, he had his first one-person show in Barcelona, and by 24 he was studying in Paris. After a decade in Paris, he returned to his mother-country where he still resides today. However, Alvar will visit Ocala and see his works displayed in the Appleton. This exhibit provides a rare chance to see Alvar's work displayed in an American museum.
The Appleton is excited to bring Alvar's work to the central Florida region. We are making great efforts to reach out to the diversity of our audiences. While changing exhibits provide the opportunity to illustrate this variety, one cannot forget the diversity inherent in our own permanent collections. Asian, African, Pre-Columbian, Mediterranean antiquities, European and American Art, as well as international contemporary art, there is something for everyone.
Complementing the exhibit "Alvar: A Retrospective," we pull from our own collections to showcase our growing collection of international contemporary art.
"Internationally Contemporary: Selections from the Permanent Collection" - also on exhibit through July 3rd - illustrate works by contemporary artists from Europe, the Middle East, South America, Canada, and Australia. Meanwhile, if you prefer more traditional paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts, visitors will be pleased to find the reinstallation of the museum's European collections.
In honor of our upcoming 20th anniversary, we have reinstalled these collections into the original structure of the museum on the second floor. For those of you who have supported the Appleton for many years may appreciate finding these collections returned to their previous home. For those new to the facility, we hope that this reinstallation will provide a fresh look at the creations available in the community.
For additional information call The Appleton Museum of Art at (352) 291-4455.
Dr. Leslie Hammond is Coordinator of Curatorial Affairs/Chief Curator at The Appleton Museum of Art
The Appleton once again teams up with The Sircle Inc. to co-sponsor the Appleton's second annual celebration of Black Music Month. Last year honored the best in jazz piano and featured Kenny Drew Jr and the Gainesville band Encore. This month promises to be as compelling with the music performed ranging from Fats Waller to Ray Charles.
In the arena of lectures, events and films, the exhibition Alvar: A Retrospective forms the backdrop for a month of robust programming highlighting the Central and South American cultures that Spain brought to the world's attention.
The Appleton has one of Florida's best collections of Pre-Columbian artifacts and we are privileged to have University of Florida art historian Dr. John Scott visit us in June to shed light on their significance. His presentation is titled, "North and South Peru's Pre-Columbian Art: Differences or Dialogue?"
While most observers see a strong difference in the styles and subject matter of the Classic Pre-Columbian art from the north and south coasts of Peru, both share many elements of their Central Andean Culture Area. Dr. Scott will show images of the pottery and metalwork of Moche and Nazca cultures to point out shared elements beneath their superficial differences. The Appleton's permanent collection is particularly strong in these areas.
Video presentations about artists Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali and two in depth documentaries on pre-Columbian Incan civilizations complete program offerings in June.
This summer the Appleton Museum also brings to Ocala two of the best stories of art history ever brought to the screen, The Story of Painting and Sister Wendy's American Collection, by Sister Wendy Beckett, the internationally renowned art historian. The Story of Painting features more than 450 masterpieces chronicling the developments and movements in the history of painting over the past 800 years.
This will be a delightful way to spend Sunday afternoons in July. Sister Wendy's American Collection, an exclusive this August, shows us that museums exist in the context of other museums. In this series Sister Wendy explores the wider riches of six of America's greatest museums: Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, Forth Worth's Kimbell Art Museum, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Each one-hour episode focuses on one of the featured museums, showcasing its treasures from around the world.
A review of the great works held at these museums will draw attention to the treasures we have at the Appleton. All in all, this is a compelling way to spend a summer and encompasses series of programs you will not want to miss.
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DAC showcases regional photography talent
Like last summer's inaugural photography show at Durango Arts Center, "Exhibit REPRISE" may take everyone by surprise –...
Arts Briefs
- Opening exhibit features book arts, printmaking
Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., will host an opening reception for the new exhibit, "Strata: Books & Prints by Carol and Donn Rawlings," from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
The exhibit runs through Aug. 29. Donn Rawlings grounds his printmaking in a texture of dense mark-making that evolves into patterns as a way to discover meaning. Carol Rawlings' one-of-a-kind, handmade, calligraphic books seek openness and balance as text is joined to color and gesture.
For more information, visit www.DurangoArts.org.
Artist lecture on photography, life
In conjunction with "Exhibit 970 Reprise," the Durango Arts Center will host "A Nature Photographer's Journey to Durango," a lecture by featured artist Frank Comisar of Durango's Scenic Aperture Gallery, from 5 to 7 p.m. July 11 at the...
Go to complete Arts Briefs
More Visual Arts
'Ladies' night' at Lost Dog
April brings entertainment for everyone
Film highlights art from Works Progress Administration
Buy furniture for a good cause
Downtown art is 'Doggone Beautiful'
Patterns passed through the generations
Alexi Hubbell's photography show "Sirens," which opened Friday at the Lost Dog Bar & Lounge,...
April at the Fort is filled with a flurry of activities as we say good-bye to graduating seniors and this school year.
Eighty years after the federal Works Progress Administration put unemployed artists to work creating sculptures and...
Move over, Tim McClellan, it's time for other Durango furniture makers to shine.
Need to spruce up...
What better way to start the new month than with local art? Take a stroll along Main Avenue for First Thursdays Art...
A couple of generations back, quilting was a utilitarian pastime. Quilters patched together and stuffed fabric to warm...


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Trees, Water & People, Fort Collins, CO, USA
I began volunteering with Trees, Water & People in July of 2009. I started-out typing notes in Spanish for one of the office people and slowly progressed to entering data for t-shirts/trees and then thank you mailings, of course. The people were always friendly, and the office was always buzzing. I think it is neat that the group is in a medium to tight space and works so well together - a little colony of ants passionate about their work. Stuart, Richard, and Heather are the
More Feedback
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the people.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
friendly and unique.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
do a lot for those disenfranchised in other countries as well as the United States.
Ways to make it better...
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
(is) the uncertain future of the economy in terms of receiving donations. I am, however, not qualified to make an assertion about the finances of the organization.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


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Annecy 2012 Short Competition Selections Announced
The Annecy festival has announced their 2012 shorts and television competition selections as well as revealed their official 2012 poster.
The Annecy festival has announced their 2012 shorts and television competition selections as well as revealed their official 2012 poster.
Animation historian Adam Abraham will join curator and host Jerry Beck at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art's "Madcap Modernism: Mid-Century Cartoons from UPA and Beyond" on Friday, March 30, 2012, at 7:30pm.
Adam Beckett's tragically short career as experimental animator and budding effects master are celebrated in a collection of his restored films.
AniFest celebrates the centennial of Czech puppet Master Jiří Trnka with the dedication of AniFest 2012 to the magic of film puppets.
Aardman Animations, Harry Potter, the Quay Brothers, Gorillaz and The Gruffalo's Child are among the winners at the ninth British Animation Awards (BAAs) held Thursday at the BFI Southbank.
Quattro Media launched its distribution division with the acquisition of distribution rights to 16 animated short films by DNA Productions.
The Hong Kong Animator Filmmaker Society will celebrate 60 years of Hong Kong Animation with a full schedule of exhibits and events at the 2012 edition of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART).
Adam Abraham's new book smartly tells the story of UPA's meteoric rise, eventual decline and lasting artistic and creative impact still felt today.
The annual Ursa Major Awards, for the best anthropomorphic ("funny animal") literature and art of the year, is now open for voting for works produced during the calendar year 2011.
A new brand identity was unveiled for The Fund for Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace with a viscerally engaging animated video created by Creative Director Eitan Chitayat, Lobo of Brazil, The Ebeling Group, Birdo Studios, Wicked Music, Sweet Sound and Firefly Pictures.
Special Guest: OIAF Animators' Picnic 2011 - Part 2
It's the FFAF Pre-Holiday Holiday Spectacular as Joel and Alan continue to bother more legends of international animation trying to eat, drink, and be wary at the Ottawa International Animation Festival 2011, Part 2. PLUS, backstage hijinks and hosting recap of the OIAF 2011 Closing Ceremonies.
Minneapolis-based ad agency Carmichael Lynch recently tapped broadcast design and animation studio motion504 to help create an inspirational animated short for Fueling Good, a charitable giving program by CITGO.
New Zealand animation house Simmonds Bros created a series of animations some time back for the NZ Ministry of Health that have now been translated into Croatian.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) added to its roster of more than 90 Genie Awards on Thursday, with the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television naming "Romance" as the top Canadian animated short film for 2011.
It's baa-ack! The days are getting longer and warmer, but the real sign of spring's incipient arrival is of the return of the New York International Children's Film Festival.
Michael Cawood and Michaela Copikova have been named as the second quarter winners for AniMazSpot 2012.
Aardman Animation has teamed up with Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment to create DC's World's Funnest, a series of original animated shorts that will be a part of DC Nation, a full hour of exclusive kid's programming and shorts based on DC Comics characters.
Each year on the Oscar Showcase Tour, our day at DreamWorks is always great. The studio goes out of its way to provide a full day of demonstrations, a great lunch with executives and a packed screening of the nominated shorts. Of all the stops on the tour, DreamWorks always shares the most detailed and intimate look at films in progress, which for an assembly of animation directors and producers, is always a welcome treat. This year was no different.
Project 48 Machinima is looking for filmmakers from around the world to make a 3-5 minute short film from scratch -- write, shoot and edit in only 48 hours.
Fresh from our morning at the ARL, we were greeted in the lobby of Disney's whimsical animation building by Stephanie Morse, Talent Development Coordinator. She ushered the nominees into the screening theater for a quick introduction. Then, leaving the lunchtime crowd to watch the nominated shorts, our band set out on a fast-paced tour of the neighboring Disney lot.
Producer John Davis has picked up the rights to "Archetype," a sci-fi short directed by Aaron Sims, with plans on developing it into a feature.


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For more high-profile interviews, stunning photography, and thought-provoking features, subscribe now to Vanity Fair magazine.
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Clemson coach Mark Elliott announced Tuesday he will retain Shawn Cobey, Chris Bostwick and Adrain Mann on the track & field staff.
Cobey, the interim coach last season, will be the program's director of operations, according to a release from Clemson. Bostwick will be an assistant coach in charge of the jumps and Mann will assist Elliott and the other coaches during the transitional period.
"Shawn was in the interim position," Elliott said. "I'm lucky to have someone like him to be our director of operations. It makes my transition a lot easier. He can make me look better if things are done ...