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A system for managing message volume and timing, which permits messages from multiple sources to be spaced apart over time, with the pacing controlled in part by the type or priority of the message. The system permits the volume of messages to be reduced by aggregating messages according to a set of rules and by discarding or delaying messages that are sufficiently similar and sent too close together. In addition, the system allows message sources to be notified when a recipient has not received a message within a designated time period. The system can be implemented as a centralized pacing system or through use of a data storage system accessible by the message sources.
1. A method for managing electronic messages comprising the steps of:
storing for one or more message recipients message managing information, wherein the message managing information includes counting or timing information used in determining when to deliver electronic messages from a pacing system to each of the recipients;
receiving from a message source a request for information about one of the recipients;
using the message management information to send to the requesting message source the requested information;
receiving from the message source a request to update the message managing information; and
updating the counting or timing information of the message managing information in response to the update request.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. A method for managing messages comprising the steps of:
receiving at a pacing system at least two different messages intended for a recipient from one or more sources; and
spacing delivery of the at least two different messages over a same channel to the recipient according to a pacing algorithm, wherein spacing delivery is performed after receiving the at least two different messages.
6. The method of
each of the at least two different messages includes a priority; and
the step of spacing delivery includes spacing delivery of the at least two different messages to the recipient according to a pacing algorithm that considers the priorities of the messages.
7. The method of
a first message of the at least two different messages includes an expiration date;
the method further comprises determining that the first message should be delivered before the expiration date of the first message; and
spacing delivery comprises delivering the first message sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but the first message is not delivered immediately.
8. The method of
9. The method of
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. The method of
13. The method of
14. The method of
15. A method for managing messages comprising the steps of:
receiving one or more electronic messages intended for a recipient from one or more sources, wherein the one or more electronic messages comprises a priority, wherein the priority has a value selected from a plurality of levels;
spacing delivery of the one or more electronic messages to the recipient according to a pacing algorithm that considers the levels of priorities of the one or more messages.
16. The method of
17. The method of
18. The method of
19. The method of
20. The method of
a first message of the one or more electronic messages includes an expiration date;
the method further comprises determining that the first message should be delivered before the expiration date; and
spacing delivery comprises delivering the first message sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but the first message is not delivered immediately.
21. The method of
22. The method of
23. A method for managing messages comprising the steps of:
receiving one or more messages intended for a recipient, wherein a first message of the one or more messages has an expiration date;
determining that the first message should be delivered before the expiration date of the first message; and
spacing delivery of the one or more messages to the recipient according to a pacing algorithm, wherein spacing delivery comprises delivering the first message sooner than what would be provided for by the pacing algorithm, but the first message is not delivered immediately.
This invention relates to methods and systems for managing online and other communications.
With the growth of use of the Internet, more and more people have access to e-mail, and more and more entities use e-mail to communicate with customers, potential customers, or other people of interest. In, for example, a marketing context, companies periodically send e-mails to customers with new product information, special offers, company news, or other information.
As a result, recipients find themselves receiving more e-mails than they want to read. Recipients may get angry at the sender, may "opt-out" of further mailings (if that option is available), or may simply stop reading the mailings. Thus, the benefits from sending mailings are reduced and recipients may not get information they otherwise would have found useful.
According to the present invention, message volume and timing is managed, preferably for both messages from a single message source and messages from multiple, independent message sources. In one embodiment, a centralized message pacing system is used, which regulates when messages are sent to recipients. In another embodiment, each message source uses a commonly-accessible data repository to determine when it sends messages, so that the timing of messages from each message source is coordinated.
The invention permits messages to be spaced at regular or other periods, depending on the type of message, its priority, or other factors. In addition, the invention permits messages to be combined in accordance with a set of rules, so as to reduce the number of separate messages that each recipient receives. Also, the invention permits the pacing of messages to be monitored, so that if a message is not sent to a recipient within a specified time period, one or more message sources are notified. Either the sender or the recipient can have control over the message pacing, both with respect to the timing of messages and the types of messages.
The invention is applicable generally to various types of communications channels. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is used in conjunction with a marketing system, such as the system described in commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 09/621,913, filed on the same day as this application, entitled "Method and System for Facilitating Marketing Dialogues," which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a representation of a structure for use with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of steps performed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of steps performed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of steps performed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a representation of a structure for use with an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a network includes various message sources 12, a pacing system 14, and a recipient 16. Although only a single recipient is shown, for clarity, it is understood that the pacing system may be applied to multiple recipients. Pacing system 14 includes a data storage system 18, such as a database system, that is used to store pacing and message information. Messages 20 intended for recipient 16 (and possibly for other recipients as well) are sent from message sources 12 over communication paths 22, 24, and 26 to pacing system 14. Although shown as separate communication paths, paths 22, 24, and 26 could all be part of a single network, such as the Internet. The communication paths also could involve wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), dedicated communication paths, or any other communication channel. Or, the message sources 12 and pacing system 14 could be components on the same system, using direct procedure calls or inter-process communications.
Pacing system 14 forwards messages 20 on to recipient 16 over one or more channels 28 according to a pacing algorithm. For example, messages may be delivered no more than once every n time units (such as once every 7 days). The value of n can be different for each recipient, and can vary for different types of messages or different delivery channels. In a preferred embodiment, one channel 28 is an e-mail channel and a second channel is a phone channel. Facsimiles, pagers, regular mail, and any other communication channel could also be included.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, each message 20 that pacing system 14 receives has, in addition to its content 120 (including the identity of the recipient, the recipient's address, and the message to be delivered), a set of delivery properties, including: an expiration date 102 and a priority 104. After the expiration date, the message will be discarded if it has not yet been delivered. Optionally, some messages can have no expiration date. In a preferred embodiment, there are three levels of priority, high, normal, and low, with normal being the default value. Generally, higher priority messages are delivered before lower priority messages. However, the priority can be treated as one factor, along with the expiration date, in determining which message to deliver. Some messages also may be marked as "always deliver," (field 106 in FIG. 2) indicating that it should be delivered before its expiration date, even if that would be sooner than provided by the pacing algorithm. For example, if messages are to be delivered no more than once every 7 days, and an "always deliver" message would expire 4 days after the last message was delivered, then it would be delivered after 4 days. Preferably, the 7 day period would be restarted after the "always deliver" message is sent. Optionally, messages can be marked as "urgent" (field 108) and delivered immediately, regardless of when the last message was delivered. An "urgent" message may or may not re-set the delivery timer.
According to one embodiment, pacing system 14 will accept each message it receives from each message source 12. Other than with "always deliver" or "urgent" messages, pacing system 14 then waits until n time units after it sent the last message to recipient 16. Pacing system 14 then considers all messages that have not been delivered and have not expired. The message properties are then used to select a message to deliver, For example, pacing system 14 could select the message with the shortest expiration date, using priority as a tie-breaker. Or, pacing system 14 could select the message with the highest priority, using expiration date as a tie-breaker.
Also, combinations of these and other properties of the message can be considered. For example, the recipient could designate certain senders as higher priority than other senders. In addition,.pacing system 14 can treat message channels individually or in combinations. Thus, messages sent by e-mail may have no effect on the timing of telephone calls (and vice versa), messages sent by e-mail and telephone calls could be treated together for timing (that is, no call is made or e-mail sent until n days after the last call or e-mail), or some combination of these extremes could be used. For example, calls could be separated by at least 14 days and e-mails could be separated by at least 7 days, with the added requirements that an e-mail cannot be sent for at least 3 days after a call and a call cannot be made for at least 4 days after an e-mail. As another example, message timing can be based at least in part on categorized message types.
Instead of a centralized pacing system, a central pacing storage system 214 can be used, as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, each message source 212 sends messages directly to recipient 216, through channel 222 or channel 224. For example, channel 222 could be an e-mail channel and channel 224 a phone channel. Although only two channels are shown, it is understood that more channels could be used. In addition, each message source 212 is connected to pacing storage system 214 over network 226. Of course, it is understood that network 226 and one of the channels (such as e-mail channel 222) could overlap (if, for example, both use the Internet). Pacing storage system 214 maintains for each recipient 216 message managing information, such as a record with the value of n (the timing between messages) and the date the last message was sent to that recipient. If the value of n is global for all recipients (or a group of recipients), then it is understood that its value may be maintained for each recipient without storing separate instances of the value for each recipient. Where appropriate, pacing storage system 214 may maintain records of the date the last message was sent on each channel or in each category.
When a message source 212 is ready to send a message to a particular recipient, the message source checks with pacing storage system 214 to determine when the last message was sent and the timing interval n. Or, message source 212 may make a request for whether a message can be sent to the recipient, in which case pacing storage system 214 would calculate whether the current date is greater than the date the last message was sent plus the timing interval, and respond to message source 212. If the new message can be-sent, message source 212 sends the message and informs pacing storage system 214, so that the date of the last message can be updated. If the current time is less than the timing interval since the last message was sent, then message source implements a pacing algorithm to determine when to try again. For example, the message source could wait until the end of the interval and then check again. Or, if this is an "always deliver" message, the message source would wait until the message is about to expire and then send the message.
The message gap can vary based on the priority of the message. For example, the message gap for a high priority message could be 3 days (that is, 3 days since the last contact of any priority), with the message gap for a normal priority message 7 days, and the message for a low priority message 14 days. Also, the message gap can vary based on the prior message. So, for example, a low priority message can be sent 7 days after a high or normal priority message, but not for 14 days after a low priority message.
In a preferred embodiment, pacing system 14 uses storage system 18 to keep track of the message gap or gaps (which can be a global value, or personalized for each recipient), and the following information for each recipient: Tlast (the date of the last contact, which could be never); Tnext (the earliest date at which the recipient can be contacted); and Smsgs (the set of messages to be sent to the recipient). For each message, pacing system 14 records the arrival date, so that messages with the same priority and expiration date can be processed according to a "first-come, first-served" algorithm.
One way for the pacing system to decide, as each new message arrives, whether it should be sent immediately or placed in the data store, is shown in FIG. 4. A message arrives at step 310. Pacing system 14 then determines (step 312) whether the message is marked "urgent." If so, the message is sent (step 314) and the process ends (step 316). It is assumed, with this example, that urgent messages do not cause the timer gap to be reset. If the message had not been marked urgent, the pacing system looks up the last contacted date (Tlast), at step 318, and determines if the recipient had previously been contacted (step 320). If the recipient had not previously been contacted, the message is sent (step 322). The pacing system then updates the last contacted date (step 324), looks up the message gap (step 326), and updates the next contact date (Tnext) at step 328. The process then ends (step 330). However, if the pacing system determines at step 320 that the recipient had been contacted, then the message is inserted into the database by updating Smsgs (step 332). The process then ends (step 334). Alternatively, the lookup message gap and update next contact date steps (steps 326 and 328) can be performed if the recipient previously had been contacted. In this case, those steps preferably would be performed after inserting the message in the database at step 332. With this alternative, the pacing system would not "wake up" (as discussed below) unless a message is waiting in the database.
This process also can be implemented in a number of other ways. For example, the system could let the next contact date have a value of "immediately" when the last message gap has expired (or no messages previously have been sent), and use that value at step 318 (instead of the last contacted date) to determine whether a message should be sent. Similarly, the system could check whether the next contact date is prior to the current time. Or, a separate flag (such as a "window open" flag) could be tested at step 320 to determine whether a message can be sent immediately.
Using timers or periodic queries, pacing system 14 "wakes up" when the next contact date arrives. The pacing system then determines which message to send, then resets the message dates.
One way to implement this process is shown in FIG. 5. At step 410 the process begins. The pacing system first deletes expired messages, at step 412. Then, the pacing determines whether any active messages remain (step 414). If not, then the system deletes the last contacted date (step 416), so that when a new message arrives it will be sent immediately. The process then ends (step 418). If, at step 414, the system determined that one or more active messages remained, the messages preferably are sorted by priority, expiration date, and arrival date (step 420). Alternatively, other selection processes can be used. After sorting the messages, the system sends the highest priority message (step 422). The system then updates the last contacted date Tlast (step 424), deletes the sent message from the set Smsgs (step 426), and updates the next contact date (Tnext) at step 428. The process then ends (step 430). If, instead of checking (at step 320 of FIG. 4) the last contacted date, the system checks for whether the window is open, then step 416 could be omitted. Or, if at step 320 the system checks the next contact date for an "immediate" value or value in the past, then step 416 would be replaced with updating the next contact date to the immediate value, or omitted.
Alternatively, with either of the above systems, to select which message is sent (and when the message is sent) the system (the pacing system, where a centralized pacing system is used, or each message source where a centralized storage system is used) could assign delay times based on the message properties and a random number. In this alternative, the system sends messages during an open window period. The window is open if the last message was sent at least n time units previously, where n is the message gap. The message gap can be the same for all recipients or can vary by recipient. Otherwise, the window is closed and the message is delayed until a point in time shortly after the window is expected to open. If the window is still closed after the delay, the process repeats.
With the use of an open window period, because each message is processed individually, the length of each message delay is staggered, so that messages with a higher priority "wake up" before messages of lower priority. For messages with equal priority, the delay is adjusted so that those with shorter expiration dates wake up before messages with longer expiration dates. For messages with the same priority and expiration date, a random factor is used to ensure they do not wake up at the same time. In a system with a single engine or processor executing the programs for sending messages, it may also be the case that only one message is processed at a time, which will lead to one message being processed first, and the other message then waiting until the window re-opens. Preferably, the wake up time (Twake) is determined using the following algorithm:
where Topen is the time that the window opens, calculated as:
and where Texp is the expiration time (that is, the expiration date of the message) and where [priority weight] is 0 hours for high priority messages, 2 hours for normal priority messages, and 4 hours for low priority messages. Alternatively, a simpler algorithm employing only some of these factors, could be used, or a different algorithm could be used. Also, the algorithm can consider the message channel as well (as discussed above), so that messages in one channel (such as e-mail) are considered independently of messages in another channel (such as phone calls or facsimiles), or so that prior messages in one channel affect when messages can be sent through another channel.
One way to implement this selection process is shown in FIG. 6. The process begins at step 510, when a message arrives or a message wakes up. At step 512, the system determines if a message is marked "urgent." If it is, the message is sent (step 514) and the process ends (step 516). If, at step 512, the message had not been marked urgent, the system determines (step 518) if the message has expired. If so, the process ends (step 520). If not, the system looks up the last contacted date (step 522) and the message gap for this recipient (step 524). The system then checks (step 526) whether the current date is greater than the sum of the last contacted date plus the message gap. If so (or if the recipient had not previously been contacted), then the message is sent (step 528). The system then updates the last contacted date (step 530) and ends (step 532). If the current date was not greater than the sum of the last contacted date plus the message gap (that is, the window is closed), then the system waits (step 534) until the window opens, then returns to step 518. This ensures that the current message will be processed before another message that wakes up while the system waits. The window could be closed, for example, because another message had been sent since the wake-up time for that message had been calculated. Alternatively, if the window was closed, the message could go back to sleep for a specified time period and the process could end, which could mean that another message will be processed before it if the other message wakes up first.
In addition to determining the timing of messages, in a preferred embodiment the pacing system can be used to manage message volume. Message volume management mechanisms include aggregating messages, discarding similar messages, and stimulating messages. Thus, volume management can be used both to reduce and to increase the number of messages, depending on the message volume.
For aggregating messages, as shown in FIG. 7, messages can be assigned the additional properties of type 610 and topics 612. A message type indicates the kind of content contained in the message, such as informational, advertisement, or cross-sell. The message topics indicate the subjects that the message contains, such as the type of product to which an offer relates. The message topics also can refer to the source of a product or offer, where information or products from different sources may be offered.
The pacing system, in this example, still accepts messages from the message sources. Given a pool of messages, pacing system 14 can select a subset of the undelivered messages and combine them into a single message to be delivered at one time. To do this, pacing system 14 is configured with a set of rules and templates for combining messages. The rules could be, for example, "no more than two advertisements in a message," "at least one informational item in a message," and rules preventing certain message topics from being combined in a single message. For example, a rule might ensure that information about a new humidifier is not sent along with information about a new dehumidifier. These rules would work with the selection rule to determine which messages are combined into the single message. The templates describe how to format the messages. For example, informational items are placed on the left side and advertisements are placed on the right side, or two advertisements must be separated by some other type.
In addition, messages can be identified as carriers or tag-alongs (field 614 in FIG. 7). Tag-along messages are placed in a priority queue or queues. When a carrier message is about to be sent, the message source checks the tag-along queue(s) and selects one or more items to add to the carrier message in accordance with a set of rules. The rules could, for example, limit the number of tag-alongs per message or the types of tag-alongs that can be combined in a single message, and could prevent tag-along messages with certain topics from being combined with certain carrier messages or tag-along messages of specified types or topics. The templates, in this case, may describe how to format the carrier message relative to the tag-along messages, and the tag-along messages relative to each other.
Optionally, messages also can identify the channel or channels (field 616) over which a message can be sent. The channel identifier 616 may be used, for example, to determine which messages to aggregate, so that the pacing system will aggregate messages being sent over the same channel. Also, the channel identifier 616 can be used so that the pacing system can choose one of several channels to use for message delivery. This may apply, for example, to optimize aggregation or to minimize the delay before a message is sent to a particular recipient. In one embodiment, channel identifier 616 is used to determine the channel by which to send a message when the delay periods over different channels are different. Optionally, where multiple channels are identified, other fields (such as priority field 604) can have an entry for each channel.
Where recipients have the ability to "opt-out" of receiving certain messages or it may otherwise be determined that a message should not be sent to a recipient during the delay period before a message is forwarded to the recipient, messages also may be assigned a permission check property 618. Permission check property 618 can be used, similarly to expiration date property 602, to determine when a message should not be sent. For example, in a centralized pacing system, if permission check property 618 is true, the pacing system checks whether a participant has opted out of a message before sending the message on to the recipient.
For discarding similar messages, the pacing system can apply a set of precedence rules. For example, the pacing system can have a rule that a message is discarded if another message of the same or a similar type (or on the same or a similar topic) was delivered within a particular time period. Alternatively, this type of rule could be used to delay a message, so that two messages of the same or similar types (or topics) are not sent within a specified time period.
While the preceding volume management functions reduce the volume of messages (or the volume of similar messages), it may also be desirable to stimulate the sending of messages when a specified time frame has elapsed without any messages being sent. Thus, in addition to storing a minimum period between messages, the pacing system -can store an upper threshold period. If the upper threshold period is exceeded without a message being sent, the pacing system can notify the message sources.
Although some of the message volume management functions have been described in terms of a central pacing system and some in terms of a pacing storage system, it should be understood that the functions could be implemented with either type of system or a combination of the two.
While there have been shown and described examples of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, the invention can be implemented with a push system, a pull system, an inbox or outbox system, or any other message delivery system. Also, timing periods could be adjusted so that, for example, all e-mails are sent on a particular day of the week or month, or low priority messages are sent only on a particular day. Furthermore, some functions of a central pacing system can be combined with some functions of a pacing storage system (allowing, for example, some messages to be sent directly from the message sources to the recipients) as part of an overall pacing system. Moreover, while some message delivery functions or properties have been described in terms of global properties and some in terms of personal properties, the delivery algorithms can apply the rules globally, at an individual level, or at a group level as desired. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.
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Posted by Ajd. on 06/30/2014
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LaLa Anthony borrowed Angela Simmons' style during her visit to "106 & Park" with a hot pair of boots, but did Angela wear them better?
While promoting her new movie Baggage Claim LaLa dropped by BET's video countdown show, which is hosted by Angela! For her appearance, she slipped into a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti Ester Thigh High Boots with her denim shorts and t-shirt for a little bit of a rocker vibe.
Angela was seen wearing the same pair of boots weeks earlier as she attended the launch of her website AngelaIAm.com.
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text:
- The definition of their is a person or thing that belongs to or was made by them.
- An example of their is a sister of two siblings.
- An example of their is a book written by two authors.
possessive pronominal adjective
of, belonging to, made by, or done by them: also used before some formal titles [Their Majesties]: often used in connection with a preceding singular pronoun (as everybody, somebody, everyone): did everybody finish their lunch?
Origin of theirMiddle English theyr ; from Old Norse theirra, genitive plural of the demonstrative pronoun replacing Middle English here, Old English hira: see they
adjectiveThe possessive form of they.
- Used as a modifier before a noun: their accomplishments; their home town.
- Usage Problem His, her, or its: "It is fatal for anyone who writes to think of their sex" (Virginia Woolf). See Usage Notes at he 1, they .
Origin of theirMiddle English, from Old Norse theira, theirs; see to- in Indo-European roots.
- (possessive) Belonging to, from, of, or relating to, them.
- they will meet tomorrow at their convenience; this is probably their cat
- (possessive) Belonging to someone of unspecified gender.
Usage notes
- For notes on the usage referring to a person of unspecified gender, see the usage notes for they.
- It is important to distinguish "their" from "there" and "they're". "Their" signifies ownership. "There" designates a place (compare here). "They're" means "they are".
- It should also be noted that this is an exception of the "I before E, except after C" rule, as the combination of "ei" in the middle of the word is not after a "c".
From Middle English, form Old Norse.


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This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina has paid tribute to the 'unbelievable' talents of team-mate Fernando Torres.
The Spanish striker was at his awesome best over the weekend as he helped the Reds to a 3-2 victory over West Ham.
Torres bagged a brace at Upton Park, inspiring Rafa Benitez's side to a third consecutive success in the Premier League.
Reina was mightily impressed by his countryman's showing in the capital, but insists everyone at Anfield is aware of what the 25-year-old frontman is capable of.
"We knew Fernando would score," he told the Reds' official website.
"We all have 100 per cent confidence in him and we trust him always. He is always working hard for the team and he always creates space for the other players for them to score.
"His first goal was unbelievable. His turn was fantastic and he showed his quality."
Saturday's victory over the Hammers marked Reina's 150th league appearance for Liverpool, and the Spaniard hopes there are many more to come.
"I hope to play 150 more games for this club," he said.
"I'm very happy the team won and this is a special club. It's a pleasure and a privilege to play in front of the Kop and our wonderful supporters."
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
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News Section: Business and Financial
Bairds Market Notes: Week of 11/26/12
Weekly Market Notes
November 26, 2012
Dow 13009 - S&P 500 1409
The equity markets enjoyed a strong rally last week, gaining more than 3.5% and recovering nearly half the losses since the October peak. The rally was sponsored by an oversold condition, continued good news on housing and optimism that the fiscal cliff will be avoided. The technical underpinnings of the market also improved significantly. Last week witnessed two sessions where advancing volume outpaced declining volume by a ratio of 10 to 1 or more. This suggests the downside momentum, in force since mid-October, has been broken. The rally was broad based with an uptick in industry groups within the S&P 500 to 46% from 44% the previous week. In addition, the S&P 500 Index moved above resistance at 1375 and that area once again becomes support.
From here, upside progress is expected to slow given the market is no longer oversold and the lingering uncertainty surrounding the economy next year. December tax related selling often weighs heavy on the market into the middle of the month, which could be especially problematic this year given the likelihood that capital gains taxes will increase in 2013. The bottom line, stocks are expected to move into a trading range of 1375 to 1425 on the S&P 500 over the next few weeks. Historically, the traditional year-end rally enjoys the best gains the final two weeks of December.
The strongest sectors include financials, consumer discretionary, industrials and health care. Considering that Bernanke has indicated that the Fed will keep interest rates low for the next two years, the longer-term outlook for dividend paying stocks remains positive. Short-term measures of investor sentiment were mixed last week. Improvement was found in the NDR sentiment poll and Investors Intelligence data. The VIX and CBOE equity put/call ratio showed no sign of investor pessimism. Overall, the sentiment statistics support the potential for a trading range environment for stocks.
- Ten Day Put/Call Ratio declined to 100% last week from 106% previous week. This indicator is on a buy signal (80% is bearish and 95% bullish). The Three Day CBOE Equity Put/Call Ratio plunged to 63% last week from 81% the previous week and 78% two weeks ago. This indicator is now considered neutral (64% is considered bearish and 72% bullish).
- The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), which is considered a reliable gauge of investor psychology, fell to 15 last week from 16 the previous week and 17 two weeks ago. The latest VIX readings indicate investor complacency (16 is considered bearish and 23 bullish). The best rallies since 1996 have occurred with VIX readings above 25.
- American Association of Individual Investors (AAII): The latest survey shows a rise in the bullish camp to 36% from 29% previous week. The outright bears fell to 41% from 49%. This indicator is currently rated neutral. We would need to see twice as many bears than bulls to trigger a buy signal.
- Investors Intelligence (II) tracks the recommendations of Wall Street letter writers. The bullish camp fell to 37.2% from 38.7% the previous week and 43.6% two weeks ago. There were 34% bulls at the June 2012 low. The outright bears among the advisors fell to 27.7% from 28.7%. This indicator is rated neutral with a buy signal triggered when the bulls and bears approach 30%.
- National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM): Exposure to equities by aggressive money managers remained unchanged last week at 67%. This indicator shows a lot of optimism among aggressive equity managers. The NAAIM data is considered bullish when exposure drops below 30% and bearish when it rises above 70%.
- Ned Davis Research Crowd Sentiment Poll moved deeper into the pessimism zone last week, indicating investor psychology has reached an extreme.
The latest economic data continues to be influenced by the destructive storm that paralyzed the East Coast. Housing remains the bright light for the economy. Existing home sales unexpectedly rose more than 2.0% in October. Inventories continue to decline and are approaching levels last seen in the fourth quarter of 2002. The drop in the supply of homes on the market has put upward pressure on prices. The median home price soared 11.1% over a year ago, the most in nearly seven years. This caused confidence to soar among builders and consumers. Bloomberg's Index of Consumer Expectations is now at the highest point in more than ten years. Third quarter GDP is anticipated to be revised upward this week to 2.8% from 2.0%. The revision is due to an upgrade in the nation's trade balance and a rise in inventories. The improvement does not change our forecast of GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 1.8%. We anticipate year-over-year GDP growth to be near 2.0% for 2012 and 2013.
The rebirth of the housing market is a direct result of the lowest mortgage rates in history. The Federal Reserve is expected to keep mortgage interest rates low well into 2013 and perhaps beyond as inflation pressures remain non-threatening. Given the low rate of inflation, Bernanke has room to initiate QE4 late in December or early January. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.15% in October. A jump in food and shelter prices accounted for most of the gain. The largest danger posed to housing is the labor market.
Real average hourly earnings declined 0.2% last month, to its lowest level in four years and down 2.3% since April 2009. The failure of wages to keep pace with inflation argues that consumer spending is unsustainable. Considering real wage growth is negative and the debt bubble deflating, any rise in inflation is not likely to be sustainable. As a result we anticipate the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note to remain range-bound in the vicinity of 1.50% to 2.00% for the foreseeable future.
Sector Rankings and Recommendations
No. 1 Financials = Strongest sector – Buy. Groups expected to outperform: Thrifts & Mortgage Finance, Asset Management & Custody Banks, Investment Bank & Brokerage, Multi-line Insurance
No. 2 Consumer Discretionary = Maintaining strong RS – Buy. Groups expected to outperform: Automobile Manufacturers, Auto Parts & Equipment, Home Furnishings, Education Services, Apparel Retail and General Merchandise Stores
No. 3 Health Care = Sector-level breadth trends strong – Buy. Groups expected to outperform: Managed Health Care, Biotechnology, Health Care Facilities
No. 4 Industrials = Gaining RS – Buy. Groups expected to outperform: Industrial Conglomerates
No. 5 Consumer Staples = Jump into top 5 in RS – Buy. Groups expected to outperform: Agricultural Products, Personal Products, Drugs Retail and Hypermarkets & Super Centers
No. 6 Telecom = RS deteriorating – Hold - Group expected to outperform: Wireless Telecom Services
No. 7 Materials = RS trend weak – Hold. Groups expected to outperform: Commodity Chemicals, Diversified Metals & Mining, Gold and Specialty Chemicals
No. 8 Energy = RS took a hit – Hold. Groups expected to outperform: Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing, Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation
No. 9 Utilities = Gaining in RS– Hold. Groups expected to outperform: Gas Utilities
No. 10 Information Technology = Steep drop in RS – Hold. Groups expected to outperform: Application Software, Data Processing & Outsourced Services and Internet Software & Services
Market Overview
Short-Term Trading range with risk to 1350 and reward to 1425 on the S&P 500
Long-Term Major support is 1100 on the S&P 500 and the reward is to 1470
Article provided by Robert W. Baird & Co. with the authorization of its author for Evan Guido, Vice President, Financial Advisor at the Sarasota office of Robert W. Baird & Co., member SIPC. The opinions expressed are subject to change, are not a complete analysis of every material fact and the information is not guaranteed to be accurate.
Evan R. Guido
Vice President of Private Wealth Management
One Sarasota Tower, Suite 806
Two North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236-4702
941-906-2829 Direct Line
888 366-6603 Toll Free
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Clobhair-cean, on 11 February 2013 - 02:05 PM, said:
Of course, this whole "surviving dinosaurs" nonsense completely bypasses the fact that all extant birds are in fact dinosaurs and is still looking for forms that remained unchanged for 65 million years. This is why young-earth creationists are so invested in all non-avian dinosaur theorising.
Dammit man, I knew I had forgotten to mention something.


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Yuka Yoneda
Yuka is a writer and reporter from Queens, New York. She received her bachelor's in business management from Stony Brook University and holds a degree in exhibit design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. In addition to being the NYC editor of Inhabitat, Yuka is a practicing turophile and a known JeDIY master. Her love of maker culture and crafting has a lot to do with what she's seen around her in NYC, and she believes that if you can make stuff here, you can make stuff anywhere. Yuka's refashioned clothing and DIY ideas have been featured on The Today Show, Glamour, HGTV.com and other websites and magazines. Yuka also writes for Ecouterre and has written for The Daily Green and The New York Times.
Follow Yuka on Pinterest here and on Twitter here.
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Power has been scarce for the Johnson City Cardinals, but they have generated enough runs to stay above water.
Despite hitting just two home runs in their first 12 games, the Cardinals (7-5) are tied for second with the Greeneville Astros, three games behind Elizabethton in the Appalachian League's West Division.
Pitching has fueled many of the victories. The Cardinals' 2.65 ERA is second in the league behind the Elizabethton Twins.
But speed has also helped Johnson City score 4.5 runs per game, which is fourth in the league. The Cardinals lead the league in stolen bases (20) and have only been caught stealing three times.
Base-running's been invaluable for a team that has fewer home runs than three Appalachian League players. Center fielder Vaughn Bryan leads the league with eight stolen bases and two triples, and hasn't been caught stealing.
"As I watch these kids play … we're not gonna be a sit back and wait for the three-run homer type of team," Johnson City manager Joe Kruzel said Tuesday before playing golf at Pine Oaks on the season's first off day. "Vaughn's done a very nice job in the start of his pro career. He's played a very good center field.
"The key's gonna be if he can maintain getting on base and stealing some bases and causing some havoc that way. It really looks like that's our MO right now — guys getting on base and moving them around."
Shortstop Kenneth Peoples-Walls leads the league in hitting (.385) and is tied for fourth with four steals.
"He's hitting the ball hard and putting the ball in play," Kruzel said. "He's done a tremendous job so far offensively."
Catcher Rowan Wick (.300) is the only other Cardinal batting at least .300.
"We've gotta increase our on-base percentage and our slugging percentage has to get better," Kruzel said. "You can't steal first."
Of course, the Cardinals haven't exactly had to light up the scoreboard to win. Johnson City pitchers have allowed three runs or less in seven games, and in another one — a 12-inning loss at Princeton — they allowed three runs through nine innings.
Blake McKnight (1-0) has allowed one run and eight hits in his first 10 innings while striking out six and walking none. Luis Perdomo (1-0) hasn't allowed an earned run in two starts (nine innings). Opening-night starter Alexander Reyes (1-0, 2.16 ERA) has 12 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.
The bullpen has been productive. Norge Paredes and Stalyn Lopez have each allowed no earned runs in three appearances. Reliever Steve Sabatino has struck out 13 in 8 2/3 innings. Short reliever Fernando Baez (1-0) has 12 strikeouts in five innings.
"It's been exciting to watch his development as a pitcher," Kruzel said. "He used to be a catcher. You know, he's just really starting to pitch. He pitched out of two huge jams there in Princeton in (the ninth and the tenth innings)."
Despite quality pitching in the final two games of the series, Johnson City was swept in a three-game set at Princeton, which stretched its losing streak to four games.
"The club is still over five-hundred," Kruzel said. "We're a young team and we're gonna make some mistakes, but just have to limit those. Other than that, I'm very pleased with the way these kids have played. We lost a couple of heartbreakers up in Princeton, but other than that the kids have done a great job of maintaining it and showing up."
Reyes' spot in the rotation comes up when Johnson City visits Elizabethton for one game tonight at 7. The Twins won the league title last year after Johnson City won the previous two championships. It was Elizabethton's sixth title since 2000.
"They're the champions," Kruzel said. "They're gonna be well coached. They're gonna pitch and they're gonna hit. Those are two things they've done over the years, probably for 20 years. … From the stats and where they're at right now atop the division, you're probably assuming they're still doing the two things that have gotten them there for the last 15-20 years."
The Cardinals open a three-game series at home against the Kingsport Mets with a 3 p.m. game on July 4. It's free admission for first responders such as police, firefighters and EMS personnel.
Friday's game is set for 7 p.m., and there will be fireworks afterward. The series concludes with a 6 p.m. game Saturday. It's Military Appreciation Day, and veterans with military ID will be admitted free.


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COLUMBIA CITY — While family members of 5-month-old Taylor Creech continue to come forward with claims of official negligence regarding the drug case that may be connected to the little girl's Jan. 3 death, the Whitley County Probation Department is saying all that could be done was done.
"The Whitley County Probation Department is extremely saddened by the death of Taylor Creech," said Chief Probation Officer Amy Motter Thursday.
"Our sympathies are extended to the entire Creech family."
In a prepared statement submitted to The Post & Mail, Motter said that while under probation supervision, Taylor's mother, Janel Creech, submitted to random drug testing.
"Since August of 2010, four drug tests were administered to Ms. Creech," said Motter.
"The first three did not indicate the presence of illegal substances. The fourth test, submitted to on Dec. 21, 2010, indicated the presence of methamphetamine. The test results were received by the probation department from AIT Laboratories on Dec. 23, 2010."
Motter said a probation violation charge was filed with the court Dec. 30, 2010, and a warrant was immediately issued.
Creech is currently incarcerated on drug charges that were a result of a 911 call Jan. 3.
As a result of that call, Taylor was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police found evidence of a methamphetamine lab in the home and charges have been filed against Creech and 21-year-old Travis Wonderly, who remains at large.
Pending results of the baby's autopsy, no charges have been filed in her death.
Sisters of Janel Creech came forward this week saying they had asked county officials to intervene on behalf of the little girl and had received no response.
Miranda Minear said she contacted Probation Officer Doug Jones on Nov. 11. Minear provided a copy of the e-mail.
In that correspondence, Minear said she feared for Taylor's safety and said she was sure her sister was using drugs again.
"Since Oct. 1, 2010, three home visits were attempted by the Whitley County Probation Department with no success," said Motter.
Meanwhile, another family member has come forward claiming she too had asked for help on behalf of the little girl.
That family member said she called law enforcement in early December with her concerns for Taylor after the little girl was dropped off at her house.
The family member said she contacted police, who told her there were no warrants out for Creech, but that the information would be passed on to the Drug Task Force.
"Upon our department receiving notification that Janel Creech violated her probation, appropriate action was taken in that a probation violation (charge) was filed with the court," said Motter late this morning.
"New criminal charges have also been brought against her by the State of Indiana," said Motter, referring to the drug charges filed early this week.
"The public needs to be aware that the probation department does not have authority to remove children from their homes," said Motter.
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Wed April 18, 2012
As Gasoline Goes Up, Natural Gas Cheaper Than Ever
By Chris Arnold
Originally published on Wed April 18, 2012 4:54 pm
At the same time gasoline prices are soaring, the cost of electricity is falling. The reason? Cheap and plentiful natural gas. A utility in Massachusetts has just sliced rates by 34 percent. Coming out of a recession, the lower electricity prices are quietly boosting the economy and providing some welcome savings to businesses and families.


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Women Defeat Johnson Bible College 89-55
In their first regional game of the season, The Lady Trailblazers came out blazing, running a fast-paced transition game and jumping out to a 40-17 first-half lead. They didn't let up in the second half, winning the game by a score of 89-55. OCU had a balanced attack, led by senior guard Michel Hughes with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. Freshman guard Charie Hicks added 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Freshman guard Tova Black contributed 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Freshman forward Sarah Peters also had a double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 boards. Junior center Ashley Jordan led the Lady Blazers' defensive attack, virtually shutting down Johnson's leading scorer, and blocking four shots.
The win gave the OCU women's basketball team its first victory in NCCAA Mid-East Regional play, and extended their overall record to 9-6. The Ohio Christian University women's basketball team continues regional action this week when they travel to #1 ranked Kentucky Christian on Tuesday, and then they will go back to Tennessee on Friday to face Freewill Baptist Bible College.


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Liz Smith: Fashion Rules Madonna's Lush "W.E."
And more from our Gossip Girl on the Material Girl's crackling new biopic
WALLIS SIMPSON was 'that woman' — a strikingly glamourous and impeccably dressed American adventuress whose attempts to infiltrate English society sparked suspicion, snobbery, ridicule and — ultimately — ostracism," writes Luke Leitch in London's Daily Telegraph.
Naturally, such history as it happened in England in the late Thirties has drawn the attention of singer/actress/movie director Madonna, a woman much interested in fame and its infinite varieties. Her film about the love affair between the then Prince of Wales, about to become King Edward VIII, and the divorced Wallis has an opening date in February, 2012, released by Harvey Weinstein. But a few people have already seen the movie "W.E." and it is having a large impact even before release.
* * *
MADONNA herself is ever controversial, being constantly described as someone whose career is indubitably "over" and with carping critiques about her age, her looks, her clothes and her choices of younger men.
But Madonna is a big favorite for this columnist. I consider her one of the hardest-working, most inventive, strongest and most impressive women in show business. She has sold a gazillion records. Her concert tours are legendary. Her movie career has done better than legend would have it, despite atmospheric jealousy and a determination to deem her film ventures failures before they are even in production. (I cite her hits "Desperately Seeking Susan" … "Evita" … "A League of Their Own" … "Dick Tracy"… her brilliant documentary "Truth or Dare.")
* * *
BUT LET'S put favoritism aside. Let's discuss the fun "fashion" aspect of "W.E." with costume designer Arianne Phillips, possibly up for an Oscar for her exquisite recreation of Wallis Simpson's lavish taste.
Mrs. Simpson's letters to her husband, Ernest, at the time when she was more or less trapped into a controversial impending marriage with the King of England, have convinced many of us that what started out for Wallis as a chance to climb "socially" in Great Britain had turned instead into a runaway event.
Wallis couldn't calm down the King's infatuation and she reaped the world-wind. The positive in all this? She became a renowned fashion inspiration.
Later, trapped in her infamy, Wallis described herself, saying: "I'm not a beautiful woman. I'm nothing to look at, so the only thing I can do is dress better than anyone else." And so she did. And so "she" does in the coming movie.
Costumer Phillips began her research at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, went on to the Musee de la Mode et du Textile in Paris and ended in London's Victoria and Albert. Leading actress Andrea Riseborough has about sixty costume changes in "W.E."– and that includes three wedding dresses.
The most famous of these is the blue Mainbocher dress Wallis wore when in 1937 she married the former King in the South of France. He had been made into the Duke of Windsor. She became The Duchess. The dress itself is in the Met, but Phillips says, "It has not lasted well. We were lucky enough to see it, but the color has faded … she was a client of haute couture in Paris in its heyday, so I had to figure out how I was going to recreate that … the problem was my whole budget could have gone into making one dress!"
Phillipps looked through the Louvre's archives at the work of Vionnet who has been called "the mother of couture." This revealed precise details of what Simpson bought and when. Vionnet's current owners agreed to make four new dresses for the film. The costumer also considered the work of Dior, as well as help from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Roger Vivier, Dunhill, Stephen Jones, and Schiaperelli, etc.
Wallis, the Duchess, dressed very well all through the Forties, Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties, until she died in France in 1986. You will see versions of this fashionable glamour and its effect on today in the coming film. Phillips maintains that the Duchess influenced the Stella McCartney dress in which Nancy Shevell recently wed Paul McCartney.
And reporter Leitch adds this footnote: "Roland Mouret's winter 2011collection includes a dress named after Simpson, and he explained his fascination with her thus: 'She was sexy in a painful way; a painful sexiness. The clothes she wore were austere, but sensual. It was the movement of her body that made her attractive. She was like a perfume, or the way a veil moves, like a ghost almost. We use clothes to erase our mistakes and to highlight what we like. Wallis one of the best students of fashion school in that way.'"
* * *
P.S. Madonna, determined to keep the "mood" of her latest project, which she also wrote as well as directed, has been looking especially glamorous in her public appearances in recent months. She has been favoring gowns with a vintage 1930's/40's feel. This is not only appropriate to push "W.E.," but also for Madonna herself. I've always liked her best when she's glamorous in an "old-fashioned" way.
The star herself prefers more cutting-edge couture.


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Blood pressure readings are like the Dow Jones average; they go up and down, even in a five-minute interval. Remember, your heart is a pulsating, dynamic organ, so your blood pressure will vary, sometimes as much as 20 to 30 mm/Hg in successive readings. How can you prevent high blood pressure readings? The key is to relax.
How to Avoid a High Blood Pressure Reading
When taking a resting blood pressure reading, I don't let people talk. Talking will drive your numbers up. (Air traffic controllers as a group have higher-than-normal blood pressure. They're under enormous pressure, and they talk all the time.) I also avoid taking BP if the patient rushed to my office, especially if he or she was caught in traffic, if the outside temperature is very cold or if some emotional stress issues are ongoing. Even a cup of coffee just prior to the test can change the data.
What do your high blood pressure readings tell you? Readings where the top number (systolic pressure) is 130–139 or the bottom number (diastolic pressure) is 85–89 should be monitored carefully. Readings consistently above 150/90 are a risk factor for heart attacks.
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The Bachelor
Bachelor 2013 Finale Live Blog — Will Sean Lowe Propose?
Sean Lowe has taken us on quite the journey toward the national monuments that are his abs on this season of The Bachelor. And while we might need to refuel our electrolyte content after sweating out all of our feelings, we can't wait to find out which of his ladies he picks: Catherine Giudici, Lindsay Yenter, or (our favorite) Chris Harrison.
Zoom in on Thailand (yes, the whole country. We went to public school, so exactness and geography are not our strong suits). Sean Lowe sits alone at a picnic table, crayoning pro/con charts with his non-dominant hand, tongue fixed firmly between lips as he tries to make the decision of a lifetime. Just a sampling from our radar: pros = tramp stamp, body glitter... Oh wait, that's Chris Harrison's. Back to Sean's, which is really just a pair of Lisa Frank sticker-covered Trapper Keepers with "Lindsay" and "Catherine" written on them. You know, binders full of women. Whose list is longer? Which one has "Girl I want to marry" in the plus column? Has anyone else finally succumbed to the pregaming drinking game aspect of this? (We drink every time we see a promo for the episode...)
The point is, tonight on the "most dramatic episode/finale/night/Monday/Thailandish city ever," Sean and his loquacious mouth of feelings will be justifying and beating his feelings with a wooden stick until we all scream "ENOUGH ALREADY THEY'RE BOTH HOT JUST PICK ONE!!" It all starts, right now. Okay, noooooowwwww. Almost. It all starts almost. So, go grab your red Solo cup and fill it up with all of your liquid emotions. Let's drink to Sean and his future bride (or, temporary girlfriend...).
Part One: The Most Beautiful/Dramatic Whatever. Catherine Meets the Fam.
Chris Harrison is standing on the stage equivalent of the bed we imagine he sleeps on: a circle with chairs on it. Yeah, in our imaginations, there is just a pinwheel of women waiting the most pivotal experience of their young lives. And they all get to sleep in Chris Harrison's shirts (he has a billion, now that his own line is finally available). Anyway, homeskillz says that they have "late breaking news" and we're immediately concerned. Is AshLee currently keying Sean's limo? Has Tierra decided to get married on ATFR? So many questions.
Let's go to Thailand, shall we?
What we have learned so far: in order to be in Sean's family, you must be hilarious and easy to be around. "We didn't know you were weird and funny, son," Sean's dad says. We love him. Sean's mom says "I'm thinking, if there's gonna be a proposal, you need to already know which way you're going." Spoiler alert: he doesn't.
First up is Catherine, and she barely gets out of her RV ride before Sean is already making out with her and carrying an umbrella. They sit down with Sean's fam and already there's a Shay-led cheers... with water. Uh oh, it's gonna be a long day. Good luck!
C sits down with Sean's hot mom, who immediately is all "how do you know my son likes you" or whatever. It's hard to see that some dude likes you when there are 25 other chicks vying for your bf's heart, but Catherine and Sean have been exchanging notes about her crinkly nose for weeks. Apparently that means love.
Sean's dad sits down with her next and he says "you think you fall in love with people, but..." is it real? He seems a little skeptical. But then he says that his SIL is his BFF and he wants Catherine to be his daughter. Sorry, Shay.
Catherine leaves after what seems like no time. It's strange that Shay didn't sit down with her, considering Sean had her flown to Curacao to meet a group of girls we never saw her talk to... Curious. Oh well, moving on.
Part Two: Lindsay Makes a Play
"What have you guys done," Sean's fam asks? Um. This is awkward already. What are you asking, folks?
Well played with the black lace dress and perfectly done hair, Lindsay. Did Sean's dad borrow his daughter's pink knitwear? He's got it going on underneath his excellent dad shirt. But seriously, we just wanna go sit down with this dude and celebrate all of the major holidays with him.
Way to work in "prayer" in your first sentences, though, Linds... We were worried you were going to bend and snap your way into their minds instead. She cries as Jay says that he and his wife have been "praying for Sean's wife." Um, how unpopular is this dude?
Lindsay asks for Sean's hand in marriage. Well played x 2. Pops gives a less complicated answer than Linds's pops.
His mom is a little cagier. "Is he open with you? Can you get him to talk about serious subjects?" She seems like she likes her but maybe doesn't want to hear her talk in her baby voice for the rest of their lives together.
Part Three: A Lot of Talking
"My absolute fear is that he would propose to someone and not be sure," mom says. Glad someone has her head all affixed excellently. "You don't have a long time to decide this. You don't need to propose to either of them." This is going to be the most awkward family dinners if he chooses one that she doesn't like...
Sean grabs Lindsay for their final date, and because it's the last time he might see her before he proposes/dumps her, he wears a turquoise tank top and red shorts. And yes, that line of reasoning makes as much sense as this color combination. Somebody has spent too much time at 3D movies.
Lindsay "I love you." Sean "MMM." "I mean it." Yeah, well, it doesn't make it less awkward.
Sean shows up and Lindsay's hotel room and they say "thankful" and "blessing" and stuff. Lots of "thank you," and swallowing sounds and kissing sounds and coordinating shades of red. All the better to bring out Sean's face skin.
"I have something special for you." Your virginity? Oh, no, it's LANTERNS. They NEED "love, happiness, and family" to last forever. "I want to be with my best friend." Chris Harrison? Maybe that's his big news.
Part Four: Elephant Touching
Okay, the producers have to be feeding Sean info on what the girls are wearing, because he and Catherine are now wearing matching purples. "I touched an elephant," she says. "You touched it?" "I touched it." Hats off, guys. An elephant comes and picks them up and they have to put on blue diaper pants to ride them, but it looks pretty sweet.
They ride the elephant to an elevated perch and lay down. "I'm excited. For... everything," Catherine says seriously. For all the laughter Sean keeps talking about, they still have a lot of serious conversations. Good sign. But seriously? A smile wouldn't kill you when you say that you're stoked. Just sayin.
Sean comes to Catherine's hotel and it's more black lace dresses. "The next time I see Sean he might be on his knee." Journey. They say journey. A lot. Ugh maybe it's the hour we lost due to DST but we are SO BORED. SO. BORED.
Also, just a note: Catherine is telling Sean she wants to be with him. She wants to accept his proposal. Well, she's telling the cameras because she certainly doesn't look at him while she says any of this. When he's saying goodbye, she cries a little and tells him she loves him, while he has his hand planted firmly on her ass. Good form (we assume).
"I feel like shit, to be honest," Catherine says. "I want more than that! I can't get everything out of him!" She is so annoyed. Cue letter set up? That would make lots of sense. "I want him to reciprocate his feelings for me." She cries and we feel you, girl.
Part Five: When the Right One Comes Along
Best friend count: 2? 3? We've lost count due to the Knob Creek Rye we are currently chugging to block out our feelings of awkwardness remembering the number of times we've said "I love you" and gotten "um, thanks" in response.
Neil Lane shows up and Sean's like "Hey, Neil Lane!" and then they look at rose gold rings for awhile. He picks a cushion-cut looking bling ring and it's way prettier than Tierra's.
Part Six: It's All Happening
"I've never been in a situation where I'm breaking up with another girl yet I have no reason to give her," Sean says. Hasn't stopped our exes.
Lindsay is apparently going to prom because she and her silver shiny dress are the first out of the limo. "This is as far as I go," Chris says. Subtext: and maybe you too.
"My heart's leading me in another direction," Sean tells her. "I prayed about it and it's not you," he's saying. Great, first you dump the poor girl, now you're ruining GOD for her. Good going, buddy.
"Stop, just stop. Stop." AshLee Lindsay begs. "Is it me?" We are crying all over her racerback prom dress. She takes off her heels for the schlep back, and we would've done the same. No point in trying to impress him now...
The letter is from Catherine and she writes that she wants to marry him. We know, girl. But for a second we were hoping you were like, "We are all a brain, an athlete, and a basket case. A princess and a criminal..." Oh wait. Nope.
She approaches Sean in a gold dress (seriously, what time a day did these girls think it was going to take place?). Anyway, it's beautiful and they're all smiling and Catherine's lashes look amazing. "I don't want to say goodbye anymore," Sean says. "I want to spend the rest of my life telling you I love you and making you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world." He finally gets to tell her he loves her "so much," and we admit it. There are tears.


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Photoshop Elements 7 is packed with features to help amateur photographers with every stage of digital photo processing, from getting organized to sharing projects with family and friends. In Photoshop Elements 7 for Windows Essential Training, Jan Kabili shares workflow techniques for organizing, editing, creating projects, and sharing. She also demonstrates how to enhance photos with this budget-friendly software. Jan explains the latest updates to the Organizer and Editor workspaces, and also covers new features like the Smart Brush tool and Photoshop.com integration. Elements is very well known for its project features, and Jan shows how to create books, collages, panoramas, and more. Example files accompany the course.
Another way of organizing your photos in the Organizer is to gather them into albums. You can use albums to collect photos into subject matter groups. Like places you've visited on vacation, members of your family, events in your life, holidays, whatever subjects are important to you, or you can use albums to collect photos that you are going to use in projects, like slide shows, or web pages, or calendars. In this movie, we are going to learn how to create regular albums and a special kind of album called a Smart Album that automatically populates based on criteria that you feed it. We are going to start by making a regular album and to do that, we will go to the Albums palette here in the Task pane. At the top of the Albums palette, I'm going to click this green plus sign and I'll choose New Album.
In the Album Details dialog box, I'll give the Album a name. I'm going to call this one Kayaking. I'm going to uncheck Backup/Synchronize, which is a feature that's part of the new bundle of online services called Photoshop.com, which we are going to address in a later chapter. So I'm going to uncheck that for now, because I don't want to backup or synchronize this particular album online. Then I'm going to find some Kayaking photos and drag them into this Album. I'll click on the first Kayaking picture and then I'll hold the Ctrl key and I'll click on some other ones.
Then I'll click, hold and drag from any one of those into the Album Details palette, and when I'm done, I'll click Done. I'll click off of these pictures. Now you can see that each photo that I included in this album has a little green symbol to the bottom right and if you hover over that symbol, it tells you the name of the album. I can always add more photos to this album if I wish by just dragging them into the album. The beauty of this album is this. Let's say I'm elsewhere in my Photo Browser, I'm just going to scroll up to at the top. I want to see all the pictures that I have in my Photo Browser about Kayaking, at least the ones that I bother to put into this album. All I have to do is click on the album and the Organizer displays just the photos that I've put in this album.
So this is a quick way of finding photos that are important to you. One nice thing about an album is that inside of an album, you can rearrange the order of the photographs and this is really the only place in the Photo Browser that you can do that. So for example, if I prefer to have this photo as the first photo in this series, I can just click, hold and drag it over and it becomes the first photo. In this way an album in Elements is just like an album on your coffee table. You get the choice to order the photos in anyway that you like. If I want to see all the photos in my Photo Browser again, I have to go to the top of the Photo Browser and click Show All. Notice by the way that just to the left of the Show All button, I can see exactly what I'm looking at in the screen, which is just the photos in the Kayaking album. So I'm going to click Show All to go back to see all my photos.
I'll scroll back down to the area where we started, which is right there. There is another kind of album that you can make in Elements 7, and that is a Smart Album. A Smart Album is one that automatically fills itself based on criteria that you set up. You might think of a Smart Album as a kind of a saved search that automatically updates itself. Let me show you what I mean. To set up this lesson, I'm first going to make another keyword tag in my Keyword Tags palette. So I'm going to go down there and as I showed you how to do in another movie, I'm going to click on the plus sign and Create New Keyword Tag, and I'm going to name this Tag Ventura. I'll go to the Category field and I'll choose Places, because Ventura is a Place, and I'll click OK.
You can see my new Ventura keyword tag here in the Keyword Tags palette. I'm going to apply that keyword tag to the four Ventura photos in this Folder. I'll click on the first of those, I'll hold the Shift key and I'll click on the left to select them all. Then I'll click and drag from any one of them on top of the keyword tag. Now you can see that all four of those photos have the screen Ventura keyword tag. I'm also going to give star ratings to a couple of these photos. I'm going to click off of them all to deselect them and then I'm going to come up to this photo and I'm going to give it five stars by clicking on the fifth star and I'll do the same to the photo next to it, as I've already showed you how to do in another movie.
Now I've set up the criteria that I'm going to use in a Smart Album, which is going to contain all photos that have the keyword Ventura and to which I've given five stars. To do that I'm going to the Albums palette and I'm going to click the plus sign and I'm going to go down to New Smart Album. I'll call this one Ventura Selects, because these are going to be my best photos from Ventura, and then I'll go down to the Search Criteria. I want to search for files which match more that one rule. So I'm going to change this to files which match all of the following search criteria. To set those search criteria I'll move to these fields and click on the drop-down menu for the first field. There I'm going to choose Keyword Tags, the Conjunction is Include and then I'll set as a keyword tag, Ventura. So if you read this is a sentence it says, include in this Smart album all photos for which there is a keyword tag that includes the word Ventura.
Now I'm going to add a second part of this rule by clicking the plus sign on the right, and that second part is going to be, Rating is 5. So now, this search is going to find all photos that have the keyword tag Ventura and a rating of 5 stars. Let's click OK and sure enough, the Photo Browser displays those two Ventura photos with five stars. So now you can see that this really does act as a saved search, because the Smart Album will stay in place until I delete it. If I add any more Ventura photos with five stars, it will automatically show up in this album. Let me show you what I mean. I'm going to go to Show All. I have two more Ventura pictures one here and one here. I'll get each one of those five stars also. Now when I go over to my Ventura Selects Smart Album, I see all four of those photos.
I use Smart Albums a lot. One of the things I use them for is to find all photos with the keyword with each one of my children's names so that each have their own Smart Album, and as I import additional pictures of each child and add keyword tags to them with their names, they automatically show up in their Smart Albums. I also use Smart Albums to keep track of which camera I have taken my photos with. Let me show you how I do that. I'm going to go to the plus sign again and make a new Smart Album. I'll call this one Canon and I'm going to use one search criterion. I'll go to the first menu here and I'll choose Camera Make, I'll leave this at Contains and I'll type Canon.
So now this Smart Album is going to show me all photos in my Photo Browser that I took with a camera of the Make Canon. I'll click OK, and there you can see all my Canon photos. So you can see that albums can be a really useful way of organizing and finding the photos that are most important to you. You'll find them most helpful if you spent sometimes planning out what subjects you're going to cover in your albums. So you don't end up with a long random list of albums, but rather one that suits your particular needs.
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