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Burberry hires a CIO away from Wal-Mart Asia
Fumbi Chima is Burberry's newest chief information officer and will report to chief operating officer John Smith.
Burberry hires a CIO away from Wal-Mart Asia
Fumbi Chima is Burberry's newest chief information officer and will report to chief operating officer John Smith.
Facebook makes a major e-commerce move
Facebook is testing a shopping-oriented section of its app, as well as a new type of ad that makes it easier to browse.
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More distribution centers give Amazon a competitive edge.
As if Amazon.com didn't already have enough weapons in its arsenal to blow most other retailers away, here's another: its European fulfillment operation.
In this age of lean and mean retailing, many other merchants look at the square footage of their distribution centers and immediately think: "Big overhead—how can I reduce this?" Amazon, no doubt, looks at how to control its warehouse and fulfillment center costs as much as anyone, but it also thinks of its distribution center as a true competitive advantage.
That's a key differentiator and one Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, is beginning to exploit, particularly in Europe. In a recent research brief, Goldman Sachs analyst James Mitchell notes that Amazon worldwide has amassed almost 16.5 million square feet of space in 39 distribution centers worldwide. About two-thirds of Amazon's distribution centers are in the U.S., but it's the 12 established or soon-to-be launched facilities in Europe that Amazon will use to secure a big competitive edge.
Amazon is already well represented across the European continent with two distribution centers in France, a pair in Germany and six in the United Kingdom. Two more—in southern France and in Doncaster, England—also either recently opened or are scheduled to before the end of the year, says Goldman Sachs. With more fulfillment space, Amazon will be able to capitalize on a business model that produces results: locate distribution centers and its supply chain near the major metropolitan areas and offer European shoppers plenty of nearly free or free shipping.
Fulfillment and order processing can be expensive—Amazon spent $582 million on fulfillment in the second quarter ended June 30, up from $409 million in Q2 2009. So far in 2010, fulfillment costs have increased year over year to $1.2 billion from $831 million. But with more fulfillment space under lease, Amazon now has the ability to expand free or reduced rate shipping to more European countries and dramatically boost its sales. Amazon doesn't talk much about its international expansion plans and doesn't give out sales projections for individual countries, says an Amazon spokeswoman.
But its distribution center expansion across Europe could deliver Amazon a big payday—and make it hard for other expansion-oriented online retailers in the U.S. to catch up. "Adding fulfillment capacity to provide free shipping in adjacent European countries such as the Netherlands or Italy could expand Amazon's revenue opportunity by as much as 80%," says Mitchell.
European e-commerce sales are projected to grow about 8% to an estimated $162.3 billion in 2010 from a projected $150.3 million in 2009, says research firm eMarketer Inc. With more warehousing space at its disposal and the ability to target major European population centers with lots of merchandise and plenty of inexpensive shipping, I expect Amazon will get its fair share of those sales.
Based on web site traffic measurements from comScore Inc., Amazon is already the top online retailing destination in the United Kingdom and Germany. I expect it will be the top destination in other European countries soon as well.
Thinking about expanding to the European Union? You may want to partner with Amazon—they may even give you a great rate on leasing space.
As more manufacturers and distributors launch e-commerce strategies, many struggle with getting customers to order ...
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As manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors take on the challenges and opportunities of B2B e-commerce, they ...
Posted 07/22/15
As executives at manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors map out their e-commerce investments, they have many ...
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If there's something you've bought offline that you weren't able to buy online, we're probably thinking about that."


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|Print Page
I would like to acknowledge Lou Sansevero for his informative, right on the money, letter to the editor, on April 9. I thank him for his awareness and willingness to stand up and be counted.
I noticed in later editions that we still have uninformed voters who criticize and hang on to their notions of what America used to be and no longer is. These will never recognize the truth. They don't realize that powerful people are trying to take control of America.
On the subject of gun control, this is the typical liberal view. Mr Sansevero has the facts and used them. Liberals don't use facts; they use their own notion of what they believe and hope is true. They obviously didn't read his letter objectively. They had their minds made up as soon as they saw the topic. They don't realize that more than 90 percent of news reporting is controlled by people who have liberal views.
What this news isn't saying is that behind what they said gun control was about, was an effort by Obama, on April 2, to lead the way, to an international agreement in the United Nations (United Nations = Communists) that would have over ridden our Second Amendment rights in the Constitution. To those of us who pay attention to the whole story, Mr Sansevero's letter is true, in every respect. His quote on Janet Napolitano's Homeland Security's purchase of so much firepower should make anyone nervous. She has the authority to declare martial law in this country. Do the liberals realize this? I doubt it. Homeland Security's purchase of all that ammunition made it harder to buy any for ourselves. It has gotten better. Guns without ammo are of no use.
Obama made the statement in Colorado, that we need a civilian force equal to our military, to help keep the peace. Look this up on the Internet. Go to "United Nations on United States gun control" and see what your liberal leaders are up to. This United Nations decision by our president had to be approved by a two thirds majority in the Senate. I'm proud that our conservative senators knew what is going on and stood up and stopped it. There were 10 Democrat and 45 Republican senators who stopped it.
In light of this truth, what is an obvious conclusion about the Democratic senators and a couple Independents, who voted to support it? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. If liberals wants to be upset or ashamed, it should be at these Democrats and Independents who voted for it; who as far as I'm concerned, are not representing the best interests of a free America. There are some better descriptive terms for them. But we won't go there. By the way; they tried it with President Bush and he wouldn't sign it.
An interesting note is that the shooters who have perpetrated the mass murders are liberals, not conservatives. The one in Colorado is an Obama supporter. It was in the news.
One more interesting thing. My wife saw on the internet the other day that violent crime has dropped since Americans have decided to arm themselves. If a hood believes there might be someone with a gun in the house, he might think seriously about going in.
There are too many uninformed voters in this country. They blindly vote for a party and think their party is looking out for them. Not true, whether they are Republican or Democrat. Washington is the most serious threat there is to our national security, not terrorists.
Most major civilizations have died from internal rot and ours is headed down the same path.
Along with Lou Sansevero, Robert Warren, Tom McCourt and some others I remember years ago, a gentleman from Price, by the name of James Franklin Rhinehart who warned us of what was coming to pass. He was right. It has and is happening!
I know there are others and I apologize for forgetting their names.
Elected officials of both parties belong to an organization called The Council on Foreign Relations. This who is pulling the politicians strings. Better wake up people; you are losing your country and your freedom!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Gina Raimondo, the state's general treasurer, famously said a few months ago that pension liability isn't "a" problem, it is "the" problem facing the state.
Not necessarily.
A group is forming right now calling itself the Rhode Island Coalition Against Binding Arbitration that wants to keep that contentious issue in the headlines and in voters' heads, especially as the General Assembly prepares to reconvene in October to deal with that other matter. Part of what is keeping binding arbitration opponents on the alert is the fear that the legislature will pull a fast one and try to sneak through a binding arbitration bill amid the pension debate.
Some municipal unions, such as police and firefighters already have a provision for binding arbitration, in which an individual or panel of supposedly independent arbiters have the final say in solving contract deadlocks. Now, as some school committees — such as East Providence a few years ago — are taking firmer stances in contract negotiations, teachers unions are making a concerted lobbying push to get the General Assembly to authorize binding arbitration for teachers. Some arbitration schemes call for the arbitrators to choose between the two sides' last best offers, others allow the arbitrators to come up with their own compromise solution.
Unions say arbitration is a fair and effective means of resolving labor disputes. Public officials such as mayors, city councils and school committees claim the process has historically skewed in favor of labor, to the detriment of taxpayers and are the cause of budget-busting work rules like minimum manning for police and firefighters and pension agreements that cities and towns can no longer afford.
One of the organizers of RICABA is Ken Block, the founder of the RI Moderate Party and an unsuccessful candidate for governor last year. Block, a software executive in his non-political life, has set up a website www.ricaba.org [1], to put out information about binding arbitration
He said he came up with the idea listening to Timothy Duffy, director of the RI Association of School Committees, testify at a legislative hearing, "how almost universally opposed local school committees were to the whole idea of binding arbitration, I know a great many mayors were against it and a great many town and city councils were against it. It personally surprised me greatly that the Senate, in the face of all that local opposition, went ahead and passed a bill on binding arbitration." (That was on the next-to-last night of the General Assembly session, the bill died because the House never took it up or voted on it.)
Block says the website will allow senators — and others in elective office — to see, visually, what that opposition looked like.
So it has separate lists for mayors or town managers; city or town councils; school committees and the state Senate and House. Each elected official in those positions are listed by name, political party where applicable, and his or her stand for or against binding arbitration.
Sure enough, while there are many individuals whose position is listed as "unknown," the overwhelming number, especially on city or town councils and school committees is opposed to binding arbitration.
The idea, Block said, "it would be a powerful statement to be able to show a fairly solid block of opposition to binding arbitration at the local level and then juxtapose that to the Senate vote (20-17 in favor of arbitration), which really made no sense to me."
He said he is "pretty confident we will end up with many thousands of people signing up," once the group gets rolling and putting its message out, which will probably ne in a couple of weeks.
"It's premature to really talk about what it is yet, especially in terms of the coalition," Block told Politics as Usual. "The members of the coalition aren't formalized because they haven't taken the votes." The only group officially on board as of last week, Block says, is the education advocacy group RI CAN (Campaign for Achievement Now).
Despite the concerns of Block and some other groups like RISC (RI Statewide Coalition) I don't see this as an immediate issue, as in the October special legislative session.
The only way binding arbitration would become an active issue in October is if the Senate tore a page out of the playbook of the Republican Tea Partiers in Congress and held the passage of a pension bill hostage to having a vote on binding arbitration.
That won't happen for two reasons. One, it might not work. House Speaker Gordon Fox probably wouldn't let himself get bullied, especially on the tar-baby issue of binding arbitration. Two it would sure-as-shootin' cost some senators their seats in 2012, and representatives, too, if any of them went along with it.
Binding arbitration is a favorite issue with unions, who would support with money and organizational help any lawmaker on their side. But it will be poison anywhere else on the campaign trail. No legislator wants to spend next summer walking door-to-door explaining why they voted in favor of binding arbitration. That's why binding arbitration will probably have a tough time and not make it through the legislative session that starts next January.
Despite the conventional wisdom jammed down our throats so often, this is not really a very good time to be a union in Rhode Island.
Because of groups like RISC and the RI Tea Party, legislators know people are watching the General Assembly now more carefully than maybe at any time in history.
Talk radio takes a lot of abuse, sometimes even in this space, but this is a way in which it truly provides a valuable service. Lawmakers and other elected officials can hear (and believe me, they listen) the actual voices of Frank from Pawtucket, Susan from North Smithfield and Pat from West Warwick. They can hear the anger, the frustration and the disappointment in their constituents' voices much better than they could in a letter, an e-mail, or even a personal phone call, where the constituents might not let their emotions come as close to the surface as they do on talk radio.
Another school of conventional wisdom says that, assuming the assembly does pass some sort of major pension reform in October, it might be tempted to give unions binding arbitration in the January session as sort of a consolation prize. That is a possibility but, I still believe, a remote one.
Scaled-back blogs
Information is a precious commodity and it is always a shame to see a quality provider of reliable information and commentary goes away. We've all seen daily newspapers disappear across the country and even the world.
Websites and blogs started springing up to fill the void, many of them excellent, many not so much.
Rhode Island has been fortunate to have several excellent blogs and bloggers but recently one of them gave us bad news.
The folks at Anchor Rising.com, a conservatively-oriented political site, announced this week that they are being forced to scale back their efforts so that the main contributors can concentrate on earning a living at their day jobs. They had been hoping to raise enough money to sustain a full-time staffer on a payroll, but as Justin Katz and Marc Comtois (who, along with Monique Chartier do the lion's share of the posting) explained in separate posts, that didn't happen.
That is truly a shame.
In navy-blue Rhode Island, it is important, if not imperative, to have a conservative voice speaking out, even if the message often falls on deaf ears.
As blogs go, Anchor Rising is an excellent one. The postings are consistently of a high intellectual level, well argued and supported with facts. You don't have to agree with them, but you have to respect them as well-reasoned opinions. There is almost none of the name-calling, flaming and other vitriol that too often mar many sites, particularly political discussions) on the Internet. Some of the reply comments can get a bit rambunctious, but that is always going to happen when you deal with the public.
Anchor Rising goes on, but its posts will be fewer and further between, and that is unfortunate.
If you have an interest in keeping many sides of the political dialogue ongoing and vibrant (and you do, whether you recognize it or not) you might want to visit Anchor Rising on the web and check it out. There is a link there you can click on to donate money (nothing good comes free). If you are one of those rich conservatives people read about (sometimes on this page), you might want to consider underwriting a valuable voice in the political debate.
[1] http://www.ricaba.org


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Millions of people with pre-existing conditions, such as cancer, can now attain health insurance. Kids can stay on their parents' policy until the age of 26, which is tremendously important for many families. Insurance companies can no longer cut off funds for treatment if costs skyrocket. Getting sick will no longer bankrupt families.
Such provisions are morally right, and should be proclaimed as such from every pulpit in America.
When the Supreme Court handed down its 5-4 decision upholding the constitutionality of the health care act, many Christians stood outside the court berating this decision. Why? Why wouldn't all Christians support a health care act that benefits so many, especially the poor and uninsured?
Jesus taught that we must care for the sick, the poor, the hungry, the homeless, etc. — "the least of these," as he puts is in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25. Thus, all Christians should support laws which seek to do just that. That so many Christians oppose the Affordable Health Care Act makes me wonder what they are hearing from their pulpits, and being taught in Bible study classes.
What is the Republican Party, and Mitt Romney in particular, offering as an alternative health care law for those people with pre-existing conditions? Nothing! Yes, Romney offers vague platitudes, but does anyone expect a Republican-controlled government to pass a health care act that protects the poor and sick? Where is the evidence that this party has the heart to do so?
Some people argue politics and religion don't mix, and have little to say to each other. The naiveté of such a view is particularly clear when it comes to health care. We are not simply individuals left to fend for ourselves, but a community, a nation, where we care for each other — especially those who are poor and sick.
It is the church's responsibility to proclaim, and work for, medical care for all people — especially those who do not have insurance.
I think the trap organized religion has fallen into is paying too much attention to the rich people in our congregations and their politics. After all, wealthy people are often very generous in their giving to the church. So clergy are understandably afraid to alienate the rich in their midst — and many of those rich people, with "Cadillac" health care plans, simply cannot walk in the shoes of the poor, who too often have no health insurance.
Mitt Romney has many fine qualities, but empathy with the poor is not one of them. Clergy must have the courage to preach what is morally right — in this case, universal health care — and let the financial chips fall where they may in the Sunday collection plates.
Many clergy view the weekly collection as instant Nielsen ratings on the sermon. Playing it safe in sermons probably does not rock the boat. Showing some guts might, but then challenging those who are blessed with money and power at least puts the preacher in good company with somebody who did just that — Jesus of Nazareth!
— By the Rev. Henry Idema, Tribune community columnist


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The unlocked BlackBerry Torch 9860 is a phone that has been highly popular among those that use it. There is good reason why it has become so popular in such a short amount of time. First of all, the phone has been able to put together an excellent array of different specs that make it much different than the other options that are available to most that are looking to unlock their phone. The BlackBerry Torch 2 9860 was one that has become embraced by the unlocking community for the specs, including the following;
First of all, the 3.7 inch touchscreen To touch technology is one that makes it a very popular option. The device has a resolution of 480 x 800 and as a device that has a very beautiful display. It is very easy to utilize the touch screen is one of the best that Blackberry has ever released. The camera has a five megapixel camera that has a resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. It also includes other features such as auto focus, geo-tagging, and image stabilization.
The phone also has 4 GB of internal memory as well as 768 MB of RAM. It also has space that users can upgrade with a 32 GB micro SD memory card slots. The battery is one of the best that Research In Motion has released in recent times and includes a 1230 MAH standard battery is capable of longer battery life.
It is easy to see why this device has been so popular among those in the unlocking community. It is able to provide users with everything they need in an unlocked phone, and is continually used by those that unlock their phone to gain access to applications that they would not normally have access to, as well as


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|Researchers have made plastic nanoparticles that can partially mimic the behavior of natural antibodies in the bloodstream of a living animal. Writing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, they describe their experiment, in which they treated lab mice with synthetic polymer 'antibodies' to the compound melittin, the main toxin in bee venom. Antibody-treated mice had higher rates of survival than non-treated mice when injected with the melittin toxin. We'll talk with one of the authors of the paper about the work.


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|State hearing for Avery Quarry planned
|Written by Lauren Ohnesorge
|Friday, 18 May 2007 05:50
A proposed Rock Quarry in Avery County is causing quite a stir among citizens like Jason Warner.
Warner believes the Quarry would be detrimental to both the environment and the residents that leave near the site.
A small victory for Warner came this week when Commissioners passed a moratorium for 90 days on high impact industries in Avery County. This will allow Commissioners to study the full effects of the quarry before a building permit is issued. The fight is not over for Warren, however. Next Tuesday at 7:00 in the Avery County Courthouse, the issue will come to a head as the State Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to conduct a public hearing. Avery citizens are encouraged to come out. The issue is a particularly personal one to Warner.
He lives right below the proposed site.Representatives for the quarry had no comments for the press.
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What Twitter Doesn't Need
For all its hype and status as media darling – turn on any news and you'll see something about 'tweeted today' – Twitter is really struggling to become.
More. Better. To reach. To fulfill the promise that maybe never existed in the first place.
Good ideas, everyone's got one
Here are a few of the 'save Twitter' or 'how to make Twitter suck less' posts I've read and shared of late:
What Twitter Can Be. Long read, very smart by VC Chris Sacca. As always, I'm like real human people it needs to be about that.
Some people think Twitter needs Nuzzle. Filters and controls, I've been typing that for years.
I totally respect HBR author Alexandra Samuel for asking Buffer to remove her content from their suggestions, disappointed about How Bots took over Twitter.
If it's not part of the solution, you know what it is.
Celebrities reading Mean Tweets may be fun, but celebrity Twitter feuds – real or fake – don't help. Or at least to me, aren't going to do anything to make people want to spend more time on Twitter. Time matters.
Random changes from TBTB don't do it any favors. Seriously, why zap wallpaper Twitter? Sharing block lists seems like something that should be automatic, not make the user's work for it. By hand HUMAN curation via Project Lightning, I'll believe when I see it.
Horrid, manipulative, self-involved navel-gazing first world problem tweets pretending to be inventive storytelling does not elevate Twitter into some kind of art form. (No really, I hated this. Tweet 53 made my blood boil and the non-shock and subsequent pandering of tweets 60 and beyond… bleep bleeping BLEEP. YMMV.)
Gimmicks and stunts aren't solutions. Attacks, trolling and threats are common place, while real human conversation isn't. Read Facebook comments on any media story covering 'news of the Twitters' and it's rife with 'still don't get Twitter' or 'that's why Twitter sucks.'
R-O-I are three of the most dangerous letters in business, social media ruined as its used solely to sell crappy products, horrible services, and holy terrors, build personal brands. Ergo people who once loved the platform are either fleeing or unfollowing en masse (but leaving all that automated link dumping behind).
I share too many links (relative to conversation), I'm muting when I should probably be unfollowing, I'm 'using' Twitter for myself, my career – which admittedly makes me part of the problem. The solution? If I knew, I'd put it in my cover letter.
You: Has the magic died? Are you still there out of obligation, for the social shares and occasional chat? What would make Twitter better for you, professionally and personally?
P.S. If Twitter would give me the source filters on the native, mobile apps like there are on TweetDeck, I'd be ever so grateful.
Image credit: Bluntcard, sometimes NSFW but funny.
What Magic Mike XXL Can Teach Your Brand About Business
Yeah. I'm going there, click bait headline and all. Ahem.
Fluff has its place.
Went in with mixed expectations and came out pleasantly surprised by Magic Mike XXL. Unlike its IMO over-praised predecessor, MMXXL got what a movie about male strippers was supposed to be: fun.
For all the eye candy, basking in Matthew McConaughey working at the top of his game, Magic Mike left me kinda cold. MM was this voyeuristic look into life that Hollywood so loves to frame as 'different' and 'alternative.' Only way I can describe it was that, it tried to balance the cheesy dancing with 'real life' spun as the 'seedy underbelly' of a world – gasp! – in which not everyone works a desk, M-F 9-5, almost shot threw a lens of poverty tourism. It wasn't seedy, it wasn't different or fringe; this one of a million ways people work and live and are .. and I'll stop before you worry about my issues. Here, watch Screen Junkies' Honest Trailer. Ahem.
Magic Mike XXL shrugs all that faux serious navel-gazing, instead opting for a funny buddy road trip flick. And it worked, lazy summer fluffy fun and entertainment.
Now, what can a money-grubbing Hollywood sequel teach you about business:
Know what you are. Whether it's attractive dancers or the best grilled cheese in town, own it be it, work it. Do what you do, do it well. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Don't pretend to be what you're not. There were times they reached a little too hard and it felt contrived and forced. You're not all things to all people, so stop trying. If it's you, really you then it's so much better than anything anyone else would put out there.
Go with what works. The dancing, the bromance, the slapstick – that's what I found entertaining the first time, worked again for round two.
Take Risks. If what's working is only working well enough, then you take a chance and mix it up. All you've risked was 'failure,' which wasn't working anyway.
Enjoy the ride. Things don't always go to plan, which is why you need other options – never forgetting to make the most of what's going on at the time.
People matter. Connections, human interaction, old friends – no one does it alone. You have to give to get and above all, remember it's not about logos and profiles, not status or what others think. It's those who are there for you, those who you are there for.
I could keep typing but you get the gist: this was one time I thought Hollywood improved on its original business model. Threw out what wasn't working, and pardon the pun, stripped down to basics. YMMV so please, tell me what you think.
Video: by Sausage Party via Entertainment Weekly 'because the Internet.'
Escape from Digital Purgatory: Blog on the Loose
Run while you can.
The other day in yet another comment on yet another blog I referenced a blog post I never got around to publishing. Bad enough when I do it here and forget I haven't published yet, but when I'm littering the Internet with them.. egads.
Training the Beast.
Chatting with much more prolific blog publisher Gini Dietrich, she shared lots of good ideas on making the time to capture good blog ideas. Capture is the easy part, as I've so discovered.
The TRICK is how to go from 'idea in my head' that I mumble and pace > to fingers on the keyboard > to published with links and clever graphic with SOME sort of tie-in to business usefulness. (Bonus: if it somehow promotes me as 'must hire' catch, sparks some feedback, a little social sharing.)
Erika Napoletano nailed it: it's "digital purgatory." OUAT it was Word docs, now it's Evernote. I type and type – and then eventually move on, ideas trapped in a black hole of 'someday.'
Enough. Tame the beast and train myself to stop when I'm ahead, pick a few links and just publish. NOT because I want to blog crap but because good ideas are never really done anyway. There's always room for improvement, ideas grow and evolve. So with that monster pre-ramble .. a few blog posts that got away, Condensed Versions:
Customer Service FTW. Was having trouble with ABC's iPad app, saw an email address. And an 800 number. Called. Low and behold, a non-scripted human person answered the call (!) and actually helped (!!). For a free service. It's an example of so many things: good PR, good training, an approach that understands service is more than a useless placeholder social media profile.
Listen and Engage, not a band name. We've all seen them, poorly run brand SM accounts that are all about vanity metrics while pretending their 'content' isn't ads. Their go-to move, the "Ask, then Ignore." Examples I had: Macy's running a thing on women's shape wear, liking the positive comments and ignoring the metric ton of negative ones that called out the not bargain sale prices, the super thin young model who wouldn't need them, etc. IHOP on their switch from Coke to Pepsi products, with – hat tip IHOP replying on FB – the standard corporate b.s. about it being 'for the guests.' If that were true, they'd offer that 'wide array,' i.e. both products and an actual choice.
And too many more from whence those came. Ahem.
Blogging. It's work, it's commitment. Ideas everywhere, yet somehow never hit published. What do you DO to get it DONE?
Image credit: Someecards, pinned for 'someday.'
DIY Fire logs and other Untapped Resources
It's spring and I want to plant flowers. With that, a post drafted last winter. Enjoy.
Some brand has introduced toilet paper rolls without the cardboard center: marketing idea is less waste, more environmentally friendly. First time I saw that I was like ok.. for people who throw those away?
How to Make Your Own Fire logs
Even when it's not a snowpacolypse 'blizzard' of two inches, it does get pretty damn cold in Atlanta. Relaxing in front of a warm toasty fire happens. Been doing this for years, making my own fire kindling or starter logs.
1. Old plain paper. Newsprint. Junk mail. Spring clean your filing cabinets, any paper you'd shred, use that.
2. Save toilet paper, paper towel, wrapping paper rolls (also good for saving ribbons).
3. Roll. Stuff. Burn.
Untapped Resources – So Very Human
As I plot shift my career towards corporate communications, I know I'd be an ideal person to integrate HR and PR. When I read some anemic job listings it hits me how terribly most business silo one of their most important publics: Employees.
You know these kinds of companies, where "promote from within" and "two way, open door communications" is all talk, zero walk.
Employee Relations seems to have nothing to do Public Relations; Communications is shoehorned under business development; and no one seems to be talking to Human Resources. The left hand doesn't know the right hand is cutting hours, piling on more work in the name of productivity and the almighty dollar.
TPTB don't pay attention, managers don't even know who the 'best and brightest' are let alone make effort to create opportunities to keep them. The brain trust in HR bankrolls expensive sign-on bonuses and new employee training; ask for retention bonuses, investment in better resources and stay interviews, you get blank stares.
[This is where I'd link to my 'better company newsletter' post, the kind employees actually read. Someday I'll
write publish it.]
Waste Not.
In this age of content marketing buzz and brand advocacy hoopla, silos are dangerous. Companies scare employees away from social media, then want them to be brand ambassadors. Employers treat front line staff as the most expendable, then wonder why productivity and morale take a nose dive.
There's something so wasteful about a talented employee being pigeonholed and silo'd, insecure about seeking advancement; or feeling their ideas for improvement are unwelcome. That's a symptom of bad leadership and a toxic corporate culture. The cure: HR meets ER, say hello to PR with some SM on the side; aka integrated communications that walks the talk.
Have a bad experience with human resources or employee relations? A good one? Do share.
Photo credit: One of many fab Office Space memes, classic movie.
When a Sale isn't a Sale
BTW: this type of mini-post used to go to my G+ but as rumor has it, Google+ is not long for this world.
Value. Bang for the buck. Sale. Bargain. Business buzzwords and what customers are wanting as they make their buying decisions.
During one of their recent sales, I've wanted to run around Kroger and pull all the gallons of milk out of everyone's carts. Why? Do I have some odd dislike of calcium and lactose? No. It's because I'm all about the better deal.
Gallon milk: "on sale" for $2.99. Half gallon, 10 for $10. AKA $1. Otherwise known as HALF the price.
For reasons passing understanding – maybe they're in government spending or corporate procurement or otherwise mathematically challenged – too many people were sticking with the full gallon option.
Happens. We get in a rut, we limit ourselves and thinking to 'what we always do' or the 'one size fits all' or whatever other mindset that blinds us to better, more flexible options.
This is the same kind of mindset I see:
- when companies limit PR to publicity.
- when they think of social media – hell, all communications – as merely a 'channel' that's all about sales (or not).
- when relationships are transactional, useful only when favorably calculated as ROI on a balance sheet.
- when 'talent' and employee worth is defined by some b.s. job title on a resume.
We all go for the sale, fall for some kind of marketing pricing trickery once in a while. If nothing else, my years of working with small business, of doing more with less .. I've learned to look for and take advantage of true value whenever I can.
You: When is a sale not? How do you spot the difference?
Image credit: a clever Someecard, which explains why I'm not interested in latest, skinniest, wimpy Macbook.
Thanksgiving for the Memories
Times are tough, for some much more than words can express. And yet this it's exactly at these moments we stop and remember what we do have.
We're thankful for our health, the time we have with friends and family. We're grateful for our jobs, the roofs over our heads and the food about to go in our stomachs. We can appreciate these connected, social times as best we can.
And we can be thankful for television and movies, making our holiday gatherings seem almost tame and functional by comparison. With that, a few of my favorite episodic and cinematic Thanksgiving moments:
The West Wing: Double Feature. Granted "Indians in the Lobby" isn't up there with "Shibboleth" with its schlock and (another) Butterball brand placement, I still remember both quite fondly. When that show was good, it was damn good; episodes like Shibboleth showed how well it balanced serious moments, like Charlie and President Bartlet and the knife, with lightness such as C.J. getting a 2nd turkey pardoned.
Adamms Family Values: a modern day classic I suppose. The clip speaks for itself.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I've used "Pangs" before, because 'ritual sacrifice. with pie' is still one of my favorite lines. And because I couldn't help appreciate Spike's politically incorrect speech and the wonderful Whedon dark humor of it all.
Honorable mention: The O.C.
You? The Ice Harvest, Scent of a Woman or maybe Charlie Brown? What's your favorite Hollywood turkeyfest? Happy Holidays everyone.
Unpopular Changes vs Customer Expectations: Lose-Lose?
So I follow Carnival, no big secret. It's something I enjoy, cruising; and fun to watch a brand I like do some things right (and wrong) in the webosphere of PR, social media-ness.
Us. Them. The Silent Minority?
This week's news is the forthcoming change to Carnival's smoking policy. To sum up: Balcony cabins are going non-smoking. If guests smoke, they'll pay a cleaning fee and risk being asked to leave, per violation of the microscopic legal gobbledygook in the contract.
Well the people are speaking to Carnival. A review of the posts to their Facebook page, this change is getting mixed reactions to say the least.
- Yay! Plenty of people would prefer ocean breeze to second hand Marlboro when they enjoy their balcony cabins, so they're happy.
- Boo! Hiss! Plenty of people seem upset, ranging from "I'll still cruise but shame on you" to "NEVER. AGAIN. $*^@*&(# Carnival!"
- Smart Feedback. And questionable advice.
- Speak with your wallet. Cancel bookings. Switch to other cruise lines.
- These excellent suggestions have been appreciated by almost all, with various "Amen!" or "Good Riddance!" comments.
- Define "majority." More than a few 'loud minority' suggestions that it's only a few who so strongly dislike the smoke that they avoid the cabins, casinos or cruise line all together.
- Other smart commenters know it's all about the money: If the 'majority' really wants that, do it. Then see how it impacts alcohol sales and gaming revenues, not to mention duty-free cigarettes profits.
- Run the risk. Can't say this 'live dangerously' attitude is wise, risking the cleaning fee or being kicked off the ship.
- Make one side balconies smoking. They charge by location anyway, only catch is how to price and arrange the non-smokers around the smokers. It makes some sense but then, that's gonna require selecting a smoking or non cabin at booking, more work for the hotel operations.
- Manage Your Expectations. They really can't please everyone, so stop asking.
- Why not a booze free ship, for people who don't like loud drunks? If that was me, my bad.
- Why not a kid free ship, for people who'd prefer an adult getaway? I did that in April, sailing when almost every kid on the planet was in school. An adult-only pool .. that's spot-on.
- Why not a rain free vacation, for people allergic to common sense on how weather works? Even the Disney bubble breaks sometimes.
- Speak with your wallet. Cancel bookings. Switch to other cruise lines.
Get Your Messages Straight.
Quick sidebar. While the language suggests this change is to placate guests per customer feedback, other comments refer to the important fire safety issue. Hard to sell customers on an unpopular idea with mixed messages.
See also, oblique references to upgrades the public spaces reserved for smokers. Taking away without giving, not usually a smart move.
Their 'unofficial' social guy John Heald doth attest that TPTB really do take heed of feedback. Doing his best, he's engaged about as much as he can on this issue. Alas the official engagement from Carnival has been limited, and what I've read has that icky 'copy and paste' vibe to it.
Data mining social media.
One of the biggest mistakes any company – global brand or small business – can make: ignoring what others are saying about them online.
Comments and feedback can offer great insight, let a brand know what's working and what's not, provide suggestions for improvement. Even more so as I've shown here, they can answer the most important questions, those qualitative X factors you can't automate: WHY. WIIFM.
WIIFM to stick with one brand over the other? WHY do people upgrade to balcony cabins? Reviewing the comments (possibly reflecting a noisy minority), one big reason: to smoke. If that's the case, it's a major revenue stream and hate to say it, the half/half ship idea isn't a bad one.
My take: social, 'crisis' or marketing-proof. I hate that I keep coming back to that but – there it is. When people start comparing other cruise lines, other inclusive vacation alternatives my bet it is that many will be back and in the end, Carnival will gain more than it loses.
Your take: How do you announce a big change? What's the best way to sell an idea that's sure to be unpopular with some of your most loyal customers? At what point do you bow out gracefully, let the discussion die?
Photo credit: the smart folks at Despair totally get it.


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I Still Love Anusara Yoga—Nothing Changes.
Less than one year ago I wrote a piece about how I felt that I was "Made for Anusara Yoga."
When I wrote that piece I could never possibly have imagined that for the past two weeks, I, along with my beloved kula mates, would have been riding the roller coaster of conflicting emotions, confusion and uncertainty as we've watched this Anusara story unfold dramatically and tragically before our eyes. However, what strikes me is that having just re-read this "ode to Anusara" that I previously wrote, every single word is still true for me. Every single one.
As a writer for Elephant Journal, for better or for worse I was one of the first people to hear about the scandal and I, like many, was plunged immediately into a deep sense of sadness, disappointment and betrayal. I too sat on the edge of my seat, clinging to my laptop, waiting for the next piece of information that would emerge. What would this mean for this wonderful yoga practice that has changed (and truthfully saved) my life? What would become of the beloved kula who have truly become my family over the past few years? What would happen to all of my incredible teachers who have worked so hard to get where they are, teachers who truly care about their students and the greater good of the world, teachers who teach from the heart everyday.
Do not get me wrong. Before any skeptical readers jump to the conclusion that I am perhaps a "blind follower," I must state that from the onset of this crisis, I was one of the more critical voices (Waylon can vouch for that!). As was my reaction to similar indiscretions of politicians gone by, I too was disappointed, angered and disgusted by John Friend's alleged improprieties. And truth be told, I'm a liberal person (I live in San Francisco after all!), I don't really care all that much what John Friend does in his private life. It's frankly none of my business nor my concern. But what I do care about is integrity. For me this crisis was always one of integrity. By John violating his very own code of ethics, a code to which he held others, this to me was the biggest breach of integrity. He betrayed the trust of his fellow teachers, his students, and the enormous community that looked to him as a leader (whether right or wrong for us to do so.) Simply put, I felt that John proved himself to be a hypocrite.
But beyond that, I felt that John had become somewhat deluded by and abusive of his position of power, and as is often the case with politicians who are asked to and expected to step down, I felt that these grievous mistakes on John's part rendered him unfit to lead and that he too should step down.
This was my truth from the very beginning.
What worried me initially was that I saw a lot of what felt to me like a lack of discernment and a desire to "sweep the whole thing under the rug," from both John and from the community at large. This disturbed me. I think Bernadette Birney put it best when she said, in her interview with Waylon, "Instead, too many people wanted to sit around singing kumbaya, sending love and light." This really resonated with me and I greatly appreciated Bernie's strength to emerge as a strong voice of dissent. Always one to be skeptical of any kind of religious or spiritual organization where people do not question authority and where people can follow somewhat "blindly," I was worried that this was what was unfolding before me. This did not sit well with me.
When we began to see the resignations of well-known and well-established Anusara teachers (one of my own among them), although I was saddened for anyone to have to make this choice, and ultimately what it would mean for the community, I was at the same time relieved that I was not the only one who had a problem with what had occurred. It gave me comfort to know that there was critical thinking and discernment taking place and that teachers were finding the courage to speak out and stand in their truth: an action which is not at all easy within a community of so many adoring and loyal teachers and students. I greatly respected and honored the teachers that one by one began to speak their truth, however harsh and revealing.
Now I must state, that at the same time that I honor and respect those teachers who have chosen to resign, I also equally and fully respect those teachers who have decided to stay and stand behind John, as well as those teachers who have decided to take a "wait-and-see" approach. Respecting the teachers on both sides of this coin is in no way a contradiction for me. I feel very strongly that each individual, teacher or student, has to deeply explore their own feelings on this entire situation and ultimately has to stand in their own truth, whatever that is.
What has really struck me as an important point of agreement between both camps, those staying and those leaving, is that all seem to be in agreement about the intelligence and the power of the Anusara practice. It did not escape me that many of the teachers who were resigning, were very clear in their resignation letters that their method of teaching would not change, that although they could no longer align with the man behind the practice, that the practice itself was in no way in question. They would continue to teach the principles that they had always taught, regardless of what they called their classes.
This leads me most importantly to the practice itself. When the scandal first broke, the most common comment I saw from members of my community is that "Anusara is bigger than the man." This spoke to me from the get-go. It is simply true. While I have taken two workshops with John and I myself have only had wonderful (albeit limited) experiences, my experiences with Anusara have predominantly been with the wonderful local teachers with whom I have practiced multiple days a week for the last four years. My introduction to Anusara began in Los Angeles when I was living through the darkest years of my life. Though I had practiced many other types of yoga in the past, it was somewhat "by accident" that I stumbled into an Anusara studio, having never previously heard of this type of yoga. It is difficult to express how grateful I am for that step, as I largely give credit to the path and method of Anusara Yoga (and to John for creating it) for delivering me from this dark time. As my journey has since taken me from Los Angeles and into the wonderfully integrated Anusara community here in San Francisco, I have heard story after story of healing through Anusara: stories similar to my own of overcoming devastating broken hearts, stories of overcoming drug & alcohol addictions, painful divorces, tragic losses of family members, chronic injuries, illnesses and so much more. It is clear to me that regardless of the current circumstances, the method of Anusara yoga is and will continue to be a gift to humanity.
While my heart has gone out to all of the teachers and the community over the past two weeks, for the very sad situation that is unfolding, I have been very clear from the beginning that nothing would in fact change for me. I am clear in myself that what I wrote in that previous essay still holds true for me, that the practice of Anusara has brought only powerful healing and beauty into my life and it is a path to which I am committed, regardless of what it is called. And I have said to my teachers, that whether they choose to stay or go, it will not matter to me. I will respect either decision for its own merits and I will continue to practice with my amazing teachers, the same as I have been doing for years now.
It seems poignant to mention that I am currently enrolled in the Anusara Immersion. This weekend is our sixth of seven weekends, and you can imagine there was a bit of apprehension and uncertainty heading into this weekend's Immersion. But after having a very open and emotional group discussion about the situation, what became clear to me is that for most people in my community, John Friend does not affect them. Most of them have never practiced with him nor know much about him, nor do they really care. In fact several knew nothing at all about the current scandal. The practice was never about John Friend. Yes, John Friend created a powerful practice with an elegant and effective set of principles, but ultimately it is the thousands of Certified and Anusara-Inspired teachers who bring this practice to life, day in and day out. After moving through a deep practice today, with my Immersion kula, it is clear to me that the practice lives on and that, in the end, is all that matters. I have no idea what Anusara will look like after the restructuring, nor if my teachers will stay or go. But I know now that it doesn't really matter. What matters is the practice, our practice.
I'd like to turn back to John Friend for some final thoughts. Though I have been very disappointed by his actions as a teacher and leader, this does not mean that I do not hold deep compassion for John, the man. To witness anyone having a fall from Grace is deeply heartbreaking and I will continue to hold space for him. Perhaps it is not so ironic that this weekend's Immersion was to explore the Bhagavad Gita. As I read its verses all week long and after a rich discussion today with Tantric scholar Hareesh Wallis, talking about non-judgment, non-attachment to outcomes, and exploration of our shadow side, I am reminded once again what the yogic path is all about. We are all human and we all have a darker, shadow side, which through the practice of yoga we strive to bring to light and integrate into our whole. As a community, we mistakenly held John to a standard that was beyond that of a mere mortal. In the end, John Friend is a human being, just like the rest of us, and he too has his shadow side. Though (and despite any negative feelings) my heart breaks for him right now for the public humiliation he is having to endure, as a Tantric yogini I ultimately know that this will be a gift for John; it will likely be the most powerful opportunity for growth that this life has afforded him. And it will be an opportunity for our community as well, to heal, grow and evolve. One of the things that first attracted me to Anusara Yoga was its Tantric philosophy of always looking for the light in the darkness, and I fully believe that this current shadow that has been revealed will too be a gift, a gift that will lead to greater light.
In writing about my journey of healing with Anusara, I wrote that Anusara had allowed me to embody the Phoenix rising from the ashes. This image has been palpable and life-changing for me over recent years. It is my hope that this too will be John's journey.
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{Waylon H. Lewis C Enterprises 2015: Use Rights in perpetuity. Ownership remains with author.}
27 Responses to "I Still Love Anusara Yoga—Nothing Changes."
Good BLOG and I fully support you and your endeavors! I too have trained under a Yogi who spent many years studying Anusara and now I teach using many of Anusara's Principles. I am teribbly upset with what JF did and believe he should severe all ties with Anusara, the business, for the sake of keeping the Practice alive. I too will continue to Teach and Practice Anusara, just like you. Namaste my friend.
"Respecting the teachers on both sides of this coin is in no way a contradiction for me."
-This is an important point… if I were a member of the "kula", I would want to avoid burning bridges. Despite all the arguing about copyright, licensing, etc., Anusara's principals have helped a lot of people in a lot of places. I hope that doesn't stop because of this stuff- the people trying to figure out how to move Anusara and/or it's principals forward may need each other.
"Respecting the teachers on both sides of this coin is in no way a contradiction for me."
– Important point… you know, despite all the scandal, licensing and turf disputes, the Anusara principals have helped a lot of people in a lot of places. I'd hate to see that stop. The folks trying to move Anusara and/or it's principals forward may need eachother.
I agree, I think this is the most fair and balanced review of the situation. I think that Anusara is a form of yoga and teaching s that are bigger than any one person. I understand the betrayal and pain of the teachers that resigned and the teachers that are standing by to see what happens. For Anusara to continue to flourish and perhaps, even survive – all of us are needed to continue our community and our practice.
As for John Friend, I hope he finds his Way. I suspect that what has happened to him is a combination of loss of perspective and untreated mental illness. The line between genius and insanity can be very fine. I hope he takes his time off and his therapy , very seriously. I would like to see him be healthy again and happy.
Great one, Jeannie. Thank you so much!!!
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Beautiful, thoughtful and deeply appreciated. You have put my entire experience with Anusara Yoga into words much more eloquently than I ever could. Thank you so much!
Truly beautiful, Jeannie. Xoxo.
Jeannie, thank you for your smart and intelligent perspective. I'm a fan!
Tara, thank you so much for reading.
I love this Jeannie. Your perspective mirrors mine very much, and I am but a 2 year Anusara student. While I was heartbroken at first, I suddenly developed this very deep and loving compassion for John. I cannot even begin to imagine the humiliation he has experienced in the public eye, and while I offered him unconditional love and support on his page and the Anusara page, I also held him accountable. I'm coming from a Christ consciousness. In the end , what I believe he needs most is love and compassion, and he needs to be forgiven. Hopefully the hand of God will transform the man John was and a shining new spirit will emerge.
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Thanks girlfriend.
If this was only about John Friend I might go along on this ride with you. Its not though. Amy Ippoliti and Elena Brower have only started to expose their own complicity and the group dynamics that allowed this behavior to continue over a long period of time. Until the Kula itself fully exposes the dynamics that allowed this to continue and take all means necessary to prevent it happening again, they will be participating in the same dynamics and thus will remain unrepentent and very untrustworthy. I am glad to see at least some of the Kula moving in the right direction, but they have a lot of work left to do. Yes, withhold judgment – and that includes the judgment that John and the Anusara Kula have earned forgiveness. Yes, stay attentive and conscious of how this unfolds and yes, continue the beautiful practice that saved me in a period of darkness too. Just note that the holding accoutable part is wider than what is happening with John and that it is far from over.
Hi Scott, I completely respect every word and you may prove to be correct. I still stand by what I say. My practice is with my local teachers, not with John Friend, and many of them are also expressing distaste over what has happened. But they, like me, still believe very much in the practice. I come down to this: whether my teachers stay or go (I will respect either) and whatever they choose to call themselves, they are still my amazing teachers and I will still continue to practice with them. For most of us at the local level, this is not about John Friend at all. It's about the practice and our community and I intend to continue with and in both, regardless of the name.
I don't disagree with you either. I just don't see this perspective and anywhere near the whole story. Thanks for your post and your response. I'll keep practicing too – with my Anusara-inspired instructor, who trained directly with John for 10 years and still has a picture of him on her Puja. I will also watch my own boundaries very closely. Namaste' Scott
It's a great and totally valid point, Scott. Thanks for raising it. I guess time will tell how this all unfolds. I suspect there is still more to come. I just feel like for us as individuals, it's more important than ever to turn to the practice, our own practice.
I really admire this article, and resonate with a lot of it. Keep on truckin.
Thank you darling Emma. I fully honor all of your decisions on this matter as well. Peace.
Jeannie – superbly written article. You make so many strong, powerful arguments and observations. One statement that you made that especially resonates is this: "what matters most is the practice, our practice." I am with you on that. I am one of the many who have never studied with John Friend. He has never personally touched my life, only indirectly through the lineage of Anusara yoga. The people who have touched my life are *my* teachers, all of whom are Anusara teachers. And what matters most in my life is my practice and what I'm working through with my body. Nothing will change that. I will continue on this path.
I keep hearing apparent yogis talking about non-judgement, non attachment to outcomes etc etc whilst at the same time believing themselves justified in feeling abused, disgusted, and angry with this man called Friend. I also keep hearing how wonderful and profound his teaching of tantric yoga is. Mmmmm. Maybe take this opportunity to erase everything you think you know, and begin a fresh new enquiry into what Yoga might actually be or mean. Each person, as I see it, is wholly responsible. It is never justified to hold another responsible for how you are feeling. And it is just a feeling. Taking it all so seriously, particularly fleeting emotional reactions, is a recipe for suffering, not Union. It's a cosmic joke, folks, as always.
Hi Vaughan, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate hearing different viewpoints, always. Just to be clear, I do not in any way feel abused. As I said, my connection to John Friend is very limited. But it is my right to feel disappointed by his behavior. It is also my right to feel sad for my community, as this has been a very difficult two weeks for the community at large. It is a very tight-knit community, all around the world, and what we most do not wish to see, is the community break apart. Also, John Friend in no way makes the claim that Tantric philosophy is his, nor do any of us. It is centuries old and has recently had a rebirth here in the west, and as I have studied it with Tantric scholars (not John Friend), it has resonated more and more. As for what yoga means, well yes, we know the word means "Union." But as to a yoga practice, I believe that just as with any form of spirituality, it is something very personal and means something different to everyone. For me it has changed my life in beautiful ways and brought me from a dark place and back into the light. I am very clear what the yoga means to me. And having practiced lots of different types of yoga, I am also very clear in the fact that for me it has been Anusara that has resonated most strongly with my spirit. That is not the case for everyone, nor does it have to be. But it is the case for me. I am grateful to all of my teachers, and the wonderful community who have supported me along this path.
You have so much more study to do-there are multiple sanskrit meanings of the word 'yoga' and the the word union is very often misused. the root 'yuk' means 'to yoke' and there is a very deep tradition of joining daily life to the ethics of behavior. If you want to understand yoga, tanra is fun, but read Patanjali. HE TELLS US IN NO UNCEARTAIN TERMS WHAT IS RIGHT LIVING. You suffer from a common case of western misunderstading of the teaching and think that asana and Anusara are yoga. Not even close.
Thankfully I am not suffering at all. I'm happier, more aligned and more filled with light than I've ever been, and that IS due to the yoga (and no that does not just mean asana). I am currently in a 7 month Immersion and we are studying in depth the ancient yogic texts (among them are of course Patanjali's Yoga Sutras- though being a Tantrika, we do interpret it from a Tantric vs. Classical perspective), directly with academic scholars, the foremost experts in the fields of Hindu and yogic philosophy. I know what I get from the yoga and I know what it means in my life. I only wish that more people could experience the bliss that I have found through yoga.
Thank you posting very deelpy thought! It touched my heart very much.
I love that your thought, especialy this part as follows ; The practice was never about John Friend. Yes, John Friend created a powerful practice with an elegant and effective set of principles, but ultimately it is the thousands of Certified and Anusara-Inspired teachers who bring this practice to life, day in and day out.
I completely agree with you!
perfectly said.
HI Hillary! Thanks. I don't know if you remember me. I took a few classes with you back at City Yoga, when I first began Anusara. Thanks for reading.
[…] February I passed the four-year mark with my dedicated Tantric-Hatha yoga practice. To say that my yoga practice has changed my life would be an understatement. Any of my friends can attest to this fact, having witnessed my […]


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Android's new baby, the 3.0, or what is more popularly known as the Gingerbread is soon to released but it has come to our attention that the rumor mill got a little over excited and certain news that we had got are not entirely true. This in fact has been confirmed by Android though not through any official statements but tweets. However, we will look at that later. Let us see what the Gingerbread actually does offer us.
Okay, first and foremost we can definitely say that this version of the Android will be providing the user an experience which is far better than its predecessors. Usage is far easier and smoother in all aspects. The main aim for this enhanced user experience which they have admitted is that they want to be bringing the experience of the little green robot as close as possible to the Unlocked iPhone 4. Although historically this has not been the case as the Android experience has been behind the iPhone. However, we feel that Android should keep in mind that the mainstream Android users only want a smooth user experience.
Moving onto the looks, Google wants to weed out the need for third party skins as fast as possible. However this is somewhat difficult as the mobile handset manufacturers will be coming up with their skins ala the MotoBlur or the Sense, such that they maintain a unique image in the market.
Coming back to the false rumors that we had heard, it was said that the Gingerbread needed a 512 MB RAM and a 1GHz processor. This meant that phones like the Motorola Unlocked Milestone Droid would not be able to use this version. In this relation Dean Morrill Android's open source and compatibility head has tweeted saying, "do not assume that any rumors floating around are true."


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Recruitment status was Recruiting
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- How to Read a Study Record
The investigator proposes to evaluate Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT), which integrates: 1) an ecologically-based intervention for treatment of substance abuse behaviors in high risk adolescents, 2) exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for sexually assaulted youth, and 3) psychoeducation strategies for prevention of risky sexual behaviors and revictimization. The principal purpose of this research proposal is to evaluate the efficacy of RRFT in reducing the risk of drug abuse and other risky behaviors, PTSD, and revictimization among adolescents who have been sexually assaulted. The Research Plan will be conducted based on Stage 1a and Stage 1b from NIDA's Behavioral Therapies Development Program as described in Rounsaville, Carroll, & Onken (2001). The final phase of the research will involve conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial of RRFT in a sample of adolescents, comparing primary outcome measures of youth receiving RRFT to youth receiving usual care in the community. Participants will be adolescents (12-17 years) who have experienced a sexual assault. Assessment of substance use and other risk behaviors, trauma-related psychopathology, and incidents of revictimization will be collected at pre- and post- treatment, as well as 6-week and 3-month follow-ups. Hierarchical Linear Modeling will be the primary method used to test study hypotheses. Development and evaluation of the proposed intervention will have significant implications for addressing public health problems in adolescent substance abuse and related high risk behaviors.
Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy.
Usual Care.
Behavioral: Risk Reduction through Family Therapy
Phase 1
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Risk Reduction for Drug Use and Sexual Revictimization
- Time Line Follow Back and urine screen [ Time Frame: Pre and post-treatment, 3 and 6 month follow-ups ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- YRBS [ Time Frame: Pre and post-treatment, 3 and 6 month follow-ups ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- FES [ Time Frame: Pre and post-treatment, 3 and 6 month follow-ups ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- UCLA PTSD Reaction Index [ Time Frame: Pre, post, and 3 and 6 month follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|December 2007
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|June 2011
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|December 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: 1
Behavioral: Risk Reduction through Family Therapy
Component based intervention based on existing empirically supported treatments
Other Name: RRFT
Active Comparator: 2
Usual care
Behavioral: Risk Reduction through Family Therapy
Component based intervention based on existing empirically supported treatments
Other Name: RRFT
Detailed Description:
See above summary
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|12 Years to 17 Years
|Genders Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- memorable sexual assault
Exclusion Criteria:
- active psychosis
- active suicidality
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00998153
|United States, South Carolina
|National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
|Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
|Contact: Carla K Danielson, Ph.D. firstname.lastname@example.com
|Contact: Deni L White, B.S. email@example.com
No publications provided by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Additional publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Carla Kmett Danielson, Ph.D., Medical University of South Carolina
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00998153 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|October 19, 2009
|Last Updated:
|October 19, 2009
|Health Authority:
|United States: Federal Government
Keywords provided by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):
substance use
risky behaviors
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on October 09, 2015


text:
If it isn't spam : go to amazon.com and search for c++
hello all
i want agood book for c++
many boooooooks
i want it to make me aprogrammer
zaid almtewti
If it isn't spam : go to amazon.com and search for c++
And I want a $1.000.000, but for starters, you could pick up just about any C/C++ programming book.
For C++ I would recommend Bjarne Stroustrups the C++ Programming language and then Nicolai M. Josuttis the C++ standard library
For C I would recommend Greg Perrys The absolute beginners guide to C and then K&R The C programming language where Stephen Kochans Programming in C (developers library) would be a nice extension.
For a good laugh you could get M.T. Skinner The C++ Primer and make a contest on how many errors you can locate in the different chaptors.
And then move onto O'reillys Practical C++ Programming and Practical C Programming
From there on, man(1) will be your friend.
For a more system specific, and if you're into network programming (like I am), you could get the UNIX Networking Programming vol 1 and vol 2 which contains alot of nice explanations to network-structures aswell as alot of code examples.
If you're more into Bezier curves and graphics, then Mason, Jackie and Toms OpenGL Programming Guide will be a good reference.
for a cheaper option head to you local librairy.
About libraries - My one even hadn't a python book >. I didn't like the online tutorials, they were so strange for me so I wanted a book with exercises and so on. Then I searched amazon and found Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner. I'm really happy with it


text:
Standard league
Knoshon Moreno or David Wilson?
Standard league
Knoshon Moreno or David Wilson?
The Sox traded Bullfrog the only player they've got for Shottenhoffen. Four-eyes Shottenhoffen a utility infielder. They've got a whole team of utility infielders.
Start 2:
First ever fantasy football championship in the balance here. I'm leaning Ballard/Moreno who I have started the past 3 weeks.
All I know is that I wouldn't start Beanie Wells.
Get MLBtraderumors Reds updates on Facebook.
Pierre Garcon or Danny Amendola?
Go BLUE!!!
Championship game, Week 2...
Matt Ryan vs Russell Wilson vs Michael Vick
BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs Darren Sproles
Mike Williams/Justin Blackmon vs Demaryius Thomas/Julio Jones
I'm thinking Wilson, Sproles, and Blackmon/Thomas.
Choo got it, dude.
Get MLBtraderumors Reds updates on Facebook.
OK, so now that Rice is only going to play for a series or two today, it comes down to his backup Pierce vs Green-Ellis. I personally don't feel comfortable starting either one, but with how good the Bengals D has been at stuffing the run lately, I'm leaning towards Green-Ellis.
Choo got it, dude.
A pulled hammy? Good thing I ended up benching Green-Ellis. Hope it's nothing serious, though.
Choo got it, dude.
Surprised I didn't get blown out. Look at how stacked his team is! Had I started Williams in place of Green (which I came very close to doing), it would have been a tie.
Choo got it, dude.
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.


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Main Content
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I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to have a php script that will automatically link all of my "http://" urls on a page, and open those pages in a new window.
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Any help appreciated.


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Read: One Major Difference In Talks This Time Than In 2004
In the Toronto Globe and Mail, Eric Duhatschek writes about how a restructured CBA is having a big impact on these CBA negotiations.
He explains that in 2004, the NHLPA was ran by Bob Goodenow and his deputy Ted Saskin but had a player president in Terevor Linden.
He said that while Goodenow and Saskin were like GM and coach, Linden was the captain of the players and someone that the other players could relate to.
Duthatschek says that having Linden in such a high role was a big thing, "As a group, players understand that sort of chain of command – teammate, captain, coach, manager – and feel comfortable operating within it. If they wanted a private word about the progression of the lockout, without engaging Goodenow, they could do so with Linden, who was highly regarded by his peer group for integrity and fairness."
Linden, along with former NHL board chairman Harley Hotchkiss were the ones who took the first steps toward getting a deal done.
Fehr now has different players present at negotiations and his brother, Steve, in the number two hole and Dutharschek says that the back channel for talks has been closed off.


text:
Submission It's Steve Jobs Turn->
An anonymous reader writes: Twelve years ago Bill Gates had to deal with lawyers questioning him in regards to the Microsoft antitrust case. Now it might be that other tech mogul's turn. Steve Jobs has been ordered to answer questions regarding Apple's iTunes music monopoly.
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source


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Alpine Pant (Women's)
Out of Stock Product Number: 30844
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Pedro Galvan
Open Source project(s) I'm involved with or passionate about:
Calibre, PostgreSQL, Python, Perl
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text:
11 U.S. Code § 1324 - Confirmation hearing
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and after notice, the court shall hold a hearing on confirmation of the plan. A party in interest may object to confirmation of the plan.
(b) The hearing on confirmation of the plan may be held not earlier than 20 days and not later than 45 days after the date of the meeting of creditors under section 341 (a), unless the court determines that it would be in the best interests of the creditors and the estate to hold such hearing at an earlier date and there is no objection to such earlier date.
Source(Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2649; Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 529,July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 389; Pub. L. 99–554, title II, § 283(x),Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3118; Pub. L. 109–8, title III, § 317,Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 92.)
Historical and Revision Notes
senate report no. 95–989
Any party in interest may object to the confirmation of a plan, as distinguished from merely rejecting a plan. An objection to confirmation is predicated on failure of the plan or the procedures employed prior to confirmation to conform with the requirements of chapter 13. The bankruptcy judge is required to provide notice and an opportunity for hearing any such objection to confirmation.
2005—Pub. L. 109–8designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted "Except as provided in subsection (b) and after" for "After", and added subsec. (b).
1986—Pub. L. 99–554struck out "the" after "object to".
1984—Pub. L. 98–353struck out "the" before "confirmation of the plan".
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–8effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before such effective date, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 ofPub. L. 109–8, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–554effective 30 days after Oct. 27, 1986, see section 302(a) ofPub. L. 99–554, set out as a note under section 581 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) ofPub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


text:
Hi I am 7 weeks pregnant, I went for an ultrasound saturday and there was only a sac, no yolk sac?
According to the wensite I should have a yolk sac, but I don't is that a sign of an abnormal pregnancy?
Posted: 08/27/2007 by CARLINO14
Mom Answers
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hi everybody....feeling better after looking at your comments.... as i am 8 weeks pregnant i had been for scan in 6 weeks they told that still the heartbeat is not seen.. again they told me to come for scan in 10th week... am very eager to get scan... not feeling better not so much morning sickness but lots of back ache during night....thanks for your sharing its very helpful!!!posted 08/14/2012 by rakshitha*3
no the heart rate has nothing to do with what the gender of the baby is. my daughter's heart rate was 172 the first time and she carried low (both signs of a boy according to old wives tales) she kept high heart rates untill recently, her base line is 135.posted 08/05/2012 by lilmp20100427
i was almost 8 weeks before they found my babies fetal poll as they call it they thought at first i was having a tubal pregnancy but i went for my us at 11 weeks and baby is just fine heartrate of 158 does that mean it is a boy? with my girls the heart rate was never that high.posted 07/28/2012 by lexi_mommy2009
I am 8 weeks and I had a mc in Nov. 2011. On my first US @ 5wks they saw the yolk sack and said everything looked good. They also did BW and everything came back fine. They put me on progestrone just as a precaution. I went for my 2nd US at 6wks and the Dr. said there had not been much growth and things did not look good. They still couldn't see a baby. He gave me one more week in case my dates were wrong. I go tomorrow. It has been a very long week. I am so ready to get this over, yet I don't want to hear bad news. This would be our 3rd child or possibly my 3rd MC (not all in a row) . It is our last attempt at having a baby. My heart is breaking. I am really trying to trust in God. Oh yea no cramping or bleeding either.posted 05/31/2012 by babybyrd28
Hi i went to my first appointment when i was 7 weeks pregnant,my doctor couldn't see anything but the gestational sac two weeks later (while symptoms were (disappearing) i go back and he says there is still no heartbeat or anything. Unfortunately i had to do the miscarriage at home, but i wish you good luck and god bless i just went through this yesterday. This would have been our third baby.posted 07/23/2008 by porsha moore
Hi, I am about 7 weeks pregnant an the doctor said my yolk was kind a large. Any input. I am scared. I have been spotting at well. Not much. Just when I wipe.posted 11/26/2007 by jybolanos
the information is very helpful . I am trusting in God for the best. I went today for an u/s and my BW and the Dr.could only see a yolk sac but not a baby,I feel a little neverous my husband and I just went a misscarry in 2005 and we have been tryng foor a total of seven years.This pregnancy was a surprise, So I belive everything will work out find its all in Gods Hand.posted 10/18/2007 by a BabyCenter Member
I had the same problem I am a large woman and i was 8 weeks pregnant before they could see the baby or hear the heartbeat I was told it could be a false pregnancy but my hormone levels were continuing to rise and they did find the baby now i am a mother of a beautiful healthy baby girl. It was a very stressful time but remember to relax everything will turn out the way it is supposed to.posted 09/10/2007 by krystalk225
Hi I Too Have Been In A Tight An Scary Situation, I Have Three Sac's They Say They Are All Empty, I Am Trying To Be Strong But Feel Weak.posted 09/08/2007 by a BabyCenter Member
Thanks for your response! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one going through similiar situation. It is heart wrenching to wait. I actually am going in tommorrow for my 2nd u/s and ii hope they can see baby. If not then I will know then I have a blighted ovum. It's hard to go through but I guess I would rather have this happen then have a baby that is not healthy and has some defect.I think of it as God's way of protecting us from something that could be much worse for us and our bodies. He knows your heart and will comfort you. I pray God's peace over you. Do you have any other children? I have two boys one age 3 and one age 1. They keep me busy. Talk to you soon. Oh, and my blood work went up but not doubled as well. They said not enough for a viable pregnancy. But I do know that God is bigger than any of that. Just resting in Him... the best I can. Do the same. Bless you, Jedebaby:)posted 09/06/2007 by jdebaby
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