text:
Type in your origin & destination below.
Enter your details to log in and view or change your bookings.
InterCity Rewards members: enter InterCity Rewards number and password.
Pass holders: enter your pass number and access code.
All other bookings: enter your booking reference and email address.
Catch a cheap InterCity bus to Queenstown from Invercargill. InterCity has a range of cheap fares starting from $1 (+ booking fee). The main InterCity bus stop in Invercargill is at the Invercargill Information Centre carpark at 108 Gala Street.
The bus journey from Invercargill to Queenstown takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes and stops along the way at Winton, Dipton, Lumsden, Kingston and Frankton. The bus arrives at the Queenstown InterCity bus stop on the Corner of Camp and Shotover Streets.
Search for a bus to Invercargill to Queenstown with New Zealand's most popular national bus network.
Queenstown is internationally famous as the adventure capital of New Zealand and is a popular destination during the winter period for skiing and snow boarding. Queenstown has four main ski fields: the Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone and Coronet Peak. Situated on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by picturesque mountains, Queenstown is an extemely popular tourist destination that welcomes 1.2 million visitors each year.
Visitors to Queenstown are spoilt for choice when it comes to 'adrenaline activities', including bungy jumping, white water rafting, jetboating, mountain biking, skydiving, paragliding and skateboarding. For those who are just keen to relax there are many nearby wineries to tour through and sample.
For more information on Queenstown visit queenstownnz.co.nz or visit Queenstown Lakes District Council qldc.govt.nz
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By Casey Nolen
Royal Lakes, Ill. (KSDK) - It was a smash and grab at the village hall.
It all happened in the village of Royal Lakes in Macoupin County, Illinois where the sheriff's department is investigating and was also a victim.
When the mayor came to work Wednesday morning he found the front door and four more doors kicked-in. So far, the mayor says the most valuable items taken were village computers.
They do not believe any private information was compromised, but people in the village hall do say damage was done beyond the building.
"It's devastating to know that somebody came in, to our village hall, invaded our community space, and took something that didn't belong to them," says Village Clerk Vickie Wyman. "It was something that was a part of all of us."
And what makes this break-in even more brazen is that the Village Hall is also a sub-station for the Macoupin County Sheriff's Department and the Sheriff's office was also broken into.

subset: commoncrawl


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Highlands police announced today that they are still investigating Saturday's deadly car accident in West Point, although they have identified the victim of the fatal wreck, a 53-year-old man from Highland Falls. The man and his wife were involved in a T-bone collision at about 11:15 a.m. Saturday morning. The wife was seriously injured in the crash, as was the driver of the other car.
According to a Town of Highlands police report, the wife was driving that morning. As she tried to make a left-hand turn from Stony Lonesome Road onto Mountain Avenue, a white sedan struck the passenger side of the vehicle. Both the husband and wife were rushed to Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point, but the man did not survive his injuries.
The driver of the white sedan appeared to have suffered a concussion but was able to get out of the car without assistance. Police did not believe the four passengers in the white sedan were seriously injured.
Officers had no reason to suspect that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the car accident. All of those involved seem to have been wearing their seat belts.
Police from both the Town of Highland and the New York State Police are investigating the cause of the accident and the Highland Falls man's wrongful death. Highland Falls police and firefighters were also on scene to redirect traffic during the accident investigation. As of today, police have not decided whether any traffic charges will be filed.
Please drive safely.
This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. Names have been withheld to protect the privacy those involved.
Related Resources:
- Middletown Times Herald-Record, "1 dead in crash near West Point gate," Doyle Murphy, April 30, 2011
- Middletown Times Herald-Record, "Police identify man killed in fatal Highlands crash," Doyle Murphy, May 4, 2011


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Ironstone Grevillia (Grevillia elongata) Interim Recovery Plan 2003-2008
Interim Recovery Plan no. 131
Gillian Stack and Val English
Department of Conservation and Land Management, WA, 2003
|Scientific Name:
|Grevillea elongata
|Common Name:
|Ironstone Grevillea
|Flowering Period:
|September - November
|Dept Region:
|South West
|Dept District:
|Recovery Team:
|South West Region Threatened Flora Recovery Team (SWRTFRT)
Illustrations and/or further information: A. Brown, C. Thomson-Dans and N. Marchant (Eds) (1998) Western Australia's Threatened Flora; P. M. Olde and N. R. Marriott (1995) The Grevillea Book 2: 142-143.
Current status: In 1996 Grevillea elongata was declared as Rare Flora under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and the species is now listed as Endangered (EN). It currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN, 2000) Red List Category 'EN' under criterion C1 (IUCN 2000) due to the high level of fragmentation of populations, and a continuing decline in the quality of the habitat. Grevillea elongata is also listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The main threats are inappropriate fire regimes; disease; chemical drift; road, rail and firebreak maintenance activities; weed invasion; and pine plantation maintenance.
An Interim Recovery Plan was developed for the species in 1999 (Phillimore et al. 1999). Information collected since that plan was completed has been incorporated into this plan and this document now replaces Phillimore et al. (1999).
Critical habitat: The critical habitat for Grevillea elongata comprises the area of occupancy of the known populations; similar habitat within 200 metres of known populations; corridors of remnant vegetation that link populations; the catchment area for the surface and groundwaters that maintain the wetland habitat; and additional nearby occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the species but may have done so and may be suitable for translocations.
Habitat critical to the survival of the species, and important populations
Given that this species is listed as Critically Endangered it is considered that all known habitat for wild and translocated populations is habitat critical.
Benefits to other species/ecological communities
Population 1 is located within an occurrence of a Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act, and Critically Endangered in Western Australia. Petrophile latericola and Grevillea maccutcheonii which are listed as Critically Endangered under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and Endangered under the EPBC Act also occur in the wider habitat of some populations of Grevillea elongata. Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of some populations of Grevillea elongata are likely to improve the status of the TEC in which this population is located, and also that of populations of other listed flora that occur in the wider habitat.
International Obligations
This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australia in June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia's responsibilities under that Convention. However, as Grevillea elongata is not listed under any international agreement, the implementation of other international environmental responsibilities is not affected by this plan.
Role and interests of indigenous people
There are no known indigenous communities interested or involved in the management of areas affected by this plan. Therefore no role has been identified for indigenous communities in the recovery of this species.
Social and economic impacts
Some populations of Grevillea elongata occur on private land and negotiations will continue with regard the future management of these populations. Recovery actions refer to continued liaison between stakeholders with regard these areas.
Evaluation of the Plan's Performance
The Department of Conservation and Land Management, in conjunction with the Recovery Team will evaluate the performance of this IRP. In addition to annual reporting on progress with listed actions and comparison against the criteria for success and failure, the plan is to be reviewed within five years of its implementation.
Habitat requirements: Grevillea elongata is endemic to Western Australia and is apparently confined to the Whicher Range area. It is found on soils ranging from red-brown gravelly clay over ironstone through light brown sandy clay over ironstone to grey sandy soils. It generally occurs in low, often very diverse heathland with Corymbia calophylla, Dryandra squarrosa subsp. argillacea, Calothamnus. sp Whicher and Xanthorrhoea sp.
Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented -
- All appropriate land managers have been informed of the location and threatened status of the species.
- Declared Rare Flora (DRF) markers have been installed at all road and rail reserve populations.
- Dashboard stickers and posters describing the significance of DRF markers have been produced and distributed.
- An area of private property containing Population 7 was fenced in 1996 and purchased in 1998.
- An area of private property containing Subpopulation 1e was fenced and purchased in 1999.
- Seed was collected in 1995 and 1998, and stored in the Department's Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC). Germinants produced through viability testing are being propagated by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority.
- The Botanic Garden and Parks Authority currently have forty plants of Grevillea elongata grown from four clones.
- Weed control research has been conducted at Population 2 by staff of the Department's Science Division.
- Control of Bridal Creeper near Population 3 occurred in 1998.
- Phosphite control of dieback disease has been undertaken in the habitat of Populations 1a to 1e, 2a to 2d and 7e.
- The removal of pines to a 10m radius around Population 6 is ongoing.
- A fire response strategy has been prepared and incorporated into the Blackwood District's Fire Control Working Plan.
- Staff from the Department's Blackwood District regularly monitor all populations.
- The South West Region Threatened Flora Recovery Team is overseeing the implementation of this IRP.
IRP Objective: The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild.
Recovery criteria
Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by ten percent or more.
Criteria for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by ten percent or more.
|1. Coordinate recovery actions
|9. Monitor populations
|2. Map critical habitat
|10. Conduct further surveys
|3. Undertake weed control
|11. Collect seed and cutting material
|4. Implement fire response strategy
|12. Investigate need for translocation
|5. Cull pines
|13. Obtain biological and ecological information
|6. Maintain disease hygiene
|14. Promote awareness
|7. Continue Phytophthora control
|15. Review the need for a full Recovery Plan
|8. Liaise with land managers


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London, Sept 7 (ANI): Victoria Beckham's bike was stolen in New York, after she chained it up in the street, it has been revealed.
The former 'Spice Girls' star, who is more used to travelling by chauffeur-driven limo, got back to find just a single wheel left after thieves unscrewed the body and dragged it away, the Daily Star reported.
The 39-year-old singer, who is married to David Beckham, took to Twitter to share a pic of the scene and said that she won't be able to go back home riding.
Some of her cyclist fans also advised her on the micro-blogging site that she should have wrapped the chain around the bike frame.
Beckham is in the Big Apple with her daughter Harper to unveil her new catwalk collection. (ANI)


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Singapore Celebrates Holika Dahan
Singapore Celebrates Holika Dahan
Parole chiave
People prepare a bonfire and give offerings as they prepare to... Foto di attualitàComposizione orizzontale,Culture,Dare,Falò,Festeggiamento,Holi,Interessi dell'uomo,Offerta religiosa,Persone,Preparazione,Religioni e filosofie,SingaporePhotographer Suhaimi AbdullahCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesSINGAPORE - MARCH 26: People prepare a bonfire and give offerings as they prepare to celebrate Holika Dahan on March 26, 2013 in Singapore. Holika Dahan, or burning of demon Holika, is celebrated the night before the Holi festival and is said to commemorate the escape of Prahlad, adevotee of god Vishnu, from being burned when carried by Demoness Holika into a fire. The bonfire is said to epitomize the victory of good over evil. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)


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Gallery Folders
absolutely amazing works
You have an amazing ability to draw realistic looking clothing/dresses... I'm very impressed!
love it great work!!
Cannot even begin to explain how much I love your work. I want to fill my house with it! Magnificent!
love your work, you are amazing!
Somebody suggested the Seven Virtues before I could.... Would love to see them in dyptichs with the Seven Sins, don't you all fans agree?
Avarice x Charity
Envy x Compassion
Gluttony x Temperance
Lust x Chastity
Sloth x Diligence
Vanity x Humility
Wrath x Patience
That would sure be awesome!
I hope she does it!
That has a lot of potential to be absolutely amazing.
I am totally infatuated with your themes!!!! I cannot express how much I love them <3 I will look through all your work when I get a chance.


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Revlon Super Lustrous Matte - Really Red
238 reviews
90% would repurchase
Package Quality: 4.2
Price: $$
Package Quality: 4.2
Price: $$
INGREDIENTSIsononyl Isononanoate, Trioctyldodecyl citrte, Ozokerite, Silica, Bis-diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Paraffin, Microcrystalline wax, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol esters, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythityl tetrethylhexanoate, Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract, Synthetic wax, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol. May contain: [ /-: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, (CI 77891) Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140) Red 7 Lake (CI 15851), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499) Red 27 Lake (CI 17200) Red 33 (CI 17200), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15895)] 21919
on 7/29/2013 10:58:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Combination, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Black, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
Every woman should own one of these. Not drying, easy application, class red and dirt cheap for amazing quality.
on 7/29/2013 7:28:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Normal, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine
Eyes: Green
Okay so I switch between this and MAC's 'Russian red' from day to day depending on how I feel, and honestly I find the quality of this just as good as my MAC lipstick, and it doesn't dry my lips no where near as much!
I highly recommend this lippie for anyone who is into the rockabilly/pinup look and is on a light budget for that classic vintage red lip.
The formula of this is great!
It's a blue based matte red, it goes on super creamy and doesn't bleed, and lasts a long time if you apply it with a liner.
Looove this stuff!!
Though it was a little pricey for a drugstore lippie, I think I paid 10-11 dollars at shoppers drug mart, it would probably be cheaper at Walmart!
on 7/16/2013 3:51:00 AM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm
Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium
Eyes: Brown
I own a special stash of several of these babies because they are hands down ny fav DS lip product ever. They are a perfect red and make my teeth look pearly white. I love mattes and this does not dry my lips out at all! Even though my lips are very dry normally. I wish they didn't dc this! I don't want to order online when they run out at every store :/ only place I've found them is at Alberstons for twice the price Walmart had them! $4 normally but $8 there! Booooo...but worth the extra cost! They are still very cheap imo since I am a MAC lipstick lover. for the price of a MAC lippie i can score 2 of these. Pretty good :)
on 7/12/2013 10:38:00 PM
Age: 25-29
Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Not Sure
Hair: Black, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
I bought this to tide me over because i couldn't find my other Matte red lipstick (MAC's Ruby Woo). Although not the same shade and staying power as the latter, i have come to love this lipstick.
The lipstick has slightly orange undertones, i combine it with my maybelline lip liner (which has the blue undertones) and the colour i find is complementary to my "olive" skintone.
It is quite creamy matte so doesn't dry my lips like other lipsticks, at £7-£8 this a brilliant red and i will definitely repurchase.
on 7/1/2013 2:39:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Combination, Olive, Not Sure
Hair: Brunette, Other, Other
Eyes: Hazel
Oh my goodness. Yes please. Prefect red color and lasts hours without touch ups. Loved.
on 6/27/2013 4:29:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral
Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium
Eyes: Brown
Literally the most perfect, truest red for light/med skin tones.
on 5/15/2013 9:36:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Combination, Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium
Eyes: Brown
I wouldn't usually spend this much on lipstick, as I'm not a huge lipstick wearer and I don't want to spend more than about �5 on a make up product I may or may not use.
However I had a gift voucher for Boots from Christmas and I thought I'd try it out and I would definitely repurchase this lipstick.
Its a perfect matte red colour and is has great staying power.
on 5/2/2013 9:01:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Normal, Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Black, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
loveeeee this lipstick.it's become my no go item when i work. and all my friends curious about lipstick that i use, when i said it's revlon so they're all buy this lipstick. red lips is hot. and really red lipstick it's so so so hotter. ahahaa i usually combine it with brown eyeshadow from naked palette. and voila! it's really stunning. also when i'm about to late to go to work and i need full make up for my job. just use one colour eyeshadow brown and use this lipstick. one minute emergency make up finished. and i looks like using full make up because this so attractive red lipstick. and the price is not expensive, it's so cheap. but it quite dry so i have to apply lip balm before applying it. but i love it
on 5/1/2013 11:36:00 AM
Age: 56 & Over
Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool
Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine
Eyes: Blue
Really Red is another favorite red of mine. It's a blue-red that goes on matte beautifully. Lasts a few hours on me. The color is not bright at all, but a slightly darker red. I can wear this year round. I'm very pale and this looks good with minimal makeup, altho I can wear it with a full face. It does go on smoothly and stay that way. Really Red is a staple in my bag, along with my other reds. The color also stays the color I first put on, which makes me happy. I also own Fire & Ice from Revlon, these are the only two I do own from that company, and as far as reds go, these two reds are great if you want to get one with coral tones and one with blue tones. There are a lot of reds out there and it can be very confusing when you first start out. My tip on choosing reds is if you buy first, make sure it's returnable. Many reds look different from the package and when you get home, the look on you is not what you thought it would be. If you're buying from a department store, make sure that you can return it. The red may change on you after a few hours. You're investing a few bucks into that lipstick and want to be sure that it's the perfect red for you. With so many out there today, just keep trying, you'll find one that is great for your skin tone.
on 4/22/2013 8:31:00 PM
Age: 18 & Under
Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral
Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium
Eyes: Brown
I'm a big mob movie fan, and it was right in the middle of "Mob Week" (which AMC runs once a year) that I decided that the one and only thing I needed in this world was a lipstick as red as those mob wives. It's killer.
This one fits the bill and satisfies my inner weirdo just about perfectly. Revlon ain't foolin' around with the name either, it's really red. A bright, beautiful true red that I feel would look stunning on just about any skintone.
Like most Revlon lipsticks, the wear is phenomenal. I can wear this all day through meals without needing to touch up at all. And when it finally does wear away, it does so evenly, no patchiness.
Alas, like all matte lipsticks, it dries me out like a mob boss if I'm not careful. I exfoliate first then usually add some Carmex on top. Gives a lovely glossy look.
Perhaps my only other complaint would be that I wish it were more socially acceptable to rock a bold red lip all year round. As it is, I'll just have to wait until autumn. Good on ya Revlon, this shade will be much loved by me as soon as summer is over.
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No wonder an actress like Ali Larter keeps her body fit for fans. Even once, the beauty was told to lose weight for a role.
ōWhen IÆm in really good shape, I like my butt. ItÆs juicy ¢ thatÆs what my fiancķ says,ö the Heroes actress, 32, referring to actor Hayes MacArthur, tells Allure for its July issue.
ōIÆm an indulger, but then I have to be good,ö Larter says over a large lunch of dumplings, scallops with ravioli and a burger with salad, fries, ketchup and mayo. ōIÆm also going to get my butt out and go for a run tomorrow.ö
Once, before a photo shoot, her thighs needed to be duct-taped on account of ōthey were a little too round,ö she recalls. On another occasion, while on a movie, she packed on some pounds ¢ and thatÆs when being unfit really hit the fan.
ōThe faxes went out from the producers and the director to my agents to my manager to call me and ask me to lose weight,ö she says.
ōI just remember sitting in my trailer hysterically crying from the embarrassment I felt about myself, my body ¢ and that no one could talk to me directly.ö
A great actor, of course, will do something professionally once he sign up. Ali Larter? Of course, she is!
ōThis is what I signed up for,ö she admits. ōWhat I do for a living puts me in the spotlight. They pay me for it.ö
Great job, girl!


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The Blog
Let's Be Reasonable
...and vote for 'the entire campaign platform of the national Democratic party.'
11:55 AM, Nov 1, 2010 • By VICTORINO MATUS
Adding to Michael Warren's findings from the "Million Moderate March" is Robert McCartney's column from this past weekend's Washington Post. Even McCartney, who admits he agrees with the concerns of many of the attendees, knows the event was not simply a call for sanity, reason, and moderation:
McCartney points out this contradiction of the liberal mentality: "[Jon Stewart] says he just wants everybody to be reasonable. But his fans, at least, also want one side to win. And winning in politics usually involves being self-righteous and pushy—traits that don't encourage a civil response from the other side." He points to some of the left-leaning posters: "Only amnesiacs vote Republican," "A little socialism is good for your health" (with a Canadian flag), "We have nothing to fear but Fox itself," "America, it's worth it: Stop whining and pay your taxes."
And similar to Stewart's interview with President Obama, the complaints from these reasonable rallygoers, notes McCartney, were that the president and the Democrats did not go far enough and were not aggressive enough to push through their moderate agenda. Which makes you wonder what they'll do after tomorrow.
Recent Blog Posts
The Weekly Standard Archives
Browse 19 Years of the Weekly Standard


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February 1, 2014
Star Entertainment
Tommy Lee accepted in Russia
Set to do first ever show there this month
On January 30, 2014, dancehall artiste Tommy Lee Sparta tweeted about his upcoming appearance in Russia.
In a video uploaded to YouTube, the artiste said Russia would be the place to be on February 21, 2014 as he makes his debut appearance at the Plan B Concert Hall and Nightclub in Moscow, Russia.
Tommy Lee Sparta, whose real name is Leroy Russell, will be having an exclusive concert at the annual international dance competition's third edition, Dancehall International Vol. 3, put on by Russia's Big Up Productions.
In an interview with The STAR, Sparta said the promoters from Russia contacted his management team in the hopes of booking him for the event. He also revealed that the anticipation prior to his appearance is very high.
"The demand is enormous over there; they can't wait for the show. All of mi song dem a mash up the place."
He also said that the Russians have choreographed dance routines to some of his most popular songs, many of which have been uploaded to YouTube.
"If you check it out you see crazy dance sequence them build fi mi songs dem. Me respect how them a show me love, so me a make the effort to do the show", he said.
First time to Russia
The show will mark the artiste's first time to Russia and Sparta says he's looking forward to meeting his fans face to face, many of whom have been showing him love via Facebook and Twitter. "I hear a lot about Russia over the years and I'm finally getting to meet with some of the fans and feel them energy" he said.
Tommy Lee Sparta says there is a lot to expect from him in 2014 as he is currently working on a few new songs. "Songs like Free Your Mind (Head Concussion Records) that has a carnival vibe and No No (Clean Money rhythm) ... that well bad, and the video a guh drop right behind it", he said.
In addition to his new songs, Sparta also said that he has been doing work with a few international artistes but was not yet ready to reveal all the details.
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text:
Social media is a great way to get your audience more involved in the message you are communicating, by offering a chance to support that message with "real time" interactions. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare… the tools that you choose aren't necessarily as important as making sure to use them well.
Think about how you advertise your social media presence – a link at the bottom of your emails, a line on your business cards, a URL in the credits of a video, a mention through another social media channel; we'll use Facebook as our example. There are many ways to bring visitors to your Facebook page, but how do you get them to click that "Like" button, and then come back for future visits?
Take a step back, and ask yourself, "Would I hit that Like button? What does this page offer? Why would someone choose to Like it?" And then ask yourself, "What do I want to be the reason they click Like? What do I want them to perceive as my value?" Lastly… decide how you're going to communicate it! Here are some tips.
Know what you're going to be posting about, and when. Make a calendar and plan ahead, so that your content comes to your fans in a steady stream. Nothing loses participation more quickly than silence.
Interact with your fans. Post period welcomes to new members. Ask questions, and then use that "Like" button to show that you've read and appreciate the responses. Use the Facebook Questions feature to get a conversation started, and make sure that you participate!
Do not allow yourself to become a brand robot. This ties in very neatly with the above point – you have to interact with your fans in order to seem more personable and "likeable". Don't just spend all of your time reposting your news stories and ad campaigns – post some historical pictures to start discussion, post about the community service day, show the more personal side of your group.
Promote participation. Ask your fans to share their own pictures and stories. Allow them to add to your photo albums. This goes a long way toward promoting engagement and involvement, particularly with the Facebook page associated with a once-a-year event. A month later, solicit people to upload and comment on their memory photos. Two months later, show off historical photos and ask others to post theirs. Sharing promotes involvement, which keeps your fans returning to the page.
Show them what you offer. When you've got a sale, promotion, or special event, let your fans know about it. If you can, offer a "fan exclusive" – a discount, a sneak peek, a "fans only" event – something to add value to being a Facebook fan of your group.
Don't go overboard. You see, your fans are human too, and if you fill up their feed with 20 posts a day about your event, they will eventually reach overload and either "unlike" or hide your posts. Twice a day is adequate for anything that you're not live-covering, but always gauge your audience, and remember that responding to questions/comments is never a part of that "overboard" quota!
With the plug ins that the Web Team has to import your social media feeds into your site, you have a great set of tools to engage your visitors, if the content is interesting, relevant, and timely.
These tips are remarkably similar to the Twitter Tips that are posted on the Social Media Handbook site – good advice on one platform often translates to other social media tools.
Original ClickZ article can be found here.
Skidmore's social media handbook can be found here.


text:
YogaWorks Teacher Training 200-hour
YogaWorks Teacher Training 300-hour
SculptWorks® Teacher Training
Pilates Yoga Teacher Training
Restoratives Yoga Teacher Training
Urban Zen Integrative Therapist Training
NCCPT Personal Training
Yoga Tune Up® with Jill Miller
iRest/Yoga Nidra with Richard Miller
Reiki, Level 2 with Eleonore Koury
LMU Yoga Therapy
Boulder College of Massage Therapy
St. John Neuromuscular Therapy
Yoga Warriors International
Trauma Sensitive Yoga with David Emerson & Bessel Van Der Kolk
During a childhood marked by trauma, movement offered me salvation and redemption in a way that nothing else could, and continues to be my saving grace. I I love the combination of movement, mindful awareness, and breath inherent in Yoga asana practice. For many years I did Ashtanga Yoga exclusively; it connected me to elements of my great love, modern dance, as well as my passion for intensity, athleticism and the transcendent place to where these things often lead me. Although I still love a challenging physical practice, moving into my mid 50s and dealing with injury has led me to gentler and subtler Yoga techniques, of which meditation is a significant part. I continue to find the best parts of myself by harnessing my body, brain and heart in ways that move me beyond the mundane and toward the sublime. In terms of everyday life, I've learned through Yoga (particularly, the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali), to be calmer, kinder, more tolerant and more compassionate than I would have been if I'd stayed on the trajectory of my early life, and for this I am immensely grateful.
I teach because I love it. Guiding and witnessing positive change in those who study with me leaves me falling in love with teaching and my students over and over again and creates an affirmative, nurturing feedback loop that engenders well-being and a strong, supportive community. Yoga consistently makes lives better and I love being a part of that.
Maty Ezraty; Lisa Walford; Martha Graham; Bill T. Jones; Pema Chodron (and all her books); Jack Kornfield (and all his books); Sebastian Junger (and all his books); Reggie Ray; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Joni Mitchell; Friesian horses, The Rocky Mountains, break-of-dawn hiking; and Max Strom, who gave me one of my first real glimpses into Yoga as a way of life.


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A lot of foam seems to form whenever I try to pour a glass of draft from my Keg Cooler?
There could be several reasons for this; 1. The Keg should be allowed to stand for a minimum of half an hour before you tap it. 2. Verify the C02 pressure is reading between 10~ 12 psi and that the keg cooler is operating within 36˚F ~ 40˚F (2˚C ~ 4˚C). 3. Release any excess air pressure via the release valve on the keg coupler. 4. Check your CO2 line (red hose) for any possible air leaks.
Can I install my keg cooler directly into my bar?
Although modification of your appliance is not recommended and may void your warranty, this sort of installation is possible. However in order for the unit to receive proper ventilation, there must be 2 inches of clearance around the unit and 6 inches from the unit to the back wall. If you are going to mount the beer dispenser, to the top surface of the bar you must ensure the area between the dispenser (tower) and the top of the fridge remains sealed.
Where do I go to fill the CO2 tank for my keg cooler?
To find a local supplier please look in the Yellow Pages under "Oxygen" suppliers.
Why is there no beer coming out of the tap?
Please make sure that you are using a domestic beer keg, (Canadian or American) as the coupler provided with Danby keg coolers is not suitable for imported beer.
If you are using the keg cooler for the first time, allow the air in the hose to be released. Once the air has been released, the beer will begin to flow.
Make sure the CO2 tank is full.
Check the hoses for kinks, and un-kink if any are found
Make sure that the coupler is in the locked or closed position. (The handle will be horizontal when the coupler is in the locked position)
Make sure gate valve is open
The wheels on my portable washer do not rotate; can I get ones that do?
The reason the wheels on your portable washer do rotate is to allow for stability of the unit during a wash cycle. There is no other type wheel available for your machine.
Can I connect my portable dishwasher directly to the water supply?
No, your portable dishwasher is not designed to be connected directly to water a supply.
The hoses on my portable dishwasher do not reach, is it alright to use longer ones?
The pump that was installed in your dishwasher was designed to pump discharged water the length of the factory installed hose. For trouble free operation, we do not recommend installing a longer length of hose.
The instruction manual talks about black and white wires but I have blue and brown wires, how do I connect my dishwasher?
Blue = White (Neutral) Brown = Black (Hot)
I own a Danby Designer countertop dishwasher, and the interior window has fallen off. Unfortunately, the warranty expired over a year ago. What would be the best way to reattach this window? It seems to have indents to keep it positioned, and it looks like it may have just been glued in place. The seals appear to be intact. If it needs to be glued, what kind of glue will survive the heat, soap & water?
We suggest using an industrial strength sealant which is non toxic and once you use it, make sure you let it dry for at least 24 hours. You can buy this in most appliance repair stores.
One of the castors on my portable dishwasher broke can you send me another castor?
In order for the castors to be installed the bottom of the dishwasher must me removed, therefore you must contact a Danby-authorized service dealer to have them order and install the new castor. Please Note: These castors must be installed by a licensed technician.
The ball bearings have fallen out of our plastic quick connect. How do I fix it?
The quick connect cannot be repaired; it must be replaced.
I have an 18' (or 24") dishwasher and the spray arm keeps hitting my plates?
First, ensure that your dinner plates are the standard 12" and make sure dishes have been properly arranged on the bottom rack. If you have loaded the dishwasher correctly and your dishes are the correct size, try raising the top rack. Raising the top rack: 1. Unclip the clips at the end of the sliders for the top rack 2. Remove the top rack 3. Slide the bottom set of wheels into the slider 4. Close the clips at the end of the slider


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Lost: The Shape of Things to Come
(S04E09) What a brilliant episode! At this point, I think all future Lost episodes should be either Ben-, Sayid-, or Desmond-centric. This episode had it all: tons of action, several big revelations, and more questions to ponder. Michael Emerson gave yet another award-worthy performance this week and showed off his action hero side.
Follow this link to join the chat. The full review is after the jump.
Gallery: Lost: The Shape of Things to Come
Team Jack
A sweet, flirtatious opening scene between Jack and Kate quickly transformed into something disturbing. Jack complained about a stomach bug and went to the supply tent for some antibiotics. Kate followed him and asked for his honest opinion about the freighter situation. As Jack tried to reassure her, Vincent's barking and Bernard's screaming interrupted the moment. A body had washed up on the beach. It was the ship's doctor, Ray; his throat had been cut.
The group decided to try communicating with the freighter via Morse code. Apparently they no longer need Sayid to work his techie magic; Faraday had it covered. Once they had a signal going, Daniel asked the freighter what happened with the doctor. The freighter responded, but Daniel lied to the group about what the message was. Fortunately, Jack finally wised up and had Bernard on hand to decode the message as well. As far as the freighter crew was concerned, the doctor was fine. Unsettling news, to say the least. Either someone on the freighter was lying, or the island's time issues have struck again.
In full-on outrage mode, Jack asked Daniel to be honest about the freighties' intentions. Daniel admitted that rescuing the 815ers was not on their agenda. Suddenly, Jack was stricken with intense abdominal cramps.
Team Locke
You know a Lost episode is good when you can almost instantly forget about a random body washing up on the beach. All the real action happened over at the Barracks. As Hurley, Sawyer, and Locke played an innocent game of Risk, Alex was being held at gunpoint. It was Keamy and his band of mercenaries who killed Danielle and Karl, not the Others. Alex was smart enough to give her father a warning; she typed in a special code that sent an alert to the Barracks via telephone. When the phone rang, Locke answered and heard the phrase "Code 14-J."
After the men informed Ben of the call, he told them what the message meant. They had to barricade themselves inside his house immediately; the war was starting. Sawyer's first concern was Claire. In the short amount of time that he searched for her, three redshirts were shot and killed, and Claire's house was blown up. Miraculously, she survived. Sawyer found her beneath some of the rubble; she must have been out back during the explosion. They were able to make it back to Ben's house in one piece.
Ben was more concerned about Locke's welfare. John needed to stay alive, Ben explained, because they had to pay Jacob another visit. Hurley's recent cabin-sighting made him an integral part of the team as well. Suddenly, Miles rang the doorbell. His colleagues had sent him to bring Ben a walkie-talkie. Miles had more bad news for Ben: Keamy and the others had taken Alex hostage.
What followed was one of the most painful Lost moments I've ever seen. Ben tried his best to work his mind games on Keamy, who held Alex at gunpoint in front of the house. When intimidation didn't work, Ben claimed that Alex wasn't his real daughter and meant nothing to him. Keamy shot Alex in the head before Ben even finished his speech.
It was like a switch went off in Ben's brain. He stood, frozen, for quite a while before whispering "He changed the rules." While the others argued about whether or not to give Ben up, Ben locked himself in his secret chamber. Whatever he did in that room summoned the Black Smoke Monster, who attacked and killed the mercenaries. The rest of the group ran for the jungle while Ben stayed behind to say goodbye to Alex.
Later, Sawyer decided to abandon Team Locke and return to the beach. Claire, Miles, and Hurley wanted to go along, but Locke and Ben insisted that Hurley stay with them. There was a brief standoff, but Hurley ultimately chose to join the search for Jacob's cabin.
Flash-Forward: Ben
We caught up with Ben in the Sahara desert, inexplicably wearing a DHARMA parka. He was wounded, disoriented, and nauseous. Two armed men on horseback rode up to him, and were aggressive towards Ben. While one of the men searched him, Ben hit the man with a telescopic baton and shot his companion with his gun. This scene is definitely in my top three moments of the season.
After riding off on one of the men's horses, Ben traveled to Tozeur, Tunisia. As he checked in to a hotel, he seemed very curious about the current date, particularly the year (October 24, 2005). TV footage of Sayid caught his eye. The Oceanic Six member was trying to avoid the paparazzi as he mourned his late wife, Nadia.
Ben followed Sayid to Nadia's funeral procession in Tikrit, Iraq. He took photos of Sayid and another mysterious man observing the funeral. Sayid mistook Ben for a journalist, and was shocked to see him off the island. After explaining himself, Ben warned Sayid about the mysterious man. His name was Ishmael Bakir, a Widmore employee. He was also the man responsible for Nadia's death.
Later, Bakir caught Ben tailing him. As Ben gave Ishmael a message for his employer, Sayid appeared and emptied his gun into Bakir. Sayid wanted to avenge his murdered wife, and signed on for whatever Ben had planned for Widmore.
Finally, Ben paid Charles Widmore a visit in his London home. The men argued about Alex's death and the ownership of the island. Although he couldn't kill Widmore, Ben declared his intention to kill Penny. He would make Widmore regret that he ever changed the rules. Each man had separate agendas from this point on: Ben was searching for Penny, and Widmore was searching for the island.
Final remarks:
- I'm a little disappointed that Ben made such an error in judgment by sending Alex off into the jungle. When Danielle and Karl got shot I assumed it was part of another diabolical plan of his, but the Freighties had the advantage this time. On the other hand, I was touched to see Ben display genuine emotion after Alex's death. There's a human being behind "those horrible eyes."
- Ben's DHARMA coat had the name Halliwax on it. Edgar Halliwax is one of Dr. Marvin Candle's aliases. Candle calls himself Halliwax in the Orchid station video.
- Widmore still likes MacCutcheon whiskey. He uses it to deal with his recent nightmares.
- There was something adorable about the way Sawyer told Locke to not "harm a hair on [Hurley's] curly head."
- Most haunting line of the night: "Once you let your grief become anger, it will never go away. I know from experience."
- Why can't Ben kill Widmore? Why does Widmore believe he owns the island?
Next week--Jack has appendicitis, Frank Lapidus finds the former members of Team Locke, and Keamy emerges unscathed from his encounter with the Black Smoke Monster. In the meantime, check out additional Lost coverage at AOL.
|Keamy killed Alex.
|1046 (50.3%)
|Ben can summon the Black Smoke Monster.
|602 (28.9%)
|Ben's going to kill Penny.
|207 (10.0%)
|Ben can possibly travel through time.
|177 (8.5%)
|Widmore had Nadia killed.
|48 (2.3%)


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Public Garden Career Center - View Job
Wedding & Events Intern
Category: Technical
The North Carolina Arboretum
Asheville, North Carolina
Posted: Thursday, March 14, 2013
Olmsted Fellow Internship
Position Announcement: Wedding & Events Intern
Olmsted Fellow Internship Program
The Olmsted Fellow Internship Program is a prestigious opportunity for selected undergraduate and graduate students in a wide variety of academic fields to gain valuable, on-site experience at one of America's leading public gardens. The experiences may entail responsibilities in research, economic development, design, horticulture, conservation, public relations, marketing, environmental stewardship and sustainability, and other facets of the Arboretum's mission areas. Selected through a review process that incorporates such criteria as academic performance, demonstrated ability to achieve goals, leadership potential, and sound character, Olmsted Fellows are capable of developing and utilizing advanced skill sets that result in personal and professional growth potential, as well as contribute value to Arboretum priorities and service.
Position Description: Wedding & Events Intern
This position reports directly to the Events Management Coordinator or Assistant Wedding Coordinator.
Responsibilities include:
Assist the Coordinator with various duties related to the Facility Rental and Wedding Program, such as assisting with event set-up, coordination and take down of tables and chairs, helping the Coordinator oversee the event function.
Perform administrative duties to support the Events Management Coordinator and Assistant Wedding Coordinator.
Interfacing with event vendors and guests.
Independent Project:
Project must be currently relevant and meet an Arboretum need. Intern will work with the Events Management Coordinator and/or Assistant Wedding Coordinator to identify and select project. Intern will be allowed 6-12 hours a week to work on assigned project at the discretion of the Coordinator. Staff will be available to provide support.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the internship, the intern will understand the events management environment of a state institution and a nonprofit organization.
Upon completion of the internship, the intern will gain experience in effective events management techniques.
Completion of the first two years of college with a focus on customer service, marketing, business, public relations, communications, or a related field.
Must be either currently enrolled or a recent graduate (graduating less than 12 months before the position term start date).
Basic knowledge of and experience in events management preferred.
Ability to be energetic and work evenings on most weekends.
Working knowledge of MS Office Suite.
Must be detail oriented, organized and reliable.
Career aspirations in the fields of events management, hospitality industry.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to work under tight deadlines and support team members.
Ability to work with a diverse group and to politely engage with Arboretum guests.
A competitive process will be applied to intern selection through submitted application and interview.
Hours: 8-15 hours per weekend, Fridays 4:00 pm-12:00 am / Saturdays 1:00 pm-12:00 am / Sundays 1:00 pm-12:00 am. Not all weddings and events are every weekend or every weekend day. Occasional hours Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm are possible.
Pay: $9.00 per hour with the potential of earning 3 credit hours or equivalent based on University policy. Internship credit is available subject to approval by your educational institution.
Duration of Assignment: Preferably mid-May through August for a total of 12 weeks. Attendance mandatory.
Requirement: A Background check will be required for the prevailing candidate
Location: The work site is located at The North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC. Intern must provide own housing and transportation.
To Apply: The application package will consist of a NC State application (available at www.ncarboretum.org), cover letter, resume, official transcript, and two letters of recommendation. All application materials and reference letters should be mailed or delivered to:
Olmsted Fellow Internship Coordinator
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, North Carolina 28806-9315


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deepika padukone ranbir kapoor love story
4 deepika padukone ranbir kapoor love story Articles
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Ranbir and Deepika take their relationship to the next level. That's almost like a déjà vu moment Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were recently… Read Article ▶
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'Workplace' Category Archives
What I've Been Working On
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
I haven't posted here much in the last year. At this time a year ago, I was seriously preparing for my SPHR exam, which I scheduled for the last possible day, January 30th. In retrospect, it would have been smart to book an earlier date in case a winter blizzard shut down all testing sites or I came down with a bad case of scurvy or something. But whatever. I tested on the very last day, and afterwards, following those months of intense work, I was so incredibly relieved that I went into an extended period of complete indolence. I watched old episodes of Lost, which is saying something because I never watch TV. And with my son a high school senior, I enjoyed quasi-empty-nesthood with great abandon, scheduling happy hours with friends probably three times a week! It's like I'm 22 again, except I get home at 7:00 p.m. instead of 3:00 a.m.
Anyway, blogging about HR just hasn't felt pressing to me recently, but that doesn't mean I'm not still passionate about HR. I am still the HR Director for a nonprofit that serves adults with disabilities, and during the last year, our employee count has grown by 20%. Rose and I are a two-person office and we don't use outside recruiters. During the last year, we have hired about a zillion new employees…which we then have to orient, onboard, sign up for benefits and enroll in extensive training mandated by regulations. And on top of that, we have all the same demands anyone else does: meetings, email, challenges that derail our day, planning/reporting, and sooo many other things pulling us in countless directions. In addition, when my boss is gone, I am Acting Executive Director. When he traveled to Asia for a month this summer, it was an eventful time indeed because we were in expansion mode. So it's been a crazy time in my work and home life, but this is what I'm working on recently:
1. Recruited two HR interns, one undergrad and the other in graduate school. More about that in my next post.
2. Made a video to communicate with staff about a new aspect of our performance management system. This might not seem like a big deal to you, but I *hate* having my picture taken, much less appearing on film, so I am pretty darn proud of myself.
3. Re-arranged my office. This might sound insignificant, but I've been contemplating the issue for months. Given our rapid growth, office space is at a premium. Rose and I are stuck with a less-than-desirable layout; we find ourselves in connected offices, with her space an essentially an outer vestibule and mine an inner chamber (see photo). This is not ideal for many reasons, including the fact that I am forced to invade her space dozens of times daily. In addition, staff perceive me as inaccessible because they see Rose as a gatekeeper. Because I was tucked away around a corner, they asked: "Is Krista in? Can I see her?"
What a horrible, crappy message from human resources! I am not the Wizard of Oz. I don't need someone to vet my appointments.
Also, people would walk by our office, say hello to Rose, and keep walking–because they couldn't see me. Too late, I would be like: "Hello! I'm here! Hi! Hello???" I hated it. I felt invisible. And it was lonely.
Although I wracked my brains for months, given our growth, I couldn't figure out how to wrangle a private office for Rose. But it occurred to me that I could manage the perception around my availability just by re-arranging my office. And so when our new CFO wanted a different desk, I took her cast-off and got rid of my old clunky L-shaped unit that had been tucked into a dark, back corner. I moved the new desk so that I am in the line-of-sight of any employee walking past our office (see photo.)
In the two weeks since I've made the switch, I've gotten a new and steady stream of visitors every day, including quite a few employees who haven't been in my office since their original interview with me years ago. I'm accessible again. Sure, I get a lot more interruptions than before, but it's so worth it. After all, these people are the reason I have this job.
So that's what I've been up to. What have you been doing?
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My Husband and I are Both Wrong by Krista Ogburn Francis on January 24th, 2011
What Did She Say? (Reducing Office Gossip)
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
Most workplaces probably struggle with gossip from time to time. Being human, it's so easy for any of us to fall into the trap of complaining to a third party rather than addressing issues with the person actually involved. As an HR pro, I have lots of opportunity to redirect people back to the source when they come to me to vent and complain. I feel like I am constantly asking, "Have you talked to _____?" and reinforcing this theme by reminding them, sometimes repeatedly, "You really need to talk to ____ directly." It doesn't help if I interject my HR self. It just muddies the waters. Although there are certainly times when it's appropriate for HR to become involved, I can't solve your routine interpersonal problems for you. You need to talk to the person who is directly involved.
One day when talking to an employee, slightly different wording came out of my mouth. When Kamilla complained "She did A, she did B, then she had the nerve to do C," I found myself asking some magic words:
"What did she say when you talked to her about that?"
Kamilla's eyes got big. She looked like a deer in headlights. "Well, I didn't actually talk to her, but, she, yeah, I, well, she….." she stammered. I reiterated my "You need to talk with her about it" mantra and we brainstormed several approaches she could use. And the gossip stopped in its tracks.
Ever since that day, "What did he/she say when you talked about it?" has been my go-to phrase when people complain about a third party. Responding to complaining gossip is difficult and somewhat awkward. Saying, "We really shouldn't talk about her behind her back," risks coming off as haughty and self-righteous, despite the truth of the sentiment. (An exception: when a group intentionally set up cultural norms embracing direct communication and core values of respect, agreeing that gossip is unacceptable. In that case, it is relatively easy to refer back to the agreement without sounding like the moral police.)
Countering with a positive statement about the other person sometimes helps deflate gossip, but often doesn't seem powerful enough. When I do this, it's better than nothing, but I personally often feel like a somewhat ineffectual Pollyanna.
Asking some version of "What did she say when you brought it to her attention?" seems like a happy medium to me. When I ask that, I am communicating my matter-of-fact assumption that they have already done the right thing before asking for my help. It conveys my expectation as HR Director that in my workplace, employees first address issues with each other directly instead of defaulting to complaining to someone else.
So, this is what works for me. But we're all different; what works for you or your organization?
photo by val.pearl
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There is much I admire about my boss, .
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Tips for Adjusting to a Promotion
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
Being promoted is exciting. Promotions bring celebration and an opportunity for new growth. Anticipating and preparing for the transition can help professionals feel more at ease in the new post. Preparation can help ease potential awkwardness that may come as the "honeymoon stage" of the new job wears off.
The most important thing to remember is to optimize the initial phase of your new position. This first stage of the promotion is an opportunity to get to know the roles and responsibilities of everyone you will oversee, or work alongside. Talk to your team to learn about the different jobs and how they fit together. Make notes of people's names, general duties and ask questions including who fills in for them when they are out of the office. Do not make immediate changes. It is important to get a clear idea of where things stand before you start making adjustments. When you are beginning the new position, colleagues may feel more comfortable being candid about what is working and where they would like to see change. Not only will you better understand the role of the individuals in your organization, but you will also gain knowledge about how to create the best teams for projects.
Take the time to listen to your new team. If employees feel that you will listen to them, then they will be more likely to support you. Listening can also help you figure out whom to delegate which tasks to as your responsibilities increase. Communicating well with your team may uncover new possibilities within the present staff. Assessing which employees may be willing to take on more responsibilities in can save you time and money.
In the beginning of a promotion, you will also want to learn all you can about the HR policies, procedures and guidelines that you would not have been privy to in your previous roles. You might have to deal with additional HR procedures, such as hiring and payroll. Make an appointment with HR when you first get promoted. This will give you time to learn any new information before potentially making a mistake.
During the transition period of your new promotion you might need to re-assess the time and ways you socialize with peers who are also friends. Going from peer to boss might require a change in your interactions. For example, if you have previously engaged in casual banter about other team members, you will now have to refrain from such comments. It is vital that everyone on your team feel equally valued. You should handle these situations honestly and directly. Making sure employees feel that you are operating on a level playing field will encourage involvement as you begin to create goals and plans.
As you move into your new position, you can begin making plans. Be sure to include future goals, your expectations and who will take over tasks if an emergency occurs. Leading into your promotion with a detailed understanding of the key facets in your organization will help you build camaraderie and set you up for success in your short term and long term goals for years to come.
This article was submitted by University Alliance on behalf of the online programs at Villanova University. If you're interested in HR certification, Villanova offers 8-week HR courses in addition to an HR masters degree. For more information please visit http://www.VillanovaU.com
photo by Horasis
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[caption id="attachment_1471" align="aligncenter" width="178" caption="My son Justin and friend after Earth Day fun.
Quick Grammar Upgrade–Your/You're; It's/Its; Whose/Who's
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
A few years ago, my neighbors introduced their new baby, Lily, to me. Even as I congratulated them on the birth of their beautiful new daughter, I felt distracted, thinking, "Won't they feel a little silly when they find out the correct spelling is Lilly?"
You can figure out the rest of the story. Of course, to my chagrin, I learned my neighbors were in fact correct; flying in the face of typical rules of English spelling and pronunciation, the flower is indeed spelled L-I-L-Y.
If it's not already abundantly clear, let me come out and say that I make many mistakes in my writing. My grammar is not perfect. I overuse the passive voice and I sometimes conclude sentences with prepositions. Often, I use too many commas; other times not enough. And when I text from my phone's virtual keyboard, I inflict a prodigious amount of typos upon my unfortunate readers.
With all my mistakes, I don't intend to judge anyone with this post. That said, I see educated, professional (HR) people repeatedly making sloppy, elementary mistakes that I believe detract from our collective credibility, errors that make us appear less educated and professional than we actually are. Some of the most frequent and basic errors concern contractions vs. possessives.
So this is my public service announcement. Please refer to my handy-dandy grid to help determine when to use you're or your, who's or whose, it's or its.
As the astute reader will undoubtedly notice, I've made a number of grammatical errors in this post. Two points for each error you bring to light in the comments.
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by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
I grew up in the tropics where we had two seasons: Rainy and Dry.
Now I live in Washington, DC, which purportedly experiences four seasons, not two.
Yeah, right.
The reality? Half the year it's too hot and the other half it's too cold, with precious buffer between the two. Okay, to be fair, I'll concede we do enjoy about three weeks of Autumn (breathtaking) and nine days of Spring. If we're lucky.
Though I haven't experienced the Spring and Fall of DC tourist lore, I still love our summer; hot, long and humid though it is. Who doesn't love summer? Summer is golden. Seemingly endless. Full of promise.
When I think about the seasons, I can't help but think about the organizational life cycle, which mimics the seasons of our own lives.
Spring: Expectancy, exuberant ideas, exploration, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity.
Summer: Phenomenal growth; energy, excitement and passion as ideas take root and bear fruit.
Fall: Maturity. Autumn color. Bureaucracy. Noticeable decline; the need to take stock and change course or suffer irreparable loss.
Winter: Spiraling down to an inevitable end, unless the organization aggressively reinvents itself.
For me, the organizational life cycle hits home in a personal way because I often interact with colleagues from competing organizations that are obviously aging. I observe employees at these mature [Fall/Winter] companies struggling on a daily basis for their very survival. I watch them fighting by relentlessly pruning, cutting back, saving costs, contracting, playing it safe, minimizing risk.
I watch their sailors on the bridge desperately cranking the ship's wheel, fighting for every degree of change–and often losing–seemingly oblivious to the water pouring in over the sides, threatening to swamp them at any moment.
And I wonder: in response to threat, is contraction a sufficient response to prevent imminent demise?
Are 'cutting back' and 'playing it safe' valid strategies to ensure not just survival but robust recovery?
Or should we throw out all that antiquated caution and act more like we did in our organization's youth, when we impetuously threw all caution to the wind and cast ourselves into the innocent passion of Spring and Summer?
photo by Krista Francis
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Fun and Creativity at Work
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
April Fool's Day has me thinking about snafus and shenanigans at work. One of my first jobs was a case manager at a nonprofit I'll call Habilitative Support Services (HSS). We rented space in an old elementary school building and served adults with mental disabilities, such as autism, schizophrenia, Down syndrome, etc.
We worked hard and also had a lot of fun. For example, staff often jumped out the side windows for quick access to the parking lot rather than walking *ALLLLLL* the way around to the front or back exit. After the clients left in the late afternoon, we were known to have water balloon fights in the corridors, which was not a big deal given the concrete block walls and tile floors. Often on Fridays, we'd pool our money and a co-worker J.T. would do a beer run. We'd spend the last hour of the workweek chatting and laughing outside the back door over beers and wine coolers. To their credit, our bosses encouraged the down-time and camaraderie. Yep, I have lots of fond memories of HSS!
A couple of other stories stand out in my mind:
1. Housed in an old school building, we had no air conditioning. Summers in the DC metro area can be brutally hot and swampy, so two guys asked if the dress code could be amended to include shorts. The Director declined their request. The guys said, wait a minute, that's not fair; the women can wear skirts which are not as hot as dress pants. The Director shrugged and answered: sorry guys; no can do.
In a stroke of genius, on the next sweltering day, the guys came to work wearing–you guessed it–skirts.
It was amazing how quickly that dress code changed.
All these years later, I still think that's one of the more creative problem-solving approaches I've heard of in the workplace.
2. The second story is about my co-worker J.T.* We appreciated his Friday beer runs and he actually was a nice guy in so many ways, but he was over-the-top flirtatious with leering eyes, wandering hands and suggestive comments. This was in the early nineties not long after the Clarence Thomas hearings, some years before sexual harassment complaints really became mainstream. At any rate, we had no HR department to report to, and honestly, the predominately female staff didn't even understand that we had the right to complain. Each of the women ignored or rebuffed his advances in her own way, to no avail.
Finally, another case manager and I had a brainwave. We wrote him a behavior plan. What is a behavior plan? Well, it was a written program we'd typically create using behavior modification principles to influence unacceptable or dangerous conduct on the part of our clients. Tongue-in-cheek, we wrote up a short social history, we theorized the function of J.T.'S behavior, we captured the antecedent ("any time a female is in the immediate vicinity"), we defined the unacceptable behavior; and most importantly, we outlined the consequence: a mallet applied swiftly and with precision directly between his legs.
With good spirits and an attitude of humor, we intrepidly offered him a copy of his program.
And the incidents went way down.
That's not how I would advocate my employees handling sexual harassment issues in 2011, but I'll have to say it worked pretty well way back in the day!
I'm still thankful for the fun we had at HSS, and I'm still in awe of the creativity we exercised to solve problems of every day work life.
photo by Sanne van der Beek
*not his real name or initials
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Happiest Jobs
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
From the recent Oprah show on happiness, what would you say is the happiest job in the U.S.?
- Travel Agent
- Clergy
- Special Education Teacher
- Firefighter
What do you think?
Drum roll please….
As it turns out, it's a trick question. According to happiness expert and author Dan Buettner who appeared on the show, these professions are ALL among the happiest jobs–an interesting finding since they all generally pay less than $50K/year.
What gives these jobs high potential for happiness? One reason is the amount of interpersonal interaction inherent in these roles. According to extensive Gallup and Healthways research, the happiest people experience eight or more hours of social interaction every day. The jobs listed above help deliver that, apparently.
We all have about sixteen waking hours available each day. But when you subtract breakfast, getting ready for work, commuting to work, commuting home, having dinner in whatever form that might take, housework, not to mention any familial responsibilities such as children's homework/bathtime/bedtime, and any other To-Do items, there's not much time left. As quickly as our "leisure" hours disappear, we may want to make the very best of any interpersonal connections at work.
Coincidentally, in the last month I've been making an effort to have more personal conversations and less e-mail at the office. Although I made this decision for unrelated reasons–to reduce in-box clutter and to get quick answers–I've also noticed a side benefit: my relationships at work seem to be improving.
And yes, I think I do feel the 'happiness benefits' resulting from increased connection. Since watching this little Oprah clip, I'll definitely be looking for more ways to expand the conversation.Who doesn't want to be happier at work and throughout life?
If you're interested, you can take Oprah's quiz about happy habits here.
photo by nayrb7
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Did you know I was born in Nigeria and lived there until I was 18? Unfortunately, I frequently hear a lot of negative hype about my birth country--mostly concerning alleged schemes of corruption--so I am always happy to come across any happy news.
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Loving What You Do
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
Because I am an HR nerd, in my daily travels, I often ask people about their jobs. I ask: what's it like to work here? Do you like what you do? Is it hard to get a job here?
Sorry if this is too much information for the male readers, but today I went for my annual mammogram. Although it felt awkward to be having a conversation given what was transpiring with my bodily parts, I asked the technician about her job. "Do you do mammograms all day long?" I inquired.
She said she usually does, and I followed up by asking how she enjoys her work.
With a huge smile, she quickly answered, "I love it. I'm in the business of saving lives. You can't ask for a better job than that."
Wow. Great answer. She could have responded, "Well, it pays the bills" or "Oh, it gets really monotonous and tedious doing X Rays all day long," or "I feel bad causing women physical discomfort."
But no, she loves her job and she interprets it in a way that allows her the greatest sense of meaning and gratification.
How do you interpret and explain what you do?
photo by strangelibrarian
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My Husband and I are Both Wrong
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
The office dishwasher has been broken for two weeks. People seem to have a hard enough time picking up after themselves in regular circumstances, much less now. Despite supplies for hand-washing dishes and even though we have a second dishwasher one flight down, dirty cups, plates, glasses and cutlery pile up in the sink for days. A couple times a week, I carefully stack the dishes in a salad bowl, schlep them downstairs, empty the other dishwasher and load it again. It's not my responsibility, but I can't stand it anymore. I am not a punitive person, but I joked on Twitter that a kitchen webcam might make a difference.
It reminds me of when my hubby and I moved in together. Of course we talked about how our household would run and of course we disagreed. He said we needed rules, structured routines, chore lists, which I thought silly. We're adults, I argued; if we see something needs to be done, we should just pitch in and do it.
With the dishwasher fiasco, I am tempted to think my husband is right. Maybe you can't count on people to do the right thing. Maybe we do need rules and chore rotations.
But then I remember our office vehicles. No matter how structured the expectations, some people consistently ignore them, leaving cars trashed or on "E," taking vehicles they haven't reserved, etc.
Between the dishes and the cars, I guess my husband and I are both wrong. Or maybe these issues are just universal. Does your office struggle with people not cleaning up after themselves or failing to do their part? If so, what's worked? Anything?
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[caption id="attachment_1471" align="aligncenter" width="178" caption="My son Justin and friend after Earth Day fun.
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Women Asking for Salary Increases
by Krista Ogburn Francis in Workplace
There was a lot of buzz last year that women still make significantly less in many professions, on average, than men; here's just one post by CNNMoney.com. Somehow in all the discussion, I missed this particular aspect: according to author and Carnegie Mellon professor Linda Babcock, far fewer women than men ask for raises, and far fewer female candidates attempt to negotiate a pay offer. According to this article and others, the differences between the genders in this regard are dramatic. We're not talking 60%/40%, it's more like 80%/10% [men ask/women don't]. Women would rather settle for a smaller salary than face the discomfort of negotiation, apparently.
And then here's yet another wrinkle, a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't dilemma: a Harvard IdeaCast suggests women pay a financial cost when they fail to ask for more money, yet they pay a significant social cost when they try to negotiate. Guest Whitney Johnson, partner and co-founder of the investment firm Rose Park Advisors, suggests women are often socially shunned for making the ask; whereas, while men's requests are not always honored, they are not made at risk of social capital.
We haven't touched the issue of many women voluntarily stepping out of the paid workforce for long periods to care for children or ailing relatives. How does that figure in?
I don't have any magic wands to wave to solve the gender pay issue, but Linda Babcock's study sure grabbed my attention today. If you have any thoughts, chime in on the comments section.
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text:
Hackers Steal Credit Card Info From 40 Million Target Customers
Approximately 40 million credit and debit card accounts used by Target customers may have been impacted by a major data breach, the retailer said Thursday. Customer names along with credit and debit card numbers may have been accessed, as well as the expiration date and three-digit security code on the back of each card, the store said.
Target Ad Draws Praise for Featuring Young Boy With Down Syndrome [PHOTO]
Rick Smith, whose site 'Noah's Dad' is about his son with Down syndrome, is singing the praises of big-box retailer Target, which recently included a 6-year-old boy with the chromosomal condition in one of its ads.


text:
Taxi driver finds man's body in Daytona Beach parking lot
Medical examiner to determine cause of death
Published On: Aug 15 2013 09:25:58 AM EDT
A taxi cab driver discovered a man's body Thursday morning in a Daytona Beach parking lot.
The discovery was made around 6 a.m. at 501 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach police said the man's body was face down, but no other details have been released.
A medical examiner will determine the cause of the death.