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|Effectiveness of short-course therapy (5 days) with cefuroxime axetil in treatment of secondary bacterial infections of acute bronchitis.
MedLine Citation:
|PMID: 8585739 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE
|Five hundred thirty-seven patients were enrolled in two independent, investigator-blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trials comparing the clinical and bacteriologic efficacies and the safety of 5- or 10-day treatment with cefuroxime axetil with those of 10-day treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate in the treatment of secondary bacterial infections of acute bronchitis. Patients received either 5 or 10 days of treatment (n = 177 in each group) with cefuroxime axetil at 250 mg twice daily or 10 days of treatment (n = 183) with amoxicillin-clavulanate at 500 mg three times daily. Patients in the cefuroxime axetil (5 days) group received placebo on days 6 to 10. Bacteriologic assessments were based on sputum specimen cultures obtained preceding and, when possible, following treatment. Organisms were isolated from the pretreatment sputum specimens of 242 of 537 (45%) patients, with the primary pathogens being Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus (28, 25, 13, 9, and 8% of isolates, respectively). Pathogens were eradicated or presumed to be eradicated in 87% (52 of 60), 91% (53 of 58), and 86% (60 of 70) of bacteriologically evaluable patients treated with cefuroxime axetil (5 days), cefuroxime axetil (10 days), and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. A satisfactory clinical outcome (cure or improvement) was achieved in 82% (107 of 130), 86% (117 of 136), and 83% (130 of 157) of the clinically evaluable patients treated with cefuroxime axetil (5 days), cefuroxime axetil (10 days), and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. Treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate was associated with a significantly higher incidence of drug-related adverse events than was treatment with cefuroxime axetil for either 5 or 10 days (P = 0.001), primarily reflecting a higher incidence of drug-related gastrointestinal adverse events (37 versus 19 and 15%, respectively; P < 0.001), particularly diarrhea and nausea. These results indicate that treatment with cefuroxime axetil at 250 mg twice daily for 5 days is as effective as treatment for 10 days with either the same dose of cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin-clavulanate at 500 mg three times daily in patients with acute bronchitis. In addition, treatment with cefuroxime axetil for either 5 or 10 days is associated with significantly fewer gastrointestinal adverse events, particularly diarrhea and nausea, than is 10-day treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate.
|D Henry; G E Ruoff; J Rhudy; A Puopolo; M Drehobl; J Schoenberger; G Giguere; J J Collins
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Publication Detail:
|Type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal Detail:
|Title: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy Volume: 39 ISSN: 0066-4804 ISO Abbreviation: Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Publication Date: 1995 Nov
Date Detail:
|Created Date: 1996-03-20 Completed Date: 1996-03-20 Revised Date: 2009-11-18
Medline Journal Info:
|Nlm Unique ID: 0315061 Medline TA: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Country: UNITED STATES
Other Details:
|Languages: eng Pagination: 2528-34 Citation Subset: IM
|Foothill Family Clinic, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Export Citation:
|APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex
|MeSH Terms
Acute Disease
Aged, 80 and over
Amoxicillin / adverse effects, therapeutic use
Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination
Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*, microbiology
Bronchitis / drug therapy*, microbiology
Cefuroxime / administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives*, therapeutic use
Cephalosporins / administration & dosage*, adverse effects, therapeutic use
Clavulanic Acids / adverse effects, therapeutic use
Double-Blind Method
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Therapy, Combination / adverse effects, therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Reg. No./Substance:
|0/Cephalosporins; 0/Clavulanic Acids; 26787-78-0/Amoxicillin; 55268-75-2/Cefuroxime; 64544-07-6/cefuroxime axetil; 74469-00-4/Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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Go Green in Your Tomato Patch
This year why not plant "green" tomatoes in your veggie garden? Thanks to Bonnie™ Plants "Going Greener for You" initiative you can choose plants packaged in earth friendly containers. Bonnie's exclusive Biodegrable Peat Pots and Jumbo Fiber Pots are biodegradable and made from natural and recycled materials.
The neat thing about them is you can plant the pots with the tomato. This reduces transplant shock and there are no nursery containers to throw away. Using biodegradable peat pots will help eliminate some of the 320 million pounds of plastic that gardeners will send to landfills this year. They've already dramatically reduced energy and petroleum required in the manufacture of plastic pots.
How Does Your Tomato Grow?
Determinate, or Bush varieties of tomatoes, reach a certain plant height and then stop growing. The majority of their fruit matures within a month or two and appears at the ends of the branches. Most determinate varieties need a little staking, but there are some very stocky ones such as Better Bush that don't need much, if any, support. Container varieties are usually determinate. Little or no pruning is needed.
Indeterminate varieties continue to grow and produce tomatoes all along the stems throughout the growing season. Indeterminate plants need extra-tall supports of at least 5 feet. Some gardeners grow both types, determinate for large harvests for canning and freezing and indeterminate to get fruit throughout the growing season. Because indeterminate varieties throw out so many shoots, gardeners often prune them for optimum-sized fruit or train them on a very tall trellis. However, if you don't prune, no harm done! You may have seen photos of 10- or 15-foot tomato vines. These are definitely indeterminate types.

subset: commoncrawl


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Masterson injured as Indians fall to Orioles
September 3, 2013 — By By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Masterson's health is in serious doubt. The Indians' playoff chances are just as iffy.
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another from the Beckie fashion shoot
taking around Brighton there will be one more to this set 2mo
thanks for taking time to look and your comments are always welcome
|Canon EOS 350D
|Recording media:
|RAW (digital)
|Beckie #74
|14 Jun 2008 - 9:51 AM
|Beckie jo, Brighton, Fashion, Gimson, Nude / glamour, People, Portraits / people, Urban fashion
|VS Mode Rating
100 (33.33% won)
These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon.
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|Diana · Stace · cameracat · wasper · Hanners · plugin · kitsch · kaybee · julesm · Mikestu100 · graceland · Mounters · John Giddings · Jou©o · LesF · G3 · xanda · riprap007 · MarkT · Pete · skoffs · willt · claret · tmann · javam · FeatherFriend · DJLeroy ·
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thanks Dianna
Nominating Constructive Critique
Morning Simon.
I like the 'sort of' heart shape behind her - it gives a nice frame.
Two things I am not so keen on though ...... did you get her mid blink? (the eyes don't look fully opened). Also you are losing detail in the dress and it is blocking out (but I am sure there is detail in the original that you can recover)
Nominating Constructive Critique
Thanks roy the eyes i ask her tohave then a bit close but you are right about the details i have to have a look at the org
Si ( really must get a prof reader as i think my eyes need testing again)
Nominating Constructive Critique
There's a lot to like about this. The biggest 'issue' for me is the black on black which would have been improved by moving her a couple of feet to the left (her right) but it's always worth checking your model's outfit and hair against whatever you intend posing them against. It's amazingly easy to lose things into the background. I'm pleased to see that in this shot you've given your subject some room I know I'm a bit hard on you with regards your cropping but it makes a lot of difference. The pose is spot on and the intensity of her stare is perfect once you appreciate that her eyes are in fact open. Nice one.
Nominating Constructive Critique
Thanks Simon
Nominating Constructive Critique
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Camping & BackpackingCamping and backpacking are two of the most popular ways to spend time enjoying the outdoors. We offer a wide array of outdoor cooking products everything from lightweight personal cook systems which are prefect for backpacking trips to larger table top and free standing models which are ideal for camp grounds or family picnics.
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Primate mammals aren't the only species with hand preferences. A study shows that kangaroos mostly prefer using their left paws over their right when it comes to eating, grooming and possibly boxing.
The mobile payments service is on the verge of expanding to Canada, according to the Wall Street Journal. But will Apple be able to seal the deal?
When you play the Game of Thrones, you either win or you go directly to jail.
The Onyx from OnBeep is like a walkie talkie without geographical limitations, making communication possible with anyone, anywhere in the galaxy where there's a data connection.
Cord cutters: Time Warner may be creeping closer to direct HBO Go subscriptions that don't require a pay-TV service, as the company's CEO softens his stance. But it's not here yet.
The linguist behind the language of the wild horsemen in "Game of Thrones" previews his forthcoming Dothraki primer at San Diego Comic-Con -- and offers some language lessons.
Adventures in Tech looks at the Galaxy S3 -- the phone that saw Samsung find its groove.
A wedding party escaped extermination at the plungers of two massive Dalek cakes, instead battling them into delicious surrender.
Two electronics titans target each other, waging war over your wrist.
Newly measured distance to stellar debris in the northern sky links it more firmly to an explosion observers saw in 1181.


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Village Life in Tuscany
May 14 – 22, 2011
From approximately $2995 plus air
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Join this delightful sojourn to experience the authentic traditions and culture of Tuscanywhile enjoying charming accommodations in the heart of the old city of Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Immerse yourself in an enchanting world where 500-year-old farmhouses and walled, medieval hilltop towns dot a breathtaking landscape of gentle hills, olive groves and vineyards first planted by the Etruscans nearly 3,000 years ago. Walk in the footsteps of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Niccolo Machiavelli through the streets of Florence, the ";Cradle of the Renaissance," and discover hidden gems like the ancient hill towns of Montalcino and San Gimignano. A custom-designed program of cultural enrichments also includes the specially arranged Village Forumtm with local residents, a performance of Gregorian chants by monks in the 11th-century Abbey of Sant'Antimo, a sampling of Tuscany's legendary wines in the hills of Chianti and an opportunity to savor the rustic flavors of the region's world-renowned cuisine during an exclusive hands-on cooking class.
Meet our Faculty Host:Giuseppe Faustini, received his Ph. D. from Harvard University where he specialized in Romance Languages and Literatures. He is currently Professor of Italian at Skidmore, where he teaches courses in Italian language, literature and cinema. Faustini specializes in Modern and in Renaissance Italian Literature as well as in Italian Cinema. He has lectured extensively at academic conferences and at universities in Italy and throughout North America. Faustini has published numerous articles, essays and reviews on Luigi Pirandello, Natalia Ginzburg, Alberto Moravia, Dante, Rinaldo D'Aquino, and on Italian film directors such as Vittorio De Sica, Giuseppe Tornatore, Giuseppe De Santis, among others. His articles and reviews have appeared in academic journals in Italy and in North America and he has written the cultural notes for several editions of the Italian textbooks Prego! and In giro per l'Italia. Faustini has been the recipient of an NEH Fellowship for archival research on Luigi Pirandello and was a participant in the NEH Dante Seminar at Dartmouth College where he has also served as a Dana Collaborative Scholar. In addition to Skidmore College, Faustini has also taught at Middlebury College and as Visiting Professor at Union College and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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Sen. Nan Rich to speak at Democratic Club Picnic
The Democratic Club of North Florida will host its 13th annual picnic 4-7 p.m. July 27 at Lee Vause Park, 6024 Old Bainbridge Road. Former State Sen. Nan Rich, who is running for governor,will be the featured speaker. Allison Tant, chair of the Florida Democratic Party and the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee, will give an update on Democratic issues. A barbeque dinner will be available for $10, and the Tallahassee Writers Union songsters will perform. For more information, call 385-6504 or visit WWW.DCNF.Blogspot.com .
Beat the heat with Jefferson Democrats
Jefferson Democrats will hold their annual "Beat the Heat Party" 6 p.m. Thursday at the Monticello Opera House with special guests State Sen. Bill Montford and Gwen Graham,who's running for Congress. A Southern supper will be served. The cost is $10. Live music provided by Cheyenne.
Village Square hosts event to build local wiki
Today, the Village Square is renting out RedEye Coffee in Midtown for "CampWiki," an informal gathering of people interested in writing pages for TallahasseeWiki. Online at www.tallahasseewiki.org, the site is part of the LocalWiki project to build hometown wikis across the world. It is easily editable by anyone wanting to write about a local topic of interest. The free event is 12:30-3:30 p.m.. For more information, www.tothevillagesquare.org or call 264-8785.
Time for Wakulla Democrats to file to be delegates
Applications to become a state convention delegate from Wakulla County will be accepted through July 22. Registered Democrats living in Wakulla County who would like to attend state conventions in Orlando in October should contact a member of the Wakulla County Democratic Party by Monday to complete the filing form. Delegate elections will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in the children's room of the Wakulla library, 4330 Crawfordville Hwy., Crawfordville. The 2013 state conference will be held Oct. 25-27 at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort, in Lake Buena Vista. The delegate filing form is available at http://www.floridadems.org/2013conference.


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Dec. 29, 10:45 a.m., ESPN
Overall watchability grade: 3.6 (out of 10)
Matchup: 3 (x2)
Its matchups like this that draw the There are two many bowl games arguments. AF enjoyed a winning season in Mountain West Conference play, finishing 5-3. If nothing else, this will be just the 10th bowl appearance in school history for Rice and its third in seven years so like a white Christmas in the deep south, this isnt an everyday occurrence. AF has the nations second-ranked rushing offense, averaging 328.8 yards per game.
Star power: 2
Air Force running back Cody Getz has big-play potential. Hes rushed for 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns, including a long of 63 yards. Hes averaged 6.4 yards per carry this season. Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue has passed for 2,178 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Location: 7
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas: TCUs home stadium, Carter Stadium has undergone some nice renovations as of late and theres plenty to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area around the new year.
Schedule: 6
This is the first of five games on the day and, really, the least appealing of the bunch. It does figure to be another high-scoring affair, though, so if you like points, this could be a safe bet.


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Time to be called on Honest Lawyer tonight
Posted: April 15, 2014|
LANDLADY of The Honest Lawyer pub, Karen Avery, pictured centre, will call time for the final time tonight.
After nearly 50 years of serving generations of customers, the bar will close down.
Regular Tuesday night entertainers the Dixieland Jazz Band will play for the final time as customers raise a glass to happy times.
Karen is leaving the popular venue on Ladysmith Road, Grimsby, after two years.
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She said: "Everyone is sad that there is no one to take it over."
Her son, Luke Edwards has worked at the bar for up to seven years.
Barmaid Zoya Neul, 60, has spent 30 years serving customers.
She said: "I am totally gutted. We are losing a fantastic venue. It won't be the same.
"We used to have all the fishermen spreading out all their maps where their trawlers were going.
"i have seen a lot of customers come and go and had many friends.
"customers came from all over the area, Weelsby Street, Cleethorpes, Waltham, Scartho and Bradley.
"I have enjoyed working here and it has been good working for Karen."
Regular, Helen Smith said: "It has been a good place to make and meet friends. when you come in on a weekend it is a chance to catch up with all your friends. It is one place where we all could meet.
"The staff look after you and are always going above and beyond to help. It is sad it is closing."


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Check out the Bonehead's Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/bonersbbq. He is STILL insulting anyone who posts to disagree. In fact, he goes so far as to copy their profile pics, "philosophy", etc. and post them, with barely-literate mocking comments, on his wall. The guy is an idiot of epic proportions!. He is particularly nasty to the women, after one poster called a woman a bitch Capron fired back granting that "Boners BBQ Yeah but I bet she's great in bed 18 January at 13:24 · Like · 1" The guy is a moron. He's actually pleased that he is known internationally for being a jerk! Oh BTW - he also removes posts that disagree with him!
Last night I'm finally settling down after a very long day and I receive a Facebook message from Patrick Reyes (whom I'm not speaking to until after the Super Bowl) and a text message from Justin Brackett.
They both have sent me a photo that made my blood boil.
You see, Boners BBQ posted a photo of a customer, who apparently didn't leave a tip, and used expletives to say what people should do to her if she comes into their restaurant.
Have a look for yourself.
The photo has since been taken down and an apology has been issued, but not before 71 people (overnight, by-the-way) chimed in.
I'm kind of astounded that the first post would even make its way to their Facebook wall.
Something rather similar happened at Papa John's this past weekend. Shelly Kramer tells the story on her blog and you can read it here, but the gist of it is that a woman went into a restaurant, ordered, and rather than ask for her name, the kid behind the register wrote "lady chinky eyes" on the receipt.
Yes, in 2012 some kid actually wrote that on the receipt. The receipt the customer ended up seeing and posting on her social networks (rightfully so).
Here's the deal. Neither one of these things are public relations issues. They both are culture, HR, and operations issues. But they both became public relations crisis because their customers now have this thing called social media at their disposal.
It used to be that the Papa John's customer would have gone home and shown the receipt to her friends and family and they would have boycotted the restaurant. If she had any communication savvy, she may even have gone to the local news. But it would have stayed there – local.
Now she has access to hundreds, if not thousands, of people who will listen to her story and help her spread it far and wide.
On the flip side of things, your employees also have access to social media. I'm not entirely sure why the Boners BBQ employee thought it was OK to post a photo of a customer and say those awful things about her.
I waited tables in college. I know what it's like to not get a tip, especially when the customer was extremely high-maintenance, but I'm pretty sure it never would have occurred to me to post a photo of that person on the wall of the restaurant…mostly from fear of losing my job.
It's 2012. You can't ignore the fact that, even if you don't use social media, your customers do.
Because of that, you need to do two things right now:
- Write a social media policy. You can find a huge database of them so you have examples of what to include. But don't just write the policy. Actually go through it with your employees. Give them examples like Kenneth Cole, Papa John's, and Boners BBQ. Talk to them about the importance of being professional, no matter how much you want to tell your side of the story. In the public's eye, and through social media, the customer is always right.
- Be prepared 24/7. Even if you don't use social media 24/7 and give people time off, say so on your profiles. It's pretty easy to write, "If there is an issue, we respond between the hours of X and X on Monday through Friday" (Comcast does this well). Boners BBQ deleted the post, but not until 107 people commented on it and it was shared nearly 40 times. They also issued an "apology," which feels like an "I'm sorry, but" response. But they thought their job was done there. They're being skewered in the comments and no one is responding. Crisis work is a 24/7 job. You must be prepared to not sleep one night, if that's what it takes to manage the crisis…especially if you're the one who created it.
Something bad is going to happen, just like it does offline. It's just a matter of time. It's in how you respond that makes or breaks you.
Update: Boners BBQ issued a real apology on their Facebook wall (see below). It took them 16 hours to do it, but they did it.
I just went back to check out the Boners BBQ Facebook page, and wow. He's really playing this up. Looks like a few local radio stations have interviewed him and thrown their support behind him, and he's looking at the hubbub as international publicity and is really enjoying the attention with no apologies. So even after their apology, they clearly didn't mean it.
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This is simply another typical example of the 'destruction' one ignorant employee can inflict upon his/her employer via social networking. I agree, in the 'good ol days' similar situations would remain local (travelling through word of mouth); however, social networking can project these incidents onto a global platform, and unfortunately an issue that would have normally been considered an HR problem, will develop into a PR issue. Although contracts or agreements may help reduce similar acts of stupidity (darn teenagers), it will never completely resolve these blunders. Bad news will always travel faster than good news, and online it has the potential to damage the company's image. What companies need to do now is enforce stricter rules on their employees regardless of their position within the corporation, create mandatory contract/agreements, and educate their employees on social networking etiquette.
What I find appalling is the fact that these incidents as well as others similar to the Chrysler fiasco are becoming more and more common. People need to get their acts together - PR/Marketing Pros included! Don't be stupid.
@UserVoice What, my employees?
Solid examples of employee issues that lead to PR problems. Dominos gave any company this happens to a great blueprint to follow in 2008. GD and friends, fyi, Papa John's issued an apology the same day as well (Disclosure: PJ's is an FH client and we were advising them on this issue). You can find it here -- 3rd comment down from Papa Johns: https://www.facebook.com/papajohns.
Be prepared 24/7 is a great point and I still wish more companies did "fire drills" on scenarios like this one. Cheers!
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@SweetSoaps Isn't that an odd name for your business?
@erinmfeldman @ginidietrich No kidding. #Business101
@Genuine @ginidietrich both were wrong, but in the case of the BBQ place, was the customer right?
RT @ginidietrich Papa John's and Boners BBQ were both caught with their HR pants down...and had social media crisis. Are you prepared?
@evanhamilton Thanks! WOW is all I can say! That is a bit Racy (pun intended) and I would have freaked out. Maybe #FreePizza4Life?
I heard about Papa Johns. Can't even believe the Boners BBQ one even though I'm looking directly at it. Wow.
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@ginidietrich good post, cold day in hell b4 I patronize Papa Johns again
@ginidietrich We wont have to be as prepared, b/c we'll never employ someone that bone(r)headed for our social http://t.co/AVp2YFLw
@ginidietrich Ahh, you're so cool...
This is from @girlygrizzly :
My blood was boiling as well when I opened Scott Stratten's post this morning. (That is how I received it... This is what I said to him and anyone listening...
"THIS is the type of BS that in the past would make me incredibly grateful to be so blessed to live out of reach and touch of dregs.
Now? That thought just isn't true anymore. As you have shown, as is shown every single day with the power we have right here at our fingertips... there is no place to hide anymore.
If you are a lying, jerk... you can't hide it...forever, there is just too much information, too many ways to share that information.. If you are a dreg, eventually your true self WILL be relieved.
He says, she says has always been a problem. We like to think that we grow out of it, but the truth is, many do not.
How shameful...as a business owner, this dreg should have been able to stand straight and be right. Instead, nastiness and ignorance are what we (on the outside) see.
Whether Stephanie and her husband tipped or not, this was an absolute disgrace.
My profession isn't one that will EVER make me (or 99.99% of us) wealthy-rich. (Our -my profession- wealth comes from the WHY of what we do.) Tips are a REALLY BIG DEAL. No joke, no snark, very important, on so many levels.
But. Scott is absolutely right. This whole disgrace completely nullifies what could have been an important talk, it is no longer about the tip or no tip.
Will people NEVER learn?! THIS is NOT how to live a good and right life. "
I agree with @MSchechter the actual NEED for this "training" (Isn't that what you get in Day-Care as toddlers?! Or, for cripes sake, at HOME?!) is depressing.
@Hajra Now I am pissed all over again! Girl, I would have stood up and started screaming at right at your back! WTF.
And last, I don't think it can be said any simpler than what @Mark_Harai wrote in his comment. Close. The. Door.
@John_Trader1 No, no John. It's 1955. It's OK.
@kbkcomm Wow is right!
I simultaneously get the need for this kind of common sense training and lament the universe for it. The fact that we live in a time where, "don't use derogatory terms in our system" needs to be trained is just depressing.
As for the BBQ situation, much of my day is spent with our customers. Most of those exchanges are pleasant, some are difficult and others outright frustrating. That said, my job is to keep my crap together even when someone is totally doing wrong by us. One of our customers started a thread a few days ago saying Disappointed With Honora TSV (those all day items that we count on), setting the tone for other customers to jump in, but then in her comment goes on to say how she is buying it. Sure, I'd love to lose my mind. I'd love to say how that isn't fair. But that customer has the right to do what she wants to do, even when it hurts. The web is taking the good with the bad, while not getting carried away by the good and not losing your mind over the bad.
On the flip side, I'm also tired of seeing one off fireable offenses turn into so called social media kerfuffles. While they are great teaching situations (and I think both you and Shelly did exactly that), more often then not they are chum in the water type situations. Brands need to learn and they need to learn faster, but do they need to pay?
What surprises me is that such people still exist; who actually do it and thanks to social media and (God also!) that people who are "victimized" now have a voice. The core issue is lack of courtesy to fellow human beings.
And now this may be totally off track, but there's a lil story I would like to share. I was travelling once and a fellow passenger, on learning that I was a Muslim, remarked "Hmm... will you blow up our plane?" It was offensive but not as much when the air hostess joined in and smirked and said "Oh, we shall be prepared, want to hold up your gun against our head" and that's when I lost it. I actually shouted for a long time and humanity, customer, respect and lawsuit were a part of it. Maybe it was because I have had too much of it by then. Really, am I ever going to fly with that particular airline. Maybe yes, but I might be on my nerves!
Sorry, for laying out my story, but when a customer is wrongly mistreated, it's hard to keep me quiet! :)
@rachaelseda hey girly, happy new year!
@JacquelineCase What makes this even more so depressing is that is not just an isolated issue - there are any business owners/entrepreneurs out there who lack professionalism and the foresight to address constructive criticism directed towards them or their business. At the moment he probably assumes that the free publicity will attract more potential customers; however, the case will be the complete opposite. Aside from attracting from a number of curious unique visitors, his arrogance and disrespect for the consumers will (in the longer-term) cost him business. Let's all sit back and watch him and business spiral towards bankruptcy. In the end he will simply be dubbed the failure who happens to be a complete jerk - nobody sympathizes with egotistic idiot who contribute to their own downfall. Let it burn (as sung by Adele)!
@JacquelineCase I have no idea what to say to this. I hope the guy goes out of business. I can't imagine ANYONE would want to eat at his restaurant/food truck.
@KenMueller I looked at the page too. He is obnoxious.
Latest blog post: Are You A 21st Century Father
@KenMueller Wow.
@CarolynTran29 Unfortunately, it wasn't an employee. It was the owner. Which makes it 10,000 times worse. I agree people need to get their acts together. Enough is enough.
Latest blog post: #FollowFriday: Kristine Simpson
@ginidietrich darn auto correct. I meant not appetite inspiring
@ginidietrich it's not sorties inspiring ha ha
@Tinu It makes me angry that the owner went to find her FB photo and then posted it. Jerk.
Latest blog post: Laser Focus to Improve Customer Experience
@rwohlner They did a nice job of handling it. You know the franchisee has to be mortified.
@DTCchicago I hope not!
@MSchechter I'm not a believer in firing people over mistakes like this unless they're biggies like, you know, illegal things or they keep happening over and over again. Like the kid who was fired from the Chrysler social media firm when he accidentally typed the F word on the Chrysler Twitter account. Reprimanded? In a big way? Fired? No. We all make mistakes. It's in how we deal with them that is important.
@Hajra What the heck is wrong with people? Seriously. When do we get so bigoted in our lives? We don't start out that way.
@ifdyperez Hey you too missy! Will you be at @whatsnextdc would love to see you! If not, lets plan something!
@ginidietrich Wow.. That is just wonderful. The owner should acknowledge that he is not only in a position of power, but he his actions will be used to exemplify or set the guideline's to his staff's ethics or social etiquette. His perverse sense of judgement should not be supported by his customers, the community or his staff. I agree, enough is enough.
@SweetSoaps LOL!! Sorties inspiring. Ha!
@ginidietrich true but none the less they will never get a dime of my money. My wife is Asian, their pizza would leave a "bad taste"
@ginidietrich You're right, and what I likely meant was potential firing offense (depending on how the employee handles the situation). That said (and maybe I'm drawing a line that I have no business drawing), I cant help but feel like there is a big difference between those situations. One was a very general statement that was not meant to be posted on the brands page (even though the Chrysler employee should understand the implications of that even on his personal account) the others were more than hurtful or inappropriate, they were malicious. You should certainly take the time to train your employees, but for some reason (and it could just be my own youth and impatience), this goes beyond training for me and into basic human decency.
@ginidietrich@MSchechter God, I remember that one. Little did I know at the time that they were a client of the company I was working for. Heh. Not only did *he* get canned, but Chrysler dumped the entire agency! Overreact much!!?? Then you had the tact and class (and compassion) of the American Red Cross using humour to deal with the unfortunate "drinking" accidental tweet.
@rachaelseda call me lame, but I hadn't heard about @whatsnextdc (sorry dudes). looks good though!
@CarolynTran29 Apparently he's really playing it up now, too. If you have any desire to watch a train wreck, go check out his Facebook wall.
@ginidietrich Oh, agree there and didn't realize the owner was the poster in this case. I just think these two are specifically malicious.
@ginidietrich@MSchechter I'll go a step further. I'm betting the Boners dude (wow, i feel dirty just saying that) is relishing this. He's looking for the "spin". Look at his website and the slogan. This is his M.O. Sadly, there are those who believe this is smart publicity, and he'll get his hardcore fans to back him, and they will! Will he lose customers? yes, but he'll probably gain some. I'd love to see him go out of business, but I bet if you look back, this wasn't the first stupid thing he did, and it won't be the last.
@MSchechter I think the Papa John's employee should be fired. It's racist and inhumane. The Boners guy can't be fired because he owns the joint. I guess we'll see how people react to his apology. But, all-in-all, if you make a mistake in social media, it's not always a fireable offense.
@MSchechter@ginidietrich Actually (as my 12 year old would say to me - lol!) - I would debate that point Mike - and again - it's the "Oh, lighten up" aspect I'm talking about - he tweeted about there being bad drivers in "Motor City" -- I suppose you could say he upset all the people who might potentially buy a Chrysler one day, but I think it's a stretch. Or maybe I'm just an ol' softy. ;)
@belllindsay @ginidietrich even these were different. Red Cross was a post about getting drunk. Chrysler was an instance of someone talking disparagingly about the core customer. I agree they may have overreacted, but it's hard to look at those as the same.
@ginidietrich@MSchechter Very true Gini, hadn't thought of it that way. Dare I say it, almost "male-vs-female"...? Cars/compassion
@belllindsay@MSchechter And they both happened about the same time. Great case study on different cultures.
@ifdyperez That's okay! It's never too late to sign up. Learn more about #WhatsNextDC: http://t.co/niabv4Mv (Thanks, @rachaelseda!)
@rachaelseda yesh! cuando? donde?
@ifdyperez It's ok I just heard of it too! Well shall we plan a time to catch up over a delicious beverage?!
[…] Boners BBQ, Papa John's Need Crisis Coaching | Spin Sucks Boners BBQ and Papa John's need crisis coaching after employees run amok and it's all caught on the social networks, spreading more quickly than they expected. […]
[…] is not a PR or social media crisis. It is a customer service crisis. But, like we talked about with Papa John's and Boners BBQ yesterday, it was turned into a PR crisis when the customer posted the video on YouTube (which got five […]
[…] every time I turn around I'm hearing about another Marketing/PR crisis at some business. From Papa John's and Boners BBQ to AAA to Ocean Marketing. It just feels like we're seeing more and more of these stories, […]
[…] treatment of customers this past week. And in true Gini Dietrich style, she's given them the advice they need to avoid the post-screw-up PR disaster that they've just experienced should future mishaps […]
[…] Boners BBQ, Papa John's Need Crisis Coaching (spinsucks.com) […]
[…] Bad. It's no surprise the bad case studies are shared over and over and over again. The Papa John's and Boners BBQ case study I wrote about employee communication and how to handle a PR crisis when they go rogue is our second […]
[…] not a PR or social media crisis. It is a customer service crisis. But, like we talked about with Papa John's and Boners BBQ, it was turned into a PR crisis when the customer posted the video on YouTube (which got five […]
[…] not a PR or social media crisis. It is a customer service crisis. But, like we talked about with Papa John's and Boners BBQ, it was turned into a PR crisis when the customer posted the video on YouTube (which got five […]
[…] what makes the difference. – Outrage does not take a day off. Papa John's story about "Lady Chinky Eyes" is a good example of why you should have a social media policy. – You can use humour to […]
[…] is not a PR or social media crisis. It is a customer service crisis. But, like we talked about with Papa John's and Boners BBQ yesterday, it was turned into a PR crisis when the customer posted the video on YouTube (which got five […]
[…] we talk about the Papa John's receipt flap, but concentrate not on how the receipt went viral, but instead focus on questions that seem to […]


text:
Convert Audible files to MP3, AAC or Flac, Tells how to convert any Audible file to a different format
Convert Audible files to MP3, AAC or Flac, Tells how to convert any Audible file to a different format
Sep 1 2010, 15:29
Post #1
Group: Members
Posts: 10
Joined: 30-August 10
Member No.: 83480
As my car radio only accepts MP3 files (and audio CDs of course), I was annoyed that Audible do not provide any files that a standard HIFI device can play (and MP3 is pretty much standard nowadays). Of course I started with burning the audible files to CDs, but honestly who wants to have tens of CDs laying around in the car?
Therefore I tried to write a small program which takes the burned CDs and converts them to MP3 (or AAC or Flac) files, fully tagged and divided at the chapter points. Further it automatically removes the annoying "Presented by Audible" comments at the beginning and the end (it should work for english and german fileS). Please let me know what you think of it!
Here comes a full documentation of how to convert the audible files (no cracking or hacking involved!):
1. Burn your audible file to (real or virtual) audio CD(s) using ITunes. Best is to deactivate "Gap Between Songs" (set it to "none") - but I don't know whether it really has any impact in this case... Now the DRM is gone and we can work with the CDs.
2. Extract the CDs to an "image" file (whole audio CD in one single file). ITunes will insert a new track roughly every 7 minutes, it doesn't look whether there is a pause at the track junction or not! Also ITunes will repeat roughly 20 seconds of audio when starting a further CD. So this division in tracks is not helpful, that is why we just extract the CDs to CD image files. Use Exact Audio Copy (EAC) for enhanced security - or just any other Audio CD Grabber. Extract the images to uncompressed WAV files and name them xxxxx01.wav, xxxxx02.wav, etc. (xxxxx can be any name).
3. Locate the according Audible file (either .aa or .aax) on your harddisk, e.g. right click the audiobook in ITunes and select "Show in Windows Explorer".
4. Use my tool to create WAV files (untagged) or fully tagged AAC, MP3 or Flac files.
Now the documentation of my tool:
1. Installation
Extract the files to a directory of your choice, it comes with the Flac Encoder preinstalled. If you want to encode to MP3, you need to copy a current version of the LAME MP3 Encoder in that directory (LAME.EXE), and if you want to get a single(!) AAC file (including chapter marks), just drop the Nero AAC Encoder package in that directory (NeroAACEnc.exe and NeroAACTag.exe are necessary). The tool will detect which encoders are in the same directory and create such files - if you have three encoders installed, the tool will create all three encoding schemes! Only if no encoder is found, the tool will produce untagged and uncompressed WAV files.
2. Usage
The tool is a command line tool only, so open a dos box and change the current directory to the path where you installed the EXEs.
Just starting the tool without any parameters will show you all possible options.
If you start the program with only the audible file name (with extension .aa or .aax), it will just show you the title and chapters of the Audible audio book. These information are stored unencrypted in the Audible files, so no hacking of a DRM or whatever is needed - all information can be read in plain text using a hexeditor.
In order to convert the files to the "selected" output formats, use this command line:
AudibleChapters.exe <audible filename> <first WAV image> <target directory>
<audible filename> is the name (and full path) of the Audible file with an extensio nof .aa or .aax
<first WAV image> is the name (and full path) of the first extracted WAV image (which must end with "01.wav"!)
<target directory> is a full specified path, in which a subdirectory will be created (from the name of the audio book)
If the audio book is an .aax file, everything is probably fine. If not, you can do something about it!
I also found a book, which has real chapters (the speaker really tells "Chapter Five"), but the audible chapters where just somewhere inbetween! This is not nice, so I decided to implement also a function for automatically find possible chapter markers (the chapter marks from the Audible file will be ignored completely).
There is a fully automated usage possible when just specifying -d on the command line. You can also specify a rough minimum and maximum length of a chapter in minutes (e.g. -d10:20 will create chapters which will be mostly between 10 and 20 minutes in length). The program will find the best matching positions, but of course can not be perfect without any user interaction. Therefore the -i option provides this user interactivity (used in conjunction with -d). After having searched the file, the tool will play a position within the file (the audio just after the "beep" will be in a new chapter). If the book has real chapters, which can be identified easily, you can decide whether you want to have a chapter mark at the "beep" position. Press "y" for yes and "n" for no. If you want to listen again to that piece of audio, press the "r" key. If you have enough chapters and want to start processing, press "q". Usually if there are no new chapter starts after 10-20 false propositions, there will be no further chapter start...
Any problems with the tool should be shown on the command line, have a look for WARNING and ERROR messages...
The tool can be found here : AudibleChapters
Please share your thoughts!
Anonymous Audible Addict
Jan 31 2013, 19:49
Post #2
Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: 19-June 12
Member No.: 100827
Version 1.4 seems to have a problem recognizing the overlap between 2 CDs.
Here part 2 of the german audiobook Tom Clancy/Befehl von oben:
E:\Virtual CDs\Sound>audiblechapters \Music\Hörspiele\_Audible\Befehlvonoben-Tei
l2_ep7_amoll70.aax joined01.wav "\NewRip\Befehl von oben"
Audible CD Image Converter 1.4, Copyright 2012 by Anonymous Audible Addict
Determining overlap between file 1 and file 2...
Determining overlap between file 2 and file 3...
Determining overlap between file 3 and file 4...
WARNING: couldn't match the two WAV files (ignore if files not overlapping)!
Determining overlap between file 4 and file 5...
Determining overlap between file 5 and file 6...
Determining overlap between file 6 and file 7...
Searching for Audible texts
WARNING: audio duration differs from chapter list, missing 19 seconds!
Found audible introduction speech, removing it
Found audible ending speech, removing it
Found audible end of volume speech, removing it
Falling back to Version 1.3 worked:
E:\Virtual CDs\Sound\CD2>audiblechapters1.3 \Music\Hörspiele\_Audible\Befehlvono
ben-Teil2_ep7_amoll70.aax joined01.wav "\NewRip\Befehl von oben"
Audible CD Image Converter 1.3, Copyright 2011 by Anonymous Audible Addict
Determining overlap between file 1 and file 2...
Determining overlap between file 2 and file 3...
Determining overlap between file 3 and file 4...
Determining overlap between file 4 and file 5...
Determining overlap between file 5 and file 6...
Determining overlap between file 6 and file 7...
Searching for Audible texts
Found audible introduction speech, removing it
Found audible ending speech, removing it
Found audible end of volume speech, removing it
Just to let you know.
Regard Andre
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 29th November 2015 - 01:22


text:
- Filed Under
Happily Ever After.
Once upon a time, those were magic words to you. They tied up a bedtime story neat enough to lull you to sleep. They put a nice, sweet bow on a story that let you know everything was all right in Make-Believe World.
Those three words, well, you'd love to share them with your own kids, especially since this is the bicentennial year for Grimm's Fairy Tales. But as you'll see in "Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm" by Philip Pullman, you might want to do some editing before you do. ...


text:
- Filed Under
CONESVILLE -- New authority in Conesville hopes to lead the village in a fresh direction.
At a special council meeting Wednesday night, several new officials were sworn into office to replace those who resigned at a meeting the previous Wednesday.
The village dissolving and being absorbed by Franklin Township was a possibility, but never an option, said new Mayor Marge Donley, a village resident for 20 years and councilwoman. ...


text:
Eleven Warriors is reporting Urban Meyer to tOSU as an almost done deal. They say there's an agreement, but no timetable for an announcement.
EDIT: Sorry, photo not working. Click for Twitter and screencap link.
not gonna happen. You actually believe a tsio rag-blog? WAHAHAHAHA.
Go Blue!
you have after a good laugh?
Cried like a little bitch when they carried Carr off the field.
But for something like that, it's not crying like a little bitch - it is crying like a man.
can't wait to see him on the sidelines in AA.
But it's so tough to watch. And not because for whatever reason there isn't an HD version available.
You see Rich Rod standing on the sidelines...very next play Donovan Warren makes a nice play...next play Manningham makes a nice play...Adrian Arrington comes up big. I'm sure the camera pans the sidelines and Ryan Mallett is going nuts.
Then you think, why the EFF didn't we play like that all year? Why THEN do we open it up?!
...but all in all, it was a great game and a great win. Manhandled.
Recall that Henne had a hurt arm and that was why Mallet played against Oregon, PSU and Illinois. He was still hurt when we played Wisconsin and OSU at the end of the year. He got healthy for the bowl game, and thus we were able to open it up with a healthy experienced senior 4 year starter QB.....
I recall the radio team (Beckman and Brandstatter) saying he was about 95% at the time of the Florida game and had hardly practiced at all during the season because of his injuries.
If I recall, Hart was injured often that year and Kevin Grady tore his ACL before the season, so our RB options were two very young guys, Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown. There were other things too....
By the looks of that grainy(sp?) video 2006 was 100 years ago.
Man I wish Long would have caught that pass. The world might have exploded due to that play's awesomeness.
I really do think he is a good coach, I really really want them to get hit with a 2yr probation/bowl ban. I also hope that OSU booster continue to drive this school to the ground.
Not to mention Meyer's best player on that team (TEBOW) was recruited by Mattison, he dont have Mattison now.
I'd like to see Hoke destroy both OSU and Urban Meyer every year. Michigan beat Urban last time we played him, we'll keep on beating him. OSU can keep him and the criminals that play for him.
Criminals? C'mon now.
given the number of arrests under his watch at Florida, I'd say that's an accurate statement.
in less than 4 years.
Even some of his own fans called for him to be fired:http://www.gatorsendzone.com/articles/why-the-university-of-florida-should-fire-urban-meyer/
This article:http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010/09/15/florida-has-had-30-arrests-under-urban-meyer-more-than-one-for-every-two-wins/
Or this:http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_bianchi/2010/09/florida-gators-arrest-record-under-urban-meyer-chronicled-by-hbo-usa-today.html
Or this:http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/06/janoris-jenkinscharge-misdemeanor-affray-and-resisting-arrest-without-violence-for-his-role-in-a-may-30-fight-outside-a-down.html
So yeah, criminals. C'mon now.
It depends on what your definition of a criminal is. Law breaking isn't necessarily criminality. Often times law breakers are heroes. So, c'mon now, let's welcome Urban's future heroes to the B1G.
And what is your definition of criminal?
A person who dances in front of a mirror without pants. Everything else is a case by case basis.
With or without "Goodbye Horses" playing in the background?
would you *expletive delete* me?
need to be tucking his man part under their crass and saying "she puts the lotion in the basket, she does it when she is told" or is that optional as well.
In all seriousness, I doubt that is accurate. Not the right hire for OSU. Remember when Miles to Michigan was a "done deal?"
So you were the one stalking Erin Andrews?!
The pineapple guy's last link has a list of the first 24 incidents--which alleged lawbreaker do you think was a hero? Felony domestic violence by strangulation? Unauthorized use of a dead woman's credit card--70 times? Multiple counts of date rape?
They aren't all criminals, I agree...but who were the heroes?
You sound like the people who get mad at Colin Quinn's twitter account.
well, somebody's got to play the straight man.
Why does a dead woman need a credit card? She doesn't care. And maybe the bank had to eat all those charges. That's heroic in itself. #occupyunpaiddebtaccumulation
Srsly? I am not getting your sarcasm if that is what it is. you are wrong on so many levels.
Remember when Les Miles to Michigan was a done deal....twice?
Well it was until Lloyd, Moeller and MSC stepped in.
And what about last time around when local Baton Rouge sports casters were wishing Les luck in Ann Arbor after their bowl game?
What about it? It was rumored twice. In 2008 it was a very real possibility and beacuse of this people were much quicker to jump to conclusions the second time around.
I think you are missing the point - a coaching change is only official when you see the guy at the podium saying how happy he is to be there. John U. Bacon aside, I am still sceptical that Miles still doesn't go to LSU and get more money rather than coming here. Also, the 2011 Les Miles report wasn't a rumor. A station in Baton Rouge was reporting it as a fact. A done deal. They also said that Pelini had been hired to come to LSU. Like many on this Board, I wasted an hour or two of my life late one night listening to what turned out to be utterly wrong. Just like the "its Harbaugh," "its Gruden," "its the other Harbaugh" rumors that were all wrong.
Now, maybe this ends up being correct and Meyer goes to OSU. However, I am not going to worry about it until I see Meyer at a press conference in Columbus.
John Cooper
At Florida, it seemed that Meyer was able to bring together ludicrous collections of talent that sometimes played sloppy and underachieved. I know, it's tough to knock a guy who won 2 NCs in 6 years, but I don't think Meyer's coaching abilities are all they've cracked up to be:
So what am I trying to say? For a supposed offensive genius, Meyer's results are decidedly mixed. Before Tebow started (2005-06) the offense was above-average at best, and without Dan Mullen (2009-10) the offense wasn't that great either. Given what Mullen has been able to do with questionable talent at Miss St., it seems reasonable to credit Mullen with a lot of the offensive success under Meyer. And even with Mullen and Tebow, Florida never developed a consistent running game other than TEBOW SMASH - a lot of their success came from Percy Harvin being a ridiculous athlete and breaking a play or two.
I think Meyer (if he goes to Ohio) will be a good coach for them, but I don't think Ohio getting him is necessarily the kind of coup many people think he is.
If I'm honest with myself, I worry the same thing. And not just because Urb's coordinators seemed to help his sucess. That's another reason I would want Luke to stick around, it would help ease the transition, Luke would command a higher pay and hopefully influence getting all our coordinators higher salaries.
But also if we hire Urban now, it would be yet another Gene Smith decision. We all know how those have gone lately.
Today's lesson in "Rumormongering is what the twitters are for" comes courtesy of 11W:
Fire up the FlightAware, Buckeyes, and buckle up. You're in for a bumpy ride.
Ain't that the truth.
My wife still can't get over the fact I used flight aware last January in our collective time of coaching need.
One of the two of them is wrong.
We need to talk the next time I feel like betting on something! /s
Bring it on. With Mattison coaching our defense I'm not worried. I want to them to lose The Game when they are strong, not weak.
And I'm sure Mattison won't pull an Andy Reid and get his play calls picked off by someone that knows him fairly well, like Kolb did for Arizona.


text:
The age of HD video for everyone is very much upon us, with everything from our mobile phone, stills camera and even webcam able to capture full 1920 x 1080 HD video.
So what is the best camcorder to buy in this ultra-modern age?
The good news is that you have a full range of features and specifications open to you - fully automated, hardware stabilised, broadcast quality video in the palm of your hand, and often for less than £500
With such a glut of products on the market, some are bound to be better than others, and sifting through the jargon can often be difficult. What makes a £1000 camcorder better than a £200 one? Why are any of these better than the video camera on my phone or DSLR?
Article continues below
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If abbreviations like dynamic IS, CMOS, MPEG4 and AVCHD scare you - never fear, we've debunked the myths to help you identify the best camcorder to buy in 2012.
Sony Bloggie PM5KW - £79.99
The Bloggie enables fast capture of everything around you
The Sony Bloggie range is fantastic for on-the-go shooting. The PM5KW is a slim-bodied camcorder which will fit nicely into most coat pockets and backpacks with ease. Featuring full HD capture at 30 frames per second, the Bloggie is perfect for recording the moments you want to remember with respectable clarity.
The Bloggie also has a rotating lens allows you to turn the focus on yourself and the supplied 360 lens lets you take panoramic video, meaning you capture all the action. This can be great for parties and festivals where there is lots going on at once.
For a penny under £80, you aren't going to get the best possible quality, but for ease of use, the Bloggie is a winner.
Read More: Sony Bloggie
Toshiba Camileo P100 - £93
Toshiba P100 offers a great gateway into the world of HD recording
Similarly to the Sony Bloggie, the Toshiba Camileo range uses a vertical form factor, but this time using a 'pistol-grip' style, rather than the Bloggie's candy bar shape. The real standout features here are the 8X optical zoom, 8 megapixel stills capture and HDMI connector - allowing for direct playback through an HD TV.
A three inch touch screen lets you control the most important functions of the camcorder and recording buttons are easily placed for quick access.
At only £13 more than the Bloggie, the Toshiba feels like a more well thought out product, and the video results are very good. Overall the P100 feels like a luxury product, considering its sub £100 price-tag.
Read More: Toshiba Camilio P100
Panasonic HX-DC1 - £128
This pistol-grip camcorder packs a serious punch and a small form factor
Keeping with the pistol-grip style, the Panasonic HX-DC1 offers a significant upgrade over our previously mentioned camcorders. Featuring an impressive 14 megapixel stills capture resolution, 12X zoom as well as the expected full HD recording, this camcorders spec list is impressive.
The design and build are very high quality and the camcorder has an almost futuristic look to it. Similarly to the Toshiba, the HX-DC1 allows you to connect to your TV through HDMI. Another bonus of this camcorder is that it records two-channel audio, meaning you get stereo sound on all your recordings.
Read More: Panasonic HX-DC1
Toshiba Camileo SX500 - £179
The SX500 is a very stylish and capable HD camcorder
Toshiba's Camileo SX500 sticks to the more traditional camcorder shape, but makes it stand out with stylish lines and high build quality.
Featuring full HD capture, 5X optical zoom, 10 megapixel still image capture and 2.7" LCD viewing screen, the SX500 ticks all the boxes, but its low light filming capacity is what makes it stand out from the camcorders above.
Cheaper camcorders often behave badly in less than perfect lighting, resulting in grainy footage and washed out colours. The SX500 helps to overcome this with its '4 Lux' technology.
If you plan to record from dusk 'til dawn, this could be the camcorder for you.
Read More: Toshiba Camileo SX500
Panasonic HX-WA10 - £201
The HX-WA10 offers high resolutions stills, HD video and, oh it goes under water too!
The Panasonic HX-WA10 is very similar to the Panasonic HX-DC1 mentioned earlier, but features a beefed up specification list and is waterproof too. Why might you need a waterproof camcorder you might ask? Imagine being on a Caribbean holiday and being able to record the wildlife under the surf, or less romantically - being out in a storm and capturing the violent weather.
Twin this 'go-anywhere' attitude with a 16 megapixel stills camera, 12X zoom and funky design and you are onto a winner.
Read More: Panasonic HX-WA10 review
GoPro HD Hero 2 - £274
For the hardened action-man, the HD Hero 2 is everything proof!
GoPro have long been the go-to name in sports videography, and with their latest camcorder the HD Hero 2, the brand is starting to get some serious consumer focus too.
If you are into skiing, surfing, sky jumping and more then this is most definitely the camcorder for you. Featuring a waterproof, shockproof full HD camcorder as well as all the possible accessories you could need, the HD Hero 2 is the full package.
The HD Hero 2 is used across TV for its ability to literally record anything, and with its latest pricing structure, it is an affordable and fun addition to anyone on the extreme side of life.
Read More: GoPro HD Hero 2
Canon LEGRIA HF R26 - £290
A great camcorder for those looking for a bit extra when on a budget
The Canon Legria HF R26 is similar to the previously mentioned Toshiba Camileo SX500 in many ways, but as it's made by Canon, includes their high quality lenses. This results in a decent quality video recording and the hardware (rather than software) based image stabilisation means you get smooth footage even when walking.
The Legria HF R26 adds a fun element to your video, straight from the camera - you can add image decorations, music and more, without having to connect to a PC.
If the Toshiba appeals to you, but you are looking for a better quality lens and a few more features, then this could be your camcorder of choice.
Read More: Canon Legria HF R26
Panasonic HDC-SD900 - £580
This brilliant camcorder offers everything you could want
The Panasonic HDC-SD900 begins our lineup of semiprofessional camcorders . At 66mm x 72mm x 146mm (W/H/D), the HDC-SD900 is not a pocket friendly camera, but it makes up for it with features.
As well as the expected specs, such as full HD, 14 megapixel image capture and hardware image stabilisation, the HDC-SD900 allows for fully automatic control - letting you fiddle with ISO, white balance and manual focus.
You can even get an adapter and make this thing fully 3D too! If you are a budding filmmaker or want something more from your home movies, then the HDC-SD900 is for you.
Read more: Panasonic HDC-SD900 review
Sony CX360VE Handycam - £610
A well built camera with impressive built in storage and a multitude of features
Where the Panasonic HDC-SD900 had more features then you could shake a stick at, the Sony Handycam does a smaller amount of things, but incredibly well.
This camcorder is all about the video, featuring full HD capture able to record a super-smooth 50 frames per second footage, Sony's high quality optics, 3-way image stabilisation, low light mode and a microphone capable of recording 5.1 channel surround sound.
The CX360VE also has 32GB flash memory built in, meaning you can record around 13 hours of full HD video.
Sony have really set the bar for semipro camcorders and the CX360VE is one of the best in their range.
Read More: Sony CX360VE
Canon Legria HF S30 - £850
Canon have put all their knowledge of lens technology into this feature packed, well built camcorder
The Canon Legria HF S30 builds on the plus points of the previous Sony Handycam by adding Canon's award winning lenses a slightly larger 3.5" display and DIGIC DVIII colour control - this results in deeper, more lifelike colour representation in your movies.
The HF S30 also has a 25 frames per second mode which matches the look of traditional film, and provides enhanced low-light shooting performance.
Whether the Canon is worth the extra £240 when compared to the Sony will be up to you to decide, but comparison aside, this is a fantastic camera that will let you create stunning videos for use at home and more.
Read More: Canon Legria HF S30


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A group of community members sits together in a circle. Rotating around the room, each individual takes a turn speaking, sharing their concerns and thoughts about a recent injustice. Both victim and perpetrator sit within the circle as well.
Read the rest of article »
Read fun facts and watch slideshows and videos.
Photos from Luminations, Lourdes' signature fundraising event.
Student Life news stories from Lourdes University.
Community Service news stories from Lourdes University.
Academic news stories from Lourdes University.


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Must Taste
$2 Food Walk
Saturday (7/9) - Just when we needed a new excuse to explore the International District's affordable and satisfying dining scene, local restaurants bring us a $2 Food Walk, part of the ID's Dragon Fest, a two day festival (7/9 & 7/10) featuring more than 30 cultural performances including Chinese lion and dragon dances. With 85 restaurants participating in this year's food walk, you'd be wise to stock up on small bills. Bonus: Cap off your ID field trip by swinging into Momo (owned by Seattle mag contributing writer Lei Ann Shiramizu) to watch (or enter) a SPAM Musubi Making Contest (6-8 p.m.). Free. For more information on times and participating vendors visit the Chinatown/International District website.
Must Have a Close Encounter
Holy Mountain at Henry Art Gallery
Through 10/9 - Remember in Close Encounters when Richard Dreyfuss builds a haphazard Devil's Tower in his living room? Seattle native and sculptor David Herbert is taking a cue from the scene with "Holy Mountain," a miniature Mount Rainier crafted from everyday detritus and perched atop a replica of the movie's alien ship. Now that's art-ificial intelligence! Times and prices vary. Henry Art Gallery, 15th Avenue NE & 41st Street; 206.543.2280; henryart.org
Must Sizzle
Cooking Class at Delancey's pantry
Culinary wannabes are signing up by baker's dozens for hands-on instruction at Ballard's newly opened Pantry at Delancey. Pie-, jam- and pizza-making classes (plus kitchen basics, French cuisine and kids' cooking classes) are filling up fast, but custom sessions are available for those with particular tastes. Times, dates and prices vary. 1417 NW 70th St.; 206.321.5620; thepantryatdelancey.com
Must Listen
Neko Case
Sunday (7/10) - Fiery-headed and multitalented, singer/songwriter and former Tacoma girl Neko Case is returning to the Northwest for a night of passionate song-slinging at the Paramount. Expect the award-winning indie rocker (and sometime vocalist for the New Pornographers) to deliver powerful hits with her pretty but potent pipes. She always does. 8 p.m. $27–$32. The Paramount, 911 Pine St.; 206.682.1414; stgpresents.org
Must Watch
Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World
Through 7/17 - Award-winning Seattle playwright Yussef El Guindi returns with the world premiere of a new work. In this charming and timely new play, Musa, a recent emigrant from Egypt, falls in love with Sheri, an all-American waitress. Full of entertaining twists—which take place on a stage expertly set by local master Jennifer Zeyl—this heartwarmingly goofy rom-com shows that modern pilgrims come from all over, even home. Times vary. $15–$37.50. ACT theatre, 700 Union St.; 206.292.7676; acttheatre.org


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Mars One hopes to announce a Big Brother-style reality show to help choose which of the 1,058 candidates for the one-way trip to Mars in 2025 will be among the 40 who make the final selection, with viewers voting on who should colonise the Red Planet. Paul Römer, co-creator and the first producer of The Big Donor Show and the Big Brother, is an ambassador for the project. CEO Bas Lansdorp has said: "We're in advanced negotiations with a major studio for an overall deal for film and television properties." 1,058 candidates survived the round one application process, which has weeded out more than 200,000 people since April last year. Organisers said they ruled out anyone "not taking the mission seriously". The shortlisted candidates come from 107 countries.
Tag Archives | Space Colonies
NASA Plans To Grow Plants On The Moon
The new balanced diet includes space fruits. The Independent reports:
NASA has announced plans to grow plants on the moon by 2015 in a project designed to further humanity's chances of successfully colonising space. If successful, the Lunar Plant Growth Habitat team will make history by seeding life from Earth on another celestial body for the first time, paving the way for humans to set up more permanent habitation.
NASA plans to deliver the payload via the Moon Express lander, a commercial spacecraft enrolled in the Google Lunar X Prize. Seeds will include Arabidopsis, basil, and turnips," said NASA officials in a press release.
Partial gravity and lunar radiation will need to be accounted for, although the plants will travel with their own water reservoir and enough air for five days of growth. Cameras and sensors will monitor the plants and send data back to Earth.
PayPal And SETI Are Working On An Off-Planet Currency
Earthly problems are being spread to outer space. The International Business Times reports:
… Read the rest
On Thursday, the online payment giant PayPal announced PayPal Galactic, a collaboration with the SETI Institute aimed at developing new payment systems for the final frontier. The frontier is here: Virgin Galactic is launching its first public flight this Christmas, and space hotels could be in orbit around Earth as early as 2016.
"As space tourism programs are opening space travel to 'the rest of us,' this drives questions about the commercialization of space," PayPal President David Marcus said. "One thing is clear: We won't be using cash in space."
There are lots of questions about what form a space-friendly money system might take. Will spaceships and habitats have the communications technology needed to transfer money? How will banks manage accounts for people living off-planet? How will government financial regulations pertain to people in space (perhaps to curtail a new kind of "offshore banking")?
Mars One To Begin Application Process For One-Way Tickets To Mars
The Mars One website lists necessary traits to be eligible, including mid-range height, blood pressure below 140/90, and a curious, resilient personality. The New York Daily News explains:
… Read the rest
Mars One, the private company that hopes to land a person on the surface of the red planet by 2023, will begin accepting videos made by prospective astronauts along with a $25 application fee that will go toward funding the ambitious colonization project.
"We expect a million applications with 1-minute videos," said Bas Lansdorp, Mars One co-founder. So far, 45,000 people have registered on the company's mailing list, and 10,000 aspiring astronauts have expressed a desire to apply.
The 24 astronauts will be selected to establish a permanent Martian colony, as there are no current plans for a return journey from Mars. At a New York news conference scheduled for April 22, Mars One will further detail how those who are ready to abandon Earth can proceed.
Libra The 21st Century Libertarian Space Colony
Produced and distributed by a free-market group based in San Diego called World Research, Inc., the 40-minute film is set in the year 2003 and gives viewers a look at two vastly different worlds. On Earth, a world government has formed and everything is micromanaged to death, killing private enterprise. But in space, there's true hope for freedom. Viewers get an interesting peek into what daily life is like when a Libra resident shows off her Abacus computer, which is a bit like Siri. The film's vision for 2003 isn't very pleasant — at least for those left on Earth. The people of Libra seem happy, while those on Earth cope with the world government's dystopian top-down management of resources.
SpaceX Founder's Colony On Mars Would Be For Vegetarians Only
A previously-unmentioned wrinkle in the most feasible plan for humanity to reach a second planet: meat eaters will be left behind to languish on Earth. Russia Today writes:
A US billionaire and co-founder of PayPal, Elon Musk, has made plans to build a settlement for 80,000 people on Mars when technology makes it possible for man to live there, for a price of $500,000.
Musk is a considered one of America's most respected private space entrepreneurs and was in charge of creating SpaceX, a space transport company that produced the Falcon 9 rocket that delivers NASA cargo to the International Space Station. The billionaire's estate and prominence in the space industry could make his plans [for a city on Mars] feasible, but the California-based engineer has not left behind his personal ideologies: Musk will only allow vegetarians to live in his settlement.
Mars One Project Has More Than 1,000 Volunteers For A One-Way Trip To Mars
The previously discussed Mars One project may not be the favorite in the race to devise a feasible plan for colonization of the Red Planet. But even assuming that most would not follow through, it's astounding that so many people are so eager to get off of Earth. Via Yahoo! News UK:
… Read the rest
The Mars One organisation has revealed details of its plans to land four astronauts on the Red Planet in 2023, with four additional 'crew' arriving every two years. The organisation said that it had had more than 1,000 volunteers for the mission, who emailed in via the foundation's website.
Selection of the astronauts will begin next year, the Dutch organisation says. The trip to the planned 'colony' would be one-way – and the astronaut volunteers will live and die on Mars.
Mars One aims to finance a mission to Mars via donations from corporations, people – and by creating a reality show-style 'media event' around the training and selection of its astronauts.
SpaceX Founder Hopes To Send 80,000 People To Mars This Decade
A one-way ticket to Mars would cost a mere half million dollars, quite enticing if you're wealthy but your daily existence on Earth is barren and meaningless. Space.com writes:
… Read the rest
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder and CEO of the private spaceflight company SpaceX, wants to help establish a Mars colony of up to 80,000 people by ferrying explorers to the Red Planet for perhaps $500,000 a trip. Musk figures the colony program — which he wants to be a collaboration between government and private enterprise — would end up costing about $36 billion.
"At Mars, you can start a self-sustaining civilization and grow it into something really big," Musk told an audience at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London on Friday. In Musk's vision, the ambitious Mars settlement program would start with a pioneering group of fewer than 10 people, who would journey to the Red Planet aboard a huge reusable rocket.
The Catalog Of Habitable Outer Space Planets
Curious about where to go next? The Habitable Exoplanets Catalog is a project to grade and rank the planets outside of our solar system which offer the most livable conditions, were humanity to ponder a move.
At right is a rendering of sunrise on one of the planets in the Gliese 581 planetary system, a top contender. As of now, there are 6 confirmed potentially habitable planets, 27 unconfirmed potentially habitable planets, and 30 predicted potentially habitable moons:
… Read the rest
The exoplanets Gliese 581 d, HD 85512 b, Kepler-22 b, Gliese 667C c, Gliese 581 g, and now Gliese 163 c are the only current six planets that are considered potentially habitable or object of interest for the search of extraterrestrial life (image above). The image shows these objects approximately to scale and compared with Earth and Mars. They also are ranked with the Earth Similarity Index, or ESI (number below the names).
Gingrich's Path To Statehood For A Space Colony
Wondering if the Constitution still applies when gravity does not? Newt Gingrich believes so. Buzzfeed dug up Newt's 1981 bill laying out rules of governance for a future 20,000-person U.S. colony on the moon or Mars. At the moment he's being bashed from all sides for this, but I think it's fantastic:
… Read the rest
Yesterday Newt Gingrich revealed his "weirdest idea ever" — to provide a path to statehood for a hypothetical lunar colony.
With the help of the skilled research librarians in the Library of Congress Law Library, BuzzFeed tracked down the bill, which Gingrich called the "Northwest Ordinance for Space," or formally the "National Space and Aeronautics Policy Act of 1981."
"The Congress declares that the United States is committed to the expansion of free people and free institutions into space," the bill stated, calling for an array of near earth and solar space travel vehicles to be completed by 2010.


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How to beat the winter bluesComment on this story
Cape Town - BBBRRRR! And just like that, winter has arrived.
Cape Town has gone grey and wet and I've been scratching in my wardrobe to find a jacket and a long-sleeved top.
And my warm and cosy bed just wouldn't let me go either.
Am I the only one who seems to have slept through autumn?
I must confess, I was really not wanting to get up and head out into the cold. And I know it's just going to get worse as the temperature continues to drop.
Before we know it, we're having hot chocolate every day, eating pots of stew and that morning run has turned into a morning nap.
And the snooze button on your alarm sees more action than the treadmill.
What we don't realise is that all of this – combined with the gloomy weather – can lead to low energy, lack of motivation and mild depression.
There's even a name for it – Sad – Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as the winter blues.
Yes, I know it's only a few drops of rain but the winter blues creep up on us so fast.
So here are a few things to keep in mind as winter sets in.
Eat right.
Yes I know how hard this is during those cold, wet days.
That healthy crispy salad you happily munched on in summer strangely tastes like cardboard in winter...
But try to avoid refined and processed foods like white bread, rice, cake and sugar.
These foods are not only devoid of the nutrients your body needs but they zap your energy levels and can affect your mood, causing depression, lack of concentration and mood swings.
Try to add more complex carbohydrates like whole wheat breads, brown rice, veggies and fruit to your diet.
These healthy foods provide your body with nutrients, and stabilise your blood sugar and your energy levels.
And don't forget your daily eight cups of water.
Get that body moving
Ooohh I can sense much rolling of the eyes and sighs!
But exercise isn't only for maintaining your weight and staying healthy, it's a great way to relieve stress as well.
The effects of a good workout can last for several hours after you've hit the shower.
Exercise releases those "feel-good chemicals" – endorphins – that improve your mood.
You'll have more energy throughout the day and your metabolism will stay elevated too.
A win-win, I say.
Treat yourself
Winter can seem endless so make plans to do things that excite and stimulate you.
Having something to look forward to can keep anyone motivated.
How about a weekend getaway, a day at the spa or even just a fun night out with the girls?
Don't overdo it.
It's so tempting to just stay indoors, sitting at the fire, munching choccies and sipping some red wine.
Next thing you know, one bottle turns into two and you're seeing double.
What most people don't realise is that alcohol is actually a depressant, and rather than improving your bad mood, it only makes it worse.
It's best to avoid alcohol when you are already feeling down.
Moderate drinking is fine for most people, but binge drinking – having five or more drinks in one sitting – is never a healthy choice, never mind the babalas (hangover) you'll have to deal with in the morning.
We're all busy. Work, school, family, friends, appointments, meetings and it just goes on and on.
Even if you enjoy being busy, everyone needs some time off.
Try to spend a few minutes each day doing nothing!
Yes, I said it, NOTHING. Time to just be.
Take a few minutes to calm your mind, regulate your breathing and listen to your heartbeat.
Make time for simple things like reading a book or magazine, sleeping in on the weekend or playing hide and seek with the kids.
Get some sleep
This one is easy because people naturally want to sleep a little bit more during the winter.
But with all we have going on, sometimes sleep doesn't come that easily.
With a little one still in my bed, an eight-hour uninterrupted sleep is near impossible.
But aim for seven to eight hours each night, and try to keep your bedtime and waking time consistent.
That way, your sleeping patterns can normalise and you'll have more energy.
Try not to oversleep – those 12-hour snooze fests on the weekend can actually make you MORE tired.
But there's nothing wrong with a Sunday afternoon nap.
Reach out
Don't underestimate the power of friends, family, mentors, co-workers and neighbours.
When you're feeling down, who are the people you can turn to for a pick-me-up?
Keep a mental list of these special people and don't be afraid to ask for help or encouragement when you need it.
Something as simple as a phone call or a chat over coffee can brighten your mood.
I'm sure you have that one friend who can make you LOL when you need it most.
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5 cheap and fun toddler activities
Hop a freight
Toddlers love transportation, especially if it's a departure from the same-old-same-old car seat. Check out your local airport or hospital – many have a free shuttle or tram that you can ride as often as your little one's heart desires. If you don't usually travel by bus, check your local bus system and take a spin around town, enjoying things from a thrilling new vantage point.
Play dough
Borrow a tip from kid-friendly restaurants and let your toddler play with a gratifying hunk of pizza dough. Not too sticky and not too runny, it's the perfect consistency for little fingers. Get some from your local grocery store or pizza parlor or mix up your own. A rolling pin is the icing on the cake for this activity (or, shall we say, the cheese on the pie). If you're feeling motivated, you can bake a pizza with the rest of the dough while your child plays with his portion. Otherwise, simply freeze or refrigerate the rest for future playtime.
Fancy wrappings
If you've ever watched a toddler open a present, you know that she's likely to ignore what's inside and focus all her attention on the box, wrapping paper, and ribbon. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Wrap up something small, such as a pretty postcard or a toy you already own. Make sure to use lots of ribbon and paper (Sunday comics work great). Present it to her with a flourish.
It's a plane!
Check with your local airport to see whether it has an observation tower – or a room with huge windows where your toddler can watch planes take off and land. Bring along some lunch and enjoy the show.
Baker's man
While your toddler isn't yet old enough to wield an electric mixer or flour sifter, he may be ready to be put in charge of the cookie-sprinkle department. So bake up a batch of cookies (you can even buy pre-made dough) and let him go nuts with a container of sprinkles. You'll probably end up with several bare cookies and a few heavily sprinkled ones. Don't forget to take a picture!