text:
File APIs for Java Developers
Manipulate DOC, XLS, PPT, PDF and many others from your application.
A friendly place for programming greenhorns!
Big Moose Saloon
Java FAQ
Recent Topics
Flagged Topics
Hot Topics
Zero Replies
Register / Login
Java Forums
Peformance comparison question
Jerry Kreps
Joined: Jun 16, 2003
Posts: 12
Jun 16, 2003 11:24:00
I'm relatively new to
, and I am writing a server side Java app that parses data from fixed length ascii files and loads them into tables on our db. I want to keep my app as object orientedly pure as possible but performance is more important. So here goes:
Which is more efficient (i.e. faster)?
(1) Create a bunch of child classes from a base class. During construction each child object passses unique attributes as parameters to the constructor of the base class which stores them in private variables. These attributes are later used by the base class when executing commonly used methods called by the child object.
This decreases the number of parameters that must be passed by each call to a base class method.
(2) Ditch the base class and convert all the commonly used methods to static methods. That will require a larger number of parameters in each method call than in scenario (1), but it doesn't have the overhead of parent-child object interaction and the static mehtods would be faster.
Related question:
Would it be faster to convert the methods into functions and have the results returned by the function calls or keep them as methods and have them change either protected variables (scenario 1) or public static variables (scenario 2) which can be accessed later by the calling method?
I hope my question is clear. Thanks for any suggestions you all might have.
David Weitzman
Ranch Hand
Joined: Jul 27, 2001
Posts: 1365
Jun 16, 2003 12:16:00
Can you provide any more details about how these objects are being used and what your performance requirements are?
Jerry Kreps
Joined: Jun 16, 2003
Posts: 12
Jun 16, 2003 14:52:00
Thanks, David.
Here is a more detailed explanation of what I am trying to do:
I use a
object to read the flat file line by line. Before I start reading the file, however, I create an
of what I call "DataField" objects. Each DataField object corresponds to a column on the DB table that I want to load from the current flat file I am about to read. Each class of DataField object returns a particular data type, depending on the data type of the DB column to which it corresponds, and it contains attributes (starting position, field length, data type, default value, left trim character, etc.) that describe how to parse the line of text and extract the data.
So, when I get a line from the
, I send it to a routine which loops through the
of DataField objects, passing to each one the line of data. Each DataField object extracts its data and loads it into a parameter of a PreparedStatement object. When the entire
has been traversed, I have loaded the data for one row, so I insert it into the DB table via the PreparedStatement.
Common to all DataField objects is a base class which contains methods that are used by all the various types of DataField Objects. So when I instantiate a DataField object, I pass to the base class constructor all the parsing paramters (these never change) and it loads them into private fields of the base class. So, since the base class already has all the parsing information it needs, all the child DataField object has to do when getting an inputline from the
is to pass the line in a call to the appropriate base class method which will extract the data type it needs.
Of course, this routine traverses the
of DataField objects for each line of data, sometimes processing millions of records in a file.
Currently, my process can import a 190MB file containing over 1,600,000 records in about 48 minutes.
I'm trying to squeeze as much performance out of my app as possible.
I know that calling a static method is much faster then calling methods across class hierarchies. But by using a static method, I would have to keep passing the same parsing attributes as parameters in the call to the static method that extracts the data from the input line. Would this negate any increase in performance obtained from using a static method?
I know that the usually answer to this type of question is "It depends" but is their a genereal rule that applies?
Thanks again.
David Weitzman
Ranch Hand
Joined: Jul 27, 2001
Posts: 1365
Jun 16, 2003 20:06:00
As you say, it sounds like an "it depends" sort of question. Some people around here have
the relative performance of static vs. final vs. non-final, etc. I don't know how the cost of passing parameters fits into it all.
The performance gain from playing with modifiers probably pales in comparison to the gain from using smarter algorithms and using the profiler to identify and optimize the most frequently executed lines, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to give it a shot.
First of all, it doesn't hurt to be overly-liberal with the "final" modifier.
Also, if you're using Sun's JVM it's probably a good idea to run the server version of the JIT if you aren't doing that already.
If all the logic is really in the base class, then are the sub-classes of DataField necessary in the first place? It's possible that a few factory methods and a switch statement here or there would be enough. Maybe I misunderstand what the sub-classes are doing.
I imagine that 50 minutes of text processing can involve a lot of constructing and garbage collecting of objects. The people at Sun keep saying that their latest JIT makes object pooling unnecessary while the people who write articles keep saying that Sun isn't quite there, so I don't know how far you'd get by avoiding object allocation.
I'm just babbling random, incoherent thoughts, which is a sign that I probably ought to be going to bed. Goodnight, world!
Ilja Preuss
Joined: Jul 11, 2001
Posts: 14112
Jun 17, 2003 10:33:00
Yes, there are some general rules to apply here:
First, don't trust micro-benchmarks. Even if such a benchmark shows that a static method call might be ten times faster than a non-static one, that doesn't actually mean much. Your program probably spends *much* more time *in* methods than calling methods. Additionally, your codes structure has a huge impact on which optimizations the Hotspot Engine will apply - and it will certainly be different from the micro-benchmark.
Second, object oriented design is *not* generally at odds with performance. In fact, OOP makes it easier to avoid duplicated logic and coupling. This makes it both easier for you and the Hotspot Engine to optimize the code.
So, what should you do? At first, you should create the best design you can think of, applying OO principles where appropriate. Once the system works, you can run it against a profiler to find the bottlenecks in your system and try to remove them. Do this with small experiments: make a change, profile again. If the change didn't improve performance considerably, undo the change. Repeat until performance is acceptable.
The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny - it is the light that guides your way. - Heraclitus
Thomas Paul
mister krabs
Ranch Hand
Joined: May 05, 2000
Posts: 13974
Jun 17, 2003 10:43:00
The first rule of coding for performance is don't. Code the best OO design you can and then if you have performance issues look at where those issues are and try to improve your code only in places where you would get the best hit. Most applications would get a better performance improvement by checking the indexes on their database that they would by worrying about making methods static or final.
Associate Instructor - Hofstra University
Amazon Top 750 reviewer
Blog - Unresolved References
Book Review Blog
Stan James
(instanceof Sidekick)
Ranch Hand
Joined: Jan 29, 2003
Posts: 8791
Jun 18, 2003 07:34:00
Your design sounds pretty cool. Are you batching your inserts? That can make a big difference. Maybe you could addBatch() for every statement and executeUpdate() every 10 or 100 or 1000. I've only had opportunity to use that once, but it made a very big difference.
A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of the idea. John Ciardi
Jerry Kreps
Joined: Jun 16, 2003
Posts: 12
Jun 18, 2003 13:55:00
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.
Sorry that I was slow in responding, but I was out of the office this morning.
David, thanks for your suggestion about the server version of JIT. I'll check into that.
Ilja and Thomas, you made some very good points on how to approach the whole issue of OOP vs "coding for performance". I'll take your suggestions to heart if I should have to tweek my app for better performance in the future.
Stan, thanks for your suggestion about batching. At first I didn't batch my updates, but when I finally did it cut the time by almost half. So you're right, batching was a big plus. Right now, I'm just fiddling around with the batch size to optimize peformance.
Let me just say that I think Java Ranch is fantastic. This is one great source of info/encouragement for new code hands like me.
The Java Ranch community is great! I appreciate everyone's help! Happy code punching!
I agree. Here's the link:
subject: Peformance comparison question
Similar Threads
what gets printed and why?
Need to understand about threading issues?
I need help - basic stuff (I think)
Another mock exam question.
Abstract class problem
All times are in JavaRanch time: GMT-6 in summer, GMT-7 in winter
Contact Us
| Powered by
Copyright © 1998-2015
Paul Wheaton


text:
The 42 yard line of Sun Devil stadium was the finish line for the fourth annual Pats Run April 19 as the first of more than 15,000 participants (runners and walkers) head to the end of the course. The event started adjacent to ASU's Sun Devil stadium, wound through Tempe and finished on the 42-yard line of the stadium.
The event ran 4.2 miles, representing the no. 42 Pat Tillman wore when he played for ASU.
The event honors the memory of former Sun Devil and Arizona Cardinals football player Pat Tillman, who left the world of professional athletics to serve his country in the U.S. Army. As a member of the Army Rangers, Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. The Pat Tillman Foundation was formed to carry forward his legacy by inspiring people to make positive changes in themselves and in the world around them.
See thumbnails of this
photo gallery.
Arizona Board of Regents
For information on use of photos, please e-mail
Tom Story.
Office of Public Affairs
Fulton Center
300 E. University Drive, Suite 345
PO Box 877305
Tempe, AZ 85287-7305

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hey, I'm planning on putting in a computer to play mp3s, and maybe DVDs. I want to have a custom look and since I have my car has room for a double DIN headunit, I'm planning on putting a LCD in place of that. Can anyone recommend a LCD that'll fit a double DIN? I just need a regular LCD, not anything with a touchscreen or any other features. My budget for the LCD is <$100, and I'm hoping I can get one with a VGA connector.
Another thing I'm looking for is the power supply for my computer. I'm using a ASUS TUSI-M, 256MB , 1 Ghz P3, DVD / CD-RW, and a 80GB 8MB Buffer HDD. It seems like the Opus power supplies are good, but I'm tight on budget for a power supply. Anything you guys can recommend ? Also, if I was to get a DC-DC power supply, would it turn on and shutdown the computer when I start the engine and leave the car? If I was to use a regular AC power supply and use an inverter, is there any simple solution to use the ACC 12V line to shutdown the computer and start the computer ?
Last thing is, since I'm not gonna have a headunit, I need an amp to power 4 speakers. I'm thinking a 45W RMA X 4 amp would be sufficient. What would you guys recommend for that?
I'm trying to keep the cost low for this, but I don't want crappy stuff like the amp for instance.
Sorry for the long post, and help is much appreciated.


text:
about me
I have a job and all my own teeth! Love the out doors, good food and wine.
Fun, honest, loyal, ambitious and ridiculously good looking. LOL, Jokes. I love to get out and about in my free time. Not someone who can't sit still, but I enjoy making the most of my spare time. I enjoy going to the gym, bush walking or for those playing at home and haven't picked up the subtle hints, sailing & fishing. I have done a fair amount of travel but would love to do more. I currently live and work in PNG and come home regularly to visit my amazing friends and family. If i haven't covered it, ask! Looking forward to hearing from you.
At a glance
|sunsailor83's details
|sunsailor83's ideal partner
|32 years old
|25 - 33 yrs old
|Redlands City, QLD
|Within 50km of his
|Body type
|A bit overweight, Average, Athletic, Slim
|6'0/183 cm
|Smoking habits
|Don't smoke
|Trying to quit, Occasionally / socially, Don't smoke
|Relationship status
|Divorced, Separated, Single, Widowed
|Have children
|No, have no children
|Wants children
|Undecided, Want (more) children of my own
|Private, Average, Very Private, Social
|Eye colour
|Hair colour
|Light Brown
|Ethnic/cultural background
|Other Caucasian
|Born Again Christian
|Catholic, Jewish, Other Christian, Born Again Christian
|Political persuasion
|Swinging voter
|Sign of the Zodiac
|Taurus Check compatibility »
|Drinking habits
|Occasionally / socially
|Occasionally / socially, Non-drinker
|No special diet
|Have pets
|No, like pets but do not have any
|No, like pets but do not have any, Yes, have pets
|Education level
|High School, Some college, Post Graduate, Diploma, Degree
|Sales / Marketing
|Job role
What I'm looking for
Funny, happy, kind hearted and genuine. Looking for someone who has self respect and respect for others. If you enjoy the out doors as well as a good night out with a great bottle of wine and good food that is a plus. But I do like surprises and you never know until you try new things, so say hi.
- Female, for a relationship, dating or friendship
My interests
- Music
- All sorts, depending on my mood, love jazz and frank if I had to pick two. But then there is Powderfinger, Ben Howard, The Temper Trap, krafty kuts, Bluejuice and ....... well lets just say there are quite a few.
- Reading
- Anything that interest me. One of my favourites is Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures (not what you think).
- Movies & TV
- The Castle, Chopper, Anchorman, Hotel Rwanda, Lock Stock & two smoking barrels. TV- Q&A , Hungry Beast, Gruen Planet, Big Bang Theory.
- Sport
- Rugby Union - Reds. I love sailing but don't do as much as I would like any more. I like to watch all sport. I try head to the gym at least 2-3 times a week.
- Other Interests
- Love riding motor bikes, sadly i have sold mine to buy my house. Sad face. Fishing and BBQ's with friends is always a good way to pass the time.
My groups
Contact sunsailor83
- Send a kiss to flirt and see if there is an initial attraction
- Open up a 30-day contact period* to send unlimited messages
- During the contact period you can also chat if sunsailor83 is online now.
- Get to know sunsailor83 safely and securely before you exchange your personal contact details
* One RSVP stamp is required per contact period.
- Last online:
- 04 Feb '15


text:
An important evening Police Meeting will be held next Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the German Village Meeting Haus (588 S 3rd St.). Commander Strausbaugh and our 11th Precinct Officers will be joined by Commander Meader, Head of the Stolen Property Bureau, to discuss present safety concerns and recovery of stolen property. Warmer …
Category Archive: Safety tips
Apr 18
Evening Police event
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2014/04/evening-police-event-3/
Feb 26
South Side Community Blockwatch Meeting tonight
Note this is separate from the GV Police Luncheon tomorrow at 12:30. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to attend the February 26th Block Watch Community Meeting for the South Side. These meetings are held at the Barack Recreation Center (580 E Woodrow Ave), the fourth Wednesday of every month (except December) beginning at 6:30pm.This …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2014/02/south-side-community-blockwatch-meeting-tonight-4/
Feb 01
How to protect your gutter downspouts from theft
Here are ways to make it harder to steal downspouts and can look great on your house too! Criminals are looking for this equipment from hardware yards, on houses under construction, and even hanging on homes where people are living. They pull or cut the gutters and downspouts down and flee quickly; often, the theft …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/crime-prevention/how-to-protect-your-gutter-downspouts-from-theft/
May 03
Alley Parking TOP Of May 14 GVS Board Agenda
Refuse collection and Columbus police have noted several alleys where cars are regularly parked illegally, but the alleys are not necessarily marked with no-parking signs. The city is considering adding signage to a handful of alleys, and will make a presentation and take public questions or comments at the top (6 p.m.) of the May …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2012/05/alley-parking-top-of-may-14-gvs-board-agenda/
Mar 05
Remember to KEEP YOUR HOME DOORS & WINDOWS LOCKED!
Hello Neighbors! At the last Police Luncheon the officers reported while out investigating a potential break-in they found 2 homes with the doors unlocked. Please keep doors and windows locked at all times. Visit CyberBlockWatch's Prevention and Safety Tips Page for more hints on keeping yourself and your home safe. http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/crime-prevention/ Next Police Luncheon is Thursday, March 29. …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2012/03/keep-your-home-doors-windows-locked/
Jan 31
Helpful neighbor safety tip
Just a helpful tip worth sharing. I put a baby monitor on my back porch so I can hear everything going on and it works great! No one can come through my back gate without me knowing. Paid $10 for it at the flea market. I can hear up to 100 yards away!
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2012/01/helpful-neighbor-safety-tip/
Dec 29
NYE safety tips
Going OUT for the evening? A few tips to follow below… Bring only what you need in your handbag or wallet, such as your driver's license, money and one credit card. Beware of sharing plans on social media sites, you will be publicly alerting others that you are not at home. If you plan on …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/12/nye-safety-tips/
Nov 23
Avoid a home break-in while traveling this holiday!
Headed out for the upcoming holiday weekend? Ensure your home is safe while away, by remembering these safety tips … Ensure all doors and windows are locked and alarm is turned on Close curtains or keep the same as you would if at home Have a neighbor pick up mail, add bags and newspapers Leave …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/11/avoid-a-home-break-in-while-traveling-this-holiday/
Oct 28
Halloween safety
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/10/halloween-safety/
Oct 17
Neighborhood Best Practices Conference this Saturday
Come one come all to The United Way and the City of Columbus Second Annual Neighborhood Best Practices Conference. Cyberblockwatch will be a presenter at this year's event. Saturday, October 22, 2011 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Columbus Downtown Highschool (364 South 4th St.) The conference welcomes community residents, renters, homeowners, youth, civic, blockwatches, grassroots, faith-based, and …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/10/neighborhood-best-practices-conference/
Sep 07
Crime Prevention Program downtown
Friday September 9 11am–1:30pm 20 E. Broad St. Crime Prevention Program downtown this Friday. German Village & Schumacher Place residents encouraged to attend! Citywide there are 13,000 car break-ins annually. It is the most common crime and often can be prevented. Attendees will talk with police officers who patrol downtown and Capital Crossroads safety ambassadors …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/09/crime-prevention-program/
Aug 27
Police Luncheon minutes
This month's Police Luncheon with the CPD had a great turnout with positive discussions. If you missed it, click the link below to read every thing, including … A police report from the CPD: Car batteries are the new AC units, Outdoor tips for your home to make it less appealing to burglars, a recent "Exposer" in …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/crime-prevention/police-luncheons/august-2011-minutes/
Jul 14
Window Static Clings are in!
Cyberblockwatch.com received a $1,000 grant to promote and/or expand the website! We are pleased to announce some of our grant money paid for these great WINDOW STATIC CLINGS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP AT THE GERMAN VILLAGE MEETING HAUS, located at 588 S. Third St. Please limit one static cling per household to ensure there's enough for …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/07/window-static-clings-are-in/
Jul 02
Police luncheon minutes, Thurs. June 30
German Village Meeting Haus Unofficial Notes include Recent activity reports from the CPD Tips to prepare your home for vacation Do your own home Safety Audit Neighbor general discussion with questions Crime Reports® — see real-time crime on your block And more. Read the entire post and learn what's happening in our neighborhood! The Columbus …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/crime-prevention/police-luncheons/june-2011-minutes/
May 28
During last week's German Village Police Luncheon it was advised to be on the watch for an older white male and white female in a blue extended cab pick up truck (possibly a 95 or 98 Ford Ranger) with NO tags. This truck has been associated with several area home break-ins. If you see this …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.cyberblockwatch.com/2011/05/blue-pick-up-truck-alert/


text:
Now connecting over 33 million members worldwide!
Home » India » Rajasthan » Sikar - Lachhmangarh » Govt. Senior Sec. School in Jajod Village
Click below to see which schoolmates are listed in the NamesDatabase:
We are a community of over thirty million members who can connect with each other through secure and private people search tools. These tools help members find and keep in touch with friends, family, schoolmates, and anyone else with whom they want to communicate.


text:
North Hills students qualify for robotics event in St. Louis
Using nuts and bolts, motors, gear boxes, sensors and circuits, North Hills High School senior Curtis Sobien and sophomore Luke Melcher helped create a 120-pound robot that beat 47 other robots from five states and Ontario, Canada, to win first place at the FIRST Robotics Competition's Greater Pittsburgh regional event.
Their team qualified for the international FIRST Robotics Competition in St. Louis, scheduled for April 23 to 26.
Sobien and Melcher's team is from the Sarah Heinz House robotics program, which has 19 students in grades seven through 12.
With their regional win last month at California University of Pennsylvania, Team SHARP — which stands for Sarah Heinz Advanced Robotics Program — earned a trophy, banner and advancement to the international competition, which includes teams from across the United States and other countries.
FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
"The robotics competition teaches real-world competencies," said Christine Nguyen, robotics director at Sarah Heinz House in Pittsburgh's North Side, a nonprofit provider of after-school programs associated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
"Students are asked to engineer a robot from scratch to compete in a game. Some people on the team specialize in certain aspects of robot building. Those specialized teams must communicate, meet deadlines and figure out how they are going to get the final product out in time."
Competitors were challenged to build, program and operate a robot to advance up and down a 25- by 54-foot playing field and shoot an exercise ball into a variety of goals as often as possible during a two-and-a-half-minute match.
"We built a robot to pick up and shoot the ball using a catapult. It had to shoot the ball into goals located on the wall and floor, plus it got extra points for shooting the ball over a 5-foot-tall truss in the middle of the field. It also had to pass the ball to other robots," explained Melcher, 16, of Ross Township.
The robots are operated by team members using XBox controllers.
"The competition was like a rock concert mixed with a sporting event. It was a lot of fun. Everyone was so excited to be there," Melcher said.
His team ranked in the top 3 percent of the 2,729 teams in the world, based on scoring.
This is the first time a team from the Sarah Heinz House robotics program has qualified for such a major competition, said Nguyen, 29, of Fox Chapel.
"This year has been an incredible adventure. When we started this program five years ago, we could barely get the robot to move," she said.
Mentors from local businesses and universities helped teach the students mechanical and electrical engineering, computer programming and technology. But, Nguyen said, the students did all the work themselves.
Team members worked every day after school and on Saturdays for six weeks to design, build and program the robot using the Java computer programming language.
Melcher, who studies robotics at the A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless, helped design the robotic system that shot the ball.
"We had to determine linear motions of the ball, pneumatics and physics," he said.
He enrolled in a welding class to learn how to assemble the aluminum parts of the robot.
Sobien has been selected for a summer internship at the Carnegie Mellon University National Robotics Engineering Center in Pittsburgh.
Laurie Rees is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
Show commenting policy
TribLive commenting policy
You are solely responsible for your comments and by using TribLive.com you agree to our Terms of Service.
We moderate comments. Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. By screening submissions, we provide a space where readers can share intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information.
While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can. Because of the volume of reader comments, we cannot review individual moderation decisions with readers.
We value thoughtful comments representing a range of views that make their point quickly and politely. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments either by the same reader or different readers.
We follow the same standards for taste as the daily newspaper. A few things we won't tolerate: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives and letters followed by dashes), commercial promotion, impersonations, incoherence, proselytizing and SHOUTING. Don't include URLs to Web sites.
We do not edit comments. They are either approved or deleted. We reserve the right to edit a comment that is quoted or excerpted in an article. In this case, we may fix spelling and punctuation.
We welcome strong opinions and criticism of our work, but we don't want comments to become bogged down with discussions of our policies and we will moderate accordingly.
We appreciate it when readers and people quoted in articles or blog posts point out errors of fact or emphasis and will investigate all assertions. But these suggestions should be sent via e-mail. To avoid distracting other readers, we won't publish comments that suggest a correction. Instead, corrections will be made in a blog post or in an article.
Most-Read North Hills
- Hampton hires part-time police officer
- New Mexican restaurant to open in McCandless
- 'Singin' with Santa' concert to ring in holidays at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Allison Park
- McIntyre students hope Buddy Bench is beneficial to all
- North Hills Community Outreach's Community Auto program giving away vehicle
- Retiring custodian described as 'heart and soul' of Richland Elementary
- Plan calls for discount grocery store in Richland
- Youth Planting Change program aims to grow horizons for North Allegheny students
- St. Sebastian STEM class makes learning fun for students
- North Hills students collect food for families
- Etna, Millvale homes go solar


text:
Easy step by step tutorial of how to paint laminated furniture in no time!
Can I paint laminated plywood?
Yes you can my dear!
I am sure you have seen a bunch of laminated furniture in your Thrift Stores.
You may have loved the clean lines of it or the pretty shape, but you have been turned off by the ugly plastic brown look of it.
I am going to show today how you can give a fake wood a nice strong finish in just a few steps.
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to prepare the surface you are going to paint.
The fact of the matter is that a clean surface is the most important step for a clean finish.
Pull out your drawers and hardware. Get your soap, warm water, a good sponge and clean away!
When your surface is thoroughly clean and dry it is time to prime.
I like to use a small sponge roller and a soft small brush for this type of surface.
After your entire piece of furniture is primed LET IT DRY perfectly.
The trick of priming is time, it needs to cure in order to hold to the surface you are working on.
Read the directions, follow the directions, be patient and wait.
After your primer has cured it is time to paint.
Do as many coats as you feel are needed giving each coat enough time to dry.
If you start a new coat of paint before the previous one was dry
you may take away some of that fresh paint out making your furniture look sad.
You want your new piece to look pretty!
Don't be afraid to use bright colorful accent pieces in your home.
My friend Dave chose a true orange as one of the accent colors for his man cave.
How fun is this? It looks great even at night!
Don't you love it?
So if you have some old laminated plywood that needs help don't be afraid to give it some love.
Remember, clean it, prime it and paint it.
If you feel adventurous and need some furniture makeover ideas make sure to visit
my decorate with FURNITURE on Pinterest.
Have fun!
Happy Tuesday!
If you are new to my blog I want to welcome you!
I hope you stay in touch and Subscribe to The 36th Avenue via Readers.
Wait... there is more!
Reindeer & Snowmen Treats!
32 Responses to How to paint Laminated Plywood
Hi Desiree, do you have a favorite primer and paint that you prefer for working with laminate furniture?
(The desk looks great, btw!)
My kitchen cabinets are white laminate. I would like to paint them, but I'm afraid of a disaster, as I can't afford new ones. What kind of paint would I use and are there any special things I would need to do? Thank you


text:
Pranbihanga Borpuzari
The business of agriculture has survived almost as long as the civilization of humanity. A business in this sector has the inherent advantage of always having a customer. But, in order to grow and take your business to a level that benefits you and your producer, if you are not one, external funding is important.
- Experience counts
Get some years behind your company. While it's true for every other sector, the years are more crucial for agribusiness. Angel investment in the sector does exist but is far less compared to others' such as the IT sector.
Investors prefer to come in at the pre-growth or growth stage and they generally want you to be in the business for a few years. This would mean about three years of operation and after having seen some track record of growth.
- Get the financials right
An agribusiness company generally tends to be a proprietorship. In order to raise funds, a company has to change this status to a private limited company. Investors also like a certain degree of accounting and finance practices to be followed in the company so as to ensure transparency.
Before seeking funding, it would be worthwhile to clean up your accounting registers to enthuse confidence amongst the investing community. Investors would also want to see clear management lines and before you embark on that funding round, ensure that you have a good business plan and an even better management quality with a reliable second level of management.
- Figure your sources
It is very important to know which source works the best for you and how it would impact your company. Your source can be a mere loan from a bank to take care of the monetary needs or it can be an equity sale to a VC or a PE.
A very good source of fund which comes with minimum strings attached, is funding from friends and family. However, the needs of an agribusiness firm are intensive and this route may not be ideal. If the company is in its early days and you are looking to raise a small amount of funding, angel investors would be a good bet. For larger sums and greater equity dilution, a PE or a VC round may be more suitable.
Some funds that invest in agribusiness are Omnivore Capital, Standard Chartered Private Equity, TVS Capital and International Finance Corp.' while Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services, Jain NBFC and Magma Fincorp Ltd.' are some NBFCs that invest in companies.
- Know the right people
Getting funding is not merely about getting a pile of cash to work with. It is also about the association that one would start with the investors. It is always important to get like-minded people on board with knowhow of the sector. Agribusiness is very different from sectors like IT. Most agribusiness ventures are capital-intensive, asset-intensive and cyclical in nature. An investor who does not understand such trends would make your job only tougher.
- Increase your value
Money will come into a company only based on its value. Whether you raise funding through equity, debt or a combination of both, the extent of money coming in will be dependent on the value or the worth of your venture. Before one decides to raise money through funding, it is very important for a firm to increase its significance.
The best way to do it is to ensure a consistent cash flow and ultimately boost profits. If profits are hard to come by in the initial stages, optimal cash must be generated to maintain day-to-day operations. A company should also look to increase sales quickly. Investors like firms that are going north and good sales numbers mean good returns for them.
- Plan for ups and downs
Agribusiness is a highly regulated sector not only within the country' but throughout the world. It is very important to understand that there are a lot of internal regulations that exist in the country and a lot of regulations change periodically. These would be export, import policies, WTO rules and regulations amongst others.
It is important that your business plan should be robust in terms of what you will do in the next five years. Factor in all the underlying assumptions and risks. Investors like companies that are cognizant of all that is happening around them.
- Will to carry on
Agribusiness takes time before it starts showing results. It is a very lucrative sector, one that can withstand economic downturns, but is also dependent on a lot of permutations and combinations. In a country like India, there are substantial challenges when it comes to the sector, and the entrepreneur must have the drive and energy to carry on.
The entrepreneur also needs to be patient and demonstrate to the investor that he has what it takes to withstand the setbacks that this sector throws up.
Related Posts
The weather man behind Skymet
Solar Solutions
Where Angels Tread
10 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Online
Plan your financial goals
You can send your feedback on firstname.lastname@example.com or simply post comments below
This is my Story
Ajay Malhotra
Ajay Malhotra, co-founder, Innercover.com.


text:
"Novellus is very pleased to be recognized by Samsung for this significant
achievement," said Tim Archer, Novellus' Executive Vice President of Worldwide
Sales, Marketing, and Customer Satisfaction. "We are committed to working
with Samsung to continually improve their semiconductor manufacturing processes,
as well as the performance of our installed base of products. This strategic
partnership achieves our mutual goals of enabling advances in semiconductor
technology while concurrently reducing manufacturing costs."
Novellus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS) is a leading provider of advanced process
equipment for the global semiconductor industry. The company's products deliver
value to customers by providing innovative technology backed by trusted productivity.
An S&P 500 company, Novellus is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. with subsidiary
offices across the globe.
Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?
Cancel reply to comment
AZoNano.com provides this information service in accordance
with these terms and conditions.


text:
Kirk Evans is a Microsoft Architect for the Azure Center of Excellence.
Introduction to SharePoint and Azure IaaS
Building SharePoint Apps with Windows Azure Platform as a Service
SharePoint Solutions and Architectures on Windows Azure Infrastructure Services
Understanding Authentication and Permissions with Apps for SharePoint and Office
We have a slightly newer tradition around the Evans household involving preparing the Christmas meal: we deep-fry a turkey.
When I first heard of the concept, I laughed for about 5 minutes straight. "Only in Georgia could someone actually think of deep-frying a 14+ pound bird... whaddya stuff it with, grits?" Further small-minded jokes about the family roasting marshmallows over the opened hood of pop's dented up Ford pickup (watch the fan belt!) or celebrating with a Christmas toast to the clank of aluminum Budweiser cans naturally followed. After coming up with as many Jeff Foxworthy "you might be a redneck if" type jokes as I could muster, curiosity set in. That's the true sign of being a redneck... you know it's silly, but you gotta try it anyway, and preface it with "Hey y'all, watch this!"
I started to rationalize what a fried turkey would be like, and I realized it couldn't be much different than fried chicken or those giant turkey legs that you get at the county fair. And the cook time is 3 minutes per pound... that's a total cooktime of 45 minutes for a 15-pound bird, during which I don't have to hear anyone complain about slaving over the oven for 5 hours to cook a turkey (that inevitably comes out drier than dust). Maybe this is worth a shot.
Being a true redneck, I borrowed a friend's turkey fryer and bought a boat load of peanut oil. Of course I already had a spare propane tank sitting around, so I hooked it up and started the process. Just to complete the scene, I put a country music CD into my pickup truck's stereo, turned up the volume, and cranked down the windows so that I could have the appropriate atmosphere while gripping the fire extinguisher in anticipation.
Truthfully, I could embellish several small events from that first frying day, but it was largely uneventful. I put the turkey into the gallons of boiling oil, left it in for the appropriate time, drank a couple Budweisers while listening to country music, and pulled out the tastiest and juciest turkey I have ever had in my life. The rest of the family agreed that it was by far the best turkey they had eaten, and a tradition was born.
Since then, I have gotten my own turkey fryer and have fried around 10 turkeys. If anyone is interested, the best recipe that we have found is Emeril's Cajun Fried Turkey recipe. The bird turns out wonderful, crispy and spicy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. I can't wait to fire her up on Sunday around noon time.
Here are some tips in case you read this and have been debating frying your own turkey (some tips out of experience, some out of common sense, and the rest from careful reading):
I went to Costco this past Wednesday to pick up some peanut oil to fry a turkey for Thanksgiving . As


text:
David Dawson of Sparks takes a moment to remember his father at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley on May 28, 2012, before the start of the Memorial Day Ceremony.
- Filed Under
Monday is Memorial Day. Kicking off the weekend events is the Celebration of Heroes Parade in Virginia City, which starts at noon today in front of the Fourth Ward School and marches down C Street.
Other Virginia City festivities include a Civil War encampment and displays, battles along the V&T Railroad and in Gold Hill, a wine walk and a craft fair in Silver City.
Memorial Day services are planned Monday throughout the region, including at the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Fernley. This year's highlight is the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial Wall following the traditional ceremony. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei are scheduled to be on hand.
Additional services are at Mountain View Cemetery, the Salvation Army and Sierra Memorial Gardens Cemetery.


text:
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - The Green Bay Packers are hoping to take advantage of a new NFL rule allowing teams to attach a small patch with a corporate logo to the jerseys players wear in practice.
Packers senior vice president of marketing and sales Laura Sankey called the possibility of selling advertising space on practice jerseys a unique way for a sponsor to be involved with training camp.
The Houston Texans also have indicated an interest in taking advantage of the rule, which applies only to jerseys worn in practice.
(Copyright 2009 By The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.powered by Disqus


text:
Microsoft Virtual Academy
Get 50% off eBooks plus
40% off print books at
The Microsoft Press Store
This recording of our "MVA Live Q&A" session features Symon Perriman and Jeff Woolsey answering technical questions about Microsoft's approach to server virtualization. Before watching this course, it may be helpful to watch the Introduction to Hyper-V Jump Start to get familiar with Hyper-V Infrastructure, Networking, Storage and Management, Hyper-V High Availability, Live Migration and much more.
Instructors | Senior Technical Evangelist Symon Perriman and Principal Program Manager Jeff Woolsey
Associated Jump Start(s) | Introduction to Hyper-V Jump Start; Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals Jump Start; Microsoft Tools for VMware Integration & Migration Jump Start
Senior Technical Evangelists Symon Perriman and Principal Program Manager Jeff Woolsey led this fast-paced live Q&A session on Microsoft Virtualization. They fielded one question after the other from the audience on virtualization, get ready for some excitement.


text:
Students entering the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program can gain a solid knowledge base in the triad areas of the courts, corrections, and law enforcement in addition to the management skills needed for career advancement.
The Bachelor in Criminal Justice is a unique program in that it offers students a component of forensic study not usually available at the undergraduate level. While the government is one of the largest employers in this field, a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice degree can prepare students for positions in industries such as law enforcement, corrections, homeland security and more.
Students can enjoy relevant, real-world courses, taught by professors who are experienced in their fields, and a truly innovative and revolutionary online educational delivery system. You can earn four CTU Academic Certificates as you work toward the completion of your Bachelor's in Criminal Justice degree.
CTU cannot guarantee employment or salary.
*The 17-month Bachelor's degree assumes that all Associate-level requirements have been met through an Associate degree or the equivalent. Program length varies by program.
For program disclosure information, click here.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. Additional information is available at 312-263-0456 or www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.
Program Listings
Facts & Figures
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Private, for-profit, Higher Education
Quarter Schedule (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)
100% Web-Based Multimedia Courses
CTU Online offers one of the best e-learning platforms available. Experience the latest in course delivery systems. Classes are taught in multimedia format providing a rich, dynamic, interactive classroom experience.
Master's College or University I
In order to have a quality learning experience in your online courses, your computer needs to meet or exceed various specifications.
There are no requirements for on-campus time in the typical online program.
Colorado Technical University Online participates in many federal and state financial aid programs. We also administer institutional aid. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
1. Submit an Application for Admission.2. Conduct a personal telephone interview with an Admissions Advisor.3. Next, you need to submit official school documentation and demonstrate your proficiency in English is sufficient.


text:
Active Directory and LDAP Security
Active Directory and LDAP Security
Active Directory and LDAP Security News
May 05, 2015
Local Administrator Password Solution aims to stop credential replay
Microsoft has released its Local Administrator Password Solution for a common admin login account across all domain-joined computers in hopes that it will decrease pass-the-hash attacks.
July 15, 2014
Pass the hash? Severity of Active Directory security flaw questioned
Despite what may be a dangerous new Active Directory "pass the hash" attack variant, Microsoft has downplayed the issue as a technical limitation.
October 25, 2013
Survey: Companies struggle with least-privilege principle, user access
The principle of least privilege is ingrained in IT security culture, but a survey shows many enterprises are not tightly managing user rights.
February 08, 2008
Security360: Identity management market
Analyst Mark Diodati describes the leaders of the identity management market; IBM's Joe Anthony explains Big Blue's strategy and Novell's Dale Olds on user-centric identity.
Active Directory and LDAP Security Get Started
Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content
Can a read-only domain controller maximize DMZ security?
Are read-only domain controllers a more secure option for setting up domain services in a DMZ than using a separate domain? Expert Kevin Beaver explains. Continue Reading
Can virtual directory services ease messy Active Directory management?
Video: A Radiant Logic executive explains how virtual directory services ease the pain of integrating legacy Active Directory and identity systems with cloud-based applications and user-owned devices. Continue Reading
Beyond the Page: Using big data for defense
This Beyond the Page examines how some enterprises are protecting their big-data ecosystems with encryption, security data analysis and visualization. Continue Reading
Evaluate Active Directory and LDAP Security Vendors & Products
Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.
Understanding Aorato's Directory Services Application Firewall
How Aorato's Directory Services Application Firewall protects Active Directory, and why it's useful for enterprises. Continue Reading
The pros and cons of deploying OpenLDAP: Windows and Unix
Randall Gamby discusses how OpenLDAP should (or shouldn't) be used in conjunction with enterprise directory implementations. Continue Reading
Changing times for identity management
Identity management technology is adapting to meet enterprise needs. Learn what products can improve security and ease compliance. Continue Reading
Manage Active Directory and LDAP Security
Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.
Authentication out of the box: Built-in tools 'ease' Hadoop security
Many Hadoop variants offer fully integrated Kerberos, with facilities to improve setup and link to your existing identity repository. Continue Reading
Changing times for identity management
Enterprise user de-provisioning best practices: How to efficiently revoke access
Misplaced or stagnant employee access can be dangerous; Randall Gamby details user provisioning best practices for setting up a system to combat this risk. Continue Reading
Problem Solve Active Directory and LDAP Security Issues
We've gathered up expert advice and tips from professionals like you so that the answers you need are always available.
IMEI authentication: OK as a mobile authenticator?
Is IMEI authentication a secure choice when considering a mobile authenticator? Randall Gamby explains why it may not be a wise choice. Continue Reading
Role-based access control: Making an enterprise RBAC implementation easier
Learn the benefits of role-based access control based on job functions of network accessing employees, and how to make an RBAC implementation easier. Continue Reading
User provisioning best practices: Access recertification
User access recertification is the process of continually auditing users' permissions to make sure they have access only to what they need. Implementing recertification, however, can be challenging. Get best practices on creating a recertification ... Continue Reading


text:
Selected Community Events for Meetings
Go Back
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/299677971.html | 299677971
Aquila Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky Annual Shareholder Meeting
Event Dates and Times
Aquila Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky 28th annual meeting to update attendees on Kentucky's economic & investment outlook. Hear renowned Kentucky economist Dr. James Ramsey and Ryan Barrow of the Kentucky Office of Financial Management speak about the local and national economy. Receive update and insights from portfolio manager Royden Durham on Kentucky's investment outlook and opportunities in the local municipal bond market. Learn about the Fund's role in helping develop local communities and the state of Kentucky, while providing income exempt from federal and state taxes to its shareholders.
Meet the people who oversee the Fund, including the portfolio manager, Board of Trustees and Aquila executives. Have the opportunity to speak with Trustees and management of the Fund on an informal basis, at the conclusion of formal remarks. Open to the public & shareholders of Aquila Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky.
(800) 437-1020
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/298579361.html | 298579361
Community Inspired Solutions Inc. Spring Meet and Greet
Event Dates and Times
Hyatt Place, 2100 Bryant Rd., Lexington, KY 40509
Come meet the members of CIS and learn their plans for working with community youth.
Rebecca Webb, 629 North Broadway, Lex. KY 40508
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/297510001.html | 297510001
Joyland Neighborhood Association Spring Meeting
Event Dates and Times
First Church of God, 505 Kingston Road, Lexington KY
Learn what local government can and cannot do for you about juvenile crime and/or juvenile behavior problems.
The Police, Youth Social Services, and Court Designated Workers (CDW) will have representatives present to inform you and answer questions. This is a universal problem, not confined to any one neighborhood. Healthy families make for a healthy society. So no matter where you live - please attend if you can.
Turner Lyman
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/290318291.html | 290318291
Scott County Board of Education Meeting
Event Dates and Times
Georgetown Middle School, 730 South Hamilton St., Georgetown, KY 40324
Community discussion of education system in Scott County.
Renee Holmes
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/280509632.html | 280509632
Event Dates and Times
Lexington Hearing & Speech Center, 350 Henry Clay Boulevard, Lexington, Kentucky 40502-1024
John Perry will present on Financing Options for Hearing Aids and other things an informed consumer needs to know. He will review current hearing aid technology, one feature is certain, be sure to ask the hearing professional to include a telecoil in your hearing aid. Also a review on the channels through which hearing aids are distributed, what you need to know as an informed consumer. Finally and very important, he will explore the options available to us to help finance this expense.
John was the 2009-2011 president of Hearing Loss Association of America Kentuckiana Chapter and is currently their treasurer. He first found out about his hearing loss at age 23 when he enlisted in the Kentucky Air National Guard. He would say that most of his hearing loss was caused by rock 'n roll, fireworks, cap pistols, model airplane engines and woodworking machinery. His hearing, along with his eyesight, was recorded as a "2" in his official physical profile. Fortunately, his having a "2" for his hearing profile did not keep him from his chosen field of weather. Jump forward twenty years plus and John's hearing was getting so bad that he had to do something. He found the national Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) when it was still named Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) and subscribed to the journal. It took him another two years before he was ready to go and see first a dispenser, second another dispenser and finally an audiologist. He bought his hearing aids from the audiologist. His only regret is that he had not accepted his hearing loss sooner and had done something about it. He continued to struggle with the challenges of his hearing loss. Though things have gotten better, John says he is still a work in progress.
The meeting is realtime captioned by Sworn Testimony, PLLC and is free and open to the public.
HLAA provides information about various technologies, services, products or organizations to our members for their examination. Inclusion of any technology, service, product or organization does not mean HLAA endorsement
nor does exclusion of these mean disapproval.
Jean Haynes 502-515-3762, email@example.com, Website: HLAA-KY Lexington
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/240085811.html | 240085811
Foster and Adoptive Parent Informational Meeting
Event Dates and Times
4th Floor of the Summit Building,131 Summit Drive, Pikeville
Learn about requirements to become Foster and Adoptive Parents. Free of charge.
Angela Blankenship or Kristin Overstreet at
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/197322961.html | 197322961
Event Dates and Times
May Valley is one of ten schools in the state of KY to receive the Toyota Bornlearning Academy grant. This program will teach you how to turn everyday moments into learning opportunites this program is designed to help prepare your child for kindergarten. The meeting is held the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30-7:30. This meeting is for women that are pregnant and parents / caregivers that have a child or children up to 5 years of age. There is no cost to participate. Dinner is served at 5:30. We offer free child care and great door prizes.
TERESA CLAY, May Valley Family Resource Coordinator 285-0321 OR 285-0883
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/191810031.html | 191810031
4th Annual Garden Club Meeting
Event Dates and Times
It will meet here at Perspectives. 352 Longview Plaza Lexington, KY 40503
4th Annual Garden Club meeting Saturday March 9th from 10a.m. to 12p.m. Free to the public. We can order plants from a local green house at club discounted prices. Speakers Dr. Abe Fosson Master Gardner speaking on vegetable gardening. Kara Sayer Blue grass Pride on Rain barrels, rain gardens, and lawn care Cynthia Carr from Crosswinds potterey wonderful artistic pottery for the gardens and Distinctive Faux for out door faux finishes. We all give helpful tips on how to keep up the already porch , patio and decks products looking great. We don't need to buy more. We just need to keep up what we have.
(859) 277-0521
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/191698501.html | 191698501
Event Dates and Times
Graceway United Methodist Church, Rt. 80, Martin, KY
Informational meeting about the New Diabetes Assistance Program offered by the Floyd County Health Department for Uninsured/
Underinsured individuals.
Floyd County Health Department, (606) 886-2788
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/173293371.html | 173293371
American Cancer Society Relay For Life Kickoff
Event Dates and Times
Informational kickoff meeting for the 2013 Relay For Life fundraising season
Kara Harman
Phone: (859) 260.8287
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/167022645.html | 167022645
State Technical Committee Meeting
Event Dates and Times
NRCS State Office, 771 Cororate Drive, Lexington, KY 40503
State Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation. Committees are intended to include members from a wide variety of natural resource and agricultural interests.
Christy Morgan
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/151694255.html | 151694255
Foster Parent Training and Informational meeting
Event Dates and Times
Perry County DCBS office
Information sharing about becoming a foster/adoptive parent. Classes will begin June 12, 2012.
Mike Hurt, R&C worker
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/139722803.html | 139722803
Kentucky Mountain Crawlers Hazard Chapter
Event Dates and Times
Ponderosa Steak House
Off road 4X4 club monthley meeting
David Johnson 606 275 9287
http://www.wkyt.com/community/events/137771883.html | 137771883
Farm to School Informational Meeting
Event Dates and Times
Harlan Co. Conservation District, 106 S.Cumberland Avenue, Harlan, KY
Informational Meeting on Farm to School Program
Harlan Co. Conservation District 606-573-2838
Go Back


text:
I altered a Burda princess seam dress with a round neckline to a gentle v-neck. Immediately after cutting I stay-stitched the neck edges. Before binding with self-fabric bias strips, I trimmed the neck edge to 1/4" (inside the stay stitching). Attached the bias, made the little pleat at the point of the vee, tried it on--yikes, all stretched out, especially on the right side of the vee.
Any suggestions for fixing this? The dress is otherwise looking good. I suppose I will need to remove the binding and put on a new sort of neckline, but I am worried that I trimmed away so much seam allowance that any new neck treatment will be too low cut. I was thinking of making a facing applied to the inside and the outside (kind of like on the Hot Patterns Sunshine top, though that's not a vee).
What do you think?
It helps if you have a dress form to put your dress on, but here's a possible save for you. First, I would have used light fusible interfacing on the neckline, double the sas width. Here's what to do. Use lots of pins, and pin the excess one tiny pinch at a time then sew the seamline to a stay tape. I do mean a lot of pins for this. Then steam shrink it. A v neck is bias and you have opposite, and differently behaving bias edges. They will stretch if you look at them. Stay stitching made it worse. Some fabrics are so unstable that just taking them off the table will stretch them out.
I'd probably try what Nancy K suggests.
You might try making a template of the original size and shape of the neckline and lay the neckline on that and steam it back in to shape.
If you lay it face down you might be able to apply stay tape or narrow strips of interfacing along the seam/staystitching line.
You could do the facing if the neckline isn't too low. Or you could reapply the binding once you've stabilized the neckline.
If you could find foldover elastic in the right color that might also be an option (but wouldn't help with a low neckline).
------blog: goodworks1.wordpress.com
As Nancy said, you may be able to rescue this dress but it will take a bazillion pins. Here is an article from threads magazine from a few years ago with photos of what you need to do. This was done by an expert, probably the world's expert, on bias necklines: Charles Kleibacker working with bias.
A couple of thoughts. First try to steam it back into shape as best you can. If the cloth is still stretched out, reshape the neckline lower down. A scoop curve might be easier to construct than managing a V neck on fabric that has stretched and could again.
If the neckline becomes too low, I suggest some styling ideas. Wear your dress with a camisole that you'd be happy having the neckline peeking out. Wear a beautiful scarf and drape in nicely. I wish you the best with this.
------Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. Andy Rooney
Pfonzie- my honey Pfaff Creative Performance and Pfaff Passport, Bernina 930 and 830, Evolution and Enlighten sergers
How about pulling up the loose fabric and adding a multi-layer bias ruffle to the neckline? Both function and style there.
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Class Details
by: Deepika
Pattern Details
by: sharondipi...
Online Classes
Sewing Machines
Sign Up
Shop Now
Merchant Gallery
Conditions of Use | Posting Guidelines | Privacy Policy | Shipping Rates | Returns & Refunds | Contact Us | About | New To PR | Advertising
Copyright © 2015 PatternReview.com® , OSATech, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
Left, Bret Williams, President of the Vermont Hard Cider Company, in Middlebury on Tuesday, August 9 2011. (Glenn Russell, Free Press). To the right, attorney Stephen Szymoniak, left, and Lenny Ciolek, VP of Business Development for Mayer Brothers Cider with McKenzie's Hard Cider on Friday, August 26, 2011. Woodchuck Cider Co. in Burlington is suing Ciolek, claiming that he has given Mayer Brothers the recipe for hard cider. Szymoniak is representing Ciolek. (Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News)
About Woodchuck Hard Cider
When started: 1991
Parent company: Vermont Hard Cider Co., LLC, formerly known as Green Mountain Beverage
Top executive: Bret Williams, Chief Executive Officer
The products: Woodchuck Amber, Grannysmith, 802, Pear, and Raspberry Hard Cider, plus a limited release and private reserve series. Most commonly sold in 12-ounce glass bottles in six-packs. Also sold in 22-ounce glass bottles, as well as 1/6 and ½ barrel kegs.
Where produced: Middlebury, Vt.
Number of employees: 90
About McKenzies Hard Cider
When started: April 2011
Parent company: None
Top executive: Lenny Ciolek, vice president of business development
The products: McKenzies Original, Green Apple, and Black Cherry Hard Cider. Sold in 12-ounce bottles and 24-ounce cans by the six-pack or convenient case. Also available in kegs.
Where produced: Currently bottled offsite, but soon the entire operation will be at Mayer Brothers, according to Attorney Stephen Szymoniak.
Number of employees: 1 Lenny Ciolek.
When Lenny Ciolek, a 25-year veteran of the beverage industry, signed a non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement with Middlebury-based Woodchuck Hard Cider last year for his new job as national accounts manager, he agreed to keep the companys trade secrets. As the top accounts official, Ciolek would earn a six-figure salary, along with a car allowance worth nearly $7,000 a year and possibly a bonus of up to $25,000.
That didnt last long. Seven months later, Ciolek left the firm and helped to start a competing hard cider company, called McKenzies, in Upstate New York.
Now, a 24-page civil complaint brought by Woodchuck parent company Green Mountain Beverage accuses Ciolek of breach of contract for violating the confidentiality agreement he had signed, of breach of duty of loyalty and violation of the Vermont Trade Secrets Act.
Instead of abiding by the terms of the (confidentiality agreement), Ciolek abused the trust and confidence placed in him by, among other things, actively establishing a competitive enterprise; misappropriating GMBs trade secrets and proprietary information; and improperly retaining and using GMBs property, including its trade secrets and proprietary information, after he left the Company, the lawsuit alleges.
Stephen Szymoniak, Cioleks attorney, says his client has done nothing wrong, and points out that Ciolek has voluntarily agreed to a preliminary injunction that requires him without admitting fault, wrongdoing or liability to return all originals and copies of his former employers property, documents, and data, including trade secrets and proprietary information.
Lawsuits like the one filed against Ciolek are relatively rare in Vermont, but theres a steady stream of such cases nationwide, as documented by Trade Secrets Blog. The issues they raise provide a lesson in the possessive nature of owning intellectual property. Todays trusted employee can easily become tomorrows competitor.
Rumors of a competitor
Named after a slang term for Vermonters, Woodchuck has its own started-in-a-garage story, like many successful Vermont businesses. The first batches of the cider were fermented in 1990 at a small winery in Proctorsville owned by Joseph Cerniglia, who was also cranking out apple wines.
In 1996, Cerniglia hired Bret Williams as his first salesman. Williams moved up from Baltimore where he had been working as a sales manager for E&J Gallo Winery. Two years after Williams was hired, in 1998, the largest cider producer in the world, H.P. Bulmer of England, bought Woodchuck Hard Cider, forming Bulmer America. In 2003, with the enterprise flirting with bankruptcy, Williams put together a deal to buy the company from Bulmer, becoming president and chief executive officer. By 2007, Woodchuck had become the first hard cider in the country to sell more than a million cases, according to its parent company, Green Mountain Beverage (as of Aug. 1, the parent company is known by a new name: Vermont Hard Cider Co., LLC). Today, Vermont Hard Cider is producing 11,000 cases of Woodchuck every day.
Woodchuck invented the hard cider category in this country, Williams said. It didnt exist until 1991.
Williams describes Woodchuck as very easy to drink, made with the same process as wine, just with apples instead of grapes. It is lightly carbonated, with 5 percent alcohol content. A private reserve line has an alcohol content of 6.9 percent.
People made hard apple cider in the backyard for hundreds of years, Williams said. Around the time of the colonists that was the main drink. Now its in the middle of a huge comeback. The apples we get in Vermont are some of the best in the world. Apples grown in the Champlain Valley are shipped as far away as Ireland and Scotland.Vermont Hard Cider paints a picture of its successful hard cider in the lawsuit the company filed earlier this summer against former employee Ciolek.
On March 14, just seven months after he was hired, Ciolek resigned from Woodchuck, which soon learned he was poised to launch his own hard cider brand in conjunction with one of the largest apple cider producers in the country. McKenzies Hard Cider is available now in New York and New England and is spreading throughout the East and beyond, according to McKenzies website.
The crux of the lawsuit is that Ciolek allegedly planned the McKenzies launch during the months he was working for Woodchuck. Not that Woodchuck didnt take steps to prevent misuse of its information. In addition to having Ciolek sign a non-disclosure agreement, the company says it also gave him a copy of its employee handbook, which reiterates the confidentiality of customer lists, customer preferences, sales information, financial information, marketing strategies, new materials research and pending projects and proposals. Most of this information, the lawsuit alleges, Ciolek had access to as a top accounts manager.
Only GMB employees within the sales department have access to pricing information, including information regarding margins, and customer lists, the lawsuit states, using the initials for Woodchuck parent company Green Mountain Beverage. Only a limited sub-group of GMB employees within the production department have access to recipe information.
When he left, Ciolek sent an e-mail to Williams, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Beverage, and Terry Hopper, national sales director. Ciolek had remained in Upstate New York while working for Woodchuck.
I had received calls throughout the last few months regarding other opportunities within and out of the Beverage Industry and never pursued any of them, Ciolek wrote to Williams and Hopper. More recently, I have been presented two incredible opportunities of which I listened to what was being offered. Both of these position (sic) are local and would provide a better lifestyle for my family.
The day after getting Cioleks e-mail, the company sent him a box to return his company-issued laptop. He received the box on March 17. On April 4, the company contacted Ciolek to ask why the laptop had not yet been returned. Finally, on April 14, a month after he resigned, Ciolek returned his laptop, according to the lawsuit.
Soon after Ciolek resigned, Woodchuck parent company Green Mountain Beverage began to hear rumors about McKenzies Hard Cider and its former employees role in its development. The company decided to commission a third-party forensic examination of his returned laptop. In the lawsuit, the company says the profile on the computer had been deleted, along with documents, emails and Internet history.
Green Mountain Beverage didnt like what it found. A forensic examination still revealed his extensive misconduct while employed by GMB, the lawsuit states.
Holly Kilibarda of Nixon Peabody LLP, Green Mountain Beverages attorneys, points out that erasing the profile on the computer represented a violation of the agreement with the company.
My client owned the computer, just as if I have a laptop here at work Im fully aware I dont own it, Kilibarda said. He did not have permission to erase the profile, as we noted in the complaint.
Szymoniak said things are not so cut-and-dried as Kilibarda contends.
I believe they have a rather liberal and expansive interpretation of the agreement which is not surprising, since it was prepared by Green Mountain Beverage. Our interpretation is likely somewhat different, Szymoniak said.
Reasonable minds often disagree about such things and what may be argued by one to be the ultimate in precision, is in actuality awash in ambiguity and capable of various interpretations, requiring the trier-of-fact to resolve the issue.Green Mountain Beverage alleges that while working for them, Ciolek had lined up NYCO Design Agency in Brooklyn to design logos, labels and packaging for McKenzies, beginning in December 2010 or earlier. NYCO features a large photo of a six-pack of McKenzies on its new website.
The lawsuit cites a message Ciolek posted on his Facebook page on Feb. 23: McKenzies Hard Cider 24oz cans are in production with Rexam in Illinois. Pretty excited for these peeps. Drink UP!!! Rexam, based in London, is one of the biggest beverage can makers in the world, with $8 billion in sales and 21,700 employees in 20 countries.
To bottle his cider, Green Mountain Beverage says Ciolek picked Pri-Pak, Inc. of Lawrenceburg, Ind., with more than 150 employees and 2008 sales of $20 million.
And to make McKenzies, Ciolek formed an alliance with the self-professed largest producer of bulk apple juice on the East Coast, Mayer Brothers of West Seneca, N.Y., according to the lawsuit. When McKenzies Beverages, Inc. became a New York domestic corporation on Feb. 1, the lawsuit notes, its address of record was listed as the address of Mayer Brothers at 3300 Transit Road in West Seneca.
Three days later, on Feb. 4, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for McKenzies Hard Cider. The trademark is owned by Cioleks wife, Julie Ann Ciolek, according to the lawsuit. Szymoniak explains that McKenzies is a separate and stand alone venture from Mayer Brothers, owned by Ciolek and some members of the Mayer family. Ciolek has a minority interest, according to Szymoniak.
Trail of emails
Under the subtitle, Cioleks Breaches, the lawsuit brought by Green Mountain Beverage offers some 39 points, one with 10 sub-points, gleaned from the computer files recovered by the forensic examination. Some of the highlights of the lawsuits claims:
• On Dec. 29, 2010, Mark Beresniewicz of NYCO Design emailed Ciolek with drafts of McKenzies labels.
• On or about Jan. 24, 2011, Garrett Mayer of Mayer Bros. emailed Ciolek to inquire as to the status of the McKenzies trademark, to which Ciolek responded as follows: It is published and application has been filed. You can TM the name based on Applications and search.
• On Feb. 24, 2011, Ciolek emailed Jim Hogan of Rexam regarding a planned visit the following week to Rexams Illinois location.
• On March 1, 2011, Ciolek sent an email to Sally Penders, stating that he was (I)n (C)hicago proofing labels for a hard cider brand I am launching. I am partnered with (M)ayer (B)rothers to do this project. It is called McKenzies Hard Cider. I will be resigning from my current gig (with GMB) on Friday so will not keep my appointment with (S)upervalue and will be there next month for our brand.
The forensic examination also found Cioleks footprints on confidential cyber-terrain, including on Nov. 10, when he used the Green Mountain Beverage-issued laptop to look at pricing reports for Woodchuck and two other Green Mountain brands, Strongbow and Wyders, the lawsuit states.
The pricing reports included information such as highly confidential wholesale and retail margins, the lawsuit states.
Ciolek returned to the pricing reports on Dec. 14 and Dec. 16, the lawsuit states. He allegedly downloaded the reports to one or more memory sticks, which Green Mountain did not issue to him, the company said in its legal claim.
Ciolek also repeatedly used his Green Mountain laptop to work on documents titled, Business Plan McKenzies, and Business Plan, as well as a template called Business plan for startup business, according to the lawsuit.
On Jan. 24, according to the lawsuit, Garrett Mayer of NYCO e-mailed Ciolek, writing, We need to add the exact nutrition facts and ingredients from the woodchuck (sic) label. Photographs of the labels from Woodchuck and McKenzies bottles, submitted as exhibits with the lawsuit, show that the labels are identical, down to the most minute detail, the lawsuit states.
A preliminary injunction in the case requires Ciolek to preserve all his personal hard drives and memory storage devices and submit to a complete forensic analysis by an examiner of Green Mountain Beverages choosing.
We have voluntarily turned over computer drives and any material he had in his possession, said Szymoniak, who is Cioleks attorney.
Ciolek didnt take anything without authorization, Szymoniak says, but was provided with materials during the course of his employment.
Those have been returned, things he was authorized to have, such as handbooks and presentations, Szymoniak said. My feeling is the evidence will show Mr. Ciolek hasnt used or taken anything of a proprietary nature that he wasnt allowed to use or have while he was employed.
Szymoniak also maintains that Ciolek was not required by Green Mountain to sign a non-compete clause when he accepted the job of national accounts manager, which would have prohibited him from leaving and starting a competing company for a certain time period in a certain geographic area.
Theres an employment agreement, but no separate non-compete, Szymoniak said.
Kilibarda, the attorney for Green Mountain Beverage, declined to address the specific points made by Szymoniak, saying only that the two sides had entered into a preliminary injunction, signed by U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions in Burlington, and that her firm has a pending request for a permanent injunction.
Undoing the damage
Green Mountain Beverage has requested damages, including punitive damages resulting from Cioleks willful and malicious conduct, in an unspecified amount, except to say its more than $75,000, along with attorneys fees and the cost of bringing the litigation. Kilibarda declined to say whether the two sides are negotiating a settlement, but said these kinds of cases are sometimes resolved early on by parties negotiating among themselves.
Szymoniak said both sides want to minimize fees and expenses and come to a favorable resolution.
My hope would be to reach a settlement of some sort and be done with it, Szymoniak said. Let the parties compete on the open market.
Should Green Mountain Beverage decide it wants to try to eliminate its new competitor rather than take it on in the open market, the companys only hope might be the Vermont Trade Secrets Act, which went into effect July 1, 1996.
Under the Vermont Trade Secrets Act, the court has very broad discretion in terms of what remedy it will order, said attorney Ken Merritt of Burlington, who is knowledgeable about trade law. They could stop a company from selling a competing product. Thats an extraordinary remedy, but certainly in the courts discretion.
The more likely remedy, Merritt said, would be for the court to prohibit McKenzies from selling its product for six months or a year, or to require McKenzies to pay a royalty to Green Mountain Beverage. But Kilibarda said it can be difficult to unring the bell in trade secret cases, which is the argument for injunctive relief and money damages.
In some cases where the damage cant be undone that can be the best you can hope for, she said.
Merritt, the Burlington attorney, offered advice to companies on how best to protect their trade secrets and intellectual property. At the heart of it is requiring and enforcing confidentiality agreements.
We certainly advise all our clients to enforce confidentiality agreements, Merritt said. Im sorry to say sometimes companies fail to do so and often regret that they fail to do so. Sometimes theres resistance from the employee to sign one. Part of it is at the inception of the employment relationship everyone thinks its going to work just fine. Companies dont take a hard line, and I think they should.
Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or email@example.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bfp_biz.


text:
KANSAS CITY, Kan.- Kevin Harvick crashed the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup party.
Kyle Busch simply crashed—at a track that continues to bedevil him.
And with a bizarre power failure in the last two laps, Johnson failed to cash in decisively on Matt Kenseth's skittishness with the new tire combination Goodyear brought to Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.
The fourth race in the Chase ended as it began, with Harvick out front. The driver of the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet crossed the finish line more than a football field ahead of runner-up Kurt Busch, with Jeff Gordon trailing Busch in third.
Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Johnson ran third through sixth, respectively, allowing Johnson to trim Kenseth's advantage in the championship standings from eight to three points.
The victory was Harvick's third of the season, his first at Kansas and the 22nd of his career. With the win, Harvick moved into third place in the standings, 25 points behind Kenseth. Kyle Busch, who entered the race third in the Chase and 12 points behind Kenseth, scored his third straight DNF at Kansas after crashing out in 34th place and dropping to fifth in points, 35 out of the lead.
"To sit on the pole and win the race, obviously, is a great weekend," Harvick said. "Controlling our own destiny by doing that, putting ourselves closer to where we need to be with the championship race… so we'll just keep having fun and doing what we're doing.
Harvick's car out front in clean air was radically different than the same car in traffic.
"It was like driving two different cars," said Harvick, who will leave RCR at the end of the year to driver for Stewart-Haas Racing. "Out front, it was not even close, and in traffic, you were just another one of the cars and had a lot of trouble."
After Harvick got shuffled back in traffic by an inopportune debris caution on Lap 87, crew chief Gil Martin opted to keep him out on old tires under caution for a wreck involving Justin Allgaier and Ryan Newman on Lap 146.
The move paid off, and Harvick was able to stay in position near the front of the field for the balance of the race.
Johnson likewise had a strong car but couldn't get the track position he need to make a run at the win. He felt a strong vibration in his car with two laps left, but the car regained power on the backstretch of the final lap and Johnson held sixth at the finish.
"All in all, it was just a crazy day," said the five-time champion, who lost fifth place to Edwards on the final lap. "There were weird restarts, wacky restarts, a lot of chaos there. Then caution after caution for who knows what…
"We rebounded from all that, passed a lot of race cars, and then with two to go, we came down the back and started shaking real bad. I thought it was over, but I limped it around and got to the finish line. It started running down the back coming to the checkered (flag), so I was at least able to maintain over whoever was in seventh there (Paul Menard)."
Kyle Busch's championship hopes suffered most, but no driver seemed immune from adversity. Gordon, Johnson, Busch and Harvick all lost positions — and in some cases, laps — when cautions interrupted cycles of green-flag pit stops.
But the record 15 cautions for a record 71 laps — one because of a grass fire on the bank outside Turn 1 that shrouded the track in smoke – provided ample opportunity for wave-arounds and restarts that allowed drivers to make up lost ground.
With a loose handling condition that plagued him throughout the race, Kenseth salvaged an 11th-place run that kept him at the top of the standings — barely.
Throughout the weekend, Kenseth expressed uneasiness with a lack of grip he felt with the dual-tread right-side tire Goodyear provided for the race. Nevertheless, with a manic drive through traffic during the final 19-lap green-flag run, Kenseth gained four positions after the final restart to retain his points lead.
Another top five for Logano
After Joey Logano suffered an engine failure in the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway, most analysts wrote off his championship chances.
Since then, the 22-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been doing everything with his power to prove them wrong.
In Sunday's race at Kansas Speedway, Logano qualified fifth and finished fourth, surviving a succession of frenetic restarts made necessary by a record 15 caution flags. Logano gained two positions to 10th in the standings after his second straight top five and now trails leader Matt Kenseth by 59 points with six races left.
"It was pretty crazy out there," Logano said after the race. "Every restart, you had to be so aggressive to pass people, because that was your best shot to pass them--and everyone realized it. There wasn't much grip out there, and everyone was doing that (being aggressive), and you are going to have a crash. We proved that fact multiple times today…
"I couldn't imaging trying to call a race like this (from a crew chief's perspective). It's nuts, because one minute you're first, and the next you're 15th, and you hope you cycle out to the lead at the end."
Short race for Patrick
The promise that Danica Patrick had shown in two excellent practices on Saturday evaporated in the first corner of Sunday's race.
Patrick lost control of her No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet in Turn 1 of the opening lap, slammed the wall and fell out of the race in last place (43rd), her worst finish to date in the Sprint Cup Series.
"Either I drove in too hard, or the air is just that challenging, or we were a little loose," Patrick said after exiting the infield care center. "I don't know. I didn't even have my front bead blowers on yet, just trying to build heat in the front tires.
"It's just a shame, because we were having a better weekend. (Saturday) was a pretty good day for us. We felt really confident today that we were going to be able to have a good day. My pit road crew is so good I knew that was going to be something to look forward to.
"I'm really sorry. I'm really bummed. I just was looking forward to having a good day and it's over within a matter of feet."


text:
Next time you are flying Southwest Airlines on a WiFi-enabled flight, be sure to check out the new flight tracker, built and powered by MapQuest, in the Southwest Airlines In-Flight Broadband Entertainment Portal.
As you fly, the flight tracker updates with your current location, ground speed and altitude as well as your estimated arrival time, distance remaining and time remaining.
The flight tracker allows you to zoom and pan to explore the map and discover more about cities and destinations Southwest Airlines serves. You can also view the current weather conditions and forecast for your destination city.
For more information about Southwest Airlines In-Flight Broadband Entertainment Portal, visit http://www.southwest.com/wifi/.
Happy flying and safe travels!


text:
The Raphael Hotel Romance PackageThe Raphael Hotel Romance Package is perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, milestones or any special occasion. It's also a memorable way to romance your special someone. Want to turn up the romance even more? Request the romance suite with a two-person whirlpool.
Kansas City Romance Package includes
- Accommodations in Luxurious Room or Romantic Suite
- Bath & Body Basket
- Bottle of Wine with Two Desserts
- Keepsake Engraved Photo Frame
- Turn-Down Service with Rose Petals on King Bed
- Breakfast in Bed or Chaz Weekend Jazz Brunch
- Valet Parking


text:
Dave Evans | October 31, 2012 | Comments
Vibrant online communities, built to tap the passions, lifestyles, and causes that we all organize around, naturally restore the social component of business.
Considering a vacation, you look at TripAdvisor and find more than a few reviews about the places you're considering. As you read through the reviews you may be thinking, "I sure am glad someone wrote all of this!" Or maybe it was a smartphone question, or something to do with the sudden appearance of spots on a toddler's tongue. In each of these cases, a quick search on Google and you're probably in some sort of peer-driven support community where that problem is recounted, discussed, and resolved, all seemingly for your benefit. Nice, eh?
So the question arises, how does this happen? Or more importantly, why does this happen? When I have a question I'm generally not thinking about contributing an answer…I just want my problem solved.
As it turns out, for many there is a reward for contributing, and people seek that reward. The reward is recognition for having done something helpful: writing a review on Amazon, and especially seeing that review marked as "helpful" by others. This sort of reward/recognition is a huge motivator: the top reviewers on Amazon have authored literally tens of thousands of reviews…each! The top contributor in Logitech's support forum has contributed over 45,000 solutions. The leading contributors in peer-to-peer forums for Dell and HP are right up there too.
And it's not just tech, books, and electronics: Sephora's community - where people talk about beauty products - is an integral part of the overall Sephora experience. Peer support is a universal concept: think of nearly any interest, activity, or specific product or service and there is a support or discussion site, driven by customers and by peers helping each other out. The result is a stronger link to the brand itself - people like to associate with other people, and brands that build and sustain a vibrant peer community are direct beneficiaries of that basic human behavior.
Back to the question of why this happens. Yes, humans are social, so we "create content." And yes, humans are also opportunistic, so we "consume content." I recently documented (step by step, 10 pages in total) how to do a particular repair on my Mercedes E300D and posted that in the BenzWorld peer community. This past weekend I had an offline experience that showed this type of shared purpose and desire to help was rooted in our inherently social nature. Online or offline, people will naturally gather and look for ways to help each other out and to thereby trigger the reward/recognition cycle that I referenced earlier.
Case in point: I had replaced my wife's kitchen sink about a year ago and was never really satisfied with the way the drains and sink connected. I decided to fix it before something bad happened. So on Saturday I pulled off all of the drain pipes and headed to my favorite Austin plumbing supply store.
Crump's is filled with a mix of plumbers and DIYers. The store has everything you need, and they sell both "contractor grade" (the quality level you'd use if you were to planning to either move in two years or flip the house next month) and "professional grade" (the quality level you'd use if you were putting your own name on the repair and wanted to work for this customer again in the future).
So right off, I had lesson number one played out in the real world: when your reputation - and your future new business pipeline - depends on it, you choose quality over price. The drivers for this are social: think word-of-mouth, and the folly of trying to "clean up" your reputation on Angie's List after someone has posted something negative. It's much better to do the job right and avoid the negative post altogether. The social web and the connection to the purchase funnel have reawakened the drive toward quality in more than a few local businesses.
Standing in Crump's with a half-dozen plastic drain fittings that in total looked right out of "Alien" I was immediately asked by several of the people standing near the counter if I needed help. I said yes and explained that I wanted to replace all of this with "the right stuff." I even added, "I want it to last, so I'd like stainless (steel) if you have it." Understand that stainless is about twice as expensive as plastic, so pay attention to what happened next: everyone - counter professionals and plumbers alike - said "You don't want stainless…plastic will last longer." They explained that chemicals like drain cleaner and bleach will eat up steel pipes. So they collectively saved me about $50 right off. Then they added, "Oh, and don't use those cheap fitting parts. Instead use these" and pointed to the pro parts. One gentleman in particular, a plumber named Frank, helped me find every single part I needed and then made sure that I also had the typical spare parts I might need in the future. The total bill was about $30.
Intrigued, I spent some time talking with Frank. It turns out that he and most of the other plumbers in the store come in on Saturdays just to talk and answer questions. They have expertise, and they have knowledge. And they get immediate positive feedback in the forms of handshakes and thank yous when they share that knowledge! It's so unbelievably simple and it applies to business whether it's a local plumbing store or a global retailer.
Actually, it's probably even more important as the business grows larger. The local business has the fallback of the store itself and the customer base associated with it. But as the business grows, the customer base becomes more "anonymous" - how many people did you talk to the last time you were in a department store? Did you meet the person standing ahead of you in line? Probably not, unless you were both complaining about how long the line was. Now move that transaction online, and unless you do something to recreate that sense of community, any sense of shared, human social interaction associated with the purchase process will be lost. The entire buying experience associated with your brand is reduced to an electronic transaction and a shipment that arrives a few days later.
Vibrant online communities, built to tap the passions, lifestyles, and causes that we all organize around, naturally restore the social component of business. People helping people in communities like Sephora's, friends shopping together in the online Levi's or The Wet Seal stores, small business owners working together in the American Express "Open Forum" community along with many others. Savvy brand managers, now connecting the dots from social media marketing to social support to social commerce, are recognizing the role that a community platform can play as a part of the overall marketing and business strategy.
The fact is, there aren't enough "Franks" to go around. It's too bad, too, because people like Frank and the many contributors who have offered the reviews we all increasingly rely on are essential to successful business. As you consider your own social technology and strategy for your business, think about how you will find the people like Frank in your online community, and how you will develop many more. While implementing peer-to-peer technology may seem as simple as downloading a generic forum package and slapping it onto the side of your website, ask yourself, "If the guys standing in Crump's when I walked in had glanced over…and then kept talking amongst themselves, would I be advocating for Crump's?" No way. High impact peer-to-peer is anything but generic.
In my case, I was welcomed, helped, and left the store confident that I had the right stuff to do what I set out to do. Your branded peer community has to rise to the same level, and if the underlying technology won't help you spot and develop the experts, if it can't reinforce and amplify that basic reward/recognition cycle…then keep looking until you find a platform that does. Because in the end it's not about some software and checking off "Got community?" on a tactical checklist. It's about creating a place where your customers want to hang out, spend time, create and share experiences, and help each other.
So how do you know when you're there, when you've got this right? Walk into Crump's. If your online community feels like that, you're good to go.
Dave is the VP of social strategy at Lithium. Based in Austin, Dave is also the author of best-selling "Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day," as well as "Social Media Marketing: The Next Generation of Business Engagement." Dave is a regular columnist for ClickZ, a frequent keynoter, and leads social technology and measurement workshops with the American Marketing Association as well as Social Media Executive Seminars, a C-level business training provider.
Dave has worked in social technology consulting and development around the world: with India's Publicis|2020media and its clients including the Bengaluru International Airport, Intel, Dell, United Brands, and Pepsico and with Austin's FG SQUARED and GSD&M| IdeaCity and clients including PGi, Southwest Airlines, AARP, Wal-Mart, and the PGA TOUR. Dave serves on the advisory boards for social technology startups including Palo Alto-based Friend2Friend and Mountain View-based Netbase and iGoals.
Prior, Dave was a co-founder of social customer care technology provider Social Dynamx, a product manager with Progressive Insurance, and a systems analyst with NASA| Jet Propulsion Labs. Dave co-founded Digital Voodoo, a web technology consultancy, in 1994. Dave holds a BS in physics and mathematics from the State University of New York/ Brockport and has served on the Advisory Board for ad:tech and the Measurement and Metrics Council with WOMMA.
What Twitter marketers can learn from JetBlue, Emirates and Royal Dutch Airlines
Amazon's first physical bookstore: offline's death has been exaggerated
Why should marketers care about image recognition technology?
ClickZ Live Chicago: What are the big trends to look out for in 2016?
November 25-26, 2015
February 4-5, 2016
April 11-13, 2016
Spring 2016
2015 Holiday Email Guide
The holidays are just around the corner. Download this whitepaper to find out how to create successful holiday email campaigns that drive engagement and revenue.
Three Ways to Make Your Big Data More Valuable
Big data holds a lot of promise for marketers, but are marketers ready to make the most of it to drive better business decisions and improve ROI? This study looks at the hidden challenges modern marketers face when trying to put big data to use.
December 2, 2015
1pm ET/ 10am PT
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
5pm HKT / 5am ET


text:
- Filed Under
Mark Hulka won the Individual competition Friday with a 30, Brad Davino and Othello Repuyan each had 29 and Brian Sprankle and Frank Carsonie totaled 26. Roger Kessler won the skin on No. 4, and closest to the pin winners were Bob Kessler (No. 5), Jim Wilson (No. 8), Doug Stackhouse (No. 12) and Vince Paul (No. 18).


text:
If you know a candidate's name, you can use the search below:
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections will be held in Northamptonshire on 15 November 2012; the candidates standing in that election, alphabetically by surname, are listed below.
This website contains more information about those candidates and other information useful to voters.
As Police Area Returning Officer I am responsible for coordinating the election and announcing the result.
I can be contacted at:David Cook
Municipal Offices, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN15 7QX
01536 410333
This website is provided by:The Secretary of State for the Home Department