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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- British Telecommunications PLC said Thursday that its bought Yellow Book USA, the United States' largest independent directory publisher, for $665 million in cash.
British Telecom BTY, +10.50% purchased Yellow Book from VS&A Communications Partners II L.P., an affiliate of Veronis, Suhler & Associates Inc.
Yellow Book was established in 1930 and now has almost 300 directories and a circulation in excess of 19 million. It employs more than 1,400 employees.
The U.S. group's current management team will continue to run the company but will report to John Condron, the managing director of British Telecom's Yellow Pages.
Yellow Pages provides classified business information through its printed directories and electronic media outlets in the U.K.
Yellow Book's Web site -- yellowbook.com -- will be upgraded and united with the British company's portal, www.yell.co.uk.
On Wall Street, U.S.-listed shares of British Telecom dipped 1 1/2 to 159.


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The following excerpt is from an article that originally appeared on Christian Today
Thousands of Muslims are being urged to register to vote in messages from imams across the UK at Friday prayers.
Backed by the anti-racism and civil rights campaign, HOPE not hate, the British Muslim Forum (BMF) has asked hundreds of mosques to encourage voter registration in their message at the weekly service.
Hundreds of imans will include a call to vote in their Friday message todayReuters
The election falls during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan and concerns have been raised about the effects on Muslim voting.
BMF spokesman Imam Qari Asim, of Leeds Makkah Mosque, said: 'Although Ramadan is going be a busy time for us, the spiritual upliftment experienced during this month inspires Muslims to be active citizens.'
He added: 'Voting is a hard-won right and we must not miss the opportunity to exercise that democratic right. The result of the General Election must be down to choice,
Click here to Read this Entire Story on Christian TodayThis post was originally published on this site

subset: commoncrawl


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Mint is one of my flavours from ice cream to chocolate and everything in between. Whatever the weather mint never fails to remind me of warm sunny summer days. With only one mint recipe on the blog I decided it was time to share this simple mint and coconut bliss ball recipe. Bliss balls are such a gorgeous thing to make as they require just a few ingredients and very little time not to mention … [Read more...]
Kale, mint + chocolate chip ice cream {Vegan, Raw, Paleo, Gluten, Dairy, Sugar free}
Nothing sums up summer quite like a large bowl of beautifully creamy ice cream devoured on a warm sunny day. While you can't guarantee that the sun will shine you can be guaranteed perfectly smooth ice cream with this simple recipe. Mint chocolate chip ice cream has been my favorite ice cream flavor since childhood. It's gloriously vibrant green hue, refreshing taste and hidden chunks of rich … [Read more...]
Mango, kale, coconut + lime smoothie {Vegan, Raw, Paleo,Gluten, Dairy, Sugar free}
Mangoes are one of my all time favorite fruits well I should say perfectly ripe mangoes are one of my all time favorite fruits. Mangoes come close to avocados when it comes to fruit that can be depressingly hit and miss. One day they are perfectly ripe and the the next an inedible mess. I'm not ashamed to say that I am one of those annoying people who squeeze all the fruit in the super market in … [Read more...]
Easy 6 ingredient Snickers bars {Vegan, Paleo, Raw, Dairy, Gluten, Sugar free}
This super quick recipe is a simplified version of one of my favorite blog recipes; a healthy snickers bars. I am completely head over heels in love with all things peanut butter so unsurprisingly the addictive combination of luscious peanut butter and rich chocolate make snickers my favorite treat. While I adore my others snickers bar recipe with their crispy chocolate base, moreish nougat and … [Read more...]
3 ingredient salted caramel ice cream {Vegan, Paleo, Raw, Dairy, Gluten, Sugar free}
Yay the sun has finally arrived and being Irish if there is one thing I am good at its making the most of the glorious weather because unfortunately it probably won't last long. So I have been embracing all things summer from salads to barbecuse and of course ice cream. This ice cream is so good that I having literally been having it for breakfast lunch and dinner! Not only does to taste so … [Read more...]
Kale, avocado + basil pesto {Vegan, Raw, Paleo, Gluten, Dairy, Sugar free}
This simple little recipe makes the most amazing kale, avocado and basil pesto. In fact this pesto is so wonderfully nourishing that it has been nicknamed the "glow-getter" at home! Packed full of super foods like kale and avocado this pesto definitely deserves its moniker.The best part of this gloriously green pesto is not just it's beautiful basil flavor or its creamy texture but the fact that … [Read more...]
Almond bounty bars {Vegan, Paleo, Raw, Gluten, Dairy, Sugar free}
So it's been all of twenty eight days since the chocolate fest that was Easter and I think it's about time I shared another irresistible chocolate treat and I think you'll agree! Bounty bars are one the most popular recipes on the blog and they seem to be everyone's favorite bar. While I do like them I would definitely choose a snickers bar as my favorite chocolaty sweet treat. Well that was until … [Read more...]
Chocolate mousse cake {Vegan, Raw, Paleo, Gluten, Sugar, Dairy free}
This amazingly delicious chocolate mousse cake is an ode to one of the greatest foods known to man and woman; chocolate. Like Christmas Easter is not one of those times of year for half measures! Needless to say this cake is pure unadulterated chocolate indulgence. Not only is this cake a super food for its mood enhancing ability but it is also packed full of amazingly nutritious ingredients like … [Read more...]
Healthy easy Ferrero Rocher {Vegan, Raw, Paleo, Dairy, Gluten, Sugar free}
Somethings in life are better in pairs; peanut butter and banana, apples and almond butter and chocolate with well just about everything! My all time favorite ingredient pairing is the classic combination of chocolate and hazelnuts. Unsurprisingly so Ferrero Rocher have always been one of my favorite sweets. I love just about everything about them from their crispy nutty exterior that gives way to … [Read more...]
Apple free kale, pear + almond green smoothie {Vegan, Paleo, Raw, Gluten, Dairy, Sugar free}
I am definitely a little late to the party but I finally took the plunge and bought a Nutribullet. Obsessed doesn't even come close to describing how I feel towards the newest kitchen gadget in my life! I am literally like a child on Christmas morning. I got through two bags of kale and two and a half bags of spinach along with countless bananas before it was even lunch time. My sister is a fan of … [Read more...]


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Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Sam and Brittany were great hosts, responsive in every way. Their restaurant suggestions were fabulous and we loved staying in their well-decorated and spacious apartment. It is so close to the beach with private access for all on their street. Just a great place.Sandra2017-05-07T00:00:00Z
Sam and Brittany were wonderful. They reached out to make sure we were headed in on time, Brittany was there when we arrived. She went above and beyond to give suggestions about things to do and places to eat in the area. She was very friendly. We took many of the suggestions and they were amazing! The Guest house was amazing. It is beautifully furnished and decorated. The screened in porch was a wonderful surprise as well as the access to bikes and beach chairs. We were less than a 5 minute bike ride from the beach, up the street from a gorgeous sound view, and less than 10 minute bike ride from downtown Duck. I would 100% recommend this stay!Richelle2016-05-02T00:00:00Z
This is a great little place to stay as a couple. Everything is updated and lovely. They even let us borrow bikes to ride into town. It was a great night way for our anniversary, thank you!Stephanie2016-04-16T00:00:00Z
Green Door Guest Room was bright, clean, comfortable and very cool. The treetop feel to the space made it magical. But the best part was definitely the warm welcome from our hosts. Kudos all around.Sharmyn2016-05-18T00:00:00Z
What an awesome place! The Green Door Guest Room does not disappoint. We came down to OBX to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary and this was our first time using Airbnb. Sam and Brittany were wonderful hosts and we loved everything about the Green Door Guest Room. We found their neighborhood to be quiet and charming. It's close to the beach and close to the sound and they offered us bikes and beach chairs which was great. We will definitely be back! Thanks again!Dana2016-05-16T00:00:00Z
The accommodations were perfect and Sam and Brittany were very nice! We would definitely stay there again!Elizabeth 2017-04-15T00:00:00Z
Our family of four had a great stay at the Green Door! Fantastic location in Duck- an easy walk or bike ride to the boardwalk, shops, restaurants and the beach. Sam & Brittany made some great recommendations for where to eat. The apartment is exactly as pictured. Cute, clean and comfortable. Appreciated the available beach towels, beach chairs, and bikes. We'd definitely stay again.Chris2016-07-20T00:00:00Z
This was such a lovely place to stay for my little working beach getaway. Sam & Brittany (and their two kiddos) were super sweet and welcoming and the green door guest room was clean, perfectly located, & suited my every need. I will certainly return if my work brings me to Duck in the future.Tammy2016-05-26T00:00:00Z
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Our stay here was wonderful. Kelly and Shane were both very welcoming and made sure we had everything needed. The cottage was even better than we expected from the pictures! I would definitely recommend anyone to stay here!Stephanie2016-09-19T00:00:00Z
This place was so beautiful! 5 minute walk to both the ocean and the bay on the other side, saw the sunrise and the sunset in one day. Everything you need was there and Kelly was so nice:) would love to go againTaylor2017-03-23T00:00:00Z
Really nice and well catered cottage! Very friendly hosts, including the dog :-) Easy 2 min walk to a beautiful beach. We enjoyed it a lot, wish we cpuld have stayed longer...susan2015-08-14T00:00:00Z
My boyfriend and I had a wonderful 5-night stay at Kelly's place in Duck! Kelly and Merry, her very sweet black lab, both greeted us upon our arrival. We bumped into Kelly and her husband a few times when coming and going - they were both very nice and welcoming, always making sure we had everything we needed. Even though the guesthouse is on Kelly's property, we felt like we had plenty of privacy during our stay. The guesthouse itself was the perfect size for 2 people. The bed was comfortable, A/C worked great, plenty of extra toilet paper, paper towels, & toiletries, outdoor shower for washing off sand (plus a regular, indoor shower), dressers to unpack our clothes, WiFi, smart TV to connect to Netflix, bikes for us to use, and bagels & cream cheese for breakfast on our first day. The location was awesome too. The road is perpendicular to the ocean, so you just walk straight down the road, pass about 6 houses, and you're at the beach! We also loved having the bikes. It's about a 10-15 min bike ride into the main part of Duck where there are a number of restaurants. We would definitely stay here again next time we're in the Outer Banks!Annie2016-09-03T00:00:00Z
Kelly welcomed us with a warm welcome and made sure we knew she was there if we needed anything (including restaurant recommendations and places to go). The house was so clean and the perfect size. It was close to the beach. The house was quiet as well. It is close to the boardwalk in Duck. We will definitely be returning again!Matt2016-04-11T00:00:00Z
Our trip was wonderful! The cottage was really beautiful with nice amenities and lots of space. It was really close to the beach and the sound, which was really convenient. Kelly was a fantastic host! Super accommodating and very nice. She had good recommendations for restaurants and what places we should check out. I will definitely be visiting again!Marina2015-07-14T00:00:00Z
Our family had a great time at Kelly and Shane's place. We made use of all the convenient amenities including the beach chairs, bikes, and grill. Kelly even provided us with a crock pot and tools to use for our children's tag-along bike attachment rented from The Village Outfitters. My daughters enjoyed using the outside shower along with ocassionally getting a glimpse of Merry, the dog. The cottage was clean, spacious, well decorated, everything in working order, and so close to the beach that we would've loved to stay longer. We went for bike rides daily and enjoyed exploring the surrounding area. Thanks for making our vacation special!Monica2015-08-07T00:00:00Z
Terrific time! Lovely hosts! Perfect spot and accommodation for my two children, 2 dogs, and me. Kelly's responsiveness and recommendations were perfect. Thoroughly enjoyed the bikes, too. Can't wait to go again. Thank you!!! :)Belinda2016-03-25T00:00:00Z
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
This is a great location, about 2 miles north of the town of Duck. A short walk to the beautiful beach and to the sound. Tennis court and pool nearby. It was great to return from the beach and stop at the very private pool before returning to the townhouse. Best to check-in and check-out on Friday to avoid heavy summer traffic. Easy access to Duck and Corolla.Tim2016-07-09T00:00:00Z
We loved the place, both the flat and the location. The house provides everything that we need and more: e.g. the swimming pools (especially near the Sound) and the big and small ones loved the Jacuzzi-like bathtub. We highly recommend that place and would love to come again .sylvere2016-08-13T00:00:00Z
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
This was a great place. Our space was private and very close to the beach. John was also kind enough to let us leave our car in his driveway and walk to the beach even after we checked out.Jeffrey2016-04-24T00:00:00Z
We had a great stay and John and Kate were super friendly and helpful. The space was perfect for what we needed and right near the beach, as advertised. Highly recommended this place, and we hope to go back!Julie2016-06-22T00:00:00Z
This was a wonderful trip, and exactly what we needed for a long weekend. We were able to rent a golf cart onsite, which made the short distance to the beach access super easy with 2 small children. The house was very clean, which I initially was worried about due to it being pet friendly, but it was VERY clean. Any questions we had were answered via text very quickly! This was our first time in Duck, and everything was wonderful. We will definitely be back.Leah2016-07-19T00:00:00Z
John the host was very easy to communicate with before we got there and during our stay. The home was clean, had fresh linens and beach towels ready to go. The beach was beautiful and just a short walk away. We had a great time, thanks John!Vanessa2016-10-17T00:00:00Z
Great location, we wanted to be close to the 4 wheel drive beach. John was very accommodating and loved the fact that the carport was ours to use. Having a pool was nice and relaxing when we got home before going back out. The place was very comfortable and would recommend it.Deb2016-09-02T00:00:00Z
A very nice accommodation in a great location. The place was spacious and very well appointed, both inside and out. Checking in and out with John and Kate was a breeze. It was a treat to have access to the lower outside shaded area with carport, pool, showers hammock, grill, adirondack chairs, etc. Being able to use the bikes to cruise in and out of Duck was a blast! As far as location, just two quick blocks walking to the beach! Also, this small residential spot between Central Duck and Corolla was never crowded at the beach during peak times. Big shout out to Drew at North Duck Watersports right across the street for a fun day jetskiing on the Sound. Overall, a great accommodation and location.Marcus2016-08-11T00:00:00Z
John was quick to respond to any questions that we had before and during our stay. The rental for the golf cart was extremely helpful when lugging all of our items to/from the beach. The pool was also nice to have when we felt like staying around the house. A few missed opportunities to dust, but a nice clean place otherwise. Our biggest issue was not having enough places to hang our wet swimsuits and towels (but there were 6 adults and 1 child). Would definitely recommend staying here.Lynn2016-08-04T00:00:00Z
This is a great place to vacation that is quiet and easily accessible to the ocean and to the sound. The living space was perfect for us as we had had 4 adults and 2 small dogs. The kitchen was rather small;however, it had everything we needed to prepare our meals. John and Kate are excellent hosts as they answered every question that we had in a very timely manner also providing us with recommendations for things to do and places to eat. They also have many things for you to use and rent that make your stay there quite enjoyable. I would recommend this property to anyone looking for a quiet vacation in the OBX.Kevin2016-05-01T00:00:00Z
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
基蒂霍克(Kitty Hawk), 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Maureen greeted my partner and I as soon as we arrived. The house was clean and well kept. It is right on the beach - so beautiful! My husky mix could even come with and enjoy the beach as well. I would definitely go again!Katherine2015-06-01T00:00:00Z
We had a wonderful stay! Beautiful neighborhood and a gorgeous house right on the beach. Hot tub with the waves in the background was a highlight. The town center of Duck is a short drive or a nice walk (1 mile). Highly recommended!Cameron2014-11-10T00:00:00Z
Our first experience with an airbnb rental was great. Maureen was welcoming and made us feel right at home. The bed was very comfortable and the room was clean and orderly. Extra nice touch with snacks and drinks in the kitchenette. Quiet, restful weekend and very close to great restaurants and shopping in Duck.Lori2015-04-27T00:00:00Z
The stay was exactly as expected. The location is great, the home is comfortable and being beachside can't be beat. I would not recommend this particular room to light sleepers--the bedroom is right outside the common area and under another bedroom-- but there are others in the home and not everyone is as easily woken as I am. The bed was comfortable as was the temperature.Diadra2016-09-27T00:00:00Z
We are regular Airbnb-ers and are disappointed for the first time. We rented a spacious, ocean view, king room with a daybed and an adjoining room with a pool table, arcade game, large screen tv, sitting area and kitchenette. It was $640 for three nights in the off-season which I was happy to pay. Prior to arrival, Maureen said she had a friend visiting and would need to "upgrade" us to a different room. We agreed that I could see both rooms upon arrival and choose. However, upon arrival, Maureen and her friend were intoxicated and the area in which I reserved was already occupied by her friend. Maureen collected an additional fee in cash that she said she was not able to collect through Airbnb and led us to our much smaller room with a non working 19"tv and shower that was smaller than 3X3. My daughter was told the arcade game was broken. The per night stay for the room we were put in was about $60 less than the one we reserved. On a side note, her dog is not trained at all. My family wanted to avoid conflict so we decided to make the most of the weekend with positive attitudes. The next day, Dare County evacuated visitors from the island due to Hurricane Matthew so we had to leave. Maureen said she does not see the Hurricane or state of emergency as an extenuating circumstance and refused to honor her refund policy for nights not stayed. Classic bait and switch. We paid a total of $665 for one day at Maureen's in a small, very musty room with all three of us in the same bed.Norah2016-10-09T00:00:00Z
This place was exactly as Maureen described it. Large bedroom and Rec-room, and right on the ocean! Maureen was a delight to have around for advice on places to eat. Additionally, she was very accommodating when I had unexpected guests come into town and needed a place to stay. I will definitely be a returning customer!Stephen2015-05-27T00:00:00Z
Maureen was a wonderful host; very friendly and accommodating. Her house was beautiful, and it was great to be able to walk right out to the beach. A definite plus! Our puppy had the best time running around on the beach with Marueen's dog. The town of Duck is just a quick, two-minute drive away.Rian2015-03-23T00:00:00Z
Maureen was a wonderful host meeting us when we arrived and showing us our living area. Very comfortable bedroom and spacious bathroom with a living area, TV and pool table to share with another couple (we only saw them once) Excellent location in a very upscale area and Maureen gave us several suggestions for places to eat which we took advantage of and enjoyed very much. Our main reason for visiting the Outer Banks was to visit Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers memorial and museum which was very close and easy to find. Thank you, Maureen, for sharing your beautiful home with us right on the water.Carolyn2015-09-28T00:00:00Z
duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Southern Shores, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Quite a magical place on the outer banks. Thanks to Edith and her family for sharing her space, pool, treehouse and letting us cool off the drums in their "garage" space. It had everything we could possibly need and we will certainly be back if our plans take us anywhere on that part of the coast!!Barbara2014-06-28T00:00:00Z
Edith was more than exceptional and professional with her interactions. Even though I had to cancel my trip, Edith went out of her way to make sure all was made right. Her communications were always timely and helpful. When I finally make it to Kitty Hawk, I will make it a priority to stay in this property because of Edith's kindness, help, and professionalism.Ilena2015-01-19T00:00:00Z
My husband and two school-aged kids stayed here for 5 days this week and loved it. The room (above a garage) had a really homey feel to it, and Mike is such an accommodating, gracious host, it was easy to feel comfortable and happy here. The room was clean and decorated in a beachy, fun way, and the bathroom was nicely updated with a great shower. My husband and I slept in the queen bed, and the kids slept together on the queen futon. The price was half of what a hotel room would cost this time of year, and honestly the whole experience was even a bit better than a hotel because we had the grounds to ourselves. The kids loved the pool behind Mike's house, and running around the grounds. The location could not have been better. It was a 4-minute drive to Duck, which is where we spent most of our time, and the neighborhood was very quiet and cozy. The beach was a 4-minute drive as well, and the beaches around there are wonderful. We would definitely stay here again.Mary2015-08-07T00:00:00Z
Great little beach studio! The apartment is exactly as described and very clean. Mike made us feel welcomed while also letting us do our own thing. Thanks for a great weekend.Kari2015-07-20T00:00:00Z
HIGHLY recommend staying at the bungalow when visiting OBX. My fiancé and I stayed here to attend a wedding in the area and had an awesome stay. The bungalow was super clean and comfortable with all the amenities you would expect when staying with family. The bathroom had everything you could possibly need and then some. Everything from plenty of clean beach towels to sunscreen and lotions were available for our use. If you forget something at home chances are Mike has it in there waiting for you. Air conditioning was ice cold and the in room fridge was really convenient and worked well. The wall mounted TV has a killer surround system that Mike was kind enough to show us how to use. The room has entertainment for everyone. Stocked book shelf with plenty to read , kids toys, games, ping pong, full cable package on the tv. Mike went above and beyond to make sure we had a comfortable stay. He even came out at midnight to unlock the door for us when we locked ourselves out. Thanks again Mike! We will definitely be back!Joseph2015-06-15T00:00:00Z
The space was beautiful and stocked with things we might have left behind. 100% pleased. Highly recommend!Jamie2014-12-29T00:00:00Z
We stayed at the Surfer's Bungalow from Monday through Saturday, 6/8-6/13. The room was perfect for us; myself, my husband, and our four year old daughter. The room was spacious, comfortable, and clean. There is a small refrigerator in the room that came in handy, as well as a coffee pot. We weren't in the room much, as we were out and about. We swam in the pool a few times, it was the perfect temp. Mike's house is located about 5 minutes from the beach, and about 5 minutes from the main road. I road my bike a couple of times from his house to the biking/walking trails that run from Duck into Kitty Hawk. The location was great for us, we spent most of our time between Kitty Hawk and Duck. Mike is very friendly and met us when we arrived. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this place to friends or stay there again ourselves.Sarah2015-06-13T00:00:00Z
基蒂霍克(Kitty Hawk), 北卡羅來納州, 美國
I would highly recommend this space to anyone who is looking for a nice, convenient space in the OBX. Great communication from the host, clean and very close to Duck. This is a great alternative to a hotel room and a whole lot bigger. My wife and I will certainly stay here again on our next trip to the Outer Banks.Justin2016-09-04T00:00:00Z
Kate greeted us as soon as we arrived and was very friendly and welcoming. She left us cookies, stocked drinks in the fridge and wine. The studio gallery was very beautiful and better than pictured! The place was bigger than I had in mind with wonderful lighting and lots of windows. Everything was very clean and comfortable. We had a wonderful stay. She had an ice machine available and also offered beach chairs and umbrella. The neighborhood was quaint and quiet and the studio had a beautiful view of the sound. Such a wonderful place! Would love to visit the OBX again and would recommend this place and even stay again!Kara2016-06-07T00:00:00Z
Katharina was so accommodating with our arrival time and had the whole living space ready for us even at such an early time! The location was fantastic for all of the beach going and fishing we did as well as exploring the area. The space was so open and comfortable that we didn't want to leave! 10 out 10 would come back and stay here!Cheyenne2016-06-30T00:00:00Z
Katharina graciously welcomed us to Gallery 370 and oriented us to the neighborhood, the beach, and fun activities in the area. Gallery 370 is a spacious room with many windows. There was a bed in one corner, a bathroom in another corner, a kitchenette in a third corner, an exercise bike in the fourth corner and a very comfortable living area in the center of the room. It was rainy 2 of the 3 days we were visiting, but the room had everything we needed, including many rainy day activities!Alison2016-09-24T00:00:00Z
Gallery 370 is a wonderful relaxing, comfortable space from which to explore the Southern Shores and Duck at the OBX. You will be in a quiet neighbor hood with only a 0.3 mile walk to the beach and 1 mile bike ride to the quaint town of Duck on paved bike path. Great area for running due to low traffic off the main highway and plenty of miles and hills to traverse. Katharina was quick to respond in all communications and provided a generous welcome including delicious cookies and wine.terri2016-05-21T00:00:00Z
We stayed for a quick weekend beach trip at Katharina's studio apartment and it was wonderful. The apartment is spacious for a couple and has great amenities like a ping pong table, tv with cable and Netflix, and a outside balcony. The space is also super clean. Although the beach is walkable, Katharina also provides a parking pass for the beach which is great because we had a lot of stuff. She also has bikes and beach equipment like chairs and umbrellas. The apartment is also close to restaurant and shops - a quick drive or bike ride away. She also stocks the mini fridge with cold drinks which is great after a hot beach day. We definitely plan on staying here again!Meghan2016-08-08T00:00:00Z
Great apartment and very friendly host! We'd certainly come back!Stefan2016-09-25T00:00:00Z
Beautiful stay! Katharina is a superb host and the private access room was perfect for my husband I. Gorgeous location and views, and the room/bathroom was so clean. We really appreciated the mini kitchenette and the drinks Katharina had ready for us :).Kara 2017-04-10T00:00:00Z
Southern Shores, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
This place is located in a secluded neighborhood, but is only 10 minutes from food and shopping. There is very little internet signal there, so prepare to spend some real time connecting with your friend or significant other. Anja was very helpful and had suggestions about places to go and things to see, but gave us plenty of privacy and opportunities to enjoy the house and its property. Great place to stay.Marc2017-05-22T00:00:00Z
This is a great place to stay. It is quiet and beautiful. The cottage is great and Anja and Paul were amazing hosts as well. We will book with them again.Adam and Dani2017-05-14T00:00:00Z
Our stay at Anja and Paul's cottage was fantastic. The location is beautiful and the cottage exactly as described. They were very communicative and we had anything we could have needed- coffee for the morning, snacks, and even a parking pass for nearby beaches. Highly highly recommend this stay to anyone looking to relax in OBX.Juliana and David2017-05-28T00:00:00Z
基蒂霍克(Kitty Hawk), 北卡羅來納州, 美國
We loved the location of the house - short walk to the beach, short walk to shops, restaurants, and markets. Well-stocked kitchen. Beach chairs in case you fly in or don't have your own, and a nice cart to wheel all your stuff to the beach. A great boardwalk hike starts just a quarter mile away and you can take it for a long or short walk. The house has a great layout - 2 bedrooms on each floor. So it's great for 3 separate families, or for just spreading out and having your own space. Two great living areas - one with games (pool table, foozball, extra fridge). The hot tub was great in the cool weather! Pool looked great, but just not the season to use it, with plenty of seating around it, along with a hammock. Linens provided, which is always a plus so you don't have to take your own. Owners were very responsive to all our questions. Easy check-in/check-out. We'll definitely be back!Dawn2016-12-07T00:00:00Z
Duck Haven is awesome. Just as advertised -- a pleasant 5 minute walk to the town of Duck, and even less to the beach. We are OBX newcomers and loved Duck. The house itself has just about everything we could have wanted, including lots of games, a pool table and foosball. The house is immaculate and fully stocked with amenities. Christy is very friendly and helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed. We can't wait to come back!Denis2017-04-16T00:00:00Z
Host was very responsive to any questions I had - quick to respond and very friendly and helpful. Place was well furnished - just bring your bags and you're good to go! fully equipped kitchen, soft fluffy towels, comfortable linens, clean. Also has updates that let you know that the place is well cared for - looks like new fixtures and carpet. Really liked that the place has multiple places to hang out - downstairs game room with access to pool and hot tub and large back yard; large dining area just off the kitchen; upstairs living room with two seating areas to hangout and watch nice big TV. You can see the ocean and the sound from the upstairs balcony - beautiful sunset on the sound and sunrise on the ocean - best of both! Straight shot down the road to a public access to the beach. Liked the fun and very tasteful decorating!CAROL2016-11-13T00:00:00Z
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Duck, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
Maria responded immediately to each text when I had questions about anything. The house was very clean and was so peaceful. It has everything needed to prepare a meal. We highly recommend this property and would definitely book with them in the future. The neighborhood was very quiet and well maintained.Ann2017-05-27T00:00:00Z
The home was wonderful! The location was great. Located in a quiet neighborhood and close to the beach. A home that we have put on the top of our list to visit again. The hosts made sure we had everything we needed. Wonderful visit!Deborah2017-05-11T00:00:00Z
Mike and Maria are great hosts, their place is fabulous, it is close to a beach, recommended to stay at their placeWoody2017-05-19T00:00:00Z
Great home, clean, comfortable, location close to the beach, and the hosts were great. Highly recommend. This home is on the top of our list when visiting this area.Jeff2017-04-30T00:00:00Z
This was a great place. Very clean and close to the beach and shopping. The hosts went above and beyond in letting us check in 5 hrs early. Such wonderful flexibility. The communication between myself and the host couple was fantastic. What a great experience we had as it was our first Airbnb experience and we will definitely do it again. Many thanks.Amy2017-05-21T00:00:00Z
Mike and Maria's Vacation Paradise: My husband and I stayed at this beautiful, secluded home for five days in the Southern Shores, NC. It's in the best location if you are looking for the Outer Banks experience. The house is located in the middle of the island surrounded by trees and wildlife. The neighborhood is very quiet and it's within a short driving distance to local restaurants and grocery stores. The beach is within a 5 minute bike ride. The bikes were included in the rental and the tire pump was available to us. Mike and Maria were outstanding hosts and have all the necessary essentials available for your trip such as hygiene products, cooking utensils and even beach towels. They are very friendly and respond quickly to any questions you may have. This house is as beautiful as the pictures. I would highly recommend this vacation paradise. Sincerely, DanikaDanika2017-05-17T00:00:00Z
Southern Shores, 北卡羅來納州, 美國
基蒂霍克(Kitty Hawk), 北卡羅來納州, 美國
A perfect home away from home! Comfortable and close to everything in a quiet neighbourhood close to the beach. Kiirsten and Steve were both friendly, helpful and gracious hosts. We'd definitely go back.Lou2015-07-02T00:00:00Z
The quaint cottage located less than 10 mins walking was an ideal vacation stay. My husband, my mother-in-law, our puppy and myself all stayed here for the weekend. It was comfortable, well-organized and most importantly Kiirsten was a gracious host. Although she was out of town, she arranged for a parking pass and let us borrow the beach umbrella, both of which made our beach stay fabulous. I highly recommend this place and would love to visit again!Akshata2015-06-29T00:00:00Z
We had a fantastic time and experience at the OBX beach house. Everything was perfect and the room had sufficient space and a well stocked selection of amenities to make the trip go very well. We loved the location and the fact that this was in a very nice neighborhood, and very convenient to everything around. The beach was a quick 5 minute block.Mike2015-08-08T00:00:00Z
We enjoyed every second of our stay! The neighborhood was quiet, the entire host family were very welcoming, and the space was perfect for our entire family!Ryan2015-08-01T00:00:00Z
Kiirsten was an great host. She was very welcoming, and very prompt to reply to everything. She also accepted us on short notice. As far as the place and neighborhood: one couldn't ask for a better location / place. The room is very cleverly designed and has a very comfortable bed. The beach is *literally a 3 min walk. The neighborhood is quite and comforting. Thanks Kiirsten!Sam2015-06-11T00:00:00Z
This was a great little place for myself and a couple friends while we were in town for a wedding. The room was clean and exactly as described. The bed and couch were very comfortable. We weren't able to make it to the beach due to the weather, but it's a really close walk for those who aren't vising during a tropical storm!Kelley2016-10-10T00:00:00Z
My wife and I spent a wonderful weekend here and felt very well taken care of. The location is great, we had a parking pass, but didn't need it - even with beach chairs and a beach umbrella it was no problem walking to the beach. The space is very open and clean, complete with a kitchen area and a very comfy bed and couch. Kiirsten is a great communicator and is very responsive to any questions we had. We would absolutely stay here again.Andrew2015-08-03T00:00:00Z
The apartment was clean, well stocked with everything you need, and spacious. The bed was comfortable and the pillows were soft and pleasant to sleep on. I would definitely recommend the apartment and host to anyone looking to stay in OBX. The beach was within a reasonable walking distance. The only criticism I can have is the noise of the garage door. The apartment is over the family garage. They tried not to open the door while we were there, but circumstances required it to be opened.Derek2016-09-11T00:00:00Z
基蒂霍克(Kitty Hawk), 北卡羅來納州, 美國


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Flameless Gas Torch
Stock No: 78775 Part No: GT9
List Price: £27.22 Ex. VAT £32.66 Inc. VAT
Promotion: £14.15 Ex. VAT £16.98 Inc. VAT
Features instant electronic ignition, adjustable heat and a refillable tank. One fill of standard butane lighter fuel will give up to 20 minutes (approx.) continuous work (at mid setting). Supplied with a dual purpose detachable lid/workstand. Display packed.
View product in our catalogue: Page 393
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Vat rated at: 20.00%
The Draper range is our standard Draper product, suitable for trades and the enthusiast. Manufactured with quality in mind and comes with our guarantee.
Find out more about the Draper brands!


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Neptune Theatre (map) University District
Sat., Nov. 24, 8 p.m. 2012 All Ages
Recommended by Emily Nokes
Everyone says it. EVERYONE. You have to see this guy live! You have to! YOU! Reignwolf is Jordan Cook, and Jordan Cook is the real deala Canadian, blues-traveling shred master who works a fret board like a 666-word-per-minute secretary taking notes for the devil. Reignwolf sets are often a one-man-band affairCook growl-singing, guitar-gnarling, and drum-pounding with every free limbbut a few friends just might join the performance, freeing him up to stalk the stage and treat the crowd to a wicked, sweat-soaked solo. You HAVE to see Reignwolf at the Neptunehell be sure to blow the house down. (Neptune Theater, 1303 NE 45th St, www.stgpresents.org, 9 pm, $16, all ages)
Don't miss all the best things happening in Seattle. Get the free Stranger Things To Do app now from the App Store or Google Play.
1303 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105


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Posts by EmailSigning up here notifies you when I post something new and adds you to my monthly newsletter. Your email will never be used for anything else except to say thank you! :)
About Me (Kristin Walker)I am a full-time Realtor specializing in all of the neighborhoods on the Charleston Peninsula as well as a few other bike-friendly walkable areas. I love what I do! As a Lowcountry aficionado, an outdoor lover & a foodie, I also enjoy unique architecture and things that challenge and inspire me.
How to Find Me843-412-3333 if you like to talk. email@example.com if you prefer to type.
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Monthly Archives: October 2009
Colonial Lake Fall Festival Sunday, November 8
Everyone in Charleston, come on out Sunday, November 8th from 12-5 to enjoy our beautiful Colonial Lake Park and a fun family day of activities, games, music and getting to know your neighborhood residents and businesses. The Real Estate Studio … Continue reading
Home Prices Falling Further in 2010 – But not in Charleston?
I saw this article on CNN Money today entitled "Homes About to Get Much Cheaper" with drastic falls in prices predicted for the majority of 381 Metro Areas. My heart sank for home sellers. I know so many people who … Continue reading
Posted in Charleston Peninsula Real Estate Tagged Foreclosures, News, Real Estate, Statistics 2 Comments
Update on the Handy Man Specials in Wagener Terrace and North Central
Update 5/11/2010 – See updates in bold below! In August, when I last wrote a post about the resurrection of Handy Man Specials in Wagener Terrace and North Central – there were a list of homes on the market. Since … Continue reading
The Charleston City Market gets a new look in 2010
Those of us who live here look at the City Market with a smidge of disdain and wishful thinking. 15 years ago, it was the only place to go for nightlife so we all did. Today – it has become … Continue reading
Posted in Charleston Architecture, Urban Life Tagged Architecture, Charleston, Downtown Charleston, Food, News, sustainable communities Leave a comment


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Standard 11 Training Programmes Standard 11 mining course from SGS specialised Queensland mine training to ensure that your coal workers meet the requirements of ...Precio
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The Role of the Police
Eddie joined us to teach the class about the role of the police. Children learned to appreciate the hard work the police do. Connor was brought down by the police for bad behaviour.
Drug Safety
We learned about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. We know that drugs can be helpful but you must listen to the doctors advice. What is good for one person can be very dangerous for someone else.
Chinese Art
We worked with a Chinese artist to produce art for the Chinese New Year. It was the year of the horse and we produced some fantastic pieces of art work.


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posted by Anonymous on .
I'm trying to figure out the mode and modal class and the numbers that are the mode are 17, 20, 24, 25, 31, 33 from a set of numbers. (I already figured that part out). My question is what of those numbers is the modal class or in other words what is a modal class as opposed to a mode?
Also, which is most appropriate..the mode or modal class to use in an article about average class sizes?
From your set of numbers, there is no mode or modal class. If the scores were grouped into intervals, one could be the modal class.
The mean or median would be better to indicate average class sizes. Any of the measures of central tendency can be used, if the distribution is relatively normal. If the distribution is skewed, the median is best. If the distribution is bimodal, this indicates that possibly there are two underlying distributions, which are best indicated by the modes or modal classes.
I hope this helps.


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Registration Fee Waived!
Good Morning! We hope you had a wonderful start to your week.
For those of you who are planning on enrolling your children in Dance Daze classes for our Fall Session, the one-time $25 Registration Fee will be WAIVED if you enroll between TODAY and MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH!
In order for the Registration Fee to be waived, you must pay in one of two ways:
- Pay $180 upfront for the entire 12-Week Fall Session.
- Pay $60 for all of September (and $60 per month for each month thereafter, with NO PRO-RATING; $60 is the price for the first child, and the 2nd child/sibling receives 15% off this price).
Remember, you may conveniently pay ONLINE, through a secure PayPal system–no PayPal account needed; just a credit card! You may also pay by check made out to: Dance Daze. You can also email us to set up AUTOMATED monthly billing!
Questions about prices or payments? Send emails to: email@example.com
- Posted in: Dance Daze Deals
- Tagged: dance, dance classes at Bladium, dance daze, Dance Daze Alameda, fall dance classes for children, PayPal, Performing Arts, Promotion
3 Comments
- Dance Daze October 2011 Updates! « Dance Daze | Dance Education & Youth Development
- Dance Daze is TOTALLY AWESOME! « Dance Daze | Dance Education & Youth Development
- Dance Daze Open House – FREE CLASSES! « Dance Daze | Dance Classes, After-School Programs, & Camps


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FOX 8's Dick Goddard, a longtime supporter of animals, is backing the new legislation that shares his name. The bill is in the works in the Ohio State Legislature and supporters said it would make the punishment fit the crime.
"We've gotta do it," said Goddard. "We gotta hop into the 21st century as far as animal abuse goes, we've gotta get it into a felony category and with everybody's help, by golly we're gonna do it." Beichler said the bill has a good chance of becoming law with Dick's support.


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Archive for the 'Complexity' Category
Before you can make a million, you've got to make the first one.
With process improvement, the existing process is refined over time. With innovation, the work is new. You can't improve a process that does not yet exist. Process creation, yes. Process improvement, no.
Standard work, where the sequence of process steps has proven successful, is a pillar of the manufacturing mindset. In manufacturing, if you're not following standard work, you're not doing it right. But with innovation, when the work is done for the first time, there can be no standard work. In that way, if you're following the standard work paradigm, you are not doing innovation.
In a well-established manufacturing process, problems are tightly scoped and constrained. There can be several ways to solve it and one of the ways is usually better than the others. Teams are asked to solve the problem three or four ways and explain the rationale for choosing one solution over the other. With innovation it's different. There may not be a solution, never mind three. With innovation, it's one-in-a-row solution. And the real problem is to decide which problem to solve. If you're asked to use Fishbone diagrams to solve the problem three or four ways, you're not doing innovation. Solve it one way, show a potential customer and decide what to do next.
With manufacturing and product development, it's all about Gantt charts and hitting dates. The tasks have a natural precedence and all of them have been done before. There are branches in the plan, but behind them is clear if-then logic. With innovation, the first task is well-defined. And the second task – it depends on the outcome of the first. And completion dates? No way. If you can predict the completion date, you're not doing innovation. And if you're asked for a fully built-out Gantt chart, you're in trouble because that's a misguided request.
Systems in manufacturing can be complicated, with lots of moving parts. And the problems can be complicated. But given enough time, the experts can methodically figure it out. But with innovation, the systems can be complex, meaning they are not predictable. Sometimes parts of the system interact strongly with other parts and sometimes they don't interact at all. And it's not that they do one or the other, it's that they do both. It's like they have a will of their own, and, sometimes, they have a bad attitude. And if it's a new system, even the basic rules of engagement are unknown, never mind the changing strength of the interactions. And if the system is incomplete and you don't know it, linear thinking of the experts can't solve it. If you're using linear problem solving techniques, you're not doing innovation.
Manufacturing is about making one thing a million times. Innovation is about choosing among the million possibilities and making one-in-a-row, and then, after the bugs are worked out, making the new thing a million times. But one-in-a-row must come first. If you can't do it once, you can't do it a million times, even with process improvement, standard work, Gantt charts and Fishbone diagrams.
Image credit jacinta lluch valero
Improving What Is and Creating What Isn't
There are two domains – what is and what isn't. We're most comfortable in what is and we don't know much about what isn't. Neither domain is best and you can't have one without the other. Sometimes it's best to swim in what is and other times it's better to splash around in what isn't. Though we want them, there are no hard and fast rules when to swim and when to splash.
Improvement lives in the domain of what is. If you're running a Six Sigma project, a lean project or a continuous improvement program you're knee deep in what is. Measure, analyze, improve, and control what is. Walk out to the production floor, count the machines, people and defects, measure the cycle time and eliminate the wasteful activities. Define the current state and continually (and incrementally) improve what is. Clear, unambiguous, measurable, analytical, rational.
The close cousins creativity and innovation live in the domain of what isn't. They don't see what is, they only see gaps, gulfs and gullies. They are drawn to the black hole of what's missing. They define things in terms of difference. They care about the negative, not the image. They live in the Bizarro world where strength is weakness and far less is better than less. Unclear, ambiguous, intuitive, irrational.
What is – productivity, utilization, standard work. What isn't – imagination, unstructured time, daydreaming. Predictable – what is. Unknowable – what isn't.
In the world of what is, it's best to hire for experience. What worked last time will work this time. The knowledge of the past is all powerful. In the world of what isn't, it's best to hire young people that know more than you do. They know the latest technology you've never heard of and they know its limitations.
Improving what is pays the bills while creating what isn't fumbles to find the future. But when what is runs out of gas, what isn't rides to the rescue and refuels. Neither domain is better, and neither can survive without the other.
The magic question – what's the best way to allocate resources between the domains? The unsatisfying answer – it depends. And the sextant to navigate the dependencies – good judgement.
Image credit – JD Hancock
Learning at the expense of predicting.
When doing new things there is no predictability. There's speculation, extrapolation and frustration, but no prediction. And the labels don't matter. Whether it's called creativity, innovation, discontinuous improvement or disruption there's no prediction.
The trick in the domain complexity is to make progress without prediction.
The first step is to try to define the learning objective. The learning objective is what you want to learn. And its format is – We want to learn that [fill in the learning objective here]. It's fastest to tackle one learning objective at a time because small learning objectives are achieved quickly with small experiments. But, it will be a struggle to figure out what to learn. There will be too many learning objectives and none will be defined narrowly. At this stage the fastest thing to do is stop and take a step back.
There's nothing worse than learning about the wrong thing. And it's slow. (The fastest learning experiments are the ones that don't have to be run.) Before learning for the sake of learning, take the necessary time to figure out what to learn. Ask some questions: If it worked could it reinvent your industry? Could it obsolete your best product? Could it cause competitors to throw in the towel? If the answer is no, stop the project and choose one where the answer is yes. Choose a meaningful project, or don't bother.
First learning objective – We want to learn that, when customers love the new concept, the company will assign appropriate resources to commercialize it. If there's no committment up front, stop. If you get committment, keep going. (Without upfront buy-in the project relies on speculation, the wicked couple of prediction and wishful thinking.)
Second learning objective – We want to learn that customers love the new concept. This is not "I think customers will love it." or "Customers may love it." In the standard learning objective format – We want to learn that [customers love the new concept]. Next comes the learning plan.
What will you build for customers to help them understand the useful novelty of the revolutionary concept? For speed's sake, build a non-functional prototype that stands for the concept. It's a thin skin wrapped around an empty box that conveys the essence of the novelty. No skeleton, just skin. And for speed's sake, show it to fewer customers than you think reasonable. And define the criteria to decide they love it. There's no trick here. Ask "Do they love it?" and use your best judgement. At this early stage, the answer will be no. But they'll tell you why they don't love it, and that's just the learning you're looking for.
Use customer input to reformulate the learning objective and build a new prototype and repeat. The key here is to build fast, test fast, learn fast and repeat fast. The art becomes defining the simplest learning objectives, building the simplest prototypes and making decisions with data from the fewest customers.
With complexity and newness prediction isn't possible. But learning is.
And learning doesn't have to take a lot of time.
Image credit — John William Waterhouse
Established companies must be startups, and vice versa.
For established companies, when times are good, it's not the right time to try something new – the resources are there but the motivation is not; and when times are tough it's also the wrong time to try something new – the motivation is there but the breathing room is not. There are an infinite number of scenarios, but for the established company it's never a good time to try something new.
For startup companies, when times are good, it's the right time to try something new – the resources are there and so is the motivation; and when times are tough it's also the right time to try something new – the motivation is there and breathing room is a sign of weakness. Again, the scenarios are infinite, but for the startup is always a good time to try something new.
But this is not a binary world. To create new markets and new customers, established companies must be a little bit startup, and to scale, startups must ultimately be a little bit established. This ambidextrous company is good on paper, but in the trenches it gets challenging. (Read Ralph Ohr for an expert treatment.) The establishment regime never wants to do anything new and the startup regime always wants to. There's no middle ground – both factions judge each other through jaded lenses of ROI and learning rate and mutual misunderstanding carries the day. Trouble is, all companies need both – established companies need new markets and startups need to scale. But it's more complicated than that.
As a company matures the balance of power should move from startup to established. But this tricky because the one thing power doesn't like to do is move from one camp to another. This is the reason for the "perpetual startup" and this is why it's difficult to scale. As the established company gets long in the tooth the balance of power should move from the establishment to the startup. But, again, power doesn't like to change teams, and established companies squelch their fledgling startup work. But it's more complicated, still.
The competition is ever-improving, the economy is ever-changing and the planet is ever-warming. New technologies come on-line, and new business models test the waters. Some work, some don't. Huge companies buy startups just to snuff them out and established companies go away. The environment is ever-changing on all fronts. And the impermanence pushes and pulls on the pendulum of power dynamics.
All companies want predictability, but they'll never have it. All growth models are built on rearward-looking fundamentals and forward-looking conjecture. Companies will always have the comfort of their invalid models, but will never the predictability they so desperately want. Instead of predictability, companies would be better served by a strong sense of how it wants to go about its business and overpowering genetics of adaptability.
For a strong definition of how to go about business, a simple declaration does nicely. "We want to spend 80% of our resources on established-company work and 20% on startup-company work." (Or 90-10, or 95-5.) And each quarter, the company measures itself against its charter, and small changes are made to keep things on track. Unless, of course, if the environment changes or the business model runs out of gas. And then the company adapts. It changes its approach and it's projects to achieve its declared 80-20 charter, or, changes the charter altogether.
A strong charter and adaptability don't seem like good partners, but they are. The charter brings focus and adaptability brings the change necessary to survive in an every-changing environment. It's not easy, but it's effective. As long as you have the right leaders.
Image credit – Rick Abraham1
When doing new work, you'll be wrong.
When doing something from the first time you're going to get it wrong. There's no shame in that because that's how it goes with new work. But more strongly, if you don't get it wrong you're not trying hard enough. And more strongly, embrace the inherent wrongness as a guiding principle.
Take Small Bites. With new work, a small scope is better than a large one. But it's exciting to do new work and there's a desire to deliver as much novel usefulness as possible. And, without realizing it, the excitement can lead to a project bloated with novelty. With the best intentions, the project team is underwater with too much work and too little time. With new work, it's better to take one bite and swallow than three and choke.
Ratchet Thinking. With new work comes passion and energy. And though the twins can be helpful and fun to have around, they're not always well-behaved. Passion can push a project forward but can also push it off a cliff. Energy creates pace and can quickly accelerate a project though the milestones, but energy can be careless and can just as easily accelerate a project in the wrong direction. And that's where ratchet thinking can help.
As an approach, the objective of ratchet thinking is to create small movements in the right direction without the possibility of back-sliding. Solve a problem and click forward one notch; solve a second problem and click forward another notch. But, with ratchet thinking, if the third problem isn't solved, the project holds its ground at the second notch. It takes a bit more time to choose the right problem and to solve it in a way that cannot unwind progress, but ultimately it's faster. Ratchet thinking takes the right small bite, chews, swallows.
Zero Cost of Change. New work is all about adding new functions, enhancing features and fixing what's broken. In other words, new work is all about change. And the faster change can happen, the faster the product/service/business model is ready for sale. But as the cost of change increases the rate of changes slows. So why not design the project to eliminate the cost of change?
To do that, design the hardware with a bit more capability and headroom so there's some wiggle room to handle the changes that will come. Use a modular approach for the software to minimize the interactions of software changes and make sure the software can be updated remotely without customer involvement. And put in place a good revision control (and tracking) mechanism.
Doing new work is full of contradictions: move quickly, but take the time to think things through; take on as much as you can, but no more; be wrong, but in the right way; and sometimes slower is faster.
But doing new work you must.
image credit – leasqueaky
Diabolically Simple Questions
Today's work is complicated with electronic and mechanical subsystems wrapped in cocoons of software; coordination of matrixed teams; shared resources serving multiple projects; providing world class services in seventeen languages on four continents. And the complexity isn't limited to high level elements. There is a living layer of complexity growing on all branches of the organization right down to the leaf level.
Complexity is real, and it complicates things. To run projects and survive in the jungle of complexity it's important to know how to put the right pieces together and provide the right answers. But as a leader it's more important to slash through the complexity and see things as they are. And for that, it's more important to know how ask diabolically simple questions (DSQ).
Project timelines are tight and project teams like to start as soon as they can. Too often teams start without clarity on what they're trying to achieve. At these early stages the teams make record progress in the wrong direction. The leader's job is to point them in the right direction, and here's the DSQ to set them on their way: What are you trying to achieve?
There will likely be some consternation, arm waiving and hand wringing. After the dust settles, help the team further tighten down the project with this follow-on DSQ: How will you know you achieved it?
For previous two questions there are variants that works equally well for work that closer to the fuzzy front end: What are you trying to learn? and How will you know you learned it?
There is no such thing as a clean-sheet project and even the most revolutionary work builds on the existing system. Though the existing business model, service or product has been around for a long time, the project team doesn't really know how it works. They know they should know but they're afraid to admit it. Let them off the hook with this beauty: How does it work today?
After the existing system is defined with a simple block diagram (which could take a couple weeks) it's time to help the project team focus their work. The best DSQ for the job: How is it different from the existing system? If the list is too long there's too much newness and if it's too short there's not enough novelty. If they don't know what's different, ask them to come back when they know.
After the "what's different" line of questioning, the team must be able to dive deeper. For that it's time one of the most powerful DSQs in the known universe: What problem are you trying to solve? Expect frustration and complicated answers. Ask them to take some time and for each problem describe it on a single page using less than ten words. Suggest a block diagram format and ask them to define where and when the problem occurs. (Hint: a problem is always between two components/elements of the system.) And the tricky follow-on DSQ: How will you know you solved it? No need to describe the reaction to that one.
Though not an exhaustive list, here are some of my other favorite DSQs:
Who will buy it, how much will they pay, and how do you know?
Have we done this before?
Have you shown it to a real customer?
How much will it cost and how do you know?
Whose help do we need?
If the prototype works, will we actually do anything with it?
Diabolically simple questions have the power to heal the project teams and get them back on track. And over time, DSQs help the project teams adopt a healthy lifestyle. In that way, DSQs are like medicine – they taste bad but soon enough you feel better.
Image credit – Daniela Hartmann
Progress is powered by people.
People ask why.
People buy products from people.
The right people turn activity into progress.
People want to make a difference, and they do.
People have biases which bring a richer understanding.
People use judgement – that's why robots don't run projects.
People recognize when the rules don't apply and act accordingly.
Business models are an interconnected collection of people processes.
The simplest processes require judgement, that's why they're run by people.
People don't like good service, they like effective interaction with other people.
People are the power behind the tools. (I never met a hammer that swung itself.)
Progress is powered by people.
Image credit – las – intially
Dissent Without Reprisal – a key to company longevity
In strategic planning there's a strong forcing function that causes the organization to converge on a singular, company-wide approach. While this convergence can be helpful, when it's force is absolute it stifles new ideas. The result is an operating plan that incrementally improves on last year's work at the expense of work that creates new businesses, sells to new customers and guards against the dark forces of disruptive competition. In times of change convergence must be tempered to yield a bit of diversity in the approach. But for diversity to make it into the strategic plan, dissent must be an integral (and accepted) part of the planning process. And to inject meaningful diversity the dissenting voice must be as load as the voice of convergence.
It's relatively easy for an organization to come to consensus on an idea that has little uncertainty and marginal upside. But there can be no consensus, but on an idea with a high degree of uncertainty even if the upside is monumental. If there's a choice between minimizing uncertainty and creating something altogether new, the strategic process is fundamentally flawed because the planning group will always minimize uncertainty. Organizationally we are set up to deliver certainty, to make our metrics and meet our timelines. We have an organizational aversion to uncertainty, and, therefore, our organizational genetics demand we say no to ideas that create new business models, new markets and new customers. What's missing is the organizational forcing function to counterbalance our aversion to uncertainty with a healthy grasping of it. If the company is to survive over the next 20 years, uncertainty must be injected into our organizational DNA. Organizationally, companies must be restructured to eliminate the choice between work that improves existing products/services and work that creates altogether new markets, customers, products and services.
When Congress or the President wants to push their agenda in a way that is not in the best long term interest of the country, no one within the party wants to be the dissenting voice. Even if the dissenting voice is right and Congress and the President are wrong, the political (career) implications of dissent within the party are too severe. And, organizationally, that's why there's a third branch of government that's separate from the other two. More specifically, that's why Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed for life. With lifetime appointments their dissenting voice can stand toe-to-toe with the voice of presidential and congressional convergence. Somehow, for long-term survival, companies must find a way to emulate that separation of power and protect the work with high uncertainty just as the Justices protect the law.
The best way I know to protect work with high uncertainty is to create separate organizations with separate strategic plans, operating plans and budgets. In that way, it's never a decision between incremental improvement and discontinuous improvement. The decision becomes two separate decisions for two separate teams: Of the candidate projects for incremental improvement, which will be part of team A's plan? And, of the candidate projects for discontinuous improvement, which will become part of team B's plan?
But this doesn't solve the whole challenge because at the highest organizational level, the level that sits above Team A and B, the organizational mechanism for dissent is missing. At this highest level there must be healthy dissent by the board of directors. Meaningful dissent requires deep understanding of the company's market position, competitive landscape, organizational capability and capacity, the leading technology within the industry (the level, completeness and maturity), the leading technologies in adjacent industries and technologies that transcend industries (i.e., digital). But the trouble is board members cannot spend the time needed to create deep understanding required to formulate meaningful dissent. Yes, organizationally the board of directors can dissent without reprisal, but they don't know the business well enough to dissent in the most meaningful way.
In medieval times the jester was an important player in the organization. He entertained the court but he also played the role of the dissenter. Organizationally, because the king and queen expected the jester to demonstrate his sharp wit, he could poke fun at them when their ideas didn't hang together. He could facilitate dissent with a humorous play on a deadly serious topic. It was delicate work, as one step too far and the jester was no more. To strike the right balance the jester developed deep knowledge of the king, queen and major players in the court. And he had to know how to recognize when it was time to dissent and when it was time to keep his mouth shut. The jester had the confidence of the court, knew the history and could see invisible political forces at play. The jester had the organizational responsibility to dissent and the deep knowledge to do it in a meaningful way.
Companies don't need a jester, but they do need a T-shaped person with broad experience, deep knowledge and the organizational status to dissent without reprisal. Maybe this is a full time board member or a hired gun that works for the board (or CEO?), but either way they are incentivized to dissent in a meaningful way.
I don't know what to call this new role, but I do know it's an important one.
Image credit – Will Montague
If you don't know the critical path, you don't know very much.
Once you have a project to work on, it's always a challenge to choose the first task. And once finished with the first task, the next hardest thing is to figure out the next next task.
Two words to live by: Critical Path.
By definition, the next task to work on is the next task on the critical path. How do you tell if the task is on the critical path? When you are late by one day on a critical path task, the project, as a whole, will finish a day late. If you are late by one day and the project won't be delayed, the task is not on the critical path and you shouldn't work on it.
Rule 1: If you can't work the critical path, don't work on anything.
Working on a non-critical path task is worse than working on nothing. Working on a non-critical path task is like waiting with perspiration. It's worse than activity without progress. Resources are consumed on unnecessary tasks and the resulting work creates extra constraints on future work, all in the name of leveraging the work you shouldn't have done in the first place.
How to spot the critical path? If a similar project has been done before, ask the project manager what the critical path was for that project. Then listen, because that's the critical path. If your project is similar to a previous project except with some incremental newness, the newness is on the critical path.
Rule 2: Newness, by definition, is on the critical path.
But as the level of newness increases, it's more difficult for project managers to tell the critical path from work that should wait. If you're the right project manager, even for projects with significant newness, you are able to feel the critical path in your chest. When you're the right project manager, you can walk through the cubicles and your body is drawn to the critical path like a divining rod. When you're the right project manager and someone in another building is late on their critical path task, you somehow unknowingly end up getting a haircut at the same time and offering them the resources they need to get back on track. When you're the right project manager, the universe notifies you when the critical path has gone critical.
Rule 3: The only way to be the right project manager is to run a lot of projects and read a lot. (I prefer historical fiction and biographies.)
Not all newness is created equal. If the project won't launch unless the newness is wrestled to the ground, that's level 5 newness. Stop everything, clear the decks, and get after it until it succumbs to your diligence. If the product won't sell without the newness, that's level 5 and you should behave accordingly. If the newness causes the product to cost a bit more than expected, but the project will still sell like nobody's business, that's level 2. Launch it and cost reduce it later. If no one will notice if the newness doesn't make it into the product, that's level 0 newness. (Actually, it's not newness at all, it's unneeded complexity.) Don't put in the product and don't bother telling anyone.
Rule 4: The newness you're afraid of isn't the newness you should be afraid of.
A good project plan starts with a good understanding of the newness. Then, the right project work is defined to make sure the newness gets the attention it deserves. The problem isn't the newness you know, the problem is the unknown consequence of newness as it ripples through the commercialization engine. New product functionality gets engineering attention until it's run to ground. But what if the newness ripples into new materials that can't be made or new assembly methods that don't exist? What if the new materials are banned substances? What if your multi-million dollar test stations don't have the capability to accommodate the new functionality? What if the value proposition is new and your sales team doesn't know how to sell it? What if the newness requires a new distribution channel you don't have? What if your service organization doesn't have the ability to diagnose a failure of the new newness?
Rule 5: The only way to develop the capability to handle newness is to pair a soon-to-be great project manager with an already great project manager.
It may sound like an inefficient way to solve the problem, but pairing the two project managers is a lot more efficient than letting a soon-to-be great project manager crash and burn. After an inexperienced project manager runs a project into the ground, what's the first thing you do? You bring in a great project manager to get the project back on track and keep them in the saddle until the product launches. Why not assume the wheels will fall off unless you put a pro alongside the high potential talent?
Rule 6: When your best project managers tell you they need resources, give them what they ask for.
If you want to deliver new value to new customs there's no better way than to develop good project managers. A good project manager instinctively knows the critical path; they know how the work is done; they know to unwind situations that needs to be unwound; they have the personal relationships to get things done when no one else can; because they are trusted, they can get people to bend (and sometimes break) the rules and feel good doing it; and they know what they need to successfully launch the product.
If you don't know your critical path, you don't know very much. And if your project managers don't know the critical path, you should stop what you're doing, pull hard on the emergency break with both hands and don't release it until you know they know.
Image credit – Patrick Emerson
Organized For Uncertainty
There are many different organizational structures, each with its unique set of strengths and weaknesses. The top-down organization has its strong alignment and limited flexibility while the bottom-up has its empowering consensus and sloth-like pace. Which one's better? Well, it depends.
The function-based organization has strong subject matter expertise and weak cross-function coordination, while the business unit-based organization knows its product, market and customers but has difficulty working east-west across product families and customer segments. Is one better than the other? Same answer- it depends.
The matrix organization has the best of both worlds – business unit and functional – and isn't particularly good at either. And there's the ambidextrous organization that I don't pretend to understand. If I had to choose one, which would I choose? It depends.
The best organizational structure depends on what you're trying to do, depends on the environmental context, depends on the organization's history and biases and the general state of organizational capability, capacity and profitability. But that's not the whole picture because none of this is static. All of this changes over time and it changes in an unpredictable way. Because the best organizational structure depends on all these complicating factors and the factors change over time, there is never a "best" organizational structure.
Constant change has always been the dominant fundamental perturbing and disturbing our organizational structures. But, as competition turns up the wick and the pace of learning builds geometrically, change's ability to influence our organizational structures has grown from disturbing to dismantling.
Change is the dominant fundamental, but its real power comes from the uncertainty it brings to the party. Our tired, old organizational structures were designed to survive in a long-dead era of glacial change and rationed uncertainty. And though our organizational structures were built in granite, the elevated sea levels of uncertainty are creating fissures in our inflexible organizational structures and profitability is leaking from all levels
If uncertainty is the disease, adaptability is the antidote. The organization must continually monitor its environment for changes. And when it senses an emerging shift, the organization it must move resources in a way that satisfies the new reality. The organization structure shifts to fit the work. The structure changes as the character of the projects change. The organizational structure never reaches equilibrium; it survives through continual evolutionary loop of sense-change-sense.
I don't have a name for an organization like this, and I think it's best not to name it. Instead, I think it's best to describe how it behaves. It's a living organization that behaves like a living organism. It wants to survive, so it changes itself based on changes in its environment. It's an organization that self organizes.
Directionally, organizational structures should be less static and more dynamic, and they should evolve to fit the work. The difficult part is how to define the explicit rules on how it should change, when it should change and how it decides. But it's more than difficult to describe explicit rules, it's impossible. In domains of high levels of uncertainty there can be no predictability and without predictability a finite set of explicit rules will not work. The DNA of this living organization is implicit knowledge, evolutionary experimentation and personal judgement.
I'm not sure what to call this type of organizational structure, and I'm not exactly sure how to create one. But it sure sounds like a lot of fun.
Image credit — actor212
Creating a brand that lasts.
One of the best ways to improve your brand is to improve your products. The most common way is to provide more goodness for less cost – think miles per gallon. Usually it's a straightforward battle between market leaders, where one claims quantifiable benefit over the other – Ours gets 40 mpg and theirs doesn't. And the numbers are tied to fully defined test protocols and testing agencies to bolster credibility. Here's the data. Buy ours
But there's a more powerful way to improve your brand, and that's to map your products to reliability. It's far a more difficult game than the quantified head-to-head comparison of fuel economy and it's a longer play, but done right, it's a lasting play that is difficult to beat. Run the thought experiment: think about the brands you associate with reliability. The brands that come to mind are strong, lasting brands, brands with staying power, brands whose products you want to buy, brands you don't want to compete against. When you buy their products you know what you're going to get. Your friends tell you stories about their products.
There's a complete a complete tool set to create products that map to reliability, and they work. But to work them, the commercialization team has to have the right mindset. The team must have the patience to formally define how all the systems work and how they interact. (Sounds easy, but it can be painfully time consuming and the level of detail is excruciatingly extreme.) And they have to be willing to work through the discomfort or developing a common understanding how things actually work. (Sounds like this shouldn't be an issue, but it is – at the start, everyone has a different idea on how the system works.) But more importantly, they've got to get over the natural tendency to blame the customer for using the product incorrectly and learn to design for unintended use.
The team has got to embrace the idea that the product must be designed for use in unpredictable ways in uncontrolled conditions. Where most teams want to narrow the inputs, this team designs for a wider range of inputs. Where it's natural to tighten the inputs, this team designs the product to handle a broader set of inputs. Instead of assuming everything will work as intended, the team must assume things won't work as intended (if at all) and redesign the product so it's insensitive to things not going as planned. It's strange, but the team has to design for hypothetical situations and potential problems. And more strangely, it's not enough to design for potential problems the team knows about, they've got to design for potential problems they don't know about. (That's not a typo. The team must design for failure modes it doesn't know about.)
How does a team design for failure modes it doesn't know about? They build a computer-based behavioral model of the system, right down to the nuts, bolts and washers, and they create inputs that represent the environment around the system. They define what each element does and how it connects to the others in the system, capturing the governing physics and propagation paths of connections. Then they purposefully break the functions using various classes of failure types, run the analysis and review the potential causes. Or, in the reverse direction, the team perturbs the system's elements with inputs and, as the inputs ripple through the design, they find previously unknown undesirable (harmful) functions.
Purposefully breaking the functions in known ways creates previously unknown potential failure causes. The physics-based characterization and the interconnection (interaction) of the system elements generate unpredicted potential failure causes that can be eliminated through design. In that way, the software model helps find potential failures the team did not know about. And, purposefully changing inputs to the system, again through the physics and interconnection of the elements, generates previously unknown harmful functions that can be designed out of the product.
If you care about the long-term staying power of your brand, you may want to take a look at TechScan, the software tool that makes all this possible.
Image credit — Chris Ford.