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The post Extreme Couponing Made Easy with CouponMate appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
With that in mind, MarketKarma, a new tech startup, has launched CouponMate, a free browser extension that's designed to help consumers quickly take advantage of the best deals while shopping online. CouponMate currently works with Chrome, Firefox and Safari web browsers. MarketKarma expects it will have a version ready for Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser by the end of this year. Approximately 5,000 people are currently using CouponMate.
CouponMate toils in the background as consumers browse and shop online. After adding items to an online store's checkout cart as usual, end users simply click the "Find the Best Coupon" button in their browser's toolbar. At this point, CouponMate quickly searches the web to locate the most recent and best coupon codes to apply to the items users want to buy.
Having a comprehensive search for discounts done for them in the background will make life easier for busy consumers.
How it Works
Once installed, the CouponMate extension icon appears in the web browser's toolbar. As a person shops online, the CouponMate icon displays the number of offers that are available for that site.
Clicking the CouponMate icon causes a list of available deals to appear in the browser's sidebar. Users click on a coupon code to copy it to their computer's clipboard, which they can then easily paste into the discount or coupon box on the online store's checkout page. At many websites, CouponMate will copy the coupon code into the appropriate text box automatically.
For customers who browse and shop for items while on the go using their smartphones, CouponMate is now developing an app for Android and iOS devices, with a release date still to be determined.
Conscious Capitalism and Charities
MarketKarma is a company devoted to pursuing "conscious capitalism" to do good things and help improve the world while making a profit. To that end, the company designed CouponMate to include a charitable component: Consumers will be able to select any 501(c)(3) charity and designate it to receive 51% of the proceeds when they use CouponMate to make cheaper purchases. The IRS allows taxpayers to claim 501(c)(3) donations on their tax returns.
So, not only will customers get a better deal and find it easier to become frugal shoppers, they will be able to participate in a new form of micro-philanthropy that can make a big difference in other people's lives.
MarketKarma anticipates that the charitable aspect of the CouponMate browser extension will begin once a critical mass of end users is reached. The exact number of needed users and the time frame for rolling out this feature are difficult to calculate, given the unpredictable nature of people's online buying habits and their interest in the extension.
However, the company estimates it will be able to activate the charity option once it has reached 25,000 to 50,000 users. At the current growth rate, MarketKarma expects to hit 50,000 users within a year.
About CouponMate
CouponMate is the latest offering from MarketKarma, a tech startup that is devoted to pursuing "conscious capitalism" to help improve the world while making a profit. The CouponMate browser extension currently works with Chrome, Firefox and Safari web browsers, with a version for Internet Explorer slated for later in 2015. To date, more than 5,000 people have signed up to use the extension. CouponMate runs in the background while a consumer shops online. At checkout, CouponMate will present the best deals for customers to apply to their purchase. When the number of CouponMate users reaches a critical point (estimated between 25,000 to 50,000 users), the company will roll out a new charitable feature to the browser extension. Then, CouponMate will allow end users to designate which charity should receive 51% of the proceeds when they use the extension while shopping.
Related: Learn How to Coupon
Download: https://www.couponmate.com
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The post Where Did I Put My Hearing Aids? What Alzheimer's & Hearing Loss Have in Common appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
Yet that can happen to someone with a hearing impairment because the symptoms, byproducts, of cognitive and hearing loss are similar. In both cases, the afflicted person may experience anxiety, depression, isolation, denial, distrust, impatience, and memory problems.
But the cognitive loss of the dementia patient is not the same as someone who simply does not hear well. After all, you are not going to remember something if you didn't hear it in the first place. And you are not going to do well on cognitive tests if you can't hear the questions. So, if you have not admitted to a hearing problem, if it has not been diagnosed and treated, there is a chance that you may be misdiagnosed, told incorrectly that you have early Alzheimer's, with all the resulting medical and social implications.
The opposite can also take place. Through all the years of our marriage, my husband had a severe hearing impairment, partly the result of genetics — many in his family suffered from various degrees of hearing loss — and partly the result of shooting, as so many men did in his day, without wearing ear protection. In retrospect, I suspect that there were early signs of Alzheimer's that we dismissed as hearing issues. Had we realized that, the outcome would not have been any different, but I do wonder what it felt like for him. Did he know that there was more than hearing at stake and, if he did, and did not tell any of us, it must have been a very lonely and frightening period for him.
Now, studies have shown that there is a link between hearing and cognitive loss, that the hearing impaired are at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's. Without getting into the possible scientific explanations for this, some things are obvious.
1. Hearing loss can lead to isolation with the depression and sedentary lifestyle that can be its companions, all of which are factors in dementia.
2. Like the rest of the body, the brain needs exercise to remain healthy. Untreated hearing loss can get in the way of that by restricting conversation, making going to the theatre, movies, lectures, playing games, very difficult, if not impossible.
Clearly, if you are going to do everything you can to prevent Alzheimer's, then making sure wax is removed from the ears, having regular hearing tests, buying hearing aids (from a reputable clinician) and wearing them, is an important step. Again, there are no guarantees but, at the very least, your present life — and those with whom you interact — will be improved.
While living with my husband, I learned a lot about this handicap. Like many men, he didn't want to admit the problem at first. There were other things he could blame — hearing aids were expensive; people didn't speak up; they didn't speak clearly; it was the unusual accent. When he finally did accept a hearing aid, he didn't want to wear it. It was uncomfortable; he thought it made him look old. Etc, etc. Everyone who lives with someone who has a hearing impairment will be familiar with all the excuses.
I learned to find the quiet corner in the restaurant and seat him where there would be no one talking behind him. To avoid places with a lot of mirrors and bare floors, where sound is exaggerated. To place him in the middle of the table, where his chances of participating in conversation were better than if he sat at the traditional head of the table.
Now I, too, have lost some of my hearing.
I wear a state of the art hearing aid in one ear. It works very well — when I wear it.
But it doesn't work when I leave it on the dresser which is where a lot of hearing aids seem to end up.
Why? Because I forget. Or the battery goes out — with a beep, beep, beep in the middle of the conversation or the concert or play, and I either have to fake it or do the embarrassing thing: take the aid out of the ear and replace the battery in front of others. If I am in a dark place, forget it. But even when I wear it, there are some situations where I still have difficulty hearing. Like many people who find themselves with this condition, I no longer hear the high notes clearly. I hear alto voices very well, but the soprano notes are lost. My husband experienced the same thing which is why, when I seated a woman beside him, I would tell her, "Speak low, not loud, but low."
This very common condition — hearing some notes and not others — can create misunderstanding. Family members will say, "He hears when he wants to hear," or "She has very selective hearing." The first statement is not true. What you hear is not always a matter of choice. The second statement is: the ear is a very selective instrument. Talk to me in a high voice, from another room, or talk to my back and, if I hear you at all, it will likely be garbled. Recently someone spoke of needing a wedge in order to sleep — I thought he said a wife. The result was comic, but in some situations that kind of speech discrimination could be disastrous.
In a poor hearing environment, I will "get" some words and not others. This will frustrate the speaker who might well lose patience with me and decide that I am only hearing what I want to hear when, in fact, I do want very much to hear everything but I don't — I can't.
Set me in a noisy restaurant, or a cocktail party where there is a lot of background noise, and it will take tremendous concentration of my part to understand what you are saying. Put your hand over your mouth when you speak and you make it impossible for me to do the lipreading that the hearing impaired automatically rely on to augment sound.
The healthy ear is a wonderful instrument — it can discriminate — it does not hear all the sounds directed at it at the same time equally. Some hearing aids promise to delete background noise but few actually easily deliver. So being in a crowded place wearing a hearing aid is to be subjected to a cacophony of noise. Given the choice, I entertain at home, where I can control the environment, or find the increasingly rare quiet restaurant.
Society does not have much patience with the hearing impaired. Those of us who suffer from it experience hardship, from being shut out of public conversation, to not being able to have a private conversation in a public place because the other person has to speak too loudly, to sometimes speaking too loudly ourselves, to not hearing the intimate words of love whispered in the ear.
There is a difference, of course, between hard of hearing and the tuning out that can take place in a long term partnership. When a couple live together for a long time, the relationship takes on the aspects of a comfortable old slipper, very familiar. The routines are established and we tend to assume we just know that the other one is saying or going to say. This can lead to the husband declaring, "You certainly did not tell me that your in-laws were coming to stay with us," or the wife, "I asked you if you wanted to go on a cruise and you said yes, you definitely did."
I call that husband's (or wife's) hearing. It is the stuff of jokes and they can be very funny.
But there is nothing funny about the real thing — hearing impairment is definitely not a joke. Especially not when it may be a factor in getting Alzheimer's Disease.
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The post Top 100 Books You Should Read Before You Die appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
99. The Call of the Wild by Jack London – Published in 1903, this is London's most popular work because of its dark undertones and descriptive scenes of an untamed Yukon frontier. The plot centers on a previously domesticated sled dog that transforms into a pack-dominating feral beast who exhibits the primordial killer instincts that reside in all living beings.
98. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote – Considered by many critics to be the original non-fiction novel, this 1966 book details the brutal 1959 murders a farmer, wife and two children in rural Kansas. Capote deftly takes the reader into the minds of the two parolees who committed the crimes and describes the effects of their actions on the local community.
97. Ironweed by William Kennedy – Winner of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, this is the third book in Kennedy's highly-acclaimed Albany Cycle. This character-rich story centers on an alcoholic vagrant who returns to Albany during the Great Depression after accidentally killing his son.
96. Watership Down by Richard Adams – A classic fantasy novel about a small group of English rabbits who possess their own culture, language, proverbs and mythology. Although this book was initially rejected by numerous publishers, it has never been out of print since 1972.
95. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking – This landmark science masterpiece is surprisingly readable given its exotic realms that range from the big bang theory to what happens when the universe ends. As should happen with all great science essays, the reader is forever altered after reading about how creation works and what the concept of time really means.
94. The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington – Winner of the 1919 Pulitzer Prize, this novel traces the declining fortunes of a quirky family during a period of rapid socioeconomic change in Midwest America. An engrossing story that transports the reader into a way of life that has long since disappeared.
93. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo – This sweeping 1892 French novel contains both factual and historic events while following the lives of several characters over a seventeen-year period in the early nineteenth century. The main focus is on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his path to rebuilding his reputation in a time of both excessive wealth and crushing poverty.
92. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – This Spanish novel was translated into English in 1988 and quickly received critical praise for its engrossing exploration of a love-sickness so deep that it could be considered an illness. Garcia Marquez does a masterful job of forcing the reader to question much of his characterizations by introducing unexpected elements that continually turn the plot inside out.
91. The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Casteneda – First published as a work of anthropology, this mind-altering journey documents Casteneda's apprenticeship with the Yaqui Indian Sorcerer Don Juan. It is almost impossible to not feel totally transformed about the true meanings of reality after reading this sometimes shocking story.
90. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Taylor – This is Taylor's ninth novel and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction. The story focuses of the Tull family of Baltimore and is told from the perspectives of a mother and her children, allowing the reader to witness the same event several times from differing viewpoints.
89. Pilgrim At Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard – This is a personal narrative of the author's one-year exploration of her neighborhood in Tinker Creek, Virginia. An exhilarating meditation on nature and seasons told from a deeply self-revealing perspective.
88. Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow – An epic work of historical fiction set primarily in New York City during the early 1900s. The story blends the lives of three fictional families with actual historic figures in a framework that richly reveals the events and settings of a transforming period in American history.
87. Sophie's Choice by William Styron – An immediate bestseller that won the 1980 National Book Award. Styron masterfully crafts a story about a young American Southerner, a struggling writer, the Jewish Nathan Landau and his lover Sophie who survived a Nazi concentration camp.
86. A Room With a View by E. M. Forster – First published in 1908, this is the story of a young woman dealing with the repressed culture of Edwardian England. Set in both Italy and England, Forster explores the themes of repressed sexuality, religious constraints and bigotry as experienced in the lives of two young lovers.
85. Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell – This 1932 novel is set in rural Georgia during the worst years of the Great Depression. The plot revolves around a poor, white sharecropping family as they struggle with farming cotton while dealing with poverty and the ignorance of a conflicted father.
84. A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan – Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction is 1989, this is Sheehan's account of military adviser John Paul Van and his experiences in Vietnam during the early 1960s. This book captures the passions and follies that ultimately resulted in making the Vietnam War one of America's darkest periods in time.
83. A Bend in the River by V. S. Naipaul – Nobel laureate Naipaul delivers a fluid tale set in an unnamed African country after independence. The narrator, Salim, is an Indian Muslim shopkeeper who observes the rapid changes occurring in his country with an outsider perspective.
82. The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom – A simple, yet eloquent novel that recounts the life and death of an old maintenance man who meets five people in heaven who have deeply affected his life. Albom offers here a new, refreshing perspective of the afterlife.
81. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – Written during a time when Dickens was desperate for money, this novella met with instant success and critical acclaim. It is hard to not be filled with the Christmas spirit after being immersed in this Victorian era story.
80. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig – This is a book that often makes the reader struggle to comprehend the metaphysical concepts presented, but it is well worth the effort. The story describes a seventeen-day motorcycle journey interspersed with wide-ranging philosophical discussions that makes one wonder about what really defines a conscious reality.
79. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson – Although this is a non-fiction, historical account of events surrounding the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, it reads like a well-crafted detective novel. The plot intertwines both the monumental efforts required for building the fair and the tracking of a serial killer. A truly captivating read.
78. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway – This semi-autobiographical novel revolves around events during the First World War. Although much of the plot is bleak, Hemingway was immediately elevated to the top ranks of modern American writers after its 1929 release.
77. Dracula by Bram Stoker – It is amazing that this 1897 novel has proven to be the fore-bearer of the current worldwide vampire craze in books and movies. More than just a tale about Count Dracula, this work touches on broad cultural themes that range from the role of women in Victorian culture to colonialism.
76. Inferno by Dante – The first part of Dante's epic poem, the Divine Comedy, that describes a journey through a medieval representation of Hell. A thought provoking read through a Hell that is depicted as nine circles of suffering on earth.
75. Aspects of the Novel by E. M. Forster – For any avid reader, this compilation of lectures delivered by Forster in 1927 fully explains the aspects of the English language novel. Especially interesting is how he examines the novel in relationship to time.
74. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh – Published in 1945, this novel revolves around the aristocratic Marchmain family of England with themes heavily centered in Roman Catholicism. Waugh was ultimately disappointed in this work, but it has consistently withstood the test of time and critics.
73. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein – Although this is a collection of children's poems with simple illustrations, even adults can enjoy its fanciful tales of innocent wonder about the world.
72. Moby Dick by Herman Melville – An epic tale of a battle between man and a white sperm whale that is still considered to be a true treasure of world literature. Melville's themes about good versus evil and the outcomes of obsessive revenge ring true even when compared to many modern day events.
71. The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow – Bellow's picaresque style awakens the senses in this story about a young man growing up during the Great Depression. A good read about the steps of maturity with surprisingly comic undertones.
70. The City In History by Lewis Mumford – American historian Mumford offers a fluid account on how cities came to be and where they are heading within the context of his ideal of an "organic city".
69. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis – This 1920 satirical novel centers on a free-spirited young woman in a small Minnesota town. It's best known for its portrayals of small town petty gossip and backstabbing.
68. The Book of Lists by David Wallenchinsky – A unique collection of unusual facts and esoteric topics ranging from famous people who died during sexual intercourse to the worst places to hitchhike.
67. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess – This 1962 novella is more than a bit strange in both language and surreal scenes, but that is the whole point. Burgess masterfully turns reality inside out.
66. Treasure Island by Robert Lewis Stevenson – Another children's book that can be thoroughly enjoyed by adults. A coming-of-age story filled with action and adventure.
65. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie – This novel has come to be considered a prime example of magical realism. A very historical account of India's transition from colonial rule to independence.
64. The Art of Memory by Frances A. Yates – A landmark study on how people retained vast amounts of knowledge before the emergence of the printed page. Filled with fascinating insights that relate the art of memory to the history of culture.
63. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad – A 1903 novella that explores the dark side of Belgian colonization in Africa. Best known for its wild settings and Conrad's portrayal of human cruelty.
62. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Covering the period of 1815-1838, this story traces the life of a man wrongly imprisoned who eventually escapes, acquires great wealth and then seeks revenge against the men who falsely accused him. The historical setting is a prime element of the overall storyline.
61. Jefferson and His Times by Dumas Malone – A Pulitzer Prize winning work on the life and times of Thomas Jefferson. This biography is widely considered to be the authoritative study on Jefferson and his impact on America.
60. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger – Attesting to its literary importance, this 1951 novel still sells approximately 250,000 copies per year and has realized more than 65 million copies sold worldwide. Unquestionably the definitive story of modern teenage angst and rebellion.
59. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton – Winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for its delicate explorations into the assumptions and morals of New York society during the 1870s. Rich in diverse characters and the portrayal of life among the upper-class during the Gilded Age.
58. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett – In this 1930 novel Hammett defined the hard-boiled detective genre. A classic example of character and plot development where not a single inner thought of a character is ever revealed.
57. Out Of Africa by Isak Dinesen – First published in 1937, this memoir recounts the life of Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke who wrote under the Dinesen pen name. An immersion into seventeen years on her African coffee plantation during a time of British colonization.
56. Animal Farm by George Orwell – This is a novella with a very large message. Although it was first published in 1945, Orwell's allegorical tale about a group of pigs that take control of a farm and attempt to shape a new society still creates haunting comparisons to present day political struggles throughout the world.
55. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – It's hard to pass up reading a book that has sold over 200 million copies since its 1859 release. A gripping tale that is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution defined by the often brutal historical events that caused the pheasant's revolt against the aristocracy.
54. Darkness Visible by William Styron – American writer Styron was best known for his novels, but deepened his readership with this memoir about his struggles with depression. A very personal, painful journey into a deteriorating mental state.
53. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Loosely based on the author's childhood experiences, this 1868 novel tells the story of four sisters growing up in Massachusetts. Simply a pure reading delight.
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – The futurist themes in this novel are still relevant today even though the book was published in 1932. Huxley sought to deliver a frightening vision of the future and did so with stunning clarity.
51. Lord of the Flies by William Golding – This story about a group of British boys who attempt to govern themselves on a deserted island is absolutely chilling. Its controversial themes earned it a position on the American Library Association's list of the most frequently challenged books during 1990-1999.
50. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X with Alex Haley – Written as a spiritual conversation narrative, this 1965 publication takes the reader into the mind and soul of a committed human rights activist who helped change America's racial history.
49. The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence – After its release in 1915, this story that follows three generations of a family living in Nottinghamshire was banned in Britain for 11 years due to the sexual themes. Although the book is tame by modern standards, Lawrence masterfully shapes human sexuality into a spiritual force of life.
48. A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving – Set in a small New England town during the 1950s and 1960s, this is the story of a remarkable boy who truly believes himself to be one of God's instruments. Irving relates an extraordinary journey that awakens the soul.
47. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka – This 1915 novella is consistently cited as one of the seminal works of short fiction. Kafka deftly takes the reader inside the mind and life of a traveling salesman who awakens one day to find that he has been transformed into a horrible creature.
46. Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain – Released in 2010, this three volume set presents rambling writings that Twain instructed were not to be published until one hundred years after his death. A very unconventional autobiography offering a look into the life and thoughts of a writer who left an indelible mark on American literature.
45. The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer – This was Mailer's first published novel that has been in consistent demand since its 1948 release. A well-crafted story blending military action with deft character development.
44. Deliverance by James Dickey – After reading this novel, many people will probably never want to go canoeing in the Georgia wilderness. A disturbing look into brutality, survival and the psychological aftermaths of lives that have been traumatically altered forever.
43. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy – There are few living writers today who can match the mastery of the English language and prose that Conroy presents in this 1986 novel revolving around the traumatic events of a South Carolina family. There are numerous passages in this book that people will want to reread just to experience the sheer joy of words well-written.
42. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – With this 1934 novel Christie shaped the future of the murder mystery genre. It is praised not only for its story development, but also for being one of the best railway stories ever written.
41. But Is It True? By Aaron Wildavsky – Although it was first published in 1995, this guide to environmental health and safety issues is more relevant today than ever. Wildavsky does a splendid job of taking a fair and factual look at some very complex issues.
40. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin – This semi-autobiographical 1953 novel explores the role of the Christian church in the lives of African-Americans. An informative read that subtly explores the effects of racism.
39. Mythology by Edith Hamilton – The writer was passionate about ancient mythology and it shows in this impressive work. A thorough yet very readable journey into Greek, Roman and Norse myths.
38. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden – Written in first person, this is a novel that tells the story of a Japanese geisha around the time of World War II. An enjoyable journey through Japanese culture and richly-detailed settings.
37. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller – A truly landmark novel in that it led to obscenity trials testing laws about pornography after its American release in 1961. Combining autobiographical facts with fiction, this story centers on Miller's life as a struggling writer.
36. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner – A wide-ranging novel that is narrated by 15 different characters through 59 chapters. Faulkner's technique has consistently ranked this work among the best writings of the 20th century.
35. Storming Heaven by Jay Stephens – A mind-altering account of American social history from the Forties through the Sixties. Whatever you think you know about this culturally transforming time period is probably wrong until you read this book.
34. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – For any avid reader, this 1953 novel about a future America where reading is outlawed and books are burned will send chills through the spine. Bradbury's predictions that future information would be distributed through factoids devoid of context has proven to be strangely real in this age of the Internet.
33. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy – Widely considered to be the prime example of realist fiction. This sweeping story of Czarist Russia is nothing less than breathtaking.
32. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – This 1865 novel is still considered to be the prime example of the nonsense and fantasy genres. A fun read that continues to be loved by all generations.
31. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Intended at first as a simple story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley-a sequel to Tom Sawyer-the book grew and matured under Twain's hand into a work of immeasurable richness and complexity.
30. Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald – This novel was the last completed work by Fitzgerald and considered by many to be his bleakest. A moving story about a young psychoanalyst and his wife that was written during a time when Fitzgerald's own wife was undergoing treatment for schizophrenia.
29. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – Widely considered to be the best work by this very prolific author. Huck's adventures through a Southern antebellum countryside bring to life a society that Twain mocks for both its entrenched attitudes and overt racism.
28. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois – A groundbreaking collection of essays on being black during the early 1900s in America. These writings provide an interesting perspective on how far America has progressed with racism and how much is still left to be done.
27. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Winner of the Pulitzer Prize after its release in 1960, this novel about life and racism in a Southern town was an instant hit. The protagonist of the story, Atticus Finch, has become one of the best known characters in modern literature.
26. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell – What more is there to say about a novel that is so deeply entrenched in the American lexicon. It is worth the read if for no other reason than to experience a Southern culture that disappeared after the Civil War.
25. Native Son by Richard Wright – This story about an African-American living in Chicago during the 1930s challenges every perception about poverty, racism and societal conditions. A very thought-provoking read.
24. The Declaration of Independence by Carl L. Becker – This is a book that every American should read. A very informative study on what the Declaration really is, how it arose and how it has been viewed by succeeding generations.
23. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – A novel that is an adaptation of a BBC radio show of the same name. This comedy science fiction story takes the reader on a ride that is both fun and surreal.
22. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. – Recognized as Vonnegut's most influential work, this satirical novel is structured around his experiences during World War II. The major themes about fate and free will are masterfully woven into a story that leaves the protagonist "unstuck in time".
21. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison – Winner of the 1953 National Book Award, this was the only novel published by Ellison during his lifetime. The story addresses many of the social issues facing African-Americans in the early twentieth century.
20. America's Great Depression by Murray N. Rothbard – A landmark study on the causes and effects of America's deepest economic downturn. This is worth reading to understand how world economies may now be repeating the same monetary mistakes.
19. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf – Woolf was lifted to the top of modernist novelists with this 1927 novel. Although the prose can be hard to follow, the story is masterfully crafted in a method where the plot is secondary to the philosophical introspection of the main characters.
18. On the Road by Jack Kerouac – A largely autobiographical novel that has been consistently hailed as the seminal writing of the "beat" generation. A free-wheeling road trip across 1950s America.
17. Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose – American historian Ambrose presents the epic journey of Lewis and Clark across the uncharted western frontier with the ease of a great novelist. Filled with fascinating historical facts ranging from the beginning of the journey to the ultimately sad demise of these two courageous men.
16. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien – Originally published as a children's book in 1937, this fantastical tale has come to be embraced by people of all ages. A story containing all of the aspects of a great action adventure.
15. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – A 1961 satirical novel that is frequently recognized as one of the greatest literary works of modern time. The time line of the plot is extremely unique in that events occur out of order and are described from different points of view.
14. Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry – The reader of this 1947 novel is taken on a mescal-fueled journey set in a small Mexican town. A book that has been primarily praised for its pressure filled passages that follows the main character's descent into a purgatory of his own making.
13. The Varieties of Religious Experiences by William James – This collection of thoughts on psychology and religious philosophy has consistently been in print for over a century. An immersion into the differences between symbolism and reality.
12. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser – Dreiser based this novel on a true 1906 crime in Upstate New York. A chilling story a boy raised by very religious parents who descends into the dark underbelly of American life.
11. Rabbit, Run by John Updike – The praise for this novel is based on Updike's stylistic use of the present tense. It presents a very likeable 26-year-old character who struggles with the constraints of modern life.
10. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson – Name any branch of science and Bryson brilliantly explains it in plain terms in this dazzling work. The subject matter focuses on not only what we know about the universe, but also how we know it.
9. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. It is hard not to be moved by this story of a poor family forced to move from their Oklahoma land during the Great Depression.
8. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov – A creepy, yet sophisticated story of the main character's sexual obsession with a 12-year-old girl. Highly noted for both Nabokov's stylistic prose and his delicate handling of a controversial subject matter.
7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevski – Although this story was written in the late 1800s, it still defines the ongoing question concerning whether a crime is permissible when committed in pursuit of a higher social purpose. This novel brings to the surface many philosophical dilemmas.
6. The Trial by Franz Kafka – Known for his unique writing style where one sentence can span an entire page, Kafka has proven to be a literary giant against whom other writers are often compared. This story about a man who is arrested and prosecuted by a remote, inaccessible authority is considered by many to be the prime example of Kafka's genius.
5. The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand – A landmark collection of essays where Rand turns the concept of selfishness into a virtue. Highly controversial, but a work that lays the foundation for redefining a rational code of human ethics.
4. Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington – This 1901 autobiography provides thought changing insights into what it was like to be a man raised as a child slave who later strives to make a mark on American history. A true lesson about black history after the Civil War.
3. Ulysses by James Joyce – A heavy read that people seem to either love or hate due to Joyce's experimental prose. Yet this novel is consistently in the top ranks of "must reads" because of the masterful way Joyce crafts a 650 story where all of the events take place within a single day.
2. 1984 by George Orwell – A 1949 novel that is sure to receive greater attention in our present age of terrorism. Orwell's themes about a society defined by perpetual wars, heavy government surveillance, thought control and an oppressive dictatorship have proven to become a harsh reality in many countries throughout the world since 9/11.
1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Widely regarded to be the prime example of the Great American Novel. Fitzgerald's soaring tale about American society during the spring to autumn of 1922 exemplifies the meaning of storytelling at its best.
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The post PacSun Coupon Codes & Cardpool: A Recipe For Retail Bliss appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
Another departure from our standard, but worth sharing:
Who doesn't love PacSun? Living in Miami, you'll find me in shorts'n flip flops 95% of the time, making me a regular shopper of the brand. I just stumbled upon an exceptionally crafty combination of PacSun coupons & discounted electronic gift cards that I wanted to share with anyone else that dug the brand as much as I do.
Right now, MultimediaMuse.org features the following deal:
PacSun: Save 20% On Your Order of $100 or More. Plus, Receive Free Shipping. – Use Coupon Code: SAVE20. Expires 9/30/13.
When combined with the instantly discounted electronic gift cards offered by CardPool (see above), you can actually manage to get 40% off your purchase price when you spend more than $100.
That doesn't suck.
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The post Favorite Quotes: Take 30 Seconds & Get Inspired appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
The post Favorite Quotes: Take 30 Seconds & Get Inspired appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
The post Interesting Psychological Facts: Did You Know? appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
Love is selfish like that. It's why we keep going back to those who once used to make us feel good in our skin, in our bodies and our faces. When someone makes us feel funny, smart, attractive, talented, desirable we innately fall in love with them. This is true of friendship as well.
Think of the first moments of lust (this applies, but less "flutteringly" to friendship) when the relationship was new and wonderful. You likely felt sexy. You likely felt valuable. Beautiful. Intelligent. Interesting. Funny. [insert good thing here] When once-great relationships turn bad, but the people keep trying to "make it work" and one keeps running back to the other, they are chasing a high not unlike chasing a coke high (for those of you who don't know, the first one or two lines of cocaine is something like bliss without compare; each line thereafter is steadily less and less until you're basically "chasing a memory" of the high; desperate to get it back).
That's love. So, if you're ever wondering why your relationship with your partner isn't where it should be: remember that when people feel good about themselves, they'll likely reciprocate it. Don't run to the gym and get in shape (okay . . . do that, but don't do just that). Don't buy flowers. Make your partner feel beautiful, valuable, virile, strong, sexy, attractive, wanted, important, intelligent, etc. (actions always speak louder than words) Make that person feel like they did when you first fell in love.
NOW, you might be chasing a dream and "that person" may have moved on, but if there's still love in your relationship and hope for a future between both of you, if you make your significant other fall in love with her/himself FIRST, then you'll get them to fall in love with you again. (and I know this from experience: I Love you Rick).
The strongest way to endear yourself to someone is to express a need for their help and to make them feel needed. The greatest way to build a friendship is to accept what a person can give and demand that they give it (within reason). This is complicated because this little bit of heuristics seems like it should be well known and well understood. But we get it wrong so often.
Parable of Jimmy: Back when I went to church, I had a buddy named "Jimmy". He was desperate for friendship to the point where he insisted on paying for everything. It was always Jimmy's treat. It was always Jimmy who paid. I'm not a cheapie but this man would wrangle a bill out of your hand. Jimmy had no friends. People kept away from Jimmy. Jimmy was also a very nice guy. Smart. Deep. But Jimmy never let anybody pay.
Why does that drive people away? Because people need to contribute. What we contribute to our relationships tells us we're essential and that we have worth. If people won't allow you to contribute to the relationship within the range of your ability, then they are essentially (and subconsciously) saying: "You are impotent. You are worthless. You have nothing of value to me. I don't really need you."
Parable of Ricky: My boyfriend has been in school for fucking EVER. Jeezis Christ I just want him to be done. For all of our 7 years, I've paid the bills, he's studied. Praise Vishnu he's nearing the end of the tunnel. Anyhoo, about a year and a half ago, he started getting depressed. Yes, he knew that I wanted him to graduate, but I didn't beat him up over "taking" my larges.
Nevertheless, Rick admitted that he couldn't do it anymore. That he didn't know what to do because he felt like a user and that he wasn't needed. I remembered this lesson and the next day, somewhat authoritatively, told Rick how he would "earn his keep". His job was to do the laundry and clean the entire house every Tuesday. The whole thing. Every single last bit of it. Two bathrooms. Two bedrooms. Three kitty litter boxes. The floors. The furniture. Everything. I established (a significantly over-valued) worth of the effort at $200 a week (some maids cost $50 an hour so it may not be off by too much).
By expressing my constant need of him to contribute in this way, it took the annoying pressure off me and by sticking with the very REAL fact that we each contributed to the relationship, it went a HUGE distance to making him feel valued and needed in our house.
Parable of Pam: My step-mother brought a previously created son to our family. We enjoy the same first name. My little brother Dan is the sibling I'm closest to. We have the same political outlook. Same intellectual slant. Same obsession with movies. He's almost exactly 10 years younger than me. So I get to be the older, wiser brother.
My brother's bio-father is a wealthy man. Pam is not. Dan is her only bio-son. There's a connection there that cannot be ignored or disrespected. We have a very close family, but when a kid was carried in your womb for 9 months and squeezed out of your nether regions, I expect a bonding that is not the same as everywhere else.
My brother didn't get why bragging about what his dad had bought him ("He's taking us on vacation to XYZ") hurt my step mother. Moreover, what Pam has to contribute to him — her unending love, devotion, willingness to do anything for him and her wisdom — was "all" she had (and that's a lot). But for my brother, he wasn't understanding why he needed to take what my step-mother could give and why, when he rejected it, he hurt her beyond comprehension.
I explained to him the above points (about needing to be needed; needing to contribute) and informed him: "When your mother calls and offers unsolicited advice. Take it. Thank her for it. Tell her how much it helps. Lie through your fucking goddamned teeth you ungrateful bastard!!!" Continuing, "Furthermore, telling your mother you love her is insignificant compared to telling your mother that you need her help. The moment we ask a person for help within their talents and abilities, we reaffirm their skill, power and contribution to your life. Once every few weeks, pick up the phone, call Pam and even if it ain't true, say, 'Mom, I need your advice. . . .' and try to take the advice. That's what she has to give and you need to take it or you're telling her she's not needed and cannot contribute anything of value to your life. That's devastating for any relationship but especially for a parent."
So to recap:
Known as the Pratfall effect, likable people who rarely, if at all make mistakes or blunders are perceived as less attractive or likable than those who are still seen as likable but nevertheless more frequently commit open mistakes or blunders.The pratfall effect basically means not to worry if you:
However, in order for the effect to work, people must view you as an attractive, likable, or a good person prior to committing the blunder.
On the other hand, attractiveness decreases when someone regarded as unlikable, unattractive, or not good also pulls a blunder.
Further reading:
The Pratfall Effect
Pratfall effect
Page on Yaleherald
Study: Aronson, E., Willerman, B. and Floyd, J. (1966) The effect of a pratfall on increasing interpersonal attractiveness, Psychonomic Science, 4, 227-8
In 1961 and 1963, psychologist Albert Bandura conducted a study and proved that social imitation may hasten or short-cut the acquisition of new behaviors without the necessity of reinforcing successive approximations.
A "Bobo doll" is an inflatable toy that is is about 5 feet tall, made of durable vinyl or plastic, and painted like a clown. The doll was built so it would immediately lift up again after being hit by the role models used in the experiment.
The experiment involved exposing children to two adult, male and female role models. One was supposed to act aggressively and the other non-aggressively. After witnessing the behavior, the children would then be placed in a room and observed to see if they would imitate the behavior they witnessed earlier.
Bandura predicted:
The participants for the experiment were 36 boys and 36 girls enrolled at the Stanford University Nursery School. The children ranged in age between 3 and 6 years old. 24 children were assigned to a control group that received no treatment. The other children were divided into two groups of 24 participants each. One group was exposed to the violent model, and the other the non-violent model.
The boys and girls were divided again, so half of the participants observed the same-sex adult model and the other half observed the opposite sex adult model.
Bandura also tested the children's degree of aggression before the experiment. The groups were matched equally so they had an average level of aggression.
Each child was tested individually. The child was brought into a playroom where there were a variety of activities to engage in. The non-aggressive model played with the child and ignored the Bobo doll for the entire period. The aggressive model attacked the Bobo doll.
"The model laid the Bobo on its side, sat on it, and punched it repeatedly in the nose. The model then raised the Bobo doll, picked up the mallet, and struck the doll in the head. Following the mallet aggression, the model tossed the doll up in the air aggressively, and kicked it about the room. This sequence of physically aggressive acts was repeated three times, interspersed with verbally aggressive responses."
After a ten-minute exposure, the child was taken into another room with toys but were told not to play with them. Finally, they were taken to a room with aggressive toys such as the Bobo doll, dart guns, and a rubber mallet and non-aggressive toys including crayons, stuffed animals, and trucks. The children were then allowed to play with those toys and observed by the raters behind a one-way mirror.
While viewing the Earth from orbit or from a lunar space, some astronauts reported the belief that national boundaries vanished, the conflicts between people became less important, and the need for a planetary society with a united imperative to protect Earth becomes obvious or apparent.
In the words of Rusty Schweickart:
You look down there and you can't imagine how many borders and boundaries you cross, again and again and again, and you don't even see them. There you are — hundreds of people in the Middle East killing each other over some imaginary line that you're not even aware of, that you can't see. And from where you see it, the thing is a whole, the earth is a whole, and it's so beautiful. You wish you could take a person in each hand, one from each side in the various conflicts, and say, 'Look. Look at it from this perspective. Look at that. What's important?'"
And Edgar Mitchell:
The experience in space was so powerful that when I got back to Earth I started digging into various literatures to try to understand what had happened. I found nothing in science literature but eventually discovered it in the Sanskrit of ancient India. The descriptions of samadhi, Savikalpa samadhi, were exactly what I felt: it is described as seeing things in their separateness, but experiencing them viscerally as a unity, as oneness, accompanied by ecstasy."
Further reading:
Overview effect
Space Euphoria: Do Our Brains Change When We Travel in Outer Space?
The Human Brain in Space: Euphoria and the "Overview Effect" Experienced by Astronauts
Study: The Overview Effect — Space Exploration and Human Evolution (Houghton-Mifflin, 1987), (AIAA, 1998)
In 1968, Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson reported the Pygmalion effect, and named it after Pygmalion, a play by George Bernard Shaw. Students at a single California elementary school were given a disguised IQ test. Teachers were then told the names of some of the students, 20% chosen at random, could be "spurters" that year and outperformed their classmates. The actual scores of the students were not disclosed to the teachers.
The supposed spurters' names were notified to the teacher. Rosenthal predicted that teachers subconsciously facilitate or encourage their students' success. Finally, students' were tested with the same IQ test used at the beginning of the study. The First and Second Graders group favored the spurters and showed statistically significant gains in their group. This means that teacher expectations can influence student achievement, stemming from young childhood.
High expectations lead teachers to subconsciously behave in different ways, such as:
1. They create a warmer "socio-emotional climate" for the learners they regard as high-potential, often conveying this warmth through non-verbal signals: a nod, an encouraging smile, a touch on the shoulder.
2. They teach more material, and more difficult material, to learners they see as especially promising.
3. They give up-and-coming learners more opportunities to contribute, including additional time to respond to questions.
4. They offer their "special" learners feedback on performance that is more detailed and more personalized — not just a generic "Good job."
To influence your own personal achievement with this effect, try this:
A fascinating video explaining the topic in detail:
Further reading:
Pygmalion effect
Page on Psychologytoday
How To Use the "Pygmalion" Effect | TIME.com
The initial experiment with rats
Skinner designed a box (called skinner box) which contained a lever and a food dispenser.
When he put a hungry rat inside this box, it started sniffing around, touching things, and eventually at some point reached the lever. When the rat pressed the lever, food pellets fell through the dispenser. After some point, the rat learnt that pressing the lever got it food and it kept repeating only that action until it was no longer hungry. Reinforcement was used to modify rat's behavior.
The implications were huge.
Skinner was a firm believer of the idea that human free will was actually an illusion and any human action was the result of the consequences of that same action. If the consequences were bad, there was a high chance that the action would not be repeated; however if the consequences were good, the actions that lead to it would be reinforced
Some people were skeptical about Skinner's claim that behavior is the result of reinforcement/punishment. They pointed out the behavior of superstition which was considered unique to humans and couldn't be explained by reinforcement.
Experiment with pigeons
As a response, Skinner performed a modified experiment, using pigeons in this case. The food pellets would be released periodically in the box. But this time, release of food was non-contingent on the pigeon's behavior. The food would drop no matter what the pigeon did. After doing this for pigeon after pigeon he noticed that some of them developed superstitious like behavior. One pigeon walked around in circles. One thrust its head to the corner of the box. Two pigeons made pendulum motions of their head and body. All of them continued these actions until the food appeared.
None of these behaviors had been observed in the birds prior to this procedure. So why did they suddenly develop this superstition?
The pigeons have made a causal connection of their actions at the time of receiving the reward, with the reward. So the pigeon walking in circles was doing that when it found the food. Skinner proposed that this accidental reinforcementof a response can lead to superstitious behavior. As long as the rewards come regularly enough, the superstitious behavior will develop. The connection between when they do the behavior and get the reward will outweigh the connection when they do the behavior and don't get any reward. This he proposed, is also the reason why we humans develop superstitions. Seems pretty obvious once you know the reason.
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The post How To Make A Video Go Viral appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daC2EPUh22w
I would have loved to brag that I just sat back and it took off on its own. But that's not what happened.
I did a ton of marketing, and it started long before the video was released. Going viral was not an accident — it was work.
I tried a lot of things. This is what worked for me.
Don't Be "Too Good" For Marketing
I almost didn't put together a marketing plan. Because what if I did all this marketing, and then the video still flopped? That would've been embarrassing. Then I realized how stupid that was.
It's better to try your damnedest and fail than to hold back and always wonderwhat if.
If you put all this effort into your video, why would you rely on luck for the last leg? Swallow your pride. Give your work a fighting chance. Put together a marketing plan. This article will show you how.
Understand How Things Go Viral On The Internet
You see videos on YouTube with millions of views and you wonder — where did they all come from?
Views per day on Girl Learns to Dance in a Year
Day One: 80k views
Day Two: 800k views
Day Three: 1.8 million views
Try many things. You only need one of them to pay off in order for your video to go viral. For me, that thing was Reddit. Your thing might be different. Your goal is to get major blogs to write you up, because their marketing power is ridiculous.
Release on Monday or Tuesday
People watch YouTube videos when they're at work. They read the news at work. Release your video on Monday or Tuesday to give it the whole week to gain momentum. Weekends are speed bumps.
I chose Tuesday because people are busy catching up with email on Monday. I got lucky with the timing because there wasn't any major breaking news that day. Releasing on a slow news day will help you.
Mind your holidays, too. Don't release when people are not at the office.
Figure Out Who Has A Stake In Your Video
If your video takes off, who are all the people and companies who might want a piece of the action? These people can help market you.
My YouTube description was full of links to possible sponsors — to the Lululemon and American Apparel clothes I was wearing. To the Lift app I used to track my dancing. To the BART train station I danced at. To the music I danced to. They're all things I genuinely believe in, so I was happy to send traffic their way.
I contacted all these companies and asked them to share the video. Some of them shared, some of them didn't. Try them all.
None Of This Matters If Your Viral Video Isn't Good
You can get your friends to share. But only the strength of the content can get their friends to share. If you are serious about making good content, read Made to Stick.
Why will people share your video? People share things when they feel emotion. What emotion will your viewers feel?
Some emotions spread better than others. Emotions that spread: awe, excitement, amusement, anger, anxiety. Emotions that don't: contentment, sadness.
Tell A Story
I'm a decent dancer for a year of practice but I'm nothing compared to the pros. There are thousands of dancers way more talented whose videos didn't go viral. Girl Learns to Dance in a Year went viral because it wasn't just another dance video with cool moves and cool camera angles. It wasn't about how good the dancing was. It was about how awkward I was when I started, and how I got better with practice.
And it's not just a story about dancing. It's about having a dream and not knowing how to get there — but starting anyway.
People want stories. That's what all TV, movies, and books are. Tell a story.
Make Your Video Shorter
The first thing people do when they play a video is check to see how long it is. It helps them decide whether to watch it. 10 minutes: forget it. 2 minutes: I'll give it a shot. 30 seconds: Heck, might as well.
Make your video as short as possible while still keeping the heart of the story. The editor and I literally spent hours shaving off seconds to get the video down to 1 minute 51 seconds.
Short videos spread better.
Write A Viral Title
Here's a quick test. How would you finish this sentence:
"Hey did you see the video of __________"
Fill in the blank. That's your title.
Here's a bad title: My Journey of Dance, a Year of Movement
Better: I Learned to Dance in a Year
Even better: Girl Learns to Dance in a Year
Best: Girl Learns to Dance in a Year (TIME LAPSE)
Know What You're Willing To Compromise
What are you willing to do for views? Are you willing to compromise on your beliefs? If so, which ones?
I made a compromise. I believe that grown women should not be referred to as girls. Then I named the video Girl Learns to Dance in a Year. It rolls off the tongue better than Woman Learns to Dance in a Year. I had decided I could live with that compromise.
I almost named the video Asian Girl Learns to Dance in a Year. I'm really glad I didn't do that.
You have to decide what you can live with and what you can't. Figure this out before you release because once you hit publish, you can't take it back.
What To Do Once You Go Viral
People will criticize your work. This is good because it gets them talking. There are lots of comments about how I'm a terrible dancer, or how I got worse on Day 365. People left racist and sexist comments. They even debated the definition of time lapse. Try not to let all this get to you. Controversy is good.
Viral videos have a short shelf life. You have 15 minutes of fame, and your job is to open as many doors as possible in those 15 minutes. Create as many opportunities as you can. Ironically, the week I released the video, I barely danced at all. I didn't go out and celebrate. I went home and responded to as many emails and tweets as I could.
Make sure the media can get a hold of you, and it's not hard to find your email address. Media interview requests will start coming in. Accept them. National TV may contact you. Feed the media beast.
Know where you want to direct your traffic. I linked to my blog, website, and Twitter from the video. They were all ready to go. One thing I messed up was I didn't have an email signup form ready on the Dance In A Year website. I've fixed that now, lesson learned. Be prepared.
Why I Did It
I wanted people to see the video because it represents what I believe in.
When you watch a professional perform, you're seeing them at their moment of glory. It's intimidating because you don't see how you could ever get to where they are. You don't see the moment they started, when they were a beginner just like you. I wanted people to see the beginning.
The best response to the video has been all the people who reached out to me, newly inspired to learn. Learn dance. Learn guitar, Korean, beatboxing, drawing, parkour. That brings me a lot more fulfillment than the video view count numbers.
After hearing from so many people, I'm now working on a site to make it easy for anyone to make their own learn in a year projects. I'm really excited to see other people level themselves up in all sorts of skills.
None of this might have happened if I had decided to sit back and just hope it went viral.
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The post Is there a way to retrieve the full inventory of an Amazon seller? appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
Ex Google Search URL: site:amazon.com "stickaroo
I'm able to locate the "At a Glance" seller summary page for StickARoo.
URL: Amazon.com At a Glance: StickARoo
From this, I can derive their seller ID, current active inventory and pricing:
There isn't a public solution I'm aware of currently to accommodate your request, though I do this type of thing daily for clients.
From an automation perspective, the seller information page could be scraped to harvest the specific ASIN information. Once ASINs were identified, you can use the Amazon API to grab all data (including price) associated with the listings.
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The post What is up with Amazon sellers who list a used book at $600 when the next is $15, yet still have excellent ratings? appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
There is another breed of seller that is doing some sort of drop-shipping arbitrage on a wide scale. These guys basically list a massive inventory of titles they can order from other sources.
Another potential is the use of repricing software. Bad source data or faulty algorithm design is a common cause for seemingly illogical listings.
Keep in mind — price on Amazon has nothing to do with the seller's ratings. An Amazon seller can offer thousands of products for exorbitant prices, but their feedback is based upon past actual completed transactions and whether they were delivered on time and as promised.
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The post World's Best Banana Pudding Recipe appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>
No, seriously.
This is something special. Texas Monthly wrote about this stuff. A wildly successful business was built around this recipe. Octogenarians raved about this pudding. Without further ado:
MY THERAPY BEGINS by Tammy Hill
Taylor Belle came into the kitchen this afternoon and asked what I was doing. I told her that I was making banana pudding and she said "oh ok" and started to walk back out. She stopped and turned excitedly when I went on to say that the banana pudding was for us. It has been a long time since I have made banana pudding around here. Too long.
Mama's Dessert Kitchen made a lot of different desserts, but we were best known for our banana pudding. Texas Monthly magazine said that it might be the best they had ever tasted! Wow. I couldn't stop grinning for months after that! Men used to say that they wanted to marry me so they could have my banana pudding all the time. Those were the days! Heh.
There seems to be two types of banana pudding lovers – those who like the old fashioned cooked pudding and those who like the type I make. Both are really good. Even my own brother told me that my banana pudding was pretty good, but Grandma's was still better. How does anyone compete with grandmothers?
I have found that desserts, like life, are best when they are kept simple. This is a simple recipe. I hope you enjoy.
Banana Pudding Recipe:
In a large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and the cold water. I find it easiest to use a hand mixer for this. Add the instant pudding and beat until well blended, making sure there are no lumps. Chill in the refrigerator for about five minutes. While waiting, use a stand mixer to whip the heavy whipping cream until light and fluffy. Using a spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture. When finished, you will want to be sure to take a moment to lick the pudding off the spatula – it's that good!
Next comes the assembly of the banana pudding. You can use a large trifle bowl, but all sorts of containers work well. Depending on the type of event you are making desserts for, you can be creative and make individual portions using martini glasses, mason jars, small dessert bowls, etc., to fit your mood. Simply spoon in a little of the pudding, place vanilla wafers along the sides of the bowl and on top of the pudding, and add sliced bananas to cover the pudding and wafers. Repeat layering twice, ending with the pudding mixture. Top with crumbled vanilla wafers and that's it!
Even though no one has died, I have no doubts that I will need a lot more dessert therapy. I am feeling a heavenly chocolate pie recipe in the near future!
The post World's Best Banana Pudding Recipe appeared first on 38Pitches.]]>


text:
The University Record, February 4, 1997
Neal looks forward to research as he leaves interim post
Photo by Bob Kalmbach
Julie A. Peterson
News and Information Services
As his interim presidency drew to a close last week, Homer A. Neal was looking forward to re-immersing himself in his research in high-energy physics.
Neal, who retains his position as vice president for research, will be heading to Geneva, Switzerland, mid-February for work at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). After being in residence there through June, he will return to Ann Arbor to serve as vice president.
As Neal assesses his seven months as interim president, he emphasizes that his primary goal has been "to ensure a sense of continuity and to maintain a sense of campus community while the University was going through this sensitive period of transition, as well as to lay the groundwork for the new president."
He has been meeting with President Lee Bollinger regularly over the past few weeks, and also has shared with Bollinger the insights of his advisory panel, a group made up of deans and faculty, and student, alumni, and staff leaders. "The advisory panel has been extremely helpful to me and, I think, will be extremely useful to Lee as well in the months ahead," Neal says. "In fact, our last meeting in January was designed as an open exchange with the incoming president."
However, far from being a "placeholder," Neal has begun several initiatives that he cares deeply about and would like to see continued after his departure from the presidency.
Chief among these is the expansion of research opportunities for undergraduate students at the University.
"I would like very much for us someday soon to be able to say that we're the first major research university that is able to guarantee each of our undergraduates that if they wish to work on a scholarly or research project with a faculty member, they will be able to do so," he says. "The discussions started this year have been warmly embraced. The deans and faculty have been looking into the feasibility of such a program," and the Office of the Provost is in the process of hiring an individual to coordinate what we're calling the Michigan Opportunities for Research Experience.
When Neal served on the National Science Board in the 1980s, he chaired a committee to look at undergraduate science education that developed a program, Research Experience for Undergraduates, which has opened research opportunities for thousands of students since its beginning. "I have been watching that program carefully and have been fascinated by the gains students get from participation," he says. "That's probably colored my thinking on this subject."
Also close to his heart is fund-raising for the renovation of Hill Auditorium. Neal says that because the venue "belongs to no one, but to everyone, it has not had an organized set of champions in the same manner of some of our other initiatives."
Other efforts begun under his leadership have included the launching of searches to replace Farris W. Womack as executive vicepresident and chief financial officer and to fill the newly created position of executive vice president for medical affairs, and the establishment of the $450,000 President's New Century Fund for Diversity, a program that will seed programs designed to accelerate progress toward the University's goals for diversity.
But it's when Neal discusses his research that his passion becomes evident.
"It's very difficult to maintain your research as vice president, and almost impossible as president," he says. "As vice president you can carve out some time on evenings and weekends, but as president your evenings are taken up and weekends are almost always fully consumed."
The CERN Large Hadron Collider---similar in capability to the now-defunct Superconducting Supercollider project in Texas---soon will become the site of the world's foremost high-energy physics laboratory, Neal says. During his stay in Switzerland, he will prepare for his U-M research group to be involved in one of the first experiments there.
Neal's research group at U-M was involved in the 1995 discovery of the "top" quark, the last of six quarks---the most basic building blocks of matter---to be found. Now researchers will investigate whether six really is the magic number, and whether there may be as yet undiscovered building blocks even smaller than the quark.
"That's the frontier of the field for the next decade or so, and before I leave it, I would like very much to be involved in the next generation of experiments," he says. "An experiment in high-energy physics can take 8-10 years and is enormously expensive, so you don't get very many such opportunities in your lifetime."
Neal and his wife, Jean, have lived in Geneva a number of times before---it was the first place they went when he received a National Science Fellowship shortly after completing his doctoral degree in 1966---so "in many ways going to Geneva is like going home" for the couple, he says.
Even more so since his son, Homer Neal Jr., who recently completed a doctorate in high-energy physics at Stanford University, is currently conducting research at CERN on a two-year fellowship. Father and son will see each other occasionally but will be working on different experiments, Neal says.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rodgers spots confirm Gruber's commitment
"One Call! That's All!
That is the ubiquitous slogan that's been part of Milwaukee's television landscape for a quarter of a century.
The slogan, of course, belongs to David Gruber, the personal injury attorney who is on television about as often as your favorite news anchor or weather forecaster. His practice is eloquent testimony to the power of advertising as long as two things exist: Advertising needs to be consistent and frequent, and the promise that is made in the commercial needs to be fulfilled.
"When I started advertising on television, almost 25 years ago, the office consisted of me," Gruber said as we sat in his office which is a paean to the world of sports, especially basketball. Jerseys and balls of all sort fill his office.
He now has about 80 people working in his office, including his son and his wife, both attorneys. I asked him about this idea that there is a risk that television advertising can fall flat if the ads promise things that can't be delivered.
"We have always been a very direct law firm," he said. "We meet people face to face, eye to eye. And we work very hard for our clients. That's the way the promise in 'One Call! That's All!' is met."
Naturally skeptical, I fully expected Gruber to be a slick kind of snake oil salesman type who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk.
Instead, Gruber is a genuine, smart attorney who runs a successful law firm and has carved a place for himself in the world of charity work and in giving back to the community that has been so good to him. That's something lots of people say, but Gruber's actions speak loud and clear that he truly believes in what he does.
The most visible thing he does is a series of spots with Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers quarterback. Each commercial is designed to highlight an organization that deserves to have a light shined on it and which ought to get applause for the work it does.
The hook is that Rodgers shows up unexpectedly and meets with a young person. They have a conversation that revolves around the individuals and the organization they represent. They are remarkably effective television spots, but the long-form videos are incredibly moving.
"I met Aaron at a MACC Fund event," Gruber said. "We started to talk and after awhile we became casual friends. We did a couple of spots about certain issues and we got along."
The first one had the two of them sitting in overstuffed chairs, looking awkward as could be, talking about drunk driving or something. The message and the style has come a long way since that one.
"That was the first," Gruber said. "I agree, it was pretty stilted. But after awhile the discussion turned to doing something more than just sitting there and talking about an issue."
They all knew they wanted to do something different, something more meaningful, and Greg Marshall, the chief storyteller at CI Design in Milwaukee came up with a raft of suggestions.
"These spots were at the end of the spectrum from the kind of things that you would normally see an athlete do," Marshall said.
That was the birth of the "It's Aaron" spots.
They've shot six of them, two seasons worth and the goal is to have season three up at the start of the football season.
These spots fill a couple of holes. For one they do, indeed, highlight the work of a special service organization. They also shine a light on young people who face some difficulties and who face those difficulties with a smile on their face and a measure of success.
The third thing is that you really get to look at Aaron Rodgers outside of a football uniform and outside of a news conference answering questions from reporters. Think Rodgers with a guitar in his hand or jumping on a trampoline with kids. He's open and honest and funny and a very appealing person.
"Aaron is great to work with," Marshall said. "It's all ad libbed and informal. We set up the initial meeting, but from there on it just happens naturally. I have great trust in Aaron. He has the ability to get outside himself and be fully present with these kids. He's very sharp and when he suggests something I trust that it's going the way it should go."
These spots are incredible. Go to the site here and look at the long-form videos which are two or three times longer than the spots you see on television, and you will see what I mean.
It would be easy to claim that this is all a self-serving idea for Gruber. But it's clear there is no self-serve in this. Go and watch the spot with a young girl named Kelly who has spina bifida and who shares a song with Rodgers, all the while building awareness for Independence First. "Touching" doesn't begin to capture it.
Gruber really believes in what these kids and these organizations do and he puts his hopes for a better world into action. This whole thing costs him money and time, but when he says it's worth it, I'm convinced that he means it.
After all, to help a child or a friend or an organization, all it can take is just One call. That's all.
scotbear8175 | June 5, 2014 at 10:49 a.m. (report)
I would imagine that MR. Rodgers' has donated his time in lieu of compensation.
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TosaJim | June 5, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. (report)
He may be a nice guy...but I hate the ads and I hate the fact that he does "good deeds" with Rogers all while a camera follows them around...hopefully any money Rogers gets is donated to a charity...
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12 week old baby Illigers Macaw. On two hand feedings per day. Weaning onto pellets, fruits and veggies. SUPER sweet and cuddly.$1,850
On two hand feedings per day. Weaning onto pellets, fruits and veggies$1,850
I have a 3 month old female Camelot macaw for sale in Dallas Texas. She is still being hand fed and is very sweet. She's a DNA tested female and comes…$2,200
I am Moving have 2 free Parakeets and small cage. I will give the birds and cage free to interested parties. Birds are healthy. One is blue one is yellow…No Price Listed
Selling my beautiful sun conure semi tamed she dont like nen$360
Handfed Baby Greencheek Conures. Rare Color- Dilute Hi Red Yellowside. Pure greencheek, with tons of color. You get the wonderful personality of greencheek…$450
Handfed Baby Crimson Belly Conure. DNA Male born 2/1/17. Close banded, DNA certificate, and big baby. Eating veggies/rice/beans/fruits/birdie bread. Small…$475
For sale is a young Pineapple Green Cheek Conure. We purchased 'Rainbow' in September 2016, for our daughter's 10th birthday, for $300 from a local breeder…$200
We have been proud owners of (4) Diamond Doves for over 3 -4 years now. These birds have been an integral part of our family and we are looking for a…$120
Handfed clockatiel $125 $50 to hold one for you Message me if you'd like to place a deposit and pick out your baby!$125


text:
- Home
- Submit a Suggestion for Research
- Read Suggested Topics for Research
Topic Suggestion Description
View Topic Suggestion Disposition
Date submitted: December 07, 2012
- Briefly describe a specific question, or set of related questions, about a health care test or treatment that this program should consider.
- Does a mandate that health care workers and volunteers be vaccinated annually against influenza have any effect on the rate of laboratory-confirmed influenza in nursing home patients?
- Does your question include a comparison of different health care approaches? (If no, your topic will still be considered.)
- yes
- If yes, explain the specific technologies, devices, drugs, or interventions you would like to see compared:
- Flu vaccine mandate, as in Arkansas and Rhode Island, versus voluntary vaccination, everywhere else.
- What patients or group(s) of patients does your question apply to? (Please include specific details such as age range, gender, coexisting diagnoses, and indications for therapy.)
- Nursing home residents.
- Are there subgroups of patients that your question might apply to? (For example, an ethnic group, stage or severity of a disease.)
- No
- Describe the health-related benefits you are interested in. (For example, improvements in patient symptoms or problems from treatment or diagnosis.)
- Decrease in incidence of laboratory-confirmed influezna
- Describe any health-related risks, side effects, or harms that you are concerned about.
- Impairment of the health care workers' right of informed consent to medical treatment (the coercion).
Appropriateness for EHC Program
- Does your question include a health care drug, intervention, device, or technology available (or likely to be available) in the U.S.?
- yes
- Which priority area(s) and population(s) does this topic apply to? (check all that apply)
- EHC Priority Conditions (updated in 2008)
- Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease
- Functional limitations and disability
- AHRQ Priority Populations
- Elderly
- Federal Health Care Program
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Describe why this topic is important.
- Health Care workers willingly accept vaccination requirements in cases (e.g. measles) where research establishes the benefit to their patients. If this could be accomplished for flu vaccination, it would greatly assist in assuring compliance. Also, the ethics of a flu vaccination mandate are questionable in the absence of solid evidence of effectiveness.
- What specifically motivated you to ask this question? (For example, you are developing a clinical guideline, working with a policy with large uncertainty about the appropriate approach, costly intervention, new research you have read, items in the media you may have seen, a clinical practice dilemma you know of, etc.)
- The new law in Rhode Island. I run the state's association of nursing homes, and we are experiencing serious resistance to a new regulatory requirement that all health care workers be vaccinated. The ethical problem is serious, since workers are threatened with losing their jobs if they don't comply. Careful review of relevant research reveals no solid evidence of effectiveness/efficacy. Although effectiveness/efficacy is strongly suggested, it has not been established because so few studies use laboratory confirmation of influenza.
- Does your question represent uncertainty for clinicians and/or policy-makers? (For example, variations in clinical care, controversy in what constitutes appropriate clinical care, or a policy decision.)
- yes
- If yes, please explain:
- See above. At the hearings concerning this proposed regulation, advocates on both sides of the question presented peer reviewed studies in support of their positions. Those studies don't definitively answer the question.
Potential Impact
- How will an answer to your research question be used or help inform decisions for you or your group?
- If annual flu vaccination provides sufficient protection to patients to justify the mandate, then all states should have the mandate. And if not, then flu vaccination should be optional.
- Describe the timeframe in which an answer to your question is needed.
- As soon as feasible, due to the public health implications
- Describe any health disparities, inequities, or impact on vulnerable populations your question applies to.
- It applies to two groups: the 1.3 million or so nursing home residents in the United States, and the 2.5 million or so certified nursing assistants who provide their personal care. I focus on nursing assistants, because these are the individuals who get the least "benefit" (on a cost benefit basis), from being subjected to mandatory vaccination. They perform demanding work for low pay. But the question technically applies to all those who are employed in nursing homes.
Nominator Information
- Other Information About You: (optional)
- Please choose a description that best describes your role or perspective: (you may select more than one category if appropriate)
- Professional Society
- Are you making a suggestion as an individual or on behalf of an organization?
- Individual
- Please tell us how you heard about the Effective Health Care Program
- Came to the website to do research, and found it here.


text:
Selena Gomez Parties So Hard The Cops Show Up!
Taking a page out of Justin Bieber's playbook, Selena Gomez threw a rowdy shindig at her Los Angeles home last night (June 17) and it didn't take long before her neighbors were fed up.
The "Come and Get It" songstress received a visit from the police around midnight and she was told to keep it down or else!
In an effort to quell rumors of a rager, Gomez posted a photo via Instagram on Wednesday (June 18) that seemed to depict a much more serene environment. She added the caption, "Tacos, live music and candles :-) such a beautiful night with beautiful people."
However, given that she's been out multiple times with The Biebs over the past week, rumor has it Gomez's gang is a bit concerned she may be going off the deep end.


text:
Dear Jennifer: I read an article a few months back about a man in the Sacramento area who died when his vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic. The police said there was a dog in the vehicle that I presume may have contributed to the accident.
I would think this distraction is as bad as texting or talking on your cellphone. which as we all know is against the law. Is it legal to have an unrestrained animal inside your vehicle?


text:
WINGER Raffa De Vita believes Town could live to regret two 'tragic' dropped points after only managing a 1-1 draw with bottom side Hartlepool on Saturday.
Former Robin Andy Monkhouse grabbed a second-half equaliser after Simon Ferry had given Town the lead, and try as they might Paolo Di Canio's side couldn't find a winner before time ran out.
Three points would have taken Swindon top of League One, and even though a number of promotion rivals also slipped up over the weekend, De Vita believes the result could prove costly.
"I think we will have massive regrets about this, especially with other teams dropping points too," he said. "It's tragic for us really.
"It doesn't matter if we keep having chances if we don't put them away, we need to do more.
"Another team would have finished the game off earlier or even managed to win 1-0, because you need to do that sometimes, but we haven't done that many times either this season or last season, which is very disappointing.
"Looking at the table now is really hard to take because we could have gone top, and from now until the end of season all of the teams will keep dropping points, but we need to stop doing it too."
Hartlepool keeper Scott Flinders kept his side in the game with a string of impressive saves at the start of the second half, but De Vita believes the Town players should have made it impossible for him to keep the ball out of the net with better finishing.
"The keeper made a few great saves at the start of the second half, but we come across a lot of good keepers," he added.
"If the finishing is good there is no chance for them, and we should have scored more."
De Vita was impressed with the way the visitors came to the County Ground and looked to pass the ball, especially considering their perilous position.
"I think they tried to pass it and you don't see that often at the County Ground," he said.


text:
HELD ON EUROPEAN MATTERS: None
CONDITIONS - Constitution
of Bulgaria
Art. 5 (4) Any international treaties which have been ratified by
the constitutionally established procedure, promulgated and having
come into force with respect to the Republic of Bulgaria, shall
be considered part of the domestic legislation of the country. They
shall supersede any domestic legislation stipulating otherwise.
Art. 22 (2) The law ratifying
the international treaty referred to in para 1 shall be adopted
by a majority of two thirds of all members of the Parliament.
Art. 85 (1) The National
Assembly shall ratify or denounce by law all international treaties
1. are of a political or military nature;
2. concern the Republic of Bulgaria's participation in international
3. envisage corrections to the borders of the Republic of Bulgaria;
4. contain obligations for the treasury;
5. envisage the state's participation in international arbitration
or legal proceedings;
6. concern fundamental human rights;
7. affect the action of the law or require new legislation in order
to be enforced;
8. expressly require ratification;
9. (new, SG 18/05) confer to the European Union powers ensuing from
this Constitution.
(2) (new, SG 18/05) The law ratifying the international treaty referred
to in para 1, item 9 shall be adopted by a majority of two-thirds
of all members of the Parliament.
(3) (former para 2, SG 18/05) Treaties ratified by the National
Assembly may be amended or denounced only by their built-in procedure
or in accordance with the universally acknowledged norms of international
(4) (former para 3, SG 18/05) The conclusion of an international
treaty requiring an amendment to the Constitution shall be preceded
by the passage of such an amendment.
158 A Grand National Assembly shall:
2. resolve on any changes in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria
and ratify any international treaty envisaging such a change.
3. resolve on any changes in the form of state structure or form
of government;
Art. 154 (1)
The initiative to introduce a constitutional amendment bill shall
belong to one quarter of the Members of the National Assembly and
to the President.
(2) An amendment bill shall be debated by the National Assembly
not earlier than one month and not later than three months from
the date on which it is introduced.
Art. 155 (1)
A constitutional amendment shall require a majority of three quarters
of the votes of all Members of the National Assembly in three ballots
on three different days.
(2) A bill which has received less than three quarters but more
than two-thirds of the votes of all Members shall be eligible for
reintroduction after not fewer than two months and not more than
five months. To be passed at this new reading, the bill shall require
a majority of two-thirds of the votes of all Members.
On 21.03.2008, 193 deputies out
of the 209 present in the 240-seat parliament approved the ratification
of the Lisbon Treaty at a special ceremonial seating. "The
Lisbon Treaty is the finalisation of a very long and hard process
that many feared would fail to reach a successful outcome"
Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev told the parliament encouraging
it to ratify the treaty. All three parties in government, the left-wing
Bulgarian Socialist party, the centrist National Movement for Stability
and Progress of former king Simeon Saxe Coburg and the Turkish minority
Movement for Rights and Freedoms, endorsed the treaty with unanimity.
It was also supported by the right-wing opposition and certain independent
deputies and championed by President Georgy Parvanov.
But the ultra-nationalist party Ataka voted against ratification,
its leader said, by creating the posts of EU president and European
foreign policy, the Lisbon Treaty "creates a new super state
in which Bulgaria loses its sovereignty," he said.
21.03.2008, 193 deputies out of the 209 present in the 240-seat
parliament approved the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty at a special
ceremonial seating.


text:
A major remodeling at O'Rielly Chevrolet on East Broadway includes a complete face-lift and new features — including an indoor delivery area where car buyers can learn to use all the new technology packed into cars these days.
The redo is the first major renovation since Buck O'Rielly, son of founder Frank O'Rielly, moved the dealership to 6100 E. Broadway from North Sixth Avenue downtown in 1966.
While the renovation didn't expand the dealership, the three-phase project that began about a year ago involved a total makeover of the company's buildings, systems, outdoor areas and offices, the company said.
"The footprint didn't change, but pretty much every square inch of the interior is remodeled and refreshed," company President Rob Draper said. He declined to say what the makeover cost.
The showroom was enlarged by the elimination of some office space, and a new, two-story used-car building replaced a one-story structure, Draper said.
The remodeling allowed a better flow between service areas, the customer lounge and the connected retro-style Corvette Café, which serves coffee and food.
In the new indoor delivery area, O'Rielly's "vehicle delivery coordinators" help car buyers learn — in climate-controlled comfort — how to use technology such as General Motors' OnStar communications system, "infotainment" and navigation systems, collision-avoidance systems and the intricacies of driving and charging Chevy's Volt plug-in hybrid electric car.
"There's all kinds of gadgetry and electronics. They're not complicated to operate, but it does help to sit with someone and get an explanation of how it works," Draper said.


text:
About the Book
Descr. The pages of this unique book bring together two worlds: The world of "Martial Arts" and the world of "Fine Arts". It is a collection of the author's expertise in Martial Arts combined with his own drawings and paintings. Master Marc Sattler has put together an instructional manual with ten easy to learn wooden sword techniques in the traditional "One Step" format. The fantastic art work makes the process of understanding these basic moves very easy for any Martial Arts Student to follow.
This book is collectable to anyone who appreciates art as well as those who enjoy Martial Arts books. The visual artwork is both well done and a joy to look at. The Martial Arts techniques explained in this book are basic enough for most beginning students to learn. At the same time it offers some more advanced techniques so the more skilled practitioner will benefit as well.
The old saying of-"A picture is worth a thousand words," certainly applies to this book. Any Martial Arts connoisseur would be happy to add it to their collection.
Marc A. Sattler has been training and teaching Korean Martial Arts for over forty years. He holds a 5th Dan in Tang Soo Do and a 3rd Dan in Hapkido. His vast knowledge of the Korean Martial Arts and traditions (Mu Do) was instrumental in the development of the techniques demonstrated in this book.
Marc Sattler is also a painter and fine artist with skill in a wide variety of mediums. His body of work includes book covers, posters, Tee-Shirt and design work for advertising. A blending of both skills is clearly, and expertly demonstrated in this work of art.
Features & Details
- Category Sports & Adventure
Standard Portrait, 8×10 in, 21×26 cm
102 Pages
- Publish Date Mar 03, 2014
- Language English
- Tags Korean Martial Arts, Wooden sword, Kung Fu, karate, training, art, Korea, Manga, samurai, Japan
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text:
We love model Lydia Carron not just for her cool-girl look, but her intellect and personality … she recently took some time from modeling to pursue other interests: completing college, and working at an art gallery. Get to know Lydia:
What is your favorite book?
It is going to be difficult to choose just one! I have read 1984 by George Orwell maybe four times. I spent a summer in Switzerland and stayed with a family. I didn't bring enough books with me in English, so I ended up reading 1984 two times just on that trip. I didn't mind! It's definitely one that transports you to another world. The Sun Also Rises by Earnest Hemingway and A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh are two of my other favorites.
Who is your favorite artist?
I think Gerhard Richter makes absolutely beautiful paintings. I think many contemporary artists are so conceptual that they miss out on the aesthetics of a piece. J.M.W. Turner is a 19th century artist who painted stunning water scenes. Egon Shiele's drawings are also pretty cool.
What is it like working in an art gallery?
Fascinating! It's kind of like the fashion world in that there are a lot of different, outgoing personalities. I learned a lot about the artists that are represented by Gagosian. It was also fun to see who would come in to look at the work. Some of them sold for millions – it's shocking really.
Thoughts on working in fashion?
I have had a lot of very interesting experiences working in fashion. I think I was surprised at how nice people were. For some reason I thought other models would be really competitive and mean, but everyone has this group mentality that we are all in this together. It is competitive obviously, but I learned that some casting directors or designers were hiring based off a specific look or style they wanted. It was never necessarily personal.
What jobs have you done for Rebecca Taylor?
I have done two seasons of shows for Rebecca. One of my favorite looks was a fall/winter show. I was wearing this great nubby navy sweater over a flowy top, skinny pants and these adorable furry booties. I absolutely loved this look. I did looks before her shows as well. A lot of girls found looks boring to do, but it was always my favorite kind of work. I thought it was cool to see the process and the attention that went into building a collection and preparing for a show. My favorite kind of work – when it doesn't feel like work at all! It's always such a great atmosphere when I walk into their studio.
How is it shooting on the streets of NYC?
The comments that people make as they go by are hilarious. I thought it was very neat that the shots looked like they could be in London or Paris depending on what street corner we used, when in actuality we were on the Upper West Side the whole time! My neighborhood. 😉
Lydia is wearing the Deco Pleat Dress. Shop Holiday Dressing.