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Detecting level shifts in ARMA-GARCH (1,1) Models
The purpose of this article is to present a new method to detect level shifts in the context of conditional heteroscedastic models. First, we define precisely what type of outlier we are referring to, a concept that has been scarcely touched in the field of GARCH (1,1) models, and then we go on to present our methodology based on the nature of the Lagrange multiplier tests. The validity and efficiency of the proposed procedure are demonstrated through different simulation experiments. To conclude, we present a practical application of the method to the time series of returns of US short-term interest rates.
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Volume (Year): 36 (2009)
Issue (Month): 6 ()
Pages: 679-697
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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Sargent, Thomas J, 1972. "Rational Expectations and the Term Structure of Interest Rates," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 4(1), pages 74-97, Part I Fe.
- Bali, Rakesh & Guirguis, Hany, 2007. "Extreme observations and non-normality in ARCH and GARCH," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 332-346.
- Ané, Thierry & Ureche-Rangau, Loredana & Gambet, Jean-Benoît & Bouverot, Julien, 2008. "Robust outlier detection for Asia-Pacific stock index returns," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 326-343, October.
- Kramer, Walter & Ploberger, Werner & Alt, Raimund, 1988. "Testing for Structural Change in Dynamic Models," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 56(6), pages 1355-1369, November.
- Benjamin M. Friedman & David I. Laibson, 1989. "Economic Implications of Extraordinary Movements in Stock Prices," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 20(2), pages 137-190.
- Felix Chan & Michael McAleer, 2003.
"Estimating smooth transition autoregressive models with GARCH errors in the presence of extreme observations and outliers,"
Applied Financial Economics,
Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(8), pages 581-592.
- Felix Chan & Michael McAleer, 2001. "Estimating Smooth Transition Autoregressive Models with GARCH Errors in the Presence of Extreme Observations and Outliers," ISER Discussion Paper 0539, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
- Balke, Nathan S & Fomby, Thomas B, 1994. "Large Shocks, Small Shocks, and Economic Fluctuations: Outliers in Macroeconomic Time Series," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(2), pages 181-200, April-Jun.
- Balke, Nathan S. & Fomby, Thomas B., 1991. "Large shocks, small shocks, and economic fluctuations: outliers in macroeconomic times series," Working Papers 9101, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
- Park, Beum-Jo, 2002. "An Outlier Robust GARCH Model and Forecasting Volatility of Exchange Rate Returns," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(5), pages 381-393, August.
- Philip Hans Franses & Dick van Dijk & Andre Lucas, 2004. "Short patches of outliers, ARCH and volatility modelling," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 221-231.
- Philip Hans Franses & Dick van Dijk & André Lucas, 1998. "Short Patches of Outliers, ARCH and Volatility Modeling," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 98-057/4, Tinbergen Institute.
- Andrews, Donald W K, 1993. "Tests for Parameter Instability and Structural Change with Unknown Change Point," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 61(4), pages 821-856, July.
- Donald W.K. Andrews, 1990. "Tests for Parameter Instability and Structural Change with Unknown Change Point," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 943, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
- Andersen, Torben G. & Lund, Jesper, 1997. "Estimating continuous-time stochastic volatility models of the short-term interest rate," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 343-377, April.
- Lamoureux, Christopher G & Lastrapes, William D, 1990. "Persistence in Variance, Structural Change, and the GARCH Model," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 8(2), pages 225-234, April.
- Modigliani, Franco & Shiller, Robert J, 1973. "Inflation, Rational Expectations and the Term Structure of Interest Rates," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 40(157), pages 12-43, February.
- Balke, Nathan S, 1993. "Detecting Level Shifts in Time Series," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 11(1), pages 81-92, January.
- Shinichi Sakata & Halbert White, 1998. "High Breakdown Point Conditional Dispersion Estimation with Application to S&P 500 Daily Returns Volatility," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 66(3), pages 529-568, May.
- Ericsson, Neil R, 1991. "Monte Carlo Methodology and the Finite Sample Properties of Instrumental Variables Statistics for Testing Nested and Non-nested Hypotheses," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 59(5), pages 1249-1277, September.
- Franses, Philip Hans & Ghijsels, Hendrik, 1999. "Additive outliers, GARCH and forecasting volatility," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, February.
- Van Dijk, Dick & Franses, Philip Hans & Lucas, Andre, 1999. "Testing for Smooth Transition Nonlinearity in the Presence of Outliers," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 17(2), pages 217-235, April.
- van Dijk, D.J.C. & Franses, Ph.H.B.F. & Lucas, A., 1996. "Testing for Smooth Transition Nonlinearity in the Presence of Outliers," Econometric Institute Research Papers EI 9622-/A, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
- Xibin Zhang & Maxwell L. King, 2005. "Influence Diagnostics in Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity Processes," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 23, pages 118-129, January.
- Engle, Robert F, 1982. "Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity with Estimates of the Variance of United Kingdom Inflation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 987-1007, July. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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20 April 2011
In case you live under a rock and didn't hear, Michael Grabner was names one of the finalist for NHL Rookie of the Year. Grabner is going head to head to head with San Jose's Logan Couture and Carolina's Jeff Skinner.
Grabner was this year's Islanders redemption story; He found his way after being traded by the Canucks and waived by the Florida Panthers. Grabner lead the Islanders and all NHL rookies in goals scored netting 34 this season. Grabner also won fastest skater at the fastest skater competition and scored 16 goals in 15 games from January 15 to February 15.
However early indications suggest that Grabner is not the favorite to win the Calder Trophy. The fact that the NY chapter of the PHWA isn't voting doesn't help his case either.
Grabner, who is a new father, has had a hell of a season and is very deserving of the nomination, even if he's very humble about the whole thing. I remember a conversation I had with the Calder finalist about what it meant to him to be in the running for the award. He told me he wasn't too worried about it and just wanted to help the team win.
For the Islanders organization, the nomination is a good sign of things to come and after the season they had it really gives fans hope for next season.
Note- Newsday's Katie Strang is reporting that the Islanders and Grabner's agent have not begun discussions about a new contract. According to the report by the Isles beat writer the team is expected to offer him a, well earned, multi-year deal.
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TASSELLED SCARFLight Grey
Delivery Methods
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Composition - 100% Acrylic
Washcare - Hand wash


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This is a guest post by Jamie Bernstein. Jamie is a graduate student in public policy at the University of Chicago as well as the Vice-President of the Women Thinking Free Foundation. She has previously written about anti-vaxers here and here. … You can (and should) read Part One of Jamie's story at Skepchick before [Read More…]
How I Got Kicked Out of the AutismOne Con: Part 2
I Need a Couple Undercover Agents…
Remember last summer when I sent a couple people to sit in on an anti-gay conference…? Well, another opportunity has come up. And I need a couple volunteers. It's a chance to see the conservative Christian world from the inside. I'll pay for your registration costs. I'll even take the volunteers out to dinner In [Read More…]
I Need a Couple Undercover Reporters…
A few months ago, I sent undercover agents to the Americans for Truth About Homosexuality anti-gay-rights "Truth Academy." Their reports are here, here, and here. That was enlightening and informative. It's always good to know first-hand what the other side is talking about (so we're not accused of taking them out of context). The project [Read More…]
Fox News Chicago Sends Undercover Agents to Anti-Gay Fundraiser
Remember a few months ago when I sent a couple people undercover into the Americans for Truth About Homosexuality Anti-Gay-Rights "Truth Academy"? (If not, you can read the reports here, here, and here.) Well, a couple months ago, I was contacted by my local Fox Chicago news affiliate. They were going to do a story [Read More…]
How Many Spies *Were* There at the AFTAH Anti-Gay-Rights Academy?
I sent two. Truth Wins Out sent one (who got short audio recordings). Gapers Block sent one. How many people were actually attending the conference? (Reader Matt sent me this seemingly-appropriate Onion link ) Our next job should totally be to get a speaker on the AFTAH roster… it shouldn't be hard to do. Just [Read More…]


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Angels in the Outfield
- Status:
- Director:
- Updating...
- Actors:
- John Gallaudet, Barbara Billingsley, Dick Simmons, Harry Cody, King Donovan, Harry Hayden, James Conaty, Sam Harris, Fred Graham, George Magrill, Ralph Montgomery, Peter Graves, Douglas Fowley, Hank Mann, Bing Crosby, John McKee, Charles Sherlock, Marvin Kaplan, Ellen Corby, Billy Wayne, Tudor Owen, Eddie Parks, Paul Douglas, John Eldredge, Tor Johnson, Pat Flaherty, Lewis Stone, Bruce Bennett, Bill Hickman, Keenan Wynn, Dan Riss, Janet Leigh, Beverly Mook, Blue Washington, Lawrence Dobkin, Judy Nugent, Jeff Richards, Spring Byington, John Butler, Fred Santley, Don Haggerty, Bill Walker, James Whitmore, Richard Hale, J Lewis Smith, Fred Datig Jr, Billy Miller, Tom Irish, Hubie Kerns, Joe DiMaggio, John Burger, Paul Salata, Ty Cobb
- Genres:
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Angels in the Outfield links
|Version 1
Angels in the Outfield: Angels in the Outfield: A young woman reporter blames the Pittsburgh Pirates' losing streak on the obscenely abusive manager. While she attempts to learn more about him for her column, he begins hearing the voice of an angel promising him help for the team if he will mend his ways. As he does so, an orphan girl who is a Pirates fan and has been praying for the team begins noticing angels on the ballfield. Sure enough, the Pirates start winning, and McGovern tries to turn his life around. But can he keep his temper long enough for the Pirates to win the NL pennant?
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Waiver Program
Tuition & Mandatory Fees Waiver
The Tuition Waiver Programs pays all tuition and mandatory University fees for eligible students.
- Tuition for any regular credit-bearing course (graduate or undergraduate level) is waived whether or not the student is enrolled in a degree program.
- Only mandatory campus fees are waived.
- University of Maine System Waiver Application
This program will not cover:
- Medical expenses
- Fines
- Other fees not required for enrollment in classes (i.e. travel fees, equipment fees, individual course fees, program fees)
- Books and supplies
- On-campus parking passes
Required documentation:
- A completed waiver application.
- An original document certifying membership from the tribal enrollment office; or
- Original tribal verification faxed directly from the tribal enrollment offices to the University of Maine System Native American Indian Waiver and Educational Program and Room & Board Grant Coordinator at the Wabanaki Center.


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Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any related characters. SPN belongs to Kripke. No money made here.
Author's Notes:Five drabbles done for the prompts for the table below as a part of SPN-BigPretzel Holiday Drabble Challenge. Hope you enjoy!
Title: Sprig of Holly, Gotcha
Prompt: Recipe Substitution
"It's the same thing," Dean said, holding the sprig of holly over the pewter bowl.
Sam's hand shot out, preventing his brother from dropping the twig with the bright red berries and equally as bright green leaves into the spell mixture. The younger Winchester shook his head.
"The spell says 'mistletoe,'" Sam said, pointing to the parchment.
"Both Christmas."
Dean dropped the sprig in, and the room was instantly filled with a cloud of purple-ish smoke. When the smoke cleared, Sam rolled his eyes. Little balls of golden lights filled the room. Fairies.
"Mistletoe. Got it," Dean said.
Title: Baking
Prompt: Baking
"I'm to understand it's tradition to have many sweets on this incorrectly placed holiday," Castiel said, holding the rock he was daring to call a "pie" on the vinyl hotel table.
Dean looked ready to mourn for the dessert, while Sam eyed his brother, reminding him to be kind.
"Uh… what kind is it?"
Castiel's brow furrowed. "Pecan."
Dean pursed his lips, pressing his finger onto the middle of the pie. It had absolutely no give. Castiel cut a slice—burnt black—and handed it to Dean, who took a small bite.
"Mmm—" he choked out, "yum."
Castiel beamed.
Title: When He Was Short
Prompt: Smoke Alarm
Dean coughed, waving the dish rag at the black smoke. The smoke alarm had just stopped beeping. Sammy sat at the foot of the nearest bed—bottom lip quivering, eyes glassy. Dean frowned, staring his nine-year-old brother down, waiting for an explanation.
"I wanted to make you a special dinner. It's Christmas," he explained, his voice as wobbly as his lips.
Dean sighed, scratching the back of his head. He nodded, moving to sit beside his brother. He wrapped a forgiving arm around him.
"I know," Dean said. "I'm just saying… if you can't reach the stove top… don't try."
Title: Found It
Prompt: Cranberry Mold
"What do you mean, you can't find the cursed ring?" Dean said, incredulous.
Sam shrugged, which looked hilarious on his lanky teenaged body. "It was right here!"
He pointed to the table in front of him, still littered with the empty cans of fruit and gelled cranberry. Dean frowned.
"Dad's gonna kill us."
Sam mimicked his frown. "I'm sorry. I swear, it was right—Wait—"
Sam ran to the fridge, where his "holiday dessert" was chilling. He grabbed the mold, and upturned it. With a sucking noise, it fell out. Floating in it was the ring.
"… Found it."
Title: Misappropriation
Prompt: Candy Thermometer
"Dean… dude… where's that candy thermometer?" Sam asked, turning to gaze at his brother.
Dean, meanwhile, was a groaning, a layer of sweat on his forehead, and his skin an ashen pale. However, much to Sam's horror, a metal stick with a large, numbered dial hung from his germ-filled, flu-infected mouth. Sam darted over and yanked it free. Dean jerked up.
"So many health violations… what the hell man? It's a candy thermometer!"
Dean still managed to look properly insulted. "Why do you even have a candy thermometer?"
Sam shrugged. "Just in case."
"Of what? The Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man?"


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Resources on the Web || CD-ROMs (ND access only)
Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon
Biographical entries for many Byzantine authors; cites to editions and secondary literature.
Collections of images of Byzantine coins, including examples from Venice, Serbia and Trebizond.
Byzantine sources in translation
Collection of primary sources translated into English. From "Byzantium: Byzantine studies on the Internet" (maintained by Paul Halsall of the University of North Florida).
Byzantine St. Stephens: a biocultural reconstruction of urban monastic life
Ongoing biocultural investigation of an early Byzantine monestary in Jerusalem. Sponsored by the University of Notre Dame and the École Biblique et Archéologique Française. "The biological, historical and archaeological records coalesce in a retrospective/prospective biocultural model, both drawing from and contributing to the theory and interpretation of each area of inquiry."
Byzantine Studies Association of North America
"The Byzantine Studies Association of North America, Inc. (BSANA) was formed in 2006. It is composed of three parts: the U.S. National Committee for Byzantine Studies (USNCBS), the Canadian Committee of Byzantinists (CCB), and the Byzantine Studies Conference (BSC) ... The new BSANA website will eventually contain comprehensive information about past and present BSCs and about activities of the two national committees (USNCBS and CCB) under its aegis."
Computer simulations of Constantinople's architectural monuments in 1200 AD.
Constantinople, Interactive map of
From Linda Safran at the University of Toronto.
Information on conferences, fellowships, publications and research resources of the Byzantine Studies program at Harvard University's Dumbarton Oaks.
"The Metropolitan Museum of Art's on-line exploration of Byzantium was created in conjunction with the international loan exhibition The Glory of Byzantium (March 11 - July 6, 1997), which celebrated the art of the second golden age of Byzantine art (843 - 1261). This on-line exploration moves beyond the time frame of the exhibition and includes examples of art from the first golden age of Byzantine art (324 - 730) and the late period, which ended with the Turkish conquest in 1453."
Google's mass digitization includes many important out-of-copyright Byzantine source collections.
Icons in the Snite Museum, University of Notre Dame
"These first icons mark the beginning of a process, namely the publication of the Snite Museum of Art's extensive holdings of Greek, Russian, and Balkan icons. Most of these entered the University of Notre Dame's art collection as part of the donation made by Charles Wightman in 1924. Beyond brief catalogue notes and some student papers, little has been done to publicize these holdings, and for many years only one icon has been on display in the Museum's main galleries."
"This is the largest database of medieval art in existence with full-text records for nearly 18,000 works of art dating from early apostolic times to A.D. 1400. Each work, depending on the medium can have up to fifty different classification fields, including data such as location /ownership, date, school, style, etc. The subject matter of each work is classified under one or more of the 26,000 subject terms developed over eighty years by the Index and a full-text description accompanies each work."
Megasite maintained by Paul Halsall of the University of North Florida. Contains links to online sources, articles, bibliographies and much, much more.
Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
The Byzantine studies reference book. Remarkable collaboration and achievement of leading Byzantine scholars under the editorial leadership of Alexander Khazdan. More than 5000 entries. Interdisciplinary approach; articles often written by more than one author. "Deliberate attempt to emphasize realia and the man in the street." Short bibliographies of secondary literature and citation to the best edition and translations of primary sources.
Migne's great collection of patristic texts from the Documenta Catholica Omnia website.
Pinakes: textes et manuscrits grecs
Descriptive database of Greek manuscripts hosted by the Institut de Recherche et d'Histoire des Textes.
Prosopography of the Byzantine world: PBW seals website 1025-1261
On-line database of Byzantine seals dating from 1025 to 1261.
Prosopography of the Byzantine world: Prosopographical Reading of Byzantine Sources, 1025-1102
Michael Jeffreys, Editor
Extremely useful prosopographical database of the middle Byzantine period.
Useful bibliographic database that indexes the contents of Byzantine journals and proceedings volumes.
The Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies
"The Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies (SPBS) was established in 1983, with the object of furthering study and knowledge of the history and culture, language and literature of the Byzantine Empire and its neighbours. ... Among other activities the Society sponsors an annual Symposium, which is held every spring at different locations in the British isles; the Symposium normally incorporates the Annual General Meeting of the Society."
Suda On Line: Byzantine Lexicography
"The Suda is a massive 10th century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, derived from the scholia to critical editions of canonical works and from compilations by yet earlier authors. The purpose of the Suda On Line is to open up this stronghold of information by means of a freely accessible, keyword-searchable, XML-encoded database with translations, annotations, bibliography, and automatically generated links to a number of other important electronic resources."
Byzantinische Zeitschrift. Bibliographie.
Cumulative bibliography of essays and monographs cited in Byzantinische Zeitschrift and its supplement, indexed by keywords; bibliographic citation records can be searched, browsed, copied, exported and printed.
Access info: You will be asked for a password; it's not needed; just click OK.
The first complete interactive computer-based presentation of the frescoes in the main church of the Hilandar monastery on Mt. Athos.
Usage info: Licensed for one simultaneous user. CD kept in the Hesburgh Reserve Book Room.
International Medieval Bibliography
Indexes articles, notes, and similar literature on medieval subjects in journals, Festschriften, conference proceedings, and collected essays. Covers all aspects of medieval studies within the date range of 400 to 1500 for the entire continent of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa for the period before the Muslim conquest and parts of those areas subsequently controlled by Christian powers.
Access info: Click on Enter databases, then select International Medieval Bibliography - online.
Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
A database the aim of which is to record all surviving information about every individual mentioned in Byzantine textual sources, together with as many as possible of the individuals recorded in seal sources, for the period 641-1261.
Digital version of an illuminated liturgical manuscript (BL Add. 19352) from the Byzantine Empire, known as the Theodore psalter; the digital version features full-color magnified views of all pages, searchable text in original Greek and in English translation, and scholarly essays. Edited by Prof. Charles Barber of the University of Notre Dame.
Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (TLG)
Electronic collection of ancient Greek texts surviving from the period between Homer (8th century B.C.) and A.D. 600, plus historiographical, lexicographical, and scholastic texts deriving from the period between 600 and 1453.
Access info: To set up an account to use this new interface, click on: Search the Online TLG ... Subscribers ... Institutions, in the left hand frame.


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In Good (and Green) Company
It's no secret that business as usual is changing: A Deloitte study found that 90 percent of companies have set goals for their electricity and energy management practices. Two-thirds of CFOs are involved in their company's sustainability strategies. From chief sustainability officers to corporate sustainability reports, consciousness about environmental impact has entered the C-suite. That's pretty exciting.
For many of you, USGBC member companies and sustainability trailblazers, the concepts of "green business," "sustainable business," and "responsible business" - are far from new. You were there at the beginning. You created the beginning. I think of Ray Anderson, Paul Hawken, and countless other sustainability-focused business minds who have been living these ideals for decades.
Whether your company was an early adopter or a recent convert in this culture shift, we're hurtling toward an apex where green business and good business are synonymous. But on this journey, we need to think bigger than business as usual, redefining what sustainable business means. I have a few insights to offer, the first two of which are courtesy of USGBC's leader and visionary, Rick Fedrizzi.
1. "Every story about a green building is a story about people."
Humanity and sustainability are inextricably linked. Take LEED: It doesn't exclusively address measures that are good for the environment, but also those that are healthful and optimal for building occupants – all of us, and for generations to come. Consider a high-performing school building, for example, where children can learn from their sustainable surroundings; in spaces designed to optimize their concentration and health. They'll grow up as "sustainability natives," bringing those ideals to their own children some day. What could be more sustainable and human than that?
As the business realm shifts toward sustainable operations, and our existing passions grow even deeper, it's important to remember that green business and good business are nothing without people. The green building movement wouldn't carry any relevance without the people who believe in it, who advocate for it, and who carry out the mission.
The lesson is: Build your people in to your 2013 sustainability outlook. Take steps to acknowledge them, inspire them, and in turn, learn from them – whether it's through mentoring programs, a professional development initiative, or well-deserved holiday bonuses.
Green is good, but becomes better when the green people are a part of the plan. That's truly sustainable.
2. "We'll know that we have achieved what we set out to do when we have put ourselves out of business."
With full market uptake of green building, with a universal understanding that green buildings are healthier, better for the environment and cost-effective for our economy, there will be no need for green building councils. The word "green building" will be redundant. "Green buildings" will just be "buildings." We'll go out of business because it's everybody's business.
This "Rick-ism" is an especially poignant business lesson. A business is nothing without conviction, a central focus to unite your staff and a mission toward which to work.
If that mission is sustainability, build it in to the culture of your company – don't silo it in to a single role or report.
3. "Stay hungry. Stay fearless."
Steve Jobs, a man we quote quite often around the USGBC offices, coined the original phrase as "Stay foolish." Foolishness has its merits, but fearlessness is even better (and more difficult). When I think back on my career, my fearless moments were the ones that propelled me higher and farther than those that were calculated and safe. When I consider the companies I admire most, it's their bold pursuit of the unknown that resonates with me.
It's about leaving your comfort zone – willingly, and without apology. These are the moments and actions that define leadership, for an individual or for a company.
In the realm of sustainability this means going bigger, farther, and better - with no fear. Whatever you're doing in sustainability now could be stronger in a month. In a year. In ten years. Keep your edge, and keep scaling up your sustainability efforts. Do it fearlessly. Think outside of the corporate sustainability box.
Otherwise, you'll be left behind.


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I am french. I came in Scotland in 98, since then I worked in Highlands/Central scotland. I started to trad lead climbing in 2010, and love to go around UK to discover new areas (Wales/Skye...). Like rock & pop music (Doors, Led zep, rage against the machine...). Climbing make you go places, discover nature, meet people, and push yourself, that's what I love the most about it.
Best Climbing Experience
Climbing in Skye, views are fantastic!
Favourite Climbing-Related Discussion Topic
Grades on guiding books!
Recent Postings
Interests Outside Climbing
Running, Food, Nature, fitness, walking with my dog!
About My Photography
Only sharing other people pictures!
Photo Gallery
Click to view sergio46's gallery. (12 photos)
Click to search for photos of climbers called sergio46.
Click to list photo comments written by me. (1 comment)
Anything Else We Should Know
"un dejeunet du chien" = mess
Been Climbing For
1 to 3 years
Best Onsights
Trad - HVS
Indoor - 6b+
Bouldering - V4
Worked Grades
Trad - E1
Indoor - 6c+
Main Sport/Activity
Favourite Crag/Rock
Not sure Yet, need to go around?
Favourite Wall
Best Magazine
Climber (UK)
I Climb...
Several times a week
In the UK
Latest Climbs
Western Arete VS
Dawn Grooves HVS 4c
The Snake HVS 4c
Trojan Groove HVS 5a
Vulcan Wall HVS 5a
Scream S 4b
Trundle VS 4c
White Slab HS 4b
Promontory Direct HVS 5a
Mr Men VS 4b
Red Lead VS 5a
College Grooves HS 4b
Forgotten Wall VS 5a
Canon Hole Direct MVS 4b
The Brute HVS 5a
... list all 281 climbs
Ticklists BETA
... not setup
Climbs Wishlist
... not setup


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February 19, 2013
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Omaha, Nebraska
Small dinner and a movie
I am 32 years old and recently moved to the DC area from Nebraska and I know almost no one. I have a nearly four year-old lab mix that is my buddy.
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The Back Office is the control center for online sales promotions. Whether you're dealing with B2B or B2C shop solutions, professional control and monitoring of sales activities is the basis of any successful eBusiness.
For one, BackOffice enables you to run an almost unlimited number of online shops and to assign to each its individual special offer categories, sales promotions, and product data inventory.
BackOffice doesn't simply control a variety of webshop functions. Depending on your needs, it also integrates other eCommerce modules such as:
Most of these modules are contained in the application in their standard version, and can be upgraded almost indefinitely to suit your needs and type of business.
A sophisticated security system - with which user-roles, user-groups and user-IDs are managed - ensures the efficient allocation of responsibilities, even in larger or distributed organizations.
The convenient Windows-GUI assures even heavy users in continuous operation a pleasant, error-free, and rapid workflow.
Changes made in BackOffice can be activated in the Shop immediately, without tiresome detours via Content Management Systems (CMS) and the like. They can also be integrated in your own in-house CMS, if required.
Depending on his user-ID, every user obtains a view of the system that is optimized for him personally; for example, he sees only the shops, products and ad campaigns that fall in his area of competence.
Naturally, he can also precisely define all the system features to which he has access.
Some additional control features:
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Und noch etwas: Wir mögen keine Knebelverträge und deshalb können unsere fanSTORE-Kunden auch jederzeit innerhalb 4 Wochen ihren STORE kündigen!
Hier kannst du deinen fanSTORE registrieren:


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In the February issue of the "Pioneer" of London, a journal devoted to Palestine, an editorial comments on the work of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The "Pioneer" says:
"It is ten years since this Agency, first known as the Jewish Correspondence Bureau, was established. The work which it did in making the facts of what was happening in Palestine known to the Jewish world, and through its arrangements with Reuters and the Associated Press of America, to public opinion in Europe and America, entitle it to well merited congratulations.
"We cordially associate ourselves with the tribute paid to its efficiency by the official publication of the Zionist Organization of America. Faced with the necessity of bringing out of Palestine news which local authorities made every effort to censor or suppress, it says, the agents of the J.T.A. often sent the dispatches at the risk of their lives, and had the task of transmitting the information been in the hands of any other news distributing organization it is problematical whether the complete news would have been given, and whether the Jewish aspect would have been emphasized. In this country, it is largely due to its efforts that Jewry was enable to counteract the fierce agitation of such journals as the 'Daily Mail' and their endeavors by devious means to distort the facts of the situation.
"Throughout its ten years of existence the J.T.A. has stood on guard, keeping the Jewish and non-Jewish world informed of Jewish happenings in every corner of the globe through its 153 trained correspondents in every center of Jewish life, communicating their dispatches through the offices of the Agency in London, New York, Jerusalem, Warsaw, Berlin and Paris, so that within twenty-four hours any item of importance to any Jewish group in any part of the world is known to every newspaper reader. It is a unique service to have rendered world Jewry."


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Repeat application as needed, usually every 30 days or at first site of new damage.
2 LB contianer will treat approximately 1,440 sq ft
The Ortho® Guarantee: If for any reason you, the consumer, are not satisfied with this product, mail us your original proof of purchase to obtain a full refund of your purchase price. For more help, Visit our Help Center
When using on edible crops, apply the product when no above-ground harvestable food commodities are present, including blossoms.
4.5% Geraniol, 2.66% Castor Oil, 0.38% Peppermint Oil
When finished with contents, offer for recycling or dispose according to local or municipal laws. Never place unused product down any indoor or outdoor drain.
This is not the product label. Always read and follow the product label before use.
View Label (requires PDF reader)
Safety Data Sheets can be found at scottsmsds.com
Need an answer to a product question? Scotts experts are always available by email and phone in our Help Center.


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This makes NO sense. I always believed that the incredible usefulness of the Envato marketplaces was that anyone could login and because of the wealth of content, could find exactly what they needed for their project, no matter how niche it may seem. I think this would be a very unique selling point that they should market. So, some files aren't as good as others, but they are certainly useful to some people, and still make money for us authors.
Give me a break.
Mod's note: Removed profanity.
ah, its fixed now…
for some reason its cut off a lot of my post :/ ;'( any devs around?
I was at first, unconvinced by the completely redesigned 'chassis' for the new iPhone. The break lines, acute edges, and circular volume controls just seemed so radically different from previous models. Undeniably however, it doesn't get more Apple then that. The iPhone 4 really is at the cutting edge of innovative industrial design. I think it's just as iconic, if not more than the products we've seen in the last few years (maybe with exclusion of the iPad). We will have to wait and see, but from photos and short user videos, the new design looks amazing in your hand. I read on quite a few sites about face to face comparison with the 4 and 3GS. Many people solely commented on the fact that their 3GS was so much more cumbersome and bulky in comparison. The more compact design (24% more compact) really does look and feel like a product way ahead of its time. I can't wait to try it out in store to and make some real conclusions.
A note on a few of its features;
Facetime: Although Sam Mendes depicts a blissful, cliche view of the potential this new feature could bring, I really think that 'wifi only' is going to limit its spontaneousness. And isn't that a big chunk of what its about? In large built up areas it shouldn't be a problem as you can guarantee your brain is being frazzled by at least 10 hotspots simultaneously! (I dont actually believe that..) Having to scout for a hot spot in your more rural scenes must take the 'magic' and casual out of using it.
HD video: Again, until I see this (and the retina display) for myself in store, I can only comment on the videos and pictures i've seen on Apple.com. But boy, do they look incredible. 720p HD video capabilities. WOW . Finally you can take a good picture with your phone. Some may say, 'whats the point unless its going to replace your compact?'. I don't know what to say about this. I've scratched my head trying to deliberate a considered answer, but I guess i'll have to see, if I do buy one, that it fits seamlessly into my life, and benefits it in some way. I think that is the crux of the product. Also, iMovie for iPhone 4 (something like $5.99) seems a little on the 'gimmicky' side of things. No doubt the screen lovely and large (Bigger than most, smaller than others) but to make anything more than a 5 minute time passer doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Don't get me wrong I am a huge fan of Apple, and very exited about last nights news and product announcements, but I have to more objective! It sure looks powerful for mobile software, but can this be fully integrated into your desktop suite of applications (obviously including iMove09). If yes is the answer, they've hit on a great idea. Where you can take great shots and video clips of a holiday or business trip and do some of the work right there on your phone. Anyway, I could go on but I want to hear from you .....
Multitasking (dont the right way!): Now, this is the thing i've been really exited about. Looks like Apple have a version of the iPads powerful A4 chip inside the tiny steel case of the 4. Hopefully (im sure it will) it will cruise through multiple applications and prove to be the most useful and productive update to software and hardware since the intel processors! I can't wait for this to come out in the next iPad update, as I would really like to purchase one then! For now, i'm tied to a two year contract (:S) so I will probably be looking at an iPhone HDs 6 or w.e futuristic name they will conjure up.
iBooks: Not such a new feature since the keynote in Feb, but with the update of integrated PDF viewing, this looks more and more like a useful product. I can't say I would want to read anything more than a 2 page PDF from a client, so I can't really see myself reading books on it. However, clearly it was something they had to bring to the iPhone, or people would start crying. The fact that all purchases made are compatible across their range of products that supports iBooks does looks promising. No more double purchasing!
Now, if you haven't already bled your fingers dry in the engadget/gdgt.. comments section, post any thoughts here.
Oh yeh, and I hate the white iPhone 4. What were they thinking? and, it made me laugh at name they chose for their new case. I think engadget called it 'the bunker' while on Apple.com it was called the 'bumper'. Both hilarious name imo.
Thanks guys
the things people will do for an iPad!
losing their dignity searching for hours through thousands of pages of files!
An Apple iPad you say??
i'm in.
Better get collecting…
- QuadCore Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 , 2666 MHz (8×333)
- Asus Maximus Extreme
- NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB)
- 4 x Crucial Ballistix 1 GB DDR3 -1066 DDR3 SDRAM
- Intuos 4 Medium tablet
- Samsung SyncMaster 2232 BW
- Adobe Dreamweaver CS3
- Adobe Photoshop CS4
- Advanced Jpeg Compressor 2009
- HTML -Kit 292 (freeware)
- Topstyle 4
- Demo Builder 7
- Colorpic 4 (freeware)
- Coolruler 1.5 (freeware)
- Awicons Pro 10
- CuteFTP Pro 8
- Wampserver (freeware)
- WebCEO (freeware)
you git XD
Pen Tablet
Adobe Master Collection CS4
Open Office
Nikon D300
Moleskine Collection—
any left? Cheers
Most of you will probably already have about a gazillion bookmarks for this site uncyclopedia
those of you suffering from humour disfunction/bypass should leave now.
My best finds
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Bullshit http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Twilight and http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Harry_Potter_(books)Lets see yours


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Los Angeles Clippers v Cleveland Cavaliers Live
Once again plagued by injuries, the Clippers are not exactly where they wanted to be halfway through the season. Hoping to make a run to the playoffs, Chris Kaman and the Los Angeles Clippers will travel to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at 11 p.m. GMT.
Although some might have criticized the Cavs' off-season additions when the team struggled earlier in this year's NBA campaign, things turned around as the season went on. More precisely, Cleveland is currently holding on to the best record in the league at 35-11 and has been playing like a legitimate championship contender over the past two months. Moreover, it should be noted that the franchise's front-office is trying to arrange a trade that could send power forward Antawn Jamison to Cleveland before the trade deadline in February. Unsurprisingly, reigning MVP LeBron James continues to excite fans around the league putting up no less than 29.9 points, 7.8 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.
The Clippers on the other hand did not improve as much as they were hoping before the season got underway, yet, being only three games below the .500 mark is not too bad considering the circumstances. Most importantly, number one overall pick Blake Griffin will most likely not play a single game in his rookie season due to a lengthy knee injury. Likewise, starting center Chris Kaman missed a considerable amount of games which made things even more difficult in the competitive Western Conference. Nonetheless, the Clippers are still only 4.5 games out of the playoff picture and still have plenty of time to get their act together. That said, there is no doubt that the Cavs are the undisputed favorites when they face Chris Kaman and company on Sunday night. Even though the Clippers have pulled off solid defensive efforts on most nights, containing LeBron James and company might be a little bit too much to ask for.
You can watch all games of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers right here on www.watchlivenba.com, the home of NBA live streaming.
Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Antawn Jamison, LeBron James, Chris Kaman, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA live
Posted: 12th February 2011
Other Sports Links


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|Samuel CORRELL was born 19 Mar 1815 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and died 18 Oct 1901 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. He was the son of 2. John CORRELL and 3. Elizabeth LIND. He married Lucretta DEPUY 21 Dec 1840, daughter of John DEPUY and Julia ?. She was born 13 Dec 1817 in Pennsylvania, and died 27 Dec 1883 in Stark County, Ohio.
|John CORRELL was born 1789 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and died 15 Apr 1859 in Stark County, Ohio.
|Elizabeth LIND was born 1793 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and died 1 Mar 1875 in Stark County, Ohio.
Child of Elizabeth LIND and John CORRELL is:
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text: I waited a long time for the iPhone 5 release, and when it finally arrived, it met all my expectations and then some. On top of great performance, the design is stunning and it is probably the best looking phone on the market. I mean yeah the buttons have more play than I'm used to, but that's cool no biggie. The initial scrutinizing reveals small mm wide gaps between the antenna bands and aluminum. According to the promo video for the iPhone 5, the manufacturing differences in design are measured in microns. Well then they must be measuring in the hundreds if not thousands of microns because I have gaps in my antenna bands and between one of the back ceramic portions and case. I had to return my original 5 because the screen started clicking when I touched it. The second 5, along with the "usual problems", had a knick on the bezel straight out of the box. Guess what else? A finger smudge INSIDE the rear camera lens. I drove all the way home in the rain and was not willing to go back there the same day. Instead, I waited nearly 2 weeks and finally went back. I swapped it out again and this phone doesn't have any marks/blemishes, although it does have the "famous" blue splotching on the antenna bands. I don't know what it is or if it will ever go away, but blue on white on silver wasn't exactly what I had in mind. My first thought is back in September and October when the Foxconn workers were striking. I can just imagine a bunch of pissed off under paid and probably poorly treated workers assembling phones and just sliding them down the assembly line. Somewhere in the factory there are some REALLY pissed off employees making videos and throwing iPhones to each other and intentionally dropping said throws(not unlike the Walmart video posted recently(although they were just idiots) ). I like to think there is a group within the angry mob that takes pride in producing perfect iPhones and takes all proper measures to ensure excellence, and that perhaps with some luck and diligence, maybe I will get one of those mythical(and mystical) "perfect iPhone 5" 's


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Big Ten Supports Michigan's Suspension of Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Zack Novak and Issues Public Reprimand
Jan. 30, 2009
The Big Ten Conference office announced today that it concurs with the suspension of University of Michigan men's basketball student-athlete Zack Novak for violating the Big Ten Sportslike Conduct Agreement during the Ohio State game on Jan. 28, 2009. In accordance with penalties established in Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01.1.A.1, the conference office also publicly reprimands Novak for his actions.
"Zack Novak's actions at the end of the Ohio State game are unacceptable and have no place in the sport of basketball or the Big Ten Conference," Commissioner James E. Delany said. "We support Michigan's implementation of a one-game suspension."
The Big Ten Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.
Schools Illinois Indiana Iowa Maryland Michigan Michigan State Minnesota Nebraska Northwestern Ohio State Penn State Purdue Rutgers Wisconsin
Men's Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Gymnastics Hockey Indoor Track & Field Lacrosse Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis Outdoor Track & Field Wrestling
Women's Sports Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Gymnastics Indoor Track & Field Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Outdoor Track & Field Volleyball


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The Duragate (Model MG-25) was created with a simple mounting system, very easy to assemble and will mount at any angle. This gate also features all steel construction with a powder coated finish. The Duragate is available in White and Taupe.
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For those unaware, the tailgates don't begin in Lot 1 ... they begin as the Bengal Bomb Squad gathers in the mornings (usually around 730 am) to get ready for the ride down!
For the final home game of the regular season, some members of the Bengal Bomb Squad took time to have some fun and pose for photos before heading down to the tailgate lot. This is the crew of the Who Dey Heroes Bus as the early morning sun rises north of I-275! A "Who Dey HoliDEY" was declared as the Bengals took on the Chiefs and the Bengal Bomb Squad gathered for the final tailgate of the 2009 regular season!
On a chilly morning, the group was ready to tailgate and party, for certain. After the holidays and two weeks of Away Games, every member of the Bengal Bomb Squad was ready to reunite for one more regular-season blast!
Holiday gifts were a plenty! "New Rob" debuted his brand new jersey, the Bengal Bomb Squad stocking caps kept many guests warm, and the all-new Bengal Bomb Squad t-shirts made their debut!
The more the merrier is always the case at a Bomb Squad tailgate ... and as more guests arrived, it continues to be the Who Dey truth of it!
Thanks to donations from tailgate attendees, a new heater was added for the chilly tailgate. Sadly, the new heater was defective and ended-up just being a teasing decoration. However, guests have no fear! It was replaced for upcoming tailgates!
Also, thanks to new members Jerry & Brennan --- and their family --- who've now merged their nearby tailgate with the Bomb Squad's, a third heater was added to the mix! All of our guests were as warm as possible as we enjoyed food, games, and great friends & family --- both new & old! --- during the HoliDEY!
Without a doubt, everyone was in great spirits and were ready to watch the Bengals clinch the AFC North title ... the team's 2nd in five seasons!
As has become a Bengal Bomb Squad tradition, the bagpipes cued a fun sing-a-long & dance-a-long rendition of "Kiss Me ...!" Always a highlight of the Bomb Squad tailgates!
Husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, family, dates, and strangers are always happy to pose together and celebrate a good time at the Bengal Bomb Squad tailgate! A little Paul Brown Cider, some good food, and great music go a long way in making a spectacular "Who Dey Day!"
It's a championship party in the air ... and there are smiles to be had all around!
The Bengal Bombs, of course, were in full effect and the party was flowing freely! Beer Pong, Tiger Bombs, & Bengal Bombs kept everyone in the wildest Who Dey moods ever! Even Brittany, who turned 21 during the week, was in great Bengal spirits ... although she was feeling the effects of her week-long party.
Everyone who partied enjoyed huddling together as a group under the tents throughout the tailgate to keep warm by the heaters. A party this size, however, can't be confined to such limited space!
There are new friends and new things happening at every turn at a Bengal Bomb Squad tailgate. It's all part of the magic of a Who Dey HoliDEY!
Sadly, this tailgate also marked the first home game since the tragic death of Bengals's Wide Receiver ... Chris "Slim" Henry. An idea spawned on the Bengals.com message boards ... at 11:15 am, tailgaters held their own tribute to #15 by honking their horns 15 times for 15 seconds. The Bengal Bomb Squad immediately joined the effort to spread the word of the tribute, and using Twitter, this website, message boards, and local sports media ... tailgaters across the riverfront joined in. It was one of the single most touching moments to be a Cincinnati Bengals fan.
At the end of the day, it was an unforgettable tailgate and a unforgettable game as Chris Henry was remembered and the Bengals clinched the AFC North. The Bengal Bomb Squad definitely did what we could to make 2009 memorable, with friends & family ... both new and old ... that we're proud to have join us in Lot 1!


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ext. 92101
firstname.lastname@example.com to report any student absences. Please include child's name, grade level, teacher, date of absence, reason for absence. If illness, please include symptoms.
Welcome to Rosemount Elementary!
Rosemount Elementary is a school of approximately 740 students in the suburban community of Rosemount, Minnesota. The mission of Rosemount Elementary is to assure learning for all students in an engaging environment that is respectful, responsible, positive and safe. Teachers facilitate purposeful learning through inquiry, investigation, practical application, creativity and collaboration.
The daily schedule for all students is built around literacy and math workshop blocks. Science, social studies and health are embedded within the literacy blocks during the day. Teachers meet the large range of student abilities by individualizing student learning based on each student's needs.
At Rosemount Elementary we are proud of our dedicated staff, student achievement, supportive families and welcoming environment!
Where students are Respectful, Responsible, Positive and Safe!
View Complete Calendar
Testing Information


text:
On 27.11.05 08:43 +1000, Mark Wass wrote:
> In addition to the 3.5 inch drive bay, how about one to fit inside
> a 5.25 inch drive bay face plate also. I think this would cover the
> a majority of peoples needs/wants :-)
> One quick question Manuel, are these transparent stickers?
That's the intention. I guess that would look best in most places.
- Manuel


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President Obama said the shooting deaths at the Washington Navy Yard Monday were a tragedy and the victims were "patriots."
"We are confronting yet another mass shooting and today it happened on a military installation in our nation's capital," Mr. Obama said at the White House. He said the government would do everything in its power to make sure those responsible for the "cowardly act" would be held responsible.
"We still don't know all the facts," Mr. Obama said.
At least four people were killed and eight others wounded in the shooting at the Washington Navy Yard Monday morning. Police said one suspect is dead and they are investigating unconfirmed reports that two other gunmen may have been involved.


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Houseboat Magazine Article (October 2002):
Great Scotts! Arizona Couple Finds
The Ultimate Destination
For Steve and Sue Ann Scott of Scottsdale, Arizona, Memorial Day was indeed a day to remember. They had just taken delivery of a spanking new Destination Yacht on the quiet waters of Saguaro Lake - a quaint little impoundment 40 miles outside of Phoenix. As the couple tested their new pride and joy, the VHF blared in a call for help. "It was the Coast Guard Auxiliary," Steve recalled. "They had been calling out that no one had stopped to help them, and they were drifting into the rocks." Just a few miles away, the Scott's decided to break in their craft with a rescue run. "I think they were a bit unsure, learning that it was a houseboat coming to save them," he said.
With it's twin 60 Mercury Bigfoot engines, however, the boat made a steady 10-mph jaunt to the scene. Even if their first foray into houseboat ownership started with a bang, the scenario since then has been a kicked-back vacation without end.
For the Scott's their own recreational rescue came in much broader terms. After several seasons running smaller boats, they decided it was time to settle down. They've actually had a slip on Saguaro for about eight years. Steve tells us, but have taken their enjoyment level to new heights with the houseboat, which they've clearly christened "Scotts & Water". "Before this, we had an 18-foot open bow Sea Ray. We used it to hit about every lake in the state."
Saguaro has always ranked as their favorite haven, however. "It's one of the prettiest lakes you'll ever see, and there's plenty to do," Sue Ann said. "We read and swim a lot. And we do a little hiking - with all the wildlife, we have a lot of reason to." Area critters include bighorn sheep, eagles, mountain lion, fox, deer and wild donkeys. Steve added, "One morning we saw a mountain lion eat a squirrel for breakfast."
Good tunes also have a high priority aboard. "Scotts and Water", is supported by a hi-fi stereo system with weatherproof Bose speakers. The factory put in a subwoofer and the amps. Now the Scott's have a total of eight speakers on the boat. "I think at the factory they were a little curious as to just what we were going to be doing out here," Steve said.
And what do they listen to? Like their wide array of other houseboating activities, it's a little bit of everything. "We've been known to put Kid Rock on," confesses Sue Ann. "Not all the time, but it surprises people sometimes."
The Scott's also have a flat panel television with a TracVision satellite system, "so if we can, we'll drive down the lake and watch a NASCAR race if we want. We have done that before," Sue Ann said.
"It's a self-tracking satellite, so as we drive down the lake, the system will track the satellite and it's amazing," Steve said. "It doesn't matter how much the boat rocks or how often you turn, it does not lose that track. It stays glued right to that satellite."
For all their activities, the houseboat had to fit. The Scott's took their time to make sure they got the right boat for the right lake, and more importantly, that they had a boat that reflected their needs and activities.
"There were certain things I knew I wanted in a houseboat, but I just wasn't finding what I wanted at the boat shows." That all changed after crossing paths with Destination's president, Sheldon Graber. "We were just standing there asking questions about these things, and the answer was 'yeah, we can do that'."
One critical feature was a catwalk. "We do so much anchoring out and tying up with other boats, something like that just makes it so much easier."
Along with the catwalk and their selection from a variety of fabrics, the Scott's also opted for a L-shaped dinette. "We're not much into big formal meals," Sue Ann said. "We just wanted something for people coming in and out. We also knew we didn't need to sleep a lot of people on this boat. It sleeps four, but if definitely sleeps two quite comfortably."
The upgrades had their price, of course, but the Scotts were prepared. "Everything was reasonable (price-wise). Nothing about it was scary at all," Steve said. Sue Ann added, "And we understood what we were upgrading from, such as going from the oak cabinetry to maple."
In many ways, even the standard Destination items had the flavor of upgrade. Remember, this is the couple's first houseboat. "We went from a six gallon port-a-potty in our previous boat to a hundred gallon," Sue Ann said with a laugh. They also now have a hundred gallon holding tank, 50 gallon fuel tank and 75 gallons of fresh water with hot and cold running water.
"On our other boat we had a 70 gallon fuel tank and it took us a quarter of a tank to go down to the beach and back," Steve said. "On this boat it takes an eighth of a 50 gallon tank to go down and back, so it's much more fuel efficient."
The increase in boating quality is also apparent in the creature comforts and decor of the boat. "For the interior we picked out all the fabric. I went to different sources, but we also found the hardware that matched the pattern in the fabric and then we carried that theme throughout," Sue Ann said. "We have art from Sedona and Scottsdale and some from Mazatlan and try to put something in the boat whenever we travel."
Most of all, however, they have each other, and have found ways to enjoy their favorite getaway like never before. "We do some what you might call 'theme parties' every once in awhile," Sue Ann said. "We've had a couple of summers when we had a pirate party. Everyone would come dressed up in their bandana, an earring, and an eye patch. We would take over a cove. One year we had 14 boats and 50 people. This year at Christmas we had a creative black tie where the guys got creative with their outfits. Steve wore a black T-shirt with skull and cross bones, a silver and black cummberbun, and a bow tie. The girls got to wear dresses."
Call it payback time for all the busy work weeks that precede their trips to the lake. Steve and Sue Ann are both financial advisors for Morgan Stanley. When it comes time to set the work aside, however, the Scotts take their relaxation seriously.
Time together on the water is actually a deep tradition for the couple. They first met on a Hawaiian cruise one winter, then got married on another cruise in the Bahamas the following spring. "And then for about eight years cruising was our vacation," Sue Ann said. "We always liked the water, but one year we decided that we would buy a boat instead of taking a cruise. The rest is history."
For more information on available houseboat models from Destination Yachts, call (812) 254-8800 or log onto www.destinationyachts.com. For further details about beautiful Saguaro Lake in Arizona, check out the recreation section page at www.accessarizona.com.
Contact Us
Washington, IN 47501
See "Contact Us" Page
Copyright © 2014 Desination Yachts | Site By:
White Watch Media


text: Disney Junior (Canada) is available in English to subscribers across Canada. Disney Junior brings the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary, to life on the screen and offers audiences magical, musical and heartfelt stories that incorporate learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. The channel is available in Canada through a license agreement between Canadian-based integrated media and content company Corus Entertainment Inc. and Disney/ABC Television Group. For more information, please visit www.disneyjunior.ca and corusent.com.


text:
Special Offers
Sensational SavingsExplore
Limited time offers for sensational savings that are sure to be the perfect choice for your next getaway.
Exhilarating AdventuresExplore
Visit exciting San Antonio with many attractions, events and places to explore all year! Your next adventure is waiting!
Romantic GetawayExplore
Escape the ordinary and spoil your sweetheart with a romantic getaway at Hotel Contessa.
Soothing SpaExplore
Relax and revive at Hotel Contessa with a nurturing spa treatment, gorgeous views and inviting surroundings.


text:
Clarence Burmister.
Electronics whiz - helped develop Shoran and EPI for survey use
Image ID: theb3414, NOAA's People Collection
Photo Date: 1950?
Credit: NOAA
Category: Personnel/Single Portrait/Clarence Burmister/
• High Resolution Photo Available
of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Adminstration (NOAA),
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Last Updated:
June 10, 2016


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On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 05:57:01PM +0900, Kyotaro HORIGUCHI wrote: > Hello, This is a new version of the patch formerly known as > 'alternative storage for libpq'. > > - Changed the concept to 'Alternative Row Processor' from > 'Storage handler'. Symbol names are also changed. > > - Callback function is modified following to the comment. > > - From the restriction of time, I did minimum check for this > patch. The purpose of this patch is to show the new implement. > > - Proformance is not measured for this patch for the same > reason. I will do that on next monday. > > - The meaning of PGresAttValue is changed. The field 'value' now > contains a value withOUT terminating zero. This change seems to > have no effect on any other portion within the whole source > tree of postgresql from what I've seen. I think we have general structure in place. Good. Minor notes: = rowhandler api = * It returns bool, so void* is wrong. Instead libpq style is to use int, with 1=OK, 0=Failure. Seems that was also old pqAddTuple() convention. * Drop PQgetRowProcessorParam(), instead give param as argument. * PQsetRowProcessorErrMes() should strdup() the message. That gets rid of allocator requirements in API. This also makes safe to pass static strings there. If strdup() fails, fall back to generic no-mem message. * Create new struct to replace PGresAttValue for rowhandler usage. RowHandler API is pretty unique and self-contained. It should have it's own struct. Main reason is that it allows to properly document it. Otherwise the minor details get lost as they are different from libpq-internal usage. Also this allows two structs to be improved separately. (PGresRawValue?) * Stop storing null_value into ->value. It's libpq internal detail. Instead the ->value should always point into buffer where the value info is located, even for NULL. This makes safe to simply subtract pointers to get row size estimate. Seems pqAddTuple() already does null_value logic, so no need to do it in rowhandler api. = libpq = Currently its confusing whether rowProcessor can be NULL, and what should be done if so. I think its better to fix usage so that it is always set. * PQregisterRowProcessor() should use default func if func==NULL. and set default handler if so. * Never set rowProcessor directly, always via PQregisterRowProcessor() * Drop all if(rowProcessor) checks. = dblink = * There are malloc failure checks missing in initStoreInfo() & storeHandler(). -- marko PS. You did not hear it from me, but most raw values are actually nul-terminated in protocol. Think big-endian. And those which are not, you can make so, as the data is not touched anymore. You cannot do it for last value, as next byte may not be allocated. But you could memmove() it lower address so you can null-terminate. I'm not suggesting it for official patch, but it would be fun to know if such hack is benchmarkable, and benchmarkable on realistic load.
Next: From: MauMau Date: 2012-01-27 15:45:19 Subject: Unreliable "pg_ctl -w start" again Previous: From: Merlin Moncure Date: 2012-01-27 15:35:04 Subject: Re: Speed dblink using alternate libpq tuple storage


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PHPLIB is a base library for the PHP language. It contains class definitions that help in session tracking, manage persistent variables (just like ASP session-variables, only more flexible), can do authentication and permission checking and support shopping cart applications. Additional classes generate HTML code from database queries and similar features.
PLOTICUS is a command line utility for creating bar, line, pie, boxplot, scatterplot, sweep, heatmap, vector, timeline, Venn diagrams, and other types of charts and plots. ploticus is good for automated or just-in-time graph generation. It handles date, time, and categorical data nicely, and has some basic statistical capabilities. It can output to GIF, PNG, SVG, SWF, JPEG, PostScript, EPS, and X11. You can use convenient preset options or create complex scripts with rich and detailed color and style operations.
QuickImage is an open-source utility for adding drawings and graphs to your Web applications. It was designed primarily for use with the SteelBlue Application Server, but is general enough to be used in many programming environments. The QuickImage package contains both Java classes that can draw images on the client's browser and a C++ program that can draw images on the Web server. They both interpret the same set of graphics commands, and you only need one version to add drawings to your Web applications.
RADpage is a rapid application development system for dynamic, data-driven Web applications. It directly operates inside the browser without requiring a client-dependent development environment. RADpage comes as an Apache module or a CGI, includes a powerful HTML/XML like object-oriented programming language called heitml (pronounced "Hi-TML"), and more than 150 Web application components. Development is done on a fully functional application instead of requiring the edit-save-browse cycle associated with conventional client-side development environments. The RADpage editor stores application pages in readable well-formed XML or upon request in HTML for editing with HTML editors.
Sablotron is an XML toolkit which implements XSLT, DOM, and XPath. Sablotron is written in C++, and it can be used from C, Perl, Python, PHP, ObjectPascal, and via a command line interface. It supports the XSLT 1.0, XPath 1.0, and DOM Level 2 W3C specifications. It is designed to be as compact and portable as possible, and is maintained as an Open Source project by Ginger Alliance.


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Grant could bring back Minn. mounted patrol
By Peter Passi
Duluth News Tribune
DULUTH, Minn. — A $24,000 grant the Duluth City Council unanimously voted to accept Monday evening could help put local police back in the saddle this summer.
Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay expects to restart mounted downtown patrols with four horses in early June — one decade after his department discontinued its regular use of the animals.
While details still are being worked out, Ramsay said: "It looks like it's all systems go at this point."
Four officers are scheduled to begin horseback training in February, and Ramsay said the city has received some preliminary offers of donated horses. He's exploring potential space downtown that might be offered to stable the horses.
"We've had tremendous community support," Ramsay said. To date, the city has received tax-deductible grants and private gifts totaling $99,986. Ramsay spoke of one local woman who wrote a $10,000 check in hopes of seeing the city reinstate mounted patrols.
"It's more than quaint. The image that an officer on a horse generates is something that demands respect," said Rob Karwath, spokesman for the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, the source of the $24,000 grant accepted Monday.
The foundation receives numerous requests for support, according to Karwath, who said: "There are a lot of good projects out there, but this one rose to the top because it promises to succeed on a lot of levels."
He said the mounted patrols should heighten security downtown and foster a sense of civic pride that could encourage continued economic development.
"It is something that attracts people and encourages public interaction with the police," said Kristi Stokes, president of the Greater Downtown Council, which contributed $5,000 to support mounted patrols last week.
"I think it further projects the image of Duluth having a safe downtown," she said.
Ramsay said he anticipates the mounted patrol will require an annual operating budget of about $30,000 to board, feed and provide medical care for four horses.
Copyright 2014 the Duluth News Tribune


text: So I have to send in my DS Lite becuase the touch screen is messed up. The machine is stil covered under warranty, and Nintendo said they would send me a new system. When I play FFIII, the text at the bottom of the screen makes the bottom of the screen flicker as if it was getting a bad connection, and the menu button doesn't work when I try clicking on it. I've tried calibrating it but no luck. Is there any other reason why it wouldn't be working properly or should I just get a new one from Nintendo?


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A Chorleywood secondary school is leading a bid to build a free school in Croxley Green.
St Clement Danes School, in Chenies Road, will sponsor the bid to build the Croxley Green School, in Baldwins Lane.
Josephine Valentine, headteacher of St Clement Danes School, said the goal is to open the secondary school in September 2016 with an intake of 180 pupils.
The team leading the proposals first need to gain the support of the Education Funding Agency, with a bid due to be submitted to them in September.
More to follow.


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Fact or Fiction? Is Kristen Stewart Pregnant, Robert Pattinson Joining the Church of Scientology, Katie Holmes Struggling to Be a Single Mom?
Check out what we've learned about Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and more of your favorite stars — after the jump.
Kanye West wants Kim Kardashian to make a sex tape with him, which he swears will "be art, not porn," reports Star.
The mag says that while Kardashian is "scared" of how her mom will react, she's really considering it.
For how close she is to shooting another "sex tape," see what a Kardashian pal leaks to Gossip Cop.
Following the "embarrassment" of Tom Cruise's divorce, the Church of Scientology wants "Robert Pattinson to take over the role as the organization's top celebrity," reports the National Enquirer.
The magazine reveals Kirstie Alley is "spearheading the efforts to lure" Pattinson into Scientology, and recently met with him. For how that went, and why Pattinson's intrigued, log on to Gossip Cop.
J.Lo feels "betrayed" after Casper Smart was recently "caught" in a "gay sex club," reveals Star.
The publication says Smart was spotted at an X-rated New York peepshow, known as a "spot for gay men looking for instant hookups."
For what Smart did there, and how the singer's reacting, see what a Lopez insider spills to Gossip Cop.
Katie Holmes is having a hard time raising Suri as a "single mom," reveals Life & Style.
The mag says "Katie's being pushed and pulled in so many different directions," she feels "overwhelmed."
For how it's "taking a toll" on the actress, and whether she's now regretting her split from Tom Cruise, see what a Holmes confidante admits to Gossip Cop.
Kristen Stewart, who cheated on Robert Pattinson with Rupert Sanders, has a "nightmare" situation because she's "pregnant — but doesn't know who the father is," reveals Star.
Stewart's not sure "if it's Rob's or Rupert's," and is terrified about "facing single motherhood." For how far along her pregnancy is, and what Stewart's going to do, go to Gossip Cop.
No changes are to be made to this player


text: > Hi, > > I need to find a way to hold jobs in a queue to allow release later. > > The background... > > I have a Torque 2.3 system managing job queues for a scientific > computing cluster and need to run test jobs where I can control on which > nodes each job is run. Until recently this was done by stopping a > queue, submitting jobs to it, then using qrun to release jobs as > appropriate. I use maui reservations for this. I set some sort of administrative reservation on the node I want to test then submit a job to that node. The job will then be held in the queue until I run 'qrun'. This method allows all other jobs submitted to the queue (that are not specifically targetted to the test node) to execute normally. Cheers Justin -- Dr Justin Finnerty Rm W3-1-218 Ph 49 (441) 798 3726 Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg


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Man Buys House Next Door To Cheating Ex-Wife And Installs Huge Middle Finger Statue [PICS]
Life after divorce can be rough. There's always one party left with bitterness. The bitter ex, may burn pictures, slash tires, key cars; anything destructive. But not Alan Markovitz. Oh he got even alright, but not by destroying any of his ex-wife's possessions. Alan purchased a home directly next door to his ex-wife. Not only does she have to deal with him being a neighbor, but every time she takes a look out her window, she will be viewing a bronze statue of the middle finger.


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It's almost a form of blasphemy to ever admit business is better for you, or the platform as a whole, in Second Life, in a community notorious for its negative take on everything. This present blog isn't excluded, as I am happy to ask questions about the lobotomy performed on the forums; about possible collusion with Google to turn SL customers into hapless guinea pigs; about whether the Lindens will do the right thing on Red Zone finally (they won't change 4.3 which is what matters); and even talk with artificially-intelligent beings inworld whether these hippies are planning to sell this boat.
Even so, I think it's always important to report the truth of the situation, even if you don't like it. And the truth is, I had one of the best two months ever in Second Life in rentals and content sales -- and I hear others have, too.
Of course, there's always somebody somewhere who will say, "But that's not true -- I haven't had any sales since January 1" -- and I take that seriously, especially if they are renting a store from me, because their loss of sales is my loss of a rental.
The problem with this dynamically-changing world that always rewards some people and screws others, according to constantly shifting rules that we can't make (paging Sea Linden) is that it becomes impossible to analyze (percisely for those reasons). There isn't a yardstick available; you can't create one. When the Lindens used to reveal the figures for Positive Monthly Linden Flow, i.e. more Lindens coming into your avatar's account than went out of it, you could look at those numbers and if they were going up, tell the negative nabobs on the forums that while what they were saying *might be true for them* it's not true for the platform as a whole.
So all I can do is attempt to report what I see, and try to figure out the reasons for it.
How could it be that January and February turned out to be better months? January is traditionally the month where people a) get their Christmas spending bills on credit cards in the mail b) head for white sales anyway with their dwindling resources. So it's a time when people cut back on virtual spending.
February is a month that is short, which means you have to pay Linden tier bills due even if you don't have that extra two or three days to collect inworld rent (ouch, at least for a time, you can make it up in longer months later).
February is when some people have winter breaks and go away on RL holiday.
Anyway, the rules of "outdoors/indoors" for SL that we often go by are skewed by the fact that in different parts of the world, it's not cold out for people.
Even so, I'll work with the basics and try to list the reasons why things are better -- first, in the category of "things that don't depend on me":
1. brinda Allen had a brainstorm -- she said that people got new computers for Christmas. And finally -- finally! -- some of those computers actually play Second Life as the graphic cards in them are that much better than they were last year (I mean the standard-issue Best Buy sort of machine). That's important.
2. It *is* cold and there are really severe cold snaps all over, particularly in the Eastern United States but not only there, and that cold does drive people indoors to play online games.
3. The new CEO Rod Humble, coming from Electronic Arts, which is a serious, big-time grown-up games company, whatever else you want to say about its lack of communications or player governance tolerance. It gives SL a shot in the arm to think a real professional will be at the helm and will also not beat everybody up telling them every five minutes "not-a-game" because he doesn't have a history of hating games.
4. The LindEx is stronger -- because Supply Linden isn't selling. That means when you cash out Lindens, you get a better rate and more U.S. dollars. It's at 250-251 Lindens much of the time now, and with a short wait, you can usually get the 250 price. Desmond had a long and complicated and worrisome explanation for this on sluniverse.com which I don't have the time to go fetch and study again -- it seemed to be saying "don't think this is a good sign that the Linden dollar is strengthening because it indicates a management of an artificial situation that could tank at any time and has before". Enjoy it while it lasts, I guess.
5. Lindens have really started eliminating those crashes and diminished lag. When people crash all the time, they stop coming and stop buying. Lag also kills them. So if they have better graphics cards AND the Lindens have worked harder to stop blaming other people's graphic cards for everything and really tried to make SL itself work better, it's a win-win.
6. Viewer 2.x doesn't work, but Destinations does. By giving people a huge cornucopia of places to go and things to do, there is more travel and commerce. If you are lucky enough to be *in* Destination or *near* a Destination, you can benefit. I actually have one property *in* Destination, now very buried, so it doesn't get much attention, but it's a bit of a flow beyond my own advertising; I have another property next to a Destination that gives a small trickle of sales. Both take work to upkeep and refresh content or the sales dip.
7. Some populations are increasing their users. The Japanese, Spanish, and Portugese customers keep landing. I don't know if they are growing; they seem to. At least they aren't falling off dramatically. More people from these countries are getting established as businesses, bringing in others. This could be "dead cat bounce" from the Lindens' huge push a few years ago to localize and increase global share -- they closed down a lot of those projects along with foreign offices but it was at a time when in fact SL was finally coming to some people's notice, so they keep coming anyway.
8. HBO's When Strangers Click. A positive media happening like this, skillfully leveraged by the Linden PR team, produces new accounts -- I don't know how many, but it's been some.
9. Continued grandfathering of old island tier continues to enable people who made investments 2-3 years ago to finally start getting it paid off.
10. SL Marketplace -- while there are a number of things still really wrong with this for people, they hate that the pictures can't be uploaded or whatever their set of beefs are, the fact is, it produces more sales. You can buy enhancement ads and see immediate effects.
Probably other things I haven't thought of yet, but they do exist. For some people, search tinkering is producing results for them finally. I don't try to build my business on search working and don't keep checking to see how things are doing with it, I don't have the patience for tinkering or SEO. I try to do the basics, I try to change and revolve key words and try different labels on ads and land and hope for the best.
So now here are the things that fall into the category of "things that depend on me" that I did to improve business:
I don't know why I had never done this before (I'm such a slow and stupid learner on SL and constantly find little business tips and tricks to make things better for myself that I knock myself in the head for not thinking up before): make a list of all Ravenglass merchants.
I made a master list of all businesses renting from me in Second Life to promote "Ravenglass Merchants". That way I can encourage the people renting to shop -- if they move in, they can go to a Ravenglass Merchant to get furniture or a house; if they are wishing to dress up they can be steered to various clothing and hair stores and such. Some people just enjoy the fun of exploring a lot of neat little shops with original artwork or original SL jewelry and boots and such as well as interesting gadgets. So I will try to enhance that and make a kiosk for it.
To be sure, the hunt as a form of merchandising is an area where you cannot hope to compete unless you are a big store with a big budget, not only to supply the prizes but manage all the issues -- like organizing blinds to defeat people who cheat with scanners etc. People who are serious about the hunt as a method have got huge marketing plans -- work the blogs, get the enhancement ads, run the classifieds, add extra staff, form a group -- it's work, it's hard work, and while it pays off, it has now proliferated, creating other competition to make it harder even still.
I set my sites lower -- I just wanted to have people see that they are in a community of merchants that they should patronize because it builds the community and is fun; they get a standard freebie and have a chance of hitting a special unique gift that is more valuable.
One thing I'm not going to do with hunts -- go around bugging merchants to give me freebies or tax them to make special items for the freebie hunts. They have enough problems, and I don't want to endlessly play club with the girls, not my thing.I have a bag of freebies you can't jump over from six years in SL -- that's enough. And when I do something special, I like to make it an occasion to commission something -- for example I commissed and paid for a custom version of the heart-shaped opening jewelry box I used in the Valentine's hunt; I've commissioned and paid for other freebies that are classics like the fez in Memory Bazaar, etc. Occasionally someone will provide a freebie to use to help pay for the Land Preserve but I'm not really in the business of pushing freebies so much as offering a loss leading gift.
2. Fix-ups. When I used to work at the 7/11 in Fairport, New York, I had a pretty strict boss. He would make us clean out the walk-in coolers, "front the merchandise" (push all the boxes up to the front of the shelf), dust the place, sweep, mop, etc. -- endlessly. And he had a saying: "Time to lean, time to clean". That is, if we had time to lean on our counters doing nothing and gab, then we sure as hell had time to clean the store, too. So if we were in between customers, we were expected to be using that time to clean the meat slicer, Windex the counter, take out the overflowing trash, etc.
What were never allowed to do -- ever, in our lives -- was to replace that endlessly rotating hotdog in the showcase that was supposed to induce people to buy the chili dogs. That hotdog may be rotating there still.
So using that lesson learned (kids don't learn things like that any more because they can't or won't get jobs, in part because adults have to take those crappy jobs now to survive) -- this is what I do:
o is this rental not renting because I forgot to remove the stream? There's nothing people HATE more than teleporting into a lovely rental and hearing music they hate, not to their taste. You can't please anybody, so music has to be REMOVED. And watch out for the movie stream, too -- that often has a sound track playing so that has to go as well.
o is this rental not renting because somehow the "no payment on file" ban got switched on? I'll put that on for some people or they can access it to put it on, but I hate it -- it loses customers and never deters griefers
o is this rental suffering from an invisiprim obstacle or some other viewblocker or problem in the traffic pattern that needs fixing? I walk through it and see if I stumble
o is the rental box correct? Does the price on it differ than the price in the ad or on the land description? I make sure all three match -- nothing people hate more than finding something they think is a good price then looks like the landlord did a switcheroo with another price. Sometimes it looks lower if the previous customer had a discount (i.e. through tier donation) or was on some kind of special offer but I try to keep prices consistent and clearly marked, i.e. the box says "X plus Tier donation" so that if someone accidently did pay it 10 minutes after it expired when somebody moved out before I could switch it, they won't feel hosed when I explain.
o is there an ugly in the view? Often these can be fixed by doing the following things: a) reporting abandoned land to the Lindens; b) asking a neighbour to remove the offending giant plywood megaprim from your waterfront view -- they often will c) waiting 30 days to see if it spontaneously goes, and then if not, maybe selling
o Is the notecard giver up to date?
I keep discovering new ideas for fix-ups all the time, and as I said, I kick myself when I do -- it's fun to keep thinking of them and seeing results.
3. Pets -- if you don't have a breedable and at least some modest stall to sell eggs or horse bundles or whatever these days, you are isolating yourself from the economy's engines. Pets are where it's at, obviously. Even pet rocks (I have one made by Menubar Memorial that is beaming "It's nice here" even though I've kept it on short rations and it's 60 percent hungry already -- yes, it eats dirt).
I use my egg stalls as advertisements to say my rentals are pet friendly.
And yes, unlike many other landlords, I am indeed pet-friendly. That's because I have found that in fact pets don't lag sims. Even chickens don't lag sims if you pace them out right and don't let them collide. Of course, you don't need to put 50 of them out to make the sim fall over, but you can at least put out a certain amount. The Ozimal bunnies really don't lag I've found even in large numbers. IF the Amaretto horses are put on "stop," i.e. not wandering around aimlessly -- they are fine. And even 50 of them on a 4096 will not lag the sim. Pets are vital to people's psychological well-being and comfort online as in real life, and they should not be stopped from having them.
4. Pet-related content sales -- I finally made something that sells pretty well in SL (I absolutely suck at making stuff, I cannot work even Paint to save my life, so it's taken awhile). I made some fairy thimbles that make a nice decoration for a fairy RP sim. I've made a legend to go with it, that helps provide a counter-narrative to the Deltango Vale narrative of every breedable, which is "buy this fun pet, but then endlessly buy food for it forever to keep it alive, enabling me to grow rich off you".
I don't know how these pyramid schemes are really structured -- I can't see into their backend. But it seems that after sion Zaius set the model that every one of them has copied, they've had to use basic schemes to keep making money:
o planned obsolescence -- oops, you bought Fairy 1.0? I'm already making Fairy 2.0 so Fairy 1.0's food is no longer valid or Fairy 1.0 can't breed with Fairy 2.0
o planned breakage -- sion had this honed to a science -- step on an egg, it breaks and won't breed or be available to sell; return an egg to inventory, it breaks and won't work, like real life. I think this is genius, but many hated it and nerfed it in other pets -- fairy eggs can return without breaking; so can Ozimals and others
o release of rares into the system -- this is where we can't know what they're up to -- it's like a casino that in fact always has to benefit the House. I suspect these pet people may be cunning enough to set up the rares delivered to you on a staggered basis to hook you in. For example: if you get the Lighnting Fairy within a week or two of your first excited purchase, you might think, wow, here's a rare I can make $1000 or so off in the market, and pay for the fairy's $600 food barrel easily and have some left over. So you keep growing, breeding, food buying, hoping to get that Lightning again. In a system of odds that was fair, you might (like Holt's Rules explains with card-playing).
But in a system where the owner might see that you got a rare through chance, and then block you from ever getting another one -- manually, or merely through some coded routine -- you'd be hooked playing the slot machine and never winning. In fact, maybe you *don't* get a rare "by chance" -- maybe it is delivered on a schedule precisely to hook you!
We simply don't know how these people run this, and they won't be telling us, of course.
But these built in factors of scheming and exploiting of people and addicting to them will eventually lead to the demolition of the breedables industry unless some transparency and ethics begin to appear -- just as the banks eventually got done in. All of the breedables makers pretend that they sell pets to individual end users; all of them pretend they aren't coding for the secondary market; all of the people just individually breeding the pets in fact play the market somewhere, somehow, sometimes just flipping an egg they see for a cheap price or occasionally hawking a rare. So...it's a game. And a game many love playing, but it's a casino game where the House ultimately always wins.
5. More advertising -- classifieds, search/places, SL Marketplace -- more ads always equals more sales. This expenditure can wipe out the gain in new sales at first but can pay off in the long run.
6. Attending to foreign language key words -- this is vital, I used to spend lots more time on it, I still try to keep it going. Many people in SL search on foreign words because English is not a first language or any language.
7. Finding new key words -- Fixing up ads to have new key words, different key words, better key words, and making sure the items on the parcel are on search -- these seem to be basic things you have to do to try to fight the new search debacle and try to win at least some of the time. I don't spend anywhere near the time on this I should, but sometimes just fixing a few ads to reflect the good thing you actually offer.
8. Better pictures -- I can never say enough about this or do enough about this. I think a certain picture is lovely; it never rents the parcel. I change the picture to something I think is a bit cheesy; it rents.
9. Shrinking/Economizing -- In the land business, you can never do enough of this. I try to trim parcels that are empty and doing nothing or get them rented. I had an office space in Winnipeg for ages that I kept there out of some real-life versimilitude notion that people landing in an area with rentals on 4 sims would "need an office to go to". I also thought that it would attract people flying by -- one more branch office.
Instead, it was just space wasted on my useless office. It was perhaps a nice little building with notecards, but it was stupid -- people already saw the same thing when they started at my main office or other existing branch offices *not* next to my rentals. This office wasn't likely to get fly-bys from existing customers -- to serve them I could just put out a notecard giver that contained latest listings in case they wanted to move. In a world of sales driven by search, sadly, the geographical metaphor and its placements like buildings and ads inworld are eroding in some areas. The idea of having that "rentals office" in an area as a kind of sub-hub was so compelling I never removed it for years! Even though I could see hardly anybody clicked on its cards or ever sat in the building.
So finally, I ditched it and the space rented to start paying me out (instead of sucking down my tier) immediately. Boy was I stupid!
There is always something in the huge list of land stock that even a small business has that can be sold, converted, improved. Indeed, working this and trying to do this all the time is what makes the business fun and worth coming back to.
10. Branch Offices -- I just said a branch office was stupid in a world of search? But in fact, they are NOT stupid if strategically placed around SL. If you can find land near an infohub or welcome area, it's still worth using for a branch office. If you can go to a new land area and put out an office which everyone can see while buying land, it's worth doing. If you are near any trafficked gathering place like a club or Linden land or some sort, it's worth putting up the office. I used to try to keep one of these open on every continent. I would make little enclaves -- one small rental office surrounded by 6 cheap rentals so that the extra parcel with my office generated extra prims for the rentals and made the self-service easier. If I had time and investment funds, I'd replicate this a lot more. It works pretty well. Some areas get surrounded by aggressive neighbours and you have to move but sometimes they are keepers.
I'm sure there's more. I'm working on my inworld business tutorial in Iris and hope to get it finished and advertised to try to identify the best tips and share them. I find a simple thing -- like spending $30 to be in search/place -- is something a lot of people don't bother to do and should.