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Blowing the Whistle on Dirty Energy Money
Oil Change International
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, as Washington readies for the annual State of the Union address, more than 500 people in referee outfits are converging on Capitol Hill to "blow the whistle" on Congress. Why? Consider these two facts:
1. The American people believe (rightly) that Members of Congress are more responsive to their campaign donors than to their own constituents.
2. Americans of all affiliations clearly favor ending fossil fuel industry handouts.
Americans are sick of watching Congress receive bribes from the fossil fuel industry to vote for scams like the Keystone XL pipeline and fossil fuel subsidies. We see what's happening, and we're declaring it out of bounds and unsportsmanlike from this point forward.
The five biggest oil companies alone have made more than $1 trillion in profits over the last decade. It's absurd that these companies still demand, and still receive, handouts from Congress paid for by taxpayers. This isn't about energy or jobs—it's about greed and corruption.
Listed below is some useful information about the cycle of dirty energy money corruption going on in Congress.
Money In—Campaign Finance
(All data is from Oil Change International's Dirty Energy Money campaign which uses public data made available by the Center for Responsive Politics.)
Since 1999, the coal, oil and gas industries have shelled out more than $93 million to current members of Congress.
The trend is increasing with each election cycle, and current members of Congress took more than $25 million in campaign contributions from the oil, coal and gas industries in 2009-2010.
Through October of 2011, dirty energy interests had given this Congress $7.8 million in this cycle alone.
Speaker Boehner has received the most money from the fossil fuel industry during this term, with more than $287,000 received from the oil, gas and coal industries.
It is worth noting that direct contributions to candidates are only one way that the fossil fuel industry exerts influence. Substantially larger sums of money are mobilized by SuperPacs and other entities.
Money Out—Subsidies
Each year that the president has submitted a budget, it has included eliminating $4 billion in annual subsidies to the dirty energy industry. Each year Congress has been unable to eliminate the subsidies.
In a vote in May of 2011, the reason was clear. Senators who voted to preserve subsidies took an average of five times more dirty energy money than those who voted to stop handouts to the oil industry.
In October of 2011 a large coalition called on the Super Committee to eliminate $12 billion annually in fossil fuel subsidies.
Our tax dollars also fund billions in fossil fuel projects around the world, via institutions like the World Bank and the US Export-Import Bank.
Dirty Energy Money and the Keystone XL Pipeline
Earlier this month, American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard threatened President Obama with "huge political consequences" if he rejected the Keystone XL pipeline. This threat was unusual only because it was public, but the industry clearly continues to implicitly threaten all of our elected Representatives.
In July, the House of Representatives voted on the Keystone XL pipeline. Those Representatives who voted for the pipeline received 513 percent more from the oil and gas industry than those who voted against it.
In total, those who voted for the pipeline have received $10,922,161 from the oil and gas industry while those who voted against the pipeline have received only $717,552. In other words, those that voted for the pipeline have received 15 times more money from the oil and gas industry.
In December, the House held another vote with similar results. Members of Congress who supported the measure have received $41 million from the fossil fuel industry, while those who voted against the bill have received only about $8 million from oil, gas and coal interests.
An analysis by ThinkProgress of lobbying disclosure records for the first, second, and third quarters of 2011 suggests that the lobbying expenses of the 20 or more business and labor interests who backed the project was $60 million compared to $1 million by the seven organizations that actively opposed the measure.
TransCanada's lobbying efforts alone over the first three quarters of 2011 totalled $920,000, just under the total amount spent by its opponents..
Political Return on Investment
Buying Congress is a great investment for the oil, gas and coal industries. During the last two year cycle, they put in $25 million, and they got out at least $4 billion annually—$8 billion. In other words, for every $1 that the fossil fuel industry invests in Congress, they get at least $320 back.
For more information, click here.
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Five Facts and One Big Lie: A Closer Look at the Oil Lobby's Keystone XL Jobs Claims
Political Correction
With the 2012 presidential election rapidly approaching, the oil lobby is pushing harder than ever to frame the Keystone XL Pipeline (KXL) as a "job creator." However, TransCanada (the Canadian company behind the pipeline), the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have used massively inflated statistics. In fact, KXL would create few permanent jobs.
BIG LIE: KXL Will Create 20,000-465,000 Jobs
U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: KXL Will Create "Up To 250,000" Jobs. In a Jan. 12, 2012, speech, Thomas J. Donohue, President of the U.S Chamber of Commerce, said: "Labor unions and the business community alike are urging President Obama to act in the best interests of our national security and our workers and approve the pipeline. We can put 20,000 Americans to work right away and up to 250,000 over the life of the project." [Donohue Remarks, 1/12/11, via USChamber.com]
American Petroleum Institute: KXL Will Enable "More Than A Half A Million New U.S. Jobs By 2035." In a Jan. 4, 2012, speech API President Jack Gerard said: "We've seen it in the continued delay of the Keystone XL pipeline - the largest shovel-ready project promising 20,000 construction-related jobs over the next two years, enabling more than half a million new U.S. jobs by 2035." [Gerard Remarks, 1/4/12, via API.org]
TransCanada: KXL Will Create 20,000 Jobs In Construction And Manufacturing And 465,000 Jobs Throughout the U.S Economy. In a Jan. 10, 2012, press release, TransCanada claimed: "The $7 billion oil pipeline is the largest infrastructure project on the books in the U.S. right now. It would create 20,000 jobs: 13,000 in construction, 7,000 in manufacturing. [...] As Keystone XL supports oil sands development, the impact on jobs in America becomes even more pronounced. The Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) predicts a $521 billion increase in the U.S. gross domestic product and the creation of 465,000 U.S. jobs." [TransCanada, 1/10/12]
FACT 1: Experts Say Those Numbers Are "Meaningless" And "Dead Wrong"
Energy Expert: The Analysis Supporting TransCanada's Claims Is "Dead Wrong." On Oct. 27, 2011, the Council on Foreign Relations' Michael Levi wrote: "The 'economic impact study' [on which the claim of 250,000 permanent jobs is based] in question appears to be a widely cited report by The Perryman Group. ... The Perryman report has been criticized for the claim of 20,000 jobs along the pipeline route. I've seen less criticism of the far more impressive 250,000 number. ... That's a shame, since while the number is being invoked prominently, the analysis upon which it's based is dead wrong. [Council on Foreign Relations, 10/27/11]
Environmental Economist: "These Gross Employment Figures Are Meaningless." On Sept. 9, 2011, environmental economist Andrew Leach wrote: "Sorry, TransCanada—the number which matters and on which decisions should be made is not how many people will be employed building the pipeline and supplying all of the services associated with building it, or the employment tied to the use of the oil transported. These gross employment figures are meaningless. As with GHG's, only net impacts relative to the most likely alternative matter." [Andrew Leach's blog, 9/9/11, emphasis added]
Cornell University Global Labor Institute: TransCanada's Estimate Is "So Opaque As To Make Meaningful Review Impossible." A September 2011 analysis by the Cornell University Global Labor Institute states:
Perryman states that he received this data from TransCanada, but nowhere in the report does he provide the TransCanada input data (for construction expenditures and sourcing of inputs). Perryman does not even present summary detail as to the essentials regarding inputs (such as a breakdown of expenditures into major categories and assumptions regarding whether major inputs such as steel pipe are imported or sourced domestically or imported). Nor does the Perryman report provide adequate detail as to the nature of the job impacts estimated (such as a breakdown between direct, indirect, and induced). In fact, the lack of adequate data and detail render the report so opaque as to make meaningful review impossible. [Cornell University Global Labor Institute, September 2011, emphasis added]
FACT 2: Independent Assessment Found That KXL Jobs Would Create As Few As 50 Permanent Jobs
Cornell University Global Labor Institute: Based On TransCanada's Numbers, "The Project Will Create No More Than 2,500-4,600 Temporary Direct Construction Jobs." From Cornell University Global Labor Institute's report: "A calculation of the direct jobs that might be created by KXL can begin with an examination of the jobs on-site to build and inspect the pipeline. The project will create no more than 2,500-4,650 temporary direct construction jobs for two years, according to TransCanada's own data supplied to the State Department." [Cornell University Global Labor Institute, September 2011]
Cornell: "Almost All" KXL Jobs Will Be Temporary - Permanent U.S. Jobs Could Be "As Few As 50." From Cornell University Global Labor Institute's report: "[I]t is also important to consider that almost all of the jobs (direct, indirect and induced) associated with Keystone XL will, of course, also be temporary. The operating costs for KXL are very minimal, and based on the figures provided by TransCanada for the Canadian section of the pipeline, the new permanent US pipeline jobs in the US number as few as 50. The other operating expenditures (for materials, supplies, services, electric power, property taxes, etc.) would comprise the bulk of operating expenses and would also have some job impacts. So considering a broad range of spin-offs, operating expenditures would have job impacts in the order of around 1,000 per year." [Cornell University Global Labor Institute, September 2011, internal citations removed]
ThinkProgress Graphic Compares TransCanada's Stats With Independent Figures: The following chart from ThinkProgress compares the high-end estimate of Cornell Global Labor Institute's report and the TransCanada-commissioned Perryman Group's estimate:
FACT 3: TransCanada's Estimates Include Jobs In Other Countries
CNN: TransCanada's Estimates "Include Jobs In Canada." From a December 14 CNNMoney article:
TransCanada numbers count each job on a yearly basis. If the pipeline employs 10,000 people working for two years, that's 20,000 jobs by the company's count.
The estimates also include jobs in Canada, where about a third of the $7 billion pipeline would be constructed. [CNNMoney,12/14/11]
FACT 4: Even TransCanada Acknowledges That Each Construction Job Will Only Last "One Year."
TransCanada's CEO Acknowledges That Each Job Will Only Last "One Year." According to the Washington Post: "[TransCanada chief executive Russ] Girling that the 13,000 figure was "one person, one year," meaning that if the construction jobs lasted two years, the number of people employed in each of the two years would be 6,500." [Washington Post, 11/5/11]
TransCanada VP: Permanent Jobs "In The Hundreds." On the Nov. 11 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, TransCanada Vice President Robert Jones stated: "We will have an integrated operation with the existing pipeline, so, you know, the numbers are literally technicians and such up and down the line. So you're probably looking in the field from Montana to Houston in the hundreds, certainly not in the thousands, because those are construction jobs." [CNN, The Situation Room, 11/11/11]
FACT 5: TransCanada Admitted They Already Purchased Much Of The Equipment
TransCanada CEO Admitted That $1.9 Million Worth Of Pipe And Equipment Has Already Been Manufactured—And Is Sitting In A Warehouse. According to the Washington Post:
TransCanada chief executive Russ Girling said Friday that the three-year review process has already imposed costs on his company, including $1.9 billion on pipe and other equipment stored in warehouses. [...]
As for the 7,000 indirect supply chain jobs, the $1.9 billion already spent by TransCanada would reduce the number of jobs that would be created in the future. The Brixton Group, a firm working with opponents of the project, has argued that many of the indirect supply jobs would be outside the United States because about $1.7 billion worth of steel will be purchased from a Russian-owned mill in Canada. [Washington Post, 11/5/11]
Cornell Analysis: "About 25 percent Of The KXL Budget Has Already Been Expended." From Cornell University Global Labor Institute's report:
Construction has not yet started on KXL, but there have already been several years of activities preparing for possible construction. According to TransCanada's interim financial statement released on July 28, 2011, the capital cost of the larger Keystone project (made up of the segments already completed and KXL) is $13 billion. Of this $13 billion, $7.9 billion had already been invested by June 30, 2011. Of the $7.9 already invested, U.S. $1.7 billion is related to KXL. So prior to any actual construction, about 25 percent of the KXL budget has already been expended for activities including design, permitting, and materials procurement. [...]
Money already spent in the past few years, plus money budgeted for the Canadian part of KXL, should not be presented as though it were part of future U.S.-related spending pending the approval of the project. The money is gone and the work has been done (or soon will be). This spending will lead to few if any new jobs in the US. Likewise, some (and possibly all) of the money committed, but not yet spent, will be spent even if KXL is not built and should therefore not be considered in the analysis of the incremental spending that will occur should the project be approved. [Cornell University Global Labor Institute, September 2011, emphasis added, internal citations removed]
This piece is reposted with permission from PoliticalCorrection.org.
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Direct Threats from Big Oil to Approve Keystone XL
Just in case you thought there was anything subtle about the Keystone battle, you need to hear what Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute—the oil industry's #1 front group—said Jan. 5. If the president doesn't approve the project there will be "huge political consequences."
That's as direct a threat as you're ever going to hear in Washington D.C., and it shows just how mad you made the oil industry last year by exposing Keystone for the climate-killing danger it is. And the oil industry can obviously make good on their threats—they've got all the money on Earth, and thanks to Citizens United they can use it without restriction in our elections. They're not used to ever losing.
So far the Obama administration is standing firm in the face of Big Oil's bullying—the White House made it completely clear last month that if the oil industry and its harem in Congress forced a speeded-up review, it would lead to an outright rejection of the permit for the pipeline. We expect they'll keep their word.
Here's what I think we need to do.
1. Let the president know you've got his back when he rejects the pipeline. Tell him that addressing climate change is the key to our future, and that you're glad he's not bending.
2. Take the offensive against the oil industry. If they're going to try and ram Keystone down our throats, we're going to try and take away something they hold dear, the handouts that Congress gives them each and every year. They're the richest industry on earth, they're doing great damage to the planet—and they expect us to pay for it with our tax dollars.
Can you send a quick note to President Obama covering those two key points?
To send a message to President Obama, click here.
Here's the note I'm sending:
President Obama,
Thank you for opposing the rushed Keystone XL pipeline permit. Responding to climate change is critical to preserving our collective future, and I hope this is a first step towards the dramatic changes we need to avoid catastrophe. P.S.—Please take handouts for the fossil fuel industry out of next year's budget. There are people in America who need that money more.
There's lots more to be done, of course. In the slightly longer run, we've got to take on the greatest subsidy of all—the special privilege that Congress gives the fossil fuel industry to use the atmosphere as an open sewer into which to dump its carbon for free.
But today—right now, in the face of this kind of straight-up bullying—it's time to punch back. We're nonviolent, but we're not wimps.
For more information, click here.
Keystone XL Back on Obama's Desk
Bill McKibben
We've been doing our best the last couple of weeks to keep you up-to-date on the machinations about Keystone in Washington. "Our best" in this case has only been so-so, because the whole process has been incredibly confusing.
But it seems to be getting a little clearer now. On Dec. 3, the House agreed to legislation for a payroll tax cut that also includes language forcing the president to decide one way or the other on the Keystone pipeline in the next 60 days.
Our hope is that the president will use the opportunity to deny the permit, and sooner rather than later. His administration has made it clear many times over the past few weeks that the demand for quick approval attached to this legislation would result in the rejection of the pipeline.
As White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer tweeted a few days ago: the bill "simply shortens the review process in a way that virtually guarantees that the pipeline will NOT be approved." No one could responsibly approve such a project under the gun; even the Canadian government announced this month that they would delay the review of proposed pipelines to the Pacific for a year because of environmental concerns.
You have patiently and firmly explained to the president for the last six months why this pipeline is a bad idea—and by "you" I mean the twenty top scientists who sent a letter explaining the climate impacts, the ten Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the dozens of tribal leaders who signed the Mother Earth Accord, the 1,253 people who got arrested, the 12,000 who circled the White House, the 500,000 who filed public comments on the plan, the many many more who sent letters and emails and made phone calls to the White House and Congress.
You've done an amazing job; we'll know before long whether we need you to make one more grand push, and as soon as we know you'll know.
In the meantime, please enjoy the holidays. We're getting our first small snowfall of the season in Vermont, which I'm taking as a good omen.
2,150-Miles Later, Renewable Rider Demands Obama Reject Keystone XL Without Delay
Ride for Renewables
Renewable energy advocate Tom Weis ended his 2,150-mile Keystone XL "Tour of Resistance" at the fence line community of West Port Arthur, Texas, in the shadow of giant oil refineries spewing toxic air emissions. Weis launched the tour 10 weeks ago at the U.S./Canada border and has pedaled the entire U.S. length of the proposed tar sands pipeline in his "rocket trike" in support of landowners and communities in six states fighting Keystone XL. Pipeline opponents joined him in demanding that President Obama reject TransCanada's presidential permit without delay.
Ride endorser Paul Hawken, author of The Ecology of Commerce and Blessed Unrest, joined Weis in characterizing Obama's November announcement to delay a decision on Keystone XL until after the 2012 election as "dangerous." Hawken joined the call for Obama to immediately reject TransCanada's permit, or be challenged on the campaign trail until he does. "If America does not draw the carbon line in the Athabasca tar sands, then the question is: who are we, and why are we here? Of all the environmental follies that have occurred in time, surely this is the greatest."
"President Obama has shown zero leadership on Keystone XL," said Weis, president of Climate Crisis Solutions. Calling for Americans to relentlessly challenge the president on the campaign trail until he rejects TransCanada's presidential permit, Weis said, "Keystone XL is not only un-American, it is a direct threat to our nation. Every day the president fails to deny this pipeline permit, he is failing to protect America and her people. He must be called out on this."
Texas landowner and founder of Stop Tarsands Oil Pipelines, David Daniel, who has been fighting TransCanada for more than three years, called the pipeline project "illegal, unregulated, untested and a gross human rights violation with no public use justification." "My message to every politician, from President Obama on down, is if you plan to put my family's life and water at risk by supporting this pipeline, you need to be the first one to step foot on my property to try to take it," said Daniel.
Nebraska fourth generation rancher, Teri Taylor, who met with Weis during the ride to share how the fight against TransCanada has totally consumed their lives, said, "Keystone XL is not right for America. It puts America in danger." She appealed to President Obama as a mother and a grandmother, "Deny this permit for your daughters and my grandchildren."
Port Arthur resident Hilton Kelley, who received the 2011 Goldman Prize for fighting to protect his fence line community from the dangers of surrounding oil refineries, said, "The people of West Port Arthur have suffered enough. We cannot tolerate the additional toxic emissions Keystone XL would rain down on our community. Poor people also have a right to clean air and water." The U.S. EPA has openly criticized the U.S. State Department for not fully assessing the potential impacts of increased refinery emissions on the community of Port Arthur and its air and groundwater. TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline could transport up to 830,000 barrels a day of toxic tar sands slurry to be processed in Gulf Coast oil refineries.
"President Obama faces a truly historical moment," said Oglala Lakota matriarch and 2011 Indigenous Woman of the Year award winner Debra White Plume. "The world will soon see if he caves in to the tyranny of big oil, or if he is a sensible human being with a heart on fire for life, for the future generations. I hope he denies the permit right away, as game over for big oil, and the first stroke of painting a beautiful path for our generations to walk on."
Endorsers of the Ride for Renewables: No Tar Soil On American Soil! include Daryl Hannah, Lester Brown, Ed Begley, Jr., Paul Hawken, Patagonia and others. Principal sponsors include AllEarth Renewables, Inc. and EcoWatch.
For more information, click here.
Renewable Rider Concludes 2,150-mile Keystone XL Tour
Stefanie Penn Spear
Renewable Rider Tom Weis concludes his 10-week, 2,150-mile, Keystone XL "Tour of Resistance" along the six-state path of the proposed route of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline. He has pedaled the entire U.S. route of the proposed pipeline in his "rocket trike" in support of landowners and communities fighting Keystone XL. Pipeline opponents will join him today in demanding that President Obama reject TransCanada's permit without delay. Weis will be joined by Goldman Prize winner Hilton Kelley in denouncing the pipeline.
The tour ends in Port Arthur, Texas, a Gulf Coast refinery town near the Louisana-Texas border, and the proposed end-point of the pipeline, which would start in Alberta, Canada, and travel through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma to reach oil refineries in Texas before being exported to China, Latin America or Europe.
Keystone XL threatens to contaminate the Ogallala Aquifer—the fresh drinking water supply of nearly two million people and the source of one-third of America's farmland irrigation water—by pumping up to 830,000 barrels a day of tar sands sludge through the pipeline.
I know a lot of people working to educate American's about the issues concerning the Keystone XL pipeline and why building it will only continue our addiction to oil and head us and the climate down a path of no return, but few people are as dedicated as Weis. We all owe him a huge amount of gratitude for his work, which greatly impacts the future of our planet. I can't think of anything more important then the job he is doing.
I encourage you to visit the Ride For Renewables website and YouTube channel to get an amazing overview of this incredible adventure.
And, please join me today in support of Weis's efforts by signing his petition to prevent tar sands oil on American soil.
Here's Weis's post from last night that provides a flavor of the person behind this brave and inspiring journey.
Day 69: Pedaled the final real leg of the journey today, a flat and fairly quick 21 miles from Beaumont to Port Arthur. A few miles outside of Beaumont, a large hawk appeared seemingly out of nowhere and alighted on a utility wire not 20 feet away, wings spread wide and looking right down at me. Reminded me of the hawk in Boulder that suddenly appeared and helped inspire my ride last year. Very auspicious sign. A light rain was falling as I pedaled, which seemed to intensify the sulfur smell of the surrounding oil refineries. Made it to downtown West Port Arthur, with only a mile or two now left to go.
Today was dedicated to a group of West Port Arthur children who Goldman Prize winner Hilton Kelley had lined up to see the trike and learn about the Keystone XL pipeline. We met in a community room at the Prince Hall government housing project—overshadowed by the nation's largest cluster of oil refineries and chemical plants—where people have been suffering in silence for far too long. Where we met was right next door to the Carver Terrace housing project, where Hilton was born in a back bay room. We had about 20 local kids there, a group small enough that each one got to take a short ride in the trike. VERY fun. One of the big "kids" even took the trike for a spin. Look for a wonderful YouTube video of Hilton Kelley showing how it's done.
Afterwards, we went inside and did some Q & A with the children. Not surprisingly, most of the questions were about the rocket trike, but I think some of what Hilton and I said about why we don't want tar sands coming to their community also sunk in. One of the older kids, Jeremiah Williams, said he wanted to talk to me, so I pulled up a chair. With a look of disbelief on his face, he quietly asked me why I did it (that is, rode from Canada to West Port Arthur). He listened with rapt attention as I told him, then handed me a wrist bracelet that read "LAUGH." I'm wearing it now. Balances out well with the jail wrist bracelet I've been wearing since I was arrested outside the White House this summer, along with 1,252 others, protesting against Keystone XL.
Then Hilton and his wife, Marie, generously treated me to a wonderful Cajun-style dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, where we learned that we shared a mutual friend in common, one of my ride sponsors, Graham Hill, from Boulder. So of course we had to give him a call. The older I get, the smaller the world seems to get, and I really like that.
Am writing this around 1 a.m.—one last late night preparing for tomorrow's end of ride media event. I want to thank Bruce Walker and my amazing friend, Paul Alexander, for their herculean efforts to alert the media. Here's one more newspaper story on the ride that ran in Oklahoma: http://tinyurl.com/7my8nlu.
Senate Fast-Tracks Keystone Pipeline, Fails to Extend Renewable Energy Tax Credit
In approving a payroll tax cut extension plan in an 89-10 vote on Saturday, the U.S. Senate included a provision that requires President Obama to make a decision within 60 days on whether to move forward with the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project. To make it even worse, the vote failed to include the Production Tax Credit that allows companies who invest in renewable energy to receive a grant in lieu of a tax credit, and cut the budget of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by $8.4 billion, a 6 percent cut from the president's request.
If the American people understood the implications of yesterday's vote, where the majority of our elected officials are willing to continue to lead our country down a detrimental path in support of extreme energy extraction and refuse to support investment in renewable energy, we would have hundreds of thousands of people protesting in the streets in every state of our great nation.
Republicans rallied behind the Keystone XL inclusion in the bill, saying they wouldn't vote for any payroll extension without the provision. Earlier this month, Obama issued a veto threat if the Keystone XL provision was tied to the payroll tax cut, but the White House recently said they would accept the wording of the provision that passed Dec. 17.
The bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives for final passage for a vote most likely on Monday. If the House passes the bill, it will be sent to Obama for his signature.
For the last six months, Bill McKibben and the folks at 350.org, Tar Sands Action and many other grassroots environmental organizations and activists, have been working day and night to educate Americans about the injustice this pipeline would bring to our country.
From exposing the inflated numbers of jobs proponents of this project are claiming it will create; to explaining the issues related with this energy intensive, extremely corrosive tar sands oil that highly paid politicians from the oil and gas industry want to pipe nearly 2,000 miles from Alberta, Canada to Texas port to be shipped overseas; to the impact the pipeline eruptions will have on the rivers, streams and aquifers of America's heartland; to highlighting the environmental injustice concerns to nearly a dozen tribal nations in Canada and the U.S., people who understand the long-term impacts of building this pipeline will continue to do whatever is necessary to save our democracy, slow the impacts of global warming and protect our natural resources.
For too long we've needed to create an energy policy that eliminates our need for foreign oil; mandates the transition to relying on cleaner, renewable sources of energy, and supports the necessary infrastructure, and research and development that is needed to lead us on a path toward a sustainable energy system. There's no doubt these issues are complex, however solutions are available. But we need to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, that continues to show record profits at the expense of the American people, and get money out of politics so our elected officials can't be bought by corporations.
I encourage those who are already involved with these issues to not give up and keep working to educate your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Those who are just learning about these concerns, stay connected with EcoWatch.org to learn how you can get involved.
As Bill McKibben says, "All eyes are on Obama," so lets be sure he know how you feel about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. You can reach Obama's office on weekdays by calling 202-456-1111 or email him through the white house comment page, asking him to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline project. Your voice truly matters, so take action today.
All Eyes on Obama
Bill McKibben
As you might know, the Keystone tar sands pipeline is back in play.
This morning, the Senate passed a bill that requires a 60-day, expedited approval process for the pipeline in return for a payroll tax cut, and President Barack Obama has said he will sign it.
The news has been swirling around Washington the last few days, with one report after another of deals and deadlines. (It's a little weird to think that six months ago, when we started the campaign to stop this pipeline, almost no one had even heard of this thing and now it's the center of frantic bargaining—that's a real tribute to your efforts).
Here's what we do know:
1. The dirty energy industry wants the pipeline fast-tracked, and is demanding that the President grant or deny a permit within two months. They're going to do all they can to make that happen.
2. The administration knows that Americans don't want that permit granted. They know because many of you encircled the White House in November, and submitted more public comments than on any energy project in history, and because yesterday the climate movement flooded the White House switchboard with so many phone calls that the busy signal was the sound of the day. For all that work, thank you.
Here's what we don't know: what happens next.
Our hope—and what you should ask the President for when you write him—is that when he signs the bill he will say the obvious thing:
"Two months is not long enough to review the pipeline. The Canadians themselves have just delayed review of their tar sands pipelines over safety concerns, and we've just come through a year that set a record for billion-dollar climate-related disasters; I'm not going to do a rush job just to please the oil industry lobbyists. So this pipeline is dead."
Since the State Department has already, in essence, said two months is not enough time, this should be straightforward.
We should know how it's going to play out within 48 hours or so. We're of course ready to fight like heck.
But for this weekend? If you haven't gotten through to the White House, or you think you can round up some friends, you can send them a message by clicking here and click here to spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.
Once you've done that, I recommend eggnog, football, caroling, Hannukah-shopping and checking the email every once in a while? We're hanging fire on this, and we'll let you know when we find out what's going down and if rapid reaction of some kind is required.
So so many thanks for your continued good-hearted work,
P.S. We know one other thing too. On Thursday night the Republican debating society came out in favor the pipeline, which is easy for them to do since they've all now denied climate science. Newt Gingrich in particular blamed "San Francisco environmental extremists" with holding things up. I'm sure our California crew is happy for the shout-out, but it seemed a little unfair to Nebraska farmers, Texas ranchers, Florida College students, New York trade unionists, Wall Street occupiers and even us Vermont granola eaters. We're a big broad bunch and we're going to stay that way!
BREAKING: Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline
Michael Brune
On Saturday, Dec. 17, Congress made a back-room deal that would rush a decision on the dirty Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. This dirty, dangerous, oil pipeline proposal would bring corrosive oil from Canada through America's Heartland. It would be devastating to our air, water and climate.
Big Oil's allies successfully held the Payroll Tax Cut hostage to a rider that would order the Obama Administration to ignore public input, good science and environmental laws, and fast-track a decision on the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline in the next 60 days.
Once again good public policy is being held hostage to dirty oil bullying.
We celebrated a victory last month for our future Beyond Oil when President Barack Obama decided the Keystone XL oil pipeline needed a more in depth review. Don't let Big Oil try to rob us of that victory and our clean energy future.
It's frustrating, maddening and upsetting to see our progress stalled—but the fight to keep Big Oil and this awful pipeline project at bay is far from over.
Contact your Senators now and tell them you are disappointed in this decision and that you expect them to stand strong against the dirty Keystone XL oil pipeline project. Tell them not to give in to Big Oil blackmail.
BREAKING: Calls and Emails Needed to Obama to Stop Keystone XL Pipeline
Tar Sands Action
It all comes down to Barack Obama.
As I type this, Big Oil's representatives in the House and Senate are pushing legislation that would rush approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Up until now, President Barack Obama has stood strong, threatening to reject any bill that includes the pipeline.
But in the last hour, some terrible news has begun to leak from Washington, D.C.—President Obama seems to be on the verge of caving on Keystone. There's no way to sugarcoat it—if the president allows Keystone to move forward, he will be failing the single biggest environmental test of his presidency.
The next few hours will be absolutely crucial—the president needs to hear from you that cutting a back-room deal with Big Oil on Keystone XL is unacceptable. If he steps up and threatens to veto this bill, he can stop this pipeline in its tracks.
Can you make a call right away? Here's the White House number—202-456-1111.
Or, during the weekend leave a short message for Obama on the White House website.
Feel free to say what you want on the call, but remember to drive this one message home—to keep his promises, President Obama needs to veto legislation that would rush approval of Keystone XL. This pipeline is a threat to our climate and jobs and needs to be stopped.
After you've called the White House, take 30 seconds to let us know how it went by clicking here.
(Don't worry if you get a busy signal—it's actually a good sign—it means we've flooded the White House switchboard and that the movement is sending an overwhelming message to the president. Just keep on trying until you get through.)
President Obama came into office promising to "end the tyranny of oil." This is his chance to prove he was serious. If he's not, he needs to know right now that there will be real consequences.
Big Oil cut a back-room deal with the dirtiest Members of Congress to attach this legislation to a must-pass tax cut bill. These kinds of deals exemplify the tyranny Big Oil exercises over our government, and underscores why the president needs to threaten a veto.
We have just a few hours to convince him to stand strong and veto any legislation to rush the Keystone pipeline. Can you make a call right now and tell him that we expect nothing less? Here's the number again—202-456-1111
Your calls right now are absolutely crucial, and you should also be getting ready to get back into the streets in the days and weeks to come. We're dusting off our plans to go to Obama 2012 offices and raise some ruckus. Call the White House, but also get in touch with your friends to start plotting your next steps locally.
Thanks to you, this fight isn't over yet—not by a long shot.
For more information, click here.
Ohioans Slam Boehner Over Backroom Keystone XL Tar Sands Deal
Fed up with House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) corporate campaign donor's influence on his policy decisions, activists staged a human oil spill at his office just outside Cincinnati on Dec. 14. Activists believe Boehner's decision to force through the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is linked to campaign cash from the fossil fuel industry. Speaker Boehner has accepted more than $1.1 million from corporate polluters since 1999.
"John Boehner is using his position to rake in corporate cash at our expense—why else would he try to push through the hugely unpopular and dangerous proposed Keystone XL pipeline?" Asked Sean P. Nolan, CEO and Co-Founder at Reaver Publishing.
Approximately 50 people created the "human oil spill" into Boehner's office as part of an escalating national campaign against the pipeline. Dressed in black, participants used their bodies to represent the potential environmental devastation from the pipeline. If built, it will likely leak toxic tar sands oil over precious farmland and critical aquifers in the heart of our nation. The proposed pipeline has been described as "game over" for the climate by NASA scientist James Hansen.
"Hundreds of Ohioans travelled to Washington, DC, to stop the dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Now Boehner is trying to push it through despite mass opposition from his constituents—I'm fed up with politicians doing the bidding of their corporate benefactors," stated Sonnet Gabbard, a teacher and student at University of Cincinnati and an Occupy Cincinnati protester who joined the action.
Boehner announced on Dec. 6, that he was willing to go "to war" over an amendment that would force through the proposed pipeline despite widespread safety concerns and popular outrage.
"The House brings shame on itself when it's members take tens of millions in Big Oil money and then do the industry's bidding. Keystone XL creates no net jobs and pours carbon into the atmosphere—that's why millions across the country opposed it," said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, "It's only beneficiaries are the fossil fuel industry and the politicians they support."
This rally is the latest in a months long national grassroots uprising in response to the proposed Keystone XL tar sands Pipeline. The campaign kicked off in August with a two week protest that resulted in more than 1,200 arrests, and in November an event where 10,000 people circled the White House that resulted in President Barack Obama delaying his decision on the pipeline, a move analysts say killed the project.
For more information, visit the Tar Sands Action website by clicking here.
Stand Up to Big Oil on Dec. 14
On Wednesday, Dec. 14, stand up to big polluters and their influence over our political system to help stop the Keystone XL pipeline by participating in an action in West Chester, Ohio.
A few weeks ago, President Barack Obama delayed the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline and on Dec. 7, threatened to veto any legislation that attempts to fast-track a decision on this project. But Congress, unfortunately, hasn't been living up to the standard Obama is setting. Despite the President's announcement of a veto threat, bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate that would fast-track the Keystone XL decision. The person driving this legislation forward is the Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH).
In response to Obama's announcement, Boehner's spokesperson replied: "If President Obama threatens to veto [the forthcoming GOP bill] over a provision that creates American jobs, that's a fight we're ready to have." However, the job creation number being touted by the industry came originally from a report paid for by Transcanada, the company building the pipeline, as explained in this Politico article.
What can you do?
Join 350.org on Wednesday, Dec. 14 in West Chester, Ohio, when we'll be calling out big oil and standing up to Congressman Boehner by letting him know he can't get away with a craven attempt to undermine our democracy and sneak this pipeline through the back door. To register for this event, click here.
Send your Senators an email and ask them to stop this attempt to get Keystone XL pipeline in through the back door and oppose legislation that supports construction of the pipeline.
For more information, email Danny Berchenko at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
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The world's most successful investors and entrepreneurs already know that buying real estate in the path of growth can lead to huge returns,however it's a rare opportunity that presents itself so clearly that purchasing property feels like an obvious choice. But our Villa Las Palmas condos,located in the heart of Puerto Aventuras along Mexico's stunning Riviera Maya,offers just this type of opportunity.
Puerto Aventuras is the premier gated community in Mexico's Riviera Maya real estate,which has experienced an amazing 25 percent growth in tourism during recent years,with no signs of slowing down. Situated just 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and 30 minutes north of Tulum,Puerto Aventuras offers some of the most beautiful beaches – and some of the best real estate deals – in the world.
The entire Riviera Maya,which is located along Mexico's only Caribbean coast,is blessed with stunning beaches,which AOL Travel,Conde Nast,Expedia and TripAdvisor – to name only a few – have named some of the best in the entire world. One reason? The sand here contains talcum,which will never burn your feet,even on the hottest summer days. And of course,there is the crystal clear,warm turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea.
Our Villa Las Palmas development offers luxury studios from the amazingly low price of $89,000 to a mere $245,000 for a lavish,over-the-top penthouse suite. At such an unbeatable price point,this opportunity won't be available for long – especially when you consider the income potential these units provide for buyers who are interested in leasing to vacationers.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek,tourism in the Riviera Maya is poised to hit record numbers in 2012,rising at least 10 percent from 2011,as more and more international visitors are drawn to the region's highly accessible archaeological sites,including Tulum,Chichen Itza,Coba and Xcaret.
Consistently growing tourism numbers equals an increased potential for rental income,as well as a rapid rise in property values over the coming months and years. This equates to a handsome return on your investment in Villa Las Palmas,regardless of whether you plan to live in or rent the property.
Also of note,the Hard Rock brand plans to open a hotel and casino in the Riviera Maya later this year,which will provide yet another draw for vacationers who enjoy gaming and a lively yet sophisticated nightlife scene. According to Travel Weekly,the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya will combine two adjacent Palace resorts,the Aventura Cove Palace and the adults-only Aventura Spa Palace.
And if you need one more reason to consider adding Villa Las Palmas in Puerto Aventuras to your portfolio,then you should know that the region is about to receive its very own international airport. Still in the planning stages,it is expected to break ground in Tulum later this year and is projected to accommodate upwards of 3 million visitors in its first year of operation. By all accounts,upon its completion the Riviera Maya will begin to see an incredible surge of new visitors,and you don't have to be a billionaire real estate magnate to predict what this will do to the area's real estate prices.
No wonder some of the world's smartest investors have been purchasing large amounts of real estate in the Riviera Maya,including Puerto Aventuras. Come see for yourself why Travel & Leisure magazine recently called Riviera Maya real estate "a gold rush."


text: Hello, fellow world travelers! I just got back from an incredible trip in east Europe. As a solo traveler meeting up with 7 other photography buffs all converging in Zagreb, Croatia as the beginning and endpoint of our time together. I used Daytrip from Budapest, Hungary to Zagreb (and back). It was faster, more comfortable than taking the train! The trip between these two capital cities takes about 4 hours with a short stop for espresso and the mandatory but perfunctory border patrol stop between Hungary and Croatia to check passports. My drivers were very different in personality but both were proficient in English, safe and experienced. How did I find out about Daytrip.com? The leader of my photography tour actually hired them for passage from Zagreb to Split (with an overnight stop in Plitvice National Park) and then after our week-long Adriatic cruise, from Split, Croatia to Slovenia (overnight stops in Lake Bled and Ljubljana) and ending back to Zagreb, Croatia. Our entire group was pleased with the comfortable vans and/or cars used though I must say, the very first one spoiled us all and set an incredibly high standard! Apparently Brad Pitt had hired this especially fancy Mercedes model during a visit! The driver produced photos and articles to prove it!


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Convertkit Price Deals 2020
" The cash remains in the list." At the very least that is what all the leading marketers say.
As I look back on my background as an entrepreneur, I have to accept that a considerable portion of the earnings coming from my businesses may be linked back to my email list. In this ConvertKit review today, I'll not only share the pros and cons of this email autoresponder tool, I'll also share some of my own email strategies along the way. Convertkit Price Deals 2020 Convertkit Price Deals 2020
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
As you read this assessment of Convertkit, feel free to consider that I am current client. I use this e-mail advertising software application on a daily basis now, yet I have actually also made use of various other e-mail devices over the years, so I have a factor of recommendation to review. I'll share the pros and cons of the features, the rates, just how to effectively use it and also a lot more.
And in full disclosure, I've satisfied the founder Nathan Barry a handful of times in person and I believe he's a fantastic individual! I don't plan on holding back any punches when I share a couple of areas that the tool could be improved. Convertkit Price Deals 2020
In general, it is actually a excellent email marketing device for writers as well as small business proprietors.
Ease of Use – 100
Reliability – 95
Customer care – 90
Cost – 90
On the whole, ConvertKit is a wonderful email advertising resource. It is actually SUPER simple to use and has a terrific style. In addition, it possesses all the features it requires for a digital product or a serious blogger homeowner.
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
Pros Super easy to use.
Terrific style.
Unrestricted lead magnetics for one project. Convertkit Price Deals 2020
Complimentary migration.
A/B testing of e-mail show headlines.
Sequence Format isn't best.
No A/B testing for titles in automated series.
Limited capacity to handle cold clients.
Unlimited uses for one project. You may deliver as many different downloads or even free gift provides as you wish as well as possess them all channel right into one project. And it's simple to create this take place.
Free movement. Their migrations team will do it for free if you have over 5,000 subscribers that you are bringing from a previous email provider. This consists of exchanging out all your choose in base on your web site, moving drip e-mail set, as well as anything else that needs to have to be moved coming from your previous program resource.
A/B testing of email broadcast headlines. Being able to test what headlines work can dramatically improve your open rates, which can directly translate to your bottom line.
If they never filled out their first name), auto-insert first name with fallback of no name (. Again, it is actually the little bit of details enjoy this that I just like.
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
Some tools require you to do a drag and drop and actually draw lines between 1 email and the next … I hate that kind of stuff. I'm not a graphic designer, I just want to write my emails and have them go out in the right order.
No resource on the planet in perfect, and also neither is actually ConvertKit. I observe a handful of regions of improvement that might be created. Overall, I do not presume these are actually package greats, but for others they could be a bigger offer, so I desire to lay them out on the table.
Series Style. I prefer the list of patterns remained in a network format, not a huge box format. If mapped out appropriately, I might conveniently find which series I desire to edit without must scroll a ton, but the way that it's laid out at this moment ( and also due to the fact that I possess several loads series), I spend time .
I really love that I can merely promptly begin creating the e-mail copy! I do not must mess with a graphic editor (like Infusionsoft) that forces you to move about packages and attract arrowheads and incorporate cooking timers before you may begin writing just about anything. This is WAY much easier.
Up to 100,000 users is actually $679/month.
( Regrettably for me, I end 100,000 users … so I pay for more than that … however it's worth it).
COMBINATIONS. Convertkit Price Deals 2020
ConvertKit is actually established enough that they instantly incorporate along with tons of devices. This primarily indicates that you can make use of the ConvertKit API and also connect it into a third event tool and the tops will certainly get attracted " amazingly" to your account as well as you may begin drip campaigns without your involvement.
As an example, I presently combine ConvertKit with Clickfunnels, Opt-in Beast, Thrive Leads, and also probably one or two others that are actually coming to mind at the moment.
Here is actually a few other well-liked ConvertKit assimilations that individuals utilize:.
Webinar Ninja.
Whishlist Participant.
CONVERTKIT E-MAIL MARKETING: 'THE MEANS IT SHOULD Be Actually'? WE'LL Be Actually THE JUDGE OF THAT.
Actual ConvertKit customer review (2019 update) from genuine individuals on Twitter to aid you bring in the most ideal informed decision if you ought to buy e-mail advertising and marketing software program from ConvertKit. Convertkit Price Deals 2020
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
ConvertKit is a fairly brand new item and also although it doesn't possess all the bells as well as whistles that other extra prominent e-mail advertising and marketing software program providers deliver, it still provides local business and also expert blog owners everything they need to take care of e-mail advertising and marketing projects.
Furthermore, features such as hands free operation, tagging, and also delivering a series certainly e-mails add fantastic functionality to this system. Along with ConvertKit, you can easily additionally establish as a lot of forms, landing pages, hands free operation guidelines, as well as autoresponders.
Generally, ConvertKit is moving in the best path and if this is what the very early version needs to provide, it will certainly be actually fantastic to find what brand-new developments potential upgrades will definitely give early adopters along with.
ConvertKit's cheapest e-mail marketing planning is 29.00 monthly.
This business was released in 2013 through Nathan Barry. It's relatively new in the industry.
But, ConvertKit uses impressive components that measure up to many various other long-established e-mail advertising and marketing companies like MailChimp and Aweber.
ConvertKit's mission is to aid small business and also writers to develop their viewers and transform their e-mail clients in to paying for customers.
Their customers include a lengthy list of effective niche blog posts such as Zen Practices, Uncomplicated Delicate, Impossible HEADQUARTERS and The Ultimate Paleo Manual.
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
The e-mail marketing software arena is stuffed along with autoresponders that each case to aid marketing professionals handle their campaigns with ease. ConvertKit is no exception because it tosses on its own as the excellent email-marketing system for specialist blog owners.
This company was launched in 2013 as well as is pretty brand new in the industry. However, ConvertKit gives remarkable e-mail advertising and marketing features that rival numerous other time-honored e-mail marketing labels like MailChimp and Aweber.
ConvertKit uses list-based plans, meaning that rates rely on the dimension of your customer list. The starting plan is for services along with around 3,000 users. Advanced plannings are actually accessible for higher amount senders upon demand.
Email marketing experts with lower than 50,000 subscribers can send endless messages. This is actually a excellent component for online marketers who deliver lots of emails frequently to a tiny list of customers. If you get on a greater strategy, having said that, an email restriction applies.
This limitation is worked out by growing 15 as well as the strategy's subscriber limit. Thus, if your planning sustains as much as 60,000 clients, merely multiply that number by 15 and 90,000 will definitely be your e-mail limitation. Convertkit Price Deals 2020
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
With ConvertKit, you can likewise put together as a lot of kinds, touchdown pages, computerization guidelines, and autoresponders as you as if.
What are drip campaigns? They are actually a pattern of e-mails "dripped out" one at a time in a sequence to users at pre-set opportunity periods. These e-mails could feature a series of associated tutorials (forming an email course) or they might details on your numerous services along well-liked post as well as customer endorsements.
The procedure of developing these campaigns in other e-mail advertising devices could be downright and tedious complicated. Nevertheless, ConvertKit streamlines whatever.
For instance, you can easily make a series of e-mails to be sent out over a period of one month after new customers join your listing.
At any time, you may drag as well as lose emails to re-order the pattern. You'll also have the capacity to observe the whole entire drip email body in one sight, which makes it simple to maintain great circulation when developing your initiative information.
As soon as a notification is actually sent out, it's marked as posted et cetera continue to be in draft up until the set up distribution day.
But more importantly, you can possibly do so much greater than just the conventional drip campaign.
PROVIDE VALUABLE and relevant MATERIAL ALONG WITH REAL E-MAIL ADVERTISING HANDS FREE OPERATION.
Real power of advertising and marketing hands free operation comes into play: You may create "If This, at that point That" policies. Why is this crucial? Due to the fact that it allows you to provide material that is more pertinent as well as valuable to the individual vs. using a one-size-fits-all method.
You can arrange for a recipient who doesn't open one of the sequenced emails, to receive a special email to re-engage them. This is actually quite various from the one-dimensional, " direct" course of traditional drip initiatives– where everyone gets the exact very same email till the series ends.
When people subscribe to your email newsletter, you can have an automation series set to trigger. Those who inspect a package indicating a specific rate of interest ( mention, " vegetarian recipes"), would get a different collection of emails than those who check out yet another enthusiasm package ( claim, "gluten-free dishes).
GRAPHIC COMPUTERIZATION: ANY PERSON Can Possibly Do IT.
ConvertKit has made it extremely easy to put together these automated e-mail set. You can simply click on as well as yank options onto a canvas as well as you're performed. No coding or advanced knowledge is required.
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
What is an email program? It is actually a series of e-mails, booked to be supplied in turn, each of which provides a lesson on a specific target. As ConvertKit notes, it's like an on the web training program " however without all the alarms and also whistles .".
Email training programs have been used properly as a free offer that attracts sign-ups, but loads of blog owners sell their email training courses as well.
ConvertKit makes it easy to create e-mail courses. You can easily also customize what occurs by the end of the training course. You can offer a second course, and subscribers who show interest will automatically start receiving that second course.
The ConvertKit weblog has premium support on just how to create effective e-mail programs.
Permit's take a more detailed consider hands free operation.
Email advertising and marketing software like ConvertKit assists you acquire the best away from your marketing attempts by utilizing marketing hands free operation. Advertising computerization that lets you track, procedure as well as automate marketing projects.
Email marketing hands free operation is actually a kind of advertising hands free operation. Depending upon how you've established your initiative, a particular email is actually sent to your consumer depending upon the activity they have actually taken.
Conditions, actions, and events are the foundation responsible for ConvertKit patterns.
BASIC TO Make Use Of.
Software like ConvertKit helps streamline the process for you with its easy user interface if this sounds like it might be complicated to set up.
For most marketers using ConvertKit to manage their email campaigns, automation and tagging are the sellout features. Automation makes it easy to manage subscribers based on events while tags help to segment contacts.
For example, you can tag subscribers automatically if they click certain links in an email. This, in turn, triggers a course of action such as enrollment in a Webinar, subscription to a course, and so forth.
A big plus of ConvertKit: Move seamlessly between building your email automation sequence and working on the individual email content.
You might have heard about sales funnels if you're looking into marketing your small business. A sales funnel is the path your customer takes to purchasing from your business. It usually starts with awareness of your brand, moves onto interest and decision. The end goal is a sale or conversion.
An email marketing funnel will include sending your potential customer helpful content linked to your service or product. By setting up rules, you tell ConvertKit which emails to send (and when).
To keep it simple, ConvertKit visualizes the process so you can immediately see your funnel and all you have to do is add the content.
If you've never built a funnel before you'll be able to craft a compelling email campaign, this approach means even. ConvertKit also has a free email course to get you started.
The landing page creator is a great addition that ConvertKit offers to help website owners who have little to no design skills. Using the visual editor, there's no need to write code for your landing page. You can change colors, upload images, and alter text with just a few clicks.
Although there are only three landing page layouts to choose from, ConvertKit offers full access to CSS for those with somec coding ability who wish to create a unique landing page design.
ConvertKit landing pages are also integrated with a large collection of textures and patterns from SubtlePatterns.com. Therefore, you can be sure of finding a landing page style that matches your brand or website theme.
ConvertKit is quite flexible when it comes to hosting landing pages. You have the freedom of hosting landing pages on ConvertKit servers or move it to your own domain using a WordPress plug-in.
Adding a lead magnet to your landing page is a great way to get customers to sign up for your subscriber list. A lead magnet is a resource you use to attract potential customers: leads.
Lead magnets can take many forms. Examples include:.
E-books (e.g. how-tos that are valuable to the reader).
Industry white papers.
Research reports.
Cheat sheets.
Gated videos (videos a viewer can only access if they give you their contact information).
In exchange for your free resource, your customer shares their email address.
ConvertKit comes with support to add lead magnets to their forms.
Here are a few ways you could use ConvertKit to achieve your business objectives.
Engage at the outset.
Automated welcome series based on users' interests. Automatically identify and retarget those who don't open emails.
Deepen the connection.
Use lead magnets to send recipients a content series that is relevant and valuable .
Develop funnels and monetized content like email courses.
An email marketing campaign would not be complete without signup forms. ConvertKit comes with a form builder as expected from any typical email marketing application. Using this tool, you can create multiple attractive opt-in forms and place them anywhere on your website.
Though basic in function, the form builder does its job well.
Once you're done uploading the file, you'll receive a message confirming that your contacts have been successfully imported.
The subscriber page marks contacts as confirmed, unconfirmed, canceled, or complained to describe their status on the list.
Subscribers can be tagged and segmented if you want to send targeted messages to a specific group– for example, you could create an email series to target individuals who attended a particular webinar you held, or an in-person conference you exhibited at.
As mentioned earlier, ConvertKit offers email creation features that allow you to send a course of messages automatically. You can create multiple email messages, save them as drafts and schedule when to send.
Email course scheduling can be great when sending content that is relevant to specific subscribers. Sometimes you'll need to send one email blast to everyone on your list.
To accomplish that, ConvertKit offers a broadcast function. A broadcast email is when a single email is sent to multiple people at the same time. This feature is great for announcing special offers, product launches, or time-sensitive discounts or news.
Currently, customers have no access to live chat and phone support. You can always get in touch with a customer support agent via email.
While this might not sound too assuring, one unique aspect about contacting ConvertKit is that when you submit a question or complaint, they personally look into your account.
If something is lacking, the assigned support agent will make recommendations to help you improve your results or enjoy a better experience.
In addition to email support, ConvertKit hosts workshops, offers training materials, and provide plenty of online help documentation. The knowledge-base categorizes help articles according to topics, thus making navigation easy. Alternatively, you can use key phrases to search for help articles.
ConvertKit offers analytics tools for easy campaign tracking. You can track email opens, bounces, visitors, subscribers, and conversion rates for each campaign separately. The program also tracks website statistics for different forms to help you know which signup tactics are providing the best results.
For instance, you can examine conversion rates as well as the number of subscribers that joined your email list via the pop-up modal or the ones who signed up for incentives using the sidebar form.
ConvertKit creates email courses easily.
The landing page and form creators feature intuitive interfaces.
Email scheduling and automation features save time.
Subscriber tagging facilitates list segmentation.
Migrating to ConvertKit is simple since you can import contacts via a CSV file.
Built-in reporting tools track campaign metrics easily.
ConvertKit offers the ability to create multiple sign up forms for different pages and track their conversion rates individually.
Currently, no free trial is new but available subscribers are protected by a 30-day refund policy.
No phone or live chat support is provided.
Limited third-party integrations compared to other email marketing platforms.
ConvertKit is a relatively new product and although it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that other more prominent email service providers offer, it still gives professional bloggers and business owners everything they need to manage an email campaign.
Additionally, features such as automation, tagging, and sending out a sequence of course emails add great usability to this platform.
Overall, ConvertKit is heading in the right direction and if this is what the early version has to offer, it will be exciting to see what new innovations future upgrades will provide early adopters with.
Easy Digital Downloads.
and many others.
And because they integrate with Zapier, that means there are lots of other combinations that you can use even if there isn't a directly integration.
I can't possible consider all the questions that you might ask before deciding to buy Convert Kit; however, here's a few questions that I might anticipate.
How good is the customer support?
They offer a live chat option that I've used. If they are not available via live chat, you can email them and they usually get back in a pretty timely manner.
Will they help me migrate from my old provider?
Yes, they will move all of your subscribers for you, but they will also create all the forms you place and need on your website (as needed) to make sure your transition over is really smooth. They will also move any campaigns that you had on your old provider so that you don't manually have to recreate them.
How does the price compare to other email tools?
The pricing is pretty comparable. There are hundreds of options out there, so some may be cheaper, but there are definitely much more expensive options.
How many lead magnets can I create and deliver through ConvertKit?
You can create unlimited number of lead magnets or downloads that ConvertKit will deliver seamlessly to your customers. Does ConvertKit have options for double or single opt-in?
Yes, when you create your opt-in forms you have the option to require that the subscriber get a verification email first before they are added to your list. Single opt-in is likely to lead to more overall subscribers, but double opt-in is likely to lead to more verified subscribers.
Is ConvertKit worth the cost?
I've been using email automation tools since about 2006, and I'm a happy customer of ConvertKit. I think the cost of an email marketing tool is a necessary expense for an online business, and ConvertKit is a great option at a fair price.
At the end of the day, ConvertKit is a great email and marketing automation tool that has all the features that a serious blogger and business owner would need to help automate their business.
With an unlimited amount of campaigns and lead forms that you can create and an easy to use interface, you can spend more time growing your business than worrying about how to make your email provider "work".
The best part is that you can start a 14 day free trial (with no credit card required) so you can check out what ConvertKit looks like on the inside.
Convertkit Price Deals 2020
I use this email marketing software on a daily basis right now, but I've also used other email tools over the years, so I have a point of reference to compare. Overall, ConvertKit is a great email marketing tool. These emails might consist of a series of related tutorials (forming an email course) or they might information on your various services along popular blog posts and customer testimonials.
A broadcast email is when a single email is sent to multiple people at the same time. In addition to email support, ConvertKit hosts workshops, offers training materials, and provide plenty of online help documentation.
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[sspostsincat category="convertkit"]


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Bernard Leslie Quartermaine Obituary
Here is Bernard Leslie Quartermaine's obituary. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences.
Sadly, Bernard Leslie Quartermaine (Mira Mar, Western Australia) passed away. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Bernard Leslie Quartermaine to pay them a last tribute. You may also light a candle in honor of Bernard Leslie Quartermaine.
A funeral service was held on Friday, April 17th 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Amity Rose Chapel (9 Cockburn Rd, Mira Mar WA 6330).
The family have requested donations to Hawthorn House in lieu of flowers.


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bells of Ireland
a plant, Molucella laevis, native to western Asia, having inconspicuous white flowers, each surrounded by an enlarged green calyx. Also called shellflower.[1955-60; so called from the bell-like green calyx]
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Universalium. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
bells of Ireland — noun aromatic annual with a tall stems of small whitish flowers enclosed in a greatly enlarged saucer shaped or bell shaped calyx • Syn: ↑molucca balm, ↑Molucella laevis • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Member Holonyms: ↑Molucella, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
bells-of-Ireland — /bɛlz əv ˈaɪələnd/ (say belz uhv uyuhluhnd) noun → Molucca balm … Australian English dictionary
Bells — • Article covers origin, benediction, uses, archaeology and inscriptions, and points of law Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Bells Bells … Catholic encyclopedia
bellsof Ireland — bells of Ire·land (īrʹlənd) n. An annual western Asian plant (Moluccella laevis) in the mint family, grown for its long stems covered with persistent shell shaped calyxes. * * * … Universalium
The Orchestral Tubular Bells — Live album by Mike Oldfield Released 28 August 1975 … Wikipedia
The Complete Tubular Bells — Box set by Mike Oldfield Released 26 May 2003 … Wikipedia
List of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland, 1997 — This is an incomplete list of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland in 1997.1 100* Buses (Section 10B Permits) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 S.R. 1997 No. 1 * Temporary Speed Limit (Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn) Order (Northern… … Wikipedia
List of museums in the Republic of Ireland — This list of museums in the Republic of Ireland contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural,… … Wikipedia
Coins of Ireland — Irish coins have been issued by a variety of local and national authorities, the ancient provincial Kings and High Kings of Ireland, the Kingdom of Ireland (1541 1801), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland(1801 1922), the Irish Free… … Wikipedia
John Ireland (composer) — John Nicholson Ireland (13 August 1879 ndash; 12 June 1962) was an English composer.His lifeJohn Ireland was born in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Manchester, into a family of Scottish descent and some cultural distinction. His parents died soon after … Wikipedia


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Friday, May 19, 2006
L'ARCAHAIE, Haiti (AP) – President Rene Preval yesterday urged Haitians to help his fledgling government restore security so UN peacekeepers can leave, saying the troubled country can't control its destiny with the presence of "foreign troops".
Preval, who took power Sunday, said the 9,000-strong UN force was still needed to provide security in the bitterly divided Caribbean nation.
But he made it clear that he would prefer that the international troops leave Haiti.
"The faster we can achieve peace, the faster they can leave," he told a cheering crowd of several thousand in this seaside town 50 kilometers
(31 miles) north of the capital, Port-au-Prince. "Why are we not the owners of our land? Because we have foreign troops in our land."
Preval spoke at a ceremony marking the 203rd anniversary of Haiti's Flag, an important holiday that rouses Haitians' patriotic fervour.
Earlier, Preval laid a wreath at a statue of Haitian independence leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who fought off French colonizers to make Haiti the world's first black republic.
"When we don't have foreign troops here, we can say we're the owners of our land again," he said.
The Brazil-led peacekeeping force came to restore order after a bloody February 2004 revolt toppled Preval's predecessor and former ally, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
After the revolt, Haiti's capital exploded with street violence, blamed mostly on pro-Aristide gangs and renegade Haitian police.
With calm slowly returning to the nation, Preval called on Haitians to be more productive in order to attract investment to Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries. He cited tourism and manufacturing as potential opportunities.
"We need to start producing more so we don't have to ask for aid,"
Preval said.
International officials say Preval's cash-strapped government will need a quick infusion of funds to operate.
Juan Gabriel Valdes, who this week stepped down as the head of the UN mission, warned of more political turmoil unless Haitians see results in the next year.
"It would be frankly intolerable to see that for lack of international assistance at this point in time the country goes back to previous political and security conditions," Valdes said.
After Preval's speech, a small group of Aristide supporters with bullhorns chanted for the deposed leader's return, singing "We voted for Preval so Aristide could come back."
The protests could eventually pose a challenge to Preval, who has said Haiti's constitution allows for Aristide's return but hasn't said if he would welcome back his former political mentor.
"It was the people who made Preval president. Whether he supports us or not we will be out here to fight for President Aristide's immediate return," said Aristide loyalist Jean Francky Chevalier.
Yesterday's ceremony came as Haitians eagerly wait for details on Preval's plan to revive the nation and to learn his pick for prime minister. Preval, who led Haiti from 1996-2001, reportedly plans to nominate his former prime minister for the job, Jacques Edouard Alexis.
Alexis, who attended yesterday's ceremony but refused to answer questions from reporters, was an architect of Preval's February 7 campaign victory and is seen as someone with the political clout to navigate Haiti's fragmented parliament, where no party holds a majority.


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BGB's LGBT+ community. Doing the work. Changing the business.
BGB's LGBT+ community.
Doing the work.
Changing the business.
Doing the work.
Changing the business.
BGBe is an LGBT+ artist's collective doing work by and for the LGBT+ community, supporting LGBT+ causes and helping the industry reflect a wider humanity.
Our LGBTQ+ actors are boundary-pushing leaders who have the courage to stand in their truth. We celebrate their unique voices, their deep artistry and their desire to make our Industry better.
In support of the LGBTQ+ community, we're spotlighting our Proud LGBTQ+ actors, a few of whom have written some thoughtful, heartfelt pieces about their LGBTQ+ experience in the work and the industry
Briggon Snow – Recognizing Who I Am
Voices of Equality
On Pride. With Frankie Kraft
Check out Pride events happening all across the USA!
More Equality
Felipe Figueroa – Finding My (Rainbow) Voice
We did it. We took the leap and moved to a major metropolitan area where we could not only be artists but also live freely as our wonderful LGBTQ+ selves. We forged a career in the entertainment industry only to find ourselves getting called in and booking substantially less than a straight white male. If [...]
Michael Maize – A Heart of Pride
A heart of pride… gratitude… courage. We are here. June 2019. The 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. And I remind myself of the pride I have for being an independent, strong-willed gay man who continues to let down my walls of falsehood. I feel the gratitude for having the freedom to live the life [...]
Kenton Chen – Not Just Gay
Growing up in a suburban conservative town, there weren't many queer role models for me to look up to. I remember listening to Rent and thinking, "Do I need to move to New York and start taking AZT?" My sexuality frightened me. A pastor's kid and a child of immigrants, I faced a lot of [...]
Michael Maize – Truth Blazes
#truthblazes Truth. It is a very simple thing. A pocket of awareness that lies in the deep gut of our soul, our belly, our heart. This is not our conscience which tells us the "right" thing we should be doing throughout the day, but a further profound root at the edge of our current presence. [...]
Bianca Lopez – I Want The World To Know!
People assume I'm a straight woman about 99 percent of the time. Even my fellow LGBTQ brothers and sisters are surprised when they realize I'm married to a woman. Coming out to my family was relatively easy, but coming out to the world around me was a little harder, and navigating who I am on [...]
Doug Tompos – PRIDE
PRIDE. That word has always brought up a lot for me. I came of age at the beginning of the AIDS crisis and was immediately thrown into the horrors of the epidemic in NYC, and I felt a multitude of emotions, probably the least of which was pride. I had had a painful coming out [...]
Actors Needed
In times of tragedy, when a long-oppressed people are targeted by a warped mind determined to silence the beautiful expression of Pride for a community that requires it to survive in a heteronormative world, we are left wondering what can be done. What could an actor possibly do? Actors, and artists alike, have power. In [...]
CELEBRATE LGBT. Now more than ever.
Click here to join The BGB Studio's #WhyPride campaign to declare your support for the LGBTQ community and raise money for the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network which makes schools safer for and more inclusive of LGBTQ youth.
The BGB Studio is celebrating LGBT and we are inviting you to join. Here are a few ways you can show your support.
WE'RE CHALLENGING YOU to declare your support for the LGBT+ community by letting the world know why you're celebrating LGBT+ Pride month. Download and print our sign, write down why you're celebrating LGBT+ Pride, & post it on social media – all platforms – with the hashtags #WhyPride & #BGBEquality
Your photo will appear here along with more info on how you can show your support!
In addition, The BGB Studio is supporting an amazing organization that makes schools safe for LGBT+ youth. The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network provides research and support to make schools a nurturing, inclusive environment for LGBT+ youth so they can learn, grow, and add their unique voice to the world. GLSEN needs your help to continue their great work.
Donate here & share their important work when you post your photo. Donate!


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Boot Lockout
A boot lockout can easily happen to anyone at all and for a variety of reasons, namely leaving the keys in the boot of the vehicle, a cracked key, a key stuck in the trunk lock, or perhaps a faulty trunk lock. Here At Liverpool Auto Locksmiths, we're proud to be affiliates of the Auto Locksmith Association and so you can feel confident in the quality of service our experts deliver any time of the day or night, and whatever your location.
We provide ROUND-THE-CLOCK emergency vehicle unlocking assistance for those locked out of their car. Our professionals have saved the day for customers on more occasions than we care to remember. This is the key reason why we have exceptional customer scores and reviews and we are the company to rely on when you're in any type of auto lock emergency scenario.
Car Boot Lock Solutions Offered:
· Boot lockouts
· Boot deadlock services
· Extraction of stuck keys from boot lock
· Boot remote control unlocking services
· Retrieval of keys left in locked trunk.
Do Not Try Out Do It Yourself Methods!
In cases where a boot lockout occurs, individuals usually tend to feel nervous and annoyed, and even too ashamed to get help. We recommend you not to have a go at unlocking the boot of the vehicle for the reason that the DIY methods you employ very often leave the vehicle lock even more damaged than previously, and will definitely cost you when the vehicle is sent for repair work.
Instead, call Liverpool Auto Locksmiths where emergency services for those locked out of their car is delivered swiftly and successfully at the hand of our mobile auto technicians. Our professionals come with all the capabilities and equipment needed to resolve the deadlock in the quickest feasible time. Our team are renowned for our quick responses and able to deal with whatever the make and model of your car, van, SUV or pickup may be. Our staff have the means to make use of complex techniques to deliver instantaneous remedies.
24 HOUR Emergency Call Out Services
Boot lockouts are generally resolved with our vehicle unlocking and emergency services that are provided 24 hours a day, and no matter where your location in Liverpool might be. We are able to rush an auto locksmith to you within a very short time.
Our company understand that with the quick pace of life, you cannot afford to lose out on time. Plenty of circumstances occur where you simply need to go. It could possibly be your boss phoning you on a Sunday concerning some critical work which can not wait, or maybe the kids need to be collected from school. On these occasions you will certainly value the haste and punctuality that our company specialize in. Your local area 24/7 emergency auto locksmith technician will show up quickly and we assign the very same high priority to all of our phone calls.
Affordable Fees
Equally, quick and reliable service does not need to trigger expensive call out fees. Our emergency vehicle unlocking service is very competitive and the rates are on par with the finest in the sector. Our well-staffed and dependable team means that you can return to your trip with barely any interruption, with our budget-friendly auto locksmith rates not even squeezing your wallet.


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This is a natural bar of soap created in parody of Kirby. Gift this to a friend or take a relaxing shower yourself.
Everyone is Dead smells so good that it almost saved everyone from dying in the first place. It sucks the stink from you and uses its power to make you irresistible. You'll feel like everyday is your birthday, and smell like it too.
Everyone is Dead! (Birthday cake scented)
FREE Nose Parry Adapter (this adapter enables you to cross-play with people who don't take showers, simply by clipping the adapter onto your nose)
Goats milk & birthday cake fragrance. We intend to not kill a person by adding in actual garbage.
This soap is handmade from my home. I am an Iowa based college student (studying computer science) and love creating little enjoyments and gag items like this. I test one out of every 5-10 soaps I create as a quality check and love the Smash community. This not only helps me out as I progress through school, but it fills me with enjoyment to see the reactions people get from these silly soaps.
I do not own Super Smash Bros and it's characters, this is not an officially licensed product.
Ships from IOWA, USA. Please give a few days to prepare your order.
Description written by @TheJiggJag


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In Conversation with Product Design Director Lionel Favre on design, and the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel.
An echoing sentiment of conservatism was fairly evident after days spent at the SIHH this year. Most of the brands unveiled novelties with wider appeal, instead of excessively bold or complicated pieces.
Grand Maison Jaeger-LeCoultre, however, were among the few who played the contrarian card in Geneva. Although it introduced crowd-pleasers like the Master Ultra Thin Moon Enamel, these were balanced out with a single technical masterpiece: the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel.
The watch's name is quite a mouthful to pronounce, but it succinctly introduces the various eponymous complications. For a start, there is the multi-axial Gyrotourbillon which houses a cage within a cage to spin the balance wheel on two axes simultaneously, within precision. The concept has remained unchanged (this being the fifth multi-axis tourbillon from Jaeger-LeCoultre) but the brand has shrunk the Gyrotourbillon here by around 15 per cent to fit it within the watch's 43mm case. A miniaturisation feat to be celebrated.
The Westminster minute repeater is the second highlight, and comes with a twist. Typically, the full four-bar melody is played only on the full hour, whether by Big Ben, or in a grande sonnerie watch. Here however, the four hammers and gongs will play the Westminster Chimes when there are no quarters. Activating the minute repeater at 11:09, for instance, will make it chime 11 low notes, the full Westminster Chimes, then nine high notes. The window for admiring the full melody is thus lengthened by 14 minutes every hour.
And there is the perpetual calendar that needs no introduction, though it is worth noting that the date here can be adjusted both forward and backward for user convenience.
Complications aside, the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel also sports a constant force mechanism, specifically a remontoir d'egalité whose spring "discharges" once a minute. This has the effect of making the minute hand a jumping one, to add yet another layer of technical complexity to what is already a complicated timepiece.
We share the following conversation we had with Lionel Favre, Jaeger-LeCoultre's Product Design Director at SIHH 2019. Favre was Head of Design at Chopard for 12 years, and then Roger Dubius for another 7 years before joining the brand. Notably, he comes from a family of jeweller-craftsmen, and was trained as a jeweller himself.
Curatedition: On the topic of design, which do you value more. An icon reworked, or a complete novelty?
Favre: I want to say that the shape of the watch is not the most important. What is most important for us is the harmony, the equilibrium between all the elements. The Reverso is a square watch with perfect harmony. I think you can have creativity in the same base shape. Even if we designed only round watches, we can make something totally different from another.
Curatedition: Can you share your favourite from the 2019 collection?
Favre: The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel – the mesmerising movement is one of my favourites.
Curatedition: Please do share the inspiration for its design.
Favre: The design inspiration started from the movement. The fact that the movement is so beautiful with the 3D effect, we are able to play with the finishing to show the light and shadow effects on the dial.
Curatedition: Working from the movement first, and then defining the case. Is that always the case, is it specific to this particular watch?
Favre: The design also extend to the movement. The first prototype of the movement was not the same movement that you see today. It evolved as we attempted many compositions with the parts that we needed to integrate, the last one is the most beautiful.
Curatedition: "Need" is always the strongest motivation for creation. I come back to the Reverso because it was created with a function in mind, there was a purpose for it. Do you envisage, in the near future, a need that you will be attempting to address when designing a watch?
Favre: I agree that it would be interesting to abort new creation and think about the "need" instead. We do have some ideas about some needs to discuss about, but at the same time we need to be careful as some needs are not compelling enough. It must be really relevant.
Product design is like sculpting. You start by making a rough sketch with a pencil , then you refine it, chip away what you don't need, add what you do. When designing a new watch, it is all about finding the right proportions. The sum of details has to create the right balance. You have to be uncompromising on each and every detail.Lionel Favre, Jaeger-LeCoultre Product Design Director
Images courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre, artwork by Curatedition.
Related links:


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Christmas Love Songs – Christmas Wedding Invitations
October 21, 2016 /
Christmas Love Songs, here is a great list we have found. Don't forget, we can offer you a fantastic service with bespoke designed stationery to suit your personal tastes. So what ever you have in mind for your Christmas Wedding Invitation let us know. We can also take your design and create: Mass Booklets, Menus, Wine Bottle Labels, Signs, Place Names cards and much more!